South Carolina

The history of South Carolina may be divided into the periods of discovery and exploration (1521-1663); proprietary rule (1663-1719) ; royal rule (1720-75) ; and Statehood (from 1776). The first Europeans to visit the coast were a party of Spaniards from Cuba in 1521. The first settlement was made by Spaniards under Ayllon in 1526, but, after a few months it was abandoned. The Spaniards again settling in 1566, maintained a port on Parris island for about 20 years. In the meantime (1562) French Protestants under Jean Ribaut made an unsuccessful attempt to establish a colony on Parris island (see PORT ROYAL) . In 1629, Charles I. granted to his attorney general, Sir Robert Heath, all the territory lying between the 3rst and the 36th parallels and extending through from sea to sea, but no settlement was made, and in 1663 the same territory was granted to the earl of Claren don (1609-74), and seven other favourites of Charles II. A second charter in 1665 extended the limits to 29° and 36° 30'. The proprietors were to legislate for the Province "by and with the advice, assent and approbation of the freemen." They were empowered, though not required, to grant religious freedom to dissenters. Circulars were issued in 1663 and 1665 offering most liberal terms to prospective colonists. In the Fundamental Con stitutions adopted by the proprietary board in 1669, John Locke and Lord Ashley (1621-83) prepared for the Province an elaborate feudal system of government which would have been obsolete even in Europe. Little effort was made to enforce the more im practical portions of the Constitutions. They were, nevertheless, an element in rousing the feeling of discontent among the colonists which culminated in the overthrow of proprietary rule, and they encouraged the large plantation system which constituted the foundation of the slave-holding aristocracy.

First Permanent Settlement.

The first permanent English settlement was made in April 1670 at Albemarle Point, on the west bank of the Ashley river, but as the situation proved un favourable the government and most of the people moved over in 168o to the neck between the Ashley and the Cooper rivers, the site of the present city of Charleston. The area of settlement was gradually extended along the coast in both directions, but did not penetrate far into the interior. There were many English from Barbados and French Protestants, who influenced the history of the Province.

Struggles for Popular Control.

Her political history dur ing the colonial era is the story of a struggle between popular and prerogative interests, first between the people and the lords proprietors, later between the people and the Crown. From 167o to 1700 the principal questions at issue were the refusal of the settlers to subscribe to the numerous editions of the Fundamental Constitutions and disputes over the collection of quit-rents. Con cessions were finally made which brought the Government more directly under popular control. In 1693 the commons house, elected by the people, secured the privilege of initiating legislation. The truce was followed by a controversy between churchmen and dis senters. A test act requiring members of the assembly to conform to the Church of England and to take the sacrament of the Eucharist according to the rites and usages of that church (1704) was defeated only through the intervention of the Whig House of Lords in England. By an act of Nov. 30, 1706, which remained

in force until 1778, the Church of England was made the estab lished religion. After a few years of peace and prosperity, the proprietors, acting on the advice of Chief Justice Nicholas Trott (1663-174o), adopted a reactionary policy, vetoed several popu lar laws and could not give aid in the desperate 1715 Indian war. In 1719 the people rebelled, overthrew the existing gov ernment and elected their leader James Moore as governor. The result of the revolution was accepted in England, and the province at once came under royal control, although the rights of the proprietors were not extinguished by purchase until 1729. Theo retically South Carolina and North Carolina constituted a single province, but, as the settlements were far apart, their govern ments were always separate. Until 1691 each had its own governors. From 1691 to 1712 there was usually a governor at Charleston and a deputy for the northern settlements, and after 1711 there were again separate governors. The first attempt to define the boundary was made in 173o, but the work was not completed until 1815.

The period 1725-75 was a period of great prosperity, based upon the trade in pelts (mainly deer skins) and more permanently on the rapidly expanding rice and indigo culture. The southern colonies' Indian trade centred mainly in Charleston. This, and a rich agriculture and the large commercial business to serve them, supplied the economic basis of a coast country society of notable intelligence and culture. One of the earliest theatres in America, musical culture, libraries, and the education of a large number of youths in England, gave the society around Charleston a tone and finish at that time rare in the New World.

Passing under the royal Government did not check the en croachments upon the governor and council by the commons house of assembly, which defiantly announced the powers of the British Commons as its model. By 1760 the council had almost ceased to exercise any real control over legislation. They rarely initiated or amended a bill, and never attempted to change a money bill without incurring violent denunciation from the popular house and sometimes paralyzing legislative action for years.

Movements Toward Independence.—The State was pre paring for independence. Although the measures of the British Government after 1763 were not especially oppressive to the province, the people were too long accustomed to having their own way, and had, especially in the bitter dispute over the Wilkes fund (1769-75) involving the right of the commons alone to control finance, developed too fully a sense of general American and even British freedom to submit to measures which they regarded as subversive of the principles of liberty. Delegates were sent to the Stamp Act Congress (1765) and to the Continental Congresses (1774 and 1775). A council of safety appointed by an extra-legal provincial congress virtually took over the Gov ernment in June, 1775. Royal administration ended when, Sept. 15, the governor dissolved the assembly and fled.