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RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
From ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1670 TO THE YEAR 1808.
by David Ramsay, M.D., "Charleston, December 31st, 1808"
1858, by W.J. Duffie, Newberry, S.C.
1959, by The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, S.C. 
Volume I, Chapter IV, pp 64-67

CIVIL HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.  CHAPTER IV.
Royal Government from 1720 to 1776.

»»»»»»»•«««««««

   Since the province was taken under the royal care, it was nursed and
protected by a rich and powerful nation. Its government was staple, private
property secure, and the privileges of the people extensive. The planters
obtained lands from the King at a cheap rate. The mother country furnished
laborers upon credit; each person had entire liberty to manage his affairs for
his own profit and advantage, and having no tythes and very trifling taxes to
pay, reaped almost the whole fruits of his industry. He obtained British
manufactures at an easy rate, and drawbacks were allowed on articles of foreign
manufacture that they might be brought cheaper to the American market. Frugal
industrious planters, every three or four years, doubled their capital and their
progress towards independence and opulence was rapid.
   The plan of settling townships, especially as it was accompanied with the
royal bounty, proved beneficial in many respects. It encouraged multitudes of
poor oppressed people in Ireland, Holland, and Germany, to emigrate; by which
means the province received a number of useful settlers. As many of them came
From manufacturing towns in Europe, it might have been expected that they would
naturally have pursued the occupations to which they had been bred and in which
their chief skill consisted; but this was by no means the case, for, excepting a
few that took up their residence in Charlestown, they applied themselves to
grazing and agriculture. By raising hemp, wheat, and corn, in the interior parts
of the country, and curing hams, bacon, and beef, they supplied the market with
abundance of provisions.
   As every family of laborers was an acquisition to the country, for the
encouragement of settlers to migrate thither and improve the vacant lands, a
door was opened to protestants of every nation. Lands free from quit-rents for
the first ten years were allotted to men, women, and children. With their
bounty-money they purchased utensils for cultivation, and hogs and cows to begin
their stock. The like bounty was allowed to all servants, after the expiration
of the term of their servitude. From this period Carolina was found to be an
excellent refuge to the poor, the unfortunate, and oppressed. The population and
prosperity of her colonies, engrossed the attention of the mother country. His
majesty's bounty served to alleviate the hardships inseparable from the first
years of cultivation ; and landed property animated the emigrants to industry
and perseverance. The different townships yearly increased in numbers. Every
one, upon his arrival, obtained his grant of land and sat down on his freehold
with no taxes, or very trifling ones, and enjoyed full liberty to hunt and fish,
together with many other advantages and privileges he never knew in Europe. If
they could not be called rich during their own lives, by improving their little
freeholds, they commonly left their children in easy circumstances. Even in the
first stage, being free and contented, their condition in many respects was
preferable to that of laborers in Europe. In all improved countries, where
commerce and manufacture have been long established and luxury prevails, the
lower classes are oppressed and miserable. In Carolina, persons of that
description though exposed to more troubles and hardships for a few years, had
better opportunities than in Europe for advancing to an easy and independent
State. Hence it happened that few emigrants ever returned to their native
country; on the contrary, the success and prosperity of the most fortunate
brought many adventurers and relations after them. Their love to their former
friends, aud their natural partiality for their countrymen, induced the old
planters to receive the new settlers joyfully and even to assist and relieve
them. Each individual possessing his own property, a reciprocal independence
produced mutual respect and beneficence. Such general harmony and industry
reigned among them that the townships, from a desolate wilderness, soon became
fruitful fields.
  The vast quantities of unoccupied land furnished the poor emigrants with many
advantages. While they were encountering the hardships of the first years of
cultivation, the inconveniences gradually decreased in proportion to their
improvements. The merchants being favored with credit from Britain, were enabled
to extend it to the inhabitants. The planters having established their
characters for honesty and industry, obtained negroes to assist them in the
harder tasks of clearing and cultivating the soil. Their wealth consisted in the
increase  of their slaves, stock, and improvements. Having abundance of waste
land, they extended their culture in proportion to their capital. They lived
almost entirely on the produce of their estates, and consequently spent but a
small part of their annual income. The surplus was yearly added to the capital,
and they enlarged their prospects in proportion to their wealth and strength. If
there was a great demand at market for the commodities they raised, their
progress became rapid beyond expectation. They labored and received increasing
encouragement to persevere until they advanced to an easy and comfortable
state.  It has been observed on the other hand, that few of the settlers who
brought much property with them succeeded as well as those who brought little or
none. It was pre-eminently a good poor man's country.
   If the emigrant chose to follow his trade, the high price of labor was no
less encouraging. By the indulgence of the merchants, or by the security of a
friend he obtained credit for a few negroes. He taught them his trade, and a few
good tradesman well employed were equal to a small estate. In a little time he
acquired some money; and, like several others in the city whose yearly gain
exceeded what is requisite for the support of themselves and families, put it
out on interest. The legal interest of the province was ten per cent. till 1748,
and eight per cent. from that year till 1777. This high rate induced many who
were unwilling to settle plantations, to choose this method of increasing their
fortune. If the money lender followed his employment in the capital, or reserved
in his hands a sufficiency for family use, and allowed the interest to be added
yearly to the capital stock, his fortune soon became considerable. Several
persons preferred this method of accumulating riches to that of cultivation ;
especially those whom age or infirmity had rendered unfit for action and
fatigue.
   Notwithstanding the extensive credit commonly allowed by the merchants, the
number of borrowers always exceeded that of the lenders of money. Having vast
extent of territory the planters were eager to obtain laborers, which raised the
demand for money and kept up a high rate of interest. The interest of money in
every country is for the most part according to the demand, and the demand
according to the profits made by the use of it. The profits must always be great
where men can afford to take money at the rate of eight or ten per cent. In
Carolina laborers on good lands cleared their first cost and charges in a few
years, and therefore the demand for money to procure them was great.
   The borrower of money obtained his landed estate from the crown. The
quit-rents and taxes were inconsiderable. Being both landlord and farmer he had
perfect liberty to manage and improve his plantation, as he pleased, and was
accountable to none for the fruits of his industry. His estate furnished him
with game and fish, which he could kill and use at pleasure. In the woods his
cattle, hogs, and horses grazed at their ease attended, perhaps only by a negro
boy. He had calves, hogs, and poultry in abundance for the use of his family. He
could turn his able laborers to the field, and exert all their energies in
raising the staple commodities of the country. Having provision from domestic
resources, he could apply his whole crop for the purposes of answering the
demands of the merchant and money lender. He calculated that his annual produce
would not only answer all demands, but bring an addition to his capital, and
enable him to clear and cultivate more land. In proportion as the merchants
extended credit to the planters, and supplied them with laborers, the profits of
their plantations increased.

[To be continued....]

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