Newspaper Page Text
Reminiscences and Facts connected tcilh
the Life of the late John Randolph, i
On a bright sunny morning, early in
February, 1798, might have been seen
catering our book-store, in Charleston,
S. C. a fine looking, florid complexioried
old gentleman, with hair as white as
snow which contrasted with his complex
ion, showed to have been a free liver, or
bon vivant , of the first order; alone with
him was a tall, gawky looking, flaxen
haired stripling, apparently of the age
from 16. to 18, with a complexion of a
good parchment color, beardless chin,
and as much assumed self consequence!
ns any two footed animal we ever saw;
this was John Randolph. We handed
him from the shelves volume after vol
ume, which he tumbled carelessly over
and handed hack again; at length he hit
upon something that struck Ins fancy—
our eye happened to he fixed upon his ’
face at the moment, and never did we
witness so sudden, so perfect a change of
the human countenance; that which be
fore was dull and heavy, in a moment be
came animated and flashed with the
brightest beams of intellect, he stepped j
up to the old grey headed gentleman, and j
giving him a thundering slap on the |
shoulder, said, “Jack, look r.t this! - ’ Wc
were young then, bnt we never can for
get the thought that rushed upon our
mind at the moment, which was, that he
was the most impudent youth we ever
saw. He had come to Charleston to at
tend the races.
Some two or three years after his visit
to Charleston, he was elected a member
of Con gress, and such was still his youth
ful appearance, that when he appeared at
the clerk’s table to qualify, that gentle
man could not refrain from asking him
his age; the answer was prompt, if not
satisfactory—-“ask my constituents, sir,”
was the reply. John Adams was then
President, and Mr. Randolph took a de
cided part against his administration.
Congress was sitting in Philadelphia, and
Mr. Adams' “hot water war with France,”
being then on the tapis, the latitude o!
Mr. R. gave his tongue in debate, occa
sioned his being assaulted in the lobby of
the theatre, by an officer of the army or
navy, we do not recollect which, or who
he was, but Mr. Randolph made a formal
complaint, which to the best of our mem
ory, met with but a cold reception. Par
ty runs high enough now, and much too
high for the good of the country —hut be
who supposes it never rose higher, knows
nothing of the period to which we al
lude.
Among the members of Congress Mr.
Randolph had but few personal friends,
but those few he “riveted to his soul with
bonds of steel.” Among them was the
Hon. Mr. Bryan from Georgia, the late
Gov. D. R. Will iams of S. Carolina, and
the venerable Nathati’l Macon ofN. Caro
lina. At the close oftlie session,soon after
the removal ofCongress to Washington,the
former of those gentlemen (Mr. Bryan)
married a daughter of Gen. Foreman of
Maryland, and with her and her sister
spent some days in Charleston, when on
their way to his estate in Georgia. On
this occasion Mr. Bryan showed us a let
ter which licjjad just received from Mr.
Randolph, congratulating him upon his
marriage. A letter of more beautiful
simplicity and feeling we never read. We
recollect that, while the writer dwelt up
on the happiness and advantages to he
expected from wedded life; he spoke feel
ingly of never expecting to enjoy them
himscl f.
The Yazoo Fraud, a greater than
which never disgraced the annals of a
State or nation, came before Congress
about this time. We are acquainted with
some of the nefarious transactions which
gave rise to tins stupendous villainy. In
1794, a number of men in Georgia, join
ed by some in South Carolina, railing
themselves the Yazoo Company, applied
to the Legislature of Georgia, i ( .)o, for a
grant of an immense tract of territory, to!
which she had no right, and over which
she had no jurisdiction: hut the men who
formed this company were not to he casi-!
Iv put off, and a title from some Legisla
ture ivas indispensable to the success of
their scheme. They effected by bribery
the accomplishment of their object; it be
came a matter of public notoriety that
the whole Legislature were bribed to
grant the title asked for, but which they
had no right to grant. The manner in
which it had been obtained, was bruited
i:i the newspapers of the day, anil none
could plead ignorance. The grant be
ing thus obtained, agents were imme
diately sent through tho States, to dispose
of the “stolen goods.” They visited
Boston where a company was immediate
ly formed, called “The New England
Mississippi Land*Company,” who pur
chased to the extent of some millions <,f
dollars of these lands, knowing them . to
have been fraudently obtained.
YVe were in Georgia the next year,
1796, when the new Legislature, who had
been elected with a direct view to this
subject, having assembled at the seat of
government, and taking the necessary
preliminary steps, went in grand proces
sion, with their respective officers at their
head, and burnt, by the hands of a com
mon hangman, the record of the infa
mous proceedings of their predecessors;
and with, them, the infamous grant itself.
The Yazoo claim was, by the New En
gland Mississippi Land Company, to re
cover from Congress the value of the
lands so obtained: and it was in opposi
tion to this application, that Mr. Ran
dolph immortalized himself, in speeches
that will stand “the test of human scruti-l
ny, of talents, and of time.” It was reg- j
ularly brought forward every session, and
as regularly defeated by him. The late I
Gen. Wade Hampton and O’Brien Smith, j
were both elected to Congress, with ai
sole view to the carrying through this un
righteous measure; and it was during its
discussion one day, when they were in
the House, that Mr. Randolph made the
withering remark, which rung through
the Fnion at the time. Shaking his long,
lank linger at Mr. 11a mpton, he exclaim
ed at the top of his voice, “Mr. Speaker,
I hope, sir, to see the day when a Y azoo
claimant and a villain will he synonymous
terms.” On the evening following Mr.
Hampton bundled up his papers and
waited on Mr. Randolph, whose, first
salutation on the occasion was, “have
you come for peace, or for war?” For
peace, was the reply, or I should not
bring these papers. Jn an evil hour, Mr.
Randolph was left out, and before his re
election, the hill was passed, and the rob-j
loerv consummated, to the amount of five
millions of dollars. An event which
could not have taken place w hilst he had
a seat in that House. 1
Mr. Randolph was at all times eccen
tric, and in the latter part of his life at
times, insane.
[Cincinnati Evening Post.
The last Standard of Fnion has a re
joinder to our reply to that print, on a
former occasion; the main point and ob
ject of which, so far as we may judge,
is to draw from us an answer to the ques
tion, whether at the presidential election,
three tears hence, we will prefer Webster,
Clay, or Van Burcn. The question is
easily answered. We prefer neither.
I Webster, although no abolitionist, so far
as we are apprised, is yet as bad on the
j general question of slavery, .Mr. Van
Buren; and therefore not to be thought of
by us, for preferment of any kind: He
lis quite at had ns Mr. Van Buren;
in believing tiiat Congress has by the
Constitution, power over this subject in
the District of Columbia and the ’Ferrite- i
ries; and in going against tiie admission \
of Texas into lhe Fnion, on account of,
slavery, lie is almost as Ind as Mr. Van!
! Buren, in going against the admission of
Missouri, on the same grounds.
As to Mr. Clay, we have us little dilfi-i
culty. We cannot support for office, j
one whose policy and political views,!
however honest, are decidedly adverse to
the interests of the South. Mr. Clay has
identified himself with a course of poli
cy on the part of the Federal Govern
ment, which is in our opinion no less un
just than injurious to the best interests of
the South; against his views we have
warred hitherto, and shall continue to war
uncompromisingly; therefore our support
of Mr. Clay for the Presidency, is about
as much out of the question, as that of
the other two.
As to the .standard's enquiry in regard
to Gen. Harrison, it would he about as
much in point for us to ask our neighbor,
if it can under any circumstances be
brought to support for the Presidency,
Major Jack Downing.— [Milledgeville
Recorder.
Nmv Mam. Aukanui.men t. Mail
cars, constructed under the directions of
the Post Office Department, are now run
ning on the railroads between Washing
ton and Philadelphia. They contain two
ap irtmoiits; one appropriated to the ac
commodation of the great mails, and the
other to the way mails and a Post Office
A u nt. The latter apartment is fitted tip
with boxes, labelled with the names of ail
the small offices on or near the railroad
lines. It is also a letter box in front, into
which letters may he put up to the mo
ment of starting the cars, and anywhere
on the road.
The Agent of the Post Office Depart-j
metit attends the mail from the Post Of-i
fires at the ends of the route, ami sees it
safely deposited in his car. As soon as
the cars start, he opens the letter-box and
takes out all the letters, marking them so!
as to designate the place where they are |
put in. lie then opens the way mail bag,:
and distributes its contents into the sever- j
al boxes. As the cars approach a Post
Office, tlie* Agent takes out the contents!
of the proper box and puts them into a
pouch. The engineer slackens the speed
of the train, and the Agent hands the i
pouch to the postmaster, or carrier, who
stands beside the track to take it, receiv
ing from him, at the same time, another
pouch, with the matter to be sent from
that office. This the Agent immediately
opens, and distributes its contents into
the proper boxes. Having supplied thus
all the way offices, the Agent, when ar
riv'd at the end of the route, sees the
tuW*safely delivered into the Post Office.
THE TIDE OF SPECIE.
The gold and silver current which ran
front America last spring and summer, is
now running back again under the opeia
tion oftlie exchanges. Thus:
Ship Toronto, 890,000
“ Ontario, 90,000
“ Westminster, 146,000
The Burgundy, from Havre, brings a
box of doubloons for the Bank of Ameri
ca. Insurance has been effected in Wall
street, on 8100,000 by the London packet
oftlie Ist March.
The specie in the Banks of this city,
: March Ist, exceed their circulation 883,-
044, —and all these amounts have been
■ since that time !
BRUNSWICK ADVOCATE.
THE ADVOCATE. j
BRUNSWICK, (Ga.). APRIL 12, 1838. i
State Rights 'Fickct for Congress.
ELECTION FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER. |
THOMAS BUTLER KING, of Glynn.
WILLIAM C. DAWSON, of Greene.
JULIUS C. ALFORD, of Troupe.
WALTER T. COLQUITT, of Muscogee
RICHARD W. HABERSHAM, of Habersham j
EDWARD J. BLACK, . f Scriven.
MARK A. COOPER, of Hall.
EUGENICS A. NESBIT, of Bibb.
LOT WARREN, of Sumpter.
AGENTS FOR TIIE ADVOCATE.
Rilh County. Alexander Richards, Esq.
Telfair “ Rev. Charles J. Shelton.
Mclntosh “ James Blue. Esq.
to Navigators.
Capt. L. Sistare, of New York, at the re
quest of J. L. Locke, Esq. Resilient Agent of
the Brunswick Canal and Land Companies has
made a survey of the waters forming the Port.
of Brunswick, and of the bars at the entrance i
of the same, and having made careful and
I
constant soundings throughout the Channels
of the Sound and Harbor, has placed
buoys on the outer bar, and one buoy on the l
middle ground between the outer bar and St.;
Simons’ Lighthouse, as appears in the follow- ;
ing statement of the exact location of the i
buoys, accompanied by sailing directions for !
entering the Port:
CAPTAIN SIST A RE’S STATEMENT. I
I have placed a Black Buoy on the Southeast j
end of the North Sand spit, which makes out j
from the southerly point of St. Simons Island,'
and is known by the name, of the “North
Breaker.” From the Black Buoy, St. Simon’s
Light bears N. YV. and by W. 1-3 W.-dw-i
taut, six miles. It is placed in two and one \
half fathoms at low water.
1 have placed a White Buoy on the Northeast j
end of the South Sand spit, which makes out j
from the easterly side of Jekyl Island, and !
which is known by the name of the “South!
Breaker.” This White Buoy bears S. S. E.
from the Black Buoy, distant one mile and one
quarter, and is placed in three fathoms at low
water.
The Channel lies between these two Buoys, ■
and is from three and one half fathoms to four!
and one half fathoms at low water, and;
holds the width of one mile and one quarter j
to the Middle ground, which is u bank of sand
resting on the Southern or Jekyl spit, and jut- i
ting into the Channel way for one half mile,
leaving n channel between this middle ground
and the Northern or St. Simon’s spit of three
quarters of a mile in width.
I have placed a Black Buoy on the Northern i
side of this middle ground, in two and one ]
quarto- fathoms at low water. From this:
middle ground Buoy the Light bears N. j
W. and by \Y T . 1-3 YV.—distant four miles
from the Lighthouse.
SAILING DIRECTIONS.
Vessels approaching the Bar should endeav
or to get the Black Buoy on the north Breaker
to bear \\’. S. YV. and run for it, passing it at
two cables length, leaving it on the Starboard 1
hand. When abreast of it haul up YV. N. YY’.
channel course, to pass the Middle Ground,
leaving the Buoy on the Middle Ground on the
larboard hand, giving it a good berth. Then
steer YV. by N. to pass the Light, upon passing
which the vessel is in safety in ten fathoms
water. The slioalest soundings in the Chan
nel are three and one quarter fathoms at low
water. By these directions, therefore, any
vessel drawing less than seventeen feet can
cmne in to port at dead low water. The tide j
rises on the bar six feet common tides.
(Signed) L. SISTARE.
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION AT AU
GUSTA.
Ti io following account of the interesting pro- j
ceedings of this Convention, we abstract from
the Augusta Constitutionalist :
First day. Monday 2d inst Thisconven-j
tion assembled in our city yesterday at 12 o’-
clock, in the Presbyterian church. Kerr Boyce,
Esq., of Charleston, was called to the chair
of the convention.
Alter taking the chair, the chairman called
on the delegates from different states to come
forward and register their names, commencing
with North Carolina, when one hundred and
thirty-fbur delegates caine forward.
The meeting was then organized by the el
ection oftlie Hon. Thomas Butler King, of
the delegation from Brunswick, President of
the Convention. On taking the Chair, Mr. j
King, in an able and eloquent address, explain- j
cd the objects of the Convention, and enforced j
the importance of their united action.
N. W. Cocke, Esq. was appointed Secretary. |
Gen. Ilnyne, of Charleston, then addressed i
tiie Convention, and offered the following res-,
olutioii:
It, solved, That a committee be appointed by
tin- chair to consider and report on the meas- j
arcs proper to be adopted by the convention, j
Under w hich resolution, the following Com-j
mittcc wore appointed.
Gen. R. Y r . Moyne, Chairman.
Gen. J. Owen, Wilmington, N. C.
YV. Pairing. Esq. Athens, Geo.
Gen. George McDuffie, Charleston.
Gen. Scott, Montgomery, Ala.
Col. R. H. Long, Florida.
Jos. Gumming, Esq. Savannah.
Col. Blanding, Columbia, S. C.
G. B. Lamar, Esq. Savannah.
Col. A. P. I Inyne, Charleston.
Col. H. 11. Cumming, Augusta.
Hon. J. P. King, do.
A. McDowal, Charleston,
j J. K. Douglass, Camden.
Dr. R. Collins, Macon.
Ker Boyce, Charleston.
YV. YV. Starke, Hamburg.
A. Black, Charleston.
Col. N. McGehee, Milledgeville.
E. J. Hale, Fayetteville, N. C.
Hon. P. Noble, Abbeville.
To which were afterwards added,
J. T. Soutter, E«q. Norfolk, Va.
L. M. Wiley, Esq. Charleston.
C. G. Memminger, Esq. do.
A. Mitchell, Esq. Darien.
Allen, and J. S. Millson, Norfolk, \ r a.
Edward Thomas and A. Johnston, Augusta, Ga.
Dr. Branham, Eatonton, and Dr. Jones, Madi
son, Ga.
A letter was then read from a committee ap
pointed by the Mobile board of trade for the
purpose, approving of the object ofthe conven
tion, w hich was ordered to be recorded.
Ker Boyce, Esq. of Charleston, then handed
in a circular from the Charleston Banks, to be
read for the information of the convention. The
object of this circular is to get up a Bank Con
vention in Charleston, in May next, to be com-1
posed of delegates from the different banks in
South Carolina, Georgia, and other States, to
take into consideration, measures for the simul- j
taueous resumption of specie payments, should
that measure be deemed expedient by them. !
The South Carolina Committee, appointed j
at the last convention to memorialize the Leg
islature of that State in relation to Limited
Partnerships, made their report through Alex.
Black, Esq., which was read and ordered to be
recorded.
The Convention then adjourned to to-mor
row, 12 o’clock, to meet at the same place.
Second day, Tuesday, 3d inst. In the
course of the session of the Convention, forty
seven delegates appeared and registered their
names, making in all one hundred and eighty
one delegates, from Y’irginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama, j
Gen. Hayne, Chairman of the Committee ap- j
pointed yesterday by the President, then rose j
and stated to the convention, in behalf of that |
committee, that after a laborious session, they j
had adopted sundry resolutions, (which were j
submitted to the convention,) but that the com
mittee had not completed their labors, but hop- !
ed to be able to report in lull to the conven- j
tion to-morrow.
Mr. Millson, of Y’irginia, offered the follow- ■
ing resolution, which was referred to the com- j
mittee.
Jlesolved, As the opinion of this convention,;
that the establishment by manufacturers in [
foreign countries of agencies in the chief;
southern ports, for the sale of various articles ;
exported by them to the United States, would
conduce to the restoration of the direct foreign I
trade oftlie south*
The convention adjourned till 10 o’clock of
the next day.
Third day, YVcdnesday, 4th instant.
Mr. A. M. Robertson offered to the j
Convention the resolutions adopted at aj
meeting of tiie citizens of Tuscaloosa,!
Ala. which were read and ordered to be ;
recorded on the minutes.
Gen. Ilnyne, of Charleston, Chairman !
of the Select Committee, then rose, and
read in a clear and distinct manner, the
able report, which was listened to with
breathless silence. After he had finish
ed reading the report, he requested Col.
Memminger to read the resolutions re
ported by the committee, which, with
some additions and amendments made by
the Convention, were as follows, all of
which were adopted.
1. Resolved, That a direct trade is the
natural channel of communication be
tween nations, which offer to each other
the best market for their mutual produc
tions; and that the intervention of a third
party must operate as a tax upon the ex
changes between them.
2. Resolved, That the Southern and j
Southwestern States of this Union afford!
those staples with which arc purchased
nearly the whole foreign imports of the
country; that they are the consumers of a
large portion of these imports; and ought
naturally themselves to furnish the chan
nel through which the exchange is made;!
that or. no occasion have their citizens
been found incapable of maintaining
themselves in fair competition with other
sections; and that the diversion of their
trade from its natural channels, must
have been brought about by the unequal
action of the federal government, or by
the abstraction of our people towards
other pursuits.
3. Resolved, That in the opinion ofj
this Convention such a state of things!
should no longer continue; that the pres-1
ent condition of the commercial relations'
of the country, and the disruption of the j
Existing channels of trade, afford an op-'
portunity of breaking down the trammels:
which have so long fettered our com
merce, and of restoring to the South its!
natural advantages; and that it is incum
bent upon every man, who has at heart
the-good of his country, to lend his best ex
ertions to the promotion of these objects
and to establish our trade upon a sound
and permanent basis.
4. Resolved, That this Convention is
fully aware of the difficulties to be over
come in the prosecution of their enter
prise; but nothing daunted thereby, and
fully relying upon the public spirit and
zealous co-operation of their fellow-citi
zens, they are determined to advance
with untiring perseverance; and with
that view, do earnestly recommend the
adoption of the following measures.
1. That an effort should be made to
afford to the importers and purchasers at
Southern seaports, the same facilities
which are offered elsewhere; and with
this view it is recommended that the
Banks in the seaports should immediately
apply a portion of their respective capi
tals, to the purchase of foreign exchange,
and to the procurement of credits or funds
lin Europe; and that they should afford
the use of the same to the importing
merchant upon a discount or collateral
pledge of such good paper as he may
take from the merchants of the interior,
and that this accommodation be afforded
as well upon paper having more than six
months to run, as upon that having less;
and that the Banks of the interior co
operate by collecting and remitting the
proceeds of such paper to the banks on
the sea coast; that they maintain the
credit of their bills, and keep down the
exchanges by redeeming their own paper
at the seaports; and that on the other
hand the banks in the Southern Atlantic
cities make arrangements by which the
notes of all of them shall be at par in
each.
2. That with a view to the important
subject of equalizing the exchanges be
tween Southern and South-western States
and Territories, this Convention earnest
ly recommend to the various Banks of the
principal cities of those States, or such
as may be conveniently located, to re
ceive the Bills of each other in their gen
eral business, and to adopt such arrange
ments for settlements, at sHort periods, as
they may deem suitable and proper; the
Banks against whom the balance should
fall, to furnish funds for settling the same,
or to pay an interest of six per cent, from
the period of settlement, and that a
committee of five be appointed to take
such measures as. in their judgment, will
carry fully effect the preceding re
commendations.
3. That the Merchants of the South
and Southwest, be earnestly recommend
ed to give preference to the importers in
their own markets, and that they afford
them an opportunity of fair competition
with other sections, by making their first
calls for purchases at Southern and South
western seaports; and on the other hand,
that the Merchants at the sea-ports shall,
forthwith, set about importing such stocks
of goods, as will ensure, at fair rates, a
supply to the demand from the merchants
of the interior.
4. That an earnest and united effort
should be made to draw-home the capital
invested by the South in Banks and Com
panies abroad; and to employ the same,
together with such surplus capital as ex
ists at home, in mercantile operations;
and that with this view men of influence
and character he earnestly invited to af
ford the benefit of their example, by en
tering into Limited Partnerships, under
the laws lately passed by the states of
Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama, Tennessee and Florida.
5. That this Convention cannot but
view with deep regret, the neglect of all
commercial pursuits which has hitherto
prevailed among the youth of our coun
try, and which has necessarily thrown its
most important interests into the hands of
those who by feeling and habit are led
into commercial connections elsewhere.
This Convention, therefore, cannot too
earnestly recommend the speedy adoption
by all their fellow citizens of measures
to introduce commercial education
among our youth, to train them up to
habits of business, and thereby to estab
lish a body of merchants whose every in
terest and feeling shall be centered in the
country which has reared and sustained
them.
5. Resolved, That this convention is
of opinion that the establishment by man
ufacturers in foreign countries of agen
cies in the chief southern ports, for the
sale of the various articles exported by
them to the United States, would con
duce to the restoration of the direct for
eign trade of the south; and that similar
establishments, for the sale of domestic
articles would be acceptable.
6. Resolved, that a committee of five
be appointed to prepare an address to the
people of the Southern and Southwestern
states, urging upon them the expediency
of giving their hearty co-operation, in the
accomplishment of the great object of
this Convention. *•
7. Resolved, That when this Conven
tion adjourns, it shall adjourn to meet at
Augusta on the third Monday in October
next, and that a committee of corres
pondence he appointed, whose duty it
shall he to take the proper measures to
enlist the feelings of the people, and se
cure a cordial co-operation on the part of
the States interested in the objects of this
Convention, and to secure a full repre
sentation from every part of those states.
8. Resolved, That it is recommended
to the members of this convention, to
assemble the citizens of their counties or
districts, and place before them their pro
ceedings, and urge upon them the expe
diency of promoting the measures re
commended by this convention, and par
ticularly of forming Limited Partnerships,
under the laws passed by the southern
states, as aforesaid.
Whereas, the completion of the lines
connecting the Southern Atlantic cities
with the great valley of the Mississippi is
the most prominent"tmd efficient measure
to promote the useful and patriotic ob
ject which has called this Convention to
gether, therefore,
9. Resolved, That this Convention is
deeply and solemnly impressed with the
transcend ant importance of the great
works of Internal Improvement, which is
intended to effect this intercommunica
tion, and must earnestly invoke the peo
ple of the South and South-western States
to bring all their energies and resources to
bear upon this vital point, not doubting
that such efforts will crown with brilliant
success the noble enterprise.
10. Resolved, That the members of
this convention in recommending the
aforesaid resolutions to their constituents,
of the southern and southwestern states,
will afford to them the most undoubted
pledge of their sincerity, bv adopting
them as a rule for their conduct, hereby
‘ declaring in the most solemn manner, in
; the tenable of the Most High, that in all
| commercial dealings they will give prefer
! ence to the Direct Importer, and zealous
ly endeavor in all cases, to carry out, the
views and recommendations of this con
vention.
Previous to any question being taken
on the resolutions, Col. Memminger rose
and addressed the convention at length,
ill a very able speech, in which he touch
ed on the effects of the Tariff, the United
States Bank, the Deposite Banks, and Mr
YVright’s warehouse system, on the com
merce of the south. We have been
promised a copy of this speech, and hope
to be able shortly to give it to our readers.
Resolutions were then unanimously
adopted, returning thanks to the Chair
man of the committee, and the President
and Secretary of the Convention, for the
able manner in which they had discharg
ed their various duties; to the Trustees of
the Church for the use of their building,
and to the citizens of Augusta for their
hospitality. After which it was moved
and carried, on motion of Ker Boyce,
Esq., of Charleston that the Charleston
delegation have the proceedings of this
convention printed and distributed under
their supervision and at their expense. It
was also resolved that the President ap
point the committees under the above re
olutions at his leisure. The Convention
then adjourned sine die.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
We have received a copy of a report, dated
12th March, to the State Legislature of New
York. It was prepared by a Committee, of
whom Samuel B. Ruggles was chairman, and
is drawn up in the most able and masterly
manner. The whole report well repays the
most careful and minute attention, and we
mftch regret that our limits confine us to a
short extract
A constant reference to the experience of
New York, is most important to our State, now
just entering upon the wise and beneficent
policy of internal improvement. Georgia,
like New York in 1816, now finds herself with
a back country prodigiously increasing, and
her western settlements on all sides expand
ing much faster than their means of commun
ication. She therefore must see most clearly,
as the immortal Dewitt Clinton in 1816
saw, that the want of sueh communications by
internal improvements, must check her growth
and divert the channels of trade and popula
tion to other States.
Georgia, like New Y’ork, has natural advan
tages for connection with the YVest and the
Southwe t, beyond those' of any other State.
In the direct line of her Wester.* Rail road is
the most practicable pas3 of the Alleghanies
south of the New Y’ork State line. This stu
pendous chain, which is passed in. Pennsylva
nia by ten inclined planes, the summit being
2400 feet above the level of the sea, and over
which the engineers of the Charleston and
Cincinnati Rail road, have never publish
ed their levels, is crossed by the Georgia
Western and Atlantic Rail road at a grade of
but thirty feet to the mile, as may be seen by
Col. Long’s report.
Nor should the Gulf of Mexico be forgot
ten in describing the natural position of Geor
gia. The immediate object of the internal
improvements in New Y’ork was, to connect
the Lakes, those immense inland seas, with
the best seaport of the North. Now the Gulf
of Mexico is a larger sea than the Lakes, and
already has a larger commerce. As respects
commercial advantages, the Gulf of Mexico is
as much insulated as were the Lakes, before
the Erie Canal was made. Those Lakes had
then, as now, an outlet by the St. Lawrence, a
magnificent and beautiful river, but of danger
ous navigation and affording an indirect route.
So, too, the Gulf of Mexico has its natural
outlet by the Gulf Stream, —but the immense
promontory of Florida, five hundred miles in
length, anil causing one thousand miles of in
direct navigation—the reefs of Tortugas and
Key West, tend to enhance the delay and ex
pense of communication. The best, the most
natural and direct outlet for that Gulf, lies
througli the State of Georgia. The best har
bors, and the most level routes invite the con
struction of public works to effect this connec
tion between the Gulf and the immense
amount of Southwestern Commerce and trav
el.
This parallel between the position and in
terests of Georgia and New Y’ork, might be
drawn at much greater length. Sufficient has
been said to shew that her interests are the
same, and her natural advantages even great
er. Let her follow, then, the New Y’ork poli
cy of Internal Improvements. Let her regard
that great and successful example with the at
tention and consideration to whicli it is enti
tled, remembering that it speaks not in the
tone of speculation and prediction, but with
the voice of experience and history.
[Extract from Mr. Ruggles’ Report.]
“The financial history of the State of New
Y’ork, during the last twenty years, is replete
I with instruction, and cannot be too attentively
! examined. Within that eventful period we
witness the origin, progress and final success
of those great measures of internal improve
ment, which have overcome not only the bar
riers of nature bnt the more formidable obsta
cles of prejudice, incredulity and error, and
which are destined, in the latter respect at
least, to achieve victories yet more signal.
“Perhaps the most striking fact which all
that history presents, is the remarkable failure
of our distinguished men adequately to esti
mate the pecuniary value of the canals. The
most sanguine anticipations of the most en
thusiastic supporters of our policy of internal
improvement, fell far short of the actual re
sults which that policy has produced: while
the doubts and forebodings of its opponents,
are remembered only as curious portions of
onr intellectual history. The State itself
seemed wholly unconscious of its latent