Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 251
appointed Hon. James Habersham, president of the council. Through
out a trying ordeal, Mr. Habersham remained true to Ms trust. He was
one of the people. His sympathies were with the colonists. Three of his
sons, James, John and Joseph, were zealous whigs. But he remained a
faithful officer of the Crown of England. Though he filled the executive
office, he retained the title of president.
Twice Mr. Habersham vetoed the election of Doctor Jones as speaker
of the Lower House. Such were the king's orders. When elected for
a third time, Doctor Jones declined the honor, whereupon Archibald
Bulloch was elected; but this substitution of patriots was only exchang
ing a Roland for an Oliver. The House insisted upon putting into its
minutes these various items showing its opposition to the king's wishes;
and for this offense again incurred the penalty of dissolution.
Governor Wright returned to Savannah in the spring of 1773 having
been created a baronet while in England. The difficulties surrounding
him at this time were fully realized but his management of affairs in the
province had excited the greatest respect for his abilities among the
English people; nor was he without many sincere and loyal friends
among the colonists. Even those who differed with him respected his
fidelity to the Crown interests of the realm.
One of the first matters to engage Governor Wright's attention on
his return to Georgia was a treaty with the Indians for which purpose
he left at once for Augusta where, in satisfaction of certain debts due
from the Indians to English and Scotch traders he obtained a large
body of land—containing some 2,100,000, out of which in 1777 was
carved the original County of Wilkes. The consideration involved in
this transfer was $200,000.
Finding the colonies stubborn in refusing to submit to unjust meas
ures, the British Parliament finally repealed the obnoxious tax on all
articles except tea. Yet, in this single exception, lay the future un
doing of England. It was chiefly to show that she still retained her
right to tax the colonies that she permitted the duty on tea to remain.
But the Americans were firmly resolved to outlaw tea. Ships bringing
it to New York and Philadelphia were sent back to England unloaded.
In Charleston it was taken ashore but permitted to rot in cellars. In
Boston a company of men disguised as Indians went on board the tea
ships and dumped the chests into the sea. Thereupon Parliament retali
ated in 1774 by passing the famous Boston Port Bill, the effect of which
was to close the harbor. But Massachusetts having offended in other
counts, her charter as a royal colony was revoked. To make bad matters
worse, a sweeping law was enacted which required all persons charged
with crime in the English colonies to be sent to England for trial.
These multiplied outrages fast goaded the colonies to action. On
August 10, 1774, at the call of four patriots, Archibald Bulloch, John
Houstoun, John Walton and Noble Wymberley Jones, a meeting was
held in Savannah at which strong resolutions were passed, sympathizing
with the people of Boston and condemning the arbitrary acts of Great
Britain. Six hundred barrels of rice, besides a handsome subscription
in cash, was forwarded to the Boston sufferers. This was done largely
through the instrumentality of the Puritan settlers of the Midway Dis
trict, who were kinsmen. Jonathan. Bryan had been re-instated as a