In Their Own Words
August 31, 1738
Conflicting Policies Between Georgia and Carolina
William Stephens wrote in his journal how the different policies of colonial Georgia and South Carolina, particularly regarding slavery, caused conflict between the two:
“…Capt. Gascoigne, importing his having stopt
a Canoe going by, wherein were three runaway Negroes
from Carolina, &c. whereupon it was thought advisable
to send, and let publick Advertisements be made of it at
Charles-Town, that the Proprietors might make a legal
Claim of them in the Court of Savannah, pursuant to the
Rules laid down in the Act made for prohibiting the Use
of Negroes in the Province of Georgia: And at the same
Time we thought it would not be amiss to let the President and Council of Carolina know, how different a
Course we took with Regard to them, from what we too
often found from the Magistrates of that Province, who
in many Instances of late had been so far from giving
any Assistance (if desired) in stopping Deserters from
hence, that they discountenanced their Pursuers, and
rather inclined to protect and conceal such Fugitives, to
the great Detriment of this Colony; and such as if not
soon remitted, would be of pernicious Consequence. …”
Source: Allen D. Candler, ed. The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Vol. IV, Stephens’ Journal 1737-1740, Atlanta, GA, 1906, pp. 191-192.
