The Tri-weekly times and sentinel. (Columbus, Ga.) 1853-1854, November 12, 1853, Image 2

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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,