The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-02-21
GEORGIA DUELS.

."GEORGIA DUELS.
Georgia has produced some of the
stOutest fighters that ever went to the
field. The state was settled by Scotch
and Irish colonies, that soon produced an
amalgam-tough, stubborn and dog
matic-and quickened with a sharp in
fusion of New England blood. There has
been, since the colonial days days down,
fibrous, determined assertiveness about
Georgia that always meant a great deal
more than the brittle passion of Carolina
or the quick choler of Florida. Like the
young Hercules, she fought her way
from the cradle. Her first civilization
was millet seed dropped in q wilder
ness. An infant colony or two, setting
white faces and christian souls against an
illimitable forest that teemed with saw
ages-hemmed in by four powerful na-
tions, when the other states were in COM
parative peace-fghting from between
the ploughshares, up and down every
furrow, and COMPRISING the staple for
an epic into the life of every day. Every
man was hero then. The alternative
tion. In those rude and gallant days no
man could succeed who was not abso-
luteIy fearless To refuse 10 fight was
to court disgrace. 1 doubt if there ever
was enkindled on this side of the Atlantic
a spirit so near akin to the naughty stub
borness that moved the English bosoms
as that which lived in the breasts of the
earlier GeoIgians. In her well remem-
bered history Georgia can duplicate the
more than kingly deeds of Warwick. 1t
was her Troup who, speaking from his
governors chair, sent to President Adams
this letter:
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, President:
Sir have oroered your zen. Gaines
to forbear all further communication
with this government. Should he infringe
upon this order will send your major
general by brevet home to you in irons.
GEORGE M. TROUP,
Governor of Georgia.
When the controversy between TIoup
and the president had deepened (it in
volved some disputed territory, Troup
sent him word that the argument was
exhausted and Georgia would stand by
her arms"
The prime and diplomatic Mr. Adams
must have been sorely tried by these
turbulent Georgians. He was sitting in
his executive room, one day, when red
faced. wheezy gentleman forced his way
into the room.
You are the president, L presume 2"
am, SIR"
'"Well, sir, 1 am George Matthews, of
Georgia, commonly known as Governor
Matthews. | understand that you sent
my name to the senate as territorial gov
ernor of Mississippi? ?" "I did, sir"
"I understand, sir, that you afterward
withdrew my name? 2" You are cor
rect, sir"
Well, sir, I have come all the way
from Georgia to receive your explanation
of that withdrawal and unless it shall
suit me, your position as president shall
not begin to shield you from my ven>
geance."
The explanation w9s given by Mr..
Adams, who esteemed Gov. Matthews as
a good federalist, and did not wish to
ALLEVIATE him. 1t was this same Gov.
Matthews who once fought a duel, and
having been disarmed was on the point
of being slain, when a spectator inter
fered and saved his life. ITO whom do
1 owe my lite?" asked Matthews.
The stranger, an Englishman, produced
his card. ''If you consider it an obliga-
the card carefully, and then replied
''Well, sir, want you to know that l
scorn a life that was saved by Briton !"
One of the prolific causes of duels in
Georgia in the last decade of the last
century was the "Yazoo Fraud" This
was the purchase of twenty millions of
acres of Georgia territory by company
called the "Yazoo Company" for the
paltry sum of $207, 900. The legisla-
ture was bribed into the passage of the
bill. As soon as it became q law the
whole people arose in indignation. The
state was ablaze with passion. The
| legislators whe voted for the bill were
mobbed and driven from their homes.
Several were killed. One was hung.
One was followed to Virginia and killed
there. At last the people met in mighty
mass meeting, and taking the fraudu-
! lent bill prepared to destroy it. An
| improvised orator declared that il must
| be destroyed by divine fire, and, at the
same word, gray-haired man held sun
glass over the parchment until it had
kindled into a fame and ran to ashes
| As a matter of course, this popular
spasm produced numberless feuds.
| Duels and fatal renc0ntres were or
daily occurrence. At the very head of
the opponents of the bill was Gov
James Jackson, a most remarkable
man. He was young Englishman,
who, by his fearlessness and his power,
had so won the people that they elected
him governor when he was twenty-four
years of age. He was a United States
senator when the YszOO Fraud" was
consummated, and he at once resigned
his seat, came home, and canvassed the
state for its repeal. He was unsparina
in his denunciations, and readily fought
any man that excepted to his utterances
Within a few months he fought a hall
dozen dueIs. One of these was remark.
able in its terms and conclusion. He
was challenged to fight a duel at the
conclusion of one OF his speeches. Hav
ing become tired OF the ordinary affairs, y
he determined to make this one pattern
that would serve as warning. he pre-
scribed, therefore, that he and his oppo
nent should each get into small boat
at nine O'Clock at night and pull TO oppo
site sides of the Savannah river; al
precisely twelve o'clock they should star
for a thickly-wooded island that lay il
J the middle of the river; upon reaching