Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-10-21

etors into the hands of the King Of England,
the State had been settled for more than fifty
years, it was still almost virgin forest, grand
with its native beauties. But little of the soil
had been cultivated. Only small portion of
the territory embraced in the original grant
had been seen by any European.
Several causes prevented the early imml-
grants from extending their settlements to
any great distance beyond Charles Town.
The Spanish on the South, and the Indians
in all other directions, prevented this. Some
times the Spanish were at peace and some
times at war with England; but at almost
every period previous to 1924, they were the
bitter enemies of the colony planted on the
soil that now bears the name of South Caro-
lima.
The French were now making rapid en-.
croachments upon the territorial grant of the
State. In 1712, Louis the Fourteenth grant
ed Crozat large tract of country at the
mouth of the Mississippi. This was part of
the territory granted by Charles the Second
of England, to the original proprietors. From
this point the French colony planted, in what
is now the State Of Louisiana, gradually ex-
tended toward the settlement at Charles
Town. By them, fort, called alabama"
was erected ON the Mobile river. Their OBJ
ect in building this fort was to put them.
selves in easy communication with the Indian
tribes of the country. In this lay the danger
to the colony of South Carolina. The In.
dians we're melted to hostilities. .-,..,e-.,.
In 1725, King George granted Governor
Nicholson permission to return to England,
and the government devolved upon the Pres.
ident of the council, Arthur Middleton. Mic.
olson had been generous, liberal and patriot
ic, and consequently very popular. The in
comes from his Office had been freely expen-
ded in promoting the public good. Arthur
Middleton had been active in bringing about
the change from the proprietary to the royal
government. He was firm and unwavering
in his attachments to the King, but not dis.
posed to make great personal sacrifices for
the good of the colony. His aspirations we're
not for popularity, but rather for individual
wealth. He does not seem to have had much
ambition for popular honors, but to have
been anxious to secure the position OF an
English Lord with ample wealth.
Soon after his administration began, diff.
fculty occurred between him and the Span.
ish authorities respecting the boundary line
between Florida and South Carolina. The
Carolinans had built a fort on the Altamaha
for the purpose of preventing the negroes of
the colony from escaping to Florida, and also
for the purpose of preventing the Indians, who
we're allied to the Spanish, from making dep
relations upon the property of the settlers. In
this fort few soldiers were kept
The Spanish Governor, at St. Augustine,
complained to the Spanish King of this en-
croachment. The complaint was brought by
the Spanish ambassador, at London, before
the British government. It was agreed, in
order not to disturb the peaceable relations
then existing between England and Spain,
that the Governor of South Carolina and the
Spanish Governor of Florida should meet and
settle the dispute in friendly manner. The
meeting took place at Charles Town. Fran
cisco Menandez and Joseph de Rabiero, rep
resented the Spanish government. In the
conference which took place. Governor Mid.
dleton showed the Spanish representatives
that the fort erected at the Altamaha was
within the territory originally granted to the
colony, and that the claims of the Spanish
were without foundation. This was the case
The Spanish had no well.founded claim to the
territory on which that fort was erected.
The fort may have been erected, in part, at
least, with different intention from what was
mentioned but the soil upon which it was
erected was, beyond controversy, the property
of South Carolina. No doubt, one object
which was contemplated in erecting the fort,
was to decoy the Indians, who were friends to
the Spanish, from their allegiance. The
Spanish government asserted that such was
the case, and no doubt there was some truth
in it. Middleton complained that the Span.
ish authorities at St. Augustine, encouraged
the negroes of South Carolina to run away
from their masters This was not denied, but
justified on the ground that it was in accord
ance with the wishes and instructions Of the
Court of Madrid. 1t was declared that the
object which was designed to be accomplished
by decoying these slaves away from their
masters, was to convert them to the Catholic
religion. Middleton asserted that to act thus
was neither consistent, just nor honorable.
For twenty years the practice Of the Spanish
authorities at St. Augustine had been to de-
coy all the slaves they could from the colony
in South Car6lina. When these slaves we're
demanded, the Spanish government engaged
to pay for them, but only in few cases was
this done.
The conference broke up without efecting
anything but bad feeling. The Yamassees,
the friends of the Spanish and bitter enemies
of the English colony at Charles Town, again
commenced to plunder the country and scalp
the irhabitants Incensed by the outrages,
Col. Palmer determined to retaliate He,
with body of three hundred men, invaded
Florida. Everything in his course was des-
troyed. The country was ruined. Nothing
escaped except what was protected by the fort
of St. Augustine The crops were totally
destroyed, and the domestic animals driven
off. The houses burned. Some of the In
dams were killed on the spot, whilst others
were taken captive and treated as captives at
that time were usually treated. This taught
the Spaniards an important lesson. They
now learned that the colonists at Charles Town
not only could defend themselves, but utterly
aunihilate the colony in Florida if they saw
| fit.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
A SHREwD WoMAN.-The Liverpool Steam
Packet Company, wishing to extend its prem
ises, decided to purchase adjoining land,
which was owned by q maiden lady Of un-