Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-02-24

posing to present to the Senate 6
portrait of the Hon. Arthur Middle.
ton, and you will recall that the
Senate accepted the portrait. Per.
NIT me to read the message:
"To the President and Gentlemen
of the Senate: l have the honor to
transmit to your honorable body the
enclosed communication from John
lizard Middleton. The offer to pre-
sent his native State portrait OF
his illustrious kinsman, the Hon
Arthur Middleton, one of the signers
of the Declaration of Independence
should, in my opinion, command our
courteous and distinguished con-
sideration. | shall take pleasure in
notifying the donor, John lizard Mid
dleton, of your acceptance of his
gift of remembrance to his native
State, and feel sure that you will
authorize me so to do.
| II nave Jne DOnOr TO be
"Respectfully yours,
cd. G. Hayward, Governor"
l now, in behalf of the Governor,
have the honor to present the por-
trait to the Senate and ask that the
Sergeant-at-A Arms will bring the por.
trait in front of tho Presidents desk
for the inspection of the Senate.
You would naturally like to have
your memories refreshed concerning
the life and times of the Hon. Arthur
Middleton and touching the services
which he rendered our State.
In the South Carolina Historical
and Genealogical Magazine, pub.
lished by the South Carolina His,
torical Society, find very in.
structive narrative concerning him
it is so interesting, and yet so brief
that beg that you will pardon me
for reading it: "The Hon. Arthur
Middleton, of Middleton Place, ESQ.
j. L. Member Of the Commons, OF
the Provincial Congress and Council
of Safety and of the Continental
Congress, and signer of the Declara.
tion of Independence, was born at
Middleton Place on Goth June, 1742
sent to England with his uncle in
1854, and educated at Hackney,
Westminster School and St. Johns
College, Cambridge. He returned
to Carolina in December, 1853, set.
tied at Middleton Place, was j. p.
and i'll 1886 in the Commons for
st. Helena. Possessed of fortune
and leisure he spent three years in
travel in England and Southern
Europe, studied the fine arts at
Rome and perfected his taste in
literature, music and painting. On
his return in 1772 he was elected to
the Commons and in 1774 to the
Provincial Congress, and became a
leader of the American party in
Carolina and one of the ablest and
bodlest of the Council Of Safety and
its Secret Committee, was a delegate
to Congress and signed the Declara-
tlon of Independence. OF reserved
nature, he was an able writer,
spirited and terse in debate and
noted for energy and judgment in
action. In 1776 he was chosen to
frame the Constitution for the State
and later to succeed John Rutledpe
as its Governor. He served in the
defence of Charlestown with char.
acteristic intrepedity' and on it's fall
was imprisoned at ST. Augustine and
his estate sequestrated. Being ex-
changed in July, 1871, he was ap.
pointed to Congress and re-elected
IN June, 1882. Returning home in
1888, eminent for his services and
sacrifices he cheerfnlly engaged in
restoring order, served in the State
Legislature and as trustee of the
Charleston College and resided at
Middleton Place in elegant and
liberal hospitality"
Mr.. President, it has often oc-
Cured to me, and for many and
manifest reasons, that it would be
most desirable that the walls of this
chamber should be adorned with
life-like representations of many
the distingui"hed men who have
rendered conspicuous service to
the State. In this respect we do
not stand in the front rank with
many OF our sister States. | had
occasion some time ago to visit the
State House in Georgia, and there
l enjoyed delightful and instructive
entertainment in viewing the por-
traits OF many of the distinguished
men who have served that State as
Governor. Likewise ! had the
pleasure of visiting the State House
in Tennessee, and there, too, it was
great pleasure to look into the
faces of many of the great men of