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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.!
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
TERIMS
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The Cotton Crop.
We are in the constant receipt of innumera- i
ble letters from the country, particularly from
the States of Mississippi, Alabama and Texas,
lamenting the bad prospects of the cotton crop,
and the destructive ravages of the boll-worm.
We shall be compelled, in future, to note the
contents of those letters as briefly as possible,
unless our country friends will condense their
information into the smallest possible compass.
The two following letters, however, coming
from the centres of two important cotton
growing portions of the country, as from very
reliable sources:
The Ouachita Country-
The River Ouachita the Hudson of Louisiana.
The Country - Cotton Crop — Emigration —
Value of Lands.
Monroe, (La.) September 10, 1849.
Editors Della: Though personally a stranger
to you, I am not to your valuable and widely
circulating paper, and have a great desire to
make it the medium of a communication on
the beauties and advantages of this lovely re
gion of our State. I am induced to do this be
cause, though your paper is the paper in this
part of the world, it has not, as yet, amid its
great variety of interesting intelligence, tavor
ed its inurnerable readers with any descriptions
of the Ouachita country.
The river Ouachita, which gives its name to
the country watered by it, may, at this mo
ment, be compared to the Hudson, so famed
for the beauty of its scenery. The bed of the
river is filled to the brim, and the banks are
covered with rich and beautiful foliage, that
extends its shade, and protrudes its branches
some distance over the stream. Now and then
you may see a large tract of opened land, with
a delightful little cottage in the middle of a
large cotton-field, from whose portico some in
dependent planter, surrounded by a happy
family, is surveying nis broad acres, now hung
in gloom and desolation by the destructive
ravages of the worm, and the ruinous effects
of tne incessant rains. ine Omchita is
now inline navigable condition, and is fall
ing slowly. W r e have four packets plying be
tween vou’ - city and Camden; Isay Camden,
but the Captain of the steamer Exit, which is
now at our landing, informed me that it w’as
dangerous to attempt to approach nearer than
ten miles to the latter place.
Many persons labor under the erroneous im
pression that this is not a healthy country;
that fever and ague are prevalent among our
people. s,This is a greater mistake. No country
can be healthier than this, nor could there be
one which presents great advantrges for the
domestic market. We have beautiful pine
hills at the distance of tw'o or three hours’ ride
from town, where the coolest spring waters
abound, and game of all sort is plentiful. Plan
ters in this region often go into their orchards
to shoot deer. This, 1 assure you, is no Maun
chausen story, but a literal truth. Our soil is
unequaled in the Union.
Emigrants are flocking in here to settle west
of the Ouachita, and yet there are still thou
sands of acres of public lands, on which cot
ton and corn would grow admirably, if cul
tivated. These lands can be had at the low
government price of $1 25 per acre. In ten or
fifteen years they will be worth from S3O to
SSO per acre. From October to February,
emigrants pass through this place daily from
Mississippi Alabama, and some other southern
States. Last winter I saw as many as twenty
three wagons of emigrants awaiting at the
ferry in this town at one time; and as the ferry
is worked by hand, a wagon is sometimes kept
waiting two days before it can cross. You will
gee a specimen of the production of our
Ouachita land on the steamer Exit. It is a
stock of cotton, over eight feet high, and the
bolls on it are innumerable, and whilst a great
many are open, there are yet blossoms on it.
Stock is raised here with great facility. A
twelve hundred pound ox has been butchered
at this place for market. Our swamps afford
an immense quantity of timber, which adds
greatly to the value of the country. Large
quantities are taken down this river for the
■outhern portion of the State. It is carried
through the various bayous that permeate
every portion of the State. The Ouachita
country, by which 1 mean all the parishes
which border on this river, is becoming a great
cotton growing country. Not less than 9,000
bales were raised here last season, which was
a large increase on the year before. This year
the crop will be smaller on account of the
unfavorable weather and other causes.
Persons can go from here by land to the
popular Hot Springs of Aarkansas, in a few
days. The road is a good one all the way for
carriages. The immense curative value of
those springs is well known, and justly appre
ciated throughout the Union.
The U. S. District and Supreme Courts will
meet at this place next fall, when lawyers will
come from every part of the State. They will
find the McEnery in fine order to receive all
who visit our town. Considerable dissatisfac
tion exist here on occount of the suspension
of business in the office of the land Receiver,
the gentleman who was appointed not heaving
given his security, and his predecessor having
no power to act. This g.ves great trouble and
dissatisfaction to planters, and exposes them
to the danger of losing the land they want.
Your friend, O’TOOLE.
The Cotton Crop in Mississippi-
Liberty, Sept. 3, 1849.
Eds. Della: Permit me, through the columns
of your widely-circulating journal, to com
mnnieate a tew facts, to those whom it may
concern, in relation to the prospects for a cot
ton crop in this and the adjacent counties.
Many may perhaps be led to suppose that this
year will yield as large a crop as usual, but,
so far as this portion of the cotton-growing
region is concerned, they are most egregiously
mistaken. In the first of the season, when a
majority of the planters had sown almost all
their seed, we were visited with a severe frost,
which destroyed a great portion of the plants
that had emerged above the surface ol the
earth. Then followed the rains, which were
go incessant that it was, and has been, utterly
impossible to prevent the grass and weeds from
almost swallowing up the meagre prospects
left by the destroying frost. But the greatest
had not yet come. About the first
of August, and in some farms earlier, the bore
worm (by some called boll worm) made its ap
arance. fi rs t, it seemed content at des
troying the forms and younger bolls; but it
has increased in size and audacity, until now, I
even the full grown bolls are being destroyed
by them, thus leaving the naked weed, a> a
memento that it was once intended as a great
means of wealth and lucre; hut now it is strip
ped of all its charms, and stands forth as any
other wil dplant of the forest. I have been
informed by many experienced p’anters. that
the damage is a great deal worse than that ,
sustained from the ravages of the real “army
worm."
To conclude, there is no one can estimate i
any thing near what amount of cotton will be
made. As far as I can ascertain, 1 have no
hesitancy in saying, that an averaged ne
thircl of a crop is as much as can be expected
in this county; a great many farmers s.iy le--,
and some think, perphaps, that they will make |
more. We shall see in the sequel.
Yours, &c. AMITE.
The Bungling Administration
We stated a few days ago, that persons who
have business at the Land Cilice in this city,
arc suffering serious inconvenience, and incur- j
ring loss in some instances, in consequence o
the arbitrary, if not illegal order from the Ge
neral Commissioner at Washington, addressed
to Mr. St. Martin, the late Register, that he
should cease exercising his functions the mo- !
ment the order reached him. Mr. Thorne,
formerly one of the editors of a whig paper in 1
this city, was appointed to succeed Mr. St. i
Martin—but turned up his nose at the favor
offered him by President Taylor, and w uld
not accept of the office. We understand hi
commission has been lying in the Post Office
ever since the Ist August.
Mr. St. Martin received the peremptory or
ders to cease exercising his functions on the
31st July, and from that time the office has
been closed.
A short time ago Mr. St. Martin, perceiving
the embarrassment and distress which the
closing of the Land Office occasioned to large j
numbers of his fellow citizens, addressed to 1
the General Commissioner at Washington a j
full and true statement of the condition in)
which the business of the Land Office was
placed by his indiscreet orders, and Mr. St.
Martin suggested that it might be well to per
mit him, St. Martin, to transact the business
of the office until h:s successor was installed.
This has been the practice of ali preceding ad
ministrations and it is the only way by which
the public interests can be secured. This
morning, Mr. St. Martin received an answer
from the General Commissioner, iu which he
repeats the order that the office should be
closed from the moment when the lett rot
dismissal reached the late Register; a. I the
Commissioner writes further, that ii Mr.
Thorpe has declined accepting the office, still
the office must be closed until a successor
enters upon the discharge of his duties.
Meanwhile ihe embarrassment and pecu
niary loss sustained by persons who have bu
siness with the register, are not tu be di seab
ed. Old men, and in some cases, women,
come to the city from remote parishes, making
the painful journey at great exp -use, aid to
their mortification find the doors of the office
closed. A suit is now proceeding in on- of
the river parishes, involving a quantity of \vi ;
valuable land. One of the parties has called
upon the late register for a certificate to prove
the title. But the register shews him the per
emptory orders of the commissioner—and the
suit may be lost by this scandalous neglect on
the part of this wnig functionary. I’he party
to the suit to which we have alluded, threat
eus to sue out a writ of mandamus to compel
Mr. St. Mitftm to make the certificate. But,
however disastrous to the gentleman requii ing
it, may be the want of that certifi ate, it is
evident that the late register cann >t issue an
official document of any kind whatever, fiom
the moment when he was told by the commis
sioner that his functions ceased and the office
was closed, until it should be opened by his
successor. Instead of suing out a mandamus j
upon Mr. St. Martin, a more effectual and j .- |
dicious mode of proceeding would be to serve ;
a writ of mandamus upon the land comuds- |
sioner, and afterwards to bring suit ag bust :
him for damages —tor he is in reality the ob
author of all the damage which those gentle- |
men suffer for want of a certificate from the !
register.
We learn that another important office in
this city connected with the federal govern
ment is in precisely the same situati on that
the land office is placed in by the guilty neg
lect of the commissioner. We expect to be
furnished with the particulars of this second
case, and will lay them before our readers as
soon as we are able.—Y. O. Cour. 10 th inst,
(Correspondence of the S toaun tk Republican j
Sr. Augustine, Sept. 13ih.
From Indian River—More Depredations
The steamer Nina, Captain Mager, arrived
here yesterday from the Southern coast, whith
er he she had gone to convey three companies ,
of U. S. troops. By her we learn that the j
Indians had returned to the settlements on
Indian River, and burned several more ol tire
houses. Messrs. J. 11. Gattis, Livana, and
others, who mads their escape in July last,
on the flrst outbreak, had returned to Indian
River, to look after their property, and with l
the intention of endeavoring to maintain their
position. They have now', the second time, 1
been compelled to flee for their lives, and have j
gone to Key West. They discovered the ap
proach of the Indians in time to make thr r
escape. One or two Companies of troops are
now stationed at Indian River, and if the
Indians again make their appearance, it is lo
be hoped they will meet with a warm reca p
tion.
The steamer Nina proceeds this day to Pa
latka, for the purpose of conveying Major
Rowland’s company down the Southern coast.
The three masted schooner Andrew Mitch
ell, from Philadelphia, is now in port, and
will sail first wind.
The schooner Three Sisters, Capt. Lovitt,
arrived here on Sunday last from Charleston,
and is now discharging.
The schooner Del Norte, Capt. Pinkham,
arrived here last week, from New York, after i
a passage of 38 days.
The schooner Josephine, Capt. Burnham,)
arrived here on Sunday last, from Jackson
ville, Fla.
Yours, &c., R.
Jail Burnt. —We are informed that the
Jail in Trenton, Dade country, Georgia, was
burned down a few nights ago. It was sup
posed it was done by some persons to destroy ;
a prisoner by the name of Russel , whose evi
dence would convict others of crime. But
fortunately the prisoners were not destroyed
or permitted to escape, ihese are the parti
culars as we heard them. —Cuattanooga (Jaz.,
14 th inst.
Steamer “Nicholson” Sunk. —Ju-t as our
paper is going lo press (Thurday evening,)
we learn that the Steamer “ Nicholson/’ Do>s,
master, sunk this morning, about two mi lea
below this place. She had just left this place
from Decatur, with merchandize on board,
and with a Flat Boat in tow, also loaded with
Goods, for merchants of Nashville, and other
places below. The boat took a sheer in spite ;
of the efforts of the Pilot, and ran upon a rock
in the shoals, knocked a hole in her bottom
and sunk to the guards in a few minutes. —
Some hands immediately come up and got a
boat to take off the freight, and we hope she
may soon be raised, with as li’tle damage to
the goods and boat as possible. \\ e regret
this unavoidable accident, as Capt. Dass is one |
of the most careful and enterprising naviga- I
tors on the river.— lb.
0
TEE iMSXiTUTIONALISTJ!
Augusta, Georgia.
WEDNESDAY IWGRNING, SEPT. 19. '
E-■ 1
d r ifocit atic nom inatiokt.
I’OH GOVERNOR,
GEORGE W\ TOWNS.
Cor/er,pondents—“Batchelor,” is re
lu .. attended to, as also “Marr.”
JJn illaguctic (lelcgrapi).
Reported for the Constitutionalist.
New York, Sept 17.
Cotton, —The cotton market is firmer, but
prices remain unchanged.
Prime western Flour is quoted at $5,25.
Corn 59 to 62. Red wheat sl,lO. Mess Pork
$10,25. Lard C-Y Rice market quiet.
Stocks are null. Sterling Exchange 94 prexn.
The Grand convention of Odd Fellows, met
in Baltimore to day. There were 82 delegates
I present.
i President Taylor has nearly recovered.
Baltimore, Sept. 18, P. M.
THE FRENCH MINISTER.
Some weeks since, M. Poussin, the French
Minister, resident at Washington, sent an im
pertinent note to Mr, Secretary Clayton, lor
which President Taylor immediately demand
ed his recall. The French Government not
complying, the President has intimated to M.
Poussin that his passport is ready for him.
PORT AU PRINCE.
Advices have just been received from Port
■tu Prince, which state that the Republic of
Hay ti has been dissolved, and Solonga e has
been proclaimed Emperor.
Naw York, Sept. 18, 7.30, P. M*
Cotton —The cotton market is firm. The
sales to day reach 300 baits at sih advance.
Flour is unchanged. 3000 bushels corn have
been sold to day at 59 a G1 cents.
THE FRENCH MINISTER.
The reported dismissal of the French min
ister, has caused a heavy decline in Govern
ment Stocks. It is behoved France will sus
tain her minister’s course.
A despatch just received from high autho
rity at Washington, strongly intimates some
thing serious Brewing, but our correspondent
thinks the facts not sulficiently matured fur
publication.
HEATH OF DR. HOUSTON.
Dr. Houston, the former official Reporter for
the U. S. Senate, died yesterday. 1
DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER HUGHES.
Christopher Hughes, former Charge to Swe
den, and subsequently to Holland, died at his
residence in Baltimore to-day.
MAINE ELECTION.
The Governor is not chosen by the people.
The Senate is whig, and the House democra
tic.
Henry Clay arrived at Cincinnati yesterday.
Charleston, Sept. 18, P. M.
Cotton. —Prices are stiff. The sales to-day
reach 1030 bales, at prices ranging from 84 to
10* cents.
The Surplus in the Treasury
“ How happens it,” ask the whigs, “ that
Governor Towns made so wide a miscalcula
tion as to realize a surplus of SBO,OOO from
taxes, when he estimated that there would he
a deficiency of $86,000.” The answer to this
question is, that of this SBO,OOO surplus,
$50,000 was, according to an Act of the Le
g Hature, set apart to pay a debt due to Reid,
Irving & Co., for advances made on our ster
ling bonds, hypothecated to them. That act
provided for an annual payment of that
amount. This then, left a surplus of $30,000
only.
It so happens, however, that the sum of
fifteen thousand pounds sterling, which is all
; that rein lined unpaid at the time this surplus
was reported la-t winter, to be in the State
| Treasury, was n o longer held by Reid, Irving
| & Co. They had sold this amount of Bunds,
and they were held by third parties. As they
i are nut yet due, the Governor did not feel au
j themed to redeem them, without special au
thority of the Legislature. The committee of
I investigation, therefore, recommended that
this sur lus be applied as an advance to the
I contractors for finishing the State road, on a
hypothecation by them of six per cent State
bonds, in which they are paid aa the work
progresses. This has been accordingly done.
About $75,000 has been appropriated in this
j way.
I But there is still a miscalculation of $30,000
j surplus.
This is to be accounted for by the increase
in the value of taxable property, over the
same in 1316 and 18-17, and amounts to an
increase for the years of 1818 and ’49, of about
$15,000. The calculation was made by the
Financial Committee of the last Legislature,
of the.Govcrnor, and of the State Treasurer,
that the Tax Bill of 1815, would realize the
same for the last two years as it did the first
! two years. It has exceeded it, by the increase
in the value of property, about $30,000. It
would have been imprudent and unwise to
take for granted that there would be that in
crease, it might have been otherwise. The
.fluctuation in the value of property might
have been in the other direction.
But why did the Governor suppose that
I there would be a deficiency of $36,000 ? The
answer is, becau-e a large amount of the tax-
I es are usually paid in by the Collectors late in
the year—as lute as November. The Govern
or apprehended that the Treasury would be
drained of its means by necessary calls upon j
it before the greater amount of the taxes !
could be called in. This he avoided by issu- j
mg circulars to the Tax Collectors to be vigi
lant in collecting, and to make returns early
In the year. This enabled him to meet the
heavy demands on the Treasury in 1818. In
addition to which, ho postponed to 1819, when
I the demands on the Treasury were much
lighter, all the payments that he could, lor i
which there were not special appropriations. <
The apprehension of a deficiency of $36,000,
was grounded on the taxes not coming in soon -
enough. This, however, was prevented by the 1
prudence and good management ct the Gov
ernor; and thus was the State Treasury saved
from becoming exhausted, and the State credit
impaired. If he has been too solicitous to ac
complish this, and took extra pains for this (
purpose, the people of Georgia will not look
upon it as a very heinous offence.
California Gold.
We have before us a sample of California
Gold, left at our office by Mr. Bassford, who
received it from his brother, L. G. Bassford,
now in California. It can be seen today and
to-morrow, at this office.
Mr. B. also favored us with a letter from
his brother, from which we make the follow
ing extracts. It is dated, “Near Smith s, oi
North Fork, one of the tributaries ot the
American River.”
“ I have been in this place about two weeks
digging and washing tor Gold, with tolerable
success. I was some eight or ten days
miles above here, without d ung much, and
for several days here, before we i.*und a place
with much gold. It is a very uncertain busi
ness, and the proceeds ot the hr.-t five or s,x
days was only $72, to divide between tloco
of us. After two or three Jays spent in hunt
ing and moving to better diggings, we com
menced here on the 9tli inst. and got and
on the 10th $lB. After trial thus tar, we
abandoned the spot, and located in an old
hole that some fellows thought was worth no
thing. The first day we got sl2, the second
S6B, the third SBS, the fourth SIOB, the fifth
$206, the sixth $297, the seventh, $3014.
the eighth; two men got $l5O. To-day be
ing Saturday, we quit about 10 o clock, by
which time I suppose we had SBO. W e have
to go some two or three miles to got our pro
visions.”
“ One day I worked alone, my partners be
ing a little unwell. I took out in a day about
$164 worth of gold. I have made within
the last two weeks about $l5O, but you a must
recollect I have been very fortunte. One
ounce per day is considered a very good busi
ness.”
Speaking of the country, ho writes, “ It is
the roughest and the most mountainous 1
have ever seen. The river is very rapid when
high, and is full of small rapids. When the
water is low the gold is found on the bars ot
the river.”
“ The worst feature in the gold business
is the necessity of moving from place to place.
F’or instance the hole we are at work in may
run out or become exhausted in a few days,
and then we will have to hunt another, per
haps a mile, and maybe twenty. We have to
carry our own things or pack them on ahorse.
“ Provisions are high here, as might be ex
pected, forty miles above Suter's. Flour sells
at 30 cents per lb.; Bacon GO to 75 ; Coffee 30
to 37 ; Sugar 10 to 50 ; Beans 30 cents ; Dried
Apples $1,50 per lb; Vinegar $1,50 per bot
tle. Other tilings are in proportion, for in
stance wo pay for a common blue pail $1,50,
for a tolerable good one, heavier, $3. It costs
to get things from Suter’s here, 16 to 18 cents
per lb.
“ I enjoy better health than I ever did, and
I find myself much more industrious that I
thought 1 would be. We do not, however,
work very hard for fear of getting sick. We
commence early and work until about 11 o’-
clock, and then rest until about 1, but in the
meantime wc have our house work to do.—
There is but little theft here. Leave what
you please about your tent or any where else,
and no one will touch it. Tools left in a
hole is a sign it is occupied, and no one will
trouble your diggings. If a follow is accused
of stealing, he is tried fairly, and if found guilty
is tied up and whipped, and must then leave.
Wherever he goes, the news of his crime is of
ten before him, and it he stops at any other
digging he is whipped again, and the only
safety he can find is to leave the country as
quick as possible.”
Editor ial Chaug’e—-The Columbus Times
The last Columbus Times announces the
withdrawal of Gen. James N. Bethune from
the Editorial chair, and the return to it of
John Forsyth, Esq. During the short period
Gen. Bethune edited the paper, its columns
displayed much vigor and originality of
thought. We could not but admire the bold
ness, straight forwardness and independence
of his views, and his zealous devotion to Dem
ocratic principles.
The return of Mr. Forsyth to a position
which he has so well graced, and which is so
congenial to his fine talents, is a source of
congratulation to the Democracy of Georgia.
He is an able champion of its sacred cause.
We feel more than ordinary gratification in
welcoming his return, and hope the Demo
crats generally will show their appreciation of
the event by an increased patronage of the Co
lumbus Times.
Judge Hill's Answer.
We will publish, with pleasure, in our next,
the expected answer of Judge Hill— provided
we can find it in a Whig on Democratic pa
per; and provided further, it is not as great
in Length , as it has been in length of time com
ing.
Discoveries in Africa. — A French explo
ring expedition has partially ascended the
Grand Bassam River in Africa, and has dis
covered it to be a confluent of the Niger. Cap
tain Boilet, the commander of the expedition,
writes that he has discovered two magnificent
lakes, where palm oil is so abundant that the
ship had not vessels enough to hold it. Now,
according to the dealers themselves, palm oil
gives a profit of 80 per cent., whilst gold only
yields 50 or GO. The adjoining villages aresaief
to oveiflow with produce of all sorts. Capt.
Boilet, has, however, visited unknown regions,
and eatablLhed relations in the midst of a
country the very centre of the gold trade, the
only commerce hitherto carried on at Grand
Bassam. It being the dry season, the want of
water prevented its entire exploration ; but in
the rainy season there are six feet of water,
I
|II|MI 11
ami the river may be ascended as tar as the
cataracts of Abouesson, fifty leagues distant.
At that place, the traveller is within »i xt y
leagues of Scgo. and the course of the Niger
is still continued. •
(communicated.)
Mr. Editor: —An article in a late number
of “The Chronicle & Sentinel,” over the signa
ture, “Aristides,” attacking the financial poU
cy of Gov. Towns’ administration,and lauding,
without regard to facts, reason, or truth, the
financial skill of his predecessor, is so full of
error, falsehood and unfairness, that you must
pardon me for taking a short notice of it.
Ths writer, after giving a glowing descrip
tion of the depreciated condition of the State s
credit, before the commencement of Governor
Crawford’s administration, which could, with
much propriety, be applied to the condition
of almost every State in the Union at that
time, proceeds to claim lor his guiding spiiit
the credit of having, in an incredible short
space of time, restored order and produced
form out of chaotic mass.
Does not every body know that the laws
which improved the condition ot the finances
of the State, were passed at the session ot
13-12, by a democratic Legislature, one year
before the "great financier” gave the State the
benefit of his wisdom and skill; always ex
cepting his celebrated report upon the condi
tion of the Central Bank, which caused hun
dreds of the citizens of Georgia to lose thou
sands of dollars upon the money of that Bank,
held by them. Relying upon the correctness
of that report —believing that Mr. Crawford
was “ capable, faithful anil honest ,” they sub
mitted to ruinous discounts in order to get ’it
off their hands.
The condition of the Bank having very soon
been found to be so very different from what
he reported it was, and would be, that many
have been led to believe that._his object in
making such a report, might have been to ad
vance and interests of his immediate constitu
ents, the shavers and brokers of Augusta.
But, says Aristides, “he found the Peni
tentiary a heap of ruins, saddled with a debt
of $63,000 ; every department of it in disor
der and confusion, and calling for the exercise
of a vigilance and ability rarely, if ever, d -
manded by any similar institution in this, or
any other State.”
It is well known that that institution suf
fered a disastrous fire the week Crawford was
inaugurated —and this accounts for the “heap
of ruins” and the “disorder of its various de
partments,” and the Legislature, then in ses
sion, appropriated SIB,OOO for rebuilding it,
and for the “pay of officers and subsistence of
convicts.” But surely, the reader will say,
Crawford and his man Redding did not have
any further assistance from the Treasury ol
the State in supporting the Penitentiary and
paying off its “ old debts” as they always call
ed it liabilities, when they were annually, as
they represented, making money for the State.
Just allow me, Sir, to undeceive you on
this point.—This same Legislature, on the
23d December, 1813, appropriated the farther
sura of $32,000 “to pay the debts due by the
Penitentiary of this State to individuals.”
Out of this “heap of ruins,” Mr. Redding,
on the Ist day of January, 1811, receipted
Gen. Charles 11. Nelson for $29,265 72, for
raw materials, tools, machinery and bricks
turned over to him, —and, on the same day,
as his reports show, he received from C. W.
Choate, book-keeper, in cash, debts and man
ufactured articles, the farther sum of $30,-
661 07—making the sum of $59,926 79, turn
ed over to Gov. Crawfoid and Redding from
this “heap of ruins.” Now every body will
certainly believe that with assets to the a
mount of nearly $60,000 00, assisted by $50,-
000 from the Treasury of the State, and when,
according to their showing, the Penitentiary
instead of being a drain upon the Treasury,
had, under their skilful management actually
become a source of revenue to tho State, that
oil the debts of the institution were paid off,
and that plenty of money was to be found in
its Treasury. But hold —examine the matter
a little farther, and you will find that the Le
gislature of 1817 made another appropriation
ofsG,ooo, to pay the interest upon these “old
debts” —yes, the Legislature had to make an
appropriation to pay the interest, which the
boasted profits of this money making concern,
under the financial administration of Geo. W.
Crawford and Anderson W. Redding, w»s not
sufficient to liquidate. And when, on the 3d
day of January, 1818, Mr. Redding gave place
to his successor, he had in his till sixty-txco
dollars ! and that too in actual cash.
Again, “Aristides” says, “arrearages due to
teachers of poor children in 1812 and 1813,
amounting to near $30,000, were paid by him.”
This is a piece of information, doubtless,
that will astonish all who see it. This "great
Financier,” of his own free will and accord, in
the benevolence and liberality of his soul, and
without any authority from the Legislature,
as one would presume from the manner in
which it is stated, paid this large amount upon
these just and meritorious claims; and it
would be a pity to break the charm created
by the contemplation of this act of consummate
financial skill, by informing the public that in
this instance Gov. Crawford was merely the
instrument of the Legislature, by whom was
drawn from the Treasury, for this purpose,
about $21,000, specia ly appropriated by the
Representatives of the people.
Many other assertions, without any evidence
of their truth or correctness, and the fallacy of
which might be as easily shown as those al
ready alluded to, are made by this reckless
correspondent, which I will pass by at this
time, as it is not Gov. Crawford who is now
offered to the support of the people of Geor
gia by the party whose sinking cause is now
sought to be bolstered up by the undeserved
reputation which many have claimed for him.
This writer expresses his apprehensions that
the administration of Gov. Towns has not
been so able, skillful, and economical as that
of his illustrious predecessor, and says that he
understands the Printing Fund of 1848 has
been all drawn, and he inquires whether or
not Gov., Towns "stuck to the law in causing
the laws and journals to be printed.” Does
this wise political economists and reviewer of
it is a violation of law to cause the 1
journals to be printed for the use o ■
pie of the State r If haviu: the i div
journals printed, as directed by law,
ing for this the rates established by ;
violation of law’, then is Gov. Towns
Does not this man know that the-,
1847 was lynger than usual,and that th •
ed matter of that session exceed th e
session of 1843 over 300 pages r
If he does not. Vie should have know
fore he undertook to pronounce judn n ,V
on the matter.
The Legislature of 1847 set apart as H i
ing Fund for 1848, SIO,OOO, and ior ls 4
000. By reference to reports puHliq if
the authority of the Legislature, I g, ■.
Oov. Crawford in 184 4 and 1845, p a jj
the Printing Funds $12,931 —which i*
one thousand dollars more paid out (■
taonomical financier, Geo. W. Crawford',
was appropriated by the Legislature •
two years of Towns’ administration.
As this writer has attempted to dnu
parison between the economy ol Tow
Crawford, in reference to the public j.»
and which I hare shewn is in Tow;,,- ,
let us examine the state of that fun : A
Gov. Crawford in his message of 1845, ,
terized as “ above all others, most obn
to abuse” —to wit: the Contingent Fun
I find also by reference to the
•lluded to, that Crawford in 1844 tot;
of October, had drawn ot the Cor
Fund $3,180 00, and by the report of th
nancial Committee of 1848, it appears th
to the 20th of October of that year, (1 ,
Towns had only drawn of the Com
Fund $f,324 91—making a difference j
vor of Viis administration of $1,85-5.
From this it is evident that the L,
tion of Gov. Towns is more eeononi;
even that of his immediate predecess,
whom so much has been claimed by 1,
mirers and puffers.
The success of Gov. Towns’ admin;,,
has given great trouble to his opponent
they feel that that the people,‘seeing
credit of the State is higher than it ev.
before—the Rail Road more successful,
prosperously managed, and that too u
permanent reduction of fare, and the un;,
ed portion of the work being with enei,
industry pushed forward to a more »
aompletion than anyjpublic work in or -
at least, ever was, will on the first Mon.
October, approve the administrau m
able and faithful public servant, and .
their candidate to enjoy, with judicial di.-.
that positioa which he seems so unwiil;:,
yield, that he violates a long establish.,
proper custom, by holding on to it fear
will not have any place logo to alter th-.
voting day, should lie leave the Bench.
JEFFEHSOS
L COMMUNICATED.]
Mr. Editor :—l have been reading sv.-
che Whig charges against Gov. Town
chat I thought them at all worthy of a
sal, but merely for pass-time, and 1 do
the gentleman making these charges, v,
think that I intend the remotest dUrr;
I positively assert, that I can discover
ference between what they have written
Sambo’s discourse on the hiccough
whiokups, said he, “am brought ah „
dis way. Man, by eating too much freshn
—bacon, and greens would not have do
desuit—causes de organs of indegestibi.
prolong, and in prolonging de press on dec
ing pan, and dal, causing de zuberance T
por to vaporate, make dat noise whi
heard, an which we nominate, in physics ~
guage, de whiokups.” Now, a good if
tor this may he found*by reference to os
two numbers of the Augusta Reptihli-. i
paper ventured to affirm that Judge Hal -
reply to any proper call made upon Iran
that without one word being said, as to w:
the call had to emanate from the Whi,'
or a union of both. The truth is, tiie 1.
lie was right—it had good reasons to I
that the Whig candidate would r spendfi
proper call made upon him, and is no
disappointed and chagrined, that JuJ.
has remained silent, for the Editor says
know that he can be depended on. Vfi
, say this, we admit frankly that, wifi
news, we should respond to calls from
respectable quarter.” I remember a
said to me, immediately after the iTa -
Gen. Harrison, that lie was very glad -
1 tie had fallen on such shoulders as John
lei’s, and was just as honest in bis be
, the Editor of the Republic, and yet t!
cabulary has not furnished language
enough to abuse the said Tyler, for no:
what the Whigs thought he would; and
knows what Judge Hill will do ? Is L
of those sort who have “no opinions to
1 and yet you can got nothing from him •
time once existed when this might ha"
swered very well, but it is not now. '
questions which have been propounded t
candidates, are pregnant with inter a
South, and the people have a right to -1
! full and explicit answers to then. 0;' fr:
Towns has replied, and if the Whigs ha“
objection to his answer, why do they t- 1
i so? Because they well know it would
Burning dangerous ground, to take sides s:
i the sentiments contained in Town’s :
they must trump objections foolish enow
make a man of ordinary capacity sick
through them. Gov. Towns, like a true' -
ern man, has come out boldly; he teD
where you may find him, whac you m*
pect from him; while Judge Hill, forte*
unknown to us, is silent. How Gcc r
will relish this, I am not able to say
time ago Gen. Glascock, while in Coifi t
took so active a stand in favor of the ’ ’
that at the subsequent election he re
nearly the unanimous support of both p jr
Let both Whigs and Democrats turn In
tention to Governor Towns—his opinion
known, if they are satisfied wi th the®'
they are such as a Southern man should at
tain —let them support him, as it is c^ rt ‘
better to vote for one whose opini° ll3
known, than for one whose are not-.
XJNIO>