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ANECDOTES.
Cornelius de Wit fell an innocent victim to
popular prejudice. His death is thus noticed
by Hume. ‘This man, who had bravely
served his country in war, and who laud been
invested with the higlvesl dignities, was deli
vered into the hands of the executioner, and
torn in pieces by the most inhuman torments.
Amidst the severe agonies which lie endured
he frequently repeated an ode of Horace,which
contained sentiments suited to his deplorable
condition.’ It was the third ode of the third
book which this illustrious philosoplier and
statesman then repeated.
I add another instance in the death of that
delightful poet Metastasio. After having re
ceived the sacrament, a very short time before
his last moments, he broke out with all the
•enthusiasm of poetry and religion into the fol
lowing stanzas:
T’offro iltuo proprio figlio,
Che da d’amore in pegno,
Racchiuso in picciol segno
Si voile a noi donar.
A lui rivolgi il ciglio.
Guardo chi t’ofiro, e poi
Lnsci, Signer, sc vuoi,
Lascia di predonar.
«I offer to thee, O Lord, thy own son, who
already has given the pledge of love, inclosed
in this thin emblem ; turn on him thine eyes;
ah! behold whom l oilin' to thee, and then
desist, O Lord! if thou const desist from
mercy.’
* The muse that has attended my course
(says the dying Gleim in a letter to Klopstock)
still" hovers round my steps to the very verge
of the grave.’ A collection of lyric;• I poems,
entitled ‘Last Hours,’ composed by Old Gleim
on his death-bed, were intended to be publish
ed. The death of Klopstock was one of the
most poetical; in this poet’s ‘Messiah,’ he
had made the death of Mary, theifsistcr of
Martha and Lazarus, a picture of the death
of the just; and on his own death-bed he was
heard repeating, with an expiring voice, his
own verses on Mary ; he was exhorting him
self to die by the accents of Ins own harp, the
sublimities of his ow 1 muse! The same song
of Mary, says Madarno de Stuel, was read at
the public funeral of Klopstock.
Philip Strozzi, when imprisoned by Cosmo
the First, great Duke of Tuscany, was up.
prehensive of the danger to which lie might
expose his friends who had joined in his con
spiracy against the duke, from tlie confessions
which the rack might extort from him. Hav
ing attempted every exertion for the liberty of
his country, lie considered it as no crime
therefore to die. He resolved on suicide.
With the point of the sword, with which lie
killed himself, he cut out on the mantel-piece
of the chimney this verse of Virgil:
Exoriare aliquis nouns cx ossibus uhor.
Rise, some avenger, from'oar blood !
Several men of science have died in a scien
tific manner. Haller, the poet, philosopher,
and physician, fieheld his end approach with
the utmost composure. He kept feeling his
pulse to the last moment, and when he found
that life was almost gone, lie turned to liis
brother physician, observing, ‘Mv friend, the
artery ceases to beat,’ —and almost instantly
expired. The same remarkable circumstance
had occurred to the gieat Harvey ; lie kept
making observations on the state of his pulse,
when life was drawing to its close, ‘as if,* says
Dr. Wilson in the oration spoken a low days
after the event, ‘that he who had taught us the
beginning oflife might himself, at his depart
in')' from it, become acquainted with those of
death.’
Do Lagny, \v!io was intended by his friends
for the study of the law, having fallen on nil
Euclid, found it so congenial to his dispositions,
that he devoted himself to mathematics. In
his Inst moments, when he letnined no further
recollection of the friends who surrounded his
bed, one of them, perhaps to make a philoso
phical experiment, thought proper to ask him
the square of 12; our dying mathematician
instantly, and perhaps without knowing that
lie answered, replied, ‘144.’
The following anecdotes arc of a different
complexion, a id may excite a smile :
Perc Bouhours was a French grammarian,
who had been justly accused of paying too
scrupulous an attention to the minutice of let
ters. lie was more solicitous ofliis words
than his thoughts. It is said, that when he
was dying, he called out to his friends (a cor
rect grammarian to the last,) ‘Je vas, ou je
vais mourir; fun ou /’autre sc dit f
When Malherbe was dying, be reprimanded
his nurse for making use of a solecism in Iter
language ! And when his confessor repre
sented to him the felicities ofa future state in
low and trite expressions, the dying critic in
terrupted him:—'Hold your tongue,’ he said,
‘your wretched style only makes me out of
conceit with them!’
The favourite studies and amusements of
the learned La Mothe lc Vaycr consisted in
accounts of the most distant countries. lie
gave a striking proof of the influence of this
master-passion, when death hung upon his
lips. Berneir, the celebrated traveller, enter
ing and drawing the curtains of his bed to
take his eternal farewell, the dying man turn
ing to him, with a faint voice inquired, ‘Well,
my friend, what news from the Great Mogul?’
TIIE INDIANS.
Wc have little news to communicate on
this stale subject. The latest accounts, how
ever, give no encouragement that the liostiles
will letire to the country agreed upon with
Gen. Macomb. The sixty days allowed for
the purpose, will expire on the 18th, (next
Thursday,) after which wc expect to hear of
the recommencement of hostilities. The In
dians will have recruited by that time, and pro
vided then!-.elves with provisions, &c. We
arc informed that a number of cornfields be
longing to them have recently been discovered
by the troops. A negro captured near Fort
Andrews, states that Tigcrtail with one hun
dred warriors from whom he had escaped,
were making preparations to renew the war,
refusing to pay any attention whatever to the;
negociation of Gen. Macomb. A few days j
will prove the correctness of this report. Our
citizens on the Frontier should not relax in
their preparations for defence,
riurshtit. '
Allston, a man of genius, and tlie best
painter yet produced by America, when he
was in England, told me au anecdote which
confirms what 1 have been saying. It was, 1
tnink, in tlie university of Cambridge, near
Boston, that a certain youth took it into his
wise head to endeavor to convert a Tom
Paineish companion of his by appearing ns a
ghost before him. He accordingly dressed
himself up in tlie usual way, having previous,
ly extracted the ball from the pistol which al
ways lay near the head of his friend’s lied.
Upon first awakening, and seeing the appari
tion, the youth who was to be frightened. A.,
very coolly looked his companion, the ghost,
in the fuse, and said, “I know you ; this is a
good joke, but you see I am not frightened.
Now you may vanish.” The ghost stood
still. ‘Come,” said A., ‘'that is enough. I
shall get angry, away !” Still the ghost
moved not. “By !” ejaculated A., “if
you do not, in three minutes, go away. I’ll
shoot you.” He waited the time, deliberately
levelled his pistol, fired, and with a scream at
the immovability of the figure, became con
vulsed, and aftei wards died. The very in
stant he believed it to be a ghost, his human
nature fell before it. Coleridge.
THE ROSE.
I saw a rose perfect in beauty ; it rested
gently upon its stalk, and its perfume filled the
air. Many stopped to gaze upon it and taste
its fragrance, and its owner hung over it with
delight. I passed again, and behold it was
gone—its stem was leafless—its root had
withered—the enclosure which surrounded it
was broken. The spoiler bad been there; he
saw that many admired it, and knew it was
dear to him who planted it, and besides it he
had no other true love. Yet he snatched it
secretly from the hand that cherished it; he
wore it on his bosom till it hung its head and
faded, and when he saw that its glory was de
parted, he flung it rudely away. But it left a
thorn in his bosom, and vainly did he seek to
extract it, for now it pierces tlie spoiler even
in his hour of mirth. And when 1 saw that
no man who had loved the beauty of the rose,
gathered again its scattered leaves or bound
up the stock which the hand of violence had
broken, 1 looked earnestly at the spot where it
grew, and my soul received instruction. And
I said—Let her who is full of beauty and ad
miration, sitting like a queen of flowers in ma
jesty among the daughters of woman, let her
watch lest vanity enter her heart, beguiling her
to rest proudly upon slippery places, and be
not high minded, but fear. Mrs. Sigourney.
Tlie Marquis of Montrose, when lie was
condemned by his judges to have Ins limbs
nailed to the gates of four cities, the brave
soldier said, that ‘he was sorry he had not
limbs sufficient to be nailed to all the gates of
the cities in Europe, as monuments of his loy
alty.’ As he proceeded to his execution, he
put this thought into beautiful verse.
;V, { . 1
OFFICE, ON THIRD-STREET, ONE DOOR FROM MULBERRY* 1
STREET, AND OPPOSITE THE CENTRAL HOTEL.
MACON:
SATURDAY. JULY 20, ISA!).
Georgia Female College.
rT* THE Examination of the Pupils of this Insti
—* tution will commence on Monday next, the
22d, and close on the 26th instant. Parents, guardians,
and the friends of Female Education, are respectfully
invited to attend.
The Collingsworth Institute, an institution en
dowed by Mr.. J. Flournoy, of Putnam, and designed
for a Manual Labor School, opens on Monday next,
under the superintendance of Rev. J. R. Thomas, as
Principal, (formerly of Mount Zion, in this State. We
hope soon to give some further information in relation
to it.
SfCT Crops arc improving a great deal since the re
cent rains, so that generaly, a good crop may be ex
pected—perhaps belter, than the previous year. The
drought being so early, although long, has not done as
much injury as was expected, the rains coming on ju3t
as the most of the corn was in the full shoot. Cotton
generally throughout the State is, at present, much
more promising than for several previous years. There
is, however, some complaint with regard to insects in
the older settled counties, but we hear nothing of the
kind in the new, among the fresh lands. It is a gen
eralsaying with the farmers that crops have recover
ed from the efleets of the drough t beyond all expecta
tion.
JCr“Charles Tvrell, or the Bitter Blood,” by O. P. R.
James, is the latest novel by this much admired author
that we have yet received. It will be found entertain
ing, as may be expected, though perhaps inferior in
some respects to some other of his works. We have
been furnished a copy by Mr. J. M. Cooper, at whose
Book Store they will be found for sale. Also, by Mr.
Ells.
ENCOURAGING.
This morning wc received seven additional subscri
bers to the “ Post.” The following letter, dated “ Clin
ton, July 19th, 1839,” pleases us rather more than the
others, and wc annex it:
“ To the Editor of the ‘ Southern Post,'
Sir : In consideration of the rich and interesting
matter generally furnished through the columns of
your valuable paper, I am induced to become a sub
scriber for it. You will please send it to me at this
place. Very Respectfully, &c.”
SKr Our correspondent, a “ Citizen of Macon,' will
sec that we have consulted his wishes in regard to the!
article in the Southern Literary Messenger—part of j
which wo publish to-day. We recommend the article
to the serious consideration of our readers, and shall
be glad to receive from our correspondent the results j
of his own observation and experience on the subject.
TIIE SOUTHERN POST.
’ Shir Tile Philadelphia Enquirer speakimr of the Ncw-
York celebration, and the procession of twelve thou
sand Sabbath School girls, remarks that “ two thou
sand loaves ol bread were consumed and ns many
pounds of beef;” and he immediately, adds, “a more
heart-tow kin? spectacle could not be conceived !”
The writer carries his heart in a queer place, tbo' not
perhaps an unusual one.
To the Editor of the Southern Post. •
Sir: Looking over the July number of the “South
ern Literary Messenger," I fell on an article, to which
I beg leave to draw your especial attention and that of
your readers. It is on the subject of “ Education', by a
native Virginian,” (thus runs the caption) and it is the
best article or that subject, that it has been mv fortune
to meet with for a long time. The writer has treated
the matter well and deeply, and has presented views of
it, which will, I am convinced be new to many persons;
but which at the same time are strictly in accordance
with my own, and coincide with the conclusions to
which my reflections and observations, for years past
have led me. The subject is by no means a jicw field
to me, for I am deeply and personally interested in it
and 1 have accordingly made it an object of close and
serious study. And I would that mv fellow-citizens
were as well convinced of ihc necessity of doing the
same—(at least to a certain extent)—that they were as
fuby sensible as they ought to be, of the vital, impor
; tanee of this subject, and above all that they would re
solve, (and adhere to the resolution) to act up to such
conviction. It is the duty of every good citizen, of
every man who really loves his country, to use his best
exertions m this behalf; to watch with jealous care
over the methods oi education adopted in the communi
ty of which he is a member, and to uss hi= every en
deavour to encourage the adoption and nropagation of
true and enlightened systems of educating the youthful
tnind. It is by education alone that die rising youth of
the land are to be made acquainted with the superior
advantages which we enjoy and so highly prize ; it is
by education alone that they can be taught rightly to
appreciate these blessings ; it is by education alone that
they can be rendered able and faithful defenders of
their rights and privileges, useful citizens, andprofitable
servants of their country. It is by education and by it
alone, that we can ever hope to stem the torrent of
Vice, Immorality, and, above all, Irreligian which is
rushing with frightful fury over all the land, spreading
on every side, ruin and misery, and desolation! When
we see Viee, clothed in purple and fine linen, the
“abomination of desolation,” sitting even in holy places ;
when we see skepticism boldly rearing her “horrid
front” and stalking unabashed in the midst of us, we
nave but one thing to console U3 and relieve our anxiety
for the future ; but one thing to look to as a remedy for
the gigantic evil—the education of the rising generation.
But not such education as the “ process” which is now
commonly called by that much abused name—No! it
must be a course of serious and exact mental discipline,
which will strengthen and develop the faculties of the
mind and enable it to act with vigour. This is the end
of what I understand by education: and the great error
of the present day in almost (if not quite) all our sys
tems of education, is, that we confine our attention to
the means and entirely lose sight of the end proposed—
the natural consequence is, that the means, being no
longer subservient to the end, should become inappro
priate and unsuitable to the attaining of it at all, and
the youth, when lie has completed what he has been
taught *o call “his education,” finds that his time has
been squandered in an unmeaning and aimless pur
suit, that the best years of his life have been wasted,
and when on the very threshold of manhood, on the
point of stepping forth into the world o.' active life, ha
learns to his surprise and mortification that he has now
to begin anew to qualify himself for the exercise of his
duties as a man and a citizen. And yet “he had re
ceived a good education !” Alas! that words should be
so perverted! Now, sir, does not this frequently, too
frequently happen ? And what is it owing to, but a
radical, a manifest defect in the systems of education
usually adopted?
But nty paper admonishes me not to trespass too
much on your patience or that of your read, is. I hope
you will find it convenient to republish the article from
the “ Messenger;” should you do so, I will, with your
permission, send you some further remarks, drawn
from my own observations on this all important subject,
which I trust will not be w holly useless to the public.
And isl can, by so doing, contribute, even i:i a small
degree, to bring about a wiser and more judicious sys
tem of teaching than most of those which now prevail,
I shall feel happy in the consciousness that I have not
been altogether an useless
CITIZEN OF MACON.
Macon, July 29, 1839.
OR IGINAL ANECDOTE.
Charles Gilfert, sometime Theatrical Manager in
New York and in Charleston, was a man of great talent
anil of sill greater eccentricity. The following anec
dote of him iias Been related to us by one of his inti
mate friends:
When die English singer Phillips, was in this coun
try, he had taken an engagement with Gilbert. On one
occasion, at a rehersal, Phillips sang one of his beau
tiful songs, the music and accompaniments of which
had been composed by Bishop. Gilfcrt sat by, listening
very attentively and twisting his features into the most
grotesque shapes, as was his custom when he could not
express his feelings in words. When the song was
ended, Gilfert asked “Mr. Phillips, will you tell me who
composed the accompaniments to that song?”—“They
are composed, sir, by the celebrated Bishop,” answered
Mr. P.—“ Humph! Mr. N (turning to the lea
der of tho archestra) will you favour me with a sight
of that music.” It was handed to Gilfert, and the re
hearsal went on. In the menu time Gilfert had seated
himself at his table and commenced scribbling with
great rapidity, pausing every now and then to cast a
look at the orchestra and then resuming his occupation
with redoubled earnestness. Presently he was seen
distributing his blotted scraps to tho orcheslra, and
then again addressing Mr. Philips. “ Will you please
to sing that song again, sir,” —“Why, Mr. Gilfret,” re
sponded Mr. P. rather stiffly, we have already re
hearsed it, and I am not aware diat it is necessary to
repeat it.”—“lf it is not particularly inconvenient,
mister Phillips,” said Charles speaking very slowly
and pompously, “ you will oblige me, by singing it
again.” Mr. Phillips complied with rather ill-grace,
and turning to the orchestra with a shrug as much as
to say “ I suppose we must humour him,” directed the
music to commence. The symphony was played,
when Mr. Phillips seemed to be at a loss. “ Why, Mr.
N——, what are you playing." asked he of the lea-
Jer. “The song,Mr. Piffl'ips, as Mr. Gilfret directed
us to play it,” answered the leader. Mr. Phillips ap
peared still more puzzled, louked first at Gilfert the,n
at the orchestra, and finally with another shrug, com
menced the song. When it was ended,Phillips turned to
Gilfret,who had been sitting nil the while with his great
eyes fixed on the ringer, rubbing his hands and grin
ning with delight, and said “Mr. Gillert those arc not
the accompaniments that were played before?” “NN i
Sir!" replied Charles in his most sententious manner,
“ I rather think they are not !” "Where did they conic
from ?” asked Mr. P. “Tuke them to your great Mr.
Bishop, and tell him t hey were composed whilst you
were rehearsing, by the man who sits in this chair; by
Cliuiie* Gilfert of Germany! (with great emphasis) j
tlie next place to heaven for music ! and by ,!
sir, if the angels in heaven arc good musicians, they
must lie from Germany [Communicated.]
Hr“ E. M P." is unavoidably last ou‘.
JPr We have received A letter from Sylvester &. Cos.
requesting our account for pnblis'ungtheir “ Mammoth
Real Estate Lottery” advertisement. '’ot Such an
“abominable humbug,” after all, eh! Brother Messen
ger ?
“ Don’t you call this all-fired hot weather ?”
said a fresh caught Yankee yesterday to an
old residenter. “ Hot! Oh no; this is nothing.
We use tlie short thermometer, now. Wait
| till June, when we get tlie long ones up, if yon
want to see real hot weather.” “ Thank von,
I rather guess you’ll see me tnkin’ rather long
t strides for the northard and castarJ afore the
season gets so hot that them common ther
morneters can’t give tiie idea. Mine’s one
hundred and twenty degjres long ; when the
mercury biles over in that, I’m o-n-h.”
N. O. Picayune.
This reminds us of an anecdote we read sometime
since,which tells of a Jolinnv Raw, from the neighliour
hood of some of the great lakes,who came to New York
during one of the severe winters. Having never seen
a thetnometer, he was much surprised at the descrip
tion and uses of one as pointed out to him by a friend,
who at the same time indicated to his country listener
the lowest point at which the mercury had stood during
the coldest weather. “Oh ! yes, I see," replied Johnny:
“but we had it much colder our way ; and the reason
is, I reckon, ’cause we haintgot no thermometere there
and its gets as cold as it pleases.”
Communicated.
At a large and very respectable meeting of the Citizens
of die City of Macon, called to take into considera
tion the annexed Circular addressed to the Cotton
Planters, Merchants, Factors, and Presidents and
Directors of the several Banks of the Southern States,
Isaac G. Seymour, Mayor of the City, was called to
the Chair, and Washington Poe, Esq, appointed
Secretary.-
The Chairman after stating the object of the meeting,
proceeded to read the said Circular—after which the
following resolutions were offered by Abslaom H.
Chappell Esq , and seconded by Mr. Jerry Cowles—and
unanimously adopted by the meeting.
Resulted, As the opinion of this meeting, that cotton,
the great staple of the Southern and South-western part
; of the Union, having become, in a very eminent degree.
: the controlling commodity of the commercial world,
and the influence which it exercises over the agricultu
ral and commercial prosperity of our own country, and
especially of the cotton growing region of it, being of
the most absolute and permanent character. There
fore it pecu’iarly behooves the citizens of the Southern
i and South-western States, earnestly to deliberate
; whether any, and what system can be applied to the
j cotton trade, that shall impart to it greater steadiness
and certainty, and secure to the commodity, with at
| least some approach to uniformity, whatmay be proper
ly called its due ar.d natural price—that is to say, a
l price based on the proportion of the nnnnal supply, to
the annual demand of consumption—thereby protecting
it as far as possible (rom those violent, ruinous and in
calculable fluctuations which are of such frequent oc
currence, and which are in numerous instances, the di
! rect offspring of artificial causes and combination.
Resolved, farther, That this meeting concur in the
views set forth in the circular which has been read to
the meeting from the Chair, and that we believe the
measures therein recommended, are sanative in their
character, and if carried out as contemplated, w ill be
j conducive to the interest of the cotton growing S ales
and therefore should commend themselves to the con
sideration of every citizen of the South, whatever may
be his calling or profession.
Resolved, That fully nuprcciaiing tlie compliment be
stowed upon our ciiyt in selecting it as the place of
meeting for the prop Convention, we do most
cordially, and earnestly Solicit our Fellow Citizens of
the Southern and South-western Stares, and the Terri
tory of Florida, to meet us at tifs place on the fourth
Tuesday in October next, to deliberate on the impor
tant matters disclosed in the before mentioned Circu
lar.
Resulted, That a Committee tube composed of twen
ty-one be appointed by the Chair, to efleet the object
'embraced in the lust Resolution, and dint said Com
mittee have full power to adopt such measures as to
i them may seem proper tj obtain a full meeting of a!!
j interested in the subject set forth in this circular.
Whereupon the Chair appointed the folio wing gentle
men that Committee:
A. H. Chappel, N. C. Monroe,
Everard Hamilton, Leroy Napier,-
J. Cowles, Ambrose Buber,
Jas. Goddard, A. Clopton,
R. D. Randolph, R. K. Hines,
E. A. Nisbet, E. D. Truev,
D. C. Campbell, Henry G. Lamar,
Elius Beall, lu-vi Eckley,
L. L. Griffln, Win. B. Barker,
Chas. Cotton, Isaac Scott,
Geo. Jewett.
Resolved, That the Chairman be added to the Com
mittee. ,
On motion of Henry G. Lamar, Esq, it was
Resolved, That the Editors of Newspapers in this,
and all the States interested in the subject, be requested
to publish the said Circular and Resolutions.
Resolved, That the Editors of papeis in this city, are
requested to publish the above proceedings.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
ISAAC G. SEYMOUR, Chairman.
Washington Poe, Secretary.
July 17, 1339.
TO '1 HE COTTON PLANTERS, MERCHANTS,
FACTORS, AND PRESIDENTS AND DIREC
TORS OF TIIE SEVERAL BANKS OF THE
SOUTHERN STATES:
C 1 R C U I, A 11.
Fellow Citizens : Interested like you'selvcs, in the ;
cultivation and disposal of the great staple of American
agriculture and commerce, we have accidentally met
in this city, in the midst of a crisis which discloses some
strikingly momentous features in the history of this
most important branch of the trade of our country.
When the Cotton Crop of the United States was a
mere item in its trade, and did not reaeli a production
exceeding five hundred thousand hales, it was perhaps!
safe to consider it as one among many articles of barter!
and exchange, which, left entirely to the fortuitous
circumstances of commerce, would find its level under,
the influence of the ordinary laws of trade, without the!
necessity of resorting to any means of precautionary
protec i ion.
Times, however, have changed. Cotton has passed
from the condition of a mere a-tide of commerce, to
the performance of the mighty function of being in a
great degree the regulator of the exchanges, and the
standard of value of our country. If the nature of this \
material forbids its entering into our circulation, it is :
scarcely less the ba«is of our currency, than the pre
cious metals ; for the fluctuations in its price are felt'
with a sensibility equally as acute and searching, asj
any of those variations w hich belong to tho demand !
and supply of these sensitive and mysterious tokens of
national value.
The production of this staple, has now become so
immense, that it behooves those who produce it by a j
large investment of capital at a high rate of incidental
cost, and in a climate perilous to Imamu hiahh.to con
sider well, whether there are not some material circum- 1
. stances in reference to the mode in which this product
of their labor is'shipped from this country, and is brought
to market at the point of its final sale and couslimptior,
which demand the application of a prompt and eflectiv,-
remedy. In one word, is not the important fart dis
closed, that Such is the unwieldy amount of this great
staple of southern industry, that it cannot be sent for
ward and disposed of at fair remunerating prices,
through the ordinary medium of the mercantile estab
lishments of this country and in Europe, without the
direct co-operation of our banking institutions ? If we i
have become satisfied of this fact, ought we not to
organize a system, which shall give perfect security to 1
this great interest in the commerce and finances of our
country ? The unwise and ruinous system of sending I
the crop forward to houses of circumscribed means, on i
tlie o’her side of the water, who are incapable of hold- j
ing their consignments an hour beyond the maturity of
the bills drawn against such shipments, subjec'S in fact,
nearly the whole amount of American interests to for
eign combination, which might act, not ouly w ith entire
concert, but with a perfect knowledge of the period, j
when from the maturity of the acceptances in question,;
property to a stupendous amount belonging to this
country, may be ready for sacrifice.
The great and vital change which must he operated,
is to sustain American interests, by American credit.
To realize at home, the resources necessary for the pro
tection of our property abroad, without the necessity of
large and inconvenient drafts on the cnpital and means
of our great customer. In other words, the commercial
reform we desire, is to send our great staple to market,
without the period being determined by the date of a Bill
of Exchange, when it is to be brought forward for abso
lute and unnecessary sacrifice. We believe that t. e stea
diness in price, which would result from a portion, at
least, of the Cotton crop being exempt from lhe disas
trous fluctuations arising from compulsory sales, would
in the end, be scarcely less valuable to the spinner and
consumer in England, than to the grower and shipper
here A fact, which we think demonstrable from the
following postulates, which wc consider altogether self
evident:
1. The natural price of Cotton is the effect of the fair i
and natural inflnence of supply and demand.
2. The price cannot he steady, and the article can-!
•not be current, so as to admit of safe calculations on j
the part of the planters, the manufacturer and the mer-!
chant, unless tlie price be natural. It is consequently
the interest of these three classes, that the article should!
be prelected, on the one hand from any great and un-!
•iuc speculative action, which migbtinllate prices above
the natural rate —and on the other, from any derange
merit in the money market, or any other accidental j
cause, which might depress it below that rate. The
effect of great and undue speculation being to derange!
the money market, and to produce reaction, with an
undue depression of prices.
3. The state of the currency mainly depends on tho
means ivhieh the country possesses, to pay its foreign
debt, by shipments of its produce. To the extent its
produce or manufacture falls short of that object, ex- \
ports of specie may be induced, the effect of which
must be a reduction of the circulation, with deprecia
tion of property and general distress.
4. Cotton, in this country, being by fat the most im
portant produce, and affording the great means of pay-':
ing its foreign debt, it is the interest of the community, 1
and particularly of the monied institutions, that the.
price of it in England, (the great market,) should be!
steady, and that the article should he of current sale, 1
so as to be the means of large and effective remittance.
It follows, that the interest of the banking institutions!
i here, are the same as those of the three classed first
mentioned, namely, that the price should be natural,
that it may be steady, mid of easy realization.
5. The interest of the BritLli Government, of the
Bank of England, and of the banks of that country in
respect to this article, are the same as the interests of
; the banks here. The importation here beingimmense,
and the employment of a most numerous body of the
laboring classes, depending on the steadiness of prices. !
When they are r.ot steady—the foreign demand for
manufactured cotton is reduced greatly, tho operatives
are thrown out of employment, and the great means of
settling the balance of trade, without the exportation of
the precious metals are withdrawn. Manufactured
cottons ass .riling by far, the most important branch of
l their export trade.
6. Consequently, any arrangement that could be
formed, by which the article would be protected from
the effects of undue speculation, and from depression in
the money market, and by which steadiness of price,
with currency of sale, would be promoted—Would
save some of the greatest and best interests in both'
countries.
7. 1 1 is therefore pr. .posed ft) form a system by which t
with the commencement of the new crop, advances on
Cotton shall he made wi'h the capital or credit of
Banks here, thereby relieving the consignee in Europe
from care or consideration, except the advantageous
sale of his stock, which would promote all these inter
t s's, and afford general satisfaction on both sides of the
water, provided it Were not made the means or directly
or indirectly, of uudue speculation or monopoly.
Having thus indicated the principles on which the
proposed system must find its jurisdiction and basis
we will now as succinctly as possible, detail the means
oi carrying it into effect. ,
We are far from imputing nny premeditated hostility
of the Bank of England to American interesis; on the
contrary, it is one of the benevolent influences of com
mercial intercourse, to promote peace and good will a
mong nations and men. Hence this great engine of the!
commercial grandeur and opulence of Great Britain,
acting under an enlightened instinct, must rather de
sire that its best customer should at all times be in a
condition to meet her engagements with entire punctu
ality and success.
But there are epochs in the commerce of England,
whether from insufficient harvests, a languid demand
for her manufactures, or political combinations, when
the bank may, from an urgent policy, limit her dis
counts, and increase her rate of interest. This event
can never occur, without its having a blighting influ
ence on any surplus of our great staple, which might
be unsold in England. Surely, if the Bank of En
gland can exercise (unavoidedly,) an influence thus
prejudicial, we may resort to our own American banks,
as a means of security, and production, without the
invidious clamor of combihation and :.,onoply. It is
time that the absurb and senselessciy on thesubject of
banks making advances on Cotton, should be under
stood, and finally put down. Tho truth is, that by the
mere purchase of the foreign exchanges of the country,
they advance on nearly every bale of Cotton subject to
foreign export, and this without the security of the bill
of lading and policy of insurance, on the mere person
al responsibility of tlie drawers and indorsers of the
bill. Hence these lessons are most comprehensive and
disastrous after every commercial crisis and revulsion. |
Now we propose giving to the banks in all cases, the
higher protection of these securities, and that early
| next autumn, one or more banks in each of the great
commercial Cotton markets of the South, should cora
mence making advances on the crop, according to a
scale to be graduated by w hat will he a safe calculation
of its probable amount, assuming 12i cents at home,,
to be- about the fair natural average and remunerating |
price of this staple, on a product of sixteen hundred |
thousand bales, which is about as large a return as the
actual labor of the country now engaged in this branch
of industry, is capable of harvesting. The embarrass
ments of the South Western States having prevented
the planters of these States from making nny purchas
es of slaves from the Atlantic States, during the last
two years, whilst not leas than 10 per cent, of tin
slave labor of the South, has been abstracted in the
same peri's!, from the cultivation of Cotton, and ap
plied to ti»e racung of provision.:, and to the construction
ol those extensive railroads now in f :Ogrt*r, through
out that portion of :iie Union.
For these advances, we propose that the Bank*
should issue to the plasters; run chants and factors of
the country, on th« prediction! of the bit? of Lading,
and tlie assignment of tlie policy of insurance, Post
Notes of such description, and payable at such periods
as a Convention hereafter contemplated, unit duggrftt;
notes, which may be made to .answer both the purpo-
I ses "fcurrency and exchange, the details of which we
f refer to that body. By this arrangement huweVer, we
feel satisfied the credits can be so distributed, ihatfrom
the day of the shipment ot our cotton, it may probably
lie held at least six months in Europe, without the for
eign consignee being under an advance of one far
thing, and we think it quite easy to confer on the hou-‘
se=, ;o which tlie shipments are confided,' sufficient'
streiigth, to enable them to hold over for even a' ledger
period, should sate remunerating pries’ not bd dbtarfted
on the maturity of thi bills.
With the view of securing this strength, it is irulis-'
pensably necessary, that the consignments should not
be to much diflused, but confined to a limited number’
ot houses in Livrqiool atid Havre, who acting as the
agents of all those who will come into this conser
vative system, w ill feel a common interest, and will
naturally aid and ass.st each other under all and txery ’
contingency.
This Fellow Citizens,is but the brief outline of a greSt
scheme, for the protection of our Commerce, Finance,
and Exchanges, the details of which,must be left for
profound deliberation, and concerted action. To ac
complish this subject, we hereby invite the planters,-
factors and cotton merchants of each district or coun
ty in tlie Southern States,’ and Territory of Florida,-
together with the Banks, in each of the said States and
Territory, to send befogtfreS to meet us in Convention
at Macon, Georgia, on tlie Fourth Tuesday of October
next, which will be ’on the 22nd day of that month
that we may carefully consider the important matters
disclosed in this Circular.
We invite a candid examination of this whola
scheme, for the protection, not alonh of southern inter
ests, but for the security of the commerce of the whole
country.
Let it at least be tested by patient investigation, and ■
enlightened research ; if by this plan one third of the
entire cotton crop of the country can be placed beyond
tlie possibility of sacrifice, it will give security to the
residue, not by entrenching it behind the guards ot a :
speculative monopoly, but by holding it in that state of
security, which the just relations of supply and demand
will always in the long run, establish and sustain in’
the trade of a great and civilized country.
That no time may be lost, we beg leave to apprise! ’
you that an agent, having our confidence, will leave
this shortly for Europe, clothed with ample instructions, •
to make such preliminary arrangement# with the hou-'
ses in Liverpool and Havre, which may, ty the sanc
tion of the Convention, have the proposed consign
ments.
We are aware of the very potent opposition, which'
a plan looking even to Self-defence, must invite both af_
home and abroad, as it runs counter to a variety of
interests, aoo powerful and too susceptible of combina
tion, not to be aroused into active, and perhaps inexo
rable hostility. If our apology is not to be found in the
plea, that we have a right to hold our own property bjr
the means of the credit of our own country, then we
fearlessly say, we mean at least tout tempi it, in dCrfpit i of
ail opposition liowevereager and implacable'.
We have seen in the face ot a crop of 1,350,000
Bales, an effort made, and very nearly resulting in suc
cess, tocoerce the acceptance of the same prices, which
were incident to one of 1,800,000 bales. We ought
not to rest our security on the adverse omens of the
crop, which is now growing under the will and dis£#n‘
sation of Providence, which hits alreaHy stifferFd ift
many quarters from an intense drought, and in others
from the ravages of the insects so destructive so its
growth and maturity. We should loolr bfcyondf the era
of the short supply of the last year, and an apprehen
deddeficit during the coming season. The lessons of
economical wisdom belong to all seasons, and all times,
and there is A saluiary truth in tlie homely aphorism,'
that those who do not take card of tXentsclres, are not
likely to be taken care of by others. We therefore
submit this call and invitation to you, with the earnest
hope, that you will be prepared to co-operate with us
in a mensnre, in which we believe the highest interests”
of our common country are involved.
We remain, very Respectfully,
Your ob’t. sev’ts.
NATH’L. A. WARE, of Mississippi.
JOHN G. GAMBLE, Florida.
THOMAS E. TARTT, Alabama.
W. 11. PRATT, Alabama,
I). P. HILL HOUSE, Georgia.
J. J. HUGHES, Yazoo, Miss.
NATHAN McGEHEE, Louisiana
GEO. McDUFFIE, South Carolina.
1). K. DODGE, Florida.
J. L. HIESTER, Alabama.
JAMES HAMILTON, South Cardin*.
A B. DAVIS, Geqrgin,
HENRY W. HILLARD. Montgomery, Ala.
JOHN BRANCH, North Carolina.
New York, July 3th, 1339.
P. S. All the Southern Papers, will oblige the sign
ers of tlie above Circular, by giving it an insertion in'
their respective papers.
For the Southern Pout.
TO MY SISTKKv-
Itcbecca! thou art full oflife :
Thy bosom knows ncr angry strife,
Nor raging passions power,
Nor yet has deep corrodirtg cares
Disturbed thy peace, nor roused thy fears
But, ah ! what of to-morrow ?
Rebecca! thou art young in years,
Have felt no wo, have shed no tears,
Os dark and mournful'sorrow;
Thy soul is pure, thy heart is light,
Thy path of life seems gay and bright—
But, ah ! what of to-mOrrow ?
Rebecca ! blissful arc thy dreams,.
Thy young heart full of bright hope teems —
No ills thy peace devour:
Now far as fancy’s eye can pierce
Rich, glorious pleasure thou eangt trace—
But, ah! what of to-morrow ?
The sunshine of thy heart now plays
With heavenly, softening, mellowing rays
About thy sparkling eye :
Ah! who that gazes on the now,
On that sweet face, on thy fair brow.
But weeps that thou must die.
„ , „ HENRY.
South-Comma.
MAH HIED,
In Monroe County, on Tuesday Evening, th« 9th
instant, by the Rfcv. Mr. Dicker-on, Miss SARAH A..,
daughter of Mr. Simon Holt, to Dr. DAVID FIN SLY,
all of said County.
DXBB,
In Harris county, on the 2d inst. Fj m ,
youngest son of Joseph J. and Eip>%‘jb jnd’Sitneoii,
eight tnonihs and live davs, becnr'if.- C,fiver; s**n
tamilv of its Grandfather dur & a only on* of the
“ Suffer little children > 0 COI , kpaoe 0 f 31 *»»*•:
them not, for of such is the j, , jm ' o me , and forbid
1 • Person* havim „,y audMp**#
on him. •: vMV, ■» wilfplear* c *u
July 20, *