Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/336

Rh those districts in which the Union party was still in the ascendancy would "choose political disorganization sooner than yield to such an arbitrary measure."

There were some in the State Rights party who, up to a very late date, doubted the wisdom of the passage of an oath unless some emergency made it necessary to the safety of the state. They would not advocate it positively, but would let the legislature decide on its expediency. Some of this class were converted just before the legislature met, probably by the tone of the presses, into active advocates of an oath.

The oath was the only important question before the legislature. The Nullifiers finally passed a law abolishing all the military commissions in the state militia and requiring all who should thereafter be elected to take the following oath of allegiance to the state in addition to the oath of office required by the state constitution: "I, A.B., do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will be faithful and true allegiance bear to the state of South Carolina; and that I will support and