The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1839-12-14
From the Washington Globe.

FROM me W CSHtHgtoH U"o"e'
THE PENINSULA OF FLoRIDA.-Great
is the error which has prevailed as to the
value and importance Of this peninsula
1t is a division of territory of great com
:mercial, agricultural, political, and militia
rv imp9rtanIce, and the % chest consldera-
tons of national policy require it to be re-
claimed from the savages, covered with
our population, and made subseWlent to
all our views Of strength, security, and
interest. :,
In the first place, it is a country Of great
extent, not less than forty thousand square
I. miles, counting what is east of the Su-
waunee, up to the Georgia line. This
great extent of country is, what its de-
sc~iptive appeilation imports, almost an is
land. being surrounded by the sea, ex-
capt whcra it touches Georgia and West
Tioii>!.a. It PRESENTS sea coast of nearly
:. one thousand miles in circuit, and must
necessarily have maratlnle interests and a
lnaratiinc population, engaged in COM
mercc, in the fisheries, in the coasting
trade, ard in trade with the West Indies.
Independently Of the pursuits Of agricill-
tire, il will supper; a numerous popu.a-
ton.
In the neSt place, it is q salient angle
Of the country; it is a tongue Of land pro-
i9cting Itself three hundred miles beyond
he general Inc Of our S ,uthern frontier,
and extending Itself tirwa t. thc nciGhh ~
hood OF tic BRUSH posscssloas in the Ba-
hama Islands, and the Spanish possessions
oi' Cuba; and it is surrounded by~s!ands
/, ;.Gd keys belonging to the United States,
and which must be possessed and dcfsnd-
: Cd by Us, or which will be occupied by
/ Others to our annoyance, and to their do
] lnniirn il the Gulf of Mexico. In IA mill
ts.lv point Of view, the complete posses
S.oil. occupation aud defence of the whole
peninsula of Florida, is Of the highest i'm
portancc to the Southern States, and to
tho security of al our interests Oh the
G;i!t frontier No military eye can over
{ look this peninsula in providing for the
cmamon defence ri the country; and now.
t..i@: Nc have undertaken 20 reclaim and
t.a;s..>. ii. 30 earthly consideration should
.::iuoe the abandonment OF that plan.
(. In the third place, AMI contrary to all
!prericns belief, there is great deal of
! good land in this peninsula, capable Of
! forming compact anl strong agricultural
settlements, and extremely valuable or
! account of tie productions it admits Of
On this point we present the following cx-
tract from DR.. LAwsoH's letter, which,
being the result Of personal observation,
may be fully coniidcd in:
"Thcrc is IN extensive range Of coun-
try ami Of very good land between tho
cove Of the Withlacoochce and Silver
Spring branch, at the head Of navigation
:, on the Ocklawaha, and there are many
good tracts between these two rivers, ey-
tending to the Indian settlement called Pi-
laklikala, where there is ane!hcr body of
good lard
"Ths section of ccs'n:ry is capable Of
supporting several tlou ,aad inhabitants;
there is q plenty of game in it, and the RI
vers and lakes ip the vicinity afford fish in
abundance; and, withal, it has the adj
vantage of water communication by the
Withlacoochee with the Gulf of Mexico,
and through the Ocklawaha and st. Johns
.river with the Atlantic. In addition to
sthosc con hsiderations, there are several
healthy points in the country, particularly
in the vicinity of Fort King; and here
!! large settlement should be made, as it
!: will be the,< barrier between the Indians
and the white settlements, and constitute
the base of operations.
"Therc are some good lands on Talak-
chopto, botE near the head of the river
where it is called Peasc Creek, and on
the lower b;inks near the head Of Char
Iotte's hnbor.
aThere are three or four good tracts
OR orneartheb ebanks of the Colosa-Hatchee,
particularly in the vicinity Of Fort Thomp-
son, at the great crossing of the river
Fish and game abound, / believe, in this
renion. am not so satisfied as to the
healthfulness of: this section Of the coun-
trv; but i sho'lld he occupied at all risks,