Newspaper Page Text
VOL. XIV.
T*. (ill JEIMSONIE
l a PCBL!SHFD KVEtIY TUtTUSh* Y MOUSING
BYWTLLIAM CLIKE,
At Two BoUaf-s at?d Fifty Cents per cn
unm, or Two Dollar* paid in advance.
A .tv-irrjKF.'i’ \ rs ;,r.- t axis !
}*Of f A R *p i a( j hit. for dip 6-si i.'< ft rn, an !
FIFTY CFMTS pr *<••! ro. far <?o-b insertion
•X T.odiis: l r mvmoo w;!! op *?*;•> to those
!■ ,viverli*p t.v the
Alt advertisement# no! otherwise ordered, wi' ;
>.> (‘ooiinn •> oil
•riTSJ/.K.S CF I.AXpS by AdtmrGtraton*.
4 x> rotor# or Guardmiip are required law be
•eld on the first u* ‘bo rorndi. >.-tv
o bo sr? o’ ten in the forenoon ond thr>:” ii> th<
foninon, it (he Court-House, in the county, sr:
1 -e.-h ‘ere! • situated. Notice off?- pc Mite,
rv he 3 iven sn a puMic jratette FORTY DAYS
>.iQ •,> i i,f 4av >f pate.
Sit EN OF XF.GROES most he. rnarle at pah*
‘*• •>•<;(ton on the first Tuesday of* he month, be*
ween ttte u>im’ hours of pate, at t tie place of pub*
r sstoiJ in the courtly where the letters Tesla*
nejvary, of AdtttmiMr lion or Gnartltaoship may
i'w been ranted: firs! giving FORTY DAYS
■'otiee (hcreot'in one nflhe public gaieties t.f this
< 't .t , and * the. e >nrt house who e such satearse
te h, ;
Notice fur the sate of Persona’ Pronertv mt’’
‘.■ r:v,- i in ‘;!<■’ manner FORTY DAYS prcvim.a
?o the rlnv rs! sale.
Notice tc, DenTnr* and Credi’ors of an e**'c
U'ta’ he published FORTY DAY’S
Not ice that <no Vat to-* will made.fo the. Court
0 unary f\r [ i.*v E To Sf.U, LAND must t’O pith
oshed for T’.i’C MOXTHS
Notice ,if i.r .rr tc sr.it. Nreiiors n ost h
pan id.i-'ii FIFO iIO.VTfIS ••••fore anv order ah-
Pohi'y shill h • -nude thereon hv the Court.
Cl TATII \ r S Fr Celt r* of Adeiioi-dration,
in a-’ be oiio!'s!i I thibtt pats; far !>is:ni'#*io
front A tor oistr i'ioo. MONTH! T SIT MONTHS; for
His,nissj.in Jrn.o Guardianship. Forty OaT
Holes far i|je ‘•'oroel.isnre of Morttfaffe must hr
pilMished MONTH!.Y FOR FOUR MONTHS, etab.
bsfiin® tost papers lor the fed spare of thrfe
Months; for convening titles fro it* !-’x'Mitoro'S
Ad oiois'ratorp, whee a bond hasheen given ly
the ie- ad tio-foil s-iace o’ thrf.f. Movrite
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, \
Millf.doeville, Nov. 8, 1853. )
Felhv-Citizen.*,
of the Sent* and House of Representatives:
In discharge of my constitutional duty,
I proceed to lav before you such matters
as should receive your attention during
the present session of the General Assem
bly.
On the 20th day of 0 tober, 1851, the
public debt amounted to $1,687,472 22.
By the act of December 4th, 1851, ratify
ing the contract of my predecessor and the
Chief Engineer of the estern and Atlan
tic ‘ftilroad, for the purchase of iron for
the State Road, it was increased $200,-
000 B an act of January 12th, 1852,
providing for the repairs and eqn pment
of aid ltoad, it was still further increased j
the sum of $525,000; and by the act an-}
thorisiug a subscription to the Milledge- j
ville and Gordon Railroad; there was add-!
ed the suin of $200,( 00. making the to'al j
amount of the State debt $2,432,472 22. j
: o this amount should be added the bond-1
td debt of the entral Bank, which is |
now $369,500; having been diminished by j
the payment of $5,500, since the Ist No-j
rember, 1851. The total liability of the j
State is thus seen to be $2,801,972 22,!
from which must be deducted the sum of
$166,500, which has been paid during the !
past two years, under the provisions of the i
act of February the 11th, 1350, providing!
far ma unai S. oki ig Fund for tiie pay
ment of tne public debt. The present
debt of the •'tate therefore is $2,635,472
22. j
Too bon Is authorized by the act of 4th
December, 1851, were made payable at
the S’ate Treasury, and the interest pay
able semi-annually at the Hank of the
of Georgia in Savannah. These
bonds were negotiated for a premium ave
raging about two per cent. I was satis
Sod that our bauds should command a.
higher premium, and fiadii g upon an in-j
vestigution of the subject that a more ad ;
vautageous negotiation could be effected,
by making them payable in New York, I
caused the bonds issued under act of Jan
uary 12t i, 1352, to be made, payable at
the Ba,.k of the Republic in the city of
New York. They were negotiated at a
prem um of five per cent It is the first
instance in which our State securities had
been disposed of at any premium, and it
should be gratifying to our State pride to
know tiiat the bonds of our fctate now
stand among th’ first seen ities of their class.
Tae bonds of no State in t e Union com
mand more of the confidence of capitalists
who seek a safe invest ie;it of their fa ids ,
This eoniiuem e is not misplaced, for oo
State in the Union has more ample means
to meet ts lia .viii ; es, H*id no p. op e are
more teua-.ioas of tie credit an .i ..o.tor of
their •‘date titan oar own.
As the interest of. portion of our bo s
ha.; to be p-.t.d in New ifotk, ,t becomes
necessary for the ‘treasurer to keep on de
posit there a sufficient sum oi money to
iueet the interest as .t falls due. Tata has
been doue uuder my direction If any
doubts exist as to the power or propriety
of tii.s course, it would be advisable that
ali such doubts should be quieted by pass
ing a law authorising sucli de o.sito io be
made. The necessity o it is so obvious,
tfi t I >1 e u it ua tecessary to prase it any
*rg.i neat in sip.-ort of tue rec in.nmid *•
tIOU.
I refer you to tiie accompuy.report
of tno t’re .surer m vrn.ch .v;SI be i’ttr.'d •• 1
t.buiar st.'.temeucof tae p ib"c deot, siv-w ’
ing at what ti no eacn port .on of i: vvd i;
fan due. F out this statement you will |
find that a very large p rtion of <> ir deot!
wdi become due about, the same time
Th;s matter .Siiould receive the attention
of yourself as well .is your successors, in
uricr that by u course of wise and judi
cious ljgis>at:oa, the pa meat ot our bunds
may be anticipated, otherwise we should
be call ‘d upon to in.ike very large pay
ments wit mi a very short period, which
would iea J either to burdensome taxation,
o an extension- oi tiie time for the eventu
al liquidation of our liabilities. Both re
s ilis can and ougnt Lo be avoided. In
the present prosperous condition of our
stale uffa rs, mere will be no difficulty in
creating a li king Fund which will en
tirely discharge tae public debt before it
shall have fallen due. There should be
additional legislation-on this subject, giv
ing to the Executive full power and dis
cretiou to appropriate the surplus means
of the Treasury to the purchase of.our
Irmifc undfr rrtrh limit*tfens *■? your Judy-
OTl t I rfftratfutini*
meat may deem advisable, The present
law leaves the question in some doubt
; whether or uofc the legislature intended
j any premium should be paid by the State
in the purchase of bonds not yet due
Such, however, is tho present high cbarac
’ ter of our State securities with all classes
of capitalists, that it is impossible to ob
tain thorn at par. As long as individuals
arc willing to pay a premium for these
bonds, so long will the State also be com
pelled to pay a premium for such as she
may wish to redeem iu advance. I have
thought it advisable to make the pur
chase at a small premium, to the a
niouht required by law to be annually re
deemed. There ia no other safe invest
ment of a Sinking Fund, and as a matter
of economy it is better to pay the premium
than to allow the money to remain tfndis
posed of in tho Treasury, tempting the
legislature either to unnecessary and
wasteful expenditures orr to an unwise re
dnetion of taxes. I call yorir attention
particularly to this subject, that such laws
may be passed as will carry out tho pub
lic will in reference to it.
THS CBKTBXti BAKX
By the act of December 10th, 1851, I
was authorized to transfer the assets of
the Central Bank to the Treasury, when
in my discretion the interests of thd State
should require it. Believing that there
was no longer any necessity for continu
ing that institution in existence, for any
other purpose than to wind up and close
its business, I appointed the commission
authorized by the foregoing act, to inves
tigate the condition of tho Bank, and
transfer ts remaining assets to the ‘Frea
sury. I herewith transmit their report
from which it will be seen what was the
condition of the Bank at that time. The
accompanying report of the Treasurer will
exhibit its present condition, as well as it3
operations since it has been transferred in
to his hands. There are yet outstanding
many debts, some of which will be collect
ed, bat from the larger portion nothing
will ever be realized by the State, and it
becomes a matter for your consideration,
what disposition shall be made of its re
maininh and unavailable assets, and also
what provision rhall be made for meeting
and discharging its liabilities. Upon a
careful examination of tho affairs of the
Hank, I am satisfied, that afujr exhaust
ing all its resources, there will be left the
amount of $369,500, which mnst be paid
from the Treasury. It is ior this reason
that I have placed the bonds of the Bank
in the computation of the public debt,
which I have already submitted to you.
I would recommend that the Executive
be authorized to take up ihesc bonds, and
issue regular State bonds in their stead,
provided satisfactory arrangements can be
made with the present holders of them.—
In addition to this amount it will be neces
sary for you to provide by law for the pay
ment of about tho sum of $20,000. This
amount has been borrowed by the Trea
surer. tinder my direction, to meet the ac
cruing interest on the Central Bank bouds,
tiie funds of the Hank falling short by that
amount. This step was necessary to save
the credit oi the State, as these bonds are
regarded in public estimation as a part of!
the public debt, and if we had failed to
have paid this interest promptly, the effect
would have been to have depreciated the
general credit of the State.
It is useless to encumber th© Treasury
longer with the remaining assets of the
Central Bank, which- wifi continue worth
less and unavailable sb long as they re
main the property of the State., I know
of no better disposition that could bo made
of them than by selling them for whatev
er they would bring. To keep them and
attempt their collection, would involve the
State in continued expense and litigation,
without any remunerating benefit.
THE TRKABCRT.
The accompanying report of tire Trea
surer will give you a clear and satisfactory
account of the operations of that Depart
ment during the past two years. You
will observe that this report is complicai
ted witii a useless statement of unavaila
ble assets in the I reasury. These stereo
typed items have been repeated from time
to time, without the slightest beuefit to
the State, throwing no light upon the con
dition of the Treasury, and leading to no
possible beneficial result. As long how
ever as no action is had by your body on
tue subject, it will be necessary for the
r.;asurer to encumber his report with
them. I recommend therefore that you
t dte such steps as will relieve the depart
ment from tue necessity of further refer
ence i o these worthless assets by directing
them to be destroyed under the direction
of tue executive or a committee of your
body. ‘he report of the Treasury sUowb
tue av.t lublo balance in the ‘Treasury on
t e 20th October, 1853, to be $74,857 35.
Cos eurring as 1 do, in the estimates con
tained in ills report of the probable ex
penditures of the next two years, I deem
it unnecessary to add any thing on that
suujuct.
Tnere has been collected from the Gen
eral Government during the past two
years, the sum of $144,890 53. These
claims have been long standing, and the
rate >; ..ow indebted for the collection of
.-,0 large a portion of them to tho energy
and ability with which they have been
urged uj the agent appointed by my pre
'itcessor, and continued by myself, Joseph
dturgis, idaq. There is yet unsettled
c aims dnto us f om the General Govern
ment, but I am uaablc to say, at what
time you may expect their payment. It
wo ili do unwise to calculate upon the re
ception of any portion of it, in your lcgis
lutioa upon the Finances of the State.—,
For additional information you are re
ferred to the accompanying report of Mr.
Sturgis.
i herewith ‘ransmit to the General As
sembly, the report of the Financial Com
mittee for the year 1852, and call your
a-.tendon to its statements and recommen
dations as worthy of consideration. The
deport of the Comptroller General Is also
herewith transmitted.
THZ TAX LAW.
It was provided by the tax act of Jan
uary 9 th, 1852, aud the supplementary net
of January 21, 1852, that the sum of three
Hundred and seveuty-five thousand dollars
should bi raised under thus* acta for ths
GRIFFIN, (GA.) THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 17, 1853.
support of the Government for each of the
political years of 1852 and 1853. In the
first act the rate of taxation wan limited
to One-twelfth of one per cent. The sup
plementary act was passed under a well
founded apprehension that the required a
mount would not be realized at that rate.
This last act required the Governor with
the assistance of the Comptroller General
to consolidate the returns of the various
tax receivers, and ‘authorized them to fix
the rate of taxation at such per cent, as
would raise the sum of three hundred and
seventy-five thousand dollars. Upon the
examination of the tax digest as required
by this law, it was ascertained that it
wOufd require a tax of one-tenth of otic
per Cent, to raise the amount which the
Legislature had fixed upon; and accord
ingly the necessary orders were issued to
that effect. This was true of the returns
for each of those years, and there was
consequently no chauge in the rate of tax
ation for the present year. The passage
of those acts introduced anew system of
taxation into our State. The ad valorem
{trinciplc was for the first time incorporated
nto our laws, though its justice and pro
priety had long been seen and felt by our
people For many years the friends of a
fair and equitable system of taxation had
sought to modify the old law, which was
admitted to be unjust in its operation and
indefensible in its principle. Every candid
and fair minded man recognized the cor
rectness of the principle that every citizen
should be required to pay for the support
of his government, according to the extent
and value of his property. Upon that
principle an ad valorem tax should be
based, and when faithfully carried out,
must command the approval and support
Os every man who is willing to bear his
due portion of the burthen of Govern
ment. That the present tai law fully
comes up to this standard, I am not pre
pared to say. The object of its framcm
was, however, to approximate it, and if
they have failed to reach it, the duty is im
posed upon their successors of applying
the lights of experience and practical op
erations to its modification and improve
ment. It is not strange that an untried
experiment, should be found to be defec
tive in some of its details; it is rather a
matter of surprise that more obvious and
glaring mistakes should not have occurred
in the first effort, to adopt anew, radical
ly differing from the old system. lam a
ware of the fact that there exists in the
pubilv mind, in some portion of the State,
very strong prejudices against this law,
but I am well satisfied that these prejudi
ces are not so deeply rooted, as to defy
the approach of reason and sound sense.
In some instances, it will be found that
this opposition is limited to some provi
sions of the law, whiemay with propriety
be modified and improved, and for that
reason your attention should be directed
to such modifications as will make it con
form more exactly to the ad valorem prin
ciple. Let the details of the law then be
scrutinized, its defects brought to light,
and the prapen remedy be .applied hy wise
aud judicious amendments. With many
persons the merits of the present law has
been subjected to the test of comparing
the amount of taxes paid by them under
the two different systems. They find that
their tax has becu increased, and without
further inquiry they attribute that increase
entirely to tue change of the law. A
siiup'e statement will exhibit the incorrect
ness of this cohclusicti The amount of
taxes collected for the political year 1851,
under the old system, was $291,077, 38*
100, whilst the amount collected for the
year 1852, was $377,165 60-100. It must
be borne in mind that the Legislature saw
the necessity of raising an increased sum,
and therefore provided in the act of 1852,
that there . should be raised the sum of
$375,C00. If, therefore, there had been
no change iu the system, it would have
been necessary to have increased the taxes
about twenty-five per cent. To compare
then the operation of the two systems
fairly, in individual cases, such persons
should first add twenty-five per cent, to
their tax as paid in 1851, and compare
the amount thus ascertained with the a
mount which they actually paid under the
present law. When this is done, it will
be found that their increased tax is owing,
not to a change of the law, but to the in
creased necessities of the State.
Another objection has been urged to
the present law, which is founded in good
reason and is worthy of your consideration.
It results from the difficulty of ascertain
ing the true value of the tax payer’s pro
perty. Such is the peculiar organization
of men’s minds, that with the most honest
intentions, they differ widely in their esti
mate of the value of property; whilst oth
ers unwilling to contribute their due por
tion of the support of the government,
place so low an estimate upon the value of
their property, as to cause just ground of
complaint with their more conscientious
and generous neighbors. As every matt is
at liberty under the present law, to value
his own property, he can put what esti
mate he pleases upon it. The law appeals
to his conscience alone on this subject, and
there is no mode provided for reaching
those, who are indifferent to the obligations
of truth and honor. It is gratifying to
know that the number of this class is very
small. An examination of our tax digests
will show the fact, that with the great
body of our people, there has bceu exhib
ited a disposition to make a fair aud just
return of their property. The cases of the
few, however, should be reached, and I
would recommend that some provision be
made by law for assessing the property of
those who seek to avoid the payment of
their just due to the State, by falsely esti
mating their property below its true value.
This and similar defects in the details of
the law, should be remedied by proper le
gislation. Time and experience will there
by, ultimately perfect the system, and ren
der it acceptable to all classes and inter
ests. The ad valorem principle being re
cognized by all, as being right aud just, it
only requires prudence, firmness aud wis
dom m enforcing its application, to secure
for a law based upon it, the cordial ap
proval of the people.
For the purpose of instituting a com
parison of the taxes paid by our own peo
ple, with that paid by the people of the
other States, I addressed a circular letter
to the ExtvnMvft of the *f©vprßl State*.
asking for a statement of their tax laws
To this communication, I received many
replies, bnt not enough to carry out the
original object I had in view The infor
mation, however, obtained was sufficient
to satisfy my own mind that we pay as
little as the people of any other State,
whilst as compared with some of the other
States, our tax is almost nominal* As low
as our present taxes are, wo may look for
ward to the time when ftrWKiaay bearcat -
Iy reduced. As soon as the public debt
shall have been extinguished, we can with
propriety reduce our taxes one-half, and
that too, without looking to any other
sources of revenue for the ordinary ex
penses of the government. This is certain
ly a gratifying state of things, and will go
far to conciliate the feelings of opposition
that has been engendered in the public
mind against the present system. Firm
ness in the maintenance of the ad valorem
principle—wisdom in the adoption of a
mendnients suggested by experience, and
economy in the administration of the go
vernment will soon dispel all prejudice
and opposition with a wise and patriotic
people.
WESTERN k ATLANTIC RAIL P.IAD.
By the act es January 15, 1852, I was
required to appoint a Superintendent of
I the Western & Atlantic Railroad, who
should have the general management and
control of that work. I appointed Wm.
M. Wadley, Esq., who entered upon the
duties of his office on the Ist day of
February, 1852. The means of the road
had fallen far short of its necessities, and
the result was that the Road was in a
wretched condition. My predecessor and
the former Chief Engineer of the road,
realizing this fact, had very properly pur
chased a large re
pair. The contract ifiau*)
approved by the last Legislature by the
act of Dec. 4th; 1851. When Mr. Wadley
entered upon the duties •of his office, he
encountered all the difficulties which this
state of things had brought about. Ihe
last legislature, intending to provide am
ply for the thorough repair and equipment
of the road, by the act of January loth,
1852, appropriated the sum of $525,000
for that purpose. This sum would have
been sufficient, if it could have been ap
plied to the objects contemplated by the
Legislature, but unfortunately it required
much the larger portion of it to pay off
the former debts of the road, which had
been accumulating from its first organiza
tion. We were, therefore, compelled to
look to its revenues to do that wh ch it
was the intention of the Legislature should
have been done with this appropriation:
and this fact will account for the disap
pointment of those who had calculated
upon an accruing revenue to the State
Treocnry from the proceeds of the road.
I refer you to the accompanying reports of
Mr. Wadley and his successor Mr Yoagc,
for a more full and satisfactory statement
of the facts to which I have thus briefly
alluded. It is hardly necessary for me to
speak of the manner in which the e diffi
cuttles were met niid overwrite by the Su
perintendent The energy and ability dis
played by him are so familiar to the pub
lie, that it would be a work of superero
gation to remark upon it. lie did all that
could be done, and I venture to add, more
than any other man would have effected
under the same circumstances. I need not
add, that his entire management of the af
fairs of the road, met my cordial approval.
On the first day of January, 18 >3, Mr.
Wadley resigned his office of .superinten
dent, aud 1 appointed George Yonge,
Esq ,to fill his vacancy. It is due to Mr
Wadley to state, that he did. not leave his
post until he had satisfied me, that t o in- j
terests of the road would not suffer from i
his withdrawal. In his successor, I have i
found an able, experienced and faithful j
officer, whose successful management of |
the road, as exhibited by Ms Report, is j
the best encomium that can be passed
upoii his services.
It affords me much pleasure to call your
atteution to the present condition of this
great State work. Tiie Reports of the
Superintendent will show you in detail its j
operations during the last two years. The!
failure to report any profits paid over tai
the State Treasury has a ready been ac
counted for. The fact, however, that
profits have been realised,
ted to the wants of the ro.td, should satis
fy your minds—that with wise ad judi
cious management, it must for the future
be a source of revenue to the State. No
additional call is made upon the Treasury
lor aid. Its own revenue will soon complete
it3 necessary repairs, and equipments, and j
discharge its remaining liabilities.
I call your attention to the recomtnen-:
dations, contained in the .-superintendent’ j
report. Founded as they arc upon his j
experience in the manage.neat of the road !
—they should receive your careful consid
eration The act of tiie last Legislature
which authorized the road to be sued in
any county through which it passes—
ought to be modified. I can see no good
reason, why this discrimination shou.d be
made against the State road. AH simi
lar companies have to be sued in the
county iu which their principal oflice is
located. This is right, aud proper. It is
the place where their books arc kept and
their business is transacted, and therefore
the proper point for the litigation of < laims
against them, It is problematical wheth
er the State should submit to beiug sued ;
at all—but certainly <he ought not to em
barrass her officers with burthens not im
posed upon other companies. The road
passes through counties belonging to three
jndicial districts, and it might happen
that the Superintendent lAigTit be sued and
required to attend Court in different coun
ties at the same time. This consideration
alone shows the propriety of a change in
the law. In this connection I call your
attention to the fact, that suits ha ve been
commenced against the road in the State
of Tennessee. I have directed pleas to
the jurisdiction of the C ourt to be filed in
all such cases, and the question, if decided
against us, to be carried to the highest
Court of the country. We have a right
to complain of this proceeding on the part
of our neighbors, as it was principally to
gratify them, that the courts were thrown
open to claimants against the State road.
If their Courts should maiutaiu their juris
diction in the State of I enuessee, and the
‘road mhfectod to the trouble and annoy-
•inc* of this litigation, it will devolve upon
the Legislature to determine, what course
they will adopt in reference 10 the Wes
tern terminus of the road, that will most
effectually put a stop to jsneh proceed
in s
The important question for yOuf con
sideration itr connection with this great
work is, what shall be the future policy of
the tate in reference to it? Realizing tho,
deep interest felt by our people tflrfhe de
cision of this question I submit to you my
views fully on the subject
By some, a sab of the road is proposed*
I trust however that the advocates of this
policy are not ml i erous. and I feel cer
tain that their number will be lessened, in
proportion as you satisfy the public mind
that the road can be successfully carried
on, under State management To sell the
road would be to disappoint that general
expectation which has so long looked to
the completion of this enterprize for a
source of reliable ‘evenue to the State.—
The funds raised by the sale could not be
approp iated to the extinguishment of the
public debt, as that is not due. There is
no profitable investment of it that could be
made, aud tiie result would be—that by the
time the public debt had to be met, this
fund would have been exhausted in wasteful
and unnecessary expenditures. Increase i
taxation would then be the only means in
meeting the liabilities of the State. I feel
confident that no argument is required a
gainst a policy which will inevitably lead
to such a result. Tiie proposition to sell
two-thirds of the road is equally, if not
more objectionable. Tiie same consequence
would follow to a great extent.- besides
it is the unvarying esson taught by our
experience, that the State ia the sufferer
in very copartnership which she forms of
this character. The road should either be
under the entire control of individual in
terest, or under the exclusive management
of the fctate. A departure fiom this rule,
I world certainly lead to no good result, and
I trust that t e experiment will not be
made. Rejecting then the proposition to
dispose of the road, I recur to the inquiry
what is the best policy for its future gov
eminent? I ■ the management of a rail
road, two ideas should be prominently kept
in view, uniformity and permanency in its
system, and a responsible hea i lo manage
and control its affairs. Frequent changes
and divided responsibility are incompatible
with the successful operation of any rail
road. Looking to those considerations I
feel < ouscious of the difficulties which must
attend my plan which has-been suggested
fi>r the government of the State road, but
the preference should be given to that sys
tem which is the freest from these objec
tions. The two plans which have been
most generally considered, are, first, the
present one which ‘caves the road under
tiie control of the Executive and a Super
inteudent appointed by him The other
proposes to constitute a Board of Commis
sioners and invest them with tiie oower
now lodged in the bauds of the Govern
i or. My own mind at one lime favored th*’
latter proposition. Experience and ob
servation. however, have fully satisfied me
that it will not do. The idea of a board
of commissioners was derived from the
board of directors, appointed by private
corporations, for similar duties; and the
! argument drawn by analogy from this
! source would be good, if these directors
j discharged the duties which the public
| suppose them to perform; such, however,
jis not the fact. Ihebe t board of direc
tors for a railroad company are those,
I who have sagacity and judgment enough,
to submit the entire management of their
I roads ‘o the President and Superintendent.
! In adopting a general system for the man
agement of * road, their counsels may
sometimes be heeded with some advan
tage; but wlieiT the detailed operations of(
the road are to be considered aid disposed j
of, the least said or done by them, the
better it is for the interests of their com
pany. If a board of directors should at
tempt to revise the dealings of a President
and Superintendent with their subordi
nates, reinstating such as in their judgment
had been improperly removed, or forcing
the appointment of others who they might
suppose peculiarly qualified for some pc- •
sitton, it would result in the total disor
gmization of the r >ad, and the effort
would soon be fel by the stovk loldcts in
reduced profits, neglected machinety, and
dilapidated road. Upon this point I can
safely appeal to the experience and ob
servation of every man who has been con
nected with a successful and well managed
rail road. If tnis be true of private com
panies, the difficulties will be greatly en
hanced, when the same principle is ap
plied to a public w rk, when superadded
to other causes of trouble and embarrass
meat, there ere thrown in the political and
party considerations which would inevita-1
bly be connected with such a system The |
subordinate officers on a rail road, who |
feel that they owe their places to any oth
er cauie, than a faithful discharge of duty,
would soon derange and ruin the best mana
ged road in tae country Under a proposed
system of a board of Commissioners these |
difficulties could scarcely be avoided, and]
I therefore deem it unnecessary to enlarge
upon this branch of the subject Accord
ing to this plan tnere would also be want
ing that uniformity iu the management
of the road, winch is essential to its suc
cess Witii the change of commissioner s
i the system would be cnanged and all the
consequences attendant upon such changes
would be constantly experienced Ihe
present system is in my judgment decided
ly preferable; o.je great object at least is
effected a responsible head is placed in
charge of tiie road—to wn nn the country
can look for its proper and faithful man
agement. Tne executive elected by the peo
ple is respo isible to them. The Superin
tendent should bn appointed by, and be
responsible to the Executive; the subordi
nate officers should he appointed by, and be
responsible to t e superintendent, a>.d
thus the management of the road is placed
upon a system of respousib lity, which en
sures its successful operation. Fn the ap
pointment of the Supei intendent, the'Ex
eeuiive leeis me rt:spo:i*ihitily which
res is upon biin, and will exeicise a
soitnii judgment in the selection. Toe
Superintendent knowing that he is respon
sible for tme good conduct of his suboidi
nates, will exercise like prudence ami
! discretion In theii spleedrr©, aud the tmb-
I ordinates feeling their dependence upon,
| and re-ponsihili'y to the Superintendent,
! will realise the fact, that the tenure by
which they hold their office, h the faith
ful and efficient discharge of duty. In
1 this view of the subject, you W ill pe r ceive
that there must be a Cordial and mutual
confidence between the Executive and
the Superintendent, and for that reason
the Superintendent should be appointed
by ‘.Lp Executive. I therefore recommend
that the act of the last Legislature taking
the appointment of this officer from the
Governor, and giving it to the Legisla
ture, he repealed, and that the appoint
ment he again placed at the disposal of
the Executive. If the road is to be con
tinued under Slate management, this in
my opinion is the most practicable sys
tem that can be adopted.
Two leading objections are urged a
gainr.l this plan. The first is founded
upon the fear that the subordinate posts
on the road will be regarded and filled as
political offices. Under my administra
tion this practice has ceased to exist.—
Whatever may be thought or said about
making goverrnental offices, political po
sitions, in other departments, it is a well
settled fact, that it will not answer in the
management of railroads or similar State
enterprizes. Such a policy is condemn
ed both by reason and experience, and
Can never be resorted to without endan
gering the public interest. This truth is
so clearly illustrated it the history of ev
ery State work, where the policy has
been adopted, that I do not believe that
the experiment will again b made in
our own State The other objection is
of a more serious character, ft grows
out of ihe changes in the management of
thrj road, incident to the frequent change
in the Executive office. I admit the force
of this objection, and the only reply that
can be offered, is founded on the fact,
that the objection is applicable to every
plan which has been or can be suggested
(or the government of the road under Slate
management.
In view of these difficulties, I submit
to your consideration, another plan for
the disposal of the road, one which will
secure the three great objects to be at
tained: first, the retention of the State’s
interest in the road; second, a uniform
and permanent system for its menage*,
ment; anti, third, a ccru*in and reliable
revenue from it. It is to lease the road
under an act of incorporation. Lot a
charter be granted with a capital of five
hundred thousand dollars, in shares of a
hundred dollars each. The charter should
provide that the company should make
semi-annual payments to the State, and
the first failure should ipso facto work
its forfeiture. The amount required to be
paid by the company for its lease, should
be at least five per cent, on the capital
invested by the Sute, which might be
estimated at five millions of dollars. The
charer should be fora limited time, ami
perhaps twenty-five years would be suffi
ciently long. The company should be
required to return the Road nt the expi
ration of their lease, in as good condition
and as well equipped, as When they re
ceived it. The improvements which the
increased business of the road will re
qnne them to make, would afford a relia
ble guarantee upon this point.
On the other hand the Slate should a-<
gree to pay the company for an increased .’
value given to the rosd by the itnprovjj j|
merits made by them. Provision shoul
also tie made in the charter, to protect
connecting roads from a partial, and un
just administration of its affairs, under
such penalties as would ensure perfect
impartiality. 1 have fixed thd capital of
the company at a half million, supposing
tnat to be sufficient for the ordinary im
provements, which are still required to
put the road in complete order. The
Legislature could hereafter increase it,
if the business of the road should require
the laying of a double track.
In submitting this suggestion to your
consideration, I have merely laid down
the out-line of a plan which might be per
fected, if the policy recommended meets
with your approval. If adopted, care
should be exercised in guarding the inte
rests of the State in any charter which
:nav he granted, and that is submitted
with great confidence to your wisdom and
discretion. I beg leave to repeat, that
the adoption of this policy will ensure a
uniform, and permanent system in the
conduct and management of this great
work. It will he brought under the op
era ion of private enterprize and individ
ual ioterest without sacrificing the in
vestment of the State. It will be reliev
ed from the difficulties which I have
shown must always more or less attend
its management under State control, and
finally ensure the regular receipt into
tne tr- asury of at least two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars per Annum
THK PINITENTIART.
I tranumii herewith the reports
Principal Keeper and Book Keeper of the
Penitentiary, which will exhibit to you
its operations during the past two year.*.
The officers of that Institution during
that time have been faithful, and euer
getic in the discharge of their duties, and
I believe (hat its business under their
charge, will compare favorably with the
business of preceding years, its assets
at the end of the year will in all proba
bility discharge its liabilities, and leate it
fine from debt. The business of the
Penitentiary is not, and in my judgement
never will be a source of revenue to the
Stare. Toe appropriations which have
from lime to time been made to meet its
liabilities, show this fact. The gross
amount of them is set forth in the Keep
ers report, ft now requires large appro
priations to make the necessary improve
ments, and to furnish mateiials for its
successful management it is a subject
wmch should secure more of the person
al attention of your membeis, than has
heretofore been the case. An inspection
of its condition will givegyou more infor
mation ot its true wants than any repre
sentation that l ean make, and I would
urge the propriety of your doing eo, as
it can he done with very little trouble to
yourselves, end much benefit to the
State. As you will perceive front tin
Keeper's report the b‘a Atwtfi of- ••‘hiioj .
railroad rafs has been commenced upoD a.
pretty extensive scale.’ The experiment
so far has proven eminently successful,
indeed it has been the principal soured
of revenue since its commencement. —
For the want of the necessary means, pb
arrangement had to be made vfhh the
State road to furnish the materials for
building cars, end as long as That road
required it, all the cars tbsf can be built
at the Penitentiary, this- arrangement
could be continued If the business,
however, should be extended as recum
mended in the keeper’s report, it will be
necessary for you to supply the necessary
means for the purchase in advance of
materials, as the object should then bs,
to manufacture cars for all roads that
desire to purchase, ft would also be
necessary to authorize the imploymenv
of a Superintendent of this branch of tha
work, at a better salaiy than is now a’-
iowed to the suhorninate officers. If a
ready sale be found for ihe ca", I have
no hesitation in saying, that it is the most
profitable business that can be carried ou
in the Penitentiary.
The importance of classifying the pris
oners in the Penitentiary, has -been so
repeatedly end forcibly presented to the
Legislature by mv predecessors, that I
deem it unnecessary to enlarge upon the
subject. It is again brought to your at
tention'by the Principal keeper’s report,
and I would impress upon your minds
the propriety of giving it your early at
tention, When tbisl reconitr.endmion is
based upon the current opinion of every
one who has been thrown into official
communication with the Penitentiary, it
should at least receive more consideutioa
than has heretofore been given to it.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The biennial report of ihe Trustees,
Superintendent and Resident Physician
O the Lunatic Asylum is herewith su ! •
mitted. This institution has been con
ducted during the past two years with
the characteristic energy and abil
ity of its officers-. 1 commend to
your attention the suggestions and re
commendations contained in these re
ports. Founded as tr.ey aie upon the
experience and observation of those ‘who
have shown themselves so worthy of the
confidence reposed in them by the Slate,
they should*command your most favora
ble cOnsidi ration. This institution was
established by the State under the con
viction that it was our doty to provide
for the safety and comfort of that unfor
tunate class of our fellow beings, who
had beeu deprived of their reason: and
thereby rendered incapable of providing
for themselves. This humane object will
not have been accomplished, so long a*
there remains in the borders of our state
one unfortunate lunatic! unprovided for.
It is a melancholy and humiliating reflec
tion, that applicants for admission,! are
daily rejected for the want of the neces -
sary means to provide for their accommo
dation'. This ought not ip ha hold
it to be the solemn’ ‘defy of those ’who
have been spared from this awful calami
ty to furnish from their treasure what
ever tnavfbe required for the support and
comfort of their less fortunate fellow be
ings. I’ cannot believe that there lives
in our State a single citizan, who would
not give a cordial response to this senti
ment. The necessities o! thisjinstitution
’ Therefore the only just limit to your
appropriations. When you ascertain its
wants, let them be supplied, your hearts
will approve the act, and your constitu
ents will sanction the vote.
There h one class of lunatics for whom
no provision is made in the organization
of this institution. I allude to our slave
population. This omission, 1 have no
doubt, is attributable to the fact, that the
number is so limited that it h3s not at
tracted public attention. There are,
however, a few, and suitable provisions
should be made for them. The first
suggestion would ba to leave this matter
in the hands of the owners, after provi
ding a place at the asly iim tor tljeir recep
tion. This will not do, however, as it some
times happens that the unfortunate luna
tic is the only property of the owner; and
he is therefore unable to support him at
the asylum. It would perhaps be wrong
to tax those who havß uo interest in
slaves, to raise money for this purpose.
The amount which should be raised for
this object, would be small, and if levied
upon the taxable slave property, would
not be felt by the owner. Looking to
the number ofMunatic negroes, it would
require only a nominal lax upon this
kind of property to ‘raise the necessary
means. I can see no good reason whv
every slave owner should not cheerfully
submit to this tax, to carry out so desir
able and praiseworthy an object. I
therefore recommend that proper steps
be taken at your present session to carry
out these views in the manner suggested.
DEAF AND DUMB ABTLUM.
The report of the Commissioners fur
the Deaf and Dumb Asylum for the
years 1852 and ’53 is herewith transmit
ted. The success oflb is institution is*
gratifying result, and should secure for it
the continued patronage of the State.—
Your predecessors have by their liberal
endowments n*co itiized the duty of the
State to'provide for the education of the
unfortunate mute, and it would he diffi
cult for the Legislature to appropriate
the money of the people lo an object that
would receive a mere unqualified appro
val from the popular mind. 1 also trans
mit the report of a committee appointed
by myself to attend|ihu unuual exami
nation of 1852. It bears testimony to the
faithful and efficient dischargejof duty by
the officers of the institution. Its recom
mendations are commended to your con
sideration, as worthy of attention in your
Legislation on this subject.
THK INSTITUTION FOlljniE'BUNb.
! transmit to you the first annual report?
of the Trustees for the ‘‘Georgia Acade
my for the Blind.” ‘I bis institution was
organized tinder an act of the last Legis
lature, and is dbwjstruggiingjthrough ita
infantile existence. It has encountered
ibOjOifficulties which have attended 6 \
similar institutions, and in view of these
difficulties, its.effort* have been attended
: \rith as much fitfeees’s sa could have
No. 46.
