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. proceeding * (1 |l*u [, is net
I'A ami in gu l ,mor ( ' o " u ,
I'-.ji.p cmu.lv, respecting: cerOtn
b’! 1 illo"iiIlV introduced inlo
K 'ted States are .till pending.
’ (*uiu r t accidental circumstances,
A,„, lt any design {, ' alid > sev ’
~*s illegally drew lands in the
‘'U lotteries, an. n* evidence „l
.irimmceil.e i -!■ > ‘•’
:„.„il.eel i, .qm-'.e.t he,r claim.,,
‘ f , ri , ‘ I have caused their relm
1L hi-Luts to he recorded in the olhce
flhe clerk of the superior court ol
. counties where the lands respec
)y | lH> ‘i he lots so diawn are nine
i niimher. . .
. herewith submit for yonr consider
;a conimunicatioTi and docu menf*
o ,. e iu mentioned from ills Excellen
ce Governor of the State of South
urolina. proposing a conicnlio” be
lli.it Slate anil Ueorgu, bavuig
,j N object the improvement of the
ivigvtion of Savannah and Tugaloo
‘hi compliance with the request of
ie legislature of the state of Illinois,
h ere with communicate a report and
solutions adopted by them lespec-
Ro- appropriations of land made by
[om less for the purposes of educa-
Tlie sum of eight thousand dollars,
at bein'* the amount cf the third
iar’s interest on the Steam Boat
wk owned by the state, was duly
ml on the Ist. day of May last by
c company, pursuant to contract.
Reports from the different Banks in
e state have been received and cu
es of which are herewith communi
ded for your consideration.
An apportionment of arms procured
icing the last seven years, under an
:t of Congrcsss passed in 1808, for
ming the militia, has been made by
e ordnance department of the Um
,l States, and <he Executive inform-
I that captain Mackay, commanding
the United States Arsnal near Au
ista, has received instructions to ile
ver the balance due this stale to the
der of the Executive. Directions,
will be seen >v the correspondence
i this subject here with submitted,
ve been accordingly given for their
livery at this place.
You will herewith receive two re
irts from the commissioners of Tuga
o river. The one though bearing
te in October 1323, was not receiv
intime to be communicated to the
si Legislature.
I herewith communicate to the
rise of Ileprecentatives a report,
r’ accompanying documents, from
tliur A. Morgan, Esq. in relation
so.i s on bonds and mortgages,
ainst purchasers of fractions of land
ng between the Oconee and Ocntul
eri'ers; and I also coimnunicate
o schedules in relation to the same
reef, as well as others, made out by
• freasurer. This subject being of
(isiderablc interest and not having
P!i iiited upon by the last legislature
ore whom I laid it, it is again com
micated, ‘Lite documents being
luminous, and not having time to
‘e copies prepared, I send the ori
lals to the House of Representa
e>, with a request that they be re
tied to this Department,
ihe Legislature, at their last sess
lin toe appropriation lew provided
the payment of only two secreta
'lor tuis Department. That law
s,,ot presented to me until the Le
|atuie adjourned, consequently I
ai> not in my power to give inv
as upon the propriety of making
ismns for three thei/in the office,
111 tttii’dicr at that time was abso
iv necessary. In consequence,
discharged was re- ippointed
l|| ext day, and continued until the
!<• May, when he resigned. The
suiess having increased on the 20th
to icr, when a third u is again ap
>| e., and rlieir services have been
‘ l ‘ for our of the contingent fund.
In penitentiary luiul has Been
consequence of an oversight in
-ompt r oilcr-general,oi erdrawn
(, o t lundred and lorty-eight
, rs an(l ‘''uctecn cents.’ That
‘ “as exhausted before the
lununctment of the fourth quar
'•"’c part of the third remains
. c P ai d , and seieral ac*
‘: its n favor of sheriffs, for ron
: ln K 1 °n\icis tc.> the Penitentiary
’ r '- ,v, i in B | nß unpaid,
j ' examination, it was fouud
‘ lc i ‘ncc round the State
. e squa re was so much decay
* ° le , < B drc to he made entire-
; n * w - ih *tha* been done.-
ii, | Ol “ as let at public outcry
dil °i? eSt dder f°r eight bun-,
| to Which has been ad
nc on */ u * ars extra work
on steps.
and” ffi”° Unt °. 8c Rag.
■•.iaU of il”ill,? ,h * la " s “ ndi
laid • ‘ast session, remains
n?!, noi \avitig been presen- ;
Ht'd ‘ C pr “ n,n S P gihl was ex-
A statement of warrants drawn
on the 1 reasury during the politi
cal year Eighteen hundred and
twenty-three, and a list of Execu
tive appointments made during
the same period are herewith sub
mitted.
Among other matters of general
importance, the situation of our
Hanks and the soundness of our cir
culating medium as connected
with the revenue and general in
terest of the state, will doubtless
receive your attention. I j< novv
that this is a subject upon which a
considerable portion of the commu
nity are peculiarly sensive, and
fiianv are averse to Legislative
scrutiny into the management and
standing of those institutions, un
der an impression that such scru
tiny will awaken suspicson and im
pair the confidence of the commu
nity in the paper currency of the
state. If these Banks have been
managed with ability, if their cap
ital has not been impared from
injudicions loans or the excercise
of too much favoritism, they have
nothing to fear from a fair investi
gation into their concerns. At any
rate the state is too deeplv interest
ed in the welfare of those institu
tions, to look with apathy upon the
slightest indication of an event so
ruinous to her revenue, as a depre
ciated currency. The low price at
which the stock of the two princi
pal Banks may be purchased, are
such indications, as will, it is con
ceived, warrant your setting on
foot a rigorous examination into
the causes of such a state of things
as has evidently created consider
able distrust, and when discovered
it rests w ith you to apply the cor
rective. lam clearly of opinion
that much good would result from
requiring the different Banks in
which the state owns stock, both
principals and branches, to report
every six months to the Executive,
the whole of their proceedings, giv
ing the names oftheir debtors and
the amount due by each, to be laid
before the Legislature at their an
nual sessions, which would enable
them, the better to discover and
detect had management, and the
more effectually to apply the rem
edy.
One of the princi pal objects of
the Legislature in chartering the
Bank of Darien, it is beleived, was
to encourage and facilitate com
mercial operations between the
western and south-western parts of
the state with Darien. It is fear
ed that the intentions of the Legis
lature in that respect have not been
carried into effect or its object much
advanced.
Whilst upon this subject I hope
to he indulged in making a few gen
eral remarks. That banking in
stitutions are advantageous to those
engaged in commercial enterprises
when resorted to with caution, is a
proposition that can admit of but
little doubt; but that they are ruin
ous in their consequences when in
troduced into the interior of any
country, all must acknowledge
who have witnessed their effects.—
Hence I view it as a measure deep
ly to be deplored that the Legisla
ture in the creation of the several
Banks of the state, had not express
ly restricted them to those places
where the surplus products of the
state ate carried to market. It
may be said they loan only to those
who ask for accomodations, and
that the borrowers are the best
judges of their wants, and should
be left to a free exercise of their
wills in the management of their
private concerns. The correct
ness of this reasoning to a certain
extent cannot be questioned, but
when we view the prostration ol
private credit, and the desolation
of families which have been produ
ced in some of our sister states by
the injudicious issue of paper mon
ey, thrown into circulation in eve
tv quarter of the country, we can
but view it as a most alarming evil,
and one which the Legislature
should seek to obviate. Happily
for the state which we inhabit,
such have not been our sufferings
here, though the time may come
when the establishment of Branch
Banks in the interior of the coun
try, will be viewed as the greatest
rut se that could ha\ e been inflicted
on any people. Indeed the opinion
even now almost, universally pre
vails that the pecuniary embar
rassments of the citizens is great
er in proportion as you approach
the vicinity of a Bank. If this he
true*, it certainly shews that they
are pernicious to the people, and if
the right has not already passed
from your hands, it would be a
wise precaution to remove the evil
e’er the anticipated consequences
assume a more serious character.
Independent of these consider
ations which I deem to be the opin
ions of a great majority ofthe state,
others might be urged against the
policy in question. Capital may
be wielded so as to advance the
great interests, and it may he wiel
ded so as to prostrate the dearest
rights of the community. Who is
prepared to say that the period
may not arrive when those monied
institutions will throw the weight
of their powerful but subtle influ
ence into tile scale cf an aspiring
faction, hostile to the true interests
of the country, thus sapping the
foundation of the representative
system, by'corrupting tile purity of
the elective franchise. This has
been urged with great cogency
against the United States Bank by
those who are hostile to it, and if
applicable to that Institution, it is
equally as much so to those which
exist bv the state authority.
Ihe condition of our Treasury
at this time is certainly flattering.
You will perceive that there is now
in the Treasury upwards of four
hundred thousand dollars yielding
no increase; which sum will be
greatly increased by the sale of the
lands now in the market, and by
the collection of other debts due
the state, llow shall this money
be vested and in what way shall the
annual interest yielded be appro
priated ? are questions entitled to
your serious deliberation. Some
of the states have banking institu
tions or loan offices, the capital ow
ned exclvsively by the state, which
yield handsome revenue. The
plan heretofore pursued in making
investments of the funds of the
state in Bank Stock, is certainly lia
ble to many objections, and experi
ence has proven that it is a preca
rious source of revenue. The in
dividual stockholders of the Bank,
it is presumed, would prefer to be
unshackled in the management of
those establishments by state di
rectors and legislative enquires,
and it might possibly he to the ad
vantage both of the state and those
who are interested as individuals,
if the shares held by the state could
be sold at any thing like a par value
or if the amountpaid in by the state
could be amicably withdrawn, it
would place at the disposal of the
state, capital sufficiently large to
authorize the formation of a system
of revenue safe, permanent, and
profitable. 1 do not hesitate to
give it as the conviction of my
mind, that a state engaged or inte
rested in any way in loaning her
funds, or carrying on a system of
banking, should be exclusively inte
rested, and have the sole manage
ment of the business. The opera
tions should he atthe seat of govern
ment alone, and the money drawn
from the Treasury under such re
strictions as would secure a strict
accountability. The revenue which
would, in all probability, arise to
the state from such an institution,
would, in the course of a few years,
be sufficient, if not entirely, meas
urably to relieve the citizens from
taxation, enable the state r to pro
gress advantageously in internal
improvement and perfect its sys
tem of public education, all ol
which are objects highly interest
ing, and promising lasting benefits
to the state.
The privilege of choosing those
who rule over us, is one of the
most inestimable rights of a free
people, and the surest guarantee of
their liberties. It would be a mat
ter well worthy of legislative con
sideration, to enquire whether this
privilege of the citizens of Georgia
has not, in one instance, been ex
pressly taken from them, and in
another, unrighteously withheld.—
Permit me respectfully to suggest
the propriety of an alteration of the
Constitution of the state of Geor
gia, so as to give the election of
Governor directly to the people and
also the passage of a law to carry
into effect that part of the first sec
tion of the second article of the
Constitution of the U. States which
relates to the appointment of Elec
tors of President and Vice Presi
of the United States. That the al
teration in the first is loudly de
manded bv the voice of the state,
is a fact that admits of but little
doubt; and that there should be
an expression of the legislative will
upon the article ofthe Constitution
referred to, seems to my mind to be
absolutely required by the words
themselves. And it is a most sin
gular circumstance, that heretofore
a simple resolution for bringing on
the election should have bcendeem
ed a compliance with a requisition
of that instrument in a case of such
vital importance. In legislating
upon this subject, it is not reason
able to suppose that the Legislature
would undertake to vest themselves
with a right which, from the nature
and genius of our government,
more properly belongs to the peo
ple. Upon this subject the Con
stitution of the United States is
not as definite as might have been,
and it is from this that I draw the
inference, that in this as well as in
every other election of sufficient im
portance to excite a general feeling,
and when there exists the least
doubt as to the power of appoint
ment, the right is unquestionably
with the people, and it is little short
of usurpation to deprive them of
its exercise.
I again mention, as deserving
your consideration, the long neg
lected claims against the general
government, for services performed
by the militia of the state in the
years 1792, 3, and 4. Ample evi
dence has been furnished from this
department that the service was au
thorised by the general government
and a bill passed the Senate in their
favor the last session of Congress ;
but owing to some cause it was not
acted on in the House of Repre
sentatives.
Thus, gentlemen, I have given
you a concise view of the transac
tions of the Executive Department
for the last politcal year, and have
also taken the liberty of submitting
to you my opinions upon some of
the existing defects of our law's
and institutions, with such sugges
tions of amendment as I deemed
best calculated “ for the greatest
good of the greatest number.”—
They are the sincere convictions
of my mind, derived from experi
ence and observation, declared un
der a deep solicitude for the pros
perity and happiness of my fellou'-
citizens, and a profound sense of
those obligations of duty and gra
titude which bind me to my coun
trymen.
With sincere gratitude for the
repeated manifestations of confi
dence with w'hich mv fellow-citi
zens have been pleased to honor
me, I console myself under the be
lief, that whatever frailty of human
judgment may be discovered in my
political acts, that it will be belie
ved, by all impartial judges, that
my object has been the public good.
‘That He who rules the destiny
of states and councils may guide
and direct yours, is the fervent
desire of J°hn Clark.
Among the notices for [ths fippcTntment of
committees to prepare and report bills, are the
following :
To alter and amend 2d section 2d article of
the Constitution.
For taking the census of the State, in con
formity to the constitution.
To alierthetime of holding courts ofOrdinary.
To reduce the price of land lottery grants.
To amend the tax laws.
To.amend the 26 th section of the Judiciary
act and prevent fraudulent enforcement of
dormant judgments.
‘Jo lay oil additional brigades in the Militia.
To cbai ge the mode of choosing Electors of
President and Vice President of the U. S. so as
to give the election to tile people by Gftneral
Ticket.
To alter nnd amend the 2d section of the 4th
article of the Constitution.
To compel Justices of thepeace t to give bond
and security for the faithful performance of
their duty.
To alter and amend the 4th and Bth sections
of the constitution.
To amend an act relative to certain articles
being exempt from seizure and sale, chiefly ne
ce'sary for the subsistence of a debtor's family.
To alter the law concerning endorsements
on promissory notes and hills of exchange.
To compel the recording of mortgages and
all other (feeds.
On motion of Mr. Bullock—Resolved, k.c.
that it be recommended to the board of Direc
tors ol the Bank of Darien, to remove the
Branch of said Bank from Marion to Macon, if
they should deem it inexpedient to establish an
additional branch at the town of Macon—
which was read und ordered to lie on the table.
On Friday the 7th, a committee waited on
the Governor elect, who with his excellency
the late Governor, was conducted to the Rep
resentative Chamber, where, previous to his
taking the oath of office prescribed by the con
stitution, made the following
ADDR ESS.
Fellow Citizens. —l come to the ad
ministration of your affairs with un
feigned diffidence of my own ability
to manage them to your advantage.
The indulgence which you have shewn
me on every past occasion is my in
ducement to undertake it,and my in
centive to persevere. At every step
of my progress, there will be errors to
extenuate—weakness to overlook.
Nevertheless, I come into office free
and unfettered, without passions to
gratify, or pledges to redeem and
what is deemed to be right, under the
constitution and the laws, will be
done.
I have nothing to promise but good
intention—save onlv, that I will en
deavor that the laws be executed, the
public functionaries, so far as depends
on me, held to a strict accountability
and the state, according to its means
defended against its enemies.
The season of peace,Gentlemen, in
which we find ourselves, is the season
for the cultivation of the arts of peace;
and w hat is wanting in the works of
Providence designed for the purposes
of man, ’tis for the industry of man
to improve : and to improve what God
has bountifully given, is gratitude to
God. In the measures, therefore,
which you may deem proper, to extend
or facilitate the great work of Internal
Improvement, you may at all times,
rely,on my hearty and zealous co-ope
ration. \\ ith regard to the other meas
ures, embracing the leading interests
of our country, that, in them we will
move in harmony and in concert, I
have the best assurance in the patriot;
ism and intelligence with which I am
surrounded.
Fellow Citizens—Let us cease from
our strifes. Let our divisions have
an end. The march of science is so
steady, the progress of illumination is
so irresistabie in this great and grow
ing country, that the generation to
come, may look hack upon our foibles
with pity and compassion : Let us dis
card our selfishness, therefore, and let
our motto be— God and our Coun
try.
JAMES S. FIUEE3ON, Esq.hasbeen re-ap
pointed by the Governor, Agent of the Reserv
ed lands around Fort Ilawkius.
EXECUTION—OiI Friday the 7th instant,
agreeably to sentence, John M. Williams was
executed in Clinton for the murder of his wife.
For a few days alter his trial, he made preten
sions o( insanity, but on the approach of the
“ honest hour of dissolution” he resumed the
rational exercise of his faculties. On the
morning of the execution he had been furnish
ed with a tumbler of water, and being left ulone
for a short time between 9 and 10 o’clock, he
broke the glass, and with it succeeded in cutting
bis throat so us to sever the jugular vein entire
ly. The keeper entering 30011 nfter with a
smith for the purpose of taking off his irons
found him weltering in his blood upon the floor
A surgeon was called immediately,who check
ed the flow of hlood, and in consequence of
increasing weakness from its loss, he was ta
ken to the place of execution at an earlierhour
than was previously intended. An address
was made to the spectators by the Rev. Mr.
Mason, such as would flow from feelings the
scene and circumstances were calculated to in
spire The prisoner said nothing to the spec
tators, and very little to those who attended
on him. Froin the time he left prison, until
the haltar was to be affixed to the gallows, ho
had been stretched upon his coffin—he was
ilien raised up and supported : the deadly pale
ness of his countenance, and his shroud deep
ly stained with blood by his recent attempt to
destroy himself, rendered him an object truly
horrid to behold. Being too weak to ascend
the platform, he was placed upon the coffin, on
the cart, from which, at 12 o’clock he was
launched into eternity. The idea of his crime
appeared to be so wound into the feelings of
the spectators, that at this awful moment, not
a tear was seen, or change of look—not a mur
mur of sympetliy, was heard—every heart
seemed only to say, “Justice is satisfied.”
We understand that a day or two previous to
the execution lie fully confessed the crime, (any
knowledge of which he had before steadily de
nied.) The cause he assigned for it was jeal
ousy. All immense number of spectators were
present, and thousands more on their way who
were disappointed in consequence ot the exe
cution being hastened.
The Trial of Williams it is expected w ill soon
appear in a pamphlet, which, probably, will
contain hi confession.
Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell of New
York has it is said devoted the Dia
mond Ring, which he received front
the tyrant Alexander, to the cause of
(irecian freedom.
Administrator’s Sale.
WILL be sold at the late resi
dence of Alexander Turner,
late of Bibb county, dec. on Saturday
the 27th December,
AW the Personal Property
belonging to said estate, consisting of
Horses, Cattle, Farming Utensils,
Household and Kitchen Furniture.
&c. &c.
Terms made known on day of Sale
MARGARET TURNER ,Mm\v. ’
Nov. 12, 1823. 6w34
Administrator’* Sale.
ON Tuesday, the 22d day of De
cember next, will be sold at the
late residence of Willoughby S. Hill,
late of Twiggs county, dec’d
Part ot the Personal Pro
perty belonging to said estate consist
ing of one set of Blacksmith’s tools,one
yoke of Oxen,one Watch, and twolike
iy Colts. Terms made known on the
day of sale.
Nancy Hill, Admr'x.
Wm. A. Tharp, JldmW.
Nov. 4th, 1823. tds—34
