Newspaper Page Text
THE
' V "
vnonr.
VOEiUllB 2—NO. 8®
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA. THURSDAY, SI PTEMBER 1, 1831.
WHOLE NUMBER GO.
edited by
pOLT-II'l 1 <& J• A* CUTHBERT.
■ mil li.-hol every Tliursflv.y at THREE DOLLARS
THE < -TOr' isp ^ - or if not paid before the end of the
J. G.
POLITICAL®
COL. JOHNSON TO MR. BERRIEN.
course to me. Such a course could hive been in
jurious to none, and less troublesome to aH. But,
sofarasl am concerned, I feel perfectly willing
.o take the course adopted by yourself of plating
The following copy of a Letter from Col. John- our views before the public. I do not, however,
son to Mr. Bep.risn has been forwarded to us for • think that it will be much benefited by our labours:
publication by Col. Johnson: and I am further induced to believe that the pub-
Oakland, [Ky.] July 20th, 183!. be will place a less value upon the controversy
Dear Sir: Your favor of the 17th inst. has been j than you do. In denying the confidential charac-
received. I find that you understood me to say, | ter of our conversations, you urge as one consid-
that the President would at least expect the invita- j eration, that the intimation to invite Maj. Eaton
tion of Mrs. Eaton when you gave large and gen- i an d his family to your large parties was offensive,
eral parties. The President never did directly or j although you are kind enough to believe that I did
indirectly express or intimate such an expectation, i n °t so intend it. If the nature of the suggestion
He informed me that he had been induced to be- changed in your mind the character ol the conver-
lieve that a part of his cabinet had entered into a sation, and the relation of that perfect friendship
combination to drive Mai. Eaton from it, by ex- whlch bad so long existed, would it not have been
Sj«> mSist'beiiu^ at Urt'court^wuse^doo/bctwT^ruhe^oiirs «f io eluding him and his family from society; that l ie | magnanimous and generous in youto have advised
in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. No sale fiom day to day is j ^ ac j j) een a | so informed that the successive Darties i me *1* 1 now come to the material point m con
troversy—whether Gen. Jackson, through me re-
ou to invite Major Eaton and hi3 fam-
pe, ;uiny»», J^T-'oa'v.'aync Street, opposite McCombs’ Tavern.
. ..vrnvt-i-' VEXTS published at tire ’nual rates.
Citation by the Oftto efthe Courts of Ordinary that
pimi.piie-i HU • * a0< i AdniinlPtraVn® for Debtors and rredi-
er inti*ir accounts, must be published SIX WEEKS.
t0 ^i»cnf Ne»me.- *><• Executors and Adir.inistrators must ue ad-
usrticnU x'TV DAYS hefore the day of sale.
&Ucs of i^rsou il property (except uegrees) of testate and intes-
tate e-fatai by Executors and Administrators, must be advertised
1 Applications by Executors, Administrators and Guardians to the
Coui r of Ordinary for leave to sell Land, must be published F’OL'il
^ Applications by Executors and Administrators for LettersDismis-
£0rv, must be published SIX MONTHS.
Applications for Foreclosure of Mortices on real estate must be
advertised once a month for SIX MONTHS.
Sales of real estate by Executors, Administrators and Guardians,
-IXTV DAYS before the day of sale. These
, had been also informed that the successive parties i
valid, unless so expresses in tlie advertisement. » • i n i i- » • .- • - 1
Orders of Court of Ordinary, (accompanied wl’h a copy of the ! to which you allude was a link in t
bond, or agreement) to make titles to land, must be advertised 1 tempts had been made even upon
^sherlff^s^aies^under executions regularly jrranted by the courts, 1 ters to exclude Maj. Eaton and his family from i! .V to your large parties. This suggestion was
\ S'MvwWBif^["openy rd r eflnie% CU court;' their parties; that such a state of tilings ga*ve him i u P° n mv own responsibility, with an anxious
niust be advertised, generally, ten dayh before the day of sale, great distress: that he was determined at all haz-! desire more effectually to reconcile the then exist-
Ah'^ners^rerted^^ds^iffice^rTiufEditors 1 nius^bepost-1 ards to have harmony in his cabinet. He then ; difficulties. But General Jackson never did
J t>ai*d, to entitle uiem to attention. j read a DaDer containin'? the nrinciDles upon which i ma “ e suc “ a requisition, in any manner whatever,
J ! = j he intended to act. Inmy conversation with you, directly or indirectly; nor did I ever intimate to
J OHN It. WOOTASf respectfully tenders himself | j referred to this paper. No doubt it is now in ex- y°4 " e “ aa made such a demand. 1 h® com-
to the citizens of Baldwin county as a candidate for • existence. It disclaimed all intentions, on the part | P^mt made by General Jackson against this part
H the Clerkship of die Superior Court at the ensuing elec-; ofthe p resid ent lat in manner what- i « fhis cabinet was specific, that he had been in-
w tmnit. January next. Auff4_ , the ivate Qr g^j intercourse of the mem- formed, and was induced to believe, that they were
- using their influence to have Major Eaton and his
W E are authorized to announce .\lr. LEW IS J. W.
KRAATZ a candidate lor Clerk of the Inferior
Asa mutual friend I called up-
Court of Baldwin county.
Aug 4
W E are authorized to announce Mr. RANSOM
U. SMITH a candidate for Clerk of the Inferi
or Court of Baldwin county, at the next election. Aug 4
W E are requested to announce the name of WIL
LIAM D. SCOGG1N, Esq. as a candidate for
Sheriff of Baldwin county, at the next election for coun
ty officers. Nov 6
W E are authorized to announce CapL WILLIAM
F. SCOTT a candidate for Sheriff of Baldwin
joountv. at the ensuintr election. July 5—mte
i - - — ■ — i - — — - ■■■ — ■ "
jl bt IT E are authorised to announce BARRADLLL i
w V ▼ STUBBS, Esq. as a candidate for Tax Collec-
' tor nr Baldwin cwnnty, at the next election. June 23
W E are authorized to announce JAMES CONE*
Esq. as a candidate for Tax Collector of Bald
win county, at the election in January next.
August 25 7
W E are authorized to announce GEORGE G
MILLER, E q. as a candidate for Receii’er of
Tax Returns for Baldwin county, at the ensuing elec
tion J,;) y 7
on you, and, as a peace maker, my object was to
make the above communication in the most delicate
Without adverting to any farther inacuracies of. The people were still clamorous, something must
your letter and statement, I have the honor to be,
very respectfully your ob’t serv’t,
R’H. M. JOHNSON.
Hon. Samuel D. Ingham.
GOV® GILMER®
[From the Georgia Journal.]
A brief Review of the Administration of Gov. Gil
mer—By a Troup man.
The conduct of public men being at all times a
legitimate subject of full and free investigation, un
der ail governments founded upon the principles of
constitutional liberty, the writer avails himself of 1
that privilege to scrutinize the acts of the present
executive administration of Georgia. In the out
set, he feels it due to his excellency, to the public
and himself, to premise, that in the remarks which
he may make upon the course of this administra
tion, there is nothing of personal hostility enter
tained towards Mr. Gilmer. The object of this
essay is nut to vituperate his reputation as a private
citizen, but to shew from the policy which he has
adopted and pursued as a public agent, that he has
on some very important questions, wholly mistaken,
not only the opinions, but the interests of his con
stituents—and that whatever talents he may pos
sess for the public service in another department,
himself fit his friends have greatly mistaken his
qualifications for the office which he now holds.
That the public may arrive at just conclusions upon
W
E are authorize*
! to announce W.C. Pi >W ELL,
in 1'aMw
Esq. a enunidate for Receiver of Tax Return.--
rin, at tlie *n in January next. July 28
NOTICE.
P ERSONS having accounts against the MiUcdgevillt
Masonic Halt Lottery, will please present them for
payment, within ten days fi iintlns date.
1 By order, R. A. GREENE,
Secretary to Comm;: uoners.
Milledgeville, August 4,1831. 4—
Cotton Bagging.
PlilULS heavy hemp, jum received, and
for tale !>y
100
WILEY h BAXTER.
$3 per qr.
5
6
4
6
12
2
ailUS. FLOURNOY,
(Il idorc of H ni. H. Flournoy,)
H AS taken a SCHOOL ROOM at Airs. Vickers
nearly opposite Mr. Humphries, where she wi!
L.uch a select number, not exceeding fifteen, die follow-
inf branches ol Female Ltiucaiion, ut the annexed pii-
l m . _
Reading, Writing, English Grammar, and
Plain Work, - - “ “
Geography, History, Astronomy,Natural
Philosophy, Belles Let;res and Orna
mental Work, - *
Drawing and Painting, • “
Embroidery,
French Language, (five lessons per week,)
Music, (five lessons per week,)
Use of the Piano for Practicing, -
As the most devoted attention will be paid to the con
duct, neatness, &c., as well as mental impiovement of
those pupils confided to her, parents and guardians are
requested to visit tlie School twice a month and judge oi
their implement.
Milledgeville, August. 1st, 1831. 4—tf
CUTHBERT A POLHILIi
H VVE opened their L.1 H tyFLlCE. at the Com
missioner’s Hall in the market-house, Miiledge-
vihe, Georgia. One of diem is always to be found there
ready to attend to professional calls.
They will practice in tlie following Counties and Cu-
f BALDWIN,
J JONES,
Ocmxugee Virauu...~ v p(jq’NAM
{ WILKINSON,
f BIBB,
lit \ MONROE,
(HENRY.
Chataf'joochie Circuit TALBOT.
(TWIGGS,
Southern Curcud j TELFAIR, &c.
MidtUe Circuit WASHINGTON.
Milledeeville, June 23, 1831
LIW®
H ARGROVE & WALTH ALL are practicing Law
in connection. They will attend the Courts in tire
Ad joining counties. 55. B. HARGROVE,
J TURMAN WALTHALL.
Covinsrton, Newton co. June 23, 1831. 50—tf
er inquiry, whether you could not, at those large
and promiscuous parties, invite Maj. Eaton and
his family. From the total social non-intercourse
of the members of the cabinet, the want of harmony
was inferred, more than from any other circum
stance; and my desire was to remedy that evil by
the suggestion or inquiry which I made. It would
have Treen an absolute, unqualified, and total mis
representation of his views, if I had represented
the President as making any such demand. You
will therefore perceive that you have fallen into the
mistake of supposing that I attributed to him what
was the spontaneous, sole, and independent sug
gestion of my own mind. I have had no agency
in bringing any part of our conversation before the
public. I am happy in the recollection that my vol
untary exertions to restore harmony to ancient
friendship, for the time bein<v, was not unavailing,
by conversations and mutual explanations, between
some of the parties, and that I have had no agen
cy in producing the recent separation. Having
now corrected your misapprehension of what I did
say in my endeavors to prevent the disunion of my
bosom friends, I feel as if I had performed another
sacred duty. I have done it promptly, and in the
same spirit of peace and friendship. I have con
fined my remarks to an explanation of what I said
myself. This is done to avoid any unpleasant col
lision which too frequently arises among the best
of friends and most honorable men when efforts are
made to detail private conversation.
I am, dear sir, yours, respectfully,
R. M. JOHNSON.
Hon. J. Maepherson Berrien.
family excluded from all respectable circles, for the
purpose of degrading him, and thus drive him in! all the important matters connected with his ad
maimer possible. During our conversation, in the ,Vom <>lbce: andlhat Uie attempt had been made ] ministration, it is proper to go back beyond its
anxiety of my heart to ?erve mv friend and my even upon the foreign ministers, and in one, case , commencement, and look for a moment into the
country, it was I alone, upon my'ovvn responsibili- P™Jueed -the dewed eflect. He proposed no causes which brought Mr. Gilmer into office. lai
ty, who made the suggest!™ or proposition, or rath- m 1 ode ol accommodation or satislaction, but declar- hide to the unprovoked attack made by Mr. Gil-
‘ 1 - ed expressly that if such was the fact he would dis- mer on Mr. horsy th m the spring of 1829.— I hat
miss them from office. He then read to me a paper controversy was sought by Mr. Gilmer, and what
containing tlie principles upon which lie intended are the facts connected with it? They are these—
to act, winch disclaimed the right to interfere with In the fall of 1829, Mr. Gilmer was elected to Con-
the social relations of his cabmet. Acting in the gress. Upon a return of tlie votes, at the expira-
capacity of a mutual friend, and obeying tlie im- 1 tion of twenty days from the election, Governor
pulse ol’my own mind, can it be supjiosed that I Forsyth, in obedience to a law of the State, issued
would have misrepresented any of the parties, and bis proclamation, requiring the members elect to
thus defeat the object I had in view? I should signify their acceptance or refusal, to serve the
have considered it a gross violation of the ties of State in Congress, that they might be commission-
that friendship which then existed between us to e d in terms of the act aforesaid. Mr. Gilmer from
have carried to you such a message, as that you ! some unavoidable or wilful cause, failed to comply
should invite Major Eaton and his family, or any l with the terms of the act, and did not signify his
other persons, to your large or small parties, under i acceptancewitliin the time specified by the act.—
a menace of dismissal from office. When the
Flint Circuit.,
NOTICE.
B ROUGHT 'l < > JAIL, on the 15th instant, by
William Saddler, a black man by tlie name of
IrJ riEit, who says he belongs to Alexander C. Morri
son of Putnam county. The owner is desired to come
forward, in compliance with die law, and pay all charges
and take him out. A. MAULDIN,
Deputy Sheriff Habersham county.
Aug 25 7- 3t
Colonel Johnson’s Reply to Mr. Ingham.
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
Blue Spring, 2d August, 1831.
Messrs. Gales 8p Seaton: After having finish
ed the within letter, I discovered in your paper of
the 23d nil. that Mr. Ingham had published his
letter to me, as well as his statement. You will
please, therefore, to publish this letter as my reply,
and oblige your ob’t servant,
R’H. M. JOHNSON.
Blue Spring, July 31, 1831.
Dear Sir: Yours of the 16th instant was this
day received, accompanied bv a statement, which
it seems you have prepared for the public, purport
ing to contain separate conversations, with the
President and myself relative to an allegation
made in the public journals, that General Jackson
had authorized a member of Congress to require
of Messrs. Berrien, Branch and yourself, and
your families, to associate with * Major Ea
ton, and his family, under the penalty of being dis
missed from office. You refer to two articles in
the Globe to justify your appeal to the public, pre
viously to receiving my answer, in which it ap
peared that I had denied the above allegation, if it
had any allusion to me. After the publication of
this accusation against General Jackson, I received
a letter from a friend, intimating tiiat I was the
member of Congress to whom allusion was made,
and requested to know if I had ever made such a
communication. In my answer, I confind myself
to tfie specific accusation thus publicly made a-
gdinst tlie President, and which is attributable to
yourself and most equivocally denied that General
Jackson ever made such a requisition through me,
and as positively denied having ever made such a
On the contrary, I asserted,
rom
President mentioned this charge of conspiracy, I
vindicated you against it. I gave it as my opinion
that lie was misinformed. To prevent rupture, I
requested the President to postpone calling upon
those members of his cabinet till Saturday, that 1
migfit have the opportunity of two days to con
verse with them.
When I made my report to the President, I in
formed h.m that I was confirmed in my opinion
previously expressed, that he had been misinform
ed as to the combination and conspiracy. I inform
ed him of your unequivocal and positive denial of
the fact, and communicated every thing which tran
spired between us calculated to satisfy his mind
on the subject. It was this report of mine that
gave him satisfaction, and changed his feelings and
determination—not his ground as you have suppos
ed ; with me he had no ground to change. He
had assumed none except that which 1 have stated;
nor did I ever make use of such an expression to
you that he had changed his ground. It is true
that I informed you tiiat the President was very
much excited, but I do not now recollect the pre
cise language used to convey my idea of that ex
citement. I presume that you had the advantage
of your private memoranda, when you say I com
pared him to a roaring lion.
You attribute to me another declaration which I
never made—that on our way to Mr. Berrien’s I
stated that the President had informed me tiiat he
would invite Mr. Branch, Mr. Berrie , and your
self, to meet him on the next Friday, when he
would inform you of his determination in the pres
ence of Dr. Ely. I never received or communica
ted such an idea.
The paragraph is substantially correct when that
part in reference to Dr. Ely, is expunged.
* It is true, in some of our various conversations,
the name of Dr. Ely was mentioned, but in con
nection with another part of the subject. Tlie
President informed me that when the rumors a-
gainst Major Eaton and his family had been o-
pened to him by Dr. Ely, he had invited the accu
sers to make good their charges, and that they had
failed—this is the substance of that part of our con
versation in which Dr. Ely’s name was mentioned.
Again, you say I called at your house about 6 o’clock,
when we walked to Mr. Berrien’s. The fact is
that you called for me at my lodgings about that
time, by a previous appointment. This is a mis
take in a matter of fact of no great importance, ex
cept to show how easily we forget. If we thus dif
fer in matters of fact, how much more liable to dif
fer as to words; and still more as to the time,
manner, and circumstances in which these words
have been introduced, and still more as to the pre
cise meaning tlie speaker wishes to convey to the
hearer!
Having thought it important to memorandum
our conversation, would it not have given addi-
statement to you
and now repeat, I did inform you, in each and ev- , tional proof of your friendship and confidence, and
ery interview, that the President disclaimed any i would it not have been an act of justice to me, to
right or intention to interfere in any manner ! have furnished me with it, (so far as I was concern-
whatever with tlie regulation of your private or I ed,) that I might have corrected, if necessary, any
social intercourse. " i erroneous impressions which my conversations
Thus, in a matter in which I was engaged to j may have made upon you ? The witness in court
serve you and other friends, in a matter of a deli- > is often misunderstood by lawyers and jury, and as
L
I N OUR months after date application will be made to
/ ihe honorable Inferior Court of Twiggs county,
w.ien sitting for ordinary purposes, for leave to sell tlie
Nejrrocs belonging to tlie estate of Olivia Philips, dec’d.
MARK FAULK, Adm’r.
May 12,1831
OUll months afterdate application will be made to
Inferior Court of Henry county,
F the honorable
when sitting for ordinary purposes, for leave to sell the
real estate of John Joiner, laic of said county, deceased.
lytha joiner, J Adm)n ,
WOODWARD JOINER,
June 23, 1831.
1 7IOUR months after date application will be made to
tlie honorable the Court of Ordinary ofMeriw&th-
Cr county, for leave to sell the land whereon the late Rich-
nrd Bray of Warren county resided, for the benefit of the
heirs and creditors. THOMAS N. DUNCAN,
June 23, IS31. Guardian.
F uun monins alter date appj
the honorable the Inferior Court of Franklin coun-
,• when sitting for ordinary purposes, for leave to sell
e negroes belonging to the estate of Levi Stokes, de-
crased. JAMES MORRIS, Adm’r.
June 23* 1831. 4m
1
cate and liighly confidential nature, and in which I
succeeded, unexpectedly I found myself presented
to the public journals as a witness impeaching one
of those friends, and ascribing to him declarations
which he never made and placed in that attitude
by you, self-respect, and self-defence, called upon
me to correct that erroneous statement. I cannot,
therefore agree wiith you, that I did in any degree
change my view of the subject in considering it
improper in any of the parties to come before the
public without the opportunity of comparing our
different recollections. But if you feel under any
obligations of a personal or political character to
►come before the public previously, you will find me
as ready as yourself to meet any responsibility or dif
ficulty which such a course may produce. Up to
this date I have considered my correspondence with
you and Mr. Berrien of a character not to be di
vulged to any one, and have therefore confined it
to my own bosom. The object of my first letter
to you was to declare frankly and candidly, in the
spirit of perfect respect and friendship, that I was
misunderstood, provided I was the member of Con
gress to whom reference was made, that you
might have it in your power to correct your misap
prehension of my communications.
I did not see how it could impeach your charac
ter or lessen your reputation to consider and ac
knowledge it a mistake, without you»assumption
of the ground that you understood me better than
I understood myself, and that you could make the
public believe so. My standard of confidence and
friendship, arising from a personal and political in
timacy oftwenty years, would have dictated that
often called upon to correct the mistake and to ex
plain his meaning; and you have gained little in
your desire to be accurate, so far as I am concern
ed, by failing to present me with yonr private
memoranda: and if now furnished, I dare think
that I might put a different construction upon your
own notes.
Again, you are incorrect in supposing that I in
formed you tiiat the President requested me to con
ed by Mr. Berrien. IN or <na i ever say
families had not returned the call of Mrs. Eaton;
and that if they wouid leave the first card, and o-
pen a formal intercourse in that way, the President
would be satisfied. Such an idea never entered
my mind; for I never did know tlie precise nian-
ner in which the social non-intercourse existed be
tween vour families, whether cards had ever pass
ed from either or not; and sure I am, that tlie Pres
ident and myself never had any conversation on
the subject. “From first to latt my efforts were pu:
forth to reconcile the parties concerned; they tvere
for the time being successful. I have never chim
ed any merit for what I did: I felt happy, howtver
that I was in any way instrumental in prolonging
the political relations which have since been sev
ered, in which I have had no agency, and which I
deeply regretted. / Having thus acted, to my great
mortification I find mvselfdragged before the pub
lic to vindicate myself against sentiments and con
versations imputed to me by a part of those friends,
without the opportunity of explaining to them their
misapprehensions of what I did say.
Governor Forsyth, in obedience to its mandatory
provisions, ordered a new election, and issued his
proclamation accordingly. The virulent manner
in which Mr. Forsyth was attacked by Mr. Gilmer,
is too fresh in the public recollection to require fur
ther notice. Whatever may have been the mo
tive of Mr. Gilmer for provoking the controversy
with Mr- Forsyth, subsequent events have satisfied
ine, and must carry conviction to the public mind,
that it was the commencement ot asystem of opera
tions intended to bring himself into the executive
office. He succeeded, not only in enlisting his own
personal and political friends and his “friend’s
iriends” in the crusade against Mr. Forsyth and
Maj. Crawford, but by some sort of legerdemain,
some art of hocus pocus, the great body of the
Clark party was rallied to his cause, and Mr. Gil
mer came into office, by a higher vote, than any
oilier man lias ever received from tlie people of
Georgia.
Having him now quietly seated in the executive
chair, let us proceed to the history of his adminis
tration. The first act which demands a passing
notice, is his inaugural address, in which he declar
ed emphatically that he considered himself “the
Chief Magistrate of the State and not of a party.
In all the appointments it becomes my duty to make
I shall attempt to be governed by no other consid
eration than the public service.'* This declara
tion was received by the Clark party with emotions
of pride and satisfaction—They hailed the period
of his administration as a political jubilee, and con
fidently expected to be regarded by his excellency,
as a portion of the body politic, notliing doubting,
that for tlie 18,000 votes cast by them for Mr. Gil
mer, they would receive a fair equivalent of his
patronage. How that debt has been paid is well
known to the public, and the Clark people have
rung the changes upon it to his heart’s content.
I do not assert that Mr. Gilmer, either in person,
or through his friends, or his “friend’s friends,” did
holdout promises to the Clark party, but this I do
know, that when the Statesman & Patriot, came
out for him, among the reasons assigned for its
course, it was said, if Mr. Gilmer should be elected,
he would act liberally towards that party, or words
importing the same meaning. Now, as facts speak
louder than words, and as tliis statement was made
by the Clark papers and not contradicted by Mr.
Gilmer, or his friends, it is a fair presumption that
an understanding existed between them, or that
himself and his friends acted hypocritically in al
lowing the leaders of the Clark party to hold out
false lights to their people. Mr. Gilmer and his
friends may take either horn of the dilemma and
their position will be by no means enviable. This
subject is referred to, to show, that Mr. Gilmer did
enter into a combination with the Clark party,
which he intended to violate, or that he suffered a
hoax to be played off upon them for his own bene
fit. Is it an article in Mr. Gilmer’s political creed
that faith should not be kept with heretics.
From the day of his inauguration nothing trans
pired to call forth the boasted talents and energy of
his excellency until the winter of 1829 anff 30,
when the precious metals having been discovered
in great abundance upon our Cherokee soil, great
numbers of people from Georgia and other States
rushed to the Territory in search of its treasures.
In a short time several thousand had assembled,
and such a scene of plunder, such an outrage upon
the rights and the interests of our people has never
been committed within the jurisdiction of our State,
since its first organization. Here was presented
the fairest opportunity for the exercise of execu
tive energy—The country looked to him and him
alone, to interpose his arm for the protection of
her violated rights. Day after day, was the pub
lic eye anxiously directed towards the executive,
and the public ear in hourly expectanon of a com
mand to put down and abate tlie nuisance. When
the public voice was clamorous for redress, where
was the boasted energy of Governor Gilmer? Did
he order out the militia, did he make one man)v ef
fort to save the property of the people? No. The
outrage was every day increasing, until the public
mind became so much excited, that Mr. Gilmer
found it necessary to arouse from his slumbers and
look into the matter. He forthwith examined the
constitution and the law, and although he discov
ered in that portion of the law derived from the
mother country, that the minerals belong to the
King, yet, he not being a king, had no power to
protect them. He could find nothing in the Con
stitution and laws to authorize the employmenLof
force, and what should have been the alternative ?
The answer is that he should have convened the
legislature—and i? 1 rumour ought to be trusted,
that measure would have been adopted if too much
regard had not been paid to the preservation of
his popularity. But the Legislature was not con
vened, and the outrage continued and increased,
be done, and something was done which will be re
membered by the people of Georgia as the most
striking act of imbecility which has ever been com
mitted nv a Governor of our Elate. 1 allude to
the proclamation against tlie gold diggers issued
simultaneously, with that which extended tlie ju
risdiction of the State over the Cherokee terriuny,
and the train of measures by which it was follow
ed. In that proclamation the Governor command
ed all the officers of tlie State both civil and milita
ry to be aiding and assisting in putting a stop to
gold digging, upon our Cherokee Territory, and
when the writer saw that proclamation he felt a
reviving hope that efficient measures were about to
be adopted. But that hope was soon to be disap
pointed. For it is a fact, which I record with pain
and humiliation, that in obedience to the Governor’s
mandate, in compliance with the provisions of that
proclamation, a respectable militia officer, residii
in a county adjacent to the scene of plunder, die
forthwith raise a company and proceed to the spot
for the purpose of protecting the rights of his fel
low citizens—Did he succeed?—Yes, he succeeded
in a short time after his arrival, in finding himself
and his men, prisoners to a detachment of the U-
nited States army, then stationed in tlie neighbor
hood of the gold mines.—Yes fellow-citizens, a
force raised by virtue of the Governor’s proclama
tion, executing the orders of the Chief Magistrate
of the State, upon our own soil, within our own ju
risdiction, disarmed and made prisoners by the Fe
deral Troops. These things are true and must be
spoken, but, I blush lor the honor of ihy State,
wfien I speak of them. Here was presented ano
ther striking occasion for the exercise of the bold
and energelic qualities of which we have heard so
much. Were they called into action? Were ihe
Federal Troops ordered to leave our soil? Was
the arrest and punishment of their officers demand
ed bv Governor Gilmer? No. All this indignity,
all this violation of personal and sovereign righh,
was permitted to pass unheeded and unattoned,
and the officers and men who suffered this outrage
were obliged to submit without even the hope of
redress. The next step which followed this most
“lame and impotent conclusion,” was the notable
scheme of reading off the intruders, by the Gov
ernor’s agent Col. King, and the service of a bill of
injunction upon them.
This bill of injunction having been served oa
some small number among the thousands then tres
passing on the territory lived until it was dismiss
ed at the September term of Hall Court, to which
it was returnable, on the ground, as the writer^hae
understood of want of jurisdiction. The exasper
ated feelings of the community could not call up
the executive energy, and the territory continued,
to be inundated by thousands from all quarters.
The summer passed away, the autumn came, and
the trespass continued.—The Press groaned, and
the people complained, when on a sudden, as if a-
roused from his lethargy by some powerful excite
ment, his Excellency issued his proclamation con
vening the Legislature on the 18th ol October, just
two weeks earlier than the day fixed by Jaw,
What new discoveries he had made, what better
reasons he could find for convening the members at
that time, than had existed throughout the whole
period, from the preceding April, are questions
which would puzzle himself and his friepds to an
swer.
But, let us enquire what good resulted from thi0
anticipation of tlie regular session of the Legisla
ture? If any good has been the result, I have keen
unable to make ihe discovery. That some loss was
the result, cannot be denied. That the expenses
of the extra two weeks session w*ere a dead loss to
the State of nearly twenty thousand dollars, will
hardly be questioned. The extra session was os
tensibly called for the purpose of enacting laws for
the protection of the gold mines, but no law on
that subject was passed until after the period for
commencing the regular annual session. A law
was at length passed putting the military force of
the country, ami a large sum of money at the dis
posal of the Governor for the protection of the sold
mines, which law has received his sanction. About
one month after its passage, when sufficient time
had elapsed for the removal of every gold digger
from the country, his Excellency discovered 'that
the law was not to his liking, and accordingly made
a communication to the Legislature, requesting
the passage of another law on the same subject,
which was passed towards the close of the session,
and under the provisions of which the present
guard was organized.
But, it should be remembered, that the legisla
ture was convened on the 18th day of October,
and the Governors guard did not reach the gold
region until about the first of February, and tiiat
in the mean time great depredations were commit
ted upon the rights of the people. For tins the
Governor is mainly chargeaiie. for if he had r.o
lower 10 enforce his deck:. ;.tioL agar- th d
diggers, he should, forthwith, have convened * e
Legislative and asked the necessary pov. , at
their hands. The sheme of driving off thoi -.a
of intruders by a bill of injunction, certainly coi iff
not have been thought of seriously by any one, but
his Excellency. But he is further chargeable, be®
cause, so soon, as the first act received his official
assent, it w as his duty to have ordered out a suffi
cient volunteer or other militia force to expei in
vaders. I here leave the subject of protecting li*
gold mines, (tor the present) with the melancholy
reflection that by the policy which the Governor
has pursued, the people oif Georgia, are several
millions of dollars poorer, than they would have
been under the administration of an energetic Chief
Magistrate.
The next question to which I invite the public
attention is tlie course pursued by his Excellency*
in relation to the surv*4f and occupancy of our Che
rokee Territory, and to some other "matters con
tained in his message to tlie fast Legislature,
wherein, I shall be able to present doctrines not on
ly at variance with public opinion and at war with
the rights and interests of the people, but also, the
most palpable and glaring inconsistencies. In re
ference to the gold mires, and the survey, his Ex
cellency remarks in his message “The great value
of the gold mines renders it proper that vou should
not only provide some other means lor securing
them from trespass, but aL;o, to render them profit
able to the State.” Thus ii appears that tlie Gov
ernor is a decided advocate of reserving the <?old
mines to tiie State. In a subsequent sentence ot*
the message, he says, “That part of the country ie
so broken and inaccessible, so near the boundary of
the State, and the means of enforcing the laws so
difficult to be commanded, that neither of objects
can be properly effected without taking possessing
of mines. To do this in sjch manner as to have
them wrought profitably and safely, apd at the
same time to guard the time to guard the Indian
right ofoccupancy from violation, it may be neces
sary to obtain an accurate survey of the wholw
country. By doing this, those tracts which coin?
tain gold may be ascertained, and leases made with
more certainty of confining the tenants of sreh
within their bounds, and of distinguishing between •
the rights granted to the tenants of those tract#
which ni?y be occupied by the Indians, and those.