The civil constitution of Georgia, which was adopted and ratified by a convention of delegates from the people on the 6th of May 1789, is formed upon a plan similar to the federal constitution of the United States. According to it, all legislative power is vested in two distinct bodies, both of which are chosen by the people at large, and which are styled the General Assembly. These are the senate and the house of representatives ; of the former of which the members are chosen for the term of three years,§ those of the latter annually. The senate consists of one member from each county, and the house of representatives of 34 members4 The executive power is vested in a governor, who holds his office for the space of two years. It is decreed, that freedom of the press, and trial by jury, shall remain in violate in the state, and that the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus shall be open to every one who may choose, or may have occasion to avail himself of these. The free exercise of their religion is at the same time guaranteed to all per sons without exception, none moreover being obliged to contribute to the support of any religious profession but his own. A superior court is twice in each year to be held in the several counties, where all causes are to be tried, civil and criminal, other than such as may be subject to the federal court, or as may by law be referred to inferior ju risdictions. The judges of the supreme court, and the attorney general, hold their commissions for three years, and have their stated salaries, which are fixed and secured to them by law. For the more convenient administration of justice, the whole state is divided into two districts,* which are called the upper and the lower circuits. The number of judges appointed to sit in the superior court arc twot only, to each of whom it belongs also to try causes in the several circuits. Besides the superior court, there is an inferior one, viz. a court of common pleas, established in each county, that sits twice in a year, with five judges, who are appointed by the legislature. The county courts have a jurisdiction in criminal causes, which are finally de termined in the superior court. There are moreover the sheriff's court, and courts which are held by the justices of the peace in every part of the state.
The religious sects of Georgia, are Baptists, Metho dists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Qua kers, and Jews. The two first are the most numerous, and inhabit principally the upper part of the state. The Epis copalians and Presbyterians are nearly equal in number. The Catholics and Jews have each of them one church. There are likewise some German Lutherans, and a society of Congregationalists.
The literature of this state may be considered to be still in its infancy, though the measures adopted for its improve ment have been such as to afford the most flattering pros. pects of ultimate success. The charter, containing the system of education to be followed out in it, passed in the year 1785. A college, with ample and liberal endowments, has been instituted at Louisville, a high and healthy part of the country, near to the centre of the state, and provision made for the institution of an academy in every county, all which seminaries, in subordination to the principal, are to be supported from the same funds, and considered as the parts and members of one great establishment for the in struction of youth.
In the low country of Georgia, in the vicinity of the rice swamps, bilious complaints and fevers have been observed to be pretty general, especially during the months of July, August, and September, which for that reason are called the sickly months. Pleurisies, peripneumonies, and other inflammatory disorders, occasioned by sudden and violent colds, are prevalent, and not unfrequently fatal during the winter and spring. In the county of Wilkes, within a mile and a half of the town of Washington, there is a medicinal spring, which is said to be a sovereign remedy for the scurvy, scrofulous disorders, consumptions, gouts, and various other diseases. There is likewise at the dis tance from the sea of about 90 miles, on the way towards the mountains, a very remarkable bank of oyster shells. This runs in a direction nearly parallel with the sea-coast, in three distinct ridges, contiguous to each other, which together occupy a space of seven miles in breadth. These commence at the river Savannah, and have been traced to the northern branches of the Altamaha, furnishing, where ever they pass, an inexhaustible source of wealth and con venience to the neighbouring inhabitants, in the lime which they derive from them for building, for the making of in digo, or for other useful purposes.
The original population of the Georgian state consists chiefly of Muskogee or Creek Indians, Seminolas, Choc taws, Chicasaws, and Cherokees. The Muskogees have their residence principally in its middle parts, being the most numerous of the Indian tribes within the limits of the Indian states. Their numbers have been estimated to be little short of 20,000, of which a third is said to consist of fighting men. The country in which they are settled is hilly but not mountainous, the soil fruitful in a high de gree, and well watered, their principal towns being situ ated in the Latitude of about 32°, and in from 86° to 87° W. Longitude. The Seminolas inhabit a level Ilat country on the Apalachicola and Flint rivers, possessed of similar advantages. The other tribes which have been mention ed, are found chiefly in the western parts of this state, much of %vhich is still in their possession. Of these, the Choctaws, or flat heads, occupy a very fine and extensive tract of hilly country, with large and fertile plains, be tween the Alibama and Mississippi rivers. The Chico saws are settled on the head branches of the Tombegbce and Yazoo rivers, in the northwest corner of the state, where they have an extensive plain country, tolerably well watered from springs, and of a pretty good soil. The po pulation of the former of these nations has been estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000 souls; and they have upwards of 40 towns and villages. The number of persons in the lat ter nation has been reckoned to be about 2000. They have seven towns, of which the central one is in Lat. 34° 23', and in Long. about 90° 10' W.