Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

356 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS ,
a firm but not an ungentle hand. These qualities were possessed in an
eminent degree by Col. Benjamin Hawkins, late a senator from North
Carolina. This distinguished man of affairs had long enjoyed the inti
mate friendship and regard of "Washington and had frequently served
on important commissions. Accepting an appointment from Washing-,
ton as agent for all the Indian tribes south of the Ohio River, Colonel
Hawkins, though a man of wealth, relinquished the comforts of civi
lized life, renounced a political career of great promise and came to
Georgia, where for more than twenty years, with his headquarters at
the old agency on the Flint River, he dwelt among the Creek Indians,
a devoted, lifelong and generous friend of these children of the forest.
The first important service rendered by Colonel Hawkins as Indian
agent was in negotiating the Treaty of Coleraine, in 1796, a transaction
to which we have already alluded at some length.
But let us retrace our steps. Before electing senators and represent
atives in Congress, it was first necessary for Georgia to adjust her
state constitution to changed conditions, to make it conform, in other
words, to the Constitution of the United States. As early as January 30,
1788, Georgia had prepared the way for this contingency. In a resolu
tion, bearing the above date, the General Assembly had authorized the
governor to call a convention 1 as soon as nine states had ratified the
Federal Constitution. At the same time, three delegates were chosen
from each county to constitute this convention, subject to the governor's
call. Accordingly, when news was received in Georgia that New Hamp
shire—the ninth state to ratify—had put the seal of her approval upon
the new compact of union, Governor Handley, who was then occupying
the executive chair, summoned these delegates previously named by the
Legislature, to meet in Augusta on November 4, 1788. The Legislature
was called to meet at the same time for the purpose of choosing presi
dential electors.. This convention remained in session twenty days,
formulating a state constitution, which was duly signed by all the dele
gates. On motion, 500 copies were printed for distribution over the
state. This constitution, however, was not to become operative until
revised by another body called under a resolution of the General Assem
bly to meet in Augusta on January 4, 1789. Pursuant to call, this
second body met and proposed various alterations and amendments, all
of which were then submitted to the Legislature. Thereupon a procla
mation of these changes was ordered. At the same time, the governor
was authorized to call a third convention, for the purpose of taking final
action in regard to the proposed new form of government. Thus every
step taken by Georgia in this crisis of affairs was characterized by great
deliberation and thoroughness. It was only another expression of her
conservatism as a state. On May 4, 1789, at Augusta, this convention
met and, after remaining in session three days, adopted the constitu
tion, without change, as reported by the second convention. It then
waited upon the governor into whose hands the new instrument was
placed, to be promulgated by him to the people of Georgia.
Much briefer than the state constitution of 1777, this new docu
ment was superior in every way to its predecessor, adopted amid the
convulsions of a war with England and without the guiding light of
established precedents. It may likewise be said that of all the constitu-