Newspaper Page Text
K&rHUcchlji Cljrottkk & Sentinel
/ I ILLIAM E. JONES. \l'(;!’sT\ n < tiuii cmv - """ 11 *~* mmmmif *~*™ Bmmm **^^ m^*"****'**^^e—*—*^^
I __ -ttbthlA, Ga. HlUl SPAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 8, 1838. Vo| . u _ No , 3ft
I PUBLISHED
I. DAILY, TRI-WEEKLY, AND WEEKLY,
I At So. Broad-street.
I terms;
■jDai/y paper, Ten Dollars per annum, in advance.
mlTri-weekly paper, at Six Dollars in advance, or
I i Seven at the end of the year.
H Weekly paper. Three Dolhus in advance, or Four at
I ; the end of the year.
I CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL.
VI AUGUSTA.
I WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 7.
I-/ The General Assembly convened in the State
14 House agreeably to the Constitution on Monday;
IJ after examining the credentials and qualifying the
fa members, they proceeded to the election of officers,
[■when upon the first ballotting the Hon. Charles
[-f Dougherty, of Clark, was chosen President of the
If Senate; and the Hon. Joseph Day, of Jones,
f elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The ballotting as follows:
For President of the Senate—
Charles Dougherty, (!S, K.) 47 votes.
Robert M. Echols, (U.) 42 “
Peter Lamar, (no candidate) 1 “
Speaker of the House of Representatives—
Joseph Day, (U.) 88 votes.
James A. Meriwether, (S. K.) 86 “
Neither of the candidates in cither of the house
v ■ voting. There wore of the Stale Rights members
of the House, absent 3, resigned 1.
For Secretary of the Senate—Mr. Horn declin
ed after the 3d ballotting, and Mr. J. T. Lamar,
I wa s taken up.
/ Ist 2d 3d 4th sth 6th 7th
Horn, (U.) 43 41 40
Lamar, (U.) 43 44 45 47
Hardeman, (S. R.) 31 40 38 38 37 37 43
Hill, (S.R.) 14 10 14 11 14 10 2
Cherry, (S. R.) 4
For Clerk of the House—
Dyson, (U.) 92
Thornton, (S. R.) 41
Carnes, (S, R.) 14
Cabiness, (S. R.) 28
Clark, (S. K.) 1
Blank, 1
From Florida.
We learn by the arrival of a gentleman from Tra
ders’ Hill, the St. Augustine Herald of the 2.3 th
ult.) that a white man has been taken in the Gke
feenoke Swamp under suspicious circumstances. It
is said that he was discovered in the vicinity of an
Indian camp, from which from appearances, its in
mates had precipitately retreated, as a tire was burn
ing and meat cooking. He would give no account
of himself, except that he said he got lost in the
swamp.
It will be recollected that some time last sum
mer, a whole family named Wild, was murdered,
with the exception of a boy about 10 years of age,
who said he was suffered to escape by a white man.
The individual taken is supposed to be the same,
and the boy lias been sent for to St. Mary’s, in
order, if possible, to recognize him. The prisoner
is in custody of Maj. Loomis, in the vicinity of
Kettle Creek.
Extract of a letter dated Garcy's Ferry, 18th of
Oct. 1838.
The six Companies of the 4th Artillery, have
I arrived here since my last communication. —
k They arc to be distributed to the different posts; two
Companies to go to Fort Mellon, one to Fo.t Harllee,
one to rort Gillcland, (Newnansville,) and one to
remain here. Col. Fanning, who went to Fort Mel
lon, with four Companies of the 4th Artillery, re
ports tuat the Indians have destroyed the buildings
that place.
GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE.
I Executive department, >
Millcdgeville, 6th November, 1838. y
Fellow Citizens of the Senate
and House of Representatives ;
I congratulate you upon the successful removal
of the Ciieroxees from the state ; that you will no
longer be harassed in your legislative proceedings
by tue perplexing relations wnich have hitherto
existed between them, the United States and
Georgia; tiiat our citizens are at last in the quiet
iff possession of all their laud ; and the state the un
disputed sovereign within her own territory.
Immediately upon coming into ollice, a corrcs
. pon tciicc was entered into with intelligent persons
in different parts of the Cherokee country, lor the
purpose of ascertaining the temper and designs ol
'•'< the Indians, and the extent of the danger to be
apprehended from them; and with the Secretary
of War, and Col. Lindsay, (then commanding m
the Cherokee country) as to the lorcc which
should be provided to give security to our citizens.
W Enquiry was made into the conduct of the agents
who had been appointed to protect the rights of
1 the Indians. It having been found that this trust,
■JU important both lor the character and peace of the
country, had not been discharged at all, by some,
Jm. and abused by others, and that considerable irrita
tion had already been excited by trespassers upon
the propcr.y ol the Indians, and by tue unautnur
isod inlenerence ol ate officers of the United
States, in assuming the right to adjust them;
measures were taken to control this improper con
duct of the officers, and respectable agents were
appointed to taxc care that wrongs done to the In
dians saould lie properly redressed.
It was considered highly important not only to
secure the people against actual danger, but create
among them such conlidcnce in their salety us to
prevent the panics from idle rumors, to which
those who arc exposed at all to a.tacks from In
dians, are peculiarly subject.
The militia of the Cherokee country having
been disorganised by the withdrawal of a consid
erable part ol' its foice for Florida, orders were
given and repeatedly enforced upon the officers, to
•/oforfect their commands.
A regiment, composed of one company of mount
ed infantry in each of the Cherokee counties, was
formed and armed, in pursuance of the act passed
at your last session.
Upon tire urgen* request of this department, ten
volunteer companies of mounted men, of the mi
litia of the State, were taken into the service of
the United States, and staff, red near the large In
dian settlements in fort in 1 positions, as assem
bling places for the people in cases of alarm, and
to control the conduct of the Indians.
When the requisition w is made by the authority
of the President of the United .states, for twenty
companies of the militia of the State, to be em
ployed in enforcing the execution of the Cherokee
treaty, orders were immediately sent by expresses
to the commanding oiliecrs of the twenty regi
ments nearest to the Cherokee country, to raise
one company from each ; have them organized,
and marched without delay to New Eehota. the
place appointed for their rendezvous. Upon Gen.
I Scot t s arrival at that place, on the evening of the
twenty-third ot May, he found an army of Geor
gia militia, armed and ready to execute his com
mand.
On the 23d of May, the day before the expira
tion ol the time when the Cherokecs were to have
completed their removal from the State, according
to the treaty, the President laid before Congress
the terms of a new contract with the duels of
the tribe, by which he assured them, that they
should bo allowed two years to remain in the
State, il that length of time should be found ne
cessary for their comfort and convenience, that
they should emigrate themselves if they desired it,
that the Government would protect their persons
and property from all illegal acts of encroachment
ucd violence, and that instructions should be sent
to the Commanding General, to act in conformity
with these assurances. Fortunately for the coun
try, our people, and the Indians, the dreadful scenes
ot strife and massacre, which this conduct of the
President was calculated to produce, were prevent
ed by the promptness and energy of Gen. Scott
and the Georgia troops; all the difficulty in remo
ving the Indians having been overcome, Gen. Scott
left the State before he received the instructions
issued in pursuance of the proposals of the Presi
dent to the Cherokee Chiefs.
No troops were employed but the malitia of the
State, in removing the Indians. The Stale is
greatly indebted to them, Gen. Scott, and Gen.
Floyd, both for the cflicicncy of their services and
the universal kindness with which the Indians
were treated.
The accompanying documents will show the
course pursued by the Executive Department up
on this subject.
About the last of May, a body of Indians from
Florida, took refu,e in the Okclinokce Swamp.
Directions were immediately given to the com
manding oiliecrs of the militia of Camden and
Ware counties to call out the whole or such por
tions of their commands as they might con
sider necessary for the defence of the inhabitants.
The president was informed at the same time of
this invasion of the State by the Indians, and re
quested to order to that part of the country a com
petent force to repel them. The scarcity and high
price of provisions, the sparscncss of the popula
tion in the neighborhood of the Okcfinokec and
the want of an appropriation of money by the
State for that purpose, rendered it very difficult to
keep the militia in the field. Under these circum
stances, t requent applications were made to tire
President and Secretary of War, to direct supplies
to be furnished, so as to enable the militia to act
efficiently in affording protection to the people un
til the United States troops should supply their
place. The Department was answered that the
United States had no quarter-master or Commissa
ry, who could be spared to perform the service.
As soon as the information was received that
General Taylor had sent troops to the neighbor
hood of the Okclinokce, orders were issued to dis
charge the militia. This was done with less hesi
tation, from the confidence which was had in the
vigilance and ability of General Taylor, and the
information which had been previously received
from the most respectable sources that the Indians
were few in number and made no attacks upon
the inhabitants. Immediately after General Tay
lor had stationed his troops around the Okelino
kcc, and before the discharge of the militia eight
or nine persons, mostly women and children, were
horribly massacred by the Indians in the immedi
ate vicinity of the station of a company of United
States Dragoons, and not very distant from a con
siderable malitia force under the command of Col.
Hilliard. The alarm produced by this unfortu
nate event caused the general abandonment of
their homes and property by the people of that
part of the country, and brought upon them great
distress and suffering.
Additional troops were taken into the service,
and orders given for raising a regiment which has
been since organized and mustered into the United
States service, and is now operating under the
command of Gen. Floyd. It is to he expected from
the gallantry of this officer and his regiment, that
the savage enemy will soon be destroyed or driven
from the state.
Application has been made to the War Depart
ment to pay the militia of Ware and Camden
counties who were called out by the State to repel
the invasion of the Indians. I have been answer
ed that there arc no funds subject to the payment
1 of such claims. It. will be proper, therefore, for the
i Legislature to make immediate provision for the
i payment of the militia and for the supplies furnish
i ed them so that the accounts may bo laid before
Congress for reimbursement.
The sum of one hundred and forty-six thousand
three hundred and lurly-four dollars, eighty-live
cents has been paid by tire State in the execution
ol the law of 1839 to provide for the payment of
' the volunteers in this State for services, losses, and
1 expenditures during the Creek and Seminole cam
paigns, and the law upon the same subject passed
in 1897. This sum has been charged against the
United States with a credit ol four thousand eight
hundred and eighty three dollars, 3 cents, the
unexpended balance of thirty-five thousand dollars
placed in the hands of Governor Schley by the
Secretary of War, to be expended by him for the
public service in the Seminole and Creek cam
paigns, and which is now on deposit in the Cen
tral Lank, making the actual amount charged
against the United States, one hundred and lorty
oue liiousaml five hundred and thirty-one dollars,
eiglity-one cents.
As soon us the accounts were audited and paid
off and copies made out, they were forwarded to
the War Department, with the request that they
should lie passed upon as soon as possible.
A communication was addressed immedi- j
atclv thereafter to each Senator and Representative ,
in Congress from the State, informing them of |
what had thus been done, requesting that they }
would ascertain wnat portion of these accounts \
would be paid by the War Department, and apply I
to C ongress for the passage ol j special law direct- j
ing the payment of the remainder. The session of
Congress was too near its close when the accounts
were transmitted to Washington City, to admit of
any settlement before its termination, and no infor
mation has been received from, the War Depart
ment upon the subject, since that ti ;,c.
The progress of the Western and Atlantic (tail
Road has been satisfactory. The grading and ma
sonry of one hundred miles have been contracted |
for upon favorable terms, fifty of which will be j
executed by tire month of July next, and the re- ;
! mainder by the end or the year.
! The entire route to the Tennessee river has been
| surveyed. -Several newsoutc-s of parts of the road
| which had been located, have also been surveyed,
| in order to satisfy the demands of different sections
j of the country, and to ensure the best location.
The length of the road from its southern termi
nation to the Tcu.ic.iscc river, will he on hundred
I an 'j thirty-four miles; and its cost, according to the I
estimate ol the chief Engineer, (exclusive of the
right ol way, and ol the services of the Commis
sioners) about two millions live hundred and eigh
ty thousand dollars. The survey and location
have cost about filly-one thousand'dollars.
f he duel Engineer is of the opinion, that the
cost ol the road will be less than any other rail
road in the United States, constructed in the same
manner, and on equal scale.
In pursuance ol the law authorizing the Hoard
of Commissioners in conjunction with the Govern
or, to sell Statu Stock, to raise funds for carrying
on the construction ol the road, one hundred thou
sand pounds sterling of stock have been issued.—
Ihe President ol the board (Mr. Crawford) who
was deputed to sell this stock, found it unsuitable
for the market, inconsequence of the form in which
it issued. Mr. Crawford was however, enabled
to raise three hundred thousand dollars, with the
promise of an additional hundred thousand, if it
should be wanted, by pledging a part of the slock
and agreeing lor the Legislature, that it will at its
present session authorize the issuing of such stock
as will suit the European market, that it shall be
offered for sale to the contractors as early us the
month ol April next; and that the money which
has been advanced shall be relunded out ot the pro
ceeds ol the sale. The State is to pay live per
cent interest upon the loan of this three hundred
thousand dollars, from the time that the hills
drawn by Mr. Crawford on the contractors, shall
be accepted and paid in London. The funds thus
obtained in New-V ork have been sold here for a
premium of about four per cent.; so that the use
ol three hundred thousand dollars in Georgia
money for one year, has been procured for the
State with cost, or not exceeding one per cent,
per annum.
The Legislature is requested to make immediate
provisions for fulfilling this contract.
Means must also be provided during your pre
sent session, for the purchase of the iron railing
for the road. As the State will probably have to
rely almost entirely upon credit for carrying on
its works ol internal improvement, it would per
haps be good policy to authorize at once the sale
ol stock, sufficient not only to repay the three
hundred thousand dollars borrowed, and lor the
purchase of iron railing, but for whatever amount
may be necessary for the entire completion of the
Western and Atlantic Kailroad, and for giving
the railroads which arc now progressing by incor
porated companies, such assistance as may be de
manded by the public interest.
The great value of our agricultural productions
in Europe ; the freedom of the State from debt;
and the high credit of our Banking institutions
and mercantile men, will enable the Stale to enter
the stock market with many advantages. The
accumulation of wealth in Great Britain, and the
filling up of all the avenues of profitable labor
and investment, have rendered the price for the
use of money exceedingly cheap there, when com
pared to its value here. The extended commer
cial connection between Great Britain and the
United Stales, and the approach which they
have made to each other, by the late improvements
in steam navigation, have made the surplus money
of G. Britain almost as accessible to us as its ma
nufactures of iron and cotton. Nor is there any
stronger objection to our becoming borrowers of
that surplus capital, to add to our means of accu
mulating wealth, than to our purchasing its pro
ducts when they con he obtained cheaper than
similar products in our own country. So long us
the use of money is worth eight per cent, per an
num in this State, it cannot be injurious to the
public interest to bring money from abroad at five
per cent, to be employed in constructing works ot
internal improvement, whose profits will most pro
bably repay the capital and interest expended up
on them, in a very short time, and which might
not be executed at all without thus obtaining the
aid of foreign capital.
The risk and delay which must always attend
the trade from the Gulf of Mexico around the
peninsula of Florida with the cities of the At
lantic, and with Europe, can be best avoided
by a line of railroad from the Chattahoochee
river to the Atlantic. Great advantages would
be derived from thus directing this trade to
our seaports, and the course of travelling be
tween the South and the North, through this
State. Still greater advantages may be anticipa
ted from the completing the Western and Atlantic
railroad, and the railroads which connect it with
our principal cities. The difficulties which the
Alleghany and Blue Kidgc mountains present, to
the transportation of the vast productions of the
Western and Southwestern States ol Indiana, Illi
nois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky,
and the upper part of Alabama, to the markets on
the seaboard, can no where he overcome with so
much ease as through these lines of railroad.
If we shall over succeed to the extent of our
wishes, in enjoying the advantages ol direct im
portation from Europe, of the proceeds of the sales
of our agricultural productions exported thither, it
must be by these facililties for transportation, bring
ing such an accession of capital to our cities as
to enable the Southern, Southwestern and West
ern merchants to sell what they have to export,
and obtain the supplies of European goods upon
as favorable terms, in our markets as in New York.
And by inducing the Northern manufacturers to
seek an exchange of their fabrics in the same mar
kets for our rice and raw cotton, anil the flour arid
pork for the West.
I consid r it therefore of the highest importance
that the State shall proceed with lire construction
of the Western and Atlantic railroad as rapidly
as possible; and give such assistance, by the use ol
its credit, to the companies now engaged in making
the railroads which form the other portions o)
the communications between our cities and the
South and West, as may he necessary for the suc
cessful completion of their undertakings.
The application of the means of the State to as
j sist these incorporated companies, is justified from
their success being identified with the public good,
and because the Slate can obtain money upon cred
it upon cheaper terms than companies, whilst the
j companies can construct the roods and keep them
j in repairs much more economically than the pub
lic.
In thus supplying the means to chartered com
j panics to complete their roads, the use of which is
j not free for every one, the State should take care,
however, that sufficient security is furnished by the
improvements themselves, for the repay ment of the
money advanced.
The Highwassee Railroad Company in Tennes
see, are constructing a road from Knoxville to Red
Clay, on the line of this State, and about fifteen
miles from the line of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. It will add greatly to the tradcaad trav
elling which will pass over the Western and At
| lantic Railroad to he connected with this road when
i completed. The Highwassee company have met
| w ith difficulties in procuring the means of carrying
| on their road, which will probably be overcome by
the Legislature, giving an assurance that this Stale
will proceed to make the branch road to connect
the two roads together, whenever the Highwassee
company shall ha' e -o far progressed, as to render
it certain that their road will be completed. I
would, thercfp'c, recommend to the Legislature to
pa*s a resolution giving ;.uch assurance.
la pursuance of the resolution passed at your I
last sempiu, an agent was sent to negociufe with j
the Legftkturc of the State of Tennessee, for the 1
ritjht ol way for the Western and Atlantic Kailroad
horn the line of this State to the Tennessee river.
He succeeded in procuring the passage of an act
by the Legislature of Tennessee, granting to this
State for the Western and Atlantic Railroad the
ot way with the saints privileged uiul under
the same restrictions as had been previously grant
ed to the Highwosscc Kailroad (‘ompany. The
CO Py °f the act, the instructions to the agent, and
correspondence with the Governor of Tennessee,
aic laid before you. Great credit is due to Gener
al Ncwnnn, the Agent of the {State, for the zeal
and intelligence with which lie performed the duly
assigned him. •
1 lie most admirable structure of Government,
and llie wisest system ot laws cannot give security
to the lights oi citizens unless aided by a wadi con
stituted judiciary department. That our rights arc
without this security is universally acknowledged.
y incc the State Constitution has been altered so
as to permit an improvement of our present system,
none lias yet been devised which would not lie at
tended, in tile opinion ol the Legislature, with evils
as great as those from which we now sutler. This
dread would seem to bo excessive since the sen
sitiveness of the public would lie certain to direct |
the attention ol the Legislature to the correction of |
any mischiefs consequent upon the reform which j
might lie adopted. Having expressed my opinion |
to the Legislature upon this subject, very fully iu a
former message, I again refer to it from a sense ol'
tlie strong obligation which continually rests upon
the Government to provide tlie best security for its
citizens against injustice and oppression.
According to tlie form ol our Government it is
made tlie special duty ol tlie Legislature to correct
such imperfections in tlie Constitution as may
have been rendered evident bv experience.
On a former occasion, your attention was called
to tlie importance oi reducing the Legislative body,
and of equalizing the representation 'of the people.
1 lie necessity ol reforming tlie Constitution in
these particulars, lias become more pressing from
tile removal ol tlie Indians, and tlie great increase
ot the population ot tlie Stale. The apportionment
when made according to the census which lias just
been taken, will add greatly to the number of tlie
members of the Legislature. This enlargement of
the Legislative body must lessen its responsibility,
enhance the public expense, render its delibera
tions more tumultous, and increasetlic uncertainty
of its determinations.
The great variety of sectional and local interests
existing in onr extensive territory, render it just to
tlie whole and cadi part, that the representation of
the people should lie made equal. Hut it is espe
cially important, that tlie Senate should lie constitu
ted differently from the House of Representatives,
and that it should be a smaller, more select, and
stable body than at present.
If tlie proposed amendments of the Constitu
tion would tend to secure n wise and just admin
istration of public affairs, it is due to tlie commu
nity and to tlie principles upon which our Gov
ernment is founded, (tlie capacity of the people to
govern themselves,) that they should be made.
The resolution passed at your last session, au
thorising this Department to employ a competent
1 Engineer to survey tlie Chattahoochee river from
• West Point to Winn’s Ferry, and report the ob
stacles to its navigation, and the expense of re
-1 moving them; and also, upon the practicability ol
constructing u Canal, from the navigable waters ol
tlie ‘St. Mary's to the Chattahoochee, was not car
ried into clfcct, on account of tlie informality of
the resolution, and tlie want of an appropriation to
defray the expense.
The transportation of the heavy agricultural
productions ol tlie interior upon rivers, is usually
tlie cheapest mode of their conveyance to market,
when it can be used. I would therefore recom
mend that a general survey ami examination lie
made, not only of the Chattahoochee, but of all
our rivers capable of being rendered navigable;
and that an experienced and skilful superintend
ent lie appointed to direct the application of tlie,
public money appropriated for their improvement,
instead of tiie loose and wasteful manner which
has been hitherto pursued of expending tlie public
money appropriated for such purposes.
1 would call the attention of the Legislature to
the necessity of providing for the settlement of all
public accounts. According to the law now in
force for auditing public accounts, the Comptroller
General is only authorised to pass upon demands
against, the Treasury. The interest of tlie Slate
equally requires that the accounts of the agents ol
the Slate entrusted with tin’ expenditure of the
money appropriated for public purposes, and*
drawn from the Treasury, should he subjected to
the supervision of some Officer especially charged
with that duty. The public money has frequently
been wasted, misapplied, or not applied at all to
tlie objects intended, from tlie want of strict ac
countability On tlie part of public agents. Tbc
Legislature lias the evidence of this at each ses
sion, in the defective reports received from, the
Trustees of the Academic and Poor Scliool Funds.
The largo sums now appropriated for tlie erection
of public buildings, improving the navigation ol
rivers, and lor tlie survey and construction of tlie
Western and Atlantic Railroad, require that this
subject should receive the early attention cf the
Legislature.
L'pon consulting with distinguished physicians
in every part of the Slate, it was determined, under
the limited discretion given in the selection of its
location, to place the Lunatic Asylum in tlie neigh
borhood of Milledgevillc. Doctors Fortand White
were appointed, both to direct the construction of
the building, and to collect information in rcgaid
to tbc proper regulations and management ol the
institution ; and will make their report directly to
tlie Legislature. The large number of lunatics
whit h are found throughout every part of tlie
country; the great aggregate amount of suffering
which they bring upon fannlie and neighborhoods;
the expense and trouble of guarding, and medical
attention, when they arc under the i arc of individ-
I uals ; the assurances given by experience, that in
well managed Asylums the cure of the insane is
more certain, and their suffering much less than
under any private treatment whatever —make it
one of the most important duties of the State, to
provide such an institution tor this unfortunate
class of its citizens, ft must be such an institution
too us will secure the public confidence, or the
sympathy which is felt k r the insane by their
friends, will confine its use to tlie most hopclc. s ra
ses, or those in whose restoration soc iety has the
least interest. 1 would therefore earnestly recom
mend, :hnt the Asylum which is now erecting shall
be made to conform to the best models, without
any fear that the cost will exceed the benefit which
it will confer upon the people. The sppiopriation
made at your last session will be Known away, un
j less it is greatly increased.
Several arts and resolutions passed at. your last
session, whicu 1 considered violative ot constitu
tional or important legislative principles, were pre
sented to me for revision so imraedi: t -iy p r e. edit!"
your adjournment th..t they could not be t turm<J.
They are now transmitted to rite Senate, when,
they originated, with my rt .ions for not approx ing
them.
Elections for count' and militia officers, are fre
j quontly contested before this Department, and the
j executi\o has constantly assumed the authority of
determining upon their validity. It is due to’the
rights ol tlu- people that the exercise of this power I
should he regulated by !uw.
Some embarrassment has oeeasionallv been met
with in inducting county ollicers into Office, on ac
count ol the different forms required for different
officers. I wotlld recommend that the law be so
altered, that all the county officers may be induc
ted into office under the same (Icdhnun polenlatuin.
\ set ol Standsul Weights, prepared for the use
ol the State, in pursiiaiirc of a resolution of Congress,
have been received fiom the Secretary of the Treas
ury, and are now in the Kxeeutive office. The Leg
islature will have to prescribe by law the mode by
which (ho weights now iu use" in the cities and
counties of the State, shall lie made to conform to
this set ol Standard Weights,
in ISH4, the Legislature appropriated $3,090 for
the support and education of the indigent deaf and
duiuli ol tlie State, at the Asylum in Hartford, State
ol (onneetieut, and directed the Kxeeutive to ap
point a commissioner to select and lake charge of
the deaf ami dumb who might bo found willing to.
accept of its bounty, Cf this sum, $933 WiJ were I
, expended during that year. At the session of 1 -bn,
] the Legislature appropriated for Hie same pur| use !
1 sl,‘h»(i,in addition to the unexpended balance ol the |
j appropriation ol the preceding year, making Hie sum |
| ol s(i,6lli and the sum of s7no to pay fie com
, missioner for his services. I'm big that year, sBl,"i
I ‘' spended by the commissioner. At the session
j ol IS3O, the Legislature determined that no addition
al appropriation was then requirt I for the benefit of
the deal and dumb, and passed a resolution directing
Hintsloo should he paid to the commissioner, which
sum, not having been inserted in the act of appro
priation, was paid by the Governor out of the con
tingent fund. Al the session of 1X37, the House of
Uepresontativcs passed a resolution that the sum of
si,7. r >o should he appropriated for the ediieation and
support of the deal and dumb, in addition to the un
expended balance ol previous appropriations iu the
hands ol commissioner; and that the commissioner
should receive $(ill(l for his services during the year.
1 his resolution was not definitely passed upon by
Hie Senate, ami no appropriation was made by the
Legislature lor the benefit of the deaf and dumb, or
for the payment ol the commissioner. The commis
sioner has been paid $(>((() out of the contingent fund.
I his statement is made for the purpose oi railing
the attention of the Legislature to the propriety of
fixing the eoininissioner’s salary by law, providing
fur its payment, and of carrying on the benevolent
purposes ol the Legislature iu the education and
support ol Hie indigent deaf and dumb of the State,
by some certain legislative provision.
The Legislature required of the Kxeeutive De
partment, by an act passed at its last session, to
cause the banistering and railing which formerly di
vided the lobby from Hie Senate Chamber, to lie re
placed, and the Gallery of the Senate Chamber to be
enlarged, so us to correspond in size ami form with
the Gallery of Hie House of IWpresentatives, and
appropriated one thousand dollars for the accom
plishment nf these objects. That sum lias been
tound entirely insufficient for the purpose.
'I lie building and repairs of the public arsenals,
Hie keeping, repairing, distribution, and collection of
the public arms, and the appointment and salaries of
the military store-keepers, require to be regulated
by law. Most ol what has been done upon these
• subjects lias been either without authority,or in pnr
. suunce of occasional resolutions of the Legislature,
, varying in their provisions from each oilier.
I lie reports of Hie military store-keepers in Mil
-1 ledgeville and Savannah, are laid before you. There
leave been received from the Cnitcd Stales, under
1 the act of Congress of ISOS, during Hie past year,
a 7SS muskets and 7d*2 rides, and 2 brass ti pounders,
i- with the proper accoutrements. The two brass six
.- pounders were received as a part of the States quota
if of public arms, at the request of the City Council ol
,p Augusta, and have been placed in the ossession o'
the volunteer company of that city known as th<
Augusta Artillery Guards. An effort, attended will
some success, has been made so collect into the Ar
> scnol the public arms which had been scattered ovc,
the country during the Seminole, Creek, and C'iiero-
I kee campaigns of 1536, and those which had been
in the possession of volunteer companies become ex
tinct, and were either, booming appropriated as pri
vate propesty, or destroyed from the want of the
eare necessary for their preservation. There are
some military stores and defective arms in the Arse
nals and elsewhere, which can never he of any fur
ther use, and ought to he sold. I would recommend
that you authorize this to he done.
I transmit to you a list of Kxeeutive warrants,
which have issued during the past political year, and
of appointments which have been made during the
same time,
Itesolutic'ins of the Legislatures of Alabama, ( hio,
Kentucky, Maine, Arkansas, and Connecticut, upon
vaiious subjects of supposed common interest to the.
States, are, by their request laid before you for your
consideration.
1 transmit to Hie House nf ('representatives Hie re
liiiiis of.itlie Census of the State, which have been
received from the Clerks of the Superior Courts, of
the several counties.
Maj. Gen. Samuel Armstrong Daily, brigadier
Gen. Mark Wilcox, and brig Gen. Tully Vinson,
. hrve resigned their respective commands.
'I tie Lev. ( has. Wallace Howard, has been sent
to London, for the purpose of procuring copies of such
of the Colonial records as relate to the history and
settlement of this State.
'I be resolution past at your last session directing
the publication of the annual report of Lr. Cutting’s
Geological Survey, was not presented for approval
until after the time had expired within winch, by
the Constitution, the Governor is authorized to sign
resolutions. This circumstance, together with some
difficulties which occurred between Dr. Cutting and
I the State Printer, as to the time and manner of
printing, has prevented the publication of the report.
This is, perhaps, not to be regretted, as it appears to
be the intention of tlie Legislature to publish a full
■ report when the entire survey shall be completed.
'I be Legislature is referred to the corresponccnce
5 with the Mate of Geologist and State Printer, for
. fit thcr explanation upon this subject.
; The accompanying report of Dr. Lotting shows
. what have been his operations during tlie past year.
, The affairs of the Penitentiary have been conducted
, during Die past year, very successfully under the
snperintendi nee of (be present vigilant Principal
' Keeper, and Hoard of Inspectors.
The police laws of the Institution require somcrc
’ form, especially for preventing the intercourse which
• is now (ennitted among the convicts. The build
• ng>, also, require some improvement. Kor infur
r nation upon this and other subjects connected with
the Penitentiary, you are respectfully referred to
I the reports of the liouid of In .pectins, and Principal
Keeper.
At no time has public opinion been more alive to
1 the. value of education, in producing individual ox
’ ccllencc, the security of public rights, cod tb uc
i ral prosperity of society,
1 Tlie Presbyterian, baptist, and Methodist denotni
> nations of Christians, have, by the liberal zeal with
■ which they have endowed and are supporting tlie
i Oglethorpe I Diversity, Mcicer I Diversity, Kmory
. College, and 0 i Geargia Female College, given the
full weigh), of theii highly important influence in fa
vor of )!■<•■ bem ID to be derived from intellectual
cultivation, and the diffusion of knowledge, '1 lie
flourishing stale of these sectarian literary institu
■ tions. fas not a tali impeded the increasing prosperity
i of franklin tollcge, its last graduating class having
I been its larg( *t. The interest of tlie College is,
, however, sulfeiing from the difficulty of forming n
( board of trustees for tin* manage ment of its al fairs.
It is necessary i ither to lessen ti c number of trus
tees, or ibe number which it. required to form a quo
rum for doing business.
• The Jaw parsed at your last session. t>» establish a
- general system *of education by common schools,.
. j was delayed in going into operation, for the purpose
. t f enabling the people to express their opinions,
i through their representatives, in relation to its ex
| pcdieuy. boa are therefore, no doubt, p.spared to
I art in such manner upon this subject, as your roo
> ! , 'iiiMUs may have determined ts lie f(-r th-*ir interest.
| A true bill of-indictment was found at the last j
: January term of the Superior C uirt o. Chatham 1
' * I
county, against I'lfflhrook ami Killeran, for the same
offence with which they had hern charged, when
demanded as fugitives from the justice of this Mate,
hy my predecessor. 'I he demand for their arrest
and delivery up to the Agent of this State, as fugi
tives from its justice, was renewed upon the Gov
ernor oi the State of Maine, and hy him again refu
sed. ( opies of the report and resolutions adopted
hy your body at your last session, upon this subject,
"/ si ln colll, c<l"ence of this conduct of the Governor
ot Maine, and in compliance with your request,
tiansmilted to the Governors, to he laid by them be
fore the Legislatures of the several States ; to the
members of Congress from this Stntc,to he submitted
to the Senate and House of Hepresentatives, and
one to the President of the United Stages.
As the Legislature of Maine does nut meet until
January, Lsif), its piuceedings in answer to your
resolutions, cannot be reported to you during your
present session. There call (.6 i.nt little doubt, -
however, that those proceedings, when: they do take
phu-e, will sustain the course which has hern pur
sued hy tht executive authority of that State.—
( n the 20th of March last - the Legislature of Maine
passed a law upon the subject of fugitives from the
justice ot other States, hy which it authorizes the
Governor to satisfy himself by investigation into the
grounds of a demand, and whether it ought to he
| Compiled witli. The Legislature of Maine, in pass
ing a law to direct the Kxeeutive of the State, is a
matter which is determined hy the Constitution and
laws of tlio I oiled States; and tlie Governor, in
justifying himself under such a law, in refusing to
do what is made imperative by the Constitution, lias
evidently only acted in obedience to the state of
public opinion in Maine, arising out of the opposi
tion to tlie institution of Slavery in this Stale.—
had the persohs who have been demanded of the
Stale ot Maine, by this State, been charged with
any other crime than stealing a negro slave, there
can be no doubt but that they would have been de
livered up without difficulty.
ll the people of Maine will thus prevent their
authorities from delivering up to the authorities of
Georgia, (or trial, those who entice away from citi
zens ot Georgia their slaves, and escape from pun
ishment into tlie State of Maine, the people of tiffs
State must take means to secure their rights of pro
perty from tlie danger to which it will be thus ex
posed. The State of Georgia lias tlie power to pro
tect its own institutions, and it will be lU duly to
exert it, if necessity should require.
Nothing hut necessity, however, should induce tlie
State to adopt any course which may disturb tlie
harmony of the Union, Having referred to the con
sideration of the Legislature of Maine, tlie Chfuidet
of the Kxeeutive of that State, in refusing to deliv
er up to tiffs State, the fugitives from its justice,
I’bilbrook and Kclleran, by your resolutions, it will
be proper to take no measure upon tiffs subject until
it shall have been acted upon by Maine.
Copies of tlie correspondence of this Department,
and all the papers relating to the last demand made
upon the Governor of Maine, of I’bilbrook and Kel
leran, are laid before you.
I transmit to tlie Legislature copies of tlie last
somi-aiumal reports of tlie Hanks of tiffs Slate
Forming, as tlie issues of the Hunks do, the ailinost
exclusive medium' through which all business is
transacted, and the value of property estimated;
f it is one of the most important duties of tlie Legis-
I - lalnre to examine into their slate, to compel thorn
I to fulfil the conditions of their chaiteis, and to
. strengthen their Capacity for usefulness.
The ruinous effects produced in many parts of the
country, by the late extraordinary commercial pres
’ sure and demand for specie, have been,comparative
ly, but slightly fell in this State. The general
B soundness of tlie condition of our Hanks enabled
r them, during their suspension of specie payments,
to retain the confidence of Hie country, arid at tlie
same time - to give tlie usual facilities to business
x ’ through the use of their credit. Their reports sliow
;i that all the banks which bad suspend'd, have
‘f resumed specie payments, except the Farmers’ Bank
f of Chattahoochee. Whilst the course of the Banks
1( . in suspending specie payments should tie excused
[(l on account of the force of the circumstances under
r _ which they acted, tlie Legislature should t;ike care
, r that it is not again pursued but from the like ncces
i_ sity. Indeed the genei-.il convertibility of Bank
n notes into specie, without difficulty or delay, is so
_ I important for settling balances when trade has been
. against us, and keeping tlie rate of e .change at its
~ proper premium, that it may be adviasMe for the
p Legislature to secure this object by additional en
actments.
Hanks, when established upon proper principles,
| and compelled to act up to their design, should be
sustained hy the State us exceedingly valuable in
. slrumeiits for adding to the wealth and prosperity
I of the community, by the profitable employment
w hich they give to industry ami talents through the
use of their credit and capital; the gnat advanta
ges which they afford for carrying on trade; thn
means which they furnish for developing the natu
ral resources of the country, and constructing im
portant works of internal improvement; the stimu
lus which they give to enterprise ; their tendency
enlarge the quantity of active capital, and render its
distribution convenient to the people, fix the rate
of interest, ami lessens the exactions of usury.
Hunks should be strii tly prohibited from enga
ging in any speculation whatever. I would res
pectfully recommend that the privilege of bunking
shall not hereafter he conferred upon companies
chartered for other purposes. lam of the opinion
that it will add to the public security, for the proper
conduct of Hanks which may hereafter be created,
if their charters shall require, that the stuck shall be
distributed among numerous persons, and the
amount to be held hy individuals limited, so that
no one, nor even a few, will be able to obtain Ihe
!, entire control or management of any Hank—exj c
ricncc having proved that private Banks are too
t apt to run into speculation, and that the temptation
I to fraudulent combinations, and excessive credit to
individuals, is too great to be usually resisted;
when Hunks are in the hands of a lew.
Intimately connected with the subject of our
Banks, is the policy proposed by the Administra*
> tion of the General Government, of collecting
■ the public dues exclusively in gold and silver, and
' entrusting their safe keeping, until required for ex
| penditure, to individuals, instead of Banks. The
effect of these measures, if they had been adopted
by Congress, would have been to have added to
t the cost of all goods upon which duties are paid ;
increasing the difficulty of purchasing public lands
to every citizen, except large capitalists and office
holder. ; endangered the currency, hy constantly
1 withdrawing from the Banks the basis of their
1 circulation; lessen the safety of the keeping of
the revenue; added to the uncertainty and expense
1 of transferring the public money from the places of
collection to the places of expenditure; and to
have locked up the public money, from the lime of
collection until wanted for the purposes of tire
Government, instead of permitting it to add to the
circulating wealth of the country, through the
menus of general deposites in the Hanks. ftor
would the country have been compensated for these
injurious consequences from the proposed mens
' ure.c, by any corresponding advantages. The di
vorce of the Government from Hie Banks, could
only have resulted in forming a more intimate con
nection between its beneficiaries and die people's
, money; and increasing the dependant'* ot the of
ficers of the Government and public contract)**
upon the President, by enlarging die ptnfiW'Sfthe
spoils to he divided among them.
Blessed, as our country s, with the most hncri
ly constituted form of government, it belongtPlo
, (hose who are entrusted with its adminfstrades.
*o to direct public affairs as to afford to the people
I the fullest enjoyment ot all its advantage*. That
we may bo enabled successfully to discharge that
portion of this duty, which it; imposed upon us, is
the earnest dcs’re of
Vour fellow citizen,
GEORGE R. GILMER.