The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-06-11
ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDlNGs
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
FIRST DAY.

TALLAHAssEE, FLA, TUESDAY, June 9. 1885.
The people of the State of Florida, on this. tn
yth OF June, in the year Of our Lord Eigbteel
A hundred and Eighty five, through their dele
gates, chosen i'll pursuance Of an act OF the Leg
lsla'ure of the State of Florida, approve,
February l2 1885, entitled an act calline
Constitutional Convention, and provid
ing for electing delegates to same
assembled in Convention in the Hall o.
the Assembly, in the Capitol of the State in tn,
City OF Tallahassee, and thereupon eX Gov L. w
Bethel called the Convention to order
On motion OF Mr.. B. F. Oliveros, of ST. Johns
Judge A f. Maxwell, of Escamba, was elected
temporary Chairman, whO upon taking thu
CHAIR, addressed the Convention as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Convention
thank you for the honor you have done me
IN placing me here to preside over your tempo
rary organization. do not know that proprie,
" or custom Will require of me, or will Justify
more than this acknowledgment; but in view o.
The exceptional nature of the position we occupy
WILL with your indulgence, venture a few
words further. The unusual and exceeding i'm
portance OF the work before us can be estimated
by the fact that we are delegates of the people
acting in their sovereign capacity, emphatically
delegates, but empowered to construct for them
a system OF State Governmental Constitution
that fundamental frame work which defines
rights OF persons and property and at the same
time provides an organization by which their
rights are to be secured, protected and defended
trust we are all fully impressed with the heavy
responsibilities OF such a position and that we
VIII not permit ourselves to be led away from
the discharge OF its duties by any petty personal
ambition or by any selfish schemes The people
who have put their trust in us feel that they have
guarantee OF our good faith in their behalf and
OF our devotion to their interest, in the fellow
ship which ties us to them being ourselves a
part OF the people, and, therefore, entirely
Identified with them in the desire and purpose
TO establish such government as will relieve them
from the evils OF the present syste y, and ensure
to them and their posterity the blessings OF civil
and religious liberty.
| What we have to do demands of us not only
good faith in the interest of the people, but also
good faith TO ourselves in honest and diligent
application of our powers to preparing and pre-
senting for approval welconsdered, we'll
| ordered plan OF government-one which shall
BE best adapted TO the conditions of society in its
varied aspects throughout the State, and at the
same time best adapted to secure anG promote
the general welfare OF the people of the State AS
| whole.
| In this country in our day there is little, if
anything. left for discussion to the cardinal
principles OF government. These are settled
Americans have no further occasion to do more
than adjust those principles to practical working
functions.
All are agreed that in the people resides the
source OF power; that on them the foundation
OF government is planted and that their voice
is the voice of sovereign authority. But it is
also agreed that as all persons are not wise, nor
all good, there must be restrictions and lmta-
tons, checks and balances, by which unwise
and evil dispositions can be controlled. AS TO
these there are diversities of opinion, and much,
probably most of our work will be concerned
with these. However that may be- gentlemen,
let us 60 at business in that large patriotic
spirit, and with that harmony of purpose from
which alone can come the good results cnntem-
plated in the calling of this Convention. But |
organization.
On motion of Mr. J. f. Yonge, of Escamba,
Mr. w. II. Reynolds of Hamilton, was requested
TO act as Secretary.
Mr.. J. w. Malone, of Gadsden moved that the
Secretary be authorized to appoint an assistant
during the temporary organization;
Which was agreed to, and Col. J. G. Gibbes,
Of Gadsden, was appointed such assistant.
Mr. Mcclellan of Jackson, moved that a COM
mittee OF three be appointed to wait upon Hon.
John l.. Crawford, Secretary of State, and obtain
from him certified copy Of the names Of the
delegates elected to the Convention, which was
agreed to, and Messrs. Mcclellan, Malone and
Wcs,colt were appointed such committee, who
after bret absence, reported that the committee
had performed their duty, and presented 10 the
Convention the following list:
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE SECRETARY OF STATE,
TALLAHASSEE, June 8, 1885
The following is a list of delegates elect TO the
Constitutional Convention by counties and dis
trcts:
Alachua-E C. F. Sanchez, B. j. Earle, r. F.
TAYLOR J. b. Johnston and w. n. Sheats
I}aker-John II. IIerndon, district, and W. l..
Hunter.
Bradford-J C. Richard. w. 7. Weeks and
F. l.. Odom
Parker.
Calhoun-James B. Stone.
Clay-Lewis Wilson
Columbia-W. NJ. Ives, W. r. Bush, Joseph
NJ. Tolbert and John w; Tompkns,
Dade-James Wood Davidson.
Duval-E. NJ. Randall, j. c. Greeley, Philip
Walter, r. " Gibbs and j. r. Challcl
Escambia-A E. Maxwell, j. +. Yonge, w.
A. Blount and f. Whmire.
Franklin-W. T. Orman, district, and Henry
c. Hicks.
Gadsden-E G. Love- district John w. Ma
lone, George l. Davis and Norman t. Scott.
Hamilton-Thomas N. Bell, J. p. B. Good
bread and Alexander Zipperer.
Uernanlo-A Mann, John Parsons and }
| A. Hendley.
IIillsborough-Js T. Lesley, J. p. Wall
o." fIolmes-Wm. F. Green, district, and John
Neel.
Jackson-J. F. Mcclellan, Thomas f. Clarke,
w. II. Milton and j. p. Coker
| Jeffcrson-Samucl Pasco, Wallace S. Jones,
T. l.. Clarke, s. j. Turnbull and X, C. Park
Lafayete-W B. Tcddcr, district and Paul
| Hatch.
Iberty-Lews D. Carson.
Leon-D. 3. Walker, Jr., district, s. b Con
over, w b. Carr, ]. w. Mitchell and w. F.
Thompson.
Levy-E. j. Lutteroh, J. F. Marshall and s.
| L. Carter
Marion-J. D. Goss, II. W. Chandler and II.
| F. Miller
Madisnn-Angus Patterson, B. d. Wadsworth.
w H. Hausman and Theodore Randall.
Manatee-John G. Pelot.
Monroe-L w. Bethel jeremiah Fogarty and
r. A Monsavatge.
Nassau-C W. Lewis, S. Petty and IL. C..
| Baker. -
Orange-King Wylly, j. G. Speer and W. B.
Randolph.
Poke c. Wilson, district. and ]. H. Hum
Putnam-W H. Cook, Irving Gillis and Geo.
p. Fowler.
Santa Rosa-J M. Landrum, r. r. Robertson
and Hannibal Rowe
Sumter-W A. Hooker, II. II. Duncan and
W. NJ Bennett.
Suwannee-J. p. Morgan, district, N. NJ.
Blackburn and r. F. Rogers.
St. Johns-F. B. Genovar, John Wcstcott and
B. F. Oliveros.
Taylor-Robert Henderson.
Vousia-John d. Broome, district, and A. l..
Wellman.
dSOfRI OnH