1832 Presidential Election

[SPC]

Difficult decision. On the one hand, Jackson's Indian policy, handling of South Carolina's nullification, and questionable tactics toward removing the Second National Bank demonstrate the man to be unfit for holding the executive office. On the other hand, voting for Clay is a tacit endorsement of his neo-mercantilist economic policy. Wirt may have some of Clay's flaws but also is sympathetic for his defense of the Cherokee. Voting for Jackson advances the career of Van Buren, but having someone at the helm willing to properly handle economic policy would avoid saddling Van Buren with a depression for the entirety of his presidency (but of course Clay or Wirt would reauthorize the Second Bank and thus make the Independent Treasury an impossibility).

[SPC]

handling of South Carolina's nullification

What else was he supposed to do? Let states openly defy federal law?

While there is not a specific provision for states doing so under the Constitution, neither is the federal government authorized to threaten the states with military invasion if they fail to enforce federal taxes.

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While the Panic of 1837 could be attributed to Jackson's monetary policy, that had more to do with placing federal assets in inflationary state banks than with abolishing the Bank per se.