The Watchman and Southron from Sumter, South Carolina • Page 2

UNVEILED. from Pase adopted in the reign of ter "Lbe proceedings and protest of tm and other legislatures on tariff of 1828, and last, latest, the abie exposition them by the second officer the general government (Mr. of the principles, the policy, powers, the limitations, as? cribed in the constitution to the fed authority as distinguished from Sfc-e residuary rights and powers re? learned by the State authorities of same government when they formed abe constitution out of the 5 Thus bis last public utterance, the great age of 94, was but expression of his faith in focal which he had since the pre-revolutionary days. of his unqualified approval of interpretation of the doc? trine "State rights." Rugged, in? Sense, steadfast, and intrepid, he still "vyas, as the darkness of nearly a cen? tury of years was closing in upon his his.life must end. He has long here among the hills he loved so hard by the Santee's soft re and we come this day after charging years to exalt his name and ourselves that we have not forgotten him.

The ashes from the fires through which he passed so much glory to himself and to feds race are now cold and blown far and about. Cornwallis and Tarleton, living, wo.uid congratulate South 'Carena in this her commemoration xft their old and tireless foe; and we ihe children of the long after years, daily reverence for our mother of a. Lion-line," Creeping home and traditions in her sough blown island across the seas, "3Jid we make daily covenant "She altar of liberty that upon these found shores "The single note that deep chord which' Hamp? den smote Will vidrate to the doom." this monument is yet more to sss. It is a symbol of the dear old -Minestranged happily ai? rier bloody interruption now come back to stay forevermore. Here the 'children of' a perfected Union, may gather to drink not of the blood of ont of the cup of peace, to not cht: tocsin or' strife but the of fraternity.

Here we can to revive in the clay- of our "strength that religious patriotism we relied upon without fail in tixe days of our weakness. Here we can come for those nourishing tradi? tions of self-sacrifice that subordinate self to the community, the communi "Sy to the State, and the State to the Kere we can come to gain strength io Uve above The ties irip'ndship ai the allurements of place for the welfare of all the peo? ples. Here we can come to our dying serres touched with a quickening life of scorn for all disorder, lawlessness, "corruption and political uncleanliness. "Sere we can come, we forget, to of the God of all peoples tb give "fcioio os humble and contrite hearts sn may strive to promotes jus fciee. -peace, fraternity, culture and among all our countrymen.

"here we can come to learn that liberty those cf old fought to is but as dost in the balance unless we. their sons, supplement it "irr an educated sense of responsibil And, now. fellow citizen- of this rb State. I imperfectly but sin? cerely bring you the greetings of of your older and most loving sister, who through the spirits of Campbell rand Morgan, of William Washington scad Light Horse Karry Lee, comrades arms upon your soil with the great Scarier, would bless this occasion am? deed which you have as "to honor. BXS LIFE AND HIS PUBLIC SER? VICES IN WAR AND PEACE.

Ha? Historical Address Delivered By mon. IL A. M. Smith, of Charleston. the Occasion of Unveiling of Monument at Stateburg We are met together to day to un a monument to, and thereby to to the memory of one to the State of South Carolina a debt of deepest gratitude.

"'When I first received the honor of ZZZ? to take part in this and turned my attention XJoe matter and subject of any es Tsay should deliver there '-vas forcibly back to my mind many years ago I had discover? er--i. i is, the exceedingly in we possessed of much oi Ube iifc cf Gen. Sumter. Re is an object lesson of how a man may at? tain wide and enduring fa nv rep "ntark-n during his lif-- and yet leave Rebind bim at his death nothing to future generations th. a life that has passed away.

While everything is taken for granted. supposes it possible that serxture can exist concerning narrie and deeds are on the and in the minds of every one. But that generation passes. ures on the stage play to new enees and it comes to.pass thai one of a later generation tur enquire of the details upon fame was founded thar has cc him in' the shape cf a gener; recognized tradition, he is pertui find that there is nothing bi general recognition and truditk on which he can lay hold. "So has it been with Gen.

Si There does not exist a "single even of his life worthy of the a life of him. "His contemporary in time though subordinate in rank. Francis Marion, -has three biog erg-Weems, James and Sims, contemporary and commanding Gen. Nathaniel Greene, ha bulky two-volumed life of hirr Johnson. Sumter has had litera! biographer, and to find out anj about him it has been necessar pick it out of the histories events of the day.

Concerning earlier life prior to the war and his later years after close there does not exist a singl i count of him worthy the nan even a sketch. "Around Marion there has and clustered a wealth of rom Both fiction and poetry have to paint him with all the alluring ors of admiring description, venture to say that there is noi Marion's life more romantic filled with more adventure than ter's early struggles in frontier Ir warfare, or his intrepid and ga contests with Tarleton, the das and conquering corniv? cinder of ish. cavalry. It has seemed to' me, there that the most appropriate wa. which I could testify our admiri for his character and do honor tc memory would be today as fully possible in the narow limits ol public speech, repair the indiffer of the past by giving as full and then tic an account of his life and ploits as it lay in my power to do "As in many other cases of who have become famous thro their worth and abilities, but have been too modest to be their biographers, there is very little terial from which to write the his of Sumter's early life.

The date place of his birth are alike uncerta Date and Place of His Birth. "MeOradv', his sn Carolina, states that he born 14th Of July. 1736. irs Han and adds that his fath i family were from bu: had moved to thence grated to Virginia, and that mother was a Virginian of Eng: stock. He refers to no authority this, but it has always been und stood that his information was rived from Gen.

Sumter's desee ants. As to date of birth this is firmed by Mills, whose statistics South Carolina were published 1S26, when Gen. Sumter was and who states that he then "Also Gen. Sumter's son. Thon Sumter, writing to his daugh I in December.

Is25. mentions that father was then in his SStb ye which would carry the year of birth back to There is. ho ever, in the possession of Gen. Su: ter's. lineal descendants an old le which is traditionally said to be leaf from tho family Bible.

This has written upon it in qu archaic script the following entries: 'Wm. Sumter was born in Ha over county, in Virginia, on the October, 'Thomas Sumter was burn in sa county on August 14, "From the reminiscence's of Jol Redd, later referred to, we learn had a brother, William. Taking in consideration the family tradition to the leaf in question being from tl family Bible, the appearance of tl entries upon it and their particularit corroborated by fae: that he hi a brother William, evidently the OJ referred to in the past entry, wou seem most likely that the exact da of his birth was as stated in the ei try, 14th August. 1734. and that 1 was bom in Hanover county.

"He was, therefore, two yeai younger than his great contemporar Francis Marion, who was born 1732. Early, Reminiscences. "Since the publication of McCrady History some more material concern ing the birthplace and early life Sumter has been made avaiiabl by the publication of the Virgini society. In a letter writte by John Redd of Henry county, Vir ginia. to Dr.

Lyman C. Draper am dated 13th lKf.o. giviner Mi Redd's recollections and reminiscen of people in his section. Iv I states: 44th. Gen.

Sumter's mother wa: I a widow when I first knew her "which was when i was quite a sinai boy. When I left Orange county ir 1V74 the old lady was then living. think she. lived years after? ward and died in Orange. I know I nothing of Gen.

Sumter's boyhood i days nor of his father. His educa? tion was only such as could be obtain? ed" in history at neighborhood schools I don't know when or whom lu- mar? ried. I think. though, he married ij ni.i i.II nil III mn II nu.III i some lady of South Carolina. Du the hitter part of the Revolution brother.

William, moved to Sc Carolina. I don't know what fin became of And again greatest intimacy always isted between Gen. Martin. Sumpter and Col. Cleveland.

were very wild in their yountl days. Cleveland I don't think hardly as wild as other two. recollect a circumstance which only shows the intimacy between Sumter and Martin and their fo ness for pleasure, but also Sui ter's. strict honesty. The first yea think it was that Gen.

Sumpter elected to congress from South Ci lina, while he was on his way Washington he stopped at Richmc As soon as he stopped hotel sent up to the capitol for Martin myself, who were members of legislature there. He was his i pleased at meeting with us-parti larry his old companion. Mar i whom he had not seen for some years. They called eacn other by familiar names Joe and T( Time passed rapidly and pleasar while they talked of the events their youthful days. Just bef Sumpter started (for he stayed onl; few hours) he asked Martin if recollected the last frolic they had Johnson's.

Martin said that they really so many he could not. Sun ter said he recollected it a should never forget it, for, said he lost all my money playing cards a you loaned me five pounds, Mar said he had no recollection whatei of the and Sumter rm be "mistaken. said he kn he owed the money, and. putting hands in his pockets, he pulled ten guineas and said he should ta "In the reminiscences of the sai John Redd, published as separi from his letter to Dr. Draper, again states concerning Gen.

ter: 'Gen. Thom Sumpter was al born and raised in the upper end Orange county, near the Blue I never new his father, for he di before my reckollection. His mot er lived to be quite an old woman, loved and respected by all who kn? her. The father of Gen. Sumpter not wealthy, though in easy cireur stances.

I do not know how mai brothers or sisters Gen. Sumpter ha I new his brother. William, who not of much note. I also nsw sister of his. who married a man the1 name of Lem Gea.

Sumpter, think only son. who was se: minister '-r consol to some fore's court and there "And again: 'Gen. Sumpter was born and rai ed in the county of Orange, in tr of Virginia. Some years befoj the Revolutionary war Sumpter wi sent by order of the government i charge of several Indians of note I England, where he remained some time, and then returned rion: with his red companions. I the object of his mission to Englan was that the Indians might see th power and resources of the Britis government, and thereby learn th folly of raising their army their white brethren on this side the Atlantic.

After Sumpter returr ed from England he removed to Sout Carolina and there established fe himself a reputation which is obtain ed by but "In the same magazine is publishe a sketch of the distinguished Virgin ian. Cen. Joseph Martin, written his son. William Martin. Gen.

Jc seph Martin was born in 1740, in Al bemarle county, Virginia, and died Henry county, Virginia, in 1S0S. Tai sketch of him is contained -in th 'form of a letter from William Martii to Dr. Lyman C. Draper, dated ls June, 1842. "In this sketch Mr.

Martin state that his father ran off from his ap prenticeship during the war in 1750 and joined the army at Fort Pitt, nov Pittsburg, and adds: 'My father, in his raising amens other boys of the same temperament became associated with Tom-Gen Sumpter. who so distinguished him self as the partisan chief in Sou tr Carolina during the war of the Revo? lution, and went with him to the war nerrold these two hapless youths those turin lent spirits that could no' I be tamed with ordinary pursuits ol civil life, rushing along, like seeking its own level, 400 or 500 mile: through mostly a wilderness. inter? spersed with hostile savages, in quesl aliment that might satisfy their craving appetites. Little did they or anybody else think at the time thai these were some of the rising spirits were to lead in the Revolution, whieh afterwards gavq liberty to this country. How Jong they remained in the army or the they acted there lis not known, though is thought good whib-.

Sumpter reported first, My father on his return found him in at Staunton, Virginia, for debt, He obtained permission 1 i tr? a Iniirht in prison his friend. In the morning, when he wont out, be left with Sumter his tomahawk an 1 ten guineas, and with one or both of whieh he escaped from prison. Soon afterwards he went to South Carolina, his course of and be? came distinguished, as is known all who have read the history of the Revolution. Thus were they separat? ed for many years; and until at length my father was at Richmond, Virginia, a member of the legislature: Sumpter was a member of congress and on his way called at Rich? mond, where they met for the first time in "more than 30 years. What a meeting this must have beeil to talk over old matters and things! They had both now become old and highly elevated in the temple of fame.

Whac proud satisfaction they must havs felt in the retrospection: Before they separated Sumpter handed my father 2" guineas-having reference to the Wars With Indians. "Appleton's Encyclopaedia of Amer? ican Biography skates: 'Sumter was present at Braddock's defeat in 1755, and seems afterward to have been en? gaged in military service on the "McCrady, in his history, states that he served in the Virginia provin? cial corps in the French and Indian wars, and was present at Braddock's defeat in 1755, and that he was sent by Gov. Dinwiddie of Virginia on a mission to the Cherokees and accom? panied the Indian chiefs to England in 1762. "Xeither gives any reference or au? thority for these statements. "The family tradition as contained in a manuscript sketch of Gen.

Sum? ter by his granddaughter. Miss Brownfield, is to the effect as stated by McCrady. who obtained his infor? mation from her. The same tradi? tion is stated in an obituary of Gen. Sumter, published in the Sumter Ga? zette for June 9.

1S32-probably ob? tained from some one of Gen. Sum? ter's descendants at the time. "Great weight, however, shouid fairly be attached to the recollec? tions of John Redd and William Mar? tin. Mr. Redd personally knew both Gen.

Sumter's mother and his brother, William, and was himself present at the interview between Sumter and Gen. Joseph Martin at Richmond, where Sumter paid his old friend 20 guineas. "There is nothing directly from Gen. Joseph-Martin, who died in 1S0S, but the account by his son, William Martin, who wrote in 1842, but who had been old enough in 1775 to ac? company his. father on an expedition to Tennessee-is an acocunt by one who WOK in a TO hear, and d'o hear st hana: they joined the army in 1756, whereas Barddcck's defeat took place in 1755.

"The authenticity of the Martin re? miniscences is strengthened by the circumstance that the earliest known letter of Gen. Sumter in existence is dated 7th December, 1763. and is ad? dressed to, Mr. Joseph Martin, whom, he addresses as 'Friend and Loving and mentions a debt he owes him. Dili He Go to England? "The following manuscript notes, made by Dr.

Lyman C. Draper, have been. furnished by a descendant of Sumter: November, 1761. Thomas Sumter, with Lieut. Timberlake, left Great Island.

Tennessee river, to go ter the Cherokee nation. 'On tlie 15th May Thomas Sum I ter embarked at Hampton Roads, for England and arrived at Ports? mouth on the 16th June, 1762. with three Indians. Ortinaco, the Indian 'chief, among and Lieut. Tiro betake.

The sloop Epreuve, Capt. Peter Blake, was the ship which took them to langland. 'About the 25th August. 1762. Thomas Sumter embarked with three Indian chiefs and without Lieut, Timberlake.

for Charleston on the ship which had taken him to "Dr. notes as furnished give no reference for these statements, in the South Gazette'. Xo. I 1.455. 5th June, the state mont 's made that Judd's friend, one of the principal headmen of the Che rokee had to Virginia land hall permission to go tn England in one of the king's ships.

"In the Gazette. Xo. i.476. for 30th i October. 1762.

under the head of the local Charles Town news' it is 'Thursday last arrived here his ma? jesty's Snow Epreuve, commanded by Capt. Peter Biake. with Judd's friend and the other two Indians on the said Snow in Jun? "And in Xo. 1.4 Si for December 4. 1762.

'Judd's friend and the two other Cherokees that returned with from England in his majesty's Snow, the Eupreuve. set from Xinety-Six th- ISth ulto. for the nation well "Xo mention is mad" Thomas Sumter or Ortinaco, unless same indian chief was intended by the name 'Judd's ali which we can infer that be was born in Virginia, probably in Honover county, en 14th August. 1734: that he ree. iced only such edu? cation as could be obtained from the ordinary country school of the time (as is evidenced by his spelling, grammar ard vocabulary in his later letters): that he served in the war against French and ei? ther at or just after Braddock's de? feat: that a cc? nipa ni ed in some capacity the Indian chiefs sent by Gov.

Dinwiddie to England in and on his return went to South Car? olina in October. 702. We have no account of his movements from Octo? ber. 1762, to March. 176:,.

Career in South Carolina. "From this date, in 1762. we have the record evidence of his presence and life in South Carolina. On 26th March. 1763.

the South Carolina Ga? zette of that date mentions that a Frenchman had been lately delivered up by Mr. Sumter to Lieut. Charles Taylor, commander at Fort Prince George Keehowee-adding: 'If the great warrior had been in the nation, 'tis thought Mr. Sumter would not have been suffered to bring him "In the Gazette of 23d April, 1763, ii is stated that the French prisoner i taken by Mr. Sumter in the Cherokee nation in February had been that week brought to town.

"It is not stated in what capacity Mr. Sumter was in the Cherokee na? tion, nor is his personal name given: he is styled Mr. Sumter: In the light of what follows there is little room to doubt is was Thomas Sumter. In his letter to Joseph Martin, before al? luded to, dated 7th December, 1763, Sumter says: 'If you intend out next spring. wish you good success in all your Partention.

and if I go my? self I shall have a Company, which by the promises that I have had I have Great Reason to Expect "This would appear to refer to some expectation he had of being ap? pointed to command a company in some proposed Indian expedition. In 1761 the expedition from South Caro? lina, under the command of Col. Grant, had so thoroughly humbled the Cherokees that no expedition against them was in contemplation at least from South Carolina. There may have been, however, from the more northern provinces. "In 1766 he purchased from Aquilla Miles a tract of 200 aores of land on the south side of Santee river, in the eastern part of what is now burg county.

He was here earlier than that, for in 1765 he mortgaged slaves to William Fludd o.f St. John's parish, Berkeley. "On October 25, 1768. in a bill of sale describing himself as Thomas Sumter of Craven county-merchant j-he sold a female Miss i Lynch -her: "OE the 21st ihr the loan of 1,050 pounds, currency of the province. "On 18th November, 1769.

describ? ing himself.as Thomas Sumter, store? keeper, of St. Mark's parish. Craven county, he mortgaged 16 men, three boys. 10 women and three girl slaves to secure a loan of 5.000 pounds, cur? rency of the province. "For explanation it should be stat? ed that St.

Mark's parish was created in 1757. and included what is now Sumter and Clarendon counties. "On 1st June. 1771, we find Thomas Sumter and Mary, his wife, of the parish of St. Mark conveying to Sam? uel Dubois the 200 acres he had pur? chased from Aquilla Milos.

Marriage in South Carolina. "Exactly when the marriage of Sumter place cannot be said, as appears to be no record re? maining. Some time, evidently tween 1763 and 1771. "He married a widow-Mrs. Mary Jameson, who had been Miss Mary Cantey.

She was the daughter of Jo? seph Camey, of St. Mark's parish, and the granddaughter of Capt. William Cantey. originally of Ashley river, and apparently the same Capt. Cantey who at the siege of Charleston by the French and Spaniards in distin? guished himself, with Capt.

Fenwickc, by defeating a party? of enemy, who had on Wando neck and 'who in November. 1711. accompanied John Barnwell in his expedition to North Carolina against the Tusca roras. I "Sumter continued in. St.

Mark's parish end the following grants of land to him. prior to r775. appear to record. "One thousand acre" the north side of Santee, granted 2 7th Novem ber. 3 "Four hundred fifty acres in St.

Mark's parish, granted Ith May, I 1771. I "Soven hundred and fifty acres on i Ta wea creek, granted 23rd 1773. hundred and fifty acres on Potatoe creek, granted 30th Septem ber. 17 71. we ri il him a prosperous prospering planter and merchant 'of St.

Mark's parish, in which he had ho. resident for ten years, and mar ried to member of one of the oldest families in the provine-, that year. 1775. he entered upon thc sphere of public life in the "service of South Carolina, in which he twas to continue for near 40 years." Beginning ol' Revolution. "The organized meeting of the of the ot' South Carolina held, as in arr- way repre? senting the as a whole to eonsider measures to act in unison with the other provinces in resistance to the arbitrary actions of the British ministry, was held in Charles Town in July.

1774. Thia meeting, sometimes styled a. provincia! congress, was in no sense such. lt was practically the congre? gating together of whoever chose to come to the meeting. It originated in a call issued by the inhabitants of Charles Town to the rest of the pro? vince for a general provincial meet? ing.

The people were at liberty to elect as many deputies as they chose, or. if they saw fit. to attend in per? son without sending deputies. "The meeting was held in Charles Town on the 6th Ju Iv, 1774. One hundred and four deputies attended from all parts of of the province.

It was. however, determined that votes should given by each person pres? ent, and not by representation of the section, and that whoever chose to attend might do so and give his vote. general meeting sat for three days, adopted certain resolutions, elected deputies, to represent the pro? vince in the general congress to be held in Philadelphia and appointed a general committee of 99 persons to continue in authority until the next general meeting. "It is not known if Sumter attend? ed this meeting. There is no known list of the persons who did attend, and the informal character of the meeting itself would seem to have precluded any such list being made.

"In November, 1774, this general committee of 99 persons arranged for a general meeting of the inhabitants of the province by representation-: the number of representatives from the different sections of the province being appointed to an aggregate of 1S4 members. To the district lying eastward of the Wateree river were allotted ten representatives and the congress was to meet in Charles Town on the 11th January. 1775. Members of First Provincial Congress. "The convention met on the day set and is generally known as the first provincial congress.

Thomas Sumter was elected as one of the cen dele? gates from the district east of the Wateree river. Among the other nine delegates Col. Richard Richardson, Joseph Kershaw, Eh Kershaw. Matthew Singleton, William Richardson, William Wilson. "The journals of this congress are not existence in any extended form, and it is not possible, therefore, to what parr Sumter toole in irs de I liberations.

That he was present and did tafee part would appear from his I being selected as one of the commit? tee the district eastward of the Wateree river to carry intQ execution the Continental association, which had been approved and resolved upon by the congress. "This congress adjourned on the 17th January, 1775, but on receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington in May. 1775. the general committee summoned the provincial congress to meet again on the 1st June, 1775. "On the fourth day after its meet? ing the provincial congress determin? ed to provide effective means for the military protection of the colony, and to that end resolved to raise three regiments-two regiments of foot and one regiment of rangers, or cav? alry: "The military system of the pro- vince at the time was based upon a militia system.

The whole province was divided'into separate military dis? tricts, in which each regiment and company was composed of the arms br a ring population residing in a de? fined area. The officers had their I commissions-as colonel, major, cap' tain, as the case might' be. in this militia. The system was compulsory -i. upon the exigencies provided for by law this militia was summoned out and was bound to appear and do military duty, but only for a limited time.

Like all militia serving with? out pay and in pursuance of a legal duty, it represented a more or less un? certain quantity, and the determina? tion of the congress to raise I mer ts was to provide for a certain fixed military establishment under military discipline to meet the emer? gency of the impending conflict. The officers of these regiments were then leered by the provincial congress. I Sumter was not elected an officer at that time. Francis Marion was I ed a captain in the Second regiment, of which William Moultrie was elect? ed William Thomson was elected lieutenant colonel of the regi? ment of rangers and Kirkland was elected one of the captains in Thomson's regiment of rangers. "The provincial congress adjourned on 22d June, 1775, bur.

after adjourn? ment elected a council of safety, com? ix of 13 members. To this coun? cil of safety were given the most am? and enlarged powers for the con? duct of the government and the pros? ecution of the province's defense. That Sumter was an applicant for a military position at the time would appear from the following circum? stances: First Commission in the Army, "un July. William Henry Drayton and the Rev. Wm.

Tennent were sent by the council of safety as commissi 'Tiers to the hack country to endeavor to and appease the (Continued on Page.