The Charleston Palmetto

A couple of years ago I started noticing the image of a Palmetto illustrated in quite a number of engravings of Charleston. I found it interesting, it was prominently displayed in a number of the engravings ...almost the most important character in the image. I can see from images where it stood and really am interested in where the iron railings have gone.


Here it is in a page from the Illustrated London News, dated February 2, 1861

“South Carolina, like the other States of America, has a well-known distinctive name, that of the “ Palmetto State,” a designation arising from the prolific growth of this species of fan palm in its marshy districts. The specimen represented in our engraving grows in the slave market of Charleston, within a stones throw of the Exchange and the Post Office. Thus a good deal of Southern life centers round it. An Iron railing preserves it in the midst of josling dealers, bidding eagerly for gangs of “ likely negros,” who's brawny arms seem just now more likely to be tasked in rasing defensive earthworks than in cultivating either cotton plantations or rice fields. ......”

The Palmetto State: This nickname refers to South Carolina's official State Tree, the Sabal Palmetto. The Palmetto is rooted in historical significance dating back to the Revolutionary War. On June 28, 1776, the British fleet's attack on Sullivan's Island was repulsed. The palmetto-log fort, under Colonel William Moultrie, withstood the barrage of British cannons until the fleet retreated. The Sabal Palmetto (Inodes Palmetto), commonly referred to as the Cabbage Palmetto, was added to the "National" flag of South Carolina, after it seceded from the Union in 1861. The Palmetto is South Carolina's official State Tree. It also appears on the South Carolina State Seal and in the salute to the flag of South Carolina written in 1950 by Mrs. John Raymond Carson and was adopted by the General Assembly in 1966: "I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."

The image of the Seal of South Carolina was published in Ballou’s Pictorial Newspaper in Boston Saturday, June 21, 1858.

The text reads "The shield on the left displays the palmetto tree, with fasces* at its base, surrounded by the motto,“ Animis opibusque parati” ( prepared in heart and deed) The other shield has a female figure holding a bunch of flowers encircled by the motto, “ Dum Spiro spero” ( while I breath I hope) The supporters are a Continentaller in revolutionary uniform, a figure of Liberty, with the phrygian cap and laurel wreath. Above is a figure of flame blowing her trumpet. Conspicuous over the state arms is the far-famed palmetto tree. A military parade parade is delineated in the distance....”
Harpers Weekly Published in New York, Saturday, December 1, 1860
From the images the Palmetto must have been near the corner of Broad Street and East Bay on the North West corner in front of where the Wachovia Bank stands now.

*Fasces: from the Latin word fascis, meaning bundle. symbolize summary power and jurisdiction, and or “strength through unity” The traditional roman fascis consisted of a bundle of whit birch rods, tied together with a red leather ribbon into a cylinder.