Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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OLD JOURNALISTIC HISTORY By Col. T. B. Crew s. The- following paper was read by c:oi. Tims. |{. Crews of Laurena at the meeting of the South Carolina Press Association iu Greenville, Th?rs lay, July 8th! Mr. President and Members of the South Carolina state Press Associa t ion: i have been assigned to suy some thing ;it tiii.s meeting concerning one of the oldest, most useful and honor able professions the world has ever known, viz: The art and mystery of Printing- the "Art preservative of all arts." The art of printing is not a "liiywtery" now, but it was a mystery and a wonderful invention in the days Ol Gotten burg and Faust, the invent ors. Having about exhausted the theme upon which I have been delving for the past several meetings, to wit: my Personal'Recollections of South Caro lina Journalism, Fifty Years Ago and Since, i will now?for lack of some thing better, or of more interest to the present generation -make a brief reseat h among the musty tomes or more ancient days, In order, to Indi cate nine of the difficulties and per plexities of the printing profession a hundred years ago, and more. I w ish to State, in passing, however, that I am no; now writing my own personal experiences and recollections, for nl t! ough having passed man's allotted limit of three score and ten by nearly a full decade, I had not arrived on life's troubled shores at the time re ferrcd to: But 1 do write from legal i ecords. tiy these records it will he seen that the publishers of newspapers hack I i the early days of American history, i 117 years ago) "had trou bles of their own." in regard to what was (hen termed a tax on newspa pers." In December, 17:>l\ Congress, then holding it.> sessions in Philadelphia, the scat o<' Government, amended the! Postal law.- land like the present Con gress egarding tariff revision) so as to opi ate upward instead of down ward, subjecting all newspapers to pfij one ?'eiit on oacli paper for a dis tance if one hundred miles, and a <?? nl ; lid a hall for any and all great er cb.'iti'.lices exceeding that number of mil"';. This amendment to the pos tal laws gave rise to much discussion for ; nd against. Some contended that the printers wer.? able to pay for the papers they sent out. ami that no ? ?. luslve privilege ought to he granted the printer any more than to another person. In the course of the discussion it was necessary to take some one State as an example to show the discrepancy or sparse ness In the number of papers pub lished .a the different state.-,, and the number of printers. South Carolina was selected with which to make this comparison, and it was shown that In this State there were but three print er.- or publishers at that early date, and was contended by some in the debate, that if only half a cent was paid for the carriage of a newspaper from Philadelphia to the inhabitants of this State, the latter Would get their Intelligence as cheap from Phil adelphia as from the press of either of the South Carolina printers, and Oarlll " besides. It was also contended that the free carriage of newspapers would give a mono My to some states, and. consid ering the number of newspapers and the p oboblllty Of their increase. it wo.ild be laying a heavy b?r d. n ) the Post Office ("or at least in the horses that carry the mall"), while to subject the papers to a tax >f half a cent, without regard to di itaiioe, would he encouraging the press* ?'. in one particular place, and crushing those in the other parts of the Cnion. etc. The newspapers, however, had their fi'lendri, and they argued that it was of the greatest Importance to the mer cantile IlltertSlS that there should he be papers in every Stale to circulate advertisements, to say nothing of the importance to the citizens of every State lb have Oil opportunity Of OTi" presT.ing their sentiments respecting (bei o,f rations of Government. Those destraido objects could not bo ob mil e.d; it was contended, without giv ing art adequate support to ail news papers alike, and to give equal en courngetneul to the printer, in the different states, soffi I regard ought to be paid lo the distance to which the papers are to be conveyed; and the tax. whatever it may he. proportioned accordingly. To remedy this dls crep.it' y. Congress finally passed the law allowing all publishers to send their papers, for the first hundred miles, .-t the rote of one cent each: all 0V< f thai distance, one and :t hail' cent, on each paper. There W?1H much opposition to this "tax.' ami soum newspaper writers went so f*v us io compare the In justice with the oolebrated "Stamp Act " A nOUce in mi" of til ' news p .per?; of that d i". SSJ - Coat ? "A meeting of the subscribers to the several Gazettes and newspapers printed in Philadelphia is advertised In the Virginia Gazette of tho run inst. to be ludd at I3agle Tavern. In the < Ity oi Richmond, on .Monday, the -1st of May. 1792, to take Into consid eration the law of the United States Imposing a tax on the said Gazettes and newspapers. A discussion of tiiis subject by the said subscribers, and indeed by iin> citizens at large, who are invited also to tins mooting, appears to be more necessary at this time from the alarming consequences which may arise from the want of dUQ Information on a number of sub jects, only to be obtained by free cir culation of that Important article, a public newspaper/' It was shown during the course of the debate in Congress, that there were but three newspapers in South Carolina, at that time. (17l?2) and writers for the press took the part of the newspapers In the matter of a tax on such papers, and argued that Gov ernment, instead of laying a tax on the newspapers ought to contribute toward the support of the Press. The three newspapers alluded to were published in Charleston, and Co lumbia. Of the two Charleston pa pers. 1 know only the name of one.? The Charleston City Gazette. This was the Democratic or "Republican" organ, while the other paper was the organ of the Federalist party. In this connection, I will state that on one occasion, the public printing was given to tin.' Federalist paper, which caused much adverse comment by the "Republicans." The name of the Columbia paper was the "South Car olina Gazette." in Georgia there were but two pa pers, as well as the same number In North Carolina, and writers lor the press of that day say that ?both in South Carolina and Georgia, the news papers circulate badly, and will fare still worse when the people find them selves heavily taxed to receive that knowledge of their rulers which ought to be conveyed to them upon the most easy terms possible." The two Georgia papers mentioned were The Chronicle and Sentinel, both of which were published in Augusta. Of the names of the two North Caro lina papers. I have no way of finding out. it was the opinion of some in Con gress that no higher tax should be laid upon newspapers than barely what was sufficient to defray the ex pense of postage and carriage. it seems that "postage," in those days, related to letter postage, and not news-paper postage, as the publishers, previous to this action by Congress, bad been paying the mail carriers to carry their papers, instead of paying postage to the Government. There were some members who sought to make the postmaster accountable for the prompt delivery of papers, and for this responsibility it was propos ed to give him an allowance of at least fifty per cent. During the discussion of this pro posed tax on newspapers, "a state ment was read by which it appealed that one thousand one bundled and forty papers per week pass through the general post office, and that the printers of Philadelphia have lately, in a single week, lodged newspapers there to the weight of two hundred and forty-two pounds avoirdupois." It was certainly a hardship on all publishers of newspapers, one hun dred and seventeen years ago. to have to pay that tax on their papers, which amounted to prohibition from the malls. For instance, postage on a newspaper from Philadelphia to this city would have cost the publisher more than ten cents on every paper, and on an issue of one thousand copies would cost oni' hundred dollars per week. On this account, nearly every publisher in the Cnitod states had to send bis paper out by hand, as oppor tunity offered, and to this end. adver tised in bis paper requesting any Cltb /.en v ho visited his town or City to call at the office and get the package intended for his section of the country. How long ibis state of affairs lasted. I know not. Rut p is interesting to note that Where it cost more than ten cents to send a Single paper from Philadelphia to South Carolina, in 170.'. a package of papers weighing as much as a pound can now be sent anywhere in the I'nlted states for one ??eilt ! History repented it>elf in this Slate Immediately after the close of the War Retween the Slates, for some Ilms, regarding the lack of mail facil ities; or at least stlCll was t!i" Case with mySClf. My paper, like all other weeklies, discontinued publication dur ing Hie war. the printers going to the front, many of them never returning So f at when I resumed the publica tion of the r.aurensvllle Herald, and also the Abbeville Rannor, 11 was then publishing both of these papers) each edition was sent to subscribers by band, the several communities of tha County forming clubs, some mem ber of each club being designated to go for the packages, by turns. This method continued until "Reconstruc tion" gave us better mail facilities, some years later. In t'i'.ose old days some subscribers to in wspapers found fault, as they do now. with their local papers, A sub scriber writing from North Carolina to Freneau's paper, the "National Ga zette," of Philadelphia, (the editor of which was Thos. Jefferson's Secre tary,) said: "As your papers do not seem to come regular by the conveyance l at first count od upon, be so kind, after the navigation opens, to send the Nat ional- Gazette by water to this place, 118 opportunities will offer, at least once a fortnight. Our state papers are miserable barren, owing not only to a scarcity of valuable materials, but tor want of room, if the primers ever had them. 1 am sick of paying for trifling localities. A man drown ed in Pcnob8COtl May. another thai got a contusion upon bis skull ii. Pennsylvania, a fishing boat stranded on Cohassetl Hocks, a turnip raised on Cumberland Island, or a barn burnt somewhere. I cannot digest SUCh food. I want something more solid. As yon promise to furnish us with valuable information, you may continue my subscription, not with standing the loss of several of your numbers." This ought to sound familiar to most publishers, who doubtless bear the same or similar complaints .at the present day. The somewhat recent ruling of the Third Assistant Postmaster General regarding the prepayment of news I paper subscription, is the nearest ap proach to the action of Congress in ; the i Ighteenth century of which I have any recollection, though Bald ruling i was on rather a different line. To give th.' gist of the ruling 1 quote i t herefrom as follows: I "If be. a subscriber, "expressly re news bis subscription by paying or giving a definite promise to pay the stipulated price be becomes again a subscriber and is entitled to be includ ed as a part of a legitimate list: but if be does not so renew his subscrip tion, then he is not a subscriber ami. strictly, the publisher has no legal right to include him in tin- list of sub scribers of the publication for a single day after the term lor which the sub scription was paid has passed." Some of the newspaper fraternity have accepted this edict of the Third Assistant Postmaster as satisfactory to them, and as a sort of blessing in disguise. I have not so considered it, but rather as an assumption of authority not authorized by Congress ional statutory enactment. It was. and is, in my view, the thrusting of an < fficial nose Into other people's private business affairs. The foregoing script may be a inls tlt as a Component part of an "Histor ical Symposium"?being dry. stale and doubtless unprofitable?but it is the best in shop at present. Respectfully submitted, T. II. CRKWS. Ilowei Complaint in Children. Wnen six months obi the little : daughter of 13. N. Dewey, a well known merchant of Agnewville, Va., I had an attack of cholera infantum. Chamberlain s Colic. Cholera ami 1)1 ! arrhoen Remedy was given ami offec I ed a complete cure. This remedy j bus proven very successful in cases ' of bowel complaint in children find ; when given according to the plain. printed directions can be relied upon i with perfect confidence. when re i (bleed with water atld sweetened it Is pleasant to take, which is of great importance when a medicine ninsf be given to young children. For sale by Laurons Drug Co. ?Tardinlers in different designs, sizes and colors. Also plain Flower Pots ; in different sizes at S. M. & F. II. Wllkes & Co. Talk Ast ig mat ism of The live When an eye is said to be as figmati ', tlu? meaning is that the eye has a double focus. This annoy.) the brain and the eye will .strain unconscioOSly to bring about a clear focUS. This strain usually causes headaches. As tigmatism is usually congenital or so at birth it Is remedied by wearing glasses ground from the segment of a cylinder; those, glaSSOS, if rightly made bring Images to a focus on the retina and Iiii i relievos all strain. Children as well ns adults suffer from astigmatism. I am pro? pared to correct all common or complicated errors of sight. My examinations are free. Room .'1 ami i Fnterpri.se R'ld'g. Office days. Friday and Saturday Dr. F. J. In man Eye Specialist Iva u re us, S. C. CHARLESTON AND WESTERN CARO LINA1 RAILROAD. Arrival and Departure of Trains, Laurens, South Carolina. EFFECTIVE APRIL I, 1009. WEST BOUND. No. 1. Leave Augusta.10:10 am No. l. Leave Laurens. 2::>2 p in No. 1. Arrive Spartanburg., 4:05 pm No. 5. Leave Greenwood.... 6:50 a ml No. 5. Leave Laurens. 7:55 am, No. 5. Arrive Spartanburg.. 9.30 am No. 53. Leave Greenville.12:20 p m No. 53. Arrive Laurena. 1:45 pm No.*S6. Leave Greenville .... 4:30 p m No.*36. Arrive Laurens. 6:25 p in SOUTH BOUND. No. 2. Leave Spartanburg . . .12:20 p m No. 2. Leave Laurens. 2:32 p tn No. 2. Arrive Augusta. >:l"> p ml N<>. 6. Leave Spartanburg .. 5:00 p m No. ?>. Leave Laurens. 6:35 p m No. 6. Arrive Greenwood .... 7:00 p m , No.*87. Leave Laurens. 8:10 a m No. '87. Arrive Greenville.... 10:20 a m No. 52. Leave Laurens. 2:35 p m No. 52. Arrive Greenville .... 4:00 p m Trains *86 and *87 daily except Sunday. Triweekly through Pullman Parlor Car service between Augusta and Ashevllle on trains Nos. 1 and 2; North bound. Tuesdays, Saturdays; Southbound. Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays. C. H. GASQPE, Agent. Laurens, S. C. O. T. BRYAN, Cen. Agt.. Greenville, s. C. A. W. ANDERSON. Gen. Supt., ERNEST WILLIAMS. CPA. Augusta, CJa. Simpson, Cooper & Babb, Attorneys at Law. Will practice in all State Courts, prompt attention given to all business EATABLES FOR HOT WEATHER Crackers N.ibi>o> Wafers. Fig Newtons, Five t 'dock Tea. Cheese Sandwich, Mutter 'I'llins, Social Tea. Canned Goods Potted Ham, Potted Tongue, Chipped Beef, Lunch Tongue, (Try these articles for Picnic). II vmans Pickles, Queen Olives, Salad Dressing Sauces. Junket Tablets, Jcllo Ice Cream Tablets, Choice Peaches, Pie Peaches. A fine blended Tea, tot Ice Tea Drinkers. Monogratl and Porto Rica Coffee. Mahaffey & Babb PHONE 211 LAURENS, S. C. ? ? ? SOME II0PSKS KOK Ml.K thai are gems of fine building and attractive i:i appearance altd tu'raitg?? meat. Terms to suit. Bet) ft fo our list. ANDERSON & BLAKELY. Todd Building1 Lauren.-*. S. C. hfzizSZslSL BU.IOt HNKSH BITTERS AND KIDNKYd | Sanitary Plumbing $ W That's the kind we Guarantee 4> \\> . . i I w to do. y/ ^Jy It i> not every so called plumber thai yjy y|j knows how to do good hottest and sauitan yfy w >rk. But that's what you want, (iood yjj yjy and sanitary work.?that is the kind we yj^ .1 >. We use only the best material au i \f/ \f/ will place the fixtures you select. We VI/ Sir will not let yon select a fixture that is nol W sanitary. Let us figure on vour plumbing Vj> bill. W w ... . . w yj* All repair work promptly is >:ie .1:1! guai intcea. yfif w See us about Electric Wiring and Fixtures. Sj? I J. H. Boyd &Co I \j/ Electrical and Plumbing Contractors. \J/ VV4 Phono No. 240, Laurens, S. C. W Land and Water! See me about .selling that property of yours or about buying before you buy. Get my plan it never failes when I can get a buyer. I have a lot of choice propertj in Clinton for sale, write or phone me and see if 1 can interest you. P. S. Jeans CLINTON, 5. C. Bell Phone, No. 75 J. X. Leak, Pres. J. Dorroh, Sec'y. J| |J We lmpe to merit the bus'm iss of the public at I irgc J| and solicit same. #? Apolv to us for terms ?5 Southern Co-Operative & (?. Collection Agency ji ^ Gray Court. 5. C. mm mm |g? Busines placed with this mm will receive prompt ^ attention. J| OOOOOOOOO**** <>****OOOOOOOOQ ? Coal 8 o o 0 Buy now and get the best, $5.00, Q & per ton. 1 * A ?ood supply of Corn and heavy gro ?r ceries, best prices. & 8 8 ? Laurens Wholesale Grocery Co. 9 ^ R. Coke Gray, Mauager. 000000000****>^ 4? "1 have often known what it is ?4 ?f. tobe in want ot monev.but 1 never got into debt. ..... HH llnHislhere.^iik :te of oil. cusit .:r. :sn;:Kle Hh ir.tod, .. He is the ].essorora *avin? T TV?,,, u:,j,H liilfelhoMc.v in the 1 tile is .ju, seldom cottlpelled to humiliate It impels to [us ?4? fricn !- b; beting i I m. ^* Vour motte) in a bank, ?.-> a real friend?read; to accomodatc yon when you wish it 4" W'e shall bo pleased to have yon s'irt right by opening an account with this bank. The Bank for Your Savings.