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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 529
of 1799, so as to place the election of a chief magistrate directly in the
hands of the people. This legislation has been attributed to the Clark
faction. As amended, the constitution provided for the governor's elec
tion "by persons qualified to vote for members of the General Assem
bly, on the first Monday in October, in the year of our Lord, 1825, and
on the first Monday in October, in each second year thereafter.'' * This
amendment having been authorized by two successive legislatures became
a part of the organic law. As we shall see later, Governor Troup was
not only the last chief executive to be elected by the State Legislature
but also the first to be elected by the people at the ballot box.
Governor Troup was scarcely installed in office before he sounded
an unequivocal blast telling exactly where he stood on the Indian ques
tion. On December 22, 1823, he addressed the following letter to Geor
gia's senators and representatives in Congress. Said he:
"Executive Department, Georgia.
"MiHedgeville, 22d Deer., 1823.
*' Gentlemen:
"In communicating to you the accompanying memorial, approved,
as I believe, unanimously, by both Branches of the Legislature, I have
nothing to add, but the expression of my wishes that you will without
the least delay (first obtaining, if you can, a recommendation from the
President) submit it to the Congress, and disdaining as you see it does
the language of petition will demand of them the appropriation neces
sary to extinguish the whole of the Indian Claims within the acknowl
edged limits of the State of Georgia. Forbearing the language of menace
as long as it ought to be forborne, you will in the last resort distinctly
state, that Georgia, will be no longer answerable to the Union, for any
consequences 'which may result from the protracted denial of justice to
her. Respectfully,
"G. M. TROUP.
"The Honbl. Senators and Representatives from the State of Georgia
in the Congress of the United States, Washington City.''
Two months later, on February 25, 1824, he addressed a special com
munication to the General Assembly on this subject, reciting the obli
gations assumed by the Federal Government, under the compact of
1802, to extinguish all Indian titles. As set forth by Governor Troup,
Georgia had ceded to the Federal Government 50,000,000 acres of land
for only $1,250,000; but she had done so with the distinct understanding
that her remaining territory was to be confirmed in her possession.
Twenty-one years had elapsed, but the Indians were still encumbering
the Territory of Georgia. Millions of dollars had been spent by the
Government in satisfying the unjust demands of Yazoo claimants, but
only a paltry bagatelle in meeting the solemn obligations assumed under
the compact of 1802. Governor Troup's message closed with this par
agraph :
"I recommend to you, therefore, that you address yourselves once
more and for the last time to the justice of the United States, in language
but respectful, and insist on: (1) a liberal appropriation of money to
* Acts, 1823.
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