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A STATEMENT of the Valuation of Lands, Lots, with their Improve. ments, Dwelling-houses, Slaves, within the several Districts of the State of South Carolina, as revised and settled by the Board of Principal Assessors, convened at Columbia in January 1816, and the Quota of the United States' Direct Tax assigned to each by the said Board.

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357,865

Georgetown, 440,528 2,710,636 14,248 4,284,920 Horry, 238,06 1,405 372,660 1,526 82 Marion, 577.629 592,633 2,982 781,201] 1,373,834 3,434 58 Marlborough, 224,381 693,426 2,500 766,302| 1,459,728 3,649 32 Darlington, 362,805 702,815 3,442 940,317 1,643,132 83 4,107 5,103 59 Williamsburg,| 436,182 471,49% 5,255 1,569,944 2,041,436 14,124,415 35,311

6,995,556 17,458 89 610,729

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Valuation of the state, and the tax levied by the board agreeably to the Act of Congress,

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123,416,513′308,541 20

Military Force.-Every able bodied white male citizen between the years of eighteen and forty-five is enrolled in the militia. Free men of colour are also employed in the quality of pioneers. Any portion, not exceeding a third part of the whole number, may be obliged by the executive to perform duty out of the state on any particular emergency. The effective militia, in 1815, amounted to 32,202, of which 24,055 were infantry, and 2297 dragoons. There are two divisions, each commanded by a major-general, comprehending nine brigades, thirty-six regiments of infantry, eight regiments, and one squadron of cavalry, and one regiment and a battalion of artillery, besides artillery companies attached to some of the regiments of infantry. The brigades are commanded by brigadiergenerals, the regiments by lieutenant-colonels. For each brigade there is a brigade-inspector, with the rank of major, who attends the reviews, and inspects the arms, ammunitions, and accoutrements. There is also an adjutant-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, who reviews the militia by regiments; makes reports to, and receives and distributes orders from, the commander-in-chief. The district of Pendleton, situated near the "Big Mountains," furnished, during the late war, 1000 militia and 400 regulars, for the actual service of the United States.

Study of Law.-By a late act a candidate of twentyone years is entitled to admittance, if approved by judges appointed to examine him on the theory and practice of the profession. In 1808 there were fortyeight practitioners in Charleston. During twenty

seven years preceding the revolution, the whole number admitted was fifty-eight; and during twenty-five years subsequent to its termination in 1783, 238 were admitted in Charleston, exclusive of those who passed their examination in the country. Several, however, never intended to exercise the profession.

Religion.-The Episcopalians have ten churches in this state, (three of which are in Charleston,) with a bishop and fifteen clergymen. Of the Presbyterians, there are five presbyteries, one at Charleston, consisting of five churches; two in the western parts, consisting of more than twenty ministers, but including sixty congregations; a fourth comprehends several churches in Georgia, and the lower parts of Carolina; a fifth, a presbytery of seceders of nine ministers, but embracing twenty-two congregations. The Baptists have five associations, consisting of 100 ministers, 130 churches, 10,500 communicants, and 75,000 adherents. According to the report of the general convention of Baptists, held in Philadelphia in May 1817, the number of their churches was then 169, of members 11,003. The Independents, or Congregationalists, have seven churches and six ministers. The Methodists have 200 churches, or places for public worship, 90 local preachers, and 26 travelling preachers who preach annually 18,000 times. The local preachers receive no salary or compensation. The annual expences amount only to 2080 dollars. The construction of each church, or place of meeting, averages 135 dollars. In the upper country clergymen have from 400 to 600 dollars a-year. There is a Jewish Synagogue at

Charleston, consisting of about 500 Jews, who furnished a volunteer corps of sixty men for the defence of the country during the late war. The other sects are Roman Catholics, Quakers, German and French Protestants. It is stated in Mr Beecher's address, that there are but thirty-six regular clergymen in the whole state, while the population would require 379. The Methodists are remarkably active, and are daily increasing in numbers. It is stated, that they have produced a great reformation in the habits of the people of the lower country. Drunkenness is less frequent, and the disgraceful practice of fighting and gouging has nearly ceased.

There is a society for the relief of the widows and orphans of Episcopal clergymen, and another for those of clergymen of the Independent church. Into both these societies laymen are admitted as members. The presbytery of Charleston was incorporated in 1790 for the same purpose. The Methodists have a common fund for supporting their preachers and their children.

Slaves.-Slaves are, by the laws of the land, the property of the owners; but the latter are liable to a penalty if they cause them to work more than the prescribed time; or if they do not feed and clothe them in a suitable manner. For cruel treatment they are amenable to a court of justice; if a slave is killed in a passion, the offender pays L. 50 Sterling to the state. For wilful murder the penalty is double this sum, and the master is rendered incapable of holding any office, civil or military, within the state. If unable to pay this forfeiture, he is liable to be sent to any frontier

garrison, or to be committed to a prison or work-house for seven years, during which he is to be kept to hard labour. By a more recent act, (which the author of this work has not seen,) a person who kills a slave is liable to a prosecution for murder. The importation of slaves was prohibited by a law passed in the year 1788, after which many were introduced in a clandestine manner. By another act of the legislature, passed in the year 1816, the introduction of slaves from any other state into the state of South Carolina is prohibited. Drayton observes," that their condition is much ameliorated; that they have their houses, their gardens, their dances, their feasts, and their holidays." Their principal food consists of rice, the sweet potatoe, and Indian corn. * On Edisto island the average price of a slave is about 430 dollars; one, young and active, has been sold as high as from 700 to 800 dollars; and hired out at from 110 to 123 dollars a-year; and young girls from 64 to 85.

Education.-Till within these few years the youth were sent for their education to Europe, or to colleges in the northern states. But the subject has lately attracted the attention of the legislature, who have grant

* The Grand Jury of Charleston, for the term of January 1816, reported as a most serious evil, that instances of negro homicide were common within the city for many years; the parties exercis. ing unlimited control as masters and mistresses, indulging their cruel passions in the barbarous treatment of slaves, using them worse than beasts of burden, and thereby bringing on the community, the state, and the city, the contumely and reproach of the civilized world.

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