South Carolina,
One of the original Southern States of the
United States, is bounded eastward by
North Carolina and the
Atlantic Ocean, with a coast-line of 200 miles;
Georgia lies to the west, and
North Carolina bounds it on the north.
It is triangular in form, with the apex south.
Area, 30,570 square miles, in thirty-five counties.
Population, 1890, 1,151,149; 1900, 1,340,316.
Capital,
Columbia.
Velasquez de Ayllon, with two ships sailing northward from
Santo Domingo to procure Indians as slaves, anchors at the mouth of the
Combahee River.
The natives crowding on the vessels are carried to
Santo Domingo......1520
Velasquez de Ayllon again sails from
Hispaniola with three ships, one of which is lost at the mouth of the
Combahee, and 200 of the men are massacred by the natives; but few escape......1525
Expedition fitted out by
Admiral Coligny, under
Jean Ribault, of
Dieppe, explores
St. Helena Sound and
Port Royal, and builds Charles Fort, near
Beaufort......1562
Charles II.
conveys by charter territory lying between lat. 31° and 36° N., to the
Earl of
Clarendon and seven others, who form a proprietary and call the country
Carolina......March 20, 1663
Grant of land to the
Earl of
Clarendon and others enlarged and extended to lat. 29° N......June 30, 1665
Capt. William Sayle explores the coast......1667
Settlement near
Port Royal by a few English colonists with
William Sayle as governor......1670
Settlers at
Port Royal remove to the western bank of the
Ashley River and found Old Charleston......1671
Settlement at
Charleston increased by a small colony from
Barbadoes under
Sir John Yeamans.
With this colony came the first slaves in
South Carolina......1671
Freemen of
Carolina meet at
Charleston and elect representatives for the civil government of the colony......1674
Fundamental constitutions framed by
John Locke, and amended by the
Earl of
Shaftesbury in 1669, are put into operation in
South Carolina......1674
By invitation a colony of
Dutch from New York settle on the southwest side of the
Ashley River......1674
Settlers remove from Old Charleston to
Oyster Point and found
Charleston......1680
Baptists from
Maine, under
Mr. Screven, settle on
Cooper River......1683
Scotch settlement on
Port Royal is broken up and dispersed by Spaniards from
St. Augustine......1686
Gov. James Colleton, in endeavors to exact arrears of quit-rents, proclaims martial law. The Assembly meet and banish him; thereupon Seth Sothel, claiming to be a proprietor, usurps the government......1690
Sothel is compelled to relinquish the
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government on charge of malfeasance, and
Philip Ludwell is appointed governor......1692
Fundamental constitutions abrogated by the lords proprietors......April, 1693
Act making all alien inhabitants freemen on petitioning the governor and swearing allegiance to the
King, with liberty of conscience to all Christians except Papists......1696
Congregationalists from
Dorchester, Mass., with their pastor,
Rev. Joseph Lord, settle near the head of
Ashley River......1696
Combined naval and land expedition from
Carolina, under
Governor Moore and
Colonel Daniel, besieges
St. Augustine.
Two Spanish vessels appearing in the harbor,
Governor Moore raises the siege after burning the town......September, 1702
First issue of paper money in
America made by Carolina to meet £ 6,000, expenses of the expedition against
Florida......September, 1702
Carolina troops, under
Governor Moore, make an expedition against the
Indian towns of
northern Florida......January, 1703
Combined expedition of
French, under
Le Feboure, and the
Spanish, made upon
Charleston, proves fruitless......August, 1706
South Carolina troops attack and defeat the Tuscaroras on the
Neuse, with a loss to the Indians of more than 300 killed and 100 captured......Jan. 28, 1712
An incipient civil war breaks out in
Carolina in 1710, between
Colonel Broughton, one of three deputies of the lords proprietors, and
Robert Gibbes, the proclaimed governor.
The controversy being referred to the proprietors, they appoint
Charles Craven governor......1712
Fort Nahucke,
Greene co., N. C., garrisoned by 800
Tuscarora Indians, captured by
Col. James Moore, of
South Carolina......March 20, 1713
Yamassee Indians, incited by the Spaniards, massacre ninety colonists at
Pocotaligo......April 15, 1715
Governor Craven defeats the Indians on the
Salkehatchie.
In this war 400 South Carolinians are massacred......1715
King in council so advising, proprietors repeal the duty of 10 per cent. on all goods of British manufacture, and also the act regulating elections and that enabling the Assembly to nominate a public receiver......1717
Governor and council impeach the administration of
Chief-Justice Trott.
The proprietors uphold
Trott, and order the governor to publish at once the repeal of the late popular acts of the legislature, and to convene a new council and a new Assembly......1718
Steed
Bonnett and
Richard Worley, pirates, and forty followers, captured, convicted, and hanged......1718
Governor Johnson, by letter of
Alexander Skene,
George Logan, and
William Blakeway, asked to accept the government from the people under the
King......Nov. 28, 1719
Governor Johnson declining the office of governor, the
People's Association proclaim
James Moore governor, and elect twelve councillors, choose Richard Allein chief-justice, and appoint
Col. John Barnwell agent for the province......1719
Lords of the regency appoint
Francis Nicholson provisional governor, having decided that the proprietors had forfeited their charter......1720
Governor Nicholson arrives, summons a new Assembly, which elects the late popular governor,
James Moore, speaker of the
House......1721
Lords proprietors surrender the charter and government to the
King, except Lord Granville's one-eighth......1729
Sir Alexander Cumming, .sent out by
Great Britain, makes a treaty with the Cherokees at Nequassee, who proclaim allegiance to the
King......April 3, 1730
On assuming the government, the crown divides Carolina, and appoints
Robert Johnson governor of
South Carolina......April 30, 1730
First newspaper in
South Carolina published at
Charleston,
Thomas Whitmarsh, editor......Jan. 8, 1732
Forty thousand acres of land on the
Savannah is given to
John Peter Pury and his colony of some 370 Swiss;
Purysburg is settled......1732-33
Williamsburg township formed by Irish settlers......1734
Boundary-line between
North and
South Carolina partly established......1738
Negro insurrection at
Stono suppressed, and its leader,
Cato, and principals hanged
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Fire consumes nearly one half of
Charleston......Nov. 18, 1740
Ship-building begun; five ship-yards established; four in the vicinity of
Charleston, and one at
Beaufort......1740
Colonel Clark, with emigrants from
Virginia and
Pennsylvania, settles on the
Pacolet and
Tyger rivers......1750-55
Cotton in small quantities exported......1754
Mrs. Pinckney, who ten years previously cultivated the first indigo, manufactures near
Charleston silk for, three dress patterns; one she presents to the princess-dowager of
Wales, one to Lord Chesterfield, and one to her daughter......1755
Governor Glen erects Fort Prince George on the
Savannah about 300 miles from
Charleston......1755
Patrick Calhoun and four families settle in Abbeville district......1756
Treaty of peace concluded with the Cherokees at Fort Prince George......Dec. 17, 1759
Two ships reach
Charleston with several hundred poor German emigrants from
England, deserted there by their leader Stumpel......April, 1764
Two hundred and twelve French settlers, in charge of
Rev. Mr. Gilbert, arrive at
Charleston in April.
Settle at New Bordeaux......October, 1764
Stamped paper stored in
Fort Johnson on
James Island, by order of
Governor Bull. One hundred and fifty volunteers compel the captain of the ship which brought the paper to reload it and sail immediately for
Europe......October, 1765
Christopher Gadsden,
Thomas Lynch, and
John Rutledge appointed delegates to the second Colonial Congress......Oct. 7, 1765
An association of regulators formed in the inland settlements to suppress horsestealing, etc., leads to a circuit court law establishing courts of justice at Ninety-Six (now
Cambridge),
Orangeburg, and
Camden......1769
Cargoes of tea sent to
South Carolina are stored, and consignees constrained from exposing it for sale......1773
Christopher Gadsden,
Thomas Lynch,
Henry Middleton,
Edward Rutledge, and
John Rutledge appointed deputies to the first Continental Congress at
Philadelphia......July 6, 1774
Henry Middleton chosen president of the Continental Congress......October, 22, 1774
First Provincial Congress of 184 members, including the forty-nine members of the constitutional Assembly, meet and approve proceedings of Continental Congress......Jan. 11, 1775
Letters from
England to public officials in
America intercepted at
Charleston furnish abundant evidence of the determination of
England to coerce America by force......April 19, 1775
On receiving news of the
battle of Lexington, the arms are removed from the arsenal at
Charleston and distributed among the enlisted men......April, 1775
Ship
Betsey, from
London, surprised by a Carolina privateer, and 111 barrels of powder captured.......August, 1775
Fort Johnson garrisoned by
Captain Heyward and the
Charleston artillery......September, 1775
Governor Campbell, last royal governor, dissolves the Assembly and retires to the sloop-of-war
Tamar......Sept. 15, 1775
Hostilities in
South Carolina begun by the British vessels
Tamar and
Cherokee making a night attack on the schooner
Defence,
Captain Tufts, while blocking Hog Island channel by sinking hulks.
Shots are exchanged, but at sunrise the British vessels retire......Nov. 12, 1775
Colonel Moultrie, authorized by the council of safety, takes possession of Haddrell's Point, and with artillery drives the British vessels from
Charleston Harbor......December, 1775
Constitution framed by the Provincial Congress of
South Carolina adopted, March 26, 1776, and courts of justice opened......April 23, 1776
British fleet under
Sir Peter Parker unsuccessfully attacks
Fort Moultrie,
Sullivan's Island.......June 28, 1776
Thomas Heyward, Jr.,
James Lynch, Jr.,
Arthur Middleton, and
Edward Rutledge sign the
Declaration of Independence......1776
Colonel Williamson, with 2,000 men, marches against the Cherokees, Sept. 13, and lays waste all their settlements east of the
Apalachian Mountains......September, 1776
Cherokee Indians by treaty cede to
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South Carolina all their land eastward of the
Unaka Mountains......May 20, 1777
Henry Laurens, of
South Carolina, chosen president of the Continental Congress......Nov. 1, 1777
Constitution passed by the General Assembly as an act, March 19, 1778, goes into effect......November, 1778
State Supreme Court declares the constitutions of 1776 and 1778 acts of General Assembly, which it could repeal or amend......1779
Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Lincoln takes command of all the forces to the southward; establishes his first post at
Purysburg on the
Savannah River......1779
President Lowndes lays a general embargo, and prohibits the sailing of vessels from any port of the
State......1779
British under
Major Gardiner driven from
Port Royal Island by
General Moultrie......Feb. 3, 1779
Americans repulsed at Stono Ferry......June 20, 1779
British fleet from New York against
Charleston lands forces under
Sir Henry Clinton 30 miles from the city......Feb. 11, 1780
Royal fleet commanded by
Admiral Arbuthnot anchors near
Fort Johnson on
James Island......April 9, 1780
Governor Rutledge retires from
Charleston northward......April 12, 1780
American cavalry surprised by British under
Colonels Tarleton and
Webster, and routed at
Monk's Corner......April 14, 1780
Fort Moultrie, weakened reinforcing
Charleston, surrenders to
Captain Hudson, of the
British navy......May 6, 1780
Charleston capitulates......May 12, 1780
British forces under
Colonel Tarleton surprise the
Americans under
Colonel Buford, at
Waxhaw on the
North Carolina border; the
Americans lose 117 killed and 200 taken prisoners, while the
British lose but five men killed and twelve wounded......May 29, 1780
Sir Henry Clinton and
Admiral Arbuthnot, as peace commissioners, by proclamation offer the inhabitants, with a few exceptions, pardon and reinstatement in their rights......June 1, 1780
All paroles to prisoners not taken by capitulation and not in confinement at the surrender of
Charleston are declared null and void after June 20, and holders required actively to aid military operations or be treated as rebels......June 3, 1780
Affair at
Rocky Mount......July 30, 1780
Battle of Hanging Rock......Aug. 6, 1780
Battle of Camden;
Americans under
General Gates attack the
British under Cornwallis and are repulsed......Aug. 16, 1780
Americans under
Colonel Williams defeat the
British at Musgrove's Mills on the
Ennoree......Aug. 18, 1780
Sixty distinguished citizens of
South Carolina are seized by the
British and transported to
St. Augustine as prisoners......Aug. 27, 1780
Battle of
King's Mountain......Oct. 7, 1780
Col. Thomas Sumter extends his campaign into
South Carolina; he captures a British supply train, Aug. 15; is surprised by
Tarleton and defeated at
Fishing Creek, Aug. 18; defeats
Maj. James Wemyss in a night attack on
Broad River, Nov. 8, and defeats
Colonel Tarleton at Blackstock Hill......Nov. 20, 1780
Battle of Cowpens, near
Broad River;
Americans under
Morgan defeat the
British under
Tarleton;
Andrew Jackson, then a boy of fourteen years, takes part in the engagement......Jan. 17, 1781
Francis Marion, appointed brigadiergeneral by
Governor Rutledge in July, 1780, joins
General Greene on his return to the
State......April, 1781
Battle of Hobkirk's Hill;
Americans under
General Greene retreat before an attack of the
British under
Lord Francis Rawdon......April 25, 1781
British evacuate Fort Ninety-six......June 21, 1781
Indecisive battle between
General Greene and
Colonel Stuart at
Eutaw Springs, each claiming a victory......Sept. 8, 1781
Governor Rutledge issues a proclamation offering pardon to the Tories in
South Carolina......Sept. 27, 1781
General Assembly convenes at
Jacksonboro on the
Edisto River, January, elects
John Matthews governor, and passes laws for confiscating the estates of Tories......February, 1782
British evacuate
Charleston......Dec. 14, 1782
Charleston (hitherto
Charlestown) incorporated......1784
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South Carolina relinquishes to
Georgia her claim to a tract of land lying between the
Altamaha and
St. Mary's rivers......1787
South Carolina cedes to the United States government her claim to a strip of land 12 miles wide west of a line from the head of the
Tugaloo River to the
North Carolina border......Aug. 9, 1787
Constitution of the United States ratified by the
State......May 23, 1788
Convention at
Columbia completes State constitution......June 3, 1790
Santee Canal, connecting
Charleston Harbor with the
Santee, 22 miles long, begun 1792, completed......1802
Severe hurricane at
Charleston......September, 1804
College of the
University of
South Carolina, chartered 1801, opened at
Columbia......1805
Owing to the peculiar distribution of the slave population, which gave the upper counties the power to tax, while the lower counties held most of the property taxed, a compromise is made in the constitution, making the members of the lower
House 124—sixty-two from each section......1808
Madison appoints
Paul Hamilton Secretary of the Navy......March 7, 1809
Legislature creates a free-school fund......1811
State Bank of
South Carolina incorporated......1812
Decatur,
Captain Diron, a privateer from
Charleston, captures the British ship
Dominicia, of fifteen guns and crew of eighty men, and shortly after the
London Trader with a valuable cargo......August, 1813
Cherokees cede territory lying within the chartered limits of
South Carolina, by treaty at
Washington, March 22, 1816; ratified by the legislature of South Carolina......Dec. 19, 1816
Monroe appoints
John C. Calhoun Secretary of War......Oct. 8, 1817
Territory ceded by the Cherokees in 1816, annexed to the election district of
Pendleton......1820
College of Charleston, commenced in
Charleston in 1785, reorganized and opened......Jan. 1, 1824
Legislature denounces the
United States tariff as encroaching on State rights......Dec. 12, 1827
Public meeting on State rights held at
Columbia......Sept. 20, 1830
Governor Hamilton recommends to legislature a nullification act......1830
Legislature calls a convention at
Columbia, Nov. 19, 1832, to consider the protective tariff......Oct. 25, 1832
President instructs the collector at
Charleston to seize and hold every vessel entering that port until the duties be paid, and “to retain and defend the custody of said vessels against any forcible attempt.”
General Scott and a naval force are also sent to the
State......Nov. 6, 1832
State convention meets, Nov. 19, 1832, and passes an ordinance of nullification, declaring (1) the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 to be null, void, and no law, nor binding upon the
State, its officers or citizens; (2) prohibiting the payment of duties under either act within the
State after Feb. 1, 1833; (3) making any appeal to the Supreme Court of the
United States as to the validity of the ordinance a contempt of the State court from which the appeal was taken, punishable at the discretion of the latter; (4) ordering every office-holder and juror to be sworn to support the ordinance; (5) giving warning that if the federal government should attempt to enforce the tariff by use of army or navy, or by closing the ports of the
State, or should in any way harass or obstruct the
State's foreign commerce,
South Carolina would no longer consider herself a member of the
Union......Nov. 24, 1832
President Andrew Jackson proclaims nullification to be “incompatible with the existence of the
Union, and destructive of the great object for which it was formed” ......Dec. 11, 1832
Calhoun resigns the office of
Vice-President......Dec. 28, 1832
Governor Hayne issues a proclamation in answer to that of the
President's, in which he warns the people not to be seduced from their primary allegiance to the
State......Dec. 31, 1832
A bill to enforce the tariff, nicknamed the “bloody bill” and “force bill,” becomes a law of the
United States......March 2, 1833
Henry Clay introduces a compromise tariff bill, Feb. 12, 1833; becomes a law......March 2, 1833
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A State convention passes two ordinances: first, repealing the nullification act of Nov. 24, 1832; second, an ordinance to nullify the act of Congress, March 2, 1833, commonly called the “enforcing bill” ......March 16, 1833
Van Buren appoints
Joel R. Poinsett Secretary of War......March 7, 1837
During this and the two previous years 2,265 volunteers furnished for the
Florida War......1838
Death of
Governor Noble;
Benjamin K. Hennegan,
lieutenant-governor, succeeds him in office......April 7, 1840
Hugh S. Legare,
Attorney-General of
United States......Sept. 13, 1841
Tyler appoints
Calhoun Secretary of War......March 6, 1844
Calhoun dies at
Washington......March 31, 1850
Furman University at
Greenville, chartered 1850, opened......1851
Convention of Southern Rights' Associations of the
State resolve that “with or without co-operation they are for dissolution of the
Union” ......May 8, 1851
State convention declares the right of the
State to secede......1852
Governor Adams in his annual message recommends the revival of the slave-trade......Nov. 24, 1856
United States steamship
Niagara sails from
Charleston for
Liberia with Africans captured from the
Echo, a slave-ship sailing under American colors, Aug. 21, and brought to
Charleston, where the 300 or more slaves are placed in charge of the United States marshal......Sept. 20, 1858
Grand jury at
Columbia returns “no bill” on all three indictments against the crew of the slaver
Echo......Nov. 30, 1858
Grand jury at
Charleston refuses to indict
Captain Corrie, of the
Wanderer, a slave-ship seized in New York Harbor......May 16, 1859
Resolution offered in the
House, that “
South Carolina is ready to enter, with other slave-holding States, into the formation of a Southern Confederacy” ......Nov. 30, 1859
Democratic National Convention meets at
Charleston, and adjourns to
Baltimore after delegates from Southern States had withdrawn......April 23, 1860
Seceding Southern delegates to the Democratic convention organize a Southern convention, electing
Senator Bayard, of
Delaware, president, but adjourn to meet at
Richmond without making any nominations......May 1, 1860
A convention called by the legislature, Nov. 7, assembles at
Columbia, Dec. 17, but adjourns to
Charleston, Dec. 18, where they pass an ordinance of secession......Dec. 20, 1860
Major Anderson evacuates
Fort Moultrie and retires to
Fort Sumter, on night of......Dec. 26, 1860
Fort Pinckney, in
Charleston Harbor, seized by State troops......Dec. 27, 1860
State troops seize the arsenal at
Charleston, lower the
Federal flag, after a salute of thirty-two guns, and run up the
Palmetto flag with a salute of one gun for
South Carolina......Dec. 31, 1860
Fort Johnson, in
Charleston Harbor, occupied by State troops......Jan. 2, 1861
Star of the West, with a small force of troops and supplies for
Fort Sumter, being fired upon by batteries on
Morris Island and
Fort Moultrie, retires......Jan. 9, 1861
Charles G. Memminger appointed Confederate
Secretary of the Treasury......Feb. 21, 1861
State convention called by the legislature, Dec. 17, 1860, revises the
State constitution, which goes into effect without being submitted to the people for ratification......April 8, 1861
Governor Pickens's demand for the surrender of
Fort Sumter being refused by
Major Anderson, Jan. 11, and also by the
Secretary of War, Feb. 6, the
Civil War is opened by a shell fired from the howitzer battery on
James Island at 4.30 A. M. Friday.......April 12, 1861
Fort Sumter evacuated by
Major Anderson......April 14, 1861
United States steam-frigate
Niagara begins the blockade of
Charleston Harbor, May 11; captures the English ship
General Parkhill......May 13, 1861
Governor Pickens proclaims that all persons remitting money to pay debts due in the
North are guilty of treason......June 6, 1861
James M. Mason, of
Virginia, and
John Slidell, of
Louisiana, leave
Charleston on the Confederate steamer
Theodora for
Europe to represent the Confederate government......Oct. 12, 1861
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Twenty-five vessels of the great Southern expedition anchor off
Port Royal......Nov. 4, 1861
Federals capture
Forts Walker and
Beauregard,
Port Royal......Nov. 7, 1861
Confederate privateer
Isabel runs the blockade at
Charleston, avoiding eleven
United States vessels......Dec. 27, 1861
Gen. David Hunter declares free the slaves in
Georgia,
Florida, and
South Carolina......May 9, 1862
Battle of Secessionville (
James Island), in which
Col. T. G. Lamar defeats the
Federals under
Gen. Henry W. Benham......June 16, 1862
Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard assumes command of the Department of South Carolina and Georgia......Sept. 24, 1862
Gen. J. M. Brannan defeats the
Confederates under
General Walker in the
battle of Pocotaligo......Oct. 22, 1862
Commodore Samuel F. Dupont's squadron is repulsed in the
battle of Charleston Harbor......April 7, 1863
Colonel Montgomery, with United States troops, makes a raid from
Beaufort up the
Combahee River, securing 800 slaves and a quantity of provisions and horses......June, 1863
Federals victorious in the battles of
Morris Island, July 10;
Fort Wagner, July 11;
James Island......July 16, 1863
Fort Wagner bombarded by
Gen. Q. A. Gillmore......July 18, 1863
Charleston bombarded by the “Swamp angel,” which bursts......Aug. 24, 1863
Fort Wagner bombarded by
Gillmore......Sept. 5, 1863
George A. Trenholm appointed Confederate
Secretary of the Treasury......1864
Confederates defeat
Gen. John P. Hatch at
Honey Hill......Nov. 30, 1864
Confederates repulsed in battles of
Pocotaligo, Jan. 14; Salkhatchie, Feb. 3; Willston Station, Feb. 8;
Orangeburg, Feb. 12;
Congaree Creek......Feb. 15, 1865
Columbia surrendered to
General Sherman......Feb. 17, 1865
Charleston, burned and evacuated by
General Hardee the day previous, is occupied by Federal troops......Feb. 18, 1865
Gen. O. O. Howard defeats the
Confederates at Cherau......March 3, 1865
Benjamin F. Perry appointed provisional governor of
South Carolina by
President Johnson......June 30 1865
A convention called by
Governor Perry assembles in Baptist church at
Columbia, Sept. 13, repeals the ordinance of secession, Sept. 19, and completes an amended constitution, which takes effect without being submitted to the people......Sept. 27, 1865
Legislature ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment......Nov. 13, 1865
Legislature rejects the Fourteenth Amendment......December, 1866
Gen. D. E. Sickles assigned to the command of 2d Military District, embracing
North and
South Carolina, with headquarters at
Columbia......March 11, 1867
General Sickles superseded by
Gen. E. R. S. Canby......Aug. 26, 1867
A constitution, framed by a convention called under the reconstruction acts of Congress, which assembles at
Charleston, Jan. 14, and completes its labors, March 17, ratified by the people, 70,558 to 27,288......April 14-16, 1868
South Carolina readmitted into the
Union......June 25, 1868
State penitentiary at
Columbia opened......1868
J. K. Jillson elected the first State superintendent of public instruction in
South Carolina......1868
Legislature ratifies the Fifteenth Amendment of the
Constitution of the United States......March 16, 1869
State labor convention held at
Columbia......November, 1869
Union Reform party organized and holds its first State convention at
Charleston......June 16, 1870
Free common-school system established......1870
Tax-payers' convention held at the
State capitol in
Columbia “to devise means for the redemption of the
State from her financial embarrassments” ......May, 1871
Owing to murder and outrage in the upper country, by the Ku-klux,
President Grant, by proclamation, Oct. 12, suspends the hebeas corpus in the counties of Spartansburg,
York, Union,
Chester,
Laurens,
Newberry,
Fairfield,
Lancaster, and
Chesterfield, and commands secret organizations to disband within five days. Many troops are stationed in the
State and about 600 arrests made......1871
Act establishing the validity of bonds
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of the
State, issued between Aug. 26, 1868, and March 26, 1869......1872
Claflin University and
South Carolina Agricultural College and Mechanical Institute, organized at
Orangeburg in 1869, is reopened and chartered......1872
Tax-payers' convention at
Columbia by resolution asking for amendments, simplifying and abridging the tax laws......Feb. 17, 1874
Governor Moses is indicted personally for official acts; indictment is quashed on the ground that he should have been impeached......June 8, 1874
Convention of independent Republicans at
Charleston nominates candidates for governor, etc., who are supported by the Conservative party......Oct. 2, 1874
State normal school opened at
Columbia......1874
Orphan asylum removed from
Charleston to
Columbia......1875
Alleged blocking of a highway at
Hamburg, July 4, by a colored militia company; armed citizens attack them; five negroes killed and others wounded......July 9, 1876
Governor Chamberlain, by proclamation, orders all organizations except the militia of the
State to disband within three days, Oct. 7; a similar proclamation by
President Grant......Oct. 17, 1876
While the result of the
State election is pending in the Supreme Court, the State board of canvassers, holding that their powers were limited by statute to ten days, on the last day issue certificates to the
Republican Presidential electors and State officers, refusing certificates to members of the legislature from
Edgefield and
Laurens counties for irregularities in elections......Nov. 22, 1876
On the assembling of the legislature, sixty-four Democratic members, including those from
Edgefield and
Laurens counties, withdraw to Carolina Hall and organize separately with
William H. Wallace as speaker......Nov. 28, 1876
Senate and Republican House canvass the votes for governor and lieutenantgovernor, and declare
D. H. Chamberlain elected governor, Dec. 5; sworn into office......Dec. 7, 1876
Speaker Wallace, having a certificate from the
secretary of State of the votes cast for governor and lieutenant-governor, proceeds to canvass the votes and declares
Wade Hampton and
William D. Simpson, Democrats, elected; oath of office is administered by Trial-
Judge Mackay......Dec. 12, 1876
Both governors, being invited to
Washington, hold a private conference with
President Hayes, which results in a proclamation by
Governor Chamberlain withdrawing his claim......April 11, 1877
F. L. Cardoza, State treasurer under
Governor Chamberlain, is arrested for fraud upon the
State government, July 21, and sentenced to two years in the county jail and $4,000 fine......Nov. 8, 1877
Legislature by joint resolution provides that “all the unfunded debts and liabilities of the
State, including the bills of the bank of the State, and so much of the funded debt as is known as the Little Bonanza, be settled at the rate of 50 per cent.” ......March, 1878
Wade Hampton, elected
United States Senator, resigns as governor, and is succeeded by
W. D. Simpson, who is installed......Feb. 26, 1879
Department of Agriculture established......1879
Act to settle State debt in accordance with decision of State Supreme Court;
James C. Colt named a special commissioner......1879
Governor Simpson, resigning his office to take the chief-justiceship, is succeeded by
Lieut.-Gov. T. B. Jeter......Sept. 1, 1880
Centennial anniversary of the
battle of Cowpens, Jan. 17, 1781, commemorated at
Spartansburg by the unveiling of a statue of
Gen. Daniel H. Morgan......May 11, 1881
Exodus of 5,000 colored people from
Edgefield county, bound for
Arkansas and
Beaufort county......Dec. 24-31, 1881
State military academy at
Charleston reopened......Oct. 1, 1882:
Constitution amended, forbidding counties to contract a debt greater than 8 per cent. of the taxable valuation......1884
Earthquake destroys $5,000,000 worth of property; first shock felt at
Charleston, 9.51 P. M.......Aug. 31, 1886
Winthrop training-school for teachers at
Columbia, opened......1886
Act passed providing a pension of $5 per month for disabled Confederate soldiers and the widows of those killed in the
Confederate service......1887
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521]
Legislature accepts a devise of 814 acres in Ocanee county by
Thomas G. Clemson, on condition that the
State erect and maintain an agricultural and mechanical college......1888
First colored State fair ever held in the
State opens at
Columbia......Jan. 1, 1890
Act passed creating a board of phosphate commissioners......1890
Department of Agriculture and office of commissioner of agriculture abolished, and powers bestowed on trustees of the Clemson Agricultural College at session......Nov. 25–Dec. 24, 1890
Col. Samuel B. Pickens dies at
Charleston......Sept. 17, 1891
Nathaniel Duncan Ingraham, formerly of the United States navy (
Koszta affair), afterwards in the
Confederate service, dies at
Charleston......Oct. 16, 1891
Maj. George Washington Earle, of
Darlington, noted mathematician and civil engineer, dies......May 5, 1892
State redistricted as to congressional districts......1893
Evans liquor law goes into effect, by which the
State assumes control of the sale of intoxicants......July 1, 1893
State dispensary act took effect......July 1, 1893
First State dispensary in
Charleston opened; first day's sales, $50......Aug. 22, 1893
Cyclone on the coast of
Georgia and
South Carolina; 1,000 lives lost......Aug. 28, 1893
Three counties in rebellion against State authority on account of the
State dispensary law; militia called out......March 31–April 1, 1894
Governor Tillman assumes the control of the police and marshals in all the cities and incorporated towns......April 3, 1894
The dispensary law declared constitutional......April 19, 1894
Supreme Court of the
State decides that prohibition is in force in the
State......May 8, 1894
Governor Tillman issues a proclamation to open Aug. 1 the
State liquor dispensaries......July 23, 1894
The convention began its sessions for the revision of the
State constitution......Sept. 11, 1895
Naval station ordered removed from
Port Royal to
Charleston......1900
The original proceedings of the convention of 1832-33 are discovered in the
secretary of State's office......January, 1900
Constitutional amendments in reference to drainage and bonded indebtedness, adopted......November, 1900
Ex-
United States Senator J. L. M. Irby dies at
Laurens......Dec. 9, 1900
Senators Tillman and
McLaurin resign their seats......May 25, 1901
Governor McSweeney refuses to accept the resignation of
Senators Tillman and
McLaurin......May 31, 1901
South Dakota