George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10

[308] their immediate return to allegiance; to the loyal,

Chap. XIV.} 1780. June 1.

the promise of their former political immunities, ineluding freedom from taxation except by their own legislature. This policy of moderation might have familiarized the Carolinians once more to the British government; but the proclamation was not communicated to Cornwallis; so that when, three weeks later, two leading men, one of whom had been in a high station and both principally concerned in the ‘rebellion,’ went to that officer to surrender themselves under its provisions, he could only answer that he had no knowledge of its existence.

On the third of June, Clinton, by a proclamation

3.

which he alone signed, cut up British authority in Carolina by the roots. He required all the inhabitants of the province, even those outside of Charleston ‘who were now prisoners on parole,’ to take an active part in securing the royal government. ‘Should they neglect to return to their allegiance,’ so ran the proclamation, ‘they will be treated as rebels to the government of the king.’ He never reflected that many who accepted protection from fear or convenience did so in the expectation of living in a state of neutrality, and that they might say: ‘If we must fight, let us fight on the side of our friends, of our countrymen, of America.’ On the eve of his departure for New York, he reported to Germain: ‘The inhabitants from every quarter declare their allegiance to the king, and offer their services in arms. There are few men in South Carolina who are not either our prisoners or in arms with us.’