The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-07

in winter, is almost continually clear and
pleasant--the air presenting that serene,
enchanting brilliancy 80 often described
by travellers in the tropical climes Of the
Old WOrld-more soft and balmy and
delightful than the loveliest " Indian
Summer" d2ys at the North Sometimes,
for weeks together, the sky Is like one
vast sheet Of silver. Many poor invalid |
who has fed from the blasts Of north
ern winter, can testify with what ex-
treme delight he has basked in the sup
shine of Florida, and with what gratitude
drank in the healing breezes, 80 fragrant
with the pitch pine Of her forests. Thou
sands have returned from here in the
spring much relieved and invigorated IL
not restored; and not = few, notwith-
standing their aversion TO the institu-
tions of the State, have taken up their
permanent residence here.
This is the wiser course for the con-
sumptiye as regards health; for many,
by too soon returning TO the cold air Of
the North, have been thrown back in
their recovery. Indeed, it is thought by
those best acquainted with the effect Of
the climate, that The spring and summer
are the best part Of the year for the i'm
vAlids. The nights are then always
comfortably cool, uniform and refreshing;
and, being able to have perfectly free
ventilation and the purest air-sleep, that
best restorer" of nature, is enjoyed in
its perfection and with its utmost bene-
fit There are thousands in every north
ern State who are predispoAed TO, and
perhaps more or less affected with pull
monary disease, who in the gentle, kind
ly climate of Florida would live many
years and bless the world, but who,
amidst the storm and changes of north
ern winters, will be hurried forward 10
fill up the vast multitude Of victims 10
this terrible destroyer. We protest
against this great sacrifice of valuable
life. There is room for them here; there
is need a them in this long neglected
country--to bring her up 10 what we
hope for her and what she may be, peer
os her northern sisters in freedom and
civilization.
The soil Of Florida is, q portion Of il,
light and sandy. In the western and
middle parts of the State--in Alachua
aud Marion, Sumter, Brevord and Orange
counties on the peninsula, and, indeed,
in places all over the State-the land is
the most productive in the South. But,
with reasonable amount of labor and
attention, nearly all of the light soil
will produce ample remunerative crops
OF Sea-Island cotton, and of all other
crops cultivated in the South. There is
no land in the world that responds more
nobly to liberal cultivation. And there
is no land in the world that offers so great
inducements to free labor. Nor is the
climate unfaVorable to labor by the white
man. No greater deoeptiou i0as eU0- Eyop,uI
gated than uie sldvcolOner's constant assertion
that The l0hite man could not labor IN these
latitades. The fact is clearly established
by actual trial that he can endure labor
here as well as in other parts Of the coun-
try. And it is required only to estab-
lish the respsctabihty Of labor, by making
all labor free, to make this one of The most
profitable agricultural States in The Union.
The same, respecting labor, is true of all
the slave States.
But the question may arise, why, with
all the natural advantages above enume-
rated, has Florida not already taken high
position among Southern States?
The reasons are: her political changel
and her Indian wars; the latter wagsd
by the savAges with bitterness and 1
determination unknown TO any other
State, and the former, almost dspopulAt.
ing the country four different times. II
her early history she was, for many
years, the subject Of contest between
France and Spain. She was ceded L
Great Britain in 1863. Twenty years
later she was ceded back gain TO Spain
In 1921 she came into possession of The
United States. AT each Of these changes
the inhabitants departing with the flag
Of their several goyernmsnts, have lef
the country reduced almost TO It's prime.
val wilderness. During the latter part
Of this period, especially, the fierce Sem.
inoles holding possession of the best
lands, rendered it impossible 10 obtain
them for cultivation, until as late as 1853
when the last formidable band wal
crushed by the capture of their leader
and they removed beyond the Mississip'
pi.
But superadded 10 all these discourage
ments and drawbacks upon tho progress
Of Florida, and worse than all these hal
stood slavery, dragon like, 81 her gates
so determined in it's prescription OF fre,
labor, so odious to Europesn industry
and 50 bitter in its enmity to northern
enterprise. And, as fit elimination oI
their long-waged and worse than bar
barous war upon the worlds ineVitabl,
progress comes in, at last, this ungodly
slaye-master's rebellion aud stamps Ia
bloody heel upon what little progress sh,
had been able, under such difficulties, 10
effect.
Permit me 10 say in conclusion, tha
we have faith that shs WiH rise from dsis
last great tfaL which we believe is 10 re.
deem the nation from the blight Of slayerI
ry-and we recognise in your proposed
expedition, the most elective Selene for ac
complishiug directly and most happily ihi
cherished hope Of ours, and making Flo
rida what, by nature she was dsigned (,
be the Italy Of America-the Garden o
ths UniOa.
Very truly yours,
Q. l.. ROBINSON.
auaofaI agapf 81 Al. n.