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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