Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-05
SOvFA CAROLINA IN
FRE RKpOhVFt0N
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive BY an
UncOnquerable People.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1875
INSTALLMENT III.
Regulators and soovillites.

Regulators and ScoviiIItes.
The successful defence of Fort Moul-
trie against the British under Parker
and Clinton, had a most decided erect
upon all parties. The Tories and 10y
alists began to fear for their soVer-
eign's power in America, and the wings
came to the conclusion that 1t was
possible for them to throw on the
British yoke and be free.
For a period of about three years az
ter the battle of Fort Moultrie, the
state of South Carolina although she
was one of the thirteen colonies which
had solemnly pledged their lives, their
fortunes and their sacred honor to re-
sist to death the unjust acts or the
British government, enjoyed compara-
tive ease. Her sons fiocked by the
hundreds to the northern colonies to
aid in vanquishing the common foe.
The distinction north and south did not
then exist Massachusetts, loved South
Carolina and South Carolina cherished
no less love for Massachusetts,. From
June 2Sth. 1776, to January 1873, the
war was carried on principally in the
states north of the Potomac. 1t was
not, however, during these three years,
a period of perfect tranquility.
For more than ten years prior to the
commencement of hostilities between
the colonies and Great Britain there
had existed in South Carolina two par
ties, which cherished toward each 9TH
er bitter hatred. These parties were
at different times known by different
names; but the same individuals COM
posed them.
When the up-country was settling
I'D, a vast multitude of strangers were
brought into contact with one another,
and still they were totally different
from each other in their manners and
customs, and especially in their no.
tions of civil government. Some were
intensely loyal, while others were as
intensely republican. There was also
not a few who came to the up-coun-
try for no other purpose than that they
might live free from all the restraints
of law and good order. They were
thieyings set of fellows, and contem-
plated amassing fortunes by stealing
horses and negroes. The order-loving
portion Of the inhabitants were kept In
a state of constant dread by these des-
peradoes.
Prior to 1863 there was no general
court, except In Charleston. There
were magistrates courts, the jurisdic-
ton of which extended to all sums be-
low twenty pounds. To catch and con-
yey to Charleston one of these horse
thieves for trial, was no small job. The
probability was that after being cap
tured, he would be rescued by his part
ners in crime; or If brought to trial he
would be saved from suffering the pen
alties of the law by the false swearing
Of his fellows.
AS early as 1852, the inhabitants OF
the Pedee and Lynch's creek region,
presented a petition praying that Cra-
ven county might be divided and that
for the portion situated in the east,
twelve justices be appointed, without
fee or reward, Ito hear and determine
all cases, as we'll civil as criminal
These petitioners of the Pedee region
were laboring under a great burden in
that they were surrounded by set of
horse-thieves and cut-throats. The
western section of the state, that por-
ton between the Broad and Saluda
rivers, was full of these desperadoes.
This was chosen by them as kind OF
headquarters whence they sailed out
In all directions to the great annoyance
of peaceable citizens.
Thomas Woodward, who lived in the
region that is now embraced In FAIR
field county, together with Barnaby
Pope and Joseph Kirkland. got up an
organization which was called the
Regulation" and the members of which
were called Regulators" The Regu-
lators went to work with zeal to rem
edy the evils under which the county
groaned. 1t was evidently their in
tention at first, to do good by punish
ing outlaws; but sometimes they per-
mitted their Judgment to be controlled
by their individual feelings. Horse
thieves and other viclators Of the rights
of others were hunted up, and accord
ing to the statutes of the Regulators,
were given thirty-nine lashes on the
naked back. In many instances no
torious characters were dealt with
more severely, and some were shot
when attempting TO escape.
The horse thieves were more numer-
Gus than the Regulators at first sup
posed them to be. The line OF de-
markation between the Regulators and
the horse thieves, and horse-thief SYM
pathizers. soon became clear and dis
tinct. The people began to arm them
selves and a civil war seemed to be
not far distant. To prevent this, Gov
Montague, appointed one Scovill to act
as a kind of arbitrator, with unlimited
powers, of the difficulties existing
amongst the citizens. Scovill was a
most consummate william. He aspoused
the cause of the horse-thieves with
whom he was no doubt in league, and
as If war had been already declared
prepared for the conflict. The horse
thieves and ruffians fiocked to his
standard. The Regulators armed them
selves and determined to resist the
government as administered by SEQ
will.
The two parties confronted each 9TH
er on the plantation of John MusgroVe
afterward a Tory colonel. 1t was OF
the Saluda river in what is now New
berry county Scovill summoned th'
Regulators to surrender. This they die
not do and yet there was no one killed
although some shots were exchanged
II appears that some Of the more pru
dent of both parties interfered and pu
a stop to the strife. The parties sep
arated without a battle, but still thel
love for each other was not Increased
nor their hatred diminished.
Tradition has preserved a mos
Iaughable circumstance which tool
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