Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-12-16
THE BULLS BAY LIGHT HOUSE.

The action of the Senate of our State, in
reference to the Light House on Bulls Bay,
has occasioned here, deep disappointment and
regret. twas never anticipated that our own
Legislature would do anything to hinder the
erection of structure SO essential to the. agrI-
cultural and commercial interests Of the State
Now, that the Senate has refused to authorize
the Government to purchase site for this
Light House, we are constrained to believe
that there must have been in that body total
misunderstanding Of the facts and merits OF
the subject. Were the Light House at Bulls
Bay necessary only to our coasting trade with
the other States north of US, then the state of
the times might furnish some excuse for our
refusing to permit its erection. But this is not
the case it is needed more for our interior and
and river trade than for anything else Not
only the merchants have an INTEREST," the mat.
ter but every planter who sends his crop to mar
ket by the Santee, Wateree and Pedee rivers,
has still deeper stake therein. ssE'-
Bulls bay, upon careful survey, has been
pronounced one of the best harbors on the
Southern coast Many a boat from the San.
tee, Pee Dee and Waccamaw, laden with rice
and other produce, and even the negroes of
the planter; has found in this bay, a safe harbor
from the storm. By getting into this bay the
lives of many fishermen have been saved, and,
even steam boats from the rivers above, have
stopped there, for the safety of their passen-
gers aud crews. But though this harbor is at
all tides easy Of access during the day, yet
for the want Of light house, it is not so at
night. 1t was the duty of the government to-
make it accessible at all times, and the neg.
lect to do so hitherto, was an injustice to the
people Of the State. 1T length the matter was
brought to notice Of the government, by Pc
tition signed by large numberof persons who
were deeply interested therein. South Caro-
lima has never been clamorous for appropria-
tons from the government, but this matter was
considered an important one, and was therefore
pressed with zeal. With the petition for a
light house, one for buoys at the Santee bar was
connected, and through the exertions of Mr..
Calhoun, and our representative Mr.. Holmes,
the appropriation for both purposes was made,
after some mistake and considerable delay.
1t seemed, at last that the things so much de-
sired, and so essential to our river navigation,
had been secured beyond the possibility of o
failure. And now, our planters. merchants,
and boat owners were full of expectation and
nope, lHe appToPlHitiou udu Ueeu Hiauej tn6
price of the land had been agreed upon; the
contracts had been advertised for; our mechan.
les were making preparations to furnish the
material, and to do the necessary work, when
10! the Senate of our State interposes its veto,
snuffs out the lights, and vows that our people
and produce shall go upon the breakers, or
down to the bottom of the sea rather than they
shall be $ued by the light of Federal lamp
wick.
What motives could have led the Senate to
this course, we cannot imagine. Is the giant
blind, that 1t should thus strike at random, not
caring whether it PROSTATE friend or foe! 1t
would really seem so for this is certainly heavy
blow in the wrong direction. We know that
our people desire no more federal guns upon
our soil, but cannons are seldom mounted upon
lighthouses, and the wife and family of the
poor old sesmen who might be appointed to
keep the lamps in order, would surely make no
formidable garrison. Verify, the act of the
Senate in this matter now seems altogether fit.
ful and unaccountable, and the day may come
when the honorable Senators shall feel that
their indifference or prejudice amounted even
to crime. Let planters boat be driven to