The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-20

From our Regular Correspondsnt,l
RIO CARRAHrLxR Fl,

Wusteu loF several WoekA Dat, a9 the GLORIOUS
Fourth Of July has arrived, 1t ID right and proper
that We once more spread ourselves, and we can
do to with honor and credit That our first cele-
bration of the country's natal day should be q
success, we commenced preparations in time
We got out splendid flagstaff, with main and
top mast seventy five fest in height, put on three
coats Of white paint, (don't forget ill., and pro-
cured bunting American flag eighteen feet long
by nine wide; this we raised on the morning
Of the third with appropriate ceremonies, in
which all Joined most heartily, and with music
and songs spread the banner to the breeze /
suppose the last American flag that kissed the
atmosphere Of the Gulf of Mexico waved from
the old fort on our bluff in the Seminole war
and there il no record of any other flag having
waved here since, unless it was one Of Captain
Blocker's when his cavalry made the celebrated
attack on the Union gun-boats in the late un-
pleasantness;" :" and, if reports are correct, that
flag didn't wave" over fifteen or twenty min
utes, if it waved at all however, circumstances
proved that discretion was the better part OF
valor, and we won't go into detail.
Well, we concluded 10 celebrate our Fourth ~
on the third, and made our arrangements accord
ing. We erected q spacious pavilion and had it
appropriately decorated with evergreens, Ameri-
can flags and the usual notices neatly painted
and got up in artistic style
The morning Of the third was ushered in by a
grand salute of forty guns-the powder furnished
by ourselves and the cannon from the Russian
ship, kindly lent US by the Captain, who entered
into our celebration with hearty will. / vent
ure to say that this is the first time Russian
cannon was ever fred on this continent in COM
memoration of the Fourth of July. At "high
noon" all the Northern citizens sat down to a
sumptuous dinner; and let me assure you our
ladies know how and can make a most satisfac-
tory spread" l need not describe the dinner,
but it was in splendid style-fsh flesh and fowl ;
just such table as hope, before many months,
will be daily spread in the proposed hetel that is
to be erected this fall.
In the evening we Illuminated the pavilion
with two hundred Chinese lanterns, (made in
New York, and then commenced the real cele-
bration of the day. First was singing by our
Quintette Club, then reading of the Declaration
of Independence, by Mrs C. L. Storrs; after
which we had an grafton by Judge J. NJ Hamil-
ton, of California. This was excellent, and the
more appreciated as it was voluntary and unex-
pected 1t will be intruding too much to repeat
it all, but among other things he said:
'Tis the plea we hear from its friends for a
strong government" for Capitalization of power
which would subvert all the fundamental princi-
pies on which the Union was formed in other
words, Imperialism! The fear of Communism
has forced many of its opponents to the other
QY thoyh hav tn horf hot
between the two lies the only safe course for
perpetuation of our free institutions. Would to
God every American citizen could be made to
realize that any government stronger than our
Constitution will, OF necessity, destroy that Con-
slitution and when that is destroyed, when we
drift away from the landmarks fixed by the
patriots OF 76, we have no assurance any other
safe harbor will be reached where the ship of
state may lie In safety, serenely sheltered from
the storms and perils which ever surround
government founded upon the principles of equal
and exact justice to all, and which has for its
object the greatest possible good, in every sense
Of the word, to all its citizens Then, fellow
citizens, let me beseech you one and ALL to stand
by the Constitution as the sheet-anchor of all
our hopes frown down any attempt TO destroy
its provisions and guarantees; say to those whO
by selfish action to promote individual interests
and acquire present gain at the expense of future
prosperity. would desecrate the altar on which
our hopes are laid, stand aside; we caEnot and
we will not submit to such desecration venality
and corruption shall have no place among rs ;
the paths our fathers trOd pleasant to our feet
under the shade OF the tree they planted we have
found plenty and prosperity; have grown to
wealth and power, and by the blessing of God
our manhood shall bring no discredit TO the
promise OF our youth; but we will leave our
heritage IS we Dund il priceless heirloom to
our children and our children's children to the
end Of time.
At the close Of the Grafton we had more sing
ing, accompanied by Mrs. R. F. Fowler on the
piano, and then the display of fire works was let
off, Rockets, Roman candles and no end of fire.
crackers; egad, for about one hour, the z, whack,
bang reminded me Of the early days. and the
smell Of gunpowder would have done your old
soul good, provided you like to inhale that pecu-
liar odor. After this we had splendid supper,
and about midnight we retired, satisfied that we
had made q day of it-efectually celebrated the
Fourth Of July
The new mill Of Charles Reynolds & Co. is
progressing nicely. The building is all up and
covered; al the machinery has arrived, and
workmen are putting it in position with prospect
of getting up steam by the first of September
The head mechanic on the work is Mr.. William
Brough, Of Grand Haven, Michigan. Although
he has worked at mill building for several years,
and Is but twentyfour years Of age, il is his first
job, and more complete one cannot be found
every joint wss pounded, and there is not loose
brace in the building. There could not be bet
ter testimonial of ability given young man
than q thorough examination OF this building,
and that Ii the kind of mechanics we are bring
ing to our town. Within twelve months We
intend to have machine and cabinet-maker's
establishment here that shall be . credit to this
part Of the State Some Of the workmen are
here and others coming, and ~ soon as arrange
meufs can be made for the machinery the con-
cern win be at work.
During the past week we have had funeral
birth and . wedding indications Of what!
The American bark fremont left our harbol
on the morning Of the third for Boston with
10000 fest Of sawn humber; and the Russian
bark Turko has IN equal amount on board ready
for sea- Bofh cargses were furnished b. Storm
d Fowler.
Onr new wharf b progressing. bat owing r.
the depth a water he work has not bcen - rapid
q We expectsd; We hops, however. TO have thres
hundred fset completed By the Time the A. @. A
W. L T. R r. commence running their semi
weekly line ftoa Cedar Ksy:
Jnies Hamilton leayss far your city en- gowt
ioe New York u . day Or two IN the interest o
| ths Jamss Island Hotel Company. Il could no
b II besfes hands. fog be b sn earnest worker d
- ~ a..