- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Petition, 1812 Sept. 1, Hartford, Pulaski County, [Georgia to] Governor David B. Mitchell, Milledgeville, Georgia / Solomon A. Hopkins ... [et al.]
- Creator:
- Hopkins, Solomon A.
- Date of Original:
- 1812-09-01
- Subject:
- Indians of North America--Claims against
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, Pulaski County, 32.2323, -83.47596
- Medium:
- petitions
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This document is the petition of a committee of citizens of Hartford, Pulaski County, Georgia to Governor David B. Mitchell, dated September 1, 1812. The citizens of Hartford request aid and arms for protection against Indian attacks.
Digital image of original manuscript, scanned by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2000, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc398
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc398
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc398#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc398/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Telamon Cuyler, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 6 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 46, folder 06, document 05.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Letter from a Committee appointed by the Citizens of Hartford in Pulaski County addressed to His Excellency Governor Mitchell on the Subject of public [unclear text: Arms ] dated "Hartford
1st. Septem [September] : 1812"
Ordered to be filed
23d September 1812
Page: [2]
To his Excellency David B Mitchell Governor in & over the State of Georgia -- The petition of the Committee appointed by the Inhabitants of the Town of Hartford humbly sheweth [show]
That the unprovoked attack of the Indians on a merchant in Jackson County -- the suspension of the Intercourse between their & this Town the [unclear text: secession ] of Young men of the OOtche Towns -- the information communicated by an Indian of Known Integrity, that it is the Intention of his nation to make an attack on this place at the next moon -- the wanton murder of our innocent & inoffensive Fellow-Citizens near St. Mary's and the general menacing aspect of our relations with the Indians; all indicating a [unclear text: disposition ] on their part to commence hostilities, induced the inhabitants of Hartford to convene & appoint a Committee to solicit such Aid
Page: [3]
of the Executive as the Exigency of their case required The Committee, however, [deleted text: [illegible text] ] aware of the Impracticability of the State to furnish its Citizens with Arms generally, feel a delicacy in petitioning your Excellency for the grant or Depositary of a Stand of Arms among us -- Though -- the Committee is embolldened [emboldened] to do it from a firm persuasion that it would be the Interest of the State to provide the Inhabitants living on the frontiers, with adequate means of Defence [Defense] ; insamuch as thereby they would [added text: not only ] be enabled to protect themselves from the [unclear text: Inroads ] or Incursions of the Indians: But by their own united Exertions, aided by the liberality of the Executive, they could prevent the Enemy from penetrating into the Interior -- and thus the tranquility of the State of Georgia would & might be essentially secured -- There are moreover, reasons beside those of policy, sufficiently cogent to induce your Excellency to grant the petition of the Committee -- In all States, there ever [unclear text: 'll [will] ] be a number of Individuals
Page: [4]
who from the Indigence of their circumstances, are incapable, without impairing the means of their subsistence, of providing themselves with Arms and men of this Description compose a great proportion of the population of the Hartford -- It is an undoubted fact, that there are scarcely fifteen Guns in the whole place: And such appears, to be the connection of the people of their insecurity, that they are are [are] flying in all directions from their homes to avoid the threatened danger -- Every where is consternation and Dismay -- And there certainly is an imperious [unclear text: call ] on the Executive for assistance proportioned to the emergency of our perilous Situation. To you, may it please your Excellency, it is well Known that Obedience in the support of Government & protection are duties in their nature reciprocal -- that the one can't be exacted without the [unclear text: guarantee ] of the other may we not therefore, form a view of the exposed & defenceless [defenseless] State of the Town & neighbourhood [neighborhood] -- its -- proximity to the Indians, hope & trust, that the Executive
Page: [5]
of the State [unclear text: 'll [will] ] furnish the Citizens of this place with such a number of Arms (say 50 Guns) as [unclear text: 'll [will] ] enable them to protect their persons from violence and preserve their property from savage [unclear text: Cupidity ] -- Every requisite Security [unclear text: 'll [will] ] be given for their safe Keeping, and we ourselves, should it be inconvenient to the State [unclear text: 'll [will] ] bear the necessary Expense of Transportation -- The Committee can't conclude without expressing their hope, that you [unclear text: 'll [will] ], should it be consistent -- with a conscientious Discharge of your Constitutional Duties, from your patriotism & the Known humanity of your Disposition, grant the petition of the Inhabitants of Hartford made Known through us -- And your petitions; [unclear text: 'll [will] ] as in duty bound ever pray
Hartford
1st Sepr. [September] 1812
Committee
[Signed] Solomon A. Hopkins
[Signed] Reuben Fitzgerald
[Signed] Thomas A. Hill
[Signed] James McKay
[Signed] John M. Moran
Page: [6]
His Excellency David B. Mitchell Milledgeville Georgia Elijah Wallace Esqr [Esquire]