, 1861-01-29
Florida AZ IN Independent State.

ST. AUars7ia13,1an. II, 1861. :.
Some persons, strangers sWho, from the dread
Of giving up lifelong habits, count the cost, ore
curious In their inquiries TO. know how this
country, without having spare copper in the
Treasury, or any credit whatsoever, will be
able to support herself iu het condition Of per-
feet dependency, or defend lcrse1fin the event
Of war with q dueighboring republic or for
eign State. Money, it is thought, for present
and rresslng wants, may be got By hypotheca-
ting lands now owned " the commonwealth,
-aao " contributions Of patziotio- eitizens, and
cxpedicnts, suggest tile possibility, as the coun-
try Is poor md increases but slowly in popula-
tion, that until such time as 1t becomes stron-
ger and possesses more wealth, the fisheries Of
lhe southwest coast might be let out to citi-
zeas Of Cuba for the supply of that Island with
The fortified points OF The Tortugas and Key
West might be hired for term or years, m
der solemn nIuarRutees OF an honorable return
wien called foT, to some power. such IS Eng
llnd or FRINGE. Indeed, these islands, the IN
habitants thereof consentingt;, might be sold for
sums payable at distant periods as they should
be needed-certa1n portions being set apart By
agreement for the support and maintenance OF
beacons along the coast for the safety Of COM
merce in general, and, in the same gieW, ano-
ther part for the construction OF post roads and
the maintenance Of post Offices through
in5nla, the inhabitants not being ;com>
mercial, and :. engaged. exclusively in:
the raising Of cotton for the European market
The Inhabitants Of Florida are currently re-
ported to be Ii, ,ooe in number, Of which one-
half are black. The expense Of mails, as pu.
down in newspapers, Is Sf7O. Goo annually, and
would bc i tax to the country, even Terc there
no other, difficult to be paid and the income
from foreign cou1mo dities would avail nothing
other than to ,urnish Offices and increase tho
general Expenses Of living The importation
Of Africans might be made pay well for i.
few years, If permitted by the friendly powers,
and particularly if the business be firmly
grasped and economically managed as mono
poly by the hand of';goyern1nent, or otherwise
the loss By sudden admissions would to present
owners be unjust, and be equal to bar to re-
ceiyipg the native blacks Of Virginia, which By
civilization aud Christlauixiug are Of far inner
caat. The ability Of the Commonwealth Of
Florida Is wholly unequal to its patriotism. In
the event oftts forming one Ur ra'contederation,
not dollar can il ever carry into the common
exchequer, without taking IRON its immediate
necessities, or afford the smallest assistance
towards q military support or fora naval arma-
1nent. In wDrd, she never can exercise more
tran IN ideal indepentcncy, il not Il constitu-
tioual one, or be other than what she has eyer.
been-a burthen to The country to which it
may be her chances to belong. The present
appearances ore, her expenses will have to be
borne by the State Of Georgia, which is soon
to decide upon what her great resources and
estimate OF the value Of this proposed league
N y encourage her to undertake 1or the COM
mon advantage.