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SrtWiHfev - . £ ' .gbytoM. ,W 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.