USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina, from its first European discovery to its erection into a republic: with a supplementary chronicle of events to the present time > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
F. D. Quash, Esq . moved,
That the convention return their thanks to Mr. R. E. Russell for the specimens of sugar and silk presented by him, and also to Mr. J. Breck, of Boston, for the pamphlets on agriculture presented by him.
The president requested to know what disposition he should make of the specimens before him; whereupon it was moved by Mr,
That they be presented to the secretary, which was unanimously agreed to.
W. Gilmore Simms, Esq. introduced the following resolutions, with a request that they should be laid on the table, which was agreed to.
Resolved, That no people can be capable of self government, who require to be deceived as to the amount of their government ex- penses ; and that no man can be held a freeman, who dare not look the cost of his liberties in the face.
Resolved, Therefore, that direct taxation, while it saves the citizen from the constant impositions of the cunning, is the only honest, cheap, safe medium for raising supplies in a country like ours.
Resolved, That it is a fraud upon the public, whenever a bank, or other chartered corporation, declares a dividend upon borrowed money, or upon any basis, other than its clear receipts and good faith profits,
Resolved, That if it be not anusurpation, it is, at least, an abuse of power, on the part of the legislature, to tax the citizen for any but the unquestionable exigences and expenses of the country ; and that most alliances between the state and any one class of its citizens, in trade or speculation, must result unfavorably to that wholesome competition of other classes of the community from which the peo- ple derive many of their chief securities.
On motion of Hon. J. P. Richardson, the convention adjourned to meet at 6 o'clock to-morrow evening.
ROBERT W. GIBBES, Secretary.
344
APPENDIX.
FRIDAY, Nov. 29th, 1839.
The convention convened this evening at the hour appointed. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read.
The president called for reports of committees.
General Mc Duffie submitted, from the committee of nine, the form of a constitution for a state agricultural society, and several resolu- tions.
The constitution having been discussed and amended, was adopted. The resolutions were also adopted, as follows :
1. Resolved, That the president be allowed time to nominate the committees, and that he do appoint a committee to select the best essay on the cultivation of rice and cotton, respectively ; each of such essays to embrace a complete manual, of suitable size, exhibiting the whole economy of a plantation; comprehending management of ne- groes, rearing of stock, and improvement of lands, and that he do provide a suitable premium for the same.
2. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to memorialize the legislature to grant an annual donation of the sum of five hun- dred dollars. for the term of three years, to aid the society in provi- ding its premiums.
3. That this society do request the members from the several dis- tricts, to use their exertion to have local societies formed in each dis- trict, to be affiliated with this society-and that it be recommended to such local societies, to offer premiums for the best managed planta- tion in their respective districts, as well as for superiority in partic- ular departments and products.
The committee ask leave to report on Mr. Felder's resolu- tion --
That while they consider the resolution as of vast importance to the true interest of the agricultural community, they are yet of opin- ion, that none of its importance will escape the reflection or elude the vigilance of the legislature. They deem it advisable, therefore, to leave it to the ordinary legislation, in the confidence and hope that they will give it the consideration which its importance de- Inands.
. The committee recommend the following gentlemen as officers of the state agricultural society.
345
APPENDIX.
HIS EXCELLENCY PATRICK NOBLE, President.
W. B. SEABROOK, Vice President.
COL. W. BROOKS, “
COL. W. K. CLOWNEY,
COL. JAMES GREGG,
CHANC. B. F. DUNKIN,
B. R. CARROL, Corresponding Secretary,
DR. R. W. GIBBES, Recording Secretary and Treasurer. On motion of J. H. Hammond, Esq., GEN. GEORGE MCDUFFIE was unanimously appointed anniversary orator for 1840.
Gen. McDuffie proposed to consider the constitution clause by clause, and the resolutions separately ; all of which, after some dis- cussion, were adopted.
Whitfield Brooks, Esq. introduced the following resolutions, with a request that they should be laid on the table, which was agreed to.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this convention, the multiplica- tion of banks in this state, invested with the legal right of substituting credit for capital, to three times the amount of the latter, and the imputed and ruinous practice of many, of exceeding their chartered limits, from five to seven fold, has had the effect of changing almost the entire currency of the country, from gold and silver, to paper ; of substituting for a metallic currency, of permanent and intrinsic value, one of paper, of uncertain and fluctuating value-that one of the natural and inevitable effects of this system has been, to drive the more valuable currency from circulation, to be transported to other countries, or to be hoarded in the vaults of these chartered in- stitutions.
Resolved, That another consequence, no less injurious to the country, has been produced by the prodigal issue of a paper currency, of producing two standards of value in the markets of Europe and this country; the one foreign, which is regulated by gold and silver metals, ofintrinsic and uniform value among all nations, and the other domestic, which is regulated and controlled by paper, that to two- thirds of the amount of its circulation depends upon credit for the standard of value, which is, therefore, always fluctuating with the expansions and contractions of bank issues. That in consequence of this state of things, the planter of cotton is forced to sell his pro-
30
346
APPENDIX.
duce at a price regulated by gold and silver, and purchase every article of consumption by a paper standard in the domestic market.
Resolved, That the legalized privilege of the banks, and their prodigal use of it, has mainly contributed to the wild and ruinous speculations which have characterized the present age, and to pro- duce the late and existing derangement of the currency, with all the accompanying evils of bank suspensions, the fall in the price of the great staple of the southern states, and the paralized condition of trade.
Resolved, That the only remedy for the evils complained of, is founded in the anticipation of a mild, gradual and judicious reform in the currency of the state, by that department of the government to which is intrusted the guardianship of the great interests of the community.
Resolved, That we entertain the highest confidence in the intelli- gence, wisdom and patriotism of the legislative department, for the adoption of such provisions, by law, as will effect a wise, safe and gradual reform, in which no short sighted policy shall be permitted, that may do injustice to these institutions, or violence to the existing relations of society.
Resolved, That our chief dependence of right should be, and in fact must be, upon the efforts of the agricultural community to work out their own deliverance and independence, by united and harmo- nious concert of action among themselves-to introduce and en- courage improved methods of fertilizing the soil by popular and scientific modes of cultivation-by the practice of economy, and es- pecially by the production at home, of all the articles of domestic consumption.
W. J. Alston, Esq. proposed the following preamble and resolu- tions, which were adopted, after free discussion.
Whereas, Good roads are indispensable to the agricultural pros- perity, as well as beneficial to the general interests of any country- and no labor being more profitable in its results than that judiciously bestowed upon roads-and whereas, the notoriously bad condition cf many of the most important roads in this state, affords ample testi- mony of the utter inadequacy of the existing laws on this subject- and independent of their inefficiency, their operation is unequal and
347
APPENDIX.
unjust, inasmuch as they impose upon the owner of male slaves, and those residing nearest the chief market roads, the burthen of keeping in repair the public highways-exonerating all other classes -- the merchants, the stock-jobbers, and the speculators of every cast, from their just share of this burthen.
Be it therefore Resolved, That in the opinion of this convention, it is the duty of the legislature, either to retnedy the defects of the present system, or to substitute another and better in its stead.
Maj. J. M. Felder moved the following resolutions, which he pro- posed to lay on the table, with the consent of the convention.
Resolved, That as the agricultural interests generally become the first victims of a fluctuating, disordered and corrupt currency, the legislature be respecfully requested to take such measures, as will restore and secure to this state, a sound and stable currency.
Resolved, That as one step towards this desirable result, the legis- lature be respectfully solicited to restrain all banks from issuing any bank bills of a less denomination than five dollars.
Resolved, That this convention solemnly protest against borrowing any money or issuing any more bonds or stocks on the credit and faith of the state; and if any more money must be raised for the necessary purposes of an economical government, that the same be raised by a direct tax on the people.
B. R. Carroll, Esq. submitted the following resolution, which was adopted.
Resolved, That the committee of three be appointed to memorialize the legislature of this state, on the different subjects recommended and acted upon by this convention,
The president named the following gentlemen as the committee.
B. R. CARROLL, ESQ.,-CHANC. DUNKIN,-HON. J. GREGG.
Mr. Davis proposed the following resolutions.
Resolved, That copies of the proceedings of this convention be fur- nished by the secretary, to the Carolinian and Telescope news- papers of this town, for publication, and that the principal papers of this state, friendly to the interests of agriculture, be requested to copy them into their columns.
The president of the convention having retired,
On motion of B. R. Crrroll, Esq., COL. J. H. HAMMOND Was re- quested to take the chair, which having been done,
348
APPENDIX.
On motion of Dr. W. S. Reynolds, it was,
Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be presented to the Hon. Mr. Elmore, for the courtesy and impartiality with which he has presided over its deliberations -- and also to Dr. R. W. Gibbes, for his diligence, industry and general attention to the wants and wishes of the convention.
Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be returned to the House of Representatives for the use of their Hall,
These resolutions were unanimously adopted.
The president having made his acknowledgements to the conven- tion, expressed the interest he felt in the objects of the convention, and recommended an earnest, united and persevering attention to these objects.
On motion, the Society then adjourned.
R. W. GIBBES, Secretary.
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SO- CIETY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
We, the undersigned, do hereby form ourselves into an associa- tion, to be devoted to the improvement of the agriculture and agricultural economy of the state.
1st. The association shall be styled, The State Agricultural So- ciety of South Carolina.
2nd. Its objects shall be strictly agricultural and rural.
3d. All persons subscribing and paying to the treasurer the sum of five dollars, shall be eligible as members,
4th. The society will receive, as members, (at its annual meeting,) one delegate from a district or neighborhood society.
5th. There shall be a President, five Vice Presidents, a Corres- ponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer, and an Anniversary Orator, who shall be annually elected by the society.
6th. The society shall meet annually, in the town of Columbia, during the first week of the session of the legislature ; at which time there shall be an exhibition and cattle show for premiums.
7th. A quorum of the society shall consist of not less than twenty members, including the president or a vice president.
349
APPENDIX.
8th. The president shall preside at all meetings, and in his absence a vice president.
9th. The president, with a majority of the vice presidents, shall have power to call special meetings of the society ; but such meeting shall be announced in one or more of the agricultural papers of the state, at least thirty days before the time at which it is to be held.
10th. The committees shall be appointed by the president.
11th. There shall be a committee on cotton, whose province it shall be to collect all facts relative to the growing crop, the amount produced, the kind most profitable, together with such observations thereto relating, as may be useful to the society, and to award such premiums as may be provided for by the society.
12th. There shall be similar committees on rice, corn and small grain, with similar powers and duties.
13th. There shall be a committee on stock, whose duty it shall be to report the best mode of rearing, the best variety, and to examine and award at the show the premiums for the same.
14th. It shall be the duty of the president to publish, six months before the meeting, the kind and age of the stock to be shown, also of the products to be exhibited, and to specify in said notice the re- spective premiums.
15th. The society, in prescribing premiums for stock, shall have reference to improvement in the stock of the country.
16th. The president shall sign such orders on the treasury, as a majority of each committee shall have drawn in the performance of their duties.
17th. The treasurer shall collect all monies due to the society, pay all orders drawn in due form, and keep the accounts regularly stated in the books of the society.
18th. It shall be the duty of the corresponding secretary to revise all communications, before they shall be made public by authority of the society.
19th. It shall be the duty of the recording secretary to keep and preserve the books and papers of the society, and to prepare its pro- ceedings for publication.
(Here follow the signatures. )
30*
350
APPENDIX.
November 29th, 1839.
The state agricultural society of South Carolina, was organized by WHITFIELD BROOKS, Esq., a vice president, taking the chair.
The constitution was read, as recommended by the agricultural convention, and adopted.
The following gentlemen were elected officers by nomination by the same committee.
His Excellency, P. NOBLE, President.
W. B. SEABROOK, E'sq., Vice President.
Col. W. BROOKS, 66
Col. W. K. CLOWNEY, 66 66
Col. J. GREGG, 6.6
Chanc. B. F. DUNKIN, 66
B. R. CARROLL, Esq., Corresponding Secretary,
R. W. GIBBES, M. D., Recording Secretary and Treasurer. Gen. George McDUFFIE, Anniversary Orator.
On motion of Simeon Fair, Esq., the society adjourned until to- . morrow evening, to meet for a more perfect organization.
ROBERT W. GIBBES, Secretary.
SATURDAY, Nov. 30th, 1839.
The society met at 6 o'clock. The president took his seat, and ad- dressed the society on the objects of the association, in a short but impressive speech,
The minutes of the last meeting were read. The roll was called, and it appeared that seventy gentlemen had become members.
The president informed the society that the meeting was prepared for business, and open for resolutions, Major Ellerbe introduced the following.
Resolved, That two-thirds of the members present at the meeting of the society, shall be necessary to make any alteration in the consti- tution of the society.
This resolution was adopted.
Dr. Davis proposed the following resolutions, which were agreed to.
Resolved, That the anniversary be commemorated by a dinner, and that stewards be appointed by the president to superintend the same.
351
APPENDIX.
Resolved, That Dr. Gibbes be requested and authorized to prepare a lot for the exhibition of stock, at our next annual meeting. Major Ellerbe moved,
That Thursday after the 4th Monday in November be the anniver- sary, and that the dinner shall take place on that day. Agreed to.
J. A. Calhoun, Esq. introduced a preamble and resolutions as follows :
Whereas, it is a matter of the first moment to check emigration from our state as much as possible ; and whereas, the great source from which emigration originates, is in the comparison of our worn out fields with the fertile plains of the west-and whereas, the only means of preventing this unfavorable comparison and deplorable result, is to improve our lands by the most speedy means practicable ;
Therefore, be it resolved,
1st. That this society do recommend to the planters and farmers of our state, the adoption of the most energetic means of improving our lands under existing circumstances, as far as may be compatible with their present condition.
2nd. That a committee of three be appointed by the president of this society, whose duty it shall be to report to the next annual meet- ing of this society, as to the best means of improving our lands under existing circumstances. Adopted.
Col. Pinckney proposed the following resolution, which was agreed to.
Resolved, That all persons engaged in planting, farming, horti- culture, or breeding stock, are earnestly recommended to publish from time to time, in the agricultural papers of the state, the results of their observation and experience.
Col R. F. W. Allston moved,
That when this society adjourns, it do so to meet on the 4th Mon- day in November next, at 6 o'clock P. M. Agreed to,
On motion of Dr. Davis, the society adjourned.
ROBERT W. GIBBES, Secretary.
April, 1840. Governor Noble dies. Is succeeded by lieutenant governor Henegan,
[From the Columbia Telescope.] AN INTERESTING PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
We have never seen the following document in print, which we now publish from the original manuscript, in the possession of a gentleman of this town. It gives us an account of a bril- liant affair in our revolution, drawn up at the time by the chief actors in it, and expressed in the plain, strong style that belonged to the period. This, with very many other battles in the south, have never attracted the applause, or attained the historical noto- riety, which have attended the revolutionary incidents of similar magnitude in other quarters ; and, indeed, so much more has been written concerning the revolutionary incidents of the north, and so much more been done by the people and the states in that section to commemorate and signalize them, that the present generation in the neighborhood of Cowpens and King's Mountain, know more about Bunker's Hill and Lexington, and more of Stark and Putnam, than of Pickens or Campbell.
-No monument, inscription stone, Their race, their deeds, their names, almost unknown.
We have always thought that those battle fields in our state, which were illustrated by the gallantry and devotion of our ancestors, should be marked by permanent mementos, at the cost of the state -- every one, from Fort Moultrie to King's Mountain; and he who would carry such a measure through the legislature, would himself deserve a monument.
" A state of the proceedings of the Western Army, from the 25th day of September, 1780, to the reduction of Major Ferguson and the Army under his command.
On receiving intelligence that Major Ferguson had advanced up as high as Gilbert Town in Rutherford County, and threatened to cross the Mountains to the Western Waters --
Col. William Campbell, with four hundred men from Washing- ton County of Virginia, Col. Isaac Shelby, with two hundred and
354
REVOLUTIONARY DOCUMENT.
forty men from Sullivan county of North Carolina, and Lieut. Col. John Sevier, with two hundred and forty men from Washington county of North Carolina, assembled at Wattanga, on the 25th day of September, where they were joined by Col. Charles M'Dowell, with one hundred and sixty men from the counties of Burk and Rutherford, who had fled before the enemy to the Western Wa- ters. We began our march on the 26th, and on the 30th we were joined by Col. Cleaveland, on the Cataba River, with three hun- dred and fifty men from the Counties of Wilkes and Surry. No one officer having properly a right to the command in chief, on the first of October we dispatched an express to Major General Gates, informing him of our situation, and requested him to send a General Officer to take the command of the whole. In the mean time Col. Campbell was chosen to act as commandant till such General Officer should arrive. We marched to the Cowpens on Broad River in South Carolina, where we were joined by Col. James Williams with four hundred men, on the evening of the 6th of October, who informed us that the enemy lay encamped some where near the Cherokee ford of Broad River, about 30 miles distant from us ; by a council of the principle officers, it was then thought advisable to pursue the enemy that night, with nine hundred of the best horse- men, and leave the weak horse and foot men to follow as fast as possible. We began our march with 900 of the best men about 8 o'clock the same evening; and marching all night came up with the enemy about 3 o'clock P. M. on the 7th, who lay encamped on the Top of King's Mountain 12 miles north of the Cherokee ford, in the confidence that they could not be forced from so advantageous a post. Previous to the attact, on our march, the following disposi- tion was made. Col. Shelby's ridgment formed a column in the centre of the left, Col. Campbell's ridgment an other on the right; part of Col. Cleveland's ridgment, headed in front by Major Wins- ton, and Col. Sevier's ridgment, formed a large column on the right Wing; the other part of Col. Cleveland's ridgment, headed by Col. Cleveland himself, and Col. Williams' ridgment, composed the left wing; in this order we advanced and got within a quarter of a mile of the enemy before we were discovered. Col. Shelby's & Col. Campbell's ridgments began the attact, and kept up a fire on the
355
REVOLUTIONARY DOCUMENT.
enemy, while the right and left Wings were advancing forward to surround them, which was done in about five minutes and the fire became general all around; the engagement lasted an hour and five minutes, the greatest part of which time an heavy and incessant fire was kept up on both sides; our men in some parts where the regulars fought were oblidged to give way a small distance, two or three times, but rallied and returned with additional ardour to the attact. The troops upon the right having gained the Summit of the Eminence, oblidged the enemy to retreat along the top of the ridge to where Col. Cleveland commanded, and were there stopt by his brave men; a flag was immediately hoisted by Captain Depoisture then commanding officer (Major Ferguson having been killed a little before) for a surrender; our fire immediately ceased, and the enemy laid down there arms, the greater part of them charged, and surren- dered themselves prisoners to us at discretion.
It appears from their own provision returns for that day, found in their camp, that their whole force consisted of eleven hundred and twenty-five men-out of which they sustained the following loss. Of the regulars, one Major, one Captain, 2 Sergents and fifteen pri- vates killed, thirty-five privates wounded left on the ground not able to march. Two Captains, four Lieutenants, three Ensigns, one Surgeon, five Sergents, three corporals, one drummer and 49 pri- vates taken prisoners ; loss of the tories, Two Colonels, three Cap- tains, and 201 privates killed ; one Major and 127 privates wounded and left on the ground not able to march ; One Colonel, twelve Cap- tains, eleven Lieutenants, two Ensigns; one Quarter Master, one Adjutant, two Commissarys, eighteen Sergents, and 600 privates taken prisoners. Total loss of the enemy 1105 men at King's Mountain.
Given under our hands at Camp.
WM. CAMPBELL. ISAAC SHELBY. BENJ. CLEVELAND."
3
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.