Newspaper Page Text
4 € O N (i £ OKG1A TELBGRAP
$610,783 81
ar.ee in favor of Department, . $o42,042 01
e suspended claims, a part of which has been
nre not included in these statements,
the old debts, there was paid outofrevenue ofthe
ending 30di June last, the sum of $466,376.
anticipated intije last report, the bank debt Was
off in April last. The cash in bank has since ru-
f accumulated, and on the first November last was
•,000. Deducting, all outstanding warrants, it was
1,721 11 • The sum of $33,276 has been paid to
srs, Stock ton & Stokes on the award of the Soli-
■ of the-Treasury, but nodi withstanding this pity*
t, and a great extension of mail service, it is. esti-
cd that the cash in bank will exceed $600,OOQ be-
thc 1st day of May next.
lie accounts of postmasters arc rendered, and the
Jrterly balances made by them, with admirable
aptitude. Therearc 1,010 post offices yielding a-
$362,000, after deducting the compensation of
tasters and other charges paid by them, which de,
te their nett income in bank, weekly or monthly,
hg each quarter, or within 15 days after its close,
re are 9,366 oificcs, yielding a nett revenue of a-
$222,000, quarterly, which nre directed to pay
proceeds to contractors, immediately after the
of each quarter, The number of offices, directed
tain their funds until drawn upon, is 141, yielding
t $6,600 quarterly. Tiie balance of the offices
ipecial, and pay directly to those who carry the
:1s to them, for the proceeds, except a few new olfi-
L and others, which are not yet arranged under
fir denomination. From an examination of actual
ulis,
fly oft pains,. i
'pang severe;
girted be from its chains
rjeria.liy’s bright tear.
*Ti* sweet to rove ’midst, morning's dew,
With one whom we admire, '
And hn»-.v that hearts heat fond and true, ->
With triaudsuip’s sacred fire.
Tiri breast which can at otherV woes
Indifferent apjiea*.
Knows r. -t ’he sonllung calm that flows'
From ap athy's suit tear.
From this mild tear a'pleasure springs,
(Though tears arc signs of grief,)
Bat this alone its healing brings,
It is its own rMief. GROX9N.
-REPORT OF’THE POSTMASTER GENERAL-
Posr Office .DtPARTMr.sr, )
Decembers, 1636. • )
To the President af the' Vnite'd Stales :
■Hir : In his report of last year, tire undersigned sta
led the 1 post roads of the United States to be about 112.-
774 miles in extent, mid the animal transportation of
the mails upon them equal to about 25,Stiff,48o miles.
On the first July last, the post roads were about 116,-
2‘54 miles in extent, qnd the annual transportation of
the mails was at die rate of *^7,576,620 miles, viz;
On horses and its sulkies, 6,291,504
In stages,’ . 17,406,620
In steamboats ntafra'd rood cars, t 1,676,296
Within tlnrquarter ending With September last, im-
proventbnts’were ordered on old nail routed inorea-
*.injr tit state of annual transport! tioir 375,624 iniies,'
396,592 miles of which was in sh- tges. Of the routes
established at the last session xif Congress, 912 miles
have been put under contract, adding 140,Oik) miles
uf aiinttiil transportation 1 ■
An express mail has been started, Within the last
mouths, front Philadelphia to Mobile, a distance ofl,-
239 miles, adding to the rate of aunufcl transportation
at this time is little short of 29,000,00(1 miles. i
Of the new routs, 30,557 miles remain to be pm in
operation, which will.add to the annual service 3,467,
766 utiles.'
more in detail.
Tb: number of Tout Office* in the United States, oil
the 1st July, 1835, tvft 10,<70: on the 1st July, 263(5,
it was 11.(Tdl; and on the 1st in»t. 11,100
ore
cut is collected within 30 dayi
garters in'which it accrues, without any expense
refor whatsover.
By an examination of a portion of the quarterly ac
*ints, it appears that the increase of revenue for the
|irter ending 30th September- last, over the corres-
idintr quarter of last year, was about sixtexn per
The ratio Will probably be as large during ibe
le year, especially ns tho improvements, the ex-
n mail, and the new routes,will-produce a coneidcr-
augmentntion. For safety, however, it may he
Bated at fifteen per cent yielding a • revenue for
ear ending 30th June, 1637,amounting to §3,993,-
uring the year ending the 39th June, 1333, the new
cs and other improvements in the muil services
doubtless produce a derided effect on the income
le department, and it may be reasonably anticipa-
[timt there will be’ an advance of at least fifteen jier
. over'thatoftlie current-year. If this anticipn-
be realized, the revenue of tltot year, at the pre
rates of postage, will be about $4,484,000, excec-
the estimated current rate of expenditure at its
mencement about $066,000. And it is expected
the department will have a surplus of cash in bank
Ire the Jfet of Angus) next, exceeding $700,000.
n view of these facts and estimates, the undersigned
s not hesitate to recommend a revision of the pre-
it rates of postage, to’take effect on tlie 1st July next.
Ill) a view to the reduction of about twenty per cent.—
J this end, he suggests the following scale of letter
litagcs in lieu uf the present, vizi
75 miles and under, 5 cents. •
150 miles anil over 75, 10
300 miles and over 150. 15
509 miles and over 300, , 20
Over 600 miles, 25
No better plan than the present suggests itself in re
lation to charges of double, treble, and quadruple post
age, and postage by weight!
From the simplicity, this scale will be easily remem-'
bored. • It proposes to iutrodiice the Federal currency
renderk copper coins unnecessary in making change,
and saves the loss to the people arising from fractions.
It will reduce the labor now required in makiug,up
ami examining postmaster’s accounts, about onc-
-fpurtli.
If the proposed scale of letter postage shall be-adopts
cd, it will be necessary to raise the lowest rate ofco.-n-
titUslons to chablc die postmasters at the large offices
to carry on tlnir business. The propriety of placing
gold coins seat by mail ou die same footing as batik
notes, is suggested. >
Great changes have taken place in die newspaper
business of the country since the present rates of pos.
tage u-e established. Newspapers have not only in
creased in number, but many of tliein have grown to
an- inordinate size. Postage however, is the same,
whether the newspaper he great or small. I! not car
ried over KM) miles and out of die stale where primed,
it is 1 cent-; if out of die State and over 100 iniies 1
I-2cetita. -The policy of reducing the rales of pos
tage on -newspapersgenerally, is doubled. They cone
slitnle, in-weight, probably two thirds of the mails, are
In many parts of tint country difficult of transportation,
and produce numberless ftilures. These considera
tions would be of no moment if it were really neces
sary tbatlargc'quatititics of newspapers should be traits-'
ported from end of the Union to ti^c other, as means
of instructing and enlightening the public mind, but
that office, can be as well performed by tire, local pres
ses as by newspapers from a distance. , * v
To reduce the postage on newspapers below die ac
tilal cost of carrying them, would be to tax the cor
respondence of the country generally for the benefit of
the large newspaper establishments iu die principal
cities, to die injttry’of tdl the distant ami country pre
set. ’ Such a measure is not believed to be consistent
with sound principle or good policy. It is not sound
principle to tax die business ol one portion of the peo
ple for tiie benefit .of another portion; it is pot good
policy to aid the large city establishments in mouopo-
izing the newspaper circulation, to due exclusion of
F 1
ii--. 0 — ——,—-—..,
the locai aiiAcountry presses. But there is justice and
good poliqy in graduating the postage on newspapers
according to die size and weight of the matter to be
.c<m v< ye(I. Tlio following scale'of nowspaper posta
ges is therefore suggested in liau ol tbe present, vtz t
.... 1 .“4 4'changos of postmasters.
The. number of post offices will be preatly incrcscd
in the coming year, in consequence ot the great exten
sion of mail rnu'ic;.
The acr urine r.-venueofthc d<tpnrtmcr.t,for.thc.year
ending live 39ta of Jans last, according'to statements
from the Audiuti’s office, Was-as follows, viz-;
-Front J ‘tier postages, $3,040,240 43
Kevstnucii and-pamphlets, 376.217 13
J in.-., 3.054 63
Eariotatc-J for deficient returns, -8^34 00
Total, $3,396,455 Id
The engage mints and tiabditiea of the department
for the sam • year, were as follows, viz:
For transportation of the mails, $1,033*051 76
cr*mj>ciisatioi» of postmasters. . 812,602 C7
ship, steamboat any way letter*,. 26,470 75
wrapping paper, 'I 15,013 82
ePj.- r fnri-itnrii, ' ..
advertising',. . '
mail ieigs,
• ldonVs, *
rrviil kirks and keys, nnd stamps,
mail ileprt-datioas.un.; special ugoua.
•clerk* fi*r o-iice.-,
rrt&ccilancoTiii, ■, .
Lsti tniefi for <i litn* not presented.
Size op Newspapers,
V *•’
Carried not over
200 miles nor out
of tho Stale.
Curried over
200jnl’sai;d
outthe Sta,te.
containing 550 sq ineh*.
es,' Or under, . *
920 square inches and
4 cent.
, lxent
oveqSSO,' '
' , 1
li
Over9^0 square inches
.1|
2
3,506 35
22,596 43
24,837 14
27,029.06
* 5,677 07
5,413 12
122J933 35
31,389 93
20,000 00
Totai,
$2,750,623 75
5mc* ofrevenne overTngist.beiits (
tm J liabilities, S -t-'. -'U 43
lo the report of last yen, tb; ex-"''* wa*. estimated
t*. .2171,217 00, bot the novenao w.x* $105,753 19
-i >r islci-i the eJtiinttc, and the ex:>>n.liture $ JO,dll-
;; h -ii ar.-o-iiit.* for tbe’diif r.ance.
?*-. • r-\-ennr of the la*t e^v-oda that of the proccc-
!.•!** voir, ?4J1378 53, e ftal to thirteen <:ul a half
r;r e’?:it. increase. '
na ■g, t> ;r »1 c-miition of tbe dipartmcnt on the 1st
In it, i' fjowa by statetaruts from th; Auditor’s
. ri - - t • .-.wo bgeu-aa'foDow.q viz:
L) t i th .- <i ipaiKncnl f
pr or to 1 t l ily, 1' 15. 3'.W,-I82 40
1) ;duet for b td on I doubt
fold--Ms, J3I-227 »
;•> V> i’i*! U •• rhnintfi* theyoo*
-■.i :.; • h J mg,7330,
.; 4 ]Wi i.-t juiy, ltvltj,
_ f-j:a the Tresary for extra clerk
hire,
u. i for deficient ieturns,
d'otal aviiiUhlg n»UH
$471,155 04
590,111 51
J 92,005 46
22,410 81
8,934 00
. $1,985,025 b'2
Katzs of Fostagz
If thcse'rples were redneeu one-half, it wouiJ not
materially diminish tho means of tbe Department, pro
vided the newspaper postage were paid in pdvance.—
So great ait innovation would probubiy be,inexpedient,'
but where editors will pay in advance the postage of
their wfiolo impression sent by mail* the Fost-master-
Goneral might be safely authorized to accept one-half
of the foregoing rates. ; • , •
Single newspapers are now extensively used, thro’
various devices and convention.^ signs, to answer Uie
pur; osn of letters, and evade the payment of postage.
It would-check this abuse if they were in’ all cusses
subjected to double postage,to be.paid in advance.
Tbe rates of postage on periodical pamphlets may
be advantageously regulated upon tbe same principles
os those suggested for newspapers, and reduced to the
lowest rate Which will pay lor their tranportation. If
a pcrfcrence be given to auykhbig, it should be toivqrks
ou agriculture, science, and die mechanic arts, but the
principle is believed to be a good ouc in relation to
the mail*, that-every thing shall pay its own ivuy.- '
Fugitive pamphlet* may with propriety be subjected
to double postages, always paid in advance.
The proposed revision of jiostages, if takpn as a
whole, would reduce the income. of die Department
ffom 2 to $300,090 below its estimated expenditures;
but die surplus on hand will s us tan it until die regular
increase ol revenue will cover lha difference. /.
The trankling privilege has been so far extended,
; ar.d is by 1 many so unscrupulously used, as to consti
tute, an abuse which rcqnires correction. Some who
posset-s it do. not hesitate to cover dio correspondence
of dicir friends ajid neighbors with their franks, in di
rect contravention of tiie law. -A wilful violation' by
postmaster#, when made known to tbe Department, is
punished by instant removal froqt office.; but public
officers of higher dignity,, though more criminal, can
not ba reached by the saute authority. Violations of
the law in this respeef. by those U-ho are under pre
eminent obligations to set examplies pf obedience, to
its precepts, are believed to be diminishing, and there
is ground to hope that they will soon measurably
cease.
An amendment of the law is necessary m reference
to die mode of making contracts with ratl-road coinpa-
iii'-.i. The law pn-s.-ribing tin m.inn. r making
niail contracts generally, presupposes the existence of
conripctition in bidding, and is adapted to tlve existing
stato of things on all routes where the mails are carried
on horseback or in stages. But the reason of ti:e law
is uotapplirable to the mast cases where rail-roadscr
vice is required, because there is no competiticn. To
advertise for service on such lines is a mockery. Ei
ther the department must give what die companies
• choose todfioaod. or the compensation must be ad-
he is authorized to accept lowest offer, however enor
mous. It is desirable, that this power shall be limited
by a law, prescribing some fixed basis upon which all
such contracts shall- be made. None presents itoeu so
equitable as the weight of die mails to be convey
ed. An act fixing a reasonable rate per pound for car-,
tying the mails a given distance, would operate as a
restriction upon the power of the Post-3! .tstcr-Geueral
whilst it would undoubtedly facilitate the making of ar
rangements with thq rail-road companies. At present,
die views of the department and those of most of the
companies differ s6-widely as to the aincunt which
ought to be paid, as to render hopeless any present
prospect of an adjustment. If die price were limited
by law, the companies would expect no more, and the
department would notrafuse to pay it. Tosecure the
advantages of competition where it exists,the practiced
advertising might be continued, and the contracts as
signed, as in odier cases, to the lowest bidder. A few
of the rail road companies have evinced a disposition
to carry the mails at prices deemed reasonable. 1 tic
most important of these is the Camden and Amboy
contpany The managers of that road, justly consid
ering their interest a3 best secured by accommoda
ting the public and the Government on liberal terms,
have undertaken to convey the mails in a manner and
at a price, which are Highly satisfactory . I be 1 c-
tersbUrc and Roanoke company hare evinced alike
disposition, as have some others. . • ,
To render the department measurably independent
of the rail-roads, and accomplish other importantre-
sults. an express mail has. been started on the great
mail line between New l urk and New Orleans —
From New Vork to Philadelphia, and from Mobile to
New- Orleans, it is merged in the great mail carried
-in rail-road cars and steamboats. The great mail is
twelve days and seventeen hours. According to con
tract. in going, from N.,Y. to Mobile, aud 12 days, 1-
ltours •etnrnin’g. The express mail is five days, sev
enteen hours going from New Vork to Mobile, ana
five days, twenty-three hours returning. One dav is
occupied in transporting tlic mails between Mobile
and New Orleans. . , , ,
The success of the experiment is not doubted; ana
the size of the mail already affords an assurance that it
will produce an income more than suljicent to support
11 Thisraail leaves far behind all nevys conveyed upon
rail-roads, or by any other means, _ .
It will give unprecedented activity fo commer
cial transactions between die North and the South.-
New York communicates with New Orleans iii nail tup
usual time: all enterprises are expedited; the whole
intervening coqnlry and tiie Valley of the Mississippi
will feel the impulse. V .
The editors and people of New Orleans will receive
the news from New York iq less than lialf the time it
has heretofore occupied iu the transit. _ The oditors
will have die advantage of being the original dispen
sers of the new s to their ijitbscribers, and the people
will obtaiu it through their ,owu papet, without post
age, five or six days pooner than it can reach them in
the New York papers, witli postage. The editors and
the people along die whole route; and to the right and
left, will participate in the same advantages in a grea
ter or less degree. , On tlje other hand, the circula
tion in die $outh of newspapers from the principal
cities of the North w ill undoubtedly be diminished.—
This injury is more dian counterbalanced by the ben
efits secured to. die local establishments; and ii it weto^
not, it is not to be brought into competition with the
advantages of an earlier transmission aud dissemina
tion of commercial and odier intelligence. No meas
ure should be taken with » view to injure the great city
establishments; but it would be unreasonable and un
just in the Department to widihold iuiorniatioii from
the people ofthn Sooth, because it cannot carry, with
equal expedition, die cumbrous sheets froni 'he North
ern newspaper presses. It is, and doubtless will con-
timie to be, die policy of the Department not to send
the news with lessexpedition; but to bring the whole
hnail to the speed of the express as last a< it can se
cure continuous rail road or steamboat transport*-
The undersigned confidently believes it will be found
expedient, within the coming year; to start c.xpress
mails from Washington «ity along die route of die na-
tional read to St. Louis, from New Orleans, through
Nashville, |Loui‘sville, and Cincinnati, to connect, a-
bovc with die great Eastern and Western route, and
from Boston, thiongh Albany, to Buffalu, New York.
S.uch mails on these rentes, he believes, would imme
diately support themselves, and give an activity to bu
sbies and correspondence in every direction, which
w ould much enhance the general revenues of, die de
partment, aud promote public intelligence, and.pros
perity. Blit should experience or reflection lead to
the conviction that these enterprises will not produce
an increase of revenue sufficient to suppert them, tliey
will not be undertaken.
The attention of the undersigned has been urgently
called by the postmaster general of die British North
American provinces to the insecurity of correspon
dence carried on through the packet ships- between
Canada and the United States on the one side, and
tiie British isles ou the other. Valuable letters and
packets sent from Canada through the port of New-
i'ork, and from various parts of die United States,
uever reach their destiimtii n. The only effectual
remedy which suggests, itself is a regular mail across
the ocean, and a direct comiccuou between die post
offices of the two countries. By a reciprocal arra nge-
inent, mails might be interchanged betweeu die J> 0!,t
offices in New York aud Liverpnol or any otherr for
eign port, to be conveyed by die packets or other ves
sels, under contract The number of letters now cros
sing die oetau is so'great, that a moderate postage oil
them jvouid pay the cost of their transportation.—
There is scarcely a doubt that such arrangemeut may
be effected, if Congress shnil thing itexpcdienttograut
the necessary power. > ' • , • >
The object of authorizing printers exchange papers
to pass in the mails free of postage, would he limber
promoted by extending tbe privilege to exchanges with
printers in foreign countries; an extension winch is
desired by tiie printers in the foreign provinces border
ing on the United States, and will he die more useful
it! the proposed interchange of mails with post offices
in Europe shall be audiorised. _
Tiie building iu which the General Post Office is
kept is not lire proof, mid its vaiuabiu , books and pa
pers arc daily exposed to destruction. With such am
ple means as the Government now has at command,
the undersigned perceives no good reason why die
greatest possible security should not bo given to its ar
chives. The other executive departments suffer in
convenience from die distance.of the General and Ci
ty Post Office; and since the passage of die late law
which connects tiie Post Oflice with tiic-Trcasury, and
makes frequent references,to the President necessary,
that inconvenience is scrjouslr felt by the department
itself. ;
Annexed will be found an outline of the organiza
tion of die department under die late act of Congress,
marked 2.
The Contract Office is overwhelmed with the in
creased business brought upon it by extensions of mail
service and die new routes. Its force is found to be
inadequate to die performance of its duties; and it
requires two additional clerks, one of die first, and the
other ol'the second grade. ' ;
Tbe appointment Office has a sufficient force fur the
performance of its duties widi accuracy and promp
titude.
The duties of the inspection Office arc rapidly ex
tending, and its present force will not lung be equal to
their performance. Its chief object is a rigid super
vision over,tbe rendition-ofpo.stinastor’s accounts, and
die performance of contractors. Conducted with
system and energy, it will soon be felt on ’our diou-
sands of mail routes, whenever a de.inqueiicy occurs.
Mqst of the contractors perform dieir service widi
great fidelity and precision; but there are a few; some
of diemon important routes, who evade their contract
obligations whenever they have a temptation to do so,
relying for impunity on their adroitness in milking ex
cuses, and die indulgence of the department. The)
wiH find it dieir interest to fulfil their engagements, or
quit the service. Iu some parts of the country where
complaints of irregular mails are loudest, the fauli is
not in die department, nor the contractors, hut in die
roods. The department is obliged to use such roads as
it finds, and it is unreasonable in the people to expect
regular mails unless they will make good roads.
My three assistants arc assiduous in their duties of
ten by night as well as by day; and in relp'.ipn to tliejr
compensation, deserve the favorable consideration of
Cougresk.
The Auditor’s office is proceeding , with idgour to ne
complish the objects of its creation. The disbursement
of tho I’osfiOllice funds through die Treasury, former
ly deaineedimpracticable, is effected with the utmost
facility. Post Office warrants are rcdaccd to the size
of ordinary bank checks, and with the check of the
Treasurrer endorsed, are remitted with die same case,
and Hus'vcr the same purpose. Without the incon
venience of specific appropriations, the accounts of the
department are more sp*--ific, more easily understood
and more readily examined, than those of uny tttber
department of the Government. It is the desire of
the undersigned, which the Auditor has shown every
disposition to promote, to render them intelligible to
anv one who may examine die books.
Iliffieulty has in some cases been axperienced in re-
' M • y\--" ~
- ••••'; vvVHJiir-.-. •.-'-US'P.H'-Ss: -
nowing, tor six months, the mail contracts which will | VESTED RIGHTS-
expire pn the31st instant, under tit* authority vested Tl . ., . , . . - ,
in tho Postmaster General, by resolution, at the la^t! c have read witn much interest tho opinion ol the
session ol Congress. The object of the resolution was j Hon. Charles J. Ingersoll, ot Philadelphia, (in the A-
Vo „ C C0Inmen , ce " len t of the co “-1 meriean Sentinel, of that city,) “ with teference to the
tract year, i o promote die same object and avoid a I . , „ ’ , , ’ . . ,
like difficulty in relation to the remainin'-- contracts U ! ,lted S ‘ ta,es Ba " k and tae quest.o t > of \ ested
power is asked to let them in the usual inode for four ft'?ffits.”
years and a hall, which will lead to the same result. i Mr. I. starts with die position, tlrat bank charters
I have the honor to be, , i j u . -> • . ' . *
Your obedient servant, may be repealed by legislative act, without a convcn-
AMOS (v£ND-\LL don of the people; and that such revocation may take
place whenever the public good or State policy re
quires it; regardless of the question of abuse or viola
tion of trust To this extent, it is urged, was the doe"
trineunaintained oy the republicans of Pennsylvania,
on the repeal of die charter of the Bank of North A-
merica, in 1785. As this is an important questiou, in
the solution of which the whole people in every State
are interested, we make the following extracts from.
Mr. I’s letter, regretting that our limits will not allow
us to copy the whole.
“ Contrary, perhaps, to prevailing sentiment, in my
humble opinion, (says Mr. Ingersoll,) bank, charters,
and above all, the charter of that bank, may be repeal
ed by act of assembly, without a convention ; and such
act will not be contrary to the. Constitution of the U.
States. , i,
Rather than present any view of my own, it will be
more acceptable and effectual to submit diose of the
earliest republicans of Pennsylvania, who, fifty years
ago, established a precedent precisely in point, resting
on principles of right, aud illustrated by-argument, a
departure from which since, has been the source of
great evil to the Commonwealth. The Bank of North
America became a law of the State of Pennsylvania,
by an act dated the: 1st of April, 1782, which was re
peated by a subsequent act of the 13th September 1785.
In the following year, petitions being presented for die.
Thursday, January 12, 1837,
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
On Saturday last the following persons were elected
Justices of the Peace in Bibb county, to hold their of
fices for four years:
Lower City District—Wm. Cumming, E. E. Brown.
' Upper City District—C. A- Higgins, H. B. Hill.
• Fast Macon.—Plcasaut Heath, Lewis J. Groce.
(Constables—Rose and Rogers.) t
Godfrey's District—Jacob Johnson, James R. Per
ry. (Constables—John Bassett, Matthew Wi*e.) •
Rutland’s District.—Aaron.Lcsscl, Zaehariah Cow
art. '*•'
Hazard District.—A. B. Maguire, Peter B. M‘Crea
dy. (Constable—E'l Wadsworth.)
Warrior District.—Henry Newsom, Joshua Jordan-
^ Con stable—Daniel Wadsworth.)
Howard’s District.— Bazemorq, R. Bivins,
Congressional Elec tion.—About forty counties have
been heard from, in the aggregate of which, Alford is
some 2000 ahead. When the wire-grass at;d moun
tain bpys are heard from, we riickon Liddell will look
up.
COTTON MARKET.
There is hut lhde doing in the Cotton Market: plan
ters haying mostly stored, arid holdin" back for higher
prices. Some little was offered yesterday, and sold at
13J a IS cents. 'i ,
Advices from Liverpool are to the 26th November.
There had been no alteration in prices since the Circu
lar of the 16th, published in our last. Prices firm at
those quotations. , ' .
renewnl of (lie charter, were referred to a committee
consisting of Messrs, pivmcr, Robinson, Lilly, Ritten-
hottse, and F.dgar. Animated, elaborate, and acrimo
nious debates ensued, in which Messrs. Clytner, Mor
ris, Fitzsilnons, and Robinson.were the principal spea
kers for the bank, and Messrs. Findley, Smiliej Edgar
and W hilehill against it. Of these discussions, a di
gest will show that the arguments then used were the
same wliicli prevail at present; and that parties were
divided then, much ou the same principles of politics
and economy which separate them now. The gentle
men sustaining die hank—most of them were its pro
jectors, stockholders, and directors, and recommended
it as u fiscal measure, beneficial to'commerce and cre
dit, contending that in granting bank charters dtq legis
lature acts in a ministerial capacity; that .granting
chnters is an act of agency, distinct lrom the power of
making laws; and that charters so granted can no; be
abrogated; that laws are general rules, which extend
to the whole community; whereas charters bestow par
ticular privileges upon a certain number of people;
that as in taking away charters, die legislature acts ju
dicially; it has no power to take them away, '-pcanso
it cannot act judicially; diat charters are a species of
property to he forfeited only by misconduct w hen pro
ved by judicial proceeding, with die benefit ot trial by
juiy. The doctrine of vested fights \vas asserted by
some of the speakers in favor ol die bank, principally
by Mr. Morris, and die power of die legislature to re
voke a bank charter which it had granted, was denied.
On the other baud, the opponents of die bank refer
red to the, minutes of die lions**, granting die charter,
for a vote against the clause, which was proposed to
epapower a future assembly to alter or amend dje'char
ter, which clause was rejected for the express reason,
diat the charter must necessarily be always in die pow
er of die House. .They, asserted that charters, as oti-
giually granted in th: lath qnti EUh centuries; to towns
and cities, exempting them from die general vassalage
then prevalent, were sacred instruments, because they
secured hi die persons on whom theyWere bestowed
theirymturai rights ai d immunities; that charters are
sacred or Otherwise, not because they are granted by
legislative or sovereign power, bpt according to the ob
jects for which diey are granted; that if a charter is
given for amonopoly, whereby die natural- and legal
rights pf mankind are invaded, it would be dangerous
to hold dr it it cannot be annulled; that all charters
granting exclusive privileges, infringe On the great
chapter of mankind, whose happiness is the supreme
law ; that the legislature did not repeal'the charter of
the bonk for-ihisbchaviour of the hank, dr proceed on
any.allegation of forfeiture*,’ but taking the matter up
on much higher ground, iqquifed whether the bank
was compatible with the safety and“jyeUhre of the
state; of whose interests ihey were die guardians. Let
us suppose, said Mr. ISmilic, a legislature so lost to. ail
sense of their dnty, and so corrupt as tp give a charter,
of monopoly to five men, for all our (East India trade,
and that the next legislature, beholding tins monster in
ihe face of die constitution, has not dig power tp give
redress—of what use would be annual elections ? If die
House cannot afford a remedy in such "a case, the peo-
pte.must have recourse to the means,God and nature
have given diem for redrdss. The right of the House
to repeal charters was debated in. the council ofeen
sors, and a member of that body, now* in this Jlouse,
and in favor of the hank, conceded die right of die le
gislature tn revoke them'. The charter of the bapk
was not taken away for what the President aud’Direc
tors had done, hut lrom a conviction of its dangerous
tendency. The former House, considering that the
hank was 'a bar to die .improvement of the country and
to agriculture, thought themselves fully justified in ta
king away 1 the charter. The 'hank has not suffered ;
ihe stockholders have gained .enough. Why should
we injure our country m favor of an institution incom
patible with the public welfare f Tiie question af pre
sent is. said Mr. Whitehill, whether the state shall give
way totlic bink or the bank to the state; for the batik
is set up as a party iu the state; it has created great dis
turbance. The house did not take, away any of their
projiertythe charter was not their property; it whs a
piece of seated writing, which die house might burn
when it jdcased. Their property is as snfie.a* -it vras.
The late hous* of assembly did not fake away the
charter of die bank for any crime, nor charged-die di
rectors widi having forfeited the charter. They topk
up the consideration of the matter upon general prin
ciples. If charters cannot be repealed bodausc they
iegisjative'career could nut faU> excite in my botorn •» contracts, it affords a great rhyitoa a' to fraud,
We have received front die Hon. J. F. Cleaveland.
die third volume of Principal Documents relndng to
die Survey-of the Coast, and die constpucdon if uni
form Standards of Weights and Measures, by B. F.
Ilassler, superintendent of both works.
We mentioned a,week or two ago tha.t th,e eitizens
of Macon had presented a Silver Pitcher /to the Hon'.
Noruorn'e B. Powell, Senator from Talbot county,
for his liberal, enlightened and patriotic course in the
Legislature, in aid of tlitir local interests, and the in
terests of the State generally. It gratifies us this, mor
ning to be ahlg fn lay the correspondence on the sub
ject before ou.r readers.
To'the Hot Norboune B. Powell:
, Macon, 28t/i December,-1636.
Respected Sir—The enlightened, manly And liberal
course pursued by you as a member of tiie.Senate in
our State Legislature for die last two years iu nil ques
tions relating to the city of Macon, having convinced
us diat your friendship for her citizens, ami decided in
terest in her wcltare are firm and umieviating, tile
undersigned citizens uf Macon are desirous to signiiy
to you their approbation of your conduct in soineman-
naf entirely unequivocal, not merely on account of die
benefit that has accrued to theit* city by reason of your
elevated policy, but to render their homage to .the
statesmanlike spirit tliat actuated it, have provided for
you » Stiver Pitcher, of which diey crave your accep-
tance.
Hoping diat your useful life may be .long spared to
your couutry, we subscribe oursefves
Your obliged follow citizens,
T/ios It. Lamar, > Henry G. Lamar,
Jamts Goddard,
liobert Collins,'
Chas J. McDonald,
lurid Ralston,
Ilea Sf Cotton,
Frederick Sims,
H'm. Solomons,
Jacob Shotieell,
F, H. iVdman,
E. II. Weed.
J. Cowles,
Levi Eckley,
Washington Poe,
W. Melrose,
Edtcd. D. Tracy,
Roger McCall,
C. A. Higgins,
J. L. Jones,
Wm. B. Johnston,
Dl'ai. II. Burdsall,
Jas A. Nisbet,
Liberty, Talbot county, 4th Jan. 1837.
Gentlemf.x—Your communication of the 28th ult, I
had the honor to receive by yesterday’s mail, and I u-
vail myself of tbe earliest opportunity of re-ponding.
The fluttering terms in which you were pleased to al
lude to my public course during the brief period of my
legislative career could not (ail to. excite in my bosom
die liveliest .emotions. To merit the confidence of so
enlightened a portion of tny follow-citizens is to me a
source of die highest gratification. That your youug
and prosperous city, daily growing in importance, widi
a population not surpassed for enterprize, intelligence
nnd patriotism, should be entitled to the fostering care
of die Legislature, seemed to me altogedier reasona
ble. Having a knowledge of the pecuniary wauts and
the consequent commercial embarrassments under
which your people labored, it afforded me great plea
sure to co-operate with the patriotic -delegation front
your connty in effecting die passage of such laws as
1 deemed important to your prosperity ond welfare.
TJiat your petitions for legislative enactments should
have met with such violent opposition was tp me a
mntter of deep regret, and charity towards those
whom we had to encounter would induce the belief
diat diey were in want of correct information relative
to the situation in whi :h you were placed.
1 am sensible that so distinguished an honor as yon
propose, is more than commensurate with any merit
of mine—one so wliol(y unknown to fame, so little
versed in political science, and so recendy from the
humble walks of private life'. In accepting your val
uable present, I do so with mingled feelings of pride
aud gratification, nnd suffer me to assure you gende-
men, I will treasure it as an invaluable memento of
your esteem aud friensdhip. Accept for yourselves in
dividually, the best wishes of my heart fox your future
prosperity and happiness. _ '
• Your Incud aud fellow citizen*
^ N. B. l’OU'ELL.
To Messrs Henry G. Lamer J. Coulee and others.
Insurance Bank of Columbus-—A majority of the
stock in the Insurance Bank of ('olumbus, has beeq
transferred, by die late stockholders, to Nicholas Bid
dle of rhiladelphia- This transaction is viewed by ma-
ujr to-he beneficial to the interests of Georgia—while
others esteem it injurious to her interests and degrading
to her character. For ourselves, w;e caqnoiyiew the
matter in any other light, than as a fair business trans
action, in which one party was at liberty to sell and the
other to purchase. The effect it may have tin tho cur
rency or die exchango, we should think, can not be
much for the worse.
\Ve have one <>r two communications, on jhis sub
ject, on our tije, which wo have not room for thip
week.
Mr.,Calhoun has been picking flaws in the,8ecrota.
ry’s estimate of die sales of Public Lands, sS-* 1 - &£•—
The Globe returns the compliment. It shows, that
“Mr. Calhoun himself, in his report of 1S35, on Exe
cutive patronage, estimates diem on an average till
1841, at only tAree or four millions of dollars, and the
easterns at not over sixteen millions.’’
Charters of public corporations, when not fputid a-
grccable to the welfare of the people may he taken a-
way. by die legislature. Two instances of dtis sort
,hu».occurred in this state—one was the charter of the
college of. Pennsylvania, ai d the other the charter «f
the proprietaries. All'goverunients, said Mr. Findley,'
being instituted* for the good of die society to which
diey belong, the supreme legislative power of every
community necessarily possesses a power of repeating
clearly confessed by send,-men on
uowlcdge. it is so essential to the safety of
that : t would be an insult to the good seate of r
; to say any thing more about it. "*
'ded, that the question of
away a charter had been „J?
legislature i-
gai kuowk
went tb;
house
And Mr. Smilio adde
of the house lie talc? fway a charter had been
well discussed, and seemed to be well underrtooj-'o2
two of the members oo the other side had com'oto
the point, ami diat tiicugh the others hard not, yetA?
arguments amount to. that when our situation i* ro Y r
dcrcil. As charters tre granted by die assembly, fi,!
can he revoked in no other way than by the asse’my*
They cannot he taken away by the courts of justi/'
as they are given by the legislature. '•
We arc one great family, and, the lawa araour j,
heritauce; they are general rules, and common in 4 e ,.
nature., No man lias a greater claim of special pn/
lege for his hundred thousand pounds than 1 ha\( c
my five pounds. Tits leys are a common property!
'the legislature are entrusted with the distribution'}
them. .This Louse will not, this'house has no riglu c ‘
constitutional powgr. to give monopolies of legal
ilege—to bestow unequal portions cf our inheritor;^
on favorites.
Finally, after a protracted discussion, which ia
reported by Mr. Carey, and dedicated to Dr. Franklin
then President of the Conunonwealdi, (well worth re!
publication at large at this time,) the vote on theidop.
tion of Mr. Clymer’s resolution for a special comm.y
toe to reporta bill to repeal an act repealing an to
incorporate the subscribers to the Bank 9? North A.
merica, was negatived jy a vote of 28 yeas to 41 navi.
Thus, among die earliest acts of legislation by 4,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was the repeal oft
hunk charter, without-any allegation of forfeiture, bu*
upon the ground of it* public detriment. Vested righij!
were pleaded, though not very strenuously, by 4m(
few of the advocates off the bank. But it was gener
ally acknowledged, and completely demonstrated, that
the legislature is empowered to res time a bank charter
widiout judicial proceeding or interposition, or un-
charge of misconduct.iu the bank; whenever tho put
lie good requires it.
It is impossible to rend the debates, froni which the
preceding extracts jiave'heen taken, (continues3[ r . [j
without being struck by die wisdom and foresight of
the forefathers of republicanism.
All their argument-; apply at the present moment,
and establish both tho power nnd the policy of legal*.
tive resumptions of bank charters whenever tiie public
good requires, it No property is disturbed by it, no
vested interest divested—a privilege conferred on a
few individuals in derogation of common right, »re
voked, as it may anc should be, whenever its puhlicia-
convenience is acknowledged. The bank and its stock
holders fire left in- the full enjoy ■ ent of all the prop,
city they ever had, not a cent of which is taken fwa
tlieuq |)Ut» monopoly or privilege, perhaps imprudent
ly granted, a lid ctrtaiuly contrary to the coimana
rights of all who do not share in it, is recalled by the
power that granted it, because it proves injurious so
the community.
The .writer then alludes to an animated disetufi,
•in the British Parliament, about the same period, cssa
question perfeedy analogous; in which the most k-
respectable and enlightened of modern English Sags-
men pursued the same course, and iu which the pw>
ciple was fully established, and tiie right in qtialiot.
conceded oven by those who successfully denied the
• policy of its exercise on tint; occasion, viz: ihe ldlfci
revoking the ch.-rtcr pf die l ast India Company.
The following are some of the concluding pas.
graphs of Mr.'fis letter.
Thus my endeavor js accomplished ta show tliat a!.
eovefoignUes liaveljiv ri lit to sesuine charters for Tea-
sons of state: that it is a right which the state of Feus
syivauia exercised ill the instance of ihe Bank of Jv
America, before it yielded, by the present federal ran-
stilqdpu, some jiart of its so.vcfeigntjr^ aud that hi the
only clause of tbat coiistilntien -.n.ioh can ,be appul-
ed to, there is no surrender of the state sovereignty®-
ver bank charters: while'i:i cob n.p'ia-arv understand-
iug, subsequent ewepts, a ltd i;t*. reason of things, tW
is coticlus.ve ev-.UL»n e that lais poy. ,'r remains tvitit
the state. -
By the report of (he Secretary of tiie Treasuri of
the -oth jaThibry last; there were five bam!red and fifty
eight banks in the United States reported; since whe;,
the Bquk of the United States and many more hare
been erected. Thus,.there must bo now several then-
sand hank stockholders privileged by special exemp
tions froni due course of law: whose directors, by char
ters in effect perpetual, change die standard of value,
and fax all property,'for die exclusive’ emolument of
this privileged order. Mr. Jefiorsou said of this state
of .things,'bufpre it was as aggravtcd as it is, that “the
bank mania is ope of die most thrcatenirg ofouwftdre
imitations of England. It i» raising up a monir a.aris
tocracy in our country, which has already set die gov
ernment at defiance, tii.d qiiliough forced to yield a Bi
de on die first essay of their strengdi. their principle*
tire unyicMed and unyielding. They have taken deep
root iu the hearts of that class from which our log'ish-
tors are drawn, and die sop'to Cerberus from fatk Bn
become history. Their principles take hold of the
good, their pc!f of the had, hnu thus those whom ti.f
constitution has placed r.s guards to its portals, are
pltisticated or suborned lVorti dieir dv.tie.s. That pnptr
money has some advantages must be admitted; buria
abuses arc nlso inveterate; and that it, by breakirrup
the treasure of value, makes a lottery «if all private
property, cannot bn denied. Sliall we' ever lie able t«
put it constitutional veto upon it /” A ciffiitgniskd
member elect 0/ the coiiventiou to improve the <:CR-t-
/iltion of 'Pennsylvania,- Jtjdge llcpkiiisou, dcclaiediit
Ins' plaoe in Congress, tliat i:t? considered “ the litter
ut'banks hitetys-created in i'ciiitsylvnnia, ns fix' e!T-
spritig of private legislation and legislative fraud."
Those were the banfof which Gov. Snyder tried to j»ra-
vent'by the veto. Uf.v. .Wolf rccoctlv applied tBr.t
check to other hanks. Gov. Jlitncr tried it also, but in
vain; and in his tiiangitral address, he likewise ri-
•nminccd oi»r • hanking as a fraud. Should frands 1*“
coil tracts protected by tiie judiciary from legislative i;>
tcrforence 1 ,
GauUding in bank stocks,;ar.d others of jvhich-ttef
are d;c stimulant.-., is now foe most pernicious ctFei
il) the catalogue of vice utpj .immorality. Storks :
gambler’s dices, and legislators the journeymen vri* c
'make them. Five thot:s'ao'd of them drc'iuiuiiully en
gaged in their fabrication. Enterprising ami intlucn-
.tial speculator^ branded by Mr. Madison, have in
creased in 1 umbers ifi.ii boldness for beyond llios' lit
reprobated. Fortiilcd by charters, diey art* the oath't
barons of the day; vvi.h numcrons, united, well infer*
med, and tniscrupnlotis. retainers; often, as Mr. Jefi r-
son says, die maker*:, midinterpreters of laws, nhd fin
regulators of public opinion. They stigmatize tfiose
every law iuimical to die pnbbc s.-lety. But-the gov
ernment of Pennsylvania being a democracy, the bark
is inconsistent with the bill of rights thereof, .which their purposes, on liw, currency, tutd political ccoi:(-
says that government is hot iustiiuted -forthe emotu- my. They live foreign correspondents who thvrrBr-
meut of any man, family, or set cf jjieh. Therefore, j ruts their abuses itom abrond. Tlicy venture to dk-
tliis institution.being a monopoly, and having a na:u-:
the .citizens their right of equul protection, power, pri-.
vilegc; aud iiillnence, dje consequence is that some
foolish and vva.itun assembly may parcel out the com-
nionvvoidth into little aristocracies, and so overturn the
nature of our govcrmiieut without jetnedy. This in
stitution is inconsistent with onr laws, our habit*, our
ip .linerl * What Becurity can we propose td ourselves
against the eventual influence of such wealth, conduc
ted under direction of such a boundless charter.
The last house did no injustice to the bank by repeal
ing its charier; they took away none of ia property;
tiie holders have dieir money; therefore it is not like
an Ogriirian lavv, ns the gentleman alledged. They
may still keep a private bunk, and as a private hank is
all die constitution admits of, so it would liavcfoe ’sanic
advantages in trade and more security to tho people'
tiian a chartered bank.
Mr. Morris having saiij that die assembly has the
sole right of granting charters, hut po right to take
them away, tliat in Great Britain the sovereign grants
charters, but he cannot take them away, the laws of
the land having pointed out another mode 'of annulling
them ; and that it might jw well be said of the ass* m-
bly of this state having exercised their sovereign au
thority for the establishment of a land office, from
whence grants of laud tire made to'individuals, that it
has die right to exercise the same sovereign audiority
b\ destroying that office, and resuming "the lands again,
which would (ie exercising the power to give and the
power to take away; hut diat the assembly has no right
to such power—
Mr. Findley answered, that against the rightxff the
legislature to dissolve such charters it has been often
said tiiat body might as jvel! disannul die patents of our
lands, and fir the same purpose agrarian laws have
been improperly mentioned.—But what do these argu
ments mean? Is dissolving the charter of the bank
the same tiling as entering into it to take away the gold
ar d silver from the ownerts? The dissolution of the
darter is merely for the public use. The right of the
■f, they have, iu privileges and spcci.fi
rs that move the world,
such privileges cannot divest vested
rights or right of aqy kind; uor should seeming pro
perty from such depredations on it, be regarded other
wise dian with satisfaction by nli those who arc ser
ious for the security, of property. Those sober peop!*
before characterized by Mr. Madison as weary ol jote
and speculations, together with all men of jiropertji
must »ce diat it is tltcir interest. Every industrial*
mail ia n man of property, whose five ponmls, as wa
well said by Jlr.'Findley in the debate ou the banket
North America, are as important to him, as a rkh
man’s hundred thousand pounds to him. The work
ing men of tiie towns, whose much abused Trades V;
nions are hut struggles forced upon them, to resene
property from privilege and. Wages, fuel and subsk-
tentp from paper money; and the rural popglatieP*
diat mass and niair-av nf v/tumr-ii iv-iiMo nrnnertv *
put togcl
producing class, wjtli even mod of thp consuming,
must he convinced, that divested of prejudice and ml* 1
tification, it is the interest of all to disframtbise a
of the monstrous and intolerable poiver, by law, to an*
setde the standard of value, and speculate on prices*?
their secret aud selfish wiH. 1 No part of the commu
nity has any social or political right whatever to such
monopoly; A Baltimore iiiob destroyed die dwelligi 5
of those accused of abusing it, and other such outra*
ge* niny be expected if it is not abolished; for a nation
born ot a Boston *iot, will be always apt to resent by
revolutionary energy oppressive privilege sanctioned
bylaw. But legislative justice will prove a securite
against popular tumult p th 5 abolition of privilege u
the best guaranty of property.
It will be a great and an easy reform which r -tores
to the people dieir equality, to the states their torei-
eignty, and to the Union its supremacy over coin and
currency. The federal government lias done ngw
towards this restoration. But the states can do still
more. While i. large body of most intelligent citizen*
has been deriding uie attempt to restore hard money
' ~ t