Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-16
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close OF
the Revolution.


From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1875
INSTALLMENT XIV.
A Proprietor as Governor.
It is difficult to tell whether Thos.
Smiths career, as governor Of South
Carolina, was a success or failure.
In fact, it was neither. Although we'd
ded to the people by all the ties OF
long residence, and respected by them
universally for great moral integrity
he did not succeed so we'll as some of
the governors who had preceded him;
but on the other hand, he did little II
a3y injury. Smith either felt his in
competency for the task, or was un-
willing to subject himself to the great
Iinconveniences and countless annoy
ances to which rigid and faithful dis
charge of his duty as governor would
have subjected him. Shortly after en-
tering upon the duties Of his office, ne
wrote to the proprietors that In no way
could a friendly state Of feelings be
established between the people and the
proprietors. and between the people
themselves, but by the proprietors
sending over one Of their own number
to act as governor. The proprietors
regarded this suggestion as worthy OF
consideration, the more so since Sir
Nathaniel Johnson was Of similar
opinion with Smith. The proprietors
called a meeting and after due delib-
Grafton of all the proprietors, 1t was
determined to send Lord Ashley, the
grandson of the Earl of Shaftesbury
This young noblemaa was thought by
the proprietors to be eminently quail
fed. but such was the condition of his
fathers estate that he regarded 1t as
incumbent upon him not to undertake
the work. In the next choice John
Archdale was selected.
The commission Of Archdale bears
date July 18th, 1894. This was prior to
Smiths letter, in which he declared his
intention to quit the colony. 1t was
later in the year 1694-perhaps the last
of October or first of November-that
Smith, unceremoniously, and it would
seem somewhat irregularly, ceased to
act as governor. Archdale did not ar
rive in the province until the 18th OF
August, 1895. During the interval be-
tween the resignation and abandon
ment Of the government by Smith and
the arrival Of Archdale, Joseph Blake
acted as governor of South Carolina.
Influence Of Joseph Blake.
Blake came into the colony in 1888.
He was the brother Of Robert Blake,
the celebrated English admiral. He
came from Bridgewater in Somerset
shire, England. His father had at one
period Of his life been a merchant, who
having amassed fortune, retired from
business and settled in Bridgewater.
In his day we may safely say that no
individual exercised greater influence
over the colonist, morally. than Joseph
Blake. He was a man of some prop
erty, all of which he sold, and brought
the proceeds and invested it in Carroll
ma. His daughter Elizabeth, had mar
ried Joseph Morton. The B!akes both
In America and England, were Dissen-
ters and staunch republicans. So
soon as Joseph Blake joined the COL
ony in South Carolina, the moral as
pect Of things began to change for the
better. The 'rreligious and profane
were, by his presence, checked and the
pious encouraged.
The government Of Joseph Blake
was only a temporary arrangement to
meet the exigencies Of the case. He
continued in Office only from October
or November of 1894, to August 1895,
and never received commission, as
governor, from the proprietors. 1t was
understood by both Blake and the peo-
ple that so soon as successor to
Smith arrived he would retire from Of
fee. This being the case, his admin
istration Of the public affairs Of the
colony was conducted with caution.
A law was passed by the assembly
for the raising Of a public store Of
powder for the defense Of the prov
ince." In this same act 1t was provid-
ed that about twenty large guns be
mounted on carriages, made Of good
sound cedar plank and timber" and
be so arranged as to be always in
readiness for the defense Of Charles
Town.
Commencement of the Drink Issue.
Another law was passed for regulat-
ing public houses. BY this act the
owners of "taverns, tapp-houses and
punch houses" were required to OBJ
tain license from Joseph Blake. The
license for selling wines and all sorts
of liquors, was five pounds-about
twenty-five dollars; and for all other
kinds Of liquor, except wine, three
pounds-about fifteen dollars. 1t was
by the law "exacted that no person,
whatsoever shall sell any wine, cider,
beer, brandy, rum, punch or any strong
drink whatsoever, under the quantity
of one gallon, at one draught until he
or they have first obtained a license
from the right honorable Joseph Blake,
landgrave and governor" Any person
selling any of the aforesaid liquors un-
der the quantity aforesaid, shall for
felt, for every time he shall sell any
quantity less than one gallon, five
pounds current silver CT this province,
to be levied by bill, plant or informa-
ton in any of the courts within this
province" This act was to continue in
force for one whole year, or till the
honorable Joseph Blake should cease to
be governor. There was at this time
an act in reference to the retailing of
spirits in force in the colony, but ow-
ing no doubt to the sudden and infor-
NAL resignation of Governor Smith, the
owners Of public taverns had become
very careless in observing it.
During the administration of Joseph
Blake, things continued about as they
had been for a number of years pre-
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