Proclamation Regarding Nullification: Section 6 Summary

No Alternative

  • The rhetorical questions start rolling in: Did we all fight the Revolutionary War for nothing?
  • Can South Carolina just start expanding their territory without asking the rest of the country?
  • Can we just start ignoring treaties and grants that we've signed just because we feel like it? Can we just start having dessert before our dinner?
  • So here's the choice that South Carolina is laying down: either repeal all the acts that the government can use to raise money (tax laws), or let the Union be destroyed because of secession. That's no choice.
  • The Governor of South Carolina said he wanted the opinions of the other states about the matter, but the convention didn't even try to arrange that even though it's allowed by the constitution.
  • Jackson said that this crisis has been "madly hurried on" by a bunch of people who've not been paying attention to the Constitution.
  • South Carolina hasn't started any armed opposition to the tariff, but Jackson says he's expecting it any minute.
  • Therefore, it's his duty as prez to proclaim that the law will obeyed, and to warn the good citizens of South Carolina that they'll be in danger if they listen to their deluded leaders.
  • This will rain down shame on the heads of honest citizens.
  • Jackson urges them to set their leaders straight about all this and not to fall for the lies that are bringing good people to the brink of treason.
  • Lie #1: The government is out to ruin South Carolina's economy. As if.
  • Lie# 2: Accepting the tariff means you're sheeple, and resistance means you're patriots.
  • Lie #3: You can have your cake and eat it, too—get all the benefits of being in the Union with none of the responsibilities.
  • Citizens of South Carolina, you have been conned.
  • Your leaders, some of whom voted in favor of other tariffs, are now blowing this situation all out of proportion.
  • They're acting like they're the guardians of liberty, but that's ridiculous
  • You can't trust them.
  • Seriously, they're trying to convince you that you're more oppressed than the colonists under the British?
  • Just look around at how good you've got it: you're a free country, no one has it in for you.
  • Plus, the country's finances are looking up and we're even seriously talking about lowering taxes. Did your leaders tell you that? Didn't think so.