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

Public Sentiment In West Flsr-
49, -. ~
/ Editor Fsorsdsaa - nsiness recenlly calling
meaip Wee, Florida. q tool occaalpn 70 ascer-
tain psblic sentiaent 90 the >ahject 81 me NOM
inalioa Of Demccntic candidate fbr Governor
lat Gainesville % the iOsh. A you know. ! am
not . partisan Or bigoted s1pportsr OF any par
ticular gentleman whose name has been men
toned in connection with the nomination, but II
/ have any lesnings at all they have been
towards the present incumbent Of the Executive
oNice This fac4, think, made me rather an Inn
partial observer, for while would have been
gratiied to find strong current favorable to the
nomihkiion Of Governor Drew, ! was more than
felt in the matter albeit In direction contrary
to my own inciinings.
The first discovery made was = strong disin-
clination among the older citizens 10 elect Gov
ernor for more than one term. was cited to
the provision in 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 Is two years. 1t is the
common understanding that too terms or four
years is the utmost limit Of service allowed 10
the same individual, except in those rare insian-
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 as in other respects, are contrary
to the genius of free people and ought not to
"be allowed" 1t was added as a 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 iis correctness and force. 1t
is not to be 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 combin-
ing, as il is charged they are generally doing
now, may fost upon the people candidate whom
they do not want, thus continuing In Office the
same man, not for one term only, but for two.
three or even four TERMS and establishing, what
ought not TO be allowed, " a monopoly Of Office"
You will observe Mr. Editor, that this one
term sentiment is not personal in its application,
but is avcwed as principle application to the
| office, ne matter who fills il.
AS to the popular preference, and that after all
is the main thing to be considered, found an
| -,
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 for 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 Bloxham as a candidate the en-
thusiasm 80 important in a campaign is already
aroused, while with any other it COLL haze to b
scorked up. / heard many persons say, 4" Bloxham
or nobody" One speaker at the County Con-
vGntion in Calhoun said that the tax paying
people Of the State owe more TO Bloxham than
TO 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 vandas who preyed upon until isis 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 spois," &c. Whenever the name
of Bloxham was mentioned by the speaker, (who
by the way was ayoung man and is delegate to
the Gainesville Convention,) there was a shout.
In Mariana it being court week, / met per.
sons from Washington and Holmes and was told
that Bloxham is the first and last choice of their
people. Jackson is all afame for him, and
in Franklin it is said that he only will unite con-
hicting elements. hoard 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
tal version Of what saw and heard while in
the West as l 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.
/