FLORIDA NEWS

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) February 11 1824 Page 2

The Mobile papers of the beginning of the last month, (says to Charleston Courier) contain an account of disturbances occasioned by the Seminole Indians in Florida. Their disaffection, it appears, has grown out of the recent treaty, and the laying out of the new road between St. Augustine and Pensacola, which will pass through their country. In an interview between Governor Duval and their chief, Nehemathla, the latter declared that he was unable to protect the whites against the outrages of the young warriors of his nation, who were so inflamed that they would submit to no authority. Some apprehensions had been entertained for the safety of Colonel Gadsen and Lieut. Ripley, the commissioners appointed to mark the boundary line of the Seminoles, who were without any guard, but from subsequent accounts those apprehensions were believed to be unfounded.

Capt. Burch and his party, concerning whose safety some unfavorable reports had also been in circulation, arrived at Pensacola, all well, on the 6th ult. after having been 78 days in the service. By this survey the distance between Pensacola and St. Augustine is reduced to 315 miles

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

March 31 1824 Page 3

The St. Augustine Herald of the 28th ult., positively contradicts the statements which have been published in the papers respecting the “outrages” said to have been committed by the Indians in Florida, in the neighborhood of St. Marks. The U. S. officers and men under Capt. Bruch and Col. Gadsden, are prosecuting the objects of their expeditions in peace and quiet – and the Herald assures those who have friends in Florida that there is no apprehension of the least disturbance with the Indians who manifest a perfect willingness to be concentrated in the new reservation, agreeably to the terms of the late treaty with them. – Balt. Amer.

June 2 1824 Florida

Accounts have been received at Pensacola, that the Secretary of the Navy had directed Com. Porter, if the situation of the service would permit, to dispatch one of the vessels under his command, with instructions, to St. Augustine, to take the public documents, the books, and furniture, of the Legislative Council, from that place to St. Mark’s from thence to be conveyed to the new Seat of Government, at Tallahassee. Governor Deval had given information that it was his intention to proceed shortly to that place, and have a town laid off, which would enable those who intended making establishments there, to place their buildings in a situation in which they would remain permanently. – Ib.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

March 31 1824 Page 3

The St. Augustine Herald of the 28th ult., positively contradicts the statements which have been published in the papers respecting the “outrages” said to have been committed by the Indians in Florida, in the neighborhood of St. Marks. The U. S. officers and men under Capt. Bruch and Col. Gadsden, are prosecuting the objects of their expeditions in peace and quiet – and the Herald assures those who have friends in Florida that there is no apprehension of the least disturbance with the Indians who manifest a perfect willingness to be concentrated in the new reservation, agreeably to the terms of the late treaty with them. – Balt. Amer.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

June 30, 1824

An Ohio paper informs us, that the making of the Road through the Black Swamp, from the Western Reserve to the Miami, has been promptly contracted for on favorable terms. This is the road, towards the making of which, Congress granted a mile in width of public land lying on each side, the whole length of the Road. The grant is placed at the disposal of the State of Ohio, and the Road which was very much wanted, is now about to be made under the authority of that State. At the last session, twenty thousand dollars were appropriated by Congress for improving the Road from the termination of the Swamp Road to Detroit, so as to open a regular direct communication with the latter place, which ahs been heretofore almost entirely impracticable during the winter months of each year. – Nat. Intel.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

July 28, 1824

From Florida

The following is an extract of a letter of the late date, (June 16,) from one of our subscribers, who lives in Gadsden county, in Florida, and whose only means of addressing us, he says, is by the hands of individuals who come the explore the country, he being fifty ( or, perhaps a hundred) miles from any Post Office:

“Notwithstanding many reports abut the satisfaction of our Indians, I can assure you the Indians between the Tallahassee and the Apalachicola rivers, are by no means satisfied with the late Treaty. They assert, they knew not what the Treaty was, in reality till lately – the Chiefs excepted, who have reserved of land – “I am convinced they will not leave this part of the country cheerfully. A military force will have to see them off.” – Nat. Intel.

The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

December 31, 1828

City of Talahassee

The growth of our western towns is almost miraculous. The Floridian says, that no city in the Union ever sprung up with greater rapidity, amidst the wilds of the south and west, than Talahassee. New and convenient shops and warehouses, commodious public buildins, handsome private dwellings, are continually erecting, the abundant fruits of the soil and climate are offered for exportation, the comforts and amusements of older cities are introduced, and four years of uninterrupted health have attested the salubrity of the climate. “Last and not least” says the Floridian, “female society is increasing, both in members and attraction, and is beginning to exert its influence on our sedate bachelors. We see it in the altered mien and cheerful countenance. The planets have certainly retrograded ten years, this last ten months. We know not how else to account for it, except by the bright eyes and fairy forms, that now grace our city.

The Legislative Council of Florida appear to be diligently engaged in the discharge of their duties. As the business of their first session embraces, as far as practicable, the enactment of a general code of laws for the Territory, it is both important and arduous. Down to the 9th of August, many bills had been under consideration, and some of the most interesting had finally passed. Among the former were bills to raise a revenue – to regulate civil proceeding and chancery proceedings – to regulate damages on bills of exchange – to establish inferior courts – to regulate descents – bills concerning awards and arbitrator, proceedings on attachments – to prevent frauds and perjuries – for the distribution of intestate estates – for regulating executions, &c.

The bill providing for the election of a Delegate to Congress had been matured and passed. By this bill the Council have extended the right of suffrage to settlers, sailors and mariners, in the public service. On this prime pie, however, the Council was nearly divided, a motion being made to exclude the description of persons from voting for a Delegate to Congress, it was rejected by the casting vote of the President, Mr. Bronaugh. The members in favour of granting the privilege, were Messrs, Gaither, Hanham, Miller and White; and against it were Messrs Calf, Law, Murray and Reynolds.

The territory has been, by one of the acts, divided into four counties – in the East, St. John’s and Duval – in the West, Escambia and Jackson.

The following resolution was adopted by the Council on the 9th of August, and a committee appointed to draft a memorial accordingly.

Resolved by the Legislative Council of the territory of Florida, that a respectable memorial ought to be addressed to the President of the United States, upon the subjects of general interest to the inhabitants of this territory, and particularly to request His Excellency to direct the officers of the engineer corps, who are expected shortly to make a survey of Tampa bay, by order of the Secretary of War, to explore the interior of the country, and report to the Governor of this territory the most eligible place for the permanent seat of government and to lay out the nearest practicable road from St. Augustine to the place designated, and from thence to Pensacola.

Contributed by Nancy Piper

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