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GOVERNOR S MESSAGE.
To day, both Houses of the Legislature re
ceived from his Excellency, the Governor, the
following Message :
Executive Department, )
Milledgeville, 6:h November, 1333. )
FeUoic Cilizens of the Senate
and House of Representatives:
I congratulate vou upon the successful remo
val of the Cherokees from the Stale ; that you
will no longer be harassed in your legislative
proceedings, by the perplexing relations which
have hitlierto existed between them,'he United
States and Georgia ; that our citizens are at
last in the quiet possession of all their land ;
and the Siate the undisputed sovereign within
her own territory.
Immediately upon coming into office, a cor
respondence was entered into with intelligent
persons in different parts of the Cherokee coun
try, for the purpose of ascertaining the temper
and designs of the Indians, and the extent of
the danger to lie apprehended from them ; and
with the Secretary of War, and Col. Lindsay,
(then commanding in the Cncrokee country,)
as to the force which should be provided to
give security to our citizens. Enquiry was
made into the conduct of the agents who had
been appointed to protect the rights of the In
dians. It having been found that this trust,
important both for the eh true or and peace of
the country, had not been discharged at all, by
some, and abused by others, and that consid
erable irritation had already been excited by
trespassers upon the propeity of the Indians,!
and by the unauthorized interference of the of.
ficers of the United Stales, in assuming the
right to adjust them; measures were taken to
control this impioper conduct of the officers,;
and respectable agents were appointed to take j
care that wrongs done to the Indians should
be properly redressed.
It was considered highly important not only
to secure the people against actual danger, but
create among them such confidence in their
safety as to prevent the panics from idle ru
mors, to which those who arc exposed at all to
attacks from Indians, arc peculiarly subject.
Tiie militia of the Cherokee country having
been disorganized by the withdrawal of a con.
siderable part of its force to Florida, orders
were given and repeatedly enforced upon the
officers, to perfect their commands.
A regiment, composed of one company of
mounted infantry in each of the Cherokee coun
ties, was formed and armed, in pursuance of
the act passed at your last session.
Upon tiie urgent request of this department
ten volunteer companies of mounted men, of
the militia of the State, were taken into the ser
vice of the United States, and stationed near
the large Indian settlements in fortified posi
tions, as assembling places for the people in
cases of alarm, and to control the conduct of
the Indians.
When the requisition was made by the au
thority of the President of the United States,
for twenty companies of the militia of the State,
to be employed in enforcing the execution of
the Cherokee treaty, orders were immediately
sent by expresses to the commanding officers
of the twenty regiments nearest to the Chero
kee country, to raise one company from each ;
have them organized, and marched without de
lay to New-Echota, the place appointed for
their rendezvous. Upon Gen. Scott’s arrival
at that place, on the evening of the twenty
third of May, he found an army of Georgia
militia, armed and ready to execute his com
mand.
On tlie 22d of May, the day before the ex
piration of the time when the Cheiokees wcie
to have completed their removal from the State,
according to the treaty, the President laid be
fore Congress the terms of anew contract
with the Chiefs of the tribe, by which he assur
ed them, that they should be allowed two years
to remain in the State, if that length of time
should be found necessary for their comfort
and convenience, that they, should emigrate
themselves if they desired it, that the Govern
ment would protect their persons and proper
ty from all illegal acts of encroachment and
violence, and that instructions should be sent
to the commanding General, to act in confor
mity with these assurances. Fortunately for
the country, our people* and the Indians, the
dreadful scenes of strife and massacre, which
this conduct of the President was calculated to
produce, were prevented by the promptness
and energy of 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 of the President to
the Cherokee chiefs.
No troops were employed but the militia of
the State, in removing the Indians. The State
is greatly indebted to them, Gen. Scott and Gen.
Floyd, both for the efficiency of their services
and the universal kindness with which the In
dians were treated.
The accompanying documents will show
the course pursued by the Executive Dcpait
merit upon this subject.
About the last of May, a body of Indians
from Florida, took refuge in the Okefinokee
Swamp Directions we.e immediately given
to the commanding officers of the militia of
Camden and Ware counties, to call out the
whole or such portions of their commands as
they might consider necessary for the defence
of the inhabitants.
The President was informed at the same
time of this invasion of die State by Indians,
and requested to order to that part of the
country a competent force to repel them. The
scarcity and high price of provisions, the
sparseness of the population in the neighbor
hood the Okefinokee and the want of an
appropriation of money by the State for that
purpose, rendered ir very difficult to keep the
militia in tlte field. Under these circumstances
frequent applications were made to the
President and Secretary of War, to direct
supplies to be furnished, so as to enable the
militia to act efficiently in affording protection
to the people until the United States troops
should supply their place. The Department
was answered that the United States bad no
quarter-master or commissary, who could be
spared to perform this service.
As soon as information was received that
General Taylor had sent troops to the neigh,
burl rood of the Okefinokee, orders were issued
17 discharge t!» oiditm. Thu was done with
less hesitation, from the confidence which was
i had in the vigilance and ability of General
i Taylor, and the information which had been
i 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
i his troops around the Okefinokee, and before
the discharge of the militia eight or nine per
sons, mostly women and ch.ldren, were horri
bly massacred by the Indians in the immediate
vicinity ofthe station of a company of United
States Dragoons, and no* very distant fiom a
| considerable militia force under the command
jof Col. Hilliard. The alarm produced by this
unfortunate event caused the general abandon
ment of their homes and property by the peo
ple of that part of tiie country, and brought
upon them great distress and suffering.
Additional troops were taken into the ser
vice. and orders given for raising a regiment
which has been since organized and mustered
into service, and is now operating under the
command of Gen. Floyd. It is to lie expec
ted from the gallantry ot this officer and his
regiment, that the savage enemy will soon be
destroved or driven from the state.
Application has been made to the War
De artment to pay the militia < f Ware and
Camden counties who were called out by the
State to repel the invasion of the Indians. I
have been answered that there are no funds
subject to tie payment of such claims. It
will lie proper, therefore, for the Legislature to
make immediate provision for the payment of
the militia and for the supplies furnisl.ed them
so that the accounts may lie laid before Coil
gross for reimbursement.
The sum of one hundred and forty-six thou
sand three undred and forty-four dollars eighty
five c< nts has been paid by the State in the
execution ofthe law of 1839 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 subjects passed in '.837. This
sum lms been charged against the United
States with a credit of four thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three dollars, three cents.
The unexpended balance of thirty-five thou
sand dollars placed in the hands of Governor
Schley by the Secretary of War, to be expend
ed by him for the public service in the Semi
. nole 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 forty-one thousand
five hundred and thirty-one dollars, eighty-one
cents.
As soon as the accounts were audited and
paid off and cop es made out, they were for
warded to the War Department, with the re
quest that they should be passed upon as soon
as possible.
A communication was addressed immediate
ly thereafter to each Sen itor and Representa
tive in Congress from the State, informing
them of what had thus been done, requesting
that they would ascertain what portion of these
accounts would I>? paid by the War Depart
ment, and apply to Congress for the passage
of a special law directing the payment ofthe
remainder. The session of Congress was too
near its close when the accounts were trans
mitted to Washington City, to admit of any
settlement before its termination, and no in
formation has been received from the War
Department upon the subject, since that tin e.
The progress ofthe Western and Atlantic
Rail Road has been satisfactory. The grading
and masonry of one hundred miles have been
contracted for upon favorable terms; fifty of
which w ill be executed by the month of July
next, and the remainder by the end ofthe year.
The entire route for the road to the Tennes
see river has been surveyed. Several new
routes of parts of the road which had been loca
ted, have also been surveyed, in order to satis
fy the demands of different sections of the
country, and to ensure the best location.
The length of the road, from its southern
termination to the Tennessee river, w ill be one
ihundred and thirty-four miles; and its cost,
according to the estimate of the chief Engi
| neer, (exclusive of the right of way, and of
the services of the Commissioners) about two
j millions five hundred and eighty thousand dol
j lars. The survey and location have cost about
j fifty-one thousand dollars.
The chief Engineer is of the o| inion, that
[ the cost of the road will lie less than any
jother railroad in the United Slates constructed
| in the same manner, and on an equal scale.
In pursuance of the law authorizing the
Board of Commissioners, in conjunction with
the Governor, to sell State Stock, to raise
funds for carrying on the construction of the
road, one hundred thousand pounds sterling of
stock have been issued. Ti e President of
| tire board (Mr. Crawford) who was deputed to
I sell this stock, found it unsuitable for the mar
ket, in consequence of ti e form in w hich it is
issued. Mr. Crawford was, ho we er, enabled
to raise three hundred thousand dollars, with
i the promise of an additional hu drctl thousand,
jit it should be wanted, by pledging a part of
the stock, and agreeing for the Legislature,
i that it will, at its present session, authorize the
issuing of such stock as will suit the Eutoj pan
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. The State is to pay five |er cent,
interest upon the loan of this three hundred
thousand dollars, from the time that the hills
I drawn by Mr. Crawford on the contractors,
shall be accepted and paid in London. The
funds thus obtained in New York have been
sold here for a premium of about four per et. ;
so that the use of three hundred thousand dol
lars in Georgia money for one year, has been
proceed for the State without cost, or not ex
ceeding one per cent, per annum.
The Legislature is requested to make im
mediate provision for fulfilling this contract.
Means mu.-t also he provided during your
present session, for tire purchase of the iron
railing for the road. As the State will proba
bly have to rely almost entirely upon credit
tor carrying on its works of internal improve
ment, it would, perhaps. Ire good policy to an
j thorizc at once the sale of stock, sufficient not
j only to repay the lhirc bundled thousand dol
liars borioued, and f< r the purchase of iron
railing, hut lor whatever amount may lie lie
j eessury for the entire completion of the West,
'em and Atlantic Railroad, and for giving to
THE SOUTHERN POST.
the railroads which nrc now progressing by
incorporated companies, such assistance as
may be demanded by the public interest.
The great value of our agricultural produc
tions in Europe; the freedom of the State
from debt, and the high credit of our Banking
institutions and mercantile men, w ill enable the
State to enter the Stock market with many
advantages. The accumulation of wealth in
Great Britain, and the filling up of all the ave
nues of profitable labor and investment, have
rendered the price for the use of money ex
ceedingly cheap there, when compared to its
value here. The extended commercial con
nection 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 Britain almost as accessible to
us as its manufactures of iron and cotton. Nor
is there any stronger objection to our becom
ing borrowers of that surplus capital, to add to
our means of accumulating wealth, than to our
purchasing its products, when they can be ob
tained cheaper than similar products in our
own country. So long as the use of money
is worth eight per cent, per annum in this
State, it cannot be injurious to the public inte
rest to bring money from abroad at five per
cent, to be employed in constructing works of
internal improvement, whose profits will most
probably re|>ay the capital and interest ex
pended upon them, in a very short time, and
which might not be executed at all without
thus obtaining the aid of foreign capital.
The risk and delay which might always attend the
trade from the Gulf of Mexico around the peninsula of
Florida with the cities ofthe Atlantic,and with Europe,
can he best avoided by a line of rail road from the Chat
tahoochee river to the Atlantic. Great advantages
would he derived from thus directing this trade to our
seaports, and the course of travelling between the South
and the North, through this State. Still greater ad
vantages may be anticipated from completing the Wes
tern and Atlantic rail road, and the railroads which
connects it with our principal cities. The difficulties
which the Allegany and Blue Ridge mountains present
to the transportation of the vast productions of the Wes
tern and Southwestern States of Indiana, Illinois, Mis
souri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and the upper
part of Alabama, to the markets on the seaboard, can
no where be 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 importations from
Europe, of the proceeds of the sales of our agricultural
productions exported thither, it must be by these facili
ties for transpoitation, bringing such an accession ol cap
ita! to our cities as to enable the Soutlici n, Southwestern
and Western merchants to sell what they havetoexport,
and obtain the supplies of European goods upon as fa
vorable terms, in our markets, as in New York. And
by inducing the Northern manufacturers to seek an
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 importance, that
the State shall proceed with the construction of the
Western and Atlantic rail road as rapidly as possible ;
and give such assistance, by the use of its credit, to the
companies now engaged in making the railroads which
form the other portions of the communications between
our cities and tho South and West, as may be necessa
ry for the successful completion of their undertakings.
The application of the means of the State to assist
these incorporated companies, is justified from their
success being identified with the public good, and be
cause the State can obtain money upon credit upon
cheaper terms than companies, whilst the companies
can construct the road and keep then in repair, much
more economically than the public.
In thus supplying the means to chartered companies
to complete their roads, the use of which is not free for
every one, the State should take care, however, that
sufficient security is furnished by the improvements
themselves, for the repayment of the money advanced.
The Highwassce Kail road Company in Tennessee,
are constructing a road from Knoxville to Red Clay, on
the line of this State, and about fifteen miles from the
line of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. It will add
greatly to the trade an! travelling which will passover
the Western and Atlantic Railroad to he connected
with this road when completed. The Highwassce
Company have met with difficulties in procuring the
means of carrying on their road, which will probably be
overcome by the Legislature, giving an assurance that
this State will proceed to make the branch road to con
nect the two roads together, whenever the Highwassce
company shall have so far progressed, as to render it
certain that their road will be completed. I would,
therefore, recommend to the Legislature to pass a reso
lution giving such assurance.
In pursuance of the resolution passed at your last
session, an agent was sent to negotiate with the Leg
islature of the State of Tennessee, for the right of way
for the Western and Atlantic Railroad front the line of
this State to the Tennessee river. He succeeded in
procuring the passage of an act by the Legislaturcof
Tennessee, granting to this State for the Western and
Atlantic Railroad the right of way with the same priv
ileges and under the same restrictions as had been pre
viously granted to the Hiuhwassee Railroad Company.
The copy of the act, the instructions to the agent, and
correspondence with the Governor of Tennessee, are
laid before you. Great credit is due to General New
nan, the agent of the State, for the zeal and int lligencc
with which he performed the duty assigned him.
The most admirable structure of Government, and
the wisest system of laws cannot give security to the
rights of citizens unless aided by a well constituted ju
diciary department. That our rights are without this
security is universally acknowledged. Since the Con
stitution has been altered so as to permit an improve
ment of our present system, none has yet been devised
w hich would not be attended, in the opinion of the
Legislature, with evils as great as those from which we
now sutler. This dread would seem to lie excessive
since the sensitiveness of the public would be certain
to direct the attention of the Legislature to the correc
tion of any mischiefs consequent upon the reform which
might be adopted. Having expressed my opinion to
the Legislature upon this subject, very fully in a form
er message, I again refer to it from a sense of the strong
obligation which continually rests upon the Govern
ment to provide the best security for its citizens against
injustice and oppression.
According to the form of our Government, it is made
the special duty of the Legislature to correct such im
perfections in the Constitution as may have been ren
dered evident by expetience.
On a former occasion, your attention was called to
the importance of reducing the Legislative body, and
of equalizing the representation of the people.
The necessity of reforming the Constitution in these
particulars, hiis become more pressing from the remo
val of the Indians, and the great increase of the popu
lation of the State. The apportionment when made
according to the census which has just been taken, will
add greatly to the number of the memliers of the Legis
lature. This enlargement of the Legislative body mu.-t
lessen its responsibility, enhamethe public expense,
render its delilierations more tumultuous, and increase
the uncertainty of its cterminutions.
The gloat vaiiety of sectional and local interests ex
isting in out extensive territory, render it just to the
whole and each part, that the representation of the peo
ple should be made equal, liut it is especially impor
tant, that the Seilßte should lie constituted differently
from the House of Representatives, and that it should
be a smaller, more select, and stable liody than at pres
ent.
If the proposed amendments of the Constitution
would tend tone-curt a wise and just admiiitstiation ot
public affairs, it is due to tha community and to the!
principles upon which our Government isfounded, (the
capacity of the people to govern themselves) that they
|: should be made.
The resolution passed at your last session, authori
zing this Department to employ a competent Engineer
to survey the Chattahoochee River from West Point to
Winn’s Ferry, and report the obstacles to its naviga
tion, and the expense of removing them ; and also, up
on the practicability of constructing a Canal, from the
navigable waters of the Bt. Marys to the Chattahoochee,
was not carried into effect, on account of the informali
ty of tiie resolution, and the want of an appropriation
to defray the expense.
The transportation ofthe heavy agricultural produc
tions of the interior upon rivers, is usually the cheapest
mode of their conveyance to market, when it can be
used. I would therefore recommend that a general sur
vey and examination l* made, not only of the Chatta
hoochee, but of all our livers capable of being rendered
navigable; and that an experienced and skillful super
intendant be appointed to direct the application of the
public money appropriated for their improvement, in
stead of the loose and wasteful manner w hich has been
hitherto pursued ofexpending the public money appro
priated 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 aud
iting public accounts, the Comptroller General is only
authorized to pass upon demands against the Treasury.
The interest of the !3tate equally requires that the ac
counts of the agents ol the iState entrusted w ith the ex
penditure ot the money appropriated for public purpo
ses, and drawn from the Treasury, should be subjected
to the supervision of some officer specially charged
with that duty. The public money has frequently lieen
wasted, misapplied, or not applied at all to the objects
intend, from the want of strict accountability on the
part ol public agents. The Legislature has the evi
dence of this at each session, in the defective reports
received from the Trustees of tire Academic Poor School
Funds. The large sums now appropriated for the erec
tion of public buildings, improving the navigation of
rivers, and for the survey and construction of the Wes
tern and Atlantic Railroad, require that this subject
should receive the early attention of the Legislature.
Lpon consulting with distinguished phvsicians in
every part ol the Slate, it was determined, under the
limited discretion given in the selection of its location,
to place the Lunatic Asylum in the neighborhood of
Milledgeville. Doctors Fort and White were appoin
ted, both to direct the construction of the budding, and
to collect information in regard to the proper regulations
and management of the institution; and will make their
report diiectly to the Legislature. The large number
of lunatics which are found throughout every part of
the eountry ; the great aggregate amount of suffering
which they bring upon t.unilies and neighborhoods;
the expense and trouble of guarding, and medical atten
tion, when they are under the care of individuals ; the
assurances given by experience, that in well managed
Asylums the care of the insane is more certain, and
their suffering much less than under any private treat
ment whatever—make it one of the most important du
ties ofthe rotate, to provide such an institution for this
unfortunate class of its citizens. It must be such an
institution too as will secure the public confidence, or
the sympathy which is felt for the insane by their friends
will confine its use to the most hopeless cases, or those
in whose restoration society has the least interest. I
would therefore earnestly recommend, that the Asy
lum which is now erecting shall be made to conform to
the best models, without any fear that the cost w ill ex
ceed the benefit which it will confer upon the people.—
The appropriation made at your last session will be
throw n away, unh s« it is greatly increased.
Several acts and resolutions passed at vour last ses
sion. w hich I considered violate of constitutional or im
portant legislative principles, were presented to me for
revision so immediately proceeding your adjournment
that they could not be returned. They are now trans
: mitted to the Senate, where they originated, with my
reasons for not approving them.
Elections for county and militia officers, arc frequent
ly contested before this Department, and the executive
has constantly assumed the authority of determining
; upon their validity. It is due to the rights of the peo
ple that the exercise of this power should be regulated
j by law.
Some embarrassment lias occasionally been met with
in inducting county ofliceis into office, on account of
the different forms required for diflerrnt officers. I
would recommend that the law be so altered, that all
the county officers may be inducted into office under
the same dedimus potest (item.
A set of Standard weights, prepared for the use of
the State, in pursuance of a resolution of Congress,
have been received from the Secretaty of the Treasury,
and are now in the Executive Office. The Legisla
ture will have to prescribe bv law the moele- bv which
the weights now in use in the citie-s and counties of the
State, shall be made to conform to this set of Standard
Weights.
In 1834. the Legislature appropriated $3,000 for the
support and education of the indigent deaf and dumb
of the State, at the Asylum in Hartford, State of Con
necticut, and directed the Executive to appoint a com
missioner to select and take charge of the deaf and dumb
who might lie found willing to accept of its bounty. Os
this sum, $933 86J were expended during that year.
At the session of 1835, the Legislature appropriated for
the same purpose $4,450, in addition to the unexpended
balance of the appropriation of the preceding year, ma
king the turn of $6,516 13J, and the sum ot $750 to
pay the commissioner for his services. During that
year, $345 were expended by the commissioner. At
the session of 1836, the Legislature determined that
no additional appropriation was then required for the
benefit of the deaf and dumb, and passed a resolution
directing that S4OO should be paid to the commissiner,
which sum, not having been inserted in the act of ap
propriation, was paid by the Governor out if the con
tingent fund. At the session of 1837, the House of
Representatives passed a resolution that the sum of
$2,750 should be appropriated for the education and
support of the deaf and dumb, in addition to the unex
pended balance of previous appropriations in the hands
of commissioner; and that the commissioner should re
ceive S6OO for hisservicesduring the year. This reso
lution was not definitely passed upon by the Senate,
and no appropriation was made by the legislature for
the benefit of the deaf ar.d dumb, or for the payment
of the commissioner. The commissioner has been paid
S6OO out of the contingent fund. This statement is
made for the purpose of calling the attention of the
Legislatuie to the propriety of fixing the commission
er’s salary by law, providing for its payment, and of
carrying on the benevolent purposes of the Legislature
in the education and support of the indigent deaf and
dumb of the State, by some certain Legislative provi
sion.
The Legislature requ-red of the Executive Depart
ment, by an act passed at its last session, to cause the
banister and railing which formerly divided the lob
by from the Senate Chamber to be replaced, and the
Gallery of the Senate Chamber to be enlarged, so as to
correspond in size and form with the Gallery of the
House of Representatives, and appropriated one thou,
sand dollars for the accomplishment of these objects.
That sum has been found entirely insufficient for tilt
purpose.
The building and repairs of the public arsenals, the
keeping, repairing, distribution, and collection of the
public arms, and the appointment and salaries of the
military store-keepers, require to be regulated by law.
Most of what has been done upon these subjects has
been either without authority, or in pursuance of occa
sional resolutions of the Legislature, varying in their
provisions from each other.
The reports of the military store-keepers in Milledge
villc and Savannah, are laid la-fore you. There have
been received from the United.B. under the art ofCon
gress of 1808, during the past year, 788 muskets and
74*2 rifles, and ‘2 brass 6 pounders, w ith the proper ac
coutrements, Ihe two brass six pounders were receiv
ed as a part of the States quota of public arms, at the
request of the City Council of Augusta, and have been
placed in the |ioswHiion of the volunteer company of
that city, known as the Augusta Artillery Guards. An
effort, attended with some success, has been made to
collect into the arsenal the public arms which had been
scattered over the country during the Seminole, Creek,
and Cherokee campaigns of 1836, and those which
had been in the possession of volunteer companies be
come extinct, and were either becoming appropriated
as private property, or destroyed from the w ant of the
care necessary for their preservation. There are some
military stores and defective arms in the Arsenals and
elsewhere, which can never be of any further use, and
ought to be sold. I would recommend that you author
ize this to Ire done.
I transmit to you a list of Executive warrants, which
have issued during the past political year, and of ap
pointments which have been made during the same,
time.
Resolutions of the Legislatures of Alabama, Ohio
Kentucky, Maine, Arkansas, and Connecticut, upon
various subjects of supposed common in'erest to the
States, are, by their request, laid before you, for your
consideration.
I transmit to the House of Representatives the re
turns of the Census of the State, which have been re
ceived from the Clerks of the Superior Courts, of the
several counties.
Maj. Gen. Samuel Armstrong Baily, Brigadier Gen.
Mark Wilcox, and Brig. Gen. Tully Vinson, have re
signed their respective commands.
The Rev. Chas. Wallace Howard, has been sent to
London, forthe purpose of procuring copries of such of
the Colonial records as relate to the history and settle
ment of this State.
The resolution past at your last session, directing the
publication of the annual report of Dr. Cutting’s Geo
logical Survey, was not presented for approval until af
ter the time had expired within which, by the Consti
tution. the Governor is authorized to sign resolutions.
This circumstance, together with some difficulties which
occurred between Dr. Lotting and the State Printer, as
to the time and manner of printing, has prevented the
publication of the report. This is, perhaps, not to be
regretted, as it appears to be the intention of the Legis
lature to publish a full report when the entire survey
shall be completed.
Ths Legislature is referred to the correspondence
with the State Geologist and State Printer, for further
explanation upon this subject.
The accompanying report of Dr. Cotting shows what
have been his operations during the past year.
The affairs of the Penitentiary have been conducted
during the past year, very successfully under the super
intendence of the present vigilant Principal Keeper, and
Board of Inspectors.
The police laws of the Institution require some re
form, especially for preventing the intercourse w hich is
now permitted among the convicts. The buildings,
also, require some improvement. For information up
on this anil other subjects connected with the Peniten
tiary. you are respectfully referred to the reports ofthe
Board of Inspectors, and Principal Keeper.
At no time has public opinion been more alive to the
value of education, in producing individual excellence,
the security of public rights, and the general prosperity
of society.
The Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist denomina
tions of Christians, have by the liberal zeal with which
they have endowed and are supporting the Oglethorpe
University, Mercer University, Emory College, and the
Georgia Female College, given the full weight of their
highly important influence in favor of the benefits to be
derived from the intellectual cultivation, and the diflu
sion of knowledge. The flourishing state of these sec
tarianliterary institutions, has not at all impeded the in
creasing prosperity of Franklin College, its last gradua
ting class having been its largest. The interest of the
College is, however sullering from the difficulty of form
ing a board of Trustees for the management ol its affairs.
It is necessary either to lessen the number of trustees,
or the nuinlh r w hich is required to torm a quorum for
doing business.
The law passed at your last session, to establish a ;
g neral system of education by common schools, was
delayed in going into operation, for the put pose of ena
bling the people to express their opinions, through their
representatives, in relation to its expediency. You arc
therefore, no doubt, prepared to act in such manner up
on this subject, as your constituents may have determin
ed to lie for their best interest.
A true bill of indictment was found at the last Jan
uary term of the Superior Court of Chatham county,
against Philbrook and Kdleran, for the same offence
with which they had been charged, when demanded
as fugitives from the justice of this State, by my prede
cessor. The demand for their arrest and delivery up
to the Agent of this State, as fugitives from its justice,
was renewed upon the Governor of the State of Maine,
and by him again refused. Copies of the report and
resolutions adopted by your body at your last session,
upon this subject, w ere in consequence of this conduct
of the Goveinot of Maine, and in compliance with your
request, transmitted to the Governors, to be laid by them
before the Legislatures of the several States; to the
members of Congress from this State, to be submitted
to the Senate and House of Representatives, and one to
the President of the United States.
As the Legislature of Maine docs not meet until Jan
uary, 1839, its proceedings in answei to your resolu
tions, rannotbe reported to you during your present ses
sion. There can be but little doubt, however, that those
proceedings, when they do take place, will sustain the
course which has been pursued by the Executive author
ity of that State. Oil the 20th of March last, the Leg
islature of Maine passed a law upon the subject of fu
j gitives from the justice of other States, by which it
I authorizes the Governor to satisfy himself by investi
gation into the grounds of a demand, and whether it
ought to l e complied with. The Legislature of Maine
in passing a law to direct the Executive of the State, is
a matter which is determined by the Constitution and
laws of the United States ; and the Governor, in justi
fying himself under such a law, in refusing to do what
is made imperitive by the Constitution, has evidently
only acted in ohcdi-ncc to the state of public opinion
in Maine, arising outoi the opposition to the institution
of slavery in this State. Had the persons who have
been demanded ol the State of Maine, by this State,
been charged w ith any other crime than stealing a negio
slave, theic can he no doubt but that they would have j
been delivered up without difficulty.
If the people of Maine will thus prevent their author
ities from delivering up to 'lie authorities of Georgia,
for trial, those who entice away from citizens of Geor
gia their slaves and escape from punishment into the
State of Maine, the people of this State must take
means to secure their rights of property from the dan- j
ger to which it will be thus exposed. The State of
Georgia has the power to protect its own institutions,!
and it will beitsduty toexert it, if necessity s .ould re
quire.
Nothing but necessity, however, should induce the
State to adopt any course which may distuib the har
mony of the Union. Having referred to the considera
tion of the Legislature of Maine, the conduct of the Ex
ecutive of that State, in refusing to deliver up to this
State, the fugitives from its justice, Phiilbrook and Kel
lcran, by your resolutions, it will he proper to take no
measure upon this svbject until it shall have been ac
ted upon by Maine.
Copies ol the correspondence of this Department, ard
all the papers relating to the last demand made upon
the Governor of maine, for Plullirook and Kellcran are
laid before y ou.
I transmit to the Legislature copies of the last semi
annual reports of the banks of this State. Forming, as
the issues of the Dunks do, the almost exclusive medi
um thr ugh which all business is transacted, and the
value of property estimated ; it is one of the most im
portant duties of the Legislature to examine into their
slate, to compel them to fulfil the condi.ions of their
charters, and to strengthen their capacity for useful
ness.
The ruinous effects produced rn many parts of our
country by the late extraordinary commercial pressure
and demand for specie, have been, comparat.vely, hut
slightly felt in this State. The gt-nerul soundness of
the condition of our Hanks enabled them during their
suspension of specie payments, to retain tho confidence I
of the country, and at the same time, to rive th„
facilities to business through the use of their
Their reports show that all the banks which
pended, have resumed specie payments ex cent ‘o*"
Farmers Bank of Chattahoochee. Whilst thee P
excused on accouut of the force ofthe circum t “
under which they acted, the Legislature
care that It is not again pursued but from the like n
cess,ty. Indeed the general convertibility of Bant
notes into specie, without difficulty or delay i s „ •
portant for settling balances when trade has be™ 2‘!"'
us, and keeping the rate of exchange at its proner,
mium, that it may 1* adv.sible for the LcLim/eT
secure this object by additional enactments.^
Banks, when established upon proper princinle* „ *
compelled to act up to their design, should la-
hv the State as exceedingly valuable instruments for
r»° l n M e “ V* I,rosperit >' of th * community
by the profitable employment which they give to lIU W
try and talenfs through the ugeTof their credit and cani
tal: the great advantages „ hich they afford for carry mr
on trade; the means which they furnish for developing
the natural resources ofthe country, and constructing
important works of internal improvement; the sti mu !
uus Which they give toenterprize; their tendency to on
large the quantity of active capital, and render its d,I
tribution convenient to the people, fix the rate of inter
• st. and lessens the exactions of usury.
Banks should be strictly prohibited fiom engaging in
any speculation whatever. I would respectfully rccom
mend that the privilege of banking shall not hereafter
be conferred upon companies chartered for other puipo.
ses. lam ot the opinion that it will add to the public
security, for the proper conduct of Banks which may
heieafter be created if their charters shall require, that
the stock shall be distributed among numerous persons
and the amount to be held by individuals limited so
that no one, nor even a few, will be able to obtain 'the
entire control or management of any Bank—experience
having proved that private Banks are too apt ro ,un into
-peculation, and that the temptation to fraudulent com
binations, and excessive credit to individuals, is too
great to be usually resisted, when Banks ate in the
hands of a few.
Intimately connected with the subject of our Banks
is the policy proposed by the Administration ofthe
General Government, of collecting the public dues ex
clusively in gold and silver, and entrusting their safe
keeping, until required for expenditure, to individuals,
instead of banks. Ihe effect of these measures, if they
had been adopted by Congres, would have been to have
added to the cost of all goods upon which duties are
paid ; increased the difficulty of purchasing public lands
to every citizen, except large capitalists and office-hold
ers ; endangered the currency, by constantly withdraw
ing from the Ranks the basis of their circulation ; less
ened the safety of the keeping of the revenue; added to
the uncertainty and expense of transferring the public
money from the places of collection to the places of ex
penditure ; and to have locked up the public money,
from the time of collection until wanted for the purpo
ses of the Government, instead of permitting it to add
to the circulating wealth of the country, through the
means of general deposites in tfie Banks. Nor would
the country have been compensated for these injurious
consequences from the proposed measures, by anv co>
responding advantages. The divorce ofthe Govern
ment from the Banks, could only have resulted in form
ing a more intimate connection between its beneficia
ries and the people’s money ; and increasing the depen
dance of the officers of the Government and public con
tractors upon the President, by enlarging the profits of
the spoils to be divided among ihem.
Blessed as our country is, with the most happily e n
stituted form of Government, it belongs to those who are
entrusted with its administration. 90 to direct public af
fairs, as to afford to the people the fullest enjoyment of
all its advantages. Thai we may lie enabled success,
fully to discharge that portion of this duly, which is im
posed upon us, is the earnest desire of
Your fellow-r it'xen,
GEORGE R. GILMEP.
ORIGINAL.
For the Southern Post.
RICHARD, THE WOLF - KILLERf;
OR, THE TWO WEDDINGS.
FREE TRANSLATION FROM THE FRENCH.
[CONCLUDED.]
“ A week after, in presence of a select and
numerous company, was celebrated the mar
riage of Henry and Theresa. The ceremony
was simple and aflecting ; happiness and con
ent seemed to preside over it, and when the
wide bent to receive the blessing of the vener
able pastor, her head adorned with a wreath of
white roses, she looked so attractive and pret
ty that I almost forgave Richard his spite and
envy.
“ Indeed, since the adventure of the hyena,
he had entirely altered his conduct. Too cun
ning not to see that an open breach of friend
ship would not lead to results that might grat
ify his rage, he had no sooner uttered the rash
threat than he perceived his folly in giving
vent to passion, and felt the necessity of im
mediately obliterating the unfavorable impres
sion his words had produced.
“ With any other the negotiation might have
been difficult, but Henry was so generous, so
confident, so free ftom rancor, that a simple
word, a simple retraction founded on the un
voluntary impulse of the moment, had been
sufficient to bring matters to their primitive
state, and on the same evening after supper, a
new reconciliation took place between them
which was sealed by one of those kisses of
Judas, equally ardent and unsincere.
“He then pursued with consummate dex
terity his plan of hypocrisy and deception.—
All his time and exertions were used in prepa
ring what was necessary to make the feast as
splendid as possible; and when the solemn
day had come, he appeared so calm and so
pleased, he bestowed on the young couple so
many marks of love and devotion, that he seem
ed to act the part of a happy brother, not of a
rival whose he irt is a prey to the racking tor-
ments of envy and revenge.
“ After the guests had partaken of a very
fine entertainment that had been provided for
them, the ball began and w as led up by There
sa and Richard. It continued ) retty late in
the night, and when the clock of the neighbor
ing v illage struck eleven, all were yet earnestly
employed in the pursuit of pleasure.
‘* I then left the company to their enjoy
ments to retire to my room which was s tut
ted in another part of the house; hut as I was
crossing a long passage, 1 was not a little sur
prised to perceive through a w indow a man
apparently in the act of loading a gun. The
first sensation I experienced was fear, but soon
overcoming an emotion that 1 thought child
ish, I pushed the door and entered. At the
s ght of me, Richard, for it was he, seemed less
discountenanced than ntyself.
“ ‘ The ball continues very long,’ said he,
tranquilly setting his rifle at the extremity of
a long row of others; ‘ still every thing i s
ready for a glorious salute.’ I did not reply*
for I knew it was tho custom, and a very