Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/338

Rh the people were to decide finally at the next fall elections, was:

I do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will be faithful and true allegiance bear to the state of South Carolina so long as I may continue a citizen thereof; and that I am duly qualified, according to the constitution of this state, to exercise the office to which I have been appointed; and that I will, to the best of my abilities, discharge the duties thereof and preserve, protect and defend the constitution of this state and of the United States; so help me God.

Thirteen of the senators, belonging to the Union party, drew up and published, on December 16, a protest against the oath as unnecessary if it were not to be interpreted as interfering with the oath to the federal Constitution, and as unwarrantable if it were to be so interpreted. A plot of a preliminary vote in the House on the oath question shows that the ranks of the Nullifiers were broken somewhat by the loss of some who refused to continue further the persecution of the Union men. But those who at first hesitated were later persuaded to vote for the oath.