USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 3
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Notwithstanding the enthusiastic praise which some of the settlers had bestowed upon the cli- mate of Georgia, its fertility, salubrity, and the almost Arcadian life of those who had emigrated thither, it was soon found to be less healthy and productive than the imaginative had supposed. The colonists, too, partly owing to the absence of Oglethorpe, were neither happy nor prosperous.
When the governor sailed for England in April, 1734, he delegated his authority, mainly, to one Thomas Causton. Other magistrates were, in- deed, associated with him, but, as Causton had
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
sole charge of the public stores, they were de- pendent upon him for subsistence, and, conse- quently, entirely under his control.
This man, who was of low origin, soon became intoxicated with the powers vested in him. He grew proud, haughty, and cruel ; assumed a sort of gubernatorial state; compelled eight free- holders, with an officer, to attend at the door of the court-house when it was in session, with their guns and bayonets, ordering them to rest their firelocks as soon as he appeared. He bullied the jurors, and threatened with the jail, stocks, and whipping-post, all who dared to oppose his arbi- trary proceedings.
Among the victims of this tyrannical conduct was Captain Joseph Watson. He brought a charge against this militia officer of stirring up animosi- ties in the minds of the Indians. Watson was indicted, and Causton appeared against him in the triple character of witness, prosecutor, and judge. The jury returned twice without finding the prisoner guilty of any crime, except that of using certain unguarded expressions. Causton commanded the jury to return, find him guilty of lunacy, and recommend him to the mercy of the court. They did so: Causton immediately or- dered him to prison, and, without passing any sentence, confined him there for three years.
In December, 1734, Mr. Gordon was sent over by the trustees as chief magistrate, but old Caus-
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COLONISTS DISSATISFIED.
ton's cunning soon devised an expedient to rid him of his adversary. Gordon was refused either money or provisions from the public store, and this refusal rendering him incapable of supporting himself and family, he was obliged, after a stay of six weeks, to return to England. After Gor- don's resignation, two others were appointed ; but the first died soon afterward, and the second soon became a pliant tool in the hands of Causton ; so that the latter was eventually reinstated in his authority, and became as absolute as ever.
But the colony flourished no longer. The sys- tem of rules framed by the trustees was found to be but little adapted to the circumstances and situation of the poor settlers. The principal part of the people had been idlers and outcasts at home, and it was found impossible to make industrious farmers of them abroad. The tenure by which they held their lands offered no inducements to any extraordinary exertion, as, in default of male heirs, the lands reverted to the trustees at the death of the occupant. The restrictions placed upon the Indian trade injured Georgia, while it benefited Carolina, where the trade was carried on unshackled by conditions. In Carolina, too, the people could buy as many negroes as they pleased, possess by a fee-simple title several hun .. dred acres of land, and choose it from the best that was vacant.
These comparisons between the two conditions
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
of provinces adjoining each other soon rendered the Georgians dissatisfied, and tempted many to cross the Savannah River and take up land under the more favourable auspices of Carolina.
In the year 1735, the British government hav- ing appropriated large sums of money to the settlement of Georgia, and deeming its rapid increase in population to be of the utmost im- portance to the other colonies, became more vigorous in its efforts.
Finding that the poorer classes, who formed the first settlers, were as idle and useless abroad as they had previously been at home, the trustees now sought for a hardy, bold, industrious race of men, accustomed to rural pursuits. Turning their eyes to Germany and Scotland, they resolved to send over a number of men from both those countries, to strengthen the infant colony.
A number of Highlanders immediately accepted the proposals, and were transported to Georgia. They were settled on the Alatamaha, where they built a town and called it New Inverness. It is at present known by the name of Darien. About the same time, one hundred and seventy Germans embarked with Oglethorpe, and joined their coun- trymen at Ebenezer. Thus in the space of three years, Georgia received six hundred inhabitants, one-third of whom were Germans.
Oglethorpe arrived in Georgia the 5th of Febru- · ary, 1736, bringing with him a number of guns
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JOHN WESLEY.
for the forts and batteries already erected, or yet to be built at Savannah, Frederica, Augusta, and other places.
The town of Augusta, now to be garrisoned, had been laid off and partially settled the year previous. Several warehouses were already built, and furnished with goods suitable for the Indian trade. Boats, constructed by the inhabitants, and calculated to carry about ten thousand weight of peltry, made four or five voyages to Charleston annually. Augusta soon became a general resort for the Indian traders in the spring, where they purchased annually nearly two thousand pack- horse loads of peltry. It was estimated that six hundred white persons were engaged in this trade.
The celebrated John Wesley accompanied Ogle- thorpe to Georgia, with the intention of acting as a missionary among the Indians, as well as preaching to the colonists. Before he left Eng- land, Wesley and his followers were distinguished by a more than common strictness of religious life. They received the sacrament of the Lord's supper every week; observed all the fasts of the church ; visited the prisons ; rose at four o'clock ,in the morning, and refrained from all amuse- ments. From the exact manner in which they disposed of every hour, they acquired the appel- lation of Methodists, by which title their followers have ever since been denominated.
Wesley soon gained a number of proselytes ;
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
but, in doing so, was unfortunate in creating un- pleasant divisions among the people. His ene- · mies charged him with requiring from his converts too much of their time to attend prayer-meetings and sermons, fixed at improper hours, thus se- riously interfering with their industrial pursuits. Other and more serious allegations were made ; but we may justly conclude, from his subsequent irreproachable life, that they were either false, or exceedingly broad exaggerations of the truth. Finding himself involved, through the malice of ill-disposed persons, in difficulties of a mortifying nature, he abruptly left the province, and never afterward returned.
CHAPTER IV.
Oglethorpe makes a treaty with the Governor of East Florida -Confers with a commissioner from Havana-Embarks for England-Revival of discontents among the colonists-They petition the trustees for fee-simple titles, and the use of slaves-Counter-petition from the Germans and Scotch-The true condition of the settlers stated.
THE presence of Oglethorpe in February, 1736, soon produced a good effect in allaying the inter- nal dissensions of the colony, and strengthening it against the threatened hostility of the Spa- niards. Finding that the Georgians were gradu- ally acquiring ability to cope with the forces
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SPANISH JEALOUSY.
stationed at St. Augustine, the governor of that place, though still regarding his neighbours with a jealous eye, thought it expedient to enter into a · negotiation with the English colony.
The terms upon which the treaty was concluded were just and reasonable to both the contracting parties. But it soon appeared that the Spanish ministry at home were far from being desirous that a fair understanding should be established between the two colonies. Their object was to compel the British government to relinquish the design of settling the colony of Georgia. Their ambassador at the court of London was instructed , to present a memorial to the Duke of Newcastle, - claiming it as indisputable that the colony of Georgia was settled upon his master's dominions. No plainer proof was needed to show that the Spaniards were determined, if possible, to compel the crown of Great Britain to surrender this set- tlement. This was soon made more clearly ap- parent.
In the course of the year, Oglethorpe was notified by a message from the governor of St. Augustine, that a Spanish commissioner from Havana had arrived in Florida to make certain demands of him, and would meet him at Frederica for that purpose. At the same time information was obtained that three companies of infantry had been landed with the commissioner at St. Augustine.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
A few days afterward, Oglethorpe held a con- ference with the commissioner in Jekyl Sound. The latter demanded that the English should evacuate, without loss of time, all the territories to the southward of St. Helena Sound, as they belonged to the King of Spain, who was deter- mined to maintain his right to them. Oglethorpe endeavoured to argue the matter ; but as the de- mand continued positive and peremptory, the conference broke up without coming to any agree- ment.
Apprehensive of danger, Oglethorpe embarked immediately and sailed for England, for the pur- pose of obtaining a sufficient force to meet the enemy in case the colony should be invaded. On - his arrival, he found the trustees disposed to suspend further proceedings, as war had not yet been formally declared between the two nations.
At length, late in the year 1737, the danger to the colony was found to be growing imminent. On the 10th of August, the trustees petitioned that the military strength of Georgia might be increased to an extent sufficient to protect the province from the additional forces thrown into Florida by the Spaniards.
On the 25th of the same month, Oglethorpe was appointed a colonel, with the rank of general, and commander-in-chief of the forces in South Carolina and Georgia; with orders to raise a regiment with all possible expedition for the pro-
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DISCONTENT OF THE COLONISTS.
tection of the frontiers of the colonies. This regi- ment reached Georgia in September, 1738.
During Oglethorpe's absence, the discontent of the people had ripened into a settled aversion to their condition. They discovered that their constitutions would not bear the cultivation of the swamp lands ; and that the pine lands were un- productive. Instead of reaping the rich harvest of plenty, raising commodities for exportation, and rolling in wealth and affluence, as they had been taught to expect,-the labour of several years had not enabled them to provide a coarse, common subsistence for themselves and families. Under these discouragements, numbers of them withdrew to the Carolina side of the river, where the prospects of success were more promising.
Dispirited by a foresight of the depopulation of the colony, the magistrates joined the free- holders in and about Savannah, in drawing up a petition to the trustees, asking the latter to grant, as remedies for the grievances under which the settlers laboured, a fee-simple title to all lands held by them, and the use of negroes under pro- per limitations.
In this petition, the hardy, industrious Ger- mans and Highlanders would not join. On the contrary, in counter-petitions, drawn up and pre- sented to Oglethorpe soon after his arrival in 1738, while they were silent in regard to the restrictions under which their lands were held,
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
they denounced in the strongest terms the intro- duction of slaves into the colony ; the Scotch asserting that a white man could labour more usefully than the slave; and the Germans ex- pressing themselves perfectly contented with their condition, while they denied emphatically the necessity of employing negroes in the culture of rice. The Highlanders and Germans both, in- terceded for the introduction of more of their own countrymen, to assist them in their labours during the prevalence of peace, and strengthen them with their weapons in case they should be invaded.
In the German petition, they draw an excellent contrast between the land they had left and that of their adoption. It is well worthy of being preserved, as giving quite a picturesque glimpse of the habits of the period :
" Though it is here," they go on to say, "a hotter climate than our native country, yet it is not so extremely hot as we were told on our first arrival. Since we are 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 afternoon from three to sunset. Having business at home, . we do it in our 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
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SLAVES INTRODUCED.
heaviest work at such a time, preparing the ground sufficiently for planting in the spring. At first, when the ground has to be cleared of trees, bushes, and roots, and fenced in carefully, we undergo some hard labour ; but it becomes easier and more pleasing when the hardest trial is over, and our plantations are better regulated."
It will be seen by the reader that Georgia con- tained two very different classes of men; one which laboured heartily, and was prosperous and contented; while the other charged the climate and soil with causing that deplorable condition of things which should have been ascribed to their own idleness and dissatisfaction.
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Had the whole of the colonists consisted of such men as the Saltzburghers and the Highlanders, Georgia might have favourably compared with the most flourishing of her sister States, both in popu- lation and in wealth. But evil counsels prevailed. The idlers far outnumbered those who worked, and although the trustees stood out for a long time, slaves were eventually admitted, and the energies of the industrious whites correspondingly paralyzed.
On the one hand, it must be admitted that a portion of the settlers had just cause of complaint. The land about Savannah was granted indiscrimi- nately. Some of the lots were rich and valuable. others poor. The farmer who was obliged to cultivate pine land could barely subsist by his
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
labour ; while the river and swamp land was so heavily clothed with timber, that it required twenty hands for one year to put forty acres in a good condition for cultivation. There is no doubt, also, that the air from the swamps generated intermittent and bilious fevers. The sea-breeze could not penetrate the thick forests sufficiently to agitate the air, which at some seasons is heavy . and foggy, and at others clear, but close and suffocating.
CHAPTER V.
Difficulties between England and Spain still continue-Spanish encroachments-England declares war-Agents from St. Augustine deceive the Creeks-Oglethorpe's troubles-The trustees change the tenure of land in Georgia-Refuse to admit negroes or ardent spirits-Spanish perfidy-Conspi- racy to murder Oglethorpe-His narrow escape-The ring- leaders shot-Negro insurrection in Carolina quelled-Decla- ration of war-Oglethorpe projects an expedition to St. Augustine, which fails-Conduct of his enemies in Georgia and Carolina-Condition of Georgia in 1740.
SEVERAL years passed without England and Spain coming to an open rupture, yet there was not a good understanding between the two courts, either as regarded the privileges of navigation or the southern limits of Georgia. The British mer- chants claimed, by treaty, the privilege of cutting . logwood in the Bay of Campeachy; and finding
ST. AUGUSTINE REINFORCED. 51
this tolerated by Spain, extended their claim to a traffic with the Spaniards, and supplied them with English manufactures.
To check this illicit trade, the Spaniards doubled their marine force on that station, and directed the seizure of all vessels carrying contra- band commodities. At length, not only smugglers, but fair traders were searched and detained. This injustice produced remonstrances to the Spanish court, which were answered by evasive promises and vexatious delays.
In the mean time, considerable reinforcements were sent to the garrison at St. Augustine, and a surplus of arms, ammunition, and clothing, which were supposed to be intended for the Indians.
Georgia and Carolina now became seriously alarmed. The lieutenant-governor of the latter province despatched advice to England of the growing power of Spain in East Florida, and ac- quainted the trustees with the fact that such preparations were making there as evidently por- tended hostilities ; and as the Spaniards pretended to have a claim to Georgia, there were strong grounds to believe that they would assert their claim by force of arms. The king resolved to maintain his rights and vindicate the honour of his crown. Instructions were despatched to the British ambassador at Madrid to demand, in ab- solute terms, a compensation for the injuries of trade. The Spanish government agreed to allow
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
the demand, on condition of its claims upon the South Sea Company being deducted, and Ogle- thorpe's settlers recalled from Georgia.
These conditions were indignantly rejected by the court of Great Britain. The Spanish ambas- sador at London was informed that the King of . England was determined on maintaining his right to every single foot of land within the province of Georgia; and that he must allow his subjects to make reprisals, since satisfaction for their losses in trade could be obtained in no other way.
The Hector and Blandford ships of war had been ordered to convey Oglethorpe's regiment to Georgia, where they arrived in September, 1738.
The general established his head-quarters on Jekyl and Cumberland Islands, to watch the mo- tions of the enemy. During these preparations, Spanish agents from St. Augustine, knowing the attachment of the Creek Indians for Oglethorpe, went among them, and, impressing them with a belief that he was at St. Augustine, prevailed upon some of them, by promises of considerable presents, to visit him at that place.
Finding, on their arrival, that a deception had been practised upon them, they became highly offended. The Spanish governor, in order to cover the fraud, pretended that the general was sick on board of a ship in the harbour, and invited the chiefs to go there and see him. But the Indians, suspicious of some deep design, refused to go,
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OGLETHORPE'S TROUBLES.
rejected their presents and offers of alliance, and . immediately left the place. When they reached their towns, they found an invitation from Ogle- thorpe to meet him at Frederica. They imme- diately repaired thither, and renewed, with an ardour increased by the conduct of the Spaniards, their former treaty of friendship and alliance.
But while thus watchful over the interests of the colony, Oglethorpe was continually harassed with unceasing complaints from the people in and around Savannah. Letters written in the boldest style, and couched in the most vigorous language, were addressed to him over the signature of " The Plain Dealer ;" while petitions, numerously signed, were forwarded by the malcontents to the trustees in London. They were clamorous for rum, for the privilege of purchasing slaves, and for fee-simple titles to their lands.
Finding that the discontent and uneasiness among the settlers were not likely to be allayed until some favourable action was taken upon their petitions, the trustees met on the 15th of March, 1739, and removed the only real cause of com- plaint, by passing a resolution, that in default of male issue, any legal possessor of land might, by a deed in writing, or by his last will and testa- ment, appoint his daughter as his successor, or any other male or female relation ; with a proviso, that the successor should, in the proper court in Georgia, personally claim the lot granted or de-
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
vised, within eighteen months after the decease of the grantor or devisor. This privilege was soon after extended to every legal possessor, who was empowered to appoint any other person to be his successor.
The petition for the introduction of negroes was at the same time rejected, out of considera- tion for the firm, but respectful remonstrances of the Scotch and German settlers.
All kinds of ardent spirits, however, in spite of prohibition, soon found their way, by secret channels, into the colony. So feeble or so im- perfect were the exertions made to suppress their introduction, that Oglethorpe, while sitting in the apartments of respectable officers or settlers, would frequently observe them retire to an ad- joining room to indulge privately in the use of the interdicted spirits, at the smell of which he would exclaim : " Wo to the liquor if it come to my sight !" That which he discovered was always thrown away.
The darling project of General Oglethorpe was to restrain the Spaniards to the south of St. John's; for which purpose he established a chain of forts from Augusta to the mouth of that river. But while he was thus preparing his colony for defence against the invasion of the enemy, a criminal scheme was concocted against him, which, had it been successful, would have involved the most dangerous consequences. Treason was
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CONSPIRACY AGAINST OGLETHORPE.
discovered in the centre of his camp, and a deep- laid plot had been planned to assassinate him.
Two companies of his regiment had been drawn from Gibraltar, some of whom could speak the Spanish language. Detachments from these com- panies had been stationed on Cumberland Island, and the Spanish outposts on the other side could approach so near as to converse with them. One man of these companies had been in the Spanish service, and not only understood their language, but, being himself a Catholic, professed an aver- sion to the Protestant religion. The Spaniards found, through this villain, the means of corrupt- ing the minds of several of the British soldiers, who united in forming a design to murder Ogle- thorpe, and then make their escape to St. Augus- tine.
Accordingly, the day was fixed. The soldiers who were concerned in the plot came up to the General, and made some extraordinary demands, as a pretext for executing their diabolical purpose. These, as they expected, being refused, at a sig- nal previously concerted, one of them discharged his piece at the general, who was so near at the time, that the powder burned his face and singed his clothes, the ball passing harmlessly over his shoulder. Another conspirator then presented his piece and attempted to fire, but the powder only flashed in the pan ; a third drew his hanger and attempted to stab him. The general, by
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
this time, having drawn his sword, parried the thrust, and an officer, coming up, ran the ruffian through the body and killed him on the spot. The mutineers, discouraged by the failure of their efforts, attempted to escape by flight, but were caught and laid in irons. A court-martial was ordered to try the ringleaders of this desperate conspiracy, some of whom were found guilty and sentenced to be shot.
Another and more dreadful effort of Spanish policy was attempted to be practised about the same time in South Carolina. £ Emissaries had been sent from St. Augustine to Carolina, with a design to stir up an insurrection among the negroes, whose number amounted to forty thou- sand, while the entire white population of that province did not exceed more than five thousand.
This nefarious design was only partially suc- cessful. A number of negroes collected at Stono, hoisted their standard, and proclaimed open re- bellion. They marched through the country, with drums beating and colours flying ; plundered and burned several houses, and murdered men, women, and children. But for the circumstance of the English carrying their guns with them to church, an indiscriminate massacre of the whites must have ensued. Fortunately, the armed men from the church made a judicious attack upon the head- quarters of the negroes, and they were either killed or dispersed.
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WAR DECLARED.
Oglethorpe, having been advised of the insur- rection in the neighbouring province, redoubled his vigilance in Georgia, and seized all straggling negroes and Spaniards who were found passing through the colony. 1
In the mean time, matters were hastening to a rupture in Europe, and a war between England and Spain appeared to be inevitable. Plenipo- tentiaries met at Pardo in convention, but the con- ference terminated as before, unsatisfactorily to both parties. The spirit of the English people was now fully roused : hostile preparations were made ; all the officers of the army and navy were ordered to their stations, and with the unanimous voice of the nation, war was declared against Spain, on the 23d of October, 1739.
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