Newspaper Page Text
w.
First Milledgeville Legislature
Sets State’s Mouse in Order
Tint Bridge Authorized Thaddeus
Holt, Builder
STATE MILITIA ORGANIZED
To Time Wlo Hare Helped
With Old Cartel Edition
Mliledxeville Families Have Con-
Ui bated Numerous Historical
Papers and Letters—Have
Shown Relics
To that indefatigable collector of
important data and priceless remin
iscences concerning Baldwin coun
take charge of the same, fixing, ty, Mrs. S. A. Cook, every student
their pay; yearly inspection: and. of Milledgeville’s past will be
appreciated by tlds office. The work
has necessarily proceeded very slow
ly, due, in part, to oth r duties. Much
more could have been done if there
had been more time. Those who
may find certain matters and per
sons of major or minor importance
omitted, will probably find them
treated very fully and capably by
other writers.
Without the patience, kindness
and genial inspiration of Mr. Jere
Moore, none of this would have been,
possible.
“AN ORDINANCE”
in a critical location between the
Spaniards and Indians. It provided
for the purchase cf a quantity of
arms, gun-powder, lead, cannon
balls, gun flints, to be deposited in
the state house in Louisville, the ar-
_ I scnal at Milledgeville not having
Expenses of First Body Include been built: employment of officers
Travel by Horse Drawn
Conveyances I provided Congress does not appropri- nally indebted. Her work has been
■ | ate a sum in payment for Georgia’s invaluable. Her wealth of material
t- a r~ , . ,, | western lands, payment for the almost causes or.** to despair of ever
of the state of RimnHi f ;’’aforesaid arms, ordinance, accoutre- finding more; In her abundance
yellowed and timeworn Jm m t’ mcnts and ammunition", out of the of reminiscences that have not felt
one of the rare Sn na™ treasury. The act concerning the knife of the strict, surgical type
a citizen o' Milledeevill 1 T ? Uned ‘ the claims of General John Clark of historian, she has somehow pre- I chief justice of the supreme court:
is T , e .’ p owner j provided that a certain section ofj served the color and bloom of life i Augustus H. Kenan; Washington
of an author!tv rn matinrv somewhat land be reduce< | to .six dollars an long gone, which we envy and do! Po<‘: David J. Bailey, ex-president
al tateSthSe i acre 50 that a credit on bonds 8ivcn ! evan ho »- “> riva! - » cr work ' of GcorEia senate: Gen - W - T - Wof -
M ' , | the state might be allowable to the Was. in fact, our starting point, our
y o tne acts are of interest at general f 0 r the amount of $5,109. on springboard, and a most resilient
the present time particularly the j,he condition that he relinquish all; one it was.
title to the southwestern stream of j
adjoining
SECESSION CONVENTION
(Continued from page 1)
ex-judge: Hiram Warner,
authorizing Traddeus Holt
build the first bridge across the! the Oconeo
Oconee river at MilledseviUe. The I tract. All fines arising from _
t prescribes the toll to be exacted | struction made by him were
for c
Next to her work, the charming
nb- 1 and Rracious assistance of Mrs.
in _ David Ferguson has made work of
I this kind exceedingly pleasant. Mrs.
; Ferguson and her daughter. Miss
Betty Ferguson, lrve in tne beautiful
ry type of vehicle, rider, foot i celled,
pasesnger and animal which were j
expected to cross it, thus giving a | The state militia was divided
vivid picture of what a procession | four general divisions of eight bri- ! house built by Mrs. Ferguson’s
must have traversed that first span. I Kades. each, specifying the counties . grandfather. Mr. Peter Williams in
Other interesting acts are one to pro >»* eacl. brigade, the brigades to 1818. It has not been out of the
vide for arming ihe militia, one to! be divided into regiments, battalias family since it was built. Mrs. Fergu-
quict the claim of General Clark, j *’>nd companies, as in tho militia son’s great uncle was Seaton
for the better regulation | laws of the state and nation. The Grantland. newspaper publisher and
ist the an extremely large landowner. Mil-
comp-iicr Grieve, her maternal grandfath-
ns be- j er. was at one time minister to Den-
An Act j I , ore . ine 'Pcisiaiure wiurout any re- (mark and distinguished editor oC the
uthorize Thaddi
The bridge :
ollows
bridgi
Holt. E?.
for adjusting claims i
Creek nation required that the
troller-general bring the clair
J fore the legislature without any
r methods n
I citizens had been deprived of ■
y | Southern Rc<
She
■elated
■ his Fern.- ■
the main
ledgeville
Darien.
“Whereas Thaddeus
petition to thus lecislatu
ed the privilege of erecting
over the Oconee river, at
his ferry, where the main r<
ing from Milledgeville to
Savannh and Darien, crosses the
. She
reporter
at many
connected
also ex-
i right
iderable parts of their claims. The J G f the pro
regulation of free negroes stipulat-1 with the ciiv'
ed that they he under the same j tremely intere
'ins and restrictions , having gone
|as slaves in Savannah. Augusta, j jj ew . York II,
Holt, by his | Washington. Lexington, and Mil
ledgeville.
For those obtaining lands under I lege, thereafter becoming a charter
false pretenses in the land lotteries, member of the New York Woman’s
the punishment of perjury is in- press Club. Hers is a valuable col-
voked. Persons giving information I lection of old newspapers, historical
documents, and letters. A writer
ford: Francis S. Bartow, a fiery
tor for secession, afterwards killea
in the battle of Manassas: Thomas
R. R. Cobb. Dr. H. R. Casey; Judge
R. H. Clark; H. P. Bell, member of
Congress after the war; Dr. J. P. Lo
gan of Fulton, one of the most emin
ent and scientific physicians of the
state: William H. Dabney; D. P.
Hill: Goode Bryan; Judge W. B.
Fleming; Henry R. Harris, member
of Congress after the war; Thomas
P. S-iffold: Judge* Augustus Reese;
Purmetas Reynolds. Arthur Hood,
judge: Willis A Hawkins, since
judge of supreme ^ourt; T. M. Fur-
low; A. H. Hansell; S. B. Spencer,
afterwards mayor of Atlanta; P. W.
Alexander: C. W. Styles; N. Cars
well. afterwards judge of superior
court: and John L. Harris, after
wards a judge.
Judge Nisbet. author of the ordin-
ice of secession, was a very con-
rvative public man. He wa« small
stature, but of great personal
graduated in 1*184 from Middle Geor-j d ' cnit - v - He was a man of “unusual
“And whereas it is thought and
believed that to grant the same
privilege will tend to promote pub
lic convenience:
“Be it therefore enacted by the
Senate and House of Representa
tives of the State of Georgia in Gen
eral Assembly met That from and
immediately after the passing of the
act. said Thaddeus Holt is hereby
authorized to erect a bridge across
the said river, at or near his said
ferry, and to hold and occupy the
profits and advantages thereof, for
and during the term of ten years
after the same shall be completed,
at the following rates of toll, to wit;
“For a loaded waggon and four
horses, fifty cents; for an empty
waggon and four horses, thirty-seven
and a half cents; a loaded cart and
two horses, twenty-five cents; for
an empty cart and two horses eigh
teen and three-quarter cents: for
all four wheel pleasure carriages,
fifty cents; for two wheel dittr.
twenty-five cents; for man and
horse, twelve and a half cents; for
all led horses and mules, three cents;
for each foot passenger, six and a
quarter cents; for each head of cat
tle. two cents; and for each head of
hogs, sheep or goats, one cent. P
vided. The said bridge shall be
constructed, to admit the passage of
any boat or raft which may be
brought down said river, and pro
vided said Thaddeus Holt, shall com- ...
plcte the said bridge within the term Burkhalter, :n behalf of himself and
of two years from the date of the thc hcirs of Ann Willson, for a negro
act. | girl named Jenny, five hundred dol-
“And be it further enacted. That Jars; to William Barnett, commis-
the said Thaddeus Holt, his heirs, sioncr to ascertain the thirty-fifth
executors, administrators or assigns,! degree of north latitude, b
shall pay unto the commissioners of, this state and North Carolina, fifty-
the corporation of Milledgeville or; nine dollars; to Howell Cobb, two
their successors in office such sum hundred and fifty-two dollars, ti
or sums annually, as thev shall Smart and Lane, fifty dollars; t<
agree upon previous to the buildlw*1 Jett Thomas. $25,000 toward com
said bridge on th" land reserved to ■ pleting the State House,
the town of Milledgeville: to be an- ‘ Smart and Lane were paid S3
concerning such cases are promised
half the land’s value, or. failing to
prove their contention, are required
to pay the court costs.
Many of the entries in the ap
propriations for 1808 are interest
ing. The governor’s contingent fund
is SI5.000. Three dollars a day is al
lowed Representatives and Senators
during their attendance, and three
dollars for every twenty miles of
coming to and returning from the
scat of government. Four dollars a
day is the remuneration for the
president of the senate and the
speaker of the house, and three dol
lars for every twenty miles of journ
eying. Four dollars a day and sixty
dollars each for contingent expenses
is the stipend of the clerk of the
house and the secretary of the
senate, four dollars for the engross
ing clerks, three dollars for the mes
sengers and doorkeepers, and the
sum of forty dollars to Thomas H.
Kenyon, clerk of the committee on
the state of the republic and the
same to Edmund Boker Jbnkirfl,
clerk of the committee on finance.
Clerks, messengers and doorkeep
ers are also allowed three dollars
for every twenty miles for travel
ing expenses. Commissioners of the
late land lottery arc paid three dol
lars a day. and James Reigly
Nathaniel Clarke, boys attending
the wheels, two dollars per day each.
To Dennis L. Ryan for printing
is appropriates $54.87 1-2; to Jacob
plied to the use of building a
house or academy in the to
Milledgeville.
BENJ. WHITAKER,
Speaker of the Ho
school, foi
m of w*
ndcr
* plan
if this additional J
i the plan.
1805. One
Repr
ative
DAVID BATES.
President of the Senate
Assented to 10th Dec. IBO!
JARED IRWIN. Governor
Among other acts in the pamph
let are: according to a fragmentary
index, an act to lay rut and identify
six new counties: an act to organ
ize the new counties; an act to in
corporate Milledfr'villc, etc., an ad
to add part of the counties of Wash
ington and Hancock to Baldw
an act to define the several divisions
of the militia of Georgia: an act to
repeal the act for adjusting claims
against the Creek nation; an a<
punish persons making fraudulent
returns; an act to appropriate monies
for 1808; an act to incorporate the
Planters Bank; an act to add part
of Greene to Clark; an act to alter
the name of Kitty Ann Edwards
Caldwell; and an act to sell Mar-
bury and Crawford’s Digest.
The act to organize the new coun
ties was the origin and designation
of the Ocmulgee circuit, including
Greene. Morgan, Randolph, Putnam,
Jones, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Laurens,
«nd Telfair counties.
The act aiming the militia was
to the future safety and
l of the state, since it was
i.d Ai
: land for churches
ir contained in one
p.-on Bird. Zachar-
h Clark. John W.
istin Harris, be
es of the school
Of Christians is
icultural Col- culturc and erudition,” and a “Chris
tian of profound piety.” He was a
former Congressman and judge of
the supreme court. His was a “moral
and social character gt exquisite
purity.” So it was no hot-headed
many historical subjects, she is pre^ ni,w ‘t who framed this momentous
paring her own history of Baldwin ! measure » but a man acting on high
principles and with the noblest
Surprising everybody now and
then with some old long forgotten
thought-to-be-lost memorabilia.
Louis Andrews has been most
kind in lending his papers to us. His
family has long been prominently
identified with Milledgeville life.
Since their father Jere N. Moore
dedicated his abilities as a young
spaper man to the upbuilding
of the community, the Moores have
been in close touch with the im
portant events in Milledgeville his
tory. All of them have a remark
able faculty for remembering things
and have been most generous about
lending their most treasured memen
to grace this edition. Miss Mat-
Moore is the owner of the scrap
book kept by her father from 1859
1870. and she and her sister. Miss
Nettie, have two other interesting
old scrapbooks made by their father
•o other daughters. Mrs. Mary*
Virginia Brooks has lent her glow
ing personality to many of the
stories. Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Moore
ponsored every worthwhile
ivement in the city during their
lifetime, and have been especially
ached to the welfare of Georgia
Military College for many reasons.
Their personal remembrances have
•ry helpful in compiling the
•y of this remarkable school in
MilledgeviUe’s most historic build
ing.
Mrs. D. W.. Brannon, grnnddaugh-
of the older inhabitants,
and Dr. Thomas Marshall Hall, great-
of the oldest settlers,
contributed very rare and
old papers. Mrs. Sam
Patterson and Mrs. C. S. Winn have
resting bits of past
Mrs. H. D. Allen. Sr.. Mrs. E.
Tigner. Misses Mabry and Annie
Harper and Mrs. Griner. Mrs. T.
Katherine Scott. Mrs.
M. Hall have kindly shown their
vtly furniture and a 1 object:
Dr. E. A. Tigner gave dire.
“To dissolve the Union between
the State of Georgia and other States
united with her under a compact of
Government entitled, ‘The Constitu
tion of the United States of Amer
ica.’
“We the people of the State of
Georgia, in Convention assembled
do declare and ordain, and it is here
by declared and ordained;
“That the ordinance adopted by the
people of the State of Georgia on
the second day of Janudry, in the
year of our Lord 1788, whereby the
Constitution of the United States of
America was arsei.ied to. ratified
and adopted; and " ,c o all acts of
the General Assembly of this State
ratifying and adopting amendments
of the said Constitution, arc hereby
repealed, rescinded and abrogated.
“We do further declare and or
dain, That the union now subsisting
between the State of Georgia and
other States, under the name of
the United States of America, is
he-eby dissolved, and that tne State
of Georgia is in full possession and
exercise of all those rights of sov
ereignty. which belong and apper
tain to a free and independent
State.”
The ordinance was twice read.
Benjamin Hill offered as a substitute
the preamble and resolutions that
had been offered by Johnson. The
substitute was lost 133 to 164. Nis
bet moved the passage of the ordin
ance. The measu-e carried by a
vote of 208 to 89. 44 of the opposi
tion apparently realizing that fur
ther opposition was useless. To “give
force to the act.” the remainder of
the antantis yielded and made the
singing c.f the act unanimous. Six
of the singers, however, did so under
a written protest. Presiding officer
Crawford announced that it was his
pleasure and privilege to declare
the State of Georgia “free, sovereign,
and independent.” The applause
foliowing this announcement was
tempered by the gravity over a step
of serious and unknown import.
The Atlanta Intelligencer, com
menting a year later on the reaction
the
of *5® P *° PI ' to U,e
There was an exultant sh?, .
men breathed freer and IooWm ' m
ler, and felt more like free I? 1 n ° b ~
had burst the shackles thath^.* 1 * 0
slaved them, for yeanT^* «-
hall of the House of S—w"* 1 lhf
the momentous event
the vast and exeited muYuVd? Chw
side, who had crowded to Mi'J" 1 '
ville. most of them with , h , "' cd 6e-
ctlc intent to ut*e
t.on Georgia’s right and dun T
secede. The people shouted, the bet?
were rung the cannon roared^
city was illuminated, and great J ’
the rejoicing.”
It is related, however, thal
old people sat gravely in their hi
while the younger ones celebrt
ed in the streets of Milledgeville thl
night °* January 19 ] 8 gi
The news was flashed over th.
wires from Milledgeville. The whole
state went into a delirium, there
were ratification meetings. rans
boomed, orators shouted. The fact
that solid, staunch old Georgia had
seceded produced an electrical
feet throughout the south.
Perhaps the prescience of what
was to come was strongest in th% e
who signed the ordinance under
protest. The majority were wfflti,
to risk their all for liberty and self
government. These six still Wou £
have preferred cooperation with the
sister southern states to immediate
separation. Their names
James P. Simmons of Gwinnett
Thomas M. McRae cf Montgomery.
F. H. Latimer of Montgomery. Davis
Whelchel of Hall, p. m. Byrd rf
Hall, James Simmons of Fickens.
Thus did the great men of Geor
gia deliberately withdraw from the
union, staking their all for the con
tinuation of liberty and self-govern-
merit. If Georgia had voted to delay
this decision, her leadership might
have meant the saving of immeasur
able bloodshed and a much less dis
astrous compromise with forces cl
union than that which followed the
war. In defense of the men who
planned this measure, it may be said
that the people demanded it.
background.
Thomas R. R. Cobb was another
Lirprising disunion advocate. He
.•as an “earnest, fervent, Christian
•orker,” who had never before taken
part in public life. The secession
however, seemed to arckise
ull the fervor of his earnest soul.
Upon the election of Lincoln, he
became the “most intense, unwearied
champion of secession in the state.”
Stephens called him the "Peter the
Hermit” of the cause.
The enthusiasm of Dr. Logan, it is
said, showed most singularly the
fever that was engulfing the state,
even to its highest strata. He was a
man of high professional standing,
an imposing figure, a person of gen
ial dignity.
Albert Lamar was secretary of the
gathering. Governor Brown and ex-
Govemor Howell Cobb were invited
to take seats “upon the floor.”
First in order came two addresses
by commissioners from South Caro
lina, which had already seceded:
Hon. Jas L. Orr and John G. Short-
material. Gi:
G. M.
Any denomii
eligible and entitle
of land on applicant
A continuation of
money for the support of the govern
ment has a further provision for the
taxation of all "stallions or covering
horses, let to mares for hire, a ta:
equal to the season, or price of on«
mare let to such stallion or cover
ing horse”, also on the same from
out the state. A tax of four dollars
is levied on all free male negroes,
mulattoes or mustzoes over twenty-
one and under fifty
There is also an act compelling
male inhabitants, mulaXtoes, fhee
negroes and male slaves to work on
the roads in certain districts. Road
commissioners are appointed in cer
tain others. Disposal of the late
State House and public square in
Louisville is provided for. Lengthy
regulations for improving the state
militia in accordance with the laws
governing that oi the United States
contained in an act covering 38
pages and 34 sections. Many counties
authorized to levy taxes
building court houses.
helped
gather material concerning Sher
man’*.- visit. Miss Betty Reed ant
Mis Evelyn Aubrey. G. S. C. W. stu
dents looked up references in their
extensive school libra
Miss L. R. G. Burfitt. principal
of Pealxidy Practice School, and Mi:
Julia Moore, principal of G. M. (
j Grammar School, aroused the inter
est of their pupils in collecting data
and writing sketches of the period.
Miss Ruth Blair, state historian,
put the resources of the state de
partment of archives and history at
our di.vposal. Although we received
much valuable help from her,
could not begin to scratch the surface
of her vast collection, because
lack of time, and due to the fact
that material lay so richly scattered
around us right here. Miss Satter
field, G. S. C. W. librarian, helped in
finding material, but that marvelous
collection of ofd newspapers, state
and house journals, legislative acts,
biographies, histories, sketches, pam
phlets, some of them old and very
in the G. S. C. W. library
has barely been tapped by us.
There is a rich field ror further
research for any aspiring
person.
I A very determined effort has been
short, the state Is industriously mad e to veri^ aU ^^ u^d.^
setting its bouse in order. corrections will therefore be greatly following as a reaultT
After a resolution by Judge Nisbet
in favor of socession, Johnson and
Stephens offered a substitute meas
ure se .g forth Georgia’s intoler
able position, but deferring action
until after consultation with south
ern Confederates, holding, however,
to the seized Federal property until
after final decision. It concluded
that, failing in this attempt to se
cure union, the southern Confeder
acy would "maintain its rights,
equality and safety at all hazards,
and to the last extremity.”
There followed “the discussion of
the giants; Judge Nisbet. cx-Gov-
ernor Johnson. T. R. R. Cobb. Steph
ens. Toombs. Alexander Means. Au
gustus Reese. Bc.i Hill. Francis Bar
tow. For secession were ranged Nis
bet. Cobb. Toombs. Reese, and Bar
tow against Johnson. Stephens.
Means and Hill, who were for a
friendly settlement. "It was a grand
debate over the grandest of themes,
this discussion of superior minds,
trained to controversy, upon a sub
ject involving the happiness and
welfare, not only of the common
wealth, but of the nation with its
millions."
T. R. R. Cobb counseled. "We can
make better terms out of the Union
than in it!” Stephens contended,
"The point of resistance should be
the point of aggression,” instead of
that of anticipated aggressions. Mr.
Stephens thought that Mr. Cobb’:
idea was the most potent factor in
carrying the state out. The “counsels
of prudence” were subordinated to
“the honorable resentment o:
chivalric section.” "The frenzy of
revolution was on the people.”
Johnson moved the reference of
the original motion and the sub
stitute to a special committee. A de
bate followed after which the origi
nal question was sustained. A rath-
reluctant assent was granted in
the vote of 166 ayes and 130 nays.
The colonial flag of Georgia was
raised nevertheless in an orgy of
wild excitement A committee Of
seventeen was appointed to report
ordinance of secession, with the
We Are Making History
TODAY
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perienced by our early settlers.
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