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K tfiU be necessary for you lo provide by
taw, for carrying into effect, so much of the
seventh section of the first article of the con
stitution, as requires that an accurate enumera
tion of the people should be made at the end
of every seven years aftet the first enumera
tion. in doing this, special provision will he
required for taking the Census of those coun
ties to which the Cherokee Territory has'been
attached, at least so far as relates to the Indi
ans. It is velrv desirable to have as minute in
formation as possible, of their entire numbers,
as well as the number of the different classes
among them, such as the number of the white
men who are natives, those who are not natives,
the number of the white women, of the half
breeds, of the slaves, and of (he Indians. It
may also he important to ascertain the location
of all those persons, and tine extent of their
cultivated, cleared, and enclosed land.
Among the bills presented for signature on
the day of the termination of the last session of
the Legislature, was one for the incorporation
of the town of Decatur. After a full conside
ration of its provisions, I was of the opinion
that the corporate powers granted bv it, were
inconsistent with the Constitution. 1 was
therefore constrained to enter my dissent to
its becoming a law. I have done so with less
reluctance, because it is understood »hnt my
opmion hut follows the decision of the judicia
ry department. My objections accompany this
message. 1
According to Ibe request of the Legislature,
commissioners were appointed to examine and
report upon the claims of C. C. Birch, to com
pensation beyond his contract price for build-
irg the addition to the State House. The re
it must be wholly free from party account abili
ty. Whenever it becomes necessary for the
re-election of a Judge, that his party feelings
should be • rendered apparent on the Bench,
his re eligibility becomes an evil greatly over
balancing the good derived from his responsj,
hility. Our Judges are necessarily taken from
the profession of the law, and almost univer
sally from the circuit of their practice aud re.
sidencc, so that they have to overcome all
their pre-conceived opinions and feelings in
verting purticulaly to tbo fact that Governor
Randolph was an entire stranger in the coun
try, and that he gives no evideuce in support
the accuracy of that statement, it is disproved
by what Eikcot himself says io his journal.
He was not able to obtain at the place men
tinned by Gov. Randolph, any certain informa
tion as to the head of the St Mary’s, although
that was the particular object of his mission.
But that the committee were certainly mistaken
in supposing that the head of the St' Mary's,
relation to cases and parties before impartial was to be ascertained by the common repu-
justice can he done. In practice it often hap- \ tation of the country, at the date of that trea-
pens that the Judges have scarcely finished ! tv. is proven by the fact, that it was made in
deciding the cases in which they have been jBpain, where such common reputation of the
concerned as Lawyers, before they are depriv-1 country, if it had existed, could not have been
ed of (heir offices to make room for some j known No doubt can be entertained but that
other Lawyer who has tlie same difficulties to by the head of the Sr. Mary’s, in 1795, was
overcome. With all these causes operating: intended the same plac--so called in the t r eaty
to mislead our Judges, from the administra- j with Great Britain in 1783—This is proven
lion of the law' in its purity, they have confid- from the fact, that the treaty of 1795, has a-
ed to them a control over the laws, and rights dopted the same description of the entire fine
of the People, that no other free Government from the Mis-i-sippi to the St. Mary’s, as that
has ever intrusted to the hand*of individuals, j used in the treaty ol 1783. The disputes as
However important the determination of any j to the boundary line between the United States
case may be to the interest of the community, and Spain, which were intended to be settled
or to the lives and fortunes of individuals, the bv the treaty of 1795 related to the extent of
decision of a single Judge is, according to our i West Florida. Ii is not known that any d.ffer-
Judiciary, absolute. No appeal is permitted i ence of opinion existed as to the termination
to any other Tribunal to correct the errors
which may result from first impressions, par,
tiality, ignorance, or corruption. The Judge
is safe from exposure as well as the parties
without remedy. And that which aggravates
the evils arising from the uncertainty of the
of that part of the line running from the June
iion oftbe Chatnhoochie and Flint R.vers, to
the head of the St. Mary’s. It is certain that
the L T ited States din not intend by the treaty
of 1795 to alter the termination of that
line, a- fixed by the treaty of 1783 By the
port of the Commissioners, allowing the con
tractor a part of his charges, was not confirm
ed, for reasons assigned fully in the written
opinion which accompanies the papers upon
that subject.
' The compilation of the Laws and rcsolu
tions from 1820 to 1829, inclusive, by William
C. Dawson, E q. has been examined and ap
proved The number of copies required to
be printed h is been contracted for, and will
be ready for distribution by the month of June
next. The committee appointed to examine
this compd.ilien, say, in their report, “It is
worthy of observation, that from 1800 to 1809,
iiicltioive, there were only 48G laws, and but
few resolutions, passed by the Legislature,
and from 1810 to 1819, inclusive, there were
708 laws ami 291 Resolutions, while during
the but Jen vears. we find there were 1477
Liws .Hid 695 Resolutions.” Tho cause ot
this groat increase of Legislation, and the con,
seq-o cogs which follow from it, are well wor.
t\.j of your fullest consideration. Much the
larger portiop of the compilation is made up
ol resolutions imposing no obligation upon the
people, and the object of passing which has
long since been answered or ceased to exist,
and of private, local, and temporary laws, in
which (he community have little or no con*
cern.
Much expense would be saved, as well as
the public convenience greatly advanced, by
excluding such matter altogether from future
compilations. It is singularly surprising, that
a people jealous of their political privileges, as
the people of Georgia are, should be so re,
gardless of the rights which those privileges
are intended to secure. All the forms of a
Free Government are of no other value than
as guards thrown around the people, to secure
the continued enjoyment ol the natural and
civil rights which belong to them as individu
a Is. These rights can scarcely be so called
unless they are clearly defined by the laws,
and protected from violation by a faithful and
intelligent judicial administration. If this he
true, it becomes os to enquire whether our
laws are so enacted as to be certainly known,
aud so administered, as to secure to each citi
zen tho same judgments* By far the largest
portion of the decisions of our Courts, are re
sults drawn from the common and statute
laws of England; and yet no judge can give a
satisfactory answer to the question, what part
of the statute and common law of England is in
force in this Stale. By the law ol 1787, all
the acts, clauses, and parts ol acts, of the pro
vincial Legislature, that were in force on the
14th of May, 1776, the common law of Eng
land, and such of the statute laws as were usu
ally in force in the province, were declared to
be in force, 60 far as they wero not contrary to
the constitution, laws, and lorm of Government
then established, in the State. This law is
still unaltered. It is impossible to determine
by its provisions, what d ecisions of the Courts
of England are to be considered as common
law here, or ascertain what statutes of England
were usually in force in the province of Geor
gia.
Tnc foundation of a most admirable system
of jurisprudence was commenced by the judi
ciary act of 1799 both as to the law and the
form «>f its administration. It was however
I f the u Uudation, aod nothing has been done
b*r,ce to raise the superstructure. The orga
nization of our Superior Courts, so far as con
corns tho trial by jury, is believed to be nearly
ns perfect- as possible. It i* even probable
th.P tits continuance of the present v.ry im
perfect organization of our Courts in other re
spects, has in ;» great degree resulted from this
p. ; lection ol our jury trial. If our laws were
few, sire, and clear, there would perhaps
ben- <i suffered from leaving to juries the
d * -.ar.ation of doubtful questions of right —
E i laws of every free, enterprising, and
wealthy community, must be very numerous
ant exceedingly CGmplicnted.lo those who do
r -i dev fe themselves wholly to acquiring a
know i'Hge of them. Juries, though compos
ed of (he must intelligent and upright citi
zens, cannot determine doubtful questions of
law, because they cannot know what the law
it*. They must look to the Judges for in-truc-
ti''i) and unless the information they receive
f -m that source is intelligent and impartial,
their verdicls must be very uncertain deter-
mil.at ions ot rignt. It is well worthy of your
enquiry whether the constitution of our courts
iv calculated to secure either such ability «r
dispositi n. The responsibility of (be Judges,
arising from the tenure of their offices for a
fix» d term’ is decidedly preferred to. what ie
nsoitly called their independence But to
nmko that responsibility operate beneficially,
law, and the means of exercising partiality by j treaty of 1783, Gioat Britain acknowledged
our Judges, is, that they must necessarily en
crea-e with the continuance of our present
System We have not only a separate and
independent Judicial administra*ion in each
Circuit, but eacli successive Judge, in the
same Circuit, is hut slightly directed by the
determinations of his predecessor, because the
decisions of the Judges are not reported and
published. If there were no other benefit ex
peeled to be derived Irorr. the establishment
of a Supreme Tribunal for the corr ction of
*he errors ofthe Superior Courts, the publica
tion of its decisions, by which a common law
of our own might bo formed, would of itself
be an advantage far more than over-balancing
all its inconveniences. There is no doubt hut
(hat the establishment of such a Court would
occasion delay and additional expense to par
ties, but not mors than at present resuits from
appeals from the Inferior to the Superior
Courts, and from Writs of Certiorari. If such
expense and delay should be more than what
is necessary for the proper investigation and
determination of cases, the fault will he in the
Legislature not in the Court, since I he form
of its proceedings must confirm to the will of
the Legislature. I hope that the importance
of this subject will justify the manner in which
it has been pressed upon vour consideration.
The line between this State and Florida,
has not been run, as the resolution of the le
gislature would seem to have required. This
has been occasioned by the difficulty of pro
curing Commissioners, and a Surveyor, to
perform that duty during the unhealthy season
of the year. The line could not be run be
fore that time, because until the adjornment
of Congress, it was not known that, that bo
dy would pursue such a course as to render it
necessary. A copy of the correspondence had
with several Gentlemen will shew the exer
tions used bv the Executive to have that ser
vice performed. The object is again refered
to vour consideration, and especially as some
doubt was entertained, whether it was intend
ed that a failure on the part of Congress to
comply with the request of the Legislature,
=hould be considered equivalent to a refusal
The resolution of the Legislature upon this
subject, as according o request, forwarded
to our members of Congress, and by them laid
before the Senate and House of Represents
fives The report made to the House of
Representatives by the committee to whom
these resolutions were referred, was adverse
to the rights ofthe state. The committee say
that Georgia in order to establish her c!a:m,
ought clearly to prove, that the Commission
ers who acted by authority of the treaty of
1795, mistook tho head of the St. Mary’s, and
also to show that she has a right, under the
circumstances of the case, and after the lapse
the States of the Union to he free ‘independ
en', and sovereign, and relinquished to them
all her rights ot territory. Whatever bounda-
res t her fore, b« longed to the province of Geor
gia at the commencement of the War ofthe
Revolution became the acknowledged hound
ary ofthe State by that treaty The last acts
ofthe British Government, in relation to the
boundaries of Georgia, were the proclamation
issued in 1763 establishing the Government
of East ai.d West Florida, and extending the
Soul hern h >u dary ol* Georgia (both Georgia
and Fh-rda being at that time provinces ot
Great Britain) ami the commission granted to
Gov Wright in 1764. In the first of these
acts, the line iri dispute is described as running
Iroin- the junction of the Chatah««ocbie and
Flint Rivers to the source of the St. Mary’
River; in the latter the southern boundary ot
ol Georgia is described as extending to the
most southern stream of said river. All sub
sequent instruments, which mention the head
ofthe St. Mary’s, as descriptive of the bound
ary line of Georgia, or of the United States,
must necessarially mean the head of the St
Mary’s as described in these two acts ofthe
British Government, because no alteration
was afterwards made in that part of the bound
ary of Georgia, either by Great Britain or the
State But the Committee say that admit
ting this to he true. Georgia is barred of her
r ght of territory, which nri'ght otherwise have
belonged to the State, because of her various
acts of acquiescence fora quarter of a cen
tury, in the mistake of E'licot and Minor —
The Committee are however as much rr is»ak
en in tho fact, which they thus assume for the
truth, as thev were in the pr-nciple by which
they attempted to prove wha* place was to be
understood by the fipad ofthe St Mary's Thev
have given no proof of any acquiescence on
the part of the State, until 1819 So fio
from it, there is no proof that the consti.
tilted authorities oft 1 e S’ate had any knowl
edge of the proceedings of iho-e Commi=cion-
er«. No proof can he obtained that their pro-
cm din-vs have pvr-r been sanctioned by the U
S. or Spain. In 1800. the treaty nf 1795 wa^
published bv the State as a document bv
which its boundaries were dpcrrilK'ii N i*hino
was then known of EHirott’s mounds. But
sunpoep the coreditu*ed authorities of the
State had beeo officially informed of EUicoft’s
and minor’s proceedings, how were thev to
have ascertained their incorrectness? These
Commissioners, :'»dod fv the power of both
the United States and Spun, were ur ahie to
execute their corn m*® 1 -ion arc -rding to the
l form® of the treaty of 1795 on account of the
ho«*i!i: v of'he Indians, who \vi re in pp efe e“‘ion
of fh^courtry he*wp< n *he Ghatahoochie and
the head of the S* Mary’s, How then was
codfse. If Congress' should fad or reffise to
comply with the request of the state, to cause
the head of the St. Mary’9 to be ascertained,
according to tho treaty of 1795, the early ter
mination ofthe session will afford ample time
for the examination and survey by Commis
sioners on the part of the State.
The law to prevent intercourse between the
Free Negroes of other countries and the
slaves ofthe State, and to lessen the means,
and piinuish attempts to excite our 9lave pop
ulation to insurrection, by circulating seditious
writings among them, has been the subject of
much misrepresentation and abuse. Neither
the danger which threatens the existence of
portions of our community, nor the alarm
which renders miserable the tender and timid
from apprehension of such danger, has secur
ed to us from our si-tor states the liberal con
struction of our public acts upon this subject.
We are not surprised at the opposition which
the law has met with in the Parliament of
Great Britain. We bad no right to expect
that the traders of England would he willing
theta have ifo Knowledge of the kind of labor necessary
for tbe improvement of the river*; the seasin ft r laboring
upon the rivers is that which exposes those tv ho have been
unaccustomed tJ tbe climate of the low country, and to
the neighborhood of large water courses, to fatal diseases
—Many of them will be drowned—The tools d for
working on tbe roads Hill be useless for impro'tup the
navigation cf the rivers, and the horses, mules, -ad uien,
which aie required lor the roads, emmtu be used at all
upon the rivers, and will of course be expensive. Most
of tbe overseers who hove tbe dir< ction of the bands on
the roads, will either have no qualification for directing
the labor for the inprovemr nt of the rivers, or will be un
willing to risk their health, by such employment. Tho
necessity nf changing tbe overseers two or three times in
the year, will increase the expense and the difficulty of ob
taining such as the public interest n quires.—These, with
many other obvious reasons, induce me io recommend *0
you the alteration of the present taw, so as to have a - is
tiuct corps of public bunds and overseers for improving *ue
rivers from thos* en. toyed for working on the rostia —
'tore economical expenditure and rfficfei’L labor wul be
the result cf such a change ofthe ta tv. The preset!'sala
ries of the Superintendents are no compensaticn for
the performance of the duties required of thtni.—
Tney have been request'd to k«>ep accurate accounts
of iheir expenses, lirom the belief that the Legislature
wilt consider it but jus’ to these valuable officers i«r
pay them. The impossibility of keeping a constant con
trol over the conduct of ptibi.c agents, re nders it necessary
to sacrifice any profit lor our safety, or that j that the State should taring into its service higher quabfi
Great Britain would not prefer our continuing j ca, ‘ on8 than would be neossury for individuals to empi y
■ . .i , I - U ,» » 1 ... • toi-.flect the same purposes. Ttua can only be done tv
exposed to the attacks which that law was id- faj ?alarie / , t ma , ^ expedient to have Jt
tended to guard us against Oor experience
has amply proven that we must govern our
slave property as our own interest requires,
not only without looking abroad tor in
struction, but with a firm determination, to
resist the slightest interference with that right
giving higher claries. it may
one Superintendent, but whether one or two, their salaries
mast be far grtaler than at present al'ow>d by la*v.—
Without this is done the services of such persons as have
the ability and character to perform bem ficiailv to thd
State the duties itquircd of them, cannot be procurtd.
The public service may also be advanced by increasing the
pay of the overseers, and e»pcciolly of such as n ay bo
come from whatever quarter it may. Self employed on the rivers. The expense of paying tbe sala-
preserration is the first law of states as well as
of nature. We would be recreant to our
selves if we disregarded its injunctions. The
attempt to excite our slaves to in*urrection,
ries of the superintt ndenis and overseers, of doihirg,
feeding and otherwise supporting the public bancs, the
purchase of loots,c.irts, horses, mules, oxen, fitc. bas a-
mounted to very m ar the sum ot fitb-tn thousand doll rs
during the three first q iarters of tbe year: that being the
by the circulation of inflammatory writmy,. has •»» appropriated for .he year for th... eareodi.,,,...
not been confined to Georgia, It has extend
ed to Virginia, N ;rlh Carolina, South Caroli
na, and Louisana. The Corre-pondence of
the Executive Department, in relation to the
prosecution oian Individual, for the violation
ofthe law upon this subject, is herewith com
municated. It is believed to be h ghlv im-
iil be necessary that an appropriation should be made
by the Lps^liiture, as early os possible, to meet tbe ex
penses of l be fourth qiarter. Less has been dene in im
proving theroads ami rivers during the year, than public
expectation required. Like all other great and novel un
dertakings, its commencement has been attended by de
lays, nnhaira.-sments and great expense.
The system however is recommended to your special
consideration, as the best which can be adopted in the
portont, for tbe future prosperity and quiet of present situation ofthe State. Expensive canals, turn-
thr. law ofthe list session re- P ,ke > » od rai * roads, can be successfully made only id
tue IdW Of tne last session, re , - „ nmtrfat in nilantil'
truly.
first
of more than a quarter of a century, to assert ! Georgia fo ascertain her true hoiintfarv?
her claim The Committee express (he opin-1 When fbui p-^rt of the Stats was acquired nf
ion, that the head of the St. Mary’s ought to H ,f * Indian*. sn< 4 wa« about to he smarter! to
be ascertained by the reputation of the coun- citizen*. <h‘* L -gisMor 0 was «nf’ r me/l that
try about the time ofthe date ofthe Treaty of j pf’ce fixer! upon bv E^ieott and Minor f nr
1795, and (bat Georgia is barred of her rights|^ ie head ofthe St Mary’s, did rot d' *rr ;, '“
to her true Boundary (supposing a mistake to
have been made by Eilicot and Minor,) by her
various acts of acquie-ceoce. If the Commit
tee, when they say that the head of the St.
Mary’s ought to be ascertninded by the repu
tation of the country nt the time of the date of
the Treaty, intended thereby the opinions of
the people of Georgia, there would he no diffi
An examination was for the
timnmadr by fb e nuthoritv of th Plnte, in
1819. The result was unsatisfactory. hocau«e
it was neither accurate, mrrute, nor scientific
It did not hjnd Georgia because i* was not
o* Lgntorv upon Spain or the United States —
And hecau c e it was never sanctioned hv thp
Legislature R.^t -impose Georgia had ac-
culty in proving that, by the head of the St.
Marv,9 was understood the source or most
southern stream of that river. Various acts
of the Legislature establish this beyond a
doubt. In giving instructions to the Commis-
sionprs appointed to settle the Boundaries
with South Carolina, in 1783, the Southern
boundary of the Slide is dscribed as running
quio«ced fora quarter of a century in the mis
take of Eilicoft and Minor can any interonr
he drawn therefrom, except that the State
confided very implicitly in the faithfulness o!
the United States in exercising it* high author
ity to treat with f reign nations? If it appears
that the United States in executing that au
thority, parted with a considerable portion of
Irom the junctions of the Cbattahoochie and ! territory of the State, can it now take ad-
Flint rivers directly to the head or source of vantage of its own wrong, not only to coot in
the most Southern stream of the St. Marv’ c -! ,,e injustice, hut to profit byrit? Thi« rnn-
Bv the Law opening the Land Office in 1783 ! nn * VVhrn this subject comes to bp inve*
the same line is described as terminating at ligated, by discussion in Congress, and sub
♦he head or source ofthe most southern stream j ft cted to public opinion, the right of the State
ofthe St. Mary’s River. By the treaty prevail over the many various political
Galphinton in 1785. the Creeks ceded their j combinations and interests which have hitherto
lands to the most southern part of the St Ma-1 delayed in its acknowledgement. The Stati
ry’s River
treaty of
r: the same line was confirmed by the feels no interest in the acquisition of t- rntory
1786; in the law of 1707, thete^min- 1 ;, t the expense of Florida. Its constituted nu
at ion of the disputed line is caded the head ori Corbies are, however, imperiously hound to
source ofthe most southern stream of the St
Mary’s River. But it appears that by the repu
tation of the country, the Committee intend
cd the neighborhood of the head of the St.
Mary’s. Now, it is unfortunate for the rea-
soning of the Committee, that it should have
so happened, that the whole country around
the head of the St. Mary’s, was so sterile and
unhealthy as to have been entirely uninhabited
at the date of the treaty. They resort to a
remark of Governor Randolph’s in 1826 for.
proof, in which be say9, thatjas soon as there
was a settlement at the mouth ofthe St. Ma-
ry\ the head of it was known. Without ad-
preserve unimpaired the integrity of the State
as defined in its constitution. If the Legisla-
TH' 54 ,determine to have the true head oiithe
Mary’s ascertained, without waiting for the
decision of Congress at its next session, it
would he expedient that it should he doDe im
mediately so as to avoid the rainy season,
which commences in January—I would how
ever recommend delay until the termination
of the next session of Congress, Perhaps the
‘■uhject may before that time receive some
final action, possibly a favorable ono to the
rights ofthe State. It is at least respectfu’
to ihe General Government, to pursue saeh a
the state, that
enacting the law of 1816, prohibiting the fur
(her introduction of slaves into the state, ex
cept by citizens for Iheir own use, should be so
amended as to exclude their introduction alto
gether, except such slaves as may become the
property of citizens of this state by testament
or the death of relatives in other states, and
except by emigrants from other states, intend
ing to become citizens of this It is believed
that the number of our slaves is already fully
a9 great as is required for our advancement
in wealth; an increase w’ould hut lessen the
value ofthose already possessed, and strength
en the probability of their becoming at some
time an oppressive burden to our community.
The prejudices against slavery in many of
the States, the increase of similar feelings in
some of the slave holding states, attendant
upon the decrease of the slave and increase
of their white population, the danger of hav
ing the slave population in the State dispro-
ootiooatelv great to the free, without the pos
sibility hearafter of throwing off that popu
lation when it becomes burdemome. and the
unjust revenue system of the Federal Gov-
rnment, by which permanent bounties are
aj-vt-n to manufacturing and mechanical at
the expense of agricultural labor, (slaves be
ieg in general incapable of any except agri-
cul o a’) indicate v- ry clearly the policy for uts
fo pursue. It is believed that no ben 1 fit will
re:ult from the re-enactment of the law of
1818 That law prohibits the introduc
fion of slaves bv n»'gro traders, but permits
every citizen to bring them into the State for
his own us:; the only consequence of which
•'ill he. that a much greater number of per
sons will become engaged in a tranc which,
from its nature, the interests of society re
quires should he confined to as few as possi
ble. The enforcement too of the law Will he
exiromely difficult, because of the irnpossi
hility of distinguishing the trader for profit,
from the citizen buying for his own use. It
the law wore so alterd as to make it a crime
fo introduce slaves into the Slate, either for
me or sale, (wi'h the exceptions already men
tioned) and* forfeiting all slaves so introdu
ced, in whatever hands they might be found,
Mich hw, it is believed, could be enforced
without difficulty. This subject is recom
mended to vour consideration, from the con
viction that th-* future prosperity of the State
may be deeply affected by the policy which
you may pursue.
One hundred and nine negroes have been
purchased for $50,000, the sum appropriated
ot the last session of the Legislature for that
purpose Nmety e : ght have been received
from the River Commissioners, making to
gether two hundred and seven. S )nae of
those received of the river Commissioners are
of very little value, and a few hut an expense.
If is expedient that such should he sold or
otherwise disposed of The public hands
have been placed under two competent Su*
f.ermfendants. Considerable delay was oc
casioned in commencing, and progressing in
improving the roads leading to Macon, Co
lumbus, and the neighborhood of Flint River,
on account of some of the public hands hav
ing been hired out for a time which had not
expired at the end of the year; the refusal of
fhe'Alabama Commissioners to deliver those
in their possession, to the order of the Execu
tive; and the difficulty of procuring a meeting
of the Flint Riv r Commissioners. The latter
difficulty may again ocenr. If therofi re the
public hands are to be continued at work in
the neighborhood of the Flint River, 1 would
rccomend that such a change be made in the
present law, as to enable the Commissioners to
have a meeting with less inconvenience to
themselves and more* certainty when the pub
lic advantage requires it.
From the reports of the snperintendents.it
appears that they have had executed 60 miles
ofthe properly graduated and highly improved
road, leading to Augusta; forty-one to Savan
nah; tn'elve to Milledgeville; to Ma
con, thirty four to Columbus; and fifty miles
without graduation, in the neighborhood of
Flint River.
This public band* at work on the reads leading to Ma-
cton and Milledgeville, were, in the month of July, ordered
>y those having that authority, to be employed in improv
ing the navigation of tbe Oconee and Ocmulgee Rivers.
Great mconveuicree arises Rom tbe same hand* working
hotb upon the roada and river*. Tbs greater portion ol
countries whose productions arc great io quantity, heavy
and/ar removed from their markets. Cotton maybe
considered the &”te staple of the intcri r and upper part
of this State—Its value is so great, in proportion io its
weight, and the cost of its conveyance, even from those
parts ofthe State most remote from its market, so si«-ad,
that no sufficient inducement exists for the expenditure
of a large sums for adding to ti e facility of its transpor
tation. The principal rivers pass so far into the interior,
and so equi-distunt from each other, that but a smalt
proportion of tbe produce of tbe State can be made to
pass ov! r any one road or canal. These circumstances
which thus render it intxpedient to make any expensive
internal improvements, instead of being a source of com
plaint, only proves the g-eat supenorily of oar staple
coiiiinadity over most others.—One of the advantages of
the present system is, that it may be made to accommo
date itself precisely to the wants of every part of tbo
country, by hav-ug tabor applied in proportion to the
use which is made of e;*ch road/ It may he made to su
persede the old system-entirely, if the public revenues cf ^
the Slate to be derived from »ts gold mines should equal
what is anticipated from their reported richness. 8ui little
doubt is entertained of tbe propriety of so extenciug tbo
employment of the public hands. At ju-esem all pc. sons
in the State, between the age of sixteen and lor;y-iive, are
liable to work fifteen days su the year on the reads. One
striking disiidfvan'age of this rotu) tax (for it oi ght to be
so considered) is its inequality. A »ar*e proportion of
the people do not work at all,whilst the labur r>q ured of
others is exceedingly burdensome. It is noi only une^
qual in the quantity of labor which the feborers are made
to perform in different parts of the enun'ry, bnt iniis op
eration upon Ihe different classes of the people. It is m
the nature of a p!i iax, by which the p- or man is made !©
pay as much as the. rich. The labor too which is appli
ed. in improving the roi<’9 under th-* chi system, is al
ways inexperienced and not < q aluiiificicacy io one ball
til- quantity if judiciously direcicd.
If the funds of the ^*ate should not prove sufficient fo
authorise tlie extension oftbe pr< sntsysum, so as to a-
bundon entirely tbe o>d. the s. ine object ma» be in some
• I jjree effac ed t»y p. r.nsKipg laborer* at their option to
commute the tab «r inquired u. them for a moderate sum
>1 money, to be p lid ijU 1 »be county treasury to be appli
ed to the 3ame v joct.
I submit to yon the copy of a correspondence bad will;
several highly intelligent gentlemen, li,c object cf which
has been to ascertain tilt quantity of cotton and other pro
duce carried by w; gons over ihe hifilrent roads Lad
ing to Augusta, bavannah, Milledgi-vitie, Macon and
Columbus, and the cost of its iiansportalion. It is be
lieved that ibe information thiiB collected will be highly
'»scfu> in < nabling ihe I.tgishuure to have the internal
c omtn 'nications of the Stale, improved in the best prae-
t 'cat manner, and so as to be productive of the most ben
eficial results.
Copies of tbe quarterly reports of Ibe Superintendent*,
and afto the amount eft heir individual expenses, are sub
mitted to you. I have received from the Sup. nntendent
ofthe Eastern Division, an accuiale map and survey of
the Savannah rivir between the eities of Augusta and Sa
vannah. It accompanies this communication.
In pursuance of a resolution of the Legislature, agents
have been appointed to settle with Ibe different hiver
Commissioners. Settlements have been eff cted witirt'be
Commissioners of the Ocmulgee River, above and below
MdCe-n, and ilh the Commissioner* of Ibe Oconee and
Savannah Rivers, as will appear by fbe reports cf the
agents. An examination of these reports will prove what
universal experience had previously established, that the
most wasteful and inefficient of all methods of executirg
publie works, is by the employment ol irresponsible and
unpaid agents Yon are r quested lo direct tbe manner
in which the agents for settling tv it a tlte River Commis
sioners are to be paid. Tbe:r services have been such as
deserve to be very liberally compensated. You are also
requested to direct whether the agent for settling with
the Oconee Commissioners, efcall also settle wiib the fori
met Commissioners ofthe Oconee River, whose accounts
remain unadjusted.
The Arsenal &t Savannah has been completed, and tbs
public arms in tb&t city, hitherto much iujort-d from ex-
poiure, have been deposited in it. Reports have been re
ceived from the Keepers of the Arsenals in Savannah ami
Milledgeville, containing schedules of all tbe armes and
munitions of war committed to Iheir charge, copies of
which are laid before you, according.to resolutions passed
at the lust session of the Li gislaturc.
One hundred and sixty-three copies of a system of ex
ercise and instruction > f field artillery, ine'urfing {jjan«J-
vres for light and horse artill; ry,' and nineteen hun .red
aud eighty of an abstract of infantry taeties, have b^n
received from the United Stales g vernment, and for the
distribution •/ which it will be necessary for you to pre
scribe some regulation.
The report* of the Brigade Inspectors, which have
been received, shew the aggregate nnuber of the militia
of the State to be 36,369, exclusive of the seventh divis
ion. As the distribution ofthe public arms, under tbe
law of the United States, for arminsr «Ul equipping the-
mifitia, is made among the States according to the rela
tive strength of their militia, it h^s been-a-matter of some
interest to obtain accurate return* of‘he force ofthe
State. Although some increase will he shewn when full
returns shall have been received, yet the disorganization
is such as to render it impossible to ascertain the entire
strength of the militia of tbe State.
Various resolutions p.nsed by the Legislature* nfPeno-
sylvania, Ohio, Vermont, Delaware, and Connecticut,
upon the subjects of the tariff, internal improvements*
and election of electors of President and Vice President*
have been received from the Chief Magistrate* of those
States, copies of which are, according to request, sub
mitted to you. , -
Resolutions passed by the Legislntorc of Louisiana
have also been received, in which is expressed the opin
ion that the tariff of I8^3 r is not only constitutional and
expedient, but harmless to the Southern States—-Copies
.of these are alse submitted to yo«t, bot not without call--
ing your attention to tbe sUiking illustration which they
furnish of the selfishness which occasioned and contin
ued in* force fits present tariff system. Within the M