the white population had increased only 107 per cent. in 70 years, being 140,178 in 1790, and 291,388 in 1860. In the latter year, the free and slave negroes constituted nearly 60 per cent. of the whole population.

Being a strictly agricultural community, the State was naturally averse to the high tariff system so popular in the manufacturing States of the North, and, as we have seen elsewhere in this book, carried its opposition to the tariff measures of the General Government to the verge of open war. From that time it became the leader of the extreme States' Rights party of the South, and upon various occasions threatened to secede from the Union.

In December, 1860, after the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency, the State seceded from the Union. The ordinance of secession was adopted by the State Convention, on the 20th of December, 1860. The forts, arsenals, and public property of the United States in South Carolina were seized and occupied by the State forces, except Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, which was held by a detachment of the Federal army. Hostilities began in the bombardment and capture of this fort by the Confederates in April, 1861.

During the war Charleston was besieged by the United States army, and its harbor blockaded by the navy. Several severe battles occurred in its immediate vicinity, but all the efforts of the fleet to reduce its defences were repulsed. In the summer of 1863, the defences of James Island were captured, and from that time the city was subjected to a severe bombardment, which laid a large part of it in ruins. It was held by the Confederates until Sherman's movements compelled them to evacuate it. As they left it they set fire to it, and nearly the whole city was destroyed. It was at once occupied by the Union troops. Port Royal Harbor was the scene of a severe naval bombardment in the fall of 1861. The Confederate forts, defending the entrance were captured, and the harbor and its islands held during the war. After reaching Savannah at the close of his march from Atlanta, Sherman moved his army through this State, from the neighborhood of Port Royal to beyond Cheraw. His troops destroyed immense quantities of property, and damaged the State to a terrible extent. The capital, Columbia, was fired (the origin of the fire still remaining a disputed question) and almost entirely destroyed.

After the close of the war, a Provisional Government was appointed by the President. A State Convention was held, a new Constitution

framed, and an excellent system of Government established. Congress, however, denied the right of the President to make such changes, and in 1867 abolished the new order of affairs, and organized the State into a military district, the command of which was given to Major-General Daniel E. Sickles. In August, 1867, General Sickles was removed, and General Canby put in his place.

In January, 1868, a State Convention met at Charleston and adopted a Constitution, which was ratified by the people, and on the 25th of June, 1868, the State was readmitted into the Union.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

The principal cities and towns, besides the capital, are Charleston, Georgetown, Camden, Greenville, Orangeburg, and Winnsboro.

COLUMBIA,

The capital and second city of the State, is situated in Richland district, or county, on the east bank of the Congaree, just below the confluence. of the Broad and Saluda rivers. Latitude 33° 57' N., longitude 81° 7' W. It is 124 miles north-northwest of Charleston, and 500 miles southwest of Washington.

Columbia is one of the most beautiful cities in the Union. It is handsomely built, its streets are well paved, and are broad, straight, and shaded with stately trees, among which the magnolia and the live oak are conspicuous. It is located on the bluffs of the Congaree, a few miles below the falls of that stream, and is noted for the elegant mansions and exquisite gardens with which it abounds. The vicinity of the city is one of the most highly cultivated portions of the Union, and is noted for its model plantations, as well as for its fine scenery.

The public buildings are among the handsomest in the country. The State House is a magnificent edifice, 170 feet long and 60 feet wide, and cost nearly three millions of dollars. The Insane Asylum is under the control of the State. It is a splendid building and is richly endowed. The city buildings are handsome.

Columbia contains a number of fine public and private schools. The South Carolina College, sometimes called the University of South Carolina, is a flourishing institution. Here are located a theological school of the Presbyterian Church, and a Roman Catholic College. The city is supplied with pure water, and is lighted with gas. It is governed by a Mayor and Council. It contains a number of churches and 3 newspaper offices. In 1870 the population was 9298.

Columbia is at the head of steamboat navigation on the Congaree River, and is connected with all parts of the Union by railways. It is the centre of a large cotton trade.

The city was occupied by the forces of General Sherman on the 17th of February, 1865. On the same day a disastrous fire occurred, which laid a large portion of the city in ashes.

CHARLESTON,

The largest city and the metropolis of the State, is situated in Charleston district, or county, at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, which unite to form its harbor. It is 7 miles from the sea, 124 miles south-southeast of Columbia, and 540 miles southwest of Washington. The city is built upon a plateau elevated about 12 feet above the level of the water. The tides rise to a height of 6 feet, and sweep by the city with a strong current, thus contributing greatly to its healthfulness.

The Cooper and Ashley rivers are from 30 to 40 feet deep, the former is 4200, and the latter 6300 feet wide. The harbor is spacious, and will admit vessels drawing 17 feet water. "The coup d'œil is imposing and highly picturesque. Though the grounds are low, hardly more than 12 feet above high water, the effect is fine; and the city, like Venice, seems, at a little distance, to be absolutely rising out of the sea. The bay is almost completely land-locked, making the harborage and roadstead as secure as they are ample. The adjuncts contribute to form a tout ensemble of much beauty. Directly at the entrance of the city stands Castle Pinckney, a fortress which covers an ancient shoal. A little south of Pinckney is Fort Ripley, a small square work, built of Palmetto logs, and filled with paving stones, built in 1862. On the sea-line rises Fort Moultrie, famous, as Fort Sullivan, in beating off, and nearly destroying, the British fleet, under Sir Peter Parker, in 1776. On the eastern extremity of the same island (Sullivan's), on which Fort Moultrie stands, may yet be traced the outline of the fortress which, under Colonel Thompson, with 700 Carolina rifles, defeated Sir Henry Clinton at the very moment when Moultrie drove Parker away from the South. Within the harbor the most conspicuous object, and the one also of commanding interest, is the ruined walls of Sumter. This fort, with that of Moultrie, once constituted the chief defences of Charleston. The events and operations of which these massive ruins have formed the chief centre and culminating point are too fresh in the public recollection to

require more than a brief retrospect in these pages. The fort, which is an octagonal work of solid masonry, stands in the middle of the harbor. The armament consisted, at the time of the attack, of 140 guns. It was occupied by Major Anderson on the night of December 26, 1860, and at noon of the 27th the Union flag was hoisted over it. On the 11th of January following, Governor Pickens demanded a surrender of the fort, which being refused, preparations were commenced to attack it. Fire was opened under direction of General G. T. Beauregard at 4.30 o'clock A. M., April 11th, 1861, from the batteries on James Island. After a defence of thirty-two hours the garrison surrendered, and were transported to New York in the steamer Baltic. The present condition of the work sufficiently attests the warmth of the second attack, August, 1863. On James Island are seen the ruins of old Fort Johnson. On the opposite headlands of the Haddrill you may trace the old lines which helped in the defence of the city eighty years ago, but which are now mostly covered by the smart village of Mount Pleasant. These points, north, east, and south, with the city lying west of them, bound the harbor, leaving an ample circuit of bay-coursing over which, from

south to north, the eye pursues the long stretch of Cooper River, the Etiwando of the red men, along the banks of which, for many miles, the sight is refreshed by noble rice-fields, and in many places by the mansions and homesteads of the former planters. Steamers ply up this river, and return the same day, affording a good bird's-eye view of the settlements, along a very picturesque shore line on either hand. It was up this river that Mr. Webster distinguished himself by shooting an alligator, or rather shooting at him-the alligator diving at the shot, and leaving the matter sufficiently doubtful to enable an old lawyer and politician to make a plausible case of it. Standing on James Island, or on the battlements of Fort Sumter, the eye notes the broad stream of the Ashley, winding from west of the city, round its southernmost point, to mingle with the waters of the Cooper. The Ashley was anciently a region of great wealth and magnificence. It is still a river of imposing aspect-broad, capacious, with grassy, well-wooded banks, beyond which you may still behold some antique and noble edifices."

The city is regularly built, and is about 2 miles long by about 1 miles in width. The streets are not very wide, but are laid off regularly, and the city is one of the best built in the country. The principal streets are Meeting and King. These run north and south, nearly parallel, the whole length of the city. Meeting street is 60 feet wide, and on it is transacted the principal business of the city. It contains some of the handsomest public buildings, and the leading hotels. King street is much narrower, and is the principal shopping

street.

"A large proportion of the population of Charleston consists of the gentry of the contiguous parishes, who, possessing large planting interests, are sufficiently opulent to maintain abodes in the city as well as on their plantations. Here they educate their children, and hither they resort in midsummer. This is the secret of something anomalous in the life of Charleston. It is resorted to in summer as a wateringplace by the people of the country. This practice will account for some of those characteristics which are thought to be peculiar to the city. The planters bring with them wealth and leisure, and these naturally beget luxurious tastes and habits. These elevate the tone of society, but tend to the disparagement of labor and industry. Hence extravagant standards of living, and deficient enterprise as well as industry.

"The city covers a considerable extent of territory, more than its