Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-09-23
he elected according to the ancient mode.

prietors, with the exception of Chief Justice
Trott, thought it best not to carry out this
order of the proprietors; but to permit the
Assembly to 20 on until they had accomplish
ed the business in which they were engaged.
The proprietors also ordered repeal of a
law which laid an import duty upon negroes.
LIQUORS and other articles brought into the
colony. This part of the law, because it was
ian order by the King in Council" the Gov
ernor and the deputies asked the Assembly to
repeal, since it was the wish of the King.
Governor johnson and the deputies of the
proprietors, used every effort to keep the in
structions and orders of the proprietors secret
from the Assembly. They were unsuccessful.
So soon as these facts became known, the As
sembly flew into violent rage: 1t was bold;
ly asserted that the proprietors had enroached
upon the chartered rights of the province
Immediately preceding this juncture of affairs,
the lawyers Of the province had brought be-
fore the Assembly a complaint Of thirty
charges against Chief Justice Trott. Amongst
the complaints brought against him, he was
charged with devising multitude of ways by
which bis fees were increased. He was also
charged with giving advice to parties having
cases pending in his court. Everything now
tended to ALLEVIATE the minds of the people of
the colony from the proprietors. It was known
that the lawyers of the Crown Of England had
declared that the proprietors had forfeited
their charter, and the people Of the colony
now became anxious that the change be made.
During the reign of Queen Anne, applica'
ton had been made by the colony to the pro.
prietors for aid, and they not being disposed
to render the desired assistance, application
was made to the crown The Queen mani
tested a willingness to assist the colony, but
declared that she could not consistently do so,
since the colony was under proprietary form
of government The people of the colony
complained that they were under form OF
government which could not render them as.
sistance when in great need ; and yet it stood
in the way of their receiving aid from the
Crown of England. Many of the grievances
of which the people complained, were of such
character that they could be removed only
by the authorities in England.
Chief Justice Trott held his office during
good behavior, and could be tried only before
the proprietors. The Assembly drew up a
representation of the mal-adminstration OF
Trott, and desired the Governor and his Coun-
Gil to join with them in petitioning the pro-
prietors, if they did not see fit to remove the
Chief Justice, at least to limit his jurisdiction.
That they might BETTER succeed in this under
taking it was thought proper to send the me.
mortal by Francis Yonge, surveyor-General
of South Carolina.
Yonge arrived in London in May 1719, and
presented the memorial on the 4th of June.
In this memorial, in which the Governor and
most of his Council joined with the Assembly
the general condition and necessities OF the
colony were plainly and earnestly brought to
the attention of the proprietors. Several re-
quests were made. They we're asked to make
a donation of six thousand acres of land, for
the purpose of erecting three garrisons. One
on the Savannah river, at a point called Sa-
vannah town another at Congarees, and the
third at the Apalachocoles. The proprletors
were also asked to make some provisions tor
Custom House offices at Port Royal, since the
town at that point had commenced to increase
and was favorably situated for carrying on
the commerce of the colony. In this memo
rial, presented by Francis Yonge, complaint
was made respecting the unbounded powers OF
Chief Justice Trott, and the former arbitrary
action of the proprietors in repeating certain
laws passed by the Colonial Assembly. With
this memorial, Governor johnson sent the
charges brought against Trott Several other
documents were sent to the proprietors, all OF
which were designed to give them clear and
correct idea of the real condition Of things in
the colony.
After delay of three months, Yonge was
sent back to the colony with sealed packages
containing the decisions of the proprietors
During the time that Yonge was consulting
with the proprietors, Trott was corresponding
with them, and his power over the proprletors
was much greater than that of Yonge or any
one else.
The letters brought by Yonge from the
propretors to Governor johnson, revealed
the minds of the proprietors very clearly
Governor johnson was gently censured for
not carrying out, to the very letter, his previ
Gus instructions respecting the dissolving OF
the present Assembly, and causing another to
be chosen according to the mode originally in
existence in the colony. He was now instruct
ed to put his former instructions into execu
ton. They peremptorily refused to make
grant of land for garrisons or any other pur'
pose. They increased their power in the col
onial parliament by appointing twelve indi'
viduals as their deputies. Heretofore there
had been but eight; seven deputies, who repre-
sented the seven proprietors, and the Cover
nor, who represented the oldest proprietor, OF
palatine. Trott's power, instead Of being less
ened, was increased; and he, instead Of being
censured for malfeasance in Office, was
thanked.
This reply of the prop-ietors to the memo
rial sent up by the Assembly, stirred up a
spirit of revenge in every bosom except that
Of Trott Evidently, the proprietors designed
furnishing the colonists for what they regarded
as insolent conduct. Three Of the four depu
ties of the proprietors who signed the memo
rial, were left out in the new appointment
The fourth, Francis Yonge, would have been
left off but for the fact that he was an init
mate friend of Lord Cartaret, the palatine
The names of those left off were Thomas
Broughton, Alexander Skene and James
Kinlaugh.
Governor johnson, although warm friend
of the proprietors. was not pleased with the
manner in which they had acted. Possibly
the fact that his brother-in. n.law-Broughton-
was degraded, had something to do in arous
ing his disapprobation. He now saw that
Trott was virtually to govern the colony while
he held the Office of Governor. This being
the case, the Governor, in a kind of pet de
! termned to follow out the instructions of the
proprietors to the letter, let the consequence:
be what they might. He called the twelve
newly appointed deputies together and issued
proclamation dissolving the Assembly, ant