Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-09
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
From the First Settlement to the Close OF
the Revolution.
REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.
From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1875.
INSTALLMENT XII.

Persecution of the French Settlers by
the English Settlers.
In 1891, Colonel Philip Ludwell OF
Virginia succeeded Seth Sothell as
governor of what was then called the
Ashley river colony. On the death of
Sir William Berkley, Philip Ludwell
married his widow, and was In 1853
appointed by the proprietors to sue
ceed Sothell as governor Of the Albe-
marie colony. About this time, the
province began to receive the titles
North Carolina and South Carolina
but no fixed bounds were established
for many years after.
In 1929, the province was ordered
70 be divided; but nothing was done
respecting it until 1882. The dividing
line was not run until the year 1875,
and even then was not executed with
anything like correctness. 1t was not
until 1852 one hundred years after
the charter for settlement was grant
ed, that by order Of George the Third,
king Of England, the dividing line'be-
tween the two sections Of the province
was established. This was found to
be incorrectly located, and 1t was not
until 1901 that the line was perma-
nently established. In 1885, the year
after the province was divided, a sill
YER medal was struck to commemor-
at the event. This medal was sound
in cabinet of curiosities, in the city
of Philadelphia, in the year 1S45.
The first line of separation between
North and South Carolina, was very
different from the present dividing
one The line in some places was
much farther south than the present.
York. Chester and part Of Fairfield.
together with several other counties,
were regarded as being in North Car
olina. The line was at one time, re-
garded as being as far south as Rocky
Mount. in Fairfield county. We have
an old document in our possession,
which bears date, April oath. 1772, In
which Rocky Mount is stated as being
in North Carolina. The territory
which fell to the state Of South Car
olina, by the correction Of the divid-
ing line, was called the new acquisi-
tlon." It will be seen that up to 1928,
the colonies Of Carolina had a COM
mon interest They had different gov
ernors, but the charter under which
they were settled was the same.
So much has been said respecting
the dividing line, in order to avoid
confusion in point Of time. we have
anticipated events. Hereafter, we Will
drop, only when necessity requires 1t,
the titles Ashley river colony and AL
bemarle, and adopt those of North
Carolina and South Carolina.
From 1856 to 1896, the colony Of
South Carolina was in a most wretch
ed condition. The English settlers
were disposed to treat, in an un-
righteous and prosecuting manner, the
French settlers. Prosecuted at home
on account Of their religion, many
men of wealth and influence had sold
their possessions in France and re-
moved to England, and from thence
they came to America. The proprie-
tors instructed the settlers of South
Carolina to receive these immigrants
kindly. This Governor Ludwell did;
but it is evident that the English set
tiers were disposed to be hostile in
their treatment to all immigrants ex-
cept those who came from England.
This was demonstrated by their treat
ment of the Scotch settlers at Port
Royal, under Lord Cardross. The
French immigrants generally settled
in what was called Craven county, on
the Santee. They were men of more
means than the English, and one rea-
son why they were disliked, was SIM
ply because they commenced their
settlement under more favorable cir
cumstances. Some Of the English
were, no doubt, in fair circumstances,
but the majority were poor. Envy
moved them to hate the French be-
cause they were comparatively rich.
Such Is human nature. The rich
look down with contempt or disdain
upon the poor; and on the other hand
the poor view the rich with an en-
vious eye. The great reason of the
bad feeling which the English bore
toward the French, was that national
animosity which the two people bore
toward each other. No good feelings
were cherished by the two nations.
The arrival of colony Of Frenchmen.
considerable in numbers, of itself
awakened the hate which had been
slumbering in the bosoms Of the Eng
lish on the banks OF the Wando. They
had no disposition to grant them
equal rights with themselves. On the
contrary, they determined to regard
them only in the light of foreign cit
| liens.
The proprietors were more liberal
in their views than the people. In
structions were sent to the governor
to allow the French colony six repre-
sentatives in the Colonial Parliament.
The English settlers declared that the
pTOpIlelOTS, III STdlllIlS lHiS' Idu 6oio
beyond the letter and spirit of the
charter. Governor Ludwell, who was
kind and humane man, received the
immigrants who came into the coun-
try, with marked civilty. He did
everything in his power to make South
Carolina an asylum for those who had
been forced to leave their native coun-
try on account Of persecution. He
exerted himself that they might not
be disappointed in their expectations.
They heard, in Europe that America
offered a home to the prosecuted of
every creed, and an asylum to the op-
pressed of every nation. Governor
Ludwell did all. perhaps. that he could
situated as he was, to make South Car
olina what report said it was. The
stubborn English cared little for what
report said about America, or the
world thought of their action. They
determined that the French should
have no power in the government Of
the colony. Hence, here In the wilds
of the New World, they commenced
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