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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 393
Though Doctor White narrates the foregoing legend, he does not
vouch for it, and there is an atmosphere about the account which makes
it savor of myth. The accepted version is this: After deciding to com
mit to the flames the various documents involved in the Yazoo transac
tion there was an adjournment of the Legislature to the area of ground
directly in front of the State House, where the impressive ceremonial
was planned to occur. In calling down the fire of heaven to consume,
the mass of papers, a sun glass was used, but it was held in the hand
of Governor Jackson himself. This version is corroborated by an old
picture which Prof. Lawton B. Evans has reproduced in his "School
BURN INS THE YAZOO ACT
GOV.JARED IR.WIN SIGNED THE RESCINDING YAZOO ACT FEB. 13'J 1796
AND THE YAZOO FRAUD PAPERS WERE BURKED BEFORE THE CAPITOL
FED 15T" 17% GovlRWIN. STANDS JUST BEHIND Tl IE MESSENCEa WHO HOLDS 1SEBOTW
History of Georgia," a picture based upon the recollection of Mr. Wil
liam Fleming, of Louisville, who witnessed the affair. If we can
imagine the picture before us—its features are these: The man with
the burning-glass in his hands is James Jackson; next to him stands
Thomas Glascock; then John Milledge. The man on the right is Wil
liam Few, while Jared Irwin stands behind the messenger. David
B. Mitchell stands behind Jackson, and Peter Early behind Few. Benja
min Taliaferro, David Meriwether, and David Emanuel were also pres
ent on this occasion.
Without seeking to detract from the just merits of an illustrious
Georgian, who is entitled to full credit for having thwarted the designs