Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-07
YORKVILLE, S. O.. THURSDAY, MAY z, 1851.

knowlcdged the kindness shown them b,
those whom they had come to injure, ant
who gave them help like the good Samari
tan.
On Christmas morning, several cannon
were fired, after the morning gun. Mar.
Grey asked a.soldier's wife what it meant
The woman answered that they were keep
ing Christmas as they always did when the!
were in a friends country. "And do yor
really think you are in friends country?'
asked the patriotic maiden. "Certainly,'
was the reply. "south Carolina is con
quered country, and belongs to the king. .
"Does it ?" asked Mary. "Well, we shall
see." She would never 60 to see the army
on parade, saying, ~ have no wish to SEE
the enemies fmy country"
At this time, few patriots of the upper
districts were planning an attack on the camp
of Lord CORVALLIS. Robert Carr, sergen'
in Colonel Davics's company of dragons
made his way TO McCreight's, and conferred
privately with William Grey, who went next
day to the borough, counted the troops on
parade, observed the means of defence,
strength Of position, and everything neces.
sary to be known, and made his report tc
Carr. The enterprise failed because the
Chester men could not muster sufficient
force to warrant the hope of a victory.
The Reverend William Martin, who had
been imprisoned since early in June, 1880,
at Rocky Mount and Camden, was now
brought into the presence of Lord Cornwall
lis. This remarkable man might have been
called the Knox of our Revolution. Like
the Scottish reformer, he cleared not the
face of clay" and his influence had contri'
buted not little to the spirit and resolution
of the patriots. He stood before his lord.
ship, his gray locks uncovered, hat in hand,
his form erect, and his eyes fixed on Corn.
wallis, while the charges against him were
formally stated. "You stand charged" said
his lordship, "with preaching rebellion from
the pulpit. You, an old man, minister Of
the gospel of peace, to be guilty of stirring
up rebellion, and that, too, against your law,
full sovereign, King George the Third. An,
swer what you have to say to these charges" "
Martin bowed respectfully, and, lifting
his head, fixed his piercing eyes on the face
of his Judge: 81 am happy" he answered,
"to appear before you. For many months
have been held in chains for preaching what
I believe to be the truth. hope your lord
ship will bear in mind-indeed, I say it with
sincerity-that, as man, I ratherlove King
George, and owe him nothing but goodwill.
1 am not unacquainted with his private char
acter. I was raised in Scotland; educated
in her literary and theological schools; set
tied in Ireland, where I spent my prime of
life; and emigrated to this country about
seven years bygone. I have preached what
I believe to be the doctrines of the Refor-
nation and the creed of my people. King
George was bound to protect his subjects
he has failed to do this; protection and alle-
glance go together; and your lordship will
remember our doctrine is that the subject
ought not to obey those who do not protect
their civil and religious liberties. Your
large armies and the unoffending people here
slain in cold blood show, as I hold it, that
your king has rebelled against these colonies,
and they owe him no allegiance. The De-
claration Of Independence is faithful COM
mentary on the old faith of the Covenan-
ters." Having spoken his mind, the stur-
dy old Scotchman expressed himself willing
to abide the pleasure of his lordship.
About the same time, conspiracy was on
foot to take the life of CORVALLIS, who was
accustomed to take his morning and even
ing ride along the road John and Minor
Winn concealed themselves in wood, arm
ed with rifles; but, before his lordship ap-
peared, they were discovered by some 10y
alists, captured, and brought into the bor-
ough. They were condemned to be hung
at noon, and placed under guard in the wood;
the bushes, which had been cut away to get
frewood, being'piled in heaps around them.
Minor, distressed at the near prospect of
death, prevailed on the guard to send for
Martin, the minister He came; and they
knelt in devout prayer under the shadows
of brush-pile, pleading earnestly for divine
mercy till the fatal hour struck. The gal
lows stood in view; but the conspirators, at
the last moment, were marched to the head
quarters of Cornwalis, and graciously par
doned. Mary Grey stood in the door to
watch the melancholy procession conveying
her ncigbbors to death; and was able after
wards to explain the mystery oftheir pardon
and release of Martin, which the young men
attributed to miraculous intcrpos;tion called
down by the minister's prayers. The mercy
was owing to thcinterccssion Of Colonel John
Philips-called Tory Philips--who had
known Martin in Ireland. Justice has not
been done to the character of this man,
whose wealth and aristocratic education in
bued him with Loyalist principles; but who
was conscientious, kind land generous. While
the British were in possession of Winnsboro"
it is said he was constantly occupied ia acts
of kindness to the Wings, saving their lives
and property. None Of his acquaintance
were put to death.
After the departure of the British troops,
Philips was sole commander of the Loyalists
in his district, and he formed his camp at
| CaldHell's. not far from the Wateree or