CAROLINA POLITICAL ANNALS. STEMMATA quid faciunt? is the caustic interrogatory of the Roman satirist ;--but, after all, we are much concerned about these questions of pedigree, and "Ponticus" might well be justified in not esteeming so lightly the pictos vultus majorum, as our poet would have had him. It is the part of the man, as of the nation, to trace out with peculiar care his origin and descent. The "golden grasshopper" on the Grecian's head, gave expression to a law universal. We claim no exemption from the law. Our Legislature, in 1827, proposed a search of the English colonial offices for the documents of the State's early history. The search was not made, to be sure, but then the principle was at work in the suggestion. We might be pardoned for wishing a double portion of this spirit infused into our people. It would kindle up in them a higher zeal for digging down into the treasuries of past experience. There are spaces in our history yet to be touched with rays of light, and sombre outlines to be filled up with life and colour. When the suggestion we have mentioned was made, "darkness" indeed "prevailed over the great deep." If SouthCarolina knew any thing of her pristine days, the knowledge was confined to her favorite few. It was a kind of State secret, concealed from the people, or existing only in confused legends. But, thanks to some generous spirits, there has dawned a new era on the progress of historical research. In 1834, the first volume of Bancroft's History of the United States was issued from the press, lavishing upon the early chronicles of our State many an admirable chapter. years afterwards, Mr. Carroll published his "Collections," bringing to the public eye not a few antique and almost forgotten historical records, pamphlets, essays, et cetera, on the Two same interesting subject.* In 1840, Mr. Simms presents himself as the historian of South-Carolina. Something has been done,-much is yet to be done. The disposition to do it is sufficiently general. With proper legislative and popular encouragement, the result must be in the last degree gratifying. That Vandal spirit which buries in oblivion, or destroys, the monuments of the past, can no longer have a place. The "light of other days" is being, and must of necessity be, shed upon us. We can meet and brave the future, when we anticipate it from an enlightened experience of the past. It is here that History performs her proper mission, and merits the magnificent panegyric of Cicero,Historia vero testis temporum, lux veritatis, vita memoriæ, magistra vitæ, nuntia vetustatis, qua voce alia, nisi oratoris, immortalitati commendatur.† Leaving, however, the general history of our State,—the records of its progress in wealth,—in population,-in_arts and in letters,-in agriculture and in commerce,-in deeds of arms and martial prowess,-we come to a department, interesting, important, and but partially explored,—its political, legal or constitutional history. About this only shall we concern ourselves at present. A wide field opens itself here, a field, into which, whatever the intrepidity involved, we have determined to hazard an entrance. We would gather up the elements, as they lie strewn and scattered about, condensing them into a whole, sufficiently clear, brief and popular. We anticipate much more than our pains, too, for the difficulties which must be surmounted. The article must have interest for the general reader, and it is for him that we particularly intend it. Nor only this; the interest cannot be local in a matter which relates to one of the oldest and proudest of the "Confederated Thirteen." The Southern Review will give us circulation; let the merits of the subject ensure the rest. We deprecate as a motive the mere insanabile scribendi cacoëthes of Juvenal. We look higher. The homo sum of Terrence rather stimulates us, or what Bacon has often said as to every man's obligation to advance and elevate his profession. Among the writers included in this "Collection," are Hewit, Chalmers, Wilson, Oldmixon, Milligan, Governors Archdale and Glen, etc. There is also an introductory part by Mr. Carroll, and a map. + Cic. De Or. lib. ii., sec. 9. But where are we to gather these constitutional or legal facts? In works of general history, in reports of judicial determinations,* in records of past legislation. Abundance of all this material is at hand; the difficulties will be in the selection. A folio edition of our laws, for instance, was published in 1736, by Chief Justice Trott, who was a great man in his day; a similar one from Judge Grimke in 1790; a continuation by Faust down to 1805; Brevard's digest reaching to 1814. In 1834, a compilation of the State Laws was directed by Act of Legislature. Dr. Cooper, of Columbia, was the man of all others for the undertaking, and he was appointed. He lived to complete the fifth volume, but died before its publication. The part executed by him has many important notes and useful suggestions. To Mr. M'Cord the conclusion of the work was entrusted; who, following in general the plan laid out by his distinguished predecessor, brought down the whole to 1838; adding to it a full and complete index. The profession and the public cannot but be greatly benefitted by such a publication. Not a little will the study of our jurisprudence be facilitated by it: long has something of the kind been demanded. We may expect improvements in the public code, when, at a single view, all the enactments relating to a particular subject may be comprehended. Formerly it would have been a labored undertaking to have attained this: and the result-laws without the clearest reference, and even repugnant to antecedent laws, ultimately-perplexed litigation. Sir Wm. Blackstone complained of this in his day. His work suggested many important changes and improvements; heterogeneous and conflicting enactments were to be harmonized into a single enactment. have lately had a specimen of this ourselves in the Militia and Patrol Laws; in the laws for the regulation of Magistrates, Sheriffs, etc. Could not an intelligent jurist find room for his patriotism to work in such a sphere as this? We suggest the undertaking. As early as 1721, a commit We * The South-Carolina Law Reporters are in the order stated, and cover the period from 1783 to the present time. Bay 2 vols.; Brevard 3; Treadway 2; Mills 2; Nott & M'Cord 2; M'Cord 4; Harper 1, (extended by Riley;) Baily 2; Hill 3; Riley 1; Dudley 1; Rice 1; Cheves 1; M’Mullan 2; Spears 2-29 vols. The Equity Reporters are: Desaussure 4 vols.; Harper 1; Bailey 1; Hill 2; Riley 1; Dudley 1; Rice 1; Cheves 1; M'Mullan 1; Spears 114 volumes, extending back to the Revolution. tee of the Assembly was charged with the revisal of all the laws of the province: nothing further is known of the committee. In 1785 an act was passed providing for a digest. The convention which framed the constitution of 1790, earnestly recommended such a work. "When this edition of the Statutes at Large is finished," says Dr. Cooper, (3 vol. 785) "the labors of a revising committee will be indispensably necessary. What can be the objection to condensing in one single comprehensive law, ten or a dozen acts scattered through the book?" Est quoddam prodire tenus si non datur ultra. New-York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, are far ahead of us in these particulars. We leave the matter with whom it may concern,-our business is more with the political, or constitutional, than the legal history of the State. The charter of 2 Charles (1663) in strictness, should be our starting point. There are some antecedent matters, however, necessary to be understood: an explanation or two, and we dismiss them. The first grant of the country is from England. Whence her right to the territory so lavishly bestowed? If by "prior discovery," was it not defeated by adverse "prior occupancy?" The Cabots under Henry VII. certainly reached the continent before Columbus or Amerigo Vespucci. Oldmixon, and others. deny that they ever reached as far South as Florida. The date here 1497. The Spaniards put in claim to Carolina, or Florida as they call it, in virtue of Ponce de Leon, Vasques de Ayllon, Pamphilio Narvesi, and Fernando de Soto's discoveries. By right of discovery Florida belonged to Spain. She claimed too much, however; in Spanish geography Canada was a part of Florida.* Two colonies of Frenchmen were expelled from Carolina (so called from IX Charles of France) prior to 1565. The Spaniards were the first discoverers the French the first occupants. Then came England, and England is never long in want of a title. She first reached the continent. She had a Papal bull.† She found the country unsettled, and a wilderness. We do not * Bancroft's Hist. U. S., vol. 1, p. 30. + So says Mr. Carroll, 1 Hist. Col. S. C. p. x. note. He quotes Bancroft's Hist. U. S., vol. 1, p. ii., as authority; but has strangely misquoted him. Mr. Bancroft does not say that "the claim was founded on a grant of the Roman Pontiff." |