USA > South Carolina > A sketch of the history of South Carolina to the close of the proprietary government by the revolution of 1719. With an appendix containing many valuable records hitherto unpublished > Part 17
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* MS. Journals.
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there, Col. Risbee, author of the act against dis- senters, on a charge of villifying the Assembly while over his bottle of wine in a tavern ? But the gover- nor saw, or was advised to see, that a compromise was necessary to allay the increasing excitement. Logan . having resigned his office, that no personal objection to himself might embarrass the Assembly, the gover- nor yielded on his part, and passed a law which asserted the right of the house to elect the receiver. They allowed the governor £400 for relinquishing his Indian perquisites, besides ££100 per annum ; and at length sufficient harmony was restored for proceed- ing with enactments which the public interests de- manded.
Had not the state of parties been so unsettled, Johnson would long ago have dissolved this refractory house of representatives. When again he was obliged to summon them by proclamation, to consult upon some threatened invasion of the Savannah Indians, [February, 1708], he requested them in the first place to rescind from their Journals certain complaints against himself ; and they answered that they did not consider themselves legally convened, because Trott's name on the proclamation just completed a quorum of the council, and they did not recognize him as a deputy. The governor had recourse to his favorite reply, "it is none of your business." Only after re- peated and earnest solicitation, did the Assembly apply themselves to the consideration of the exigen- cies of the province.
The next Assembly, with Risbee at its head, were more in his favor. Many changes had occurred.
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Lord Granville was dead; Lord William Craven chosen palatine; and Col. Edward Tynte commis- sioned governor of the two Carolinas. [December 9, 1708.] Boone before leaving England, not content with the success of his petition, had presented a me- morial to the proprietors against Sir Nathaniel John- son, representing him as the author of all the calamities of the province, and that through his evil administra- tion it had nearly been lost to the enemy. This un- worthy memorial being sent to Johnson for his vin- dication, he threw himself for an answer upon the justice and generosity of the Assembly. They knew all his acts-many of them had been participants of his secret counsels-he would not deny but that as a man, and a man almost worn out by age and infirmi- ties, he had committed errors; but could they, from their knowledge, affirm the calumny of dereliction to his trust and treachery to those whom he had so long served. He begged them to call Mr. Boone before them, and challenge him to substantiate the charges he had made in England, where he knew there was no opportunity for immediate refutation and acquittal. Boone being made a deputy by Madame Blake, guar- dian of the young proprietor, refused to obey the summons of the house. They pronounced his accusa- tions "false and scandalous ;" and their generosity prompted them to the most. complimentary addresses in behalf of the aged knight, who had defended them in the hour of danger, and must soon resign his power into other hands .*
Sir Nathaniel Johnson died and was buried, in 1773, at his planta- tion "Silk Hope," near Charles Town. He devoted much attention to .
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The attention elicited in England to the fortunes of the Carolinians and other colonists, was further increased by the publications of Archdale and Old- mixon. Lord Craven, by nature more moderate than the late palatine, was anxious for the prosperity of his province. When the governor selected by him entered, after a long delay, upon his duties [Feb. 1710], he was addressed as follows: " We earnestly request your endeavors to reconcile the minds of the inhabitants to each other, that the name of parties, if any yet remain amongst you, may be utterly ex- tinguished. For we can no ways doubt but their unanimous concurrence with our labors for their pros- perity will most effectually render Carolina the most flourishing colony in all America."# No remarkable events occurred during his short term of office. An act was first passed for the opening of a free school ; the town of Beaufort was ordered to be laid out, and so named in compliment to the Duke of Beaufort, who had become a proprietor in the place of Lord Granville; the immigration of German Lutherans, many of whom had taken refuge in England from oppression in their native country, was encouraged by offering 100 acres for each man, woman, and child, free from rent for ten years, and then for Id. an acre yearly; to those who came, lands were assigned, chiefly in North Carolina; the suppression of the illegal trade by which rice was carried first to Rhode
agriculture and the manufacture of silk, specimens of which he pre- sented to the proprietors as early as 1699. For all the records (copied from the Journals) relating to Boone's memorial, see Dalcho's Church History, 80-89 ; and Ramsay, 2, p. 479.
* MS. Notes.
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Island, and thence in New England vessels to Portu- gal, and other countries forbidden by British acts of trade ; the designs of the French who, settling on the Mississippi without hindrance, began to be more for- midable rivals than the Spaniards ; these events, and regulations for the improved management of the de- tails of the church establishment, occupied the atten- tion of Col. Tynte.
When he died, in the summer after his arrival, it happened that only three deputies, Gibbes, Brough- ton, and Turbeville, were in the province. Robert Gibbes was chosen and proclaimed governor. But Turbeville died suddenly on the day of election ; and it was discovered that he had voted in the morning for Broughton, and that his vote for Gibbes, at the adjourned meeting held in the afternoon, had been obtained by bribery.# Col. Broughton immediately claimed the government; and collecting his friends and partisans at his plantation, they marched with arms to town, with the determination to sustain his claim. Gibbes fired an alarm and ordered out the militia. At the approach of Broughton's party, the drawbridge was raised, and they were denied an en- trance unless they acknowledged Gibbes to be gover- nor. After attempting in vain to effect an entrance at other points, they returned to the drawbridge and found a number of sailors and citizens collected there, who also favored Broughton, and who succeeded, after a slight affray, in lowering the drawbridge and admitting their friends. They proceeded then to the guard-house, where they found two companies of
* Ramsay, 1, 54; from MS. of Mr. Lamboll.
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militia posted, before whom they halted, while one of them began to read a manifesto, but was balked by the beating of drums. After much parading, and occasionally a show of violence by both parties, Broughton was proclaimed governor by his adhe- rents. But mediators were not wanting, who suc- ceeded in bringing about a compromise, by which Gibbes retained the office until the lords proprietors should determine who should be governor." They de- termined, however, that Gibbes was guilty of bribery, and entitled to no salary for his services ; and Charles Craven, secretary of the province and brother of the palatine, received their commission for the office.
Gibbes was thoroughly acquainted with the affairs of the province, and Tynte had held in abeyance a commission for him as chief-justice in place of Nicho- las Trott. Although led into a fatal error in covet- ing the gubernatorial dignity, his administration is marked by wise enactments and the undisturbed prosperity of the people. He was not, however, popular, and found the Assembly full of " unwilling members," who continued "very dilatory for six months," and a quorum for business could not finally be brought together. Another Assembly being elected, [May, 1711] (in which many still refused to qualify,) he expressed his gratification at meeting them before his retirement ; " there was one among them," he said, " to whom he should readily resign the government whenever legally demanded ;" they had had no complaint against him in the various offices in which he had served them, and he had
* Letter of Proprietors, Dalcho.
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received from the palatine congratulations on his recent election ; for 48 years he had been in the service of Carolina, [from 1663 ?] and left it in a flourishing condition, "abounding with great trade * with almost all parts of America, and most parts of Europe in amity with us, and some parts of Africa ;" and he recommended particularly to their attention the introduction of white immigrants, on account of the large increase of negroes, who were beginning to exhibit a malicious disposition ; and the necessity of separating those sick of small-pox, now prevalent in Charles Town, from contact with such as were not infected. Although expectations were entertained of the termination of war in Europe, Governor Craven's first endeavors were directed to strengthen the province and cultivate the good-will of the sur- rounding Indians. Since the days of Joseph West
* Referring to what was said of this trade in 1708 and 1710, we add the following statistics from MS. notes by Chalmers, from the State Paper Office in London ; two large volumes of which were kindly placed in my hands by Hon. George Bancroft, to whom I am also indebted for other favors.
The prime cost of imports into South Carolina from June, 1712, to December, 1713, £25,420 15s. 6d. Exports during the same time-(the Tuscarora war and foreign hostilities existing) : Deerskins, 73,790; In- dians [to northern colonies], 75; rice, barrels, 12,677; rice, bags, 200; pitch, barrels, 4,580; tar, barrels, 2,037; tallow, quarter-barrels, 29; beef, barrels, 1,969; pork, barrels, 1,241; garlick, barrels, 37; oil, bar- rels, 29; snake root, barrels, 5; salt fish, barrels, 6; sugar, hogsheads, 6 ; soap and candles, boxes, 76; sides of leather, 1,965 ; logwood, tons, 143 ; cocoa and sweetwood bark, -. Large quantities of salt [?] im- ported, and lumber exported. In 1714, lands, negroes, stock, merchan- dise, and all other taxable values in the province, were, by assessment, computed at £739,763; in this amount is the value of 10,000 slaves at £20, their average value at this time. For 1719, and four years after, the prime cost of imports were never less than £120,000 per annum.
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no man more wise, pure, and capable, or more beloved by the people, had been appointed to govern Carolina. " However great such an honor might be," said he to the commons, [April, 1712] "yet I shall look on it as a greater glory, if with your assistance I could bring to pass so noble designs as the safety of this province, the advancement of its riches, and what is more desirable that unanimity and quiet that will so much contribute toward rendering this the most flour- ishing country on the Main." "To what a pro- digious height hath the united provinces risen in less than a century of years, to be able to create fear in some, envy in others, and admiration in the whole world."
The spirit of this address aroused a congenial spirit in the Assembly. Fifteen hundred pounds were voted for erecting a suitable state-house, and a thou- sand pounds for a residence for the governor. Un- parliamentary altercations ceased. Elections were conducted with fairness and decorum. Party strife gave place in a remarkable degree to emulation for the public welfare; the governor declaring the " greatest tenderness" toward all dissenters, and that nothing should ever be done by him to deprive them of their liberties. By his instructions he was en- joined to overlook the courts, and take especial care that justice should be administered and the laws executed without delay. Chief-Justice Trott was now seeking relief from political agitation in the quiet labors of compiling the laws of the province; and the Assembly reviewed and enacted the whole body of English statutes applicable to their rights
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and liberties as subjects of Great Britain. Col. Rhett, as receiver-general for the proprietors, commissioner for the inauguration of free schools, for the state- house and a governor's house, the granting of licenses, and in other public employments, together with a quarrel with Craven which the proprietors had to decide, found some slight occupation for his restless energy.
The canceling of the debts of the province was often attempted ; but from limited resources, a long duration of peace was requisite for this purpose. While again contriving the means of payment, the debts were still further increased by the sudden de- mand for help against the Indians who had risen upon the inhabitants of North Carolina.
In the autumn of 1711, John Lawson, surveyor- general for the proprietors, had marked out certain lands near the Neuse River, claimed by the Tusca- roras, who seized him and put him to death. Being fearful of the consequences, and suffering from such grievances as all Indians living near the whites en- dured, they were hurried into the design of a wide- spread massacre ; and on the night of 22d September, suddenly attacked the settlers in detached parties and massacred 130, flying like demons from house to house, and slaying men, women, and children.
Assistance was asked from South Carolina in this emergency. The Assembly was immediately sum- moned, and with " unanimity in aiding their distressed brethren," resolved to raise £4,000 for the purpose, and to send a body of Indian warriors, with efficient
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officers in command.# Col. John Barnwell accordingly set out with all expedition, and the Assembly ap- pointed a day of humiliation and prayer in their behalf. [Friday, 16th November.] With a .small number of whites, and numerous friendly Indians, Cherokees, Yamassees, Creeks, Catawbas, Wingaws, Esaws, and others, who were ever ready for con- tests and spoils, Col. Barnwell marched through the intervening wilderness, and crossed the Neuse river on 28th January. He succeeded in killing and cap- turing many of the enemy, and at length came upon their stronghold, a town surrounded with a wooden breast-work, where 600 warriors waited to receive him. Here being in want of provisions, he deter- mined to grant the enemy a treaty of peace, which was willingly concluded. He sent to Charles Town for a sloop to convey his disabled men and himself, who was also wounded, while his allies retraced their line of march homeward.+ [July, 1712.]
Col. Barnwell had pleased neither the authorities nor people whom he went to assist, and he sullied the reputation of what he had achieved for them, by leaving his allies not sufficiently restrained from com- mitting depredations as soon as his face was turned.j
* MS. Journals. t His Letter to Gov. Hyde.
# See Williamson's N. Car. for other particulars of this war. The second expedition would no doubt have been entrusted to Col. Barnwell if he had not been sick from the injuries he received, and unable to mount his horse. Both Hyde and Spotwood seem too severe in blaming him entirely for the massacre after the treaty ; the latter of whom wrote to the Board of Trrde, July, 1712-" These massacres were owing to the treacherous conduct of Barnwell, who, after he had made a peace, and they looked on themselves as secure, he surprised some towns and carried
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Consequently, while the North Carolinians trusting in the treaty were enjoying their first peaceful slum- bers, a second massacre began with its whoops and yells, and bloody tomahawks, and the whole country was re-enkindled with the blaze of war. Again South Carolina was summoned to the field; the forces were ordered to rendezvous at the Congaree, and Governor Craven went up to encourage them and inspect their equipment. [December, 1712.] Col. Moore advanced with 40 whites and about 800 Indians, and after a toilsome march encountered a large force of the Tus- caroras, who had fortified themselves on the Taw River, and were well provided with arms. Col. Moore laid siege, and in a few hours became master of the fort, killing 200, and capturing 800 of the enemy, who were claimed by his allies as a reward for their services, and sold into slavery on their return into South Carolina. Col. Moore received the thanks of the next Assembly, " his good conduct having re- paired the faults of others," and was voted £100 in addition to his pay, as a reward for his success .*
The important policy was at this time adopted of maintaining, on behalf of the legislature, a perma- nent agent in London to solicit the interests of the province before parliament, the proprietors, the Board of Trade, or " any other power or persons." Land- grave Abel Kettleby was appointed, [May, 1714],
off a great many captives ; so entailed a new war, and sailed with his prisoners for So. Ca., and the massacres immediately ensued." Yet it is well to hold an officer responsible for the conduct of his men, even if they be a heterogeneous mass of savages.
* Journals, Nov. 1713.
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with a salary. of £200." The Assembly petitioned the House of Commons for permission to export rice directly to Spain and Portugal. Peace had been esta- blished in Europe. Queen Anne being succeeded by George I., the proclamation and oaths of alle- giance were not made with the indifference formerly so remarkable in the colony, but with the ardor of those almost in sight of their monarch, and from whom they looked for relief and happiness. Indeed, in their warmth of loyalty they forgot all attention to climax. " We a people," said they, " separated by the immense ocean, can't be blessed with your royal presence. But like the sun who sheds his glo- rious beams on all, we may feel the favorable in- fluence of your government. Like Augustus, may your reign be long in peace; may you be loved at home and feared abroad ; and when Providence calls you from that earthly diadem that now environs your royal head-may there never be wanting, even to latest posterity, one of the illustrious house of Hanover to fill the British throne."+
Chief-Justice Trott was in England by permission of the proprietors. His salary continued as usual, and his office was temporarily supplied. His power in Carolina was greatly augmented by the favor he won in his personal intercourse with the proprietors. Col. Rhett also was again speaker of the Assembly, and received an additional office from the proprietors, as collector of the customs.
Hurricanes had partly demolished the fortifications
* 2 Stat. 621.
1 February, 1715 : Journals.
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of the harbor; the expenses of the war against the Tuscaroras, of which it had been hoped the pro- prietors would pay a portion; the supporting of look- outs and garrisons; all the extraordinary debts in- curred since 1702, and the impracticability of defray- ing the increased annual expenses of government, except by raising the amount of taxes, had induced the Assembly to pass an act by which £52,000, in new bills of credit, were issued, to which the cha- racter of bank bills was attached. The object was to sink the former bills by £4,000 per annum, and to encourage trade and commerce ; which it did, as was afterward declared, by the evident increase of ship- ping and of slaves, while it injured no man, and se- cured the public credit." This "bank act" excited the remonstrance of the London merchants, and the proprietors severely censured Governor Craven for its enactment. At the same time their confidence in Trott, (who was now deputy for Sir John Colleton,) produced an injudicious order that henceforth the governor and four councilors should not have power to pass bills into laws unless Trott was one of the quorum ! " A power in one man," said Craven, "not heard of before !" " An exorbitant power," replied the Assembly,} " unheard of in any of the British do- minions, or for aught we know, in the whole world !"} Mr. Speaker Rhett dissented (but was not allowed by the house to record his dissent,) to this address,
* Report of Committee, February, 1715.
t They required that Mr. Trott should exhibit this strange letter of the proprietors, and it was accordingly read to them.
# Journals.
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which contained also a hope that Craven would not resign, through an opinion of losing, by misrepresen- tation, the confidence of the lords proprietors: "We can't but admire that any person acquainted with your acceptable administration should be so far for- saken of all divine influences-should so abandon his reason-and so diametrically contradict the com- mon sense and the unquestionable experience of the much more general sentiments of the whole province, as to attempt so unjustly to misrepresent your honor to our lords proprietors."
The Atlantic was again traversed by complainants, Boon and Berrisford, sent to apply for redress from the proprietors against the veto power of Trott, and his appointment at will of provost-marshals of courts; for settling the price of lands on a lasting foundation ; for the bank act; for Craven's continu- ance in office ; for printing the laws of the province; fer establishing county courts in every county ; for laying out Beaufort in lots, at the disposal of the gov- ernor; and with discretionary authority to confer about any other topic ; " and in case the proprietors do not redress our grievances, after all necessary mea- sures have been taken with them, we direct you to apply yourselves to a superior power in order that the same may be redressed."
The Yamassees had deserted the Spaniards, who had executed some of their chiefs; and with appa- rently an implacable hatred against their former friends, removed to South Carolina, to the territory lying near Port Royal, a part of which is still called the Indian Land. During the whole of Queen Anne's
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war they were faithful allies of the Carolinians. Con- tinually, marauding bands went forth to the south- ward, to lurk in the woods near St. Augustine, or make a midnight attack on some unguarded house. The honor of the party was at stake, if they returned without scalps, Indian slaves, or Spanish captives, whom they put to death with every revolting inhu- manity of savage torture. The Carolinians offered them a reward of five pounds for every Spanish prisoner brought unharmed to Charles Town, whom they returned in safety to their friends, charging upon their government the expenses of their ransom.
The commissioners of the Indian trade," on the establishment of peace, were not remiss in endeavor- ing to do justice to all the Indians, and restrain the abuses of the traders. Besides occasional encroach- ments on lands in the vicinity of the English settle- ments, these abuses consisted of fraudulent transac- tions in buying skins and captives, the seizure of Indian property in either true or alleged cases of debt for various articles of traffic, contraband rum in- cluded-all which were sold at exorbitant prices- the wrongful detention in bondage of many who claimed to be free, or whose relatives claimed free- dom for them, personal ill-treatment, immoralities, the instigation of feuds, and the threatening of de- struction against towns and small tribes.+ But the nature of many abuses, and the reluctance of seek- ing a formal trial before commissioners, perhaps hun-
* Charles Hart, Izard, Eveleigh, Berrisford, Middleton, Wigington and other able gentlemen, at various times.
t MS. Book of Indian Affairs, 1710-1718.
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dreds of miles away, rendered impossible the com- plete adjustment of difficulties, however wise the laws might be that were made for this end ; while, on the other hand, anxiety on account of debt, re- taliation for injuries, cherished enmities, and a thirst for bloody revenge had not wholly ceased to exist at any period throughout a long series of years. What- ever were the grievances of the Yamassees, it was evident that they had been encouraged by the in- trigues of the Spaniards; for on the day they began their outbreak against the English, they sent all their women and children to St. Augustine for protection, and on their defeat retreated thither themselves with scalps and plunder, and were received as in triumph with the ringing of bells and salutes of artillery .*
For a long time before the war began, it had been noticed that the chief warriors of the Yamassees made frequent visits to St. Augustine, and returned with presents of hats, and jackets, and coats, all trimmed with silver lace, and with knives, hatchets, firearms, and ammunition.| They partook of food with the governor, and confirmed by ceremonies their friendship and allegiance. Yet so sure were the Carolinians of the antipathy of the whole Yamassee nation against the Spaniards, that they anticipated no danger to themselves. It was customary for the traders to court the favor and protection of some in- fluential chieftain among the Indians. With them no danger, difficulty, or personal sacrifice could thwart the holy claims of friendship. Sanute became the
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