In 1828 John C. Calhoun authored his "Exposition and Protest” to argue that the tariff was unconstitutional because it favored Northern manufacturing over Southern commerce and agriculture. Four years later, Andrew Jackson labeled Calhoun as an “ambitions Demagogue” with an “unholy ambition”. In a response to Calhoun's nullification, Jackson wrote a lengthy proclamation to warn South Carolina that their leaders were lying to them and leading them down a path of insurrection and treason. A path that would lead to the disunion of our nation.
Jackson was adamantly opposed to nullification. He publicly broadcasted his opposition to nullification in the Washington Globe a newspaper committed to supporting the Jackson administration. The paper was established to counter the radical anti-tariff messaging of opposition's paper, the United States telegraph. The Washington Globe accused the people of South Carolina and the entire South of leading a revolt and even identified nullification with "CIVIL WAR AND DISUNION". As for John C. Calhoun, Jackson labeled him an "ambitions Demagogue" with an "unholy ambition". Jackson accused the southern radicals of being unwilling to compromise and taking part in a political conspiracy with no other objective but disunion. He asserted that the nullifiers were in a "state of insanity". In Jackson's State of the Union address, he took a much more diplomatic stand, yet referred to the threat of nullification as something that could "endanger the integrity of the Union". Jackson believed that our current laws were fully adequate to suppress any attempts at nullification, and he intended to apply them.
"It is my painful duty to state that in one quarter of the United States opposition to the revenue laws has arisen to a height which threatens to thwart their execution, if not to endanger the integrity of the Union. What ever obstructions may be thrown in the way of the judicial authorities of the General Government, it is hoped they will be able peaceably to overcome them by the prudence of their own officers and the patriotism of the people. But should this reasonable reliance on the moderation and good sense of all portions of our fellow citizens be disappointed, it is believed that the laws themselves are fully adequate to the suppression of such attempts as may be immediately made. Should the exigency arise rendering the execution of the existing laws impracticable from any cause what ever, prompt notice of it will be given to Congress, with a suggestion of such views and measures as may be deemed necessary to meet it."Just one week later, Jackson released a very lengthy proclamation declaring that "the power to annul a law of the United States" to be "incompatible with the existence of the Union, contradicted expressly by the letter of the Constitution, unauthorized by its spirit, inconsistent with every principle on which It was founded, and destructive of the great object for which it was formed". After making this case based upon both history and constitutional law, Jackson then admonished the citizens of South Carolina say thing that they were "rushing to a certain ruin". Jackson wrote, "Let me tell you, my countrymen, that you are deluded by men who are either deceived themselves or wish to deceive you." They were being led to the brink of insurrection and treason. Jackson admitted that the tariffs had an impact on their economy, but the evil was being greatly exaggerated under false pretenses and lies. It was their pride that was aroused, "Eloquent appeals to your passions, to your State pride, to your native courage, to your sense of real injury, were used to prepare you for the period when the mask which concealed the hideous features of DISUNION should be taken off." Jackson urged the people to step back and look at the assertions their leaders were making. The constitution was not being trampled on, nor were they an oppressed people. Jackson continued to excoriate their leaders, “They are not champions of liberty emulating the fame of our Revolutionary fathers, nor are you an oppressed people, contending, as they repeat to you, against worse than colonial vassalage. You are free members of a flourishing and happy Union. "
Jackson urged them to consider the condition and the freedoms the entire nation was enjoying,
"so many different States-giving to all their inhabitants the proud title of AMERICAN CITIZEN-protecting their commerce-securing their literature and arts-facilitating their intercommunication--defending their frontiers-and making their name respected in the remotest parts of the earth! Consider the extent of its territory its increasing and happy population, its advance in arts, which render life agreeable, and the sciences which elevate the mind! See education spreading the lights of religion, morality, and general information into every cottage in this wide extent of our Territories and States! Behold it as the asylum where the wretched and the oppressed find a refuge and support! Look on this picture of happiness and honor, and say, WE TOO, ARE CITIZENS OF AMERICA--Carolina is one of these proud States her arms have defended-her best blood has cemented this happy Union! "Jackson then followed up with a warning, "the laws of the United Sates must be executed." Jackson made it clear that, "[t]heir object is disunion, but be not deceived by names; disunion, by armed force, is TREASON." He asked the people of South Carolina if they were ready to share in this guilt. Were they ready to take on the punishment and dishonor? Jackson would not accede to what he called the "the mad project of disunion", and he preferred that South Carolina not become its first victims. Jackson warned them not to become the first author of an attack on the Constitution.
"Snatch from the archives of your State the disorganizing edict of its convention-hid its members to re-assemble and promulgate the decided expressions of your will to remain in the path which alone can conduct you to safety, prosperity, and honor-tell them that compared to disunion, all other evils are light, because that brings with it an accumulation of all-declare that you will never take the field unless the star-spangled banner of your country shall float over you--that you will not be stigmatized when dead, and dishonored and scorned while you live, as the authors of the first attack on the Constitution of your country!-its destroyers you cannot be."Jackson concluded by saying, "the momentous case is before you". The choice to preserve our sacred Union and the perpetuation of the blessings it secures was theirs to make. After Jackson issued his proclamation, Congress passed the Force Act that authorized the use of military force against any state that resisted the tariff acts.
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Fourth Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fourth-annual-message-3 [Accessed 20 Oct. 2019].Latner, Richard B. “The Nullification Crisis and Republican Subversion.” The Journal of Southern History, vol. 43, no. 1, 1977, pp. 19–24. JSTOR, Available at: www.jstor.org/stable/2207553. [Accessed 20 Oct. 2019].
Avalon.law.yale.edu. (2019). The Avalon Project : President Jackson's Proclamation Regarding Nullification, December 10, 1832. [online] Available at: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/jack01.asp [Accessed 20 Oct. 2019].
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