HOUSE JOURNAL--12th Session,
A
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE
OF THE
STATE OF FLORIDA,
AT ITS
TWELFTH SESSION,
Eegun and held at the Capitol, in the City of Tallahassee,
on Monday, November 16th, 1863,
OFFICE UF THE FLORIDIAN & JOURNAL.
PRIM ED' BY DYKE & CARLISLE.
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JOURNAL
Of the House of Representatives of the State of Florida, at
the Second Session of the Twelfth General Assembly, begun
and held at the Capitol, in the City of Tallahassee, in the
State of \Florida, on Monday, the sixteenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-
threi:
On which day, being that fixed by the Constitution of the
State of Florida for the meeting of the General Assembly, the
House of Representatives was called to order, at twelve o'clock,
by Hon. T. J. Eppes, Speaker.
The roll beitfg called, the following members answered to their
names, viz:
Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Avery, Baltzell, Campbell, Duval, Gee,
Greeley, Henry, Jackson, Overstreet, Pittman, Price of Alachua,
Scott and Williams—14.
There not being a quorum present, on motion of Mr. Jackson,
the House took a recess until half-past three o'clock, P. M.
HALF-PAST THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.
The House Resumed its session.
Tl/e'following members answered to their names :
Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Avery,. Baltzell, Campbell, Du¬
val, Gee, Greeley, Hendry, Henry, Jackson, Lee, McGehee, Mizell,
Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Colum¬
bia, Ross, Scott, Sessions and Williams—23.
There not being a quorum present, Mr. Avery moved that the
members elect, that have not been sworn in, be now allowed to
present their credentials;
Which was agreed to.
Thomas D. Nixon of Liberty county, James M. Amos of San¬
ta Rosa qounty, Alexander Cromartie of Leon county and Lewis
Deshong of Hillsborough county, came forward and presented
their credentials, and were sworn in by T. J. Eppes^ Notary
Public. ,
s The roll being again called, the following members answered
to their names : *
M*r. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Baltzell, Camp-
4
bell, Cromartie, Deshong, Duval, Gee, Greeley, Hendry, Hen¬
ry, Jackson, Lee, McGehee, Mizell, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman,
Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Ross, Scott, Ses¬
sions and Williams—26.
A quorum present.
Mr. Baitzell moved that the officers of the last session, that
were present, be constituted officers of this House;
Which was agreed to. *
The office of Messenger being vacant, Mr. Williams moved to
proceed to the election of a Messenger.
Mr. Lee moved to combine the offices of Messenger and Door-
Keeper ;
Which was not agreed to.
The House then proceeded to the election of a Messenger.
Mr. Henry nominated Mr. J. S. Bird, of Jackson county.
Mr. Ross nominated Mr. J. J. Whitelmrst, of Leon county.
The vote was:
For Wiiitehurst—Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Baitzell,
Campbell, Cromartie, Deshong, Duval, Greeley, Hampton, Jack¬
son, Lee, McGehee, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price ot
Alachua, Price of Columbia, Ross, Sessions and Williams—22.
For Bird—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Gee, Hendry, Henry and
Scott—5.
Mr. Whitehurst was declared elected Messenger of the House.
Mr. Baitzell moved that a committee of three be appointed to
wait on the Senate ancl inform that body that the House was
now organized;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Baitzell, Hampton and
Henry appointed said committee.
Mr. Jackson moved that a committee of three be appointed to
act with a similar committee on the part of the Senate, to wait
upon his Excellency the Governor and inform him that the Gen¬
eral Assembly is now organized and ready to receive any com¬
munication he may be pleased to make ;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Jackson, Avery and Wil¬
liams appointed said committee.
Mr. Baitzell moved that a committee of three be appointed to
act with a similar committee on the part of the Senate, to draft
Joint Rules for the government of both Houses ;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Baitzell, Polhill and Ross
appointed said committee.
Notice was given ot intention to introduce the following bills
at some future day, viz:
By Mr. Avery:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the charter of the city of
Pensacola;
5
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the charter of the Ala¬
bama and Florida Railroad Company; also,
A bill to be entitled an act to increase the fees of the officers
of the several counties in the State.
Mr. Henry moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms be instructed to
procure the necessary stationery for the use of the House.;
Which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Baltzell, the House adjourned until to-mor¬
row morning, 10 o'cleck.
TUESDAY, November 17th, 1863.
The House mefe pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
On motion, the reading of the joirrnal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the journal approved.
W. B. Wynn, member elect from Jackson county, presented
his credentials and was sworn in by Hon. T. J. Eppes, Notary
Public, and took his seat.
Mr. Henry moved that a committee of three be appointed to
select a Qhaplain for the House ;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Henry, Garnie and Nixon
appointed said committee.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills
at some future day, viz:
By Mr. Jackson:
A* bill to be entitled an act to furnish to each regiment or bat¬
talion of Florida troops now out of the State or that may be or¬
dered out a regimental flag ;
A bill to be entitled an act for the protection of cattle owners
in the county of Levy; and,
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish the planting
and cultivating in the State of Florida over a certain quantity of
land in cotton during the present war.
By Mr. Pittman : /
A bill to be entitled an act to extend the provisions of an act
entitled an act for the relief of Gen. William E. Anderson and
others, approved December 10th, 1863.
Mr. Jackson moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms be instructed
to furnish the members of the House with a copy of the amended
Constitution;
Which was agreed to.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills
at some future day, viz:
By Mr. Greeley:
6
A bill to be entitled an act to change the place of holding the
Circuit Court from Palatka to some safe point in the county.
By Mr. Henry:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the road laws of this
State; also,
A bill, to be entitled an act to amend an act passed at the last
session of this House to provide for the support, &c., of soldiers'
families.
Mr. Avery moved that the Speaker be requested to revise or
reform at his discretion, the Standing Committees, the number
of new members rendering this measure both just and expedient ;
Which was agreed to.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills
at some future day, viz:
By Mr. Eppes : . ,
A bill-to be entitled an act relative to property confiscated to
the use of the'State.
By Mr. Avery:
A bill to be entitled an act to fix the salaries of the public of¬
ficers of this State.
Mr. Avery moved that a committee of five be appointed by
the Speaker to take into consideration the subject of relief for
those persons, citizens of this State, who, in consequence .of the
present war, require pecuniary assistance. This" committee to
act in conjunction with any similar -committee which maybe
appointed by the Senate, and to report by bill or otherwise;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Avery, Hampton, Boss,
Lee and Scott appointed said committee.
Pursuant to previous notice Mr. Avery introduced the follow¬
ing bills:
A bil1 to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the City
of Pen sr. cola ;
A bill to be entitled.an act amending the Charter of the Ala¬
bama & Florida Railroad Company; and
A bill to be entitled an act increasing the fees of county offi¬
cers ;
Which were placed among the orders of the day.
The following communication was read :
Hon. Thomas J_Eppes :
Speaker otvthe House of Representatives,
State of Florida:
Sir : Cyprian T. Jenkins, a representative from the county of
Hernando, was taken prisoner by the enemy, and, when last
heard from, he was incarcerated in Fort Warren, Boston Harbor.
Citizens of Hernando county request ed the Probate Judge therot
7
to order an election to fill the unexpired terra of Cyprian T.
Jenkins, a prisoner of war. The Probate Judge did refuse to
comply with the wishes of citizens of Hernando county. Cit¬
izens then, at the general election, voted for and elected Frederick
Lykes, without his knowledge or consent. Pie entertains doubts
whether the honorable body, over which you preside will admit
to him a seat, though your honorable body is the sole judge of the
qualifications of its own members. By the request of citizens of
Hernando, I ask " is Frederick Lykes entitled to his seat ? "
JOSEPH M. TAYLOR,
Senator 20th District.
On motion, the communication was referred to a committee
consisting of Messrs. Ross, Garnie, Avery, jYilliams and Wynn.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
the'House that the Senate is now organized, and that they had
also been instructed to act with a similar committee on the part
of thePPouse to inform his Excellency the Governor that the
General Assembly is now organized and ready to receive any
communication which it may please him to make.
The committee appointed to inform the Senate that the PXouse
was organized, appeared at the bar and reported that they had
performed their duty and were discharged.
The committee appointed to act with a similar committeee on
the part of the Senate to inform his Excellency the Governor
that the General Assembly was now Organized, and ready to re¬
ceive any communication which he may be pleased to make, ap¬
peared at the bar and reported that they had performed their du¬
ty and were discharged.
The committee appointed to act with a similar committee on
the part of the Senate to draft joint rules for the government of
both Houses, appeared at the bar and reported that they had per¬
formed their duty and were discharged.
The following message was received from his Excellency the
Governor.:
8
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE-
Executive Department, i
Tallahassee, Nov. 16tli, 1863. f
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate
and House of Representatives:
From the commencement of the war on the part of the
United States, waged under the despotic sway of Abraham
Lincoln to subjugate the Confederate States of America, its
progress has enriched the annals of nations with an additional
illustration that a brave people, who know their rights and
resolve to maintain them under the government of their
choice, are invincible. The boast and solemn assurance
given by President Lincoln to Foreign Nations and to his
own subjects was, that in ninety days he would conquer
the South. To accomplish it, he ordered seventy-five thou¬
sand of his victims to arms. This mighty army at Manassas
was distinguished by the wild confusion in which it fled from
the battle-field. Since then large armies, composed of citi¬
zens of the United States and of the deluded hirelings of
foreign nations, have been brought into military service, and
a debt of upwards of two thousand millions of dollars has
been incurred by the United States. Unable to win con¬
quests upon fields of battle, notwithstanding their vast num¬
ber, and warlike preparations, they have resorted to rapine,
robbery and murder, and thus excited the unrelenting hate
of the people of the Confederate States of America and the
disgust of humane and intelligent citizens of other civilized
nations. Well assured of their inability to triumph by arms,
and aided by their vile feats of rapine, robbery and murder,
they have sought by emissaries, under the guise of loyalty to
the Confederate States of America, to create distrust, dissen¬
sion and partizan strife among the people of the South by
inspiring the weak-minded, ignorant and timid, who would
sell their birthright for a " mess of pottage," with the hope
of reconstruction—of again living in harmony as one peoph
under the same government. Idie intelligent, brave j&d
loyal citizens of the Confederate States of America wilDver
regard with contempt any proposition which may be made
9
lor peace with the United States, except under a separate
government, recognized by the United States as the govern¬
ment of the free, sovereign, independent and Confederate
States of America.
It is possible, and even probable, that when the Southern
States seceded, if the United States had recognized their
political right to do so as free, sovereign and independent
States—a character which each of the United States had
uniformly and proudly claimed—and had manifested a will¬
ingness to adjust the terms of separation equitably; or with
justice and dignity had proposed to remove the causes whjch
induced the separation, the States would have been reunited.
But, under the control of the abolition party, President Lin¬
coln resolved upon war for the emancipation of the slaves
and the subjugation- of the South; the result of which has
been military despotism in the United States, and will be
to insure the permanent independence and prosperity of the
Confederate States of America.
To achieve the recognition of the Confederate States of
America by the United States and other foreign govern¬
ments, events have proved conclusively that our people must
rely exclusively upon their own exertion's, courage and forti¬
tude, under the guidance and protection of Almighty God,
whose wisdom and mercy they should seek to insure by the
exercise of christian virtues. We have more to dread from
the wicked practices and thoughtlessness of some of our own
people than from the arms, cruelty and chicanery of the
enemy. The love of money has been said to be the root of
all evil, and this vile affection has induced many, capable of
being good citizens and valuable soldiers, to seek wealth by
speculation and extortion, and to avoid honorable service as
soldiers in the war for the achievement of our independence,
and with it the enjoyment of all political and civil rights.
To your wisdom and patriotism is entrusted the right and
power to remedy evils which threaten injury to the State,
to devise measures to protect the rights of the citizens and
to maintain the peace and dignity of the State.
The Constitution makes it the duty of the Governor of
the State to recommend to the consideration of the General
Assembly such measures as he may deem expedient. If the
General Assembly shall not concur in opinion with the Gov¬
ernor upon such measures as he may recommend, it is their
2
10
duty not to adopt them; but it may be due to the intelli¬
gence of the people whom they represent to make known
the reasons of difference upon important measures, inasmuch
as the people, by the Constitution, have made it the solemn
duty of the Governor to recommend to the consideration of
the General Assembly such measures as he may deem expe¬
dient, and inasmuch as the Governor represents a distinct
department of government of equal dignity. In performance
©f the duty thus enjoined by the Constitution of the State,
I had the honor at the last session of the General Assembly
to recommend to your honorable body the absolute necessity
for a change in the militia laws of the State; and I again
most respectfully invite your attention to this subject, and
and recommend to your honorable body " to repeal the ex¬
isting militia laws," which are incomprehensible and, for
practical purposes, inefficient; to vacate the few militia offi¬
ces which have not been vacated; and to enact laws suitable
to the condition of the State, adapted to its defence, and
which can be enforced. Every man and boy capable of
bearing arms, not already in the military service of the Con¬
federate States, or liable to conscription therein—embracing,
those who have substitutes in the Confederate service, those
who have resided in the State five days, those who are or
may be in it one hour for the purpose of speculation, and
not excluding those who may claim to be aliens—should be
organized as State Troops, armed and occasionally drilled,
but not subject to be ordered into Confederate service, nor
from their ordinary pursuits, except to repel invasions and to
maintain suitable police regulations for the protection of the
lives and property ©f the citizens generally, and especially
of the lives and property of the families of those who are
absent in the military service of the Confederate States. All
persons who are intended to be liable to militia duty, under
the existing laws, are subject to be conscripted into the Con¬
federate service, except such as have substitutes in the service
©r are specially exempted by law. There are but few per¬
sons holding commissions under the existing militia laws, and
of them none between the ages of 18 and 45 years have been
exempted from Confederate service by me, nor is there any
reason why they should be, there being no organization of
militia and no organization being practicable under the ex¬
isting laws of the State and of the Confederate States. Im¬
portant parts of the State are now in possession of the ene-
11
my, our citizens are constantly subject to be harassed by
them and the State generally is under a constant threat of
invasion; therefore I respectfully recommend to your hono-
table body to enact promptly suitable laws to aid in the pro-
rection of the lives, liberty and property of your fellow-citi¬
zens and the political existence and honor of the State.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America, by an
act approved May lsty 1863, repealed certain clauses of an
act entitled " an act to exempt certain persons from military
service," &c., approved October 11, 1862. So much of the
latter act was repealed " as exempts from military service
one person, either as agent, owner of overseer on each
plantation on which one white person is required to be kept
by the laws or ordinances of any State, and on which there
is no white male adult not liable to military service, and in
States having no such law, one person as agent, owner, or
oVerseer, on each plantation of twenty negroes, and on which
there is no white male adult not liable to military service;"
and also the following clause in said act, to-wit: " and, further¬
more, for additional police for every twenty negroes on two
or more plantations, within five miles of each other, and each
having less than twenty negroes, and on which there is no
male adult not liable to military duty, one person, being the
oldest of the owners or overseers on such plantations." By
the 2d section of the act approved May 1st, 1863, it is enact¬
ed, that "for the police and management of slaves there
shall be exempted one person on each farm or plantation, the
sole property of a minor, a person of unsound mind, a feme
sole, or a person absent from home in the military or naval
service of the Confederacy, on which there are twenty or
more slaves: Provided, the pqrson' so exempted was em¬
ployed and acting as an overseer previous to the sixteenth
April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and there
is no white male adult on said farm or plantation who is not
liable to military duty, which fact shall be verified by the
affidavit of said person and two respectable citizens, and
shall be filed with the enrolling officer: And provided, the
owner of such farm or plantation, his agent or legal repre¬
sentative, shall make affidavit and deliver the same to the
enrolling officer, that, after diligent effort, no overseer can
be procured for such farm or plantation not liable to military
duty: Provided, further, That this clause shall not extend
to any farm or plantation on which the negroes have been
12
placed by division from any other farm or plantation since
the eleventh day of October, one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two : Provided, f urther, That for every person ex¬
empted, as aforesaid, and during the period of such exemp¬
tion, there shall be paid annually into the public treasury,
by the owner of such slaves, the sum of five hundred dol¬
lars." By the 3rd section of the same act it is enacted, that
" such other persons shall be exempted as the President
shall be satisfied ought to be exempted in districts of country
deprived of white or slave labor indispensable to the produc¬
tion of grain or provisions necessary for the support of the
population remaining at home, and also on account of jus¬
tice, equity and necessity." 1
And by the 4th section it is enacted that " in addition to
the State officers exempted by the act of October eleventh,
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, there shall also
be exempted all State officers whom the Governor of any
State may claim to have exempted for the due administra¬
tion of the government and laws thereof; but this exemp¬
tion shall not continue in any State after the adjournment
of the next regular session of its Legislature, unless such
Legislature shall, by law, exempt them from military duty
in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States."
The Congress of the Confederate States also passed' " an
act to authorize the discharge of certain civil officers from
the military service of the Confederate States," approved
April 2, 1863. The act declares " that any officer, non¬
commissioned officer or private now in the military service
of the Confederate States, who has been elected or ap¬
pointed since entering said service, or who may hereafter
be elected or appointed a Senator or Representative in Con¬
gress, or in any State Legislature, a Judge of the Circuit,
District or Superior Courts of law or equity in any State of
the Confederacy, District Attorney, Clerk of any Court of
Record, Sheriff, Ordinary, Judge of'any Court of Probate,
Collector of State taxes, not to exceed one for each county,
Parish Recorder, upon furnishing the Secretary of "War
with evidence of such election or appointment, if an officer,
his resignation shall be promptly accepted, and if a non¬
commissioned officer or private, he shall be honorably dis¬
charged by the Secretary of War."
To these acts of Congress I invite your attention and de¬
liberate consideration.
13
The maintenance of-our armies in the field, of the fami¬
lies of those in military service, of the civil governments of
the Confederate States and the States separately—in a word,
not only the liberty, but the lives of the people of the
States—depend upon agricultural labor. The agricultural
labor of the Southern States is mainly slave labor.—
The advocates of slavery in our national councils, and
throughout the various forms of argument to justify and
sustain the institution, have contended forcibly and truth¬
fully that negroes had not the inclination or ability to
labor successfully without the superior skill and intelligence
of the white man to enforce and direct their labor. The
experience of mankind is, that Africans, when free, will not
engage in agriculture for their own support. It is not rea¬
sonable to suppose that, as slaves, they will voluntarily
labor in a manner to secure subsistence for the armies, in¬
sure the support of families at home and raise the revenues
necessary to sustain the Confederate and State Govern¬
ments. The most reasonable presumption is, that if left
without the control of overseers, to whom they have been
accustomed to yield obedience, the result will be insubordi¬
nation and insurrection.
In my humble judgment, therefore, a more effectual aux¬
iliary could not be devised to ensure success to the emanci¬
pation scheme of the President of the United States, to
destroy the sovereignty of the States and to subjugate the
people of the several States to a military despotism than an
act of Congress which (if it were respected by the States)
would entrust the agriculture of the country and the lives
of families to the slaves unrestrained by the presence, au¬
thority and skill of overseers. I say overseers—and not
owners of slaves—because, as a general rule, slaves have
been managed by overseers, and but few owners have mani¬
fested the industry, skill and energy necessary to successful
agriculture.
In a time of profound peace, when not the slightest an¬
ticipation of war could have reasonably existed, the General
Assembly of this State enacted a law requiring a white per¬
son, either the owner or overseer, to reside on the planta¬
tion where slaves lived, for their proper controband govern¬
ment, for the protection of the property of others as well as
that of their owners, and to avoid the dangerous conse¬
quences resulting from idleness and insubordination. Each
14
of the other States had passed a similar law. Judging
from the debates which occurred in Congress upon the sub¬
ject, the belief was entertained that a sufficient number of
men over forty-five years old could be obtained who were
qualified to perform the necessary duties of overseers. But
such was not and is not the fact. Persons over that age,
who, perhaps, might have been competent and have been
hired as overseers, had been generally employed and received
into the Confederate military service as substitutes for those
under that age who were liable to conscription or had vol¬
unteered. The prices paid to overseers ranged generally
from two to six hundred dollars per annum. The prices
offered and paid to substitutes have ranged from five hun¬
dred to five thousand dollars. You may readily believe,
therefore, that the class of mtm who have been generally
employed as overseers—a class whose habits of industry,
skill and integrity qualified them to direct the agricultural
labor of the country—would enter into the military service
for an amount sufficient in itself to secure a permanent sup¬
port to their families, and especially with the arguments
used to induce the belief that the war would be of short du¬
ration, that it would terminate gloriously and that they
would have the honor of having their names identified with
it, rather than to oversee for an amount which, at the pres¬
ent high prices of. the necessaries of life, would be scarcely
more than sufficient to pay current expenses.
The number of persons engaged in overseeing was small
in proportion to the population generally, and-their services
in the management of agricultural interests will contribute
much more to the general welfare in the performance of
their diities on plantations than in military service. •
The exemption of overseers was not for the benefit of the
rich, as was alleged. Those who were engaged as overseers
were themselves generally poor men, distinguished for their
industry and integrity; and . their occupation was necessary
to secure subsistence to our armies and support to the fami¬
lies of soldiers absent in military service; to protect the
property of the poor as well as the rich from the effects of
insubordination and violence on the part of the slaves., and,
by the skillful management of the agricultural labor of the
country, to ensure the means of support to the government
of the Confederate States and of each of the States. Much
nomplaint is now made of the high prices and scarcity of
15
tlie necessaries of life, and if tlie agriculture of the country
shall be entrusted to those incompetent to direct it, a general
famine throughout the Confederacy may be the result—a
result which would produce the most fearful and fatal con¬
sequences.
When " the Conscript Act" was passed by the Congress
and approved by the President of the Confederate States—
and while it operated alone upon 'citizens not necessary to
the clue administration of the State Government and not
recjuired by the laws of the State to maintain police regula¬
tions necessary for the protection of the property and lives
of the citizens of the State—I regarded the question of its
constitutionality as a judicial question, and to the best of
my ability, as the Executive of the State, was ready and
willing to sustain whatever decision might be made upon
the subject by the proper department of the Government.
But when its enforcement threatened to subject to its opera¬
tion citizens required, by the laws of the State to maintain
suitable police regulations, I did not then consider it exclu¬
sively a judicial question, and, for reasons assigned, respect¬
fully protested officially to the President of the Confederate
States against its enforcement contrary to the laws of the
State intended to insure proper police regulations for the
government of slaves and necessary to the most sacred rights
of citizens.
All between the ages of IS and 45, not absolutely neces¬
sary for the police of slaves and administration of civil gov¬
ernment, and physically qualified, should perhaps have con¬
stituted the armies in Confederate service for the defence of
the country. Those over the age of 45 should have been,
and yet should be, devoted to agriculture and other .neces¬
sary employments, but organized as State troops, to maintain
suitable police regulations, and to co-operate when necessar}'
with Confederate forces in the defence of their respective
States. These views were submitted respectfully by me to
his Excellency, the President of the Confederate States, and
to the honorable Senators and -Representatives of this State
in Congress. If your honorable body shall^ concur with me
in the opinion just expressed, I respectfully "ask the adoption
of such measures by legislation as the safety of the State de¬
mands. If you shall not concur in this opinion, then I re¬
commend to your honorable body to repeal the Act which
makes it unlawful " for the owner or proprietor of any farm
16
or plantation upon which slaves are or shall be employed, to
leave the same without any white person residing thereon,"
and thus relieve the citizens of the State from their liability
to indictment and punishment, and avoid a conflict of author-.
ity upon the subject between the State and Confederate Gov¬
ernment.
I have not deemed it necessary to a due administration of
the State government to exempt any State officers not ex¬
empted by the 4th section of the act of Congress approved
May 1st, 1863. The act of Congress approved April 22d,
1863, does not entitle any person who since its enactment
may have been elected J ustices of the Peace, County Com¬
missioners, Coroners and other minor offices not specified in
the act, to be discharged from the military service of the Con¬
federate States; nor, in my humble judgment, is there any
good reason why they should be discharged, as their military
services are necessary to the country and there are enough
citizens not in military service, or liable even to conscription,
willing and qualified to discharge the duties of these minor
offices. The reports generally having been made agreeably
to the act entitled " an act to aid the families of soldiers that
require assistance," there will not perhaps be any necessity
for so man}7 Justices of the Peace as are now authorized by
law.
Since the adjournment of the last General Assembly, com¬
plaints have been made to me of mal-practice or inefficiency
of some of the county officers, and to remedy the evils com¬
plained of no legal authority existed. The Board of Com¬
missioners in one county held a public meeting at the Court
House and passed the following resolutions:
" Resolved, That the Judge of Probate be and he is here¬
by requested to inform the Governor of the State of Florida
of the neglect of Sheriff in the performance of his du¬
ties as assessor of the taxes of this county, caused by con¬
tinued intemperance.
" Resolved, That the authorities be and they are hereby
requested to take immediate steps for his removal from office."
These resolutions were certified under the seal of the coun-
ty, by the Judge of Probate, forwaVded to and received by
me, but no legal remedy had been provided by statute for
the relief of the county and protection of the public interests.
17
AID TO SOLDIERS' FAMILIES.
I liad the honor to recommend to the General Assembly,
at its last session, " to make ample provisions to secure the
necessary food and clothing for the indigent families of those
who have volunteered or been mustered into military ser¬
vice as conscripts, that a fund should be provided by taxa¬
tion, the amount thus raised deposited in the State treasury
and prudently distributed." To supply the fund supposed
to be sufficient, your honorable body enacted a statute au¬
thorizing an additional issue of treasury notes. Under the
provisions of the act, much difficulty has been experienced
in extending the required assistance to soldiers' families, and
complaints have been made from several counties against
county officers whose ditty it was, with the money in their
possession, or at their command, by a compliance with the
statute, to supply the wants of the families. The co-opera¬
tion of so many officers was made necessary by the statute,
that, in some instances, their movements were, perhaps,
unavoidably dilatory.
Uo duty can be more sacred, the performance of none
more honorable, than that which devolves upon the authori¬
ties and citizens of the State to provide for the wives, and
children, and indigent parents, and families of the brave
men who are in military service, exposed to the dangers and
hardships of the war.
The number of families reported as needing assistance, is
three thousand three hundred and ninety-eight, comprising
eleven thousand six hundred and seventy-three persons.
Whether the assistance heretofore rendered shall be ex¬
tended by a further appropriation of money, to be raised by
taxation, and in what manner, or by the issue of an addi¬
tional amount of treasury notes, or by a tax in kind, is
worthy the sdrious consideration of your honorable body. It
is better, in my judgment, to resort to taxation than to in¬
crease the amount of treasury notes in circulation. To a
considerable extent, it would reduce the amount in circula¬
tion, enhance the value of the currency and check the spirit
for speculation of which there is much complaint.
The Judg- of Probate and County Commissioners should
be authorized to increase the taxation in the several coun¬
ties where it can be justly done, and to receive the amount
3
18
in provisions or money. There are several counties which
have suffered from invasions of the enemy, which should be
relieved from this taxation and special appropriations made
for their benefit.
The reports from the several counties being complete, to
insure justice to those who may need assistance, I would re¬
spectfully suggest the appointment of an intelligent and re¬
sponsible agent in each judicial district to ascertain and sup¬
ply their wants,-—that the agents should be required to give
good and sufficient securities, to be approved by the Judge
of the Circuit before entering upon their duties, for their
faithful performance; to repqrt tlleir actings and doings to
the Executive Department every ninety clays, and upon their
failure or neglect of duty, to be dismissed from office, a judg¬
ment summarily entered u against them and their securi¬
ties by the Judge of the Circuit at term time or at Cham- ♦
bers, and other appointments made.
To ascertain errors, if any existed, in the reports made
from the several counties, I have caused the names of those
who have been mustered into Confederate service, as ap¬
pears from the muster rolls filed in the War Department
at Richmond, to be arranged alphabetically, and also the
names of those whose families are reported as requiring as¬
sistance. Since the muster rolls were filed, there have been
many others mustered whose names have not been made
known to me.
CLOTHING FOE 'TEOOPS.
I am not informed of any proceedings on the part of the
Commissioners of the several counties, under the provisions
of the act entitled " an act to authorize the Board of County
Commissioners of the several counties in this State to levy a
specific tax for the relief of the soldiers in the service of the
State, or of the Confederate States," approved December
12th, 1862. The sixth section of said act, required the sev¬
eral Boards of County Commissioners to keep a just and
correct account of all monies expended by them under the
authority of the act, " and, upon turning over any clothing
or other supplies necessary for the comfort1 of their respec
tive companies, the President of the respective Boards shall
take, or cause to be taken, the receipt of the Quarter Mas¬
ter of the regiment to which said company may belong,
specifying the number and nature of the pieces, and the
19
estimated value thereof, so turned over as aforesaid, with
the view of adjusting the same with the Government of the
Confederate States npon the establishment of peace." There
is no provision in the act requiring information to he given
to any of the Executive Departments ot the State,, and con¬
sequently no information has been received.
The report of the Q. M. General will make known to your
honorable body the amount of clothing and other supplies
furnished to soldiers in service from Florida by the praise¬
worthy exertions of the Q. M. General, aided by the self-
sacrificing patriotism and indomitable energy of the ladies
of the State. For the supply of materials, at reasonable
prices, to supply the wants of the soldiers and their families,
the State is much indebted to the patriotism and generosity
of our worthy fellow-citizen, General William Bailey. With
the thread and osnaburgs made at the factory owned by him,
the soldiers' families have been supplied at $3.50 and $4.00
per bunch of five pounds for-the former, and at 25 to 75
cents per yard for the latter. If I am correctly informed,
these prices are much lower than has been paid in our sister
States for these articles for the same purposes. The State is
also undeFobligations of kindness to the Augusta Manufac¬
turing "Company of Georgia, and to Mr. H. Bacon of that
State, at whose instance the accomplished President of the
Company, William E. Jackson, Esq., supplied sheeting, shirt¬
ing, &c., at reasonable prices for the benefit of needy fam¬
ilies of soldiers and refugees. Mr. Bacon, with the home¬
spun he obtained, has aided, as I am credibly informed; eleven
hundred and one families in Columbia, Nassau, Duval, Brad¬
ford, Baker, Hamilton, Suwannee, Putnam and St. Johns
counties, by distributing amongst them twenty-seven thou¬
sand c ne hundred and twenty yards of homespun, at an av¬
erage of sixty cents per yard, while goods of like character
was generally selling from one dollar and seventy-five cents
to two dollars and fifty-cents per yard, thus saving to the
families in the State who have receded it over thirty thou¬
sand dollars in the aggregate. Among those assisted by Mr.
Bacon was one hundred and forty-seven widows, whose hus¬
bands have been killed in battle, died from wounds received,
or from sickness contracted while in service. Mr. Bacon is
a refugee from Georgia, and I have deemed it an act of sim¬
ple justice to his benevolence to present the foregoing state¬
ment of tacts to the consideration of your liflhorable body.'
20
CABDS.
Unable, with the amount appropriated by the General
Assembly, to make any satisfactory arrangement for the im¬
portation or purchase of a sufficient number of cards, or even
approximating* to a sufficient number, needed for indigent
families, I made a contract with Messrs. Bailey, Williams,
Barnard and Cardy, to furnish three thousand pairs, at six
dollars per pair, and to be manufactured in the State. A
copy of the contract is herewith submitted. The report of
the Q. M. General will exhibit the number so far distribu¬
ted, and to what counties. The balance will be distributed
as fast as manufactured.
SALT.
It is important to the welfare of the State that some ar¬
rangement should be made by legal authority to provide
salt, not only for soldiers' families, but for all indigent citi¬
zens who have not the physical ability to make it, or the
means otherwise to procure it. This arrangement should
be either by an appropriation of money to purchase, by
authority on the part of the State to have it made, or by a
revenue derived from the labor of those engaged in making
it.
A large quantity of salt is made within the limits of the
State by our own and by the citizens of other States, many
of whom have and are now realizing large profits in its man¬
ufacture.
While Florida has extended the privilege to citizens of
other States to make salt within her jurisdiction and upon
her lands, and has invited them to avail themselves of a
privilege which has been largely accepted, and has proved
of inestimable benefit, I regret to say that the vile spirit of
speculation and extortion has gone hand in hand and thrown
obstacles in the way §f the cheap manufacture of this article,
so indispensable to the citizens generally. In no way has
this vile spirit been exhibited in a more oppressive and con¬
temptible light than in the purchase of large tracts of land
by our own and by citizens of other States, and the letting
out or sale of mere fractions of it at exhorbitant rates, thus
depriving gjtizens of our own and other States, of limited
means, of the right or opportunity to manufacture cheaply,
21
or even to use their own industry in the exercise and enjoy¬
ment of a privilege extended alike to the poor and the rich.
To check in a measure this growing evil, the lands in such
localities were withdrawn from market.
A reasonable tax in kind upon all salt manufactured in
the State would, in my opinion, yield a sufficient supply for
the purposes which I have suggested, and is preferable to
either of the other methods, and possibly might check the
exhorbitant price demanded for it.
FISHERIES.
Upon equitable and reciprocal terms, Florida should spare
no exertion to furnish the means of subsistence to our armies
and to the people of the Confederate States generally. Al¬
mighty God in his infinite wisdom has blessed the patriotism
and industry of our people with abundant crops of corn, po¬
tatoes, and sugar cane, and with an ample supply of bacon,
pork and beef. Our coast has been visited by vast numbers
of fish, unprecedented in the history of the State ; and upon
the waters adjacent thereto, a vast amount of salt has been
manufactured, while from other parts of the Confederacy,
from our armies, and from fellow-citizens in peaceful pur¬
suits, we hear of a scarcity of food. Why should not suita¬
ble efforts be made to provide fish to remedy any want of
supplies of meat ? Prompt efforts 011 the part of the States
and of the Confederate Government would secure a large
quantity of fish to aid in the support of citizens and soldiers,,
and would prepare the way for future subsistence should a
future scarcity of provisions prevail. To attain so desirable'
an object, companies now scattered throughout the State-
might be so disposed as effectually to guard and defend the-
fisheries that may be established. I recommend this subject
to your serious consideration, that you may adopt suitable
measures relative to it.
HOSPITALS.
The amount appropriated for the establishment and sup¬
port of hospitals, was thirty-five thousand dollars. Of this
amount it has not been necessary to use more than five
thousand four hundred and twenty dollars and thirty-three
cents, of which three thousand one hundred dollars has been
22
used in support of the hospitals at Richmond, and'two thou¬
sand three hundred and twenty-two dollars and thirty-three
cents in aid of the sick and wounded soldiers of the army of
the West in the various hospitals.
The expenditure of a larger sum by the State upon the
hospital at Richmond was rendered unnecessary by the large
and liberal subscriptions of patriotic citizens for its support.
The amount derived from this source was four thousand four
hundred and thirty-eight dollars. How it was expended is
explained in the report of Messrs. Papy and Baker, which is
herewith submitted.
Under the superintendence and direction of Dr. Thomas
M. Palmer and Mrs. M. M. Reid, the hospital at Richmond
has been ably and efficiently managed.
It has not been deemed necessary 01* practical to establish
a hospital for the use of soldiers from Florida in the Western
army, as will appear by the accompanying report of Dr. T.
Y. Henry, who, with full authority upon-the subject, visited
and consulted with the officers in command of that military
department.
The facts stated and opinions expressed by Dr. Henry
have been fully sustained by information received from
other reliable sources.
In connection with Dr. Henry's report, I am prevented
from submitting, to your consideration a report of the Hon.
J. Wayles Baker and other gentlemen, in consequence of
the inability of Judge Baker, from sickness, to prepare the
report; but hope that the cause will soon cease to exi|t7 and
that I shall be able to do so in a few days.
ISSUE OF TREASURY- NOTES.
Under authority of the act entitled " an act to aid the fam¬
ilies of soldiers that require assistance," approved Dec. 6th,
1862, I have caused to be signed the sum of four hundred
and seventy-eight thousand three hundred and ten dollars;
and, under the act of Dec. 13th, 1862, entitled " an act to
provide for an additional issue of Treasury Notes," I have
caused to be prepared and signed the sum-of one hundred
and sixty-four thousand six ^hundred and thirty-five dollars
and twenty cents, all of which has been paid over to the
Treasurer, as required by law. The Comptroller has also
signed and delivered to the Treasurer one hundred and fifty-
23
nine .thousand six hundred and live dollars of war tax treas¬
ury notes, signed and issued under the act to aid the families
of soldiers that require assistance.
The aggregate amount, therefore, of war tax and treasury
note blanks signed and paid over to the Treasurer is eight
hundred aud two thousand live hundred and fifty dollars and
twenty cents.- /
The amount authorized to he issued by the Legislature for
"the purposes of the government" far exceeded the necessi¬
ties of the State.
Under the act to authorize an additional issue of treasury
notes, the sum of one hundred and thirty-five thousand three
hundred and sixty-four dollars and eighty cents is still en¬
titled to be issued. No blanks have been prepared for the
twenty, fifty and one hundred dollar bills authorized by that
act, and amounting in all to one hundred thousand dollars.
It was early discovered that there were too many large bills
in circulation, and that there was a great demand for notes
of a small denomination, particularly for fractional parts of
a dollar. In lieu, therefore, ol the blanks for $50,000.00 in
bills of the denomination of one hundred dollars, I had that
amount of blanks in fractional parts of a dollar engraved, but
as the amount was not needed in the treasury, they were not
prepared and issued. It is for your honorable body to deter¬
mine whether they shall be used or not. . I would suggest,
however, that they be prepared and placed in the treasury,
and paid out only in exchange for State treasury notes of the
denomination of twenty dqllars and upwards.
DISTILLERIES.
Agreeably to the act approved Dec. 15th, 1862, regulating
distilleries, only three licenses have been issued to parties
who had made contracts with the proper officers of the Con¬
federate Government to distil spirituous liquors. I am not
informed that the Confederate Government has derived anjr
benefit from these contracts; but am informed that in no
instance has a contract b6en complied with.
I would therefore respectfully again recommend to your
honorable body the enactment of a law which will forbid al¬
together, under severe penalties, the distilling of whiskey or
other spirituous liquors. To grant the opportunity of distil¬
ling to supply the Confederate Government does not insure
24
a compliance with contracts, but affords facilities to individ¬
uals to monopolize the right of distilling and to demand ex-
horbitant prices from individuals for the liquor which they
distill. It is believed that the amount of cereals produced
this, is not as great as was made last year. Higher prices
are being asked for corn, sugar, syrup, potatoes, &c., and the
means of subsistence should not be decreased by converting
any of them into spirituous liquors. Much complaint is
made of the high prices of provisions, but little of the price
of spirituous liquors. Some individuals, who reluctantly
pay two dollars per bushel for corn or potatoes, cheerfully
pay fifteen or twenty dollars per quart for whiskey or rum.
Mean rum and whiskey, manufactured in the State, or brought
into it by evading.the blockade, has sold for more per quart
than the amount allowed to each member of a soldier's fam¬
ily for a year's support. The common use of spirituous
liquors is an evil of the most degrading character, which
should, if possible, be remedied by enlightened public senti¬
ment and stringent legislation.
CEOPS.
Ho doubt is entertained that abundaut crops of cereals
have been made in the State, except in localities where, in
despite of public sentiment, cotton was planted.
With regard to the constitutional right of the General
Assembly to impose a tax upon cotton, your attention is re¬
spectfully invited to the accompanying opinion of the At¬
torney General of the State.
To ensure ample supplies of subsistence for the support of
the citizens and the armies in the field, no doubt, it seems to
me, can be longer reasonably entertained that the induce¬
ment to make cotton and tobacco for the accumulation of
wealth must be overcome by suitable legislation.
To clothe the people of the Confederate States, it is neces¬
sary some cotton should be made, but excessive crops, which
endanger the armies and people to the want of subsistence,
should be prevented. In my humble judgment, the most
effective means will be to prevent any cotton being exported
from the State except qn account of the Confederate or State
Government, and by an act of the Legislature to impose a
heavy tax on all cotton made over a given amount per hand
engaged in its cultivation.
25
THE BLOCKADE.
For reasons assigned in my last annual message to the
General Assembly, and which, may be found upon your jour¬
nals, and for the reasons assigned in a correspondence be¬
tween the Governors of Georgia and Alabama and myself,
which is hereto attached, and to which your attention is re¬
spectfully invited, I recommend to your honorable body to
make a statute which, by the severe penalties it shall impose,
may prevent the citizens of this State from engaging in the
fraudulent speculations and demoralizing influences incident
to " running the blockade."
It may be a question for your consideration whether the
State Legislature has the authority to enact any law concern¬
ing the running of the blockade. Before examining whether,
under the Constitution, any law can be enacted concerning
the subject of running the blockade itself, I will make known
to you the opinion I entertain as to the rightful power of the
State to control the action of its citizens and the exportation
of any of the products of its soil. I do not believe that a
law to control the citizens of the State in reference to any
action which is injurious to the public or detrimental to their
welfare can with truth be said to come in conflict with the
right or power to regulate commerce, which % the constitu¬
tion has been delegated to the Congress of the Confederate
States.
Each State must be the judge for itself as to what acts of
its citizens operate injuriously on the public interests, and has
the right by the law to restrain them. To hold otherwise
would be to surrender one of the most important rights of
sovereignty, and to deprive a State of one of the most essen¬
tial powers for the regulation of its internal affairs. This
right and power has been decided to exist. In the case of
Cribb vs. the State, in the 9th volume of Florida Reports,
page 147, the Supreme Court declares, " there can be no
question that each State, being sovereign and independent,
possesses and must possess the inherent right and power
over her citizens and of controlling her inhabitants or resi¬
dents while they remain residents. This is a matter of po¬
lice and internal arrangement for the common welfare of all,
the people being the judges for themselves what shall be a
grievance as well as a matter of public convenience or in-
4
26
convenience. Under this power, the State has a right to
declare what is a public grievance," &c.
Can the State, also, by legislation, prohibit the exporta¬
tion of any of the products of its soil? The principle which
sustains its yight to control its inhabitants applies, I think,
with equal force to its productions. Indeed, it would be.
difficult to conceive how the latter could be excluded when5
the former is within the operation of the rule. The Su¬
preme Court of the United States, in the case of Gibbon vs.
Ogden, 9 Wheat., 1, affirmed that, in the mass of power not
surrendered to the General Government, inspection laws,,
quarantine laws, health laws, as well as laws for regulating;
the internal commerce * 1 1 1 1 11
vs. Milne, 11 Peters, 102, subsequently decided. The Court
in the case last cited also held, " that a State has the same
undeniable and unlimited jurisdiction over all persons and
things within its territorial limits as any foreign nation,,
where that jurisdiction is not surrendered or restrained by
the Constitution of the United rStates. That by virtue of"
this it is not only the right, but the bounden and solemn
duty of a State, to advance the safety, happiness and pros¬
perity of its people and to provide for its general welfare
by any and every act of its Legislature which it may deem
to be conducive to these ends, where the power over the
particular subject or the manner of its exercise is not sur¬
rendered or restricted in the manner just stated; that all
these powers, which relate to merely municipal legislation,
or what may, perhaps, more properly be called internal po¬
lice, are not thus surrendered or restrained, and that, conse¬
quently, in relation to these, the authority of a State is com¬
plete, unqualified and exclusive."
I come now to the question, can the State legislate direct¬
ly on the subject of blockade running within its limits £
This is a more delicate question and more difficult to be
solved. It is an established principle, as well by the decis¬
ions of the Supreme Court of the United States as of this
State, that in the grant of power to Congress to regulate
commerce, the States did not entirely divest themselves of
all right over the subject. In the absence of the exercise
by Congress of the power thus granted, the States have a
concurrent power to legislate, and it is only when Congress
has exerted the power that the States cannot act. This re¬
affirm this declaration
27
sult& from the provision of the Constitution declaring that
the laws made in pursuance thereof shall be the supreme law
of the land, blow, as the grant of commercial power did
jaot jper se exclude the States from exercising authority over
the subject matter, and as in order to prevent the States
from legislating, a law of Congress must have been enacted—
for, without such law there would be nothing in congress¬
ional action to be supreme—it follows that the State may
legislate in the absence of congressional regulations.
1 am not advised of any special legislation by Congress
upon the subject, except an act entitled " an act to encour¬
age the manufacture of clothing and shoes for the army,"
•approved October 8th, 1862. By that act the President is
"authorized to import, duty free, cards or card cloth, or any
machinery or materials necessary for increasing the manu¬
facture of clothing for the army, or any articles necessary for
supplying the deficiency of clothing or shoes, or materials
for shoes, for the armyalso, " that any machinery, or
parts of machinery or materials imported as aforesaid, may
be worked on government account, or leased or sold, at the
discretion of the President." It is further provided, " that
the President may extend the privileges of this act to com¬
panies or individuals, subject to such regulations as he may
prescribe."
Do the laws regulating legitimate trade and commerce
control the subject? are.the requirements of these laws in
reference to clearances, entrances, &c., complied with ? and,
if not, are the consequences which attach to such non-ob¬
servance simply overlooked ? I understand that the most of
•the vessels arriving from foreign ports are not cleared for
any port in the Confederacy, but are cleared for some other
port, foreign and not within the limits of the Confederate
States. If the laws of Congress do not warrant the manner
in which vessels enter our waters, and such entries are sim¬
ply permissive, then, in the absence of legislation by Con¬
gress directly on the subject, the State may and should
adopt such measures as may be deemed best to subserve the
interests and welfare of het1 people.
It is only when a law of the State comes in conflict with
a law of Congress on the subject matter, where Congress has
the right to legislate, that it must yield to the latter, under the
constitutional provision already referred to. The General
Assembly of Georgia passed resolutions on the subject, which
28
are annexed, and to which your attention is respectfully
invited.
Believing that your honorable body has the right to enact
a statute prohibiting the introduction into the State of all
articles except such as are provided for in the act of Con¬
gress " to encourage the manufacture of clothing and shoes
for the army," I recommend most respectfully the exercise
of that right, prohibiting, under the severest penalties, the
introduction into the State of any other articles by evasions
of the blockade, and only admitting those provided for by
the act of Congress, and in strict compliance with the pro¬
visions of the act.
CURRENCY.
Much anxiety prevails relative to the depreciated curren¬
cy of the Confederate States, and it is important to the gen¬
eral welfare that the causes which have produced it should
be considered and suitable constitutional measures adopted
by the Confederate Government, the State Governments
and the people of the respective States to remedy an evil of
such fearful tendencies and, if possible, prevent the most
disastrous results.
In my humble judgment, the most prominent cause is the
nefarious traffic carried on by running the blockade. Many
of the individuals engaged in this lawless trade are persons
who claim the protection of foreign governments against
military service in the army* of the Confederate States, and
have never, perhaps, been honorably identified with the le¬
gal commerce of the States. Others have been favorably
known as intelligent and loyal citizens, but the general con¬
duct of the traffic has not produced distinctive results favor¬
able to their character for disinterested patriotism or true
loyalty to the South.
Cotton has been purchased and paid for with the treasury
notes of the Confederate States, passed through the blockade
to foreign ports and sold at much higher prices in gold, or
its equivalent, than it cost in Confederate treasury notes.—
The proceeds thus obtained have been invested in merchan¬
dize at current prices in foreign ports. The articles thus
purchased have been brought into the Confederate States
through the blockade and, under "a hue and cry" against
the Confederate currency, made chiefly by those engaged in
running the blockade, the articles have been sold to the citi-
29
zens of this and other States at the most exliorbitant prices,
payable in Confederate treasury notes or cotton. For in¬
stance, calicoes, which cost per yard from ten to thirty cts.,
in a specie currency, have been sold at from four to eight
dollars per yard; rum, that cost from fifteen to twenty cents
per gallon in a specie currency, has been sold at from forty
to eighty dollars per gallon, payable in Conl'ederate treasury
notes. The examples given might be multiplied to embrace
all articles of merchandize thus imported. The Confederate
treasury notes received in payment have been again invested
in cotton, the cotton shipped to foreign ports and sold as
was the first, the proceeds invested in merchandize, brought
into the country and disposed of as above described; and by
the same routine the traffic is carried on ad infinitum.
Previous to the war, the proceeds of a bushel of corn, sold
at fifty cents, would have purchased from two to five yards
of calico, or one gallon of rum. Now, if sold at fifty cents,
the proceeds of eight or sixteen bushels of corn would be re¬
quired to purchase one yard of calico, and the proceeds of
eigthy or one hundred and sixty bushels to purchase one
gallon of rum. Occasionally, a man esteemed as a good citi¬
zen will censure the planter for asking two dollars per bush¬
el for his corn, and, without complaint, will pay four or
eight dollars for a yard of calico and twenty dollars for a
bottle of rum. But it is said, planters should not pay such
prices for calico, that their wives and daughters should wear
homespun, and that planters should not buy or drink rum or
whiskey. That is true. Men should not bet at faro—yet,
to restrain them, it is necessary to prevent the dealing of
faro by stringent enactments. The only certain way of
avoiding vice is to be freed from Its temptation. The eva¬
sions of the blockade should be prevented by legal provis¬
ions, inflicting the most summary and severe punishments,
and the currency would to a certain extent be promptly im¬
proved.
Another cause of a depreciated currency has been thq is¬
sue of treasury notes to meet expenses unnecessarily and un¬
wisely incurred. The expenses of the Confederate Govern¬
ment should be retrenched by reducing the number of civil
and military officers, and by all other practical means con¬
sistent with the due administration of the government.—
The systems of taxation adopted are either in tithes or ad
valorem. The ad valorem system existed in the States pre-
30
vious to its adoption by Congress. Why, by the concurrent
Legislation of Congress and the State Legislatures, could
not the revenues of the Confederate Government be assessed
and collected by the State officers, and thus save a large
amount of the expenditures of the Confederate Government
and increase the army by a large number of able-bodied
young men, whose uniforms in military service in the pres¬
ence of the enemy would be more appropriately displayed
than in assessing and collecting taxes or measuring corn and
potatoes? Uniform has ceased to be the honorable badge of
position in military service, because its admirers cannot dis¬
tinguish the gallant officer, who has fought bravely in many
battles, from the peaceful citizen who has measured thou¬
sands of bushels of corn and potatoes, or conducted a thou¬
sand cars upon a railroad. To lessen the number of offi¬
cers, or prevent the increase of their number, would it not
be wiser and more just to fill up the ranks of brigades, which
by the casualties of war have been reduced, and, as was the
true intention of the Conscript law, rather than to form new
brigades out of recruits, with untried officers appointed to
command them, and thus forcing upon the veterans of the
war the necessity of being reduced from brigades to regi¬
ments, from regiments to battalions and from battalions to
companies, and then consolidating them under a new organi¬
zation, and thus compelling tried officers to retire from posi¬
tions in the service which they have nobly occupied and
whose courage and fortitude should entitle them to more ex¬
alted positions. Shall the swords so often crossed in deadly
conflict with the enemy in defence of our political and civil
rights, of our lives and liberties, of the honor of our mothers,,
wives and daughters, be taken from the hands of our brave
and noble defenders to gratify the ambition of gentlemen
who (however honorable) have not yet faced the enemy?—
Shall the brave defenders of our most sacred rights be hurl¬
ed from positions of honor and trust, most nobly maintain
ed, and be subjected to conscription?
The Florida Brigade in Virginia, as well as the Brigades
in the army of the West (from the casualties of war, in
which they became honorably distinguished,) have become
reduced to a small number, while the recruits with which
their ranks should have been filled have been formed into
new regiments or battallions and placed under the command
of newly appointed officers. Has this course been just to
31
these Brigades and Regiments, wise in the conduct of the
war, or consistent with the intent of the "Conscript Act,"
or the general legislation of Congress upon military sub¬
jects ? The effect of new organizations has been to increase
the expenses of the Government and to deprive the veteran
Brigades of their just and legal claims to the recruits to
which they were entitled in order to maintain their organiza¬
tion, and, where the recruits under the command of ex¬
perienced officers, and associated with veterans in arms,
would have been sooner disciplined ill military service, and
have become more efficient. Why should not a large portion
of the cavalry, now maintained at an enormous expense and
consuming an immense amount of subsistence, be at once
rendered more serviceable and efficient by being dismounted
and turned into infantry—a much more efficient and less ex¬
pensive arm of service—the horses, together with the mules
used in transporting provender for them, returned to the
plough, where they would be of greater service and from
which perhaps it would have been better if they had nev¬
er been taken?
I confess I had not the ability to appreciate the necessity
of the assessments made by the Confederate Government to
ascertain and collect the amount of the late war tax. As¬
sessments having already been made in the several States,
the desired information could have been obtained at the offi¬
ces of the respective Comptrollers of the several States with¬
in a few days and at an expense of a few hundred dollars;
to obtain which information months-of time were consumed
at a cost to the Confederate Government of hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
The principal measures which suggest themselves to my
mind, to relieve from embarrassment the currency of the
Confederate States, are, first, to prohibit the-evasions of the
blockade, except on government account and by its authority.
Second, to reduce .the expenditures of the government by
lopping off all unnecessary offices, civil and military. Third,
for the several States to issue no more treasury notes, except
change bjlls below the denomination of one dollar; and,
where^hey have the means, to retire all ai.ove that denom¬
ination which they may have in circulation, and thus create
the necessity for making Confederate treasury notes the cur¬
rency-. Fourth, direct taxation for an amount sufficient to
32
call in a large portion of the Confederate notes now in cir¬
culation.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Citizens of this and other States are purchasing large quan¬
tities of land in this State, not so mcuh, perhaps, with the
view of cultivation as of holding them on speculation. I
would respectfully repeat the recommendation made in a
previous annual message:
" The resources of the State to redeem its treasury notes
and sustain its government, are the lands owned by the State
and taxation.
" The lands are ample for the purpose, if wisely disposed of,
I would respectfully recommend that the sale of lands be
postponed until the termination of the existing war., That
then, those who have rendered military service should each
have secured to him or his heirs an exemption right of at
least one hundred and sixty acres of land; that having been
done, the remaining lands should be disposed of from time
to time, at public outcry, after reasonable notice of the time
of sale has been published in this State and the adjaeent
States. The competition thus excited would secure reason¬
able prices, and invite emigration to the State, and in pro¬
portion to the property introduced by emigrants, and the im¬
provements which would be made on the lands—if the pro¬
ceeds of the sales should be insufficient to relieve the State
from debt—the weight, of taxation would be lightened, and
additional facilities secured for the support of the govern¬
ment and the prosperity of the State."
THE ARSENAL.
The conversion of the Arsenal into a Military Academy
has been, time and again, recommended. Its non-use expo¬
ses it to dilapidation and creates the necessity of expense for
its protection and repair, while it is no service to the State.
This property is too valuable not to be used for sonje impor¬
tant or useful purpose.
Upon the application of the officer, who at the time was
in command of this military,district, the privilege of its tem¬
porary occupation by Confederate troops was granted upon
suitable conditions. The Arsenal and the appendages should
33
be made useful to the State; or, for a valuable consideration,
should be transferred to the Confederate States, upon condi¬
tion that a Military Institute shall be established there; or
that it shall be made use of as an Arsenal of Construction.
reports from heads of departments.
The Reports of the Comptroller, Treasurer, Land Regis¬
ter, Attorney. General and of the Trustees of the Internal
Improvement Fund are herewith submitted to your respect¬
ful consideration.
Permit me, in conclusion, to congratulate your honorable
body upon the distinguished character Florida has acquired
by the gallantry of her sons in arms, by -their chivalry in
battle and by their honorable deportment in camps, as well
as by the generosity and patriotism of her citizens—upon
the abiding confidence of the people of the Confederate
States, in the wisdom, integrity and patriotism which have
distinguished the noble statesman and gallant soldier, his
Excellency Jefferson Davis, in the administration of the
Government of the Confederate States of America in the
estimation of foreign nations as well as of our own people
—upon the Christian fortitude and invincible courage of our
armies and the determined and heroic purpose ot soldiers
and citizens—men, women and children—to spurn with bold
defiance unto death all overtures which our enemies may
make for peace, except upon the unconditional recognition
of the independence of the Confederate States of America.
I have the honor to be, respectfully,
Your fellow-citizen,
JOIUST MILTOR,
Governor of Florida.
On motion of Mr. Williams, the reading of the message was
dispensed with.
Mr. Arendell moved that a committee of three be appointed to
contract for the printing of the House at its present session ;
"Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Arendell, Williams and Hen¬
ry appointted said committee.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the City
of Pensacola,
5
34
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the Ala¬
bama & Florida Railroad Company,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morning. •
A bill to be entitled an act increasing the fees of county oSh¬
eers,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to transmit the fol¬
lowing resolution which had been adopted by the Senate, and to
ask the concurrence of the House in the same at the earliest prac¬
tical moment:
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Sen¬
ate, and that the House of Representatives be requested to ap¬
point a like committee, to act as a joint and select committee, to
report a bill providing for the ample support and maintenance of
families of soldiers who require assistance, and of those who died
in battle, or who have died from disease, or who by wounds or
disease are incapable of rendering military service, and that said
bill provide for the support of all indigent persons in this State;
Which was received and read.
On motion of Mr. Baltzell, the House amended by striking out
the words " and that said bill provide for the support of all indi¬
gent persons in this State."
The resolution was then adopted as amended.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The order of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Ross
the House adjourned until to-morrow morning 9|- o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, November 18th, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the journal approved.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to |Jie House
joint resolutions relative to the election of a Senator to represent
the State of Florida in the Senate of the Confederate States ; also
the election of a Secretary of State ; also a joint resolution in rela-
35
tion to adjournment, and tQ ask the concurrence of the House in
the same.
The resolutions were received and placed among the orders of
the day.
Mr. R. H Bradford, member elect from Leon county, present¬
ed his credentials, and was sworn in by Hon. T. J. Eppes, Notary
Public.
Pursuant to previous notice, the following bills were introduced
and placed among the orders of the day, viz :
By Mr. Jackson:
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish the planting
and cultivation, in the State of Florida, over a certain quantity
of land in cotton during the present war;
A bill to be entitled an act to provide for furnishing to each
regiment and battalion in Confederate service from this State, a
- suitable flag or ensign, also a flag for the use of the Capitol; and,
A bill to be entitled an act for the protection of cattle owners
of the county of Levy, in this State.
By Mr. Eppes:
A bill to be entitled an act relating to property confiscated to
the use of the State."
By Mr. Avery :
A bill to be entitled an act to fix the salaries of the Public Of¬
ficers in this State.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills
at some future day:
By Mr. Ross:
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize the several Banks in
this State to issue change bills
By Mr. Polhill:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the law in relation to sol¬
diers voting.
By Mr. Avery:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of certain persons
therein named.
By Mr. Nixon:
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent the distilling of spirituous
liquors in this State.
By Mr. Sessions:
A bill to be entitled an act to levy a tax in kind for the relief
of soldiers' families, and wounded or disabled soldiers either in
State or Confederate States service.
By Mr. Dishong:
A bill to be entitled an act making it the duty of the County
Commissioners of Hillsborough county to levy an additional tax
for the relief of indigent families of soldiers who are now or may
36
hereafter be in the State or the Confederate States service from
said county of Hillsborough.
By Mr. Duval:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of James D. Green.
The committee appointed to select a Chaplain for the House,
made the following report:
• The committee appointed to provide a Chaplain for this House,
beg leave to report that, the Rev. Mr. Ellis has consented to offi¬
ciate as Chaplain.
THOMAS Y. HENRY, Chairman.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to act with the com¬
mittee on the part of the House to draft joint rules for the gov¬
ernment of both Houses.
Mr. Hampton presented a petition from Ex-Gov. M. S. Perry,
praying that a committee be appointed to investigate and settle.
his accounts with the State;
"Which was received and read, and
On motion, Messrs. Hampton, Greeley and Bradford appoint¬
ed said committee.
Mr. Dishong presented a petition from sundry citizens of Hills¬
borough county, praying for the passage of a law authorizing
the County Commissioners of that county to levy a tax of one
per centum per annum upon all property for the support of indi¬
gent families;
Which was received and read, and referred to the Joint Select
Committee on that subject.
Mr. Wynn offered the following preamble and resolution:
Whereas, It is incumbent on a people whose dearest rights
and interests, and whose liberties are involved in a contest such
as that in which we are engaged, to provide for the wants of the
wives and families of the gallant soldiers through whom we can
alone hope for a successful issue from this struggle; And where¬
as, Owing to the conduct of speculators and others engaged in
an unrighteous traffic, the price of the necessaries of life has at¬
tained a point beyond the reach of those dependent upon the
slender means at the command of their husbands and fathers,
who are breasting the storm of battle, and destitution and suffer¬
ing are likely to ensue unless provision is made in their behalf;
therefore—
Be it resolved, That a Joint Select Committee of the two
Houses be appointed, to consider and report to the General As¬
sembly such measures as shall secure the most ample provisions
for the wives and families of the soldiers in the Confederate ser¬
vice from this State;
Which were read and adopted.
37
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Senate joint resolution in relation to adjournment,
Was read the first time.
Mr. Williams moved its indefinite postponement;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Henry moved to amend the resolution by inserting " 12
o'clock";
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Price moved that the resolution be put upon its adoption;
Which was not agreed to.
The resolution was thpn ordered for a second reading on to¬
morrow.
Senate joint resolution relative to the ^election of a Senator to
represent the State of Florida in the Senate of the Confederate
States ; also the election of a Secretary of State,
Was read and adopted.
OrdA'ed that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. McGehee moved to reconsider the vote just taken on the
adoption of the resolution;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Baltzell moved to amend the resolution by inserting At¬
torney General;
Upon which the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs. Balt¬
zell and Hampton, and were :
Yeas—Messrs. Baltzell, Blackburn, Garnie, Gee, Greeley,
Hampton, Hendry, Hewett, McGehee, Pittman, Polhill, Ross and
Sessions—14.
1ST ays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Brad¬
ford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Henry, Jack¬
son, Lee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Price of
Alachua, Price of Columbia, Scott and Williams—21.
So the motion was not agreed to.
The resolution was then put upon its adoption,
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Black¬
burn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Gar¬
nie, Gee, Hampton, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Jackson, Lee, Mc¬
Gehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Ross, Scott, Sessions and
Williams—33.
Nays—Messrs. Baltzell and Wynn—2.
So the resolution was adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
38
the House that they had beefr appointed to return to the House
the following resolution, the Senate having refused to concur in.
the House amendment, and to ask the House to recede from its
amendment:
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Sen¬
ate, and that the House of Representatives be requested to ap¬
point a like committee, to act as a joint and select committee, to
report a bill providing for the ample support and maintenance of
families of soldiers who require assignee, and of those who died
in battle, or who have died from disease, or who by wounds or
disease are incapable of rendering military service, and that said
bill provide for the support of all indigent persons in this State;
Which was received, and on motion of Mr. Avery, the House
receded from its amendment.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The following bills were read the second time and referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the City
of Pensacola;
A bill to be entitled an act increasing the fees of county offi¬
cers ; and,
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the Ala¬
bama & Florida Railroad Company.
The following bills were read the first time and ordered for a
second reading on to-morrow, viz
A bill to be entitled an act to fix the salaries of the public offi¬
cers of this State;
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish the planting
and cultivation, in the State of Florida, over a certain quantity of
land in cotton during the present war ; and,
A bill to be entitled an act to provide for furnishing to each
regiment and battalion in Confederate service from this State, ■&
suitable flag or ensign, also a flag for the use of the Capitol.
A bill for the protection of cattle owners of the county of
Levy in this State,
Was read the first time, rule waived and read the second time
by its title;
Mr. Henry moved to amend by adding the counties of Lafay¬
ette and Taylor;
Whiqh was agreed to.
Mr. Price of Alachua, moved to ameud by adding the county
of Alachua;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Mettauer moved to amend by adding the county of Wa¬
kulla ;
Which was agreed to.
39
The bill as amended was then ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled an act relative to property confiscated to
the use of the State,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The rule being waived, Mr. Baltzell from the Joint Committee
to draft rules for the government of both Houses of the General
Assembly, made the following report:
The Joint Committee on Rules have instructed me to report
the following as the rules adopted by them:
JOINT RIJELS.
Rui® 1. Messages from either House to the other shall be
sent by such persons as a sense of propriety in each House may
determine.
2. After a bill shall have passed both Houses, it shall be duly
enrolled by the Clerk of the. House of Representatives, or by
the Secretary of the Senate, as the1 bill may have originated in
©ne or the other House.
3/ When bills shall be enrolled, they shall be examined by a
Joint Committee of at least two from the Senate, and two from
the House of Representatives, appointed as a Standing Commit¬
tee for that purpose, who shall forthwith make report.
4. When a bill or resolution, which shall have passed in one
House is rejected in the other, notice thereof shall be given to
the House in which the same may have passed.
5. When a bill or resolution which has been passed in one
House, shall be rejected in the other, it shall not be brought in
during the same session, without notice of ten days, and leave of
two-thirds of that House in which it shall be moved.
6. Each House shall transmit to the other all papets on which
any bill or resolution shall be founded.
V. After each House shall have adhered to their disagreement,
a bill or resolution shall be lost.
8. When elections are required to be made by joint vote of the
two Houses, the time of electing shall be previously agreed upon.
9. In every Joint Committee the member first named on the
part of the House first proposing such Committee, shall convene
the same.
10. During the elections of officers there shall be no motions
entertained, exeept to adjourn, to proceed to vote, to nominate
and to withdraw a candidate—which motions shall have prece¬
dence in the order they stand.
11. The doings throughout shall proceed without debate.
40
12. Communications shall be made on paper, and signed by
the Secretary of each House, and transmitted by the Messenger,-
or Doorkeeper.
13. In every case of disagreement between the Senate and
BLouse of Representatives^ either House may suggest conference,
and appoint a Committee for that purpose, and the other House
shall also appoint a Committee to confer at a convenient hour, to
be designated by the Chairman ; said Committees shall meet,
and confer freely on the subjeet of disagreement.
14. Whenever a public bill or resolution is ordered to' be
printed for the use of either House, a number shall be ordered
sufficient for thh use of both Houses ; and it shall be the duty
of the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House, as the case
may be, to inform the other House of such order, and to trans¬
mit to that House the requisite number of printed copies.
They have further instructed me to projDOse the following res
olution:
Resolved, That the two rooms adjoining the Senate Chamber
be appropriated to Joint Committees of both Houses, to Com¬
mittees sitting during the session of the two Houses, and to the
Judiciary Committees thereof. The Eastern room to the Sen¬
ate—the Western to the House. And that the Secretary of State
prepare the said rooms for immediate use, with pen, ink and pa¬
per, with copies of Thompson's Digest, the Journals of both
Houses for five years past, the Supreme Court Reports, and all
the Laws of the State since the date of Thompson's Digest.
THOMAS BALTZELL.
Which was read and concurred in.
The following communication was received from his Excellen¬
cy the Governor:
Executive Chamber, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 18th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
Sir : I respectfully recommend the following nomination for
the advice and consent of the General Assembly, viz:
William H. Mein,
Auctioneer for the County of Hernando.
^ery respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was reapl, and the nomination advised and consented to.
Also the following:
4-1
Executive Chamber, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 18th, 1868. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Souse of Representatives:
Sir: On the 18th day of January last, the Hon. F. L. Villi-
pigue resigned the office of Secretary of State, whereupon I ap¬
pointed the Hon. B. F. Allen to fill the vacancy, who has, with
industry and efficiency up to this time, discharged the duties of
the office.
The Election of a Secretary of State now devolves upon your
honorable body.
Herewith is submitted a report of the Secretary of State, of a
correct catalogue of all the books in the Executive, Legislative
and Judicial Libraries of this State, of which he is Librarian.
I have the honor to be, respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
State Department, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 10th, 1863. [
To His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
Sir : In compliance with a resolution of the General Assembly,
approved Nov. 30th, 1861, requesting the Secretary of State "to
furnish the General Assembly with a correct Catalogue of all the
Books in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Libraries of
this State, of which he is Librarian," I proceeded, in the month
of September last, to take a list of said Books, and have the honor
to report to your Excellency the following " as a correct Cata¬
logue of all Books," in said Libraries:
books in office secretary of state.
Congressional Documents, Senate and House; Executive, Re
ports of Committees, &c., consisting of some 400 volumes.
Journals of the Territorial Legislature, from 1836 to 1844 in¬
clusive, 30, volumes.
Journals of the General Assembly of the State of Florida, from
1845 to 1862, (except the year 1847,) making some 250 volumes.
Acts General Assembly, bound volumes^from 1850 to 1862,
about 100 volumes. Also Thompson's Digest, 10 volumes.
Florida Reports, 72 volumes—5 6 7 8 95'
Constitution of Florida, Ordinances, and Journal of the Pro¬
ceedings of State- Convention, 30 volumes.
Valuable Miscellaneous Works, being contributions by Con-
6
42
gress and several States—Historical, Scientific, &c.—consisting
of about 125 richly bound volumes. In taking a list of these
books, I discovered a number of volumes missing, most of which
have since been found; and no book from this valuable contribu¬
tion is allowed to be taken out of the office.
In " the two rooms at the South end of the Capitol, adjoining
Senate Chamber, set apart for Library rooms," are Congressional
Documents—Executive and Legislative, Reports of Committees,
&c., comprising some 1500 volumes. Also Journals—Senate and
House—Florida, from 1840 to 1862, inclusive, (except the year
1857,) which appears to be missing. Also Reports Supreme
Court of Florida, from 1851 to 1862, consisting in all of some
300 volumes.
JUDICIAL LIBRARY.
In taking a Catalogue of the Books in this Library, which I
considered by far the most valuable, and which I am informed
has been^growing small by degrees for some years past, I was
very particular to take an account of every volume in this De¬
partment. I found the work tedious, and with a view to sim¬
plify it as far as practicable, I arranged the Books of each State
under its appropriate'head, a Catalogue of which is hereto an-,
nexed.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
B. F. ALLEK,
Secretary of State and Librarian.
Catalogue of Boohs in the Judicial Library of Florida, Sep¬
tember 1st, 1863.
FLORIDA.
Florida Reports, Yols. 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7, 7.
Laws—Thompson's Digest;
Duval's Compilation;
Acts &c.
GEORGIA.
Kelly's Reports, '•bis, 1, 2.
Georgia Reports, Vol. 14.
Laws of Georgia, from 1800 to 1810 inclusive, in three laro-e
Vols., with Digest in one Vol. 0
Dawson's Compilations, Vol. 1.
Acts from 1853 to 1858-, inclusive.
43
ALABAMA.
\
Alabama Reports, Yols. 15.
Acts from 1838 to 1858.
ARKANSAS.
English's Reports, Yols. 1, 2, 3, 7.
Arkansas Reports, Yols. 4, 5, 16.
English's Digest, Yol. 1.
Acts of.
KENTUCKY.
Reports of J. J. Marshall, Yols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Reports of A. K. Marshall, Yols. 1,2, 3.
Reports of Bibb, Yol. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Reports ofB. Monroe 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, —, 10,11, 12, —,
14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
Dana's Reports, Volg. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Thomas B. Monroe's Reports, Yols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Littlle's Reports, Yols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Metcalf's Reports, Yol. 1.
Kentucky Code of Practice, Yol. 1.
Littells & Swyart's Digest of the Laws, Yols. 1, 2.
Stanton's Digest,* Yols. 1, 2.
Revised Statutes of Kentucky, Yols. 1, 2.
INDIANNA.
Blackford's Reports, 8 Yols.
Tanner's Reports, Yols. 8, 9, 12.
Porter's Reports, Yols. 4, 7.
Carter's Reports, Yol. 2.
Revised Statutes, 1843, Yol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1852 Yols. 1, 2.
Acts from 1829 to 1859.
CALIFORNIA.
California Reports, Yols. 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8,
9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11, 13, 13, 15.
Land Laws, Vols. 1, 2.
Land Laws, California, Oregon & Texas, Yols. 1, 2.
Acts from 1850 to 1859.
MISSOURI.
Missouri Reports, Yols. 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29.
Geyer's Digest of Statutes, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1835.
44
Revised Statutes, 1845.
Acts of 1838 to 1859.
MISSISSIPPI.
Howard's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Smedes & Marshall, Vols. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Mississippi Reports,, Vols. 3, 4.
Digest of Laws, 1824—1838.
MARYLAND.
Harris & Gill's Reports, Vols. 1, 2.
Harris & Johnson's Reports, Vols. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7.
Harris & McHenry's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Gill & Johnson's, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12.
Gill's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9.
Maryland Reports, Vols. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 12, 14.
Maryland Chancery Decisions, Vols. 3, 4.
Dorsey's Laws, Vols. 1, 2, 3.
Maryland Digest of Reports, Vol. 1.
Index to the Laws, Vol. 1.
Acts from 1853 to 1858, in 4 volumes.
LOUISIANA.
Robinson's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Louisiana Annual Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, — 9, 10,
11, 12, 13.
Acts from 1827 to 1860.
ILLINOIS.
Gilman's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Illinois Reports, Vols. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22.
Scammon's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Revised Laws, 1833, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1845, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1858, Vols. 1, 2.
Acts from 1830 to 1859.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Pennsylvania Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, —, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9,. 10,
11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22,J3, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
Watts & SeargeanflFReports, Vol. 2.
Revised Statutes, 1859, Vol. 1.
Laws of Pennsylvania, Vol. 10.
Colonial Records of Penn., Vols. 1, 2, 3.
Acts of 1838 to 1858.
45
TENNESSEE.
Sneed's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Swan's Reports, Vols. 1, 2.
Humphries' Reports, Vols. 7, 8, 11.
Compilation of Statutes, 1836.
Code of Tennessee, 1858, 1 Vol.
Acts from 1832 to 1858.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Richardson's Law Reports, Vols. 5, 7, 8, 9.
Richardson's Equity Reports, Vols. 1, *2, 4, 5, 6.
Strobhart's Law Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Strobhart's Equity Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Speer's Equity Cases, Vol. 1.
Rice's Reports, Vol. 1.
Riley's Chancery Cases, Vol. 1.
Baily's Equity Reports, Vol. 1.
McMullan's Reports, Vol. 1.
Statutes at Large, Vols. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Acts from 1848 to 1856.
NORTH CAROLINA.
Iredell's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6, 7,
Iredell's Law Reports, Vols. 8, 9,10, 12, 13.
Iredell's Equity Cases, Vols. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Jones' Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7.
Jones' Equity Reports, Vols. 2, 4, 5.
Busbee's Equity Reports, Vol. 1.
Busbee's Law Reports, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, Vols. 1, 2.
Revised Code, 1855, 2 Vols.
Revised Code, 1850-54, 1 Vol.
Jones' Digest, Vol. 1.
Laws of N. Carolina, from 1844-5, to 1859, inclusive, 8 Vols
NEW JERSEY.
Green's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3.
Green's Law Reports, Vol. 3.
Zabraskie's Reports, Vols. 2, 3, 4.
Harrison's Reports, Vols, 3, 4.
Dutcher's Reports, Vols. 1, 2.
Stocton's Chancery, Vols. 1, 2, 3.
Spencer's Reports, Vol. 1.
Halstead's Chancery, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Revised Statutes, 1847, Vol. 1.
46
Nixon's Digest of Laws, Vol. 1.
Compilation of Laws, 1833, Vol. 2.
Acts from 1851 to 1859.
Beasley's Reports, 1 Vol., i860.
OHIO.
State Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Ohio Reports, Vols. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Index to the Laws, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1841, 1 Vol.
Acts from 1831 to 1858, in 20 Vols.
ENGLISH REPORTS.
East Reports, Vols. 12, 16.
Exchequer Reports, 33 Vols.
English Common Law Reports, 25 Vols.
Ecclesiastical Reports, Vol. 1.
MICHIGAN.
Douglass' Reports, Vols. 1, 2.
Michigan Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7.
Walker's Chancery Reports, Vol. 1.
Acts of 1837 up to 1859, in 23 Vols.
VIRGINIA.
Gratton's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15.
Henning's Statutes at Large, Vols. 1 to 13.
Acts from 1842 to 1858, in 13 Vols.
Board of Public Works.
TEXAS.
Texas Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9,10. 11, 12, 13, 14,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Texas Digest, Vol. 1.
Oldham & White's Digest of Laws, Vol. 1.
Acts of 1846 to 1858.
RHODE ISLAND.
Rhode Island Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Revised Statutes, 1844.
Revised Statutes, 1857.
Supplement to do., 3 Vols.
Acts from 1852 to 1859.
Index to Acts & Resolutions from 1758 to 1850.
47
WISCONSIN.
Wisconsin Reports, Vols. 1, 6, 7, 9.
Chandler's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Laws, 5 Vols., with Journal of Convention.
Acts 1853, 1 Vol.
Acts from 1853 to 1857.
Revised Statutes, ki 3 Vols.
MINNESOTA.
Minnesota Reports, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1851.
Statutes of Minnesota, 1849—'58.
IOWA.
Morris' Reports, Vol. 1.
Green's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Iowa Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Code of Iowa, 1851.
Revised Statutes, I860-
Acts from 1851 to 1858.
KANSAS.
Statutes, Vol. 1.
Acts from 1857 to 1858.
NEBRASKA.
Laws of 1858.
CHICI^ASAWS.
Constitution, Laws andTreaties, Vol. 1.
NOVA SCOTIA.
James' Reports, Vol. 1.
American State Papers, 42 Vols.
Congressional Globe, 7 Vols.
Appendix to same, 3 Vols.
American Archives, 3 Vols.
United States Statutes at Large, 1 Vol.
Digest of Revenue Laws, Vol. 1.
Commercial Regulations, Vol. 1.
Public Lands, Laws, Instructions and Opinions, 1 Vol.
Senate Documents, 2 Vols., 1854—'5, 1854-'5.
UNITED STATES' REPORTS.
Supreme Court Reports, Howards, Vol. 2.
48
Peters', Vol. 16.
Crabb's District Court, Vol. 1.
Senate United States Documents, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, U 8.
Executive Documents, Vols. 1, 2, 3.
Laws United States Statutes at Large, Vols. 4, (1, 2, 3, 4, 5.)
NEW YORK.
Barbour's Reports, 24 Vols.
New York Reports, 5 Vols.
Hill's Reports, Vols. 2, 6.
Parker's Criminal Reports, Vol. 1.
Comstock's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 4.
Kernan's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3.
Selden's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.
Deniv's Reports, Vols. 1,2, 3.
Index to Documents, Vol. 1.
Acts from 1848 to 1859.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Metcalf's Reports, Vols. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Cusbing's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 11,12.
Gray's Reports, Vols. 1,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13.
Revised Statutes, 1860.
CONNECTICUT.
Connecticut Reports, Vols. 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24,25, 26, 2S.
Revised Statutes, 1849.
Compilation of Statutes, 1854.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
New Hampshire Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3,5, 6, 7, 8,10, 11,12,13,
14, 19, 20, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39.
Foster's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Gilchrist's Digest of Reports, Vol. 1.
Bell's Digest of Reports, Vol. 1.
MAINE.
Maine Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, S, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 2*, 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41,
42, 43, 44, 45.
Fairfield's Reports, Vols. 1, 2, 3.
Virgin's Digest of Reports, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1S40, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1S57, Vols. 1, 2.
49
VERMONT.
Vermont Reports, Vols. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30.
Washburn's Digest of Reports, Vol. 1.
Revised Statutes, 1850, 1 Vol.
DELAWARE,
Revised Statutes, 1829, 2 copies.
Acts 1859, 3 copies.
Which was read.
The rule being waived, Mr. Arendell, from the committee to
contract for the printing for the House, made the following re¬
port :
Tallahassee, Nov. 18th, 1863.
To W. H. Arendell, Esq.,
Chairman House Committee on Printing:
Sir : We propose to print the House proceedings at the fol¬
lowing rates:
For all miscellaneous printing, such as daily slips, bills, reports,
&c., cent per hundred words, counting 100 copies.
For 200 copies of the journal, $3.00 per page.
DYKE & CARLISLE.
Your committee would recommend the adoption of the above,
being fully satisfied, under the circumstances, it is the best that
can be done.
WM. H. ARENDELL, Chairman.
JOS. JOHN WILLIAMS,
THOMAS Y. HENRY.
Which was read and concurred in.
The rule being waived, Mr. Jackson moved that 100 copies of
the Governor's Message be printed for the use of the House;
Which was agreed to.'
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Gar-
nie, the House took a recess until five minutes before 12, m.
FIVE MINUTES BEFORE 12 O'CLOCK, M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum present.
, On motion, a committee consisting ©f Messrs. Hampton, Gar-
nie and Greeley were appointed to inform the Senate that the
House was now ready to go into the election of Senator and Sec¬
retary of State.
7
50
The committee retired and in a short time returned and report¬
ed that they had performed their duty and, were discharged.
The hour having arrived to go into the election of a Confede¬
rate States Senator and a Secretary of State, the Senators en¬
tered the Hall.
The President, by invitation ol the Speaker, took the Chair.
The President announced nominations for Senator in order.
Mr. Wynn nominated Hon. James M. Baker ;
The vote was:
For Baker—Senate 14. House—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos,
Arendell, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn, Bradford, Campbell, Cro-
martie, Dishong, Duvap Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton,
Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Jackson, Lee, McGehee, Mettauer,
Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of
Alachua, Price of Columbia, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Williams and
Wynn—36. Total—50.
Blank—Senate 2.
Mr. Baker, having received the requisite constitutional majority,
was declared elected.
The President announced nominations for Secretary of State
in order.
Mr. Hogue nominated B. F. Allen.
Mr. Russell of Jefferson, nominated Wm. Scott.
The vote was:
For Allen—Senate 13. House—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Balt¬
zell, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Gar¬
nie, Gee, Greeley, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Jackson, Lee, Met¬
tauer, Mizell, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alach¬
ua, Price of Columbia, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Williams and Wynn
—30. Total—43. .
For Scott—Senate 3. House—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Aren¬
dell, Blackburn, Hampton, McGehee and Newbern—6. Total
—9.
Mr. Allen, having received the requisite constitutional ma privy,
was declared elected Secretary of State.
The object of the joint assembly having been accomplished,
on motion, the joint assembly adjourned, and the Senators re¬
turned to their chamber.
Mr. Hampton moved that the vote concurring in the report of
the Joint Committee to draft rules for the government ol the two-
Houses of the General Assembly be reconsidered;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Williams moved that so much of the resolution appended
to said report-as refers to the West room be stricken out;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Hampton moved that a committee of three be appointed
51
to wait upon the Senate and inform that body of the action of
the House on said resolution ;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Hampton, Baltzell and Wynn
appointed said committee.
The committee retired and in a short time returned and re¬
ported that they had performed their duty and were discharged.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
the House that they had been appointed to notify the House that
the Senate had refused to adopt the resolution appended to the
report of the Joint Committee appointed to draft rules for the
government of the two Houses of the General Assembly.
On motion of Mr. Williams, the House adjouiTied uutil to¬
morrow morning, 10 o'clock.
THURSDAY, November 19th, 1863.
' The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of yesterday'.s proceed¬
ings was dispensed with, and the journal approved.
The Speaker announced the following Standing Committees:
STANDING COMMITTEES.
;Committee on Judiciary: On Internal Improvements:
Messrs. BALTZELL, Messrs. AVERY,
AVERY, JONES,
BRADFORD, PITTMAN,
ROSS, HENRY,
PITTMAN, LEE.
Finance and Public Accounts: Propositions and Grievances:
Messrs. PRICE of Columbia, Messrs. HANNAH,
SCOTT, POLHILL,
LESLIE, GEE,
TIFT, MIZELL,
SESSIONS. ATKINS.
On Confederate Relations: On Indian Affairs:
Messrs. WYNN, Messrs. DISHONG,
ROSS, NEWBERN,
HEWETT, OVERSTREET,
DUVAL, GREELEY,
JONES. ANDREU.
52
On Corporations:
Messrs. PRICE of Alachua, Messrs.
ARDREIT,
NIXON,
BALTZELL,
JACKSON.
On Claims :
Messrs. HAMPTON, Messss.
HANNAH,
GREELEY,
FOY,
JACKSON.
On Commerce and Navigation.
Messrs. ANDREU,
ARENDELL,
DISHONG,
HENDRY,
JACKSON.
On Taxation and Revenue:
Messrs. GREELEY,
HAMPTON,
GEE,
METTAUER,
NEWBURN.
On Agriculture:
Messrs. HENRY,
WILLIAMS,
FOY,
RICHARDSON,
HIGGINBOTHAM.
On Election '■
garnie,
BRADFORD,
AMOS,
WILLIAMS,
SESSIONS.
On Militia:
JONES,
GREELEY,
THOMAS,
WILLIAMS,
ARENDELL.
On Schools and Colleges.
Messrs. CAMPBELL,
SMITH,
CROMARTIE,
ATKINS,
SEWARD.
On Engrossed Rills:
Messrs. PITTMAN,
RICHARDSON,
DTJYAL,
ATKINS,
THOMAS.
On Enrolled Rills:
Messrs. McGEHEE,
BLACKBURN,
MIZELL,
LEE,
LESLIE.
On State of the Commonwealth: On Public Lands:
Messrs. ROSS, Messrs. SCOTT,
CROMARTIE, GARNIE,
BALTZELL, HAMPTON,
HIGGINBOTHAM, AYERY,
HEWETT. PITTMAN..
On motion of Mr. Avery, 80 copies of the Standing Commit¬
tees were ordered to be printed for the use of the House and
Senate.
53
The Speaker asked leave of absence until Tuesday next, in con¬
sequence of the illness of his family;
Which was granted.
Mr. Garnie moved that Mr. Williams act as Speaker pro. tern,
during the Speaker's absence;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Hampton moved that Mr. Wynn, of Jackson county, be
added to the Joint Committee appointed for the purpose of draw¬
ing a bill for the support of families of soldiers, and others ;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Hampton moved that Wm. M. Mcintosh, Enrolling Clerk,
be excused from his duty until Monday next, in consequence of
the ill health of his family;
Which was agreed to.
Pursuant to previous notice, the following bills were introdu¬
ced and placed among the orders of the day :
By Mr. Avery:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of certain persons
therein named.
By Mr. Greeley:
A bill to be entitled an act to change the place of holding Courts
in Putnam county ; and
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of R. E. Seyle.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bill
at some future day :
By Mr. Overstreet:
A bill to be entitled an act for the purpose of creating pre¬
cincts in Brevard county.
By Mr. Pittman :
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the sixth section of an
act entitled an act to change the mode of selecting Grand and
Petit Jurors in this State.
By Mr. Hendry :
A bill to be entitled an act^for the relief of James W. John¬
son of Taylor county; and,
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Edward Jordan,
Sheriff of Taylor county.
Mr. Greeley presented a petition from R. E. Seyle,
Which was read.
Mr. Jackson offered preamble and resolutions of thanks to Gen.
Wm. Bailey and Dr. Henry Bacon ;
Which were read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The following communication was received from the Senate:
54
Senate Chamber, )
November 18, 1863. j"
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Ilousq of Representatives:
Sik: The Senate has this day passed the following resolution,
viz:
Resolution of thanks to our soldiers.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was Vead and the resolution placed among the orders
of the day.
The committee, to whom was referred a petition in reference to
an election in Hernando county, made the following report:
The committee, .to whom was referred a petition in reference
to an election in Hernando county, beg leave to
Report,
That they have had the said petition under advisement. The fact
that the Hon. Cyprian T. Jenkins is a prisoner of war, and therefore
unvoluntarily absent, does not create a vacancy.. While the es¬
timable character of Frederick Lykes bids fair to render him an
important member ot this House, your committee are constrained
to declare that Cyprian T. Jenkins is entitled to the seat.
WM. B. ROSS, Chairman.
Which was read and concurred in.
The committe on Engrossed Bills made the following report:
The committee on Engrossed Bills, to whom was referred the
following bill, report that they have examined the same and find
it correctly engrossed:
A bill to be entitled an act for the protection of cattle owners
in the counties of Levy, Lafayette, Taylor, Alachua and Wa¬
kulla.
F. R. PITTMAN, Chairman.
Which was received and read, and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
ORDERS . OF THE DAY.
Senate joint resolution in relation to adjournment,
Was read the second time and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish the planting,
and cultivation in the State of Florida over a certain quantity of
land in cotton during the present war,
55
Was read the second time and referred to a select committee,
consisting of Messrs. Jones, Jackson, Cromartie, Hampton and
Greeley.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act for the protection of cattle
owners in the counties of Levy, Lafayette, Taylor, Alachua and
Wakulla,
Was read the third time.
On motion of Mr. Garnie, the rule was waived, and Duval
county added.
The bill was then ptit upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Black¬
burn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Gar¬
nie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett,
Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, Lee, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell,
Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua,
Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward^
Williams and Wynn—40.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed.
Mr. Jackson moved to amend the title of the bill by adding
the county of Duval;
Which was agreed to.
Ordered that the passage of the bill be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act to 'fix the salaries of the public offi¬
cers of this State, ■
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
Taxation and Revenue.
A bill to be entitled an act tp provide for furnishing to each
regiment and battalion in Confederate service from this State, a
suitable flag or ensigti, als"> a flag for the use of the Capitol,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
the Militia.
A bill to be entitled an act to change the place of holding-
Courts in Putnam county*
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled an act tor the relief of certain persons
therein named,
Was read the first time, rules waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the committee on claims.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of R. E. Legle,
Was read the-first time,'rules waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee Public Lands.
Senate resolution of thanks to our soldiers,
Was read and adopted.
56
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The orders of the day being exhausted, Mr. Duval moved to
take a recess until 3 o'clock p. m.;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Williams moved to adjourn until 10 o'clock to-morrow
morning,
Which was not agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Ross, the House adjourned until to-morrow
morning 9-g- o'clock.
FRIDAY, November 20th, 1863.
>
The House met pursuant-to adjournment—a quorum present.
Mr. Williams in the Chair.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the journal approved.
The rule being waived, the following bills were introduced
without previous notice, and placed among the orders of the dav:
By Mr. Polhill:
A bill to be euntitled an act to amend ordinance No. 53 of the
Convention, in relation to soldiers voting. .
By Mr. Arendell:
A bill to be entitled an act requiring sheriffs to give additional
security in certain cases.
By Mr. McGehee:
A bill to be entitled an act for the protection of stock in the
counties of Lafayette and Taylor.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills
at some future day :
' By Mr. Sessions :
A bill to be entitled an act to change the line dividing Su¬
wannee and Columbia county.
By Mr. Price :
A bill to be entitled an act to encourage the raising of stock in
this State.
Mr. Gee moved that leave of absence be granted Mr. Henry
until Monday next;
Which was granted.
Mr. Scott moVed that leave of absence be granted to Mr. Cro-
martie until Monday, 10 o'clock;
Which was granted.
Mr. Greeley asked leave to withdraw a bill introduced by him
on yesterday, for the relief of R. E. Seyle;
57
Which was granted.
Mr. Newbern gave notice that he would on some future day
introduce the following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Bradford county,
and for other purposes.
Mr. Jones moved, that his colleague, Mr. W. H. Arendell, be
excused from further attendance on the House from to-day and
during next week;
Which was granted.
Pursuant to previous notice, the following bills were intro¬
duced and placed among the orders of the day :
By Mr. Hendry:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Edward Jordan,
Sheriff of Taylor county ; and
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of James W. Johnson
of Taylor county.
By Mr. Nixon :
A bill to be entitled an to prevent the distilling of spirituous
liquors in this State. \ ■
Mr. Sessions offered a resolution asking the Governor not to
license any more distilleries until further action by the Legisla¬
ture ;
Which was read and adopted.
Ordered_that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. Avery offered resolutions relating to the appointment of
an agent for soldiers' families in the counties of Santa Rosa and
• A
Escambia;
Which were read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. Avery presented a petition from sundry citizens of Escam¬
bia county ;
Which was read.
The Committee on Taxation and Revenue made the following
report:
The committee, to whom was referred the bill relative to fixing
the salaries of State officers, have had the same under considera¬
tion, and respectfully recommend that the bill be laid on the table.
Respectfully submittqd,
J. C. GREELEY, Chairman.
Which was received and read and bill placed among the or¬
ders of the day.
Mr. Scott, from the Committee on Public Lands, made the fol¬
lowing report:
The committee to whomVas referred a bill to be entitled an
act for the relief of R. E. Seyle, beg leave to
8
58
REPORT,
That they have had the same under consideration, and ask that
the enclosed bill be substituted for the original, and recommend
its passage.
1ST. T. SCOTT, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Jones, from a select committee, made the following report:
Your committee, who have had under consideration a bill to
be entitled an act to prevent and punish all persons planting and
cultivating, in the State of Florida, over a certain quantity of land
in cotton during the continuance of the present war, have had
the same under consideration, and beg leave to
REPORT,
That they have drawn a new bill setting forth the main points
of the original with some amendments, with an additional clause,
which they offer as a substitute for the original and recommend
its passage.
J. Y. JONES, Chairman,
JNO. F. JACKSON,
A. Y. HAMPTON,
A. CROMARTIE,
J. C. GREELEY.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
The rules being waived, Mr. Hampton moved that a sufficient
number of the printed copies of the Governor's message, which .
are now printed for the House, be sent to the Senate ;
Which was agreed to.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act to change the place of holding
Courts in Putnam county, *
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow. 4
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish the planting
and cultivation, in the State of Florida, over a certain quantity of
land in cotton during the present war,
Was read the second time and the bill presented by the Com¬
mittee subsituted in lieu of the original bill.
The substitute was then read.
59
Mr. McGehee moved to amend by inserting, as an additional
section, that no planter in this State shall be permitted to .plant
more tobacco than a sufficiency for the use of himself and family
for one year;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Ross moved to amend by allowing one acre to be planted
in tobacco ;
Which was lost.
Mr. Greeley moved to recommit the bill to the Committee.
Which was agreed to.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of R. E. Seyle,
Was read the second time, and the bill presented by the Com¬
mittee, to-wit: a bill to be entitled an act to legalize entries of
public lands made after the secession of Florida, and requiring
the Receivers to account for the monies received therefor, sub¬
stituted in lieu of the original bill;
The bill was then read the second time and ordered to be en¬
grossed for third reading on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Edward Jordan,
Sheriff of Taylor county,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committe on Claims.
A bill to be entitled" an act to amend ordinance 1STo. 53 of the
Convention, in relation to soldiers voting,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
times by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Black¬
burn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie,
Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higginboth-
am, Jackson, Jones, Lee, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell, Hewbern,
Hixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward and Wynn
—37.
Hays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act for the protection of the stock of
citizens in the counties of Lafayette and Taylor,
Was read the first time, rule waived and read the second time
by its title.
Mr. Jackson moved to amend by adding the county of Levy ;
Which was agreed to.
The bill was then referred to the Committee on Propositions
and Grievances.
60
A bill to be entitled an act to fix the salaries of the public
officers of this State,
Was fead the second time, and, on motion, laid on the table
until Friday next.
A bill to be entitled an act requiring sheriffs to give additional
security in certain cases,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
A bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act in
regard to grand jurors,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Jas. W. Johnson,
of Taylor county;
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Propositions and
Grievances.
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent the distilling of spiritu¬
ous liquors in this State,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The rule being waived, the following bill was introduced pur¬
suant to previous notice, viz:
By Mr. Pittman:
A bill to be entitled an act to extend the provisions of an act
entitled an act for the relief of General William E. Anderson and
others, approved Dec. 10th, 1862 ;
Which was placed among the orders of the day.
A bill to be entitled an act to extend the provisions of an act
entitled an act for the relief of General William E. Anderson and
others, approved Dec. 10th, 1862,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time
and referred to the Committee on Claims.
The following message was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
November 19th, 1863. f
Hon. Thomas J. Eppes :
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bills, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to allow the Judges of the Circuit
Court of this State to appoint sheriffs in certain cases; also,
A bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act to
61
protect the interests of stock owners in this State, approved De¬
cember 13, 1862.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Sec'y of the Senate.
Which was read, and said bills placed among the orders of the
day.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to allow the Judges of the
Circuit Court of this State to appoint Sheriffs in certain cases,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an
act to protect the interests of stock owners in this State, approved
December 13, 1862,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The rule being waived, Mr. Ross introduced, pursuant to pre¬
vious notice, the following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize Banks in this State to
issue change bills;
Which was received and placed among the orders of the day.
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize Banks in this State to
issue change bills,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr.
Jackson, the House took a recess until 3 o'clock, p. m.
THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum present.
Mr. Williams in the Chair.
The rule being waived, Mr. Hampton moved that Mr. Floyd,
Sergeant-at-Arms, be excused from his duties from Saturday, 12
o'clock, M., until Monday morning;
Which was granted.
The rule being waived, Mr. Scott moved that so much of the
Governor's Message as refers to soldiers' families, be referred to
the Special Joint Committee of both Houses;
That so much as relates to " cards, salt, distilleries, fisheries
and hospitals," be referred to the Committtee on Propositions
and Grievances;
That so much as relates to .crops, be referred to the Commit¬
tee on Agriculture;
62
That so much as relates to the blockade, be referred to the
Committee on Commerce and Navigation ;
That so much as relates to the issue of Treasury Notes, be re¬
ferred to the Committee on Finance and Public Accounts;
That so much as relates to public lands, be referred to the
Committee on Public Lands ;
That so much as relates to currency, be referred to the Com¬
mittee on Taxation and Revenue ;
That so much as relates to militia, be referred to the Commit¬
tee on Militia;
Which was agreed to.
The following communication was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
November 20th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill and res¬
olution, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to repeal an act entitled an act to
regulate trade and intercourse with the Indians ; and
A bill to be entitled an act to change the name of Levy county,
in this State, to the name of Ward county ; also,
House resolution of thanks to Gen. Wm. Bailey and Dr. Hen¬
ry Bacon, with amendments.
Very respectfullv.
JOHN B. WHITE HURST,
Sec'y of the Senate.
Which was read and the bills and resolution placed among the
orders of the day.
The rule being waived, Mr. Jones from a select committee,
made the following report:
Your Committee, to whom was recommitted a bill to be enti¬
tled an act to prevent and punish all persons planting and culti¬
vating in the State of Florida over a certain quantity of land in
cotton during the continuance of the present war, have had the
same under consideration, and recommend its passage, with the
following amendments:
Insert after the fifth section—
Be it further enacted, That no owner or owners, or employers
of slaves in this State, shall plant more than one-tenth of an. acre
of land in tobacco to the hand, and, any person so offending, shall
63
be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, be subject to
the penalties of the foregoing section of this act.
Yerv respectfully,
J. Y. JONES, Chairman.
JOHN F. JACKSON,
A. Y. HAMPTON,
A. CROMARTIE.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Garnie moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow
morning, 9 o'clock ;
Which was not agreed to.
The rule being waived, Mr. Hannah, from the Committee on
Propositions and Greivances, made the following report:
The Committee on Propositions and Grievances, to whom was
referred a bill to be entitled an act for the relief of J. W. John¬
son, and a bill to be entitled an act for the protection of the Stock
of Lafayette, Taylor and Levy counties, respectfully report, that
they have had the same under consideration, and recommend
their passage.
THOS. HANNAH, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Resolution of thanks to Gen. Wm. Bailey and Dr. Henry Ba¬
con,
Was read, and on motion, the Senate amendment concurred in.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate, and that the
resolution as amended be enrolled.
Mr. Price of Columbia, moved that the House adjourn until 9
o'clock, to-morrow;
Which was not agreed to.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to repeal an act entitled an act
to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indians,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time bv
its title, and referred to the Committee on Indians* Affairs.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to change the name of Levy
county, in this State, to the name of Ward county,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and on motion of Mr. Jackson, indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr. Arendell, the House adjourned vyitil to-mor¬
row morning, 10 o'clock.
64
SATURDAY, November 21st, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
Mr. Williams in the Chair.
On motion the reading of the Journals of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the Journal approved.
Mr. Avery moved that the clerk of the House be instructed to
make out a list of the names of the members, stating the county
which each member represents, a list of the counties not repre¬
sented ; also, a Jist of the Senators, stating the district they repre¬
sent and the county or counties comprising the district, and, if
any, what Senatorial district is at present unrepresented ; also,
that 80 copies be printed for the use of the House and Senate;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Hampton be excused from serving
on the Committee on the unsettled accounts of Ex-Gov. Perry,
and that S. R. Sessions be appointed in his place,
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Greeley moved that Judge Hampton be excused from fur¬
ther attendance on this House until Monday 3 o'clock p. m.;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Blackburn moved that Mr. Jones be excused from further
attendance on this House until Monday ;
Which was granted. ' <
The rules being waived, Mr. Scott introduced without previous
notice the following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to require purchasers of Public
Lands to make payment therefor to the Treasurer ;
Which was received and placed among the orders of the day.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Sessions introduced the fol¬
lowing bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to change the county line dividing
the counties of Columbia and Suwannee.
Which was received and placed among the orders of the day,
Mr. Foy offered the following preamble and resolution :
Whereas, the exportation of cotton, tobacco and other products
from the Confederate States by private enterprise, and for pri¬
vate emolument, tends to depreciate the currency, to corrupt
public morals, to lessen the production of food and otherwise
to injure the cause for which we are fighting,
Be it therefore resolved by the Senate and House of Repre¬
sentatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened,
That our Senators and Representatives in Congres be requested
to inquire into the expediency of causing such legislation as will
prevent all commercial intercourse with foreign countries not
65
recognizing us, except by and for the benefit of the Confederate
or State Government.
Which were read and referred to the Committee on the State
of the Commonwealth.
„ Mr. Dishong, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, made the
following report:
Your Committee, to whom was referred the bill entitled an
stct to repeal an act relating to Indian Affairs, have had the same
cinder consideration and recommend its passage.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS DISIIONG, Chm'n.
W. C. NEWBERN,
J. C. GREELEY,
H. OYERSTREET.
Which was received hnd read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Pittman from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Engrossed Bills to whom was referred the
following bills, beg leave to report that they have examined the
same and find therii correctly engrossed.
A bill to be entitled an act to change the place of holding the
Circuit Court for Putnam county; and
A-bill to be entitled an act to legalize entries of public lands
made after the secession of Florida, and requiring the Receivers
to account for the monies received therefor.
F. R. PITTMAN, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr, Baltzell, from the Judiciary Committee, made the follow¬
ing report: *
The Judiciary Committee have instructed me to report favora¬
bly on the Senate bill entitled an act to aliow the Judges of the
Circuit Courts of this State to appoint Sheriffs in certain cases,
with an amendment, after the words " Sheriffs in this State," in
the 3rd line of the first section, to insert the words " and Cor¬
oner," and to request its passage.
Favorably on the act requiring Sheriffs to give additional se¬
curity in certain cases.
Favorably on the act relating to property confiscated to the
rase of the State, with an amendment at the close of the 4th sec¬
tion, so as to strike out the words " after the passage of this act
after," and insert " after public notice in the newspapers," so
as to read " shall be filed within sixty days after public notice in
the newspapers of the judgment of confiscation.
'9 ,
66
Favorably as to the bill to increase the fees of the several offi¬
cers of the several counties in the State.
Favorably on the bill entitled an act to amend the Charter of
the Alabama and Florida Railroad Company, with an amend¬
ment in the first section, so as to insert after the words " said
Railroad Company shall have power" "with the assent of theStock-
holders in general meeting" to aid in the construction, &c.
Favorably on the bill to be entitled an act amending the Char¬
ter of the City of Pensacola, with an amendment as to the sec¬
ond section after the words " authorized to perform," strike out
the words " all the duties appertaining to said office as prescribed
in the Charter of said City," and insert, " such duties appertain¬
ing to said oifice as may be required to protect theinterets of the
said City in this emergency," and to strike out the 9th, 10th, 11th
and 12 th sections, of said bill.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
THOMAS BALTZELL Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
orders of the day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize Banks in the State of ]
Morida to issue change bills,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
Corporations.
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish the planting
and cultivating in the State of Florida over a certain quantity of
land in cotton during the present war,
Was read the second time, and on motion ol Mr. Baltzell, re¬
ferred to the committee of the whole House on Tuesday next,
and »0 copies ordered to be printed.
A bill to be entitled an act for the protection of the stock of
citizens in the counties of Lafayette, Taylor and Levy,
Was read the second time,
Mr. Overstreet moved to amend the bill by adding the coun¬
ties of Orange and Brevard ;
Which was agreed to.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading
on Monday next.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of James W. Johnson
of Taylor county,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on Monday next.
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent the distilling of spirituous
iiquors in this State,
67
Was read the second time and referred to the Judiciary Com¬
mittee.
The rule being waived, Mr. Baltzell offered the following res¬
olution :
ResolvecTby the Senate and House of Representatives of the
State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That the Gov¬
ernor be and he is hereby authorized and requested to take early
and immediate measures for the establishment of a Hospital in
the West, so as to give suitable and adequate relief to our sol¬
diers, and also to such of other States as may be in need of assis¬
tance ;
Which was read the first time, rule waived, read the second
time and referred t<5~the Committee on Propositions and Griev¬
ances.
A bill to be entitled an act to repeal an act entitled an act to
regulate trade and intercourse with the Indians,
Was read the second time, rule waived, read the third time by-
its title and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley,
Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Lee, Mo-
Gehee, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman,
Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross,
Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—37.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to change the place of hold¬
ing the Circuit Court for Putnam county,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Gree¬
ley, Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Lee, McGehee,
Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—36.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to legalize entries of public
lands made after the secession of Florida, and requiring the Re¬
ceivers to account for the monies received therefor.
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
68
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Dishong. Duval, Foy, Garnie, Greeley„
Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Lee, McGehee, Mett-
auer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhili,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—35.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act to change the county line dividing
the counties of Columbia and Suwannee,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading car
Monday next.
A bill to be entitled an act to require purchasers of public
lands to make payment therefor to the Treasurer,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to allow the Judges of the Cir¬
cuit Courts of this State to appoint Sheriffs in certain cases,
Was read the second time, and the amendment recommended',
by the Committee on the Judiciary adopted.
On motion, the rule was waived, and the bill read a third time
by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford Campbell, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley,.
Hannah,. Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Lee, Mc-
Gehee/Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman,.
Polhili, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Rossg
Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—37.
Nays—None.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certifed to the Senate. v
A bill to be entitled an act increasing the fees of county officers,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Pittman offered the following amendment:
Provided, in no case shall any of the above officers be entitled
to the provisions of this act where he or they have been or are
now exempted from conscription by reason of Ms or their elec¬
tion or appointment to said office, or where he or they have bee®
discharged from the military service of the Confederate States
by reason of his or their appointment or election to any of said
offices;
Which was adopted.
Mr. McGehee moved to lay the bill on the table,
Which was agreed to.
'69
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the Ala¬
bama & Florida Railroad Company,
Was read the second time and on motion of Mr. Baltzell laid
on the table until Monday next. **
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the sixth section of an
/act to change the mode of selecting Grand and Petit Jurors iit
this"S'tate,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on Monday next.
A bill to be entitled an act requiring Sheriffs to give addition¬
al security in certain cases,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on Monday next.
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the City
of Pensacola,
Was read the second time, and on motion of Mr. Baltzell, laid
on the table qntil Monday neyt.
A bill to be entitled an act relatiing to property confiscated to
the use of the State,
Wat? read the second time, and on motion of Mr. Baltzell, laid,
on the table until Monday next.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Pol-
hill, the House adjourned until Monday morning 10 o'clock.
i •
MONDAY, November 23d, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
Mr. Williams in the Chair.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of Saturday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the journal approved.
The Speaker entered and took his seat.
Mr. Hannah moved, that Judge Baltzell be added, to the Com¬
mittee on Propositions and Grievances ;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Duval moved that Mr. Seward be excused from further at¬
tendance on this House until to-morrow;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Baltzell moved that the Committee on Propositions and.
Grievances have power to send for witnesses;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Baltzell moved that the Governor be requested to furnisfa
any additional information on the subject of Hospitals;
Which was agreed to.
70
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Price of Alachua introduced
the following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to encourage the raising of stock in
this State;
Which was received and placed among the orders of the day.
Mr. Gee presented the proceedings of a meeting of the cit¬
izens of Gadsden county, held on Saturday, November 7th, 1863 ;
Which was read, and on motion, laid on the table.
Mr. Baltzell offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improve¬
ment Fund inform this House to whom payments have been
made of $20,581, $105, $3,220, $9,000 and $3,220 on account of
the Pensacola & Georgia and Florida Railroads, and whether
the persons receiving the same were holders or owners of such
bonds. And whether the said Board holds the fund in their
charge subject to pay interest on bonds .when the principal, the
companies for which It assumes to be security, are fully solvent
and able to pay.
Which was adopted.
Mr. Pittman, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, made
the following report:
The Committee on Engrossed Bills, to whom was refei'red the
following bills report, that they have examined the same and find
them correctly engrossed ;
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the sixth section of an act
entitled an act to change the mode of selecting Grand and Petit
Jurors in this^State, approved February 8th, 1861 ;
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of James W. Johnson
of Taylor county;
A bill to be entitled ail act requiring Sheriffs to give additional
security in certain cases ; also,
A bill to be entitled an act for the protection of the stock of
citizens in the counties of Lafayette, Taylor, Levy, Orange and
Brevard.
F. R. PITTMAN, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Hannah, from the Committee on Claims, made the follow¬
ing report:
The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred a bill to be
entitled an act for the relief of Edward Jordan, Sheriff of Taylor
county, and a bill to. be entitled an act to entend the provisions
of an act for the relief of General Wm. E. Anderson and others,
approved Dec. 10th, 1862, respectfully report'that they have had
the same under consideration and recommend their passage.
TIIOS. HANNAH, Chairman pro tern.
71
Which was read and the accompanying bills placed among
the orders of the day.
Mr. Price, from the Committee on Corporations, made the fol¬
lowing report:
Your Committee, to whom was referred a bill to be entitled
an act to authorize the Banks in the State of Florida to issue
change bills, beg leave to report that they have had the same
under consideration and recommend its passage.
J. W. PRICE, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
The following message was received from the Senate :
Senate Chamber, )
November 21st, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir! The Senate has this day passed the following bill and res¬
olution, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to forfeited bonds of
criminals; and
House resolution asking the Governor not to license any more
distilleries until the further action of the Legislature.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the Senate bill placed among the orders
of the day and the House resolution ordered to be enrolled.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act to change the county line dividing
the counties of Columbia and Suwannee,
Was read the second time, rule waived, read the third time
by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Gee, Gree¬
ley, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson,
Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pitt-
man, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson,
Ross, Scott, Sessions, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—38.
Nays—None. i
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
72
A bill to be entitled an act relating to property confiscated to
the use of the State,
Was read the second time, and, on motion, the amendment
proposed by the Judiciary Committee, adopted.
Said bill was then ordered to be engrossed, as amended, for a
3hird reading on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the Ala¬
bama cfc Florida Railroad Company,
Was read the second time, and, on vnotion, the amendment
proposed by the Judiciary Committee, adopted.
Said bill was then ordered to be engrossed, as amended, for a
third reading on to-morrow.
The rule being waived, Mr. Greeley introduced, without pre¬
vious notice, the following bitf, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to raise the salary of the State
Treasurer; •
Which was placed among the" orders of the day.
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the charter of the cit'y of
Pensacola,
Was read the second time, and, on motion, the first amend-
• mnnt proposed by the Judiciary Committee, adopted.
Pending the adoption of the second amendment proposed by
the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Avery offered the following:
That the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th sections be separated from
the bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the City of
Pensacola and be presented in a separate bill.
The Speaker decided the 'motion to be out of order, it being
contrary to Parliamentary usage.
Mr. Avery appeafed from the decision of the Chair.
Upon putting the question " shall the decision of the Chair be
sustained," the vote was in the affirmative.
The second amendment proposed by the Judiciary Committee
was then adopted, and the bill ordered to be engrossed, as
amended, for a third reading on to-morrow.
.V bill to be entitled an act to authorize the Banks of this State
to issue change bills,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Edward Jordan,
Sheriff of Taylor county,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morroW.
A hill to be entitled an act to extend the provisions of an act
entitled an act for the relief of Gen. Win. E. Anderson and oth¬
ers, approved December 10,1863,
73
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act for the protection of the
stock of citizens in the counties of Lafayette, Taylor, Levy, Or¬
ange and Brevard,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie,
Gee, Greeley, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jackson, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Over-
street, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Smith, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—39.
Nays—none. ' .
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to amend the sixth section
of an act entitled an act to change the mode of selecting Grand
and Petit Jurors in this State, approved February 8, 1861,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie,
Gee, Greeley, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jackson, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn
—38.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act requiring Sheriffs to give
additional security in certain gases,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vot%was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie,
Gee, Greeley, Hannah, Hendry, Henry Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jackson, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Scott, Sessions, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—37.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
10
74
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act for the relief of James W.
Johnson, of Taylor county,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie,,
Gee, Greeley, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jackson, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Smith, Thoma,s, Williams and Wynn.
—38.
Nays—None A
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act to. raise the salary of the State-
Treasurer,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act in relation to forfeited bonds
of criminals,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The following communication was received from the Senate :
Senate Chambee, )
Tallahassee, November 23d, 1863. }
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
Sir : The Senate has this day refused to concur in the House
amendment to Senate bill to allow the Judges of the Circuit
Courts of this State to appoint Sheriffs in Certain cases.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read, and on motion, the House refund to recede
from its amendment.
Ordered that the "same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act to encourage the raising of stock in
this State,
Was read the first time, and on motion, laid on the table.
The following communication was received from his Excellen¬
cy, the Governor:
75
Executive Chamber, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 23rd, 1863. j
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and
House of Representatives:
I have no reason to believe that any appeal has ever been made
to the authorities or citizens of the State, to supply or aid in sup¬
plying subsistence to the armies in the Confederate service, or to
sustain the Confederate Government by taxation or otherwise, that
has not been promptly responded to. In proportion to her popula¬
tion, resources and means of transportation, no State has afforded a
greater number of gallant men in military service; more grain,
beef, syrup, sugar, wool, leather, &c., to maintain the Government,
than has Florida; nor has any restraint by State authority been
placed on the trade or exchange of commodities for the accommo¬
dation of citizens of other States. It is not claimed that Florida
has done more than h6r duty to the Government and to her sister
States, but she has performed that duty cheerfully, and with the noble
spirit which should animate a brave and christian people. It is
possible, that in some few instances, individuals may not have heed¬
ed the calls made upon them—calls made by those whom they did
not believe authorized to purchase provisions for the Government—
and for this there has been much reason. The press of this and
other States, for the protection of credulous and worthy citizens,
have made known the most shameless frauds, practiced by impos¬
tors, claiming to be officers or agents in Confederate service.
Now and then it has happened that gentlemeu in the Confeder¬
ate service, as officers, (and worthily so) have exceeded their author¬
ity, from a misapprehension of the orders of superior officers; and
now and then it has occurred, that general orders have been issued 1
which were not consistent with or justified by any act of Congress,
r&nd which orders having been enforced, proved to be unjust and op¬
pressive.
It affords me much pleasure, however, to inform your honorable
body, that the^President of the Confederate States and the distin¬
guished gentlemen, the heads of the different Departments, wbo
compose his Cabinet, have consistently acknowledged the right of
the States whenever their attention has been invited to interfer¬
ence with them ; nevertheless, in a few instances, insurmountable
obstacles have prevented a compliance with applications, the justice
and propriety of which were not disputed. Nor has Florida any
cause to complain of the distinguished officer who commands this
Military Department—for none is entitled to more of her confidence
and respect. But the multiplicity of important events of the war,
pressing on each other with rapid succession, and endangering more
important parts of the Confederac}7, makes it necessary that Florida
76
should not exclusively depend upon the .Confederate authorities for
the civil, religious and political rights of her citizens, and that the
State Government, whenever at all necessary, should be sufficient in
itself to protect the rights of her citizens and shield them from op¬
pression.
As the Executive of the State, I feel it my duty to invite your at
tention to matters of recent occurrence, which threaten to result
disastrously to the welfare of the citizens and the peace and digni
ty of the State, if no preventive measures shall be promptly adop¬
ted and authority given, by suitable legislation, to prevent their' re¬
currence.
Within the last few days, notices have been served upon many
citizens of this and o#ier counties of the State, of a like character
or similar to the following, viz:
" Office District Commissary, )
Second District, Tallahassee, Fla., >
November , 1863. )
Mr. G. D. Chaires :
Sir: The head of beeves and pounds of bacon which you now
have on hand is needed for the use of the armies of the Confed¬
erate States. For this purpose I will pay you at the rate of
schedule price per .
If this price is not satisfactory, to you, compensation for the
property will be made according to the act of Congress passed
for the regulation of impressments; and you are hereby notified,
that, in pursuance of the provisions of said act, the Government
requires you to hold said property subject to my order, and not
to remove it until the business be concluded between us in terms
of the law in such case made and provided.
This notice is intended to be applied to all bacon and beeves,
any other article of subsistence required for the use of the
army in your possession, giving marks, description of packages,
and by whom owned, as in the event of your failure so to do, it
will become my duty to make the forcible search and seizure
authorized by law. _ p
By order of Major A. B. Noyes, District Commissary.
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
M. S. ELKIN,
/ Commissary Agent."
Your attention is particularly called to the phraseology of these
extraordinary and illegal notices. There is no legal authority to
justify the issue and service of these extraordinary notices.—
They are incompatible with the rights of the citizens and insult¬
ing to freemen who know their rights and have proved their loy¬
alty to the Government established by them. for the protection
77
of their rights. Could the ingenuity of man have framed an in¬
strument more directly, absolutely and completely opposed to
the plain, palpable and simple provisions of the 7th section of the
act of Congress regulating impressments ? The notice makes
no exceptions, makes no reservations; all is to be held subject to
the order of the military dictator, and on refusal, the party is to
be subjected to a " forceable search and seizure," authorized by
no law, justified by no necessity, and which should be resisted at
every and any sacrifice—even that of life itself.
The 7th- section of the act of Congress regulating impress¬
ments is in these words, viz: " The property necessary for the
support of the. owner and, his family, and to carry on his ordinary
agricultural and mechanical business, to be ascertained by the
appraisers, to be appointed as provided in the first section of this
act, under oath, shall not be taken or impressed for the public
use; and when the impressing officer and the owner cannot agree
as to the quantity of property necessary, as aforesaid, then the
decision of the said appraisers shall be binding on the officer and
all other persons." Can anything be plainer ? Can language be
more simple, more explicit? "The property necessary for the
support of the owner and his family," &c., &c., " shall not be
taken or impresssd for the public use," says the act of Congsess.
" All bacon and beeves, any other article of subsistence required
for the use of the army in your possession," says the notice.
In the Quincy Dispatch of the 21st instant, the following ap¬
pears :
circular."
Head-Quarters, )
Department West Florida, V
Quincy, Nov. 20, 1863. )
Commanders of posts are hereby instructed to give all the aid
in their power to the Commissaries and theiv agents throughout
this District in the impressment of subsistence stores. They
will grant such details as may be required by the Commissaries
or their agents in the procuring of subsistence, and ;will furnish
a guard, whenever necessary, to protect any subsistence stores
which may be seized for use of the Government. They will in¬
struct their commands accordingly.
By command of
Brig. Gen. GARDNER.
S. S. Carlisle, A. A. A. G.
Is there any law which authorizes an officer in the Commissary
Department to employ a civil officer of the State, or to use a
private citizen, in making impressments ?—or is there any good
78
reason why a citizen, liable to conscription, who would be will¬
ing to be such an agent, should not be mustered into the military-
service of the Confederate States and placed in the ranks with a
musket at his shoulder ? Why should any citizen be clothed with
military authority which would enable him to intrude himself
into the sacred precincts of the family circle, and when reproved
or repulsed for his intrusion, then, with an armed force at his
back, to return and make unlawful searches and seizures ?
Is there any act of Congress which can justify such extraordi¬
nary measures ? Has Congress the constitutional right to au¬
thorize such proceedings ? If nay, is it then to be considered' as
a right incidental to the military power of a Government, design¬
ed for the protection of civil liberty by the guarantees of a Con¬
stitution regarded as a compact between free, sovereign and in¬
dependent States ?
Congress eannot rightfully exercise any power not granted by
the Constitution; nor should any Department of the Government
be permitted to do so, without respectful complaint and, if need
be, determined resistance. The Constitution should be respect¬
ed and uncompromisingly maintained as 'the ark of our political
and the Palladium of our religious, civil and personal liberties.
It is painful to me to believe, and to express the opinion, that
there exists a necessity for the interposition of State authority to
protect the rights, lives and liberty of the citizens against the
military orders of Confederate officers for whom personally I en¬
tertain the kindest feelings and utmost respect. But I would be
recreant to the high trust confided to me by the citizens of Flor¬
ida, if I were to hesitate a moment in the defence of their rights,
when I believe them in jeopardy.
Where is the propriety of any legislation on the part of your
honorable body to provide for the support of the families of your
brave fellow-citizens, who, while in arms to defend your rights,
have entrusted their wives, children and aged mothers to the
care and protection of the authorities of the State, and of you, their
fellow-citizens, if you shall permit aii order to be enforced which
deprives them of the only means of support, when by suitable
legislation, it may and should be prevented? If the order shall
be enforced upon the notices given, jiow can the families of the
soldiers—how can unfortunate citizens driven from their homes
and dependent upon your hospitality—how can citizens not en¬
gaged in agricultural pursuits or in military service—be saved
from starvation ? Shall the planters of Florida " crook the preg¬
nant hinges of the knee " to the military authorities for the hum¬
ble privilege of saving, by the fiffiits of their own industry, the
families of the soldiers and their unfortunate fellow-citizens from
starvation.?
79
May God forbid that any citizen of Florida who commands
the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens should be so lost
to the genial influences of patriotism and Christianity as ever to
hesitate a moment to offer his last cent, and with it, if need be,
his life, to sustain the Confederate authorities in appropriate ef¬
forts to supply the wauts of the noble armies now struggling to
achieye the independence of the Confederate States, and thus, by
the only means, save the people from subjugation, utter ruin and
final disgrace, or hesitate a moment to divide his last grain of corn
or ounce of meat with the soldiers' family or any patriotic citi¬
zen driven penniless from home by the enemy! And may He,
also, in the exercise of infinite mercy, forbid that any citizen of
Florida should ever be so base and cowardly as to yield willing¬
ly to any Government, or to any usurpation of power, the means of
depriving'him vi et armis of the most sacred rights guaranteed
by the Constitution and intrusted to worthy descendents pf the
" sires of the American revolution," rather than to meet death
without fear in their vindication.
I have unlimited confidence in the wisdom and integrity of the
Confederate Government, when justly administered; but, at the
same time, can only*be sensible of its appropriate influence in the
maintenance of the sovereignty of the (States. Better that Flor¬
ida should be a waste of flowers, enriched with the blood of her
brave citizens, than to be inhabited by them as slaves or willing
to be slaves.
I recommend to your honorable body to enact promptly a law
which will protect the rights of the citizens and punish severely
any person who may illegally interfere with them.
I have the honor to be, respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
Which was read, and on motion, referred to a committee of
three, consisting of Messrs. McGehee, Bradford and Boss, to act
with a similar committee on the part of the Senate, a- a Joint
Select Committee, and 200 copies ordered to be printed for the
use of the House.
Mr.' Ross moved that the joint resolution, passed by both
Houses of the General Assembly, be rescinded so far as relates
to the adjournment of the General Assembly on Monday next;
Which was lost.
Mr. Duval asked to be excused from attendance on the House
for three days, in consequence of illness in his family ;
Which was granted.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Lee,
the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10 o' clock.
80
TUESDAY, November 24th, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a, quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with, and the journal approved.
On motion of Mr. Seward, Mr. Lee was excused from atten¬
dance on the House to-day.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Sessions introduced the fol¬
lowing bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to levy a. tax in kind for the relief
of soldiers' families aud wounded and disabled soldiers of this
State;
Which was received and placed among the orders of the day.
Mr. Polhill gave notice that he would on some future day ask
lea^e to introduce the following bill :
A bill to be entitled an act to repeal the law relative to the as--
sessment of taxes.
Mr. Baltzell offered the following resolutions:
Be it resolved by the Senate and Souse of liepresen tatives of
the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That to
supply the soldiers in the field and our armies now engaged in
the most desperate strife at a most critical period of the strug¬
gle, is the highest and most imperative duty, both of the Con¬
federate and State Governments/and of every loyal citizen; that
all should contribute in this emergency by voluntary contribution,
or by a warm, earnest and cordial support of the laws made to
that end, that the cause of our country may not be imperilled
for want of such support.
2nd. Besolved, That it is more particularly the duty of those
having large means and property, left at home for this very pur¬
pose, and who have a superfluity on hand, not to hold back, but
to come forth in a commendable spirit, that the confidence re¬
posed in them be not abused; and that they do not sell for spec¬
ulation for their own enrichment, but contribute a part to their
country, that all that is dear to them, their lives, liberty and
property, may be saved from the grasp of an insolent tyrant; that
any failure in this respect may expect neither smypathy, counte¬
nance nor support from this Legislature, but, on the contrary, the
severest condemnation and censure, and may make themselves
responsible for their country's ruin.
3rclm Besolved, That every law is liable to abuse, and whilst
every violation of it for improper purposes should meet with
prompt resistance and exposure, yet that this by no means estab-
tablishes the impropriety of the law which contemplates no such
result, and is not rightly ameanable for such abuse. That in this
81
instance, as well as all others of asserted improper action by the
Confederate authorities, the proper corrective is by application
•and remonstrance to the heads of that government under which
r fchey bold their office.
4th. Resolved, That we have the most entire confidence in the
wisdom, integrity and patriotism of the venerated Chief Magis¬
trate Jefferson Dayis, and entertain the fullest conviction that
with proper representations and exposure of the alleged miscon¬
duct complained of, the appropriate remedy will be cheerfully
and satisfactorily applied.
5th. Resolved', That we deprecate all and every action, how¬
ever well meant, on the part of the State officers, calculated to
embarrass the Confederate Government in its proper functions,
and that the Legislature pledge themselves to the support, not
only of this, but of other laws within the rightful province of the
■ Confederate Congress.
6th. Resolved, That the Committee charged with the Gov-
• ernor's Message on this subject, on yesterday, be discharged from
the further consideration of the subject.
Whieh were received and read and placed among the orders of
the day.
Mr. Hampton, from the Committee on Claims, made the follow¬
ing report:
Your committee, to whom was referred a bill to be entitled, an
act for the relief of certain persons therein named, have had the
same under consideration, and beg leave to report, that they find
the claims just, so far as appears before them, and suggest that
the accompanying bill be substituted for the original bill, and re¬
commend its passage.
A. Y. HAMPTON, Chm'n.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
The Clerk submitted the following statement, called for under
motion of Mr. Avery on Saturday last:
List of Counties and Senatorial Districts, with the names of the
Senators and Members representing each, made and printed
by order of the House.
senators.
1st District.—Escambia county, James Abercrombie.
2nd. Santa Rosa, E. C. Cater.
3rd. Walton, J. D. Clary.
4th. Washington and Holmes, William Jones.
5th. Franklin and Calhoun, D. P. Holland.
11
82
6th. Jackson, Jesse Norwood.
7th. Gadsden and Liberty, A. K. Allison, not present.
8th. Leon, D. P. Hogue.
9th. "Wakulla, J. P. Carter.
10th. Jefferson, J. S. Russell.
' 11th. Madison, Taylor and Lafayette, E. J. Yann.
12th. Hamilton, J. B. Smith.
13th. Columbia, Bradford, Baker and Suwannee, J. L. King;
14th. Alachua, J. M. Arnow.
15th. Nassau, J. G. Cooper.
16th. Duval and Clay, Edward Hopkins.
17th. St. Johns and Putnam, T. T. Russell.
18th. Marion, J. Scott.
19th. Orange, Yolusia and Brevard, W. C. Roper.
20th. Hernando, Hillsborough, Polk, Sumter and Manatee,
J. M. Taylor.
21st. Monroe and Dade, J. P. Baldwin, not present.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Escambia county, O. M. Avery.
Santa Rosa, James M. Amos.
Jackson, Felix Leslie, F. R. Pittman and W. B. Wynn.
Franklin, T. J. Eppes.
Holmes, Moses Hewett.
Walton, J. L. Campbell.
Washington, T. Hannah.
Calhoun, J. P. Atkins, not present.
Liberty, T. D. Nixon.
Gansden, T. Y. Henry, W. H. Gee and N. T. Scott.
Leon, Thos. Baltzell, R. H. Bradford, Alex. Cromartie and Jo¬
seph Jno. Williams.
Wakulla, E. M. Mettauer.
Jefferson, W. H. Arendell, J. Y. Jones and G. W. Blackburn.
Madison, A. Y. Hampton.
Lafayette, T. J. McGehee.
Taylor, Neil Hendry.
Suwannee, S. R. Sessions.
Hamilton, A. J. Polhilh
Columbia, Joseph Price and W. B. Ross.
Nassau, T. J. W. Higginbotham.
Duval, I. Y. Garnie. "
St. Johns, L. Andreu, not present.
Putnam, J. C. Greeley.
Alachua, J. W. Price.
Marion, J. N. Foy and R. T. H. Thomas.
83
Levy, John F. Jackson.
Hernando, C. T. Jenkins, not present.
Hillsborough, Lewis Dishong.
Sumter, J. A. Lee.
Volusia, A. Richardson.
Brevard, Henry Overstreet.
Orange, David Mizell.
Manatee, W. T. Duval.
Polk, II. J. Seward.
Monroe, Asa Tift, not present.
Dade, not represented.
Clay, John G. Smith.
Bradford and Baker, W. C. Newbern.
Mr. Pittman, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, made the
following report:
The committee on Engrossed Bills, to whom was referred the
following bills, report that they have examined the same and find
them correctly engrossed:
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the City
of Pensacola;
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the Ala¬
bama & Florida Railroad Company ;
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Edward Jordan,
Sheriff of Taylor county;
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize Banks in this. State to
issue change bills;
. A bill to be entitled an act to extend the provisions of an act
entitled an act for the relief of General William E. Anderson and
others, approved Dec. 10th, 1862 ; and
A bill to be entitled an act relating to property confiscated to
the use of the State.
F. R. PITTMAN", Chairman.
Which was received and read, and the bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Avery, from the Joint and Select Committee, appointed to
report a bill providing for the ample support and maintenance of
families of soldiers who require assistance, &c., made the follow¬
ing report:
To the Senate and House of Representatives
of the State of Florida:
The undersigned, majority of the Joint and Select Committee
appointed by the Senate and House of Representatives to report
a bill providing for the ample support and maintenance of fami¬
lies of soldiers who require assistance, and those who died in
8 4
battle, or who have died from disease, or who by wounds or dis¬
ease are incapable of rendering military service, and that said bill
provide for all indigent persons in this State, beg leave to
REPORT:
That after much labor and careful investigation of the whole
subject referred to them, they have prepared the bill annexed
herewith; that they find that to guard the Treasury from furnish¬
ing aid to persons not contemplated by law, and to furnish the
required assistance to those wThom the law should provide for,
that the bill prepared by them is absolutely necessary. The prin¬
ciple upon which it is drafted is, that all property should furnish
the necessary aid ; that law is required not to reach him who will
voluntarily give, but the avaricious, the pernicious, the extortion¬
er, the disaffected, the blockade and the estates in law and equity.
They annex to this report the amount of relief furnished to the
several counties and the number of persons levied in each county
by the law passed at the last session. This will exhibit the neces¬
sity of a change acquired and the recommendation of the Gover¬
nor in his message. Your Committee have sent the bill prepared
by them to the Senate, from whence the resolution emanated, and
they recommend its passage. They return the bills on this sub¬
ject referred to them, and recommend that they do not pass.—
Your committee see no necessity for the passage of a special bib
for Leon county, as the committee bill provides the same print
ciple contained in the bill for Leon county.
Your committee recommend that 80 copies of said bill and
annexed statement or report be printed for the use of the Gener¬
al Assemby.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
D. P. HOLLANDr
Chairman Senate Committee..
THOS. J. RUSSELL.
O. M. AVERY,
Chairman House Committee.
WM. B. ROSS,
A. Y. HAMPTON.
Which was read.
Mr. Pittman, from the Joint and Select Committee on books
and accounts of the Comptroller and Treasurer, under resolution
of last session of the General Assembly, made the following re-
poi't:
To the Senate and House of Representatives
of the State of Florida:
The Joint Committee appointed by the presiding officers of
85
the Senate and House of Representatives of the last General As¬
sembly of the State of Florida, under resolution of the same,
approved December the 15th, 1862, providing for a Committee
of three from each House, whose duty it should be to meet at
the Capitol, on the first Monday in November inst., for the pur¬
pose of examining the books, accounts and other matters of the
Comptroller's and Treasurer's office which, in their opinion,
necessarily appertained to a proper understanding of such books
and accounts, and making it the duty of said Committee to make
a report of their examination to the present General Assembly,
beg leave to
REPORT,
That they met in pursuance of the resolution under which
they were appointed, and submit the following as the result of
their investigation :
By reference to the resolution under awhich your Committee
were appointed, it will readily appear that the resolution is com¬
prehensive in the extreme, and, perhaps, in this respect, defec¬
tive. There being no specific duties pointed out to your Com¬
mittee by the resolution itself, they have been necessarily com¬
pelled to decide for themselves some course for their government
in the extent of their labors, as it would perhaps require months
to make a thorough examination of all the matters pertaining to
those offices which might be necessary to a proper understand¬
ing of the same. Your Committee, however, have given such
attention to the most important matters pertaining to these of¬
fices as the time allowed and the evidence before them wonld
permit.
Your Committee have carefully examined the Comptroller's
and Treasurer's books, and report the same carefully kept and
supported by the proper vouchers. Your Committee further re¬
port, that in the investigation of the books and accounts belong¬
ing to those offices there appears to have been drawn out of those
offices by Ex-Gov. M. S. Perry, while Governor of the State,
from time to time, under various ordinances of the Convention
and acts of the General Assembly, the following sums, to wit:
From the Treasurer's office, Virginia and North Carolina bonds,
forty-one thousand dollars; of Virginia, North Carolina and
Georgia bonds, forty-eight thousand dollars; of State bpnds, fif¬
ty thousand dollars; treasury notes, eighteen thousand dollars ;
State Bank of Florida, ten thousand dollars; check on Charleston,
ten thousand five hundred dollars; check on N. Y., two thousand
dollars; from Gen'l Joseph E. Finegan, since paid by the State,
five thousand one hundred and sixty-six 65-100 dollars, making,
86
in the aggregate, the sum of one hundred and eighty-four thou¬
sand seven hundred and fifty-one dollars and sixty-five cents.
From the Comptroller's office, ten five hundred dollar 6 per¬
cent. stocks of Georgia, six one thousand dollar S. C. 6 per cent-
stocks, one fourteen hundred and ninety-two and 48-100 dollars.
S. C. 6 per cent, stocks, thirty one thousand dollar S. C. 6 per
cent stocks, thirty five hundred dollar Georgia 6 per cent, stocks,,
making, in the aggregate, the sum of fifty-seven thousand four-
hundred and ninety-two and 45-100 dollars, and making the sum
total from the two offices two hundred and forty-two thousand
two hundred and forty-four dollars ajid ten cents. Of these
sums Gov. Perry has credits in the Treasurer's office amounting
to twenty-nine thousand five hundred dollars, bonds returned;,
and, in the Comptroller's office, he has vouchers which have been
allowed by the Comptroller the sum of one hundred and fifty-
seven thousand seven hundred and eighty-five dollars and eighty-
five cents, making, in the aggregate, accounted for, the sum of"
one hundred and eighty-seven thousand two hundred and eighty-
five dollars and eighty-five cents, leaving unsettled the sum of
fifty-four thousand nine hundred and fifty-eight dollars and
twenty-five cents, wffiich unsettled account has been referred to
a Special Committee for settlement, who have reported upon the
same.
Your Committee also report that they have examined the un¬
settled accounts of H. V. Snell, Q. M. G., and from the debits
in the Comptroller's office, together with his own acknowledge¬
ments, he appears to have received from the State the sum of
two hundred and fourteen thousand six hundred and twenty-five
dollars and fifteen cents, while he presents vouchers amounting
to the sum of two hundred and twenty-four thousand one hun¬
dred and ninety-three and 84-100 dollars, making an indebted¬
ness in his favor against the Slate (after deducting two hundred
and sixty-nine dollars and seventy-seven cents for an error which
your Committee detected in the additions of his vouchers in fa¬
vor of himself) of eight thousand two hundred and ninety-eight
and 92-100 dollars.
Since, however, your Committee examined the debits and
vouchers-of Q. M. Snell, your Committee have learned from the
vouchers of Ex-Gov. Perry that he has 'Q. M. Snell charged with .
four thousand dollars more than Appears against him by the debits
and acknowledgements in the Comptroller's office, which would
leave an indebtedness on the part of the State to Q. M. Snell of
the sum of four thousand two hundred and ninety-eight dollars
and ninety-two cents.
The account of Q. M. Snell, however, are yet unsettled, and
aaust remain so until a full settlement is had with Gov. Perry, at.
87
least, of all the money transactions between him and Q. M. Snell.
Your Committee would further report, that there appears from
an acknowledgement of John W. Pearson, special agent to set¬
tle claims against the State arising under the Indian difficulties
of 1856, remaining since the year 1859 in his hands, belonging
to the State, the sum of twenty-eight thousand six hundred and
eighty-four dollars. Your Committee are informed by the Comp-*
troller, that he has called upon Mr. Pearson for a settlement,,
which he has never made.
Your Committee would also state, for your information, that
among the vouchers of Q. M. Snell, which has been allowed by
the Comptroller, there is one of eleven thousand four hundred
dollars, paid to R. C. Williams, paymaster, which your Commit¬
tee are informed R. C. Williams has never accounted foP, either
to Q. M. Snell or the Comptroller.
Your Committee further report, that they examined the ac¬
counts of Dr. John W. Eppes, former paymaster, and find that
he has accounted for all monies received by him, excepting about
five hundred dollars, for which he has vouchers, but which the
Comptroller has refused to audit and allow in consequence of the
same not being receipted by the parties from whom they were
obtained.
Your Committee have thought it not improper, in this connec¬
tion, to call the attention of the General Assembly to the careless
and unguarded manner in which Tax-Assessors and Collectors in
this State discharged the duties required of them by law, as well
-as the inadequacy of the laws upon that subject ; and also the
•necessity of passing some law which will enable the Comptroller
to compel more prompt action on the part of Solicitors when
claims a^aingt any defaulting officer are placed in their hands.
The entire tax of Alachua county, for the year 1855, remains
•open, there being no report of the same ever having been assessed
or collected; and in several of the counties there has been no re¬
port from the Tax-Assessor or Collector for two or three years;
and this does not include counties which have been exempted
from taxation by reason of their occupancy by the enemy.
In conclusion, your Committee herewith submit the following
bills for your consideration.
AH of which is respectfully submitted.
JESSE NORWOOD,
Chairman Senate Committee.
D. P. IIOGUE,
JAMES G. COOPER.
F. R. PITTMAN,
Ch'n pro tern. House Committee.
88
Which was received and read.
The following message was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
November 23d, 1863. J
|Ion. Thomas J. Eppes :
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend ordinance No. 53 of the
Convention, in relation to soldiers voting.
Yery respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEjHTJRST,
Sec'y of the Senate.
Whiqh was read and the bill ordered to be enrolled.
Also the following:
Senate Chamber, )
November 23, 1863. )
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act to
provide for an additional issue of Treasury Notes.
Yery respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following:
Senate Chamber, )
November 23rd, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
Senate bill to be entitled an act authorizing publication to be
made out of the State of sales by administrators and executors
in certain cases.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Sec'y of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following:
89
Senate Chamber, )
November 23rd, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
Sir The Senate has this day passed the following bill and
resolution, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to change the place of holding
Circuit Court for Putnam county ; and
House resolution relative to the appointment of agent for sol¬
diers' families in the counties of Escambia and Santa Rosa.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill and resolution dr-
dered to be enrolled.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish the planting
and cultivation, in the State of Florida, over a certain quantity of
land in cotton during the present war,
Was read the second time, and the House resolved itself into
a committee of the whole for the consideration of said bill—Mr.
Baltzell in.the Chair.
After some time spent therein, the committee rose, and, through
their Chairman, reported the bilfback to the House with amend¬
ments.
On motion, the report of the committee of the whole was re¬
ceived and the bill ordered to be engrossed as amended for a
third reading on to-morrow.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
the House that they had been appointed to act with a similar
committee on the part of the House as a committee of conference
on the House amendment to Senate bill to be entitled an act to
allow the Judges of the Circuit Court of this State to appoint
Sheriffs in certain cases.
A bill to be entitled an act to raise the salary of the State
Treasurer,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Bradford offered the following amendment:
Sec. 2. Be itfurtKer enacted, That the Attorney General and
elerk in the office of the Register of Public Lands shall receive
three hundred dollars in addition to the compensation now al¬
lowed by law, and the private secretary of the Governor shall
12
90
receive four hundred dollars in addition to the compensation now
allowed him by law.
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Henry offered the following amendment:
And that the-Solicitors of the several Circuits receive two
hundred dollars in addition to their present salary ;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Foy moved the indefinite postponement of the hill;
Which was not agreed to.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed, as amended, for a
third reading on to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act in relation to forfeited bonds
of criminals,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
A bill to be entitled an act providing for the payment of cer¬
tain claims against the State,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act relating to property confis¬
cated to the use of the State,
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas;—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Gree^
ley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jackson, Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell, Hewbern,
Hixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Rolhill, Price of Alachua, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith,
Thomas, Williams and Wynn—41.
Hays—Hone.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act~to authorize Banks in the
State of Florida to issue change bills,
Was read the third time.
The rules being waived, Mr. Williams moved that the bill be
placed back upon its second reading ;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Williams then offered the following amendment:
Provided, That no Banks shall issue more than one dollar in
such change bills tor every five dollars they are authorized to is¬
sue under their respective charters ;
Which was adopted.
The bill was then ordered to be re-engrossed for a third read¬
ing on to-morrow.
91
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to extend the provisions
of an act entitled an act for tbe relief of Gen. Wm. E. Anderson
and others, approved December 10th, 1862.
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
-Jones, Leslie, McGehee,Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Over-
street, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas,
Williams and Wynn—39.
Nay—Mr. Jackson—1.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of
the Alabama & Florida Railroad Company,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
Thefvote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Met-
tauer Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Sessions, Smith, Thomas and Williams—35.
Nays—Messrs. Gee, Higginbotham and Seward—3.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
..Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of
the City of Pensac< la, •>
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell,. Black¬
burn, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Jackson, Jones, Leslie, McGehee,
Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith and Thomas—34.
]sj"ayS—Messrs. Foy, Gee, Henry and Higginbotham—4.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Edwrnrd
Jordan, Sheriff of Taylor county,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
92
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry,Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones,
Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittman, Polh.il!, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams
and Wynn—39.
Nays—None.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act to levy a tax in kind for the relief
of soldiers' families and wounded and disabled soldiers of this
State,
Was read the first time and, on motion of Mr. Williams, passed
over informally for the present.
Senate bill to be entitled an act authorizing publication €o be
made out of the State of sales by administrators and executors
in certain cases,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
times by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hamp¬
ton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Ja'ckson,
Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Over-
street, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Wil¬
liams and Wynn—10.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act
to provide for an additional issue of Treasury Notes,
Was .read the first time and oi'dered for a second reading on
to-inorrow.
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize the Comptroller to set¬
tle the accounts of Ex-Gov. M. S. Pei'ry with the State,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The rule being waived, Mr. Wynn, from the Committee on
Confederate relations, made the following report:
The Committee on Confederate Relations beg leave to report
as follows:
Whereas, The principles of civil liberty transmitted to us by
our fathers are of paramount importance to the people of this
State, and are consecrated to us not only by our own experi¬
ence of their dignity and worth, tut by the approval of the
93
great and wise men who stand pre-eminent in the admiration
and esteem of mankind; and that the continued inculcation of
those precepts is highly important to us as the citizens of a
sovereignty; therefore—
Me it resolved by the Senate and House'of Representatives of
the State of Florida in General Assembly convened. That the
civil authority is the supreme and paramount power in this State,
to which the military authority is in all cases strictly and abso¬
lutely subordinate. That all laws, both civil or military, derive
their just and only wise interpretation through the judicial tribu¬
nals of the State and Confederate Governments, each acting in
their own prescribed spheres. That the General Assembly of
this State, while deeply sensible of its obligations to the Confed¬
erate Government, recognize no poAver or authority supreme
over it in the discharge of its lawful and recognized duties in the
making of such laws as are necessary for the Avell being and pro¬
tection of the people of the State of Florida. • That this General
Assembly, in the name of the people of Florida and of their
sovereignty, expresses its profound disapproval and censure of
all officers in the military service who are forgetful that the ten¬
ure of their authority is derived from the will of the people ex¬
pressed through the forms of civil law, and will tolerate no as¬
sumption of arbitrary authority within her limits.
Signed.
WM. B. WYNN, Chairman,
WM. B. ROSS,
MOSES IIEWETT,
JAS. Y. JONES.
Which Avas read and the accompanying preamble and resolu¬
tion placed among the orders ot the day.
The rule being Vaived, Mr. Wynn introduced, without pre¬
vious notice, the folioAving bill:
A bill to be entitled an act relative to interest on judge¬
ments ;
Which Avas received and placed among the orders of the day.
The rule being Avaived, Mr. Hampton introduced a resolution
relative to tax in kind ;
Which Avas read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act relative to interest on judgments,
Was' read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
Mr. Price, of Alachua, moved to adjourn until to-morrow morn¬
ing, 10 o'clock;
Which was not agreed to.
94
Mr. Jacksou moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow
morning, 9|- o'clock ;
Which was not agreed to.
The rule being waived, Mr. Newbern introduced, without pre¬
vious notice, the followiug bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to organize a new Senatorial dis¬
tinct, composed of the counties of Bradford and Baker, in this
State;
Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
On motion of Mr. McGehee, the House took a recess until 3£
o'clock, P. M.
HALF-PAST THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum present.
The orders of the day were resumed.
The following communication was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
November 24th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir The Senate has this day reconsidered, and passed with
amendment, the following bill,.viz:
A bill to be entitled on act for the protection of cattle owners
in the counties of Levy, Lafayette, Taylor, Alachua, Wakulla*
and Duval.
Vei;v respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read, and on motion, the Senate amendment con¬
curred in, and the bill ordered tb ba enrolled.
Also the following:
Senate Chamber, )
» November 24th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following resolution:
Resolution in relation to Richard E. Frier, &c.
Very respectfully
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
95
Which was read and the resolution placed among the orders
of the day.
Senate resolution in relation to Richard E. Frier,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The following communication was received from the State
Treasurer:
Treasury Department, Treasury Office, }
^Tallahassee, Fla., November 24, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Fppes, Speaker:
Sir : I am requested by the Board of Trustees to furnish in¬
formation relative to the payment of certain sums to railroads
referred to in Mr. Baltzell's resolution of yesterday.
The items of $20,381.75 and $3,220 have been paid under the
11th section of the Internal Improvement law, which requires
that the Railroad Companies shall pay to the Internal Improve¬
ment Fund fifty per cent, of their net earnings every six months,
and that the Trustees shall apply the amounts to the payment
of the interest of any bond issued by said Companies. It
will be observed by my report that the Pensacola and Geor¬
gia Railroad Company paid in $20,550.61 on her net earn¬
ings account at the time the payment of $20,581.75 was
made to her, for interest, and that the Florida Railroad Company
paid*$3,197.65 at the time of the $3,220 payment to her.
The'items of $105, $9,000.25 and $2,450 have been paid by
action of the Board under the same general law requiring pay¬
ment of interest upon the bonds of the several railroads, and the
parties before the Board representing the bondholders have been
Presidents and Treasurers of the Railroad Companies.
Respectfully,
C. H. AUSTIN,
Treas. Bd. Int. Imp. Fund.
Which was read.
The followm g message was received from his Excellency the
Governor:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 24th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : I respectfully recommend the following nominations for
the advice and consent of the General Assembly, viz:
Madison Post, Auctioneer for Hillsborough* county.
William M. Duke, Auctioneer for Columbia county.
Samuel Conden, Auctioneer for Levy county.
98
WEDNESDAY, November 25th, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion the reading of the Journals of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the Journal approved.
Mr. Hewett moved that Mr. Lee be excused from attendance
on the House for a few days, on account of sickness;
Which was granted.
Mr. McGehee moved that Mr. Polhill be excused from attend¬
ance on the House to-day;
Which was granted.
Mr. Greeley moved that the report of the committee, (who
were /appointed to examine Gov. Perry's accounts,) be recommit¬
ted to said committee; also that the report of the special commit¬
tee who-were appointed to examine the Treasurer's and Comp¬
troller's books, be recommitted to said committees, and the same
be required to act with a similar committee appointed by the
Senate, to adjust the difference between the two reports of Gov.
Perry's accounts;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Hampton moved that Mi-. Whitehurst, Messenger, be ex¬
cused for a few days, on account of ill health ;
Which was granted.
The rule being waived, th@ following bills were introduced
without previous notice, and placed among the orders of the day:
By Mr. Williams:
A bill to be entitled an act to increase the fees of the various
officers of this State.
By Mr. Newbern:
A bill to be entitled an act to repeal Ordinance No. 60, passed
by the Convention on the 27th day of January, 1S62.
By Mr. Pittman:
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to gaming.
By Mr. Jones:
A bill to be entitled an act to provide clothing for troops from
Florida in the service of the Confederate State; and,
A bill to be entitled an act to facilitate the transaction of busi¬
ness in the Quarter Master General's office.
Mr. Pittman, from the Committee on Engrossed Bids, made
the following report:
The Committee-on Engrossed Bills, report the following bills,
as correctly engrosse'd, viz :
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize Banks in the State of
Florida to issue change bills ;
99
A bill to be entitled an act providing for the payment of cer¬
tain claims against the State ;
A bill to be entitled an act to raise the salary of the State
Treasurer; and,
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish all persons
planting and cultivating in the State of Florida over a certain
quantity of land in cotton during the continuance of the present
war.
F. R. PITTMAN, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
orders of the day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act relative to interest on judgment,
Was read the second time and referred to the Judiciary Com¬
mittee.
Resolution relative to the civil authority of the State of Florida,
Was read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
-4 bill to be entitled an act to organize a new Senatorial Dis¬
trict composed, of the counties of Bradford and Baker in this
State,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
Propositions and Grievances.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act to provide for
an additional issue of Treasury notes,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
Finance and Public Accounts.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to authorize Banks in the
State Florida to issue change bills,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr# Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Les¬
lie, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pitt-
man, Price of Alachua,, Price of Columbia, Ross, Sessions, Sew¬
ard, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wyun—35.
Hays—Messrs. Blackburn, Gee, Jones, Richardson and Ross
—5.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate resolution in relation to Richard E. Frier,
Was read the second time.
96
Edward Bradford, Jr., Auctioneer for Leon county.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
Which was read and the nominations therein contained ad¬
vised and consented to.
Also the following:
Executive Chamebe, )
Tallahassee, Npvember 24th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes, -
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sie : Agreeably to a resolution passed by the House of Repre¬
sentatives, " that the Governor be requested to furnish to the
House any additional information on the subject, of Hospitals,"
I herewith submit copies of letters from the Rev. Wm. E. Ham¬
ilton, Col. Thos. T. Long and Dr. Thos. M. Palmer. Neither
the Rev. Wm. E. Hamilton or Col. Thos. T. Long was a special
agent to enquire into the necessity of establishing a hospital; bqt
I submit their opinions on the subject as worthy of consideration.
Mr. Hamilton visited the army with supplies contributed by
private citizens and as a mission of Christian charity, to adminis¬
ter to the wants of sick and wounded soldiers.
Col. Long, at the request of citizens in East Florida, made
known by him, was appointed an agent to take supplies furnished
by them to the soldiers in the several hospitals in Georgia, free
of expense to the State ; and was requested to confer with Messrs.
McNaught & Ormond, at Atlanta, and ascertain where and upon
what terms, a suitable building and furniture could be obtained,
and upon what terms, if it should be considered necessary, to
establish a hospital.
The Hon. J. vVayles Baker was appointed a special agent, to <
enquire into the propriety and necessity of establishing a hospi¬
tal, and also into the condition of soldiers from Florida, gener¬
ally, in the Western army; and provided with nUmey to supply
the necessities of any soldigr from the State who might need asv
sistance.
The continued ill health of Judge Baker has prevented him from
making a written report, but from conversations had by me with
him on the subject, I entertain no doubt that his report will be
entirely satisfactory on the subject. His report will, I presume,
be prepared and submitted to your consideration in a few daySj
and I may be permitted to express the hope, that no final action
will be had upon the subject by your honorable body until the
report to be made by Judge Baker shall be submitted to your
consideration.
97
No other State, if I am correctly informed, has a separate StatQ
Hospital—not even Georgia, with her wealth, and the war upon
her borders. The sick and wounded soldiers from each State
fighting in a common cause, have been the recipients of general
hospitality, and it has been deemed by me prudent to consider,
whether, under such circumstances, the establishment of a sepa¬
rate hospital for Florida troops, where they exclusively would
■enjoy the bountiful supplies forwarded from the State, would re¬
sult in benefit even to the soldiers themselves and might not be
a, reproach to the State.
Very respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
Which was read and ordered to be spread upon the journal.
[For Hospital Letters see Appendix.]
Also the following:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, Fla., Nov. 23, 1863. [
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:
• Enclosed I transmit the report of the Trustees of the Internal
Improvement Fund relative to the Indian River Canal, under
the provisions of the 5th section of the act approved December
10th, 1862, entitled "An act to repeal an act to facilitate the
construction of the St. Johns and Indian RiVer Canal, approved
January 1st, 1857, and for other purposes."
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Gov. and Pres't of Board Trus. of Int. Im. Fund.
Which was read and ordered to be spread upou the journal.
f[For Report of Trustees of Internal Improvement Fund see Ap¬
pendix.]
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills, beg leave to report the fol¬
lowing resolutions as correctly enrolled, viz:
Resolution asking the Governor not to license any more dis¬
tilleries until the further action of the Legislature; also,
Resolution of thanks to Gen. William Bailey and Dr. Henry
Bacon.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman.
Which was read.
On motion of Mr. Henry, the House adjourned until 10 o'clock,
to-morrow.
13
100
Mr. Williams moved to strike out the words M five hundred
dollars" and insert the words " three hundred dollars
Which was agreed to.
The resolution was then ordered for a third reading on to-moi*-
row.
Engrossed hill to be entitled an act providing for the payment;,
of certain claims against the State,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Gee, Greeley,,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Over-
street, Pittman, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—38.
Nays—Messrs. Foy and Jackson—2.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to raise the salary of the
State Treasurer,
Was read the third time aud put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton, Han¬
nah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Jones, McGeehee, Mettauer, Mi¬
zell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Price of Columbia, Scott, Ses¬
sions, Seward, Smith, Williams and Wynn—29.
Nays—Messrs. Blackburn, Foy, Gee, Higginbotham, Jackson,
Leslie, Pittman, Price of Alachua, Richardson, Ross and Thomas
—11.
So the bill passed.
Mr. Hamptou moved to amend the title of the bill by adding
the words " and other officers therein named
Which was agreed to.
The passage of the bill was then ordered to be certified to the
Senate.
The rule being waived, Mr. Wynn, from a Joint Select' Com¬
mittee, made the following minority report:
The undersigned, a member of the Joint Select Committee of
the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida,
to take into consideration the emergency of providing for the
indigent families of the brave and gallant soldiers who are doing
battle and suffering privations for our common country in the
trenches and fields of war far away from their homes, and to de¬
vise certain means for their most ample support during the ab-
101
sence of their natural protectors, and also for the protection from
want and penury of those who have been left helpless by thetn
who have spilled their blood and laid down their lives to obtain
our independence from a hated enemy, who wishes to crush and
subjugate, not only our lives and properties, but, what is dearer
to us than all, our sacred honors and that of those we hold most
dear to us, has taken the subject into his mature consideration,
and not assuming to himself more wisdom or patriotism than is
possessed by his honorable associates on the Committee, feels it
his individual duty to present the following minority
REPORT:
That, in his opinion, the bill presented by the majority of the
Committee is of too lengthy and complicated a nature to be un¬
derstood, and, much less, to be acted upon, by the persons who
are charged with the execution of its provisions. He further¬
more objects, that the bill provides for a separate Bureau or
Boai'd of Superintendents apart frqm any that now exists in the
State, all of whose officers are to receive salaries from this fund,
thereby absorbing a great portion of the means that we would
wish .to be applied to the noble object which was placed before
us for our considerations; and, at the same time, that exemp¬
tion from military duty in the field must be claimed for those
whose duty it will be to enforce the provisions of the act pro¬
posed. For the above reasons, he has dared to. dissent from the
majority of the Committee in their action, and respectfully sug¬
gests a bill, which he presents as a substitute for the one offered
to you, and hopes the Senate and the House will give it honora¬
ble consideration.
In the formation of the bill which he will present, he has more¬
over taken into consideration this principle, that he desires to re¬
mind you of, and on which the wisest and most prosperous na¬
tions of the earth of all ages have invariably formed their course
of action, and is this, that a nation who are battling for their
sovereign existence, and for an independence which is to secure
to its posterity the happiness of gentle peace and plenty, should
not be required, suffering as they are under the distresses and
pi'essures of war, to be subjected to all the burdens and taxations
which are caused for the consummation of a general and perma¬
nent prosperity.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. B. WYNN.
Which was read.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish all
persons planting and cultivating, in the'State of Florida, over a
102
certain quantity of land in cotton during the continuance of the
present war,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Messrs. Blackburn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie,
Dishong, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton, Hendry, Hewett, Higgin-
botham, Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Mettauer, Overstreet, Price'
of Columbia, Richardson, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith and
Williams—23.
Hays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Foy, Gee,
Hannah, Henry, Leslie, Mizell, Hewbern, Hixon, Pittman, Price
of Alachua, Ross, Thomas and Wynn—17.
So the bill passed.
Mr. Bradford moved to amend the title of the bill by inserting
the words " and tobacco" after the words " cotton ; "
Which was agreed to.
The passage of the bill was then ordered be certified to the
Senate.
The following bills were read the first time and ordered for a
second reading on to-morrow, viz : ' '
A bill to be entitled an act to provide clothing for troops from
Florida in the service of the Confederate States ;
A bill to be entitled an act Jo increase the fees of the various
officers of this State ;
A bill to be entitled an act to repeal ordintanee Ho. 60, passed
by the Convention on the 27th day of January, 1802 ;
A lull to be entitled an act to facilitate the transaction of busi¬
ness in the Quarter-Master General's office ; and
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to gaming in this State.
The following communication was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
Hovember 24fcli, 1863. .) .
Hoat. T. J. Eppes, -
Speaker of ike House of Representatives:
■Sir: The Senate has this day passed the following bills, viz:
Ho use bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the
City of Pensacola;
Ho use bill to be entitled an act to change the county line di¬
viding the counties of Columbia and Suwannee; also,
House bill to be entitled an act for the relief of James W.
Johnson of Taylor coimty.
Very respectfully,
JOHH B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary Senate.
103
Which was read and the accompanying bills ordered to be
enrolled.
The rule being waived, the following bill was introduced with¬
out previous notice, viz:
By Mr. Wynn:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of soldiers'.families,
Was read the first time and ordered fo1, a second reading on
to-morrow.,
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bids, made
tbe following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills, report the following bills
and resolution, as correctly enrolled, viz:
An act to amend Ordinance No. 53 of the Convention in rela¬
tion to soldiers voting;
An act to change the place of holding the Circuit Court for
Putnam county; and,
Resolution relating to the appointment of agent for soldiers*
families in the counties of Santa Rosa and Escambia.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman.
Which was read.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Price
of Alachua, the House adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow.
THURSDAY, November 26th, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the journal approved.
• Mr. Henry moved that Mr. Gee be excused from attendance
on the House to-day;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Ross moved that Mr. Sessions be excused from attendance
on the House until Monday next;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Avery moved that the Register of Public Lands be
requested to inform the House what number of acres of laud de¬
rived by the State from the Act of Secession were sold between
October 31st, 186£, aird the date of the suspension of sales under
the resolution of the General Assembly, approved Nov. 26th,
1862, and the amount received from said sales. Also the num¬
ber of acres of said land sold betweeu the time said lands were
again subject to entry and 31st Oct., 1863, and the amount re¬
ceived from said sales;
104
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Cromartie moved that a hill to he entitled an act to* en¬
courage the raising of sto'ck in this State be taken from the table
and placed among the orders of the day ;
Which was agreed to.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bill
at some future day, viz:
By Mr. Ross:
A bill to be entitled an act to compel the different Railroad
Companies to pay for stock killed by said Railroads in the dis¬
tricts where said stock was killed.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Henry introduced the follow¬
ing bill:
A bill to be entitled an act concerning roads and highways;
Which was received and pPced among the orders of the day.
Mr. Price, from the Committee on Finance and Public Ac¬
counts, made the following report:
The Committee on Finance and Public Accounts, to whom a
bill to be entitled an act to provide for an additional issue of
Treasury notes have been referred, beg leave to report that they
have had the same under consideration and recommend its pas¬
sage.
JOSEPH PRICE, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Hannah, from the Committee on Propositions and Grie¬
vances, made the following report:
The Committee on Propositions and Grievances, to whom was
referred a bill to be entitled an act to organize a new Senatorial
District composed of the counties of Bradford and Baker in this
State, having had the same under consideration and finding con¬
stitutional objections, beg leave to report the same back to the
House and recommend that the same do not pass.
THOS. HANNAH, Chairman.
Which was received and read.
Mr. Newbern asked to be allowed to withdraw the bill referred
to;
Which was granted.
The following communication was received from the Senate :
Senate Chamber, )
Tallahassee, November 24, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
Sir : The Senate has this'day passed the following t)ills and res¬
olution, viz:
105
A bill to be entitled an act relating to property confiscated to
the use of the State, with amendments ;
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the Ala¬
bama & Florida Railroad Company; and
A bill to be entitled an act to extend the provisions of an act
entiled an act for the relief of Gen. Wm. E. Anderson, and oth¬
ers, approved December 10, 1862 ; also,
A resolution in relation to tax in kind.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bills and resolution
passed without amendments ordered to be enrolled, and the bill
passed with amendment placed among the orders of the day.
Also the following:
Senate Chamber, )
November 26th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Souse of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bills, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to incorporate the. Apalachicola
Channel Company;
A bill to be entitled an act relative to claims placed in the
hands of District Solicitors of this State ;
A bill to. be entitled an act to amend the second section of an
act entitled an act to prevent the entry of lands occupied by sol¬
diers or their families during the continuance of the present war,
and also to regulate the sale and entry of public lands ; and
A bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the city
of Pensacola so as to authorize said city to aid in the construc¬
tion of certain Railroads.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEtfFRST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bills placed among the
orders of the day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act relating to property confiscated to
the use of the State,
Was taken up, and on motion, the Senate amendments con¬
curred id, and the'bill ordered to be enrolled.
A bill to be entitled an act to repeal ordinance No. 60, passed
bys~the Convention on the 27th day of January, 1862,
14
106
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
A hill to be entitled an act to provide clothing for troops from
Florida in the service of the Confederate States,
Was read the second time and referred to a select committee,
consisting of Messrs. Hampton, Jackson and Wynn.
A bill to be entitled an act to increase the fees of the various
officers of this State,
Was read the second time, and on motion of Mr. Jackson, laid
on the table.
A bill to be entitled an act to facilitate the transaction of busi¬
ness in the Quarter-Master General's office,
Was read the second time and referred to a select committee
consisting of Messrs. Hampton, Jackson and Greeley.
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to gaming in this State,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Wynn moved that it be indefinitely postponed;
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called for by
Messrs. Pittman and Scott, and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Cromartie, Gar¬
nie, Hampton, Hannah, Henry, Higginbotham, Jones, McGehee,.
Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Price of Columbia, Rich¬
ardson, Ross and Wynn—20.
Nays—Messrs. Avery, Blackburn, Campbell, Dishong Foy,
Greeley, Hendry, Hewett, Jackson, Lee, Leslie, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Scott, Sessions, Smith and Thomas—18.
So the bill was indefinitely posponed.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of soldiers' families,
Was read the secoud time and 80 copies ordered to be printed
for the use of the General Assembly.
A bill to be entitled an act to encourage the raising stock of
in this State,
Was read Jhe second time.
! Mr. Jackson moved to lay the bill on the table;
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called for by
Messrs. Jackson and Garnie, and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Dishong, Garnie,
Hannah, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, McGehee,
Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon,* Overstreet, Pittman, Price
of Columbia, Richardson, Seward and Wynn—21.
Nays—Messrs. Avery, Blackburn, Campbell, Cromartie, Foy,
Greeley, Hampton, Hendry, Jones, Lee, Leslie, Price of Alachua,
Ross, Scott, Sessions, Smith and Thomas—17. •
So the bill was laid on the table.
Senate Resolution iu relation to Richard E. Frier,
107
Was read the second time, and on motion, passed over infor¬
mally.
Resolution for the relief of Justices of the Peace,
Was read the first time, rules waved, read the second and third
time by its title, aud put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Blackburn, Campbell, Cromartie,
Dishong, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Ilewett,
Higginbotham, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell, New-
bern, Overstreet, Pittman, Price of Alachua, Richardson, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith and Wynn—28.
Hays—Mr. Speaker,. Messrs, Atkins, Foy, Henry, Jackson,
Jones, Nixon, Polhill, Price of Columbia, Ross and Thomas—
11.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
. Ordered that, the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to incorporate the Apalaclii-
cola Channel Company,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
times by its title aud put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Blackburn,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones,
Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard-'
.son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Wynn—38.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be. entitled an act relative to claims placed in the
• hands of District Solicitors of this State,
Was read the first time and on motion passed over informally.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an
act to provide for an additional issue of Treasury notes,
Was read the second time and ordered for a third reading on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend the ^second section
of an act entitled an act |p prevent the entry of Lauds occupied
by soldiers or their families during the continuance of the pres¬
ent war, and also to regulate the sale and entry of Public Lands,
Was read the first time, rule waived read the second time by
its title and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Senate bill to be entitled an act amending the Charter of the
City of Pensacola, so as to authorize said city to aid in the con¬
struction of certain Railroads.
108
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
times by its title and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Blackburn,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton, Han¬
nah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Jones, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Met-
tauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of
Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions,
Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—35.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act concerning roads and highways,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The rule being waived, Mr. Garnie introduced, without pre¬
vious notice, the following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Aaron DaCosta,
Justice of the Peace;
Which was received and read the first time, rule waived, read
the second time by its title, and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
The rule being waived, Mr. Sessions introduced without pre¬
vious notice, the following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to punish slaves for certain offences;
Which was received and read the first time, rule waived, read.,
the second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
The following communication was received from his Ex-cellen
cy the Governor:
Executive Chamber, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 25th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir: The continued ill health of Judge Baker, induces me to
submit to your consideration the views expressed by him on the
subject of Hospitals, as communicated to me by the Rev. Wm.
J. Ellis, the Chaplain of your honorable body.
Very respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Tallahassee, Nov. 25th, 1863.
His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of the State of Florida:
Sir: I conversed with Judge Baker yesterday, took notes and
109
read the heads to him and he assented to their correctness. I
give you the substance of them.
He is in favor of a State Hospital, not for the past but for the
future. He conversed with many officers, (and I believe he said
with soldiers also,) and all were in favor of having a Florida
Hospital. He does not think that the wounded would be any
better attended to at a State Hospital, but that friends and rela¬
tives could find or learn the facts in regard to the wounded, and
that the wounded themselves would have a home feeling, and
that larger supplies would go from the State. To have one ex¬
clusively for our own men, he thinks, would be • wrong and im¬
politic.
He did not get any precise information in regard to the cost
of getting up a Hospital.
He prefers Atlanta—thinks it as accessible as any other place,
sad more convenient to the probable place of battle.
I spoke to him about the recent action in regard to the Hospi¬
tal at Richmond, as rendering it probable that the Government
did not regard State Hospitals with favor, and he agreed with
sae that the advisability of establishing, and even the probability
of getting under way a Hospital, would, perhaps, depend very
much upon the feelings of the authorities at Richmond on the
subject.
The Judge also told me he had ample supplies of funds fur¬
nished by the-Governor; that he conversed with a great many
soldiers in camps and in hospitals—told Ahem he was ready to
supply them with money or to procure them whatever they
needed, and that they all were provided for with whatever could
be procured, which was needed. "They, (in the Hospitals,) were
sB as well cared for and supplied as was possible.
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
WM. J. ELLIS.
Which was read.
Also the following:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 25th, 1S63. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes, i
Spealcer of the House of Representatives:
Sir: I have approved and signed, the following resolutions,
viz:
Resolution of thanks to Gen. William Bailey and Dr. Henry
Baconand
Resolution asking the Governor not to license any more distil-
taries until the further action of the Legislature.
Very respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
110
Which was read.
Also the following:
Executive Chamebr, }
Tallahassee, November 26th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir: I have approved arid signed the following bills and reso¬
lutions, viz:
An act to change the place of holding the' Circuit Court* for
Putnam county;
An act to amend ordinance No. 53 of the Convention in rela¬
tion to soldiers voting ; arid
Resolution relating to the appointment of agent for soldiers'
families in the counties of Santa Ro"Sa and Escambia. ,
Since the above were approved and signed it has been discov¬
ered that the above, as well as resolution of thanks to Gen. Wil¬
liam Bailey and Dr. Henry Bacon, and resolution asking the Gov¬
ernor not to license any more distilleries until the further action of
the Legislature, both approved on the 24th inst., are deficient in
the form of enrolment, there being no margin left for binding.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read.
The following communication was received from the Register
of Public Lands :
State Laxd Office, )
Tallahassee, Fla., Nov. 26, 1863. [
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House Representatives:
Sir : In reply to the resolution adopted to-day, requiring
from me certain information relative to the sales of Public Lands
and the amount received therefor, I have the honor to state :
- From the 1st of October, 1862, until the suspension of sales by
the General Assembly at its last session, there were sold 33,325.
86 acles of Public Lands, for which was paid the a/faount of $11,-
794*61.
From the time of resuming the sales of Public Lands until the
1st of October, 1863* there were sold 53,291.19 acres, for which
was paid the amount of $53,981.90.
The foregoing statement is exclusive of the Western Circuit,
full returns from said Circuit for the last quarter of 1862 not be¬
ing yet made out on account of the capture of the papers of the
Ill
office by the enemy during said quarter, and the sales in said Cir¬
cuit have not since been resumed.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
HUGH A. CORLEY,
Register of Public Lands.
Which was read.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Hen¬
ry, the House adjourned until to-morrow morning 10 o'clock.
FRIDAY, November 27th, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the'journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with, and the journal approved.
Mr. Greeley moved that Mr. Sessions be excused from acting
on the Joint Committee to settle the accounts of Gov. Perry, and
that Mr. Hampton be appointed in his place;
Which was agreed to.
. Mr. Henry moved that Mr. Scott be excused from attendance
upon this House until Monday, on account of sickness in his
family;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Price of Columbia, moved that the Senate be requested to
appoint a committee to act with the House committee on Finance
and Public Accounts in making up a bil] providing for the expen¬
ditures which may be required during the present fiscal year ;
Which was agreed to.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The rule being waived, the following bills were introduced
without previous'notice, and placed among the orders of the day:
By Mr. Jackson:
A" bill to be entitled an act in relation to Judicial remedies and
for other purposes.
By Mr. McGehee:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of soldiers' families in
this State.
The Speaker stated, that in consequence of the illness of Mr.
Wm. M. Mcintosh, Enrolling Clerk, he had requested. Mr. Oscar
Hart to assist in enrolling the bills of the House:
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Hampton, Mr. Oscar Hart was
duly elected Assistant Enrolling Clerk.
Mr. Pittman, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, made the
following report:
112
The committee on Engrossed Bills, to whom was referred the
following bill, report that they haye examined the same and find
it correctly engrossed :
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Aaron W. DaCosta.
F. R. PITTMAN, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Scott, from the Committee on Public Lands, made the fol¬
lowing report:
The Committee on Public Lands ,to whom was referred the bill
to be entitled an act to amend the second section of an act enti¬
tled an act to prevent the entry of lands occupied by soldiers' or
their families during the continuance of the present war, and also
to regulate the sale and entry of public lands, ask leave to report,
they have had said bill under consideration, and recommend the
accompanying bill as a substitute for said bill.
N. T. SCOTT, Chm'n.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. McGehee, from the Joint Select Committee, made the fol¬
lowing report:
The Joint and Select Committee to whom was referred the Special
Message of the Governor on Impressments, and the Senate bill enti¬
tled an act to protect the citizens of this State from oppression by
persons claiming to act under authority from the Confederate Gov¬
ernment,
REPORT:
That they have had the same under consideration. The en¬
croachments of the military on the civil power is hostile to liberty.
In England, under Charles the First, it resulted in civil war, revolu¬
tion and despotism ; in France, under Napoleon, in the Empire.—
In the United States the civil power lies prostrate at the feet
of the military. In Mexico its patriots wander in Europe in search
of a king to rule over them. But wherefore continue the ex¬
amples? The history of ancient afid modern republics show the
lamentable fact that, under the iron heel of military rule, the '
liberties of the people were trampled. Yet our training, mode
of thought, and economic elements of the socal fabric forbid the
most distant approach to monarchy. The very troops in the field,
habituated to obey without enquiry, are the strongest bulwarks
against the progress of despotism, for their social position at home is
not inferior to that of the officers who now command them. They
are uot soldiers by profession ; a sense of duty drove them into the
113
field, and when that duty is performed they will abandon the army
without regret. From them encroachments ou the civil liberties of
their relations and countrynften are npt to be expected. We must
needs congratulate ourselves that, while the encroachments of the
military on the civil power is hostile to liberty, Providence has so
plabed us that we need apprehend no danger that such encroach¬
ments will be made. Owing to peculiar legislation on financial sub¬
jects, the Congress-of the Confederacy found it expedient to pass the
ract of impressment. The impiession havsng prevailed among the
peop! • that the tax in kind would be adequate to support the armv.
This act had partiallv fallen into disfavor among those living on the
State line, owing to the fact that their neighbors in an adjacent State
can obtain more by the schedule prices est blisli'ed thr.n at home.—
A tend an cy to dispose of their crops in the adjacent State was
naturally manifesto , and the impressing officers, vigilant in obedi¬
ence to orders, sought to check that tendency. Thus feeling became
aroused, nor is it wonderful if some of Jhe various agents of the
Confederacy did not act in strict accordance with the many fold in¬
structions, emanating from the multifarious officers who have been
multiplied in the land to simplify and render effective the impress¬
ment act. This state of things could not last long without leading
to consequences disagreeable, and Gen. Gardner's recent order, un¬
explained, did not tend to stay the natural order of events. Hence
the speciaPrnessage of his Excellency, disclaiming as he does any as¬
sault on private individuals, was a positive benefit to the State at
large, inasmuch as it induced members of the Legislature to give
the impressment act serious thought and consideration. Heretofore
every Floridian felt that private rights must give way to the public
>good, now there are those who think that the public good could not
be promoted by the sacrifice 6f private rights.
Revolutions never go back ; and we have 'no assurance that a con¬
stitution would be respected in time of peace, which failed to pro¬
ject them in time of wg,r. In the meantime, the armies in the field
stand in need of supplies from Florida. Supplies must be had, and
the most ready and effective means *s to impress. For, should the
government at Richmond come into the market as a purchaser, and
give, yea, a thousand times the prices demanded, the currency would
depreciate so that the farmer would not, in reality, bbtain for his
crop even the schedule price. The impressment law meets our
hearty approval. It is constitutional, it is capable of being made
effective without being oppressive; and when the fact is taken into
.consideration, that the compensation, in the meaning of the consti
tution, is independent o£ the schedule prices, it is an equitable and
just law. But the manner of enforcing that law, through ignorance
or otherwise, may render the law odious by rendering it oppressive.
15
114
Henee, the well being of our armies in the field, and a just regard
for the rights of our citizens, imperatively demand that the abuses
of the impressment law should be rigidly guarded against and rigo¬
rously punished. To attain this end, the following bill has been
prepared as a substitute for the original, and they recommend, that
said bill do pass.
All of which is respectfully submitted, and have sent the bill pre¬
pared by them to the Senate.
D. P. HOLLAND,
Chairman Senate Committee.
JOSEPH M. TAYLOR,
JAMES ABERCROMBIE,
TILOS. J. McGEHEE,
Chairman House Committee.
WM. B. ROSS.
Which was read.
Mr. Hampton,'from a select committee, made the following re¬
port :
Your Committee, to whom was referred, the bill to be entitled
an act to facilitate the transaction of business in the Quarter-Mas¬
ter General's office, have had the same under consideration, and
recommend its passage.
A. Y. HAMPTON, Chm'n.
J. F. JACKSON,
J. C. GREELE1L
Which was received and read and bill placed among the or¬
ders of the day.
Also the following:
Your Committee, to whom was "referred a bill to be entitled
an act to provide clothing' for the troops from Floidda in the ser¬
vice of the Confederate States, have had the same under consid-
ation, and beg leave to report in favor of said bill, and recom¬
mend its passage.
A. Y. HAMPTON, Chm'n.
J. F. JACKSON,
WM. WYJSTN.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills beg leave to report the fol¬
lowing bills as correctly enrolled, to-wit:
An act amending the Charter of the city of. Pensacola;
An act for the relief of James W. Johnson of Taylor county;
115
An act to change the line dividing the counties of Suwannee
and Columbia; and
An act for the protection of cattle owners in the counties of
Levy, Lafayette, Taylor, Wakulla and Duval.
THOS.'J. McGEHEE, Chm'n.
Which was read.
The following communication was received from the Senate :
Senate Chamber, )
November 26, 1863. )
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Souse of Representat ives:
Sir : The Senate has this day parsed the following bills, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to holding Probate Court
in Santa Rosa county;
A bill to be entitled an act more particularly defining the du¬
ties of Tax Assessors and Collectors in this State; and
House bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish all per¬
sons planting and cultivating in the State of Florida over a cer¬
tain quantity of land in cotton and tobacco during the present
war, &c., with amendments..
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Sec'y of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following : .
Senate Chamber, )
November 26th, <L863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Souse of Representatives: -
Sir : The Senate has this day indefinitely posponed following
bill, viz: .
House bill to be entitled an act to authorize Banks in this >State
to issue change bills. ~ ,
Verv respectfully,
k * JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the bill ordered to be enrolled.
Also the following:
116
Senate Chamber, }
November 26th, 1863. \
Hon. Thomas J. Eppes :
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir: The Senate has passed the following bills, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to aid the Confederate Gov¬
ernment in the detection of frauds ;
A bill to be entitled an act to provide for jthe payment for
plats furnished the various' counties ;
A bill to be entitled an act to lease certain lands belonging to
this State;
A bill to be entitled an act to tax the sale of liquors for the
education of deceased soldiers' children ;
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief Margaret J. Mc-
Keown ;
House bill to be entitled an act to legalize entries of Public
Lands, made after the secession of Florida, and requiring the re¬
ceivers to account for the moneys received therefor;
House bill to be entitied'au act for the relief of Edward Jor¬
dan, Sheriff of Taylor county ; also,
House bill to be entitled an act to amend the sixth section of
an act entitled an act to change the mode of selecting Grand and
Petit Jurors in this State, approved February 8th, 1861, with
amendment.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WIIITEHURST,
* Sec'y of the Senate.
Which was read, and,the Senate bills and House bills passed
with amendments placed among the orders of the day, and the
House bills passed without amendment, ordered to be enrolled.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act to provide clothing for troops from
Florida in the service of the Confederate States,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar i f the House
and informed the House that the Senate had adopted a resolution
rescinding the resolution relative to adjournment on Monday
next, and asked the concurrence of the House in the same.
The resolution was received and placed among the orders of
the day.
Senate bill to be entitled an act relative to claims placed in the
hands of District Solicitors of this State,
Ill
Was read the second time.
It appearing that the bill was informally in the House, Mr.
Hampton moved that a committee be appointed to return it to
the Senate;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Hampton, Pittman and
Bradford appointed said committee.
The committee Retired, and in a short time returned and re¬
ported that they had performed their duty, and were discharged.
The rule being waived, Mr. Hampton introduced, without pre¬
vious notice, the following bill and resolution, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act further defining the duties of the
Tr easurer of the State; also,
' Resolution in relation to copying the Laws ;
Which were placed among the orders of the day.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend the second section
of an act entitled an act to prevent the entry of lands occupied
fey soldiers or their families during the continuance of the pres¬
ent war, and also to regulate the sale and entry of public lands,
Was read the second time, and, on motion, the substitute pro¬
posed by the Committee on Public Lands adopted in lieu of the
original bill.
The substitute was then read the first time and ordered for a
second reading on to-morrow.
A bill.to be entitled an act to facilitate the transaction of busi¬
ness in the Quarter Master General's office,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled an act concerning Public Roads and High¬
ways, _
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on"
Propositions and Grievances.
House bill to be entitled an act to amend the sixth section o'f
an act entitled an act to change the mode of selecting Grand and
Petit Jurors in this State, approved February 8th 1861, having
passed the Senate with amendment,
' Was taken up and the Senate amendment read, and on motion
concurred.
The bill was then ordered to be enrolled.
v House bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish all per¬
sons planting and cultivating in the State of Florida over a cer¬
tain quantity of land in cotton and tobacco, during the continu¬
ance of the present war, having passed the Senate with amend¬
ments,
Was taken up and the Senate amendments read, and on mo¬
tion of Mr. Duval, laid on the table.
118
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Aaron W..
DaCoster,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage:
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Garnie, Hamp¬
ton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewefct, Higginbothara, Jones,
Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,.
Pittman, Polhill. Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Seward, Smith and Wynn.—34 ^
Nays—Messrs. Foy, Gee, Jackson, Price of Alachua and Thom¬
as—5.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate^
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act
to provide for*an additional issue of Treasury Notes,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie,
Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Hig-
ginbotham, Jones, Leslie, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon,,
Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—36.
Nays-—Messrs. Jackson and'Ross;—2.
So the bill passed—title, as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The rule being waived, Mr. Cromartie moved that the vote lay¬
ing on the table Senate amendments to a bill to be entitled an act
to prevent and punish all persons planting and cultivating, in the
State of Florida, over a certain quantity of land in cotton and to¬
bacco during the continuance of the present war be reconsid¬
ered ;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Jones moved that further action on the amendments be
postponed until Monday next;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Duval moved that the House do not concur in the amend¬
ments ;
Which was agreed to.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of soldiers' families
in this State,
Was read the first time, rule waived and read the second time
by its title.
Mr. Bradford moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed
119
Which was carried.
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to judicial remedies, and
for other purposes,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Propositions and
Grievances.
The following bills were read the first time and ordered for a
second reading on to-morrow, viz :
Senate bill to be entitled an act to lease certain lands belong¬
ing to this State ;
Senate bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Margaret J.
McKeown; and
Senate bill to be entitled an act to aid the Confederate Govern¬
ment in the detection of frauds.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to provide for the payment for
plats furnished the various counties,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committe on Public Lands.
A oill to be entitled an act for the relief of soldiers' families,
Was read the second time, and, 011 motion, passed over infor¬
mally, it having been ordered printed on yesterday and the print¬
ed copies not having been sent to the House.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to tax the sale of liquors for
the education of deceased soldiers' children,
Was read'the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and, on motion of Mr. Ross, laid on the'table.
Senate bill to be entitled an act more particularly defining the
duties of Tax Assessors and Collectors in this State,
Was read the first time, rule waived^ read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Taxation and Revenue.
Senate resolution rescinding Senate resolution relative to ad¬
journment on Monday next,
Was read.
Mr. Scott offered the following amendment:
Be it further resolved, That this General Assembly do adjourn
sine die on Thursday, the 3d of December next, at 12 o'clock m.
Mr. Avery moved to lay the amendment on the table;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Duval moved to lay the resolution on the table;
Which was not agreed to.
The resolution was then adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act in relation to holding Probate
Court in Santa Rosa county,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and
third time by its title and put upon its passage ;
120
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie,
Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Hig-
ginbotham, Jackson, Jones, Leslie, McGebee, Mettauer, MizeU,
Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittinan, Polhill, Price of Alachua,
Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, „Seward, Smith,
Thomas and Wynn—40.
Nays—None.
So the bill passed.
Mr. Avery moved to amend the title of the bill so as to read
as follows :
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to holding Probate
Courts during the present war;
Which was agreed to.
Ordered that the passage of the bill, as amended, be certified
to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act further defining the duties of the
Treasurer of the State, • '
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
Resolution in relation to copying Laws,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The following message was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
November 27th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker op the House of Representatives :
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of D. B. Cappleman,
sheriff of Marion county.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following:
Senate Chamber, )
November 27th, 1863. )
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
121
A bill to be entitled an act relative to claims placed in the
hands of District Solicitors of this State.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WIIITEIIURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
The following commnnication was received from his Excellen¬
cy the Governor-:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 27, 1863. j*
Fellow- Citzens of the ftenate
and House of Representatives:
In the proceedings of the General Assembly of the 24th inst.,
I observe in the report of the Joint and Select Committee on
Books and Accounts of the Comptroller and Treasurer, the fol¬
lowing, viz: " Your committee would also state, for your infor¬
mation, that among the vouchers of Q. M. Snell, which has been
allowed by the Comptroller, there is one of eleven thousand four
hundred dollars, paid to R. C. Williams, paymaster, which your
committee are informed R. C. Williams has never accounted for,
either to Q. M. Snell or the Comptroller."
I would respectfully call your attention to page 186 of the pro¬
ceedings of the House of Representatives for 1861, where may
be found the report of Robert C. Williams, Paymaster General,
under date of 22nd October, 1861. In closing that report, he
says: "I have turned over to*Mr. Harris, my successor, all the
vouchers, pay-rolls and papers connected with the office, with
the balance on hand, amounting to $31 41-100."
The'account and vouchers were examined by me at that time.
These papers being among those of Mr. Harris', whose accounts
were unsettled, is the reason for the matter being unknown in
the Comptroller's office. A copy of the account and receipt of
Mr. Harris has been in my office since*the settlement, and here¬
with I hand you copies of the same, also of the account of his
successor, Mr. W. S. Harris.
Justice to Col. Williams requires that I should make this ex¬
planation.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
Which was read and' ordered to be spread upon the journal,
and the accompanying documents referred to the Joint Select
Committee appointed at the first session of this General Assem¬
bly to examine the books of the Comptroller and Treasurer.
16
122
Senate bill to be entitled an act for the relief of D. B. Capple-
man, sheriff of Marion county, -
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Claims.
Senate bill to be entitled an act relative to claims placed in the
hands of District Solicitors of this State,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Rossv
the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10 o' clock.
SATURDAY, November 28th, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present. -
. The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with, and the journal approved.
Mr. Jones moved that the vote on the Senate bill to be entitled
an act to tax the sale of liquors for the education of deceased
soldiers' children be reconsidered; •
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Greeley moved that a committee of three be appointed to
confer with a similar committee on the part of the Senate in re¬
lation to the House bill to be entitled an act to prevent persons
planting over a certain amount of land in cotton and tobacco; A
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Greeley, Hampton and
Jones appointed said committee.
The rule being waived, Mr. Jackson introduced, without pre¬
vious notice, the following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act to exempt certain property from
execution ;
Which was received and-placed among the orders of the day.
Mr. Price of Columbia, offered the following resolution :
Resolution for the destruction of the State Bonds on hand of
the issues of 1856 and 1861 ; ' *
.Which was received and placed among the orders of the day.
Mr. Henry offered the following resolution :
Resolution relative to adjournment;
Which was received and placed among the orders of the day.
Mr. Avery, from the Judiciary Committee, made the following
report:
The Judiciary Committee, to whom was referred sundry bills,
ask leave to report as follows:
Having duly considered said bills, they recommend that the
123
bill to be entitled an act to punish slaves for certain offences be
amended, by striking out the words " suffer death," and insert
"be whipped and imprisoned, at the discretion of the jury."
The bill to be entitled an acl to amend an act entitled an act
to protect the interest of stock raisers in this State, the Commit¬
tee recommend should not pass. ,
The bill to be entitled an act to repeal Ordinance No 60, they
also recommend should not pass.
The act relative to interest on judgment, they recommend
should pass with the following amendment: Add at the end of
the first section the words " when the party or parties defend¬
ant shall have taken advantage of the stay law of the State."
With reference to the bill to be entitled an act to prevent dis¬
tilling of spirituous liquors in this State, the Committee reeom-
meijd to amend the first section by inserting after the word
" subsistance," the words " except the fruits of the country."
Amend also by striking out the word "or," after the word "dol¬
lars," and insert'the word "and."
Amend by striking out the second section and insert as fol¬
lows :
JBe it further enacted, That it shall be duty of the Governor,
apd he is hereby authorized and required, to proceed forthwith,
and in the most summary manner, to abate as a nuisance any dis¬
tillery at work in this State contrary to the provisions of this act,
and to cause the arrest and examination of any person or persons
distilling as aforesaid, and to seize all liquor distilled contrary to
'the provisions of this act, and turn over the same to hospital uses.
Section sixth—after the word " fined," add the words " and
imprisonment." Strike out all after the word " court."
Add to section seven—the provisions of this act shall not ap¬
ply to those who have a contract with the Confederate Govern¬
ment for the distillation of alcohol, and are carrying out their
contract in good faith, of which fact the Govei*nor shall be the
judge.
Respectfully submitted,
-O. M. AVERY, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bills*placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Greeley, from the Committee on Taxation and Revenue,
made the following report: ,
Your Committee, to whom was referred the bill to be entitled
an act more particularly defining the duties of Tax Assessors and
124
Collectors in this State, have had the same under consideration
and respectfully recommend the passage of the same.
J. C. GREELEY, Chairman.
A* Y. HAMPTON,
W. H. GEE,
W. C. NEWBERN.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Hannah, from the Committee on Propositions and Griev¬
ances, made the following report:
The Committee on Propositions and Grievances, to whom Avas
referred a bill to be entitled an act concerning public roads and
highways, have had the same under consideration, and recom¬
mend its passage.
TIIOS. HANNAH, Chm'n.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Hampton, from the Committee on Claims, made the fol-
loAving report:
Your Committee to whom avcs referred a bill t > be entitled an
act lor the relief of Id. B. Cappleman, Sheriff of Murh-u county,
have had the same under consideration, and from the facts as
represented to us, and the papers accompanying the bill, think
that said Sheriff should be relieved, and recommend the passage
of the bill.
A. Y. HAMPTON, Chm'n.
Which Avas read and the accompanying bill placed among
the orders of the day.
Mr. Greeley, from the same committee, made the folioAving mi¬
nority report:
I beg leave to differ from the report of the majority of the
Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill to be enti¬
tled an act for the relief of D. B. Cappleman, sheriff of Marion
county, and submit the following:
A sheriff making the proper return on the back of an execu¬
tion can be relieved of the charge against him by the Judge of
the Circuit, causing the Clerk to certify of theunsolvency of the
parties to the Comptroller, therefore think this an improper
course to seek relief for said sheriff.
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. GREELEY.
Which was received and read.
125
Mr. Pittman, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Engrossed Bills, to whom was'referred the
following bills, beg leave to report that they have examined the
same and find them correctly engrossed :
A bill to be entitled an act to "facilitate the transaction of busi¬
ness in the Quarter-Master General's office; and
A bill to be entitled an act to provide clothing for troops from
Florida in the service of the Confederate States.
F. R. PITTMAN^ Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
orders oi the day.
The following communication was received from the Senate:
Sex ate cliambek, )
November 27th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Etwes,
/Speaker of the House of lit presentatiees :
Sie: The Senate has this day refused to pass the following bill,
viz:
House bill to be entitled an act requiring Sheriffs to give ad¬
ditional securty in certain cases.
Very respectfullv,
JOHjS B. Win fEIIURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read.
Also the following :
Senate Chamber,* )
Nov. 27th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Epbes,
fyenL'er of the House of R<prcs< ntntiers : ■
Sin: The Senate has this day passed the following bills and
resolution, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the election laws of this
State relative to soldiers voting ;
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent the enSry of lands occu¬
pied by soldiers or their families, &c.; also, _
Joint resolution in relation to Railroad iron impressed or to
be impressed in this State.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bills and resolutions
placed among the orders of the day.
12t>
Also the following:
Senate Chambeb, )
November 27th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
House bill to be entitled an act to raise the salaries of the State
Treasurer and other officers therein named, with the following
amendments, viz: .
Sec. 3. Beit further enacted, That the fees of Sheriffs, Clerks
of the Circuit Courts and Judges of Probate shall be double the
present fees allowed by law: Provided, that Jailors shall receive
one dollar per day for each prisoner's subsistence.
And that the 2d section be so amended as to read " and that
the Comptroller-be allowed, in addition to his present salary, two
hundred dollars."
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHISEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
The following bills were read the second time and ordered for
a third reading on Monday next:
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an
act to protect the interests of stock owners in this State, ap¬
proved December 13, 1862 ;
Senate bill to be entitled an act for the relief of D. B. Capple-
man, Sheriff of Marion county ; and
Senate bill to be entitled an act more particularly defining
the duties of Tax-Assessers aud Collectors in this State.
A bill to be entited an act to repeal ordinance No. 60, passed
on the 27th day of January, 1862,
Was read the second time, rule waived, and on motion, Mr.
Newbern was allowed to withdraw it.
A bill to be entitled an act to punish slaves for certain offen¬
ces,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Wynn moved that the amendment proposed by the Judi¬
ciary Committee be concurred in ;
Which was not agreed to.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for a third reading
on Monday next.
127
A bill to be entitled an act concerning Roads and Highways,
W"as read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on Monday next.
A bill to be entitled an act to raise the salary of the State
Treasurer and other officers therein named, having passed the
Senate with amendment,
Was taken up, the Senate amendment read and concurred in,
and the bill ordered to be enrolled.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to tax the sale of liquors for
the education of deceased soldiers' children,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was: *
Yeas—Messrs. Bradford, Campbell, Hendry, Jones, Pittman,
Price of Alachua and Smith—7.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Blackburn, Cro-
martie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton,
Hannah, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Lee, Leslie,
Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Polhill, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Seward, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—*
31.
So the bill was lost.
Ordered that the same be certified1 to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled-an act further defining the duties of the
Treasurer of the State,
Was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
House substitute for Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend
the second section of an act entitled an act to provent the entry
of lands occupied by soldiers or their families during the present
war, and also to regulate the sale and entry of public Lands,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Blackburn, Brad¬
ford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee,
Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginboth¬
am, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern,
Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—37.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to lease certain lands belong¬
ing to this State,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
Public Lands.
128
Senate bill to be entitled an act to aid the Confederate Gov¬
ernment in the detection of frauds,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee orf
Propositions and Grievances.
Resolution in relation to copying the Laws,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Williams moved to amend by striking out the name of
Wm. M. Mcintosh and inserting " some suitable and competent
person
Which was agreed to.
Said resolution was then ordered to be engrossed, as amended,
for a third reading on Monday.
Senate bill to'be entitled an act for the relief of Margaret J.
McKeown, widow of James A. McKeown,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
Public Lands.
Senate bill to be entitled an act relative to claims placed in the
hands of District Solicitor of this State,
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to provide clothing for
troops from Florida in the service of the Confederate States,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Blackburn, Brad¬
ford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee,
Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higgin-
botham, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Mizell, NeAbern,
Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—38.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to facilitate the transaction
of business in the Quarter Master General's office,
'Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was: .
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Blackbuim, Brad¬
ford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee,
Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higgin-
botham, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Mizell, Newbern,
Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—38.
Navs—None.
129
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Resolution relative to adjournment,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
Monday next.
A bill to be entitled an act to exempt certain property from
execution,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
Monday.
Resolution for the destruction of the State Bonds on hand of
the issue of 1856 and 1861,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
Monday.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend the election laws of
this State relative to soldiers voting,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Election.
Senate joint resolution relative to Railroad iron impressed or
to be impressed in this State,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Internal Improve¬
ments.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act to prevent
the entry of lands occupied by soldiers or their families during
the continuance of the present war, and also to regulate the
sale and entry of Public Lands, approved December 12th, 1862,
Was read the first time and on motion passed over informally.
The following communication was received from the Senate :
Sex ate Chamber, )
November 28th, 1863. f
Hox. T. J. Epbes,
Speaker of the Ilouse of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this clay passed the following bills, viz:
House bill to be entitled an act for the protection of the stock
of citizens in the counties of Lafayette, Taylor, Levy, Orange and
Brevard, with the following amendments, viz: That the bill be
amended by inserting the words "Volusia and St. Johns," after
the word " Brevard" in the title, and in the 1st, 4th, and 6th
section ; also,'
Senate bill to be entitled an act to incorporate the Monticello
and Thomasville Railroad.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary Senate.
17
130
Which was read and the .accompanying bills placed among the
orders of the day.
The following communication was received from his Excellen¬
cy the Governor:
Executive .Chamber, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 28th, 1863. £
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : I have approved and signed the following bills, viz:
An act to change the line dividing the counties ofColum
bia and Suwannee;
An act for the relief James W. Johnson of Taylor county ;
An act amending the Charter of the City of Pensacola > also,
An act for the protection of cattle owners in the counties off
Levy, Lafayette, Taylor, Waknlla and Duval.
Very respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read.
Also the following:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, Fla., Nov. 27, 1863. jT
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:
I have the honor to submit to the consideration of your hon¬
orable body, the accompanying resolutions of " the Senate and
House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in General As¬
sembly met," and approved by his Excellency, Joseph E. Brown,
Governor of the State, and respectfully recommend the adoption
of a concurrent resolution of the State.
" In God is our trust," is the motto of Florida. While we
sympathize with our fellow-citizens ot more powerful States, in
the sore afflictions with which they have been visited during the
existence of the war waged unwisely, unjustly and cruelly by the
United States against thz people of the Confederate States, have
not the citizens of Florida much reason to be profoundly grate¬
ful to Almighty God for His protection and fatherly care, and to
humble ourselves in prayer to Him, to forgive the naanv sins we
have committed, notwithstanding His great mercy to us ? Should
not the people of Florida unite with their fellow-citizens of other
States " with penitence for our past sins, national, social and in¬
dividual, and with an honest, earnest desire to obey His laws, im¬
plore through the merits of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, his for¬
giveness and plead for wisdom to guide us" and to inspire us
with Christian faith, which will insure suitable efforts under His
righteous chastisement to*continue our. trust in Him, to deliver
131
us from our enemies and to secure to ourselves and our offspring
the enjoyment of religious, civil and political liberty.
" The poets of remotest antiquity represent their heroes as
seeking, by sacrifices ancl. libations, the protection of the Gofls
when marching to battle ; or their intervention when assailed by
plagues. The disciples of imposters and of ignorance have re¬
course to the intercession of their prophet and their Bramins, for
distinguishing favors, or to the averting of awful calamities.—
.And the best valors of the most enlightened times have deemed
it rational and useful to direct their thoughts, and the thoughts of
their people, to the God of Heaven in seasons of alarm and dan¬
ger. Above all, they are the sentiments which are rendered un¬
questionable by the authority of the sacred volume. In the Scrip-
..tures, the. Almighty is explicitly represented as superintending
: all the wonderful occurrences in the natural, political and moral
world. They expi'essly teach that an arm of fleshy and a bow of
. steel, are destitute of strength, when Hebidsthembe relaxed, and
: peace and War operate in the manner which tie permits, during the
cperiod which He limits, and in the sphere which tie assigns ; that
the blessings which prosper, and the calamities which deject com-
' taunities, are sent ^>y Him, and by Him recalled; that " the pes-
. tilence, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the sword,
are His four sore judgments ; " that the thunder, and the earth¬
quake, and great noise, and the storm, and tempest, and flame of
-clev uring fire, are visitations of the Lord of Hosts ; that the el¬
ements of nature are His ministers, to perform His purposes.—
If we do not reject the sacred volume, we must believe that ev¬
ery people'is, with God, " as a vessel of clay in the hands of the
potter, which he baketh, and marreth, and maketh again accord¬
ing to his pleasure, and the uses for which it is designed."
It is made .known by the Word of God, that "In the begin¬
ning God created the heavens and the earth." "He bowed the
keavens also, and came down, ancl darkness was under His feet.
He rode upon a cherub and did fly, and he' was seen upon the
wings of the wind." " At his coihmand the sun doth shine and
the moon walk in brightness." ," Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night showeth knowledge." "He will be a ref¬
uge for the distressed, a refuge in time of trouble." And by an
Inspired writer, " He hath solemnly declared, at what instant I
ashall speak concerning a nation and concerning a 'kingdom, to
pluck up and to pull down and destroy it: if that nation,'against
whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of
fcho evil that I thought proper to do unto them." Holy writ
abounds with* the declarations, purposes and® evidence of the
omniscience and omnipotence of God, all of which have been
132
made manifest,, by the history of nations to intelligent states¬
men. " The fear of the Lord is the beginning wisdom."
c None can reasonably doubt, that if the people of the Confed-
srate Staes, by humility and repentance for their transgressions
and reformation of,their conduct, shall in obedience to the com¬
mandments of GocT, trust in Him, He will deliver them from their
enemies. "The rainbow round about the throne, in sight like
unto an emreald," the token of a covenant of mercy between
God and man, will appear in beauty and brightness , the morn¬
ing stars will sing together, the sons of God—the sons of free¬
dom—will shout for joy, and the people of the association of free
and indepandent States, " will rejoice in God as their salvation,
will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah will be their
strength and their song." If God shall be for us, who shall be
against us ?
I have the honor to be, respectfully,
Your fellow-citizen,
JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
RESOLUTION.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
State of Georgia in General Assembly met, That in view of our
National calamity and distress, it is the solemn duty of all the
people of these Confederate States, to humble themselves before
God, and with penitence for our past sins, national, social and in¬
dividual, and with an honest, earnest desire to obey His laws,
implore, through1 the merits of our Saviour, His forgiveness, and
plead for wisdom to guide us; that we cordially concur in the
recommendation of His Excellency, Joseph E. Brown, Governor
of this State, that Thursday, the 1 Oth day of December next, be
and said day is hereby set apart as a day of lasting, humiliation
and prayer; that the Congress of the Confederate States, the
Legislatures of the different States, our Army and Navy, and all
the people be, and are hereby respectfully requested to unite
with us in strict observance of the day.
THOS. HARDEMAN, Jr.,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
L. Caerington,
Clerk of the House ol Representatives.
A. R. WRIGHT,
President of the Senate.
L. H. Kenan, ,
Secretary of the Senate.
Approved November 17th, 1863.
JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor.
Which was read.
Mr. Jones moved that two hundred copies he printed for the
use of the House ;
Which was not agreed to. • •
The rules being waived, Mr. Hampton presented a petition
from F. C. M. Bogges j.
Which was read, and on motion of Mr. Jackson, laid on the
table.
Mr. Leslie, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills" report the following bills
and resolution as correctly enrolled, viz:
• An act to extend the provisions of an act entitled an act for
the relief of General William E. Anderson and others, approved
December 10th, 1862;
An act to legalize entries of public lauds made after the seces¬
sion of Florida and requiring the Receivers to account for the
moneys received therefor;
An act for the relief of Edward Jordan, sheriff of Taylor coun¬
ty;
t An act to amend the sixth section of an act to change the
mode of selecting Grand and Petit Jurors in this State, approved
February 8th, 1861;
An act amending the Charter of the Alabama & Florida Rail¬
road Company; also,
Resolution in relation to tax in kind.
^fELIX LESLIE, Chairman pro tern.
Which was read.
Also the following:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills report the following bill
as correctly enrolled, viz:
An act relating to property confiscated to the use of the State.
Respectfully submitted,
FELIX LESLIE, Chairman pro tern.
Which was read.
Senate bill to be entitled'an act to incorporate the Monticello
and Thomasville Railroad, * ^
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
Monday. ^
House bill to be entitled an act for the protection -of the stock
of citizens in the counties of Lafayette, 'Taylor, Levy, Orange
and Brevard having passed the Senate with amendments,
Was taken up, and, on motion, the Senate, amendment con¬
curred in.
134
Said bill was then ordered to be enrolled.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Du¬
val, the House adjourned until Monday morning, 10 o'clock.
MONDAY, November 30th, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of Saturday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed v^ith and the journal approved.
Mr. Henry offered the following resolution : ,
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That the
pay of members of the next General Assembly shall be twelve
dollars per diem;
Which was received and placed among the orders of the day.
Mr. Polhill offered the following resolution :
Resolved., That no more bills be introduced in this House, un¬
less notice has already been given of such intention, or until the
present resolution in relation to adjournment is disposed of;
Which was read and adopted. ,
Mr. Hannah, from the Committee on Propositions and Griev¬
ances, made the following report:
The Committee on Propositions and Grievances, to whom was
referred an act. to aid the Confederate Government in the detec¬
tion of fraud, beg leave to report that th^y have considered the
same, and report unfavorable.
THOS. HANNAH, Chm'n.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Avery, from the Committee on Public Lands, made the
following report:
The Committee on Public Lands, to whom "was referred a bill
to be entitled mi act for the relief of Margaret J. McKeown,
widow of James A. McKeown, ask leave to report that they
have had the same.under consideration and recommend its pas-
sage^|
The same Committee have also had under consideration a bill
to be entitled an act to lease certain lands belonging'to this State,
and recommend that said bill be amended by adding the follow¬
ing :
Provided also, The Governor be-and he is hereby authorized
to terminate said lease and take possession of said land in behalf
135
of the State, whenever, in his opinion, the interest of the State
will be promoted thereby.
Respectfully submitted,
O. M. AVERY, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Pittman, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, made
the following report:
The Committee on Engrossed Bills report the following bills
and resolution as correctly engrossed, viz :
A bill to be entitled an act relative to interest on judgment;
A bill to be entitled an act to punish slaves for certain offences;.
A bill to be entitled an act to prevent the distilling of spiritu¬
ous liquors in this State;
A bill to be entitled an act concerning roads and highways;
Also, resolution in regard to copying the Laws.
F. R. PITTMAN, Chairman.*
Which was received and read, and the accompanying bills and
resolution placed among the orders of the day.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
the House that they had been appointed to convey to the House,
as having passed the Senate, a resolution in relation to days of
•fasting, humiliation and prayer, and to ask the concurrence of the
House in the same;
The resolution was received and placed among the orders of
the day.
ORDERS OF THE DA^.
A bill to be entitled an act to exempt, certain property from
executions,
Was read the second time and refctred to the Judiciary Com¬
mittee.
Resolution relative to adjournment,
Was read the second time and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Resolution for the destruction of the State Bonds on hand, of
the issues of 1856 and 1861,
Was read the second time, rule waived, read the third time by
its title and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Baltzell,
Blackburn, Campbell, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeky,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jack.-on,
Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman,
136
Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Sew
ard, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—35.
Rays—none.
So the resolution passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to incorporate the Monticelk
and Thomasville Railroad,
Was taken up, and on motion of Mr. Williams, passed ovei
informally, and placed first among the orders of the day for to
morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to aid the Confederate Govern
ttient in the detection of frauds,
Was read the second time and ordered for a third reading on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Margaret J
McKeown, widow of James A. McKeown,
Was read the second time, rule waived, read the third time bj
its title and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Baltzell
Blackburn, Campbell, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham.
Jackson, Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Rewbern, Rixon, Overstreet.
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Rich¬
ardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—36.
R ays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to lease certain lands belong¬
ing to the State,
Was read the second time, and, on motion, the amendments
proposed by the Committee on Public Lands concurred in, and
the bill ordered to be placed among the orders of the day for a
third reading on to-morrow!
Senate bill to be entitled an act for the relief of D. B. Capple-
man, Sheriff of Marion county,.
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Baltzell,
Blackburn, Campbell, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, (Jee, Gree¬
dy? Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jack^n^Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Rewbern, Rixon, Overstreet;
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—36.
Rays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
137
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act to protect the
interests of stock owners in this State, approved December 13th,
13G2,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Gee, Greeley, Hamp¬
ton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham,Lee, Leslie,
Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pitt man, Price of Alachua, Rich¬
ardson, Seward, Smith and Thomas—29.
Nays—Messrs. Avery, Garnie, Mettauer, Polhill, Price of Co¬
lumbia and Wynn—6.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act more particularly defining the
dntifts of Tax-Assessors and Collectors in this State,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Blackburn,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Lee,
Leslie, Mettauer, Newborn, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Seward, Smith,
'Thomas, Williams and Wynn—35.
Nays—None.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate,
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act concerning roads aad high¬
ways,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Messrs. Campbell, Duval, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Han¬
nah, Hendry, Henry, Leslie, Mettaueiq Pittman, Williams and
Wynn—13.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Atnos, Avery, Baltzell, Black¬
burn, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Hampton, Hewett, Lee, New-
bern, Nixon, Overstreet, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Co¬
lumbia, Richardson, Seward, Smith and Thomas—21.
So the bill was lost.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act to prevent the distilling of.
spirituous liquors in this State,
Was read the third time.
The rule being waived, Mr. Pittman moved that the bill be
placed back upon its second reading;
18
138
Which was not agreed to.
Two-thirds agreeing, Mr. Pittman was allowed to offer the fol¬
lowing amendment, viz:
And provided further, That- all distillers of alcohol in this
State shall make quarterly returns to his Excellency the Gover¬
nor of the quantity distilled, to whom delivered, and accompa¬
nied with the receipt of the officer or officers in the State or Con¬
federate States service;
Which amendment was adopted.
Said bill was then put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Baltzell, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Duval, Gee, Greeley, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry, Higginbotham, Leslie,"Hixon, Overstreet, Pitt-
man, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson,
Seward, Smith and Williams—20.-
Hays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Henry,
Hewett, Lee, Mettauer, Hewbern, Thomas and Wynn—11.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed bill to be entitled an act relative to interest on
judgment,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Baltzell,
Blackburn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy,
Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry,Hewett,
Higginbotham, Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Hewbern, Hixon, Over-
street, Pittman, Polhill, Price of-Alachua, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—37.
Hays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Engrossed resolution in relation to copying the Laws,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, Baltzell,
Blackburn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy,
Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Hewett,
Higginbotham, Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Hewbern, Hixon, Over-
\ street, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn.—36.
Hay—Mr. Henry—1.
So the resolution passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
139
Engrossed bill to be entitled on act to punish slaves for certain
offences,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker-, Messrs. Amos, Atkins, Avery, BaltzeU,
■Blackburn, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie,
Gee, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett,Higginbotham,
Lee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Polhill, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—31.
Nays—Messrs. Bradford, Leslie and Pittman—3.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
t)rdered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Resolution relative to the pay of the members of the next
General Assembly,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on.
to-morrow.
Senate resolution relative to days of fasting, humiliation and
prayer,
Was read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The rule being waived, Mr. Henry moved to reconsider the
vote on the passage of a Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend
an act entitled an act to protect the interests of stock owners in
this State, approved December 13th, 1863;
Which was ggreed to.
The rule being waived, Mr. Henry moved that said bill be
' placed back on its second reading;
Which was agreed to. '
.< Mr. Henry then moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed;
Which was agreed to.
The following communication was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 28th, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following resolution,
viz:
>
Joint resolution in relation to a day of fasting, humiliation and
prayer, with amendment.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying resolution placed
among the orders of the day.
140
Senate resolution in relation to a day of fasting, humiliation and
prayer,
Was read, and, on motion, laid on the table.
The rules being waived, Mr. Wynn moved that a bill to be
entitled an act to provide for the relief of soldiers' families, that
was passed over informally on the 27th inst., be taken up ancl
placed among the orders of the day;
Which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Wynn, the House resolved itself into a Com¬
mittee of the Whole for the consideration of said bill.
Mr. Williams in the Chair.
After some time spent therein, the Committee rose and repor¬
ted progress and asked leave to set again.
Mr. Henry moved that the House adjourn until 9 o'clock to¬
morrow morning;
Which was not agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Hampton, the House took a recess until 73
o'clock, p. m.
THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum present.
The orders of the day were resumed.
The following communication ^vas received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )'
November 30th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Souse of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bills, viz: •
A bill to be entitled an act to repeal Ordinance No. 62 ; also,
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Albert Hyer.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following:
Senate Chamaer,
November 30th, 1863.
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
'Speaker of the Souse of Representatives:
Sir: The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
141
A bill to be entitled an act to assist the faithful and necessary-
enforcement of the impressment act of Congress, and to protect
and defend the citizens of this State from oppression and unlaw¬
ful acts of persons violating the said act, or claiming to act under
the authority of the Confederate Government.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WIIITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
The rule being waived, Mr. Avery moved that the resolution
relative to the pay of the members of the next General Assem¬
bly, which was read the first time this morning and ordered for
a second readin on to-morrow, be taken up and read the second
time by its title ;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Avery moved that the resolution be referred to the Joint
Committee which has under consideration the subject of appro¬
priations for the present fiscal year, with instructions to report
their views as to what, with reference to the present General
Assembly, is the proper construction to be placed upon the first
section of an " act fixing the pay of members of the General As¬
sembly," approved February 14th, 1861 ; \
Which was agreed to.
A committee from the .Senate appeared at the bar and in¬
formed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
House, as having passed the Senate with amendments, House bill
to be entitled an act providing for the payment of certain claims
against the State, and to ask the concurrence <Jf the House in the
amendments.
The bill was received and placed among the orders of the day.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to assist the faithful and neces¬
sary enforcement of the impressment act of Congress, and to
protect and defend the citizens of this State from oppression and
unlawful acts of persons violating the said act, or claiming to act
under the authority of the Confederate Government, '
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
The rule being waived, Mr. Williams moved that Mr. Wynn
be added to the Committee on the Judiciary;
Which was agreed to.
Senate bill to be entitled an act^pr the relief of Albert Hyer,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title and referred to the Committee on Claims.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to repeal Ordinance No. 62,
142
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
House bill to be* entitled an act providing for the payment of
certain claims against the State, having passed the Senate with
amendment,
Was taken up, and on motion the Senate amendments jead
and coneurred in, and the bill ordered to be enrolled.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills beg leave to report the fol¬
lowing bills as correctly enrolled, viz:
An act to raise the salary of State Treasurer and other officers
therein named; also,
An act for the protection of the stock of citizens in the comi¬
ties of Lafayette, Taylor, Levy, Orange, Brevard, Volusia and
St. Johns.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman. .
Which was read.
The rule being waived, Mr. Ross moved that the petition of
F. M. Boggs be taken from the table;
Which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Ross, the House resolved itself into Com¬
mittee of the Whole for the consideration of said petition.
Mr. Williams in the Chair.
After some time spent therein, the committee rose, reported
progress, and asked to be discharged. *
On motion of Mr. Ross, the petition was referred to the Com¬
mittee on Elections.
On motion of Mr. Price of Alachua, the House adjourned until
10 o'clock to-morrow.
TUESDAY, December 1st, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion," the reading of the journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with, and the journal approved.
On motion, the Senate resolution relative to a day of fasting,
humiliation and prayer, which was laid on the table on yesterday,
was taken from the table and placed among the orders of the
day.
Mr, Polhill moved that Mr. Lee be excused from further-at¬
tendance on the House after to-day, on account of sickness;
14:3
Which whs agreed to.
Mr. Smith moved that Mr. Mizell he excused from further at¬
tendance during this session of the General Assembly;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. J ones ottered the tollowing resolution :
Resolved, That the Standing Committees of the House and
Senate on Military Affairs shall act as a Joint and Select Com¬
mittee on all matters referred to either of said Committees;
Which was read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. Jackson offered a resolution relative to Confederate Treas¬
ury Notes;
Which was read, and on the adoption of which resolution, the
yeas and nays were called for by Messrs. Jackson and McGehee,
and were;
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Anios, Arendell, Avery, Baltzeil,
Blackburn, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnio, Hampton, Henry,
Hewett, Iligginbotham, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Leslie, McGehee,
Mettauer, Newborn, Nixon, Polhill, Price of Columbia, Eleh-
ardson, Ross, Scott, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Williams—32.
Nays—Messrs. Bradford, Campbell, Gee, Greeley, Hannah,
Hendry, Overstreet, Pittman and Wynn—9.
So the resolution was adopted—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. Garnie, from the Committee on Elections, made the fol¬
lowing report:
The Committee on Elections, to whom was referred a petition
for mileage and per diem in the case of F. C. M. Boggiss, have
had the/same under consideration, and beg leave to report, that
said petition be not allowed.
I. Y. GARNIE, Chairman.
Which was read and concurred in.
Also the following :
The Committee on election, to whom was referred a bill to be
entitled an act to amend the election laws of this State relative
to soldiers voting, have the same under consideration, and beg
leave to report in favor of said bill, and recommend its passage.
I. Y. GARNIE, Chairman.
**
Which was received and read, and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Avery, from the Committee on Internal Improvements,
made the following report:
The Committee on Internal Imj^pvements, to whom were re¬
ferred the resolutions relative to Railroad iron impressed or to
144
be impressed in this State, have had the same under considera¬
tion, and submit a substitute for said resolutions which they re¬
commend for the adoption of the General Assembly.
O. M. AVERY, Chairman.
Which was received and read, and the resolution placed among
the orders of the day.
Mr. Ealtzell, from the Judiciary .Committee, made the follow¬
ing report:
The Judiciary Committee report favorably on the bill to be
entitled an act to repeal Ordinance No. 62.
T. BALTZELL, Chairman.
Which was read 2},jid the accompanying bill placed amoDg
the orders of the day.
Also the following:
The Judiciary Committee report favorably on the bill to be
entitled an act as to the impressment law, with amendment, strik¬
ing out the words " and regard that such demand be complied
with at all hazards" in section six.
T. BALTZELL, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Greelv, from a Joint Select Committee, made the following,
report:
Y"our Joint Committee, to whom was referred the bill relating
to the planting of cotton and tobacco, have had the same 'under
consideration and recommend the House bill for the consider¬
ation of the Senate.
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. GREELEY,
Chairman House Committee.
JAS. Y. JONES.
A. Y. HAMPTON,.
-Chairman Senate Committee.
JAS. ABERCROMBIE,
JAS. S. RUSSELL.
Which was read.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to incorporate the Monticello
and Thomasville Railroad,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Polhill moved that it be referred to the Committee on
Corporations; •
145
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Polhill moved that it be referred to the Committee on
Propositions and Grievances;
Whieh was not agreed to.
Mr. Polhill moved that it be referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary;
Which was not agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Williams, the House resolved itself into a
Committee of the Whole for the consideration of said bill.
Mr. Williams in the Chair.
After some time spent therein, the Committee rose and report¬
ed the bill back to the House without amendment and recom-
• mended its passage,
_ The rule being waived, the bill was read the third time by its
fEitle and put upon its passage;
k The vote wras :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Baltzell, Black¬
burn, Bradford, Campbell,- Cromartie, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Hamp¬
ton, Hendry, Ilewett, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Mettauer, Yewbern,
. JSTixon, Pittman, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Ross,
Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—28.
Nays—Messrs. Greeley, Henry, Higginbotham, McGehee,
Overstreet, Polhill, Richardson, Scott, Sessions and Seward—
10.
So the bill passed—title as staffed.
•Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate resolution relative to a day of fasting, humiliation and
grayer, ,
Was read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to tfie Senate.
Senate joint resolution in relation to Railroad iron impressed
or to be impressed in this State,
Was read the second time, and on motion, the substitute re¬
commended by the Committee on Internal Improvements adop¬
ted in lieu of the original.
Mr. Eppes mo'ved that the substitute be laid on the table;
Which was agreed to.
'Senate bill to be entitled an act to assist the faithful and nec¬
essary enforcement of the Impressment act of Congress, and to
protect and defend the citizens of this State from oppression and
unlawful acts of persons violating the said act, or claiming to act
junder the authority of the Confederate Government,
Was read the second time, and |he amendment proposed by
the Judiciary Committee adopted.
Mr. Jackson moved that it be indefinitely postponed;
19
146
Upon which, the yeas and nays being called for. by Messrs..
Garnie and Jones, were :
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Gee, Hendry and Jackson—4.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Baltzell, Black¬
burn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Foy, Garnie, Greeley,
Hampton, Hannah, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jones, Lee,
Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pitt-
man, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson,
Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams'and
Wynn—37.
So the motion was not agreed to.
Mr. Baltzell moved to amend the bill by striking out in the,
second section the clause relating to the proceedings,, before Jus¬
tices of the Peace; •
Upon which, the yeas and nays being called for by Messrs^
Jones and McGehee, were:
Yeas—Messrs. Baltzell, Bradford, Foy, Gee, Hampton, Hen¬
dry, Henry, Jackson, Mettauer, Sessions and Williams—11.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Blackburn,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Greeley, Hewett, Hig¬
ginbotham, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittman, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross,
Scott, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—27.
So the motion was not agreed to.
The amendment proposed'by the Judiciary Committee was
then, on motion of Mr. Baltzell,• adopted.
On motion of Mr. McGehee, the rule was waived, and the bill
read the third time by its title, and put upon its passage;
The vote was*:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Baltzell, Black¬
burn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee,
Greeley, Hampton, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jones,
Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Pol-
hill, P rice of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—37.
Nays—Messrs. Jackson, Mettauer and Sessions—B.
So the bill passed1—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.'
Senate bill to be entitled an act to repeal Ordinance No. 62,
Was read the second time, rule waived, read the third time by
its title, and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Baltzell, Black¬
burn, Campbell, Cromartie, "Oishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley,
Hampton, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson,
Jones, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Over-
147
street, Pittman, Polhili, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Ross, Soott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas and
Wynn—38.
Nays—Messrs. Bradford and Williams—2.
So the bill passed—title as stated..
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend the election laws of
this State relative to soldiers voting,
Was read the second time and ordered for a third reading on
to-morrow1.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to aid the Confederate Gov¬
ernment in the detection of frauds,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Baltzell,
Blackburn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Gar-
nie, Greeley, Hampton, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson,
Jones, Lee, Leslie, Mettauer, Nixon, Overstreet, Polhili, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Williams
and Wynn—33.
Nays—Messrs. Gee, Hannah, Hendry, Newbern, Pittman,
Ross and Thomas—7.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same bV certified to "the Senate.
Mr. Greeley moved that the House take a reeess until 3. o'clock,
p. m.;
Which was not agreed to.
The rule being waived, Mr. Baltzell, from the Committee on
the Judiciary, made the following report:
The Judiciary Committee report favorably on the bill to be
entitled an act in relation to forfeited bonds of criminals.
At close of "first section add the words " to be served on the
parties respectivelystrike out the word " and" and insert
" or " before the words " Court and Jury " in second section.
Strike out " three months " and insert " one month " in third
section.
T. BALTZELL, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following:
The Judiciary Committee report unfavorably on the bill to be
entitled an act to exempt certian property from executions.
T. BALTZELL, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
148
The rule being waived, Mr. Hampton, from the Committee oh
Claims made the following report:
The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill to
be entitled an act for the relief of Albert Hyer, have had the
same under consideration and recommend its passage.
A. Y. HAMPTON, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of day.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to lease certain lands belongs
ing to the State,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Baltzelf,,
Dishong, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Henry, Hew-
ett, Higginbotham, Jones, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Nixon, Pitt-t
man, Polhill, Price of Columbia, Scott, Seward, Smith, Thomas^
Williams and Wynn—28.
Nays—Messrs. Blackburn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie*
Poy, Jackson, Mettauer, Newbern, Overstreet, Ross and Ses¬
sions—ll.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills beg leave to report the fol¬
lowing bill as correctly enrolled, to-wit:
An act providing for the payment of certain claims against the
State.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chm'n-
Which was read.
A bill be to entitled an act to exempt certain property from
executions,
Was read the second time.
Pending which, on motion of Mr. McGehee, the House took as.;
recess until 3 o'clock, p. m.
3 O'CLOCK, P. M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum present.
The orders of the day were resumed.
The rule being waived, Mr. Avery offered a resolutiou for the
support of Wayside Homes ;
Which was read the first time, rule waived, read the second
time by its title, and ordered for a third reading on to-morrow.
149
A Committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
House as having passed the Senate joint resolution relative to
our sick or wounded soldiers in Gen. Bragg's army, and to ask
the concurrence of the House in the same.
The resolution was received and placed among the orders of
the day.
The following communication was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
December 1st, 1863. )
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sib: The Senate has passed the following bills, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to permit G. W. Bostic to practice
medicine in the county of Wakulla only ;
A bill to be entitled an act to legalize the acts of Samuel Lowe;
also,
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the Charter of the Atlan¬
tic Gulf & Central Railroad.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Sec'y of the Senate.
Which "was read and the accompanying bills placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following :
Senate Chamber, )
Nov..25th, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bills and
resolution, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act to prpvide a police for the county
of Jefferson ;
NHouse bill to bef entitled an act for the relief of Aaron W. Da-
Costa; and
House resolution relative to the civil authority of the State of
Florida.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying Senate bill placed among
the orders of the day, and House bill and resolution ordered to
V»p pnvnllpd.
150
The following communication was received from his Excellen¬
cy the Governor:
Executive Department, }
Tallahassee, Dec. 1st, 1863. )
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:
At a Convention of the Commissioners appointed under the
impressment act of Congress, recently held at Augusta, Georgia,
a preamble and resolutions were adopted of which a copy is an¬
nexed. It will be perceived that by the second resolution the
Commissioners of the several States were requested to have thetrv
laid before their respective State Legislatures. In compliance
therewith, I have been furnished by the Commissioners of this
State with a copy of the said preamble and resolutions to ber
submitted to the General Assembly.
It is not my purpose now to do more than express my concur¬
rence in the opinion that the arms of the Government should be
strengthened by every means that can be constitutionally adop¬
ted ; but the precise mode of accomplishing this object, so far as
relates to the subject matter referred to in the resolutions at¬
tached, is submitted to the wisdom of the General Assembly.
It may not be proper for me to remark, however, that the meas¬
ure suggested by the Convention of Commissioners, to be just,
should be adopted in all the States, otherwise a burthen would
be imposed on the people of one State, not borne by those of the
other, and but a slight, if any advantage, would accrue to the
Government of the Confederacy or to the people generally.
The subject is one, however, of no little interest, and is respect¬
fully submitted to the General Assembly.
Yerv respectfully,
* JOHN MILTON.
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, it -is obvious thai? in the struggle between the specu¬
lators on the one part, to gratify their avarice, even to jeopardize
the safety of our country, and the government* on the other, to-
protect that country, it becomes important to strengthen the arm
of the government by the action both of the government and the
people ; therefore, be it
Resolved,, That the several States of this Confederacy be re¬
quested to pass such laws and take such measures as will most
effectually cause the prices fixed by the Commissioners, of assess¬
ments in their States, to be observed by sellers and purchasers.—-
And this Convention is of the opinion that the most effective
mode of doing this would be for the Legislature to impose a tax;
151
-on all articles sold over the schedule price for the same equal to
-the amohnt of the difference between the schedule price and that
;at which the article is sold.
Resolved, That the Commissioners of the several States be re¬
quested to have these resolutions laid before their respective State
Legislatures.
Which was read.
A bill to be entitled an act to exempt certain property from
"executions, which was pending when the Howe took a recess,
was taken up, and on motion of Mr. McGehee, laid on the table.
Senate bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Albert Hyer,
Was read the second time, rule waived," read the third time
:,4>y its title and put upon its passage;
s The vote was :
Yeas—Mr.Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Blackburn,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie,Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Hampton,
Hannah,Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jones, Lee, Les¬
lie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pitt man,
"Folhill,* Price* of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Scott,
Sessions, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn-—36.
Nays—Messrs. Greeley, Jackson, Ross and Seward—4.
■ So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same b§ certified to the Senate.
The rule being waived, Mr. Jackson moved that no member of
■this body be excused from attendance on the same body during
the remainder of the session, except on account of sickness of
himself or his family, and that no member shall be allowed to
- speak longer than five minutes on any one subject before the
House;
Which was agreed to.
The rule being waived, Mr. Williams moved that the use of
the Hall of the House of Representatives be tendered to the
Hon. A. E. Maxwell, on to-morrow evening, at 7 o'clock, P. M.,
* and that the Sergeant-at-Arms be instructed to furnish lights, &c.
Which was agreed to.
The rule being waived, Mr. Jones moved that Mr. Blackburn
he excused from attendance on this House for a few days;
Which was agreed to.
Senate bill to be entitled an act in relation to forfeited bonds
of criminals,
Was read the second time and ordered for a third reading on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to permit G. W. Bostic to
practice mediqine in Wakulla eounty,
152
Was read the first time, rule Avaived and read the second
time by its title.
Mr. Jackson moved that it be indefinitely postponed ;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Williams moved to lay the bill on the table;
Which was agreed to.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend the charter of the
Atlantic, Gulf and Central Railroad,
Was read the first time, rules waived, read the second time
by its title and referred to the Committee on Internal Improve¬
ments.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to legalize the acts of Samuel
Lowe,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
time" by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Black¬
burn, Campbell, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley^Hampton, Han¬
nah, Hen dry, Henry, Hewett,Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, Lee,
Leslie, McGehee, NeAvbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittraan, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Sessions/
SeAvard, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—36.
Nays—Messrs. Bradford and Cromartie—2.
So the bill passed.
Mr. Garnie moved to amend the title by adding the words
"acting Clerk of the Circuit Court;"
Which was agreed to.
Ordered that the passage of the bill be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to provide a police for the
county of Jefferson,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and on motion of Mr. Blackburn, laid on the table.
Senate joint resolution relative to our sick or wounded sol¬
diers in Gen. Bragg's army,
Was read the first time, rule Avaived, and read the second time
by its title.
Mr. McGehee moved to amend by striking out " tAmity-five
hundred dollars" and inserting " tAventy-five* thousand dollars ;"
Which Avas agreed to.
On metion, the rule Avas Avaived, and the bill read the third
time by its title and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Black¬
burn, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Greeley,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, HeAvett, Higginbotham,
Jackson, Jones, Lee, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern,
153
Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith,
Thomas Williams and Wynn—39.
Nays—None.
So the resolution passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The rule being waived, Mr. Scott, from the Committee on Pub¬
lic Lands, made the following report:
Your Committee, to whom was referred a bill to be entitled
an act to provide for the payment for plats furnished the various
counties, have had the same tinder consideration and recommend
its passage, with the following amendment, viz: Strike out the
word " three" and insert " six."
N. T. SCOTT, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed atiiong the
orders of the day.
Senate bill to be entitled an act Jo provide for the payment for
plats' furnished the various counties,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Pittman moved to amend by striking out the word " three"
and inserting " five;"
Which was not agreed to.
The amendment recommended by the Committee on Public
Lands was then adopted, and the bill ordered for a third reading
on to-morrow.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10
o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, December 2nd, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
On motion, the reading of the Journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the Journal approved.
The following message was received from His Excellency, the
Governor:
Executive Chamebr,, )
Tallahassee, December 1st, 1863. )
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : I have approved and signed the following bills and reso¬
lution, viz:
20
154:
An act to extend the provisions of an act entitled an act for
the relief of Gen. William E. Anderson and others, approved
December 10, 1862 ;
An act for the relief of Edward Jordan, Sheriff of Taylor county;
An act to legalize entries of public lands made after the seces¬
sion of Florida, and requiring the Receivers to account for the
monies received therefor;
An act relating to property confiscated to the use of the State;
An act to amend the sixth section of an act entitled an act to
change the mode of selecting Grand and Petit Jurors in this State,
approved February 8th, 1861;
An act to raise the salary of the State Treasurer and» other
officers therein named;
An act to amend the Charter of the Alabama & Florida Rail¬
road Company;
An act providing for the payments of certain claims against
the State; and
Resolution relative to tax in kind.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read.
Mr. Sessions presented a petition from sundry citizens of Su-
Nwannee county;
Which was read, and on motion, passed over informally.
Mr. Foy introduced a resolution to increase our forces in the
field ;
Which was received and read and placed among the orders of
the day.
Mr. Wynn, from the Committee on Confederate Relations,
made the following report:
The Committee on Confederate Relations, to whom was re¬
ferred a resolution in relation to the exportation of cotton, to¬
bacco and other products for private emoluments, have had the
same under consideration and recommend its passage.
WM. B. WYNN,"Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying resolution placed
among the orders of the day.
Mr. Baltzell, from the Judiciary Committee, made the follow¬
ing report:
The Judiciary Committee report the following as a substitute
for the bill defining the duties of Treasurer of the State. Favora¬
bly as to the hill relative to claims placed in the hands of District
Solicitors, with amendments.
T. BALTZELL, Chairman.
155
'Which was read and the accompanying bill placed anion sr the
orders of the day.
Mr. Jones, from the Conjmittee on the Militia, made the fol¬
lowing report:
\ our Oommitte to whom was referred a hill to be entitled an
act to provide furnishing to each regiment and battalion in Con¬
federate service from this State, a suitable flag or ensign, also a
flag for the use of the Capitol, beg leave to report the same back
to the House for the consideration of the House.
JAMES Y. JONES, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Hannah, from the Committee on Propositions and Griev¬
ances, made the following report:
The Committee on Propositions and Grievances, to whom was
referred a bill to be entitled an act in relation to judicial reme¬
dies, and for other purposes, beg leave to report unfavorably,
and recommend the same do not pass.
TI-IOS. HANNAH, Chni'n.
Whi h was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders < f the day.
Mr. Avery, from the Committee on Internal Improvements,
made the following report:
The Committee on Internal Improvements, to whom was re¬
ferred the bill to be entitled an act to amend the charter of the
Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad Company, ask leave to report
the bill back to the House and suggest there be added to the
bill the following proviso :
Provided, That this amendment shall not be of force until it
shall have received the sanction of all the Stockholders.
Respectfully submitted,
O. M. AYERY, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Senate bill to be entitled an act relative to claims placed in the
hands of District Solicitors of this State,
Was read the second time, and, on motion, the amendments
proposed by the Judiciary Committee adopted.
On motion, the rule was then waived and the bill read the third
time by its title and put upon its passage;
156
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Baltzell,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jack¬
son, Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Over-
street, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Ross, Scott, Sessions,
Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—36.
Hays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled an act farther defining the duties of the
Treasurer of the State,
"Was read the second time.
The substitute recommended by the Judiciary Committee was
then read, and, on motion of Mr. Eppes, laid on the table.
On motion, the rule was then waived, and the original bill read
the third time by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Baltzell,
Campljell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Hampton, Hannah,
Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones. Leslie, McGe¬
hee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, IYtm..n, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Scott, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—31%
Nays—Messrs. Bradford, Greeley, Hendry, Richardson, Ross,
Sessh >ns and Williams—7.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Sena la.
A bill to be entitled an act in relation to Judicial Remedies and
for other purposes,
Was read the second time.
Mr. Bradford moved to lay the bill on the table;
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs.
Jackson and Arendell, and wrere:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Higgin¬
botham, Leslie, Pittman, Richardson, Ross, Thomas and Wvnn
—18.
Nays—Messrs. Arendell, Foy, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton,
Hewett, Jackson, Jones, McGehhe, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon,
Overstreet, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith and Williams—21.
So the motion wa*s lost.
On motion, the rule was waived, and the bill read the third
time by its title and put upon its passage;
Pending which Mr. Jackson was allowed to read two letters
relating to the subject.
157
The vote Was:
Yeas—Messrs. Arendell, Foy, Garnie, Hampton, Hewett, Jack¬
son, Jones, McGehee, Polhill, Price of Columbia and Scott—11.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Baltzell, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Greeley, Hannah, Hendry, Hen¬
ry, Higginbotham, Leslie, Mettauer, Newborn, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pitt man, P}"ice of Alachua, Richardson, Ross, Sessions, Seward,
Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—28.
So the bill was lost.
A bill to be entitled an act to provide for furnishing to each
regiment and battalion in Confederate service from this State a
suitable flag or ensign, also a flag for the use of Capitol,
Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a
'third reading on to-morrow.
The rule being waived, Mr. Henry moved that Mr. Gee be
excused from attendance on the Hone t'-day, on account of
sickness of his family ;
Which was* agreed to.
Re. olution in reference to exportation of certain articles by
private enterprise,
Yf:u read the second time and adopted.
Ordered 1" at the same be certified to the In'iiiue.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend tin; Charter of the
Atlantic, Calf A Central Railroad,
Was rea 1 the second time, and on moth n, the amendment
proposed by the Committee on Internal Imp overnents adopted,
and the bill ordered for a third reading on t >-i lorrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend ihc election laws of
tlrsg State relative to soldiers voting,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage:
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Greely, Hampton, Han¬
nah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jaeksgn, Jones,
Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith, Williams and Wynn—3g.
Nays—Messrs. Foy and Thomas—2.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Resolution for the support of Wayside Homes,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, Leslie,
158
McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Pol-
hill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Sew¬
ard, Smith, Williams and Wynn—34.
Nays—Messrs. Henry, Scott and Thomas—3.
So the resolution passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the S.enate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to provide for the payment for
plats furnished the various counties,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greely, Hampton,
Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, Leslie,.
McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Polhill, Price
of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Scott, Seward, Smith,
Thomas and Williams—34.
Nays—Messrs. Pittman, Ross and Wynn—3.
1 So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act in relation to forfeited bonds
of criminals,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Baitzell,
Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy,^Garnie, Greeley,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson,
Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn
—37.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Resolution to increase our forces in the field,
Was read the first time, rule waived and read the second time
by its title, and, on motion, laid on the table.
The following communication was received from his Excellen¬
cy the Governor :
Executive Chamber, )
Tallahassee, Dec. 2nd, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes, "
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : I respectfully recommend the following nominations for
the advice and consent of the General Assembly, viz
James A. Mason,
, Auctioneer for Alachua county.
159
James Caverly,
Auctioneer for Wakulla county.
Very respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read and the nominations therein contained ad¬
vised and consented to.
The following message was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
December 2nd, 1863. f
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has passed the following resolution, viz:
House resolution for the destruction of the State Bonds on
hand of the issue of 1856 and 1861.
Verv respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of #the Senate.
Which was read and the resolution ordered to be enrolled.
Also the following:
Senate Chamber, )
December 2nd, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
Sir i The Senate has passed the following resolution, viz ;
House resolution in relation to adjournment.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHISEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read.
Also the following:
Senate Chamber, )
5- J
December 2nd, 1863.
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of soldiers' families,
and others that require assistance.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
160
I
Which was received and read and the hill plaeed among the
orders ot the day.
Also the following:
v Senate Chamber, )
December 2nd, 1863. f ,
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bills, viz:
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act relative to the
assessment of taxes ; and
House bill to be entitled an act to prevent and punish all per¬
sons planting and cultivating in the State of Florida over a cer¬
tain quantity of land in cotton and tobacco during the contin¬
uance of the present war.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the Senate bill placed among the orders
of the day, and the House bill ordered to be enrolled.
Mr. Baltzell asked to be excused from further attendance on
the House to-day, on account of sickness;
Which was granted.
Senate bill to be entitled an act relative to the assessment of
taxes,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time *>y
its title, and referred to the Committee on Taxation and Revenue.
Senate bill to be entitled an act for die relief of soldiers' fam¬
ilies and others that require assistance,
Was reac} the first time, rule waived, and read the second time
by its title.
Mr. Sessions offered a substitute for the bill;
Which was rejected.
On motion of Mr. Wynn, the House resolved itself into a Com¬
mittee of the Whole for the consideration of said bill, Mr. Wil¬
liams ir, the Chair.
After some time spent therein, the committee rose, and, through
their Chairman, reported -the bill back to the House with amend-,
ments, and recommended its passage.
The bill was received and the amendments proposed adopted.
On motion, the rule was waived, and the bill read the third
time by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote-was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Brad¬
ford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley,Hamp¬
ton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson,
161
Jones, Leslie, McGeliee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
Pittinan, Polliill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Rich¬
ardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams
and Wynn—38.
Nays—none.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The following communication was received from the Senate :
Senate Chamber, )
December 2nd, 1863. \
IIon. T. J. Eppes,
>Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bill and res¬
olutions, viz:
A bill to be entitled an act appropriating $10,000 for the Way¬
side Homes or Hospitals in this State ;
Resolution relative to Confederate Treasury Notes ;
Joint resolution in relation to the unsettled accounts of Ex-
Governor M. S. Perry, Quarter-Master H. V. Snell and John W.
Pearson, disbursing agent.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WIIITEHURST,
Secretary Senate.
Which was read and the Senate bill and resolution placed
among the orders ot the day and the House resolution ordered
to be enrolled.
The rule being waived, Mr. Hampton, .from a Joint and Select
Committe^, made the following report:
Senate and House of Representatives:
The undersigned, members of the several Joint and Select
Committees, to whom were referred the unsettled accounts of
Ex-Guv. M. S. Perry, beg leave to
REPORT:
That tiny have had the same under consideration, and, after
mature deliberation, recommend that a skilled accountant be ap¬
pointed by the Governor raid confirmed by the Senate, with full
power to investigate and settle the unsettled accounts between
Ex-Gov. Perry, II. V. Snell, Q. M., and John W. Pearson, spe¬
cial agent, and the State, and also between themselves, as there
appears to have been, and still exists, very large unsettled money
transactions between the State and all those gentlemen, as well as
21
162
between themselves; hence the almost utter impossibility of
determining what sum is due to or from either of them, with¬
out settlement with the whole ofthem;and that the Comptroller
be instructed to audit and settle with those gentlemen, in accor¬
dance with the settlement of said accountant, and that said
accountant report such settlement to the next General As¬
sembly of this State.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JESSE NORWO.OD,
J. M. ARNOW,
JOHN SCOTT,
F. R. PITTMAN,'
A. Y. HAMPTON,
J. C. GREELEY,
R. H. BRADFORD.
Which was received and read.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to appropriate $10,000 for the
Wayside Kfomes or Hospitals in this State,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
Senate joint resolution in relation to the unsettled accounts of
Ex-Go v. M. S. Perry, Quarter Master General IL. V. Snell and
John W. Pearson, Disbursing Agent,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
The orders of the day being exhausted, on motion of Mr. Ross,
the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.
THURSDAY, December 3d, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present.
The Rev. Mr. Ellis officiated as Chaplain.
On motion, the reading of the journal of yesterday's proceed¬
ings was dispensed with and the journal approved.
■ Mr. Hampton moved that the Senate bill in relation to t^e en¬
try of public lands, which was passed over informally on Satur¬
day last, be taken up and placed among the orders of the day;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Foy moved that the resolution to increase our forces in
the field, be taken from the table and placed among the orders
of the day ; v
Upon which motion, the yeas and nays were called for by
Messrs. Foy and Ross, and were :
163
Yeas Messrs. Foy, Jones, Newbern, Price of Columbia, Ross,
Sessions, Thomas and Williams—8.
Rays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Brad¬
ford, Dishong, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Henry, Higginbotham,
Jackson, McGehee,'Mettauer, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Pol-
hill, Price of Alachua, Richardson, Scott, Seward and Wynn—23.
So the motion was lost.
Mr. Hampton moved that a committee of three be appointed
to confer with a similar committee on the part of the Senate, up¬
on the refusal of the Sehate to concur in the House amendment
to Senate bill to be entitled an act for the payment of plats fur¬
nished certain counties;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Hampton, Henry and Hew-
ett appointed said committee.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills beg leave to report the fol¬
lowing bills and resolutions as correctly enrolled, viz:
An act for the relief of Aaron W. DaCosta ;
An act to prevent and punish all persons planting and cultiva¬
ting, in the State of Florida, over a certain quantity of land in
cotton and tobacco during the continuance of the present war;
Resolution relative to the civil authorities of this State;
Resolution relative to Confederate Treasury Notes ; and
Resolution for the destruction of the State Bends -on hand of
the issues of 1856 and 18G1.
TI-IOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman.
Which was read.
Mr. Jones, from the Joint Committee on Military Affairs, made
the following report:
The Standing Committee of the Senate and House of Repre¬
sentatives on Military Affairs, forming a Joint and Select Com¬
mittee, to whom was referred so much of the Governor's Mes¬
sage as relates to the Arsenal, begs leave to
REPORT:
That it is inexpedient at this session of the General Assembly
to establish a Military Academy at said place, but that the same
should be taken care of by the Governor and safely kept; and
that the Governor allow the Confederate States to store therein
such property as they desire.
They have therefore prepared the accompanying joint resolu-
164
tion which they have sent to the Senate, which they recommend
do pass.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD HOPKINS, '
Chairman Senate Committee.
JAMES Y. JONES,
Chairman House Committee.
Which was read.
Mr. Greeley, from the Committee on Taxation and Revenue,
made the following report:
Your Committee, to whom was referred a bill to be entitled an
act to amend an act relative to the assessment of taxes, have had
the same under consideration, and beg leave to submit the fol¬
lowing
REPORT:
That in our opinion the bill is very objectionable, and as we
can see no necessity for the passage of such an act, we respect¬
fully ask that-the bill do not pass.
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. GREELEY.
Which was received and read, and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. Pittman, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, made
the following report:
The Committee on Engrossed Bills report the following bill
as correctly engrossed, viz :
A bill to be entitled an act to provide for furnishing to each
regiment and battalion in Confederate service from this State a
suitable flag or ensign; also a flag to be used at the Capitol.
F. R. PITTMAN, Chairman.
Which wa& received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
The following message was received from the Senate:
Senate Chamber, )
December 3rd, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Souse of Representatives:
Sir : The Senate has this day passed the following bills, viz
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the patrol laws of this
State;
A bill to be entitled an act to authorize the sales of a certain
165
portion of the Common Schools Lands to Francos M. Bryan, of
Franklin county;
A hill to be entitled an act. to authorize the Clerk of the Cir¬
cuit Court of Sumter county to keep his office at his own house:
also,
A bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act to
amend the act of 1851, providing for the establishment^ of two
Seminaries of Learning, approved February 14, 1861.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Seriate.
"Which was received and read and the bills placed among the
ordf rs of the, day.
Also the following:
Senate Chamaer, )
December 2nd, 1863. J"
Ho> T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Mouse of Representatives:
Sic: The Senate has refused to concur in House amendments
to tine following bill, viz :
A bill to be entitled an act to provide for the payment for plats
furnished the various counties.
Very respectfully,
JOHN B. WHITEHURST,
Secretary of the Senate.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act relative to the
assessment of taxes,
Was read the second time, and on motion of Mr. Jackson, in¬
definitely postponed.
Ordered that the same be certified t<? the Senate.
Mr'Eppes moved that the vote'just taken, indefinitely post¬
poning Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act relative
to the assessment of taxes, be reconsidered;
Which was not agreed to.
Senate bill to be entitled an act appropriating $10,000 for the
Wayside Homes and Hospitals in this State,
Was read the second time, rule waived, read the third time by
its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
166
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,-
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Gee, Hampton, Hannah,
Hendry, Ilewett,- Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Rew-
bern, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,. Price of Alachua, Price of Co¬
lumbia, Richardson, Ross, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Wil¬
liams and Wynn—33.
Rays—Messrs. Henry and Scott—2.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
On motion of Mr. Eppes, a committee consisting of Messrs.
Greeley*, Hannah and Seward was appointed to certify the same
to the Senate.
The committee retired, and in a short time returned and re¬
ported that they had performed their duty, and were discharged.
Senate joint resolution in relation to the unsettled accounts
of Ex-Gov. M. S. Perry, Quarter-Master General H. Y.Snell and
John W. Pearson. Disbursing agent,
Was read the second time.
'Mr. Ross moved to amend by striking out "an accountant"
and inserting "two accountants
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Foy moved to amend further by adding "and in case of
disagreement thy shall call in a third person ; "
Which was agreed to.
On motion, the rule was waived and the bill read the third
time by its title and-put upon its passage ;
The vote was :
Yeas-—Mr. . Speaker, Messrs. Arendell. Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Gee, Greeley, Hannah, Hen¬
dry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Mei-
tauer, Rewbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of
Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Sessions, Seward,
Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—33.
Rays—Rone.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
House, as having passed the Senate, a resolution for the relief of#
R. E. Frier, and also the following resolution : v
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That His Ex¬
cellency the Governor be'notified by a Joint Committee, that
this General Assembly have resolved to adjourn on Friday, thb
4th inst., at 12 o'clock, M., and to ask the concurrence of the
House in the same.
167
itie resolutions were received and placed among the orders of
the day. 1
Senate hill to he entitled an act to amend the Charter of the
Atlantic, Gulf & Central Railroad,
TV as read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas Messrs. Amos, Avery, Bradford, Cromartie, Foy, Gee,
Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham,
Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Mettauer, Nixon, Overstreet, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Scott, Sessions, Seward,
Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—28.
Nays—Messrs. Newbern and Ross—2.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same he certified to the Senate.
Engrossed hill to he entitled an act to provide for furnishing
to each regiment and battalion in Confederate service from this
State, a suitable flag or ensign, also a flag to he used at the Cap¬
itol,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie,
Foy, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Higgin¬
botham, Jackson, Jones, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet,
'Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—32.
Nays—none. _
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The rule being waived, Mr. Avery offered the following reso¬
lution :
Resolution relative to appointment of agents in Greenville and
Montgomery ;
Which was read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate resolution for the relief of R. E. Frier,
Was read the first time and ordered for a second reading on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend the patrol laws of
this State,
Was read the first time, rule waived, and read the second time
by its title.
Mr. Pittman offered the following amendment:
Provided, That the County Commissioners of their respective
counties phall have the power to exempt from duty all persons
168
who are physically disqualified for the duties imposed on their?
by the provisions of this act;
Which was adopted.
Mr. Henry moved to amend by adding'that " the provisions1 of
this act shall be in full force and effect during the continuance of
the present war and no longer; "
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Bradford moved to amend by striking out " 16," and in¬
serting " 18 ;"
Which was not agreed to. -
On motion,, the rule was waived, and the bill read the third
time by its title, and put upon its passage;
The vote was;
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Campbell,
Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Hampton, Hannah, Hen-
3ry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, MeGebee,
Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman,'Polhill, Price of Alachua,
Price of Columbia, Scott, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—32.
Nays—Messrs. Bradford, Mettauer, Ross and Sessions—4.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act
to amend the act of 1851, providing for the establishment of two
Seminaries of Learning, approved February 14th, 1861,
Was read the first time, rule waved, read the second and third-
times by its title, and put upon its passage;
The vote was :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley, Hampton,
Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Nixon, Price of Alachua,
Smith, Thomas and Wynn—21.
Nays—Messrs. Gee, Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Mettauer, New-
hern, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Columbia, Richardson,
Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward and Williams—16.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Sentite resolution to notify the Governor of the approaching
adjournment of the.General Assembly,
Was read and adopted, and on motion, Messrs. Jackson, Foy
and Polhill were apppointed a committee to act with the commit¬
tee on the part of the Senate to wait upon his Excellency the
Governor.
The committee retired, and in a short time returned and re¬
ported that they had performed their duty and were discharged.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to authorize the Clerk of the
169
Circuit Court of Sumter county to keep his office at his own
house,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
times by its title, and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas-»-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah,
Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, McGe-
hee, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—36.
Nay—Mr. Dishong—1.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to'tlie Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to authorize the sale of a cer¬
tain portion of the Common School Lands to Frances M. Bryan,
of Franklin county,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an* act to prevent the
entry of lands occupied by soldiers or their families during the
continuance of the present war, and also to regulate the sale and
entry of public lands, approved Dec. 12th, 1862, .
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
Public Lands.
The following communication wras received from his Excellen¬
cy the Governor:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, December 2, 1863. \
Hon. T. J. Ep^er,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sib :—I herewith return to the House of Representatives, in
which it originated, the bill entitled " An act for the protection
of the stock/of citizens in the counties of Lafayette, Taylor, Levy,
Orange, Brevard, Yolusia and St. Johnswithout my approval
and for the following reasons.
The bill proposes to require every person who attempts to
drive out cattle from any of the counties therein named, or
through any of those counties, to stop on the line of such boun¬
ty and look up the agent, who at the time my be at the other
end of the county or out of the way, and, having found the
agent, to have the stock examined by him and to pay him a tax
of ten cents per head, thus entailing upon the driver a great loss
22
170
of time, irrespective of other loss and expense, without any prac¬
tical good resulting commensurate with any evil sought to be
remedied.
The enforcement of the provisions of this hill may embarrass
the Confederate Government; for, should the Government re¬
quire beef or hogs from those counties, let the emergency be
ever so great, the persons composing the detail or engaged in
driving for the Government, would have to stop and hunt up the
agent to have the beef or hogs in their charge examined and
taxed. After this would come the payment .of the tax. How is
this to be paid? The persons composing the detail would not
be provided with the necessary funds, it not being usual or cus¬
tomary to place funds in the hands of such Government agents.
If paid by them, how shall they be reimbursed, there being no
law of the State or of the Confederate States for that purpose.
Again, this bill will prevent many citizens, living on the
line of said counties and having stock running in said counties,
from gathering together their own stock in the spring for milk¬
ing and driving off, without paying this tax or subjecting them¬
selves to a penalty of from five hundred to one thousand dollars.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
. Which was read.
On the question shall the bill be passed over the Governor's
veto, the vote was:
Yeas—Messrs. Campbell, Cromartie, Greeley, Hendry, McGe-
hee, Mettauer, Newbern, Overstreet, Price of Alachua, Richard¬
son, Scott and Seward—12.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Bradford, Dis-
hong, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Hampton, Henry, Ilewett, Higginboth-
am, Jackson, Jones, Nixon, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Columbia,
Ross, Sessions, Smith and Thomas—22.
So the bill was lost.
A .committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
the House that they had been appointed to convey to the House,
as having passed the Senate, joint resolution relative to the Ar¬
senal, and the following joint resolution :
J3e it resolved by the Senate and IToase of Fejvesaitatives of
the State of Florida in Gem ral Ass< mbly convened, That the
Joint Committee of the Senate and House on Finance and Public
Accounts be instructed to destroy by fire the sum of forty-eight
thousand four hundred and thirty-nine dollars and fifty-five cents,
redeemed under Ordinance 4b, and now in the Treasurer's office,
and to ask the concurrence of the House in the same; also,
To notify the House that the Senate had refused to pass House
bill to be entitled an act relative to interest on judgment.
171
^he resolutions were received and placed among the orders of
tfhe day.
The following communication was received from His Excellen¬
cy the Governor:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, December 3d, 1863. [
Hon. Thomas J. Eppes :
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : I respectfully recommend the following nomination for
fee advice and consent of the General Assembly, viz:
William O. Jeffreys,
Auctioneer for the County of Columbia.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read, and the nomination advised and consented to.
The Speaker called the attention of the House to the omission
of the printer to insert in the journal of the proceedings of the
■House, of the 27th ult., the fact of the election on that day of
Oscar Hart, as Assistant Enrolling Clerk of the House, to date
from the 26th ult.;
Whereupon, it was ordered that the entry be made in the pro¬
ceedings of to-day, to date from the 26th ult.
Senate joint resolution relative to the Arsenal,
-Was read the first time, rule waived, read the secondhand third
times by its title and put upon its passage;
The rote was :
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hamp¬
ton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jones,
McGehee, Nixon, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Scott,
Sessions, Smith, Thomas and Wynn—21.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Avery, Bradford, Campbell, Cro-
martie, Dishong, Mettauer, Newbern, Overstreet, Pittman, Rich¬
ardson, Ross and Seward—13.
So the resolution passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate joint resolution relative to the destruction, by the Com¬
mittee on Finance and Public accounts, of Treasury notes,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
times by its title and put upon its passage ;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Bradford, Camp¬
bell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Henry,
Hewett, Higginbotham, Jones, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern,
172
Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alacb.ua, Price of
Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith,
Thomas and Williams—32.
Nay—Mr. Jackson—1.
So the resolution passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Semite.
On motion of Mr. Scott, the House took a recess until 3 o'clock,
P. M.
THREE O'CLOCK, P. M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum present.
The orders of the day were resumed.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
House, as having passed the Senate, a bill to be entitled act
to levy a tax on blockade or imported liquors and other goods,
and a resolution in relation to the accounts of the late United
States Receivers and Registers, and to ask the concurrence of
the House in the same.
The bill and resolution were received and placed among- the
orders of the day.
The rule being waived, Mr. Scott, from the Committee on Pub¬
lic Lands, made the following report:
The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the
•bill to be entitled an act to amend an act to prevent the entry of
lands occupied by soldiers or their families during the continu¬
ance of the present war, and also to regulate, tfcc.., approved Dec.
13th, 186.2, ask leave to report the same back to the House and
recommend that it do not pass, as a bill including all its provi¬
sions has been passed.
N. T. SCOTT, Chairman.
Which was received and read and the bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Also the following:
The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the
bill to be entitled an act to authorize the sale of certain portions
of the Common School Fund, &c., askjleave to report the same
back to the House and recommend that the bill do not pass.
Respectfully submitted,
N. T. SCOTT, Chairman.
Which was read and the accompanying bill placed among
the orders of the day.
173
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills report the following hill
as correctly enrolled, viz:
An act to prevent the distilling of spirituous liquors in this
State.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman.
Which was read.
The rule being waived, Mr. Price of Columbia, introduced the
following bill:
A bill to be entitled an act making appropriations for the ex¬
penses of the second session of the twelfth General Assembly,
and for other purposes ;
Which was received and read the first time, rule waived and
read the second time.
Air. Henry moved to amend the bill by allowing the Secretary
and Assistant Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk and Assistant
Clerk of the House of Representatives each twelve dollars per
day, in lieu of the ten dollars, as provided for in the bill;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Eppes offered the following amendment:
" To Oscar Hart Assistant Enrolling Secretary, eighty dollars,
(#80 00." )
Which was adopted.
On motion, the rule was waived and the bill read the third
time by its title and put upon its passage;
The vote was -
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie,Gee, Greeley, Hamp¬
ton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson,
Jones, McGehee, MettauerJ Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill,
Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott,
Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—37.
Nays—None.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the*same be certified to the Senate.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
House, as having passed the Senate, a bill to be entitled ah act
authorizing the County Commissioners of Leon county to assess
additional taxes for the support of soldiers' families and the indi¬
gent of said county, and regulating the collection thereof; and
also to inform the House that the Senate had refused to concur
in House amendments to Senate joint rerolution in relation to the
unsettled accounts of Ex-Governor M. S. Perry, Quarter-Master
174
General II. Y. Snell and John W. Pearson, Disbursing Agent,
and to ask the House to recede from the same.
The bill and resolution were received and placed among the
•orders of the day.
The rule being waived, Mr. Hampton, from a Joint Select
Committee, made the following report:
The Joint and Select Committee, to whom was referred a bill
for the payment of plats and tracts, have met and agreed upon
five dollars being inserted in lieu of six as the House amend¬
ment, and ask the House to pass it with suc^i amendment, and
send it forthwith to the Senate.
A. Y. HAMPTON, Chm'n.
Which was received and read, and on motion, the amendment
proposed by the Conference Committee adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The rule being waived, Mr. Greeley moyed that the vote ta-.
ken this morning on a Senate resolution relative to the arsenal,
be reconsidered ;
Which wras agreed to.
Mr. Greeley then moved to place the resolution back upon its*
second reading;
Which was agreed to.
Mr. Greeley then moved that a Committee of three be appoint¬
ed to convey said resolution back to the Senate, the same having
been sent to the House informally;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Greeley, Ross and Over-
street appointed said Committee.
The Committee retired and in a short time returned and re¬
ported that they had performed their duty and were discharged.
A Committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
House, as having passed the Senate, a resolution relative to the
arsenal, and asked the concurrence of the House in the-same.
A Committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
House, as having passed the Senate, a bill to be entitled an act
to amend an act entitled an act to provide for the more effectual
administration of justice in the Courts of this State, approved
24th January, 1851, and a joint resolution relative to the pay of
the soldiers of the Confederate States, and to ask the concurrence
of the House in the same ; also to notify the House that the Sen¬
ate had refused to pass House bill to be entitled an act to punish
slaves for certain offences.
The Senate bill and resolution were received and placed among
the orders of the day.
175
The rule being waived, Mr. Garnie moved that each and every
member of this body present their pay to the soldiers' families
who rfequire assistance.
Mr. Pittman offered the following as an amendment to Mr.
Garnie's motion:
Provided, That nothing in this motion shall prevent Mr. I. V.
Garnie, or any other member of this House, from contributing
the amount of" his or their own pay.
Mr. Avery moved that Mr. Pittman's motion be substituted in
lieu of the original motion;
Which was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Smith, the substitute was laid on the table.
Senate resolution in relation to the accounts of the late United
States Receivers and Registers,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and referred to, the Committee on Public Lands .
Senate joint resolution relative to the Arsenal,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second and third
times by its title, and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Bradford, Campbell, Dishong,
Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry,
Hewett, Higginbotham, Jones, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Over-
street, Pittman, Rolhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Ross,
Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Williams—31.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs, Amos, Cromartie, Jackson, Mat-
tauer, Richardson and Wynn—7.
So the resolution passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate joint resolution in relation to the unsettled accounts of
Ex-Gov. M. S. Perry, Quarter-Master General H. Y. Snell, and
John W. Pearson, Disbursing Agent,
Was taken up, and on motion, the House receded from its
amendments.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to levy a tax on blockade or
imported liquors, and other goods,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title.
Mr. Eppes offered the following amendment:
Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That this act shall not be of
force or go into effect until Congress restricts and forbids the
running ol' the blockade: and the"General Assembly urges upon
Congress the necessity of stopping and forbidding the running
of the blockade, except for Government £pid State purposes.
176
Mr. Foy moved to lay the amendment on the table,
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called for by
Messrs. Foy and Jones and Avere :
Yeas—Messrs. Arendell, Foy, Hendry, Hewett, XXigginboth-
am, Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Polhill, Price
of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Ses¬
sions, Seward, Smith and Thomas—20.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Avery, Bradford, Camp¬
bell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Gee, Greely, Hampton, Han¬
nah, Henvy, Mettauer, Overstreet, Pittman, Williams and
Wvnn—18.
So the amendment was laid on the table.
Mr. Wynn moved to indefinitely postpone the bill,
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called for by
Messrs. Wynn and Garnie and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Avery, Campbell, Cromartie, Di¬
shong, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Henry, Met¬
tauer, Overstreet, Pittman and Wynn—14.
Nays—Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Bradford, Foy, Hendry,
Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Newbern,
Nixon, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas and Wil¬
liams—23.
So the motion Avas lost.
Mr. Mettauer moved to refer the bill to the 'Committee on
the Judiciary,
Upon which motion the yens and nays were called for by
Messrs. Jones and McGee and Avere:
Yeas—Mr. Speake1*, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Averv, Brad¬
ford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Garnie, Gee, GreeleAr,
Hampton, Hannah, Henry, Mettauer, Overstreet, Pittman, Price
of Alachua, Seward, Williams and Wynn—21.
Nays—Messrs. Hendry, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson,
Jones, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Polhill, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Smith and Tlvomas—16.
So the motion Avas agreed to and the bill referred.
The following communication Avas received from his Excel¬
lency the Governor:
Execittia'e Dep.xrtaiext, )
Tallahassee, Dee. 3d, 1863. j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
SpmUr of the House Rtpreseututivcs:
Sie : I have approved and signed the folloAving bill and reso¬
lutions, viz:
177
An act to prevent and punish all persons plan ting and cultiva¬
ting, in the State of Florida, over a certain quantity of land in
cotton and tobacco during the continuance of the present war;
Resolution relative to the civil authority of the State of Flor¬
ida ;
Resolution relative to Confederate Treasury notes ; and
Resolution for the destruction of the State Bonds on hand of
the issues of 1856 and 1861.
Respectfully,
' JOHN MILTON,
Which was read.
Senate bill to be entitled an act authorizing the County Com¬
missioners of Leon county* to assess additional taxes for the sup¬
port of soldiers' families and the indigent of said county, and
regulating the collection thereof,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time by
its title, and on motion of Mr. Bradford, laid on the table.
The rule being waived, Mr. Foy moved to reconsider the vote
just taken laying the bill on the table;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Henry moved that the House adjourn until 10 o'clock, to¬
morrow morning;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. Wynn moved that the House adjourn uutil two minutes
before 10 o'clock, to-morrow morning ;
Which was not agreed to.
Mr. McGehee moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow
morning, 9 o'clock;
Which was not agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Hampton, t|he House took a recess until 7|-
o'clock, p. m.
HALF-PAST SEVEN O'CLOCK. P. M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum prpsent.
The orders of the day were resumed.
The rule • being waived, Mr. Scott, from the Committee on
Public Lands, made the following report :•
The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred a res¬
olution in relation to the accounts of the late United States Re¬
ceivers and Registers, have had the same under consideration
and recommend its passage.
N. T. SCOTT, Chm'n.
23
"Which was received and read, and the accompanying resolu¬
tion placed among the orders of the day.
The rule being waived, Mr. Avery offered the following reso¬
lution :
Joint resolution relative to the Jefferson Manufacturing Com¬
pany ;
Which was read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate joint resolution,relative to the pay of the soldiers of the
Confederate States,
Was read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an
act to provide for the more effectual administration of justice in
the Courts of this State, approved January 24th, 1861,
Was read the first time, rule waived, read the second time
by its title and, on motion of Mr.-Wynn, indefinitely postponed.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
On motion of Mr. 'Avery, the House took a recess until 8
o'clock P. M.
8 O'CLOCK P. M.
The House resumed its session—a quorum present.
1 The orders of the day were resumed.
The rule being waived, Mr. Avery moved that the Senate res¬
olution in relation to the accounts of the late United States Re¬
ceivers and Registers, reported upon by the Committe on Puhilc
Lands, be taken up;
Which was agreed to.
The rule was then waived, and the bill read the second and
third times by its title, and put upon its passage;
The vote was:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford,
Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hamp¬
ton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Jackson, Jones, McGehee,
Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua,,
Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward,
Smith, Thomas and Williams—35.
Nays—None.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A Committe from the Senate appeared at the bar and inform¬
ed the House that they had been appointed to convey to the
17i:>
House, as having passed the Senate, a bill to be entitled an act
to declare and establish the rights of the State iL Florida in cer¬
tain Railroads, and a bill to be entitled an a t ■, 'ntivu to default¬
ing jurors, and House bill to be entitled an ac making appropri¬
ations for the expenses.of the second session of the twelfth Gen¬
eral Assembly, and for other purposes ; also that the Senate had
concurred in House substitute to a bill to be entitled an act to
amend an act to prevent the entry of lands occupied by soldiers,
or their families, during the continuance of the present war, and
also to regulate the sale and entry of Public Lands, approved
Dec. 15th, 1862.
The Senate bills were received and placed among the orders
of the day and the House bills ordered to be enrolled.
The rules being waived, Mr. Scott moved that Senate bill to
be entitled an act to amend an act to prevent the entry of lands
occupied by soldiers or their families during the continuance of
the present war, and also to regulate the entry and sale of pub¬
lic lands, approved December 13th, 1862, reported upon by the
Committee on Public Lands, be taken up;
Which was agreed to.
The rules were then waived and the bill was read the second
time and, on motion, laid on the table.
The rule being waived, Mr. Scott moved that Senate bill to be
entitled an act to authorize the sale of a certain portion ot the
Common School Lands to Francis M. Bryan, of Franklin county,
which was reported on by the Committee on Public Lands, be
taken up;
Which was agreed to.
The rule was then waived and the bill was read the second
time and, on motion, laid on the table.
Senate bill to be entitled an act in relation to defaulting ju¬
rors,
Was read the first time, rules waived, read the second time
by its title and, on motion, laid on the table.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to declare and establish the
rights of the State of Elorida in certain Railroads,
Was read the first time, rule waived and read the secon d time
by its title.
Mr. Eppes moved to lay the bill on the table;
Upon which the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs. Amos
and Scott, and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Bradford, Cromartie, Foy, Gee,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Jackson, McGehee, Nixon,
Scott, Seward, Smith, Williams and Wynn—17.
Nays—Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Campbell, Dishong,
Garnie, Greeley, Hewett, Jones, Mettauer, Newborn, Pittman,
ISO
Polhill. Piicc of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross,
Sessions and Thomas—19.
So the motion was lost.
Mr. Avery moved that the rule be waived and the bill be read
the third time by its title, and put upon its passage;
Upon which the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs.
Hampton and Eppes, and were :
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Campbell, Dishong,
Garnie, Greeley, Hewctt, Jones, Mettauer, Newbern, Nixon,
Pittman, Polhill, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Sessions, Smith and Thomas—21.
Nays—Air. Speaker, Messrs. Bradford, Cromartie, Foy, Gee,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, McGehee, Scott, Seward,
Williams and Wynn—14.
So the motion was lost, four-fifths not agreeing.
Mr. Eppes moved "that the bill be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary;
Upon which the ybas and nays were called for by Messrs.
Avery and Jackson, and were :
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Bradford, Cromartie, Foy, Gee,
Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, McGehee, Nixon, Polhill,
Scott, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—18.
Nays—Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Campbell, Dishong,
Garnie, Greeley, Hewett, Jackson, Jones, Mettauer, Newbern,
Pittman, Price of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross
and Sessions—18.
So the motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Avery, the bill was ordered for a third read¬
ing on to-morrow.
Mr. Williams moved that the rule be waived to allow him to
introduce a bill; i
Upon which the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs. Pol¬
hill and Jones, and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Bradford, Dishong,
Foy, Garnie, Gee, Hampton, Henry, Jackson, Jones, McGehee,
Nixon, Polhill, Smith, Thomas, Williams and Wynn—18.
Nays—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Campbell, Cromartie, Greeley,
Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Mettauer, Newbern, Pittman, Price
of Alachua, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions
and Seward—18.
So the motion was lost.
Mr. Scott moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow
morning, 10 o'clock;
Upon which, the yeas and nays being called for by Messrs.
Avery and Jones, were:
1 •
Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Bradford, Foy, Garnie, Gee, Hen-
iy, -Nixon, Richardson, Scott ahd Wynn—10.
Tk-^a-VS J^-ess,'s- -Amos, Arendell, Avery, Campbell, Cromartie,
Dishong, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Hewett, Jackson,
Jones, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern, Pittman, Polhill, Price-of
Alachua, Price ot Columbia, Ross, Sessions, Seward, Smith,
JLhomas and Williams—26.
So the motion was lost.
Mr. Wynn moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow
morning, 9 o'clock;
Hpon which, the yeas and nays being called for by Messrs.
Williams and Henry, were:
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Dishong, Foy, Garnie, Greeley,
Hannah, Headvy, Henry, He-vett, Newbern, Nixon, Price of
■ Alachua, Pnee of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Sessions, Seward,
Smith and Wynn- 21.J *
Nays—Mr.. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Bradford, Campbell,
Cromartie, Gee, Hampton, Jackson, Jones, McGehee, Mettauer,
Pittman, Polhill, Scott, Thomas and Williams—16
So ^he motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned until
to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.
FRIDAY, December 4tli, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum not pres¬
ent.
The Sergeant-at-Arms was sent for the absentees.
A quorum appeared and took their seats.
Mr. Greeley moved that the reading of the Jo uraai of yesler
day's proceedings be dispensed with ;
Which was not agreed to.
The journal was then read and approved.
A Committee appeared at the bar and informed' the House
that the Senate had passed the following bills and resolutions, u;
House bill to be entitled an act to provide clothing for troops
from Florida, in the service of the Confederate States ; House-
bill to be entitled an act further defining the duties of the Treas¬
urer of the State ; House bill to be entitled an act to provide for
furnishing to each regiment and battalion in Confederate service
from this State, a suitable flag or ensign, also a flag to be used
at the Capitol; House resolution in relation to copying fx .
laws; House resolution relative to appointment of agents in
Greenville and Montgomery ; House joint resolution relation to
the Jefferson Manufacturing Company; and House resolution
182
in reference to exportation of certain article! by private en¬
terprise, with amendment; also that the Senate had refused to
pass House bill to be entitled an act to facilitate the transaction
of business in the Quarter Master General's office, and House res¬
olutions for the relief of Justices of the Peace.
The bills and resolutions that had passed without amendment.,
were ordered to be enrolled, and the resolution passed with
amendments placed among the orders of the day.
Mr. Greeley mftved that Mr. Price of Alachua be excused from
further attendance on this House, on account of sickness in his
family;
"Which was agreed to.
Mr. Avery, from the Committee on the Judiciary, made the
following report:
The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred a bill
to be entitled an act to levy a tax on blockade or imported liquors
and other goods, ask leave to report the bill back to the House
without amendment.
Respectfully submitted,
O. M. AVERY, Chairman.
Which was read, and the accompanying bill placed among the
orders of the day.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made
the following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills beg leave to report the fol¬
lowing bills" as correctly enrolled, to wit:
An act to amend an act to prevent the entry of lands occu¬
pied by soldiers or their families during the continuance of the
present war, and also to regulate the entry and sale of Public
Lands, approved Dec. 13, 1862 ; also
An act making appropriations for the expense! of the second
session of the twelfth General Assembly, and for other purposes.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman.
Which was read.
Mr. Jones offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to furnish the House
with a copy of the correspondence Avhich has occurred with
regard to the removal of iron from railroads in Florida, between
his Excellency the Governor, the Hon. David Yulee, Gen. Beau¬
regard, the Secretary of War, the President of the Confederate
States and other officers of the Government.
Mr. Avery offered the following amendment:
That there shall also be furnished the correction to the state¬
ment made in one of the Governor's letters with regard to the
Alabama & Florida Railroad.
Mr. Jones moved to lay the amendment on the table.
Upon which the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs.
Williams and Jones, and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Bradford, Garnie, Gee,
Hampton, Henry, Jackson, Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Nixon, Over-
street, Polhill, Williams and Wynn—16.
Nays—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Campbell,.Cromartie, Dishong,
Duval, Foy, Greeley, Hannah, Hewett, Mettauer, Newbern, Pitt-
man, Price of Columbia, Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Sew¬
ard, Smith and Thomas—22.
So #ie motion was not agreed to and the amendment adopted.
On the adoption of the resolution as amended, the yeas and
nays were call for by Messrs. Williams and Henry, and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell, Bradford, Dishong, Foy,
Gee, Hampton, Hendry, Henry, Jackson, Jones, Leslie, McGehee,
Nixon, Polhill, Seward, Thomas and Williams—18.
Nays—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Campbell, Cromartie, Duval,
Garnie, Greeley, Hannah, Hewett, Higginbotham, Mettauer,
Newbern, Overstreet, Pittman, Price of Columbia, Richardson,
Ross, Scott, Sessions, Smith and Wynn—21.
So the resolution was lost.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled an act to declare and establish the rights
of' the State of Florida in certain Railroads,
Was read the third time and put upon its passage ;
The vote was: 1 •
Yeas-—Messrs. Amos, Avery, Campbell, Dishong, Duval, Gar¬
nie, Greeley, Henery, Hewett, Higginbotham, Jackson, Leslie,
Mettauer, Newbern, Overstreet, Pittman, Price of Columbia,
Richardson, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith and Thomas—
24.
Nays—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Arendell,^Bradford, Cromartie,
Foy, Gee, Hampton, Hannah, Henry, Jones, McGehee, Nixon,
Polhill, Williams and Wynn—15.
So the bill passed—title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to levy a tax on blockade or
imported liquors and other goods,
Was read the second time.
Mr. McGehee moved its indefinite postponement;
Upon which the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs. Mc¬
Gehee and Foy, and were:
Yeas—Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Bradford, Campbell, Cromartie,
Dishong, Duval, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hen-
184
rv, Jones, Mettauer, Overstreet, Pittman, Seward, Williams and
Wynn—19.
Nays—Messrs. Arendell, Avery, Foy, Hendry, Hewett, Ilig-
ginbotham, Jackson, McGehee, Newbern, Nixon, Richardson,
Ross, Smith and Thomas—14.
So the bill was indefinitely postponed.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made
the following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills beg leave to report the fol¬
lowing bills and resolution as correctly enrolled, viz: ■
An Act further defiuing the duties of the Treasurer of the
State;
An Act to provide clothing for troops from Florida in the ser¬
vice of the Confederate States ; and,
Joint resolution.
THOMAS J. McGEHEE, Chm'n.
Which was read.
House resolution in reference to exportation of certain articles
■, private enterprise, having passed the Senate with amendments,
■y is taken up, and, on motion, the Senate amendments concurred
:'i and the bill as amended ordered to be enrolled.
Senate joint resolution relative to the Indian River -Canal and
:'"\nu,
Was read the first time, rule waived and read the second time
oy its' title.
Mr. Wynn moved to lay the resolution on the table;
Which Avas not agreed to.
Mr. McGehee moved to refer the resolution to the Committee
on Internal Improvements;
Which was not agreed to.
On motion, the rule was then Avaived, and the resolution read
the third time by its title, and put upon its passage;
The vote Avas: , H
Yeas—Messrs. Amos, Arendell, Avery, Bradford, Campbell,
Bishong, Duval, Hampton, IleAvett, Higginbotham, Jacksonr
Jones, NeAvberu, Ross, Sessions, Seward and Smith—17.
Nays—Messrs. Foy, Garnie, Gee, Greeley, Hannah, Hendry,
Henry, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman,
Polhill, Price ol Columbia, Richardson, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—19.
So the resolution was lost.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
The rule being Avaived, Mr. Price of Columbia, from the Joint,
Standing Committee of the Senate and House on Finance and
Public Accounts, made the folloAving report:
185
The Joint Standing Committee of the Senate and House on
Finance and Public Accounts beg leave to report that they have
destroyed by fire the forty-eight thousand four hundred and thirty-
nine dollars and fifty-five cents of redeemed Treasury Notes in
the Treasurer's office, reported by this Committee on yesterday,
and which was ordered to be burned by resolution approved the
3rd instant.
JOSEPH PRICE,
Chairman House Committee.
JESSE NORWOOD,
Chairman Senate Committee.
Which was read.
Senate resolution for the relief of R. E. Frier,
Was read the second time, and on motion of Mr. McGehee,
laid on the table.
The following communication was received from his Excellency
the Governor:
Executive Department, >
Tallahassee, Dec. 4th, 1863. J
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Hepresentatives:
Sir : I have approved and signed the following bills, viz:
An act for the relief of Aaron W. DaCosta; also,
An act to prevent the distilling of spirituous liquors in this
State.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read.
Also the following:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, Dec. 4th, 1863. J
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
Sir : I have approved and signed the following bills, viz:
An act making appropriations for the expenses of the second
session of the twelfth General Assembly, and for other purpo¬
ses*, also,
An act to amend an act to prevent the entry of lands occupied
by soldiers or their families during the continuance of the present
"war.
"Very rcBpEctftiByj
JOHN MILTON.
24
180
Which was read.
Also the following:
Executive Department, )
Tallahassee, Dec. 4th, 1868, j
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the Home of Representatives:
Sir : I respectfully recommend the following nomination for
the advice and consent of the General Assembly, viz:
W. W. Hull,
Auctioneer for the county of Clay.
Very respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read, and the nomination advised and consented to.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
the House that they had been appointed to convey to the House
as having passed the Senate, resolution in relation to the war be¬
tween the Confederate States and the United States, and to ask
the concurrence of the House in the same.
The resolution was received and placed among the orders of
the day.
On motion of Mr. Williams, the rule was waived, and the fol¬
lowing resolutions, which were passed over informally on the
25th November, were taken up:
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That, to
supply the soldiers in the field and our armies now engaged in
the most desperate strife, at a most critical period of the strug¬
gle, is the highest and most imperative duty, both of the Con¬
federate and State Governments, and of every loyal citizen; that
all should contribute in this emergency by voluntary contribution,
or by a warm, earnest and cordial support of the laws made to
that end, that the cause of our country may not be imperilled
for want of such support.
2nd. Resolved, That it is more particularly the duty of those
having large means and property, left at home for this very pur¬
pose, and who have a superfluity on hand, not to hold back, but
to come forth in a commendable spirit, that the confidence re¬
posed in them be not abused; and that they do not sell for spec¬
ulation for their own enrichment, but contribute a part to their
country, that all that is dear to them, their lives, liberty and
property, may be saved from the grasp of an insolent tyrant; that
any failure in this respect may expect neither sympathy, counte¬
nance nor support from this Legislature, but, on the eontrarv, the-
severest condemnation and censure, and may make themselves
responsible for their country's ruin.
3rd. Resolved, That every law Is liable to abuse, and whilst
evei'y violation of it for improper purposes should meet with
prompt resistance and exposure, yet that this by no means estab¬
lishes the impropriety of the law which contemplates no such
result, and is not rightly ameanable for such abuse. That in this
instance, as well as all others of asserted improper action by the
Confederate authorities, the proper corrective is by application
and remonstrance to the heads of that Government under which
they hold their office.
4th. Resolved, That we have the most entire/confidence in the
wisdom, integrity and patriotism of the venerated Chief Magis¬
trate Jefferson Davis, and entertain the fullest conviction that
with proper representations and exposure of the alleged miscon¬
duct complained of, the appropriate remedy will «be cheerfully
and satisfactorily applied.
5th. Resolved, That we deprecate all and every action, how¬
ever well meant, on the part of the State officers, calculated to
embarrass the Confederate Government in its proper functions,
and that the Legislature pledge themselves to the support, not
only of this, but of other laws within the rightful province of the
Confederate Congress.
6th. Resolved, That the Committee charged with the Gov¬
ernor's Message on this subject, on yesterday, be discharged from
the further consideration of the subject.
On motion, the resolutions were laid on the table.
Resolution in relation to the war between the Confederate
States and the United States,
Was read.
Mr. Hampton offered the following amendment:
*And be it further enacted, That we surrender up all Railroad
iron that is actually necessary for a vigorous prosecution of the
war."
Which was not agreed to.
The resolution was then read and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Mr. McGehee moved that Mr. Polhill be added to the Com¬
mittee on Enrolled bills ;
Which was agreed to.
On motion, the House took a recess untill twenty minutes be¬
fore 12 o'clock, m.
20 MIMUTES BEFORE la O'CLOCK, M
The House resumed it* session.
188
The following members answered to their names:
Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Amos, Arendell, A very, Baltzell, Brad¬
ford, Campbell, Cromartie, Dishong, Duval, Foy, Garnie, Gee,
Greeley, Hampton, Hannah, Hendry, Henry, Hewett, Higgin-
botham, Jackson, Jones, Leslie, McGehee, Mettauer, Newbern,
Nixon, Overstreet, Pittman, Polhill, Price of Columbia, Richard¬
son, Ross, Scott, Sessions, Seward, Smith, Thomas, Williams and
Wynn—-40.
A quorum present.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills report the following bill and
resolutions as correetly enrolled, viz;
An act to provide for furnishing to each regiment and battal¬
ion in Confederate service from this State a suitable flag or en¬
sign ; also a flag to be used at the Capitol;
Resolution in relation to copying the Laws; "and,
Resolution relative to appointment of agents in Greenville and
Montgomery.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman.
Which was read.
Mr. Henry offered the following resolution:
itesolved^ That the thanks of this House are due, and are here¬
by tendered the Hon. T. J. Eppes, Speaker of this House, for
the eminently acceptable and dignified manner in which he has
discharged the arduous duties of his office.
Which was read and unanimously adopted.
Mr. Jones offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the thanks of this House are due, and are here¬
by tendered, to Thomas B. Barefoot, Clerk, Dr. Wm. F. Bynum,
Assistant Clerk, and all the other officers of this House, for the.
prompt and efficient manner in which they have discharged the
various duties of their several offices.
Which was read and unanimously adopted.
The following communication was received from his Excellency
the Governor:
Executive Department, >
Tallahassee, Dec. 4th, 1868. j*
Hon. T. J. Eppes,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir : I have approved and signed the following bills and reso¬
lution, viz:
An act further defining the duties of the Treasurer of the State;
_ An act to provide clothing for troops from Florida in the ser¬
vice of the Confederate States; also,
189
Resolution relative to exemption of workmen in the Jefferson
.Manufacturing Company.
Respectfully,
JOHN MILTON.
Which was read.
Mr. McGehee, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, made the
following report:
J he Committee on Enrolled Bills report the following resolu¬
tion as correctly enrolled, viz:
Resolution in reference to exportation and importation of cer¬
tain articles by private enterprise.
THOS. J. McGEHEE, Chairman.
Which was read
The rule being waived, Mr. Williams moved that a committee
of three be appointed by the House, to act with a similar commit¬
tee on the part of the Senate, to wait upon the Governor and in¬
form him that the General Assembly is now about to adjourn,
and ask if he has any further communication to make;
Which was agreed to, and Messrs. Williams, Henry and Hew-
ett appointed said committee.
The committee retired, and in short time returned and reported
that they had performed their duty, and that the Governor had
informed them he had no further communications to make to the
General Assembly.
The same committee was requested to wait upon the Senate
and inform that body that the hour of 12 o'clock, M„ having ar¬
rived, the House was now ready to adjourn sine die.
The committee retired, and in a short time returned and re¬
ported that they had performed their duty and were discharged.
A committee from the Senate appeared at the bar and informed
the House that the hour of 12 o'clock, M., having arrived, the
Senate was now ready to adjourn sine die.
The Speaker, in a brief and pertinent address, returned thanks
to the House, on the part of himself and the other officers of the
House, for its endorsement and appreciation of the manner in
which he and they had performed the duties of t,heir respective
positions.
The hour of 12 o'clock, M.—the time designated in a,joint
resolution for the adjournment of the General Assembly—having
arrived the Speaker declared the House adjourned sine die.
26
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANYING TEE GOVEEEOE'S MESSAGE.
COMPTROLLER'S REPORT.
d»0
Treasury Department, Comptroller's Ofeice, )
Tallahassee, November 2d, 1863. f
To His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
Sir : In obedience to the requirements of law, I herewith sub¬
mit my official Report upon the finances of the State for the
year ending on the 31st d.ay of October, 1863:
The receipts at the Treasury amount to $916,980 81
To-wit:—From License Tax, $923 73
" Fines, 540 08
" Auction Tax, 1,632 85
" Revenue 1857, 51 38
1859, 800 64
1860, 948 14
1861, 9,354 60
1862, 70,254 99
1863,. . 600 00
From Charter License, Apalaohicola Chan¬
nel Company, „ 100 00
" Duty on R. R. iron at Fernapdina, 9,161 10
" State Bonds of 1856, ' 5,000 00
" Hospital Fund, 2,639 10
" Destitute Families of Soldiers, 8,505 10
" Contingent Fund, 1,497 26
" Maintenance Lunatics, 283 50
" Treasury Notes, 802,550 20
" Military Purposes, 2,138 14—$916,980 81
The Warrants issued amounted to $610,186 94
To-wit:—Executive Department—
On account of Salaries, $6,100 00
'Judicial Department—
On account of Salaries, 22,902 74
" Criminal Prosecution^, 4,687 64
" Jurors and Witnesses, 6,453 40
" Post Mortem Examinations, 33 00
" Maintenance Lunatics, 2,196 03
" Lands bought in by the State
for Taxes, 524 57
lAp
2
On account General Printing and Pub¬
lishing, 555 00
" Contingent Expenses, State, 10,914 75
" Public Lands, 1,721 95
" Contractors Surveying Public
Lands, 703 25
" Repairs of Capitol, 922 60
" Conting't Expenses Supreme
Court, 38 25
" Military Purposes, 12,043 91
" Interest State debt, 35,495 80
" Payment State debt, 217,353 98
" Expenses General Assembly, 21,328 99
" Act appropriating twenty-five
thousand dollars for the sick
and wounded Soldiers from
Fla. in the several Hospitals, 6,561 43
" Hospital Florida Troops in
the W est, ' 2,000 00
" Resolution to facilitate the
procurement of Cotton and
Wool Cards, 5,200 00
" Payment of Troops in service
after 10th March, 1862, 16,326 35
" State Scrip of 1857 for interest
on Scrip of 1853, for interest 285 09
" Act to p'ay certain certificates
to Sparkman, Parker, Dy-
ches, and other volunteer
companies, 12,535 62
" Appro'tion to purchase sta¬
tionery for the use of the
Government, and candles
for the General Assembly, 500 00
" Clerk hire for Executive De-
partmeift, 101 15
" Resolution relative to copying
the Laws, 125 00
Resolution to defray the burial
expenses of Hon. Archibald
Campbell .dec'd, 55 25
" Act for relief of Gen. W. E.
Anderson and others, 1881, 62 99
" same, 1882, „ 2,284 18
" Act for relief of J. J. Ward,
sheriff, 150 00
" Act for relief of Oapt. Jenkins
of the Sloop Hancock, 240 00
" Act for relief of S. J. Perry,
deputy sheriff, 100 00
" Act for relief of R. Saunders,
sheriff, 205 63
" Actfor relief of widow oi Gen.
B. Hopkins and others, 4,335 07
" Act for relief of John Kelly, 300 00
" Act for relief df Lieut. H. A»
Gray, 120 00
Act for relief of J. A. Granger, 24 37
Act for relief of Jas. Caverly, 14 77
Oompen'tion to Messrs. Papy
and Banks, 50 00
Act to aid the Families of Sol¬
diers, 191,505 83
Election returns, 187 00
Pay for signing Treas. Notes, 20 00
Expenses Treasury Notes, 13,737 73
Act to provide Clothing for
State Troops, 8,816 96
Pensions, 20 00
Act for relief of Dr. John P.
Duval, $396 66—610,186 94
SCHOOL FUND.
Balance from receipts of fiscal year ending Oct. 31,1862, $ 6,690 89
Paid in by Hugh A, Corley, Register, 17,656 30
" " City of Tallahassee on account of loan, 887 30
Total, $25,234 49
Paid out—By warrants to H. A. Corley, Register, for "
salary, $ 700 00
" " to same, for expenses of office, 6100
" " to Walter Gwynn, Compt., for
investment, 5,000 00— 5,761 00
Leaving balance in treasury, $19,473 49
Bonds on hand belonging to this Fund per last report:
44 State of Florida, $1,000, 7 per cent., $44,000 00
10 " of " 500, 8 per cent., 5,000 00
. Part of one of " 7 " " .860 00
" « " " 7 " " 506 06
9 Florida Railroad, 7 " " 9,000 00
1 Putnam county, 3,000 8 " " 3,000 00
Purchase^ Nov. 3, '62, 5 State of Florida, 1,000 7 p«r cent., 5,000 00
Received from State of Florida, one 8 per cent, bond for
the siim of 99,500 00
Making, $166,866 06
INTEREST SCHOOL .FUND.
Balance from receipts of fiscal year ending Oct. 31,1862, $ 1,787 81
Received from State of Florida, interest on loan of $99,500,
to January 1, 1863, _ 15,277 22
Received interest on bonds in my hands, 9,993 95
u « » " of city of Tallahassee iri hands, of
Treasurer, H2 70
Total, $27,171 68
Paid out—By warrants to Hugh A. Corley, superintendent of
Public Schools, 24,966 68v
Leaving balance in treasury, $2,205 00
SEMINARY FUND.
Balance trom receipts of fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 1862, $508 40
Paid in by H. A. Corley, Register, 7,948 90
Total, $8,457~30
Paid out—By Warrants to H. A. Corley, Reg., for salary, $700
u u u a u u a a eXpengeg
of office, 21— 721 00
Leaving balance in treasury, 4 $7,736 30
Bonds belonging to this Fund as per last report:
6 State ot Florida, $1,000, 7 per cent., $6,000 00
2 " " " 500, 8 " " 1,000 00
1 Florida Railroad, 1,000, 7 " " 1,000 00
Part of two 7 per cent. Florida State bonds, 633 94
Received from State of Florida, one 8 per cenf. bond for 60,992 45
Total, $69,626 39
INTEREST SEMINARY FUND.
Balance from receipts of fiscal year ending Oct. 31,1862, $271 99
Received interest on $60,992.45, loaned State of Florida to Jan¬
uary 1,1863, 9,383 56
" on bonds in my hands, 3,229 07
Total, $12,884 62
Paid out—By warrants on account West Florida
Seminary, $4,153 84
" " " " East Floripa
Seminary, 176 32 —4,330 16
Leaving balance in Treasury, $8,554 46
War Tax Treasury Notes.
0
In obedience to section 1, of the act approved December 6,
1862, entitled " an act to aid the families of soldiers that require
assistance," I signed and turned over to the Treasurer $159,605"
of the $159,625'treasury notes in my hands, as per last report,
leaving two defective tens still in my hands.
5
They are numbered and registered as follows:
To-wit:—1,220 Hundreds, letter " H," numbered from 1 to 1,220
440 Fifties, " " G," " " 2,000 to 2,440
15 "Twenties, « "F," " " 21,601 to 2,615
18 Tens, " "E," " " 4,601 to 4,618
3,025 Fives, " "A," " " 7,000 to 10,025
STATEMENT of Balances, by Sundry Officers, Oct. 31, 1863.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY.
A W Nicholson, T C, Revenue 1848, $90 40
Auction tax, 29 36— 119 76
Francis M Maura, Shff, Licenses, 287 50
Fines, . 148 37
Auction tax, 21 95-* 457 82
Donald Davidson, Auct'r, Auction tax, 34 84— 34 84
F DelaRua^ Shff & T C, Revenue 1852, 731 21
, Licenses, 191 08— 922 29
W McR Jordon, Shff & T C, Revenue 1859, 330 77
'Licenses, 86 82
Fines, 46 78— 463 37
A J Collins, Shff &TO, . Revenue 1851, 195 79
Mortimer Blight, Shff & T C, Fines, 57 06
D Williams, Shff &TC, Revenue 1860, 286 62
11361, 3,239 70
Licenses, 738 42
Fines, 659 41— 4,924 15
Total, $7,175 08
SANTA ROSA.
James Mfclmos sheriff, Licenses, T27 50
. Fines, 386 10— 413 60
James R Mims, Sheriff, Fines, 44 06— 44 08
Isaiah Cobb, Sheriff & T C, Licenses, 1,151 19
Fined 758 58
No. Tax Books for 1860-61, Auction tax, 16 66— 1,926 43
J C McArthur, Shff & T C, Revenue 1859, 170 22— 170 22
W W Harrison, Shff & T C, Licenses, . 18 70
Fines, 41 50—^ 60 24
Total, $@,614 55-
JACKSON.
Benjamin F Parker, Shff, Fines, 55 00— 55 00
James Griffin, Sheriff, Fines, 465 22— 465 22
CCCobb, TC, Auction tax, 6' 50— 6 50
John T My rick, Shff, Licenses, 09
Fines, 128 60— 128 69
Total, $655 41"
6
ERANKLIN.
H K Simmons, T C,-
W Yalleau, Clerk N N,
John Lucas, Shff <fc T C,
Revenue 1861,
Fines,
Revenue 1846
Fines,
Licenses,
Benj. Lueas, shff and T C, Revenue 1851,
Licenses,
Fines,
Auction tax,
HOHLES.
Revenue 1860,
1861,
Fines,
Total,
J A Vaughan, T C,
Total,
WASHINGTON.
John A Tabor, shff and T. C, Revenue 1855,
Fines,
John B Pearson, shff and T C, Revenuq 1857,
. Fines,
George F Gainer, shff and T C, Revenue 1859,
1860,
1861,
Fines,
Henry. Clark, T C, Revenue 1848,
Total,
CALHOTJN.
Isaac Jackson, shff and T C, Revenue 1845,
1846,
1847,
Fines,
T J Land, shff, . Finqs,
James Stanfill, shS and T C, Revenue 1861,
Licenses,
Total,
Moses S Atkins, T C,.
James M Smith, shff,
Hugh O McLean, T C,
Fines,
GADSDEN.
Revenue 1859,
1860,
1861,
Auction tax,
Licenses,
Fines,
Revenue 1858,
Auction tax,
72 66—
55 00—
82 45
76 04
20 00—
951 63
76 91
6 08
246 80—
72 68
55 00
178' 49
1,281 37
$1,587 52
53 60
473 33
1,017 08— 1,544 01.
$1,544 01
379 19
14 58—
75 62
7 00—
144 37
188 31
101 28
231 45—
12 86—
393 77
82 62.
065 41
12 86
$1,154 66
46 72
5 00—
763 12—
1,023 02
196 11
Iffl 95—
60 32
763 13
5,351 72
8,415 00
7,877 97
02—
157 50
647 71—
332,48
32 12-
1,329 08
$2,152 52
21,644*71
805 21
364 6a
Benj. C West, shff and T C,
Samuel B Love, shff,
Total,
Daniel McRainey, T C,
Total,
G G Holt, auct'r,
R M Spencer, T C,
Total,
William H Ellis, shff,'
Total,
T M Anderson, Shff,
E M Yann, Shff,
A Yann, Shff,
E Summerline, acting Shff,
J H Patterson, Shff,
Total,
J J Ward, T-C
Total,
Edward Jordan, T C.
Alexander Ez«ell, T C,
Total,
D P Sneli; T C,
Total,
Licenses,
Pines,
Licenses,
Fines,
LEON.
20 98
55 63—
188 71
95 95—
Revenue 1850,
1851,
"WAKULLA.
Auction tax,
Revenue 1861,
JEFFERSON.
Licenses^
Fines,
MADISON.
Licenses,
Fines,
Licenses,
Fines,
Licenses,
Fines,
Fines,
Licenses,'
Fines,
LAFAYETTE.
Revenue, 1802,
TAYLOR.
Revenue 1862,
Revenue 1857,
1858,
1859,
SUWANNEE.
Revenue 1861,
516 56
970 48-
76 61
284 66
$23;i75 79
- 1,487 04
$1,487 04
22 77—
244 91—
22 77
244 91
$5267 68
65 00
4 00—
69 00
$69 00
176 56
60 01—
236 57
299 00
1 00—
300 00
10 60
■ 53 36—
63 96
120 00—
120 Off
115 50
1 50—
117 00
$837 53
385 07-
579 76-
10 34
99 47
145 23-
583 67-
385 07
$385 07
579 76
2oo 04
$834 SO
583 67
$583 67
8
James N Hendr^, Shff,
H M Stephens, Cl'k,
L B McTyier, Shff,
Total,
*W H Niblack, T C,
N A Jameson, Shff,
W C Collins, T C.
Wm M Duke, T C,
T M Mickler, Shff,
Reuben Hogans, Shff,
A A Stewart, Shff,
W A Sheffield, T C,
L K Mickler, T C,
G W Cole, Auctioneer,
James R Francis, T C,
* Total,
John D Jones, T C,
A J Braddock, Shff,
Benj C Parker, Shff & T C,
Total,
Uriah Bowden, Shff,
Charles Summers, T C,
X Ii Yaught, T C,
Paul B Can'ova, Shff,
George H Smith, Shff,
T J Kendricks, T C,
Charles DeWall, auctr,
Total,
A I) Rogero, Shff & T C,
Paul Sahara, Shff,-
HAMILTON.
Licenses, 860 00
Fines, 869 74— 1,729 74
Fines, 15 00— 15 00
Incenses, 168 00
Fines, 42 58— 210 58
$1,955 32.
COLUMBIA.
Fines, 567 54— 567 54
Revenue 1862, 425 61— 425 61
Revenue 1856, 88
Auction! Tax, 19 13— 20 01
Licenses, ^ 1,133 67
Fines, 991 29— 2,124 96
Licenses, 458 00— 458 00
Licenses, 22 00— 22 00
Revenue 1854, 322 54— 322 54
Revenue 1852, 48 74
" 1853, 26 17— 74 91
Auction Tax, 29 10— 29 10
Revenue 1862, 834 36
$4,879 03
NASSAU.
Revenue 1860, 257 18
1861, 1,603 79,
Auction Tax, ' 32 44--'-- 2,920 41
Licenses, 323 78
Fines, 11 76-— 353.54
Revenue 1862, 712 33— 712 33
DUVAL.
$4,108 28
Licenses, 415 00
Fines, 2,515 52— 2,930 89
Revenue 1860, 63 89— 6 5
Revenue 1856, 4,370 99— 4,370 99
Licenses, 30 00
Fines, 919 98— 949 98
Fines, 345 63— 345 63
Revenue 1859, 1,084 28— 1,084 '28
Auotion Tax, 6 21— 6 21
$9,751 50
ST. JOHNS.
Revenue 1861, 222 90
Fines, 334 95
Auction Tax, 14 12— 571 97
Fines, 18 43— 18 43
9
Jacob Mickler, Shff.
Jos S Sanchez, Shff & T C,
R B Canova, Shff,
Jas A Mickler, Shff & T C,
A A Canova, T C,
Total,
N B Mizell, Shff&TC
RobtTBoyd, Shflf&TC,
N Norton, Shff & T C,
Jas B Brown, Shff & T C,
Total,
S W Burnett, Shff,
*Chas L Wilson. Shff & T C,
A E Geiger, Shff,
D A Frier, T C,
A W Cook, T C,
George B Ellis, T C,
Total,
S Helvenston, (Slkff,
N A McLeod, sheriff,
D B Capplemah, sheriff,
James M Willis, T C
Total,
Jos F Pre vat t, Shff & T C
Licenses,
Revenue 1847,
Licenses,
Fines,
Fines,
Revenue 1856,
Revenue, 1849,
PUTNAM,
Revenue 1860,
Revenue 1861,
Revenue 1851,
Revenue 1853,
Licenses,
Fines,
Licenses,
Fines,
Revenue 1856,
Fines,
ALACHUA.
Licenses,
Fines,
Fines,
Revenue 1860,
Revenue 1864,
Revenue 1859,
Revenue 1857,
Finos,
MAKION.
Fines,
Licenses,
Licenses,
Fines,
Revenue 1857,
LETT.
Revenue 1862,
Licenses,
Fines, •
Robt W Randall, Shff & T C Revenue 1854,
Revenue 1855,
Total,
Thomas B Law, sheriff,
2Ap
HEfcNANDO.
Fines,
4 84—
556 22
55 00
65 00—
2,823 59—
* 291 24—
23 92—
4 84
676 22
2,823 59
291 24
23 92
$4,410 21
53 31
1,251 30—
3 00
3 98
6 46
496 19—
98 80
190 10—
34 17
41 83—
282 51
626 50—
5 35—
1,050 68
4,999 15—
595 61—
86 13
97 60—
1,304 SI
509 63 ^
288 90
76 00
$2,179 14
909 01
5 35
6,049 83
595 61
183 73
$7,743 53
119 39—
131 85—
293 50
3,553 20—
136 39—
219 07
16
150 39-
45 05
288 15-
119 39
131 85
3,846 70
136 39
|4,234 33
369 62
333 $0
$702 82
986 70— 985 70
10
Charles McMinn, sheriff,
Egtekiel L Selph, T C
TotaJ,
J W Robarts, Auctioneer,
Wm 8 Spencer, shff & T#C
B J Hauler, sheriff & T C
Henry L Parker, shff & T C
Fines,
Revenue 1854,
Revenue 1855,
Auction tax,
Total,
W M Christian, sheriff,
TotaJ,
J C Stewart, sheriff & T C
Total,
Joel C Addison, T C
James D Green, shff & T C
Total,
D C Presto*t, T C
Total,
E J Daniels, shff &T C
t
Total,
T E Dekle, T C
Total,
Edgar A Coste, sheriff
HILLSBOROUGH.
Auction tax,
Revenue 1862,
Licenses,
Fines,
Auction tax,
Revenue 1856,
Revenue 1857,
Licenses,
Fines,
Auction tax,
SUMTER.
Fines,
ORANGE.
Fines,
MANATEE.
Revenue 1860,
Revenue 1861,
Revenue 1862,
Fines,
BAKER.
Revenue 1861,
CLAY.
Revenue 1861,
F,ines,
BRADFORD.
Revenue 1861,
Revenue 1S62,
MONROE.
62 85—
408 93
1,023 37
14 10—
1 80—
156 97
35 00
2 05—
1 71—
22 79 ■'
1,273 17
1,104 50
1,555 00
94 49—
ff2 85
1,446 50
,494 95
1 80
194 02
1 71
119 50—
213 54—
09
12
492 41—
11 35—
130 yi
4,049 95
$4,247 48
119 50
$119 50
213 54
$213 54
492 62
11 35
$503 97"
130 96
Licenses,
Fines,
880 98
235 24—
1,269 81
865 79—
740 00
275 06—
1,116 22_
$1,116 22
2,135 60
$2,135 60
1,015 06
11
R D Fontaine, Auctioneer,
Robert Clark, sheriff,
Wm Lowe, jr, T C,
GG Watson, TG,
Samuel Young, T C,
Total,
Auction tax,
Licenses,
Fines,
Revenue 1859,
Auction tax,
Auction tax,
ST. LUCIE.
Wm D Ward, sheriff and T C, Revenue 1845,
1846,
J G Marsh, T C,
Total,
BEEYAED.
Revenue 1861,
YOLUSIA.
J C Marsh, sheriff and T C, Revenue 1861,
Fiijes,
T T Brook, sheriff and T C, Revenue 1860,
" 1859,
No Tax Book for 1855-'60.
H E Osfeen, sheriff and T C, Revenue 1857,
Total,
70 85— 70 8
i 44.Q 21
2*30 13— 1,693 34
80 26— 80 26
89 36— 89 36
1 81— 1 31
158 25
2m 62-
103 19—
5 11
40 00—
582 08
56 80—
55 08—
$3,950 18
401 87
$401 87
162 19
$162 19
45 11
688 97
55 08
$739 16
12
RECAPITULATION.
Escambia, $7,175 08
Santa Rosa, 2,614 55
Jackson, 655 41
Franklin, 1,587 52
Holmes, 1,544 01
Washington, 1,154 66
Calhoun, 2,152 52
Gadsden, 23,175 79
Leon, 1,487 04
Wakulla,.* 267 68
Jefferson, 69 00
Madison, 837 53
Lafayette, 385 07
Taylor, *. 834 80
Suwannee, 583 67
Hamilton*, 1,955 32
Columbia, 4,879 03
Nassau, 4,108 28
Duval, h 9,751 50
St. Johns, " •...... 4,410 21
Putnam, 2^179 14
Alachua, 7,743 53
Marion, *. 4,234 33
Levy, 702 82
Hernando, : ' 2,494 95
Hillsborojagh, 4,247 48
Sumter, 119 50
Orange, 213 54
Manatee, 503 97
Baker, 130 96
Clay,....'. * 1,116 22
Bradford, .' 2,135 60
Monroe, 2,950 18
St. Lucie, v 401 87
Brevard, 162 19
Volusia, 739 16
$99,704 11
13
STATEMENT
Of the Gross and JSTet amount of Revenue of the State of Flor¬
ida for the year 1863.
Revenue.
Fines & For¬
feiture.
Auction Tax! Licenses, j (^ossf
Gross.
Net.
Gross.
Net.
Gross.
Net.
Gross
Net.
No return
No return
No return
No return
397.90
No return
.1,209
1,213.40
No return
No return
No return
, 5,mi4
15,327.40
12,567.54
No return
No return
3,195.06
4,072.32
6,639.26
1,052,44
No return
No returfi
No return
No return
No return
967.56
3,019.85
No return
1,696.28
1,235.55
No return
664.73
No return
No return
No return
No return
837.84
475.09
1,815,96
343.20
1,197.39
1,200.69
4,864.10
14,835.88
12,131.19
2,972.26
3>S15.1t>
6,321.48
944.30
865.16
2,804.06
1,550.00
1,116.42
586.56
745.82
429.09
1,662.01
185.40
176.13
' 54.60
51 <87*
127.80
626.06
1261.41
589.00
32.05
30.45
567.50
589.13
1,346.46
1,279.14
40.55
38.53
345.44
328.17
300.00
285.00
61,540.30 58,384.66 1,6^7.90 1,54G.52 1,691.90 1,607.31 300.00 285.00 65,159.10
14
The Assessors in the counties named in the following list have
made no returns of the taxes assessed for the years therein stated:
Escambia, no returns for 1862
Santa Rosa, " 1860-'61-'62
Franklin, " 1862
Gadsden, " 1862
Columbia, " 1860
Duval, " 1861-62
St. Johns, " 1862-
Putnam, " 1862
Alachua, " < 1855
Sumter, " 1858-5,9
Brevard, , 1862
Mfenroe, " 1861-'62'
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER GWYNN", Comptroller.,
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Treasury Oeeice, )
Tallahassee, Nov. 9th, 1863. J
His Excellency John Milton,
Gdvernor of Florida:
Sir—Agreeable to the requirements of the statute upon the
subject, I herewith submit for the General Assembly the Finan-
. cial Reports from this office for the period of a year ending the
31st of Octobef, 1863.
The debt of the State to the several Banks referred to in the
last report has been paid with the interest as follows:
Bank of Charleston, $5.4,660 90
People's Bank, 77,683 67
Bank of Newberry, 52,000 00
Merchants' & Planters' Bank, 20,697 33
State Bank of Florida, 10,000 00
Interest, 2,404 08
$217,445 98
. And the Banks have returned the Bonds that were hypothe¬
cated as follows:
The Bank of Charleston has received. 148 bonds
Of which she reported sales of 58 "
For $51,20&.72 placed to the credit of Gov. Perry's
account with her—
.Leaving balance returned 90
Returned by the People's Bank (the debt to the Bank
of Newberry being.paid through this Bank she came
into possession of her collateral,) 164 "
Returned by the Merchants' & Planters' Bank 39 "
Making * 293 "
of the State issue of 1856; and the State Bank has returned
$19,500 Virginia Bonds.
The outstanding Bonds of 1856 now consists as follows:
Am't sold School and Seminary Funds in 1858, &9,GO@
" Internal Improvement Fund " 34,000
" by Governor Broome, " 50,000
" by Gov. Perry (Bank Charleston) in I860,... 58,000
" by Gov. Milton (to School Fund) in 1862,... 5,000
206,000
16
which, with the t93 returned by the Banks and one referred to
in last report "reported by Comptroller Brevard as in the re¬
ceipt of transfer to his successor, \ compose the 500,000 issued
under the act of 1856.
The outstandiug bonded debt of the State, (exclusive of the
$297,5()0 Bonds of 1861, on deposit with the Government at
Richmond,) is at present thus;
Bonds of 1856, $206,000
Bonds of 1861, issued for Indian war claims per repcftt
1862, 4,125
Bonds issued to the School Fund under chapter 1350,
act 34, 99,500
Bonds issued to the Seminary Fund under chapter 1350,
act 34; # 60,992
$370,617
Respectfully,
C. H. AUSTIN", State Treasurer.
The Treasurer in account with the State of Florida
1863. DR;
Nov. 1, To balance Report Nov. 1,1862, viz:
Confederate notes,
State "
Redeemed State notes,
War tax " "
Other funds,
Less redeemed notes destroyed
by Com't,
To am't rec'd on ac't of Revenue, 1857,
" •' " " ■ " 1859,
" " " " " 1860,
" " " " 1861,
u u « a « 1863>
u w u u H 1863j
" " " on auction tax,
" " " " licenses,
(( <4 il f^j^gg
" " " " public lands,
" " " " treasury notes,
" " " " military purposes,
" " " " State Bonds of 1856,
" " " " contingent fund,
" " " " maintenance of lunfetics,
" " " " charters,
" " " " destitute families of soldiers,
$96,4§0 11
21,870 00
13,622 00
7,625 00
2,367 32
$141,920 43
13,622—$128,808 43
4
51 38
800 64
948 14
9,354 60
70,23H 99
600 00—82,009 75
1,632 85
923 73
540 08
48,439 55
802,550 20
2,138 14
5,000 00
l,4t)7 28
283 50
100 00
8,505 10
17
To am't rec'd on ac't hospitals, 2,639 10
" " " " duty on railroad iron, 9,161 10
$1,093,718 81
1863. CR. '
Nov. 1, By amount disbursed upon Warrants, viz:
For Public Lands, $ 4,573 80
" Treasury Note expenses, 13,757 73
" Military Purposes, j 20,068 84
" 12th General Assembly, 21,371 46
" Lands bought in for taxes, 524 57
Interest on State Scrip, 209 95
" Taxes refunded, 568 24
" Contingent Fund, 10,771 05
" Jurors and Witnesses, 3,338 80
" Criminal Prosecutions, 3,677 06
" Election Returns, 298 20
" Interest State Debt, 35,628 94
" Judicial Department, 23,552 74
" Executive „ " 6,100 00
" Maintenance of Lunatics, 2,562 98
" Supreme Court, 637 65
" Pensions, 20 00
" Clothing for State Troops, 8,816 96
" Post Mortem Examinations, 125 00
" Conventions, 626 80
" 11th General Assembly, 180 00
" Special acts, 8,310 11
" Payment of Troops after 10th March, 1862, 16,162 35
" Certificates of Sparkman, Parker and others, 12,460 48
" Destitute families of Soldiers, 191,505 86
" Hospitals, 8,061 43
" Land Surveys, 1,608 13
" Treasury Certificates, 27 00
" State Debt, 217,445 98
" Stationary, &c., for Assembly, 500 00
" Repairs of Capitol, 922 70
" Cotton and Wool Cards, 200 00
" Clerk hire for Executive Department, 100 95
" Binding for offices, 220 00
" Balances, viz:
State Notes, $382,979 41
" u for lands, filed and redeemed, 48,439 55
Confederate Notes, 47,364 09 —478,783 05
$1,093,718 81
Statement of Treasury Notes Issued:
Amount of Issues per Report of 1861 and 1862, $500,000 00
" u for War Tax ch. 1279, act No. 22,1861, 233,000 00
" " under ch. 1337, act 21, of 1862, 637,915 00
" " 1373, act 56, of 1862, 164,635 20
3Ap
$1,535,550 2
18
Notes destroyed, $ 92
rpd©6ni6cl 48)43*7 55
" on hand ' 382,979 41
" circulated, 1,090,509 24
$1,585,550 20
The Treasurer in Account with the School Fund.
1862.
DR.
Nov. 1.—To balance per last report,
amount received from H. A. Corley, Register,
Dec. 1.—
31.—
1863.
Jan. 5.—
Feb. 2.—
M'ch 2.—
Ap'l 3.—
"" 2.—
21.—
July 1.—
Oct. 1.—
City of Tallahassee,
H. A. Corley, Register,
land notes,
H. A. Corley, Register,
on interest account,
$ 7,945 33
562 87
1,166 94
887 30
750 11
4,476 20
1,751 96
2,260 76
582 77
194 22
2,448 90
3,655 79
25,383 87
$52,067 02
1862,
CR.
Nov. 3.—By Warrants 1040 for W. Gwynn, Comptroller, $ 5,000 On
1863.
Jan. 5.— "
April 4.— "
July
Oct.
1.—
4.-
balance,
13
213
422 " " "
430 " " "
535 " " "
on interest account,
H. A. Corley, Register,
To balance cash,
Assets, viz:
Bond of city of Tallahassee,
Less payments Report '61 $236,' 62 $646,
and above $887 30,
Gadsden county bonds, balance,
$3,800 00
1,769 30
$1,530 70
2,071 37
175 00
175 00
175 00
61 00
175 00
25,116 68
21,189 34
$52,067 0.3
$21,189 34
—3,603 07
$24,791 41
19
The Treasurer in account with the Seminary Fund;
18G2. DR.
Nov. 1.—To balance per last report,
Dec.
1863.
Jan.
'Feb.
March
April
. May-
July
Oct.
1.—
tt
tt
it
it
it it
•5.—
it
tt
ct
tt
it ti
•2.—
tt
it
u
tt
ti it
2.—
tt
ht
tt
it
it u
(3.—
u.
a
it
u
tt ((
2.—
tt
tt
((
it
tt tt
1.—
tt
tt
it
it
tt tt.
1.—
tt
it
tt
tt
tt tc
on interest account,
from land notes,
255 93
654 73
1,636 56
398 51
2,150 45
335 11
818 24
285 47
509 00
1,160 82
12,612 63
103 78
120,921 23
1863.
CR.
Jan. 5.— By Warrants 14 for H. A. Corley, Register,
April 14.—
July 1.—
Oct. 5.—
214
423 " " " "
431 " " " u "
536 " " " " "
for West Florida Seminary,
" East " "
balance,
' To balance cash,
.Assets, viz:
Bond of Duval county,
Land notes,
Less collected,
$ 175 00
175 00
175 00
21 00
175 00
2,758 84
1,289 60
16,156 79
$20,911 23
$16,156 79
$1,000 00
$666 57 ,
103 78 —592 79 —1,562 79
$17,719 58
A. Summary of the Receipts and Disbursements at the Treas¬
ury from the first day of November, 1862, to the 31s£ of Octo¬
ber, 1863.'
RECEIPTS.
For-account of State of Florida, $1,093,718 81
" " " School Fund, 52,067 02
"" " " Seminary Fund, 20,921 23
20
DISBURSEMENTS.
For account of State of Florida, $614,985 76
" " " School Fund, 30,877 68
" " " Seminary Fund, 4,764 44
$650 577 88
Balances—State of Florida, $478,788 05
School Fund, 21,189 34
Seminary Fund, 16,156 79 —516,129 18
$1,166,707 06
o
REGISTER'S REPORT.
.State Land Office, )
Tallahassee, Fla., Nov. 2d, 1863. j
To His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
Sir : I have the honor herewith to submit my official report
as Register of Public Lands for the past year:
From November 1, 1862, to October 31, 1863, I have sold of
lands belonging to the School Fund 5,501.30 acres for $6,127.51
in cash, and $1,244.26 in bonds. Of the Seminary Lands, I have
sold 999.94 acres for $1,905.83 in cash, and $1,370.75 in bonds.
My accounts for receipts and disbursements on account of the
School and Seminary Funds are hereto annexed.
The amount received this year from the interest of the School
Fund and apportioned to the several counties is $24,966.68 The
number of children in the State between the ages of five and
eighteen years, according to the last reports received from the
County Superintendents, is 22,467, making the amount appor¬
tioned to each child a little more than one dollar and eleven cents.
Of the lands acquired by secession, there were sold in the Mid¬
dle Circuit during the year ending September 30, 1863, 9,598
58-100 acres for the sum of $8,036.38. In the Suwannee Circuit
during the same period were sold 48,814.39 acres for the sum of
$32,590.51. In the Eastern Circuit there were sold, from the
time of the opening of the Land Office to the 30th of last Sep¬
tember, 27,927.91 acres, for the sum of $23,471.54. In the
Southern Circuit there were sold, from October 1, 1862, to 30th
June, 1863, 6,082.39 acres for the sum of $3,940.13. The re¬
turns of sales in the Southern Circuit during the last quarter
21
have not yet been received. In the Western Circuit no sales
have been made during the present year. The sales in the said
Circuit during the last quarter of 1862 cannot yet be accurately
ascertained, the abstracts having been taken by the Yankees,
and the Receiver not yet having obtained the duplicate receipts
from all the purchasers. The whole amount of land sold (exclu¬
sive of sales in the Western Circuit) not included in my last re¬
port, is 92,423.27 acres for the sum of $68,038.56. Add to this
112,140.59 acres sold for $29,700.82, "according to last report,
and it appears that of the lands acquired by secession there have
beer* sold altogether the number of 204,563.86 acrtls for $97,-
739.38 Of these sales entries have been cancelled to the number
of 10,541.32 acres, which had been sold for $3,583.10, leaving
net amount of sales 194,022.54 acres- for $94,156.28. There
have also been located with Military Bounty Land Warrants as
follows: In the Middle Circuit, 160 acres; in the Eastern Cir¬
cuit, 1,240 acres; in the Western Circuit, 160 acres; in the Su¬
wannee Circuit, 640 acres; in th<e Southern Circuit, 1,560 acres.
Total, 3,760. Making the whole amount of Public Land dis¬
posed of 197,782.54 acres.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH A. CORLEY,
Register of Public Lands.
Hugh A. Corley, Register of Public Lands, in account with
the State of Florida:
DR.
To the following amounts received from October 1, 1863, to
September 30, 1863, from the sales of Lands acquired by seces¬
sion, viz:
Land sales in the Middle Circuit, $8,036 38
Rec'd from N. H. Moragne, Rec. Eastern Circuit,... 2,860' 93
" James Burt, " " "... 19,523 04
" John C. Pelot, Rec. Suwannee Circuit,... 25,654 81
" John Darling, Southern " ... 3,940 13
" John Morrison " Western " ... 1,434 24
$61,449 53
1863. CR.
Jan. 1.—By amount paid C. IL Austin, Treasurer,. .$11,957 50
July 1.— " " " " " .. 26,020 25
Oct. 1.— " " " " " .. 15,035 30
Amount on hand,* 8,436 48
$61,449 53
22
The amount paid over to the Treasurer ($53,013.05) was dis¬
posed of in accordance with Section 4, Ordinance 49, as follows:
Paid out for salaries, expenses, debts and cancelled
entries, $4,573 50
Stamped "redeemed," 48,439 55
$53,013 05
HUGH A. CORLEY, Register.
*Receiv^d too late for cancellation on 1st October.
Hugh A. Coble y, Register, in account with the School Fund:
1802.
DR.
November 1.—
-To balance on hand,
$ 762 87
a
" Cash payments for lands,
835 23
u
" Notes paid,
131 51
a
" Interest paid,
20
December. •
" Cash payments for lands,,
243 57
it
" Notes paid,
485 11
tt
" Interest paid,
21 43
1863.
January.
" Cash payments,
330 02
tt
" Notes paid,
3,527 07
tt
" Interest paid,
619 11
February.
" Cash payments,
126 98
tt
" Notes paid,
1,471 39
tt
" Interest paid,
153 59
March.
" Notes paid,
1,411 85
tt
" Interest paid,
848 91
April.
" Cash payments,
337 03
'l Notes paid,
240 49
tt
" Interest paid,
5 25
May.
" Cash payments,
262 73
tt
" Notes paid,
1,024 37
tt
" Interest paid,
537 53
June.
" Cash payments,
362 43
tt
" Notes paid,
286 19
tt
" Interest paid, *
72 02
July.
" Cash payments,
920 10
tt
" Notes paid,
88 68
tt
" Interest paid,
17 82
August.
u Cash paymnets,
1,468 67
tt
" Notes paid,
38 00
September.
" Cash payments,
1,152*25
tt
" Notes paid,
186 89
Ct
" Interest paid,
24 00
October.
" Cash payments,
88 50
tt
" Notes paid,
348 90
tt
11 Interest paid,
40 63
$18,471 3a
23
1862. CR.
November 1.—By cash paid C. H. Austin, Treasurer,
December 1. " " " " " " "
1863.
January 5. " " " " " " "
February 2. " "■ " " " " "
Narch 2. " " " " " " "
April 2. " " " " " " "
May 2. " " " " " " "
July 1 " " " "■ " " "
October 1. " " " " " " "
November 1. " balance on hand,
1863.
DR.
November 1.—To balance on hand,
$ 562 87
1,166 94
« 750 11
« 4,476 20
1,751 96
« 2.260 76
'582 77
» 2,448 90
3,655 79
815 02
$18,471 32
$815 02
HUGH A. CCRLEY,
Register of Public Lands.
Hugh A. Cokley, Register, in account with the Seminary Fund:
1862.
November 1-
December.
It
1863.
January.
U
February.
March.
U
U
April.
U
u
May.
U
June.
U
U
July.
August.
September.
October.
DR.
-To balance on hand,
" Cash payments for lands,
" Notes paid,
" Interest paid,
" Cash payments,
" Notes paid,
" • Notes paid,
"» Interest paid,
" Cash payments,
" Notes paid,
" Interest paid,
" Cash payments,
" Notes paid,
" .Interest paid,
" Cash payments,
" Notes paid,
u Interest paid,
" Notes paid,
" Interest paid,
" Cash payments,
" Notes paid,
" Interest paid,
" Cash payments,
" Notes paid,
" Interest paid,
" Cash payments,
$ 698 56
48 44
1,473 73
70 56
328 91
69 60
2,030 92
119 53
72 36
200 07
01 68
173 37
644 18
69
118 98
149 47
1 (J >
5-* 70
1 80
281 00
158 11
.4) 89
18 42
232 49
09 81
281 00
492 10
90 25
24
1862.
CR.
November 1.—By cash paid 0. H. Austin, Treasurer,
December 1. " " " "
1863.
January 5. " " " '
February 2. " " " '
March 2. " " " 1
April 2. " " " '
May 2. " " " '
July 2. " " " '
October 1. " " " "
November 1.— " balance on hand,
1868.
November 1.—To balance on hand,
DR.
$ 654 73
1,636 56
. 398 51
2,150 45
335 11
818 24
285 48
509 00
1,160 82
96 25
$8,045 15
$96 25
HUGH A. CORLEY,
Register of Public Lands.
REPORT OP THE TRUSTEES
of the
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT PUND.
Tallahassee, Florida. \
November 14th, 1863. )
To the Senate and House of .Representatives
of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened:
In pursuance of the Act of the General Assembly, approved
December 1, 1862, entitled "an act requiring annual reports from
Board of Trustees of Internal Improvement Fund," the Board
of Trustees herewith submit a statement of the transactions of
the Board during the past year upon the several matters com¬
mitted to their charge.
On the 18th February, 1863, the Board adopted the following
Preamble and Resolutions:
Whereas, The General Assembly of the State of Florida at
its last session, by a "resolution requiring information to be fur¬
nished by the Internal Improvement Board with regard to the
management of certain Railroads," required this Board to ob¬
tain from the Railroad Companies whose roads have been con¬
structed or are in course of construction on routes indicated in
the fourth section of "an act to provide for and encourage a
25
liberal system of Internal Improvements in this State," a state¬
ment of certain facts set forth in said resolution—therefore,
Resolved, That the Pensacola & Georgia Railroad Company,
the Florida Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad Company, the
Florida Railroad Company, the Tallahassee Railroad Company,
and the Alabama & Florida Railroad Company be and they are
hereby requested to furnish to this Board a statement showing
the number of miles of road completed by them on the first day
of January, 1863; a statement of the work done on the uncom¬
pleted part of their road, if any part thereof should be uncom¬
pleted ; the number of acres of land reserved for their roads res¬
pectively under the land grants; the number of bonds endorsed
for them respectively by the Trustees of the Internal Improve¬
ment Fund; the number of said bonds held by the Company;
the number- issued, to whom and on what account; the actual
cost per mile of the road; the amount of rolling stock and its
cost; the amount of cash paid from the Internal Improvement
Fund on the interest account; the amount invested by the In¬
ternal Improvement Board in the bonds of the road; the amount
due by said Companies for interest remaining unpaid on the 1st
of January, 1863; the amount of private subscription to the stock
of each Company; the amount received by each Company on
account of private subscription, either in cash or notes, stating
the amount of each; the amount of county subscriptions and the
amount received therefrom, either in cash, bonds or notes, sta¬
ting the amount of each and the county subscribing; and also
any other facts relating to the conditi«n and management of the
road which may be matters of public interest.
Resolved, further, That said Companies are requested to furn¬
ish to this Board copies of their reports from the commencement
of work on their roads x*espectively to the present time.
In compliance with said resolution, a statement was received
from the Pensacola & Georgia Railroad Company, showing as
follows:
133|- miles of road completed; 22\ miles of road incomplete
from Live Oak to Georgia line, graded and cross-tied.
363,720 acres of land East of Tallahassee, reserved for said
road under land grants.
Bonds endorsed by Internal Improvement Board to the amount
of $1,218,300.
Bonds held by Company none.
Bonds hypothecated $387,000.
Bonds issued and sold $831,300
The bonds were issued to sundry parties for account of iron
and equipments.
4Ap
26
Cost of road per mile $16,308.' _
Rolling stock consists of Passenger "Cars, Freight Cars and
Engines, valued at $153,564.
Amount of interest paid by Internal Improvement Fund
$58,000.
Amount invested by Internal Improvement Board in Bonds
$39,000 at 90 cents.
Amount due for interest unpaid none.
Amount of private subscriptions received $329,980.
Amount of county subscriptions: Leon, $150,000; Jefferson,
$125,000; Madison, $87,500. Total, $362,500. Of which $ere
received, in bash, $15,000; in Bonds, $347,500.
Amount of stock issued to Trustees of Internal Improvement
Fund, $68,000.
A statement was received from the Tallahassee Railroad Com¬
pany, showing as follows:
21 miles of road complete; none incomplete.
No lands reserved under land grants.
Bonds endorsed by Internal Improvement Board to the amount
of $206,000.
Bonds held by Company none.
Bonds were issued for iron and equipments.
Cost of road per mile, $15,650.
Rolling stock consists of Passenger Cars, Freight Cars and
Engines, valued at $30,000.
Interest paid by Internal Improvement Fund none.
Amount invested by Internal Improvement Board fn Bonds
not known.
Amount due for interest unpaid none.
The stock of said road is owned by the Pensacola & Georgia
Railroad Company, with the exception of $500.
The Florida Railroad Company furnishes a statement, hewing
as follows:
Number of miles of their road completed on 1st of January,
1863, 154.
Number of miles uncompleted about 145, viz: between "Waldo
and Tampa. Of this about 44 miles (between Waldo and Tampa)
is mostly graded, only about 90,000 cubic yards remaining to be
excavated. The culverts on the first ten miles are completed
and the cross-ties distributed. Application was made to the
Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, on the 25th of Feb¬
ruary, 1861, for the appointment of one Engineer to inspect the
work on the 1st section of ten miles, as provided in the Internal
Improvement Act, but the Trustees having declined to order
the inspection, upon the alleged ground that another Company
was claiming the right to construct that part of the line to
27
Tampa, no further progress could be made with the work under
said act.
The Company have derived through the State and Federal
Land Grants 581,036.54 acres of land; of which they have sold
37,219.85 acres, realizing therefor $62,056.22.
The amount of Bonds endorsed for said Company by the Trus¬
tees of the Internal Improvement Fund, $1,616,000. None of
said Bonds are held by said Company. All of said Bonds were
issued to the Contractors in payment under their contracts..
The contract price for the road, with equipment, was $20,000
per mile. To this is to be added other considerable expenses,
chiefly owing to the long time employed in constructing it,
caused by embarrassments for which the Company was not in
fault. What the final cost will prove to be per mile cannot be
stated until the accounts with the contractors have been ad¬
justed, which has been prevented thus far by the existing war.
Amount of rolling stock, &c.—The Company had placed upon
the track nine Locomotives and a large number of Cars of vari-
. ous descriptions. One of the Locomotives was transferred to
the P. & G. R. R. Co., to meet a pressing requirement for in¬
creased motive power. Five others were lost at Fernandina, in
consequence of its sudden evacuation by the military forces. A
large number of cars were also lost there on the same occasion,
and several at Cedar Keys, when the Company Wharf was
burned there by the enemy.
There have been 13,116 shares of stock issued, of which the
Trust Fund own 2,080 shares. The rest are owned by private
Stbckholders. There has been no county or other public sub¬
scription to the stock of this Company, except what the Trust
Fund has taken under the provisions of the Internal Improve¬
ment act.
No notes have been taken for instalments of stock. The whole
amount paid on the outstanding stock, as appears from the boolfs,
is $764,800.
The Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad Company
state as follows:
The road was completed on the 1st January, 1863. Length
of road, 60 miles.
The quantity of land selected for the company under the
Land Grants was 190,075.97 acres. This quantity has been
reduced by sales and conflicting claims.
Number of bonds guaranteed by the Trustees of the Inter¬
nal Improvement Fund, 555, of $1,000 each.
Number of bonds held by the company on the 1st January,
1863, was 304, of $1,000 each.
Number of bonds issued and sold at that time was 251, of
28
$1,000 each. Being negotiable paper, the record does not
show who were the purchasers or who the present holders are.
They were sold on account of purchases of- iron.
Cost of road per mile, $14,448.90.
The Rolling Stock consists of three Locomotives, two pas¬
sengers Coaches, two Omnibuses, thirteen Box Cars and 6 flats,
costing $57,470.28.
The amount paid in cash from the Internal Improvement Fund
on the interest account, was $20,700, for which stock has been
issued.
So far as is known, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement
Fund hold six of the bonds of the Company, received on account
of the Sinking Fund.
■ Funds were deposited in the Merchants' & Planters' Bank of
Savannah, to pay interest on the bonds due, up to the 1st Janu¬
ary, 1863, and public notice given.
Amount of private subscription to stock, $88,600.
Amount received for stock on account of private subscription,
$81,251.44 in cash, and $2,595.20 in notes.
Columbia County subscribed for 1,000 shares of $100 each,
and the City of Jacksonville for 500 shares, inpayment for which
their bonds were received.
Since the 1st January, 1863, all the bonds held by the Com¬
pany at that time have been sold on account of pay ment for pur
chases of iron.
On the 18th February, 1863, the Board appointed John B.
Galbraith, Esq., to demand of the late Commissioners of the St.
John and Indian river Canal a compliance With the directions
and requirements of "an act to repeal an act fo facilitate the
construction of the St. Johns and Indian River Canal, approved
January 1st, 1857, and for other purposes," and the said John
p. Galbraith was authorized to receive from said Commissioners
all goods, chattels, moneys, rights, credits, books and papers,
and all property, of whatsoever kind, belonging to or under the
control of said Commissioners, and releases or other deeds of
conveyance for all lands and real estate owned by said Commis¬
sioners, and such statements and reports as are required by said
act, and to give such receipts and acquittances in the name of
the Board as might be required upon the compliance by said
Commissioners with the provisions of said act.
On the 25th of February, 1863, the Board agreed to guaran-,
tee the interest on bonds to be issued by the Pensacola & Geor¬
gia Railroad Company for equipments of that portion of their
road lying between Section-832 and the Town of Quincy, includ¬
ing side tracks, making altogether eight and a half miles, the
iron having been laid upon said portion of the road according ta
29
the report of the engineer appointed by the Board to examine
the same.
On the 23d of May, 1863, John B. Galbraith, Esq., who had
been appointed to demand of the late Commissioners of the St.
Johns and Indian River Canal a compliance with the provisions
of "an act to repeal an act to facilitate the construction of the
St. Johns and Indian River'Canal, approved January 1, "1857, and
for other purposes," reported that he had proceeded to Ocala,
under appointment with the Chairman and Secretary of said
Commissioners, who had been authorized by resolution of said
Commissioners to attend at such place and make such transfer
as was contemplated by said Act; that he obtained from them
a deed re-conveying to the Trustees the property of said Com¬
missioners, together with their books and papers and their seal,
and had agreed on behalf of the Board to pay such salaries and
claims as were due by said Commissioners as had accrued prior
to the passage of said Act and were lawful and correct.
For further particulars relative to the affairs of said Canal
Commissioners, a special report will be made by the Trustees,
in compliance with the act of the General Assembly of last ses¬
sion.
On the 23d of May, 1863, the Board of Trustees adopted the
following resolution:
" Resolved, That the Railroad Companies m the State who
have accepted the provisions of" the Internal Improvement Act,
be and they are hereby requested to furnish to this Board a re¬
port or statement showing the amount of their bonds, if any,
guaranteed by this Board according to law and still in their pos¬
session and undisposed of for the purposes contemplated in said
act; and that the said Railroad Companies do further inform tljis
Board to whom, the bonds of their respective Railroad Compa¬
nies have been sold, and give any information they may possess
as to the present holders of said bonds; and that the Secretary
do furnish the Presidents of said Companies with copies of this
resolution."
In compliance with said resolution, the Pensacola & Georgia
Railroad Company and Tallahassee Railroad Company furnish^
a statement showing to what parties the bonds of said Compa¬
nies were sold or hypothecated. The Florida Railroad Compa¬
ny replied to said resolution by stating that said Company had
none of the guaranteed bonds of said Company in their posses¬
sion, but had paid out the same to the general contractors.
On the 30th of May, 1863, the Trustees adopted the following
resolution:
"Resolved, That in consideration of the exigencies of the
country, and the great public necessity for Railroad iron in the
30
defences of the same, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement
Fund do hereby give their consent and, so far as they have au¬
thority and power so to do, do authorize the President and Di¬
rectors of any Railroad Company in the State, which has accept¬
ed the provisions of the Internal Improvement Act, to lend or
sell to the government of the Confederate States any portion of.
the iron on their respective roads which the Confederate States,
government may desire to borrow or purchase for the purpose
of more effectually defending the country during the continuance
of the existing war."
On the 30th June, 1863, the Trustees adopted the following
preamble and resolution:
Whereas, it is made known to this Board that certain parties
have purchased and design purchasing the swamp and overflow¬
ed land belonging to the Internal Improvement Fund lying up¬
on the coast, suitable for the purposes of making salt, with a»
object to monopolize and speculate in the same; and, 'whereas,
it is desirable in the great crisis and necessities of our country
that the people should not be precluded or hindered by such
means from manufacturing one of the absolute necessaries of life,
i. e. salt, but should each one have the privilege of occupying as
much land as is actually necessary to him, according to the ex¬
tent of his salt works, for manufacturing this article—Therefore,
Resolved, That the salesman of this Board be and he is here¬
by instructed to withdraw from sale, until the further instruc¬
tions of this Board, all swamp and overflowed lands lying within
two miles of the coast or marsh, unless it shall be made to ap¬
pear to him that said lands are purchased for the purposes of
cultivation and not for the purposes of salt-making."
On the 11th September, 1.863, the Trustees adopted the fol¬
lowing resolution:
uResolved by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improve¬
ment Fund, That all the lands belonging to said Fund are here¬
by withdrawn from market, except to such persons as may de¬
sire to enter lands which shall have been cultivated and improved
by them, or for the use of an adjoining farm owned by them,
who shall be permitted to enter 160 acres at the following prices,
to wit: $2.50 per acre for swamp lands, and one hundred per
cent, upon the appraised value for Internal Improvement Lands:
Provided, That persons whose applications are now on file may
be permitted to perfect their entries."
On the 12th October, 1863, the Board authorized the Treasur¬
er to invest $30,000 of tlje money in his hands belonging to the
Internal Improvement Fund in Confederate Bonds, known as
"Cotton Bonds."
31
^ On tlie 10th October, 1863, the Trustees adopted the folio w-
111 §' preamble and resolution:
hereas, the General Assembly of this State, by the 5th
section of " an act to repeal an act to facilitate the construction
of the St. Johns and Indian River Canal, approved January 1,
1857, and for other purposes," provided that the Attorney Gen¬
eral " shall file an application before the Supreme Court for a
rehearing in the case ot the Trustees of the Internal Improve¬
ment Fund vs.^ William Bailey," &c.: Therefore, in consideration
of the above cited provision of said Act, the consent of this Board
Is hereby given that such application shall be filed by-the Attor¬
ney General in accordance therewith."
According to the report of the salesman of the Board, there
were sold during the past year 5,014.69 acres of Internal Im¬
provement land for $8,896.62, and 35,334.66 acres of swamp
land for $32,179.39, making a total of 41,716.01 acres of land for
the sum of $41,076.01. .
The account of the Treasurer of 'the Board for receipts and
expenditures for the past year is hereto annexed.
JOHN" MILTON",
President Board Trustees Int. Imp. Fund.
Q. M. GENERAL'S REPORT.
- Q. M. General's Office, )
Tallahassee, Oct., 1863. j"
To His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
Sir : I have the honor to report, that during the fiscal year
ending September 30th, 1863, there has been received from the
Confederate Ordnance Department, in the month of December,
1862, the following ordnance, viz:
81 percussion muskets; 81 each cartridge and cap boxes,
.and waist belts; 81 knapsacks and haversacks; 81 canteens,
«fraps and corks. All of which were forwaided to Oapt. E. A.
Curry's company, stationed in West Florida, with 3,000 rounds
of ball and buckshot cartridges, and 3,120 musket percussion
caps furnished by the State.
There has been sent from this Department, delivered to Cap¬
tain K. H. Gamble, upon a requisition of Bng._ Gen. Howell Cobb,
for the purpose of arming some companies in March last, when
the enemy made an attack upon Jackson\ille, the following aims,
<&c., viz:
32
60 Minnie muskets; 60 Minnie bayonets ; 60 Minnie cartridge
boxes and belts; 60 bayonet scabbards; 60 cap boxes and belts;
40 musket slings; 6 screw-drivers; 2 ball screws; 4 wipers; 59
percussion muskets, and bayonets, and scabbards; 40 cartridge
boxes and belts; 20 wallets and straps for ammunition; 60 cap
boxes and belts; 6,130 ball cartridges; 6,250 musket percussion
caps; 120 belt plates; 10 screw-drivers; 10 wipers and 10 ball
screws, all of which were received by Captain R. H. Gamble
and forwarded to Madison, en route for Jacksonville.
There are remaining in this Department (19) nineteen Harpers'
Ferry rifles, in good order; (25) twenty-five horseman's percus¬
sion pistols, in good order;. (20) flint and steel horseman's pis¬
tols, in bad order, and (30) thirty horseman's pistols, partly pre¬
pared for being changed from flint and steel to percussion, but
unfinished for the want of a competent workman.
- There were (26) twenly-six fine officers' swords fitted up by
the State, of which there are in hand in the office' (11) eleven, the
others having been sold to officers in the army from this State,
and some in hands of parties for sale.
AMMUNITION.
There is in the magazine-at this place the following:
25 boxes fixed ammunition, comprising musket, rifle and pistol
cartridges, (12,880 rounds of all kinds); 1,000 pounds cannon,
about 450 pounds rifle and musket powder, all in good order.
The Minnie cartridges have percussion caps packed with them.
There is belonging to the State (12) twelve barrels of powder
and (2) two kegs fixed ammunition, stored in a secure position
at the old railroad depot in this place. This ammunition, from
information received, was brought from the Arsenal at Chatta¬
hoochee by order of Ex-Gov. M. S. Perry, and on account of not
being able to place it in the city magazine, had it left at the de¬
pot. I have ascertained from the railroad agent that it is secure
and in a good location. It is but very recently that this ammu¬
nition lias come to my knowledge. There is no record of it in
this office, and it was unknown to my predecessor, Captain G. S.
King. We have (3,500) thirty-five hundred musket percussion
caps. There was 1,000 pounds lead on hand, to which 1,625
pounds has recently been added by purchase, making 2*,625
pounds of lead on hand.
There is on hand 250 knapsacks, which, in the absence of State
troops, could be disposed off to the Confederate States, if needed
by them.
33
ARSENAL.
The State Arsenal at Chattahoochee, with its appertenances
-and all the material in hand, except the ammunition, was turned
over to Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb for the use of the Confederate
forces stationed at Chattahoochee, for the river defences.
The ammunition was left in charge as State property and re¬
served. It consists of the following, viz:
22 cases, 100 pounds each, cannon powder; 5 barrels, 100
pounds -each, rifle powder; 4 barrels, 100 pounds each, musket
powder ; 19 kegs, 25'pounds, FFF powder; 10 kegs,'12^- pounds,
FFF powder; 12 kegs 6^ pounds, FFF powder,and 32,250 mus¬
ket percussion caps.
The 5 barrels rifle and the 4 barrels musket are a prime arti¬
cle. The small kegs are, some' of them, apparently slightly
caked. The cannon powder is of small grain, suitable for six
pound guns.
Several of the buildings stand in need of repairs; the small
houses outside of the main enclosure especially. The large and
small magazines axe in good condition.
All of the books and papers relating to the affairs of the Ar¬
senal while in possession of the TJ. S. are securely packed and
placed in a safe position at the Arsenal.
CLOTHING.
There has been made up by the different patriotic Ladies'
Societies, from material furnished by the State, the following,
viz
3,735 pairs cotton drawers; 2,765 cottofn shirts; 169 jackets
and coats from wool plains; 809 pairs pantaloons from wool
plains, and 1,000 pairs cotton hose.
From the above, there has been sent to Florida troops the
following:
To troops in Virginia, by F. B. Cotten, Esq., special agent,
860 pairs cotton drawers.
Troops in Tennessee, in charge of Lieut. F. L'Engle, 374 pairs
pantaloons, from wool plains.
Troops in Tennessee, T. P. Denham, Esq., special agent, 720
pairs cotton drawers, $md 377 cotton shirts.
Troops in Tennessee, in charge of Captains Love and David¬
son, 529 cotton shirts, and 324 pairs cotton drawers.
To Cumberland Gap, in charge of Capt. II. Bradford, 291 cot¬
ton shirts, 80 pairs cotton drawers; three boxes, containing car¬
pet blankets, woolen jackets and socks.
5Ap
34
There was also sent by the Soldiers' Friend Society, in charge \
of Capt. Bradford, the following, from material furnished and
made up by the Society, 94 pairs socks, 99 neck comforts, 20«J
carpet blankets, 12 pairs gloves, 10 bed comforts, 15 white blan¬
kets, 10 sheets, 8 pairs of shoes, 9 coats and pants.
To Virginia, in charge of Dr. J. Crews Pelot, one box 180
cotton shirts. ^ ,
Capt. Partridge's cavalry company, 108 pairs cotton drawers,
108 cotton shirts.
Aucilla Troop, stationed in Taylor county, 32 cotton shirts, 42
pairs cotton drawers.
To 6th Florida Regiment, Capts. White, Basset and Grace, 88
pairs cotton drawers.
To 6th Florida Regiment, by Capt. Love, 145 pairs cotton
drawers, 139 cotton shirts.
To 4th Florida Regiment, by Capt. McKay, 226 pairs pants
from wool plains.
Sent to the army in the West, in charge of Capt. Edw. Brad¬
ford, jr., 9Q7 cotton shirts, 997 pairs cotton drawers, 209 pairs
pants from wool plains, 169 jackets and coats from wool plains,
988 pairs cotton socks, one box carpet blankets sent in, 2 sacks
coffee, 3 barrels syrup, for Hospital use.
There was a lot of clothing made uj) from State material by
Ladies' Society at Micanopy, which was forwarded by Col. Perry
to the 7th Regiment in Tennessee, and for which there is no re¬
ceipts.
There is on hand two hundred cotton shirts and one hundred
pairs of cotton drawers. Also, one bale osnaburgs, not yet made
up, in the hands of the Ladies' Sewing Society at Gainesville.
Independent of the foregoing, there has been forwarded to
Virginia and Tennessee a number of packages which have been
sent in to this Department to be forwarded.
There has been sent to the Hospital at Richmond, by Council
B. Allen, as special agent, one box containing 480 pounds of cas-
tile soap, and six barrels syrup. Also, three sacks coffee, pur¬
chased and sent to the Florida Hospital at Richmorid from Charles¬
ton, S. C., which reached the Hospital in goood order.
CARDS.
There has been received from the Florida Card Manufacturing
Company, five hundred and forty-seven pairs of Wool Cards,
which have been distributed as follows':
Alachua county, 24 pairs; Jackson county, 31 pairs; Levy
county, 12 pairs ; Calhoun county, 27 pairs ; Hamilton county, 12
pairs; Washington county, 26 pairs ; Nassau county, 12 pairs;
35
Leon county, 48 pairs; Jefferson county, 26 pairs ; Gadsden co.,
24 pairs; Volusia county, 24 pairs; Orange county, 24 pairs;
Taylor county, 24 pairs; Hillsborough county, 24 pairs ; Brad¬
ford county, 24 pairs ^Madison county, 24 pairs ; Escambia co.,
48 pairs; Santa Rosa county, 48 pairs ; Liberty county, 24 pairs;
Lafayette county, 24 pairs; Wakulla county, 2 pairs; Franklin
county, 3 pairs.
The Card Company are now manufacturing Cotton Cards for
the State as fast as it is possible for them to do so. They have
many difficulties to contend with, being compelled to manufac¬
ture all their wire, which is a great drawback to furnishing Cards
as fast as they could if wire could be procured. T hey will in a
short time be able to furnish them with more rapidHy than here¬
tofore, having added more machines and procured a more power¬
ful engine.
It is desirable that some provision should be made, so that the
Card Company may be able to retain the services of such work¬
men as they may find competent for the business, as they are
subjected to great inconvenience to themselves as well as loss to
the public iif not being able to secure the services of those who
are competent for as long a period as they may be required.
All that they thus far have been able to procure are attached to
the army and obtained only on a short detail.
As the law now stands, great inconvenience is experienced in
this Department in paying the bills and demands against it,
many of which are for trivial amounts. At present the bill has
to be approved by the Quartermaster General, then taken to the
Comptroller, who issues his warrant for the amount ot the bill,
and the voucher is placed in that office, thus leaving this office
without any proper check on its business or the ability to readily
determine what bills have or have not been paid. The remedy
for this is easy and simple. Authority should be given to the
Quartermaster General to make quarterly estimates of the amount
probably required for his office, present these estimates to the
Governor, and, if approved by him, let the Governor give his or¬
der on the Comptroller for the amount, and the Comptroller issue
his warrant therefor. At the end of the quarter the ^Quarter¬
master General can settle with the Comptroller, exhibiting his
vouchers and have the same allowed, if paid according to law.
Any balance remaining in hand being chargeable to him in the
next ensuing quarter.
Very respectfully,
Your obd't serv't,
EDW'D BARNARD,
Capt. and A. A. Q. M. Glen-
36
November 5th, 1863.
Since the foregoing there has been received into this Depart¬
ment 10 bales, 3,410 yards wool plains, which are now being
made up into clothing for the soldiers. Also, three bales of cot¬
ton osnaburgs, which have been made up into salt sacks.
There has been received .from contribution sixty bushels of
salt, and by purchase seventy-four bushels, of which the amount
of eighty-five bushels have been distributed.
Very respectfully,
ED WD BARNARD,
Capt. and A. A. Q. M. Gen.,
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
op the
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD.
Treasury Office, \
Tallahassee, Nov. 12, 1863. \
To the Trustees of the Internal Improvement I mid:
Sirs: In compliance with the law, requiring reports to° be
made to the General Assembly, I herewith submit the financial
report for the period of Nov. 1, 1862, to Oct. 31, 1863.
Since the report of 1862, the Fund has received an increase tu
her railroad stock account of one hundred and twelve thousand
five hundred dollars, and to her sinking fund account the sum of
thirty-seven thousand two hundred and forty-six 75-100 dollars.
And has invested in bonds of the Confederate States thirty thou¬
sand dollars for her principal account, and forty-one thousand
three hundred dollars for her Sinking Fnnd.
Respectfully,
C. H. AUSTIN,
Treas. Bd. Trus. Int. Imp. Fund.
37
The Treasurer in account with the Board of Trustees of the In¬
ternal Improvement Fund.
1863. Dr.
Nov. 1—To balance per report of this date, $7,656 72
20—To am't received from Pensacola & Geo. R. R. Co.
on net earnings ac't for 12 mos. to June, 1862, 20,550 61
1863.
Mar. 16—To am't rec'd from At. & Gulf Central R. R. Co. on
Sinking Fund ac't for 18 mos. to Jan'y, 1863,
Ap'l 25—To am't rec'd trom Fla. R. R. Co. on Sinking Fund
ac't for 12 mos. to July, 1862,
To am't rec'd from same on net earnings ac't for
same period,
June 23—To am't rec'd from John B. Galbraith, Att'y Gen'l,
on account of land notes collected,
July 27—To am't rec'd trom Fla. R. R. Co. on Sinking Fund
ac't for 6 mos. to Feb'y, 1863,
To am't rec'd from same on net earnings account
for same period,
To am't rec'd from At. & Gulf Central R. R. on
•Sinking Fund acc't, 6 months to July, 1863,
Sept. 11—To am't rec'd from J. B. Galbraith, Att'y Gen'l, on
land notes collected,
28—To am't rec'd from land notes collected,
Oct. 7—To am't rec'd from J. B. Galbraith, Att'y Gen'l, on
land notes collected,
31—To am't rec'd from H. A. Corley, Register, on ac¬
count land sales,
To am't rec'd from land notes,
To am't rec'd from interest account,
To am't rec'd from interest acc't of Sinking Fund,
8,325
00
16,180
00
3,197
65
1,000
00
8,090
5,714
94
2,775
00
7,500
00
19
11
5,250
00
41,076
00
2,985
80
2,318
91
1,627
t
00
$134,266
73
1862. CR.
Nov. 20—By am't paid interest on $294,025 bonds of Pen. &
Geo. R. R. Co., $20,581 75
22—By am't paid F. L. Villepigue, Sec'y, balance salary, 55 55
28—By am't paid certificate of Register for Jeff. Sulli¬
van, (land entry cancelled,) 116 38
Dec. 3.—By am't paid certificate of Register for J. B. Smith,
cancelled land entry, 20 08
15—By am't paid interest on $3,000 Pen. & Geo. R. E.
Company bonds, 105 00
1863.
Jan'y 5—By am't paid W. M. Mcintosh, services, 15 00
By am't paid salary of officers 4th quarter,
1862, H. A. Corley, Register, 200
By am't paid C. H. Austin, Treasurer, 200— 400 00
24—By am't paid Chas. Findeisen, bill for binding books
for Register, 30 00
By am't paid certificate of Register for M. C. Peter¬
son, cancelled land entry, 90 16
Mch. 19—By am't paid T. B. Barefoot, bill printing, 10 00
38
April 4—By am't paid officers salary 1st quarter
1863, H. A. Corley, Register, 200
By am't paid C. H. Austin, Treasurer, 200—
22—By am't paid certificate of Register favor of W.
Blair, cancelled land entry,
25—By am't paid interest on $92,000 of Florida R. R.
Co. Bonds,
By am't paid T. J. Perkins, Produce Loan Agt. for
Confederate States Bonds per certificate,
May 22—-By am't paid Treasurer's expenses attended meeting
of Stockholders Central R. R.
June 29—By am't paid interest on $257,150 Pen. & Geo. R. R.
Co. Bonds,
July 6—By am't paid certificate of Register for C. C. Young,
cancelled land entry,
By am't paid T. J. Perkins, P. L. Ag't for Confed¬
erate States Bonds|per certificate,
27—By am't paid same for same per certificate,
By am't paid Officers salary 2d quarter 1863,
H. A. Corley, Register, 200
By am't paid C. H. Austin, Treasurer, 200—
Oct. 1—By am't paid same for 3d quarter 1863,
By am't paid A. Young, cancelled land entry,
By am't paid S. T. Day, cancelled land entry per
"Rpcricitpi* pprtifipafp
15—By am't paid W. R. Pe'ttes, C. S. Depositor for 20,000
Confederate States Cotton Bonds, viz:
Bonds with int. for June 1, '63, $20,000 00
50 per cent, premium, 10,000 00
Interest for June 1, '63, 228 33
Oct. 31—By am't paid W. Gwynn, Compt., interest on $10,000
Florida R. R. bonds,
Balance on hand,
400
90 42
3,220 00
16,000 00
10 00
9,000 25
120 83
14,500 00
l'0,800 00
400 00
400 00
58 85
299 17
30,228 00
2,450 00
24,864 98
$134,266 73
SINKING FUND.
Balance per report Nov. 12, 1862, $ 3,625 00
Received from the Florida Railroad Company, 24,270 00
" " " Atlantic & Gulf Railroad Company, 11,100 00
" " " interest account, 1,876 75
Balance debit to new account, 428 25
$41,300 00
Paid investment in bonds of Confederate States, $41,300 00
ASSETS.
Tallahassee Railroad Company bonds, $ 8,500 00
Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad Company bonds, 6,000 00
Confederate States bonds, 41,300 00
$55,800 00
39
ASSETS.
Railroad Stock:
Florida Railroad,
Pensacola & Georgia Railroad,
Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad,
Bonds:
Florida Railroad,
Pensacola & Georgia Railroad,
Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad,
Tallahassee Railroad,
" " (interest account.)
Gadsden county,
Calhoun " (balance,)
Confederate States,
Land Notes:
Register's list, $8,610 49
Less collected, 2,985 80—5,624 69
$208,000 00
67,000 00
20,700 00—$295,700 00
$95,000 00
39,000 00
23,000 00
3,600 00
. 2,00® 00
1,150 00
44 92
20,000 00— 183,794 92
Internal Improvement list,
Less collected,
381 60
19 11
362 49 5,987 18
',482 10'
C. II. AUSTIN,
Treas. Bd. Treas. Int. Imp. Fund.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT,
Attorney General's Office, )
Tallahassee, Nov., 1863. f
His Excellency John Milton, Governor:
Sir :—In all my official reports I have taken- occasion, through
your Excellency, to call the attention of the General Assembly
to the long existing and constantly increasing necessity for a
.Digest of the Public Statutes of the State. I mention the sub¬
ject again, not intending to reiterate the reasons already given
why the Legislature should make provision for such a work, as
they must be obvious to all who will reflect on the condition of our
statute law, but merely to direct attention to the subject and'
discharge a duty incumbent upon me. The imperfect con¬
dition of our statute law is felt by every citizen of this State,
whether he is aware of it or not. There can be no reason why
the Legislature should fail or refuse to make provision for this
much needed wofk. The expense will be but a trifle compared
to the benefit that it would confer on every citizen in the State,
40
and as it must take sometime, perhaps years, to complete it, it
should be commenced now, that our State may have an intelligi¬
ble body of laws with which to recuperate from the devastations
of war, to secure the rights of persons and property and invite
and encourage immigration. Experience has shown that it is
not the abundance of laws, but the efficiency of their execution,
their clearness, conciseness and accessibility, that promotes good
government, peace and security for persons and property.
My attention has been directed to the " effect and operation"
of an act, passed at the last session of the Legislature, entitled
" an act to amend the election laws of this State as regards the
mode of voting, and for other purposes." This act provides that
the votes cast at any election in this State " shall be numbered
by said Inspectors to correspond with the number of the name
of said voter on the poll book." It is suggested that the practi¬
cal operation of this law affects very seriously the principle of
the ballot system of election adopted almost universally in the
republics of America. The thirteenth clause of the 6th article of
of the Constitution provides that" in all elections by the Gener¬
al Assemby, the vote shall be viva voce, and, in all elections by'
the people, the vote shall be by ballot." It seems to me that it
is the plain intention of this provision of the Constitution to se¬
cure the citizen in the right of secret voting, otherwise it would
have been unnecessary and superfluous, especially as a constitu¬
tional provision, The elective franchise, which is the great ba¬
sis of republican institutions, is so important, that the mode and
manner of its exercise is regulated by a provision of the Consti¬
tution. The ballot is declared by the fundamental law to be the
way in which this right shall be exercised. The reason why the
ballot is selected is, because this is the only mode by which se-
cresy can be preserved and the citizen left to the independent,
unbiased exercise of his political will. Otherwise, any different
mode of voting would be preferable. Now it is obvious that
the numbering or marking of the ballots in the manner provided
by this law is a serious violation of the principle of the secret
ballot; for, although it is true that subsequent portions of the
act make provision for the destruction, after a time, of these bal¬
lots, yet the bare fact of their passing through so many hands
previous to their destruction, the great facility for their exami¬
nation by persons not always actuated by a nice sense of honor
and entirely secure from detection, and the certainty of their open
examination in cases of contested elections and circumstances,
tend greatly to defeat the purposes of the ballot system and
to nullify the objects that it proposes to secure, it would be
much better, did the Constitution permit it,-to .establish at once
t he viva voce) system of voting for popular elections. The vo-
41
ter could then occupy certain and distinct grounds in exercising
his right, and would not he subject to the conflicting motives
and apprehensions which the present mixed -system tend to ex¬
cite. The good proposed to be secured by the provisions of this
law, which is the facility of investigating and determining con¬
tested elections, is by no means an oflset to the evils resulting
therefrom. It is not reasonable that the whole body of voters in
the State should be subjected to a system of voting which is at
variance with the spirit of the Constitution, and contrary to. the
judgment of the ablest statesmen and politicians, merely that in
a few rare cases some facility may be afforded in determining
contested elections, and these commonly of no consequence to
the general interest of the State. The operation of this act is,
therefore, regarded unfavorably, and it is suggested to the Gen¬
eral Assembly that it consider whether a modification thereof
may not be made rendering it more just and politic in its opera¬
tions and more in accordance with the provisions and intentions of
the Constitution.
An Act, approved December 8, 18G2, entitled "An Act rela¬
tive to the assessment of taxes," provides, " That the Board of
County Commissioners of the several counties of this State
shall value all property subject to taxation in their respective
counties and assess the tax thereon, as required by law to be
done by Tax-Assessors and Collectors." The object of this act
was to remedy to some extent the evil arising under the ad
valorem system of taxation, of each tax payer valuing his own
property, which was liable to much abuse. To a certain extent
the iaw has operated well, but there is a great defect still in
the pradical operations of the tax laws. The Counhy
sioners of each county having to fix the value oi taxable prop¬
erty for their re'pectire counties, it is to be supposed that dif¬
ferences of valuation in the several counties would exist. This
has been the earn. The actual, practical effect of the law, is to
tax the same property higher in some counties than in others.—
This is unreac onable and absurd, and, were it directly attempt¬
ed, would be clearly unc vnstitutionul. This effect of the law
was probably not contemplated by the Legislature, and it is
mentioned that a remedy may be applied to the same. The his¬
tory of this subject in our State illr.rtrates the extreme difficul¬
ty of applying the ad valorem system in ordinary taxation, and
suggestsand enquiry, whether justice and policy do not require a
departure from that system in regard to the taxation of certain
kinds of property at least.
"An act empowering Judges of Probate to grant orders to
executors and administrators, to sell real estate for distribution,"
GAp
42
which was passed at the last session of the Legislature, may he
so amended as to render its provisions applicable to personal
property. This may be both convenient and proper. It is sug¬
gested, however, Jthat some amendment to the law may be^
thought advisable providing the mode and manner of the pro¬
ceedings to obtain orders for sales of estates; also for adver¬
tisement, &c., such as are now required in similar proceedings in
the Circuit Court. The law on this whole subject is susceptible
of much improvement, being at present somewhat confused and
uncertain. — x
The distillation ofspirituous liquors in the State, under the pro<-
visions of "An act to prevent the establishment of distilleries and
the distilling - of whiskey and other spirituous liquors," has not
been practically conducted in accordance with the intention of
the law. Some additional legislation cm this subject is required..
It is ascertained that it is impossible to prevent frauds from'be¬
ing committed, which, though not a palpable violation of law
and not susceptible of legal punishment, are nevertheless m ut¬
ter violation of the policy and spirit of the act. Although it
may be difficult to devise a law that fcould not be evaded or vio¬
lated with impunity to some extent, yet something may be done
to remedy this. evil. Very little additional legislation is neces¬
sary as to the direction and regulation of this business, but legis¬
lation, may be profitably had looking to the execution of the law
already in existence.
Ill my last report, I directed attention to the imperfect system of
expenditure and accountability connected with the Quartermaster
General's Department. As the law now stands, it is difficult to-
tell by -what process the disbursements of that office and prop¬
erly made. The general principle requiring that all monies
drawn from the Treasury shall be by warrant of the Comptroller
complicates and impedes very much the necessary disbursements
of the Quartermaster's Office. It is suggected that by making a
provision of law authorizing the Quartermaster, with the ap¬
proval of the Governor, to draw for an amount in gross through
the Comptroller and accounting subsequently for the disburse¬
ment thereof to that officer, the important principle of requiring
a Comptroller's warrant for all monies paid out of the Treasury
can he observed and at the same time the disbursements of the-
Quartermaster relieved of much embarrasment and inconveni¬
ence.
In a former report, I endeavored to direct attention to the
importance of making some provision in relation-to the publica¬
tion of the laws, which would prevent a violation of the princi¬
ple that a citizen should not he made subject to the penalties and
forfeitures of an act the existence of which he ,has not, and
43
practically cannot have, the means of ascertaining. The acts of
the General Assembly, as soon as they are approved, become
law, and unless some provision is made to the contrary, go into
immediate effect. The enrolled act is filed in the office of the
Secretary of State, and some time must elapse before its publi¬
cation. Although it is true that the act is thus made subject to
public inspection, yet it is obvious that the mass of the citizens
must remain ignorant of its existence until it is published in the
newspapers or in the ordinary pamphlet form. Months must
elapse before this can be done. In the meantime, citizens are
subject to the provisions and penalties of the law. The injus¬
tice and impolicy of this is too obvious to require illustration.—
It is suggested that some provision be made, either for the im¬
mediate publication of the laws after their enactment, or that
.some day after the termination of the session be fixed by a gen¬
eral law, uponAvhich all statutes shall go into effect, unless spe¬
cially otherwise provided.
In compliance with the provisions of the 8th section of " An
act to repeal an act to facilitate the construction of the St. Johns
and Indian River Canal, approved January 1, 1857, and for
other purposes," I have filed in the office of the Clerk of the
' Supreme Court an application for a rehearing in the case of the
'Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund vs. William Bai¬
ley. The application will be made before the Court, and proba-
'bly heart! and granted, or refused, at the next term of the Su¬
preme Court at this place.
There have been no decisions of the Courts, of which I am in¬
formed, relative to any of the statutes adopted at the last session
of the General Assembly.
Upon our Courts and Juries greatly depend the vigorous en¬
forcement of the criminal laws. The Grand and Petit Juries are
not merely the safegard of the innocent, but they are the punish-
•ers of the guilty. It is suggested that the Legislature may make
some further provision to secure the purity and impartiality of
Juries, by giving the State more power or opportunity, in pros¬
ecuting, to reject as jurors such as are known or reasonably sus¬
pected of partiality for the accused. The Legislature may pass
innumerable laws for the punishment of crime without effect, un¬
less the body of the citizens assist in their enforcement. It is to
be hoped that to the ordinary calamities of war may not he ad-
tied a contempt of civil authority and impunity in crime. The
worst calamity that could befall our country, next to subjugation,
would be the prostration of our civil government and laws, for
then would inevitably ensue anarchy, despotism and destruction.
It is, therefore, an inestimable blessing that m the midst or an
unparalleled war, requiring every energy of the Government and
44
the people to meet its exigencies, the supremacy of the law has
been generally preserved in our State. This is the surest evi¬
dence of a people possessing the genius, the intelligence and the
spirit necessary to sustain free institutions.
Very respectfully,
J. B. GALBRAITH.
Correspondence "between the Governors of
Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
(copy.)
Executive Department, ]
Tallahassee, April 13th, 1863. j
His Excellency Joseph E. Brown,
Governor of Georgia:
Sir :—Sometime ago, while at my plantation, I received a com¬
munication by telegraph, informing me that your Excellency had
issued a proclamation to convene the General Assembly of Geor¬
gia, and suggesting the necessity of like action on the part of the
Governor of each of the other States. I sho'uld have replied
promptly, but the wires became deranged, and prevented the re¬
ply by telegraph. I did not follow your example, although urged
to do so by public meetings held in several counties, and com¬
posed of patriotic and intelligent citizens of Florida. The Gen¬
eral Assembly of this State had, at its last session, discussed the
policy of regulating labor by legislation, and, sustained by the
Senate, it was repudiated by a very large majority in the House
of Representatives. Even if I could have presumed a change of
opinion on the subject, our seasons here being much moi'e favor¬
able for early planting than in Georgia, many of our planters had
commenced to plant, and the crops generally would have been
planted before it was possible to secure legislation to prohibit or
limit the right to plant cotton. Moreover, the intelligence and
patriotism of the planters of Florida induced them last year to
plant cereals to the exclusion of cotton. An immense amount
of corn "was made, and, for the want of transportation, hundreds
of thousands of bushels of corn will be held by our planters
when the crop of the present year will be gathered. By corres¬
pondence with intelligent citizens in different parts of the State,
I was informed of the immense quantity of corn on hand, and
that, nevertheless, there would not be scarcely as much cotton
planted this as there was the last year, except in two or three
45
counties in the State, from which corn, &c., could not be conve¬
niently transported, and where the traffic—carried on by specu¬
lators who have "run the blockade"—had excited, by high prices
for cotton, and the introduction of rum and gin, (but no arms or
munitions of war,) a disposition to make cotton, &c.,< regardless,
perhaps, of " the general welfare."
The means of transportation to and from this State are too lim¬
ited to justify legislation on the subject. The Confederate Gov¬
ernment has been appealed to in vain to make Railroad connec¬
tions necessary to the defence of the State, as well as to secure
supplies from Florida for the armies of the Confederate States.
Under existing circumstances, no law could be made to regulate
planting, which would be uniform in its operation, just to the
constitutional rights of citizens, or beneficial to the Confederate
Government; hence, if the legislation proposed were constitu¬
tional, I have deemed it wisest and best to rely upon the intelli¬
gence and patriotism the exigencies of the war demand rather
than legislation.
But, candor requires me to say, that I am not convinced that,
in a Government like ours, the legislative power rightly exists
to prescribe what shall or shall not be planted. If it does exist,
it should be most discreetly exercised. If the General Assembly
of a State has the power to enact a law prohibiting or restricting
the planting of cotton, in order to support the army of the Confed¬
erate States of America by raising cereals, why may not the same
General Assembly enact a law to prohibit the ploughing by horses,
because useful for cavalry ; or mules, because necessary for trans¬
portation ; or oxen, because necessary for beef? In a word,
why may they not confiscate all rights of property in individuals
for the benefit of the Confederate Government. I am opposed
to all legislation, on the part of either the Confederate or State
Government which is not clearly constitutional. Infractions of
the Constitution during war are more dangerous than in peace.
In war or peace, the Constitution should be considered the anchor
of our hopes for freedom and manly independence. Statesmen
should studiously guard against the insidious influences of the oc¬
casional panics which excite the public mind, afld engender what
is termed public sentiment. The vicissitudes of the war in which
we are engaged, in view of its important and world-wide results,
incline the best informed and most patriotic men to lend a favor¬
able ear to any pretence, however specious, to sustain the noble
cause in which we are engaged, and therefore it is the imperative
duty of Statesmen—especially those who occupy high official po¬
sition—not to permit their zeal to exceed their wisdom, not to
yield even to public sentiment, unless it shall be compatible with
Constitutional Libe/rty as secured by a fundamental law. The
46
avidity with which patriots embark in any enterprise to promote
the public welfare during the afflictions of war afford to specu¬
lators, traitors and demagogues excellent opportunities to create
panics lor their individual benefit or aggrandizement—hence what
is termed " the outside pressure" upon legislative bodies.
While it is contended that foreign nations cannot exist with¬
out the cotton produced by slave labor in the Southern States, I
would most respectfully present to your serious consideration,
whether or not, if the legislative power of these States shall pro¬
hibit the cultivation of cotton by slave labor, (of which foreign
nations will be informed,) their antipathies to slavery and their
necessities lor cotton may not be successfully appealed to by the
United States Government for co-operation to abolish slavery
and to raise cotton without slave labor ?
The effort is now being made to form aid and emigration soci¬
eties in Europe, as well as in the United States, to colonize Flor¬
ida, and thus abolish slavery in the State. If successful, what
will be tire condition of the other " cotton States ? " More than
a year ago, I expressed the opinion that, as soon as it had been
clearly ascertained that foreign governments recognized the
blockade of southern" ports—knowing its inefficiency—wisdom
required of our Government to make the blockade complete. I
know of no reason why—if England and France were willing to
engage in war with China to secure commerce in opium with the
Chinese people against their will and the decrees of their Gov¬
ernment—England and France and other nations, would not
raise a blockade for commerce in cotton, &c., with the Southern
States, while their people desired and their Government proposed
the commercial intercourse, provided cotton could not be obtained
by running the blockade.
I believe now the wisest and best course which existing cir¬
cumstances suggest to prevent the planting ol excessive cotton
crops, insure the culture of cereals, sustain the public credit, pre¬
vent speculation, extortion and riots for bread—a measure en¬
tirely consistent with constitutional liberty, conducive to the
general welfare ^ind to the independence of the Confederate
States-—would be an act of Congress, prohibiting, under severe
penalties, all commercial intercourse with foreign nations, ex¬
cept such as should be authorized by the Government, through
special agents, and exclusively for the purposes ol the Govern¬
ment. U trade between our c-itizetis and the speculators, who
succeed in " running the blockade." was prevented, all induce¬
ments to make cotton, except for the benefit of the Government
in its negotiations and for domestic uses would be cut off; indi¬
vidual eue-gv, enterprise and enlightened public sentiment
would insure the necessities, and even the comforts of life, to the
; . - i47
people and to the armies; the Confederate currency would be
> independent in itself for all the purposes of commerce between
the States, individuals and the Confederate Government, as there
would be no demand for specie or foreign exchange to sustain
our domestic commerce. Thus, inducements to speculation and
extortion would be destroyed, our people would depend upon
themselves, and the Confederate Government would reflect the
intelligence and probity of an independent and self-sustaining as¬
sociation of States. Moreover, a powerful influence for the con¬
tinuance of the war would be overcome. There are millions of
dollars invested, and thousands of persons engaged, in violations
of the blockade. They are accumulating, by the traffic, immense
fortunes, and are, therefore, anxious for the continuance of hos¬
tilities. They are, generally, enterprising and energetic, and if
. the blockade should be made complete, their love of trade would,
perhaps, direct their efforts to legitimate commerce, dependent
upon the raising of the blockade, the recognition of the Confed.
erate States of America by foreign nations and suitable com-,
mercial treaties.
Experience may suggest the propriety, justice and necessity of
an additional act of Congress, to remove from the Confederate
States all persons who claim to be aliens, and therefore exempt
from, and refuse to volunteer into, the military service of the Con¬
federate States, and claim the protection of -foreign governments
which do not recognize the Government of the Confederate States
of America. -
The number ofvpersons who consume and speculate upon our
labor would be greatly diminished, and the States worth! be re¬
lieved of Nth e most dangerous element which threatens public
safety—a class of menpwlio contribute nothing to our agricul¬
tural" prosperity, but who live and speculate upon our agricultu¬
ral products, and baselyu-efuse to aid in the defence of that labor
by which they not only subsist but accumulate wealth.
The opinions herein expressed are most respectfully submitted
to your consideration', and permit me to add, that it will afford
me pleasure to correspond with you upon any subject connected
with the welfare of our respective States ana of the Conic, leva re
States.
I have the honor to be,
Respectfully,
• _ JOHN MILTON,
Governor of Florida.
48
(copy.)
Executive Department, )
Milledgeville, Ga., April 22, 1863. j
His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
Sir :—I have the honor and pleasure to acknowledge the re¬
ceipt of your communication of the 13th inst., and avail myself
of the earliest opportunity to respond to the enlightened and pa¬
triotic sentiments it contains. Your kind offer to correspondup-
on any subject connected with the interests of our respective
States, or the Confederate States, is gladly accepted, and I will,
at any time, be happy to avail myself of the advantages of your
enlightened opinions upon any subject of interest to the people
of our respective States, or of the Confederacy. I do so the
more cordially, for the reason that the interests of the people of
Florida and of Georgia are strongly allied, and, in many instances,
identical. I know that I but express the feelings of all the peo¬
ple of this State, when I assure you that the warmest feelings of
friendship exists toward the people of Florida, and I trust it may
always be so.
You argue with great force the points presented in your letter,
that the prohibition of the growth of cotton by slave labor in the
cotton States might have a deleterious effect against the institu¬
tion of slavery with foreign powers, and, further, that such pro¬
hibition, by legislative enactment, is in violation of the Consti¬
tution. Acknowledging the great ,tiength of your views upon
these points, I have not been able to bring my mind to concur
fully. They, however, have ccascd to be practicable questions
here, as the Legislature, lately in session, by its action, declined
to pass an act to further restrict the planting and culture of cot¬
ton in this State. I have felt that the bread question was one
more vital, perhaps, than any other at this time, and have been
impelled, by a strong sense of duty, to do all in my power to re¬
strict the planting of cotton and tobacco and to increase the pro¬
duction of such articles as are useful to sustain life, and I confess
that my hopes that all may'yet be well are not without fears
that we may have great trouble in feeding the army and \ eople
next year, if the war continues.
It affords me pleasure to concur fully with your views of the i
wisdom and propriety of a law by Congress pittting a stop to
the pernicious practice of running the blockade. Its ruinous ef¬
fects upon our currency are every day being made forcibly felt,
and, if not arretted, it is not difficult to foresee the evils to which
it must lead. It affords me pleasure to be able to state that our
49
Legislature, took the same view of the subject, and I have the
honor herewith to communicate a copy ot their resolution me¬
morializing our members of Congress' Trusting that honorable
body may see the importance pf timely action to arrest the fla¬
grant evils the practice is entailing upon the country, and with
my best wishes for your health and the happiness of your people,
I have the honor to be,
Your most obd't sery't,
JOSEPH. E. BROWN.
(copy.)
Executive Department, )
Montgomery, Ala., May 4th, 1863. \
His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida, Tallahassee:
Sir :—My absence from the seat of Government has alone pre¬
vented an earlier reply to your communication of the 15th ult.
For reasons, similar in the main to those which governed you,
I did not convene the General Assembly of Alabama, but ad¬
dressed a circular letter to the planters of the State, which, I be¬
lieve, has had a good effect, and, if the seasons are propitious, our
supply of cereals will be ample.
I cordially agree with you in your views relative to the neces¬
sity and propriety of Congressional action, to prevent " running
the blockade," except with articles necessary for the army, and
also in relation to aliens claiming foreign protection, and who re¬
fuse to do military service.
The very heavy demands upon my time, caused by the accu¬
mulation of business during my absence, prevent my responding
as fully as I desire to the several points made by you.
I join you, Governor, in the assurance that it will give me
pleasure to correspond with you upon any subject connected
with the welfare of our States or of the Confederate States.
With great respect,
Your obd't serv't,
J N O. GILL SHORTER,
Gov. of Alabama.
VAp
50
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION.
Attorney General's Office, )
Tallahassee, March, 21, 1863. y
His Excellency John MiltonGovernor:
Sir:—rYour communication of this date is received, requiring
my opinion relative to the power of the Legislature to impose a
specific or discriminative tax upon cotton, or to that production
higher than the .other ^property or agricultural productions of the
State.
The 1st clause of the VIII article of the Constitution, relative
to taxation and revenue, provides that " the General Assembly
shall devise and adapt a system of revenue, having regard to an
equal and uniform mode of taxation to he general throughout the
State." Under this provision of the Constitution, the General
Assembly of the State, previous to the year 1855, devised and
adopted statutes, or continued in operation territorial laws, which
constituted a system of specific or discriminative taxation. No
question seems to have been made at the time as to the power
of the Legislature, under the Constitution, to adopt such system.
This was a contemporaneous, construction of the Constitution,
adhered to and unquestioned'for many years, and has never been
heretofore seriously disputed. This system of specific taxation
continued until the passage of the " act to establish the ad valo¬
rem system of taxation, approved Dec. 13th, 1855, since which
time the ad valorem system of taxation has obtained in the'
State- . '
From consideration of the clause above cited, as well as from
an examination and comparison of the Constitution and laws of
other States, I am satisfied that there is nothing in this provision
of the Constitution which prohibits the Legislature from laying
specific taxes, and this, of course, implies the power of discrimi¬
nation in the laying of such taxes.
It will be observed that the clause referred to provides that
the Legislature shall have regard, in the imposition of taxes,
" to an equal and uniform mode of taxation, to be general'
throughout the State J This provision, therefore, for an equal
and uniform mode of taxation is intended to have a geographical
or sectional reference, and can by no means be so construed as to
restrict the legislation to an ad valorem system of taxation, and
to deprive it altogether of the power and direction to discrimi¬
nate in the imposition of taxes between different kinds of prop¬
erty and business. The simple meaning of the Constitution is,
that whatever system of taxation is adopted shall prevail
throughout the entire Slate, and that there shall be no sectional
or local difference in this respect. This is wise and proper. If
another construction be put upon this clause, by which the Leg-
islatuie is restricted and limited to the ad valorem system of tax¬
ation, it can be very easily seen that great inconvenience, if not
much detriment to the State and society, might be the result of
depriving the General Assemby of this discretionary^ power.—
It might be impossible for the Legislature, in some instances, so
to regulate taxation as to make it compatible with justice and
good policy. It is to be further observed that the ad valorem,
system of taxation cannot be made to operate in an equal and
. uniform mode in ordinary taxation by any devise that the inge¬
nuity of our statesmen has yet discovered.
If it was the intention of the Constitution to restrict the Gene¬
ral Assembly in this respect, it would have simply provided, in
so many words, that all property in the State should be taxed
according to its value, which would have left no room for ques¬
tion or doubt in what respect, as indeed, I think, there is or
should be none in regard to the meaning of the Constitution as it
stands. The equality and uniformity of the system, therefore,
is intended for different portions of the State, and can, by no
means be made to apply to different kinds of property and busi¬
ness pursuits' to which taxation is applicable and which is such a
a wide and ever changing field for the exercise of legislative
' wisdom, policy and discretion.
I am satisfied, therefore, that the long established and contem¬
poraneous interpretation of the Constitution in this respect, pre-
" vious to the adoption of the present system of taxation, was au¬
thorized by the strict letter of the instrument and was a perfect¬
ly correct'and legitimate construction. The mode and policy of
taxation, so far as the different objects thereof are concerned, is
to be determined by the Legislature, whether it shall be ad vvlo-
rem or specific. It must, however, be equal, uniform and gene¬
ral throughout the State. Should the General Assembly desire
to impose a specific or discriminative tax upon cotton, it has the
constitutional power to do so, imposing however the same tax
upon all cotton in every portion of the State. Of the wisdom
and policy of such a tax the legislators themselves must deter¬
mine, and for"it they are responsible to the people.
Very respectfully,
J. B. GALBRAITIL
A Resolution,
WnkREAS, in the judgment of this General Assembly > the traffic
of private citizens with foreign countries is one ol tne prime
■52
causes of the depreciation of the Confederate currency and the
consequent high prices of all the necessaries of life; And,vihere-:
as, in the.opinion of this General Assembly, the largest por¬
tion of the cotton exported and of the goods imported inure
directly or indirectly to the benefit of the abolitionists of New
England ; And whereas, this tribute to Yankee greed is abhor¬
rent to the mind of every true patriot, sustains the trade of
our detested foe, and demoralizes our own citizens—Therefore,
Resolved by the General Assembly of Georgia, That our
Senators and Representatives in Congress be, and they are
hereby, requested to*secure the passage of such a law as shall
prevent the " running of the blockade," either by land or by
water, during the existence of the present war, by any person
whatever, except under the direct control and for the exclusive
benefit of the Government of the Confederate States.
JOHN BILLUPS,
President of Senate.
WARREN AKINS,_
Speaker of H'ouse of Represensentatives.
James M. Mobley,
Secretary of Senate.
L. Carrixgtox,
Clerk of House of Representatives.
Assented to April 18th, 1863.
JOSEPH E. BROWN, Governor.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
Articles of agreement between John Milton, Governor of the
State of Florida, for and in behalf of said State, on the one
part, and William Bailey, Joseph John Williams, John Cardy
and Edward Barnard, who Iiave formed a Company under the
name and style of the " Florida Card Manufacturing Compa¬
ny," of the other part.
The said John Milton hereby agrees, for and in behalf of the
State of Florida, to purchase from the said parties hereinbefore
named as forming the Florida Card Manufacturing Company
twenty-five hundred pairs of Cotton Cards and .five hundred pairs
of Wool Cards, at six dollars per pair; and, furthermore, on the
receipt for and in behalf of the State of the first one thousand
pairs of said Cards, the said John Milton, for and in behalf of said
State, agrees to pay said parties as a bonus the further suiil of
Iavo thousand dollars, on condition, however,'that the Cards are
manufactured in the State of Florida, unless the parties are driv.-
:en out of the State by the enemy.
Do
-Now the said William Bailey, Joseph John Williams, John
Cardy and Edward Barnard, forming- the said Company, do
hereby agree and oblige themselves to deliver to said John Mil¬
t-on, Governor as aforesaid, or to such agent as he shall desig¬
nate for and in behalf of said State, twenty-five hundred pairs of
Cotton Cards and five hundred pairs of Wool Cards, as afore¬
said, to be of good merchantable quality, at the price of six dol¬
lars a pair, as aforesaid, the first thousand pair to be delivered
within six months from this date, and the remainder in a reason¬
able time thereafter. It is further understood and agreed that
payment for said Cards is to be made as the same shall be deliv¬
ered at the price stipulated as aforesaid.
Witness the hands and seals of said parties, this
3(Tth day of March, 1863.
(Signed) JOHN MILTON, Gov. of Florida,
WM. BAILEY,
JOSEPH JOHN WILLIAMS,
EDWARD BARNARD,
JOHN - CARDY,
Seal.'
Seal.
Seal."
Seat..
Seal.
CONTRIBUTION'S
Of citizens, for hospital purposes, placed in the hands of Messrs.
Papy and Baker, and expanded under the direction of the Gov¬
ernor, viz:
Whole amount received up to May 1st, 1863, $4,438 00
Expended as follows, viz:
1863;
Jan. 24—Paid for wagonage, &c., from
. Monticello to Thomasville, on 6
bbls. syrup, 1 box soap, and 2
boxes clothing, sent to hospital
at Richmond, $22 50
Feb'y 4—Paid for 389 lbs. castile soap at
$1 25 per lb., for hospital 'at
Richmond, 486 25
April 16—Paid for draft for $500 sent to
Mrs. Reid, Matron hospital, 505 00
May *6—Paid for same, 505 00
July 20—Paid for draft for $1,000 sent to
Mrs. Reid, Matron, &c., 1,010 00
, July 24—Paid for draft for $1,890 20 sent
to Mrs. Reid, Matron, &c., bv
• the hands of Dr. T. Y. Henry," 1,909 25—$4,438 00
Tallahassee, Nov. 1st, 1863. * M. D. PAPY.
REPORT OF DR HENRY.
Quincy, March 20th, 1803.
His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
In obedience to instructions received from you at Tallahassee,
on the 27th of January last, I visited Gen. Bragg's he'adquarters
at Tullahoma, presented your letter and other papers pertaining
td my mission, had an interesting interview with Gen. Bragg
upon the subject, who expressed much gratification at the ac¬
tion of the Legislature of this State in regard to her sick and.
wounded soldiers, also, that there was now no need of State or
individual aid to the hospital department. He directed me to
his Medical Director, Dr. E. A. Flewellen, a gentleman of high
character and attainments. I learned from him that the medical
department of the" army of the west was now in good working
order, from the liberal appropriations Congress had made to the
hospital fund, and that large sums were returned monthly to, the
treasury, being more than ample for all necessary expenditures.
Under the authority and direction of the Medical Director, Dr.
Flewellen, a car lias been comfortably fitted up specially to con-
bey the sick and wounded men over the railroads to the several
hospitals. A surgeon is detailed to travel over the road in this
car, and to render such assistance as the sick and wounded re¬
quire before reaching the receiving hospitals at Chattanooga,
where all the comforts a hospital can afford are to be found there.
So soon as they recover sufficiently, they are moved,to the other
hospitals at other points, so that the receiving hospital may be
kept in a proper condition for the reception of those for whom it
is intended. • _
The hospitals in the Department of the "West are as well man¬
aged now as it is possible under the many difficulties attending
such institutions. By authority of the accompanying letter,
marked "A," from Di\ Flewellen, Medical Director, I visited the
several hospitals at Knoxville, Chattanooga, &c. Although I
had been lead to believe them in good condition, I 'found them
in far better than I had anticipated. The number of patients re¬
maining w.ere daily diminishing, leaving several wards vacant,
affording good opportunities for a thorough inspection. The
buildings are large and commodious, well ventilated and adapted
to the purposes to which they are applied. The floors are clean
and dry ; the walls newly whitewashed ; the beds are very com-'
fortable and abundantly supplied with warm, heavy blankets,
counterpanes, sheets, pillow cases, &c., and not crowded in fhe
As soon as a ward is vacated, the floors are all thor-
"Ughiy Washed and the walls whitewashed. This practice is
kept up in all the hospitals so long as they are occupied as such.
Everything the country affords in the way of supplies is bought
up by the hospital agents, who are sent out along the railroads
in every direction with instructions to purchase afany cost. The
supplies have precedence over all other freights, so that very
few articles are lost by delay on the roads, nor do the sick and
wounded suffer for proper articles of diet. By this means each
hospital is enabled to keep constantly on hand a sufficient supply
for several days. The cooking wards are all well furnished with
an abundance ot utensils and crockery ware. They are presided
over by good and tried cooks, and not details. All meals are re¬
quired to be promptly and well served, and their department
kept in good order. This is a part of the duty of the Surgeon
in charge, to inspect regularly the culinary department. The
Surgeons with whom I met in the several hospitals I found to be
polite and intelligent gentlemen, prompt and assiduous in the
discharge of their onerous duties, evincing an intimate knowl¬
edge with all the cases in their wards and feeling the same res¬
ponsibilities they would in their-private practice.
From the above facts I deemed it entirely useless to establish
a separate Hospital for the Floridia troops. The Medical Direc¬
tor told me that any of the hospitals from Atlanta to Knoxville
might be selected and designated the uFlorida Hospital" I
chose the one at Ringgold, Geo., so that our people having
friends in Gen. Bragg's army will know how and -where to di¬
rect whatever donations they may wish to make. There are
some, article that cannot be purchased there, and I would urge
upon those having lemons, limes, oranges, dried figs, wines, cor¬
dials, catsups, spices, peppers, brandies, and, in short, everything
that is included among seasonings, to send them to Ringgold.—
Florida alone produces many of these articles, and it is to be hoped
that her people will still manifest the same liberality they have
on former similar occassions.
Our troops are now in most excellent health and spirits, having
passed through camp diseases. They are well clad and shod,
which ought to he gratifying and encouraging to every one to
persevere in their efforts to keep the men constantly well pro¬
vided in all articles needed for their comfort ^ and wants. _ Our
troops are in Gen. Hardee's corps. He manifests much inter¬
est in them and compliments them highly for their unflinching
valor under all circumstances and situations.
The above is respectfully submitted, hoping it may meet with
your approbation ?
I am, very respectfully, your ob't serv t,
THOMAS Y. HENRY-
REPORT
of the
TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEM'T FUND
in relation to the
ST, JOHNS AND INDIAN EIVEE CANAL.
To the Genernl Assembly of the State of Florida:
The Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, in compliance
with an act of the Legislature, approved Dec. 10, 1862, which
provides that the Trustees shall make a statement to the Gener¬
al Assembly " of the facts in connection with the commencement,
progress and present condition of the work on said canal, (the
St. John's and Indian River Canal,) a statement of the money
paid, and on what account, also a statement of the lands set apart
for this work by eights of sections, and, if any have been disposed
of, to whom and on what terms ; also a full statement of the
transactions of the Canal Commissioners with regard to bonds,
and a statement of the amount and actual value of work done on
said canal," report the following matters and statements con¬
nected with the affairs of said canal:
In accordance with the provisions of said act, they authorized
the Attorney of the Board, J. B. Galbraith, Esq., to proceed to
Ocala and there receive for them from said Canal Commissioners
the goods, chatties, books, papers, &c., belonging to their canal
organization, as provided in the 2d section of said act; that their
attorney did obtain from the said Commissioners the books and
papers relating to their canal, and at the same time obtained from
the Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Canal Commission¬
ers, who had been authorized to execute the same, a deed con¬
veying to the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund all
chatties, monies, &c., belonging to said Commissioners and re-
conveying all lands to the Trustees which they owned or had ob¬
tained. from the said Trustees by deed, except such portion as
they had previously disposed of, a copy of which deed accompa¬
nies this report.
8Ap
5S
The reports of the Chairman of the Board of Canal Commis¬
sioners, Mr. James G. Speer, and the Secretary of their Board,
Mr. J. 0. Devall, which accompany this report, furnish an answer
in relation to the facts concerning which a statement is required
by the 5th section of the act above cited. A brief reference,
however, to the laws providing for this canal may be necessary
fully to understand the nature and statement of the whole expen¬
ditures in regard to the same. The act to provide for and en¬
courage a liberal system of internal improvements in this State
(Sec. 4) designated a canal from the waters of St. John's river
and Lake Harney to the waters of Indian river as a propet im¬
provement to be aided from the Internal Improvement Fund.
The 17th section of the same act authorized the State Engineer
to make a location of the same and furnish estimates and plans,
&c., for the information of persons desirous of engaging in the
work, and the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund were
authorized to pay out of the fund the expenses on contract, &c.
Under this provision of the Internal Improvement act some small
sums were expended by the Ti'ustees for expenses for survey of
canal, amounting in all to about thirteen hundred and .sixty dol¬
lars. This expenditure was made directly by the Tr ustees of the
Internal Improvement Fund previous to the appointment of the
Commissioners, and does not of course appear in thier account.
In January, 1857, an act was p>assed entitled "an act to facil¬
itate the construction of the St. Johns and Indian River Canal.
This act provides for the appointment of Commissioners of the
Canal, the appropriation of money by the Trustees of the Inter¬
nal Improvement Fund and the conveyance of lands for the pur¬
pose of constructing the same ; also for the issuing of bonds by
the said Commissioners. In the spring of 1858, the Canal Com¬
missioners were appointed, and, in 1859, the sum of #2,000 was
appropriated by the Trustees to defray the expenses of a survey
of the route of the canal, and on the 25th January, i860, a deed
was executed by the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund
conveying twenty thousand acres of land to the Commisioners
for the purpose of constructing the canal, according to the pro¬
visions of the law. The subsequent proceedings of the Canal Com¬
missioners are detailed in the accompanying report of the Chair¬
man of their Board.
A synopsis of the whole is about as follows: There has been'
received and expended by the Commissioners of the canal an
amount a little over #12,000. Six thousand dollars'of this.amount
was appropriated by the Board of Trustees, and the rest obtain¬
ed from the sale of lands and bonds. To this amount must be
added the sum of #1,388.82 expended by the Trustees of the In¬
ternal Improvement Fund previous to the appointment of the
59
Commissioners; also the sum of $1,646, for balance still due the
Chairman, and $2,253.71 claimed for services by the Secretary of
the Board. These amounts, taken together, make the sum of
about $17,500 actually expended in the work, a small portion of
the same, though not having been paid the Trustees, the fund is
responsible for if found correct according to terms of the deed of
the Commissioners to the Trustees. The number of bonds dis¬
posed ofiby the Commissioners is ten of five hundred dollars each,
for which it appears the sum of $4,550 was obtained. The lands
sold by them amount to 915 acres, for which the sum of $1,498
was Received. These statements are mainly derived from the
account of the Treasurer of the Board of Canal Commissioners,
which accompanies this report. This account does not accurate¬
ly ballance, but is mainly correct, at least sufficiently so to con¬
vey all useful information in regard to the receipts and expendi¬
tures of the Canal Commissioners.
The Commissioners make no report of any work whatever
having been actually done on the canal. The report of the
Chairman states that "the contractors had only got properly to *
work" when the Events of the war induced him to abandon the
undertaking. It is to be presumed from this report that but a few
yards of the canal has been actually dug, the value of which is
of course but small, if anything. Nothing appears to have been
paid to the contractor, except $688.24, as appears from the ac¬
count of the Treasurer.
A statement of the sale of lands, to whom sold and the amount
thereof, will" be found in the account of the Treasurer of the Board
of Commissioners herewith submitted, and the lands set apart for
the work are fully described, as required by the act, in the deed
of the Trustees to the Canal Commissioners, a copy of which ac¬
companies this report.
JOHN MILTON,
Pres. of the Board of Trustees of the Int. Imp. Fund.
To His Excellency John Milton, Governor of the State of
Florida and President of the Board of Internal Improve¬
ment of the State of Florida:
The Board of Canal Commissioners of the St. Johns and In¬
dian River Canal, in compliance with an act of the Legislature,
approved December 10, 1862, entitled " an act to repeal an act
to facilitate the construction "of the St. Johns amd Indian River
Canal, approved January 1, 1857," would make the following
report:
60
The Board was organized on the 15th July, 1858, by the elec¬
tion of Judge W. A. Forward, Chairman. Of the acts and do¬
ings of the Board during his continuance with it you will find
them in fall in his very able report under date Nov. 8, 1859, and
therefore I deem it unnecessary to repeat them here.
Ex-Gov. W. I). Moseley succeeded him as Chairman of the
Board, and continued as such until 1861, and as the Board of
Trustees made settlement with him, on his retiring from our
Board, we presume he also made a report of his doings during
that period. There is one matter, however, that transpired du¬
ring his connection with our Board that I wish to call your atten¬
tion to. By resolution your Board set apart eight thousand dol¬
lars per annum for the payment of interest on " Bonds to be is¬
sued." Your Board did pay to W. D. Moseley, as Chairman of
the Board of Canal Commissioners, four thousand dollars for said
purpose, and W. D.'Moseley did deposit the same in New York
without the consent and against the advice of our Board. We
deemed that he had therebyrendered himself personally respon¬
sible for the same, and as our Board only received of this amount
about thirteen hundred dollars afterwards, paid by you to Col. J.
O. Devall,! Secretary and Treasurer of our Board, we ask that
you give us credit for the difference.
The undersigned was elected Chairman of the Board on the
15th July, 1861, and soon after was instructed by the Board to
enter into and close a contract with Geo. W. Morris, Esq., of
Chai'leston, S. C., for the construction of said Canal, which was
done after some necessary delay. The contract entefed into with
him, with the Bond attached, is in your possession, and I ask for
it a careful examination. Late in the fall of 1861 the contractor
began this work, to the great satisfaction of its friends, it having
been so long delayed by circumstances over which they had no
control. The contractor had only got properly to work when
the blockade partially cut off his supplies, which was soon after¬
wards made complete by the Yankees getting possession of the
St. Johns river. The contractor then abandoned the work, not¬
withstanding the contract bound him to prosecute the work con¬
tinuously to completion. Our Board then deemed it best to dis¬
miss their local Engineer.
I would very respectfully call your attention to the report of
Col. J. O. Devall, Secretary and Treasurer of our Board, embod¬
ied in his account current, showing the receipts from all sources
up to date to be (812,229.00) twelve thousand two hundred and
twenty-nine dollars, and the expenditures during the same period
to be (811,783.07) eleven thousand seven hundred and eighty-
three 07-100 dollars. It will also furnish most of the information
asked for by the act of the Legislature before referred to.
61
It will be seen thnt but a small amount of these lands, set apart
to aid in the construction of this work, have been sold, and the
locating agent took them, in part pay for his services, at $2.50
per acre, that being the valuation set upon them. The sales of
the other class of lands, the enhanced value of which was also to
aid this work, have been small. We obtained these lands from
the State at seventy-five cents, and sold them at one dollar per
acre. It will also be seen that the sale of our Bonds have been
small, not but that we could have sold them, but we did not wish
to hold an unnecessary amount of money, that would increase
the Burden of the State without a corresponding benefit.
The act above mentioned callsfor the report of Mr. Burchaei,
the last Engineer, as to the practicability of this work. Mr. Bur-
chaelywas employed and placed on this work as a local engineer,
the practicability of which had long been determined on by the
Board of Canal Commissioners, acting iipon the ojnnion and re¬
port of the very able engineer Col. Henry McRea, who had been
employed for that express purpose. Therefore Mr. Burchaei was
not required, nor did he ever make, any report to the Board on
that subject. .
The Legislature directed that the pay of the Canal Commis¬
sioners should be fixed by the Board ot Trustees of the Internal
Improvement, which your Board done by putting their salary at
three thousand dollars per annum, and as the Board of Commis¬
sioners have been, in existence near five years, they could have
used near fifteen thousand dollars, yet but little over one-half' of
that amount has been so used.
And here I.might close, but for the impression that has gone
out that there has been unnecessary delay in the prosecution of
this work.. Let the facts speak for themselves. Ex-Gov. James
E. Broome either neglected or refused to appoint Canal Commis¬
sioners during his term in office, and it was not until the Spring
of 1858 that Ex-Gov. Madison S. Perry appointed the Commis¬
sioners contemplated by the law. The Board was organized in
July of that year. It was then ascertained that the various Bail-
road Companies of the State had issued such an amount of Bonds
that the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund did not
think it proper for our Board to issue Bonds to carry on this
work, as they would not be able to meet the interest oil them.—
Thus we lost near two years of precious time. Was this our
fault? About January, 1860, we were informed that we could
proceed with the work. Time and again we advertised, asking
bids for the work, all of which brought us a number of propo¬
sals, yet none would bring the work within our means, the Leg¬
islature having set three hundred thousand dollars as the whole
cost of the work. We again determined to reduce the size of
62
the proposed Canal, and in the Fall of 1860 we had a bid which
promised all we had a right to expect. The parties living in
New York were at once notified to come forward and enter into
bonds, but, before this could be done, the State of Florida had
seceded from the United States, which broke up this contract.—
Not yet discouraged, we again gave notice to contractors, which
resulted in the contract with G. W. Morris, Esq., before men¬
tioned, and the result already stated. The man who can find
fault with the Commissioners, under these circumstances, is more
to be pitied than censured.
"VVe, your Commissioners, have most cheerfully and promptly
complied with the requirements of the law as we understand it,
and ask that this report may go before the Legislature at its next
Session, with the report from your honorable Board.
In conclusion, I beg leave to return to those members of your
Board who have constantly given us their hearty co-operation in
this work our uqited thanks, &c.
All of which is most respectfully submitted, &c.,
JAMES G. SPEER,
Chm'n Board of Canal Commissioners.
Oakland P. O., Orange Co., Fla., April 1, 1863.
o-
STATE OF FLORIDA.
This indenture and articles of agreement, made and entered
into this 25th day of March, 1868, between James G. Speer and
James O. Devall, for and on behalf of the Board of Commission¬
ers of the St. Johns and Indian River Canal, of the first part,
and the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State
of Florida, of the seeond part, witnesseth: That on account of
and in accordance with the provisions of " an act to repeal an
act to facilitate the construction of the St. Sohns and Indian River
Canal, approved January 1st, 1857, and for other purposes," ap¬
proved December 10, 1862, the said parties of the first part, do
hereby conv.ey, transfer and deliver to the said parties of the sec¬
ond part all goods, chattels, monies, rights, credits, books and
papers, and all property of whatever kind belonging to or under
the control of the said Board of Commissioners of the St. Johns
and Indian River Canal; and the said parties of the first part do
hereby release and convey to the Trustees of the Internal Im¬
provement Fund all lands and real estate now owned by said
Commissioners of the St. Johns and Indian River Canal, accord-
63
ing to the provisions of said act. And the said parties of the
second part do hereby agree with the parties of the first part to pay
and settle all lawful claims and demands now existing and out¬
standing against the said Commissioners as such of the St, Johns
and Indian River Canal, including the salaries of all officers and
Commissioners of said Canal, and especially the amount of sala¬
ry now due the said James G. Speer, as President of said Board
of Commissioners, amounting to $1,646.00, and also the salary
of the Secretary of said Board, James O. Devall, $2,253.71, pro¬
vided said amounts be found correct.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this 25th day of March, A. D. 1863.
J. G. SPEER,
JAS. O. DEVALL,
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
W. H. Harris,
F. N. Foy.
lv s.
l.' s.
The St. Johns and Indian River Canal in account with James
O. Devall, Treasurer.
1859. PR-
To am't cash rec'd by W. A. Forward, t© defray ex¬
penses of survey, $2,000 00
1860
May 25.— " " " f°r Bond No. 1, 500 00
Auff. 11. " " " from sale of eight Bonds to Major
Kembert, to-wit: 58, 54,55, 56, 57,
58, 59 and 60, at 90 cts., 3,600 00
«eD+ 04 « « " for 389 04-100 acres of land sold
James G. Speer, 972 62
Eov, iq " " 11 from Need. Yates for 70 40-100
acres land, 70 40
Mflv fi— " " " W. S. Delk for 280 09-100 acres
y land, 380 09
« 44 4t Daniel Hackney for 40 acres land, 40 00
44 44 44 from J s. and s. C. Hackney for
96 20-100 acres land, 96 20
44 44 44 J xjnderhill for 40 08-100 acres
land, 40 08
Sept. — " " " C. H. Austin, Treasurer, 1,800 00
\ 44 44 44 from W. A. Forward a $500 Bond
at 90 cents, 4>J JJ
Anp,ust __ » « " from W. D. Moseley, 1»0 U(J
Oct 5-- " " " by W.D.Moseley, Chair-
64
Less above ain't as rec'ft
from C. H. Austin, Treas.,
being part of said $4,000 1,300
OR.
—2,700 00
$12,249 42
1860.
'May.
June 1—
12—
18—
20—
July 7—
By cash expended by W. A. Forward on account
of surveys, as reported to his Excellency the
Governor by him,
—By cash for pens, ink and paper,
25—By cash paid Teasdale & Reid, for books and en¬
velopes,
u Herrie, for drayage,
" for sign board,
" Hatch & Co., for printing bonds,
" for iron safe and expenses,
" Teasdale & Reid, for paper,
" . M. Moselev, for copying deed,
" L. W. DuBois, Engineer,
" J. W. Devall, charter of Boat and
Board of Comm'rs to Lake Harney,
12— " " C. Drew, for copying book and print¬
ing proposals,
16— " " stamps and envelopes,
August 11— " " W. B. Moseley, as per order and
vouchers,
Sept'ber 11— " " interest paid on nine coupons,
August 11— " . " A. Moseley's account as per order of
Chairman,
" " Teasdale & Reid, paper, ink and
stamps,
" " Charleston Mercury, for advertising,
Sept'ber 24— " " J. G. Speer, for locating 20,227 acres
land,
" " Jacksonville Standard, for advertis'g,
" " blank deeds,
October 10— " " W. A. Forward, lor services as Ch'n,
October 10— " " J. C. McMillen, for, Letter Press,
Nov'ber 1— " " P. Moody, Commissioner,
" " W. D. Moseley, Commissioner,
" " for paper, &c.,
' 11 " C. Drew, advertising & circular,
" " for freight &c.,
2— " " J. G. Speer, as per account and order
of Chairman,
Nov. & Dec.- " " J. O. Devall, expenses to Tallahassee,
Dec'ber 13— " " J. O. Devall, ^expenses to Gainesville
and Sodom to sell land,
1861. " ^
Feb'ary 11— " " LI. A. Gray, Commissioner,
March 1— " " W. P. Rembert, int. on 10 bonds,
" u Interest on 3 bonds,
" " W. S. Harris, for maps,
u " C. Drew, for printing circulars,,
$2,000 00
2 50
75
25
11 50
233 06
164 00
2 50
10 00
100 00
100 00
12 03
1 50
76 86
180 00
16 00
4 25
12 00
972 60
14 00
2 50
750 00
5 50
49 00
90 00
1 50
10 00
25
36 70
4 93
33 00
129 00
200 00
28 00
40 00
7 78-
65
Sept'ber 1-
June l-
August 3—
July 10—
September —
December —
Dec'ber 16—
21—
26—
1862.
April 8—
11—
1863.
January 1—
»
Marcb 26—
■By casli^paid interest on bonds,
J- O- Devall, expenses to Charles-
ton to make contract,
J. P. Sanderson, for drawing bond
and professional services,
" J. O. Devall, expenses to Jackson¬
ville,
" £ I)eva11' expenses to Tallahasee,
J. O. Devall, expenses to Tallahassee,
in company with J. G. Speer, Chair¬
man, to meet the board,
" W. B. Burchael, Engineer,
Dr. Haws, hire of hand to assist
Engineer,
" Wm. Jones, " " "
" G. W. Morris, Contractor,
" W. B. Burchael, Engineer,
" G. W. Morris, Contractor for es¬
timate No. 2,
" W. P. Rembert for coupons,
" G. W. Morris, coupons on bond,
" H. A. Corlcy, for land,
" J. O. Devall, salary fir 3 years
and 3 days to 15th January
1863 at $1000, 3.349 00
" to 25th March, '235 00
$11,783 13
228 00
78 00
60 00
7 00
26 00
28 00
200 00
44 00
13 60
622 20
415 00
66 20
200 00
28 00
395 10
The Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of
Florida, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
Whereas, By the act of the General Assembly of the State
of Florida, approved January 6th, 1855, entitled "An act to pro¬
vide for and encourage a liberal system of Internal Improve¬
ments in this State," it is provided that lands not exceeding four
thousand acres per mile may be granted by the Trustees of the
Internal Improvement Fund to aid in the construction of a navi¬
gable Canal, connecting the waters of the St. Johns with those
of Indian river; and, whereas, by the act approved January 1st,
A. D. 1857, entitled "An act to facilitate the construction of the
St. Johns and Indian River Canal," the Commissioners of said
Canal are authorized to receive from the Trustees of tne Internal
Improvement Fund the lands mentioned in the 1/th section of
the act approved January 6th, 1855, and the same to dispose of
in any mode and manner that to them may seem the most advan¬
tageous ; and, whereas, in pursuance of the provisions of said
9Ap
66
acts of the General Assembly of Florida, the several tracts or
parcels of land hereinafter described have been selected by the
Commissioners of the St. Johns and Indian River Canal, to-wit:
Township 11, South, Range 11 East.—■The West d of the South
East d and the West d of Section 15 ; the North 'East d of the
South East d of Section 17 ; the East d and the East d of the
South West d of Section 19 ; the West d of the North East d>
and the East d of the North West d> and the South d of Section
20; the East d> and the South West d of Section 21 ; all of Sec¬
tion 22; the West d and the South East d of Section 23 ; and
the North d of Section 25—containing in all 3,246 82-100 acres.
Township 9, South, Range 13, East.—The South East d of Sec¬
tion 21 ; the South d of Section 22; the lots numbered 6 and 8
of Section 25 ; the North'East \ of Section 26 ; the North di and
the West d of the South East d> and the South West d of Sec¬
tion 27 ; the North d and the South East d of Section 28 ; the
West d of the South West d of Section 29; the South East d of
Section 30; the North East d of Section 31; the West d of the
North West d of Section 32 ; the East d of the North East d,
and the East d of the South East d of Section 33 ; and the West
d of the North East d, and the West d of the South East d, and
the West d of Section 34—containing in all 2,712 27-100 acres.
Township 11, South, Range 13, East.—The East d of the
North East d of Section 26 ; and the South East d of the North
East d? and the East d of the South East d? and the lots num¬
bered 2, 3 and 4, lying East of Suwannee river, of Section 35—
containing in all 347 60-100 acres.
Township 7, South, Range 14, East.—The lots numbered 3
and 4 of Section 3 ; the lot numbered 7 of Section 4; the lots
numbered 1 and 2 of Section 9, and the lot numbered 2 of Sec¬
tion 10—containing in all 341 62-100 acres.
Toumship 8, South, Range 14, East.—The lots numbered 3,
4 and 5, and the North East d of the South East d of Section 17;
the lot numbered 3 of Section 19 ; the lots numbered 1, 2 and 4,
and the East d of the South West d of Section 20 ; the lot num¬
bered 1, and the West d of the North West d, and the West d
the South East d? and the East d of the South West d of Section
29; the lots numbered 1, 4 and 5, and the East d of the North
East d of Section 30; and the lot numbered 1, and the West d
of the North East d5 and the East d of the North West d of Sec¬
tion 32—containing in all 1,203 75-100 acres.
Township 10, South, Range 14, East.—The North East d of
the North East d, and the South West d of Section 32 ; and the
North West d of Section 33—containing in all 360 92-100 acres.
67
Towns/up 1G, South, Range, 1G, East.—The East 4 of Section
10; the West 4 of the South East 4i and the South West 4 of
Section 11 ; the West 4 of the North East-J, and the South East
4, and the West -1- of Section 14; the East 4 of the North East
4, and the East \ of the South East £ of Section 15; and the
East 4 of the North East 4 of Section 33—containing in all 1,373
23-100 acres.
Township 7, Southy Range 17, East.—The East 4 of the South
West -j, and the North West 4 of the South West 4, of Section
23; the West 4 of the North East 4> and the North West 4 of
Section 27 ; and the East 4 of the North East 4: and the North
West £ of the North East -J, and the East 4 of the North West
4 ctf Section 28—containing in all 561 43-100 acres.
Toicnship 18, South, Range 17, East.—The South East 4 of
Section 8 ; the West 4 of the North West 4 of Section 9; and
the North East 4> and the East 4 of the North West \ of Section
17—containing in all 479 95-100 acres.
Township 19, South, Range 17, East.—The West 4 of the
North East 4? and the East-^of the North West 4, and the West
4 of the South East 4, and the South West 4 of Section 5; and
the West 4 of the North East 4> and the West 4 of Section 8—
containing in all 799 acres.
Township 20, South, Range 18, East.—The South East 4 of
Section 23 ; the North 4, and the East 4 of the South East 45 and
the West 4 of the South West 4 of Section 24; the West 4 of
the North West 4f and the West 4 of the South West 4 of Sec¬
tion 25 ; and the East 4 of the South East 4 of Section 26—con¬
taining in all 880 88-100 acres.
Township 34, South, Range 17, East.—The East 4 °f the
South East 4 of Section 11, and the North East 4 of Section 14—
containing in all 240 acres.
Township 21, South, Range 18, East.—The South East 4, and
the East 4 of the North West 4 of Section 24; the East 4 of the
North East 4? and the South East 4 of Section 25; the North
East 4 of Section 34; and the South West 4 of the North West
4 of Section 35—containing in all 681 52-100 acres.
Township 34, South, Range 18, East.—The North 4 of the
North East 4 of Section 9—containing 80 acres.
Township 20, South, Range 19, East.—The East 4 of the
South East 4 of Section 23; the North East 4 of the South West
4, and the West 4 of the South West 4 of Section 24; the South
4 of the North West 4> the East 4 of the South West 4? and the
North West 4 of the South West 4 of Section 25; and the East
4 of the South East 4 of Section 26—containing in all 479 44-100
acres.
68
Township 19, South, Range 21, East.—The South West \ of
Section 1; the East -J of the North East ■£, andthe North East
4 of the South East i of Section 10; the West \ of the North
East and the South -J of the North West and the South -J
of Section 11 ; the North East and the North East £ of the
North West and the North -J of the South East \ of Section
12 ; the West -jr of the North West and the South West ^ of
Section IB ; the East \ of the North East and the North West
^ of the North East ^ of Section 14-; and the South East \ of the
North East ^ of Section 24—containing in all 1,441 22-100 acres.
Township 21, South, Range 21, East.—The North East and
the East \ of the South East \ of Section 3 ; the East -J, and the
East of the North West-J, and the East -J of the South West \
of Section 4; the North \ of Section 10; the East \ of the North
West i, and the North West 4 of the North West and the
East \ of the South West ^ of Section 14; and the North % of
the North East ^ of Section 15—containing in all 1,317 17d00
acres.
Township 27, South, Range 21, East.—The South \ of Section
7; the West ^ of the North East the South East ^ of the
North East £, and the South of the North West of Section
8;. and the North East \ of the North Eastland the South
West \ of the North West \ of Section 9—containing in all 601
76-100 acres.
Township 28, South, Range 21, East.—The East-J of the South
East 4, and the North West ^ of the South East and the East'
-§• of the South West and the South West 4 of the South West
\ of Section 20; and the West Of the North East and the
South East ^ of the North East and the North East ^ of the
North West and the South West ^ of the North West ^ of
Section 29—containing in all 439 78-100 acres. .
Township 19, South, Range 22, East.—The lot numbered 2,
and the West -J Of the South West £ of Section 19; the South
East \ of the North East and the South East and the West
-J of Section 23 ; the West -J of the North West and the North
West \ of the South West ^ of Section 24; the North East \ of
the North West and the West 4 of the North West ^ of Sec¬
tion 30 ; and the North ^ of the North West % of Section 36—
containing in all 989 70-100 acres.
Toionship 28, South, Range 22, East.—The West \ of the
North East the North West and the South of the South
West ^ of Section 11 ; the East of the North West and the
East 4 of the South West -]-•> and the South West 4 of the South
West ^ of Section 12 ; and the North West 4 of Section 13—
containing in all 679 17-100 acres.
69
Township 21, South, Range 28, East.—The East \ of the
North West U and the East d of the South West and the
South East J oi Section 7; the lots numbered 1 and 2 of Section
18; the lots numbered 1 and 2 of Section 19; the lots numbered
1 and 2, and the West of the North East ^ of Section 30; and
the lot numbered 1, and the fractional South West ^ of Section
31—containing in all 970 55-100 acres.
And containing in the aggregate 20,227 78-100 acres.
Now, therefore, know ye, that the Trustees of the Internal
Improvement Fund of the State of Florida, in consideration of
the premises, and in conformity with the Acts of the General
Assembly of Florida 'aforesaid, have given and granted, and by
these presents do give and. grant unto the Commissioners of the
St. Johns and Indian River Canal, subject to the disposal of the
said Commissioners, the tracts of land above described: to have
and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges,
immunities and appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said
Commissioners, their successors and assigns, forever, in fee
simple.
In testimoney whereof, the said Trustees have hereto
subscribed their names and affixed their Seals,
and have caused an impression df the Seal of
the Florida State Land Office to be made here¬
upon. at the Capitol, in Tallahassee, on the 25th
day of January, A. D. 1860, and eighty-fourth
year of American Independence.
M. S. PERRY, Governor, • [l. s.
T. W. BREVARD, Comptroller, [l. s.
C. H. AUSTIN, Treasurer, p. s.
M. D. PAPY, Attorney General, l. s.
HUGH A. CORL'EY, Register, fr. s.
Seal of Florida $
State Land Office.;
70
LETTER FROM DR. T. M. PALMER.
(copy.)
Florida Hospital, \
Richmond, Va., Nov. 2nd, 1863. )
Gov. John Milton:
Dear /Sir—As the Legislature meets very soon, I consider it
my duty to send you a statement of the expenditure of money
sent by you for the use of this Hospital. The account is copied
from the books of the Hospital and is correct. You will see
what a difference there is in prices here and In Florida, many
articles selling for three or four times as much, and all rising
every day. I do not see how we can keep up if prices continue
to advance as they have done in the last few months. Our friends
at home will have to open their hearts and hands still wider, for
it will never do for our sick and wounded soldiers to suffer for
the want of supplies. Bacon, pork and beef could be put up in
such a manner as to be transported, and Government will furnish
transportation for all supplies for Hospitals, and they are glad to
get them. Beef should be corned or jerked, and pork pickled,
<fcc.
The Confederate Government is closing up most of the small
Hospitals on account of the rent and other expenses, in the city,
and transferring them to large establishments in the suburbs. I
do not think it would be at all to the interest of our soldiers to
have our hospitals merged into some of these large institutions,
nor have I heard any talk of it, but such a thing might take place,
unless the State agrees to pay the rent. North Carolina, Ala¬
bama, and some of the other States, are paying the r-ent of hos¬
pitals in the city, to prevent their being closed, and I would like
for you to authorize me, in case such a contingency arises, to pay
the rent, if by doing so I can prevent the hospital being closed.
The rent is three hundred dollars a month. As evidence that
this hospital is beneficial to our sick apd wounded, I |state the
fact that we have not had a death in it, from disease, since the
9th of Ji#ie, a period of almost five months, and during part of
that time we had as high one hundred and fifty patients; nor
have we had a death from any cause since the 27th of August.—
I attribute this success in a great measure to the faithful and skil¬
ful attention of my assistant, Dr. W. PI. Babcock, (formerly of
Fernandina,) and to the good nursing of Mrs. Reid. It has been
our endeavor to make it a home for all of our Florida soldiers, and
many of them stop with us passing through Richmond, either
going or returning from furlough, instead of going to other pla-
71
ees, and wc expect and desire them to stop with us, as a night's
lodging here, without meals, is five dollars a night, which would
soon take the eleven dollars a month.
^ on will see by the papers that I have agreed to collect the
pay due to discharged and deceased soldiers, which I will do very
cheerfully and free of charge to them. Gen. Perry, perhaps,
wrote you on the subject, stating to you that it would' be neces¬
sary for me to have a clerk, as the manual labor in this business
is considerable—too much for me to do justice to my other du¬
ties and I would therefore ask if you could allow me a suffi¬
cient sum to provide a clerk. The State would, probably, do that
much towards the collection of these claims. I have already col¬
lected some, and I know it requires a good deal of work. Those
having claims had better send them on as soon as possible, pre¬
pared strictly according to the published regulation, and I will
attend to them. There is very frequently delay in collecting
these claims, because the muster rolls of the company have not
been sent to the Adjutant General's office, where the auditor gets
his information before paying them.
I would also ask, if you can, to furnish'me with a small sum for
telegrams, postage, &c., for business relating to these matters.—
I have already paid out of my own pocket about fifty dollars, in
sending telegrams to you and others, as to casualties, &c., and
in answering the inquiries of anxious friends after each battle, and
about the same amount in postage, answering letters of inquiry.
The small sum of each individual letter, &c., is very little in itself,
but in the aggregate it amounts up to quite a considerable sum.
Perhaps this might be allowed to come out of the contingent
fund, which you always have control of. The withholding these
amounts wilTnot prevent my. sending telegrams, or answering
iuquiries of friends. I will at all times take pleasure in satisfying
the anxiety of friends, even at my own expense.
We are nearly out of sugar, and quite out of syrup, and would
like to get a supply. Could not some of our friends send us four
or five barrels, by a trusty agent ? It is no use to send anything,
unless it is in the care of an agent, as it would probably never
reach here.
The period for preparing lime and lemon juice is now at hand,
and I have been requested by the Surgeon General to ask you,
if you could make a contract for four or five barrels, and at what
price. There is a very great difference in its preparation, which
affects its properties and keeping. We received twelve gallons
last spring, from some friend in East Florida, which is the best
Ave have ever had. I haA~e a bottle of it put away to see how long
it will keep. It is perfectly good now, and I would like to find
72
out who sent it, and how it was prepared. It was sent through
by Messrs. Denham & Palmer, of Monticello;
* Please answer the above at your earliest convenience.
Very respectfully, your ob't sv't,
THOMAS M. PALMER,
Surgeon in charge Florida Hospital.
LETTER FROM SAMUEL PULESTOK
(copy.)
Monticello, Nov. 10th, 1863.
To Ms Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
Dear Sir: I have just returned from a visit to our troops in
Gen. Bragg's army, as agent for the State, my contribution most¬
ly from Jefferson county ; and, as it was impossible to reach the
Florida troops, I was directed by Col. Dilworth and Mrs. Harri¬
son to dispose of them as follows: Part went to our troops in the
field, a portion to the Marietta hospitals and the balance I'car¬
ried to Newnan, Ga., at which point Dr. Carey B. Gamble is Sur¬
geon of the Post, and we also have there, as matrons, Mrs. Har¬
rison and Mrs. Harris, who are doing all they can for the gen¬
eral good. In a conversation with Dr. Gamble, he said that it
would be almost impossible for Florida to have a separate hos¬
pital, no other State having one connected with the Western ar¬
my. He however said, that as far as possible the Florida troops
would be sent to him and would in some sense be the same as
having a separate hospital, although I found them on my late
Visit scattered in every hospital that I visited, as is the case of
soldiers from States now in the possession of the enemy, say
irom Missouri, Arkansas, and other States, for \yhom, it seems to
me, that Florida, as well as other States, ought to be willing to
haves ome of the delicacies intended for our own men, as it is im¬
possible for them to have any private contributions from their
own sections.
The articles left by me at Newnan arrived. at a time when
much needed, and was most gladly received by the sick and
wounded at the late battle of Chickamauga, and productive
of much good, and I am well satisfied that our people that have so
73
generally contributed would in no case withhold giving in the
uture, could they be convinced, as I have been, of the immense
amount ot suffering they have been instrumental of relieving.
Respectfully, your obedient sv't,
SAMUEL PULESTON.
State Agent for Hospitals.
LETTER OF REV. WM. E. HAMILTON.
(copy.)
Monticello, Nov. 16, 1863.
To His Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
My Dear Sir : I have just returned from a second visit to our
noble, self-sacrificing and uncomplaining army, and to many of
their sick and wounded soldiers, scattered as they are from the
recent battle-field nearly all over the State of Georgia.
In these visits, one of which was to aid in caring for the sick and
wounded, and the other to carry supplies to them, I have received
the most marked kindness from all concerned who knew my ob¬
ject ; and,inasmuch as it was through your endorsement and re¬
commendation, which I was so kindly permitted to bear with me,
that I received so much attention, I felt that it was but right and
proper that I should express my gratitude therefor ; and as I
have been so bold as to take this step, perhaps it would not be
amiss to state some of my feelings and observations growing out
of my visits, and, first, as to the importance of the spirit of lib¬
erality, already manifested by our people, being continued. It is
impossible for the government, with such a tremendous army to
feed, to do any more than furnish the mere substantials of living,
and oftentimes these are so scarce that the surgeons have found
on the day of battle that their wounded have been destitute of
rations for days. I saw myself some three hundred of the wound¬
ed at the battle of Chickamauga, brought in at Ringgold for trans¬
portation to more remote hospitals, hungry and thirsty almost to
exhaustion; and these would have been compelled, in that con¬
dition, to proceed upon their journey without refreshment, only
that two noble women from Thomas county had that morning
lOAp * ""
n
arrived with some sixteen thousand pounds of cooked provisions,
wines and preserves. These were distributed bj the ladies who
brought them, assisted by my noble and self-sacrificing friend and
fellow-townsman, the Rev. Mr. Thackara and myself from morn¬
ing till in the dark hour of night; and thus the blessing of many,
literally ready to perish, came down upon the heads of those who
gave and those who brought that noble benefaction to the place
of hunger and suffering.
The next thing to be considered is, what is needed ? In reply
to this, I would say that all the delicacies needed for the sick
room are needed for the hospital. T^he following articles were
spoken of as extremely important: sugar, syrup and butter.—
Corned beef and salt-fish would be very good articles also to send ;
and Dr. Stout, of Marietta, says that the best thing of the kind for
their use is our bitter sweet oranges. This information would
be quite important to our liberal friends of East Florida, provi¬
ded those wild orange groves about Ocala and other places are
as prolific as in days past.
Row the question comes up, " will our donations reach the
persons for whom they are designed, or will they be devoured by
others ?" This is a very important question, and we do not re¬
buke the anxiety which has been felt and expressed upon the sub¬
ject. I can say that the people of Florida may dismiss all care
as to their good things when directed in proper channels. At
Newnan everything is under the eye of Dr. Gamble, who, by the
way, is immensely popular with all classes, and would be much
more disposed to do injustice to himself than to others; and they
will be under the inspection also of Mrs. Dr. Harrison, whose la¬
bor of love and soul devotion is the subject of praise in the
mouth of all who know her.
I have but one more thing to speak of in this letter, already
drawn out too long for the patience of one with so many official
cares pressing upon him as yourself, and that is, in regard to a
Florida Hospital. This is a subject that lays very near the
hearts of many of our citizens and soldiers, but yet a matter diffi¬
cult of realization. The wounded and the sick at the present
time must be sent indiscriminately to the first hospital. It is im¬
possible that it should be otherwise in the nature of the case.—
However, all the ends of such and enterprize can be reached by
having our sick, as far as possible, sent to Newnan and there
they will receive all the advantages of a home hospital. But if
our citizens need the stimulus of this matter to prompt them in
their benefactions, let them think of the hundreds and thousands
of'youth in the army from beyond the Mississippi, as delicately
brought hp as any of our own sons, who with those from Tampa
and other places in the hands of the enemy, are pouring out their
75
blood in the good cause, and I am sure they will not hesitate to
low their benefactions into the common current of liberality
and want. J
Your humble servant,
WM. E. HAMILTON.
■o
LETTER PROM COL. THOS. T. LONG.
(copy.)
To his Excellency John Milton,
Governor of Florida:
In compliance with the wishes of a number of the citizens of
the Eastern portion of the State, and in obedience to the order
of your Excellency, I have, as faithfully as the circumstances
would permit, attempted to carry out the wishes of the citizens
and your Excellency.
The immense amount of transportation burden the cars -with
supplies for the army, and articles of traffic for the speculators
make it akin to an impossibility to procure transportation for
small packages, (unless by express,) and then it is not safe, with¬
out it be accompanied by some agent who will give his whole
attention to prevent it remaining over at the junction or being
stolen, for there are any number of loafers, provision speculators
and thieves within sight of the camp fires of our army.
The articles sent were divided amongst the soldiers of Florida,
at the Hospitals of Augusta, Griffin, Newnan, Atlanta and the
army at Chickamauga, the kindness and generosity of the citi¬
zens of Marietta making it unnecessary at that point.
I have provided for your Excellency a list, as perfect as it
could be procured, from the Hospitals at the several named
points, which I beg may be taken as a part of this report.
To the ladies of Georgia Floridians are under a heavy debt of
o-ratitude, for the kindness and attention bestowed upon our ab¬
sent sick and wounded soldiers, and whilst it may be considered
invidious to discriminate in favor of particular officers connected
with the service, yet I am incapable of using language in the way
>f praise that should be considered flattery to Dr. Gamble, of
Tlorida.
As to the necessity of Florida having a Hospital for the sick
76
and wounded, should not be questioned and cannot be by any
one who will look at the practical working of this General Hos¬
pital system, and, whilst it is true that as a State we should not
be selfish, we should be just to our own before we are generous
to others. Florida, in proportion to her wealth and population,
has contributed more largely in men and supplies than any other
State, yet her gallantry, liberality and energies seem not the least
abated.
It would, perhaps, be imprudent for me to enter into the rea¬
sons why we should procure a separate Hospital for our troops.
It is proper, however, to state that, whilst many Surgeons think
it unnecessary, other officers of the army deem it as the proper
course to pursue, and our gallant men expect it.
I have carefully considered the question of locality, and, alter
visiting several points on the railroads leading to Macon, Augusta
and Montgomery from Atlanta, and suggest either Madison, N ew-
nan or Brownsville as the most eligible points.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
THOS. T. LONG,
Agent State of Florida.