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
rent was remitted to those who held land by grant, and four years to such
as held them by survey, without grant. Such lands as had escheated to the
Proprietors, were ordered to be let out or sold for their Lordships
benefit. It was agreed to take the arrears of quitrents either in money
or commodities, as should be most easy and convenient for the planters.
Magistrates were appointed, for hearing all causes between the settlers
and Indians, and finally determining all differences between them. Public
roads were ordered to be made, and water passages cut, for the more easy
conveyance of produce to the market. Some former laws were altered, and
such new statutes made as were judged requisite for the good government
and peace of the colony. In short, public affairs began to put on an
agreeable aspect, and to promise fair towards the future progress and
welfare of the settlement. But as for the French refugees, all the
governor could do for them was, to recommend it to the English
freeholders to consider them in the most friendly and compassionate point
of light, and to treat them with lenity and moderation.
[Sidenote] Treats Indians with humanity.
No man could entertain more benevolent sentiments, with respect to the
ignorant heathen savages, than Governor Archdale; his compassion for them
was probably one of the weighty motives which induced him to undertake
the voyage to this country. To protect them against insults, and
establish a fair trade and friendly intercourse with them, were
regulations which both humanity required and sound policy dictated. But
such was the rapacious spirit of individuals, that it could be curbed by
no authority. Many advantages were taken of the ignorance of Indians in
the way of traffic. The liberty of seizing their persons, and selling
them for slaves to the West-India planters, the colonists could not be
prevailed on entirely to resign, without much reluctance. At this time a
war raged between two Indian nations, the one living in the British, the
other in the Spanish territories. The Yamassees, a powerful tribe in
Carolina, having made an incursion into Florida, took a number of Indians
prisoners, whom they brought to Charlestown for sale to the provincial
traders to Jamaica and Barbadoes. Governor Archdale no sooner heard of
their arrival, than he ordered the Spanish Indians to be brought to him,
and finding that they had been instructed in the rites and principles of
the Catholic religion, he could not help considering it as an atrocious
crime to sell Christians of any denomination. To maintain a good
understanding between the two provinces, he sent the prisoners to
Augustine, and along with them the Yamassee warriors, to treat of peace
with the Indians of Florida. The Spanish governor wrote a letter to Mr.
Archdale, thanking him for his humanity, and expressing a desire to live
on terms of friendship and peace with the Carolineans. In consequence of
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