384

NAMES OF CIVIL OFFICERS.

Thus the colony passed through its transition state, increasing in wealth, population, commerce, and importance. The civil officers in Georgia, consisting of Patrick Graham, as President, and James Habersham, Noble Jones, Pickering Robinson, and Francis Harris, as Assistants, were intelligent, faithful, and zealous men, and ably conducted its affairs, especially the intricate and delicate relations with the Indians, who had for some time been kept in a feverish state by the unwarranted proceedings of some officers in South Carolina, by the tampering of the French, and more than all, by the discords originated by artful colonists for private purposes and malignant ends. Having executed the trust reposed in them, with universal applause, they were now prepared to give the thriving colony into the hands of the king, and, at his bidding, take their respective parts in that new and royal government which he had established.

Two governmental eras of Georgia having passed, we now stand at the opening of the third and more exciting period, in the far-off vista of which we see the turbulence of revolutions, and the dark and bloody scenes of war.

CHAPTER II.

ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR REYNOLDS.

On the nomination of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, Captain John Reynolds, of the Royal Navy, was, on the 6th of August, 1754, appointed by the King, Governor of Georgia. Shortly after he sailed from England in the Port Mahon, manof-war, and alınost landed from his barge at Savannah (October 29th, 1754,) before any inhabitant of the town knew of his arrival.

But no sooner was this known than joy discovered itself in every countenance, and was manifested by the most public demonstrations. As he ascended the bluff, the people who crowded to behold the new Governor, received him with loud acclamations, and at night bon-fires and illuminations added to the general exhibition of delight.' The next day he was introduced to the President and assistants in council, before whom his commission was read; and at its conclusion he was conducted to the President's chair, on taking which he announced the dissolution of that Board, and the formation of a new and royal Council, under letters patent from the Crown. The names of the new councillors were then read, and the body adjourned.

1754.

South Carolina Gazette, Nov.,

3 Minutes of Proceedings of Governor's Council.

386

POWER AND TITLES OF THE GOVERNOR.

3

On the following morning, according to their summons, the Council again met, when the Governor took the several oaths required, and administered the proper forms to the councillors and officers under him; and being thus formally invested with the powers of government, it was ordered that his commission as Captain General and Vice Admiral of the province "be forthwith read and published at the head of the militia now under arms before the council chamber." It was listened to with profound attention, and saluted with several rounds of musketry and the shouts of loyalty. The day was closed by a public dinner, at which the new Governor was entertained by the Council and principal inhabitants. The political institutions of the Trustees, which, by royal proclamation, had been continued under the superintendence of the Lords of Trade and Plantations, now became extinct, and a different system of government was established.

The official title of Reynolds was, "Captain General and Governor in chief of His Majesty's province of Georgia, and Vice Admiral of the same." The title by courtesy was, "His Excellency."

The power vested in a colonial governor was very great. Acting for and in behalf of the King, he enjoyed prerogatives which in their sphere were little less than those of royalty itself; and his title showed the blending of civil, military, and naval power, in and over the field of his jurisdiction. As Captain General, he had entire command of the militia, and the appointment of officers, and until the establishment of the staff of

3 See these oaths in MS. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Governor's Council, and in Stokes's View of the Constitution of the British Colonies, &c., 8vo, Lond. 1784, 178. The author

of this work was for several years "Chief Justice of Georgia." His work is exceedingly valuable, as giving a constitutional view of affairs in America prior to the Revolution.

the army in North America in 1760, command over the regulars stationed within the limits of his government. As Vice Admiral, he could, in time of war, issue his warrant to the judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty, to grant commissions to privateers. As Governor, he was one of the constituent parts of the colonial legislature, and had the sole power of convening, adjourning, proroguing, and dissolving the General Assembly. He could veto any bill passed by that body; had the appointment of all officers not appointed directly by the Crown, and could even supply vacancies in these until the pleasure of the King should be known. He had the custody of the great seal, and as Chancellor within his province, had the same powers as the Lord High Chancellor of England. He presided at the Court of Errors; granted probate of wills, and letters of administration on intestate effects; and, as Ordinary of his province, could collate to all vacant benefices where the Church of England was established by law; in fine, could "do all other necessary and proper things in such manner, and under such regulations, as should, upon due consideration, appear to be best adapted to the circumstances of the colony."

The Crown officers designated by the new commissions were—

JAMES HABERSHAM, Secretary of the Province.
WILLIAM CLIFTON, Attorney General.

ALEXANDER KELLET, Provost Marshal.

WILLIAM RUSSEL, Naval Officer.

THOMAS YOUNG,

WILLIAM BRAHM, Surveyors.

SIR PATRICK HOUSTOUN, Bart., Register of Grants.

* Stokes, 184.

The second branch of the Legislature was the Governor's Council. This body usually consisted of twelve members, appointed and commissioned by the Crown to be associated with the Governor as an advisory body, and as a check upon the lower house. Vacancies were filled, not by the Governor or themselves, but by mandamus from the Crown. Each councillor was required to subscribe the test, and to take the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, abjuration, and office. They stood in the same relation to the Governor, that the Privy Council did to the King. When sitting in their legislative capacity they were styled the "Upper House of Assembly," constituting in some respects a provincial House of Lords.

They had also a judicial character, and in this aspect sat with the Governor as Judges of the Court of Errors or of Appeal, and in the Courts of Chancery. Their term of office was regulated by the pleasure of the King, though the Governor, with the consent of the Council, could suspend a member, subject however to the reversion or approval of the Crown. Of this body Patrick Graham, the last President under the Trustees and Board of Trade, was the first presiding officer.