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Report and resolutions of the
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
The comm Aee of iweruv-flve, to
wis referred lh* considersnm. _ j.
(or which the Convention was called vdh
instructions to report thereon, have uevoled
to the pcrlormaiice of the doty ass-gn.. •1 ,
all the attention practicable, under the cir
cumstances by which they have been sur
rounded, within the very limited period ac
corded for their investigations. An era has
at length dawned upon us, characterised by
ardent aspirations on the part of our people
for the commercial grandeur and indepen
dence of Georgia. This sentiment, which
has been so recently aroused, and which has
already become so strong and pervading, is
far from being the (breed and sickly offspring
of mere slate pride and sectional ambition.
On the contrary, it owes ils birth and rapid
development to causes the most natural and
healthful, which, from the certainly, power
and permanency with which they may be
made to operate in her favor, must infallibly
advance Georgia to a towering height of
commercial greatness and prosperity, il she
falter not in the pursuit of her own soi; ! in
terests and high destinies. These causes are
the vast and various physical resources of the
state; its admirable geographical position
and capabilities, and the enlightened percep
tion and strenuous improvement o! all those
noble advantages to which the public mind
and energies have now become so thoroughly ;
awakened. A glance at the map of our
country,demonstrates at once how command- |
ing is the local position occupied by Georgia j
among her sisters, fur all purposes ol internal j
and foreign trade! She is the la-'t state lying j
to the south, whose icrritory is both ind nted ,
by fine Atlantic harbors, and penetrated deep
into the interior, up to the veiy mountains, :
by navigable Atlantic rivers. Then on her !
western borders vve behold the first naviga
ble waters which find their way from the ;
same mountain region to the Mexican Gull’, ,
after winding through her whole length from ]
north to south. Thus placed, she is const:- j
tilled, bv her position, the keystone of the j
long arch of the maritime states of our Union, j
which, from her opposite sides, stretch out
respectively along the shores of the ocean,
and of the gulf. T his peculiarity of position,
is a ciicuinstance of great moment, in esti
mating the superiority of her natural advan
tages; for it necessarily renders her territory
the patinvay, and her seaports the outlet of
all that portion ol the commerce and travel
of the Southwestern states, which may be
tempted to prefer an Atlantic port to encoun
tering the danger, circuity and expense of
the navigation through the gulf and around
the peninsula of Florida.
But it i3 not until we turn our view in
another direction —towards the northern fron
tier of Georgia—and there survey the natu
ral ties which invite her to connexion with
the numerous and thriving states which cover
the great valley of the Mississippi, that the
commercial capabilities and prospects of our
state open upon the mind in all their grand
eur and infinity. That vast and wonderfully
productive region, is the theatre to which
every maritime Mate of our confederacy,
which is animated by aught of the spirit of
commercial enterprise, is now directing an
eager competition. Georgia has been the
last to enter the lists; but, though the last,
she was nevertheless guilty ol no delay, for
she was prompt to enter them the very first
moment after the way was opened to her
through her own territory, bv the removal of
the savage occupants who had so long en
cumbered her soil and embarrassed her po
licy. The promptitude, the confidence and
energy with which she thus embarked in the
great work of uniting, by a comprehensive
and judiciously conceived scheme of internal
improvements, her commercial cities on the
sea coast and in the interior, with the navi
gable waters which pour info the Mississippi,
were amnlv warranted bv the signal advan
tages for SucriH connexion, wninirmrem*. *. :
bestowed on her. For in her favor the great
Tennessee river, after winding its course firr
down to the south, and wooing her embraces
by its near approach, turns away to the
west and northwest, beckoning us to com
merce on its flood with the Ohio and Missis
sippi. And in her favor, moreover, the moun
tain chain which stretches across the western
pathway of all the other Atlantic states, from
New York to our own territory, is broken
and dispersed within our confines, freeing our
route to the west at once from circuity and
any considerable obstacle. Is it not then
manifest, that when our lines of railroads now
in rapid progress of execution, shall be com
pleted and thrown open to use through their
whole length, Georgia wil’ be able to enter
upon the competition for western trade, un
der circumstances of decided advantage as to
distance, accessibility and expense, over every
other Atlantic state !
To these highly auspicious circumstances,
other considerations of powerful influence are
to be added, which cannot fail to make the
scale preponderate in her favor, at least as
against her great Northern rivals. Their
channels of the trade throughout a large por
tion of the year must forever be exposed to
the formidable obstruction of ice and snow.
Ours will be pereniallv open and free from all
impediments. And still more: the Irans
montane states of the West and the Atlant c,
states of the North, have kindred soils and ;
climates, and are also destined to have ulti- |
mutely kindred manufactures and industry of
every description—and it clearly follows that
they cannot furnish a market of consumption
for each other’s fabrics and productions ; for
it is manifestly absurd that countries pro
ducing like commodities of commerce, should
carry on a trade with each bher in those
commodities, for the purpose of domestic con
sumption. Hence the only inducement that
can permanently direct the Westward trade
to the Northern states and seaports, will he
the advantage of using their seaports as me
diums of commercial interchange with other
sections of the Union, and with foreign coun
tries. This advantage the seaports of Geor
gia will be able to furnish • quallv with those
of the North ; and in addition to it. the differ
ence of climate, soil and production, which
characterise the South and West, must for
ever render the South a great market of con
sumption for Western commodities ; and the
West, on the other hand, as soon as she shall j
engage largely in manufactures, a like mar
ket far our otvn great Southern staple. As- j
suredly then, if the facilities of reaching onr j
Southern markets, and of trading through
them with the rest of the world, be but equal |
to those of getting to the Northern Atlantic
cities, the West cannot hesitate to which to I
award ihepreference. Her citizens and trad
ers coming hither as the better market in
which to sell, will remain here to buy not only
our home productions, but all foreign mer
chandise, if we shall but prepare ourselves to
sell to them on as favorable terms as are offer
ed by the North.
1 hus, by the completion of our works of
internal improvements, we may reasonably
calculate to render Georgia the medium
through which a vast amount of the foreign
trade of the Western states will permanency
pass—which coming in aid of the support de
rived from our own people, and thp adjoining
states of the South, cannot foil to unbuild a
commercial emporium on our seaboard, which
shall rival, if not outvie, the oreat seaports of
the North.
The committee have dwelt thus fullv on
the tendency of opening channels of trade
with the est. arid Southwest to attract a
direct trade to our seaports, because it ts the
deliberate oonclnsS >r at which they have ar
rivpd, that ‘to itk"r means m pfoev which ‘
we cats enrtrf >v. wfo o-oduc- s -eh *> >o
any vm.cable orient. ,\ ion ‘as ‘he com
merce of Georgia is hemmed in by the Alle- 1
ganies and the Chattahoochee, it is madness j
to hope that she can compete even for the |
supply of her own peonle w:tn foreign com- .
modifies with New Vo:hand other Northern j
cities, to whom the whole Union is open as a j
region of supply and consumption for their j
imports. For in affairs of commerce the
| principle of centralization is uncommonly
strong. A place which has already become
a great market to which immense and widely
diversified regions resort, will he able to un
deiseil greatly, other things being equal,
those at which a less extensive and intense
demand is concentrated ; and this for the ob
vious reason that the merchant in the former
may certainly sell many times over in the
‘.course of the year the value of the whole
stock which he may have on hand at any j
one time; and cm, consequently, afford to
take a much smaller profit on each isolated
sale, than the merchant in the latter can put
up with who cannot make half the same
number of operations in a given time with
his capital. Thus it happens that although
goods can he landed at Savannah and
Charleston from Europe, as cheaply as at
New York, yet the merchant at Savannah
and Charleston has found himself compelled
to sell them dearer —no much dearer that the
people of the South have found it to their
advantage to pass by arid through their own
seaports, and to encounter all expense of
transporting their foreign merchandise from i
a remote northern city. The only mode of
conquering this great existing disadvantage
will be to enlarge by the completion of our
works of internal improvement, the circum
ference of country, the field of consumption
i into which our seaports may throw their
. foreign imports. Then, and not till then, will
; the greatness, constancy and intensity of de
>ruand concentrated in our cities, enable our
I merchants to sell as much in value on a given
j capital, in a given time, and consequently to
| sell at as low a profit on each transaction as
j iias been found practicable bv the New 1 ork
j importer. Influenced by thn foregoing views
I the committee feel that as a means to the
effectuation of the objects for which the Con
j vontion has been railed, the vigorous prose
cution of our works of internal improvement
now in progress, cannot be too zealously
urged upon the attention of the people and
of the Legislature.
The importance of securing to the people
of Georgia the direct importation of the arti
cles necessary to their own consumption, is
believed to be universally admitted among us,
and those who have doubted its practicabi
lity, (if there be any such) will in the'opin
ion of this committee have had those doubts
removed by the able expositions which have
heretofore emanated from the several Com
mercial Conventions at Augusta. The Com
mittee will not therefore occupy the time of
this Convention, in discussing these ques
tions. They will assume as propositions al
ready satisfactorily demonstrated, that the di
rect importation of the articles necessary to
our own consumption, and that of the South
western stales who are contiguous to us, is
both desirable and and will pro
ceed to enquire what are im means best cal
culated to accomplish this object? But, be
fore doing so, as the mind always reposes
with more confidence upon fact than theory,
it may be useful to bring to the view of the
Convention the following facts in relation to
one of our seaports :
The foreign exports of Savannah, according
to the Custom Hocse returns,
are 011.723,551
The exports coastwise, 4,060.000
The aggregate of her exports
is, therefore, 015,739,551
Her direct foreign imports are 1,010,200
Her circuitous importation of
foreign goods is 6,000,000
And tier importation of manu
factures U. S. is ‘ 3,500.000
I) is thus seen that independently of the
j .'l'?* irfAvti otrcii Vfv* —*■—J
into the state of Georgia through her other
ports, and through the port of Charleston,
the circuitous importation of those goods,
through tiie port of Savannah alone, is 06,-
000,000. Now, the difference of expense be
tween a direct and circuitous importation, is
estimated, by practical men, to amount to 20
per cent. It includes freight front the North
(o Savannah, insurance, exchange, the pro
fits of the Northern merchant, commissions,
See. The truth of this statement may be
tested by any merchant. Assuming it to be
cm rect, what follows ? We pay 20 per cent,
on $8,000,000, or 01,200,000 to our North
ern brethren, for that which ought to be done
by our own merchants. We pay this yearly,
and every year, and we have been paying it
for a series of years. Dues any man wonder
at the wealth which they have amassed? at
the splendor of their cities ? at the magnifi
cence of their public works? Look at New
York ;
She exports $19,316 520
She imports 118,258,41.6
The profits on this vast excess of her im
portation over her exportation, beyond what
is necessary to her own consumption, would
legitimately belong to those who consume the
articles so imported, and, if true to them
selves, they were their own importers.
These facts, in the view of the committee,
speak a language which can neither be mis
understood, nor disregarded. They tell us
that we are faithless to our own best inter
est, if, with united effort, we do not endeavor
to rent*. !y them.
When we turn our attention to the means
by which we can secure to ourselves our un
doubted right to supply our own wants, by
the agency of our own merchants, we must
not disguise the fact, that the difficulties
which obstruct its accomplishment, are nei
ther few nor stun!’. For ;> cries of years, we
have been accustomed t<i look for the far
greater portion of our foreign supplies to the
market of New York. This is the estnhlish
| ed channel of the foreign trade of the South,
j and the difficulty of diverting commerce from
jits established channels, has passed into an
; axiom. New York has. moreover, one of
he finest harbors in the world, and a magni
ficent scheme of internal improvements car
ried into successful operation by the libera!
use of the credit of the state, has opened to
her an interior trpde which no other city in
the Union enjoys. With Ihese she combines j
an amount of capital adequate to her ex
tended commerce. It consists not merely of
the twen'y millions possessed by her banks, |
but of the vast amount in the hands of indi- I
vidua Is, which is actively engaged in com- ]
merce. The facility of communication which !
she enjoys with Philadelphia, renders the
large banking capita! of that city also tribu
tary to tier merchants, and combined
j advantages enable her to furnish a market,
| the extent and variety of which exceeds that
|of every other in the United States. With
I these advantages she has been enabled to
I beat down (lie rivalry of Philadelphia, of Pos
| ton and of Baltimore, and in a commercial
j view she is the queen, not on'y of the North,
! but of the Union. If the question were,
j whether we could compete whh New l ork,
! in die supply of any foreign market, it would
be speedily answered. Such an experiment j
would be hopeless. But that is not our pur
j pose. The bounty of Providence has made
1 us producers of certain great staple articles
: of commerce, the value of which is more than
| adequate to supply our wants as consumers.
: To a great extent we are our own exporters!
jof thes* articles to foreign markets, and to j
ihe.se of the other states. Why should
I not bring home the returns which mg necs
ear. to our own consumption and that of our j
sisters of the Southwest. Having carried our i
coit.i i. *io.*, &e. to Liverpool, o; elsewhere,j
why shou'.l we employ a northern merchant j
■ to import into New York, and to send to qs s
[from thence the goods which we want in re-’
’ turn ? The answer to these enquiries would
‘include many considerations which it is lot;
! necessary to examine here. It is imqu< a
j iionably true, however, that one ol'the causes
i which has b-arelv contributed to produce, and
which still operates to continue tins state of
things, is the want of the capital necessary to
these importations.
The great staple articles of our produce
will in some sort export themselves, or will
furnish to a great extent the means of their
own exportations. The purchaser in the in
terior can raise funds by discounting a bill on
his agent in the port of shipment, and the
latter can reimburse himself by drawing on
she foreign consignee. But for the purchase
jof goods in a-foreign market', the importer
must have funds here, or a credit upon which
lie can value, ami making his sales on longi
credits, must have the means of converting!
the paper he receives into cash. The mer-;
chant of New York, in the course of a long!
continued traffic, lias that credit established!
to the extent of their wants —or if not, the j
amount of capita! at home will readily fur- i
ni h il. The merchant of the South enjoys j
no such advantage. To a limited extent one 1
of the Banks of Charleston has endeavored j
to supply this want, by establishing a credit
in England, upon which it can grant letters
of credit to the importing merchant of that
city, and a laudable effort has been made,
though on a still smaller scale, by the Eank
of the State of Georgia, to obtain the means
of furnishing similar advantages to the im
porter of Savannah. Looking to our actual
condition, it is obvious that these credits, and j
the discount of six, nine and twelve months j
paper received by the importer, can be fur
nished and made only hv our banks, and it is
equally certain that their present capitals will
enable them to do this to a very inconsidera
ble extent. It has been seen that, the im
ports of Savannah alone amount to 010,510,-
200. Its banking capital,all told,is $1,890,151.
It will be obvious that this is utterly inade
quate to the purpose of such supply. If we
turn our attention from New York, to our j
sister city of Charleston, who is entering into !
competition with us, with a spirit which be
comes her, vve cannot fail to be struck with
ihe superior advantages which her merchants j
will possess over ours. She has already a :
banking capital of 09,000.000, to which is to j
he added a large portion of that of the great j
bank of 012,000,000, recently established un-j
df*r the charter of three States, and therefore
enjoying a protected circulation throughout
all their borders—with a hanking capital of
less than two millions, can Savannah suc
cessfully compete with Charleston, with her
sixteen or seventeen millions? And are vve
prepared for the want of this, to sacrifice the
natural advantages, which our own seaport
possesses. Not only Savannah, but our oth
er more Southern ports, can in justice
claim superiority over Charleston, 3S inlets
from the Ocean, Savannah does not. yield
to her in the amount of her exports, and very
far exceeds her in the amount of her tonnage.
In determining the question, whether the
banking capital of this one of our seaports
be adequate to her wants il may be useful to
look at facts. The amount of the imports
and exports of Savannah have been stated.
The amount of tonnage to foreign ports
engaged in freighting the productions of the
last year, is 35.000 tons.
That employed coastwise, is 50,000 “
Os square rigged vessels, owned in whole
or in part in Savannah, of which eighteen
are ships of the largest class, averaging more
than five hundred tons, there are S7.
Os which the value is 0750,000
besides a number of sloops and schooners.
There are three incorporated companies
in that city, employed in freighting goods
and produce exclusively on Savannah river,
owning of Steam boats (three of which are
of iron,) 11 —and having approved boats, 44.
The stocks of these companies
fcr.so ono
There are two others running
to Macon, whose stock amounts to $200,000
There are five other Steamers running,
and one now on the stocks.owned entirely in
Savannah, valued at $70,000, and two other
iron Steamboats now building to run between
Savannah and Macon. In that city are also
three steam rice mills, four steam saw mills,
and a fifth in the course of erection.
These facts- may serve to give some idea
of the amount of bank capital necessary for
domestic purposes in Savannah, and will man
ifest how entirely inadequate to the foreign
wants of her merchants, is that which she
enjoys. Indeed, the buyers and shippers of
produce in Savannah would he frequently
deficient in the funds necessary to make their
purchases, but for the aid which they derive
from the Banks and Trust Company of Au
gusta, and some of the still more interior
Banks who employ their Savannah funds in
the purchase of foreign and domestic ex
changes.
If these considerations, and others equally
obvious, of which time does not permit the
detail, are sufficient to manifest the necessity
of increasing the banking capital of our sea
port, the only remaining enquiry is, in what
mode that may be effected. The actual cap
ita! of the country is believed, for the most
part, to be already in profitable investment,
from which it cannot be abstracted to the
extent required, without injury to some of
the great interests of the community. If
this opinion he true, and practical men eon
cur in its correctness, that which is required
for our present purposes must be in a great
degree obtained from abroad. To do this
upon cheapest terms, the most undoubted se
curity for its re-imbursement must be afford
ed. That it is thus interesting to us all is
sufficiently obvious. The merchant is but
the agent in exchanging our products for the
articles which we consume. Whatever fa-1
cilities we afford to that agent, tending to
diminish the expense of this operation of ex
change, is beneficial to the consumer, in di
minishing the prices of the articles of his con
sumption. The ex'penses attendant on the!
shipment of a cargo of sugar, coffee and j
molasses, from the West Indies to New York,
or of dry goods, hardware, &e., from Liver
pool to the same port, to be thence tranship
ped to Savannah or Charleston, the landing,
freight, interest, commissions, insurance, pro
fits, &c., so far diminish the value of the cot
ton'. rice, or lumber, which may he given for
j them. South Carolina has already acted
I upon this principle. Independently of the
! larger amount of banking capital which she
j has granted to her principal seaport, she has
1 with prudent foresight and a just rega- ; to
the interests of her people, provided a further
increase of it from foreign sources, to the
amount of upwards of six millions more.
Unless we follow the example, we shall soon
see our own produce purchased in our inte
rior markets, and transported to Charleston
for export to foreign countries; while she
will also furnish the supplies for our consump
tion. It has already occurred in many in
| stances that the merchants of Savannah i ave
j exported the produce of the South, exchang
ed it ia foreign markets for articles of con
! slant and general consumption at the South,;
and have been compelled, for want of such j
facilities as a r e afforded elsewhere, to send;
thorn to New Yo-k for a market. There are
even instances in which the very merchant;
of Savannah who had sent the returns of his j
produce from fa reign ports to New York for;
cnle, has received on consignment some of
his own imports, to be sold in nart in Savan
nah, and in part to be forwarded to the inte
rior of the State. ? ? is too obvious to enquire |
in fits case who paid the increases on these
.roods here? These considerations, in the;
view of the committee, anti orfre an - nest,
anpaa.l to the constituted authorities r s Geor- ;
gia to interpose for/ the protection of our
[merchants and our people, by such an in-j
crease of the banking capital of our princi-I
! pal seaport as maybe adequate to the pur- j
I poses of ? direct foreign trade. lAc amount
lot* banking capital which will be required for
i the contemplated purposes will be large, since
j the credits which are necessary to the import
i trade are much greater than what is requisite
lin the exportation of our produce. It can
-1 not he stated at less than ten millions, to pro
i tect us from the evil under which vve at pre-
Isent labor. In illustration of these facts it
j may be stated, that even foreigners are driv
!en from our ports, by the impossibility of
realizing in cash the sales ot their cargoes,
j Vessels loaded by foreigners, and entering in
I our ports, with instructions to obtain a re
! turn cargo, have been necessarily ordered to
other ports, from the incapacity of our banks
to afford the facilities necessary to realise their
sales, so as to put therq in funds for the pur
chase of a return cargo of cur produce.
Ist. Resolved, That it be recommended to
the Legislature to afford the necessary addi
tion of banking capital to the city of Savan
nah and in other places requiring additional
bank capital, both by the creation of anew
bank, with a large capital, and the increase
of the capita! and resources of any bank al
ready located there, by the introduction o:
foreign capital, to be added to it, on such
terms, and in such manner, as Ihe Legislature
may deem advisable and proper.
2d. Resolved , That this Convention do re
commend to the banking institutions located
at the commercial points in the State, the
necessity of a direct trade with foreign capi
talists, with a view to the extension of the
! requisite pecuniary facilities tc cur merchants,
! in a direct trade with foreign countries.
3d. Resolved, That this Convention do re
commend to the Legislature the repeal of all
such provisions, in the charters of any incor
porated companies, as prohibit foreigners
from being stockholders in such companies.
4th. Resolved, That this Convention regard
as of high importance the successful comple
tion of our great system of internal improve
ments, and recommend to the Legislature the
vigorous prosecution of the Western and At
lantic Rail Hoad, and the extension of efficient
aid to companies engaged in works of inter
nal improvement, which may be deemed by
the Legislature of general importance.
sth. Resolved, That this Convention re
spectfully recommend to the General Assem
-1 bly of the State, the enactment of a genera!
law, authorizing the formation of Joint Stock
Companies for fhe % purpo?e of promoting a
direct trade with Foreign countries, with such
restrictions and limitations as they may deem
advisable.
From the Baltimore Republican.
An idea of the immense productive wealth
of the great valley of tne Mississippi may be
formed from the annexed table of articles
I shipped down the rivet during the year 1837,
which we take from be Memphis Gazette.
It is compiled from authentic sources, and
the aggregate value of these products is es
timated at 020,000,000.
. 200,000 bales of cotton,
40,000 hogsheads tobacco,
SOO.OOO barrels flour,
150,000 barrels pork,
12,000 hogsheads bacon,
’ 5.000 hogsheads hams,
50.000 cwf. buk pork,
200,000 kegs lanl,
50.000 pieces bagging,
50.000 coils ro.^e,
200,000 barrels corn,
400,000 bushels corn,
10,000 barrels lieef,
SOO.OOO pigs lead,
50,000 barrels whiskey,
100,000 barrels eoaf
3.000 bales Buffalo robes,
20.000 (tales hay,
2.000 packs deer skiss,
2,000 L gs shot,
500 bales for,
2,000 ton:; pig iron,
500 casks flaxseed,
400 barrels linseed oil,
600,000 slaves,
25,000 barrels apples,
3,000 barrels corn meal,
500 casks cheese,
2,000 barrels cider,
SOO boxes candles,
25,000 barrels oats,
15,000 barrels potatoes.
The Legislature has not had sufficient
action, as yet, on any of the leading meas
ures pending before it, to enable us to express
any opinion as to what will ultimately be
done. Several important subjects must now
he shortly acted upon. Among the number,
and those of not the least, importance, are the
hills increasing the banking capital providing
for, and devising means for the construction
of works of internal improvement, establish
ing the Court of Errors, and providing for
the cal! of a convention to reduce the num
ber of members in the Legislature.
The following are the only subjects that
have been finally acted upon, within the past
few days, except such as are noticed in our
legislative details.
The bill to extend relief to the sufferers by
the depredations of the Indians on the bor
ders of our State, finally passed the House on
Saturday last, bv about, thirty majority. This
bill grants a loan through the Central Bank,
$120,000, should there be surplus funds, for
the term of five years, (or less if the claims of
the sufferers shall he settled by the Govern
ment at an early period,) at six per cent, in
terest on notes, in the usual form, with good
security.
The hill to increase the banking capital of
the Monroe Railroad and Banking Company
$170,000, (the amount withdrawn from hank
ing purposes and applied to the construction
of the road,) was lost in ihe House, where
if originated, on Saturday, by apparently a
decided majority against the measure.
The Joint Select Committee, to whom was
referred the memorial from Cass county, im
puting sinister motives to the Engineer-in-
Chief, in tlie location of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad, have made a report, unan
imously exculpating him from any censure in
the selection of the route for its location.
They express the belief, that if all the facts
were known by which he has been influenced,
he would be fully acquitted by the memorial
ists themselves, of any partial conduct, or j
want es judgment and discretion, in the dis-!
charge of his duties. —Muledgeviile Recorder.
The following confidential circular, sent by
j Arthur. Tappajt, to ids political friends, the
j Whigs of the State of Ne .v*York, just before
; toe i.ite election, was promptly published by
iM. M. Noah. So much for Noah’s pretend
j ed opposition to Abolition,
i Dear Sir —Enclosed you have a list of
| the publications by this Society, to which
j you will please direct any of our Whig friends
j who may desire a knowledge of the truth.
’ I am gratified that our Abolition friends are 1
1 to be found on the Vfrhig side rather than the |
LoeoFocos; for the cause of the country!
land of humanity ought to go together, j
i oz3~lf ice ran rivet ourselves firmly on one o f
these parties, we can gain our object. Be care-
I fd! -
1 am vours, etc. per Arthur Tappan.
Nov. Ist, 1333. B. LEROY.
To P. W. West ley, Jr.
The Chevalier de INordrn delivered to the
Secretary of S ate his credential lexers, as.
Charge d’Affaires of the King of Sweden and i
Norway, and was subsequently presented
in Ids official character to the President.—
Globe.
Maj. Gen. .Scott. it is said, has again been
ordered to the Northern frontier.
SENTINEL & HERALD.’
COLUMBUS, NOVEMBER 29, 1533.
FUBLtC MEETING,
The citizens of Columbus are requested to
meet at the Council Chamber, this day, at 4
o’clock P. M., for the purpose of considering
the propriety of recommending to the Legis-’
lature the passage of a Free Banking Law.
SHALL WE DESPAIR?
This is a question which, under the pre- !
sent aspect of affairs, may be most appropri- !
atdv asked, and may be as appropriately
answered, by asking another. Have vve been
contending for the establishment and main
tenance of principles important, in our opin
ion, to the perpetuity of our institutions and
the happiness of our country? Have we
been warring against those of a contrary
tendency ? If these questions can be an
swered in the affirmative, then our duty to
our country, lo our children, and to posterity,
forbids that the arm of exertion should be re
laxed, or that our zeal or energy, in tiiis
great cause, should abate. True it is, that
a temporary gloom hangs over our political
prospects ; we l.ear the shout of triumph
issuing from the camp of our opponents; we
see their standard of victory raised. Should
this discourage us ? JVb. The cause in
which we are engaged is our country’s cause;
and in proportion as she is endangered l>y
the growth of dangerous doctrines, should our
energies and our efforts be increased. We
contend for the sacred rights of man ; not in
the circumscribed meaning of that word,
which makes the few the recipients of all be
nefits ; but in its most enlarged and liberal
sense, embracing all ranks and conditions of
our fellow citizens, from the highest officer in
the government to the humblest mechanic or |
tiller of the soil. We maintain that ‘ the
greatest good of the greatest number’ is the
true object of government; and, that, ‘ like
the dews of heaven, her blessings should be
extended to all, granting exclusive privi
leges to none.’ We hold that the blessings
and burthens of government should be dis
tributed equally, and, in the language of a
much esteemed cotcmporary, with whom we
honestly differ upon some subjects, but with
whom we are happy to agree in this, ‘of the
latter as few as possible.’ Our ardent desire
is that the people of this country should be
governed by its constitutions and its laws,
and not by the indomitable influence of
wealth and exclusive privileges. That the
wealthy should be permitted peacably to en
joy their good fortune, protected by the same
laws, and subject to the same rules of obedi
ence with the poor; and that at the polls,
where freemen exercise the glorious right of j
self goverement, all ranks and conditions of
society should sink, or rather rise, to one
broad and common level.
If vve beiieve that our doctrines are right,
how dare vve abandon their support ? If the
sentinel deserts his post in the hour of duty
and danger, according to the military code
of ali nations, both civilized and barbarous,
his punishment is most exemplary and se
vere. This is hut a part of that great doc
trine of self-defence, onj.iir*'it upon us bv the
laws of nature. In what does the duty of
t!;s sentinel differ from that of every citizen
in a free country? No man should leel that
upon him does not depend the welfare of his
country. Each individual has duties to per
form, from which he cannot shrink without
being recreant to his dearest rights and in
terest. The man who is wilfully ignorant of!
the genius of his government, and his duty
as a citizen, or, being advised of his duty,
neglects to perform it, i3 guilty of a positive
crime.
To our friends we would say, despair not.
Yield not thus tamely the field in which you
have so long and so glorious struggled. No
bly stand by your Constitution and your laws,
and tire reward will more than compensate
for the exertion.
‘ Hang your banner on the outer wall;
The cry is, still they come.’
THE RICH AND THE POOR.
Since we have assumed the editorial chair,
the charge has been repeatedly made against
us that we are seeking to array one class of
the community against the other, and that
the doctrines of the Democratic party, as ad
vocated by us, naturally lead to that result.
We know that the Democrats are daily
charged with Agrarianism , Loco Focoism,
Fanny JVrighism, See. Sec.; and we are ca
pable . also, we hope, of drawing the line of
distinction between argument and coarse
Billingsgate abuse. This being the case,
and feeling a proud consciousness in the cor
rectness of our principles, and feeling equally
confident that the application o t'names, how
ever taunting and vulgar, cannot change
them, we shall continue to pursue the
course which we have marked out for our- j
self, perfectly regardless of the charges which j
may be brought against us.
Blit to the charge, that oar doctrines na
turally tend to array the poor against the
rich. In what manner, we would ask, do
they accomplish lhis object, even when car
ried out to their fullest extent ? \Ve maintain
! that the persons and property of th< wealthy
| 3houid be protected by the same laws which
i extend their benefits to the poor; but that
they should have no exclusive protection ;
that the same benefits offered by the action of
government to one class of the community,
should be offered to all; that no exclusive i
j privileges should be granted, either to the
j rich or to the poor ; that the road to honor j
| and wealth should be alike open to all; that
| the unbiassed suffrage of freemen should
| alone control the affairs of this great nation ; 1
and that any attempt to change this order of
things, by the influence of monied power,
should meet with merited punishment. YV e
know well the power anil influence that.
wealth gives its possessors; arid whilst
we would he the last individual in the worid j
to disturb the peaceable and quiet possession
and enjoyment of wealth, for all legitimate
purposes, we trust that we would be amongst
the first to aid in putting down that enor- \
mous political influence which it seeks to ex- j
ert over the minds of men. Hence we op- j
pose any legislation which confers upon its
possessors rights which are denied to others.
We do not believe, with Mr. Webster, that
the true obiict of government is to prelect tire
rich, and that the rich will protect lire poor. ,
On the contrary, we believe that the true
object of Republican government, at least, is j
to protect till alike. Neither are vve of those
who believe that the only legitimate object ot.
Government is the protection of property.]
I This is nothing more nor less than tie doc-!
■ trine of Mr. Webster, under anew phraseo
logy, for it is manifest if ill's was the case,
i that its protection would extend only to the
i rich, leaving the poor to their tender mercies.
I Make property alone the basis of govern-
Iment, and you establish at onee the most
| odious aristocracy. Those who achieved
jour liberty —those who fight the battles ot
j the country —or a very large majority of
them —are at once cut off from all share in
1 public affairs.
The Batiks in Alabama, Mississippi and
Tennessee, have announced their deSerniina
-1 tion to resume specie payments on the first of
! January ensuing.
James F. Trotter, of Mississippi, has re
signed his seat as U. S. Senator.
From the (Express Slip) Courier and Enquirer.
CANADA.
New York, Nov. 22. )
Half past 4 o’clock A. M. j
We are again indebted to Capt. St. John,
of the steamboat Rochester, for the Albany
! papers of yesterday, and also lor the Mon
] treal Courier, of the 19th inst. which heob
; tained from a gentleman who came on in
| advance of the mail.
i j News had been received at Montreal, that
j the frigate Inconstant, in which Lord Dur
,! ham and family embarked for England, in
the early part of the month, bad sprung a
i leak in consequence of getting aground in go
-1 ing down the l iver, and had been compelled
, to put into Halifax.
Mr. Ellis, M. P. and lady, who recently
j escaped from the rebel forces in Lower Cana
. da, arrived at Albany yesterday morning.
A Court Martial for the trial of the prlson
-1 ers now in confinement at Montreal for trea
’ jsonable offences, was constituted on Monday
; last, with Major General Clitherovv as Prcsi
, dent.
Robert F. Maitland. E?q. bearer of des
patches from Sir John Colborne to the British i
Government, came down in the Rochester.
He goes out in the Great Western.
The Montreal Courier of the 19ih istant,
contains the official despatch of Col. Dundiis, j
who commanded the British troops which
attacked the banditti in the wind mill. ‘l ime
is not left us to copy it, but the sum and sub
stance of it is, that Hie whole of them sur
rendered unconditionally.
Ogdrnsbukgii, Friday, Nov. 16, 1838.
Dear Sir : I hasten to give you the latest
news, although such as I have to :elate, at
present, is indeed melancholy. The Patriots
have until to-day, fairly held their own ; but
(his day,at noon, the Cobourg and five other
boats brought down 800 regular British troops
and some of the heaviest cannon in the Pro
vince. These, added to one thousand mili
tia, were too much for the Patriots. They
were surrounded by land, and the steamboats
kept up a murderous fire*from the river.—
The Patriots fought nobly, but it was of no
use ; they were driven back and scattered.
At sunset they held out a flag of truce,
which, though displayed three times, the
British did not regard ; they had orders to
‘ give no quarter and take no prisoners /’ At
this time two of the houses occupied by the
Patriots are burning, and the British, regulars
are around the Wind Mill, looking on hut not
i molested. There is no firing now on either
I side.
| From all appearances the Patriots are to
tally routed and annihilated! It is In rely
j pooriiLJo t!mt o rpry !.a v*r* reropo/l,
but probably not one will live to tell the tale.
The excitement here is tremendous; the
| utmost indignation prevails against the Pa
i triot officers and leaders. It is a solemn truth
| that there was hut one General officer in the
action! Had it not been for such cowardly
j scoundrels as W , J , B , P ,
N , and several more such, this result
would not have taken place. Their lives are
almost threatened by several of our most re
spectable citizens, and they may suffer vet
for sending innocent and brave men where
they dure not go themselves.
The battle was most splendid—.about 2000
fighting at a time; the number of killed and
wounded it] thisei gagement cannot fall much
short of 500. You may imagine how true
and faithful the patriots at the .Wind Mill
fought, when I tell you that. P K
and a few more went to them last night, at
the hazard of their lives, to take them off’ of
their position, but they refused to leave, sav
ing that they were confident their friends
would not desert them, and that there were
thousands of men in county, bound by
their oaths to assist them, and tiujj they would
abide the issue. And now they arc all, or
nearly all murdered ! Respectfullv. &c.
J. M. DOTY.
4 o’clock P M.
Mr. Jonah Woodruff has this moment ar
rived from Ogdeusburgh, which place be left
3t noon yesterday. He saw one man—a
Pole—who escaped, and who supposed him
self to he the only one left alive. The Patri
ots rushed out, of the Mill at or soon after
sunset, with three white flags, hut they were
ali speared as th.ey went out. The Mill was
then tilled with British troops, and the Pefe
who escaped—with two others, who had
secreted themselves in the lower part of the
Mill, mingled with the British troops, but his
two companions were killed; he himself es
caped by wearing the coat of Lieut. Johnson,
who was killed on Tuesday.
The Patriot force in the Mill numbered 1 I 1
men, besides 11 wounded.
Ii is supposed that Col. Yon Schultz, a
Pole, who commanded the Patriot force,
killed himself.
From the Journal—Extra.
Sackktts Harbor, Nov. 18.
The steamboat Oneida, just arrived, brings
: the following sad intelligence :
On Friday the 15th ins!., the Patriots at
| Wind Mi!! Point were attacked by about
! 1000 British on land, and 4 armed stearn
| boats—the British planted a heavy battery
• within 150 or 200 rods of the Mill, and fired
i wi'h such effect that ther balls passed en
itireiy through the stone buildings—the fin it
| lasted something more than an hour, when
: the Patriots surrendered, to the number of
j about ninety—the rest 1 aving been killed in 1
the action or taken prisoners previously.—
I The prisoners were ali taken to Kingston,
j on hoard the armed steamboats.
William Johnson was taken yesterday,
i about two miles above Ogdensburgh. and is
! now in custody of the L T . S. Marshal, Mr.
| Garrovv, on board the steamboat Oneida.—
Mr. Birge, the Patriot General, is also in
custody of the Marshal—die small steamboat
Paul Prv has been seized by the government,
and was towed in by.the Oneida.
Jtlormnn troubles ended. —By a slio from
the office of the St. Louis f unmerciai Bulle
tin, of the Sib inst., we have received the I
gratifying intelligence of the termination of
these distui bances : ‘The Mormons seeing
such a large body of men, assembling togeth
er, all highly excited, and considering ‘ discre
tion the better part of valor,’ surrendered
themselves to Gen. Atchison, without even
firing a gun. Joe Smith, the prophet, and
two or three more of the ringleaders are to
be taken to Jefferson city,and the rest (about
TOO) are to be marched without the hounds
of the S'ate. A number of the volunteer
companies were disbanded, and had returned
to their respective homes.— South Carolinian.
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
IN SENATE.
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 1838.
Bill Lost. —To reduce the price of grants
to fortunate drawers h, me Land and Gobi
Lotteries, and to regulate other fees thereon,
and to repeal all laws repugnant to the same.
The bill to carry into effect the first sec
tion of the third article of the Constitution
of this state, organising the Court of Errors,
was read a second time.
Mr. Cone moved lo commit the bill to Ist
June next, which was lost; yeas 23, nays
59, as inflows :
Yeas —Messrs. Allen, Baker, Billups,
Brown,of Murray, Bryan, Cleveland, Cock
run, Cone, Curry, of Washington, foster,
irtll, Harris, of Wayne, Knignt, Loveless,
1 Mat ox, Morgan, Polk, Slone, Shaw, Smith,
! of Bryan, Surrency, Swain and Tarver.
N.ivs—Messrs.* Alexander, Anderson, At
kinson, Baber, ii.oley, Beall, Bivins, Black,
I Bust wick, Bradford, Branham, Brown, of
Heard, Draue, Dunegan, Echols, Ellington,
Fiovd, Gordon, Green, Guess. Hansell, Ha
j raison, Harris of'l aiinferto, Harris, of War
ren. Hendrick, Iloitnes, Hutchings, Janes, of
Greene, Janes, of Lee, Jones, Jourdao, La
j mar, Lawson, of Burke, Lawson, of Houston,
I Mauldin, McDonald, McFarland, McLen
i non, Moseley, Moye, Murphey, Obarr, I’ear
i son, Pryor, Robertson, Rutherford, Sagur,
i Sayre. Scaborough, Smith, ol Coweta, Smith
j of Floyd, Spencer, Springer, Stell, Tilford,
Tomlinson, Williamson, Wilson and Wright.
Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The Senate reconsidered so much of the
] Journal of yesterday as relates to the rejec-
I lion of the bill reducing the fees on Grants.
Bills introduced and read first time. —By
j Mr. Biv ins : To make permanent ihe site of
1 the public buildings in the town of Tazewell,
j Marion county.
I>v Mr. Tillord: To incorporate the town
! of Lanier.
i Bv Mr. Foster: To debar any execution
I from binding property, until after a levy is
! made, and for other purposes.
By Mr.Camden: To prevent the obstruc
tions to the free passage of fish, and the na
vigation of the Coosa l iver.
By Mr. Brvan : A bill, amendatory of an
act. to make permanent the site of the public
! buildings in the town of Lumpkin.
By Mr. Jones: To change the mode of
I electing Judges and Attorney and Solictor
; Generals, and Generals of Militia in this
] state.
Mr. Bivins called up the resolution request
lirig the Governor to forward*JF&4he Clerk of
! Marion county . 16 copies ot (Lmon & Lurr.p-
I kin’s Georgia Justice, read and
agreed to.
Thursday. Nov. 15.
Mr. Surrency, Chairman of Ihe Committee
to which was referred the petition of sundry
citizens of Lumpkin county, praying that cer
tain individuals, decendants of Cherokecs,
should be granted citizenship, reported that
Ihey cannot report in their favor. Your
Committee, not knowing the names or cha
racter of the individuals, beg leave to be ex
cused from any further consideration of the
motion.
house of representatives.
Monday, Nov. 12. 1838.
Bills introduced and read first time. —By
i Mr. Ball: To exempt the Justices of the In
| lerior Court of the several counties in this
[state, from working on roads.
The remainder of the day was consumed
j in elections.
; 11. W. Owens (U.) was elected Solicitor
: General for the Eastern Circuit.
! N. P. Foster (S. R.) was elected Solicitor
i General for theOcmulgee Circuit.
’ John Henry Lumpkin (V.) was elected
] Solicitor General for the Cherokee Circuit.
! R. M. Orme (S. If.) was elected State Print
nl 5 C'Jl l IIXZ ctl jrvor * IS iCK
Tuesday. Nov. 13.
Bills introduced end read first time. —By
Mr. Rockwell: A bill to regulate the settle
ments between the banking institutions of tiffs
stale, and to define the liabilities of stockhold
ers who shall transffir their interest.
By Mr. Ball: To appropriate money for
the relief of invalid soklieVs, wounded in the
late war with the Crcrk Indians.
By Mr. Patterson: To alter and amend
the fourth article and ‘second section of the
Constitution.
By Mr. Stephens : To regulate proceed
ings in the several Courts of ibis state, where
free negroes and persons of color are con
cerned.
Wedxesd •. v, Nov. If.
Bills introduced and read first time. —By
Mr. Pryor : To change the time of holding
the Superior and Infer .or Courts in the Chat
tahoochee Circuit.
By Mr, Kelly, of Houston : To regulate
the mode of recoveries of debts and liabili
ties, against monied incorporations in this
state, and against the respective stockhold
ers thereof, and to prevent such corporations
from doing any business in exchange, during
a suspension of specie payments, by such
corporations.
By Mr. Howard : To set apart all the
funds of the Central Bank for the general
purpose of Internal Improvement, with cer
tain exceptions. *
From Iho Albany Argus.
TO THE DEMOCRACY OF NEW YORK,
i The general result of the recent election in
■ this State is now before the American people.
, That it will astonish all men of al! parlies, we
ido not doubt. That it will grieve and disap
point the sincere friends of tine Democracy
! every where, we should be sorry to doubt.
; But that it will prostrate them in spirit, or
wiil induce them to doubt the reflecting in
-1 tegrity of the people, or diminish tlieir efforts
| for the promotion of sound principles and the
Democratic cause, we wiil not believe. If
.an” thing can arouse them to renewed, re
doubled exertion, and to higher devotion in
i the maintenance of their political faith, it will
| be the means by which this result lias been
j brought about.
This is the first eleeiion in which money
| has been thrown directly into the counties
land into particular districts to corrupt and
control the franchise. The wages ©f iniquity
pain to Webb and Nonh, and other Federal
leaders, by tire Bank of the United States,
was the first direct attempt to corrupt the
press in this country. It is meet that the
money power, which sought, through such
means, to control the sources of public infor
mation and political intelligence, should he the
supreme obj-ct of idolatry bv the party which
has now triumphed in tins State by similar
means of corruption.
Acting upon the Federal maxim, toat ‘if
the appeals that may be made to the virtue,
morality and intelligence of the prop'e can
not prevail. MON El C \N BE USED, and
that will obtain votes and favor where ad
other arts and appliances are found abortive,’
these partisans had orovKed a larger fund—
a CORRUPTION FUND—it is confidently
believed amounting to many hundred thou
sands of dollars —that from this fund, money
was profusely distributed to leading parti
sans in each county, and often in every town
j <f a county —that it was employed, unhesita
tingly. by instruments selected for that pur
pose, first to purchase the services of one or
two active ek ‘tioneerers in each town or
: school district, previously professed Republi
cans’, either to take open ground for their
employers, or by stealth to deceive Republi
cans, by giving out at the polls the Federal
tickets, under the guise of friends of the
1 Administration. This infamous deception
has been practised in several instances; W e
.have the particulars before us, and shall in
good time give names and places to the
world. It is only necessary now to include