Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-30
A Political RetrosPeot.-5utler En-
ters South Carolina.
CHAPTER XII.

olina, during the Revolutionary war, to
possess a numerous party less attach
ed to the union or more tainted with
disaffection than the inhabitants OF
any Of the other states. Amongst her
citizens the disinclination to sever
from the mother country was strong
er, the spread of republican principles
more limited and the march Of revo-
luton slower, than in either OF the
other colonies, except, perhaps, In the
neighbor state Of Georgia. where the
people residing along the Savannah
river, were so closely allied to the Car
olinians In sentiment, habits, and pur-
suits, as to partake pretty accurately
Of the same political prejudices, and to
unite themselves In parties Of the same
complexion. Upon the first invasion
of Georgia, at the close Of the year
ITS, the city Of Savannah was made
an easy conquest, and a mere handful
Of men, early in 1878, were enabled to
penetrate the interior as far as Au-
gusta, and to seize upon that post.
threatened Charleston In the same
year. the facility Of his march through
South Carolina, and the safety which
attended his retreat. told a sad tale
OF the supineness Of the people Of that
province The reduction Of Charleston
In the following year, by Sir Henry
Clinton. was followed with singular
rapidity by the conquest Of the whole
province. A civil government was
erected. The most remote posts In the
mountains were at once occupied by
British soldiers or provincial troops,
mustered under the officers Of the roy
al army. Proclamations were issued
to call back the wandering sheep to the
royal fold: and they, accordingly like
herds that had been scattered from be-
meath the eye of the shepherd by
some rough incursion OF wolves,
fiocked In as soon as they were aware
of the retreat of their enemy. Lord
CORVALLIS, upon whom the command
devolved after the return OF Sir
Henry Clinton In June to New York,
recruited his army from these repent
ant or unwilling republicans; and the
people rejoiced at what they thought
the end OF strife and the establishment
Of law. The auxiliaries who had march,
ed from Virginia and North Carolina
under Colonel Buford to assist in the
defence Of the southern capital, were
informed of its surrender as they jour
neyed thither, and soon found them
selves obliged to fly through country
they had come to succor-and when
even at the distance of one hundred
and fifty miles from the city, were
overtaken by the ruthless troopers Of
Tarleton, and butchered under circum-
stances peculiarly deplorable,
In truth, a large proportion of the
population of South Carolina seems to
have regarded the Revolution with
dIsfavor and they were slow to break
their ancient friendship for the land
of their forefathers. The colonial
government was mild and beneficent in
it's action upon the province, and the
people had reverence for the mother
country deeper and more affectionate
than was found elsewhere. They did
not resent. because, haply, they did not
feel the innovations Of right asserted
by the British crown, so acutely as
some Of their neighbors; to them 1t did
not seem to be so unreasonable that
taxation should be divorced from rep
,of ruith
the assumption Of Great Britain to
regulate their trade for them In such
a manner as best suited her own Views
of interest: nor did they see In mere
commercial restriction the justification
of civil war and hot rebellion; because,
peradYenture, Qf ! may hazard rea-
SOM being a colony Of planters whose
products were much in demand in
England, neither the regulations OF
their trade nor the restrictions upon
commerce, were likely to be so adjust
ed as to interfere with the profitable
expansion of their labors.
Such might be said to be the more
popular sentiment OF the state at the
time Of its subjugation by Sir Henry
Clinton and Lord CORVALLIS. To this
common feeling there were many bril-
liant exceptions; and the more brill
liant because they stood, as 1t were.
apart from the preponderating mass
Of public judgment. There Is no trial
Of courage which will bear comparison
with that Of a man whose own opin-
ions stand In opposition, upon fearful
questions of passion, to those Of the
"giddy- paced" and excited multitude,
and who, nevertheless, carries them
Into act" That man who can stand
in the breach Of universal public CEN
sure, with all the fashions Of opinion
disgracing him in the thoughts of the
lockers on, with the tide of obloquy
beating against his breast. and the fin
gers Of the mighty. combined many,
pointing him to scorn; with the fury
of the drunken rabble threatening him
with instant death; and. worse than
all having no present friend to whis-
per a word of defence or palliative. in
his behalf, to his revilers, but bravely
giving MS ndhSu Hedu " liiC SUI III
because he knows himself to be vir-
tuous in his purpose; that man shall
come forth from this fierce ordeal like
tried gold; philosophy shall embalm
his name in her richest JUNCTION, his
tory shall give him a place on hel
brightest page, and old. yea, hoary
far-off posterity shall remember him
as of yesterday.
There were heroes of this mould ir
South Carolina who entered with the
best spirit of chivalry into the nationa
quarrel and brought to 1t hearts a:
bold, minds as vigorous, and arms as
strong as ever. in any CLINE. worked
out a nations redemption. These mer
refused submission to their conquer
ers. and endured exile, chains, anc
prisons. rather than the yoke. Some
few, still undiscouraged by the por'
tents of the times, retreated into Sc
cret places, gathered their few patrio