Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-15
THE sEsoutcENTENNIAL.
Address of General Henry II. jackson
the People of Georgia.

Address of General Henry r. jackson to
the People of Georgia.
Every Georgian will peruse with in
terest the following instructive address,
and cordially indorse the suggestions
made by the distinguished citizen from
whose pen it emanates:
FELLow-CITIZENs OF GEORGIA: The
approaching 18th of February, 1888, will
be the one hundred and fiftieth anniver-
sary of the first English settlement in the
COLONY of Georgia. On February 1st cor
responding TO February II Of the new call
endarl. 1913. one hundred and twenty
English colonists, led by Gen. James Ogle-
thorpe, after a voyage in the ship Anne OF
over two months, having stopped at
Charleston and Beaufort, set foot on the
soil of Georgia at Savannah bluff, and laid
the foundations OF the metropolis Of Geor-
gia, and of the last of the colonies that
now form the United States of America.
If the memories of like events ought to
be preserved, surely the origin of colony
founded in such principles of honor, taIth
and charity as characterize the birth OF
Georgia. deserves cOmmemOratlon, for
it was the first colonial establishment IN
the history of the world made in the mo-
tive and at the instance of pure benevo-
power, no military necessity of govern
ment protection, no business plan Of
foreign trade, prompted the establishment
across the sea of this last English colony.
Nothing but the hope of lettering the
social condition of the deserving and
honorable poor moved the sympathizing
hearts of the English gentry and COM
mOnalty to give literally of their labor,
time and money in order to provide
wi fhrpIIgh
had lost the comforts of home in the
mOtherland.
And when the scheme was matured and
the cOlOnists were gathering, gentleman
and a soldier, the finest type of heroism
and beneYOlence that ever planned or led
such an undertaking, from pure sympathy
became their leader, and in the prime OF
life denied himself the luxurious ease and
refined Intercourse to which he was entl-
tied by rank and education, and sought
and found his friends and associates
among the poor cOlOnistS. Oglethorpe,
who thus became the Governor in person
as in authority, was one of the trustees
| to whom was granted the charter of the
| colony of Georgia on June 8, I132,
| in the time of George H., whose name
was appropriately given to the colony.
| At their own request and to show
the purely charitable motives of the trus-
/ tees, they had caused to be inserted in the
| charter clauses restraining themselves
! from receiving any salary, fee, perquisite
I or profit whatsoever by or from the I'M
/ dertaking, and also from obtaining any
! grant of lands within the district, either
| themselves or in trust for Them" In en-
! tire cOnsOnance with this honorable
| course, OglethoIpe himself led forth his
/ colony ''upOn the condition that he was
/ not to receive any salary or other recon-
/ pense whatever" OF like Specification,
/ too, was the colonial seal, which bore the
/ design of ''silk worms feeding" for SILK
raising was hoped to be the future bust
ness of the colony. and it illustrated the
/ design by the apt motto ''ROn Sibi Sed
| dliiS," which equally symbOliZed the
1 charity of the founders and the trustees.
How fitting, then, the cOmmemoration of
/ the one hundred and tiftieth birthday OF
| this once feeble colony but now prosper
/ GUS State, colony founded in such pure
motives and a State crowned with such
/ an honorable career. Nor should this eel
/ ebratiOn be confined to the inhabitants OF
/ the city whose foundation was then laid.
/ Savannah was but the beginning of Geor-
/ gia. and it equally becomes the citizens of
/ every part of this broad State to unite with
/ the people of Savannah in gathering
around the cradle of both city and COM
mOnwealth. Sentiments of reverence for
/ our ancestry, of pride in our colonial his
\ tory, and of wonder at our prosperous
growth. should prompt us to recall our
| feeble beginnings and make us strive to
perpetuate the principles of wisdom
/ Justice and Moderation" that underlie our
/ pOlity.
/ Let it be that this colony and its increase
populated Savannah and the low country,
/ and that Middle and Northern Georgia
/ rather grew out of Independent settle
ments at different dates from sister colo
y ho
ment on the soil of Georgia, growing out
of a patent defining its limits and its
name, is i'm reality the nucleus of our
whole State. Nor could it be otherwise
than that the common trials and sacrifices
of the War of the Revolution should have
cemented GeOrgia's population in one,
and its growth for the century afterwards
under one government, with united inter-
ests and harmonious ends, should have
resulted in as substantial unity as though
all had sprung from one hive.
With such a history, then. in common,
and with such sentiments of honorable
memory and grateful pride, Savannah
greets the people of every county, city,
town and hamlet in Georgia, and cordially
invites them to join with her own in COM
memOrating the first foundations of our
prosperous State; in recalling the noble
motives that suggested its planting, and
the wise, Just and moderate principles
that have ever ruled its polity; in remem-
bering the virtues of its gallant founder,
and his labors and sacrifices for its sue
cess, and in drawing therefrOm lessons of
patriotism and pride in our State. We
look to a free intercourse with our breth-
rem of every section as a source of social
pleasure, of political benefit and of bust
ness profit, and we trust that this general
gathering around the altar of OglethOrpe's
planting, may build up, if possible,
higher respect, a more cOntiding trust and
a warmer friendship between all grades
of society and all sections of the State,
than even now exist.
HENRY II. JACKSON,
President of the Sesqui-Centennial Gen
eral Committee.
CGrdDDdb December 9. 1882.