Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-11
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
JOTTINGS IN THE MIDST OF THE
SESSION

SESSION.
Saturday at the Capital-PrOposed Con-
stitutional Amendments-The COnven-
tion Bhl-Its PrOvisions-Fifty Thou
sand Copies of the Governors Mes
sage Ordered to be Printed-LesyisIa-
tive Notes.
TALLAHASSEE, Jan. 7.-Saturday in the
capital city of Florida has been from time
immemorial given over to the negroes, who
take possession of the place, monopolize the
sidewalks, crowd the stores, and make il in
convenient and annoying to all pedestrians
The great numbers of the blacks In this coun-
ty are the clouds that darken the otherwise
bright horizon OF this section. They consti-
tute bar to its growth and prosperity, and
shut out the immigrants who otherwise would
seek these pleasant hills and valleys The
merchants, pefhaps,are the only persons in the
entire community who derive any benefit
from the throngs of SambOs and Dnahs to be
found here.
1t would be far better for these negroes, who
manage in their crowded condition and at q
! low rate of wages barely to exc out existence
II they would find other points where labor
was i'll demand. and where they could have
the hope OF rising in the scale of being Their
rate VIII be, under any circumstances, to be
crowded out by the dominant and more ener-
I
beautiful country. This is the universal law
OF nature, and is now being here fulfilled. In
the push for place and power the blacks, being
the weaker, will be thrust aside by the stronger
man, the white. and must retreat into the
background
There is still rather too much OF the rus IA,
ur6e about Tallahassee. Portly swine loiter
around the streets, and root up the sidewalks
at their sweet VIII and pleasure. They even
venture to dispute the right of wav at times,
and grunt out their dissatisfaction in no melO-
dious tones when you are compelled to kick
them out of the path. Very fine animals
some of them are also, but they can scarcely
be considered ornaments. Then. too. the cows
are invested with unlimited rights and privi-
leges and are in the habit of repOsing their
wearied limbs upon the sidewalks when over
come by gentle slumber. 1t sometimes hap
pens in the absence of lights. that when walk
ing on dark nights, under the shade of the fine
oaks, you stumble over mOtherly old AIOOly,
and are compelled to take ride rather
rougher than agreeable.
There still exists here much of the old time
hospitality, for which virtue Tallahassee i'm
former days, was so distinguished, and cour-
tesies and attentions are freely extended to
strangers. Her people are far more hOmOge-
neous than those in East Florida, and are ce-
mented together by family associations and
similar tastes, habits and pursuits. There is
not as much selfishness, and not as much thirst
for the almighty dollar. There may not be as
rapid progress, but perhaps there is not as
much anxiety, and more substantial comfort
and enjoyment.
The projected railroad from ThomasvilIe,
Ca, to the Gulf via this city, will give Talla-
hassee another outlet to the North and West,
and also convenient and delightful watering
place during the summer. The project Is be-
ginning to assume shape and substance and a
bill has already been introduced into the Leg
islature asking for such aid as has been eX-
tended to other similar enterprises. The dis
tance between the termin is about seventy
miles, and the route passes over a compara-
lively level stretch of country.
to ha thn HolDs 80
that splendid flower the camellia iaponica in all
its varieties, and a Northern florist would be
bewildered at the large size attained by the
plants and the wonderful abundance Of the
flowers Roses also display beauty and fra
GRANGE here seldom observed elsewhere.
The mails from the East and North are in a
fearful condition of iFregularity, and COM
plants are many and energetic. The efforts
OF the NEWS to effect reform in this direction
have thus far been fruitless. Keep on throw
ing hot shot, for the evil is a crying one and
calls loudly for redress.
The effort made to instruct the Committee
on State Affairs to report bill on the expedi-
ency of removing the capital fell through eX-
peditiOusly, the committee finding that they
failed to perceive the necessity of such a step
at this time.
A perfect shower of constitutional amend
ments has fallen upon the Senate. They pro-
pose to give the election of county officers to
for two years. Even the minor offices, such as
County Surveyor, Auctioneer, Coroner and
commissioners, are to be made elective.
Another dispenses with the offices of Adjutant
General and Commissioner OF Lands and I'M
migration. Another reduces the salary of the
Governor to 1900, Judges Supreme Court to
$4,000, Judges Circuit Court to $4,000, Treasurer
and Comptroller ta 81, 500, Attorney General to
$1,000, Secretary of State, who shall be -Ofli-
clio Commissioner of Lands and Immigration
$1,000; superintendent of Public Instruction
to $1,000, pay of the members of the Legisla-
ture to 81, allowing mileage.
A resolution that the Legislature adjourn
on the LIST of February, was supeEaeded by a
substitute that business be Transacted as ex-
peditIQusly as possible.
The weather has been very disagreeable for
a few days.
Thirty-fOur bills have been introduced into
the Senate and twenty-nine in the AsgeAhly
TALLAHASSEE. Jan. S.-You VIII find
inclosed the bill iDtludnced hy Senator Nc
klHne, Gf Jackson county, which. as it relates
TO the most important subject that will be
brought to the attention of the present Legis-
lature, deserves all necessary publicity:
BILL to be entitled an act to provide far an
election to enable the peapie Qf Flolitd to
declare Whethet lhey. will meet in conven-
tion Co revise the existing constitution to
elect delegates thereto, to fix. The time and
place al such convention, and the compensa-
tion OF It's delegates and officers; and also
for a subsequent election to ratify or reject
such revised constitution.
Whereas 1t is a fundamental princisie that
all Republican governments ana constitutions
originate WITH Inc people, and NAV by like
authority be revised 'of'ehanged; and that 1t
is not within the power Of tile peonIe even far
themselves to surrender this right much
less 10 suITende4. II tljf those who are to sue
ce.su tlleIAi aad that therefore the provisions
or the constitution of 1868, so far as they may
be construed as attempting to limit or restrict
or control the exercise of this right, are simply
void; and whereas, said constitution contains
no prohibition of constitutional convention
at any other time than designated in section 2
Of article IL, by reason whereof the time
therein mentioned is directory, and nOt man.
datory; and whereas, we teti6 re- Tte Interests
OF the pe9pls tegnIIe us reyisian, and that
they shanld nave an opportunity OF expressing
their will in relation thereto, and of electing
delegates to revise the same should such be
their pleasure; therefore,
The people of the state 0f I19fIdQ, repre-
5eneed ieloe III sehAse ana assembly 90 enact as
SEcrIoN /, That ON the first Tuesday of
June, A, ID. lSSa, there shall be held an cleo
tlon Tor the purpose OF enabling the qualified
electors of this State, acting for the Deo-
pie thereof, to determine whettar = san
stltutional convention tQ revise the eonsttu-
tlon OF Florida snalt DC convened, and to elect
deiesates TO such. convention, provided they
determine by their votes it shall be con
yened. The ballots to be used at said election.
besides designating the EGIsons voted for as
such dei.eegateSs sh5tti contain the words ''COn-
vention" signifying that the electol. fav6rs 4
constitutional eolIventlon, under the provis9
ions hereof; and the woIds ..N6 Conyention5f
signifyhg that lie is opposed to such eonyen,
ton; hut IN oil other respects the ballots shall
conform to the existing laws of this State
SEC. 2. That the electors for each county
shall elect as many delegates to said constitu-
tional convention as such county has members
of the Assembly in this Legislature; aud tfiey
shall, besides. vote fQl sixsesn'dt Her persons to
reE.e@Gnt kne seate at large in said conven-
ti0n, and the qualifications of said delegates
shall be the same as are required for members
of the Legislature, 30
SEC, That 4 majority of the ballots cast
at the electiph provided for in the first section
hereof contains the words mo Convention"
the Governor shall so proclaim, and no
constitutional convention shall be heIs
under the provisions of this act; hui II
a majority of such ballats contains the word
"Conyenti0n, :, the Governor shall. 40 proclaim
and the delegates elected shall assemble in "a,
hall of tho Assembly, in the State capitol on
the first Tuesday Il aepteinber, and the Sec
retaEy OF stats shall then cali the rol! Of
delegates ses' elected, who shall IheI1Iip0n
proceed to organize gaia eouyention. elect the
oficers yhefeef, ana adopt ruldes feR its gov.
ern9ent Tn and ID 70 protect i fgem contempt
SIC. 4: That the said delegates shall ha
allowed tho Same mileage as the mem hers of
this Legislature and three dollars a d. ear
twenty days, and no greater asa.anenaissation
'''s-. such per diem GAal Be allowed to any
officer of such convention.
SEo. 5. That after such convention shall
have framed and adopted a constitution. the
same shall be deposited in tho office of the
Secretary OF state, and 1t shall be published
ao ooIN Col ohtAOH siaii ulIeCt3 ana at such
time as SAID convention shall fix there shall
be held an election for the purpose af
ratifying or rejecting said cQastitUti6n. All
ballots for ratification Shah contain the word
'Iatilsed,h and all ballots for rejection shan
contain the word rejected AS the majority
of said ballots shall be for ratification or reiec
tiOn, so shall the Governor proclaim: and If
the majority be for ratification. then such
constitution shall be deemed 10 have been es-
tablished on the day Of its ratification "a the
constitution Of the State OF Florida
SEC. q. That all laws, or parts of laws civil or
regulating or in any wise relating ta