388 LOWNDES COUNTY. 



He studied law in Charleston, and when admitted to the 

 bar, associated himself with the late John S. Cogdell. 



In the year 1807, when the frigate Chesapeake was attacked 

 by the Leopard, a British 60 gun ship, all Americans were 

 fired with indignation. About this time Mr. Lowndes raised 

 a uniform company, called the Washington Light Infantry, 

 and was elected their first Captain. 



In 1812 Mr. Lowndes was elected a member of Congress 

 for Charleston District, and soon acquired distinction. He 

 grew up very rapidly ; his figure was tall, his health impaired 

 by study, and his voice feeble. His first speech was not gene- 

 rally heard in the House, but when published, was read and 

 admired. After that it was remarked that the members of 

 both parties in Congress, when he was speaking, would quit 

 their seats and crowd around him, to listen and profit by his 

 strong arguments, urged in the best forensic language. Mr. 

 Lowndes united cordially with the Southern delegates in every 

 motion for carrying on the war with England, with all possi- 

 ble energy, both by sea and land. At the close of the war, 

 when the first bill was brought forward for chartering the Bank 

 of the United States, in January, 1815, he voted against it, 

 believing that it placed too much patronage in the hands of the 

 President. 



In 1818 he became Chairman of the Committee of Ways 

 and Means, and so continued until he resigned his seat in Con- 

 gress in 1822, on account of ill health.* He had served ten 

 years in that body, during one of the most eventful eras in 

 A.merican history. Mr. Lowndes's speeches have been pub- 

 lished in most of the newspapers in the United States, and 

 still may be read with interest ; but his official reports, while 

 Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, are consi- 

 dered to be of the highest character and authority. In the 

 winter of 1821, the members of Congress and other influential 

 citizens, began to discuss the relative merits of men who would 

 be suitable candidates for the next Presidency. The Legisla- 

 ture of South Carolina was then in session ; the members of 

 that body felt a lively interest in the result of that election, and 

 in a conclave with the influential citizens who generally visit 

 Columbia upon such occasions, met and nominated Mr. 



