408 , MADISON COUNTY. 



to the annuity allowed by this State to wounded and disabled 

 soldiers ; and the said Austin having petitioned the Legislature 

 for some aid in his declining years ; and this body considering 

 him an object entitled to the attention and gratitude of the 

 State." 



At the election for members of the Legislature the year after, 

 the county of Madison was distracted by the animosity and strife 

 of an Austin Dabney and an Anti- Austin Dabney party. Many 

 of the people were highly incensed that a mulatto negro should 

 receive a gift of the land which belonged to the freemen of 

 Georgia. Dabney soon after removed to the land given him 

 by the State, and carried with him the family of Harris, and 

 continued to labour for them, and appropriated whatever he 

 made for their support, except what was necessary for his 

 coarse clothing and food. Upon his death, he left them all of 

 his property. The eldest son of his benefactor he sent to 

 Franklin College, and afterwards supported him whilst he 

 studied law with Mr. Upson, in Lexington. When Harris 

 was undergoing his examination, Austin was standing outside 

 of the bar, exhibiting great anxiety in his countenance ; and 

 when Harris was sworn in, he burst into a flood of tears. 

 He understood his situation very well, and never was guilty 

 of impertinence. He was one of the best chroniclers of the 

 events of the war, in Georgia. Judge Dooly thought much of 

 him, for in the war of the Revolution he had served under his 

 father. Col. Dooly. It was Dabney's custom to be at the pub- 

 lic house in Madison, where the Judge stopped during court, 

 and he took much pains in seeing his horse well attended to. 

 He frequently came into the room where the judges and law- 

 yers were assembled on the evening before the court, and 

 seated himself upon a stool or some low place, where he would 

 commence a parley with any one who chose to talk with 

 him. 



He drew his pension in Savannah, where he went once a 

 year for this purpose. On one occasion he went to Savannah 

 in company with his neighbour, Col. Wyley Pope. They tra- 

 velled together on the most familiar terms, until they arrived 

 in the streets of the town. Then the Colonel observed to 

 Austin that he was a man of sense, and knew that it was not 



