May 4, 1776

With “the approbation of the Continental Congress,” South Carolina created a new constitution in March 1776. The preamble of the South Carolina Constitution explained how the royal governor had dissolved the general assembly and “used his utmost efforts to destroy the lives, liberties and properties of the good people here, whom by the duty of his station he was bound to protect” before he “withdrew himself from the colony.”  This article, reprinted in the Pennsylvania Ledger, describes how the constitution was read aloud at the Exchange in Charleston. Commissions for John Rutledge as President Commander-in-Chief of the colony and Henry Laurens as Vice President were also proclaimed, “amidst the shouts of the numerous spectators.” The celebrations were rounded out by “firing of field pieces, and the cannon on board the Provincial armed vessels.”

The Pennsylvania Ledger: Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser
Printed by James Humphreys, Jr.

CHARLES-TOWN, (South-Carolina) [...]

April 3. On Thursday last the new constitution, agreed on by our Congress, by the approbation of the Continental Congress, “to serve for regulating the internal policy of this colony, until an accommodation of the present unhappy differences between Great-Britain and America can be obtained, an event which is earnestly desired,” was published here in due form. A detachment of the Provincial regiment of artillery, and the Charlestown militia, were drawn up in Broad-street from the State-house to the Exchange, where the constitution was read, and the commissions of John Rutledge, Esquire, President and Commander in Chief, and Henry Laurens, Esquire, Vice-President of the Colony, were proclaimed, amidst the shouts of the numerous spectators: firing of field pieces, and the cannon on board the Provincial armed vessels.