Newspaper Page Text
An Address of the Central Commit
tee to the People of Georgia.
Fellow Ctf«e*rw.-Theundersign<’d.tn whom
were confided the duly of recommending lo
• on the expediency of n convention of dele
gates, to amend the Conetitulion, ho as to se-
ciire n redueticn of the number at present
compelling the General Assembly, the scire-
•iyn of the day on which it would be advisable
to elect the delegates, their number, and the
time for the meeting of such Convention;
lisving discharged the trust reposed in them,
tliev cannot forbear, in presenting to von the
result of their deliberations, lo add for your
reflection, certain considerations which may
have a tendency to produce a concert in ac
tion, so desirable in ihts momentous measure,
nnd so conducive to an auspicious result.
While the nndevsigned arc deeply sensible
of Hie numerous defects of tbo present Con
But however expedient it might have been
deemed, at that lime, lo have consliluied lliu
Senate on this basis, no argument, it is con
ceived, can he drawn from this tact, in favour
of the continuance ofi, system which is violative
of that principle of equality in representation, so
essential to a perfect representative govern-
mem.nnd upon which Ibe stability and prosper
ity ofevjry political fabric must essentially
depend.
Tr pul this branch of the subject in a clear. cknow , e d 6 en, e „. of thege-
point of view, two examples are selected from J ... „ vj. „
liter information relttite to this subject, (as we are as
sured Ihcre are several) will do themselves credii,
and all parlies interested a great favour by communi
cating it to the public,
The New York Albion, publishes the following
from a late English piper: " The announcement often
guineas from Paganiri, at the anniversary of the Rojal
Society ol Musiciani last week, was received with
greans and hisses I After pocketing the enormous
nerosily of the English.”
The fottn wing from a Isle Augusta Courier, furnishes
n beautiful ronlrssl tu the above; “ »Ve understand
this morning, that Mr. Marek. conductor of the St.
Cecilia Society, has given to the Poor in the City Hus-
of the late Oratoito,
the documents already adverted to. The. rep
resentative population of Chatham is 11,800;
that of Wayne is 818; yet in the ilistribulinn
of power in the Senate, Wayne in ns fully na
resented as Chatham. Take another exffiT . „ „ f lht profit, u -
r> « •• ” , ‘ l,eS 1 T r r reP ??T LZ P ° P " ! ! " m 1 « hie:, was assigned to him for his trouble.”
of 10,007 ; that of l.nndolph is SS4 ; vel then.., M M|r( . k 15sai j to bc s fiBnt |,. man or considerable
two counties, in representative power, are! c „ n ipli.hmco, in hi. profession, and we arc happy to
equal In the Ncttale. Is //,,* cqunltly of rep- |egrn |ha| hl , jnlBn(Jj , ia j, jng our ,„ wn tll i. Summer,
reap ilia I toil ? Is it just that the Mnull counties I furth , of giving instruelioo lo,hose wishing to
should exact such a vast sncrifico from tho lar- jn|pmVH t ,, ejr in lhe .. ni» inc An.” He would be
Communications.
solution, nnd of the evils engendered by its
provisions, Bird also of tho absolute necessity J eer one* 1 Ought not such an apportionment
of providing a speedy nnd efficient remedy for | milter to bo sltickuri from lhe Const Million, and
them; while, loo, they believe, in rommon | entirely repudiated, hh Ihe prosscst of political
tviiit many oflheir fellow citizens, llint lhe only I heresies ? This brunch of iho subject cun bc
remedy for these evils, is lo bc found in the : further illustrated by contrasting thn taxes paid
redeeming virtues of the people assembled by | into tbo treasury by those smallrcounties, with
their delegates in Convention ; these Ilelo- .'the sums annually drawn out for the pav of
gates acting, as they would doubtless tret, their representative*. The taxes paid in 1830,by
with a single purpose to advance the prosperi-! Appling ,w pro 890; the representatives of that
ty, nnd exalt the diameter of the Slain ; and 1 county received m 1831, 8516! linker paid
at the same time, secure to you, nnd your cbil- j taxes 8100 ; the representatives 8490. Irwin
c’ren. the invaluable blessings of civil and re- paid luxes 86ft ; the representatives received
iiginin liberty ; would not fail lo present for 8120. Marion paid 850; the representatives
your final sanction and adoption, o revisnl rereived 8470. Randolph paid 75; the rep-
constitunnn, remodeled, and adapted lo your t resentatives received 8522. Wnre paid taxes
present situation, every way worthy of thn 850; Iho representatives received 8502.
character of its framers, and acceptable to: The foregoing, follow citizens, are some of
yourselves ; yet, the undersigned, tinvo felt I thn evils which is proposed to remedy, recoin-
themselves obliged to abstain 'rum reeum- j mending to yon to elect delegates, lo meet
mending a rcvsion of that instrument, beyond i in »otivenlion, for iho purpose already expres-
a reduction and equalization of the number sed. Tho efforts to accomplish » purpose so
composing tho General Assembly. They did J replete with beneficial results to people, while
deem themselves at liberty logo fort her. To | they would ciiiinblu the flights of thn highest
that object, therefore, their enquiries have genius, should meet in this instance, with re-
been limited.
Tho time for the election of delegates, nnd
for amending the Constitution, is Holy auspi
cious. Tho cloud that lowered upon our po
litical horizon, has passed awtiy. The missile
aimed at our sovereignty by the federal judicia
ry,has failed to achievoits pnrpnso. There ex*
sped, though coming from the humblest in
tellect.
The science of government is progressive ;
but experieueo is butler than any theory. Vir
ginia and New Yntk have set lire example in
remodelling llieir government*—they have
beniTltled by Ibe light ot experience, noil are
in* no political exeitemont, to cull into action'now enjoying the fruits of tlioir exertion*.-
the fever of party strife, nothing indeed to iin- < While this light to them i* hire the polar -tar,
p* In ilia onward courso of public action, pro- j to guide tlioiu into sale and secure mooring*,
veot ihe nxcreise of the public judgement, nr
tu retard t .e progress of this great work.
This, follow-cizcns, is no parly measure.
It is believed that all reflecting men of what
ever party, who sincorely desires the prosperi
ty of Georgia, and tho happiness of her people,
are deeply impressed with tho existence of lire
evils which have grown uni of Iho apportion
ment of tho members of iho General Assem
bly, under ihu present Coiisiituiion ; uf their
pnugro.sMivc increase , of Iho onerous expenses
incurred for Iho support o( government ; of tho
unequal distribution of power in tho Sonntoriul
shall it prove in you only a beacon hglil, which
gives warnings of the course to Ini shunned,
hut dous not point out, that which should be
pursued 1
Tho foregoing considerations aro submitted
lo you fellow citizens, with pure motives, and
with u frankness which tho subject demanded.
A confident o is indulged, that you will nol
forbear to act in this matter, in n spirit be
coming freemen, who have called upon their
representatives in Ihe legislature in vain, to
perform that which it is lioped you are now re
solved to perform for yourselves. Harken
branch of tho legislature; of Ihe inequality of j not to the voice that tells you lire measure pro-
taxation, and of Iho utter hopelessness o r pro-, posed and recommended lo your consideration,
v.dmg u remedy for these evils in any other 1 is novel in Ms inception, or impracticable in Ms
way, Ilian that new recommended fur your resells. With you iilonn rest the success of
approval.
The plan of enumeration established by the
present system, mcroases tho Geuer.il Assem
bly at ihe next session, to 250 members, inclu
ding SO .Senators. The situation, soil uiid cli
mate of the Chorokro country, will no Hmdrl
revile a vast population. It is reasonable to
anticipate that this country will compose from
15 lo 17 counties, which will, in nil prubnbili-
ty.increase Ihe number of member* in the log's-
Inturo, in n short time, to upwards of 300.—
Wnut benificiul, or corresponding good, can
arise from bo numerous a body of legislators ?
W ill their measures ho characterized by pru
denco or wisdom 1 Nay, hns not peat expo
rieiico rather (how you, tlmt Ihe good which
they, for tho lari few years, have accomplish
ed, is, by no means commensurate with the
per-diem allowance which they hove taken
from yurt treusury? It has been justly said-
that in numerous assemblies, of whatever
character composed, passion never fails, to
wrest the sreptre from reason. Had every
Athenian cilizun been a Socrates, overy Athen
ian assembly would still have been a mob.—
A numerous assembly of legislators, never ye:
benefited themselves, or oilier*, by fheir de
liberations- Tho laws enacted by them ore
usually inconsistent with each other, uncertain
in their provisions, and obscure in their lan
guage, dulying aliko the jurist anil the judge,
to present n rational translation of their mean
ing. Tho progressive increase of legislative
enactments, for the last few years, seem to
vise in geometrical progeation. This is too no
torious to require proof of the fuel; yet if such
proof should be required,tum to our digest,and
the fact is demonstrated beyond nil dispute, llot
those are minor evils, in comparison with
others, which a numerous legislature has en
tailed upon you. Tno burthensomo and prodi
gal drafts upon your treasury, are well calcula
ted to excite the must lively anxieties for Ihe
Arturo. Turn to your coffers, behold them
nearly exhausted I Ask your treasurer for an
exhibition ef the state of your exchequer. He
will tell, you that the appropriations lor the
current year are upwards of 8278,000, and
the pay roll of your legialature, a fraction
above 855,000, making $333,000. To pay
this turn, on the first of April last, there was
in the treasury 8204,0001! These fellow,
citizens, are stubborn facts, proved by the
document ennexed to this address: comm. nl
upon them is unnecessary.
It ia believed to be a fundamental principle
in representative republics that population,
and not territory, should form the basis of rep
resentation. The total disregard of this aalu-
tar) principle, in the present system, can be
only accounted for, by tbo fact, that 34 year*
ago, when the constiuiiun was formed, there
were but 26 counties, and the house < f repre
sentatives coexisted of only 62 meaUrs.—
tliu enterprise, und you lire lire first recipients
of its benefits.
J). II. .Mili ht.ll, Chairman,
l.ucins Q. C. Lamar,
Samuel Rockwell,
James.M. Chambers,
John II. Howard,
Fin ish Carter,
Joel Crawford.
Wins. Rutherford,
William IL Torrance,
Samuel lloijhin.
Members of the Central Committee,
The Southern Banner.
RDITKD BY At.BDN CtUAK AND ALFHF.D W. NISBKT.
Tuesday, May 22, 1832.
Divine Art." He
great acquistiiin to iho society of amateurs late
ly formed in this place,ifIhey can procure tiis services.
7*o Corrtspondents.—Oue friends will hereafter have
the goodness to lesve their communications at this of-
fico, nnd not deposit them as heretofore in tho box al
lire Book-store of G. W. Shaw.
The Cherokee Country.—Wccull the the attention of
our readers loan aiticle in our papei of to-day, signed
" A Surveyor.” It ia mitten by a gentleman m whoso
statement* w* place the moat implicit confidence, and
whose opportunities for obtaining correct information
on the subject of his communication liaa been very
great; having been employed fur some time as a survey
or in the Cherokee country. There are two facta sta
led by “A Surveyor,"and which we have no doubt can
be well substantiated, that should command the imme
diate attention uf Ihe authorities of lhe General Go
vernment, end be duly considered by it in forming a
treaty with the Indiana. It is more than probable tint
a treaty with them will be cllected shortly, and that
large reacrvalions will he claimed, and secured to those
wishing to remain, and to come under the juriidiclion
of our state authunliea. We tie inlbimed by *' A Sur
veyor," that a large portion of tire moat wealthy and
influential class of Indians, those who have been to
strenuously opposed to the rights of Georgia, and the
acquisition of the Cherokee country, ere men that
have heretofore obtained reaervationa and sold them
out, who in stead of emigrating Weatofthe Mietissippi
have settled in tho Nation; and will donbtlcva lay in
their claim fur timber favours uf this kind) and if nut
coaely watched, will share largely, to the injury of
those who are justly entitled, in the monies arising
Irom a treaty with the General Government. Others
it seems are engagi d in purchasing up the improve
ments oflhe common Indians at a trifling consideration
for the purpose or speculating on the Ueneral Govern
ment- Those who sell in this way,'ate permitted to
remain in tbe Nation, and tire speculator to hold their
improvements, ready to take advantage of the Govern
ment, when tbe time shall have arrived when they will
be able lo exact their own prices. These tliiaga should
be enquired into—ibey are at once diiectly opposed lo
the right* of tire Indians, the State, and the General
Government. Gentlemen haring iu nosserrien fur
Our Market Roads.—We have given the views ol “ A
Wagonner” a place in oor paper of this week, more
from a disposition to elicit information on the subject
of las communication, than for Ihe purpose of giving
currency to speculations, with regard to the correctness
of which, we are by no means convinced.
The subject of our market roads, is one of vast inter
est to Iho people j they have beeo but a short time
since awakened to > just sense of its importance j and
we would not for any consideration, tnrmv Ihe slightest
obstacle in Ihe way of the experiments now making on
the roads,believing rs wc *Jo,(the opinion of our respect
ed correspondent lothc contrary iiutwiihstanding)that
they must result gnatly to the convenience and inter
est of tho Stale. Our correspondent seems rlccided.y
ol Ihe opinion, that Ihe Stale is nol only squandciing
tho public funds, but uctuiilly inuking the roods worse
than they were bdore. Now this is a serious charge,
coining from tire quarter it does, and is worthy of the
serious notice of l!ic friends of our present " internal
improvement system.” We do nol feel ourselves compc
tent to entor into a full vindication of tho system, hav
ing heretofore paid bul little attention to tho subject,
and never having personally witnessed the effects of lhe
experiment in thn section, furnishing ground work for
the acvero animadversion* of “A Wagonner.” We
would, however, be pleased to give the subject a fair
hearing, pro and con, iu lire columns of our paper; and
should like lo hear from those who feel them
selves able and willing to encounter its difficulties.—
On reading the communication of “ A Wagonner, we
could not but think his condemnation of Ihe system,
proinuluro— taking into const Juration the unusual
severity of the Isle winter—tho quantity of rain that
fell—lire backwardness of lire Spring, and that the
work on the road about which he complains so bitterly
was executed during Ibis inclement season; it would
bc strange indeed, if the situation of the roads should
have been otherwise than he desetibe* them to he. We
had likewise observed, the great benefit ileiivedin other
sections of the Stale, from operation* on public roads
of precisely the same kind; and came to the conclusion
ilmt our correspondent must have prematurely Judged
Iho matter, or that the cloy ol llirlunond, Columbia,
\\ ilkos, und Oglethorpe, differ very materially iu
properties, from ihul of Morgan, Baldwin, Greene,
and Hancock*
-<3S>-
Conventton.—Wo Iny before our readers to-day, the
able mol eloquent address of the Central Coiniuitle
Ihe people of the Slate, If tho good pt nplcof Georgia
would lay asiilo all sclli.di, sectional and party feeling,
anti calnly and deliberately peruse this address, nod
weigh well thn momentous truths it presents lo them,
they would rian up to a man and say to their next
presrmtntives in the l.egislalure—reform yourselves, or
toe will reform you ! J,el the people but apeak plainly
and decidedly to their servants, and they will always
command obedience. Tho "Federal Union" says, the
address was prepared by Col. Rockwell, of Milleilge-
villo; it does him great credit, and we hope tho party
to which ho belongs, will,on this account at least, give
it a candid and impartial hearing. By the by, we err
happy to find that tho causn of reduction is rapidly
gaining friends among tire leading man oflhe Clark
parly. Many uf those who have heretofore opposed,
or evinced a great indiffcrenco to the subject, are bt
ginning tu bestir themselves. We like the symptoms
manifested by an article in a late “ Federal Union"—
" The Columbus Democrat" is wide awake—Ho of the
"Macon Teltgraph"is not slumbering at Ills poll, and
the Aug.Chroniete will,no doubt,after its delerium of nnl-
lification has passed off, wake up reformed and a reformer.
—<Cg>—
The Cholera.—The Farisian* have become aojealoua
of their rights, that they are restive even under the dis
pomatums of Providence. On tho first breaking out of
the Cholera in that city, strong symptoms of revolt
were manifested, and as tho disease gained ground
open rebellion and insurrectionary movements became
the order of l ne day. Our latest accounts from France,
left the belligerents waging a meat sanguinary and ex.
terminating warfare—great doubt waa entertained with
regard Jo ihe reault—w hether the mob or the cholera
would be left in pasaoasion of the field.
roa tuf. soutiif.ru banner.
.Messrs. Editors,—Having recently relum
ed from the Cherokee nation, I feel it my duty
to give such intelligence as may he of interest
to the public.
I learned from a native, that when the Dele
gation returns from Washington city, it is con
templated dial Ihe principul part of the Indi
ans, would hold a meeting to agitato the pro
priety of yielding to the wishes of the Gener
al Government; und he gives it also as his
opinion, that there will be a treaty effected
during lhe present summer. I ascertained
while in the nation, that many of tho persons
who linvo opposed tho views and interests of
Georgia, have heretofore obtained valuable re
servations in Hull and Habersham, and sold
them, and are now comfortably settled on the
mosl desirable spots in Ihe nation. 1 heard of
one individual who has been favoured tvilli two
reservations, ono in South Carolina, and one
in Georgia, and was moreover permitted Io
give in and draw u valuable prize in one of
Georgia’^ Land Lotteries. This man is now
living on a beautiful farm in the Cherokee
country, willing (no doubt) to take another re
servation, or receive a comfort" tile portion of
the money that may be finally paid by thn Go
vernment lor the Indian country. One thing,
perhaps unknown *o many, I would mention,
f have been informed und my information pro
ceeds from a sourcu that may be confidently
relied on, that some individuals claiming the
right to emigrate, has been engaged in pur
rimsing tho Indian’s improvements at n redu
ced price,paid tno, in meiehnmbze at u highper
cent, und having them valued as their own
improvements, the Indian- still suffered as be
fore, to remain ort Georgia land.
These things ought not sq to be. The Go
vernment ought to ascertain at whosq door
this sin lieth. And here, Me*sr*. Editors,
suffer me to iisk. how would this sit upon the
ear of our Northern enemies, who are trying
against Georgia, “ oppression and cruelty I”
There opppeurs to be no disposition on the
pnrt of the Indians to interrupt the survey of
the country, which is now rapidly progressing,
some of the surveyors aro nearly half done,
others have but just commenced. The dtf-
lercnt periods at which they entered upon tho
discharge of their duties, will poslpene the
completion of the survey until sntno time in
August 1 . A SURVEYOR.
to be strict and to accustom youth to restraint
while they are yet loo young to judge what
is right and wrong. A boy accustomed by
early indulgence to have his way, at .the age
of twelve or fourteen years knows more than
his father and mother, the President and all
the officer* of College, if ho happens to bo.
there, and will talk about the rights of Ihe atu.
dents, a* consequentially as any political dem
agogue, about the rights of the people. Sir,
you know, and overy man in this community
knows, that the young men at our Collego
hnve as much freedom ns is consistent with
the nature of their condition, and some think
rather more- Nothing is required of them in
consistent uilh their interest, happiness or
self-respect. And if thoso tender hearted pa*
rents, who are miserable because Billy hni
been punished at school, will take the trouble
to examine the records of our University, they
will then see who have been suspended, de
graded, nnd expelled from i‘s wulls for their
dissipation or their insubordination for tbo
last twenty tears ; and they will find that, in
tune cases out of ten, this disgraco may bo tra
ced to some mismanagement in childhood.—
But tour correspondent complains that tho
civil authority has been permitted to take cog.
tiizauce of misdemeanors committed by tho
students! Pray, Sir, who should nol? Aro
tho walls of our College to bo allowed to.pro-
tect felons? Your correspondent will hardly
go so lar, I should think, as to say, if a stu
dent commits murder, he is not to l>e amena
ble to the laws of his country. Why should
lie not be if ho commit arson, burglary, theft,
or any other outrage upon society ? He sure
ly would be hold accountable to the evil au
thority were lie at school, at n counlingltou.se,
or nn apprentice to any craftsman. Why then
should lie be withhold irom justice by the gov
ernment of College ? Is it because the force
of example and ihe influence of aympalby
would bo less injurious in n community of
youths of his own age and of similar pursuits,
than in n mixed community? I think not.
Then let us not complain of punishment at
College, till we have done our duty at homo,
l.ct us early accustom our children to wholeA
some restraints nnd implicit obedience—let utt
edeavor to fortify their minds by moral and re
ligious principles—and, abovo all, let us not
interfere with their discipline at school; tin-
less we have cause lo think them abused; and
then let them not know that wo think so, till
we have ascertained the fact.
Punishment Slander.-" It is staled triumphantly in
a Southern piper, that a jury lately gave a verdict of
£500 damages against a man who had slandered a fe
male. We ere informed that a similar case has been
dorided in Ihe county of Norfolk. The verdict return*
ed was £866. The slenderer used but a single delema-
lory cpit het, and it cost him at least a thousand dollars,
The plaintiff waa a young lady of irreproachable char-
acter, and although the wards used by tho defendant,
were spoken in e moment of anger, the Jury consider
ed the offence too heinouato bo paaaed over lightly.”
The above is from tho 11 Boston Transcript,” of the
5th insl., and inasmuch as the editor seems disposed
“ triumphantly” to piece tbe estimate of female char
acter in old Massachusetts above the Southern stan
dard, we would, for Ins particular gratification inform
him, that even here among us dnciviiixxo Georgians—
In this benighted land, affording such a fruitful field for
Ilia Missionary labours of our considerate, philanthropic,
and peHsktii neighbor* at Ihe North—Female character,
if worth any thing at all, would bc considered “ dog
cheap” at £866. A similar case to thoae related above,
was decided at tbo late Superior court of Putnam
county, in this State, in which the plaintiff a young la
dy uf humble but respectable character, received a ver
dict of £2000damages. Tho slander was a few words
spoken by the defendant against the purity «f the char
acter ofllre plsiutiC
FOR THE SOOTHERS BANNER.
Messrs. Editors.—The subjoined remarks
headed " Education,” have so much of good
sense in them, that I am tempted lo send them
to you for re-publication in lhe Banner. They
appeared in the Boston Evening Gazette, of
April 21sl, in reply to a writer who seemed
not entirely satisfied with the proceedings of
the Faculty of Harvard College, ro*ativo to
the conduct of some disorderly students. I
was struck with '.be justness df some of the
sentiments contained in these remarks, arid as
they have a hearing upon circumstances w hich
have hid existence among ourselves, they
may not be Ihimghl unseasonable .it the pre
sent time. Il( upon reading them, you should
be of the snnte opinion, you w.II please give
ilie reply to *' A Looker On” it place in your
paper, nnd thereby gr lily
Jt Friend to Jhsc plinc.
EDUCATION.
Sir,—l was somewhat surprized nt the re
marks m your lu*i paper of •• v Looker On ;”
and more especially that they* Jluiuld have
been tnudt: over that s gnature * Jffnur corres
pondent scents wi wonder, '• that while our
schools are i.iciuiltng the old mode o: punish
ment, os toe severe, our Co/leisv, at the very
same lime, is introducing new ones yet severer."
AYy, sir he lias explained bis own e uginu;
lie has given the very reason why our College
hns lo resort lo severer punishment than usu
al, viz. ; that our scbuols are relaxing their
discipline. Your correspondent cannot lung
hnvo been " a looker on,” or be must bo o've
ry superficial one, not to have discovered that
in proportion to the laxity of government, in
lhe indulgence of a child, in the early part of
its eduoalion, will be tho necessity of severity
ufterwards. Yes, sir, it is a fatal error, into
which some of our good citizens have fallen,
to suppose that our school discipline in gener
al is too severe,and that tho power of inflicting
corporal punishment should not bo entrusted
to the teachers of schools. Nut that frequent
recourse to such punishment is recommen
ded ; on tho contrary; this should be '* a
strange work,” a lust resort.when other moans
fail. Yet this power should hang in terror
over the disobedient, with the knowledge that
it may fall upon them. And Ihe idea that re
course should never be had to it proceeds
from a misplaced tenderness and is fraught
with mischief; and l much mistake if this
truth will not recur with anguish and bitter
ness of soul to ninny a Ibnd parent, who is
now irom mistaken humanity, or a want of
firmness, withholding from his child such sal
utary punishment as rnay secure prompt and
unqualified obedience: be that more or less
severe.
It will not be cause of surprise, should this
sickly sentiment alluded to prevail generally,
if our Cllcges are unable to govern boys at all.
I wus forcibly struck with lhe “ march of
mind” in the rising generation, while viewing
on our common the encumpment of a military
compay from a neighboring town last summer,
An individual who hod (orced himself within
the lines, was stopped by a sentinel and made
to return ;—when a hoy, apparently about nitre
year* old, exclaimed, “ a damned pretty speci
men of arbitrary potter, by a—d > a Ti.u,
Sir, is the spirit, which the fas bon of Iho day,
and ihe ill judged discussions about school
discipline are fostering. Sir, the danger is on
tfie other side. In proportion as our luws
ind hgHttmion* are free, and le.tve men to
their owq discretion, ought our early discipline
For. THE SOUTUERN BANNER.
MARKET ROADS.
Messrs. Editors,-! congratulated the courts
try, utter the legislative session of 1829, upon
seeing how (huch hud been done for Ihe im
provement of our market roads. I thought that
the legislators had done themselves credit,
and their constituents justice, in that particu
lar. It is now mortifying to me, to sec all my
sanguine hopes blasted. And (o far from
seeing a signal benefit done the country, a»
was anticipated, our inconvenience, for want
of good rends, is magnifi-ft poet pasu with tho
progress of the public hands. I fear our sti-
perintniidsiMs and overseers tire labouring un-
der a delusion ns regards our soil, und the til-
iiiiiimo effects of their labor. When they first
commenced their operations, by rounding up
the road* m the centre, nod ditelling on each
side, n was very manifest lliul lhe now roads
were not so good us (he old ones, nor could
wo travel with nenr tit" expedition oh Ihero.
It was the opinion of ncarlv every person (my
self not excepted) that as soon ns tho rouds
become firm by use, we should find Ihom
vusily improved ; we. have waited now about
two years, without a murmur, und looked with
nnxtetv lor the benefits of Ihe experiment.—
Hus it produced the desired effect? Surely it
hns not; nnd 1 appeal to every mnn, who tra
velled over llie.ti the last winter, lo sanction
the assertion. I believe I may safely say,
that Ihe roads in 1829, were better than in ’32.
It is known to every man of observation,
that the nativo soil, makes a much better road
Ihnn the nether clay; and according to tho
present mode of operation, tho soil is covorcd
over, and deeply hidden with the cloy, which
is left for tho surface of the road; then as soon
as a few loaded wagons pass over it, deep ruts
are formed in this clay, which soon become
filled wiih water from lhe frequent showers,
which has no chance to cscupe, (unless it be
on un inclined plane) but by evaporation ; for
I contend when the clay once becomes com
pletely saturated with water, it will then ab
sorb less, than a wooden vessel ; whereas if
the soil which is course and porous, was loft
on the surface, the water would soon be con
sumed by absorption. Another great inconve*-
nience is felt by the present plan of operation ;
the roods are only thirty feel wide from the
two extremities of tho ditches, then allow some
five or six (eet for each ditch, and the ovul
shape of the road contiguous to them, that the
wagoner cannot travel on; he is then left no
alternative, but to plum the centre, for if he
digresses much, ho is in the ditch on one side
or tho other. It is so much the case, that
cottou wagous cannot pass each other in many
places. I would nol, however, be understood
to condemn the system entirely, but recom
mend it whorever the inclination is aulficient
to pass off the water; und if the ditchea are
deep, the road ought to bo more than thirty
feet wide from tho extremities of tho ditches ;
the whole system would do very well, if we
were to curry it a little further and gravel it,
as is done at the North, from whence we get
tbo idea of ditching and ruunding; but ono
will not do without the other. It may be
asked upon what plan I would have thorn
worked? The reply ia at hand. I would
have ihom straightened, the atumpa dug out,
the rough places made amooth, and leave it
full thirty feet wide, with the native soil for a
surface, (except upon inclined planes, which
should be done as abuve suggested); then if
one track becomes too much used, and tho
ruts too deep, you may change it {bt auother,