On the other hand, the conservatives in Georgia undertook to do something for themselves. They got up a test case in the Supreme Court of the "State" to determine the rights of negroes to hold office. The case was that of White and Clements, and the office involved was a county court clerkship. Of course the decision was not binding upon the legislative houses in judging of the eligibility of their members, but it was thought that it would have an influence upon their views. The court decided that under the new constitution of Georgia and the code of Georgia negroes could hold office, since the constitution of 1868 declared that all persons born or naturalized in the United States and residents in Georgia were citizens of Georgia, and the code declared that among the rights of citizens was the right to hold office. Of course the legislature could abolish or amend the code. After the rendering of this decision the conservative members of the legislature requested the Governor, Mr. Bullock, who was a radical Republican, and a New Yorker by birth, to reconvene the legislature for the purpose of reseating the expelled negro members. The Governor refused, apparently not desiring to anticipate the action of Congress in the case. The attempt of the conservatives to help themselves thus came to naught, and the unhappy community drifted on toward anarchy and violence, according to the report now made by {238} General Terry to the President, who declared it to be his opinion that the United States Government must intervene anew in order to preserve it against that fate. [Sidenote: New conditions imposed on Georgia.]