Newspaper Page Text
that these battles are not uncommon--and the j
conqueror always joins the drove of females
mid resumes the cruise. —A. Bedford Gazette*
From the American JovTnal-aJ science and arts.
ESee?a-o-I?lag'ssciic Power.
Notice of the Electro-Magnetic Machine of
Mr. Thomas Davenport, of Brandon, near
Rutland-, Vermont.
Many '.ears have passed since motion was
first produced by galvanic power. The dry
columns of De Luc and Zamboui caused the
vibration of delicate pendulums and the ring
ing of small bells for long periods of time, even
several vears, wfthSut intermission.
In 1819-29, Professor Oersted, of Copen
hagen. discovered that magnetism was evolv
ed between the poles of a galvanic battery.
Professor Sweigger, of Halle, Germany, by
his galvanic multiplier, succeeded in render
ing ths power manifest, when the galvanic bat
tery was nothing more than two small wires,
one .of copper and the other of zinc, immersed
’ ih as much acidulated water as was contained
‘it; a wineglass. The power thus evolved was
made to pass through many convolutions of
insulated wire, and was thus augmented so as
to deflect’the magnetic needle sometimes even
90 degrees. Professor Moll, of Utrecht, by
• winding insulated wire around soft iron, im
psrted to it'prodigious magnetic power, so
that a horse-shoe bar, thus provided, and con
nected with a galvanic battery, would lift over
one hundred pounds. About the same time,
jtlr. Joseph Henry, of Albany, now Professor
.llentry of Princeton College, by a new method
f winding the wire, obtained an almost incred
ible magnetic fores, lifting six or seven hun
dred pounds, with a pint or two of liquid, and
n battery of corresponding size; nor did he
desist, until, a short time after, he lifted thou
sands of pounds by a battery of larger size, but
still very small, (1830.)
This gentleman was not slow to apply his
skill to the generation of motion, end a success
ful attempts of Lis is recorded iu this Journal,
Vol. XX. p. 310. A power was thus applied
to tho movement of a machine, by a beam sus
pended in the centre, which performed regular
vibrations in the manner of a beam of a steam
engine. This is the original application from
which have sprung, or at least to which have
succeeded,several attempts,both in this country'
and in Europe. A galvanic machine was re
" ported to the British Association in 1835, by
57r. McGauly, of Ireland, and he has renewed
his statements of successful experiments at the
]ate meeting at Bristol. Mr. Sturgeon, of
Woolwich, England, also reports a galvanic
machine as bsing in use on his premises for
pumping water and for other*mechanical pur
poses.*
But, I believe that Mr. Davenport, named
at the head of this notice, has been more suc
cessful than any other person in the discovery!
of a galvanic machine of great simplicity and
efficiency. During the last two or three years
'much has been said of this discovery in the
newspapers; and, it is probable that, in a fu
ture number of this journal, drawings and an '
accurate description of the machine may be
given. Having been recently invited to ex
amine a.working model, in two varieties of
form, and to report the result, I shall now at
tempt nothing more th in a general description,
such as may render intelligible tho account 1
am to give.
1. The Rotary Machine, composed of re
volving dec'.ro-mdgnets, with fixed permanent
magnets.
This machine was brought to New Haven
March 16, 1837, by Mr. Israel Slade, of Troy,
N. Y. and by him set in motion for my exam
ination; The moving part is composed of two
iron bars placed horizontally;, dud crossing
each other at right angles. They are both
five and a half inches long, and they are ter
minated at eath end by a segment of a circle
made ot soft iron; these segments are each
three inches long in the chord line, and their
position, as they are suspended upon the ends
of the iron bars, is horizontal.
This iron cross is sustained by a vertical
axis, standing with its pivot in a socket, and >
admitting of easy rotation. The iron cross
bars are wound with copper wire, covered by
cotton, and they arc made to form, nt pleasure,
a proper connexion with a small circular bat
tery, made of concentric cylinders of copper
and zinc, which can be immersed in a quart of
aCidul’-ted water. Two semi -circles of strong
ly magnetized steel form an entire circle, in
terrupted only at the two opposite poles, and
within this circle, which lies horizontally, the
galvanized iron cress moves in such a manner
that its iron segments revolve parallel and very
near to the magnetic circle, and in the same
plane. Its axis at its upper end is fitted by a
horizontal cog-wheel to another and larger
vertical wheel, to wlrose horizontal axis
weight is attached, and raised by the winding
of a rope. As soon as the small battery, des
tined to generate the power, is properly con
nected with the machine, and duly excited by
diluted acid, the motion begins, by the hori
zontal movement of the iron cross, with its cir
cular segments or flanges. By the galvanic
connexion, these crosses and their connected
.segiucaw are magnetized, acquiring north and
south polarity at their opposite ends; and being
thus subjected to the attracting and repelling
force of the circular fixed magnets, a rapid
? horizontal movement is produced, at tha rate’
es two hundred to three hundred revolutions in
a minute, when the small battery was used,
ai d over six hundred with a calorimeter of
= large size. The rope was wound up with a
weight of fourteen pounds attached, and twen
ty-eight pounds were lifted from the floor.
Tho movement is instantly stopped by break
ing the connexion with the battery, and then
reversed by simply interchanging the connex
ion of the wires of the battery with those of
the machine, when it becomes equally rapid
in the opposite direction.
The machine, as a philosophical instrument,
operates with beautiful and surprising effect,
and no reason can be discovered why the mo
tion may not be indefinitely continued. It is
easy to cause a very giadual flow of the im
paired or exhausted acid liquor from, and of
fresh acidulated water into, the receptacle of
the battery; and whenever the metal ot the
latter is too much corroded to be any longer
efficient, another battery may be instantly sub
stituted, and that even before the connexion
of the old battery is broken. As to the ener
gy of the power, it becomes at once a most in
teresting inquiry, whether it admits of indefin
ite increase? To this inquiry it may be re
plied, that provided the magnetism of both the
revolving cross and the fixed circle can be
indefinitely increased, then no reason appears
why the energy of the power cannot also be
■ indefinitely increased. Now, as magnets of
the common kind, usually called permanon
magnets, find their limits within, at most, the
■ power of lifting a few hundred pounds, it is ob
vious that ths revolving galvanic magnet must,
in its efficiency, be limited by its relation to
tho fixed magnet. But it is an important fact,
discovered by experience, that the latter is
soon impaired in its power by the influence
of the revolving galvanic magnet, which is
easily made to surpass it in energy, and thus,
ns it were, to overpower it. It is obvious’,
* Sturgeon’s Annals of Electricity, Magnetism, &e.
No. 1, Vol. I, October, 1836.
t Mr. Davenport appears to have been strictly the in
ventor of a method of applying galvanism to produce
rotary motion.
therefore, that, the fixed magnet, as well t»s the
revolving, ought to be magnetized by galvan
ism, and then theie is ev. ry reason to believe
that tho relative equality of tile two, and of
course their relative energy, may be perma
nently supported, and even carried to an ex
tent much greater than has been hitherto at
tained.
2. RutjKfgMtfacliinc, composed entirely of
electro- K)!h in its fixed and revolving
members.
A machine of this construction has been this
day, March 29, 1837. exhibited to me by Mr.
Thomas Davenport himself, who came from
New York to New Haven for that purpose.
It is the same machine that has already been
described, except that the exterior fixed circle
is now composed entirely of electro-magnets
The entire apparatus is therefore construct
ed ot soft unmagnetic iron, which, being pro
perly wound With insulated copper wire, is
magnetized in an instant, by the [rower of a ve
ry small battery.
The machine is indeed the identical one us
ed before, except that the exterior circle of
permanent magnets is removed, and in its place
is arranged a circle of soft iron, divided, into
two portions, to form the poles.
These semi-circles are made of hoop iron,
one inchin width, and one eighth of an inch
in thickness. They are wound with copper
wire insulated by cotton—covering about ten
inches iu length oh each semi-circle, aud re
turning upon itself, by a double winding, so ns
to form two layers of wire, milking on both
semi-circles about- one thousand and live hun
dred inches.
The iron was not ivoii :d over the entire
length of one of the steel semi-circles; but
both ends were left projecting, and, being turn
ed inward, were made to conform to the bend
of the other pait; each end that, is turned in
ward and not wound is about one third of the
length of the semi circle. These semicircles
being thus titled up, so as to become, at plea
sure, galvanic magnets, were placed in the
same machine that has been alreary described, .
and occupied the same place that the penna-;
neat steel magnets did before. The conduct-;
ing wires were so arranged that the same cur
rent that charged the magnets of the motive
wheel charged the stationary ones placed a
round it, only one battery being used. It
should be observed, that the stationary galva
nic magnets, thus substituted for the perma
nent steel ones, were only about half the
weight of the steel magnets. This modifica
tion of the galvanic magnet is not of course the
bsst form for efficiency; this was used uicr“’y
to try the principle, and this construction may
be superseded by a different and more efficient
one. But with this arrangement, and not
withstanding tho imperfection of the mechan
ism of the machine, whan the battery, requir
ing about one quart of diluted acid to immerse
it, was attached, it lifted 16 lbs. very rapidly,
and when the weight was removed it perform
ed more than 600 revolutions per minute.
So sensible was the machine to the magnet
ic power, that the immersion of the battery
one inch into the acidulated water was suffi
cient to give it rapid motion, which attained
its maximum when the battery was entirely
immersed. It appeared to me that the ma
chine had more energy with the electro-mag
nets, than with those that were permanent, for,
with the smallest battery, whose diameter was
three inches and a half, and the number of
concentric cylinders, three of copper and three
of zinc, the instrument manifested as great
power as it had done with the largest batteries,
and even with a large calorimeter, when it was
used with a permanent instead of a galvanic
magnet. t With the small battery, and with
none bin eUvwu w g-u.lv-a.Lxiu i*utguv.io. K k v»vi.-
ed with so much m t,'. brisk
breeze, and powerfully to shake a large table
on which the apparatus stood.
Althoough the magnetization of both the
stationary and revolving magnets was impart
ed by one and the same battery, the magnetic
power was not immediately destroyed by
I breaking the connexion between the battery
> and the stationary magnet; for, when this was
done, the machine still performed its revolu
tions with great, although diminished energy;
in practice this might be important, as it
would give time to make changes in the ap
paratus, without stopping the movement of the
machine.
It has been stated by Dr. Ritchie, in a late
number* of the London and Edinburgh Phi
losophical Magazine, that electro-magnets do
not attract at so great a distance as permanent
ones, and therefore are not well adapted for
producing motion. On this point Mr. Daven
port made the following experiment,of which
I was not a witness, but to which I give full
credit, as it was reported to me by Mr. Slade,
in a letter dated New York, March 24, 1837.
Mr. Davenport suspended a piece of soft
iron with a long piece of twine, and brought
one pole of a highly charged steel magnet
within the attracting distance, that is, the dis-.
tance at which the iron was attracted to the
magnet; by measurement, it was found that
•1. .. . 1.1 ♦!, _ ... - , 1
UIC 31CVI titwg-tiryt nttiltvivu inv r»ioi!
'andone fourth. A galvanic magnet was next
used, of the same lifting power, aud conse
quently of much less weight; the attracting
distance ot this magnet was found to be one
inch and three-fourths, showing a material
gain in favor of the galvanic magnet. Mr.
Slade inquires, “has Mr. Ritchie’s magnet
been so constructed as to give a favorable trial
to this principle?”! Mr. Davenport informs
me that each increase in the number of wires
has been attended with an increase of power.
Conclusions.
1. It appears, then, from the facts stated
above, that electro magnetism is quite adequate
to the generation of rotary motion.
2. That it is not necessary to employ per
manent magnets in any part of the construc
tion, and that electro magnets are far prefera
ble, not only for the moving, but for the sta
tionary parts of the machine.
3. That the power generated by electro
magnetism may be indefinitely prolonged,
since, for exhausted acidsand corroded metals,
fresh acids and batteries, kept always in rea
diness, may be substituted, even without stop
pingthe movement.
4. That the power may be increased be
yond any limit hitherto attained, and probably
beyond any which can bo with certainty as
signed; since, by increasing all the members
of the apparatus, due reference being had to
the relative proportionate weight, size, and
form of the fixed and moveable parts, to the
length of the insulated wires and the manner
of winding them, and to the proper size and
construction of the battery, as well as to the
the nature and strength of the acid or other
exciting agent, and the manner of connecting
the battery with a machine, it would appear
certain that the power must be increased iu
some ratio, which experience must ascertain.
5. As electro magnetism has been experi
mentally proved to be sufficient to raise and
sustain several thousands ot pounds, no reason
can be discovered why, when the acting sur
faces are, bv skilful mechanism, brought as
near as possible, without contact, the continued
exertion of the power should not. generate a
continued rotary movement of a degree of en
ergy inferior, indeed, to that exerted in actual
contact, but still nearly approximating to it.
* January, 1837.
+ This question I am notable to answer, ns I have not
seen any account of the apparatus or of the experiment,
but. only of tire result
6. As the power can be generated cheaply ■
and certainly; as it can be continued indenti- j
itely; as it has been very great'y increased by •
very simple means; as we have no knowledge '
of its limit, and may therefore presume o i an i
indefinite augmentation of its energy, it is much
to be desired that the investigation should be
prosecuted with zeal, aided by cored scien
tific knowledge, by mechanical skill, and by
ample funds. It mav, therefore, be reasomr
b'y hoped that science aud art, the handmaids
of discovery, will both receive from this inter
esting research a liberal reward.
. Science has thus, most unexpectedly, placed
in our hands a new power, of great, but un.
known energy.
It does not evoke the winds from their cav
erns, nor give wings to water by the urgency
of heat; nor drive to exhaustion the muscular
power of animals; nor operate by complicated
mechanism; nor accumulate by draulic force
by damming the vexed toi rents; por summon
ur y other form of gravitating force; but by the
simplest means, the mere contact ot metahc
surfaces of small extent, with feeble chemical
agents, a power every where diffused through
Nature, but generally concealed from our sen
ses, is mysteriously evolved, and, by circulation
in insulated wires, it is still more mysteriously
augmented a thousand and a thousand fold,
until it breaks forth with incredible energy;
there is no appreciable interval between its
first evolution and its full maturity, aud the in
fant starts up a giant.
Nothing since tho discovery of gravitation !
and of tha structure of the celestial system is \
so wonderful as the power evolved by galvan- '
ism, whether we contemplate it in the muscular I
convulsions of animals, the chemical decompo
sitions, the solar brightness of the galvanic
light, the dissipating co suming heat, and,
more than all, in the magnetic energy, which j
leaves far behind all previous artificial accu
mulations of this power, and reveals, as there
is full reason to believe, the grand seen t of
terrestrial magnetism itself. B. S.
i New Haven, March 31, 1837.
Claim, of Thomas Davenport.— ln the words
lof the patent taken out, this invention “con
sists iu applying magnetic and electro magnet
ic power as a moving pri iciple for machine. I
ry, in the manner described, or in any other
substantially the same in principle.”
“Mr. Davenport first saw a galvanic mag
net in December, 1833. and, from the wonder
ful effects produced by suspending a magr.et
of 150 lbs. from a small galvanic battery, hr
immediately iiff-rred, -.villmut any knowledge
of the theory or tha experiments of others, that
he could propel machinery by galvanic mag
netism. He purchased the magnet, and pro
duced his first rotary motion in July, 1834.
In July, 1835, he submitted bis machine to Pro
fessor Henry, of Princeton, New Jersey, also
without any knowledge of Professor Henry’s
experiments in producing a vibratory motion.
From this gentleman ha received a certificate
testifying to tha originality and importance oi
the invention,”
Mr. Davenport is, by occupation, a black
smith, with only a common education, but
with uncommon inteliigenc ■■ 'ffig a „- e n boul
thirty-five. Mr. Ra-._,om Cook, oi Saratoga
Springs, is as p t>ciated with Mr. Davenport,
and has rendered essential service by the im
provements he has made in the machine, and
by his assistance in bringing the subject before
the Public in tha most effectual way. Arrange
ments have been made to take out the patent
in Europe.
P. 8. The proprietors are constructing a
machine of seven inches in diameter, and also
one of two feet in diameter. Galvanic maii
-»•*• wULI~ J—4 ... a. - w t
magnets of each.
From the Georgia Journal.
Jssdge Berrien’s tlddress.
We present our readers this week, with ,
the following animated, and eloquent appeal
| to the prudence desereriou and patriotism ol |
the lute Convention, delivered by Judge Bcr
rien, on taking his scat as President of that
body. It needs no comment from us to secure
for it an attentive persual.
1 thank you cordially gentlemen, for this
expression of your confidence, and yet I can
say truly that it would have been gratifying to
me, if you had selected some other member
of this body to preside over its deliberations.
I do not however intend to press my objec
tions to the acceptance of the trust which you
have assigned to me. I camo here with a
determination to yield my individual wishes,
if the occasion should require it to the ascer
tained will of the majority of my associates, iu
relation to the great object of our assemblage,
and I cannot hesitate to do so in a matter of
minor importance.
Before entering upon the business which
has called us together, it will probably be
I deemed appropriate to the occasion, that I
should say something or tiro cf
Convention, of the nature and importance of
the objects which are to engage its delibera
tions, and of the means best calculated to se
cure their accomplishment. Our constitu
ents, in sending us here, have acted upon the
suggestion of a portion of our fellow-citizens,
consisting of members of the Legislature and
others, who were convened at this place in
December last. A paper containing a cony
of the resolutions of that meeting has been
handed to me this morning, and as it will fa
cilitate our present enquiries, I will ask the
Secretary to read it.
[The Journal of that meeting having been
read, the President proceeded.]
In these resolutisons, gentlemen, you will
discover the origin of the present Convention,
and the objects which it was intended to ac
complish, and will of course give your atten
tion to them, iu obediance to the wishes of
our constituents. Does any man doubt their
importance? Let us for a moment contemplate
them. We have arrived at a fearful crisis in
the political condition of these States. The
rights won by the gallantry of our fathers, in
the battle fields of the Revolution, they thought
they had secured by a written Constitution,
in which it was intended, to define with clear
ness, the powers which it conferred. In the
earlier periods of the Government, the spirit of
patriotism, purified as it had been amid the
struggles of our recent conflict, presided in
our national councils, and gave cheering pro
mise that this expectation would be realized.
The rights of the States and the integrity of
the Union were respected and cherished, and
laws framed with wisdom and administered
with impartiality, accelerated, our onward
march in the career of national prosperity.
Will any man who hears me venture to say,
that such is the present condition of these
States? Look around you gentlemen—sur
vey your position—contemplate it intelligently,
fearlessly, in that spirit of patriotism which is
demanded by the crisis. The retirement from
the Presidency of the recent incumbent, has
terminated his legitimate connection with a
series of outrage and usurpation, in the prog
ress of which he has prostrated the barriers of
the Constitution, trampled upon the co-ordinate
departments of the government, and tempora
rily at least, blighted the individual prosperity,
which every where througout this extended
empire, so recently gladdened the hearts of the
American people. And by whom has he been
utW€ rtt m& i ffv
sustained in this system f misrule ? Through
out the Union, by aribrganized bind, their
connections and depeijants, stimulated into
acti ity by what they hive themselves denom
inated “the spoils ofvicory,” a.nd maddened
to desperate exfentionby the fear of losing
them. But repeat the equiry, and limit your
views to our own StaU By whom has he
been sustained? Whoamong us have been
the uniform advocatesir apologists of every
outrage of iha adminisration, from that “bill
of abominations,” whidi but for the merciful
interposition of Providence, would have bathed
thr soil of a ncighboriig State with the blood
ol her citizens, down & that flagrant usurpa
tion ot legislative powe, which by deranging
the currency, and destoying the commercial
credit of the nation, imiihilated the wealth
of our merchants, straited the resources ofall
classes of the people, ind reduced the hardy
mechanics and laborerstff our commerial cities
to all the horrors, of' pverty ? Have we, or
have our political opp-hents done this thing?
Have we, or have theykheeled at the footstool
of Federal power? Have we, or have they
vindicated those sacrcl principles which Ga.
had heretofore unifornly maintained in the
halls of her legislation.and proclaimed iu the
chamber of her Exccuive magistrates? Do
you ask an answer interms?—Take it in that
which is more impnssive than language.—
Look to your L -gislunre : a large portion of
the intelligence ofour titizens is banished from
ils halls. To your Jidicaty—the ermine has
f'.i'len upon —whom?' To your Executive
department. At whit pA’iod of our former I
history were the people of Georgia, who are I
prone to bear, as long as evils are tolerable, j
reused to un activity, which has assembled on
ibis floor, ai a season lika this, so uumeraus and
enlighter.i.d a body, as that, which I sec be
fore me? I.iarn form these speaking eviden
ces the nature of the-' evils, which you are j
called to resist. The contest is between the I
advocates and the opponents of Federal mis
rule. The combination against whiqh you are !
to struggle is that which exists, and between
the central power, and its subsidiary in the
States, united, for the unhallowed purpose of
securing the spoils. This is (he union which
you are called upon to sunder, and may God
speed you in the holy enterpriz u
But the crisis at which we havo arrived, is
oecommg yet more A new ruler
has arisen in Israel. His warlike prodeces
sor, glistening in the blaze of his military re
-24"',., sustained by the applauses lavishly
awarded to him by a too grateful people, found ■
in his personal popularity a security from their ’
reproaches, in all the extravagance of his i
usurpations. He had moreover an energy of
character which trampled upon what it could j
not soothe —a stern, indomitable constancy of ;
purpose which wore out the assailant it Could |
not promptly overpower. To what shall his |
successor appeal for like poricciio.i ? What .
distinguished public service of any kind, gra- I
cu'igthe page tsven of’ his pensioned, eulogy,
attests his legitimate claim‘o the elevation he
has attained ? Hew trust it be preserved ?
Called to I’to Executive chair by the mandate
of hU predecessor, not by the unbiassed will of
the American people, i.s possession must be
maintained by corresponding means. I'he
experiment is now in progress which must de
termmc whether this Government shall be
administrated in the pure spirit of the Constitu
tion, or whether it shall seek support, and find
it, iu the corrupting influence of Executive
patronage. Our constituents have come to
the rescue. They have sent us .'iere to con
sult together concerning the r»eans by which
this unholy confederacy fivparftZim purposes
may be sundered and dissolved. We must
- X
in the councils of the State. We must appeal
to the people of Georgia, to their virtue, in
telligence, and love of liberty, to elevate to the
Executive chair, a citizen whose talents, in
tegrity, and patriotism, will both prompt and
enable him to resist the encroachment of fed
eral power, and the more seductive influences
of federal patronage. We must appeal to
them to redeem ths Government from those
unhallowed combinations which are corrupting
and destroying it..
An interesting enquiry remains: If such
is the importance of the objects which have
occasioned our assemblage, what are the means
best calculated to ensure their accomplishment?
The answer, with more immediate reference
to the primary purpose of aur meeting, is sim
ple and obvious. The selection of the individ
ual who is to be presented to the popular suf
frage, must be made with prudence and dis
cretion. We must not suffer ourselves to be
influenced by our private affections, and still
less by our personal prejudices. Every sel
fish consideration must be banished from our
bosoms. Talent, integrity, patriotism, a zeal
ous devotion to the principles which we ad
vocate, we must of course require. Beyond
this, the single enquiry in my judgement is
who will be most likely to command the high
est popular vote.—We are all thoroughly con
vinced of the importance ofour succes to the
best interests to the Republic. Who will most
probuMy enable us 70 attain it? In making
this determination, we must, above all cherish
a spirit of harmony among ourselves. It will
lead to unity of purpose, to concert in action.
Besides, <T «ntlemen, who are we ? why are we
here ? We are the representatives of a por
tion of the freemen of Georgia, who have
been aroused by iho startling evidence cf the
dangers which beset them, and have deputed
us to consult together as to the means by
which they may be averted. They have been
animated by a common feeling: are we not
equally bound to cherish it? The names of
various gentlemen have been presented to the
public. It is the pride, it is the just pride, of
the party with which we arc associated, that it
contains many distinguished citizens either of
whom is fully competent to discharge, with
honor to himself and with advantage to the
public, the office of Chief Magistrate. To
wards, individuals among them some of us may.
and probably do, cherish the partiality of friend
ship ; some of us, though 1 trust the instances
are more rare, may entertain the prejudice ofu
less worthy feeling. What then—shall we
indulge these partialities 1 Shall we give scope
to these prejudices in th® discharge of the
high trust which has been confided to us by
our constituents ? We are freemen : our own
dearest interests are at stake. xShall we blind
ly sacrifice them to partiality or prejudice ? M e
are the representatives of freemen. Their
interests are involved in the issue of the ap
proaching contest for the Executive Chair.
They have committed these to our guardian
ship by deputing us to this assembly. Dare
we violate our plighted faith to them ; by the
indulgence ofour partialities for, or prejudices
against others ?
Consider again, who are we ?—why are we
here ? We are not political opponents assem
bled here to mingle in the strife of debate, and
seeking by sophistry or striving by intrigue to
wrest an advantage from each other. No,
gentlemen, no. We an? friends, brethren of
the same political faith, —representing those
who like ourselves, have a common feeling
and a common interest in the object of our
assemblage. We come to consult with each
other —to mingle our counsels —to unite our
action—by unity of spirit, of purpose, and of
conduct, to deserve sucese, and thus deserving
to command it. In view of these high and
ennobling considerations, is there a man who
hears me, a freeman, a Georgian, the rep-
resentative of freemen of Georgia, holding th:
power which they have conferred, and pledged
to guard the interests, which they have con
fided to him, who would wantonly abuse that
power, who would basely sacrifice those in
terests, by the indulgence of his private parti
alitiespby yielding to bis personal prejudices?
For myself; gentlemen, lam free to declare
that I have no prejudices to surrnou.it in rela
tion to any of the Individuals who have been
presented to aur nutice on this occasion. Par
tialities 1 have, but these I am ready to sacri
fice to the ascertained sense of a majority oi
this Convention. I should have considered
tnyselfdisqualified for a seat in this body, if I
could not have formed and executed this deter
mination. I have weighed this matter. Among
the persons who have been named, there is
one whose relations to me have called me to
its consideration. 'l’he habits of friendly in
tercourse which have existed between us the
whole of his life and the greater part of my
own. have descended to us from a by-gone
generation. He is not less distinguished by
a vigorous and cultivated mind, than by gen
uine patriotism, and a zealous devotion to the
best interests of Georgia. But I have felt, and
he too will feel that the spirit which animates us
in the discharge of our duty here, should be as
pure as the breezes of the mountain region in I
which he dwells.--! have found the minds of |
our associates preoccupied by a consideration I
ofotli jr distinguished individuals, for whom I
cherish feelings of unfeigned and cordial res- i
pi;ct and regard, and I have abstained from
presenting his claims, By all those motives, j
then, which should actuate us in the discharge |
of the high trust which has been confided to I
us, —by a consideration of what we owe to j
ourselves, ofour duties to each other, ofour
obligations to our constituents, —by your love
of country,—by your devotion to the principles
which we cherish, —by the ardor and sincer
ity of purpose with which you desire to witness
the triumph of those pi'incip’.es, I call upon
you, Gentlemen, collectively and individually,
to sacrifice on tha alter of our common faith, j
every feeling which may conflict with the j
faithful performance of the duty in which we
are no .v about to engage.
From the Baltimore Chronicle.
THE WAR UPON THE CURRENCY;
ITS COMMENCEMENT AND ISSUE.
The Boston Atlas says:—We would call [
particular attention to the facts developed in I
; the following articD, which presents a view |
i oi the whole course of the Executive in rela- !
| tion to tb<t Currency—showing its original plan |
i of substituting a Local Paper Currency for the
I Currency ofthe U. S. Bank: the admitted fai
t hire of that plan; the late afier-thousht of a
j Metallic Currency, and the admissions of the
Executive that it has destroyed the Currency,
| and dene little” towards introducing another.
■ <» e give the history of the whole process as
it is furnished by the documents of the Exe
cutive Department. Such a series of failures,
frauds, and falsehoods, broken promises and
exploded experiments as are exhibited in the
following paragraphs disgraces the diplomatic
history of no other administration, popular or
despotic, that has ever fallen under our ob- I
servation.
i THE PRETENDED EVIL TO BE REMEDIED.
1829.
“It must be admitted by all that it (the U.
S. Bank) has failed in the great end of estab
lishing a uniform and sound Currency.”—An
drew Jackson.
Augmentation of the Executive Power the teal
object.
“1 suo ntt to me wmuuux xzx me
whether a National one, (Bank) founded upon
the credit of the Gorerrtment and its revenues.
might not be devised which would avoid all I
constitutional difficulties, and at the same time i
secure all the advantages to the Government j
and Country that were expected to result from
' the present Bank.”— lb.
1830.
HINT OF AN EXECUTIVE bank and the sub
stitute FOR U. S. BILLS.
“It is thought practicable to organize such
a bank with the necessary officers, as a branch
of the Treasury Department. The States would
be strengthened by having in their hands the
means of furnishing the local paper currency
through their own banks’'—Andrew Jackson.
[Here is the original plan. Net a syllable of
the Metallic Currency in either of these mes- j
sages. This part of the Humbug was entirely !
an afterthought. The original plan was to !
substitute a Government Bank for the Bank of |
the U. S. and to furnish the People with a
Paper Currency of the Local Banks.\
1831.
“Entertaining the opinions heretofore ex- [
pressed in relation to the Bank of the U. S.
as at present organized, * * I leave it
for the present to the investigation of an en
lightened people and their represenZatites.”—
A. Jackson.
[Their representatives accordingly investi
gated the subject and rechartered the Bank.]
1832.
THE ACT PREMATURE.
“ Whatever interest or influence has given
birth to this act, it cannot be found either in
the wishes or necessities of the Executive De
partment, by which present action is
deemed premature.”— Jlndrew Jackson's
Ve o.
[And this after the subject had been three
times brought to the attention of Congress by
the Executive itself.]
“Neither upon the propriety of present ac
tion, nor upon the provisions of this act was
i the Executive consulted.”— lb.
j [lt is a singular tact that the phrase Metallic
| Currency or Better Currency, docs not occur in
{the Veto Message, noris there the slightest in
j timation that the Executive contemplated at
that time any other substitute for the bills of
the United States Bank than the paper curren
cy of the local Banks. ]
REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITES FIRST SUGGESTED.
“ Such measures as are within the reach of
the Secretary < f the Treasury have been taken
to enable him to judge whether the public de-
I posites in that institution (U. S. Bank) may be
regarded as entirely safe; but as his limited
\ power may prove inadequate to this object, I
I recommend the subject to the attention of Con
\ gress, under the firm belief that it is worthy of
their serious investigation. An inquiry into the
! transactions of the institution, embracing the
j branches as well as the principal bank, seems
: called for by the credit which is given through-
I out the country to many serious charges ini
| peaching its character, and which, it’true, mav '
I justly excite the apprehension that it is no lon
i ger a safe depository of the money o_ / 'the people.''
[Here is a wanton and deliberate attack bv
| the Executive on the credit of an institution
I w hich was the disbursing agent of the Gov
ernment, held millions of its revenue, and in
i which the Government was a stockholder to ,
j the amount of 87,000,000. The confidential '
; agent of the Treasury, appointed to investigate I
the affairs of the Bank, reported almost simul- I
taneously to the Department, that “ neither the |
solvency of the Bank nor the security of the
Deposites would admit ofa doubt.” Congress j
was satisfied that the pretended apprehensions ,
of the President were unfounded ; and that his j
charges were made without regard even to that i
‘apparent veracity” which all public men
should study to preserve. ’l’he House, there
fore, by a vote of 109 to 46, declared that the
Government. Deposites were safe in the Bank
of the United States.]
. 1833.
It is a remarkable fact that the message of
1833 of President Jackson, in its paragraphs
on the Bank Question, like all the previous
messages from 1829, makes no reference to a
Metallic Currency— and contemplates no other
substitute for the currency of the U. States
Bank than the Paper Currency of the local
banks. The long report of Mr. Sccetary Taney,
apologetic for the removal of the Deposites,
makes no reference to a Metallic Currency,
and promises nothing but<a OO” Better Cur
rency, to be furnished by the State Bonks,
We copy from the report of my Secretary a
developement of the plans of the Executive :
It is well understood that the superior credit
heretofore enjoyed by the notes of the U. S.
Bank, was not founded on any particular con
fidence iu its management or solidity. It was
occasioned altogether by the agreement on be
half of the public in the act of incorporation
to receive them in all payments to the United
States; and it was this pledge on the part of
the Government which gave general currency
to tho notes payable at remote branches. The
same engagements, in favor of any other mo
nied institution would give its notes ci/uaZ cred
it, and make them equally convenient for the
pm pose of commerce.”
[To wit—’l’he same engagements in favor
of the Pets— would make the notes of a Buf
falo, Natchez, or New Orleans b-.-nnch worth
one hundred ceuls on the dollar in Boston.—
Why docs not the Government make such en
gagements?]
“ But this obligation on the part of the Uni
ted States”—the Secretary continues, “will
cease when the charter expires; and as soon
as this happens all the outstanding notes ot the
Bank will lose the peculiar value they now
possess, and the notes payable at distant places
become as much depreciated as the notes oj
the local banks."
[Not only is this not the case—but all the
bills of the U. S. Bank have been ata premium
in every part of the Country ; while the local
Bills have been at a discount in many places of
from sto 25 per cent. What would a Bill of
a Western Pet Bank be worth in ‘this city,
compared with a Bill of the same nominal
amount of the old or new Bank of the U. S !]
Again let my Secretary speak the views ol
the President; —“The State Banks can and,
I have no doubt will, furnish a general circula
fr.g quite as uniform in value as that
which has been afforded by the Bank of the
United States. (tT’ Probably tnore so."jfif\
“ By agreements among themselves to hon
or each, other's notes and drafts they are provi
ding a general currency at least as sound as
that of the Bank of the United States and will
afford facilities to commerce, and in the busi
ness of Domestic Exchanges quite equal to any
which the community heretofore'enjoyed.”
Not a syllable thus far from the president or
my secretary ofa metallic currency. The only
proposed substitute for the currency of the
United States Bank is Ihe paper currency of
the local banks. And this was the fifth year of
the warfare on the National Bank.
1834.
The expositions that were made by the Whig
members of Congress during the session of
1833 34 demonstrated so clearly the incompe
tency of the State Banks to furnish a sound
and uniform cuirency, that the Executive was
compelled to shift its ground, and the next ris
ing of th ? curtain was to the first scene of the
wold Ilumbun.
rntsT hint of a metallic Currency.
“The progress of our Gold Coinage is credi
table to the officers of the mint, and promises
in a short-period to furnish, the country with a
sound and portable currency which will much
diminish the inconvenience to travellers of gen
eral paper currency, should the State Banks
be incapable of fußivishing it.”— Jackson's
Message of ’34.
[Litre is the first intimation of any doubt on
tho part of the Executive of the ability of the
Slate Banks to furnish a suitable Paper Cur
rency tor the country ; and here is the first in
distinct and vague hint of a specie currency.
It is only a virtual admission of the failure of
the first experiment. ]
1835.
The Message of 1835 repeats (he assertion
that the Bank of the United States had not
furnished the country, with a sound currency,
but withdraws the doubts of the capacity of the
State Banks, and asserts point blank that they
have supplied the “ wants of the community,
in relation to Exchange and Currency as well
as they have ever been before." It asserts also
in the most unqualified manner that the circu
lating medium has been greatly improved.
This message is the first document of the
administration in which the metalic currency
cuts any distinguished figure. In this paper
he says that if Congress will do so and so—
and four and twenty State Legislatures will do
so ai.d so—“it is apparent that Gold and Silver
will become the principal circulating medium.”
Congress and four and twenty Slate Legisla
tures, did not agree with the Genera), and the
consequence is what we have seen, the de
struction ofa sound and uniform currency and
the substitution of an unsound and fluctuating
currency in the paper of the local banks.
1836.
We have traced the documentary history of
the warfare on the Bank, from its commence
ment in 18212; w'hcn the attack was made on
the express ground that the “ Bank failed to
establish a sound and uniform currency.”
This currency it was proposed to improve
by substituting the belter paper Currency of
the local banks ; and this remained for five
years the policy of the administration.
As the community became aware by reflec
tion and experience that these banks could not
furnish a general circulating medium, and that
they did not as per agreement “honor each oth
ers notes and drafts,” it became necessary to
make still another promise—to furnish a sub
stitute for the substitute which had been given
us for the currency of the U. S. Bank. And
how is it with this substituted substitute? Af
ter eight years of incessant and harassing inter
ference with the currency, what has been at
tained by P.<'A2i.t Jackson’s own showing?
Let the tne^',<’.lß36 speak for him.
“ Althoui .‘ns dangers to our republican
on obviated by the failure
of that i’auli^>* S; dioit from the Government a
renewal of itsWlarter, it is obvious that little
has been accomplished except a salutary change
of public opinion, towards restoring to t ho coun
' try the sound currency provided by the Con
stitution.”
And haw much is that little ? ?re.d v. hat is
that salmary change in public opinion ’
1. Three hundred and fifty seven new banks
have been created. 2. One hundred and se
venty-nine millions have been added to the
banking capital. 3. The,circulation es paper
money has increased § 123,500,000. 4. Loans
and discounts have been increased $208,000,•
000.
And this is the marvellous good for which
we endured so much ! This is the result for
which we havo passed through so much suffer
ing, and are now the witnesses of such wide
spread devastation ! And the Executive looks
calmly on—exulting in its iniquities—rejoicing
in the ruin it has caused—and appealing for
the justification of its measures to tho motives
that induced them, and the happy conse*
in which they have resulted.
POSTCRIPT.
Since writing the above, we have fccei cd
further intelligence of the Better
the “improved circulating medium”—of w kick
General Jackson so learnedly discourses in his
messages. The Safety Fund and Dcposita
Banks in New York have suspended snecie
Payments. This is lhafinale, the denoument
of the Gold Humbug. Gen. Jackson’s humbin
efforts" for the restoration ol the Constitutional
Currency— have compelled the Banks to sus
petul Specie Payments, and have literally curb
ed the country with a currency of Rags. —
Truly did Daniel Webster say in the memora.
ble session of ’32—’34—“ I would say to every
honest man every where, who w ishes by hon
est means to gain an honestliving— Beware of
wolves in sheep’s clothing; whoever attempts,
under whatever popular cry, to shake the sta
bility of the Public Currency, bring on distress
in money matters, and drive the country inlt)
Paper Money, stabs your interest and your hap
piness to the heart! And whoever has tho
wickedness to conceive and the hardihood to
avow, a purpose to break down what has beeri
found in forty years’ experience essential to the
pro’ection of all interests by arraying one class
against another, and by acting on such a prin
ciple, as that the poor always hate the rich,
shows himself the reckless enemy of all. An
enemy to his whole country, to all classes, and
to everv man in it, he deserves to be marked
especially as the POOR MAN’S CURSE.”
Scut turn
Athens, Ga. Saturday, June 3, 1837.
In our columns to day will be found the ad
dress of Judge Berrien, on taking the chair in
the late Convention of the Anti-Van Burerr
party, to nominate a candidate for the Chief
Magistracy—to which we invito the attentioa
of our readers.
The absence of the editor until just as our
paper was going to press must be our apology
for the absence of editorial matter to day.
for the whig.
“Froin this Don Quixote gatherd, that these folks mgst
“ belong to the braying town, and so he told Sancho,
“ telling him also what was written, in the banne/.”
DON QUIXOTE-
The indignation which the ungenerous at
tack en the “ Young Ladies’ Lyceum” by the
“ College Scribbler” excited in the bosom of
every worthy citizen of Athens, and the op
probrium which naturally falls on the students
from his professing to be one of their
have induced a writer in the “ Banner” of the
6th inst. to attempt their vindication.
We are not surprised that “ Justice,” or any
other friend of the College should wish to ward 1
off from the institution the disgrace which at
taches itself to the author of the “Scribbler’s”’
performance; for, setting aside the illiberulity
of the attack, candor obliges us to own that
the rank of the essay, even in a literary point
of view, is not such as would do credit to any
reasonable man. We are not conscious of the
least ill-will towards rhe students; on the con
trary, we would be gratified to see them ex
tins cnnrgr,—out mwM rtiat
done, we are bound, in justice to the citizens,
to believe the writer to be what he professes
himself—a “ College Scribbler.”—
“ Oar brethren of New England use
Choice malefactors to excuse
And hang the guiltless in their stead
Os whom the public has less need
but we aie not disposed to follow their exam
ple.
It was not at first our intention to have re
plied to either •• Justice” or the “ Scribbler ;”
nor would we now have attempted it, had wo
not observed that the “ Scribbler” has again
made his appearance in the “ Banner,” with a
piece which is perhaps but the second number
of a long scries of compositions with which
he designs to edify' the community; and, as
there is no calculating what absurdities his
prolific bram may produce, or what extrava
gances his genius may prompt him to utter, it
becomes extremely important to exculpate the
innocent, even though wc should be unable to.
arraign the guilty.
After the reproof which he received from
“ Obediah,” we supposed that the “Scribbler”
would have paused before he again called the
attention of the public to his literary efforts,
which can only escape contempt when they
escape observation ; but like the fool in the
pillory, we presume he is more pleased with
the notice he attracts, than chagrined at tho
disgrace which he incurs.
Our reply to “Justice” being somewhat late,
we should not be surprised if long ere this he
had begun to conjecture that his arguments
were unanswerable, because they have hot
been earlier answered, and that, “ ’rapt in the
originality of his own sublime conceptions,”’
he was awaiting, with the utmost complacent
cy in. the result of his exertions, the applause
of the students—wc had almost said of man
kind ; but to what extent the College is indebt
ed to him, the sequel will show.
“Justice” acknowledges that he “has no
testimony to fix the authorship on any parti
cular individual;” but relying, doubtless,
his own accute sagacity and deep penetration
—aided also by his irresistible reasoning pow,
ers—he has hoped to maintain the position
that the “College Scribbler” is not a student.
In what manner he has acquitted himself in
his undertaking, wc will now proceed to ex
amine. He affirms that “none _but a Sopho
more would have used so many outlandish
words;” and, alluding to the “ garden of lite
raturc,” as d-scribed by “ Scribbler,” he says
“such a scene would have excited the enthn.
' siasm of none but a Sophomore.”—Why ?
it that the “ Scribbler” has no more knowledge
than a Sophomore? No, for "Justice” him.
sell says that “he has too much knowledge for
n Sophomore.” O.i what, then, docs it rest ;
on nought but his bare assertion. We arc sor
ry that “Justice” did not take the trouble to
establish the truth of his premises, before he
suffered his genius to hurry him to a eonclu
sion. But suppose we admit, what is bv no
means proved, that the “ Seribtler” is too in
norant to be a Junior—then says “Justice,”
he cannot be a Sophomore, because “he dis
plays too much knowledge”—ho he has quo
ted “Lady Morgan;” and tl is, it appears, is?