The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-05-05
Letter from Florida.
Correspondence of tie Democratic AdOocats

Correspondence of tie Democratic Aduocats.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. April 2G, 1877.
Mesay Editors Thinking chat few
lines might be interesting to you from this
far off land, also to the many readers of
your paper, and my own friends, l write
to give you some idea of the beauty Of this
region, the city, etc. After sixteen years
of war Florida is at peace, this having
been attained by the election of Governor
Geo. \. Drew at the last election. Polih-
cal matters are very quiet here at this
time, the people mostly are resigned and
content, Although sorry and indignant
at having their President taken from them,
yet happy with the knowledge that they
have at last Democratic State Govern
ment. Ex-Governor Stearns applied, |
am told, at Washington for donation to
aid in defraying the expense of litigation
to redenise his gubernatorial honors, priv
ileges, and possessions; but "His Fraudu-
lency' forced compromise and "lct him
up "for few at the Hot Springs Res
eryatiou. Bowes, the rascal that stuffed
a ballot box in this county, Leon, also
sneaked up to the Capital and asked for
remuneration for his services. 1t is rather
supposable compromise will be effected
with him soon by giving him position
somewhat warmer than the reservation.
He will hardly return to this place. as the
Circuit Court has ended its Spring session,
and the grand jury made it expedient for
him to change his base. The bar has
three colored members. Juries about one
third black. Population of county about
half or two-thirds blacks. This city con-
tains the Capital, or State House, Court
House, Jail, and other State and county
buildings. A chain gang has been re-
Gently instituted here, the prisoners being
all negroes The clanking of the chains,
while they are at work on the road, strikes
terror to the heart Of the darkies.
From the Executive building, the eye
wanders a far off, encountering the most
gorgeous scenery. The blended beauty of
broad, fertile fields, gently slOping hills
and dark outrageous valleys, which from
their natural flower gardens, as it we're, con-
tinually fill the atmosphere with perfume
This beautiful country is interspersed
with hundreds of small lakes, some, how
ever, are quite large. Lake Jackson, near
this city, being, think, about II or IA
miles in length. These lakes are filed
with fish and alligators The principal
species of small fish being trout, bass and
eel The shooting is also very fine all
imaginable kind of small game, deer, tur-
key, and, within short drive, bear can be
found. The lakes at certain seasons of
the year are visited by thousands of ducks.
Wakulla Springs, the greatest natural Gu
riosity the country affords, is within an
easy drive of this place. l will give you
a description of it after have visited it.
The finest kind of land, improved, can be
bought for s5 or 81 0 per acre, near the city.
The flowers are beautiful here pass
ed through, on my way to see gentleman,
among the pines, wild magnolia grove,
rich with foliage and flowers as large as
the inside of my hat, that almost smother
one with their sweetness, wild rose
bushes that would cover and conceal
small house, The principal productions
If the State are cotton, corn, sugar cane,
oranges, lemons, bananas, and nearly every
variety of fruit that is raised in Carroll.
A fine business is carried on here by truck
ing. Gardeners get their truck into the
New York markets very early and realize
exhorbitant prices for it, Peas we're ship
ped from here three weeks ago, the run is
now nearly over. New potatoes, turnips,
beets, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, black
berries, at D cts. per quart, strawberries,
ETC., in abundance. Peaches hang on the
trees the size of hulled walnuts. Oats in
head. Corn in some places two feet high,
and many other things to tantalize you
more northern people, who ara Just plant
ing your gardens.
The city has three churches, three pub
lie schools, three livery aud sale stables,
two manufacturing establishments, one first
class hotel and about twenty-five stores is
a fair approximate of the business interest
But pardon, newspapers and editors are so
apt to be forgotten. The Foridian,
weekly, is ably edited and is an interesting
Democratic journal. The Sentinel, a Rad
ical organ, having collapsed since the in-
auguration of his Excellency, Gov. Drew.
The Cemetery, in the west end of the city,
encloses about eight acres of land, is well
laid off and carefully and neatly kept.
This being decoration day, the graves of
the fallen were strewn with flowers, aud
beautiful and impressive ceremony per-
formed. Very few Of our northern men
would have appreciated the address, how
ever, Among the numerous monuments
and tombstones | noticed one erected in
memory of Col. Charles Louis Napoleon
Achille Murat, son Of King Of Naples
and Caroline Murat. He died A. D. IS47,
at the age of AZ. Also one in memory of
Princess c. A. Murat, his widow, daugh-
ter Of Col Bird c. Willis, of Virginia. [
learn that the Prince visiting America
fell in love with and married Miss Willis.
Selected visit to his royal home as
bridal tour; but was abnegated by the
King, his father, who had become indig-
nant at his marriage, aud with cannon
fred upon his vessel, forbade him landing
and forced return. Many of the houses
bear unmistakable evidence Of having -four
ished in aate-beiium days, with few ex-
ceptions | might say all of them. neg
lected to say, while speakingof the scenery
as seen from the State House, that the Gulf
of Mexico is dimly discernable There are
many things | might mention that would
very likely be Of interest to some Of your
readers, but my letter is sufficiently long.
J.c.w.
Thanks, and thousand Of them, to that
...... L..