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TERMS,—S3 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE,}
BY BURRITT & MEACHAM.
THE GEORGIA STATESMAN
Is published weekly at the Seat of Govern
ment, opposite the State-House Square, at
Three Dollars per ann. in advance, or Four
Dollars if not paid in sis months.
N. B. Sales of land and negroes, by Ad
ministrators, Executors, or Guardians, are
required by law, to be held on the first Tues
day in the month, between the hours of ten
in the lbrenoon, nnd three in the afternoon,
at the court house of the county in which the
property is situate. Notice of these sales
must be given in a public Gazette SIXTY
days previous to the day of sale.
Notice of the sale of personal property
must be given in tike manner, FORTY' davs
previous to the day of sale.
Notice to the debtors and creditors of an
estate must be published for F ORTY days.
Notice that application will be made to
the Court of Ordinary for leave to sell land,
must be published for NINE MONTHS.
All Lf.ttf.rs must bf. POST PAID.
MY GRANDFATHER’S LEGACY.
*vo. vill.
THE LAW-SUIT.
‘ M 01l met!’ 1 exclaimed, joyous
ly. as I encountered my old college
Iricnd, Charles Morton, one morning
in Oxford Street : “ Why Charles,
looking on your happy countenance
recalls the glad-some days of youth
and merriment.”
“ Is mine indeed a happy counte
nance asked Morton, as, after a
hearty shake he withdrew his hand
from mine ; and he uttered the ques
tion in such an accent of bitter heart
brokenness that I involuntarily paus
ed to look at him. There was still
the same tine features—deep eye,
aqiline nose, and lofty brow which
bad gained for him in his youth the
appellation of “ the handsome Mor
ton but care had paled his cheek,
and alter 1 had gazed at him for a
moment, I almost imagined that it
had bowed his tall and graceful fig
ure.
“ Charles,” I uttered painfully,
"you are ill.” “Yes, my friend,”
replied Morton, with mournful ear
nestness, “lam indeed ill—sick at
heart—a disease which knows no
remedy.”
I ask the cause of his unhappiness,
lie felt that the question was one of
iriendship, not curiosity ; and he
told me of his sorrows like a man
who had the miserable satisfaction
of feeling that although unfortunate,
he was not degraded.
He was an orphan, dependent on
a,rich and parsimonious relative. On
leaving college he had induced tlie
only dsught r of o wealthy baronet,
to elope with him, and her father
had resented the action even to his
death hour. Morton’s uncle, with
the caprice incident on avarice, be
qu athed to him but a poor pittance,
almost inadequate to the support of
nature, and thus Charles, in a few
short months, beheld the woman ot
his heart, in all, save his affections,
a beggar ! He had been induced to
mortgage his slender annuity, and to
dispute the will of the lady’s father.
“ 1 have done it,” continued Morton
in a hollow tone; “ I have become
the victim of a lawsuit. Alicia and
my boy arc the sacrifices of my cre
dulity—hut till to-day 1 madly clung
to a hope, wild andchiniercial enough
to satisfy the craving fancy of a lu
natic—and to-day one more merci
ful than his fellows, told me thay
there was— no hope. In a few horn's
the fiat goes forth, and I am taught
that utter ruin will be the result.
For myself 1 care not—but Alicia,
bred in affluence, the child of luxury
and indulgence”—and he smote his
breast, and trembled with the excess
ofliis emotion.
“Do not despair while even a
shadow of trust remains,” I urged,
gently. “ Charles, for Alicia’s sake
—for your son’s, you must hope on ;
let us return to your wife, if you are
thus moved, what must be her sui
ferings 1”
A flush of the deepest crimson
overspread the countenance of Mor
ton ; then, bursting into a hysterical
laugh, he himself directed my atten
tion to it, as he exclaimed bitterly :
“ Do you not s- e how my impotent
pride rustics to arms, when a friend
would look on the wretchedness that
will ere long be food for the cold eye
of an unpitying world ! —and yet—”
and he held me back a moment, and
the glow of memory brightened his
countenance and flashed in his dark
eyes: “ You will not see Alicia as 1
have seen her—as she once was—as
she will be no more !" This vision
of present wretchedness darkened
the tablet of memory, and with an
expression of subdued felling, he led
me in silence to an obscure street,
and finally to his miserable lodging ;
the creaking stairs gave notice ol
our approach to the young and heart -
striken wife, and on our entrance her
eye at once eagerly sought and rest
ed on her husband. Fair and beau
tiful as the Mahomedan houri, th re
was a cast of thought upon her fine
face, that pictured to the heart the
deprecating sadness of the recording
angel when noting down the tres
passes of man —her dress was home
ly, even to wetchedness ! but what
had dress availed to such a face and
form ? The long braids of raven hair
that pressed her forehead, were lost
beneath a close cap of the purest
white ; her child played at her knee,
plump and rosy, unconscious of pre
sent troubles, and thoughtless of
those to come, Never did I how so
low before a titled beauty on a first
meeting, as I did before the wife of
Morton! On our entrance, Charles
had thrown himself upon a chair, and
with his face buried in his hands
sobbed aloud. Alicia was beside
him—her white arms encircled his
brow—l was forgotten !
At length Morton raised his head,
and his eye fell on me as I stood in
the centre of the apartment. “ Ali
cia, speak to him,” he murmured in
an unearthly tone, “ our own sorrows
are enough ; why should wo spread
their pestilence abroad ?” She ap
proached me, and at the moment
Morton’s child playfully clung to his
knees—huricdly he grasped the little
innocent, and raising him up at arm’s
length, he exclaimed : “ Qharlcs, un
happy victim ol a father l s weakness
—you area beggar!”—pleased with
the rapidity of the motion, and the
emphatic accents of lift I 'father, the
import ot which he giff>sed not, the
child laughed gaily iiuhis face. Mor
ton could not begr this ; in the fr. n
zy of emotion, he would have rush
ed from the room; Alicia, like his
guardian angel, held him back. She
had not shed a tear, her bosom heav
ed wildly, and her cheek was deathly
pale, but still she spoke with fearful
calmness
“Alicia,” said the unhappy Charles,
as subdued by the violence of his
own emotion, he remained passion
ately in her embrace, V why do you
cling to me 1 have I not drawn the
world’s scorn down upon you ?”
“ It the world indeed scorn us, my
love,” said the young wife, tenderly,
“ let us he every thing to each oth
er, and the sting will he unfelt.”
At this monent a quick step was
heard upon the stairs—the door
yielded to the pressure of a heavy
hand, and with a smile of honest joy
upon his countenance, a man in a
mean habit entered the room. “ You
have gained your cause, Mr. Morton,
he uttered hastily—and l heard no
more. A wild laugh burst from tin
lips of Charles,.and he strained the
eau-nlo«q form of his wife to Jiis
breast, with frightful violence.
I was slowly sauntering in Pali
Mall, but three days ago, when from
the window- of a handsome chariot a
fair hand motioned my approach.
For a moment I looked incredulously
at the lofty brow, kissed at intervals
by a superb, snow white plume ; at
the raven hair hanging in glossy and
luxuriant ringlets; at the mild dark
eyes, gleaming with tempered bright
ness ; but in the next instant, a large
tear sw-clled in them. Isvas indoubt
no longer ; it was Allicia ; and as I
extended my band, her boy twined
his little fingers around one of mine,
and I drew my hat over my eyes to
conceal my weakness.
Journal of the proceedings of the
Board of Public Works, ot the
State of Georgia, at their first ses
sion, held in Milledgeville, March
1826.
Monday, March 20, 1826.
Pursuant to a notification of his
Excellency the Governor, dated the
28th of January last, the Board of
Public Works, ofthe State of Geor
gia, created by an Act ofthe Legis
lature of said State, passed tiie 21st
December 1825, convened this day,
for the first time, at the State House
in Milledgeville—Present,
His Excellency G. M. Troup Gov
ernor, and cx-oflicio President ofthe
Board,
Messrs —E. H. BURRITT,
JAMES H. COUPER,
JOEL CRAWFORD,
WILLSON LUMPKIN,
.1 G PITTMAN,
JOHN SHLY.
The members present, proceeded
to the appointment of a Secretary
and Treasurer to the Board; and the
ballots being taken and counted, Dr.
William Green was duly elected.
The President then delivered to
the board the following address.
Gentlemen —lt gives me great
pleasure to meet you in this first
convention of the Board of Public
Works: the first practical movement
under a system of Internal Improve
ment adopted late, hut not too late,
and from which results may follow, 1
naving the happiest influence over
our future destinies In proportion
to the magnitude of the results will
be the measure or your responsibility. l
Great under takings beget great,
expectations, and those expectations,
if reasonable, must be satisfied.
More than cnongh maybe sought,
but enough is within the compass of
your ability, and when you have jus
tified yourselves to the authority
H* tibieruntartes, pacisque imponcre morem. parcure subject* et debellare superbos.—Yirgil.
MILLEDGEVILLE, TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1826.
winch created you and fulfilled the
obligations the rational, the patriotic
will pronounce it enough. And why
should you despair of this ? You
firing to your deliberations very am
pl - powers under the authority of the
laws, and you are sustained in the
outset by the united voice ofthe peo
ple, who cry aloud for works of pub
lic utility. What els is necessary to I
a safe beginning and successful issue,
but the fidelity, disinterestedness and
incorruptibility, which ought to be
inseparable from high trusts, confided
by high authority—qualifications in
deed not always blended in the pub
lic functionary, but with you, gentle
men, so essentia! to the faithful exe
cution of your delicate office, that
ouhl I belive them absent, on this
occasion, I would say to you honest
ly in the language of despondence,
tee are here for no good. They are
necessary safeguards against the
temptations which will beset us on
every side, and above all, against,
the strong and baneful, and some
times sordid and groveling love of
sell, ol relations, of friends, of neigh
borhood, of districts and of sections
which estrange us from the country.
1 hey are the sectional feelings, the
offspring ol this self Jove, instinctive
and powerful, which'are to be so sub
dued or repelled, extinguished or
resisted, that our views may be lim
ited by no boundary hut the State’s,
our deliberations disturbed by no jea
lousies and rivalries, our measures
directed by- no end but the common
welfare.
fortunately a happy concurrence
ot opinions between the Legislature
and Executive branches es the gov
ernment has relieved us tor the
present, from the enibnrrasment of
r ival claims and conflicting interests.
Expanded views have been pre
fered to a narrow and contracted pol
icy, and we commence our labors
untrammelled by local projects of
undigested details.
1 he,outlines are marked and the
subdivisions are tube sketched and
filled up by degrees. Our resources
are not to be exhausted by idle or
vain experiments or dissipated by
the heedless policy of attempting
every thing and perfecting nothing.
We are to proceed cautiously, that
we may proceede safely, giving our
undivided means and labor to a
single w ork of approved utility, un
til u in .—i ~.ii j r n,„
Eastern and Western waters are to
be united, and to the accomplish
ment of this every minor interest is
made subservient. The large riv
ers are to be connected with each
other, and with the sea, by a grand
tiansverse Canal, as nearly central
as practicable, from which the late
ral ones are to flow, as the legisla
tive authority shall from time to time
decree. Railways and Roads are
subjects of your jurisdiction, and
within the scope of your powers ci
ther to construct or to improve them:
corporate powers given to you—and
the geometric skill and Engineering
science of the county placed within
your reach.
Your first measures will be chiefly
preparatory —To appoint the artists
necessary to carry your orders into
effect—to cause to he made top
ographical examinations and surveys
ofthe country least explored—to
direct the routes to be traced—the
levels to he t aken, and the estimates
of expense,whether the communica
tions be opened by Roads or by Ca
nals, and to calculate the relative
advantages in different positions of
Roads, Canals, or Railways will be
among the first of them ; and to these
objects, as limited by law your mea
sures will be confined for the present
year.
Within a very short period, a Prin
cipal Engineer could have been ap
pointed ; but the Ex, entire having
ordered a convention of the Board,
he was unwilling to mrkc an appoint
ment that did not meet the general
approbation of its members. The
requisite number of artists or assis
tants of competent skill can, it is be
lieved. be commanded and advan
tageously employed without delay,
and with confident hope, that before
the meeting of the Legislature, all
will have been accomplished which
your dutias require, or your powers
permit; and the estimates and sur
veys, plans, drafts and models of the
whole as directed by the act of the
24th December, prepared to be sub
mitted to them. The Geological
structure of the country, is well suit
ed to these first operations. The
line which seperates the first from
the second formation strikes the riv
ers at right angles, and nearly cen
trally. To trace the route of the
Canal which shall bring the waters
of the Tennessee into union with
those of Savannah or Cliatahoochie,
by turning or traversing the moun
tains, or that of the groat Central
one which shall connect the rivers ol
the interior at the points where the
■ pjimarv formation terminates or be
low them, will require neither extra
ordinary efforts nor extraordinary ex
pense—the execution of the works
themselves w ill require both, & both
may be commanded. Still the facilities
are greater than the difficulties.-Na
ture in her bounty haspresented obsta
cles only to make sport for the inge
nuity and industry of man . so that
Providence may be said to have de
creed the union ol Tennessee and
our waters as the great highway of
communication between the Eastern
and Western States forever ; and i
trust. Gentlemen, that you will he
the happy instruments, in part, of
fulfilling that decree. The running
of the line dividing the State of Geor
gia from flic State of Alabama hav
ing intimate relation to these objects,
has occupied the attention of the
government, and is not improbable
that very soon, and before active
Geodesic operations can he com
menced in that quarter, the bounda
ry will he permanently marked and
established.
Hasing completed (he organiza
tion ot the Hoard, any rules and reg
ulations which may be deemed pro
per for your own government, w ill be
acceptable to me Sir William Jones,
an accomplished gentleman anderu
dite scholar, as well as sound politi
cian, once said to a body not very
differently constructed—“ the host
rule is to have no rule at all”—a rule
applicable to all small bodies ; and,
it, with the number eight, composed
oi citizens habituated to good milli
ners, we cannot proceed in the busi
ness of our office, without Parliamen
tary rules of coercion andrestraint.it
is very questionable whether with
them, we would proceed much bet
ter. Our responsibility to the peo
jilc only requires that we keep a
journal of our proceedings, and that
they be published from time to time,
and, if you please, that the members
should vote either uniformly by ayes
and noes, or at the instance of one
or more members.
Economy of time is economy of
money—and the saving and judicious
application of our means in every
branch ol the service will contribute
importantly to our ultimate success.
—\ ou can rely therefore on my cor
dial co-operation to dispatch the bu
siness of the Board, as well for this
purpose, as to return you to your
ties of Nature finite social
endearments to make home the cen
tre of your a flections.
His Excellency the Governor, hav
ing advised the Board of his deter
mination, to confer the office of Chief
Engineer on Mr. Fulton:
On motion, it was Resolved, That
it is expedient to appoint two Assis
tant Engineers, and that the salary of
each, he Two Thousand Five Hun
dred Dollars per annum, together
with such further sum as may be suf
ficient to defray their necessary e.x
pences, while in actual service.
The Board then proceeded to the
election of two Assistant Engineers,
and on counting out the ballots, Mes
srs. E. 11. Burritt and John Couty
were duly chosen.
A pamphlet for each of the mem
bers, on the “ subject of Canaling, by
a planter, of Chatham county,” with a
letter, were presented to the Board,
by the author, through Mr. Shly, and
were received with suitable acknowl
edgements.
A motion, to appoint an Executive
Committee, was submitted to the
Board, and after some discussion, its
further consideration was postponed
until to-morrow.
Messrs. Couper and Crawford were
appointed to revise the journal of
this day’s proceedings.
The Board then adjourned until
Tuesday at 0 o’clock, A. M.
Tuesday, March 21.
The. Board met at 9 o’clock, A. M.
agreeably to adjournment—Present,
His Excellency the Gov President,
Messrs —E. 11. BURRITT,
JAMES 11. COUPER,
JOEL CRAWFORD,
W ILSON LUMPKIN,
J. G. PITTMAN,
JOHN SHLY.
The Board having proceeded to
the discussion of the proposition,
made at the last meeting, lor the ap
pointment of an Executive Com
mittee,
On motion, it was Resolved, That
a Committee be appointed to define
4he duties, and powers, of the Execu
tive Committee.
Messrs. Burritt, Couper and Lump
kin, were then chosen to form this
Committee.
On motion, it was Resolved, That
Mr. Burritt be empowered to procure
the following instruments for the use
of the Board, viz—Four Levels with
heir appendages, three Surveying
Compasses, one Azemuth Ootbjmiw.
tthree metal framed Sextants, one Re
'fleeting • ‘ircle, and three sets of Bor
ing instruments. i.
On motion, it was Resolved, That
a Standing Committee oftwo persons
be appointed, to be called the Com
mittee of Correspondence.
The Board then proceeded to bal
lot, and made choice of Messrs.
Couper and Crawford, for the per
formance of that duty.
Mr. John Elliot appeared and took
his scat as a member of the Board.
On motion, it was Resolved, That
the Committee of Correspondence
he authorized to purchase such
Books, Maps, and Models, on the
subjects connected with the objects
lor which this Board was constituted,
as they may deem advisable.
On motion, it was Resolved, That
the President of the Board he re‘
quested to ascertain what supply of
and at what cost, malleable and cast
iron may be procured, whether of
domestic or foreign manufacture.
Mr. Shly presented to the Board
from Dr. Daniel, of Savannah, a his
tory of Canals in the State of Ncw-
Y ork.
Mr. Burritt also, presented a map
and profile of the Canal from Lake
Erie to the Hudson River, for which
the Board tendered their acknowl
edgements to the donors.
The Board then adjourned to meet
again to-morrow' at 9 o’clock
Wednesday, March 22.
The Board met this day at 9 o’clock,
pursuant to adjournment—Present,
Ilis Excellency the Gov. President,
Messrs— E. H. BPRUITT,
JAMES 11. COUPER,
JOEL CRAWFORD,
JOHN ELLIOTT,
WILSON LUMPKIN,
.T G. PITTMAN,
JOHN SHLY.
On motion of Mr. Crawford, it was
Resolved, That it he a standing rule
for the transaction of business in this
Board, that all proposition*’, except
per adjournment, on which a vote is
to he taken, and whiph may become
the subject of entry on its minutes,
he at the time made, reduced to wri
ting.
On motion of Mr. Lumpkin, it was
Resolved, That a Committee be ap
pointed with instructions to specify
and define the duties ofthe Secretary
and Treasurer, and to poiet out the
mode of draw ing from the Treasury
the funds, set apart by the Legisla
ture, as Mibject to the disbursements
of the Board of Public Works; and
• A’Jhc, Committee he also instruct
ed tOTnkfi into consiuerattmi nmt ,im
port what they may deem a suitable
compensation for said Secretary and
Treasurer.
\\ hereupon, Messrs. Lumpkin and
Shly were appointed a Committee to
take the said subject into considera
tion and report thereon.
The Committee to whom it was
refered, to define the powers and
duties ofthe Executive Committee,
reported the following Resolutions,
which were severally agreed to:
Resolved, That it shall be the duty
of the Executive Committee, in con
cert with the Chief Engineer, to pro
vide such Surveyors, Assistants, Im
plements, and other facilities as shall
he deemed requisite, preparatory to
the commencement of the several
works designated by the Board—
That it shall further be (heir duty to
provide for, and exor®;..., ..
superintending care over the wants
and exigencies which may arise du
ring the execution of the said w orks
—That they shall pay quarterly to
the Chief Engineer, and the Assis
tant Engineers, the respective sala
ries established—That they shn.ll ex
hibit at each meeting of tee Board,
a detailed report of their official pro
ceedings and expenditures during its
recess.
And be it further Resolved, That to
enable the Executive Committee to
meet the expenditures for the sev
eral objects entrusted to their care,
that the Treasurer of the Board be,
and ho is hereby authorized and di
rected to pay their drafts, jointly or
severally, when approved ol by the
President of tlie Board.
On motion, it was Resolved, That
a meeting of the Board, or any of its
Committees, may be called by the
President, at any time during its re
cess, when in his judgment the same
mav he deemed necessary”.
The Board proceeded to ballot for
two persons to compose the Execu
i ive Committee, when Messrs. Lump
kin and Sidy were duly elected.
The following Preamble and Reso
lutions, were submitted to th‘- Board
by Mr. Couper, and severally agreed
to :
In order the more promptly and
effectually to fulfil the duties impos
ed on this Board, by the Act of the
last General Assembly, which orders
an investigation and- survey of the
best route for a Central Canal or
Rail Rdhd between the Atlantic coast
of this State, th'o waters
which enter the Sea within its boun
daries. and the Western lini.ts of the
present inhabited part of the State,
fOR S-l IF NOT PAID IN SIX MONTHS.
[NO. XU.—VOL. I.
with the ultimate object of joining
the waters of the Tennessee and
Mississippi rivers: And which also
directs the investigation and survey
ot the best routes for Canals or Rail
Roads to connect the Savannah river
on the one side, and the next river
on tiie South-west on the other, with
the Central Canal or Rail Road :
Re it Resolved, That the members
of this Board be divided into three
Committees—the Ist whereof shall
consist ot two members—the 2d of
l' v ’o—and the 3d also of two. That it
shall he the duty of the members
constituting the first Committee, as
soon as the necessary Engineers,
Surveyors, Assistants, and Instru
ments may have been procured, to
proceed, accompanied by the Chief
Engineer, an Assistant Engineer and
the requisite number of Surveyors
and Assistants, to reconnoitre the
country between the Tennessee river s
and a point lying between the neare-V
practicable route for a Canal or Rail
Road \\ est of the Ocmulgee river,
ned the nearest practicable route
East ot the Oconee river, and ter
minating at the line which shall be
fixed upon as the most eligible to
connect the Savannah river, and the
next river to the South-west with
the Central Canal—to ascertain the
practicability of a communication be
tween those points by Canal or Rail
Road, and to designate the most eli
gible route for the same: After which
general examination, the Engineers,
Surveyors, and Assistants attached
to this service, shall he instructed to
make the preliminary surveys and
measurements, in reference to the
construction, both of a Canal and
Rail Road. And it shall be the duty
of the Chief Engineer to make and
present to the Board, at least fifteen
flays before the next annual meeting
of tiie Legislature, a full and circum
stantial report of these operations.
The Engineers, Surveyors, and As
sistants attached to this division, will
then proceed to aid in the detailed
survey and examination of the trans
verse Canal or IL.il Road hereinafter
mentioned.
It shall be the duty of the mem
bers of the Board composing the
second Committee, accompanied by
an Engineer, Surveyors, and Assis
tants, to proceed to the Flint river,
at Fort Law rence, or the nearest eli
gible point thereon, to reconnoitre
the country ami make the pr.-litnina
-- • -v/.vc » •pi-vsurcmento thence
to the Savannah river, and passing
as near as may be “expedient to the
head of Boat navigation on the Oco
nee, Ocmulgee, and Savannah rivers
at the respective points of Macon,
Milledgeville and Augusta, to ascer
tain the practicability of a commu
nication between the above points by
Canal or Rail Roads. After the
completion of this general examina
tion, should the practicability of con
structing a Canal or Rail Road be
established, the Engineer, Surveyors,
and Assistants attached to this ser
vice shall proceed, under the direc
tion of the Chief Engineer, to the
detailed examination ofthe proposed
Canal anil Rail Read ; and it shall be
tiie duty of the Chief Engineer to
make out and present to the Board,
at least fifteen days before the next
annual meeting of the Legislature,
accuxit., r i-„.. n ,„] estimates ofthe
construction and cost oi uio
in referrence both to Canals and
Rail Roads.
To the third Committee is reserv
ed the duty of examining the country
from the Southern point of termina
tion of the Central Canal or Rail
Road, as above specified, to the At
lantic coast, or to the navigable wa
ters discharging themselves into the
soa within the limits of the state.
But as the direction of this route
must depend on the determination
<>f the course to he pursued by the
upper section ot the Central Canal
or Rail If odd, and as the season is
too far advanced to admit of its ex
amination before the next meeting
ofthe Board, it is deemed unneces
sary nt this time to enter into any
specification of the route to be ex
aitimed by this Committee.
The Board then preceded to bal
lot for the Committees proposed ir»
the proceeding resolutions, when
Messrs. Lumpkin and Pittman were
cbo’.cn to constitute the first coin
mittee; Messrs. Crawford and Shly
the second ; ana Messrs. Couper and
Elliott Ihe third.
The follow ing preamble and reso
lutions were offered by Mr. Craw
ford and agreed to.
With a view to the future devel
opement of the resourscs of this
State, so far as they may depend on,
or be connected with a knowledge of
its natural history . . , .
Resolved, That the Principal and
Assistant Engineers, and the several
Committees of the Board be, and
they arc hereby instructed, to give
■iiji attention to the collection and
preservat ion of facts and specimens