The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
SOME NEW hooks.
South Carolina Under the Royal Govern
ment.

mT. EDWARD mCCRADN. mas now SuppleHncntou
his previous work by The History Of South
Carolina Under the Royal Government; Fi9-
177s tMacmiansl. What was said on a former
occasion may be here reafllrmed with empha-
sis. that seldom has such careful research. 80
much insight and such breadth OF compre
bennion been applied to the tsiineation Of
any part Of our colonial history. The 800
pages comprised In the volume before
us represent an immense amodnt OF
frst-hand Investigation, OF faithful COM
parson OF authorities. OF studous selec-
ton and OF condensation. 1t NAV be
thought at first sight that too much space ia
here devoted to the affairs Of q single colony
during q period which extended over little
more than half century. but this will not be
the opinion OF the reader who Is alive to the
Importance of the part which South Carolina
played during the later decades of the colonial
epoch and during the Revolutionary war.
part the emnence Of which was not to cease
but with the war OF the rebellion. nor Is the
story lacking In certain tragical interest
when one contrasts the position hold by South
Carolina in the American Union up to 1891
with that which the state occupies to-day.
The overthrow Of the proprietary govern
ment in South Carolina was usually spoken
OF by tho inhabitants Of that colony as the
Revolution OF 1719. In that very year Col.
Rhett wrote in prophetic language that II
this revolt Ia not cropped in the bud they
tho colonistsl will SGT up for themselves
against his Majesty" The revolution OF l7l9
left the territory or the province Of Carolina MS
originally formed in an anomalous condition.
part OF tho original province having dis
owned the proprctors' government while the
other part maintained it, the territory was
nil To-, t,yni fnrnIipo
becoming a royal while North Carolina re-
manned a proprietary province. Although. how
ever. tho proprietary government had brcn set
aside in South Carolina. the tijlc to the soil
still remained under the grant Of the charter
OF Charles ii. in the proprirtors. and still con-
tinued until the purchase Of the title by the
King and tho surrender thereof bv eight pro-
prietors under tho act of Parliament Of 1920.
Lord John Cartcrct. refusing to join IN the
surrender, retained his interest in tn" land
until 1744. His Majesty and his Lordship thus
became Joint owners rs tenants common:
che title OF seven undivided eighths Of the
province Of South Carolina being in the King
and the remaining undivided eighth in Lord
John Carteret
The people had ovor;hrown the proprietors
and appealed to be taken under his Majcstys
Immediate care and government. They soon
found. however, that his Majcsty's Govern
ment was but that OF the Lords Commission
ers and Board Of Trade and Plantations. and
this state OF things was to continue until the
beginning of the difficulties with the moth er
country, when in 17'ts the Earl of iIshorough
was intrusted with tho care Of the provinces as
Secretary otthc Colonies. Tn" people OF South
Carolina had rebellcd against tho proprietary
government because OF its tyrannicA conduct.
its Incompetence. and its neglect Of the affairs
OF tho province. That government had rested.
however upon charter which was as binding
upon the prOprictors as upon the coonists
1t was n charter defining the rights OF
tho people. well as the title and au-
thority Of the proprctors. What had the
colonsts gained by regulating this guaranty
of their liberties? They had complained that
some Of the proprietors were minors, and the
rest occupied with the business and pleas
ures Of their immediate surroundings that the
affairs OF the province were neglected and left
ito the management OF their private secretaries
But. II those having II most valuable propric-
tary interest in the province neglected its az
fairs because of absence what greater attcn-
ton and better caro- was to be expected from
an equally distant board. the members Of
which had no personal interests in its pros
pcrty? The time was not long deferred
when the colonsts were to ind tho Lords
Commissioners. the masters for whom they
had exchanged the proprietorS. still more ar
bitrary and negligent Of their affairs. and their
vital interests relegated once more to the
hands OF a clerk. as had been the case in the
time OF the propretors.
Under the government set up in 1870 the
Governor. Council and Assembly or Commons
constituted the three branches of the Legisla-
ture. with power to make such laws as might
be thought neelful. and should not be re-
puGnant to the laws Of Great Britain. The
n...l Co..
bers OF the Council were all appointed by
the King; the members OF the Assembly
were chosen by such ircehodcrs as pos
sessed at least fifty acres Of land or had
been taxed in the preceding year twenty shil-
lings for the support OF the government. The
title of the executive was that Of Governor
in-Chief and Captain-General in and over the
province" He also received "A Vice. Admiral's
commission. These high sounding appeations
however. conveyed very little power The
Governor was little more than the agent Of the
Board OF Trade. When the Governor was pres
ent. the Lieutenant Governor had no other
duties than those of member OF the COun-
Gill; in the Governors absence. the lattcr's
functions devolved upon him. but to him was
allowed only half OF the Governors salary. In
the place Of the Council % Deputies. which had
existed under the proprietors, there was a
Council comprising not more than twelve
members. who. as we have mentioned. were
appoined by the King. but usually upon the
Governors recommendation. Tho Council 81,
rs q distinct parliamentary body. in which
freedom of debate was assured. and laws
were enacted in its name. as well as in that 81
the Commons or lower house. Tho manner O
conducting parliamentary business was con,
formed closely to English presidents. We add
that for some time alter the establishment o
the royal government tho Councillors were
chosen from men Of the highest position In the
province. and these served without emo umcnt
or reward. But rs time went on and estrange
ments arose between the province and the
mother country, the seats Of tn" Council were
occupied by strangers who came out to I'll
offices on paltry salaries.
IL.
Although the expectations OF the colonist.
were disappointed by the royal government
there was marked increase Of prosperity be-
tween 1870 and lTCJ. There were many cause.
of complaint, hat upon tn" whole. no co!onJ
had. in the inj"rval boon GOV "vn"d better THAI
South CarOiiuu II used a be said thut th1