The Georgia Jeffersonian. (Griffin, Ga.) 18??-18??, December 22, 1853, Image 1

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VOL. XIV. m KOMIJ jMbscmi. IS PUBLISHED EVERT THURSDAY MORNING EY WILLIAM CLINE, At Two Dollars and Fifty Cents per an. snm, or Two Poilars paidja advrvhfeO. \ ‘ar inserted at O.ViJ j f>O{.T,S R: perVfjtia ie, for the first insertion, and PIFtY CENTS per square, for caeh mset|io’ tliere'iil ter. ‘ ‘ A feaßonalilfr ‘Wilt* viO made to those who otvHiso yhcr. All .i(lverJis*'iiients not otherwise ordered, will be conjurin''' l till li-rt.id fl'JpS U.F.S OF LAND S hy Administrator?, Rx'-entors or G imdi.ins me rene.ired lj law to J>e held on the first Tnofflay in the inortth, tu t ween tin* hoars o’ten iivthe l">'t:n.'on a.iui three in thi afternoon, at lip; Ounil-liuH-u', i.u.'h” county in which tile land is i UedV .Noties 1 of these side, most he given m a politic gav.eMc FOR TY DAY S to IhW-dav >f?n!e. RULES OF NEGROES .must he tnape at p.ib- I’e nuettrm on the lirst ‘Tuesday of'he month, be tween the usual hoots of sale, at the ['lan; of pub lc sates m the county vvhrro the letters Tesla ltenlary, of Adniinistration or Guardianship may have been granted; lirst giving FORTY DAYS entice thereof in on’e of tip; public garottes ct this S .-de, and a! the court hotrso who e such salearse to he tield. Notice for the sale of Personal Property must he given in tike manner FORTY DAYS previous to the day of sale. Notice to nektons nod Creditors of an estate Inust he published FORTY DAYS. Notice that application will he made to the Court Ortlmarv fir leave to sell land must he pub lished for TWO MONTHS, Notice for leave To sell negroes most he puVis'ml TWO MONTHS before any order ab sn'tUe sh.iil he made thereon hv the Court. Cl TATIONS for Lett"rs of Administration, must be piiblrslied thirty pats; fir Uismissipn from Aitini’ustration. monthly six months; for f>:s;r,i=si in from Guardianship, forty DaY'. Ruin.’ for the Foreclosure of Mortgage must he published montiii.y for four months,, estah psiettg lost papers, tor the lull space of three MoNtii*; for coni petti ni? ‘ a hood hasboon given by the deceased tie* full space of THREE MONTH*. MESIUfT MESSitIB. CONCIAT.KD. I commend to your favorable considera tion the men of genius of our country who, by their inventions and discoveries, in sci ence ar.d art, have contributed largely to the improvements of the age, without, in iuratv instances, securing for themselves anything like adequate reward. For mu ny’intcrestmg details upon this subject, I refer you to the appropriate reports, and especially urce upon your early attention these apparently slight, but really impor tant modifications of existing laws therein suggested. The liberal spirit which has so long marked the action of Congress in relation to the District of Columbia, will, I have no doubt, continue to be manifested. The erection of an asylum for the In sane of the District of Columbia, and of the army and navy of the United States, lm> been somewhat retarded, by the great demand for materials and labor during the past summer; but full preparations for the reception of patients, before the return of another winter, is anticipated; and there •is the best reason to believe, from the plan mid contemplated arrangements Which have been devised, with the. large experi ence furnished within the last few years in relation to the nature and treatment of the disease, that it will prove an asylum indeed to this most helpless and afflicted class cl sufferers, and stand as a noble monument of wisdom and mercy. Under the act of Congress of March 31, lt-53, designed to secure for the cities’ of Washington and Georgetown an abun dant supply of good and wholesome water, it became iny duty to examine the report and plans of the engineer who had charge <>f the surveys under the. act first named. The best, if* not the only plan, calculated to secure permanently the object sought, was that which contemplated taking the water from the Great Falls of the l’otomae, and, consequently, 1 gave to it my appro val. For the progress and present condition .f this important work, and for its de mands, so f.tr as appropriations are con-, cerned, I refer you to the report of the Se cretary of War. The present judicial system of the Uni ted States has now been m operation for su long a period of time, and has, in its general theory and much of its details, become so familiar to the country, and ac quired so entirely the public confidence, that if modified in any respect, it should only be in those particulars which may adapt it to the increased extent, population and legal business of the United States, hi this relation, the organization of the courts is now* confessedly inadequate to the duties to he performed by them; in consequence of which the States of Flori da, Wisconsin, lowa,-Texas and Califor nia, and districts of other States, are iu effect excluded from the full benefits 0 f the general system, by the functions of the circuit court being devolved upon the dis trict judges in all those States, or parts of States. The spirit of the constitution, and a due regard to justice, requires that all the States of the Union should be placed on the same footing in regard to the judicial tribunals. I therefore commend to your consideration this important subject, which in my judgment, demands the speedy ac tion of Congre.'S. I will present to you, if deemed desirable, a plan, which I am prepared to recommend, fur the enlarge ment and modification of the present judi cial systum. The act of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Institution, provides that the President of the United States, and other persons therein designated, should consti an “establishment” by that name, and that the members should hold stated and special meetings for the supervision of the affairs of the Institution. The organization not Laving taken place, it seemed to me proper that it should be effected without .delay. This has been doiie; and an occa sion was thereby presented for inspecting of the Institution, and ap- Bbitisig its successful progress thus far, high promise of great and general omitied (cask your favorable Kio.i for tiie estimates of works of Bran*haracter iu twenty-seven of the Hfi-rty-oae States, amounting to one mill ion seven hundred and lifty-four thousand five hundred dollars, because, indepen dently of the grounds which have so often been urged against the application of the federal revenue for works of this character, inequality with consequent Injustice is in herent in the nature of the proposition, and because tho plan hasypoxe<l entirely inadequate tyjtte- ftCCOlhplshmcmt Ot the The subject of internal improrermlnts, claiming alike tpe good will of all, has, ! ne Vertbeless, bfccn the basis of much polit-1 seal discussion, and has stood as a deep graven line of division between statesmen of eminent ability and patriotism. The rule of strict construction of all powers delegated by the States to the general go vernment has arrayed itself from time to time against the rapid progress of expen ditures from the national treasury upon works of a local character within the States. Memorable as an epoch in the history of this subject, is the message of President Jackson of the 27th of May, 1830, which met the system of internal improvements in its comparative infancy; but so rapid had been its growth, that the projected appropiations in that year for works of this character had risen to the alarming amount of more than one hun dred millions of dollafs. In that message the President admitted the difficulty of bringing back the opera tions of the government to the construc tion of the constitution set up in 1798. and marked it as an admonitory proof of the necessity of guarding that instrument with sleepless vigilance against the au thority of precedents, which had not the sanction of its most plainly defined powers. Our government exists under a written compact between the sovereign States, uniting for specific objects, and with spe cific grants to their general agent. If, there have been departures from the terms and intent of the compact, it is, and ever will be, proper to refer back to the fixed standard which our fathers left us, and to make a stern effort to conform our action to it. It would seem that the fact of a principle having been resisted from the first by many cf the wisest and most pa triotic men of the republic, and a policy .havingprovoked constant strife, without arriving at a conclusion which can be re garded as satisfactory to its most earnest advocates, should suggest the enquiry whether there may not be a plan likely to be crowned by happier results. Without perceiving any sound distinction, or intend ing to assert any principle ns opposed to improvements needed for the protection of internal commerce, which does not equally apply to improvements upon the seaboard for the protection of foreign commerce. 1 submit to you, whether it may not safely be anticipated that, if the policy were once settled against appropriations by the gens oral government for local improvements for the benefit of commerce, localities requir ing expenditures would not, by modes and means clearly legitimate and proper, raise the funds necessary for such construction* as the safety or other interests of their commerce might require. If that be regarded as a system, which in the experience of more than thirty years, has at no time so commanded the public judgment as to give it the character of a settled policy,—which, though it line produced works of conceded importance, has been attended with an expenditure quite disproportionate to their value, —and has resulted in squandering large sums up on objects which have answered ho valuable purpose —the interests of all the States re quire it to be abandoned, unless hopes may be indulged for the future which find no warrant in the past. .. , With no anxious desire for the comple tion of the works which are regarded by all good citizens with sincere interest, I have deemed it my duty to ask at your hands a deliberate reconsideration of tjie. question, with a hope that, animated by a desire to promote the permanent and sub stantial interests of the country, your wis dom may prove equal to the task of devi sing and maturing of a plan, which, applied to this subject, may pfdm'rie something better than constant strife, the suspension of ..the powers of local enterprise, the ex citing of vain hopes, and the disappoint ment of cherished expectations. In expending the appropriations made by the last Congress, sereial cases have arisen in relation to works for the improve ment of harbors, which involve questions as to the right of soil and jurisdiction, and have threatened conflict between the au thority of the State and general govern ments. The right to construct a break water, jetty, or dam, would seem, necessa- rity, to carry with it the power to protect and preserve such constructions. This can only be effectually done by having juris diction over the soil. But no clause of the constitution is found, on which to rest the claim of the United States to exercise jurisdiction over the soil of a State, except that conferred by the eighth section of the first article of the constitution. It is then submitted, whether in all cases where con structions are to be erected by the general government, the right of soil should not first be obtained, and legislative provision be made to cover all such cases. For the progress made in the construc tion of roads within the territories, as provided for in the appropriations of the ast Congress, I refer you to the report of t’i 5 Secretary o. War. There is ove subject of a domestic na ture, which, from its intrinsic importance, and the many interesting questions of fu ture policy which it involves, cannot fail to receive your early attention. I allude to the means of communication, by which different parts of the wide expanse of our country are to be placed in closer connex ion for purposes both of defence and com mercial intercourse, and more especially such as appertain to the communication of those great divisions of the Union which lie on,the opposite sides of the Itocky Mountains That the government has not been un mindful of this heretofore, is apparent from the aid it has afforded, through appropria tions for mail facilities and other purposes. But the general subject will now present itself under aspects more imposing aiid more purely national, by reason of the surveys ordered by Congress, and now in the process of completion, for communica tion by railway across the continent, and wholly within the limits of the United States. ‘1 he power to declare war, to raise and support armies, to proviso and maintain a GRIFFIN, (GA.) THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 22, 1853. havy, and to call forth the militia to exe cute fie laws, suppress insurrections -and repel iwasions, Was conferred Upon Con gress ama means to provide for the com mon defence, and to protect a territory and a ,population now wide-spread and vastly multiplied. * As incident to and indispensable for the exercise of this power, it must sometimes be necessary to construct military roads and protect harbors of refuge. To appro priations by Congress for such objects, no sound objection can be raised. Happily I for our country, its peaceful policy and rapidly increasing population impose upon us no urgent necessity for preparation, and leaves but few trackless deserts between assailable points and a patriotic people ever ready and generally able to protect them: These necessary links, the” enter prise and energy of our people are steadi ly and boldly struggling to supply. All experience affirms that, wherever private enterprise will avail, it is most wise for the general government to leave to that and individual watchfulness the loc.ition and execution of all means Os communication. The surveys before alluded to were designed to ascertain the most practical and economical route for a railroad from the river Mississippit6 the Pacific ocean. Parties are now in the field making ex- I ploratious, where previous examination laid not supplied sufficient data, and where there was the best reason to hope the ob ject sought might be found. ‘1 he means and t me being both limited, it is not to Ur expected that all the accurate knowledge desired wilt be obtained; but it is hoped that much and important information ..W-Ul, -itor. Titvch prOTlfUTSly"’ possessed, and shat partial, if not full re ports of the surveys ordered will be recei ved, in time for transmission to the two houses of Congress, on or before the first Monday ia February next, as required by the act of appropriation. The magnitude of the enterprise contem plated has aroused, and will doubtless continue to excite, very general interest thoughout the country. In its political, its commercial, and its military bearings, it has varjpd, great, and increasing claims to eoosideratiotn The heavy expense; the great delay, and at times, fatality at tending travel by either of the isthmus routefy have demoustrated the advantage which would result from iuterritorial communication by such safe and rapid means as a railroad would supply. These difficulties which have been en- countered in a period of peace, would be magnified and still further increased in time of war. But whilst the embarras ments already encountered, and others un der new contingencies to be anticipated, may serve strikingly to exhibt the impor tance of such a work, neither these, nor all eon.-iderations combined, can have an applicable value, when weighed against the obligation strictly to adhere to the constitution, and faithfully to execute the powers it confers. Within tli's limit and to the extent of the interest of the government involved, it would seem both expedient and proper, if an economical and practicably routa*shall be found, to aid, by all constitutional means, in the construction of a road, which ! will uuite by speedy transit, the popula tions of the Pacific and Atlantic States. To guard against misconception, it should be remarked, that although tire power to construct, or aid in the construction, of a road within the limits of a territory is, not embarrased by that question of jurisdic tion which would arise within the limits of a State, it is nevertheless hel l to be of doubtful propricy, even within the limits of a territory, lor the general gov ernment to’ undertake to administer the affairs of a railroad, a canal, or other similar construction, and therefore, that connexion with a work of this character should be incidental rather than primary. I will only add, at present, that, tally ap preciating the magnitude of the subject, and solicitus that the Atlantic and Pacific shores of the republic may be bound to gether by insuperable ties of common interest, as vffcil as of common fealty and attachment to tho union, I shall be disposed, so far as my own action is con cerned, to follow the lights of the consti tution, as expounded and illustrated by those whose opinions and expositions con stitute the standard of my political faith in regard to the powers of the federal government. It is, I trust, not necessary to say, that no grandeur of euterprise, and no present urgent inducement promising popular favor, will lead me to disregard those lights, or to depart from that path, which experience has proved to be safe, aud which is now radiant with the glow of properity and legitimate constitutional progress. We can afford to wait, but we cannot afford to overlook the ark of our safety. It is no part of my purpose to give prominence to any subject, which may be properly regarded as set at rest by the de liberate judgment of the people. But while the present is bright with promise,and the future full of demand and inducement for the exercise of active intelligence, the past can never be without useful lessons of admonition aud instruction. If its dangers serve not as beacons, they will evidently fail to fulfil the object of a wise design.— When the grave shall have closed over all, who are now endeavoring to meet the obligations of duty, the year 1850 will be recurred to as a period Idled with anxious apprehensions. A successful war had just been terminated. Peace brought with it a vast augmeutation of territory. Dis turbing questions arose, bearing upon the domestic institutions of oue portion of the confederacy, and involving the constitution al rights of the States. Hut notwithstanding differences of opin ion aud sentiment, which tlieu existed in relation to details aud specific provisions, the acquiescence of distinguished citizcus, whose devotion to the Union can never be doubted, has given renewed vigor to our institutions, aud restored a sense of repose aud security to the public mind through out the confederacy. That this repose is to suffer no shock during my official term, if I have power to avert, those who placed me here may rest assured. The wisdom of men* who ki • v wh.it independence cost, — who had put all at stake upon the issue of the revolutionary struggle,-—disposed of the subject to which 1 re.or, in the only way eonsiftteivt with-.the union of these -States, and with the march of power and prosperity which has made us what we are. It is a significant fact, that from tho a doption of the constitution jnntil the offi cei'S.and soldiers of. had passed to their gloves, or, Through the infirmities of age aft 1 wounds, had ceased to participate actively in public affairs, there was not merely a quiet acquiescence in, but a prompt vindication of the con stitutional rights of the States The re served powers were scrupulously respect ed. No statesman put forth the narrow views of casuifitft to justify interference and agitation; but the spirit of the compact was regarded as sacred in the eye of hon or, and indispensable for the .great experi ment of civil l'bcrty, which, environed by inherent difficulties, was yet borne for ward in apparent weakness by a power superior to all obstacles. Therq is no con demnation whi *li the voice of freedom will not pronounce upon us, should .we prove faithless to this great trust. While men inhabiting differeht parts of; this vast continent can no more be expect- j ed to hold the same opinions, or enter- [ tain the same sentiments, than every va riety of climate or soil can be expected to furnish the same agricultural products, they can unite iti a common, object and sustain common [trine pies essential to the maintenance of that object The gallant men of the south and north CGimi stand urgeibet during the struggle of the Revo lution; they could stand together, in the more trying period which succeeded the clangor of arms. As their united valor camp and dangers of the field, sqSgShefr united wisdom proved equal to the'grcater task of founding upon a deep ayd b|pad basis, institutions which it has-oiu* privi lege to enjoy, and Will ever be our most sacred duty to sustain,.. It is but the fee ble expression of a faith strong and uni versal, to say their sons, whose blood has mingled so often upon tiic same field, du ring the war of lei 2, and who have more recently, borne in triumph the flag of tire country upon a foreign soil, Will never per mit alienation to weaken the power of our united efforts, nor internal dissensions to paralyze the great arm of freedom, up lifted for the vindication of self-govern ment. I have t!ius briefly presetted such sug gestions ns seem to me espe|&l|y worthy of your consideration. .la for the present, you can ‘ Huffily fail to avail yourselves of the light which the experi -1 ence of the past casts upon the future. The growth of our population has now brought us in the destined career of our national history, to a point at which it well behooves us to expand our vision over the vast perspective. The successive decennial returns of the census since tiie adoption of the constitu tion, have revealed a law .of steady pro gressive development, whnffflhay be sta ted iu general terms, as a duplication eve ry quarter-century. Carried forward from tiie point already reached, for only a short; period of time as applicable to the existence of a nation, law of progress, if • unchecked, will bring ns to almost incredi ble results. A large allowance for a .‘diminished pro portional effect of emigration would not very materially reduce the estimate, while the increased average duration of human life, known to have already resulted from the scientific and hygienic improvements of the past fifty years, will tend to keep up, through the next fifty, or, perhaps, hundred, the same ratio of growth, which I has thus been revealed in our past pro- I gross; and to the influences of these causes may be added tne influx of laboring mass es from eastern Asia to the i’acitic side of onr possessions, together with the proba ble accession of the populations already existing iu other parts oi our hemisphere, which, within the period iu question, will feel, with yearly increasing; force, the na tural attraction of so vast, powerful, and prosperous confederation ot sell-governing republics, and will seek the privilege ol bo-, iug- admitted within its sale and happy j bosom, transferring with themselves, by a peaceful and healtny process of in<*>rpora tiou, spacious regions of virgin and exube rant soil, which are destined to swarm with the fast growing and fast spreading mil lions of our race. „ These considerations seem fully to justi fy the presumption, that the law of popu lation above stated will continue to act with undiminished effect, through at least the next half century; aud that thousands of persons who has already arrived at ma turity, aud are now exercising the right of freemen, will close their eyes on the spec tacle of more than one hundred millions of! population embraced within the majestic proportions of the American Union. It is not m rely as an interesting topic of speculation that I present taese views to your consideration. They have important practical bearings upon all the political duties we are called upon to perform. — j Heretofore our system of government has worked on what may be termed a minia ture scale, in comparison with the devel opment, which it must tiius assume, within a future so near at hand, as scarcely to be beyond the pro. cat of the existing genera tion. It is evident that a confederation so vast aud so varied, both in numbers and terri torial extent, ii habits and iu entercsts, could only be kept m national cohesion by the strictest fidelity to tin* principles ot tue constitution, as understood by tnose who have adhered to tiie most restricted con struction of powers granted by tue people and the States. Interpreted and applied according to these principles, tue great compact adapts itself with healthy ease and freedom to an unlimited extension oi that benign system of federative sell-gov ernment, for which it is our glorious, and, I trust, immortal character. Let us then, with redoubled vigilance, be on our guard against yielding to the temptation of the exercise of doitqtful powers, even under the pressure of the motives of conceded tem porary advantage, and apparent tempora ry expediency. The minimum of federal government, compatible with the maintenance of nation al unity and efficient action hi our relation with tne rest of the world, should afford the rule and measure of construction of our powers under the general clauses of tho constitution. A spirit of strict deference to the sovereign rights and dignity of eve ry State, rather’ than a disposition to sub ordinate the States into a provincial rela tion to the central authority, should eha.r actfrizse all our exercfSe of the pAlpecfifoT powers temporarily Vested in us as a sa cred trust from the generous confidence of our constituents. In like manner, ns a manifestly indispen sible condition of the perpetuation of the Union, and of the realization of that mag nificent national future adverted to, does the duty become yearly stronger and clearer upon us, as citizens of the several States, to cultivate a fraternal and affec tionate spirit, language, conduct, in regard to other states, and in relation to the va ried interests, institutions, and habits of sentiment and opinion, which may respec tively characterize them. Mutual for bearance, respect, and non-interference in our personal action as citizens, and an en larged exercise of the most liberal princi ples of comity in the public dealings of State with State, whether in legislation or in the execution of the laws, are the means to perpetuate that confidence and fraterni ty, the decay of which a mere political union, on so vast a scale, could not long survive. In still another point of view, Is an im portant practical duty suggested by tiii3 consideration of the magnitude of dimen sions, to which our political system, with its corresponding machinery of govern ment, is so rapidly expanding. With in creased vigilance does it require us to cul - virtues ot'ptibliefnig&h ty and oflicial integrity and purity. Public altairs ought to be so conducted that a settled conviction shall pervade the entire Union, that nothing short of the highest tone and standard of morality marks eve ry part of the administration and legislation of the general government. Thus will the federal system, whatever expansion time and progress may give it, continue more and more deeply rooted in the love and coniidence of the people. That wise economy, which is as far re moved from parsimony as from corrupt and corrupting extravagance - that single regard for the public good, which will frown upon all attempts to approach the treasury with insidious projects of pi ivate interests, cloaked under public pretexts — that sound fiscal administration, which, in the legislative department, guards against the dangerous temptations incident to o verliowiug revenue, and, in the executive, maintains an unsleeping watchfulness a guiust the tendency of all national ex peuditures to extravagance,—'while they are admitted elementary political duties, may, 1 trust, be deemed as properly ad verted to and urged, in view of the more expressive sense of that necessity, which is directly suggested by the considerations now presented. fcincc the adjournment of Congress, the Vico President- of the United Mates has passed from the scenes of earth, without having entered upon the duties of Lis sta tion to which lie had been called by the voice of his countrymen. Having occupied, continuously, for more th%u*thirty years, a seat in one or the other'of the two houses of Congress, aud having, by his singular purity and wisdom, secured unbounded confidence and universal re spect, his failing health was watched by the nation witn painful solicitude. His loss to the country, under ail tiie circum stances, has been justly regarded as irre parable. In compliance with the act of Congress of March 2, lt>s3, the oath of office was administered to him on the 24th of that month, at Ariadne estate, near Matauzas, in the Island of t übn; but his strength gradually declined, and was hardly suili eieut to enable him to return to his home in Alabama, where on the 18th day of April, m tiie most calm and peaceful way, his long and eminently useful career was ! terminated. Entertaining unlimited confidence ia your intelligent and patriotic devotion to the public interest, and being conscious of | no-motives on my part which are not in seporable from the lienor aud advancement ot my country, 1 hope it may be my privi lege to deserve and secure, not only your cordial co-operation in great public mea sures, but also those relations of confi dence and regard, which it is always so desirable to cultivate between members of co-ordinate branches of the government. PRANKLIN PIERCE. Washington, D. C., Dec. stu, 1853. Leasing tiie Stale itcail. There is now before the Legislature a i project for leasing the Western lit Ailan- I tic Railroad for twenty years. This road | has been built with tiie money of the < | whole people of (ieorgia, aud they have i looked forward to the time when the in come from that road should afford a fund for the support of free schools throughout the length and breadth of the State. We j do not pretend to arraign the motives of those who advocate this project of leasing out tuc State Hoad, but there are a few questions m tins connection to which the people will demand an auaWer. The Eu gineer in las late report, predicts that in a short time the nett income of the road will be $.3u0,0j0 per annum. Other good judges Limit it will exceed that amount. It tiiese estimates are reasonable, wliv suouid tue State offer the road to a com pany of speculators for $250,G0d pm 1 an- I uum, tor twenty years to come? Ihe people will never consent to be taxed to oaild railroads tor Lie benefit of specula tors. The stoeit of every other railroad in the State, we believe, is now yielding a lair income, and Liis road, which is the main trunk of which the others are the branches, suouid be most profitable of all it well managed, and we can see no reason wtty tiie State lfoad cannot be as well managed as any other road in the State. But if the road was leased for its full value, there are many other objections to this project. The company who would lease tue blale Road, would probably be composed, principally, of the same indi viduals that now own one or the other of oar great railroads, and in defiance of ev ery law to Lie contrary, they would be certain to give a preference to thcr favor ite road. Such a company with such im mense resources at their command, would be able to control the elections in many counties, and might eventually obtain a strong party in the Legislature By the terms of the bill now before the Legisla ture, thiis company is to be paid by the State for all the improvements they may choose 10 make on the road; and these improvements comprehend depots, ware houses, &c., &e. Under this privilege, the company wonld have it in their power to erect splendid buildings in certain towns where they happened to own property, and the State wonld have to foot the bill— These improvements, we fear, would ex haust all the income from the road. If the State puts tills great work out of her hands lor twenty years, we doubt very much whether she will ever realize one dollar for all that she lias spent. All ex- perience proves that the State can never contend successfully wi h a company that has immense sums of money at its con trol. \Ve hope the members of the Legis lature will examine this project in all its bearings, for we can assure them, if this road; which has cost so much money, shall now be suffered to go td enrich specula tors, the people of Georgia will never consent to be taxed to build another rail road, aud the great railroad swindle h will become as famous in this State as the Yazoo fraud. YVe hope the people of Georgia will keep this valuable property under their own control, for the moment it gets into the hands of the soulless corporation, it is lost to them forever. YVe repeat, we make no charges against those who re 4 commend the lease of the State rood.— They lmfy be goverend by pare and pa-1 triotic motives, but we feel confident the plan will not result in good to the State, and we warn the Legislature and the peo ple against it. Let no one say that our public works cannot be managed well as long as they belong to the State. If that is true, it would be an effectual argument against the State ever taking any stock or giving any aid to any enterprize. The public works in other States have been so man- get! as to bee*ome a profitable invest ment, and why may not the State road of Georgia? L e are well aware that the management of the State roael throws a heavy responsibilty either upon the Le gislature or the Govermior of the State, but they were selected by the people to watch over their interests, and they will not, and ought not, to shrink from the re sponsibility. Without responsibility, there is no honor attached to any office, fnd those who honestly and wisely labor for the welfare of the people, will not shrink from their responsibility.— Fed. Union. • ■ \ Tiie Levee. The Govefnoi’s Levee on Tuesday even ing last, was attended by an unusually large number of members of the LegisDtuie, visitors and citizens. The spacious Man sion was literally packed v, ilh human be ings. In taking a pen and ink sketch of such motley collection of the lords and ladies of creation, human ingenuity is taxed where to begin. The Governor and his estimable lady looked well, and greeted their coiisiiimncy with maiked grace and dignity. YY’ilh the blandest smile, his Excellency welcomed high and low.— Had we Lit disposed to r , 1 1 ,L.-:i observation with extensive view Survey ti.ua kind,” and woman too, as each appeared in thej confused, but living, moving, mass around j us, the pleasure would have been denied u -', as ihere was neither eye room nor eluow room to be found. Once or twice our position afforded us an opportunity to lake in several agreeable as well as ludi crons scenes, that somewhat compensated | for the absence of almost eveiy other ia-! ! ceutive to pleasure j Among tiie agrteable, we make men-! ! tion of the array of beauy and fashion) that graced the occasion. The ladies, so! far as our meagre observation extended, I looked well, and were, very gene sl[y,i dressed with taste; others were arrayed j in dresses ‘“dipped in the richest tioc-i lures of lhe skies” —while others stii! wore such as once had colors, but had yielded to the touch of time and water, i here were gay widows and sprightly widowers whoso.motto is: “ Would you be wise, Then never break y.ur hoar tvhanf Jlrloe dies.’’ i Virgins whole liule hearts would flutter) at a beau, ‘“with golden crowns and! wreaths of heavenly flowers,” perfumed ! fops for whom ‘‘Money hath a power above, i lie slurs and lute to manage love,” and “silvergreys,” lank bachelors, their pants “a w orld 100 wide,” aod maiden aunts, “\V ho have no passions of iln-ir own I Nor pity to be wrought upon” all mixing, mingling, buzzing, humping! in one incomparable, but picturesque orn- I nibus. 1 o discriminate where there was so ! little for disparagement, would be un necessary-. Many faces struck us with I peculiar emphasis—one in particular, a j black eyed lassie from a neighboring! city, of “gracelul ease and sweetness void of pride,” a stranger to us, whose beauty, flashed out and disappeared in the crowd “Like snow drops in lhe river, A moment white, then gone forever” Among the ludicrous scenes presented to our view was that of a piney woods plebeian, who, having lined his inner man with the choicest morsels of a supurb table, repaired to a vacant room, and took position boldly in front of an elegant mir ror. lie drew from bis pocket ft jack knife, applied the same vigorously to his teeth, and gazed at his picture with a degree ot self satisfaction and conscious importance that bore severely upon our risibles. i hat man’s daguerreotype we would ‘take’ for a specimen. Many amusing scenes took place at Lie supper table, which by the by, was most sump tuous and elegant, and the more to be praised as it was the result of the good taste and skill of lbs accomplished lady of the mansion. YY T e were heartily tick led f t an attache of (he General Assem *'l. v , who pitched into the sylabub, with the opinion that it was Ivory ood soup. ‘ ° ‘1 bn -.weather was fine and delightful, and for ourself, wc can say, that the o'? portunity for enjoyment would have been greatly enhanced, if the attendance had been smaller, “1 hese Levees, however much may be done to make the n agreea ble, are incorrigible Lores, aud we think tliatJeJte public convenience no less than I the comfort of the Governor, requires that, they be abandoned as a relic of by-gone times. —Fed Union. Hotel Belles. There is a growing disposition on the part of a certain portion of the fashionable people to spend a considerable part of their days of leisure at hotels. In the summer menti s, the hotels at Saratoga and Newport are resorted to as the turn ing points of the fashionable world, and in winter, Washington comes in for the dissipations of the same or similar class of society. In addition to this, there are persons, married and single, who prefer a life in a hotel to the comforts of a home: partly from erroneous notions of economy 5 and paitly because housekeeping is con nected with certain inconveniences, in the shape of supervision or labor, from which bourding effbrds comparative relief. We and ecidedly object to the fastt of a mir.icd woman who can lie better satis fied in a hotel than in a house of her own, who can cheerfully substitute a public life for the piivale one, ami the bustle of i public draw ingroom for the retirement of a home with her husband arid children. VY T e think that a hoiel life is the veiy y-rsive of conjugal tenderness an 1 affection, and feel assured that n properly censtitu led woman, in any sphere of life, will sub mit to it only temporarily, and from ne cessity. YVe wou.d as rtadily believe that flowers can blossom wits out dew or sun,shine, as that delicacy of sentiment, and sound morals, can tie cultivated with out retirement and the undistuthed play of the affections in the family circles round the domes.ic hearth. A woman w-ho can find pleasure and happiness away from her own fireside, has already lost the greatest charm of her sex, and u is sure to become, in the end, a burden to herself and husband. But there is a class of ladies; longing for the distinction of being considered bid.H of a pa ic i! tr Jf ishi rnab’e hotel, and admired us such; not only by their acq uaintanct-s, tut by strangers. This assuredly is in wretched bad las e, and as vulger as it L wretched. The idea of dressing all the time for strange company and indeavoring to please whom you do not cate for, admitting everybody into your society who can afford to live in the same home, and be observed, criticised, mid perhaps slandered by peisons you can take no notice of, because they are I beneath your nolice, is enough to make j any rational woman who has been more i than a year out of bearding school, de ! test a life in a public house, fie it ten j limes as gorgeously furnished as the St. ) Nicholas or the Metropolitan. We say nothing of the flirtatio s, gallant ries, whispering rooms and bridal cham j hers, which are unusually’ exhibited in I hotels with so much pump and vulgar significance. We have no fancy for ! courtship under a chandelier. A wi ! man of true delicacy and refinement will neither exhibit her charms nor her graces j nor accomplishments, to the public j Exclusiveness is the very essence of a j lady’s society, as domestic retirement is the very soil ia which grows every fe male virtue. The most poetical beauty of a woman, is the flush on her cheeks; the hotel belle has hut ono color, and that not always her own. If a man wants to know what sort of feeling a belle | of the genus we have describe! inspires j him with, let him put the question Loti* I heart, how would I like to hive that ) woman for my w ife? and he will have no ; difficulty in understanding himself.— P/lit- I addphui Ledger. A Biblical Came. — The best specimen of original criticism we ever heard, was in a stage coach ride to Burry Edge Three of as were talking about Adam and his fall. The point of the discussion was the ap parent impossibility that a perfect man like Adam could commit sin. But he wasen’t perfect, said one of the j three. j Wasen’t perfect, we ejaculated in amaze j meat. j No, sir, he wasen’t perfect, repeated our commentator. What do yon mean? we asked. Well, answered the authority, he was I made perfect, 1 admit, but he diden’t stay ! perfect, i llow? | Why, wa3 not o.ie of bs ribs removed? j If he was perfect with a'd his ribs, lie was i uot perfect after losing oil), was he, | say? ! Our say was silence. YVe were convin j ced, then, that the woman was the cause |of man’s original imperfection. —OazsHp j ( England) Observer. Wo arc authorized to announce the name of R. P. M. MANN, as a candidate (independent) for the office of sheriff of Spalding county at the ensuing January election. figyNOTICE.—The undersigned takes the present method of announcing himself a Candidate for the office of Tax Collector at the election in January next, forstli County of Pike. AARON HAMIC. Dec. 1), 1853. We are authorized to announce the name of BENJAMIN P. MILNER, as a can date (independent) for the office of Tax Collector, of Pike county, at the ensuing January election. (£/-Weare requested to announce the name of Wm. A. Ai>ams, as a candidate fur Clerk f the Superior Court of Meri wether county, at the election to tßke place on the first Monday in January next. YVe are authorized to announce the name of A. M YVf.bb, as a candidate for the office of Clerk of the Inferior Court ot Meriwether county, at the ensuing Jim ary election No. 51.