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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 223
porters, and this inscription: "Georgius II, Dei Gratia, Magnae Bri-
tanniae, Pranciae et Hibernia Rex, Fidei Defensor, Brunswiei et Lun-
eburgi Dux, Sacri Romani Imperil Archi Thesaurius et Prineeps
Elector."
The new governor was to hold appointment direct from the Crown.
His official title;—a somewhat elongated affair, was to be: Captain-
General and Governor-in-Chief of His Majesty's Province of Georgia
and Vice-Admiral of the Same. The proper form to be used in address
ing him was "Your Excellency," a form which has ever since been
observed. As captain-general he was to command all land and naval
forces belonging to the province and to appoint all officers of militia.
As governor-in-chief he possessed the sole power both to convene and to
dissolve legislative bodies. All laws to become valid required his sanc
tion. It devolved upon him either to approve or to disapprove all
measures passed by the legislature. All officers who were not directly
appointed by the Crown were to be appointed by him, and he likewise
filled all vacancies pending action by the home government. He was
custodian of the Great Seal. He presided as chancellor in a court of
errors, composed of himself and members of his council, sitting as
judges. He served as ordinary in probating wills and granting letters
of administration. He also issued writs of election; and in him was
lodged the pardoning power for all crimes save treason and murder.
As vice-admiral he exercised jurisdiction over Georgia waters. He did
not sit in the court of vice-admiralty, but in time of war he issued war
rants to its officers, empowering them to grant commissions to privateers.
The general assembly was to consist of two branches: an upper and
a lower. The king's council, though a body somewhat in the nature of
a cabinet, was to constitute the upper branch; while the house of assem
bly was to constitute the lower branch. Composed of the representa
tives of the people, it was the exclusive right of this body to propose
bills, to levy taxes, and to appropriate money. The king's council, as
we have already seen, was to be composed of members appointed by the
king, of whom there were to be twelve in ordinary and two in extraordi
nary commission. The surveyor-general of customs and the superin
tendent-general of Indian affairs filled the two places last mentioned.
The king's council sat in a legislative capacity only when the general
assembly met; but as an advisory board it met from time to time at the
call of the governor. On such occasions the governor presided; but
when the council sat as a legislative body, either the lieutenant-governor
or the senior member present was to occupy the chair. There was a
property qualification for suffrage. To be an elector or voter the own
ership of fifty acres in the district Avas a prerequisite; to hold office
as a representative the ownership of 500 acres in some part of the prov
ince was required. However, these restrictions were modified somewhat
in response to a memorial dated February 21, 1755. Provision was made
for the establishment of a court of record to be known as the general
court, in which civil business was to be transacted. Criminal jurisdic
tion was given to a court of oyer and terminer, for which letters patent
were issued; 'but since the judges of the two courts were the same, the
latter was eventually abolished., Court was to be convened four times a
year at Savannah. Its presiding judge was to be appointed under the