The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-30
POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.
IRE POLITICAL SITUATION IN FLORIDA.

The Legislature In Bad Odor Among Them.
TALLAHASSEE, Sept. q, 1858.
By the census Of 1867 IL appears that Florida con-
tans 900 white and 1900 black Inhabitants. AZ
the proportion Of voters to the population seldom
exceeds in i've this would give the whites H. 500
and the blacks 500 votes Nevertheless the radical
onicals under the reconstruction laws succeeded In
registering nearly II not over II, 900 blacks, while
barely IA 600 whites were permitted register their
aames The i've years that ordinary white mortals
have TO pass from their sixteenth year to their twenty
Arst are quite marvelously jumped In few days by
che irrepressble negro. Nearly every darky who has
attained the age OF sixteen voter OF course they
win swear to being twenty one negro will swear
TO anything that he believes win benefit him. the
moral responsibility which oath carries with 1t is
utterly sunk In the absorbing idea Of selfinter
est. If IL paid negro Of sixty to do 30 he would
lake solemn oath that he had not yet been
Weaned. Perjury is q crime In the negro's moral
code only where It cannot benefit him personally.
Although there s great deal Of talk On the part
OF the whites regarding their determination to vote
In defiance OF the Legislature doubt II q single poll
will be opened The course Of Governor Reed In ap-
pointing few or no negroes to Office and his appa-
rent disposition to promote the prosperity OF the
State alaying the bitterness felt by the whites
towards the "carpet-bag" government. Whether
Mr. Reeds conduct be the result Of sincere convc.
he has 30 far acted with more moderation than any
other OF the Governors Of these reconstructed States
under the new dspensaton Of universal negro suf
rage II may be that he affects imparality for the
purpose OF comprising partisan ends, and that he
VIII outradical the radicals should Grant and Cofax
pc elected as the democrats here charge At any rate
the Ieeng Is prevalent that defiance OF the Legs.
lature will be attempted but that the whites VIII
work vigorously with view TO electing demo.
cratic member to Congress next December Under
hQ.
come OF great importance. There are probably not
800 zoo white radicals rad as, IN the state, so that II
racy That party VIII assuredly be the victor
ens the ~ contest n have now been sufficient
gree OF reliability the actual and therefore secret
sentiments OF the negroes on the great political
questions which agitate the country. Opinions OF
their own are unknown to them. They believe In
what they are taught to the utmost extent OF the
formed or can form distinct political idea unaided
oy surrounding influences Up to within com.
paratively brief period Of time the white democratic
element neglected the negroes thus playing into the
hands OF the radicals causing them to vote almost
en n0Sse Tor the two republican candidates for Gov
ernor-Mr Reed, the successful representative of the
moderate wing and Mr.. Billings the candidate OF
the other wing which openly advocated the perpetual
Acknowledgement OF every white man who ever in
Thought, word or action sympathiztd with the |
southern war for secession. Even now the efforts
being made To control the vote are lacking in
that perfect system which has been attained In |
Georgia, Alabama and other Southern States |
and which promises TO carry every other for sew. |
mour aud Blair by decided majorities Still 1t Ia eyl-
dent that many negroes have dropped out OF the
radical ranks and quietly gone over to the demo-
cacy, this change being brought about solely by pri
wave influences unalded by party organization and
without concert OF action. A mere superficial OBJ
eervation VIII not discover the change. You must
go among the negroes and hear what they have TO
say md out what percentage OF them Will vote the
whlte mans ticket, then inquire from the planters
how many negroes they can depend upon respec-
lively to vote with them, and then you can form
Hair basis for reliable calculation. six months AGO
not one in twenty negroes thought OF voting the
democratic ticket; to-day the proportion changed
1t is interesting 10 remark the utter lack OF real
interest whch the negroes take IN every other POI |
hilcal principle save that which concerns them
Selves. Iheir sentiments are consequently confined |
10 single idea, with their own dusky forms az the |
centre OF attraction. large majority OF them be-
neVe that the contest between the radicals ana !
democrats IL wagel upon the single issue OF negro
suffrage reconstruction, slavery and freedom, and
no believing is not unnatural that they shall side
with the radicals. Many OF them have declared TO
me thai If the whites Will only promise not TO take
away the vote from them they will side with the |
democracy; but as this pledge cannot be obtained !
they feel compelled 10 support the opposition. There
are, nevertheless, some who viii vote the demo.
cratic ticket, trusting unquestoningy TO the whites
dor Inl protection In their persons and properly.
faith In the honor Of the whites who viii merit the
greatest obloquy " they fail 10 do all they have
not MADE up their minds who they Will vote for
These are the men most susceptible to bribery aud
they VIII, no doubt make money on election day.
by referring To my memOrandums Of conversations
held with negroes during the past twelve days lind
them TO be DIVIDED as follows tue tota number OF
Certain to vote the radical Observation-Disclosures. "a
Certain To vote the democratic ticket. ....... II
II the undecided I've divided equally between the
two parties II will I've seen that the proportion o;
democratic to radical negroes is TO SIX or TO
make palmer one negro Of every siX In the state
Will vote the democratic ticket This proportion |
found to exist generally, and conversations with
nineteen planters regarlng TIC negro vote they
certain or controlling showed this 10 be correct. Tn.
der these circumstances fully agree with pro!ni.
nent democrat who i under the ban OF his party Tor
accepting an Office rom Governor Reed. thai Mr.. /
Barnes the democratic candidate Tor Congress viii |
be elected the largest vote that can be SoAed viii
not exceed $1,000 but even placing a. these figures
The result viii probably be "a iolows'
Democrat. RadicaL |
White Vote. Observation-Disclosures. 1890 400 |
Negro Vo'e.................... $500 H,20o |
Total vote Northumberland. l7.ao zoo
Democratic majority, 1900.
IL Will be remarked that The proportion OF demo
cratic negroes to tie entire negro vote is much !
smaller than ~ any or the other southern states as
eNcmpiihed by the elections In Mississippi and |
Georgia. rhls s caused, as has been remarked be-
fore, by the Indifference OF the whites hitherto. 4
Ihe indications that Governor Reed will give the
people a fair election, and have doubt but that !
the result VII be very nearly that predicted above
should there be any material change II viii be In |
favor OF the democracy. for II Is undoubtedly fact
tAat considerable number OF negroes are dissatisfied
win the action OF the Legislature IN passing the bin
giving themselves the power TO cast the electoral |
vote 81 the state The negroes are proud OF their
freshly bestowed privilege a. child generally Is ola |
new TOY, ana they wish TO exercise II by voting for
president and Vice President. The Legislature Is
therefore, IN bad odor; but whether the dlsa1ecton
IN sulicienty deep TO AFFECT the radical at the
election for member OF Congress cannot now be de-
clded. one thing alone seems certain and II is that
although deprived OF their right 10 vote directly for
Presidential electors the people Of Florida are not
behind the other southern States on the general re-
suit The arst radical representative viii be recorded
a having been the last sent 30 Congress from the
Land ~ Flowers.
MISCELLANEOUS PGLIEl(iL NOTES.