The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1919-08-01
cEDING WEST FLORIDA TO ALA
BAMA

ifornia, it has twice the shore line
of any other state.
It's boundary line is so unusual
that Georgia feels that she is entitled
TO that portion Of our territory lying
between St Mary's and Apalachico'a
rivers, and Alabama feels quite sure
she is entitled to all that portion
lying west of the Apalachicola river.
Speaking of magnificent distan.
ces," it may be said that Miami is as
far from Pensacola as Jacksonville
is from New York.
Before the completion of the rail
road from River Junction to Pensa-
cola a person living in Pensacola who
had business at the state capital
that required his presence, was re-
quired to travel through Alabama
and Georgia to reach the seat Of gov.
ernmenC
He had first to go to Montgomery
thence to Eufaula, thence to Albany
Ga, thence to Live Oak, and thence
take a back track to Tallahassee.
This emphasizes the feeling that
west Florida was more in touch with
Alabama than with Florida
This feeling grew SO strong that
some time during the administration
of Harrison Reed, between 1868 and
1872, Alabama, through her constitut-
ed authorities appointed three com
missioners to visit Tallahassee and
officially lay the matter before the
governor and the legislature.
The commissioners were authorized
to make tender of one million dol
lars if the proposition were favorably
The discussion continued rife for a
long time, but a quarrel ensued, if
we remember correctly, as to the
handling of the million dollars. as
there was so much suspicion and
jealousy existing between the exc
cutive and legislative branches of the
governmental at nothing came Of the
However, the question of annexa,
ton has never been abandoned by
Alabama, and with this end in view
the following article BECAME a part
of the constitution of Alabama adopt
ed in 1901
1t reads as follows:
Sec. CO. In the event of the an
nexation of any foreign territory to
this state, the Legislature shall enact
laws extending to the Inhabitants Of
the acquired territory all the rights
and privileges which may be required
by the terms of acquisition not in
consistent with this constitution.
Should the state PURCHASE such for
eign territory, The Legislature, with
the approval of the governor shall be
to expend any money in
the treasury not OtherWise appropri-
ated, and if necessary, to provide
also for the issuance Of state bonds,
to pay for the purchase of such for
eign territory.
In order to carry out the provis-
ions Of that section of the constitu-
ton the following bill was passed by
the legislature Of Alabama and ap-
proved by the governor March A.
1901, viz:
To provide for the annexation of
West Fl0ria to the State of Alabama,
with the assent of the State of Flor
ida aad the congress Of the United
States.
Section l. Be it enacted by tbs
general assembly of Alabama, that
the governor be and he is hereby en-
to appoint three commission
ers on the part Of the state of Ala
bama to confer with like commits
sion or the part of the government
Of the state of Florida to provide for
the annexation of that part of Flor
ida to Alabama known as West Flor
ida, and more particularly described
as follows: All the said territory
and jurisdiction now held by the
State of Florida in and to and over
that portion of the territory of the
State of Florida lying and being west
of the thread of the Chattahooch6e
and Apalachicola rivers and west OF
a line running due south from the
thread Of the mouth Of the Apalachi-
cola river. being west SO as to pass
between the islaGds9of St George and
St Vincent and called West Florida
Section 2 Be it further enacted.
that said commissioners be, and they
are hereby authorized and empowered
in behalf of this state to do and per.
form all acts requisite and necessary
to perfect and consummat4 the agree
ment for the cessiqn of the aforesaid
territory to the State of Alabama,
and whatever agreement for the ces-
sion of said Territory to the State OF
Alabama may be made and entered
into by said commissioners shall be