Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-28
And hisses.). The distribution Of the
prizes was then proceeded with
Seoteh paper. - co.,
The Florida Annexation.

4
iNsfis The Florida Annexation.
T. lsf ~. g.
! We find in the Montgomery Mail, O
the l9lb, the following synopsis Of th,
te'ms and conditions agreed npon by tb,
Commissioners appointed by the States o
Alabama and Florida, to arrange for The
cessiou Of West Florida to Alabama. Th,
items agreed upon arc in, substance a.
follows: ..-.
lat. Conveys to the State Of Alabams
all the country in the State Of Florids
lying West of the ApalacLicola river.
I'd. Conveys to the State of Alabama
all the public lands 10 West Florida, " hicb
consists of what is known as Seminary
lands, the 10th section lands, and swamp
aud overfowed lands, amounting 10 round
numbers to about 1900 900 acres. These
lands the State Of Alabama takes, subject
to the trusts now imposed upon them
Which trusts are for the benefit of West
Florida exclusively, for the purpose oi
schools and internal improvements. The
State Of Florida has authority to appro-
pirate these lands for the purposes of tho
trust until the annexation is complete, and
guarantees the titles to the State of Ala
bams perfectly free aud uuembarrassed.
3D.. The State Of Alabama, upon the
consummatiop of annexation, executes its
bonds to the State of Florida for one
million of dollars, payable within thirty
years, at per cent. interest.
4th. The officers of West Florida re-
tain their Offices until tho expiration Of
their terms.
9th. The Governors of the two States
shall, within sixty days after the assent of
Congress is given to this transfer, issue
their Proclamations declaring that juns.
diction over The ceded territory has been
transferred to the State of Alabama.
6.h. Relates to the jurisdiction of the
courts of West Florida, as it may bs
Affected by the laws of Alabama.
7th. A railroad from the Apalacbcola
river 10 Pensacola, or to some poin. on the
Montgomery and Mobile Railroad, shall BE-
entitled to the benefit of the eudorsen ens
Law of the Stata Of Alabama ($le 900 per
miie.)
sth. The Savannah and Gulf Railroad
shall not receive permission from the State
Of Alabama, within three years, to pass
scross the esdsd territory.
9th. This agreement hss NO forco until
it shall have been ratified by competent
authority Of the States Of Alabama and
Florida, and by Congress.
Something over 100000 of the public
lands mentioned in the second item, are
swamp and overlooked lands aud internal
Improvement lands, which were carefully
selscsed. and are said 70 b very valuable.
The State of Florida receives per cent.
OF the proceeds of all Government lands
within its borders. This per cent. upon
the Government lands in w est Florida is
transferred to Alabama.
Uudsr an imperfect revenue law, the
revenues realized last year from the terri
Tory proposed 10 be ceded amounted to
$3l, 900. A; more perfect law would nave
brought perbaps CSC, 600. Blu. a. it was
the rate Of taxation of Alabama being
higher than that Of Florida, the sum
realized under our laws would have been
about @3S, $50. - g. ~
The AREA Of tie counties Of West
Florida Is about 10000 squars miles, with
q shore line on the Gulf Of Mexico OF
about 1s0 miles. Their productions are
cotton, corn, rice, tobacco, sugar, moIasses
and lumber. Besides Apslachioois Bay,
Bay, Whiehfs vsay much like Mobile Bay,
thsrs are thfas other thasbors Of ;Dots In
Wesa Florida! Wig, Pensacols, che most
con~o diods on ths Cult, aud easy sof ;ap-
proacixaod sntssses by vssss.s drawing "a
ssetvster ;istsJ Jossph ai5d 81 Andrews,
p hoths :exoalisns bssbess, and scoessibIo By
velsssls dtauiqg, 10 feet. @9gY -
H 4 - 4 = 10