Newspaper Page Text
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COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.
SATURDAY EVENING, FEB. 17, 1355.
-—t, -t.— .~r’ .
Hanks aud Banking—Wild Cals.
We take advantage of the prevailing excitement
about banks and banking, in Georgia, to set ourselves
right on the subject, and to enunciate some wholesome
truths, in the hope that the next Legislature of the
State may incorporate them into the legislation of the
oountry.
We stait out with the declaration that we are opposed
to the whole system of banking, as at present conducted
iu Georgia. We have not the space to elaborate our
objections, nor would the majority of our patrons read
them, if we did do so. We will only point out some
improvements in the system, which are absolutely re
quired, to protect community from bank frauds and
failures. Under our present system, the stockholders are
not generally liable in the event of the failure ofihebank.*
They have no personal interest, therefore, in the pru
dent and safe management of the affiairs of the corpora
tion. Large profits and heavy dividends are ail they
are anxious to secure. But these results cannot be
attained without a proportionate loss to the public, and
the risk of the failure of the bank. We, therefore, in
sist that in all new bank charters, and in the renewal
of all old ones, a clause should be inserted making all
the stockholders individually liable, in the event of the
failure of a bank, to the amount of their shares.
Again, the bill holder has no security against frauds
and failures, except in the integrity of the officers of the
bank, under our present system of banking. It is true,
that most bank charters require the banks to have in j
their vaults one dollar of gpieeie for every three dollars i
worth of hills issued. But the law makes no provision
to enforce its requirements, nor do we believe any law
can be framed that will ensure a faithful compliance
with this requisition We would, therefore, abandon it
altogether, and require bask bills, issued for general cir
culation, to be secured by a deposit of United States or
State stocks in the Treasury of the State.
Another evil of our present system is the tole
ration of both foreign and domestic agencies, which
are not liable to pay specie on the presentation
of the bills of the bank, at the counter of the agency.
Wc do not object to the agencies. Wo would welcome
just as many as the banks choose to establish. And we
take pleasure in bearing our lestimouy to the private
worth and business capacity of the gentlemen who con*
duct the various agencies in this part of the State. Wo
only object to that feature of our banking system which
makes it obligatory upon the bill holder to go to the
parent bank to draw the specie. In many instances it
is a hardship, and operate in various ways to discour
age a sound currency. Os eourse, the agency ought to
be made to redeem only those bills it puts into circula
tion.
These restrictions would, we think, ensure a sound
currency. On© of them, the liability of the stock
holder to the amount of his shares, iu case of the fail
ure of a bank, has prevailed in Scotland for more than
a century, and no such tiling as a broken bank has
been known there in all that time. It would have a
similar effect in this country. But those provisions
and restrictions would not produce an easy money mar*
ket. So long as banks are allowed to shave paper
aud we can but regard the practice, now prevalent, of
buying bills on commercial ports as n species of sha
ving, banks will not, generally, do a legitmate banking
business. We are not prepared to say how far the
Legislature would be authorized to interfere with this
kind of oberations. As the genera! sentiment seems
to demand a repeal of the usury laws, it is hardly
probable that any suggestions we might make on this
subject would bo ‘received with favor we are there
fore content to eall attention to it, and pass on.
With these views ou the subject of banks and bank
ing, our readers will see that we could not, consistently,
join with the Chronicle tj- Sentinel , and other eastern
papers, in their war, upon what they choose to stigma
tize as Wild Cat hanking. We believe the wnole
banking system of Georgia, and of nearly the whole
country, is wrong in principle and that the public have
no security of the soundness of any one bank, except
that which they derive from the business capacity and
integrity of the officers who manage them. Knowing
nothing against the integrity and capacity of the offi
cers of our new banks, all of which have been stigma
tized as Wild Cat concerns, by the Chronicle tj- Sen
tinel and other papers on the Savnunah eida of the
State, we have not felt at liberty to denounco them as
unworthy of trust. We have given the public the facts
connected with the new hanks as far as they have come
to our knowledge. If the public choose to take their
bills, it is their own venture. If they sustain loss let
them blame the Legislature who granted the charters.
If we had been consulted, not one of them would have
been granted,or renewed without material modifications.
We see nothing in what is cal'ed Wild Cat banking,
which ueoessarlly presupposes fraud or failure. An agent
of a Georgia bank has a3 good a right to buy and sell New
“iork exchange in Chicago, as a Carolina bank has to
buy and sell it in Columbus, ora Savannah bank to buy
and sell it in Montgomery. Both operations are what
it called Wild Cat banking, and, as well in one case at j
the other, may the intentions of the parties engaged in j
it be upright, and the operation profitable.
The objection to all the banks ia that the system open i
which they are conduoted is unsound. In none of them *
is there any security against loss. We will most cheer-
fully join our Savannah river cotempararies in urging
upon the Legislature a reform of our system of banking.
We oannot conscientiously denounce men as dishonest
and unworthy of public confidence, who have furnished
no evidence of their want of integrity.
It may be that we are mistaken in the provisions of
some ot the charters of the Georgia banks. They may
be more stringent than we suppose. We have not the
means of obtaining accurate information. If wo are
wrong we will be pleased te be corrected.
Revival of Religion. —The Jacksonville News it
Saturday 10th states that a religious revival has beengo
ingon in the Methodist Chureh in that place duripg the
past three weeks, and is still being continued. Already
seventy-five white persons and twenty-five colored
have united themselves with that branch of the church,
in which th*y have recently become converted.
Steamship Alps. —The government at Washington *
has remitted the order made by Judge Ingersoll, to
condemn to the United States the steamship Alps, for
smuggling. The p<na’ty to which Capt. Nye, of the
steamship Pacific, was rendered liable, in consequents
of hds steward being convicted of smuggling watches,
has also been remitted.
Lexicographical Swindle. —The man who “kept his
wjrcV’ gave seritus offcnoe to Noah Webster who
watted u for hse di< tionary 1
Attacks upon the Supreme Court.
Let th“se notions of ours bo right or wrong, one thing to t
our mind is sure, that the people ol the Slate look upon the f
Supreme Court ot Georgia in its practical results as a great i
sell; and we think the large majority would rejoice to kuow *
to-day that the Court was abolished, even if we had to re
turn to the old system.
The foregoing is from the Atlanta Intelligencer, 1
We have read it with profound regret. We have seen, j
of late, several articles of the E3ine tenor in the Geor-
gia papers, and are convinced that a systematic attempt •
will be made to abolish the Supreme Court of the State ‘
at the next session of the Legislature. We counted
upon the talented Editor of the Intelligencer as one of
the defenders of the Court. We koow he is too good
a lawyer not to deplore a return to the old system
under which the greatest diversity of practice prevailed
in the different circuits, and the dearest rights of the
citizen were at the mercy of a single judge. We freely
admit that the present system is defective and will
cheerfully 00-operate in perfecting it. But iu the name
of all that is sacred! do not turn us back upon the “old
system.” Defective as the present system is, it, at
least, gives uniformity to the praotice all over the State,
and enable, tho bar, at least, to know what the law is ;
and we think these benefits will compensate for all evils
of which the opponents of the Court cotr.plaiu. But
these evils are accidental, and can be easily remedied.
The time of the Court, as at present organized, is was
ted iu useless perambulations over the State, and Courts
| are held, frequently, at out of the way places where it is
impossible to procure authorities. Under all these
disadvantages, we think the Court has done remarkably
well. Remove them, and all reasonable complaints
would cease. These complaints, so far as we can com
prehend them, are Ist. That the Supremo Court often
mistakes the law’. 2d. That their decisions are often
inconsistent. 3d. That litigation is rendered endless
| and the costs of suits egregiously heavy. Now admit,
| for the sake of the argument, that all theso complaints
are well founded, what will we gain by a return to the
“old system?” Is it not more likely that the three
Judges of the Supreme Court, yvho are chosen out of
the bar of the State for their superior intelligence and
virtue, will decide the law correctly than tho Judges of
the various circuits ? Will not tho decisions of the
Supreme Judges be more consistent and uniform than
those of the Circuit Judges ? And arc not the costa of
suit as great on anew trial, whioh the Judges under
the “old eyalsm were allowed to grant ad libitum , as
in an appeal to the Supreme Court ? We take it,
therefore, that in accuracy and uniformity, tho present
system has the advantage over the old cne, aud that
costs and continuances are about even. We would
J gain nothing, therefore, in these respeots, by a return
to the old system.
But under the present system, we contend that there
i is more freedom enjoyed than under the old system. —
i The rioh and influential man is more likely to control
| one man than three men. Besides, a Circuit judge is
! more likely to be prejudiced than the Supreme judges,
i He lives in daily contact with tho clients who come into
j his court; li3s his friends and his enemies ;is indebt
ied to this man for his election ; and owes that one a
| grudge for a fierce opposition j and necessarily sympa
j thizes with public feeling. He may, therefore, bo prej
udiced in his decisions. Yet under the “old system’ 1
there was no redress. Fif a snitor should get anew trial,
there sits his enemy as judge. And if he should be a cor
rupt man, woe bs to the poor man who ha 9 incurred his
hostility. And when great interests are at stake, may
not the election turn ppcm the known leanings of can
didates in suits pending t These are insuperable objec
tions to the “old system.”
It m3y bo answered, that these objections apply to
the present aystem. This is true to some extent ; but
three men are harder to move than one ; besides, the
judges of the Supreme Court reside in different parts of
the State, belong to different parties, are under different
and often opposing influencec ; and are removed from
local prejudices and excitements. The chances are all in
favor of a more impartial decision under our present
judicial system, than under the old system.
And when we remember that no system can be con
structed which is free from defects, we will be less apt
to find fault aud be content to accept that system which
gives the strongest assurances of impartiality.
As'to how the Court shall be organized, there is some
room for controversy ; but all civilized people argue
that a Court of Errors, of some sort, is an absolute ne
cessity.
Columbus Jockey Club.
At a meeting of the subscribers to the Jockey Club
proposed to be formed in this city held on the 7 th Feb
ruary, a respectable number of the subscribers being
present, John L. Muatain was called to the chair, and
A. H. Cooper, requested to act as Secretary pro tempo
re—after the transaction of some preliminary business
an election was gone into for officers of tho club which j
resulted in the unanimous choice of the following gen
tlemen : Col. Thacker B. Howard, President, John
L. Mustain, Vice President, and R. C. Forsyth Sec’y
and Treasurer.
Resolved, That this club shall beknown as the Columbus j
Jockey Club , and that the amount of subscription be 1
Twenty Dollars per annum.
The Columbus Jockey Club , at a meeting on the j
10th February, adopted the following arrangement of !
races and purses for the first meeting, Gih March next, i
Ist day—best three in five $250.
2d day—-Colt stake S2OO entrance, SIOO forfeit ; i
S3OO added by the Club, provided two or more star;. i
3rd day—2 mile heats—Jockey Club purse, S3OO j
4tb day—3 mile heats—Jockey Club purse, $450 j
sth day—4 mile heats—Jockey Club purse, $750
Change of Schedule. —Wo see by the Savannah
papers that on the 20th inst,, the oars will leave that
city at 4 P. M., in time for the train which leaves Ma
con at 3 o'clock A. M , sud arrive at Columbus at 8
; o’clock A. M.
i The ears will leave Columbus on the same date at
‘2 1-4 p. M.
Death of Patrick Adams. —This worthy citizen
| departed this life cn Thursday, 15th inst., deeply re*
j gretted by a large circle of friends, whose confidence
j and respect he hai secured by his uniformly consistent
| and upright beating. He was a native of Ireland, and
, came to this city, many years ago, with nothing to re
| commend him but his skill and industry, as a master
| mechanic. By presevering effort and scrupulous iateg
| rity he acquired comparative wealth and general esteem.
I Burnt to Dbate. —A negro bouse on the plantation
of Dr. R : chard H. Lockhart, accidently took fire and !
was totally consumed on the 13th inst. A negro child, I
about five years old, was in the house at the time, and j
though its mother made great efforts to save it, even at
the risk of her own lift*, it fell a victim to the flames.
Warmth of Affection—Cold Comfort.— Married, on a
ice tn tiie Ohio river, opposite Rising Sun,
on Thursday, January 30, by the Rev. Mr. Coilard, Rev.
James H. Brooking to Miss Sal lie Craig, ail of Boone
county, Rv,
Acknowlsdgements.—-Oar thanks are due te lion, j
Win, C. Dawson for valuable public documents, among j
which are a “Compendium of the U. S. Census of 1 830,” |
and a volume of “Maps and Views” accompanying tho
President’s message and documents.
[fOR THX TIMKS’aSD BENTINIt.j
Messrs. Editors. —Permit me, through your paper, to
direct the attention of the parties in interest, to the fact sta
ted in a communication to the “Enquirer,” of yesterday,
over the signature of “Stockholder.” If the assertion there
in contained be true, it argues, very forcibly, that there is
“something rotten” elsewhere than “in Denmark.” The
writer of tho article referredjto states, |upon information,
that a contract has been concluded between the Muscogee
Road and certain parties, for the carriage of through freight
between the depots of the Muscogee and Opehka roads, at
$1.50 per ton, and 7 cents per foot for measurement goods,
’ vhen it was understood, that responsible persons were wil
i ing to take the contract, at one half the price per ton, and
5 cents per foot. Now, l say, if this be substantially true, it
behooves the proprietors of stock in these roads, to demand
an investigation of the conduct of their agents in this re
gard. If 1 understand the duty of persons acti gin that
capacity, it is to protect and foster the interests of their
principals, the Stockholders. Now, it must be obvious,
upon the slightest reflection .that by every reduction of these
charges, the roads are benefitted. First, because, if the
through freight were to remain the same, the treasuries
c f the railroad companies respectively, would be enriched
by the amount of the reduction: but second, and chiefly,
since we have an active competition for these freights, in
the Georgia & Atlanta and Lagrange roads, it is the poli
cy and interest of all parties concerned in this lower line,
to bring all the expenses down to the lowest practicable
minimum piico. It cannot be denied that freight £w iii find
the cheapest route. I, therefore, second the motion of a
“Stockholder.” JAMES W. WARREN.
The State of Georgia and the Kinney Expeditionists.
The Washington correspondent of the Baltimore
.Argus says :—Col. 11. L. Kitiney, of Central American
notoriety, has gone to Philadelphia to purchase aeteam
•er for the use of Ins contemplated expedition. It is
thought that be will select the steamer State of Geor
gia, her owners having expressed a desire to sell her to
the expeditionists.
Passage of tho Prohibitory Liquor Law by tho Illinois
Legislature, Etc.
Chicago, Feb. 10.
The prohibitory liquor law bill was returned by the
Senate to the House of Assembly, with amendments.
The amendments were concurred in, and the bill finally
passed by a vote of ayes 51 ; nays, 17.
Resolutions were passed instructing Senators in Con
gress from this State to oppose any slave States being
formed in the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
Reported Expedition against Cuba.
New Orleans, Feb. 9.
; A. portion of an expedition against Cuba is uuder
| stood to have left this and other Southern ports during
| the past few days, and the remainder are to follow short
i ly. The total enlistment iu this enterprise, it is said,
| reaches 3,500 men. The proceedings have been con
| ducted with the greatest secresy, and we are unable to
i gather any further particulars.
From Havana.
New Orleans, Feb. 14.
| The Empire City has arrived from New York with
t advices from Havana to the 10th inst. They fully con
| firm the accounts received at Charleston by the Isabel,
j Gen. Concha is well aware of the designs of the fil
| libusters in the United States. Col. Kinney is Chief
of the expedition, but Geus. Quitman and Henderson
j are the prime movers. The Pampero will convey part
iof tho expedition. Saveu hundred acres of land are
i offered to each soldier.
From Washington.
Washington, Feb. 15.
j The Senate has passed the bill for granting the right
j of way for a subterranean telegraph to California,
j The House has passed the bill reorganizing the Navy,
; with the amendment, and then went into committee of
| the Whole.
; A bill authorizing the building of seven sloops of
I war has also been passed.
Washington, Feb. ]5, P. M.
! The Senate, yesterday, discussed the Indian Appro
j priation bill. The House passed a bili appropriating
; $125,000 to erect defences at the terminus of the Gulf
Railroad. The steam sloop bill was killed. The reso
lution to fulfill the 9th Ar'tiola of the Spanish treaty,
of ISI9 involving $1,000,000 was tabled.
Excitement at Y.—Littlejohn burnt in Effigy.
New Youk, Feb. 15.
; Intelligence from Albany states that Mr. Littlejohn,
I Speaker of the House of Assembly and one of the
; most prominent members of the Legislature, was burned
iin effigy in that city. Much excitement existed in eon
-1 sequence.
The Spanish Consul. —Proceedings have been com
menced against the Spanish Consul—damages laid at
SIO,OO0 —for an assault and battery on the young
Cuban, Hernandez, in the late attempt to remove him
from this country to Cuba. Carnobeli, the agent who
acted in the affair, has been arrested for the same
olience, and heid to bail in the sum of $2,000.
Veto of the French Spoliation Bill.
Baltimore, Ftb. 15.
The President has vetoed the French Spoliation
bill.
The Senate has passed tho Indian Appropriation bill,
and was engaged in discussing the Pacific Railroad
bil.
The House had under consideration tho Ocean Mail j
Steamship's bill.
Change of Operations in the Eastern War.
j Baltimore, Feb. 16.
Considerable change will be made in the plan of at*
tacaing Seuasiopcl. A land movement will be made
to prevent supplies reaching the Russian camp from Ink
c-rman, by anew road ntade by them.
The English have been compelled to give up thei?
i position iu line to the French, owing to the want ofm?n
! to defend them.
j Sorties are made by the Russians every night, with
j considerably loss on both sides.
On the loth January, the snow continued to fall and
j had at that time reached a depth of four feet.
The preparations to resume the bombardment were
actively progressing.
On the 17th the firing was nearly suspended, both
sides seeking shelter from the snow’.
The health of the English soldiers was impro
ving.
On the 22nd the weather was fine, —plenty of
supplies—shot, shell and clothing, but no huts had j
arrived. j
Galvanic apparatus for exploding 20 lons of powder
against the sunken ships at the entrance of the harbor
had also arrivtd at Balaklava.
It is expected that the explosion of this immense qoan*
t : ty of powder fc will damage the foundations of Forts
Constantine and Alexander,
Telegraphed for the Times & Sentinel.
Washington, Feb. 17, 1855.
The veto on the French Spoliation bill is yet doubtful,
as it has not been sent to the House.
Private dispatches from Loudon say that Lord Russell
resigned because Lord Aberdeen refused to recall Lord
Raglan.
Palmerston refused to accept the Premier’s office, except
upon the same condition.
—©*—
Caucus Nominations for U. S. Senator from
Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg, Feb. 12.
The democratic members of the Legislature met iu
caucus to-night, 26 in number, and nominated Charles
S. Buckalew, of Columbia, for U. S. Senator. The
Whig caucus, Sin number, nominated Thomas Williams,
of Alleghany. The caucus of the Know Nothing bolt
ears, 33 in number, is still in session and the feeling is
intense.
The result to-morrow is looked upon as uncertain,
and efforts will be made to stave off the election.
Philadelphia, Feb. 15.
Intelligence from Harrisburg says that the Legislature
have not yet made choice of a U. S. Senator. The
tlection has been postponed for a fortnight.
Gov. Wright, of Indiana, has withdrawn from the Meth
odist Church, assigning, as a reason, that his pastor was a
Know Nothing.
Arrival of the Northern. Light.
New York, Feb. 15.
The steamship Northern Light, from California, has ar
rived.
The flour warehouse of Messrs. Neaman & Cos., in Pearl
street, New York, has been destroyed by fire. The loss is
| estimated at $60,000j insured for $40,000.
The Latest from Omaha City.
I Caicago, Feb. 12, 1355.
We have received here, by the arrival of the mail, dates
from Omaha City, Nebraska, to January 30th, and we learn
that both Houses of Assembly have passed a bill locating
the capital of Nebraska at Omaha City, opposite Council
Bluffj and that the Governor lias signed the bill.
Hard upon the Demooacy. --The Legislature of Il
linois, not satisfied with the election of an anti-Nebraska
man to the Senate, have passed a prohibitory liquor
law. If carried out, this finishes the spoils of dernoera
oy in Illinois.
Another Patent Extension Choked Off. —The House
j of Representatives on Saturday 10th, gave the finishing
blow to the bill for the renewal of the patent for Moore
i & Haseall’s reaping machine. Let no favoritism be
I shown. Send them all off* with Coi. Colt. Why
I “make fish of odc and flesh of another ?” They are
■ all fishy.
- State Road. —We have been informed that tho
Road was cleared of all freights temaining over, by
reason of the break in the transit at the Hightower,
and that as early as Monday last the bridge was ready
for the freighc wagons. This was promised the public,
as we took occasion to say, last week, bat we had no
sort of expectation that the promise could be realized.
The Road, most fortunately, at the time of tho accident
to the bridge, had fix freight and two passenger en
gines above the Hightower, and the robing stock with
; this power, will be amply sufficient to keep business
going. For this desirable state of things we are much.
| indebted to good luck, but much more to undaunted
j resolution and energy.— Atlanta Intelligencer , loth
j A Camp of Runaways Arrested. —A camp of runa
j way negroes were discovered yesterday by a detachment
! of the police near Fort Jackson, and four of the ccou
i pants arrested and placed in a more suitable apartment,
| within the city. The camp is said to have been well
\ provided with provisions, cooking utensils &0., also
: several instruments of music, and a musket,
i ‘I he police have been ou the lookout some time for
| this organized band. They were taken while attempt
j ing to land from a boat, and one or two of the follows
i were disposed to show fight, but backed out when they
i had to look down six barrelled revolvers. Ono of them
! has been in the woods six months, and another twelve,
’ and the gang have been quite an annoyance to tho
i neighboring plantations. Their supply of provisions was
| very abundant, consisting of beef, pork, whole bogs &c.,
1 &c.— Savannah Jour. Jj* Cour., 15 th.
Fred Bouglas in Assembly Chamber.
Albany, Feb. 9, 1855.
I he moment the House was called to order this morning,
it appeared evident that the majority had concocted some’
programme not laid down in the regular order of business
Motions were made, siriatim, to lay all regular orders on
the table,down to motions and resolutions, and all adonted
Before, however, the grand object was arrived at*Mr.
O Keefe rose and said lie held in his hand a respectful com
munication addressed to him, which lie desired to prefer’
to the House.
‘‘Read for information,” “Let us know what you mean ”
j ‘Vve want to hear it read ” &c., resounded from all parts
j of the hall. * *
j O Keefe sain Mr. fepesker, I wnSI read the letter.
| he read as follows:
i rT _ Delavan House. Friday, Feb. 9, 1855.
1 o ths Hon. David O’Keefe, Member of Assembly:
I- * r i! - V ou ploase ask the u s e of the Assembly chamber on
; V edoesday evening ; and/if engaged, on Friday, for Frede-
I r i , Douglass to speak ? Subject—“ The Rights of Man.”
And oblige your obedient seivant,
„. n>Lr ~ , , STEPHEN MYERS.
i.li. O Keefe moved that the privilege he granted, which
was seconded by Mr. Stevens. There is no reason why
this privilege shall not be granted. He hoped it would be
cione
Mr. Yv aterbury took the same view. He admiral talent,
whether m biaek on white men.
Mr-Magee objected to giving the use of the chamber.
A Member inquired which Douglas wanted the use of <
t:ie chamber ?
A Voice—Frederick Douglass. The House, during the j
last len days, ha? been nlieJ with abolitionists and we may
as well admit the most interested champion.
Mr. O’Keefe said that as tho Temperance Society had j
used the chamber, it should in justice be given to Douglass. ,
Finally, after half an hour spent in a colloquial manner, i
the request was unanimously granted. So on Friday even- !
ing of neat week, this abolition Legislature wi.l have the j
satidaeton of listening to a speech from Fred Douglas, the :
most talented of them all.
Ben Jonson and the Lord.
Lord Craven was very desirous to see Ben Johnson*
i which being told to Ben, he went to the Lord's house;
1 but being in a very tattered condition, the porter refused
j him admittance with some sauey language which th<\other
| did not failj.o return. Mr. Loid, happening to come out
: while they were wrangling, asked the occasion of it.
Ben, who stood in need of nobody to speak for him, said
he understood his lordship desired to see him. ‘‘You,
friend V* said my lord, “who arej’ou ?” “Ben Jonson,’ 5
replied the other, “No, no,”quoth his jordship, “you can
not he Ben Jonson, who wrote ‘The Silent Woman ;’you
look as if you could not say boo to a goose.’ 5 “800, 55
crisd Ben. “Very well, 55 said my lord, better pleased at
the joke than offended at the affront; “J am now convin
ced you are Ben Jenson. 55
Internal Improvement Bill3 Passed'the Senate.
Among the bills passed by the Senate on Wednesday
last, was the‘‘Bill to appropriate money to remove the ob
siructions in the S. vannah river, below the city of Savan
nah, in the State of Geogia.” The bill appropriates sl6l,
000 for that purpose. Bills were also passed for the im
provemeiit of the navigation of the Mississippi, Missouri,
Ohio, San Diego, and St. Mary’s livers, and the harbor of
Newark, New Jersey, and alto a bill making appropriations
lor’the continuation and repair of certain public works in
the State of Maine heretofore commenced under the author,
ity of law, and a bill making an appropriation lor the im
provement of the Delaware breakwater.
E3A bill was also passed by the Senate, providing for the
improvement of the navigation of the Patapsco river, and to
render the port of Baltimore accessible to the war steamers
of the United States. The amount appropriated was re
duced from $300,000 to and the bill passed by a
vote of yeas 29, nays 7.
Railroad Meeting.
McDonough, Feb. 6th 1855.
Pursuant to previous notice published by the Committee
appointed for Henry county at a recent meeting held in
Griffin, a large number ot the citizens ol Henry county met,
this day, in the Court House at McDonough, for the pur
pose of more maturely laking into consideration, the con
struction of a Railroad from Covington via McDonough
and Grffin to Columbus, Ga.
On motion, Abel A. Lemon was called to the Chair, and
George i\l. Nolan requested to act as Secretary.
The meeting being then organized, the following reso
lutions were presented by Col R. M. Stell, and alter being
read they we:e unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the citizens of Henry county are deeply
in the present movement of constructing a Railroad from
Covington to Columbus via McDonough and Griffin Hand
that the county of Henry will build her i art of said Road.
Resolved, That the chairman of this meeting appoint a
Committee of three—one from the county of Spalding, ono
from tho county of Henry, and one from the county of
Newton, whose duty it shall be, on or before the 25th of
this month, to procure a competent Surveyor at a reasonable
salary, to survey and locate said Road from the city us
Covington, on theUeorgia Railroad to the city of Griffin,
and that said Committee mijke report thereof to the chair
man of this meeting,sett ing forth the probable amount it
will require to procure the right of way and to construct
said Road from the city of Covington to the city of Griffin,
and that said report be published.
Resolved, That as soon as said Road shall be surveyed
and located, and the right of way procured,—the county of
Henry will be ready to go to work on its construction.
Resolved, That the counties of Spalding, Henry and
Newton are requested to meet in convention on the 2d
Wednesday in March next, in the city of Griffin, for tho
purpose of receiving and’eonsideriug the report of the com
mitted aforesaid, find for the purpose of ordeiing a survey
of the Road aforesaid—and for the purpose of organizing in
sucha way that operations may ba commenced on said
Road during the present year.
Resolved, That each of the counties named be requested
to appoint and send to said convention, twenty one delegates
who shall be authorized to act definitely in reference to all
the objects of said convention.
The chairman, under the second resolution as adopted,
appointed Dr. J. N. Simmons, of the county ot Spalding ;
Levi H. Turner, ofthe county of Henry ; and W. W. Clark,
of the county of Newton, as a committee to procure a com
petent surveyor to survey and locate said Road.
The chairman, under the. last resolution as adopted, ap
pointed the following gentlemen as delegates to represent
the county of Henry in ihe convention to he held in city of
Griffin,on the 2d Wednesday in March next:
Jno. Stillwel, H. Tomlinson, L. T. Doyal, R. M. Stell
j J. A. Thrasher,- P. B. Turner, J. H. Low, E. L. Gresham,
j T. D. Weeins, A. W. Walker, J. Moore, A. J. Cloud,
I S. W. Clement*, E. W. Beck, A. Cleveland, J. J. Turner,
j A. Price, J. Thompson, J. Crockett and Win. Greyer.
Ou motion, the chairman, A. A. Lemon, and the seeieta
l ry,G. M. Nolan, were added to the delegation,
j On motion, the following gentlemen were appointed a
| committee to solicit a voluntary contribution from the citi
zens of Henry of a sufficient amount for the county of Hen
ry to pay the Surveyor selected to survey and locate said
Road, viz: Adam C. Sloan, Quim-ev R. Nolan, Jno.
Crockett, Dr. F. E. Manson and Col. T. M. Speer.
The meeting was then addressed bv Dr. J. N. Simmons,
I of Spalding, Col. L. T. Doyal and Col. R. M. Stell, of
McDonough. Great enthusiasm prevailed during the meet
ing. . ‘ * -
On motion , ordered, That the proceedings of this meeting
be published in the Augusta, Griffin and Columbus papers,
and all others friendly to the eutorprize. The meeting then
adjourned.
ABEL A. LEMON, Chm’a.
Geo. M. Nolan, Sec’y.
i Know Nothings—lt is dangerous to Southern Insti
tutions.
The evils it preposts to remedy do not exist at the
i South, and the remedies it proposes for them cannot be
I effected by federal agency. It is a movement in which
! the South has iu fact.no part nor lot. The organization
can be turned to no advantage of heis. and may be turn
ed to her destruction. It is as much as she can do to
prevent the federal government, rigidly limited in its pow
ers as it is, from encroaching upon lur rights. It
would be madness for her citizens to bind themselves by
| secret oaths to obey an organization, limited by no invio- ‘
lable compact, self-constituted, irresponsible, and control!-
cd absolutely, as wo are inclined to believe, by councils
of Northern faction ists, fusion ists, and lunatics. Al
ready it is said a grand national convocation has had the
canvass ot \ irginia under tender consideration, and none
know but that the candidate who shall be voted for by the
opposition in State Rights Virginia, must needs obtain
first the august imprimatur of grand worthy patriarchs of
the North, like Wilson, Pollock and Uilman.
It has taken root chiefly iu Southern villages and cress
roads, whre Southern agriculturalists are fewest, and
where the lianaierattsmen ot the work shops aud white
adventurers collect together and abound. We doubt if
nine out of every ten of the Northern resideirs in Yir
gffiia do not belong to these councils that hold incessant
secret correspondence with their confederates beyond the
Potomac- Abolitionism never conceived a plan better
calculated to disseminate its tenets and advance its ink;-
na! plans of incendiarism at the South than this sjstA.i
of secret clubs of unknown novitiates. The non-slate-
j holders of the South, reared upon her soil, and “to th;
; manor burn,” are as true to her institutions, and even
j more uncompromising in the defence ot them, than the
! owners of thousands of slaves. But yet, lo slaveholci
| ing community thonld look with aught but severe distrust
• upon a secret jrolitical institution, that absorbs almost ew
ry Northerner and uou slaveholder in its towns and vii*
I luges ; that binds itself by secret oaths to co-operate with
j Northern co-ordinate clubs • which, unlike any other
i secret society, conceals the membership of Us votaries
J and which holds incessant secret correspondence for j-o
----| litica! purposes with its Northern confederates.
Besides, cui bor,o , to what end shall we tolerate this
! organization at the fcbuth ? We have i.o paupers. We
; have few foreigners amongst us t.hat are not useful, r-.-
{ spec table, moral, industrious people. The O.tir ! •
| Church here is not obtrusive,* intolerant or oversltai*
! owing, and we are in very little danger from the Pope or
’ his Cnureh, seeing that not one ol its Priests at the
i North signed the protest of the 3,050 Protestant citrgy*
1 men against the Nebiaska Kansas Bill,
j Tho evils it proposes to renr dy are not Southern, but
i No. thorn. The New York - nbum and the Northern
: Aboiiibnists have been enticing our slaves away from
I us, aud welcoming pauper foreigners amongst tin*’
at the valuation of u thousand jiol iars a head—chuckling
1 that the South could fiol get them — until vagabonds and
beggars cover their land, as the frogs and locusts of
Egypt. Know Nothing ism is the remedy for these
Northern {file lions : and should be kept at home where
these evils exclusively exist. Northerners have been
her a* ing us idxm. slavery too long to expect hefo In'-
us in eradicating a “cuts.:” of their own. Foreiguisni a
their own domestic evd, over which we have no rightful
control. It isfiga n tour p<. ltical principles to meddle with
the domestic ufiaks of Northern States ; and we should
not indirectly sanction their own intrusive intervention m
our affairs, by enlist tig in a secret movement which was
originated as a corrective of Northern diseases, but the
machinery of which might be turned with disastrous tt
fect against the S nth!— Richmond Examiner.
i Circuit Court. — This court was engaged for a greater
j part of the day, yesterday, in the trial of the suit of W .P
I Mangutn vs. Cox k Waring, it appears that in 1853 a
negro belonging to plaintiff ran away and secreted iiitrse!’
upon a steamboat belonging to defendants; the boat left
for Montgomery and the negro was not discovered until
alter she had proceeded some way on her passage ; fo*
when detected ire was secured, and on the arrival ot d je
boat at Montgomery, he was committed to jail, while
boat proceeded higher up the river, her officers intending
to take him back th his owner on their downward ‘- r: r I
however, before the return of the boat, he sickened in die
jail and died ; whereupon his owner brought su-t
the proprietors of the boat for the vaiue of the slave, uude*
the statute wh ; ch provides that if a .-lave die in the p -
session or employment of a per-on who has not a written
authority for sueh employment, from his owner, sorb •*
person sbail be liable for his value. His Honor ruled t**-
the statute did not apply in cases where the p ss ssiofl 0
the slave was inv luntary, and, accordingly, a verdict ‘>'••
rendered for defendants. .
Mr. Boyles appeared for plaintiff, and Geo. N. 3i* whl •
Esq., for defendants.— Mobile Advertiser, B th inti