Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

CHAPTER I
WHEN THE NEW CENTURY BEGINS, GEORGIA PRESENTS A PICTURE OF
PEACEFUL REPOSE, UNDER SETTLED CONDITIONS—THE TREATY OP
FOKT WlLKINSON IN 1802—THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF ITS STIPULATED PROMISE, ACQUIRES LARGE BODIES OF
LAND FROM THE INDIANS—THREE COUNTIES FORMED—BALDWIN—
WILKINSON—WAYNE—JOHN MILLEDGE, GOVERNOR—THE LAND LOT
TERY SYSTEM Is DEVISED—SUPERSEDES THE OLD SYSTEM OF HEAD
RIGHTS—How THE LANDS A¥ERE DISTRIBUTED—THE NEW SYSTEM
EXPLAINED—ITS ADVANTAGES OVER THE OLD—LOUISVILLE DEVELOPS
MALARIAL SYMPTOMS—FAILS TO GIVE SATISFACTION AS A SEAT OF
GOVERNMENT—POPULATION MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE FOOT
HILLS——MlLLEDGEVILLE, AT THE HEAD OF NAVIGATION ON THE OCONEB,
CHOSEN AS A SITE FOR THE STATE CAPITAL—How THE TOWN STARTED
—GEN. JETT THOMAS BUILDS THE NEW .STATE HOUSE—THE STRUC
TURE NORMAN IN DESIGN—THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1804—
INDIAN TREATIES OF 1804 AND 1805—DEATH OF JAMES JACKSON IN
1806—JOHN MILLEDGE BECOMES UNITED STATES SENATOR—JARED
IHWIN Is AGAIN MADE GOVERNOR—DEATH OF ABRAHAM BALDWIN—
DR. GEORGE JONES SUCCEEDS HIM IN THE SENATE, UNTIL WILLIAM H.
CRAWFORD Is CHOSEN BY THE LEGISLATURE—GEORGIA Is GIVEN FOUR
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS UNDER THE CENSUS OF 1800.
When the nineteenth century dawned upon Georgia its benignant
rays awoke the promise of a long peace and kindled the outlook for a
prosperous era, under settled conditions. All was quiet along the south
ern border. The Treaty of Coleraine had produced a tranquilizing
effect upon the Creeks who still retained possession of the Tallassee lands
under a guaranteed title from the Federal Government. The Cherokees
on the north were giving the white settlers no greater trouble than was
incident to frontier life at the best of times. Cattle-stealing was per
haps the worst offense 'to be laid at the door of the Cherokees.
Georgia's population was steadily increasing. As a result of recent
accessions of territory the frontier belt had been pressed still further
back into the Indian's green arcadia; and, though it may not have been
apparent to the savages themselves, it was nevertheless written in the
Book of Fate that the ultimate outcome of this relinquishment of land
would be the forfeiture by the red man of all this splendid heritage which
for time immemorial had furnished the hunting grounds and held the
tombs of his forefathers. Each year the whites were acquiring more and
more of these Indian lands; and each year the dusky natives found them
selves moving further and further westward toward the sunset.
Vol. 1—29
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