The national Republican., 1860-12-21
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
.,....,, For the National Republican.
THE DISTINGUISHES OF SOUTH CARO-.
LIMA IN HISTORY.
NUMBER Q

..... NUMBER 2.
Having in former number shown what the
action Of South Carolina was, at the beginning
Of the struggle for independence, and prior to
the actual breaking out Of hostilities, now pro.
coed with history Of some Of her acts during
the war.
On the llth Of May, l779-almost three years
after the Declaration Of IL dep.ndence-a Brit.
ish squadron, under command of General Pro.
vost, appeared before Charleston and demanded ,
the surrender Of the Notifications and town.
The American force was commando by Gen.
eral Moultrie, most gallant and patriotic off.
Ger, and whose defence of Sullivan's Island
against British squadron on he 2Sth of June,
l776, had won for him a reputation for daring
and bravery unsurpassed by that of any other
officer. 1t was in honor Of that gallant ex.
plot that his name was afterwards given to the
fort, which name it bears TO the present day. |
Hc afterwards published, in two volumes, |
history of the war; and it is from that we OBJ
tain the following facts.
Rutedge, who was then Governor, is repre-
scented by Moultrie rs having been very much
frightened, and at once proposed to Moultrie to
surrender to the British. To this Moultre OBJ
jected, saying that he believed they could de.
fend the place; that he could not send flag in
his own name, but that il the Governor would
call the Council together and they requested it,
he would do so. They did request IL, and he
sent a messenger, asking what terms the British
would give, if he should conclude to capitulate.
The British general, rs usual, made all kinds of
good promises but these were rejected by Moul-
frie. Rmledge and the Council still urged him
TO surr nder; and so urgent were they, that
Moutrie was at last induced to send the follow.
ing message;
81 propose neutrality during the war be-
ID I
ton, Whether the State shall belong to Great
Britain, or remain one of the United States,
be determined by the treaty Of peace between
those two Powers. ."-( MouitrieS Memoirs, vol
!, PIP. 1928.
Chief Justice Marshall, in his Life of Wash.
ington, vol. |, PIP. 29s-9, Philadelphia edition,
1882, corroborates this statement in full. So
too does DR.. Ramsay, OF South Carolina, in his
history, Published in 1889, (see page 425.) Pro.
fessor Bowen also states the same, and then
comments as follows:
"This proposal did not come merely from
the commander of a military garrison, in which
case, of course, it would have been only nuga.
tory; the Governor Of the State, clothed with
discretionary powers, was in the place, and
probably most of the Council with him. Whe,h.
er such proposition would have been justifa
BILE under any circumstances is a question that
needs not to be discussed; at any rate, it wouli
not have evinced much honorable or patriotic
feeling. But TO make such an offer in the
present case, was conduct little short Of treason.
Till within fortnight, not an enemys foot
had pressed their ground; aud even now, the
british held no strong position, had captured
none of their forts, and occupied only the little
space actually covered by the army in front Of
the town. The garrison equalied this army in
strength, and might safely bid it defiance. No
NJ hand C,r ,ba Rrit; oh uh;ln tbn
certain arrival of Lincoln within week would
place them between two fires, and make their
position eminently hazardous. Yet, with these
prospects before them, the authorities of the
place made proposition which was equivalent
to an offer from the State TO return to us diLe-
giance 10 the British Crotrn. The transaction
deserves particular notice here, because the
surrender of Charleston in the following year,
surrender brought about by the precedence Of
Tie same unpatriotic feelings, was made the
ground of some very uni ust reflections on the
conduct of Lincoln, their military commander"
That is what the people of South Carolina
did in 1879. In April, 1850, Sir Henry Clin-
ton appeared before Charleston with British
force, and summoned the American General,
3 Lincoln, to surrender, which he refused to do
81, stating in his reply that duty and inclination
prompted him to defend the place to the last
r. extremity" This was on the 10th of April
On the Sth of May, the British commander
sent another summons, which, owing to the
pressure upon him by the people Of The city,
General Lincoln finally accepted. In his &C
ceptance of them, he expressly stated that he
did so because Of an application Of the citizens
for him to do so, and their willingness to com
ply with the terms.
As further evidence of the feeling of the
citizens there, at that time, we may quote the
following from the dispatch of Sir Henry Gin
ton to Lord Germans, dated June 4th l780.
With the greatest pleasure, further repor
10 your lordshp, that the Inhabitants from eDery
qnarter repair to the detachme'tts Of tie army
ani 10 this garrison, TO DECLARE THElli
ALLEGIANCE TO THE KING, and 10 OFFER
THEIR SERVICES IN ARMS, IN SUPPORT OF HIS
GOVERNMENT. In many instances they hurC
BROUGHT PRISONERS their former oppreSsorS o'
LEADERS; and | may venture to assert that
there are tew men eoen in South Carolina whC
are not either our prisoners, or IN arms ril
as"
No language or comment Of ours can add t.
the feeling of Indignation which must fiji ever,
patriotic mind, upon reading these evidence
Of South Carolina treason, in that trying strug
gle. With force adequate to the protection
Of the place, a brave and patriotic officer i
compelled by the citizens, whose lives, Liberties
ind property, he was able and willing to deten
to the last extremity, to ignominiouSy surrende
10 the national foe! Not content with thai
these same citizens are found Fastening tror
all quarters to the British General, to reneI
their allegiance to Tie British Croton and o
tering their seroices IN behaf Of our oppres'
ors, and against our otcn countrymen! MAJ
more-we find them actually bringing in as pri
oners TO the British camp those american
srho had been most actiUe IN defence Of Mci
country, especially the officers and leaders, i
many instances not only their neighbors, br
even their own relatives! Had those nobl
latiots, Laurens, Sumter, and Marion, bee
within their power, they too would undoub