The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-05
TSouthe-n Christian Advocate

TSouthe~n Christian Advocate
The city of Columbia will celebrate
next May the one-hundreth anniver-
sary of the first meeting of the Gen
eral Assembly of South Carolina IN
this place as the capital Of the State.
General Wade Hampton will deliver
an oration; there will be trades dis
play and probably military encamp-
ment; the city will be decorated and
illuminated at night; water will be
turned into the great canal and many
other attractions will be offered the
visitor and sight-seer during the three
days Of the celebration.
In addition to the meeting of the
Legislature, there was another occur
ence in the city of Columbia in May,
: 1871 that deserves a. passing notice.
Dusfaq th0s toonsn Pres dent George
Washing ON mace lbs frs and only
uisX to th:; !S'ate, ond spc1at seve. ol
dqgs IL CoiGnv;a-from Sunday, Nay
25.
The President left Philadelphia
(then the capital Of the United States)
on Monday, March 2lst, 1871. Mrs.
Washington and her two grandchil-
dren accompanied him to Mount Yer
non, where they spent the time during
his Southern tour. He reached Mount
Vernon on his return June 18th, ebay
ing made a most satisfactory journey OF
more than seventeen hundred miles, in
si.ty-six days, with the same team of
horses" In his diary he says: In
this tour I was accompanied by Major
Jackson. Ny equipage and attendance
consisted of a chariot and four horses
drove in hand, light baggage wagon
and two horses, four saddle horses, be-
siaes led one for myself, and five, to
wit: MY valet de chambre, two foot
men, coachman and postillion."
The route of the President through
our State was as follows: Leaving
Wilmington, n. c., Tuesday, April
26th, 1871, he "crossed the boundary
Eue between North and South Caro-
lima about half after y o'clock" on
the following day. His course was
through Georgetown to Charleston,
and then by Savannah TO Augusta, Ga.
We copy his diary for few days, be-
ginning at this point:
Sa;udcu, 81, (Nay, 1917
"Left Augusta about O'Clock, and
taking leave of the Governor and prin-
cipal gentlemen Of the place at the
bridge over Savannah River where
they had assembled for the purpose,
I proceeded in company with Colonies
Hampton and Taylor and Mr.. Lith-
Cow, a committee from Columbia, (wno
had come on to meet and conduct me
to that place., and Mr.. Jameson from
the Village of CRANKY, on my route.
"Dined at a house about twenty
miles from Augusta, and lodged at one
Odem's, about twenty miles farther"
Sunday, 22d.
"Rode about twenty-one miles to
breakfast, and passing through the
Village of CRANKY, just below the first
falls in the Congaree (which was
passed in fat-bottomed boat at rope
ferry,) I lodged at Columbia, the new
ly adopted seat of the government of
South Carolina, about three miles from
it on the North side Of the river, and
twenty seven from my breakfasting
stage.
"The whole road from Augusta to
Columbia Is & ppttre-sassren of the worst
sort, being hilly as well as poor. This
circumstance, added to the distance
length of the stages, want Of water and
heat of the day foundered one of my
horses very badly.
beyond Cranky, four miles, I was
met by several gentlemen of that place
and Wynnesborough, and on the
banks Of the river on the North side
by . number of others, who escorted
me to Columbia.
Nonday, Esd.
"Dinned at a public dinner in the
State House with a number of gen.
tlerlen and ladies of the town of Col
umbia and country round about to the
amount OF more than one hundred and
fifty, of which fifty or sixty were of the
latter.
Tuesday, 224ih.
''The condition of my foundered
horse obliged me to remain at this
place, contrary to my intention, this
day also.
Columbia is laid out upon large
scale, but, in my opiniol, had better
been placed on the river below the
falls. 1t is now an uncleared wood. |
with very few houses in it, and those
all wooden ones. The State House
(Which is also Of wood is large and |
commodious building, but unfinished. |
The town is on dry, but cannot be
called high ground, and though sur
rounded by piney and sandy land is
Itself good. The State House is near
two miles from the river, at the con-
duence Of the Broad River and Saluda. |
From CRANKY the river is navigable for |
craft, which will, when the river is a |
little swelled, carry 5000 bushels of
grain when at its usual heighth less,.