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front Siltimau's Jour.^l of Sciences'.
O > Till; PRAIilLEJS) OF ALABAMA.
Br VV. W. McGuire, (lii a letttir id tli
Editor.)
From tin- period of tho first settlement, of
this state to the present time, the prairies
have I: .*eii tit** objects of great curiosity and
have attracted much attention ; still, although
the li ii ’ for scientific investigation is so rich
uud interesting, no one has, to my knowledge,
attempted a minute examination ofit. Th
.1 I.ick'of moisture for the pu
lion. And at times When th
I as to produce fissures lw
vjsc el vegeta-
drought is such
iiree inches wide
and as many feet deep, the earth will be found
quite moist at the depth of two or three inch
es.
As an evidence of the general motsfari* of
the prairie soil, below the surface, : ,t may be
remarked, that crawfishes arc eo'very numer
ous in some situations as ?o prove vers de
structive to young corn, cotton, and other ten-
striking peculiarities of the soil, of geological dor plants. At’.'r nightfall they issue from
configuration, and organtic productions, eape- their holes Or dims and commence their de-
chdly in shells and oilier marine substance, vasiat'tms. I heir holes are of considerable
which arc fonud scattered indiscriminately o- I depth, supposed to reach to the rock formation,
ver the prairies, are well adapted to attract j a distance of from ten to fifteen feet; and on
attention, an J to excite investigation respect- > surface of the ground regular and well
ing ihe period and causes of the formation of1 built mud walls, five or six inches high arc li
the prairies and their fossils. Many \\ho ! rectccl * i he crawfish is of the crustaceous
have never conceived of the possibility of any i cIass > Perhaps differing but slightly except in
great change of the snrface of the earth, ex- f roni the suo lobster. Their nocturnal
cept that produced by the deluge recorded in perigrinations show that they differ at least in
the peuteteueb, atiribute to that event, the j } llcir habits, from the common crawfish found
present position of these shells. Others, ta- ,a our hrooks.
king a still narrower view, lielievc them to have
been removed by the agency 'of men from
their native beds to the place where they are
now found.
My own observations, although limited,
have satisfied me that the prairies once con
stituted the boundary of the Atlantic Ocean.
Much of the soil is sterile, presenting low
bills cn which there is no timber; in other pla
ces, a small and stiutrd growth, such as black
jack and post oak. In some places there arc
considerable hills, having a thin stratum of
excellent vegetable mould covered with tim
ber indicating a goad soil; but from the close
In support of this opinion there are still exist- ! texture of the substratum, it is liable to be
ing many.satisfactory proofs, although .igri washed an ay, which has been the case in Wash-
imm hnvo elapsed since' those changes took j iegton and Clarke counties. T"
place; strong‘‘vidonco also existsts that this ties, I urn informed the rock
.gruat' change has been affected by the eleva
ting power of earthquakes, volcanoes and sub-
terautau heat. The lace of the country, from
tin) mountains to the prairies, is rough and
.uneven, presenting an outline differing from
ull other hilly or broken countries which I have
ever sceu. It abounds iu iron pyrites and
pebbles. Beds of good icon ore, of anthracite
and bituminous coal, i nd of limestone and
saudstone, are found is several places.
The* coantry lying between the prairies
and the scncoast is generally, if not altogeth
er, of the same character as that from tin*
coast of the Potomac to St. Mary’s viz : lev
el sandy plains, some fertile, some sterile, ei
ther dry or swampy, and, covered with pine,
onk, cypress, cane, «fcc.; but it generally,
perhaps universally, shows the distinctive pe
culiarities of the above named coast. Tho
changes in all places are sudden and abrupt,
changing from the peculiar soil and character
of the prairies, to that of the coast, which is
sterile,in some places almost pure silica; or
of alluvial formation along the rivers, swamps
and marshes, differing in fertility, according
to the portions in which silica and vegetable
matter are mixed in their composition. This
tract of country is from one hundred to one
hundred and thirty miles wide, perhaps more.
In speaking of tho prairies, the rock for
mation claims particular attention. It is uhi-
l.irmiy found 'below - the prairie soil, at a va
rious depths, ranging from ten to fifteen feet,
and it sometimes projects above the grounds
This rock is generally known by the name of
rotton limestone ; when removed for several
feet on tiro fop, and exposed to the action of
the atmosphere for. sometime it assumes a
beautiful while color. In its soft state it isea-
sil v quarried, and blocks of almost any dinien-
tioilS Call lie. ppuru^wl. I» *.00
by planes and other instrument, ?ud used in
build’ng chimnics, some of which liflvd stood
twelve or fifteen years without injury or tis‘
I11 those coun-
projccts more
than in any other part of rite prairies, and
there are dills fifteen or twenty feet high.
There are open prairies of every size from
one hundred to one .thousand or twelve hun
dred acres'mixed and interspersed in every
form and mode with timbered land of all
kinds; some producing only black-jack and
post oak not exceeding fifteen or twenty feet
in height; others again covered with the most
majestic oak, poplar, elm, hickory, walnut,
pacaitn, hackbcrry, grapevine aud cane, e-
qual in size and beauty, 1 understand to simi
lar kinds in the Mississippi alluvions.
. Tbp extent of ibis country may not be un
important. I am informed that traces of prai
rie soil may he seen in Georgia, perhaps as fur
east as M lledgoville. It is indved said to ex
ist in North Carolina-; but of this I have not
evidence such as to warrant the assertion.—
That it stretches" nearly, five hundred miles
eastward from the vicinity of the Mississippi on
the west almost, to Milledgeville, there is no
doubt; and if it extends, as is said to be the
fact, to North Carolina, it reaches four hun
dred or five hundred miles farther, being per
haps nine hundred or one thousand miles long,
and from forty to sixty in breadtln
That the prairies were once the boundary
of the Atlantic is evident. 1. Frptn the fact,
that on both sides, they exhibit the indented
and irregular appearance Gf a coast, uniform
ly stretching up the large water courses; and
in general, the sandy low rivers into the prai
ries ; but except it is more or less alluvial, is
un'ike the prairies. 2. They are nearly or
quite parallel to the present shore. 3. The
great quantify of sea shells, found scattered on
so large a tract of country, very li'tlc of which
is within one hundred miles of the sen coast,
supports the opinion now advanced. The idea
of their havimr boon rarrird thither by action
of winds or tides, is precluded by the fact, that
in that case, they must have been raised three
or four hundred feet, and I presume in no plate
resembling the coral, or some of the zoophytic
families. It is nearly as liaru as flint rock.
I collected several specimens, but have lost
then). Some months back, I saw in the pos
session of a gentleman, several very interest-
ini' prairie specimens. They were said to be
Shark's teeth, from an inch to an inch and a
half in lengthy slender and very sharp. A-
mnng them a.*e also species of the vertebrae of
fishes. They were procured in a section of
the prairies which 1 have never visited ; which
abounding in specimens of the kind just men
tioned, is the most interesting portion of this
singular country.
It is a well establisheJ fact, that the earth
aud sea have undergone frequent and violent
revolutions ; and that the change that left the
prairies dry is the most recent, is evident frtfm
the perfect state which shells, Ac. arc now
found and from the fact that vegetation in ma
ny places, has made but slow progress. The
nature of the soil indicates some ingredient ad
verse to many kinds of plums. But it is evi
dently fast changing, and it is not unlikely,
that in the course of time, it will entirely lose
its distinctive character and become perfectly
. r. algamated with vegetable matter. The
process of decomposition and reproduction .is
rapidly going on iu most places, and at every
successive crop of plants,'more matter is ad
ded, for the final accomplishment ol the great
change. It would bo ah interesting subject of
inquiry whether the woodlands are not gradu
ally encroaching upon naked places; and if
so, it would show at mice that the prairies are
by natural operations, slowly losing their pecul
iarities.
Postscript.—A gentleman of Clarke coun
ty, Alabama, states, that on his plantation are
parts of the back bene of some animal from
eight to ten inches long, and proportionally
large in circumference—some still held togeth
er by the cartilaginous ligatures. Many of
the early settlers used them instead of andi
rons. There is no canal for the spinal mar
row. An early settler informed him, that be
had seen an entire skeleton, on the surface of
the earth; it was of enormous dimensions,
longer as is rep'orti d, than tho largest whale.
the indignation of the people, manifested by
them, when they* carnet in from the country
and were informed, that a man, calling him
self an American Citizen, had made his^ ne
gro tear down and throw the ‘American Flag'
into the dust;
JOSEPH FREDERICK.
QJ*’ Editors in Georgia lriendly to the Un
ion and t lie cause of truth, will please publish
the above together with the certificates.
J. F.
Gainesville, August 26, 1834.
I have lived with Mr. Joseph brederick of
Gainesville since November 1833, in the ca
pacity of Clerk*, and certify, that when I com
menced living with him, he had an American
House and made him strip the United States
Flue, which was flying on a stuff, from said staff
and throw it from the top : I the C-un Hc..-
to the ground ; and as soon as it real)>nd il.
ground, 1 heard Doctor Fulger, a n tilifier* sil
ting near me, observe, “the flu ; . r was now
where it ought to be ! !”
E. T. SHELTON,
of Habersham county.
BOARD OF HEALTH, t
Savannah, Sept. 11,1834,1 o'clock,p. m. J
The Board of Health announce to their fel
low-citizens, the occurrence of one death by
Cholera since their last report: Ii^wus the se
cond mate of the brig .Madison. They are in
formed that there have also occurred since their
menceu iivmg wiui nun, ne iiju .wi ,■ ■ i i. ...
Flag in the desk of his store, where it remain- last report three other cuses-all b.ucks ud,
® - v . i I • I niui eoiil til In* lit tllK 111 till fill lilt" 1 ( (.ll\ PI \ •
From the Southern Banner.
In the Southern Whig, of the 9th nit., it is
stated by Reuben Thornton, Tlmmas Holland,
and Andrew Barr, in their address “To the
ed until the tlrrd day of July last, on which
dav Air. Frederick sent mo to procure some
hickory bushes, aud when I returned with them,
he had them, with said flag, attached to a staft,
and then employed'Mr. John N. Mc\\ horier
and two negroes owned by Capt. Hitchcock,
to hoist the flag on the Court House in Gaines
ville.
PETER DREYER.
Gainesville, August 26, 1834.
On the third day of July last, tho under
signed saw the United States Flag taken from
Mr. Frederick’s store to the Court House, in
Gainesville,, and hoisted on the top thereof, by
Mr. John N. McWhorter and some of Captain
Hitchcock’s negroes.
HENRY L. S1MS. V
Gainesville, August 26, 1834.
On the third day of Ju'y last, the under
signed saw Mr. J din N. McWhorter and a ne
gro man owned by Captain -Hitchcock, hoist
tin* United States FI; g on’the Court House in
Gainesville. The next morning we heard
Thomas Holland say to Mr. Joseph Frederick
the flag should come down; Frederick replied
it should not; Thomas Holland then said, “-he
would be damned.if it should not come down,”
and called his own negro man, made him go
up, aud strip off the flag who wadded it up and
threw it from the top of the Court House to
the ground; and after the staff and bushes
were also taken down, wo then saw the same
negro take up aud carry the flag to Thomas
Holland’s house; which flag was not hoisted
or seen any more by us. We further certify,
are said to be at this hour on the recov
From the reports from the country there is an
amelioration of the violence ot the disease, and
at Wightnian’s no now cases.
CHARLES S. HENRY, Chairman,
S. Siieftall, 8cc. 1>. II.
T E L E GRAF II.
SSACOIV, Ca.
TITURSDA Y, SEP TEMBER 18,1834.
Tile Journal has replied to
the competency of the general
exercise force iu securing an c
i*ur remarks ou
gorcnuncQt to
bedieuce to the
Health op our City —Tin* Report of the
Board of Health on yesterday, exhibits no case
of Cholera in the city. Our city for the last
month, has been uncommonly healthy. The
reports of interments lor the Jour weeks, end- ^
ing 9lli inst. show but thirteen deaths among I '" lCDU ” ul '
the white population. Then* were thirty-six j a [ )aicJ i t ‘
last year during the same period, ending 10th
September, being 23 more than tins year.
BOARD OF HEALTH, )
Savannah, Sept. 12,1834,1 o'clock,p.m. j
The Board of Health announce to their fel
low-citizens, that no case of Cholera lias oc
curred within the limits of the State, since
their last report. The cases repo, led yester
day are convalescent. The Board do nut
laws, tiy giviug us a story about Dogberry atula
chapter on the Irish. It is very well: if the
Journal bail nothing more pertinent at baud, they
certainly acted judiciously in calling to their aid
the nigh authority of Shakspcar’s buffoon: which-
when compared with other authorities cited in
support of their state rights doctrine, is not tubs
sneezed at. Aud wo may be allowed to say
e«i passant, that there are many articles of their
creed which c.iunot be traced to so respectable
o as that of master Dogberry.
But tho Journal says: ‘*It is quite superfluous
for the Telegraph to quote Jefferson and Troup
iu support of lie supremacy of the federal gov
ernment wiihm its proper sphere. Where is the
state rights man who has not always held thisr
aud who of them would not aid it with the mili
tary to suppress insurrection: or repel invasions! *
But what has this to do with the question-”
Wo auswer, every tiling; it contains the very.
Public,” that Capt. Holland as one of the
Committee to make arrangements for the Cei- j that a small flag belonging to a Horse Compa-
ebrnftbn of the 4th of July last, .at Gainesville,
cay. A summer’s seasoning is requisite to fit | lass , . ,h ™ T on ? hundrcd aboTO lho levcl of the
it for building. This rock lias been penotra- ixu!l ofMcjuco "
tcdiiy boring to depths varying from one lion
dreil to five hundred and fifty feet; after the
first six or seven feot, it is of a blueish or
gray color, hut still soft, except in a few in
stances, where ■flint strata of a foot thick or
more have been met with. On perforating
the rock, a full supply of good water is always
obtained, which uniformly flows over the top.
I have heard of no constant running stream of
water over this rock except one in Pickens
county, near the lower line. The superin
cumbent earth is for a fewfeet composed prin
cipally of stiff clay, of whitish color; then
comes the mould or soil, which is very black—
in wet weathet it is extremely miry and stiff,
N nnd in dry,, very hard and compact.
Shells, swell as the oyster, muscle, periwin-
r jf,',Tt the chajge was the effect of earth
quakes, iV evident from the appearance of the
Mississippi. l : i:C “'ftther of rivers” bears
strong marks, that long itpiCfO fi ,e earthquakes
of 1811‘12, its course" had bed.i altered by
some more powerful convulsion of aaR're ; for
its mighty current runs strongly against CJ>o 5°-
ven bluffs below its junction with the Ohio, (ex'- I es.
“cave orders to a negro man to hoist a flag,
which lie gave him, on the top of the Court’
House; and having other business to attend
to, was absent at tin* time the order was exe
cuted. Some officious, unauthorized individ
uals who were not members of the State
Rights’ party, influenced the servant who knew
no better, to obtain a large bunch of hickory
bushes, and tie them around the top of
the staff, to which the flag was suspended,
evidently with a view to insult tho party
who had ordered the flag to be' hoisted.
Capt. H. was absent from town that night, and
was unapprised of the hickory hushes being u-
nited with tlie flag, until bisreturnon tho next
morning, when be prompt.y ordered his servant
to go up and knock them off.”
The above statement is given, as comprising
Sill nf tho trO"cqrlinn,ai»<J Aontaluo
positive averments.
1. Tlmt Thomas Holland as one of the
Committee of arrangements, had the flag hoist
ed on the Court House by a negro.
2. That Thomas Holland gave the flag to tho
negro.
8. That some officious unauthorized indi
viduals influenced that negro to obtain and tie
a large bunch of hickory bushes around the top
of the flag staff.
4. That the aforesaid Thomas Holland made
bis servant go up and only knock off the busli-
cept at St. Francisville.) seeming still to con
tend for its ancient channel. The prairies
themselves afford strong proof of this posi
tion; for, in many places they 'present tho
appearance of having been lifted up, and tlrcy
are, in fact, considerably higher than the sur
rounding country. Much of the country of
which I am speaking, besides the prairies, has
that peculiar undulating appearance which
corresponds with the expansive Leavings of
kle, and some other kinds, are found in grds*
quantities throughout almost all the prairies oft earthquakes
Alabama an J Mississippi; the first named be- | To u'.is theCTy an objection, at least, may
mg the most numerous, mixed in every pro- | 110 raised. Why is it that aquatic remains are
portion with the others. The oyster shells are I not found between the prairie- allt * **- ,? °f ca °
perfectly similar to those now obtained from I ^ ma y be replied that the marine exuYtte ! n
th e oyster banks on the shores of the Atlantic. I the low country have long since been decom-
Tho largest beds of shells in the open prairies I P osc d» while the shells in the prairies have
Jt will now relate tho true circumstances of
that transaction which will be found to be con
cerned bv the following certificates, signed by
gentlemen of the first respectability lit Oaines-
ny was the only other flag seen by us in Ge
vitte on the 4th of July last, and we beli
there was no other in Gainesville besides
large one which Mr. Frederick had hoisted,
JOHN M. McAFFEE,
E. SIMMONS,
deem it within their legitimate province, to re- f 1 '* u * ’* le question. If the federal government
port upon the cases that occur in. tho country,
but in their anxiety to place before their fel
low-citizens, ail information in their power,
they will continue to give such general report
of the travels ol the disease as-the returns of
the respective Physicians shall enable them
to do. These .returns are on tile with the Sec
retary of the Board, open to the inspection of
all for examination, from which the Board be
lieve there is an amelioration in the violence f
the disease in the country. Ca^i-s have occur
red on the Ogeechee river,’tho plantations
ot Messrs. Bl-ike. EVAol aud McLeod, ami five
Gainesville, August 26, 1834.
I certify that I heard the conversation be
tween Thomas Holland and Mr. Joseph Fred
erick, as set forth in the above certificate, and
that I saw Thoruos Holland make his negro
man go to the top of the Court House, take off
the flag, throw it to the ground, and then car
ry it off.
W. T. BELL.
Gainesville, August 26, 1834.
Tl»o undersigned certify that on the evening
of the third of July last, we were passing by* the
Couil Holl'-C in QxIlIMvUl- AIv-WL-r
ter and Captain Hitchcock’s negroes fixing
a frame or brace upon which to erect the Uni
ted States Flag. Mr. Joseph Frederick, who
was standing by, observed he intended having
a bunch of green bushes placed on the top of
the staff. The'next morning he walked over
to the Cnuit House, and had been there only*
a few minutes, when Thomas Holland capio to
tho Court House, and meeting Mr. McWhorter
at the door, asked him to take the flag down,
which «* as then flying on the Court House,
crowned #!th hickory bushes ; Mr. McWhor
ter refused to do so; Thomas Holland then
ordered one of Captain Hitchcock’s boys who
was standing by to take it down—the boy also
refused: Thomas Holland then called to Mr.
Frederick, who was standing near his store,
aines- deaths accord',!-^ t 0 ifie report of the atteiid-
iclievc >ng Physician. As an instance of the general
>s the- -aith of our city, the Board would obset v<*,
that their minutes exhibit the gvatitying fact
that the deaths among our white population lot
the last month have not equalled by one half,
the number of deaths during the* same period
last year..
CHARLES S. HENRY, Chairman..
S. Sueftall, Sec. B. H.
rifle, and conclusively showing that neither of S jjJ remiired *fiiu to take it down ; Mr. Fred
erick also refusea’ J Thomas Holland then flew
into a violent passion—swore the flag should
come down, goes oft, gets his own negro man,
and ordered him to go up and take the flag
down; his negro man a«cended to the top of
seem io occupy rather elevated but not the
highest places. They liavr probably been re
moved from the more elevated situations by
torrents of lain. It may be that the lowest
places never contained any shells; or if they
did, as vegetable matter accumulates in crea
tor quantities in low situations, they may have
been thus coyercd. In some instances I bc-
lievo tho;. have been found in such places,
remained in some instances, entire, for the
want of suitable «gents to act upon them ; in
deed, the prairies themselves illustrate this ob
servation, for in all places where vegetable
matter in considerable quantities has been
brought to act, the shells are rapidly de
composing or have nearly passed through this
process, and the vegetables have in conse
quence obtained a luxuriant growth. While
several feet below the surface. They arc not : 011 thr ot,lc . r 1,an<1 > in situations where shells
found in very large quantities in the timbered are found in nearly their original state, it
prairies; and indeed, so far as I have observ
ed, wherever the shells are numerous, vegeta
tion is tot so luxuriant as where there is a.
proper admixture of the decomposed oc com
posing shells and vegetable matter.
These shells and other decomposing materi
als appear to have given a peculiar character
readily perceived that the mass of actually de
composing materials, (except a partial influ
ence of air and water, is in small proportion
to the whole accumulation.
The prairies present a more lovely and fas
cinating prospect in the spring and summer,
than the liveliest imagination can picture.—
to t 1 *,’ prairie soil, which causes it to adhere so I ^ ^ ic y arc then clothed in the richest livery of
stronglv t.> the legs of horses and to the wheels 1 those seasons
of carriag s as to remain several days in irnv-
elling, unless washed or beaten off. Yet,
vlien weiJ broken up, at the- proper season,
amt regularly ploughed, it remains quite mel
low, producing corn and cotton equal to the
“Plains immense : ■ and interminable meads,
Lie stretched before—where the wandering eye,
Unfix'd is in verdant ocean lost,
And richer sweets, beyond our gardens pride,
Plays o’er tho fields, and shower* with sudden
hand,
Lest nlkivtal'koitoms, with, so faros it lias been 1 Exuberant spring.”
tried, increased! firtilffV 5 although from the! Herds of cattle and flocks of slicep, are seen
compact nature of the rock beneath, a id the te- | in the distance, cropping the fresii grass, or
no city until which h retains ntoisture, crops are wandering at pleasure over the flowerv region,
injfrad sSmctkoos bv rains, J‘Ut seldom By Yet the absence of large trees, U amply repaid,
drAugfct. * by the rich garniture of grass, flowers and
There being no openi ig or fissures, except a- shrubbery? The odors of the wild lose, liavv-
Uoveilu i'ockby which to convey the watepdirect- i thorn, load the summer’s breeze with the
)y to:h» champ*! A creeks, and rivers, {here are 1 «$ost delicious perfumes. During the hottest
f ons<H|'iently no reservoirs to contain supplies 1 and most sultry weather, when in other pla-
for fount iivis and springs. In the winter and I e'es, every tiling is drooping and withering
■spring seasons the streams overflow and the | from excessive heat, a coo! breeze is “ever on
land is, laterally submerged. In the summer : the wing.” This is owing to the elevation of
.and Anttimn neither springs or we Is are to be ; the prairies and the aosence of timber.
oxcept below the rock; yet notwitli- j During my last visit to the prairies,! found
ding iMs #pat City of water, there Is seldom I aAobstance ^existing in eonsiderable quantities,
the foregoing averments arc correct
About fifteen months past some of the citi
zens of Gainesville procured a flag by subscrip
tion. On the 4th of July 1833, this flag was
suspended on a tall pole, capped with hickory
leaves, in a fewfeet of the Court House. A-
gain on the first Monday in October 1833, it
was \vidi hickory leaves, suspended on the
same pole; a few days thereafter the flag was
takC.*I down at my instance, and laid away in
die desk of store .‘.'“"sc. where it remained
until the third day of July las^ • i’H i*.~ :i ^ cr "
noon of the day, I sent a white man living with
me, to procure some hushes, and wheli lie re
turned with them, I had the flag brought down,
the hickory bushes tied around the top of a
staff; the flag attached, and then took them to
the Ni \v Court House, hired a white man and
two negroes, who were working on the Court
House, to hoist tho flag on tho top thereof.—
The next morning, being the 4tli of July, the
aforesaid Thomas Holland, called to me and
ordered mo to take the flag down ; on my re
fusing to do so, lie sent his own servant up,
made him strip the flag from the staff, and then
ordered him to throw the flag, staff and bush
es from the top ol the Court House to the
ground, which was done biy the servant. He
then made his servant carry that flag away, and
it was. not hoisted or seen any more that day.
This was the only flag hoisted on the Court
House in Gainesville. How then could Thom
as Holland have this flag elevated by a negro,
when I myself had u done by i white man
1 and negroes? Ilow then could Thomas Hol
land have given this lW to a negro, when it
lind never been in bis possession t How could
officious persons liavo influenced Thomas
Holland’s negro, or any negro employed, by
bin), have any thing to do wiifi the putting up
of the fl igl 11 ow could Reuben rhornton,
Thomas Holland and Andrew liarr obtain
their consent to publish to ikp* World,'that the
aforesaid Thomas Hoit tud •ri nt tiis servant up
only to knock ojf the bushes, when it is pro
ven by the cer:ifie..t<-s below, tiiai he ordered
and compelled bis servant to pull down the flag
also?
1 have been told that a small stand of colors
belonging to a Horse company, was afterwards
placed in the Court H .use, during the deliv
ery of the Slate Right’s oration—and it is
strongly suspected that this was done to allay
the Court House, stripped the flag from the
staff, wadded it up and cast it to the ground;
he then came down, picked up the flag, and
carried it to his master’s store. We further
certify, that this was the only flag hoisted on
the Court House in Gainesville, or on any o-
tlier place either on the third or fourth of July
iasl J and that tt'c saAv no other flag except a
small one belonging to a horse company which
was usi d by th at company on the fourth of Ju-
lv last; and was taken into the Court House
with that portion of the horse company that
went to hear the State Rights’ oration.
JAMES L. SIMMONS.
JOHN S. BELL.
CHOLERA.
We invite the reader’s attention to the fol
lowing report ot the Board ot Health, ot this
place, for all the information .which we have
respecting the appearance ot Cholera in Augus
ta.
Augusta, eft. 13th, 1834»
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Board ot Jlvalili I or lire* city ui'Aug :s-
ta met to consider the rumors of Cholera, re
sembling the Asiatic, having made its appear
ance in this place, when the following resolu
tions were passed.-
1st. Resolved, That in the opinion of the
Board of Health, there is no raison for public
aiarm concerning one or two cast s of sporadic
cholera, which have originated”on boats coming
to Augusta, for the genera* impression among
our physicians is, that there exists at pn s. nt n
disposition whatever to epidemic diseases, u:d
that our city was never known to be healthier
at this season oi the year.
2d. Resolved, That it be recommended'to
tbe City Council of Augusta, to prohibit forth
with the sale of melons, green xoru, cabbages
and unripe fruits, and that we moreover recom
mend to the public, to abstaiu from the use of
Vegetables generally.
3d. Resolved, That the physicians of the
city be requested to report to the cliairnirtn of
this Board all c.incs of cholera, or cases resem
bling cholera, which may occur in their pruc-
Rcspecting the two cases referred to in the
first resolution, the Board would remark in this
first communication to the public, that it is their
intention to publish the whole truth relative to
the appearance of the cholera i:i this city, and
that should it become progressive, they will
make daily reports, upon which the citizens
may confidently rely.
The first case occurred in a negro man, a
boat band on the river, aged about sixty years,
of intemperate habits, and wiio was ka >w n to
have eaten a large quantity of melon, oil Tittir.—
day evening. He died ou Frid
hours after the attack.
The second case was a colored fireman o
the Free Trade steamboat, from Savannah
He never reached the city—the attack com
mencing on the river twenty-eight hours before
H supreme within its sphere, and its spitere is
the whole country lrotn the Atlantic to the
Rocky .Mountains, and every state rights man
feels himself bound to assist the military in put
ting down insurrection, which is a rosinauce to
the laws, then what more does the proclamation
or force bill claim or graut!
Bui perhaps the Jcu ual means that tlio
federal government is supreme over the particu
lar matters confided to its care. And even ad
mitting that they may supp.orl their autlierity.
in these, with ihc uiilitkry force, iu.l the qaes-
tiou of the Juorual is answered. The’ lederal
government may employ this military force,
under this admission, even against the sttu'-. au
thorities, be they sovereign or not. The autho
rities of the federal government will always
claim to act wi'hin Uieir sph.re; and there wo
are glad to Hub even the stale rights men feel
themselves hound to sustain them with the mili
tary. Wall they be thrown out oi their sphere,
because a small majority asserts it?
According in the doctriuo than of the Journal,
the federal government has a right {o rail on the
military io sustain their authority wtieu acting
withiu constitutional limits. And the st.des
will have a right to resist them with military
force, whenever they'go a st*»p. beyond these lim
its. But the majority ol congress, the admiois--
*nmrr»diinegovernment, will always claim to
ad ou constitutional ground: an ! they will
therefore, under this doctrine, have a right to ex
ecute their will by force The opposition-to-
tlie administration, the minority, on tlie other
baud, will always contend that the government
have transcended I heir chartered limits. Con
sequently, they also, ui.dcr :lie doctrine, will,
have the right, to resist "by force! Thus will force
becomt the ouly arbiter of right and wrong, tho
only, umpire to which we can appeal f». the set-
tiemeut of questions' touching the rights u per
sons and property! Tiie powerful, th,; strong,
tho rich, may desire such a .late of tilings: for
the best right will be the right of the strongest.
i!ut wo to-tho pour, tin depressed and the weak
in that day, when the baud of tho oppressor shall
n t be restrained by law! Under such a doctrine'
notwithstanding tlm deni d of the Journal, it
s ems that force would become an element <-r
our government with a vengeance. Yet this is
Nullification!
Rut we assure.die Journal tiiat we are per-
j fectly serious it: asserting that congress cannot
J persist iu the exercise of undelegated powers.
| The fidcral government /;ns no action beyond
j the limits prescribed by the constitution. Tho
doctrine laid dowu by that instrument is, tlmt
every volition of the federal government expires-
oi itself, becomes utterly null, when directed bc-
yond prescribed boundaries. It does not admit
tim idea of this will ever being carried out into
itrtiiiu: and guards aud checks wer, established
to prevent its being so. Aud the absurdity of
Gainesville, Avgust 26, 1834.
On the third day of July last, I was passing
by the Cotu't House in Gaino>ville and saw
some persons fixing to raise the American Flag arriving at quaiantino ground. The patient
on the Court House, and Mr. Joseph Frederick
standing below giving instructions to those on
tbe Court House ubout the putting up of tli"
flag, I observed to Mr. Frederick, “are you
having the flag hoisted,” lie replied he was.
R. E. SHACKELFORD.
Gainesville, August 26, 1834.
I saw Thomas Holland’s negro mail ascend
to the top of the Court House in Gainesville,
the fourth of July last, and take and throw the
United States Flag from the top of the Court
House to flic ground; Thomas Holland was
below directing bis boy 'o do so.
* F. J. SULLIVAN.
Gainesville, August 26, 1834.
On the third day ot July last, Mr. Joseph
Frederick gave me a* d Captain Hitchcock’s
negroes the United States Flag to hoist on
tlie Court House in Gainesville, which was
donerby us.
John n. McWhorter.
I certify that on tlie morning of the fourth of
July*, last, 1 was sitting in tlie piazza of a tav
ern in Gainesville, and saw Thomas Holland
send his negro man to the top of the Court
about 12 the docrine of nullification is ino^; glaring when
viewed in this light. The uullificrs claim a
right uiider tbo coasti.utioh, to resist tiiat which
the constitution declares to he iu reality dead!
There is ro right reserved under the constitution
in liie states, to resist, to drive hack the geueral
was advanced in lif - end intemperate. lie i government to her proper sphere—for the con-
died Saturday evening at 8 o’clock, being sick j ’tilution !u>s it dowu as a settled principle, that
with symptoms of Cholera about GO ‘.ours. j the federal authorities cannot go beyond their
Shpt. 4tii, Sunday, 3 o’clock, P. M. ! limits; anil it whs the business of the framers of
The Board met. One c*isc wns in ported by j tlmt instrument* so to l> ilduce oud organise the
Or. Robertson. It Wets <t coiored lir-uenmn on ! difterout dcpurttncti^s ot power, tlmt :my intent
board the Augusta steamboat, arrived from 8a- j t „ do so. originating in an, branch, would die in
| ihdconsummation. Tile true doctrine is, that
vannali yesterday. He had been complaining
wi:h slight chill and lever for a few da vs ; and
left Savannah las' Wednesday. The attack
commenced about daylight this morning, and
lie died at 14 o’clock this afternoon.
A second case was reported in tlie pract
of Dr. Carter, it is an intemperate iilack m
who made his living on the river bv fishing
catching driftwood. Tin* attack comment
early this - morning after free indnlgeuc*.
tbe use of in t ;i >;is last evening. Case not
terminated.* M. ANTONY,
Chairman of the Board of Health
Paul F. Eve, Secretaiy.
*Since dead.—Sentinel.
j the federal g'-vernmeei cannot pass prescribed
I boundaries, and that anv intention to do so, hc-
comes a
nullity
not that the action >
f the ueue-
ICC
ra! stove
rnmenl
may be impeded by
state inter-
111,
position
hut th
't Hie intention is null and void
>ml
of it-.-If.
even
efare it passes into ho
ion-
cod
ram
is the. tli
,'ory (if our govermnet
it, and tho
in
practice
under
: corresponded with
the theory.
yet
when Jr
ftt-rson
aud Madison wore at
the head
of the I:
: publics
in party. When acts
were tou-
template
d !>y the federal government,
which auy
party d<
seined to be unconstitutional,
due stops
Leltcrs from Leghorn dated 22<1 June,
state the Delaware, am' Constellation, U. 8.
frigates have sailed far Naples, and thence
home.
were taken, not to nullify them by state .action,
Hut to have them pronounced null, dead, by that
iedepiiu! u! branch of the government which
toe constitution had erected for diis purpose.
This was the view of tho case which Jefferson
took wht-B ht said ours hm * k ' r ‘
-t- . ■
II I IIP ~ III III! |ITT»1