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About The Democrat. (Columbus, Ga.) 1830-18?? | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1831)
.ding to the endowment of the College, lias enabled the Trustees to replace the 'building which was destroyed during the last year, contract for the erection of a chapel sufficient for the accommodation of the numerous visitors, whs attend the annual College commencements, create two additional Professorships, nod till one which was vacant. There is every reason to hope that the State will be amply re* paid for the support which i* has thus giv en to its principal seminal y of learning, in the improved capacity of its young men to serve the public faithfully and with abi lity. The Trustees have born very much em barrassed by th • I 'gd requirement that t i v should board and educate at the College one poor youth from each country, on account oftlie failure of the Legislature to provide the necessary funds for that purpose. The Academic and poor school funds continue to be paid away from me Trea sury, without any security that they will be applied pmperlv to effect the object, for which they are appropriated. Indeed we appear to have been expending the pub lic money more with th** vk vv of ex pressing our conviction oftlie importance of education, to a free people, than of ac tually securing Us advantages. We liavt been pay ing sums to academies that have only an ideal existence, and for the edu cation oftlie poor, where such a class can scarcely be said to exist, and when all re quire its advantages. The annual reports oftlie Trustees of these funds, prove that they have rendered no public be elit, at all equivalent to the amount which has been expended, notwithstanding that there have been particular instances of the very useful appiicutionnf lioth. It may well be doubted whether the present plan of ap propriutiug the public funds to the purpo ses of education, is not radically defective. If the people are to V*e educated at tlu 'pu'Te expense,"ought not pr nmry schools to be established in eyery District, and in eh* common to all the children of the' State? The laws upon several subjects of gen eral interest, have become so multiplied, an !, hi some instances, so contradictory in their provisions, as to render a careful xevisal of them exceedingly necessary. I would call your attention particularly to the defects of our election laws. Os the thousands of Election Returns anmmlly jo.ci wd at this Department, scarcely one is in dfs inexact conformity with the law. There have been one hundred laws pass ed, upon this subject, during the last six y .each varying in its provisions from tli »t‘>er, without any cone, ivahle oliject. P> b ips the multiplicity and contrariety of; 1 . r enactments, cannot be more st ri le v exemplified, than from tiie fact, tli e 18 different degrees of punishment were pressribed for the same offence in tlie laws passed at one session; and that, by'he laws of the last session, directing die election of surveyors in each county ,to survey the Cherokee territory, the su perintendents were directed* to make the returns under their hands and sr.alf, and t* at in the 76 returns which.have been received, the law has not been com plied with ii» a single instance. The duty of this Department, in determining upon the legality of elections, is thus rendered exceedingly laborious and difficult. If no .commissions are signed, except upon the gvideoce that elections nr* held in strict conformity with the law, the comities will be without officers; and if a different courn J 8 pursued, the law becomes nugntorv: The host remedy for those difficult <s, wo ! ' seem to be the substitution of one general law, of simple and explicit re quir merits, for all that are now in force upon this subject, . ■ I compliance with the request: of the Legislature, 1 iddresscd a li-'ter to the stockholders of the I).ri« i Bunk, pskmg of them to state upon what terms, they w ere willing to dispose- of their stoc- to the State. 'l'hc copy of this letter, to gether with the answers received, are here wth communicated. The offers of sale jteo e been hut few, and at.hut way small discount. It t- believed llmt the purchase upon any terms would he an exceedingly unprofitable application of the public funds.' I transmit copies of the reports which have . been received from the different Lank?. The notes of our domestic banks form, at present, the entire circulating medium of the state. „ It is, therefore, of great im piuTjnicf. both to the government and the people, that their issues should be so regu lar I mid controlled as to prove»t-lhe"eviis o'" h vicious currency. Notwithstanding our staple productions have been constant ly declining in price for the last ten years, the number of our hanks have been as re gularly increasing. And at no time here tofore, his bu"king privileges been more eagerly’ sought after than at present, when our st ml" commodities are reduced to the lowest price at which they can lie-produ ced. There s some reason to apprehend that the desire for the increase of hanks, proceed- ps modi from the spirit of .specu lation, which the universal habit of tra ding upon credit has created among our people, as the necesity for an additional quantity of currency to represent the cir culating wealth of the country. Whilst the government is conferring upon particular corporations the exclusive right of issuing notes to supply the place of specie,it ought assuredly to protect the interest of the people from the improper exercise of such a nrivih ;>e. It will In’ perceived bv nil exmuination of the Bank Reports or the present and several succeeding v< irs,t|mt the i»«nes of each hank, owl of the whole Colleetively« have been more than double the amount of specie in tijudr vaults, i'.v j cry bank may therefor*) be Considered un able to redeem its notes in specie, upon any general and sudden demand. The ! '•(immunity is not at present suffering un der any particular injury from this suited i things, because of the regular state of our home and foreign market, and the undis turbed quiet of the country. Convulsions in trade will, however, take place at some time. Upon the first general demand for S|>ccie, the Ranks must press their debt ors, curtail their issues, and perhaps stop payment, and thus bring ruin upon mauv, and distress upon the \i hole people. It is well worthy of vour consideration, whether some precaution cannot I**' used against the occurrence of evils of such magnitude. For this purpose, permit me to suggest to you the |ml icy of making the the 1! inks subject to the payment of a large percent, upon all sums of their notes, the payment of which may be demanded by the holder (not being the agent of hiiv other Rank or Corporation,) in specie, which they may omit or refuse to comply with. As, however, this remedy might not be very effective, until the evil to be prevent ed was actually felt, I would specially re commend that you prohibit the circulation, after a certain length of time, ofall Bank- Notes under the value of five dollars. The effect of this measure will be to make gold and silver supply the place of the notes, which will be thus excluded from circula tion, create a constant supply of specie in the country,ami thereby enable the,Ranks through their debtors to meet occasional measures upon them for specie, to render the whole currency, whether of bank-notes or coin, of equal value. That part of tho community, whose money must always be in small notes, who have but little know ledge of tlie state of the Banks, or the genuineness of their bills, would, by this, measure, be in some degree secured from forgeries and failures, from which they must always suffer more in proportion to their means than other classes of the com munity, so long tis bank-notes login the exclusive currency oftlie state. The doubt w hich is entertained of the .constitutionality of the law which creates the Central Bank, on account of the ail-* thoritv which it gives to the Directors to issue bills, would justify an alteration of the law in that respect. The State would also derive, from such a measure, an. ad ditional security against attempts to make the issues of the Bank correspond rather with the demands of the people, for mo-' nov, than the quantity of public funds in its possession. A statement of the warrants drawn upon the Treasury, dunng the past year, is laid before you. A splendid Map and Atlas of the State of Nevv-York, has been, by the direction of its Legislature, presented to Georgia, in a manner worthy the munificence of that State. 1 cannot conclude this Message with out calling your attention to the serious public injury which must follow from ti e number of oaths which are required to be administered bv our laws. Tio truth is bettor tested by experience, than that oaths lose their proper effect upon t lie conscien ces and conduct of most men, m propor tion to the frequency of their repetition: And vet we continue to divest them of their sanctity, by requiring then! to be ta ken upon all occasions, and for the most trivial purposes. The consequence must necessarily be increasing immorality, and the general insecurity of all public and pro ite rights; the preservation of which, in any manner, depend upon the testjmo-, nv of witnesses. The extent of the evil dein uids an immediate and adequate re ined v. With the strongest desire of mrtintain ing the honor and rights of the State, an.d promoting tlie happiness of its people, these various matters are submitted to your consideration, Tlv your fellow-citizen, GFOKGE R. GILMER. GEORGIA LEGISE VTURE. IN SENATE—. Votv 7,183 L Notice tor the appointment of a com- I mitt‘ e to prepare and report a Bilk By Mr. Dunagan: To repeal the fifth | sec. of the act to authorise the survey i and disposition of the lands within the limits of Georgia,in the occupancy of the ! C'herokee Indian-, Sic. passed the 110th ( Dee l>:tO. Hy Mr. Burch: A Bill to extend the I time for fortunate drawers in the land i lotteries of ISIS, 18111 and IStlO. to take out their grants, was read the (irst lime. Tuesday, JVnr H Agreeable to notice given yesterday, a committee was appointed to .prepare and report a bill to repeal the 15th section of an act to authorise the survey and disjmsi tion of the lands within the limits of Geor gia, in the occupancy of the Cherokee tribe of Indians. Hv Mr. Cleveland: A Bill to amend the 13th sectiou/ofthe late Land Act, so as to reduce the time requiring persons to be inhabitants of this State four years, to three: and iilso to repeal the 35th section of said Land Act, enacted on the 20th Deeemficr, 1830, for the disposition of the Cherokee country, and force the imme diate survey and occupancy of those lands agreeable to the provisions of said law. By Mr. Clavton: A Bill to incorporate a Bank in the town of llawkinsville, in I’ulaski county. .Mr. Wood laid on the table the follow ing preamble and resolutions: Wr.r.nrvs the cli*otion of ANDHPiM JACKSON to the Presidency of the (J. Stati s, forthe next term, isofvit.il im portance to the best interests of the peo ple, imd will tend to ix rpetnute the h ip pim;-1 uud prosperity of our Is luted coun ry, a.- well as preserve ’Unimpaired the Federal Constitution—for the following reasons; ' K Ist. Because lie is a decided and firm friend to the continuance of the* Union of the .’■•tales. “It must be preserved.” 2d. Because be lias avowed an honest conviction, the payment of the national debt is the surest means of reconciling the conflicting' interests at present existing, and thereby render permanent the hit s.— ingswc now enjoy. If In* is re-elected, tla re is no doubt that til! important objects will lie accomplished. Bd. 15ec.in.se since be has been Presi dent, lie has done all in bis power to en sure to Georgia, the Territory now "in the possession oftlie Cherokee Indians; judg ing therefore by the past, we notv confi dently rely fin- the future on his exercisin': all lus influence,lo enforce our just rights, Jitui thereby realize to the State the pos session of th* se lauds, and the citizens the enjoyment of them: For these, and other strong considerations— lie it resolved by the Senate ami fdouse of Representatives of the State of Gior gio, in Ge.netal Assembly wet, ami it is hereby resolved by the authority of the saute, That the people of tins Btate look forward with' deep solicitude to the re election of Andrew iackson to the Presi dency of the United States at the ensuing election, and do hereby pledge themselves to support bun for dint high office. They do not hesitate to declare it as their opi nion, that ni the disturbed and excited feeling of the country, he is the most fit and proper person to be supported, and we do in the most earnest terms recom mend him to the people of our Sister States at the approaching election. Mr. Swain laid on the table resolutions that no member be allowed pay whilst ab sent, except on account of sickness of himself or family, and. that the Legislature adjourn sine die on the 17. th December. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Committees appointed to prepare and report bills, presented, among others, the following? For the purpose of making provisions to cordpensate Grand and Petit Jurors of the State. To prohibit any chartered or private Rank, or Corporate Company, from issu ing any bank bill, or bill for circulation, under the sum of five dollars. To amend the law lor licensimr Ped lars. To repeal so much of the Penal Code of this State, its relates to Penitentiary ; confinement. To alter and amend (lie laws of this St.de regulating ami defining patrol’dutv, and for other purposes. To rebuild the Penitentiary Edifices; to appropriate money, for tha; purpose, and to provide for the government and discipline of the Penitentiary. To incorporate Franklin in the county j of Heard. To establish two additional election districts irt the county of Marion. Mr. W oolfoik-obtained leave to report] instanter tiie following bills: To grant purchasers ot reserves, frac tions, arid town lots, grants from the State for the same free *>f charge. To incorporate the Roman Catholic Church of St. Philip and-St. James, in the town of Columbus. For the relief of Moses Cox—-and For the relief of Thomas G. Gordon. Thursday, Nov. 10. Committees were appointed to prepare and report the following hills: , To alter and amend the patrol laws of tills State. To repeal the 2d, 3d and 4th sections of tiie University'Act, passed December 21 st, 1830, to appoint eleven additional trustees, Ac. To exonerate the trustees of the Pres byterian 'Church in the town of Columbus, from the payment of their note due the States &o. .To give to the Commissioners of the town of Columbus, tiie entire control of the public; hands west of Flint river. Authorizing the Governor to order the immediate survey and occupancy of the Cherokee country in this State, and to or ganize the same. To grant a charter to a Rail Road Company from Augusta to Columbus. To authorize the Governor to issue a | grant to the Roman Catholic Church of Columbus, fora lot in Columbus, j To incorporate the Laneustermn School Society of Columbus. To incorporate the Stewart County AeadeniTt - To divide the county of I.ee. To define the duties of Solicitorg-Gen cral, in certain cases. • To amend in part the 4th and Bth sec. of the Ist mt. of the Constitution of t e State of Georgia. To repeal that part of the tax laws which requires our free white citizens to pay {I poll tax. To appoint Commissioners to alter tiie control and management of that part of the public hands apportioned to Flint liver. Mr. Bailey, from the special commit tee appointed, reported “a bill to pardon Josiali Gaines.” Bills read the 2d time: For the relief of Thomas G. Gordon. To grant purchasers of reserves, frac tions and town lots, grants from the State lor the same, free of charge. T* incorporate the Roman Catholic Church of Columbus. To repeal the I.7th section of an act to authorize ihe survey and disposition of lauds in the occupancy oftlie Cherokees, passed Dec. 21, ism The bill extending the time fur fortunate drawers m the land loltcriov of I*lß, IMP audlSCI, to take out their grant*, vfa« read a third time and passed, and the Se j cretary directed to carry the bill forthwith to the House of Rcprest utatives. HOUS'D OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, Nor. 7. 1 Mr. Carnes, from one of the committees j appointed to prepare lulls, re|Hirled one [ for the Letter government of slaws ai:ei t ree persons of color. Tuesday, Nor. 8. Mr. Rates reported a lull to repeal the 1 *>’h section of an act to authorize the survey and disjxisition «if the hinds lying wit hi- the limits of Georgia, in the occu pancy oftlie Cherokee tribe. air. Alerriv.ether gave notice that lie would bring m a bill relative to th in troduction of slaves in the State of Geor gia, from and after the Ist January, lr*32. Mr. Hatcher gave notice that he would bring ot a bill to amend the Judiciary of 171>!>, so far as relates to writs of certio rurio. Wednesday, Nov. 9. The Governor transmitted to the lioase, a report from the agent appointed to in vestigate the manner in which the Com missioners of Pilotage, ofSavannah, have performed tiie duty imposed upon them, In the law passed the 19th of December, 1823; and the Returns of tiie Census of the State, taken during the [last year, as they have been received at the Execu tive Department, from the clerks of the different counties; which were read and laid on the table. Thursday, Nov. 10. Mr. Bates from the committee appoint-' ed , reported ihe following rule: TLit no joint committee shall consist of more than eight members on the .part of the Senate, and twelve me in hi rs on tiie part of the House of Representatives. A message was received from the Sen ate, informing the House that it agreed to a joint rule, that no joint committee shall consist ot mere than eight members on the part of the House of Representatives. The same being taken up, was disa greed to. Triday, Nor. 11. B'*Hs wdre reported by the following gentlemen: By Mr. Dye to regulate slaves in the crf'mtv of Burke. Bv Mr. Myers, to prevent itinerant persons from locating themsclvss on or near-the Savannah river; oh the pretence of lidi ing. Mr. M. also reported a bill to exempt from taxation, in certain eases, the Capi ta! St no', of the Bank of tiie State of Georgia. By .Mr. Terrel, to niter and fix the tone of holding tin Superior Court for Hail coun'y. By* Mr. Williams, to lay out an.il organize anew county, from the countiesof Marion and Iloustou. ilealso reported a lull to compensate Petit Jurors in Marion county: and to establish and regulate election districts in said county. Bv Mr. Petit, a hill to abolish the Peni tentiary System in this State, and to change the mode of punishment for crime. Adjourned. if fall of Wausau I On the -7th of September tlie Russian commander, Paskevvitch sent to demand the surrender of Warsaw, in the name of the emperor of Russia; offering amnesty and pardon if the surrender should be made: it was refused. At day break on the 6th the Russian army advanced to storm: the conflict was desperate: they carried the four redoubts and the .first line of entrenchments, On the morning of the 7th a message was received at 4 o’clock from general Krukowiecki, to say that if the renewal oftlie attack was suspended, the Poles would surrender. Soon after the chief ol the Polish -government came to inform Paskevvitch that he could not con cur m the offer of surrender witltout the consent of the Diet; lie withdrew ,*rt 19 o,clock—3 hours were granted for con sultation, this period expired; half an hour was axed, and given: no answer; the sig nal was given for attack—it was terrible and successful. Again flags of truce were sent to require surrender; they got only evasive answers; the second line of en trenchments was carried; the gardens, the ditches, the most were desperately defended; but carried at the point of the bayonet. The meat and the walls were now assailed, and at nine at night after a bloody effort, they were crossed: the streets were barricaded, but father resis tance was useless.—lo.o pieces of cannon, 6999 prisoners, the dreadful carnage and the occupation of their capital, have, we bear blasted the hopes of Polish liberty. The Russian commander was wounded early in the action, and obliged for a time to retire, during bis absence Gem Mil Toll commanded: the Diet dissolved itself on the night of the 7th. General Crucko vviecki then assumed the dictatorship, and sent a flatr of truce to announce to Paske witeh his Surrender: upon which the Rus sian gave orders to respect persons and property. The Polish army marched to Plot/ to await the commands oftlie eon querer; the Grand Duke Michael received bread and salt a deputation at the barrier; the suburbs on the South-west are nearly burned down: ihe imperial guard took possession of the city. General Count Witt is governor and General Cord* com mandant: the Russian loss it is various ly stated from .7,000, to 30,000 men. La ter accounts inform us that there was a cessation of hostilities for 1.7 davs, until the resolution of the imp' ror could he learned from ♦it. P« tersburg. The Rus sian governor of Warsaw, count Witt, re quires the National guard and all others, who have arms, to deliver them up with in 48 liotlfs ill the m-eiud, oil** l « in: lino ! 'fill suffer miiiraiy pnc-J menr. Ti e mam body ol the i ohsh army was not at Warsaw; it appears that tiiev were on | their mnrch to effect some other oh' -i | not supposing the attack would l e >,j successful, 6.006 of them are still under | arms,and have consider:.hie confidence. The whole number of killed and woun ded at Warsaw was about 30,000 of w hum two thirds were of the Russian aiiuv. Paskewitch’s wound, though onlv a con tusion, was exceedingly dangtoua, and his recovery was doubtful. lit xcAt:v. —The massacres perpetrated by the insurgents ware shocking; th.v tortured and killed a number of tho nu bility and physicians, under the impres sion that they had poisoned wells. Thcv were confirmed m this notion wfieri they perceived that « servant wh mi thev had ! compelled to swallow a quantity of it, liar] vomited blood. The greatest excesses were in the counties iff Zips aad Zein plin. They looked upon the cholera to have been produced i y this prepaid* tion. France. —The city of Paris was digs turbed greatly for some days by the mob who charged the king and ministry with having abandoned Poland to its fate. But after an exposition in the chamber, the ministers had a majority of 80 upon the question ofp ssing to the order of the day. During the excitement (lie crios vvere—for Napoleon 11. and for a Repub lic—the object of those who excited thfe cries was to influence the chauthers. The chambers if seems want to bring the relics of Napoleon from St. Helena. The minister appear to gain strength; the 3d regt. of light infantry which repressed the popular movements has received ert dp, audits officers.tire promoted. Govern-- meat appears now to have acquired some, stability. Gat vt Britain—On the morning of Sept. 22d the Reform bill passed the house, of commons by a voted 347 to 238—ab sent 49, paired off 22, vacant 19. Tho reform bill was on the evening of the 22d carried with usual form to the house of Lords. M. Van Buret!, accompanied bv Washington Irving, visited Lord'Palmer ston at tlu* foreign office on the 10th of September. The house of Lords has had galleries created lor the nccoifinroda tion of its members, as the great increase of attendance upon the question of Re*- form would seem to require. Speculation was busy in conjecture as to the fate of" the bill. The number of members arc, Dukfs (4 royal) 23 Marquisses 26 Earls 129 Viscounts 2.» Barons 143, Represen tatives of Scotch peers 16, Representa tives of Irish peers 28. English bishop* (arch, 2.) 29. Rep. of Irish bishops (arch. 1.) 4—total 420. Some of these are rumours, and some insane'. As proxu'S are allowed it was thought 400 would vote:" feais were entertained from tin* opposition of such a body as 39 prelates most of whom are opposed to every exten sion of popular freedom. The second reading of the Irish r form bill was to succeed the Scotch bill passing the com*- mittoe in the house of commons. Portugal. Several executions of the late insurgents have taken [dace in Lis bon. Miguel is abused as usual, yet he is a favorite with many of his subjects. The fleet which was said to have been given up to Don Pedro, has returned to Miguel. Belgium. It was thought bis Dutch majesty would assail king Leopold as soon qs the armtstic shall have terminated. Leopold was making ready. Subsequent accounts state that the treaty of peace •was arranged and to be signed on the tOth’of October, Liixemh rg is to belong to Bel gium, and Austria and Prussia are to fix the compensation 5o fie given to 110 l land. Switzerland —Neufchatel a little can-- ton of 20,000 inhabitants which the holy alliance gave over to P ussia has declar ed itself independent, reiving uppon the fear of the cholera in France and in otlv er Swiss cautions through which Prussia should inarch to its attack. Negoerations were opened for the emancipation ofNeufi* chatel: the cbiefobstacle was the demand of the country party to occupy tiie fort with 400 men pending the negocia~ tiuu. coi.i: METIS CIRCULATING LIBRARY. 7TRIE subscriber respectfully informs the in l lint) tents of Columbus and the neighbor* liood, that his Library is no>v open for the re ception of subscribers.v. The Library will con sist of Religious Works, History, Travels, anil Lives of distinguished Mon. Poems, Romances, Novels, Reviews, Magazines, Ac. Ac. They are also informed that he has made arrange ments to receive all new publications ns soon as they are issued from tlie press. If the pat ronage will admit of tho ■undertaking, there will be a Reading Room added to the above, well supplied with News papers from different parts of tlie country, which will be expressly for the use of Subscribers, free of charge. , Ts RMS—For one year s>lo. one halfto no paid in advance. For six months stf>, one hah payable in advance Subscribers will be entit led to change tlioir books ns often as once a daw if required, and not allowed more than <>rr* work mu at a time. Any subscriber losing or injurir g a volume will bn charged for the sett. N. It. The Subscriber takes ihis opportunity to return his sincere thanks to those who have so liberal'v come forward and bestowed liver names in aid of tho above undertaking. L. S. Norton, nnv >5 tfroi if Street. m , -- -■ <GEORGIA Alerri wether County- Vtf 7 lII'RFAS .lames Cushion admr. of tiro tV estate nt John Pullin dec. applies to nw> for letters of dismission on sail] eat a to. Those are thorofurn to oilo anil admonish and singular the kindred mid creditors of said deceased, lotto end appear at my otlico willno Hie time prescribed hv law, to shew cause it any limy have, why said letters «lioiild not ho grant ed. Civcn under my liand llui Dll* day id X«‘, vcuibei ledl. t L«ti M. VdllWV, C. C■ **» pur l‘»
