they apprised them of their fixed resolution to defend their liberties, but at the same time disclaimed every wish of independence, or any thing more than the secure enjoyment of their ancient rights and privileges. They asked for peace, but the sword was tended-for liberty, but nothing short of unconditional submission was offered. Their petitions received no answer. And all the inhabitants of the colonies were, by an act of parliament passed December 21, 1775, thrown out of the King's protection. This was a legal discharge from their allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and placed the colonies in a state of nature, at full liberty to provide for their own safety, by entering into any new social compact which they approved. Though the refusal of protection was a legal justification of their conduct in withholding allegiance, yet independence was untried ground, and could not at once gain the plenary approbation of colonies which had long flourished under royal protection. The minds of the inhabitants were overcast with fears, and tossed in a tumult of uncertainty. Their resolution was fixed never to submit to the claims of the British parliament, but how to extricate themselves from surrounding difficulties was a question that embarrassed their wisest politicians. While they were in this state of feverish anxiety, a pamphlet, under the signature of Common Sense, written by Mr. Thomas Paine, made its appearance. It proved the necessity, the advantages, and practicability of independence. It satisfied a great majority of the people that it was their true interest immediately to cut the gordian knot which bound the American colonies to Great Britain, and to open their commerce as an independent people, to all the nations of the world. Nothing could be better timed than this performance. It found the colonists greatly exasperated against the mother country, most thoroughly alarmed for their liberties, and disposed to do and suffer everything that bid fairest for their establishment. In unison with the feelings and sentiments of the people, it produced astonishing effects. It was read by almost every American, and in conjunction with the cruel policy of Great Britain, was by the direction of Providence, instrumental in effecting an unexampled unanimity in favor of independence. The decisive genius of Christopher Gadsden in the south, and of John Adams in the north, at a much earlier day, might have desired the complete separation of America from Great Britain-but till the year 1776-the rejection of the second petition of Congressand the appearance of Mr. Paine's pamphlet—a reconciliation with the mother country was the unanimous wish of almost every other American.

Before the Congress ventured on the important step of

changing the sovereignty of the colonies, they sent forth a resolution on the 15th of May, 1776, recommending to all of them to institute forms of government. This was intended to ascertain the sense of the inhabitants on the important question of independence. In adopting this measure, Congress, instead of leading, only followed the voice of the people. South Carolina had for near two months been in possession of a regular government. Independence was finally decided on in Congress, and declared in Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, 1776. In this declaration, South Carolina most heartily concurred, and the same was subscribed on her part by her representatives, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Thomas Lynch, Arthur Middleton.

In

From this moment everything assumed a new appearance. The Americans no longer appeared in the character of subjects in arms against their sovereign, but as an independent people, repelling the attacks of an invading foe. The propositions and supplications for reconciliation were done away. The dispute was brought to a single point, whether the late British colonies should be conquered, enslaved provinces, or free and independent States. This decisive measure was adopted without assurances of aid from any foreign power, and in the face of a British force of fifty thousand men. a few days it was received in Charlestown, and proclaimed in the most solemn manner to the troops under arms. This was followed with the firing of guns, ringing of bells, acclamations of the people, and all the usual parade of a public rejoicing. The Declaration of Independence arrived in Charlestown at a most favorable juncture. It found the people of South Carolina exasperated against Great Britain for her late hostile attack, and elevated with their successful defence of Fort Moultrie. It was welcomed by a great majority of the inhabitants. In private it, is probable that some condemned the measure, as rashly adventurous beyond the ability of the State; but these private murmurs never produced to the public ear a single expression of disapprobation.

After the termination of the unsuccessful attack on the fort on Sullivan's Island in June, 1776, the British arms were for more than two years wholly employed to the northward. During this period, South Carolina felt very few of the inconveniences which were then grinding their brethren to the northward. They were in possession of a lucrative commerce, and comparatively happy. In the year 1777 and 1778 Charlestown was the mart for supplying with goods most of the States to the southward of New Jersey. Many hundred wagons were employed in this inland traffic. At no period of peace were fortunes more easily or more rapidly acquired.

While Congress vigorously opposed Great Britain from their own resources, they did not neglect the important business of negotiation. The friendship of foreign powers, particularly of the ancient and powerful monarchy of France, was, from the Declaration of Independence, earnestly desired by the new-formed States of America. On the 6th of February, 1778, his most christian majesty, Louis the Sixteenth, entered into treaties of amity and commerce, and of alliance with the American commissioners at Paris, on the footing of the most perfect equality and reciprocity. Such a powerful ally, added to the natural force of America, alarmed the fears of Great Britain, and induced her to make an effort in the way of negotiation to recover her late colonies. Governor Johnstone, Lord Carlisle, and Mr. Eden, were appointed commissioners on the part of Great Britain, to come to America and to offer Congress a relinquishment of the parliamentary exercise of taxation, and to confirm them in every immunity consistent with an union of force. So expeditious was the court of Great Britain in proposing these overtures, that the bills containing them were read in Congress eleven days before any information was received by that body of their alliance with France. A firm determination, under no change of fortune whatever to recede from their Declaration of Independence, prompted Congress in the first instance to reject the proposals of a RE-UNION with Great Britain. After their connection with France was known, gratitude and national faith were additional incentives to continue in the same line of conduct.

When the alliance with France was announced in South Carolina, it diffused a general joy. It not only gave confidence to all in the final establishment of their independence, but reconciled them to the calamities of war. They viewed their misfortunes only as temporary, and looked forward to a speedy peace, when all their wishes in favor of their country would be realized. The conduct of Congress, in instantly rejecting the offers of the commissioners, was in all companies applauded. The second petition of Congress had not asked so much as was then offered. At that period the propositions of Great Britain would have been gladly accepted, but to that petition the King of Great Britain refused an answer. After the colonies had declared themselves independent States-had pledged their honor to abide by that declaration-had, under the smiles of heaven, maintained it for three campaigns without foreign aid-after the greatest monarch in Europe had entered into a treaty with them, and guaranteed their independence-after all this to degrade themselves from the rank of freemen to that of subjects-from sovereign States to dependent provinces-were propositions no where less relished than

by the citizens of South Carolina. The tide was fairly turned. Instead of that hankering after Great Britain which had made a separation painful, the current of popular opinions and prejudices ran strong in an opposite direction.

On a review of the transactions between Great Britain and America from the year 1774 to the year 1778, an attentive observer cannot but remark four different periods, in each of which the contest between the two countries assumed a new complexion. The parliamentary claims of unlimited supremacy-the Boston port act-the abolition of the charter of Massachusetts, and the other acts of the like tendency, passed about the same time, roused the colonies in 1774 to the appointment of a Congress, and to a declaration of their exclusive right to tax themselves, and regulate their own internal polity. To obtain a repeal of thirteen acts of parliament, which infringed upon these claims, they petitioned the King of Great Britain, and associated to suspend all trade till this repeal should be obtained. The success that had followed two former attempts of this kind, flattered them that their present wishes would soon be fully gratified. They therefore very generally came into the measure, without foreseeing all the consequences, and without intending anything further than such a commercial opposition as would interest the West Indians and British merchants in their behalf. The refusal of this first petition, and the subsequent commencement of hostilities on the part of Great Britain, produced in the colonists a determination to oppose force to force. A military opposition was therefore adopted about the middle of the year 1775, but without a design of effecting a separation from Great Britain. At this second stage of the quarrel, the Congress prepared a second petition, praying for the repeal of the obnoxious acts. To give weight to this renewed application to the throne, and to rouse the people of England to a sense of the probable consequences of their persisting in the war, they formed a temporary army, and published to the world their resolution of defending their liberties at every hazard. Still nothing further was intended than a redress of grievances. The rejection of this second petition the determination to wage war in full form against the colonists-and the act of parliament putting the whole of them out of the King's protection, gave birth to a third and unforeseen measure-the Declaration of Independence. Without this they must either have submitted with their grievances unredressed, or carried on a war under the appellation of subjects in arms against their acknowledged sovereign, in which case no foreign power could have openly assisted them. After this measure was adopted, a federal union might have taken place between Great Britain and America. Instead of

proposing anything of this kind, Great Britain carried on the war for the campaigns of 1776 and 1777, professedly with a view to reduce them to unconditional submission, and offered nothing to the United States before April 1778, which they could with safety accept. After a treaty had been concluded between France and America, Great Britain sent out commissioners to offer Congress more than a repeal of the acts which were at first the source of the dispute. By this conduct she virtually acknowledged she had been hitherto in the wrong, and also gave the United States an opportunity of evincing to their new ally the sincerity of their engagements.

From this time forward commenced the fourth period of the contest. The colonies were not only lost to Great Britain, but their whole weight was thrown into the opposite scale of France.

Though the continental Congress, in conducting the opposition to the mother country, did little more than give an efficient operation to the wishes of their constituent, yet the British commissioners flattered themselves that an application to the local Legislatures and the people at large, would be more successful. They therefore next addressed themselves to the individual States, and denounced the extremities of war on those who continued to prefer the alliance with France to a re-union with Great Britain. This did not produce the intimidation expected from it, nor were their proposals more favorably received by the local Legislatures, or the people, than they had been by the Continental Congress. When the flag arrived with their overtures separately addressed to the Governor, the Assembly, the military, the clergy, and the people of South Carolina, it was detained in the road near the harbor of Charlestown, till President Lowndes convened his council, and the heads or leading men of the different orders of the inhabitants, to whom they were addressed. As soon as the letters of the British commissioners were read to the gentlemen convened on this occasion, an unanimous resolution was adopted to order the flag-vessels immediately to depart the State. This was accompanied with a reprimand for attempting to violate the constitution of the country, by offering to negotiate with the State in its separate capacity.

SECTION VI.

Campaign of 1779.

Soon after the British commissioners were convinced of the inefficacy of negotiation to effect a re-union of the colonies with Great Britain, the war recommenced, but entirely on a new system. Hitherto the conquest of America had been at