Arthur Middleton
Among those who espoused the cause of inalienable rights at an early period was Edward Middleton, the great-grandfather of the younger Arthur. He came from England to South Carolina near the close of the 17th century. He left a son, Arthur, who imbibed the liberal views of his father. In 1719, he headed an opposition that boldly demanded and obtained the removal of the insolent crown officers then in power. He left a son, Henry, one of the same sort who was the father of the subject of this sketch and took an active part at the commencement of the Revolution by rousing his fellow citizens to action.
His son Arthur was born in 1743 at Middleton on the bank of Ashley Rivers in South Carolina. His mother was the daughter of Mr. Williams, a wealthy planter, and was faithful to her children. She lived until 1814, esteemed in life-lamented in death. Arthur was the eldest child and received the best advantages of an early education. At the age of twelve years he was placed in the celebrated seminary at Hackney near London and two years after, entered the classic school of Westminster. His industry was unremitting-his conduct unexceptionable. At eighteen, he became a student at the University of Cambridge and, at the age of twenty-two graduated. He was a profound scholar and untarnished in his morals. Trivial amusements and dissipation had no charms for him. Although liberally supplied with money, economy was a governing principle, and wisdom was his constant guide. Students of our country will do well to imitate his example. After the completion of his education, he made the tour of Europe. Familiar with the Greek and Roman classics, he enjoyed visiting the ancient learning seats. He was well versed in all the technicalities of sculpture and architecture and had an exquisite taste for poetry, music, and painting. He took notes of all he saw-improved by all he learned.
After traveling for two years, he returned to his native home and[Pg 253] bosom of his family and friends. His education completed, he took the next wise step of a young man about to enter upon business and married a worthy daughter of Walter Izard. The following year, the happy pair visited their relatives in England-spent some time in France and Spain-returned in 1773 and took possession of the old paternal mansion, which his father had conveyed to him, placing him in affluent circumstances.
Possessed of an observing mind, his knowledge of English policy and of the principles of monarchy was of a superior order. The effects of this policy and of these principles were painfully visible throughout the American Colonies. Rocked in the cradle of patriotism by his father-tracing its fair lines in the history of his genealogy-Liberty was to him an heirloom. Everything around him prompted his onward course toward the goal of freedom. He boldly espoused the cause of the people, which is uniformly the cause of right. The Middletons were the nucleus of the opposition to tyranny in South Carolina. Their influence reached over the entire Province. Although wealthy, aristocracy found no resting place with them. They were Republicans of the first water. They freely and promptly pledged life, fortune, and honor on behalf of rational Liberty.
Arthur Middleton was upon the various committees of the people to devise means of safety. He was one of the committee of five that decided a recourse to arms and led the people into the royal magazine who, removed the deposits in defiance of the threats and growls of the British lion. This occurred on the April 17, 1775. On June 14 following, the provincial Congress appointed a Committee of Safety composed of thirteen of which Arthur Middleton was one. This committee was fully authorized to organize a military force and adopt such measures as might seem most expedient to arrest the mad career of the royalists.
During the session of the first provincial Congress of South Carolina, Lord William Campbell, the new governor, arrived fresh from the British office mint. He was to reduce the rebels in one bold stroke. At first, he was all mildness and did not pretend to justify the oppressions of which the people complained. To prove the insincerity of which Mr. Middleton believed him guilty, Adam McDonald, a member of Council, was introduced to him as a Tory from the upper country who seemed anxious to have the rebels put down. The governor requested him to keep quiet for a short time as troops would soon arrive to put a quietus upon the new fangled authorities. When this report was made known to the Council, Mr. Middleton moved to have the gover[Pg 254]nor arrested, although nearly related to him by marriage. His colleagues were too timid then for such a measure, but so rapidly did their courage increase that his excellency soon retired on board a sloop of war to avoid the popular fury. In a few days, Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker arrived with an armed fleet and troops to enforce the authority of Lord Campbell and teach peace to the rebels. An immediate attack was made on Fort Moultrie which was a perfect failure. The governor was wounded, and Sir Peter had the nether part of his silk unmentionables badly mutilated by an unpolished rebel cannonball.
On February 11, 1776, Middleton was one of the committees that drafted the first constitution of his native State. Soon after, he was elected to the Continental Congress and became a conspicuous member. He boldly advocated and, by his signature, sanctioned the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. He used but few words in debate, briefly presenting the strong points of the subject under discussion. He was always heard with attention and had great influence. He stood at the head of the delegation of his State. He exemplified strong common sense-attending to the business of his constituents and the good of his country. He was an intimate friend of John Hancock, who held him in high estimation.
In 1778, he was elected governor of his native State without his knowledge, advice or consent. The mode of election was by the legislature and secret ballot. Caucuses, insulated with intrigue and corruption, were then unknown. Love of Liberty and country, exemplified by the acts of freemen, were all the " pledges" required. He declined to accept the office for the reason that a constitution was before the legislature, not as republican as he desired and if adopted, required the consent of the executive. Believing it would be sanctioned and could be amended at some future time he preferred not placing himself in the way. Rawlin Lowndes was then elected who approved of the constitution on the March 19, 1778.
Political honesty was a marked trait in the character of Arthur Middleton. No inducements could turn him from the path of rectitude and duty. He weighed measures, men, and things in the unerring scales of justice. He went with no man unless he believed him clearly right. He was sound at the core. His mind was pure and free as mountain air-his purposes noble, bold, and patriotic. In 1779, when the British troops were devastating S. Carolina, he took the field with Gov. Rutledge and cheerfully endured the privations of the camp. At the attack upon Charleston by Gen. Provost, he manifested great coolness and[Pg 255] courage. The destroying enemy drove his family away, and his property plundered. Several valuable paintings were mutilated most shamefully. At the surrender of Charleston in 1780, he was among the prisoners sent to the Spanish Castle at St. Augustine, Florida. He manfully endured the cowardly indignities there imposed upon the Americans. In July 1781, a general exchange of prisoners took place when he returned to Philadelphia. He was again elected to Congress and resumed the important duties of legislation. Soon after this, the last important act of the revolutionary tragedy was closed at Yorktown, where the Heroes of the rebellious stage took a closing benefit at the expense of British pride and kingly ambition. With Lord Cornwallis's surrender, the crown's last hope in America expired in all the agonies of mortification.
In 1782, Mr. Middleton was again returned to Congress, where he continued until November when he returned to his long-neglected home. He declined to remain in Congress that he might serve his own State. He did much towards restoring order, harmony, and stability in the new government of South Carolina. He was several times a member of her legislature and used his best efforts to advance her prosperity. At intervals he improved his desolated plantation and looked forward to years of domestic felicity. But alas! how uncertain are all sublunary things. In the autumn of 1786, he was attacked with the intermittent fever, which terminated in serious disease and caused his death on January 1, 1787, leaving a wife, two sons, and six daughters to mourn their irreparable loss.