The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-06-25
Terms of SUI bscrfpttOn
senator PirrOng's Letter.

WEwAHITcHKA Fla, June, -, 1899.
n M. Bowen Esq. Tallahassee Fla
DEAR SIR: 10 your columns notice the toll
lowing In public discussions OF questions in
volving great interest, much care should be TAX
en- to avoid error, lest people should be misled
and wrong come as the ultimate result
The above and the erroneous statements ap
pearing in your columns of the 4th, under
"Swamp Lands Selections" leads me to ask
that in Justice to the signors Of the minority re-
port and myself as the drawer and intrOducer
Of the resolution referred to- the following may
appear in your paper:
You are greatly in the wrong ia your opinion
that any one outside had anything to do with
the minority report. ! alone am responsible for
all it contained. Mr.. Coulter agreeing with me,
signed it While writing can look over portion
If as pretty piece of high and dry land as can
be found in the State, claimed by the p 4 A.
road, and MT yet pnented. This piece of land
was the innocent cause of the introduction of the
resolution. In almost any part Of the State you
will find the same can refer YOU to almost
any farmer among your subscribers to substan
tate this
Regarding Mai. Ahers testimony. and all
other statements ana letters introduced IN the
minority report, can simply say that, looking
upon the resolution from the standpoint OF the
drawer and knowing for what purpose it was
INTRODUCED and no with the eye Of pOli'iciau
thought i necessary 10 take into consideration
the necessity OF the investigation called for by
the resolution. Therefore, We must consider the
probability OF the selections not yet patented be
ing IN some cases not swamp lands, also the
former selections already patented proved iaul-
ty, and being now pltcned, the people wrongeG
have no redress. The same mode Oh selecting is
still followed aud the probability that the pres
ent selections may prove faulty remains.
Again, the manner in which the roals treat
the people whose land, are affected, after they
obtain possession of them, no matter by what
ShouIN he RnlI has IL inar
ing upon the necessity of the investigation called
tor, in order that patents m ~ not be- granted for
lands not swamp lands, and all these troubles
avoided IN future and justice melted out TO the PEG
pie in this Case az least What was said as TO HE
cause Of patents not being granted was simply
reasoning from what Com missioner Sparks said
during his investigation in AL the States regards
ing this matter. Senator Calls letter | knew
nothing abOut-nOr had l met, nor WAS | &C
quainted with the Senator before the resolu ion
was drawn and ready to be presented to the Leg
islature. Mr.. Wombwell can inform you upon
this subject. l was not seeking who was respOn
sible for the deferrng of the patents, but to have
the lands that were not swamp lands released
for actual settlers and those that were swamp
patented, so as 10 effectualy settle the status OF
these lands. Regarding the promoter of the re-
solution, would say, | alone drew it. and am
alone responsible for its contents and am will
ling to shoulder the responsibility. | drew it in
the interest OF the people only AS far as any
thing political being embraced in it, there was
not the remOtes idea in my mind when drawing
or introducing it regarding anything political
What political m alter your article claims must
have originated in the minds Of those who op
pose the passage of the resolution, and they seem
not 10 have been in the Legislature, for it pass
ed both branches without vote against it,
You have been grossly msinformed regard
ing Mr. Jones statement | can refer you TO Mr.
Hardee, chairman Of the committee, regarding
this Mr. AppleyarI took Mr.. Jones statement
with others before the committee, and entered
IT in both minority ard majority reports. Mr.
Hardee claimed as a correction, omttance, in
an answer made by Mr. Jones. Mr. Appevard
thought he remembers such answer | did moi
object to the correction being made 1t was
made IN regular session that morning, and should
appear corrected upon the journals. Knowing
you to be gentleman, and believing that had
the subject been fairly repres ented to you, the
errors would not have occurred. trust in you
to place this matter Alright before the public
with best wishes, remain sir, respectfully yours
J. ID. PIRRoNG.