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 John Rutledge. gress. The Assembly appointed him one of the delegates. In that Congress Rutledge, although only twenty-six, was one of the most influential members. He was chairman of the committee charged with the duty of preparing an address to the Lords in Parliament, and it is believed that he wrote that address. Upon his return to Charleston about the first of November he resumed the practice of his profession, with a reputation greatly en hanced. During the next ten years he accumulated an ample property, which was dissipated during the Revolution by lib eral contributions to the public service, and by the enemy. Meanwhile the aspect of pub lic affairs grew serious. The seeds of revo lution, which had already been sown, were germinating. The news of the Boston Port Bill reached Charleston on May 3ist, 1774. It created the greatest agitation, indignation and alarm. Events crowded thick and fast. The General Committee of Safety called a meeting of the inhabitants of the colony for the sixth of July. At that meeting five dele gates, among whom was Rutledge, were chosen to represent the colony in the Gen eral Congress at Philadelphia. An attempt was made to limit the powers of the dele gates. It was asked what could be done if they misused their unlimited authority to pledge the State. In reply John Rutledge blazed forth: "Hang them! Hang them!" Consider for a moment the courage that dictated that response! The delegates went to Philadelphia with powers uncurtailcd. The Continental Congress of 1774 as sembled on the 5th of September. Rutledge saw that a crisis had come in which it was necessary to act and to act with vigor. In the end he supported all the measures advo cated by that Congress. Meanwhile the first Provincial Congress of South Carolina had been elected by the people. It met on the irth of January, 1775. Although an entirely illegal and unconstitutional assembly it rep resented the great mass of the people, and its acts were regarded with the highest

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authority. Of this Assembly Rutledge had been elected a member and attended its ses sions. In May he returned to Philadelphia to the Continental Congress. The war had already begun. Rutledge, however, still hoped for reconciliation with the mother country. Apparently he never advocated in dependence prior to its declaration, although, in November, 1775, he concurred in the recommendation of Congress to the people of New Hampshire and South Carolina to form new State governments. Immediately thereafter he returned to be in attendance upon the second Provincial Congress of South Carolina, which assembled on the first day of November. In the following Feb ruary he was prominent in the formation of the new Constitution, which was mainly drafted by him and adopted on the twentysixth of March. On the same day he was elected the first President of South Carolina, and served in that capacity for two years. As President his energetic action and pluck in supporting Moultrie in defending Charles ton against the British attack at Sullivan's Island on June 28 was inspiriting and of the greatest efficacy. That splendid and suc cessful defense warded off from South Caro lina for nearly three years the disasters of war. In spite of General Lee's advice to abandon the fort, which afterwards took its name from its gallant commander, Rutledge insisted that the position must be held, and wrote to Moultrie not to evacuate the fort without an order from him. In conclusion he said: "I would sooner cut off my hand than write it." On the day that Rutledge visited Fort Moultrie to express thanks to its heroic defenders, the American Con gress at Philadelphia declared the colonies free and independent States. The first General Assembly elected under the new Constitution of South Carolina met on the fifth of December and re-elected Rutledge President. Meanwhile there had been in the autumn a formidable attack and in vasion by the .Cherokees, which had been successfully repelled. In March, 1778, a new