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Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 453<br />

Washington, District <strong>of</strong> Columbia, at <strong>the</strong> comparatively early age <strong>of</strong><br />

forty-nine. It is said that his death was due to <strong>the</strong> debilitating effect<br />

<strong>of</strong> wounds received on <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> honor, most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m in consequence <strong>of</strong><br />

his relentless opposition to <strong>the</strong> Yazooists. Never a robust man, his con<br />

stitution was greatly enfeebled by <strong>the</strong>se numerous duels. Senator Jack<br />

son was buried in <strong>the</strong> Congressional Cemetery, on <strong>the</strong> banks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Potomac. His grave is marked by a square block, resembling a bee-hive,<br />

and is not unlike many o<strong>the</strong>rs erected by Congress within this same plot<br />

<strong>of</strong> ground to commemorate <strong>the</strong> services <strong>of</strong> senators and representatives<br />

who died in <strong>of</strong>ficial harness and were here buried. As a memorial, it is<br />

most inadequate and <strong>Georgia</strong> owes it to <strong>the</strong> memory <strong>of</strong> this devoted<br />

patriot to reinter his ashes beneath a handsome shaft <strong>of</strong> marble in her<br />

own soil, AVith his expiring breath he is said to have declared that if<br />

his breast should be opened after death <strong>Georgia</strong> would be found let<br />

tered upon his heart.<br />

To succeed Senator Jackson, <strong>the</strong> Legislature, at an extra session held<br />

in June, 1806, elected Governor John Milledge, who was still occupying;<br />

<strong>the</strong> executive chair. Jared Irwin, who was <strong>the</strong>n president <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Senate,,<br />

once more became governor, an <strong>of</strong>fice which he had already twice filled;:<br />

and when <strong>the</strong> Legislature met in November he was elected for a full<br />

term.<br />

Just one year after Senator Jackson's death, his colleague, <strong>the</strong> illus<br />

trious Abraham Baldwin, died in Washington, District <strong>of</strong> Columbia, on<br />

March 4, 1807. Hon. George Jones, <strong>of</strong> Savannah, was appointed to suc<br />

ceed him under a temporary commission; and, at <strong>the</strong> next session <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Legislature in November, Hon. William H. Crawford, <strong>of</strong> Lexington,<br />

<strong>the</strong>n a member <strong>of</strong> Congress, was awarded <strong>the</strong> senatorial toga.<br />

Under <strong>the</strong> Federal census <strong>of</strong> 1800 <strong>Georgia</strong> was entitled to four mem<br />

bers in <strong>the</strong> National House <strong>of</strong> Representatives; but it was not until <strong>the</strong><br />

Eighth Congress (1803-1805) that <strong>the</strong> new apportionment was put into<br />

effect. The state's four members at this time were: Joseph Bryan, Peter-<br />

Early, Samuel Hammond and David Meriwe<strong>the</strong>r.* Samuel Hammond,.<br />

near <strong>the</strong> close <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> session, relinquished his seat in Congress to become<br />

territorial governor <strong>of</strong> Upper Louisiana. <strong>Georgia</strong>'s four members in <strong>the</strong><br />

Ninth Congress (1805-1807) were: Joseph Bryan, Peter Early, David<br />

Meriwe<strong>the</strong>r and Cowles Mead.t Joseph Bryan resigned in 1806 and was<br />

succeeded by Dr. Dennis Smelt. On December 24, 1805, Cowles Mead<br />

resigned and was succeeded by Thomas Spalding, as <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> a con<br />

test in which <strong>the</strong> latter was seated. Mr. Spalding resigned, however, for<br />

some reason, in 1806, and was succeeded by Dr. W. W. Bibb, for whom<br />

<strong>the</strong>re were in store still higher honors. To <strong>the</strong> Tenth Congress (1807-<br />

1809), <strong>Georgia</strong> sent <strong>the</strong> following strong.delegation: W. W. Bibb, How-<br />

ell Cobb, Dennis Smelt, and George M. Troup. Captain Cobb was an<br />

uncle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> distinguished soldier and statesman who bore this same<br />

name at a later period.<br />

*"Biog. Gong. Directory, 1774-1911," p. 55.<br />

t Ibid., p. 60.

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