April 2, 1799, Governor Sargent established the first two counties of Mississippi Territory, by proclamation, and provided a system of courts. And if we judge him from his written word, his efforts during following months to provide by careful appointments for worthy administration in these courts, to promote order by the organization of an efficient militia, to avoid conflicts with discontented Indians and disorderly white men, were unceasing. And this is the more noteworthy, since during this time, the political opposition to him was steadily growing, and, in spite of his efforts, taking on daily a more bitter tone. That this opposition was in a sense honest, cannot be doubted from the names of many connected with it, but that its main impulse was political malice, there is too much evidence to show; and that it was by no means warranted in any lack of principle or dereliction from duty on the part of the executive, the written record shows plainly. July 6, 1799, a popular meeting was held under the Jeffersonian leaders, to express disaffection toward the governor. At this a circular was drawn up, which was printed and sent to each district urging the people to meet and name delegates to bring their grievances before the governor and before Congress. This committee drew up a letter to Governor Sargent, the burden of which was a protest against the machinations of Andrew Ellicott, which, it was alleged, had given rise to the many mistakes made by the governor, and his misunderstandings with his people. It further prepared a memorial to Congress, protesting against the laws that had been framed by Sargent, and urging the setting aside of the existing territorial government, and the substitution therefor of what was then known as “the second grade of government,” to-wit, a legislative assembly, chosen by the people. This petition laid before Congress in January, was referred to a committee, which in due time reported thereon, advocating the substitution of an elective general assembly for the existing territorial government of Mississippi. March 18, 1800, the House, in committee of the whole, voted upon this report, approving the change by a vote of 54 to 37. With a few exceptions, this was a strict party vote, the Federalists all voting against the measure, and the Jeffersonian Republicans voting in its favor. This change, it might be noted, was not desired by all Mississippians, as there accompanied it increased expense, and a decided augmentation of the taxes levied on the people. But it was an advance in the history of the territory that could not be retraced, and besides, it was a triumph for the Jeffersonian party not to be forgotten, especially as the great leader of this party had just taken his seat in the White House at Washington.