The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-27
FLORIDA.

Condition OF Affairs AT the CapifaI-The state
Government Out Of the State-Interview
with Ex-(:OvOrnOr Walker-IIis Views of
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Measures.
TALLAHASSEE, Sept. 49, 1858.
Florida is undoubtedly lovely part Of this CONT
nent but she has her dark corners and this section
OF the State appears 10 be of them III chs and
FEVER tend to disagreeable reflections then your
respondents reveries have not been very favorable
OF late as since his arrival here he has been shaking
with the one and burning with the other. On the
whole, West Florida q believe this IS West Florlda)
Is not an over-salubrious part of the world during
the months OF August and September. Fevers and
chlis are quite prevalent here, and if the people
were not SO exceedingly poor the physicians would
reap harvest. Happily the sickness is of a mild
form, but few deaths resulting therefrom
This place is the capital the State and seedier
seat OF government 1t Is hard to imagine. The So
called Governor is in the North; the so-caled Lieu
tenant Governor is also there somewhere else-he
certainly is not here-and, in fact the entire so.
called State government appears to have left the
State, probably on summer tour Meantime the
! people, black well white, manage keep alive
and Kicking notwithstanding the absence of their
carpetbag officials and the almost entire failure of
the cotton CROP Politically the democrats are the only
active party, the radicals not recognizing any
paign in the State the Legislature has kindly re.
eved the people from the task OF voting for Pres-
dental elector. The whites, however are holding
| barbecues and local meetings and are organizing
clubs everywhere. They positively refuse to recog
nize the power of the Legislature take away the
election from the voters and have placed the follow
Bloxhaln, G. A. stanley; alternates, W. G. MaOney,
| p. w. White j. q. Mclean.
| The late Governor Of Florida, w. L. Walker,
| sides here and he is one of the most prominent
| and influential men in the State called upon hun
fort hA nj ifioaI
| affairs. He was most determined opponent of Sc
cesslon and took part whatever in The rebellion
| When the war ceased he was unanimously elected
| Governor, under the johnson reconstruction plan
and succeeded In remaining In Office under military
rule until Mr.. Reed was elected by the negroes. I
| found the Ex-Governor a very pleasant and enter.
tanning gentleman, OF not much over fifty years OF
I've What hs Views s p on Se ad
| struggle. Mr.. Walker believes that the country is
engaged in last contest for constitutional liberty.
II the democrats win, peace, prosperity and the pre-
servation OF all thar has been left OF the constitution
with restoration to power of all those safeguards
| which the people formerly had over them.
| win be the result. IL the radicals are vctori-
| Gus he fears that the United States will for
many years to he ruled by a despotic govern.
some democratic newspapers and speakers Mr..
| Walker thinks mistaken one. Instead OF being
fool he regards the general as man OF iron WILL
great energy and remarkable force Of character-in
word, man who will not hesitate for moment to
make himself dictator should he be elected TO the
Office Of President. In support OF this belief Mr.
| Walker referred TO the history Of General Grant
during the war, 10 the absolute manner In which
commanded the Union army to his great tenacity of
purpose and indifference TO all else the achieve
ment OF his end. The election OF such man to the
oice Of President would not of itself endanger the
| liberties Of the country: but when IL IL remem-
| bered that General Grant heads the ticket and
| has endorsed the avowed principles OF pot
| cal party that has no. hestated TO disregard
the restraints put upon partisan violence by the
very letter Of the constitution, II becomes evil
dent TO him that such man il not O safe custodian
OF the liberties or forty millions OF persons. with
regard TO the democratic candidate, Mr. Walker de-
III ~ -rel tla GlQafin Of Soy
solely on account OF the principles that he repre-.
sents. Personally he was Of no more consequence
than any other gentleman OF ability and standing
This contest was one in which great ideas OF repub-
lican government were nj stake, and the standard
bearers Of each party should be Of Importance to the
extent Of the principles they support and no further
Personal qualifications, he thinks ore often allied
Referring to fhe situation In Florida Governor
Walker declared that the action OF the Legislature
taking away the election from the people was the
result OF certain knowledge that II allowed TO vote.
the democrats would assuredlv carry the State. or
their ability 10 do this he felt the slightest doubt
The bill in question passed u few days after the
Democratic State Convention had met and nominated
an electoral ticket. Mr. walker spoke OF the bill as
being most extraordinarily worded one and quoted
from letter OF his the subject to the Tallahassee
F1Oitdidn to support his argument II does not, he
said, require majority OF the Legislature 70 appoint
electors; 1t merely directs that all who shall be re-
turned members shall assemble In this town and
cast the vote Of the state for President and Vice
President. Under this wording three or four mem
beers Of the Legislature meet at the capital on
the 81 OF November and declare that Grant and Col
TAX are tnc choice OF flOrua. A large number OF
members had been appointed To various civil Offices,
and election 10 I'LL their places had been held
II would not surprise him " minority casts the cleo
toral vote Of the state such Is the kind Of govern
men that the people Of Florida are called upon 70
support and render allegiance to, The executive
committee Of the democratic party had under consd-
Grafton the proposition to hold an election In spite
OF the oll, ana he would not he snrprsea
II one be held. Mr.. Walker declared with
much earnesness that he fervently desires
the full and complete restoration OF the Union and
revival OF that friendship and good feeling between
the two sections which existed prior to the agitation
OF the slavery question The people OF the South ac.
cept the result OF the good faith: they regard
the freedom OF the negroes as fixed and irrevocabe
fact and are willing To accord them fun equality pc
fore the laws and ample protection TO their persons
ana property, but they cannot accept as an accom-
plished fact the reconstruction laws of Congress
which have forced state governments upon them
utterly foreign TO their ideas and detrimental 10 every
material interest OF the country.
The foregoing are the sentiments OF one OF the
most popular men in Florida. lifelong wing, ne
chung TO the Union 10 The last and appears 10 desire
q speedy restoration upon basis satisfactory 10
both sections. Mr. Walker Is president Of the demo
cratic club OF this county and Is working haru 10
bring the party up 10 a high state OF efficiency.
BY law OF the carpet-bag Legislature
the election for member of Congress has
been postponed until December next. W.
ID. Barnes. Of Jackson county, Is the democratic
not yet learned. Mr. Walker feels confident that Mr.
Barnes will be elected by decided majority III
though every election Judge ana inspector VIII pI..'
badly he radical From all ! can learn TINS conn
dence appears strange. Under the Reconstruction
constitution the Governor IN an absolute autocrst
He possesses the appointing power 10 greateI ex.
tent than was ever before known In any state Oh tne
Union Such being the case should tne asmTU,a Is
even poll three fourths OF the votes the probapty IL
that the radical candidate will receive the ceruncae
Of election. -. -.
The success Of the Maine radicals by 10000 major.
iy has not discouraged the people here they never
having placed any hulee OpOn the New Epklunu