Fourth of July 1835 Jubilee and many of the old familiar pioneers of Lowndes and Berrien, members of the State Rights Association of Lowndes County, GA, had gathered at the county courthouse at Franklinville, GA. State Senator Levi J. Knight, of Beaverdam Creek at present day Ray City, Berrien County, GA, gave a great oration, as did the Reverend Jonathan Gaulden. Big Billy Smith was there, as was Hamilton Sharp, Aaron Knight, Jonathan Knight, John Knight and William Cone Knight, Noah H. Griffin, Martin Shaw, Malachi Monk, Captain David Bell and many others.
After the speechmaking came the celebratory meal, followed by a round of regular toasts to Washington, Jefferson, LaFayette, and to former Georgia Governor, George Michael Troup, as well as some to denounce the excesses of President Andrew Jackson. The event and toasts were reported in The Milledgeville Southern Recorder, a continuation of the report on Fourth of July, At Franklinville, Lowndes County:
The Southern Recorder
August 4, 1835The company the proceeded to partake of a sumptuous dinner prepared by William Smith, Esq.; and when the cloth was removed, the following regular and volunteer toasts were received with the usual good humor and applause. All seemed to go off well, and the jubilee of the day was celebrated with a dignity becoming a free people.
REGULAR TOASTS
- The principles that gave birth to the anniversary: unsullied may they remain, for they are the breathings of the spirit of liberty.
- The Union: such as our fathers gave us, not as their degenerate sons have abused and perverted it.
- The patriotism of Washington: how unlike that of our present military chieftain and the hero serving politicians of the day!
- The signers of the declaration of American Independence: may their memory and fame be immortal.
- George M. Troup: morally honest, politically honest, and politically right – the brightest luminary that adorns our political hemisphere: Georgia’s boast, and a nation’s pride. We admire the man and revere the patriot.
- Thomas Jefferson: the illustrious writer of the declaration of American Independence: may his memory never hereafter be painted by the praises of those who cloak the odium of their principles under a pretended love of the Union.
- The State of Georgia in 1825: she then stood proudly prominent among her compeers, battling for her rights. Alas! where is she now?
- The right of resistance ever belongs to the oppressed; may its votaries never want, nor be wanting.
- Our next President: better to have Hugh L. White with but one scare on his political visage, than to have a Baltimore manufactured President, crammed upon us, stinking with his political usurpation.
- Nullification: used by patriots to protect the right of sovereign state – by office seekers and office holders, to frighten people from the true principles of democracy.
- Religion liberty and science: may they remain forever as the constellations in the heavens, and visit in succession all the kingdoms, and people of the earth.
- General Lafayette: the friend and associate of Washington: may his memory ever live in the hearts of a grateful, brave, free and independent people.
- Georgia’s fair sex:
“Till Hymen brought his love delighted hour,
There dwelt no joy in Eden’s rosy bower;
The world was sad – the garden was wild,
And man the Hermit sighed, till woman smiled.”VOLUNTEER TOASTS
By John Blackshear. The Honorable Charles Dougherty, the present nominee for the Executive of the State; his independent, manly course when the judicial mandate of the Supreme Court was present to him in the case of the missionaries, give ample evidence of his qualifications for the highest office within the gift of the people of his native State.
Levi J. Knight. State Rights and State Remedies: our political system and policy in 1799; may it never be changed while North America has one proud son to defend it.
H. W. Sharpe. The principle that brought about a repeal of the alien and sedition laws of 1798 be my principle, even if that principle be nullification.
Thomas D. Townsend. The preservation of a free government requires, not merely that the metes and bounds which separate each department of power be invariably maintained; but more especially, that neither of them be suffered to overleap that great barrier, the constitution, which defends the rights of the people. The rulers who are guilty of such an encroachment exceed the commissions from which they derive their authority, and are tyrants. The people who submit to it are governed by laws made neither by themselves nor by authority derived from them, and are slaves.
William C. Knight. The patriotic State of South Carolina, with her patriotic rulers, McDuffie, Hamilton, Calhoun, Hayne and others.
John Knight. May it be the steady aim of all our public functionaries in future, to keep our government in that purity in which it stood in 1799.
Sent in by Mrs. Jane Sharpe. The patriotic ladies of the day; may they remember to emulate their Spartan mothers.
Mrs. Mary N. Smith. May the daughters of happy America never want a Washington to defend them.
Mrs. Sarah Underwood. All Fortune’s children except the oldest, Miss Fortune.
William G. Hall. May the tree of liberty long wave its golden branches over the free and happy people of America.
Noah H. Griffin. Nullification: the true conservative of our rights – without it there is no other barrier against usurpation.
Aaron Knight. May the executive of our nation in future cease to contend for enlarged power; but preside with that moderation and meekness that marked the administration of Washington and Jefferson.
Frederick Varn. Success to ex-Governor Hamilton of South Carolina, the originator of Nullification.
Thomas P. Jordan. (a visitor) A speedy and disgraceful death to modern Unionism and man-worship.
D. G. Hutchison. Samuel Chase, the independent statesman; after enumerating many a glaring instance of ministerial violation of American rights, with a voice of thunder that made the hollow dome resound, he swore a might oath that he owed no allegiance to the King of England. ‘Twas then the Demosthenes of Maryland first taught the startled hails of Congress Hall to re-echo the name of independence. May the youths of America imitate his example.
James Smith. Our next Governor: may he be emulous even to ape Troup.
John Dees. The Honorable A. S. Clayton: the fearless asserter of State Rights and true principles.
Owen Smith. The doctrine of State Rights: while it protects us from the unhallowed ravages of tyranny, may it remain an unshaken bulwark against the destructive fury of faction.John M. Cranie jr The Honorable Charles Dougherty: may he be our next Governor.
James M. Bates. The sovereignty of the States: purchased by the blood of the whigs of the Revolution: may the whigs of the day remember it, and remembering feel it.
David Mathis. Our republican institutions: may they continue to diffuse light and liberty to the happy subjects of America.
Jonathan Knight. May the State Rights party succeed in restoring the fallen character of Georgia to the elevation in which it stood in 1825.
Martin Shaw, jr. May American virtue shine when every other light is out: may freedom of election be preserved, the trial by jury maintained, and the liberty of the press be secured to the latest posterity.
C. S. Gauldin. The Constitution formed by the wisest hands, increased in its vigor, until federalism gave it a wound in a vital part. Jefferson applying the balm, republicanism, cured the wound. Federalism has again entered its vitals; may another Jefferson rise to apply again the restorative State Rights, and restore it to its pristine vigor.
Capt. Bell. Nullification: used by State Rights men to protect the rights of the States; by office seekers and office holders to frighten fiats into subjects liege and true to the conqueror of Napoleon’s conquerors, but the violator of that constitution he had sworn to defend.
William Smith. The fair sex: The only endurable aristocracy, who elect without votes, govern without laws, decide without appeal, and are never in the wrong.
James D. Smith. The three greatest and best Generals – general peace, general plenty and general satisfaction.
Wm. G. Smith. When wine enlivens the heart, may friendship surround the table.
Joel Gornto. His Excellency Wilson Lumpkin: Georgia’s constant friend, the pure and immaculate statesman; his public acts, though, much abused by political demagogues, will ever be supported bu the yeomanry of Georgia.
M. Monk. State Rights without nullification, Union without consolidation.
1835 Independence Day toasts at Franklinville, GA. The Southern Recorder, August 4, 1835.
Related Posts:
- Levi J. Knight’s 4th of July Address at Franklinville, GA 1835
- Levi J. Knight Reports Indian Fight of July 13, 1836
- Knights Come to Lowndes County, GA
- Post Offices of the Old Berrien Pioneers
- Old Land Mark Gone ~ Death Of “Uncle Billy” Smith
- Martha Guthrie: Babe of the Indian Wars
- Coffee Road Led to Creation of Lowndes County
- Big Thumb McCranie was First Postmaster of Lowndes
- More About Troupville, GA and the Withlacoochee River
- Levi J. Knight ~ Wayne County Beginnings
- Levi J. Knight ~ Settling Lowndes County 1827-1836
- Thomas M Ray Founded Ray’s Mill in 1863
- The Commission of Major General Levi J. Knight
Ray City History Blog 
Bill Outlaw said,
July 11, 2013 at 8:21 am
Interesting and informative. Thanks for your work.