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CHAPTER IX
THE GREAT CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1798—JAEED IBWIN ITS PRE
SIDING OFFICER—ONE OF THE DELEGATES Is REV. JESSE MERCER, WHO
MAKES A WINNING FIGHT AGAINST A CLAUSE IN THE OLD CONSTITU
TION, EXCLUDING MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL FROM THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY—MEMBERSHIP OF THE CONVENTION—JAMES JACKSON'S
PERSONALITY DOMINANT—THE SALE OF GEORGIA'S WESTERN LANDS
DECLARED CONSTITUTIONALLY NULL AND VOID—BUT THE FEDERAL Su-
.PREME COURT IN A DECADE THEREAFTER PRONOUNCES THE SALE VALID
—OTHER INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS—ROBERT WATKINS—DR. GEORGE
JONES—PETER CARNES—JONAS FOUCHE—ALL IMPORTATION OF
SLAVES FORBIDDEN AFTER OCTOBER 1, 1798—IMPORTANT CHANGES—
DIVORCES AT THIS TIME GRANTED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE—BUT
THE NEW CONSTITUTION PROVIDES THAT BEFORE ANY DIVORCE Is
GRANTED A TRIAL BEFORE THE SUPERIOR COURT MUST FIRST BE HELD
TO ADDUCE THE FACTS—THIS CONSTITUTION THE ONLY ONE ADOPTED
AT A TIME WHEN THERE WAS NOT A VIRTUAL REVOLUTION OF THE
GOVERNMENT—DESTINED TO REMAIN IN FORCE FOR MORE THAN SIXTY
YEARS—A MASTERPIECE OF LEGAL WISDOM AND STATECRAFT—THE
JUDICIARY ACT OF 1799'—OFFICIALS CHOSEN THEREUNDER—THE
GREAT SEAL OF 1799—DESTINED TO REMAIN IN USE UNTIL 1815, A
PERIOD OF 116 YEARS—ITS ORIGIN AND DESCRIPTION—WHO DESIGNED
THE GREAT SEAL OF 1799—IMPORTANT INFORMATION BROUGHT TO
LIGHT—DEATH OF WASHINGTON—GEORGIA THE FIRST STATE TO NAME
A TOWN IN His HONOR—THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1800.
From the molds of the great Constitutional Convention of 1798 there
emerged a product of inspired statesmanship, so wisely and so maturely
considered by the strong body of law-makers who framed it—so plastic in
its adaptability to the ever changing needs and conditions of the state
—that for more than sixty years it constituted an overshadowing aegis
under which our people lived in prosperity, happiness and content. It
was finally superceded by the Constitution of 1861 adopted by the
famous Secession Convention at its adjourned session in Savannah. But
the new constitution was in essence the old Constitution of 1798, modified
only in a few minor particulars to meet the requirements of a new con
federation.
Governor Jackson crowned with the laurels of his great victory in
thwarting the Yazoo conspirators came to the executive chair only 3, few
months before the convention met but this high office did not disqualify
him from sitting as a delegate in this assemblage to which he had been
chosen in the general election of 1797. Not only was Governor Jackson
the most conspicuous figure on the floor of the convention but his was
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