(RELATED: Minnesota and the New Nullification Crisis)Democrats in America have a long and inglorious history of invoking “states’ rights” and shirking federal law. In ensuing decades, South Carolinian John C. Calhoun emerged as the most passionate advocate for state nullification. Calhoun argued not only for a state’s “right” to nullify federal law but also to secede from the Union, if necessary, to secure its sovereignty. As the civil rights movement gained steam, segregationists invoked nullification and “states’ rights” as justifications for defying federally mandated civil rights. In echoing the discredited theories of yesteryear, Ellison, Minnesota Gov.