History and Progressroe Population.—The name of Carolina is derived from that of Charles IX. king of France, and was imposed from an abortive attempt made during the reign of that monarch, by the French to colo nize that part of America. The first actual settlement by an English colony in the territory now included in South Carolina, was formed in 1680, though partial at tempts had been made as early as 167'0. At the former epoch a few settlers fixed on Oyster Point, between Ash ley and Cooper rivers, and laid the foundation of Charles ton. Conflicting grants were made by the English crown to the country, and contributed to retard settlement. In 1662, Charles II. granted to Lord Clarendon and others, all that zone of North America from N. lat. 31° to 36°, and two years afterwards the boundaries were extended to 36° 30'. Locke's scheme of government made the previous confusion a chaos, which was in part reduced to order in 1719, by the permanent separation of the colony into two parts, which were called relatively North Caro lina and South Carolina. South Carolina now advanced slowly but steadily. The cultivation of useful vegetables was encouraged. Rice was first introduced into the colony about the year 1695. Indigo followed, (cotton. now the great staple of the country, was introduced at a later pe riod) and South Carolina, though frequently harassed by Indian warfare, flourished until checked by the Revo lutionary war. In that great moral contest this state was an illustrious actor and a deep sufferer. Her fields and waters were made classic by being the theatre of many of the most remarkable events of that war. Many of her sons distinguished themselves as patriots and heroes, and some were made martyrs to the cause. To mention no others, the names of Hayne, Marion, Sump ter, and Lee, threw a halo of glory over the state. The character and actions of Marion, give indeed to the his tory of the southern campaigns the richness of the epic, with the solid grandeur of reality.
In 1790, the population of South Carolina amounted to 240,073; in 1800 to 345,591; in 1810 to 415,115; and in 1820, to 501,154. This gives an increase of 209 per cent. very nearly, in 40 years. In our review of the ral subdivisions of the state, three zones were noticed, and it is very remarkable, how much the relative castes depend upon natural features of soil. With a view to render this important statistical lact obvious, the sub joined table was calculated.
This table exhibits the comparative density on the dif ferent zones, and the respective numbers of each caste, and is the only instance in the United States where, in any state, the African race preponderates.
Education.—For the higher branches of education, the principal institutions of this state are the Charleston College at Charleston, and the South Carolina College at Columbia. This latter institution has been established and sustained by legislative bounty. The building, li brary, and philosophical apparatus, including some ne cessary repairs, have absorbed 200,000 dollars, and to this may be added an annual appropriation of 15,000 dollars.
Free schools are also supported at the expense of the state. In 1828 the commissioners of free schools re ported the establishment of 840 schools, in which were taught 9036 scholars, the cost of which was 39,716 dol lars; and in 1329 the appropriation to this object was 37,200 dollars.
Government —The existing Constitution of South Carolina was adopted June 3d, 1790, and under the au thority of the Iltli article, was amended by the Legisla ture, December 17th, 1808, and on December 1901,1816.
The Legislatitre consists of two houses, under the title of General Assembly. The senators are chosen for four years, and are divided into two classes, one of which is elected biennially. No person is eligible to a seat in the Senate, unless he is a free white man of the age of 30 years, and bath been a citizen or resident in the state five years previous to his election ; he may be elected whether resident in or out of the district for which he is chosen; but if a resident of the district, he must be legally seised and possessed in his own right, of a settled free hold estate of the value of three hundred pounds sterling, clear of debt, and if a non-resident in the district, he must be in like manner possessed of a settled freehold estate, in the district, of the value of one thousand pounds sterling.
The House of Representatives is chosen biennially, the qualifications fur inembership in which require the individual to be a free white man twenty-one years of age, a citizen and resident of the state three years pre vious to his election; if a resident in the election district, he must possess a settled freehold estate of live hundred acres of land and ten negroes, or a real estate of one hundred and fifty pounds sterling, clear of debt: if a non resident of the district, he must be legally possessed of a settled freehold estate therein of the value of live hun dred pounds sterling, clear of debt.
The Givernor is ( hosen by joint ballot of both houses of the Legislature, for a term of two years,and at the end of that term, is ineligible for the four succeeding years. He most have attained the age of 30 years, and have resided within the state and been a citizen thereof ten years pre vious to his election, and when elected must be seised and possessed of a settled estate within the same in his own right, of 1500 pounds sterling, clear of debt. The Lieu tenant Governor is elected at the same time, continued in office for the same period, and must be possessed of the same qualifications as the Governor.
The Governor has the power of pardon after convic tion, except in cases of impeachment.
The executive power is vested in superior and infe rior courts directed and established by the Legislature : the judges hold their offices during good behaviour, and are only removable by impeachment.
To exercise the elective franchise in the choice of members of the Legislature of either branch, it is requi site, that the person be a free white man citizen of the state, and have attained to the age of 21 years; paupers, and non-commissioned officers and privates of the Uni ted States army excepted ; must have resided in the state two years previous to the day of election ; have a freehold of fifty acres of land or a town lot, of which he must be seised and possessed at least six months before such election : or not having such freehold or town lot, hath been a resident in the election district in which he offers to give his vote, six months before the said elec tion.
By the llth Article of the Constitution of South Ca rolina, it is provided that : " No convention of the people shall be called, unless by the concurrence of two thirds of both branches of the whole representation." But, the Constitution may be amended by the Legisla lature, when " a hill to alter the same shall have been read three times in the House of Representatives, and three times in the Senate, and agreed to by two thirds of both branches of the whole representation ; neither shall any alteration take place until the bill so agreed to, be published three months previous to a new election for members of the House of Representatives; and if the alteration proposed by the Legislature shall be agreed to in their first session, by two thirds of the whole repre sentation in both branches of the Legislature, after the same shall have been read three times, on three seve ral (lays in each house, then, and not otherwise, the same shall become a part of the Constitution.
Under all these restrictions, the Constitution of South Carolina has been, as we have shown, twice amended.
For political and judicial purposes, this state, in place of counties, is subdivided into districts. In the sub joined table, the italic letters annexed to each district, show their relative situation, e, au, 83 and ni, stand for eastward, luestward, northard, southard, or mid dle.