MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR McDONALD OF GEORGIA. are entitled. They claim commissions for taxes assessed upon defaulters, to which the Comptroller General has decided they are not entitled. That act revives the tax act of eighteen hundred and four, and all other acts amendatory thereof, not containing repugnant provisions. Neither by that act or any amendatory act, are receivers entitled to commissions, except on property returned. The act to raise a tax for the support of Government for the political year eighteen hundred and thirteen, which was revived for a series of consecutive years, was the first to allow commissions on assessments. Besides, a large amount of the assessments returned the present year was made under the law intended to prevent the evils of private banking, and not under the revenue act; so that in every view of the case, commissions are not allowable by existing laws on the vast amount of assessments made; and it is for you to determine whether they shall be now granted. They would absorb one-sixth part of the collectable taxes. Education. 311 amount of manufactured articles on hand shows the necessity of making some new regulation for the sale of them.To prevent their accumulation, and the injury they necessarily sustain from time, I would recommend that the inducement be held out to purchasers that payment may be made through the Central Bank, in notes well secured, and that all articles on hand be sold annually at auction, on the same liberal terms. tution and the mode of keeping the accounts, will, it is hoped, The improvement made in the management of the insti prevent the evils complained of in the report of the principal keeper, and effectually prevent the errors and impositions there exposed. It will be scen, from the report, that in former reports, articles and expenditures have been placed among the available means of the institution, which ought to have been charged to its incidental expenses. It is necessary to the profitable management of the institution, that provision be made for the payment of its debts. If upon the consumption of its present stock of materials it must cease. is left without means, and destitute of credit, its operations of selling the manufactured articles, the State may expect to be reimbursed in good notes bearing interest, for all sums If the proposed change be made in the mode advanced. For information in regard to all other matters connected with the institution; the defects in former regulations; its present condition and future prospects, &c, I refer you to the very full report of the principal keeper, which Among the constitutional duties which you are called upon to discharge, is the promotion of the arts and sciences in one or more seminarics of learning. The university is in a flourishing condition, and from the liberal patronage of the State, is enabled to afford the benefits of education to many who would otherwise be compelled to depend upon the institutions of other States, or, for the want of means to defray so heavy an expense, abandon the pursuit of know-will be communicated in a few days. ledge. The first thing to be regarded in a republic, is the virtue of the people; the second, their intelligence; both are essential to the maintenance of our free institutions; the first inspires them with a disposition to do right, the second arms them with power to resist wrong. The precepts of morality are mingled with lessons of literary instruction, in almost every system of modern education; and he who attains a high degree of mental improvement cannot fail to be impressed with those lofty sentiments of right which tend to social happiness. The sum now distributable among the several counties as a poor school fund, is twenty-one thousand and eighty-nine dollars and sixty-four cents; an amount so inconsiderable, I regret to say, as to afford them but little means of defray ing the expenses of the education of those for whom it was intended. But for the engagements that may have been made with teachers for the present year, dependent on the funds expected from the State, I would recommend its being retained until another dividend shall arise upon the stock applicable to this object, which will be in April next. Executive warrants. I lay before you a statement of Executive warrants drawn upon the treasury for the past political year; and also a list of Executive appointments made since the first of November last. Military, &c. I also submit copies of the reports of the military storekeepers at Milledgeville and Savannah and the report of the new commissioners of the road leading from Elijay to the federal road in Murray county, relating to their proceedings in regard to an attempted settlement with the former com. missioners. Major General Burwell J. Wynn has resigned his command of the second division of Georgia militia. John H. Watson, Esq. has resigned his office of Solicitor General of the Chattahoochee circuit, and Alexander H. Cooper, Esq. has been appointed to fill his vacancy occasioned thereby. William H. Stiles, Esq. has been appointed, according to a resolution of the last General Assembly, to examine into the application of the funds appropriated for the opening and improving the navigation of the Ogeechee river. Penitentiary. The operation of the Penitentiary, under its present able and energetic keeper, exhibits a profit of nearly six thousand dollare since the 4th day of January last; but the large Bank of Ruckersville. ersville. The report of the other banks are in the hands of the State Printer, and will be ready for delivery in a short I lay before you the October report of the bank of Rucktime. Veto. ed for my revision, and dissented to by me, are herewith Several bills passed by the last General Assembly, presenttransmitted, with my objections. Lunatic Asylum. be completed before the close of your session. It will, therefore be necessary to adopt regulations for the reception and custody of the unfortunate class of persons for whose benefit it was constructed, and to provide for them suitable medical and other attendance. One of the buildings intended as a Lunatic Asylum will Balance due to the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company for advances made to the Commissioners of the to call the attention of the General Assembly to this subject ple, to make all laws and ordinances which you may deem CHARLES J. McDONALD. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, } tree on his farin, thirty years old, which is still in bearing, |