The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-10-24
FERRY Pass. FLA. Oct. l2. 1,

FERRY Pass, FLA. Oct. ~, 1882.
Editor Fl0ridian At no time in the history
of Flora politics has the independent voter
been subjected TO so many and such varied de-
mands for his support, as at the present First
comes the regular Independent candidate, Nc
Kinnon, whom we can dismiss with few words,
since the most that be said is that having
seen the mistake he has made, he is making the
very best fight practicable under the circum-
stances and deserves credit for not backing
down in the face of certain defeat NJ
Next, with brazen audaciiy, the co0lness of
which is perfectly refreshing, come the Republi-
cans with their Democratic candidate, and vari-
Gus are the reasons they urge upon the man who
thinks for himself showing why he should vote
for this newly discovered Lumber King . dis
covered by whom? ]. NJ Tarble Query, who
discovered -TarbleD First, say they. Skinner is
an able man; his abilities will reflect great
credit upon the district To hear them talk,
one would think that the statesmanship of Clay,
the integrity Of Calhoun and the oratory of
Prentss, had all descended upon Skinner, in
manifold proportions. Let us see what there is
TO warrant these extravagant pretensions. Skin
ner studied law and was admitted to the bar !;
but unfortunately, he lacked that depth of rea-
soning which makes man a good exponent of
the laws, and being unable to keep his temper
in an argument was not good pleader; con-
sequentIy, after desultory practice, extending
over several years, he was obliged TO give il up
and drltted about from one profession to another.
without achieving anything like success, until
the fates finally brought him to Florida to run
secondhand saw mill, and TO run for Congress
as the tool of j. n. Tarble. He has lived forty
nine years without ever having acquired celebrity
Tor bis great talents, and 1t is to be feared that
his abilities, like his great fortune. are newly dis
covered and with little foundation. Accredited
with shrewdness in business transactions. it is an
iudlsputabe fact here, where the parties are all
known, that TO keen and pushing employee,
he is indebted for such success as has attended
him in matters of business. To an independent
OF Republican proclivities, Skinner is recon-
mended AS a man of Northern birth and of strong
Republican principles; 10 Florida, he is known
as voter Of split tickets He confidently as
sured the writer of this, on the night before the
election OF 1876. and that, too, in the presence
of nearly the whole of his employees that he ex-
pected on the morrow to vote for TiIden. and
for Stearns for Governor. Two years ago the
writer Of this s1D him deposit q ballot for the
Garfield electoral ticket, and for Bloxham and
Bethel, and for Davidson, his present competitor
thus voting against G. w. Wiiherspoon, the can
didale Of the negro element whose suffrages he
(Skinnen is now trucking afler. And 81. @.
Campbell, formerly Deputy U. 8. Marshal
here, and at present Revenue Collector at st.
Andrews. was the man who arranged this mon
grel ballot for him. Outside Of this State, by
his own report, he has always been Democrat
IL" said he, was candidate for electoF on
the Douglas ticket in 1850, and he added,
with that charming modesty for which he Is
noted. al should have undoubtedly been one Of
the cabinet had Douglas been elected. At the be-
ginning Of the war, the Secretary of the Interior
lwho was my personal iriend) wrote me that II /
would come over and Join the Republicans 1
could have almost any thing would ask for !;
but said This embryo II. c.. lwkile ths ansh Of
honest pride mantled his already decidedly
fiOFid yisage.) II told them my Priaclpses sssvs
not for aals" AlaA for those principlesi Evi-
denty the oer OF the Secretary offhe Interior was
too vague; for . score Of yeaB sflet, Ne nnd him
relinquishing them withoot any apparent qualms
Of conscience ct the slishlly mors dsaniis con
aideraiion.ofa Copesesaloual nomina,ioa- Why,