to increase the rising colony. A treaty was concluded with the Creek Indians, who ceded lands to the colonists. In 1735, the number of Europeans who had arrived in Georgia was estimated at more than 1700. Others arriving soon afterwards, banished from Saltsburg by the blind zeal of the bishop, founded Old and New Ebenezer. In the year 1737, there were five towns and some villages in the province. The capital, Savannah, contained 140 dwelling-houses. During the first eight years of the colony, 1521 persons were supported at the expence of the trustees, of which 915 were British subjects, 606 foreign Protestants, and of the whole 686 were capable of bearing arms. The expence of each poor person was 330 dollars. The contributions amounted to L.112,000, of which L. 94,000 were furnished by the British parliament, and the remaining balance raised by private contributions. A lot of fifty acres was granted to each settler, on conditions of culture established by the trustees, who were to supply them with mulberry trees, vines, oranges, and olives, from a public garden, or nursery, formed near the east of the town. Notwithstanding the efforts of government and the trustees, the colony did not prosper. Its progress was retarded by the hostilities of the Indians and Spaniards, by intestine divisions, and by the supposed unhealthiness of the climate. In 1740, an unsuccessful attack was made upon St Augustine; and, two years afterwards, the Spaniards retaliated by invading Georgia, but were repulsed. They continued, however, to harass the colony till the year 1761, when the disputes as to limits were settled by extending the boundaries of Georgia to the Mississippi on the west, and to the thirty-first parallel of latitude and the St Mary's river on the south. Various circumstances kept alive a hostile spirit in the Indians, and the colony, in other respects, not answering the expectations of the trustees, in 1752 they surrendered their charter to the crown; by which, in 1754, John Reynolds, a 'captain in the navy, was appointed governor. The colonists, however, were not long satisfied with their condition under this new plan of government. Finding, in common with the other states, that infringements were made on their rights by a junto in London, the legislature, in 1770, transmitted a remonstrance to Dr Franklin, agent for Massachusetts at the English court. The governor, offended at this step, dissolved the assembly. This and other arbitrary acts roused the spirit of the colonists, who, on the 18th January 1776, made the governor and council prisoners. The government continued in the hands of the colonial legislature till December 1778, when a British force took possession of the country, and retained it till the close of the revolutionary war. During the late war with Great Britain this state lost 2000 negro slaves. The Constitution, of which the outlines were drawn up in the year 1775, was only adopted in 1785. It was amended in 1789, again revised, amended, and settled and confirmed in 1798 by a general convention of the representatives of the state. The legislature consists of a senate and house of representatives. The senate is elected annually, and is composed of a member from each county, chosen by the electors. A senator must be twenty-five years of age, he must have been a citizen of the United States nine years, an inhabitant of Georgia three years, must possess a freehold estate of the value of 500 dollars, or taxable pro. perty in the country to the amount of 1000 dollars. The senate has the power of trying all impeachments. The house of representatives is composed of members chosen annually from all the counties in proportion to the respective numbers of free white persons, including three-fifths of all the people of colour. The smallest county has one member; counties with 3000 have two; with 7000, three; with 12,000, four. A representative must be twenty-one years of age, he having been seven years a citizen of the United States, an inhabitant of Georgia three years, and of the county for which he is chosen one year immediately preceding his election; and he must possess a settled clear freehold estate of the value of 250 dollars, or taxable property to the amount of 500 dollars, within the county. The house of representatives has the power of impeaching for crimes and misdemeanours all persons who have been or may be in office. The governor, who is chosen by the general assembly for the term of two years, must have been twelve years a citizen of the United States, six years an inhabitant of the state, must be thirty years of age, and possessed of 500 acres of land within the state, and other property to the amount of 4000 dollars. He is commanderin-chief of the army, navy, and militia of the state. The assembly meets annually on the second Tuesday in January. Judiciary. The judicial power is vested in a superior court, and such inferior courts as the legislature may from time to time establish. The judges are elected for the term of three years, with the power of being re-elected; they are removeable only by impeachment. The superior court is composed of four judges, each of whom holds a court twice a-year in one of the districts, and has exclusive and final jurisdiction in all criminal cases, except such as relate to slaves and to the titles of lands or real estate. They have power and to order new to correct errors of inferior courts, trials on legal grounds. The inferior courts, which have cognizance of all other civil cases, are established in each county, and consist of five judges who sit twice a-year, and are also judges of the courts of ordinary and probate. There is a state's attorney and solicitor appointed by the legislature, who hold their offices for. the term of three years; they are liable to removal if found guilty upon impeachment. Justices of the inferior courts are elected by the people, and hold their commissions during good behaviour. Justices of the peace, two in each captain's district, are nominated by the inferior courts of the several counties, and have power to summon seven jurors, and try all crimes committed by slaves, and all cases of a civil nature within their district, where the debt or liquidated demand does not exceed thirty dollars. No person can be debarred from advocating, or defending his cause before any court or tribunal, either by himself or counsel, or both. The legislature cannot grant divorces till the case is tried before the superior court, and a verdict obtained on legal principles. Sheriffs are elected by the people, and hold their appointment for the term of two years. The judiciary officers of the United States, for this state, are, 1. A judge with a salary of 1500 dollars. 2. An attorney with 200. 3. A marshal with fees. 4. A clerk with fees. (Register of United States.) The following Statement of the Finances was presented by the Treasurer, to the Legislature, in 1816. Cash in the treasury, the 31st of October 1816, Dollars. 65,866 In good bonds, exclusive of those set apart for the re. In addition to which, the state holds bank stock, on which has been paid, 202,000 The sum due by the national government for the western territory, (a third of which is due,) is 936,558 1,364,863 In all amounting to The amount soon to be expended, consisted of what was 64,000 |
