Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-27
TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

tons the Amendment of the Constitutional Oath
TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
We, Ae Minority of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives feel it duty ourselves to our CON
sttuents and the country at large the course we
have pursued during the present session of the Lcgsa-
turc in relation to the a-absorbng which have
been before it, and the principles which we have act
ed in accepting the terms OF accommodation Which ve
hope and believe will restore harmony to our community
When the Legislature had been III session few DAYS
the BILL to amend the Constitution of the State which
in the last Legislature had been proposed by consttu
tonal majority, was pressed TO n hasty reading with
the understanding that wohirds OF the whole reprcspn
;atloR-ln both branches would pass it, At the same
time, Bill +roduced 20 define treason and notice
was also given, That leave would he asked 10 brine in
Bill to amend the Judiciary system of State These
measures led Go the conviction on our minds that the
majority determined not only to pass the amend
mcnt OF the Constitution requiring oath of allegiance
to the State, but to give it construction which we re-
gardcd as violating the Constitution of the United
States; and to enforce that construction without cav
ing us any of the ordinary peaceablc means of re-
sistancc. When, therefore, the amendment was final
~ passed IN our respective Houses, gave notice
that we should enter the journals solemn protest
against it. But before it became necessary to do So
report was made by the joint committee of both Houses
on federal relations, sundry petitions and memorials
OF citizens from various parts of the State against the
oath of Office, in which it was distinctly declared
by the said committee, that the allegiance rcqtired J1
heGmendmen IS that allegiance, icek crcry citizen ares
TO he suite consistently oih tie Constitution Of tic United
STATES When that report taken up, il was adopted
IN both houses by large maorities of those who support
cd the amendment of the Constitution This we re-
garded as an offer OF reconciliation, and pledge that
the bills defining treason and amend the judiciary
were not intended to be passed and to shcw our conf
dence that this the intended TO be pursued
by the majority immediately withdrew orr notice of
protest and waited events. These have not disappoint
ed expectations The bills to define treason and to
alter the Judiciary have not been pressed second
reading, passed.
We have therefore, decided for ourselves and recon-
mend YOU to withdraw all objections to the new oath of
Office now incorporated in the Constitution according 10
the ferns OF our government by which, while we shall
pledge ourselves to be faithful and truth allegiance bear
to the State, shall also swear to the best of our
a1nhes to Preserre protect, and defead The Constitution
ltis, felowctizens, under these circumstances, and
with these views that we have accepted the terms
OF accommodation in the same spirit of kindness and
with the same anxious desire to harmony to our
distracted State, with which we believe they have been
rendered TASK not of the majority surrender any
opinions, which they conscicnousy withhold, our
part do intend to surrender ours We consider This
effort al conciaton thus happily successful as we be-
hevc the majority regard 10 be the understanding be-
tween the two great political parties of the State that
the new oath OF allegiance shall receive that consruc
ton, which is consistent with the Constitution of the IT,
States For ourselves, accept it, in the full conf
dencc that means than that we will be faith
m 10 the State in performing all her constitutional reoui
Suos ana VIII bear her true allegiance to the full
extent OF al her reserved rights and sovereign powers
and that tins IL not inconsistent with OBLIGATIONS we
owe, and the allegiance we bear to the United States to
the full extent of all the powers conferred bv tho Fede
raj Constitution. And we do not deem il
with the good faith with which we have accented this
accommodation, and intend to maintain it, declare that
n
tend to support the Constitution and Laws of the IT,
States, Z" made in pursuance thereof as the supreme
law Of the land"
SenatoTS.-James Chestnut, from Kershaw; RosEa
Cannon from Darlington; Banster Stone, from Green
VILE Henry Duran from Horny James Il. Erwin, from
Cheserield Joseph Roger, it,, from St Ceorge Dor.
chester Thomas Poole, from SParanburg; r.. D. Mont.
g0mery' from Lancaster; John r. Richardson. from
Clarendon Paul Western, from Christ Church; David
D. wilson, from Williamsburg; John n Davis, from
81. james Goose Creek
Rspyesenta,ees benjamin Massey, John Montgome-
~, Lancaster District W j. Buord WILLIAMSBURG Dis.
tncG John Crawford, II. II. Thomson, Theron Earle
3. L. Westmoreland, Andrew Barry, Spartinburo Dis,
tncf ). w Picket Horny District Wilson Cobb Mi.
eajah Berry, John H. Harrson Greonville District; NJ
Nj Levy, JOS. Cunningham, r.. Mayhem, Kershaw Dis.
tfict David 5. r. Du6ose, WIN. K. Burgess Clarendon
District; John i. Sirohcokcr, St James Goose Creek;
P Phillips, Chesterfield District; John N Williams
Robert Erwin, Darlington District William c. Beatty
James VI. Love Ihomas Williams, IT, Gordon Moore
YORK Disircij NJ Righton, Christ Church Parish
49, [Fiom the Trenton Emporiun1
WILLIAM G. RtvEs-Wc are pratifcd with the seni;.