Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-02
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close Of
the Revolution.
By REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.

From the Yorkville Enquirer ol low
INsTALLMENT x.
Friction Between the ProPrietora and
the People.
For various reasons the proprie-
tors and first inhabitants OF south
Carolina, never acted in perfect mar
mony. The proprietors were unable
to carry out their plans OF govern
ment. from the fact that, under the
circumstances. these plans were I'M
practicable in a forest. Another rea-
son why the proprietors failed III
their plans arose from the peculiar
character Of the immigrants. The
result was that neither the conditions
of the charter, nor the Fundamental
Constitution, either as originally
| drawn up, nor as subsequently al
tered at various times and in differ
emf respects, never were compiled
with in the colony. The Atlanuc
rolled between the proprietors and
the colony, and the latter seemed
to have begun to breathe the air OF
freedom the moment they landed
on the shore of Carolina. This was
the case, also. in the two colonies
which had been previously planted
under the same charter in what Is
now the state Of North Carolina.
At this distant period where the
scenes are all enacted, we can see the
point to which things early COM
menced to drift. The proprietors were
not always wise in their acts towards
the colony; but generally they were
liberal in supporting it. UP to the
time of the founding Of the present
city of Charleston, the colony had cost
the proprietors in one way and other,
near If not altogether one hundred
thousand dollars. AS yet they had
not received anything In return FOR
all their trouble and expense In
founding the colony, and the pros
pects were, unless soon changes were
made, by no means encouraging Tor
the future. They became disheart-
ened and vexed. The Fundamental
Constitutions which they had not hes
itated to declare were "unalterable,"
they changed time and again; but TO
their chagrin the immigrants persist
entity refused to adopt them. Joseph
West, whom the proprietors had de-
clared to be the fittest man for the
office of governor, was removed, and
| Joseph Morton was commissioned.
No doubt the proprietors thought,
or at least hoped, that this change
of governors would produce change
in the general aspect of the colony.
It did effect a change; but not for
the good Of the ceieny, and surely
| not for the proprietors. When west
vacated the office Of governor, and
Morton commenced his gubernatorial
| career the colony was In a very -four
| ishing condition. Immigrants were
| coming in from all quarters. The
capital was fast building up. The
only drawback seems to have been
the health of the locality. For
| number of years, from June to Octo-
Der, 1t was very sickly and the people
| went elsewhere to reside during this
season. This no doubt, retarded Its
growth very materially.
On the 10th of May 1882. the pro-
| prietors issued instructions to divide
the province into three counties.
This Morton did, and named the
counties Colleton, Berkley and Cra-
ven. The county lines we're vague
and poorly defined. Colleton en-
braced Port Royal and the adjacent
islands, together with the inland, Tor
q distance of thirty miles from the
coast. Rerkley. in which was the cap
ltal. was limited by Stono creek and
the Sewee river. Craven county con-
tanned all northward towards cape
Fear. At this time Craven county
| contained but few settlers. In the
the other tTo counties there were
between fifteen hundred and two
thousand inhabitants, the most or
whom were in Berkeley. The propri-
etors ordered that an election should
be held in London-now Wiltown-
and Charles Town, for members VINO
would compose the Colonial Parlia-
ment. Ten were to be chosen from
Berkley and ten from Colleton.
| In order that an individual could
he chosen a member Of the parlia-
ment, 1t was necessary that he De
the owner of five hundred acres OF
land. In the county from which ne
was chosen. 1t seems that at the last
| election for members Of the parlia-
| ment. many individuals had sent
their vote b. others. This was justly
regarded by the proprietors as dan
gerous practice. Still, no provisions
| seem to have been made to establish
election precincts. In a country tull
of hostile Indians, and with dehcient
means of travel. 1t was a very great
undertaking to attempt to go tew
miles from home. Every mans pres
ence was required on his own farm
| Previously the members OF the par
Lament were chosen at Charles
| Town, and now, In the lace VI Tic
instructions and wishes of the propri-
etors, they were chosen at Charles
Town again. Whether the inhabi-
tants of Colleton were dissatisfied
with the manner in which the parlia-
ment was chosen or not. we are not
certain; but the prOprietors were In
censed and ordered the parliament
to be disbanded and no other par
lament to be called until their in
stuctions were complied with.
This last order was equally dis
obeyed The parliament went to
work and passed various laws.
Among them was one which declar-
ed. in substance, that "all prosecu-
tions for foreign debts were suspend
ed" This filled the proprietors with
indignation, and they rallied out on
their deputies, and wrote to Governor
Morton, asking him Are you to govern
the people, or are the people to gov
crn you?" The proprietors now found
that Morton managed their affairs
no better than West had done. The