Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-16
Arrival of ArchdaIe.


On the 18th Of August, 1895, John
Archdale arrived in Charles Town.
More than a year had transpired since
his appointment to the high and res
ponsible office Of governor Of the Pro-
vince of South Carolina. He first came
to Virginia and thence to Carolina.
The instructions given him were full,
and whatever defects there might, on
trial, be found to exist in them, ne
was directed to consult the instructions
sent to Philip Ludwell for guidance and
direction in the management of the
government. Before setting out from
Virginia to enter upon the duties Of the
office to which he had been appointed.
he asked the power to appoint new dep
uties and moderate the quitrents that
were in arrearage, and institute a
somewhat different mode of selling land
from that which had been heretofore
practiced in the colony. This request
the proprietors generously granted
him; and on arriving in the colony, he
commenced to work in earnest for the
establishing Of peace and harmony
amongst the people. Power was grant
ed him to sell lands adjacent to the
town, at about ten cents an acre, and
lands which were In the interior at
half that price. All mines Of precious
stones were excepted. OF the proceeds
Of these, the proprietors were to re-
main in sole possession. OF the pro-
ceeds Of all mines Of baser metals, the
proprietors were to have one-sixth, II
given in it's unwashed state, or one
tenth when refined.
When Archdale arrived In the col
ony, all parties were glad. Joy per-
vaded the hearts of the adherents of
every political creed and Of every re-
ligious faith. He made a congratula-
tory speech. and the people returned
him heartfelt thanks. Among the first
things that the people did after the
first excitement passed away, was to
petition the government to remit the
petition the governor to remit the quit
rents which were onerous. They had
been, perhaps, in most instances accu-
nnulating since the first settlement of
the colony. The quitrents did not
amount to much; but to most of the
colonists a very little was more than
rent was demanded in money. E.-
Money From Pirates.
Most Of the money which was in the
colony was what was brought in by
the pirates This nefarious practice
had been strenuously opposed by the
proprietors, although winked at by the
majority Of the people. Laws had been
anacted forbidding these robbers on
the high seas from landing in Charles
Town. BY the sanction Of these laws
and the instruction of the proprietors,
pirates had been apprehended and
tried, but not condemned. We may
safely conclude that for a number of
years, money was exceedingly scarce
in South Carolina, and that although
two cents an acre Of quitrent was a
very trifing sum, still to those who had
no money, 1t was more than they could
pay.
The people asked that these quitrents
be remitted; but Governor Archdale
did not at first, see fit to do so. This
seems to have cooled down the ardor OF
both the governor and the people. The
first parliament called by him, on his
coming into the province was dissolved
after a stormy session Of only a few
weeks. Jonathan Armory, in behalf of
himself and the people generally, petit
toned the governor that another par
Lament of thirty members be chosen.
A proclamation was forthwith issued
for the selection of the members of
this second parliament. The Hugue-
nots were left out entirely. Twenty
members were elected at Charles Town
for Berkley county, and ten at the
plantation of Captain Bristow, for Col
Teton county.
Craven county, who were amongst the
best citizens Of the province, was
cruel. AS we will learn in the sequel,
Archdale was a man of great piety,
and the wonder is that his moral nature
did not prompt him to make provision
for the people of Craven county, so
far that they might be represented in
the parliament Of the colony. 1t may
be that prudence dictated the course
he pursued. Probably, he felt certain
that the presence Of representatives In
the assembly from Craven county
would only engender strife and con-
fusion and stir up bitter feelings. Be
this as 1t may, when the assembly met
in January, 1896, no Huguenots were In
1t.