Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-18
DOMESTIC.
MESSAGE IF Cor. McDosALD Of Georgia.


Extracts.
| "Timely provision should be made for the payment
of the interest the public debt, and inasmuch as
specie necessary for this object would recommend
that the tax Bank Stock be required to De paid IN
specie, and at such times it shall be needed to meet
the engagements of the State, and that sufficient
amount 10 pay the entire interest be thus LEVIED pro-
v;ded the notes Of the Centra Bank generally at
greater discount than FIVE per cent in the purchase OF
Exchange. As the Central Bank notes are the sole
currency at The command Of the Treasury, GONE rfgu
la,ion c the sort is necessary to the State from
absolute disgrace. In justice to the holders OF the
notes of the Central Bank, however, That institution
ought M. 10 be permitted to add dollar 10 lis c'rcua
'nn for any purpose whatever, until it exngu'shes It's
liabilities Of every description and shall be able TO
| deem its issues with specie.
/ sin executing the duties required Of me, under the
of the last Legislature which dissolved the corps Of
engineers then IN the service OF the Snie, and repealed
much of the act of eighteen hundred and thirty.
seven relates to the election o three commissioner
Of the Western and Atlantic railroad, | sought and
obtained the services Of the Hon Wilson Lumpkin, as
dsbursng agent In January last he entered upon the
duties of his appointment and has executed them with
his accustomed fidelity and ability.
"He has appropriated, with little exception, the whole
of his time to the service of the Stale md has rendered
important aid in the prosecution Of the great work he
was called, in part, To supcrinend. As required by
law recognized the corps of engineers at greatly
diminished expense. 81 lis head placed MIR. Charles
| L.
practical skill, acquired in his superintendent of o
road in another Safe. The operations Of the year at
test his qualifications If the work should be conl
nued through the next year, The expenses of this ser
vice may still be reduced II is probable that the chief
engineer with one assistant will be competent to super
intend the work. carried on, as it must be- BY diminish
ed number OF contractors difficulty procuring the
means for the purchase of iron has prevented the
plrtun Of the road to Inc point contemplated by the Le
rislaure. The contract for iron reported by the Pre-
sdent OF the board Of commissioners 10 the last Legs
laue wholly failed, and The chief engineer went to
New York early in the year for the purpose of obtain
ing in that market, quantity sufficient 10 finish Tie
road tyo miles beyond The Etowah, compliance with
the expressed will of the Legislature. lie was able
TO obtain part only; suicsncy, however, 10 lay
down ,3 miles of the road. IL is expected tie road
will be completed for that distance during the month
of November. To pay for the iron, the n,oney recev
ed into the treasury for reverted lands, used un
der the law Of the last session, appropratng it Tor the
pa me Mt of the public debt. From the depreciation of
the notes Of the Central Bank, in which payments
made into the treasury loss of eighteen per
cent on twenty thousand dollars xchange purchased
in Augusta, was sustained; loss, 10 which il was
thought better submit, than to forfeit so advantage
Gus contract for iron, 1t having been purchased for less
than two cents per pound, delivered in Savannah, and
insured TO Augusta The balance Of the exchange
obtained through the kind and efficient agency OF the
President Of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Compa.
ny, upon hyPohecailon of the notes OF the Central
loss With existing appropriations, it is believed the
road may be completed 10 the point West OF the
Etowah, designated by the last Legislature, and be-
yond, provided part Of the sum expected from the
General Government the militia claim applied TO
the purchase of iron, which may, with propnety be
DONE after paying a part of the debt due to Reid,
Irving and Company, satisfactory 10 them. After the
expenditure of the already appropriated to this
work. it will be demonstrated whether the high ex-
pectations of the State from this great enterprise are
~. lharu IL
would, in ever aspect Of the case, recommend that the
VOL be carried with the appropriations already made,
that It's utility 10 the country both with respect to reve-
nue. and commerce, may be fairly tested If the work
he suspended at the present pon the road cannot lie
used To much profit TO any one, and but an nconSde-
rabe income to the Stale may be expected from it, while
the works beyond constructed OF so great COST will be
exposed 10 damage and ruin. This recommendation
H. however based upon The presumption, that the su'
oerstrncture can be made Cor State Bonds at prices
very little above cash raes. The expenditures upon
the road up this time amount to about two millions
eight hundred thousand dollars. The report OF the
discussing agent may be expected 10 be full and exp
cit on this point with the exception OF the amount ex.
pended in the purchase OF iron, locomotive, freight,
&c, which may be estimated at eighty two thousand
and s1ty.two dnllars aud ten cents.
1.-THE efforts heretofore made to confer The benefits oil
Education upon oil, through the inslrumenaliiy of
common aud poor schools have not been attended with
The success that hoped for. The great abuse TO
which the system is subject affords ncusve evidence
that il is radically defective. In many places the fund
set apart and distributed for this object has been grossly
ppled ard its intended benefcaries have received
no aid from it. Indeed, small sum is now subject
In dis ribuon that lift equally divided among The
children entitled 10 il under the law, and 1t should be
distributed in other manner, II would not be suiil
to purchase the books and stationary necessary for
their use Al the last apporonmcnt the sum fseveniy
cents only assigned TO each child and there must he
even further reduction at the next This 10 trhng
with the subject ofeducatnD, and wasting the public re-
venue TO no purpose would therefore earnestly recon-
mend thorough and radical change Of the system, and
advise that the condition OF the treasury VIII
Justify it. a seminary for the education Of the poor ex
cIusiyely be established section OF the State ell
oible on account Of its henh and the cheopness of
PROVISIONS where it could be sustained at the eost
POSSIBLE expense Each county should be entitled TO
send 10 il on equal number OF its poor children, the
whole amounting 10 such number as can be supported
and educated annually, by the fund set apart for the
nurpose The children thus receiving the benefits oi
education. at the hands Of the State should be re-
ou;red under a penalty and obligation, to which you
ha &c the power confer them the legal capacity TO
bind themselves to return TO their respective countless
and ns compe nsation to the public, teach poor chill
dren gratutou,ly, for such term OF time us might be
reasonable and Just Their counties should be required
to board and cothe them for the time, provided the tui-
ton money for the children of persons able to poy Tor
their educa,ion should not be sufficient for the purpose
system Of this sort could not fa 10 become exien
.yely useful and the funds wasted in the fruiles
a,tempt. under different plan TO accomplish the came
great object ought be carefully husbanded 10 carry
into effect
ga few weeks after the adjournment Of the last Lees
Iature applications made to me from various
ouarlers OF the State 10 reas.emble that body, that
hey might take into consideration some measure, for
the relief Of The people. did consider the upplica
lions sufficiently numerous justify important step,
especially al the session then so recently closed the
subject had been general terms submitted to them
There car be question thatti the duty OF Govern
men, whose mischevous policy has been, in great de-
gree, instrumental in producing individual embarass.
uen, and excluding from the hands OF the people The
only currency, certainly available, in the payment oi
debts to vert allie the distress has caused os lar
as,s powers be exerted for the pur-
pose Restrained The States are, from enaciing laws
mparng the obligation of contracts, they are cut IN
from tie mos, obvious remedy for great an evil The
thew have authorized corporations to issue the