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242 Jfor tljc Columbian fflufrum. Meflrs. Powers IF Seymour, Gentlemen , AN anonymous author in your last Friday's paper, signed a Freeman, has attacked the Governor in language too indecent to have any other efteft, than to rouse the indignation of eve ry friend of Georgia, against himfelf. There surely is fome refpedt due to the Chief Magistrate, however a writer may personally be displeased with him, or disagree with his public sentiments. And although I am far from wishing a lloppage of investigation, through the channel of the press, of his, or any other officers public conduct—such investiga tion, 1 think, (hould be made in at ieaft decent terms. Any other language can only tend to injure the state, and the writer ; but cannot wound the reputa tion of the accused. I feel too great contempt for this au thor, to comment on his disty ailufion of the Ass, and his guide—w hich latter term, this beajlly ‘writer might havft in tended for myfeU ; but 1 am in justice to the public and the commiftion I hold, obliged against my inclination, to notice him, as he has attacked division orders, lent to Camden county, which mull be mine. It is a pity, gentlemen, that this Freeman had not a guide—l mean truth. He has aflerted tnat “ accompa nying the about mentioned dedimus , there fame divtjian orders dire lied to a certain Hugh Brown, as Captain Commandant of this county, commanding him to organiser: the militia of the taunty, and further or ders to tall on certain mag jf rates to hold tlefliotis for that purpose, not to ary two magijlrates as the law dtreds .’’ The - orders and the only orders, Lever iflued on this head,, are herewith publiftied, ?nd will serve to prove, how lar a num ber ot other base reports, spreading far and wide, at this moment, ought to be credited. ‘Phis Freeman will permit me to in form him, that in this cale cfpecialiy, if the Governor, whose honesty of heart, whose zeal for the American came, and whose exertions during the revolutiona ry war, were well known in Georgia, before this Freeman ever saw it, had act ed otherwise than he has done, he would have been justly ccnfurable. Captain Brown’s letter to me, together with eve ry word I wrote the Governor, arid eve ry word he wrote me on the 1 fubjedt, are subjoined. AstoCapt. Brown’s /landing a tory confjftd, it is not material to the qucltion—it is enough that I found him in commiftion, and contrary to the pre sent order of things on that unhappy fpor, which will further appear by the iubjoined extract, and which perhaps, would juftify a Freeman’s changing his Signature into u A ■ Drfpot l refpede. 1 the commiftion of my country, without enquiring whether it were signed by a Matthews, or an Irwin. It was not my duty, as perhaps the Freeman has done, to a flume legislative powers, ro enquire, into the validity of the commif lion, to impeach, and tr / the executive authority—but to obey it firft of all, and if I had-complaints, to lay them be fore the legislature afterwards. It is however, not as well known to the world, as it is an etlabliihed fact, that the unhappy inhabitants of Camden county, for years pall, have been citi zens, and no citizens, itejl at they would, •r would not vote, with the ruling fac tion ot the county—and this under the pretence ot their having been tories, fif teen or twenty years since. Those peo ple are mostly poor illiterate persons. Do they deserve this vengeance ? Can not we look arouad us, and difcovsrmcn ot this description, whose abilities aided, and whose arms and monies supported the Britifli c tufe, not only pardoned and reltored to the. rights of citizenihip, but voting for, and voted into, the molt em inent polls, even vhe Legislature and Corporations. Merciful ‘God ! what mercy is this—to fix indelible resent ment in our minds, against those. poor illiterate wretches, whilit others who had the power to injure us, are not only carefled, but triumph in their misdo ings. Let me be charged as a tories friend on such an occasion, and I- Ilia 11 glory in it. I believe lam not general ly accused of this crime. I shall make no further comments on the iubjoined papers—the vast field for them will readily befeen by the enligh tened publick. ** I am Gentlemen, Your obedient fervent, Jas. JACKSON. Major General \ji Dtvtfou, Georg,a Militia. September 25, i 79 6* v^ tC 7I° h t n Kin S’ Richard Carnes, • Muufray, Thomas King, jolui Columbian JHufeum, &c. Burrows, James Seagrove, Wm. John ston, and R. Gafcoignc, all live in the town or vicinity of St. Mary’s, a corner ol the county. —E. Hilbardor Hubbard, is accounted for by Captam Brown’s letter—Atkini'on, as I was informed, never qualified.—T. F. Randolph, lives at Coleraine, (the garrifon)—E. Wam berfie, is in Holland, St is a resident, when here, of Savannah—and Hugh Brown, who may be called the only country magistrate, has been refufed qualification, and has had his dedimus pocketed, by John King, Esq. although appointed by the Legislature. Those are the mag iitrates pointed out by the Freeman , for the administration of justice in Camden county. From one corner of the county to the other, is near co, if not 60 miles. Number I. Capt. Brown’s Letter , to Gen. Jackson. SATILLA, Bth June, 1796. S 1 R,, THE present deranged state of the Militia ol this county, is such, as must be alarming to the citizens, being on a ironticr, as this is, and will moil cer tainly leave us in a dangerous situation, fhouid matters at the present Treaty, not he fettled in a more amicable man ner, between the State and c,reck Na tion, than have hitherto been : from those reasons I think it my duty as an officer of this-county, to make our situation known to you, in order that fome mea iures may be taken for the organiza tion ot the Militia. There is at present, no field officer in the county, nor is there at this time a Captain, except myfeif,.and only three Lieutenants and one Ensign, for the four company diftri&s of this county ; and it will he difficult to have an election of officers in the different diftri&s, for the want of justices to superintend them, there are two of the diftriebs that have no J uftices of the Peace redding in them. - There are two vacancies of J uftices in the county. —Alexander Young, who has removed out of the county, and Elihu Hebard, who has been near eigh- j teen months out of the county, and in the service of a foreign nation. If those two vacancies were filled, by appoint ments from the Governor, we might then have it in ouf pAwer to proceed to the election of Militia Officers. And l think myfelf (and am convinced it would grie fatistadion to molt of the citizens of the county) fur those two vacancies to oe filled, by the appoint ment oi Wiiiiam Nibiaick, and Samuel Smith. _ “Tis my wish fyom this communica tion, to acquaint you of the llate of the Militia of the county, and I hope you will take such meatures as you will judge moft proper, for the organization of them. I’ am with refped, fir,- Your molt obedient Ten ant, HUGH BROWN. Capt.- Major Gen. Jtukfon. • I do certify the above to be a- true •copy of a letter, from Capt. Hugh Brown, to Gen. Jackson. Z. LAMAR,,Sec. E. D. Number 11. General Jackson’s Letter to the Governor, . 20 th June, 1 796. Camden County, Coleraine aSth June, 179& S I R, INCLOSED is a letter from Hugh Brown, Esq. the eldcft. officer in this county, refpeding the state of its Mili tia, by which you will perceive the bad situation it Hands in, fhouid hostilities fake place,-in confcquence of the failure of the Treaty, which your Excellency is already advised to prepare for. Some steps fhouid be taken, and magistrates be appointed in the room of those now va cant, that elections may be held, I am, Sir, Your Excellency’s Obedient servant, JAMES JACKSON. Number 111. From the Governor, 6th Juh, 1796. State-House, Louifville,6th July, 1796. S 1 r’, YOUR letter of the 28th of June, by Captain Johnston, has been received, and acted on,, lo- far as the filling up the vacancies in the magistracy of Cam deft County ; the dedimus to qualify the persons appointed I transmit to your care, and 1 could wish that elections may he held as soon as possible, to fill the vacancies in the Militia of that county. I am fir, Your moft obedient servant. %/r . JARED IRWIN. Mujoy Gea, jackfon, IV. Division Orders, July 24, 1796. Capt. Brown, as Commanding Offi cer of Camden County, is directed to cause the Militia of the find county, to be immediately organized, agreeably to general orders of the‘6th instant—and for that purpose to call on the magif trates to hold dediions for all vacancies, and make report thereof, as early as possible, that commissions may illue. JAMES JACKSON, Major General ift Division, Georgia Militia. Ex trail of a letter from Abner Hammond, Esquire, of Camden County—dated St. Mary's, wth September, I 79/3. u There sometime since, came into my hands, a dedimus from the Govern or, directed to any two justices of this county, to qualify W ill jam N iblach, and • Samuel Smith, as justices of this coun ty, in the room of Alexander Young, and Elihu Hubbard. There was aiio neie, previous to that, a dedimus, for the qualifying Hugh Brown, and oth ers, who were appointed by the Legisla ture.—Mr. Brown, and Mr. Niblach, requested me to wait on fome oft ! e j uftices, with them, for the purpose oi qualifying. I did so, and on applying to John King, Richard. Carnes, and William Johnston, Esquires, they re fufed to qualify them, and Mr. King detained both the dedimus’s in-his pos session. Captain Brown, wrote you fome tiine fince,* the manner in which yoor orders to him, as commandant of the Militia of this county, as well as his or ders iff bed, in confequunce of yours, has been treated, and the refufal to qualify the Justices appointed, has made it im poffihie to do any thing refpeding the organization of the Militia.” * This letter has never been received, and General Jackson,. supposes has met the fate of many others addrsjjed to him. of (Sccrgta, SEPTEMBER TERM, 1796. Charge ot Judge Stephens, to the Gr and Juries of Clyn and Cam Ac n Counties. Gentlemen of the Grand jury, IT affords me an honor to meet the Grand Inquest of this county, and I trust, it will be very fatisfaftory to you to find th- Superior C ourt convened. A failure in the due admini stration of justice, is much to be lamented, and if heretofore defefh, or omissions have happened, it is to be expe&ed, that the business before the Superior Court, in future, will not be retarded. ■f'he Constitution, contemplating inferior iurifdiftions. the legislature since the vear 1789, created courts of nearly concurrent jurifdidtion, with the Superior Court, in each county under the justices thereof; and of leftcr cases, before a single Magistrate, and attached to such inferior courts, other important County duties, in . which they have exclusive iurifaiclion. By . these laws, then, it is actually requisite, for j those to whom the trust is delegated, to fulfill * , ffie duties of their appointment. A negleft . of iliefe duties, will not only be severely felt .by the inhabitants of-the county, but by the . people at large, and especially those who have demands, or claims against the residents of such , county, and where the cause must be tried in moft. civil cases—as justice then may, or ought .to be adrakiiftered almost literaliv, at. every man’s door, the regular meeting of such courts, is of the utmofl importance to the community , and an omiftion, or negleft to render justice, may lhake the political consequence of, the county. The great advantage, that citizens of other States, and aliens have by reporting to the federal courts for recovery of their debts, ■ which is eflc6frd generally in two terms, ought particularly toflin.ulate those whole duty it is, to he watchful that our citizens, have at least ait equal chance of security, by keeping open the courts, and rendering judice, at the periods dir-fted.. Asa Grand Jury of the County, it is your duty to inquire into, and present all offences and offenders againd the law, to point out evils that rxift in your county, whether they arise locally, or hy any general measures, wherein the rights, liberty or property of your fellow citizens may have been-invaded. By precept ■ and example, you will I am fully convinced, enforce a due obedience to law and good ; order. By looking into the funds of your countyref prfling an Academy, building of a Court-houfc and Goal and errfcling Bridges, the Tax for sup porting the poor of your county, and other monies granted by government,-or levied by thcjudices- for county purposes, and difeover ■ ing how, and in what manner, thd lands have been applied, probably, may well demand an hour of your lei Cure and enquiry. The opin • ion of a ‘Grand Ihqueft, on the (übjefts spoken of, will have great weight on the individuals, intruded with the application of the monies, becatife, if they have done well, they will meet, your thanks—otherwise, merit your censure. The obtaining Lands, by wiiat is termed (peculation, perhaps has been carried to a great -cr exoels in this State than any other in the un ion ; indeed, so great was the rage, that anim * menfe Weftein Territory, to which this State lias always interposed her claim, has been one .ol the greatest sources of mifehief that can be , conceived, for we find that the public mind, has been so agitated, at the mode the lcgida turc in 1795 adopted, to endeavour to transfer this rich and valuable country, from the ffatc trom.it* citizens generally, as to draw forth peti tions, presentments and complaints to the late , Convention, which were referred to the Uft legislature who on inveßigation of ,1 ceedmgs, have by law declared the P ro ~ sale, not only constitutionally nu but corrupt and fraudulent Y and VOld lo lay more, on this unpleasant r , . . which has so materially injured P <,ur ty and divided our society is needles^ 1 ”"’ ’ Know how much has be*iv fw#* •’ as publilhed, „ , event has proven, how dangerous this f',f ** • of gaming has bee,, amongft’our owmcjfe? but the miserable effefl, it mav proSS 5 people of other countries who may be in, “ t 0 <ed, cannot be so readily forefeen/ terei ’ ; It is all edged, amongst other mifehi-f, 1 speculations have introduced, and if m v inf"* mation be correft, that in surveys v/hL pahed the offices; and finally under the . leat of this State, under the title of a ?^ at there has been more land contained inT^’ ■ surveys and grants* than the county ever UCI . tamed* Under these kind of title! ft ; u fa.d, that transfers have been made in the \ D ° hern States, to the people there, ami o^n ‘ the uninformed Granger, who. inftcad offiJ ’ *8 thcmfelves m poffeQion of good and v 5 . ble land, too< often find their real . only in a fi ne decorated plat rs ’ tie great seal as an appurtenant.—ls tin's . rue, how degradi„g.to government, how dft trefii gto a feeling honest mind 1 By the present law tax, gentlemm of tin Grand T.ury, you are authorized, and ft ,1 expfrefsly made part of my duty to give it m charge, to enquire, who are defaulted £ nuking returns of taxable property tn you* county, ail d ,f any, to present theim-fi/” ammiiig, at the receiver of return?, tax™]” lectors, and county furveyort offices, ycu will be enabled to find out the quantity of ]a “ ( surveyed, and returned, and n a great meaS revenue. The Treaty with Creftt-Britain, about wbic.i the public mind, was so much adta*ed“ havmg undergone, a long di(bullion in the prciemative house of congreis, the rduh </ turir deliberations, Having terminated in ‘aver of the Treaty, by voting money to carry it in to effefil- ; itis the law o-’ the land, and as f uc i, our tuny to carry it into effea, as fully as the lieaty with the king of Spain, that was ne-iQ tiated, with so much fatistsftion, and met the approuation, of our representatives, with such unanimity in its ratification. It is amongst the unpleasant cirenmfiances chat nave anlcn in our slate, that a failure m negotiating with tl* Creek Indians, for the Oconee lands, has taken place—by this. lam , 2 baid, we (hall be involved in much trouble wrh thele people—aur-frontier fettkrs cx- P,°J"d, and a check given to population—per v n?lt rac to fa y, at the fame.time, there certainly appears fofnething.uncommon, and myfterioc's ni the tranfaftion, and with which, *h'‘ people of this country, in negotiating with Indians, have not been accuftortmd to —although regtr lations, or rules, certainly-a rr, or may here qUifnc jn conducting bufmefs of this fort,yet I (hould conclude Inch rules, can only be ia stria conformity to and decidedly in unison, with the laws, and jurifdiftional rights of a people theie laws and ’ rights are (aid to be i ill ringed ; on this fubjedi- however, we rnuft . vyait, until a public enquiry takes place, and liie conduit oi the comamfliotv'rs, and agents come before ihe conitimtecb authorities that appointed them. In all your deliberation, gcntlenpen. oermit me to call io your mind,.the ab so lute neerflity there is, and a buiuiden duty we owe our fel low citizens and ourselves, to support with alacrity and good faith, the laws of die union, and of our own-itate, to recol left, that this (late makes part of the republic of the United States, and that the confequcuce of the Union, and this State, depend on a good underitand ing, amongst the conflicted authorities tliat e.xift, either nationally 01 as a Hate. I o conclude, let your minds be under the influence of your oath, which emphatically lavs, tliai your prcfenimens, (ball be made witiiout lear, favor or aileftion, or hope of re ward, or tlrrough rr.vy, hatred or malice, but in all things according to your heft judgment and ability. SUPERIOR COURT, Glyn County. September Term, 1796. IHE Grand Jury of the County of Glynn , Report I neir fatisfadlion at the appointment of Judge Stephens, and in the warmest manner, exp refs their thanks to him, for the and periinent Charge delivered them—The tenor of which we have paid particular atten**- tion to, and find the Charge founded upon tho nicest lralon, both for ease in affairs of and that of civil focirty. The obtaining lands*’by what is termed spe culation, this county has been as much injured as any other, and more than the whole county hath been laid on paper, and grants obtained, - without a chain being stretched agreeable tO’ law ; as such we present it as a grievance to the community at large. The warrants wrre obtained by fraud, and executed in the fame manner. To fay no more on this county buft nefs, we only fay the Yazoo fpeculatron met with ourwifhes, as to its being made null and void ; and finally congratulate our county, that no criminal bufmefs has required the atten tion of this county. .And we defne that the Judges Charge, together with this, may be published in one of the Gazettes of this State, jjj (Signed.) GEORGE PURVIS, For-mar. James M‘Leod,(u.s.)Rich. Pritchard, (l s.| Thos. Hart, (l.s) Richard Bryan, (!■•!• . Js. Copeland, (L.s.)Poalain Dubignen, (i..5.) Jn.T Morgan, (L.s.)Wm. MTntofh, (i—s) Jno. G.-Snead, (L.s.)Jon. Miller, (l.s ) Britain Bunklcy,( l.s. )Andrrw Tucker, (t.s ) William Clubb (i..s,;David Tetry, (ls) William Grant, (L.s.Jjohn Piles, (t- t.; Jno. Brunett, (L.s.jMartin Palmer, G.s) Benjamin Hart, (L.s.)Hillera Parsons, (i® ) Extra! l from the Minutts , JOHN W. GRAVES, Clerk. September ti, 1796. CAMDENCOUNTY, Sent. Term, i79*v WE the Grand Jurors present on our on , as a great grievance, the detention of Slat a, the property of citizens of this (late, by ‘ e Government of East-Florida, whereby. n>. honeftand iaduftiious perfiaus have b-ren s. . •* di ft veiled, No. 61.