Crawford, like Baldwin, taught, and studied law at the same time.  He was usher in a school taught by his life-long friend, Judge Yates.  When admitted to practise law, he located in the little village of Lexington, in the County of Oglethorpe, and very soon was not only the leading lawyer, but the leading man of all the up-country of Georgia.

Eminence is always envied:  this was conspicuously the fortune of Crawford.  The population of the State was increasing rapidly, and young aspirants for fame and fortune were crowding to where these were promised most speedily.

The Yazoo question had created deep animosities.  General Elijah Clarke, and his son John, subsequently governor of the State, were charged with complicity in this great fraud.  The father had distinguished himself in repelling the Indians in their various forays upon the frontiers, and was a representative man.  With strong will and distinguished courage, he, without much talent, was conspicuous among a people who were, like himself, rude, unlettered, but daring, and abounding in strong common-sense.

There was a young man at the same time, a devoted friend of young Clarke, and follower of his father:  he was an emigrant from one of the Middle States.  Violent in his character, and incautious in the use of language, he very soon became offensive to his opponents, and sought every opportunity to increase the bad feeling with which he was regarded.  Siding with the Yazoo Company, he soon made himself odious to their enemies.  The parties of Republicans and Federalists were bitter toward each other, and feuds were leading to fights, and some of these of most deadly character.  The conflicts with the Indians had kept alive the warlike spirit which the partisan warfare of the Revolution had cultivated at the South, and no virtue was so especially regarded by these people as that of personal courage.  The consequence was that no man, whatever his deportment or qualifications, could long fill the public eye without distinguishing himself for the possession of personal bravery.

The Clarkes were the undisputed leaders of public opinion in the up-country, until Crawford came, and, by his great abilities and remarkable frankness of manner, won away to his support, and to the support of his opinions, a large majority of the people.  This was not to be borne; and young Van Allen was willingly thrust forward to test the courage of Crawford.  Duelling was the honorable method of settling all difficulties between gentlemen, and Crawford was to be forced into a duel.  If he refused to fight, he was ruined.  This, however, he did not do; and Van Allen was slain in the affair.

This but whetted the rage of the Clarkes, and John Clarke was not long in finding an excuse to call to the field his hated foe.  In this duel Crawford was shot through the left wrist, which partially disabled that arm for life.  But this did not heal the animosity; its rancor became contagious, and involved the people of the State almost to a man; nor did it end until both Clarke and Crawford were in the grave.