Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-13


ed from depredations on the settlers.
Gov. Nicholson had the foresight to dis
cover that the good will Of the neigh
borhood tribes of Indians was neces-
sary to the peace and prosperity Of the
infant colony. On learning that the
Indians had, in most instances, been
provoked to acts Of cruelty and blood
by the rapacious and unjust acts Of the
neighboring chiefs. The Cherokees
were invited to come and enter into an
alliance with the colonies. This invi-
tation was joyfully accepted by the
Indians and representatives from thir-
ty-seven Of their towns were sent to
consult with Governor Nicholson.
Progress In Civilization.
At this convention a multitude Of
little things in themselves, but Of vast
Importance to the comfort and security
of the colony, were arranged. A uni
formity of weights and measures was
established. The various minor tribes
were united into one, and one chief
placed over all. The honor Of chief
warrior was conferred upon Wrose-
tasalaw. To him was granted the pow
er to punish those who might be guilty
of trespassing upon the rights secured
by the treaty both to the Indians and
whites. Between the Creeks, one OF
the most powerful tribes, and the
whites, the Savannah river was to be
the boundary. A resident agent was
appointed for the tribe. whose business
1t was to regulate all dealings with the
Indians.
This convention was Of vast import
ance to the colony. 1t secured, at
least for a time, the good will of the
Indians, and gave to the inhabitants,
already so long harassed with war and
civil strife, time and opportunity to
devote their attention to the arts of
civilization.
In 1921 when Francis Nicholson be-
came governor, the white population OF
South Carolina was about 10000, and
the negroes about twice that number.
Schools had been established ana
churches built; but neither the cause
of education nor Of religion was In a
fiourishing condition. The government
had, from the beginning, been too un-
stable for the welfare Of either reli-
gion or education. The Yamassees had
reduced several country churches to
ashes, and in some communities, not
far from Charles Town, no public reli-
gious teaching had been enjoyed for
number of years. Governor Nicholson
and a number Of good men Of the COL
ony directed their attention to this
matter.
Nicholson Encourages Religion.
AS said before Governor Nicholson
made no pretensions to religion. on
the contrary, he Is represented as being
an exceedingly profane man. Still In
a very laudable manner, he gave both
his appreciation and pecuniary support
to the spread Of the gospel The
Georgetown community had been SO
much neglected that the people retain
ed scarcely a resemblance Of religion
amongst them. To reclaim these peo-
pie Governor Nicholson proposed to
build a church in their midst by pri-
vate subscription. This subscription he
headed with a liberality worthy Of the
object in view and the position which
he held. The parish Of st. George was
taken out Of st. Andrews, and church
built partly by public donation and
partly by private contributions. Appli-
cation was made by the governor to the
society in England for the propagation
Of the gospel In foreign parts, for an
annual allowance to clergymen above
what was paid them by the colony. In
connection with churches the necessity
for schools was taken into considera-
ton. 1t was argued that the school
house and the church were mutually
dependent upon each other, and civil
lied society absolutely dependent up
on both Impressed strongly with
the idea, school houses were built
and teachers employed. In these
schools not only the elements Of educa-
ton were taught byt the principles oil
Christian religion were explained. EV-
cry school house was as 1t should be-
nursery in which plants were reared
both for the church and for the state
A spirit of liberality possessed the men
of the day, worthy of emulation or the
men of the present time. Whitmarsh,
Ludlam and Beresford left their es-
tates, or the most of them, which I'm ag-
gregate amounted to more than $67,-
900, for the purpose Of establishing free
schools of high order.
charIatans In Those Days.
During the administration Of Mich
olson, a romantic but melancholy event
transpired. In the colony. there was a
family of French descent by the name
Of Dutarque. This family was de-
scended from a family which came
into the colony after the revocation Of
the edict of Nantz. The family consist
ed of four sons and an equal number
of daughters. The family was in mod
crate circumstances, but regarded by
their acquaintances as respectable. An
individual said to have been a Mora
Wan preacher, (but no doubt IL we have
his correct character either an impos-
tor or a fanatic) came into the neigh
borhood in which the Dutarque family
resided. He made their house his
home. BY argument and by the aid Of
certain books, he filled the mind Of the
Dutarque family with wild and extrav-
agant notions about religion. They
imbibed a contempt for the religion Of
their neighbors and went so far, as 1t
would seem, to conclude that they were
right. and every one else wrong; that
their religion was the true religion and
the religion of all others false. They
went so far as to pretend that they re-
ceived revelations from heaven. A
certain individual by the name of Pc
ter Rombert, had married one Of the
daughters. Rombert pretended to have
been divinely set apart to fill the sa-