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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.