Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-13
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close OF
the Revolution.
vREy. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.
From the Yorkville Enquirer OF 1873.
INSTALLMENT XXI.
Nathaniel johnson.


Nathaniel johnson.
The administrations of Moore and
his successor mark an important
epoch in the history of South caro-
lima. The Importance consists not
in what was done, but in the direc-
ton in. which the current of public
sentiment began to flow. At this
time a political party was formed,
which eliminated, in 1719, In the
transfer of the province from the
proprietors to the Crown of Eng
land.
Nathaniel Johnson was a man In
many respects admirably adapted for
the high position to which he was
appointed; but unfortunately, he was
banded together with Moore, Trott,
Howe and others high In office.
These formed a kind of nucleus
around which gathered a multitude
of creatures who had neither the
spirit to resist insult nor to maintain
their rights In every country there Is
a class of men who are easily bought.
In the colony, at the time of which we
are speaking, such a class Of persons
existed These-Moore, Trott and
Johnson--bought up and kept under
their control, to the great detriment
of the peace and tranquility OF the
colony. Their votes were bought
.,,,, tho Sama nripe
they were both hired and infiamed to
make attacks upon peaceful citizens.
Prosperity In Spite of Corruption.
One would be led to conclude that
under such a government the colo
ny would have ceased to flourish.
Such. however, was not the case.
Charles Town was put In a proper
state to be defended against the
invasions of the Spanish. both from
Havana and st. Augustine. The la
bility to be attacked at any moment
never permitted them to lose sight or
the necessity of being we'll fortified.
The assembly were ever careful to In
auire into the military condition of the
province, and generous in making ap-
prOpriations for the defense. For the
time, strong Notifications had been
erected on Cooper river. Magazines
had been built, and ammunition Of
various kinds stored away In
them. When Governor Johnson
assumed the duties of his office, there
were about one hundred cannon,
planted in different localities, for the
defense of the city. Some OF these
were small; but when we remember
the youthfulness of the colony, we
are ready to conclude that the peo-
pie displayed much energy in fortify-
ing themselves. During the admin
istration of Johnson, Fort Johnson
was commenced and completed, which
was at that time. regarded, as sufti-
cient to command the harbor.
Aimed at the Dissenters.
Among the first acts ratified whilst
Nathaniel Johnson was governor, was
one which was designed to deprive
the Dissenters of all power in the ad-
ministration of the government of the
colony, and place all power and all the
offices of honor and trust in the hands
of Episcopilians. 1t is entitled IAN act
for the establishment of religious wor-
ship in this province, according to
the Church of England" The first
section required that all the forms and
ceremonies of the Church Of England
be strictly observed by all ministers
in the province. This seems strange,
when we remember that far the
greater number of the inhabitants
were Dissenters of various persua-
sions. 1t must not be forgotten that 1t
was the purpose of the original pro-
prietors of the province to establish
i'm it the form of religious worship
held and practiced by the Church of
England; but through the influence,
no doubt, of John Locke, the section
was introduced which granted relig-
ious liberty to Dissenters. Honesty
demands us to say that we do not
think strange of the original propri-
etors cherishing such an intention.
They had been educated in the
Church of England, and if not con-
sistent members of it, at least all
their prejudices were in its favor.
1t does not appear that the original
proprietors We're men of more than
ordinary piety; but they were strong
ly inclined to favor the Church OF
England, whilst they acted leniently
toward Dissenters.
Up to the time of Johnson, no ef-
fort was made to disturb the inhabl-
tants of the colony I'm their religious
belief Inidels and papists We're ex-
cluded; but Christians of all persua-
SionS were permitted to worship God
according to the dictates of their own
conscience. 1t is true that in 1898.
during the time of Governor Blake,
an act was passed settling a main
tenance upon minister in the
Church of England i'm Charles Town;
but this was not designed. as we un-
uelStanu IL, 10 eSlaDllSn pdTliCu-
lar form of Christian religion in the
province. The act of 1898 provided
that seven hundred and fifty dollars,
(f150 sterling,) be settled upon Sam
uel Marshall and his successors for
ever. Samuel Marshall was a pious
.niniSter of the gospel and was at
that time pastor of the Episcopal
church at Charles Town. Blake, who
was either u Presbyterian or Bap-
tiSt, proposed the law, and it was
through his influence and the influ-
ence of other Dissenters that 1T was
passed by the assembly. 1t is evil
dent. from this fact alone. that 1T
was not designed by the assembly to
establish the Church of England in
the colony. The fact is. the Episco-
palianS were greatly i'm the minority,
and as said before, no question was
made i'm the colony respecting re-
ligious creeds or professions. Great
harmony existed amongst all sects.
1t rather seems that the acts of 1898
had its origin in a generous and noble
Christian spirit. The strong assisted