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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 357
tions of the state it still holds the record for brevity. Unlike the con
stitution of 1777, it contained no bill of rights, doubtless for the reason
that slavery suggested an inconsistency, if it did not present an obstacle,
to such a declaration of fundamental principles. .There was no bill of
rights prefixed to the Federal Constitution of 1787, due to scrupulous
objections on the part of delegates who thought it would not be in keep
ing with the fact that slavery was still permitted to exist. But the
state constitution of 1789, in lieu of a bill of rights, did not fail to
emphasize certain well-established rights, such as religious freedom,
freedom of the press, trial by jury and habeas corpus.'*
Some of the changes wrought by the state constitution of 1789 were
as follows: it abolished the executive council; it established a bicameral
Legislature by creating a State Senate, with powers similar to those
still exercised by this body; it retained the House of Assembly, to be
called the House of Representatives, but heightened its qualifications for
membership. There was to be one senator chosen for every three years
from each county in the state; but representatives were to be chosen
annually from each county as follows: Two from Camden, two from
Glynn, four from Liberty, five from Chatham, two from Effingham, four
from Burke, four from Richmond, five from Wilkes, two from Wash
ington, two from Greene, and two from Franklin.
Representatives were to be elected annually on the first Monday in
October; senators on the first Monday in October of each third year.
The Legislature was to meet annually on the first Monday in November.
While a residence of only two years was requisite to entitle one to a
seat in the House, he must also have been a citizen of the United States
for seven years; and to qualify one for a seat in the Senate a residence
of three years in the state was required, with citizenship in the United
States of nine years. Says a recognized authority: f "This is the
earliest instance where any such discrimination was made in a state con
stitution, and is indicative of the national spirit which existed among the
people of Georga at this time."
Senators were required to be twenty-eight years of age and to own
property valued at £200; representatives were required to be twenty-one
years of age and to own property valued at £150.
Under the state constitution of 1789, the governor was to be elected
for a term of two years. The House of Representatives was to nomi
nate by ballot three candidates and out of these the Senate was to elect
one. All other elections were to be made in like manner.
No clergyman of any denomination could be a member of the General
Assembly, under the constitution of 1789.
There was to be a Superior Court held in each county twice in each
year. The General Assembly was to provide some mode for correcting
errors. The office of chief justice was abolished.
Militia officers and secretaries to the governor were all to be
appointed.
From an old issue of the Georgia Gazette, dated May 9, 1789, we get
this item: "On Monday last (May 4) a third convention met in the
* "Watldu's Digest of the Lands of Georgia," pp. 25-31.
t '' Georgia and State Eights," II. B. Phillips, p. 22.