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1733 To 1976 Georgia Proud Os
Long Line Os Outstanding Statesmen
From Its early history to
the present time, Georgia
has had many Illustrious
leaders in both state and
national affairs or
governments. In writing of
Georgia statesmen, If Is
nessary to recall the period
In history that brought
forth their leadership.
From the day of Its
settlement, Feb. 12, 1733,
at Savannah until 1743,
Georgia was ruled by its
founder, General James
Edward Oglethorpe, and a
group of twenty-one
English trustees. In
cidentally, Georgia was
the only one of the thirteen
original colonies in
America financed by the
mother country, Englahd.
In 1743, the government
of Georgia came under
civil control, directed by a
president, William
Stephens, and five coun
cilors.
In 1752, the trustees
surrendered the Georgia
charter to the crown and
the colony became a royal
province. The first royal
governor, Capt. John
Reynolds, was appointed
by King George 11. In 1756,
Reynolds was recalled and
Henry Ellis was named his
successor. The ablest of
the royal governors was
James Wright who served
from 1760 until 1776.
Revolutionary
period
1774-1789
Leading up to the
Revolutionary period was
the first Provincial
congress which met at
Savannah In January 1775.
Archibald Bulloch was
elected president. Other
leaders of the
revolutionary movement
In Georgia were Noble W.
Jones, John Houstoun and
George Walton, called
Sons of Liberty. They
organized the Tondee
Tavern meetings In
Savannah to condemn the
British government for
taxes Imposed upon the
colonists.
Dr. Lyman Hall was the
only delegate from
Georgia to the first Con
tinental Congress which
met in 1774 In
Philadelphia. Delegates to
the second Congress In 1775
were John Houstoun,
Archibald Bulloch, Dr.
John Jubly, Noble W,
Jones and Dr. Lyman Hall.
In December 1775,
George Walton became
president of the Provincial
Congress, which met for
the third time In January
1776 and was still In session
when the British attacked
Savannah. The members of
the Congress fled to
Augusta where they
elected Archibald Bulloch
the first president of
Georgia and commander
In-chief.
In February 1776,
Georgia delegates to the
Continental Congress were
Bulloch, Houstoun, and
Hall; George Walton and
Button Gwinnett who took
the places of Jones and
Zubly. When independence
was voted in the Con
tinental Congress, the
three Georgians present-
Button Gwinnett, Lyman
Hall and George Walton
signed the Declaration of
Independence.
On February 5, 1777, the
first Georgia Constitution
was ratified by the con
vention In Savannah. The
legislature was given
authority to elect a
governor and an advisory
council. John Adam
Treutlen was elected first
state governor May 8,1777.
John Houstoun, native
Georgian, was the second
elected governor who
served In 1778 and another
term In 1784. Houston
County was named after
this Revolutionary leader.
In 1779, Georgia had
three governors. The
British set up a royal
governor, Sir James
Wright, after they cap
tured Georgia. A faction of
the Whig Party In Georgia
elected John Wereat
president of the Supreme
Council with same duties
as governor. The rival
faction elected George
Walton, governor.
After Independence was
won, the thirteen states
were held together under
an agreement known as
the Articles of Con
federation. Edward Telfair
and Edward Longworthy
signed these articles for
Georgia.
In 1787, delegates from
all the states met at
Philadelphia and drew up
the Constitution of the
United States, which
brought the states together
into a federal union.
Abraham and
William Few signed the
U.S. Constitution for
Georgia. Georgia was the
fourth state to ratify the
U.S. Constitution which
was on Jan. 2, 1788. In May
1789, a new state con
stitution was adopted-the
second of elghf to even
tually be adopted.
Ante-bellum
Period
1790-1840
Listing the names of
Georgia's ante-bellum
leaders Is equal to calling
the noli of many of the
ablest men who ever lived
in the state.
In 1793, Joseph
Habersham was appointed
Postmaster-general by
President Washington.
In 1815, William H.
Crawford was appointed
U.S. Secretary of War by
President Monroe.
Crawford was the leader of
a powerful faction In
Georgia for many years.
His political opponent was
John Clark, the head of the
Clarkites. When Crawford
moved to Washington,
D.C., his party was called
Troupers for the new
leader, Gov. George
Troup, the first governor to
be elected by the people
(1825).
In 1834, John Forsyth
who had served In both
houses of Congress, as
governor of Georgia and
minister to Spain, was
appointed Secretary of
State by President Andrew
Jackson. As ambassador
to Spain, Forsyth
negotiated the sale of
Florida to the United
States.
James M. Berrien, U.S.
Senator for four terms,
became attoryey-general
in 1829.
Gov. George W.
Crawford became the
Secretary of War In 1849.
Howell Cobb, who had
been a congressman and
speaker of the House,
became Secretary of the
Treasury under President
James Buchanan in 1857.
Many ante-bellum
leaders along with Mr.
Cobb were concerned with
the questions of
nullification and secession.
Georgia was in the
forefront In the States'
Rights controversy.
Among those prominent in
Congressional debate of
this subject were Robert
Tombs and Alexander
Stephens of Georgia,
although advocating
remaining In the Union.
Georgians had great In
fluence In saving the Union
through the Compromise
Act of 1850.
Confederacy
1841-1845
Later Tombs and Howell
Cobb left the cabinet to
return to Georgia and join
Thomas R.R. Cobb to
promote secession.
Despite the pleas of
Benjamin Hill, Herschel V.
Johnson, and Alexander
Stephens, Georgia seceded
from the Union on January
19, 1861 at a convention of
all counties In
MllledgeVille, the capital.
The southern states
organized a Confederacy
and named Alexander
Stephens as vice
president. Thomas R.R.
Cobb, who wrote the
state's first code of law,
was the author of the
constitution of the Con
federate states.
Alexander Stephens
dink •
Jf. 7
Lyman Hall
served 24 years in both
houses of Congress and
was state governor at the
time of his death in 1883.
His home at Crawfordville
has been made a national
shrine. Stephens is one of
two Georgians whose
statues have been placed
in Statuary Hall in the
national capital. Stephens
was a lawyer, orator,
author and statesman,
whose life is written in the
annals of his country.
Mrs. Mary Holden Paul
of Perry is the great, great
niece of Alexander
Stephens.
One of the outstanding
leaders of this period was
Joseph Emerson Brown
who served four terms or
eight years as governor
from 1857-65. History says
that Gov. Brown was a
political wizard and
economic genius who
changed the Western and
Atlantic Railroad owned
by the state from a liability
into a great asset earning a
half-million dollars an
nually. Later he served
two terms as senator.
Reconstruction
and Recovery
1846-1899
Georgia was readmitted
to the union in July 1870.
Among the great leaders of
the post-war era were
Charles J. Jenkins, the
first post-war governor;
General John B. Gordon,
U.S. Senator and governor;
Benjamin H. Hill, U.S.
senator; Alfred H.
Colquitt, twice senator and
twice governor; Hoke
Smith who became
Secretary of Interior under
President Grover
Cleveland from 1893-96.
Thomas E. Watson, the
"Sage of McDuffie
County", came Into
national prominence In
1896 by Introducing In
Congress the bill which
began the system of rural
free delivery (R.F.D.) of
mail In the nation. Tom
Watson was a farmer,
lawyer, journalist and the
leader of the Populist or
People's Party and its
candidate for president
twice. When he was in the
U.S. Senate in 1921, Tom
Watson played a leading
part in bringing about the
defeat of the Versailles
Treaty.
Twentieth
Century
1900-1976
The twentieth century
brought with It an era of
new experiences, new
developments as well as
new leaders In govern
ment. Much of the history
of this three-quarters of a
century has been in
fluenced by two World
Wars and their af
termaths.
Joseph Meriwether
Terrell of Meriwether
County was elected
governor in 1902 to succeed
Allen D. Candler, after
serving as attorney
general from 1892-1902.
Governor Terrell Is
remembered for his efforts
to get district agricultural
and mechanical schools
established. Ten A & M
schools were set up at first
and eventually there were
twelve. After the college of
agriculture became a part
of the University and
vocational agriculture
courses were set up in high
schools, the A & M schools
were discontinued. The
Georgia court of appeals
was set up during the
Terrell administration.
Terrell was appointed U.S.
Senator by Gov. Joseph M.
Brown and died In
Washington in 1912.
During the first 20 years
of this century, the Smith-
Brown teud dominated the
political scene all over the
state, even extending into
county politics. Prior to the
entrance of Joseph M.
Brown, son of the famous
Governor Joe E. Brown, on
the state scene, a bitter
fight for the governorship
of Georgia took place
between Hoke Smith of the
Atlanta Journal and Clark
Howell, Sr. of the Atlanta
Constitution. Hoke Smith
won in 1906 but was
defeated in 1908 by Joseph
M. Brown, who was sup
ported by Tom Watson. In
1910, Hoke Smith defeated
Gov. J.M. Brown for the
governorship.
From the governor's
office, Hoke Smith went to
the United States Senate
where he served until 1920
when he was defeated by
Tom Watson.
With Georgia
Congressman Dudley M.
Hughes, Senator Hoke
Smith sponsored the
Smith-Hughes Act, which
In 1917 started the teaching
of vocational agriculture
by granting federal aid to
public secondary schools.
Senator Hoke Smith was
co-author of the Smith-
Lever Act which created
the agricultural Extension
Service In 1914.
Congressman Hughes'
wife was Miss Mary
Dennard of Perry. Mr. and
Mrs. Hughes are buried in
Evergreen Cemetery In
Perry. Mrs. Hughes died In
1954 at the age of 100. Their
daughter. Miss Hennllu
Hughes, a relative of the
Coopers of Perry, lives in
Danville, Georgia.
John M. Slaton suc
ceeded Hoke Smith as
governor. Nathaniel E.
Harris, last of the Con
federates to serve as
governor, was head of the
state during World War I.
His successor was Hugh M.
Dorsey.
During the 1920'5, the Ku
Klux Klan emerged as a
powerful political force
which made and broke
governmental leaders.
Governors who served
during this period were
Thomas W. Hardwick who
went from this state office
to the U.S. Senate; Clifford
Walker of Monroe, and Dr.
L.G. Hardeman of Com
merce. No doubt the
outstanding statesman of
the 1920's was Walter F.
George who became U.S.
*5.
George Walton
Senator in 1923. Senator
George, who was highly
respected for both his
ability and integrity, made
Georgia important in the
national government.
Senator George was
chairman of the Finance
committee, a member of
the Foreign Relations
committee, and president
pro tern of the Stnate. After
serving 33 years, Senator
George retired in January
1956.
Senator
Russell
The 1930's were an ex
citing era politically. In
1930, Richard B. Russell,
Jr., son of Chief Justice
Russell of Georgia's
Supreme Court, was
elected governor, the
youngest chief executive
the state has ever had.
During his term. Gov.
Russell had passed the Re-
Organization Act of 1931,
which simplified and
improved the state ad
ministration. In 1932, Gov.
Russell ran for the
unexpired term of U.S.
Senator William J. Harris,
who had died, and won the
election. Taking office
Jan. 10, 1933, Senator
Russell served until his
death Jan. 22, 1971. During
his 38 years as senator,
"Dick" Russell became a
powerful figure in
Washington because of his
leadership in the interest
of agriculture and for his
opposition to the Civil
Rights program. Senator
Russell was chairman of
the Armed Services
Committee and a member
of the Appropriations
Committee.
Eugene Talmadge
Another prominent
figure of the 1930's was
Eugene Talmadge who
was elected governor in
1932, after serving two
terms as commissioner of
agriculture. Gov.
Talmadge's first ad
ministration attracted
wide attention because he
reduced state expenditures
and taxes and re-organized
the Highway Department.
Free school books came
during the Talmadge
administration.
Acting to prevent
stagnation of the state's
functions. Gov. Talmadge
called out the state militia
three times. His ad
ministration was one of
retrenchment rather than
advancement because of
the Great Depression of
the 1930'5. Gov. Talmadge
served three terms as
governor and was elected
for a fourth term in 1946
but died before he could
serve.
Eugene Talmadge was
one of the most colorful
and powerful political
figures Georgia has ever
had. He and Joe E. Brown
are the only two men to be
elected four times and also
to have sons to become
governor.
Georgia's "New Deal"
governor was E.D. Rivers
who served two terms,
1936-1940. Gov. Rivers
cooperated with the
national program of
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt in carrying
through reform and relief
programs. Ed. Rivers
gave Georgia a publie
safety program and
established a Patrol
Headquarters in Perry.
The term of the governor
and other constitutional
officers was changed from
two years to four years in
1942 by an amendment to
the state constitution.
In 1943, Ellis Arnall
began the first four-year
term of any Georgia
governor after serving
four years as attorney
general. Known as a
liberal, Gov. Arnall's
program involved these
radical changes: lowering
the voting age from 21 to
18; establishing a merit
system; abolishing the poll
tax; and the adoption of a
new state constitution in
1945 to replace the 1877
document. The Teacher
Retirement Law was
passed. Gov. Arnall
brought a suit in Federal
Court to establish fairer
freight rates for the South
which had been
discriminated against for
80 years. In 1952, the In
terstate Commerce
Commission equalized
rates, thus saving
Georgians millions of
dollars. A state board of
corrections was
established to bring about
prison reform.
For the second time in
157 years Georgia had
another three-cornered
fight for governor in 1947.
Eugene Talmadge was
elected governor Nov. 5,
1946 but died Dec. 21, 1946
before taking office in
Jan., 1947. His son, Her
man Talmadge, was
elected by the Legislature
to serve as governor but
filled the office for 67 days
before vacating same
when the Ga. Supreme
Court ruled that the
constitutional provision
under which he was elec
ted was not applicable and
that Ellis Arnall's term
would continue until the
special election in Septem
ber 1948. On Jan. 20, 1947,
Melvin E. Thompson was
sworn in as the first
Lieutenant Governor.
Arnall resigned on March
18, 1947 and Thompson
became acting governor
from this date until
November 17, 1948 when
Herman Talmadge who
won over Thompson in
the special election suc
ceeded him.
Lt. Governor Thompson
had served as a supervisor
in the state department of
Education, as executive
secretary to Gov. Ellis
Arnall, and as state
Revenue Commissioner.
While acting as governor,
he bought Jekyll Island
and backed a conservation
program to "Keep Georgia
Green".
Herman Talmadge
completed his father's
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., JULY I, ITO,
Button Gwinnett
unexpired term and was
re-elected to a full term as
governor in 1950, serving
with distinction until
January 10, 1955. During
his administration, the
minimum Foundation
Program of Education was
financed by a sales tax.
More money was spent on
public education during
Gov. Talmadge's six years
in office than during the
combined terms of all
Georgia governors in the
state's history. Other
achievements included
youth centers, rural road
building, welfare benefits
increase, and industrial
expansion program. The
Talmadge administration
was one of unprecedented
progress in every area of
state government.
in 1954, Samuel Marvin
Griffin, editor of the
Bainbridge Post-
Searchlight, was elected
governor after serving as
lieutenant-governor from
1950. During his ad
ministration, a great deal
of money was put Into
education; a science
center at the University of
Georgia, the nuclear
reactor at Georgia Tech,
and a S7OO a year raise for
the public school teachers.
Samuel Ernest Van
diver, Jr. of Franklin
County became governor
in 1959, after serving as
lieutenant-governor and
adjutant-general of
Georgia. Governor and
Mrs. Vandiver, the former
Betty Russell, headed a
Christmas Caravan to
carry gifts to patients at
the Central State Hospital
in Milledgeville. This
program has continued
annually since then. A
chapel of All Faiths was
erected at the hospital
during the Vandiver ad
ministration.
Carl E. Sanders,
Augusta attorney, was the
first modern governor
elected by popular vote,
and not by county unit
vote, and at 37 was the
youngest in the nation at
that time.
For his educational
achievements for the state,
Gov. Sanders was awarded
the famous Golden Key, an
award sponsored by six of
the nation's most powerful
education organizations.
During the Sanders' ad
ministration, the new
Governor's Mansion and
Executive Center was
built. Sanders is con
sidered one of Georgia's
most progressive gover
nors.
Lester Garfield Maddox
was elected governor of
Georgia by the General
Assembly January 10,
1967. This was the result of
52,834 write-in votes for
Ellis Arnall in the General
Election of 1966 which
prevented Maddox, the
Democratic candidate who
received 450,626 or Howard
Callaway, thfe’Rephblican,
who received 453,665 votes
from having the required
legal majority. The
Democratic legislature
elected Maddox by a vote
of 182 to 66. Maddox
became the first governor
to live in Georgia's elegant
new Executive Mansion.
Gov. Maddox took a
special interest In prison
Improvement and em
phasized the importance of
new industry and more
tourists.
Before his election,
Maddox was known
nationally for his in
sistence on the idea that
property rights gave him
the power to refuse to
serve blacks at his
restaurant In Atlanta.
Although a segregationist,
Gov. Maddox appointed a
number of blacks in his
administration.
Legally unable to seek a
second term as governor,
Lester Maddox ran for and
won the office of Lien
tenant-Governor.
Jimmy Carter
After an unsuccessful
campaign for governor in
1966, James Earl Carter,
Jr., peanut farmer and
nuclear physicist, was
elected chief executive of
his native state of Georgia
in 1970 and began his four
year term Jan. 12, 1971.
Jimmy Carter as he is
better known defeated
former governor Carl
Sanders in the Democratic
Primary and Hal Suit, the
Republican nominee, In
the General Election.
Carter's inaugural
address made headlines
throughout the state and
nation because of his
progressive program and
his assertion that the time
for racial discrimination
was over.
Gov. Carter's major goal
was re-organization of
state government from 300
units into 22 departments.
The Re-organization Plan
went into effect in 1972.
Other priorities of the
Carter Administration
Included reforms in
education, a conservative
but productive fiscal policy
and co-ordinated planning.
A number of en
vironmental protection
bills were passed in the
General Assembly with his
endorsement. The City of
Atlanta was authorized to
construct a rapid transit
system in March 1971.
A member of the
Southern Baptist Con
vention Brotherhood
Commission, Jimmy
Carter is active in religious
affairs.
Called the "Peanut
Farmer from Plains",
Jimmy Carter, now a
candidate for President of
the United States,
describes his political
philosophy as "enlightened
conservation" that
stresses self-reliance,
personal responsibility,
and Individual par
ticipation in government.
George Busbee, native of
Dooly County and resident
of Albany, Ga. became
governor in 1975 after
serving 16 years in the Ga.
Legislature. Governor
Busbee's main priorities
are industrialization and
education. Now in the
second year of a four-year
term, the governor
predicts a bright future
economically for Georgia
and the nation.
Georgians take politics
seriously, especially
elections for governor.
Many colorful and capable
men have served the state
in state and national
positions. Georgians have
a right to be proud of many
of its leaders.
Politics Is government In
action. Good or bad
government affects the
lives of everyone. Politics
is everyone's business.
It behooves all
Georgians to try to elect to
public office persons who
will prove to be good
statesmen.