Impartiality may require admission that the signers of the Declaration had, in some respects, their equals.  But justice compels the assertion they had no superiors in zeal and devotion.  Such were Arthur Middleton and his father, Henry Middleton.  The latter represented South Carolina ahead of the son and rendered excellent service in the preliminary work of organization and preparation.  But important local governmental affairs obliged him, to return to his native state just prior to the ratification.  His son, Arthur, succeeded him reaching Philadelphia in time to give his vote and his name to immortality.  To the enemy the offense was heinous, and, in common with all the patriots, the penalty was paid.  The Middleton estates, the finest in South Carolina, were utterly destroyed by Cornwallis’ men, and scores of old Flemish and Italian paintings  were cast into a heap and burned.  Young Middleton himself, a year later, was arrested and thrown into jail.  After the war he was returned to Congress.