The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-01
CENTENNIAL CORs ESPONDENCE.

CENTENNIAL COR aESPONDENCE.
We publish below the correspondence be-
tween Hon. Charles Gayarre, the historian,
and F. NJ Etting, of Philadelphia, relative to
Independence Hall:
JANUARY 81, 1875.
To the Editor of the New Orleans Bulletin
Dear Sir-Permit me to avail myself of the
columns OF your journal TO publish the fol-
lowing correspondence, in consequence of
which it is desirable that 1 should obtain
| some biographical information on the life and
character of John Rutledge, one of the sign.
ers of the Constitution OF the United States.
For obvious reasons, l hope for the repro
duction CT this communication by the South
Carolina press:
"To frank M. Ettlns, Esq, Philadelphia
"Sg-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of ycur letter as Chairman of the
Committee on the f 3s.oration OF Independ-
ence Hall, inviting my pres nee at that place
on the ID of July next as one of the Ameri-
can historians, biographers aud iiterati
whose attendaLc CO is desired, and who are re-
quested to bring a Biographical sketch of
every individual whose memory is associated
with that building during the early days of
the Leru blic-which sketches are to be de-
posted IN TIE National Museum for preser-
walton. I am further informed that am in
vited to bring sketch of the life of William
Blouut, signer of the Constitution Of the
United States, as one OF the represen ta.ives of
North Carolina; but, at the same time, leav-
ing mo free 10 choose any other character,
and in that case, desiring me to report the
fact
IN compliance with the communication with
which you have favored me, il affords me
great pleasure to reply that will endeavor to
be at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on
the I'd of July next, bat that I respectfully
beg leave to decline the task Of writing a
bi. graphical sketch of William Blount, be-
cauke i: would i'll become one, a native of
Louisiana to touch such character with the
most elongated pole. Permit me, particularly
On this day. the 6th Of January, and the an
niversary OF the defeat of the British inva hers
of this State in 1915, to remind you that
William Blount was expelled from the Senate
of the United States for having engaged in a
conspiracy to deliver New Orleans into the
hands of Great Britain, although that circum-
stance increased his popularity in the West,
and particularly in Tennessee, his adopted
Safe, where new honors where heaped upon
him. Therefore, availing myself of the per-
mission granted to me by the committee, to
choose the sub ect Of the biographical sketch
desired of me. I have the honor to report to
you, es chairman, my preference for John |
Rutledge, of South Carolina, in connection |
with whose stainless memory l believe that
may put on record some interesting informa-
tor. hitherto unpublished, about the adop-
ton of the Constitution which he signed"
Very respectfully yours.
CHARLES GAYARRE
REPLY. I
"NY Dear Sir L have received reasons |
for not taking the lives assigned, of various
kinds, but yours is the first and only one that
is well founded. Nh objected to his
GRANDPA her because he had said his say; 80
Mr. as to-, while third objected
tc. 80. because $500
GAS my object was to attain an absolute
standard authority for the commemorative &C.
casion of &c. you will appreciate how little
Importance / attached to such ~
~ assure you that no part of the labor has
been SO great as studying out these assign
ments, many Of which proved most happy. |
Two hundred are invited, including Mr.. Ban. /
croft, Messrs Longtellow, Holmes, Bryant,
etc, etc.
II really had forgotten the circumstance to
which you allude ID the life of Blount, only
recalling him as signer of the Constitution in
the very chamber where we shall assemble.
al am delighted with your substitution Of
} John Rutledge, who, like the other great
law5 ers of that day, vindicated the freedom
of the British Constitution, fully believing
true liberty was perfectly attainable there
under. Only one point l have never under
stood in his life-why it was that, after the
Declaration OF Independence, he still ex-
pected, and appeared to hope for, q reunion
with the mother country.
Every truly yours,
''FRANK NJ. ErTING."
l. Among the points which / wish to elu-
cidate. Mr.. Editor, is the one to which
aludes the chairman of the Committee on
the Restoration of Independence Hall. Did
John Rutledge, after the Declaration of H.
dependence, still expect, and appear to hope
for, reunion with the mother country? II
so, for what motives and on what grounds?
2. Among the unpublished papers OF
Franklin is there. as once alleged by one who
married the granddaughter OF that illus.rious
man, curious memorandum concerning the
details Of the opposition made by John But
ledge, in the Constitutional Convention at
to the adoption of the Consti-
tuition which he afterwards signed; but which
opposition. at the time, WIS 50 effective, that
it actually imperiled The formation of the
Union? The vindication of historical truth
would require the production of that memo
randum, II In existence.
g. What were the reasons for which that
great jurist, John Rutlsdge, was rejected by
the Senate, when appointed Chief Justice OF
the United States?
AS the object of the chairman of the
Committee on the Restoration of Indepen-
dence Hall is to attain, in the sketches he de-
sires, ian absolute andard authority for the
occasion of '76," you will
readily perceive the Importance of my OBJ
tanning the most accurate and reliable in
form alton on the lite and character of John
Rutledge, t. whose memory it becomes my
duty to render that impartial justice which
history ought to award Very respect fully,
ste. CHARLES GAYARRH, Box 1897.
To SPoRTsMEN.-If YOU are preparing foY