r,
known bravery, and the conduct which he had already manifested in war,
had secured to him the confidence and the affections of his neighbors.
He had attained that place in their esteem which naturally brought him
conspicuously before their eyes in the moment of emergency. Emergencies
were now approaching of a kind well calculated to bring into the field
all the energies, with all the patriotism of the country. The great
struggle was at hand between the colonies and that mighty empire by
which they had been established. Of the part taken by South Carolina
in this conflict, history has already sufficiently informed us. Her
movements were made without reserve--her resolves taken promptly, and
steadily maintained with her best blood and treasure. Her battles were
among the boldest and bloodiest, as they were among the first and last
of the revolution. Of the political steps by which she committed herself
to that event, it does not need that we should enter into details. These
belong rather to general history than to biography. It will be enough to
exhibit those particulars only, of her progress, in which the subject
of our memoir was more immediately interested. That he took an early and
deep concern in the contest may be inferred from his character. That he
should not have become an active politician may also be inferred from
his known modesty, and the general reserve of his deportment in society.
He was no orator, and no doubt felt quite as awkward in debate as
Washington. But his opinions were well known; he was not the person
about whose ways of thinking, in trying times, his neighbors could
entertain either doubt or discussion. He formed his opinions as promptly
as he fought for them, and his character was above concealment. We find
him accordingly, in 1775, returned to the Provincial Congress of
South Carolina, as a member from St. John, Berkeley.* This Congress
distinguished itself by committing the people of South Carolina to
the final destinies of the Revolution. It adopted the American Bill of
Rights, as declared by the Continental Congress--adopted the famous
"act of association", recommended by the same federative body to all
the colonies, by which the subscribers bound themselves to refuse and to
prevent the importation of goods, wares and merchandise, from the mother
country; established committees of safety throughout the province, and,
in short, in possession of almost dictatorial powers, did not hesitate