New-York tribune., 1868-02-20
FLORIDA.

Our readers have been thoroughly informed
of the proceedings of the Con stitutional Con-
ventiOn in Florida, and, we presume, as
thoroughly disgusted with the factiOus quar-
rels among the members. the secession OF
nearly one-half, and the setting up of rival
Convention. Florida has always been thrift
ess State. With a climate of wonderful salu-
brity, and soil that scarcely needed
cultivation to satisfy the most ava
ricious owner, she has Jagged far behind her
neighbors in every thing like public or private
prosperity and enterprise. During the war she
was the feeding ground of the Rebel armies,
furni shing, with Texas the solid supplies of
beef for Davis's commissariat Her contributions
of men were comparatively small, and her suf-
fering during and after the war was relative
only-she was too far from the theater of
strife to feel the terrible blows that brought
down the revolt. Politically, Florida has
aways-Or until just nOw-been in the hands
and pockets of bakers dozen of such men
as Yulee, Call Walker, Westcott, and that
sort-all hard-shel Slavery men, and of late
years good Democrats of the Buchanan
stripe She was the third State in the
rush for Secession, her Convention for
that purpose having met on the 3d
of January, 1861. At that time her population
was less than 10000, of whom about $1,000
were negroes. Her vote in 1860, for President,
was 14347, of which Breckenridge had large
majority. In October, 1865 Reconstruction
Convention was held under the authority
of President JOhnson's proclamation,
Constitution was formed, and in NOvem-
ber of that year there was an cleo
ton for State officers and Legislature-D. S.
Walker was chosen Governor without opposi-
ton, though there was something of a contest
on several subordinate offices. These officers
are nearly all now in service. The vote
on Governor was only about $500. But
the Reconstruction acts of 1867 rendered
new Constitution necessary, and under their au-
thority the necessary registration was made. IL
showed about 1900 white and 10000 colored
voters. The highest vote ever cast in the State
was in November, 1860, and that amounted to
only 14,347. The election was held last No
vember, when 143O0 votes were cast for, and
1872 against Convention. At the same time
delegates were chosen, of whom 81 were whites
and IS colored. Soon after they met Tin january
a question arose as to the right of certain
delegates to their seats, and a long and
disgraceful wrangle ensued, the result being
the division of the Convention into two bodies,
each bent upon getting up constitution OF Its
own. 1t does not appear that there was any
material difference upon the main questions of
reconstruction the quarrel was entirely upon
personal and subordinate matters.
At this juncture Gen. Meade appears upon the
scene, and, by a calm and judicious exercise of
his personal and official influence, has for
in horn oopizi ha
tending factions, restoring the body to i,s nor
NAL condition. and infusing spirit of work
that we trust will be manifested in good re-
suits. 1t should be noted that the "nigger"
question was not uppermost in the troubles to
which we have alluded The difficulty really
grew out of the determination of certain white
delegates to manage the Convention in the inter-
est of prospective candidates for State and
Federal Offices AS we understand the latest
accounts, Gen. Meade has prevailed upon them
to lay aside their differences, wipe out what
both Conventions have done, and commence
anew.
Gen. Meade is entitled to the thanks of the
country for his action in the matter. 1t was
not called for as a duty, nor was it oficiOusly
intruded. He evidently feels anxious to hasten
the too long delayed work of Reconstruction;
he has, thus far, walked strictly by the line Of
duty according to the laws of Congress, and
with soldierly frankness carried out the pthy
axiom of his chief, "A law must be obeyed
until it is declared unconstitutional
"by the proper authority" There is now
nothing in the way Of the speedy
rehabilitation of Florida. The Constitu-
ton ought to be perfected within fortnight
much of it is done already. We cannot sup
pose that the Alabama practice will work in
the peninsula-there is none, or at the most
very little, of the pro-Slavery terrorism that
conspired to reduce the Alabama vote. Let
our friends in Florida go ahead with renewed
courage, and get into the Union ahead OF
Alabama-if possible.