Rutledge, Edward (1749-1800) to unknown
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06687 Author/Creator: Rutledge, Edward (1749-1800) Place Written: Columbia, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 March 1789 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.3 x 20.4 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a member of the South Carolina legislature to an unknown recipient. References previous and more detailed letters he wrote to the recipient within the last two days. Says in case the letters have not arrived that Mr. Parker, the husband of a sister of Mrs. Rutledge, has offered him "a Proposition to give £85 a Head, for one half of the Gang - that is 24 or 25 - payable in good Bonds." Says the first installment is due in June. Says he thinks the price is a bargain if "the Negroes will come with him," hinting that they would resist being divided and that they had some sort of say in the matter. Says the gang will be divided fairly "as to Age, & quality" and wished that Parker would have taken 30 instead of 25. Also asks to be informed of the quantity of Georgia rice to be appropriated toward payment of debts, the propriety of accepting the offer for the Cumberland lands, and the list of Negroes remaining to be sold "with their Ages, qualities, &c &c." Says he is writing in the Assembly Hall where it is so noisy he cannot connect two ideas together. Postscript says no commission will be paid for the sale of the slaves to Parker and that he will make the division "as easy as possible."
Rutledge was a member of the Continental Congress 1774-1776 and a member of the South Carolina Assembly 1776-1780. He served in an artillery unit of state militia during Revolution and was captured at the Battle of Charleston in 1780. He returned to South Carolina Assembly 1782-1795 and served as Governor of South Carolina 1798-1800.
My dear Friend
I have written you so fully within the last two days that I shall say very little at present but refer you to them. One went by Captain Bailly, the rest by Captain [Hatchway] I mention this Circumstance that you may know where to send in case they should not be delivered. Lest however, Hatchway may not have arrived when this Letter gets to hand, I will just say, that Mr. Parker, who [married] a Sister of Mrs. Rutledge, made me a Proposition to [give] £85 a Head, for one half of the Gang - that is for 24 or 25 - payable in good Bonds agreeable to the [Installment] Act - the first Instalment to be paid between this & June - I have explained myself fully in those Letters - If you approve the Price, & the Negroes will come with him & it will be a Bargain. I have told him the division will be fairly made, & a due proportion, as to Age, & [quality] preserved in that division - I wish he would agree to take Thirty instead of Twenty five; He is well able to settle for them, & I would be answerable for the ultimate payment - I shall be anxious to have [answers] to the great point, on which I have written, that a quantity of the Georgia rice to be appropriated toward payment of the Debts - the propriety of accepting of the offer for the Cumberland Lands - & the List of the Negroes remaining to be sold with their Ages, qualities, &c &c. - I write this in the Assembly Room [2] where there is such an abominable Noise that it is not possible for me to connect two Ideas together - But I have one very distinct which is that I have a great regard for you - Your affectionate friend
Ed. Rutledge
March 12th 1789
At [Noon].
If the Sale takes Place, as I requested it myself, no commission will be paid - But the Negroes will be to be delivered in Carolina - Parker will make this [Matter] as easy as possible.
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