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GOV. COBB’S MESSAGE,
Concluded.
THE PENITENTIARY.
I transmit herewith the reports of the Principal
Keeper and Book Keeper which will exhibit to
you its operations during the past two years.—
The officers of tha Institution during that time
have been faithful, and energetic in tiie discharge
of their duties, and I believe that its business tin
der their charge, will compare favorably with the
business of preceeding years. Its assets at the
end of the year will in ail probability discharge its
liabilities, and leave it free from debt. ‘Hie busi
ness of the Penitentiary is not and in my judgment
never will be a source of revenue to tbe State.—
The appropriations which have from time to time
been made to meet its liabilities, show’ this fact.—
The gross amount of them is set forth in the Keep
er’s report. It now requires large appropriations
to make the necessary improvements, and to fur
nish materials for its succes-ful management, h
is a subject which should secure more of the per
sonal attention of your tnember*|than has. hereto
fore been the case. An inspection of its condition j
will give you more satisfactory information of its i
true wants than any representation that 1 can i
make, and I would urge the propriety of your do- j
ing so, as it can be done with little trouble to j
yourselves, and much benefit to the State. As
you will perceive from the Keeper’s report the
business ol building railroad cars lias been com
menced on a pretty extensive scale. The experi-
ment so far has proved eminently successful, in- 1
deed it ban been the principal source of revenue
since its commencement. For the want of the
necessary means, an arrangement had to be made
with the State road to furnish the materials for !
building cars, and as long as that road requires j
all the cars that can be built at the Penitentiary,;
this arrangement could be continued. If the bus
iness however, should be extended as recommend- 1
ed in the Keeper's report it will be necessary ior
you to supply the necessary means for the pur
chase in advance of materials, as the object should j
then be, to manufacture cars for all roads that
may desire to purchase, it would also be neces
sary to authorize the employment of a Superin- j
tendent of this branch of the work at a better sal- I
ary than is now allowed to tiie subordinate officers, i
If a ready sale be found for the cars, I have no *
hesitation in saying, (hat it is the most profitable
business that can be carried on in the penitentia
ry-
The importance of classifying the prisoners in
the Penitentiary, has been so repeatedly and forci- ;
blv presented to the Legislature by my predeces
sors, that I deem it unnecessary to enlarge upon the i
suhject. It is again brought to your attention bv
the Principal Keeper’s Report, and I would im- ’
press upon your minds the propriety of giving it
your early attention. When this recommeneua
tion is based upon the concurrent opinion of every i
one who has been thrown into official communi
cation with the Penitentiary, it should at least re
ceive more consideration than has heretofore been
given to it.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The bisenial Report of the Trustees, Superin
tendent and Resident Physicians of the Lunatic
Asylum is herewith submitted. This Institution
lias been conducted during the past two years with
the characteristic enerpy and ability of its officer*.
I commend to your attention the suggestions and
recommendations contained in these Reports.—
Founded as they are upon the experience and ob
servation of those who have shown themselves so
worthy ot the confidence reposed in them by the
State, they should command your most favorable
consideration. This Institution was established
by the State under the conviction that it was our
duty to provide for the safety and comfort of that
unfortunate class of our fellow’ beings, who had
been deprived of their reason, and thereby render
ed incapable of providing for themselves. This ;
humane object will not have been accomplished,
so long as there remains in the borders of our
State one unfortunate lunatic unprovided for. It
is a melancholy and humiliating reflection, that
applicants for admission, are daily rejected for the i
want of the necessary means to provide for their j
accommodation. This ought not to be so. I hold
it to be the solemn duty of those who have been ;
spared from this awful calamity to furnish from
their treasure whatever may be acquired for the
support and comfort of their less fortunate fellow
beings. I cannot believe that there lives in our
State a single citizen, who would not give a cor
dial response to this sentiment. The necessities
of this Institution, is therefore the only just limit
to your appropriations. When you ascertain its
wants, let them be supplied, your hearts will ap
prove the act, and your constituents will sanction
the vote.
There is one class lunatics for whom no provi
sion is made in the organization of this institution. |
I allude to vour slave population. This omission, \
I have no doubt, is attributable to the fact, that :
the number is so limited that it has not attracted
public attenton. There are, however, a few, and j
suitable provision should be made for them. The
first suggestion would be to leave this matter in ‘
the hands ofthe owners, after providing a place at j
the Asylum for their reception. This will not do, |
however, as it sometimes happens that the unfor
tunate lunatic is the only property of the owner; ;
and he is therefore unabie to support him at the
Asylum. It would perhaps be wrong to tax those
who have no interest in slaves, to raise money for !
this purpose. The amount which sho’ Id be
raised for this object, would be small, and if levied
upon the taxable slave property, would not be felt !
by the owner. Looking to the number of lunatic
negroes, it would require only a nominal tax upon
this kind of property to raise the necessary means, j
I can see no good reason why every slave owner j
should not cheerfully submit to this tax, to carry |
out so desirable and praiseworthy an object. I j
therefore recommend that proper steps be taken at
your present session to carry out these views in j
the manner suggested.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
The report of tiie Commissioners for the Deaf
and Dumb Asylum for the years 1853 is herewith
transmitted. The success of this institution is a
gratifying result, aud should secure for it the con
tinued patronage of the State. Your predecessors
nave by their liberal endowments recognized the
duty of the State to provide for the education of
the unfortunate mute, ..nd it would be difficult for
the Legislature to appropriate the money of the
people to an object that would receive a more un
qualified approval from the popular mind. I also
transmit the report of a committee appointed by
rnyselt to attend the annual examination of 1852.
It bears testimony to the faithful and efficient dis
charge of duty by the officers of the institution.—
Its recommendations are commended to your con
sideration, as worthy of attention in your legisla
tion on this subject.
THE INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.
I transmit to you the first annual report of the
Trustees for the“ Georgia Academy for the Blind.”
This institution was organized under an act of the
. t. Legislature, and is now struggling through
its infantile existence. It has encountered the
oimculues which have attended all similar institu
tion* and in view of these difficulties, its efforts
ave been attended wtth as much success as could
have reasonably been anticipated. It has shown
elf worthy of the fostering care extended to it I
y your predecessor*, and should continue *o re- 1
ceive your patronage and encouragement. The
appeal in behalf of the blind—like that made for
the deaf and dumb—addresses itself to our better
feelings. The heart would be callous and har
dened that could treat that appeal with indifference.
Those of us who have been endowed by a kind
Providence with all tbe attributes of manhood, un
impaired by disease or misfortune, have resting
upon us an obligation in reference to our less fa
vored brethren, which we cannot disregard. In
establishing and maintaining these different insti
tutions the people of Georgia have exhibited their
appreciation of this high duty. Tbe success which
has attended these efforts, should only stimulate us
to renewed exertions and more liberal contribu
tions.
GEORGIA MILITARY INSTITUTE.
At the last session of the General Assembly
provision was made bv law for the education of a
certain number of cadets in the Military Institu
tute, located at Marietta. A report is herewith
transmitted from the Board of Visitors of that in
stitution, which will present to the Legislature all
the inforinaiion on that subject in my possession.
The system of military education is growing in
popular favor throughout the country. In other
i States of the Union these Academies receive lib
; eral endowments from the Government, and are
; becoming more and more the favorites of the peo
ple. So far as lam enabled to judge, the Mariet
ta Institute has been a* eminently successful as
i any of its sister institutions, and as deserving of
Slate patronage.
EDUCATION.
The cause ot Education numbers, among its |
friends, no supporters, more zealous, or liberal,;
than the people of Georgia. It is with sincere j
pleasure and honest pride that we can point to
tbe progress of education in our State. Onr Uni
versity was never in a more flourishing condition,
and never more deserving of the confidence and
patronage of the State. Other colleges have
sprung up in generous rivalry with this institution
under the patronage of private enterprize, afford
ing the most extensive facilities fora liberel edu
catiou to all who may be possessed of the neces
sary means. Colleges and Seminaries for the ed
ucation of our daughters are to be found in almost
every neighborhood, founded upon private muni
ficence and conducted with marked energy and
ability. 1 would not unnecessarily mar this pic
ture ao grateful to our feelings and so gratifying
to our State pride; but a sense of duty demands
that our attention should be turned to another
branch ofthe subject, which presents for our con
sideration far different results. Whilst the minds
of those, who have been blessed with the necessa
ry means—are being stored with all the rich
treasures of knowledge, placed in their reach by
these flourishing institutions —there is to be found
another class, less favored of Heaven, who are
growing up in utter ignorance. The propriety of
providing tor ihe education of the poor is recog
nized by every one; but I am not sure that its
importance is fully appteciated. Ido not speak of
that complete and finished education which can
be acquired only in our higher Seminaries and
Colleges, but I refer to it in its more limited sense.
The man who can read and write is a well edu
cated man, in comparison with one, to whom the
Alphabet is an unmeaning mystery; and the gulf
that seperates these two classes is far wider and
deeper than the one which lies between the hum
blest scholar and the most learned Professor. Give
to every son and daughter of the State an oppor
tunity of learning to read and write, and we be
come that day an educated people for all the prac
tical purposes of Government. The honesty, pu- j
rity and intelligence of the people constitute the !
firm foundations of a republican Government. To j
the extent of our ability it is our duty to foster and
nurture these elements of security and strength.
Georgia has in some degree realized this truth
and exhibited a disposition to act upon it. Her:
ablest sons have been summoned to the task of i
: devising systems for the education of the poor; ,
and our legislative tables groan under the accu- j
mulated reports of committees appointed to inves- i
tigate and report upon the subject. All that \
could be done in this way has been done, and yet j
! the sons and daughters of poverty are unprovided i
with the opportunity of learning'to read and write. !
I Can nothing more be effected ? Is this field of la- |
bor, so inviting to the patriot and philanthropist, j
to be abandoned and forsaken ? To answer these j
inquiries, we must ascertain, first, what has occa
sioned the failure heretofore ? and secondly, are;
we able and willing to overcome the difficulty in :
the future ? The first point is very clearly pre- j
sented in the statement of this simple fact—the ;
number of children returned under our poor school
law, is (38,000) thirty eight thousand, and the
1 money appropriated for their education is ($23,-
j 000) twenty-three thousand dollars. In other
i words, for the education of each child, the Legis
; lature appropriates the sum of sixty cents. I can
I use no argument or language that will present in
I more forcible terms the main defect in our past
! system, than is to be found in this statement. We
have failed to educate the destitute children of the
! State, because we have failed to appropriate a
! sufficient sum of money to effect the object. It is
; more than useless to discuss plans and systems
until the necessary means are furnished to make
any plan successful. This view of the subject i
| brings me to the second inquiry. Can this diffi- j
cultv be met and overcome ? In other words, will ;
the Legislature appropriate the necessary amount i
!of money. At present lam not prepared to re- I
commend any large increa e of the appropriation, j
My object is more particularly to caii your atten- ,
tion to a period in the future, when the required j
sum can he devoted to this object without the im- j
position of any additional tax upon The people. If
lam right in the views which I have already j
presented of the finencial condition of the State,
present and prospective, in the course of a few
years the public debt will be paid off, and there i
will be no necessity for incurring another. When
that time shall have arrived, our present tax law
may be reduced one half, and still furnish ample,
means for an economical administration of the
Government —giving no just cause of complaint!
on the ground of taxation. The State railroad |
under the system 1 have recommended will bring j
into the Treasury a certain and regular revenue t :
of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. To that
sum 1 look to supply the present defect in our
educational system for the poor. To that i
patriotic object, as well as to the necessities of
I the institutions established by the State for the
State for the Deaf and Dumb, the Blind, and the
unfortunate Lunatic, it should be sacredly devot
>ed : and until the wants of each and all should be
withdrawn for any other purpose. I have invited
your attention ‘.o the subject at this time that the
public mind may be directed to its consideration
in advance of the period when the policy may
j with propriety be adopted.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
1 caii your attention to the law on the subject
of the public printing. It is defective in many re
spects, and requires Legislative action. The
great delay that occurred in the printing of the
Laws and Journals of tilt* last General Assembly,
should not be permitted to occur again. Uncer
the law as it now stands there will always be
more or less danger of its recurring. In the esti
mation of many persons the Executive is held
partly responsible tor such delay, and yet he is
powerless to prevent it. Provision should be made >
; by law that the public printing should be done at j
j the seat of Government— under the eye and super* :
vision of the Executive, and he should be clothed
with power to transfer it from the hands of the
public printer whenever he fails to complete it in a
given period to be fixed by law. Whenever there
is unnecessary delay,the Executive should be au
thorized and required to make such ueductions as
the exigency in bis judgment justifies ; and simi
lar power should be lodged with Inin in ca>e the
printing is not executed in tnauner and styia re
quired by law. It should be made the duty of
the Secretary of State, to compare the printed
laws before their final publication, with the en>
rolled acts in his office, and proper compensation
should be allowed him for tbe discharge ot this
duty. The style and execution of the printed acts
i should be improved. The act of 1831 required
them *o conform to the laws of the United Slates,
jas at that time published. Since then great im
, provement has been made in the printing of the
| United Slates, and we should in this respect keep
up with the progre*- of the age.
annual sessions.
The experiment of bi-ennial sessions of the •
General Assembly, has been sufficiently tested by ;
experience and I believe that tiie public judgment \
of the State is prepared to pronounce against it.
I was among the number of its advocates, and so ;
voted when the question was submitted to the peo
ple for their decision. lam now satisfied, that in
common with a large majority of my fallow citi
zens. I was wrong, and prepared to recommend h
return to annual sessions. Even if tne polic, of
bi-ennial sessions was right at the time oi its ■
adoption, the increased interest and important
public works of th 6 Slate have wrought such a
change in our affairs that a different system is now
required for our progressed and progressing con- ;
dition. A single consideration should satisfy ev* j
ery man of tbe propriety ot annual aeeeaions. At
present, all power is placed in the hands of tbe
Executive for two years, and his term expires and
the people are called upon to pass judgment upon
his official career before his actings and doings
can be submitted to the test of Legislative investi
gation. He cannot be called upon for an exposi
tion of his official doings until the General Assem- j
bly meets, and that does not take place until his ;
term of office has expired, and he has either been
re-elected or defeated, or has voluntarily with- j
drawn from the public service. This is wrong in
| theory, and might work much injury in practice.— j
■ It was an economical view of the subject which
j induced the people to resort to bi-ennial sessions, ;
j but it may well be questioned whether the result !
I has justified this expectation. The fact that the !
j General Assembly meets only once in two years,
; renders it necessary to extend the length of the j
j session. The accumulated business of tbe two !
! years must be disposed of, and additional time i*
j required to do it. In order that the people may !
; have an opportunity of passing their judgment up- j
i on this subject, I recommend that an act altering
the constitution be passed the General Assembly I
j at its present session, and the question submitted i
|to the people at the next general election. If ap ;
i proved by them, your successors can perfect the I
alteration, and if condemned, the act can then be ;
rejected. An opportunity will thus be offered of !
having the question decided by the direct action I
of those most deeply interested in the matter.
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
My experience in office has brought vividly be
fore me the fact that innumerable occasions occur,
where the Executive, on account ofthe varied and
increasing interests of the Siate, requires the ma
ture and deliberate counsel of persons skilled in
the law. The hurried and off-hand opinions of
the best lawyers, are worth but little under such
circumstances; and the separate solemn advice
of feed counsel on every such question, would be
a,heavy draw upon the contingent fund. My own
conviction is, that an officer known as the Attor
ney General of the State of Georgia, with such a.
salary as would command ilie best counsel in the
State, would meet the necessity ofthe case. To
the general duty of advising she best counsel in
the several Executive Departments of the Gov
ernment, might be added with propriety, the rep
resenting and advocating the interest of the State
iii all questions arising before our Supreme Court.
The duties of such an officer, if s unnecessary
for me to specify. The necessity and propriety
of such an office will be fell by every one occupy
ing tiie Executive chair.
j THE SUPREME COURT ANT) STATE LIBRARY.
; At the time the Supreme Court was established
I the idea prevailed that the convenience or parties
i litigant required that the court should hold its ses
] sions at points accessible to them. For that pur
! pose it was provided in the law organizing the
i court it should sit at nine different places. Expe
! rience has shown that this was a mistaken view
I of tiie subject, as the panics seldom if ever attend
! the court. Their attendance ts not necessary,
1 and they therefore stay away. No one will ques
: tion file fact, that this migratory feature is atten- ,
j ded with great inconvenience to the members of
i the court. If this was the only objection to it, it i
j might be borne with, but i deprives the court of I
i the advantages of consulting good libraries, which
I are not to be sou da! many of the points, w here it
!is now held. Without attempting to present the
; many reasons which might be urged in favor ofthe
j change,as they will readily suggest themselves
jto your minds. I recommend that the places for I
I holdit g the court be reduced so the number re- ■
i quired by the Constitution. Looking to me fu
j sure permanence and usefulness of this court, I
i think it advisable that the Constitution be so
amended as to authorize its entire siitmgs at the
1 seat of government. I can see no good reason
j why it should be otherwise. The docket of the
court could be so arranged fur each of the Judi
; cial Districts a* to enable counsel to attend to
their cases with as much convenience at Miliedge
! viile as at any other point.
in this connection I call your attention to the
condition of our State library. Fi r many years
the librajy has beer, totally neglected and* almost
lost sight of by the Lcgislatute. The last Gener
al Assembly made an annual appropriation of a
thousand dollars tor it. This amount regularly
continued with the system of exchanges with the
other States, would in the course of a few years
turnish a State library, of which we might not be
ashamed. The small salary given to the librarian
wiil not secure the service- of a competent officer,
unless the appointment is connected with some ;
other office, as has been done during the last two !
years. The librarian’s report is herewith com
municated. It will show the condition of the li- j
brary, its increase since 1 came into office, and al
so the regulations I have adopted to preserve it I
from its former fate. It cannot be nefessary for |
me to submit an argument to the Legislature in j
favor of obtaining and keeping a good State libra
ry. State prid>\ if mere was no other consider
ation, would make an appeal in its favor that ouo-ht
not to be disregarded. Its propriety and useful
ness, however, are too apparent to require further
comment. I confidently commend to your fa vora- j
bie consideration the policy adopted by yaur imrne- j
diate predecessors on tins subject
miscellaneous subjects.
A vacancy occurred on the Supreme Court
bench during the present year, by the resignation
of the Hon. Hiram Warner, which I tilled by the
appointment of the Hon. Ebenezer Starnes.—
There have been several vacancies occasioned by
the death and resignation, on the Circuit Court
bench, but as they are no lotiger tilled by the Leg
islature, it not unnecessary to specify them.
The cr.litor> of ‘ h %, J fy r °,{F HquidStai ofthei r
year, applyin* ‘•> ‘Estate , h V, , h e Slate is liable, (or
claims, holding as th y matter should be disposed of,
them Trovision be made by the
and I recommend that some t 9e ttleroent of
present Genera W eß , io „ involved
those claim*, either by SI ( , r other tribunal to
telein” Vto Legislature, and aareed toby the .
parties in interest- D -niniion of the last General j
1 1 was directed by a of marble, whic had j
Assembly, to monument from tins [
been furnished f ° r l h ? h e obfeciionable inscription upon |
State, on account ot the J > w j t h the simple j
it. and to provide wether'Ending that the !
appropriate under the General Assembly, I
By joint resolution of tne usi • • and
was reauired to appoint a commssion to examine anu
was requireu u- , ~ t |, e claims of VYm.
report to the present Legislature, „. . , j tir;i|j 3
O Anderson Tbos. Anderson, and Richard J. wmw,
seemities of John R. Anderson, on bis bonds as Cash
-5r and agent of the Darien Bank. I appointed Chas.
Dougherfy and Wm Hope Hull, Esqs and herewith
: transmit to vou their report upon the subject.
My predecessor informed the last General Assembly
that the question ot the boundary between l lorida and
onr own State had been submitted to the Suprein
Court of the United States, and that he had engaged
the servioesof Hon. J. M. Berrien, as the attorney ot
the State. At the instance of Judge Berrien, I associa
ted with him the Hon. George, E. Badger having
beon authorised by resolution o! the last Legislature, to
employ additional counsel in the case. The case is
still pending, and will probable be decided at the ap-
proaching term of the court. j
A question of boundary between South Carolina and j
Georgia has arisen since” tbe adjournment of tbe last;
General Assembiy. The correspondence between the j
Governor and the Attorney General of South Carolina ,
and myself on that subject is herewith transmitted. My ,
views are so fully presented in that correspondence, ;
that I deem it unnecessary to add anything in referance >
to it. I recommend that tbe suggestion contained in
the lastlelter of the Attorney General of South Caroli- \
na be acceded to, and that provision be made for sub
mitting the question of boumlry to the decision of the
Supreme Court of the United States, it presents the
most satisfactory mode of settling a dispute, which it left
unadjusted, might at some future day lead to unpleas
ant conreq uences.
By a joint resolution of the last General Assembiy, I j
was directed to appoint “two Suitable persons as dele
gates from this State to attend a convenrion of dele
gates from the Thirteen Original States,” which was
held in Philadelphia, on the'sih of July, 1852. lap
pointed the Hon. Marshall J. Wellborn of Columbus, j
and the Hon. Asbury Hull of Athens, who accepted
the appointment, and their report of the action of the
convention is herewith transmitted. The object for
which this convention assembled, and the mode by
which that object is to be consummated, are so fully
and satisfactorily presented in the accompanying report,
that I do not feel called upon to do more than ask for it
your careful considerotion. It is no local or sectional
movement, in which the people of Philadelphia alone
are interested. It was prompted by a national senti
ment as broad as the Union—and a spirit of gratitude
and veneration aa deeply implanted in the hearts of the I
American people, a3 are the memories of our revolution- ;
ary struggles. Georgia has participated so far with ■
commendable zeal,and patriotic ardor in this noble en- j
terprize—and I doubt not, that every step of its future
progress will be marked with the evidences of her liber- j
ality.
The last General Assembly passed a joint resolution j
authorizing me “to erect, on tiie public grounds, near j
the State House, a suitable monument to the memory of
our late distinguished fellow-citizen, Hon. John For
syth, and pay for the same out of money appropriated for
that purpose by the act of the Legislature, approved
February 23, 1850.” The proposition contained in
this resolution, meets my cordial approval. No oneen
tertainsa higher appreciation of the services and bril
liant career of Mr. Forsyth, than myself, and it would
have given me sincere pleasure to have carried out the
intention of the Legislature, if it could have been done.
The amount of appropriation is wholly inadequate for
the contemplated object. A monument erected on the
State House square, to the memory of Mr. Forsyth,
should not only be creditable to the State, but worthy ‘
of the distinguished dead; such a monument cannot be ;
obtained for one thousand dollars. For this reason and :
for this reason alone, I have taken no steps to carryout
this resolution, and 1 now recommend that the appro-j
elation Ha increased to a sum that will secure such a i
monument as the occasion call for; a monument wor* i
thy of the State of Georgia, and worthy of the distin- i
guished defender of tiie Constitution and Union of our
lathers.
QWe have just had cur first judicial elections under the.
| law giving those elections to the people. The policy of
■ the law has been vindicated, and it presents an appro
priate occasion for recommending an extension of its
I provisions to the remaining cases of State officers elec
-1 ted by the Legislature.
Our election laws need amendment. The duty of
! deciding upon the returns of many elections, i* by im
; plication devolved upon the Executive. No'rule*
; however are prescribed for his'government. This should
j be remedied by the passage of an act, plainly defining
i his duty, power, and mode of procedure.
The great number of laws which have been passed
; on the subject of the lands belonging to the State has
involved that subject in great difficulty. Many of these i
laws were of a mere local character, but theirapplica- {
j tion being general in the terms of the statute, has pro- i
>luced a contrariety of provisions difficult, to reconcile.
The whole subject needs thorough and radical legisla* ‘
tion, and I trust it will receive your consideration dur-
I ing the present session, for the disposition of the re-!
rnaining ungranted lands of every description, that have
been regularly surveyed, I would recommend that the
policy of the act of 1843 be adopted. Experience has
proven it to be, by far the most economical and satis- I
factory mode of disposing of the public lands.
The -slow but steady development of the mineral re
. sources of our State, should bring to your attention the
: importance of providing, for a thorough geological sur
j ofthe State. Other departments of interest would
I be greatly benefited by it—and I recommend that am
| pie provision be made for that purpose.
I was requested by resolution of the Senate of the
last Legislature to make the alterations and
men ts in the Senate Chamber rendered necessary by
the increased number of that body. It has been atten
ded to—and a portion of the expense paid out .'of the
! contingent, fund. No special appropriation was* made
I to carry out this resolution, and it now becomes neces
| s ry for you to make an early appropriation to pay the
i balance due to Mr. Lord the contractor. As be was
among the unfortunate number who suffered severely
Irom the late fire in this city, l would urge upon you
the justice of providing for the immediate settlement of
j his account.
Your attention has doubtless been arrested by the de
’ atructive character of the fire to which I have” just al-
I iuded. The individual sufferers make no appeal to you
for relief, but it is in our power to render essential aid
! not only to them but to the. whole community, by deci
sive action upon the subject oi a removol of the seat of
government. The constant agitation of that question
has paralyzed the energies of the people of Milledgeville
and crushed their spirit of enterprise. The future pros
| parity of their city is involved in it, and so long as it
remains an open and unsettled point, the effect will be
felt and seen in the downward tendency of every inter
est connected with the prosperity of the city. Ample
time has hoen allowed ibr ascertaining the popular will
on the subject, and legislative xpression should now be
given to tlie judgment of the people. It is due not oniy
to this community, but also to the future comfort of
those, who may be officially cailed to sp*nd a portion i
of their time at the Capitol. Such arrangements as are
necessary to make Milledgeville a pleasant residence
for the members of the General Assembly, and until it
is known that the seat of Government will not be re
moved. Whatever, therefore, may be the public will
on this subject, let it be made known in such authori
tative form, as will relieve all doubt and anxiety in ref- I
erence to it.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
I herewith transmit a communication from the .State
: Department of the Federal Government, accompanied
i with a copy of a Consular Convention between the
j United States of America and His Majesty the Emperor
of the French. A our attention is called to the provis
ions of the seventh article of the convention.
1 herewith transmit the resolutions of various State
Legislature*, which have been forwarded to me.
Since the last session of the Geueiai Assembly, an occur
rence has transpired in which Georgia, though not directly a
party, is in niy judgment deeply interested, and to which I
deem it my duty to call your attention. A citizen of Virginia
on nis way to Texas with Slaves, is by force of circumstances,
compelled to lake a temporary transit through the city of N'ew
\ ork. Upon habeas corpus before Judge Fay ne of that State,
the negroes were declared free, and the citizen deprived of
his property. Though indemnified fully, I believe bv Volun
tary subscription, yet the principle involved in the decision
is one of vast importance and startling tendency, in which the
interest of Mr. Lemmons becomes JOfcignificmt, aod the inter
est of every slave-holding State paramount and equal Vir
ginia aud Texas have no deeper iuterest than Geoigia and
. aliama. It is understood that an appeal has beea taken from
the decision to the appellate Court of New York, and it is
probabie that the final adjudication of the question iuvolveti
wi 1 be made by the Supreme Court of the United States. The
deliberate determination of any question b> that tribunal
commands and should receive the respect of the countn
constitutes a precedent controlling subsequent easp ‘ ’tu
principles involved irfthe decision of Judge Payna wilt k
better considered in a Court room, than in a document Vt
the preseat. It is not my purpose therefore to submit
gumenion the correctness of that decision. If such i,
it is the first time that it has been solemnly thus
in a case made befon any trisunat, within my knowledge ir
it be true that the citizens of slave-holding Slates, who b
force of circumstances or for convenience, seek a’
through the territory of a uon-slaveholding State with their
slaves —are thereby deprived of their property in them and
the slaves ipso tacto become emancipated, it i B Unjo (h^t
i know law as it is. No Court in America lias eter announced
! this lobe law. It would be exceedingly strange if it should
be ..... ,
Bv the comity oi Nations, the persoual status of every man
is determined by the law of his domicil, and whether he be
bond or free, capable or incapable there, he remains so every
where anew domicil is acquired This is but the courtesy
of nation to nation, founded not upon the statute, but is ab
solutely necessary for the peace and harmony of States, and
for the enforcement of private justice. A denial of this com
ity is unheard of among civilized nations, and if deliberately
and wantonly persisted in, would be just cau.-e of war. Can
it be possible that the courtesy yielded by independent na
tions to each other, can be rightfully denied by one of these
States to the
reason for u course of conduct unjustifiable without that bond ?
Did the framers of the Constitution, so wise add provident as
to all other possible causes of disturbance between the States,
permit so pregnant a source of discord, to pass unheeded and
unprovided for ? In yielding our right to make treaties, and
to declare war, have we left ourselves remeidiless in cases of
palpable violatirn of the Inw and comity ol national The
adjudication of these questions by the tiibunal organized un
der the Constitution, canuot be reviewed with indifferonce by
us. Everv slave-holding State should be heard before that
tribunal. I therefore recommend, that in the event the Lem
mon'* case being carried before the Supreme Court, the Ex
ecutive be authorised to employ able counsel in behalf of the
| state of Georgia, to be beard before that Court upon these
! questions. . . _ , .
i xbe general condition of our federal Relations presents a
■ flattering prospect. Since the happy termination oi those
’ angry sectional strifes, which for a time threatened our peace
! and quiet, the country has returned to a state of repose, and
| all the indications of the present, point to a happy, peaceful
: and prosperous future. HOWELL COBB.
Lillies am)’ Sntfitttl.
COLUMBUS, GEOKgfjfe-^
SATURDAY EVENING, NOV. I2} 1853
O’ See first page for Editorial Correspodence v an< *
Inaugural Addrdss of Gov. Johnson. \
[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.]
Miixedgeville, Nov. 10.
SENATE.
Win. H. Welder, appeared and took hie seat. He
fills the vacancy occasioned by the death of Jno. L.
Bird, f Taliaferro, and is of course a Whig.
An amendment of the constitution was proposed by
j Mr. Miller, of Richmond, providing that the pay of
i members shall be reduced one half after the expiration
|of 50 days of the Session. Mr. Mosely, of Spaulding,
! offered a bill to charter “Marshal! College,” an institu
! tion of learning, to be located at Griffin, and to be un
! der the control of the Baptist, Methodist and Christian
i churches, and the orders of Masons and Odd Fellows.
Mr v Stoval, of Columbia, offered a bill to impose a
: a fine of 50 doilars upon persons oppointed Commis
: siouers of roads in case they refuse to serve.
The bill to give the appointment of Superintendent
of the State Road to the Governor, was read the second
time and referred to the Committee on Internal Im
provements.
The bill to abolish joint tenancy was read a second
time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr. Green, of Pi!;*, offered a resolution to bring on
the election of tlse two Judges of the Supreme Court on
Tuesday next. Mr. Sturgis moved to amend by insert
ing Thursday, lost. Mr. Dabney, of Gordon, moved
to amend, by adding, “and also of u Superintendent of
the Western and Atlantic Road.” Mr. Miller, of Rieh
niond, move! to amend the amendment, by addding,
“provived said election shall not interfere with any ac
tion the Legislation may take this session, in relation
to satd Road, and resolution as amended, was passed.
This resolution gave rise to an animated debate, in
which Messrs. Sturgis, Clarke. Miller and Hull par
ticipated. Mr, Clark is a forcible speaker, and will
take a Digit stand in the Senate.
Jhe resolution ofthe House was concurred in to
bring on the election of Solicitor for the Coweta circuit,
3nd of Judge ot the Court of’ Common Picas in Savan
nah on to-morrow. ‘lhe Senate then adjourned to
10 o’clock to-morrow.
Notice was given of a Democratic caucus to be held
in the Senate chernbor to-night. The object of the
caucus ;s to decide upon the policy of the party. The
most important question to be decided, will be the poli
cy of caucus nominations for Senator of the United
Statefc, and Judges of the Supreme Court. The ques
tion is a delieute one, and upon its judicious settlement
will depend in a great measure ihe harmony of the
party.
A bail was given last nigh at Huson’s Hotel, which
was largely attended.
The Governor will review the Cadets ofthe Military
Institute this afternoon. The corps is encamped in the
vicinity. They paraded yesterday through the prin
cipal streets of tne’ city, and deported themselves admi
rably. We propose to visit them this afternoon. It
will revive old and pleasant reminiscences, and when
we catch the military fever by closer contact, you will
hear more of them. t
Inaugural Address of Gov. Johnson.
I In his address, our new Governor speaks as a pro
; gressive ot the latter half of the nineteenth century.—
“VV ith a mind to perceive, to appreciate and to construct,
j we feel confident that ho will neglect no means that
may tend towards developing the unequalled resources
!of our State. What a future awaits Georgia! Give
her people but the heavenly light of Learning— let Science
throw its radient beams around and along the painful
j and dangerous paths of labor—let Art embellish and en
j rich * ‘n a word, let but the appliances which the inge
nuity and application of man have wrought, and are dai
i unfolding, find in Georgia, and Georgians that ap
j preciation which makes progress but a pastime, and a
firmer basis will be laid for a lasting and independent
• future that armies could conduct or physical prowess
| adorn. Gov. Johnson feels this and speaks it with a
burning eloquence that will light a kindred flame in
| every Georgians breast. Education is the corner
| Bl <>ne of national prosperity and existence. Education
! is tbe m ’g ht y P° wer that >s to revolutionize the world
| It is education properly systematised that is to elevate
the lowly, to reform the vicious, to enrich the poor to
dignify man in ail his relations and make him more the
image of his makfr. Let os then a* Legislators as
citizens, as the Slate, “gladden oil with the sunlight of
science, and press to their lips the cup of intellectual
happiness.”
On the subject of our Federal relations he is clear
ana explicit. W e shall stand by him in the pr*secu
tiun of his views and second him as far as we may in
in seeing that slavery will no more be agitated at the
expense oj the South. Georgia has said it and she
intends to stand bv her oath.
Towards the advancement of every suggestion contain
ed in this earnest aud patriotic address there will go up
ons load Amen from every quarter ot our State,