New-York daily tribune., 1863-12-29
strong Anti. Secession Resolutions.
The Prohibition Of Slavery Urged.
AeonyentiOn to amend the Constitution Called.
Glorious Speech by Judge Stickney.
I,om Our special Corre.ponaent.

This old city Of the dead and the living; of
The sixteenth and the nineteenth centuries; Of cher
shed old French and Spanish memories Of old cathe'
as and old fortresses Of old Mansions with roting
sd balconies on narrow streets, across which hands
san be shaken end the gossip Of the morning passed Of
ad grange orchards which have dropped their golden
fruit for ten generations; in fact this the oldest city IN
Che United States is at last Tor the first time IN the
history CT the country. fairly in possession Of the Anglo
Saxon or rather may say, far does It seem from
New. England, and so different everything in appear.
sace, Of the Anglo Yankee.
New.England now holds ST. Augustine The dark
o,e Of tie Spanish maiden. flashing beneath long and
aiken lasles can stin be she casts not I'M
kindly glance at the Northern invaders and the Spanish
ystois can siin be heard o. almost every street but
Massachusetts and Connecticut p.edoullnate Armed
soldiers il is true represent New England, but New
England soldiers unlike those Of any nation upon
the earth Intelligence, tact, sbrewdness and spirit
Of enterprise are instantly manifested the moment they
step upon any soil and here in this sepulchral city
where every house looks Ike some old, dilapidated
tomb those qualities are already srkingly exhibited.
Before this war TO all those inhabitants Massaclu'
setts was as far of and about little known and
Serstood ss the unexplored regions Of the North Pole
But now through the oath Mass Col. Osborne. and the
lQth Conn. Col Otis armed they are. and holding
everything by military tenure they are intimately
known and rapidly growing into favor. Two better
regiments in what in military parance would be called
ssrol bet in ordinary language would be termed in
kigonce discipline ard good breeding. could not have
been here 20 represent their respective States. Al
every trade and profession finds It's representative
here Ifaowed required toTeman in ihis State Until
al evidences Of tie present rebellion have passed away,
material for the framework of goIious Common.
wealth would BE- on hand. Schools colleges and churches
would line these beautiful ruins every child woald be
taught to read every adult 10 think. every person,
young or old to be OF active service TO tie
Aunity
Bot before entering upon rapid oud brief account Of
what lss trnnspred in this old city within the past few
ssys. allow me 70 return TO Hilton Head in South Caro-
hns, fron which poin, pleasant purity Of ladies and
gentlemen, Of officers and civilians OF judges and
selor. set sail last Tuesday. Before the war ST. Au
gustne ss well known the fayoriie resort during
the Summer months Of the families OF the wealthy plant
ers OF Georgia and Sonth Carolina and dcrng The Win
ter Of inyalids from the North aud North Western
e,ses Since the Rebellion broke ont, these old Co
suiua prisons called mansions and these tumhhLs old
Spanish barns called hotels have been deserted. Armed
soldiers have grounded their arms IN the halls where
the fair bellies of the North and tie daIk beauties q Tie
South were wont float the strains Of yolupuous
music in the mazes Of the dance
But again those old habits have flung open their doors
70 the invalid seeking this genial cline and tbs land Of
She orange and the date and the palm. Again rch
strains Of music float upon the ain and again these
halls trenbe beneath the feet Of the muny dancers
they whrl through the waltz. The life blood Of the
North again beats in the heart Of This rare old city Of
St. Augustine. And O how dead, thrice dead and
buried would you be- sad relic Of tyranny and supeTSt
tio, l.ut G,r .lis cv.r .NnV frt- life current.
Understanding that movements q considerable polit
lcaI importance tending the reorganization Of the
State Of Florida and its return the Union about
70 be inauguraed it was with no ordinary pleasure.
Isccepted 0yitation to join pleasant and IN one
sense so far Florida is concerned historical patty
Tie gentlemen who LEFT Port Royal last
Tuesday had been long engaged previous 70
the war in developing tie resources OF the
State bat since have been exed from their homes
learning through various sources tlat the loyal people
Of Florida in widely different sections Of the state
desired 10 express their loyalty resolved upon giving
form to that expression through The ordinary channels
ofppbo meetings, speeches AID resolutions. Foremost
among The party On board the Maple Leaf nnd who
have been tried as by FIRE were Judges L. d. Suckrey
Of Fort Myers. WIN. Alsop Of Jacksonville John II.
SAmmis. and G. L. Robinson Of Ternandina, and many
Of the oldest inhabitants of the valleys of the ST. Marys
and the 81. Johns
The loyalty Of these gentlemen has never been ques
toned. They have all risked their lives and sacrificed
their fortunes for tie maintenance othe Union. Judge
6tckney early in the commencement Of the Rebellion
driven from his home at Fort Myers under threat
Of being hung shot he again crossed it, thresh
bold. Mr.. Robinson with his eyes his home
and many thousands in personal property burned by
Rebel hordes few hours before the first occupation Of
Jacksonville by the national troops. Col Sammis pos
sessed Of rge property in slaves and in real estate
preferred that all te former should be emancpatod and
She latter confscated by the Rebel Government rather
tsn swear allegiance. u his own language to the
most despotc Government the face Of the caItl. II
u eminently fitting, therefore. that movement 80 i'm
portant as the return Of rtbeous State 10 the Union
should be naugurated by these Long resldets oi
che State and deeply and personally interested in her
welfare they have right TO speak in her behalf and
their united voico should be heard not only by all the
loyal people Of Florida but by all the loyal people OF tie
nAton--shoud be heard and heeded and every utter
nee encouraged and strengthened ty all the means
within the power Of tie National Government
Public notice having been given that these old and
dghly y-esteened loyal citizens lad more returned
ind were desirous Of initiating movement for the res
'oation fForda large and nost enthusiastic meet
sng Of the loyal people Of Florida held the
g OF 18th nst for the purpose and object set forth
IA the following resolutions. Tie Hon. ID. X. Durham
presidcd, and G. L. Robinson and g. n. Popy acted as
secretaries. Judge Durham. taking the chair, sp
e>Aed to his fellow with whom lie had resided
s'l more than twenty years 70 rally around the Old
sAnneT which everywhere was the symbol Of good gov
Thnsat ei inspee and Of freedom. To ib protecting