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Nov. 3, 1818
Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives,
It is with no ordinary feelings of gratification and thankfulness, that I am again, by the blessing of Divine Providence, permitted to meet you in this place. -- A retrospect of the period elapsed since we last assembled, together with something to regret, furnishes abundant motive for gratitude and exultation. -- For altho [although] unexampled prosperity of our beloved Country, has experienced some abatement, arising from unfavorable seasons, and other natural visitations, yet not to an extent calculated to alarm or depress, but rather to stimulate to vigilence [vigilance] and exertion, and to awaken in us, a suitable recollection of our dependence on the Almighty Disposer of events, of which man, uninterruptedly [unclear text: prosperous ], is too prone to be forgetful. --
The War which had commenced during the last, between the United States and the Seminole Indians bordering on our Southern frontier, has been terminated by a mutual cessation of hostilities, without any particular stipulations for peace. --
I should not enlarge my remarks on this subject, but for an even connected with it, which has excited great interest throughout


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the State. -- The circumstance to which I allude is the late expedition, undertaken to retaliate, and thus to repress and chastise the atrocious audacity of the savage inhabitants of two hostile Villages, designated from their chief men [unclear text: Hopanu ] and [unclear text: Philimme ] . --
From these dens, it was ascertained, they made frequent and formidable inroads upon our defenceless [defenseless] frontier, marking their course with the butchery of our Women and Children, and the other terrific enormities particular to their barbarous Warfare. -- Afflictive and alarming intelligence of these depredations, accompanied by urgent demands for protection, from those whose situations were most exposed, reached the Executive almost daily. --
An early application was made to the Commanding General of the Military District, for a force competent to the defence of our frontier, but it was several months before it was even noticed Under these circumstances, I should have shown culpable insensibility to the sufferings of my fellow Citizens, and to the duties of the high and important trust with which you have honored me, had I hesitated what course to pursue. --
I determined to organize a force sufficient to inflict condign punishment on this miscreant for, and make them feel


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that the frontier of Georgia, was not to be devastated with impunity. At this juncture Captain Wright presented himself, as a Gentleman recently holding a Command in the service of the United States, and bearing recommendatory testimonials from persons of high and unquestionable respectability. -- His person by a General Order of the
14th of April (a copy of which, and copies of all the documents relative to this subject will be laid before you) was authorized to collect the Troops, and march them upon the [added text: two ] Villages notorious as the residence of the murderers and marauders. -- On nearing the Chehaw Town, they were informed that one of the hostile chiefs was harboured [harbored] there, and conceiving the spirit of their instructions warranted the measure, they attacked the town, and stung with the recollection of the merciless barbarities exercised on their neighbours [neighbors] and relatives, and their supposed perfidy, committed in harbouring [harboring] the many, proceeded to extremities, over which humanity weeps, and which I deeply and sincerely lament. --
In the General Orders it will be seen, that Capt. Wright was directed to call our Capt. Bothwell of the Militia of this State, then in the service of the United States commanding at Fort Early, for part of his force, if necessary. -- I was not certain that I had the right to call on these troops, but the emergency


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of the case, left on my mind, no doubt of its propriety. -- On the return of the Troops and the report of the Commanding Officer, whose statement was corroborated by the testimony of other officers of the detachment, some of whom are Gentlemen of high standing and character in the State; I felt satisfied, that altho' [although] the orders given had been manifestly violated, yet, that the motives which influenced the conduct, both of the troops and their officers, were more the result of a sincere desire to prevent a recurrence of the distressing scenes which had recently been witnessed on the frontier, than of any deliberate cruelty or premeditated severity. -- The subject however became a theme of animadversion, and a number of opposite statements being made, both to the Executive, and in the public prints, I deemed it necessary, for the purpose of doing Justice to the Indians, as well as to the Character of Capt. Wright, to have him arrested. -- An order was accordingly issued on the
20th of May directed to Colo. [Colonel] Marshall at Savannah, the late residence of Capt. Wright, and to which place it was supposed he would immediately return. -- Before he reached there however, he was overtaken by our officer sent by Genl. [General] Jackson, who arrested him. -- On their way to Fort Hawkins, passing through this place, Capt. Wright was released from the custody


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of the officer, by a Writ of Habeas Corpus, before the Inferior Court of this County. --
On the same evening I issued an Order to the Adjutant General to arrest and confine him, determining to refer the mode of trying him, to the President of the United States; which course I was the more willing to pursue, as it seemed to have been the one contemplated by Genl. [General] Jackson. -- But before a proper warrant could be obtained, to enable the Marshall to take him into custody, by means of a paragraph in one of the Savannah papers, he ascertained that the President had directed him to be prosecuted, for the murder of friendly Indians, before a Special Commission to be issued for that purpose, conformably to an act of Congress of the
30th of March 1802, and being alarmed I presume, at this intimation of the danger that might result to him from such trial, effected his escape, and has not yet been apprehended. --
I have felt it a duty, to the outraged character of the State, Fellow Citizens, to be thus particular in noticing this transaction, as mistaken, one-sided humanity, and meddling malignity, have been perseveringly busy in


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distorting and disguising, almost every circumstance connected with the expedition. --
The operation of our Penal Code has been attended with considerable expence [expense] during the Political year just ended; the articles necessary for the completion of the building, raw materials for the employment of the convicts, and provisions for their support, have all been procured at extravagant prices. -- From the experiment of the new system as far as it has proceeded, we may safely conclude, the period is yet distant, when the profits arising from the labor of the persons confined, will meet the expenditure incurred. -- And I grieve to remark, it furnishes but little ground, for the benevolent expectation, being frequently realized, of their moral reformation, or of restoring them to Society, in the character of good Citizens: We have however the consolation of believing, that this system has been efficient, and by prudent management will continue to be so, in restraining villainy within much narrower limits, than those to which they have been accustomed, and of course, importantly diminishing their depredations on Society. --


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During the year past, I have received from the United States in Drafts on the Banks at Savannah and Charleston. Three hundred & Seventy thousand & forty two 73/100 dolls. [dollars] being the balance due by the General Government, to the State of Georgia on account of the sale of our Western lands: -- These drafts were deposited in the State Bank for Collection, where they were [unclear text: realized ], and placed to the credit of the Treasurer, and have been drawn for by him, as exigencies required. --
By An Act of the last Legislature, the sum of Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, was appropriated for the establishment and support of Free Schools. -- A like amount was appropriated for the improvement of the internal [unclear text: navigation ] of the State -- These sums I was directed to vest in Bank or other profitable Stock, the proceeds of which were intended to be applied to the purposes above mentioned. --
The necessary enquiry was accordingly made, relative to the terms on which Stock could be procured in the several chartered Banks of this State, and it was ascertained, that it could not be obtained without giving an extravagant premium which I did not feel myself authorized to do.
[ Note: The drawing of a hand appears on this page to indicate an addition to this section of the text. ] I was however enabled to procure Two hundred shares in the stock of the steam Boat Company, amounting to One hundred thousand dollars at par; and have taken the Five hundred shares reserved for the State in the stock of the Augusta Bank, as directed by a Resolution of the Legislature of the
19th December last. --
Propositions have been made by several Companies of persons, who have associated themselves, for the purpose


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of establishing banks, to take Stock with them, but as the expediency of chartering new banks, is a subject, for Legislative Consideration and decision, and as in the event of granting war charters, she has to provide for the interest of the State; I declined their offers. --
According to a Resolution of the Legislature of the
20th of December last, I appointed a mathematician, Commissioner and Surveyor, on the part of this State, to meet those on the part of Tennessee, for the purpose of running and marking the boundary line between the two States. --
They accordingly met at the mouth of Nickojack Creek, on the Tennessee River, and after a laborious tour of several weeks, completed the line, to the entire satisfaction of both parties. --
By An Act of the
19th December last, I was authorized by the Legislature to appoint a suitable person, to examine our navigable water courses, who was to report to me the practicability of improving them, an estimate of the probable expense, and the best mode by which the object could be accomplished. -- After having been frequently disappointed in attempts to procure a person, competent to the discharge


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of this duty, growing out of objections to being on the river at a season so unhealthy, I engaged with Doct. [Doctor] Willis Roberts of Putnam County. -- He commenced at Fort Hawkins, and examined the Ocmulgee to its junction with the Oconee, and then returned, intending to commence again at Barnetts Shoals on the Oconee. Indisposition however prevented him, and he resigned. --
Owing I apprehend to a press of business at the seat of Government it was not until the Month of
August last, that I receivd. [received] an answer from the Secretary of War, to several letters I had written on the subject, informing me, that the President had appointed the Honorble. [Honorable] Willson Lumpkin, a Commissioner, to run and mark the lines designated in the late Cessions of lands from the Indians to the United States, by which a tract of Country of considerable extent and value, has been acquired for the use of this State. -- Mr. Lumpkin has also been appointed to run the line, from the junction of Flint and Chatahoochee Rivers, to the head of St. Marys, which will form the boundary between this State, and the province of East Florida. -- Conformably to the directions of the Legislature, Commissioners have been appointed on the


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part of the State, to attend Mr. Lumpkin, in the performance of these duties. -- It will probably be some time before the lines are completed, but that circumstance, should not prevent the present Legislature, from making a disposition of the land, that must eventually belong to Georgia. --
I beg leave to direct your early attention, to that part of our Penal Code, which was intended to prohibit the introduction of Slaves into this States, except on certain conditions. -- The violation of that act becomes every day more common, and it is a lamentable fact, that this abominable traffic, has so many advocates amongst us, that an informer, or even an Officer, who would perform his duty by attempting to enforce the Law, is by many considered an officious meddler, and treated with derision and contempt. -- I hope the Legislature will make another effort, to maintain the supremacy of the Law, by adopting such measures as will effectually prevent this species of speculation. --
I cannot pass over in silence, the situation of our public highways. --


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Considerable liberality has heretofore been displayed, on appropriating funds for the improvement of our navigable water courses, and certainly, our great market roads, are equally entitled to Legislative assistance. Your own observations will I trust be sufficient, to induce an early attention to this subject. --
The appointment of two Senators to the Congress of the United States, will devolve on the Legislature during the present Session, one to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the Honorble. [Honorable] George M. Troup, and the other to supply the place of the Honorble. [Honorable] Charles Tait, whose term of service will expire on the
3d [3rd] of March next. --
It is proper for me to remark, that the sum appropriated last year, for the purpose of completing the Penitentiary Edifice, and for defraying the current expences [expenses] of the Institution, has been found insufficient. -- I have therefore been compelled, to draw on the Contingent Fund for a considerable sum, on that account. I shall not however be able to pay the officers and Guard, their last quarter's salaries until an appropriation is made for that purpose. --
A list of Executive appointments made during the year


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ended, and a list of Warrants drawn on the Treasury will be laid before you. --
I cannot close this Communication without expressing the lively satisfaction I feel, at the unexampled prosperity of our Common Country. --
That the Great Author of nature, may continue to watch over us, and bless this favored land for ages to come, with peace, plenty and happiness, is the fervent wish of your devoted fellow Citizen. --

[Signed] Wm Rabun

State-House Milledgeville
3d [3rd] November 1818





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Communication
Senate

Gov Wm Rabun