How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
Did we pledge ourselves to the support of an airy nothing—a bubble that must be blown away by the first breath of disaffection? [...] No. We were not mistaken. (16)
Jackson wants to be clear: rules are meant to be followed. Without rules, there is no order, no Constitution, and no America. The Union is a robust thing; we love the metaphor, "airy nothing—a bubble." Wonder who actually wrote the Proclamation.
Quote #2
[I want to] to warn the citizens of South Carolina, who have been deluded into an opposition to the laws, of the danger they will incur by obedience to the illegal and disorganizing ordinance of the convention—to exhort those who have refused to support it to persevere in their determination to uphold the Constitution and laws of their country, and to point out to all the perilous situation into which the good people of that State have been led, and that the course they are urged to pursue is one of ruin and disgrace to the very State whose rights they affect to support. (35)
Since the convention was clear in its support for nullification, all Jackson can do is to appeal to the people who might have buyer's remorse. He implies they've been fooled by their leaders into a situation that's going to devolve into total lawlessness, and they'll all look like fools for going along with it. "Disorganization" is the key word here.
Quote #3
Are you really ready to incur its guilt? If you are, on the head of the instigators of the act be the dreadful consequences—on their heads be the dishonor, but on yours may fall the punishment—on your unhappy State will inevitably fall all the evils of the conflict you force upon the government of your country. (37)
Here's another "power to the people" appeal. They're the ones who will suffer the consequences, even if the leaders are the ones who instigated it. It's a divide and conquer strategy. Jackson always had faith in the people to do the right thing.
Quote #4
Snatch from the archives of your State the disorganizing edict of its convention—bid 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. (37)
Here's another reference to "disorganization." We love his use of the image of the star-spangled banner, that symbol of order and unity. We're surprised he didn't mention "E Pluribus Unum".
Quote #5
As the authors of the first attack on the Constitution of your country!—its destroyers you cannot be. You may disturb its peace—you may interrupt the course of its prosperity—you may cloud its reputation for stability—but its tranquillity [sic] will be restored, its prosperity will return, and the stain upon its national character will be transferred and remain an eternal blot on the memory of those who caused the disorder. (37)
The good guy always wins. Light always triumphs over dark. Law always checkmates disorder. [Insert any other cliché about enemies/foes/polarities here] and you've got Jackson's main message.