HRI PH R D D C STO E GA S EN .

R I K . E . . E N I C

F o f S outh e rn H istor A &rom Publications y ssociation ,

J ul y,

R I B G P A H A R S &R ,

L I H I N G O MP A N Y H A R R I S B &R G P &B S C ,

1 898 . A C H R I S T O P H E R G D S D E N .

B N I C K Y E . I . RE .

It is not so much Christopher Gadsden ’ s achievements as his virtues and his infl uence that attract the attention of his

to rians fo r reve nc e ff c , and win him the fi and a e tion of all

capable of appreciating patriotism . His character has been

well portrayed by his old friend , Dr . David Ramsay , by Mr . F A George Bancroft , and by Mr . . . Porcher . Mr . Ban ’ croft s well - known eul o gy cl o ses with a command to all who rejoice in the uni o n o f the colonies to name this unwav ering

lover of his country as well as James Otis , whenever they “ count up th o se who above others contributed to the great ” n result . What manner of man was this S outh Carolinia “ ” who is thus classed with the inspired madman o f Massa ch us etts

o * D ctor Ramsay , who was closely associated with him in ffai r private and public a rs for thirty yea s , gives an account of “ n his life which has b ee relied upon by later historians . Mr . ” “ tu Gadsden , he tells us , had na rally a strong love for inde nden e c e . e o p He was born a republican . &nd r well rdered r gove nment he was a good subject , but could not brook the encroachments of any man o r body of men intrenching on

his rights . When the British began their proj ects i of for abridg ng the privileges the colonies Mr . Gadsden was

among the first to take fire . He descried inde

endenc e o ff p when it was afar , and early foresaw that such was the nature of man that A merica could never be governed

' with an exclusive or even a preferable view to her own in terest whil e the fountain of power was three th o usand miles

distant . He had correct ideas of the rights of man and of

H i sto r 0 S o uth C a r oli na i i et y / , , 457 seq .

C urt.

”( M w We/ (L C. a 4 J a m i — d den . 2 C hristopher G a s . Renick 43

the representative system long b efore Mr . Paine wrote on

s r e the subj ect . His pa sions were strong and

quired all his religio n and philosophy to curb them . His patriotism was both disint erested and ardent . He declined all offices of profit and through life refused to take the com pensati o n s annexed by law to such offices of trust as were e conferred on him . His character was impress d with the s in hardihood of antiquity ; and h e po sessed an erect , firm , trepid mind which was well calculated fo r b uff etting with ” revolutionary storms . ’ - Mr . a Bancroft , who was familiar with Gadsden s c reer and “ o r h had collected s me of his pape s , declares t at he was a

man of deep and clear convictions , thoroughly sincere , of an

‘ o unbending will and a sturdy , impetu us integrity . no t He had only that courage which defies danger , but that n invincible persiste ce which neither peril nor imprisonment , i d a . F nor the threat of e th can shake ull of relig ous faith , a nd and at the same time inquisitive tolerant ; methodical ,

and yet lavish of his fortune for public ends , he had in his nature nothing vacillating or low and knew not h o w to hesi

tate or to: ’ In Mr . Porcher s charming and schol arly Memoir of C hris to her G ads den 1 8 6 p , read in 7 before the S outh CarolinaHis ‘ to ric al S o c ietyg he is described as a man who could not

o bend from the dictate of principle to that of policy , and c uld d therefore be neither a good party leader , nor even a goo

party man . He followed always the impulse of inco rrupti

ble honesty , an d was the impersonation of the most exalted F . n chivalry ear and favor were alike foreign to his ature . Enthusiastic even to rashness in the cause of A merican Independence , his capacious heart beat as keenly for the wrongs of Massachusetts as for the insults to Caro ” . e r lina He served his whol country with his whole hea t .

H i s to r t o th e &. S . v . I t i s rati i o o y f , , g fy ng t bs erve th a . ’ i n th e a u th o r s las t re vi s i o n (1 883) th i s c h arac teri &ati o n r e m ai ns

u m o ifie . S e e i i i 1 2 1 n d d , .

T P u lis h e i n C h arle s to 1 8 8 auth o ri t o f th e i b d n , 7 , by y S o c ety . S outhern H istor A ssociation. 244 y

The details of the life of such a man cannot but b e interest “ ” o ing . He was born in Charlest wn , South Carolina, in 2 — — li euten 1 7 4 . His father Thomas is said to have b een a ’ ant in the Royal N avy and the King s Collector for the Port of It is sai d that Christopher was sent to o school near Bristol , England , b ef re he was sixteen years of ’ age , and that th ere he became a favorite with his father s i n A G asc o s . t o relatives , the g , Halls and Gadsdens scho l h e and learned Latin , Greek & Mr . Oliver R . Johnson , the ice and D eputy Con

sul General of the &nited States at London , had the kindness f to make inquiries at the Public Record o fice of that city , where the admiralty and o ther rec o rds previous to the year

m “ 1 8 00 o . a are kept , and f und that Lieut Tho s Gadsden r and was not in the Royal Navy, but in th e merchant se vice ,

o n 2 th oth e 1 2 2 was placed half pay from th e 7 to g of Jun , 7 — o d four days only th e am unt being paid to his attorney, E a t w rd Jasper , after which da e there appears to be no furt her t him race of . fl — Mr - Our Consul General at London . John C . New c also

n land ~ m uch obtained from an antiquarian of Hertford , E g , a m n valuable inform tion concerning the fa ily of Gadsde , ”but ’ no thing was definitely ascertained about Christopher s i a

ther . A simple stone in St Philip ’ s church yard in Charleston b ears the inscription : Here lie th e remains of Tho mas and

& h e Eli abeth Gadsden and of many of their descendants . S 1 2 A died in March , 7 7 ; he in ugust ,

It is related by Dr . Jos eph Johnson in his T raditi ons

’ R am sa P o rch er o s e h o h ns o n s r a di ti o ns o th R e o uti o n y , , J p J T f e v l .

R am sa a nd o s e h T y J p J o h nso n .

Mr h . o o t s o Mr . Wh ar to N o . S e tem er 1 2 1 8 0 MS S . Tl J n n n , 97, p b , 9 , D e artm e t o f p n S ta te .

Mr e Mr . N w to . Wh a r to N o . 1 26 D e m e 1 ec r 8 0 . D e I& n , , b 5, 9 , MSS artm e nt o f p S ta te . — c . 2 C hristopher G ads den . Reni k 45

that Thom as Gadsden lost a large sum of m o ney about the 1 A o year 733 , gaming with Lord ns n , and paid the debt by giving him titles to all those lands which afterwards bore the “ ” u h name of A nso nbo ro g . 1 2 1 2 Lord A n s on did sail for S outh Carolina in 7 3 or 7 4, “ ”< and 1 0 remained there until 73 , and his biographer says it is no t impos sible that whil e on this station he may have pos ” s s o r se sed ome property , either by purchase by grant , as his name was given to certain districts .

~ o o . We have a c py of a letter , h wever , written by Mrs John son of S outh Caro lina at the time of his visit des cribing the

A dmiral as really so o ld- fashioned as to make some pro fes ” “ ” “ i e sion of relig on ; mor over , she adds , he n ever dances , e to o nor swears nor talks non s ens . i It used be said of L rd “ A nson that he had been ro und the world but never in it .

o o The traditi n of the Gadsden family is that Christ pher , who could not have been more than five or six y ears of age when this alleged loss occurred and wh o was but seventeen when hi s e a father di d , regarded this valuable land as h ving b een gambled away and determined to regain by purchase every

it— a s c foot of re olve whi h was carried out . A fter service in a counting house in Philadelphia and as a purser , Christop her Gadsden devoted himself to the mer cantile w e business in Charleston in hich he achiev d success .

c o a He was oc upied as a merchant , a fact r and a planter p arentl ho f r p y wit ut much interruption o twenty years . In 1 759 he was captain of an artillery company in the expedition s 1 60 against the Ch erokee , and in 7 h e began his political career as a memb er of the Commons House of A ssembly

o r 1 62 of the Province of S outh Car lina . It was he e in 7 that he was the cause of the first seri o us difficulty b etwe en th e Royal Governor and the representativ es of the p eo ple fl

’ arro s Li o A e nso n . 1 2 1 1 1 8 . B w f f , pp 9 , , 3 , 4, 5, 39

arr T B o ws .

1TG adsden p res e rv e d full m inu tes o f th e h igh - h and ed c o nduc t o f G o v e r o r o o e o n th i s o c a i n B n c s o n . 2 46 S onthern H is tory A ssociation .

Governor Boone r efused to consider Gadsden properly

elected and disso lved the House for contumacy. The quar N 0 o e rel ended in the recall of Boone . other G v rnor in that

Province ever attempted to control p o pular elections . It was this interference with the election of Christopher Gads den that first aroused South Carolinians to a j ealous watch F fulness of their public rights . eelings of hatred and dis trust then provoked were to grow m o re bitter in a year or two when Great Britain assumed to tax and govern the

e Coloni s in all cases whatever , and Christop her Gadsden , upon whom the Royal Go ver nor attempted to cast indigni

ties , was to stand for the most decisive and energetic

< m easures fi There can be little doubt that this habitual contempt with which A merican gentlemen were treated whenever they had o fii cial int ercourse with British civil and military officers was a potent cause for resistance in A mericans at this time were proud of their strength and sensible of their importance to Britain and th ey meant to ” o f n guard their liberties . Some these Colonists , says a old histo rian h , fl even in erited a natural aversion to monarchy

-m e all fro their forefath rs , and on occasions discovered a

o strong tendency towards a republican f rm of government , “ o T b th in Church and State . his tend ency was particularly strong among a people like the S outh Carolinians of that — day , prosperous , and well educated . Many of them Gads den among the numb er— had been students at English “ s c hools and had learn ed to set a just estimate on their own & Be ui r m n talents and q e e ts . A

’ T h e c o tro vers i th o o e i s i ve i n o h so s r a di ti o ns . n y w B n g n J n n T , p

5. A p rinte d s ta te m e nt o f i t was pres e rv e d fo r m a ny y ears by G ads ’ a m i l h e r e e i f h u e e ri e i t d en s f y . T p o c d ngs o t e H o s e w r p nt d by s r e r i n h e o d t S o uth C a r oli na G a&ette.

T P o rc h er .

’ H ewa o u h a r o l na a n G eo r i a 1 i i . 08 0 . fl t s S t C i d g ( 779) , 3 , 3 9

’ ’ S e e o n th i s s u e c t o h s o s Li e o G r eene i . 2 6 u o r s bj J n n f f , , 5 ; T d

ti s . O , 245 — 2 C hristopher G adsden. Renick . 47

They did not , perhaps , think more highly of themselves than they ought to have thought when they lo oked down — — upon this swarm of placemen those eighteenth centur y car

pet - baggers who were continually playing such fantastic n o tricks before high heaven . Engla d f isted upon the colonial establishments men wh o m the Government co uld “ ”

f r a . not provide o at home . This cause , s id Mr Gerry on A 6 1 8 & ugust , 7 9, in the nited States House of Representa “ ” “ tives A , lost them merica , and he added , this cause will lose them every dep endency where they attempt to play the like Great Britain long since stopped playing this

game . Massachusetts had her B ernard as South Carolina had her T “ Boone . Mr . udor , speaking of the ungracious , impolitic ” and offensiv e manner in which the fo rmer submitted a cer

: tain resolution , says j “ His speeches exemplify i n full force the humiliating ten ure of colonial exi stence where a mere vulgar placeman apes the tone of the sovereign he represents ; and infl ated with his transient favor , exercises his representative sovereignty with mock dignity that i s not relieved by the graceful conscious ness of original p o wer . It is much better to be near the center , where the power is generally the most toler

ac ant and relaxed , and where , if there is arrogance , it is the c o m anim ent p of real maj esty ; while in the distant provinces ,

a delegated authority becomes more rigid , more relentless and mor e offe nsive from being in the hands of subaltern and ” often servile agents .

s e Gad d n had been impressed by this arrogance . His — — friend Middleton a provincial o ffic er had come into con fl “ ” iet with Col . James Grant of the regulars in the Ch ero 1 1 A — kee war of 76 . bitter quarrel ensued an encounter in which Grant is said to have been struck by Middleton with tw a cane , and finally a duel between the o officers . Gadsden

A nna ls o C o n r ess 1 : 6 f g , 8 1 . :

Li e o O ti s . 2 . r f f , p 45 i ti n S outhern H istory A s s oc a o .

carefully preserved the correspondence relating to the con * rs tro ve y. This incident occasioned intense e& citement in Charles

ton . Its inhabitants came to entertain bitter feelings to led wards the mother country , and they were soon to a de

fiance of British authority . No man in A merica strove more earnestly to bring about

A ct 1 6 the Stamp Congress of 7 5 than Gad sden , and none

n - was subsequently more strenuous tha he in its support . His speeches in the A ssembly in its favor—though not — splendid specimens of oratory were so energetic that he “ o carried the House with him . He spoke to th se who have

o f r f ever been j ealous inte ference with their a fairs , of mani

t n o o res estations of exter al p wer, and of anything like pp ” sion . — — A s early as this cer tainly a year later Gadsden was looking forward to a separation from Great Britain . He had A 1 6 been one of the ssembly in S eptember , 7 4, to support the d resolutions signe by Peter Manigault , S peaker , and ordered “ n n r . to be pri ted , that they might be tra smitted to poste ity These were subsequently incorporated in the declaration of the rights and the grievances of the Colonies agreed to at

’ New Yo rkfl Now he was one of the three from the only southern colony save Maryland represented at this first A merican Congress &I It was here he assert ed his broad na ” “ ti nal 1 o . sentiments There ought to be , he said , no New

* ti ll in e& i s e c e n lum e ti tle o uth a r oli na S t n i a MSS . vo e n d S C

fil i scella n . I t c o m p ri s e s le tte rs fro m G o v e rno r B ull to Middle

' to n a nuar 1 0 a nd arc h 1 1 6 1 i le to to G ra t ul I O a nd J y M 3 , 7 . M dd n n J y 1 1 6 1 G ra t to i le to ul 1 0 1 6 1 and G o ver o r ull to 9, 7 , n M dd n J y , 7 , n B

G ra t ril 1 0 1 6 1 . n Ap , 7

’ Lo e s S h o r t H i stor o the C o lo ni es . 1 1 . T dg y f , p 7 . ‘ ’ C o m ar e H ewa t i i . 2 1 a nd N ile s P r i nci le a nd A ts o the ll p , , 3 p s c f R o u ’ ev l ti on . 1 6 . H e at i s re ri te i n rro ll s H i st . o ll . S . , p 3 w p n d C a C

i . e e C , S p . 526 .

&I I t o ugh t to b e r em em b er ed th at S o uth C aro lina to o k th i s step to ward C o ntin e ntal &ni o n b efo r e i t w as a gr e ed to by a ny C o lo ny so u th o f N e l w E ng and . — n 2 C hristopher G adsden . Re ick . 49

Y England man , no New orker known on this Continent , but 6 1 all of us It was not until S eptember , 774, that Patrick Henry used somewhat s imilar language . The representatives of nine co lonies then in Congress practically A e founded the merican union , for the example of f deration “ s et o then was n ever forgotten . The leaders on the flo r u r were Gadsden and R tledge , of S outh Ca olina , and Otis , “ o f a the Massachusetts . &nder the le d of South Carolina argumen ts fo unded on chartered pr ivilege s were laid aside and the broad doc trines of inalienable rights and liberties ” ’ r distinc were adopted . 1 This was Christophe Gadsden s tive con tribution to the deliberations of that A ssembly“

no Mr . Hosmer says that public man saw as soon as Sam uel A dams that in the latter half of the eighteenth century

the time for it &an independent empire in. th e wester n wor ld& “ c and s e had ome again , seven year b fore the D eclaration

o f m an Independence , nor long after , was there a except S amuel A da m s who lo o ked forward to it and worked fo r

’ Fr th i n h am R h ult fo r a n o s i se o the R e u bli c . 1 8 8 h i c c o s g f p , p , w n a f a e c c o u o e e . 1 . nt G dsd n . S p 8 2

’ o e s S h or t H i stor o the E n li s h C o lo ni es 1 1 . S e e o n T L dg y f g , 3 ’ th i s s u e c t Wo o b ur s C a uses o the A m er i ca n R evo luti o n o h s bj d n f , J n

i i . H o s & v tu i e s & er i es & ii . . pk n n S d , S , , p 44

i l f N e Y o r if Mr . Fro th ngh am a so m enti o ns R o be r t Li vings to n o w k as ta i h i r u A s h a f th i o r ess s e e k ng t s g o nd . to t e a dv nta ge s o s C ng ’ - u o r s O ti s . 2 . h er e as o u tless m uch su s e u e t c o r T d , p p 34 5 T w d b b q n resp o ndence b etwe e n G adsd e n a nd th o se wh o m h e m e t at N e w Y o rk i n 1 6 —e s e c i all ith a m u el a m s e e h i s le tter to o ne o f 7 5 p y w S Ad . S — i th e m Wm . . o h so o f C o e c ti c ut a te ri l 1 6 1 66 n S J n n , nn , d d Ap , 7 ,

H i stor i ca l Ma a&i ne v . 260 . R a m sa s a s h e was th e c o s ta t c o r g , , y y n n ’ re s o e t o i a muel m a le tter to C h arles G arth p nd n S Ada s . G dsden s , a e t i n o o o f th e C o lo y o f o uth C aro li a a te D e c e m e r g n L nd n n S n , d d b ’ 2 1 6 ri te i n i the A m . R ev . i . c o tai s G bb e s s D o c . H i s t . o , 7 5, p n d f , , 7, n n a full r ep o r t o f wh a t th e Assem bly h ad do ne i n th e c o m m o n c a us e to I t i s ull o f p r o m o te th e a gr e em e nts o f th e S tam p A c t C o ngr ess . f i i m I n i h e o u tl r e a m a o f th e o s erva &n o n s ent e nts . t d b ess ep ts ny b h m i ti o ns e a d e n th e C o ngr ess .

Li e o S a m uel A da m s 2 . f f , 3 7 i r i i S outhern H sto y A ssoc at on.

But Gadsden had spoken fo r independence in 1 764 to his I friends under Liberty Tree and renewed the subj ect in 766 . In the Provincial A ssembly of South Carolina on the tenth F 1 6 day of ebruary , 77 , he also advocated independence of

Great Mr . Hosmer j ustly includes him with R . H . “ Lee , Patrick Henry, and a few others , as ready for inde ” pendence as early as September , Few facts are b etter atteste l than that Christopher Gads den , when the Charleston community was in ecstasy over the A ct 1 66 r repeal of the Stamp in 7 , convened a pa ty of his — d friends their names are well known , recor ed by th e faith — ful G ibb esfl and urg ed them not to rela& their opposition n n r e and vigila ce , declaring that Great Britai would never

linquish her designs or pretensions . Reviewing all the chances of succeeding in a struggle to break the fetters when ever again imposed he pressed them to prepare their minds fo r the event . ” Did Samuel A dams or any one else speak earlier fo r inde endenc e ? a p Doctor Ramsay, who was a part of the revol tio nar s 1 6 y force , admits that prior to 77 a reconciliation with A Great Britain was th e wish of almost every merican , but “ he e& cepts Ch ristopher Gadsden in the South and John A dams in th e

1 r l In July , 774 , a la ge number of gentlemen from a most every part o f the Colony met in Charleston to c o nsider what

* ’ o h so s r a di ti o ns 1 . S e e ac c o u t o f h i s ru ture ith D ra J n n T , 4 n p w y ’ to n o n th i s su e c t i n 2 B ra to s Mm oi r s 1 2 bj y n e , 7 ,

’ H m m uel A a m o s er s S a d s 0 . T , 34

D o um i TI c enta ry H i story . I t s an i ntere sting fac t th at th e gr eat m a o rit o f th e s e er e m ech a i cs c ar e ters ai ters sa lers j y w n , p n , p n , dd ,

lac sm i th s &c . b k ,

’ o h so s Li e o G r eene i . 266 o o t o te . S e e fo o t o te . HJ n n f f , , , f n n , p 2 6 fo r e s c ri ti o o f two arti es i n o uth aro li a esi ri a r e 5, d p n p S C n d ng

ress o f ri e va c es . T h e r a i c al i o f h i c h G a s e was th e d g n d w ng, w d d n “ le a e r us e all r e te & ts to re ss fo r a s o lute i e e e c e o r a d , d p p b nd p nd n ” s tate a ro ac h i to a o n e e r ti pp ng c f d a o n .

H i s to r u y o S o th a r o li na i . 2 f C , , 8 7. hri to her adsden — 2 1 C s p G . Renick . 5

acti on should be taken in view of the annulment of the char f ter of Massachusetts and the closing o the port of Boston .

They chose representatives to the Congress at Philadelphia .

Christopher Gadsden , Thomas Lynch a d Edward Rutledge — n who at this time were anxious fo r independence and de — sired a general non - impo rtation and no n exp o rtation agree — the r in ment were among those elected , though me cantile in ferest generally was opposed to th eir principles . It was this Congress that Gadsden advocated an immediate attack

upon Gage in. order to defeat him before he could secure r e nf r m n i i o c e e ts . e It was here that this disinterest d patr ot , m though all his life engaged in co merce , withstood his asso

' ciates who wished in the inte'rests o f South Carolina to except

- rice and indigo from the general non exportation agreement . He had j ust finished a large wharf in Charleston at great

s cost , and his hope of reimbur ement would be dashed to the

s ground if trade were uspended , but this did not deter him from urging a complete severance of all commercial rela tions with Great Britain . It was in this Congress that he uttered that most worthy and memorable sentiment which

r e T histo ians have d lighted to record . imid members had mentioned th e alarming dangers to which our coast cities were subj ected . “ e Our seaport towns , Mr . President , repli d Gadsden , are composed of brick and wood ; if they are destro yed we have clay and timber enough to rebuild them . But if the liberties o f our country ar e destroyed where shall we find

m r the material to replace them Mr . Willia Wirt Hen y, “ e : repeating this speech , xclaims This uns elfish man was ” e fl atrio ts one of the most det rmined and un inching of the p . T

r A Mr . Porcher reco ds a speech of Gadsden in the ssembly of South Carolina which illustrates his hot impetuosity , his astoni s hing earnestness that ignored all for ms and cere

A ma monies . nother instance y be cited .

’ lli o t T he e n l t w E a nd H i o r . 28 8 E s N s t i i . , g y , , ’ H e r s Li o P a tr i ch r e H en i 22 no te . T n y f f y , . , 9 , iatio 2 52 S outhern H is tory A ssoc n.

When it was provided by Parliamentary bill that the trade of Boston might be recovered on proper apology and upon payment for the tea destroyed , Gadsden sent a generous con tributio n to the distressed people of that town with the terse “ ’ inj unction , Don t pay for an ounce of the damned Not only did he speak and vote for a suspension of com “ ” m rc ial e relations , but he was uncommonly active in after “ c wards enfor ing the prohibitory laws , though few men lost did ” more by them than he . T Gadsden served in the Congress of 1 775 and in that of 1 o f 776 . But he was called home to assume command all the S o uth Carolina troops before the D eclaration of Inde n n — p e de c e was drawn . It was a life long regr et with him that

h e was thus pr evented from s igning that famous instrument . Had he remained a few months longer h e would now no doubt be found among the various “Worthies ” and “ Makers ” “ ” o f A merica and S tatesmen to whom series of volumes are

devoted . F 1 0 1 6 da ebruary , 77 , was a memorable y in the Provincial

Congress of S outh Carolina . Gadsden , who was there to

receive its thanks for his services at Philadelphia , was added to the committee to consider the resolve of the Continental

Congress respecting a form of government . Many members opposed it— some because it was too de c i siv e a measure , others b ecause their powers did not war

a rant such step . “ th e On this occasion , Colonel Gadsden (having brought ’ ‘ ’ o first c py of Paine s pamphlet , Common S ense ) boldly

s o f declared him elf not only in favor of the form government , ” n A m e i but for the absolute indepe dence of r c a . fl

e This was like a thund r clap . The majority had no the . o ne thought of such aspirations John Rutledge , of

’

r a t s P o . H i s t i i i . 6 . B y n p , 37

R a m a T s y .

’

2 D ra to n s Mem o i r 1 2 1 . 1I y s , 7 , 73 hri to her ad de — n 2 C s p G s n Re ick . 53

o o supporters of the Revoluti n , rose in repro f, declaring he would ride day and night to Philadelphia to assist in r e uniting Great Britain and The few who ap proved the idea thought Gadsden very imprudent in thus suddenly declaring for it . Gadsden ros e to be a brigadier gen eral and threw up his n A 2 1 e commissio on ugust 3 , 777, owing to som question and of rank arising b etween him General Howe , with whom u l he later fought a bloodl ess d e . T He continued to serve in the A ssem bly and the Privy Council and in 1 779 and 1 78 0 actively prepared to repel the invasions of the State by the British . e 1 to Wn When Pr vost , in May , 779, summoned the of to Charleston to surrender , the civil authorities proposed l o stipulate for a n eutrality during the war . This prop sal was not made known to General Moultrie , the military com it a w s . mandant , and . in violation of his rights Gadsden — s a member of the Council voted against the propo al , and , though the deliberations of this body were required to be kept secret , he did not h esitate to communicate to certain

citi&ens that such a measure had been decided on . It was resolved that the lives of its advocates should aton e for the disgrace . This determination became known to the Coun

r cil , and the negotiation was then refe red where it should “ have gone in the first instance , to Moultrie , who said , I will ” c it then save the y. fl General Gadsden was Lieutenant Governor of South Car olina when the city of Charlesto n capitulated in 1 78 0 . He ‘ ’ h r n A u and o t e s Hwere taken to a British garriso at S t . ug s l s tine . Refusing to give his paro e , he was placed in olitary

’ o h so s r adi ti ons 1 . J n n T , 4

ull e i e P rch er . T F y d s c r b d by Mr . o

’ o h s o s Li e o G r eene i . 2 2 . J n n f f , , 7 ITJ o hnso n in h i s Tr adi ti o ns a nd H o ugh i n Th e S i eg e of C h a r les

ton . 20 i ve th e i r a m es . , p 3 , g n n 2 54 S outhern H istory A ssociatio .

* 1 8 2 confinement in a castle for ten months . In 7 the Jack s o nbo ro ugh Legislature elected him Governor , but pleading ’ infirm iti es hi s thirty years public service and his , he asked o n e to be allowed to decline the arduous trust . On mem

o rable occasion alone after this he too k part in public affairs . With unspeakable delight he t o ok his seat in 1 78 8 in the convention which ratified the Constitution of the &nited

States . f e n He had always been a friend of e ficient gov r ment , and many times during and after the war h e feared that the in

dependent A mericans would form different confederacies . He dreaded as one of the greatest political evils that could A t befall his country the return to the royal government . last he who had by his exertion s in 1 765 made possible the 1 8 8 A merican &nion , aided in 7 in ratifying a Constitution

meant to make it more per fect . “ Well might he exclaim , Lord , now lettest thou thy ser ” vant depart in peace .

- first He died , having passed his eighty year , and was buried with honor by the State S ociety of the A merican

Rev olution and the So ciet y of the Cincinnati . He made n o no memorable oratio s , signed no ren wned documents , won no distinguish ed battles ; but no citi &en of A merica ever en gaged more &ealously and unselfishly for s o long a time in

the service of the & nion .

On one occasion , in a letter to the Honorable Thomas 1 8 Bee , dated October 5, 77 , it b ecame necessary for Gadsden to refer to his o wn public services and to his aspirations : ‘ “ ” “ an I have had , he said , without asking or soliciting y ’ man s vote directly or indirectly , the honour to serve my

country for many years in various stations , always totally devoted to that particular post occasionally allotted to me ; never quitting it while the least hopes remained o f having — that necessary support the station required &ealous and

G adsd en d e sc ri b ed h i s trea tm ent wh ile i n c o nfinem ent i n a le tte r t Wash i t a o o te u us t 1 0 1 8 1 . ng n d d A g , 7 — e d en . 2 C hristoph r G a sd . Renick 55 attentive in all to the honour of the publick and their nearest

: concern unbiased either by friend or foe , intimidated by none : constantly attending to my duty and if I o f now towards the close a long, disinterested and laborious service ask any favor let it be to be looked upon , as a citi&en detesting licentiousness and totally devoted to constitutional the cause of equal liberty , religious and civil to all , Governors and governed , and having not a desire for himself o r family in these res pects that he does not from the bottom of his soul wish fo r every honest man in th e State and indeed in all the

* A n a r ec i a ti e e t h f G a e - v s c o s a ear i n e & F . pp k d d n pp s G o v . B . ’ P erry s B i og r aphi ca l S ketches of E m i nent A m er i ca n S ta tes m en 26 —6 pp . 4 2 9.