GILMER COUNTY. 269 



he recommended to the people of Georgia were wise. For in- 

 stance, in his message to the Legislature, in 1830, he recom- 

 mends that the lots of land which contain gold should be ex- 

 empted from distribution by lottery. " The spirit of specula- 

 tion which the disposition of the lands by lottery is calculated to 

 produce, has always been the greatest objection to that system. 

 The knowledge that the lands contained valuable mines of 

 gold would increase that spirit to the most injurious extent. 

 The community would become highly excited by the hope of 

 acquiring great wealth without labour. The morals of the 

 country would be in danger of corruption from the temptation 

 which would be held out by law to the commission of innu- 

 merable frauds. Regular industry and economy would for a 

 time be suspended by restless idleness, and imaginary as well 

 as real and unnecessary expenditures. In most cases even the 

 successful owners of the rich prizes would not be really bene- 

 fited. Prodigality is the usual result of riches suddenly and 

 easily obtained. Mines are like the accumulation of the peo- 

 ple's money in the public treasury. The government should 

 manage them for general and not for individual advantage. 

 If they should prove exceedingly profitable, the State would 

 thereby be enabled to relieve the people from taxation, improve 

 all the roads, render its rivers navigable, and extend the ad- 

 vantages of education to every class of society," Now we 

 are willing to submit these sentiments to the nicest sci'utiny. 

 Their truth cannot be denied. Had the gold mines been re- 

 served to the State, as recommended by Governor Gilmer, 

 what an immense revenue would be at its command ! Rail- 

 roads would be found running in every direction. Schools for 

 the benefit of the poor would be established through the length 

 and breadth of the State. The burden of taxation would be 

 hardly felt, and our people would move onward in their career 

 of prosperity. Again, Mr. Gilmer's course in regard to the 

 missionaries confined in the penitentiary was looked upon as 

 cruel and unjust. Now, what were the facts in this case ? 

 By the laws then in force, no white person, however respect- 

 able, had the right to reside in the Indian territory within 

 Georgia, without a license granted him upon his taking the- 

 oath to support the constitution and laws of the State. It was 

 18 



