The Charter of 1732 is a reference to Georgia's colonial history.
George was the second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, and so forth.Greetings to everyone who will receive these presents.
Many of our poor subjects are reduced to great necessity because of misfortunes and want of employment and are not able to provide a maintenance for themselves and families.Our provinces in North America have been ravaged by Indian enemies more often than South-Carolina, which was massacred by the neighboring savages in the late War.To protect all our loving subjects, be they distant from us, or to extend our fatherly compassion even to the meanest and most unfortunate of our people, is what we think it is becoming our crown and royal dignity.We have been assured that if we will be most graciously pleased to erect and settle a corporation, for the receiving, managing and disposing of the contributions of our loving subjects, divers persons would be encouraged to contribute to the uses and purposes.
For us, our heirs and successors, the aid corporation and the common council of the said corporation, hereinafter by us appointed, may from time to time, and at all times, meet about their affairs when and where they please.For the better execution of the purposes, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant to the corporation and their successors on the third Thursday in March every year.Any person appointed as the common council of the said corporation, or any person to be elected or admitted members in the manner directed, will die or be written off.Within thirty days after the passing of this charter, the first president of the corporation will cause a summons to be issued to the several.Our will and pleasure is that the common council of this corporation shall consist of fifteen in number, and we do so by these presents.It is our royal intention that the members of the said corporation should be increased by election, as soon as convenient, to a greater number than is nominated, and we do hereby, for us, our heirs and successors, ordain.Edward Digby, esquire, will be the first chairman of the common council, and Purcival will continue to be president.No member of the common council who has served in the offices of president or chairman will be able to do so at any meeting.
Our will and pleasure is that at all the meetings of the said corporation, the president or chairman for the time being, will have a vote and act as a member.Our will and pleasure is that no president, or chairman of the common council, by us, will be elected or appointed from time to time.The said before appointed president, chairman or common council-men, before they act as such, shall take an oath for the faithful and due execution of their trust, to be administered to the president by the Chief Baron of our.All and every person will have in his or their own name or names, or in the name of any person or persons in trust for him or them, any place, office or employment of profit.We, our heirs and successors, grant unto the said corporation, that they and their successors or the major part of such of them as shall be present at any meeting convened and assembled for that purpose by a convenient notice.
We, our heirs and successors, ordain and direct, that the corporation shall every year lay an account in writing before the chancellor or speaker, for the custody of the great seal of Great-Britain, of us.For us, our heirs and successors, grant unto the said corporation and their successors full power and authority to make such and so many by-laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances, as to them, or the greater.The general meeting of the corporation will be held and kept next after the same is made.The corporation intend to establish a colony and make a plantation in that part of our province of South- Carolina in America.
We want the happy success of the said corporation, for their further encouragement in achieving so excellent a work have of our grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, given and granted by these presents for us, our heirs and successors.The whole in eight equal parts to be divided, of all those lands, countrys and territories, lying and being in that part of South-Carolina, in America, which lies from the most northern portion of a stream or river there.Until ten years after such grant, demise, planting or settling, and to be answered and paid to us, our heirs and successors, in such manner and with such species of money or notes, as shall be current in payment from time to time in our province of South.All lands, countries, territories and premises, hereby granted or mentioned, and intended to be granted, we do by these presents, make, erect and create one independent and separate province, by the name of Georgia.It is hereby declared that all and every person who will reside within our province, will be free, and will not be bound to obey any laws, orders, statutes or constitutions.
For our heirs and successors, ordain, will and establish, that for and during the term of twenty-one years, the corporation assembled for that purpose, shall and may form and prepare, laws, statutes.The good and prosperous success of the colony cannot be depended upon, next to the blessing of God, and the support of our royal authority.For the time being, or the major part of such common council, which shall be present and assembled for that purpose, from time to time, and at all times, shall and may nominate, constitute and appoint a treasurer.
Our will and pleasure is that of everyone.They will be incapable of being a member of the corporation if they serve in the said offices at the same time as they are chosen or appointed.We grant further of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, for us, our heirs and successors, that it shall be lawful for them and their officers or agents, at all times, to transport and convey.All of the people who will happen to be born within the said province, and every of their children, will have and enjoy all liberties, franchises and immunities of free denizens and natural born subjects.It shall and may be lawful for the said common council, or the major part of them assembled for that purpose, in the name of the corporation, and under the common.No grants shall be made of any part of the said lands to any person, being a member of said corporation, or any other person in trust, for the benefit of that person.All grants made contrary to the true intent and meaning hereof will be null and void.
We grant and ordain that such person or persons, for the time being as shall be thereunto appointed by the said corporation, have full power and authority to administer and give the oaths, appointed.For and during the term of twenty-one years, the said corporation and their successors will have full power and authority.