City Directories and History:
Yorkville Enquirer, Wednesday, April 8, 1863: Planters hesitant for slaves to work on coast
On April 4th (Saturday) there was a meeting in Rock Hill. Allen Robertson was called to the chair and A. E. Hutchinson was appointed secretary. Rev. A. Whyte explained the issue and R. A. Springs made a motion that a committee be appointed to report the business of the meeting. The committee consisted of Rev. D. May, R. A. Springs, L. P. Sadler, W. G. Erwin, Col. Cad. Jones, Robert Patton and D. C. Roddey. The committee presented the following resolutions, supported with remarks by Rev. May, Maj. R. A. Springs, and Col. Cad. Jones. The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
The state and confederacy was engaged in a controversy with an enemy “who has now uncontrolled possession of much of the grain-growing region of our country, to reduce us by starvation – and, to this end, is destroying the implements of husbandry – the growing crops – the fencing – the barns – the mills, and abducting the filed laborers belonging to the Confederates.” Confederate generals know that the success in arms depends on sustenance provided to soldiers and that “unless friends of the cause unite their efforts in raising a provision crop, our army must be withdrawn. Therefore” [resolved for each]
- Such contemplated subjugation involves “rapine, confiscation, loss of life, and outrages on mothers and daughters, sisters and wives, is shocking to humanity, and revolting to the principles of morality and of civilization.”
- Any such act should be abhorrent to all, etc. etc.
- Success in arms is dependent on supplies we raise “it becomes the duty of every Planter to turn his attention to the raising of corn, of vegetables, of pork, of beef, and stock of all kinds.”
- Ignoring the above and planting cotton “is unwise and unpatriotic, and is ‘giving aid and comfort to the enemy.’”
- Some believe there will be an early peace because the legislature limited cotton to three acres per farm but we do not believe the legislature intended to imply an early peace.
- Any person who will plant as much as is allowed [i.e. three acres] “is an enemy to his country and should be viewed with suspicion, as one likely to betray the best causes for unhallowed gain.”
- “Entertaining such views of duty, we very respectfully recommend to our fellow citizens, as we ourselves fully intend to do, to restrict their planting to the extent of securing seed for future use.”
Rev. A. Whyte moved that the following be appointed to attend next Monday’s District meeting at York CH: Rev. D. May, Allen Robertson, Col. Cad. Jones, W. G. Erwin, and A. T. Black.
Col. L. P. Sadler made a motion to respectfully request the YE and the South Carolinian to publish the proceedings.
A.E. Hutchison, Secretary – Rock Hill, SC April 4, 1863
Yorkville Enquirer, Wednesday, April 8, 1863: Planters reject Governor’s request
A public meeting in Yorkville on Monday, April 6th, Sales Day A. S. Wallace, Esq., made a motion to call Dr. R. T. Allison to the chair and A. I. Barron was appointed secretary. Rev. R. A. Ross explained the reason fro the meeting and made a motion the following were appointed a committee to draft resolutions: Rev. R. A. Ross, A. S. Wallace, D. McCallam, J. W. A. Hartness, John McGill, James Stewart, Joseph R. Moss, and Robert McCaw. The resolutions and preamble were adopted unanimously.
Whereas, the Governor called for half the working hands of the district to go to Charleston to work on coastal fortifications for one month beginning on May 4th; and whereas we are ready to yield to the government in every emergency; and whereas “we consider the provisioning interests to be vital and seriously jeopardize by such call.” Resolved that:
- The time specified is one of the busiest on plantations and the plantations along the coast have acclimated and unemployed hands “that such should be used for the emergency, if any such exists, is our earnest desire.”
- We know we have a duty to the state and would have the state allow us to use our hands in a manner to best support the state.
- We respectfully protest against the enforcement of the above noted call.
- We forward a copy of these proceedings to our legislative delegation and to the governor.
The group requested these proceedings be published in the YE and the Columbia papers.
R.T. Allison, Chm. and A. I. Barron, Sec.
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