2 May 1861: “…it shall not be lawful to administer to any officer within this State any oath or affirmation to support the constitution of the United States.”

Item description: “An Act to Repeal 5th Section of the 76th Chapter of the Revised Code, Entitled ‘Oaths.'” Chapter 13.

Item citation: From Public Laws of the State of North Carolina, Passed by the General Assembly, at its First Extra Session of 1861, C345.1 N87 1860-61, from the North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, UNC Chapel Hill.

Tim McKay says:

2 May ’11 at 7:35 am

May 2, 1861 – Keysville, VA.

Today in 1861 about 100 recruits enlisted in the Keysville Guard in Charlotte County, Virginia. Among them was William Creath McKay, my G-G-Grandfather on my father’s side. They were mostly farmers and mostly young. They all enlisted for 1 year. Little did they know.
Chris Wise says:

2 May ’11 at 1:34 pm

So this statute was passed before the state seceded? Sounds like the General Assembly figured secession was a done deal.
jasont says:

3 May ’11 at 7:42 pm

Chris:

Yes, you are correct–eighteen days before the state officially seceded. There were also other actions by the state legislature and other state government officials that made it pretty obvious which way elected officials were leaning.