South Carolina Ratifies

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25 COLUMBIA 23 1988 29201 May 23, 1788 South Carolina CHARLESTON MERCURY EXTRA FORT SUMTER 4. SOUTH CAROLINA 1670 1920 Chis Calle SC 19 G 1 1861

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SOUTH CAROLINA RATIFIES First Day of Issue: May 23, 1988 First Issue Location: Columbia, South Carolina In South Carolina, ratification of the United States Constitution brought about a conflict which was not at is- sue in other states. South Carolina was a slave state, and its economy depended on the use of slaves. Whether or not to hold a ratifying convention was openly debated. An outspoken opponent during this debate was Rawlins Lowndes. Lowndes preferred the Articles of Confedera- tion. The vote to hold a convention was close, 76 to 75, but the date was set for May 12, in Charleston. Lowndes was not chosen a delegate — a great blow to the Anti- Federalist cause. In Convention, Charles Pinckney spoke in support of the Constitution. When questioned about its lack of a bill of rights, he replied that such a document usually began with a declaration concerning the equality of all men. Pinckney pointed out that South Carolina delegates could only, “make that declaration with a very bad grace, when a large part of our property consists in men who are born slaves." On May 23, 1788, South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution. No. 88-26 CONSTI 1787-1791 * the be People CENTENNIALS IAL *1987 ©1988 The Maximum Card Collection A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007 Original painting by Chris Calle An Official Maximum Card of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution