The Southern sentinel. (Columbus, Ga.) 1850-18??, April 04, 1850, Image 2

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FROM TIIE LONDON TIMES. The Cotton Crop of America and India—The Dependence of England. It iff, wr fear, only too probable that the crop of American Cotton will this year be scant enough to increase the price of that most neces sary ingredient in the manufacturing prosperity of this country; and, although the actual defi ciency may possibly be less than is feared, yet the results will doubtless supply a sufficient re alization of the contingencies which have often been described as involved in our present sys tem of action. Almost all that is said respecting the importance of our Cotton imports may be literally credited, for so vast are the interests concerned, it is scarcely possible to overstate them. Nearly as much depends upon the Cot ton crops as the potato crop; and a failure in the former admits, besides, of no corresponding! compensation from private charity or publicj benevolence. Yet, speaking generally, it may| be said, that for the whole of this staple import! of England, we are helplessly dependent on two! provinces of a foreign State. It is this peculiar! limitation of the produce which makes the easel so anomalous and so full of peril. Were cotton! less an article of the very first necessity to Eng-S lish commerce, or were it grown, like corn, ini every country of the globe, the arguments which! have been taken to regulate other imports would! be equally applicable here. Hut the difference is this, that while our importations of corn could be affected only by a coincidence of so many and such extraordinary conditions as to be al most beyond the calculations of probability, our importations of cotton are liable, as now shown to t>e influenced hv occurrences of the very I commonest likelihood. A change of policy, aj false impulse given to speculation, resolutions! of hostility, or what may occur in any season,! and must needs occur in some—a short crop:! each and any of these causes may imperil the! daily bread of four million of our population, and! deeply affect the financial prosperity of the en-l tire empire. The case will appear still more extraordinary! when it is rememb'red on what wholly artificial! conditions its existence depends. If cotton, like 9 spices, could be only governed in certain limited! districts of certain latitudes, there would be nol aid for us but in prudence and patience. ASB the facts: stand, however, the present limitation! of the produce is not entirely accidental, but isH due to none but ourselves. There was a time I when India did produce cotton: and there was! a time, very recently, when Georgia and Caroli-J na did not. Men still living can recoils,*t thej first importation of American cotton into tlieg Liverpool market, and the extent of present! trade is the work of scarcely more than one gen-1 (■ration. Cotton is not indigenous nor peculiar ] to tin* Georgia uplands. Its cultivation was in-1 troduced in consequence of our own demands, I and perfected by the unrivalled enterprise and* energy of American planters working under such 1 stimulus. Gradually, this cotton has obtained 1 almost the monopoly of our market; nor would 1 there l>e anything objectionable in such a result.# due, as it is, to the natural operations of trade,! if it were not for the huge disproportions be-1 tween our own particular demands and this sol-j itary source of supply. Continental countries# take a little cotton; the United States themselves! take a quantity somewhat larger, and which ap-] pears likely to be increased: the great bulk i comes to Liverpool. Hut for all the aggregate | consumption, there still remains practically noth-l ing but flic crop of these two provinces, which! thus, in tilt; best of years, is scanty, in bad sea-g sons ruinously deficient, and, at all times, a sub-1 ject of anxious speculation and unavoidable! misgiving. , South Florida.—A Key West correspondent! of the Savannah Republican, writing on the Btlij inst., says: The best news we have here is, that the In-! dians are certainly to be removed from the penin-l stilar of Florida in a short time. It will be aj happy day tor South Florida, when they arej gone. Security will then invite emigration-andj this favored region will develope resources of which there is yet but an imperfect idea abroad. Among these is the growing of cotton ami sugar cane, especially the latter. The growth of cane now to he seen, challenges for size and luxuri ance, that of any part of the United States, or the West India Islands. Actual experiment on the Manatee river has shown that, in the quan tity and quality of its sugar, South Florida may] compare with any sugar region in the country.) It brings, we are informed, a higher price than| New Orleans sugar. Hut the chief source of j wealth, in this section, will lie the production of! fruits. The orange, lemon, lime, pine apple, andj banana, the principal West India fruits, grows luxuriantly. Doubtless many others, that have! not been tried, will lie found to grow. The gu-j ava does well on this Island. Below Charlotte's* Harbor there is no frost, and the difference he-! tween the climate and that of Cuba is so small,j that coffee will probably be found to flourish.! In regard to fruits, South Florida lias a maieri-J al advantage over the West India Islands, in! being three or four days nearer the markets of j the United States, thus allow ing fruit to be ga'h-l erod riper and nearer to perfection. Taken as! it is now, green from the tree, it can hardly be! called the same kind as when plucked mature.! A great attraction to this section is, that it is the! best portion of the United States as a resort foil invalids, being the warmest winter climate ini the Union. The subject of pulmonary affections! may here, if a planter, use his force in the prof-] itable production of cane, cotton, and fruit, and ! at the same time, breathe a pure, bland atmos-j nhere, that will prolong his life many years! The Invalid of small means may support him-j self by cultivating fruits, an occupation requir-j ing little labor or strength. The transient inva-j lid will find objects of curiosity to divert him,l and hunting and fishing without end for exer-J cise, to pass away the winter; at the same time! he is among people of the same laws, language.! manners, customs and diet, freed from the in-j convenience and restraint experienced from! these causes, by those who go to Cuba. Thus! far, we have no winter, but one norther, and that! hardly a respectable one. Thf. Gold Quartz in California.—A corres pondent of the Journal of Commerce says oti the gold quartz of California and the specimens] brought to the states by 31 r. Wright: Hitherto, and for years to come, the gold hunt-] ers will content themselves with working the] diluvial earth, for dust and small pieces of gold.! which have been torn from the hills and moun-j tains by the torrents and rains. The gold un-j doubtedly was originally imbedded in the quartz] rock, of which there are literally mountains.] Ranges of mountains and hills of auriferous] quartz extend the whole length of the Sierra! Nevada. From these quartz rocks, Mr. Wright, the member of Congress elect from California, has brought most interesting specimens. Few] of the most intelligent men in California are yet much acquainted with gold mining; and many of them have asked Mr. Wright whether that! quartz was worth washing!—though a ton of it will yield ninety thousand dollars. Mr.W. says he can make more money with a pestle and] mortar, by crushing this rock, than a man can by washing earth. How vast. then, must be the! yield of this rock, when machinery and scientil ie skill shall be applied to it! These mines have undoubtedly bva worked at some period far back. Mr. Wright states that an opening was lately discovered in one of these quartz hills, and it was found to be a shaft] very deeply sunk. Upon exploring it. three galleries were found leading from it through the rock: all which were regularly and skillfully) propped on each side and safely roofed. The rock was found to be very rich in gold, and the] amount taken from it must have been immense. This fact goes to illustrate-some Mexican and Spanish traditions, and, indeed, historians of in dividuals who have, in times past, acquired vast] and untold treasure, but from what sources] Spanish jealousy and cupidity would never! make known. Trials for Murder.—l n Greene Superior Court. Hamilton Hail was put upon his trial on the 15th inst., on the charge of the murder of Simeon- Fuller in June last, and found guilty. He was sentenced by Judge Johnson to be hung cn the 10th of May next. John Ross, put upon i iiis trial last week in Putnam county, charged Lwith the murder of his father, Col. John Ross, in Vlay las’, was acquitted by the jury after they \d been absent for a few minutes. Southern Colony in California. —Thej following appears in the advertising columns of the Mississippian. In our opinion similan measures should have been adopted long ago: California —The Southern Slave Colony.\ Citizens of the Slave States desirous of etni-j grating to California will send their names,! number of slaves and period of contemplated departure, to the address of “Southern Slavej Colony,” Jackson, Mississippi. All letters, to meet with attention, must be postpaid. It is the desire of the friends of this enter-j prise to settle in the richest mining and agri cultural portions of California, and to secure the uninterrupted enjoyment of slave proper jfv. It is estimated that by the first of May next, the members of the Slave Colony will! amount to about five thousand, and the slavesj to about ten thousand. The mode of effect-] ling organization, &c. will he privately trans-J niitted to actual members. I SOUTHERN SENTINEL, i COLUMBUS, GEORGIA: BTHURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 4, 1850. Death of Mr. Calhoun. ■ John C. Calhoun is no more. —Tills startling iii ■telligence reached us by telegraph on Sunday morn ling. He breathed his last at Washington City at 7 Bo'eloek on the morning of the 31st inst. We had ■ just been cheered by the glad intelligence of his ccr-j ■tain recovery from the attack which had so seriously! ■excited the apprehensions of his friends, and were! ■indulging the fond hope that he might yet be spared! ■to his country in this her hour of trial, when the! ■news of his sudden death is announced. j I Mr. Calhoun was born the 18th of March, 1782,1 land was consequently sixty-eight years old at hiss (death. Os this long life, forty-three years were de-l (voted to his country. To that devotion, and not tol (physical disease, he has fallen a victim. To speak ofs (Mr. Calhoun’s virtues as we esteem them, would! {subject us to the charge of extravagance, yet surely® fit’ there has ever lived a man of whom Americans (might justly be proud, and whom Southern men (might sincerely love, that man was Mr. Calhoun. |< )ur country has produced men, who, in the individ |ual elements of true greatness, may have equalled (Mr. Calhoun, but he presented a combination of vir tues, far surpassing any other great man of Anieri lea. He was, at once, the most profound political [philosopher, the most disinterested politician, and the [purest statesman, of the age in which lie lived. [When party shall have ceased to hate him for his (contempt of its trammels; when demagogues shall! [have ceased to asperse him for his warfare upon theirl (schemes, then Mr. Calhoun will have accorded to [him, by the universal sentiment of the country, the (honors denied him while living. I Os the probable effect which his death is to have [upon the pending agitation, we dare not speculate. Hit could alone appeal to the magnanimity of our op-’ Bponents, and the absolute futility of such appeals, has’ ■long ago been demonstrated. Mr. Calhoun was the ■boldest, the ablest and the most self-sacrificing chain-1 jpion the South had in the controversy. As such the ■South loved him, and the North feared him. It! ■would be in keeping with the spirit in which this! ■war upon our rights has been waged, to prosecute it! ■with more unremitting zeal, now that our great lead-; Ber has fallen. Ourselves. | We appear to-day in anew suit entire, and shallf I claim the privilege of the occasion to say a few words! I'm our own behalf. We have gone to considerable! ge.xpenso in procuring our material, and though gdoing so we have but discharged a duty which we! ffelt was due to our readers, yet we should be de-j Slighted with such a manifestation of approval on their? “■part, as would stimulate us to still further exertions? Eto please, and we promise that instead of pocketing 9 gthc fruits of their extra favors, every dollar of it 5 “shall be expended in furnishing them with addition-! [al attractions in our columns. We want to furnishjj (you with a newspaper that is a newspaper, and ini [order to realize our ideal in this respect, our suhserip-1 |tion list must be considerably enlarged. True, so! Star as our own unaided exertions are concerned, they! ■will always be entirely and zealously devoted to the! [interests of our readers, whether our list is small orl [large 5 but with its present proportions we must relvl [altogether upon ourselves, whereas, if we were war-1 [ranted by our patronage, we should levy enntribn-J It ions on all sorts of means for the improvement of 3 [our paper. We desire to be able to pay for the la-1 [test telegraphic information : to secure the services! [of the ablest correspondents in every’ interesting! (quarter of the country, and in short, to command any] (and every thing that will serve to make the Sentinel3 Swell worth what you pay for it. We can now give! [you all the political news from Washington, and alls [the commercial intelligence from the great depots of] (trade, but this by no means tiils our idea of a family* newspaper. This is not all. We promise our sub-3 scribers that it they 7 will assist us in increasing our] circulation, we will reduce the price of the paper to] a lower standard than any similar journal has ever] been published at in the South. We can better as-1 ford to furnish a paper to 3000 subscribers for 81,503 [than we can to 1000 subscribers for $2,50. Now,! [upon this view of the ease, will you not aid us ?] [ Permit- us to suggest a plan by which you can do so.] [most efficiently, and with no trouble to yourselves.] |Y\ c presume there is scarcely a subscriber in the! [country who does not know of some friend whom he] ■could induce to take the paper. I r sent the ease to] |him, and ask him to take it at least on probation \ [Perhaps you can make up a club. Get four of your] ■neighbors to join you. and you get the paper for s2{ [per annum : get nine to join you and it comes at] 9$ 1,60. Remember though that in all chib subscrip-] Btions, the money must accompany the names. We| Shave a word to say 7 especially to our single packet s [subscribers. If you get your paper with a brown en-l Ivelope around it. with your name written on the en-l velope instead of being written on the paper itself,] you are a single, packet subscriber, that is, you are] the only subscriber at your post office. Now, y 7 ou] have no idea how much additional trouble it is thus! (to envelope one single paper. You may save us all! [this trouble by inducing someone of your neighbors] Sto subscribe, so that we may send two papers instead! gel one to your office. You will in that way not only] ■oblige us, but you will render the reception of your! ■own paper more certain, for there is much greater] ■probability ot a small packet being overlooked in the] ■mails than a large one. But we have already said] [too much about ourselves, and we hope that- whatj [lias been said may save us the necessity of again! ■thrusting ourselves upon your notice. I Removal. —We have abandoned our old quarters ! land may hereafter be found at our new office On: [the north side of Randolph street, nearly opposite the [Enquirer office. [ Apology. —We have been compelled to employ a [new Carrier, who has not yet learned the routes per [fectly. If, therefore, any of our city friends should [tie passed by, we hope they will make the fact known [at the office. | Graham's Magazine. —The April number of this ■truly excellent monthly is on our table. In point of literary merit and artistic beauty it fully sustains the previous numbers of the volume. Mr. Graham, the original proprietor of the work, who gave it its repu tation, but who was compelled from pecuniary con sideration, to dispose of it, has again become its pro prietor, and with the July number will commence a new volume under more favorable auspices, and with additional claims to public favor. Now is a good time to subscribe, and to those who desire an excel lent three dollar family magazine, we would recom mend that the present opportunity be embraced. ■ Girard and Mobile Rail Road. I We briefly alluded in onr last, to an article which ap ■peared in the South Alabamian, of the 23d inst.. ■from the pen of Jos. S. Winter, Esq., on tile ■subject of the “ South Plank Road. ” The object of ■that article was. confessedly, to induce the people of ■South and East Alabama to substitute, in lieu of the ■Girard and Mobile Rail Road, a Plank Road, called ■the “South Plank Road; ” which, according to ■Mr. Winter, “ contemplates a route stretching from ■ Montgomery in the most direct line practicable, to a ■point on the Alabama river, at or below Claiborne, j ■ Inasmuch as we regard the Girard Road as inti-j Imately connected, not only with the interests of Co-j Hlumbus, but also, with the prosperity of the whole ■couutrv Jong its proposed route, we now design j ■noticing the article in question, more at length, and ■for that purpose, shall take up and examine, seria-\ E tim, its positions and conclusions. In doing so, we ■intend no riflection upon the motives or sincerity of Hthc writer, but merely to make such a presentation ■of what wo believe to be the facts in the ease, as ■must satisfy the minds of the people of Alabama tli.atj Bit is not to their interests to adopt Mr. Winter’s] ■suggestions. ] The first proposition assumed by the writer of the [article in the “ Alabamian ” Is, that the Girard Rail [Road “ must of necessity involve an outlay of at least I four millions of dollars ! ” that is, a cost of $19,000 [per mile. From a letter now before us, written by ! Mr. Samuel G. Jones, the able Chief Engineer of [the Muscogee Rail Road, we learn that the estima- Ited cost of the Road at one time contemplated be |tween Columbus and Barnesville, was $9,105 per [mile. Mr. Jones estimates the cost of the road uow [being constructed between this place and Fort Val ley, at SI,OOO, or SISOO less per mile than the for [mer sum ; so that we may put down the Engineer's (estimates of the cost of the Muscogee Road at $7,- [OOS, or $8,105 per mile. The Girard Road will® [run over a country much more favorable for its con-g [struction than that through which the Muscogee! ]lload passes. The greater part of that Road will bej [over a level country, and will require but one bridge j of any consequence on the entire route, so that we 1 may safely estimate the cost of the Girard Road at| $7,500 per mile, or SB,OOO at the outside. Allow-! ing the road therefore to be 210 miles long, we haves the aggregate cost of the whole route $1,575,000. or| [at most, $1,680,000, which is $2,425,000 or $2,320-1 (000 less than Mr. Winter’s estimate. Thus it will| |be seen that we differ considerably, in the outset, ini a very important item. Mr. Winter’s second proposition is, “ that but few! of the present generation at least can reasonably’ hope ever to experience the benefits of the Girard: Road,” inasmuch as in liis opinion, it will not bei built in twenty years, if ever. In this position we think we shall be able to show that, he is as wide of. :the mark as he is in his estimate of the cost. Thej leost of the Georgia Rail Road is instanced, which, Isays Mr. W., “with the advantages of capital, expe [rience and every possible incentive to action, never,! jin any one year, completed more than twenty miles [of Road. ” Even admitting the two eases to be par-; jallel, and conceding that we should do no more than! [the Georgia Road, at that rate, we should in twenty [years complete 400 miles of road—almost double the [length of the entire route from Girard to Blakely. But are the cases parallel ? We think not: and we shall endeavor to • point out the difference between them ; and in doing so, shall demonstrate the fact, that the Girard Road can be built as well in three,! as in twenty years. We shall not stop to consider; the accunrcy of the estimate of the advantages of; the Georgia Rail Road. That road was built by a combination of capitalists. The work was commen ced fit Augusta, and gradually penetrated the eoun itry from that direction. We have no very reliable 1 means of information on the point just at our com-j jrnand, but we venture the assertion that there were! [never more than 200 hands at any one time employ-! led upon the grading of that road. The ease of the! [Girard Road is very different. In this there is no! [combination of a few capitalists, but the farmers, all! [along the route, have undertaken the grading and! [superstructure, and no one man on the whole line] \has subscribed for more than he will he able to doi jin one year, or eighteen months at the outside. This! [he will do with his own negroes, and without an expenditure of scarcely a dollar. Well, suppose they should do what they have undertaken to do,| where is the necessity for so much time for the con struction of the road ? But it is said, perhaps—they will not do it. Mr. Winter may know the planters of Alabama better than we do, but if they are as we suppose they are, like the planters of the country generally, they arc nien of their words, and when they say they will do a thing, we rely upon its be-] ing done, more certainly than we do upon the obli gations of any rnillionaired capitalists. The y hare undertaken to construct this road , and they trill <lo\ it. Is there anything visionary in this calculation ? [Have not the planters along the line subscribed to [grade the road, and if the obligations thus assumed jis not to be forfeited, how long, we ask, will it be [necessary to carry it out ? So much for the second .proposition : and having disposed of these, almost all [the weight of Mr. Winter’s article is destroyed; for [upon these depend almost nil the considerations ad-! jdueed in support of his preferences for the Plank [Road. We proceed however to the third position : the [alleged superior advantages to the country through [which it passes, in favor of a Plank Road over a Rail [Road. And first, for purposes of travelling. To the [traveller, the controlling considerations in the selec tion of a route are speed, comfort and cheapness. [As to speed, there is no sort of question as to the! [superiority of Rail Roads over any kind of Plank 1 Roads. On the former, the traveller is hurried onj Jat the rapid rate of 20 miles the hour, and over the! [latter, there is no planter in Alabama who would [drive his own horses for fifty miles, at a more rapiu [rate than 8 miles per houq. As to the inconveni-\ I cnee, of accommodating one’s self to the running of [the ears, that is altogether a calculation. The Rail j Road traveller may have to wait for the ears, but [the Plank Road traveller must wait for the rising [and stop with the setting sun. As to comfort, the [ease is about as plain. Suppose a traveller at Green [ville, Ala. wishes to visit Mobile. The Rail and [Plank Roads, we will suppose, are both before him. [if he selects the Rail Road, he can breakfast with [his family and dine in Mobile ; remain one day in [the city, for the transaction of his business, and re [turn tile next day to supper at home, after an ab sence of only 3fi hours, and at an expense of only $lO [or sl2. But suppose he chooses the Plank Road, [lie breakfasts at home, and driving his own horse, She may by hard driving, reach Claiborne to dinner ; [then he takes a steamboat, and arrives at Mobile the [next morning ; remaining at Mobile one day, on the ■next morning he takes the steamer, and reaches [Claiborne in the evening. Spending the night there, lon the next morning he recommences his Plank! ■Road ride, and reaches home to dinner, having been’ [absent three and a half days, and allowing that he! [uses his own conveyance, he will have expended sls] or S2O. But we leave these minor points for the! consideration of Mr. Winter’s main argument, in fa vor of the superior advantages of Plank Roads to the country, which is, for the transportation of its pro duce to market, lie enters into certain calculations by which he claims to prove the difference in favor of a Plank Road is so great, that one of 33 miles in (length would annually save to the country enough to build a Plank Road 100 miles long. Let us ex amine the calculation, and we think we shall arrive at a very different conclusion, though we must con fess our distrust of figures after they have been able so completely to delude a gentleman ofMr. Winter’s acknowledged intelligence. We will again bring into requisition the case of the planter at Greenville, who, we will suppose, wishes to ship his crop of 100 bales of cotton to Mobile. And we will first suppose that he determines to send it by Rail Road. Average expense of hauling to depot, according to |Mr. W., assumed to be 15 cts. per bale, - sls 00 | Freight to Mobile, $1 per bale, - - * SIOO 00 ] Storage at 12 1-2 cents per bale, - - - sl2 50 ■ Total expenses, - - - - * ‘ $127 50 Bv the Plank Road. [ Allowing that the Planter carries twelve bales on [his two horse wagon, it would require eight trips to [carry oft’ the 100 bales, and supposing that he travel •led 30 miles per day, it would take him two days to ■reach Claiborne, and returning immediately, he would (be four days in making each trip. According to Mr. [Winter’s estimate, the value of the horses and wagon land driver would be $2 50 per day. At that rate, [the eight trips would cost ----- [Tolls at 3 cents per mile, ----- 43 80 [Freight from Claiborne to Mo [ bile at 50 cents per bale, ------ ;>0 00 [Storage 12 1-2 ets. per bale, - - - - - 12 50 Total expenses, - - - - - * * SIBO 00 Rail Road expense, ----- &127 50 [Difference in favor of Rail Road, - - - 58 80 ] In this connection it will be proper to notice Mr. [W’s remarks upon the comparative effects upon the [value of the lands in the immediate neighborhood of [Rail and Plank Roads. This depends so intimately [upon the point just previously discussed, that in de [termining one, we necessarily settle the other. I! fit be ascertained that Rail Roads are preferred by the [planters for the transportation of their cotton to mar iket, then it is evident that lands contiguous to the [Rail Ronds will be more valuable. Moreover, this is fa question which may be so easily settled by reference (to well ascertained facts, that it would be foolish to ■theorize about it. There is not a Rail Road in the United States which has not greatly enhanced the rvalue of lands near its line, and there is not one in the [country which has more certainly or more palpably effected this result than will the road in question. There is a broad strip of excellent cotton lands through ‘which the Girard Road will run, which has been al most completely isolated, cut oft’ as it has been on the ‘west, by almost impassable prairies, and on the east ;by almost interminable pine forests. This Rail Road [is the first move which has ever been made for the ‘purpose of removing these obstacles, and when it has .accomplished its destiny, it will open to immigration lone of the most inviting sections of the State, and its ‘rapidly developed resources will pour into the coffers of the Treasury thousands upon thousands of dollars. j There is one other point on which we propose to make a few remarks, and then we have done, at least for the present: that is, the profitableness of the Gi rard Rail Road to its owners. On this point, Mr. I Winter holds up some very gloomy considerations to the terror of his readers. ITe says, “ there is no ori ginal stockholder in any Rail Road south of the Poto ]mac who is whole in the investment. ” This is a pro position which we shall neither admit nor deny, be cause we are prepared to do neither; but this much pve say ; if it be true, it betrays a most woful misman agement on the part of those into whose hands these, ■public works have been con m'tted. We think it al together likely that the remark is true of a certain Rail Road in this State ; but those results were attrib utable to causes which can never be in operation in [the case of the Girard Rail Road. But Ictus briefly ‘advert to the present condition of the Rail Ruods. [From the report of the Central Rail Road of Georgia, we gather the following facts; The total amount of [earnings for the year 1849 were $068,383 91 [Total expenses for same time were $337,628 87i [Leaving a balance as nett profit of $333,755 04 ;which is a fraction under 12 1-2 per cent, on the cap jifal invested. | From the report of the Georgia Rail Road for the! .year ending 31st March, 1849, we learn that: The gross profits for that year were $582,01 I 59! The current expenses for the same time $195,792 88] ‘Leaving nett, profits of the Road, $380,221 71 t “These results,” in the language of the report. l“ show a nett profit on the ent ipe cost of the road and j ‘outfit, now charged to that account, ol’ about 10 peri ‘cent., and over 14 per cent, upon the present redu ced capital stock on which dividends are paid. Though this exhibit of nett profits is very encouraging, it would have been still more so, but for the large in !crease in the interest account, arising from the fact, that a large amount of certificates, held back for sev eral years, with accumulated interest, were presented [and paid during the past year. ” ! From the report of the Macon and Western Rail Road, for the year ending Nov. 30th, 1849, we gath er that: The gross income of the road for that year I was - -- -- -- -- - $198,467 93 The expenses during the same period, $87,698 67 Leaving a nett profit of----- $110,769 26 |which is 17 1-2 per cent, on the entire cost of the road. I A few words in conclusion upon the probable val ue of the Girard Road. It will be seen that we have estimated its cost at $1,680,000. But we will put down the entire cost of the road and outfit at $2,000- 000. What are the sources and probable extent of [its revenues 1 [Through Passengers, 40,000 at SB, $320,000 Through Cotton, 75,000 bales at $1,50, 112,500; Through Freights, besides cotton, 150,000 Way Cotton, 40,000 bales, 40,000; Way Passengers and Freight, 50,000 Mail services, 50,000 $732,000 [Maintaining and working the road at | 1,000 per mile, $210,000 ■ Nett Balance, $522,000 I Which is a fraction over 25 per cent on the entire cost. We may be mistaken in this estimate, but if we are, we think the mistake is rather against than in favor of the road. We have thus, at considerable length, but as brief ly as the nature of the subject would allow, consider ed all the positions of Mr. Winter's article. The simple facts have been presented to thi; people of Al- Jabama, and with them must rest the decision of the [matter. Congress. In the Scnatu, yesterday, Mr. Chase resumed [and concluded his remarks on the compromise [resolutions. [ In the House of Representatives tire debate on [the California question was further continued. [ The Washington Republic of the 28th ult., thus [briefly sums up the history of the previous day’s pro ceedings in Congress; and with the substitution of [some other Senator’s name, it might be stereotyped [as a faithful chronicle of what is going on in the Cap-1 litol. True, the scene is occasionally diversified bv a! ■war of words among the members, the most interest-1 ling instance of which’ that has occurred recently is, Ithe controversy between Senators Foote and Benton. [Wc wish we had room for the whole of this conflict. [There is no man in the Senate who deserves more [rhe execration of that body than Col. Benton, and [there is no one of his fellow Senators who can so ■well heap it upon his head as Gen. Foote. lie has! jin this instance most genteelly castigated “ his ma-[ jesty, ” and the general impression at Washington is,l that it must result in a duel. In all such “ skrimma-l ges, ’’ our sympathies are most cordially with thel Senator from Mississippi. In the other end of thel Capitol, quite an excitement has been produced by I the ruffianly attack made by Preston King of NewJ York, upon Speaker Cobb. He charged him with| mutilating the journal of the House. Mr. Cobb itn-l mediately vacated the chair, and Mr. Winthrop pre siding temporarily, the Speaker vindicated himself very satisfactorily to the whole house. A commit tee of investigation has been appointed, whose report will doubtless administer a deserved rebuke to Mr. King. “No Convention—No Disunion.” ■ We confess with shame that the day has arrived* (when Georgians have solemnly and deliberately re-j ►corded their determination to submit to unprincipled* [encroachment on their rights. We impugn no man’s! [motive in the matter; we doubt not that miscon-l jeeived duty is at the bottom of the whole, but wel |must deplore, what we believe to be a fatal blindness! |ioour rights and to the danger that impends those! Brights. As to the policy of a Southern Convention, it! Ewas to have been expected that the truest friends of! ['he South would differ. We regarded that convcn-| Stion as one of the surest means for the accomplish-! Intent of a certain end, and we were prepared to fmdj Sour own people differing as to the wisdom of tliej [means, but we confess we were not prepared to seej [Southern men disagreeing in determining upon the| fend thereby proposed to be effected. That end was! Sour own security, and for that we did suppose all true! Shear ted men at the South were ready to contend. But! lit seems tve have been mistaken. There arc men at j |tho South, who are not thus determined ; there are ] [men at the South who are not willing to pledge them-) [selves to her interests; there are men at the SouthJ [who love the Union more than they do the South ;| [there are men at the South who are ready to submit.J I What but this are we to understand when men delibcr-| lately proclaim themselves as unqualifiedly opposed to [disunion? Are there no circumstances under which [they would be willing to dissolve the Union ? Are [they already so dead to the honor and interests of the [South, that no insult to her honor, no invasion of her [interests, can arouse them to action ? So it would seem from their cry of no disunion. In the language] [of the immortal orator of the Revolution, ‘‘is life so [dear, or peace so sweet, that they are to be purchased [with chains and slavery ?” This alone is the reason-] [able inference from their unqualified denunciation of [disunion. Every American has just cause to be proud [of this Union. Under its auspices we have grown to [be a great people ; conducted in an honest interpreta [tion of its nature, we must, under its protection, contin- Jue to grow in importance. We shall not attempt to [estimate the susceptibility of this country to improve [ment, if it could continue to be governed by the present [constitution fairly administered. But incalculable as [would be the advantages, and bright as would be tic [destiny of such a Union, we can imagine a Union, [whose horrors would be as innumerable, and the gloom [of whose destiny would be as intense. Such a Union is faintly shadowed in the histo [ry of t lie Union of England and Ireland. When [the sacred guaranties of the constitution shall all [have been immolated upon the allar of fanati cism, when, from the operation of existing caus es, the South shall have been reduced to a condi tion, in which Northern honor and Northern gen erosity, will constitute her only safeguard, then we shall enter upon the realities of such a union. The sentiment may be treasonable, hut rather than silently submit to aggression upon our rights, until one by one we have been deprived of them all and thus placed at the mercy of our aggressors, we would prefer to see this Union, great as it is to-day, shattered into countless at joms. We love the Union as much as any hon orable man ought to love it, but compared with the devotion we feel for the South, our love is turned to the bitterest hate. We would despise! (a Union with tyrants, we would scorn a Union [secured alone by submission. In this connection, we commend to the atten-l tion of those who see nothing in the present crisis ‘ worthy of resistance, the following brief extract j from one ofMr. Webster’s most eloquent speech es. Speaking of the American Revolutionists, he says: 1 “It was against the recital of an act of Parlia- Iment; rather than against any suffering under its lenactmants, that they took up arms. They went mo tear against a preamble ! They fought seven ■years against a declaration. They poured out gtheir treasures and their blood like water, in a ■contest in opposition to an assertion, which those! Bless sagacious, and not so well schooled in the] ■principles of civil liberty, would hare regarded as\ 1 barren phraseology, or mere parade of words. | On this question of principle, while actual suf- Ifering was yet afar off, they raised their llagl ■against a power to which, for purposes of foreign! leonques.t and subjugation, Rome, in the height, of sher glory, is not to be compared—a power which] Ihns dotted over the surface of the whole globe I with her possessions and military posts; whose imorning drumbeat, following the sun and keep ] ling company with the hours, circles the earth daily with one continuous and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England. The Election on Tuesday, for Delegates to the Nashville Convention.—The following was the result of the polls at this place: | Benning, - - - - - 113 I Crawford, - - - - -113 a No Convention - - 98 I No Disunion, - - - - - 78 I Scattering, - - - - - - 5 Blake’s Artificial Slate. I W e invite attention to the advertisement of Messrs. Ellis and Gray, who are the agents for this valuable paint in this city. We have tested its water-prooll virtues, and can therefore speak knowingly upon the subject. The roof of our office has been covered with Bit, and it has been found a complete protection against ■the numerous heavy rains which have fallen since its ■application. We extract the following from the | Farmer and Mechanic of New York : | A paragraph in the last number of the Far inner and Mechanic, asking for information in rov Igard to this valuable article, induces me to ■state the result of my own experiments with it ] II have used it on tin, wood, iron, canvass and Shriek, and find it exceedingly well adapted ti l ■either. For tin roofing it works exceedingly gwell, becoming in “24 hours sufficiently set torr- Isist storms, and continues to indurate for seve §ral months, until it becomes a perfect stone] ■coating, apparently sufficient, when three good leoats are applied, to endure for half a century. ■Applied to wood covering, whether on the root] lor sides of buildings,it is equally valuable. Ii ■sets as soon as ordinary lead paint, and as! ■when used on tin, continues to harden gradn jally until it becomes gradually indurated or like ■state. In this state a quantity of glowing an |thracite coal, or a small charcoal fire kindled on] §the surface of the wood thus painted, has no ef jteet other than to char the wood underneath, [decomposing or removing the paint. Anything [like cinders or burning materials driven through [the air and falling on wood thus covered with [the paint, would tail to ignite the wood at all.J [For canvass or burlap roofs or other covering.] lit requires three coats, and forms a perfect pro-[ itection from the elements, and is apparently asj [durable as metal. To iron it seems to adhere] |with great tenacity, and formis a perfect incor-j Irosive surface, protecting it from all the effects) of exposure to the atmosphere. For brick orj stucco work this paint seems to lie invaluable, as! two or tnree coats of it, on the surface com-[ pletely precludes moisture and obviates the] great evil attendant on brick dwellings, arising) from the absorption and retention of moisture) from the outside. In short I have tested its) qualities in a most thorough manner and have) full confidence in the extraordinary properties! claimed for it by the proprietor. Caught.— During the past week, our citizens] have been considerably annoyed by frequent burg-[ laries, and the police, upon investigation, were led to| suspect two men by the name of Phelan and Brown,| who arrived here some two weeks since, and propo sed to give exhibitions in the science of “ Boxiana. ” They were accordingly arrested, and on Monday an informal examination was had, which resulted in fas tening suspicion where it had rested, but in no pos itive prx>f of the guilt of the parties. That night Phelan determined to turn State's evidence, and ac cordingly, on Tuesday morning, the parties were again produced, and upon the positive testimony of Phelan, who swears that Brown broke into a house and stole money from the drawer, the latter was committed to jail to await his trial at the ensuing May Court. I Latest Telegraphic Intelligence. From the Charleston Courier. Washington, March 31. | Mr. Calhoun expired at 7 1-2 o’clock this morn-| jing. He roused his son at 4 o’clock, and desiredl [him to lock up his papers—alluding to his work! on government, which he had been engaged ini revising. He remarked that he was fast going.! Mr. Venable and others were in attendance at liisg bed side immediately. Mr. Calhoun failed grad-j ually, and died calmly and composedly, free from! pain, and in full possession of his faculties. lies said but little, and after his speech failed,! took his friends by the hand. The face is life-likej and Clark Mills, at the time I left, was taking ag cast from it. Baltimore, March 29,6, r. m. The Boston Trial. J The testimony in Webster’s defence closed! [to-day. Several of the witnesses testified to! [having seen Dr. Parkman, on the day of the! [murder, and after the time of the alleged mur-J [der. I Benton and Foote. The difficulty between these Senators remain) unadjusted. Baltimore, March 31. Dr. Webster Found Guilty! The Jury in the trial of Dr. Webster, return ed into Court on Saturday night at 11 o’clock, [after three hours consideration, with a verdict, against Webster of murder in the first degree, lie made a speech after the verdict was an nounced and tainted. He was remanded to jail to await his trial. Wheat Prizes. Below will be found the award of the com mittee appointed to distribute the prizes hereto fore offered by John G. Winter, Esq., for the best specimens of Wheat brought to this market. ■The prizes were beautiful pieces of plate, and worth the contention of our farming friends: We, the undersigned, committee for the dis tribution of the Prizes ottered by Col. John G. Winter, for the best specimens of Wheat raised! in Georgia and Alabama, and sold in this market,] do make the following awards: For Ist best specimen, a Silver Coffee Pot.J valued at SIOO, to D. Owens. For 2d best specimen, Pair Silver Pitchers, val ued at $75, to J. To wens. | For 3d best specimen, Silver Goblet, valued at |sso, to J. M. Stamper. 3 For 4th best specimen, Silver Cup, valued at js2s, to R. L. Mott. For sth best specimen, Silver Cup, valued at j [slo, to Robert Mitchell. | Paul J. Semmes, Jas. C. Holland, [ John Woolfolk, Geo. C. Wheeler, W. S. Holstead, Mayor. 9 Uncle Dabney. —The friends of temperance in our| (city will no doubt be pleased to hear that this veterans [to the cause will shortly favor us with a visit. Wen [perceive from a list of his appointments contained in3 [the Temperance Banner, that he proposes to be in? [Columbus on Tuesday the 9th instant. We suppose! [arrangements will be made for his reception and en-l [tertainment, of which due notice will be given. I I The Troy Wooden Ware Manufacturing Com pa f\y.—The head of this enterprising company, will ac icept our thanks for a beautiful specimen of tlieir ■work, in the shape of a finely finished water bucket j |which has just been left at our office. If any of our ■friends wish to examine its superior quality, they can; ■see it at any time by calling. We really hope that ■the last article in that line, has been been imported iinto Georgia. Our merchants can be supplied at! I? their own doors, with a better article and on better! 1 { ■terms, than they can purchase at any Northern cs-i Itablishmcnt. Policy would dictate a patronage of: lour own institutions, but in this case, interest, notj [less than State pride, should induce dealers to aban-j [don henceforth, the Northern trade. I Mr. King’s California Report.—A correspond Jdent of the Baltimore Sun, in speaking of this paper,! Isays that it lias been read in the Cabinet, and that! [the information which it contains is truly surprising.! [The writer says: I To form an idea of the vastness of the miner-] [era! treasures of California, we must look at the] [fact that the quantity, formation, &c., rich in] [gold, embraces an area of three thousand? [square miles. The depth to which the veins’ [may extend may be imagined from the fact thej [region rises gradually to the elevation of four) [thousand feet. | Ido not think the amount of gold to be pro-j [cured in the two years of 1851 and 1852, is ov-j |er estimated by Mr. King at a hundred millions,j [when we consider that, regular mining opera-J It ions, which can be conducted at all seasons ol| ■the year, will soon be commenced, i The emigration into the State of California) [during the next year may be estimated at two? [hundred thousand. The supplies needed from) [the Atlantic ports, will be six millions of dollars) | worth of lumber—four millions in flour; and) [other articles to the amount of two millions.) [There is no limit to the extent of commerce arid! [navigation which California is destined to cre-j [ate. Two hundred thousand head of cattle.) [must be sent out into the country, and a larger) [stock of sheep. The pasturage is very rich and] [extensive, and abundant crops of wild oats arej [produced spontaneously. Mr. King’s sugges-j Itions as to the regulation of the gold lands are? [very good—rbeing both practicable and promo-I [tive of the developement of the mineral resour-S fees of the country, and productive of revenue) [to the United States Treasury. 9 Thk California Fever. —This infection ban for Isome time been raging in our midst, and lias already 9 carried off several of our citizens. The recent re- | turn of some of the boys from that quarter, bring-! Sing substantial evidence of the truth of all the gol -1 n i Eden representations of its attractions, has given an ■additional impulse to the spirit of emigration. Some Bu bo have gone from this place, carried with them] |the soundest sort of principles on the Southern ques-j ■lion, and if we can only stave oft’ the issue till they Shave a chance to “ scribe round ” about the dig gins. \ live yet have hope that our peculiar interests may not* ■be forgotten. We have no doubt it is a great coun-J ■try, and most heartily do we wish good luck and a] ■plenty of it, to all who have gone, and all who rnay! ■yet leave us for its distant shores. A Shirt tor Poor Prince Albert. | We copy the following news from the St.i ■Louis Republican: I I “We examined yesterday some beautiful spec-J limens of needlework, which have just been fin-1 gished in this city, and are intended as a presents Ifor Prince Albert and his youngest son, of Eng-J Bland. There are two shirts—one designed fori Ithe father, the other for the son—made of the ■finest linen which could lie obtained, and the needlework exquisitely wrought. Some idea.’ may be formed of the labor bestowed upon* these articles, when it is stated, that there are! 152,217 stitches upon the large, and 95,- 154 stitches on the small garment. We think it will be hard to find similar specimens of nee-j dlework in Prince Albert’s dominions. They! were made by Mrs. Mary E. Hicks, formerly of* Connecticut, and Miss Elizabeth Hawkins, late! of Toronto, Canada, but both now of St. Louis! —the latter doing all the hemming. They are. to be sent to the British Minister at Washing-! ton, by whom it is expected that they will be! transmitted to the Prince.” A Mystery. —Coroner Hicks held an inquest yes terday over the body of a negro child, some nine months old, which was found concealed in a box slight ly buried on the east Common. The body was ex amined by several physicians, and their verdict was that the child came to its death by violence. The body was wrapped in a calico cloth, which has been preserved, and the proper authorities are endeavor ing to procure evidence that will unravel the mys tery. ■ Eloquence and Patriotism. | The following eloquent passages are ex tracted from die speech delivered by Col. Jeff. [Davis, in the Senate, on the 13th of Feb [ruary: Lightly and loosely Representatives of Southern people have been denounced as jdisunionists by that portion of the Northern [press which most disturbs the harmony and [endangers the perpetuity of the Union. Such [even, has been my own case, though the man [does not breathe at whose door the charge of [disunion might not as well be laid as at mine. The son of a revolutionary soldier, attachment [to this Union was among the first lessons of liny childhood; bred to the service of my [country from childhood, to my mature age I [wore uniform. Through the brightest por- Ition of my life I was accustomed to see our [flag, historic emblem of the Union, rise w ith [the rising and fall with the setting sun. 1 look ■upon it now with the affection of every love,’ land seek to maintain and presen e it by strict to the Constitution, from which if Iliad its birth, and by the nature of which its ■stars have come so much to outnumber its loyiginal stripes. Shall that flag, which has ■gathered fresh glory in every war, and become ■more radiant still hv the conquest of peace — ’ shall that flag now be torn by domestic faction 1 and trodden in the dust by petty sectional ri valry l Shall we of the South, who have shar ed equally with you all your toils, all your j dangers, all your adversities, and who equal ply i-ejoice in your prosperity and your fame— 'shall we be denied those benefits guarantied gby our compact, or gathered as the common ■fruits of a common country l If so, self-res gpect requires that we should assert, them ; and, gas best we may, maintain that which we could 2not surrender without losing your respect as swell as our own. I If, sir, this spirit of sectional aggrandizement lor, if gentlemen prefer, tins love they hear the jsAt)-ican race, shall cause the disunion of these iStates, the last chapter of our history will he gn sad commentary upon the justice and the a wisdom of our people. That this Union, re al pie te with blessings to its own citizens, and sdiftusive of hope to the rest of mankind, should jff full a victim to a selfish aggrandizement, and g.'t pseudo philanthropy, prompting one portion Pofthe Union to war upon the domestic rights Sand peace of another, would he a deep reflee f tion on the good sense and patriotism of our Ida v and generation. But, sir, if this last chap iter in our history shall ever he written, the greflective reader will ask, whence proceeded ■this hostility of the North against the SouthJ llle will find it there recorded that the South, in ■opposition to her own immediate interests, en jfgaged with the North in the unequal struggle jof the Revolution. He will find again that, ■when Northern seamen were impressed, their ■brethren of the South considered it cause for w ar, and entered w armly into the contest with the haughty Power then claiuing to be mis press of the seas. He will find that the South, afar off, unseen and unheard, toiling in the. pursuits of agriculture, had filled the shipping, supplied the staple for manufactures, which enriched the North. He will find that she was the great consumer of Northern fabrics I —that she not only paid for these their fair val ue in her markets of the world, hut that she also paid their increased value, derived from the imposition of revenue duties. And if, still ■further, he seeks for the cause of this hostility, lit at last is to he found in the fact that the ■South held the African race in bondage, being Sthe descendants of those who were mainly ■purchased from the people of the North. |And this was the great cause. For this the I North claimed that the South should be re- Istricted from future growth—that around her gshould he drawn, as it were, a sanatory cor ijjdon to prevent the extension of a moral hq li-osy; and it for that it shall be written the ■South resisted, it would he hut in keeping with ■every page she has added to the history of our ■country. H It depends on those in the rmjorfty to say ■whether this last chapter in our hfefoyy slba’ll he ■ written or not. It depends on therm now to de geide whether the strife between the different ec gtions shall be arrested K - Lire .. has beeome im * possible. r r whether it shall proceed to- a final ea- Itastrophe. I, sir—and I only speak for myself— lam willing to meet any fair proposition—so set gtle upon anything which promises secaOTty for ■the future; anything which assures me sd per- Imanent peace ; and lam willing to make whet-- |ever sacrifice I may properly he called on to* ren gider for that purpose. Nor, sir, is it a light resv ■ponsibility. If I strictly measure my conduct by gthe late message of the Governor, and the recent ■expressions of opinion in my State, I should haw Ino power to accept any terms save the unqual ified admission of the equal rights of the citizens |of the South to go into any of the Territories of Ithe United States with any and every species of ■property held among us. lam willing, however, fto take my share of the responsibility which the ■crisis of our country demands. lam willing to ■rely on the known love of the people I represent Ifor the whole country, and the abiding respect ■which I know they entertain for the Union of Athese States. If. sir, I distrusted their attach iment to our Government, and if I believed they shad that restless spirit of disunion which has ■been ascribed to the South, I should know full swell that I had no such foundation as this to rely ■upon —no such great reserve in the heart of the g people to tall back upon in the hour of accounta bility. I Mr. President, is there such incompatibility of ■interest between the two sections ofthis countrv, |ihat they cannot profitably live together ? Does die agriculture of the South injure the manufac tures of the North ? On the other hand are they not their own lite-blood ? And think you if one portion of the Union, however great it might be .in commerce and inanitt” .ures, was separated districts, that it would long maim-iki ns lieves, let him turn to history of com mercial States; let him look ujSfJfl file, moulder ing palaces of Venice; let him ask for the faded purple of Tyre, and visit the ruins of Carthage; jthere he will see written the fate of every country I which rests its prosperity on commerce and; manufactures alone. United we have grown to, our present dignity and power—united we may fgoon to a desliny which the human mind can |not measure. Separated, I feel that it requires no prophetic eye to see that the portion of the [country which is now scattering the seeds of dis union to which I have referred, will be that which [will suffer most. Grass will grow on the pave ments now worn by the constant tread of the hu man throng which waits on commerce, and the shipping will abandon your ports for those which now furnish the staple of trade. And we wlsu ‘produce the great staple upon which your com merce and manufactures rest, will produce those staples still; shipping will fill our harbors ; l and why may we not found the Tyre of modem commerce within our own limits ? Why may |H e not bring the manufactures to the side of agri culture, and commerce, too, the ready servant of both ? 1 But sir, I have no disposition to follow this subject I certainly can derive no pleasure frond: contemplation of any thing which can im~ Fpair the prosperity of any portion of this Union;: land I only refer to it that those who suppose we rare tied by interest or fear, should look the ques tion in the face, and understand that it is mainly a feeling of attachment to the Union which has long bound, and now binds the South. But, Mr. President, I ask Senators to consider how r long ‘affection can lie proof against such trial, and inju ry, and provocation as the South is continually receiving. Killed. —A man by the name of Kelly shot Al exander Lyon, of Harris county, at West Point, on ‘Saturday last. Mr. Lyon died of the wound in 24 hours afterwards.