Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-10

reduced them to subsection to the pro-
prietary government. He wrote to the
proprietors and to the commissioners
an exact and truthful account of the
wretched state of things in the colony.
He stated some Of the more important
causes which had brought about the
rebellion. These were the heavy debts
contracted by the recent wars in which
the colony had been engaged, and the
encroachments Of the French upon the
territory originally granted to the pro-
prietors together with constant expos
ure Of the people to the attacks Of the
Spanish and Indians.
The colony being in a state of jeop-
ardy, the proprietors paid no attention
to their importunate beseechings for
assistance; but seemed to thwart every
effort put forth by the colony to aid it
self. This they did by repeating GER
tain laws and refusing to sell land to
emigrants. At this time there were
several hundred" Irish emigrants in
the colony, to whom the proprietors
would not sell "one yard of land" This
excited the fears Of those settlers who
had accumulated some property, and
they stimulated others to join with
them in securing the immediate pro-
lection of the British government.
Governor Johnson was a warm
friend Of the proprietors, but 1t Is
evident that he was extremely anx-
ious to retain his position as governor.
He go acted that in the event the prov
ince was transferred to the English
crown, he would still be retained as
governor. In fact, he asked in his let
ter to the proprietors, that their lord
ships would interest themselves so far,
as that If his majesty thought fit to
take the government in his own hands,
he might be honored with his majesty's
immediate commission, or otherwise
that he might be restored to his gov
ernment as formerly" From this 1t Is
clear that Governor Johnson was zeal
ously intent upon offending neither
party, so that whichever party In the
event might be successful, he still
would be governor.
BY the proprietors he was charged
with favoring the popular party. This
however, was not true, further than
that he made it apparent that he was
anxious to be governor. whoever might
be owners Of the soil.
About the same time Governor john
son wrote William Rhett, surveyor of
customs, not to grant clearance to, any
vessels that might come into the har-
Dor. This would have been a death
blow on the popular party, had Rhett
seen fit to obey the orders Of the gov
ernor; but Rhett now showed his prop
er character He and the governor
were personal enemies, and Rhett,
moved by personal hatred, disobeyed
the governor and Joined In with the
popular party. AS a matter Of policy
the assembly retained him in office, and
besides, appointed him lieutenant gen.
eral Of the militia. -!
Rhett still kept up a correspondence
with the proprietors, in which he told
them that he thought his course was
the best for them. In one word Rhett
was a friend Of the proprietors, when
with friends of the proprietors, and a
friend of the popular party when with
friends of that party. He was all
things to all men that he might hold
lucrative offices.
Turned out of office, Nicholas Trott
prepared to embark for England. Be
fore leaving, he wrote to Governor
Johnson and told him that If he would
go before the authorities in England
and make such a showing Of his case
that he would have him reinstated AS
governor. This Johnson refused to do.
From this time Trott treated Johnson
with neglect, and in some way or 9TH
er influenced the proprietors to do the
same.
The assembly sent Colonel Barnwell
to England as their agent, to make a
statement of the condition Of things In
the province. In the meantime 1t be-
came known that the Spaniards were
fitting out a fleet in Havana for the
purpose of making an attack on the Is
land of Providence and South Caro-
lima Governor Johnson. whose per-
severence knew no limits once more
determined to make an effort to secure
his lost authority. He wrote to the as
sembly telling them that the hostile
Spaniards were coming to desolate the
colony, and that he was convinced that
the troops would fight better under
him as a commander than under James
Moore. He offered the services Of him
self and council to advise with the as
sembly for the general safety. This
was shrewd but he mistook the char
acter Of the men he was addressing.
The assembly never answered his let
ter They treated 1t with icy neglect.
Hovendine Walker took umbrage at
some of the proceedings of the assem-
bly, and went to his plantation, and
Chief Justice Richard Allein was made
president of the assembly. A tax was
levied on land and negroes to meet the
current expenses Of the government
and to put the Notifications in proper
repair Governor Johnson and his
party refused to pay the tax, but the
assembly was not to be trified with in
this way The property Of those who
refused to pay the tax was seized and
sold and the tax was paid out of the
proceeds of the sale. This was the case
with all who refused except the gov
ernor. The whole country was in arms,
and Rhett was busy with his regi-
ments getting ready for fight with the
Spaniards. This. however, did not
take place. for after the whole country
had been under arms for two weeks,
it was learned that the Spaniards had
made an attack on Providence, but had
been beaten by Governor Rodgers, and
their fleet having been overtaken in a
storm, was nearly destroyed.
After the excitement Occasioned by
the expected attack Of the Spaniards
had subsidized Capt. HildeSley, COM