USA > Georgia > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county > Part 7
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Finally, Georgia ceded in 1802 her lands west of the Chattahoochee to the Federal Government.
This placed within the sphere of the Federal authorities the whole problem of quieting the Yazoo claims.
"The owners of claims of the Yazoo lands pe- titioned Congress again and again for the enforce- ment of their rights, or at least for an equitable compromise, but nearly a decade passed without any substantial progress toward a settlement.
"President Jefferson thought that the claims were not valid, but that it would be good policy to ar- range a compromise in order to avoid troublesome litigation in equity
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"John Randolph vigorously supported by Troup of Georgia and other Southerners, took the ground that any interference by the Central government in the matter would constitute an infraction of the rights of the State of Georgia. By this line of argu- ment and by copious villification of the bribe-giving Yazoo speculators, Randolph caused congress to de- fer action year by year from 1804 to 1814.
"The judiciary remained as the only branch of the government from which the claimants might obtain assistance. The nationalist attitude of Chief Justice Marshall was well known, and his action could be foretold regarding the claims, if any litigation should bring them within his province. The holders of the Yazoo strip at length saw the futility of their routing petitions to congress, and adopted a scheme to obtain a declaration of the Supreme Court in favor of the validity of their claims. Accordingly, they made up the case of Fletcher vs. Peck, which was brought before the Court in 1809."
(Phillips, in his "Georgia and State Rights", pages 35, 36.)
"In view of the decision of the Supreme Court, Randolph's majority in the House of Representa- tives diminished until in 1814, a Senate bill was con- curred in which provided for a compromise with the
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Yazoo claimants by appropriating five millions of dollars from the Treasury."
(Phillips, page 37.)
Such in outline is the history of what we know as the Yazoo Fraud, and some of the things which fol- lowed in its wake.
What are the lessons we get out of it?
First, let us not be indifferent as to the character or intelligence of those in whom we place political power.
Second, let us be sure that righteous public opinion will in time punish those who are not faithful to their trust.
The bright page in our history, so far as this whole subject is concerned, is the way in which the public was aroused, and in which the public con- science was brought into action, and the fact that there were men ready to take up the fight for Geor- gia and to carry it to a successful conclusion. In that we can take pride, but pride in the past is a vague and empty thing unless we see in the panorama of dead days an incentive to future effort-unless we catch an inspiration therefrom that will impel us to emulate the great deeds of those who have gone before-unless we get therefrom a firm resolve to act nobly our part in the affairs about us-unless taking courage from their trials and problems and
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success, we renew our faith in first principles, and re- dedicate our own lives to faithful and efficient and unselfish service to our State and to our fellowman.
You do well, Madam President and ladies, to mark this spot. You do well to commemorate the site of the first real capital of Georgia before whose doors were destroyed by fire the Yazoo Fraud pa- pers. You do well to perpetuate the thought that no man and no set of men can be faithless to the trusts committed to them without in the end bring- ing down on their heads the shame of their contem- poraries and the contempt of posterity.
Let the tablet stand for all time to turn men's attention to that dramatic scene enacted here on the fifteenth day of February, 1796, and with it the lessons that it teaches .- The News and Farmer.
History of Jefferson County
Jefferson's Part in the World War
"Take up our quarrel with the foe To you from falling hands we throw the torch Be yours to hold it high ; If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields."
CHAPTER IV
JEFFERSON COUNTY'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR
STORIES of the past, songs of "Old, unhappy, far-off things and battles long ago," arouse emo- tions too deep for tears. The glories of the past are not dimmed by the sordidness of familiarity, and the every day things of life cannot detract from the heroes of old for "Charmed magic casements open- ing on the foam of perilous seas, in faery lands for- lorn" seem more beguiling because they are among the distant, far-off things. Are we so modest that our generation can only find super-men in the past and heroes two generations removed?
Modesty suggests that Cour de Leon seems finer than Cooledge, and King Arthur a greater general than Pershing, but in our heart of hearts we know that all history will testify that the bravest soldiers and most gallant defenders are the boys of our gen- eration, members of the American Expeditionary Forces.
Through the years Jefferson County has contrib- uted her quota of stalwart sons for the defense of the nation. This section of the State is noted for its fearless fighters and big-hearted men, which is the prized heritage of the Old South. Such men were
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first to offer themselves to their country when the freedom of the seas was questioned and when the ideals of self-government were involved. Making the world safe for democracy was no hollow phrase to the grandsons of men who, fifty years before, had died for State's Rights. Jefferson County boys hastened into service, offering to make that sacrifice that is old as jealousy and greed, and is the hostage demanded by the monster, War.
The World War occasioned more suffering to non-combatants and a greater death toll than any war in history; but God was good to the people of Jefferson County in that only a very small percent- age of the men in uniform were killed.
Sergeant Ransom S. Rabun, whose home was near Wadley, was a victim of the World War. He served on the Mexican border in 1916, was later attached to Company M, 28th Infantry, First Divis- ion, A. E. F., with which unit he embarked for over- seas service Jan. 14th, 1917. Was wounded in action and died in a field hospital near Soissons, France, as a result of his wounds July 21, 1918. The Jefferson County post American Legion is named for Sergeant Rabun who was first from the county to be killed in action.
Matthews, besides sending her quota of soldiers to the World War, honors the memory of one of her
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bravest boys, Thomas Lewis Gay, who died from pneumonia in France, November 22, 1918. Avera also holds in tender love and honor the memory of Henry G. Irby, another hero who was a victim of that terrible scourge of the American Army camps, influenza, and died at Brest hospital, France, Oct. 7th, 1918.
James Adams, who made the supreme sacrifice May 27, 1918, was reared in Stapleton community. He was a direct descendant of George Stapleton, Sr. When the news of his death came, his mother, Mrs. Eason, wrote to the War Department for some token showing that it was really her son who was killed, and in reply she received a blood-stained letter, the last one she wrote to her boy, which was found on his body.
From the company of fine boys going out from Bartow, there was one who seemed to radiate cheer and brightness wherever he moved; perfect in physique, lovable in disposition, making friends with every one he met, Arlie Claxton was the ideal soldier and when, at the battle of Argonne Forest, October 14, 1918, he made the supreme sacrifice, Georgia and Jefferson added another hero to her already long list. A year later his body was returned, with hundreds of others to America, and sleeps in the family lot at Nails Creek Church.
Willie Roy Dereso was also from Bartow. His
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home was in the country, but he was sent from this town into service in the World War, June 27, 1918. Embarked for overseas Sept. 14, 1918, contracted pneumonia at Portsmouth, England, and died Sept. 28, 1918, none the less a hero than if he had sur- rendered his life in battle.
Clifford Johnson was also a victim of the World War. The Ontranto, the vessel on which he was being shipped overseas, was wrecked off the coast of Ireland and he died a hero and martyr to the cause of freedom.
This was a terrible toll to pay. We shed tears for those who fell on the fields of France, those who died in the line of duty and we bow our heads and hearts in thanksgiving, that walking our streets and doing a man's work in the world are surviving heroes whom it is our privilege to see and know and call our friends.
As the year 1918 wore toward a weary close the number of Service Stars in Jefferson County homes increased. Younger boys went into service and the family sewed one more blue star on the white field of the Service Flag and re-hung it proudly in the window of the home. In several homes a blue star was replaced by a gold star for a son killed in France. This period was the most trying for the family of the enlisted men. Every day brought news of death and disaster.
German guns were
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always booming and the contending armies were close together. There was never a doubt of the ultimate outcome of the conflict, but the terrible price of victory seemed appalling, particularly to the wives and mothers at home.
No account of the war could be even briefly given without a tribute to the folks at home who were largely responsible for the unbroken morale of men in service. The women knitted socks and sweaters, rolled bandages, bought Liberty Bonds, gave to Y. M. C. A. drives and wrote newsy, cheerful letters. At ten o'clock every night in Louisville the electric lights were cut off for one minute's silent prayer for the boys at the front. A deeper spirituality was manifest throughout the county, and this tended to bring the people closer together. Overseas mail was, in a way, common property and news of neigh- borhood boys was read with greatest interest. In response to Woodrow Wilson's proclamation a day of prayer was observed (May 30th) during the long German drive in the year 1918.
Jefferson County people donated over fourteen thousand dollars to the United War Work in 1918, which was far over the quota set for the county. The quota for every war drive for Louisville and the county was carried well over the top by the folks at . home. The spirit as well as the letter of the law was observed in food conservation and wheatless,
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meatless, sugarless meals were the rule. Hon. J. R. Phillips, of Louisville, was a "Dollar a year" man, so designated by Hon. Herbert Hoover to plan and execute food conservation in this section of the State.
A token of patriotism manifest during the war, and one to which the town people point with pride, was the fact that every man in Louisville volun- teered for war duty before the selective draft went into effect and not a person from Louisville was drafted.
The Red Cross did a splendid work. Money was raised again and again. Hours were spent in roll- ing bandages, cutting surgical garments and in sew- ing in any way that was presented. Meetings were held in the Court House every week and boxes of bandages shipped to Red Cross headquarters. The people spared neither time, money nor energy. This time spent every week was in a way an humble con- tribution to the great cause, but we must remember that "they also serve who only stand and wait". A wonderful spirit was manifest by the people. A glorious light of unselfish patriotism glowed in the hearts of the brave boys in the khaki uniforms and the same flame burned in the hearts of those who kissed them and sent them forth to fight that gov- ernment of the people, by the people, and for the people should not perish from the earth.
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