scendants of the early emigrants from the Old World, that strangers cannot ascertain the original country of the ancestors of the present race.

If comparisons among the different nations which have contributed to the population of Carolina were proper, it might be added that the Scotch and Dutch were the most useful emigrants. They both brought with them, and generally retained in an eminent degree, the virtues of industry and economy so peculiarly necessary in a new country. To the former, South Carolina is indebted for much of its early literature. A great proportion of its physicians, clergymen, lawyers, and schoolmasters, were from North Britain. The Scotch had also the address frequently to advance themselves by marriage. The instances of their increasing the property thus acquired, are many-of their dissipating it, very few.

Emigrants from all countries on application readily obtained grants of land; either by private agreement from the proprietors, or from officers appointed by them, and acting under their instructions. The fees of office were not unreasonable. The price first fixed by the proprietors, was at the rate of £20 sterling for a thousand acres, and an annual quit-rent of one shilling for every hundred acres. When a warrant for taking up land was obtained, the person in whose favor it was granted had to choose where it should be located. It was then surveyed and marked. Plats and grants were also signed, recorded and delivered to the purchasers. This was the common mode of obtaining landed estates in Carolina, and the tenure was a freehold. They who could not advance the purchase money, obtained their lands on condition of their paying one penny annual rent for every acre. The first settlers, having the first choice of lands, had great advantages; and many of their descendants now enjoy large and valuable estates, purchased by their ancestors for inconsiderable sums. This mode of settlement by indiscriminate location, dispersed the inhabitants over the country without union or system. The settlers generally preferred the sea coast-the margins of rivers-and other fertile grounds; and gradually located themselves westwardly on the good land, leaving the bad untouched. For the first eighty years, they had advanced very little beyond an equal number of miles; but in the following fifty, they stretched to the Alleghany Mountains nearly three hundred miles from the ocean. While the people of New England extended their settlements exclusively by townships, presenting a compact front to the Indians, and co-extending the means of instruction in religion and learning with their population, South Carolina, in com

mon with the other Southern provinces proceeding on the former plan, deprived her inhabitants of the many advantages connected with compact settlements. These evils are now done away; for, since the revolution, nearly all the vacant land in the State has been taken up. They who have been obliged to content themselves with the long neglected poor lands, have the consolation that what they lost one way is made up in another; for it is found, that the high and dry pine land is by far the most healthy.

CIVIL HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

CHAPTER II.

Proprietary Government, from its Commencement in 1670, till its Abolition in 1719.

In the course of the 130 years in which South Carolina increased from a handful of adventurers to 345,591 inhabitants, the government was changed, first from proprietary to regal; and secondly, from regal to representative. The first continued forty-nine years, the second fifty-seven; and the third, after a lapse of thirty-two years, is now in the bloom and vigor of youth, promising a long duration.

Near the end of the fifteenth century, the King of England, according to currently received opinions, obtained a property in the soil of North America, from the circumstance that Cabot, one of his subjects, was the first Christian who sailed. along the coast. Property thus easily acquired, was with equal facility given away. Charles the Second, soon after his restoration to the throne of his ancestors, granted to Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkeley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colleton, all the lands lying between the 31st and 36th degree of north latitude. In two years more he enlarged the grant from the 29th degree of north latitude to 36° 30', and from these points on the sea coast westwardly in parallel lines to the Pacific ocean. Of this immense region the King constituted them absolute lords and proprietors, with the reservation of the dominion of the country to himself and successors. These extensive limits underwent many changes from the resumption of royal charters; treaties-particularly those of 1763 and

1783; royal instructions to governors; boundary lines run and settlements made by authorized commissioners; State cession to Congress; conquests from and treaties with Indians.

The present situation and limits of South Carolina are as follows. It is situated in North America; between 32 and 35° 8' and 6° 10' west longitude, from Washington, the seat of government of the United States of America. North Carolina stretches along its northern and northeastern frontier; Tennessee along its north western, and Georgia along its southern frontier; and the Atlantic ocean bounds its eastern limits. South Carolina is bounded northwardly by a line commencing at a cedar stake marked with nine notches on the shore of the Atlantic ocean, near the mouth of Little river, then pursuing by many traverses a coast west-north-west, until it arrives at the fork of Catauba river; thence due west until it arrives at a point of intersection in the Apalachean mountains. From thence, due south until it strikes Chatuga, the most northern branch or stream of Tugoloo river. Thence along the said river Tugoloo to its confluence with the river Keowee; thence along the river Savannah, until it intersects the Atlantic ocean by its most northern mouth; thence northeastwardly, along the Atlantic ocean, including the islands, until it intersects the northern boundary near the entrance of Little river. These boundaries include an area somewhat triangular, of about 24,0080 square miles; whereof 9,570 lie above the falls of the rivers, and 14,510 are between the falls and the Atlantic ocean.

King Charles the Second also gave to the lords proprietors of Carolina authority to enact, with the assent of the freemen of the colony, any laws they should judge necessary; to erect courts of judicature, and to appoint judges, magistrates and officers; to erect forts, castles, cities and towns; to make war, and in case of necessity, to exercise martial law; to build harbors, make ports, and enjoy customs and subsidies, imposed with the consent of the freemen, on goods loaded and unloaded. The King also granted to the proprietors, authority to allow indulgences and dispensations in religious affairs, and that no person to whom such liberty should be granted was to be molested for any difference of speculative opinions with respect to religion, provided he did not disturb the peace of the community.

The preamble of this grant states, "That the grantees being excited with a laudable and pious zeal for the propagation of the gospel, begged a certain country in the parts of America, not yet cultivated and planted, or only inhabited by some barbarous people who had no knowledge of God." Invested with these ample powers, the proprietors formed a joint stock for

the transportation of settlers to their projected colony. To induce adventurers, they declared, "That all persons settling on Charles river, to the southward of Cape Fear, shall have power to fortify its banks, taking the oath of allegiance to the King, and submitting to the government of the proprietors: that the emigrants may present to them thirteen persons, in order that they may appoint a Governor and council of six, for three years: that an assembly, composed of the Governor, the council, and delegates of the freemen, should be called as soon as the circumstances of the colony would allow, with power to make laws, which should be neither contrary to the laws of England, nor of any validity after the publication of the dissent of the proprietors: that every person should enjoy the most perfect freedom in religion: that during five years every freeman should be allowed one hundred acres of land and fifty for every servant, paying only one half-penny an acre: that the same freedom from customs which had been conferred by the royal charter should be allowed to every one." Such were the original conditions on which Carolina was planted. And thus it was established upon the broad foundation of a regular system of freedom, both civil and religious.

The proprietors, anxious to improve their property, with the aid of the celebrated John Locke, framed a constitution and laws for the government of their colony. These were in substance as follows: "The eldest of the eight proprietors was always to be Palatine, and at his decease was to be succeeded by the eldest of the seven survivors. This Palatine was to sit as President of the Palatine's Court, of which he and three more of the proprietors made a quorum, and had the management and execution of the powers of their charter. This Court was to stand in room of the King, and give their assent or dissent to all laws made by the Legislature of the colony. The Palatine was to have power to nominate and appoint the Governor, who, after obtaining the royal approbation, became his representative in Carolina. Each of the seven proprietors was to have the privilege of appointing a deputy to sit as his representative in Parliament, and to act agreeably to his instructions. Besides a Governor, two other branches, somewhat similar to the old Saxon constitution, were to be established; an upper and lower House of Assembly: which three branches were to be called a Parliament, and to constitute the Legislature of the country. The parliament was to be chosen every two years. No act of the Legislature was to have any force unless ratified in open Parliament, during the same session, and even then to continue no longer in force than the next biennial Parliament, unless in the meantime it be ratified by the hands and seals of the Palatine and three

proprietors. The upper house was to consist of the seven deputies, seven of the oldest landgraves and cassiques, and seven chosen by the Assembly. As in the other provinces, the lower house was to be composed of the representatives from the different counties and towns. Several officers were also to be appointed, such as an admiral, a secretary, a chief justice, a surveyor, a treasurer, a marshal, and register; and besides these, each county was to have a sheriff and four justices of the peace. Three classes of the nobility were to be established, called barons, cassiques, and landgraves; the first to possess twelve, the second twenty-four, and the third fortyeight thousand acres of land, and their possessions were to be unalienable. Military officers were also to be nominated; and all inhabitants, from sixteen to sixty years of age, as in the times of feudal government, when regularly summoned, were to appear under arms, and in time of war to take the field.

With respect to religion, three terms of communion were fixed. First, to believe that there is a God. Secondly, that he is to be worshipped. And thirdly, that it is lawful, and the duty of every man when called upon by those in authority, to bear witness to the truth. Without acknowledging which, no man was permitted to be a freeman, or to have any estate or habitation in Carolina. But persecution for observing different modes and ways of worship, was expressly forbidden; and every man was to be left full liberty of conscience, and might worship God in that manner which he thought most conformable to the Divine will and revealed word.

Notwithstanding these preparations, several years elapsed before the proprietors of Carolina made any serious efforts towards its settlement. In 1667 they fitted out a ship, gave the command of it to Captain William Sayle, and sent him out to bring them some account of the country. He sailed along the coast of Carolina, where he observed several large navigable rivers emptying themselves into the ocean; and a flat country covered with woods. He attempted to go ashore in his boat, but observing some savages on the banks of the rivers, he desisted. Having explored the coast and the mouths of the rivers, he returned to England.

His report to the proprietors was favorable. He praised their possessions, and encouraged them to engage with vigor in the execution of their project. Thus encouraged, they began to make preparations for sending a colony to commence a settlement. Two ships were procured; on board of which a number of adventurers embarked with provisions, arms, and utensils requisite for building and cultivation. William Sayle, who had visited the country, was appointed the first Governor of it; and received a commission, bearing date