What if South Carolina had seceded in 1832?

Would Andrew Jackson have used force to stop South Carolina from seceding in 1832?

  • Yes

    Votes: 15 93.8%
  • No

    Votes: 1 6.3%
  • Other (please explain)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    16

BuckeyeWarrior

Sergeant
Joined
Jan 1, 2020
Location
Ohio
I‘be seen on some civil war discussions people claiming that Andrew Jackson was just threatening force against South Carolina and would not have actually used force. I am decidedly not in that camp but wonder what people here think and why. For evidence I present the memo he sent to his secretary of war during the nullification crisis.

TO SECRETARY OF WAR CASS.

Washington, December 17, 1832.

confidential

My D'r sir, If I can judge from the signs of the times Nullification, and secession, or in the language of truth, disunion, is gaining strength, we must be prepared to act with promptness, and crush the monster in its cradle before it matures to manhood. We must be prepared for the crisis. The moment that we are informed that the Legislature of So Carolina has passed laws to carry her rebellious ordinance into effect, which I expect tomorrow we must be prepared to act. Tenders of service is coming to me daily and from New York, we can send to the bay of charleston with steamers such number of troops as we may please to order, in four days.

We will want three divisions of artillery, each composed of nines, twelves, and Eighteen pounders, one for the East, one for the west, and one for the center divisions. How many of these calibers, are ready for field service How many musketts with their compleat equipments are ready for service. How many swords and pistols and what quantity of fixed ammunition for dragoons, Brass pieces for the field, how many, and what caliber. At as early a day as possible, I wish a report from the ordinance Department, on this subject, stating with precision, how many peaces of artillery of the caliber, are ready for the field, how many good musketts etc. etc., and at what place in deposit.

yrs. respectfully,
Andrew Jackson

Someone who is just blustering would not take the step of asking about and planning an attack. Also knowing Jackson’s history he was not a man to threaten someone idly.
 
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