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were taken to bring the question as to the legality of their confinement and the constitutionality of the State laws before the Supreme Court of the United States for decision, and in the mean time the missionaries remained in prison among convicts and felons.

Among other measures adopted by the Legislature at the session of 1830-31, on this subject, was a law declaring all Cherokees not to be bound or liable to be sued on contracts made with white persons. A bill was passed to authorise the immediate survey and distribution of the Cherokee territory, but postponing the division into lots until the Indian title was extinguished, or until the meeting of the next legislature.

A new system for the militia was also reported, by which all parades were abolished except one for annual inspection, and all persons not serving in volunteer corps were to be taxed 50 cents a year, for the encouragement and support of volunteer corps. The members of volunteer corps were to be exempted from Jury duty; and were to have 4 annual parades, exclusive of those required by their by-laws.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.-The following resolution was also passed by a vote of 76 to 45. After reciting the protest against the tariff passed in 1828 (Vide Ann. Register for that year [141]) the resolution proceeds.

And whereas the foregoing protest was, on the 12th day of January, 1829, laid before the Senate of the United States, with due solemnity.

Be it therefore resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and acting for the people thereof, That the

State of Georgia, influenced by a sense of forbearance, and respect for the opinions of the other States, and by community of attachment to the Union, so far as the same may be consistent with self-preservation and a determined purpose to preserve the purity of our republican institutions, having, in her sovereign character, protested against the Tariff, and, by inference, against its dependent measure-Internal Improvements, as being an infraction of the sacred bond of our Union-demanded its repeal, and in perpetual testimony thereof, deposited that protest and demand in the archives of the Senate of the United States, cannot now, adhering firmly and unalterably, as she does, to the declarations contained in that instrument, descend, without compromitsing her honor and dignity as a sovereign and independent State, to the measures of memorial and remonstrance, which, having been patiently resorted to for years, were utterly disregarded, thus compelling her, in justification of her character to the present generation, and to posterity, reluctantly to adopt the measure herein before recited.

'Resolved, nevertheless, by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, acting for and in the behalf of the people thereof, That this State looks with the deepest solicitude to the re-election of General Jackson to the 'residency of the United States, because in that event, we will have a certain guarantee, that he will fearlessly go, as far as his official powers will warrant, "in arresting the profligate expenditure of the public money, extinguishing the public debt as speedily as possible-and in restraining the Government to its original simplicity in the exercise of all its functions."'

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ELECTIONS.-August, 1830.— The following is the return of the election for a member of congress in this state :Mr. Plummer

Dickson

Wilkins

Norton

Sharkey
Webber

the vote:

2078
1398

3,950

The distance round that bend was eighteen miles. On the 14th of January, 1831, Capt. Shreve, the superintendent for improving the 4148 navigation of the Mississippi and 2713 Ohio rivers, commenced making an excavation across the neck of 1372 land, at the narrowest point. The 155 object was effected by cutting a From the official returns of the canal seventeen feet wide, and election for governor of this state, twenty-two feet deep, after felling it appears that the following was all the timber in the vicinity. The water was let through the canal about the 28th of January, fourteen days after the commencement of the work. In two days the water had excavated a channel to such an extent, that the steamer Belvidere passed up through it. On the same day, the United States steamer Heliopolis passed up the same channel. Since that time, the steamboats have all passed through the same cut off, up and down. În five days, it was the main channel of the river, being about half a mile in width, and of equal

Scott
Runnels
Lynch

Harris
Gordon

3,711 2,905 1,439

494 For a convention, to amend the constitution, 7,034; against a convention, 2,020.

1831. THE MISSISSIPPI.-The length of passage from New Orleans to Louisville has been shortened about forty-two miles, by cutting off two bends in the Mississippi river. The first at the bend into which Red river empties itself.

depth with the other parts of the river. The excavation was made by the steam snag-boat Heliopolis, in an unexampled and expeditious manner. By taying the boat head on the shore, two scrapers of large size were worked by lines from four windlasses on the main shafts of the boat. Two lines to each scraper, one a six inch line, to haul the scraper into the bow of the boat, the other, a three and a half inch line, passed through a leading block on the shore, as far out as was necessary, and fastened to the back end of the scraper to draw it out. In this manner, the scrapers were kept in continual operation; loaded and unloaded by their own motion, attended by two men each, moving the earth out, and throwing it into the river, where it was washed away at the rate of at least a ton weight per minute.

The other bend, 200 miles above Natchez, which has been cut off, is not yet so perfect a navigation. The distance round it is 24 miles. That channel was formed by cutting a small ditch through two years ago. Six or eight steamboats have passed up through it. It is believed that it will wash to such an extent, that it will be the main channel of the river in 1831. The saving to the navigation will be equally as great as that at Red river. From examinations made by Capt. H. M. Shreve, he is of opinion, that the distance may be

shortened 97 miles in the same manner, at a comparatively small expense, by cutting through five other bends. The superintendent has been instructed by the department not to execute this work, as the act of congress providing for the improvement of the navigation of that river, does not authorise that description of improvement.

UNITED STATES BANK.--The following resolution was passed at the session of 1830-31.

'Whereas, the introduction of a Branch bank of the National bank, within our state, would increase the circulating medium, facilitate internal and external negotiations, and promote our agricul tural and commercial interests-Therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi, in general assembly convened, and it is hereby resolved, that the president and directors of the bank of the United States be, and they are hereby requested to locate a branch of said bank within the limits of our State. And be it further

'Resolved, by the authority aforesaid, that the Governor be, and he is hereby requested, forthwith, to transmit a copy of this resolution, addressed to the president and directors of said bank, and that the same be certified under the seal of the state, and with his signature affixed thereto.'

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hand--besides the cash in the dif- vided they were not purchased in ferent offices and other available Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas or means, making the grand aggre- Florida. gate of $876,038. The bills and notes discounted, or mortgages on interest, amounted to about 3,500, 000--capital paid in yearly 4,000,000-deposites to credit of individuals, 392,355.

1831. A rail road was this year completed between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain-it is 4 1-2 miles long, perfectly straight, and its ascent and descent is only 16 inches. The avenue on which the road runs is 150 feet in width, and, being perfectly straight, the eye easily traverses its whole length. Standing on the bank of the Mississippi, you readily see the vessels sailing across the opening at the end of the avenue of trees.-At the extremity of the road, the company are constructing an artificial harbor and breakwater.

The New Orleans Bee of May 21, says, 'The sale of the Milneburg lots was closed yesterday; twenty-six squares were sold for 8,425 dollars, which, to the amount already published, makes in all $259,247. It is the establishment of the port of Pontchartrain and the rail road, which gave so much value to these lots. It is said that the whole of that property, extending about three leagues towards lake Borgne, was bought of the Spanish government for 105 dollars.

1830-31.--LEGISLATION.-The principal provisions of the act recently passed by the Legislature of Louisiana, in relation to the introduction of slaves, are as follows: Sec. 2. Persons emigrating and actually in the State, may introduce slaves which are bona fide their property, and citizens may introduce slaves for their own use: Pro

Sec. 3. Persons within five days after arrival of slaves, to file entry on oath, of the number, sex, description, &c., and to make oath not to sell, hire, exchange, mortgage, or in any manner dispose of them during five years. Penalty from 500 to $1000, and slaves to be free. Oath may be taken in any other State.

Sec. 4. No person mentioned in second section permitted to sell, mortgage, hire, &c., under same penalties.

Sec. 6. No slaves introduced under this law liable to be sold under execution for five years.

Sec. 8. Allows slaves to be removed out of State and sold, but to return only under provisions of this act.

Sec. 12. Act not to apply to slaves coming and departing with travellers, or those absent on passage of act.

LOUISIANA AND THE MISSISSIPPI.-The following resolutions were also passed:

'Whereas it is of vital importance to the commercial interest, not only of Louisiana, but of the United States, that the obstructions at the entrance of the Mississippi

be removed; and whereas the difficulties of entering the river are daily increasing, and immense losses have lately been sustained in consequence thereof:

'Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana, in general assembly convened, That the senators of this State be instructed, and the representatives be requested, to represent to the general government the necessity of deepening the mouth of the Mississippi, and

for that purpose be made without delay.

The finances of the state are set forth in the annual message of the governor as follows:

urge that a suitable appropriation able fund now in the Treasury, amounts to $67,947 34-100-to which we may add $70,372 93-100 in notes of which the payment is secured, and which make a total sum of $138,320 27-100. Our receipts during the year 1832 will exceed our expenditures by a sum of probably $45,000, and this surplus must necessarily augment every year.'

'Our debt, which amounted, according to the last report made to you, to $130,109 3 cents, has been reduced during the year 1831 to $77,435 50-100. The dispos

TENNESSEE.

LEGISLATION.-At the session of the General Assembly in 182930, four hundred and fourteen acts, public and private, were passed, and thirty-two resolutions adopted. Among the public acts were the following:

An act establishing the rate of damages and interest upon protested bills of exchange. The holder of such bill is entitled to recover for damages over and above the principal sum for which the bill was drawn, and the charges of protest, together with interest on the principal sum, damages and charges of protest, from the time at which notice of the protest was given, and payment demanded at the following rate :-If the bill is drawn upon any person in the United States, three per cent. on the principal sum; if upon any person in any other State or place in North America bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, or in the West Indies, 15 per cent; if upon a person in any other part of the world, 20 per cent; these damages are in lieu of interest and all other charges except the charges of protest, to the time of notice of the protest and demand of payment.

In the trial of indictment for of fences under the grade of petit lar. ceny, where no peremptory challenges of jurors are allowed by the

existing laws, the State and the defendant are each to be entitled to challenge peremptorily five jurors.

SLAVES. If a negro slave sell any spirituous liquors, without the permission of his master, he is liable to receive not less than five, or more than ten lashes. If any slave have in his possession spirituous liquors at any other place than his own house, which liquor is owned by such slave, or some other slave, he is also liable to be whipped. If any merchant, tavern keeper, or other person, sell any spirituous liquor to a slave without a permit in writing from the master, he is subject to a fine of not less than five or more than fifty dollars.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.-By this act a board of Internal Improvement is established, of which the Governor is to be ex officio President, and $150,000 are appropriated to this object.

Among the private acts is the following: An act providing that a free woman of color in the third degree,' and who has been emancipated, shall be 'entitled to all the privileges of a free born white citizen of her sex ;' but then 'she shall not, by virtue of the act, be a legal witness against any white person, in any court whatever.'

Among the resolutions are the

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