Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-02

The probability Is that had Trott been
sharer in its gains he would not
have opposed it; but since Governor
Moore alone was to be benefited by
the passage of the proposed bill, Trott
opposed 1t, and mainly by his opposi-
ton 1t was defeated. During the ses-
sion Of 1901, but few laws were enact
ed, and none of very great Importance
to the prosperity Of the colony. The
time of the members was consumed in
angry and excited debates. There was
one law ratified on the 1st OF March,
17O1, which serves to confirm the
truthfulness of one Of the traditions OF
the country. 1t is we'll known to all the
old inhabitants of the state that less
than a century ago, the country was
full of wild horses. Such was the
case within the recollection Of some
persons still living. In Fairfield county
there is a stream which Is now
known by the local name of Horse
river. The original name Of the stream
was Horse-pen Branch. This name
was given to the stream because the
farmers constructed pens near 1t for
the purpose of catching wild horses.
The First Horses.
Now, the question may be asked how
did the wild horses get into the coun-
try? 1t Is we'll known that when the
colony was first planted at Charles
Town, there were neither hogs, horses
nor COWS in the territory. Horses
were brought from the northern colo
nies; but especially from Virginia.
Great numbers Of these animals were,
during the few last years Of the sew
enteenth century driven from Virginia
to Charles Town. Some were sold to
the planters; but the larger number of
them were turned loose in the swamps.
Here they were permitted to remain,
summer and winter, and In these
swamps they increased in numbers, and
in short time many Of them became
so wild as never to be recovered by
their owners. AS the low country be-
came more densely populated and the
swamps drained, the wild horses as
well as the other wild animals. made
their way into the up-country. The
northern colonies, and especially Vir-
ginia made South Carolina a grazing
ground. Any and every kind Of horses
were brought into the colony, and
turned out to Craze. This had ten
dency to increase the number of
horses, but to injure the quality. The
planters paid little attention to breed
ing, either fine or serviceable horses;
but depended upon what was called
woods colts"
To prevent stock being driven into
the state, and "for the better encour-
agement of more serviceable horses to
be bred amongst u.s." the assembly
passed a law that twenty-five dollars
should be paid for each horse brought
by land into the colony.
It is probable that this had the effect
to lessen the number Of horses brought
into the settlement about Charles
Town; but 1t did not wholly prevent the
practice.
We find that forty years after this,
the practice of driving horses from
Virginia to South Carolina still con-
tinued. Richard Kirkland came to
Fairfield county about 1745. He came
from Virginia, and settled on the Wa
teree, in the eastern part Of Fairfield
county. His descendants, at least
many of them, still form part Of the
population Of the county. He was
man Of considerable wealth for that
time, and brought with him large
amount of stock, amongst which were
fifty brood horses.
Changed Landscape of the Up Country
Whilst this subject Is under consid-
Grafton, we cannot refrain from re-
marking that the general features OF
the up country have been very greatly
changed in the last one hundred and
twenty-five years. At that time, ac-
cording to reliable traditions, there
were but few large trees in the forests,
and the country was during the sum-
mer covered with clover and wild
pease. Many Of the branch bottoms
and some Of the ridges, were covered
with canes. Stock of all kinds became
fat during the summer, and suffered
but comparatively little during the
winter. A large portion Of AbbeVille
county was, when first settled a cane
brake, and all the Wateree section was
covered with red clover; and in some
sections it still remains in spite Of the
raids made upon the forest by the dev-
otees Of cotton. These facts, together
with others of a similar kind, which
might be presented, accounts for the
practice of the Virginians driving their
horses down into South Carolina; and
also for the fact that there were many
wild horses in the country shortly af-
ter it's first settlement.
Tricks of the Governor.
We now return to the main subject.
In April 1902, Governor Moore again
summoned the assembly. So soon as
they met, the members concluded that
1t was to their interest to adjourn un-
til the 5th Of May. The reason assign
ed for this was, that since most Of the
members were planters, and April was
the month for planting the crops, 1t
was important for them to be at home
experimenting their farms. On the
5th of May they met, and Governor
Moore abused them for adjourning,
charging them with selfishness. To
retaliate, he prolonged the assembly
till August 1t is clear that bitter feel
ings existed. The assembly had lost
all confidence in the governor, If in
deed, it ever had any; and the gov