Governor Henry McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette today were joined by members of the General Assembly and other state leaders for a ceremonial bill signing of H. 5042, the Robert Smalls Monument bill. The bill creates the Robert Smalls Commission (Commission), tasked with determining the design and location of a monument honoring Robert Smalls on the South Carolina State House grounds.
"Our state and people are unique from anywhere else in the world because of extraordinary individuals like Robert Smalls, whose legacies have shaped our state into what it is today," said Governor Henry McMaster. "This monument will help preserve an important piece of our rich history and ensure the legacy and accomplishments of Roberts Smalls will not be soon forgotten."
Robert Smalls (pictured) was a South Carolina statesman born into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1839. Smalls escaped to freedom in 1862 by piloting a Confederate ship out of Charleston Harbor and delivering it to Union forces. In 1868, Smalls was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and later to the South Carolina Senate. In 1874, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he would serve five terms.
"By passing this bill, we acknowledge the importance of preserving and sharing the stories of those who have fought for the ideals that define our beloved state," said Senator Gerald Malloy. "It is through remembering our past and learning from it that we can shape a better future."
The 11-member Commission will report the proposed design and location of the monument to the State House Committee by January 15, 2025, for approval. The monument must be completed and dedicated by January 15, 2028, at which time the Commission will be dissolved. The final design must receive approval from the General Assembly by concurrent resolution.
"This is a South Carolina that we believe in and one that our young people deserve," said Representative Jermaine Johnson. "In a few short years, we will sit under the gaze of not only a South Carolinian hero but an American hero who fought for all of us."
The legislation directs the Commission to raise private funds, gifts, and grants to create the monument. The Commission may establish a tax-exempt nonprofit to receive and disburse funds for the monument.
The bill passed the South Carolina Senate and House unanimously.
