Martinsburg Gazette

South Carolina.—The decision of the Supreme Court of the State upon the question of the test oath, which has caused much excitement for some months past, is of great importance. The oath had been adjudged constitutional by the District Court at Charleston, and an appeal taken to the Supreme Court at Columbia. The decision of the latter was given on the 2d inst. Judges O'Neil and Johnson delivered their opinions against the constitutionality of the oath. Judge Harper dissented from the opinions of his associates, but did not present his views at length. This decision has caused great excitement throughout the State, and, judging from the language of the press, party strife will be seriously aggravated by it. A meeting had been held at Columbia, at which, among others, the following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That the opinions of the majority of the Court in this case, contain doctrines anti-republican, conformable to the infamous Proclamation, dangerous to liberty, and subversive of the rights of the State."

The meeting also passed resolutions requesting the Governor to convene the Legislature for the purpose of passing laws defining and punishing treason against the State.