The southern Whig. (Athens, Ga.) 1833-1850, December 24, 1836, Image 2

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' lAw - •—**. RESOLUTIONS. A ' A resolution was sutfrmVted by ARn. Mitch el, of Clarke, and agreed to, inviting the Elec " tor?-of President and, Vice President to seats ' the Senate Chamber during their stay in Milledgeville: and also to tho use ot the same , .atL2 M. on Wednesday next. I "Gibson’s resolution, . r.-questing the . j Governor to open a correspondence with the , Bankiilg-institutions of this uiatr\ tor the pur- j ' -posh-of ascertaining at what rate of interest i they wiii incHvn.-uiv portion ot the Surplus j ,. A Re<cr.uc, and to report the same to tho Senate ; -swas■ taken up uuu rejects cdt ' hO, Nays , 4). A'MESSAGE FROM TltS GOVERNOR was received, submitting a c mmmnicatior. from .the .Judge of middle Circuit pointing mV certain defects in the Penal Code—‘RelcrteC .td'the Committee on the Judiciary. The Senate thou adjourned till Tuesday > morning. ; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ! The-Speaker having obtained leave of’ ab sence, the House proceeded to the election ol a Speaker pro tem. t when after several ballot iugs, Mr. Burns, of Jackson, was declared du- : ly elected. Mr< Crane, from lhe Select Committee re ported a bill to incorporate the “.Millet ’s Bank’’ ut Dahlolmega. • BILL REJECTED. To appropriate money for- endowing the Female College at Macon. [The House was engaged a considerable portion of this day in the discussion and a mendment of this bill, which was finally laid on the table the balance of the session—yeas 78, nays 57.] RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. Mr. Lewis’: That the Electors of Presi dvut and- Vice President now assembled, be invited, during their stay, to the privileges of the Hall, and that its exclusive use be tender ed them on Wednesday next, after the hour *6f 12 o’clock, for the purpose of discharging the solemn trust devolved upon them by the voice of the State—[And a committee was ap pointed to wait,on said Electors, and tender them the freedom of the House, &c] Mr. Meriwether’s: For the compensation of the Electors of President and Vice President • ' the United States. [Fixing the compensa , tiou, at. $8 pei day, and $8 for every 20 miles travelled ingoing and returning. At 3 o’clock, the House met, and were en gaged principally in the second reading ot bills. They adjourned to Tuesday morning. SENATE. Tuesday, December 6, 1836. RILLS PASSED. ■ To i the ‘Bank ol Brunswick ' yens 56, nays 11. To incorporate the Merchants’ Insurance ignd Trust Company of Macon. To amend the act incorporating the Insur ance Bank of Cohimtus. To incorporate the “Savannah Insurance ■and Trust Company. To incorporate the “Savannah and Augus ta Steam Boat Company. • • :RESOLUTIONS LAID ON THE TABLE. '• By Mr. D iane: For supplying certain new ly fo'itried districts ii Houston county with ..«opu:s..pfp,ri.mo’s Digesta.id Military Tactics. Mix Walthall: Authorizing the Governor to offer a reward for the apprehension of Kem detmheath, an Indian murderer and robber, now at large. RESOLUTIONS AGREED TO. Mr. Core’s: Appointing Messrs. D. B. . Mitched, iMer Lam ir, and William Beall, a Committee to adjust the accounts ot Senators txr pTT., —« on the part ot the House. The resolution of the House of Represen tatives in reference to the compensation ot the Electors of President and Vice President ot the United States—with an amendment, allow ing them a Secretary at the same rate ot pay as themselves. The report aud resolutions submitted by the ; . JoirttCommitteeon Printing—giving the print ing of the Laws and Journals of this session, as well as the Job Printing, to P. L. Robinson, Esq., he being the lowest bidder for the same, and stipulating to perform the work ia Mil ledgeville. The Senate adjourned to Wednesday morn . Sing. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House refused Mr. John B. Lamar’s motien to reconsider the vote ot yesterday, laying on the table the balance of the session the bili for an appropriation fur the Female College of Macon —yeas 63, nays 81. Mr. Moore presented a petition from sundry citizens of Walker county, relative to laying out and organizing a new county —referred to a Select Committee, consisting of Messrs. Moore, Stroud, and Barnett. Mr. John B. Lamar presented the petition of sundry citizens of Jones county praying to be attached to Bibb—referred to the Commit tee on Petitions. Mr. John B. Lamar, from the Select Corn mittee, made a report favorable to the petition of Myrotn Bartlett. BILL PASSED. The bill of Senate, to incorporate Emory College in Newton county. resolutions adopted. The House took up and concurred in the amendment of the Senate to ihe resolutions ot the House relative to the compensation of Elec tors of President and Vice President, viz: “and he allowed a Secretary, at the same rate per diem as the Electors themselves. On motion of Mr. Rambo, the House took up and agreed to a resolution for adjournment sine die, on Thursday, the 22d inst. The House took up the bill to authorize the construction of a rail road from some point on the Tennessee river, to some point on the South-East branch of the Chattahoochee. Mr. Meriwether moved to strike out the Ist sectiod—during the discussion of which, the House adjourned to Wednesday morning. SENATE. Wednesday. December 7,1836. The Senate agreed to a motion of Mr. Mc- Allister,-to reconsider the passage of the bill to incorporate the Merchants’ Insurance and Trust Company of Macon. Ttfr. Reesb called up the report and resolu yphs'T»f the Select Committe;, on the subject a geological survey of the State, which were amended, and agreed to —recommending the enajuymei.t of one or more suitable persons for such survey, who shall keep an office at the-geati of govemm mt, and shall preserve specimens for the use of the Slate, and make senii-kimuai reports of his progress to the a.id at the teinainaliou ot his work eiittll prepare a coos lidated report tut public.i tijjn, right of which .hall belong to the State—sl9,ooo are recommended to be appropriated for the expenses of the work— Yeas 53, Nays 25. Also.—Mr, Walker’s: For the purchasing a suitable©k clt for the capitol —5 oas 40, Nays 2iK laid on the table a resomton pfoYiatiyg tin auditing and payment of ac. counts tor guarding and keeping prisoners in criminal cases, in such counties of the Chero kee Circuit as are not provided with sufficient jails. BILL REPORTED. By Mr. Mitched of Bald win: To incorpo rate the President and Directors of lhe People’s Line of Stages. bill passed. Fhe amended bill to incorporate lhe Mer chants’ Insurance and Trust Company of Ma con. Ihe Senate adjourned to Thursday morning. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mr. Bolton, by leave, introduced instanter a b'll to amend the act amendatory of the act. of incorporation of the Georgia Rail Road Company. 'l he House took up the unfinished business i of yesterday, being the bill for the construction [of a rail road from some point on the Tennes ; see line, io a point on the southeast bankofthe I Chattahoochee. After discussion thereon, ! both in the morning and afternoon, the lull was laid oa the table for further consideration. The House took up and concurred in the i amendment of the Senate to the bill of the ! House to ir.corporate the Merchants’ and Plant- I ers’ Insurance and Trust Company of Macon— I said amendment being- to incorporate the In- I stirance and Trust Company of Chattahooch ee at Columbus. resolutions. The report and resolutions, for compensa : t ion to Col. Brisbane aid Mr. White, for their ; services as engineers in making a survey of the j Alleghany passes on tlie northwest frontier of I this State. The:sum specified is $2,743 62 1-2. The House refused to adopt the report and ■ resolutions of the Select Committee on the pe i tit ton of the citizens of Habersham, for an ap i prepriation to improve the road over the Cur ] rahee mountain. Yeas 58, Nays 79. j Mr. Franklin, a resolution to appropriate money to enable the Treasurer and Comptrol ler General to pav additional clerks. The House, after holding an afternoon ses sion, adjourned to Thursday morning. SENATE. Thursday. December 8, 1836. BILLS INTRODUCED. I By Mr. Hopkins: To incorporate the ‘Bank ' of St. Marys' I Mr. Polk, of Madison: To add a part of Jack son county to Madison. BILLS passed. To direct the deposit of the funds to accrue to this State, from the Surplus Revenue of the United States —Yeas 44, Nays 35.—[This bill provides for ttie deposit of the Surplus Rev enue in the Central Bank, to be by said Bank loaned at 5 per cent, per annum to the several Banks of this State in amounts proportionate to their capital stock paid in—no Bank to re ceive more than $300,000.] Mr. Dunnagan offered a substitute for the 24 section, providing for the deposit of the fund in the Central Bink, to be loaned to the citizens of the State in she same manner as the funds of said B ink are now loaned : and in case the General Government should require any part of said fund to be refunded, the said Bank shall be authorised to demand immediate payment of its debtors, to the amount required —and if the said funds should not be applied for by citizens in 60 days after its reception, the money then to be loaned to the banks in which the State owns stock, according to the provisions of the bill. Rejected,— Yeas 37, Nays 42. Mr. Liddell offered an additional section, providing that any portion of the Surplus Rev enue which may not, at any time, be disposed of as aforesaid, may be loaned by the directors of the Central Bank as other funds of the in stitution, within 3 months after its reception. —Rejected— Yeas 4.8, Nays 41. BILLS LOST. To repeal the Ist, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 9th sec tion of the act of 1825, for the licensing of Physicians, and the 17th and 18th secs, of the 10th div. of the Penal Code, so far as respects the punishment of Botanic practitioners, and relieve said practitioners from their disabilities, and to authorize them to practice, and to collect their fees. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR. Transmitting to the General Assembly a communication from Gen. Wool, commanding the troops in the Cherokee country, on the subject of retailing spirituous liquors to the Indians, and communicating a memorial from the Chiefs on that subject. The Senate then adjourned till Friday mor ning. _ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House agreed to re-consider the vote of yesterday, rejecting the resolution for an appropriation of SIOOO to improve the road over the Currahee Mountain.—Yeas 61, Nays 59. BILLS INTRODUCED INSTANTER. Mr. J as. Lamar: To make a loan to the ! Trustees of the Georgia Female College. The House took up the order of the day, being the Ist section of the bill to authorise the construction of a Rail Road from the Ten nessee line, &c.. as a state work, and with such portion of the surplus revenue as may be sufficient therefor. Various amendments being offered, and discussion had thereon— Mr. Bryant moved to strike out “sufficient portion” and insert “one half the surplus re venue.”—Rejected, Yeas 74, Nays 77. The House, at a late hour, adjourned to Friday morning. SENATE. Friday, December 9, 1836. The Senate agreed to a motion of Mr. Gib. son to re-consider the passage of the bill direct ing the deposit of the Surplus Revenue.—- Yeas 42, Nays 32. The Senate also agreed to a motion of Mr. Liddell to re-consider the rejection of the bill on the subject of Botanic Physicians—Yeas 43, Nays 35. BILL INTRODUCED. By Mr. McConnell, of the Military Commit tee: To provide more effectually for the de fence of the State by organizing, arming, and establishing one uniform system in the State of Georgia, and to provide for the discipline of 1 the same—3oo copies ordered. BILL PASSED. To alter and amend the act of incorporation of the Chattahoochee Rail Road Company, and to give to said company banking privileges. And the Senate adjourned till Saturday morning. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House, after considerable debate, re fused a motion of Mr. Burns to reconsider the vote of yesterday, refusing to strike out the first section of a bill for the construction of a rail road from the Tennessee line to some point on the S. E. bank of the Chattahoochee river, as a State work, to be constructed with the funds received from the surplus revenue —leas 77, Nays 80. 7’he House took up the unfi lished business of yesterday, being the Ist section of a bill to co n .s ? r;>ct a rail road from the Tennessee line to some point on the S. E. bank of the Chatta hoochee river, with branches to Athens, Mil ledgeville, Macon, and Columbus. Mr. M’Kinley offered an amendment providing for the purchase by the State, of one half the stock of said rail road, provided, a joint stock company shall Erst be organized, and take $2,000,000 of th o slock, and be jointly interested in the -work — rejected— Yeas 39, Nays 97. Mr. Davis, of Elbert, offered an amendment appropriating tw<j-thirds of the surplus revenue of the United States to bo appropriated to Geor gia, for the construction of sai l road, and the remaining one-third to be appropriated to pur poses of education— rejected— Yeas 53, Nays 84. Mr. Easjcv moved to lay the bill on the tn b’e the balance of the session— rejected Yeas 33, Nay 3 1()7. i Mr. Swift offered an amendment, appropri i atiu.g two-thinls of the surplus revenue for the i construction of a rail road from the Tennessee (line to some ooint on the S. E. bank of the ■ Chattahoochee, with branches to Athens or | Madison, Milledgeville, i'orsyth, and Colum- I bus. Mr. Hill, of Jasper, moved to add after ! Forsyth and Columbus. the words, “and any ! other point which may bo designated by the I Engineer, or Engineers, surveying the same, | as she most proper and practicable, and on ; which the Legislature may hereafter determine ' —Adopted— Yeas 8-1, Nays 54. The House adjourned to Saturday morning. SENATE. Saturday, December 10, 1836. BILLS INTRODUCED. By Mr. McAllister, from the Committee on the State of lhe Republic: To prevent the sell ing of spirituous liquors to the Cherokee In dians iu certain counties, and to punish offen ders. Mr. Butt: To provide for tho call of a Con vention to reduce the number of the General Assembly of Georgia. ABOLITION PETITIONS. Mr. Bond called up his resolutions on the reception, by Congress, of Abolition Petitions [heretofore published.] Mr. Gibson offered the following as addi tional resolutions: And be it further Resolved. That every dif ference of opinion proves corruption in one or the other. And be it further Resolved. That a petition or prayer is very offensive to liberty and prop erty, however respectful and humble it may be. And be it further Resolved. That to receive and read a petition is to grant the prayer of the petition: therefore, eveiy member of Congress who admitted the reading of the petitions of the Abolitionists in the late Congress, did thereby grant the prayer of tho petitioners. And, inasmuch as a majority in the House of Representatives of 'he late Congress of the United States did admit the reading of such petitions, therefore slavery is anolished in the District of Columbia, so far as that branch of the national Legislature could do it. And be it further Resolved. That any man can know the contents of a petition without reading it. And be it f urther Resolved. That it is in consistent with the nature of this Government to read a petition, or suffer it read. And be it further Resolved. That although the Congress of the United States in 1790. did admit the reading of petitions praying the Abo lition of Slavery—where? ia the District of Columbia? No: in the States; —and to which that body responded in the words following, to-wit—“ That Congress has no authority to interfere in the emai cipation of slaves or in the treatment of them in any of the States, it re maining with the several States, alone, to pro vide any regulations therein, which humanity or policy may require,”—yet the aforesaid Congress of 1790, though just out of the Rev. olution, knew not the spirit of this Government half as well as a Virginia TUzse-man. Mr. McAllister offered the following as a substitute for the whole: Whereas, during the late session of Congress petitions were submitted to that body, having for their object the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia; and whereas, the people of Georgia remain unchanged and adhere un alterably to the opinion unanimously expressed through their representatives at the last session of the General Assembly as to the right of Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia— Be it therefore Resolved. That the District of Columbia is the common property of the people of these States: that the right to exclu sive legislation in it, vested in the Congress of the United States is derived from the Consti tution which recogn-ses and guarantees the rights resulting from domestic slavery; and that any interference by that body with those rights will be unr uthorised by, and contrary to the spirit of that sacred charter of American liber ty. And whereas an honest difference of opinion existed among the Representatives of this State as well as among the Representatives from oth er States, having interests and institutions identical with our own, as to the right ofCon gressto reject unheard petitions from any por tion of the people; and whereas, whatever may have been the opinions of our Representatives in the late session of Congress upon this ab stract point, the motives of all were honestand patriotic, having for their aim the prosperity of the South, and the common good of'our com. mon country— Be it further Resolved, &c. That the con duct of our Representatives in Congress during its last session, deserves, as it has received in their recent re-election to that body, the appro bation of the people of Georgia. And whereas, the freemen of Georgia bv re electing to Congress their representatives among whom such honest difference of opinion existed, have expressed their views upon the whole subject matter— Be it therefore Resolved, &c., That it is in expedient and improper for their Representa tives in the Legislature, who, with those in Congress are alike the servants of the people, to give instructions or express opinions on a subject, upon which that people have distinct ly spoken. The Resolutions, amendments and substi tute were ordered to be printed, and weremado the special order for Monday next. Mr. Farisslaid upon the table a Resolution requiring the Directors of the Central Bank to distribute the loans of said Bank according to a ratio to be ascertained bv a comparison of the votes of the Cherokee counties at the late General Elections with those of the other counties ot the State—the joint ratio, founded upon the last census being unjust in reference to those counties on account of their increase of population over that of the other counties of the State—-also, Requiring the Governor to distribute the poor school fund in the same ratio. The Senate adjourned to Monday morning. HOUSE Ob REPRESENTATIVES. The House resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday, being the Ist section of the rail road bill. Mr. Franklin moved to strike out the words, “with the funds of the State,” rejected —yeas 62, nays 86. Mr. Swift’s amendment was then adopted — yeas 103, nays 31. S © u i ii e r tt it t ® ♦ Mr. Meriwether moved to strike out a-part of the 6th section, nroviding for the continua tion of Work, without, interruption by any dis agreement between the Slate and any landhold er, &c., rejected—yeas 53, nays 8-1. The reading - Laving been completed, .Mr. Burnes moved an additional section, declaring that said road shall cross the Chattahoochee river between Campbellton and Winn’s ferry in Hall county, adopted —yeas 116, nays 30. The bill was, with some further amendments, passed by yeas lOf, to nays 52. The Clerk was ordered to carry the same forthwith to lhe Senate. The House adjourned to Monday morning. SENATE. Monday, December 12. 1836. BILLS INTRODUCED. Mr. Hopkins: To provide for additional com pensation of the Executive of the State. [Mr. Morgan: To lay out and organize a new county from Cass and Murray" counties.] BILLS PASSED. To incorporate the Western Bank of Geor gia at Rome, in the county ot Floyd—yeas 44, nays 20. Mr. Morgan moved to strike out Rome, and insert Cassville—yeas27. nays 41. To authorize the Brunswick and Florida Rail Road Company to construct a branch from any point on said ruad to any point on the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers—-yeas 54. nays 19. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday morning. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. resolutions. Mr. Solomon laid on the table a resolution for adjournment on Saturday next—to convene again at such future time as the Legislature may determine. Mr. Gordon, of Chatham, from the Commit tee on Internal I rmrovement, submitted a report and resolutions fir removing obstructions to > the navigation of he Flint river. The House tookup tho bill to establish Free Manual Labor Sclools in the several counties of this State. Mr. White, of Elbert, offered a substitute for the bill, appiopriating one-third of the j surplus revenue as a free school and education i fund—and providng lor the appointment of a Committee of tvio from the Senate and three from the House o’ Representatives, to digest a plan of Free Schools best adapted to the genius and habits of our people, and to report to the next sessior. of the Legislature—to open a correspondence on .the subject, &c. The substitute, after considerable debate, was received in h'eti of she original bill, and passed— yeas 131, nays 9. Three o’clock.—The House met, when Mr. Harris, of Baldwin, by leave, introduced instanter, a bill to give master carpenters and masons a lieu on buildings to be erected by them in the county of Baldwin. SILL PASSED. To incorporate the Planters 1 and Mechanics’ Bank of Columbia—yeas 70, nays 62. The House adjourned to Tuesday morning. SENATE. Tuesday, December 13. bills passed. To regulate the auditing and payment of ac counts against this State. To repeal all acts transferring caveats against the issuing of grants, from Courts below to the Governor, and to transfer them, like other appeals, to a special jury. To amend the 11th division of the Penal Code. To alter and amend the 3d section of an act of 1810, for the more effectually serving the probate of Wills, limiting the time for Execu tors to qualify, and for widows to make their election, &c. BILL LOST. To regulate the fees of the several Clerks ofSuperior and Infe’ior Courts, and Sheriffs of this State—yeas 17, nays 53. The Senate, after the first reading of sever al bills of the House of Representatives, ad journed to Wednesday morning. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mr. Strickland moved vote of yesterday, passw» rate the Planters’ anck, Columbus.— rejected— Yeas ui,i* \ I Mr. McKinley, from the Committed<ni that part of the Governor’s Message relative to a Geological survey of the State, submitted a Report and Resolutions, which were read, and 300 copies ordered to be printed. Mr. Grey, by leav?, introduced instanter, i a bill to impose, levy aid collect a tax for the year 1837. BILLS passed. To compensate Grard aud Petit Jurors in the counties of Gwinnett, Hall, Habersham, i Glynn, Meriwether, Talbot, Henry, Harris, Franklin, Butts, Madison, Cherokee, Cobb, Cass and Walker. To add an additional section to the 12th div. of the Penal Code. Mr. Kelly, of Houston, from the Committee on Finance, made a report on the subject of designating the bank bills which shall be re ceived at the Treason —declaring that no legislation on the subject is necessary, &c.— Agreed to Mr. Kelly from the same Committee to whom was referred the communication of T. Haynes Esq. Treasurer, which was read and disagreed to by the House. Adjourned to Wednesday morning. SENATE. Wednesday, December 14, 1836. BILLS INTRODUCED. Mr. Walthall: To prohibit Cherokee In dians and their descendants from owning real property in this State. Mr. Hudson: To authorize the establish ment ofa lunatic asylum m this State, and to appropriate money for that purpose. BILLS PASSED. To amend the Penal Code of this State To amend the acts incorporating the Geor gia Rail Road and Banking Company—yeas 45, nays 21. To incorporate the Ocmulgee Bank, in Ma- ! COl1 —yeas 38, nays 30. BILLS LOST. To compel persons cultivating land in coun ties other than those in which they reside, to pay tax on said land and negroes in the county whete their plantations lie—yeas 29, nays 40. To incorporate the Farmers’ Bank in New nan—yeas2l, nays 37. To incorporate the Jefferson Bank in War renton— yeas 18, nays 43. RESOLUTIONS. The Senate took up and concurred m the report and resolutions of tho Committee on Public Buildings—recommending an appro priation of $1,528,83 for the payment of ar rears due for the additions to the State-house, and the further sum of $1,009 for further, im provements; and for building a Governor’s house, and building porches and collonades ut at the East and West doors of the capitol, $30,000. They also recommend the pur chase of another lot fur the Governor’s house, and the appointment ol a commissioner of pub lic buildings. ’1 he Senate adjourned to Thursday morn ing. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. lhe House agreed to reconsider their disa greement to the report of the Committee on Finance, on the subject of the report ofti.e Treasurer. Also, to reconsider the rejection of the bill to appropriate money for the improvement of tne Oconee river—yeas 71, nays 63. Mr. D.r. is, of Walker, from the Select Com mittee, reported unfavorably on the petition of certain citizens of Floyd and Walker for a new county. Ihe House took tip the hill of Senate for the organization of the Court for the Correc tion of Errors. Mr. Burnes moved to lay the bill on the ta ble till the meeting of the next Legislature, which was carried—yeas 84, nays 70. Mr. Burnes then offered a preamble and re solutions; whose object was to refer the ques tion ot “ Court,” or “no Court,” to the voters of the State at the next genera! election, &c— --laid on the table the balance of the session bv the casting vote of the Speaker; the yeas be ing 75. nays 75. BILL passed. The substitute for the bill on the subject of allowing Botanic Physicians to practice with out the penalties now imposed—which was a bill to repeal the act of 1825, to regulate the licensing of Physicians in this State—yeas 85, nays 56, BILLS LOST. To appropriate money for improvement of roads and bridges in Cherokee—yeas 56, nays 78. Mr. Holcomb, by leave, introduced, instan ter, a bill to grant certain privileges to the Trustees of Clarksville Academy. A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR Was received, communica ing his refusal to approve and sign the bill to incorporate the “ Merchants’ Insurance and Trust Company of Macon,” and the “Insurance and Trust Company of Chattahoochee at Columbus,” on account of the absence of a provision making the property of the Stockholders liable tor the debts thereof, and of any limitation to the time of their incorporation. RESOLUTIONS. The House refused to agree to the re-con sidered report and resolutions for an appropri ation t > improve the road over Currahee moun tain—Yeas 59, Nays 63. The House met at 7 p. m. and were engag ed principally till adjournment in the 2d read ing of bills. They adjourned to Thursday morning. SENATE. Thursday, December 15, 1836. The Senate were this day engaged during the entire session in the consideration and dis cussion of the bill ot the House, for the con struction, as a State work, and with the funds to be derived from the Surplus Revenue of the United States, of a Rail Road from the Ten nessee line to some point on the southeast bank of the (lhattahoochee river, with branches to Athens or Madison, Milledgeville.Forsyth and Columbus. They adjourned, without a final vote on the bill, to Friday morning. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House agreed to a motion of Mr. Gor don, of Chatham, to re-consider lhe voteofyes terdav laying on the table lhe balance of the session, the bill to organize the Court for the Correction of Errors—Yeas 87, Nays 75. BILLS PASSED, To prevent Sheriffs and other officers from levying and selling growing crops, except in certain cases. To compel all general officers to attend all reviews and general musters, and to fine and punish offenders for neglect—Yeas 80, Nays 50. To revive the act incorporating the Georgia Medical Society. To increase the capital stock of the Bruns wick Rail Road and Canal Company. To assess a tax on all shows in Henry BILL LOST. IWBersons owning plantations and j in rfufft rson county, and residing out of the county, to pay tax for the same in said county. The House adjourned to Friday morning. From the N. O. Santa Inna at Liberty. By the arrival last night of the schr. Texas, Capt. Parker, we learn that Gen. Antonio Lo pez de Santa Anna, who had been a prisoner of war to the Texians since the memorable battle of San Jacincto, was set at liberty on the 27th ultimo, at Colombia, by order of the Texian Government: and immediately pro ceeded to Nacogdoches, on his way to the city of Washington. What disposition has been made of his officers and soldiers who were captured with him, we were unable to learn. Further particulars will be given to-morrow. Bv passengers on board the brig Eveline, from Havana, information has been received, that an expedition consisting of 8,000 men, was fitting out at that place, to said 4th Dec. to accomplish which, men were pressed in ev ery direction and forced into the army. All the steamboats and Spanish vessels of war were detained for the purpose of conveying the troops to their place of destination—which, by the wav, was kept a profound secret. Ru mors were afloat in the city, that this expedition was destined for St. Jago de Cuba, and again, that a Mexican minister had arrived from Ve ra Cruz, with despatches to Gov. Tacon from tiie authorities at that pert, stating that Vera Cruz and the country round about was ready to declare in favor of the Government of Old Spain;—the latter is doubted. TEXAS. Z j PUCLIC DOCUMENT War Department. A Columbia, November, 3(p\- GENERAL It has been reported to the President by General Felix Huston, commanding the army of Texas, that the Mexicans are engaged in active and fbrmipable preparations for the im mediate invasion of Texas. It is stated that Gen. Bravo left Mexico fifty days since, in command of the army of Operations, for the destruction of the Texians. Such informa tion is calculated to awaken the apprehensions of those who have once suffered from a people who are alike insensible to national as well as humane obligations of society. I am directed by President Sam. Houston, to order that every able bodied man subject to military service, shall provide himself with a good rifle or gun, for service, and 100 rounds of atnunifion, with a good horse if he can procured. This stale of preparation j s an nounced, that every Texi-, n mav b<. p lt4 p a red to rally to the standr ri j o f hi ; c , luiltly at a moments’s wareiuo. I ilm directed to sa-, that no call Wil’ be made upon the fo.ee of the country until the necessity is urgent and ab solute. We must be prepared to meet the enemy. We know they are implacable in their resent ments, und irreconcileab'e in their hatred to wards us. We must be prepared to meet them, and act in future on their own princi ples of warfare. The immediate organization of the militia of the country is ordered; and each company is to consist of fifty-six men. rank and file,with one captain, one first and second lieutf-nant. AH those who have an interest in the coun try are required to remain in readiness to de fend it with blood and their lives, if demanded by necessity. By order of tiie President. WM. G. COOKE. Acting Secretary of VVar. MEXICO. By the British packet arrived at Havana, on the 9th, with specie, news from the city of Mexico, to the 22d ult., was ieceived there, according to which the state of that Republic was most deplorabte, there being no President, no Ministry and. no Congress legally elected, the whole goveiijment of the country being in the hands of Toinel and a few unprincipled military leaders. The inertness of the people was such, that they would indifferently receive as their supreme chief or dictator, either Bus tamante, Bravo or Santa Anna. The long talked of expedition against Texas, was post poned to the Spring, on account of the impas sable roads, want of money and navy. The government presses, in order to calm the dis satisfaction of the people with regard to the mismanagement of their affairs, say that by keeping a respectable division on the banks of the Rio Bravo, they keep in constant alarm the Texians, and exhaust their resources, in which they are grossly mistaken, as the Tex ians are very quiet in their winter quarter?, and amuse themselves in raising fortifications on various points of the coast. From the Mobile Morning Chronicle. Important from Ulcxico. By the brig David 11. Miller, 10 days from Tampico,we have received newspapers of late date from that place, and have perused several commercial letters, which describe the politi cal situation of the Mexican States. The expedition against Texas appears to have commenced its march, and was proceed ing towards .Matamoras, whence it will bend its course towards the seat O’s war. If we are permited to confide in letters from the city of Mexico .s>f November 2, an army ».f 4000 men will leave that capitol under the order of General Bravo. It will halt at San Louis Potosi, where it will be joined by 30 00 troops, and then repair immediately to its place of destination. Other letters from Tampico of the Ist De cember assert that the army will be 8000 strong, that it was recruiting in every state, and that when its organization shall be completed, it will march against Texas byway of Matamo ras. The same letters inform us that they were fortifying Tampico, and were taking other measure? of defence against an inva sion from the sea side. The Mexicans appear to have been induced io take those precautions by rumours that an expedition was about sail from New Orleans under Mexia with a view to land organize a revolutionary government. ,[■ _ .Measures were meat to provide tiued for the invasion of A decree of:the president, ad int. published in the Goz of Tamaulipas of the 12lh ult. re vives in full force for the ports of the north and such places as may be occupied by the army, the law of the 12th of last June, which permits the importation of provisions into Ma tamoras. Provisions pay a duty of 20 per cent, except cocoa and tea,which arc declared to be free: provisions imported into Matamoras or into any of the ports designated pay no duty, provided the importation be made in Mexican vessels. In other respects the law of 16th June remains in force, with the exception of such of its provisions as may be contrary to the present decree. The articles of provisions allowed to be in troduced, are flour, rice, sugar of every kind, cocoa, chocolate, coffee, pepper, salted meal, smoked or pickled, peas, biscuit beans, bacon Indian corn, lard, vermicelli, tocino tea. Ac. These preparations would lead us to sup posed that hostilities will shortly commence. Private letters state that there is much sick ness at Tampico. Capt Driscoll from Tampico reports that an affray took place at Tampico between some of the crew of the United Scales sloop of war Vincennes, and some fishermen, the crew of the sloop of war were imprisoned and the government refused to give them up to the American Consul, the ship was obliged to put to sea without her men. Cap*. D. has brought despatches for the government of the United States. jflorUa. STILL LATER FROM FLORIDA. We are indebted to a gen'leman. passenger in the schr. Amelia, arrvied yesterday morn ing, from St. Augustine, for the following information: — Gen. Jessup arrived at Volusia, from Tam pa Bay, on the 4th inst, with four hundred mounted troops, composed of Alabama volun teers and marines. They captured, on their march, between 30 and 40 negroes and one Indian. Gen. Jessup has succeeded in ob taining much valuable information from those captured. They state that there are, at a certain place about 300 negroes who can be taken; that Jumder has retired from the field, having lost most of his men; and that the Indians had generally gone, south, with the exception of Powell, who has with him at Wahoo Swamp, about SO warriors, and has •determined to die. Gov. Call has retired yi the field, and the troops, under Gen ' the hue of inarch, after the —and 11th inst. ' ' . command . were to and ' JOrleans, on thenß*' _ at ®t. Augustine o’. his, most ly in a state fe. . ■ ■ • V Charles, aV- Woodruff who is ainorßk . by, Gen. Jessup, states. / a S. l^e P ast summer, seen ne g r ? es taken from the Major Heriot, Depeyster and C>"ig, . -nhat they have been kept in the interior, and have never been near | the coast; nor does ho know ot any neg?:o having b'.,cn bartered for powder, as ' <as suppo., c d;thatfew deaths have occurred r.n lon g them, and those mostly children. Your tie gross of Col- Rees, and one of estate of Woodruff, were drowned l' jS t Jane, while crossing the St. John’s f\ O ip Spring Garden Plantation, to which the Indians had frequently resorted, for supplies of sugar cane and pota toes; that they made frequent visits to those places, where they could obtain provisions. From the State Rights' Sentinel. AuGustA, Dec. 20, 1836. i 2 o’clock, P. M. $ CALAMITOUS FIHK. This morning about day-light, our citizens were aroused by the tolling of bells and the distressing cry of Fire! It originated, (in all probability by accident), in an old Cooper s shop about 80 yards below the Planters’ Hotel, on the same street, and on the square above McKenzie & Beunock’s old stand on Broad st reet. Before any force could be collected it commenced spreading with great rapidity in the direction of Broad-street; the houses on tha? square being all of wood and very old and dry, its progress was not arrested until 10 o’clock the morning, after having des troyed all the buildings on that square and a bout half on the square above, on the same side of Broad-strect. After the flames had consumed all the buildings on that square and communicated to Barnett’s Drug Store on the square above, several houses were blown up, both in front and in rear, for the purpose of saving a large three story brick building on Broad-street and the Planters’ Hotel. Both buildings were doubtless saved by this step, together with the active exertions of the fire-' men; and the further progress of the flames arrested. It was with some difficulty also thpt the wooden buildings on lhe opposite side of Broad-street were prevented from taking Seventeen or eighteen houses on Broad-st. besides a large number of out houses and some tenements in the rear, were burnt down. The following is a list of the sufferers who were doing business on Broad-stitet, so far as we have been able to ascertain. Moise & Cohen, wholesale grocers, Cooper Son, do. do, B. Pyne, retail, do Broadnax, do. do. M. Nelson & Co. wholesale and retail do- T. Roberts, Saddler, Mallory & Davis, clothing merchants, P. McMahon’s coffee house and grocery,. Ebeneezer Skinner, wholesale grocer,. G. B. & N. Holland, do. do. A. Kemp, tavern keeper, Thos. Barrett, druggist, 'J'. W Freeman, jeweller, G. G, & J. Luke, shoes and hats, F. Spears, grocer. Mrs. Ramsay, Milliner, A. R. Summer & Co. tavern keepers. In addition to these, many private families who occupied the upper tenements of the store houses, were also burnt out of house and home r together with a large portion of their furniture and other property. Large quantities of goods, principally gro ceries, were destroyed by the fire after being removed from the stores into Broad-street Most efthe merchants we understand were in sured to some extent, and some of them to the full extent of their losses. All the buildings destroyed were construct ed of wood, and the flames could not have been arrested so soon, but for the fire-proof construction of the brick building alluded to above, occupied by Rai) &. Bostick as a dry goods store. Fortunately the morning was very calm, or else there is no calculating the extent of the mischief. As it is, the loss may be estimated at perhaps 150,000 dollars. —the City Of ground. Chron lele. Dec. 15th, 1836. I was witness this morning to a dreadfuF conflagration. About four o’clock I was a wakeued with the thrilling cry of “fire in the Post Office Department.” As soon as possi ble, I hastened to the scene of action. When. I arrived, I found a thick column of smoke issuing from the apertures in the doors and windows of the ground floor—the room usu. ally filled with wood and coal for the use of the Department. This was under the City Post Office. The fire, with ease, might then have been extinguished, but— aye, but for what! I give you sir, what I saw and heard; your readers can draw their own conclusions. The doors were all locked; an attempt was made to burst them open by some public spir ited persons, but they were prevented— bv whom!—the darkness of the night and the ex citement of the moment, prevented them from recognising. The keys were asked for; but no one produced them. By this time the flames burst forth from the windows of the City Office and this portion of the Department was entirely consumed without, being entered] The part of the building appropriated to the General Post Office was open, and the clerks, aided by the citizens, removed most of the im portant papers before the flames had commu nicated with these rooms. The Patent Office, too. I regret to say, was consumed, with every single model. I fear but few of them can be replaced. It is said (whether as a jeu d'es prit or m sober earnestness. I know not) that Wise’s resolution produced the catastrophe. For the sake of human nature aud the honor of" the country, I hope this is not so. It was not, however, the result of accident. Extract of a letter to the Post Master of Bal timore. Dear Sir—l have just returned from the ruins of the General Post Office.—The fire originated in the Cellar ol the City Post Office, and when discovered might have been easily subdued—but no water could be procured, I am told, in the confusion, before the whole block, comprising the General Post office, Ci ty Post Office, and Patent Office, were com pletely on fire. All the books and principal papers, I believe, are saved, Yours, J. SMITH. J. S. Skinner, Esq. Thursday morning, 6 o’clock. My dear sir:—Mr. Kennedy’ who will hand you this, will give you the details of our great, calamity. I know you will do all you canto aid us at this trying period. Respectfully yours, W. JONES,, —.... -4 Mr. Kei n >dy reports that no part of the eon), tents of the City Post Office was saved, nor any thing in the Patent Office! The whole building is entirely consumed—nothing stajffi. ing but the bare walls!—All the mails wh;t;J» reached Washington yesterday evening South had been despatched—l>; Jt a p A ma & Ck from East, West, and Sou' Washington, for delivery at that office ( w e re burned' The mads from the West and South had been received v, it' n j n three hours of each other, toe Clerk* city Post Office clos edtheir labour an j re tired at half past two this ant j t | lo Messenger who slept in, the adjo' tO ing nwin? was awakened by the smoke f ro mthe cellar at about half past three, wave the first alarm. The above is the ! substance of the information received by J. S, I Skinner, by 12 o’clock. Baltimore Post Office, j Dec. 15. From a slip from the Office of the U. S. Telegraph Our time would not allow us to give parti, culars if we were in possession of them. There are two reports as to the origin of the fire. One is. that it originated within the I City Post Office; and another, that it com menced amongst the wood in the basement sto.