The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-11-29
FROM FLORIDA.
What n NOn-Partisan Citizen Writes N
Friend About the Floral Stise.
TFrom w. N. Ives, Jr., to +. W. Canls

From w. VI. Ives, Jr., TO f. w. CanSs.l
LAKE CRY, Fla, Nov. 1S.-To Z. W. c.:
Your kind letter of the 14th is at Rand.
There is little colony from Massachusetts,
just ARRIVED last Tuesday and they are per-
fectly delighted with the climate, people and
country. Oranges are in perfection, and at
this season are plentiful here, although We
have heretofore given but little attention to
their culture.
You say you are anxious to hear definitely
in regard to the election. Well Florida
fairly belongs to Tilden by 1000,
and Drew, for governor by, Zoo ma
iority. This is from the returns
taken at each voting place by democrats
committees. so as to enable them TO estak-
lish proof in case the republican officials
should destroy the retarns You in the
north can have po idea of the frauds for
merly perpetrated by the republicans upon
us 1t was TO prevent the repetition OF
frauds thst caused the democracy 10 become
more thoroughly organized, than they had
ever been.
The election throughout the state was
peaceful Thousands of negroes throughout
the state would have voted the reform ticket,
but the bloody shirt speeches made during
the few days just preceding the election
thoroughly alarmed the negro women
f~ho are more excitable than the menl,
who really appeared to believe that If Tilden
was elected they would be put into slavery.
There is no doubt OF the fact that in this
county many negroes were deferred from
voting the democratic ticket, fearing oStra
cism from their own race. There was no
violence or coercion used by the whites but
our speakers did urge the negroes to come
with us and assist in driving from power the
corrupt office-holders who fatten upon the
substance of an impoverished people
We of the south regret 10 know tnat
| SO MANY northern voters were lnt1u-
| enced by the fear that the south medltated
| a second secession, and that claims for losses
by the late war and attempts to nullify
the amendments to enc constitution were
the motives which impelled US TO the demo
cratic party. Should you ever come south,
YOU will see and know more thoroughly
| than / can write, that what we wish is the
opportunity to have our state governments
| in the hands of patriotic men who have an
| interest in our welfare. 1t can not be de-
MED that the southern people are as loyal to
] the constitution as any people in the
| thorough reconciliation fraternity and
| the development of our resources.
The war left us poor, but misgovernment
has robbed us of more than the war, and
the fends who rule US have well nigh de-
stroyed our good name, among the Ameri-
| can people, by their Interpretations
| In this county (COlumbia) the negro
county commissioners abolished every conn
| try precinct, and compelled every voter to
come to Lake City to cast his ballot. / with
other conservative citizens protested but
without avail-and the act was so close upon
the election that an appeal to the
courts did not avail u.s. Some citizens
were compelled TO ride 40 miles
to VOTE. and yet not the slightest
outbreak or quarrel occurred. Ten soldiers
and a lieutenant were stationed here but
they were useless. The soldiers are here vet,
but can see no occasion for them Much
could be written which would interest you
| probably, but what is the use of words?
Florida is probably the most peaeeable, law
abiding state in the Union; she has cast her
majority peacefully, periodically and hope
| fully for Tilden and reform. Her people
now look to you)of the north to give her
your coun*enance and support and to have
her viii recorded. Our officials generally are
| partisan and INSCRIPTIONS. Against them
we are powerless, unless sustained by the
north. You know for what purposes the
army has heretofore been used. With the
north in our case-to you we look for Justice
and our vindication. Yours truly,
| .a