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drawn from the Treasury under appropna
finns by Congress, without regardmdmg, in
all cases, the objects of the appropriations as
specified in the law. ,
This practice virtually defeats that provi
sion of the Constitution which declares that
no money shall be drawn from the Treasury
except under appropriations by Congress; for
the object of this provision must have been
not merely that money shall not he drawn
from the Treasury without being duly appro
priated, but that it shall be for ob
jects specified in the acts of a Ampliation.
The practice of making payinems under
such circumstances —that is, of taking money
drawn from the Treasury under an appropria
tion for one object, and applying it to the pay
ment ot accounts, and for objects for which no
appropriation has been made renders toe
reports of the c >ndi:ion of the Treasury en
tirely fallacious, and utterly destroys all con
fidence in them. The true condition oi the
treasury, or of its liabilities, is not and can
not be presented under such a practice.
The Indian department has favored itself in
the means of practising this irregularity j
by another usage, directly in contravention of j
the law of Congress requiring that the j
unexpended balance of appropriations at
the expiration of two years, shall revert toj
the Treasury. It has been customary, before
the expiration of the two years, to withdraw j
from the Treasury the balances not actually
required for disbursement within the specified I
period; and these balances have been placed
in the hands of disbursing agents, forming a
very large fund, from which payments have
been made from time to time for objects lor
which no appropriations have been made by
Congress. The amount of funds in the hands
of these special agents of the Department has
ranged, on an average, from two to three
hundred thousand dollars for the last seven
years, and this has been generally deposited
in banks telected at the discretion ol the agent
himself.
11 rider these circumstances, the disbursing;
agents, having received moneys under abthor- j
ised hea ls of appropriation which have been (
applied to objects not sanctioned by law, have
had their accounts brought into such a condi
tion as will not allow of their settlement at the
Treasury without special appropriation by
Congress; and hence there are disbursing
agents who have been unable toobtain a set
tlement during several years, and whose ac
counts are still open, notwithstanding the act
of Congress, most salutary in its object, re
quiring a settlement annually on the first of
October.
As one irregularity is often the parent of
another, so, under the usage of the Ind'an
Bureau, by which large amounts ol money
have been field by disbursing agents, which
should have reverted to the Treasury, these
agents have had the means of loaning, and
have actually loaned large sums within the last
f#\v years, to meet the necessities of the Treas
ury in other Departments of the Government
or other and distinct branches of the Indian
department; and, in this manuei*, a system of
accommodation has obtained without respon
sibility and unknown to the law.
The evils of the practice, the subject of
these remarks, will sufficiently appear when
it is considered that they are precisely those
which it was the object of the provision in the
Constitution, prescribing the mode of drawing
money from the Treasury, to guard against;
and those aiso which were intended to be
counteracted by. the law of Congress re
quiring that unexpended balances shall rt*
vert to the Treasury at the expiration of two
years.
In the present condition of the accounts of
disbursing agents, it is impossible to ascertain
the precise amount of payments requiring
appropriations by Congress for their final ad
justment at the Treasury, f>ut tiie amount is
idhown, thus far, to exceed $200,000, and will
probably require $250,000, and possibly
$300,000.
It would be easy to multiply remarks upon
the impropriety of this practice o! the De
partment. The objections are numerous and
weighty and some of them are founded so
deeply in vital principles as to deserve some
furtfier notice in this report.
All officers hold their powers in trust under
the obligation of fulfilling the objects; lor
which those powers were grained. Congress
is entrusted with the power ol gianting mon
ey for objects to be accomplished by Executive
agents. If the agenls divert the money to
other objects, there is a breach ol trust. Bin
as all the officers of the Government are pre
sumed to have in view the common good,
Congress, more or less, relies upon the Exec
utive agents to indicate the objects requiring
appropriations, with estimates of the amounts
necessary for their accomplishment. This
confidence inJExecmive agents seems to have
been regarded, in some cases, as an implied
authority in the agent to undertake objects not
yet sanctioned by Congress, the agents look
ing prospec ively for that sanction. But il
this discretion is to he tolerated under any
pretence whatever, for objects however ap
parently needful or important, the checks and
guards provided by the Constitution and the
laws are atonoe removed, and the most dan
gerous experiments may be made with the
public money, having no higher sanction than
the judgment of the Heads of Departments,
while the discretion thus exercised at the
fountain is liable to beget licentiousness in
the subordinate agents, resulting in frauds and
defalcations of extraordinary character and
magnitude.
The aitemion of the Department has been
directed to the subject of Indian treaties, and
particularly to the manner in which some of
those recently made have been executed, in
volving the disbursement of lame sums of
money, for die emigration and subsistence of
11 i us.
The frauds that have been practised in the
Southwest have been to some extent inquired
into, but a full disclosure of aii the facts has
not been arrived at. Enough lias, however,
been brought to light to establish the convic
tion that certain contractors have realized the
most enormous profits, the greater portion of
which is believed to have been the direct fruit
of gross fraud upon the Government or the
Indians, practised by bribing some of the
subordinate instruments tn the public employ,
inenf, or through the mismanagement of high-
V public agents, who can only screen them
selves from the suspicion of a connivance in
the frauds by submitting to the imputation of
gross negligence, ignorance, or incoanpetcncy
in the performance of their duty.
1‘ rom the involved character of these trans
actions and the difficult}’ of procuring full and
precise information, i; has been found impossi
ble as yet to fix upon the point where these
frauds commenced, or to ascertain the boun
daries of responsibility among the numerous
public officers and agents through whose di
rect or indirect instrumentality, connivance or j
ignorance, the contractors were able toconsum- 1
mate their unprincipled designs. This inves
tigation has been prosecuted with the most i
p tmfu. reluctance, though persevered in un
tier a paramount sense of duty; and enough
as teen disclosed to suggest an inquiry whe
ther the guilty recipients may not lie com
pelled to reluml their iniquitous gains to the
.treasury by process of j iUV .
Ail of which is respectfully suhnettei!.
JGH.N BELL.
THE rOST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
1031 OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
-Mtv 29, 1841.
r Sir The arrangement of business at, and
the manner of the returns to the general Post
Office, forbid a detailed report of its operations
at the approaching session of Congress. 1
have, however, felt it my duty, at this time, to
601 l publiG attention to the present state of its
fi: aices, so far S3 I have yet been able to learn
their condition. I
When first entering upon my official duties, j
my attention was forced to the constant de-1
mands for payment beyond the ability of the
Department to discharge ; and with a view to
ascertain, as nearly as might be, its undisputed
liabilities and probable means, on the 27th day
of.March last a letter was addressed to the
Auditor of the Treasury for the Post Office
Department, requesting from him information
on the subject. A copy of which letter,
marked A, is herewith submitted. Such
statements have not been furnished, for rea
sons clearly set forth in a letter from the Au
ditor, dated the 25'h day of May instant; of
which a copy is hereto appended, marked B.
It was also important to learn, without delay
what were the pressing liabilities and what
the active funds of the Department For
this purpose, directions were given to the chief
cleik to state the amount due to contractors
anterior to and for the quarter ending hist Dec
1340, so Air as theyjiad been reported by the
Auditor, and also the amount in deposite, sub
ject to draft, for the discharge of such arrear
| ages. His report is herewith submitted,
S marked C.
By an examination of that statement, it will
be seen that there was due and unpaid to con
tractors, of ascertained balances, on the first
day of January last, the sum of four hundred
and forty seven thousand and seventy nine
dollars, ($147,089,) a considerable portion of
which has been paid from tne revenue ot the
quarter ending on the 31st March. A report
from the Auditor upon all the outstanding con
. tracts will undoubtedly increase tli.s amount
lof indebtedness to a total exceeding half a
j million of dollars. In addition to which, hea-
I vy demands are frequently made on the De
i partment for unliquidated claims. Oi such
| demands, no notice can be taken at this time,
I nor is it proper that an opinion as to their jus-
I tice should be now expressed.
Under these circumstances, two questions
naturally present themselves : llow is the
Department to be sustained under its present
embarrassments ! and, What are its financial
hopes for the future?
As no estimates, upon which can be based
an answer to the first inquiry, can be presen
ted until a full statement of the balances due (
from postmasters shall have been reported ftby
the Auditor,it is passed with the single remark,
that, although it can hardly be doubteu that a
large aggregate sura will be found due, it is
to be feared that from the small amount ol
most of such separate balances, scattered
throughout this wide spread nation, the want
of responsibility in many ol these officers and
many of their securities, and the lapse ol time
since these balances accrued, but an inconsid
erable part of the amount actually due will
ever be received. It therelore remains for
Congress to determine whether the amount
now due to contractors shall be paid from the
National Treasury, or whether this Depart
ment shall struggle on with its present em
barrassments, consuming its daily accruing
revenues in the partial payment ol old debts,
and still leaving large balances which it has
not the ability to discharge.
Notwithstanding the heavy increased expen
ditures consequent upon the act7th July, 1838,
and although instead of the supposed gradual
increase ot revenue, the receipts for the quar
ter ending 31st March last present as com
pared with the corresponding quarter ot tiie
year before, a diminution of more than six per
cent, still the Department w’ould probably find
sufficient relief in its future operations from
the decrease ol prices wit ch it may be calcu
lated, will be hereafter demanded upon most
of the routes, were it not lor the continually
increasing exactions in other branches of the
service.
To present this subject in the most intelli
gible form, the first Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral has prepared a tabular view of recent
proposals, that comparison may be made bo
tween the amount of present bids and sums
now paid for mail service upon the same routes.
This table is hereto annexed, marked 1).
On an examination of this statement, it will
be seen that i:i some cases, the amount de
manded by railroad companies for transporta
tion of the mails is more than two hundred
per cent, higher than is paid for coach service,
upon roads forming connecting links between
different railroad companies, upon the same
main route, and that too where the night ser
vice upon the railroads is less than that per
formed in coaches. Such demands deserve
more consideration from the fact that, whilst
at the recent lettings in New York and in the
six Eastern States the accepted service by
coaches and other modes ol conveyance lias
been secured at an average saving ot twenty
two per cent, upon the contracts ol 1837,
there are but few instances where tiie demands
of incorporated companies have not been in
creased in such manner as imposed upon me
the necessity of suspending the contracts. —
Nor is the extravagant price demanded for
mail transportation upon railroads the only
manner in which these incorporations affect
the revenue of this Department. The facili
ties secured by this mode oi conveyance for
sending letters by private hands very seriously
diminish the receipts of theoffice upon these
routes. A single illustration will establish
this assertion.
boston is one of the most important points
of railroad concentration in the Union. Its
business prosperity is proverbial; and yet in
that city the quarter ending 31st March last
shows, “as compared with the corresponding
quarter of the year before, a decrease in pos
tage receipts of three thousand and ninety
five dollars—being double the amount of
dimunition to be found, within the same time,
iu any other post office in the nation, with the
single exception of Philadelphia, which is
another great terminus of railroad communi
cation.
These facts are presented in no spirit of
unkindness towards those to w hose manage
ment these incorporations are intrusted, but
that 1 have considered it due to our whole
people to refer to ‘his subject, as one which
will ere long cail for national and State legis
lation, unle&s a corrective be sooner applied by
public opinion.
A considerable saving will be found in the
curtailment of service generally, directed by
my l in mediate predecessor, in limiting the
transportation of the mails to six trips in a
week upon most of the routes throughout the
nation. The embarrassed condition of the fi
nances of the Department, if it was so to re-!
main unaided by the Government, clearly in- j
dicated the propriety of some reduction of ser
vice, and the religious sense of the commu
nity will certainly approve the feeling that se
lects the Sabbath as the day on which that j
service should be performed. Yet it cannot j
be denied that this order has borne heavily j
upon contractors, and in many instances cau- j
ses great derangement in the transportation j
of ihe mails.
Whilst in some sections of our country
; this alteration has not only received a cheerful
J acquiescence, but is warmly approved, there
j has been great general complaint of its oper
ation, and daily appeals for the old facilities
are impressed upon the Department. With
out entering upon this subject at large, it is
sufficient for my purpose to state that, as this
order purports to have been given to reduce
Lire expenses of the Department, and to aid
in bringing them within its receipts, a return
to the loruier service, at this time, might well
be considered as a declaration of my confi
dence in its ability to sustain the expenditure’
necessary for such restoration. I have there
fore feit it it imperative upon me to adhere to j
this order of curtailment.
The building now being erected for the
General Post Office is so far advanced as to ;
give assurance that it can be completed before j
tiie session of Congress in December. This 1
is much to be desired, not only for the conven- !
icnce of the transaction of business, but that j
the public property may be kept in security.|
Such means as are within my power arc con
tinually c rnp oyad to protect the present buil
ding from nre, but in its exposed condition
the danger of destruction to the books and
papers ‘of the office is a source of constant
anxiety.
All which is respectfully submitted.
FRANCIS GRANGER
To the President of the United States.
FROM THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Nave Department,
Mat 31, 1841-
Sir: The appropriations made at the last
session of Congress will be found amply suf
ficient to cover the expenditures tor the cur
rent year, under the several heads of appropri
ation, unless it should become necessary or be
deemed proper to assume another and larger
basis oi operation than that on which the esti
mates from the Department were founded.
The state of the Navy Pension Fund will
require the immediate action of Congress.—
Under the operation of the act entitled “An
for the more equitable administration of
the Navy Pension Fund,” that fund has been
exhausted. It will be seen from the accom
’ panying report of the Commissioner of Pen
j sions that there will be required lor the pa} T
] meat of Navy pensioners, on the Ist of July
j next, the sum of $88,906 06; and on the Ist
of January, 1842, the further sum of $09,000;
j [n addition to these sums, about SB,OOO will
be required to pay arrears of pensions which
will probably be allowed between July next
and the Ist of January, making in the whole
$183,706 06. To meet these payments, there
I is within the control of the Department the
sum of $28,040; leaving a deficiency ol $ 13-v
066 06, which the public faith requires should
be promptly supplied.
The sudden return of the Brandywine seems
to require some explanation. From the des
patches sent to the Department by Captain
Bolton, of that ship, it appears that tiie great
excitement prevailing in England in the early
part of March last, induced our Minister at
that Court to address a communication to Com
modore lluli, tiie officer commanding the Uni
ted States naval forces in the Mediterranean,
the result of which was, that the squadron,
then lying at Mahon, left tlio station with a
view to get out of that sea, ascertain the true
state of things between the United States and
Great Britain, and either resume their station
or return home according to the result. The
Brandywine outsailing the Commodore, and
Captain Bolton having received no information
on his voyage deemed satisfactory by him, he
returned to the United States.
Though it is presumed Congress w ill scarce
ly he willing to give attention to general mat
ters unconnected with tiie objects for which
the extraordinary session of that body was con
voked, yet recent events induce me to bring
to your notice, with a view to the action ot
Congress, two subjects as worthy of present
consideration. The first is the establishment
of a home squadron. While squadrons are
maintained in various parts of the world tor the
preservation of our commerce, our own shores
have been left without any adequate protec
tion. Had a war with great Britain been the
result, as was atone time generally feared, of
the subjects of difficulty now in a course of ad
justment between that Power and the United
States, not only would our trade have been
liable to great interruption, and our merchants
to great Josses abroad, but a naval force, com
paratively small, might, on our very shores,
have seized our merchant ships and insulted
j our flag, without suitable means of resistance
or immediate retaliation being at the command
of tiie Government. To guard against such a
result—to be ever ready to repel or promptly
to chastise aggressions upon our shores, it is
necessary that a powerful squadron should be
kept atloat at home. This measure is recom
mended by other considerations. There is no
•situation in which greater skill or seamanship
can he exercised arid acquired than on the
coast of the United States; and in no service
would our officers and seamen become more
thoroughly initiated in ail that is necessary for
the national defence and glory. In that ser
vice, aided by the coast survey now in pro
gress, a thorough acquaintance would be gam
i ed with our own seacoast, extensive and hith
erto but imperfectly known —the various ports
would be visited—the bays, inlets, and har
bors carefully examined—the uses to which
each could be made available during war, ei
ther for escape, defence, oi annoyance, be as
certained, and the confidence resulting from
perfect knowledge would give to us, what yve
ought surely to possess, a decided advantage
over an enemy on our own shores. Should it
be thought desirable that such a squadron be
put in commisson immediately and kept con
stantly on duty, an additional appropriation
may lie necessary; for the amount oi which,
as well as the force deemed proper to be em
ployed, 1 beg to refer to tiie accompanying re
port on the subject, prepared under my direc
tion, by the Board ot Navy Commissioners.
The attention of Congress has been hereto
fore earnestly invited to the state ot our ord
nance and ordnance stores, and I deem it wor
thy of immediate consideration. A sufficient
supply of suitable arms and munitions of war
is indispensable to the successful operations of
the bravest officers and men ; and it cannot,
from the nature ot the case, be provided upon
a sudden emergency. Sailors may be hastily
collected from our commercial marine, ships
may be purchased, but ordnance cannot be sup
plied on such emergency, nor can some of the
materials for tiie preparation of ammunition be
procured either bv purchase or manufacture.
Hence tiie ordnance should, by a timely lore
sight, be provided in advance, and the materi
als be secured, from which a supply of ammu
nition can be speedily prepared. The accom
panying report from the Board of Navy Com
missioners shows the amount of expenditure
which will be required under this head. Should
the objects be deemed of such importance and
urgency as to require the immediate attention
of Congress, I respectfully recommend that an
appropriation of one-third the estimated amount
he now made.
The opinion seems (o have become general,
as well in tire service as in the nation at large,
that a thorough re-organization of the Navy is
demanded bv considerations connected with
the defence and honor of tlie country, and in
this opinion 1 heartily concur. Yet Jam iully
aware that any plan for this purpose should be
the result of the most careful deliberation, and
that it would be at once unwise and injurious
to submit to Congress and the country any
proposed arrangements which should be liable
to the charge of haste and inconsideration.—
Deeply sensible therefore at once of the im
portance and difficulty of the measure, 1 have
taken proper steps to collect and avail myself
of all the results of experience and observa
tion from those whose opportunities have affor
ded the means of knowledge, and their intelli
gence the ability to use them profitably, and J
entertain the hope of being able, before the
next regular meeting oi Congress, to submit
for your consideration a comprehensive and
well-digested system of reform in the branch
of the public service committed to my charge.
I have the honor to be. with the highest
respect, your most obedient servant,
GEORGE E. BADGER.
The President of the United States.
Daguef.rotype.—The proprietors of this
establishment have recently been remarkably
successful in their experiments. We have
seeu some likenesses that would compare with
any yet taken in this? country. In fact they
were as true tvs nature ever can be to herself;
and perhaps the only fault that could be found
to them was that they copied the defects as well
as the beauties “ofthe human face divine.”—
Those who wish therefore to be flattered need
not apply at that establishment, but all such
as desire to have a real, bona Jiile likeness to
transmit to their children or to gratify their
friends may now be accommodated —and that,
too, at the moderate price of five dollars, if ap
plication be made prior to the Ist of July.—
Enquirer J une ’-id.
TIIE TIM IS .
The union of the states and the sovereignty of ihe state
COLUMBUS, JUNE 24 1341.
Water Privileges. —Publit attention is
directed to the advertisement inserted in this
paper, by the City Council, offering for sale
the valuable water privileges, jdjoining this
City.
Chattahoochee Rail Road ,nd Banking
Company.' —We find in the Gdumbus En
quirer of yesterday the folioving notice*
which we transfer to our columns for the in
formation of the public:
“All persons indebted to the Chattahoochee
Raii Road and Banking Company of Georgia,
are requested to call at the Bank immediately,
and pay off their notes due said Institution.—
Aft'T sixty days, the assets will be placed in
the hands of Attorneys for collection.
It is proper to add that the assets if the
Bank are believed by the Directors to b? fully
adequate to pay the debts due by the Bank,
and this course is adopted to procure a speedy
settlement of its affairs.
A. G. BASS, Act. Cash'r.”
Docs the Columbus Enquirer of yesterday,
by its publication of the letters of Messrs-
Botts and Stuart, and the extract from the
speech of Mr. Marshall, of Kentucky—intend
to be understood as adopting, or in any wise
sanctioning the views of those gentlemen !
If so, why not avow it, with the reasons which
influence their opinions thus-wise—that we
may have an opportunity of inspecting those
reasons, and by a fair and temperate investi
gation of a subject, susceptible of easy and
speedy elucidation, depict in proper colors the
mad adherents to visionary schemes of policy
and irreligion—who are engendering dissen
sions destructive and incurable, among the
supporters of a wholesome Government, and
tearing up with unhallowed hands, the fair
fabric which patriots have erected—and thus
aid the Enquirer in its search after truth.
Public Documents. —We have occupied
considerable space to day, with the reports, in
full, submitted by each Department at Wash
ington, at the opening of the present session
of Congress. They may be useful for future
reference, and we, therefore, publish them en
tire. We place in our columns, also, and as
matter of absorbing interest at the present
moment, the letter of the Secretary of the
Treasury, submitting the plan of a National
Bank, as fit and proper to be adopted by Con
gress.
If the statement of the Washington Corres
pondent of the Savannah Georgian, in another
part of this paper, be correct —that Mr. Daw
son has withdrawn from the Committee on
Finance, because his opinions relative to the
policy of chartering a Bank, were either un
known or unsatisfactory to a portion of the
Whig party in Congress, we would res
pectfully suggest whether the Columbus En
quirer manifested its usual caution in its open
declaration of preference for a Bank of the U.
States, some weeks since—and, also, whether
Mr. Dawson has not exhibited far more knowl
edge of the movements of politicians, and the
tactics of party, thin the Columbus Enquirer,
by placing himself in a position, to say the
least, where he will not be obliged to ‘make
a motion in the rear.’
COMMUNICATIONS.
We have received a short communication,
through the Post Office, signed, “A Citizen.”
We intended at first to publish it—but we
have omitted it, at least in this publication*
We hope the writer will withdraw it—or, at
any rate, dfvest. it of personalities—as they
will, in no-wise, aid in effecting the object
“a citizen” has in view—viz—the correction
of the abuses in tiie Banking system, and espe
cially the charge of mismanagement and
harshness on the part of the Banks of this
city. It is our desire to receive and publish
communications on this, or any other matter
of public interest, clothed in respectful lan
guage, and free from gross personal allusions-
Communications indulging in violent person
alities only tend to inflame and exasperate,
without perhaps really accomplishing my sub
stantial good. If an individual chooses to as
sail, personally, over his own signature, our
columns are, of course, open to him, governed
only by sucli restrictions as obtain with Pub
lic Journals.
THE WHIG PARTY.
We ask the attention of our readers to th e
following editorial comments, and the accom
panying letters, which are taken ftom the New
York Times &. Evening Star, of the 15th in
stant, a Conservative Whig Journal—and
also to the remuiks of the New York Courier
and Enquirer—a press in the interest of the
Whig party proper. They affect no conceal
ment of the real condition of things ot Wash
ington —acknowledge defection and disorder
among the Whigs, which threaten the entire
overthrow ot the party —and openly express
t he opinion that “the Whig parly will seperate>
and be at, daggers drawn, before the close of the
present session of Congress .”
These letters are from “distinguished
Whigs”—so says the Times—and the writers,
we are authorised to infer, are probably mem
bers of Congress themselves, and intimately
acquainted with the political machinery how
jti operation at the Metropolis. Unless the
Sub-Tieasury be abolished—unless a Nation
al Bank is established —unless a Distribution
Bill, giving to the States the proceeds oi the
Public Lands, receive the sanclionol Congress
—unless a Bankrupt Law is passed —and un
less the Caucus System be revived to pen
the Whig members every night and Ungen
tle the refractory —“we are defeated, broken
down and dispersed.” This is the language
of a leading Whig journal —sustained too in
its assertions by “distinguished Whigs” ai
Washington. These measures, objectionable
as most of them are, must, one and all, be
forthwith adopted and carried out—at tilts
very session—tins very hour and day—or we
perish ! “ The impossibility of binding togeth
er fir any great length of time a party com
posed of such discordant materials” is already
tell and acknowledged. The Whigs are al
ready “stumbling over each others opinions
and prejudices”—and the instant adoption of
these measures, not one, two or three, but all
of them, are required, imperiously demanded
lo maintain the ascendancy of the present
dominant party and to enable it, by their con
centration in ONE GREAT CENTRAL AGENCY
riot to reconcile, but to control existing “jeal
ousies” aud “divisions” “upon (lit* very vnas-\
tires for which the special session was called — 1
and to prevent the party from railing into a
“state of perfect political chaos.” Unless these
ihingsare done, we are gone, and “the people
will never again trust the Whig party.”
The article in the Courier and Enquirer,
also, admits that the leaders are not united —
that Mr. Tvler, Mr. Webster and Mr. Clay
have each ulterior views and expectations —
and that each may he shaping his political
opinions and movements to suit the apprehen*
ded state and condition of public opinion, some
four years hence.
We have not time to sav more to-day on
this condition of things, and the probable fail
ure of the Whig party to consummate all
their plans. It is evident, however, that dis
trust and confusion pervade the Whigs ranks
limits of the metropolis at least —and
that the like disorder will soon be apparent
throughout- the country. The democratic
party, if firm and united, will yet be able to
defeat some of the most objectionable mea
sures now proposed—and ultimately to secure
the establishment, on a stable foundation, of
the principles and measures for which they
have been so long contending —and for the
support of which they have been subjected to
, such unmeasured abuse and denunciation.
THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RAIL ROAD AND 1
BANKING COMPANY.
Since Saturday last, this Institution has not
opened its doors, nor publicly transacted any
business. On enquiry we learn that, on that
or the previous day, the other Banks of tins
City discredited its notes, and being thus de
prived of the power of doing business, its doors
were closed, and farther operations suspen
ded. Thus stand matters with it at the pres
ent moment. Os the reasons which influ
enced the other Banks of Columbus, to dis
credit its notes—whether proper and suffi
cient or otherwise—we are totally unapprised.
It was certainly a sudden, and to the commu
nity generally, an unexpected procedure—and
the present attitude of the Chattahoochee R-
R. and Banking Company, will, there is no
reason to doubt, engender much exasperation
of feeling, and be productive, besides, of no
inconsiderable amount of actual mischief. We
have no wish or intention certainly to add to
any inflammation of the public mind which may
arise horn the occurrence in question ; nor to
say one word which may afi'ect injuriously
any dispositions of the Bank, or of any indi
viduals in any wise connected with it, to do
what best can be accomplished under existing
circumstances for the benefit of ail concerned.
It is matter of public notoriety that the Bank
has closed its doors ; that its notes have been,
and are now discredited ; that its credit is
blasted ; and that there seems to be no alter
native, on its part, but to forthwith place its
affairs in train of speedy and final liquidation.
In the meantime, however, and without a mo
ment’s delay, it is the expectation of the pub
lic, and required as an act of imperative jus
tice to the creditors of the Institution, that a
full and explicit exhibit of the affairs of the
■ Chattahoochee R. R. and Banking Company,
be made—that the amount and character of
its assets, distinctly specifying the proportions
of them, good and bad, and immediately and
ultimately available, be at oneb ascertained,
and communicated to the public. We submit
it to the present Direction of that Institution,
whether it is proper to allow it to remain a
day longer in its present condition— lts doors
closed, and the community generally in total
ignorance of.its actual situation, and debarred
the means of information to determine the
present or prospective value of its notes. This
course is wrong palpably, unjustifiably
wrong, and will be tolerated neither by the
creditors of the Bank, nor by the community
generally. It is unfortunate—we regret it
exceedingly as well on account of the charac
ter and credit of this City, which must be in
juriously affected by it, as of the losses that
will result from the depreciation of its notes —
that the Institution has been suffered to per
ish, in the present disordered condition of the
monetary affairs of the country, and while the
public mind, every where, is in a state of the
most intense and feverish excitement, arising
from the disclosures of Bank trauds and the
general mismanagement of these Institutions,
which come to us from every quarter of the
country.
As yet, no facts have transpired to author
ize any definite opinion as to the real value oi
the money, and consequently the extent of the
depreciation to which the creditors of the Bank
will be obliged to submit, and we shall, there
fore, hazard no conjectures on this head. Wo
hope, however, no unnecessary delay will be
suffered to intervene before the Public is furn
ished with authentic facts to enable it to deter
mine with reasonable certainty, the true con
dition of the Bank, and thus form sonjp opin
ion of what can be realized, now or hereafter,
in exchange for its notes, and thus be preven
ted from submitting to improper sacrifices, or
the impositions of those who may be disposed
to take advantage of its ignorance on the
: subject.
The official Return of the Chattahoochee
Rail Road and Banking Company, of its con
dition on the 4th day of April last, is before
us, and we make from it the following state
ment. On that day there were, of its notes*
in circulation, $179,940, and its other liabili
ties amounted to the sum of $175,888,98 —
making its total liabilities amount to $355,-
828,98. To meet this indebtedness it had,
in what we understand to be available assets,
$956,219,99 —thus showing its immediate
liabilities to exceed its available means by the
sum of $99,609 05. To discharge this excess
of liabilities, the Report shows additional as
sets, amounting to the sum of $142,536 83.
This is our reading of the report made to
the Executive, of the condition of the
Bank on the fourth day of last April.—
If our statement of it be correct, is not the
obligation most imperative on the Direction
of the Bank to show what has brought the
Institution to its present condition—what ap
plication, if arty, has been made of its assets,
and what hindrance is interposed to the use
of these assets, at once and immediately, to
redeem the circulation of the Bank, & satisfy
all its creditors. Every principle of right, of
honor and of justice, requires this at the
hands of the Bank, and we trust we shall not
be accused of treating this subject harshly*
when we repeat that the people, with the
report of last April before them, will not be
satisfied with anything short of a full and am
ple exhibit of all the affairs, and the entire
management, of the Chattahoochee Rail Road
a.id Banking Company.
COLUMBUS TOST OFFICE.
Recent information fiom Washington au
thorizes us to state that it is settled to remove
the preseiit incumbent, and that his successor
has, probably, been designated. With the
new appointment, we have now nothing to
do. We wish to enquire on what grounds
the removal in question has been determined ;
on any other pretext, than that the incumbent
belongs to, and has heretofore acted with the
democratic parly ! Is there any charge ot
his interference with politics, other than the
control of his own vote, since his appointment-}
And if not, how can the President reconcile
his removal with the declaration in his lnau
cural. (We allude to the address of Mr.
Tyler.)
“ I will remove no incumbent from office
who has faithfully and honestly acquitted him
self of the duties of his office, except in such
cases where such officer has been guilty off an
notice partisanship, or by secret means —the
less manly , and therefore the more objectionable ,
has given h is official influence to the purposes of
party, thereby bringing the patronage of the *
Government in conflict with the freedom of elec
tions. Numerous removals may become be
come necessary'under this rule. These wiil
be made by me through no acerbity of feel
ing. 1 have had no cause to cherish or in
dulge unkind feelings towards any, but my
conduct wiil be regulated by a profound sense
of what is due to the country and its institu
tions ; nor shall I neglect to apply the same
unbending rule to those of my own appoint
ment. Freedom oj opinion will be tolerated,
the full enjoyment of the right of suffrage will
be maintained as the birthright of every Ameri
can citizen, but I say emphatically to the official
corps, “thus far and no farther.” 1 have dwelt
the longer upon this subject, because remo
vals from office are often likely to arise, and I
would have my countrymen understand the prin
ciple of the Executive action.”
We would enquire farther, whether a state
ment lias not been transmitted to the Presi
dent, signed by a very respectable, we may
say a large number of the business men of
this city—those who really have much to do
with, and are deeply interested in, the proper
discharge of the duties of the Post Office—and
who, almost without an exception, were ardent
supporters of the election of Gen. Harrison —
declaring that the present Post Master of this
City had “not been guilty of active partisan
ship—nor “given his official influence to the
purposes of party, thereby bringing the pat
ronage of the Government in conflict with the
freedom of elections.” And if such be the fact,
and certainly no one is warranted it questioning
the correctness of the statements of these indi
viduals, how are his “countrymento understand
the principle of the Executive action,” if Mr.
Tyler thus falsifies his deliberate and publicly
expressed opinions f How can the Delega
tion from this State, who, it is understood,
have agreed upon tin new appointee, by bal
lot among themselves, ask the Acting Presi
dent to do that which he declares to be im
proper, against his convictions of duty, and
what he deems to be “due to the country and
its institutions !” And especially how can
the more immediate Representative of this
constituency, who resides in this City, and
who declaimed, during the last year, long and
ardently “ against proscription for opinion’s
sake”—and who, we have reason to believe,
is fully convinced of the correctness of the
representations made to the Government, of
the fidelity and impartiality of Mr. Schley,
how can he stand by, and not protest against
the procedure ?
INS UK AN Olil DA.MI oi- WOUmVIBUS. file tol
lowing statement relative to the recent trans
fer of this Institution, is from the Macon Mes
senger of the 17th June :
As some enquiries have been made in rela
tion to the “Insurance Bank of Columbus,” we
have asked information at the proper places,
and learn that the Bank of the United States,
has made an arrangement with the parties from
whom they purchased t lie stock of that insti
tution, to return it to them ; as those parties
were much interested in the closing of its old
business. We further learn that the transac
tion was not intended to produce any change
of men or measures, and that it will be conduc
ted as heretofore. As the name of Gen. Mc-
Dougald has been mentioned, as one of the
parties interested in the concern, we are ad- |
vised that he never had any participation either
in the selling of the Bank in 1836, or in the
re-purchase of it.
We find the following remarks in the Wash
ington Correspondence of the Savannah Ceor
gian, under date of June 13th. We infer
from the action of Mr. Dawson, in withdraw
ing from the Special Committee on Finance,
that he is not satisfied that the people of Geor
gia, or a majority of them, desire the establish
ment of a Bank of the United States. This
augers favorably of the action of the remain
der of the Georgia Delegation on the Bank
question—with the exception of Mr. Haber
sham, who has always, or for several years
past, been an avowed Bank man, on the ground
both of constitutionality and expediency.
It is also worthy of remark that the Mr.
Mattocks of Vermont, referred to in the sub
joined extract, as creating excitement on
the subject of Abolition, is the same John Mat
tocks who was in Congress from Vermont, du
ring the last war, and was signalized for ids
ultra-federal coursg, opposing with bitterness
every movement and proposition of the Re
publican party, throughout that eventful con
test. So odious was his course, that, at the
close of the war, he was driven from public
life, and has ever since remained in the mos 1
perfect obscurity, until the excitement of the
last Presidential campaign brought him for
ward to again embark in the work of treason
and disorder:
“I perceive that Mr. Habersham, an avow
ed advocate of the U. S. Bank, has been piaced
on the committee of Finance, in place ol Mr.
Dawson, whose opinions on the subject are
not generally known.
Another attempt was made in the House to
take up the Sub-Treasury, by moving a sus
pension of the rules. The motion tailed uv a
vote of 132 to 83; it requiring two-thirds to
take up irregular business.
The committee on Rules, reported, in part,
that the rules of the last House should be adop
ted for the present, in regard to ali matters al
luded to in the President’s Message ; the 21st
rule is therefore not properly in operation.
A large number of petitions for Bankrnpt
Laws, &oc. were presented lrom the different
States. On a motion to instruct the commit
tee on the Judiciary to report a Bankrupt Bill,
the vote stood 97 to 85, so we shall have
one of the true Federal sort from John Ser
geant, &Cos.
Mr. Mattocks, a whig from Vermont, who
succeded in defeating Mr. Fletcher, the late
Democratic incumbent, created quite a row ir.
the House, by presenting an Abolition peti
tion, which he moved to have referred to a se
lect committee ! Uproar and confusion pre
vailed for a long time, and the yeas and nays
were ordered, an adjournment moved, calls of
the House, &c. when tile subject was finally
laid cm the table for the present.
Mb. Turfix G. Atwood. —The report 6‘(
the murder of this individual, at Kosciusko f
Mississippi, taken from the Columbus (Miss.)
Democrat, of the 22d ot May, and published
by us two or three weeks since, proves to bo
incorrect, as we arc apprised by the following
statement from the same paper, of the 12th of
June:
Correction.— We learn from the Attala
Gazette that Mr. Turpin G. Atwood, whom
we reported, upon incorrect information, it
Meems, to have been killed is still in the land
of the living. John Itawlston was the per
son nnmie’-fcd by Bui k Walker. YV e stand
corrected Mr. Gazette.
The following vote was given for Major at
the election of Saturday last.
G. W. Martin. 11S
Jas. Clark. 63
W. K. DeGraffenried, 17
Geo. Smith,
Extraordinary Hail Storm in iLLixoiis
—The following account, says the Peor a
Register, of one of nature’s most romantic
freaks is so remarkable that were it not com
municated by our excellent friend and atten
tive correspondent, I). M’Neill Esq. (Post
master at Monmouth) we should be disposed
to question its genuieness:—On the dth of
May, at about 3 o’clock, P. M. a cloud, accom
panied with wind and hail, passed from west
to east over Monmouth. The hail was large,
and broke, on the west side of the houses,
more than fifty panes of glass in every sixty.
The storm had but just passed east, not ex
ceeding five minutes, when it returned from
east to west doing nearly as much damage to
the east side of the house as had just been
done to the west side. The storm subsided,
for a few minutes, when it came again from
the south, breaking glass on that side of the
houses about in the same proportion as on the
west and east. The damage done to t lie young
orchards and gardens is perhaps incalculable.
The peach trees were not in bloom, neither
were the apple nor pear, but every vestige of
bun or leaf has been stripped off, leaving cliery
and plum trees which had bloomed, and indeed
all other trees, as bare of leaves and buds as
in January; and every thing which was com
pletely destroyed. The storm lasted about
three quarters of an hour, and the hail lay up
on the ground from one to two inches deep,
and in many places in heaps which re
mained till the evening of the 6th instant, (48
hours.) It seems it did not extend more than
three or four miles south, and but filtle more
than that distance nort h. How far it extended
west and east we have not yet learned.- There
was not half glass enough in ihe stores to fill
the shattered windows, and the inhabitants had
to send to Knoxville and Burlington for sup
plies, some thousands of lights being broken.-
The funeral oration by lion. A. B. Long
street, in commemoration of the virtues and
eminent services of Dr. MOSES WaDDEL,
as a teacher of youth,-will be delivered in the
College Chapel, on Tuesday,- the 3d day of
August next, at ten o’clock, A. M. being the
day before the College commencement.
The pupils of Dr. NVaddcl, and Alumni of
the University of Georgia, are respectfully in
vited by the undersigned, a commit ee ap
pointed for thatipurpose,-to be present Upon that
interesting occasion, and to participate in the
ceremonies of the day.
All the papers of this State, and of the
Southern and South Western Statas, are re
quested io give this notice an insertion,- that
the information may be as widely disseminated
as the pupils of the illustrious teacher are
widely scattered throughout these Slates.
GEORGE R. GILMER,.
DAVID A. REESE,
THO’S N. HAMILTON,
JAMES TINSLEY,
TIIO’S F. SCOTT,
JNO. S. LEWIS,
JAMES JACKSON,
CHARI,ES DOUGHEItTV,
HOWELL COBB,
YV M. L. MITCHELL.
Athens, June 18, 1841.
From ihe Augusta Conslituuonalist. June 9.
GENERAL GLASCOCK.
| It was our intention to have given to our
’ readers a slight sketch of the life and services
: of the ; ate General Thomas Glascock, at. the
1 same time that we published the resolutions
; in honor of his memory, adopted by his bretii
j ren of the bar ; and we accordingly made ap-
I plication for some of the prominent incidents
of his life, with which we were not ourselves
acquainted. These were furnished, but cir
cumstances which we could not control pre
vented us from availing ourselves of them at
j that time, and we have been necessarily com
pelled to delay our sketch,
i ‘Plie tile of General Glascock was one of al
most continuous public usefulness, lie was
born on the 21st day of October, 1790, in the
county of Richmond, in this State, at tiie resi
j deuce ot his father, a few miles from Augus
ta. Jle entered into public life almost as soon
as be became of age, being elected to the le
gislature in the year 1812. In the year, 1814,
during tlie war with Eng and, be raised a com
pany in this place and its vicinity, and marched
to the defence of our coast. In 1817 be was
elected to the command of the brigade of
Georgia Militia which served under General
Jackson, in the Seminole Campaign, and in
that capacity he was five months in service*
He afterwards continued in active public life
in various appointments, served many years
in the Legislature of our State, was at one
time elected Speaker of the House of Repre
sentatives, and was twice elected to the Con
gress of the United States. In October, 1836,
he carried the largest vote for Congress, ever
given to any one in our State, receiving no less
than 48,448 votes. This high compliment
was paid to him by both political parties in our
Stale, on account of his distinguished services
.in the preceding session cl Congress. It was
indeed a striking expression ol public appro
bation, an eloquent encomium on the dis
! charge of duty.
j General G. had removed before bis death to
j the town of Decatur, in DeKalb county, Ga.
! which location he had been prevailed upon to
: make for the purpose of obtaining a larger and
more lucrative practice in his profession. And
there, in the midst of his usefulness, in the
midst ol bright hopes, and in the midst of san
guine prospects for the future, he was cut ofij
and has left a blank in the hearts of his friends
which can never be filled. He died on the
19th of May, 1841.
We feel tiiis notice (brief and imperfect as
we are forced to make it) to be a duly which
we cw r e to the memory of one, who was in
life alike distinguished for his talents and pat
riotism—of one whose heart overflowed with
ail the kindly sympathies of oar nature. In
liis own household, and by his intimate friends,
iie was almost worshipped for his unchanging
kindness, his deep, devoted and enthusiastic
affections. To the widow and the orphan, he
was a friend and a father, ilis heart was ever
full of charities to his species, and his soul
abounded with “good will towards man. ’ His
own interests were continually sacrificed in
acts of kindness to others, and the tear of pity
for the unfortunate stood in /use ye, when the
world turned coldly away. Oh ! who shall
represent him in the circle of his benevolence?
Who shall fill his place in the hearts of his
friends ?
It is a poor offering this, which we bring to
ihe shrine of his memory—a better tribute is
paid there, by the blessings which come from
the hearts of those who have enjoyed his
friendship, and experienced his kindness,
awl on lko.se hearts his best epitaph is written.
BROUGHT TO JAIL,
ON the sth April, a negro man by the name of
Lli WfS, who says he belongs to Mjs. Harriet
Pope, of Jackson county, Florida. The owner is re
quested to come forward, pay expenses and take him
awav. WM, BROWN, jailor.
‘Columbus, Ga. Aprf! 29 12 ts