The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-02-15
GOVERNOR ROBERT DANIEL.

GOVERNOR ROBERT DANIEL.
A PAGE FROM THE ECOLONIALHIS-
TORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Recalled by the Unearthing Of the
Tomb of Governor Robert Daniel in
n Lot i'm Rutledge Street-Govcrnor
Daniel and the Times In which lie
Lived.
Charleston Sunday News.
The recent finding of the tom mbstone
of Governor Robert Daniel covering au
old well in building lot town has
probably occasioned more inquiry to be
made into the history of that worthy
during the past few days than has
been the case for a century past.
Col. Daniel was Carolinian by
birth, his mother being Miss Gibbes,
a sister of Governor Gibbcs, whom his
father. John Daniel, married in the
year 1860, and through whom he ac-
quired much property. He was in
England, however, when he first APP
pears in the history of the colony,
which he does as the author in 1857 of
of one the many Constitutions sent
from England by the Lords Prop.'ietors
for the government of the province.
force, however, for when it was laid
before the Provincial Assembly by the
Cove rnor for their appreciation and
assent, recommending it to their care
full pursual they treated it as they
had done the former Constitutions,
and instead of taking thunder delibera-
tion modestly laid it aside. He must
have returned to Carolina soon after
this. for he was prominent during the
troublOus times which followed the
administration of Governor Blake.
who died in lIO0 and was succeeded
by Governor Moore, who was a. man of
considerable talent and military en-
terprise, ambitious in high degree,
and an industrious seeker after popula-
rity. He renewed the trade with the
Indians and had dreams Of avenging
upon the Spaniards of ST. Augustine
the frequent attacks which they had
made upon the Carolinians. a rup-
ture between England and Spain at
that time made the scheme at once
possible and legitimate. BY the pro-
posal OF this expedition to st. Angus
tine Governor Moore checked the in
ternal strifes of the colony.
Florida, he assured the people would
be an easy conquest. Her treasures of
silver and gold were promised as the
rewards of valor. The wrongs which
they had sustained at the hands of the
Spaniards, when dwelt upon, were
sufficient to warm the settlers to a
pitch of patriotic fever. One of his
most influential and earnest supporters
was Daniel, and their eloquence was
successful as well in the Assembly as
among the people. Governor Moore's
proposition was adopted by q great
majority in spite OF the earnest opposi-
tion Of the prudent few, who were not
deceived by the brilliant pictures of
success which had been held up to the
imagination of all Two thousand
pounds Of sterling were voted for the
service /; six hundred provincial mill
tia were raised out of "a population of
six thousand persons an equal number
OF red men were incorporated in
arms with the whites schooners and
merchant vessels we're impressed as
transports to carry the forces, and in
September, 1892, Moore sailed from
Port Royal upon his rashly conceived
and incautiously conducted enterprise.
The Spaniards were allowed to know
all that was going on and were prepar-
ing for defence with quite as much in
dustry as their foes were preparing for
the attack. They had laid up four
months provisions in the castle at ST.
Augustine, which was also strongly
fortified, and had sent dispatches to
the West India Isles for the assistan &C
OF the Spanish fleet.
Col. Daniel, who was a man OF great
spirit, with IL party Of militia and
Indians made II decent upon ST. Angus
tine by land, while the Governor our
sued his way by sea. Daniel had made
his arrangement with promptness and
secrecy, and he attacked and took the
town (plundcrcd it as welD before
MOorc's fleet appeared in sight Upon
the arrival OF the fleet the castle was
closely invested, but without SUCCESS.
The cannon Of the Carolinian made no
impression upon its thick walls, so
Col. Daniel was sent in sloop to Jamai-
ca for n supply of " bombs and morar"
OF the necessary calibre. During his
absence, however, the Spanish fleet
appeared at the mouth of the harbor
and Governor Moore was obliged to
raise the scige. Abandoning his ships,
he rctrcatcd by land to Charleston,
having, according to the historians,
" fled with the rapidity as unbccoming
~ his raSEncsS had been unwise and
imprudcnJ.'
When Daniel returned to ST. Angus
tine with his bonds and mOrtars to his
great surprise he found the siege
raised and very narrowly escaped be-
ing taken rs Il prisoner. This fruitless
expedition cntailed on the colony a
debt of six thousand pounds. After