The War is Still on Folks!
Governor Rutledge, once exiled leader of the SC colony, decided now was the time to push for civil government including elections. In late November 1781 he called for elections to be held mid-December and asked Marion among other militia leaders to appoint election officials and supervise the voting. Marion himself was not thrilled with the idea since he saw the British having the option to re-ignite the war in the south. Marion did, however, what he was asked to do.
1) After some more time showed that the British were not immediately eager to extend the conflict, Greene and Rutledge agreed on the location for the General Assembly to meet should be Jacksonboro just 36 miles west of Charleston. Greene's army was camped at Parker's Ferry which was close and he hoped that this would show to the world that the colonies had control of their territories. The fact of the matter was, Greene asked Marion to ensure the safe meeting of legislators since the Continentals were short of ammo and provisions.
2) Most of the legislators besides Whigs were former military officers, prisoner of war and exiles. Moultrie and Pickens were elected to the House and Thomas Sumter to the Senate as was Marion. There were many more that read like a Whos Who of SC miliitary fame and in 1783 even John Postell would join after his release from prison. Turnout was low since Whigs in Charleston could not vote due to British presence .. and some elected were stuck in Charleston for the foreseeable future. The backcountry of SC kind of liked this. January 11th 1782 Marion set out on a 85 mile ride to Jacksonboro and placed Peter Horry as head of his brigade until his return. There was not much going on yet when Marion arrived until the 18th when they finally had a quorum and then met at Peter DuBose's Tavern. From Rutledge to Christopher Gadsden, it was a moment to behold.
3) A new governor was elected by the assembly to replace the term-limited Rutledge. Gadsden was desired but he sited health and age for reasons to decline. Unfortunately, the Confiscation Act that dealt with loyalists in ways like the British had done to patriots was a measure that did not sit well with Marion even though slave families were to be kept together when being sold with the rest of the loyalist's properties. On the plus side, for the colony, this was a source of revenue that would be needed as they rejected paper money and proceeded to have to come up with back pay for all the soldiers. Marion would have fought an uphill battle on this issue and remained quite (except legend has it when asked for a toast to the new governor he said "Well gentlemen, here's damnation to the Confiscation Act!"). Next came the difficult task of identifying which people and properties were to be linked to this legislation. Marion sided with the more dovish leaders as the low country had not seen as much brutality as the other parts of SC had. 900 names were part of the bill but then it was pared down to 238. Even though Gadsden leaned more radical than Marion, the two came together on this bill in which Gadsden said "he that forgets and forgives most .. is the best citizen".
4) Other action included attempting to raise two regiments of Continentals in SC but this never materialized. Another was Nathaniel Green's suggestion via Col. John Laurens as a sponsor that 2000 Negroes be armed in the state's militia but that failed 100 to 15. That would have been good to have to give some of the slaves an avenue towards freedom, but many saw only scary scenarios if they had passed that one in early 1782. Gadsden and others thought that the British might capitalize on that as they had done with Indians in the past.
5) Ever since Marion arrived, Horry sent letters indicating not only that he was sick but there was mass exodus of militia members since Marion left. Also, the feud between Horry and Maham had escalated and Marion finally had Greene indicate just who had seniority and what the reporting structure was. Marion also emphasized as much as he would like to, he could not leave Jacksonboro yet as many times there was barely a quorum and also if he left, others would too. However, on February 20th he did leave six days before the legislative session was to adjourn .. BECAUSE a new Brit commander was on the loose and looking for a fight with the Swamp Fox.
Stay tuned .. the war is still on folks!
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