Constitution, made requisite by the Declara Rutledge declared: "We will fight it out." tion of Independence, was ratified. Some of The next day much to his surprise Prévost the provisions of this did not meet with Rut- withdrew his army. ledge's approval. He therefore resigned the Sir Henry Clinton landed near Charles ton on the eleventh of February, 1780, and Presidency in a speech of excellent good temper, saying that he was unwilling to ob immediately invested the city. In this crisis struct the wishes of the people, and so retired the Assembly, which was then in session, that the Legislature could choose another acted promptly. It clothed the Governor executive who would carry out their will. and Council with full power to do everything This action did not diminish his popularity necessary for the public good "except the or the confidence in which he was held by his taking away the life of a citizen without a fellow citizens. When the State was again legal trial. All the efforts of Rutledge to threatened with invasion he was recalled to get together an adequate force were fruitless. the Chief Magistracy on the fifth of Feb The approach of the British army seemed to ruary, 1779. He energetically entered upon paralyze the citizens. In April it was deter the duties imposed upon him at that trying mined that the Governor should withdraw time, summoned the militia, and prepared for from the Capital in order that he might raise defence. But the force of the enemy over levies for its relief. On the twelfth of May whelmed all measures that could be taken. General Lincoln surrendered. Meanwhile During that year the royal troops overran Tarleton's Brigade was ravaging the country. the State. The British General Prévost On the fifteenth of August General Gates pushed his forces to the gates of the Capital, suffered his crushing defeat at Camden, and and there had some negotiation relating to a Rutledge retired into North Carolina. Un surrender by the Governor and Council. broken by defeat he attempted with great These latter shrewdly proposed the neutrality resolution and courage to rally the sinking of South Carolina; the event of the war to fortunes. He was in the field and in the determine whether the State should belong camp. He went to Philadelphia to solicit to Great Britain or remain one of the United aid and clothing for the troops. His energy States. This offer of Rutledge has been was untiring. It was largely due to his in severely condemned. To me there is noth valuable services in co-operating with mili ing in it to censure. It was a most crafty way tary commanders that General Greene won out of a great difficulty. The State was prac the glorious victory of Cowpens on the sev tically in the hands of the enemy. There enteenth of January, 1781. By August Rutseemed no hope of redeeming it, until the ledge was back in his own State. The enemy American arms were successful elsewhere. were dispossessed of their posts and driven Meanwhile it would be made a base of opera back into the vicinity of Charleston. The tions by the British. It was good politics celebrated and decisive battle of Eutaw on and good patriotism to attempt to relieve the the eighth of September practically ended colonists from the hostile incubus, to deprive the war in South Carolina. Writs for an election of members to the the enemy of a base. There was everything to gain and nothing to lose. South Carolina State Legislature were issued by Rutledge, was then in no condition to aid in the war. and the State government convened on the Necessarily she must return to her allegiance eighteenth of January. 1782. During these to England, if the Revolution failed. Pré three years of strife and pressure he had used vost replied that he had not come in a legis his dictatorial powers with discretion and lative capacity, that his business was not with moderation. Harsh and summary justice the Governor but with the Commanding had to be administered. But he was never General, who must surrender. Upon this violent in the exercise of power, and was
