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TH15 HOME (JOUttlEU
PUBLI8 t i t'.vi - ' Fill ' >■ 0
BY J. KlOWl.tS & CO.
TUB MS.
Two DoT.t.Aft* per nnn’im «* ^nltl in advance.i
Two Dollar* ntvl Fifty Cent* If paUl wltUln fix
months ; or Three Dollars nt the.ond or the yenr.
itatsN of Ad vcr *1•»I nir.
Lroal ^.DvmtriSK.MKNTs wjll be Inserted with
•trict attention to the requirements of the law, nt
the following rates t
Pour Months Notiue, - • •
Notice to Debtors and Creditors,
Sola of Personal Property, by Execu
tors, Administrators, «»*.
Sales of Land or Negroes, AO days,
per square,
Letters of Citation, • •
Notice for.Letters of Dismission,
Candidates nitno'iucing their names,
rsbnrgtd $5 00, which will he required in advance
Htfbind* advertlsintrtheir vvitfe*. will he cbnrjrpl
$5 00, whioh rniat alwny* b* pa .I ia
All other advertisements will be inserted at One
Dollar per square, of twelve lines Or less, for the
Hr.«t, and Fifty Cents, for cuoh subsequent inner
tion.
Liberal deductions will be made in favof ofihdse
who advertise by the vear.
BTJSI ESS CA - PS.
$4 tin
.1 as
ai as
5 on
a 7s
4 sn
ill- be
B. W..HOSS,
DliitTItlT.
tlome, Georgia Office over If. J. Ombcrg'.
Clothing Store
January 16,1851.
FRANCIS M. ALLEN,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Center in Staple and Fancy
DRY GOODS AND G HOC DRIES,
$($• Recoives now goods every week. «©j)
Rome, On.. Januurv 3. I8SI.
LIN & UllANTLY.
WABB-HOTTSE, COMMISSION & PRODUCE
MERCHANTS,
Atlanta, Ga.
^Liberal advances made on any nrlicle
in Store.
Nov. a8.18S0. - ly
A. I». kl\(l CO.
COTTO V GtN MA NIJFACTURE HS
Rome, Georg in.
May 0. 1S.10.
ti,i:XAM)Ktt A -I’H I,HNKI.I«
A T TOR N E Y S AT LA W,
HOME 0A.
Nov. 38. 1850. ly.
.Nona, haro.:man. cmnn r iiavilt.in.
HAMILTON Si IIAKIIKIMN,
Factors Sc % Comiiiissiuii Merchants,
SaPaiVnajj, akohqia
•Oat. 3. taiMU
I no
OIUtLKt r HAMILTON } ^ THOMAS .HHDKM.N
lIlRDttTIIK A 1C 4 Mil, ION,
Warehouse He Commission Merchants.
MACOA\ GEORGIA.
Oct. 3, 1S30.
1*2 in.
PATTON Ac I! ATT ON,
ATTORNEYS A T LAW,
Rome, Gems id.
\y.If.t, Practice In all the Counties nf il n rit.'rr
wo rtlrolnl 48 Sept. S. 13(10,
A. K. VAT TON.
J. r. PATT*IN.
DANIEL S. PKINTUP
. Agat for th9 Southern Maturi Insurance
Company \t Borne, Oa.
INSURES iR.ln.t loss by FIRE; also,LIVES of
eraons and Servant,. "
( CHECKS onCherlv.ton and New York, for enU
DANIEL S. PRINTUP.
*• ’nil or the Beak of the State of So. Ca
Oct. '0. 13Sy.
iiirKi
•« «« !V,
druggist—no me: Georgia.
WIIOI.P.MAI.R 4NO ItRTA11. ORAI.VR IN
DRUGS, MEDICINES, PAINTS, OILS, DYE
STUFFS, PERFUMERY. Sec.
Ootober 10, IS50 BrnnA Street.
C0ULTEB A COLLIER.
ATrOllNtiYsJ AT LAW,
Rome, Georqia.
Feb. 3.1851.
LANIER HOUSE,
BY .
L A NIK Kd& SON.
1 BATHING ROOMS ATTACHED.
: M«con- Go. October a, I8'il.
tfl. II. UNDBKWHIinSt J. W. H. IIMII-KWIIOII.
WILL PRAC I ICE I, \ W
I N nil the Counties of the Cherokee Circuit, (ex
cept.D ide). They will both personally attend nil
.the Courts. J. \V, H. UNDERWOOD will nttrnd
' .the Courts of J ickson and Hub Tshnin c iuniie.-* of ihe
Western Circuit. Both will attend the serious of the
U SUP|IKMB COURT at Cnssvihe and Gainesville.^
AH business *ntrusted to them will be promptly and
faithfully attended to.
OFFICE! next door to Hooper Ac Mitchell, “BurnA
"Vista House,” Romo, Ga . at which place,one or both
will always bo found, except ubsunt on professional
business.
Jan 23 18-31
Atlanta Machine Works
, (Lute Atlanta Iron Founderg,)
TpHIS new COMPANX t« now prepared to do
q L wo.k nit short notice, oi heavy and lignf Cast
ings from the latest improved patterns of Iron, Brass
or Cotpposifon, all of which will be warranted —
J Turning. Bp,ineand Drilling done to order- Alai.
L crew cutting of 10 fret gr under, nl any sized threed
eqitif. d. ILevy an t light forg ng of wrought Iron
or Steel don t in superior style.
PAR nc]ULA.ll ATTENTION
leaded to their patterns for Mill Hearing, for Mer-
hsitt and Cn-tmn Flouring pad Saw Mills. Gin
Jeniing of nil the usual sires, nnd Buik Mills all
-ays kept on hand. Wo are nleo prep ired to build
•tlonsry Engines upon the latest 'Improvements nil
of which will be sold low for ceih. Copper and
” t t«*en In exchange for wnrk nt cooh prices.
A. LEYDEN,
JAMES L. DUNNING,
john McDonough.
_ WILLIAM RUShTON.:
• All uf the above compsov are.practical Me
and give their undivided attention, to the
• oet. 9,1891.
GUTliKAOR'S HIF.89AOG.
Executive Department, >
Millodgovillo November 3, 1851. I ‘ •
Fellow- Cithern— Of the Senate.and House
oif Representatives :
In flowing my official connection with the
representatives uf the people.it will bo my
object to place fairly before them the meas
ures 1 It.ive heretofore felt, nnd noV feel it
my duty to recommend, sedulously avoiding,
as far as possible, the introduction ot any to
pic not nlf'ectirig the interest*. of die people.
While abundant cause sif profound grali
lude exists, fur tire . continued kindness of
that superintending Providence, by which
our State hna been spared from the scourge
of pestilence and futnipe, jet it is not to bp
disgused. that we ate passing through a
sen eon of bitter discontent that may well
claim the exercise of the brightest 'of the
Chrisliau virtues, to enahlo us to perfmtri our
lull duty to the Stute, die Union, ourselves,
nnd our children. The beautiful system of
n .representative confederacy of soveieign
Sliite-, united upon die principles of Justice
and Equality, reflecting thoenliuhtened judg
ment of a virtuous, intelligent, industrious
nnd patriotic people, is only to be fenred by
ihe wicked and corrupt, while to die ordeilv
mid right minded, it is n pillar of strength
that w ill in the end insure justice to nil. Let
our object then be, to enlarge die basis of
true civilization within the borders of our
own State, by planting deeply., and nurtur
ing closely, the elements of a moral mid in
tellectual culture, with every class nnd con-
diiion of our people : that each and nil mny
understand nnd trel tiie vnlue office institu
tions,,and ho cnpnhle of devising the best
means of perpetuating them.
It h.Toids proper ground of plensu-e, that 1
should lie able (o communicate lo the Legis
lature, the highly prosperous condition of the
Einaiices of tho Stale, and the just apprecia
tion of our public securities at home and
abroad.
It is believed, that at no former period,
have I lie bonds of the Slate coiiunnuded
greater confidence, or maintained n higher
value in tl.e o arkeis ; tmr does .litis remark
apply alone to that class of the public secu
rities knnw|i ns the Domestic Debt, hut equal-
Iv lo die remnant nf«*he Foreign debt, of
£15,000, held in England. The ndvancc in
ll.e market value ol tho latter, w ithin the
la»i two years, and the increa-ed confiden t
of the holder*, have reiidered all efiorts to re-
deem 't impracticable tor die present.
The public debt, foreign nnd dnmesdc, at
die opening of the session of the Legislatuie
in 1847, os communicated in a former mes
sage, w as $1,578,875,60.
In conformity with the recommendation
contained in the Iasi message of my piede-
cessor, in w Itich I fully concurred, the Gener
al Ast'Cmhly of 1847 appropriated the sum of
$375,000 for the completion of the Western
& Adamic Ka<l Hoad, a detailed statement
of (he expenditure ul w hich, is contained in
a former coriVinilnicitimj ; nnd, nt the same
session, $22,228.22 lo satisfy (lie claim of
Peter Trezevnpt, for which hoods issued, and
neie paid, ns heretofore coininunicnted.
The last Legislature provided that Messrs.
P. O. Reynolds, James F. Cooper, and Kicli-
iiid Peters, should investigate die claim of
John D Gray & Co.,, contractors on the
Western & Atlantic Hail Hoad, for exlra
work, &e . nod that the Executive should
irsue bonds, redeemable by die Hoad, for the
amount found due by them. Bonds for the
>um of $21,541 10 were, and paid to Mr.
Gray-on ilie 2sllh day of August, I860, in
pursuance of die law and die report ot die
i‘iiiiilliittee, a copy of which is transmitted.
A further appropriate ii of $20,000 was
made, nnd diiected to lie paid ove- to the
Millcdgeville and Guidon Rail Hoad Com
pany, upon i.s completion ; bill no evidence
having been furnished of the completion ol
Ihe Hoad,ibis appropriation still stunds where
it was left by the Legislature.
It will 1 litis be seen, that the liability of
the Stale has been increased, since the close
of the political year 1847, to dm clo-o of die
political year 185], $307,222.22. Tl.e ob
ject ol tbe-e several appropriations are so
generally known and approved by the eo* n-
try, that further detail, itt this respect, would
nut-now he desirable.
Since tl.e close r.fthe political yeni 1847,
to the close of the financial teir 1851, thbre
has been paid, of intere-t on (tie public debt,
foreign and domestic $414,770 91, and of
princ pal, die sum of $261,559 72 leaving
the debt at Ibis lime $1,724,722 22.
It from thin amount is taken $300,000,
which is the balance <>f the appropriation for
the completion of the Western & Adamic
Hail Hoad, unredeemed, and which, under
die act appropriating die same, must ul'i-
nm'ely be paid olf, and discliniged from lire
net iocoo.e ol said Hoad, the debt nl ibis lime,
IS $1,424,722 22 ; less by $154,153 38,
Ilian it was at die dose of the political yonr
1847. The nvnitnhle funds in dm Treasury,
applicable to the fin liter reduction of the
public debt, nt the close of die present fiscal
tetr, ns appears by die 'Pleasure's Report,
is $54,038 09. This amount, ($54,038 09,J
being die surplus in the Treasury, should lie
applied, as ejrly as practicable, to the fur
ther reduction of the public debt ; after
which, die liabilities proper of the Slato
would he $1,370,684 13..
It will be borne in mind, ihnt the sum nf
$130,000 was appropriated by die act ol
1845, for the extension of the Western and
Atlantic Hail Hoad, of which sum, $107,500-
00 was expended under the direction of my
predecessor, and die balance applied by Ihe
present Chief Engineer, by my approbation,
lo tho purchase of Motive Power and Cars,
lor the use of said Bund. 'I'his sum, Ittiwev-
er.js no marge upon ihe Treasury Jgjts by
ggpre's simulation, the holders of this class
ofihe public securities are to look alone to
the profits of die Westorn and Atlantic Bail
Rond, for principal and interest.
in.lhis coimeciion it would not be doomed,
J trust, put pi place, lo ratuind t(i.e General
Asse * bly, that the great difficulty experi
enced by my predecessor, in.goffiirtjng these'
bonds iuto cash, or its equivalent, it is be
lieved, indeed the Georgia Hail Road .and
Banking Compauy'and'.the South Carolina
Rail Road Company, to endorse or .guaranty
the payment of principal and interest of a
Inrge amount of them ; w hereby neigotia* t
lions .w ere ciTcvtcd in oneof our neighboring
Stntes. That this, transaction w • on-
•T.iml faith, 1 Imve no doubt. How far It is
incumbent upon the General Assembly, by
suitable legislative provisions to suisd'titi
the credit of tho Mutt; for that bf these’
Rail Uoad Con ponies, in this particular in
stance, 1 submit to its sense Oil fun ic uni)
liberality.
The remaining probable charge upon ihi
Treasury lo he considered, grows out of t!
legislation heretofore hud in reference lo 10
Central Bank, the original capital slock' ol,
which may be estimated, in rouud numbers
ut $3,560,000
The requisitions on tho Bank, in the form
bl" Trees my. warrants, as appears by an nlfi-
-mal report on this-Kot.JectpHoni ’33' (o * ’if
inclusive, was $2,293,500, and lor the con
struction of ihe W. & A. Rail Road, a dif
ferent periods from ’40 to ’43 the additional
sum of $680,000, milking the amount nctu-
ally pnid,.uod I i t> hi I itios incurred by the Bank
lor various objects of internal improvements,
the support uf the Government ando'l er nb
jeets not included in the above estimates, not
far from 3,200,000. In the face of tim e
heavy drains upen the Cenlral Bank, by the
act of 1843, for the education of the •*"'
1733 sliures uf the Bank of llieSiateofGeor-
gin, and 890 shares of the Bunk of Augusta,
constituted a purl of its capital stock; amount
ing to $262 300, was transferred to the
Treasury, and Ilia income from this source
pledged to the object 61 Education.
Fruin that period, the Bank has not been
deprived, merely, of this amount of its capi
tal stoik.hul tho divideues which have aciu-
ully accrued mid been pad mlotlieTieasury.
amounting to the sum of $129,132 60, in
cash, and the udd.tiounl sum < f $18,600 of
ibe sluckoflbe Geo. Ruil Road and Bunking
Company ; making the aggregate estimating
the Bank 8ti ck at pur, of pi incipul and inter
est, $410,032 50. VVbnt principle of public
expediency or financial exigency, warranted
this diversion of the iisscih of the Cenlral
Bank, nt n lime w hen its liabilities wotc pro
bably not less than $1,6UO,000, when .its
bills were below par, w lien Ihcie w;as an ex
tensive and general derangement of the cur-
rensy of the whole country, and when Banks,
os well os the people nt large, woio laboring
under a piessute, more dessolatine nuddisns-
irous than had been experienced for years, is
lo me .incomprehensible. As n financial
measure, its effects upon the credit of the
Staie, if not the pockets of hill holders, were
not mote instunianeous than unavoidable.—
Public confidence was destroyed, the moment
it was apparent that the Legislatuie had de
prived tlie Bank of a large poilion of its as
sets, w liich w ere pledged lor the redemption
of i's-liabilities, nnd applied them to unoiher
and dill'erent object. Ifi weie within the
competency ofihe Legislature to divest indi
vidual rights w hich had accrued lo Ihe cred
itors ot the Bank, w lmt guuranty was there
that the next step might not he taken, and
the Bank deprived of ail its assets, without
providing for the ultimate redemption of its
liabilities.
It is no answer to this objection, Ihnt the
Bank stock fcl'eired to, was applied to the
great object ol educating the poor, ns it will
be seen by reference lo the records of this
Department, Hint fir the years 1848,’49 and
’50 inclusive, the heneficiiiri.es of the fund re
ported. number 96,809, and Ihe sum dis
tributed under the act of 1843, for the same
period, is $60 812 50 ; being i fraction less
titan sixty-three cents to each per annum,
and not sufficient, under the lowest charged,
to pay for twenty days tuition.
iVlinlever nitty have been Ihe policy in
which this in ensure'originated! from the best
consideration I Imve been able to give the
subject, I am forced to the conclusion that
the example established, of transferring n
fond, after being pledged in n specific object,
before tl.e purpose of l be pledge is fully re
deemed, should not be encouraged ; and that
H,e policy of withdrawing tho ussels of the
Cenlral Bank, and applying them to o'lur
objects, noil ilieieby depriving it of ti.e means
>>f ineelibg its liabilities, is wholly indefensi
ble upon principle. The .State, lias gained
nothing, nor have the people By tie trans
fer of the Bank slock lo the Treasury, a ne
cessity is ciented lo supply the deficiency in
ihe Central Bank,'by this Slate ■ It can on
ly be dune by taxation ; nnd the result of
ibis whole measure is that every dollar dis
tributed has to bg returned back to the Bank
by the people, without any substantial good,
as I Imve shewn, in educating the poor chil
dren.
From the view- presented let not the iin-
pie-sum prevail, that I am opposed to a sys
tem ol tree schools, or to providing the
means amply und lihr rally, to educate all llm
youth ol the counliy. But to accomplish
this object, lei Ihe policy of tlie Stale he
straight I'm w ard and direct ; let the country
know that u claim is made upon the properly,
and people, the intelligence and virue ol t .c
Mine, to furnish adequate means lorexieud-
ing lo nil the youth a legacy of incalculable
value, a general d,fluxion among nil classes
and conditions, ol Hie rudiments of an Eng
lish education : for instilling into them, by
early training, just conceptions of the sociul
i elation of man to his leliow man, a love of
country and of liberty, and the duty of habit
ual reverence and humble obedience to the
laws, principles, nnd teachings of toe great
Author of man's existence, without which,
all government is but a fraud, liberty but a
name.
The liabilities of the Central Bank, at this
lime; consist uf Bunds issued to redeem its
circulation, amounting to 371,000, Of this
amouut, $9000 is redeemable in 18q4, $39.-
000 in 1885, $34,500 in 1856, $17,0:i0 in
1857, $91,500 in 1858, $50,000 in. 185J,
$35,000 in I860, $5,000 in 1-C.l, $37,000
in dS62, $48,500 in 1863, mid $75,000 in
J864.
The available assets, ns reported lo mo by
the .Cashier, limy be estimated at $100,000.
This probable deficiency, therefore, will have
to be provided for hereafter. Within four
years, ending with the cio&f of the present
fi'Cal year—tho liabilities of the Bdnlc have
l>eep reduced $270,069 87. A largo amount
o: the assets, within the period iclerred to,
icgaided as insolvent or d.iubti'uli have been
realized, or secured by the officers uf the
Bank, and much the la'rgor amount ol these
Haims 1 Imvo tin doubt, would have proved a
total loss to tbe'B ink, had the assets been
irnhsferred to tho treasury. 1 Imve hut be
lieved it to bo the inteiest of the State, to or
der this transfer, beretofure, nor would I now;
lecitinineiid it to be dune. 1 believe the dis-
eietinn vested in the Executive, as to the
transfer of its assets, sound and salutary, and
there I would advise, it should remain.
Upon carelul consideration I felt it my duty
to. invite the attention of the last General
Assembly to our system of levying and col
lecting taxes The , inequality nf our tax
\ .Lqw&appearedinjgcsso obvious.nt>.luAiicuur.
1 ago tTie Ifope that the Legislature would not
ndjnuri., w ithout the substitution of -the ad
valorem, for the present specific and objec
tionable discrimination principle, odoptecl in
1804, and continued up to this time with
slight modifications.
One nf the defects ot the old systehi wns
remidled at the last session, hut the Itighly-
nhjectiniioble feature of arbitrary specific tax
ation of property, whether real or personal
irrespective of its value, as ascertained by the
price it would command in Ihe market, or
otherw ise, is still retamed. in violntiun of the
most obvious principles of justice and sound,
■inlicy. Taxes, however, raised, whether by
Ihe Stale'or General Government may he re
garded as a charge upon property and the
I oopie lor the protection ol 'both. In wlmt
mode, and to what extent property should lie
burdened to raise the requiired sum, whether
by special levy with discrimination, or strict
ly upju the nd valorem principle, has' been,
and will doubtless continue lo be, the fruit
ful source of discussion, and diversity of opin-
The principle of discrimination that so
largely enters into every system of specific
taxation Ims its oiigin in no clear, orwoll de
fined notions of justice, and should only be
res>rtcd to in behalf of property in which nli
Hasses nod conditions ofsociely have, or are
supposed to Imve an equnl interest. Leave
man free to engngo in whatever lawful pur
suit mny be congenial lo his taste, habits and
interest, but let tho State bewnre how the
property of one of its citizens is exempted
from its taxes, while by un unequal nnd un
just discrimination, heavy burdens nre impo
sed upon that of another. The obvious duty
nf tho Legislature, ns it seems to me is lo as
certain with precision or approximating it,
the sum required In meet the demands upon
the Trensuty, and t hen j from the properly of
■lie country, raise the leqtiisitesum; not liy
saying that 10U acres of land, though worth
one thousand dollars, should pay no more tax
lo the state limn tho some number of neres of
land adjoining il, not worth one hundred dol
lars; not by exempting the property of one
mnn,imd taxing that of another; not by say
ing Hint, as between two individuals possess
ed nf equal amounts, hut different species, ol
property, the one should he nssessed, nt the
rale of fifty dollars; w herens, of the other,
only five dollars is demanded; hut by levying
the same rate nf tnx upon nil of tlie pioperty
of the Stale, according to its vnluo. If dis
criminations are In he tolerated at all, 1 am
clenrlv ofihe opinion, it should lie in favor nl
rcnl estate, ns ncaiosi personal; hut certainly
there is no equality, or-juslice in a system of
finance, exacting different rates-.of taxes on
lands of the same value.
One of tho objections offered ’o a system
of laxntion based upon the value of tho pro
perly itself, is the want of reliable data by
whicli the principle could be tested All
must foresee Hie eminent" danger to tho credit
iifthe State, its character and prosperity, re
sulting from an inability in the Treasury to
meet promptly nil demands upon it, by what
soever means produced. But it is believed,!he
present period is exceedingly fnvorahle, ei
ther for n total, nr partial change of the pre
sent system. The present data furnished of
dtp. value ttf real and personal property of this
state, under the iilitlmHly of an act of Cni-
giiss during the last year, would be highly
useful Many interesting statistics, that
would serve tit direct the research nnd inves
i gniloti of the Legislature, in fixing the pro-
pej rate of levy to raise a given amount,
might be obtained from the Census books de
posited in the office of the Secretary nf State.
It may not bo OnwtMhy >>f notice that, upon
tbisnuthority, the real estate nf Georgia was
estimated nt 129,663,283 dollars, the person
al at 510,081,294, dollars, nt.d that one
eighth of one per cent on the gross amount,
w ould bring Into the Treasury about 347,2h2
dollars onf eighty-tw o cents, after allowing
sixteen percent, for assessing, collecting nnd
paying over the same; an amount exceeding
the present income, and more then adequate
for Hie present nnd accruing Inhililies.
Having discussed the subject; somewhat at
length, in a communication submitted to the
last' Legislatuie. Itcel that it w ould be an un-
ngi'^ssary lax upon your indulgence, ngnin
In i epeat the arguments then submitted. I
would most respectfully refer you to what
was then communicated, ns containing not
merely my opinion nt iljp time, but since
greatly strengthened by further observation,
redaction nnd experience. I cannot, there
fore, loo earnestly urge upon you the strung,
abiding conviction that justice and good faith,’
as well ns expediency, imperiously claim at
the hinds of the Legislature, tin entire change
ot Hie principle ol your tax laws, by Ihe
substitution of n tax based upon the value of
properly Whalevgr may lie the fate of this
measure before the present. Legislature,’ I.
shall ever cherish a hope that asenxenf right,
a love of Bhuality Hud justice, will ultimiilely.
prevail: and that ihe sound principle of tax
ation; that ihe burthen uf government should
rest upon the nlijectH of its protection, so
earnestly pressed upon you, will become
firmly rivitod upon the public mind,
The Reports ol the Treasurer and Comp
troller General, for the finaqpihl years 1850
and 1851, are herewith transiuit'ed. The
du* imposed by ' law upon . the Tfpnsurer,
has been complied with, and'his estimates
uf the receipts and expenditures, for the next
two years, are submitted,
The total available hXlanco in the Treasu
ry, ut the close of Ilia financial year,- is
$118,069 45, from tins sum deduct $37,ISO
71 of undrawn appropriations; 30 219 40 of
the tnx of 1831, collected before the close uf
the financial year, nnd 18,582 00 dividends
on Education Fund, leaving a surplus, at the
closo of the fi«cal jenr, nf 40,087 34
The amount or undrawn appropriations,
Hint will i evert to ihe Treasury, will probn.
bly not vary far from 13.950, 75, making tho
actunl surplus in the trcnni.y, subject to any
future appiopriatinns made by the Legisla
ture, or applicable to the public debt'. $54,-
038 09.
At the Inst session, an Act wns passed,
providing $70,000 as an annual sinking fund
It was early foreseen, offer the adjournment
ortho Legislature, from*llie extraordinary
expenseof that session, exceeding ns it did
the estimates of the 'I rensurer by 39,301 08.
independent rf an oxtrqordmniy appropria
tion of $30,000, the exjiendltute of- which
was dependent upon contingencies which did
not arise until near the close'of the fiscal
year, that tho Treasury might he somewhat
straightened, if an application nf the sinking
fund lo the redemption of the Bonds, was
made before any norlion oft lie taxes of 1850
was received. Efforts, however, we made
abroad, by Ihe agenls of the State, to ascer
tain nt wlmt rates the £15,000 sterling,
could be obtained : nnd from onuses' ulrcudy
mentioned, it was deemed injudicious to re
deem these securities tit the time. Nor w as
there any application made, or opportunity
ullurded the Treasurer, to ledeem any por
tion of tho domestic debt'before March last,
when $72,000 of the 6 per cent bonds were
offered nnd redeemed. Diligent' inquiries
have since been made, to obtain the bonds ot
the State, that the surplus now in the Trea
sury might heqpplied, in redeeming tbAsame,
but with littlo success.
At u more recent date, nolicewus given in
tho public gazettes, of the readiness cif the
Tieusury to redeem an additional sum, and
after all proper means used to induce holders
to part with tho bonds of the SlnTe at pur,
within the last two fiscal years just closed,
the amount presented and redeemed nt the
Treasury s $103,760 00, of the 6 per cenls;
tiius furnishing the most satisfactory evidence'
of the prosperous condition uf tho financial
atl'uirs of the S ate.
In this connection, it would ne on accepta
ble announcement to make, I apprehend, lo
the Legislature, that, offer years of delay,
the sum of $65,683 44, exclusive of commis
sions, boa been collected from the General
Government, for advunces made und the
interest accruing thereon, in the Indian dis,.
tut bailees of 1835. Under the authority of n
Joint Resolution of ibis Inst Legisluiuic. 1
appointed Joseph Blurgis, Esqr., the Attor
ney in fact of the Slate, to urge upon the
authorities at Washington, this just claim, ol
fifteen years standing. To I is untiring zeal,
assiduity and skill in the managements ol
this long neglected clnim, the Stale is in. no
small degree indebted for the respectable
sum received, so very generally-' regarded ns
utterly worthless. A cluim (if the Central
Bank, against the United Sla’es, ot like char -
acter, was also placed in the hunds.of Judge
Sturgis, with like happy results; the Bank
Having received for this 'claim $21,044 00
The Reports of tho Chief Engineer of tho
Western & Atluntic It nil Hoad for the years
1850 und 1851, and the Reports of the Fi
nance Committee, appointed under the Act
of 1845, ure also transmitted. To these Re
ports 1 invite the calm and patient attention
nf tho Legislature, for much useful informa
tion, and ninny valuable suggestions.
Questions of deeper interest to the future
prosperity of the stale, will not engage your
attention, than those eonnectedwith this pub
lic work. They rise nbove ull party, selfish
or sectional considerations, nnd In the enlarg
ed nnd comprehensive views ofihe Statesmun,
address themselves with a force too irresisti
ble, it is believed, not to insuie the udoplion
of wise measures.
It was eaily foreseen by the friends of this
work, that sectional jealousies would spring
up, nnd that it would hare to encounter op-
position Irani thlsquarior, not i*-ss virulent ’in
its churncler, than from that equally deplora
ble infirmity, unfortunately ton prevalent with
ce< tain classes, to busy themselves most in
matters ol public concernment, in which they
ate'most ignoian'. The Keporl of the Fi
nance Committee, nnd the views (here pre
sented, a-n well ns the policy in which this
Railway had its origin, would seem to de
mand at toy hands, in retiring from the pub
lic trust confided to me, to. enter somewhat
into the detail of fxcls connected with the
administration ofihe affairs of this Hood, since
my official connection with it commenced
This seems to me proper, that the public, as
well as the Legislature, may understand the
policy that has governed me, and the diffi
culties with the management of the affairs of
the Hoad has been inves'ed, from the mo
ment of my connection with it,
It will be conceded, I apprehend, that the
successful,umnagemen of a Hail Hood very
much depends upon the financial ability with
which its income and disbursemeits are cun-
ducted.
When the present Cliiof Engineer was cal
led to perform the threeford duties of a Board
of Directors, President and Chief -Engineer,
Hie name affixed lo those duties by our sta
tute, was that ol Chief Engineer
To find blended in one man, the highest
attainments in these several departments,
combined will practical experience in each,
was not to he expected, nt lonst, for tho in
adequate salary of $1800 per anmim, a com
pensation below what is believed to be paid
on most nf the important roads in thp State,
to the Chief Engineer alone- Being quite
sutit find of the eminent-qualifications of the
present incumbent, in. everything connected
wi h the .financial duties of this multifarious
office, to which hp combined an accurate
theoretical knowledge of .Civil Engineering,
super.idtled to which I may mention his ele
vated character for probity, intelligence and
strictly business habit's, with nn intimate ac
quaintance with the legal prinoipl*s> and thp
necessity of such know ledge in the adjust
ment of many vexed questions, left |s u lega
cy by the.preceding adiofoislrati )ns, clearly
indicated Mr. Mitchell us a sui.ui le pe s.m
lu invite to this icsponsihle stulion.
Being satisfied at the time, that the public
inioresl would be promo ed by catling the
present iucuiiibcRt In take clmige of this
branch of the. public service, 1 has e bad no
just cause to change that opinion since. The
propriety uf this remark w ill be seen, when
it is known to the Legislature,ehni in evgry
instance of a charge involving the mismnn-
iigoiiient.of the road, brought to my attention
in a form tha' would warrant official notice
ofihe same, the accusers have invariably
failed to ndducb ptouf in support of their
churges. The conclusion would seem lire
sistitde, that nlii-gulioiis Imve been preferred
through a .m suppiel.e..sion of tl>« tacts, or
from motives less creditable to ibe human
heart, nnd looking to ulterior objects con
nected with party, or Hie creation of n public
opinion that would devolve upon tl.e Legis
lature the necessity if d.sposin'g of tbis tnlu-
uble property, to private individuals, or com
panies.
In Jnnuaty-1848,- whemthe former Chief
Engineer, Mr. Garnelt, turned over the of
led* of the Rond to, the present incumbent,
about lino bundled miles, comm'eiicingnl A:-
IniiliL, and extending lo Diillon. Were com
pleted ; and the entire equipment foe this ex
tent ill Railway, consisted ..I six locomotives
oneof which was purchased afiu tl.e 1st of
November, 1847, t«o 'Passenger em>, nnd
two baggage eats; with no .ouisrandmg debt
amounting to $42 10743, nnd u cash Jmj»i ce
in the hands of li e IVoa-.uier ml S.J 8.'8 (5.
This equtpme.it would l e iidmilieil by ull
experienced Rail Hoad men, us wlo lv in-
adequate; admitting il e Engines and Curs nil
new, nil fit lor use The passenger oms wore
nl the best roughly c»r.stiueied, and iiui like
ly to attract the ndmiratmn of travellers, ei
ther for the comfort ullbirod, or elegance of
finish.. The mutive pow erwns miserably de
ficient.
Sineo January, 1848, tlie present lime, the
motive pow er-has been mm cased by (lie pur
chase of 7' locomotives of I lie first class at q
cost of>$44,500; milking the pre-ent -equip
ment in motive power, to consist of, thirteen
engines, sete'u of which• have been bouglii
aqd paid for since April,’ |848; and most of
w hiyli are in good Order, and me believed to
he barely, aidficieut to do (he hiisitie-s for ltiq
pieseul,. -
But the deficiency in freight cars still ex
ist, and until it is-supplied, it may l u axjiecw
edlholtlic business of the road w ill not tie
conducted with dhqmH-h, or saiiintbtioS to
the ptiulic: It is helievfdThat, front tho e r-
liesl experience lo Hie pie-col mornem'. In - ,
ifany examples can lie luund. w l.e. e mil e' a
Stale or ('oiopaiu, with one bundled imd
thirty-eiglil miles of rail road, bus attempted
to do the business of trnn»ptmlaiii>ri, fur. any
ponside.utile length of time, without >t lull
equipment 'of freight cars If the question ia
considered alone in refe>enee to the net in-
C-imeol'lhe rnnd, econuniy would demand nn
immediate equipment. For, bg it borne in
mind Hint llig present Chief Engineer found
upon entering upon’ Ilia duties, it -ubsi-ting
contract with the Georgia..RailRoad,und lie
Macon & Western Rill Road Compares,
made by Hie former Chief Engioeor, Mr.
Gurnet, that one eighth of Hie gross amount
receiled for freight, transported in the c,<rs
ol those Companies ovet the Stute limit!,
should be puid iis hire or rent, for llm n e of
the same, together with - 'he expense of ic-
jiuiring all egra which might lie broken or in
jured, w hile engaged, in such trapsomtatimi.
Those items, for the last: two years, amount
to Ihe sum of $45,845 69, exclusive i.f mi
adjusted claim (if the Genrgiu Rail Rnnd
Company, I'm repairs' of cuts, $17,111 51
The cost of freight cars, npco.smy m Imvo
performed the transporiatioo for the smite
time, w ould nit Imve exceeded $60,1100, es
timating the number of curs lo ne one hund
red, while the entire cost of the eonsttuclimm
ofihe Western & Atlantic Rail Road, up to
this time, amounts to $3,913,862 28. From
ibis data il will be seen, the Ge.ugiq Rail
Road, and Macon & We-tern Rail Rond,
have probably received, upon, then- capiiat
invested to cars, Irani the Stale, in tlie fonn
of rent and repairs alone, about ihirty-e ght
per cent, per gnnum lor the two years just
ended, whereas the State has received upon
the capital expended in ihe construction <>f
its roads, about per cent, for i850,imd 3J-
fur the year just terminated
But a complete equipment of freight car-*
is demanded, out merely fioru the considera
tion noticed, but it .is essential to the fail Idol
discharge of a doty to the public, undertaken
by Ihe State. Freiglils in large qnai.liiies,
accumulate occasionally nt different pniiiteon
the road; the o vnets or shippers ure deeply-
interested in having them sent fnrwnid to
meet an advance in the market, actual or an
ticipated, hut how. often is it the case, when
the freight > ars are nmst needed on the Wes
tern & Atlantic Ruil Road, llio Georgia and
Macon !l Weslern brands nrq npl able to
meet Hie demand. And if injury result to the
owner or snipper of produce or merclmudise,
by a dec'ine in the markets, from such unsea
sonable detention, is not (he State, by its
mistaken ruinous policy in tefusing to equip
the ftond, morally, if not legally, answerable
for the dumage.
There is nn obligation qn the.Genrgi-i ond
Macon and Western Rail Road Companies,
to furnish cars fur the use oli the Stste Road;
and it mny not be expected thfey will do so :
unless it suits their interest or convenience.
Butano'her insuperable objection to Hie
longer continuation Of the existing arrange
ments, grows out ot the fact, that the busi-
nes i of transportation of three roads, becomes'
so mixed and blended, ns to create'much
confusion in fixing the liability of each for
the loss or damage of merchandise and pro
duce in transitu. Much titore might be ssid
but it is deemed unnecessary, as this nr snob,
with all other,questions connected with
subject, is forcibly presented in the u ‘ r
of the Chief Engineer, and accomp -
cuments of the Finance Cominittr'
transmitted.