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point sub-trustees for the distribution c#i
the poor schooi Fund.
Au act to give to the Inferior court ot;
Liberty and Camden counties, the power
to grantor refuse licenses to retail spirits-;
ous liquors.
An act to alter and change the time o!
holding the Interior court in Sumpter.
An act to amend and repeal in part the
several acts, giving to Ebcuezcr Jcncks, a
toll gate in the Newington road.
An act to repeal a part of the road laws,
so far as respects the county o' Effing
ham.
An act to sell lots Nos. 10 and 100.
situate in the county of Vv are, reserved
for academic purposes.
An act to amend an act, vesting the ap
pointment of patrols in the justices ol the
peace.
An act to incorporate the Talbotton
Southern Spies.
An act to compel Thomas I’. ITeiton
or his securities, a tax collector of the
county of Stewart, for 1831, to pay over
to said county, the taxes collected in the
aforesaid year.
An act for the relief of John 11. Broad
nax.
An act to provide for the payment o,
the agents of the Cherokee Indians.
An act to amend an act to appoint three
additional commissioners for Inroad nver.
An act to authorise the taking of the
census of the counties composed of the
late Cherokee county,and provide for the
poor schooi fund according to the’ white
population of each county.
An act to alter and amend an net, more
effectually to secure the solvency of a 1
banking institutions of this State.
An act to incorporate the Georgia rail
road company. .
Col. Iverson’s reply to Judge Shorter
The public will not de<.m an apology ne
cessary from me for troubling them with a
few words in reply to an article in the last
Columbus Enquirer, over the signature of
JnU.fiiShat'fftu Jh’Cririitrri tspich the com.
and a corroc* knowledge of the situation and
management of the Banks which supplv it,
renders it proper, apart from a defence of my
own conduct and character, that i should
notice in this way, the insulous and malig
nant attempt which has been made by that
man to injure the standing, impair the ener
gies and destroy the usefulness of the Far
mer's Bank of Chattahoochee. Influenced
hy the same considerations which are affected
by Judge Shorter, as the cause of his address
—duty to myself and to the public—l shall
endeavor with as much brevity as possible,
to correct the misrepresentations, detects the
falsehoods and unmask the motives of that
publication. In the performance of this task,
I shall endeavor “ nothing to extenuateor set
dowr aught in malice.” Although Judge Shor
ter has made a wanton A shameful attack upon
my character, and a despicable effort to affect
my interests, yet I cannot, and do not enter
those of commiseration and contempt—con
tempt for his utter disregard to truth and bis
pitiful exhibition «' malevolent feelings
commisseration for his disappointed ambition,
his mortified pride, and the precuniary em
barrassments which his ejection from the
Bank must, in all probability bring upon him.
However lofty and patriotic the pretensions at
JviAgn Shorter,lo the motives which influ
enced Ills addlcss to live public, those who
know the man anil are aequnintcl with his
relations to the Bonk and the circumstances of
his removal, will he at no loss so understand
the true reasons and appreciate the real feel
ings which dictated that publication. He
ha s certainly never heretofore been remarka
l>!c, either for a disinterested devotion to the
public interests, ora virtuous abhorrence for
dishonorable deeds—ho lias from his youth
up to this day, been notorious for his love of
money, and his love of office, both of which
he has never scrupled toohtain whenever an
occasion offered, either hy fair means or foul
I —whether it became necessary to cheat a:
tho card table for the accumulation of the
one, or to practice the most unblushing de
ceit, hypocrisy and falsehood to foist himself
into the other.
No one therefore who h. 13 observed his
character and scrutinized the incidents of
his past life, hilt who will at once recognize
the true objects of his recent course. To
revenge himself upon me /'or having turned
him out of office, and cut him oil’ from the
use of money, and to furnish to the pi.Jd'c
borne excuse, however lame, for not paying
his debts to the Bank, like an honorable mam
As tho intention and character of his attack
will no doibt be perfectly understood, I fed
under no apprehensions of suffering in the
estimation of impartial men from the oppro
brious epithets, slanderous charges and vile
abuse which he has heaped upon me ; and
when [ shall have made a statement of facts,
(different from ttmt rendered bv him) I p, ,n
not fear to leave the question of, who is en
titled to the most credit, to tho decision of
those who have known us both long and well;
for whatever may be my imperfections and
follies, one tiling is certain, 1 have never
been detected in Ihe violation of the most
sacred obligations of religion and honor, nor
have I ever stood before the world ,n the ac
knowledged character of a hypocrite and
bar. Whether Judge Shorter can say a\
nmch for himself and tell the truth, I a,, |)C al
to well known and universally acknowledged
facts and to the records of the Church
which contain the evidence of his infamv.The
first subject embraced in Judge Shorter's
publication, which I deem it mr duty to no-
Bee, is the insinuation that I have acted un
gratefully towards him. This charge has
been reiterated by Ins friends, and an attempt
has been every where made to create r.reiu
dice against me, and sympathy for him, by
representing me as having be. ~ guilty 0 f
gross ingratitude to my earliest and best
i * Bow fa, this charg is
J * ,c . c facts determine. F |)ol)
completion of ,„y education, and a, the i„.
""ulVk !)r ' 'l“"ry Branham.
I entered he oil, a of Judge (then Mr.)
Shorter, and remained with him about twelve
mon !,*. during iil.icj, lime I r. reived „„
great pcnmi. ,| or professional alt. f ram I
bmi. having nevi r been . xuinmed more than
on# eor iw "*o upon ~.v ■, «,„! had tJ
pMlorm the sholt* drudgery of tfie ofHce.—
CtEOIKiNUL TOIJES AbVIB &TATE AI Iv,
Soon after ,ny admission to the Bar and upon
the death of S. \V. Harris, Esq. 1 was taken
into copartnership by Shorter, receiving one
third of the proceeds of our joint practice,
f ins connexion lusted only six months, and
was terminated by his elevat.on to the Bench
of the Flint Circuit. The unfinished busi
ness of H irris A; Shorter was then turned
over to .Mr. Charles F. Gordon and myself,
and Judge Shelter's half of the uncollected
is divided betwixt u>. I think 1 may safe
ly eal to .Mr. Gordon to say whether we
did not earn what we made by lint business.
This short history embraces Ihe sum and
substance of his benefactions to me. Have
they never been repaid ? It is no doubt Iri sh
in ihe recollection of many, that when he
was a candidate for Judge of the Ocinulgec
Circuit in Is2B, I was a member of the Leg
islature, and warmly supported him against
a much esteemed and abler man—he was
elected —but in a few days after the election,
was driven to resign, by the conclusive proof
and public exposure of hys unprincipled con
duel. which he had carefully and fraudulent
ly concealed during the canvass, and denied
in the most positive and solemn manner.
When the ck ciio’n came on again, he made
an appeal to me and sonic other friends in
tin 1 legislature, and urged us to rriake one
| more effort for his elevation. Those who
were at all conversant w ith his actions at
that time, well remember the apparent deep
humiliation and pretended repentance of the
man —how he seemed to mourn over his de
graded conduct, and w ith what earnestness he
promised to behave himself for the future.—
I'h" insincerity and utter faithlessness ot
these professions are now well known. lie
succeeded however in deceiving me, and look
ing over the aberrations of his past life,
remembering the acts of kindncs3 and
friendship which 1 had received at his hands
and deeply sympathizing w ith his apparent
distress, I again stepped forward in his de
fence and support, and made a zealous, but
uiisuccessfu to rcekcl him to that office
which he had just left in disgrace. In this
d.iik hour of his adversity, when almost every
other person had abai and ■tied or deserted him,
and when lie seemed to be sinking into irre
trievable ruin, I t hing to him with a devotion
and zeal worthy of a better cause. From
that time,and for several ycais, 1 was his im
.Uyiatinu friend and supporter, and I can
kindnessand favors for him as I ever receiv
ed from him. Tilings remained thus until
Judge Shorter adopted the new doctrine of
nullification, and made an effort to carry me
along with him, in which he failed. From
that day, his feelings and conduct bream*
evidently changed towards me. In a short
time thereafter 1 was a candidate for the
same office for which 1 had so warmly sup
ported him in 1828. and solicited his friendly
aid with tiie utmost confidence of receiving
it ; he refused it however, and as he remark
ed “ left ine to fight my own battles.'’ How
did his conduct on that occasion contrast
with mine already alluded to ? During the
present ycai, and in violation of repeated
prornisi s to the contrary, he gave his profes
tessional business to another gentleman, no
way related to him, nor having any particu
lar claims upon his support and encourage
ment. These, and several other circurnstan
fjL'u too icuiuua to inomtun,
selves to be sure, but all going to show the
tendency of his feelings towards me, satisfi
ed me that he was fist travelling off from
those intimate associationas which had existed
betwixt us. Unwilling to part, with a man
with whom I had been upon terms so friend
ly, and for whom notwithstanding all his de
linquencies, I hud entertained a long cher
ished attachment, 1 determined to make an
cflnrMo re-establish onr ancient relations by
creating an identity and community of inter
ests in a very important manner between us.
(hiving about that time taken, such an inter
est in tiie Bank ol West riu.Ktu u
ized me under certain circumstances to con
trol it, and perceiving an opportunity of pur
chasing a majority of stock in tiie Farmers’
Bank of Chattahoochee, I felt satisfied that
the two Institutions, properly managed, might
be made, not only useful to the public, hut
eminently profitable to the owners. Under
these circumstances 1 made to Judge Shorter
the proposition to which lie alludes in his
publication, which he has miserably perverted,
and which 1 shall more fully explain hereaf
ter. He declined it, and in a few days there
after become tho volunteer retailer in the
streets of Columbus, of a most false and in
jurious charge upon my private and profes
sional character,which, w hen called upon for
an explanation,’lie meanly waved by attempt
ing to palm it ofi on another man. This last
evidence of his hostility, satisfied me with
whom I had to deal, and at once cut loose all
claims which lie may have ever had to my
/■-••'uulsiiip or stipjMirt. Who under all these
will accuse me of ingratitude
towards Judge Shorter, or blame me for treat
ing him as 1 would -.’‘V other common ac
quaintance, and ejecting him fom tiie Bank,
to put a better man and a better frier.,.’ in his
place ? Feeling no rush liowev. rto do him
an absolute injury or tinnecessaiily to cm
harrass him, i addressed him the letter which
lie has published, and endeavored to sooth
ins mortified leelings, and place him at ease
upon the subject of his debt to the bank
How he mot iliii offering of peace and in
dulgence from me, the public has seen in
the bitter resentment, which iie lias exhibited
mliis late publication. So much for my in
gratitude to Judge Shorter,
- *’pon the subject of the proposition, which
1 made to Judge Shorter, I have to say that
sonic of his statements ale altogether untrue
ami others much exaggerated and misrt pre
sented. 1 d,d propose to him to join me and
another individual, whom it is not necessary
here to mention, (neither of those alluded to
hy Judge Shorter) in obtaining the control
and management of the Bank. I slated to
him my belief that many of too stockholders
were r ady and willing to sail out, and pro
posed that *.■ should com. rt all of our pro
pi rly of every dcs. ription into cash and pur
chase the stock—But if xve coul.l riot raise
means enough from our private r 'sources to
accomplish the object, a r. sqrt should he had
to o foreign loan, provided it could be had
on good time and u low rate of ml. rest—that
w *' • !,0 "*‘ l P a y "l> our and. hts to the Bunk, and
eo.npr I ev. r> ono else to do the- same thing,
so ti.ai the Bank would have a bona fide capl.’
tal paid in, and no ac.com modal ion paper n>
embarrass it; ihni tliui situated the Bank
could u t nil times safely keep in circulation a
larg.' amount of her notes, which should I,
cx' liism lv used hi discounting bills „f 1
ami busies paper; tlut •• < olmn. 1
bus could not afford for s vend years to eoine
a sufficient supply of such paper, the Bank
should do business at Appalachicoia through
the Bank of West Florida, using the latter in
stitution merely as a medium or conduit
through which to purchase bills upon Mobile,
New Orleans and the Northern Cities, and
carrying on other legitimate banking opera
tions, winch she could not do except throng n I
such a medium. That during the suhhih r j
months when bills were not oil. ring, the
Back should do business on paper at short 1
sight and in small sums, which through the
Mayor’s Court of Columbus might at ail
times be rapidly realized if not punctually ;
paid, and in those various ways produce
large profits upon the stock, si.d at all tunes
i» unembarrassed. These items formed the
sum and substance es my proposition and
views submitted to Judge Shorter, and ever.'
thing else stated or insinuat. .1 by him lpon
the subject is without foundation in truth. I
respectfully ask a candid community whether
there was any thing either visionary, corrupt
or dishonorable in such a scheme ? Thai
Judge Shorter did not so consider it is appar
ent from the fact,that he entertained it and
asked for time to consider of it—lie subse
quently decline-! it to be sure, but at tin
same time acknowledged its plausibility, and
stated as the only reason for not embracing
it, the too great lengths to which be had al
ready extended his business'. It was not sur
prising U> me I lien, nor is it so now, that he
declined it, for one of its provisions was the
pay incur of his debt to the Bank, and another
an equal share upon my part, in the control,
management and profits cf the Bank—be al
ready possessed the almost exclusive conttol
of tiie Institution, managed its affairs as h<
pleased and dispens and ils bounties at discre
tion; he could not bear the idea of dividing
the power or sharing the favors of the Insti
tution with anotiicr, anil much less with one
for whom lie entertained a secret hostility.
Judge Shutter has taken the liberty to assail
several gentlemen in his publication whom
lie fancied.were more or less interested with
me in the transactions alluded to, and without
the slightest foundation for the abuse lie has
thrown upon them. Amongst others he has
spoken of Mr. Win. Brooks with inuchscveri
ty, and has done that gentleman great injus
tice. It is not my province to enter into a
labored defence of Mr. Brooks, but this
—-»l» j that hita onuutetor UIIU t-’UI*
duct, so far as they have come to niv know
ledge, have been unexceptionable, and woilfc!
lose nothing by a comparison \ .t h that of his
libeller, in any point of view. It is true that
the Bank of West Florida suspended specie
payments during the past summer, but from
the investigation w hich l have given ihe sub
ject, I am satisfied that it was owing to no
fault of .Mr. Brocks, but to the faithlessness
of those whom he trusted and the secret un
tiring and malignant efforts of his enemies
—such as Eli S Shortei is now making a
gamst the Farmers Bank of Chattahoochee.
Almost the entire circulation of the Bulk of
West Florida has since been taken up by Mr.
Brooks, leaving only a few thousand dollars
in the hands of the friends of Bte Institution,
and for the redemption of which the means
arc provided. That Judge Shorter is not
sincere in his denunciations of Mr. Brooks,
is evident from a fact which is susceptible of
accuses Mr. Brooks of acting as a si>v upon
his movements and whilst travelling together
ill the stage, he proposed a copartnership in
a very important mercantile operation,—
llow Judge Sho ter can reconcile it to his
sense of justice thus to assail a man who has
done him no injury cither in word or deed, I
am wholly at a loss to determine, except by
supposing him capable of entertaining the
most malignant and grovelling feelings of
envy and revenge towards every otic whom
he even suspects of standing in his own wav
to she acquisition of irealM# **•- enjoyment
ur win.
In displacing JudgeSiiorter from his office
in the Bank 1 have hern accused es violat
ing the confidence of Mr. Graniland and o!
betraying the trust reposed in me by him, in
'lie use which 1 made of his pro.xy. lion
far 1 am justly obnoxious to his charge, w ill
he seen by the following statement of facts
—when Judge Shorter, twelve months ago,
having the majority of votes at tho meeting
ot the stockholders, increased his own salary
and subsequently thosp of the other officers,
Mr. Graniland in conversation with rne upon
the subject expressed his decided disappro
bation of his conduct in this particular, and
ct ti ujrcd hi n in n jmc iserc 1 torn s fur the is
which he thus made cf his power—at on.
time he stated to me that he had no great
personal regard lor Shorter and that he would
as soon see ill at the head of the institution as
him. Coinciding with Mr. Graniland in the
opinion that the salaries were too high and
ought to be reduced, 1 suggested to him the
propriety of making an cllort at the ncxi
election to accomplish that object, in which
lie readily joined me. Shortly afterwards
however. I formed the determination of pur
chasing up the stock with a view taroitrol
”Hiik, and wrote to my friend General
Sanford rtijT'Hi'yg him to propose f.'Mr.
Grantland’s stock; no (Tie! rn; Mr. Grant
land at first declined soiling, but a.'Vnvtirds
offered the stock to Gen. Sanford who wrote
o me to t.iat ct.eet and desired it know
whetner he should close the bar-nio. ft
was men ton near the election to entitle lie
stock to vote, as by tho provisions) of the
c.tarter the. slock must he held three months
before me election to.give it the elective
franchise, in reply to General Sanford i
mentioned this difficulty, and suggested a
postponement of the purchase until after the
clietnm. and submitted w hether i might not
un.h r the circumstances, act upon the power
••I attorney which Mr. G. had promised mi
as it the sti ck was my own, and pav him fin
it whenever he might desire it. ’The sub
joined letter from Gen. Hanford will show j„
wliet light he considered the matter, and went
Ur to determine mo m the course which i
1 subsequently saw and conversed
with .Mr. Graniland iit relation to Ins proxy.
•n which conversation he again express and h'is
disapprobation ot the course tilings • „l (~k. „
! n ! Jt „ ; atifjiori;* <j mo in cxfm.-s u run
o nil) I erry out of the board, and to reduce
the I resident’s salary to 81,000 and tin
Cashiers to 81,500, and if I f.m/i.l -
sarv or proper to displace RT,. Ca, „ |
'■wo stated m Mr.Guutlaml, that p, r # t
might gr, farther tl,a„ | le M n«ici(>«t. ,| 1
tmil ter, and proposed in order io , M i n „. "()!
'"luredifficulty to git,, | li( „ OIV j
~n? *o take big an , pay
if any thing,hoi,h, I , ,W Z.'
>i 'f ii i y o Inm . this knwc v> tby ox li„.
i
~ and to receive, expressing his confnleiiccthat
jc would be satisfied with what I should (10.
Considering tlie long and friendly relations
which had subsisted between jr. Graniland
md nivsetf- —the repeated evidences which
he gave of regard for me—and the indiffer
ence with which lie seemed io look upon
those who were to be affech and by the change
in contemplation, I could not lor a moment
suppose that what 1 was about to do would he
disagreeable to him* Connecting Ihe fact of
! bis being willing anil actually proposing to
I sell his stock, with my determination and ar
i rangemvnt to buy it, together with the tot 1-
) ings which he seemed to entertain for the
parties interested, and whocould have thought
lhat 1 inigilt, not venture to do what I did.
without tlte ri;-k of offending him or subject
ing myself to the imputation of “violating
his confidence and betraying the trust repos
ed in me ?” Who would not have come to
the same conclusion to which 1 had, that his
stock was at my command, that i might con
trol his votes as 1 pleased and that he would
he gratified rather than chagrined at my sue
ccss. Under the firm conviction that the
ejection of Shorter and I’errv would meet
Ins approbation, anti that I hail nothing to do
but to tender the money and take a transfer
of his stock, I acted upon it as if it was my
own. Judge Shorter lias spoken of a letter
w hich I am said to have wri;ten to Mr Grant
land, ai'kutnvbulging that ! hail behaved Ills
confidence, Ate. 1 retained no copy of that
letter,and 1 do not now distinctly remember
its contents: of iiiis however I tun certain,
that the letter was only intended to apologise
to Mr. Grautland for not having trust# I him
j fully, and disclosed the whole extent and
object of mv operations. 1 was apprehensive
that he might suppose I had distrusted the
sincerity of his friendship for me, and hail
w ithheld from him a project w hich if he had
known it would have given him pleasure to
have forwarded. To remove every fueling
of wounded sensibility or cf mortified pride
or resentment which he might possibly en
tertain for not being made tile recipe nt of
mv entire confidence wastlie principal object
of that letter—l have to regret exceedingly
that tny object tailed and that Mr. Gi iinland
has felt himself authorised to join my enemies
in their denunciations of me, and to furnish
them with food upon which to glut their mor
bid appetites for vengeance and abtisc. If
£ f,l)ino arty } ijurw to lua luiosoatsy tr< 9
passed upon his rights, or disobeyed his in
structions, then 1 should have been obnox
ious to his resentment and justly censurable
for my conduct—but his interests were pro
tected as he well knows in every possible
way, nor are they in danger of suffering the
lightest in jury from any act of (nine. I can
not therefore conceive that 1 have given him
any cause of complaint in this transaction.
The allusion which Judge Siiorter has
made to mv pecuniary situation, and to his
own, and to our debts to the Bank, renders il
proper that I should place these matters in
their true light. I feel under obligations lo
him for admitting me lo be at least solvent,
and in return for his compliment I must ex
press my hope that he mav be found in a sim
ilar situation. The Farmer’s Bank of Chat
tahoochee,and hisothcr creditors, w ill doubt
less he happy to find, if in the winding up of
his affairs, ho shall he able to save the p or
~f two Vb.wiea.wl ,Ull»ra I I If,. <„Ure
much credit to himself for having, on
ins own responsibility and others, raised
large sums for the use of the Bank. The
truth however is, that these temporary loans
of specie funds, were obtained through the
liberality of J. D. Beers, J. It. St John As
Cos. and were always considered in the light
of Bank transactions. Both tho principal
and interest were uniformly met hy tiie Bank,
anti not one dollar of either was ever paid out
of thfl firi vi#.> !’■■■ I -t“: a, Aii.„, w. .
Siiorter seems not to consider his debt to the
Bank as unreasonable. He would no doubt
consider nothing unreasonable which would
add to his own convenience, wealth, power
or inil# i# nee ; but there ate others who think
very difi. rently upon this Subject, If tilt
i.auk has nov r heretofore hceu actually em
barrassed. by the amount of his discounts il
has at least !k;oii' prevented from dispensing
loans toothers, or extending its business up
<m “ sui -' am) profitable paper. The
hooks of tiie Bank on tiie 4th day of this
nioulh, exhibit an iiidebiodni ssii [in the part
o i, i S.Snorter and ol Si orb r Ti rur A: Cos.
(which. I consider 011 c anti the sa.no Pong)
upon accommodation not. sos $ be
sides a bill of exchange of Eli S. Shorter up
on. James II Short r for 812.400, and which
had only one month qefore that had been
c.iaugcd from an accommodation note to its
present shape, and which Judge Shorter has
since stated was to he considered so fur in the
light of an accommodation loan, that be was
to he p i mitted to renew it from time to
tunc until it should suit his convenience: to
pay It. So that 0:1 til ! 4th inst. the debt duo
tiie Bank l>> him and his house (of which he
is tue principal member) amounted to the e-
Mormons sum of 8->) : 080, or nearly one hail
oi the whole capital of tho Batik ! ! ! [ndu
pendent oi tois amount, the Bank has dj„.
continued fur Shorter, Tarver & Cm since
, t!i- tir-st ui C 'toner, upon bills ei exchange
J Hra-.vu upo 1 tin i. 0..11 j)ou. ; . in N T ,.. W York,up.
ird.i of SIB,OOO, aij yvliicli are Vet ua.
p.;.d ; ana which swell their actual in,...! 1
alness to the Bank, to the v s ry .reasonable
siiiti ei 873,36.'#. Asa member of the Boar
ol Directors, I saw and felt the impropriety
ot these large discounts (especially upon ii".
eoinmodaiion paper) to one man ; but oh
jection was worse than useless. Judge bi.or.
ter ruled toe Bank, anil dispensed liis fiuor
with the absoluteness of an Eastern Satrap.
Ho. has correctly stated the amount of,!,
own uebt to the Bank, but ho has omitted
mention what is true, that 81,800 of thal
debt was created by his relative, .Mr. .her
il. Shorter whilst in copaitrierslrp w.,fii 1,.
r or lh > purchase of ; s< me properly o;i i
•recount, am! whirl) /oil upon me at the <{jje
lutio.-i of otir connrmoii. The m*uts wlih* l *
ui>r>; the proceeds of that bun, have not i
been realized by me, ami hence the dt lit iY..
1 inijiai:!, I Inne recently, how• v
I pud M..TO towards its extinguishim nl, an >
l am ,iO - v ' prepared lo ijischarge lt a ltem |i„ ,•
jas well as 111.- balance of my and, ht iffi’
n.m.o My onii di* oonti-, I must eons. -,
were large ur,d more than I ought to hat, |
,I or been,minted with ; but liovr could I
I refrain fioin folio,viuy so illuntfious ; , n cx .|
nnijde as that mt by our ottn Pri. diet. j 1
*an another «!« muring ih« |„ a n * nod , :
e tin a rapacity and (.'iccdincrs which ti.n at, |
cic and soon to r \tiii('uish them allo.a ;i,,r, and'
l>ke a prudent mm, f, , : t j„ f„ r ►), - rs ,, ( (!li !
I wan feututiate in g. ttii.,. tl ,
morsel alongside of such a gormandizer as j
Judito Shorter.
The only reason urged by Judge Shorter j
for declining to make any further payments
to the Bank, is an alleged refusal on mv j
part to take Ilia stock, which he says I pro.;
inised to do. I never premised to doso, ex
cept on certain conditions, which he refused
to comply with. His excuse, however, is re
moved-' —his stock has been purchased by a
nother gentleman—the Bank wants too r.io
e.ey which he owes it. A short time will
test the sincerity of his professions, both of
a willingness and ability to pay it. He " ill
he placet! on the same footing of other debt
ors to the Bank, but I shat! be agreeably dis
appointed if in sixty days from this lime, the
records of tire courts of Muscogee county do
not exhibit him in the attitude of a defendant
for the largest portion of his debt to tlie
Bank.
Judge Shorter has labored both in his pub- j
licalit.ri ami ip priv ite, to Convince the public !
that the Bank will in future be corruptly or;
badly managed , nay, that such practices
hat e already begun. He says ♦’the Bank It
not now in the situation it \va3 on the first j
Monday in this month,'’and 1 am informed j
that whilst in Macon a few days since, lie;
stated to a gentleman of that place, that the i
new Board of Directors had discounted S-U,-
GCO upon notes for which lie would not give
two Pnnftred dollars. Nothing can be farther
from the truth. Tlfc new’ Board have dis
counted only SIO,OOO on trills of exchange to
cot tun purchasers, and not one dollar npofi
accoa-tßodatioii paper of anv kind. This
Judge Shorter knew or might hate known
when lie made the statement alluded to.
The whole of the false and slanderous reports
which lmve gone abroad in relation to the
situation of the Bank,may fie traced to Judge
Shorter or his immediate friends. Their ob
ject is so plain, that lie seems to have antici
pat (I -the judgment of the public upon this
point, when ho prayed it not t- “suspect him
of a desire to put the hills of the Bank below j
par with a view of buying them up, and pay-j
mg his debt to the Bank.” Whatever Judge
Shorter may effect to fear as to the solvency
of tSiu Bank, lean assure the public tnat it
will never be conducted upon a worse plan
than it has beeu heretofore, as long as t pos
sess the influence over it which he attributes
tome. The stock will he owned by as ma
ny nrxt pprctiaoca by a« rcupuulablc and res*
posi hie men as heretofore ; no resort will be
had to the Bank for leans to pay for it, and
no overgrown debt will be allowed to accu
mulate in the hands of a single individual-
Xo man pretends to entertain more confidence
in the ability and integrity of Mr. Cary than
Judge Shorter. The office of Cashier was
tendered to him. Is it reasonable to think
that he would have been solicited to remain
if it bad been intended to carry on corrupt
practices in the Bank 1 Can it he supposed
tnat such a man as (Jen. Sanford would pre
side over an institution improperly managed?
That under such circumstances, Dillingham,
Switzer and Evans would retain their seats
at die Board? Apart from all considerations
coenccted with mv own character and honor,
no reasonable or intelligent man can suppose,
that those who are associated with me in the
direction of the Bank, w ould do any act cal
culated, in the least degree, to defraud the
community, nr injure their own well earned
reputations. The object of Judge Shorter’
puhlicatio.. will fail. The Bank as so i| f ,
shall have recovered from t>; o r , ' „
Ii t'ii t i icinporani
shock which has been pm-‘,. Ct ] t)ie
founded charges and ofi)s eilt .;
lines will go on tq , lc s il'. ly, and l trust,
profits lily mVi.ged, and as long as it shali be
eo conducted, it will deserve and receive the
public confidence, although it.may not hare
■ ta Preaid ! . .<I j
A I.BRED IVERSON.
MiLtEDcrivitca, Oct. Ist, 19f53.
To A. IvERdOX, 1v.,.
My dear Sir;—Your I tferof the lOd, u lt.
:n reply to my last, reacbrsl me several days
since. P.eviously to its receipt, ! had not
Kn wn that the provisions of vour Bank char
'cr/< T-iuad that its stuck should be held a
jI finite i< nglfi of time to constitute elective
ability in the lioldt r. M'.ii- being the case,
it will doiibiles.*bo more prinh nt. todelav tin
purchase of Mr.Grantlandfor the present, j„
ord.-rto avoid the difficulty to which you
haio alluded. In the moan time, considcr
i i-j ins proposal (osell in connection with
/ nir determination to accept it, l do not com
sider that it would be wrong to regard his in.
t crest as your own, and to act in relation to it
as ii the transfer v.as already made. Yeiir
consent (which has been given) it would seem
is clone necessary to make you the holder,
a.ni as such I cannot see any impropriety in
exercising a right which you have been thus
induced to think you possess. To bo sure
the forms of bargain nm| sale have not been
vet executed, hut the declaration of Mr.
Grunbanil being no doukt in good faith, there
is no reason why you should not regard his
stock as certainly your own, as if you held
0:11,11 hand and sea! w rilten evidences of the
sum?.
I sec you have suggested other names of
Directors than those mentionrd when I heard
irom you last, an J have omitted entirely that
‘■•i a prominent individual. Your masons for.
the Clio.;"* ."‘ v ' doubtless satisfactory to your
self, and perhaps tvr., .h fl equally so to the
public when made known. V,,„ e7.'? , ‘ot hut
lon see how ever,that it will be the occasion ,
■ * an einbnuwed controversy, in which noth
mg will he li ft unsaid or undone which can
uouml vour toolings or di turb vour quiet.
line: me.s encompass us all, hut' they con-
Tier who think they can.—lWunt quia vi
uentur posse.
Yours, Ac.
J. W. A. SANFORD.
r ll ,"' Georgian, Harris master, full
.rcp-.ilfi for Columbus, was snugged and
•unk on the 20th inst. about fifty m ijc b b. low
| l uis, near Roanoke, Stewart county. Sin
was loaded with Dry Goods and Groceries
l >r merchants nf this town, wliieii tonelliti
with the Dour will no doulp. be entirely lo t.
| i .10 principal part ol tin.- Hoods wo m, h ,
’'"u' 1 ’ ,n "' ri : d * l ’“ l lll, ‘ bout waiimt.
45 '‘Mi in *’i , cD(|j,»jr ri\t r jji
!. Ihe Boat .truck « at,,, g
lint la v conceal, ,J inpl, wafer, which fore, it
a hob- through the | Ottoman.) held berth, re ;\
h-feie aim could be dj* Mg.ig ,| f f „ m t J„. j
xuaglho v. at. r tlo-.u and in so r.q.nlly ihut ti.rf I
«it,e landing the < v rffiura of uit eu hoard
- !w: ** «* <l “' l » »• tirrlle , | W „| lf
M r ' v •» ** .Noilimjtut tk« Cablo
wlucli is 111 the upper deck remained out of
I water, and it is probable she cannot l*e rai*.
i “I. 'Bile Georgian was owned by Mesarx
J. S. Caihoun, Harris, and others of this town
j " aa built at Pittsburgh, Pennsyvania'
j about three years since. She was sold |«,t
.'me to the pr. si ut own* rs for eight thousand
liol'or,--. V. e ii nf rstand the freight eftli e
< om u-i is suppo . and le be worth from 50 to
idO.dd'i dollars. Next week we shall p ro h a .
j Ely he able to give further particulars relative
lo tlie causes and extent of the loss.
Columbus Ena
- Tr.m-rr.jri' n mttmm
t Ti xn i ki> cosgbe^
! FIKBT SESSJCX.
IN SENATE.
Monday, Dec. IC,
Tim vice President on taking bis seat, »«
i’.i-t silli I I officer of the .Senate, delivered’tha
following Address:
Si natoks: — In enteringon the duties of
111! station to which I have been called l»y th«
I < epic, and. ference to you, and justfco to my.
seif, require that 1 should forestal expccia.
tie,ns which otherawiso might be disappoint!
id. Although for many years heretofore a
member of the Senate,' regret that I should
not have acquired that knowledge of the p ar .
tieul.ir ordi r of its proceedings, which might
naturally be expected. Unfortunately forme
m ri: ; cet to my present condition, 1 ever
found those at hand who bad more corrcctlv
appreciated this important branch of their
duties, and on whose* opinions as to point 0 f
order, I could at all times safely rely. This
rctrißsncss will doubtless, for a season,cause
me no small degree of embarrassment. So
far, however, as unremitting exertions on im
part, mid a proper respect for the advice of
those who are better informed than myself,
ran avail, this deficiency will be remedied as
speedily as possible; and I feel persuaded
that the Senate in tlie mean time will extend
to me a considerable indulgence.
Hut however wanting In ay be for the time
1 '<l a thorough knowledge of tire technical du
:to Sos til? Chair, 1 entertain, 1 humbly hope,
a<l op and solemn conviction «f its high m 0!
ral obligations. lam well aware that lie who
o lupies it is hound to cherish towards the
members of the body over which he presides,
no other feelings, than those of justice and'
courtesy; to regard them all as standing on
: an honorable equality ; lo apply the rules cs-
I t.-.L i shed by themselves foi their own govern.
I merit, with stiiet impartiality ; and to use
whatever authority lie possesses, in the man
j arr best calculated to protect the rights, to
, respect the feelings, and to guard the repu
| tat ions of all who may be affected by its ex
crci.se.
It is no disparagement, -to any other branch
of tb,- Government to say, that there is none
on v. liicli the Constitution devolves such ex
tensive powers as it does on the Senate
’i i rro is scarcely an exercise of constitution
al authority in which it dees not mediately or
immediately participate. It forms aq impor
tant, ami in some respects, an C,dispensable
part of each,of the three a..,,.
executive, legislative ... ” . . •*
moreover, the bodv . j'. u K ia . ’ ls ’
a I that share o' „ " W . h,c ! 13 «" a de efll-etu.
.. . . gower in the federal orgam
o' '* ' ' .tsely allowed to the respective
.. ta.e . qv crc jg r ,ti cs<
■'Vested with such august powers,sojadi
oiously restricted, and so sag-ely arlapted tj
tin- purposes of good government, it i 9 na
wonder that the Senate is reoard-'d n v tl
prople of the United States ? 3 one l f Z
~est features of what they at least consider
‘", c VVISO9, » u >e freest, and the happiest
political system in the world. In fc rvC nl
wisin-s,that it may long continue to be so
regarded, and in a conviction of the ii/ipor
lane,-el order, j, n( , rcgu |- mIT
its proceeding, \vc c.ust all concur.
- so ill oc the object of mv highest ambi
l:o»,.*enators, to join with yo'u, as far as in
i.es, ill affecting these desirable objects;
im. in endeayoiing to realize an expectation
.ormed of liiis body at tlie adoption of the
o.'-'itution, n nil ever since confidently chef
l':i' '■> 1 hat it would exorcise tlie most effi
i nt iniiuence in upholding the federal sys
- m, and in perpetuating w hat is at once the
.-- I", .alien and safeguard of our country’s
wi ii ir-, the union of' the States.
■ .-!■Ciayton; of Delaware, and Waggs
o- :i of Louisiana, attended to-ilay, and took
tileir scats.
Mr. V> illiins presented tiie credentials of
honorable Mr. McKean, elected a Sena
tor by tli Legislature of the State of Penn
sylvania ; and
•Mr. Benton presented the credentials of
the honorable .Mr. Linn, appointed a Senator I
• -a-.i -onri, bv tlie Governor of the State;
arid
Messrs. McKean and F.inn having taken
the usual oatli prescribed bv law, were duly
qualified as members of tlie Senotc.
The I‘resident announced a communication
tioiii the Government Directors of the Bank
ot ti-e I . S. which on motion of Mr. Web
-’rr, was laid on the table; and on motion of
Mr. Kii g, ordcicd to !:e printed for the mo
of the Senate.
The President then announced that the I
ifi ction of tlie Standing Committee was the I
order of the day. I
EjLSJCTIOi¥ of COIIIITTIES- I
The ice President took the Chair of fh® I
S- ate on Montlay, and delivered a suitablo I
address. Accordingto appointment, the Se* I
uato proceeded to appoint its Standing Com* I
“-••a by ballot. They are as follows: I
r „ the Committee on />I
lur Lhairma.. —• :.. a received on|
reifji lldniions —Mr. him... I
the 2d ballot, 20 votes; Whereupon) - ■
'• tlkins was pronounced duly elected. ■
Tli - result of the hallotmgs for tlie (-b»i f * H
men of tlie oilier committees is as follows. ■
Finar.rr. —Mr. Webster, 22, Mr* 'Eig '*l
17. Mr. Webster chosen. I
( 'ommcrec. — Mr. Silsbee, 2.'!; Mr.K'Hvß
and Alabama, lit. Mr.Silshcc chosen- H
rmftu lares. —Mr. I Veelingbuysei l ' 'H
Mr. |7. Mr. ■
■ ?,'//;■(■.—.Mr. Btow h had 42 voW* 1 ? H
was chosen. . u
Military Affairs —Mr. Benton had I
j votes, and was chosen. ol
\ M •Viiia. — Mr. Boumson had -13 votcs I
Saral ‘.[fairs. —Mr.Southard had ‘****l
m l Mr. Una -. IH. Mr.Southard eho** I
Vublit- binds.-Mr. routdftirt I
totes, iiid Mr. I *•. Mr. I’oi«idc*t* fc * m||
I'riralt /,.. nt Claims.— '. Mr. Kane I
uU*I
Indian Affairs.—Mi. While hid
ini w ,ip eii- . ri. i a. I
< I,uau. Mr. Bell had ‘JO io»«>""
Brown 11. Mr. Util ehoaen. I
