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
Governor Ludwell, who was a man of great humanity, and considerable
knowledge and experience in provincial affairs, by those large estates
which were allowed the leading men, and the many indulgences he was
authorized to grant to others, had the good fortune to allay the ferment
among the people, and reconcile them to the proprietors. But this
domestic tranquility was of short duration. New sources of discontent
broke out from a different quarter. He had instructions to allow the
French colony settled in Craven county, the same privileges and liberties
with the English colonists. Several of the refugees being possessed of
considerable property in France, had sold it, and brought the money with
them to England. Having purchased large tracts of land with this money,
they sat down in more advantageous circumstances than the poorer part of
English emigrants. Some of them, who had gone to the northern provinces,
hearing of the kind treatment and great encouragement their brethren had
received in Carolina, came to southward and joined their countrymen.
Having clergymen of their own persuasion, for whom they entertained the
highest respect and veneration, they were disposed to encourage them as
much as their narrow circumstances would admit. Governor Ludwell received
the wandering foreigners with great civility, and was not a little
solicitous to provide them with settlements equal to their expectations.
While these refugees were entering on the hard task of clearing and
cultivating spots of land, encouraging and relieving each other as much
as was in their power, the English Settlers began to revive the odious
distinctions and rooted antipathies of the two nations, and to consider
them as aliens and foreigners, entitled by law to none of the privileges
and advantages of natural-born subjects. The governor had instructions to
allow them six representatives in assembly; this the Englishmen
considered as contrary to the laws of the land, and beyond the power of
the proprietors, who were subject to the laws, to grant. Instead of
considering these persecuted strangers in the enlarged light of brethren
descended from the same common parent, and entitled to the free blessings
of Providence; instead of taking compassion on men who had sought an
asylum from oppression in their country, whom they were bound to welcome
to it by every tie of humanity and interest; they began to execute the
laws of England respecting aliens in their utmost rigour against them.
Their haughty spirit could not brook the thoughts of sitting in assembly
with the rivals of the English nation for power and dominion, and of
receiving laws from Frenchmen, the favourers of a system of slavery and
absolute government. In this unfavourable light they were held forth to
the people, to the great prejudice of the refugees; which sentiments,
however narrow and improper, served to excite no small jealousies and
apprehensions in their minds, with respect to these unhappy foreigners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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