Georgia messenger. (Ft. Hawkins, Ga.) 1823-1847, December 24, 1823, Image 2

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THE \ writer in the F.a*t Florida Herald, who signs himself “A Native Floridian,” has writ.! fen twelve lengthy nowhere <>u various sub lets cfpnei-teii with agricultural improve ments, <vc. of that territory. He appears to be n person of much theory, nnd speculates on many subjects which are quite new to us. We <lo not, however, pretend to pronounce any ol them visionary or impracticable. In hopes that some of his hints may not be altogether in applicable to nvr latitude, we submit a part of the 12th number to the perusal of our read ers, and may hereafter give some further ex tracts from his writings. Nor is the cochineal literally an article of vegetable culture; but the plant indispensable to its sub sistence must be cultivated to give value to this little animal both in quantity and quality. In Mexico large fields of what is called there the time, and here the prickly pear are planted for their food. This product could he made as impor tant in the southern parts of Flori da as in Mexico, where the annual export has in times of political tranquility,amounted to a vast sum. As to the question not yet fully at re3t among naturalists, whether this is an insect or a berry, we who see it live and move in plenty among the wild prickly pear,as far north as St. Augustine, need not take a part; but raise and ship it: to the dyers and doctors. It will employ younger and weak hands Very advantageously. The plant to be cultivated for this purpose is perennial, and may be called perpetual in self propo rtion. It has to lie planted but once, and such is its tenacity of life and prolificacy in generative powers, that were but the broken leaves thrown on the surface of the land, it will shoot roots and erect itself into a plant with but the aid of a shower of rain. The only cultivation necessary after the first planting to keep down the extrane ous growth, and remove from it the decayed parts of its leaves ; which are gathered into small heaps in the intervals of the beds during summer and burnt off in the winter. This insect is gathered and cur ed in the fall of the year, by strip ping from the leaves of the pricklv pear a white and very fine web that cloathes them in patches in which these shelter, leaving here and there a patch of the web with its contents as seed for the ensuing year and these webs are placed over the steam of boiling water for a few moments to kill the insects; they are then shook from the web and spread out thinly to dry. Fre quently they are taken from the web alive, put into a bag, and dipt into boiling water : but in this pro cess many get mashed and lost in their struggles of resistance: be ing like a small full tick, with a ten der skin ; and the hot water it is said impairs their fine die. The fruit of the prickly pear,for ming like small pears, standing erect, and highly coloured of a deep crimson, when ripe, affords a good dye, but less valuable than co- This should be picked and and ied when ripe ; it pays well on expor tation. Bene and Ground Nuts are too well known in this country, and it would he supposed, to adm it of any thing new being said about them, but this is not the case, we have walked over them like many other good things without stopping to ponder on their value, much less putting them to the trial. They have not been planted as a crop for market; and the answer of some of our planters is, but surely not from experience, that a hand will make as much by planting corn.— But this is wrong in a general way for our very light lands, or those much worn by culture and no ma nuring, w ild produce in quantity at least two ior one of ground nuts to to corn; and bene though fall ing short in measure will make up in its greater value. Moreover corn requires in its cultute from the commencement, to the storing the labor of able hands: for such is our economy as well as industr\, that carts are nearly as strange a contriyance among us as plows the negroes carry home the corn on their heads. Every plantation worked by ne groes have to their numbers of slaves a portion of old men, and women a ltd children that are not considered taskable hands; and the former spend most of their time in gathering weeds for the hogpen (gardens not being in vogue and corn never in plenty) or in some other frivolous matter ; and the children run about as untutor ed as the calves. —Thole could be well employed in all parts of a bene crop, and particularly so in that of ground nuts, except preparing the land to receive the grain, and giv ing it one hoeing to kill the first suit of grass. I know of no article wc could! plant that would exceed the ground, nuts as a manure. Three or four quarts will plant an acre so as to ; cover it with a high and dense bed of leaves and branches, and those: leaves of a thick and succulent na ture. Three or four feet apart and two grains in a hole, is the usual mode ot planting it; but when it is intended for manure, if planted: about two feet apart, and turned ini with the plough just before the: leaves begin to turn yellow and the hogs let in upon the nuts in the winter; for by that time the leaves and branches are pretty well de-j composed and the nuts remain per-; fectly sound, a fourfold advantage , wouid be the results,namely : The! nuts on the surface, thrown up by: the plough, and gathered after the first rain, would pay for the plant ing ploughing and gathering; the land would be manured the nuts under gronnd become a fattening mass to the hogs; and their dili gence in searching for them would ; so thoroughly work up the land that it would, with but little ’abour be mellow and ready for any thing in the spring. ‘J hese nuts make an excellent ta ble oil; but, perhaps, they would pay better by being sold for the manufacture of chocolate, he. — The bene affords more oil and that not inferior to the best olive oil in! table and culinary uses and it is, lound to keep better from rancidi-] ty and other evils of age. Both the ground nuts and bene, parched and beat make a good and palata ble soup in the absence of flesh ; and the ground nuts when nearly ripe, or blanched and beat when ripe and dry, make sexeral good dishes, among diem a delightful j puslding. The Indians prepare a 1 pleasant food for travelling that is scarcely equalled in nutritive qual ity to its bulk. This is done by beating in a morter equal parts of parched corn and parched ground nuts to a thorough paste, and dry ing it i cakes. Hemp and flax, I have never heard ol either being tried in Flor ida but in one instance ; Mr. Fish, a gentleman from New York, who owned St. Anastacia’s Island, I have heard him say that he has rai sed hemp on that island as fine a-, he ever saw. The castor bean or palma christi, will make a good crop in the north ern parts of Florida, hut it is more at home far south, inasmuch as in the former it must be planted annually ;it is generally killed by the frost, but to the south it con tinues its growth for years , there fore becomes larger, and much more abundant in its product. Sarsaparilla has never been ex ported from hence, in fact but few knew tha- it grew’ atall in this coun try. —This however is nothing sur prising; we knew as much of the province of Yucatan as we did of the southern interior of Florida ; such has been the want of ever) thing like energy and industry ; as to enterprise that was out of the question : The most of those who lived northwardly were as though they did not belong to Florida; Georgia was their precedent, their factor, and their hobby : The Au* gustinians seldom lost sight of the smoke of their own chimneys:— And the southern settlers kept within the mosquitoes. The few who travelled farther south having in view but fishing and wrecking, seldom lost sight of the sea coast; and if they did they might as well have found two pebbles as a pebble and a diamond. Philosophic dis positions were but little more abun dant among us than those of the mercurial; all stood to the order of the day ; indigo and rice for a time, and then cotton for another.— In short our genius for contrivance discovery, and enterjwizc, in no part o*’Florida, would ever have led to a suspicion of our setting any of the rivers on fire. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. (Concluded.) The act of Congiess of the se venth of May’ one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two appropri ated the sum of twenty two thous and seven hundred dollars for the purpose of erecting two piers as a shelter for vessels from ice, near Cape Henlopen, Delaware Bay. To effect the object of the act, the officers of the board of Engineers with Commodore Bainbridge, were directed to prepare plans and esti mates of piers sufficient to answer the purpose intended by the act. It appears by their report which ac companies the documents from the War Department, that the appro priation is not adequate to the pur pose intended ; and, as the piers w ould be of great service, both to the navigation ol the Delaware Bay, and the protection of vessels on the adjacent parts of the coast, I submit for the consideration ot Congress, whether additional and sufficient appropriations should not be made. The board of Engineers were also directed to examine and sur vey the entrance ot the harbor of the port of Presqu’isle in Penns) 1- vania, in order to make an estim ate of the expense of removing the obstructions to the entrance, with a plan of the best mode of effecting the same under the appropriation for that purpose, by act of Con gress passed third of March last. The report of the Board accompan ies the papers from the War De partment and is submitted for tbe consideration of Congress. A strong hope has been long en tertained, founded on the heroic struggle of the Greeks, that they would succeed in their contest, and resume their equal station as am ong the nations of the earth. It is believed that the whole civilized world takes a deep interest in their welfare. Although no power has declared in their favor yet none, according to our information, has taken part against them. Their cause and their name have protec ted them from dangers, which might ere this, have overwhelmed anv other people. The ordinary calculations of interest, and of ac quisition, with a view to aggran dizement, which mingle so much iu the transactions of nations, seem to ha\ e had no effect in regard to them. From the facts which have come to our knowledge there is good cause to believe that their enemy has lost forever all dominion over them ; that Greece will be i come again an independent nation. ; That she may obtain that rank, is the object ol our most ardent wish es. It was stated at the commence ment of the last session, that a great effort was then making in Spain and Portugal to improve the condition of the people of those countries; and that it appeared to be conducted with extraordina ry moderation. It need scarcely be remarked, that the result has been so far very different from what was then anticipated. Os events in that quarter of the globe with which we have so much in tercourse, Ik from which we derive our origin, we have always been anxious and interested spectators. The citizens of the U. States cher ish sentiments the most friendly, in favor of the liberty and happi ness of their fellow men on that side of the Atlantic. In the wars of the European powers, in matters relating to themselves, we have ne ver taken any part, nor does it com port with our policy so to do. It is only when our rights are inva ded, or seriously menaced, that we resent injuries, or make prepara tion for our defence. With the movements in this hemisphere, we are, of necessity, more imme diately connected, and by causes which must be obvious to all en lightened and impartial observers. The political system of the allied powers is essentially different, in this respect, from that of America. This difference proceeds from that which exists in their respective governments. And to the defence of our own, which has been achiev ed by the loss of so much blood and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of their most enlightened citizens, and under which wc have enjoyed unexampled felicity, this whole nation is devoted. We owe it therefore to candor, and to the amicable relations existing between theU- States and those powers, to declare, that wc should consider ahv attempt, on their part to ex tend their system to auv portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and safety’. M ith the existing colonies or dependen cies of any European power, we have not interfered, and shall not interfere. But with tbe govern ments who have declared their in dependence, and maintained it, and whose independence we have on great consideration and on just principles,acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling, in any other manner, their destiny bv any Europeanpporer,w r er, in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly dis position towards the United States. In the war between those new gov ernments and Spain, we declared our neutrality at the time ot their recognition, and to this we have adhered, and shall continue to ad here, provided no change shall oc cur, which, in the judgement of the competent authorities of this govenment, shall make a corres ponding change on the part of the U. States indispensable to their se curity. The late events in Spain and Por tugal shew that Europe is still un settled. Os this important fact, no stronger proof can be adduced than that the allied powers should have thought it proper, on any principles satisfactory to themselves to have interposed by foice, in the internal concerns of Spain. To, what extent such interposition mav be carried, on the same principle, is a question in which all indepen dent powers, whose governments differ from theirs, are interested ; even those most remote, and sure ly none more so than the U. States. Our policy in regard to Europe, which was adopted at an early stage of the wars which have so long agitated that quarter of the globe, nevertheless remains the same, which is, not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers ; to consider the govern ment de facto as the legitimate gov ernment for us ; to cultivate friend ly relations by a frank, firm and manly policy, meeting in all instan ces the just claims of every pow er; submitting to injuries from none.— But in regard to these continents, circumstances are eminently and conspicuously different. It is im possible that the allied powers should extend their political sys tem to any portion of either contin ent without endangering our peace and happiness ; nor can any one believe that our southern brethren if left to themselves would adopt it of their accord. It is equally im possible, therefore, that we should viev such interposition, in any form, with indifference. If we look to the comparitive strength and resourses of Spain and those new govern ments, and their distance from each other, it must be obvious that she can never subdue them. It is still the true policy of the U. States to leave the parties to themselves, in the hope that other powers will pur sue the same course. If we compare the present con dition of our Union, with its actu al state at the close of our revolu tion, the history of the world fur nishes no example of a progress in improvement, in all the impor tant circumstances which consti tute the happiness of a nation, which bears any resemblance to it At the first epoch our population did not exceed three millions. By the last census it amounted to about ten millions, and, what is more ex traordinary, it is almost altogether native, for the emigration from other countries has been inconsid erable. At the first epoch, half the territory within our acknowledged limits was uninhabited anil a wil derness. Since then, new territory has been acquired, of vast extent, comprising within it many rivers, particularly the Mississipi, the navigation of which to the ocean was of the highest importance to the original states. Over this ter ritory our population has expanded in every direction, and new States have been established, almost equal in number, to those which formed the first bond of our Union. This expansion of our population, and accession of new States to our Un ion, have had the happiest effect on all its highest interests. That it has eminently augmented our resources, added to our strength and respectability, as a power, is admitted by all. But, it is not in these important circumstances only, that this happy c ff ect ■ I It is manifest that, h y k 'lß the basis of our system, a 5 s M creasing the number of ‘ ■ system itself has been 5 ’ strengthened in both > hrSjj Consolidation and disunion k B therein been rendered eo B impracticable. Each govern confiding in its own strength less to apprehend from ■ and, in consequences each t ‘ er 'B inga greater freedom of actio?’ E rendered more efficient fo r an’, I ** purposes for w hich it was i- ■ B ted. It is unnecessary to t * ” ■ here, of the vast I made in the system itself, |, v ? I adoption of this constitution’ a B ot its happy effect in elev at j I the thmw, and in the rights ot the nation, as well 9 B ot individuals. To what then I we owe these blessings >j t 0 ■ known to all, that we derive the'* I from the excellence of our B tions. Ought we not then to a * I dopt every measure, which ma y |* 1 necessary to perpetuate them: ■ JAMES MON HOE. I North West Expedition Cav I Parry arrived this morning at thj I Admiralty, having landed at Wfo 1 by whence his Majesty’s ships F arr I and Hecla were continuing ■ way to the river Thamas. I The public regret that Capt. p lr . 1 ry has not been able to accompli I the North-West passage will I amply compensated by the general I pleasure which will be felt at I safe return of this gallant officer I and his brave companions. I In 1821, the expedition explor-■ c,d Repulse Bay, Sir Thomas KoeVl Welcome, Middleton’s French ■ Strait, and that neighborhood, and I finding no passage to the Notth. I ward and westward, wintered in I the southern bay of an island, cal-1 led Win ter Island, it lat. 60, u, I long. 83. I In 1822, the exdedition, guided I and encouraged by the information I they had received during the wit ter, from a party of Esquimau, with whom they had established*, friendly intercourse, pursued their attempt to the Northward, and ex amined all inlets towards the West, till they arrived at a strait which seperates the North West Coast of America from what Capt. Parry considers to be a cluster of islands, extending Northward towards the scene of his former voyage. lhe great object of ascertaining the northern limits of the Conti nent being thus accompliehed,capt. Parry penetrated two degrees to the Westward with considerable expectation of final success ; bat found that the ice was perpetual, and not seperated in anv seasonor under any circumstances. Tbe expedition was therefore obliged to winter in latitude, 69, 20, longi tude, 81, 50. In the summer of this year fill ing the ice still fixed to the shore?, in such a manner as precluded $ hopes of further progress in tiff neighborhood in which he was,capt. Parry thought it advisable to gift up the attempt, and return to Ens land. The expedition has lost by ill* ness, only Mr. Pyfee, the Green; land Master, and three seamen,ai one man killed by accident. The Charleston Courier states, that “ Mr. Beaumont, Editor of the Trifler,” a paper published 1 ’ Kingston, Jamaica, has been tried on an information for a libel on the Duke of Manchester, Governorot that island. The report of the tri exhibits as striking a proof of judi cial arrogance as we have ever setts ‘The defendant in person concluded his defence, after a thousand in ter ruptions, and was repeatedly cheer* ed on his acquittal by the Jury-** The Judge and Attorney General were pelted with stones and brier bats on their return from Court 1 ” their carriages. A Miss Crackham, has been exhibited at Liverpool as a wonder‘d curiosity. She is 9 years of age, inches highland weighs less than thr* e pounds—is-in perfect proportion ’’ and talks, and lias the use of all * icr faculties. Florida.— We understand that jj’* commissioners appointed to locate ‘ seat of government in Florida, ‘ agreed that the scite shall be #l■ Louis, a spot distant fiom St. M* ’ N. N. W. about 23 miles, and the main road from Pensacola through the£s'jnic.