Non-fiction: Proclamation to the People of South Carolina (Nullification Proclamation)

Background

In December 1832, President Andrew Jackson issued a proclamation addressing South Carolina’s Ordinance of Nullification, which declared the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within the state and threatened secession if the federal government attempted enforcement. Jackson situates the crisis within the broader stakes of national unity and constitutional order, treating South Carolina’s move not as a narrow tariff dispute but as a direct challenge to the authority of the United States and the survival of the Union.

Constitutional Foundations

Jackson argues that the Constitution created a government, not a mere compact among sovereign states, and that it was ordained by “We the People, ” not by state governments acting as independent parties. From this premise, he asserts the supremacy of federal law over conflicting state enactments and denies that any single state possesses a constitutional right to judge or nullify federal statutes. The oath that state officials take to support the Constitution, he notes, underscores this hierarchy. Grievances with federal laws must be pursued through constitutional means, elections, petition, and especially judicial review, rather than by unilateral state action that effectively places a state above the Union.

Rejection of Nullification and Secession

Jackson rejects nullification as an incoherent doctrine that would dissolve the nation into a patchwork of selectively obeyed laws. Allowing each state to decide constitutionality for itself would render the Union “a rope of sand, ” leading to anarchy, commercial chaos, and eventual conflict. He likewise denies any constitutional right of secession, distinguishing between lawful political change and revolutionary acts. Secession is framed as disunion by force, which he bluntly characterizes as treason against the United States. While acknowledging that the tariff policy provoked legitimate debate, he insists that constitutional liberty cannot survive if obedience to law is optional for any state.

Enforcement and Remedies

The proclamation balances firmness with conciliation. Jackson declares his duty to execute the laws and warns that obstruction of federal customs operations will invite legal penalties and, if necessary, the use of force. Yet he also signals openness to tariff adjustments and urges Congress to consider remedies that address perceived inequities. He argues that duties and imposts are explicitly authorized by the Constitution and not unconstitutional per se, even if particular rates may be unwise or burdensome. The proper path is to seek revision through Congress and adjudication through the courts, not to nullify enforcement or threaten the dissolution of the Union.

Appeal to South Carolinians

Jackson’s rhetoric seeks to separate the people of South Carolina from their state leadership’s doctrine. He appeals to shared Revolutionary heritage and national pride, urging citizens to reflect on the blessings and stability the Union provides. He warns that disunion would invite bloodshed, devastate commerce, embolden foreign interference, and imperil the very institutions South Carolinians claim to protect. He stresses that liberty and union are mutually reinforcing: the Constitution’s balance and the rule of law are the surest safeguards of rights, while nullification replaces ordered self-government with arbitrary state veto.

Summary

The proclamation stands as a sweeping defense of national sovereignty, constitutional supremacy, and the rule of law. Jackson denies the legality of nullification and secession, pledges to enforce federal statutes, invites peaceful redress through constitutional channels, and appeals to patriotism to avert conflict. Its core message is that the Union, formed by the people and sustained by lawful processes, cannot survive if a single state claims the power to unmake federal law.