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462 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
join the Creek insurrection. These Lower Creeks had made rapid prog
ress in the agricultural arts, due largely to the tutelage of Colonel
Hawkins, .and in fact had passed from savagery into semi-civilization.
Indeed, in this respect, they were not far behind the Cherokees, who
alone of all the Indian tribes in North America possessed a written alpha
bet and governed themselves according to constitutional law.
But the Upper Creeks were neither as civilized nor as peaceably
inclined as were the Lower Creeks; they were at all times belligerent,
and when to the fiery harangues of Tecumseh were added the prophecies
of medicine men and soothsayers, who predicted victory for the British,
with a promise of long life in the happy hunting grounds for the braves
who fell in battle, these Upper Creeks were ready at a moment's notice
to descend upon the white settlements in a sweeping avalanche of fire
and blood.
Amid the opening guns of the War of 1812 there occurred another
presidential election. Georgia at this time cast eight electoral votes.
She supported Mr. Madison for re-election as President and Elbridge
Gerry, of Massachusetts, for Vice President. Georgia's electors in 1812
were as follows -. from the state at large, Daniel Stewart and John
Twiggs; district delegates, Henry Graybill, Oliver Porter, Charles Har
ris, Henry Mitehell, John Rutherford and John Howard.*
Governor Mitehell, when the Legislature convened in 1812, was ready
with a vigorous war message in which he urged instant measures to
defend Georgia's exposed frontier. He also urged all necessary precau
tions for safeguarding the ocean front. Said he: f " These considera
tions have induced me to press upon your attention a thorough revision
of our military ]aws and [the need] of making provision for the pur
chase of arms and ammunition. In the defense of our sea coast, it will
not escape your attention, that artillery is of vast importance, and yet
there is not a single company out of the City of Savannah in the whole
of the First Brigade. This is no doubt owing to the great expense
attending the equipment and support of such a corps, which hut a few
are able to sustain. Permit me to recommend to your consideration the
propriety of making some provision for the encouragement of this de
scription of troops.
"Knowing of no manufactory of Swords and Pistols within the
State, my attention has been directed to other States for a supply of
these articles, as contemplated by the act of the last session, for the use
of the cavalry; but find the prospect of procuring them so remote and
uncertain that I shall attempt to have the swords made at home and I
am flattered with the hope of having this done in a style of workman
ship superior to those imported for common use and at a much cheaper
rate. The manufacture of them will commence immediately in this
place, and will produce about five dozen every week. I shall use my
utmost efforts to have the pistols made in the State also. These are
objects which, in our present situation, claim the fostering care of the
Legislature.
"In the course of last summer the Secretary of "War of the United
* '' Lanman >s Biographical Annals of the United States Government,'' pp. 517-518.
t Senate Journal, 1812, p. 7.