LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. J __. # UNITED STATES QP AMERICA. J SOUTH CAROLINA / PROTEST AGAINST SLAVERY A LETTER FROM HENRY LAURENS, SECOND PRESIDENT OE THE CONTI- NENTAL CONGRESS,'tO his son, colonel JOHN LAURENS; DATED CHARLESTON, S. C, AUGUST 14th, 1776. INTovv lirst piiblislied. Iroixi ilao Orisinal. P NEW YORK : O . P . P U T N A JI , 5 3 2 ]J R A D W A Y . ^'^ 1861. .^,^^0^ 1 .L3^ Entered, according to Act of CongreFS, in llio year ISGl, by the Zknof.r Club, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United Sti;tes, (or tlic Southern District of New York. N T I C E This Letter is taken Itoiu the Collection of the Zenger Club. It was privately printed by that Society, in the initial number of their historical Series. It is now reprinted as additional evidence against the Southern theory, that the same antagonism tliat now prevails between the North and South on the sub- ject of Slavery, existed at the time of the American Revolution. Mr. Everett, in his late oration at New York, says : " At the time of the adoption of the Constitution, and long afterwards, there Avas, gener- ally speaking, no sectional difference of opinion, be- tween North and South, on the subject of Slavery. It was in both parts of the country regarded, in the established formula of the day, as ' a social, political, and moral evil.' The general feeling in favor of uni- versal lil^erty and the rights of man, wrought into Q NOTICE. fervor in the progress of tho Revolution, naturally strengthened the anti-slavery sentiment throughout the Union. It is the South which has since CHANGED, not THE NoETII." Perhaps this letter of a distinguished South Caro- linian, now first printed for circulation, Avill serve to show the accuracy of this opinion. New York, Aitriust 1, 18G1, LAURENS' CORRESrONDENCE, [henry LAURENS TO JOHN LAURENS.] CiiAULESTON, S. C, 14th August, IIIG. Ui^coMMON and exceedingly mortifying, my dear sou, lias been tlie late long interruption in our corre- spondence. I find that I have not put to paper in any address to you since the 29tli April, and unless certain letters referred to have reached you, I have no ground to hope that you have learned any thing concerning me since November last ; in the meantime, after long and anxious waiting, I have had the pleasure of receiving your letters of the 5tli December from St. Augustine, and of 20th March by the hand of M]'. Read ; Ixit that Avhich you say was sent, via Virginia, franked by the postmaster, came no nearer to me than Cockspur, when it was either destroyed or returned in the packet ; if Governor Wright, who was there, had been possessed of mv^ feelings, he would have sent a son's letter to a 13 MATERIALS FOR HISTORY. father, notvvitlistandiug tlie oi^position of tlieir political tenets.^ Once more I will attempt to present my love to you by the hands of Monsieur Rilliet, who, poor gentleman, is making another effort after many disappointments to reizain a footins; on his native soil ; you will see in the schedule of letters,^ he is already the bearer of several to you, which are now perhaps not worth carriage. I have not time to review them, and since they are writ- ten and packeted, let them go. I told you in my last that I was going to Georgia. I began my journey the 1st May, and at Wright's, Sa- vannah, Broton Island, and New Hope, found crops of rice amounting to about thirteen hundred barrels, which I caused to be removed to places less exposed to the threatened depredations of j^icaroons from St. Au- gustine, in such places that great value still remains. I have lately learned that each plantation is again well covered — the best crop, they say, that ever was borne ^ Sir James Wright, baronet, was the son of Judge Wright of. Soutli Carolina. He held at dilFerent periods the highest posts in Georgia, having been attorney-general, judge, and lieutenant-governor, befqi-e assuming the government of the colony in 1761. He was governor at the commence- ment of the revolution, and was the last who administered affairs in the name of the king. He died in England. - Letters referred to : 20th November and Cth December, by Rainier from Georgia. — 4th, 8th, and 16th January, by M. Eilliet ; copies by Snow Mobile, Captain Smith.— 22d February, 6th and 14th March, by M. Rilliet ; copies by Mr. Demar via West Indies. — 16th and 19th March, by M. Rilliet. — 26th and 28th March, by Mr. Sandy Wright, to be forwarded tlirough St. Augustine.— 2Dth Ai)ri], by M. Rilliet. LAUREN'S' CORRESPOXDEXCE. iy pla- toon firing a few head of cattle ; augmented their black guard by stealing six more negroes, and then sailed off the coast or perhaps only a little out of sight. To hear Shubrick's overseer relate the manner of their lirino- on the cattle, and the very few of their shot Avhich hit the mark, is droll enough, and serves to raise the contempt of those, who ^yiih single ball, at one hundi-ed and fifty yards' distance, will hit the cia-cle of an English crown. After the attack upon Sullivan's Island, seconded by ravages and murders by the Cherokee Indians on our western frontier, who probably acted in a concerted plan with the ships and troops, I believe there were few men here who had not lost all inclination for renew- ing our former connexion with your king and his min- isters ; however that might have been, the great jioint is now settled. On the 2d instant a courier arrived from Philadelphia, and brought a declaration of the 4th of July, l)y the re2:)resentatives of the thirteen united colonies in congress met, that from thenceforward those colonies should be "Free and Independent States." You have no doubt seen the paper, or "will in a few days see the copy often rej^eated at full length ; there- fore I need not mark the particular contents. This declaration was proclaimed in Charleston with great 2(3 MATERIxVLS FOR HISTORY. solemnity on Monday, tlie 5tli inst., attended by a pro- cession of president, councils, generals, members of as- sembly, officers civil and military, etc., ifcc, amidst loud acclamations of thousands wlio always huzza when a proclamation is read. To many, who from the rash- ness, impolicy, and cruelty of the British administration, had foreseen this event, the scene was serious, impor- tant, and awful. Even at this moment I feel a tear of affection for the good old country and for the peoj)le in it, whom in general I dearly love. There I saw that sword of state which I had before seen four several times unsheathed in declarations of w^ar against France and Spain by the Georges, now unsheathed and borne in a declaration of Avar against George the Third. I say even at this moment my heart is full of the lively sensations of a dutiful son, thrust by the hand of vio- lence out of a father's house into the ■\\ide world. "What I have often with truth averred in London and Westminster, I dare still aver; not a sober man, and scarcely a single man in America wished for a separa- tion from Great Britain. Your king, too, I feel for ; he has been greatly deceived and abused. Soon after the men-of-war had anchored within our bar, alarming accounts were brought of new attempts by John Stuart, Henry Stuart, Alexander Cameron, and other ministerial agents to stir up the savage In- dians to attack our western frontier ; several intercepted letters from them coniirmed the reports. The Indians, and particularly the Cherokees, had amused us by the LAUUEXS' COKKE.SruXDENCE. O';^ most flattering talks, full of assurances of friendship and promises to follow our advice, wbich always had been that they should observe a strict neutrality ; but very suddenly, without any pretence to provocation, those treacherous devils, in various parties, headed by ^vhite men, and pushed on by those who are in employ- ment for this cruel purpose, made an inroad uj^on our settlements!, burned several houses, and murdered about sixty 2^ersons, chiefly women and children. Colonel Williamson in South, Brio-adier Rutherford in North Carolina, were immediately in arms, and a large com- mand marched from Virginia. What Rutherford and the Virginia troops have done, we are not yet informed; but Colonel Williamson and his parties have driven back the savages of the lower towns, killed as many as could be come at in fight, and taken some j)risoners, among whom are no less than fifteen white men ; they liave also destroyed Seneca, Keowee, Warrack}^, Estato- hee, Toxawa, and Sugartown, together with the crops of corn and other grain found in fields and barns, tlie only possible way of reducing the barbarians. This in- telligence comes from Colonel Williamson in late let- ters. If the Virginians act their 2:)art well, the Chero- kees will soon be reduced to the utmost distress, and may possil^ly turn their vengeance against those hellisli instigators to this hellish war. At the entrance of Sen- eca, a new town which, I am told, was very extensive, on the banks of Keowee, Colonel Williamson suffered i'rom an ambuscade; his hoi-se, bv t^vo shot, was killed 28 MATERIALS FOR HISTORY. imder liim. Mr. Salvador, a gentleman wliosc death is universally regretted, was killed by liis side ; eiglit men wounded, two of whom are since dead. He neverthe- less rallied his troops, attacked the savages, beat them out, and after destroying a town of near four miles long, marched forward. He is undoubtedly a l)rave man, and not a bad general. You know his deficiency in education ; what heights might he have reached if he could have improved his genius by reading. If we suc- ceed ao-ainst the Cherokees, the Creeks and other In- dians may continue to be simple spectators of our con- test with British ships and soldiers ; otherwise we shall be attacked on all sides and greatly distressed; but men here are fearless of distress, and determined to mamtain their rio-hts, trustino; in a ri2:hteous God for a liaj)py issue. I told you in a former letter of the dangerous insur- rections by thousands of the back country people ; these Avere suppressed by the vigilance and activity of Colonel Williamson in a first instance, and in a second and more formidable by Colonel Kichardson and troops from North Carolina. Hundi'eds, or more proj^erly thousands, were taken prisoners, informed truly of thc^ nature of the dispute l^etween Great Britain and the colonies, converted, and sent to their habitations. Aljout a hundred of their colonels, caj^tains, and other officers, (from whence it apj^ears that the whole body was very large,) were brought to Charleston ; these, except thirteen or fourteen of the most tenacious, soon con- LAUIiENS' CORRESFONDEXCE. 2*J fessed tlieir errors, united in the American cause, and' also returned liome. Of tlie tliirteen or fourteen were some sensible men, particularly their chief, Colonel Robert Cunningham, a man of great honom", whose conscience, as he said, fettered him in the oath of alle- giance, although he admitted the injustice of taxing Americans without their own consent, and censured the British administration ; he often moved me while I was president of the Council of Safety, and often since the president of the colony, to accej)t from him and his com- panions an oath of neutrality ; he would not at first be- lieve that the British administration were so wicked as to instigate the savages to war against us. As soon, therefore, as he was convinced of the truth, his con- science freed him from old obligations, and he most heartily desired to take the oath of fidelity to the United Colonies, and to have an opportunity of giving 23roofs of his sincerity. His fellow-prisoners joined him in a i^etition to the president and council, who ordered the Avhole to be released. They immediately repaired to Colonel Williamson's camj) and. offered their service ; but he, considerina; their Ions; absence from their several liomes, recommended to them tlie care of their families. Not all, however, Avhom we have enlarged have contin- ued faithful. Some of the common fellows have quoted the exanijole of Sir James and broke their parole ; most of these are now among the Indians; some of them liave again been taken prisoners, and must suffer the 2)eualty of an old law. Kirkland, you may have heard. 30 MATERIALS FOR HISTORY. made liis escape where lie left liis son, a cliild of ten or twelve years old, in gaol ; we know nothing of him since his flight ; possibly this ignorant fellow may have found his way to Sir James's ; he was confident of a hearty welcome there, and of much free conversation with the master of that house. If he were honest, he might make a toleral)le serjeant ; but any thing less than a regiment will fall short of his own mark. The Reverend Mr. Cooper from time to time gave offence to his j^tarishioners, and they have dismissed him. The king's officers, that is to say, the attorney- general, chief and assistant judges, postmaster, and Mr. Outerbridge, are confined to the postmaster's house. The late commander of Fort Johnson and the collector are at large on their parole. W. Wragg remains at his plantation, and lately James Brisbane and some seven or eight others of our neighljours, who had signed the association and acknowledged the justice of the Amer- ican cause, but refused to do any thing which might endanger their property in a case of conquest by the other side, (these and some who play still a more cun- ning game are property men^ were sent to Cheraw gaol. The success of the 28th of June made some converts, and these gentlemen in particular advanced so far as to consent "to bear arms, take the test oath, tfec, but still under the air of obedience to avail themselves of the |)lea of compulsion and to save property ; such men de- serve no station of honour on either side. 1 can have no pity for these, ^vhile I sincerely commiserate the LAURENS' CORRESPONDENCE. 3I circumstances of tlie Mug's officers auci of every suffer- iug caudid mau, altliougli lie may be my enemy. Mrs. Stuai-t, tlie wife of tlie cruel superintendent, had been long confined to her house and hindered from leaving the colony. The people had hoped that Stuart would in the case of his own have had some tender feelings for the wives and innocent children of our friends on the Indian frontier ; but when we found that he had struck the blow, instead of retaliating as his friends ever do, the president and privy council ordered Mrs. Stuart to be enlarged ; no valuable end could be obtained by a continuance of her suffering. America is now w^ell su2:)plied with gunpowder and arms, and every day will probably increase our com- merce by slow steps. The General Assembly is to meet on the l^tli of September, when the Declaration of Independence will be recorded among our acts, and every salutary meas- ure pursued for the welfare of the State. To tell you the Virginians had routed Lord Dunmore ; that North Carolina is very quiet ; Maryland and Philadelphia as yet unmolested ; New York likely to become the seat of war for this smnmer ; that Boston is now secured to us by strong fortifications ; that the New England j)ri- vateers had made prizes of several transport ships, and prisoners of many hundred Highland soldiers, would j^robably be to relate what you will know before this can reach you ; but it may be new to you that General Lee and General Howe went last week to Georo-ia, 32 MATERIALS FOIl HISTORY. whence some expedition is intended to the southward. The season of the year and some other circumstances are not so favourable as to give me sanguine hopes of success; and you Avill feel some concern when I tell you we expect another visit^ l>y the British ships and troops in the winter months. I have now gone through with much intelligence, such as it is ; don't wonder if I tell you I write in haste. I had determined to take time by the forelock, and to have saved four or five days for writing to my friends in England ; but through some unexpected public calls, and theMong sickness of my good man James, I am re- duced to one, and I must copy for different convey- ances ; however, I have a few words more to add. I am now by the will of God brought into a new world, and God only knows what sort of a world it will l^e ; what may be your particular opinion of this change I know not. You have done well to avoid writing on politics. Kemember you are of full age, entitled to judge for yourself; pin not your faith upon my sleeve, Ijut act the part which an honest heart after mature de- liberation shall dictate, and your services on the side which you may take, because you think it the right side, will be the more valuable. I need not tell you, whatever may be your deter- minations, to avoid all party disputes, and to act in- offensively and circumspectly in the state where you are. I cannot rejoice in the downfall of an old friend, of a parent from whose nurturing l)reasts I have drawn LIUKENS' COllKE^ro.NKENCE. 33 my suj)poit and -streujitli ; eveiy evil whicli befalls old England grieves me. Would to God slie liad listened in time to the cries of lier cliildren, and had checked the insidious slanders of those who call themselves the king's servants and the king's friends, especially such of them as had been transported to America in the character of civil officers. If my own interests, if my own rights alone had been concerned, I would most freely have given the whole to the demands and dis- posal of her ministers in preference to a sej^aration; but the rights of posterity were involved in the question. I happened to stand as one of their representatives, and dared not betra}^ my trust. I am now more than ever anxious to see joii ; to see my dear Harry and your sisters ; to see j'our uncle and aunt — Imt when and where? God direct you for the best ; but pay particular attention to those friends, especially to your eldest sister and to Harr}\ Your other sister is at an age and has qualities to make her foster-mother happy. I could add very much on this head, but clouds and darkness are before me. Kemember me respectfully to each of my old friends ; tell them that as an individual I have a right to acknowledo-e my oblii>:ations to them, and that I will take every opportunity of showing my regard ; and although I hold my life b}' a most precarious tenure, yet I trust in God we shall meet again as friends. Par- ticularly inform both the Messrs. Cowles that I will, when it is possible, look into our accounts and adjust fh \ / 34 MATERIALS FUK HISTORY. tliem ; it lias not been in my power to do so since my arrival from England. Mr. William Cowles will do me the justice to own, tliat it is not my fault tliose ac- counts were left unsettled. I liad often wrote to Lim for tliem. I made one journey to Bristol for the sole purpose of settling them, and when I w^as leaving the kingdom I again took Bristol in my way to Falmouth for the same purpose. I waited there to the very last hour for saving my passage in the packet, and did not receive the papers from him, till I had kept the post- chaise long in waiting at my door, and in desj^air was just stepping into it. My friend is to blame on this score. I am glad you continue with Mr. Becknel and your brother with Mr. Henderson; frugality is essential to you both. Consider I cannot supply you w^hile the sword of Britain remains unsheathed. Improve every moment of your time, my dear son, and continue your guidance and protection to your brother and your sis- ters — your respect and duty to your distressed uncle and aunt. I feel much for them. May God protect and guide you all, and may he still give peace and mu- tual friendship to the divided family of Britain, and promote the happiness, equally of the ancient root and of the transplanted branches. If you do not come, en- (piire for opj)ortunities in Holland and in France, and write as oft as you can, and Harry too. Adieu, my dear, dear son. Mr. John Laurexs. HeNEY LaUREjN'S. Why do you never say a word of M, B. ? /■' '.ffiiaiaitJi;;ii^kr.»^<'k-»A; ft;'■*''>■V^^?^iJffi^^^ W^i'^'ii-iMiitmsaA