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GEORGIA LEGISLATURE
:.v REPORT
Of the Select'Committee of: the House of
J Jiepreseitialivfs appointed to examine
into the affairs oj the Central Bank.
The Select Committee nppointed under
n .resolution of the House of Representatives
during the present session, to examine into
tho. a (fairs of the Central Bank,- beg leave to
offer the following report :
Your Committee, impressed with the im
portance of the delicate and responsible trust
with which they were charged, entered im
mediately on the duties assigned them, and
havfe spared neither pains nor labor to ar
rive at correct results, and to furnish to the
Legislature, and through them to the people,
ns-correet and detailed ait account of the af
fairs and condition of the Bank, as the limit
ed time allowed them would permit. As it
was a matter of primary importance to as
certain the true condition of the Bank and
its capability, (unaided by other means; to
meet its liabilities, and redeem its circula
tion, the attention of the Committee was first
directed to an examination of the value of
its assets, and the extent of its liabilities as
set forth in the recent report of the Bank,
and beg leave to refer to the following table,
.as the result of their investigation of this
branch of the subject.
- ASSETS OF TilE CENTRAL BANK.
m Val. assumed. Val. Real.
Bank Stock, * 587,300
Hank Darien Stock, slira. 3.230
HK “Augusta Slock, “ 800 62.300
14k State CJeo. Stock, “ 1,733 121,310
Bonds, &c. reed, from State, 100.258 52
Brunswick R. R. & C. Stock, 50,000
Notes discounted, 1,520,328 58 1,050,000
'Bills discounted, 283,251 57 141,625
Western & Atlantic R. R. -112.040 13
Stale Bonds,
ferent result. In connection withthisbranch
of the subject, your iJommittee deem it prop
er to exhibit a statement of the Notes and
Bills of the Bank, distinguishing those run
ning to maturity; those due and in Bunk;
and the amount in the hands of Attorneys.
@469,435 55
34.619 52
15,574
Notes in Bank running to maturity,
Bills payable at Savannah,
do do “ Central Bank,
Total amount running to maturity,
Notes'in Bk. over due, 363,218 28
Bills payable at Savannah.
over due, 53,587 02
Iljlls under.protest, 116,768 66
Notes due and designated
by Bank as doubtful,
Notes due and designated
by Bank as insolvent,
Executions refurned no
@315,629 11
property,
Notes and Bills in At
torneys hands,
10,357
737 35
4,891 83
728,130 16—1,277,702 60
Sinking Fund,
Salaries,
Premium paid.
Incidental Expenses,
Commission account,
Protest account,
Profit and loss,
Interest paid,
In tlie hand* of Agents,
Due by Banks,
This amount is due as follhws :
By Bank State S. C. 24 06
By Bank State of Gen. Ill 27
By Bk ofColumhus. 1,314
By Bk Hawkinsville. 155 75
By Bank Danen, 14.917 50
By Branch Macon, 4,§17 67
By do Ml’dg’vlle, 4,351 75
Darien.Bank notes,
Monroe Rail-Road,
184,771 01
74,606 06
7,332 50
11,949, 01
5,802 44
4,508 35
201
449 49
4,016 47
16,033 51 16,033 51
25,792 90
201
24 96
111 27
47.672,
21,224
3,500
Other Bk notes, checks, pro
tested drafts, &e. 104,813 69
This amount consists of the following items :
Draft, A. B. Davis, cash-
ier.on Merchants’ Bank,
New York, dated 10th
May, 1842, and payable
on 20th Oct, 1812, en
dorsed D. McDougald,
President Jb J. C. Wat
son, President. 25.000
Draft, D. McDougald.
Prest. 20th Oct., it* 12,
endorsed D. McDou
gald. J. C. Watson,
President, A. B. Davis,
Cashier, 25,000
Draft, Scott Cray, agent,
on Fulton Bank, N. Y.
dated VOtt Jan. 1842, at
3 months, endorsed J.
Covrles, 10.000
Draft. J. Cowles.on Ful
ton Bank, N. Y. dated
Jan. It), 1812. at 3 mos.,
endorsed Scott Cray,
agent, 5,000
Central R. R. bonds, 7,000
Draft, Octnulcec -Bank,
on American E {change
Bk... N. Y. dated May
27, 1842, at 3 mos., 2.000
T. Fort, Prest. check in
favor of W. II. John
ston, Prest. pro. tern.,
(paid.) 5,027
Certificate of Deposite,
A. Fleming, Teller, in
favor Central Bank, 266 23
Executive warrant on
Treasurer, 450
Note made by P. T-hweatt,
J. II. Steele, and J. 11.
R. Washington, (since
settled.) .2.000
Checks Principal Keep
er of Penitentiary, 6,891 72
Notes Western Bank at
Rome. 4,500
Notes Ocmidgee Bk., 5.165
Notes Central Bank in
Teller’s hands, 4,500
Notes of Planters & Me
chanics Bank of Colum
bus, 2S0
Notes of Chattahoochee
R. II. and Banking Co., 95
Notes old Batik ol' Ma
con, sealed up, 394
Notes Mechanics Bank
of Augusta, 600
Notes of South-Western
R. R. Bk.. Charleston, 270
Notes Svannah Bks. 200
Specie Change, 273 86
68
600
270
200
273 86
@104,813 69
Specie certificate 11k. Darien, 6,000
@3.561,351 23 @1,408,449 60
LIABILITIES OF T11E CENTRAL BANK.
State 8 per cent. Bonds, ™ nt? non
Credit ol Individuals,
New Yflrk 4 & 6 months' Loan,
Certificates of deposite issued,
Due to Banks,
Notes in circulation,
162.000
39,643 80
20,500
2 500
2.728 50
1,453.853
Si,793,331 91
This table may be slightly changed since
the report of the Bank, by the renewal and
payment of some of the Notes and Bills, but
in tlfcg main, will be found accurate.
The notes miming to maturity, it is be
lieved, are generally good, at least, so fur as
the Committee have been enabled to ascer
tain from the best sources of information at
command. Yet they cannot but believe
that many losses even under the most care
ful management must ensue, when they re
flect upon the large number of debtors scat
tered over a great extent of territory, liable
to all the changes’to which the affairs of
men are incident, and the utter impossibility
of the managers of the Bank, (removed as
they are from the debtor,) to observe these
changes.
The Committee also, believe* that the
Bank will be exposed to more or less loss
from forgeries, for it would be worse than
idle to suppose, that the directors can be ac
quainted with the hand writing of the vari
ous makers and endorsers of the Notes pre
sented for their action.
An entire list of the debtors to the Bank,
whose notes are not in the hands of attor
neys, arranged according to counties, has
been prepared by the Bank, and of course,
is at the disposal of the House. This docu
ment being too voluminous to be incorpora
ted in this report, the Committee have pre
pared an abstract of the same, which is found
in the schedule hereunto annexed, and
marked (A.)
The Committee deem it deoirnble, to have
given the entire amount due by each coun
ty ; but were unable to do so from the fact,
that they had no means of ascertaining to
what counties the respective amounts in the
hands of the several attorneys belonged.—
The Committee, however, have caused
schedule to be prepared, setting forth the
amount in the hands of each attorney, which
is hereunto annexed, marked (B )
The Committee have thus collated all the
facts within their reach, hut would feel they
had only hall performed their duty, did they
not give the result of their judgement and
opinions formed from the investigation of
the affairs of the Bank.
It is unnecessary to look back upon the
past, or discuss the propriety or impropriety
of any State establishing such an institution
as the Central Bank. Nor is it at all mate
rial to enquire whether its affairs have been
well or ill managed ; the defects in the man
agement of such an institution nre incidental
to its very nature, and it is only necessary
to look at results to test the truth of tins opin
ion. The Bank if now left to its own re
sources, would be utterly insolvent—it can
not pay its liabilities out of its assets. And
yet, your Committee would caution the Bill
holders not to sacrifice the Bills of the
Bank, because they are in truth, the liabil
ities of the State of Georgia, and she must,
and will provide for the payment of every
dollar.
The situation of the Bank, however, ab
solutely requires, that t f s expenses should
he reduced; its assets collected with reason
able promptitude; that no further drain
should be made from its vaults for any pur
pose whatsoever; aud tints confined in its
operations to the single object of withdraw
ing its Bills from circulation, and thereby
appreciating their- value.
To effect this desirable object, it is neces
sary that the State should be supported by
such taxation as may he necessary to meet
its exigencies and liabilities—and the hold
ers of the Bills of the Bank be invited to ex
change them for bonds of the State, payable
at a specified time, nnd bearing a proper rate
of interest. ’ It will be perceived, that whilst
the Committee would separate the Bank nnd
the State in the performance of their respec
live functions, and would force the former
to collect its assets and redeem its liabilities
yet they cannot for a single moment, enter
tain the odious idea of repudiation. Geor
gia is responsible for every liability of the
Central Batik, and when the Committee pro
claim to the world, that she will cheerfully
redeem these liabilities, they feel that they
but echo the opinion of every Georgian of
every party. All of which, together, with
the accompanying Bill, the passing of which
is strongly recommended by the Committee
is respectfully submitted.
JAS. THOMAS, Chairman.
brought up, and every report, and the ac
company documents, were embraced in the
debate. After consuming some hours, it
was finally determiued.by the House to print
500 copies of all the Reports and the names
of the makers and endorsers upon the notes
due the Bank, now in its vaults, or in'the
hands of attorneys fir collectioji. This
was effected by yetis 104, nays 71 J- Wbeth
er evil or good is to result to the people of
Georgia, from this course, must yet he de
termined, bylhe unerring arbiter, Time.
Mr. Cohen presented the petition of P$er I
Trezevant, praying the payment of certain |
claims against the State, which was referred
to the committee on finance.
Mr. Lawton presented the petition of sun
dry citizens of Scriven county, upon the
subject of relief, which was referred to a
committee of one, from each judicial circuit,
without being read.
The special order for to-day was the “bill
to arrange and settle the affairs of the Cen-
4ral Bank.’’ Mr* Thomas moved to postpone
it till to-morrow,, which was lost—but the
House has not yet taken it up. Adjourned
to 3 P. M.
3 P. M. The. House met pursuant to ad
journment.
The “bill to establish a supreme court for
the correction of errors, nnd to regulate the
same in pursuance of the constitution of this
state,” was on its third reading, and its pas
sage ably, (and to my mind incontrovertibly,)
advocated by Messrs. Thomas, Tootnbs and
Crawford. It is passing strange that men
do differ so widely upon a matter so plain
and undisguised. Whilst one man thinks
himself perjured to vote contrary to the re
quisitions of the constitution which he has
sworn to support, another can lay his hand
to his heart and feel that he has equally dis
charged his duty to his God, his country attd
its constitution, by voting against it. But
this is of course a matter of taste with men.
The bill was laid upon the table the bal
ance of the session by 100 yeas, to 79 nays.
Dr. Shaw from the committee to whom
was referred the various matters connected
with the Lunatic Asylum, made a very able
report which is ordered to be printed.
Evening Session, 7 o’clock, P. M.
The following bills were passed.
A bill to authorize the Justices of the In
ferior Courts of the several counties, who
have failed to revise the jury lists, and to
seiect grand and petit jurors at the time now
fijtod by law, In ivrica t t;-i. select
the same immediately after the passage of
this act.
A hill to alter the 3d section of the'4th
article of the constitution of this state, so far
as to authorize the people to elect the general
militia officers of this state.
A bill to secure to persons holding scrip,
issued by the commissioners of the Western
and Atlantic Rail Road, and by the late
Disbursing Agent—interest on any amount
under two- hundred and fifty dollars—Pro
vides that the amount of certificates issued
by the Treasury shall not exceed the amount
of state scrip in circulation, when the State’s
Disbursing Agent, shall have made his last
Report. The act embraces all sums from
five dollars to two hundred and fifty dollars.
In Senate, December 13. Mr. Reynolds’
bill to amend the law relative to usurious
contracts was passed. The object of the
bill is to compel plaintiffs to disclose the
fact of usury on trials at common law with
out the delay and expense of a bill in equity.
Mr. Kelly's relief bill to regulate sheriff’s,
coroner’s and constable’s sales, and prevent
the ruinous sacrifices of property made at
such sales for prices grossly inadequate, is
still undecided—an attempt to lay it on the
table fur the balance of the session having
fuiied.
Amount of real value of assets,
Total amount of deficit of assets,
$1,681,425 30
1,403,410 60
@272,775 70
By tiffs tabular statement, it will be per
ceived, that there is a deficit of assets, a-
motinling to two hundred and seventy-two
thousand seven hundred and seventy-five
dollars seventy cents, and if to this stun be
added the surn of one million fifty-one thou
sand four hundred nnd twenty-two dollars
, nnd nine cents, received from the United
States ns Georgia’s proportion of the surplus
revenue, the deficit is increased to the enor
mous amount of one million three hundred
and twenty-fonr-thousnnd one hundred and
ninety-seven dollars seventy-nine cents.
.The Committee have been actuated by no
other motives than a desire to ascertain facts;
they have been influenced by no party con
siderations, but with great unanimity of feel
ing, have pressed onward in the perform
"ance of their duties. Truth was their ob
ject, tmd by its sacred light have they been
guided.
The valuation which they fixed upon the
. various itemsj composing the assets of the
Bank, has been the result of the best investi
gation which they have been enabled to give
the subject, nor do they believe that nay in-
vettignffou would produced materially dif-
Millf.dcevillf, Dec. 14, 1842.
House of Representatives, Dec. 14. Mr.
Cohen presented a protest this morning,
signed by himself and thirty other members
of House of Representatives, protesting n-
gainst the laying on the table for the bal
ance of the session a bill providing for the
payment of the subscription made by the
Governor to the Monroe Hail Road-Compa
ny, in obedience to the net of the legislature
of 1830. The protestants without impugn
ing the motives of any man, are firmly im
pressed, that the refusal on the part of the
Legislature to provide the means for the
payment of a debt, contracted under all the
forms of law, is nothing more nor loss than
repudiation, and a violation of the plighted
faith of the state.
The Bill of Senate to alter and amend the
act incorporating the bank of Brunswick,
and to authorize the removal of said Bank,
was passed—as also,
The bill of the Senate to repeal the tenth
section of the act authorizing the construc
tion of a Rail Rond communication from the
Tennessee line, to the point on the south
eastern bank of the Chattahoochee' River,
most eligible for running branches, &c. was
also passed. This bill contains the follow
ing proviso. “ Provided ndtbing herein
contained shall be so construed ns to pre
vent the state complying on her part with
any contract which site may have already
entered into with any Rail Road Company,
which has in good faith complied on its part
with its contract.” Quere? Is not the
Monroe Rail Road embraced m this provis
ion ? If so, the small item of $24,224,00
which the Central Bank has in its posses
sion of the Monroe Rail Road hills, may go
in part payment of the stock subscribed for
by the Governor, where there is a possibility
The bill of Senate, introduced by Mr.
Kelly, known as the Central Bank bill, was
to-day, by suspending the rule, read the first
time iit the House of Representatives.
•; U provides for the repeal of the 4th sec
tion of the net, assented to 29th December,
1838; the 5th section of the act, repealing
fhe act of 1828, passed 23d December, 1839,
aud to provide for the circulation of said
bank and other purposes, assented to -23d
December, 1840 ; also, the resolution passed
9th December, 1840, requiring the Directors
[to pay, in current funds, the scrip or evi-
| dence of debt issued by the Commissioners
of the Western and Atlantic Rail Road,«fcc.;
and also, the act directing said, bank to pay
the interest upon (lie public debt, passed
13ttt December: 1841; also, the- 1st section
ol tie act to alter and amend tin net to es
tablish a Bunk at Milledgeville, &c\, &c.,
passed 22d December, 1828. assented to De
cember 21st, 1839.
2d s<>c. provides, that no appropriation or
any balance of appropriation shall be paid
by said bank—but that said appropriations,
the publ*; debt and interest accruing there
on, shall be paid at the Treasury, but does
not exempt the bank from the payment of
bonds and interest, which have or may be
issued, and applied to the redemption of the
bills of said bank.'
3d sec. prohibits ilte President and Direc
tors from discounting any new paper, pur
chasing any bond, note, bill of exchange, or
issuing or paying out any new.bills,’ or re
issuing Or paying nut any of iho old i pro
vides that no endorser shall be prohibited
from renewing any note according to the
provisions of the charter, and that they may
issue one aud two dollar bills for larger ones.
4th sec. provides that the funds attd rev
enues of the State, after paying the current
expenses of the Government and the interest
of the public debt, siial! be applied to tile re
demption cf the bills of said bank.
5th sec. provides that no further advances
shall he made for or to the Penitentiary or
its officers, or any purchaser at the Peniten
tiary stiles.
6th sec. provides for the burning of the
bills quarterly, in the presence of the Gov
ernor, that they may redeem, and take the
amount thus burned, aud rejoit the samq
annually. ' -
Thus 1 have hastily given you a sketch
of the bill which, 1 believe, will pass the
House of Representatives pretty much as it
tins puootjd iho SontilD
In Senate, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1842.—
The Senate reconsidered Mr. Reynold’s Bill
relating to Usury, with a promise on the
part of its opponents, that they would sup
port it with some slight modification.
To-day being, by special order, the time
set apart fpr the consideration of the Reports
from the Committee on the state uf the Re
public. relating to the Hon. John M. Berrien :
Mr. Dur.agan in the Chair. The Report
of the majority was taken up and read, the
minority Report was offered as a substitute,
but was decided by the Chair to be out of
order, until the friends of the majority report
had perfected it. A motion was then made
to lay the whole matter upon the table for
the balance of the session, which was lost.
The friends of the Report having amend
ed it. Mr. Powers of Effingham, asked
whether it was then in order to offer a sub
stitute for both reports ; being answered by
the Chair in the affirmative, Mr. Potyers,
marched up to the Secretary’s Desk, with
(what, one of fits friends at least supposed,
from the interest he apparently took in the
matter, to be such a substitute as would meet
bis warmest approbation.) the Governor’s
late annual message delivered to both blan
ches of the Geuerul Assembly in pamphlet
form. Upon this arose a question of order
about reading the substitute; out of which
arose a warm and animated discussion of a
Wilcox, Williams of Marion, Williams of
Upson r Wofford, end Wyatt. ,* .
NAYS.—Messrs. Adams of ElbCrt, Ad
ams of Montgomery, Adams of Thomas, Al
exander of Muscogee, Alexander of Talia
ferro, Anderson of Chatham, Anderson of
Wilkes, Armstrong of Greene, Armstrong
of Walker, Barrel, Blount of Sumter, Blount
of Warren, Bolhwell, Brewton, Bryan of
Harris, Bullard, Burt, Cameron, Campbell,
drivers, Clark of Henry, Clark of Newton,
Clayton, Colley, Cohen, Compton, Cowles,
Crawford, Davison, Delegal, Dubiguon,
Echols of Oglethorpe, Fretwell, Godkin,
Hngerman, Hardy, Harper, Harrison, lint
of Wilkes, Hust, Lamar of Bibb. Lamar of
Richmond, Leary,*Lcsly. Lesoeur, Little,
Lloyd, Long, Lumpkin, Martin, MeGalia-
gan, McWhorter, Morris of Burke, O’Neal,
Phillips, T. Reeves, Reynolds, Selrrtnn,
Shaw of Liberty, Shaw of Putnam, Stapler,
Stone, Stroud, Thomas, Thorpe, Tftombs,
Vincent, Walker, Weeks, West,and Wilson.
We have several reports which, we shall
publish ns soon as we have space for them.
Among them fs the report of the committee
of Finance. The committee have ascer
tained that the present items of taxatioiij un
der existing laws, will yield au amount suf
ficient to meet the current expenses of the
government, nnd that provision must be
made for the other engagements of the state,
which they state to be as follows:
Interest on the debt Irvin, Reid & Co ,
including exchange $24,719 84
Interest on the debt to Hint- uf A name.
ta, including exchange' 15.000 12
Interest on 6 per cent. Loads 93,138 37
through the Secretary of Stale, inqiiffi^'’
to the operation of the Bankrupt Law ***
objected to on the ground that there U'ou^
not be time to repeal the law this session f
the information was waited for, and the J
olution was modified to obviate this 0 |,i S
lion, and adopted as follows: ^ c ’
Resolved, That the Secretary of St nle j
communicate, with all convenient tiespnt c i°
With the judicial officers of the United Sm/ 1 '
who have had the execution of the ban km**
law, atul ascertain from them the mttuber ^
applications under the act, both volmu a ,
aud involuntary; -the tttimber ol disc| lar J
ca , tlio ojiimmis »,f tlu» ' jurljjrr-s n* , (1
amendments ot modifications
@133,158 33
The committee propose to raise this
amount by an increase of taxation, as fol
lows :
Increa-c of tax on negroes from 31 j to
45 cents, would give
On money at interest, &c.
On town property
On money employed-in brokerage
On stock in trade
On land
On banks, over receipts of last year
On capital employed in manufactories
of wool or cotton
Incoma from grants, reverted lands
35.612 08
15 917 22
14,327 33
7,221 33
7.168 88
9,781 50
28,000 00
GOO 00
5,000 00
@193,764 -10
The committee include in their estimate
of expenditures the sum of $2(10,000 for
subscription by the state to the Monroe Rail
Road Company, which we do not, and they
include in their estimate of receipts the sum
of$100,000 due the military fund by the fed
eral government, which we-do not.
C O N G R ESS.
wide range, and desultory character ; in
which Messrs. Stephens, Foster, Ridley, and
Tanliersloy, on the part of the \\ lugs—and
Messrs. McDougald, Means, Murphy, Ar
nold, Spalding and Lawson on the Demo
cratic sid-?, participated.
The Senate adjourned at 5 P. M. without
disposing of any of the propositions.
The gallery during the evening session
was graced by the presence of the fair sex.
who ever inspire the legislator nnd states
man, as well as the war-worn veteran,
by their presence and their smiles.
Correspondence of. the Constitutionalist.
Milledgeville, D**c. 13th, 1S42.
In house of Representatives. The House
refused to reconsider the journal of* yester
day, relating to the rejection of the bill au
thorizing the Governor to haw bonds issued „
and to pay the stale’s subscription for stock, of its noi becoming a deadlosslo'iiie'slate.
owned by the state in the Monroe Rail lload
and Banking Company. Yeas 74, nays 96.
It appeared, after much argument for and
against the bill, that it was reserved for Mr.
Echols of Oglethorpe, to give it the death
blow, which was done by reading the fifth
section of the act to amend the charter in
corporatingthe Monroe Rail Road Company,
which requires that no subscription for any
share or shares shall be considered ns valid,
unless fifty dollars be paid in cash nl the
time of subscribing on the share or "shares
subscribed. Tins Mr. Echols contended
had not been done, and that therefore the
state was not bound to subscribe for the
amount required by the bill, or for any a-
mount. That lie was much opposed to re
pudiation ns any man, but that he did not
conceivS the rejection of this measure the
least tinctured with repudiation.
The President and Directors.of the Cen
tral-Bank sent in a report, differing materi
ally from the one lately made by the select
committee of investigation. After this re*
jwK-wmt read, the Question of printing was Wtajpln the; House of Repres^tjt^.
The bill was passed by a maioii‘v of 140
votes.
Evening Session, 3 P. M. •
BILLS PASSED.’.
A bill to provide for the pay, forage and
subsistence, &c. of the troops ordered out by
his Excellency the Governor; and by Gene
rals Knight nnd Hilliard, forjhe protection
of the Southern frontier, against th^ intru
sions of the Seminole Indians.
Several other bills were passed by the
House none of which I believe are of public
interest, except the bill repealing the pet of
9th Dec. 1841, relating to the returns of Ex’
ecntors, Administrators and Guardians.-—
The provisions of which bill, 1 do not now
recollect.
Mr. Gray’s Tax bill was read a second
time, ordered to he printed, and made the
special order for Monday next. ...
Neither House is in session to-njght.—
Both political parties have meetings io nom
inate a candidate to fill the vacancy 'occa
sioned. by thedenth ofthe Hon._R.\V.|Iab-
From the Constitutionalist of the 20th inst.
Ueorsia Legislature.
Several important bills have passed both
branches of the legislator**. The bill to di
vide the state into congressional districts, is
one of them ; .a»well as the bill concerning
the Central Bank. To understand the pro
visions of this bill, we must state,-that the
4th section of the act of 1S38, which is re
pealed, authorized the directors of the insti
tution to discount or purchase bills of ex
change, or other paper, for' the purpose of
remitting funds to pay interest on the state’s
bonds, &.c.; that the 5th section of the act
of 1840, which is repealed, authorized ihe
directors to sell the stock owned by the state
in the Bank of the State of Georgia and in
the Bank of Augusta, &c., at a discount not
greater than 10 per cent, below par, &c.;
nnd that the 1st section of the act of 1S39,
which is repealed, authorized the directors
to issue notes for double the amount of the
capital stock of said bank, &e. The follow
ing are the yeas and nays on the passage of
the Central Bank bill in the House.
YEAS.—Messrs. Allen, Anderson of
Franklin, Andrews, Ashley, Baker,.Barclay,
Bell, Bellenger, Boggess, Born, Brooke,
Brown of Coweta, Brown of Early', Bruce,
Bryant.of Macon, Buckner, Bufiigton, Bul :
loch, Butler, Butts, Cannon, Cantwell, Carl
ton, Carroll, Carter of Lowndes,, Carter of
Coweta, Chandler,, Chick, Crhll, Daniel,
Dark, Davies, Dixon* Denmark, Dufpur,
Durden, Echols of Cobb, Fnnnin, Farther,
Farr, Floyd, Franks, Fudge, Gullamore.
Gray, Green, Guerry, Hamilton, Hammond;
Hafduge, Harden, Hardman, Haves, Her
rington, Hibberts, Ilicks, Hill of Walton,
Hollingsworth, Holmes, Howard, Hunter,
Jarrett, Johnson, Jordan, Kemp, Lawton,
Ledbetter, Lee, Lefils, Mangham, McDon
ald, McDuffie, Meadows, Mitchell, Modisett,
Moon, Morris of Murray, Morrow, Moseley,
Mott, Nelson, Newsom, Newton, Pittmau,
Pool, Price, Ragan, Rawlerson, A. Reeves,
Reid, Robinson of Jasper, Robinspn of Lau
rens, Sanford of Hatiersham, Sheffield,
Shropshire, Smith of Bibb, Smith pf Ap
pling, Smith of Henry, Smith of Talbot,
Smith of Walker, Spain, Spear, Thompson,
Tittle, Towr.send, Turner, Watson, Watts,
From the Globe of the 12th inst.
Congress.
Very little of public importance was trans
acted in either House to-day. Some expec
tation was entertained by a few (growing
out of the proposition of leading Federal
printo to devolve on the Democratic parly
the responsibility of public measures) that
theSpcaker would appoint committees which
would transfer the origination and prepara
tion of the bills, giving direction to public
policy, to the bands of the Democracy* of
the House. This would have been noth
ing more than a modest submission of the
present controlling power of the House, to
the controlling power of the people. The
Federal party, commanding in both branch
es ol Congress, are thoroughly apprized that
the will of the people, proclaimed at the
polls throughout the Union during the pres
ent year, is altogether adverse to every great
measure which the present majority in Con
gress Adopted, or proposed for adoption.—
Linder this state of things, it would have
been proper if those who no longer enjoy the
confidence ofthe people,had given the reins
of legislation to those who do. In this way
the system hv which the Democratic por
tion ol the national Repiesentativcs would
remedy the mischiefs complained of, might
have been fully matured aud fairly brought
forward ; aud if the Congress did nothing
to complete that system, the issues between
the parties would be made up for the decis
ion ol the people during the next year. The
Federal side ofthe House (it will be seen by
the committees appointed l»y the Speaker)
have resolved to take every thing again ab
solutely under their own management.—
This, of course, will exonerate the Democ
racy from all responsibility for (he conduct
of the session, and all the political projects
it may broach. The Federal party have
com pie control in the House, and on every
important committee.
it will be seen that, after voting for sev
eral days on the proposition ot Mr. Adams
to open up the House to the discussion *of
abolition on every petition sent in for the
purpose of exciting discord, and subjecting
the Union to the throes from which it was
happily delivered by the Constitution, the
motion was at last laid on the table by a
few votes. It is remarkable that, while al
most the whole body‘ofthe Northern De
mocracy opposed Mr. Adams—who was
supported, we believe, by every Northern
Federalist, without exception—the proposi
tion was kept in suspense, agitating the
House throughout the hist week, by the
votes of some three or four Southern Feder
alists. VVe understand that Messrs. Butts
of Virginia, Kennedy of Maryland, Stanly
ot North Carolina, aud Stuart of Virginia
—all voted with Mr. Adams and his friends.
Their votes would, at any time, have given
this harassing question the quietus. Mr.
Bidlack of Pennsylvania^ in the course of
the contest, in a very impressive maimer
appealed to those Southerners to know how
they could reconcile it to themselves to en
courage Mr. Adams’s incendiary attempts
on the floor of Congress, when the effects
of it were every day felt within their own
borders, and refuse to support even with
their votes the Northern Democracy, who
stood forth to defend the rights of,the assail
ed section, exposing themselves to the hos
tility of the misled among their own consti
tuents, to do justice to the constituencies of
other Representatives who deserted them.
The only answer Mr. Bidlack bad to his
appeal was the votes of the gentlemen we
have named against him.
of the a c 7
and such other informal ion as lit? nun*
necessary to show the effects and operation",
ofthe act; atid that be report the same ,*
the Senate, fiom time to lime, as the j u f or
mation shall he received.
It is now nearly certain that the law wjn
be repealed; but not so certain in cxncth
what form. Mr. Crittenden intimated ih at
he sbqttld vote for repeal—be was well con.
vinced that the public opinion was
it, especially in his own Stale. There b a j
been strong indications in that State that th e
public opinion was against it. As for ln m .
self, he had supposed that a temporary bank
rupt law was better suited to the condition
of the country than a permanent system, and
had consequently preferred originally a bin
limited in point of duration. This bill M
had a limited duration, and it had accotrip
Unliott. in Lie npinini,. ■»!>« ,... .. f .« ,.C I..
inanity. • He desired to be informed what
number bad been relieved by it. That there
had been abuses, lie had no doubt, as must
be the case in the oj eratinu of all human
laws. This being the case, and opinion
prevailing very much against the law, h c
should feel himself constrained to vole f ur
its repeal.
These declarations arc a beautiful coni-
meritary on the title of the law—“ An Actio
establish a uniform system of bankruptcy l"
It is now confessed that it was merely wimt
Mr. Benton called it — a sponge.
In the [louse Mr. Everett’s bill to repeal
i he bankrupt law was taken lip, out of order
by yeas 137 ; nays 63 ; was read twice and
made the special order for next Tuesday.—
The bill is as follows:
A HILL TO REPEAL THE BANKRUPT LAW.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives ofthe United States of Amer
ica in Cotffrress assembled, That an act en
titled “ An act to establish a uniform svs- s
b*m of bankruptcy throughout the United \
States,” approved on the nineteenth day of
August, eighteen hundred aud forty-one, be,
and the same islhereby repealed : Provided,
That this act shall not affect any case nr
proceeding in bankruptcy commenced U-
fora the fifth day of December, eighteen
hundred and lorty-Swo; or ntiy pains, pen.
allies, or forfeitures, incurred under such
act.
Mr. Payne gave notice that when the l i!l
came up ho should move to strike out the
proviso—while in the Senate, when .Mr.
Benton’s bill came up, Mr. Graham gave
notice of a motion to amend by striking cut
all after the fifth line and inserting a pro
viso similar to the one in the House bill—
The different opinions as to the terms ofthe
repeal, may possibly prevent any action on
the subject.
The greot subject of debate in the House
was a new heading movement of Mr. Ilotls,
who proposed :*.s a question of privilege, to
go into au investigation of certain charges
against the Whig party in the Letter of the
Hoi). John C. Spencer, Secretary ofWar.—
The great point of assault on the Secreta
ry, was Ids assertion that the Whigs offered
to support Mr. Tyler if he would keep his
then Cabinet in office. Mr. Granger, a
member of that Cabinet, prudently held his
peace o;i the subject—and the House., after
a rambling discussion, refused to entertain
Mr. Bolts’ proposition, by ayes 86—noos
106—whereupon that gentleman, with » ln-
ciiity of logical conclusion that is truly nd
mirable, congratulated himself and Ins
friends, that the Whig party in Congress
stood purged and acquitted of the charges
brought against them by the honorable Sec
retary.
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
From the Charleston iMercury.
Congress.
In the Senate on the 13th, Mr. Talmadge
introduced his Exchequer Bill, the same
which he brought in at the last session. It
was read twice, ordered to be printed, and
made the special order for
Tuesday two
weeks.
Weaver, Wei born, -Whitaker, Whitworth, i The resolution of Mr. Talmadge to make
Groat Britaiu.
The Liverpool correspondent of the New
York Union, furnishes the following para
graphs under date of the 19th :
“ 'Trade continues bad—it can scarcely be
worse. The Gazette is'full of Bankruptcy
and insolvent notices.
Peel, meanwhile, is doing what he can to
pull down expenditure, but, though lie
knows it would do great good, and make
him extremely popular, he dare not sweep
away sinecures and useless places, by
them the aristocracy provide for their rela
tives and connexions, and at the mere whis
per iOt any interference with them, he would
have a nest of hornets about his cars. He
could save 500,UU0/ annually, by reducing
the Civil List to a fair limit, by lowering high
salaries,'and by abolishing all sinecures.—
But. as I have said, lie dare not do it.
He has resolved that u Bankruptcy Judge
ship, vacant by the death of Sir John Cross,
shall not be filled np. Vice Chancellor
Knight Bruce has bc.eti sworn into that ol-
■flee, in addition to his own, but will not have
any extra pay. 'Hie death of Mr. Bowen
has made-a vacancy in the Court of Insolv
ency.; but here, also, the office will not to
filled up. Both will save fully 7000/ to the
public’.
. Parliament is expected to meet on thelhird
week of January. • Within the last ten days
several Privy Councils have been held, lit
which, 1 am told, the Premier, under astip
ulation of the strictest secrecy, communicat
ed to each of bis colleagues the heads of the
measures which lie contemplates for the next
session. Jt is said tbat .be is determined to
carry out, yet further than lias ever before
been attempted here, the principles of a lib
eratecommercial policy. His object in lay
ing bis plans thus early before his colleagues
is, that they may have plenty of time to turn
them over in their minds. It is generally
believed that the present Government will
eventually go farther with reform of all
kinds than the late rmuisters hampered es
they were, could have carried out. Peel is
a reformer nt heart.
- Of the old ministry only three are at oil
heard of now. These are Melbourne, Pal
merston and J. Russell; It is considered
more than questionable whether Lord Mel-
bofirtie will ngifiii trouble himself with pub-