USA > Georgia > A standard history of Georgia and Georgians > Part 70
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Governor Troup, in extending Georgia's formal welcome to the great paladin of liberty, said : " "Tis little more than ninety years since the founder of this State set foot upon the bank on which you now stand.
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Today four hundred thousand people open their arms and their hearts to receive you. Thanks to the kind providence which presides over human affairs, you were called to the standard of independence in the helplessness of the American Revolution and you have graciously been spared that in your last days the glory of an empire might be reflected upon your countenance, amid the aeclamation of millions. For you the seenes which are to come will be comparatively tranquil; the waters no longer turbulent but placid. No more dread of dungeons; no more fear of tyrants for you. Oh, sir, what consolation it must be to one who has passed through seas of trouble to know that between you and them are the countless bayonets which guard the blessings of freedom ! Welcome, General! Friend of Liberty, welcome! Thrice welcome to Georgia !"
At Milledgeville, in honor of the great soldier, a public dinner was given on the eapitol grounds and a grand military ball was held at night in the capitol building, and scores of the most prominent people in the state were present to participate in the festivities. General La Fayette was accompanied by his son, George Washington La Fayette, and by his secretary, Colonel Lavoisier. Some eight or ten visiting companies were on hand. The marshals of the day were John S. Thomas and R. L. Buchanan. The military organizations were under the chief command of General Daniel Newman, of the state militia, who made quite an impressive appearance in his handsome regimentals. Says Maj. Stephen H. Miller, who commanded one of the visiting companies : *
"Wishing to show ourselves and to get a glimpse of the nation's guest, the writer's company, the La Fayette Volunteers from Twiggs, organized for the oceasion, marched into town and halted opposite the Government House, where General La Fayette was quartered. Our Cap- tain went in and was introduced by Governor Troup; then the Captain introduced the three Revolutionary veterans, William Duffel, John Shine, and Charles Raley, to General La Fayette, who, on seeing Father Duffel, cordially embraeed him, saying, 'I remember you well; you were one of my bodyguard, and helped to carry me from the field when I was wounded at Brandywine; I am happy to see you.' * * * ** * ** * *
"Two tables, each abont one hundred yards long, with cross-tables of fifty feet at the ends, were covered with barbecue, roast beef, bread and other edibles.
"At the upper end, in the center, General La Fayette, with Governor Troup on one side, and Colonel Seaborn Jones, his aide, who was master of ceremonies, on the other side, of the Nation's guest. Governor Troup's staff, including Colonel Henry G. Lamar, Colonel Sammel T. Bailey, Colonel Samuel A. Bailey, Colonel Yelverton P. King, Colonel John W. A. Sanford, and perhaps others, were arranged at the same end of the table, all taking part in the administration of order, in the proper ob- servanee of etiquette, and some of them reading the regular toasts pre- pared by the Committee of Arrangements.
"The author was within seeing and hearing distance of the General. His son, George Washington La Fayette, was also pointed out. The lat-
* "Bench and Bar of Georgia, " Stephen H. Miller. Vol. 1-35
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ter's head was bald; and the father's wig gave him the advantage in youthful appearance. Colonel Lavoisier, the author could not identify. There was quite an array of public characters present, men known in the history of Georgia, among them, General John Clarke, formerly Governor of Georgia.
"The appetite being satisfied with strong meat, next came the wine, bottles of which, with wine glasses, were distributed on the tables so that every one could have a share. Then a proclamation was made by Colonel Jones, 'Gentlemen, fill your glasses for a toast from General La Fayette.' Thereupon the Apostle of Liberty, the companion and bosom friend of Washington, rose to his feet, and in broken English, which all heard with delight, he gave 'The Georgia Volunteers: the worthy sons of my Revolutionary brethren.' Cheer after cheer re- sounded, the music struck up 'Hail to the Chief,' the cannon uttered its loud rejoicing, and soon all was quiet again.
"'Prepare for a toast from Governor Troup,' was the next order; and, with solemn, distinct enunciation, our Julius Caesar of a Chief Magistrate gave forth, 'A union of all hearts to honor the Nation's guest, a union of all heads for the country's good.' Again the air was rent with cheers, the band played a national march, and the cannon fairly jarred the square.
"The next order was, 'Prepare for a toast from General Clarke.' Until then the author had never seen this celebrated party leader. In response to the call, a tall, bony man, with an open, honest face, rose at the table and, in a shrill voice, gave 'Count Pulaski, the gallant French- man who fell at Savannah,' and we emptied our glasses in honor of the French Count, as though history had not been contradicted by the state- ment. [Count Pulaski was a native of Poland.] General La Fayette must have esteemed it a special compliment to himself for such renown to be transferred to France in the presence of such an assemblage of witnesses. Whether the mistake was accidental or otherwise, it did not detract in the slightest degree from the valor or integrity of General Clarke. At most it only signified that his youth was spent in fighting the battles of his country, instead of being enervated within the walls of a college.
"It should be remembered that before the military retired from the square they were formed into line, and General La Fayette, leaning on the arm of Governor Troup, walked along a little lame, and shook hands with every man, officer and private, Colonel Jones officiating in the in- troduction. The author was mentioned to him as 'Sergeant M-,' and the response was, 'Sergeant M-, I am very glad to see you.' This joy was expressed to all, and was more than reciprocated by all the volunteers. The hand of General La Fayette had been grasped-that was glory enough then. It is still a pleasant remembrance, but thirty years of hardship in the camp of life have rather tended to prove, to the author at least, that glory is not communicated in so easy and simple a manner."
While the banquet to General La Fayette was in progress two very sensational events occurred on the Capitol lawn, and there might have been a panic had it not been for the calm demeanor of Maj .- Gen. Daniel Newnan, who was in chief command of the troops. The first episode
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was the sudden swooning of Maj. James Smith, of Clinton, on discov- ering that he had been robbed of his pocketbook, which contained something like $5,000 in bills. The other was still more serious. The shirt-sleeves of the man whose duty it was to load the cannon had caught on fire; and, without being aware of the fact, he put his hand into the large cartridge box for another round, when the fire was com- municated to the powder, and the whole lump, containing not less than twenty to thirty pounds, instantly exploded, blowing the poor man several feet into the air and severely wounding two others who were standing near the cannon. There was a general rush of people to the spot. Major Miller, who was present, says that he can never forget the appearance of the poor man who was most injured. His body was literally burnt to a black cinder; and his agony was inexpressibly great. He died within a day or two, but the others, after much suffer- ing, recovered. This melancholy affair hastened the close of the festivities.
From Milledgeville, La Fayette next proceeded to Macon, some twenty-five miles distant, by stage. This was the last town which he visited in Georgia. Two of the governor's aides, Henry G. Lamar and Thaddeus G. Holt, both residents of Macon, acted as an escort to the city's guest of honor, who was accompanied by his two traveling com- panions, Colonel Lavoisier, his secretary, and George Washington La Fayette, his son. Says an old account : *
"On March 30, 1825, a signal gun announced his approach to Macon, whereupon the ladies and gentlemen proceeded to form in line on Bridge Street, near the ferry. He dismounted from his carriage and was received by the committee appointed and by the commissioners of the town. On ascending the bluff he was welcomed in behalf of the citizens by James S. Frierson, Esq., to whom the General replied * * * A procession was then formed and he was conducted to his quarters at the Macon Hotel, afterwards the old Wayside Inn, at the foot of Mulberry Street. While the procession was moving a na- tional salute was fired. Soon after his arrival he was waited upon by the ladies who were individually introduced to him, after which came the citizens, to whom he gave a cordial grasp of the hand. He was then waited upon at his quarters by the brethren of Macon Lodge, Number 24, and addressed by Worshipful Master Ambrose Baber, of the Lodge, to which the General replied. He remained about two hours and a half, during which time, in company with a large number of citizens he partook of an excellent dinner prepared by Mr. Stovall. The following toast was given by Edward D. Tracy: 'Our illustrious guest, the friend of our country, of liberty, and of men.' To which the General responded: 'The town of Macon; may its prosperity con- tinue to be one of the strongest arguments in favor of republican insti- tutions.' Very soon after dinner he bade an affectionate adieu to the ladies and gentlemen around him and resumed his carriage, whereupon another salute was fired. He was accompanied by the committee, by the commissioners of the town, and by a number of our citizens on horseback, for several miles on his way, and stopped for the night at the Creek Agency on the Flint River."
* "Historical Record of Macon," John C. Butler, pp. 76-80.
CHAPTER XIV
NEW LANDS ACQUIRED AT INDIAN SPRINGS OPENED TO SETTLEMENT UNDER THE LOTTERY ACT OF 1826-FIVE GREAT COUNTIES FORMED- LEE, MUSCOGEE, TROUP, COWETA AND CARROLL-THE CHATTAHOOCHEE CIRCUIT IS FORMED-WALTER T. COLQUITT ITS FIRST JUDGE-GOV- ERNOR TROUP'S ADMINISTRATION CLOSES AMIDST TRIUMPHANT PLAU- DITS-DUE TO HIS SUCCESSFUL INDIAN POLICY AND TO HIS BOLD CHAM- PIONSHIP OF STATE RIGHTS-JOHN FORSYTH SUCCEEDS MR. TROUP AS GOVERNOR-DIPLOMAT, STATESMAN AND ORATOR-THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1828 PUTS ANDREW JACKSON IN THE WHITE HOUSE- CALLS MR. BERRIEN INTO THE CABINET AS ATTORNEY-GENERAL- GEORGE M. TROUP SUCCEEDS MR. BERRIEN IN THE FEDERAL SENATE- OLIVER H. PRINCE AWARDED THE TOGA AS SUCCESSOR TO THOMAS W. COBB, RESIGNED-SEVEN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS-NEW RULES OF ELECTION ADOPTED-NEW COUNTIES CREATED-HARRIS, MARION, MERIWETHER, TALBOT, RANDOLPH AND HEARD-GEORGE R. GILMER IS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 1829, DEFEATING JOEL CRAWFORD-PARTIES SOMEWHAT DIVIDED IN THIS ELECTION-TROUBLES WITH THE CHERO- KEE INDIANS-GOVERNOR GILMER'S MESSAGE-AN ACT PASSED EX- TENDING GEORGIA'S JURISDICTION OVER THE CHEROKEE LANDS-GOES INTO EFFECT JUNE 1, 1830-THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD BRINGS MAT- TERS TO A CRISIS-THE WHITES COVET THESE INDIAN HOLDINGS, SUP- POSED TO CONCEAL FABULOUS TREASURES.
NOTES : VILLA RICA-GOLD DISCOVERED.
Five great counties were created out of the lands acquired from the Creek Indians under the last treaty at Indian Springs, to wit :. Lee, Muscogee, Troup, Coweta and Carroll. These were organized under an act approved December 11, 1826, which act provided for a distribution of lands in these counties according to the lottery system which had been in vogue for more than twenty years. It was most appropriate that two of the counties should have been given names commemorative of the Creek Indians-Muscogee and Coweta. The former of these names com- memorated the nation at large; the latter was a memorial to the Lower Creeks, a tribe of which Gen. William McIntosh was the head. Troup was most fittingly named for Georgia's courageous governor, then occu- pying the executive chair. Lee and Carroll were named for distin- guished Revolutionary patriots, the first "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, whose ashes then reposed at Dungeness; the second for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who lived to be the last survivor of the immortal band who signed the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia in 1776.
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The Legislature of 1826 also created the Chattahoochee Circuit, of which Hon. Walter T. Colquitt became the first judge.
Governor Troup's administration closed amidst triumphant plaudits. Its vigorous Indian policy had resulted in a final relinquishment of all the Creek lands within the state. Moreover, it had sounded the death- knell of the once powerful Clark party, whose discomfited leader was soon to become a resident of the State of Florida under an appointment from the Federal Government. Having occupied the executive chair for two successive terms, Governor Troup declined to stand for re-elec- tion. Thereupon the Troup party chose as its candidate for governor the brilliant John Forsyth of Augusta. Mr. Forsyth was then a mem- ber of Congress, where his prowess in debate and his superb oratory made him one of the recognized leaders of the national House. Mr. Forsyth's career in Congress had been interrupted by an appointment from President Monroe as United States minister to Spain; and while at Madrid he had successfully negotiated for the purchase of Florida.
To oppose Mr. Forsyth for governor the Clark party chose Duncan G. Campbell, its strongest leader. Colonel Campbell, having been one of the commissioners to negotiate the treaty at Indian Springs, was deservedly popular on this account. He was also a brother-in-law to Gen. John Clark; and it was hoped that by nominating Colonel Camp- bell to secure an element of strength which was more than likely to be lost to Mr. Forsyth. This was a shrewd move on the part of the Clarkites.
But Colonel Campbell declined to be drawn into the race; and in this extremity the Clark party again nominated Matthew Talbot, who, in 1823, had come within four votes of defeating Governor Troup. Mr. Talbot accepted the nomination; but only a few days in advance of the election death eliminated him from the contest. Mr. Forsyth was there- upon elected without opposition.
Recurring for a moment to Col. Duncan G. Campbell, this much beloved man was the pioneer of female education in this state. As early as 1810 he taught an academy for young ladies in Wilkes to defray his expenses while studying law; and afterwards when a member of the Legislature of 1825 he framed and introduced a bill to establish a female academy under the auspices of the state. The bill failed to pass; but a sentiment was kindled which a few years later bore fruit in Wesleyan Female College at Macon.#
Federalism had been virtually extinct in Georgia for years; and since the beginning of the century it was almost entirely upon personal issues that the people of the state had been divided in political opinion. There had been to some extent an economic basis for this division. The wealthier classes, including the professional element, found themselves drawn into the Troup party, while the small farmers, especially those living on the exposed frontier, supported General Clark. But no great controlling principles differentiated the state's voting population.
However, conditions were changing. The presidential campaign of 1828 witnessed a division of the old democratic republican party into two separate organizations, one of which, retaining the old name,
* "Men of Mark," Northen. Vol. IV, p. 223.
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supported Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee. The other, advocating a system of internal improvements, a protective tariff, a national bank and a broad construction of the Constitution, called themselves national republicans, and supported Mr. Adams for re-election. The extreme radical wing of the party, led by General Jackson, consisted of those who cared little for ancient traditions and who wished to see in the White House one who represented a new order of things. The aristo- cratie or conservative wing of the party adhered to Mr. Adams. These looked upon Jackson, though laureled with the victory of New Orleans, as a plebeian and a backwoodsman, better fitted to guard the frontier against Indian encroachiments than to occupy the presidential chair of the nation. Webster and Clay belonged to this camp, each of them supporting Adams for re-election; and out of this anti-Jackson revolt, for such it undoubtedly was, arose the old whig party of ante-bellum days.
In the campaign of 1828, Jackson defeated Adams for President. At the same time, John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, his running mate, was elected vice president. Mr. Adams was not popular in Georgia, on account of his attitude toward the Indian problem. Geor- gia's nine electoral votes, therefore, were given in this campaign to General Jackson. The electors chosen at this time to cast the vote of the state were: From the state at large, John Rutherford and William Terrell; district electors, Robert R. Reid, Seaton Grantland, David Blackshear, Augustin S. Clayton, Solomon Graves, John G. Maxwell, and Oliver Porter .* For vice president, two of Georgia's votes were given to John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, while seven were cast for William Smith, likewise a South Carolinian.
On entering the White House, President Jackson appointed Hon. John MacPherson Berrien, of Georgia, then a United States senator, to a seat in the cabinet, conferring upon him the attorney-generalship.
To succeed Judge Berrien as United States senator, the Legislature of 1829 elected the stout apostle of State Rights, ex-Governor George M. Troup. Meanwhile, Hon. Thomas W. Cobb, having relinquished the toga, was succeeded by Hon. Oliver H. Prince, of Macon. Mr. Cobb died two years later, on February 1, 1830, while judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit.
Georgia, in the Twentieth Congress (1827-1829) was represented by a strong delegation, to wit: John Floyd, Tomlinson Fort, George R. Gilmer, Charles E. Haynes, Wilson Lumpkin, Wiley Thompson, and Richard Henry Wilde.
The Legislature of 1825 having divided the state into seven con- gressional districts, the new law went into effect at this election. Mem- bers of Congress, however, in each district were still to be elected by the entire state. Separate elections by each district of its own repre- sentative did not come until a later day. But under this new law no two congressmen could be chosen from the same district; and while each voter was allowed to vote for seven candidates, each of these was to represent a separate district.t Says Mr. Phillips: } "The object of
" Lanman's "Biographical Annals of the U. S. Govt.," pp. 522-523.
t Georgia Journal, December, 1825; January, 1826.
+ "Georgia and State Rights," U. B. Phillips, p. 109.
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this law was to give the Clark party a better chance for representation in Congress. All of the best-known men in the state lived in the eastern counties and were of the Troup party ; but after the passage of the act a certain number of candidates from the west were guaranteed elec- tion, while these were most likely to be of the Clark faction." It will be remembered that while Governor Troup was successful in the popu- lar election of 1825, the Legislature of this year was organized by the Clark party, hence this new law, the design of which was, by a sort of gerrymander, to capture new strongholds. But there was a sound basis in right for the new law, which remained of force upon the statute books. Though an effort had been made to preserve a balance between the various parts of the state, in the matter of representation in Con- gress, still it was difficult to secure this result always on a general ticket.
Several new counties were created between the years 1827 and 1830. These were: Harris, Marion, Meriwether and Talbot, laid off in 1827; Randolph, in 1828; and Heard, in 1830. It will be remembered that some twenty years prior to this time a county had been named for John Randolph of Roanoke; but the great Virginian, by his attitude toward the War of 1812, had given offense to the people of Georgia, in conse- quence of which the old county of Randolph in 1812 underwent a re- christening and became the new county of Jasper. But Randolph, having regained his popularity iu the state, was again honored in 1828 .*
Not only in national polities, but likewise in state politics, the year 1828 witnessed a disintegration of old parties. The leaders of the old Troup organization divided in this election, one wing advocating for governor, George R. Gilmer, of Lexington, then a member of Congress, the other endorsing Joel Crawford, of Early County, formerly a resi- dent of Milledgeville. As between the Troup forces, there was almost . an even balance; but the old Clark party was sufficiently strong to hold the balance of power, and its fragments uniting in support of Mr. Gilmer gave him the election. But Mr. Gilmer had never been an ardent admirer of General Clark nor one of his political disciples; and after becoming governor he felt under no obligations to return any favors which an opposing faction had shown him while seeking its own interests; and steps were at once taken by these malcontents to circum- vent the possibility of his re-election, a conspiracy in which they succeeded.
But, in the meantime, Governor Gilmer found other problems upon his hands in dealing with the Cherokees. These Indians in 1827 had adopted a written constitution, claiming independence as one of the distinct nations of the earth. Governor Forsyth, who was then in office, had protested to the President against the erection of a separate gov- ernment within the limits of a sovereign state. During the month of November, 1828, he addressed a message to the Legislature, strongly urging the passage of an act to extend the laws of Georgia over the Cherokee territory, but before putting such a law into effect he sug- gested that the President be given an opportunity to confer with the
* For additional particulars in regard to these counties, see section entitled "Georgia Miscellanies."
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Indians in regard to a western emigration. Following this line of policy, the Legislature passed an act, December 20, 1828, extending Georgia's jurisdiction over the Cherokee domain. All white persons in this territory became at once subject to the laws of Georgia, and, after June 1, 1830, all Indian residents therein were likewise to recognize the sovereignty of Georgia. At the same time all laws enacted by the Cherokee nation were to become null and void. The frequency of crimes committed in the Cherokee nation made it all the more impera- tive for Georgia to take this action.
Thus matters stood when Governor Gilmer was inaugurated. The Cherokees, unlike the Creeks, were peaceably inclined and were rap- idly embracing both the civilization and the religion of the whites, as we shall see in a subsequent chapter. For years, the chief complaint lodged against the Cherokees was that, in refusing to sell a foot of ground, they acted as one man and stood as firm as a granite rock. Until 1828 only moderate efforts had been employed to induce the Cherokees to vacate these lands and only small cessions had been ob- tained from time to time. But in the year above mentioned an event occurred the effect of which was to fire the cupidity of the white set- tlers to possess these lands; and what was at first only a normal desire became all at once an inordinate passion. Men in great bodies began to rush northward impelled by some strange power hitherto unknown as a factor in Georgia's expansion. This was the discovery of the yellow metal around the sources of the Chattahoochee. What sealed the doom of the Cherokee nation and started the drift of Georgia's population with a tremendous impetus toward the valleys of the Blue Ridge, was the lure of Mammon. But to many a disappointed settler it sang the fatal song of a golden siren.
VILLA RICA-GOLD DISCOVERED .- It was the discovery of gold in 1826 that gave to the oldest town in Western Georgia the musical Spanish name by which it is today known: Villa Rica, or "city of riches." The treaty at Indian Springs was no sooner ratified than numbers of settlers began to spread themselves leisurely over the fertile area of country to the west of the Chattahoochee River; but when the tidings went forth that in the upper part of the new country there were rich deposits of gold the feverish influx of population began to resemble an ocean swell, Villa Rica became a sort of Klondyke, to which the argonauts of the period rushed with pick in hand to unearth the fortunes which they here expected to find. But the yellow metal did not exist in sufficient quantities to satisfy the general expectation. It was profitably mined by some of the new comers, who were fortunate enough to strike rich veins, but most of the gold seekers were disappointed and in time drifted to other localities. There was no market or railroad nearer than Augusta, Georgia. At first the mining industry was carried on by means of panning the dirt from the surface of the earth in tin or copper cans, but eventually this crude process yielded to more approved methods. Three years after the discovery of gold in Carroll, the yellow metal was found to exist in much larger quantities, in the neighborhood of Dahlonega, and the center of mining operations in Georgia shifted toward the north, but not a few of the mines in the neighborhood of Villa, Rica were worked with profit until the time of the Civil war, netting substantial dividends to the owners. In 1862, the Georgia Pacific Railway, now the Southern, reached the place where Villa Rica now stands, and gradually the old town disappeared.
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