Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-09-02
Mistutp uf $. Garulima,
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
The gubernatorial career of Nathaniel
johnson, commenced in 1903 and terminated
in 1909. He was succeeded by Col. Edward
Tynte. 1t is difficult to say why this change
was made johnson had not so far as the
records show, in the least offended the pro-
prietors. No doubt it was the policy of the
proprietors to make frequent changes in the
chief officer of the colony. There is also
another circumstance, which, in all probabil-
ity, had something to do in the removal of
johnson and the appointment ofTynte. Lord
Granville died and William Craven became
palatine. Craven was decidedly man Of
more liberal views than Granville. Craven
had the prosperity of the colony at heart;
whilst Granville seems to have made every
thing else of secondary Importance to the es.
tabishing of High Churchism in the province.
Probably, it was thought that it would have
tendency to obliterate all the bad feelings
which had been engendered in the colony by
the passage of laws respecting religion.
tits due to the memory of Nathaniel John
son to say, that whilst he was not free from
faults, he was both good citizen and excel.
lent Governor. By birth he was an English"
man, and at one time was member of the
House of Commons. For period of three
years-from 1886 to 1689-he was Governor
of the Leeward Islands. He was what we
are accustomed to call an English gentleman ;
hightoned and digni6ed in his intercourse
with his fellow men, but, withal, not remark
able for his talents He had received a mill"
tary education, and in this respect be proved
great blessing to the colony. 1t is due to
his memory to say that he put the colony in
condition that it could be defended, and in.
spired the people with confidence in them
selves. In common with many Of his age, he
did not have liberal notions respecting reli-
gion, and unfortunately he became connected
with others less liberal than himself.
He came to the province in 1889, and at
once engaged in developing the resources of
the country. He engaged in the manufacture
of silk, in the making of salt, and in raising
grapes. His experiment with silk was, all
things considered, a success; and it is said he
made wine, perhaps prior to the time that he
was Governor but in what quantity and OF
what quality, we have no means of ascertain
ing. Whether he succeeded in making salt
or not, we do not know. All that we certain
ty know is, that he engaged in making salt
on sewee Bay. To Nathaniel johnson more,
perhaps. than to any other man, were the ear
" settlers of South Carolina indebted for their
success in raising rice. He introduced sever
al kinds of rice, and experimental with them
in order to discover which kind was best
adapted to the soil and climate.
Governor ,Johnson's defects were two. He
was exclusive in his religious notions, and be-
ing educated an English gentleman, he had
ideas which were ill-adapted to people
who had chosen forest for their home In
PEELED by the first idea, we finding him assist
ing in enacting a law, which to all intents and
purposes, reduced dissenters to state Of vas
salage. Influenced by the latter notion, he
was often led to say to the people whom he
governed, when they would demand reason
for his manner ofprocedure, that it was none
of their business. AS much as to say "you
are tenants, and have no right to demand a
reason for any thing from nobleman."
Having been removed from Office, Cover
nor johnson returned to his plantation near
Charleston, and died in 1918. His remains
were inferred OH his premises. In after years
brick wall was built by Gabriel Manigault,
to perpetuate his memory. The male line of
Nathaniel johnson has become extinct.
Col. Edward Tynte commenced his guber-
material career under more favorable circum-
stances than sorne of his predecessors. The
calamities which had befallen the people had
tended somewhat to make them forget their
differences, and to feel the necessity Of being
united in sentiment. The propretors had
concluded that the southern portion of their
possessions in America was by far. the most
desirable. Brief histories of the country had
been published in London. In these histories,
the authors lauded, in no moderate terms, the
soil, climate and production of that portion
of North America which is now called South
Carolina. These glowing descriptions, in the
main correct, we're disseminated all over the
United Kingdom and as far as the Rhine
The proprietors, at last, as we will see in the
sequel, when it was too late, began to be more