Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-09

escape the sufferings Of Popish sue
cession as it was called. In their fear,
they were correct. James the Second,
with Lord Chancellor Jeffreys and
Colonel Kirk as tools, brought stain
upon old England, which all time
cannot wipe out. To avoid the ter
rible events which brought about the
revolution of 1888, many had left
England and come to South Carolina.
The French on account Of the revoca-
ton Of the edict Of Nantz, by Louis
the Fourteenth, had come to the same
place. The same cause had brought
both people to the same place. Hence,
we might have reasonably expected
that they would have embraced each
other as brothers, and lived together
in perfect harmony. We might have
expected that a similar history would
have filed their hearts with sympa-
thy for each other. Such, however, as
we have seen. was not the case.
That which distressed the French
colonist most was that In accordance
with the English alien laws, they
would not be able to dispose of their
property when they died. They felt
that they might labor during long
life and overcome any amount of OBJ
stacles and accumulate a competency
for their children, but they had no
surety that their natural heirs would
ever be permitted to enjoy It..
The French brought their own cler-
gymen with them from France. To
these they were devoted. One of the
strange and most unreasonable de-
mands made by the English popula-
ton, was that service should COM
mence in the French churches at the
same hour that 1t did in the English
church. This betrayed a prosecuting
spirit in perfect harmony with the
times; but an unreasonableness which
is disgrace to the human family.
Both French and English were Protes-
tants. In their creeds and mode Of
worship. there were some minor
points Of difference; but as far as men
can agree, they were one in faith and
one in practice. We are sorry that we
are called to record these facts, but
they are facts.
Although the attempt certainly was
made to deprive the French settlers Of
Craven county from sending repre-
sentatives to the Colonial Parliament,
it was not effected at least not per-
manently; for in 1892 six members
from Craven county came and took
the oath of allegiance to William and
Mary, the successors Of James the
Second. To relieve the French set
tiers with regard to their fears con-
Germ the forfeiture Of their estates,
and also to correct the ill-defined no
tions Of the English settlers, the pro-
prietors wrote to the governor and
their deputies in the province that
the French settlers, in many instances
had bought the lands on which they
were settled from them, and conse-
quently, in case 1t was forfeited, 1t
would escheat to them, and the Eng
lish settlers would in no way be the
gamers. One Of the grounds Of COM
plant which the French had, was that
the English declared that since the
French parents were not married by
regularly ordained ministers, that Is
by ministers Of the Church Of Eng
land, their children in the eyes Of the
law were only bastards. This was, the
proprietors declared, contrary to the
spirit and even letter Of the constitu-
ton which granted liberty Of con-
science, and it was even higher ground
than had ever been taken by the Eng
lish at home. I'VE have here Gin
England) say they, persons who have
been married in Dutch and French
churches by ministers that never were
ordained, and yet we have never heard
that the children begotten in such
marriages are reputed unlawful or
bastards."
In this connection, we must not
omit to notice the glaring inconsis-
tencies which were at times, manifest
in the actions of both proprietors and
people. In May, 1891, during the ad-
ministration Of Sothell, the Colonial
Parliament passed a law by which all
French and Swiss immigrants were
made free born. G. Statutes at Large,
No. 65.) This law because 1t was
passed during the administration of
Sothell, was by both people and pro-
prietors, repealed. 1t does seem that
a spirit Of contrariness often had full
possession Of both people and pro-
prietors. There was no concert In
their action. A bad state Of feeling
had been engendered, and 1t was de-
termined by both parties to keep 1t up.
It would be q difficult matter to
give a correct picture Of Governor
Ludwell. BY all. he was regarded as
a gentle and humane man; but there
Is not wanting evidence that he was
at least on certain occasions, a harsh
man. When he first assumed the gov
ernment, the assembly petitioned him
10 exercise cleinency lo"diuS lhe VI
tenders under the previous governor.
An act Of free and general indemnity
and oblivion and confirmation Of all
judicial proceedings in the late gov
ernment," was asked by the Colonial
Parliament This Ludwell refused,
in rather a harsh manner, to grant.
Governor Ludwell seems to have