42 The Winning of the West 



the estate of "Sd. Sadler." When possible, the 

 Committee compromised the cases, or advised the 

 parties to adjust matters between themselves. The 

 sheriff executed the various decrees, in due form; 

 he arrested the men who refused to pay heed to the 

 judgments of the court, and when necessary took 

 out of their "goods and chatties, lands and tene 

 ments," the damages awarded, and also the costs 

 and fees. The government was in the hands of men 

 who were not only law-abiding themselves but also 

 resolute to see that the law was respected by others. 

 The committee took cognizance of all affairs con 

 cerning the general welfare of the community. 

 They ordered roads to be built between the different 

 stations, appointing overseers who had power to 

 "call out hands to work on the same." Besides the 

 embodiment of all the full-grown men as militia, 

 those of each station under their own captain, lieu 

 tenant, and ensign, a diminutive force of paid 

 regulars was organized ; that is, six spies were "kept 

 out to discover the motions of the enemy so long 

 as we shall be able to pay them ; each to receive sev 

 enty-five bushels of Indian corn per month." They 

 were under the direction of Colonel Robertson, who 

 was head of all the branches of the government. 

 One of the committee's regulations followed an 

 economic principle of doubtful value. Some enter 

 prising individuals, taking advantage of the armed 

 escort accompanying the Carolina commissioners, 

 brought out casks of liquors. The settlers had 

 drunk nothing but water for many months, and they 



