Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 383
uphold him in violating the Treaty of New York, which the state was
bound to respect.
It redounds to General Clarke's honor, however, that he no sooner
became aware of the great error in which he was entangled than he
abandoned it, ere he had shed a drop of blood. He never expected to
raise his hand against any foe save the hostile Indians and Spaniards.
This explains his ready and absolute submission when, on being assured
that neither his men nor himself would be molested, he struck colors and
disbanded his followers and returned, chagrined, to his home in Wilkes,
on the approach of Generals Twiggs and Irwin, under the governor's
order, with a body of the state troops.
In further defense of General Clarke it may be said that, with the
Oconee River as a permanent guaranteed boundary between the State of
Georgia and the Indians, it was clear to him that the state could never
attain to much prosperity or importance, but must continue feeble and
poor. Enlargement toward the west was what she needed to make her
powerful. So he seized the opportunity which confronted him in 1794
of making himself master of the trans-Oconee territory by means of the
French resources and preparations, to which he had fallen heir.
On July 28, 1794, at the suggestion of General Knox, secretary of
war, Governor Mathews issued this proclamation:
"Whereas, I have received official information that Elijah Clarke,
Esq., late a Major-General of the militia of this State, has gone over
the Oconee River, with intent to establish a separate and independent
government on lands allotted to the Indians for hunting grounds within
the boundaries and jurisdictional rights of the State of Georgia afore
said, and has induced numbers of good citizens of the said State to join
him in the said unlawful enterprise; and whereas, such acts and pro
ceedings are not only a violation of the laws of this State, but tend to
subvert the good order and government thereof, I have therefore thought
fit to issue this proclamation, warning and forbidding the citizens of the
said State from engaging in such unlawful proceedings, hereby strictly
enjoining all persons whatsoever who have been deluded to engage
therein immediately to desist therefrom, as they will answer the contrary
to their peril; and I do hereby strictly command and require all judges,
justices, sheriffs, and other officers, and all other good citizens of this
State to be diligent in aiding and assisting to apprehend the said Elijah
Clarke and his adherents, in order that they may be severally brought
to justice."
No sooner did Governor Mathews issue this proclamation against
General Clarke than the latter reappeared in Wilkes and surrendered
himself to the authorities; but after examining the laws and the treaties,
both State and Federal, it was ordered by the court that Elijah Clarke
be and is hereby discharged. The vote of the jury was unanimous. The
effect was to embolden Clarke. Being pronounced guiltless of any of-
fense, he recrossed the Oconee to his posts.
Thereupon the President authorized the governor to embody the
militia and to call into service the Federal troops, if necessary, in order
to disperse the settlers. Lieutenant-Colonel Gaither, of the United States
army, was on hand to co-operate. Before Governor Mathews, in accord-