Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-05-17

that Charleston was about TO assume mat
high station which belongs TO her as the
chief city of the South. Already had we
began to realize the first fruits Of these pa
triotic eXcrlions. The eyes of the whole
South. and of large portion Of the West.
were turned towards Us with an interest
which promised the happicst results. While
grand schemes of improvement wcrein pro-
srcss, looking to the advancement of our
intercourse with the interior, and the ex-
tension of our direct trade with all foreign
nations, we were striving TO improve the
health Of the city, and TO furnish the ncces
sary facilities for an enlarged and extending
commerce. Your Excclency must have
seen with satisfaction the fruits Of this sys-
tenn SO strongly illustrated in the spirit of
industry, which wus every where displayed
in the erection of noble public cdificcs. the
multiplication and improvement of stores
and private dwellings,, and the extension of
all the sources Of public prosperity and pri-
valc happiness. In a single night This slo-
rious prospect was suddenly and entirely
changed. Our beautiful city was laid in
ashes. Wondering walls and blackcncd
ruins mark the spots where our habi,ations
stood. Thousands of our people, who a few
comforts Of life, have been deprived Of their
all, and are indebted to the kindness of thcn
friends for shelter and support, Labor has
been deprived of its accustomed employ
ncnt, and property of its value. The in
comes of all have been greatly reduced,
and Of many totally destroyed.
The true character and extent of this
calamity will be clt arlv understood from a
very bricfstatemcnt. From careful csli
mate ofhe losses sustained, it appears that
about five hundred dwelling houses fronting
on the public streets, have been total y con-
sumcd, and an equal number of kitchens or
other buildings occupied by slaves, maxim:
together upwards of one thousand dwelling
houses destroyed, exclusive of Il large num-
bcr of other out buildings. Its impossible
TO ascertain the number of persons who oc-
cupicd these dwellings,, but they have been
estimated at from 5 to 1000.
We have no means of asccrtaininS the
value ofpropcrly thus lost. But when i, Is
rccollcc,cd that this destruction OF property
has fallen upon the very heart Of The City,
containing lumber of stores of great valuo
and that goods, as we'll as furniture, to a
considerable amount, have been destroy cd,
it may safely be assumed that the amount
Of our Losses cannot have fallen much short
of four millions of dollars. 1t has hccn as
ccrtaincd that Of the property DESTROYED,
about one million and half of dollars were
insured. but oithiS, upwards Of one million
was insured in Charlcston, Gnvovins the
entire capital oftwo of our Insurance Com
panics. out of lhwc.) So that clear loss
has been sustained by this community, of
.,f<l N,t
silcration the amount Of our population, and
the extent of our resources, it is believed
that Charleston has, on this OCCASION, sus-
,aincd IL greater loss than was suffered ei-
thcr by London Or New York, on the occa-
sions cf what were empha,icaIly called the
s EIsat 4At hres u at thesc pIaee5; We present
enable us to apply the remedy. If,his loss
had been one of an ordinary charactcr-if
only flew hundred houscs-vaIucd at few
hundred hundred thousand dollars, haJbccn
destroyed. the citizens OF Charleston woulI
have relied on their own resources for relief
That manly pride, which regards personal
independence as atrcaSurc Il that cannot be
too highly priced, would induce us even
now, to suffer in silence, if there were no
considerations of a high public character
which seem to demand different line of
conduct. While gratefully acknow lcJsiuy
our obligations to those WHO have SO libcr-
ally aud promptly come forward witt, pccu-
mary contributions for the relief of the dcs-
tltutc amongst us. it is due to ourselves TO
state, that even without this generous aid.
ihc wants otall such would have bccu SIM
piled. The citizens of Charleston regard
each other as brethren, and would eyn.nd
their last dollar, sooner than that one OF ,hc
sufferers from the late conlasra,on. should
wlnt the ncccssarics of life Bun il j. as :,
COMMUNITY that we deeply feel the ncccs-
sIty of obtaining some Immediate or com.
prehensive relief. The industry anil enter
PRISE OF our city. has been struck down nv
Il blow. from the effects of which. VIC can
not recover without Immediate and pow.
cr'ul assistance. Time so far from briun-
inS "hcalng OH its WINGS" will ONLY Tie
more surely seal our fate, if the ucceSs,rv
aid is not afforded promptly and efficiently.
The evil is not merely that hundred, or onr
dwellings, and millions of our propcrtv h,vc
been destroyed, and thousands of our pconIr |
have hecn driven from their habitu,ious
great as these caIamties unqucs,ionabIv |
are. But the true evil is, that We b,yn
been deprived OF the means of repairing
these losses, and of averiimg their fatal con
sequences. The late fire found the inhabi-
tants OF Charleston in state of active and
vigorous cxcriion. Within the last 4 wears
The slumbcring energies OF our people had
been reused into action; the public mind
had been stimulated, and the spirit of en-.
erpriZe awakened, and unwontcd cnc-rv
pcrvadcd every department ofhuman indus.
try. Suddenly, without Il moments warn
ns,thc whole scene has been entirely cLaur.
cd: Labor is deprived Of its employment
Industry Of its reward-and the c;nitol
mat IN; sustained them, has utterly pcrishcd
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