benighted section, we should point with feelings of gratitude to the light of the star, almost solitary and alone, that beams upon the amplitude of darkness which surrounds us. This consideration will induce a mild treatment of Mr. White's case, when it might appear that justice would demand the use of the knife. The object of the present paper will be to show Georgia as she is, so far as it can be done by analysis of the book before us, with the help of a few other meagre materials which we have at our command, and to point out some of the defects of the volume which we are reviewing. Georgia extends from the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the north, to the Okeefeenokee Swamp on the south, and from the Chattahochee river on the west, to the Savannah on the east. From South-Carolina, on the east, it is separated by a line running from the mouth of the Savannah river up that stream to the confluence of the Tugaloo and Keowee, and thence along the most northern branch of the Tugaloo until it intersects the northern boundaries of South-Carolina. From North-Carolina and Tennessee on the north, it is separated by a line commencing on a summit of the Blue Ridge, where the same is crossed by the 35th degree of north latitude, and terminating at Nickajack. From Alabama, on the west, it is separated by the Chattahochee, running from its southern boundary up to a position near West Point, and then by a line running thence directly to Nickajack. Several attempts have been made by commissioners to settle the line between Georgia and Florida on the south. All attempts at a definite settlement have, as yet, failed. This line, however, is somewhere near a direct course from the mouth of the Flint river to the source of the St. Mary's, thence along that stream to the point where it empties into the ocean. Georgia is situated between 30° 21' 39'' and 35° north latitude, and 81° and 84° 53' 38" west longitude from Greenwich, and 3° 46′ and 7° 39' 26'' west longitude from Washington City. Its length from north to south is.... Square miles... Acres.. .372 miles. ..256 66 .63,397 ..40,574,400 "No State in the Union presents a richer field for the geologist than Georgia. With a territory embracing the southern extremity of the Great Atlantic chain of mountains, extending across them to the N. W. into the valley of the Mississippi, running to the S. W. into the cretaceous slope of the Gulf of Mexico, and occupying along its eastern boundary a wide belt of territory, it contains most of the important geological formations. "Commencing at the Atlantic Ocean, and spreading out from 100 to 150 miles to the west, an extensive plain of a tertiary formation rises from the level of the sea, and gradually swells up to a height of about 500 feet, at a line passing near the head of navigation of the rivers Savannah, Ogeechee, Oconee and Ocmulgee, where it meets a primary formation. Between the Ocmulgee and Flint rivers it leaves the primary formation to the right, and rests on the cretaceous from a point nearly midway between Macon and Knoxville, by a line running in a S. W. direction to another point between Petanla Creek and Fort Gaines on the Chattahoochee river. "Bounded by the last mentioned line to the S. E., and by the southern edge of the primary, as indicated by the heads of navigation in the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers, the cretaceous formation extends from Alabama' into Georgia, forming an acute triangle. The primary, or non-fossiliferous, bounded on the east by the tertiary and cretaceous formations, as described above, crosses the state from N. E. to S. W., with a width of 160 miles at the northern limit, and 100 at the southern. The Blue Ridge range of mountains passes near its western edge, and forms the most elevated land of the state, varying in height from 1,200 to 4,000 feet. From this crest there is a gradual descent to the east, by a series of parallel and undulating ridges, until the tertiary plain is reached. On the west the descent is much more precipitous. The western boundary of the primary is not very accurately established, but is believed to he not far from a line running nearly north and south through the centre of Gilmer county, and continued in the same direction to near Canton, in Čass county; thence to the western base of the Allatoona Mountain on the Etowah river, where it turns to the S. W., and, passing near Van Wert, in Paulding county, and along the northern base of the Dugdown Mountain to the Alabama line. "The north-west part of the State, bounded to the east and south by the western limit of the primary, consists of a transition, or older fossiliferous formation, except the extreme N. W. corner, where the carboniferous occurs." Pp. 14 and 15. Georgia embraces every variety of soil, climate and productions. While the inhabitants of Southern and Middle Georgia are being parched with heat, frequently so intense as to prevent comfortable rest, even at night, the more northern climate, among the mountains, is such as to render necessary a blanket in order to comfortable repose by sleep. The sky is of a deep blue, and it is said by those who know, that a more lovely heaven does not smile upon the classic land of Italia than upon the highly favored inhabitants of Georgia. The light sandy soil of the cordon of islets which border the sea-coast of this State produces the fine and valuable description of cotton known as the "Sea Island." In the south are the tide swamp lands producing immense quantities of rice. The soil of these lands vary as they are situated upon the sea-shore, or upon larger or smaller rivers. On the Savannah they are very extensive, and are cultivated more than twenty miles from the brackish marsh up the river, and are considered the most valuable lands in the state. Next to these lands are those on the Altamaha river, which, in width, are equal to those of the Savannah. They do not extend from the marshes up more than sixteen miles. Beyond this, the freshets render them valueless, except for timber. Their soil has more of vegetable mould than the lands on the Savannah, and they are more easily cultivated. Their products are rice, black-seed cotton, Indian corn, and sugar-cane. Next come the tide lands of the Ogeechee, extending ten miles up from the marshes, which produce rice, but are not very well adapted to cotton. The tide lands of the great St. Illa are not as broad as the others, but are productive and fertile twenty miles up from the marshes, yielding good crops of rice and cotton. They are not so much liable to freshets as some others. The inland swamp lands produce abundantly, but unless there be contiguous a reservoir of water, the produce is uncertain. Black-seed cotton is produced on the oak lands adjoining the inland swamps, though these lands are said to be of inferior quality. About sixty or seventy miles from the coast begin the pine lands, or, as they are sometimes called, "the pine barrens," which have heretofore been chiefly valuable for the immense quantity of timber which has been annually prepared for market. Within a short time past the attention of people has been turned to the manufacture of tar, pitch and turpentine, from the pines growing on these lands, and the time is at hand when these pine barrens will not afford the least source of wealth and prosperity to the citizens of Georgia. The middle region of the state contains land of a red, rich, loamy soil, producing tobacco, cotton, and all the grains. It was once very productive, but owing to the system of cultivation adopted by our planters who have raised upon it year after year, with scarce any intermission, large crops of cotton, it has become, in many counties, much impoverished. Large gullies, and red barren hill-sides, often greet the eye in places which were once as fertile as any under the sun. Our planters are becoming awake to the folly of their past course, and hill-side ditching, manuring, and a judicious rotation in crops, together with occasional rest to the land, is doing much to restore the soil to its virgin fertility. Much still remains to be accomplished, and he who will do most towards setting the example of improving our land, will be our greatest benefactor. We now have our yearly agricultural State Fair, which is doing a great deal to stimulate our planters to an honorable emulation in producing upon Georgia soil, in the largest quantities, every thing needful to our peace, prosperity and happiness. We cannot agree with our author in the assertion that the lands in the south-western part of the state, between the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, are of inexhaustible fertility." Our observation, which is confirmed by the assurance of many intelligent and respectable planters, teaches us, that although these lands when first cleared are very productive, they are not very durable. Being of a light, sandy soil, they produce fine crops of cotton, and sometimes sugar-cane, for a few years, and then become exhausted, when resort must be had to improvements to render them fertile again. These lands are cheaper in proportion to their fertility than any others in Georgia. Let us turn now to the most interesting part of the state, known as Cherokee Georgia. This is in the north. The valleys here are exceedingly rich, producing wheat, corn, Irish potatoes, beans, peas, onions, &c. In some places cotton is extensively raised, but the crop is not so certain as in other parts of the state. This part of the territory of Georgia is peculiarly a grain country, so far as the valleys are concerned, while the mountains yield the more valuable minerals, gold, iron, marble, granite, limestone, &c. The land here is more costly than in any other part of the state, ranging from ten to thirty dollars per acre, while in south-western Georgia lands of equal fertility range from three to ten dollars per acre. The difference in the price is traceable to the fact that the lands of Cherokee Georgia are much more durable than those in the south-western part of the state-it being the fact, that in the former portion there is land which was cultivated by the Indian before the white man's axe ever echoed back from the hills the sound of the march of civilization, which now produces from fifty to seventy-five bushels per acre. Cherokee Georgia is not the place to raise cotton, but it is to be the granary and the workshop of the balance of the state. Its fields will produce corn to feed the operatives who are to direct its water-power in manufacturing the cotton which is raised in the more southern parts of the state, and in digging out from the bowels of the earth the minerals which are to regulate the inland commerce, and form the implements of husbandry, life and peace, and, in case of necessity, of war, death and destruction. Mr. White says, "In the country bordering on the Savannah river, as far up as Elbert, and extending across to Broad river, the land, though long cultivated, is still productive; and we know of bodies of land in this section of the state, particularly in Oglethorpe county, which have been cultivated for more than half a century, and which still produce 700 and 800 pounds of cotton to the acre." P. 38. Our author enumerates upwards of fifty streams in the state of Georgia which deserve and wear the name of rivers. A very cursory glance at the map of the state will show that her water resources are immense. The streams of this state alone, which pour the volume of their waters from the mountain springs into the bosom of the Atlantic and the Gulf, would supply sufficient power in eligible sites, to manufacture all the cotton grown in the world, or to grind all the grain produced in Uncle Sam's wide dominions. In addition to this, the Savannah, the Altamaha, the Oconee, the Ocmulgee, the St. Mary's, the Ogeechee, the Flint, the Chattahoochee, the Coosa, and various others, bear upon their bosoms steamboats, sloops, cotton, and flat-boats, laden with the productions of Georgia soil, and going to swell the tide of commerce upon which depend the wealth, power and prosperity of our nation. Mr. White has in his book some interesting extracts from the MSS. of the late Col. Benjamin Hawkins, many years agent of the United States Government in its transactions with the Creek Indians, formerly residing in this State. We give the following in reference to the origin of this tribe, as being most interesting: "The origin of the name Creek is uncertain. The tradition is, that it was given by white people, from the number of creeks and water-courses in the country. The Indian name is Muscogee. The Creeks came from the West. They have a tradition among them that there is, in the Fork of the Red River, west of the Mississippi, two mounds of earth; that at this place the Cussetuhs, Conetuhs and Chickasaws found themselves; that being distressed by wars with red people, they crossed the Mississippi, and directing their course eastwardly, they crossed the falls of Tallapoosa above Tookaubatche, settled below the falls of Chattahoochee, and spread out from thence to Ocmulgee, Oconee, Savannah, and down on the sea-coast towards Charleston. Here they first saw white people, and from hence they have been compelled to retire back again to their present settlements."-P. 23. "According to the census of 1840, the population of Georgia amounted to 210,634 white persons, males. 197,161 white persons, females. 141,609 slaves, females. Total...........691,492* "Of this number 574 are computed to be engaged in mining, 209,383 in agriculture, 2,428 in commerce, 7,984 in manufactures and trades, 262 in navigation of the seas, 352 in navigation of canals, lakes and rivers, 1,250 in the liberal professions." COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE POPULATION FOR FIFTY-FIVE YEARS. Julius M. Patton, (of Cass.). Benjamin F. Gullett, (of Talbot,). We will here give a list of the state officers, &c., together with other interesting matter, for which we are indebted to the Carolina and Georgia Almanac for 1850: Governor-George W. Towns, (of Talbot,) salary... Messenger-Charles C. Rice, (of Baldwin,).. $3,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,600 Secretary of State.-George W. Harrison, (of Randolph,). 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 State Librarian.-Robert Micklejohn, (of Baldwin,). 600 President of Senate.-William B. Wofford, (of Habersham.) Secretary of Senate.-Luther J. Glenn, (of Henry,).. 600 Speaker of House of Representatives.-John W. Anderson, (Savannah,). 600 600 Director of Central Bank.-D. C. Campbell, (of Baldwin,). 1,200 Cashier.-A. M. Nisbet, (of Baldwin,) 500 Principal Keeper of Penitentiary.-W. W. Williamson, (of Cherokee,). 1,600 Book Keeper.-H. G. Williams, (of Talbot.) Inspector.-A. M. Horton, (of Baldwin,)... 500 Physicians.-Drs. Tomlinson, and George W. Fort, (of Baldwin,).. 400 Chaplain. Rev. William Johnson, (of Baldwin.) Trustees of Lunatic Asylum.-Dr. Tomlinson Fort, Dr. H K. Green, and P. B. Stubba. Resident Physician and Superintendent.-Dr. T. F. Green..... 1,500 It is believed the federal census of the present year will show one million inhabitants of Georgia (Ed.) This State is divided into ninety-four counties. Each county is entitled to one or two representatives in the General Assembly in proportion to its population. Most of the counties send only one representative, while thirty-seven are entitled to two. There are in the State forty-seven senatorial districts, each of which is entitled to send one member to the upper house of the Legislature. The State also is divided into eight congressional districts, each of which sends a member to Congress. The first district, represented by Joseph W. Jackson, Democrat, consists of Appling, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Clinch, Effingham, Emanuel, Glynn, Liberty, Lowndes, McIntosh, Montgomery, Scriven, Telfair, Tatnall, Thomas, Ware, Wayne-19 counties. The second district, represented by M. J. Welborn, Democrat, consists of Baker, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Houston, Irwin, Lee, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Pulaski, Randolph, Stewart, Sumter-14 counties. The third Congressional district, represented by Allen P. Owen, Whig, consists of Bibb, Butts, Crawford, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Pike, Talbot, Twiggs, Upson, Wilkinson-11 counties. The fourth district, represented by Hon. A. Haralson, Democrat, consists of Campbell, Carroll, Coweta, De Kalb, Harris, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Meriwether, Troup-10 counties. The fifth district, represented by Thomas C. Hackett, Democrat, consists of Cass, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Gordon, Floyd, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Lumpkin, Murray, Walker, Paulding, Gilmer, Union-15 counties. The sixth district, represented by Howell Cobb, Democrat, consists of Clark, Franklin, Hall, Habersham, Jackson, Madison, Newton, Rabun, Walton-9 counties. The seventh district, represented by Alexander H. Stephens, Whig, consists of Baldwin, Greene, Hancock, Laurens, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Taliafero, Washington-9 counties. The eighth district, represented by Robert Toombs, Whig, consists of Burke, Columbia, Elbert, Jefferson, Lincoln, Richmond, Warren, Wilkes -8 counties. The senators in congress from Georgia are-J. M. Berrien, Savannah, and William C. Dawson, Greensboro'-both Whigs. Here is a table, taken from p. 58 of the work before us, showing the annual Revenue and Expenditure of the State of Georgia: REVENUES. General tax, viz., capitation-tax on free white males, (from 21 to 60)— slaves-free persons of color-lawyers-physicians-factors and brokers; -tax on land, per acre, according to its classification as to quality-on town lots, merchandise, ferries, toll-bridges and turnpikes, the returned valueon money at interest-capital of manufacturing companies-capital of banks of other States employed in this, and sales of merchandise by factors, amount returned and on pleasure carriages and billiard tables, the number returned. |