New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-08
FLORIDA.
LETTERS FROM soLoN ROBINSON.
BUSINESS IN TuE CONYENTIO

The work of making Constitution was not
advanced much during the morning session. though re-
construction was Unfortunately the lobby and ts In.
uence was sQucehed by the action OF the Conven
ton yesterday aud II made another assault to-day. To
show its money strength, will state that q special
CINE had dispatched the road at OF
SIPS TO bring Col Hart up from Jacksonville TO be here
Monday: 70 be charged In caucus Monday night, ana
thrown as a bomb into the enemies works this morning
Fortunately for the OF hope and peace he metw
sober after lie arrived and the result was ne
did not attend the caucus and did not get charged ana
blown up In attempt TO blow up somebody besides
But having been invited yesterday 10 make speech Dy
some one that Was in the OF his coming ne diu
make 1t to-day. but probably TO suit the mover. But
AS soon a. little routine business was accomplished,
Of The West Florida members moved that DIT hle
gate In place GEORGE W. walker who had been voted
IS SAID that Gen. Jacksons ghost used 10 ENJOY similar
hOnOrs. - ..
was Their misfortune but he id not see what ght the
Convention had 10 instaIl live man In his place Be
John W. Rowly, delegate from the combined district
Of Santa Ccsa EscuInbia Counties explained that
Butler FOR In the first and Walker in the second
and hence his majority. not knowing that he was dead
was entitled seats admit expe members. he in
sisted that Butler should DO admitted Tins opened up
pitched in. Tie President. however decided that the
Convention could not entertain the resolution n0r admit
the gentleman proposed. even by unaImous vote as
Upon this decision, Mr. Rowley made strong union
loving speech having been suffering SouheTn lOyanst,
snd dlsliked hlng gagged and Oyerpowered by military
hespOtsm, hu and his friends forgot to appeal
from the dccsiC VI The Chair and thereupon rr.ou
ton carried t. ash Col Hart TO Immediately address
the Convection wi ch therefore adjourned not 10
make IL part 81 the record that an outsider made
speech to the Convention.
tailed history nf the acts done mp 10 this tine under
the Recommending law proving to the satisfaction OF all
present thai ths T. legal and proper Conventions and
advising II To work haruoniOusy. and speedily complete
CONSTITUTION gai5Hteehg equal ISh,S u an ne napi,
tranquility, and thlt vii advance the material interests
of the State immigration, settlement cul
tvatiOn OF "A prod soil ia mild, healthy eli
mate. This il tie hsi time in sixteen years that ees
lativebody has met here That was free; ana TINS nope
and all future VIII keep free OF class legislation
All WHO pay taxes IN this State must have voice
IN election and ne Protected IN person ana property
Col Hart gavc some eN client advice aloit tLe dules
Of those h he people have selected to make the nm
damentai "a" 81 the stIis bat Wle actis ltalirssy
for the igLt they should be careful not to do anything
After Col Hart had closed. Scion Robinson, being
urgently called upon, gave an address OF ABOUT three
deep ana earnest attention, perhaps as any speech
ever inade before iaise M xe3 audience Tor lht nan
preciaed ed apl'rdrd his sentiments entu iasticaly
and ann hrsry thanks both public and private. for
nus earnest adye Low to advance the material interests
1t is almost needless to say that his discourse was
manly devoted 10 agricultural subjects, and urging the
colcred poole 10 lecome landowners and cultiyaors
and thus b. Independent 1Teemen IN TACT as well as
name His iEcidenti allnsion, hy way OF explanation
why he here o the fact Of his connection with THE
NEw-fokk iEil MI was the occasion OF tdPtnroes up
p!duse icu'y frOm the coored people outside the
DdE N,iNthtiVb. iht9 aIPt.ttN W
honor hal conferred uTOu them by journal tlt
had always recog zed their rights members Of the
human family. The Convention also appreciated the idea
that IT had yor who is Lot an oice-seeSer for the
speaker the only office he would accept was that Of
writing truihth statements about the advantage the
State offered 20 those with strong hands ana Wiling
hearts TO cultivate the immense tracts If waste
land and very productive soil. He said: The next
thing after pocal reconstruction Is agricultural recon
eructiOn for tho whole state including the House.
capital aud surroundings. down 10 the smallest negro
hut. n state Of woeiui dapdaton Tue great ques
ton Is how the country to be reconstrueedf II can
only be done 10y MA King easy for poor men TO cultivate
The soil and produce snstenance for himself and family
1t Is thus THAI they can develop gold from the soil a.
though in the form Of sweet potatoes, YET MS certainly
gol though 1t found in nuggets How TO promote
cultivation is therefore the most important question be-
fore the people Of Florida. Let us teach the poor man
for good hand is sale this State at 90 cents an
II may perhaps be too early in the history OF this State
TO advise the y lan by which the poor colored men "
this state hruuc owners and cultyators OF the soil
That plan he 10y which large district Of country
in French fan has been settled and made to support
New'Jersey upon large district OF soil somewhat siu
liar to puc lands Of Florida That plan is TO dispense
like this in The Constitution
tending promote improvements In agriculture and the
consequent great increase of cultivated crops The gt
OF any occupant Of land TO cultivate II nn0b-
structed by others OF his inherent natural rights
Therefore shall be compelled by law TO protect Ills
crops against tie dtpreGatons OF his neshbors domestic
Tis proposition received much greater attention than
could have supposed possible in state the cattle
interesr is so rc m assured that the northern
ties are nearly eady 10 adopt This grand means Of I'm,
81 ads about sst- Ae cU.ivatcd.vs
The afternoon session of lhc Convention was quite
short the committees not being ready toreport
A STORMY LOCALITY FACTIONS IN THE CON
YENTION-MORE TALK THAN WORK.
TALLAHASSEE, Jan. 30, 1868.
This is at present a stormy locality. 1t rains
nearly all the time part Of which is accompanied with
heavy thunder Perhaps the stormy weather affects the
and Of the political thunderers now present IN
Tallahassee Certain IL Is there is storm brewing, which
nearly burst upon us last evening" that may PROSTATE all
hope OF reconstruction this and, by preventing
the formation Of constitution, leave the State govern
another year. longer In the hands OF the present
Rebel government.
Tie stormy element Of the Convention, and lobby.
known as the Reed Party" " Conservative Party"
or Opposition party :" that d, opposition 20 the Billings
party, which comprises its members believe, strength
bring tho guns bear which they have been mounting,
under Of darkness and caucus every night SINCE
The bitterness exisfinV those factions Is almost
as bitter ~ between Radicals and Rebels The oppos
tion complaint is that strangers have into the
State, aud have undertaken It's reorganization without
giving the Southern loyasts fair share OF the reIoh
sbilities and Of reconstruction As an impartial
observer DO not see the point OF this argument II Is
true that Mcssrs. Billings Richards, and saunders &c
claimed 10 be Iesideuts or ineligible 70 seats ana
have come into the state Tor the purpose OF
ing It and ia short not Southern oyalists but
tSa ,berp are ao some YANKEE adyenters nelud
ing Messrs Denicts Osborn Purlnon Cessia, @c III the
Tson Reed United States Mail Agent. and some per
fear, secret agent OF Andrew johnson 10 prevent
reconstruction at al hazards even Unjust DC by break
learn tins morning that the opposition" determined
upon the enemies works they would, upon the
t Of ruling of the President that was OBJ
Chair and IL successful In that, after electing new
President, they could under ms rulng, eHpei Bnes
The final result however would be the expulsion OF the
entire body before three days were past by mihtary
found when went to the capital tins morning that
Guard OF sdiers had been stationed In the passages
II llv