CAMDEN COUNTY, GA - Ltr St. Mary's Justices to Gov Tattnall 1802 ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tara D. Fields tutcher@camdencounty.org Extracted from: Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842 http://neptune3.galib.uga.edu/ By Tara D. Fields tutcher@camdencounty.org March 06, 2004 History and Genealogy of Camden and Charlton Counties, Georgia http://www.camdencounty.org Document: TCC913 [Letter] 1802 June 12, St. Mary’s, [Georgia to] Josiah Tattnall, Governor [of Georgia ], Savannah / Tho[ma]s King... [et al.] author: King, Thomas; Miller, Phineas; Seagrove, James date: June 12, 1802 extent: 7p summary: This is a letter dated June 12, 1802 at St. Marys, Georgia from the Justices of the Inferior Court and Justices of the Peace for Camden County, Georgia to Josiah Tattnall, Governor of Georgia (1801-1802). These Justices, who include Thomas King, Phineias Miller, James Seagrove, George Fleming, Richard Carns, Harmon Courtez, and William Johnston, write on behalf of the inhabitants of the County regarding the recent removal of U.S. troops from stations in the area. They note that Camden County is a frontier County that is exposed not only to attacks from the sea, and from Spanish settlements to the south, but also to attacks by neighboring Indians, and they express concern that the area is no longer defended against the Indians. They therefore ask the governor to do all in his power to have troops returned to Camden County. repository: Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries collection: Telamon Cuyler box: 81 folder: 19 document: 01 Page: [1] [ | ] St. Marys June 12th. 1802 Sir, The undersigned Judges of the inferior Court and justices of the peace in & for the County of Camden as well in their own behalf or in that of the other Inhabitants of said County, take the liberty of addressing your Excellency on the subject of the late removal of the Troops of the United States from this County. -- The prompt & vigilent [vigilant] attention to the various interests committed to your charge, which we are happy to acknowledge in the Character of our Chief Magistrate, affords ample confidence that the present defenceless [defenseless] condition of our County requires only to be known to be duly noticed. Impressed with this belief we take the liberty to represent to your Excellency, that our situation as a frontier County, has subjected us in the first place, to a large portion of the Evils of an infant settlement, since those turbulent & vicious men whose tempers were calculated to resist or whose armies had felt the Page: [2] [ | ] wholesome restraints of the Jurisprudence of other States and countries, would gladly take refuge in a situation where a few hours notice would enable them at any time to escape from the pursuit of Justice and fly beyond the reach of the Laws; and where a popular Offender might even hope to challenge with impunity the utmost efforts of the Civil power. -- The painful recollection of more than one instance of this nature, compel us to acknowledge the former imbecility of our local Government -- but we are happy in having the power to add, that the active attention of the well disposed part of our fellow Citizens -- aided by the countenance and support of the Officers of the General Government who have been stationed here, had surmounted so alarming an evil, and the rapid increase of our settlement for the last three years, evinces the brightening prospect thus presented to our View -- We cannot however observe the removal of so essential a cause of our recent prosperity without feeling apprehensions which it would be criminal to suppress. -- Bounded as we are on one side by the Ocean in common with a large extent of the other Atlantic States, we are more exposed than any other State [deleted: to] Page: [3] [ | ] to lawless insult or injury -- For on another side we are bounded by a foreign nation, whose friendly disposition so constantly manifested, has never induced them entirely to relinquish their Garrison in our Vicinity, which has lately had an accession of Force; and we cannot withhold the reflection, that a Change in the disposition of these friendly neighbours [neighbors] -- or even of the nation composing this important neighbourhood [neighborhood], may depend on events as much beyond our knowledge as controul [control]. -- On a third frontier, we have still to observe that an open and pervious wood seperates [separates] us from some of the most mischievious [mischievous] of the Savage nations; and if the prudent conduct of our general Government rendered effective by the posture of a Garrison always in Arms, have hitherto preserved to us the blessings of peace, we cannot see the most essential part of such protection withdrawn without indulging the most serious apprehensions for its duration. -- It is a few years since we have been free from the allarms [alarms] of this distressing species of hostility; and the mere possibility of having again to encounter so dreadful an evil cannot fail to awaken Images of a painful nature: Images so lately called to our mind Page: [4] [ | ] by a sight of these adventurous Warriors from the pla [document damaged: ce] where we now write; when proceeding to attack our neighbours [neighbors] on the other side of the St. Marys river. -- Under these circumstances we presume that your Excellency will chearfully [cheerfully] undertake to enquire the cause of a measure in which our particular interest as well as that of the state in general are so immediately concerned If the descent of an enemy were to be expected at the largest of our Seaport Towns, or if the Laws which respect the collection of our revenues or any other important branch of our Government were disrespected, our patriotism, if not our inclination, would induce us with cheerfulness to see our smaller interests made subservient to the general good, but instead of this, the diminution of the small army which had constituted the peace establishment of our Country strongly evinces the confidence of our Government in the force and firmness of our Civil institutions, we cannot their fore [therefore] relinquish the hope that some partial representation to our disadvantage has produced this singular measure: and the correct information which your Excellency will have the power to offer to the Secretary at war on the subject, enforced by a request in our Page: [5] [ | ] favor would produce the return of the Garrison which has been removed. -- and here we ought in Justice to ourselves and the County, to add our firm belief that a fair and impartial statement of the relative exposure of the various parts of the frontier of the United States, with a just allotment of protection to each one respectively, would afford us at least three times the number of the Troops lately removed, and most certainly that a proper garrison would be reestablished at or near the junction of our Spanish & Indian frontier to guard against any sudden inroads upon our defenceless [defenseless] settlers by the faithless savages: as well as the restoration of the Garrison at or near some place on the Sea coast. We can scarcely suppose it possible that the representation which we have taken the liberty to make on this subject, if seconded by your Excellency's sanction and support, can fail to restore to us the protection of which we have been thus deprived: but should this well grounded confidence unhappily prove delusive, and should we be thought unworthy the notice of the General Government; we must submit to your Excellency the expediency of supporting (at the expence [expense] of the State) a small Garrison at this Page: [6] [ | ] important position. -- Confiding in your disposition to favor any object which we cannot deem unimportant, as far as shall be consistant [consistent] with the duties of your office -- We remain with the utmost respect yr [your] Excellency's most obedient & humble Servants -- [Signed] Thos. [Thomas] King J I C [Justice of Inferior Court] [Signed] Phins. [Phineas] Miller J. P [Justice of the Peace] [Signed] Js. [James] Seagrove J. I. C [Justice of Inferior Court] [Signed] Geo: [George] Fleming J P [Justice of the Peace] [Signed] Richd. [Richard] Carns J I C [Justice of Inferior Court] [Signed] Harmon Courtez J. P. [Justice of the Peace] [Signed] William Johnston J. P. [Justice of the Peace] His Excellency Governor Tattnall Page: [7] [ | ] [unclear: Ex Nov '35] His Excellency Josiah Tatnall Esqr. [ Esquire ] Governor of the State of Georgia Savannah -- Memorial from Justices of the Inferr. [Inferior] Court & Justices of the Peace of Camden County St. Marys 12th. June 1802 Acted on 12th. July 1802