Malcolm Rivera
John Rutledge was an American legislator and delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he played a role in writing the US Constitution. Rutledge advocated for a strong central government and supported slavery, arguing for the protection of the rights of slaveholders. He also served as chairman of the Committee on Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution. Rutledge was present at the signing of the Constitution, but it is unclear whether he signed it. Following the convention, he promoted the adoption of the Constitution at South Carolina's ratification convention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John Rutledge |
| Born | September 1739, Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | July 18, 1800, Charleston, South Carolina |
| Occupation | Legislator, Attorney, Delegate, Governor, Associate Justice, Chief Justice |
| Known For | Supporting slavery, Strong central government, Chairman of Committee of Detail |
| Contribution to US Constitution | Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Spoke for Southern planters, Supported a limited national government |
| Other Notable Roles | Delegate to Stamp Act Congress, President of South Carolina, US Supreme Court Justice, Chief Justice of South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and Sessions |
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What You'll Learn
John Rutledge's role in writing the US Constitution
John Rutledge played a significant role in writing the US Constitution. Born in 1739 in Charleston, South Carolina, Rutledge studied law and practised as an attorney before entering politics. He was a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress in 1765 and later served in the First and Second Continental Congresses, advocating for the rights of colonists while hoping for reconciliation with Great Britain.
In 1787, Rutledge was chosen as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution. As a representative of South Carolina, Rutledge supported the protection of slavery and advocated for a strong central government. He argued for dividing society into classes as a basis for representation and proposed high property qualifications for holding office. As chairman of the Committee of Detail, he was instrumental in drafting the first full draft of the Constitution, influencing the enumeration of congressional powers and the provision forbidding taxation of exports.
Rutledge also promoted the adoption of the Constitution at South Carolina's ratification convention. He served as governor of South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War and later became one of the inaugural associate justices of the US Supreme Court in 1789. However, he resigned from the Supreme Court in 1791 without hearing a case to become the chief justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions.
In 1795, Rutledge was nominated by President George Washington to serve as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. However, his outspoken opposition to the Jay Treaty and his mental health issues led to the Senate rejecting his nomination. Following this, Rutledge retired from public life until his death in 1800.
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Rutledge's stance on slavery
John Rutledge was a slaveholder himself, and during the American Revolutionary War, he ordered the execution of Black people suspected of aiding the British. He twice defended individuals who abused slaves in his capacity as an attorney. Before the American Revolution, Rutledge owned sixty slaves; after the war, he possessed twenty-eight.
During the debate on slavery in the new country, Rutledge took the side of the slaveholders, arguing that if the Constitution forbade slavery, the Southern states would never agree to it. He supported the protection of slavery and the concept of a strong central government. At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Rutledge spoke for Southern planters by supporting slavery. He argued in favour of dividing society into classes as a basis for representation and postulated high property qualifications for holding office. As chairman of the Committee on Detail, he recommended granting indefinite powers of legislation to the national government for the purpose of promoting the general welfare. He also had a major role in the enumeration of congressional powers, the provision forbidding taxation of exports, and the ban on national prohibition of slave imports until 1808. Rutledge promoted the adoption of the constitution at South Carolina's ratification convention.
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Rutledge's political career
John Rutledge was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in September 1739. He trained as a lawyer in London and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1761, becoming one of the most successful attorneys in the colony. He served in the Commons House of Assembly from 1761 to 1775 and was a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, protesting taxes imposed on the Thirteen Colonies by the Parliament of Great Britain.
In 1774, Rutledge was elected to the First Continental Congress, serving until 1776. He was elected president of South Carolina in 1776 under a new constitution. He continued as president until 1778 when he resigned due to his opposition to the more democratic direction of the amended constitution. During the American Revolutionary War, Rutledge served as governor of South Carolina from 1776 to 1782.
In 1787, Rutledge was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he played a significant role in writing the United States Constitution. He advocated for a strong central government with limited powers and a Congress independent of public opinion. As chairman of the Committee on Detail, he was involved in enumerating congressional powers and proposed granting indefinite powers of legislation to the national government for promoting general welfare. Rutledge also supported slavery, arguing that the Southern states would never agree to the Constitution if it forbade slavery.
In 1789, President George Washington appointed Rutledge as one of the inaugural associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He served on the Court from 1789 to 1791 but resigned without hearing a case to become chief justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions. In 1795, Washington nominated Rutledge as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. However, due to his opposition to the Jay Treaty with Britain and his outspoken views, the Senate rejected his nomination. After this rejection, Rutledge withdrew from public life until his death in 1800.
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Rutledge's time as Chief Justice
John Rutledge was initially appointed by President George Washington as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court in 1789, serving until 1791. During this time, Rutledge also served as chairman of the Committee on Detail, which played a crucial role in drafting the US Constitution.
In 1791, Rutledge left the Supreme Court to become the chief justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions. He served in this role for four years before returning to the Supreme Court as chief justice in 1795, following John Jay's resignation. However, his tenure as chief justice of the US Supreme Court was short-lived due to his controversial views.
Rutledge's outspoken opposition to the Jay Treaty with Britain caused a stir among Federalists, and his nomination as chief justice was ultimately rejected by the Senate. His stance on slavery, supporting the Southern states' right to practise it, also contributed to his controversial image. Rutledge's views on slavery were a significant factor in the Senate's rejection of his nomination. He argued for limited powers for the national government while maintaining that slavery should be under the control of each state.
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Rutledge's resignation and death
John Rutledge was a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he played a role in writing the federal Constitution. He advocated for a national government with increased but limited powers and a Congress composed of gentlemen who were relatively independent of public opinion. As chairman of the Committee on Detail, he had a significant role in enumerating congressional powers, the provision banning taxation of exports, and the ban on national prohibition of slave imports until 1808. Rutledge also supported slavery and proposed dividing society into classes as a basis for representation.
In 1789, President George Washington appointed Rutledge as one of the first associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Rutledge served on the Court from 1789 to 1791, when he resigned to become chief justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions. In 1795, Washington nominated Rutledge as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. However, before learning of his nomination, Rutledge gave a speech opposing the Jay Treaty with Britain, which angered Federalists. Additionally, his outspoken opposition to the treaty, along with reports of his depression and financial problems, led the Senate to reject his nomination by a vote of 10-14.
Following the rejection of his nomination, Rutledge attempted suicide and then resigned from the South Carolina Supreme Court, citing health reasons. He withdrew from public life and remained in retirement until his death on July 18, 1800, in Charleston, South Carolina. Despite his short tenure as Chief Justice, Rutledge made significant contributions to the shaping of the federal Constitution and the early Supreme Court.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, John Rutledge signed the Constitution. He was a delegate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention and played a role in writing the federal Constitution. He also served as chairman of the Committee on Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution.
John Rutledge supported the protection of slavery and the concept of a strong central government. He also advocated for a national government with increased but limited powers and a Congress composed of gentlemen with a certain level of independence from public opinion.
John Rutledge held various roles throughout his career, including delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, delegate to the Continental Congress, governor of South Carolina, associate justice of the US Supreme Court, and chief justice of the US Supreme Court.
John Rutledge's nomination as chief justice of the US Supreme Court was rejected by the Senate due to his outspoken opposition to the Jay Treaty with Britain and reports of his depression and financial problems.
