Isabella Carter
John Rutledge was a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, which wrote the United States Constitution. During the convention, he served as chairman of the Committee of Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution. Rutledge, a slaveholder himself, defended slavery interests at the convention, stating that the Southern states would never agree to the Constitution if it forbade slavery. He also supported a strong central government, advocated for a national government with increased but limited powers, and envisioned a Congress composed of gentlemen relatively independent of public opinion. Rutledge played a significant role in the enumeration of congressional powers and opposed proposals that would divide society, such as restricting the right to vote to landowners.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Views on the Senate | That the Senate could think clearly about the consequences of a bill, and that there was no danger of the Senate ruling the country |
| Views on voting rights | Opposed the idea that only landowners should have the right to vote, stating it would divide the people into "haves" and "have nots" |
| Views on slavery | Supported the protection of slavery and believed that the Southern states would never agree to the Constitution if it forbade slavery |
| Views on central government | Supported a stronger central government with increased but limited powers, and a Congress composed of gentlemen relatively independent of public opinion |
| Views on property rights | Supported the protection of property rights |
| Views on freedom of speech and press | Strongly supported freedom of speech and press, even before they were incorporated into the First Amendment |
| Views on religion | Supported Christianity as the established religion of South Carolina until it was disestablished by the state constitution of 1790 |
| Views on representation | Supported dividing society into classes as a basis for representation and high property qualifications for holding office |
| Views on British rule | Rejected the authority of the British Parliament over the American colonies and opposed laws that would classify criticisms of the king as treasonous |
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What You'll Learn
John Rutledge's stance on slavery
John Rutledge was a slave owner and a supporter of slavery. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, he defended the interests of slaveholders, arguing that the Southern states would never agree to the Constitution if it forbade slavery. He also stated that the three southernmost states would not join the Union if the Constitution immediately abolished the slave trade. Rutledge's stance on slavery was influenced by his position as a Southerner, a slaveholder, and a plantation owner. He advocated for a strong central government, with the power to legislate for the general welfare, as long as slavery remained under the control of each state.
Rutledge played a significant role in writing the federal Constitution and served as chairman of the Committee of Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution. He supported a national government with increased but limited powers and envisioned a Congress composed of gentlemen relatively independent of public opinion. He also contributed to the enumeration of congressional powers, the provision forbidding taxation of exports, and the ban on national prohibition of slave imports until 1808.
Despite his defence of slavery, Rutledge is known to have freed all but one of his slaves by the time of his death in 1800.
In addition to his stance on slavery, Rutledge is known for his support for balanced government, property rights, and the freedoms of speech and press. He was a gifted orator and a strong advocate for the protection of the political rights of his fellow colonists as British subjects. He also played a role in the American Revolution, coordinating guerrilla warfare against the British during their invasion of South Carolina in 1780.
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Support for a strong central government
John Rutledge was an American legislator and delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where he played a significant role in shaping the United States Constitution. He was a strong advocate for a robust central government with increased but limited powers. Rutledge's vision for the national government included an executive and a Congress composed of gentlemen relatively independent of public opinion.
Rutledge's support for a strong central government was influenced by his experience in Congress, where he recognised the need for a more unified and powerful governing body. He believed that a strong central government was necessary to protect the interests of the Southern states, particularly regarding slavery. As a slaveholder himself, Rutledge argued that if the Constitution abolished slavery, the Southern states would never agree to it. He supported the protection of slavery and proposed dividing society into classes as a basis for representation, with high property qualifications for holding office.
Rutledge's commitment to a strong central government was also reflected in his defence of states' rights. He opposed proposals that would create divisions between the "haves" and "have-nots," such as restricting the right to vote to landowners. Instead, he advocated for each colony to have an equal vote, recognising that the Congress lacked the authority to enforce its decisions on the colonies. Rutledge's stance on this issue demonstrated his commitment to preventing discord and promoting unity within the nation.
As chairman of the Committee of Detail, Rutledge had a significant impact on the final Constitution. He recommended granting indefinite powers of legislation to the national government for promoting the general welfare. Additionally, he played a crucial role in enumerating congressional powers, including the provision forbidding the taxation of exports and the ban on national prohibition of slave imports until 1808. Rutledge's influence extended beyond the Convention, as he promoted the adoption of the Constitution at South Carolina's ratification convention, ensuring his state's support for the document he helped create.
Overall, John Rutledge's ideas and contributions to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were instrumental in shaping the United States Constitution. His support for a strong central government, balanced by limited powers and protections for slavery, left an indelible mark on the nation's founding document. Rutledge's legacy is that of a complex figure who, despite his defence of slavery, believed in a robust and unified central government necessary for the country's future.
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His role in writing the Constitution
John Rutledge was a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, which wrote the United States Constitution. He was a gifted orator with a keen legal mind and played a significant role in shaping the final document. As chairman of the Committee of Detail, he oversaw the creation of the first full draft of the Constitution.
Rutledge's experience in Congress convinced him that the United States required a stronger central government. He envisioned a national government with increased but limited powers and an executive and Congress composed of gentlemen relatively independent of public opinion. He supported a strong central government as long as slavery remained under the control of each state. He was a Southerner, a slaveholder himself, and a supporter of slavery. He argued that if the Constitution forbade slavery, the Southern states would never agree to it. He also opposed a proposal to restrict voting rights to landowners, arguing that it would create an undying resentment toward landowners and cause discord.
Rutledge played a role in enumerating congressional powers, including the provision forbidding the taxation of exports and the ban on the national prohibition of slave imports until 1808. He also recommended granting indefinite powers of legislation to the national government to promote general welfare.
Rutledge was a strong supporter of balanced government and the protection of property rights. He was devoted to the freedoms of speech and press, even before they were incorporated into the First Amendment. He did not support the Sedition Act of 1798, which impinged on these freedoms.
In addition to his role in writing the Constitution, Rutledge served in various other positions, including stints as his state's attorney general, as a member of the South Carolina assembly, and as governor of South Carolina. He also served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1789 to 1791 and as chief justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court from 1791 to 1795.
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His views on voting rights
John Rutledge was a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, which wrote the United States Constitution. During the convention, he served as chairman of the Committee of Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution. He was a strong supporter of a strong central government and the protection of slavery. He also advocated for a national government with increased but limited powers and a Congress composed of gentlemen who were relatively independent of public opinion.
During the debates on voting rights, Rutledge opposed the proposal that only landowners should have the right to vote. He argued that such a rule would divide the people into "haves" and "have nots," creating resentment and discord. He believed that each colony should have one vote, as the Congress had no legal authority to force the colonies to accept its decisions. This proposal was ultimately agreed upon by the other delegates.
Rutledge also supported the idea of dividing society into classes as a basis for representation and recommended high property qualifications for holding office. He wanted a government composed of gentlemen who were relatively independent of public opinion. He also advocated for the granting of indefinite powers of legislation to the national government for the promotion of general welfare.
Rutledge's views on voting rights were influenced by his experience in Congress, where he witnessed the need for a stronger central government. He believed that the United States Constitution should reflect the views acceptable to both planters and merchants in his area. He also supported the protection of property rights and was devoted to the freedoms of speech and press, even before they were incorporated into the First Amendment.
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His political career
John Rutledge was an American legislator and politician who played a significant role in shaping the early political landscape of the United States, particularly in his home state of South Carolina. Here is an overview of his political career:
Early Political Career in South Carolina
John Rutledge was born in 1739 in Charleston, South Carolina. He studied law and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1761, quickly becoming one of the most prominent attorneys in the colony. He served in the Commons House of Assembly from 1761 to 1775 and became one of its leaders, advocating for the political rights of colonists as British subjects. He represented South Carolina at the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, where he chaired a committee petitioning the British House of Lords for a redress of grievances.
Continental Congresses and Presidency of South Carolina
In 1774, Rutledge was elected to the First Continental Congress, and he served in both the First and Second Continental Congresses until 1776. During this time, he contributed to debates on how to apportion votes, arguing for each colony to have one vote. In 1776, he chaired the committee that drafted the South Carolina constitution and was subsequently elected president of the state's General Assembly. He served as president of South Carolina from 1776 to 1778, during which he defended the state from a British attack on Charleston, earning him the nickname "Dictator John."
Constitutional Convention and Supreme Court
In 1787, Rutledge was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he served as chairman of the Committee of Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution. He supported a strong central government and the protection of slavery, arguing that the Southern states would never agree to the Constitution if it forbade slavery. He also advocated for a limited national government, with an independent executive and Congress. In 1788, he participated in South Carolina's convention to ratify the Constitution. The following year, President George Washington appointed Rutledge as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a position he held until 1791 when he became chief justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and Sessions.
Later Career and Death
Rutledge returned to the Supreme Court as chief justice in 1795, following the resignation of John Jay. However, his outspoken opposition to the Jay Treaty and rumours of mental instability led to the Senate rejecting his nomination. He resigned from the South Carolina Supreme Court due to health reasons and briefly served in the South Carolina House of Representatives before retiring from politics. John Rutledge passed away on July 18, 1800, in Charleston, South Carolina.
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Frequently asked questions
John Rutledge was a slaveholder and supported slavery during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He argued that the Southern states would never agree to the Constitution if it forbade slavery. He also opposed a proposal to restrict voting rights to landowners, stating that it would create a divide between the "haves" and "have nots".
John Rutledge supported a strong central government with increased but limited powers. He advocated for a national government that was relatively independent of public opinion and promoted the granting of indefinite powers of legislation to the national government for the purpose of promoting general welfare.
John Rutledge was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and played a significant role in shaping the Constitution. He served as chairman of the Committee of Detail, which produced the first full draft of the Constitution. He also participated in South Carolina's convention to ratify the Constitution.
