The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-06-08

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Puhaac semtannemt IN West RHeF-
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Esissr Fssrsdsea - niness rsesnlly calling
meaipso Wesas Florida. 81 fooA uccaaen % sscer-
to pnblic sentAnent - the enhjeet u the nom
inalicH or . Desnocrallc cand1IHfs ~ G0verDor
iss Gailesville q the i0sh ~ you know. I am
moi = partisan o. bigosed supporter Of any par
ticular gentleman whose name has been men
toned in connection with the domination, but II
have any leanings AZ all they have been
towards the present incumbent Of the Executive
Once. Thh lhcs, think. made me rather an i'm
partial observer, for While | would have been
erat;ied 10 md strong current favorable to the
nomikaiion Of 0oyernor Drew, was more than
pleased TO discover that great interest was being
felt in The matter, albeit in direction contrary
to my own inclinings.
The nrst discovery made WAS = strong disin-
clination among the older citizens 10 elect Gov
eruor for more than one term. was cited to
the provision 10 the old Constitution making the
Governor ineligible for reelection until the lapse
Of four years from the expiration of his first
term. A like provision exists in the new Con-
stitution of Kentucky. where the term is four
years as in our old and present Constitutions. In
States where the term ID two years. it is the
common understanding that fseO terms or four
years il the utmost limit of service allowed 10
the same individual, except in those rare instan-
ces where the popularity Of the incumbent over
rides all other considerations. The idea of linn
tied terms OF service is based upon the funda-
mental principle that monopolies Of all kinds, as
well in Office rs in other respects are contrary
" TO the genius of free people and ought not to
be allowed" 1t was added as q reason for one
term that it would not be safe to run The same
person for a second term because Of the
dissatisfaction necessarily engendered grow
ing out of the distribution Of the large
amount of patronage placed in his hands. To
be the almoner Of this patronage for four years,
1t was insisted. will render any man unavailable
as a candidate for reelection.
l found this sentiment quite general and /
could not combat ile correctness and force 1t
is not TO lie denied that the appointing power
is capable Of being used to perpetuate the same
individual in Office, neither is il to be disputed
that the benefciaries OF this power, by combn-
ing, as il is charged they are generally doing
they do not wani. thus continuing in Office the
same man, not Tor one term only, but for two.
three or even four terms, and establishing, what
ought not TO be allowed, monopoly of Office :"
You will observe, Mr. Editor, that this one
term sentiment is not personal in its application,
but is avowed as principle application to the
| office, ne matter who fills it.
AS to the popular preference, and that after all
is the main thing to be considered, found an
overwhelming sentiment in. favor of Bloxham
for Governor. He is the best known personally
of any whose name has been suggested The
people remember with enthusiasm the gallant
campaign he made in 1870, when they were for
the first time rallied in struggle for The redemp-
ton Of the State. Then again in 1872, 1874
| 1875 and 1878 his ringing voice was heard on
every stump, while some now prominently spo
ken of tor the nomination either skulked or were
only heard Of locally. In what county has he
| not made his eloquence heard? When has there
been battle to be fought and he was not fore
most in the struggled" Such expressions as
these are to be met with all through the West
and your correspondent was impressed with the
idea that with Bloxbam as q candidate the en-
thusasm so important in a campaign is already
aroused, while with any other it sciu haze to b
.oorked up. heard many persons say. " Bloxham
or nobody" One speaker at the County Con-
vsntion in Calhoun said that the tax paying
people Of the State owe more TO Bloxham than
10 any other man that for ten or twelve years
past he has always been found where blews were
! to be given or received that he has spent his
| time and money to rescue his native State from
the vandals who preyed upon it. until is is no secret
that the drains upon him have crippled his means
and left him poor that he is among the very
| few who have held Office and not made himself
rich out of the spoils," &c. Whenever the name
of Bloxham was mentioned by the speaker, (who
by the way was young man and is a delegate TO
the Gainesville Convention,) there was q shout.
In Mariana, ii being court week, l met per.
sons from Washington and Holmes and was told
that Bloxham is the first and last choice of their
people jackson is all aflame for him, and
in Franklin it is said that he only will unite con-
f1icting elements. heard very little in behalf
of General Perry or Mr.. Pasco, public sentiment
appearing 10 concentrate on one name-Blos-
ham.
have thus, as requested, given you as impair
tial version Of what saw and heard while 10
the West as am capable OF, and will conclude
by saying that the impression derived was that
if Bloxham is nominated the campaign will open
with a most remarkable enthusiasm, and that
this of itself will give an assurance Of success
which the Convention will act most unwisely in
disregarding. EAST FLoRIDIAN.