The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-24
FIRST FRUITS OF A STANDING ARMY.
Martini Lac IN Tallahassee, Fiorida

to wit: the assembling Dy the tTONetlui3 Va "
large number of hired Soldiery in the streets OF
Tallahassee to overawe the citizens, under the
pretext of preserving the public peace.
The details are voluminous; but we subJom
! the material points
| At Loco-foco meeting in the vicinity oil
Tallahassee, a resolution was adopted, declar-
| inc that the Wings of Florida had formed
union with the Abolitionists of the North
! Some two or three Wings called upon the editor
of the paper, in which the resolution was pub
lished, to know the author of the resolution, or
at least upon whose authority the publication
was made. The editor promised to give the
name the next day. Next day, the gentlemen
called again; but the editor was not visible. In
his stead, was a letter declining to give the de-
sired information. This created some feeling,
and the whole wing population were indignant
at the foul asperson cast upon them. In the
course of the day, Wing met Loco win
whom he had quarrelled some months past, ana
some angry words passed between them, ana
some of the by-standers think the Wing made
am attempt to pull the Loco Foco's nose. This
was the sum total of the breach of the peace,
| and IL did not allay the popular feeling. Night
| came, the citizens went to bed as usual, deter
mined to wait the APPEARANCE of the editor on
the morrow, as he was confined to his room ON
the plea of indisposition
The next morning came, and with 1t large
number of the U. S. Troops, who took up their
quarters around the Governors House, and es-
tablished sentnels all over town, and subjected
the whole to Martial Law. The surprise OF the
citizens at this extraordinary movement was not
greater than their Indignation. 1t was soon as
certained that the troops had been ordered during
the night from the frontiers, by the Governor TO
everawe the citizens. a large meeting was held
in the evening, at which, committee was APP
pointed to wait upon the Governor, and respect
fully inquire his reasons for withdrawing the
troops from the defence of the Frontier and quar-
teriug them in the Capitol. The Committee at
ter many delays, obtaided an audience of his
ExceIlency-They delivered their message. The
Governor replied, that he was responsible 70 the
President, and not to the People of Florida for
his measures-and making bow to the Com
mittee, turned upon his heel and retired to his
private apartments. After this cavalier treat
ment, the Committee wrote note TO his Excel
lency, with the view OF obtaining his reasons in
writing. The following is his response:
TALLAHASSEE, 18th Aug. 1910.
understanding that you desire
reply in writing to your application Of this after
noon, have to inform you, that although l do
not admit your right to question me about the
| employment Of The militia, of which | am Chief
| Magistrate, yet nay Republican principles iGr-
bid me to refuse an answer TO any application
| from my fellow-citizens.
| state then, to you, that the public peace was
Yesterday in repeated instances violated; that
there are those in this community who seem to
consider the pistol and the bowie-knife as the
laos of the land; and that | am determined, as
Governor of Florida, TO assert the supremacy of
the laws.
The Volunteers are in Tallahassee, therefore,
not to yiqlate the public peace, but to protect it.
am, respectfully, y9nE Didn't sery,t,
Governor of Florida
Messrs. Hayward, Haciley, Randolph a8d Cope
land, of the Committee.
This pretext of preserving the public peace, is
| pronounced false by the Tallahassee Star and
Committee OF the mGst respectable citizens OF the
town. But let this pass. The Governors letter
| produced great dissatisfaction. The public meet
| ing adjourned to next day; eachsman, however,
determined, that the hired soldiery fthe Govern
ment sho1ld not be susFtered upon them, in VIC
lation of the Constitution and OF their rights as
freeman. In the meantime, several OF the most
respectable citizens had been arrested by the
Sentinels, and the whole town was subjected to
military rule 1t was reported that the 1roops
had dismounted an old 4th ofJuly cannon, which,
which belonged to the town. This increased the
excitement, the people weLs aroused. "Some
hundreds (says the Starr collected together; the
drums were beat; arms were collected; the can
non was remounted and charged to the muzzle,
and for a short time matters wore a very bcliige-
rent aspect But better counsels prevailed-in-
stead OF making war at once on the soldiers, the
citizens appointed committee The soldiers
should leave towH-that Wss matter determin-
ed on. They might go peacebly and quietly ii
| they would-but they should go speedily
Another committee was accordingly named, at
| the head of wbirh was that old TREND of the
People, Ex-Governor W. p. DuYall. They
were requested to call on the Governor the next
morning, and insist upon the instant removal of
the troops. The people again dispersed to their
| homes.
ssThe excitement was kept alive the next morn
| ing, by the bearing Of some Of the officers in
command of the troops, towards the citizens
Major Blackburn staggered and clustered In
every crowd he passed, menaced the citizens,
and actually drew his bowie knife as it appear
| ed, on a most peaceable and respectable citizen,
who was unarmed. This, however, he after
wards explained, by saying he was only shifting
its position, Two additional companies also
| rived in town at an early hour,
CAT the time designated, the committee assem-
bled and proceeded to the consideration of the
subject entrusted to them. Affidavits were ia
taken of the outrages which had been commit
| ted against the citizens, and letter was penned
to the Governor
eGn the mean time the Town Council had
| convened, and committee from that body had
| been directed to wait on his Excellency, and to
represent the excited state OF public feeling; the
pressing danger of immediate collision and blood
shed, il the troops should longer remain, and to
request their speedy removal. To this the Go
vernon had finally consented; and when the
committee Of the citizens arrived, they were
gratified with the information, that the orders
had been given, and that the soldiers were
already ON their march beyond the limits of the
citym
This is in truth most extraordinary affair.
II is the first instance since King Georges Red
Jackets were driven out, that hired soldiers were
resorted to, to suppress quarrel between two
individuals and discharge the ordinary functions
of the law. In itself and its results, it is mat
ter of very trivial moment. But as a sign of
coming events, it is well calculated to make
deep impression upon the public mind. An APP
peal to the soldiery paltry pretext by the
Governor, should admonish US Of the solemn
truth, which all history inculcates;-Gic men
poteer and they seW abuse it 1t teaches us
IL I'll III. -