Edward Rutledge

But they still end up having this peace conference on September 11th in New York City.

Ben Franklin, John Adams, Edward Rutledge were there.

And it wasn't actually in current – it's in New York City today, but it wasn't in Manhattan.

It was in Staten Island is where they met.

And then I've seen him on stage many, many times, but I don't think I've ever heard him sing.

What a voice, Charles McGregor as Edward Rutledge with that fabulous Molasses to Rum.

It is, uh, that kind of number, and it's the number that Jonathan Young, you know, Buffalo's own Jonathan Young, performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse, which attracted all that attention.

And now Jonathan is on Broadway, where he's the understudy for The Great Gatsby for both leads, for both Tom and Gatsby, and he's been going on as Gatsby, and from all reports is sensational.

It's the end of the show, and sort of prepared that as like options.

And then when I was called back for the, for the callback, they asked me to prepare the material to play Edward Rutledge.

So "Molasses to Rum" again, and then the scene leading into it.

And then we had a movement call, and then after the movement call, the next day they had people back.

I, I start the show, I put my wig on, you know, right next to the door that John Wilkes Booth used to go in and out of the theater.

Wow.

And, you know, it, it's baked into our show that during the signing portion, which is the very end of the play, um, Edward Rutledge, who, you know, for those who don't know, he sings a whole song about slavery.

Uh, and it's because, at least in the show, it's because of Rutledge and the Southern block that they get the slavery clause taken out of the Declaration of Independence.

It was that we should begin with prayer.

And it was actually debated because John Jay of New York and then Edward Rutledge of Virginia, they were like, we're kind of divided.

Like some of us congregationalists or Episcopalians, like... can we actually pray together? And Sam Adams stood up and he said, I'm no bigot.

As long as we choose someone that loves God and loves this nation, that man can lead us in prayer.

Only Mr. Dickinson of all the delegates here in the chamber has remained seated.

Mr. Rutledge! Just a moment, sir.

Here's Mr. Edward Rutledge, a delegate from South Carolina.

Sir, what effect do you think the news of the British arrival will have on the independence

vote? It cannot fail to have a profound effect.

It will

add force and logic to Mr. Dickinson's position.

Thank you, Mr. Rutledge.

My favorite anti-hero, I guess, is

Edward Rutledge,

who is the Speaker of the General Assembly in 1782, who is the author of the Confiscation Act, who pushes it through.

And at the same time, his brother

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress John Hancock, President Attested Charles Thompson, Secretary Signers of the Declaration of Independence Georgia Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton, North Carolina, William Hooper, Joseph Hughes, John Penn, South Carolina, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Hayward Jr., Thomas Lynch Jr., Arthur Middleton, Massachusetts, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Payne, Elbridge Gary, John Hancock, Maryland Samuel Chase William Paca Thomas stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia George white Richard Henry Lee Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Harrison Thomas Nelson jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton Pennsylvania.

Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Martin, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross.

Delaware.