Newspaper Page Text
Ti9ottrn«I.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1825.
wrasisferut'SLy witness ilul Edwinttwu* ia-
d 'l»'r J inwilnrv.
Wgjitt* lestifir* that ha has known tliia Mr
Edwards for lilNHit lira >wr», and ran •‘drlv
aay filial ha does not befteve him eniitlul 10
credit.
H hn'it the Drip#--Gen. Gaines published tli*
follow tng certificate In this p »pcr on the 19il»
July laat.
certificate.
W« rertifv that we *rro«pom^l th
press from Governor Tronp to (taneral Mein-
to«li conveying the request that i*e would allow
the survey of the land acquired hv the Trea
ty It the VndiainH Sfircf". to he immediately
commenced. General McIntosh replied ih-.i»
he rnnld not jffantthe request, hut wnnldcnll
the < ’Inef* together, and lay it before them ;
Which was never done.
(Signed)
WILt.UM F.mVNRDS,
JOSEPH M*RSH\LL.
At Ponfiis 1 , 7'pien county, July 'J, 1825.
This certificate he thought snfli Merit to prove
«|hat ll** Chiefs of the friendly ln.li .au never
•are rh'-ir content to the aurtey of the ceded
land. He pnblfohed it , it hn* gone forth to
tiic w .rid; the enemies of Georgia hnve tci. ed
on i: :** ;» pretext for the moat intemperate vi
tuperation of the Miihorilie* ef ihe State, nr.il
Ui. opjHjnentt of Dover nor Tfnuji'* re-election
in the Hti'e have aeixfd on it aitli equal avi-
d iy to prove that he railed the Legislature to-
gt<her without having the content o! the
friendly Indiana to make the survey f and that
jn stating to (lie Lcglsl uure dial he had that
r.» Hent,l»e stated what was not true The
<‘d » i if chaVncter" of this cernftr.ne, which,
Gen. Ciinca says r unsit;* only in itt truth,
will fully appear from the following evidence
A But the worst feature in this bunioess is yet
to I# told. It appears that about th. last al
July, Gen. Gaines was informed l.y Mayor Jo
el nr - * 1 °—
.. Alley, <1 r*#peciabte cidy.cn o this State,
that this mac Marshall had certified to whnt
was not true. nnd that Edwards. one o
< Vti» lowest of mankind, anil having leli Gesrr
gia to avoid paying his just del**, was nut
".milled to ciedit. #Yet’near n month has
elapsed ainre hw received this informal
ano he permits the impression hie letter
their certificate made on the public min
romoin there Even in tin- paper wo puhhdi
another letter from him to the Governor ii
which not one word is said about this rertifi
rale, which lie must now know to be utterli
worthless. Compare this conduct with III it o
Gov. l ent; in .1 similar rase In one of Ills let
t <■% t » Major Andrews, by not adverting to a
j> otii ular date, he did injustice to Col. Crow
ed. M ij Andrews directed his attention to
It—Reparation was instantly made Now
mark the contrast. Ora. Gaines iainstrumen
tal in producing an impression on the public
ui nd, injurious in the idihest degree to G«»v-
er«i n Troup. He is informed that the e\i fouce
on which he relies is unworthy of - * J.t —
Yet he takes no atop to repair the wrong he
it ta Juur.
SO MM \ li Y OF EVIDENCE.
LEWIS WYNN trtihes he has heard
Marshall \\y lluii be h .1 giian his consent to
m k* the snrwy, h d that he tliouyhl it best
tli ii the survey should he made this y**nr, so
that the (ndi i.t* might -ell their possessions for
th rematedt r of the time allowed them to 90
ci'iv the hn I — Does not know of his own
knowledge that a Coehcil was to be held, h-
*\u* i tutor-red by Marshall.
U')I.IN SMITH, M Monroe Co. testifies hr
w »h at Oeu *Ii.osli't ebout the 9th or 10'
of \,»ri’ • —mere was a meeting of a
tiei > nuiohrr of the Chiefs—it e'.d n
C" . .eil—he learned from Mclm mothers
(hit' they h.id atrrued for the Governor to hnve
the laud «nr« eyed as soon as he pleased—saw
Marshall «nont the Gtli April, when Marshall
said that a council was to beheld at McIntosh s
to determine whether the IihUhii* would gi\«*
Hr r consent to the survey—that hr could not
f » back, lint had iinltmrissd Mclntudi to sign
or him,lor ho was willing to have il.e survey
made «t ih it Council there u^ie present
fro ip Georgia, Mnj Hairy, of Monroe rountx,
Gen. Ware, of Cuvette county. William Bow-
On of AAilleikievitl e, Sandois Walker of Mon-
tiiello. Mark ind VVm. lluiUpeth of Ue Kalh,
*VI ij <r \ lughn ami mime others from Fayottc
and De Ku.b counties, their u-uuos not tecol.
lor'ed.
Gen. Gniiue.—The letter of this ollirer to
Gov. Troup, nfttdlh July, is attracting a large
chart oft*public attention. We ropy the f d-
lowing notice uf it from the Columbia (St)
T door op*.
On thn gonnral subject of our differences
frith the General Government, wo are grati-
led to find that the jieopln of other states ate
beginning to entert on propnrppinioit*. There
isaftnvtilcnt change in the tnh** ol the lead
ing newspapers The Hartlnisl Convention
presaes, every lory newspaf»er, nml every ail-
voeate of A on nt«, continue in outrage decency
and decor urn 3w«rt tempered soul,‘—they
are only fu'.filliug tbe r destiny. It would lie
uiireaMinable to expect from a blackguard,
any thing but billi ,,i .;'gate.
(From dir Columbia Trlr. r j# ]
We notv fori it onrilut) tu remaik on O* 1
t»aine H ’ letter, whirl, we publish in tliisdsi
paper. \Vr « ome t»» this task with relurianr
iiecnuse in Gen. Gaines' prudence we had u
houitiled eonfidence. W e thongl*t it the most
Judicious selection in the power ol the Fiesi
lent to ni.skr ; but we me houndto ackuosv-
lodge that we have hern disappointed. Plu
vious to Ilia wiithig bis Inte letter to Governor
Troup the gtoimddm occupied w.n* elcyntetl
aud tli^nifi. d, fully ctpisil to his former i.•pota
tion. The fi iendsol liaroi. nye\peet. d e\ery
thing from Ins e*|»erirnre and predence ; Ins
»uiso was til.tilt and direct ; he had noihiiig
do but raimly to pursue the instructions of
sg v’tinnen*, conciliating ns far possible
»t ot.ly ibu hosiiliiies among the. Indians, but
e u .happy diflercnce between Georgia and
tbeginei.il government, llad lie confined
4 If to the defence of himself anti his mill-
trig family, from any charges in which Gov
Troup had attempt* d to iuiplicait cither, we
would have hero content. Wc are willing to
Apjarriale thn high and manly feelings of the
soldier; but this r**quiieil neither rernmiua-
lion nor iuvldious comparisons He hup. ts
him o If w lieu lie descends to w rile uf disUeiont
iu*elrents, in italics < or levels his anger ai the
unfortunate parti*:* tli.it nnha|H)il> have divid
ed Georgia too long. He sum ly could not
havf reflected ihit hisletini ran bear no other
Coiisirustitui (..an an attack oil one of those
parties, while he e\ ideally tries to conciliate
the Other iu his talk of "the adamantine pil
Inrv,'* Jic.
pluiut an I tern iio-ltaii' • muy i»o e- : reused,
'l be Bibji 11 lied ; t •!!» J*
not to bo handled “ with glov. s ■ »." V\»*
Imvn fist some tiine anxiously, but distinctly
preceived certain busy and ir.flatwib.ry [»*>-
litiriaris,indiisiri.uis by senrebink* amenta the
ashes of the the Missouri ({notion, to dis
cover some little spark which thn bn.u.lt ol
.list ord and faction luigld fan into u fame
into a conjinuration. Shall the incendiary
with the fell purpose of mischiej in his
hearty and with the. torch m his hand, he ad
dressed in measured phrase, and ho’>day
terms T Potbid it prudence; forbid it
common tense!
Mr H’irtnn l hit ct/ntrirtqhj devittd letter —
ThefuWowing view of this mau. r is r pie.*
from the Washington (Geo.) News, a paper,
alike distinguished for the iilnlitv with which
it is conducted, and the limners ol its adhe-
retire to ntineiple It will be seen that we nr
not singular in the viexv w« lake ol that matin .
[Frv*a//if IVashiftgton ,V<ur* ]
MB WIRT —W* publish in tins day’s pn-
p« r se\«ral letters uddn>scd to M
Ii* has
a h.*li h-
The Hhtve Question —The hue and cry is up
ngaimt bm. Troup agnin, since the publieN-
lion id' Mr. Wirt’s nmbidrxtrmil letter. It »*
now* ilisciivcrcd that there was no cause lor
tin' interference of Gov. Troop in the matter
it all ; and tint what was said by hinf was on
ly intended to eM ile the iirrjtnhco ol the
South against ilto North. Wonderful disco
veries these, to be sure.
It is unfortunate that white the opponents
ofChiv. Troup in this state,profess to icelquit
at ihdir ease on tlti* question, as if there never
hnd been a single movement by the powers
thiil he, towards the ngitntinuof the slave qu
lion, people out of the statu are able to t
that there is (huger ; nml they ure permitted
to speak of it in temis as strong as those Gov
T. naa used. Tt r prodigals in Gi.rgiacry
out there is no (langur, in the very fire of Ru
fua King m resolution proposing to apply the
proieedsof thepubln laudato the emancipa
tion ol our slaves Th* 'National Jouiual,
Mi. A Jams’ mouth piece may ssy > <• |t
time t* look scruuislv nt this matter and to
jome to some definitive resolution as to tli
•onUnannce, or total abolition of slavery a
moug os’'—and that among the things whirl
*1. fot the immediate attention oj our legm
knots, “ihe first and most serious i« tltneni
t inatioa ol the hi .cka and their I (cation some
wrior* beyond the limits of the G States ;’’—
■ Us 11 ..lli.r.l On,
GF.ORGR BTIN SOS-tost dies he
0«*n. Mclnto**V,4 ill April l i t, when a c
to de
i council
»A»hr 1*1 b> the iien Mv Chief
tfol A^uliration of the Governor tosntvey die
land—thn counc if did then and there give its
conse it to the survey being mode. Saw Mar
sh ill about the first week ill Ant 'd, and .liked
Marshall if he would nM attend the poitncil.
Marshal replied he w islieil to go heme and li.nl
authorised (i.**.- Melufoth to sign his name
civii't* his t*5in» nt to the Mtrvey Gen. Ware
A| Favotto ri.iintv, Major Uaiev ol Mouioc
eom.tv. Rmplere Walker ..f Moo lie olio, U in.
Jlowc.t of Mill.*.It*evillc, Bolin Smith, of'M«ui-
t. »e coutuv, a Mr Vaughan, and »unie lulicrs,
llieir n mice aot recoHaclcd, were ut that
Coniuil.
% 'aj*»r HUGH w. F.C.TOR, of Monroe
dainty, testifies thftdi** S »w Nlvtshall in the
n il *u when ttie runner at lived w ith tlir
to ws of the murder of M.’lnto b—had run-
versatina wi^lr him, ia th»* ronise of which
hr askad Marshall »l be w’S not it the Coon-
cil ft General M. lnios'n's concerning the
aurvsy. Marshall said he w as diere a short
tnaa previous—that McIntosh insisted on Ins
staying to the qluiocil—that hn *li.i not wish to
lie ah**-*it from home o long—that lie hail au
thorised Mrlntouh to sign, and ad in the unr
fidly for hie*, ns he had no obkrrtion on his
purl Marshall expressed an iMtliri? willing
ness to die survey anil assigned iu» a reason
that the Ind.ans would have as opportunity of
Helling some of their promise, which they
sitlw-rwise might not disj ose ol so m/\ant«ge-
ouslv
JOKL HA1.F.Y, of the Indian Spring, tes
tify s th u lie wm* at a Council in A»»rtl last, at
or n**ar the rendcnca of Ganeial Mclnt ’sli »n
111*- Creek Nation. The council whs held (a*
he believes) to ascertain il the Cl i.-G w *uh'
give their consent fot the (•uieitinr losurvev
t ie land The i ouii. il w as in s»*si<m w hen lie
left ther*, previous to which lie had hern in
foi lued b > Gen. McIntosh and others of the
f ml Chief* I hit they were willing that the
Mirvrv should be made imniedoilely or very
soon ihcrealtei.
W.ioevs further lestifies that on his way to
the r**u toil he met MaiKh.il!, Jesse I’rosser,
„,iil a Mr. F.dwards—that Mat shall i.i'ormeil
lilts he Iia*l been to pilot Mr. Prompt to ihe
res.deuce uf Gen. McIntosh—that he asked
Marshall if he would not attend the council—
tlini M ar-hall replied it was out ol hi« |M»wer
ta do a *, hi* Ini at ue as would not admit ol it;
but that lie had authorised Gen. McIntosh t**
s j 2 „ an iuvtriimrnt for him giv lug his rotisrn*
to th* survey, for he was perfectly willing ii
s!.oidd hddone. This was a few days before
,hr cottncH, and about the 7t!i or 3tli of April
i ,v|. Witness does not rocjllcct-»ll tho riti
u, n» of Georgia v. ho were at that Conn-
a tuit recollects Bolin Sriitli ol Mouioc
roiiw'v, General Ware of Fayette county, and
Ywo person* named Hudspeth, fortueily of
Jaeoer cwunty.
wItne»* further testifies that he has had
,cmr . an».r.«l!..; w.ihC.-n C.inrt upon lh<-
11 c \ of a certificatesa ned by Joseph Mar
sh ill and William Edwards. Some tune about
l ie last of ths |v.iii month ? Grjeral Gaines
tilted in the presence of^vitueKS, that lie did
PO i hriieve there had lieen a council held for
the purpose of giving consent to the survey :—
I*, ,t u w vs suAcjently proven bv the certificate
r»f Joseph Marshall and a Mr. Edwaids, a \e-
IV resoectable man that theie had been no
,’ach c.mucil Witness thru slated to Gen. G.
that there was such a council—that he, wit
r»#ss. «»• oresent at it. IN it ness then inform
%v l Gen J ol ihe statements made to him,
vritnCHS,by Marshall herein befoic details d
Wc ness i lien informed Gen.G that be would
pot make vise of the name of Edwards n- n
r.»Hi»eciah'.e nan *•—that he believed KJwards
wasoneof the % fry lowest class ol mankind
£ G then asked witness whnt he knew of
Edv ards Witness itifonif.Uieu.G.ihpt h*
knew that Edwards had It-lt Geijuiv and bad
(.one into the Indian Nation to avoid psyii g
.iis ) »t »lvhu. The G. ncral then e, qoirtd o
trU’ic^t^ whom F.dv ards was indebted. |*
the IIartlord Convention papers may threaten
that ail our sjavesshall be turned loose union
ns men in New York, supporters of M
Adams tuny advertise tlini thev will give a
•. bailee on cotton raised by free labor,—nil
this may be said and done, and yet the p
gals would have u* sit still with lolJed arms
nail not move a finger to avert the coining
storm. They would have their Governor, i
lie even allude .o the subject At all, speck ol
it in soft and silken plirtne. And when
Northern Unatic*, who have keen wantonly
stirring the matter, alarmed at the spit it of (he
South a** lluii)lived by Gov.Ttoup, drnw burl*
and vow aic.fpiolest that they meant noil
thssa same prodigslt would have us bel
their vows nml protestations—They wuiild con
vince us if they eoultl that lliexc ih no (lunge
—So. at the very inonient when t'’»**;ir w
crossing tli* 1 Rubicon, Ins minions in Ron
wsro setivsl) stigMed ... rsuadlftg thh ps
pin of die lT.pt iml City dial theie wits lit
danger.
If the prodigals, really believe there
danger in all these tilings, we sinceiely pity
them Other*, who have not an interest
direct and immediate in tins mutter—peo|
living out ol the state-ran curdy see dang*
and that of no oidinnry magnitude. Tli
appreciate the Maud Gov 'i . has taken on ll
subject, nml they rail do jnaiim to his nioliv
and his conduct. Thin should be as, urce
moriificHiion to us.
1 lie N.rionnl' Intelligencer speaking of tli
late recognition of the Independence of St.
Domingo bv France, says :
“ I hero is, iu out opinion, more real mis
chief m lie trended in die Suuth, from the el-
'orlsof some of our own misguided fanatics,
Atyfm nre niiletl by reimin newspapers of the
No tli, dinii from the ratification of the inde-
it-quests die gentlemen to say, whether the
had heard him express certain propositions ii
regard to slavery. A- our opponent*, nil (an*
sotUti have already teixed die sc( *tsi r >n,) mak
use of llutse letters to injure Ihe election of
Gov. Tronp, bv giving another meaning to
and changing, the grounds taken lix Gov ’I eon
in llit* charge alleged by him agaiust.Mr. Wirt
we hnve tlnnq'ht it best to place at once befotf
our readers w Imtever relates to the buhj*i.f
tcroinpained with a few iem.itks
Iii this letter Mr \V»i1, uuorea precisely th*
word* of Mr. Betrien, w hich the Governoi
repeats in his mr*snge to die legislature. Bui
he requires the gentlemen whom he addres
ses to to say, whether he advanced die prop*
sitiou,fhat ‘ slaverv as it now exists iii ll*
several states, could or ought be alhilislied '
In. whi* h pi* position w»k not directly impu
ted to Vlr Wirt by Gov. Troup nor ik to h»
found in die statement of the converoatiu
Id with Mr Berrien and in the letter of M
_ nea If Mr. Wirt had simply confined him
sell tirthe first prupowlior, as he should h;n
me, and the letters of Jndges Matsltull, 4k
id exculpated him from the accnsuiiou
supporting that proposition, we would certain
ly have emmeraUul him from the guilt of tli*
charge ukMr. B.Tmcm Bill he a*l(1s to th.* Titk
Hisiifon tinolhur, which, if he bad atlvnii
it, oiiqhi to linve led to his instant (llstiiissn
from the office he row holds, her ai
ni*f, he received no instructijms fiu
rulivo of the Failed Stales coiiceniing th
cnee then before the Supreme court By ait
ding the second |iro|iosiiioii, he expected a la
»rab!r answer from the gentlemen lie addi
I, Ih’ciiiiv as lie had not maintained die j
usition, they could not do otherwise than l
iay, fiat :f»ev had not heard him maintain it —
Mr. Wirt acted ciinuingly ; lie enttappi
Indies Marshall, fcte. in a snare, of whit:
they were not MW*are These g* ndemen ha*i
not to give answers to one single point only
they had to answer to two point* disi
laid down it is true, but so connected togcdie
that they could not be separated without gi\
ing but a puitiul answer. Judges .Mai-Jodi
fco. wrote the letter under thennprcsHton ll
Mr. Wirt had hi*rii accused of supporting h ‘
fore die supreme court thn oortnni-s contain/
cd in the two propositions. It they had to de
ride tipnu the first pro|H «itii*i . x. lusivelJ,
which is the true one. and the only one lie b-
charged with maintaining, tSieu* answers
would have lieeu diflcrcm ; and Hcrordinn to
rs, thev pt.sitivelv afftrui thin Mi
W irt (.id not maintain the second proposition,
and withrig.trd to the second pioj .nimiij, thal
speke against die slave trade Wo do not
s this* quivocation of Mr. Wirt, it deserves
censure.
This controversy concerns Messrs Bern
and Jones \nd ns they and Mr. W irt ni.
members ol the same leai ned profession, and
men of distinguished talents, they can haiulli
the matter umeli belter than we, ol an un
learned profession, could do We will here-
foie let them manage their own bii-umas
till' | i. *se Governor Troup cannot be n
paitv i** the controversy : lie only i
the legislature what lia’d been con
to niui by Messrs B**rtien ntuJ Jom
•d ti
\ationnl Journal—How is tins ? lias Mr
Agg, the F.ibtor of the far farm, d Washing-
gton Republican, got hack to Washington ?
lias Mr Admits forgot what is due to hiscoun-
Iry so far as in take, thnt loul mouthed sl.tn
deter, into his i mplnvnteui r What is the
meaning ol the following paragiapli, if be no.
that Ag; li.is been taken into Ml . Adams's bo
som *
Commodore Porter— It is worthy of a p:»s
sing rentalk, and l can int avoid making it. ilia
the pieces most virulent in th* ir a'tacKso
Commodore D.»vi*l Porter, were those opp* s* «
to the country tin ring the lute war, to winch
may he added some some few wh »*e inter**
lies with the administration, the JS'jlivnu
Jcurnal is u pjprr set up l.y Mr. Wdumv, con
duettunder his very eye, and edited hy an
I'.ngli.diiiutn, the none who conducted Mr. Cat
houii's paper. We shall have a few h n
presseslelt to sustain the cause of dcmoc
Cy and the rights of the states and people, ;i
those few will be ef1i( ieut.
pc tide nee ol Hav
[From the Charleston Mercury, .lug. 8 ]
But while we dothi* justicet<>Mr. Wirt,
it appears to us to be a mutter of very little
import wbetlier ho uttered lb* sontiniotit
imputed to bim or nut. Fortunately for
tbe Southern States, the stability of their
stitutioiig, duos nut depend Upon tin* opin
ion of any individual however elevated in
office. Ah long us tile Southern Stales are
vigilant, and true to themselves, the opin
ion of any oUiccr of government can do no
bat tu.
The charge brought a£aitml Mr. Wirt
was by no mean# one upim which the Gov
ernor of Georgia laid nmcR stress Wheth
er true or otherwise, it w as of little conse
quence. The greet ground upon which
Governor Troup complained, was Mr.
Knvr.’s resolution in tbe United St Ales' Sen-
ntc. And certainly no one will deny that
there wan ample matter in tiiat proceeding
to t* !:• i in die fear, if not to justify the vehetn-
once,which it caused hiui to express. In
deed upon this subject South-Coralitm can
not hut feel in unison with Georgia. It is
not Jong since our own Legislature was fa
vored with nvety exquisite opinion of Mr
Wirt, given off linhd and contained in lit
tie mote than tw*enty linos, upon the con
stitutionality of one of our tniui important
acts : and also with a resolution front Ohio
which wah justly regarded as an indefensible
interference iu our domestic concerns. It
was inconsequence ,»f the feeling produced
by those documents that sundry resolutions,
of a similar character with those of Geor
gia, were adopted by our Senate. And as
our House ot Rcpresentfttivos fullv agreed
in the principles of those resolutions, and
onlv differed w itli the donate us to the phra
seology iu which some of them were couch
ed, so do all the people of the South con
cur in the justice and necessity of the posi
tion which tlio Executiveof Georgia has ta
ken, however they may blame the violence
of his zeal, or condemn the intemperance
with which bo has given uttcranue to his
feelings.
[From the Knoicille {Tenn ) Recorder, of
July 7]
OtoRolX —The Legislature has adjourn
ed, and put uu end to a short, but most in
teresting session. Many causes for deep
ainLpowcrful excitement existed ; ami their
crrlfghtcrrcd. but eotnewhxt too ardent exe
cutive, tout h-d tbe chords of feel mg with
too rude a bai •' V. «■ mu. h regret the tone
of his tnessag*. h «t w hile we concede that
the language of the message uterus the re
probation of * - »•: v ( aim and moderate man;
yet, wc are far ftom belicteing that jto just
ground for complaint, on the subject adver
ted to in that paper, exist*. And when
ju*t giouod of complaint cx.st on the part
of the state govern incut tow anU that of the
Ltiiou, although we approve <.f modetation
comity and decorum jet we arc Cir front be
ing fuUdiou# us to the terms in v\ hich Con.
cad before our read
it.it nb.'inin .b c trans-
c them S. ii in mind
ludeprndenr
YtftOO Fraud—We «
ers an arcomit ol' this
action lu perusing r
that at the declara
Georgia owned nu.uly all thetctriiory whirl
now composes the slates of Alabama and Mi
sissippi, ami that subseqiirnllv her title to
was i( cognised by Congtesion several f»cc.
(ions. Tliisextcn«iv>f irnc of country cot
taitin by estimate eighty six millions of acres
At two dollars per acte, it anion u» in value t.
one hunJrtd and seoruty-two millions of dollars
Nil tliii intincnsc treasure was mice i it*litfull
iu J|ioHMiHiion of Georgia. How it was ln f
let the people ol die state leant from the fol
lowing detail.
YAZOO FRAUD.
[From the Recorder.]
“ Of the many attempts which odventu
rers liuvc inadv to enrich thcmsulves at tli
public expense, by practising on the cupid
ty of statesmen, tnme were rn*>re fiagitiotiH
than tlio Yanoo Fraud. Tito South 8
bubble ottd Mississippi Scheme hnd tli
o; »*in perhaps less in knavery than folly
atiu the mischief they produced w
sient. They ruined it is true n few distill
gui-Jmd wml some thousands ofubscuro pci
sons, but were unimportant in their const 1
quences to tlio nation where they ro*o anti
burst. Tbe Hlt.xk soon passcif
affected neither the strength nor the inti*
grity of the empire, and lull behind it lilt!*
else besides its lesson and the wreck
tutu s and reputations which it had destroy
cd. But the Yazoo Fraud was n pernianeu
curse upon the State which it dismembered
whnne power it crippled, and over wlv
character, polity and happiness, it lung hnd
the moil malignant itiiluctr
We would willingly spare ourselves tin
details of this odious transaction Rut it
on tin: crimes of the past that history niui
shed her steadiest light: they are destine
to boc.nue the beacons of the future.
Several ptojecta forth** sale of large trad
of country, within the limits of Gcorgii
were at different periods presented to tli*
Legislature. However contrary to gjod
policy, they w< re listened to. Rut itisprr
liable the mnj.nity of that body, never ha
saga* it) enough to foresee the rapidity w it Ii
which population and wealth would iu
cruase,giving in tln ir progress
value to what was then a vvilde
Be that us it muy, however, we find them
n 17?®,* entering into a contract with thre*
companies for the *ale of lifiscn or tweut
millions of acres of land, indudu^
tract bordering on the Mississippi riv
But a dispute arose about the par mi nt of
tlio purchase money, and the condition up
on which the grants were to 1j*uc, wu» uut
complied with.
During the session of 17B4-5, tbe General
Assembly passed an act conveying t
associations called tlio Georgia, be (joorg
Mississippi, the Upper Mis.sH»i*piu and Ten
ncssec aninpanics, about thirty-live m
of acres of land, Iving between tin* river
M issi.-sinpi, Tennessee, Goosa, Al:ii*
aud Monde.
Thu bill was warmly contested in hot
houMuqand bud also to encounter opp
wDpt,| JC7
f n tlio Governor, it ultimately passed
’veei.r bv a majority of rn i tfu tlo’w
of Representative* and two in the Henute.*
Tbe sale cf so lai„S a tfiritory was re
ived bv tbe people with an almost unani
mous burtd of indignation, f**r it was soon
known that nedrtf ail tbe members who vo
ted fiu 'the law, had U*en ettliwr directly or
directly corrupted bv tbe puy« Ii users. On
the r leturn to tbeir homos, they were tnet
by tliiMr eoiiHtitucnts with the must marked
dissathfaction, i nd Income Irtstnnrcs war-
ly o«capod live popular iiulignutimi, to
vvliieb it is said one ot them actually fell a
victim.t Tbe'diacbutcntcd, who were in
ti the mass of the people, soon found u
determined leader in Juftics JackadfR, nfl* i
wards Gov ernor of the State and Senator iu
Congress. He was eld ted’tb tlio Legisla
ture at its next session, and became a mem
bur of tbe committee who invnstigated tbe
conduc t of their predecessors, and reported
the evidence which proves their corruption. {
Tbe art wai rescinded. All traces of its
passage expunged fiouitho records of (lie
Htatc, and the grants solotnnly nnnulle.d —
Lest the authority of the ordinary legisla
tive body should ho thought inad* (luato to
these impoitant purposes, the will of tin
people was solemnly and dcfbcrately ex
prcmied by tbeir convention "f 17W. That
notiy re-asx* tied in a constitutional article
the invalidity of the grunts, and tho fraudu
lent means which hnd been used to procure
hern Tbe stockholders of the different
on>i nnies were allowed to witlidrsw the
proportion of the purchase money which
they bad advanced, upon making oath that
they hud m*t transferred their interest. A
privilege of which tho least sertipitfoite of
those who bad actually sold, arc said to l.a
avnilo. themselves.
The statesmen who adopted these mea
sures could not be insensible to tbe difficul
tics of their situation. Mnclt of the stock
hnd past out of the bauds of tho origins
holders, into those of foreigners and citi
zcQaoftiic Eastern States, with whom cuni
tul was much more abundant thun with th*
people of Georgia. TIicho persons, really
of preten.ledly ignorant of the arts practised
to obtain the grants, claimed to be consider
cd tot innocent purchasers- They inside,
on the constitutional authority of the Lc
gishiture to sell, and contended that if th
corruption alleged was not altogutlior a mat
ter betwsun the people of Georgia and llieir
public ugcutM,still at all events, tbeir own
claims, fairly and boncHtly acquired, must
oot be confounded with others, who were
parties to the fraud.
It wuh much easier to prove the infamy o
the Eegivl.itute, than to shew their want of
constitutional authority to aell. Perhaps in
deed the rucision of the law could srnrcel
he iimintiiiituil on the principles of ihe rornt
tutioti, and may much more safely In* justifi
ed as an act of seif-preservation. An injured
people made desperate by thn abuses of au
thority, must and will pluck down their do
mestic traitors, and violate, laws and cotisti
tutions which have become merely a aboller
tor injustice. It is indeed a fearful expert
nicnt • an unhappy extremity.
Rut we hold liberty and life on no better
Tins. They must b»? defended by violent'
ben they cannot otherwise be preserved
'Lite first ami most obvious ev il of this re
elution, for «>» it mi») be called, was tbe
degradation of the judicial, which tbe new
(dilution reduced in an abject dopcti
lent o on the legislative power. This tnca
sure could be excused only on “ the devil
plea of necessity.” To liuvo trusted tlio
into courts with independence while such
question might be agitated before them
would have been an act of political suicide
Rut tin* supreme tribunal of the Union w
beyond tin* rcat Ii of state legislation, and
from it there lay no appeal except to the
sword.
Under such circumstances it was natural
enough to look round for some powerf
rot* ction. Tlio United States* bad beret
»rc faintly asserted a d' ul.tlul claim to fjj 1
territory in question,and in theirhandsalou
could the demands of the fraudulent purciia
sers be favorably settled or sucrosstully
silted. A cession to the United Btotcs tin
fore was resolved on,|| tho terms oriwbic
were settled by the convent n of IB02.H—
Georgia acquired by thia treaty tile sum
one million two hundn * iud fifty thousand
dollars, and lost the and jurisdiction o 1 ’
the present Sta* i '•! Wtspqqii and Alaba
tntu At an cat’} m d nficr this cession
commissi.mets w ie appointed by the Uni
ted States'* ti receive a statement of ihe ’i i
o cl urns, and to collect tbe r* 1 * *• .
rtoption on which (ieorg i n« rusivted
them. They considered 'he proof of fraud
ornplcte, and the contract void on the most
bvious principles of rensun and justice.
Tin* purchasers notwithstanding hcacig-
cd Congress year after year, with memori
als and petitions. The conduct of Geor
gia was arraigned with great bitterness. by
some members of that b*>dy ; but iffiercelv
attacked, she was ably defended, for she
rt i koned among her champions the celebra
ted and eccentric John Randolph.tt
Congress repeatedly declined making onv
provision for these claims. The claimants
however did not limit their efforts to peti
tions and memorials. They sought as might
naturally bo expected from the theory of
our government, the decision of the federal
judiciary upon thn validity of tlujir title,
and the Supreme court decided in their f
vor.H
Tlio cause of course was respented
in its most fiivorahln ugpect, and the rights
of mii innocent piircluisuriiiiilornlnw, which
however iniquitouslv obtained, violated no
ustitutional provision, wore pressed with
all their force. The judges perhaps could
not have decided otherwise, and the decis
ion only proves that there are many abuses
which no system of jurisprudence can cor
rect. But ilns adjudication, while it affirm
ed the naked right of the claimants, did not
much advance their remedy. They had
yet to prosecute the settlers individually,
ami obtain possession by m tedious nnd ox-
peQpive course of litigation. Large sales
ol the land had already been made under
the. authority of the federal government. It
became expedient therefore, to quiet the
f* ur* *»f tin* nihuhitiintt by putting an end to
tins controversy. Aft.r' various abortivi
cllortM an act of Congress passed, offer in
terms of compromise to all the Yazoo claim
ants who would relinquish their claim to ib
* Am mg the names ot the Senators wh
voted in the nog »tive, and « ho afterward* took
in activ - p ill oi ino poll i«*s of th** State
perceive those of Irwin, Mil e-lge £: Mil*
♦ Robe k 1 lonn.is, of Hanco* k, it is mqipos-
ed was on account ol ins vote.
. t l -nrmil of ll. • H R of (ice Jan. 1706
^ 1 lie m c i.iioo lias ci ixed, but the uiiscbn f
continues.
hawse: G***.rgia—Mat hurt 4k. Craw fotj'i
Ditcsi, pa#. 534.
" l *w sl T S New edition, vol. I. p. 483.
^ ** .Eia»t*i Madison, Albert GuMatin cw Lev
tt Grati lul for this devotion lo her interest*
i ie l.i ?'sl *iure of Georgia gave the name ol
% (indc'i'h 11 a r.aRity u j * >*• the moiioii of Jo
*» l*'i Brian, K*q.v\itli ubom he bad long bee.
ioi'.inao* Muirtly after Mr. Bryan s de.uli,
die imut.* of the count) wax changed lo J.ik
pr*i, .«ml the rc.oon given tor d pnving %'i
K.ia lol,)b of tin* honor, was Iii* uh< dged *♦••
*;• i-iou Irom i * public an politics.
I’ll* preamble ol the act which alter* thr
nam », lecites n falsehood. It «t *tc» tl *t n
*v a* g.ven to commemorate bit jrrvieoa t.. tin
r« public tn parry The tact i* as above «i»trd
We have accidentally met with ihe follow .in.
i uiign oil rt)>iiaifnt of an an.rnvmou* win*
‘moil mi* pitiful a fir. *oi, ottered lo » man w h »
geniu* whatever ni ght l*e his fault*, refli^vie.
* ©f G nr fu—Watki»i
Mates. The *umof .*?4,7CO,tMlO in .-lock
s Appropriated, nnd a board of cominiF-
sioner.i appointed ’o receive tin* proper ctn-
eyances. Under tills bill of nc.iee, f.»r
l»i«li tho country is in a great degree in
lebted to the unwearied exertions of tbe
on.John Taylor, n donator from South
arnlina. all or nearly nil thn claims have
i»«cq suriAfidi red, and the Yazno coutrovur-
■y at b ligib terininafed.
Having thus brii (ly rcca^iitulatnd the lea
ding events of this huge iniquity, wc may
On pardoned for indulging in a few reflec
tion*
Tbe alienation of a fertile country equal
extent to many European kingdoms, could
inly be justified by the most irresistible nc-
ty. If war had shorn it away, after a
sanguinary struggle, the sword might win
again, what the sword had Tost ; and an ex
orted treaty, while it ratified the conquest,
would have left behind it no other reproach
‘ an that of weakness. To havo yielded
such a territory, bad it been necessary, for
th«* preservation of her own independence,
might have been politic in Georgia
have sacrificed it t*. the harmony of the
confederacy, would Irnvo been magnani
mous if not wise. Tile citizen who love*
his country as be ought, will perhaps find
few other motives strong enough to excusi
flic relinquishment of so noble a patrimo
ny
Whether its corsioa under any other cir
euinstancca, however, ought to bu stigma
tized as an act of imbecility or not, its sale
by a corrupt Lcgislujuie to companies of
land jobbers was certainly onn of unmitiga
ted baseness. But it is past. Georgia like
the improvident Esau, has parted with her
inheritance; and those who defrauded her
of her birth-right complained of her bad
faith when she endeavored to reclaim it. By
its lorn, slu-hasslirunk into a secondary pow^
er, driven to accept a* favors what she should
command as rights, and losing with the fear
nnd envy of others, something of their re
spect
She has furnished in her civil history a
parallel for the military treachery of Arnold,
and taught foreigners that more than one
A met n an could sell bis country and bis ho
nrfr. She baa t eased to confide in the vir
tue of her public men, nnd now almost
tempts them to be faithless by her leasing
jealousy. The glory of lier fields has been
von by arms not her own; yet it did uot
bock Iter pride. Even tins scorn * if those
who insulted her with their protection fail
ed to ronse their anger. Slit has lauded
llnr»e who degraded her; courted those who
contemned; and allowed herself to be
served without gratitude, and spurned with
nut resentment. She beholds a lax political
morality adopted by her people ; and bears
again with astonishment, hut without ablmr
renew, that success consecrates any mean*
however base. Under the pernicious iritin
•nee of such maxims, she witiiersos the daily
flecIlltA (it flltn# i ...... I ! .1 f
decline of that chivalrous spirit which, if it
could not have kept her without fear and
without reproach, vvonldat least have hid
den ^her faults by her virtues as the baldness
of Cttsar was covered by bis laurols.
I o thif depth has she been sunk by the
grovelling avarice ofthc Yazoo Legislature,
and from nonce site nuu be raised only by
the most heroic efforts of some mustei spirits
among her sons.
And there are many such : but not here
must be tbeir eulogy * " ******
It is a miaerable consolation under these
calamities to know that most of those who
practised the fraud derived no benefit froi
their wickedness ; and it should abate a lit
tic ef the Pliarasuical presumption of some
fair purchase rs to learn, that they acquired
what was never paid for. Such however i
the truth. Many thousand acres were sol
by tho Georgians to Eastern adventurers,
who gave tbeir notes in payment, failed
before they wore due and assigned their
interest in thu land to mote favored credi
tors.
Our surprise might be excited, if there
wore fewer instances of human frailty upon
record, by discovering how many men o
fair characters, who bad done the state scr
vice in the*field or in the Semite, were in
Htrumental in procuring the agents of tbeir
country to betray its Interests.
That thev did s«», no candid tn.m who
reads the testimony can doubt. Even the
advocates fur the purchasers in thoir pam
pblets do wot attempt to disprove the fa
thev content themselves vv it h calling tlio ev
’*■ 1 ■* ' >T. :rte. The teMimony however
1 • jL.oDgsr upon which Lord Sunder
nd,Mi Secretary Craggs, and Mr AisU
bie were implicated in Law’s project."
Upon the authority of this evidence, col
lected by the Legislature of Georgia, and
afterwards published by order of Congress,
wo may assert, that all ’the member* who v
ted in the affirmative but one, bad evident
ly been cotrupted. Uf tlio whole transac
tion, there can now be. hut one opinion —
AH treachery is hueful, no matter un whom
practisnd, and lie who stoops to offer, and
lie who is biice enough lo accept a bribe, i
equally deserving of contempt. Such,
least for a long time, seems to have been th
common sentiment of Georgia: for all win
woie concerned in the fraud, and nearly all
who were interested in tlio purchase, forfeit
ed tbe confidence of their fellow-citizens.—
Home who were considered too young, too
poor or too ignorant, to have had anv ac
tive agency in the project, wore afterward:
elected to insignificant offices; but fe
reached to any great distinction.
It furnishes however, another melancholy
instance of the infirmity of ktinuin virtue,
or the iustibility of fortune, that one ofthc
purchasers was afterwards Governor <
Georgia—while a Senator who had resiste
all temptations to vote in favor of tlio hill
was subsequently dismissed from anotlic
olfie# fapon charges of corruption.'
• Memoir* of George l>t, page 193, aud the
Parliamentary proceeding* of that)ear.
pOf a 1 of the Western lands, together with 1
the petitions and remonstrances of the peo-
plefvere referred, report five other affidavits
the corruptions practiced to obtain tin*
-ctj and submit tlio propriety *»l entering
the proofs already laid before t..e House,
and those which may ba laid before them.
the Journal* **f the House, in order
perpetuate such testimony, and tor that
purpose recommend the following rcsolu-
Rcsolved. That all such proofs relating to
the fraud and corruptions practised to ob
tain the act for tlio disposal of the Western
territory of this Stale, he entered by the
clerk on tho Journals of the House, in or
der that the testimony so given may be
perpetuated, as well for the satisfaction of
the Legislature and to show the grounds or
which they proceeded, ns to hand down to
future Legislatures tho bare means by which
! rfolita of the people were attempted to
battered.
Agreeably to the foregoing report and re
solve, ihenliidavita taken before the commit
tee and exhibited to the House, being read
are as follows.
Georgia, Rnrke county, 1GM Jan. 1700.
Bussell Jones, Senator from the county
of Franklin, being duly sworn, maketb
oath,that some time in the last summer,
Thomas Kahurn Esq. a Representative from
the said county, in the last Legislature, was
at hi* botisu, when James Cad and several
others wcie also present, nnd talking to
gether on the subject of the *.alo of the
Western territory of this Stats, tlio said
Cail told Kahurn that he did not blame him
for selling the land, bitt for selling his vote
much lower than what other members
did, that he, Ruburn, had sold his vote for
GOO dollar*, and that others had got a
thousand. Ruhuin replied,Nbnt it showed
that ho was easily satisfied, and was not
greedv.
(Signed) RUSSELL JONES
Stcorn in presence of the Committee of
the House of Representatives before me.
THOMAS LEWIS, J. I*.
State of Georgia, Burke county
Before Thomas Lewis, Esquire, one of
the Justices of the Peace for the comity
aforesaid, personally appeared Clement La
nier, Esquire, one of tho Representatives of
tire Legislature of this State, who being
sworn on the holy evangelists of Almighty
God, deposeth and saith, that during the
last session of the Legislature at Augusta,
in the winter of the year 1794, ho being a
member of the House of Representatives,
and sitting on the same scat with Honry
Gindrut, another of the members of that
house, before tlio Speaker took the chair,
the said Gindrat recommended to him to be
in favor of selling tbe Western lands, for be
tbe said Gindrut understood it worth our no
tire, for Mr. Thomas Wylly, a Senatoi from
Eftiingham county, had told said Gindrat
that ho the said Wylly could hnve eight ort« n
likely negroe* for his part, and thn depouent
furthersaith that, on the sums day in the
afternoon, the s*?d Thomas Wylly came
into thn lobby of lha House, and beckonod
to tbe deponent, who followed bun out
when a conversation commenced about the
Yazoo act; that at this time a Mr. Dmiison
came bv and asked what we ware upon .
the said Wvily answered the land business
—the said Drutson then came up nnd Wyl
ly withdrew ; the said Denison then tald
the deponent that he did not pretend to ad
vise any member to he in favor of selling
the land, hut those who were in favor of
were handsomely provided for, and that
if the deponent thought proper to be
in favor of selling, that he should hove
part, and that the Maid Denison said he w as
a purchaser of such uf the members parts
ns had a mind to sell, blit understood thal
some of the members pretended to ask
eight or ten negroes for a share, or theii
share, he said lie could not givu to much
but the deponent might depend he would
purchase ; the deponent further 6uith that
previous to any of the before recited cir
cumstances, Mr. William Longstroel, one
wai
within hi* \ri\e, \
impious liakit, lo i
per*-.n of In* ii* ii
ivimess. d ., deed.
uf her f *the
♦; Franc* if
11* corpse of Biyan cob
lien i in strode ovrr o wiM
-n» me dead pa ri i tu d.*
* (Moil) littlUIRMt. 1
uverr'.n the hot.
negroes, :>U barrel, of rice, d,d „ ten..:.,
sum uf money, which ihe deponent duet
not rnculloel , .['** *hi» Contract wa, m ., do
beturo the irst bill was negatived by iho
Governor, but lliat a reservation liein- m .de
in tin. .round bill, in fitvot of tl ln ,Ttiz,.„e
and the Slate, would deduct considerably
from die quantity of land in each .bate liu
tbe Silid R. I*. Sanders objected to giving ■„
much ; tlio said McIntosh, however, ur ed
the completing of the contract; thoiaidtt
1*. Sanders limber told thu deponent that
the contract was broken off by reason of
that deduction. The deponent further
■aitli, that ho was present in company
with Lachlan McIntosh. Esquire,and otli.
ers, when some one of the company, | w
thinks Mr. McIntosh himself, said that he
thasaid McIntosh, held sixaharwintheGcnrl
gia Mississippi company,which ha offered*
‘(hrec huiidrod dollars premium each, and on
the same day the deponent understood, that
lio did sell tnera for a premium of tw.o |juu.
dred and fifty dollars each,do one of tUo
grantees of that company
(Signed)
PETEK L VANALLEK.
Sworn to as aforesaid.
James Mcrrirntthcr, Esquire, being firs*.
vorn, before Thomas Lewis, Esquire, ins
iresunce of the committee of tlio liousaofT
Representatives, was asked the following,
questions:
1st. Were you not, or me you not novry.
treasurer to one of the companies which
purchased the territory, clnim».*(l under tho
act of the last Legislature for disposing'
of the same, passed on the 7th Jan A
‘
1795, entitled “ An act tuppietnr^y,
2d. Who were astooiatet in that oooR>.>
ny ?
3d. Do, or do you not know where thb list J
of tho associateu is kept ? % J
4th Aro you, or arc you not acquainted
with tho means by which the suid uwf was
obtained ?
5th. Do you, or do you not know that
some one or more of tlio members of tho
Legislature were holder* of shares, directly
or indirectly in the purchase? 3
0th. Did, or did not some one or more of
tho members of the Legislature, pay unto
you us treasurer, monies in pay ment of tin
purchase, and who and which of them ?
7tb. Who was tho treasurer previous t*
yourself?
8th. Has tbe Georgia company paid up
the whole of the purchase money* ?
9th. At what tune was it paid ?
10th. Who arc tho treasurers of the otlicv
companies ? v%
Answers of James Mcrriwcthcr to the
tions of the Committet.
l*t. Quest Answer I was trrasurei &>
tbe Georgia Mississippi company, and re
ceived JC70 per annum for that duty, and re>
signed on coming to this place.
2d. I do not know who they were; the
accounts were opened not in the names ot
person*, blit by the nuopber of certificates ,
when I received money I receipted by the
number of the certificate.
3d. I do not.
4th. lam not. lam intoreslfrri’as spur,
•baser in that company. f
5th. I do not.
Gth. 1 never received any money from
any member of the Legislature, as 1 recol
lect, but I am pretty certain I did not.
7th. Mr Aniasa Juckson.
8th. They have.
9th. About the last of August he thinks.
1 certify that the foregoing were tho an
swer* of James Mtrriwether to tho ques
tions of the committee, set down in the halt*
.•licet hereunto annexed, the said Jame*
Mcrriwctlier being first sworn before uiu in
presence of the committee.
(Signed) THOMAS LEWIS, j. p.
Questions asked Phillip Clayton, Esq.
Qim*t. 1st. W’cro you intiiiRttely acquain
ted with Roberts Thomas, Esq. deceased,
one of the Senate of tlio State of Georgia,
of the members of the snid Legislature, fre- during the last session of the Legislature tit
EVIDENCE
Respecting the Yazoo Claims (so colled)
published Inj the Legislature of Georgia
Copied from the 1st volume of the Imics
of the U. States, from page 512 to 527
GEORGIA—By his honor, David Eman-
ui l, President of the Senate, and Com
mand! r in Chief of the army and
mYuryaf this Stale, and of tfu 'MUilia
thereof.
To oil whom these presents, shall come,
Greeting.
KNOW YE, That George R Clayton,
Esquire, who certifies the annexed extract
from the Journals of ihe House of Repre
sentatives ot this 8tate, is duly authoris
ed to act for limes Holt, Esquire, Clerk
thereof.
Therefore, all due faith, credit aud
authority are, and ought to be bad and gi
ven to bis attestation and certificate as su< h.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
ret my band, and caused the great seal of
this Stale lo be put aud affixed, at the State
House, in Loui&ville^tiiis twenty-fifth day
of August, in the year of our Lord, eigh
teen hundred and one, and in the twenty-
s:xth year of the Independence of the Uni
ted States of America.
DAVID EMANUEL.
Bv the President and Commander in
Chief HOR. MARBURY.
&c y. of Slate.
GEORGIA
IIOUbE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday,25/A January, 1790.
Mr James Jackson, from the committee
to whom the eouBiitutionnhtv and validity
of the act fi.r the disposal < Y tho Western
land*, together with the p*.*; lions und.re-
rnonstran. c* of the people were referred,
brought m a report, which being delivered,
ill nt ihe derk'* table, was read and agreed
to by the ilou.-e. and l* us follows :
The committee to whom the constitu
tionality and validity of tfie act C*r tho J:t-
juentlv called on the deponent aud asked
him why he was not in favor of selling the
Western lands, who answered he did not
think it right to sell to companies of specu
lators ; tho doponent at tins time wishing
to make further discovery of the conduct
of the members on that sale, and therefore
affected to be incliuod to come into the
measure, and by that means kept up a con-
v creation about it occasionally; that on the
day tlio bill received its first readimr, before
the House was convened, the sflu Long*
street spoke to the deponent, to get hi< ap
probation to the sale ; the deponent asked
him to show him what security the mem
bers had ef the purchasers, when the said
Longstrcct presented » certificate entitling
the bearer to two shares of twenty thousand
acres each, signed by Nathaniel Pendleton,
chairman ; he the deponent then told th
said Longstrcct, that, that wa# uot what
he had forincily told him was a membur’s
share, for that the said Longstrcct bad be
fore said a member's share was s«venty-fivo
thousand acres, that thu said Longntreet
then told the deponent if he would wait a
few minute* or an hour, he would bring him
another certificate from Gunri'n company
for the samn number of acre* ; that tho de
ponent in order to disengage himself from
the conversation, then said the security was
nwt sufficient to entitle him to tho land.—
That the said Longslrect then told the de
ponent, if he was not satisfied with tho cor-
tifkate, he would give him ono thousand
dollars for it or for them, the deponent then
presented the certificate to the said Long-
street, and Went into the house, which was
the lastintervlcw he had on the subject. The
deponent further saith that the shares offered
him aa aforesaid, were expressly designed
to induce him, tho deponent, to vote for
the bill for disposing of tho Western terri
tory.
(Signed) CLEM. LANIER.
Sworn to a* aforesaid.
Peter L. Van Alien, being duly sworn,
saith, that on or about tho 12th or 13th of
January, 1795, lie was in company with Mr.
Gindrat, who the deponent understood was
a member uf tbe Legislature then lately ad
journed, that in consequence of the advice
of R P Sail.for*, Esquire, another member
of the sama Legislature, vvlm advised the
deponent to purchase some of the Western
laode which the said Legislature hud sold
and in the purchase of which, the depo
nent understood the said R P Handers.
Eaquire, wa* interested, and from the infor
mat too of the said R. P. .Sanders, Esquire,
that they would purchase belvveeii* t lhemtwo
•hares in Gunn s company, and to the beat
of the deponent a recollection, two shares
in Glascock’s company, for one thousand
dollars; that the suid Gindrat told the de
ponent, iu a conversation on that subject,
that lie should have his, said Gindrut'*,
sbaics for that sum, provided the money wus
paid by a certain time ; that in consequence
the deponent wept to exchange some Go
vernor* warrants for money, and when he
returned Gindrat refused to let him have
them, having us the depouent understood
and believed, met with a better market.—
The deponent further saith, that he believes,
and then understood that a certain quantity
wa* ullolted to each member in the majority,
who were nut to pay any money therefor
in advance, and were particularly indulged,
until the whole of the purchase money w
payable ut the treasury, in consequence
their vote and support of the Jaw for selling
the laud
The deponent further saith, that Roger
P. Sander*. Esquire, told the deponent that
he had made u contract with Lachlan M.
Intosh, Esq. who was as the deponent un
derstood, a member of tlio same General
Assembly, for all ihnshuics the said Mcln-
Wish held in the different companies, for
w hich he had contracted to give Ivun eight
Augusta, and did he live in your house du
ring that acasion.
2. Had you or had you not conversation
with him on the subject of the sale of ihe>
Western territory oi’ this State, whilst that
subject wa* in agitation, or before or after
that time ?
3d. Did he or did he not tell you c.r give
you to understand, that ha held u share or
•hares in some one or more of the companies
who purchased the land*, and did he or did
ho not make known to you that such *lmre
or shares Were given to him by the compa
ny or companies, Without being liable to
pay any inoiicv therefor, and that his cer-
tifmtite differed from those given to persons:
out i»f the Legislature in that respect ?
4th. A re you or are you not Acquainted
with some one or uiuro of the grantees of
the suid companies, and have you or huvo
you not licaxil some ono or more of them
say that the s:ud Roberts Tlioums did rc
ieivo a gratuitous certificate for u share
or shares in the purchase, mid that Im
would not bu content w ith one in thu usuak
form ?
Otli. Have von or have you not heard the
said Roberts Thom** say, that lie received
any sum or sums of money from any of thu
onipnnics, or any individual of those com
panies, either in consideration of Ilia share
shares, or otherwise, for being in favor of
tho sale of the land, or have you or have
you not hoard any member of cither of t!w>
9u*l companies declare, that tho said Ro
berts Thomas did receive any sum or suui*
ol money for, or on account of such sliaros
or otherwise, from any of the member*
of the said companies, for that considera-**!
tion
Uh. From every circumstance which haa
coiuo to your knowledge, do you or do you
not know or brlievo that tlio said Roberts
Thomas or any of the member*‘of the la-t
Legislature, wore absolutely interested ill
the purchase of the Western lands; or did
receive money or other thing to induce tlieux
or him to Vote for the sale thereof.
7th. Did you or did you not understand
from the question you put to Roberts Thom
as, when ho brought you the monev, aud
the manner in which lie answered it,'that he
had received the money for hi* vote in the
Legislature, or being in favor of the sale iff
the land. 'ff
8th. Do you or du you not know the asso
ciates of the respective companies. ?
(luest. 1.—Answer. I was intimately
acquainted with. Mr. Thomas; lie did live-
in my lioute during that session.
2d. He had before, at, and after the pass
ing the act.
3d. After the passing the act lie brought
a considerable sum of inouey to my house,,
and asked me to take ogle of it; 1" belie vo
it was two thousand dollars—on winch I
asked him how he got it, or if he got it
for Ins proportion of the land, or words to
t but effect; he said, it is nothing to you, take
care of it and smiled.
4th I am acuuainted with the grantees of
the companies,! never heard it from any of
them.
5th. I did not, hut had my opinion.
Gth. I do not know, but suppose they
were, from general suppositions.
7th I did suppose, from a knowledge of
Mr. Thomas's circumstances that lie could
not have got that sum of money unless it
had been in that way, either directly or in
directly.
8th I do not. Mr. Longstieel executed
a renunciation of dower of lunds belonging
to the Georgia company, in favor of Mr
Maher.
(Signed) PHI. CLAYTON
Sworn to us aforesaid.
James Terrell, Esquire, being duly sworn
-until, Thomas Rabum, Esquire, one ofthc
members of the Inal Legislature, said in
presence of Ujh deponent, some hippJJ ri mc