New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17
LIFE IN FLORIDA.
LETTER FROM MRS. II. B. STOWE.

LETTER FROM MRS. ii. b. STOWE.
THE STATE QUIET AND Observation-Disclosures cRrTI-
CIsMs-PARrY FEELING sCBsIDING.
70 the Bdttor Of Fhe Tribune
Sir: In your Issue of Jan. %, a correspondent
dating from Jacksonville proposes to tel people
where to live in Florida How does he do thisf
He goes on to say first that there are counties in
Florida where Northern people not safe-he does
not tell us which that there instances Of set
tiers in Florida who have been driven out and had
TO abandon their property TO their lives, but he
does not say who they are. He tells shocking stories
of cruelty and abuse practiced upon negroes but
docs not tell US where or when or who told him.
This general bundle Of assertions is his contribution
TO the question: Where To settle in Florida
1t is obviously unjust to impIicate whole State
in this manner. without giving any opportunity to
test the truth Of these statements. If there are
places where Northern settlers have been driven out
and negroes prosecuted let him tell where they are
and let these places bear the blame and the disgrace
but let not The general aspersion be cast upon the
State of Florida. Now, in reply 10 such general,
alarming statements, let me put few facts. 1
came down to Florida the year after the war, and
have held property in Duval County on the st.
Johns River, ever since In all this time have re-
ceved not even an ncivility from any native Flori-
dian. Duval County is largely settled by Northern
have yet to learn of any act of disobging-
incivility happening to any Northern set
tier on the part of the native Flordans SO far as
they are to be observed in this county the FlOrid
ans are 4 remarkably quiet, peaeeable, and honest
set of people, who believe in the apostolic lniunc-
ton, Study to be quiet and mind your own busl-
ness' It il quite true that they had at first no very
warm love for Northern settlers but they have
always treated them Justly and fairly. That they
should prefer TO associate with themselves and not
with strangers but natural 1t ~ true. Also that
there after the good deal of bitter feeling
that people who had lost property and grown poor
were sore and uncomfortable, and that it was not
pleasant thing for people who had always owned
slaves to give them mp and 20 to work themselves.
But this feeling has never, far as know ex-
pressed itself in any way to prevent settlers from
being made comfortable in their midst.
As to the negroes Duval County has large pop
ulation of them, who work for fair wages, and have
all the consideration and rights they ought to de
sire. have Just attended the closing examinations
of two colOrcd district schools in vicinity, both
taught by coored teachers employed and paid by
she school hoard in Jacksonville in the same man
ner that they employ and pay teachers for the white
schools, ana the examinations of both were very
creditabe'to the teachers. Gov Draw, our recently
elected chief Magistrate in his able message, gives
especial prominence 10 the necessity OF educating
the colored people with view TO enable them TO
exercise intelligently the rights of suffrage, and
although Gov. Drew is a Democrat, the Republican
papers cordially support his administration.
Now Of course. Duyal County is not all of Florida,
but it has in it the largest commercial city, and Is
fair representation of the general spirit and interests
of the state. somewhat extensive acquaintance
in Florida enables me TO assert with confidence that
i'm all the large and thriving counties immigrants
are made welcome. and negroes are fairly treated
rs to work wages, ana opportunities for education.
There may be aud doubtless exceptional regions.
have known OF one Northern settler some distance
mp the st. Johns River who, taking up large tract
OF land has been annoyed and terrified by squat
tiers who found themselves dslodged by his Occu-
pancy. Such a case might happen in any State in
an ignorant neigh bOrhOOd at distance from centers
of Improvement. In the excitement of 4 Presl-
Dental election, when the lower passions of COM
munity are played upon by denagogues, there may
have been, in some dark regions, acts of injustice
and cruelty to negroes; but, as compared 20 the
great body of the State these exceptional cases
Florida is now quiet and contented. The Repub-
leans speak appTovingy of the Democratic Gov
ernor Drew, and the lion and the lamb show en-
couraging indications that they may yet lie down
together Northern immigration has raised up
brisk and lucrative business in oranges and set out
trees by the million About all the money circulating
in the State comes from Northern immigrants and
visitors and therefore it is the hight of absurdty TO
suppose that they would not be here both safe and
welcome. II. b. STOWE.
Durdi Co., Fla, Feb. g. 1877.