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THE COURIER*
" BY J. G. M’ WgORTEIt.
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Milledgeville, Nov. 5, 1833.
At 12 o’clock to-day, his excellency Governor
Lumpkix, transmitted to hoth branches of the
General Assembly, the following
MESSAGE:
Executive Department, Ge rgia, I
Milledgville, Noy. 5,1833. f
Fellow Citusens of the Senate
and House of Representatives :
At no period of our political existence, have
the Representatives of the people o| Georgia
assembled under circumstances more signally
Calculated to impress the mind with a deep sense
of gratitude to Almighty God. It would, indeed,
favour of infidelity not to feel duly impressed
with a sense of our renewed obligations to the
great author and disposer of the de tinies of
men and of Nations, for the many inestimable
blessings vouchsafed to us, his inestimable crea
tures.
While the chastening scourge of Heaven has
been visited upon the people of both hemis
pheres, carrying, in the train of pestilence, hot
Tpr, despair and death, the people of our State
bave not only been shielded horn the wide,
spreading desolation, but have enjoyed an unu
usual degree of wealth and prosperity. Propi
tious seasons, a productive soil, and genial cir
mates have crowned the labors of our industry
Ous agricultural population with a bountiful re
gard for all their toils. Our barns and store
houses are filled with plenty, and the surplus
products of our labor command a price which
amply remunerates the laborer for all his care
and industry. Indeed, the various avocations,
yvbich diversify the lai>or of our citizens, find
an ample and speedy reward. proportioned to
the skill and industry employed. Most of our
people cultivate their own freehold estates, and
are literally sitting under their own vines and
trees, and none to make them afraid. Our pri
sons have no insolvent debtors—we have scarce
ly a pauper in the land, except the few who
have become such from habits of intemperance.
As a State, we enjoy the overflowing bounties
of a benificent Providence. On terms of amity
with all Governments, we are blessed' with the
qjuiet and peaceable possession of our long-con
tested territorial rights—rapidly increasing in
population and wealth, accumulating from the
Continual developement of the natural resour
ces of our State. Our inexhaustable minesand
minerals have opened a wide field for the em
ployment of the most extensive scieoce, skill
and industry, which is drawing to our State,
with irresistible impulse, capital, skill, and en
terprise, from various parts of tae world, otn
parativeiy free from individual distress, as well
as exempt from public debt, our people are pos
sessed of abundant means of promoting their
individual happiness, as well as their political
prosperity.
In the midst of all these multiplied blessings,
it is truly mollifying, to witness the restless
Spirit of agitation and political excitement,
Which has been engendered and vigorously kept
up amongst the people, calculated, if not intend
ed, to alienate their affections from their own
beloved political institutions. That the value of
our Federal Union should have become a fami
liar subject of calculation, is truly alarming,
and argues little for the patriotism of those who
encourage discussion upon such a subject. Who
could have believed, ten years ago, that, at this
early day, we should have witnessed speculative
discussion upon such a theme —or, that it could
have become the leading topic of a certain class
yf politicians ? The Union of the States, one
ind indivisible, is now no longer the motto of
every American citizen ! These • signs of the
times,’ speak volumes of admonition, to every
lover 01 constitutional liberty, and fire the bo
som, and nerve the arm of patriotism in the cause
of Union. Notwithstanding these threatening
evils, it is gratify ng to see, that our admit able
System Qt free government, based upon the will
and affections of the p>ope, continues to unfold
the appropriate ability contained in its structure,
to withstand the assaults of foreign a id domes
tic foes. The enemies of our government, whe
ther open or insidious-under whatever species
of form or pretext—appear to be doomed to dis
comfiture, whenever they attempt to alienate
the affections of the people from that govern
ment, which is emphatically, the offspring and
nursling of their own effirt and care The peo
ple may alter and change, as to them mav seem
fit; butthat they would destroy that mighty
govermental fabric, reared by the toils and ce
mented by the blood of their fathers —merely
for the aggrandisement of selfish dentsg.-gues
•nd strife-stirriog politicians, is not to be ex
pected The spirit that guided our Washington
has hitherto pervaded and saved our -country.
The champions of civil and religious iiflerty, of
popular rights and constitutional government,
have thus far succeeded and triumphed over all
opposition Therefore, we should not he dis
mayed at the symptoms of yielding integrity
and treasonable ambition, which have been en
gaged in estimating the value and threatening
the dissolution of our Federal Union. lam wil.
ling to charge the errors of all such, rather to
selfish delusion, than traitorous design ; and will
therefore hope that the clouds, which at present
overshadow our political horizon, may quietly
pass away before they gather into a ruinous
tempest. But it has been truly said. “ that the
Condition on which God granted liberty to u.an,
is perpetual vigilance.” We, therefore, fellow-
CitiZens, as the sentinels of the people, should
exercise the most unceasing vigilance, and suf
fer not ourselves to be led astray ‘by every
wind of doctrine.’ Let us follow in the foot
steps and adhere to the doctrines of Washington,
Jefferson and Madison, and so far as the influ
ence and example of Georgia will extend, our
Republic will be safe.
The drawing of the .Lotteries, which
were in progress at the last session of the
Legislature, was completed nn the first of
Mav las* ; and the act of the Legislature,
providing for the organization of ten new
counties out of the Territory, thus dis
posed of, has been carried into effect—
ead we have now a settled freehold po
pulation on every part of our Territory,
competent to the administration of our
jaws, so far as to secure most of the
blessings of our system to those, whose
enterprise has led them to become set
tlers in that interesing section of. eur
State, hitherto the ab< de of a people
wholly unqualified to enjoy the blessings
of wise self-government. The accom
plishmeul of this great and desirable ob
jec< to onr S.ate, has been attended at
every s'ep. with the most unrelenting and
obstinate opposition. The unfortunate
rearaoat of the Cherokees has, f.r y«ar» I
peat, been made the dopes and iustru-1
ments of selfish and ambitious politicians,
whose restless spirits have urged them to
acts of mischief, degrading io humanity
itself. In ihe early part of the present
I year, another earnest and liberal effort
was made by the President of the United
States to effect a treaty with the Chero
kees, having for its object their entire re
moval beyond the Mississippi—which ob
ject, it is believed, was defeated al<»ne, by
a few of the interested half-breeds, who
are evidently under ihe influence of poli
tical men, who stand opposed to the true
interest of the Indians, as w.ell as that of
ihe State. The failure to effect a treaty
has nut, however, prevented a continu
ance of our efforts to effect the object of
removing the Indians, at as early a day
as practicable. Another opportunity of
enrolment for emigration, has been ex.
tended to such as may be disposed to re
move, and 1 am gratified to learn, that
many of the intelligent and influential a
mong them, have availed themselves of
the liberal terms proposed. Therefore,the
day cannot be far distant, when the State
w.ll bo entirely free from the perplexities
occasioned by this portion ofits population
it will however, become the duty of the
Legislature, at its pi esent session, to re
vise and amend our laws providing for the
government and protection of the Indians
Experience has already exposed many
defects and ambiguities in the existing
laws on this subject, which should be
speedly remedied, In our anxiety to
provide for the welfare and protect ihe
the rights of this unfortunate race, we
have io some instances, given advantages
to the native popuiati >n over our white*
citizens; which advantages, when exorcis
ed under the influence of selfish counsels
become oppressive to our white popula.
lion, who are certainly not less entitled to
the protection of our laws, than the na
tive race—however just way be their
claims on the sympathise of au enlighten
ed government.
Uuder our existing laws, the reserva
tions of laud secured to the natives during
their pleasure, are, in many instances, un
reasonaby large, and ought to be curtailed
by judicious legislation. I would also call
the attention of the Legislature to another
description of native claims, which in
volves considerations of the greatest im
portance to the interests and honor of the
State* A class of individuals, chiefly of
the white and mixed blood,and who claim
the right of natives within the limits of
Georgia, are pet sons, wh°, under the
treaties of 1817 and 1819, took valuable
fee-simole reservations of the best lands
then ceded, under an expressed, written
determination to become citizens of the
United States—and consequently, aban
doning all the claim of rights or privileges,
as a part or portiet) of the Cherokee Na
tion. Nevertheless, those persons have
since sold and disposed of their reserved
lands, thus aken, for large cunsiderat ons
of money for their individual benefit ; and
have gone into the country still occupied
by the remnant of’*the Cherokees, and
have again made selections and settle
ments on the most valuable lands, of that
portion of their people, who have not par*
licipated, in an equal degree with themt
. selves, in the benefits of the treaties rei
ferrod to. Moreover, these very individ
uals, by their superior intelligence, =»nu
advantages of education, have hud the ad
dress to regain an influence over the
Cherokees—whom they had once aban
doned to their fate—so far as ttr rule, go
vern and mfl lence them in all matters re
lating to their most important interests ;
and have been, for years past, and con.
iinue to be, the prime and efficient
cause of preventing the Cheznkees from
yielding to the liberal &, beneficent plans
of the Federal Government, fftr removing
them to the West of the Mississippi.—
■ The insolence, and mischievous influence
of those individuals should co longer re
ceive the indulgence or countenance of
extraordinary privileges from the Federal
or State Government; but should be trea
ted by buih governments as intruders of
the most assuming character. The lands,
now in the occupancy of these persons
under our existing laws ought to be grant
ed to the drawers, who are the rightful
owners, and who have been restiained
from the occupancy by the law* of the
State now in force. These persons have
already done their own people, the Siaie
of Georgia, and onr common country,
great and serious injury. They have
heeu the* dupes and instruments at home
and abroad of desperate, political agita
tors, whose factious s iriis are unbridled
by the restraints of virtuous patriotism.
A judicious and well regulated system
•f public economy requires, that the peo.
pie and their .representatives, should be
perfectly familiar with the financial condi.
tion and resources of <he State. No
branch of political economy requires grea
ter skill, wisdom and prudent forecast, in
a government like our’s, than that of de
vising the ways and means to meet the
expenditures,which popular opinion seems
to demand. At this time, the general
voice of every poliical community,is rais.
ed in favor of general education, as well
as a liberal cultivation of the arts and sci.
ences. Nor is the demand less urgent
for the most splendid works of internal
improvement. AU this,l deem to be pro
per enuugh— do one desires the advance
ment of the country in these important
objects, more than I do—but true dignity
consists in living within our circumstances
and let us therefore scrutinize out means.
The people of Georgia have long enjoy
ed the overflowing bounties of their rich
and extensive territorial inheritance, but
these advantages,as sources of public rev
enue, now no longer exist. The present
fioancil resources ot the Sta e, consist of
a capital of about two and a half millions
of dollars—upwards of one million of
which, is composed of the stack owned by
the Stale, in four of our incorporated
banks; of about one million of the notes of
citizens discounted by the Central Bank,
and the balance,of various items including
specie, end etffes, canal <todk arfj
other evidences of debt due the
la addition to the foregoing,!he Stewetitl
has a scatered remnant of I racttcenffla nds
which, by prompt aod sqppewfwiate legis
lation, origin be enrie available for public
purposes. 'The aggregate, annual profits
occurring to the State at this time, noon
her various invest mentis, amount to the
sum of about one hundred and twenty
thousand dollars. This brief view of the
present condition of the resources of the
State will, at one glance, urge upon the
consideration of the Legislature, the ne
cessity of adopting such systematic, finan
cial opera ions, as will direct the present
course, and must determine the future
prospects of the State. <
After much reflection, l would respect.
fully recommend to the General Assem 1 *
bly such legislation as may fend annually,
to bring all the public assets of the State
under the immediate c<>n rol and manage
nient of its own ;>gent the Centra) Bank;
and further to invest that institution with
the nesssary powersto enable it to act ef*‘
ficiently in he collection of the debts due
the State. The present vested capital
of the State should be considered a per
manent fund; the annual profits of which,
should be scrupulously applied to great
public objects ofacknowledged utility—&.
while the whole people are enjoying the
benefits, which are constantly flowing
from this, their premanently vested cap*
ital, I would recommend that no more
taxes be exacted from them, than what
may be sufficient to defray the ordinary
expense of an economical civil govern
ment; which will scarcely be felt by the
; people, and, at the same time, serve to
i remind each individual, annual/y, that he
is a citizen and component part of the gov
ernment.
Under tho provisions of the act of the
Legislature, passed on the 24 h day of
December last, a Receiver ot the assets
of the Bank of Macon was appointed by
the Exeutive,but the report of that Agent
will show, that be has been wholly una
ble to effect the objects contemplated by
the legislature. The Report, togethei
with copies of the correspondence on the,
subject, is herewith submitted; and may
aid the General Assembly in determining
upon the expediency offuriher legislation
on this subjec at least it will become
necessary to provide for the payment for
services already rendered under the di
rection of the Slate, with a view so effect
a fair and legal settlement of the affairs of
said Bank.
The dishonest and fraudulent manage,
ment of Banks, so frequently developed,
admonishes the Legislature, most urgent
ly,to intepuse its entire constitutional au
thority to shield the people from the des
olatmgeffect oflegalized swindliug.During
the last year, the public confidence was
grealy shaken in the soundness of the
paper currency of our State,by the failure
of the Bank of Macon; and before the
people had recovered from the shock &,
the losses suffered by it, their fears and
forebodings were greatly increased and
Confirmed,by the failure of the Merchants
and Planters Bank of Augusta. The de*
velopements already made, in regard to
the Bank of Macon, evince the import
am fact, that, if the Banks are not mana
ged with fidelity and skill, the ruinous
effects which must ensue, will fall, chief
ly, upon the honest and unsuspecting, la
boring class of society, who are unable to
contend against a combination of legal
subtilities,which will always be united todi
vide the spoils of a disastrous Bank cor
poration. Corruption, on the part of a
Bank officer, should be deemed a highly
penal crime, and punished accordingly.
My general views in relation to these
institutions, and their connection with ihe
public interest, remain unchanged, and
having been freely communicated to the
last General Assembly, I deem it unne
cessary to reiterate the sentiments thrern
contained. Conies of all the Bank re.
ports made during the present year,under
the provisions of our existing laws, are
herewith submitted to the legislature;
which will enable the Representatives of
the people to judge of rhe present <**tuture
condition of these institutions, and will
show to what extent they have complied
wi h the requirements of the law.
The history of our own times, urg s
upon the consideration of every informed
and reflecting citizen, the indispensable
necessity of increased exertions to edu
cate the rising generation. IVe Deed
some system, which will produce a gener
al effect, and operate beneficially upon
the whole community. Our republican
institutions can never be considered? safe
and stable, while a small number of indi
viduals, however talented,can lead <n>s
guide whole communities, to the very
bi ink of ruin!! When the number of ed •
ucated men in a political community, is so
few, as mbe chiefly confined to one or
two professions— who may therefore the
more teadiiy unite their efforts to confront
and direct society, with a view to their
own selfish aggrandizement—the liberties
of the people must be endangered. The
conservative influence of education is
greatly needed in our State. That gen
eral system, which may be best calculated
to impart to our whole people, the bles
sings of a competent, business education,
cannot fail to promote individual happi
ness, as well as greatly to strengthen the
bonds of our republican institutions. ft
is not nessessary that our sods should all
be College-bred gentlemen—l care Dot
for names—if our children can receive
adequate instruction in the solid and use
fol branches of science, it is immaterial
with me, whether they acquire it io Uni
versities, Colleges, Academies, Lyceums,
Work Shops, or Manne, Lab<>u : Schools
of any descrip'ion w hatever. The great
object to be effected is, to give the plain
working man au education, which shall
make him intelligent, virtuous and useful
—and which shall place him upon the
ground of hopefol competition, with the
professional classes, who are assuming
the lead in the entire government of the
country, . J
f rejoice at (he gradual growth and I
increasing prosperity of Franklin College. 1
This-Siate institution merits the continu
ed patronage of our whale people—at this
time, 1 consider it entitled to the confi
dence of the people, and that it should
receive the liberal support of theft Rep
<esantatives.The literary and moral worth
of the President and Faculty, together
with the increased facilities of books and
apparatus, afford the most flattering as
snrances of its future and permanent use
fulness; and I trust that Our State may yet
be remunerated for all she has expended,
or may expend,in support of that instrtu*
lino. But in relation to our other ex
penditures, for purposes of public educa
tion, 1 do not feel authorized to speak
thus flatteringly; for, the annual expendi
ture of upwards of forty thousand dollars
fo'r lbe support of Academies and poor
Schools, thongh well intended, is, in re
ality, effecting but little good. It is ob
vious to me that we have experimented
long enough upon our present system of
$ Academic and Poor School education;
and tha( we should no longer be content
with acknowledging existing imperfec
Cions, but that we should, at once, attempt
an enure renovation of the system. In
making this change, this important fact 1
, should be constantly kept in view—that
to make education truly valuable, while
the mind is cultivated and disciplined, the
pupil should be carefully trained to habits '
of industry and morality. To make the !
rising generation better, wiser and hap ;
pier—and at the same time, eradicate or
diminish poverty, oppression and crime
i should be the leading objec's in establish
irig a general and well based system of
public education. With a vis w to pr<«
mote these great objects, I respec fully
submit to the Legislature, my deliberate
ly formed opinion, that, in order to ensure
success, it is indispensably necessary to
connect with the education of our children,
regular and systematic manual labour. I
believe that children in a well regulated
institution, designed for useful education,
should be taught various arts ofluocrative
labour; so that in due lime they may be
able to earn a comfortable living by the
labour of tfaeir own hands. From my
own observation on the subject of educa
tion, and from all the information I have
been able to procure from others, I con
sider that system of education best, which
keeps youth most constantly employed,
body and mind; and which exercises the
most unceasing vigilance and controul,
day and night— which excludes all viti
ating associations and practices, and
which superintends even the amusements
and social intercourse of the pupil. An
other idea, not less important, urges up
on our consideration the expedie cy -of
connecting manual labour with a system
of public education. The most vigorous
constitution, without exercise is soon
wasted by disease and decay;band a lull
developement of the powers of the mind,
in such cases, is rarely attained .by the
most diligent application. bodily ex
ercise" be thus profitable in the develope
ment of the physical and mental powers
of youth, I consider employment in the
mechanical arts, and especially agricul
ture, as being far preferable to those
plays an ] pastimes, which, at present,
occupy so much nf their tune, and in
which they engage without any sensible
or rational object of u ility whatever. A
self-supporting system educauon is al
so the more desirable, from the impor
tant Consideration, that it is calculated 'o
level those distinctions in society, which
arise from the inability of the poor to
. educate their children in onr existing in
stitutions. In recommending a change
of our system of poor school education, I
would by no means be understn»d as re
commending a reduction of the funds ap
propriated, <o that object; but as propos
ing such an improvement of the system,
as will more profitably employ that fund,
tor the benefit of the poor, and as will
have a tendency to bring them nearer to
the level of the wealthy.
Every year’s experience affords addi
tional evidence of the correctness of.the
views heretofore communicated to the
Legislaturo by myself, and predecessors,
in regard to the defective condition of
our militia system. The executive lias
not the power to correct those imperfec
tions, which have been so often pointed
out, without the cooperation of the Leg
islature. The Reports of the Keepers < f
ihe public Arsenals, at this place and Sa
vannah, are herewith transmitted. From
ao experiment made upon a few hundreds
of M<>«keis, which had been returned to
the Arsenal in this place, out of repair
andgrea'ly injured by rust, I find, that
the guns belonging to the State in like con
dition, may be put in good order, at an
expense of one dollar each. Would it
not, therefore, be economy for the Legis
lature to provide fur the collecting and
cleaning «»f the scattered arms belonging
to the State?
Under the authority of a joint resolution
tion of ihe General Assembly, approved
on the 22d of December last, William;
Schley, J--hn A. Cuthbert, and Joseph
Henry Lumpkin, Esquires, were appoint
ed by ’he executive, “To prepare a plan
for the Penitentiary buildings—digest a
system of laws for its government and or.
ganization—and to revise and amend the
penal laws of this State, so far as relates
to the punishments which that code pre
scribes, and report the whole to the next
General Assembly.” lam apprised, that
the report of these gentlemen, is in a state
of preparation, and will, in due time, be
laid before the Legislature. Not having
been directed to be submitted to the Ex
ecutive, but passing directly to the Legis
lature, I deem it inexpedient to venture
a remark on the several important sub
jects, embraced in the Report. The chai
acter of these gentlemen, as jurists, justi
fies the expectation, that the views to be
submitted by them, will be useful to the
Legislature, and to the country; and as
the preparation of (heir report has requir
ed much time and labor, it is therefore to)
be expected that they will be suitably
compensated.
The annual .report of the Inspector of
the Penitentiary, required to be made to
the Executive io conformity with the pro
vissions of the act of ib« last General As
sembly, is herewith submitted. Siuce
the report has been received at this De
partment, there has not been sufficient'
time, from other indispensable duties, to
investiga'e its details with that scrutiny,
which has heretofore been customary, and
which is always desirable. It is believed
however, that the operations of the past,
year have, under sll the circumstances,
been successfully conducted for the inter
est of the institution, we should profit by
past experience, and introduce improve
ments as fast as circumstances and a due
regard to economy will admit. With one
additional remark, I will dismiss the sub
ject of the Penitentiary, and that is—that
our leading policy should be to make the
institution maintain itself. The hoaeSi
part of society feel a repugnance to the
idea of laboring to support the convicts in
the Peni'entiary. Therefore their com
forts should be procured from their own
labor, which under skilful management
and good discipline, is the best means at
1 our disposal for effecting the great ob
jects of penal punishment, by preventing
crime and producing reformation.
The’reports of the superintendent* of
' the public lands, will present to the Leg
; islature the operations, progress and suc
: cess of that branch of the public service
during the past political year—and which,
under all the circumstances, authorizes
(he belief, (hat the agents entrusted with
the improvements of our public roads, are
entitled to the public confidence and ap
probation. My general views, therefore,
si b'intted to the Legislature on this sub.
jec, have undergone no change—But it
devolves on the Representatives of the
people, and not on the Executive, io
dete'-mioe whether the present system
shall be aband >ned, or be sustained by
such legislation as has heretofore been
suggested.
No one can feel more gratified than my
self, al the manifestation of the rising spir
it of interprise, which has characterized
the proceedings of our fellowcitizens, in
various parts of the State, in regard to
works of internal improvement. This
spirit should not be checked, but encour
aged by the Legislature. Every citizen
and section of the State should have 'he
lawful priviliege of investing their capital
according to their own views of profit—
guarding at the same time, the interest
of the residue of the community from in.
jury being sustained, by any exclusive
privileges which may be granted. Our
past experience, host ever, should admon
ish us t«¥be cautious how we entangle the
State, by becoming partners with individ*
uals, or corporate bodies of men. Such
associations between Government and its
citizens, are considered dangerous to e
q tality and liberty. The favored capital
ist,who becomes a partner with the gov
ernment,rarely fails to assume some unus
ual consequence on account of the associa
tion; and generally, the result is, that the
government is left to bear the burthens of
the concern, white the individual partners
reap the whole profits—or abandon the
project before hny thing is advanced ex.
cept by the government.
If the State should, at this time,deter
mine to en’er upon any great work of in
ternal improvement, it should be a Cen
tral Rail R oad through the eniire State;
begininng at die best emporium on our
coast, and proceeding from thence, in a
direction best calculated to benefit the
largest portion of our population to the
base of the mountains. A well construc
ted R til Road, tlnough the entire of the
/ State, being once completed, it would be
speedily intersected by various roads
from all parts of the State, at the points
most peeded. The great highway of
commercial intercomse being thus per
manently establi-hed, nothing could then
binder the pmgiess of internal improve
ment in Georgia, to the full extent which
utility migli. dictate. To effect any thing
permanently iisefnl, i is ecessary to cun“
centrate the public mind to one great cerr
tral object, which sh.li be considered and
patro. as a State work, designed f r
the benefi of the wh<>le people. The
ci edit and resources of u«r State, should
not be expended upon local or partial
works of internal improvement. Our
commencement must necessarily be ac
curate surveys, upon which true estimate'’
may be predicated, and this can only be
obtained by the so: vices of a skilful aud
wtll qualified Engineer. In connexion
with this subject, the views of a highly
respectable and numereus portion of our
fellow citizens of Savannah and Macon,
herewith submitted, are entitled to the
most deliberate and lespectfui considera
tion: as also the report of the commission
ers, John G. Polhill, Hugh Lawson, and
Moses Fort, Esqrs*, who, under a reso
lution of the last Legislature, were ap
pointed and instructed to exaipine the
port of Brunswick, and the Rail Road
avenue to the Ahamaha; which report,
with variuuaj'ther documents, is herewith
laid before ilie General Assembly.
Savannah, the first settled; point and
long established emporium of our State,
has for years past, contended against arr
valiy, which has not only paralyzed her
advancement, but must eventually anni
hilate her prosperity, as au important
commercial city, unless she is sustained by
libqral legislation Many considerations
connected with our history as a State,
forbr&|he abandonment of our first and
mos l important seaport town, rifess 'he
interest of the great body of the people
of the require such a course.—
The grCTrfevpiestion which should now be
sealed is whetbertbe interest of the peo
ple of Georgia will fie - -most effectually
promoted by a determination to sustain
and build up Savannah 1 Or whether we
shonld look to Brunswick, Darien, er
some other port, as possessing equal or
superior advantages? The reason why
this question should now be settled is ob.
vious. If we eomffience it great central
channel of commerce—We should com
mence at the ocean and proceed to the
mountains. The State should have but
one work of this description on hand nt a'
time; and that should be directed with
the single view of benefiting the great
est number of our citizens. Various con
siderations admonish every true Georgian .
to lay aside his local sectional prejudices,
and to exercise a magnanimous spirit of
patriotic state pride, which will secure to
himself and fellow-citizens those commer
cial advantages, which the God of Nature
designed foi the people, who should in
habit this favoured portion of the confed*
eracy. It would be mortifying, indeed,
to see the immense products of our own
State diawn from their natural channels of
destination, our (own extensive Atlantic
coast) to Charleston and the Gulf of Mex
ico— merely for the want of industry and
enterprise on the part of our own citizens!
Notfonly the products of our State, should
be shipped from our own ports, but, by
umeiy and judicious measures of internal
improvement, a very considerable por*
tion of the Western trade might be drawn
to the ports of Georgia—which is believ
ed to bo the best and most natural chan
nel for much of that ;rade. The immense
and SHperobounding products of the great
a d lai tile West, are more than sufficient
to glut its only natural outlet. New Or
leans. Therefore, the surphus products
of that fertile tag on, must necessarily
seek a market elsewhere. Hence we
have witnessed efforts of New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and lately, Vu>
ginia and South Carolina, to obtain •
portion of the Western trade by their ca
nals, rail and turnpike roads. Should not
Georgia strive for a part of this valuable
trade! The eastern counties of Ten
nessee are nearer to the coast of Georgia
' than any other Atlantic market; and it ia
' confidently believed, that if we had a
suitable channel of commerce, or in other
wo F ds, a good rail road from a seaport io
Georgia to the mountains, it would be ex
tended without delay to the heart of the
jreat West. The great mountain barrier
which separates the Western from the At
lantic waters, can, it is believed, be morel
easily overcome, atid at far less expense
io Georgia, than in any one of the At
lantic States.
Under the authority of a joint resolu
tion of the General Assembly, passed at
the last session, William Nich >ls, Es
quire, a gentleman of high qualifications,
was duly appointed by the Executive,
and has made The necessary sureys, to as
certain the praticabilhy of a. commercial
commoiHcatio’i between West Point ift
Troup county and the town of Columbus;
which renot t is in a State of preparation
and will be laid before the legslature at
an early day of the present session. Thu
information collected by this examination
and survey, will enable the Legislature to v
determine what can, and ought to bo
done, to improve the cotnmerCiar facili
ties of that interesting section of the
State.
Io pursuance of the provisions of a res
olution approved the 24th December last
the improvements on the Ffactional Sur
veys of land in the Cherokee Territory,
have been rented for the present year,
and the notes received for rent have been
deposited in this Department subject to
the direction of the Legislature. The
reports of commissioners who performed
this duty are herewith submitted, and de
railed information on the subject.
Various resolutions passed by the Leg
islatures of a number of the States of the
Union,on subjects of general con-
cern, have been transmitted to
this Department, with a request that
they should be laid before the General
Assembly of this State—And are, there,
fore, respectfully submitted for your cun.
sidmation. Many of these documents
are so voluminaus, that it has been found
impracticable to futnisb copies foe the .
convenience of tho respective branches
of the Legislature; the originals of such
are, therefore, transmitted to.the House
of Representatives. No recommenda
tion or comment on the part of the Exe.
cuiive is deemed necessary itr regard .to
the resolutions submitted, except those
passed by the Legsilature of Alabama
oo the subject of the boundary line be
tween that State and our own; and those
from the State of Pennsylvania, on the
subject of the “entire abolition of lotte- *
ries.”
The importance of an amicable, speedy
and definite, adjustment of the boundry
hoe between Georgia and Alabama, is
too obvious to require argument; and the
plan proposed by the Legislature of Ala
bama is enthled to the respectful consid
eration of the Representatives of the peo
ple of Georgia.—The resolutions, togeth
er with the correspondence, which has pas
sed between the Executives of the two
states,will urge theexpediency of an darly
attention to this subject—and I would re
commend to the Legislature a course
which may afford full evidence, that Geora
gia is prepared for the most ample inves
tigation of her claims, aud that she seeks
oothing but that justice from ethers which
alone will be satisfactory to herself.
I concur with the public authorities of
the patriotic State of Pennsylvania, in
respectfully recmtnending your cordial
cooperation with the Legislrture of that
State, in effecting the entire abolition of
lotteries.
The survey and settlement of the en
tire territory of the State having been ac
complished, I w ould respectfully receom
mend to the Legislature that immediate
provision be made for executing a splen
did Map of Georgia. In order to con*,
struct an accurate Map of the State,
it will be necessary to cause a resurvey of
of the county of that part of the State,
situate between the Savannah & Oconee
rivers?
The numerous Acts and Resolutions
of the last Legislature, requiring Jie act
tion of the Executive, have received
prompt and due attention; by carrying
into effect the objects contemplated by