A senate RESOLUTION

TO recognize and COMMEND THE HONORABLE Samuel L. Duncan, former member of the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives, and THE HONORABLE Edward Israel Cain, former member of the House of Representatives, for their many accomplishments and exemplary service to this great State.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate take great pleasure in honoring those who give their lives for the betterment of their community and whose contributions make the Palmetto State a better place to live; and

Whereas, the state's history is filled with many contributions from its citizens of African-American heritage and whose contributions played an integral role in South Carolina's development, like Senator Samuel L. Duncan and Representative Edward Israel Cain. In observance of Black History Month 2023, we celebrate with the people and descendants of the Fort Motte Community and the entire Calhoun and Orangeburg Counties to honor and recognize two of their native sons by erecting memorial stones at Lang Syne Cemetery in Fort Motte on February 25, 2023, and to commemorate the life, legacy, and contributions of Senator Samuel L. Duncan and Representative Edward Israel Cain, both of whom served South Carolina's Orangeburg District during Reconstruction; and

Whereas, Representative Edward Israel Cain lived from 1837 to 1892 and served as an Orderly Sergeant, Company H, 135th United States Colored Troops in the United States Civil War. He served in the South Carolina House of Representative for Orangeburg's Fort Motte District during Reconstruction from 1868 to 1870. He was a member of the 1868 South Carolina Constitutional Convention, sheriff of Orangeburg County from 1872 to 1875, and Orangeburg District commissioner of education in 1871. He is buried in Fort Motte; and

Whereas, Samuel L. Duncan was an educator, farmer, and minister. As an advocate for his people, he campaigned for education of African Americans in his community and State. He helped organize Good Samaritan Lodge Hall, which served as a school for African Americans in the Fort Motte community until the late 1920s. He served at Sandy Lawn School and Sandy Lawn Baptist Church; and

Whereas, after the Civil War, great progress was made in the fields of national, state, and local governments as former slaves and their descendants took their rightful seats in the highest offices of state and federal governments; and

Whereas, during the Reconstruction Era, Samuel L. Duncan further advocated for African Americans in his community and State during his service in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1872 to 1876 and in the South Carolina Senate from 1876 to 1880. In addition, he served as the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party from 1874-1882. He continued service to his country when he was commissioned Captain of Company H, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division of the National Guard on October 29, 1873; and

Whereas, it is a fitting and proper tribute for the South Carolina Senate to honor Samuel L. Duncan and Edward Israel Cain who were true leaders and reformers and who provided great leadership during a tumultuous period in the history of our State and nation. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and commend the Honorable Samuel L. Duncan, former member of the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives, and the Honorable Edward Israel Cain, former member of the House of Representatives, for their many accomplishments and exemplary service to this great State.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Martha Scott Smith, Mr. Robert Scott, and Mr. Roger Scott, descendants of Senator Samuel L. Duncan, and to Attorney Allard A. Allston III, a descendant of Representative Edward Israel Cain.

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