Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-29
S0VFla CAROLINA m
Fak REpOAV VFtO&
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive By an
UncOnquerable People.
By REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.

1st Of November, 1865, the people were
as a whole prepared to resist it.
When the stamps arrived in Charles
ton, no one could be found who was
willing to incur the odium and risk the
danger Of accepting the office Of re-
ceiver Hence the stamps were con-
veyed to Fort Johnson. The people
were divided in their opinion as to
the proper course to be pursued. Hen
ry Laurens was opposed to violent
measures: but public sentiment was
against him. A party Of one hundred
and fifty men were armed and sent out
to surprise the fort in which was stor-
ed away the stamps. 1t so happened
that although Fort Johnson was a
strong fortification, the garrison was
weak. The party found but little
difficulty in surprising the fort and
getting possession Of the stamps. The
heavy guns Of the fort were loaded, a
flag raised and every preparation made
for a conflict with the vessel which had
brought over the stamps. 1t was how
ever, agreed that the stamps would not
be destroyed, provided the captain of
the vessel would convey them away
and not land them elsewhere In Amer
lea. This was agreed to. The captain
took the stamps and the men returned
to the city. Again the people were tri-
umphant. They had driven Boone
from South Carolina and now they had
sent the stamps from America. Moth
ing was talked of in the province but
liberty. Christopher Gadsden was ac-
customed to meet the multitude under
a large live oak near the residence and
discuss the great political questions of
the day. Gadsden saw, grand repub-
lic-far grander than that Of Greece
or Rome-springing into existence in
South Carolina. Under this live oak
Christopher Gadsden long before any
of his compatriots in any quarter of
North America, spoke Of American In
dependence. American liberty was con-
ceived in the brain Of Christopher
Gadsden.
In 1869 the people of Charleston en-
tered into what was called a mon
importation" agreement. In this 1t was
determined not to import any goods
from England, and thus get rid Of the
tax which was imposed upon certain
articles.
In 1774, the Continental Congress
adopted what was called the American
Association. This was complied with
by the people Of South Carolina gener-
ally. The tea brought into the colony
was stored away in warehouses and
there it rotted; not a single pound of
it was ever sold. On the 18th Of jan
uary, 1T75 a Provincial Congress chos-
en- by the people met at Charleston.
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was chos-
en- president. Things now began to
assume a warlike appearance. Volun-
teer companies were formed and drill
ed and every thing indicated war. On
the 18th Of April, 1775-the very day
the battle Of Lexington, was fought
the Swallow, a packet ship. arrived In
Charleston. She had dispatches for
the governors of the southern colo
nies. Henry Middleton, John Rutledge,
Christopher Gadsden, Thos. Lynch and
Edward Rutledge by order of the coun-
Gil Of safety, seized the mail. The pri-
yate letters were returned to the post
office, but the dispatches to the gov
ernors were opened. From these dis
patches 1t was learned that England
had determined to force her colonies
into subsection. These dispatches were
sent to the Continental Congress and
from them that body first learned the
real intentions Of Great Britain.
So soon as the people Of South Car
olina heard of the battle Of Lexington,
they regarded every tie which bound
them to England as severed and began
to make preparation for both defensive
and offensive war. All the arms and
ammunition within their reach were
seized and a vessel was sent out to
capture the Brig Betsy, which was
known from the intercepted dispatches
to be on her way with a large guam
tity of powder for John Stuart, the In
dian agent. The brig was found at
anchor off the bar of st. Augustine, and
completely surprised. Ninety-one bar
rels of powder, amounting to about ten
thousand pounds yere obtained and
safely delivered to the council Of safe
ty. Part Of this powder was used at
the battle of Bunker Hill.
We have thus hastily run over the
events leading to the Revolution of
South Carolina. Briefly as they have
been treated, they still show that South
Carolina was one Of the principal ac-
tors in the beginning of that wonder
full undertaking, the American Revolu-
ton. In future we will confine our
selves to the particular battles fought
during that eventful period in South
Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia,
together with a brief sketch Of the
principal heroes in the various con-
f1icts.
TO BE CONTINUED.