The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-09-16
For the FIoRIDIAN.
Leon County I'm the Legislature.

The duty of electng Senator and four As
semblymen to the State Legislature is again i'm
posed upon the people OF Leon county, and with
this duty comes the obligation to select men for
these important places who are in every way
competent to discharge acceptably the duties en-
trusted to them.
Leon county, containing as it does, the capital
of the State, and having within its borders much
of the finest land in the State, which is owned
by citizens as intelligent and refined as can be
found in any country, is entitled to suitable
representation in the law making branch of the
State government.
The natural conditions of the county are far
superior TO those of almost any county in the
State, but its interests have suffered for want Of
proper care and protection, and its progress has
not been equal TO that of other counties, when
il should have been SUPERIOR because there has
been no one TO demand and secure its share of
beneficial legislation during the past decades,
when other counties have made rapid strides of
advancement towards prosperity. Strangers
visiting our legislative halls naturally ask to
have the representatives of the capital county
pointed out to them. They look with surprise
upon the Leon county delegation and ask what
influence they exert In framing legislation.
They are referred to the records and nowhere
can the name of one of these men be seen
on important committees, nor have they
effected the enactment of laws looking to
the protection of the substantial interests Of
any class or section, nor for the encouragement
of progress an6 thrift. They are unable, from
general want Of qualifications and force, to look
intelligently after their own rights and still less
able to render service of any kind to their con-
stuents. Members from other counties re-
cognize at once their gross inefflciency and of
course do not respect any suggestions advanced
il any are made. This is the most serious obstacle
10 improvement In this county, and it behooves
all those interested in its welfare and the future
of the people, 10 consider whether this condition
of affairs shall degenerate into perpetuty, or
shall a determined effort be made to move for
ward in the general advanceme.t now being
made by every other county in the State.
We can get assistance from no one as long as
we remain inert We do not deserve assistance
until we show by our own exertions that we will
dosomething for ourselves in matter in which
we are most interested.
1t is for the people of the county to say
whether they will elect men TO the Legislature
who can and will secure for US necessary legisla-
ton 1t cannot be had by the uninfiuential del
egatiOns heretofore sent, 80 ii Is incumbent upon
those who have anything OF stake to exert them
selves in electng suitable persons.
The colored people appreciate the fact that
they have made great mistakes in the past by
electing incompetent men and many of them are
willing TO Join most heartily in determined
purpose to aid In the promotion of the best inter-
eets OF the entire community and they realize
that it Can be done only by selecting able and
popular men to the Legislature. So long as the
c0lored people draw the color line the whites will
in self defence be forced to recognize it and
while it continues to be drawn the interests of
colOred men will suffer in consequence of injury
to the property holders as they are each Deepen
dent upon the other and must prosper or fail as
a whole.
We can have no prosperity till we get immi-
grafton we can have no immigration till we get
a railroad we cannot get railroad till we have
competent men in the Legislature. Shall we
have them, or shall we remain inactive while the
other counties are reaping full and Just reward
for their vigilance and energye This country is
a glorious heritage TO Tree and noble people, and
it is incumbent upon them TO show their appre-
ciatiation of it, and their devotion to It, by &C.
lectng proper officials to make and administer
the laws under which all have TO live. All honor
is due to a people who know their rights and
maintain them, and 1t is the bounden duty of
every colOred man in this county, as we'll as the
white men, to take a careful survey OF the situa-
ton and decide whether or not our progress shall
be further retarded and all hope of improvement
and eventual prosperity indefinitely postponed.
If the property interests of the county are suit
ably represented in the next Legislature the in
telligence and refinement will inevitably be there
also. There will then begin In this favored re-
gion an era of activity and advancement which
will develope into prosperity far reaching and
permanent in character, the like of which was
never before known even in a country possessed
of the many superior attractions and natural ad-
vantages with which this unequalled county is
blest. Decide once for all whether we shall Join
the forward march of other counties to prosper
ity and happiness. or whether we shall continue
in condition neither credtable 10 ourselves nor
encouraging to those who are to follow US, to
whom we owe much. Bring about change
and the colored man as well US the white man
will never regret II but will rejoice In Its accom-.
plishment and the salutary results It affords
LEON.