The Washington news. (Washington, Ga.) 1821-183?, April 10, 1824, Image 2
“Washington,iß'h March, 1824&. <*Dbak “ The sentence of the Court Mar tial upon Mr, K?nnon is a *fuH ac quittal” upon every charge and spe c iff cat ion —but the Court go uo fur ther ! “He is o/dered to the Pacific in the Peacock—and if report tells true, this is a step by the “‘powers that rule the roast” to stifle all far ther enquiry about the famous Geor gia libel !—for, it is understood here, the Secretary will make no part of the proceedings public but the sentence, —and making Kennon’s mailing nearly siniuliane ms with a knowledge of his sentence, puts it out of his power to get any thing else for that purpose, “No sieps are to he taken against the Prosecutor , though the Court have declared (bat the charges aud specifications “ are not proved I” **l make this known to you to sat isfy the curiosity 1 know your read ers have about the late Court Mar tial, and suggest it as due to jus tice and the honor of the Navy, whether it will not be expedient for IJeut. Kenoon to publish all that he can, to wit, —his defence. —The pub lic wiii from that, I am told, be a- i hie to comprehend something of a transaction of which they are to be 1 officially keft ignorant, but which ) they have only to know to stamp ! whh their severest reprehension. j “The Officers here, under the ‘ rank of Captain, hope some inde- j pendent Member of Congress will ; call lor the proceed! gs of the Court i Martial: Amen say I ” We publish to day. another com munication to the Agricultural oci ety of South Carolina. Some two year- ago, we endeavored to impre*s | upon the minds of our readers the 1 important <*ubject to be attained, and the benefits which might be derived from the in tiru.ion of agricultural societies The outh Carolina o ‘ iriety, has been in existence but two i or three years, and all who have i marked its progress or who have pe- 1 rused the communications emanating from it, must be convinced of the im portance of institutions of a similar description. The p anters of Bald win County, in this state, have for med a society, for the improvement of agriculture* but in no other part of the to our knowledge, has the example been fohowed Fiohi what we have already published on the subject of rice alone, it is evident that our modes of cultiva ion are sus ceptible of impiovement —and how can these improvements be better at tained than by as ciations for mutu < al information, and mutual inquiry— i by the judicious disposition of premi- j urn , crca mg a spirit of competition ! and a general rivalsnip, in producing 1 the gieate t quantity of the fruits of the earth—at the smallest expend and benefiting the community at large, by* he publication of the Xii'-des of cu ture of our great sta ples, upon which our wea th and prosperity, so intimately depend ? Patriotism and imere t equa ly dictate the course proper to be parsed. The present communication is val uab e on account of the hint* it con tains relative to the health of the ‘cu.tivator, as well as the business of cultivation. — Sav. ‘feorgtan. Ft •om the Southern Patriot, TO THE AGRICULTURE SOCIETY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. Charleston, 20th November, ££23. Gentlemen— lt would be pre’ sumption in me to offer any thing to y< ur Sooiety on Agricultural sub jects i but as weave all interested in the health am! prosperity of tho low country, and the members of your Society more deeply than oth ers, I submit to you the result of uiy reflations on this, the chief object of my attention. That this part of the state is more Sf* kiy now than formerly, I believe you will agree ; that it may become Worse is ascertained ; and on the consequences of this progressive de terioration, we must all look with anxiety and apprehension. As far as my observation goes, this increase of si kness commenced with the abandonment of Inland Rire F<e!ds, and has advanced in propor tion to the number abandoned, and the quantify of high land cleared. Py the former an immense increase v.s occasioned in the quantity of miasmata; hv the latter,the most ef ficient means of purifying the aftnos phere were removed, I confidently hope that the evil may be arrested fa its progress, aud in a great mea- sure removed by means, within the reach and control of a'l. That other countries have been ruined by the gradual deterioration of climate, can be proved by history; and the situation of I a!y iu particu lar, may be known from the publi cations of Sismoudi, Chateauvieux, and others. Even where rice isoul tivated ou the Banks of the Aruo ai.d ihe Po, although sickly, the preva lence of sickness is nothing compar ed with that in the neglected Sea Coast, and even the Campagnafi Unma, which was once the garden of Italy. We also know that where countries had been notoriously sick ly,they have been rescued from that deplorable situation by proper drain ing and cultivation. Particular instances of this kind in our own state, must he familiar to you all, and the reverse from neglect oi im prudence, is unhappily too true. Many healthy situations have been ruined by inconsiderate clearings— by Mill Ponds and Reserves, and again have been restored to health by removing the sources of sick ness. Private interest and individual en terprise alone may effect the im provements contemplated Where several are interested they must as sociate, and where all will not do so legislative aid must be obtained. A planter may turn his attention to hi* own abandoned ri*-e fields, or be annoyed by those of other peo. pie, Ue knows that the soil is of the first quality of blue clay, su perior to a great proportion of tide land. He knows that excellent crops have been made from, it in favorable seasons. He t rails of the system of draining and irrigation practised in China and other parts of Asia. He learns that a very cheap and simple machine may be used to flow his fields when 100 dry, and to relieve him when there ss an excess of wa ter. He purchases his neighbour’s property for a trifle and removes the He makes eertain aud abundant crops, and his suoi-ess in a few years induces others to fol low his example,and the dry culture of su h fields becomes general. Give me leave to offer the suggestion of a friend, a man of the first respecta bility—that flax would probably suc ceed as well in sueb grounds as in the low country of FI Hand. If not exceeding my provide I would more partirnlwlj re.-imimcml OlHi limy he allotted “s all the p irposes of gra zing and soiling. By this plan, all occasion for the unwholesome re serves would he obviated and the place for the reserve become the richest part of the field. The culti vation of Hug ir Cane as food for nat tie of ail kinds, both in summer and winter, may he well worthy your consideration, ft would he a most luxuriant crop in such lands, and the juice when fermented at cl distil led is said to he more profitable in Georgia than the cultivation of Sea I'htnd Cotton A few enterprizing men may so*n improve a neighbor hood, ahd enable iheir families to reside so near their own planting in terests as to superintend and inspect them daily. If from your own experience, you are satisfied of the great advantages result ng from your residence on your plantations throughout the winter what must be the additional advan‘a ges of such superintendance in the Summer and Autumn—the most in terefting and impor ant part of the who e year. That it is more advantageous to manure and improve an old field than to c ear anew one is insisted on by the most experienced farmer*, even in countries where wood is much more valuab e han with us and the cost of manure much greater Inde pendent of the facility with which an immense ma • of manure may be co* lected by alternate strata of marsh gras*, stable manure fennel and oth er weed , turf and marsh mud, &c. the first cost of the land i- the most conclusive consideration, for without such collection the planter will require at least twice the quantity of land for a change of fields. By rendering an old field productive, you not only re cover so much land actually tost, but save the necessity of ho ding a great er quantity os land than is required for cultivation, and preserve the trees for the advantage of health. 1 it not better to manure a field until it yields 30 ur 40 bushels or more of corn to the acre, than to clear anew one, which will not yield more than 15 or 20 ? V ill not the same labour, time and expense effect th-- former as the latter except where the wood may be readily sent to market? Would not the effectual draining of a great por tion of the inland swamps and rice fields enable them to afford the moit abundant crops of corn, hay, &c. ? Would not some such system of cul ture, greatly improve the prospect of hea th m this part of the state ? To give some idea of the simplicity and ef fect oi a machine *or draining- fields incommo ded by back water,or from any other cause too Wft, I send a rough model of one that may be made by any carpenter, from materials, always at hand, whicUwill enable each man employ ed on it to raiA about 75 galions of water per mmute f * Besides hed'-aining of such cleared swamps, there are bar*, and ponds in the neighborhood of every plantation, the draining of which would greatly promote the health of the vicin. itv Anothr fruitful source of disease is the neglec'ed stagnant water in the cliches and canals of the rice fields after the waer has been left off preparatory to harvest. —You re fresh tbe wder in your fields as often as bub bles ar.d siuro, which denote fermentation, are observec to coll ct; but neglect that in the di ches altogether as soon as the rice is ripe.—Frora the continued warmth of the weather for the space of two months alter this period, it is obvious that a vast quantity of stagnant wtver must be in these di'ches, and a propr'riitnate quantity of noxious exhalation be the coiyequence. The exhalations result ing fromrice culture are tr.flng compared with ho.* from neglect and oversight in lea ving stagran*. water where there need not be any.— ;h< spirited and commendable experi ment m,ib bv our neighbors of Savannah, has not succeeded quite as weH as they merited. With deff-etice I think this is owing to wo ci-cumstcrs: all he neighboring rice fie ds are no. stbjected to dry culture, and they which a e ;<> subj ced are not perfectly drai ned The va er >tagnat ing in the drams from May ‘o November, I be*ieve to be he cause of sickness in ’he vicinity. If they will not con* rue tXachwerv for throwing off this wa ter, hey should at least make :t ebb and flow in s he di ehes with every tide. Give me ‘rave to offer an opinion as to the precautions ha’ may be useful if not necessa ry :o a fam-ly about to spend the summer in ’he count’v A residence in villages is not advisable—the dUta ce from your plantation is generally so great as to render your super intendence difficult if not inefficient. and your health is endangered bv every change of wea ther that may overtake you on the wav. or that may detain you at ‘he plantation The dissi pation and rivalry that wdl always arise in such settlements, very soon render ‘hem un stated to health and economy. A suitable place may generally be found within a mi e. of two of your planting interest, where you may inspect every thing and obtain your supplies without difficulty or delay If two or hree families would uni'e in such apian .it would of course be more agreeable. In making Ih r choice, a pine ridge free from moss having a moderate slope, should be preferred, bur no such piace shoHtd be fi nally adopted until ii is ascertained to afford good wholesome clear water. The associate* should agree in writing, not to make a clear ing or even cut fire wo®d within a given dis tance of he settlement to provide for making a large fire morning and evening in seme cen tral situation For ‘he purpose of rarifying the air, expelling the dampness and consuming the surrounding atmosphere,- likewise .<• keep a certain space round each house clear of rs- - J ——-* 9<t brush- all of which retain much moisture. The chilly, damp night air, the heavy chilling dews in ’he morning, and the extreme heat of the sun should be care ful > avoided. All such extremes have a great tendency to excite the diseases of summer and autumn, especially where th® extremities of the body arechilied by being wet with the dew, and the Sun beaming with intense heat on the h. ad. In such cases a warm bath would have the besteffect in equalizing the circula tion and heat of the body. N® one should e ver fie down cr set in wet clothes In other countries similarly situated great attention is paid to diet, and I have no doubt of its advantages—All excess in eating and drinking is forbidden—the food should be a bundarn, noirishing and simple,- the only re strictions generally observed are as to eggs, butter and a ilk as food. It any pretetrive medicine is necessary, it certamy shoild no be of a debilitating nature; the mild tones,such as biitersand bark,**ould be useful, aid by many a<e deemed necessary. To obviate p far as possible the cons- quences of occasional to ran, wet feet, and other contingencies of this nature, the best precatr ion is >he daily use of the cold bath to an emp;y > omach at any time of the day, but particularly in the morning. The most convenient wav of apply ing it probably is, the effusion of a pi'cher of cold water over the neck and shoulders. I forbear to urge he advantages te be de rived from a residence near your plantations throughout the year. Economy and superior skid and care wifi probably enable the planter o make a prnfi o’ 8 or 10 per cent. On his cap ita whereas 4is now he u most ‘hat is gen erally t abzed Hoping ha’these suggestions may be corrected and improved by your prac tical knowledge and experience, I am with much respec , Yourob’t. humble servant, JOSEPH JOHNSON. °The deser'ed Rice fields are the Pon ine Marshes of South Carolina. f This may be seen at Chisolm k Taylor* counting muse CONCiRESS. Debate in the Senate, On the tevertf propositions to amend the Consti tution of the United States FitiDiY, March i9. 1824. Mr, Snub, of Md, sai*i, he should vote againit an indefinite postpone ment. T(e slate of Maryland, said he, has iiiitructed its Senators to use their kest endeavors to obtain sut-h an amendment to the constitu tion as will ensure a uniform mode of election, throughout the United States, of president & Vice Presi dent. The district mode is preferr ed by that state, which meets my concurrence, and 1 shall vote for any of the resolutions that will be most likely to sneceed, and will assure that mode. Having entered,yester day, into my reasons on the subject, I will not again trespass on the time o*’ ihe Senate, by repetition, in deed, Mr. President, 1 had no inteu tion of speaking on the subject again, nor should 1, but for an ob servation made by the honorable gentleman from South Carolina, (Mr. Hayne.) lie has said, “that I was ihe first who introduced the word ‘caucus* into the discussion.” Why this observation? For what purpose ? Was it any way necessary or useful to his argument ? explained Ilecer tainly meant nothing unkind towards the gentleman. Regret had been expressed, that this word had beeu used ; and he had merely observed, that he believed it had first been used by tbe gentleman from Maryland. Mr. SMITH resumed. Mr. Pre sident : £ feel perfectly confident that the gentleman entertains no un friendly feeling towards me, person ally ; hut, as the remark hud been made, 1 am unwilling that tbe dis cussion of a subject so unprofitable, that i feci mortified at its being in troduced, and so little comporting with ihe dignity of tho Senate,should be attributed to me. 1 regret that the honorable gentleman from New York (Mr. King) should have deem ed it proper to introduce it. It is true, that he qualified it by anew name, “central power.” However, either my ears deceived me, op 1 heard him u*e the word Caucus, and one member opposite took it down ; but, whether he did or not,his mean ing was perfectly understood; and, if 1 used it, it was because I wished to give it the koowu name—-I wished to call a spade, a spade. When first introduced. I consider ed it as accidental, and tieaied it lighdy, as 1 thought it merited. But, sir, the second speech of the introducer, and tbe elaborate view taken by the honorable gentleman from South Carolina, have given to it form and substance. Effect seems now to be contemplated, and we must meet it a* we best ran. 1 am not surprised at tbe course taken by the boo. gentleman from S.>uih Carolina; lie was too young to know the extreme diffr ulties the republican party had to encounter, and the dangers it has been exposed to by attempts calculated to create schisms, that might have, by divi ding, exposed it to great danger; which, iu my humble opinion, have been mainly obviated and avoided by *h l aiuus system. Nor am lat all surprised at the opposition to it by the honorable gentleman from New York, (Mr. King j That gentle man was a leading chief of the fed eral parly, and he, no doubt, thinks, what 1 know and believe, that, ow ing lo the caucus system, his party was prostrated, and the republican party brought mto power ; by which change, 1 firmly believe, and every republican does believe, that the na tion has been greatly benefited. I adhere to that which has rendered such essential serviee to my country, and the party to which 1 belong. r lhe bridge which has carried me safe over, 1 call a good bridge. The caucus system has heretofore been approved. 1 attended several, was President at one—-aud consistency of conduct called imperiously on me to attend that lately held, and which has met with the disapprobation of the two gentlemen. Ir appears also, to have met with the displeasure of several geoilemen, with whom I have served iu caucus more than once. Well, sip, they have their reasons, such as are satisfactory to themselves, with which I have no thing to do. That of being con scientiously against it, they cann-.t offer. There are certainly some, who thiuk the system wrong, on principle. The gentleman from South Carolina has said so; but their numbers,among politicians,are few. 1 have not met with many. May w© not, without offence, be lieve, that meo are much governed by the consideration of whether the caucus will or will not support their favorite candidate? And must we not believe, that those who bavo heretofore attended eauousses, will fiod it difficult to assign any other reason for absenting themselves from that which they now censure ? Indeed, Mr. President, I must think, that it had a powerful influence, al though, perhaps, unknown to them selves, 1 mean no reflection on any one; but I form my opinion from man, as he is oonstituted, 1 will now, Mr. President, take a view of the Caucus system, as it has operated; and, I trust, I shall be abl# to shew that it ha® ©aahUd the Republican party to mount into power, aud has tended, mainly, to waiulaiQ them iu it. Upon (his theme, I act as a party man, and have no hesitation in saving, that 1 wish to keep my party in power; that 1 believe the Caucus system is the most effectual means; and that, when we cease to use it, we shall thereby deprive ourselves of one most powerful instrument. Divide and Conquer, is as old as hisiors keep tageiher, you cannot be sufi dued. Mr, President : On th* first con tested election, between Mr. Adams and Mr. Jefferson, Mr, Adams suc ceeded by (I believe) admail major ity, It was believed that bis suc cess was owing to want of a conjoin cd effort, a concentration of ioruc, ou the part of the friends of Mr. Jefferson. A Caucus was, in conse quence, held in Philadelphia, th© ob ject of which was, to make a en joined effort, to concentrate all the strength of the party, and to bird each lo the other, that they would use their best exertions to promote the election of Mr. Jefferson. 1 did not attend, but, I believe, every oth er member of either House, f loud ly to Mr. Jefferson, did attend. Who were ihey ? Men certainly as capa ble of expounding the constitution, as any gentleman now in my bear ing ; one of them, the writer,in part, of the Federalist, (to whioh we daily refer,) in fact, al) of them leaflet? in the republican ranks,and to who J we are iudebted for the change by which the republican party came in to power ; those great men are now charged, by the gentleman from N. York, (Mr King) with being pro moters of a system which, in its consequences, is to destroy the con stitution, and to introduce all the plagues us Egypt. Well, sir, lam not surprized at this charge, for the hooorabtc gentleman was one of those wiio lost the power. Losers vrill complain, and we ought not to he urprized, that the gentleman very willing to put down a system by which his party has lost their power; it is natural, it *s as nat ural for me to wish to eonthuo a system, by which I, (as one of tho gainers) have succeeded. I have said, that I did not attend the frsC Caucus; but, sir, I assured tnose who did, that I would act with them, aud I did, as the people of Maryland know. 1 used exertions, that I thi” k. I should not, if the Caucus had not been held, its decision induced roe, and others,in Maryland, to unexam - pled exertion ; much depended mi its vote. At that time the state* was decidedly in favor of Mr. Ad ams. It was changed by ihe exer tions made by <he republicans,which, I speak with confidence, lunuld not have been made, if do Caucus had been held. A Caucus was held at the second election of Mr. Jefferson, at whi !i almost every republican member diefl attend : It was not then thought a crimr. ; on the contrary, it was deem ed meritorious. If I had not attend ed it, I am sure my constituents, dfi that time , would have bee<i d.splei sed; no one then talked of a Caucus being an assumption of power; T mean no republican. I believe the federalists did, but it was attributed to the injury the system did to theta as a part} ; we did not think them in earnest; we considered their op position as arising simply from op position. The oext Caucus selected Mr. Madison, and I never heard that h thought their art other than con stitution il ; he had attended the first Caucus in Philadelphia, and was a principal leader in it. He accepted tiie nomination. We all know that he was opposed by Mr. Monroe. A. schism was threatened (by that op position) in the republican party is/ It was supported by the federal par ly* and uever was the republican party n greater danger. What pre vented that great evil ? The Caucus nomination, JV*o other course coultS have succeeded . The people rallied abound that nomination,and a schism was (hereby prevented President: Some (now pre sent) know that a schism in the re pubii. an party bad nearly takes place, on the election of the present Chief Magistrate The opposition to him was strong in numbers and oharacter, and there was every rea son to believe that tho republican party would be severed. How was it avoided ? The republicans met as brethren of the same family, agreed on Mr. Monroe, and all supported him. He and the Vice President were informed, by letters, signed by me and the secretary of the caucus, ot their nomination, to whieh they replied, by letters which have been published, Neither shewed any re