Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-18

] Commissioner to coulter about terms, 10 send
one to meet him at such tune and place a.
! Provost might prescribe.
Sen. Moultre says
When the question was carried for giping up III,
tolpn upon a neutratity win not say who was fol
the question but this / well remember, that Mr.,
John Edwards, one Of the Privy Council, worthy
citizen and very respectable merchant of Char
lesion, affected as to weep, and said
stWhat, we to give up the town at last 70
The Governor and Council adjourned to Col
BeekmaA's tent on the lines, at the gate. sent
for Col. John Laurens from his house, to request
the favor he would carry message from the Gov
ernor and Council to Gen. Provost hut when he
knew the purpose he begged to be excused from
carrying such messages that it was much against
his inclination that he would do anything to serve
his country, but he could not think of carrying
such message as that then sent for Col. Nc
Intosh and requested he would go with Col Roger
Smith, who was called ON by the Governor with the
message. They both begged would excuse them !;
hoped aud requested would get some other person.
1 however pressed them into compliance, which
message was follows
Il propose neutrality during the war between
Great Britain and America and theQuestios tChether
the Sfate shall belong 10 Great Britain remain
Of The United Safcs be determined by the treaty Of
peace between those two powers
Chief Justice Marshall, in his Life of
Washington, thus chronicles this diseraceful
business
The town was summoned to surrender, and the
day WAS spent IN senling and receiving flags. The
neutrality of South Carolina, during the war, leav
ing the question, tchether thai State shou finally be-
long to Great Brian the Uaife2 STATES, to be set
tied in the treaty OF peace, was proposed by the
garrison, and rejected BY Provost.
Ramsay, in his history, published in 1889,
thus states ihe action of his own State
Commissioners OF the garrison were instructed
bafuJ
Great Britain and America, and that the question:
arhether The STATE shall belong 10 Great Britain
main Of tie United States, be decided by the
treaty of peace between these powers.
The British commanders refused this ad-
vautageous offer, alleging that they had not
come in legislative capacity, and insisted
that. as tue inhabitants and others were in
arms, they should surrender as prisoners of
war.
Prof. Bowen, of Harvard, in his Life of
Lincoln, (see Sparks American Biography J
remarks upon this ignominious proposition
THIS proposal did nsst cnnlB merely from the
commander of militsry garrison, in which case,
Of course, it would have been only nugatory; the
Governor of the State, clothed with discretionary
powers, was in the place, and probably most of his
Council along with him. Whether such a propo-
sItlon would have been lustfable under any
cumstances, is question that need not 0e discus
sed at any rate, il wouli not have cvinced much
honorable patriotic feeling. But to make such
an offer IN the present conduct little short
Of treason. Til within fortnight, not an encmy'S
foot had pressed their ground and even now, the
British held STRONG position, had captured none
of their forts, and occupied only the little space
tually covered by the army in front of the town.
The garrison equalled this army in strength, and
might safely bid it defiance No succors were at
hand for the British, while the certain arrival of
Lincoln within week would place them between
two fires. and make their position emfnently hazlr
doGs. Yet, with these prospects before them,
the authorities of the place made a proposition
which was equivalent TO an offer from The STATE 10
TetuTa 10 its allegiance 10 the British crolcn The
transaction deserves particular notice here's because
the surrender of Charleston in the following year.
surrender brought about by the prevalence Of the
same unpatriutlc feeling, was made the ground of
some very unjust reflections upon the conduct OF
Lincoln, their military commander.
This was South Carolina in l7T9, and she
was as cowardly aud selfish in 1880, rs the
record proves.
EARLY in the year 1880, Sir Henry Clinton
and Vice Admiral Arbuthnot appeared before
Chal leston, but it was not Until April that
they commenced operations on the land within
haif-a mile of the American works. The town
contained some two thousand regulars, and
more than twice that number of militia aud
u.
Lincoln.
Ou the 10th April, 1880, the British COM
manders summoned Lincoln to surrender the
town, which summons received ut once TIC fol-
lowing answer
To Gen. Sir Henry Clinton and Vice Admiral .4r-
battaot, &c.
GENTLEMEN IL have received your summons of
this date. Sixty days have passed since it was
known that your intentions against this town were
hostile in which time has been afforded to abandon
it but duty and inclination point TO the prepriety
of supporting it to the last extremity.
l have the honor to be, &C.,
B. LINCOLN,
Commander in the South Department.
CHARLES Town, April 10, 1850.
On the 9Th of May, another summons from
Sir Henry brought from Lincoln an offer of
terns, which were rejected but the "militia
and citizens took the matter in hand, and,
only three days afterward, Gen. Lincoln thus
addressed Gen. Clinton:
To His Ercellency Sir Henry Clinton.
SIR The same motive of humanity which in
clined you to propose articles Of ctpitulation to
this garrison, induced me to offer those had the
honor OF sending you on the Sth instant. They
then appeared to Iue such as | might proafer. and
you receive with hono- to both parties. Your ex-
ceptions to them, they principally concerned ths
militia and citiSeRs, then conceived were such as
Soulu hot oe SoASuttSd WIN O@L feceM dppttcd-
tion from those people, srheren they cypress acitng
ness 10 comply With them, and wish on my part to
essen as much as may be, the distiesses Of war to
Individuals lead me TO offer you my acceptance
OF them.
have the honor TO be, &c,
B. LINCOLN.
CHARLEs-T TowS, May II, 1880.
BY the terms of the surrender, the Uanti-
uental troops were prisoners o. war, but
'.THosE PEOPLE" were prisoners on parole.
Sir Henry Clinton, writing to Lord George
Germaine, one of bis Majesty's principal Sec
retarics Of State, from .Head Quarters, Charles
town, South Carolina, june 4, 1885, says: