Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-10-07

hut. LII laCL, uo dsheu, III n'o ioIteA w t-o
proprietors, "that their Lordships would in
terest themselves 80 far, as that if his majesty
thought fit to take the government into his
own hands, he might be honored with his
Maiesty's immediate commission, or other
wise, that he might be restored to his govern
ment as formerly" From this it is clear
that Governor johnson was zealously intent
upon offending neither party, so that, which
every party in the event might be successful,
he still would be Governor.
By the proprietors, he was charged with ia
voring the popular party. This, however,
was not true, farther than he made 1t aPpa-
rent that he was anxious to be Governor, who
ever might be the owners of the soil.
About the same time, Governor johnson
wrote to William Rhett, Surveyor of Customs,
not to grant clearance to any vessels that
might come into the harbor. This would
have been death blow on the popular party,
had Rhett seen fit to obey the orders Of the
Governor but Rhett now showed his proper
character. He and the Governor we're per-
sonal enemies, and Rhett, moved by his per-
sonal hatred, disobeyed the Governor, and
joined in with the popular party. AS mat.
ter of policy, the Assembly retained him in of.
fee, and, besides, appointed him Lieutenant
General of the militia.
Rhett still kept up correspondence with
the proprietors, in which he told them that he
thought his course was the best for them. In
one word, Rhett was friend Of the proprie'
tors when with the friends of the proprietors,
and friend of the popular party when with
that party. He was all things to all men
that he might hold lucrative Offices.
Turned out of office, Nicholas Trott pre-.
pared to embark for England. Before leav-
ing, he wrote to Governor johnson and told
him that if he would pay him, he would 60
before the authorities in England and make
such showing of his case that he would have
him reinstated as Governor. This johnson
refused to do. From this time Trott treated
johnson with neglect, and in some way or
other influenced the proprietors to do the
same.
The Assembly sent Col. Barnwell to Eng
land as their agent, to make statement of
the condition of things in the province. In
the meantime, it became known that the
Spaniards were fitting out fleet in Havana
for the purpose of making an attack on the
Island of Providence and South Carolina.
Governor Johnson, whose perseverance knew
no limits, once more determined to make an
effort to secure his lost authority. He wrote
to the Assembly, telling them that the hostile
Spaniards were coming to desolate the colo
nv, and that he was convinced that the troops
would fight better under him as comman-
der, than under James Moore. He offered
the services of himself and council to advise
with the Assembly for the general safety.
This was shrewd, but he mistook the charac-
ter of the men he was addressing. The As
sembly never answered his letter. They treat
ed it with icy neglect.
Hovendine Walker took umbrage at some
of the proceedings of the Assembly and went
to his plantation, and Chief Justice Richard
Allen was made president of the Assembly.
A tax was levied on land and negroes to meet
the current expenses of the government and
to put the forti6cations in proper repair.
Governor johnson and his party refused to
pay the tax, but the Assembly was net to be
triAed with in this way. The property of
those who refused to pay the tax was seized
and sold, and the tax paid out of the pro-
ceeds of the sale. This was the case with all
who refused, except the Governor. The whole
country was in arms, and Rhett was busy with
his regiments getting ready for fight with
the Spaniards. This, however, did not take
place; for after the whole country, for two
weeks, had been under arms, it was learned
that the Spaniards had made an attack upon
Providence, but had been beaten by Cover
nor Rodgers, and that their fleet having been
overtaken in storm, was near y destroyed.
After the excitement occasioned by the ex-
pected attack of the Spaniards had subsidized,
Captain Hildesley, commander of the war
ship Flam mbrough, came to Charles Town.
Both parties were anxious to secure the CO.
operation of the Captain. Governor johnson
and his party were successful. The neglected
Governor, in fit of desperation, now deter
mined to make dying effort. With the as.
sistance of the Phoenix, commanded by Cap
tain Pearce, and the Flambrugh, he deter
mined to frighten the citizens of Charles Town
into subjection. But the Governor found
that those whom he could not persuade he
could not frighten. They laughed at the
empty parade. From the ramparts of the
town seventy cannon frowned down upon bis
vessels, ard the scheme which was conceived in
fit of rashness, ended in bitter modification
to its deviser. To add fuel to the flame of
popular excitement, it was now learned that
the proprietors contemplated selling, or had
actually sold, their charter to company Of
Quakers. This produced bitter opposition to
the proprietors Since the proprietors had
commenced to barter their charter, no one
could tell when the thing would end.
The colony was in very disturbed condi-
tion. The majority of the people were in ia
vor of the revolutionary movement; but Gov
ernor johnson had his friends. With the aid
of these he continued to throw every obstacle
he could in the way of the new government.
In accordance with the instructions of Gov
ernor johnson and his council, Charles Hart,
the secretary of the colony, secreted the pub
lie records; and the clergy, who seem to have
favored the Governor, refused to marry those
who desired to enter into matrimonial rela-
tons without license procured from Cover.
nor johnson. Captains Hildesley and Pearce
still continued to encourage Governor John
son to make an effort to regain bis former po-
sition. Some time in the early part of l72l
he called together few men, and from the
rear of the town made an advance upon the
fort with the intention of surprising it. Un-
fortunately for johnson, his movement was
discovered by Governor Moore. Two guns
from the fort were fred over the heads OF
johnson and his men. This frightened them
and brought them to their senses. They saw
now that they were wholly at the mercy of
the revolutionary party. After promising not
to disturb the peace of the community again,
johnson and bis party we're permitted to en-
ter the town. Here ended Gov. Johnson's ca
reer. For some reason or other, the proprietors
Maid no sort of attention to his letter and bY all