These documents chronicle Judge Augustin Smith Clayton’s role in the formation of the Whig Party. The Whig party formed in the 1830’s in opposition to President Andrew Jackson. It pulled former members of various political parties, including dissatisfied Democrats.
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Articles extracted from newspapers held at American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts, on seed-fund for research from Georgia Gwinnett College.
1833 January 3 Clayton Speech on Assay Bill – wants to locate branch mint in South
1833 February 9 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p3 Clayton villified using Cicero latin
1833 March 19 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 Clayton anti-Jacksonism seems boorish
1833 August 8 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p2 – Georgia political parties
1833 August 31 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 Editorial suggesting Clayton as 3rd gubernatorial candidate
1833 October 12 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Election is over – George R Clayton elected to legislature from Clarke
1833 November 23 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p1 – Political – Minutes of meeting forming Georgia’s States Rights (Whig) Party, Clayton active
1833 November 26 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 Clayton in GA States Rights meeting
1833 November 30 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Two New Parties – editorial re party formation
1833 November 30 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Political – Union Democratic Party formed in Milledgeville
1833 December 14 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Names States Rights party candidates to Congress; Clayton declines nomination
1833 December 21 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Congressional Candidates – Clayton declines States Rights nomination
1833 December 28 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Great Union Meeting – Democrats organize
1833 December 28 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Bank of the US and the Nullifiers – sees conspiracy between Calhoun and Clay
1833 December 31 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p1 Clayton expected to be nominated governor by GA nullifiers
1834 January 25 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Congress – Clayton introduces two bills
1834 January 29 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia) Clayton memorials 1-13-34 to locate pension office in Georgia
1834 February 1 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Jacobinical Associations – editorial opposing States Rights Party
1834 February 12 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton, writing as Atticus, on State Rights Party; calls SC nullifiers Federalists
1834 February 22 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Huzza for Warren – States Rights meeting taken over by Democrats in Warren Co
1834 March 11 Speech of Mr Clayton of Georgia on the question of the Removal of the Deposites, published by Gales and Seaton
1834 March 29 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Union Democratic Party meeting in Athens, lists many prominent people from Athens
1834 May 17 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – In the House April 19 – Clayton introduces resolution to reduce salaries of govt officials
1834 July 2 The Globe (Washington, DC) Barry replies to Clayton et al Post Office accusations
1834 July 4 The Globe (Washington, DC) Loughborough replies to Clayton et al Post Office accusations
1834 July 9 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville GA) Clayton Letter to miners on Gold Bill
1834 July 19 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Franklin County Celebration – Clayton derided at July 4 celebration in neighboring county
1834 August 23 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), pp1-2 – Gov Troup’s Letter – article recounts history of opposition to nullification in GA, mentions Clayton
1834 August 30 National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) Clayton Committee of April 1834 to investigate waste
1834 August 30 National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) Clayton Committee to investigate waste
1834 September 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Sound Logic – articles recaps quotes of people previously opposed to BUS, including Clayton
1834 September 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Union Meeting at Lexington – partisan description of debate between Clayton and Garnet Andrews
1834 October 18 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – list legislators elected, Whigs carry Clarke county, while Democrats carry state
1834 October 18 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Review of Mr Clayton’s Address to States Rights Assn of Clarke – could be George R. Clayton, not Judge Clayton
1834 October 25 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Review of Mr Clayton’s Address to States Rights Assn of Clarke No II – could be George R. Clayton, not Judge Clayton
1834 December 13 The Globe (Washington, DC) Debate 12-9 on Clayton’s Amendments re France
1834 December 19 National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) House debates Clayton Resolution on RR iron tariff
1834 December 20 National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) – House of Representatives – resumes debate on Clayton Resolution on RR iron tariff
1834 December 27 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Georgia Journal and Judge Clayton – RM Johnson flattered Clayton into withdrawing a motion
1835 January 6 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p1 – Correspondent of Philadelphia Enquirer – reports Clayton resolution on French Indemnity
1835 January 8 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – House of Representatives – Clayton assigned to committee on Public Lands
1835 January 20 Federal Union (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – Mr Clayton’t Doctrine – Richmond Enquirer editorial re Clayton’s views on deposits in Pet Banks
1835 January 29 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Editor of the Southern Whig – discusses editor, pen names, and then Clayton
1835 February 5 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Clayton reported to decline Whig gubernatorial nomination
1835 February 10 National Gazette (Philadelphia) p3 Clayton reported declines gubernatorial nomination
1835 February 19 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Our Army Swore Terribly in Flanders – editor continues diatribe against Clayton and gold statements
1835 February 26 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Important Correction – corrects statements re Clayton and gold from last issue
1835 March 5 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – The Surplus Revenue – claims Clayton and other doomsayers were wrong about effect of removing deposits from BUS
1835 March 10 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – Judge Clayton declines being candidate for Governor – folllowed by letter of Jasper saying Clayton merited nomination
1835 March 15 Traveling Salesman George H. Rodgers lodges at inn in Salem NC with Judge Clayton and family, who are returning from Congress. Transcribed from George H. Rodgers Travel Diary, University of Virginia Library, Special Collections, Charlottesville, Virginia.
1835 March 19 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Important from Congress – after discussing resolutions re French Question, says Clayton waffles
1835 March 31 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – refers readers to Clayton’s speech in Congress re pet bank deposits
1835 March 31 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), pp2-3 – Speech of Mr Clayton on the State Bank Deposite Bill
1835 April 9 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Milledgeville Convention – partisan editorial claiming GA’s Whig Party convention is predetermined to nominate Clayton for Governor
1835 April 21 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p2 – Baltimore Convention as seen by Bob Short in a Vision – sarcastically mentions Clayton
1835 May 5 Federal Union (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – Letter of Cato re Baltimore Convention – Reminds readers that Clayton supported Van Buren for VP in 1832 convention
1835 May 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – reports Clayton congressional speech on French indemnity used by French deputies to vote down settling dispute with US
1835 June 11 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Augusta Chronicle reports Clayton definitively says will not run for Governor, supports Gilmer
1835 June 11 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), pp2 -3- The Augusta Chronicle – Clayton on French Indemnity Bill
1835 June 18 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Martin Van Buren and Richard M Johnson – Whig opponents claim Democratic ticket will allow Free Backs to vote and Amalgamation, mentions Clayton in passing
1835 June 23 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p3 – States Rights Convention – Clayton named to Exec Comm, but Dougherty nominated Governor
1835 July 2 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Augusta Chronicle – Athens editor claims Chronicle vindication of Clayton’s speech on French Indemnity insufficient
1835 August 6 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Judge Clayton – says Clayton abandoned by his own party
1835 August 13 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Walton County Celebration – Volunteer Toasts – one for Clayton
1835 August 15 Scioto Gazette (Chillicothe, Ohio), p2 – A Vice-President for the Whig Ticket – Richmond Whig includes Clayton among possible Whig Vice Presidential nominees
1835 September 3 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Gubernatorial Election – If Schley is Federalist, then so are leaders of GA Whigs, including Clayton
1835 September 10 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p1 – Political – Schley no more a Federalist than Clayton or other Whig leaders
1835 September 10 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – From the Macon Telegraph – says as long as Clayton and Berrien run nullifiers in Georgia, will continue to lie about opponents
1835 September 15 Georgia Journal (Milledgeville, Georgia), p2 – Domestic – Clayton reports resolutions of Athens meeting re abolitionists
1835 September 17 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Letter of Justice says Clayton and Berrien introduced nullification to Georgia
1835 October 1 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – The Author of the Voice – claims Clayton is author of incendiary letter to Southern Whig, not Berrien
1835 October 9 The Globe (Washington, DC), p2 – Mr Brutus Bell – includes Clayton of Georgia as one of Democratic Party’s worst enemies in South
1836 January 27 United States Telegraph (Washington, DC), p2 – Judge Longstreet – Letter of Clayton describes supporter of Van Buren as Abolitionist
1836 February 18 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 -The Abolition Memorials, Judge Clayton, etc – Clayton accused of stirring sectional issues for partisan gain
1836 February 18 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Judge Clayton’s Letter – Newton takes Clayton to task for letters in Augusta Sentinel
1836 February 18 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Judge Clayton at Home vs Judge Clayton in Congress – Hancock takes Clayton to task for letters in Augusta Sentinel
1836 April 21 Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina), p2 – From the Raleigh Star – questions RM Johnson’s credentials as VP candidate since didn’t align w Clayton on Bank
1836 May 7 Philadelphia Inquirer p2 Editorial re Judge Clayton defending Whitney in Canada
1836 June 2 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Meeting in Watkinsville – April 3 1832 report used by editor to remind that many of Georgia’s Whigs had been delegates to Baltimore Convention to nominate Van Buren
1836 August 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – Almost a Dinner – editorial re Whig attempt to have a dinner for Calhoun at Commencement in Athens
1836 August 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – To the Nullifiers – paid commentary by town crackpot, JJ Flournoy, re attempt to have Calhoun dinner at Commencement
1836 August 22 United States Telegraph (Washington, DC), p3 – Hon John C Calhoun – Clayton and committee plan reception for Calhoun in Athens
1836 August 27 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – editorial repudiates Whig statement that congressional seats not filled with same caliber as Clayton and others
1836 September 5 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC), p3 – Mr Calhoun – Calhoun visits Athens during commencement but declines public dinner offered by Clayton
1836 October 1 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – JJ Flounoy, town crackpot, pays to publish lengthy attack on AS Clayton
1836 October 8 United States Telegraph (Washington, DC), p2 – Discipline of Factions – in anti-Van Buren piece, Clayton mentioned as one of Southern prominent Whigs
1836 October 15 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Look at this picture – Asks how politicians like Clayton supported Van Buren for VP but not for President
1837 January 6 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC), p2 – On the Future Surplus – reprints Clayton’s Dec 24 letter to Southern Whig (Athens, Georgia) opposing surplus distribution
1837 January 6 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC), p3 – directs readers to Clayton’s letter opposing distribution of surplus on previous page
1837 March 4 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p3 – The Whitney Case – Reuben Whitney held for contempt of the US House of Reps and released
1837 May 20 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Gilmer nominated Whig candidate for governor
1837 August 21 The Globe (Washington, DC), p2 – Remarks of Mr Adams – in course of speech John Q Adams praises Clayton for retracting original remarks in Bank Report re Biddle’s character
1837 November 20 Raleigh Register and North Carolina Gazette (Raleigh, North Carolina), p3 – News of the Day – Southern Whigs including Clayton oppose Sub-Treasury system of Democrats
1839 September 6 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – Political – Clayton’s decision in Tassels case becomes part of gubernatorial race
1839 September 6 Southern Banner (Athens, Georgia), p2 – The Tassels Case – explains issue in gubernatorial race
1843 August 3 Mississippian (Columbus, Mississippi), p2 – Gen Price – Anti-Whig letter declaring gubernatorial candidate George R Clayton the aristocratic son of AS Clayton
1843 August 23 Mississippi Free Trader and Natchez Daily Gazette (Natchez, Mississippi), p2 – Taking the Back Track – discusses irony of George R Clayton supporting tariff when his father – AS Clayton – opposed it
1844 January 26 Mississippian (Columbus, Mississippi), p2 – Remarks of Mr Millsaps – says good judges like Clayton of Geo were cheap to hire
