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F Augusta, (Ea. Thursday niuruhig Nev. 8, 1849. ’ JAMES iH. SIiVTUE. Editor and Publisher. ANDREW H. H. DAWSON, Assistant Editor. ILTTIie Office of the Republic hat been removed to the Brick Building; first door below the Kagle and Phoenix Hotel. ST Mr. Win. Ulagget being no longer the Agent of the Republic, we respectfully req ties our subscribers and advertising friends, wh> have waited to be called upon by Agents, U transmit amounts due us by rnnil. XTThere were 27 deaths in Charleston du ring the last week—l 2 by strangers fever, ant all adults. EFAdvertisetneitts omitted Uiis morning will be attended to in our next. UTWe give up our reading columns to-day almost exchteieely to the Governor’s Message, the Foreign News, and our Editorial Corres pondence. [Editorial Correspondence.] Milledgeville, Nov. 5. Doubtless there are more names before the Legislature for office, that was omitted in the list furnished you yesterday, than that list con tained. We trust that no gent'emau who is a candidate fbr any of those offices, whose name was omitted, will attribute to us any de sign whatever against him. Nearly all of them are utter strangars to us, and we gave every name that, at the time we wrote, we could obtain. Among the topics on the tapis, full of in terest, the approaching election of Judge for the Supreme Bench ranks first. Extraordi naryexertions will be made to defeat the re election of the learned and able gentleman who has adorned thdt post of honor and responsi bility, for four years, with such signal satisfac tion to the public, and credit, alike to himself, -the profession, that court, and the country. With his Honor Judge Warner wo have but a slight personal acquaintance, and we do not propose to advocate his re-election upon any grounds that could entitle ns to his especial fa vor. Change positions, and we would deplore liia election ns a public calamity,—one that would promise nothing and threaten much. We would urge his re-election, however, upon far higher considerations than prominent merits in him, or any contrast that may exist, in his favor, between him and any other can didate. The ground we take looks over the approbation of any man, to the peace of society, to the permanency and prosperity of the law, to the popularity and utility of the Supreme Court, and to the weal of the people over whose SBcrGil rights it sets in final judgment — afid it is simply this, wo hold that the trite maxim, «It were better the Jaw were settled wrong than not settled at all,” is a good one—and that every change that takes place on the Bench of the Supreme Court must have a fatal proclivity to unsettle the law. The design of the Supreme Court was to settle the law, and rid the land of litigation. perpetually changing its Judges, to gra- the ambition of this man, and the whim of F that, and the result must inevitably be, that, instead of settling, you will unsettle the law; Bknd that, instead of preventing the multiplica- ' aims, tho courts uJI be flooded with ■ •» " s ■ then, a sorely troubled client, receive, from the lions of the Bar will be ■"Yesterday, the Supremo Court held (he law tto be thiis and so—to-morrow, that Court willl Mfot be composed of the same elements, and its decision will be upon the same facts, or rather principles, no mortal man can tell.” Old wars then must be fought over; the pains and penalties of anxiety endured for another season, discontent must ensue, opposition to the institution of a Court of Errors will spring up, and tho people will rise in the majesty of their might and crush its life out. Dema gogues will frequent the hustings, and genius ' will be prostituted to misrepresent and abuse I that noble bulwark of public justice—Ridicule will hurl many a malignant missile at its vul nerable heel—Shadows will be magnified into ■pectres—garbled reports of its decisions will he corruptly palmed upon the unsuspecting and uninformed. It will take no convulsion of heaven and earth to dispatch such an insti tution in our State, and ils real friends ought to guard it with a sleepless vigilance. Suppose a new Judge is elected—upon what ground will his election be placed ?—Superior qualifications of course. Any other explana-1 tion, of such a result would grossly insult the men that did it, and I trust slander them too. Then every decision made by the Supreme Court, in which Judge Warner ahd only one of the Judges concurred, is no longer with any probable degree of certainty, the law of the lamb His successor will not follow in his he’ll not prove himself supe rior to Judge Warner (perhaps) and that was the only ground upon which he was elected. If he maintains Judge Warner’s decisions, and holds them all to be the law, such a conclusion will be a bil(er commentary upon the removal of Judge Warner. We want the people of Georgia to know what their rights are, after they have been bled in the parse to invoke the learning of the Bar, lhe judgment of the highest tribunal in tho land, and we seriously apprehend if they are tampered with much by continual changes thry'll take occasion to speak, and that too to the purpose. There ia another important reason why Judge Warner should sit where he is—he has been there for four years. Judge* ere not, like spiteful crit ics, “ready made.” Il take* experience, prac tice, labor and time to make a Judge. It quires “ the lucubrations sf twenty years” ,o make a Lawyer. A Judge must be a profound Lawyer or he will be a weak Judge. There are many other important offices to bo filled. With them wo have nothing to do. The man that is elected to fill many of them ■will be a lucky wight. For it matters | not what office it is gentlemen of at least equal ability will have to be defeated by his ejection; and we do not conceive that the interest of the country is involved to one tenth of the extent in any of these elections, it is in the election for Judgeof the Supreme Court. Against the ta lented, affirblejopponenta of Judge Warner, we have nothing to say. They, for aught we know, may be superior men, even to him. That is a , question we hold, however, too niceand'Miffi cult, to settle with certainty, and, even if we knew they were, we would oppose their elec tion to the last, on the ground that the prece dent would be a dangerous one to give those who come after us, and would have a direct tendency to curse the Bench with the leprosy of polities. »*•*. [Editorial Correspondence.] Milled OEVtcLR. Nov. <l. Dr. Geo. D. Phillips, of Habersham, was hoallad to the Chair, in the House, about 10, Lk, M A her the reading of the certificates of Wr i? l i V •it liiiiiTDi ift Jj 1j A. Jj 1. •'.-■•* ISlii' LlJji „....- - „ - - BY JAMES M. SMYTHE, Mm. J JoUtttal, bCVOtci) to N'tlUS, jJolttltS, iWlfc fitaaturt, ®eneral Jutelliaenu, &r. ANDREW H. H. DAWSON, • - - ASSISTANT EDITOR. S - * ——— RATES OF ADVERTISING. sertion, and ten cents for each subsequent inser- Teran»..TWO BOLLABS a yaar, invariably in advance. th«: - the advertising is considerable, these s monte. low ratei may be somewhat reduced. Or $2,50 if uot paid withia twe moottw. gr? )?-£/■-* 1 ■—- >s For occasional advertisements, if over six lines, [fy’Trai.sient Advertisements and Special vek three cents per line for the first insertion, and two Notices, double the above rates. T ■ Weekly, per anwam in advance $4 0(1 “* ■ - a® cents lor each subsequent insertion. [CPostage must be pa-don all coinntuuica- Or $5.00 if act paid within two months. x; I— ls six lines, or less, twenty ets. fcr the firet in- tious and letters of business. VOLLA££ 11. election, the usual oath was administered to the members elect, in a very impressive man ner, by his Honor Judge Floyd. The election for Speaker then came on, and the vote stood : Ist ballot. 2J. 3rd. 4th. Jenkins, 61 61 61 59 Anderson, 36 48 58 66 Jones, 16 *lO * 2 ’ Lawton, 11 6 4 Blank, 4 3 4 Whereupon the Chair announced to the House that Col. Anderson, of Chatham, was duly elected. The Hon. C. J. Jenkins then moved that a committee bo appointed to inform Col. Anderson of the result, and conduct him to the Speaker’s chair. Messrs. Jenkins, Jones, and Walford were appointed, and im mediately discharged their duty. Col. Auder son, upon taking his seat, addressed the House with a few brief, pertinent and very happy re marks. He seems to be a very dignified gen tleman, endowed with a more than ordinary mind, and no doubt will discharge the respon sible duties of his high offi :e with good faith and deciJed ability. We are gratified, tlial, since our beau-ideal of a Speaker could not preside over that assembly this winter, they have called to that chair a gentleman who re flects so much credit upon the body that elect ed him. The House adjourned at 12, M, to meet at 3, P. M., and at that hour met,and proceeded to elect their Clerk. First Ballot —Harrison, 66; Battle, 11; Crook, 30; DeGraffenried, 15; Powers, 4; Campbell, 2; Johnson, I. This settled the election in favor of Mr. Harrison, of Stewart county. This result came upon the democratic party like a peal of thunder from a cloudless sky, and the exulta tion of a few rather impulsive young whigs over the victory, settled another thing, to wit: that no other whig would get an office. There are thirty-two candidates fbr Door Keeper, and no election has yet been had. I« the Senate, Mr. Wafford was elected, on the first ballot, President; Mr. Glenn,of Grif fin, Secretary, on the sth fiallpt; AV. L. Ro gers. of Telfair, was elected Messenger, and A. 1). Mitchell, Door Keeper, of the Senate. That body adjourned about 4 o’clock, P- M. It has been remarked by the oldest citizens of Milledgeville that they nover saw the city, ,so crowded upon such an occasion before. Huson told us last night that he boarders in his house, and had turned a hundred and fifty. Deme crowds have been congregated, for three days, in front of Hu son's Hotel and also the Harry Clay House. Milledgeville is sl-ye with beauty, and no doubt on next Wednesday night it will shine. »♦»», Arrival' of the Hibernia. New York, Nov. 6, 10 A. M. The English papers have come to hand. The London Times makes the sales of the week ending 19th Oct. 131,570 bales On I the 19th, the cotton market closed with sales I of only about 700 bales. Dates from Paris to the 10th Oet. state that ; during a debate in the French Assembly on ! the Roman question, an altercation took place i between M. Thiers and M. Bixio, the latter ! charging the former with saying that Napo leon’s election would disgrace franco. A duel immediately ensued, but neither were hurt. The Havre Cotton market was greatly ex cited, and the sales of the week reached ' 20,000 bales at nine francs advance? i Arrival or ths Steamer Washington ' The steamer Washington arrival at New York lon the 6th inst., with a heavy cargo. She i brings one day’s latter advices. She also brings 150 passengers, among [ whom arc Mr. Rush, our later Minirter to to Franco, and Bishop Southgate. The Havre Cotton market was very active and advancing, I The Turks were preparing for war. Sevoral of tho first nobles of Hungary have been executed. New York, Nov. 5. Cotton —The Market to-day is firm with sales of 3000 bales. Fair Uplands quoted a* lift, Orleans 12£. Jimmy O’Neil, who was, during the admin istration of General Jackson, doorkeeper of the President’s House, was buried a few mornings ago. When Jackson left the city, in 1837, ho look O'Neil to Tei>iM>seee wall fom, and, it is said, gave him a piece of property, as a substaniial token of regard. After the old hero died. Cave Johnson, the Postmaster General,made him a messenger in the Depart ment, from which station, wo believe, he was removed two or three months ago by Mr. Col lamer. Visitors at Washington in other days will recollect his uniform politeness. He was a native ot Ireland, and possessed a warm and generous heart. Many anecdotes were once I Fold of the deceased. On one occasion, having attended a party of convivial friends it was said that Im drank a little too much, and this became known to General Jackson, who was ! fond of cracking a joke with him. The Gen ■ end sent for him and remarked, “ Jemmy, I’ve heard a bad story about you.” ” About me, , sir ? ” he inquired ; and smiling continued, « And I have heard a good many bad stories about your Excellency; but I don't believe them.” The General informed him that he could depart and attend to [his business. — [Baltimore Clipper’s Correspondence. Commercial intelligence. Ofnci of the Republic, ) November 9, 1849. $ At'GI'STA MARKET. On Tuesday morning the accounts being at hand of a considerable rise in Liverpool, allho’ the market was quoted duller on the last day, quite an excitement was created in our market — and above 1000 bales were sold at from J to | advance, but late in lbs evening the demand fell off and the prices of the mooting could not be ob tained ; yesterday the market was very quiet, and the bushiest very limited. Buyers are awaiting the frill accounts ere they operate to any extent. FREIGHTS.—Our river has fallen consider ably and the boats cannot carry off but very light le«J». GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ) Milledgeville, Nov. 6, 1849. $ Fellow-citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives: Ah the Representatives of tho people, you have convened to perform impo taut public duties. The simple machji&ry of our form of Govern ment, by the operation of which this responsible trust is confided, is not to be appreciated more for the power and confidence conferred upon you, than for the quiet and almost imperceptible pro cess .by which, without commotion, those who lately occupied the places you now fill, have been disrobed of authority. In your deliberations as to the best means of directing aright the destiny of our growing State, of developing its resources, and elevating its char acter, you will not be unmindful that “ wisdom, justice, and moderation’* should be your guides and the mark of your highest ambition The operations of the Government since the adjournment of the last General Assembly, it is made my duty to lay before you. In detailing the transactions of a period of two years, it will not be remarkable if I should fail to impart to you the interest felt by myself in some of the many subjects that wilt he submitted ta your considera tion ; or if, in the attempt to do so, I should be ad judged as trespassing upon the limits prescribed by good taste for communications of this charac- It will be seen by reference to the last message of my predecessor, that the public debt at that time wa* $ 1 >579,875 60. (This sum exceeded the true amount, as has since been ascertained. $1,000.) At the session of 1847, $375,000 00 were appropriated for the completion of the Western and Atlantic Rail Road, and $22,222 22 for the payment of the claim of. Peter Trezevant —making the entire public debt and the liabilities incurred by the acts of 1847, $1,976,097 82 on the first day of January, 1848. The Bonds directed to be issued for the com pletion of the Western and Atlantic Rail Road, and for the payment of the claim of Peter Treze vant, were prepared with as little delay as possi ble ; the former were placed in the hands of the Chief Engineer, from time to time, to be applied to the construction of the railway from Dalton to Chattanooga, and the latter paid over to the Agent of Trezevant in discharge of his claim against the State. In addition to the Bouds re ferred to, before the close of the last session of the General Assembly, it was found necessary to make provision for the discharge of sundry obli gations, entered into by Gov. Crawford and the late Ghipf Engineer of the Western and Atlantic Rail Road, (Mr, Garp.ett,) with certain Banks and individuals, secured by the hypothecation of the State six per cent. Bonds, amounting to the aggregate sum of $183,500 00. This class of bonds was made to draw interest at the rate of 7 per cent ppr gnnnm. From the neat style in which they were gotten up, tfia facilities extended to the holders in collecting the; interest, as it fulls dne, at convenient commercial points, an addi tional yalue was imparted to these securities, that enabled me to efiput a_ satisfactory arrangement iPPKWcated* and also to redeem the obligations of the late Govern or and Chief Engineer, although, tn a few in stances, past dite. In this arrangement, it is grati fying to state, tnatlio bnrden was im posed upon the Treasury, except the smali ex pense incurred in preparing the bonds, conduct ing the negotiations, and the difference between tho rate es interest of the bonds hypothecated and the issue substituted under ifie act of 1847. Un der an act, passed at the last session, far the re lief of the Central Bank, bonds to the amount of $225,000 tyero issued in 1848, and $237,000 in the present year, to ipeot }hp Accruing liabilities falling due in th# same ppriod. At the ?lose of the fiscal year 1847, the bonded debt of the Bank was $500,452 80—it is now reported to me, by the Cashier, to be $447,000. The $500,452 80 wore drawing 8 per cent, in terest, tho present amount 7 per cent. By the sale of the bonds issued ip and 1849, there has been a saying to the Bank qn the interest ac count of about $6,870. This has been effected without the slightest shock to the credit of the Bank, or the least encroachment upon private rights. A registry of all the bonds issued under the authority of the different acts passed in 1847, 1)a,9 been carefully kept in this Department, which shpwti the number, date, when and where redeemable, the rate qf aqd when paya ble, and every material fact descriptive Os the bonds and the coupons thereto attached. Measures were taken, at an early day, to en gage the services of a reliable House in London, to whom remittances could be made to meet the iqtpreft, as it falls due, on the foreign debt, which is now reduced to —)he entire balance of the sterling bonds held by Messrs. Heid, Irving &■ Co. amounted to 15,130/ 65., with interest and commissions, having been paid early in 1848. The act of the 22d December, 1843, having pro vided a hind for the discharge of the Reid, Irving & Co. debt ouiy, S permanent sinking fund, the inquiry’ naturally at tne the last year, as to w hat application shou'd be made of a balance, which, it was then ascertain erf, yonld be in the Treasury at the close of the present year. BUteying it to be my duty not to | permit a large sum of the public mum?y to remain in the Treasury, idle and unproductive, and be-’ ing sustained in this view by the Financial Com mittee appointed at the close of the fiscal year 1848, 1 adopted 0)9 suggestion contained in theii report, herewith transmitted, and redeemed ot the bonds issued under tho act if 1547, far die completion pf the Western and Atlantic Rail Road, the sum of $75,000. As a part of the inducement for the aalectjpi) of these in preference to other securities, I might mention that a meet advantageous contract had been made by the Rail Road contractors with the Coaibrookdale Company, of Great Britain, for the delivery in Savannah of the iron necasjary to tho completion es the railway The iron, to the value of $75,000, under the arrangement, was pledged to the State, making it her property at a price be low its market value at that time, as an addition al security, in any pvent the interest of the State was abundantly protected, epd by it the completion of the Road will be accomplished ax an earlier day than could have been anticipated without this assistance. The step is also deemed defensible on the ground, that bonds at 7 per ce it. interest, amounting to more than six hundred thousand dollars, for the relief qf the Central Bank and the redemption of the hypothecate’ bonds a ready referred to, had been thrown upon the market, were preferred securities by pur chasers—and consequently expelled the six per cent Rail Road bonds, or forced th.s holders to submit to a reduction equivalent to the difference of interest in the two securities. This inequality in the value of the bonds, produced by the differ ent rates of interest, was embarrassing, and threatened serious delay in the completion of the Road; it was, however, in jjonia measure, over come by the policy adopted, and the necessary funds to prosecute the work of extension, were obtained. Serious inconvenience results to the holders of our State securities issued previous to the year 1848, —from the necessity imposed of having to present them at the board of the Treasury, for the coupons te be detached in the presence ot the Treasurer, before pay merit is had, or to obtain the signature of that officer on the back of each cou pon pavable during hie term of office. The sole object of thia requirement was to prevent frauds upon the Treasury. If it could be relied on above all other means for this object, it might be defend ed with propriety ; but this is not believed to be the case. It is thought that the plan adopted, in the issuing of bonds during the last and present t ears, of having the coupons signed, numbered, and dated, and a correct register of the same kept, is the most reliable mode of detecting any imposition that may be attempted on ths Trea sury. AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, TUESDAY MORNING, NCWEMBER 13, 1849. No good reason is seen why all of our bondhold ers should not be placed oh the same footing; and certainly our early creditors are entitled to as high consideration, and should have as many fa cilities afforded them for collecting their interest, as those of a later period. As an additional rea son, it may well be considered whether the ob taining of a register of all the bonds issued by the State, which is not now the case, would not jus tify the expense and labor of preparing new bonds, to be substituted in the place of the o!(T ones. The subject is commended to your favorable con sideration. Tiie Reports for the financial year, 1848 and 1849, of the Treasurer and Comptroller General, are herewith transmitted. By law it is made the duty of the Treasurer, to submit to the Gen eral Assembly, estimates of the probable receipts and expenditures of the Government for the next two years. This officer, from the very nature and character of his duties, is nTade the authoritative medium bj which you, and the country, are informed, at the ojjening of each session, of the amount of in come received from all sources and the actual ex penditures for the two precedin g years—and the estimated receipts and expenditures for the two succeeding years, for your guidance and direction. My attention, on first entering upon the duties of the Executive Office, was turned to the Treas urer’s Report submitted to the Legislature of 1247 and more especially, as the reliability of that Report was virtually endorsed in the late Gov ernor’s communication, by adopting it as the basis of the financial measures recommended by him to the Legislature far adoption. By comparing the estimates submitted to the General Assembly in 1847. of probable receipts and expenditures for the political years of 1848 and 1849, with actual receipts and expenditures for the same period, the result will not fail to con vince you how little reliance is to be placed upon all estimates of income and expenditure, made under the present tax act. What is true of the two last years, will be found to be also true of the tw’o previous years. This comparison is not invited with the remotest view of reflecting upon the capacity or integrity of the Officers in charge of the Treasury at the periods referred to ; but my object is higher—it is to shew first, that the fault is not with the officer at the head of the Treasury, but with our whole system for collecting revenue ; and that as long as it is maintained, results are, and will continue to be, exposed to great fluctuations ; and. second ly, to expose the unreliable (feta, upon which, I lelt it to be my duty to reject the tax act of the last session, among other reasons, because of its apparent insufficiency to raise adequate income to meet all charges upon the Treasury. It will be seen that the sum of $67,351,52 was the total available balance in the Treasury at the close of the present financial year; from this sum, are $25,172 21'oi unarawn appropriations, ,$15,199 30 of the tax for the year 1850 collected, and $9,625 50 dividends on “ Educat on Fund,” to be deducted, leaving a surplus, at the close of the fiscal year just ended, of $17,534 51. Oi the undrawn appropriations, it is probable that $3,000 will revert to the Treasury—making’the actual surplus about $20,534 50— required, if the present do I feel at liberty to recommend any reduction. This must depend, in a great measure, upon the appropriations, ordinary and extraordinary, of the present session, and the sum that may, finally, be established by law as an annual sinking fund—a measure oiat claim your early attention. The public debt is now, $1,828,472 22. Os this sum less than $23,000 are payable in Jan uary 1858, and SIO,OOO in July 1863. The bal ance of our bonds are payable from 1863 to 1874 —making the entire public debt redeemable in twenty-five years. To provide a sinking fund for this object, in equal annual instalments would require less than S74,QOU. If the balance of tfie debt contracted for the extension of the Western and Atlantic Rail-road, of $300,000, be deducted in your estimates, you should then make provision for one million and a half, in round numbers, and consequently reduce your sinking fund to $60,000 per annum. Tiiis axnqimt, at least, should be provided by law as a permanent annual cinkipg fui d ; and in addition, it is recommended, that authority be given to apply to the same object any surplus that may be in the Treasury at the close of each fiscal year. By the adoption of the policy suggested, the public debt can be fully discharged at or before the respective periods, at which our bonds fall due, by a process Certain to rystaiu the par value of our securities, and by imposing upon the people a burden so light rs to produce no derangement in business transactions or discontent in the public mind. In the foregoing statement, no estimate is made for the ultimate liability of the State on account of the G'eutral jinnk—whiph, tliough not yet as certained, it is believed will not fall short of §200,000 —and for the payment of this amount, when it becomes due, provision should now be made. Among the interesting subjects that will claim your attention during tfie preaput session, is the adoption of a system of finance, equal ill its bur dens upon all interests, and, at the same time, adequate to the wants of the State. I entertain the opinion that the true policy of the State in raising rqwnue from its citizens, is never to de mand more than its necessities require, on the one hand, or fail in exacting an adequate sum for that purpose, on the other. It has long been a source of regret and surprise, that a system of finance, accomplishing this object, has never been adopted. Jn reviewing our legislation or, the subject, it will not fail to occur to you. that inter esting as it is, and involving, as it does, the es sential principles qf good fai h in every monetary transacti'-n by the Government, as well as tho most delicate of all relations between the repre sentative and constituent, it has shared most spa ringly of the care and deliberation of those to whom thp subject has been heretofore committed. Since the year lfeff4, but little has been done in the way of improvement to the system then adopted. Did this proceed from the conviction resting upon the public mind, that the system then adopted was just and equal, or that it was * reUmdefiir iu certainly in bringing an adequate supply to the Treasury I Or did it originate from the want of moral firmness, or mdusu y to inves- , tigate, expose, and reform a system, wrong in it- , self, because of some imaginary dread of the con- . iiifuent? If the latter, be assured that the rep rjsentatiyo has nothing tc fear fpom his constitu ents, if his measures are just and equal to all. The People are honest; they are just, and ex- i pect of you the adoption of measures in strict uni- I sop with those noble principles which will ever I I receive their cordial greeting. Whatever, therefore, may be the wants of the j State, created by proper legislation, having due regard to economy, every right-minded man will I I cheerfully contribute his quota. Place your tax act upon the plain principles of equality of bur dens and equality of benefits, and the people will sustain you. Viewing as an evil of no ordinary I magnitude the present system of specific taxation, with odious discriminations in reference to pro ■ perty and persons, I feel it to fie an imperative duly, moat respectfully but earnestly, to urge upon you its repeal, and the adoption of an ad valorem tax. In offering some of the reasens that should in duce the change. I w ould uot be understood as re garding slightly others that will readily suggest themselves to you as worthy of consideration, — i much less will the limit I hare prescribed for my self, permit me to say all I could desire on this 1 important question ; much is, therefore, confided to the calm deliberation and pi tient investigation of the representatives chosen by the People, in guarding and protecting their interests in respect to this as well as other subjects. Two considera tions, in the adoption of a system of finance, I should be kept prominently in view : first, the cer * faintv of obtaining the requisite amount to most I all the exigencies of Gdromncntand no more,— i and aecoatliy, so to eqnaliz<*aud xiiscriminate, if I you pleasd, between the different objects of taxa tion as to make the available nr productive pro perty o)jhe State bear its cqifl and just propor tion on die. burdens of Governmont. Upon 014 first branch of the subject, it may be safely »mmed that th- income from taxes, under the pretpilsystem, caunuMbe estimated with cer- is ftyfly shown by re-g ference of income received untTe-jJ the-preseut tax act for the last several years. Al though the amount received has increase I annu ally, it is ippardnt that causes, not remote or im probable in their occurrence, may intervene vary ing the income to an amount not anticipated, and bringing i| its train disasters highly prejudicial, if not abaolitely ruinous to State credit. If your expenditufesare bused upon any given amount of income, inder the present mode of levying and collecting taxes, you must take the hazard of a redundant treasury, which is grossly unjust to the People, cc, ifpossible the still more perilous hazard of failindto provide a sum adequate to meet the just deminda upon the Treasury. It may be no difficult patfer to ascertain the amount required to meet the current expenses-of the State, but none wtiild have the hardihood to assert what is to be »h 4 income from specific taxation under the present *act, or any other based upon the same principle From the very nature of the proper ty tisseised, the fluctuations in its value the elas ticity oi conscience, or change of opinion, as of ten exhfiited in regard to the qualities of real es tate, a tegfeeof uncertainty and doubt must ever attend fixe present mode of raising revenue. The evil of jhe present system does not stop here, but is felt bj the State in every business transaction : we havt a public debt, small it is true compared with otr abundant resources and the known good faith of the Slate, yet it is not to be disguised that capitalists, in seeking investments in State securi ties, semtinize, with vigilant and searching mi nuteness. every feature of the financial system upon which the State throws its securities into the market; and if uncertainty in providing ade quate means to meet all demands, is believed to be even a remote possibility, to that extent at least, yuur credit is depreciated and the character of the Stqte thus Inpirionsly affected. If, therefore, for no ether reason than the remote possibility of the md tilication all would feel at the depreciation of State credit, growing out of the state of things here alluded to, it seems to me timely and wise measures should be adopted at this Session to put an end to all such fears. If it be said that years of experience, undex the existing system, have demonstrated its adequacy and reliability, and therefore, no chahge is de manded, let me remind you that one of the pro lific sources of income, receipts from lands, which hitherto so opportunely supplied all deficiencies, can no longer be relied upon ; that source is ex hausted, and we are now forced to fall back en tirely upon taxes, income from bank stock, and the receipts of the Stale Road—all as which are involved tn too much debt, perhaps, to form the basis of reliable estimates. But if the iwlt income from the Rail Road and Bank Steck, should swell the amount of our receipts a quarter 3miualiy- n/her sum, if necessary on I}’ to raise by tax ation a sum sufficient to supply the deficiency from other sources. But the subject remains to be considered in another aspect; one that must commend itself to the head and heart of any candid mind. The present system, it must be admitted, rests upon no fixed principle cf either speqifip or ad \a!urem taxation ; it presents the singular enough aspect of patch work—of a capricious* a n ff miserable expedient, that may answer its purpose for the brief period of two years prescribed for its J duraiion, and then to be ‘thrqw'u aside to give 1 place to something else of like duration, with no j higher claims to public confidence than that which ' preceded it But the objection is not confined to the tempo- j raiy character of our tax laws, or the consequent necessity of biennial legislation upon the subject, leaving the public mind agitated and in doubt, but to the inherent difficulty, if not impossibility, of establishing a durable and permanent system of finance upon erroneous and unjust principles No system of taxation which does not bear equally upon the property of the wnole people, I can be just The property of every citiven is i equally protected by law, and therefore, natural ' justice would seem to demand that it should con- j tribute equally to the support of Government.— I The maxim that Equality is Equity, is peculiar- ' ly true iu raising an income for the State ; and I though a wise discrimiiiatian In some instances in I favor of specific pioperty, with a view of stimula- j ting production in which the public at large may i have an interest equivalent to the surrender of its ; dae portion of taxes, may be tolerated as an ex- ' ceptioj to the rule to be continued for a season, I yet these exeptions do not impair the essential, just and enduring principle of ad valorem taxa- j tiqq. Individual or political rights are equal with the poor and the rich ; iu this respect there can be no difference ; and, therefore, if a poll taxis imposed at all, it should be set apart and applied | to objects of education, in which all have an equal interest, whateevr their condition may be. But as regards properly, this equality is not found i to exist; and us Government is as much bound to protect and defend lhe citizen’s right of proper ty, as it is Ids personal or political rights, so in the same ratio aa the aggregate propertv of one citizen exceeds that of another, should your system of finance exact contributions of the one over the other for the support of Government. With these principles kept in view, it remains to be seen whether the present system of specific taxation falls unequally upon ditlerenl interests, and therefore unjustly, and whether the ad valo- j rem system would remedy the evils now supposed . to exist. In reference to the gross and palpable | inequality of lhe present tax law, it is so tuiivor- i sally understood and acknowledged, that it might i be regarded as a useless waste of time to enter ' rtito any detailed statement on the subject. If I the objects of taxation be considered in reference to ' Agriqulturs, Cerpmerce, or Manufactures, the i inequality is striking. * The classification of lauds operates unjustly.— Lands of equal value, situated in d.fferent sections i of the State, and in some instances in the same ! county, are subject tq adifiereut rate of laxaiimt, ■ nor is it believed that any class fixation of real eslate, can be made that will remedy this defect, t The same remark is true ot slaves, on all of I j whom is imposed a specific tax irrespective of ! j I their true value—making the tax on a slave worth 1 ( one hundred dollars the same as upon one worth \ j a thousand- Not only docs this inequality exist j in regard to the agricultural interest, but when it ■ 1 is contrasted with the commercial, we are again i 1 | astonished at an inequality as impolitic in piinci- | ( ' pie, as unwarrantable in Its discrimination. If i t i Commerce is injurious to the State, strike at it I ’ i boldly; but if it is essential to the well being of the I t 1 people, conducive to their prosperity and honor- < able in its aimsand object, abstain from all dis- t criminations against it. Instances might he mul- ] i tipbed, more fully demonstrating the inequality of , the present system of collecting taxes, but suffi- 1 i cient has been said, it is hoped, to insure your pa- ' i tient investigation—the result of which I can- • not permit mvself to doubt. The benefits resttl- : ting from ihe'substituiion of the advalorem prin- | I I triple over the specific, would be to invigorate and ! 1 I stimulate every branch of productive industry; to 1 give quiet and confidence to the different interests 1 by equalizing the burdens of Government; to se cure to your Treasury, at all times and under all I ■ circumstances, adequate means to meet all the ■ I exigencies of the State; to diminish the taxes bv I ■ raising no more money than is needed, relieving i the poor by throwfog the burden of taxation upon | i the property of the mors wealthy; placing your j public credit beyond the reach of false friends or 1 ' open enemies: inspL ing the people with confidence j in the govemmenf.substitutingequal aad just iaws j i for unequal, unjust and oppressive ones. I These may be regarded as some of tho happy I ' fruita to be produced by the proposed ehange. 1 Can it be believed that the people, so deeply j interested in this measure, will not give it their : warm and cordial support? To think otherwise would be a reflection upon their intelligence, and I to doubt their devotion to the best interests of the State ; such an opinion others may entertain, but it can receive no countenance from me. The Reports of the Chief Engiifer of the Western and Atlantic Rail Road, by law, for the last two fiscal years witl? the accom d cumeuts, are herewith prove a source of la every fi ieixl Kfinternal improvement, to seethe progress wirh which this noble work has advanced almost tff final completion, retarded as it has been, from the period of its inception to theatre>ent moment, byf obstacles the most embarrassing. Whatever dif ference of opinion may have existed in the public mind, heretofore, in regard to this work, it is now confidently believed that all sections of the State are prepared to stand by it, —and, by a liberal and wise policy, to extend that fostering care, which, in the end, will abundantly reward them for the heavy expenditure of their money in its construction and equipment. The certainty of an early completion of this Road, is no longer problematical. Thiv opinion is formed, not merely from the. annual report of that able and efficient officer, the Chief Engineer, but trom a recent communication received from him, containing the gratifying intelligence, that by extraordinary and almost unparalleled efforts the faithful and skilful contractors succeeded on the 31st ultimo, in pushing the heading flf the tunnel entirely through the mountain. ' lifc ac hievement, being the first of the kind in the South will stand as a monument of Georgia enteiprise. The mountains have j iclded io our industry and perseverance, and the chief obstue'e to the ac complishment of this great work, is now over come. Before your adjournment, the completion of the Road may be looked to with infallib e certain ty. The entire grading is finished, the truck laid within seven miles, or less, of Chattannooga, and the two remaining unfinished bridges so far ad vanced, as to cause but a few’ days’ delay in lay ing the rail- This work being finished, the duty will devolve upon you of enacting such laws, constituting an organized and authoritative system for it? govern ment, wlrch this new state of things may, in your judgment, require. Heretofore, it has been the policy of Georgia, to make the Executive the head and" responsible functionary t» the people, for the faithful management of your Asylums, your Penitentiary, and lately your Public Works. The accumulation of labor, mental and physical, to say nothing of the responsibility inseparably incident to the increased duties,may in your esti mation. deseivo a passing notice. Experience and observation -have satisfied me that y’our Rail Road, will be managed with efficiency and im partiality in proportion as you reduce the num ber with whom responsibility is to be divided. — Among the objections to constituting a Board'of Directors, may be mentioned the want df unity of action—the total absence of that spirit mov ing promptness indispensable to effl dency, and the indolence and inattention, tq public duties which result from the division of responsibility. . w safe ««d proper totrqrt »• great an interest in the hands of uqe man, does not be come me to way. It is-to be expected that your attention will be directed toTie subject, with the hop • that it will undergo a through investigation and such change he made for its government, will best abv mce its interests. Connected with th-» adjustment of a system for the goyerpuiont of the Western and Atlantic Hail Road, may be con sidered the propriety trf dvltiiiiug a port! >n of the convicts, ana placing them at Atlanta, or sqtno convenient and suitable point pnlhe Rond, for the, purpose of manufacturing freight' cars, repairin’/ engines, and performing generally such work as the Road may require. If this suggestion is followed, provision should be made by law for the construction, at the point selected, of suitable buildings for workshopsand cells for confinement. W|ule it is conceded that the adoption ot the scheme suggested would involve a considerable expen diture, it is believed, if it be the policy of the state to work convict labor on its own account, a more judicious and profitable application of it puuld opt be made. Having briefly alluded to some of the considerations deserving your notice in reference to the government of the road, there remains to he presented others of equal, if not gicater, magnitude. It was be lieved to be a duly to indicate on the first op- poriuiuty pie-uu'.; | ; o -c'iirf’d just two years ago, not merely my desire to see the Rail Road finished to Chattanooga, but that it bp done without Increasing lhe public burdens, or oreaiing the necessity for inceased taxa tion. The act of 1847, appropriating three hundred and seventy live thousand dollars of the bonds of the state, for the corppletipn of the extepslon front Dalton to the terminqs in Tennessee, contains an express provi-ton that tiie net income, alter extinguishing all existing liens on the Rond, which amounted to the sum of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, should be applied to the payment of said dobt, Believing then, as now, it by leaning the credit of the siailejn the form of its securities, paya ble at a future day, the completi -n of the road could be accomplished, that the increased re ceipts thereby secured, would not only relieve the Legislature from the necessityof providing for their payment by taxation, but that an in come from this source might be relied upon to aid in the liquidation of the pre-existing debt, I felt n® hesitation in giving lhe bill my j sanction. What was belief at that time, has ; assumed the more solid form of fact at this.— 'i'heu, as now, the Hue ot railway was but one I hundred mile*; the receipts then, as compared \ with the last two years, ending 30lh ult. shew an increase of the present over last year of 14 per cent, and 47 per cent, increase over the I year 1817. This shews the wonderful and progressive developementH of the resources of our slate, in two years, by means of the stitnu- Flus of this Road, acting mainly upon our own | people. The vallies between the almost inter i m'mable ledges of mountains to be met with in i tills section of the Htgie, containing large tracts of land equal in fertility to any in the valley oi the Mississippi, have been hitherto locked out from trade by natural barriers; the inhabitants, from almost insurmountable diffi culties in obtaining a market, were deferred from all effort Ki produce much beyond the re quirements of domestic consumption; but now, they are being aroused to action and to enterprise by the stimulating and magic in fluence ot accessibility to the markets of the world. None can anticipate the capacity of this increasing region for agricultural pro ducts, to say nothing of its mines and miner als. ]t this be true—and the reeeipts of our Rail Road prove it to be so—-what must be the increased business ot the Road, when the hardy and industrious citizens of the mountain region of Tennessee, are aroused by the in ducement of a Home market at remunerating prices? Wil! not their efforts be invigorated, and shall we not see the swelling tide of com merce rolling down from that region in such quantities as will bring to our Treasury, solid and tangible evidence of the wisdom of com pleting the Road to the Tennessee river? In this picture, imperfect ns it is of our pre sent and luture prosperity, let us not be un mindful that much yet remains to be done to perfect and equalize, as far as practicable, the advantages and benefits of a judicious system I of Internal Improvements, that will meet the ’ wants of every section. To travel on the I smooth path of prosperity, it is es vast impor j tance, that we keep steadily in view the sa -1 cred principles of good faith to all men, and in NUMBER 46. all things; therefore, let me, in the most respect ful manner, recommend that no j however strong, induce you to permit the net [ proceeds of the Rail Road to be applied to any other object, until the hist farthing of the exist ing liens be fully discharged. When that is done, we have an ample field for the exer cise of a powerful element in the advance ment of jjie social and intellectual condition of <?ur jouth. By prudent economy and wise fore cast’, £ r «m this Road, after dis- charging the jlist charges against it, will furh •ish a fund by winch a system of common schools can be extended throughout the State. Jt will be a proud day for Georgia when bv l#r public improvements the conviction is brought home to all, that every section of the State has been stimulated to its greatest pro ductive capacity, whether of Agriculture, Manufactures, or Commerce; and prouder and more glorious still will that day be, when, by the wisdom of her measures, she can boast ot not having an uneducated son or daughter within her limits. These are the prominent objects to which your deliberation should be directed; they are worthy the consideration of the statesman, and, if accomplished, will com mand the admiration of posterity. By an act of the Legislature, approved 22d December 1843, the Governor was auflmrized tinder certain restrictions, to dispose of the W. and A. R. Road. Without questioning the expediency of the enactment at the time of its passage it may be safely assumed, that the uuc interests ot the Slate, as well as the sub sequent liens created at law upon the Road, preclude, from the minds of all, the propriety of a sale upon any terms, and especially such as are contained in the act. It is therefore recommended, that the 4th,fi»h, 6lh and 7th Sections of said act be repealed. A difference of opinion with many intelli gent men, as to the true location of the State Road, very naturally subjected the Corps of Engineers in charge of this work to strong suspicion of consulting their own rather than the public interest; with a view doubtless of removing as far as possible, all temptation from the agents of the State engaged in the prosecution of the work, as early as December 1838, an act was passed, prescribing an ad ditional oath to he taken by the Superintendent, Commissioners, Chief and Assistant Engineers by which these officers are prevented from purchasing any real estate or interest therein within three miles of the Road. Whatever may have been the necessity at that tiii>e for such restrictions, it will be adtpitted none such now exists; the is located; the public cannot be made to yield to private interests; and the disabilities under which this class of officers are placed, are not called for hy any I corresponding good to the public. Restrict j lions to the full exercise of a citizens equal I rights should be cautiously, and seldom, if ever, adopted, and the reason for this provi- I wion or law having song aince ceased, it js L recommended that it be repealed. i ' By the Report of i'w; Chief Engineer, it tvllFbo seeHTliat, from the papers on file in his office, the right of way for lhe ' (•State Road thropgh about two hundred tracts of iaiul, has not been obtained. It ia to be re gretted that curly slops wore not taken to secure this as it is apparent the delay has greatly multiplied and increased the diifi cu'ty of its accomplishment, Os this number, one hundred and sixty eight are in this Stale, the balance in Tennessee. Under tiie existing law, except in cases where the amount of damage is agreed upon by the Chief Engineer and claimant, there is no authority, or fund provided, for its payment; and as a large majority of the cases are most likely to be ac commodated by a submission to referees, as now provided by law, authority should be given the Chief Engineer to rnako such payments out of the proceeds of the Road or a specific sum appropriated from tho Treasury for that purpose. From the Report of the Principal Keeper of the Penitentiary, which will be transmitted, it will be seen that the balance in favor of profit, from the 3d Jan- 1848 to the close of the fiscal year, is stated to be $21,353 59, This fact is the best evidence of the ability with which the institution has been managed. Greqt attention has been paid to strict economy, and no expenditure of money has been made not absolutely required. Though it was not anticipated, I apprehend, in substituting Peni tentiary punishment for tho pillory and whip ping-post, that convict labor would prove a source of income, yet it must be gratifying to know that under ordinary circumstances its aflltirs may be conducted so ns to prevent it from being a charge upon the State. For the last two years, this has been done, and the proceeds qf the convict labor, exhibit it is believed, a greater profit for tho same time, than at any former period. No appropriation was made by the last Legislature for the support of the Penitentiary. This is the first instance, for many years, when aid from the Treasury has not been asked for and granted ; nor will any appropriations be required fbr the next two years; it is believed a sufficient sum can be realized from the ass., ts to meet all exigencies that may arise. In contrasting the ind. btednese contracted since January 1848, with thagfor tho 1-ko pe riod of former years, and the same favorable result is observed. Several suggestions are made by the Prin cipal Keeper, deserving of your consideration. The mode prescribed by law for keeping the books, was considered so objectionable, by the Financial Committee appointed at the close of the last year, that they recommended a change, which was adopted, with the hope of present ing the affairs of the Institution in a less com plicated form, than could be done tinder the mode heretofore used. In adopting the suggestion of the Commit tee, the mode required by law was not aban doned : and the Legislature will by compari son be enabled to adopt the one or the other as tiiev may deem most advisable. The duties imposed upon the Book Keepers are onerous, and experience has shown the necessity for a Salesman whose duly should be confined to the selling of manufactured articles, and the collecting of the debts. The Penitentiary has doubtless, sustained heavy losses from the system of credits here tofore established : it would not be advisable, perhaps, suddenly to change it; but a period should be fixed by law, when the discretion, in this respect should cease, and it ba made the dutv of the Book-Keeper to put ull outstand ing debts in a train for collection. It is believ ed'" the office of Inspector may be abolished, and its duties performed by the Salesman, up on requisition made of him by the Principal Keeper. Much diversity of opinion exists, and will continue, doubtless, in reference to the treatment best calculated to produce refor mation with the inmates of the Penitentiary. It must be admitted that there is a great diver sity of character among convicts. With hardened offenders but little, in the way of re formation, can be anticipated from imprison ment ; they go out, in most instances, as they come in—abandoned in feeling and bankrupt in moral principle, al enemily with society, and ever ready to commit lawless outrages upon it, | under the slightest provocation, or, when en couraged with the least hope, however delusive of escaping detection; but there is another class, differently constituted, possessing keen sensibility and a quick sense of honor, who, impelled by strong feelings, and not unfru quemly by bad advisers, violate the criminal law ; these, on reaching the inside of the pri son wall, arc made tho equals of the black hearted robber, the contempt ible thief, and the more dangerous character still, who combines the two with talent, cunning, daring boldness, and a large amount of hypocrisy, that readily adapts itself to the lacerated feelings and deep mortification of the more honorable. TJie ef fect of such associations is easily foreseen.— In this point of view, I have no doubt our whole system is radically wrong; there should be an entire separation of the different classes of offenders. The present system of working all the con victs together, and placing them in all res pects upon the same fooling, without any pow er on the part of the Principal Keeper to dis criminate, exerts, in my judgment, on many, and ( specially youngmen, a hurtful influence. These suggestions are submitted with great deference to the sound and searching investiga tion of the Legislature—it will be for you to detei mine, whetiter the benefits reasonably to be anticipated from the change, will justify the grea ly increased expense, that would necessa- ■ lily result from its adoption. I cannot too earnestly impress upon you the necessity of a thorough investigation into the tifluirs of the Penitentiary, with a view that its present and past management tnny be laid liefore the country, and even-handed jus tice done to all wlto may have been or are now connected with it. 'l'iie last Legislature passed an act declar ing certain lands in the county of*Ware for feited to the State, and provided for disposing of the same. provision of the Statute tfie lands sold und"r an act of the General As sembly, passed-'23d December, ]833, and which were not paid for «nu granted at Ute passage of the law, were declared to be for feited. If the power be conceded to the Legis-W lature to rescind, at pleasure, a contract made with her citizens for the purchase of lands, without previous notice of such intention, still as the act in question is the only instance re collected where the power has been exercised, it was apprehended any attempt to carry out the provisions of the law would have involved the Slate in expensive litigation in all that class cf cases where the entire purchase mo ney had been paid. The responsibility was assumed of allowing the owners to come for ward within a reasonable time, and by paying into the Treasury the usual fee, to obtain giants. By tho adoption of this policy, so uni formly observed by the State i.i reference to the granting of public lands, the receipts into the Treasuty were suddenly increased, and an act of justice done tho purchasers, and much litigation avoided, that would have resulted, as is believed, prejudicial to the State. A small portion of this class of cases were not granted within the time prescribed by the Executive order passed, which remain undisposed cf. Where the entire purchase money had not been paid, tho power, as woll as the propriety ot the law declaring them forfeited, wu re garded as less questionable; but upon a care ful examination of the provisions of tho act, it was believed the expense the State would in cur m causing the sale to take place, would absorb the receipts, or ao nearly so, as to ren der it desirable to postpone ail action, and re fer the subject to the present Legislature, with the view of having snch amendatory legisla tint! as would diminish the expense of selling, and secure with greater certainty a fuirequiva lent for tho lands when sold. It is my duty to bring to your notice the situation of a large number of fraction owners, whose iands were forfeited hy the act “ to au thorize the Governor to appoint fit and proper persons to sell tho undrawn lots in the land iottpries heretofore had in thia Siato, and to limit tho time for fraction purchasers to pay for and take out grants,” passed at tho last session of the Legislature. The Surveyor General furnished this De partment with tho number of undrawn lots and fractional lots tingranted on the Ist of No vember, 18-18; but before tho sales were or dered, as required by the act, it was nwjf. x known to me that many of the had hecri_&(fld umJcmiithoiity of -|ffirchase money paid, and ilial of lhe ungranted fractional lots hnd been fully paid for by tho original or subsequent purchasers, long anterior to the period fixed as tt limitation to issuing grants. In most in stances also proof was adduced shewing that the certificate of. purchase had been transfer ed from the original to subsequent purchasers bona tide, and that the present owners were ignorant that the grants had not issued from the State. Becoming satisfied that a largo number of worthy land holders were likely to lose, in many instances, their most valuable real estate, from ignorance of the law rather than a desire to delay or evade the just claim of the Slate to the grant fee, it was believed to be in strict conformity with the liberal policy and high-sense of justice exercised by the Slate towards her citizens, to direct tho sale in all such cases to be suspended upon the deposit of the grant fee with the Treasur er, or agent appointed for that purpose, and the production of satisfactory proof of ownership or interest in the party making the deposit. The sum of $698 50 is now in tho hands of tho Treasurer, on deposite,being the grant fees for two hundred and twenty three un drawn and fractional lots, for which no grants have yet issued, or will issue, until directed by the Legislature. It is therefore recommended that the sum of money in the hands of the Treasurer, be di rected to be transferred to the Treasury, and that grants bo allowed to issue to the bona fide owners of ail that class of undrawn and frac tional lots of land falling under the description referred to. Copies of the Executive orders, with a report of the lauds sold, and such as re main undisposed of under the two acts of the last Legislature, are respectfully submitted. A copy of the Report and Resolutions adop ted by the last General Assembly “in relation to the boundary line between Georgia and Florida,” was transmitted to the Governor of that State in April, 1848, and his attention res pectfully invited to the liberal terms proposed for an amicable adjustment of the controver sy pending between the two States. No ad vance however was made, or definite action taken by the authority of that State until the past winter, ». ben the subject was referred to its Legislature in the annual message ofGov ernor Moseley, in terms so commendatory of tho plan proposed for final adjustment by this ! Slate, that the hope was entertained that I should bo enabled to lay before you, at the pre -eut session, the gratifying intelligence that a fi .al adjustment upon terms honorable to both ( Slates, had been consummated. The Leg islature of Florida, however, thought proper I to disregard the conciliatory spirit and desire of this State tr» preserve amicable relations;, as manifested by the Report and Resolutions of December 1847, and adopted resolutions deetn -1 ed by me discourteous to the kindly feelings and high sense of honor which hadcharacter- I iz?d our legislative action on the subject, and virtually closing the door upon ull future at l tempts at friendly adjustment. A copy of the , Resolutions was transmitted to me by Gover nor Moseley, accompanied by a communica i tion under date 6 h February 1849, to which my reply was made in March last. Since then no correspondence has taken place be tween the authorities of the two States, and no official information has been received at this Department on the subject. The state of the question as it now exists is the result of no iij temper or illiberal exac tion on the part of the Executive of Georgia —but, f>n the contrary, with an indulgent feel ing necessary to yielding implicit credence in good faith with which our young sister advan ced her claim, every consideration, consistent with a consciousness of right and a recollec tion of the most sacred ties of blood and friend ship, was urged to bring this vexed question to a speedy adjustment. Entertaining the opin ions expressed in my last letter to Governor Moseley, a copy of which with all the corres pondence on the subject is herewith transmit ted, I do t ot fell authorized to recornmend any further attempt on the pan of this State at ne gotiation. until invited by the authorities of Florida. ' What becomes your duty, should you be lieve the negotiation closed, will readfly sug gest itself. If our title to the disputed territory, worth less as it is to us, is deemed clear anil beyond successful opposition, we must assert and [S®« Fourth