The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-22

of the Declaration, the father of the
constitutions" John Rutledge, the
two Pinckneys, Charles Cotesworth
and Charles, Henry Laurens, president
Of the continental congress; Christie
pher Gadsden. Edmund Randolph
but lack of time forbids their further
enumeration. At the outset we are
reminded that these men were eXcep-
tionally we'll prepared for the parts
they were 10 play. They were nearly
all college men. Many of them had
received their education in England,
and most Of them were lawyers. We
further note that these leaders were
horizon was not bounded by State
lines, but extended TO the confines Of
the whole country. The spirit of pa
triotism which actuated them was the
same which South Carolina evinced
when, In 1775, she authorized her
delegates To the continental congress
Ito concur in any measure which
might be deemed essential to IL
welfare of America: and the same
which animated Georgia when she
reminded her delegates TO the same
congress that the great and right
eous cause in which they were engag-
ed was not provincial, but continen-
tal."
In the words of Patrick Henry they
might each have exclaimed, 'the dis
tictions between Virginians. Pennsyl-
vanians, New Workers and New Eng
landers are no more. / am not a Vir-
ginian, but an American" The ma
tional position occupied by the great
Virginians whom 1 have named is ac-
knowledged by all; and as to our
South Carolina statesmen of that pc
riod, they used no higher testimonial
to the breadth OF their patriotism than
was given by the great Daniel Web
ster when, in his reply to Hayne
he said (referring to South Carolina);
Il partake in the pride of her great
names. i claim them for countrymen,
one and all-the Laurenses. the Rut-
ledges, the Pinckneys, the Sumters,
the Marions Americans all, whose
fame is no more to be hemmed by
State lines, than their talents and
patriotism were capable OF being cir
cumscribed within the same narrow
limits. In their day and generation,
they served and honored the coun-
try, and the whole country: and their
renown is one of the treasures Of the
whole country"
In the period from 1900 TO 1924,
the young republic waxed strong and
vigorous under the three Southern
presidents, Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe. All three Of these men re-
ceived college educations and all were
lawyers as well. Madison has been
called 1.-The most learned Of our states
men IN the theory Of government;
the name Of Monroe is forever asso-
ciated with the doctrine which has
profoundly Influenced the history of
the western hemisphere;" and Thomas
Jefferson ranks as one of the great
thinkers and publicists not only of
but Of the world. He is
still the patron saint of millions OF
for he was the founder,
II has been said, "of an indestructible
political creed He had a boundless
faith in the masses, but ne believed
that the masses should be uplifted
by education at the public expense.
and he has left the University of Vir-
ginia as one OF the noblest of his
many monuments.
During the incumbency of Presi-
dent Madison. the war of 1912 was
fought, and among the ablest leaders
in congress and the most active in
bringing on the war. were William
Lowndes, Langdon Cheves and John
c. Calhoun, the remarkable triumvi-
rate from South Carolina. The first
received his schooling in England. the
last named as a graduate from Yale,
and all had been admitted to the bar.
Lowndes served in the lower house
of congress from 1911 to 1922, and
in that short period he was chair
man successfully Of four Of the most
important committees Of that body.
Failing health compelled his rcsigna-
tion in 1922, and when he died i'm the
fall of that year. only 40 years of age,
congress wore 80 days mourning,
though he was not then a member"
Of that body. Henry clay is reported
To have said that Lowndcs was the
wiscst man he had ever met" Lang
"A. 4 4.