Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/343

324 dismemberment of the republic, the Unionists of the mountain districts announced that they would "never suffer it to disgrace their persons" until they had been "driven across 'the last ditch.'" Scarcely a Union man mentioned this act without pronouncing it uncalled for and tyrannical in the highest degree.

Some few there were among the Union party who were willing to take the oath, regarding it as perfectly harmlesis, because they believed it could be construed as each individual liked. These were assured by the great majority of the party, however, that the judges who were very likely to be Nullifiers would not so interpret it, but would demand, as the Nullification party urged in the legislature, exclusive allegiance to the state and a paramount obligation to defend and uphold the sovereignty of South Carolina whenever it might come into conflict with the sovereignty of the United States.

Union writers told their party that its supporters must submit in quiet humility, migrate, or resist. If the first course were followed, they