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by GARDNER & BARROW^
the oeorgia mirror;
[ s published every Saturday, in b lorence
j tew art county, Ga. at THREE DODLARSa
year, if paid in advance, or FOUR DOLLARS,
•f not paid until the end of the year.
\dvertisements will be conspicuously inserted
at One Dollar per square, (15 lines) the first, and
511 cents for each subsequent insertion. Nothing
j t , r !' will be considered less than a
< inare. A deduction will be made for yearly ad
vertisements.
•Ml advertisements handed in for publication
without t limitation, will be published till forbid,
; ,nd charged accordingly.
Sales of Land and Negroes by Executors, Ad
ministrators and Guardians, are required by law
t„ he advertised in a public Gazette, sixty days
previous to the day of sale.
The sale of Personal property must be adver
,:seß in like manner forty days.
Notice to Debtors and Creditors of an estate
must be published forty days.
Notice that application will be made to the
C our t of Ordinary for leave to sell Land and Ne
groes, must be published weekly for four months.
f'7*’ All Letters on business must be post
taio to insure attention.
ITeITs a g e .
Executive Department, Geo. £
Milledgeville, November 6th, 1333. £
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate,
and IJ >use of Representatives.
I congratulate you upon the successful remo
v'd of the Cherokees from the State; that you
\w!l no longer be harassed in your legislative pro
ceedings by the perplexing lelations which have
hitherto existed between them, the United States
.-uni Georgia; that on* - citizens are at last in the
quiet possession of all their land ; and the .state
me undisputed sovereign within her own territory.
Immediately ujion coming into office, a cor
respondence was entered into with intelligent per
sons in different parts of the Cherokee country,
for the purpose of ascertaining the temper and
designs of the Indians, and the extent of the dan
ger to be apprehended from them; and with the
.Secretary of War, and Col. Lindsay, (then com
manding in the Cherokee country) as to the force
which should he provided to give security to our
citizens. Enquiry was made into the conduct of
the agents who had been appointed to protect the
lights of the Indians. Jf having been found that
This trust, important both for the character and
I -ace of the country, had not been discharged at
il. by sonm. and nssued by others, and that con
• h-raUe irritation had already been excited by
trespasses upon the property of the Indians, and
by the unauthorized interference of the officets of
t.;e United States, in assuming the right to ad
just them: measures were taken to control this
improper conduct of the officers, and respecta
ble agents were appointed to take care that wrongs
done to the Indians should be properly redres
sed.
It was considered highly important not onl} to
secure the people against actual danger, but create
among them such confidence in their safety as to
prevent the panics from idle rumors, to which
those who are exposed at all to attacks from In
dians. are peculiarly subject.
The militia of-the Cherokee country having
been disorganized by the withdrawal of a consid
erable part of its force to Florida, orders were
given and repeateplv enforced upon the officers,
to perfect their commands.
A regimeht, composed ol one company of
mounted infantry in each of the Cherokee coun
ties, was formed and armed, in pursurance of the
act passed at your last session.
Upon the urgent request of this department,
ten volunteer companies of mounted men, of the
militia of the State, were taken into the service ot
the United States, and stationed near the large In
dian settlements in fortified positions, as assem
bling places for the people in cases ot alarm, and
to control the conduct of the Indians.
When the requisition was made by the authori
ty of the President of the United States, tor twenty
Companies of the militia ol the State, to be em
ployed in enforcing the execution of the C liero
kee treaty, orders were immediately sett by ex
ptessesto the commanding officers ot the twenty
regiments nearest to the Cherokee country, to
raise one company from each; have them organ
ized, and marched without delay to New-Echota,
the plare appointed for their rendezvous. 1 poo
Gen. Scott’s arrival at that place, on the evening
°t the twenty-third of May, he found an army ot
Georgia militia, armed anil ready to execute his
command.
On the 22d of Mav, the day before the expira
tion of the time when the Cherokees were to have
completed their removal from the State, according
1° the treaty, the President laid before Congress
the terms of anew contract with the Chiefs ot the
tribe, by which he assured them, that they should
be allowed tw»» vears to remaiu in the State, if
that length ot time should be found necessaiy tor
their comfort and convenience, that they should
emigrate themselves if they desired it, that the
Government would protect their persons and pro
perty from all illegal acts of encroachment and
violence, and that instructions should be sent to
the commanding General, to act in comtormity
w ith these assurranccs. I ortunatcly for the
country, our people, and the Indians, the dread
ful scenes of strife and massacre, which this con
tact of the President was calculated to produce,
"■ere prevented by the promptness and energy ot
Gen. Scott and the Georgia troops; all difficulty
in removing the Indians having been overcome.
Gen. Scott left the State before he received the
instructions issued in pursuance of the proposals
cf the President to the Cherokee Chiefs.
FLORENCE, GA. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1838.
No troops wf*re employed but the militia of the
State, in removing the Indians. The Stite is
greatly indebted to them, Gen, Scott ;.nd Gen.
Floyed, both for efficiency of their services and
the universal kindness with which the Indians
were treated.
The accompanying documents will show the
course pursued by the Executive Department
upon this subject.
About the last of May, a body of Indians from
Florida, took refuge in the Okefinokee Swamp.
Directions were immediately given to the com
manding officers of the militia of Camden and
Ware counties, to call out the whole or such por
tions of their commands as they might consider
necessary for the defence of the inhabitants.
The President was informed at the same time
of this iuvasion of the State by Indians, and re
quested to order to that part of the country a com
petent force to repel them. The scarcity and
high price of provisions, the scarseness of the
population in the neighborhood of the Okefinokee
and the want of an appropriation of money by the
State for that purpose, rendered it very difficult
to keep the militia in the field. Under those cir
cumstances, frequent applications were made to
the President and Secretary of War, to direct
supplies to be furnished, so as to enable the mili
tia to act efficiently in affording protection to the
people until the United States troops should sup
ply their place. The Department was answered
that the United States had no quarter-master or
Commissary, who could be spared to perform this
service.
As soon as information was received that Gen.
Taylor had sent troops to the neighborhood of the
Okefinokee orders were issued to discharge the
unlit, a . This was done with less hesitation, from
t he confidence which was had in the vigilance and
ability of General Taylor, and the information
which had been previously received from the
most respectable sources that the Indians were
few in numbers and had made no attacks upon the
inhabitants. Immediately after Gen. Taylor had
stationed his troops around the Okefinokee, and
before the discharge of the militia eight or nine
persons, mostly women and children, were hoiri
blv massacrad by the Indians in the immediate
vicinity of the station of a company of United
States Dragoons, and not very distant from a con
siderable militia force under t e command of Col.
Hilliard. The alarm produced by this unfortunate
event caused the general abandonment of their
homes and pioperty by the people of that part of
the country, and brought upon them great dis
tress and suffering.
Additional troops were taken into the service,
and orders given for raising a regiment which has
been since organized and mustered into the t nited
States service, and is now operating under the
command of Geri. Floyd. It is to be expected
from the gallantry of this officer and lus regiment,
that the savage enemy will soon be destroyed or
driven from the state.
Application has been made to the W ar Depart
ment to pay the militia of Ware aud Camden
counties who were called out by the State to iepei
the invasion of the Indians. I have been answer
ed that there are no funds subject to tne payment
of such claims. It will be proper, therefore, tor
the Legislature to make immediate provision tor
the payment of the militia and for the supplies
furnished them so that the accounts may be laid
before Congress for reimbursement.
The sum of one hundred and forty-six thousand
three hundred and forty-four dollars, eighty-five
cents has been paid by the State in the execution
of the law of 1836 to provide for the payment of the
volunteers in this State for services losses, and
expenditures during the Creek and Seminole
campaigns, and the law upon the same sub
ject passed in 1837. This sum has been charged
against the United States with a credit ot four
thousand eight hundred and eighty tnree dollars,
3 cents. The unexpended balance ot thirty-live
thousand dollars placed in the hands of Governor
Schley by the Secretary of War, to be expended
by him for the public service in the Seminole and
Creek campaigns, and which is now on deposit in
the Central Bank, making the actual amount
charged against the United States, one hundred
and fortv-one thousand five bundled and thuty
one dollars, eighty one cents.
As soon as the accounts were audited and paid
off and copies made out, they were forwarded to
the Wat Department, with the request that they
should be passed upon as soon as possible.
A communication was addressed immediately
thereafter to each Senator and Representative :n
Congress from the State, informing them ot what
had thus been done, requesting that they would
ascertain what portion of these accounts would
be paid bv the War Department, and apply to
Congress for the passage of a special law directing
the payment of the remainder. The session ot
Congress was ton near its close when the accounts
were transmitted to Washington City, to admit
of any settlement before its termination, and no
information has been received from the W ar De
partment upon the subject, since that time.
The progress of the Western and Atlantic Rail
Road has been satisfactory. The grading and
masonrv of one hundred miles have been contrac
ted for upon favorable terms; fifty of which will
be executed by the month ot July next, and the
remainder bv the end of the year.
The entire route for the road to the i
river has been surveved. Several new routes of
parts of the road which had been located, have also
been surveved, in order to satisfy the demands ot
different sections of the country , and to ensure
the best location.
The length of the road from its southern ter
mination to the Tennessee river, will be one hun
dred and thirty-four miles; and its cost, accor
ding to the estimate of the chief Engineer, (ex
clusi e of the right of way, and ot the services of
the Commissioners) about two millions five hun
dred and eighty thousand dollars. The survey
and location have cost about fifty-one thousand
dollars. . . .
The chief Engineer is of the opinion, that the
rest of the road will be less than any other rail
mad in the United States, constructed in the same
manner, and on an equal scale.
In pursuance of the law authorizing the Board
of Commissioners in conjunction with the Gov
ernor, to sell State Stock, to raise funds for car
rying on the construction of the road, one hun
dred thousand pounds sterling of stock have been
issued. The President of the board (Mr. Craw
ford) who was deputed to sell this stock, found it
unsuitable for the market, in consequence of the
form in which it issued. Mr. Crawford was how
ever enabled to raise three hundred thousand dol
lars, with the promise of an additional hundred
thousand, if it should be wanted, by pledging a
part of the stock and agreesing for the Legisla
ture, that it will at its present session authorize the
issuing of such stock as will suit the European
market: that it shall be offered for sale to the
contractors as early as the month of April next;
and that the money which has been advanced shall
be refunded out of the proceeds of the sale.—
Tlx* State is to pay five per cent, interes upon the
loan of this three hundred thousand dollars, from
the time that the bills drawn by Mr. Crawford on
the contracters, shall he accepted and paid in
London. The funds thus obtained in New-York
have been sold here for a premium of about four
percent; so that the use of three hundred thou
sand dollars in Georgia money for one year, has
been procured for the State without cost, or not
exreeding one per cent, per auuin.
The Legislature is requested to make imme
diate provision for fulfilling this contract.
Means must also be provided during your pre
sent session, sot the purchase of the iron railing
for the road. As the State will probably have to
rely almost entirely upon credit tor carrying on its
works of internal improvem nt, it would perhaps
be good policy to authorize at one the sale ot
Stock, sufficient not only to repay the three hun
dred thousand dollars borrowed, and tor the pur
chase of iron railing, but for whatever amount
may, be necessary for the entire completion of the
the Western and Atlantic Rail Road, and for giv
ing to the railroads which are now progressing by
incorporated companies, such assistance as may
be demanded by the public interest.
The great value of our agricultural productions
in Europe; the freedom of tiie State from debt;
and the high cr dit of our Banking institutions
and mercantile men, will enable the State to enter
the Stock market wiffi many advantages The ac
cumulation of wealth in Great Britain, and the fil
ling up of all the evenues of profitable labor and
investment, have rendered the price for the use of
money exceedingly cheap there, when compared
to its value here. The extended commercial
connection between Great Britain and the United
States, and the approach which they have made
to each other, by the late improvements in steam
navigation, have made the surplus money of Great
Britian almost as accessable to us as its manufac
tures of iron and cotton. Nor is these any stron
ger objection to our becoming borrowers of that
surplus capital, to add to our means of accumula
ting wealth, th;.n to onr purchasing its products
when they can be obtained cheaper than similar
products in our own country. So long as the use
of money is worth eight percent, per anum in this
State, it cannot bo injurious to the public in crest
to bring money from abroad at five per cent, to be
employed in constructing works of internal im
provement, whose profits will most probably re
pay the capital and interest expended upon them,
in a very short, time, which might not be execu
ted at all without thus obtaining the aid of foreign
capital.
The risk and delay which must always attended
the trade from the Gulf of Mexico around the
peuiusub ol Florida with t' e cities of the Atlan
tic, and with Europe, can he best avoided by a
line of railroad from the Cattahoochee river >o the
Atlantic. Great advantages would be derived from
thus directing this trade to our seaports, and the
course of travelling between the South at:d the
North, through this State. Still greater advan
tages may be anticipated from completing the
Western and Atlantic rail-road, and the rail roads
which connect it with our principal cities. The
difficulties which the Allegany and Blue Ridge
mountains present, to the transporation of the vast
productions of the Western and Southwestern
States of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas,
Tennessee, Kentucky, and the upper part of Ala
bama, to the markets on the seabord, can no where
b•; overcome with so much ease as through these
lines of rail road.
If we shall ever succeed to the extent of our
wishes, in enjoying the advantages of direct im
portations from Europe, of the proceeds of the
sales of our agricultural productions exported
thither, it must be by these facilities for transpor
tation, bringing such an accession of capital to our
cities as to enable the Southern, Southwestern
and Western merchants to sell what they have to
export, and obtair the supplies of European goods
upon as favorable terms, in our markets, as in
New-York. And b/ inducing the Northern man
ufactures to seek on exchange of their fabrics in
the same markets for our rice and raw cotton, and
the flour and pork of the West.
I consider it therefore of the highest impor
tance, that the State shall proceed with the con
struction of the Western and Atlantic rail-road
as rapidly as possible ; and give such assistance,
by the use of credit, to the companies now en
gaged in making the rail-roads which form the
other portions of the communications between our
cities and the South and West, as may be neces
sary for the successful completion of their under
takings.
The Application of the means of the State to as
sist these incorporated companies, is justified trom
their success being identified with the pub’ic good,
and because the State can obtain money upon
credit upon cheaper terms than companies, whilst
the companies construct the road and keep them
in repair, much more economically than the pub
llCjin thus supplying the means to chartered com
panies to cemplete their roads, the nse of wh ch
is not free for every one, the State should take
care, however, that sufficient security be furnished
by the improvements themselves, for the repay*
ment of the money advanced.
The Highwassee Railroad Company in Teo
nessee, are construct'ng a road from Knoxville to
Red Clay, on the line of this State, ind about fif
teen miles from the line of the Western and At
lantic Rail-road. It will add greatly to the trade
and travelling which will pass over the Western
and Atlantic Rail-road to be connected with this
road when completed. The Highwassee com
pany have met with difficulties in procuring the
means of carrying on their road, which will pro
bably be overcome by the Legislature, giving an
assurance that this State will proceed to make the
branch road to connect the two roads together,
whenever the Highwassee company shall have 60
far progressed, as to render it certain that their
road will be completed. I would, therefore, re
coinmend to the Legislature to pass a resolution
giving such assurance.
In pursurance of the resolution passed at your
last session, an agent was sent to negotiate with
the Legislature of the State of Tennessee, for
the right of way for the Western and Atlantic
Rail-road from the line of this State to the Ten
nessee river. He succeeded in procuring the
passage of an act by the Legislature of Tennes
see, granting to the State for the Western and
Atlantic Rail-road the right of way with the same
privileges and under the same restrictions as had
been previously granted to the Highwassee Rail
road Company. The copy of the act, the instruc
tions to the agent, and correspondence with tho
Governor of Tennessee, are _Jaid before you.
Great credit is due to General Newnan, the Agent
of the State, for the zeal and intelligence with
which he performed the duty assigned him
The most admirable structure of Government,
and the wisest system of laws cannot give securi
ty to the rights of citizens unless aided oy a well
constituted judiciary department. f l hat our rights
are without this security is universally acknowl
edged. Since the Constitution has been altered
so as to permit an improvement of our present
system, none lias yet been devised which would
not be attended, in the opinion ot the Legislature,
with evils as great as those from which we now
sutler. This dread would seem to be excessive
since the sensitiveness of the public would be
certain to direct the attention of the Legislature
to the correction of any mischiefs consequent
upon the reform which might be adopted. Hav
ing expressed my opinion to the Legislature upon
this subject, very fully in a former message, I
again refer to it from a sense of the strong obliga
tion which continually rests upon the Government
to provide the best security for its citizens against
injustice and oppression.
According to the form our Government if is
made the special duty of the Legislature to cor
rect such imperfections in die Constitution as may
have been rendered evident by experience.
On a former occasion, your attention was cal
led to the importance of reducing the Legislative
body, aud of equalizing the representation ot the
people.
The necessity of reforming the Constitution in
these particulars, has become more pressing from
tiie removal of the Indians, and the great increase
of the population of the State. The appoint
ment when made according to the census which
has been taken, will add greatly to the number of
the members of the Legislature. This enlarge
ment of the Legislative body must lessen its res
ponsibility, enhance the public expense, render
its deliberations more tumultuous, aud increase
the uncertainty of its determinations.
The great variety of sectional and local inter
ests existing in our extensive territory, render it
just to the whole and each part, that the represen
tation of the people should be made equal. But
it is especially important, that the Senate should
be constituted differently from the House of Rep
resentatives, and that it should fie a smaller, more
select, and stable body than at present.
If the proposed amendments of the Constitu
tion would tend to secure a wise and just admin
istration of public affairs, it is due to the commu
nity and to the principles upon which our govern
ment is founded, (the capacity of the people to
govern themselves) that they should be made..
The resolution passed at your last sessioD,
authorizing this Department to employ a compe
tent Engineer to survey the Chattahoochee Ri\er
from West Point to Winn’s Ferry, and report the
obstacles to its navigation, and the expense of re
moving them ; and also, upon the practicability
of constructing a Canal, from the navigable wa
ters of the St. Marys to the Chattahoochee, was
not carried into eflect, on account of the infor
mality of the resolution, and the want of an ap
propriation to defray the expense.
'J'he transportation of the heavy agricultural
productions of the interior upon rivers, is usually
the cheapest mode of their conveyance to market,
when it can be used. I would therefore recoin
mend that a general survey and examination be
made, not only of the Chattahoochee, but of Rll
our rivers capable of being rendered navigable t
and that an experienced and skillul superieuten
dant be appointed to direct the application of the
public money appropriated for their improvement,
instead of the loose and wasteful manner which
has been hitherto pursued ot expending the pub
lic money appropriated for such purposes.
I would call the attention of the Legislature to
the necessity of providing for the settlement
of all public accounts. According to the law now
in force for auditing public accounts, the Comp
troller General is ouly authorized to pass upon
demands against the Treasury. Ihe interest ot
the State equally requires that the accounts ot the
agents of the State entrusted with the expendi
ture of the money appropriated tor public pur
pose, and drawn from the Treasury, should be
subjected to the supervision of some offioer
specially charged with that duty. The public
money has frequently been wasted, misapplied,
or not applied at all to the objects intended,
from the want of strict accountability on the pelt
of public agents. The legislature has tae t*n
dence of this at each session, in the defective im
ports received from the Trustees of the Academic
Vol. I.—No. 34.