The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-23
What Was Done Towards
Reconstruction. \
Slavery Abolished, the Rebel Debt Repudiated,
and Negroes Admitted to Testify in Courts.
The State Ready to Ask Readmls-
sion Into the Union.
Our Tallahassce Correspondence.

Journed AT hve O'CLOCK this afternoon 10 meet again ~
the call OF the President OF the Convention # deemed
necessary within six months.
CONVENTION
has been harmonious unusual extent and has come
up squarely to the demands Of the administration, as
expressed by President johnson his proclamaton and
minated in his kilograms TO Governor Holden and
Others The most important questions decided were left
till the last and final action taken till yesterday and
to-day.
The ordinances regulating the liabilities Of the State
in and OF the rebellion and the admission of negro esti
mony in Of justice fully discussed both IN
committee Of the whole and in convention and would
prevailed this time had II not been for its
being understood that their admission into the Union and
the restoration OF civil law depended upon their adop
ton. In fact ordinance had already been passed
submitting question reputation to vote Of the
people when telegram by the President to Gov
ernor Holden and their action found To be
unsatisfactory Most OF the leading members OF tho Con
had been IN favor of the measure from the begin
ming, but had been unable to convince their less
enlightened brethren, who looking forward to an
election to the General Assembly this winter and
feared vote favor would not meet the approval
of their constituents, but when it was found that their
admission all their rights and privileges under the
constitution depended upon they rcconsidercd their
action in regard submitting the question Of repuda
the freedmen the right Of person and property before
the courts
THE ADMISSION OF NEGRO TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COURT
The following is the language Of the ordinance which
passed by a vote of 20 too
In all criminal proceedings founded upon injury to
colored person. and in affecting the rights or rene
dies OF coored persons. person shall be incompetent
testify a witness account Of color In all other
eases the stimony Of coored persons shall be
unless made compel by future legislation The Jury
shall Judge of the cred bility OF tie testimony.
This the coored people the right to testify
in all where the person property OF such in
volved whether the action is between white man and
black man blacks but denies them the
right of testfying where the interests Of the
| whites alone involved. As simple justice TO the
blacks all that is demanded the action OF the Conven
ton expected to give satisfaction 10 thc*veuds Of the
adminstra and world large The granting OF
tins privilege the freedmen effected without
long struggle. II first submitted to n regular
mittcc, and afterwards special committee OF thirteen
added composed Of the best talent in the Conven-
ton who should prepare and present TO the Convention
ordinance which would give satisfaction to all without
n long debate.
The following is the report OF the Committee
Whereas slavery has been destroyed in this state by
the government OF the United States,
Therefore be u ordained &c, that neither slavery
involuntary servudc shall in future exist in this State,
except punishment for crime, whereof the party
and all the Inhabitants Of the State without dstn
81 color free and shall enjoy the rights Of person
and property, without distinction of color
Sac. Treason against the State shall consist only in
lcvyng against IT, or in adherng TO its enemies Civ
ing them aid and comfort No person shall be convicted
OF unless the testimony OF two witnesses to
the overt act or his confession In open court
SEc. The jurors OF this State shall be white men,
OF such qualifications may be prescribed by
In the preamble the words "by the government OF the
United States added to the report OF the
mittce motion Of MI Long, who wished the world 10
know that the abolition Of slavery by the people OF Flor
da voluntary act their part, but a compul-
sorry measure adopted in obedience to the commands OF
the President after slavery had been destroyed by the
military power OF the government.
ORDINANCE KtruDiATi6N
The following is the ordinance Of reputation -
BE IL ordained &C, that nil State Treasury notes
issued and all other liabilities contracted by the State Of
Florida after the 10th day OF January 1851 the
18th day OF October 1865, except such Liabilities may
be due TO the seminary and school fund and such other
liabilities provided for by this constitution be and
are declared void and ihe General Assembly shall have
no power TO provide for the Of the same or any
WHAT rHE CONVENTION mas DOVE
Everything bearing upon the question Of the rcadms
sion OF the state was now completed andsit only re-
NAMED 10 adjourn They had annued the ordinance OF
secession abolished slavery and forever prohibited ts
establishment secured TO the colored the night Of
person and properly allowing 'hem me rgh. 70 testify
them the right Of trial by jury involving life,
and declared all liabilities OF the State contracted In aid
OF the void and by this act surrendcrng the long
cherished principle Of State rights and secession
Az have stated in Of previous letters the
state of feeling Florida better than In any Southern
State have visited. The people 10 cvince
sincerity in their professions Of loyalty and to entertain
in the South Those members Of the Convention who
have most strongly opposed some of the sup
posed 10 be necessary for admission 10 full communion
in the sserhood OF States evidently relieved aud
glad that the ordinances passed and that the Convention
had done everything asked of IL by the President
MARVIN.
Before the Convention adjourned committee was A..
pointed wait upon Governor Marvin and inform him that
they about 10 adjourn aud invite him TO address
the Convention.
The committee returned accompanied by Governor
Marvin who addressed them a few appropriate
remarks He said glad 10 hear their abors we're
ended and was also happy 70 be able TO say 70 the ION
yenon that their action met with his tul apProvaon
both Provisional Governor aud as citizen ~ tue
state Of Florida. He said there were some lew things
he would have preferred TO have different but n The nam
they had done noby. Hc particularly pleased that
the right Of testimony had been granted 10 the coored
people and that incorporated ID the constitution.
All the other conventions Of which he had knowledge
had cvaded the question: leaving thc matter TO be set
tied by the Legislature This he could not but think
| mistake The President and the country expected
different action He wished a. all these States IN
gaining admission the Union, but feared their action
| in this matter would them delay The state of
Florida had come up lilly and awarded 10 this class
OF citizens their rights and IN his opinion she would be
the first state admitted TO her full rights under the
sltutjon He congratulated the Convention upon the
harmony and good feeling which had their
action He also paid high compliment 10 General os-
ter the assistance rendered him In the discharge OF
his duties and the assembling of the Convention He
expressed great anxiety and soude for the peace and
quieudc Of the country during the approaching holidays
fe feared there would be great dissatisfaction
the colored people. large number OF them would be
| out OF employment aud much idleness would be the
result Many Of them were not satisfied that
they free until they had left their old masters aud
found that they did not compel them 10 return Nothing
would satisfy them on this subject II he as Provisional
Governor told them they free, and that the Con
yenon had ratified the act they still not convinced
He had given much thought 10 the subject and had also
consulted with General Foster and ohcra He thcught
the contracts Of most o them would expire on the s
Of January. would be good plan 20 give them WI the