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BY WILLIAM S. JONES.
WEBKIT
CHFONP lE sentinel
GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE.
Executive Department. ?
MILLKf GEVILLKt Nov. 3J, 1851 J
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate
and House of Representatives:
In doting my olHc.al om.ection with the
representatives of the people, it will be my
cbj »ct to place fairly before them the measures
1 have heretofore felt, and now feel it my duty
to recommend, sedulously avoiding, as far as
possible, the introduc’.ion of any topic not af
fecting the interests of the people.
While abundant cause of profound gratitude
exiats, for the continue J kindness of that su
perintending Providence, by which our Stale
has been spared from iho scourge of pestilence
and famine, yet it is not to be disguised, that
we are passing through a a?aaon of bitter dis
cor/ent s hat may well claim the exercise of the
brighest of the Christian virtues, to enab'e us
to per ft rm our full duty to the State, the Union,
ourselves, end our ch Idrea. The beautiful
eys'etn of a representative confederacy of sove
reign States Quied upon the principles of Jus
tice and Equality, reflecting the enlightened
judgment of a virtuous, intelligent, industrious
and patriotic people, is only io be feared by the
wicked and corrupt, while to the orderlv end
r -‘’’’.-minded, it is a pillar of strength that will
g-* insure justice to all. our object
th en tie, to enlarge the basis of true civilization
wiuio the birda/s o r our State, by planting
cecp’y, and
.... ■-&.-■a.,•' -V •avry »
Claes ar*d condition of onr people: that each
and aH may understand and feel the value of
free instittitions, and be capable of devising the
best means ol perpetual ng ihem.
THZ r.NANCES
I: affords proper ground cf pleasure, that 1
sbonlG be able to communicate to the
sure the high y prosperous condition of the
Finances of the Sia f o, and the jest apprecia
tion of our public securities at home and
abroad.
It is believed, tint at no former period, have
the bonds of tho State commanded greater
cor fi fence, or maintained a higher value in the
market*; nor does ibis remark app!y alone to
that class qi he public •eearities known av
the Domestic Debt, but aqua !y to the remnant
of the Foreign debt of £ls 000, held in Eog
lan !. The advance in the market value of the
latter, wit nti the last twoyears, and the increas
ed confidence of the tulders, have rendered all
c flora to redeem it itnpraciicab'e for the pre
sent.
The pablic del t, foreign end doroeatie, at
the opening ol the session of the Legislature
in 1817, a» communicated in a former message,
was $1,578,875 60.
In cons rm tr with he recommendation con
tained in the la-t message of my predecessor,
in which I fully concurred, the General A*aim
hlv ot 1847 approDriared the sum rs $375 000
l >r the c«>tnpfe:*on of the Western and At ar t c
R :i! Rosd, a detailed statement of the expen
diture of which, is contained in a former com
mun cation; and, i-t (ho same session, $22,-
222 22 to satisfy the claim of Peter Trexevant
for which bond* issued, and were paid, as here
toforo communtcste ?.
The last Le-rnda ure provided that Messrs.
P. O. Reynolds, Jam s F. Cooper, and Rich
ard Peters, should inves.igate the claim of
John D Gray & Co . c» r tractors on the West
ern and At antic Radmad for extra work, &c ,
and that the Eiecutivo should issue bonds, re
dcemeble by the Road, for the amour t found
dun by them. Bonds for the inm of $24,-
541.10 were iesned and paid (o Mr. Gray on
the 29. h day of August 1850, in pursuance of
the law ard the report of the Committee, a
«opy of which is trnnsmifed. A funher sp
prop nation of $20,000 wa« made, and directed
to be paid over to (he Milledgeville and Gor
don Railroad Company, upon its completion ;
but no evidence h iving been furnished of the
camp!e:ion of the R-iad, this appropria’ion still
stands where it wav left by the L*gi-lature.
, It will thus be seen, that the liability of the
Sta.o has been increased, since the close of the
political year 18 17. to the close of the political
y*-ar
several appropriations are so generally known
and approved by the country, thst farther de
tail, in thij respect, would not now bs deri able
Since the close of the political tear 1847. to
th* a clo* : of the financial year 1851, tbe;e has
been pud, ofinterer on tie pub'ie debt, fo
reign and dr mastic $414.77091, and of prin
cipal, the sum of $261 559 72, having the debt
st this tints $1,721.722 22
If from this amourt is taken S3OO OCO, which
is tno ba'anca of the appropriation for the com
pielion of the Western a d A Untie Railroad,
unredeemed, and which under the act sppr •-
pnating the sarr, most ultimately be pa»d off,
and discharged from the net income of mH
Road, die public deb» at thi« time, is $1424,-
742 22; lees by $154.153 38, than it was at the!
*- r*7seof riu politicd year 1817 The avnileble
fund* in the Treavurv. rtnnlirxMA tn tha ftktnr* I
iuuu- in me i reaeury, applicable totuelutore
redocpon of the publics debt, at the cloae of the
present fiscal year aa appears by the Treasu
rer's Report, ia $51038 09. Thia amount,
($54 038 09 ) being the surplus in the Treasu
ry, sh’Uld bs eprhed, as early as practicable,
to the farther reduction < f the pablie debt;
after which, the liahiliti • proper cf the Sta'e
would be $1 370 694 13.
It will be borne in trind that the aunt of
$l3O 000 was appropriated by the act o f 1845,
lorjibe extension of the Writara and Atlantic
Rfi'road, of which sums, $lO7 5000 1 waa ex
pended under the direction of my predecessor,
and the balance applied by the presen Chief
Engineer, by my approbation, to the purchase
of Jlottre Power and Cars, for the use of said
Road. ’I bia sum, however, is no charge open
the Treasury ; as by express stipulation, the
holders of this class of the public securities are
to look alone to the prt.fi aof the Western and
Atlantic R til R-tad, for principal and inter
est.
I : thia ronnccion it would not be deemed,
! trust, out of place to rem cd the General
Assembly, that the great ditucu’tv experienced
by my predecessor, in con.erting these bonds
into cash, or its equivalent, it is behaved, in
duced the Georgia Railroad and Banking
Company and the South Carolina Rail Road
Companv, to endorse or guaranty the pay
ment of principal and interest of a large
amount ot them; whereby negotiations were
effected in one es our neighboring States.
Tnat this transaction was otto of good faith, 1
have no doubt. How far it is incumbent upon
the General As etnbly, by suitable legislative
provisions. to substitute the credit of the Stats
for that of 'here Rail Road compere", in thio
particular instance, I submit to its sense of jus
tics and libera'ity.
The remaining probable charge upon the
Treasury 'o bo convdered, grows out of ths
legislation heretofore bad in reference to the
Central Bank, the original capital stsck of
which tray be estimated, in round numbers, at
$3 560.000
Tns req tuition: on the Bank, in the form
of Treasury warrants, as appears by an official
report on this sub ect, from ’33 to '4l, itto'u
sive, was $2 293 500. and for construction of
the W. and A. Ra.lroad, al different periods
from -10 to 43. the additioaal sum of S6BO 000.
making he amount actually paid, a’d liabd -
ti • incurred by the Bank fur various objects
of lit ernal improvement the support of the
G ivetntaent and other obj CIS not included
i t <he aboke bs'ima'ea, no tar from $3,200-
COU. In the face of these heavy drains upon
the Central B ink. by the act of 1834, fur ibe
education cf the poor, 1733 shares of the Bank
of the State of Georgia, and 890 shareg of the
Bark of Augusta, which constituted a part of
its cap tai eteck, amounting to $262 300. was
transferred to the Treasury, and the income
from this source pledged to the object of
Education.
From that period, the Bank has not been
depri ed, merely of this amount of ite capita!
stock, but the dividends which hsve setually
accrued and been paid into the Treasure,
amounting o the sum cf $129 131 50. io cash,
and ths additional sun of $lB 600 of ihs
stock of the Georg's Railroad aad Banking
Company: making the aggregate, estima'ing
the B nk Stock at oar, of principal and inter
est, § 410. 032 50. What principle of public
expediency or financial exigency, warranted
this diver,ion of the assets of the Central
Bi- k a' a ,ime when its liabili ies were proba
bly net lass than $1 500 000, when IU bills
were below par, wlun there was an ex'easive
and general derangement of the currency of
the whole country and when Btnks, aswell
ar the pecple at largo, were laboring under
a pressure, more desolating and dis
astrons than had been rxperienaed for
years, is to me incoinprehensib a. Asa finan
cial ■ easnro. its effects up >a the credit of the
State if out the pockets of bill holders, were
not more instan'aneons than unavoidable,
i'u'•'•c confidence was destroyed, the moment
it was apparent that tbe Legislature had de
priced the B ink of a large par ton of its assets
obi h were pledged friths redemption cf its lia
bilities and a: p ied them to ano.her and d ffer
ent object it it were within the competency
of the Legislature to divest is dividual rights
which ha accrued to the creditors of the
Bink, what guarsn y was there that ths n it
step might not le taken, sod the Bank be
deprived of all its assets, without providing for
the ultimate redemption of its l abil t esl
it is no answer to this otjec'.icn that the
Bink st>ck referred to, was applied to the
gnat object of educating the poor.es it ill
bo seen by reference to the records of this de
partment. that for the years 1843.’<9 and '59,
teciu-tve. the beneficisries cf 'he fund re
puted. number 96 869. andthesum Jistribu
ted nrul-r the set of 1813 lor the same per od
is $6) 812 50: being a fraction lees than sixty
three cents to each per annum, and not sufft
e;e:.t, un 'er rhe lowest rates charged, to pay
for-wenty days t aiion.
Was ever may have be» a the policy ia
which this measure orig nated. from 'he beet
consideration I base been able to give the
subject Ia n farced to the jccnc'asroa that
the exsa pie established, of transferring a
fund, alter being pledged t> a specific object,
bv ore ibo purpeso cf the pledge io falls
redeemed, should cot be encoureced ; and
of wikdrawiag the Meets of
the Ce: tral Bank, and applying th m •„ other
eb. cts and hereby depriving it of the means
of westing i:< übilit.es. is whoi'v indefeasitlo
upon prise po. The Sta e has gained ooh
mr. oar bare tt.e peop'e. By ibe transfer el
the Park stock to ths Treasuty. a aeeeesity is
created to supply tbs defivienc> in the Centre*
Bank, by the Stale. It can only be done by
tit i<n; and die result of this whe Is measure
I is, that every dollar distributed has to be re
turned back to the Bank by tho people, wiib-
I , oat any substantial good, as I hare shown, in
educating the poor children.
From the view presented, let not the ina
. pression preva I, that lam opposed to a »y>
tern of free schools, or to providing the means,
amply and liberally, to educa e n'l the you h
iof the cout try But to accomplish ‘his eb
j ject, let the policy of the State be straight
i forward and direct ; let the country know that
ea claim is made upon the property.the people,
v the intelligence and virtue of the State, to
, furnish adequate moans for extetidinz to all
f the youth a legacy of incalculable value, a
s genera! d (fusion among all c!a«*cs and c indi
dsns, of the rudiments of an English educa
tiee ; for instilling into them by eerly training,
> 1 just conceptions of tho soci.l relation of mat
. to his fel ow rrao, a love of country and of
i liberty, and the doty of habitual reverence
i and humble obedience to the laws, principles,
and teachings of the great Author ol man's
existence, without which, all government is
but a fraud, liberty but a name.
The liabilities of the Centr«l Bank, at this
time, consist of Bands issued to redeem its
0 rcula'ion. amounting to $371,093. Os this
amount, 89 000 is redeemable in 1854, $3!) -
000 in 1855 $31,500 in lek'G, $17,000 in 1857,
$21,500 in 1853, SSO 000 in 1859, $35,000 iu
1860. $5 00€ in 18<il. $37 000 in 1362, $lB,-
500 iu 1863 and $74 090 ia 1864.
The availab'e assets, as reported to me by
the Cashier, may be estimated at $100,600.
This probable defieieney. therefore, will have
to be provided for hereaftei. Within four'
years, ending with the close of the present
fiscal year, the liabilities of ths Bank have
> be*a redt.f i 87, ; fargw amrmt
of the assets, within the period referred' tj,
regarded as insolvent or doubtful, has been
realized, or secured by the officers of the
Bank: and much the lai ger amount of these
claims. 1 have no doubt, would have proved a
total less to the Bink, had the ease's been
transferred to the Treasury. I have not be
lieved it to be t« the interest of the St-t-, to
order this transfer heretofore, nor would 1
now recommend it to be dune. I believe the
discretion vested in the Executive, as to the
transfer of its assets, sound and salutary, and
there 1 would advise, it should remain.
e TASKS.
o Upon careful consideration, I fe’t it my
» duty to iiwi*e the attention of the lan G. neral
i Assembly to our system es levying and collect*
!• ing taxes. The inequality of our tax laws
b appeared to be so obvious, as to encourage the
- hope that the Legislature would not adjourn,
I without the substitution of the ad valorem, fcr
- the present specific and objec ionahle dhcriiD
inatim principle, adopted in 1804, and con-
t tiuued up to thia time with slight
r tiona.
> One of the defects of the old sv tem was
remedied at the last session, bat tho highly
objectionable feature of arbitrary specific tax*-
» tion of property, whether teal n persoral,
irrespective of its value, as ascertained by the
J price it would command in the mtrket. or
c otherwise, is still reta*nal. i-i vixlation of the
most obvious principles of jus'ioo and sound
policy. Taxes, however raised, whether by
the State or General Government, rmy be re
garde! ata charge upon property people
for the protection of both. In what mode, and
to what extant property should be burdened
to rai*a the req tired sum, whe'her bv specific
’ levy with discrimination, or strictly upon tho
ad valorem principle, has been, and w;ll doubt
lew conliuue to be, the friiitfal source of dis
’ cursion, and diveraiiy of opinion.
The principle of discriminilion that so
largely enters into every system of specific
taxation, had its origin in no clear, or well
defined notions c f just ce, and should only be
reported to in behalf of property in which all
classes and conditions of society have, or ar-j
supposed to have, an equal in'erest. Leave
man freeto engage in whatever lawful pu'su t
may be congenial to his trste, habits and into
res', hut let the State beware ho* the proper
’ ty of one of its citizens is exempted from
taxes while, by an unequal anti unjust dircrim
ination, heavy burdens are imposed upon that
1 of another. The obvious duty of the Legisla
' tore, as it seems to me, is to ascertain with
precision, or approximating it, the sum re
quired to meet the domancs upon the Treas
ury, and then, from tho property of the coun
try, rri»e the requisite sum ; not by sajing
that 100 acres of land, though worth one
ho-jsand dollars, should pay do more tax to
the State, than the same number of acres 1
adjoining it, not worth one hundred dollars ; 1
not by exempting the property of one man, 1
and taxing that of another ; not by saying that,
as between two individual possessed of equal
amounts, hut different species of property, the .
one should be assessed, at ihe rate of fifty dol
lars, whereas, of the oilier, only live do’hrs 1
ts demanded ; but by ievying the same rate of ‘
iax upon all of the property of the S ate, accor
ding to its value If diocriininn'iQns are to be
i tolerated at all, lam clearly of the opinion, it 1
should ba Asvoz of gjud Aniala . against ‘
person I ; hut certainly there is no equal ty, 1
or justice, in a system of finance, exact’ng dif
ferent rates of taxes on lands of lhe same
va'oe.
One of ths objee'ione offered Io a system
of tsxa'ion bated upon the value of Ibe pro
perty itself, is the want of reliable data by
which the principle con'd be tea'ed. All must
foresee the imminent danger to the credit of
the Bts'e, its ci aracter and prosperity, result
ing from an inability in the Treasury to meet
promptly all demand* upon it. by whata lever
means produced. But it is believed, the pre
•ent period is exceedingly favo able, either
fur a total, or partial change of the prevent
systeu. Tha da'a furnished, of the value of
real and perianal property of thia Stale, under
the an hority of an act of Congress, during
the last year, would bo highly tisefel. Many
interesting statistics, that would serve to direct
the research and investigation < f the Legisla
ture, in fixing the prop©- rare cf levy to raise
a given amount, might bo obtained from the
Census books deposited in lire office cf lhe
Secretary of State. It may not ba unworthy
of notice that, upon live authority, tha real
estate of Gaorrta was estimated at $120,663 -
283, 'hsporsenai at $210,031 954, aud 'bat one
eighth cl one per cent, ou tho gross amount,
would bring into the Trcas-rey about $347,-
282.82. afar allowing sixteen per cent for
assessing, collecting and p ying over tbe same;
is amount exceeding the present income, end
ms a than adequate fur the present and accru
ing liabilities.
Having discusred thesttfjact. somewhat at
length, tn a communication submitted to the
last Legida'urs, I feel that it would be an un
necessary tax upon your indulgence, again to
repeat tbe argum* nts then submitted 1
most respectfully iel*r you to what was then
communicated, as contain!** not merely my
opinions at the time, but since greatly
strengthened by fur her obse. va ion. reflec
tion and expert •nee, I cannot, therefore, too
earnestly urge upon you a strong and abiding
convic'ion, that j ist co and good fai h as
well as expediency, imperiously claim at tne
hands of the Legislature an entire ch ugs of
the priuc pie of your tax laws by lhe suhstitu
’ tion of a tax bared upon tbe value of proper
' ty Whatever may be tbe fate of Ibis mens'
1 ure before the present Legislature, I shall aver
cherish the hope that a sense of right, a leva
ofrqua'ity and justice, will ultima e'y prevail;
1 and mat the sound principle ol taxa ion, that
’ the burihans of Government should rest upon
' tho objects of its protection, so earnestly
’ pressed upon you, will become firmly riveted
1 upon lhe public wud.
TUX TKXirCRY.
s Tbe Reports' ol tire Treasurer and Comp
s troffer General, for lhe financial years 185'9and
■ 1851 are herewith irapsmilted. The duly im
posed by law upen the Treasurer,has been
complied with, and h.s a* :mates of the prob
able receipts and expend turas, for lbs next
two years, are submitted.
The total available balance in the Treasury,
st the close of tha financial year, is sllß,-
669 45, from this sum deduct $37 180.71.
of undrawn appropriations; s3'l > 2'9 40 of
tbe tax of 1851. collected beu-te the close
of lhe financial rear, and $lO 582, dividends
on * Education Fund," (savins a surplus at
lhe close of the fiscal year of S4O 087 34.
The amount of undrawn appropns ions, that
wi'l revert to the Treasury, w ill probably not
very far from sl3 950 75, making the actual
surplus tn lhe Treason , subject to any future
appropriations made by the L'eislatnre, or
applicab e to the public debt, s*>l,o3B 09.
At the last session, au Act was pas-e 1, pro
vidtog S7O 000 as an annual sinking land. 1
was early foreseen, after lhe adjnuromeut cf
tha Legislature from the eitraorciuary expense
of t iat session exceeding, as it d d 'he esu
mates of the Treasurer by $39 301 08, inde
pendent of au eitraordinary appropr ation of
$30OIK), the expenditure ol which wasdepend
ent upon contingencies that dtd not ari-e ut.t!
near tne close of tie fiscal year, t tat the Trea
sury rright be somewhat straightened, if an ap
p'ication of the stuk ng fund to t o redemption
of lhe Bonds was made before any portion of
the taxes of 1350 was received. Efforts, how
ever. were made abroad, by too agents of lhe
Slate, to ascertain »t whsi rates the £ 15,009
sterling could be obtained; ard from causes
already mar t oned, it was deeared injudicious
to redeem these eecurit es at the time. Nor was
the'e any application made, or opportunity
sffirdeu .bo Treasurer, to redeem any portion
of ths doursstic de t b»f»re March last, w hen
$72 000 of the 6 per cent, bonds were offered
and redeemed. I).Urgant inqui hs have since
been made to obt >io tbe bonds ofthe St ta, that
the surplus now in the Treasury might be ap
plied m redeeming the same but with htt'e suc
cess.
Ata more recent date notice w.ugi>on in
tha public gaartes of tbe readiness of the
Treasury to redeem an additional sum, aed
a'ter all proper means used tu induce holders
to psi t w th the bonds oft.he St its at par, with
in the last tvo fiscal years, just closed, tie
amount paese; tni and -adeemed at ths Ties
sury » $103,750 Ol'. cf the 6 per cents; thus
I'aroishing tie most sstisiactorv evidence of
the prosperous cand lion ol the financial af
fairs of the Site
In this connsc ion it won'd be an acceptable
announcement to make, 1 apprehend, to tl.e
Legislature, that. nA r vears of delay the sum
ol $65 683 44. exclusive of comrais iocs has
been collected from th" Ge teral Govet'mcit
for advances made, and tha latervst aecro'rg
■ thereon, io lhe !nd.an disttibanees cf IB3*>.
Under the autherttv of a Joirt Resslu ion of
• the Ua: Lexistsl-rre, I appointed Joseph Stur
gis. E«q.. the Attm ey in fact of the State, to
y urge upon tbe Authorities at Waskmg'on, this
s just claim, of fifteen years standing. To his
• untiring zeal, assiduity and skill in tho man
• agement of this long neglected c'aiia, the St te
> is in no small degree indebted for the respecta
ble sum received, so very generally regarded
• as utterly worthless. A claim of the Certral
Bank against ths United Stites of like charsc-
, ter, was also p’aced in the hands of Judge
Sturgis, wi h like happy results! the Bank
having received for this cla m s2l 044 00.
WESTXr.N AW ATLANTIC RUtl lAD
The Reports of the Chief Engineer of the
Western and Adar.t : c Railroad, for ths years
1850 and 1851. and the Report ! of the Finance
Committee, appointed under the Act of 18-15
are also transmitted. To these Reports I in
vie the calm and patiant a rention of the legis
lature, for many valuable suggestions, and
much useful information.
Questions of deeper interest fa the future
prosperity of the Sta e, will cot engage your
attention than those connected wth this pubi c
work. They rise above all party, se fish, or
sectional considerations, and. to the enl rged
and comprehensive views of the Stitesmin,
address themselves with a force too iiresistible,
it is believed, not to insure the adoption of
wise measures.
It was early foreseen by the friends of this
work, that sectional jealousies would spring up,
and that it would have t» encounter oppositi in
from this quarter, not less virulent in its charac
ter, than from that equally deplorable infirmity,
unfortunately too prevalent w.th certain class
es, to busy themselves most in matters of pub
lic concernment, in w ich they are roo t igno
rant The Report of the Finance Committee,
anj (he views there presented, as welt as tha
policy in which this Railway had its origin,
would seem to demand at my hands, in rttir
iri frrt*'. ha public trust ernfided to me, to
enter somewhat into the da'ano: lacta'oonnect
<*d with the administration of the affaire of this
Road, since my official connection with it com
menced. This seems to me proper, that the
publie, as well aethe Legislature, may undir
s’and the policy that haa governed me, and the
d fiicnlties with w hich the management of the
affairs of the Road h s been invested, from the
moin-nt of tny connection with it.
It will ba conceded, 1 apprehend, diet ho
successful management of a Railroad very
much depends upon the financial abtli’y wife
which its income arid disbursements are cor.-
dti ted.
When the present Chief Engineer wm called
ti perform t e threefold duties of a Board ol
Directors, President and Chief Engineer, the
name affixed to ihose du ies by eur stabile,
was that of Chief Engineer.
To fin! blended in one man, tho highes’ at
tainments in these several departments, com
bined with practical experience in each was
not to bs orp cred, Sc least, for the inadequate
ra'ary of SI .BOO per annum, a compensation
below what is believrd to be paH on moat of
the import nt roadi in tho State, to the Chief
Engineer a’nnr. B .ing qt ts stt sfied of the
eminei t qualification of the present incuoc
bei t n e ery thing conue’ted with the fiosn
cial dot es of tn« traly multdarous office. t >
Wuich hs combined an accurate thoorttcal
knowledge of Civil Engineering, superadded
t > which I may mention his elevated charac
ter for prob ty. intelligence and strictly bu?i
ness habi s, with ah intimtta acquaintance
with legs! principles, and the necessity of such
knowledge in the adjustment o! many vexed
questions, left as a legacy by the preceding ad
ministrations, clearly indicated Mr. Mitchell
a* a suitable person to invite to this responsible
H tion.
Being sat sfied at the time, that the public
interest would be promoted by calling the pre
sent incumbent to take chargo of this branch
of the public service, f have hid no jut cause
change that opinion since. The propriety
of th s remark will be seen, when t is known
to tho Legislature, that in every ins'ance of a
charge invol-ing the mi«managerne tof the
Road, brought to my attin'ion in a form tnet
would warrant offi ial nitice of the same, the
accusers hive invariably failed to adduce proof
in support of their charges, Tne conclusion
would seem irre irtible, that aPagat nns have
been prefeired ‘hrough a misapprehension of
the f cts, or from motives less cred tible to the
hi in an hea*t and locking io ulterior objects
connected with party, or the creatir n of a pub
lic opinion that would de olve upon the Legis
lature the necessity of disposing of his valua
ble property, to private individuals, or com
panies.
In January, 1848, when the former Chief
Engineer. Mr. Garnett, lumed over tho effe :ta
of tho Riad ts the presant incumbe r t, about
one hundred miles, cimtnencing at Atlanta,
and extending to Dillon, were completed:
and the entire equipment for this extent of
Railway, consisted of s’i locomotive*, one of
which war purchas’d after he Is! of Novetn
ber, 1817, two Passepper Cars, end two Ba?-
gige Cars t wi h an > nt tand ng debt, amour t
ing to $42,167 43, and a cash, balance in tne
hands of the Treasurer of $1,878.75.
This equipment would be a Inait ed by expe
rienced Rail R~ad men, as wholly inadequhte;
admiring the Engines and ca's al' new, and fit
Tmrrr. -Ttrc Pawiiger vw wvw>- *■■■> ■
and nnt liknlv H) attr.iCt
rough's constructs.;, and not likely to attract
lhe admirat'on of travellers, either for the
comfort afforded, or elegance of finish- The
Motive Power was miserably deficiett.
Since January. 1848, ta the present time,
the motive power has been increased by the
purchase of7 locomotives of the first class at
u cost of $44,500; making the pres int equip
ment in motive power, to consist of thirteen
eegines. seven of which have been bsegh'
and paid for s'nee April. 1848; and most of
which are in good order, and are believed to
be barely sufficient to do the business for tie
present.
But the deficiency in Freight cars still exists,
and until it is supplied, it mav be expee'ed
that the business of the Road wi I rot be con
dieted with dispatch, or satisfaction to tho
public. It is believed that, from t' e eariies'
experience to the prce“nt moment, few, if
any, examples can be found, where ehher a
Slate or Company, with one hundred and
thirty eight miles of Rail Road has attempted
to do lhe business of transportation, for any
considerable length of time, without a fu'l
equipment of freight ears. If the q'last'on is
considered, aloes ia reference t« the net i«-
'ome of tbe road, ecosomy wenM dsmand an
immediate equipment. For, let it be borne in
mind, that tin present Chief Engineer found,
upon ea'ering upon k : « duties, a subsisting
contract with ths Gee. Railroad, and lhe Ma
con and Western Railroad Companies, made
by the former Chief Engineer, Mr. Garnett,
that one eighth of tho gross am runt received
for freight, transported in the cara of thosa
Compan'es over the State Road anou'd be
paid as hire or re o', for the use of the same,
together with the expense cf rep airing all cars
which might bn broken orinj'ired. while en
gaged in such transportation. These items,
fer lhe last two years, amount to he su nos
$45 845 69, exslusive of an unadjusted clai u
of the Georgi’ Railroad Company lor repairs
of ears, of $17,111 51.
The cost of freight ca-s, nece’sary to Inve
performed the transportation for 'liesame time,
wou'd not havs exceeds ' $60,090 ea imating
iho number of care to bs one hundred; while
the on ire cost of the cons ruction of t o West
ern and Allamie Railroad, up to this time,
amounts to $3,913 862 28. From thia data it
will be seen, the Georgia Railroad, and
Macon and Western Railroed have pro
bably received, upon their capital invested in
Cars, from ihis State, in tbe form of rent and
repairs alone about ih tty eight per cent per
annum for the iwo years jost ended, whereas
lhe S ale hae received, upon the cspi al ex
pended in the conetruciion of i s RoaJ, about
1J per cent, for 185', and 2j for the year just
terminated.
But “ complete equipment of freight cars is
domancod, no merely fr tn the cons deraiion
noticed, bit it is essential to the faithful dis
charge of a du'y to tho public, undertaken by
the State. Freights in large quantities, accu
muiale occasionally at different points on the
Road; the owners or ship era are deeply in
terested in having them sent forward to meet
au advance in the market, actual or ant cipa.ed
but how often is it tbs case, when tho freight
cars are most needed on the Western and At
lan ic Railroad, lhe Georgia and Macon and
Western Roads are not able to meet the de
maud. And if injury result to the owns- or
shipp-r of produce or merchandise, by a de
clino m the markets, from such un-etscnsbla
di tention, is not the State, by its mistaken and
ruinoas policy in refising to equip tbe Road,
morally, if not legally, answerable lor the
damage?
There is no obligation on the Georgia and
Macon and Western Ra-lroad Comps ies, to
furnish cars for the use of the State Road ;
and it may not be expte'ed 'hey v ill da so,
unless it suits their interest or convenience.
Bit another insuperable objee iou *o lhe
longer contisus'ion of the existing arrange
ments, grows out of the fact, that the business
< f transportation of three Roads, becomes so
mixed and blended, as to create much confu
sion in fixing the liability of each, for tne loss
or di’uage of merchandise arid produce in
transi n Much more might be said, but it is
deemed unnecessary, as this branch, with all
other ques’i r.s connected wi h tbe subject, is
forcibly presented in tbe Report of the Chief
Engineer, and accompanying documents cf
the Finance Committee, here trarsmiued.
it is generally know n that the iron used on
fifty miles of thia Road, it ot toe most tnfeii r
class, and wholly tnsuited to its peculiar cur
vilinear strnctaro or the natare of its business.
So radical is this defect of structure, the asser
non may be safely ventured, ihst a succession
of accidents with a heavy loss of property,
aad possibly, human life, may bo apprehended,
unless ibe early blunder is remedied, as f«r as
possible, by tbe suboti'ution of a heavy iron rail
for the cns m w in use.
Upon this subject, a becoming solicitude was
macifes'ed two yean ago, as also iu relation
to providing a ne'e organise ion for fire gov I
emment of the R >ad. I*. tt.e! not be said
that ifiese sabjee s, of great interest then, but
of vital moment a: t is time, did not receive
lhe favorable considerate t of the Legisla
tare.
The Road was led, although in the process
of completion, under lhe mausgement of lhe
Execnt ve and Chief Engineer, rest icted by
statute m mans of their duties when a sound
d screuou would seem iad spersab'e to its best
interest; without mesas ot equipment, force :
from stern necessity, to incur heavy expend!
; totes for erecting a bridge over tbe Cbattahoo
. chee, and subs'i.uting heavy auu expensive
f embanking for ths rapicly decay ng bridges at
Noonday'and Pr c or's Creeks; tne wonder
> should rather be. to a cal-a end impartial ob
s server, act that eemp'aiots may have peso
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 12, IHSI.
F heard, but dial so much has been achieved, ano
so few accidents occurred, under circumstance,
, so embarrassing
From the condition' of the Road, and its
I obvious incapacity to meet the daily increasing
| business of t.ansporla'ion 1 was forced to as
sume the responsibility of making suitable
i provison, for tha purchase of heavy iron rails
for about fi'ty miles of the Road Feeling
sens bie that no authority was vested in mo, or
the Chief Engineer, lor this ebjee', by law, th<
contracts were made binding, upon the condi
lion they were ratified by Iho Legislature A
full and detailed statement of the purci,ares of
iron from Messrs. Padslfurd, Fay & Co., ol
Savannah, is contained in the report of the
Chief Engineer, to which 1 respectfully refer
the Legislature. In that Report copies of all
the correi por.dence had on the subject, and el
the contract: entered into, will bo found ; with
a clear a d fa thful statement of the facts and
circumstances that, in my judgment, rendered
the purchase of iron a duty 1 could neither
pospon-aor avoid, without tho most reckless
disregard of the public interest. It is true, il
I had been capab'e i f entailing upon my suc
cessor inextricable embarrassment, or could
have derived pleasure from seeing the int-rest
and character of tho State sunk and degraded
I might have lo'ded my arms, and permitted
the Road to fall a wreck on tho hands of etb
ers
The ptrehase of one thousand tons of iron
was made in April Jas:; which is now being
laid and will extend over about twelve miles.
I a addition, 3209 tonshave been contracted
for, and from the hat advices from Aieaars
Padellbrd, Fay & Co., may be expected in
Savannah, sometime in this month and Decern
ber next.
Il will be seen, by the terms of tha coatraot,
I d’a it i • «xp»c.md the float of the iron will be
provided lor at an eartv oay ur your session.
The cost of the first 1000 tans, at Savannah,
was $43,74318; and the 3200 tons, will not
probably exceed $124 800; making the sum to
be provided for $129 542.18. This may be
done, if tha Legislao re shoald ratify ths con
tracts, by an application of a part of the sur
plus now in tbs Trstsary and by issuing 6 per
cent, bends redeemable by the Road, and gua
rant ed by the State. Shoald this course be
pursued, there c?n ba no doubt of the entire
capacity of the Road to meet the interest
nrcmoilv; and ultimately redeem the nrinemal:
promptly * m.u uimiiaieir redeem me principal;
. ro that, in fact, the pub'ie debt of the State
would not be increased.
' It it believed, tho facta d eeloeed by the Fi
-0 oance Committee and by th. Report of the
’’ Chief Engineer, are quite auflic:ent to demon
t urate the propriety of providing aa indepeu
dent eq lipment of freightcar..
By reference to the Report of the Chief
8 Engin'er, it will be seen, that $500,000 would
3 c ver the coat of relaving fiity tntlea of the
?. Rotd wi.h heavy T rail iron, and equip it with
Locomotives, freight and passenger ear,, aulli
-1 ctaut io do the increased business that will ne
0 ceasari'y re-tilt from the completion of th?
Railroads now in progrea- in Tennereee,
conne ting wi'h ours; to say nothing ot the tn
* crer.se from the development* being mad. in
our OAn State. I aannot doubt that th. true
policy of the State, is fully to eqvip thia Road,
pledge it with its income after the discharge of
its liabilities, as sacred to the cause nf Edaca
’ lien, perfect i's organization by a Board ot
‘ Directors,'of whom one should b. made the
President, vesting in the Board (he ordinary
i corporate powers; and thereby, as far as poa
sib e, disconnect it and ua government, from
’ a ; l improper influence, or the appearanca of it.
To do lhn however, the eiamp’e
furn shed in the organization es the Bapreme
Court, of selecting gentlemen of quslifleaiton
I font both political parties ia worthy of imitation,
and it would relieve the Governor, nf re.pen
aibilities which certtinly are not desirable, and
from the nature of which, hi. other and para
mount duiias render it difficult, if nut impoli
tic, lor him to perform, satisfactorily to himaelf
or lite country.
COMMZRCC.
It has occurred to me. that this la a propi
tious time, to bring to the notice of th. Genera
Assembly, a question, intimately connected
wi h the prosperity of the State.
Ileretilore onr energies have been directed
to the con-tmction of Railways; has net the
time arr vei when tie Stve shosll extend it.
aid to our enterprising eit zsns, in the ea'ab
lishmer.tof aline of Steam propeli.rs from
Savannah to England, or even the continent of
Europe
The success of private Companies, in navi
gating the ocean by steam, is genera'ly known;
and the advantages reaulting t-» such of our
Atlantic cities as are directly connected with it,
are obvious Why should we expend our
millions, in affirding a cheap and expeditions
railway transportation for the Agricultural
products of the State, to Savannah J Certain
ly no: because it is expected tint our cotton,
bread s ufls, &e,. are to be consumed a' this
point, but on reaching there may ba shipped
abroad, and seek morn remunerating markets.
Should the foreign market, be reached by di-
peine which might be avoided, is the question ?
It it was good policy In the State, tv expend
f ittr millions in lhe construction of a railway,
which by its connection with oth rs, enables
the farmer from ourextremo limits, to offer his
surplus products, at a remunerating price, in
Savannah, whv not, by futthor facilities enable
him to offer Ins com iwditics in England, France
or Germany, at belter remunerating prices 1
Why should lhe pro-lncers of Georgia b: de
pendent on the city of New York, for the articles
they consume of foreign production or man
i lecture as well as the price they receive for the
products of the farm? The answer le, that
Ne v York has the capital, by tho skilful man
agement of which she commands the whole
commerce of the country. By this engine of
power, New York fixes the standard of value
of our exports, to some extent at least, nndex
acts from us tribute in tho way of charges lor
receiving and forwarding, storage,wharfsgediay
age and commireions,besides rhe profits of the
merchant through whose hands they pass, nntil
they reach the hands of the consumer. This
Is true of our exports ss well as imports. Every
Grilling paid for these objects must sf necessity,
according to the laws cf trade, diminish the
maiket value of the products of lhe Georgia
farm in Savannah.
But it may bo asked, would aline of Steam
Pt ipellers Iron Savannah to England, or the
Continent, relieve us ? Perhaps net en'lrcly,
but to some cx'ent, 1 have no doubt.
Commercial facilities, In tho transportation of
produce ir merchan Use with regularity and de
spatch, ara in lact a part of the metchaat’s capl- i
tai, end to that extent at least, it would be the (
introduction of It into our State, le not much 1
of the business of Ne v Yotk based upon a system
of credits, that has grown up in large dimensions
tnain'y from the facilities of commercial inter
cmi'sewith England ant Europe?
This credit is capital, forali practical parno-es,
while confidence remains firm and unsnaken
and we. of Georgia, are forced 'o yield ap just
so much of the value of our products, by the
present course of trade, as pays the enormous
profit to the city of New Yo’k, by w hich this
system of cicd'ta is kept aflrat. Docs it be
come us to pay tribute to New York? IVe pro
duce the staples unoti which a respectable par
ion of the commerce of the country is based;
why should we then with this solid capital, be
dependent upon other cities, to convert it into
cash, or exchange it abroad for each articles as
we desire to consume?
I am not insensible of the difficulties that lie
in thep i'h of S’-ccess, yet I cannot forbear the
expression of the opinion, that a great step to
bi taken to elevate 'he State and increase the
reward of agricultural Industry Is to simulate a
direct trade between our own seaport and ports
1 abroad And if to accomplish this end, the
credit of the State should be found necessary, to
a limited amount, the wisdom of the policy,
in my humble judgment, would soon become
so apparent, as to command the approbation ol
i the country.
, These suggestions are respectfully submitted
more with the hoae that they w.l ! exci>e a spirit
of inquiry and investigation, than with any
confident expectati in that they win be at once
actei upon. The n< cestltv tt'erelore, of entering
fully into the discussion, is net believed to eaiet
at this time
XDCCATIOM.
Under a Joint Resolution of 'he last General
Assembly as also the precedingone, it was made
my duty to appoint a Committee to inquire into
the Stats of Education in Georgia, to report to
the next Legislature on the prevent Poor School
laws, to recommend any alteration in the same
that might to th-m event advisable, or to suggest
a plan lor general education, If conceived by
them excedier.t, accompanied with a bill lor ear
ni igoet lhe same Unlev the fi-«t Resolution,
adopted in 1817. the Hon. A. H. Chapp> 11, Bish
op Elliott, and Dr. I eonidas B. Mercer, were
appointed a Committee. They felted, however,
to report to the last Legislature.
It is proper I should also state, that a part of
the Committee, as esme to my knowledge, be
stowed considerable labor la collecting materials
preparatory to the report. A regret was felt,
and by none more than mystlf, that a report
from these gentlemen, so lav irably and general
ly known, was not made. The last Legislature
subs'antially adopted the resolution ot the pre
ceding one, containing the same highly objec
ti cable feature, requiring ne to appoint a com
mittee to prepare a report upon this subject to
the Legi lature, “provided the seme could be
done without cost to the State, or cost upon the
school surd.”
During the early part of the last year, an op
portunity was eflered for consultation withan
eminent cititen, who from education, pursuits
and praetieal expcrence, was well informed of
the wants of the country in reference to the
subject, and who kindly assured me of hie wil
lingness to serve tbe public in 'his respect; if
upon reflection he should become satisfied that
he c-n Jdo e > with satisfaction to himself or
wihbenefit to others. Within the last forty
days the Rev. George F. Pierce, the gentlemen
referred to, through a iriettd, notified me of bls
readiness to engage in this arduous duty. Dr.
Tslnnge. President of the Og e'horpe Universi
ty, ant Dr. L. B. Mercer of Lee. were associa
ted with him, from each of whom ths gratifying
assurance has been received of their ready co
operation. From the report of tills Committee,
i which may be expected at an early day, valuable
information and suggestions deserving the con
sideration of the Legislatu'e, may be confident
ly anticipated.
I consider from the high character, literary at
tainmin'.s, the ueal an t general know ledge of the
wants of the S ate, which these gentlemen will
bring to the tasked preparing a Report on the
sti'-jecte embraced in the resolution, the coun
try has a gaar.nty ol its ability and practical
utility. I: is contemplated by the terms of the
Reso'utioa, that the report will be male directly
to lhe LegiMtture, by the Committee.
Up n this important subject, vs universal In
terest, I huveintne discussion of other ques
tions. incidentally refereed to some of the con
f ;d. rations that may arise is inis. One or w<
1 additional suggestions only, will be oflered a
' this lime.
Judging from the demonstrations made durin
i the past summer, in behal: of edsca
t tion, it may bu atsunud thatalarge proportion
t of iho intelligence of tho State Is in favor of
abolishing the present it can so be
i regarded,) of educating the swor, and adopting
, free schools common to ai, tn its stead. A sys
tem ol common schonfs- I not, may be
established, adapted to tho • uts of our pe pic ;
but to plant and rear so delicate a bud, and at
the sa tie time of such incalculable importance
to the futnre character of thj; State, requires the
fos'ering hand of the Legislature.
The argumentsin favor as Common Schools,
to my mind aro clear and unanswerable, but
obvious propriety will not Allow mo to notice
but one or two. ’ ' r .
Equality in the distribute a of benefits by the
State to its people, is a catdjjjiai principle of jos
tle.'. When this princ'ple 'aiiba rvod, you pro
duce amity, concord and frhadship; when disre
garded, the cons q ience is heart burnings, dis
content and opposition, fuicccss in this noble
work of educating the youßis of the State, and
thereby preparing them, in s»;rie measure at least
for future usefulness to tf-ygt'solves, their fami
lies, and their country, tha. business of all '
classes and conditions, c ybintly and harmoni
ously co-operating to brif g about one general
resit 11.
There is ia the human Mart, a feeling of ap
probation and security in f su>msof education
as well as others that r e baaed noon equal
rights, while the opposite L e'ing of repugnance
and mistrust, springs up t>fr that munificence
that degrades the objects! >‘f its care, by odious
distinctions. Tho poor-*, item may desire to
see his child educated, alls recallable to furnish
the means, but he docs wish to be pointed
atasan improvident father, who, from folly or
crime, is unable to diacharas this defy to his
child; and again, the generous, high aouled
youth, would sooner his way in ignorance
in life, than to enter thcachoa! room to be taunt
ed and jeered by his fellows as a charity scholar.
False as may be dvr-tfeed this pride, it is a
part of the nature of m i* it is thedesigp
of your policy trvfca us. yveducation must
be general, every Removed for
as possible, to the consumriiation of this object.
You must invite, encourage and induce parents
to discliarg: their duty to their children, in this
respect. You cannot, and ought not, to force
them. But all disgrace, real or imaginary, all
inequality bet ’ --n 'he rich and the poor is
swept away th j nent your eys.em of educa
tion is common .m .11.
A commendable emulation, is excited, a closer
communion produce f, ties of friendship created,
and a broader field is opened for the full exercise of
the manly feelings, which it not planted in
youth, never take ro >t. bv the rich and ihe. none
; yuuiu, never use ro u, ny me ricri ana me poor
s mingling together, end deriving inetrredon
from tho same soti-ce. But conclusive as I be
, lieve the arguments to bo, in favor of Common
Schools, ov.r the system of educating ihe poor,
provided by ths act ol 1543,1 forbear further
remarks, and apply myself io the considera
tion, briefly, of the capacity of the State to
furnish adequate means fur a system of Oom-
I mon Schools.
I What are tho resources of tha Stato, and by
i what means is tho required sum to be rais-d, for
i the object under consideration 1 This Is the
great question, and upon the correctness ot your
decision in this regard, hangs the destiny of this
measure.
The Bank-Stock, the inc tme from whieh Is,
under the law of 1843, applied to educating the
poor, ia sn appropriate fund to be app'icd to this
object, whenever the State provi ies for the hol
ders of bonds of Ihe Central Bank. The next
source of pe'manent income for this object,
should bs the act income from the Western and
Atlantic Railroad, after the present liens, and such
aa may be necessary to incur lor its immediate
equipment and repairs, have been redeemed;
and the defi doney, if any, should be supplied by
a par capita tax.
From these three sources, It is believed ade
quate means for the most enlarged usefulness
might be obtained, if not prison ly, at no dis
tant day. lnthemeaat.ee, while the Railroad
Is engaged in discharging its liabilities, let the
income from the Bank Stock, and the poll tax be
applied to th. preparation of teachers, selected
from among our own young ladies and gentle
men, nad educated at our own schools and col
leges. The lea ling ChrstUn denominations in
our State have, within a few years psst, founded
coll-ges, and are annually returning to society
highly cultivated an i morel young men, emi
nently qualified to take the lead in this great
work. Besides these I) nominational Colieges,
there is the University of the Stalo : what may
it not accomplish in the procuring and qualifying
of young men to engage in thtsjimponanf service.
Encourage these several Colleges by selec ing
in some equitable mode, such youi g men as arc
willing, fur a period of years to engage in the
duties of teaching, to indemnify for the money
expended in educating them, and you have a
guaranty of securing a corps of teachers, thug
organized, of greater usefulness to th? country,
than by any other plan that has sttg jested itself
to my mind-
But if this plan be not acceptable, let abetter
eno be adopted. It has occurred to me, that
providing the necessary means and sernting com
petent teachers, unexceptionable in all respects,
would be the greatest difficulties to overcome.
For immedia'e use, no income need be expect
ed from the Railroad. The deficiency from that
source, if it should be deemed advisable <o com
mence the system at once, might be sup"lied
by taxation, or by tho State issuing bonds, the
interest accruing thereon only, to re paid by tbe
State, which should be an ultimate charge upon
the receipts of the Western and Atlantic Rail
road. This, I should consider, however, obnox
ious to some objections, and therefore do not
press it; b]»t would with deference, advise
Incone frosff lU«k SuC'-W should W s ipj>lied<
first, to ths qualilleirioriteachers; But if it is
believed a sufficient namber could be engaged
qualified, not merely from literary attainments,
but from association, principle, and svntpathy
with the people of Georgia, the experiment
might well be made, and its beneficial results
tested, from lhe sources of income alluded to,
Should, however, lhe poll tax and Bank stock
not furnish a fund, commensurate with the
high claims of education upon the Legislature,
let the deficiency be supplied by an open and
undisguised requisition upon the prope’tyof the
Slate.
If it is the wish of property holders, to see the
blessings ol education sxten>i»d to a 1 clarets and
conditions of our people they will yield to the
necessity that demands the means; but If they
donut, lhe hope es success must be deferred to
a mure favorable <OI3OO. But, whatever may be
the late ot year rflorts to mature a system of
common schooleat this time, I cannot too ear
nestly urge upon you the importance of pledg
ing the Western <x Atlantic Railroad, with its
net income after diseharg'ngi's liabilities, to the
great ebj-cts in whish all are interested, of Com
mon Schools. Should the system recommended,
or any other, receive the favorable consideration
of thsLegislaluro st this time, however limited
the means may be at your coniiuaad you must
havea head—nn able and responsib a Agent or Su
perintendent, whose duty it shall be to see to the
faithful execution of your own plans; or your
brlghest bop.es will end in disappointment.
osar as» dump asvu-m.
1 Copies of tho reports of the Commissioners
I of the Deafand Dumb Asylorn, and of the Trus
tees of the Lunatic Asylum, are herewith trans
mitted. These sevsral reporte are commvnfcd
to the carefel conaidsration of the Legls'aturc,
re containing hiph’y satisfactory evidence of the
filelity with which these Institutions have bent
managed, and the corresponding improvement
and benefit d*rived by those sfflieted a-d un
fortunate classes of our people. These benevo
lent institutions were founded In the warm sym
pathy all should feel for the affliction* and suf
ferings of oihers, and the necessity of protect
ing the communi'y from the possible violence
and annoyance of unfortunate b-.ings, deprived
ts reason.
Esch of these Institutions should receive the
fostering care of the Logfelsttne t and I would
londlv hope that no'hing will be lo t undone to
extend the sphere of thefr usefulness, that all
necessity rr ears will b* provi ed, for en arging
lhe comfort ol the Lunatics, and increasing the
probabilities of their reitoia'ion, and for glad
dening the beans of the Deaf and Dumb by
unvet'ing to their understandings the treasures
of knowledge and pointing out to them the path
of a virtuous industrious and useful life. These
are solemn trusts confided to your eare, and
cannot fell to command your attention and cor
dial support. The probable amounts required
for lhe support of each Asylum, will be found ip
the respective reports.
tovspAav qvesTiox.
All efforts to atjust tbe question it boundary be
tween this State and Ftoridi, by reference or
negotiation, have failed. At the instance of tho
latter S ate, a bill has been fi ed. and 'he question
is now pending before the Supremo Court of the
United States lor its decision Theci rrcspond
encs not heretofore communicated to former Leg
islatutcs and printed is transmitted. Believing
it to be my dntv to have the interest of tho State
protected, the Hon J M. Berrien was engaged,
as the Attorney of the State, for that purpose.
arireoesiATioss.
The last Lsgislature'appropriated $1909 to erect
monument ever the remains of the Hon.
John Forsyth, which are interred in the Con
gressional burying ground at Washington City,
and directed me to cause ’he same to be pul up
with suitable inscriptions, Ac.
Upon consultatioa with a merrber of Mr.
Forsyth s family It was deemed advisable to
suspend action under the Resolution, and refer
the subject again to the Legislature. It would
certainly be more congenial to the feelings of
Mr. Forsyth’s family and lhe people ot lhe
State, that this testimonial of regard should be
erected on some conspicuous site in cur State.
Tne illustrious Dead was endeared to ths peo; le
of Georgia by a life devoted to their interest;
and it appeared to me that there was a peculiar
■jroptiety ia conforming my action to what I am
sure must be the general wish of all, that tbe
monument contemplated should be erected on
the public grounds near the State House, or at
some more eligible place, and that such ad
dition ba made to the appropriation, as would ac
complish the object in s style worthy the charac
terof a State and its distinguished son.
At the same seesioa. two hundred dollars was ap
propriated to erect a Tombstone over the rema ns of
Genetal Jared Irwin, former Govorn.-r of this Stare,
Fpcn advising with the surviving dsugnter of Gov.
Irvin, I was inferred that a lotnbetoee bad been
•reeled, by the family o*er bis remain*, equal, if
’ not saperior, to one that conld be obtained lor tbe
sum appropriated ; end open her Indicating a deei-
I did preterrnee that tbe losnbstone erected should
‘ remain unless replaced by cue o greater value, 1
was Ind nee :o suspend tbe exeeotien of the law di
recting it to be done, and refer tbe matter t? tbe
' Legislature for each ae'.ioa as it might deem worthy
’ and proper to parperoate lhe m’mery o! one who
has rendered rateable mili'ary aad civil servieee to
’ ibe S ate,
SCBLIC tAVCS.
Under the authority of an ael of the last General
Assembly, the unsnrvejed lands in rhe eountv ot
Ware, wrre directed to lie surveyed and sold. One
e hundred *nd eereaty lot* have been surveyed, and
II advertised ter ss e, on lhe fret Tuesday of this
e moa.h, at tbe Court House of Wore county. A
* large portion of the Okefenckee Swamp remains an
il sur»e-ed. and from tbo report of tbe Surveyor en
e gaged io the service, it wocld be attended with vast
y espeose to push tbe surrey further thsn bae been
dene, w torn’, tuueh probability of the State ever
I- O::ng tei-nborsea <m such expenditure. Whatdis
s- pn non should be ntxde of the unsnrreyed lands in
3- .1 are, ecnsieting mo lly, if noteniirel , oftbeOke
ro feaokee Swamp, is respectfaily submits Ito the Le-
It I gistetare.
By a recent decisioe es the Supreme Court, a ■ le
Jig ] of certain fractional lets of tends, authorised under
a- lhe act of 1647, lyiag in the rerri-ocy disposed 01
I I under the Lott< ry act of 1825, ha» been declared
f j void, upon the ground, ft is understood, (bar *h®
. contract between the Stat* and origical purchase
, of these fractions (at least in the case that was de
elded,) was impaired by the subsequent sale under
the act of 1817 This decision has not, I believe,
been published, an 1 I I are had no opportunity of
seeing it, but if correctly stated above, provision
should be nude by law, authorising the Treasurer
to pay beck to the purchasers, the purchase money
and grant fee.», rece ved under the set of 1917.
Other lands, declared forfeited by (be act of 1819.
in the coun’y of Ware, if not granted by tbe first
of October, 1850, would have been offered for aalc,
at the same time and place tbe rewly surveyed
lands were, but for the apprehension that the princi
ple settled by the Supreme Court, in the decision i
referred to, would apply to them alsx
I found that many errors had taken place in is
suing grants for fractions, and chit fly because no
numerical book bad been provided so that an vntry
co ild be made in this Depertmei t when the grant
passed; bene - , I thought a necessity exis'ed for
having prepared a book containing the fractional lots
l of land throughout the S ate, arranged alphabetical
ly 68 to counties, and similarly to the land lottery
l bcoks in number. Such a book has neen prepared
; with great care and labor, and supplies a vacuum
that has heretofore existed in our land books. This
| labor has been performed by John T Smith and
Julius M. Pat’on, for which c fair compensation
should be al'owed them.
REIPITEf.
Brink ley Bishop, convicted of murder in tl e coun
ty of Bibb, James Norris in Butts, James Joi.noon
in Baldwin, and Garland D Cornett In Mor an,
have been respited to December next; Bishop to the
12(h) Norris to the sth, Johnson to the 26th, and
Cornett to the 19th. Copt's of the evidence upon
which the several ecnviciiona were founded, with
the pet tions in ca r h c ee, are respectfully transmit
ted to the Legislature.
MIBCKLI.AXE9UJ.
1 felt it my duty to withhold my approval of t*vo
Aetscf the last General Assembly, anl two resold
tions, which ire transmitted to the respective Houses
of the ’.eciv’a’ur*, in which they originated, with
my objections to eac •.
I herewith transmi; the Rerolu’ions of different
States, received since tbe ad ourment of the last
General Assembly, for the consideration of the Le
gislature
By a Joint revolution rs th? ’«wt General Assem
bly. 1 was authorized to have the digest p«cptred by
Thoe. R R. Cobb, Esq ,of tbe Statute Laws of tbe
State, wiih a notice of the decision of the Supreme
Court on each, as far as practicable, thoroughly ex
amine I by a competent Committee, and if fraud
correct end faithful, to subscribe fora number of eo
niCfiL tint PlCPPrtl r>er f hr.. fk.na.K4 ** *
picp, not exceeding three tbcutand, at a price not to
i exceed $4 per volume. Under the au hcrity of (hie
rea lution, Francis H. Cone, Junius Hilh er, and
i Edward 11. Wo rell, Eeqrs., were appelated the
Committee, who, after discharging the duties as
r signed them, reported mo?t favorably of the work,
recommending the “plan as simple, plain and intel*
> ligible, presenting all the laws under nprropiiate
beads, so as (o make them readily accessible, almoet
without the aid of an Index, and that 'he who e exe
cution of the work bears abundant testimony to the
accuracy, ability and carefulness of the Compiler/’
a cop ' of w'.ich repirt is ransmitted.
Havinp entire confidence in the fidelity of the re
port, and being fully sensible of the necessity rs saeh
a work, I did not hesitate to subscribe for the fall
number of copies authorized under the resolution.
A copy of this work bas been sent me in two
volumes, neatly bound, printed with new type on
goo I pap r; and I clcerfully add my testimony, as
fir ae lam able to judge, to but of the Committee,
of the fidelity witn which it bas been gotten up, and
its utility with everychss of ourcitizcns. It should
be borne in mind that this work w? B prnted in
Athens, Ga., and to this extent should be favorably
regarded, a* the money paid for the labor, at least,
will remain in the country. To afford bee fining
encouragement to this enterprise two thousand dot
lars of the State’s subec*ipiicn was advanced ou’. rs
the Contingent fund, to thio object.
In the month of April last, a vacaaey occurred,
by ’he resignation of W’m, R. Tinsley, in the office
oi Treasurercf the State. Julius M Patton, £/q , a
fe'iner Secretary of th* Execut.re Department, hav
ing resigned thatcffice, was appointed by the Execu
tive Order, Treasurer of the State, who, apon giv
ing bond and taking the oath of office, entered apon
the discharge rs his duly; and Logan E. Bleckley
was appeimed Secretary of the Exec ’ttve Depart
ment.
T wo vacancies in the office of Solicitor Genera’, one
in ihe Flirt, and the other in the - ou'hern Circuit,
have also occurred by rcsigmtion; and boih have
been fi led by Executive appointment; R. Ranson
Stell, Esq., wee appointed for the former Circuit, and
George W. Jordan* Eaq.. for the latter.
FKAITENTIARY.
The Report of the Principe' Keeper of the Peniten
tiary, will be printed end laid bef.re the General
Aseemb.v at an early day, with a detailed statement
o the business of the flame, for the last two years to
which I res. ectfully refer you.
I felt it my dntv to recommend to the last General
Assembly, the propriety of elas ifying and separating
the convicts within the walls, according re the moral
turpitude of the offence committed. Satisfied of its
importance in br nging about reformitivn, the recom
mendation is renewed.
For the last two years, the expense of subsisting
the convicts his been largely Pork and
Corn were scarce, and commanded nearly, er quite
100 per cent on the prices paid the preced ng two
years. Independent of this consideration, the short
supply of tan-bark that could be obtained, as er the
moat diligent efforts, has reduced the income from
i-nning of leather, and n anufactoring shoes. Other
supplies of material, suitable to the wood-shops, were
foued scarce and high. While the effects of these
causes were sensibly fe’t, the d fficulty of fin fag nle
for the manufactured articles at remunerating prices,
ibn two..lasiy ears,
oTprifE. than the two tr ceding The
v ui- iu*u tisv.wv f ■ uruin|( iue
it wet*' reported in ihs Do k Kerper’* Department,
show the ability of the Institution, if a fair proper
tian is collected, to sustain itself for the next two
yoara, without Legislative aid. For the last tour
venr*, no aid whatsoever h a been received from the
Ftate Treasury; in view cf which, a claim of the
Penitentiary against th? State, amounting to $ 1.753,'
03, I would recommend to be paid# By reference
to the items of this account the j-is»ice of the claim
cannot be reawmably denied as a legitimate charge
ap n the Treasury.
At the last session, an unßu-cenfal effort was
made io apply a part of the convict labor to the man
ufieture of Freight and other Cars, for the use of the
State Road. The facilities aff< rded by tbe co uple
lion of the Milledgeville and Gor son Rathoad, to
transport Car* from the PenitenOery to the State
Hoad, renders this subject worthy of your considera
tion. Thedcmard for Ratlrord Cars will exist as
long as the different Railroads of the State are work*
ed, and the probability of aa over supply is not ae
great ns to dircourawe the undertaking. So ftr as
the Sta e Road is concerned, it may i e well cons d
cred as a proper application of convict hbur.
THK KILITIA.
In reference to the several acts of the General As-
Fernb’y, for the organisation and discipline of the
miliia of the State, so much has been comtnunica’ed
by my several predecessors sr.d and so iittl*
done, that 1 reluctantly bring the subject to your no
lice. Our present militia system is one of the few
in which any change might be regarded on improve
ment, and cone teems more demanded (han a total
repeal of all lews on the sut ject, that the Legislature
may be disencumbered es t: e rubbirh, crowded
into (he Dig efts, by success!'e Legislatures amend
ing, repealing and reviving Acts and parts of Act* on
this aulfeet.
It is believed, if yo~r legis’ation was directed to
the organ*?.'Ji-q cf volunteer companies and ’he
adop'ion of a plan for ascertaining, with aceursey,
the effective force cf the Mate, each year, above the
age cf 18, and under 45 years, math more would
be accomplish* 1 titan is done under the (resent ys
fetn. •
The inducement to organise volun’eer companies,
may be made sufficiently great to afford a reasonable
BAsnrsnce, that onr-tbird of the *tat®, capable cf
bearing arose, would, at all times, be foun ’ at ached
to vdnnteer asaoeiation*. Tne effect of this p/icy
wou'd be, to have always rendy, an effect! e force,
somewhat trained, at least, in the use ci arms, for
rnv emergency.
Under the present plan, the only reliable force o
meet any crisis, however great, ore the vo un’eer
con panics now o ganixed. A commendable spirit to
form volunteer as delation*, ba* manieird itself in
many sec tn ns of the State, with! ■ the last four years,
but their ardor has been checked, from my inability
to furnish aims and equipments. This I regard as a
great ui'sforune To 'he strong arm and stout heart
of the citizen soldier, must wc look for protection in
peace and in war; and in view of a possible disturb
ance however remote it may appear to many, es the
amicable relations existing with the State* of the
Confederacy, or a disturbance nisre Wric ly heal and
domestic in its character, does it not devolve upon
the Legislature to proviJe arms and munitions to
cqnpat lew one-third cf tbe militia f rce of the
Sate? Th s s jhjeet addresses itself with peculiar
force to the Legislature at this time, from toe stti
;ude assumed by the peep 1 * in C< nvention last De
cember that “Georgii would and ought to resist,
(even as a lart re ort ) to a disruption of eve y tie
which binds her to the Un : on any act on es Con
gress upon ths subject of slavery in the District of
Columbia or in place* subject to the jurisdiction of
Congress, incompa’ibe with the eafety, the right*
and tbe hrnor cf (he slaveho ding State*” Will
Geo'gia *• take no step backward ? 1 Will the tri
umphant majority tbit have ratified this f»cntia:ent,
consent (hat they shculd not be provided with aims
—. 1 —n r r 4" * m a f . —.—. _—-L. I al _ .
and munitions of war, if need be, to enable (hem to
maintain ’b s patriotic sentiment? or will this wi-e
and precautionary measure be postponed, ander the
persuasion that the necessity centemriated hy the
resolo’icns • f the Ccnventioo, will never arise, if
even this was certain, or the probabilities far grea»er
(tan the b st>ry cf passing events would justify qs
in believing, I sntmit it to the sound judgment cf
the Legiala ure. if the adoption cf the measure here
recommended, cf arming the people, weald not do
more to present e?u*pj’ion of pawer by C regress, in
thia reepe t, than the adop ion of the resolutions them
selves. The State (bat arms its ciiisens, and gives
warning to the argrerror to beware of the next blow,
will be res'eced; bat an enunciation to the world,
unaccompanied with any preparation to sustain it,
would rather accelerate, than arrest the apprehended
aggression, which I am sure it most be the wish of
ail to prevent, however W;dely we may differ as to
the means best calculated C-. effect that object.
Tice reflections are submitted witn no par ism
sririt, wi h no design to irritate, er to recall (be past
That is the appropriate duly of the hworian; my
duty is to deal with things ss they exist, to eat neatly
urge apon your consider. Hoc whatever in my judg
m nt. will conduce to the safety, honor and happi
cesscftht State, irrespective of every consideration
but the public weal.
Having brought to the mention of the Legislature,
such measures, as in ay judgment should engage
its treat io a, my duty is well nigh ended. Ever u>i
erant sod respec ful of the opinions of others, I have
never failed on suitable occasions to avow my own,
cn all quemi u«, State or Federal, cf public concern
□cent, k has been my cenn nt ob ject so to exercise
my official duties as to maintain, perpetuate and sd
vt'c e the hoeor, the rights, liberty end pro parity o(
the people of Georgia *, to impress upon the publie
mind the noiean oblige tio« of observing good faith in
all things; to diffuse among all ci saves the blessing’
o! education ; to stimulate the people to increased n
durtry by develo; ing the vast resources of the State;
to inspire all w th a fresh lx>ve of Country, Liberty
and Equality
Three have been objects of my unremitting solid
I tode. Atd if on this occasion, I abstain from advert
ing to tom 3 measures connected w ; th these o jeets,
which bare so widely and deeply agitated (be pub
lic mind, growing out of the late action of Congress,
. it i 3 not betas e the opinions I have so often expres
i sed, have undergone a change, or of a desire to
i conceal them, but in defence to the popular will,
r and my reluc ance to throw anv possible obstacle or
attempt to do so, ia the way of a full and entire res
a torat oq of fraternal feelings and harmonious act cn
- among the pe pie of the State.
i. Whtiever destiny may await ns, whether of pros
rerfcy or adversitv. we cannot too ofte i invoke toe
e guidance of that It fl rite Being, wboee favor is pow
>r er, whose displeasure if weakness.
jg ’ GEO. W. TOWNS,
Jl I GOMSIIKOti COBB'S 11AIOCKAL
ADDRESS.
Senator! and Representatives:
r In obedience to the popular voice of the
, State, I appear before job to day, to assume
, the duties of the Execut-ve Chair. We have
been called, gentlemen, to our respective sta
tions. at an interesting period in the history of
our State. In all the departments of life which
stamp the impress of progress and greatness
upon a people, Georgia occupies an eminent
position among her sister States of the Repub
lie In Agriculture, th.it noblest pnrsuf of
civilized man, she yields the.palm of superior
ity to none Endowed by Providence with a
salubrious climate and fertile soil, under the
culture of her enterprising citizens, ehe stands
forth the generous rival of the foremost
amongst her successful and flourishing sisters.
In manufactures anti the mechanical arts, our
State presents a pic'nre which her proudest
sons may contemplate with pleasure and grat
ification. Th a youngest amoag us may re
membet the time, when the walls of the first
factory were raised in our Sta'e, and now, ii
every section of ir, may be seen the daily in
creasing evidences of the success which has
attended the efforts of our energetic citizens ir
the manufacture of the great American staple
The progress we have made for the last few
years, in this and other br-aches of manufac
tare, clearlv foreshadow the period a< not fa
distant in the future, when ehe wi’l rank among
the most successful of the manufac uring
States of the Union.
Nor has Providence been less generous to
ns in tho bestowal of those natural advantage,
wh-ch constitute the baris of commercial great
ness. Amidst al' Iho evidence, that mark ihr
progressive spirit of our people, to none
should Georgians look with more gratification
than to those which characterise the energy an
efforts of her principal seaport. Linked and
bound together. a° are the different sections
of our State, by her system of internal im
provemnnt, we begin to feel more truly and
justlv the identity of interests and feeling which
shou'd exist between onr mountains aud sea
board, it has made os neighbors in distance,
it shool 1 make us neighbors in interest and
0 o..vuu u» neignuurs in interest ana
g feeling In contemplating these results from
j our railroad enterprises, oir pleasure should
e b < enbanovd by the reflection, that it is the a!
most exclusive work of individual effort and
, privaie capita!. The State Read constitutes
the only exception to this genera;’ remark -
e This work, in i s origin, gave promise of great
t advantages to the State, in developing the re
sources of that vast and interes’ing section of
J country through which it pa c ses, and in form
ing the most important link connecting the
wes ern waters with the Atlantic coast. I n the
j realiza ion of these anticipations, we find am-
I pie contemplation for the labor and capital
which have been invested in tbi« impoitant en
> terprise. It now depends, in a great measure,
i upou the fosieriDj* care, enlightened judgment,
» and unbending firmness of th«* repre.se ta'ives
i of the people, to render it a p rm went mon
ument of the wisdom and forecast of its pa.tr i
’ otic projectors.
' Whilst the attention of our people has thus
e*°n directed with Characteristic energy, o
, sources of nvionii wealth, they have not
been unmindful of that important ard para
r mount duty, the education of her sons and
daughters, ft is, indeed, a grateful spectacle,
to witness throughout the Sue the increasirg
i interest manifested on this interesting and irn
1 portant subject. In a free government like
ours, where al! power emanates from the peo
ple we cannot too highly est-ma e the impor
tance of preserving, throughout the hud, pure
hearts ard enlightened minds Those who
rhsll place it within lie power of every eon
and (faugh er of Georgia to recoiv'’ the benefit
i of a plain aud practical education, w;ll be just
ly regarded srnong the noblect benefactors of
the State let our nni’ed efforts b directed,
under the blessing of Provide* ce, to the con
summation of this great object, the eluca ion
of the hearts and minds of the people
To <>ur hinds, gentlemen, for the time being,
has a confiding people committed hese various
and impo'iant interests of the State. We
should enter upon oar duties wi h a con
scioucness of the responsib lity we have as
snmed, and u deteimnaiou so to discharge
them that there miy exist in the public mind,
no just cause to regret the trust that has been
reposed in in.
Nor, gentlemen, is the present a less inter
eating period, when considered in reference
to our Federal relations. Our Federal Go
vernment is now pas ing throogh an ordeal,
which may jus ly be regarded as the severest
test to which it ever been subjected. In
(he issue is involved ; not only our own peace
and happiness, but the rotation of that g’eat
problem wh ch has engaged so much of the
time of the abl< st and pur st men who have
ever lived—ihe capacity of man for self go
vernment. At the commencement of the last
Congress, the country was convulsed with p <
>»»» a, -
institution of slavery, a* it exists in tho Son h
ern State*. The ablest heads were appalled
with the magoirnde of the danger that threat
ened the integrity of the republic, and the
stoutest hearts faltered under the we-ght of
responsibility ft would bo inappropriate to
this occasion, to review the history of that an
gry and threatening controversy Nor would
1 unnecessarily, refresh your memories with
many of its pai iful reflections. But there are
iosaons and admonitions to te drawn from i’s
consideration, which cannot ba too d> eply and
forcibly impressed opon tbe public mind of the
•ountry.
This threatening issue was ultimately ornught
to a close, in our national Legislature, by the
adop ion es a aeries of measures farm iarly
known as the Compromise. That Compromise
was ba-ed npon two important principles
the first recognised the great American doc
trine, of Ihe righ ol every people, in the or
ganizstion of their Sta'o governments, to de
(ermine for themselves, whether or not they
would have (he institu'ion of slavery, ns a part
of their social system—a principle dear to every
republican heart, and one npon which rests the
whole fibnc es American institutions; thus
repudiating that ether doctrine, sojwslly odious
to the people of the South, of the right an 1 duty
•1 Congress to rriect a State applying for ad
misrion into tbe Union, because her Con*.itu
lion tolerated the institution o* slavery.
The o her cardinal principle of t’ie Compromise
recognj*** thecoustititiooal obligation to deliver up
oar fugitive slaves, when they may escape into ti e
non Blaveho'ding States; a duty *x;rese;y imposed
by lbs letter of the Uonaiitatiun. and ths tnforce
ment of which i* essential to the permaner.ee of
the rtpub'ic. After the adoption of this adj i&tinent
by Congress, circumstances imposed upon the people
of Georgia the important duty of pronouncing the
first authoritative judgment upon it. To our action,
the eyes es the whole c- un’ry were directed, and our
fellow citren<*, every where, lo>kel to our mive
raear* with auxiou« solicitude. It was under there
circumstance* that Georgia was ca led uoon t speak,
•'he spoke; and h*r voice breathed a ruing led spirit
o’ ardent devotion to tbe Union, and cf ;at nolle
warning to i’a Northern friend* Looking loi’e
past, and cons’dering the rights and interests that
had been invo vel in the contest: 'he dau-ers ai d
diihculties which had rurrounded the country, and
the important princip’e* upon which the fint.l c’i. n
of (he government was base J, she solemnly declar
ed her determination to stutid to, and abide by the
Co npremise a* a permanent and filial settlement of
thia dangerous and vita! hsue It* finality and
fiithfui ei.forcemeat in all it* pvt*, constituting es
sential elemen's, ’.o commend it to the favor ai d sup
port nf herself and her sister States of the boath
Looking to (he fature, wi'h rc erenceto tbe menaces
of threatened avgreTions which hid been so ircely
indulged in by a portion of (ho people of tbe North,
and regarding the » »op i >n of those measures against
which she raised her warning voice, in (be fourth
resoiatioß e< her Q nvention, ns inv dnasbiows «im
•d at her most vital interait, she ha« calmly »ut
firmly said to this tnaddeted spirit of fanaticism,
M thus far rlnlt thou go a<»d no far hf r.” He- posi
tion was fa»en with calmness in 1850; it bse been
re affirmed with deliberation in 1 51. And I now
renew the p!e< gent my hearty cr-operar'on in win
taining it wi hfi mcesa and decision Georgia hai
thus placed henelf upon a f road na ionaf and patri
otic piatfoim. and invites her sister Stales of ihs
Union to stand by her in the (freser* »t on of the hap
pi-srt and freest government on earth upon these
great princi; les of right end justice. Her policy and
principles look totne pre.-eivation of ti e t nicn and
the maintenaccc of the Constitution, a? one and in
separable. Ambition can seek no higher and nobler
ebject, than the trensmi»snn »o prsterity o' this in
estimable legacy ; AUnKKOF SCVCBEIGN STATES,
CIMtNTED BF A CONSTITUTION DISPNS.'RG
EQUALITF ABB JCfiTlCl TO ALL ITS NesIMIS; a
Cc Get i Cut ion corisecmted by the wirdem of the great
and & cod in a ol revolutionary memory; a Union,
whose flip fl >ats u on every Lretze; is horored in
every land, and regarded through ut the world as
the emblem of cooslirut onal freedom. The main
tensnee of such a onstHutim, and the [reservation
of such < Union, is worthy of the united and un’.ir
iog efforts of patriotic men, north and south, east and
west; worthy cf their btfet en-rgies an I purest de
votioa. Arcemtle 1 here, in the Capita! of Georgia,
around her time-honored and comecrated altars, let
as unite in one cotrtron prayer to the Great Ruler
of the Uo.ver-e, that this Constitution and tbi > Union
may be perpetuated to our latest pcsteri y.
Califcrvia Gold.—The amount of gold
exported from California to the 15 h Septem
ber of the present year, was S6O 010 220;
and the steamer Oregon, wh’Ch left Sin Fran
cine** on he Ist October, ha 1 on board about
f 2 200 000—rad Ring t;e total export to that
date about $62,230 000. The advices brought
by the steamer Cherokee hold out the prom sc
of steady and increasing supohes of geld.
Labor and Machinery were becoming better
o gantzsd and d rec.ed. and more thorough
examine ions were constancy bnnginz to light
new discoveries of thepr ! ciousme al. S Iver has
also been found under circumstances which
seem to warrant the belief of its existence in
qaantd es to justify the labor applied to its
acquisition.
Tewnesiee Boris —We un eratand that
V- K- Stevenson, Esq. President of the Nash
ville and Chattanooga Rulroad Company, ne
gotiated in tiie • ty last week $250 00 ’ of the
Bonds of the Company, guaranteed by the
State ol Tennessee, bearing 6 per cent, preen
interest, at par: $l5O 000 are sa d to have
been taken by an eminent Banking House
» in Washington and SIOO 000 by a firm in thu
i city.
’ The Sta’e of Tennessee has dw ys showed
the most sc:npuloua got d faith with her credj
tors, arid her present fi'anc.al condition it
very pr sparoas—ch : j will account for the
„ read neas with which bese Bonds were sot
and the fair pr;oe obtained for them in th<
present condition of the money trarkeu— CK
CWF.
VOL.LXV—NEW SERIES VOL. XV- NO. 46
Trie Adtl.ess.
1 he Hon. Jamis A. iUerbiwethir, on taking
tho chair as speaker of the House of Represcn
e tatives, delivered the following admirable ad
e dress :
e Gentleman of the House es Representatives:
I Accept my thanks lor the honor you have
j done me. Unmerited as it was by me, yet so
f I generously tendered as it has been by you, the
I, circumstances could not fail to excite my liveli
i est gratitude for this kind expression of your
9 confidence.
t I brinsr to the discharge of my duties but a
limited share of sxperience. end doubtless 1 shall
oftentimes have t- throw myself upon yourchar
f ity for support. Bat be mv errors ever eo often
- repeated, t rest assured, they will at all times
times owe their existence to the defects of judg-
* mint, and never to an evil intention.
i Gentlemen, our State has just passed the or
s deal of a seve-c and bitter contest. New Issues,
involving the Integrity of the government itselt
1 have altogether supplanted the accidental caus
, es which have hitherto marked the boundaries
<>f political parties. This disruption of past as
sociations, this severance of political ties, has
I most unhappily given rise to much of personal
vituperation.
Diffem-ces of opinion, originating in motives,
cq-iai'y patiiotic, have failed to command that
toleration which the fearless nurault of truth
should at all timesc-immaiid. But the occasion
which gave rise to th s bitter strife is gone—the
sovereign people have proclaimed their h'sh be
hests- thea let as generously give to the past
all the acrimonious feeling which it has engen
dered. and forgetting all but our common coun
try, let us unite with heart and hand to upho'd
our constitutional Union.
Gentlemen of the House—important dudes
wlll devolve ui on you during the present session.
Our rapidly increasing population—the extension
of our system of intercommunication—the de
velopeme't of our resources—the diversity of ,
our parsuits, and the new relations which nil
these are farmin--among us, will call for new
and the change of many old laws. Let vs give
to these subjects thedareful thought and pat ent
investigation which become the representatives
of a great and truly growing people.
Punctuality to duty, and adherence to our 1
rules in its discharge, will greatly aid us in the i
attainment of the purposes desired, ss well as
bring our session to a successful and seasonable t
close. (
It is a pleasing theme to contemplate thefu- ,
tme destiny of our State. To one who has wit
nessed her rapid transition within a few years,
ihp rnolirtj mnr. iilncinn nf thx* mwrvs 1
the reality seems more the illusion of the magi
man’s art, than the result of actual develop
ment. What was Georgia twenty years ago,
and what Is she to day 7 Thon, stripped of
commerce—manufactories scarcely known - <he
mechanical arts porish’nr—not a foot of rail
road within her limits—cities decaying—agri
cu'ture langd-blnx, and labor stifled because of
the isolation of its employment— aa ill organ
ized jndiciary denied protection to right, be
cause of the uncertainty of Its continuance
A f«w county academies and a State college of
fit!ul existence, marked the era of education,
while our State, closing the first century of its
existence, numbered but half a million of souls
withinlts limits.
Now, what has twenty years done for Geor
gia 7 Her commerce boldly striding on—msn
ufactories in every variety rising up everywhere
the mechanical arts challenging the rivalry of
oiler States—labor diversified and rewarded—
agriculture improved and yet improving—a well
organized judiciary, giving stability to laws—
one thousand miles of railroad, completed and
completing, tapping the tributaries of the Mis
'issipyi, and running in near approach to those
of the Gulf—cities flburishi.e, and some boast
ing their thousands of inhabitants, whose rites
twentyyears since were th- pasture of he bound
ing d< er—education spreading all over the State,
while nine col.egiate institutions dispense their
blessings to mote than twelve hundred scholars
annually 1
This is the bright page of my country’s histo
ry, on which I delight to look.
Twenty years ago. I was first honored wiih a
eeat on this floor; I have witnessed the day of
her gloom, anil beheld now the bright sun
shine of her prosperity.
When I look upon all this, it Is with a vanity
that I erre not to conceal—with a spirit of exul
tation for the pas’ and of toyous hope for the
future, 1 can exclaim, “this is my own, my
native land.”
And to what do we owe all this evidence of
prosperity and happiness 7 It's tho full fruition
ol our own flee and happy government.
But stall Geotgia stop in her onwir! march 7
Shall she play the laggard in the future because
of her successes In'he past 7 No, let her tri
umphs strengthen her energies. Go on. She
holds the key to the commerce of the great
West. Open new channels of internal commu
nication—cheapen trans, 0.-tation - invite com
merce—foster manufactories in all their varie
ties—encourage especially, the mechanical arts,
those great agems of individual wealth and na
tional strength. And last, though never least,
by a well directed system of public education,
let it be the boast of every Georg an, that not a
son or daughter lives upon her soil, who cannot
speak and write thi ir native tongue.
Georgia has a great des'iny to fulfil. Great
in her physical resources—great in moral action
with s climate surp'ss'ngiu ealubr tv and health
the most favored of the Atlantic States, her
rapid advancement is but the prestige of her fu
tur ■ gloty.
She now hears meekly the sectional dlstmc
ton of the Empire State of the couth. Iler
energies have won her this proud nuaitiomand a
-j-sr.—punches a,x-orded her her due. 1? eve loph,r- .
mighty resources—stimulate her mighty ener
gies—-speed her on In her cour**», and ihe day I*
not distant when she will claim, and deserve
to receive the more honored and more national
distinction of the Ernp re State of thieglon ui
Union.
F om the •¥. O. P ea rtne. 5 h inst.
LATER FROM MATAMOROS.
The Fighting Still Continue I.
By the arrival sir c j our last of the steamship
Fanny. Capt. Auld.we have di ba from Mata
moras and (he seat of war op to the 30:h uh.
Thp Fanny brought twenty six passengers, and
$34,481 in specie.
the fighting with»n the city of Matamoros
s'ill continued when (he Fannv tailed, the ad
verne forces having been engaged, with little
intermis-ion, lor iore than a week Carvejal
wes advancing upon the west side of the town,
andon th® 30th October wa* within four
f(pares of the Phza where Gen. Avalos htd
h a head quarter*. Here tbe latter win posted
with eight or hire pieces of arid ery so dis
posed as to cover each other. The revolu
tionary leader had but a single piece, and wa*
doubtless fighting his way from bouse o house.
A* near as we cars recollect, the buiidmjs
on the western side o! the city, until a post ion
within two or three squares of the Plaza
could be gained, are principally I<w and
built ol adobe* or sundried bricks. There
may, however, boa few commanding brick or
stoiiO touses on that aide, and if there are
Carvsjil doubtless has possesion ofth?tn.
The following, which wa copy from the
R o Bravo <f the 29:h ult., gives as ful par
ticular* » f the figh’mg up to that date as we
have eeen. Wo find it under the head of
‘S ege of Matamoras and Skirmishes in the
St eets
We gave our readers a hasty sketch, of the
first battle at Maiacnoro*. in our h.*t paper,
and now proceed to furnish a brief sum
mary of the subsequent occurrence.*, up*o
the moment of gnii gto press. Gen. Avatoa
ha« kent etric'ly within his fortified position,
in the centre of the city, v.hich is defended
with a good deal cf ski Iby nine gun* Gen.
Carvajd has removed bis head q’ar era from
Fort Paredes, into the ma.’ket plac*, and
within (t o rear portion u! the town He ba<
only oae six pounder; and wi h this inadf q mto
rntery ha* been forced to fuht under tvory
dhadvan’age, aramEt Avaios’ force* and heavy
gun*. Duty wkirmishes have taken place, and
oq sone and nights, t‘ ree or four hap-
S nud of a fierce and de ermined ct.ancter
etudes innumerable shot* of rifles,
and pistol*. Avsl"S has fired between four
bn ! five hundred cannon shot* of canister,
grape and ball—Carv jil about one hundred
The < >act numb-r of killed and wound d on
ihe M -xican side, is not known to u*, ( ut two
days ago, there were 104 wounde-t men in
their hos. ital a number have been wounded
and ki led since bud it i* fair to presume, that
nearly half as many have been killed as ere
wounded. This Aould make tbe k: led and
wo tnded on the side t f Aralo*. about 170 or
> 130 wen. Carvajal ha* had three or four
killed and about a dozen wuijndtd L'eut.
s Cu ver and Surgeon F.nley a’e two o' lb
-1 killed, and Col Ford, Capt. Norton and F. R
1 Gracirqui the latter ly an accidental dis
char? ol a gun— wound* d
Wnen the circums ances are considered,
this di«parity oi 10-m i- almost miraculous.
J The fighting has de*»n <f en hand to baud,
J both sides firinz through the same hole in
i brick »• slit ai each other. The siege has lasted
, six or seven dajs. and with cans ant hostile
i acion t..e men are worn down but do not
f complain. They are resolved to taka the
• p’ace, and (his resolution they wi I, probably,
1 make good quickly. If Carvajal bad a twelve
. or eighteen pounder he wou'd '.ap’ure Ava’os’s
whole force in two hours As wo aro writing,
the fire is tremendous, and we have reason to
• think a decided movement if a* hand. We
r have unable tu procure a list cf th 1 ? olfi
i cera in Carvajal’s r.rmy aid .he services cf
each company ar d detachment, es soon as we
can du so we wii', pub i«h them—and we are
happy in the meantime to state that all who
4 had an opportunity o participate in ihe con
’ flict have behaved with ’he most cotnnaenda
bl gallant y and finortss '1 he contest has
- been ha r .tving and exhausting beyond des
t crrpti n. «ni it h to the highest ho, or of all
’• jed, from the general down to th* h’ltn
t blest private, to s ate that they have f.itbfully
» discharged :heir duty We learn that eotne
• pillaging ts r ouses has been commit ed, but
r by whom is unknown. /\ considerable band
cf marauding scouiid els hang about all such
1 belesgured places a- Matamoras, ready to rob
5 or murder ah wh.> fa«i in their way. Wo'-re
glad to learn that Carvajal has resolved to
■* punish, wi hme utmost rigor, every disrepu
• tab:c offender tba. he can delect.
The saoie paper has the follow ng in eddi
ion u the ab »v* :
it Yesterday Major Gorzile’. of Gen. C«nra
i- ja! s Buff, whise ♦ nicrii g Matamoros with a
• - flag us truce, was fired on and ahot through the
e hat by one of Avalos’Na iooU Guards. The
e po iroon was • rdered under arrest by Col.
Purtil'a, whu was in command. There are 104
e wounded men in Gen. Ava os’ hoapt al From
e this fact, the ki led may be inferred They
is cannot f&L short of half of that number.
Gen Csrjtval ordered two cf his eoUiers
d who ha. commi ted thef’s to be severely whip
i ped ves’erday, and issued the most <ringent
is orders lor lha punubmen: of those who stiou.d
le offend in the like manner tiuch are the ru.es
d of d .cip me and h mesty “» ,h « a ,o >
eol pirate-and outlaw. 1 Wui Avalos follow
A I the exampie ? ... .
I We karn vertaMy that Mr. Langstfoth, one
-hot d-adwhie sanding onthi roof of hie
store o house. wa chiog t e operations. Tbe
American Con.n Mr. Waddell had also beou
-bgmly wounded m the head and other no J
cotnbatan s had b-e-i i„j rl , ed by Ihe fire f .
rrvelutioniets, which w« close and communis
from tho first.
At the oue-et nf hostilities G en . Avalos had
called upon the National Guard and all ifis citi
zens to turn out for the common defence.
Th ; s order was refused. He next is>ued a de
cree or proc'sma ion red aei ng the dates ca
mantas three cents per yard, which ao aroused
the patriotism of those who bad previously
held back that they turned out in great num
bers. Ha lit not been so -his adroit
ment, it is said that scarcely a man would bare
joined him.
We have before us a letter from a merchant
in Brown.vtlle, to a gentleman in t"is city,
which describes the excitement in the former
ulace as being intense. Business was com
plotely suspended, and everything was in con
fusion. The letter is dated Oct 2)th. accord
ing to the writer, the tenth of the siege of Mat
amoros. On that day the assxnlt was renewed
With redoubled vig r, and, says the writer, “I
have on V to raise my eyes from this sheet, Io
see the flush of ..very Wirch rge." The sama
tetter assert! that tbe .fFur is entirely a specu
lation , that the people of Ta i aulipas were at
fir-t i-.po.ed to engage in it; but as soon as
Carvajal commenced to enlist Americans, the
Nano al Guard joined Avalos, and 'has ena
bled him to make a stout res stance. The let
ter also ulhrmi that most of the persons who
go over from this side of the Ri<> Grande Io
take part in the movement, are aetuav d solely
by a desire for plunder The writer advises
persons here to be cautious before giving
countenance to the movement, aud then con
cludes as fol'ows:
I have just been to the door to examine tho
position if tbe contending parties From the
rapidity of the discharges, and their apparent
proximity. I think they are having hot work.
Carvajal has but on- G plunder against nine 12
pounders, but be plies his peace well. To day,
we are told, a greater effort will be made, and
appearances indicate the fact. God grant that
this day may decide the contest one way or the
other
Below we give another latter, which gives
some particulars not contained in nnr <><h»
paruuu.ars not contained tn our other
. accounts: '•
~ BnoWSvittr, Oct. 29,1851.
f Up to this date neither of the contending
e patties has obtained any d cided advsntvge.
There is, apparently, s determination oa
- the part of the forces under command of Gen.
‘ Avalos to defend the town to the last extremity,
’ and. as far rs lam ab eto le-ro, the enthusi
asm which prevailed at one time among Car
t vsjal’s troops, bas very much subsided. There
( appe irs to be a great reluctance on the part of
, Carvajal’s forces to attempt to carry the town
i by storm; they evidently have a great horror
of Ava'os’s big guns Carvajal now has hie
head quavers in :ha market plaza, whence ho
s?nd out his skirmishing parties, who exchange
1 a few shots with the National Guard and at
night return to the plaza.
Matamoros has been twice on fire, and two
of the finest buildings in the place, besides
about $lO 000 worth of merchandise, were
destroyed.
The first fire commenced in the building
known a- the Divine building, consuming that,
and ihe edj .icing building known as die Resa
ca house. The conflagration commenced
, about 10 o'c ock on Saturday n'ght. It is pos
itively known that the Devine building was
fired by order of Carvajal, who has very pecu
liar notions as to the means to be employed for
the liberation of his countrymen.
During tho confiagra'ion, Mr Waddell, ’he
A > eiieau Consul and some American gentle
men who were in his bouse, went out to en
deavor to eave the noods— S2O 001 worth
which were in 'he Re.-aca hituae In this la
tor ike- were assisted by a number of the
National Guard, who bad thrown as do their
arms in order more eflectual'y to aid in remov
ing tits good..
Mr Waddell had his flsg with him, while en
gaged in thi ■ bnaineas. and he is certain that be
must bave been reC 'gntzed by his countrymen
who were ith Carmjal. No withstanding
this, and while engaged in rescuing the pro
perty f»n American citizen from d- struclion,
Mt. Waddell and his friends were fired upon
by Carvajal’s men, and Mr W. was wounded
by a musket ball in the cheek.
Whatever pa'rio i. m mav h ve at first char
acterized Carvajal’s movement, has now en
tirely vanished. T: e movement is amply an
armed invasion from the United States, and
the persons engaged in it are employed in rob
bing thote portions of the town ; n their pos
session, and committing other excesses.
'1 lie plunder taken from the peaceful inhab
itants is deposited within the territory of the
Cnited Stat's. The presence of the maisbal
and United States attorney is very much need
ed here.
The most extreme dis ress exists among the
poor people who have been driven om es Mat
amoros. Ftom 1,200 to 1500 women sod
have beep compelled iwaOwisdori their, x,j
hon.e*, and rnany of them are' Utterly deslt
: tute. .
1 cannot form any definite opinion of th.
I result of the contest. Corninu.MMttton with
> the part of the town occupied by iheMexi au
forces is entirely cut eff though it is .aid .hat
Avalos still has an open way to the river .on the
southeast ide of ths city.
Dutios the hsideat of the fighting, Gen.
Avalos ordered every Amsr can tn Blatamorae
, io confine h.nise fto his store or dwelling, at
f e same ua>e remmending bia troop, to ahoot
down any one who muht be teen io the
rnets. The cause for this was his belief that
all the Americans wereavmpithismg with Car
i vsjal. and ready to afford him reliel should an
opp >r unity occur. We learn thia verbally.
It is cerl’inly singular hai ao far nothing has
I been heard of Canales or JesusCardenes, who
, at one time were ceitainly in favor cf the de
r nrun'-iralioo. Perhaps they are only awaiting
I the result of the a tack npon Matamoros, and
I wII be foremost in their patriotic bluster should
Carvsjal succeed in capturing the town From
our verbal ace unis, we should gather the the
lut er could at first have carried the Plana and
optu ed ihe guns, by a vigorous assault, but
i ts at bis desire to save life prevented him from
resoiting to thia measure.
I - ..
Right of Search —lt seems to bo pretty
well asceria ned that tome correspondence bt>*
taken place between our Government and
those of England and France in reference to
order* given to ritiah and French *hips of
w»r to prevent the landing es any m litary
force upon the caasts of Cub*. To what ex
, (ent tne aasumpiiozia of <he (wo fore gn Gov
r ernmenu wen we are not informed
The posi ion of thi« Government in relation
to the r gh*. of search wa* ao clearly and defi
i nitely established in (he negoiiaii.in* and cor
reapondtinco whch resulted in the Treaty of
Washington, in lfc42, that no one need to in
dulge in the slighter doubt as to (he course
i which the Administration will pursue if (he
question should arise lor consideration again,
idr. Webr.er, as Secretary of in 1851,
will be found no doubt to bo the same Mr.
Webster who as Secretary of 8 ate in 1842,
lai i down ‘he principle never to be shaken
he princip e of the freedom of tbe American
fla? and i»* virtue to protect all over whom it
righ fully float*
A correspondent of the New York Courier
writing from Washington in a’lufion to thi*
subjeot, *ay*:
“I happen* d to be in the North, where Mr.
Webster was Inet aummer. when the new* ar
rived, lhai Ei gland and France intended to or
der, or had ordered, American veasel* to be
searched, a* in former times, and I heard Mr.
Wfcbater, then confined to hi* house by his an
nual a tack of catarrh, declaie, that the fi-*! m-
Mtanco us any such proceeding ought to be,
i and would be, ioHow&d by war! And I know,
I also, that thia de laration was made by him in
i tbe presence and hearing of several person*
I in habits of dai v correspondence witn
Engii-h friend*, and that in lers than twelve
dev* fr m the time it wa* made,it wa* heard of
and known in high quarter* in London.”
The condition of this country, with its grew
ing e.vnglh and r« sources, is such at this day
that nei i er England nor France, nor both to
gether. would be we should thick, to
conest an aba'rsct question nr to s item pt the
finlorcemeut cf a disputed privilege, in view
of i e c< as above anr.ounod that
might be expected to f 4iow such an attempt.—
f!a't A mtr.
PhOGKESf OF THE RLV .LVT IOW IV CHILI.—
By thu Go den Gatv, wi h dates to Oct. 6. we
have a fu’.l confirmat’on of the rumor given
by us a few day-si ce, respecting a revolution
in this rapidly growing b ale Don Manuel
Montt, whom we have heretofore stated to
have been pfobiMy elected to the Presidential
office, wa' duly inaugurated on the 18th of
Sept But, after the election and prior o the
tutuzurat on, viz; err
partisan fmr.ds cl Gen Crex, the opponent
of M jntt iu the election, produced an outb eak
at Coquin.: o >-nd tci k into their hands lh«
goverumeri' of lhe province, eeizsd the gov
ernment fundi and foiced heavy loans, took
the a’eamer Firefly, the pre petty of Mr. Lam
bert, an Engli n resident, and sent her to
Conception to apprise their frieuds of their
mov- men’s, end io< re them to nciion. Gen.
Cn.z ibe r favorite, at leng h joined them,
proclaim.ng himself their leader, and mir
•haled his for. es. ______
Departure of Emigrants for Africa.—
Toe barque Morgan Dtx sailed from Balti
more cd Saturday last for Africa, with 153
colored emigrants, who aie sent out by Um
• American Colou znion tociety.” The en.-
igrants are from lhe States cf Virginia an i
Nur th Carolina, a large portion of them
umititd slaves, i heir destination is Basta
Cove, and ail it is stated, are ill provided with
means necesaa.y togi'e item a start m life ia
i their new home.
The «me Society, in connec ion with Ito
aoxiUnes in Alabimaand Louisiana, propost a
to fit out eo eipedi’ion in December irota
Mobile and N Orleans of over 300 emigian s.
Gallashrv of an American Captaiw.—A
London paper Bientiuus with ap| roval, an»i no
an illus ration of “Amtiican gallantry,' that
1 Capt. Nye, ot the United btaus mail ateamar ip
Pacific, the first to commence firing a roiai
c salute ol twenty-one guns on the instant of
■ Qtxn Victoria’s embarkation at Liverpool.
» Catch en American Captain, ind at ore &.1,
f cauh Capta n Nye, wanting in gallantry when a
pure h arted lady is in the care. In oeeaa
steam.ng and gallantry no one finds the CapUm
9 of the Pacific lingering in the rear.