USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 24
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"Aets to raise a perpetual revenue on the Americans without their eonsent have been enacted, which at one stroke, turn all your American subjects into slaves, and deprive them of that right which the most oppressive taskmaster does not deny to the servant bought with his own money. Experience must now have shown, as it will clearer should these acts be enforced, that instead of increasing the revenue or lessening the burdens of your European subjeets, they can only serve to increase their taxation.
"Laws which we conceive fraught with so much injustiee have been attempted to be enforced by equal cruelty, and whenever we thought our- selves at the height of our troubles. your Majesty's Ministry have strained their unhappy ingenuity to find out new methods of' distress ; and, it is believed, methods have been more than thought of too shoek- ing to human nature to be even named in the list of grievances suffered under a British king.
"The goodness of God hath made your Majesty the father of a very numerous issue, on whom we place the pleasing hopes of a Protestant sueeession ; but your Majesty's arms in America now every day make mothers childless, and children fatherless. The blood of your subjects has been shed with pleasure rather than with pity, for an action which amounted to no more, even under the worst construction, than an irregu- lar zeal for constitutional liberty: and without any step taken to find out the supposed guilty persons. the capital of your American dominions
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has been blocked up, deprived of its trade, and its poor of subsistence. . Thousands, confessedly innocent, have been starved. ruined, and driven from, or kept like prisoners in their own habitations; their cries and blood innocently shed have undoubtedly reached, and daily do reach His ears who hateth injustice and oppression.
" Believe ns, great Sir, America is not divided: all men (Crown officers not excepted ) speak of these acts and measures with disapproba- tion, and if there has been some difference of opinion as to the mode of relief, the rigorous experiments which your Ministry thought fit to try on the Americans have been the most effectual means to convince these of the iniquitous designs of your Ministry and to unite them all as in a common cause. Your Majesty's Ministers. after thus introducing the demon of discord into your empire and driving America to the brink of despair, place all their dignity in measures obstinately pursued be- cause they were once wantonly taken. They hearkened to no informa- tion but what represented Americans either as rebels or cowards. Time will every day make it clearer how much they were infatuated and mistaken. Too long, we must lament, have these men imposed on your paternal affection. Deign now, most gracious Prince, in their room, to hearken to the eries of your loyal and affectionate subjects of this extensive Continent ; let the goodness of your heart interpose between weak or wicked Ministers, and millions of loyal and affectionate subjects. No longer let the sword be stained with the blood of your own children : recall your troops and fleets; and if any misunderstanding remains. let the Americans be heard, and justice and equity take place. Let us be ruled according to the known principles of our excellent Constitution. and command the last shilling of our property and the last drop of our blood in your service.
"Uncertain as to the event of this our humble representation, it affords us a relief that we may, unrestrained, apply to the great and merciful Sovereign of the whole earth. who will not despise the praver of the oppressed : and to Him we most ardently pray that the wicked being taken away from before the king, the king's throne may be estab- lished in righteousness.
"By order of the Congress, at Savannah, this 14th day of July. A. BULLOCH. President."
At the meeting on the 21st of June a Council of Safety was appointed. and the members consisted of William Ewen, president ; Wm. Le Conte. Joseph Clay. Basil Cowper, Samuel Elbert, Wm. Young. Elisha Butler, Edward Telfair, John Glen, George Houstoun. George Walton, Joseph Habersham, Francis HI. Harris. John Smith and John Morel. Seth John Cuthbert was the secretary. Then the members of the convention dined at Tondee's tavern, the Union flag was hoisted on the liberty pole, two field pieces were posted at its foot, thirteen toasts were drunk, and the cannon were used in firing a salute with martial musie accompanying.
GEORGIA RECEIVED INTO THE UNION
On the 20th of July. 1775, the day appointed as one of fasting and prayer, the news that Georgia had at last taken the step to join the
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other colonies and had appointed her delegates, reached the Continental Congress, and she was received heartily into the Union. Her delegates, as we have seen, appeared at an adjourned session September 13th. Dr. Zubly at first acted in full harmony with the people who had placed him in the forefront as one able to represent them in the stand they had taken, but he flinched when the determination was reached to dis- solve the bond of union with Great Britain, and he severed his connec- tion with the congress, returning to Georgia and siding with the loyal- ists. He was banished, took refuge in South Carolina, returned to Georgia after the siege of Savannah in 1779, when he remained as pastor of the Independent church until his death in 1781.
A committee was appointed by the provincial congress "to present the association to all the inhabitants of the town and district of Savan- nah to be signed," and the members of it were asked to hasten their work and to report promptly the names of those who refused to sign. Al- though Governor Wright remained in Savannah, he was not permitted to exercise any of the powers theretofore vested in him by royal com- mission. Georgia was really controlled by the Council of Safety, and in the seizure of the custom house by the Republicans the port was virtually closed.
UNPLEASANT FOR ROYALISTS
The "liberty boys," some of whom were members of the Council of Safety, began to make it very unpleasant for every one who showed in the slightest way his sympathy for the British government or who refused to show his respect for the eause of America. The town of Savannah must have been in a continual state of turmoil and alarm. Judged by certain statements contained in the letters he wrote to the Earl of Dart- mouth about that time. Governor Wright must have been in a most piti- able state of mind. In addition to the treatment to which he was sub- jected he was called upon to listen to the woes of others conspicuous for their loyalty to the English government and for their determination to resist the demands of the republicans and the rollicking liberty peo- ple. In a letter dated July 29, 1775, he said: "Since my last of the 18th instant, No. 54, the Council of Safety as they call themselves have in a solemn manner forbid the Rector of the Parish to preach any more in the church, and he has been so much threatened that on the 25th instant he left the town and went over into Carolina because he refused to preach a sermon and observe a fast which had been directed by the Continental Congress to be observed throughout all the Colonies, and has reflected on the conduct of the Americans. And my Lord on the 24th instant about 9 o'clock at night I heard a very great huzzaing in the streets, and on sending out found they had seized upon one Hopkins a pilot and were tarring and feathering him, and soon after they brought him in a cart down by my house, and sneh a horrid spectacle I really never saw. They made this man stand up in a cart with a candle in his hand, and a great many candles were carried round the cart, and thus they went through most of the streets in town for upwards of three hours. And on inquiring what he had done I was informed that he had behaved disrespectfully towards the Sons of Liberty and drank
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some toasts which gave great offenee ; but for your Lordship's more par- ticular information in both these matters I inclose a copy of the affida- vits of the parties, and the newspaper, and I must at the same time observe that I cannot believe this conduct is promoted or approved of by the people in general, but only by some very violent ones amongst them and the mob. Your Lordship will be the best judge what is most proper to be done, but I beg leave most heartily to wish that conciliatory meas- ures may speedily take place, or total ruin and destruction will soon follow, and Ameriea lost and gone."
"The Deposition of John Hopkins of the Town of Savannah Mariner taken on Oath the twenty-fifth Day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, before the Honourable Anthony Stokes Esq., Chief Justice of the Province aforesaid: This Deponent being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God maketh Oath and saith That about nine of the Clock in the Evening of the twenty-fourth instant as this Deponent was sitting at supper with his family there came to this Deponent's House a number of Persons (some were in disguise) and opened the door. That Joseph Reynolds of Savannah, Bricklayer, Capt. MeCluer and Capt. Bunner at Present of Savannah Mariners laid hold of this Deponent, without saying anything to him That as soon as the aforesaid People laid hold of this Deponent a great number rushed in and hurried this Deponent out of his house and led him to the out side of the Town, That they consulted to tar and feather him but the Ma- jority resolved to Carry him to a more publie place. Accordingly they led this Deponent into the middle of the square near to the Dial in Savan- nah and striped this Deponent of his Jaeket & Shirt and with great reluetance left the rest of his Apparrel on him And then they pro- ceeded to tar and feather this Deponent And immediately put this Depo- nent into a Cart & Carted him up & down the Street of Savannah for upwards of three Hours in the Above Condition That during the aforesaid Time they Carted this Deponent to the Liberty tree And there swore they would hang him That the said Bunner said. 'he was rather fat But He would go up the tree and hang this Deponent.' That the said Bunner further said that unless he would drink "Damnation to all Tories and Suecess to American Liberty" he should be hung imme- diately' which request this Deponent, was obliged to Comply with, that they continued to abuse this Deponent, gave him a great deal of ill Language and upbraided him with his Conduct That some one or other said That if they could lay hold of the Parson they would put him along side of this Deponent in the Cart. That this Deponent also heard said in the Mob that Mr. Smith should be next And that they intended to Continue until they had Tarred and feathered all the Tories or Words to That Effeet, That this Deponent saw in the Aforesaid Mob, together with the Persons aforementioned, Thomas Lee Carpenter John Spencer Carpenter, Alexander Phoenix Merchant Ambrose Wright Planter Sam- uel Wells Mariner Francis Arthur of Savannah Surveyor, Oliver Bowen Merehant John MeCluer & Capt. MeChuer Joseph Habersham and Francis Harris Gentleman Quintin Pooler Merchant Capt. Hawkins Mariner and Thomas Ilamilton Buteher and several others that this Deponent eannot recollect That between the Hours of Twelve and One
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of the Clock at Midnight they discharged this Deponent at the Vendue House with orders to beg 'all America pardon.'
"JOHN HOPKINS. "Sworn the Day and Year Aforesaid : ANTHONY STOKES.
"I desire that a Warrent may Issue against the abovenamed Joseph Reynolds of Savannah Bricklayer and Capt. George Bunner Mariner and against none of the other persons.
"JOHN HOPKINS."
A true Copy : Preston & Pryce.
[In Sir James Wright's (No. 55) of 29th July, 1775.]
"The Reverend Haddon Smith Rector of the Parish of Christ Church being duly sworn saith: That on Saturday the Twenty-second Day of this Instant July about nine of the Clock in the forenoon some Gentle- men came to this Deponent's House at the Parsonage. That this Depo- nent being up Stairs in his Chambers sent down word immediately to desire the Gentlemen to walk in and he would wait upon them. That before this Deponent came down Stairs he heard some one of them to say 'We cannot Walk in' or words to that purport. That this Depo- nent then concluded who they were and went down directly to them. That this Deponent saw standing in the Porch of the House Peter Tarl- ing of St. John's Parish, Jonathan Cochran of Saint Andrews Parish Planters. Edward Telfair of Savannah Merchant, George Walton of Savannah Esq .. and Oliver Bowen of. Savannah Merchant and some others. That the aforesaid Peter Tarling held a written . Paper in his hand and read from it to this Deponent the following words .Sir from your late Conduct in disobeying the Orders of the Congress. You are deemed an Enemy to America and by Order of the Committee We are to inform you that you are to be suffered no longer to officiate in this Town' or Words to that Effect. That the aforesaid Peter Tarling hav- ing read the paper above ment 'd he together with the rest of the Persons immediately went away without giving this Deponent an opportunity to reply or ask for the Paper since which this Deponent hath not thought himself safe in doing his Dnty as Rector.
"HADDON SMITH. "Sworn the 25th day of July 1775 before Anthony Stokes." [A true Copy : Preston & Pryee. ]
In a postscript to the letter conveying the foregoing, Governor Wright said: "1st of August the delegates went away for Philadelphia. I forgot to mention that the committee here take upon them to order ships and vessels that arrive to depart again without suffering them to come up to the town and unload. Some they admit. some they order away just as they please. and exactly copy after Carolina, and are making a very rapid progress in the execution of their assumed power. £10,000 sterling is to be issued in notes or certificates and your Lordship will see the proceedings of the Congress by the enclosed newspaper, and beg I leave to repeat that no correspondence is safe. I dare not venture a single letter by the post to Charles Town for the packet, or to send
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any to your Lordship but under cover as private letters. No sloop of war or cruiser is come yet."
A vessel arrived from London on the 17th of September, laden with two hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder, intended as a present for the Indians, and consigned to the superintendent, Mr. Stuart. She was boarded at Tybee by the "liberty boys" who seized the powder and transported it to Savannah for use in a way not intended by the royal shipper. Another ship with a cargo of two hundred and four slaves from Senegal was not permitted to land, and her captain set sail for St. Augustine. Hence the reference in the postscript just quoted. Things continuing to annoy the royal governor he added another to his already long list of doleful statements in a letter to his superior on the 23d of September: "What remedy these evils may require, is for the wisdom of my superiors to determine, but I must beg leave to add that
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, TIFTON
from the situation of affairs here no time should be lost. It is really a wretched state to be left in, and what it's impossible to submit to much longer-Government totally annihilated and assumed by Con- gresses, Councils, and Committees, and the greatest acts of tyranny, op- pression, gross insults, etc., etc., etc .. committed, and not the least means of protection, support, or even personal safety and these almost daily occurrences are too much, my Lord."
Governor Wright's powers were extremely limited at that time. Indeed all he was called on to do was to issne letters of administration and to probate wills.
The provincial congress adjourned on the 11th of December, and before doing so made a new appointment of members of the Council of Safety which body then assumed the entire reins of government, and made it a rule to meet regularly every Monday morning. at Tondee's Long Room. at ten o'clock. This new committee was composed of
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George Walton, president: Edward Langworthy, secretary, and the following other members: Win. Ewen, Stephen Drayton, Noble W. Jones, Basil Cowper, Edward Telfair, John Bohun Girardeau, John Smith, Jonathan Bryan, Wm. Gibbons, John Martin, Oliver Bowen. Ambrose Wright, Sammel Elbert. Joseph Habersham, and Francis Henry Harris. During the existence of the council many changes were made from time to time, but all the members serving in that capacity have not been named.
CONTINENTAL BATTALION FOR GEORGIA
Among the measures enacted by the Continental Congress, Novem- ber, was the raising of a battalion at the common charge of the united provinces for Georgia's protection, and for that purpose the sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated, and therefore the Council of Safety commissioned, at its first meeting. Andrew Maybank. Joseph Woodruffe, Hezekiah Wade, and John Dooly as captains. James Cochran, Jolm Morrison, Jeremiah Beale, and Thomas Dooly as first lieutenants, James Galoehe, Moses Way. Jacob Blust, Zephaniah Beale, and William Bugg as second lieutenants, and Thomas Dowly, George Phillips, and Joshua Smith as third lieutenants. The battalion thus formed was more completely organized on the 7th of January, 1776, by the commissioning of the following: Lachlan McIntosh, colonel; Samuel Elbert, lieutenant- colonel; Joseph Habersham, major.
Ist Company-Francis Henry Harris, captain ; Jolin Habersham, first lieutenant.
2nd Company-Oliver Bowen, captain; George Handley, first lieu- tenant.
3rd Company-John McIntosh, Jr., captain ; Laelilan McIntosh, Jr., first lieutenant.
4th Company-Arthur Carney, captain; Benjamin Odingsell, first lieutenant.
5th Company-Thomas Chisholm, captain ; Caleb Howell, first lieu- tenant.
6th Company-John Green, captain; Ignatius Few, first lieutenant. 7th Company-Chesley Bostick, captain; John Martin, first lieu- tenant.
8th Company-Jacob Colson, captain; Shadrach Wright, first lieu- tenant.
ON THE EVE OF THE REVOLUTION
We will, in closing this chapter, briefly outline the state of affairs as existing in the Province of Georgia, of which Savannah was the seat of government, in fact of two conflicting governments, on the eve of the American Revolution.
Practically, on the Republican side, the Council of Safety was the maker of laws, and its president was, to all intents and purposes, the governor, and the authority for this was the result of legislation on the part of the provincial congress. All business, both of a civil and a mili- tary nature, originated in and was put in force by it, as will be seen by an inspection of its minutes. The royal governor remained at his
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post, but he was powerless, without the protection of even a small mili- tary guard, and his council, composed of men who were presumed to advise him, were as helpless as himself, being held in utter disregard by the opposition. The functions of the king's officers were performed by men who, in the name of liberty, asserted the right to vacate the royal commissions and transact the public affairs in a manner unobjectionable to freemen.
CHAPTER XVIII
COMMENCEMENT OF ACTUAL WAR
GOVERNOR WRIGHT'S ARREST AND ESCAPE-GEORGIA'S TEMPORARY CON- STITUTION-CONFLICT BETWEEN ROYAL TROOPS AND MILITIA-EXPOR- TATION OF RICE STOPPED-ROYALISTS ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE RICE BOATS-ONLY TWO VESSELS ESCAPE TO SEA-COUNCIL OF SAFETY TAKES HEROIC MEASURES-CONGRESS THANKS COLONIAL MILITIA- WRIGHT GOES TO ENGLAND AND RETURNS TO SAVANNAH-JOHN GRA- HAM AND THUNDERBOLT-SAVANNAH'S FIRST "FOURTH OF JULY" (AUGUST 10TH).
Though delayed in reaching Savannah, the relief sought by Sir James Wright came on the 12th of January, 1776, when a transport from Boston, with troops under the command of Majors Maitland and Grant, touched at Tybee. That event, coupled with the determination to put down any demonstration of authority by the royal party, forced the Council of Safety, on the 18th. to resolve "that the person of his ex- celleney Sir James Wright, Bart., and of John Mullryne, Josiah Tatt- nall, and Anthony Stokes, Esqs., be forthwith arrested and secured, and that all non-associates be forthwith disarmed except those who will give their parole assuring that they will not aid. assist, or comfort any of the persons on board his Majesty's ships of war. or take up arms against America in the present unhappy dispute."
GOVERNOR WRIGHIT'S ARREST AND ESCAPE
Naturally it would be presumed that volunteers for the patriotic act of arresting the royal governor could easily be had among the youthful constituency of the "Liberty Boys," and the immediate offer of Major Joseph Habersham was accepted. Well did he perform the self imposed duty. Selecting the very honr when that official was in consultation with his couneil in his own home, the young man, disregarding the sen- tinel at the door of the mansion, walked into the presence of his ex- cellency, touched him on the shoulder, and said, "Sir James, you are my prisoner!" The act was one that might well produce the greatest astonishment not only on the part of the one arrested, but also of the witnesses to the bold transaction. Its effect on the latter resulted in a precipitate retreat from the house-their presence of mind. as has been well stated, giving way to a very hasty absence of body. Left alone with his prisoner, Habersham secured from him a pledge to make no effort
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to depart from the town or to communicate with the royal troops at Tybee. It was deemed advisable, however. to place a guard on duty all the time to report any manifestation of the prisoner's inelination to abuse the privileges granted him or to make any attempt to escape. De- spite such precaution. the royal governor did make his escape sometime in the night of the 11th of February, by exit through the rear of his house, and made his way down to the river where a boat and crew, awaiting his coming, took him. by way of Tybee Creek, to the warship Scarborough, under the command of Captain Barelay, reaching her about three o'clock in the morning of the 12th. From that point he wrote, on the day of his arrival to one of the royal council, Capt. James- Maekay, urging upon him, "as the best friend the people of Georgia have," to plead with them to consider well the course they had taken and to escape the in- evitable punishment following subjugation by a return to their true allegiance, promising. in that case, on his arrival in England, his in- fluence in their favor as to past offenses. The appeal, of course, had no effect, though the president of the provincial congress, Archibald Bul- loch, made a courteous reply to the letter. For the reason that the communication of the president made no response to the offer of his services as a peacemaker, Governor Wright did not consider it a satis- factory acknowledgment of his overture, and then ventured this laconic expression of his opinion as to the result of the rejection of his offer: "However, if Georgians will not be their own friends, the province will blame them and not ine who through friendship put it into their power to be happy."
When the provincial congress met in Savannah on the 20th of Jan- uary, 1776, it proceeded to the election of a president, and the choice again fell on Archibald Bulloch at the election hield two days after- wards. Following this action, on the 2d of February five delegates to the Continental Congress were appointed, namely, Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, and George Walton, and the last three were the signers of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia.
GEORGIA'S TEMPORARY CONSTITUTION
The state of affairs brought about by the escape of Sir James Wright and the uncertainty as to the manner in which the province should be governed, necessitated the prompt action of the provincial congress in the matter of providing rules or laws for the guidance of the people. Nothing definite or permanent could, under the circumstances, be accom- plished in this matter, but, as the groundwork of a more stable govern- ment, a temporary constitution was adopted and declared to be in effect in the month of April, 1776, and it is, herewith given in full :
"Whereas, the unwise and iniquitous system of administration ob- stinately persisted in by the British Parliament and ministry against the good people of America hath at length driven the latter to take up arms as their last resource for the preservation of their rights and liberties which God and the constitution gave them ;
"And whereas an armed force, with hostile intentions against the
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people of this Province, having lately arrived at Cockspur, his Excel- leney Sir James Wright, Baronet, and King's Governor of Georgia, in aid of the views of the administration, and with a design to add to those inconveniences which necessarily result from a state of confusion, sud- denly and unexpectedly carried off the great seal of the Province with him;
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