Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-02
Aistury Vt s. Garolima.
Written for the Yorkvile Enquirer
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV, ROBERT LATHAM.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
The headquarters of General Oglethorpe
we're at Fredrica, at the mouth of the Altama'
ha. Both, the Ashley river colony and that
planted west of the Savannah, depended upon
him for protection against Spanish invaders.
Had they succeeded in assassinating him by
the hands of one of his own regiment, it would
have proved at least temporary shock to
both the English colonies, and infused spirit
and energy into their common enemies. Fail
ing in the scheme of numbering Oglethorpe,
the authorities of St. Augustine whose minds
were accustomed to devise murderous plots,
had recourse to- another infamous intrigue,
and even more dangerous. In the province
of South Carolina there were, at this time,
(1739) between forty and fifty thousand negro
slaves, whilst the whites we're less than one
third that number. The negroes, many of
them, had been but lately brought FROM Afri-
ca. The climate agreed with them in re-
markable degree, and all Of them were strong
and capable of great physical endurance
1t was with difficulty that in times Of peace
these slaves were kept in bondage, and almost
impossible in times of war. The Spanish
Governor had previously issued a proclama-
ton of freedom to the negroes of Carolina.
This proclamation was kept profound secret
by the whites; but in spite of every Precau-
ton to keep it secret, many Of the negroes
had learned the fact, and availed themselves
of the offer made by the Spaniards. Ofthose
negroes who had fled from their masters in
Carolina, the Governor of Florida had formed
a regiment. This regiment had officers from
among themselves, and enjoyed all the privi'
leges of the other Spanish troops. The slaves
of Carolina were all aware Of this fact and
this made them. long for freedom. 1t was,
also, common practice for the Spanish au-
thorities to send enlisting officers, clandestine-
ly, into Carolina for the purpose of raising
recruits from amongst the negro slaves.
The Spanish proclamation of freedom to
the slaves was made in November, 1888, and
from that time to 1889, the people lived in a
constant dread of an insurrecLion. Negroes
would take their masters horses and boats
and make good their escape to Florida, where
they were safe. From the dread Of a negro
insurrection and the liability to be attacked
by scouting parties of Indians, the whites
were accustomed to 60 armed at all times,
even to church. This was required of them
by law. Several individuals lost their lives
in attempting to prevent their slaves from fly
ing to theSpaniards.
In September, 1889, at Stono, less than
twenty miles from Charles Town, a terrible in
surrection took place. The prime iustigator
of this bloody scene was a Catholic priest. A
small company Of negroes, probably from the
immediate neighborhood, first murdered two
young men in warehouse and then plunder'
ed the house Of guns and ammunition" Here
they elected one of their number, bearing the
name of Cato, their captain. A flag was hoist.
ed, and with heating drums they proceeded
to execute their barbarous plans. lntamed
by rum, and flushed with the success which
attended their first onset, they marked their
path with fire and blood. Every negro in
their march was forced to join them, and eve-
ry white-whether it was man, woman or
child-was butchered. The house Of one
Godfrey was entered, plupdered and then
burned, whilst he himself, with his wife and
children, were killed. Then they proceeded
to Jacksonsburgh. On their march, they we're
met by Governor Bull, who escaped from them
by leaving the road. 1t was on the Sabbath.
The Presbyterian community of Wiltown, in
large numbers, had turned out armed with
their guns, to hear the Rev. Archibald Stobo
preach. The alarm soon reached the church,
and the women were left in the house of wor'
ship, whilst the men rushed at once to meet
the insurrectionists. The militia Of the CONN
try were soon in arms, and under the COM
mand of Captain Bee, set out in pursuit of
the banditti. Their track was easily follow
ed 1t was marked by desoation. From the
point where they started, they had marched
about twelve miles, Not a house was left
standing, and twenty.three whites had been
murdered. When the militia came up with
them, they had stopped in an open field and
were singing and dancing merrily. Many of
them were drunk. In this condition they
were attacked from different points by the mi
litia. Several were killed on the spot, among
whom was Cato, the leader. The rest, who
were not too drunk, took to the woods. Some
were caught and killed. Others ran back to
their former masters, hoping thus to escape
but all, except those who had been forced to
Join the party, were executed.
Thus ended this horrible affair. Different
conclusions may be drawn from it. Some
may be led to lay the blame of the whole
matter at the door of the fanatics Of the Pope
of Rome, whilst others may be ready to con-
clude that it was but q Legitimate result of
slavery. That Cato and his followers were,
to some extent, melted to form themselves into
band of insurrectionists by evil designed ad-
herents of the Church of Rome, there seems
to be no good reason to doubt. The authori-
ties at Savannah captured all individual whom
they took to he priest. and whom they >sus'
pected to have been employed to set on foot a
general insurrecton of the slaves in Carolina.
The Governor of South Carolina was, by
letter, informed that such an individual had
been taken into custody but we suppose,
(athough it is not said so,) that the informa-
ton was not received until the plot had been
partly put into execution. At the time of
which we are speaking, the government of
Spain was violently opposed to the institution
of slavery. Whenever demand was made
for slave that had fled from South Carolina
and taken refuge in the Spanish colony of
Florida, the reply by the authorities of that
colony was, that it was contrary to the .princi-
Piles Of his Catholic Majesty, to hold any hu'
man being in bondage, and that rather than