USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. I > Part 6
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With nobler products see thy Georgia teems, Chear'd with the genial sun's directer beams ; There the wild vine to culture learns to yield, And purple clusters ripen through the field. Now bid thy merchants bring their wine no more Or from the Iberian or the Tuscan shore : No more they need th' Hungarian vineyards drain, And France herself may drink her best Champaign: Behold ! at last, and in a subject land, Nectar sufficient for thy large demand :
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1757-8,
Delicious nectar, powerful to improve Our hospitable mirth and social love : This for thy jovial sons-nor less the care Of thy young province, to oblige the fair ; Here tend the silk-worm in the verdant shade, The frugal matron and the blooming maid.
The bad effects which would arise from such a picture so overcharged, are evident. Idlers who saw this description from the pen of a cler- gyman, and calculated on its truth, removed to Georgia, under the belief that the labor of one or two days in the week, would enable them to dress in silk and riot in wine, the remainder of their days : With such expectations many came to Georgia, where to their astonishment they found nothing but complaints, discontents, poverty, dis- case and wretchedness.
The inhabitants discovered that their constitu- tions would not bear the cultivation of the swamp lands, and that the pine lands were unproductive : instead of reaping the rich harvest of plenty, rais- ing commodities for exportation, and wallowing in wealth and affluence, as they had been taught to expect ; the labor of several years had not ena- bled them to provide a coarse common subsist- ence for themselves and families. Under these discouragements, numbers withdrew to the Caro- lina side of the river, where the prospects of success were more promising, and the magistrates observed the infant colony sinking into ruin .- Dispirited by a foresight of the depopulation of the colony, they joined the freeholders in and
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about Savannah, in drawing up a petition, repre. senting their condition, and transmitted it to the · trustees-on this subject their own language will . give the best impressions :-
" To the honorable the trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia.
" May it please your honors,
" We, whose names are under-written, being all settlers, freeholders and inhabitants of the pro- vince of Georgia, and being sensible of the great pains and care exerted by you, in endeavoring to settle this colony, since it has been under your protection and management, do unanimously join to lay before you, with the utmost regret, the fol- lowing particulars. But, in the first place, we must beg leave to observe, that it has afforded us a great deal of concern and uneasiness, that former representations made to you of the same nature, have not been thought worthy of a due consideration, nor even of an answer. We have most of us settled in this colony, in pursuance of a description and representation of it by you, in Britain ; and from the experience of residing here several years, do find, that it is impossible the measures hitherto laid down for making it a co- lony, can succeed. None of all those who have planted their lands, have been able to raise suffi- cient produce to maintain their families, in bread kind only, even though as much application and industry have been exerted to bring it about, as could be done by men engaged in an affair, in
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which they believe the welfare of themselves and posterity so much depended, and which they ima- gine must require more than ordinary pains to make it succeed ; so that by the accumulated ex- penses every year of provisions, clothing, medi- cines, &c. for themselves, families and servants, several of them have expended all their money, nay, even run considerably in debt, and so have been obliged to leave off planting, and making further improvements ; and those who continue, are daily exhausting more and more of their mo- ney, and some daily increasing their debts, with- out a possibility of being reimbursed, according to the present constitution. This being now the general state of the colony, it must be obvious, that people cannot subsist by their land according to the present establishment ; and this being a truth resulting from trial, patience and experi- ence, cannot be contradicted by any theorical scheme of reasoning. The land then, according to the present constitution, not being able to maintain the settlers here, they must unavoidably have recourse to, and depend upon trade ; but to our woful experience likewise, the same causes that prevent the first, obstruct the latter; for though the situation of this place is exceedingly well adapted to trade, and if it were encouraged might be much more improved by the inhabi- tants, yet the difficulties and restrictions which we hitherto have, and at present do labor under, debar us of that advantage. Timber is the only .
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1 thing we have here which we can export, and notwithstanding we are obliged to fall it in plant- ing our land, yet we cannot manufacture it fit for foreign market, but at double the expense of other colonies; as for instance, the river of May, which is but twenty miles from us, with the allowance of negroes, load vessels with that commodity at one half of the price that we can do; and what should induce persons to bring ships here, when they can be loaded with one half of the expense so near us ? therefore the timber on the land is only · a continual charge to the possessors of it, though of very great service in all the northern colonies, where negroes are allowed, and consequently la- bor cheap. We do not in the least doubt, but that in time, silk and wine may be produced here, particularly the former ; but since the cultivation of lands with white servants only, cannot raise provision for our families, as before mentioned, therefore it is likewise impossible to carry. on these manufactures according to the present con- stitution. It is very well known that Carolina can raise every thing that this colony can, and they having their labor so much cheaper, will always ruin our market, unless we are in some measure on a footing with them ; and as in both, the lands are worn out in four or five years, and then fit for nothing but pasture, we must always be at a great deal more expense than they in clearing new land for planting. The importation of necessaries for life comes to us at the most extravagant rate ;
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merchants in general, especially of England, not being willing to supply the settlers with goods upon commission, because no person here can make them any security of their lands and im- provements, as is very often practised in other places, to promote trade, where some of the em- ployers money is laid out in necessary buildings and improvements, fitted for the trade intended ; without which it cannot be carried on. The be- nefit of the importation, therefore, is to all transi- ent persons, who do not lay out any money among us, but on the contrary carry every penny out of the place ; and the chief reason for their enhanc- ing the price, is, because they cannot get any goods here, either on freight or purchase for ano- ther merchant. 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 any longer, and those still remaining, who have money of their own, and credit with their friends, have laid out most of the former in improvements, and lost the latter by doing it on such precarious 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
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of any such likely to come, until we are on bet- ter terms.
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" It is true, his majesty has been graciously pleased to grant a regiment for the defence of this province and the neighboring colony, which in- deed will much assist us in defending ourselves against our 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 of Carolina, who are capable of supporting them with provisions and other necessaries at a mode- rate price, which we as before observed, are not at all capable of doing upon the present establish- ment : This being our present condition, it is ob- vious what the consequences must be.
" But we, for our parts, having entirely relied on, and confided in your good intentions, believ- ing you would redress such grievances that should arise, and now by long experience from industry and continual application to improvement on our land, do find it impossible to pursue it, or sub- sist ourselves any longer, according to the pre- sent nature of the constitution : And likewise be- lieving that you will agree to the measures which are found by experience, capable of making this colony succeed, and to promote which, we have spent all 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 solicit your immediate consideration to the two follow-
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ing chief causes of these our misfortunes, and the deplorable state of the colony ; and which. we are certain, if granted, would be an infallible reme- dy to both :
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" First. The want of a free title or fee simple ? to our lands, which if granted, would occasion great numbers of new settlers to come amongst us, and likewise encourage those who remain here, cheerfully to proceed in making further im- provements, as well to retrieve their sunk for- tunes, as to make provision for their posterity.
" Second. The want and use of negroes with proper limitations, which if granted, would both induce great numbers of white people to come here, and also render us capable of subsisting ourselves by raising provisions upon our lands, until we could make some produce from it for exportation, and in some measure to balance our importation. We are very sensible of the incon- veniencies and mischiefs that have already and do daily arise from an unlimited use of negroes ; but we are as sensible that these might be prevented by a proper 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 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.
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majesty in America, and your memories will be' perpetuated to all future ages, our latest posterity sounding your praises as their first founders, pa- trons and guardians : but if, by denying us those 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.
, `" We are with all due respect, your honors most dutiful, and obedient servants.
Savannah in Georgia, December 9th, 1738."
This representation was signed by all the free- holders in the county of Savannah (now Chat- ham) except a few, who adhered to the arrange- ments of the trustees, and the plans of the general. Copies of this petition were drawn up, and one sent to the Revd Mr. Boltzius, at Ebenezer, and another to John Moore M'Intosh, at Darien. The Germans and Highlanders, not only refused join- ing in the petition, but drew up and signed a counter one, and Mr. M'Intosh enclosed the one transmitted to him, to Oglethorpe, at Frede- rica. As these petitions form the counterpart of the former, and give a true impression of the em- barrassments with which the general had to con- tend ; it is thought proper to insert them :
" To his Excellency General Oglethorpe.
" We are informed that our neighbors of Savannah, have petitioned your excellency for the
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liberty of having slaves ; we hope and earnestly intreat that before such proposals are harkened unto, your excellency will consider our situation, and of what dangerous and bad consequences such liberty would be to us, for many reasons.
" First. The nearness of the Spaniards, who have proclaimed freedom to all slaves who run from their masters, make it impossible for us to keep them, without more labor in watching them, than they would be at to do their work.
" Second. We are laborious, and know a white man may be by the year, more usefully employed than a negro.
" Third. We are not rich, and becoming debt- ors for slaves, in case of their running away, or dying, would inevitably ruin the poor master, and he become a greater slave to the negro mer- chant, than the slave he bought could be to him.
Fourth. It would oblige us to keep a guard duty, at least as severe as when we expected a daily invasion ; and if that was the case, how miserable would it be to us, and our wives and children, to have an enemy without, and a more dangerous one in our bosom.
" Fifth. It is shocking to human nature, that any race of mankind, and their posterity, should be sentenced to perpetual slavery ; nor in justice, can we think otherwise of it, than that they are thrown amongst us, to be our scourge one day or other for our sins ; and as freedom to them must be as dear as to us, what a scene of horror must
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it bring about ! and the longer it is unexecuted, the bloody scene must be the greater. We there. fore for our own sakes, our wives and children, and our posterity, beg your consideration, and in- treat that instead of introducing slaves, you will put us in the way to get some of our countrymen, who with their labor, in time of peace, and our vigilance, if we are invaded ; with the help of those will render it a difficult thing to hurt us, or that part of the province we possess. We will forever pray for your excellency, and are with all submission,
Your excellency's most obedient, Humble servants, &c.
New-Inverness ( Darien ) 3d, Jan. 1739." [This petition was signed by eighteen inhabitants of Darien.]
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" To his excellency Gen. Oglethorpe," Ebenezer, 13th March, 1739. " We the Saltzburghers, and inhabitants of Ebenezer, that have signed this letter, intreat humbly in our, and our brethren's names, your . excellency would be pleased to show us the fa- vor of desiring the honorable trustees for sending to Georgia, another transport of Saltzburghers, to be settled at Ebenezer. We have with one accord wrote a letter to our father in God, the Reverend Mr. Senior Urlspurger, at Augsperg, and in that letter expressly named those Saltz- burghers and Austrians, whom, as our friends,. relations and countrymen, we wish to settle here. We can indeed attest of them, that they fear the .
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Lord truly, love working, and will conform them- selves to our congregation. We have given them an account of our being settled well, and being mighty well pleased with the climate and condition of this country, having here several preferences in spiritual and temporal circumstan- ces, for other people in Germany, which your honor will find in the here-enclosed copy of our letter to Mr. Senior Urlsperger; if they fare as we do, having been provided in the beginning with provisions, a little stock for breeding, some tools and good land, by the care of the honorable trustees, and if God grants his blessing to their work, we doubt not, but they will gain with us, easily, their bread and subsistence, and lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. Though it is here a hotter climate than our native country is, yet not so extremely hot as we were told on the first time of our arrival ; but since we have now been used to the country, we find it tolerable, and for working people very convenient, setting themselves to work early in the morning, till ten o'clock, and in the after- noon, from three to sunset ; and having business at home, we do them in our huts and houses, in the middle of the day, till the greatest heat is over. People in Germany are hindered by frost and snow in the winter, from doing any work in the fields and vineyards : but we have this preference, to do the most and heaviest work at such a time, preparing the ground suf.
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ficiently for planting in the spring. We were told by several people, after our arrival, that it proves quite impossible and dangerous for white people to plant and manufacture the rice, being a work only for negroes, not for European people ; but havingexperience of the contrary, we laugh at such a talking, seeing that several people of us have had; in last harvest, a greater crop of rice than they wanted for their own consumption. If God is pleased to enable us, by some money, for building such mills convenient for the clean- ing the rice, as we use in Germany for the ma- king several grains fit for eating, then the manu- facture of rice will be an easy and profitable thing : For the present we crave your excellencies good- ness to allow for the use of the whole congrega, tion, some rice sieves of several sorts, from Charleston, which cannot be had at Savannah ; we will be accountable to the store for them .--- Of corn, pease, potatoes, pumpkins, &c. we had such a good quantity, that many bushels were, and much was spent in feeding calves, cows and hogs. If the surveyor, according to his order and duty, had used dispatch in laying out our farms, (which we have got not sooner than last. fall.) Item ; if not, we all were disappointed by long sickness, and planting the yellow. Pennsyl- vania corn, we should have been able, by the blessing of God, to spare a greater quantity of grain, for getting meat kind and clothes, of which we are in want. It is true, the ten acres of
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ground for each families garden, are set out some time ago; but there being very few swamps fit for planting rice, and some of them wanting a great deal of manure, we were not able in the beginning to manure it well, therefore we could not make such a good use of those acres as we now have reason to hope, by the assistance of God, after our plantations are laid out. Hence it is that we plant the good ground first, and im- prove the other soil then, when occasion may re- quire it, in the best manner we can. In the first time, when the ground must be cleared from trees, bushes and roots, and fenced in carefully, we are to undergo some hard labor, which after- wards will be easier and more pleasing, when the hardest trial is over, and our plantations are better regulated. A good deal of time was spent in building huts, houses and other necessary buildings in town, and upon the farms ; and since we wanted money for several expences, several persons of us have hired ourselves out, for some weeks, for building the orphan-house, and its ap- purtenances .- Item ; the Reverend Mr. Gro- nau's house, which happened to be built in the hottest summer season ; and now some of us are employed to build the Reverend Mr. Bolzius' house, which buildings have taken away some time from our work in the ground; but the fair opportunity of earning some money at home, was a great benefit to us: this being so, that neither the hot summer season, or any thing else, hin- ders us from working the ground ; and we
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wish to live a quiet and peaccable life at our place. We humbly beseech the honorable trus- tees not to allow it, that any negroes might be brought to our place, or in our neighborhood ; knowing by experience that our fields and gar- dens will be always robbed by them, and white persons be put in danger of life because of them, besides other great inconveniences : likewise we humbly beseech you and the trustees, not to give any person the liberty of buying up lands at our place, by which, if granted, it would happen, that by bad and turbulent neighbors, our congrega- tion would be spoiled, and poor harmless people troubled and oppressed ; but we wish and long for such neighbors to be settled here, whose good name and honest behaviour, is known to us and our favorers. The honorable trustees have been always favorers and protectors of poor and dis- tressed people, therefore we beseech you and them, they would be pleased to take us farther under your fatherly care, that the remembrance of their benevolence and kindness to our congre- gation, might be conveyed to our late posterity, and be highly praised. We put up our prayers to God for rewarding your excellency, and the honorable trustees manifold, for all their good as- sistance and benefits which are bestowed upon us, and humbly beg the continuance of your and their favor and protection, being with the great- est submission and respect,
Your honors most obedient dutiful servants." [This petition was signed by the inhabitants of Ebenezer. ]
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" We the ministers of the congregation at Eben- ezer, join with the Saltzburghers in this petition, and verify, that every one of them has signed it with the greatest readiness and satisfaction.
JOHN MARTIN BOBLIUS, ISRAEL CHRISTIAN GRONDER."
If the same people had been settled in a coun- try, some hundreds of leagues from the other colonies of Great-Britain, out of the reach of such examples and indulgencies as were gran- ted to the Carolinians, it is probable that they might have submitted to the regulations which were established for their government : but they considered themselves as forming a bulwark on advanced ground, for the defence of their neigh- bors and their property, against the Spaniards. Notwithstanding the trustees required nothing from the people, but what they had bound them- selves by covenants and indentures to perform, yet they considered themselves as subjects to the same king, consequently entitled to the same privileges. The Germans and Highlanders hav- ing been brought up in the habits of industry, yielded to a fulfilment of their contracts for the public good, and under a full confidence that the trustees would, in due time, extend to them such privileges as would eventually tend to their inter- est and happiness. The people about Savannah, having been, not only useless members, but bur- thensome to society at home, determined to be
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equally so abroad ; and as they generally, had nothing to loose, they determined obstinately to persist in their demands until their wishes were gratified, or the colony ruined. Idleness and dissipation prevailed to such a formidable degree, that the people were on the verge of starvation. 'The object of the trustees was to compel them to labor, and their object was to live without la- bor. There were many reasons however, on ac- count of which, the complaints of the settlers were entitled to some notice by their patrons. The land about Savannah was granted indis- criminately, without any regard to its quality, or the ability of the owner to cultivate it : some of the lots were rich and valuable, others poor. The farmer who was obliged to cultivate pine land, was absolutely compelled to plant where he could not reap a valuable consideration for his labor. The river or swamp land was clothed with an im- mense quantity of heavy timber, and with all the advantages of experience, it requires twenty hands one year, to put forty acres of it in a con- dition for advantageous cultivation. The air from the swamps was pregnant with nauseous quali- ties, generating disease and ending in debility : the sea-breezes could not penetrate the thick fo- rest sufficiently to agitate the air, which at some seasons, is thick, heavy and foggy, at others, clear, close and suffocating ; either of which was con- sidered pernicious to health. The poor settlers considered that the wild beasts had been robbed
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of their birth-right, when this howling wilderness was fixed on for a human habitation. The pro- gress of the colony was also retarded by wild speculative schemes, of its most favorable pro- ductions : silk and wine appear to have been the delusive phantoms that misled the trustees. The first objects of cultivation should have been .di- rected to necessary food and clothing for the peo- ple : no other colony lay so convenient for sup- plying the West-Indies with pease, beans, pota- toes, &c. for which the demand was great, and the furnishing these articles would have been profitable ; though the West-India islands produ- ced those articles, the planters would rather have purchased than raised them, because they could have turned their attention to other species of cultivation which were more profitable. Abund- ance of stock, particularly hogs and cattle, might have been raised in Georgia for the same market : lumber was also in demand, and might have been rendered profitable to the province, had it not been prevented by the restrictions of the trustees. European grain, such as wheat, rye, barley and cats, would have thriven almost as well upon an oyster bank, as on the sandy land of Georgia, though the interior is well adapted to their culture. Silk and wine were not found to answer their expectations, because the process was too tedious for a new colony.
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