About Savannah daily republican. (Savannah, Ga.) 1818-1824 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1819)
. Jh'rfko E Kftj'X & F&Lt*, % crtj rBiirrm. biiix rarta ge-icor.vnur <$—rz.n'xsJft'*. ? J*' VptaS'cf- ^ ; .. , ' jrT.ild nAv ■.idrerdirnsmis vpj'W u'HtSpunr*« l ‘«ml «ipm on ^' -C® ** **’ 6 -’*** * UyJ. Spacloiyo. "■tlSfeS OS INO^PENDEKCE. * A1 ’IjS#rrttife»! "««?* *•*#* me, » ul ***•• . ‘•jrWbfoodandtear*by one brave country won, • Vv ent cf all high ineUleJ man -uXornn, '>Tne nerre of vied, tJ.c*oul that meanness acorn*. ' iriic mounting m ■«! that spurns the tyrant’s sway, The farie ejeVart mo*chs t],el god oftAny. TuHw-en the lordly Upstart,scorn forscom, '=<ndahop*iu!iHonaneorwomaubonf • '•'With bloacVand Tears, rid hanls!np*,^prrwcrt ‘Yet rich the blessings tliy bright Tjtence come* it tliSf a ^Sfflsnt spirit reign*, , , -'Unknown aroonprold Europe’*haplc** -'^hs, . . 'YtTrp, staves to some pr'Ciifl.lord, lihnsclf* slay*, • • '■Trim Sire W> ’«»> fronewh-to f-e T*V,,. ' Wvwd race to' iaceJ tr.m cV-a!! retd se,T,,c Jfre*, "CaJiJ tttlasti they nothing fed or Itnow, rnence comes it, that 4ur fneincst farmer's b6y, Asphcstctaltcthcproud'rnd rnsmyjoy ' That springs ftflhi holdmgjli SV wn dear right, ' The >ahiHie>loiigl»,the1.0'eie i.e seeks at nwhf: Au"<l hence it comes’ he Jfcrteslus friends & home. ' -.Mii distant sfll<rsin£ dau'gcc*dr tar to train, -nfo seek a eompctcncST Tfcul'tr^ r.vc, -•Rather tliin live sfiirclimf or a Gave. As file bright Wavitft liarvestfieidhc sees, r Like sunny ocean rippling in the breeze, And hea s the low ng herti, tiie lambkins bleat, Pn’J on his ear in ini ngied concert sweet. -Tlis iicart aitslightlv outlie rustic throne, The field, tne uerds, tblHlocks are all lus own. ; William twelfth any of thc*KVeatindla orlldbaniiaTslands i n to be eSpdrted at tfie exptnse of t^e party bringing them in; and oeiivingdtat the tree consinictiopy»f’tltt',artofcf ; nirr£sS is to pic- vent tiiir-. intvotfectiim on any terms, I caov'dd trf'bc delivered to the two per sons already mientkiried, forty-seven of tlie hegfoes, they having executed.’ a bond to tike them out of tho Unitcp States, and ordered the balance to be detain ed until the like security was given, or the government shoiild direct the course to ho pursued rivith regard to,.'them. I deem it material also to add, from the assurances gi ven me, lam perfectly sstisned, that they arc not for sale; and xvhat'adds strength to this conviciion.is, that several persons have visited the agency with the view of purchas ing, no doubt, ritnucr the same impression, which general Gaines appeals to liavfc wri- teig viz; that thv.y were; taken by Specula tors for sale. I do, however assure you with ilie tit most $ .nfidence, that those imprest sions are totally unfounded; the iVCgroes in all amounting as 1 believe, for I never count ed them, to some where abolrt eighty, were Durchased by an agent for some gendemen- who are large land-holders ill die Alabama Territory for settlement, and their own rise In that country. These sir, are the real facts •4. 'STR.djfOE DOTyOS! wfjns inTie whole affair. aUd, as Ike cha - all individual, who IiasloiigeijOyed t’ic’co character of confidence ■of the "people of this State, -if~:vo!v,il, v.-e shall -■wait for further information oft the subject. It .4 ’ but ftir that both aide* sltbriid be beard before jud'-’ement is“> issed. Since writing the uboVe we 'We received a liaivdfblli’ klgH® 1 V. Tillam Bow- - ea, which is giver, belp-.v.-piuncnncmg thrv of the -letters base furporici;. and cxoivii es General Mitchell. Tills, however, is not sat sfirctorv— -there is still something rcht*' e tb *hu transaction hell nd tile arras. . We Gpk wit’i impatience for ^Jenersl JUtehell*3 defoncc.l-Savsv.wa .Btrc,,- ■Oucjur. * , Comwmicr!:*!the Georgia Jorirual. ’• 'Extract of a lettur to ger.^til John Clarke, dated ■ r'ort IJtivicihs, CclpBot 19, li|19. tfl observed to you, a sltojf. time since, %hat I bad u accidentally had tne perusal oi tttit .jwin. Boweti’s letters to gouerai # ■* B. Mitcb** 1 ' fhe-subject of negroes, aisci vopied-thc Same..»1 A»4 giving you when 1 ljamled you the otner giviu_ ,— . - . , tetter tUninttrof sale. On -rafiection I con- -oider it to be highly necessary that they -should be exhibited to pdblic view, with the others you have in vdur possession General Mitclicll. I think, is in possession -of public confidence which lie does not merit. I also deem-his conduct to be inju rious to government and the community.— iature.vvflf r c-i/Ain tF.eltul 'tv* or t^ret ■t._yv^* 1 0 ^ ... *. f - - lu _ flanfitTta days', oblesSa section in a law of Georgia passccfthc 22dofFebniary,;t796, was con strued to bear tVpcftt the cas'c,'which directs all fine negroes and slaves brought oh from <'8teU»T Gf*r^JC,amkn'ctmnt^Jkc.%i«i7. ‘ Knowall men by these presents^ftat I, XThi:™” Laiife, foe "the. consideration oi u^nd sitt hun'drcd dollars, to rrie id, the receipt wbereofl do here- by'adSowledfe, have baffojlhed and sold, and ky thesepresents .do. bargain, sell and "—diveruntoTobier,an Indian of the Creek naticn, fortv-two negroes, to wit: Uomtngo, John, Janes, Charles, Sam, Sirah, Solomon, Jack, MoSes, Aaron, Sambeau, Jolthathan, Jenn, Daniel; David, Joseph, Amos, Ar nold,' Bob, Ben, Zachariah; Morgan, Sarah. Marv, Nancv, Jenny, Sally, Molly, Marga ret. bhah, Dorah, Polly, Hannah, Betsey, Mollv. Nanny, Zany, Abbey, • Darkis,Sm- der, aid Patty. To have and to hold the saidTcrty two'negroes, them and their issue forever; and I do warrant and defend them against my self and my heirs, and against any o-her person or ■•persons whomsoever lawfully claiming the same, unto the said Ttibhr, his hoirs and assignees, and lbrth&ir 6- his own proocr use and behoof forever. ’in witness whereof, I have hereunto, tet my hail'd arid seal, the day above writ ten. . William Lake, (sea!.) Signed, sealed and delivered, in presence OfhS. Test William Drummond. John Smyth. -x^ifCOPY.^ . k t »■* ‘'■JtUlterfgevillc, Jitarch 7,1T1 ?. ^.Mr. Grose arrived here last evening An his way to the Alabama, and, leaves this in this'case,'as fiir as I know or'believe; and morning by the upper route. I am hippy ’ ‘ — (6 state that Mr. G. has succeeded in brid- I do fgrtber assure ycur excellency, that un til tBe publication of general Gaines’ fottef, 1 never heai d one word of the opposition; Aj vvhtyh hp speaks. I therefore feel perfect! ]y justified in saying, that he. has been de, ived as to the correctness of'his informa- in. mid that «he individual of individual^ lion, and that the individual of who could be guilty of such baseness, mer it his Suter contempt. That the general’! letter appears tb.be well calculated to excite a prejudice in thw'public mind against my self, is to me very evident, whether intended or not; but it is some consolation to know, that the people of Georgia seldom persist in doing injustice to the reputation of their f\Ve ttntiflsli the following documents without public servants, when their minds are en- iinmdit There is soinetliW, certainly, myste- Htgh.Pnivd by the truth. , 1 hat malice IS al immeirt. o . - work, dbtVehdeavp’rs making to peiTert or keep cut of View, tfic trnth\ipon the preseni occasion, I am well aware; this observation however, applies to but few;, and they rc ccjve, as they merit, my most sovereign con tempt. Conscious of having discharged t< the utmost of my power the duty attached to the station ITiil, and with zeal for the in terest of Georgia, which no time or circum stances can abate, 1 shall as long as I have the, honor of hording an appointment, cithe rn thevgenertl cf state government, proceed in the discharge of my duty, regardless <f all personal considerations. _ I an, withhigh consideration and respeef, your c»c’ Hency’s most obedient and vely humble servant. ,. . . | D. B. Mitchell, a. i. a. . flit Rc’cy Win. Habra, Governor of Georgia. (COPY.) 1 r>. Bl„ ft Decesr-ber 25,- ISIS’. *1»«» balance oi k I had left on Amelia, say forty-TWo, and tun- just starting them Under the careofTobler. I believe I am uarrovviy \vatchcd, but think I have evaded discovery as yet; The risk of getting this lot through I believe to be considerably more than the fust, A party was. made up, consisting of twenty-five men, for the purpose of following me ant! I.ong thi ee davs after vve had left St. Marv’s river. Kisb'eingconcernod.ifi the illegal ir.uoduc- Mr ^ C1 ' a ’ rlt the ctdlcctor, was at his mills: Mon of Africans is not thf only violauon 11 . Bim . llP1 _ or . l,,.^ information that ... . 1 and some person lodged information that >»ceive him guilty of. . He has, or at least they ^. cre ’ one „p the river ind had cfos- 'hc haU a store at the agency, and has p.,i,l pif Indian’s ^ccoun's with 1 hr goods; at an fcjjbrbitant price, and retained the money, which money I presume government iuten- 4rd for the Indians. The reasons why I '-suppose the store to be h,.;, I dealt to a con- sidcrable amount in it am) paid the money •*,0 him. He also informed me himself that the goods were his. War. Moore.”* •■fcxtmct of a letter from gen. D. it. Atitehell, agent Hit In-‘inn »fm:rs, to tlie executive erf Georgia, dated Mount Yvbo, -ldtli Teh nary, ISIS. In December last, public duty called me Uittto the Ciiattat:oc.hee, shu on passingihe agenev, 1 understood that some African ne groes had been brought to its Vicinity on their way to the Alabama territory. On my freturn, which was some limeabou* the mid dle of December, I was crllccl upon by a gcntleipan who came highly recommended to me, and whom 1 have no doubt merited the sentiments expressed of him, and inform ed me, that’he had authority to remove the fk-rroea then in the vicinity, and at first pivposcd doing scf, hut finally declined it; •nd on his departure I retured to Georgia, , and itumediatcly thereafter, say oh the 35ih pf the same month, wrote to the secretary of tlfo treasurv of the United States a state ment Of the case, cf’.yhichJL informed col. lAmelia. . I would make another purchase, Brear’y then commaiuling- tlie military district; and directed that the negroes should be detained trnil security was given to take them out Of t!te U (tited States, cr until the government should direct what disposition ttholiW be-madc of them. »In this situation they reriiaiiK-ti ujiSl .thc 2S'th of last fh'cVith, when two gofitlenmit called at the agency and offered to give 'ooml to take them out t>f thi ’trillted States.- Previous to this I Bad exanfuicd the act ot congress 1 and the Jaws of Georgia with . some atfentlon, and seeing no p to vision .hr cither of them for fhe' .disposition of the negroes,- ncr navlng tetii the lav. of the last session of out legis- * it;. Moore is a nan of a fair ^liaracfer, has .Kjided atfjie .\geiicy two years, and p; evous to foen. M tchrll’# go ng to the City of Washington; .; fcst wird:-, lift n-M''.equesfeil by Captr Wire G. fiitcheli t(i overf-iitl a desk i A w hich there we d a dumber of letters bcloiiging to Gen. Mitchell, for *}ie nurpase of selecting lette s from Arbuthnot to h:r> w hich' lctlcrshc wished :r cam’ urith lum to yy jh":;pnn- City.- In pe.-iising the letters, Af . Moh-c discovered t&he of Capt-Boti'en’s. With-' Out the few lifebnt adiction’ thrasse ted. that the ire m.v..y r o:I:tf ripnhhents which go" to cbrrohp- i*ftid t|i<; sc handed lor publication; and show thfe . A rent was’danearnetl in-tlie introduction'of the .5 : L... S : . V Si L. i.tt. Afrcans; bfttit is believed' thosTwiH be Effici ent to siuiifv an’ iispiutial public o‘fhisVt'ilt,mot- It- _ l.’.-'J II- L. J ' .- it' L ' ' wrfiisfiuv.ling iys'hofdiajjdiJI who dare to think so, sed: He offered half to the inhabitants in the neighborhood to detect us. Since the 'people have learned that they would not have got any par* for the dctectfon of those last sent up, I am informed they are displeased with the fcdllector, for the imposition he en deavored to practice on them, in offering what he could not pertorm. A detachment of soldiers has, fora month past, been sta tioned neeir Camp Pinckney, to guard the river, and prevent smuggling. On the 2'd inst. the U. States took possession of Ame lia Island. I had left there or, the 21st, but- am informed they seized all the Africans they could find. There was fli .Cargo of one hundred and sixty when I left the Island, which had been run pff to the Main the night before'the U. S. troops landed, I cannot say how the otherprize property fared. I go to Milledgeville by Savannah, and wish you to keep the negroes employed until I can come out to the agency. I have direct ed Tob’ler to take charge of Lite horses, packs, etc. and to put the horses; put in the Pane' Swamp and attend to them, The chan nel throf which Africans could be had being obstructed, they will rise here considerably: notw ithstanding, excellent bargains at pres ent could be had, in the purchase of those that have been run off to the Main from ling his tongue in some manner. * He ap pears sensible of the importance of being less communicative to the. inquisitive. He has averred: to me last night by many pro testation*, that lie never will, in any court, divulge any thing to the prejudice of any party,and further states, that he would go tlb all lengths to serve any of, the parly ccn- : ‘'**c>-med, anil requested me to name to you his wish that you would signiiy your belief that he teas not concerned in the introduc tion. Prom die very eccentric character of Mr.-G. it would probably be well to indulge him in this particular; as I fear nothing but from his apparent anxiety to. convince the public, by explanations, ot liis innocence. A letter from you stating to him your belief that he was merely a bondsman for the re- Uioval of the would satisfy lhiii. He says if the party will justify him, he hull not stop atany thing in justification of the oth ers. Mr. Andrew or Jantes Efiviii will be tuyjethU day, Vgel' then, I shall be able to hear on what footing the aftair stands in Savannah. I cannot understand Mr. G’s. explanations any more than if lie was speak ing Congo. However, I hear that Mr. G. has empibvhd Mr. W. B. Bulloch, foi tin advocate. Mr. O. presented himself to the district attorney and has been releas ed, with a certificate that no libel bed been lodgod-against him for the illegal introduc tion of slaves. I learned yesterday that the governor has received a-letter from the (Ustrictattotney, informing him that the ne groes would be libelled on tlie part of, the U. States. It seems that.the governor had wri.tentptbr’•"“eemr at Diioem .w, t-^w his opinion olthe propriety of having tne iibeiled ill behalf of h3 State of Geor gia, or ietting th'em be libelled by M’ln- |osh, in behalf of the U. States. The col- ecter jnfonned, that it was his opinion •ls best method. for the present, was to li- g l in behalf of the U, States—prosecute r. G. and force him into explanations ol other discoveries. This I have mentioned to Mr. G. who swears that a co'art shall nev er draw from him any thing detrimental to the character cr interest df any cnc, whatev er. I find it will be most prudent to humor the capricious notions of that tonsuitimatc fool, to secure his or rather prove but mv oilier business is too much neglect ed to tnke the necessary time to. accomplish the security of them. Capt. Thomas could have done well if he had hame come with me. Prime fellows are offered at Amelia at S250; ordinary* 8175 to' S20CT. I am, respectfolly, your ob’t servant,' IVm. Bo'.CeX. (Addressed on the back) Gen'l D. It. JCtcheV; Greek J fence. Fort floTskinsi October 15, 1819. X have this day delivered to ge’nl Jolui Clark, this letter, in presence of capt. Crup per, U. S. officer; v hich letter was handed to me by an Indian,' open, in presence of George Stinson.' \VM. MOORE. Test—M. Crutper, 7th Infantry. (copt.) Georgia, Janet county! ..Personally canie before me, William Moore, and after being duly srtom, depo- seth and saith, Biaf the statement hereunto annexed,; isTjuSL and tnie; and further sjutii, that be is' well’ acqua'.hted' with the' hand writing of Capt.- William’ Bowen, whose name is set to this letter! _and'fully' believes 'it to be his own hand writing. .... .. V , )• , WM. MOORE. • Given anc( subscribed' before me,' this 16th of October, 1S19. . ^ ' i Jdirit 1 Jf’jMt'HarsrJ'iio/ his silence on tlie affair; I have never dread ed any thing but irony his imprudence, however Gipe he will now stick to what he has promised. I aixi very respectfully your obt. serv’t. W51. Bowen; en.'!. li. if. Mitchell, Creek Jgcncy. (copy.) JtaifljerUle, Marsh 2.3; 1818. I wrote you last mail respecting the bills of sale, and for your opinion of the best pro bable means of conducting the affair. I hate procrastinated my departure to Sa vannah to hear from your It appears tome best that the last parcel should be claimed, by me, front a right of purcharse from Tob- ler; his fight could be made from a purchase in Camden county, Cf from E. Florida, as the case maybe thought most safe. In the case of ToblerVclaim, if he does not claim from purchase in Camden, they cannot prove that they ever were in the State of Georgia. Capt. Thomas speaks of going to Savannah with me, and if I can get the whole onboard, lean make sonic apparent arrangements with-hint for the twenty-eight ofyour’s. 1 should bb verd gl.-.d to hear from you as soon as possible, and if no im mediate chance offers, perhaps Brady could come in again; and bear your advice.’ Se veral of the attornies who have atten’ded court here, have expressed their opinions that the property could net be lost, nor be kept from fr.c. Very little is said of the matter at all, and it seems to have died away Since vour publication. I remain, with much regard, your most ob’t serv’t. Wsr. Bowen. Gtm’l D. B. JfitctveUf Creek -ipenci’. I certify the letters annerttl to this cer- tificate fo be a true and correct copy of the originals given from under my hand. (Sighed) Wm. Moore. an injury dr injustice, but, jJs chariy begins bthorne, todo myself justice. [ • > - Mr.-Moore, is a blacksmith who has re sided at' the agency forsothc ffmor*6,svated in the last Georgia Journal; and hf was dis missed /rOm there, as I am ..informed, for improper con'ducft: He is not ofuir stand ing, ak alledgcd—hts talents far boow medi ocrity—his education trilling—incapable of writing sveh a letter as that addressed to gen. Clark. Mr. Moore’s own statement carries with it the marks of adis ionesttnait. Even should hts statement be true; and it is an astonishing circufnstauce that a man ot Mr. hloore’s situation - and character, should conceive the idea of searching the private secretary ofanv person, and taking copies of letters therefrom, and immediately search out gen, Clark to cause their publicity. Mr. Moore is an infamous liar, aid the tool of tlie man who uses him. . y - Itmust be plain to all those, who arc ac quainted with the diction of gen. Ciark, that the letter written to him, apparently by Mr. Moore,iy_the composilionofthe gen. Sc what strengthens this impression is, that general Clark has made it his business to visit Fort Hawkins several times, for ihe 'puVpese of searching out this mail.. _ , It is matter cf curiosity that. gen. ClarV should becpnioso intimate with Air. Moore why those publications have been so long deferred? why Mr. ’Moore should select gen. Clark for a confident, and make him. the vehicle of his public expositions? The letter wrote at Drummond’s Bluff, >vas written by me; I.wrote it witnout the consent or knowledge of gen. Mitchell; jus tice to all partit-s now require me to state, that-I never received.is much as oneyent from gen. Mitchell ior the purpose of pur chasing these negroes; nor did hc.know that I lral made the purchase until the negroes arrived at tlie agency—that I never did re ceive any assistance from gen. Mitchell in purchasing those negroes, can be establish ed by incohlf stible evidence in Savannah.. The money was raised partly by drafts on commercial gentlemen in Savannah, and the balance paid down by myself. . The letter apparently wriuenby me, dated at Milledgeville, 7th March, 1818, is a base, malicious fabrication, and utterly false. It is ingeniously written with a semblance of connection with that letter at Drummond 5 Bluff,rond dictated in-such manner as is cal culated to mislead the public, and make mischievous impressions, to the prejudice of mv interest, and probably more effectually to answer; a certain purpose for the moment. It would seem atone attentive perusal, to be. pregnant with incongruities and iniprob abilities, ....... . Howl could fie acquainted witbtne recetii transactions of the executive cabinet, aim his correspondence with persons whose in terests were in direct opposition to mine, and with whom I scarcely have aii acquaintance, is at bnf e improbable. The last letter, dated Milledgeville, 23d March, 1818, is also a glaring falsehood and a base composition, intended to strength en the connection of the others. A slight perusal by those acquainted with the circumstances, tkould be sMficient to det'Eot tho dfcian of ihati without any thing beihg said by 111c on the subject. But as many are, ahd have been ignorant of the true features of ti ts base, I will only mention that; I had nn negroes in my possession at or near the time that letter speaks of my get ting ‘-the whole on board, and makitig some arrangement with captain Thomas for the twejity-pight of vours.’ f It is well Imown to those who know any tiling about the Affairs, that the hegroes were at that time in possession of the collector of the port of Brunswick and the executive of this state, and that I had no other ne groes on tlie sea board. This circum stance; admitted or noticed, would at once give that communication, and to the others the features they deserve, malicious false hoods, designing forgeries, unprincipled fabrications. Wm. BowEn. Jiiitlet/gevi'le, November 4th, 1819. TO THZ PUBLIC’’ ' With i; lie), defe' ence-I am constrained, from some late publications respecting me, to venture a few remarks in vindication of myself, and in an endeavor to correct un fair representations, ahd the views of a de igning man. . . . .. Gen. John Clark, who' I know fo be rti- -sfrumental to those publications relative to me, and purporting to be letters of mine to gen. D, B. Mitchell, has', I will with confi- denic assert,; frequently made protestations of his unwillingness to injure sue: Our ac quaintance has been short, and of a cbmmon civil nature.' Thb common", moral obliga tions, with those of some others, should at once be then sufficient reason that J should not attempt to injure him; and in'the follow'- jiig remkrks' I' ihtefld* ifOt'tb dd'gcnJClatk GOVERNOR'S MESSJGF.. Piom the Milledgeville Journal of Nov. 3. Kibcutive IJErinTMEXT, C.cn'u.ZA, i Sliliedgeville, 3d Norcniber; 1819. 5 Feiltnv- Citiz :ns of the Senate, and of the House of RepretentaUtes ; The unexpected and distressing occurrence which rendc- ed it necessary for me to assume the Executive powers of till- government; has been made known to you through the medium of the public gazettes.. The unwelcome intelligence having been anmlhnced to me, at my residence, ii a letter from,one of the,Secretaries of .the Exe cutive Department, forwarded by express; f im mediately repaired to. the seat o. government, and proceeded to tlie discharge of those duties which, agreeably to the constitutin'!, devolved 0*11 me a: acting Pres deht of tlie Senate. As but a few day: had to elapse before the Legislature Would c ; hn- venc, ;t was not n n-y poivc to become sufiicient- tv acqua nted with the transactions of the Execu,- t ve Departnient, for the past pol tical year, fo give such ft de a 1 of them as ought to be present ed to you, 1 thereto -! deemed it. the most pi ope cou-se to cause to be la d befo-e you hop es of : communication, with tile documents intended to accompany :t, which the late Governo had hastily p. epa- ed, and which lie no doubt intended to have ev sed a;}d presented fo you in a more perfect form.' A statement of waf ants drawp' bn the Treatair- er during the past yea , su'd a list of Ex ecut veap- pointmeuts made dm -ng , ,£ recess of fhe J.cg s- latu e.and subject to ts ccnfu niat on or reject on, will alihbe lak! hefo e you. ■ . I cannot close this aildi-ess without rernY- krrfr as to our late worthy chief magi*t ate, that in the discha ge of the var ons appointments w ith wh ch he had been honored by his county and the Le- gislatu e, an jundeviatihg rectitude of -mention, seemed to have been lus predominant char-acter- ist'c, and in the walks of private 1 fe, an upright ness and apiiableness of character attracted the observation andendea-ed him to every one in the circle of h s acqua ntance. The loss to the community 6T such a person age cannot but be deeply felt and long efretted. MATTHEW TALBOT. Fellow-Citizens of the Senate^ . and House of Hep esentat'ves; The political year having, expired 'an3 the immediate representatives of the people having convened, for the purpose of assum ing themselves their constitutional right, to ■superintend tpid direefthe various and im- portatVtdqties which may hedeemed neces sary to promote the.welfarp and happiness ,of our .common country, I r , cheerfully -en deavor to discharge the duty imposed on inediy th-5 8J:h section of the. Sfl ariicle of the ‘vonstjttition, by. laying before you,a general Yic wof “the state of the" republic,' arid 1 rec? ommending to your consideration suchmeas*. ureses may appear necessary and expedi* ent.” » ~ ' But before I proceed, permit me to con* gratulateyou outlie high destiny that seetna to aw fit our favored country, now in "*'11 en- joymi# t of the blessings of peace and Batter ing prospects of future prosperity. This 1 Should naturally excite in us a spirit ofgntt- itudeto the great author of all good. Fog when wc compare our situation with that of South America, our neighboring na tions, and witness the revolutions, blood and carnage with which the Spanish colo nies have been and still ape deluged, we may well exclaim in the language oi an inspired historian “surely our iothasfallen in plea sant places.” And if we east our eves across the Atlantic, and take a view of tiie present situation of England with all her boasted pomp and splendor, there wc should behold scenes of riot, tiinimt and wretch edness^ that .must excite,, feelings of sympathy in the most obdurate heart. O11 the 6th of January last, I addressed a letter to the secretary Of Waty enclosing A copy of the resolution of the last Legislature, which required me “to Spply to the general government fo have an armed force station-^ ed on the southern frontier, west of the Oca- fanoca swamp, sufficient to give Security, to the surveyors, aud settlers of that sectioA of this comitfy.” Alter a lapse of neariy two months, I ivas intoraied by tile secreta ry ‘‘that from the quiet state of the Indiani and from tho.acquisition oftlie F!oridas,the establishment of posts west of the Ocafanocaj would no# be necessary to the Security ot the frontiers cf Georgia.”. . JJ-nderthesi* wcurastances, I was to per mit the surveyors of county and district lines, to hire a small guard in that country, for their own protection and security ratiicr than call our rpilltia into the service during the planting season; which ninst inevitably* have been attended with great expense, it affords me pleasure to stale, tbit notwith standing the movements of the surveyors have been retarded from various causes, the Indians, have not interrupted them in the slightest manner, • . In obedience to a resolution passed by the legislature,. on the 19th of December last, commissioners were immediately ap pointed, to ascertain the true head of the St. Mary’s river. This circumstance was communicated to the war department, ac companied by a request, that the line be tween this stale and East Florida might be immediately laid out and marked, tinder tiie direction of tlie genera! government. Dur ing the month of February last, tl.e com missioners aforesaid proceeded to make an accurate survey of the head writers of the St. Mart ’s river, and on the first of March reported to this department, that die mound thrown tip by Mr. Eilicottand the Spanish deputation, was situated at the true head or source of that river, agreeable to the true intent and meauing ol the treaty of ihe 27th of Ottohcr, r/J5. between the United Stales and Spain. The result of this mission was immediate ly transmitted to the war department, and the necessity that the line should be closed, was again urged, in order thatour surveyors might proceed to lay out that country! agreeably to the act of the legislature of the 15th ot December last. After wailing some titne I received a let ter from the secretary of waf, slating that the president had instructed him to dirert Mr. Lumpkin to suspend the running of the Florida line, until thesubject should be laid before congress and “hoped that the state of Georgia would experience no inconvenience in consequence of the delay.” Finding that ail my efforts to cause, the line to be run hv the general government, had proved inefficient; I was reduced to the necessity of either suspending the operations of our surveyors in. that quarter,' until- t!i3 government oftlie United Slates should find it convenient to cause that duty to be per formed: or of assuming the responsibility m vsclf, and of causing a temporary one to be made, which might afford a boundary for our surveyor.:, and enable them to proceed to the discharge of their, duties. I deter mined on the latter course, and on or limit the first of May last, dispatched a comoe- tent surveyor., and instructed him to perform the service as early as practicable. pit the 17th of February last, I addressed a letter to the secretary of state of .he Unit ed States, and enclosed the resolutions of the general assembly ofihe i9rh December, on the subject of reclaiming the negroes and Otherpfoperty, which had >ag since been plundered and detained from tne citi zens of this state, l>y the Creek nation o: Indians, in violation of the treaties of Newi York and Colcraim I requested that the resolution might be laid before the presi dent oftlie United States, arid that he would direct the course that should be pursued in relation to this subject.. To this communi cation! have not received even a reply.-*- From a conviction that the general govern ment had hitherto manifested no disposition to interpose, or lend its aid in redressing rids and other grievances of long striding,, which lireioftcn berin the subjtc • of com plaint with us,. I determined to press the subject no further. . Intlieprogressofcurpenityntaryestablisl:- tbent, nothing of particular importance has occurred during the las; year. The steady op-, eration of our laws,and a correct administra tion of justice, has thrown a cocsidferahfe. number ftfour unfortunate creatures withkf its walls.'- ... . In anticipating, the beseficial results of this institution to society, it was fon'dly hop-; ed, that as the punishment due to crime hsi ’ become more certaai, their number and e.'.ormity.would have been less frequent, than under the former system. But i:i this we' have been disappointed. For whether attri butable to an increase of vice or the lenient mode of punishment, it is to he. lijnentcd,^ that crimes, both-in number and enormity, are _ committed ou.. the. persons and . property of oiir cTtizeris, as at any former period ofuur history.. In the minagetr.ent of the Institution, the Executive and I oari cf Inspectors have often been perplr .el. The want of experience .and. urianin ity among the keepers has frequently, endan-, ge; ed its prosperit”—has in sopne instances' been calculated to'throw a shade -over its- chrracter. , It tvottld indeid be dcsirabie: ' for the* legislature’to exaniijie this subjfci'
