Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-02

=, SOUTHERN SOCIETY THE PERfoD OF THE REvo-s
LUTIoN-The spirit of hospitality it is said in The
Republican Court !" from the very beginning has
been boundess in Virginia, and, indeed, throughout
all the old Southern States Necessity may be said
to have contributed somewhat to make it so. The
settlements frequently were quite remote from each
other and the traveller often could find shelter at
night, unless he obtained it under the roof of the
friendly planter who would have been panied at the
suspicion that he either expected desired pecunl
airy remuneration.
1t is quite easy to see how, under system such
this, with all its unavoidable imperfections,
of the noblest traits of human character would
develope themselves. On the part of the wealthy,
generosity, Kindness guidance and support, were
constantly called forth for the benefit of those below
them in condition Accustomed, too, to direct, and
often to command (for the legitimate power of the
ton after generation with proud spirit of personal
independence, on which was naturally engrafted
sense of honor. A Virginian Maryland gentle
man of the olden time, seated dominions that
spread over hundreds of acres, and living in what
very like baronia state and educated perhaps,in
Europe, with polished manners, hosptable generous,
cordial manly, with high thoughts seated in heart
of courtesy, was noble specimen of men. When
the revolution commenced, they to whom this des-
cription would apply soon showed themselves.
If we turn further south the picture, in many of
its aspects is still the In the old towns at the
east, and the shores of North Carolina, men
who in instances, were large proprietors, many
of them educated and trained to the learned profess
sions abroad, filling all the important offices of the
on the continent. To these the common people had
long been used to look with Difference and respect;
and these swayed public opinion in the east. In
broad belt at the west, between the Catawba and
Yadkn rivers, sturdy and brave race of yeo-
men, known as the "Scotch Irish" Presbyterians,
lovers of liberty, from their very cradles who look
ed up to their spiritual teachers and the leading lay
men of the country for direction. The leaders were
men of cultivated minds. Frankness and fearless
ness were the characteristics of these brave yeomen
When the revolution commenced, men answered
more promptly the first call of their leaders than
the common people of North Carolina; leaders
sounded the alarm and uttered the call sooner; and
nowhere, throughout the colonies, did these leaders
completely possess the confidence of the people,
or more perfectly control and sway their actions.
In South Carolina it was very much the custom to
educate the sons of the wealthy the English uni
versities; and those who filled the liberal professions
had, in many instances, studied abroad. The arts
tocracy in parts of South Carolina clear
ly defined as in Virginia. The same hospitality gen.
crosby, and high sense of honor were also found
among the affluent and the educated In casting his
eyes the names belonging to this colony,
is struck with the large number evidently French.
These belong to those who descended from the HUI
guenots, driven out of France by the superlative
folly of Louis XIV, in revoking the edict of Nantes.
a bigoted ruler, and never was there which more
effectually wrought its own temporal punishment.
The Infatuated monarch enriched almost every civil
lized State in Europe at his expense and impov
erished France by the loss Of millions in trade and
thousands of her best population. Some to
America, and the largest body of them found home
in South Carolina. Here, as in every other land
where they found an asylum, they more than repaid
the benevolence which sheltered them by their piety
their skill, and their industry. The revolution shows
many South Carolina Huguenot names. They were
all patriots in that desperate struggle.