USA > Georgia > A true and historical narrative of the colony of Georgia, in America, from the first settlement thereof until this present period > Part 6
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· ' practiced in other places to promote trade, when some of the ' employer's money is laid out in necessary buildings and ' improvements fitting for the trade intended, without which it ' cannot be carried on. The benefit of importation therefore is ' all to transient persons, who do not lay out any money ' amongst us, but on the contrary carry every penny out of ' the place, and the chief reason for their enhancing the price ' is because they cannot get any goods here either on freight or ' purchase for another market. If the advantage accruing from ' importation centered in the inhabitants, the profit thereof ' would naturally circulate amongst us, and be laid out in ' improvements in the colony. Your honors, we imagine, are ' not insensible of the numbers that have left this province, ' not being able to support themselves and families any longer ; ' and those still remaining, who had money of their own and ' credit with their friends, have laid out most of the former in ' improvements, and lost the latter for doing it on such pre- ' carious titles. And upon account of the present establishment, ' not above two or three persons, except those brought on ' charity, and servants sent by you, have come here for the ' space of two years past, either to settle land or encourage ' trade, neither do we hear of any such likely to come until we ' are on better terms. It is true, his majesty has been grac- ' iously pleased to grant a regiment for the defence of this ' province and our neighboring colony, which indeed will very ' much assist us in defending ourselves against all enemies, but ' otherwise does not in the least contribute to our support, for ' all that part of their pay which is expended here is laid out ' with transient people, and our neighbors in Carolina, who are ' capable to supply them with provisions and other necessaries ' at a moderate price, which we, as before observed, are not at ' all capable to do upon the present establishment. This, then, ' being our present condition, it is obvious what the conse- ' quence must be. .
' But we, for our parts, have entirely relied on and confided 'in your good intentions, believing you would redress any ' grievances that should appear ; and now by our long exper- * ience from industry and continual application to improvement ' of land here, do find it impossible to pursue it, or even to ' subsist ourselves any longer, according to the present nature
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· of the constitution, and likewise believing you will agree to · those measures that are found from experience capable to ' make this colony succeed, and to promote which we have ' consumed our money, time, and labor, we do, from a sincere ' regard to its welfare, and in duty both to you and ourselves, ' beg leave to lay before your immediate consideration the two ' following chief causes of these our present misfortunes, and ' this deplorable state of the colony, and which we are certain, ' if granted, would be an infallible remedy for both.
' I. The want of a free title or fee-simple to our lands, ' which if granted would both induce great numbers of new ' settlers to come amongst us, and likewise encourage those ' who remain here cheerfully to proceed in making further ' improvements, as well to retrieve their sunk fortunes as to ' make provisions for their posterity.
' 2. The want of the use of negroes, with proper limitations, ' which if granted would both occasion great numbers of white ' people to come here, and also render us capable to subsist ' ourselves, by raising provisions upon our lands, until we ' could make some produce fit for export, in some measure ' to balance our importation. . We are very sensible of the ' inconveniences and mischiefs that have already, and do daily ' arise from an unlimited use of negroes, but we are as sensi- ' ble that these may be prevented by a due limitation, such as ' so many to each white man, or so many to such a quantity of ' land, or in any other manner which your honors shall think ' most proper.
' By granting us gentlemen, these two particulars, and such ' other privileges as his majesty's most dutiful subjects in ' America enjoy, you will not only prevent our impending ' ruin, but, we are fully satisfied, also will soon make this the ' most flourishing colony possessed by his majesty in America, ' and your memories will be perpetuated to all future ages, our ' latest posterity sounding your praises, as their first founders, ' patrons, and guardians ; but if, by denying us these privileges . 'we ourselves and families are not only ruined, but even our ' posterity likewise, you will always be mentioned as the cause ' and authors of all their misfortunes and calamities, which we ' hope will never happen.
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' We are, with all due respect, your honors' most dutiful and ' obedient servants,
' Savannah, December 9th, 1738.
' Henry Parker, his
' Robert R. G. Gilbert, Mark
' Thomas Christie,
' John Fallowfield,
' John Brownfield,
' William Woodroofe,
' Patrick Tailfer,
' Andrew Grant,
' Robert Williams,
Isaac Young, Sr.,
' Samuel Mercer,
James Dormer,
' Patrick Grhame,
William Carter,
' David Douglass,
' Thomas Bailie,
' Hugh Anderson,
' James Williams,
' Edward Jenkins,
' Thomas Ormston,
' Joseph Wardrope,
' George Bunckle,
' Adam Loyer,
' Peter Joubart,
' John Burton,
' Robert Hows,
' William Meers,
' Thomas Salter,
' James Bailow,
' James Anderson,
' William Greenfield,
' Christopher Greenfield,
' Thomas Young, Sr.,
' Henry Green,
' Peter Tector,
' Hugh Frazer,
' John Sallie,
' James Carwells,
' John Lyndall,
' Joseph Fitzwater, .
' Elisha Foster,
' Walter Fox,
' John Penrose,
' David Snook,
Magistrates rates
Thomas Trip, Samuel Holms, James Muer,
William Parker,
John Grhame, James Papot, John Smith,
William Calvert,
Stephen Marrauld,
Richard Mellechamp,
Henry Moulton,
Jacob Watts,
Henry Manley,
Samuel Parker,
Stephen Mounfoord,
David Gender,
James Chainsae,
James Landry,
Lewis Stamon,
William Starflichet,
Simon Rieuwere,
John Young,
Samuel Lacy,
Peter Baillow,
Peter Emry,
William Elbert,
James Houston, Isaac Young,
Robert Hanks,
Archibald Glen,
Thomas Neal,
Stephen Tarrien,
James Smith, Samuel Ward,
Pierre Morelle, John Desborough, Jr.,
Edward Bush,
Benjamin Adams, Charles Britain, John Rae,
----
--
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' Edward Townsend,
' John Desborough,
Thomas Wattle,
- Gorsand,
Thomas Bailie,
' Andrew Duchee,
James Corneck,
' James Gallway,
James Burnside,
' John Kelly,
John Teasdale,
' Joseph Stanley,
Giles Becou,
' Thomas Young,
Francis Brooks, John Clark,
' Thomas Cross,
' Richard Davis,.
George Rush,
' Thomas Tibbet,
Andrew Walker,
' James Dean,
John Miller,
' Donald Stewart,
Thomas Andrews,
' John Dudding,
William Sterling,
' William Ewen,
Thomas Gantlet,
' Henry Loyd,
Richard Rogers,
' John Amory,
William Coltbred,
In all 117."
This representation was signed with the greatest willing- ness by the above one hundred and seventeen free-holders in the county of Savannah, and only a very few of the General's favorites declined to subscribe the same, so strong appeared to all of them the truths therein contained, and the absolute necessity of such an application. The Jews applied for liberty to sign with us, but we did not think it proper to join them in any of our measures ; we likewise did not allow widows and orphans to subscribe, because as the representation contained the absolute necessities of the colony, it might be objected to us that they were no proper judges. As for the people of Ebenezer, the subscribers did particularly appoint some of their number to wait upon Mr. Boltzius, their pastor, and to show him the representation, which was done, and Mr. Boltzius declared that the Saltzburghers were equally dissatisfied with their rights and restrictions as the other free-holders, and he doubted not their willingness to join in petitioning for redress, engaging to consult them, and to bring their answer, which he never did, and being thereafter questioned thereupon by Mr. Anderson (one of the persons commissioned to commune with him as is above related) in the presence of several gentlemen, he, the said Boltzius, after some frivolous excuses, confessed that the Hon- orable Mr. Oglethorpe had both given them satisfaction, and engaged him to write home to Germany for a further supply of his countrymen.
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This gentlemen (we observe it with regret) has been måde the instrument of imposing upon many British subjects by publishing journals and letters (to which we refer) most incon- sistent with truth.
Neither did we admit of servants to sign the same, lest it should be objected that they were under the influence of their masters. By this our conduct it will appear to every person of impartiality, how far we were from using arts* to extort by clamor a redress of our grievances.
A copy of the representation was immediately sent to Frederica, and another to Darien. . The last was sent to Mr. John More McIntosh, and under the same cover a letter to Mr. Benjamin McIntosh; but the first kept up the other's letter, and sent his own with the representation to the General, who immediately despatched Lieut. George Dunbar (who speaks the Highland language, and has a very fluent and artful way of talking) who, with the assistance of More McIntosh, and promises to the poor people of cattle (which they afterwards got) with several other considerations, soon persuaded them to sign a paper, the design of which, they were told, was to oppose the people of Savannah, who being enemies to the General, were petitioning against him. As for their leader, McIntosh, he was immediately set up in a store, and plentifully supplied with all kinds of goods, and has often declared, that if, by acting as he did, he could live well himself, he did not care what became of the rest of the colony ; and as for his children, they might go wander in the woods with the Indians. As soon as it was heard that the representation was come to Frederica, the inhabitants were called together and told that the people of Savannah were going to throw off the government of the trus- tees, and had associated together for that purpose, and there- fore advised them to beware of any snare that might be laid by these people, which, if they were caught in it would ruin them. And thus was the design of the representation quashed both in Darien and Frederica. Some time after this a copy of the representation was sent to Mr. Oglethorpe, together with the following letter, which was wrote by an anonymous author, which we think is partly an explanation of the representation,
*Vide trustees' answer.
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' and likewise a true view of the situation of the colony at that time, with the character Mr. Oglethorpe then bore in it, and for these reasons we here insert it : It was directed,
" To the Honorable James Oglethorpe, Esq., General and Comman- ' der in Chief over all his majesty's forces in South Carolina ' and Georgia, Etc., - at Frederica.
' Sir :
' IT is the common misfortune of all who act in the higher ' stations of life, to be surrounded with flatterers, who con- ' sult rather the humors, passions, and prejudices of their ' patrons, than their honor and interest. This should induce 'every person in such station, who regards his own honor, ‘ interest, or fame, to lend an open and attentive ear to truth, ' in whatever shape or from whatever hand delivered. I, who ' use this freedom with your excellency, being an anonymous ' author, have no other bias, motive or interest in view, fur- ' ther than as I am a member of the colony, and a well-wisher ' to the happiness of society, unless a real and sincere regard ' to your honor and welfare, and an earnest desire to restore 'you to that quiet of mind and the now suspended affections ' of the people, which the present state of affairs must neces- ' sarily deprive you of ; it is not, therefore, of consequence to 'enquire who writes, but what is wrote. I am, sir, a plain- ' dealer, and shall, with the greatest respect, use you with more 'sincerity than ceremony ; and if my arguments can attain the ' desired effect, you will, I doubt not, think me your and the ' colony's real friend. When a skillful physician would relieve ' his patient of a disease, he traces it from the beginning, and ‘ examines the sources and progress of it, in order that by find- 'ing out the cause, he may the more certainly apply a remedy : 'in the body politic the same process is necessary to effect a ' cure. The present languishing and almost desperate condition ' of the affairs of this province is too obvious to your excel- 'lency to need a description. Be pleased then, laying aside ' prepossession and prejudice, to retire. unto yourself, and ' examine impartially whence the present misfortunes take rise, 'in order to which, let me present your excellency with a view ' of the nation's designs in establishing this colony ; and indeed ' they were and are nothing unsuitable to a British or Roman
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'spirit, to wit : the establishing a strong and numerous settle- ' ment as a barrier and safeguard of British America; to ' employ those persons in effecting this end who were least ' useful at home, and others who from the reasonableness of 'the proposals, should voluntarily proffer their service; to 'restore liberty and happiness to those who, oppressed by the ' common misfortunes of mankind, were groaning under the ' consequences of those misfortunes, and incapable to serve 'themselves or country at home ; and, lastly, to set afoot such 'new manufactures as might be most useful to support the ' colony, or tend to rectify the balance of trade of Great Britain ' with neighboring nations-a design truly great, founded on ' the justest policy, and practicable. To suggest that any low ' private design was ever laid down that might tend to make ' the adventurers slaves, or, at best, tenants at will ; or that it ' was a concert to leave the industry and substance of the 'settlers exposed to satisfy the ambition or covetousness of an ·' after governor, or any particular courtier or party ; or to 'imagine that the honorable board of trustees, or any of them, ' could be capable of such a concert; I say, sir, that such a ' thought were impious. What wonder then, if numbers of ' persons, encouraged by his majesty's most ample rights and ' privileges granted in his royal charter to the honorable trustees, 'for the behalf of the inhabitants ; from the beautiful descrip- ' tion of the fertility of the soil and happiness of the climate, ' and lastly, from a view that Mr. Oglethorpe, a gentleman of the ' greatest humanity and generosity, was willing to sacrifice his 'ease, and all those pleasures and enjoyments which his easy ' circumstances of life entitled him to, in order to be the patron 'and father of the distressed, and the distinguished friend of 'his country, society, and human nature; I say, sir, no ' wonder if numbers, upon those views, embarked their per- ' sons, families, and fates in such an adventure. Shall any ' thing then intervene to render such a noble design abortive, 'and frustrate those of their expected happiness, or your excel- 'lency of your deserved honor ? God forbid !
'This colony consists of two sorts of people : either those ' whom the public sent over and supported, or * volunteers,
* By this word was meant those persons who settled in Georgia upon their own expense.
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"who were not burdensome to the public. Both now I look ' upon in the same light, as either party have exhausted their ' support or private stocks in endeavoring to prosecute the · intended plan; but it shall suffice for my argument that so ' many of each kind have applied themselves to this purpose, 'as are sufficient to confirm the experiment, that it is impossible ' for us with British or foreign servants, to afford the lowest ' necessaries of life, much less to increase our stocks or defray ' the many exigencies and disappointments that this soil and ' climate are inevitably exposed to. This I take to be granted ; ' and would to God the success of the colony depended on the 'laying the most satisfying proof of it! And as for persons ' who, from selfish views, have imposed upon the credulity of ' the honorable trustees by representing things in colors dis- 'tant from the truth, it were superfluous to curse them. I do ' not say but in time manufactures may be founded more suit- ' able to the strength and constitution of British servants, that 'might support and enrich the colony ; I heartily pray for that ' happy period, and should then condemn and dissent from any ' who would not be content with the present regulation ; but as ' in the interim production of necessaries is absolutely requisite, ' and under the present establishment impracticable, it follows ' of course, that either the scheme must be altered, or the ' design abandoned. At the first it was a trial, now it is an exper- ' iment; and certainly no man or society need be ashamed to 'own, that from unforseen emergencies their hypothesis did 'misgive; and no person of judgment would censure for want ' of success where the proposal was probable ; but all the world ' would exclaim against that person or society who, through ' mistaken notions of honor or positiveness of temper, would 'persist in pushing an experiment contrary to all probability, ' to the ruin of the adventurers. How many methods may be ' found out by the wisdom of the trustees, for remedying this ' inconvenience, I know not ; one only occurs to me, which is, 'the admitting a certain number of negroes, sufficient to ease ' the white servants from those labors that are most fatal to a ' British constitution. I am very sensible of the inconveniencies . 'of an unlimited use of them in a frontier colony ; but am as. 'sensible that those inconveniencies may be prevented by ' prudent regulations; and their admission for executing the
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' more laborious parts of culture made the means to attract ' numbers of white servants, who would otherwise fly the place 'as a purgatory or charnal-house. If our labor and toil is ' not capable of producing mere necessaries by cultivation of ' land, much less by trade, and as all the neighboring colonies, 'by reason of their negroes, prosecute all branches of it 'at a sixth part of the expense we can, they would forever ' preclude us from any benefit therefrom. And supposing, ' what cannot be admitted, that the nation would consent to ' give a perpetual fund for making up all those deficiencies, what ' benefit could ever accrue to the nation, or what to the settlers ' but a present bare sustenance, and what the certain conse- ' quence but the bequeathing a numerous legacy of orphans to ' the care of providence, since no period of time can be affixed ' when such a support would enable us to provide for ourselves ? ' A second reason which disables us to improve either by land 'or trade, is our want of credit. You know very well that ' both the mercantile and mechanic part of mankind, live ' more by credit than stock, and the man who has a probable ' scheme of improving credit, is naturally entitled to it. As we ' have no stock further to dispense, either in cultivation or ' trade, we are reduced to need the support of credit, which the ' present restrictions of our legal rights and titles to our land ' deprive us of. It is true, indeed, the trustees have assured ' us that those and other restrictions are only temporary, and ' for the welfare of the first settlement, until a proper body of ' laws, which was upon the carpet, should be perfected, and I ' am far from disputing the reasonableness of that resolution, ' while either the public support or private stocks kept us from ' needing credit, but that now the case is altered, the neces- 'sity of removing those restrictions is arrived, to preserve the ' remains of the colony not yet dissolved, and far too late for ' hundreds whom necessity has dispersed in other corners of ' the world. This is a truth, sir, too obvious to need further ' enlargement.
' Hence it is clear, we can insist on demanding our privileges ' as British subjects, from the trustees promises, but we like- ' wise claim them as law; justice, and property. Your excel- ' lency was pleased in the court house of Savannah, to use a ' comparison to satisfy the minds of the people, of a man who
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' would lend his horse but not his saddle, which one refusing : another accepted of. This, I humbly take it, no ways meets ' the case. The king's majesty was owner both of horse and · saddle, of lands and rights, and gave us both in his charter. · We ask but what is there given us. The reliance on the ' public faith brought us to this colony, and to endeavor to ' obviate or disappoint the effects of those promises which ' tempted us here were to justify the decoying us to misery ' under the sanction of the royal authority, than which nothing ' could be more injurious to the fountain of honor. I shall ' suppose, that were full and ample rights given, that some ' idle persons who had no judgment to value or inclination to ' improve their properties, no affections for their families and ' relations, might dispose of their rights for a glass of rum, but ' I absolutely deny that the colony could lose by such an ' exchange. I own such persons were much safer if bound than ' at liberty, but where the affection of the parent and the reason ' of the man die, the person is a fitter inhabitant for Moorfields ' than Georgia. I must notice further that not only are parents ' incapable, for want of credit, to provide for themselves, being ' necessitated to dispose of their servants for want of provis- 'ions, but if they could, only their eldest son could reap the ' benefit, their younger children, however numerous, are left ' to be fed by Him who feeds the ravens, and if they have no ' children their labor and substance descends to strangers. ' How, sir, could you, or indeed any free-born spirit, brook such ' a tenor. Are not our younger children and daughters equally 'entitled to our bowels and affections ? And does human ' nature end with our first-born, and not extend itself to the ' rest of our progeny and more distant relations ? And is it ' not inverting to the order of nature that the eldest son should 'not only enjoy a double portion, but exclude all the other ' children, and having an interest independent of the parents, ' how natural is it he should withdraw that obedience and sub- ' jection which proceeds from parental authority and filial ' dependance ? The trustees are but a channel to convey to ' us the king's rights, and cannot in law or equity, and I dare .
' say, will not abridge those rights. Can we suppose that we ' are singled out for a state of misery and servitude, and that ' so many honorable personages are instruments of it? Far
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' be the thoughts from us. The genius of the British nation, ' so remarkably zealous for liberty and the rights of mankind, ' will never suffer British subjects who have not fled their ' country for crimes, but voluntarily proffered their service and ' risked their all upon the confidence of the public faith and ' the trustees' honor to accomplish a settlement upon the most ' dangerous point of his majesty's dominions; I say, it will never ' allow such to be deprived of public promises of the natural ' liberties of British subjects. As we are on a frontier where ' our lives and fortunes may more frequently come into ' dispute than other people's, our privileges and supports ' should be proportionably greater, for who would venture ' his life to secure no property, or fight to secure to ' himself poverty and misery ; and no doubt our cunning ' and vigilent adversaries, the French and Spaniards, would ' know how to make their own advantage. The king ' has been very gracious, and your endeavors generous and ' useful, in procuring a regiment for our protection ; but let ' me add a truth equally certain, that only the flourishing of the ' colony can support that regiment, and not only the support of ' the soldiers, but your own honor, glory, and reputation are ' intermixed with the fate of the colony, and must stand or fall ' with it.
' To come closer to the point, please to consider the conse- ' quences of refusing the representation of the colony, whereof ' your excellency, as one of the honorable board, will be fur- ' nished with a copy, and how these consequences may affect ' the colony, the nation, the trustees, the military establish- ' ment in this province, the Indians, and your excellency.
' As to the colony, the deferring hitherto the necessary ' relief has already too tragically affected it, by dispersing a ' great part of the inhabitants ; the remainder, in a languishing ' condition, supported more with faint hopes and a continued 'reliance on the honor of the nation and trustees, than ' victuals, while want and meagre famine guard the door of ' many and render them equally incapable to stay or go. The ' town, so beautifully situated to the honor of the contriver, ' bearing the most visible signs of decay and mortality before 'it is fully born, and the once cultivated plantations, now ' overgrown with weeds and brush, are so many hic jacets of
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