Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-08
Misturp pf $. Garuliua.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement Of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
On the departure of John Archdale, Jo-
seph Blake, as previously stated, commenced
his gubernatorial career. The circumstances
we're auspicious of tranquil and prosperous
administration. The difficulties between the
proprietors and the people, some Of which had
been of long standing, we're, if not settled to
the satisfaction of all parties, so smoothed
over and adjusted as to enable Blake to COM
mence his administration without any partic-
ular prejudice against him from any quarter.
There were no difficulties to be compromised
or settled before he could commence direct
administration of the affairs of the colony.
There was another circumstance greatly in
Governor Bakes favor. He was of good
and respectable family. He was we'll and fa-
vorably known, through his father and uncle,
to all the leading persons in the colony. He
was not an upstart. Such being, in part, the
surroundings of Joseph Blake, he was looked
upon as the "fittest person." says Archdale,
"to succeed to the government, and in which
Office he behaved himself to the satisfaction
of the country, which he governed with equal
prudence and moderation
When John Archdale returned to England
he reported to the other proprietors the con-
dition of the colony. In this report he sug-
gested certain changes which should be made
in the "unalterable constitutions" A meet
ing of the lords proprietors was held and the
matter was taken into serious consideration,
and the original one hundred and twenty
claws of Carolina" or articles of the Funda.
mental Constitutions, were reduced to forty
one. Much that was contained in the first
set of Fundamental Constitutions relative to
the system of nobility which the propretors
at first evidently contemplated establishing
in Carolina, was left out of the last set as they
were called. No doubt, Archdale told the
proprietors that it was impossible to establish
in America such government as was con-
templated by the Fundamental Constitutions.
The new laws, which were called the "Last
Fundamental Constitutions" were signed by
John, Earl of Bath Palatine, Anthony, Lord
Ashley, the Lord Craven, the Lord Carteret,
the Earl of Bath, Sir John Colleton, William
Thornburgh, merchant, Thomas Amy, and
William Tbornburgh." These last Funda-
mental Constitutions were signed on the 11th
of April, 1893. Major Daniel was entrusted
with the duty of of bringing these last consti.
tutions to the colony and through the Cover
nor, Joseph Blake, presenting them to the
Colonial Assembly for adoption. This was
done but the assembly, as stubborn as on
former occasions, coldly saw fit to lay them
on the table to be consideetsd at some other
time. The determination of the people was
to adopt no laws or Fundamental Constitu-
tions" sent out by the proprietors. Very lit
tie more was ever said about these "constitu-
tions" of forty-one articles, and nothing was
done. They never were adopted.
Notwithstanding the many favors granted
by the proprietors during Archdales admin
istration, and the many thanks returned by
the people for the same, it soon became man.
fest that the people had not obtained all they
desired. In February, 1899, an "humble ad-
dress ard remonstrance" was drawn up by
"the House of Commons" and sent to the pro.
prietors. In this "address" there is much
Aattery, some censure and no small amount
of begging. The proprietors are lauded and
extoled for the many favors that they had
been pleased to grant the colony, and at the
same time they are modestly censured bs-
cause they had done, or suffered to be done,
some things which were detrimental to the
prosperity of the colony. They are most
praised because they had sent out John Arch
dale as Governor of the colony, and they are
censured because the Kingso England was
attempting to put in forcs the English navi-
CATION act and "the act for III restraining Of
privateers and pirates" They complain that
the proprietors bad, in many instances, made
grants of "sueh great tracts of land" as to be
preiudicial to'the interests of the colony. In
this same address many petitions are made.
1t was desired that no laws might be put in
force except those which were passed by the
oonseut of the Colonial Assembly, and that
this assembly might have power to enact such
laws as it might regard necessary for the good
of the colony, and change any that we're in
force, prejudicial to the we'll being of the set
tlement. The proprietors replied to Cover
nor Blake that they were astonished at him,
since he was proprietor, in suffering such a
petition to be sent up. There were other pc
titions, but none of so grave character as
that just mentioned. The proprietors were
begged to entreat the King of England "to
take off the duties on rice, tar, pitch and tur-
pentine," and to grant the colonists such en-
couragement in the exporting of these articles
as might tend to the development of the re-
sources of the country.
An effort had been making for some time to
bring all the American colonies into closer
connection with the government of England.
The Kings council complained to the propri'
etors of Carolina, that the laws of England
were either disobeyed or evaded by the colo1
nists, in various particulars. To shield thelh-
selves from blame, the proprietors censured
the Governors. 1t is evident that the pro-
prietors were anxious to retain sole possession
of the province Any defect that might be
in the management Of the colony, or any ap-
parent conflict between Its regulations and
the laws of England, were charged to the &C.
count of the Governors. Several of the pro.
prietors had obtained share of the vast ter
ritory embraced in the whole province Of