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“%7oni he Corrcspoiufenre of the Constitutionalist. MtLtEDGEVILLE. Dec. 11, 1 *>•>{• I„ the Senate, this morning, Mr. I’mveil of j M’ft.tosh, chairman of the comm. I lee on banks made a report on the Insurance Bank of Columbus, of which I have taken a copy, and ns follows. The bill accompanying me report provides, in substance, that me otnci banks of the State are permitted to refuse specie for their notes, when presented lor redemption bv the Insurance Bank o! Col. tu bus. This Bank is prohibited from purchas ing or receiving the notes of other banks, with the view of exacting specie, &c. This bank can require but two per cent, per annum, on the notes of other banks, it may have received in payment, and for which specie is refused when demanded, k.c. “The Insurance Bank of Columbus was in corporated by an act of the legislature, passed on the 23th day ot December, 1931 It was intended to be a charter to citizens of Georgia, for the special purpose of subserving the interests of the particular cwnmunities in which the principal bank and its authorized branches should be located. No special powers or capacities were given to it by the act of incorporation, by which it should be enabled to acquire or maimian an ascendancy over similar institutions, deriving their exist ence from the acts of the General Assembly of this state. Contrary, however, to the in tention of its original institution, more than nine-tenths of this stock have been transfer red, and are now held, according to the last aemi-annual return of that bank, in the name of N. Biddle, who is understood to be a citizen of the Slate ot Pennsylvania. I his stockholder, who doubtless is the master spirit who controls this institution, while the sub servisory power is nominally vested in others, has no interest in Georgia, in common with her citizens. He is at the head of a corpor ation, deriving its existence from the laws of a different State, with a tremendous capital, and having a cognomen well calculated to carry into successful operation a fraudulent scheme to circulate a currency on the credit of the national government, but in which the government is not it all interested, and in no manner pledged to redeem. This considera tion alone should awaken the suspicions of the honest, and should suggest to legislators, the strong necessity of either totally eradicating the evil, or so surrounding it with difficulties, that it cannot walk abroad to effect its inju rious purposes. But your committee would present other views of this subject, which they believe entitled to notice. The stock of the said bank represented as being held by N. Biddle in his individual name, amounts to the enormous sum of five hundred and filty five thousand dollars, actually paid in. Your committee have no facts to warrant them in making a positive assertion that this stock is held bona fide in his individual right by Mr. Biddle, yet they say that the very large amount of this stock, connected with the circumstance that that gentleman is at the head of a banking institution of a sister State having a capital of thirty-five millions of dollars, will excuse them from suggesting the opinion, that it is held by him as the agent only for that institution in truth, they have no doubt of the fact. A question ot some importance then presents itself. It this stock be held by him as tiie mere agent, as sup posed, can he, as agent, hold here for his principal what his principal could not hold? Can this Bank of the United States, de riving its charter from another State, acquire and hold a real or personal property in the State of Georgia ? A corporation have only an artificial being, and in the States in this union, are brought into existence by legis lative grants under legislative authority. The legislature of a State cannot grant a charter conferring a power to be exercised beyond its local jurisdiction. Such a grant would he void as extending beyond the authority of the legislature itself. Your committee therefore are of opinion that the transfer on the bonks of the bank, to N. Biddle, in secret trust for the Bank of the United States, chartered by the legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, is void, and that the directors of said bank, in permitting said transfer, have violated the spirit of their charter. By the return of the said bank, made to the Governor in April last, it does not appear that there were any notes of the United States on hand at the time, or that there were accounts of any sent, running between said Insurance Bank of Columbus and the Bank of the United States. By the last return in October, it win be seen that this bank has on hand notes o( the Bank of the United States to the amount of $143,250, and that it owes to the Bank of the United States the sum ol $303,484 60. It is notorious that this bank has been circulat*g, from the principal bank,as well ash” branches, durinor the intervening period, hills ot the old emission of the old Pank ol the United > lates. These hills mu®-* nave been furnished by the eviatinc’ B’ > * ,K °f the United States, from bills which ra oave been redeemed and are now irrecoverable in law. To put this currency afloat, which the bank cannot by legal process be compelled to redeem, is of itself, in the opinion of your committee, such an abuse of its franchise as involves a forfeiture of its charter. It is at the pleasure of this bank, or ny other, to redeem these bills. It. is under no legal constraint to do so. Your committee would ask then, if the representatives of the people would be faithful sentinels on the watch tower, if they were to permit their fellow citizens to be exposed to the ruin which this moneyed institution could visit upon them?— Would they discharge their duty to the people whom they represent, if they were to adopt no measures to rid them of a corporation which floods the country with a currency which is redeemable only at its pleasure. Your committee therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution, and the enactment into a law of a bill herewith re ported.” The following is the resolution alluded to : “ Resolved, That his Excellency the Gov ernor be, and he is hereby, required to cause a scire facias to be issued against the Insur ance Bank of Columbus, in the Superior Court of the county of Muscogee, by the so licitor general of the Chattahoochee Circuit, and such assistant counsel as his Excellency inay employ, to cause the charter of said bank to he declared forfeited, and the corpo ration dissolved, on the grounds following, viz: Because more than nine tenths of the stock : of the Insurance Bank of Columbus, have; been transferred to N. Biddle, to be held by in secret trust, for the Bank of the United States, chartered by the State of Pennsyl vania. Because the said Insurance Bank of Co lumbus has exacted usurious interest and re ceived the same on notes and hills discounted by said bank. Because the said Insurance Bank of Co- ; lumbus, has put in circulation bills of the old Bank of the United States, which had been | redeemed, and were on hand, since the expi ration of its charier. And for such other causes as may deemed j tenable, and capable ol being sustained In proof.” A BILL To be entitled an act. to regulate the inter course between the Insurance Bank of Co lumbus and the other Banks and hanking: Companies of this State; and to prescribe! the rate of Interest recoverable in certain! cases. Sf.c. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House ot Representatives of the Stale of Ga. • in General Assembly met, and it is herein ! enacted, by the authority of the same, Thai the Insurance Bank of Columbus shall not re ceive (nllect, or itt anv m: inter aconite the ‘ b;! l s or notes, of any of tht Banks or'batikhi- Companies of this State, for the purpose of demanding the specie thereon. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, by the J authority aforesaid, That no Bank, nor | : Banking Company of this State, shall he ; compelled to redeem with specie its bills or , notes, when presented by the Insurance Bank | of Columbus, any of its branches, its officers ! or agents, or any Bank, body corporate or, other person, taking, receiving or deriving j the same in any manner whatever, from the j Insurance Bank of Columbus; nor shall any Bank or Banking Company of this State, incur any penalty or forfeitures whatever, by reason of its refusal so to redeem any of its bills or notes, when presented by the Insurance Bank of Columbus, any of its branches, its officers or agents or any Bank, body corpor ate, or other person, taking, receiving or de riving the same in any manner whatever, from the said Insurance Bank of Columbus. Slc. 3. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That it shall not be lawlul for the Insurance Bank of Columbus, or other Bank body corporate, or oilier person, taking, receiving, or to any other manner deriving any bills, note or notes of any other Bank, or Banking Company, Irom the Insurance Bank of Columbus, to ask, demand, receive, or re cover of, and from any hank, or Banking Company of this State, interest at a greater rate than two per cent, per ann. on any note or notes, bill or bills of such bank or Banking Company, which shall have been received, collected, or in any manner acquired by the said Insurance Bank of Columbus. REPORT OF-MR. HARRIS, OF BALDWIN. From the Minority of the Committee, to whom was referred the question in relation . . to the transfer of a portion of the stock of the Insurance Bank of Columbus, having ! in common with the majority, [investigated the subject, and having arrived at different j conclusions, feel that it is due, both to them- 1 selves and the Legislature, to offer some j of the reasons upon .which this difference ! of opinion is founded ; they therefore beg leave to offer the following Report: It is true, as set forth in the report of the majority, that the Insurance Bank of Colum bus was incorporated on the 26th day of Dec. 1881 ; and it is also true, that no special powers were conferred upon it; and your j Committee would beg leave to add, that no special disabilities were imposed. The grant was made to citizens of Georgia, and for the purposes, no doubt, (as suggested in the re port of the majority,) of subserving the inter est of the particular communities, in which the said Bank and its branches should be located; but this grant was made, also, with an unrestricted power to transfer stocks held in said Bank. It is also true, that a large proportion of the stock of said institution, is now held under a transfer from the original stockholders, bv Nicholas Biddle, a citizen of the State of Pennsylvania. It is contended that this transfer has been made contrary to the intention of the original institution of said Bank. However much your Committee, as citizens of Georgia, might be disposed to object to this transaction, they are, nevertheless, from the evidence before them, constrained to admit the legality of the transfer tinder the provisions of the charier of said Bank, and that the interest thus acquired, is protected under a solemn grant from the State. The intention of the Legislature, in granting this charter, can, in the opinion of your Com mittee, only be arrived at by an examination of the provisions of the charter itself. The Legislature granting it, certainly had the power, if they chose so to have exercised it, to have thrown around the exercises of the powers and privileges conferred, such limita tions and disabilities as it thought proper. — It had the right to prescribe the terms on which the privileges sought, should be grant ed, leaving it then, optional with the individu als incorporated, to receive or reject the charter. The usual privileges, however, are confessed to be conferred upon the original Company, in general terms; and amongst those usual privileges, is the power expressly given to transfer the stocks held by the Company in said Institution. The absence then, of these restraints, is to the mfods ot your Committee, a clear indfe ß<f,,n as what Avas the intention of the Legislature granting it; and that i p *be act of transfer, there is no violation whatever, of either the letter or spirit .if the charter. The charter of this bank can only be taken from it by reason of an abuse of its privileges. ‘The mere possession of the power to do injury, is not a sufficient argument to authorize the exercise of snoii a power ; and whenever this abuse does take place, the law has placed the right in the hands of any individual citizen of the community to invoke the judicial authority of the Stale upon the subject. The sanction of the Supreme Legislative authority is not necessary, nor in the opinion of your Com mittee, proper in such a case. It is involving in a question purely judicial, politicial and party considerations, which your Committee can but regard as unfavorable to a just conclusion, and imposing upon the judicial power of the State, a delicate duty, and a fearful responsibility. But let us suppose, for the sake of argu ment, that at the time ol granting this charter to citizens of Georgia, it was the intention of the Legislature, that the stocks should be held only by our own citizens ; yet your Committee must again contend, that the failure of such an expression ol Legislative will, at the time of the granting of the charter, excludes from the present, or that of any subsequent Legislature, the power of acting upon, or carrying out such intention. Your Committee, from the terms of the charter, are bound to presume that a different intention did prevail, and an unlimited power to trans fer stock being given, that it was one of the conditions upon which the charter was ac cepted, and that it is a right, the exercise of which cannot now be controlled ; it being part and parcel of the original contract between the power granting and the individual stockhohl ders, and therefore protected by the Con stitution of the United Stated, the supreme law of the land. No question is better settled in this country than that the Legislature cannot interfere with vested rights except upon the terms which it | has expressly reserved to itself in the grant. That g cannot resume to itself at pleasure, the rights and privileges granted, is equally clear; nor can it trammel and embarrass the exer cise ol such rights, so as to render the grant nugatory or less valuable. In the opinion of your Committee, this would be but to accomplish, by indirect means, that which we are expressly pro hibited from accomplishing directly. This would be in utter violation of all the establish- i ed rules of law, of the usages of legislation, j and would be to subvert the Constitution of the United Stales itself, which we are sworn I to support. &A charter has been repeatedly decided, in j the Courts of the United States, as well as i those in the several States and Great Britain. I to be m its nature and form a contract; and if so, consequently protected-hy the constitn- j uoual provision declaring; that “no Statesliall | P :,ss Jl| '.v law impnir'uiix the obligation of con tracts. Siiould the lull repot ted by the ma i jority ot the Committee he passed into a inn’, imposing additional disabilities on the Bank, it | inual he passed, in the lirst place, in the opinion <>t your Committee, in violation of the Constitution oi the 1_ atted States; and in the second place, after being passed into a law, would he in itself a nullity. It is assumed, however, (and this nssump ! yn is tounded upon supposition only.) that I Nicholas Biddle, the ostensible owner of the® slocks in the Insurance Bank of Columbus, is ,!i,{ *h.’ l-r-jt'r owner oi suid slock'; hut that lie holds them in Trust of the Bank of the J United Slates, chartered by the Legislature! of Pennsylvania. j A sufficient answer to this argument is, that this supposition is warranted by no facts ; before the Committee; but that on the con ;trarv, the report of 1 lie Bank (and winch i you Committee :s bound to take as true, until ;contradicted,) shows him to be, in his individ ual character, the owner of said stocks; and ithev would respectfully suggest, that the (Legislature must he bound by evidence, and land not by mere supposition; and until there is more evidence going to show that the re-j port submitted bv the President and cashier ol the Bank, and also the Bank books, speak falsely, the character of the State would be greatly compromitted, in taking any steps founded alone on supposition. There is certainly nothing in the charter of said Bank to prevent a citizen of another State, or even a foreigner, from holding stocks in said insti- j tution.° If any forfeiture is incurred, by this; j circumstance, there is, perhaps, not a single Bank in the State which does not labor under the same disability; and surely the mere circunistar.ee of the individual who holds the !stock happening to control a large monied (influence in another State of this Union, can not change his right, arid can form no legal (argument against his holding stocks in an, | institution of this Stale. j Your Commttee would further remark, i ; that they cannot accord in the opinion, that a foreign corporation cannot hold stocks, as, well as other property, under our laws. On the contrary, they are constrained by an ; almost unbroken current of judicial decisions, ; ■to admit that they can. This question has ; ! been repeatedly discussed in the Courts ol this country, as well as in those of England, : and has been as repeatedly determined in favor of the right,—never, in the recollection ol j vour Committee, having admitted of a doubt, ! save only in the Slate of South Carolina.— j Your Committee would respectfully suggest,; ! that the law upon this subject, as settled by | the supreme judical authority of the State, is as much bindingupon the legislative authority, until expressly repealed, as upon the judicial power. Your Committee have thought proper to present this view of the subject, not because i the evidence authorizes them to believe that | the stock in this Bank is held by the United j States Bank of Pennsylvania, but simply; because the charge is made, and the broad negative doctrine assumed, in the report of ; the majority, in which opinion the minority cannot concur. Your Committee would not be misunder- j stood in this matter, and to avoid the hazard of misconstruction, to which they may be ! subjected, by encountering what is supposed ; to be the popular will and opinion on this sub- , ject, they avail themselves of the occasion, to j state that they are not the advocates of the Banks of the United States, either old or new, whether chartered by the Congress of the United States or by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, but are only insisting upon Ihe sanctity of legal rules, by which they con ceive the present question must be governed. On the contrary, they are willing and anxious to do all in their power that they can legally do, to foster and protect our own State In stitutions against any and every unfavorable or undue influence, no matter from what quarter it comes; but whilst they entertain these opinions, they cannot consent to resort to illegitimate and illegal means, for the pur pose of accomplishing even the most desired end. They would however, further suggest, that, they cannot regard the present United Slates Bank, chartered by the Legislature of Penn sylvania, as partaking in the slightest degree of the character of a National Bank. It de rives its power from the same source ns that from which our own State banks derive theirs, and consequently, all the arguments in tela- ; tion to the unconstitutioality, inexpediency, j and dangerous tendency of a National Bank, (argil me ms which would weigh greatly with your Committee) cannot be involved in this question. Connected with the question of danger to be apprehended from the monied influence sup posed to lie wielded by Mr. Biddle, they deem it but an act of justice, without wishing to be understood in the slightest degree, as approving of the introduction of this influ ence into our own State, to call the attention of the Legislature to what they undetsland to he the fact, that the Merchants’ Bank of New Orleans has been principally owned and controlled, in connexion with citizens of Louisiana, by Mr. Biddle : and yet we have beared from that quarter, where so many more opportunities and inducements musr have daily presented themselves, no com plaint. The transactions of that institution seem to leave been of a purely correct mer cantile character, unconnected with any dis position to control the local institutions of that State. From all the facts before them, your Com mittee cannot but regard the Insurance Bank of Columbus as beingstilla State Institution, subject at all times to the control, and respon sible to our laws; and they would further remark, that the influence of the enormous capital so much dreaded, is less likely to be exerted with deleterious effects, when in the hands of a Board of Directors of our own ci tizens, through the agency of an incorpora ted Institution of our own State, they having like feelings and interests with the great body of our people; subject alike to public opinion and the laws of the State; than when in the hands of private agents coming from another section of country, having no feelings or in. terest in common with us, controlling the same amount of capital, unrestricted by any special laws, and which the wants of the country and the prospect of profitable itu’est merits would induce to come amongst us. There is another circumstance to ivhich 1 i your Committee beg leave to call your atten tion. A portion of the stocks of said Bank are still held by the original Stockholders, citizens of Georgia, a part of whom are now t lie Directors of the Institution. To say nothing of the guaranty which the public has in having this institution controlled by our own citizens, the State must afford to them and their interest, protection under our laws.— They cannot be made sufferers, simply be cause they happen to be associated with an individual obnoxious to the Legislature. Your Committee would further beg leave to remark, that the circumstance of the In surance Bank circulating bills of the old Bank ot theU. S. (alluded to in the report of the ma jority) cannot, in their opinion, work a forfei ture of its charter, or subject it 10 any disabili ties whatever. It can at most but amount to a question of contract between the Insurance Bank and those who take the bills referred to —precisely upon the same principle that one ! individual would be with another ; the Bank] has no power to compel any person to take them, either upon discounts, or in payment of her debts. For her own bills she has uni formly paid gold and silver, the legal currency of the country; and if she has forfeited her charter, by putting in circulation bills of the old Bank oflhc U. S. she has done no more, in the opinion of your Committee, than has been done by every other Bank in the Slate. But your Committee feel constrained most positively to deny, that by this act, any forfei ture whatever has been incurred. In relation to the charge of usury brought against said Bank, your Committee can only say, that they know of no evidence that would . authorize such a charge. It has dealt in ex . changes as other Banks, and sold the same in a market open to fair competition. It has ! also sold U, S. Bank paper lor the customary premiums. These, your Committee can but regard as ordinary Backing tranactions, in violation of no Jaws, known jo your Commit tec. ! Under dvbry view that y<itr Committee have been able to take of this subject, they are ( clearly of opinion that no forfeiture of its : charter lias been incurred : that any legisla tion directed against this Bank exclusively, J would be partial and invidious in its character, i ‘That the passage of any law by which it would be trammelled in its operations con trary to the express provisions ol its charter, would be alike a violation of the Constitution (of the United States, and of the public faith, and could not fail to re licet discredit upon the ! State. They therefore respectfully recommend that j no legislation be had upon the subject, differ-j ing from that in relation to other Banks ol; State; the same, in the opinion ot your Com mittee, being uncalled for and unnecessary. SENTINEL & HERALD. COLUMBUS, JANUARY 11, IS3S.^ Ist. Rates of advertising. —All advertisements will be charged at the old rates, i. e. $1 per square for the first insertion, and 50 cents per square tor ; each subsequent insertion —12 lines making a square, j 2d. Yeahly advertisements —For over 24, and not exceeding 36 lines, fifty dollars per annum ; for ovr 12, and not exceeding 24 lines, thirty floe dollats per annum ; for less than 12 lines, twenty dollars per annum. 3d. All rule and figure work double the above prices. P. H. F. Brittan is our authorized agent for the collection of such accounts of this of-, fice as may be placed in bis hands, and also to receive subscriptions, &c. Dec. 10, 1937. George W. Compton is our authorised j Agent for such accounts as may be placed in j bis hands. He will also receive in Georgia and Alabama, subscriptions to the Sentine’ and Herald. The following persons have kindly con sented to act as Agents for the Sentinel and Herald: Col. C. Parker, Collodensville, Monroe Cos. Peter Cone. Esq. Eden, Effingham Cos. Rev. Reuben E. Brown, Perry P. O. Hous ton Cos. Thos. H. Key, Esq. Drayton, Dooly Cos. Col. Thos. J. Holmes, Byron, Baker Cos. Stephen D. Crane, Esq. Dahlonega, Lump kin Cos. We shall continue to publish this list, and I add the names of agents as we procure them, that our subscribers in the different counties ! may know to whom they can make applies j tion, Avhen they become very anxious to “pay ! up old scores.” We dislike to enter upon anew year in a scolding mood, but we must take occasian to say, that letters addreseed to our office must be post paid, or we shall not give them atteir tion. Should we unguardedly take one out of the Post Office, it will lie forthwith sent back to the writer under a double envelop: “ We can’t stand every thing and go to mill too.” TO OUR ADVERTISING PATRONS. The new year having commenced, we shall continue all yearly advertisements, if not otherwise directed. Those, therefore, who wish to discontinue, will please give us infor ; mat ion of the same. j All advertisements intended for our paper, ; must be brought in on Wednesday before |noon. Advertisements sent from a distance, by; i persons unknown to us, will not be published j ; unless paid in advance, or a good town refer ; cnce be given. Our correspondent C. lias saved us the la bor of writing upon Internal Improvement this week, for which lie is entitled to a “ new year’s gift.” We hope he will continue his essays as be promises. “ Internal Improve ment” is our motto. The President of the United States, by and Uvith the advice and consent of ihe Senate, ; has appointed James Liddle, of Georgia, to : be a Commissioner under the 17th article of ; the Cherokee treaty of 1535, vice Wilson ■ Lumpkin, resigned. Shooting Match. —On Tuesday of next week, the 15th inst. Avill come off’ a shooting match, at Talboiton, with rifles, for SIOOO a side, to be shot by Col. Cooper, of Greenville, and Col. Shelton, of Talbotlon, on the one side ; and Mr. Templeton Hied and friends of our city on the other. The match is to be determined by the best 11 in 21. Look Avell to your “ sights”—touch those trigger delicately. PUBLIC MEETING. At a meeting of citizens, convened on Thursday evening last, at the Court House, in relation to the West Point Rail Road, his Honor, the Mayor, was called to the chair, and J. B. Webb appointed Secretary. The chair explained the object of the meet ing; it was to give those citizens who had previously subscribed for stock, in said Rail Road, an opportunity to take back such sub i scriplion or to continue the same; and further I as the Legislature had failed to pass the In ternal Improvement bill in which provision had been made lor our contemplated Rai’ Road, it was proposed to submit the question i to the Citizens of Columbus, for their sober | consideration, and to ask them to take the i matter into their own hands, and to take upj the stock and to prosecute :he work, or give! to the Municipal authorities of the town leave ; j to raise funds, upon ihe credit of the city, with : which to construct the Road. The meeting! was addressed by Messrs. Campbell and Wat. : son, our Representatives ; also, by Col. John W. Campbell, Judge Sturgis, Gen. Bethune, I and Gen. McDougald. A Committee was appointed to report upon ! the right of the Corporation to the town Com mons, consisting of Messrs. Seaborn Jones, = Esq. Chairman, Gen. McDougald, Col. Fos- ■ ter, John W. Campbell, J. P. H. Campbell,! Judge Colquitt, and Col. Watson. The subject was deemed of such vital im portance to the City of Columbus, to re- quire a meeting of all the Citizens, if possible; and it was therefore adjourned to next Sa- I turday, the 13th inst. at the Court House, a( 10 o clock, A. 111. when the committee, above I named, will report, and some final action be had upon the most important of all subjects now before the people of Western Georgia. To Columbus it is sink or swim, live or die. Augusta lias her Rail Road. Savannah has her Rail Road. Macjon has her Rail Road; and shall we sit down with folded arms, and ■ other portions o! the State ride over us in ‘heir steam cars, and puff their smoke in our eyes! Wake up young, beautiful, Colum bus! Wby t!:ou in the day of thy | blushing womanhood r Even thine elder sis ters are leading thee in the dance! Wilt thou not shake thy fresh locks, and wave thy young hand and beckon the prince of Inter \ nal Improvement to thy arms, and with him whirl avvav to the high temple of fame, pros ; peri tv, and wealth ! REMARKS. The extra quantity of interesting and use ! ful readin- matter communicated to our co ! ° ! luntns this week, excludes almost entirely our editorial. The change, we presume, will be pleasing to our readers, and we heartily recommend to their perusal the Reports made at the last session of the Legislature, in rela tion to the Insurance Bank. They were both offered in the Senate, the majority report by Mr. Powell, of Mclntosh, and that of the minority by Mr. Harris of Baldwin.—The latter document was, however, written by our ! Representative, Mr. Campbell, with the ex ception of a solitary paragraph. This state ment we have been desired by Mr. Harris to make, in justice to Mr. Campbell. It is con sidered a fine legal argument, and is certainly marked with much ability. The masonic address, by Dr. Chiplev, is I chaste and beautiful in point of composition, 1 fervent in its moral inculcations, and strongly sustains the claims of masonry to the confi dence and good will of the community. We lament the necessity which prevented us from participating in the celebration of the anni j versary of St. John the Evangelist. We | were absent in body, but present in mind, i As the ceremonies have been recited to us, they must have been strikingly interesting and imposing. In the letter of Judge Iverson, will be found bis reasons, stated in full, for resigning his judicial charge over the Chattahoochee cir cuit, which reasons, we doubt not, will prove satisfactory to every individual. We hear of no excitement or feeling on the subject at present. “GRIM VISAGED WAR.” The accounts from Canada furnish us with the details of an awful tragedy at the Falls of Niagara. It appears that the steamboat Caroline had made a trip from Buffalo to Navy Island, the head quarters of the insur gents, on a visit of curiosity merely, having on board a large number of passengers. He r arrival attracted attention, and immediately after sun sel several boats, containing about fifty royalists, put off from a place some two miles above the encampment of the Governor of Upper Canada, and taking a diagonal course, dropped down between Grand and Navy Island, stemmed the strong current, and with muffled oars crept along side the Ameri can steamboat. The shots, pikes and cut lasses of the assailants gave the first note of alarm to the unoffending passengers on board the Caroline, who, before they had time to leap ashore, were massacred without being able to make resistance! The Caroline was then towed into the stream, set on fire, (and to cap the climax of horrors, and to make the narrative complete,) propelled into the mad dening current, and with upwards of thirty killed and wounded citizens, hurried over the Falls of Niagara. A Mr. Durfee, who was standing on the shore, an unparticipating ob- I server of the affray, was shot down by the British. The above particulars we have gleaned from an express slip received from the office of the N. Y. Evening Herald of the 3d inst. Great excitement prevailed at Buffalo, and Gen. Burt had called out his brigade, 1000 strong, to preserve the neutrality. A slip from the office of the Mobile Mer cantile Advertiser, under date of the Bth inst. gives the following account of a severe fight in Florida. IMPORTANT FROM FLORIDA. We learn bv the steamboat Caroline, Capt. Jeffrey, from New York, via Tampa Bay, that a severe engagement took place on the 251 h December, on the edge of the Ever glades, about 70 or 80 miles from Tampa Bay, between the U. S. forces under Col. Taylor, consisting of the Ist Regiment of Infantry, the 4th Regiment under Col. Fos ter, the 6th under Col. Thompson, and the Missouri Volunteers, under Gen. Gentry, and a large party of the Indians. The action was most furiously contested for an hour, when the Indians gave way and fled. We learn, with the greatest pain, that this was one of the most disastrous battles that has yet been fought in Florida. It is stated that Gen. Gentry, of the Missouri Volunteers, Lt. Col. Thompson, Lt. Brooks, Lt. Center, Capt Van Swearingen, three commissioned officers of the Missouri Volunteers, names not recollected, Sergeant Major Slaback, are a mong the killed. The whole of “Cos. K.” of the 16th Infantry, are said to have been killed except some seven or eight—making a total of eight officers killed, and 140 rank and file killed and wounded. Os the Indians only 8 were found dead on the field, though it is said some 40 or 50 bodies had been dragged off. The troops succeeded in bringing away 60 ponies. For the Sentinel and Herald. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.— Essay No. 1 . Messrs. Editors : I propose, through the columns of your useful journal, to invite the attention of our fellow-citizens to the impor tant subject of inlernal improvement. The | people of Georgia have been long divided : into distinct parties on abstract political ques ; tions, tending to inflame the passions, and ; followed by no other practical results than the putting in and turning out of office politi cal aspirants. These questions and pursuits ! have engaged their attention, to the exclti ! sion of much more important and weighty j considerations. In this useless warfare of i crimination and recrimination, the true inte- I rest of our State has been neglected, her commercial prosperity has been lost sight of, Iter agricultural and mineral resources have been permitted to lie dormant, her natural advantages seem to have been forgotten, and whilst on every side of us we have seen the energies of our neighbors waking up, and J developing their resources, we have still slept j on in an apathy as calm as the sleep of death, j Now, when the elements of political strife; seem to be calm, when the storm has ceased j to rage, let us take advantage of this pause, and turn our thoughts to subjects of practical utility. In these, at least, ail voices can unite. Connected with the interest and glory of our State, is the individual interest and pride of her citizens. It is strange that at this late day, with the benefits ot experience on every hand, aided by the flood of light which has been poured upon the subject, that there should be any yet to doubt, in the first place, the practica-j bility of artificial improvement?; and jn the second place, their miliiy, tleir. practicability, but “it is no less strange than | true ” The utility of steam power, applied to internal navigation, when first attempted, was also doubted ; nay, it was denounced as wild and visionary ; but the experience of thirty years has shown the futility of these doubts, and the narrowness of the views which | prompted these denuncialions. Its and iscovery j is now looked back to as anew era in the history of the world. In the language of a*. able and lucid writer, “it is a discovery which has armed the feeble hand of man with a power to which no limits can be assigned— completed the dominion of mind over the most refractory qualities of matter, and laid a sure foundation for all those future miracles of mechanic power which are to aid and reward i the labors of after generations.” So far as j the application of this power has been made to land communications, the success lias been equally unfailing and triumphant. The most sanguine expectations of itslriends have neen fully realized. Wherever the attempt has been made, capital has found a most profita ble investment, labor a legitimate reward, and the resources of the country, which have laid dormant for centuries, have sprang into the newness of life, as by the behest of magic; sterility and barrenness have fled before it, and the face of meager poverty has assumed the smile of plenty. Is this the language of fancy, or of truth? Look to the examples in our own country, and then cross the Atlantic and examine the result of Hie experiment there, and answer the question. I know of no high instance in which the effort has failed ; stocks have, and continue to command a premium, or, produce a revenue. They are considered the best investment that can be made by capitalists, I for the reason, that the works themselves are fixed and permanent, partaking of the char acter of the realty, but more especially be cause they are identified with the prosperity of the country in which they are located. Wherever such works have been underta ken by the public, the most beneficial results have followed. The State of New York, by the construction of her magnificent works, has not only brought into her treasury a large surplus, to be applied to purposes of public education, but in a few years she has more than doubled her population. Towns and cities have sprang into existence, where be fore the eternal solitude of the forest reigned. My intention at present has only been to invite attention to this important subject. I intend, by your permission, to trouble you with some further essays, going somewhat into detail, but mainly going to shew the practicability of works of Internal Improve ment over the soil of Georgia, and the advan tages to be from thence derived to the whole State. C. For the Seminel and Herald. Messrs. Editors: Permit me, through your paper, to suggest to the people of Georgia the names of gentlemen, as suitable candidates : for a seat in Congress. As it is generally j believed that those who are now in office will 1 decline a re-nomination, it becomes necessary j that the feelings and views of the people in different sections of the State, should be con sulted in due time. The names below are : distinguished for those qualities which are i necessary to constitute a capacity to sustain the interest and dignity of the State. M. H. McAllister, Esq. of Chatham. Eli Baxter, Esq. of Hancock. Judge Iverson, of Muscogee. Hon. Joseph Day, of Jones. Francis Cone, Esq. of Greer.. Gen. Nelson, of Cherokee. Dr. Powell, of Talbot. Col. Campbell, of Houston. Gen. Wafford, of Habersham. union. I For the Sentinel and Herald. WASHINGTON CITV, Df.c. 30, 1837. Gentlemen : 1 have just rceeived a letter from a citizen of your place, under date of j the 24th inst. to which there is the following I postscript: “The news of your resignation, ; and the election of Sturgis, has reached this 1 place, and created great excitement with al] parties to your prejudice.” I am wholly at a loss to understand how any exciternent should be created at so unim portant a circumstance as my resignation; but surely all excitement must cease, if any i exists, when the facts connected with that j resignation are known. According to the! present arrangement of the Courts in the Chattahoochee Circuit, the spring riding com mences on the first Monday in February. It is known to the citizens of Columbus that the last term of the Court in Muscogee lasted until the 14th of the present month, and that it was then adjourned over to the 3d Monday in January. At this late period, I was called to Washington by business of very great im portance to me, involving several thousand dollars, and to which my personal attention was absolutely necessary. From the nature of that business, I knew that it would be im possible for me to get through with it in time to return to Georgia by the commencement of the Circuit. A Bill had been introduced in the Legislature by our Representative, Mr. ! Campbell,(at the instance ol'a large majority of the Bar o( the Circuit, at a meeting held at Randolph Court,) changing the time of hold ing the Court, so as to commence the riding on the first Monday in March. I was in formed by Mr. Campbell, during the sitting of the Court in Columbus, that it was very doubtful whether the Bill would pass. I sub sequently wrote to him, stating my determi nation to resign if the bill should be lost, as it would be impossible for me to return from Washington by the first of February. I expressed this determination to several gen tlemen in Columbus, and I presume it was i generally understood ; and I heard no objec- I tion made to it. I passed through Milledge ville on the 17th inst. only stopping there about half an hour. I saw Mr. Campbell, who again slated his opinion that the bill would be lost. I felt it to be my duty, if I resigned at all, to do so during the sitting of I the Legislature. I accordingly wrote a letter of resignation, and left it with Mr. Campbell, with instructions to deliver it in the event the Bill in question should be rejected. I was, i however, detained a day at Sparta, and whilst there ascertained, (what I had not before thought of,) that the Spring Courts in \ j the Flint and Coweta Circuits did not com mence until the latter part of February.— ; Supposing tint I should be able to return to Georgia by that time, and being unwilling 16* resign a trust reposed in me by my fellow citizens, before the expiration of its Term, I’ wrote to Judge King and-Judge Warne^ proposing to alternate with one or the other, ’ for at least a portion of our respective cir cuits. In view ot such an arrangement, I” wrote on the same day (Monday the 18th) to’ Mr. Campbell, directing him to withhold* resignation. Whether be evei received that etter I am not informed, but I presume, of I course, that my letter of resignation entrusted 1 to bis keeping, was delivered to the Governor before the receipt of the one above The resignation of the office which I had the honor to hold, (arduous and unprofitable as it was,) was made with great reluctance. I eould not, however, hold it longer, under the present arrangement of the Courts, without a sacrifice which no reasonable man> eould ex pect or desire me to make. The alternative,, of the proposed alteration in the Courts, or mv resignation, was presented to the mem ibers of the Legislature from the Circuit, as I’ was informed by Mr. Campbell- that lie had made known to most of them my determina tion to give up the office unless the time of. holding the Courts was changed. It was< doubtless in their power to have insured the i passage of the Bill, and as the contemplated change in the Courts could not have seriously’ affected the people of the Circuit, it would seem that my resignation was not considered; by them at least, a matter of much impor tance. It is singular, therefore, that there should have arisen any excitement any where upon the subject. lam inclined to think that my informant has mistaken the disapproba tion of a few for the discontent of the many. However this may be, I feel confident that no 1 unprejudiced man can attach blame to ms, I after a full knowledge of all the circumstan ces of the case. I regret that circumstances have so transpired as to dissolve the official relations between myself and the members of the Bar and people of the Circuit, from whom I have uniformly experienced so much cour tesy ami kindness. I console myself, how ever, with the reflection that they have lost! nothing by the change, and that there exists no real cause fur regret or dissatisfaction. 1 am Respectfully, Your ob’t. serv’t. A. IVERSON. Messrs. Iverson St Webb. Cot,. Webb—There is one portion of the letter of Judge Iverson which properly np |peals to me for information, which, injustice I to him, I readily fgive. He arrived in Mil ledgevile on Sunday evening, a week before | Christmas, on his way to Augusta, in the | stage ; he stopped, of course, but for a few | moments, during which time the conversation i alluded to in his letter to you, took place be tween us. He then wrote and left with me his resignation, with instructions to hand it to> the Governor, in the event of the failure of the passage of the bill changing the time of | holding the courts in the Chattahoochee cir ; cuil, giving his reasons as stated in his letter. The Bill came up, as well as I now rccol j lees, on Wednesday, and was lost. After this event I held a consultation with a per ! sonal and particular friend of Judge Iverson, : as to what course should he pursued, and . at one time we had determined to inclose to him his resignation, but bis directions to me being positive, and it being generally under stood that I held the resignation, this inten tion was abandoned, and on Thursday even ing I handed his resignation to the Governor, who promptly communicated it to the House of Representatives. On Fiiday morning I received, through the post office, the letter alluded to by Judge Iverson, (and which was written on the Monday previous.) instructing me to withhold his resignation. There was no post mark upon the letter, (though it was dated at Sparta,) and I inferred that it had been sent bv private hand, in which manner only I could account for its tedious passage. So it will be seen that this communication reached me one day after his resignation had been handed in, and after it had been com municated to the Legislature, so that neither myself nor the Executive bad any further con trol over it. I must ask of you to publish this statement, with the letter of Judge Iverson, both as an ! act of justice to him and to myself. Respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. H. CAMPBELL. For tfi Sen'incl and Herald, AN ADDRESS On the festival of St. J.>hn the Evangelist, delivered al Columbus, Ga., before Columbian Lodge No. 2&, Dec. 27, 1837, by Jlro. Dr. VV. 8. Cnimr. Brethren —lt has been wisely ordained, by the Supreme Architect of the universe, that a superior exhibition of any of ihe noble j and elevated qualities of our nature should * possess within itself irresistible attractions to our race. Hence the warrior, breathing en thusiastic patriotism along the embattled hosts of his countrymen, assembled in defence of liberty ; the statesman, pouring forth strains of burning, thrilling eloquence in defence of her institutions ; and the philanthropist, pro,, claiming “ peace on earth and good will to all men,” have never failed to captivate and command the admiration and wonder of tho j world. We meet to-day to contemplate the virtue* wisdom and excellency of one of the lattei; class—a philanthropist whose benevolent and. expanded soul compassed in its wide embrace the whole human famiiv. We are proud to present this philanthro pist, St. John the Evangelist, ns an eminent and distinguished member of our ancient and i honorable fraternity—the moral grandeur of whose charicter stands preeminent, as a bea-. Icon light to guide future generations to use fulness, virtue and happiness. More than seventeen hundred years, fraught with the destiny of nations and empires, have , rolled away, since this most distinguished of our ancient brethren, whose memory we de light to cherish, as an extraordinary patron of our order, has passed to the world of spi rits. But though dead he yet speaketh.— His principles have not followed him to the tomb ; nor can the salutary influence of his example be lost while our order survives, or a genuine mason lives. Exalted to the pure felicity of the saints, before the burning throne ; of God, he is far removed from any imperfect honors which we are incompetent to render— but to ourselves it may not he unprofitable *a scan, for a moment, the beauties ol Ins godly I life, and to contemplate the virtues and pa tient endurance which adorned his almost perfect character. I Bom to poverty, and inured to hardships ‘from infancy, he pursued ihe quiet and re i tired life of an humble fisherman, until called hv the Redeemer of mankind to witness bis mighty miracles, and to proclaim the lulfiU rnctit of ancient prophecy.