Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-20
PROCLAMATION
By ANDREW JACKSON,
President or the u. States,


Ordinance by which they declare, "that the
several acts and parts Of acts Of the Congress
OF the United States purporting TO be laws
for the imposing Of duties and imposts on the
importation Of foreign commodities, aud now
having actual operation and effect within the
United States, and more especially" two acts
Tor the same purposes passed on the 29th of
May, ls2s, and on the 18th OF July, ls32.
ARE unauthorized by the Constitution Of the
United States, and violate the true me aiming
and intent thereof, and are null and void. and
no law nor binding on the citizens Of thai
State ar its officers: and by the said Or,i-
nance, IL Is further declared 10 be unla W.T. Ia
Tor any OF the constituted authorities of the
State or o. tue United States 10 enforce the
payment OF the duties imposed by the said
acts within the same state, and that il il the
duty OF the Legislature to pass such laws as
may be necessary to give full effect 10 the
said Ordinance;
Asp wHGREAs, by the said Ordinance il is
tsrther ordained, tlrst in no case of law or
equity, decided len thu Courts OF said Stale
wherein shall be drawn in question the validi-
~ OF the said Ordinance, or Of the acts Of the
Legislature that may be passed TO give il cf-
feet, or OF the said laws Of the United States,
no appeal shall be allowed To the Supreme
Court oil the United States, nor shall any CO.
py OF the record be permitted or allowed for
that purpose, and that any person attempting
to take such appeal shall bc punished as for a
contempt Of Court;
Aud, finally, the said Ordinance declares.
that the people Of South Carolina will main-
tain the said Ordinance al every hazard; aud
that they Will consider the passage OF any act
ny Congress abolishing or closing the ports OF
the said State, or otherwise obstructing the
free ingress or egress OF vessels TO and from
bar IF - FL.
RAJ Government TO coerce the State, shut I'M
her ports, destroy or harass her commerce,
or To enforce the said acts otherwise than
through the ciYl tribunals Of the country. as
inconsistent with the longer continuance OF
South Carolina an the Union and that the
people Of the said.Staies will thenceforth hold
themselves absolye ed from all further obliga-
ton to maintain or preserve their political
connection with the people Of the other states
and will fo-ih"ith proceed 10 organize n Sc.
Parate Government, and do all other acts aud
things which so' creign and independent State:
may of right do
AND WHEREAS, the said Ordinance pre-
scribes 10 The people Of South Carolina a
course OF conduct, IA direct violation Of their
duty as citizens OF the united States, contra
~ To tho laws Of their country, subversiye OF
ais constitution, and having for its obje the
destruction Of the Union-that Onion, which,
coeval with cur political existence, led our
fathers, without any other ties TO unite them
than those OF patriotism and a common cause,
through sanguinary struggle to gloriou,
independence--that sacred Union, hitherto
invioiate, which, perfected by our happy Con.
sutution, has brought us by the favor OF Hca.
ven 20 state Of prosperity az home, and high
consideration abroad, rarely, il ever, equal
he'd IN the history Of nations. To preserve
this bond of our political existence from des.
tTuetion, TO maintain inviolate this state o.
national honor and prosperity, and TO justif,
the confidence my fellow-citizens have re
posed In me, I, ANDREW JACKSON. Presids,,
81 the Unitsd States, have thought proper tc
issue this my PROCLAMATION, stating m,
views Of the Constitution aud laws applicable
70 the measures adopted by the Convention
Of South Carolina, and TO the reasons the
have put forth 10 sustain them, declaring the
course which duty viii require me to pursue
and, appealing TO the understanding and pa
triotism Of the people, warn them Of the con
sequences that must inevitably result from al
observance of the dictates of the Convention
Strict duty would require Of me nothin.
more than the exercise III those powers witt
which am nov, or may hereafter be invest
ca, Tor preserving the peace of tue Union an,
for The execution OF the laws. But the i'm.
posing aspect which opposition has assume,
IN tins case, by clothing itself with State au
thority and the deep intsTest which the pcopl,
Of the United States must all feel in prevent
ing resort TO stronger measures, while Their,
Is hope that any thing will be yielded t.
reasoning and remonstrancc perhaps demand
aRd will certainly justify full exposition q
South Carolina and the nation, Of the views
entertain OF this important question, as vel
a. distinct cnnDeiation OF the course which
my sense of duty Will require me 10 pursue.
The Ordinance Is founded, not on the indie
feasible right of resisting acts which are plain
~ unconstitutional and too oppressive a. b,
endured but on the strange position tina
any one State may not only declare an Act q
Congress void, but prohibit its execution
that they may do this consistently with IN,
Coustitu;ion-that the true construction O
that instrument permits a State u retain il
place In tho Union, and yet be bound by n,
otheRof its laws than those il may choose :,
eonsEder as constitutional. u Is true, the,
add, that 20 justify this abrogaiion Of law
% must be palpabiy contrary To- the Constiti
ton; but u y evident. that to give the rigi.
Of resisting laws 81 that description. couple,
with the uncontrolled right To decide wha
laws deserve that character. - 90 give th
power Of resisting AL laws. for, as by Ia
theory, there y no apj~al the reasons aileg
ed bJ the State, good &C bad, must prevail
u q should be sa,i that public opinion IS
sufficient check against ihc abuse ofthis pow
ef. y may be asked why Il - not deemed
sufficient guard against the passage Of an un
constitutional Act by Congress. There j.
however, restraint IN this last case, whic
makes the assumed ppwcr 81 a Stale NOR
ii'dstenslbie, aud which does not exist IN th
other There arr tao appeals FROM an ~
constitutional act passed by Congress--Onc /
the Nuffrturw ttfGrr 81. Dbl. -.
the States There is no appeal froni me stat
deetsion IN theory, and TIE practical illnstra
ton shows that the courts arc closed again,
an application tD review a. both Judges an
jurors being sworn O. decide IN IL favor. -
But reasoning on chi, subject y superior
when our social compact b. express term
declares, that the lass of the Uuited STATE,