n, attempted to impose a veto upon any act of the
Legislatures of the different States. Tradition represents Governor
Matthews as opposed individually to the act, but he did not feel
himself justified in interposing a veto simply upon his individual
opinion of the policy or propriety of the measure, especially when he
was assured in his own mind that the Legislature had not transcended
their constitutional powers; and this opinion was sustained as correct
by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Fletcher
_vs._ Peck.

The great unpopularity of the transaction involved the Governor and
his family. Men excited almost to frenzy, never stay to reflect, but
madly go forward, and, in attempts to right great wrongs, commit
others, perhaps quite as great as those they are seeking to remedy.
Governor Matthews, despite his Revolutionary services and his high
character for honesty and moral worth, never recovered from the
effects of this frenzy which seized upon the people of the State, and
is the only one of the early Governors of the State who has remained
unhonored by the refusal of the Legislature, up to this day, to call
or name a county for him. This unpopularity was keenly felt by the
children of Matthews, who were men of great worth.

William H. Crawford was at this time filling a large space in the
public confidence of the people of Georgia, and gave to Governor
Matthews his confidence and friendship. It was he who persuaded George
Matthews, the son, to emigrate to Louisiana. He frankly told him this
unpopularity of his father would weigh heavily upon him through life,
if he remained in Georgia. "You have talents, George," said he, "and,
what is quite as important to success in life, common sense, with
great energy: these may pull you through here, but you will be old
before you will reap anything from their exercise in your native
State. These prejudices against your father may die out, but not
before most of those who have participated in them shall have passed
away: truth will ultimately triumph, but it will be when your father
is in the grave, and you gray with years. To bear and brave this may
be heroic, but very unprofitable. I think I have influence enough with
the President to secure an appointment in Louisiana--probably the
judgeship of the Territory, or one of them."

Matthews feared his qualifications for such an appointment, and so
expressed himself to Crawford. The civil law was the law of L