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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 551
this law was to give the Clark party a better chance for representation
in Congress. All of the best-known men in the state lived in the eastern
counties and were of the Troup party; but after the passage of the act
a certain number of candidates from the west were guaranteed elec
tion, while these were most likely to be of the Clark faction." It will
be remembered that while Governor Troup was successful in the popu
lar election of 1825, the Legislature of this year was organized by the
Clark party, hence this new law, the design of which was, by a sort of
gerrymander, to capture new strongholds. But there was a sound basis
in right for the new law, which remained of force upon the statute
books. Though an effort had been made to preserve a balance between
the various parts of the state, in the matter of representation in Con
gress,- still it was difficult to secure this result always on a general
ticket.
Several new counties were created between the years 1827 and 1830.
These were: Harris, Marion, Meriwether and Talbot, laid off in 1827;
Randolph, in 1828; and Heard, in 1830. It will be remembered that
some twenty years prior to this time a county had been named for John
Randolph of Roanoke; but the great Virginian, by his attitude toward
the War of 1812, had given offense to the people of Georgia, in conse
quence of which the old county of Randolph in 1812 underwent a re-
christening and became the new county of Jasper. But Randolph,
having regained his popularity in the state, was again honored in 1828.*
Not only in national politics, but likewise in state politics, the year
1828 witnessed a disintegration of old parties. The leaders of the old
Troup organization divided in this election, one wing advocating for
governor, George R. Gilmer, of Lexington, then a member of Congress,
the other endorsing Joel Crawford, of Early County, formerly a resi
dent of Milledgeville'. As between the Troup forces, there was almost
an even balance; but the old Clark party was sufficiently strong to hold
the balance of power, and its fragments uniting in support of Mr.
Gilmer gave him the election. But Mr. Gilmer had never been an
ardent admirer of General Clark nor one of his political disciples; and
after becoming governor he felt under no obligations to return any
favors which an opposing faction had shown him while seeking its own
interests; and steps were at once taken by these malcontents to circum
vent the possibility of his re-election, a conspiracy in which they
succeeded.
But, in the meantime, Governor Gilmer found other problems upon
his hands in dealing with the Cherokees. These Indians in 1827 had
adopted a written constitution, claiming independence as one of the
distinct nations of the earth. Governor Forsyth, who was then in office,
had protested to,the President against the erection of a separate gov
ernment within the limits of a sovereign state. During the month of
November, 1828, he addressed a message to the Legislature, strongly
urging the passage of an act to extend the laws of Georgia over the
Cherokee territory, but before putting such a law into effect he sug
gested that the President be given an opportunity to confer with the
* For additional particulars in regard to these counties, see section entitled
'' Georgia Miscellanies.''