Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-14
PROCLAMATION.
BY ANDREW JACKSON.


an Ordinance, Ivy which They declare THAI,
the several acts and parts Of acts of the Cou-
gresS Of the United States, purporting TO lie
laws for The imposing of duties aud imposts on
The importation of foreign commod ties, aud
now having actual operation aud cflcc, within
the United States. and more especially" two
acts, Tor the same purpose, passed the 18th
Of May, 1888, aud on the iIth of July, 1882
''ore Unauthorized by the Constitution OF the u.
nitcd States, and violate the true meaning and
intent thereof, end arc null and void, and no
law nor binding on the citizens Of that State
or it's officers: aud by the sad Ordinance il il
further declared to be unlawful for any of the
constituted authorities pf the S,a,o or Of the
United States, 10 enforce the paymou, of tho
duties imroscdhy the said acts within the same
State, and that IL Is the duty of the Legislature
TO pass such laws rs may be necessary to give
full effect to the said Ordinance:
AND WHEREAS, by the said Ordinance i, is
further ordained, thar, in no case Of law C.
guilty, decided i'm the courts Of said State,
Mner, in shall be drawn in question the val d.
Uy OF TIE said Ordnance, or of the acts o:
the Legislature that may he passed To give il
eject, or Of the said laws of the United States
appeal shall be allowed to the Supreme
Court OF thu United States, nor shall any copy
OF The record he permitted or allowed for that
purpose aud that any person attempting to
take such appeal shall be punished as for ii
con.cinpt of. cOur:
And finally, The said Ordinance declares that
the people OF South Carolina will maintain the
said Ordinance at every hazard; aud that they
will consider the passage Of any actbv Con .'resS
abashins closing The ports Of HE said State
ar otherwise obstructins the free nSreSS or
grcss Of vessels 10 and from the said ports, or
any other ac, of the Federal Government IL
coercn tie State, to shut UP her ports, destroy
or harrass her commerce, or 10 enforce tine said
acts otherwis c than through the civil tribunals
of the country, az inconsistent with the longer
continuance OF South Carolina in the Union;
and that the people of the said State will
thcncctorth hold themselves absolved from all
further obligation to mainia II preserve their
political councAion 18th the people of the other
States, aud sill forthwith proceed to organize
separate GOVERNMENT, aud do oil acts aud
filings which sovereign and iudepcnd,ut Staea
may of right do:
AND WHEREAS the said Ordinance pre-
scTibcs to the people OF South Carolina a course
If conduct, in direct violation of their tluty as
citizens uf Tie United States, contrary To the
laws Ct lhcr country: subversivc of lis Cnnsi-
tuition, and having for its o. jcct the destruction
Of the Unon-lhat Union which, coeval with
our political existence, led our fathers, without
amy other ties To unite them thuu those Of pa
trioiism and rommon cause, through a snu-
culinary struggle TO Il Slo, ious Independence
that sacred Union, hitherto nvi0nte, winch, per-
fectcdhy our happy Constitution, has brought
Us, 10y the favor OF Heaven to state of prosper.
iy at home, s. high consideration abroad, rare
preserve this bond Of our political existence
from destruction, TO maintain inviolutc this
state OF national honor and prosperity, and to
Justify the confidence my fellow citizens have
reposed i'll me, |, ANDREW JACKSON, PreSi-
dent Of The United States. have thought proper
to issue this my PROCLAMATION, stating
my views Of the Constitution and laws ip!ica
bic TO tho measures adopted by the COnven
ton OF South Carolina, aud to the reasons they
have put iUr,h to sustain them, declaring The
course which duty viii require to pursue,
and, appealing 10 the understanding aud pa
troIsm OF the people, warn them Of the con
sequences that must inevitably result from an
observance Of the dictates of tho Convention.
Strict du:y would require of Inc nothing
tuorc than The exercise Of those powers win
which am now. may hereafter be, invested
for preserving tho peace Of The Union, and iol
the execution Of the laws. But the imposing
aspect which opposition has assumed in this
case, by clothing Itself with State authority,
and the deep interest which the people of the
United States must all feel N preventing Il re.
sort to stronger measures, while there is Il
hope that any ihipg will be yielded to reuson-
lag and remembrance, perhaps demand, aud
will certainly justify, full exposition 20 South
Carolina AID the notion, of the views euter-
tain Of this important question, as we'll as a
distinct enuncia'ion of the course which my
sense Of duty viii reqti: me to pursue.
The Ordinance is founded, not on the indie
feasible tight OF resisting acts which are plain
" unconstitutional and too oppressive 10 be
endured; but the strange POSITION that any
one State may not only declare an Act of Con-
gress void, bpt prohibit its execution-tlat they
mag 90 this consistently with the Constitution
that the true construction Of that Instrument
permits State to retain its place III tie UUioD,
and Yet be bound Ivy no other Of It's laws than
those il may choose 10 consider constitution
al. 1t il true, they add, that to justify this alb
roga,ioE of tie law, ii must be. paIpabIy con.
;rary to the Constitution; but it is evident
thai to give the right of rCsistiGg laws OF HAT
description, coupled with the uncontrolled right
to decide what laws deserve that character is
10 give the poU'r of resisting all laws. For rs
iy tie tleJry there is no appeal, The reasons
ui!rGed - the STATE, good or bad, must pre-
val. If it should be said that public opinion
i, sufficient check against the abuse Of this
over, il may b. asked why il is not deemed
sufficient guard galnst the pass &C Of un-
constitutional act hy Congress There is, how
ever, a restraint III luis last case, which makes
the assumed pow er of Il State more ldcGcnsi-
bic, aud which does not exist in the other
There are two n ais from an demonstrations
al act pissed by Crugress-Ouc To The Ju1icIa-
~, lIo other II tie people and the States
ILcfc il 10 appeal from inc STATE decision 10
Theory; aud the practical illustration slows that
the courts closed against an application TO
review it, both Judges aud jurors being sworn
- decide in it's favor. But gcas1uing on this
sUllccl is sUpUrfluous When our social compact
IN express terms declares, that the laws of tbs
United 5iales, its Constitution, aud treaties
made under it arc the supreme law Of tie land;
HuI for greater caution, adds, that tie Judges
jT every Stale shall he bound thereby. any thing
in tire Constitution or laws Of any State to Tie
contrary notwithstanding" And it may be as