The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-10-21
Fernandina Mirror.
The Death of Mr.. Yulee.

We were startled ON Monday last by the lele.
graphic announcement of the death of the Hon.
David L. Yulee, so long identified with Florida
as its representative in the halls of Congress as
its Territorial Delegate and then as its first Sen.
ator; the originator and founder of its railway
enterprises ; and it is not too much to say that
Florida owes more to Mr.. Yuee than to anv
other citizen of the State His wonderful saga.
city, clearness of apprehension, tact and iudg-
ment In forwarding the great enterprises in
which he was engaged, and TO which Florida so
largely owes the great measure of prosperity to
which she has attained, can hardly be overesti.
mated.
His public life dates back more than half a
century. Born in 1911, the worthy son of one
OF the most remarkable men associated with the
settlement of Florida after It's cesson to the
United States-Moses E. Levy-he was educated
in Virginia, and at an early age, began bis of.
ticial lille in Florida as Deputy Clerk of the Su-
perior Court In Alachua county. Before he was
OF age he was one of the clerks of the Legisla.
ture OF Florida, and very soon afler became a
member OF that body. His intelligence and in
dustry soon attracted public attention, and he
was placed IN the field as Delegate to Congress
against one OF the most popular and brilliant
men of the day, and was elected by handsome
majority
In 1845 he succeeded in having Florida admit
ted as State with Iowa, thus preserving the
sectional balance of power Elected 10 the
senate oy the first Legislature, he devoted all
his powers tO1he fuTtherance of the interests of
the State and secured beneficial legislation in
every department., established postofices and
postroads, land districts, the armed occupation
law, Dy which 16O acres was given 10 every &C.
tual settler who would go on to the lands on the
frontier from which the Indians had been driven
out he secured appropriations Tor lighthouses,
collection districts and new roads, ETC.
Mr.. Yulee acquired a remarkable influence in
the Senate and in the administration His name
and position were national in their extent. and
he was recognized as one of the abest states.
men in Washington. No one has ever euualled
him IN the attention and courtesy shown his con-
sti'uehts' no letter ever remained unanswered,
no request was ever neglected.
In 1851, in common with other Southern SEN
ators. he made stand for his section. and when
the crisis came left the halls of Congress to re-
turn to share the fate of his people At the
close OF the war he was singled out as victim
10 the animosty OF parties in power arrested
and placed close prisoner in Fort Pulaski. near
Savannah. After twelve months of imprison-
ment he was released and returned to Florida
His nrst work was to gather up the fragments
OF the great railroad enterprise he had inaupu
rated, and which had been wrecked during the
four years of war. Without capital, without
credit, by the sheer force of his intellect and
'''t ~ Pi"SOu thC LhtitOhu III OIucT, OpCucU I'D
the interior to settlement and business, extri-
Gated the railway from overwhelming embarass-
mens and brought II to condition where its
value was recognized and the necessary capital
furnished to make il what it now is. the leading
and most extensive and well-equipped railway
system in the State.
Realizing how necessary was repose at his ad-
vanced age, he gave, few years since, into 9TH
er hands the great interests he had so long man.
aged and was enjoying the comfort ofretirement
in his new and elegant home in the city of
Washington.
Full of years and full of honors, David L.
Yulee has passed away. to be long remembered
as one OF the ablest, most energetic and success
full of the citizens of Florida
Our own city was his selection and his loca-
tion He saw the great advantages of this crea-
tion as terminus Of his great railway system,
and ne had implicit faith in the future of Fer
nandina as the great commercial port of Florida
We believe the future will demonstrate the wis
dom OF his selection and justify all his anticipa-
tions As the asperities Of political or business
antagonisms have passed away. the people OF
Florida have realized more and more how much
they owed to Mr.. Yulee, and how that his mem.
ory will be long honored respected.