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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In Charlestown, South Carolina, the General Committee urges Governor Lord William Campbell to return from the King's ship Tamar in Rebellion Road, promising safety if he remains neutral in the struggle for liberties. Campbell refuses, denouncing the committee as rebels and vowing not to return until he can uphold the King's authority. Correspondence dated September 1775, reported October 6.
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In GENERAL COMMITTEE, Sept. 29, 1775.
To the Right Hon. Lord WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Captain General, Governor, and Commander in Chief, in and over his Majesty's province of South Carolina, &c. on board his Majesty's sloop Tamar, in Rebellion Road.
May it Please Your Excellency,
It is with great concern we find, that for some time past your Excellency has been pleased to withdraw yourself from Charlestown, the seat of your government; and have retired on board the King's ship. The inconveniences which must unavoidably arise to the people, deprived, by this step, of that access to your Excellency which is absolutely necessary for transacting public affairs, is apparent; and we submit to your Excellency's consideration, whether the retirement of our Governor to a King's ship, in this time of general disquietude, when the minds of the people are filled with the greatest apprehensions for their safety, may not increase their alarm, and excite jealousies of some premeditated design against them. We therefore entreat that your Excellency will be pleased to return to Charlestown, the accustomed place of residence of the Governor of South Carolina; and your Excellency may be assured, that whilst, agreeable to your repeated and solemn declarations, your Excellency shall take no active part against the good people of this colony, in the present arduous struggle for the preservation of their civil liberties, we will, to the utmost of our power, secure to your Excellency that safety and respect for your person and character which the inhabitants of Carolina have ever wished to shew to the representative of their Sovereign.
By order of the General Committee,
HENRY LAURENS, Chairman.
His Excellency's ANSWER.
SIR,
TAMAR, Rebellion Road, Sept. 3, 1775.
I HAVE received a message, signed by you, from a set of people who style themselves a General Committee. The presumption of such an address from a body assembled by no legal authority, and whom I must consider as in actual and open rebellion against their Sovereign, can only be equalled by the outrages which obliged me to take refuge on board the King's ship in this harbour. It deserves no answer, nor should I have given it any, but to mark the hardiness with which you advance, that I could so far forget my duty to my Sovereign and my country, as to promise I would take no active part in bringing the subverters of our glorious constitution and the real liberties of the people to a sense of their duty. The unmanly arts that have already been used to prejudice me in the general opinion may still be employed by that committee; but I never will return to Charlestown till I can support the King's authority, and protect his faithful and loyal subjects. Whenever the people of this province will put it in my power to render them essential service, I will, with pleasure, embrace the opportunity, and think it a very happy one.
I am, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
WILLIAM CAMPBELL.
Henry Laurens, Esq.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Charlestown, So. Carolina
Event Date
Sept. 29, 1775 And Sept. 3, 1775
Key Persons
Outcome
governor campbell refuses to return to charlestown until he can support the king's authority.
Event Details
The General Committee addresses Governor Campbell, expressing concern over his withdrawal to the King's ship Tamar in Rebellion Road and urging his return to Charlestown with assurances of safety if he takes no active part against the colony's liberties. Campbell responds by rejecting the committee as rebels without legal authority and affirms he will not return until able to uphold the King's authority and protect loyal subjects.