Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-03

g the flat slab marks the graves {
and re-interred in the National ce
were common, the most convenient
method of getting rid of political
antagonist was to provoke a quarrel
with him, challenge him to q &@el,
and kill him-or be killed by hTsh.
Peter Lawrence Van Allen, a
young Elberton lawyer and follower
of General Clark, insulted Crawford
in the hotel lobby in Washington,
and Crawford Though a peaceable
MANI was obliged to challenge him
to a duel, and they fought on the
above Augusta, and Crawford killed
him.
Two years later General Clark
provoked a controversy with Craw-
ford and the latter challenged him
to a duel. On the eve of the en-
counter, Governor Milledge inter-
vened and persuaded them to let a
board OF arbitrator settle their diff
ference.
But the Ratchet was only buried
temporarily. Two years later Gen
eral Clark took umbrage at a speech
delivered by Crawford in the Geor>
gia legislature, and challenged him
to a duel. They met at High Shoals
on the Appalachee river in what
was then Indian territory, at a point
near the present conveyance of
Walton, Morgan and 'Oconee coun-
ties. They fought with smooth bore
pistols loaded with round balls, at
a distance of ten PAGES. Crawford
allowed his left arm to hang free by
his side, and Clark put q bullet
through his wrist, from which he
suffered excruciating pain for many
months.
Candidate for President
Crawford subsequently became
United States senator from Georgia,
secretary of the treasury in Presi-
dent Monroe's administration, and
minister to France. He was a can
didate for president in 1924, when
he died with q stroke of paralysis.
Historians say his election was vir-
tually assured # he had lived.
But Crawford's departure from
Georgia state politics did not put an
end to the Clark Crawford feud.
George M. Troup became the leader
of the Crawford faction and opposed
General Clark for governor in 1919.
In those days the legislature elect
eel the governor. Clark was elected
over Troup by legislative majority
of thirteen votes. He served four
years and retired, but put up a parti-
san supporter, Matthew Talbot, to
oppose Troup, who came back as a
candidate. fractional lines were
closely drawn and bitterness was in
tense. Troup defeated Talbot by a
majority of four votes in the legisla-
ture.
SO incensed was General Clark
that he launched a movement to
amend the constitution by taking
the election Of the governor away
from the legislature and putting it
in the hands of the people The
amendment was carried and the first
popular election of q governor took
place in 1925. Governor Troup was
a candidate and General Clark op-
posed him.
Party Strife Flares
'All the old party strife broke out
anew" says Lawton B. Evans, in
his First Lessons in Georgia His
tory" continuing: EVERY argument
was used to affect the election. Bit
ter hatreds sprang up, even in fam
lilies and among friends. The day of
election came in October There
were sixty counties, and in each a
scene of wild eXcitmeent. The cleo.
ton returns were sent to Milledge.
vile and counted by the legislature,
which met in November. Troup was
reelected by a majority Of 682. 1t
was found, however, that a majority
of the legislature belonged to the
Clark party, and so Clark would have
been elected governor under the old
| system"
This peculiar twist of political
fortune intensified the chagrin of the
high tempered old warrior. He an
nounced his resolve to leave the
state. President Andrew jackson
who was his friend, gave him an APP
pointment as Indian agent in Flori
| da. He bought several thousand
| acres of land on the west coast over
looking st. Andrews bay, and moved
there with his family. His home was
visited frequently by friends who
made the long journey from Georgia
On a trip across the Gulf of Mex
leo to New Orleans in his sloop, Gen
eral Clark contracted yellow fever
and died October Il, 1882, and was
| buried in the grave which is now II
| the backyard of a little home in the
city of st. Andrews. His wife con
tracted the same disease, and fol
lowed him to the grave short time
later, and two of their grandchildren
were buried in the same plot.