An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, Volume 1Hewatt, Alexander
History
An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, Volume 1
Hewatt, Alexander
Georgia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; South Carolina -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
Upon a review of those past transactions, and the various causes which
concurred for bringing about this event, which I have narrated the more
fully and circumstantially on account of the interesting nature and
important consequences of the change, we may observe, that although the
conduct of the Carolineans during this violent struggle cannot, strictly
speaking, be deemed legal, equitable and just, yet necessity, which has
no law, and self-preservation, the most powerful principle of action,
both strongly plead in their vindication. When the Proprietors first
applied to the King for a grant of this large territory, at that time
occupied by heathens, it is said they were excited thereto by their zeal
for the propagation of the Christian faith; yet it is now plain that they
have either used no endeavours for that purpose, or they have been
utterly ineffectual. The Society for the propagation of the Gospel have
indeed employed and supported missionaries for the conversion of those
heathens; yet it is a lamentable truth, that their best endeavours have
been vastly inadequate to the extent of the work, and therefore their
success has proved small and inconsiderable. The Proprietors by their
charter were empowered to build churches and chapels within the bounds of
their province for divine worship; yet they have left the burden of this
work entirely to the inhabitants, who have received no encouragement nor
assistance, except from the incorporated Society, towards its
accomplishment. They were impowered by their charter to erect castles and
forts for the protection and defence of the colony; but all those the
people have also been obliged to raise at their own expence. By the
charter his Majesty saved to himself, his heirs and successors, the
sovereign dominion of the province, and the faith and allegiance of his
subjects, the inhabitants of it, declaring them to be the liege people of
the crown of England, yet the Proprietors have assumed to themselves a
despotic authority in repealing and abrogating, by themselves alone, laws
made by the Assembly, and ratified by their deputies in Carolina. They
not only tyrannized over the poor colony, but also employed and protected
officers ten times more tyrannical than themselves. When the whole
legislature complained of Chief Justice Trott, they paid no regard to
their complaints, and absolutely refused to circumscribe his
jurisdiction, or remove him from the bench. In times of imminent danger,
when the colony applied to them for assistance, they were either unable
or unwilling to bear the expence of its protection. When the Assembly
allotted the Indian lands obtained by conquest for the encouragement of
settlers, to strengthen the Provincial frontiers, the Proprietors claimed
the sole right of disposing of those lands, and frustrated their plans of
public security. When the trade of the province was infested and ruined
by pirates, they could neither obtain a force sufficient to extirpate
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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