The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-07-22
THE STATES Capitol.
1t is One of the Most Historic
Buildings in the South,
LEGISLATORS IN EARLY DAYS.
The Original Building and the New
OfTo-day-HistoricR Relics Carefully
Preserved.

In this day OF various societies, mas
culine and feminine, for unearthing
and perpetuating the chivalric incl
dents of the Colonial and Revolution
airy periods of American history we are
continually on the lookout for some
hidden fine of fact or fancy, and when
so discovered we reverently blow the
dust away, rub the old piece of silver,
smooth out the crumpled sheet, deci-
pher the fading ink-all, no doubt, in
very bad English and periodically dis
patch these heroic emblems to our fa-
yorite store room of national preserves.
In recent visit to South Carolina |
was told to be sure and visit the State
House. l did so and found it the most
imposing building and the most inter
esting archive of history in that pictur-
esque and noted town, Columbia. The
State House of every State is always
centre of interest, but the State House
of South Carolina, like the State House
of Boston, strikes one as the great
heart of the people, and, like all people,
it bears its scars and hides its skeleton.
The State House Of South Carolina may
almost be called national cornerstone.
for indissolubly connected with it are
the names of Lord William Campbell,
Rutledge and Moultrie. In the early
days Of the colony the seat of govern
ment was at Charleston. Lord Camp
bell tried to remove it to Beaufort, for
some British policy, but the plan failed.
When the colony became State it was
considered necessary to secure more
central capitol, and for safety, one
farther from the coast. This was in
1870, and the spot selected was that on
which Columbia now stands. Some
one has said that Columbia, like Wash
ington, was capital CITY from her birth.
In the State House there now hangs
a photograph taken from an old print
of the original State House. 1t is
quaint wooden structure and seems to
stand alone amid its primitive surround
ings. In q recent open letter written by
one of Carolina most charming women,
who has made the study of her State a
pleasure, she tells us that many were
the hardships of the Legislators in the
old days: 'tNo accommodations for
man or beast, or next to none, we're to
be found in Columbia proper Her one
tavern held but the Governor and his
suite, if they were not entertained by
the neighboring planters. The major
ity of the lawmakers were lodged at
CRANKY and compelled by the scarcity
of horses, they frequently walked to
their legislative duties. Their patriotic
enthrs asm never tagged, though most
of them were accustomed to ease and
luxury when at home. How would our
present Legislators stand a return to
such ultra-J Jeffersonion simplicity ?"
In the early part of this century the
original State House was replaced by a
larger and handsomer building, also of
wood, but she adds: cts walls heard
the eloquence of Hayne, Legare, Pres
ton and other gifted orators, who in
the eos and 30's added lustre to the al
ready brilliant reputation enjoyed by
the State.
A still more worthy memorial was de-
sired, and in 1853 the South Carolina
Legislature passed bill to construct a
Capitol which should compare favor
ably with any other building of the
kind in the States. The first floor of
this building was nearly completed
when the foundations gave way and the
work was not resumed until 1857, when
the site was placed q little west of the
old one. This is the foundation of the
present State House, and the work of
building has been carried on at an
enormous cost and prosecuted in fece of
difficulties that might daunt less pa
triotic spirit In 1851 two million dol
lars had already been expended, and
few years ago three hundred thousand
more were used in handsome interior
decoration and for repairing the effects
of abuse during the days of reconstruc-
ton. The building is now complete
except the dome and two porticos,
which are to be placed at the back and
front. The original design calls for
flight of marble steps to each of these
porticos, and when completed will pro-
ject one hundred and fifty feet from the
main building. The beautiful columns
intended for the porticos and the statu-
ues of Agriculture and Commerce and
the bss reliefs lay in the State House
grounds ready for placement at the time
of the breaking out of the civil war. All
this beautiful work. done in Italy by
the Sculptor Kirk Brown, was destroy
ed in the war with about $50, 900 worth
of other material ready for use. The
marks of the cannon balls are still to
be seen on the west side of the State
House. 1t is said half million dollars
will be needed to finish the building as
originally designed.
The State House stands at the head
of Main street, the principal thorough
fare of Columbia, and reminds one of
light set on green hill; or like
diamond in emerald setting. The
mass of white stone can be seen for
miles around, and as one draws near
the grass which covers the beautiful
sloping elevation, scent ntartlingly
green and fresh and smooth, but ma
ture seems to spread this bes utiful car
pet all over Columbia.
The Offices OF the Governor and
other State officials and the Supreme
Court rooms and library occupy the
first floor. The Senate and House of
Representatives and the State Library
are on the second floor. I believe
South Carolina is the only State which
still preserves the old-ti4e flavor. Of
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