The prevalence of these amiable qualities may per haps be ascribed, in no inconsiderable degree, to the influence of the ladies, whose character shines forth in Carolina with peculiar lustre. Generally well educated, their information, without fostering their vanity, enables them to maintain, with dignity and spirit, a refined and rational conversation. The politeness and elegance of their manners, imparts to all toey say and do a charm, which is tile more irresistible, as it seems to proceed less front art and culture, titan from the native goodness of their hearts. With the vivacity and love of pleasure natural to their sex, they unite a sweetness of disposi tion, and a discretion, which, while they delight and animate every social circle, save the hearts of their friends from all feelings of anxiety with regard to the propriety of their behaviour. It is in the bosom of their own families, however, that their amiable qualities are most endearingly displayed. To soothe the cares and increase the comforts of a father, to administer with affectionate attention to the happiness and respectability of a brother, are the favourite occupations, from which no allurements of pleasure can withdraw a young lady of Carolina. In the discharge of their duties as wives and mothers, they arc particularly assiduous and faith ful ; and their prudent management and kind attention, render home a most pleasing refuge from the bustle of business, aced the jarring contentions in which the rougher sex are too frequently engaged.
In Carolina, the subordinations of rank which prevail in other countries, are almost unknown. Among the white people., the relation of master and is scarcely to be found ; and the relation of master and tenant is, ill the country at least, equally rare. The most obvious subdivision of its inhabitants is into planters, farmers, cottagers, and squatters. Each of these classes has a peculia• character.
The planters, who nave in general large incomes, live in a luxurious and splendid style, devoting much of their time to the pursunt of pit asure, engaging m no employ ments which require great or continued exertions of timid or body, and possessing much of that pride and dignity of spirit, which characterises an independent count!). gentleman.
The virtues of the farmers are less brilliant, but more substantial, and their t ices fewer than those of the plan ter. More dependent on their own ( xertions, the y are consequently more ac tive ; their desire s, like their in comes, ate more ; i11 the reverses of finume, they exhibit greater fortitude, and have ampler itv•rnal resources to meet extraordinary emergencies.
The couagers long cotitinued in a state of depression Unwilling to mingle in the labours of the field with the slaves of other people, and unable to procure the situa tion of overseers, of them were comp um to engage in some trivial business, which afforded then; only desultory employment. NVithout the of regular gain to stimulate their exertions, the vile cu d of their labours was to earn a supply or the plainest necessaries of life, which, in a country. like Carolina,
was so easily obtained, that much•of their time remained unemployed, and all the vices which result from idleness of course disgraced their character. Of late, however, both their condition and their character have been con siderably improved. The culture of cotton holds out to this class of the community' strong inducements to personal industry. It enables them to work their own lands, to procure a large share of the comforts of life, and daily to acquire consequence in society.
The squatters have been at all times, and still con tinue, great nuisances to the public. Settling on any man's land, paying no rent, cultivating no ground, they lived by' their guns ostensibly in hunting, but often in shooting down the domestic animals of their industrious neighbours. In the vast tracts of poor and unoccupied land with which Carolina abounds, these people found it easy to make temporary settlements. From these, as centres, they made their. excursions, returning to them regularly with their booty and their game. In several places, the Methodists have had such influence on many of this class, as to induce them to engage in regular industry. The number of squatters has thus been con siderably diminished, and of industrious couagers or farmers increased.
Since the establishment of the Veral constitution of the United States, the government Tf South Carolina has become somewhat complex. Acknowledging a federal legislative, executive, and judicial authority, and ceding to the union every power that is necessary to a common national government, it restricts these powers to objects of a general nature, and reserves for its own local juris diction the management of every thing that is purely domestic in its operation and consequences. By a con vention of the people, held in I 79u, the constitution of South Carolina was new modelled, so as to harmonise with the general constitution of the United States. The legislature, as in the other states, is composed of a senate of 43 members, and a house of representatives of 124 members, elected by the inhabitants of the districts widen they repres. nt. The governor is elected for the term of two years; at d, after an interval of four scars from the expiration of his authority, may be elected again. The goy ernor and ci utetrant-gove rror arc nomi nated by tie legislative bee v, bot't at the san time. 1' e sante body tominates the ;udgcs, commissioners of tile revenue, the secretary of state, the commander in chief, and the sheriffs, all of whom, except the judges, hold their offices for the term e i lour years. Bibs can not be passed into laws tin they nave been read three times on three different days in each house, and have been agreed to by both, deliberating apart. To expound se laws, and apply them to particular cases, is the duty of the judges, who, though commissioned by the legislature during good bul.aviour, are, immediately after their appointinet-t, rendered independent, both of the legislature and the people. The law of England is adopted, wits: a few vat iations, as the common law of Sout n Carolina.