The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-06-06

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own fault and not the Governors The
people who represent the wealth, intelli-
gence, honor and dignity of the several
counties of the State, choose their county
officers Except constables) and the Gov
ernor appoints the men Of their choice to
Office.
Disappointed ambition has been dill
gent in sowing the seeds of discord and
division in the Democratic ranks ever
since the Democratic party has been in
power. IF these seed are promptly
weeded out, and not allowed to grow, the
Democrats will have q decided majority
at the next election. Thousands of hon
est immigrants from the different South
ern States, and from the North, have set-
tied among us since the last election
Most of these were Democrats before
they immigrated those among them who
are Republicans will vote as did most of
the N Northern Republicans at the last cleo
tion-that is, for the Republican candi-
date for Congress, and for the Democratic
candidate for Governor These Northern
Republicans are convinced from expert
ence that the Stateg government f1ourishes
under Democratic rule, but under the Re
publican rule there is nothing but stagna-
tion, stealing and death. If the present
administration doesn't suit the Demo
cratic party they have the power at the
next election to choose officers to suit
them, without calling on the Radicals for
assistance, or imperiling their liberty by
running after new party. There is no
Democratic party F" lash " in this county,
nor has there ever been one here. 1t is
quite reflection upon Southern gentle
men to say of them they have no indie
pendence or will of their own when they
are about to vote, but are lashed" into
voting according to the will of those who
call themselves leaders. The truth is,
that the rank and file of the Democratic
party in this county are men of intelli-
gence, and without any advice whatever
from leaders their individual experience
teaches them that it would be fatal to all
their interests to cause split in the Dem
ocratic ranks, and permit the Radicals to
come into power, or allow any other party
to go into Office that is composed partly
of Radicals.
The new party is in favor of Consti-
tutional Convention, and changing the
present constitution. If the object of the
new party is to change that part of the
Constitution which confers the power
of appointing county officers upon the
Governor, so as to leave the election of
these officers to the people (which they
must agree to, to please their Radical al
lies,) then the new party will not get from
the " black belt" sufficient number of
Democratic votes to form a corporal's
guard. Why? Because if the Constitu-
ton was changed so that the county Off
GERS would be elected by the people, the
Radicals in the black belt" would ever
afterward be firmly established in power.
If this calamity should happen, judging
the Radicals by their record, Middle
Florida, the fairest and loveliest portion
of the State, would be completely mig
gerized." Lands would depreciate in
value, and be sold for taxes, no railroads
would be built, and instead of capitalists
and white immigrants pouring in upon
us most of us would have to emigrate
in selfdefense. Under the old Con-
stitution the county officers were elected
by the people; the Radical constitu-
tion of 1868 places the power of ap-
pointing county officers in the hands
of the Governor. The Radicals ought
to be- pleased with this part of the
Constitution for it is their own invention.
The Democrats in the "black belt :" are
well pleased with this part of it, for it is
their only salvation. They do not pro-
pose to meddle with this part of the pres
ent Constitution, for all their interests
are staked upon it; nor do they propose
to risk their all with Convention COM
posed of individuals who represent con-
fiicting interests in different parts of the
State. The Constitution could not, in
justice to all parties, be so changed as to
leave the election of county officers in the
white counties to the. people, and the ap-
pointing power of county officers in the
"black belt" to the Governor. All laws
of general nature ought to have a uni
form operation throughout the State.
The leaders of the Republican party in
this State are too shrewd to join any CO
altion unless they get the lions share of
power and profit. If Republican Gov
ernor was elected. or the Constitution
changed so as to leave the election of
county officers to the people, what would
be the result in our county? Govern
ment is felt by the people in proportion
to its nearness A fair way to ascertain
the result of such calamity would be to
judge from the past, and to review the
Radical record in this county from 1868
until 1877. During this time they had
unlimited sway all over the State. They
would, if placed in power in this county,
act as they acted in the past, perhaps
worse. In the first place all the county
officers would be negroes and carpet
baggers if there are not enough carpet
baggers here now, others would rush in
as soon as they heard of the prospect for
pickings and plunder. Perhaps that same
old crew that left the county as soon as
Drew was elected would return. They
would handle, control and dispose of the
peoples money. The Board of County
Commissioners would be composed of ne
groes and carpet-baggers, and perhaps an
Independent. And in selecting three
hundred jurors annually, instead of fol-
lowing the law and selecting such persons
ss they know or had good reason to be-
lieve were of approved integrity, fair
character, sound Judgment and intelli-
gence, they would do precisely as they
did when they were in power-that is,
they would select $50 negroes who would
be conspicuous for their dishonesty, pref
udice and ignorance, they would select
about forty more negroes of pretty fair
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