Savannah, Georgia - History (part 6 of 16)

"Therefore, we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do solemnly agree and promise to and with each other that until the said acts are repealed, we will most faithfully abide by, adhere to, and fulfill the following resolutions.

"II. That as the raising of Sheep for the benefit of wool will be of the utmost utility, we do therefore engage not to kill or sell any lambs that shall be yeaned, before the 1st of May in every year, to any butcher or other person who, we may have reason to think, intends to kill the same.

"IV. That we will upon no pretense, either upon our own account, or on commission, import into this Province any of the manufactures of Great Britain, or European or East India goods, other than may be shipped in consequence of former orders, except only cloth, not exceeding Is 4d pr yard, osnabrigs, canvass, cordage, drugs, and hardware of all sorts, paper not exceeding 10s pr ream, fire arms, gunpowder, shot, lead, flints, salt, saltpetre, coals, printed hooks and pamphlets, white and striped flannels, not above 9s pr yard, white linen not above Is 8d in* yard, woollen and thread hose not exceeding 24s pr doz : striped cotton not exceeding Is 4d pr yard, checks not above Is 3d per yard, felt hats not above 48s per doz: bolting cloths, mill and grind stones, cotton and wool cards, and wire, thread not above 8s pr lb., shoes not above 4Ss per doz : as also the following goods necessary for the Indian Trade, viz. strouds, vermilion, heads, looking glasses, and paint. And exclusive of these articles we do solemnly promise and declare that we will immediately countermand all orders to our correspondents in Great Britain for shipping any goods, wares, and merchandize other than hereinbefore excepted, and will sell and dispose of the goods' we now or hereafter may have at the same rates and prices as before.

"VI. That from and after the 1st June 1770 we will not import, buy, or sell, any negroes that shall be brought into this Province from Africa, nor after the 1st of January next any negroes from the West Indies or any other place excepting from Africa aforesaid. And if any goods or negroes be sent to us contrary to our agreement in this subscription, such goods shall lie reshipped or stored, and such negroes reshipped from this Province and not by any. means ottered for sale therein.

"VII. That we will not import on our own account or on commission, or purchase from any masters of vessels, transient persons, or non-subscribers. any wines after the 1st March next.

"VIII. That we will not purchase any negroes imported, or any goods, wares, or merchandize, from any resident of this Province, or transient person, that shall refuse or neglect to sign this agreement within 5 weeks from the date thereof, except it appear lie shall have been unavoidably prevented from so doing. And every person signing and not strictly adhering to the same according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and also to every non-subscriber, shall be looked upon as no friend to his country."

Be it known that the chairman of the meeting at which those resolutions were adopted was at t lie same time a member of the royal council of Georgia. He was a man "sans pear et sans reprochc," and his fearless conduct on that occasion was thoroughly in keeping with his previous record and his subsequent stalwart action throughout a life of blameless conduct and strict integrity.' That man, as already stated, was Jonathan Bryan. The fact that one of the official family of a royal province had taken such a decided action in opposition to the will of his majesty was promptly conveyed to the king who forthwith instructed the Earl of Hillsborough that Mr. Bryanv "should be immediately suspended from his seat at the Council Board, and removed from any office he might hold in Georgia," and that order was carried out as stated in a letter from Wright to the Earl of Hillsborough written at Savannah and dated March 1, 1770. The king's wish in the matter was communicated to the former bv the latter in a letter from Whitehall, of December 9, 1769.

There were disagreements about this time between the council and the lower house of assembly by reason of the fact that the members of the house were chosen by the people and a majority of them shared the feeling of their constituents in regard to the offensive acts of parliament while the council members were appointed by the crown and naturally felt bound to support the measures proposed for the maintenance of the royal government.

When the assembly convened in 1770, the lower house chose Dr. Noble Wymberlev Jones as speaker; but, knowing that the choice was made because of the speaker's complete sympathy with the patriot cause, Governor Wright declined to recognize him. and ordered the election of another man; but the house resented that interference with their right to elect, adopted resolutions commendatory of Dr. Jones, and asserted "that the sense and approbation this House entertain of his conduct can never be lessened by any slight cast upon him in opposition to the unanimous voice of the Commons House of Assembly in particular and the Province in general.'' and went farther by declaring "that this rejection by the Governor of a Speaker, unanimously elected, was a high breach of the privileges of the House, and tended to subvert the most valuable rights and liberties of the people and their representatives." Taking exception to this sharp reproof of the governor, the council characterized the proceeding of the house as "a most indecent and insolent denial of his Majesty's authority" and the governor, availing himself of the only method of relief in his power, on the 22d of February, 1770, ordered a dissolution of the assembly.

Governor Wright, finding it necessary, as he put it, to visit England in the interest of his private affairs, applied, on the 3d of July, 1769, for a leave of absence to begin some time in the spring of 1770. and made this suggestion in his letter to the Earl of Hillsborough: "Mr. Habersham, the Secretary of the Province, who is the President, or eldest Councillor, is a gentleman of property, no Liberty Boy , but a firm friend to the Government, and a very worthy, honest man. He has been in the Province from nearly its first settling, and must therefore know the people, and I think him of sufficient ability to fill up a short vacancy, especially when things are in an orderly way."

Looking back to the condition of affairs in the English provinces as existed at that time, and considering the fact that they were in the very midst of that critical period when the clouds were fast gathering for the storm which was destined to break and deluge the country in a seven years' war full of devastation and of horrors, it seems strange that James Wright should have chosen just that time to ask such a favor and stranger still that the request should have been so readily granted. Hillsborough, in the letter enclosing the royal permission to Wright, wrote: "I hope that Mr. Habersham's conduct in the administration of Government during your absence will justify the favorable report you made of him. and that it will not be found necessary to send out a Lieutenant Governor." Wright found it necessary to delay his departure until the 10th ot' July, 1771. before he considered it safe to leave, and Mr. Habersham took the oaths of office three days after, with the rank of "President and Commnnder-in-Chief of his Majesty's Province of Georgia. Chancellor, Vice-Admiral, and Ordinary of the same for the time being." It is doubtful whether a better substitute could have been found, as "Mr. Habersham's conduct in the administration of Government" fully "justified the favorable report made of him," and his majesty's interests were as wgll protected as James Wright himself could have done.

Progress Toward Independence

Council and House Differ - Governor Wright Dissolves Assembly - The State of the Province (1773) - The Forts - Savannah Puts Up a Liberty Tree. June 2, 1775 - Governor Wright Forbids Public Meeting - Meeting Held - The "Liberty Boys" - Dissent to Resolutions of August 10, 1774 - "Liberty Boys" Worry Royal Council - Steps Leading to Georgia's Independence.

In the absence of the governor the affairs of the province were in about the same state of excitement as they had been for several years before his departure. The council, led by Mr. Habersham who was true to the king, had difficulty in keeping down the spirit of resistance as exhibited by the Liberty Boys who in a large measure influenced the proceedings in the house of assembly.

When the eighth general assembly met in April, 1772, the commons house elected Dr. Noble Wymberley Jones as speaker, and as soon as Governor Habersham received official information thereof he returned to that body a message in which he thus addressed the members: "I have his Majesty's commands to put a negative on the Speaker now elected by the Commons House, which I accordingly do ; and I desire that you inform the House that I direct them to proceed to a new choice of a Speaker." After waiting a while he received through Messrs. Archibald Bulloch and Samuel Farley a message informing him that the Commons House "had proceeded to a second choice of a Speaker and had re-elected Noble Wymberley Jones, Esq., and desired to know when his Honor would please that the House should attend him to present their Speaker." Again the governor expressed his disapproval of the choice, and required the members "to proceed to the selection of some other person as Speaker." It was not until the next afternoon that Mr. Habersham was informed by Messrs. William Le Conte and Samuel Farley that the house had made choice of Archibald Bulloch as Speaker, and he was promptly confirmed. He then delivered an address in which he said: " 1 1 is Majesty having been pleased to grant his Excellency Governor Wright leave of absence to go to Great Britain, the govern- ment of this Province, on his Excellency's departure, devolved upon me. -** A ly long residence in this Province, and the strong attachment I must have for its welfare from motives obvious to you must make it extremely grateful to me to be in the least instrumental in furthering its growing prosperity, in which I am persuaded I shall have the candid advice and assistance of you gentlemen, and of every friend of this Country." To that address the house made a suitable response, and everything seemed to point to a harmonious relation between the executive and legislative branches of the government. But Air. Habersham took it into his head that an inspection of the journal of the house might disclose facts with which he had not been made acquainted, and discovered that Air. Jones had been elected speaker for the third time and that the choice of Mr. Bulloch had only been made upon the refusal of Mr. Jones to accept; whereupon he sent in this message: "Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly : I am extremely sorry to find by your Journals that some very exceptionable minutes are entered. I particularly mean your third choice of Noble AVymberley Jones, Esq., as your Speaker, upon whom I had, agreeable to his Majesty's express instructions, twice put a negative, and that your choice of your present Speaker was only in consequence of his declining the chair. If this minute is to stand upon your Journals I have no choice left but to proceed to an immediate dissolution. I desire therefore that you will come to a present and speedy determination to recede from it. If you do, 1 shall, with the most unfeigned satisfaction, proceed to business which you cannot but be sensible will be of the highest advantage to the Province. I shall expect your immediate answer to this message that my conduct may be regulated by it ; and shall for that purpose remain in the Council Chamber."

The house did not take long to deliberate, but very promptly replied: "May it please your Honour: AVe his Alajesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Georgia in General Assembly met, are very unhappy to find by your message to us of this day that any Minutes entered on our Journals should be construed by your Honour in a manner so very different from the true intent and design of this House. Conscious we are, Sir, that our third choice of Noble AVymberley Jones, Esq., as our Speaker was not in the least meant as disrespectful to his Majesty, or to you his representative, nor thereby did we mean to infringe on the just prerogative of the Crown. AVe have seriously reconsidered that particular minute which seems to have given your Honour so much offence, and cannot perceive wherein it is contrary to the strict mode of Parliamentary proceeding, or repugnant to anything communicated to us by your Honour. AVe were hopeful that no further impediment would have arisen to retard the urgent business of the public, and still flatter ourselves that we may be permitted to do that justice to our constituents which they have a right to expect from us; and we sincerely assure your Honour that it is our hearty wish and desire to finish the business by you recommended to us with all harmony and dispatch.

That was equivalent to a refusal on the part of the house to expunge from the minutes the objectionable language, and Mr. Habersham carried out his threat by dissolving the assembly. The effect of this action was injurious to the progress of Georgia. The assembly was charged with the duty of passing a tax act, and there was little or no money in the treasury, besides there were other matters of importance requiring the prompt attention of the legislature. On the 30th of the month (April. 1772), Mr. Habersham wrote to the Earl of Hillsborough, stating the facts, and commenting on the important measures which that assembly should have adopted. He was severe in his language concerning Dr. Jones whom he charged, with the aid of his friends, with "opposing the public business" and that it was all through a "spurious pretense of Liberty and Privilege." He further said in regard to the one whom he considered the most guilty of them all "It is very painful to me to say or even to intimate a disrespectful word of any one: and every person who knows me will acknowledge that it is contrary to my disposition to dip my pen in gall, but 1 cannot help considering Mr Jones' conduct for. some time past in opposing Public Business as veryungrateful and unworthy a good man, as his family have reaped more advantages from Government than any I know in this Province. He was several years first Lieutenant and Surgeon of a Company of Rangers paid by the Crown, and in these capacities met with great indulgence. His father is the King's Treasurer and, it I am not mistaken, reaps very considerable emoluments from it."

Governor Wright's leave of absence expired early in 1773, and he returned to Georgia about the middle of February. That his services were acceptable to the crown he was fully assured by his being complimented with a baronetcy on the 8th of December, 1772, just before his departure from England. His first public duties on his return were performed in the settlement of some troubles with the Indians, and that matter was finally adjusted at a congress of the Upper and Lower Creeks, represented by their head men and kings, with Governor Wright and his council, in Savannah, on the 20th of October, 1774.

Towards the close of the' year 1773, Governor Wright was required to report to the home government upon the state of the province, and that report was in the form of replies to a number of inquiries which embraced every part of the territory as well as every department of the government of the same. In forwarding that report to the Earl of Dartmouth, he states, in the letter accompanying it, dated at Savannah, December 20: "I have now the honor to transmit your Lordship my report in answer to the several queries relative to the state of this Province, in which I have not attempted a. pompous description or account of the Country, etc., but confined myself to the more substantial and material facts which, from the best of my knowledge and judgment I have truly stated, and hope the same will prove agreeable to hi?

Majesty's royal intention, and a satisfactory account of things in the Province." From that report we make the following extracts as bearing upon the business transacted in the town of Savannah and the standing she held from a commercial standpoint:

''There is at present no other Port in this Province but Savannah and Suubury, the situation of which and depth of water I have mentioned in my answer next preceding. * * * Since the surrender of the

Charter by the Trustees the Constitution of this Government is established by and depends upon his Majesty's commission and instructions to his Governor, by which he, with the concurrence of the Council and the House of Assembly (to consist of a certain number to be elected by the freeholders as their representatives) or the major part of them is empowered to make laws, statutes and ordinances for the public peace, welfare, and good government of the Province and the inhabitants thereof, which laws, etc., are not to be repugnant but as near as may be agreeable to the laws and statutes of Great Britain. And the Governor as his Majesty's representative, and the other branches of the Legislature are presumed to be an epitome of the Parliamentary Constitution of Great Britain. And here I must beg leave to observe that the right of the Council to sit as an Upper House being now denied in the neighboring Province, much will depend on his Majesty's determination on that matter, and, if it be against that right, I am very apprehensive that disagreeable consequences may attend it.

"There is a Court of Chancery and a Court of General and Common Pleas, also a Court of Sessions, or Oyer and Terminer, and general gaol delivery, the rules and method of proceeding in all which are as near as may be agreeable to those in use and practice in his Majesty's several Courts in Great Britain. # * * The trade of this Province is principally with Great Britain from whence we are supplied with linens and woolens of all sorts, ironware of all sorts, hats, shoes, stockings and all sorts of apparel, tea, paper, paints, and a great variety of other articles; and altho' the negroes are brought here immediately from Africa, yet the returns in payment for them are made to Great Britain, so that they may also be deemed as a part of our trade with Great Britain, to which place we export deer skins, rice, indigo, naval stores and sundry other articles. The annual amount of our imports from Great Britain is computed at £76,322 on an average for three years past besides the negroes imported which in the last year amounted to twenty thousand pounds, and our exports to Great Britain only in the year 1772 amounted to £68,688.10.2 sterling; and besides this we are supplied with rum and sugar from the West Indies, and also with rum, flour and biscuit and other provisions, etc., from the Northern Colonies. To the West Indies we send rice, corn, pease, lumber, shingles, cattle, horses, and live stock; also barreled beef and pork. But the Northern trade is an injurious trade, as they take of but little of our produce, and drain us of every trifle of gold and silver that is brought here, by giving a price for guineas, moidores, Johannes's pistoles, and dollars far above their real and intrinsic value, so that we can never keep any amongst us. There is belonging to this province, that is owned and part owned here, five ships, one snow, seven brigantines, thirteen sloops and schooners, and ten coasting vessels, in all to the amount of nineteen hundred and ninety tons, and trading boats that go up our rivers and to which may belong about two hundred and twelve seafaring men. And we have entered and cleared at the Custom House in the Port of Savannah for the last year one hundred and sixty-one sail of vessels of different sorts, and at Sunbury fifty-six, in the whole two hundred and seventeen, the tonnage of which is computed at. 12,124 tons, and in all which vessels there may be employed seventeen hundred seafaring men. In the year 1761 we only entered and cleared -in the whole Province forty-five vessels, the whole tonnage of which amounted only to 1,604 tons, from which the increase of the trade and produce' of this Province since that time is most evident. * * * The methods are by taking care that the Custom House officers do their duty, that the master of every vessel immediately on his arrival waits on the Governor with his manifesto, and then goes directly to the Custom House, when the officers send a waiter on board who stays till the ship is unloaded and in general the laws of trade and navigation are as duly and regularly attended to and observed as it is possible to do. This is the method observed at the Port of Savannah, and at Sunbury the Captain goes immediately to the collector who observes the same method as at Savannah, and, upon the whole, I believe there is very little contraband trade or smuggling carried on here ; there may be some, but I believe of no great consequence, and as the Province and people increase illicit trade may also, and they have great opportunity, as the ports are not immediately on the sea coast and there are many rivers and inlets into which vessels may run and land goods before they come in sight of the towns. The Custom House officers at Savannah have complained to me that the Commissioners of the Customs will not allow them a boat and hands, and that if they were to hear of any illicit trade or landing of goods at any inlet, or in any creek, etc., before they could get a boat and hands, it would be too late to detect and seize them. Wherefore I should suppose such trade, if attempted, might be more effectually prevented if a Custom House boat was allowed. And as the officers have returned me what they call a Political Report or Estimate of Loss to the Revenue by illicit trade, I think it my duty to transmit it, alt ho' I look upon the same to be chimerical and very erroneous. * * * The staple commodities are rice, indigo, deer skins, raw silk, pitch, tar, turpentine, beef, pork, Indian corn, pease, tobacco, staves, shingles, lumber of all sorts, and we have a great deal of fine live oak for ship-building, and hemp will grow very well, but little is planted as yet. And besides these, cattle, horses, and live stock is exported to the West Indies. And also bees' wax, beaver skins, etc., etc. The amount of the whole exports annually for five years past on an average is £101,240 sterling. * * * in the year 1761 the whole number of white inhabitants amounted to no more than six thousand one hundred. The increase therefore since that time is eleven thousand nine hundred. The reasons of this increase are principally the great inducement people have to come and settle in a Province where they could get fresh and good lands at a moderate price and plenty of good range for cattle, horses, and hogs, and where they will not In1 so much pent up and confined as white men from sixteen to sixty years of age, according to the several returns made to me lately by the officers amount to two thousand eisrht hundred and twenty-eight in the whole Province, and the officers are all commissioned by the Governor, and obliged by the law of the Province to furnish and provide themselves with arms and ammunition and accoutrements of every kind, and to muster and exercise six times in the year, and as much oftener as the Governor may order and direct. And the Governor is empowered to order them out as occasion may require, to repel all enemies, invasions, insurrections, rebellions, etc."

Wright then gave an account of the forts in the province, beginning with "Fort George on Cockspur Island, opposite to Tybee Island, being at the entrance of the River Savannah and a very necessary post as it is the key to our port and may command all vessels that come in or go out; enforce due obedience to the laws of trade and our commercial laws, and, in case of war, prevent enemies' privateers from cutting out and carrying off our shipping or from coming up the river to plunder, etc. This fort was built in the year 1762, being mud walls faced with palmetto trees, but is now almost in ruins, for, as it stands on a point of land exposed to the easterly winds from the sea, it is very liable to suffer by the sea beating and washing against it when there is strong easterly winds. On the inside is a Caponiere which serves for officers' apartments, and in lieu of barracks; it used to be garrisoned by an officer and ten men, but now it's almost in ruins. There is only an officer and three men just to make signals, etc. I look upon this fort, or having a proper fort at this place to be of the utmost consequence, and shall propose building a new fort of tabby, but as our property is yet small and our taxes pretty high, I doubt much whether the Province can afford to go to the expense of building a proper fort. I am well informed that in South Carolina the Capt. of Fort Johnson (which is near the entrance of the harbor and answers the same purposes that Fort George is intended to do) is paid two hundred pounds sterling per annum by his Majesty out of the quit rents, and it his Majesty would be graciously pleased to permit that to be done here, it would be a great encouragement and inducement to the Legislature to raise and grant money for building a new fort.

"Fort Halifax in the town of Savannah, built in the years 1759 and 1760, made of plank fill'd in with earth, and four Caponiers, one at each corner; this is totally down, except two of the Caponiers, and indeed would be of little use."

The next step in the progress of events leading to a separation of the English dependencies from the mother country and causing excitement in Georgia was tin* passage of the Boston Port Bill. When the news of that legislation was received in Savannah, the spirit which had taken possession of the liberty loving people in the matter of the Stamp Act was revived, and it was with the deepest concern for the outcome of certain proceedings on their part that Sir James Wright wrote to Eng- land on the 25th of July, 1774, informing Lord Dartmouth that a public meeting was called for the 27th, just two days after, and that he would "give a full account of the conduct and proceedings of the Liberty People here, as soon as I know for certain what they did." That letter was written on seeing the following notice in the Georgia Gazette of the 20th of July:

"The critical situation to which the British Colonies in America are likely to be reduced from the arbitrary and alarming imposition of the late acts of the British Parliament respecting the town of Boston, as well as the acts that at present exist tending to the raising of a perpetual revenue without the consent of the people or their representatives, is considered an object extremely important at this juncture, and particularly calculated to deprive the American subjects of their constitutional rights and liberties as a part of the English Empire. It is therefore requested that all persons within the limits of this Province do attend in Savannah, on Wednesday the 27th instant, in order that the said matters may be taken under consideration and such other constitutional measures pursued as may then appear to be more eligible."

Some historians have included in the above between the words "do attend" and "in Savannah" the words "at the Liberty Pole, at Tondee's tavern," but the reference to a liberty pole was evidently not in the original notice, as it can be clearly shown there was no such thing in Savannah at that time. How those words crept into the account cannot be ascertained, and it is not the purpose of this writer to attempt an explanation ; but the facts are as follows :

Sir James Wright, in one of his letters to Lord Dartmouth, dated the 17th of June, 1775, said "It gives me much concern to acquaint your Lordship that on Thursday, the 13th instant, the Liberty Folks have assembled in the Town of Sav. and put up a Liberty Tree and a Flagg, and in the evening paraded about the Town l am informed to the number of 300, some say 400." That Governor Wright made an error of eight days can easily be proved. The liberty pole was erected on Monday, the 5th, as stated in the following account of all that happened at that time given in the Georgia Gazette of Wednesday, June 7, 1775.

"Last Friday night [June 2] the cannon on the battery at the east end of this town, consisting of 21 pieces, were spiked up and thrown down to the bottom of the bluff by persons unknown. Some of the inhabitants, assisted by the Commanders of several vessels and their people, had them brought up again, and some of them being drilled were fired as customary on Sunday (being the Birth-Day of our most gracious Sovereign GEORGE the Third) at one o'clock, when his Excellency the Governor, such of the members of his Majesty's Honourable Council as were in town, and a number of other gentlemen, repaired to the dag staff to drink his (Majesty's health. On Monday his Excellency gave a genteel entertainment at the Court-House to the members of the Council and Assembly, the Public Officers, Officers of the Militia, and several other Gentlemen, and in the evening there were illuminations as usual.

"On Monday last [June 5] a considerable number of the Inhabitants of this town met. and having erected a Liberty Pole, afterwards dined at Tondee's Long Room. They spent the day with the utmost harmony, and concluded the evening with great decorum. Amongst many others the following toasts were drank at dinner, accompanied with a discharge of cannon placed under the Liberty Flag, viz.

"The KING. American Liberty. The General Continental Congress. Unanimity and Firmness to America. No Taxation without Representation. A speedy Reconciliation between Great Britain and America upon constitutional principles. The Earl of Chatham. The Protesting Lords. Mr. Burke. Governor Johnstone, and the rest of the worthy members of the House of Commons who distinguished themselves in favour of America. The Lord Mayor and Citizens of London. Mr. Hancock. Dr. Franklin. Mr. Dickinson. The Sons of Freedom in every part of the globe."

Let it be remembered that the raising of a liberty pole in Savannah was in the month of June, 1775. The matter now under discussion, namely, the meeting of the inhabitants of the Province to consider the effects of the Boston Pert Bill, was in the year 1771; but we make this digression in order to show the mistake on the part of some writers in mentioning a liberty pole in connection with the incident of July 27, 1774, when the erection of the pole took place nearly a year afterwards. Governor Wright was mistaken when, in relating that incident, he placed it on Thursday the 13th of June, 1775, the fact being that the 13th was Tuesday, and he was also mistaken in saying it was on the 13th ; as the full account in the Georgia Gazette proves it was on Monday, the 5th. The notice of the meeting of July 27, 1774, made no reference to any particular place in the town where such meeting was to be held, and it was with a signature or signatures, as we will now see. It has been stated that the advertisement was inserted in the Gazette of the 20th, and it is unfortunate that no copy of that issue can be found. It is not included in the tiles in possession of the Georgia Historical Society, but a thorough search has brought to light a communication of one signing himself EUGENIUS, dated August 20, and appearing in the paper of September 7, reviewing the facts concerning the meeting of July 27, cpioting in full said advertisement, saying it appeared in the issue of July 20, and that it was an anonymous advertisement. It did not contain the words "at the Liberty Pole, at Tondee's tavern," but, as already shown, it simply "requested that all persons within the limits of this Province do attend in Savannah on Wednesday the 27th instant." It is unaccountable therefore, how the words "at the Liberty Pole, at Tondee's tavern" ever crept into accounts of that meeting, or that the statement was ever made that the notice was signed by Noble Jones, Archibald Bulloch, John Iloustoun, and John Walton. An account of that meeting in the Gazette of August 3d, shows it was held at the Exchange. The liberty pole was. as we now see. erected in June, 1775, but the notice we are now considering was an affair of nearly a full year previous, and to that affair, namely, the consideration of the effects of the Boston Port Bill, we will now return.

a goodly number of inhabitants, we are told, met at the Exchange, but some accounts say at the Watch House.* in Savannah, and Mr. John Glen was called to the chair. Following the organization of the meeting letters and resolutions sent by committees of correspondence in Boston, Philadelphia, Annapolis, Williamsburg. Charlestown, and other places, were read and acted on. A large committee was appointed to prepare resolutions along the same lines as those passed by the northern colonies expressive of the sentiment of the people who considered the measures proposed by Great Britain as uncalled for and unjust. On that committee were John Glen. John Smith, Joseph Clay. John Houstoun, Noble Wvmberley Jones. Lyman Hall. William Young. Edward Telfair, Samuel Farley, George Walton. Joseph Habersham. Jonathan Bryan, Jonathan Cochran, George McIntosh. Sutton Bankes. William Gibbons. Benjamin Andrew. John Winn, John Stirk, Archibald Bulloch. James Screven, David Zubly. Henry Louis Bourquin, Elisha Butler, William Baker, Parmenus Way, John Baker. John Mann, John Bennefield. John Stacy and John Morel. In considering the resolutions, it was decided that, as persons residing in distant portions of the province who might be in sympathy with the meeting but had not time to respond to the call could not co-operate in any action that might be taken, it would be wise to postpone action so as to allow such persons to be present should they so desire, and the meeting therefore was adjourned until the 10th of August, at which time delegates equal in number to the representatives elected to the general assembly would be recognized, and notices were sent promptly throughout all the parishes to that effect.

Governor Wright, fearing the effect of such a meeting, called a meeting of his council at which a motion was made to expel Mr. Jonathan Bryan from the body, as his name appeared on the committee, but that gentleman, according to Hugh McCall, "with patriotic indignation, informed them in a style peculiar to himself for its candour and energy, that he would 'save them the trouble,' anti handed his resignation to the governor." The council, wisely concluding that nothing short of a proclamation from the governor would tend toward checking the design of the leaders of the opposing party, determined to resort to that method, with the hope that it would cause some at least to pause and consider the danger involved in the proposed action, and the following paper was promulgated :

"By his Excellency Sir James Wright, Bart., Captain General of his Majesty's Province of Georgia, Chancellor, Vice Admiral, and Ordinary of the same: Whereas I have received information that on Wednesday the 27th day of July last past, a number of persons, in consequence of a printed Bill or Summons issued and dispersed throughout the Province by certain Persons unknown, did unlawfully assemble together at the Watch House in the Town of Savannah under colour or pretense of consulting together for the Redress of Grievances or imaginary Grievances, and that the Persons so assembled for the purposes aforesaid, or some of them are, from and by their own authority, by a certain other Hand Bill issued and dispersed throughout the Province, and by other methods, endeavoring to prevail on his Majesty's liege subjects to have another meeting on Wednesday t he 10th instant similar to the former and for the purposes aforesaid, which summonses and meetings must tend to raise fears and jealousies in t lie minds of his Majesty's good subjects:

"And whereas an opinion prevails and has been industriously propagated that Summonses and Meetings of this nature are constitutional and legal: in order therefore that his Majesty's liege subjects may not be misled and imposed upon by artful and designing men I do, by this Proclamation, by and with the advice of his Majesty's honorable Council, issue this my Proclamation notifying that all such Summonses and calls by Private Persons and all Assemblings and Meetings of the People which may tend to raise fears and jealousies with his Majesty's subjects under pretense of consulting together for redress of Public Grievances, are unconstitutional, illegal and punishable by Law.

"And I do hereby require all his Majesty's subjects within this Province to pay due regard to this my Proclamation as they will answer the contrary.

"Given under my hand and the Great Seal of his Majesty's said Province, in the Council Chamber at Savannah, the 5th day of August in the 14th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George III. in the year of our Lord 1774.

Whatever effect the proclamation may have had upon some of the persons at whom it was aimed may never be known, but a large number treated it with no regard whatever, and the meeting, a large one we are told, was held this time at Tondee's tavern in Savannah, at the time appointed, when the following resolutions, prepared by the committee, were, as therein stated, without dissent, adopted:

''Resolved, neneine contradicente , That his Majesty's subjects in America owe the same allegiance, and are entitled to the same rights, privileges, and immunities with their fellow subjects in Great Britain.

"Resolved, nemine contradicente, That as protection and allegiance are reciprocal, and under the British Constitution correlative terms, his Majesty's subjects in America have a clear and indisputable right, as well from the general laws of mankind, as from the ancient and established customs of the land so often recognized, to petition the Throne upon every emergency.

ie Resolved, nemine contradicente, That an Act of Parliament lately passed for blockading the port and harbour of Boston is contrary to our idea of the British Constitution: First, for that it in effect deprives good and lawful men of the use of their property without judgment of their peers; and secondly, for it is in the nature of an ex post facto law, and indiscriminately hlends as objects of punishment the innocent with the guilty; neither do we conceive the same justified upon a principle of necessity, for that numerous instances evince that the laws and executive power of Boston have made sufficient provision for the punishment of all offenders against persons and property.

" Resolved , nemine cont radio ente, That the Act for abolishing the Charter of Massachusetts Bay tends to the subversion of American rights; for besides those general liberties, the original settlers brought over with them as their birthright particular immunities granted by such Charter, as an inducement and means of settling the Province: and we apprehend the said Charter can not be dissolved but by a voluntary surrender of the people, representatively declared.

" Resolved , nemine contradicente, That we apprehend the Parliament of Great Britain hath not. nor ever had, any right to tax iiis Majesty's American subjects; for it is evident, beyond contradiction, the constitution admits of no taxation without representation; that they are coeval and inseparable; and every demand for the support of government should be by requisition made to the several houses of representatives.

" llesolvcd , nemine contradicente, That it is contrary to natural justice and the established law of the land, to transport any person to Great Britain or elsewhere to he tried under indictment for a crime committed in any of the colonies, as the party prosecuted would thereby be deprived of the privilege of trial by his peers from the vicinage, the injured perhaps prevented from legal reparation, and both lose the full benefit of their witnesses.

"Resolved, nemine contradicente, That we concur with our sister colonies in every constitutional measure to obtain redress of American grievances, and will, by every lawful means in our power, maintain those inestimable blessings for which we are indebted to God and the Constitution of our country - a Constitution founded upon reason and justice and the indelible rights of mankind.

"Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the Committee appointed by the meeting of the inhabitants of this Province on Wednesday, the 27th of July last, together with the deputies who have appeared here on this day from the different parishes, lie a general committee to act. and that any eleven or more of them shall have full power to correspond with the committees of the several Provinces upon the Continent; and that copies of these resolutions, as well as all other proceedings, be transmitted without delay to the Committees of Correspondence in the respective Provinces."

At the same meeting a committee was appointed "to receive subscriptions for the suffering poor in Boston." The gentlemen composing that committee were William Ewen, William Young, Joseph Clay, John Houstoun, Noble Wymberley Jones. Edward Telfair. John Smith, Samuel Farley, and Andrew Elton Wells. As the result of that action the

A most interesting study of the transactions of this period, if we had time to devote to it. would be the standing of the members of the various families prominent in the meetings held to give expression to the views of the people on the events transpiring. Such an investigation would show that father and son, in a number of instances, were directly opposed to each other, and families were otherwise divided. Thus, while the Hon. James Habersham was a member of the royal council and as long as he lived, loyal to England's cause, his sons were' prominently connected with the "Liberty Boys," and the same was the ease with Col. Noble Jones and his son Noble Wymberley Jones, Edward Telfair, from first to last, stood firm in defense of the rights of the colonies while his brother William was equally an adherent to the interests of the crown. It is a remarkable fact that in the short space of one month in the year 1775, three of the governor's council died. In a letter to Lord Dartmouth, written October 11. Sir James Wright mentioned the fact that "last week Air. Clement Martin, one of the council, died." On the 10th of July he wrote that "Air. Habersham is gone to Philadelphia for the recovery of his health," and on the 1st of November he penned these words: "Ten days ago I had an account of the death of Air. Habersham, one of his Ala.jesty's Council and Secretary of this Province." And after writing that letter on the 1st of November he kept it open, adding a postscript on the 3d, stating that "last night Air. Jones, one of the Council and Treasurer of this province, died."

Of course, the loyalists of the colony took steps to counteract the influence of the "Sons of Liberty," and to them the spirit manifested in the meeting of August 10th, was very distasteful. A card appeared in the Gazette of Wednesday, September 7, signed by James Habersham, Lachlan AIcGillivrav, Josiah Tattnall, James Hume, Anthony Stokes, Edward Langworthy, Henry Yonge, Robert Bolton, Noble Jones, David

* An interesting fact linked with this incident is the collecting of funds by the citizens of Boston, in January, 1865, when Savannah was evacuated by the Confederate forces and occupied by Gen. Sherman 's army, and the people of the former city contributed of their substance to the relief of the wants of their brethren of the latter city, when the committee of Boston's contributors feelingly alluded to this matter as follows: ''The history of former days is not forgotten. It has been deepened by the later trials of our nation. We remember the earlier kindness and liberality of the citizens of Savannah towards the people of Boston in the dark colonial days. We recall the meeting held there on the 10th day of August, 1774, when a committee was appointed 'to receive subscriptions for the suffering poor of Boston;' as to which it is recorded, 'There are large donations of rice for the sufferers in Boston; and we had the means of sending it to them, with very little more trouble, much more would be collected and sent. Few have subscribed less than ten tierces of rice.' The rice was sent to Xew York, and sold there, and the proceeds, £216 Os. 5d., were remitted to the Boston committee, and by them applied to the relief of the poor here."

Savannah And South Georgia 173

"On the 10th instant, a meeting was held at Savannah, to which several districts and parishes, particularly St. Paul's, one of the most populous in the province, sent no deputies; and although one Lord and another person attended as deputies from the parish of St. George, yet upwards of eighty respectable inhabitants of that parish sent down their dissent. Nor was the parish of Christ Church- represented at this meeting, unless the self appointed committee be considered as their representatives. The measure left an opening for any to appear at the meeting in the character of deputies who brought down an appointment as such, without any inquiry whether they were constituted by the majority of the parish or not. Several artful falsehoods were thrown out to induce the parishes and districts to send deputies. In the parish of St. George it was said that the Stamp Act was to be enforced; and in the parish of St. Matthew the people were told that nothing was intended but a dutiful petition to the king, as the father of his people ; and to such lengths were matters carried that when some of the inhabitants of St. Matthew's parish discovered the deception, and desired that they might scratch out their names from the instrument appointing deputies, it was refused them. Their adjournment from the 27th of July to the 10th of August was general, and therefore it was natural to suppose that the meeting would be held at the Vendue house, the same place as the first; for whenever it is intended that a future meeting of any kind shall be held at a different place than that which is usual, notice is always given of the alteration of the place of meeting, otherwise most of those who may be desirous of attending would not know where to go. In the present case none knew that the second meeting would be held at a different place than the first, except those few who were in the secret. But the important meeting of the 10th of August, in defence of the constitutional rights and liberties of American subjects was held at a tavern, and it was said twenty-six persons, with the door shut for a considerable time, undertook to bind them by resolution; and when several gentlemen attempted to join, the tavern-keeper, who stood at the door with a list in his hand, refused them admittance because their names were not mentioned in that list. Such was the conduct of these pretended advocates for the liberties of America. Several of the inhabitants of St. Paul's and St. George's, two of the most populous, have transmitted their written dissent to any resolutions, and there were gentlemen ready to present their dissent had not the door been shut for a considerable time, and admittance refused. And it is conceived that shutting the door and refusing admittance to any but resolutioners was calculated to prevent the rest of the inhabitants from giving their dissent to measures that were intended to operate as the unanimous sense of the province. Upon the whole, the world will judge whether the meeting of the 10th instant, held by a few persons in a tavern, with doors shut, can with any appearance of truth or decency, be called a general meeting of the inhabitants of Georgia. Having now given our reasons at large, we enter this our public dissent to the said resolutions of the 10th. anti all the proceedings had or to be had thereon, and do earnestly desire that such resolutions may not he taken as the sense of the inhabitants of Georgia."

It was not long after this (the 24th of August, to be exact) that Governor Wright reported that meeting to the Earl of Dartmouth, and he did not treat the matter as so trivial an affair as the dissenters just quoted tried to make it appear. He wrote in this strain: "Everything, my Lord, was done that could he thought of, to frustrate their attempt, but this did not totally prevent it * # * and now again, my Lord, as at such times as these if a man has resolution and integrity enough to stand forth and attempt to do his duty its like being set up as a mark to be shot at and raising the resentment of great numbers against him." His allusion to "the resentment of great numbers" does not tally with the scoffing charge of the dissenters that the resolutions were the sentiment of "a few persons in a tavern," and in using those words he contradicted the statement made in the first paragraph of the same letter that "it would appear that these resolutions were not the voice of the people, but unfairly and insolently made by a junto of a very few only."

At the meeting of the 10th of August the proposition to send a delegation to the proposed congress of the American colonics was rejected, and the Parish of St. John, not satisfied with the decision, held a convention on the 30th. at which representatives from St. David and St. George were present and passed a resolution "that if a majority of the Parishes would unite with them, they would send deputies to join the General Congress and faithfully and religiously abide by and conform to such determination as should be there entered into, and come from thence recommended;" but the effort failed, and Georgia had no delegation in the first congress of provincial deputies.

The young patriots, styled by Governor Wright as "Liberty People," "Sons of Liberty" and "Liberty Folks" but whom we now love to honor with the appellation of "Liberty Boys," kept up a continual round of well laid schemes to worry and annoy the royal council and their associates ranked among the loyalists, of which the incident of "shutting the door and refusing admittance to any but resolutioners" at Tondee's tavern was only one example. The purpose of these annoyances was fully sustained, but those ardent patriots chafed under the failure of their efforts to secure representation in the convention of representatives from the other twelve American colonies which they so ardently wished to enter.

As a step in that direction some of the leaders assembled at the Savannah market, on the 8th of December, 1774, and selected John Glen as their chairman, when it was determined that a provincial congress should he held on the 18th of January following, and the following were chosen to represent Christ Church Parish and Savannah in that body; Joseph Clay, George Houstoun. Ambrose Wright, Thomas Lee, Joseph Habersham, Edward Telfair, John Houstoun, Peter Tondee, Samuel Farley, William Young, John Smith, Archibald Bulloch, John MeCluer, Noble Wymberley Jones, and John Morel. Great things were expected of that meeting, and a correspondent of the Georgia Gazette said: "It cannot surely at this time admit of a doubt but every Parish and District throughout the Province will, as soon as possible, follow so laudable an example. Every thinking man must be convinced how much the honor, welfare and happiness of us and our posterity depend upon a vigorous assertion and claim of our just and natural rights which the arbitrary system of politics adopted by the Administration is undeniably calculated to deprive us of."

When the delegates assembled, however, it was found that of the twelve parishes in the province only live were represented. Governor Wright, thinking that he would thwart the designs of the patriots, called the general assembly together on the same day, and in his message to both houses he called their attention to "the alarming situation of American affairs at this juncture." and said further "I shall avoid making any observations on the resolutions adopted by the other Colonies; but hope, through your prudence and regard for the welfare and happiness of this Province, of yourselves and your posterity, none will be entered into here." The upper house sent a message to the commons house of assembly showing that "this House having taken seriously into consideration those matters mentioned by his Excellency in his speech to both Houses respecting the present alarming state of the unhappy dispute between Great Britain and the Colonies," they asked for "a free conference writh your House thereon, in hopes of being able to fix on such a plan of conduct as may reasonably be expected will prove conducive to the obtaining the great point which every true friend to America hath or ought to have only in view, to wit that of securing to its inhabitants, on a clear, solid and permanent footing, all the rights and privileges to which, as British subjects, they are entitled on the principles of the Constitution."

The conference was held, but did not result in the way hoped for by the seekers after the joint session, and the lower house took into consideration the resolutions of the provincial congress then also in session, which resolutions were nearly the same as those adopted by the continental congress on the 14th of October, three others having been added: one, a tribute to the advocates of civil and religious liberty for the defence of the cause of America; the second, thanking the delegates to the American congress for their efforts in the cause of American liberty; and the third, advocating the sending of commissioners to the Philadelphia Continental Congress called for the 10th of May.

While the house of assembly was discussing these matters Governor .Wright, on the 10th of February, declared the general assembly adjourned until May 9th, thus completely frustrating the plan to nominate delegates to the Continental Congress. The provincial congress thus found itself almost unable to accomplish anything planned for its accomplishment; but after electing Noble Wvmberley Jones, Archibald Bulloch and John Houstoun representatives to the Philadelphia congress it adjourned on the 25th of January without having taken favorable action on the resolutions adopted by the other twelve colonies, and, owing to the political influence of the governor, not in union with them as a congress. The delegates from St. John's Parish had withdrawn when they found that they could not carry the majority with them in the attempt to ratify the resolutions of the Continental Congress, and they ' - resolved to prosecute their claims to an equality with the Confederated Colonies." They were dissatisfied at the decision of the provincial .congress extending the time for closing the port from the 1st of December to the 15th of March, in the ninth article of association, declaring that action to be contrary to the very object of the association. That parish, on the 25th of March, elected Dr. Lyman Hall to represent the people there in the Continental Congress, and on the presentation of his credentials he was unanimously admitted "as a delegate from the Parish of St. John in the Colony of Georgia" under certain conditions involving his right to vote. Although elected shortly before this time, Messrs. Jones, Bulloch and Houstoun did not attend the Congress with Lyman Hall, and the province was not as such recognized in that body until the adjourned session on the 13th of September, 1775.

In the meanwhile another provincial congress was held on the 4th of July, 1775, when every parish was represented, and at that time Georgia decided to cast her lot with the other colonies in the determination to break off all allegiance to the mother country, on a motion made and carried "that this Congress do put this Province upon the same footing with our sister Colonies." Then it was resolved that five persons be selected to represent the people in Continental Congress, and in addition to those three gentlemen the names of the Rev. Dr. John Joachim Zubly and Lyman Hall were added. Of those five Messrs. Bulloch, Houstoun and Zubly took their seats September 13th.

Chapter Xvii

"Liberty Boys" Raid Powder Magazine - Meetings of Protesting Citizens - Address of Provincial Congress - Georgia Received Into the Union - Unpleasant for Royalists - Continental Battalion for Georgia - On the Eve of the Revolution.

The news of the conflicts between the British troops and the Massachusetts militia on the 19th of April, 1775, was not known in Savannah until the night of May 10th, just twenty-one days after, and created the most intense excitement.

The Liberty Boys took immediate notice of the way things were going, and promptly let their influence be felt. Knowing that gunpowder would be needed, and that right soon, they set to work to gain possession of the supply of that useful material then stored in the substantially built brick magazine in the eastern side of the town. They held a meeting at the residence of Dr. Jones, on the following evening, and a party, formed of their leading members, broke open the structure and departed with nearly all of its contents. The raiding force consisted of Dr. Noble Wymberley Jones, Joseph Habersham, Edward Telfair, William Gibbons, Joseph Clay, John Milledge, and others whose names have not been recorded. On the 12th Governor Wright wrote to the Earl of Dartmouth that the amount taken was about six hundred pounds, leaving in the magazine "not above 300 lbs of the King's Powder, and about as much more belonging to the merchants." Some ot it was sent for safety to Beaufort, South Carolina, and the remaining portion the captors took care to hide in garrets, cellars, and elsewhere. Governor Wright, of course, issued a proclamation on the subject, and offered a reward of £150 sterling for the arrest of the persons engaged in the capture, but no one ever claimed the reward. There is a tradition that some of the powder taken was sent to Cambridge and was used by the patriots at the battle of Bunker Hill. The truth of this statement cannot be substantiated, but it is certain that on the first of June following sixty-three barrels of rice and £122 sterling in specie were contributed by the citizens of Savannah and sent to the relief of the people of Boston who had.

in consequence of the ''late acts of a cruel and vindictive ministry" been forced to leave the town. For that purpose John Eaton Le Conte was chosen to bear the present to those people and he and the stores in his ' charge were conveyed to Boston in the Juliana, commanded by Captain Stringham. Why. then, is it not probable that the same spirit which actuated the Georgians in this instance possessed them to such an extent as to prompt them to send powder for their defence against a common enemy ?

On the 4th of June, according to custom, preparations having been previously made, the king's birthday was celebrated. Orders for that event had been issued on the first; but in the night of the second the libertydoving people gathered, and, proceeding to the bay, spiked the cannon, dismounted them, and rolled them to the river bank at the bottom of the bluff. Some of them, however, were raised to their places and put in condition to be used in firing the salute. As Sunday was the king's birthday the celebration did not occur until Monday, the 5th, at which time the liberty pole was erected by those who did not believe in his treatment of his subjects on this side of the Atlantic. An account of this proceeding has already been given.

In the Georgia Gazette of Wednesday, June 14, 1775. the following account of a meeting of the citizens of Savannah and some others appeared, and Governor Wright was so alarmed by its import that he sent it to the home government with these remarks: ''They have entered into an Association, as your Lordship will see by the inclosed paper, and whatever is agreed upon by the Continental Congress will undoubtedly be adopted and carried into execution here, and will meet with little or no opposition."

"A number of the Inhabitants of the Town and District of Savannah and also of several other parishes within this Province having assembled together and taking into consideration the alarming heighth to which the present contest between Great Britain and America is risen, and reflecting on the danger of instigated insurrections among themselves, were of the opinion that prudence and common safety suggest the immediate adoption of some measures within this Province; They therefore entered into anti subscribed the following Association, being persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depend under God on the firm union of the Inhabitants in its vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend the dissolution of the powers of government; We freemen, freeholders and inhabitants of the Province of Georgia, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts Bay. do, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves, and do associate under all the ties of religion, honor and love to our country to adopt and endeavor to carry into execution whatever may be recommended by the Continental Congress or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention that shall be ap- pointed for the purpose of preserving our Constitution and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America on constitutional principles, which we most ardently desire, to be obtained: and that we will in all things follow the advice of our- General Committee to be appointed respecting the purposes aforesaid the preservation of peace and good order and the safety of individuals and private property.

"First, That the foregoing Association be strongly recommended to the inhabitants of the several parishes and districts within this Province; and also that a Committee be appointed among themselves to carry the said measures into execution.

"Second, That it is highly expedient that a General Provincial Congress be held at Savannah on the first Tuesday in July next, and that it be recommended that each Parish and district elect Delegates to attend the same.

"Third, That the inhabitants of this Town and District meet at Savannah on the twenty-second day of June instant, to choose Delegates to attend in the Provincial Congress, and also to elect a Committee for enforcing the foregoing Association.

Various meetings were held about this time by the people who were advocates of strenuous measures in contesting the policy of England in regard to the affairs of the province. One such was held on Monday, the 26th of June, and ordered another meeting to be held on the 30th, at nine o'clock, A. M. at the house of Mrs. Cuvier. Another was held on the 22d, when it was resolved "that Georgia should not afford protection to, or become an asylum for. any person who, from his conduct, might be properly considered inimical to the common cause of America, or who should have drawn upon himself the disapprobation or censure of any of the other colonies."

Delegates having been elected in all the parishes and districts, the Provincial Congress met in Savannah, at Tondee's tavern, in what was called the "Long Room" on the 4th of July, 1775. Archibald Bulloch elected President, and George Walton secretary, when the body adjourned to the meetinghouse of Rev. Dr. John J. Zubly where he preached a sermon on the state of American affairs. On re-assembling at the tavern a resolution of thanks to Dr. Zubly for his excellent sermon was adopted. The next day it was moved and seconded that the governor be requested to appoint a day of fasting and prayer which motion was unani-

* Historians have asserted that the foregoing Article of Association, was adopted July 13, 1773. They are at fault here, as, it was adopted just one month earlier, and appeared in the Gazette of June 14. 1773.

mously adopted. Among the other acts of this congress was the appointment of the five delegates to the Continental Congress already mentioned, namely John Houstoun, Archibald Bulloch, J. J. Zubly, Lyman Hall and Noble W. Jones.

In June, a council of safety had been appointed, and the affairs of the province were virtually conducted by that organization. Governor Wright was helpless in his efforts to control the people who so freely took hold of the government, but he did all in his power to assert his authority as the head of the royal government. An address was presented to him by a committee appointed by the congress, signed by President Bulloch, outlining the course pursued by that body and the reasons therefor, telling him "we have now joined with the other Provinces in the Continental Congress, and have sent a petition to his Majesty, appointed delegates to the American Congress, and entered into such resolutions - which we mean inviolably to adhere to - or will convince the friends and foes of America that we would not live unworthy of the name of Britons, cr labour under the suspicion of being unconcerned for the rights and freedom of America." That address was delivered to him on the 13th of July, and he waited until the 18th to send a copy of it to England. In the letter accompanying it he stated that he had been misrepresented; that he had laid it before the council ; and that the assembly was practically controlled by the liberty people. He goes on to say that: "They have appointed here what they call a Council of Safety, and very nearly followed the example of the Carolinas except as to raising an army * * * I am well informed that the gentlemen who came from Carolina assured the Congress here that if they should on any account want assistance they should immediately have it to the amount of 1,000 men." He closed with making the request that he be permitted "to return to England in order to resign the Government."

"To the Inhabitants of the Province of Georgia - Fellow-Countrymen: We are directed to transmit to you an account of the present state of American affairs, as well as the proceedings of the late Provincial Congress.

"It is with great sorrow we are to acquaint you, that what our fears suggested, but our reason thought impossible, is actually come to pass.

"A civil war in America is begun. Several engagements have already happened. The friends and foes of America were in hopes British troops could never be induced to slay their brethren. It is. however, done, and the circumstances are such as must be an everlasting Mot on their character for humanity and generosity. An unfeeling Commander has found means to inspire his troops with the same evil spirit that possessoth himself. After the starving, helpless, innocent inhabitants of Boston delivered up their arms and received his promise that they might leave that virtuous, devoted town, ho is said to have broke his word; and the wretched inhabitants are still kept 1o fall a prey to disease, famine and confinement. If there are powers which abhor injustice and oppression, it may be hoped such perfidy cannot go long unpunished.

"But the enemies of America have been no less disappointed. Nothing was so contemptible in their eyes as the rabble of an American militia; nothing more improbable than that they would dare to look regulars in the face, or stand a single tire. By this time they must have felt how much they were mistaken. In every engagement the Americans appeared with a bravery worthy of men that tight for the liberties of their oppressed country. Their success has been remarkable; the number of the slain and wounded on every occasion vastly exceeded theirs, and the advantages they gained are the more honorable, because, with a patience that scarce has an example, they bore every act of injustice and insult till their lives were attacked, and then gave the fullest proof that the man of calmness and moderation in counsel is usually also the most intrepid and courageous in battle.

"You will doubtless lament with us the hundreds that died in their country 's cause ; but does it not call for greater sorrow that thousands of British soldiers sought and found their deaths when they were active to enslave their brethren and their country? However irritating all these proceedings, yet so unnatural is this quarrel, that every good man must wish and pray that it may soon cease; that the injured rights of America may be vindicated by milder means; and that no more blood may be shed, unless it be by those who fomented and mean to make an advantage of these unhappy divisions.

"From the proceedings of the Congress, a copy of which accompanies the present, you will be convinced that a reconciliation on honorable principles is an object which your delegates never lost sight of. We have sent an humble and manly petition to his Majesty : addressed his representative, our Governor; provided, as far as in our power, for internal quiet and safety; and Delegates will soon attend the General Congress to assist and co-operate in any measure that shall be thought necessary for the saving of America.

"His Excellency, at our request, having appointed the 19th inst as a Day of Humiliation, and news being recommended the 20th inst to be observed as such, both days have been observed with a becoming solemnity; and we humbly hope many earnest prayers have been presented to the Father of Mercies on that day through this extensive continent, and that He has heard the cries of the destitute and will not despise their prayers.

"You will permit us most earnestly to recommend to you a steady perseverance in the cause of Liberty, and that you will use all possible caution not to say or do anything unworthy of so glorious a cause ; to promote frugality, peace, and good order, and, in the practice of every social and religious duty, patiently to wait the return of that happy day when we may quietly sit under our vine and fig tree and no man make us afraid."

"May it please your Majesty: Though we bring up the rear of American Petitioners and. from the fate of so many petitions presented to your Majesty from America, your great city of London, and other's of your European subjects, have a most melancholy prospect, we still hope that He by whom Kings rule and to whom monarchs are accountable, will incline you to receive and pay some regard to our most humble and faithful representation.

"In times like these, when the edge of present feelings is blunted by the expectation of calamities still greater, we must take the liberty to speak before we die. We would acquaint our Sovereign with things which greatly affect his interest. We would endeavor to waken the feelings and pity of cur common father. Hear us therefore, that God may hear you also.

"The blessings of Providence on your arms have put a country in America under you of greater importance and extent than several kingdoms in Europe. In this large extent of territory, by some late acts. Popery is not only tolerated (which we conceive would have been but an act of justice), but an indulgence has been granted, little short of a full establishment, to a religion which is equally injurious to the rights of Sovereign and of mankind. French and arbitrary laws have there by authority taken the place of the just and mild British Constitution, and all this has been done with a professed and avowed design to overawe your Majesty's ancient Protestant and loyal subjects, some of whom had no small share m the merit of that conquest.

"Acts to raise a perpetual revenue on the Americans without their consent have been enacted, which at one stroke, turn all your American subjects into slaves, and deprive them of that right which the most oppressive taskmaster does not deny to the servant bought with his own money. Experience must now have shown, as it will clearer should these acts be enforced, that instead of increasing the revenue or lessening the burdens of your European subjects, they can only serve to increase their taxation.

"Laws which we conceive fraught with so much injustice have been attempted to be enforced by equal cruelty, and whenever we thought ourselves at the height of our troubles, your Majesty's Ministry have strained their unhappy ingenuity to find out new methods of'distress; and, it is believed, methods have been more than thought of too shocking to human nature to be even named in the list of grievances suffered under a British king.

"The goodness of God hath made your Majesty the father of a very numerous issue, on whom we place the pleasing hopes of a Protestant succession; but your Majesty's arms in America now every day make mothers childless, and children fatherless. The blood of your subjects has been shed with pleasure rather than with pity, for an action which amounted to no more, even under the worst construction, than an irregular zeal for constitutional liberty; and without any step taken to find out the supposed guilty persons, the capital of your American dominions has been blocked up, deprived of its trade, and its poor of subsistence. - Thousands, confessedly innocent, have been starved, ruined, and driven from, or kept like prisoners in their own habitations; their cries and blood innocently shed have undoubtedly reached, and daily do reach His ears who hateth injustice and oppression.

"Believe us, great Sir, America is not divided; all men (Crown officers not excepted) speak of these acts and measures with disapprobation, and if there has been some' difference of opinion as to the mode of relief, the rigorous experiments which your Ministry thought tit to try on the Americans have been the most effectual means to convince these of the iniquitous designs of your Ministry and to unite them all as in a common cause. Your Majesty's Ministers, after thus introducing the demon of discord into your empire and driving America to the brink of despair, place all their dignity in measures obstinately pursued because they were once wantonly taken. They hearkened to no information but what represented Americans either as rebels or cowards. Time will every day make it clearer how much they were infatuated and mistaken. Too long, we must lament, have these men imposed on your paternal affection. Deign now. most gracious Prince, in their room, to hearken to the cries of your loyal and affectionate subjects of this extensive Continent; let the goodness of your heart interpose between weak or wicked Ministers, and millions of loyal and affectionate subjects. No longer let the sword be stained with the blood of your own children; recall your troops and beets; and if any misunderstanding remains, let the Americans be heard, and justice and equity take place. Let us be ruled according to the known principles of our excellent Constitution, and command the last shilling of our property and the last drop of our blood in your service.

"Uncertain as to the event of this our humble representation, it affords us a relief that we may, unrestrained, apply to the great and merciful Sovereign of the whole earth, who will not despise the prayer of the oppressed; and to Him we most ardently pray that the wicked being taken away from before the king, the king's throne may be established in righteousness.

At the meeting on the 21st of June a Council of Safety was appointed, and the members consisted of V illiam Ewen, president ; V m. Le Conte. Joseph Clay, Basil Cowper, Samuel Elbert, AYm. Young, Elisha Butler, Edward Telfair. John Glen, George Houstoun. George Walton. Joseph Habersham, Francis II. Harris, John Smith and John Morel. Seth John Cuthbert was the secretary. Then the members of the convention dined at Tondee's tavern, the Union flag was hoisted on the liberty pole, two field pieces were posted at its foot, thirteen toasts were drunk, and the cannon were used in tiring a salute with martial music accompanying.

other colonies and had appointed her delegates, reached the Continental Congress, and she was received heartily into the Union. Her delegates, as we have seen, appeared at an adjourned session September 13th. Dr. Zubly at first acted in full harmony with the people who had placed him in the forefront as one able to represent them in the stand they had taken, but he flinched when the determination was reached to dissolve the bond of union with Great Britain, and he severed his connection with the congress, returning to Georgia and siding with the loyalists. He was banished, took refuge in South Carolina, returned to Georgia after the siege of Savannah in 1779, when he remained as pastor of the Independent church until his death in 1781.

A committee was appointed by the provincial congress "to present the association to all the inhabitants of the town and district of Savannah to be signed," and the members of it were asked to hasten their work and to report promptly the names of those who refused to sign. Although Governor 'Vriglit remained in Savannah, he was not permitted to exercise any of the powers theretofore vested in him by royal commission. Georgia was really controlled by the Council of Safety, and in the seizure of the custom house by the Republicans the port was virtually closed.

The "liberty boys," some of whom were members of the Council of Safety, began to make it very unpleasant for every one who showed in the slightest way his sympathy for the British government or who refused to show his respect for the cause of America. The town of Savannah must have been in a continual state of turmoil and alarm. Judged by certain statements contained in the letters he wrote to the Earl of Dartmouth about that time, Governor Wright must have been in a most pitiable state of mind. In addition to the treatment to which he was subjected he was called upon to listen to the woes of others conspicuous for their loyalty to the English government and for their determination to resist the demands of the republicans and the rollicking liberty people. In a letter dated July 29, 1775, he said: "Since my last of the 18th instant, No. 54, the Council of Safety as they call themselves have in a solemn manner forbid the Rector of the Parish to preach any more in the church, and he has been so much threatened that on the 25th instant he left the town and went over into Carolina because he refused to preach a sermon and observe a fast which had been directed by the Continental Congress to be observed throughout all the Colonies, and has reflected on the conduct of the Americans. And my Lord on the 24th instant about 9 o'clock at night I heard a very great huzzaing in the streets, and on sending out found they had seized upon one Hopkins a pilot and were tarring and feathering him, and soon after they brought him in a cart down by my house, and such a horrid spectacle I really never saw. They made this man stand up in a cart with a candle in his hand, and a great many candles were carried round the cart, and thus they went through most of the streets in town for upwards of three hours. And on inquiring what he had done I was informed that he had behaved disrespectfully towards the Sons of Liberty and drank some toasts which gave great offence; but for your Lordship's more particular information in both these matters I inclose a copy of the affidavits of the parties, and the newspaper, and I must at the same time observe that I cannot believe this conduct is promoted or approved of by the people in general, but only by some very violent ones amongst them and the mob. Your Lordship will lie the best judge what is most proper to be done, but I beg leave most heartily to wish that conciliatory measures may speedily take place, or total ruin and destruction will soon follow, and America lost and gone."

"The Deposition of John Hopkins of the Town of Savannah Mariner taken on Oath the twenty-fifth Day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, before the Honourable Anthony Stokes Esq., Chief Justice of the Province aforesaid: This Deponent being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God maketh Oath and saith That about nine of the Clock in the Evening of the twenty-fourth instant as this Deponent was sitting at supper with his family there came to this Deponent's House a number of Persons (some were in disguise) and opened the door. That Joseph Reynolds of Savannah, Bricklayer, Capt. McCluer and Capt. Bnnner at Present of Savannah Mariners laid hold of this Deponent, without saying anything to him That as soon as the aforesaid People laid hold of this Deponent a great number rushed in and hurried this Deponent out of his house and led him to the out side of the Town, That they consulted to tar and feather him but the Majority resolved to Carry him to a more public place. Accordingly they led this Deponent into the middle of the square near to the Dial in Savannah and striped this Deponent of his Jacket & Shirt and with great reluctance left the rest of his Apparrel on him And then they proceeded to tar and feather this Deponent And immediately put this Deponent into a Cart & Carted him up & down the Street of Savannah for upwards of three Hours in the Above Condition That during the aforesaid Time they Carted this Deponent to the Liberty tree And there swore they would hang him That the said Bunner said, 'he was rather fat But He would go up the tree and hang this Deponent.' That the said Bunner further said 'that unless he would drink "Damnation to all Tories and Success to American Liberty" he should be hung immediately' which request this Deponent, was obliged to Comply with, that they continued to abuse this Deponent, gave him a great deal of ill Language and upbraided him with his Conduct That some one or other said That if they could lay hold of the Parson they would put him along side of this Deponent in the Cart. That this Deponent also heard said in the Mob that Mr. Smith should be next And that they intended to Continue until they had Tarred and feathered all the Tories or Words to That Effect, That tins Deponent saw in the Aforesaid Mob, together with the Persons aforementioned, Thomas Lee Carpenter John Spencer Carpenter, Alexander Phoenix Merchant Ambrose Wright Planter Samuel Wells Mariner Francis Arthur of Savannah Surveyor, Oliver Bowen Merchant John McCluer & Capt. McCluer Joseph Habersham and Francis Harris Gentleman Quintin Pooler Merchant Capt. Hawkins Mariner and Thomas Hamilton Butcher and several others that this Deponent cannot recollect That between the Hours of Twelve and One

"I desire that a Warrant may Issue against the abovenamed Joseph Reynolds of Savannah Bricklayer and Capt. George Runner Mariner and against none of the other persons.

"The Reverend Haddon Smith Rector of the Parish of Christ Church being duly sworn saith : That on Saturday the Twenty-second Day of this Instant July about nine of the Clock in the forenoon some Gentlemen came to this Deponent's House at the Parsonage. That this Deponent being up Stairs in his Chambers sent down word immediately to desire tile Gentlemen to walk in and he would wait upon them. That before this Deponent came down Stairs he heard some one of them to say 'We cannot Walk in' or words to that purport. That this Deponent then concluded who they were and went down directly to them. That this Deponent saw standing in the Porch of the House Peter Tarling of St. John's Parish, Jonathan Cochran of Saint Andrews Parish Planters, Edward Telfair of Savannah Merchant, George Walton of Savannah Esq., and Oliver Bowen of. Savannah Merchant and some others. That the aforesaid Peter Tarling held a written 'Paper in his hand and read from it to this Deponent the following words 'Sir from your late Conduct in disobeying the Orders of the Congress. You are deemed an Enemy to America and by Order of the Committee We are to inform you that you are to be suffered no longer to officiate in this Town' or Words to that Effect. That the aforesaid Peter Tarling having read the paper above ment'd he together with the rest of the Persons immediately went awav without giving this Deponent an opportunity to reply or ask for the Paper since which this Deponent hath not thought himself safe in doing his Duty as Rector.

In a postscript to the letter conveying the foregoing. Governor Wright said: "1st of August the delegates went away for Philadelphia. I forgot to mention that the committee here take upon them to order ships and vessels that arrive to depart again without suffering them to come up to the town and unload. Some they -admit, some they order away just as they please, and exactly copy after Carolina, and are making a very rapid progress in the execution of their assumed power. £10,000 sterling is to be issued in notes or certificates and your Lordship will see the proceedings of the Congress by the enclosed newspaper, and beg I leave to repeat that no correspondence is safe. I dare not venture a single letter by the post to Charles Town for the packet, or to send

A vessel arrived from London on the 17th of September, laden with two hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder, intended as a present for the Indians, and consigned to the superintendent, Mr. Stuart. She was boarded at Tybee by the "liberty boys" who seized the powder and transported it to Savannah for use in a way not intended by the royal shipper. Another ship with a cargo of two hundred and four slaves from Senegal was not permitted to land, and her captain set sail for St. Augustine. Hence the reference in the postscript just quoted. Things continuing to annoy the royal governor he added another to his already long list of doleful statements in a letter to his- superior on the 23d of September: "What remedy these evils may require, is for the wisdom of my superiors to determine, but I must beg leave to add that from the situation of affairs here no time should be lost. It is really a wretched state to be left in, and what it's impossible to submit to much longer - Government totally annihilated and assumed by Congresses, Councils, and Committees' and the greatest acts of tyranny, oppression. gross insults, etc., etc., etc., committed, and not the least means of protection, support, or even personal safety and these almost daily occurrences are too much, my Lord."

Governor Wright's powers were extremely limited at that time. Indeed all he was called on to do was to issue letters of administration and to probate wills.

The provincial congress adjourned on the 11th of December, and before doing so made a new appointment of members of the Council of Safety which body then assumed the entire reins of government, and made it a rule to meet regularly every Monday morning, at Tondee's Long Room, at ten o'clock. This new committee was composed of

George Walton, president; Edward Langworthy, secretary, and the following other members: Win. Ewen, Stephen Drayton, Noble \V. Jones, Basil Cow per, Edward Telfair, John Bohun Girardeau, John Smith, Jonathan Bryan, Wm, Gibbons, John Martin, Oliver Bowen, Ambrose Wright, Samuel Elbert, Joseph Habersham, and Francis Henry Harris. During the existence of the council many changes were made from time to time, but all the members serving in that capacity have not been named.

Among the measures enacted by the Continental Congress, November, was the raising of a battalion at the common charge of the united provinces for Georgia's protection, and for that purpose the sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated, and therefore the Council of Safety commissioned, at its first meeting, Andrew Maybank, Joseph Wood ruffe, Hezekiah Wade, and John Dooly as captains, James Cochran, John Morrison, Jeremiah Beale, and Thomas Dooly as first lieutenants, James Galoche, Moses Way, Jacob Blust, Zephaniah Beale, and William Bugg as second lieutenants, and Thomas Dowlv, George Phillips, and Joshua Smith as third lieutenants. The battalion thus formed was more completely organized on the 7th of January, 1776, by the commissioning of the following : Lachlan McIntosh, colonel ; Samuel Elbert, lieutenantcolonel; Joseph Habersham, major.

We will, in closing this chapter, briefly outline the state of affairs as existing in the Province of Georgia, of which Savannah was the seat of government, in fact of two conflicting governments, on the eve of the American Revolution.

Practically, on the Republican side, the Council of Safety was the maker of laws, and its president was, to all intents and purposes, the governor, and the authority for this was the result of legislation on the part of the provincial congress. All business, both of a civil and a military nature, originated in and was put in force by it, as will be seen by an inspection of its minutes. The royal governor remained at his post, but he was powerless, without the protection of even a small military guard, and his council, composed of men who were presumed to advise him, were as helpless as himself, being held in utter disregard by the opposition. The functions of the king's officers were performed by men who, in the name of liberty, asserted the right to vacate the royal commissions and transact the public affairs in a manner unobjectionable to freemen.

Chapter Xviii Commencement Of Actual War

Governor Wright's Arrest and Escape - Georgia's Temporary Constitution - Conflict Between Royal Troops and Militia- - Exportation of Rice Stopped - Royalists Attempt to Capture Rice Boats - Only Two Vessels Escape to Sea - Council of Safety Takes Heroic Measures - Congress Thanks Colonial Militia - Wright Goes to England and Returns to Savannah - John Graham and Thunderbolt - Savannah's First "Fourth of July" (August 10th).

Though delayed in reaching Savannah, the relief sought by Sir James Wright came on the 12th of January, 1776, when a transport from Boston, with troops under the command of Majors Maitland and Grant, touched at Tybee. That event, coupled with the determination to put down any demonstration of authority by the royal party, forced the Council of Safety, on the 18th, to resolve "that the person of his excellency Sir James Wright, Bart., and of John Mullrvne, Josiah Tattnall, and Anthony Stokes, Esqs., be forthwith arrested and secured, and that all non-associates be forthwith disarmed except those who will give their parole assuring that they will not aid, assist, or comfort any of the persons on board his Majesty's ships of war. or take up arms against America in the present unhappy dispute."