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I*{>E,ITISA S„
••'I 1..' vigil
Fro/i i the Coli.nbi . v tZupdrrr.
to Tin: pkofle ofsouth Carolina.
Ant war of ilia Trouucoi»r-<v St itc<’ Rights
to tho atldroM of the people ofSrfuth Carolina.
Ffiltow-ciTiziSNS, —M •' have received throng.i to*
tncilium of public prints, the address of 'he people o'
South Carolina to the people of th • I iitliril >t.it. *; a tut.
likewise the Proclamation of the JVsslent, diseli'Siii:-
his views of the nature of our govcrnm* nt, as well as the
manner in which lie intends to treat the rner s -t
your state. We consider the first, as a eorr. et ' imlie.i
tion of just principles .ami :i manly assertion ol your
rights ns a sovereign state of tins Union: the litter a
jiroclaiAntittnoffnl.se theories of oiir government, a<-
conipanicd w ith a threat of lyranien! measures to sustain
them.
Your principles nrc correct, because you seek to an
nul laws, which hav ■ no force of themselves, and which
oro void, on account of their violation of th Constitu
tion of the United States, (there being n» grant ot pow
er to protec*manufactures) and it tie y had bet n consti
tutional, tliev should still be resisted, because th y w. re
fraudulently enacted, hv nn interested majority of tlie
members of Congress, for the henelit ot a tew e.irupt
and influential individuals, involving the ruin oi thou
sands of innocent victims. I liny ought to be i
because they violate one of the most sacred ‘‘absolute
rights,” of individuals, to wit: "tho right nt private
property,” by taking from us the earnings of our la or,
against our will.
That you will execute your ordinance, vvotlo n> t doubt ;
you have too rnanv examples of the elbct ot tir.nn -s m
a good cause to falter at this late day of veur tribulation;
too much of the blood of your fathers to so r the roi.se
quenees. The children of Marion, Pinkney and Hayne,
vv ill not stop to count th cost, after they hav.s “planted
themselves upon the Constitution.” We do not be
lieve that vou will sum rider the plains of
Camden, bleached w ith tfo> bones of your an
consecrated holy by their blood, to the dominions ol osir
avarice, that chills the heart, and of an ambition for pow -
er, that oonsutnes, with a burning lust, the very soul ol
man. Wo perceive, in the ardor of your excitement,
the same noble bearing of our own Troup, when bis
country was threatened with the sword and tho bayonet.
Manv, it is true, reviled him as a “madman and a
trader” declared the “old treaty for which li - conten
ded, a fraud" and nerevaidy to surrender their very
homes to the mandate of the Central Government. A
majority of our people, however were with him, and not
unlike Carolina, when she r« solved she should infinite
ly prefer, the territory of h rst .t: should he the
ccmctry of freemen, than the habitation of slave s; they
promulgated to th ■ world, that hav mg acquired an tin
alionahlc right to the territory of the Ciialtuhoochie
country," they would be tenants of the soil or the >d.
Wo are sorry however that we cann >t now, encourage
you to hope for the co-pcration ot our State in her
sovereign capacity, in bringing back the institutions of
our common country, to their-primitive purity and sim
plicity. The spirit had gone forth, that promised to
arouse our people to a sense of their vv rongs, and bclirv e
us, when onco made sensible of tin ir slavish condition
they will act with that promptitude and energy, that lias
ever characterised the democracy of Georgia. I hat
spirit lias been stifled lor the moment, by seme of our
leading and interested politicians. It is but (or a mo
ment. It is not extinguished, oppr on will force it
out again, and the v iolcnce of its reaction, is more to In
feared, than that it will sink forever, if, hevvercr we
should be mistaken in this, ami you should stand alone
in defence of Southern rights, the spirit of liberty is un
conquerable, and should war come of this, (vvh.ch <Jod
forbid) the first blow aimed at your sovereignty, will be
the signal to votaries of freedom, throughout this whole
country, to rush to your standard, and every inch of
Carolina's soil, enslaved, will he rich with human
blood.
The foregoing answer being read and agreed to, t't
following resolutions vvi re introduced and unanimously
adojili and, to '' it i
Resolved, That as citizens of Georgia, having tike
interest with our brethren of South-Carolina, wo view
with deep concern their perilous situation, and while wo
rrgret the extremity to which this controversy lias been
(nished, vve have received with alarm and astonishment,
the doctrines lately promulgate and by the President in Ins
proclamation to the people of the United States.
Resolved, That vve cannot remain indifferent specta
tors of a contest botvven the Mate of South Curoliurf.
and the General Government. Her interests, are our
interests, ller e.ui«. must become our cause, or vv<
shall be traitors to those interests—our State sovereignty
an empty name, the people, a prey to the despotism ol
an irresponsible government.
Resolved, That a copy of this answer, and the r. so
hit ions appended thereto, bo forwarded to his Excellency
the Governor of fronth Carolina ; and that it be poblsh
cd in the newspaper* of this St.'o.
THAMILTON, President.
Tiro. Yalkn r:v::, Secretary.
LaGrange, 20th Dec. 1 Vo'-’.
rr.OM Till. M A COX MESSKNGEK.
ANOTHER CARD.
Since the publication of iny card, proposing “to
meet my constituents of botli parties, at tho Court
House, on Monday next, toaUord all necessary ex
planations, of the proceedings of the late Anti-Tai iff
convention held in Miljedgeville in November last,”
the aspect of affairs lias entirely changed—as much
good, as I then thought and still believe, would have
resulted from a timely approval of these preceding!-
by flic people, it is now obvious, that their adoption
or rejection can have no influence upon the settle
ment of the great struggle in which we are eng p,d
Long before G cgir, could lie united, if ever, up. n
the mode of resistance recommended by the c avea
tion or any other, the struggle will b- over, The
evil urn he removed—the eoxsrirrnox redeem
ed from violation—the i.mon cemented, or scat
tered by the non or ‘vioi.ence, in le-aoxoacn
fragments, to tlie winds. 1 consider it then i re.
unavailing, to urge the adoption of the people, of
the proceedings of the- Convention But though
oeorgi v as a state can, will do nothing in aid of
so good a cause, what a fair field, does not the
struggle present, for patriotic Georgians, to
prove them: sincere devotion to the cause of Libi.r-
R\,the co.vstiti rio.x and the t ,\iox. —One noi l -
state, has taken her stand, firm and immovable, in
the vindication of our violated rights—in the pro
tection of our plundered property —an 1 in defowv
of that liberty, which is our birth-right. For this
the “imperial edict,” has gone Jonh, that she shali.
«e pvt down. The bayonet is brandish, and at h r
breast and her fair fields'are threatened with deso
lation—what a spectacle does not the struggle pre
sent? certainly such as was never before witr.-d
in our country: the people on the one hau l strug
gling for jusUce and their rights, and the Govern
ment contending for lawless power and misrule,
on the other.
The Legislalure, have declared that Georgia
has no sympathy with Carolina in lier struggles in
this great cause, for the rights of the p c;in .
not believe it—l will not believe that Georgians
have, become so recreant to the principles taught
them by two successful struggles again?: the verv
ilepoUtm. iu anot’-K-r shape. with which <' .roJini is
nyw contending—raid Ido trust the people of floor- i
gia v, ill rcj«uliatc this calutimy, thrown upon their
characters, ly a usurped not of "their l.e islature.
Lot tlie people then assemble, not fpr the purpose
of considering tin; proceeding of the t (invention,
hut to say to the Legislature, you have misrepre
sented our pfinciplcs ami our ioelin/a lo i’resi
dent Jacks-ei, the despotic principles and doctrines
of vour Proclamation we never will submit to; —
and*to Carolina, you kkvf.r shvii. ni; pit ne.vv.
for resisting the lawless exercise of usurped power,
whilst one patriotic Georgian survives to raise an
arm in vour iikhinci:, A meeting ol any portion ol
Hihh County for such a purpose,-1 will cheerfully at
tend at any moment.
Augustus Brail,
O.i? of: Ac />>'<’(•, if>.* from i'ibb Cj;r:‘y
I, i the t'uircntion.
Tin: Pbociam vrto\.—We stated, a week or two
ago, oar belief that the President’s Proclamation
would be almost universally acceptable to the peo
ple of A . Carolina. '\ o have since ascertained that
ibis opinion was not well (bunded, and it is our duty
to state the fact. Its doctrines are not only dissen
ted from in some of the public journals, but many in
dividuals. friends ol Jackson and ol the union, (dis
approve of them, considering them as abandoning
all the ground acquired by the Republican l'artv in
the struggles of’OS, and as going the whole length
of the Federal doctrines of that era. Many who
were led away by its eloquence, and the anticipation
of a good result from its patriotic spirit and heart
stirring appeals, have, uj*on a nv>re roller and de
liberate examination, spoken freely their dissent.—
The number of these will be increased by the en
thusiasm with wiiieh the ( ‘lay men, the Tarilf men,
and the Hartford Convention Federalists, at the
North and East, have received it.—N. C. Obeurver.
From the Spirit "f the . ’ v.
Orn ancesthus. —When the question of liberty or
voluntary slavery was present' and to their minds, in what
light did they view it?—and, in deciding it, how did
they act? Did they stand with folded arms tearing to
move, lest they should provoke the anger of their oppres
sors? When a pitiful tax of throe-pence a pound upon
tea was considered hv them as a burthen too grievous to
lie hoiiii', we may readily understand the cause of their
resistance. They were rn nos son L too high and noble
and daring to pav any tax, imposed without right. They
were men “who felt oppressions lightest finger as a
mount tin's weight.” They were men, “w ho judged cl
the grievence by the badness of the principle, they ar
gued misgoverutnent at a distance and suffered the ap
proich of tyranny in every tainted breeze.” No dang
ers could daunt, no apprehended evils could appal, i o
imagined calamitous r onsequences could deter them.
Tin y reasoned and deliberated, but it was to ascertain
their rights; not the difficulties they would have to en
counter, and the danger they would have to brave in
maintaining them, llravc men they were, and free men
they were determined to be. Who does not delight to
dwell on the high, pure and holy spirit of liberty which
animated them? Whose bosom docs not swell and glow
ami burn with more than patriotic fire, while contempla
ting the consequences to which that spirit led? A world
ransomed, liberated, blessed! Did the spirit die with
them? Has it grown old with the few who still linger
among ns? Is its energy gone? Ate we the sons if
melt sires ready to act on other principles?*Shall wi
mike case and quiet the chief good? Shall we hv our
conduct say that submission to might rather than right
is patriotism, that a law, though unconstitutional, une
qual, oppressive and unjust, is binding, and that the dan
ger ol civil way growing out of resistance is the worst of
evils? 1 Had our ancestors thought thus—had they deem
ed an? evil worse than unqualified submission to tyrani
cal enactments—had they regarded danger as the worst
of evils, peace as the only good w orth seeking—had
they relied on petitions, tn n ori.-ds and protests as the
only legitimate mode of obtaining their dearest rights,
these Stat s would still have been colonics-—Americans
would still he heard to extol the excellence and justice
of the MOTHER VOI'XTRY, AMI TO CRY Gci> SAVE THE
King!
And what made their conduct still more noble, th
knew their resistance, if unsuccessful, could k-g.fiv 1,.
punished as treason, because they were in r. aim- colon
ies. They were therefore cotnpi lied to nsist with arms.
With us, the case is different. The Southern St.at, s
are members of a r nfederacy", and by the therms of the
compact they retained their sovereignty Their sover
eign rights have been violated—usurpation after usur
pation has Stripped them of their powers, and their sole
ely-et in resisting the acts of one branch of their gov
ernment. is to maintain their exist'nee as sovereign
powers, and to preserve unimpaired that system of gov
ernment for which their fore-fathers toiler l , and transmri
led to them as an inheritance. There is no man who
would advocate resistance to laws properly anu r > titu
tionally enacted. The only resistance w hich has vet
been meditated, is to usurpation of power—to vxois
crisr.D tvkaxy—and the resistance proposed is entirely
a legal process which will force our oppressors to' do os
justice, call a Federal Convention, or consecrate their
unholy acts by imbuing their hands in the blood of those
whom they have oppressed and mean to enslave. We
call on the people to r.-ff ct o-i th. so things. S e a F. d
eral army moving with all the pomp of war, net to en
force the laws of the Union, nos to collect revenue need
ed by the government, but to op r. ss and subjugate
those who have claimed equal rights, « ; ml prot ,-rion,
and equal burdens. For what is this ,iou. ? It is for the
benefit of the manufacturet—:ii.- s ■ who have grown rich
at the expense of the South.
COS Ci Si ESSZOXAK..
The proceedings since our last have he. n icrv unin
teresting,—The Senate having ’adjourned fron( Mon
day to Thursday. And the House having adjourn, and
trom Saturday to Wednesday. Ie the Senate, consider
able n, bale arose on .Mr. Foindexter's resolution (insrr.
ted h retofore) calling upon the Secretary of th Treasu
ry sot a plan for the reduction of the revent.” .Messrs.
Brown, I’ou; xt, r, Smith, Sprague, Fr-linghuys n,
//.times. It! r, Miinnint, and B:hh, took part in the
debate, which resulted in laving the resolution on tin
table.
la the House, a debate arose upon Mr. Wick!:s -?.
olut'on calling upon die Executive fora list of Mtmbers
ofCongress appointed to offices since I'd*', in the
course ol which an amendment was prop-. ed to enquire
a list of all the M mhers who have been applicants for
office- The amendment was rejected, 105 to 72, and
tin.' original resolution adopted, 102 to 75.
A resolution offend by Mr. Adams, rc.-ucstiim the
I’.. sident to lay before t- 1 house, C; , ; , . * .
mat-n, and efthc proce. dings of th. 5. C. Convention,
c aning up on Thursday ! . Mr. Clay of Ala. moved
the question of consideration, which be;n<r taken the
ll.msc refused to consider it—yeas 65, i, a v» 100 -rid
Vented a storm; hate on the subject. Tin
Intelligencer thinks this decision indicates nothing mor«
t.iaii anu.d:s|KisitMjn to hare Inc subject debated at pre
st nt.
By vest, rdai s tr.aii v-e re* • i.id a rr*j» of th*- ?,i;i
reported by the Cumnuitce of Waya and* M« an. to r~.
duce tiic TaiiT. It pro., . that freis thr li tof M n-*
1c33-
Ist. On unmanufactured wool, the raloe of whir!: - 1 it
- cents pet f* for t
| lar* tiorth shall be pail untilt!,t 2J ie! I- }}, t n
t-ib till 2.! Match. 1 *J3S, and then 615- .Wool under 6
cents per ; ound value, folic free of duty.
•_v|, P is, Kcrr. vs, or Kcm, all Cottons, of wool,
not exec ' g 35 cents the squ ire yard, :-.nd blankets,
not excec,’ •ng 75 cents each, to pay S*2 lor every 8100
valuation- Worsted stuff golds, shaws, bombasines,
po--!i: -, t. ; lets, end all other manufiicfiires of silk and
wot Med, 610 for every 8 HR' value. Coach Jacc, 825
for i verv SI OO value.
Ilk, Acts, 825 for evi ry 8100 value, until 2d of
March, 1831, and then 810.
y- Carpi-is, carpetings, flannels, bookings, baizes,
cloths, kersi vn: res, iin rino shawls, and all other wool
len nianufactur, s, or of whieli wool is a component part,
i xeept as In r in otherwise provided, and in ready made
i*lothi.*i«r 840 fi r everv 81-' ' value, tint 12d .March, 1831
thenß-30 until 2d Man b. 1835, then 820-
5 Woollen and wo sted hosiery, inits, gloi es, stock
inets, and rvi worsted bindings, 820 tor cvciy 8100 val
ue, until 2d March, 183-1, then 810.
6. Manufactures of Cotton costing not more than
25 cents per sqnan yard B*o for every 8100 value
thereof, until 2d March, 1831, then 820- All other
manufactures of cotton, or i t cotton and si k, not other
wis ■ specified, $25 for every Si oo value, until 2d March
1831, then 820. Nankeens iliieet from China, sl3.
Cotton hosiery, inits, gloves, stockinets, and cotton
twist,yarn, ami thro m 1,820 for every 8100 value, until
2d March, 1824, the;. 810.
7. Iron in bars or liolts not manufactured in whole
or in part bv rolling,Blß the ton, until 2d March, IB3L
then 815. Far and bolt iron made wholly or in part by
rolling, y: .Mho ton. until 2d March 1831, then 824.
Scrap and old iron Bl‘2 50.
! 8. Iron a pigs, 50 cents per every 112 weight, un
til 2d March, 1 S3-!, then 40 cents. Cast iron vessels
' and other iran castings, one cent pe* pound.
i). Stu! 1 dollar 50 cts, for every 150 pounds weight
; until 2d March,.!'33, then 1 dollar.
10. Manufactures of iron and iteel, not herein en
umerated, thcseveral rat- sot duty provided by existing
laws, 2d March fool, and thereafter the lowest
; rate of duty which would have been payable on the
same, either under the act of the 27th April, 1819, en
titled “an act to regulate the duties on imposts and ton
nage-”—or the act of the 14th July, 1832, entitled “an
act to alter and annul the* several acts imposing tlutit'S
on imports.”
11. II nips 35 dollars tho ton until 2d March, 1834,
and thereaft* r 30 tlollars the ton.
12. Cordage tarred, 5 cents the pound until second
March, fo3l, and thereafter two cents the pound. Cor-,
dnge untarred, and yarn, twine, and packthread, 5 cents
the pound until the 2d March, 1834, and thereafter 3
cents the pound.
13. (Jotton bagging 13 dollars for every 100 dollars
value.
14. All manufactures of hemp or of flax not herein
cnumeratils dollars for every 100 dollars value.
15. Spirits from grain, to-u it: bn first proof, 20 cents
per gallon; second proof, 23 cents per gallon; third proof,
34 cents, am! over fifib proof, 40 cents the gallon; on
spirits from all oilier mat. i nils Ulan giain, to-wit: first
and second proof, I'* cents the.gallon, third prool, 21
cents, fourth proof, 20 cents, fifth proof, 30 cents, and
over fifth proof, 30 cents.
16. Salt, 8 cents the bushel, until 2d March, 1834,
and thereafters cents the bushel.
17. Olive oil, in sacks, 15 cents the gallon, until 2d
March, 1831, and thereafter 10 cents (he gallon.
18. Brown sugar, and syrup ofsugar cane in sacks, 2J
cents tin- pound, until 2d March, 1834, and thereafter 2
cents the pound. White chived sugar 3cents the pound.
Sugar candy and other refined sugar 10 cents the pound.
!9. Molasses, -1 cents the gallon.
20. Coder, 1 cent the pound.
21. Teas, after 3d '.larch, 1834, to wit; on imperial,
gunpowder, and gama, hyson and young hyson, 10 cents
the pound. On hyson skin and other green, souchong
and other black except bohea, 0 cents, and on bohea 3
cents.
22. All manufactures of silk, or of which silk shall be
a component part, coming from beyond the Cape of
Gon-.l Hope 20 dollars for every 100 dollars value, and
all othci manufactures of silk,or of which eilk is a com
ponent part, 12 dollars 50 for every 100 dollars value.
23. All printed books, in other languages than Lat
in, Greek, or English, 4 cents the volume.
All printed books, in Latin A Grerrkj 121 cents the
pound might, when hoqnd; and when unbound, 10
cents the pound weight.
All other printed books, when bound, 23 cents the
pound weight.
iri addition to the articles made free of duty by the
act of 14th July, 1832, the following articles shall bo
admitted free of duty-after 3d March, 1833: that is to
say, cuiton, indigo, and printed books, in whatever lan
guage, printed thirty years before the date of their im
portation.
24. On a!! articles not herein enumerated, the lowest
rate of duty, calculated upon the value of the article,
which v.ould have been payable on the same, either un
d- r t ho aet oi 27tli Ar-iil, fold, entitled “An act to reg
uh.tc.thc riiithson imports and tonagn,” or the act of
14th July, 1832,entitled “An act toaherand amend the
several acts imposing duties on imports.”
The 24 b it. in, it will be observi and, goes back to the
Tariff of 1516, and continues, on a mass of unenumera
to! ariicLs, the lowest rate fixed by the act of ISIG, or
that of 1532.
Me mentioned the fact some days ago, that the Com
mittce of Ways and Means of tnc House of Represents*
lives, had under consideration the’subjcct of further re
duction of the Tariff, and wo stated, more recently, a
discovery, wholly unexpected to us, of the possibility of
the rias.- ig -ol'some billon that subject at the present
session.
The bill, w hich the Ways and Means Committee have
had nnc- r consideration, was yesterday reported by Mr.
Yektlam k. tiic Chairman e-f that Committee, and a
copy of it v. ibe found in to-day’s paper. We esteem
ourselvi s fortunate in having been able to obtain a has
ty transcript of it so soon, for the information of the two
great clas.-es of our readers who are most deeply interes
ts <1 in >t. The copy may not be exact, but it is essenti
ally correct. \
The b li, being given at large, will speak for itself.—
The 24th (and last) item of the first section, perhaps,
d-si rv,to hav attention particularly called to it,as it
roes bacil to the Tariff of 1816, and eontiniics, on a
»»:•=.** if vienvmcraUd articles, the duties imposed by
that aet. t
Whether there is any probability of this particular
hill,or ess nttally such a 1 ill, passing both Houses of
Congress, is altogether a matter of-doubt until it comes
t* be aeted upon.
A Retort, oii She subject of the bill, is expected
from the Committee of Ways and Means to-day, not be
ing quite ready tor presentation yesterday.
* A at. Intelligencer.
TO THE PUBLIC.
HOWE 3 ER obscure tiic clu mctcr; and htimble the
r.ann . fan individual t— is still entitled to justice;—
and his rorejilaints r-rappi a! I r ju-tiee, w hen addressed to
the enlightened and impartial tribunal of public opinion,
is tended to the same consideration and should he treated
»nb lb- eanie r> -peel as if hi. pretentions were backed, by
ail the f -itiii aid. which vr. dtli and honors and widely
cater, .and reputation r« i.t.t give him.
■luu.ri.-e. rUiet, han't ju r- if it pleases, is all that is.!.-,
rounded from the c-unm 1 . ;ry lam now addre-sing. If this
u grant, and rue, I do not fear me re-ultof the Ihi', pending
• f . ’>;■ '!ir, , y • •• -.;ng the fearful odds arrai.g. and
r • fc t »c in trie rharuru r. b power arid oflicul influence
aeeniere are a r mn.fr. /. era portion of a committee, j
*p!“ . by ifce l> ,-.-rtto . .. t s'lg.tt the affair* of the ]
Pa:.!v f Macon and the cause of its failure and the grounds
qfaccusatlon will be foetid in a report, made to that bod) by
said .-imiittee. . , v „
'l* charge against me, though not distinctly riiaoc -« y
best .ted in its full-force thus;—a violation ora conflict
w ith the Bank of Macon to furnish said Bank Gold bullion
at t! price or sum of 98 cts. per dwt. which it is alleged in
tlie • fort, is one of the 'ausos though one of “ minor impor
tance, that tended to produce the present disastrous stale of
affairs, ‘/rowing out of the recent failure of the “ Bank 01
Macon.” Had the committee confined itselftollie establun
,.;ent of this charge, bv nfair, decent comment on the tenti
mol •-. which was adduced, the reply it w ould have elicited,
would have been much les3 painful both to the members oi
that committee and myself. If the ascertainment of p■' ,
,v loniest tru'h had been their object and had they been
dispof and to make no other impression on the public mind,
than what was natural from such a source, they would
scarcely have been so lest to self-respect, aud have departet
so f.»r from common decency in argument, as to descend to a
men- nibble, one of the answers in my testimony and Iron,
which loosing sight of the main accusation, they pretend to
deduce the ck r.:c of “ gross ignorance or gross corruption.
Tim alternative pressed upon me by the committee, they
and übtless believe very charitable and may be astonished t
learn fl at it cannot be accepted. It Ido not shew clean)
that the author of that report, lit least, is justly obnoxious m
the first branch of his alternative, I slrali be perfectly "
ling to acquiesce in tbe applicant n os the latter to in) soil.
They have a recital of the whole of my answer to the seventh
interrogatory upon which the charge is founded, will be en
tirely sufficient to shew that no equivocation or ti-a-s.on was
intended.
It is as follows 41 1 have taken up a large amount ot Macon
Hills; I am not able to state how much ; neither do I know
how much I had on hand at the time of the failure. I paid
pari of the Bills on my receipts, the balance I have on hand, and
in the hands of agents that 1 have not settled with. * In tae re
capitulation of my testimony in the body of the report, t.ie
committee have attempted to do mc-grent injustice. , iiey
sr v 44 in the answer of K. S. I*olloo to the 7th iut.' lie sw ears
44 that I am not able to state how much, neither do 1 know
how much 1 had on hand at the time ot the failure,” and this
answer they allcdgo affords abundant grounds to answer me
l4 f >r gross ignorance or gross corruption.’* Omitting entire
ly the last branch of my answer, which I have inserted in
italics, that it may receive particular notice, which tally re
conciles every apparent difference in any of the karts and
clearly establishes the truth of the whole, the committee have
seized upon a garbled extract from my answer and attempt
ed by arts, that would disgrace the lowest pettifogger in a
court of justice, to make an impression on the public mind
against me, which the testimony when taken together and
considered justly, will ml warrant. Why did 1 not know
44 how much Macon money 1 had on hand at the time ot the
Banks failure 1” The reason is given in the same answer
from which the garbled extract lias been made, and that part
which has been suppressed by the committee ; simply because
/ hud /honey in the hands of agents with whom I had not settled.
And yet the committee would require that 1 should know to
a cent, on a particular day named by themselves; how much
money in bills on a specified Bank, 1 had on hand, notwith
standing 100 I had put large amounts in the hands ot agents,
who were at distance fre m me and with whom i had made no
settlements. They would require that 1 should be able to
tell promptly, what sum of money 1 had in my pockets, on
every occasion—really this is demanding a great deal trom
any man, certainly more than could be expected trom one,
according to their own statements, who was in the habit of
daily traffic and who used from one to one hundred and for
ty-five thousand dollars.
But 1 do not believe, that the disposition of tbe committee
to do me injustice, by this misrspresentation of my testimo
ny, can escape the observation of any person of common sa
gacity, who will give the subject a moments consideration,
I will not therefore, consume more time in exposing that,
which must bo obvious to all. I cannot consent however to
lose this opportunity of presenting, principally for tlu ir com
mittees own benefit, a specimen of their undoubted impartiality
it mav serve to console them, for the errors which they them
selves may hereafter detect in their report. It has pleased
the committee to spgak in terms of approbation of the con
duct of L. Atkinson, Esq. late Cashier, of the Macon Bank,
mid to endorse his administration of the affairs of that institu
tion as “fair and correct.” In their comment on his testimo
ny too, every thing was fair and correct ,■ the most cenetruting
subtlety could not detect an inconsistency. Nothing was
found in his testimony, not even a garbled extract , which would
authorize the committee to press upon them the unpleasant
alternative of “gross ignorance or gross corruption” Yet
the following extract, from his testimony, will shew that the
committee had the same grounds for censuring Mr. Atkinson,
for which, they condemned me. The 3d interrogatory ad
dressed to Mr. Atkinson, is as follows, “have any notes or
bills of the Bank of Macon been cancelled and burned, or oth
erwise withdrawn from circulation, during your being in office
—if any, what amount ? —The answer is 44 There have been
some .”
Now it must be obvious that the answer docs not afford
the information to any extent, called for by the interrogatory
The object of the committee must have been to ascertain
what amouat of bills had been destroyed; this was necessary
to arrive at the very important knowledge, what amount were
still in eirct lation. It cannot be pretended that Mr. Atkin
son who was the Cashier, could be ignorant on this subject.
It was his duty to possess a fair record of'every bill that had
been burned or Otherwise withdraw.-. from circulation and no
one can doubt if this duty had been performed and the wit
ness allowed time for examination “he could have’ answered
the question to the satisfaction of any one, without any kind
of difficulty whatever.” yet the committee required, that I
should he able at tne moment to say what amount of money
I bad in my hands on a particular day, cr submit to a charge
of 4i gross ignorance or gross-corruption whilst theypermit
another individual who held 44 the truly delicate' and respon
sible situation” of cashier to the Bank, and who, could not
tell what amount of the hills of that bank had been destroyed
or withdrawn from circulation, net only to pass w ithout cen
sure, but as if to make tlieir partiality men, have endorsed
bis whole conduct as perfectly “fair and correct.” 1 certain
ly have no disposition to find fault with the approbation, bes
towed by the committee upon the conduct of Mr Atkinson ;
1 believe be deserves it, am. if the committee had extended to’
me the same justice and judged my conduct by the same stan
dard tin y did hit, I should have no cause to fi id fruit myself—
as it is. there is an obvious distinction made (retween us ; < i
tber, Atkinson lias great reason to bless their mercy, or I have
abundant cause to curse their injustice.
Leaving tlie Committee to reconcile in tbe best manner
they can, to their own consciences and to the just sense of the
community—a tribunal to which thev, as well as myself are
responsible—this flagrant act of partiality and injustice, I
shall proceed, with all practicable brevity, to reply to the
only remaining part of the Report which duty to myself , the
quires that 1 should notice. Tho Report of the Committee
discloses tbe fact, thaten the Kith day of February, 1832, I
made a contract with the Bank of Macon, to furnish said
Bank, gold bullion at the price of ninety-eight'cents per dwt.;
and the belter to enable me to make the purchase, the Bank
agreed to advance, from time to time, such sums of money as
w ere necessary for that purpose. This contract I continued
strictly to fulfil up to tho period of the failure of the Bank,
and even a few days before its failure, 1 paid in a sum exceed
ing the enormous amount of $50,000 in gold, §SOOO of which
was paid tbe day before tbe failure was announced; but be
cause i did not still go on to purchase and deliver to the
Bank, large sums of gold, after it had stopped payment and
was notoriously insolvent, the Committee have charged me
with lad faith in the execution of my contract. To this it
would appear necessary only to reply, that my contract with
the Bank was not limited tlf any particular period ; —the Bank
bad a right at any time to notify me that the contract was at
art end, and stop tny purchases ;—I surely had the same right
w henever 1 thought proper, to cease all further operations un
der the contract, and to refund to the Bank any amount of mo
ney I had on hand. But the Committee, in order to sustain
| the charge agains; me ot had Juith in the execution of my con
tract, have been driven to assume the ground, that I acted as
the mere agent of the Bank, and was bound in till mv opera
tions by its instructions. This fact, it will appear from the
testimony appended to the Report, they difigeutly sought to
establish by every w itness at all acquainted with the” tran
saction. Tbe question was addressed directly to Mr. Atkin
son. the Cashier, in the lotli interrogatory—“llad tbe Hank
of Macon anv agent on agents during the spring anil sum-
uej- el 1832. engaged in the purchase oe gold I” The an-
I ewer was, “There was a contract entered into with Robert
S. Button.” So did every mau who at any time borrowed
, money fn in the Bank of Macon, Ibr the purpose of purchas
ing go'll, nr I r any other purpose, make a in , ract with the
Ban: , which lie was bound to redeem at the time of the eon
| tract, by the payment of gold or silver; foot bullion) but coin ;
yet there cannot he found a single individual, tvno became
indebted to the Bank of Macon preri us to its failure, who
has not, suhs. qu. nt t that event, availed him-elf oftlie right
Kid -charge hi, debt, m bills upon tint Bank. The mini xed
ceil ttfM'e ol Mr. Atkins m, marked [A] will shew conclusive
ly teat I war r. c n .idered, by tlie 'dlicgfs 0 f tlie Hank f»t
I. ast, its Igiut. lie ,ay * there was no ctrrespaudentt between
tie lU.nH ■. <l l y rf.-ihiit n» instruct, om were at any tune
given mcly the Ban!; — that no control was pretended to be a ,
ised ly the Bank over my conduct; and that I was left entire/'
to my own govern mail, and that no compensation was ulu s,]
me, but wildl f rnuhl make by purchasing gold for less than 7
real value. With this statementof the Cashier before him
is difficult to conceive how any man can arrive at the cnci"
sion that 1 acted in the character of agent to the Bank. TW
was not only no intercourse between 11s, no inslitrunctioT
given me, no control exercised over my conduct, but the
was 110 pre tence of any authority to control me—all right 0 U
rediem over my conduct, in relation to that transaction ;/ "
pressiy disclaimed. To establish, then, the fact that I was th
agent of the Bank, it must bn shewn that the agent is enl m*
ly distinct and independent of his principal. Whenever tl
‘•gentleman from Greene,” may choose to employ his n/*
fessional acuteness in the attempt to establish such a
trine, he may add to a reputation already acquired as the an!
thor of his celebrated “Macon Bank Report.”
To elucidate still farther, the character of my comiexi
with the Macon Bank. I beg leave to call the attention of p"
subjoined certificate (B & C.) the former a cashier of the
rinc, the latter of the Darien Bank, by which itwillheshow
that I was furnished money, try each of those InstitutitioTk
for precisely tlie same object I received it from the Maeo*’
Bank and tint I never was considered an .Igent by cither
them. Upon the reading of these certificates, Id P Q , t J”
lieve any man will be able to distinguish between thenirv”
of ray connexion with the Marine and Darien Banks, and th
relation I bore the Bank of Macon. From the two former I
borrowed a sum of money to be applied to the purchase of
gold—from the Ut 1 done tbe same to ell. I gave my receipt
tin 1 each made the loan free of interest . The only difference'
which exists, is. as to the mode of The Marine and Darien
Banks requires payment in Savannah funds, the “premium on
which was considered equivalent to the interest.” pj, e Mv
con Bank preferring gold bullion at its own door, which was
also worth a premium equivalent to the interest. Supposed
had been out of my power, or from some ether cause l had
failed to pay the Marine and Darien Banks in checks onSu
annah, wliat..would have been the consequence ? Would
they not have been compelled to receive their own hills with
the interest? Could they have objected to this? Surely not
The premium on the Savannah funds would be only cquiva
lent to the interest; and the payment of the interest would
make up for the loss of the premium ! Could the Miron Bank
require more ! If 1 was unable to purchase the gold or did
not comply with the engagement, to deliver it; what wan the
necessary consequences? Wliat would I he told by the Bank!
“We loaned you money free of interest, with the expectation
it would be applied to a particulr object; it has not been so
applied—you must therefore return us the money with their.,
terest /” This the Bankcould force me to do, but neither law
nor justice could require mo to do more.
The pretence by the Committee, that in the settlement of
my accounts with the Bank, a fraud was committed and a se
rious injury done the bill holders, they knew to be unfounded.
The settlement was,made with a competent agent, appoin
ted by the Bank for that special purpose, and, if any advan
tage was allowed rne in that settlement, the responsibility
cannot rest on my shoulders. But the truth is, no advantage
was allowed me responsibility; rests no where, because in rc'a- •
tion to that matter, there is no guilt—and I would neveroffer
to vindicate myself or others whom I believe as innocent as I
feefthat 1 am. Blit 1 defy tbe committee by the severest
scrutiny into the settlement of my account with the Bank of
Macon, to show any fraud or the slightest injury to thc'inll
holdors. Suppose for a moment, I had at the time of the fail
ure of tiio Bank, all the gold suspected by the committee «r
twice as much, and had paid it into the Bank, would it rot
have been paid out to the bill holders & could have redeemeca
greater amount of bills, than it was worth! 1 hid
retained the gold pud employed it myself in the purchase cf
tlie bills from the hands of the holders, would not the snm«
amount be redeemed? and can it be considered of conse
quence, wl\o redeems tbe bills? It is a plain matter, and eve
ry tutin must understand it who will give it a moment's reflec
tion.
The public are now in possession of the principal grounds
of my defence, to tiio accusations contained in a Report to
the Legislature, by a Committee of that body, appointed to
examine into the condition & cause of the failure of the Ma
con Bank. In submitting this defence, which fivery consid
eration dear to a man who values his reputation, called upon
me to make. I ask forit only a candid, impartial and unpreju
diced consideration by the Public to whom it is addressed.
ROBERTS. PATTON.
Macon, January 4th 1832.
.[A] .
Georgia, Bilb County, Bee. 25, 1832.
This is to certify that there was no correspodence between
the Bank of Bank of Macon and Robert S. l’atton, in rela
tion to the contract to purchase gold: that no instruction was
at any time given by said Bank to said Patton, nor any con
trol pretended to lac exercised over the conduct of said Pattoi
by sdd Bank of Macon, within my knowledge, and that the
sii l Patton was left entirely to his discretion in the applica
tion of the money furnished him by said Bank of Macon, in
the purchase of gold—and that no compensation was allow
ed s aid Patton by said Bank, other than the difference be
tween the price he gave for the gold and the price of which
the Bank to receeive it from him. L. ATKISON.-
[B]
1 hereby certify, that some tim c about the 2Sili Januar,
1832, a loan was made to Robert S. Patton by ihp Branch if
tlie M. and F. Insurance Bank in this place, of which I wa
then Cashier, of Three Thousand Dollars, to be employed it
buying g id, for which his receipt was taken —the payment ,
of the amount whereof ut thirty days, in checks on Saeanaalt
nnd Charleston, was guarantied to tlie Bank by Robert Col
lins and T. R. Lamar. Checks being above par, the premi
um on them was considered equivalent to the interest, there
lore none was charged cut the lease. —In this transaction, Mr.
Patton was not the agent of tlie Bank, nor had it any control
over iiia operations in the disbursement of the money loaned
hint. * . J. WASHBURN.
- C.j
BRANCH BANK OFDARIEN.
S3OOO. Macon, Bth Oct. 1833.
Received of Scott Cray, Esq. Cashier, Three Thou-*
sand Dollars in Darien bills, for the purpose of purchasing
golil in Carroll and Habersham, and for which 1 promise to
return gold at its value, or give Clipcks at sight on Savannah,
Charleston or N'ew-York, within thirty days.
ROBERT S. PATTON.
Gro’gia, Bibb County.
I certify that the above i3a receipt given by Robert Fatten
t) tbe Darien Bank, and that no interest was-charged said
Patton in this advance, and that said Patton was not consid
ered as the agent of the Bank of Darien. SCOTT C'R.Vk
Former Cahicr
iLi'TMirx Qtfiiurjiia*
fgMIE subscriber would inform the citizens of Macon, and
*- thoso whose business brings them hither, that bo has
now completed his Stable on Second street, in a style mfe
rior to but few in the Southern country. He has also been
riai.y adding, and will continue to do so, all that is neces
sary to the comfort of the man of pleasure, and fortlepatcb
to tbe traveller. He lias now on hand, used in the Liver),
some forty head of horses, with a number of Barouches,
Gigs, Stilkcys, fee. which are mostly new, nnd others are
undergoing repairs nee. ssary for the season ; besides which,
in a few days, will receive an additional supply ol Gigs ans
Sulkies, well suited to the taste and wants of the place.
Attached to the Livery Stable, is a coach-maker's, pain
ters, trimmers, anil harness manufactory, as well as a
Blacksmith shop ; and having been at much trouble and ex
pense in procuring good workmen, for all these different
branches, will enable the subscriber at all times to keep his
vehicles and harness in perfect repair.
Every care and pains will be taken to promote the interest
coinfort and convenience of the Patrons of the Establish
ment ; but the subscriber has been taught by experience, I , that
persons hiring must make good allthese delays, and in
juries, which may happen, here to remark, that
all carriages, gigs, or other vehicles, orhorse, being, injured
by accident, iil-nsagc, or other cause, the person having hi
red the same, will be held liablo therefore, for each day, the
article or horse is withheld ns unfit for service; and also
lor r“pairing and feeding, during such delinquency.
I’he heretofore established J’rices will continue to govern,
and may he seen tit tho Livery Stable ; they areas moderate
as the times will admit.
STAGE TO MONTPELIER SPRINGS.
During the ensuing summer and fall, the subscriber will
run a daily 'tack between this place and the Montpelier
Springs ; commencing on the first day of June— leaving
\V aslijrigt .-1 Hall, in Macon, at 3 o’clock, P. M» whet®
seats can be procured, at tho usual stage vatos, to-say, fL
<5 per scat, payable in advance.
Tin: INDIAN SPRINGS,
Will also he visit,,| twice a w eek, by hacks running Jrem
mv stable—h-.,ving Erwin’s Hotel, in Macon, every 'I ut, ‘
'* 4 > Saturday, at 8 o’clock, A. M.aml leave th» Spring*
at 8 o clock, on Thursday* and Monday's; price of* n®* l '
t? 5 in advance.
JOSEPH lIENNETT.
Macon, Jnminry I, 1839. I"