Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

500 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
lature of Georgia as a member from Chatham. The infamous measure
in question conveyed to four separate and distinct land companies the
whole of Georgia's western domain, in return for which the state was to
be compensated in the sum of $500,000, or at the rate of 1% cents pel-
acre, for 35,000,000 acres of land. Such a transaction was regarded by
the old governor as a blot upon Georgia's escutcheon, and with impas
sioned eloquence he sought to erase this iniquitous measure from the
statute books. He accomplished his purpose. The Legislature of 1796
rescinded the obnoxious act; and on the State House Square, in the
solemn presence of the General Assembly, every record pertaining to
the transaction was burned, with impressive ceremonies. It was on this
occasion that Governor Jackson, by means of a sun-glass, called down
the fire of heaven. Thus was Georgia's honor redeemed.
But the old governor reaped a harvest of feudal enmities. His
duelling-pistols were rarely ever cool. But so violent was the Jaek-
sonian temper, that he did not always wait upon the tardy formalities
of the Code. Occasions arose when he demanded satisfaction instanter.
Writing to John Milledge, in a letter dated Savannah, March 8, 1796,
he describes one of these extemporaneous encounters, in which he pro
ceeded to bite his antagonist's finger.* On ordinary occasions the gov
ernor was a great stickler for decorum. Hotspur though he was, booted
and spurred for battle, he always bore himself with the urbanity of a
Chesterfield. No one was ever more considerate of the rights of others.
But whenever his own rights were invaded or whenever an insult was
wantonly offered him, James Jackson was ready to fight at a moment's
notice; and, under strong provocation, could employ with telling effect
the weapons of primitive man.
However, Governor Jackson's first duel antedated by some fifteen
years the dramatic era of the Yazoo Fraud. Toward the close of the
Revolution, he became involved in a controversy with Lieutenant-Gov
ernor Wells, in consequence of which the two men met in deadly en
counter some time during the year 1780. The latter lost his life in this
exchange of shots. Governor Jackson—then a major in command of
partisan troops—was severely wounded in both knees. If there were
any eye witnesses to this duel, the details were never divulged, and tra
dition is strangely silent upon the subject. Judge Charlton, the author
ized biographer of Governor Jackson, says this: "We only know that
they went upon the ground without seconds and fought at the desperate
distance of a few feet." However, among the papers of Governor
Jackson has been discovered a letter in which he laments the necessity of
the duel, stating that it was imposed upon him "by the overbearing
disposition of the lieutenant-governor." t But if the temper of Gov
ernor Wells took fire any more readily than did Governor Jackson's, it
must have been more explosive than nitro-glycerine.
Perhaps the most inveterate political enemy of the old governor was
Robert Watkins, of Augusta. Watkins was at this time one of the rec-
* Charlton: "Life of Jackson," p. 162.
t Gharlton: "Life of Jackson," p. 18, reprint.