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people of Georgia; it is due the more espe
cially to that portion of the people who have
not received the portion of the distribution
allotted to them. This will open the way to
that reform to which the people look with
such fond anticipations ; and which they de
signed by the great political revolution so
recently and so triumphantly brought about.
S T ATE SO VE KEIfi KT V.
©it
jniLLEDGEVILLE:
Friday. December 15, JLS37.
Kdi'cation.—There is always a great deal of talk upon
iliis subject in our Legislature; to hear the public decla
mation on this matter, especially when it is connected, ns
it always is, with the amelioration of the poor, an unin
formed stranger would conclude that Georgia must cer
tainly ho in the most palmy statu imaginable, in regard to
the general education of her people, and that it really was
a subject of the utmost interest with the Legislature. We
cm conceive his astonishment upon being told that the
•amount of our legislation, was to throw away, uselessly,
some forty to fifty thousand dollars, without a single benc-
jicial result from the extravagance.
Wo can conceive his heightened astonishment upon
Ibeing told, that after being at the expense of sending n
delegation of their own body, selected for their intelli
gence, jicrsonally to note tho fiprratiou of the different
systems of public education throughout the Union, and to
report their views and recommendations,as derived from
their labors; that this same Legislature, in the z< al of
carli to have the making of at least a part of the general
system to he put in operation, should so transmogrify the
plan proposed, as utterly to defy the delegated gentlemen
from recognizing a single feature of their own bantling.
Thcv had presented to the Legislature, as they believed,
to adopt a figure, a pretty perfect garment; the cloak was
well cut and fashioned, upon tho most approved pattern,
for useful wear. But, to make the thing finer, Tom claps
on his patch of red, Dick his of blue, and Harry his of
green; and lo! it comes before the world a tolerably de
cent bedijuilt, as nicely dove-tailed, by legislative manipu
lation, as it could have been accomplished by all the Miss
Nancys in the land; and presenting a most affecting spec
tacle of what an amount of good can be achieved by every
one doing alitile.
To be serious, however, for a moment, (and we have
great cause to be so under the reflection,) we have lost all
hopes of Georgia doing any thing for the great cause of
common education. There are so many barriers to over
coma, so many mountains to be scaled, in order to carry
ouv thing like u rational system of general education for
the State, that we believe, at least for the present ago, we
bad better cease wasting our energies in a hopeless cause.
On one point, however, we presume all will agree: that
the present waste of the public funds ought, to be summa
rily stopped, and either saved to the people, or applied to
somo other purpose than the present worse than useless
pretence of free educatioa.
Wo shall, for the instruction of our readers, refer to the
report to which we have referred, and likewise, at a con
venient time, lay it before them. If it does the Legisla
ture no good, it may not be without its use to the people.
™h. has been
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
IN SENATE, Saturday, Dec. 9, 1837.
The bill to establish a general system of edu
cation, by common schools, was reconsidered
by the Senate.
Mr. Powell, chairman of the Joint Standing
Committee on Banks, to which was referred
the annual report of the condition of the Cen
tral Bank, made a report; and Mr. Miller, on
the part of the minority of said committee, also
made a report—300 copies of which were or
dered to be printed.
Mr. Powell, from the same committee, to
which was referred that part of the late Govern
or’s communication which relates to the cur
rency and several other matters, made a report.
—300 copies ordered -to be printed.
Also, to prescribe the time at which the sev
eral Banks of Georgia shall resume the redemp
tion of their notes in specie—to regulate the
intercourse between banks and brokers, and
banks and other persons; and to relieve-tlie
Banks of this State from all penalties and for
feitures by reason of specie payment, and to
amend the charters of the several incorporated
Banks of this State—300 copies ordered to be
printed.
Mr. Dunnagan, laid the following resolution
on the table ;
Resolved, fyc., That our Senators in Congress
be instructed, and our Representatives request
ed, to oppose any and every measure that may
have for its object the connexion of the finan
cial concerns of the Federal Government with
State or private incorporated Banks, or the es
tablishment- r»f a TVnti/.n'il Tlont-
tablishment of a National Bank
BILLS REPOTED.
By Mr. Patterson : To appoint Jas. B. AYat-
kins a commissioner of the Fort Gaines Lit
erature Lottery, authorized by an act approved
December 26, 1831.
By Mr. Ingram : To amend the act regulat
ing the salaries of public officers of this State ;
and to increase further the fees of jailors.
Also, to punish white persons for gambling
with negroes.
of Cavalry raised iu this State, so far as re
lates to their being exempt from auad duty.
To appoint Trustees of Pine Grove Gram
mar School, in Monroe county.
To authorize each county in the State to re
tain the general tax for the years 1S37 and
1838, to be applied to county purposes, by the
Inferior Court.
To compensate one of the Justices of the
Peace, who may be a superintendent of the
elections at the several precincts in the county
of Clark.
To incorporate the town of Troupville, in
the county of Lowndes.
To require all fines collected in Lowndes
county, to be applied to the improvement of
the road where such default occurred.
To incorporate the town of Florence, in
the county of Stewart, and appoint Commis
sioners for the same.
To incorporate the village of Riceboro’, in
the county of Liberty.
.To compensate one of the Justices of the
Peace, or freeholder, who may be a superin
tendent of the elections, at the several pre
cincts in, and for the counties of Walton, Jas
per, Paulding, and Newton.
To establish certain ferries on Flint river,
and to regulate the toll of the same.
The bill to prevent the Banks in this State,
from issuing or circulating hank bills under
the denomination of ten dollars, was made the
special order of the day for Monday next.
The death of Mi - . Benjamin Watkins Le
announced in several papers. We are most happy to be
informed, by the Iticlnn >nd papers,-that this is incorrect.
This highly talented and useful man, has, for some time
part, been dungerously ill, but is non - convalescent.
We notice that Mr. Underwood, of Kentucky, has intro
duced the following resolution in Congress:
“ That the Secretary of War be directed to lay before
Congress, copies of all orders and instructions given to the
C’ommander-in-Chief of the force in Florida, authorizing
him to raise troops,.or to call into service any portion of
the militia, or to accept rhe services of volunteers, for the
purpose of suppressing Indian hostilities, and that the Se
cretary report what measures, if any, have been adopted to
eniisl or procure the services- of- other Indian warriors lo
fight against th • Seminoles, the number of Indians-so-en
listed, or taken into the service of the United States, the
tribes to which they may respectively belong,-the length of
time they have been engaged to serve, and-the am Hint of
pay promised them; and that said. Secretary also report
rhe number of troops, of all classes, engaged and called
into service, for the purpose of prosecuting the war in
Florida, at the present time.”
We predict that the answer to this call, if candidly made,
tvill create some astonishment throughout t:ie country.
When the Seminoles were in a doubly effective condition to
n'Hut they are at present, we remember Gen. Scott was
jeered from one end of the country to the other, for desir
ing a force of some 4 or 5000 men,.effectually to overrun
the territory, and route the savage from his most secret
fastness. The information sought for by this-resolution,
will show a force in Florida of more- than ten thousand
inon, at a time when llio marauders-have hardly a cliufor
leader left, and themselves reduced to a compurativt-
lmndful.
The accounts from Canada have been of n nature so lit
tle to he relied on, that we have been fearful lo mislead
our readers, bv copying them. First, the British forces
are victorious—then they are again attacked by fresh troops
of the levolutionists, and routed, cut up, and dispersed:
then anon, the British are carrying all before them.
Wo believe the account most to be relied on is, that the
revolutionary party under Brown, lias been r op ted by the
British forces, under the command of Col. Wethcrall; anti
tin’s,, we believe, is about the only battle that has taken
place. The following account wc take from the New-\ ork
Courier and Known r:
Wethrrairsvictory wasmiir.il more complete than has
been reported; the carnage was so great that it lias not
been published. The malcontents lost at least 500 men by
shut, lire and water. They fought very well until they 1
were charged: bv the bayonet, and then the butchery w as
dieadfuU Upwards of J/HI men were in n barn full of hav
and straw, which. set- fire to, ami they were burned
alive or smothered:- Mmiv- ittempted to cross the river,
and were drowned. Brown’s carpet bug, with one clean
shirt and a pair of stockings, and his new regimentals, w ere
found; and in the bag many letters, which implicate par
ties not yet suspected.
Colonel Gore has marched with five or six hundred men
against St. Denis. The (ate of that town was decided on
Saturday last, hut is not yet known. The orders are, to
destroy every thing—to raize the houses to the ground or j
burn them ; and it is expected that, us in the affair ot St.
Charles, no quarter will be given.
Colonel Wetlierail nlso leaves Montreal this day for
Grand Brule, where the enemy are iu force, but without
provision. They have been pillaging the whole country
without mercy.
Gne thousand pounds haver beerroffered by the Governor
fur the head of l’apioeau, and also for that rtf Brown.
I his will probably secirbe them. These are hard times,
fad o thousand pounds are not to he despised.
riiev ure in great spirits, and lull ot ot military anlornt
Montreal. The volunteers are very assiduous in their du
ties, and every gentleman in the c.tv carries his musket.
livery thing reported from Burlington mav be considered
as false.
Oar- thousand of the Glengarry volunteers arc expected
iu arrive daily at Montreal.
A resolution has passed the House of Representatives,
referring the Court of Errors to the people—requesting
voters at the next general election, to write on their tickets,
Court or no CuurL
The hill from the House to authorize the Central Laqk
to borrow $150,000, to complete its distribution to the re
maining counties, also finally passed the Senate on Wed
nesday last.
O” Read the reports on the Central Bank, both of the
majority and minority of the Standing Committee on
Hanks—we must defer our reflections far the present.
Wc would especially, however,.commend them to the
particular attention of the FederaLUnion. And in answer
10 their query, whether the Governor-would veto the parti,
ran effort now in progress relative to this institution, we
?sk of the Federal Union- what would be Us-course, with
these conjemnatory reports before it ?
Correction-. >Ve owe it to ourselves to state, that
the publication of Mr. Ljwson, Butke K which appeared
ln the Georgia Journal, was Uj.’Oi* the presumption that we
•wd not corrected the mistake, in r»J erence lo bis vote up-
!>n the Court Bill. It was corrected immediately after it
was made known to us, according to our promit e > w hich he
•as seen,and expressed himself fully satisfied.
[Standard of Union.
Dividends.—The Central Railroad, Bank Planters
•mu, andMarine and F ire Insurance Bank, of Savannah.
a\e respectively declared dividends at the rale, of - eight
i ' r c ut jtr milium for the last six months.
BILL PASSED.
The reconsidered bill to extend the time for
fortunate drawers lo take out their grants in
the gold and land lotteries from 1818, and all
subsequent lotteries, was passed.
Monday, December 11.
Mr. Powell, of McIntosh, chairman of the
Joint Standing Committee on Banks, made a
report relative to the Insurance Bank of Colum
bus ; which was read, and 300 copies ordered
to be printed. The report was accompanied
with the following resolution ;
Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor
be, and he is hereby required to cause a scire
facias to be issued against the Insurance Bank
of Columbus, in the Inferior Court of the coun
ty of Muscogee, by the Solicitor General of the
Chattahoochee Circuit, and such assistant
counsel as his Excellency may employ, to
cause the charter of said Bank to he declared
forfeited, and the corporation, dissolved on the
grounds following, to wit:
Because more than nine-tenths of tile stock
of the Insurance Bank of Columbus has been
transferred to N. Biddle, to be held-by him in
secret trust for the Bank of the United States,
chartered by the State of Pennsylvania;
Because the said Insurance Bank of Colum
bus has exacted usurious interest, and received
the same on notes and bills discounted by said
Bank ;
Because the said Insurance Bank of Colum
bus lias put in circulation bills of the old Bank
of the United States, and which had been re
deemed, and were on hand since the expira
tion-of its charter;
And such other causes as may be deemed
tfcnable, and capable of being sustained by
proof.
BILLS REPORTED.
By Mr. Williamson: To amend the militia
laws of this State, and to define and establish
the rank of adjutant and assistant adjutant Gen
eral.
By Mr. Powell, of McIntosh : To regulate
the intercourse between the Insurance Bank of
Columbus and the oilier banks and banking
companies of this State ; and to prescribe the
rate of interest recoverable in certain cases.
By Mr. Harris, of Baldwin : To incorporate
the Oconee and Atlantic Steamboat Company.
By Mr. Smith, of Jefferson ;- To authorize
the justices of the Inferior Court'of Jefferson
county to impose and levy an extra’tax for the
purposes therein mentioned.
The resolution from the House, relative to
the payment to the administrator of the late
O. H. Prince, the balance due for the revised
edition of the laws of Georgia, was concurred
in.
The resolution requesting our Senators and
Representatives in Congress, to use their in
fluence in having a mail route established from
Rome, in Floyd county, to Rossville, in Walker
county, &c., was concurred in.
The resolution relative to the compiling and
printing the militia and patrol laws of this
State, and to distribute them - to the various of
ficers, was concurred in:
The resolution to authorize the Governor to
furnish a number of fire-arms to Rabun coun
ty, was concurred in.
BILLS PASSED.
To establish additional precints in sundry
counties of this State.
To incorporate the Lumpkin County Mining
and Manufacturing Company.
•To incorporate and appoint trustees forth®
Tazewell Academy in the county of Marion.
To incorporate the Athens Mechanical and
Mutual Aid Association.
To alter and fix the times of holding the Su-
ferior Courts of the Eastern Circuit in this
State.
RiLLS REJECTED.
T-o compel persons owning plantations and
slaves in a county or counties different from
that of their residence, to pay the State, coun
ty, and poor tax due upon said property in the
county where the same may be situated and
kept, &c.
To vest in the Inferior Court of Baker coun
tv, certain unsnvveyed land in the 8th, 9th,
11th, and 12th districts of said county.
Tuesday, Dec. 12.
JgULLS REPORTED.
By Mr. Conyers : To incorporate the Irwin-
ten Bridge Company, of Eunuolph county.
By Mr. Harralson : To alter and change the
road and bridge laws of this State, so far as
respects the county of Troup.
By Mr. Sheffield : To require the Major
commanding the battalion Georgia Militia,
to hold battalion musters at the court-house,
in Wayne county.
By Mr. Hill:: To incorporate the “ Jasper
Guards,” &c.
BILLS PASSED.
To legalize the drawing and sunmioning'of
the jury for the Inferior Court of Coweta
county, for December term, 18o7.
To authorize the Inferior Couit of Lowndes
county, to levy a tax for the support of the
invalid poor of said county
BILLS OF THE HOUSE PASSED.
To lay out and organize a new county out
of the counties of Houston and Marion, &c;
To repeal the Gth section of an act, passed
22d: Oecemher,1835, authorizing^ comjtanies
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Friday, Decembers, 1837.
BILLS REPORTED.
By Mr. Lemon : To amend the act passed
22d December, 1828, to amend the 12th sec
tion 9th division Penal Code.
By Mr. Stephens : To regulate the proceed
ing in the several counties of this State, where
free negroes are concerned.
By Mr. Myers : For the relief of indigent
widows and orphans in the city of Savan
nah.
By Mr. Camjjbell : To increase the capital
stock of the Bank of Columbus, See.
By Mr. Myers: Tj incorporate the Geor
gia Marble Society.
By Mr. Jenkins : To prohibit persons who
are partners in trade, or any kind of business,
from inserting, continuing, or using in their
partnership style and name, the name of any
individual not actually a copartner, and to pre
vent the collection of all debts to any partner
ship, violating the provisions of this act.
By Mr. Darden, of Warren : To make all
cases returned to the October term of the
Superior Court of Warren for 1S37, triable
at the April term of said Court for the year
1838.
By Mr. Burnett: To lay out a new county
from the counties of Cass, Murray, Gilmer
and Cherokee.
BILLS PASSED.
To reimburse the Bank of Columbus, and
Insurance Bank of Columbus, the sums of mo
ney advanced by said Banks for the support of
volunteers.
To more effectually protect free persons of
colour, and to point out the mode of trying
their right to freedom.
To authorize the receiver of tax returns of
Decatur county for 1S38, to receive the returns
of 1837.
To punish slaves and free persons of colour
for the offence of larceny of a slave.
To incorporate the Baptist Church at Rome,
Floyd county.
BILLS REJECTED.
To increase the salaries and fees of the At
torney and Solicitor Generals.
To arneud the act incorporation the Darien
Bank.
To appropriate money to open and keep
open a ruud from Clayton, in Rabun county,
to the line of Union county.
To appropriate money to Fisher Brown and
B. J. Sanford, for the property lost by them
during the late Creek campaign.
To alter and amend the act regulating
the commissions of Tax Receivers and Tax
Collectors.
To appoint commissioners, and appropriate
a sum of money to erect a bridge over the
Chattahoochee river, at or near Amey’sFord,
on the main road from Clarksville to Daliloli-
nega.
Saturday, December 9.
BILLS REPORTED.
By Mr. Shaffer: To prohibit and restrict
sailor landlords to entertain, lodge and support
seamen and marines, in the county of Chat
ham, except under certain conditions.
By Mr. Lnmbretli : To provide for the im
provement of certain water courses therein
named, and for other purposes.
By Mr. Cleveland from the Joint Standing
Committee on Military : To amend -the mflB
tia laws of this State, and to define and estab
lish the rank of Adjutant and assistant Adju
tant Generals.
Mr. Watson, from the Military Committee;
returned the bill referred, to wit: “ To-alter
and amend the Gth and 7th sections of the mili
tia laws of Georgia, and for other purpo
ses, &c.
BILLS PASSED.
To authorize the Directors of the Central
Bank to borrow money to carry out their
promised distributions.
To appropriate a sum of money for the re
lief of Samuel Passmore.
To make penal the hiring of slaves their
time, without a written or verbal authority, &o.
BILLS REJECTED.
To alter and amend the 3d section of the
1st article of the Constitution.
To manumit and set free, Clara and her in*
fant child, Elizabeth, formerly the property of
Henry M. Cook.
The balance of the day was taken up in
reading bills the second time.
By Mr. Campbell: To incorporate the
Southern Chemical Company—referred to the
Judiciary Committee, without being read.
BILLS PAS3ED.
To locate and establish an Asylum for the
invalid poor in Pike county.
To guard and' protect the citizens of this
State against the too frequent and prevalent
use of deadly weapons.
To incorporate certain Academies there
in named, and to appoint Trustees for the
same.
To authorize Edward G. Wilson, a minor,
to act as deputy in certain offices in the coun
ty of Chatham.
To amend an act for the distribution of
estates so far as respects notices to the par
ties interested.
To incorporate the Ruckersville dragoons
in Elbert county.
To impose, levy and collect a tax for the
political year 1838, on property real and per
sonal.
To amend the 2d section of the 3d article
of the Constitution of this State.
BILLS -REJECTED.
To prevent, restrain, and make penal the
paying away or tendering in payment, pass
ing or circulating any Bank note, ticket, &c.,
intended, designed or fitted for the purpose
of paper money of certain denominations, Sec.
To alter the Gth and 7th sections of the
militia laws of this State.
To authorize the collecting of interest on
open acounts.
The House disagreed to the report .of the
Committee for the relief of Charles Rey
nolds of Elbert county.
Tuesday, December 12.
The House refused to reconsider the rejec
tion of the bill to prevent, restrain, and make
penal, the paying away, or tendering in pay
ment, &c., Bank notes, tickets, &c. Also, as
relates to the rejection of the bill to alter the
Gth and 7th sections of the Militia laws of this
State.
BILLS REPORTED.
By Mr. Watson, from the Joint Standing
Committee: To repeal and alter the Militia
laws of this State, so far as relates to the coun
ty of Richmond; and to authorize the organi
zation of a legionary corps, in the city of Au
gusta.
Mr. McDowell laid on the table a resolution
authorizing the Governor to have printed, and
distributed with the laws and journals of the
present session, a manual of the duties, sta
tute or common, civil or criminal, of all Grand
J urors.
On motion, 200 copies of the hill to author
ize the construction of a road communication
from the Tennessee river, to the point on the
southeastern hank of the Chattahoochee river,
&c., were ordered to be printed.
BILLS PASSED.
To incorporate Ilehoboth Academy, and
Baptist Church, in the county of Wilkes, and
appoint Trustees for the same.
To make it the duty of the Tax Collector
of Camden county, to collect his own tax exe
cutions.
The bill for the relief of certain soldiers in
the late Creek war, was laid on the table for
the balance of the session.
The bill to abolish the Central Bank, was
made the special order of the day for Friday
next—and the bill to appropriate money forthe
political year 183S, the special order for Sat
urday next.
by which practice it u- not infrequently tb*.£a»*, that* a
note h made, ondorsetUaud discounted, not for the benefit
of the maker, but’ one endorser; by which practice the
discount* become unequal, and the intentions of the Legis
lature perverted. As tiie law now is, it is not iii the pow
er of the Directors to detect such violations, but it iacoafi-
dently believed that if the bill now submitted should be
come a law, that no such discounts would take place.
Ycur Committee also report a Bill to the Legislature; to
require the Directors of the Central Bank to appoint-an
Agent in each county in this State, to examine and approve
each note before it is offered for discount at said Bank.
The necessity of some better mode than now exists, of as
certaining the solvency of makers and endorsers of Notes
offered at said Rank for discount, is so obvious, that it is
presumed that nil who are the least acquainted with the
business of said Bank, that no additional remark to en
force so necessary a meusure will be required. Your Com
mittee have noticed that it is the practice of the Central
Bank to receive notes for discount, and to discount them in
blank, and many of the notes remain in that state until they
fall due; except the amount discounter! is placed on the
bock and face of the Note, they feel bound to disapprove
tbe practice, though they do not think it can result in any
Ioss.to the Bank, which may be reasonably accounted for
by tiie vast accumulation of business without a correspond
ing increase of assistance in said Bank. It is presumed
that no disrihution of loans to the several counties will be
made the next year, as the present condition of the Bank,
and the appropriations which will be made by the present
Legislature, will require all the reductions and other receipts
of the said Bank, for the next year. The Funds of the
State are so largely vested in the Central Bank, that your
Committee deem it of high importance that its affairs
should undergo a full and minute investigation yearly; and
they are decidedly ofsthe opinion that the usual Commit
tee, as appointed by the Legislature, have not the time to
make such nn investigation as is called for; they therefore
submit to the Legislature, for adoption, the following reso
lution :
Be it resolved, by ike Senate.and House of Represen
tatives of the Stale of Georgia, in General Assembly
■met, That his Excellency the Governor be, nnd he is here
by requested, to appoint three persons of suitable qualifi
cations. each year hereafter, who shall assemble at Mil
ledgeville on the third Monday in October, nnd make a
full, free, and entire examination of .the condition of the
Central Bank, and all of its books, business nnd accounts of
every kind whatsoever, nnd make report.of all of their ex
aminations, to tho Governor, with such recommendations
and alterations of the business of said Bank, as they may
consider for the benefit of said Bunk, which report shall be
laid before the Legislature, by the Governor, at the ear
liest day after its receipt by hint, which may be in bis
power.
And be it further resolved, That said Commissioners,
who ntav be appointed to examine into the business of the
Central Bank, shall receive such compensation for their
services as the Legislature, to whom the report may be
made by the Governor, may determine lo be a just .and
reasonable compensation for the services performed.
to* hMfeotuwn sosh as to dispel or makecultofe dMf lpr;
prehensions athicb'Ure entertained by many in AMha to'
the solvency of tbe Bank, your Committee recommend tbe
adoption of the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the State of Georgia, That his Excellency the Gov
ernor lie, and he is hereby required to appoint three fit end
proper persons to examine into, during the recess of the Le
gislature, and report to him, the true condition of the Cen
tral Bank, and that bo cause said report, when made, to-be
published.
STATE BIGHTS MEETING.
Pursuant to notice, a portion of the State Ifights p*r*‘
tv of Baldwin county assembled nt tbe Court-Wise in-
Milledgeville, on Saturday the 9th December, at 1 o'clock
P. AL, to take into consideration the propriety of appoint
ing two delegates to act with our Senator in the ptopoeed
Convention to be held in this city on Monday tbe 13th
instant, to nominate candidates to represent tho Statedo
the next Congress. Maj. Jversojt L. Harris- was called
to the Chair, and 3. T. Bxscbkr appointed Secretary.
On motion,
Resolved, That this meeting appoint two- delegates to
act with onr Senator, to represent this county in the Goa- -
vention to be held on the 18th instant
Resolved, That Col. Samuel Rockwell, and Francis V.
Delaunay be chosen by this meeting, together with our
Senator,* Maj. Harris, to represont this county in the pro
posed Convention.
Resolved, That in case of any vacancy occurring in
the nomination by non-attendance, that the other Dele
gates bo authorized to fill the same.
Resolved, That the Secretary of this meeting furnish ibe
Delegates chosen certificates of their appointment.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting bo pub
lished in the Southern Recorder and Georgia Journal.
IVERSON L. HARRIS, Chairwan-
S. T. Bexcuer, Secretary..
A Bill to be entitled, An Act to amend the Act Incorpo
rating the Central Bank ofGoorgia.
Be it enacted, by the Sena.c and House of Representa
tives of the State of Georgia in General Assembly met,
and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same,
That from and after the passage of this Act, it shall be the
duty of the Directors of said Bank to appoint some fit and
proper person in each comity in -this-State, agent of said
Bank ; of which appointment notice shall he given iu a news
paper iu or nearest to tho county in which the agent re
sides.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, by the authority
aforesaid, That no note-or bill shall he discounted in said
Bank, unless the person desiring to have the same discount
ed shall procure and exhibit to said Directors, in addition
to the other certificates now required, the certificate of such
agent, that in his opinion said note or bill is good.
Sec. 3. And -be it further enacted, by the authority
aforesaid, That said agent shall be entitled to have, and
receive the-sum for each nnd every certificate given
by him as aforesaid, to he paid by the person at whose re
quest the same is given.
Sec. -4. And be it further enacted, by the antnor'Uy
aforesaid’, That when any person may or shall hereafter
offer a note, at the said Central Bank of Georgia, for a new
discount, that the same shall be accompanied with an arte-
davit in writing, to bo made by the maker of. said-note,
which shall state that the note offered is foraheonly-use and
benefit of him the maker,-and-not fur the use, benefit or in
terest, of any other person or persons whatsoever ;-whieh
affidavit shall he filed and kept by the Cashier of said Bank ;
and if any new note, as aforesaid, shall or may hereafter be
offered for discount at said Bank, without being accompa
nied by an affidavit as-aforesaid, the same shall nut 'Be dis
counted. •
KF/FOIfT ON TIIK CENTRAL BANK.
77io .Joint Committee on Banks, to which was referred
the annual report of the condition of the Central Bank
of Georgia, have attended to the duties assigned them,
and- make the following report
That, influenced by a high sense of ditty to-* the public,
your committee have devoted as much time, and made their
investigations as full and as satisfactory as their other du
ties would allow. Knowing the deep interest which the
people of this Stale so anxiously take in the just and safe
management of its affairs,-in the manner pointed out by
the charter, the examination has not only been directed to
the present-condition of'the Bank, but the mode of-doing,
business, and the manner of - making discounts, and the
safety of its business, have received careful attention. A
statement of the Central Bank of Georgia; on the 23d"‘No-
vember, 13-37, herewith annexed, your committee beg may
be taken as a. part of their report. They rind, after;! can
ful nnd laborious examination of the indebtedness and .cre
dits of said Bank,-that the state of tbe Bank, as referred j placed upon the payment of tiie Exchang
to, is correct. They, however, feel bonnd to express their
regret that so large amount of notes and bills-are lying
over and passed due, when - the conditions of*the loans-l the Directors of the Batik borrowed from tho Bank offAu
A’OCN’TER REPORT OF TIIE COMMITTEE OX RANKS.
The committee who have had in charge the examina
tion into the condition and affairs of the Central Bank of
Georgia, have devoted as much of their time as possible
to that duty, and beg leave to report:
That your committee have counted the bank -.bills on
hand, estimated the quantity of gold and silver .coin in the
vaults of the Bank, and compared the bills and notes dis
counted and now in the Bank, with the return made by it;
and the statement of its condition, submitted to tho com
mittee, they believe to be correct. Your committee, how
ever, state, that from the limited information they possess,
they can express no opinion as to the solvency of the-debt-
ors of said Bank ; and from the short time they have been
enabled to devote to the examination, it is impossible for
them to ascertain with accuracy its true condition.
.Your committee would further state, that in their opinion
the Directors of said Bank have violated the provisions of
its charter, in manv instances, by lending to one persou
more tuan $2500. They would instance only the following,
among others not loss flagrant. On the 31st January last,
they discounted for a citizen of Twiggs county, his four
notes for $2500 each—equal to $10,000, payable in fiavun-
oah. On tho 15th July last, they discounted for areitizen
of I’ulaski county, twenty-six notes, of different individu
als, payable in Savannah and Augusta, amounting to $46,-
016 60; and on the 8th of November last, they discounted
fur the citizen first mentioned, eight notes, of different per
sons, payable in Savannah, amounting to $10,300. And
at the Inst distribution for Columbia county, when notes
amounting to more than $15,000 were offered, and $11,000
were distributed, one individual received, on ten notes,
made by himself and others, (the makers of no two being
the same, but all endorsed by the same persons,) $5000, or
nearly onc-half the whole amount distributed to the countv,
when, in the same mode, at the previous distribution, the
same individual had received $3000, and another $500.0 of
the amount distributed to the same county.
A similar state of facts exists in relation to the distribu
tions for Burke and Bibb counties, and many others.
It is said that in some of these cases, the person who
was the last endorser, and to whose check the money was
paid, was only the agent of the makers; in others, that
tlie loan is considered as made by the Directors to the ma
kers, although the money does not go to their credit; and-
in others, that the notes were discounted as renewals, -j ; ant ] unloadin
Whether the facts lie so or not, the case is not altered in j
the opinion of the Committee. The money is received
on the check of the offerer or last endorser, in the ca.e
of new discounts—and if the practice pursued by the Bank
be allowed the very thing which the Legislature intended,
namely, equal distributions, will he defeated, (as it fre
quently has been) by persuns who, desiring large sums,
shall get a number of notes signed by different individu
als, nnd represent themselves at the. Batik as the ngent of
the makers. And in the case of renewals, it is fair to
presume that the party offering the new notes was,, unless
known to lie an agent, the individual benefitted by the
first discounts.
The Directors have, also, in the opinion of tho Com
mittee,.violated tiio law which requires the maker and en
dorsers of each note • to - be residents of the same countv.
when a county distribution is made. For instance, ut
the last spring distribution for Richmond county, three
citizens of the county of Washington, received- about
$3,200 (of the $11,209 distributed) on four notes, made
and endorsed by persons in Richmond, but discounted for
the citizens of Washington, who were the 1 -st endorsers.
It may be. that these Ia3t endorsers were only agents, (as
is stated,) for the makers, but-this cannot be known in
all cai-es. and even if it be so, the law is still violated.
Many other counties might lie mentioned, in relation
to which the same thing lias occurred:
The discount of $10,000 and $19,30(1, before mention
ed, as made in January nnd November, are not pretended
to have been renewals, or for tile benefit of any other
person than the individual offering the notes on the Bank
of Hawkinsville; and the last one was made after the
Central Bank had borrowed money to distribute among
the cOtVnties, and after Jt. was known that the fourth in
stalment of the United States surplus revenue wuulcf-not
be paid to the Stare.
The Directors have, since January last,discounted what
thcv call Exchange, (of which only $19,043 63, was in bills,,
and the balance in notes,) payable in Savannah, Augusta,
and at. the Bank, to the amount of $336,661 78 ;• whereof
thereis -now due, and lying over, $120,544 06; and running
rt> maturity, $146,481 68 ; so that if tbe affairs of the
Bank had been properly conducted, instead of-borrowing
about $230,000, (as they have done,) they would hare
been able to continue the distribution to the counties at least
until the Legislature convened. The excuse given for dis
counting so much Exchange,-is that the money was lying
idle, Jietwewj the distribution days, and reliance could be
This reliance
in part failed, and may entirely fad.
Your Committee find, that in the month of October last,
[communicated.]
Pursuant to previous notice, a respectable meeting of the"
Anti-Van Buren party of Crawford countv, met in th®
Court-house, in Knoxville, on Monday, 4th iust.; when
James A. Miller, Esq.,-was called to the chair, and
Philip J. Echols chosen to act as secretary. After • ’
brief explanation of the objects of tho meeting, by the
chairman, it was, on motion.
Resolved, That the chairman appoint a commilteft
seven, to nominate three suitable persons, to rep re sent'tbe
Anti-Van Buren party in the contemplated convention, in
Milledgeville,oa the ISth ins!., to nominate caadidataa for '
Congress.
The chairman appointed, accordingly, Ezekiel Simouton,
Jonathan Ross, Richard Harvey, Christopher Ficklin, Sil- •
vanus Prince, John Whittington, and Alartin B. Daniel,
Esqrs., such committee.
The committee then retired, t6 make their nomination;
and on their return reported that they selected Christopher
Ficklin, Jonathan Russ, and James A., Aliiier, Esqrs,, a*
candidates lo fill the aforesaid delegation; when the voice
of the meeting was taken on the nomination of th® com--
mittee, and unanimously carried.-
On motion, it was resolved, That the chairman and
secretary sign nnd countersign the proceedings^ of this
meeting, and forward there to the editors of the Southerni
Recorder and Georgia Journal, for publication.
JAMES A, MILLER, Chairman.
Philip J4 Echols, Secretary-•
Fit®*! THE CHARLESTON MERCURY-
From Florida - -;—Steam packet Florida, Capt. Hebbard,
arrived ut Savannah, on the 7th inst.. from St. Atigustino.
The Georgian says:—We learn that on Saturday night
17 Indians, (4 "mm and 13 women) two wives of Powell,
and his sister^ wish 40 negroes, arrived ut St. Augustine,
from Picoluta. - Thcv - were sent down from Volusia b*
Gen. Jcsup. Gen. Hernandez had gone to Indian river. •
A correspondent of the Republican (at Garry’s ferry,,
Dec. 2d') furnishes the subjoined paragraphs. lie expresses
an opinion that VVild Cat, alias Co-a-coo-chee, who recent
ly escaped 1 with 11 other Indians, from the fort at St. Aw-
gustine,. joined Sam -Jeees-in 30 hours after their escape
from confinement. -
“ Soma three days ago, two of Powell’s wives, five ware *
riors, ten women, eleven children, and thirty-five negroes,
came into Fort MOllon. Except the negroes, they are
l’owell’ii'people, and have been sent by Gen. Jesup to SC-
Augustine. They could not have seen Wild Cat, nor any
of the eleven, or I think they would not have come in. Ae
it was, they had to run away from the hostile*. - They were
nearly nakerK-und appeared in want.- It is-said by many
that the Indian deputation may brirg them in. But egniii f.
Sam Jones is known hostile. • He is supposed to Le
26 miles from Fort Mellon, - with a large body of warriors,,
nnd to surround and catch him i4 next to an impossibility,,
as it is a country only k-nmvn to him and bis.
The five hundred and thirty Tennesseeans,v. lie came here'
day before yesterday,.arc ordered to leave on Monday, to
cross at Picolata and scOUr the country on that side of ttto
river, up to Fort Mellon. The troops nnthperseus in Flori- -
da, are very healthy—much more so limn couldTJe expected
from so many strangers being suddenly brought into thi*
climate, which-is not - a‘very good one. From Volusia ali
iheovay^f, -tlnryate large quantities of orange trees, tilled,
with the finesrkififkoCoranges, though they are sour.
All here at present is hurry and bustle. Wo have here ‘
d- seven steamboats and'eiglit schooners ia tluvcrvek, Josdii-g.
1 ' 1 for us.
ha
Kt. Louis, (Mo:)-Nov. 29.'
State-house Burnt—Part of the State Library and O-’J
the rolls and papers in the ojficc of the Secretary of ‘
State destroyed.
tin Wednesday night last, the State House in the'e *9
of JeflSrson was burnt down. 1 he fire, as we learn from a 1
letter- wriitsn by a gentleman of that place on Thursday
morning, is-supposed-to have been communicated by a
brand :Tom the fire in the room occupied as the office of th* '
Secretary cf State, (which is in the northwest corner of tlis
building on the second'storv,) rolling down on- the floor.-
The fire was discovered abort half past nine hi tho even*
ing, but had - advanced* too far to-he stopped. AH lh«
papers in the office of the Secretary of State were distroy- -
ed;'and about half the State Library which was kept in th*
adjoining room on the same floor. The Auditor of Public Aw-’
counts occupied the two rooms immediately under the Sec
retary’s rooms and the Library,and we are gratified to leant
that nearly all the papers in Iris office were saved. Th*'
burning continued until about 12 o’clock in the night, whea *
tho roof fi-1! in and the flames subsided. We hav<? not
learned that any blame is attached to those having the cus
tody of the Secretary’s office.- No one lodged in that room
and it hud been closed’ for ' the night! This house was
originally built for the residence of the Governor, hut'tfM
used of ate for the Star e-hoUse. Except the loss uU
the papers, the other is hut small, the house not being worth
more tnan-abmrt $12,090.—Republican.
Charleston. Dec. 10J-
Cotton.—Received since our last, to yesterday morning
inclusive, 57 bales Sea Islund, and 6873 bales of‘Upland
Cotton. The sales tmving been 7009 hales of Uplands, at -
from 12 to7 cents.- The demand for Uplands contiuutfair,
particularly ffir prime and choice; and if artychatlge,**
think there has been rather an improvement iu price* *f*
prime of about ^ cent.
Our hist advices from Liverpool, the ruling European mar
ket; are to the? 27ih-October ; they advise that there were
norlnrfige to notice in Upland* on that day; there Co&tioumL.
a good inquiry from the trade, aril the market steady for
^tl descriptions. ]’rice*quoted for Uplands are from
to 7$d-
MARRIED,
In Hancock county,' on the Gth instant, by tire Itew. J. P, ~
Leverett, Mr. Roger Lawson, of Washington eonnty, SM Mies-
Harriet, daiirfiter'of Mr. William Hitchcock.
Monday* December 11.
The House reconsidered so much of the
journals of Saturday as relates to the rejee-
tion of the hill to alter and 1 amend the first
soction of the 3d article of the Constitution
of this State.
BILLS REPOUTED.'-
By Mr. Harris: To repeal so much of an
act passed 24th December, 1832, preventing
the circulation of bank hills under tiie deno
mination of five dollars, as relates to the Cen>
tral Bank.
Mr. Payne : To prescribe the duties of the
Cashier and Teller of the Central Bank of
Georgia.
Mr. Duke : To amend- the 25th sectioruofi
the charter'of tbe Central Bank.
Mr. Hazzard : To • authorize the wardens
and vestry of Christ’s Church, St. Simon’s
Island, to sell the land belonging to^aicb
Church.
Mr. Myers :' T-o incorporate a BoarS of
Health for the city of Snvannah.
Mr. Campbell: To change the name of
Evans Hicks to that of John Bascombe, of
Chattahoochee.
Also, to pardon William H- King, how in^
the Penitentiary.
By Mr. Kelly, of Houston: To point out and
punish certain frauds therein specified, and to
render null and void such conveyances ortrans-
fers as may be-thereby-obtained--
were so iihrral anil easy of-compliance. • So far - as your-
committee was able to judge, they considered the bills of
exchange ruvuiing to maturity, and those passed due, lo he
good ; imt they cannot undertake to express an opinion of
the goodness of the notes discounted and due to the Bank,
ns it was impossible for them, in the limited time allowed
them.-to obtain such information of the solvency of the
makers and endorsers which would enable them to form
any opinion of their present and ultimate goodness. They,
however, have no doubt but that the Directors have in all
cases-li-ied-their best diligence to discount only such notes
as they.considered --undoubtedly good ; hut it is known that
the total number-of notes discounted, a d belonging to
-«rrid Bank are more than six thousand. Your committee
are willing.-and do accord to the Directors, the best inten
tions and most praiseworthy and constant zeal for the best
interest of tho. institution; yet they are constrained to the
opinion that all the discounts made will not prove to be
granted to solvent makers and endorsers of notes, which
is rendered more than ordinarily difficult, as discounts are
male to the citizens of each county in this State, in propor
tion to its representative population.
After inquiry, your committee have- found that the books
in the Bank,.particularly the personal ledger, has not been
kept posted up, so as to enable them to ascertain in a short
time, the personal indebtedness of any individual, which,
they consider, should at all times l>e in such a situation as
would ufford the means of examining personal accounts in
a short‘time. If the present number of clerks are unable
to keep the hooks of the Bank regularly posted up, they
recommend the appointment of another clerk, with a suit
able salary.
Your committee feel bound to dfsupprnvc the transaction,
in April last, with the Bank of Hawkinsville, by which the
sum of $15,000 was exchanged with said Bank, by the
President of the Central Bank, and his receiving in ex
change the sum of $90,000 in notes of the Hawkinsville
Bank, and-in addition, a bond and security, made payable
to the President and Cashier of the Central Bank, for the
ultimate security of die said loan; and although the Cen
tral-Bank was rwelk^cnrcd, and the transaction common
to utter b%nks, and another D.rector subsequently approv
ed the transaction, yet they believe the transaction was
not in conformity with the provisions of the charter of the
Bank, and therefore unauthorized.
' Y'our Committee herewith report a bill to the Legisla
ture, which they earnestly recommend may be passed into
a Law, the object of wlftcb is to prevent one individual
from lending his name as maker of a note to be offered for
discount ot tlfo Central Bank, fir the benefit of.anothir-
gustn, thcrUank of the State of Georgia, and the Central
Railroad Banking Company, different sums of - monev,
amounting to $230,000, or thereabouts, to enable them to
continue their distributions to the counties ;- which, in the
opinion of your Committee, was an assumption of power
not authorized by the charter, and subjects the Stare to
a clear loss of one per'cent. -interest, on the amount so bor
rowed. -
Your Committee also find,’ that on Sunday- preceding
the 27th day-off April ■ last, Tomlinson Fort, the President
of said Ban!-,- without the knowledge of tbe other Direc
tors, advanced to Hartwell II. Tarver, for and in behalf of
the Bank of Hawkinsville, $45,000, in current bank notes,
as a loan to said Bank—the re-payment of which v.sis se
cured by the delivery of $90,009 of the hills of the Bank
of Hawkinsville, the transfer of stock of said Bunk, and
a bond with security, given by- said Turver to the Pre
sident and’Cashier of the Central Bank. Although the se
curity given was undoubtedly good, yet, such a loan by the
President, was unusual and unauthorized by law ; and if
countenanced, would be a precedent for any other officer
risking the funds of the Slate to sustain any banking insti
tution when pressed—and the temptation to do so would
be strong, if he were under any pecuniary obligation to, or
had any interest in, such aa institution. -
Your Committee woultPf jtther state, that the Books of
tbs Bank arc not-kept in that state necessary to determine
the true condition of the institution. Many of the entries
on the discount bonk are in pencil mark only, and-may be
easily altered, erased, or rubbed out by accident ;-tlie led
gers are not posted up; and for months past scarcely an
entry has been made in the personal ledger; so that it is
difficu]t«to ascertain the whole indebtedness or liability of
any particular individual. This negligence is probably iu
some degree-owing to the frequent changes that hare lately
taken place in the subordinate officers «f- the Bank.
Your Committee would further report, that & practiceIras
grown - up in said Bank of receiving notes in blank as t’i
amount, date, and time of payment; and that notes are fre
quently suffered to remain so after being discounted, and
even after the time at »hich they would have matured, if
filled up.- This practice is likely to produce difficulties
with the debtors of the Bank, and may result in loss to it.
And your Committee would further report, that there is
no book kept in said bank in which is entered-* the paper
offered for discount—onlydiat is •uterriLwhicb is discount
ed—and, therefore, if the Directors be partial in their dis-
eonnts to individuals, as has been charged aguiast them, it
is difficult to obtain evidence of the fact.
In conclusion, ps the examination made by^ the Cenimit-
I AOUR MONTHS after dire, application will he made to
the honorable the Inferior Court, when sitting for ordina
ry: pnrpoves, for leave to sell the Negroes belonging to th*
estate of Green B. Belcher deceased.
O. It. BELCHER, ) . , -
SEABRON J. S-HY5.fi- A<lm "•
MonticeKo, Jasper county, Dec. 11, 1837.' Sit" fist
L AST NOTICE - —All persons indebted to the subscriber'
either on open accounts or notes, are hereby notified that
settlements must he made by the first of February ensuing,
otherwise they will, after that time, have to make settlement*
with Messfs; Hines and Harris. Attorneys.- Mr notes amh
accounts can", till then, be - found with Messrs. Chambers, at =
my old stand. CHARLES ft ALL.
Mmedgeville, December 1?. 55—tf
[CP THOMAS TURNER, Jr, Esq., is a candidate for’
Receiver of Tax Returns of Putnam county, at the election i*
January ne!^t. tf
G 1 EORGIA. MORGAN COUNTY.
f Whereas Mary Ann Maquere nnd Thomas MeGehewC-
Jrv applies tct'me for letters of administration de
with the will annexed, on the estate*of Louis Maqvere,’de
ceased. late of said county:—
These nre-therefore - to cite anti nc motnsh all and singular
the kindred and creditors of said deceased, to be and appear
at my office, within the time prescribed by law, to show cause.
if any they'liave, why said letters should - not be granted.
Given under iny hand, at office. 5th December, 1837.
52 It JOHN W. PORTER, e. «. i*»
The MONTGOMERY JOCKEY CLUJT!
Races will commence at the Bertrand Course en the
23d of January, 1838, and continue five days, when tbe follow, -
ing Purses will be ran for, viz:
First Day—1 mile beats—Purse $300?
Scroti it Day—2 mile heats—Purse 8600.
Third Day—3 mile heats—Furse - $7001
Fourth Day—mile heats—Purse - 81000.
Fifth Day—mile beats—best three iaefive—for the ea-
. trance money of each tfav's running.
The Purse for each day’s running, will be hung up at tb* -
Standon the - day of running.
On the day previous to the regular races, a sweepstake ten'
3 year olds—£300 entrance—8100 forfeit—two mile*beats; to*
name and close. By the 1st of January, entries M be mad* 1 '
with the proprietors. ^
Merrill Asberst enteivb. e. Oleber, by Bertraa-', dSo« by"
Oscar.
pcS : lIrd I bb6'w*N,
Menfeemerv, Ala.. Nov. 7, 1837. tda
OT1CE -
-All those indebted to Newell & Duncaa, a*d ■
Isaac Newell individually, must call and pay up-bp M
last of January uext. No mistake—don’t forget tbe tup*.
Newell £ dcndjuk.
. MiBcdgjville, Dee. 12,^837. • A’. 3».