A Journal of the proceedings of the House of Representatives of the ... General Assembly of the State of Florida, at its ... session

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10 S. OF, REPRESENTATIVES

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GENERAL V\ S :,I I;L OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. '

SEVENTIx SESSION, '

UNTD B DYKE & WILLtAMS.
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JOURNAL.

MONDAY, November 27th, 1854.

This being the day fixed by the Constitution of this State for the
meeting of the General Assembly, the House of Representatives was,
called to order by F. L. Villepigue, Esq., Secretary of State, who
proceeded to call the roll by Counties; when the following mem-
bers appeared, presented their credentials and were sworn in by C.
H. Austin, Esq., Justice of the Peace, to-wit:
From Walton County, GILES BOWERS,
Holmes DEMPSEY FENNELL,
Jackson, JOHN B. WIIITEIIURST,
AUSTERLITZ L. RIvrEIRE,
"Gadsden MILES M. JOHNSTON,
D. W. HOLLAMAN,
PAUL DISUKiES,
N. D. ZEIGLER,
Leon R. A. SIIIE,
JOHN B. GALBRAITH,
Jeferson J' JOHN F. DEWITT,
Hamilton JOSEPH R. HADDOCK,
Duval MELTON HAYNES,
Nassau HARLEY JONES,
Orange ALGERNON S. SPEER.
SThere not being a quorum present, on motion of R. A. Shine, the
House adjourned till to-morrow, 11 o'clock, A. M.

TUESDAY, November 28th, 1854.

The'House met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order.
The journal of yesterday's proceedings was read and approved.
"The roll being called by Counties, the following members appeared
qnd took their seats:
From Walton County, GILES BOWERS,
, Holmes DEMPSEY FENNELL,
"Jackson JOHN B. WHITEHURSI',
AUSTERLITZ L. RIVIERE,
WILLIAM M. C. NEEL,

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From Gadslen County, MrILs M. JOIISTOvN,
D. W.. IorLLAMAxN,
PAUL DISMriKES,
N. D. ZEIGLER.
Calhoun JOEL PORTER,
Franklin JAMns P. PExN,
Leon1 JOIIn B. GALPRAITII,
RICHARD A. SHINE,
JosEPrr B. CiERISTIE,
I GREEN CHAIpES,
WakuTla A. R. Coomns,
.1.''. ... JOIN F. DEWITT,
BurTON W. BELLAM3Y,
JosirIA.L. TAYLOIR,
Madison : BARTOx C. POPE,
TIIOM.AS LANGTOI:D,
Hamilton JosEPH R. ILADDOCK,
"Columbia GARRETT VANZANT,
JOSrIAH T. AISIDErN,
"Duval DARLING C. PRESCOTT,
MELTON IlSYNES,
Nassau IHaRLnr Jox-Es,
St. Johns EDWARD J. DUlIMETT,
Orange ALGERNON S. SrEER,
St. Lucie W. F. RussELI,
Marion l Sumpler WVILLIT.m S. HARRIS,
Levy JA3uns F. THOMrSON,
Alachua PnLIr DELL,
Hillsboro' JESSE CARTER.
There being a quorum present,
On motion Mr. Carter took the Chair.
On motion, the oath of oflico was administered by C. II. Austin,
Esq., a Justice of the Peace, to Messrs. Neel, Porter, Penn, Christie,
Chaires, Coombs, Taylor, Bellamy, Pope, Langford, VanZant, Bais-
den, Prescott, Dummott, Harris, Russell, J. F. Thomson, Carter,
and Dell.
The House then proceeded to the election of a Speaker.
Mr. Neol nominated Mr. Shine of Leon County.
Mr. Harris nominated Mr. Russell of St. Lucie County.
The vote was:
For RUssELL-- Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter, Chaires, Chris-
tie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Harris, Haynes,
Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Shine, Taylor, Thomson of Levy and
VanZant-20.
For SHINE-Messrs. Bowers, Dismukes, Fennell, Haddock, Hol-
laman, Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Riviere, Russell,
Speer, Whitehurst and Zciglcr-14.

Mr. Russell was declared duly elected Speaker of the House.
On motion, Messrs. Galbraith, Harris, and Thomson of Levy were
appointed a Committee to conduct the Speaker elect to the chair.
The Speaker returned his thanks to the House in an appropriate
address.
The House then proceeded to the election of a Chief Clerk.
Mr. Harris nominated Hugh A. Corley.
The vote was:
For CORLEY-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Bowers,
Carter, Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dismukes, Dum-
inett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Hollaman, John-
ston, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Ri-
viere, Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thomson of Levy, VanZant, White,
hurst and Zeigler-33.
BLAXK-MIr. Neel-1.
Mr. Corley was declared duly elected Chief Clerk.
The House then proceeded to the election of Assistant Clerk.
Mr. Harris nominated Mr. William Scott of Jefferson County.
Mr Shine nominated Mr. Alexander S. Johnson of Leon County.
The vote was:
For SCOTT-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter,
Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummrett, Galbraith, Had-
dock, Harris, Haynes, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Taylor, Thom-
son of Levy, and VanZant-l1.
For JoIisoN-Messrs. Bowers, Dismukes, Fennell, Hollaman,
Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Riviere, Shine, Speer,
Whitehurst and Zeigler-13.
Mr. Scott was than duly declared elected Assistant Clerk.
The House then proceeded to the election of Enrolling and En-
grossing Clerk.
Mir. Harris nominated Mr. Augustus L. Fisher of Leon County.
Mr. Neel nominated Mr. A. S. Johnson of Leon County.
The vote was:
For Fisna-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter,
Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Har-
ris, Haynes, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Taylor, Thomson of Le-
vy, and VanZant-20.
For JoIsox---Messrs. Bowers, Dismukes, Fennell, Haddock,
Hollaman, Johnston,Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Riviere, Shine,
Sp'er, Whitehurst, and Zeigler-14:
Mr. Fisher was declared duly elected Enrolling and Engrossing
Clerk.
The House then proceeded to the election of Sergeant at Arms.
Mr. Harris nominated Mr. John C. Jones, of Columbia County.
Mr. Shine nominated Mr. William McCullom.
The vote was:
..r JoxEs-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carterf

Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Hnar-
iis, Haynes, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Taylor, Thomson of Le-
vy, and Van Zant-20.
For McCvLLO3io-Messsr. owners Dismukes, Fennell, Haddock,
ITollaman, Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Riviereb
Shine,'Speer, Whitehurst and Zeigler-14.
Mr. Jones was declared duly elected Sergeant-at-Arms.
The House then proceeded to the election of Door-Keeper.
Mr. Harrig nominated Mr. Archibald Campbell, of Madison Coun-
ty.
"Mr. Shine nominated Mr. John A. Kelly, of Calhoun County.
The vote was:
For CAii'BLL-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter,
Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Hard
ris, Haynes, Langford, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Taylor, Thom-
son of Levy, and VanZant-21.
For KELLY-Messrs. Bowers, Dismukes, Fennell, Haddock, Hol-
laman, Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Neel, Riviere, Shine, Speer,
Whitehiirst, and Zeigler-13.
Mr. Campbell was declared duly elected Door-Keeper.
On motion of Mr'Galbraith, a Committee of three were appoint-
ed, consisting of Messrs. Galbraith, Dell, and Shine, to engage the
services of a Chaplain for the present session.
On motion, the officers elect were sworn by C. H. Austin, a Jus-
tice of the Peace. '
SOn motion, the Rules of the last session were adopted for the
government of the House until other rules shall be adopted.
On motion of Mr. Carter, a Committee of three was appointed,
consisting of Messrs. Carter, Shine and Speer, to inform the Senate
that the House is now organized, and ready to proceed to business.
* On motioni of Mr. Dell, a Committee of three was appointed, con-
sisting of Messrs. Dell; Prescott and Shine, to act with a similar
Committee on the part of the Senate, to wait upon His Excellency
the Governor,' and inform him that the General Assembly is now
organized, and ready to receive any communication he may be
pleased to make.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow, 11 o'clock,
A. M.

WEDNESDAY, November 29, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
A quorum being present, the journal of yesterday's proceedings
vwas read.
SElijah Wall, member elect from Putnam County, John Parsons,
member elect from Hernando County, and Benjamin W. Thompson,

member elect .from Santa Rosa .County, presented their certifi:
cates of election, and were severally sworn by C. H. Austin, Esq.,
Justice of the Peace.
, Mr. Galbraith moved that the House now proceed to the election
of a Printer.
, Mr. Shine movdd, as a substitute for said motion, that a Commit-
tee be appointed to receive proposals for the printing of this House.
,,,Upon the adoption of the substitute, the yeas and nays were called
and were as follows:
"Yeas-Messrs. Bowers, Dismukes, Fennell, Haddock, Hollanan,
Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Riviere, Shine, Speer,
Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall, Whitehurst and Zeigler-16.
Nays-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter,
Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Har-
ris, Haynes, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Taylor, Thom-
son of Levy, and VanZant-21.
So the substitute was lost.
The original motion was then adopted, and the House proceeded
to the election of a Printer.
Mr. Galbraith nominated Charles E. Dyke.
Mr. Shine nominated Benjamin F. Allen.
The vote was: ,
For DYKE- r. -Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter,
Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith,
Harris, Haynes, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Tay-
lor, Thomson of Levy, VanZant and Wall-22.
for ALLgN-Messrs.. Bowers, Dismukes, Fennell, Hollaman,
Johnstdn, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Riviere, Shine, Speer,
"Thompson of Santa Rosa, Whitehurst and Zeigler-14.
Mr. Dyke wAs declared duly elected Printer of the House.
On motion of Mr. Bellamy, a Committee of three was appointed,
consisting of Messrs. Bellamy, Shine and Carter, to draft rules for
the government of the House.
On motion of Mr. Carter, a Committee of three was appointed,
consisting of Messrs. Carter; Speer and Galbraith, to contract
with the Printer for the amount of compensation to be paid for print-
ing at the present session.
On motion of. Mr. Galbraith, the Sergeant at Arms was instrticted
to furnish stationery to the members. .
Mr. Carter gave notice that he will on a future day, ask leave to
introduce a bill for the relief of Jose VigiL
Mr. Dell moved'that the Printer be instructed to furnish 100 prin-
ted copies of the Rules of the last session, for the use of this House,
which motion prevailed.
On motion of Mr. Pope, a Committee of three ,was appointed to
act with a similar Committee on the part of the Senate, for the nurr

pose of drafting joint rules for the regulation of the two bodies, du,
ring the present session.
Messrs. Pope, Speer and Dell were appointed said Commit.
tee.
The Commilttee appointed to inform the Senate of the organ-
ization of the House, reported that they had performed that duty.
Mr. Parsons gave notice that he would, on a future day, ask leave
to introduce a bill for the relief of W. W. Leggett; and also a bill
for the relief of Henry Christie and Theophilus IIigrinbotham.
A Committee from the Senate informed the House of the organ-
ization of that body.
Mr. Penn gave notice that he would, on some future day, ask leave
to introduce a bill to prevent the introduction of free negroes into
the Port of Apalachicola.
The Committee appointed to wait upon His Excellency the Gov.
ornor and inform him of the organization of the General Assembly,
reported thnt they had performed that duty.
The following Messago from His Excellency the Governor was
received and read:

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE,

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
TALLAIIASSEE, November 24, 1854.
FPellow-Citizens of the Senate
and house of Representatives:
It gives me pleasure to welcome you to the Seat of Gov-
ernment, and to congratulate you upon the favorable cir-
cumstances under which you have assembled.
During the year now nearly closed, our State appearsto
have been especially favored by Divine Providence. While
some sectionshave been visited with drought, and oth-
ers with storms and floods, we have enjoyed a propitious
season. The earth has rewarded the diligent husbandman
with a fair harvest, and with remunerating prices for our
great staple, we may expect throughout our borders a state
of prosperity which should be highly satisfactory. But
this is not the only or even the more important evidence of
such favor.
Disease and death have visited many sections of our

9

common country with unrelenting violence. Insatiable in
their demands, they have spared neither age nor sex. Their
victims have been claimed from every class and condition
-the tenant of the hovel and the palace have alike be-
come the tenants of the grave. .The benevolent physician,
as he has been ministering to the sick and dying, has been
stricken and called to his reward! The man of God, while
pointing out to dying penitents the road to Heaven, has
himself been summoned to that blessed abode Human
sympathy has been awakened, and human benevolence has
made willing sacrifices; but no sacrifices, however noble,
no sympathy, however earnest, could do more than miti-
gate suffering. Death has done its work, and whole com-
munities have been clothed with the habiliments of mourn-
ing. Against such visitations, our commonwealth has been
mercifully protected. The general health of our people
has rarely been better, and while the afflictions with which
our sister communities have been visited, applies most for-
cibly to us the admonition, "be ye also ready," our extra-
ordinary exemption calls upon us for the most humble and
devout gratitude to that beneficent Being who, while He
rules in the armies of Heaven, deigns to minister to His
creatures on earth.
The Constitution makes it the duty of the Executive to
"give to the General Assembly information of the state of
the Government, and recommend to their consideration
such measures as he may deem expedient." In discharge
of this duty, I beg leave to invite your attention to the ac-
companying
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The Report of the Treasurer shows that the revenue of
the State for the year preceding the 1st November, has
been considerably in excess of the disbursements, and that
the finances are in a healthy and satisfactory condition.-
The amounts borrowed from the different State funds, to
pay the expenses of suppressing Indian hostilities, have
not yet been refunded by the Federal Government, and
211

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it may become necessary for the General Assembly at its
"present session, to make further provision for the payment
of the first, and perhaps the second instalments of the
script, authorized by the last General Assembly to be is-
sued, under an Act entitled An Act to provide for the
payment of Captain Sparkman's, Parker's and other Vol-
unteer Companies, for services in the year 1849." Ac-
companying this Report is the Treasurer's accounts with
the Seminary, School, and Internal Improvement funds,
which, with the accompanying accounts of Major Beard,
the Comptroller, charged by law with the investment, will
show the amount and present condition of these various
funds, so far as they have been paid over into the Treasury.
The Report of the Register of Public Lands furnishes
a most satisfactory exhibit of the transactions of his office
during the past two years, with the balances remaining un-
paid on account of sales for the various funds committed
to his charge, and which have, therefore, never gone into
the Treasurer's accounts. I would here remark, that such
is the complication of duties under the law, governing
these funds, that to procure information of their condition
and extent, a careful examination of the Register's, Treas-
urer's and Comptroller's accounts is necessary. It is re-
spectfully suggested that these accounts might be simpli-
fied without detriment to the public interest.
The accounts of the Register are accompanied by such
suggestions, on the subjects of Seminaries and Common
Schools, as his observation and experience have qualified
him to offer; and to these your attention is respectfully
invited. It is a matter of deep regret that more has not
been effected, in the way of organizing Common Schools,
but I apprehend that this is not attributable to the want
of a proper interest in the subject,'by those to whom the
law has committed it, nor to the want of energy in the law
itself, but to the insufficiency of the fund. The increase
of this fund is a matter of great State interest, and should
enlist the talents and efforts of every citizen. Until such

.11l

increase is effected, it can hardly be expected that the ben-
efits of the system can become general.
The Report is accompanied by a Report from the Board
of Education of the State Seminary at Ocala, in East Flor-
ida, suggesting measures for the improvement of the fund,
and showing the condition of the institution, to which I
invite your attention.
The Report required by law to be made to the General
Assembly, by the Attorney General, accompanies this
communication. -You are respectfully referred to it for
valuable suggestions on the subject of our Quarantine laws,
Pilotage at Key West, and for a statement of the present
condition of the suit pending in the Supreme Court of the
United States, between this State and Georgia, to settle
the question of boundary. On this subjectI will, at some
early day, make to the General Assembly a special com-
munication.
The resignation of Major John Beard, as Comptroller of
the Treasury, created a vacancy which was filled by the ap-
pointment of Theodore W. Brevard, to serve until the last
day of the present session of the General Assembly. On
the 2d of October last, I granted to the Comptroller a tem-
porary leave of absence, and have since extendedit, in con-
sequence of his having accidentally received a serious in-
jury, which has prevented his return up to this date. I
have made no ad interim appointment, because I desired
the benefit of his suggestions on the subject of revenue,
&c. It is hoped that he will be able to return and resume
his duties at an early day, when his report will be commu-
nicated to the General Assembly.
Your attention is respectfully called to the General Re-
port of the State Engineer and Geologist, with the accom-
panying reports, marked A. B. and C. The Board of In-
ternal Improvement will meet in Tallahassee on Monday
the 4th prox., after which I may make to the General As-
sembly a communication on some of the points embraced
n the General Report.

The report of the Quartermaster General shows the nulam
ber and condition of the State arms, and the letter of Col,
Craig of the Ordnance, Department, and the account cur-
rent between the State and the General Government, here-
with communicated, shows the extent of our indebtedness
for arms over-drawn. This State has made no report of her
military strength since the year 1845, and as a necessary
consequence, the apportionment of arms to us has been
annually diminishing. We have no military organization
worthy of the name, and cannot expect to have until the
State is prepared to pay at least the expenses of some pa-
triotic and public spirited citizen, who will devote his time
and talents to the work. .A report from the Adjutant
General's office in 1845, secured us an annual apportion-
ment of arms amounting, in the aggregate, to what is esti-
nated as the equivalent of 836 muskets, and we have paid
more than four thousand dollars to have them preserved.
The arms now on hand will soon have cost the State more
than their value, and as there is under our present organi-
zation no prospect of receiving additions for the next fif-
teen years, I respectfully suggest to the General Assembly
that suitable provision be made for the efficient organiza-
tion of the M1ilitia of the State, or that the office of Quar-
termaster General be abolished, and the arms turned over,
with the other State property, to the Treasury,
SALARIES.
The constitutional provision that the compensation of
the Governor shall not be increased, or diminished, du-
ring the term for which he shall have been elected," re-
lieves me from any embarrassment in calling your attention
to the subject of salaries. When most of the present sala-
ries of the officers connected with the Executive Depart-
ment were fixed, the expenses of living were less-the
price of labor less-and the duties of the officers much less
onerous than at present. Under the present scale, no man
having a family to support can afford to accept an office in
the Executive Department, unless he has a residence of his

13

own at the capital, with his own servants, and is so situna
ted as to be able to add something to his salary income,
The salary of the Treasurer of this State, who is required
to find good and sufficient security for seventy-five thou-
sand dollars, and is charged with the risk, not only of re-
ceiving and disbursing the revenues of the State, but with
the preservation of the State's property, and the safe keep-
ing, disbursement, &c., of the large and increasing amounts
of money and bonds belonging to the Seminary, School and
Internal Improvement Funds, is several hundred dollars
per annum less than is paid by the merchants of this city
for competent book-keepers. The subject is one which calls
for examination, and is respectfully submitted fur your con-
sideration.
INDIANS,
The General Assembly, at its last session, passed an act
for the final removal of the Indians from the State, and for
other purposes. That act required the Governor to raise
one Brigade, to be composed of one Regiment of Mounted
Volunteers, and one Regiment of Infantry, of not more
than one thousand men each. It required him to commis-
sion the officers elected, including the Brigadier General
elected by .the joint vote of the General Assembly, and
when organized, to tender the Brigade to the General Gov-
ernment for the removal of the Indians.
These duties were purely executory, and finding them
wholly unexecuted at the date of my qualification, I com-
missioned Allen G. Johnson, who had been elected Briga-
dier General by the General Assembly, and placed him
under orders to raise his Brigade, with a view to tendering
it to the General Government as required by the act.
He reports to me that the Mounted Regiment is enrolled
and ready for organization, but that he has not been able
to raise a. single company of Infantry, and doubts whether,
under existing circumstances, that Regiment can be pro-
cured. This being the case, I have been unable to organ-
ize the Brigade as required by the act, and have conse-

14

quently made no tender of its services to the Federal Gov-
ernment. The further duties required of the Go.vernor in
executing the law, were made to depend upon the Govern-
znent's 1. !i -. to accept the services of the Brigade, and
upon several other contingencies, neither of which has oc-
curred. I have, tlI ii:, issued no bonds and incurred
no obligations for the State; and whilst Ijiave at all times
been ready to act promptly in discharging the duties as-
signed me, I have not fund it necessary to make further
use of the powers which the act conferred upon the Execu-
tive.
The failure to raise the regiment of Infantry, renders a
material modification of the law necessary, and it is possi-
ble that your deliberations may lead you to consider im-
portant changes desirable. I am advised by Capt. Casey,
the agent of the Government, that the Indians are peace-
ably disposed, and he expresses the opinion that a rigid
enforcement of the State law prohibiting all persons from
trading with them, or in any manner furnishing them sup-
plies, will lead at no distant day to their peaceable emi-
gration. Having received information that the law had
been violated, I instructed the District Attorney for the
Southern District to enquire into the matter, and to use his
best efforts to convict and punish the violators.
The duty of removing these Indians from our State, has
been transferred by the present Administration from the
Interior to the War Department, and is now in the hands
of General Davis-a man who, as a statesman and a sol-
dier, has always been equal to his duty. I have reason to
believe that while he greatly desires to effect the object
peaceably, he will use coercive measures if necessary, and
that the Government is not entertaining the idea of adopt-
ing a policy which looks to a permanent settlement of these
people within our borders. It will be for the General As-
sembly to determine whether the State will wait longer, or
whether she will take the matter into her own hands. If
we determine to wait, I would respectfully suggest that the

15

large discretion conferred on the Governor in the law of
the last session be repealed, and that some simple provis-
ion for protection in case of emergency be substituted. If,
on the other hand, it is determined to proceed at once to
coercive measures, I would respectfully suggest that the
provision made in the law of the last session will be found
inadequate. The appropriation is too small for such a ser-
vice, and the means provided for raising the money would
probably be unreliable in the present state of financial de-
rangements. The question is submitted to you, as the peo-
ple's representatives, with a confidence that it will receive
that careful consideration and prudent action which its
delicacy and importance demand.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The framers of -the Constitution were deeply impressed
with the importance of a liberal system of Internal Im-
provements, and provided that such a system should be
encouraged by our State Government. The time has prob-
ably arrived when our duty to ourselves and our constitu-
ents requires us to fix upon and adopt a State system, and
determine the extent to which we can, as a Government,
aid in its construction. To determine these points, and
act upon such determination, is to affect for weal or for woe
the best interests of our commonwealth, and therefore in-
volves grave and important responsibilities. So far as
these may attach properly to the Executive Department,
I am prepared to assume them, and feel no hesitation in
declaring that in my judgment no State system will be
worthy of the name which fails to connect Fernandina, or
some other equally accessible point on our Atlantic Coast,
with Tampa Bay in the South and Pensacola Bay in the
"West. These two, as great main trunks, would form the
basis of a system which would be worthy of the sea girt
State." Less than these would be unworthy of our envia-
ble geographical position. These trunks would throw off
their branches, or feeders, to every point where a sufficient
commerce would invite them, and thus, not only every sec-

1J(

tion of our State, but almost every County, would share in
their benefits.
It has been doubted by some whether such lRoads would
pay. I have not shared in such doubts. Few if any Roads
in the South, according to their length, pass through lar-
ger portions of rich agricultural country than these, and
none probably through a greater extent of pine forests,
adapted to the business of lumber and naval stores. It is
uniformly conceded that Roads relieved from undue com-
petition, pay well in good cotton growing districts, but it is
not generally understood that one man employed in the
turpentine business, will furnish more freight to a Railroad,
than ten men engaged in the culture of cotton. And yet
such is the case. It has been demonstrated by at least one
four Southern Companies, that where a Road passes in
equal portions through a pine forest unfit for cultivation,
but abounding in naval stores, and through a rich agricul-
tural district, the forest furnishes freight ten times as great
as the agriculture. In our case, the two sources of supply
are happily combined-Cotton and Sugar, with tropical
fruits, &c., for winter transportation, and naval stores and
lumber for the summer. Thus provided, it can hardly be
doubted that the local business offered to these Roads,
would be at least equal to that done on any Roads in the
Southern States.
But this is 'ot all. It must be remembered that more
an one half of all the produce exported from the United
States passes through the Gulf of Mexico, and around the
Peninsula of Florida. The articles received in exchange
for this, are doomed to the same tedious, hazardous and ex-
pensive navigation; and when we recollect that the extra
insurance on nearly all light goods, added to the loss of in-
terest by detention, would more than pay the whole freight
from New York to their place of destination, we may rea-
sonably infer that t th through freight would be an item of
no small importance.
But these, however ample, would not be our only sources

of income. Our geographical position would of necessity
make our roads great mail routes, and the most important
thoroughfares of travel between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. It is doubted whether their income from through
travel, would be equaled by any two American roads of
similar length, south of New York. To these advantages,
local and geographical, may be added another worthy of
consideration. The right of way, it is believed, could be
procured on both lines, at a cost merely nominal; both
roads would pass through country. abounding in the very
best timber for superstructure, and which, to a great ex-
tent, has been graded by nature, enabling us, it is believ-
ed, to build first class roads at much less expense than any
of our neighbors. When we consider all these advanta-
ges, and contrast theift with other enterprises already coih-
pleted, which are paying good dividends, and whose stock
ii in demand at, and above par, it is difficult to resist the
impression, that our General Assembly acted wisely in
fixing a limit beyond which the annual profits of these
companies should not be extended.
But suppose we are mistaken in the eitefnt of business
which would be thrown upon these roads, and consequent-
ly in the amount of profit to be derived from the invest-
ment, we should even then find ourselves abundantly re-
warded, in having appropriated to purposes of profitable
trade, at least three of the finest harbors in the South,-in
having built up, within our own borders, three cities des-
tined to become great marts of commerce-in having re-
moved the inaccessibility, which has hung like an incumbus
around us-in having increased the happiness, augmented
the wealth, and secured the prosperity of our people, and
last, though not least, in having blotted sectionalism from
the map of Florida, and made our people one in interest
and feeling.
That all these, and other advantages would follow the
completion-of these great enterprises, I-have no doubt, and
that they are worthy of the highest efforts of our Govern-
311

18

ment and people, there can be no question. Let us, there-
fore, turn our attention to another, and controlling consid-
eration connected with the subject.
Have we the ability ? To what extent can the State en-
gage in these enterprises consistently with the best inter-
est of the people, and without a violation of the Constitu-
tion ? These are questions which deserve, and will doubt-
less receive, your earnest and anxious consideration.
The 2nd Sec. of the 8th Article of the Constitution de-
clares as follows : "No other or greater amount of tax or
revenue, shall at any time be levied, than may be required
for the necessary expenses of Government." The 13th
Sec. of the 13th Article declares, that The General As-
sembly shall not pledge the faith and credit of the Stateto
raise funds in aid of any corporation whatsoever."
Whatever opinion may be entertained of the wisdom of
these provisions, all will agree that they prohibit the gov-
ernment from resorting to taxation in aid of internal im-
provements, and deprive this State of that description of
credit, upon which others have relied, to the greatest extent,
for thq success of such enterprises. We are not, however,
prevented from using money, and other assets, which we
may at any time have, that are applicable to this purpose,
in such manner as we may consider most advantageous;
and to this part of the subject I beg leave to call your par-
ticular attention.
The Report of the Register of Public Lands shows sales
of Internal Improvement land to the amount of $228,-
121.52, and furnishes estimates for the land unsold, which
would make the fund 965,000 dollars. This, with the in-
terest already due and' that will accumulate before the fund
will probably be used, would justify us in estimating it in
round numbers at one million. In addition to this, the
Federal Government granted to the State, in 1850, all the
swamp and overflowed land remaining unsold within our
borders on the 28th of September of that year. The se-
lections under this grant have been pressed forward by the

State's agents with commendable energy, but are not yet
completed, and many of those made have not yet received
the final action of the Commissioner. Without knowing
the extent of this fund, it may not be extravagant to esti-
mate it at 8,000,000 acres, embracing, with much that is
worthless, some of the most valuable land in the State.-
The value of this fund has been variously estimated, but
there can be little doubt that it can be relied on as a safe
and sufficient security for two million dollars. This, ad-
ded to the Internal Improvement fund, would give us a re-
liable security of three million, with which to commence
operations. With such a fund, we are now called upon to
decide whether we will begin the work of frittering it
away in local enterprises, and as food for local and section-
al prejudices, or whether we will adopt a great State sys-
tem, and enter upon its construction with a zeal and ener-
gy that will abate only with success-a system which will
give us a commerce second probably to no State in the
South, which will build up our infant manufactures, increase
and develop our agricultural resources, improve the val-
ue of our lands, fill up our forests with-an industrious and
happy population, and make us a great and prosperous
commonwealth. To my mind, the path of duty is plain.
A road from Fernandina to Tampa Bay, and one from a
convenient point for intersection in Columbia county, to
Pensacola, would not vary much from an aggregate of five
hundred and twenty miles. It has been suggested that to
secure the construction of these roads, the State might
well'afford to make a donation of all the funds; and that
"with such security, the companies could readily obtain the
money necessary for building. Again it has been ii.:- : l-
ed, that a loan of the funds to the companies, to be used
as a security, they agreeing to release them at some future
day, and restore them to the State, would serve the pur-
pose desired. To my mind, the first plan proposed is un-
necessary, and not likely to meet with general acceptance.
It would, to some extent, be unequal in the distribution of

20
its benefits, because there would be no fund returned with
which to aid in constructing the branch roads necessary
to promote the interest of a large portion of the State, and
which should be looked to as a part of the system. Nor
is this the only objection to absorbing and sinking the
fund. When it has served the purpose in aid of these va-
rious works, it should return to bless our people, by build-
ing a school house in every neighborhood, and securing a
good English education to every child. To a loan there
are grave objections; not the least of which is, that it
would not be likely that the fund would return to the State.
The course, in my judgment, promising the best results,
and calculated most certainly to succeed, is for the State,
with the consent of the companies, to subscribe for stock
to the extent of ten thousand dollars per mile, to be paid
in State Internal Improvement bonds, payable in ten years,
bearing interest, and to be delivered as required for the
progress of the work; the payment for the principal and
interest of these bonds to be secured by the hypothecation
to the companies of all the Internal Improvement and
swamp land funds, together with the stock for which the
bonds were given.
The subscriptions should be accompanied by a contract
on the part of the State, to sell the stock to the companies
or their assignees at par, whenever they desired it, for the
bonds at par. Thus the companies would be secured by
the bonds of the State, the stock for which they were giv-
en, the Internal Improvement fund, the swamp land fund,
and the right to convert the bonds into a stock that would,
in my judgment, be second to few in the Union. To these
securities the companies could add their private subscrip-
tions by hypothecating the'stock of the road, which, for
the purposes of this argument, I will estimate at the sum
of two million, or four thousand dollars per mile. So far
as securing a loan would be concerned, the companies could
make the State's securities as fully available as if they
owned the fund as a donation; and the fact that the State

21

had manifested her confidence in them, by large subscrip-
tions to their stock, would greatly aid their negotiations.
In this respect the companies would be benefitted, while
the right to convert the bonds into stock at par would en-
ablethem to appropriate to themselves, if they should de-
sire, the advantages of the whole enterprise, as fully as if
the State had loaned the fund.
In speaking of the securities which such a subscription
would enable these Companies to offer, it will be observed
that I have said nothing of grants of land by the General
Government, and these, in some shape, they will doubtless
receive.
The course which I have suggested would, I think, se-
cure the early construction of both roads, and the State
may be easily protected from loss or embarrassment by
throwing the necessary safe-guards around the subscription
and the issue of bonds.
I have thus, Fello.w-Citizens, expressed my opinions fully
and frankly on this subject. They are submitted for your
consideration. Should the course which I have suggested
fail to command your approbation, then will I most cheer-
fully co-operato with you in any other which promises
greater benefits, and is not inconsistent with the provisions
of the Constitution. That youi- united wisdom will enable
you to adopt some system of operations which will secure
the advantages so much desired, and at the same time be
safe and judicious, I have no doubt; and having adopted
it, let us take as our motto, Energy and Action. "
CHARTERS.
The General Assembly, at its last session, granted several
charters, incorporating Railroad Companies, and among
them one styled the Pensacola and Georgia Railroad Com-
pany. That charter gives a floating'Eastern terminus to be
fixed by the directors of the company, at any point they
may select on the line dividing this State from the State of
Georgia. A road built under it from Pensacola to the
junction of the Flint, and Chattahoochee, theIe to connect

I

22

with a Georgia road to skirt our borders to the Atlantic,
would prove a dangerous if not a successful rival of one of
our great State lines ; and I would respectfully z ..t- that,
with the consent of the company, the charter be so modified
as to locate its Eastern terminus at Fernandina, or at such
point on, or near the Florida Railroad, as the company may
designate, and that there be authority conferred to con-
struct a branch road, if they desire, to the line of the State
.of Georgia at some point east of the Alapaha river.
So far as Railroads are concerned, it is believed that we
now have charters on our Statute Book which, with some
'unimportant amendments, will be found sufficient for the
present wants of the State. The construction of these roads
may be greatly embarrassed by the grant of charters for
rival routes, and I respectfully suggest, that all such appli-
cations be carefully examined before being acted on.
I received from the Secretary of a Commercial Conven-
tion held in the city of Charleston in June last, a copy of
certain resolutions on the subject of the Pacific Railroad,
accompanied by a communication from a committee char-
ged by the Convention with certain duties, and enclosing
copies of bills, &c., on which the action of the General As-
sembly of this State is requested. They are herewith com-
municated and your attention respectfully invited to the
consideration of the application.
TAXATION.
The Constitution requires the General Assembly to
adopt an equal and uniform mode of taxation." This
requirement should be obeyed, or the section amended.
Justice would seem to require the State to distribute the
burthens of Government as she does its benefits-that those
who receivee the same measure of protection should contri-
butethe same amount to the revenue. This is indeed the
policy indicated by the Constitution, but I respectfully sug-
gest that the present revenue laws of the State fail to put
it into practice. The law imposes a capitation and prop-
ty tax upon Lawyers, Doctors, Weighers, Inspectors and

23

Pilots, just as it does upon Planters, Ifanufacturers, Mer-
chants and -Teachers ; and yet, in the case of the former,
a tax is required on their income, which is not required on
the income of the latter. The Government confers no more
protection upon the profession of law or medicine, than if
does upon those of agriculture or manufactures, and it is
difficult to vindicate the justice of a law which imposes
upon them an unequal portion of the burthens of Govern-
ment. Nor are these the only classes against whom the in-
equality operates. A planter in the country purchases two
thousand acres of second rate land, for twenty thousand
dollars-he constructs a princely mansion and makes other
improvements worth twenty thousand more-he stocks his
plantation with horses, mules, implements of husbandry,
&c., at a cost of five thousand, and furnishes his house at
a cost of another five thousand, making an estate of fifty
thousand dollars on which he receives the protection of the
Government, and for this he pays 8 mills per acre on his
and, or the sum of sixteen dollars and fifty cents. A me-
chanic or manufacturer, whose occupation requires him to
reside in a town or city, invests fifty thousand dollars in
houses and lots for his residence, workshops, &c. On this
investment he receives the protection of the Government,
and because it happens to be within the corporate limits
of, even a villa, he pays twenty two cents on every hun-
dred dollars value thereof, or the handsome little sum o
one hundred and ten dollars. Here are two citizens en-
joying the same measure of protection, and under a consti-
tution which requires a uniform mode of taxation," and
yet one pays towards the support of the Government more
than six times the amount paid by the other. Again the citi-
zen who has his estate invested at interest, or in property
which pays a valuation assessment, contributes twenty-two
cents on each hundred dollars.; whereas at the present
value of slave property, it pays but little, if any, over half
as much. A man who owns a saw mill worth four thou-
sand dollars, pays a tax of eight dollars and eighty cents;

24

whereas his neighbor, who owns one thousand head of cat-
tle worth the same amount, pays only two dollars and fifty
cents. Can this be an equal and uniftbrm mode of taxa-
tion ?" If it is not, then Iapprehend that it does not meet
the requirements of the Constitution. The question is one
of importance, because it affects the relative burthens im-
posed, and benefits conferred, upon every citizen by the
Government of his State. It is submitted for the conside-
ration of the General Assembly, and I respectfully recom-
mend that such modifications be made as will conform the
law as nearly as possible to the requirements of the Con-
stitution.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS.
The expenses of prosecuting criminals in this State, have
greatly increased within the last few years. For the fiscal
year 1850, they amounted to the sum of $7,457.24; for the
fiscal year 1853 to $13,172.91, and for the last fiscal year
to $13,086.66, being an increase of nearly eighty per cent.
"in four years. From such an increase of expense we would
naturally infer an increase of business, and consequent
augmentation of the receipts from that source; but such is
not the case. The fines collected in 1850 amounted to $1,-
924.10, whereas the fines collected in 1854 were only $1,-
626.60, showing that while the expenses increased 80 per
cent., the collections decreased over 15 per cent. The pay-
ment into the Treasury from this source, amounts to less
than one fortieth part of the State's revenue, while the
amount paid out is more than one fifth of the entire expen-
ses of the State Government. This subject merits a care-
ful investigation, and is submitted for your consideration
with the hope that the source of the evil will be found, and
the proper remedy applied.
RETAILER'S LICENSE.
That there is a diversity of opinion among the people of
this State on the subject of license generally, there can be
no doubt, and that the question has to some extent, and
will probably to a still greater extent, be carried to thebal-

25

lot box in our political elections, we have reason to fear,
Like every question affecting the people, it should be re.
ferred to them for settlement, and this I think may readily
be done. The revenue laws of this State restrict the Boards
of County Commissioners, in the exercise of the taxing
power, to levying a tax not greater,than one half of the tax
levied by the State, and this restriction has been held to
apply also to the question of license. All that is necessary
to enable each County in the State to decide the question
for itself, is to remove the restriction on the taxing power.
The issue would then be changed from our political to our
County elections, and would be contested in the selection
of the Boards of County Commissioners. These elections
it will be remembered, come off when there is no political
contest in the State, and would be relieved from all party
bias. If the sale of intoxicating liquors is a great evil, the
people should have the right to relieve themselves from its
influence, and whether it is or is not such an evil, those af-
fected by it should have the right to judge.
The General Assembly, at its last session, passed an act
providing that "retailers of spirituous liquors shall pay
annually the sum of two hundred dollars" for a license.
This law, I am of opinion, has been highly beneficial, but
it is urged, and with good reason, that it is unequal in its
operation. It attempts to lessen the number of retailers,
but leaves untouched the dealer from one quart upwards.
Should the'General Assembly decline to refer the question
to the respective County Governments, as I have suggest-
ed, then I respectfully recommend such an amendment of
the law as will embrace those who sell intoxicating liquors,
without reference to the quantity.
CESSION OF WEST FLORIDA.
I have received from his Excellency, the Governor of Al-
abama, a copy of a joint resolution of the General Assem-
bly of that State, approved February 15,.1854, proposing
that the State of Florida shall cede to the State of Alabama
all that portion of her Territory lying west of the Chatta-
4H1

26

Iloochee and Apalachicola Rivers, with a request that tlhe
said resolution be laid before the General Assembly of this
State. I herewith enclose it, and beg leave to remark that
a compliance with the wishes of our sister State would
transfer the city of Apalachicola, the largest commercial
city in Florida-would transfer the Bays of St. Josephs,
St. Andrews and Pensacola-would cut off from our ju-
risdiction one of the most interesting and valuable sea
coasts in the United States, tnd would give to Alabama
instead of Florida, at some future day, the great city of the
South. Such an act of liberality, I humbly conceive, is
more than should be expected, and it is not likely to re-
ceive a favorable consideration at the hands of the people's
representatives.
STATE LIBRARY.
The Library has received large and valuable additions
during the past year. The duties of Librarian have been
discharged by the Secretary of State, and his office has been
used as a Library Room. I respectfully suggest that a lar-
ger room should be provided, and a librarian appointed,
with a moderate salary. The books are of great value, and
the duties of the office are too onerous to be made an ap-
pendage, without compensation, to any office in the Exec-
utive Department.
CENSUS AND APPORTIONMENT.
The duty of providing for an enumeration of the ihhab'-
itants of this State, and for apportioning the representa-
tion, will devolve upon the present General Assembly,
The Constitution appears to contemplate the apportion-
inent after the enumeration, and whether it will be com.
petent for the General Assembly to establish the basis and
delegate to others the arrangement of details, &c., is a
question worthy of consideration.
In connection with this enumeration, I would respectful-
ly suggest that a general table of statistics be arranged,
embracing most of the subjects in the United States Cen-

57

sus of 1850, and adding the statistics of wealth, including
.everything of value.
AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
The 3rd Sec. of the 6th Article of the Constitution pro-
vides that "No President, Director, Cashier or other offi-
cer of any Banking Company in this State, shall be eligi-
ble to the office of Governor, Senator or Representative to
the General Assembly of this State, so long as he shall be
such President, Director, Cashier or other officer, nor un-
til the lapse of twelve months from the time at which he
shall have ceased to be such President, Director, Cashier,
or other officer."
The 8th Sec. of the 6th Article provides that No Gov-
ernor, Justice of the Supreme Court, Chancellor, or Judge
of this State, shall be eligible to election or appointment,
to any other and different station, or office, or post of.hon-
or, or emolument, under this State, or to the station of Sen-
ator or Representative in Congress of the United States,
until one year after he shall have ceased to be such Gov-
ernor, Justice, Chancellor, orJudge."
The 10th See. of the 6th Article provides that f No 3Min-
ister of the Gospel shall be eligible to. the office of Gov-
ernor, Senator, or member of the IHouse of Representatives
of this State."
If there were reasons existing at the time when our Con-
stitution was Adopted which justified the partial disfran-
chisement of any citizen, except for crimes which rendered
him unworthy of public confidence, it is believed that they
no longer exist, and the policy of excluding from offices
of trust any class of citizens, in consequence of their occu-
pation.or profession, is exceedingly questionable. I beg
leave to call your attention to these sections, and respect-
fully suggest the propriety of taking the necessary steps
to modify or repeal them.
The amendment of our. Constitution which changed the
Sessions of the Gefieral Assembly from annual to biennial,
was adopted mainly as a measure of economy. An exat.

2S

nation of the average expenses of the Government before
and since the change, will show that the results anticipated
have been but very partially realized. It is, indeed, doubt-
ed whether the true interest of the State does not call for
a return to annual sessions. The subject is worthy of the
careful consideration of the people's representatives.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
The present political aspect of the non-slaveholding
States of the Union, furnishes cause for serious reflection and
apprehension on the part of the South. In 1850, we sub-
mitted to a Compromise, as it was termed, which a second
time branded us with inequality in the Union. It deprived
us of our just right to participate in the settlement of Cal-
ifornia;-it' dismembered a slave State, under a threat of
coercion by Federal arms ;-it singled out from the great
mass of property the controlling property of the South, and
denied us the privilege of converting it into money in the
District of Columbia: and for these surrenders, what did
we receive? We were told that we were compensated by
a clear and decided acknowledgment of our constitutional
rights on two points. One was the right to reclaim our fu-
gitive slaves, and the other was the recognition and adop-
tion, by the Federal Government, of the great principle of
Non-Intervention on the subject of slavery, in the organi-
zation of the Territories of the Union. We were told that
the Wilmot proviso had been strangled, and that in future
the North and the South, like a band of brothers, were to
settle the common Territories, and that they were to be ad-
mitted as States when they organized their Governments,
with or without slavery, as the inhabitants might deter-
mine. With these recognition, although but the acknow-
ledgment of rights already possessed, the South rested.
The fugitive slave law, although fair in theory, and honestly
and promptly executed by the Government,,has proved in
practice worse than useless. Such have been the obstructions
thrown in the way of its execution, that in some instances
the cost of recovering a single slave have been more than

29

twenty times his value, while in others the blood, and even
the life, of the Southern citizen, has atoned for his temerity
in availing himself of the provisions of the law.
The organization of the territories of Nebraska and
Kansas, furnished an opportunity for testing the sincerity
of the country on the subject of Non-Intervention. The
introduction of the bills arrayed against the Constitution
and the South, the armies of Abolition fanaticism. The
men of the South, standing upon the Constitution, cheered
on by a noble and distinguished band of Northern Sena-
tors and Representatives, and sustained by the power and
influence of a patriotic Administration, achieved a victo-
ry. The struggle was violent and protracted, but the Con-
stitution triumphed. The Territories were organized. The
Missouri restriction which, for more than thirty years, had
been branding the South with inequality, was repealed. The
question of slavery was referred to the Constitution, Con-
gressional non-intervention established, and the patriot
permitted to hope that the Constitution of the country, and
equal rights under it, would become the watch-word in ev-
ry section. Such hopes, however, were doomed to an ear-
ly disappointment. The passage of these bills only trans-
ferred the battle to another field, and was made the signal
for new and fanatical organizations in the non-slaveholding
States. They inscribed on their banners, A RESTORATION
OF THE MISSOURI RESTRICTION-THE REPEAL OF THE FUGI-
TIVE SLAVE LAW, AND THE ADMISSION OF NO MORE SLAVE
STATES INTO THE UNION." On such a platform they have
met, and most signally defeated the men of the Constitu-
tion. They have, with possibly a single exception, con-
trolling majorities in every non-slaveholding State, and
have, for the first time under our Government, elected a
House of Representatives purely and wickedly sectional
in its character. In view of all this, the South is calm and
unmoved. She is prepared to abide by the Union, made
by the Constitution, with equal rights under it. Beyond

30

this, she will be forced to act upon the sentiment, A un-
ion of the South forth protection of the South."
Pledging my co-operation in all constitutional measures
calculated to promote the honor and interest of the State,
and anxiously desiring the blessing 'of God upon your do-
liberations, I am,
Your fellow citizen,
JAMES E. IBROOMIE.

On motion, of Mr. Del, l1000 copies of the Message, and 300 cop-
ies of the accompanying Doc'urlents, were ordered to bo printed for
the use of the House.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow, 12 o'clock,
M,

THURSDAY, November 33, 1854.

The House met pur;rant to 'j...,.. The Rev. Mr. Ty-
dings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being presen- t:i journal of yesterday's proceedings
was read, amended and app-rovcdi.
Lyman W. Rowley, merinb; clt from Escambia County, presint-
ed his certificate of election and was sworn by C. II. Austin, "lsq.,
Justice of the Peace.
The Speaker announced lic follo-ing Standing Committees:
Committee on Judiciary. Com.nitice on Claims.
Messrs. POPE, Messrs. DELL,
GALBRAITII, RIVIERE,
SHINE, CIIAIRES,
PARSONS, PRESCOTT,
SPEER, ROWLEY,
PORTER. SPEER.
Committee on Finance and P:b- Co:.nilec on Internal INp,;rori-
lic Accounts. 'menes.
Messrs. PARSONS, Messrs. CARTER,
ZEIGLER, SHINE,
BAISDEN, I ENN,
WIIITEHURST, POPE,
CARTER, PARSONS,
DEWITT. HAR1tIS.

31

Committee on Agriculture. Committee on Militia.
Messrs. BELLAMY, Messrs. SHINE,
HAYNES, DISMUKES,
VAsZANT, DELL,
JOHNSTON, WALL,
LANGFORD. COOMBS.
committee on Engrossed and En- Committee on Propositions and
rolled Bills. Grievances.
Messrs. BAISDEN, .Messrs. PENN,
BELLAMY, JONES of Monroe,
NEEL, DUMMETT,
DEWITT, BOWERS.
HAYNES. CHRISTIEE.
Committee on Elections. Gommittee on Federal Relations.
Messrs. PORTER, Messrs. HARRIS,
CHRISTIE, POPE,
HADDOCK, CARTER,
DUMMETT, SPEER,
JONES of Nassau. BROWN.
Committee on Corporations. Committee on Indian Affairs.
Messrs. TAYLOR, Messrs. SPEER,
IOLLAMAN, THOMSON of Leiy,
THOMPSON of Santa Rosa. CHAIRS,
PRESCOTT, JONES of Monroe,
COOMBS. BELLAMY.
Committee on Scihools J; Colleges.
Messrs. GALBBA1TH, SHINE,
HARRIS, SPEER,
BROWN, THOMSON of Levy.
Mr. Thomson of Levy moved that a Committee of five on State
Lands" be added to the list of Standing Committees of the House;
Which motion prevailed.
The Speaker announced the following Committee on State Lands:
Messrs. Thomson, of Levy Harris, Parsons, Dismukes and Ri-
viere.
Mr. Pope moved that the House now proceed to the election of
an assistant Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk;
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Pope nominated Mr. Moses S. Atkins of Gadsden County.
Mr. Shine nominated Mr. Joseph W. Wood of Leon County.
The vote was: -
For ATKINs-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter,
Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dismukes, Dummett, Galbraith,
Harris, Haynes, Hollaman, Johnston,-Parsons, Penn, Pope, Porter,
Prescott, Rowley, Thomson of Levy, VanZant, Wall and Zeigler-
25;
For WooD-Messrs. Bowers, Fennell, Haddock, Jones of Nassau,

33

Langford, Neel, Riviere, Shine, Speer, Thompson of Santa Rosa and
Whitehurst- 1.
The Speaker declared Mr. Atkins duly elected assistant Enrolling
and Engrossing Clerk.
Mr. Carter moved
That so much of the Governor's Message as relates to Indians be
referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
That on Internal Improvements to the Committee on Internal Im-
provements;
That on Charters to the Committe on Corporations;
That on Taxation to the Committee on Finance, (or Revenue;)
That on Criminal Prosecutions to the Cdmmittee on the Judicia-
ry ;
That on Retailer's License to the Committee on Finance;
That on the Cession of, West Florida to the Committee on the
Judiciary ;
That on Amendments of the Constitution to the Committee on the
Judiciary;
That on Salaries to the Committee on Propositions and Grievan-
ces ;
That on Federal Relations to the Committee on Federal Rela-
tions ;
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Galbraith gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled "An act to provide for the re-
linquishment to the United States in certain cases, title to and juris-
diction over lands for sites of Light Houses, and for other purposes
on the coast and waters of this State;"
Also, a bill to be entitled An act to amend an act to provide for
the payment of Jurors and State Witnesses, approved January 8,
1848."
Mr. Prescott gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to modify the license on retailers of spiritu-
ous liquors in the State of Florida.
Mr. Bowers gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to increase the pay of Jurors and State Wit-
nesses of the State of Florida.
Mr. Carter gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill extending political equality to Ignatio Pha-
lez, Rufino Phalez, Marcia Montes De Oca and others,
Mr. Langford gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to reduce the price ot the State Landsin
Florida.
Mr. Speer gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to form a new county from a part of Or-
ange.

33

Mr. Pope gave notice that he would on some future day ask leave
to introduce a bill for the relief of George Bell.
Mr. Penn moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms he requested to fur.
nish each member of this body with a copy of the Constitution of
this State;.
Which motion was carried.
Mr. Whitehurst moved that the Clerk of this House be requested
to call on the Secretary of State for a copy of the Acts and Reso-
lutions of the General Assembly of the State for 1852-3, and also a
Journal of the proceedings of the House of Representatives of same
date for each member of this House, for their use and convenience
during the present session, and one copy of Thompson's Digest for
the Chairman of each Standing Committee;
Which motion was carried.
A message was received from the Senate announcing the appoint.
mennt of Messrs. Long, Bird and Eppes, a, a Committee on the part
of the Senate, to act with a similar Committee on the part of the
Honse, for the purpose of drafting joint rules for the regulation of
the two Houses of the General Assembly during the present session.
The following message was received from the Senate:
SENATE CIAMBER, November 30th, 1854.
To the Speaker of the House of Represcntatives:
SIi :-The enclosed Joint Rules were adopted by the Senate and
referred to the House of Representatives.
Yours Respectfully,
D. G. LIVINGSTON,
Secretary of the Senate.
On motion, the accompanying Report was received and the Joint
Rules adopted.
On moticn, the House reconsidered the vote receiving said Re-
port and! adopting the Rules, and the same were referred back to
the Joint Committee.
On motion, the rules were waived to permit Mr. Carter to make
a motion.
SMr. Carter moved that a Committee of five on the State of the
Capital, and a Committee or five on Census and Apportionment of
Representation, be added to the list of Standing Committees of the
House ;
Which motion was carried.
Mr. Galbrdith, from the Committee appointed to select a Chaplain
for the House during the present session, reported that they had dis-
charged that duty and selected the Rev. Mr. R. Me. Tydings as said
Chaplain;
Which report was received and concurred in.
On motion, the House adiourned until to-morrow, 10 o'clock,
A:. M.
5H

34

STANDI)IG RULES OFP THE IIOt8E-

RULE. i. The Speaker shall' take the Chair e\veri day,
precisely at the hour to which the House shall have ad-
'ou'rned on the preceding day; shall immediately call the'
members to'order, and on the appearance of a quorurnm,
Shall cause the Journal of the preceding day to be read.
2. He shall preserve order and decorum; may speak to
points'of order in preference to other members, rising
from his seat for that purpose ; and shall decide questions
of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any two
members ; on which appeal no member shall speak more'
than once,' unless by leave of the House.
3.'. He' shall rise to put the question, but may state' it
sitting. .
4.' No member shall speak to' any other, or otherwise
interrupt the business of the House, or read any newspa-
per, or other paper, while the Journals or other public pa-
pers are being read, nor pass between the Speaker and
any other member who'may be addressing the House.
5. Every member, when he speaks, shall address the
Chair, standing in his'place, and when: he has finished'
shall sit down ; nor shall any member speak more than
twice on any one subject without leave of the House.
6. When two or more members shall rise at the same
time, the Speaker shall name the person entitled to pro.
coed.
7. When a member shall be called to order, he shall
sit down until tie Speaker shall have determined.whether'
he is in order' or not; and every question of order shall beh
decided by the Speaker, without debate; subject to an ap,
peal to the House.
8. If a member shall be called to orderfor words spok-
en, the exceptionable'words shall be immediately taketi'
down in writing by the person objecting, that the Speak-
er may be better able to jadge of the matter.
9. No member shall absent himself from the service of
the House without leave of the House ; and in case a less
number than a quorum shall convene, they are hereby au-
thorized to send the Sergeant-at-Arms for (any or) all ab-
sent members, as the majority of such members present
shall agree, at the expense of such absent members re-
specti'ely, unless such excuse for non-attendance shall be

35

-nade as 1the House (when a ioroium is convened) sha4l
judge sufficient.
10. No motion shall be debated until the same shall
be reduced to writing, delivered in at the table, read and
seconded.
11. When a question is under debate, no motion shall
be received but to adjourn, to lay it on the table, to post-
pone indefinitely, to postpone to a certain day, to commit
or:to amend; which several motions shall have precedence
in the order in which they stand arranged; and the imo-
tion for adjournment shall always be in order, and the mo-
tions to adjourn or lay on the table shall be decided with-
out debate.
12. If the question in debate contains several points,
any member may have the same divided.
13. In filling up blanks, the largest sum andlongest
time shall be first put in.
14. When the reading of a paper is called for, and the
*saie is objected to by any member, it shall be determined
by yote of the House, without debate.
15. When'the yeas and nays shall be called for by two
of the members present, every member within the bar of,
the House at the time the question-was put by the Speak-
er, shall (unless for special reasons he. be excused by the
House) declare openly and without debate his assent or
dissent to the question. In taking the yeas and nays, and
lpon the call of the IIopse, the names of the members
shall be taken alphabetically, and the Speaker shall in all
cases vote first.
16. No member shall be permitted to vote on any ques-
tion who was without the bar of the House at the time the
question was put, unless by the consent of the House, and
no motion to permit such member to yote, shall be in or-
d.er, unless it shall be made before the House shall proceed
to other business.
17. On a motion made and seconded to shut the door
of the House in the discussion of any business, in which
discussion the public safety may, in the opinion of the
House, imperiously require secresy, the I-ouse shall di-
rect the Speaker 'to cause the lobby to be cleared, and
during the discussion of such business, the door shall re-
main shut, and no person shall be admitted except by spe-
cial order of the House.
18. The following order shall be observed in taking up
,the business of the lHouse, viz: 1st, motions; 2d, petitions,

36

memorials, and other papers addressed either to the House
or to the Speaker thereof; 3d, resolutions ; 4th, reports of
Standing Committees ; 5th, reports of Select Committees;
6th, messages from the Senate lying on the table; and
lastly, orders of the day.
19. When a question has been once made and carried in
the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order for any
member of the majority to move for a re-consideration
thereof; but no motion for the re-consideration of any vote
shall be in order after a bill, resolution, message, report,
amendment, or motion upon which the vote was taken,
shall have gone out of the possession of the house, an-
nouncing their decision; nor shall any motion for re-con-
sideration be in order unless made on the same day on
which the vote was taken, or within the two next days of
the actual session of the House thereafter.
20. All questions shall be put by the Speaker of' the
House, and the members shall signify their assent or dis-
sent, by answering viva voce yea or nay, and in the event
of a tie, the question shall be decided in the negative.
21. The Speaker of the House, or the Speakerpro tern.,
shall have the right to name a member to perforin the du-
ties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not extend
beyond an adjournment.
22. Before any petition, memorial, or other paper, ad-
dressed either to the House or the Speaker thereof, shall
be received and read at the table, whether the same be in-
troduced by the Speaker or a member, a brief statement
of the contents of the petition, memorial, or other paper,
shall be made by the introduced.
23. One day's notice at least shall be given of an intend-
ed motion for leave to bring in a bill, and no bill shall be
written or printed except by express order of the House.
24. Every bill and all resolutions of a public nature, or
for the appropriation of the public money, shall receive
three readings previously to the final passage of such bill
or resolutions,, and the Speaker shall give notice at each
whether it be the first, second, or third reading; which
readings shall be on three different days, unless four-iifths
of the members shall otherwise direct.
25. At the second.reading of any bill or resolution, it
shall be in order for any member to move its commitment
to a Committee of the whole House; that it lay on the ta-
ble ; for its indefinite postponement; for its postponement

37

to a day certain, not beyond the session; for its .commit-
ment to a Standing Committee; to a Select Committee;
or to amend; which motions shall have precedence in the
order above stated.
26. It shall not be in order to amend the title of any bill
or resolution until it shall have passed its thire reading.
27. The titles of bills, and such parts thereof only as
shall be affected by proposed amendments, shall be insert-
ed on the journals.
2S. The following Standing Committees, to consist of not
less than five members each, shall be appointed by the
Speaker at the commencement of each session, with leave
to report; by bill or otherwise, viz : A Committee on the
Judiciary; a Committee on the Militia; a Committee on
Finance and Public Accounts ; a Committee on Claims;
a Committee on Schools and Colleges; a Committee on
Internal Improvements; a Committee on Enrolled Bills
and Engrossed Bills ; a Committee on Elections; a Com-
mittee on Propositions and Grievances; a Commrittee on
Federal Relations; a Committee on Corporations; a Com-
mittee on Indian Affairs, and a Committee on Agriculture.
29. All confidential communications made by the Gov-
"ernor to the House, and all business in the consideration of
which the injunction of secresy shall have been imposed,
shall be by the members thereof kept secret, until the
House by its resolution shall take off the injunction of se-
cresy.
30. Each member of Select Committees shall, with their
Chairman, sign every report made to the House, if they
concur therein.
31. Messages may be received at any stage of the busi-
ness, except while a question is being put, or while the
yeas and nays are being called.
32. The Governor and Secretary and members of the
Senate, shall be admitted to a seat within the bar of the
House, and any other person shall be admitted in like
manner, upon being invited by a member.
33. The Clerk, Sergeant at-Arms and Door-Keeper shall
be severally swori by a judicial officer of the State, well
and fhithfully to discharge their respective duties, and to
keep secret the proceedings of the House, when sitting with
closed doors.
31. All acts, addresses and joint resolutions shall be
signed by the Speaker; and all writs, warrants and sub-

38

pcenas issued by order of the House, slail be under his
hand and seal, and attested by the Clerk.
35. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in
the lobby; the Speaker, or Chairman of the Committee of
the Whole Iouse, shall have power to order the same to
be cleared.
36. Reporters wishing to take down the debates and pro-
ceedings, may be admitted by the Speaker, who shall as-
sign such places to them on the floor, or elsewhere, as shall
.not interfere with the convenience of the House.
37. No member shall vote on any question in the event
of which he may have a private or personal-interest.
38. After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or read by
the Cleik, it shall be deemed in possession of the House,
but may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or
amendment.
39. The previous question shall be in this form : Sall
the main question be now put ?" and shall be decided by 4
majority of the members present, without debate; and up-.
til it is decided, it shall preclude all amendments, and fur-
ther debate of the main question.
40. When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same
shall not be acted upon again during the session.
41. No motion or proposition on a subject different
from that under consideration, shall be admitted under col-
or of amendment.
42. The unfinished business in which the House was
engaged at the adjournment, shall have the preference in
the orders of the day; and no motion on any other busi-
ness shall be.received without special leave of the House,
until the former is disposed of.
43. Upon the call of the House, the names of the mem-
bers shall be palled over by the Clerk and the absentees
noted; after which, the names of the absentees shall again
be called oyer, the doors shall then be shut, and those for
whom no excuse 'or insufficient excuses are made, may,
by order of those present, be taken into custody as they
appear, or may be sent for and taken into custody wherev-
ir to be found by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
44. When a member shall be discharged from custody
rpnd admitted to his seat, the House shall determine whe-
ther such discharge shall be with or without paying fees.
45. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Elections
to examine and report upon the certificates of election, or

39

other credentials, ofthe members re'furied to serve in this
House, and to take into their consideration all such peti-
tions and other matters touching elections ind returns as
shall or may be presented or come into question, and be
deferred to them by the House.
46. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the
House, without special leave.
47. All bills ordered tb be engrossed, shall be executed
in a fair, round hand, and without measures or interlinea-
tions.
, 48. No amendment, by way of rider, shall be received
to any bill on its' third reading.
49. When a bill or resolution shall have passed its
third reading, it shall be carefully engrossed under the di-
rection of the derk; be certified by him, noting the day
of its passage at the foot thereof, and shall be transmitted
to the Senate, accompanied with a message, stating the ti-
tle of the bill or resolution, and asking the concurrence of
that body, and its transmission shall be entered upon the
journals.
50. Bills committed to a c'osrnittee of the whole House
shall be first read throughout by the clerk, and then again
read and debated by clauses, leaving the preamble to be
last considered; the body of the said bill shall not be in-
terlined and defaced, but all amendments, noting the page
and line, shall be duly entered by the clerk on a separate
paper, as the same shall be agreed to by the committee,
and so reported to the House. After report, the bill shall
again be subject to be debated and amended by clauses.
51. It shall be in order for the Committee on Enrolled
and Engrossed Bills to report at any time.
"52. Messages shall be transmitted to the Governor and
Senate by the Door-keeper, unless otherwise directed by
the House.
53. No bill shall be introduced into the House on the
last week of the session, nor shall the above rules, or any of
them, be rescinded or suspended unless three-fouiths of
the members present so direct.

40

FRIDAY, December 1, 1854.7

"The House nU't pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the journal of yesterday's proceedings
was read and approved.
On motion, Moses S. Atkins was duly sworn as assistant Enrol-
ling and Engrossing Clerk.
Notice was given of the intention to introduce the following bills,
at some future day, viz:
By Mr. Haddock:'
A Bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of John IHendry of
Hamilton County by divorce;
Also, a Bill to be entitled, An act to authorize Jackson Lee, a
minor, of Hamilton County, to manage and control his own proper-
ty as though he were of age.
By Mr. Oalbraith:
A Bill to be entitled, An act to provide for the appointment of
Inspectors of Tar and Turpentine in this State.
By Mr. Rowley :
A Bill for the regulation of Pilots and Pilotage of the Harbor of
Pensacola.
By Mr. Haynes:
A Bill to prevent the escape of Slaves on board of vessels leaving
the Port of Jacksonville.
By Mr. Carter:
A Bill to be entitled, An act to authorize John W. Robarts to
practice Medicine in the County of Hillsborough.
By Mr. Baisden:
A Bill authorizing A. J. Smiley, a minor, to assume the manage-
ment of his own estate.
By Mr. Hollaman:
A Bill for the relief of John Williams of Gadsden County.
By Mr. Parsons:
A Bill to authorize Alexander Mundin to establish a Toll Bridge
on the Withlacoochee River;
Also, a Bill to authorize Henry Benner to establish a Ferry across
the Withlacoochee River;
Also, a Bill to authorize Neill Monroe to establish a Ferry across
the V I;il Wno.... Ih .River.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Carter introduced a Bill to be
entitled, An act for the relief of Jose Vigil;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read a second
time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Propositions and
Grievances.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Parsons introduced a Bill to be
entitled An act for the relief of Watson W. Leggett;

41

"Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read a second
time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Propositions and
Grievances.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Parsons introduced a Bill to be
entitled An act for the relief of Henry Christy and Theophilus Hig-
ginbotham;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read a second
time by its title, and referred to the Committee on State Lands.
Mr. Carter presented a petition from Jose Vigil, a petition from
146 citizens of Hillsborough County, and a certificate of 10 citizens
of Hillsborough County, asking the remission of a fine assessed
against said Jose Vigil in the Circuit Court of Hillsborough.
Which was read and referred to the Committee on Propositions
and Grievances.
Mr. Parsons presented the petition of 94 citizens of Hernando
County asking the release of Watson W. Leggett, from a judgment
decreed against him in favor of the State of Florida in Hernando
Circuit Court:
Which was read and referred .to the Committee on Propositions
and Grievances.
The Speaker laid before the House certain testimony taken in re-
lation to the election for Representatives in Duval County, which
was read and laid on the table.
The Committee on Joint Rules asked further time to report, which
was granted.
The following report was received and concurred in:
The Committee appointed to fix the rate of compensation to be
paid for the Printing of the General Assembly during its present ses-
sion, ask leave to
REPORT:
That they have contracted with Messrs. Dyke & Williams for the
printing of the House ,on the following terms, viz:
For furnishing 500 copies of the Journals at $2 00 per page, count-
ing one copy; for daily slips of proceedings, and all other miscella-
neous printing, such as Reports of the House, Bills, Slips, &c., I of
a cent per 100 words, counting 75 copies.
Which is respectfully submitted.
SJ. CARTER, Chairman.
A. S. SPEER,
J. B. GALBRAITH.
On motion Messrs. Johnson and Dewitt were granted leave of
"absence for to-morrow.
On motion the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10
o'clock.
6H

42

SATURDAY December 2, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain;
A tluorum being present, the journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
A message was received from the Senate transmitting Senate bill
to be entitled An act to empower John Richard Bradford, a minor,
to assume the management of his own estate, as having passed that
body;
Which was read and the bill placed among the Orders of the
Day.
Mr. Pope announced to the House the death of Gen. John S.
Broome of Madison County, and moved that a Committee of three
be appointed to act with a similar Committee on the part of the
Senate, for the purpose of drafting resolutions of condolence with
His Excellency, the Governor of this State, on the occasion of the
death of his brother, John S. Broome, late Adjutant General of the
State of Florida.
Which motion prevailed, and Messrs. Pope, Langford and Gal-
braith were appointed said Committee.
On motion of Mr. Pope, the House then adjourned until Monday,
12 o'clock, M.

MONDAY, December 4, 1854.
"The House met pursuant to adjournment.
On motion, Mr. Shine took the Chair.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of Saturday was read and
approved.
I S. F. Jones, member elect from Monroe, presented his certificate
of election, and was duly sworn by D. Cameron, Esq., Justice of
the Peace.
Mr. Galbraith moved that the House proceed to the election of a
Speaker pro ter. which motion was carried.
Mr. Galbraith nominated Mr.,Carter of Hillsborough County.
The vote was:
For CARTER-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Christie, Dell, Dewett,
Fennell, Galbraith, Harris, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Langford,
Noel, Parsons, Penn, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Tay.
lor, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Thompson of Levy, VanZant, Wall
and Whitehurst-25.
Mr. Carterwas declared duly elected Speaker pro term.
On motion of Mr. Galbraith a committee of three was appointed,

42

SATURDAY December 2, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain;
A tluorum being present, the journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
A message was received from the Senate transmitting Senate bill
to be entitled An act to empower John Richard Bradford, a minor,
to assume the management of his own estate, as having passed that
body;
Which was read and the bill placed among the Orders of the
Day.
Mr. Pope announced to the House the death of Gen. John S.
Broome of Madison County, and moved that a Committee of three
be appointed to act with a similar Committee on the part of the
Senate, for the purpose of drafting resolutions of condolence with
His Excellency, the Governor of this State, on the occasion of the
death of his brother, John S. Broome, late Adjutant General of the
State of Florida.
Which motion prevailed, and Messrs. Pope, Langford and Gal-
braith were appointed said Committee.
On motion of Mr. Pope, the House then adjourned until Monday,
12 o'clock, M.

MONDAY, December 4, 1854.
"The House met pursuant to adjournment.
On motion, Mr. Shine took the Chair.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of Saturday was read and
approved.
I S. F. Jones, member elect from Monroe, presented his certificate
of election, and was duly sworn by D. Cameron, Esq., Justice of
the Peace.
Mr. Galbraith moved that the House proceed to the election of a
Speaker pro ter. which motion was carried.
Mr. Galbraith nominated Mr.,Carter of Hillsborough County.
The vote was:
For CARTER-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Christie, Dell, Dewett,
Fennell, Galbraith, Harris, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Langford,
Noel, Parsons, Penn, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Tay.
lor, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Thompson of Levy, VanZant, Wall
and Whitehurst-25.
Mr. Carterwas declared duly elected Speaker pro term.
On motion of Mr. Galbraith a committee of three was appointed,

43

consisting of Messrs. Galbraith, Christie and Speer, to conduct the
Speaker pro ern. to the Chair.
The Speaker pro tern. returned his thanks to the House in a brief
address.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills at
some future day:
By Mr. Galbraith:
A Bill to be entitled, An act to incorporate Leon Lodge, No. 5.
I. 0. O. F.
By Mr. Baisden:
A bill to be entitled an act amendatory of an act entitled an act
to amend the first clause of the Sixth Article of the Constitution of
this State.
By Mr. Thompson, of Levy:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend the Patrol Laws of this
State.
By Mr. Harris:
A bill to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act to
grant pre-emption rights to settlers on State Lands, approved Dec.
30, 1852.
By Mr. Haddock:
A bill to be entitled an act to legitimatize Lucinda Read, of Ham-
ilton County, and for other purposes.
By Mr. Dell:
A bill to amend the Fifth Section of Article Sixth of the Consti-
tution of the State of Florida, relative to duelling.
Also, a bill to be entitled an act, to repeal so much of the act
passed November 7, 1828, as makes it necessary for the relinquish-
ment of Dowers.
By Mr. Rowley:
A bill for the preservation of game in Santa Rosa and Escambia
Counties.
By Mr. Bowers:
A bill authorizing James M. Cockroff to establish a toll bridge
across East River in Walton County and for other purposes.
By. Mr. Carter:
A bill to be entitled an act for the relief of Doctor A. S. Speer
and Arthur Ginn.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr..Parsons introduced the following
bills:
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Neill Monroe to establish
"a ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
A bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Henry Benner to establish
"a ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
And a bill to be entitled an act to authorize Allen Mondin to es-
tablish a toll bridge across the Withlacoochee River.

44

Which were read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by their titles, and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Baisden introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to authorize Andrew J. Smiley, a minor, to assume
the management of his own estate;
Which was read the first time, and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Penn introduced a bill to be en-
titled An act to restore the force and operation of the general laws
of this State in relation to the migration of free persons of color in-
to this State;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by its title, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading on
to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Galbraith introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to amend An act to provide for the payment of Ju-
rors and State Witnesses, approved January 8, 1848;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by its title, and referred to a Select Committee consisting of
Messrs. Galbraith, Thompson of Santa Rosa and Bellamy.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Carter introduced a bill to be
entitled an act to extend political equality to Ignatio Phales and
others;
Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading
to-morrow.
Mr. Carter introduced a resolution to declare Manatee a Port of
Delivery;
Which was read the first time arid ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled an act to empower John Richard Brad-
ford, a minor, to assume the management of his own estate, was
read the first time, and ordered for a second reading to-morrow.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10
o'clock

TUESDAY, December 5th, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of yesterday was read,
amended and approved.
James Brown, member elect from Washington County, presented
his certificate of election and was duly sworn by C. H. Austin, Esq.,
Justice of the Peace.
On motion, Mr. Fennell was added to the Committee'on Corpo-
rations and Internal Improvements,

45

Mr. Fennell gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to amend the several acts relating to Gam-
ing.
Mr. Russell gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled An act to legalize the proceed.
ings of the Judge of Probate of St. Lucie County;
Also, a bill to be entitled An act to change the name of St. Lucie
County, and for other purposes.
Mr. Langford introduced a Preamble and Resolution relative to
Suwannee River;
Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
The Committee on Propositions and Grievances made the follow.
ing Report:
The Committee to whom was referred a Bill to be entitled An
act for the relief of Watson Leggett, having had the same under
consideration, begleave to
REPORT:
Thatyour Committee think it would be establishing a bad prece.
dent to recommend the passage of said bill, and would therefore re,
port against its passage.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. P. PENN, Chairman.
GILES BOWERS,
S. F. JONES,
E. J. DUMMETT,
JOS. B. CHRISTIE.
Whieh was received and the bill placed among the Orders of the
Day.
The Committee on Propositions and Grievances made the follow-
ing Report:
The Committee to whom was referred a bill to be entitled An act
fok the relief of Jose Vigil, having had the same under consideration,
beg leave to
REPORT:
That in consideration of the large number of signatures in favor
of Mr. Vigil, and the respectability of the same, your Committee
would respectfully recommetid the passage of a bill for his relief.
,All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. P. PENN, Chairman.
GILES BOWERS,-
JOS. B. CHRISTIE,
S. F. JONES,
E. J. DUMMETT,

46

Which. was received, and the Bill placed among the Orders of
the Day.
The Committee on Enrolled and Engrossed Bills reported as cor,
rectly engrossed a Bill to be entitled, An act to restore the force
and operation of the general laws of this State in relation to the mi-
gration of free persons of color into this State.
Which report was received, and the Bill placed among the Or,
ders of tie Day.

ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A Bill to be entitled, An act to authorize Andrew J. Smiley, a
minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
A Bill to be entitled, An act to extend political equality to Igna-
tie Phales and others;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
Resolution to declare Manatee a Port of Delivery;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading on to-morrow.
Senate Bill to be entitled, An act to empower John Richard Brad-
ford, a minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
Was read the second time and ordered for a third reading on to-
morrow.
Engrossed Bill to be entitled, An act to restore the force and op-
eration of the general laws of this State in relation to the migration
of free persons of color into this State;
Came up on its third reading and was postponed until to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Watson W. Leggett;
,Was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed for a third
reading on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Jose Vigil;
Was read the second time, and ordered to'be engrossed for a third
reading on to-morrow.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10
o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, December 6, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
On motion of Mr. Shine,

47

Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Fennell until Friday next.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Harris introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to amend An act entitled An act to grant pre-emp-
tion rights to settlers on State Lands, approved December 31,
1852;
Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
Mr. Rowley gave notice that he' would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled An act to authorize Stephen
C. Gonzalez to build a Wharf in the city of Pensacola;
Also a bill to be entitled Au act to authorize S. A. Leonard to
build a wharf in the city of Punsacola.
Mr. Harris gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled An act for the improvement
of certain rivers, and for other purposes.
Mr. Johnston gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled An act to empower Malcolm
Nicholson, a minor, to assume the management of his own estate.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Haynes introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to prevent the abduction and escape of slaves from
this State;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by its title and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Haddock introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to repeal An act entitled An act to amend the sever-
al acts concerning Licences to retail spirituous liquors;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Haddock introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to legitimatize Lucinda Read of Hamilton County,
Florida ;
Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Haddock introduced a bill to be
entitled An Act to authorize Jackson Lee of Hamilton County to
assume the management of his own estate;
Which was read the first time, and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Carter introduced a bill to be en-
titled An act for the relief of Dr. Algernon S. Speer and Arthur
Ginn;
Which was read the first time, and ordered for a second reading
on'to-morrow.
The Committee on Corporations made the following report:
The Committee on Corporations, to whom was referred the bills
of Henry Benner and Neil Munroe, to establish ferries across the

48

Withlacoochee River, also Allen Mondin to establish a toll bridge
across the same, beg leave to
REPORT:
That they have had the same under consideration, and recommend
the passage of the same.
JOSHUA TAYLOR,
Chairman.
Which ,ias read and the bills placed among the orders of the
day.
The Speaker announced the following Standing Committees of
the House :
On the State of the Capitol.
MEssRs. CHRISTIE,
FENNELL,
PRESCOTT,
LANGFORD,
JOHNSTON.
On Census and Apportionment.
MEssRs. DELL,
CHAIRS,
WHITEHURST,
HADDOCK.
The Committee on State Lands, to whom was referred a bill to be
entitled An act for the relief of Henry Christy and Theophilus Hig-
ginbotham, reported the same back to the House without amend-
ment, and recommended its passage;
Which report was received and the bill placed among the Orders
of the Day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Preamble and Resolutions relative to Suwanne'e River;
Were read the second time.
Mr. Dewitt moved that they be indefinitely postponed;
Upon which the yeas and nays were called for and were:
Yeas-Messrs. Carter, Chaires, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett,
Galbraith, Harris, Haynes, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Rowley,
Taylor, Thompson of, Levy and Wall-17.
Nays-Messrs. Baisden, Brown, Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of
Monroe, Langford, Shine, Speer, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Van.
Zant and Zeigler-11.
So the motion prevailed, and the preamble and resolutions were
indefinitely postponed.
A bill to be entitled An act to restore the force and operation of

49

the general laws of this State in relation to the migration of free per-
sons of color into-this State;
Was read the third time, and on the question of its passage'
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Christie,
Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes,
Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford,
Parsons, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine,
Speer, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall, White-
hurst and Zeigler-33.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to empower John Richard Brad-
ford, a minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
Was read the third time and put upon its passage, upon whichthe
vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Chris-
tie, Coombs, Dell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Hollamai,
Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott,
Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of
Santa Rosa, VanZant, Wall, Whitehurstand Zeigler-30.
* Nays-Messrs. Dewitt, Dummett, Jones of Monroe, Langford
and Taylor-5.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Resolution to declare Manatee a port of delivery;
Was read the third time and adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Watson W. Leggett;
Was read the third time and put upon its passage, upon which the
vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Brown, Carter, Dell, Haddock, Harris, Haynes,
Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Parsons, Pope, Prescott, Speer, Thomp-
son of Levy, VanZant, Wall and Whitchurst-16.
Nays-Messrs. Bowers, Chaires, Coombs, Dewitt, Dummrett,
Hollaman, Jones of Monroe, Langford, Penn, Porter, Rowley, Shine,
Taylor and Zeigler-14.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Upon motion, a call of the House was ordered, and upon calling
the roll the following members answered to their names:.
Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Christie,.
Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Harris, Haynes, Holloman, John-
ston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Parsons, Penn,
Pope, Porter, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shino, Speer, Taylor,
7IT

60
Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Wall,
"Whitehurst and Zeiglei--3.
Further proceedings under the call were dispensed with.
A Bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Jose Vigil;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
"Yeas-M;essrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Chris-
tie, Coombs, Dell, Harris, Haynes, Johnston, Jones of Monroe,
Jones of Nassau, Penn, Pope, Porter, Prescott, Speer, Thompson of
Levy, Tliimpsoh of Santa Rosa, and Whitehurst-21.
Nays--Messrs. Dewitt, Dummett, Hollaman, Latigfofd, Rowley,
Shine, Taylor, VanZant, Wall and Zeigler-10.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A Bill to be entitled, An Act to extend political equality to Igna-
tio Phales and others;
Came up on its third reading, and was postponed, and made the
special order of the day for Saturday week.
A Bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize Andrew J. Smiley, a
minor, to assume the management of his own estate ;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
SYeas--Messrs. Baisden, Carter, Chaires, Dell, Haddock, Harris,
Haynes, Hollanian, Johnston, Jones of Nagsau, Parsons, Penn, Pope,
Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Thompson of Levy,
Thompson of Santa,Rosa, VanZant, Wall, Whitehurst and Zeig-
ler-24.
Nays-Messrs. Brown, Coombs, Dewitt, Dummett, Jones of Mon-
roe, Langford, Porter and Taylor-8.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize Henry Benner to estab-
lish a ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time
on to-morrow.
A-bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize Allen Mondin to estab-
lish a toll bridge across the Withlacoochee River;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize Neil Monroe to estab.
lish a ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Henry Christy and
Theophilus Higginbotham;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
to-morrow.

On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10
o'clock.

THURSDAY, December 7, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, thd journal of yesterday was read,
amended and approved.
The following Bills and resolution, which had passed the House,
were transmitted to the Senate, viz :
Bill to be entitled An Act to restore the force and operation of
the general laws of this State in relation to the migration of free
persons of color into this State;
Bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of Watson W. Leggett;
Bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of Jose Vigil;
Bill to be entitled An Act to authorise Andrew J. Smiley, a minor,
to assume the management of his own estate;
Resolution to declare Manatee a Port of Delivery; and
Senate Bill to be entitled An Act to empower John Richard
Bradford, a minor, to assume the management of his own estate.
Mr. Pope gave notice that he would, on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a Bill to legitimatize and change the names of
Richard R,, James B., Thomas B., Wade Ann, and Charlott Ann
Lamb
Also, a Bill authorizing Andrew J. Lea to sell and convey the
Lands belonging to the estate of John D. Shehee, deceased, under
certain restrictions.
Mr. Dummett gave notice that he would, on some future day,
ask leave to introduce a Bill to amend An Act incorporating the
city of St. Augustine, approved 4th Feb'y. 1833.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Galbraith introduced a Bill to
be entitled An Act to provide for the relinquishment to the United
States, in certain cases, title to and jurisdiction over lands for sites
of Light Houses and fpr other purposes on the coast and waters of
this State;
Which was read the first time and ordered to be read a second
time on to. morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Rowley introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to authorize Stephen C. Gonzalez to build a wharf in
the city ofPensacoa ;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Rowley introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to authorize Samuel A. Leonard to build a wharf in
the city of Pensacola;

52.

Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. Johnston gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled An act to change the period
now fixed by law for the payment of taxes and the settlement of
Tax Collectors.
Mr. Dummett gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled An act to allow the Florida
Independent Blues" sixty muskets and accoutrements, to be used by
them during their organization as a-military company.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Harris introduced a bill to be en-
titled An act for the improvement of certain rivers, and for other
purposes;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Internal Improve-
ments.
The Speaker laid before the House a memorial from the New.
York Institute, asking a complete set of all the Public Acts and Sta-
tutes of Florida;
Which was read and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Jones, of Monroe, presented a petition from 187 citizens of
Monroe County, asking further restrictions upon the liquor traffic;
Which was read and referred to a Select Committee, consisting
of Messrs. Jones of Monroe, Penn, Zeigler, Wall and Neel.
The Select Committee appointed to draft and report rules for the
Government of this House, reported the rules of the last session, and
recommended that they be adopted as the rules of the present ses-
sion;
Which report was received, and the rules adopted.
Mr. Galbraith moved that 75 copies of the list of Standing Com-
mittees be printed for the use of this House;
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Dell moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms be instructed to obtain
the copies of the Governor's Message which had been ordered to be
printed for the use of this House;
Which motion prevailed.
ORDERS OF THE -DAY.
A bill to be entitled An Act to amend an act entitled an act to
grant pre-emption rights to settlers on State lands, approved Dec.
31, 1852;
Was read the second time, and 60 copies thereof ordered to be
printed.
A bill to be entitled An Act to repeal an act to amend the several
acts concerning Licenses to retail Spirituous Liquors;
Was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on Fi-
nance.

53

A bill to be entitled An Act to legitimatize Lucinda Road, of Ham-
ilton County, Florida;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Jackson Lea, of Hamil-
ton County, to assume the management of his own estate; "
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
to-morrow.
"On motion, the rules were suspended to permit Mr. Dell to offer
a Resolution.
Mr. Dell offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms be instructed to get carpet-
.ing enough to cover the floor without the bar of the Representative
Hall;
Which resolution was adopted.
A bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of Dr. Algernon S.
;Speer and Arthur Ginn;
Was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on
"Claims.
A bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Henry Benner to estab-
lish a ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
Was read the third time and put upon its passage, upon which the
vote was :
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Chris-
tie, Coombs, Dismukes, Dummett, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris,
Haynes, Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau,
Langford, Neel, Parsons, Penn, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine,
Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Van-
Zant and Zeigler-31.
SNays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Allen Mondin to estab-
lish a Toll Bridge across the Withlocoocheo River;
Was read the third time and put upon it passage, upon which the
vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Christie, Coombs,
Dell, Dismukes, Dummett, Galbraith, Haddock, Haynes, Hollaman,
Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Ncel, Par-
sons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Thomp-
son of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZaut, Whitehurst and
Zeigler-31.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as. stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to:be entitled An act to authorize Neil Monroe to establish
:a Ferry across the Withlacoochee River;

54

Was read the third time and put upon its passage, upon which the
vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires,
Christie, Dismukes, Dummett, Galbraith, Harris, Haynes, Hollaman,
Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Par-
sons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Thompson of
Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Whitehurst and Zeigler
-30.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Henry Christy and
Theopholis Higginbotham;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Bellamy, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Christie, Dell,
Dismukes, Dummett, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Holla-
man, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel,
Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Speer, Thompson
of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Whitehurst and Zeig-
ler-30,
Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow, 10 o'clock,
A.M.

FRIDAY, December 8, 1854.
The House met pursuant to adjournment.
A quorum being present, on motion, the reading of the journal of
yesterday was dispensed with.
The following Bills, which had passed the House, were transmit-
ted to the Senate, viz:
Bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Henry Benner to establish
"a ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
Bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Allen Mondin to establish
"a toll-bridge .across the Withlacoochee River;
Bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Neil Monroe to establish
"a ferry across the Withlacoochee River; and
Bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of Henry Christy and
Theophilus Higginbotham.
Mr. Shine announced to the House the death of Gen. John P.
Duval, and moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow morning,
10 o'clock, to permit the members to attend his funeral;

s5

"Which motion prevailed, and the House adjourned until to-mor-
tow morning, 0 'o'clock.

SATURDAY, December 9,1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
On motion of Mr. Harris, leave of absence was granted to Mr.
Bel-lamy until Wednesday next.
On motion of Mr. Taylor, leave of absence was granted to Mes-
srs. Coombs and Dismukes until Monday next.
Mr. Shine gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Doc-
tors Eppes & Robertsbn.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Bowers introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act authorizing James M. Cockroff to erect a Toll
Bridge across East River, in the County of Walton
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Speer introduced a bill to be en-
titled, An Act to organize the County of Volusia;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
Mr. Whitehurst gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill relative to the 3rd, 8th, and 10th Sections
of the Sixth Article of the Constitution of this State.
Mr. VanZant gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill, to authorize B. F. Jordon to build a Toll
Bridge across the Suwannee River, at or hear the White Springs,.
and for other purposes.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Johnston introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act to change the periods now fixed by law for the
payment of Taxes and for the settlementof Tax Collectors;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Johnston introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act to empower Malcolm Nicholson, a minor, to as-
sume the management of his own estate;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Dummett introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act to amend the Act incorporating the City of St. Au-
gustine, approved 4th February, 1833;

56

Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
Mr. Haynes gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled, An Act to incorporate a Bank
in the Town of Jacksonville.
Pursuant to previous'notice, Mr. Thompson, of Levy, introduced
a bill to be entitled, An Act to amend the Patrol Laws of this
State;
Which was read the first time and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
Mr. Haynes presented a Petition of the citizens of the Brandy
Branch Neighborhood, asking a change of the boundary line be-
tween the Counties of Nassau and Duval;
Which was read, and referred to a select Committee, consisting of
Messrs. Haynes, Galbratth and Bowers.
Mr. Shine presented the Petition of L. C. Demilly, asking com-
pensation for services rendered in cleaning and repairing the State
arms;
Which was read, and referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. Dummett offered a Resolution to declare Picolata a Port of
Delivery;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
Mr. Dell offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That no member of the House of Representatives shall
receive the per diem allowed by law, who does not serve, unless
himself or family are sick.
Mr. Pope moved that the resolution be laid upon the table, upon
vhich the yeas and nays were called, and resulted as follows:
Yeas-Messis. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Dismukes, Fen-
nell, Galbraith, Harris, Johnston, Langford, Neel, Penn, Pope, Shine,
Taylor, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall and Whitehurst-18.
" Nays-Messrs. Dell, Haynes, Parsons, Prescott, Rowley and
Thbmpson of Levy-6.
So the resolution was laid on the table.
The Committee on Claims made the following Report:
The Committee to whom was referred the Bill for the relief of
Algernon S. Speer and Arthur Ginn, beg leave to
REPORT:
That they have had the same under consideration, and find that
said Speer and Ginn were appointed by the Governor of the State to
fill the offices for which they claim compensation, and that they per,
formed the service in good faith. We therefore recommend the pas-
,sage of the bill. -PHILIP DELL,
"Chairman.

57

Which report was received, and the Bill placed among the Ordrtl
tf the Day.
The Committee on Corporations, to whom was referred the bills
authorizing Samuel A. Leonard, and Stephen C. Gonzalez to build
wharves in the City of Pensacola, reported said bills back to the
House without amendment, and recommended their passage;
Which report was received and the bills placed among the Orders
of the Day.
The Select Committee, to whom was referred a bill to be entitled
An Act to amend an act to provide for the payment of Jurors and
State witnesses, approved January 8, 1848, made the following Re-
port:
The Select Committee, to whom was referred a bill to be entitled,
" An Act to amend an act to provide for the payment of Jurors and
State Witnesses, approved January 8, 1848," have had the same
under consideration) and beg leave to
REPORT
That the bill involves a question of much importance, and is well
worthy the mature consideration of this Assembly. The present
amount of compensation allowed to Jurors and State Witnesses in
this State, is either too much or not enough. If the principle is cor-
rect that the services of all its citizens as Jirors and Witnesses arb
due the State absblltely, and that they have no just right to claim
any compensation for the same, and are bound to devote their timb
and sacrifice their private interests to preserve the public peace, pro-
tect the property and settle the difficulties of others, and punish
crimes, without any reward, then is the present compensation unauthor-
ized and unnecessary. But if, on the contrary, it is proper and just
that the community should compensate those whose services it re-
quires, in the execution of its laws and the administration of its go-
vernment, in proportion to the labor and inconvenience to which it
puts them, and its ability so to compensate them, then is the present
compensation of Jurors in this State inadequate and unjust. This
latter principle of compensation has been adopted by almost allgov-
ernments as reasonable and proper. This is evidenced by the sala-
ries of our State officers, and of the members of this Assembly.
By the present law, a Juryman receives one dollar per day for his
services. The bill proposes to increase this amount to one dollar
and twenty-five cents, and allows five cents mileage travelling to and
from the Court. In most if not all the Counties of this State, the in-
convenience and loss to which Jurymen are subject in attending
Court, bears no proportion whatever to the compensation which they
now receive. In many of our Counties, the Courts sit at those sea-
sons of the year when farmers are most busy. It is not uncommon-
ly the case that a man of small mnans, who depends mainly on his
own labor to make his crop, is, at the verv time when it must need
8 II

58

his attention, compelled to travel daily, for two weeks, ten, fifteen,
or even twenty miles to attend Court as a Juror, while his business
is suffering severely for want of his personal attention. The com-
pensation which he receives is the same as that of the Juror who
lives at the Court-house, and is as nothing to his losses. This is un-
just, and no good reason can be offered why those whose property
and lives are protected by his services should not pay him at least
enough to bear his expenses while engaged in their service. If it s
objected that it will increase the expenses of the Government, we
say, nevertheless, let justice be done. Those who enjoy the bless-
ings and security of civil government, must pay for its support and
administration. Our government is not so poor and bankrupt that
it must do injustice to its own citizens to support itself. To the
wealthy citizen, the question of the increase of his pay as a Jury-
man a few cents, may be a matter of little consideration, but to the
poor man, whose time is money, it is a subject of importance.
The second section of the bill provides for the payment of Wit-
nesses summoned to testify before Grand Juries. There is no rea-
son why witnesses before Grand Juries should not receive the same
compensation as those who testify before petit juries. The incon-
venience to which they are put is the same-their loss of time is the
same, and nearly all the other circumstances are the same. Why,
then, should they receive no compensation ? There is no other rea-
son but that it would be too great a tax upon the treasury. The
bill, however, provides that the compensation of witnesses summon-
ed before Grand Juries shall be paid out of the treasuries of the re-
spective counties. The deliberations of Grand Juries, and the in.
vestigations which precede the finding of a true bill, are done on the
part of the county, though after the Grand Jury has presented, the
State prosecutes. It is not improper, then, that the counties as such
should bear part in the expenses of these preliminary investigations.
Besides it is urged that such a provision may make Grand Juries
more cautious in summoning witnesses before them, and putting
them to great trouble and expense on idle and frivolous grounds.
For these reasons, your Committee report the bill back to the
S House without amendment, and recommend that it do pass.
J. B. GALBRAITH,
Chairman.
Which Report was received, and 75 copies of the Bill ordered to
be printed.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled An act to extend political equality to Ignatio
Phalez and others;
Came up on its third reading, and was postponed until Monday
next.
A. ill to be entitled An act to provide for the relinquishment toc

59

the United States in certain cases, title to, and jurisdiction over
lands for sites of Light Houses, and for other purposes, on the coast
and waters of this State ;
Was read the second time, and referred to the Judiciary Com-
mittee.
A bill to be entitled An act to legitimatize Lucinda Read, and to
make her the heir at law of William M. Read, of the County cf
Hamilton, Florida;
Was read the third time, and put upon it passage, upon which the
"vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown. Carter, Christie, Dell,
Dismukes, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Johnston,
Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott,
Rowley, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa
Rosa, VanZant, Wall and Whitehurst-28.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Jackson Lee, of Hamil-
"ton County, to assume the management of his own estate :
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Christie, Dell,
Dismukes, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Johnston,
Jones of Nassau, Neel, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Riviere,
Rowley, Speer, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall
and Whitehurst-26.
Nays-Messrs. Langford, Taylor and VanZant-3.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill tobe entitled An act for the relief of Dr. Algernon S. Speer,
and Arthur Ginn;
Was read the second time, and ordered for a third reading on
Monday next.
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Samuel A Leonard to
build a warf in the city of Pensacola;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
Monday next.
A bill to be entitled An act'to authorize Stephen C. Gonzalez to
build a wharf in the city of Pensacola;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read -a third time on
Monday next.
The following bills which had passed the House, were transmitted
to the Senate, viz :
Bill to be entitled An act to legitimatize Lucinda Read, and to
make her the heir-at-law of William M. Read of the County of Ham-
ilton, Florida; and

Bill to'be entitled An act to authorize Jackson Lee, of Hamilton
County, to assume the management of his own estate.
The rules being waived to permit Mr. Dell to make a motion, Mr.
Dell moved that MIessrs. Thompson of Levy, Pope and Parsons, be
added to the Committee on Census and Apportionment;
Which motion was carried.
The rules being suspended to permit Mr. Pope to make a motion,
Mr. Pope moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr. Taylor
until Tuesday next;
Which motion was carried.
The rules being suspended to permit Mr, Bowers to make a mo-
tion, Mr. Bowers moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr.
"Whitehurst until Tuesday next;
Which motion was carried.
Mr. Rowley moved that the House adjourn until Wednesday
morning, 10 o'clock ;
Which motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Speer, the House adjourned until Monday morn-
ing, 10 o'clock.

MONDAY, December 11, 1851.

"The House met pursuant to adjournment.
A quorum being present the Journal of Saturday was read and
approved.
Mr. Galbraith moved that the use of the Representative Hall be
granted to the Ladies of Tallahassee, for the purpose of giving a
concert on Thursday evening next;
Which motion was carried.
On motion of Mr. Penn, Mr. Carter was added to the Committee
on Propositions and Grievances,
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Carter introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act to authorize John W. Robarts, to Practice Medi-
cine;
Which was read the first time, and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
Mr. Carter gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled, An Act to organize a Coun-
ty to be called the County of Manatee.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. VanZant introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act to authorize B. T. Gordon, of Columbia County,
to build a Toll Bridge across the-Suwannee River;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
The Senate returned the following House Bills, as having passed
that body without amendment, viz:

61

Bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Alien Mondin to estab-
lish a Toll Bridge across the Withlacoochee River, and
Bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Henry Benner to establish
a ferry across the Withlacoochee River.
Ordered, that said bills be enrolled.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.

A bill to be entitled, An act to amend an act entitled An act to
grant pre-emption rights to settlers on State Lands, approved De-
cember 31, 1852;
Was read the second time and referred to the Committee on
State Lands.
A bill to be entitled, An act to authorize James M. Cockroff to
erect a toll bridge across East River, in the County of Walton, at
or near Cockroff's Ferry, on said river;
Was read the second time and ordered to be read a third time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled, An act to organize the County of Volusia ,
Was read the second time and referred to a Select Committee, con-
sisting of Messrs. Dummett, Spear and Galbraith.
A bill to be entitled, An act to change the periods now fixed by
law for the payment of taxes and for the settlement of Tax Col-
lectors;
Was read the second time and referred to the Judiciary Com-
mittee.
A bill to be entitled, An act to empower Malcolm Nicholson, a
minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
Was read the second time and ordered to be read a third time
on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled, An act to amend the act incorporating the
City of St. Augustine, approved 4th February, 1833;
Was read the second time by its title, and referred to the Com-
mittee on Corporations.
A bill to be entitled, An act to amend the Patrol Laws of this
State ;
Was read the second time and ordered to be read a third time on
to-morrow.
Resolution, asking that Picolata be made a Port of Delivery;
Was read the second time and ordered to be read a third time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled, An act to extend political equality to Ignatio
Phales and others;
Was read the third time.
On motion of Mr. Galbraith, the rule was waived, and said bill
was referred to a Select Committee consisting of Messrs. Galbraith,
parsons and Rowley.

62

A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Dr. Algernon S. Speer
and Arthur Ginn;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was :
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Coombs,
Dell, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Jones
of Nassau, Langford, Noel, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Riviere,
Rowley, Shine, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Van-
Zant and Wall-26.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Samuel A. Leonard to
build a wharf in the city of Pensacola ;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Coombs,
Dell, Fennell, Haddock, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nas-
sau, Langford, Neel, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Speer,
Thompson of Santa Rosa, and Wall-22.
Nays-None.
So the hill passed-title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize Stephen C. Gonzalez to
build a wharf in the City of Pensacola;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which the
vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Coombs,
Dell, Fennell, Haddock, Haynes, Hollaman, Jones of Nassau, Lang-
ford, Neel, Penn, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Speer, Thompson of
Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant and Wall-23.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed-title as stated.
Ordered, that the same he certified to the Senate.
On motion of Mr. Galbraith, the House adjourned until to-morrow
morning, 9 o'clock.

TUESDAY, December 12, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
A quorum being present, the Journal of yesterday was read, a-
mended and approved.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Dell introduced a bill to be enti-
tled An Act to repeal the Fifth Clause of the Sixth Article of the
Constitution of this State;

63

Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Dell introduced a bill to be enti-
tled An Act in relation to Dower;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
On motion of Mr. Russell, so much of the Report of the State
Engineer and Geologist, accompanying the Governor's Message, as
relates to the connection of St. Johns and Indian Rivers, was refer-
red to the Committee on Internal Improvements.
On motion of Mr. Shine, so much of the Governor's Message as
relates to census and apportionment was referred to the Committee
on Census and Apportionment.
Mr. Carter gave notice that he would, on a future day, ask leave
to introduce a bill to be entitled An Act to authorize County Com-
missioners to grant Licenses to retail Spirituous Liquors, and for
other purposes.
Mr. Russell gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a Bill to be entitled An act to amend the laws of
this State relative to distress and sale of lands for non-payment of
taxes.
Mr. Galbraith gave notice that he would on some future day ask
leave to introduce a resolution asking Congress to declare Indian
River a Port of Delivery.
Mr. Carter presented the Petition of 166 citizens of Hillsborough
County, asking that John W. Robarts of said County be empoweerd
to practice medicine.
Mr. Neel moved that said petition be referred to the Judiciary
Committee;
Which motion was lost.
On motion, the petition was laid on the table.
The Select Committee, to whom was referred the petition of sun-
dry citizens of Monroe County, asking further restrictions upon the
liquor traffic, made the following report:
The Committee to whom was referred the petition of Alexander
Patterson, and others, citizens of Monroe County, beg leave to
REPORT;
That they are convinced that the subject of the traffic in ardent
spirits, is one that requires the serious and careful consideration of
the Legislature. Every restriction should be thrown about it con-
sistently with the rights of individuals. We cannot legislate upon
nor restrict the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; for every
man has as much right to drink as he has to eat what he pleases.
Yet the traffic may become a serious public evil, and it therefore be-
comes the right and the duty of the Legislature to limit and control
that traffic by wise legislation.

Tippling houses and dram shops are almost necessarily a nuisance
and it should therefore be the policy of the law to limit their num-
ber. This is to bo accomplished by laying a heavy tax upon the
license. The action of the last General Assembly, fixing the an-ount
of State tax at two hundred dollars, has hadc a happy effect; and wo.
are led to believe, from present indications, that public opinion
throughout the State is adverse to any increase of that tax.
There is an evil, however, connected with this subject which
should be remedied-as our laws now are, there is no restriction
upon the sale of ardent spirits in quantities over a quart. In con-
sequence of this, every merchant sells by the quart, and the evils re-
sulting notoriously from this practice, are almost, if not quite, as great
as from dram selling itself. It defeats that policy of the law which
would limit the number of dram shops, and at the same time, in-
jures the business of the licensed retailer, who has paid his tax and
is entitled to protection in his business. Your committee recommend
that the limit to the amount authorized to be sold without license
be raised to one gallon, and herewith submit a bill for that purpose.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
S. F. JONES, Chairman,
W. M. C. NEEL,
JAMES P. PENN,
ELIJAH WALL.
Which was received, and the accompanying bill read the first
time, and ordered to he read a 'second time on to-morrow.
The Joint Select Committee appointed to draft and report Rules
for the government of the two Houses of the General Assembly,
made the following report:
The Joint Select Committee, appointed by the Senate and Iouso
of Representatives, to draft and report Rules for the government of
the two branches of the General Assembly, beg leave to report the
following:
JOINT RULES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

RULE 1. Messages from either House to the other shall be sent
by such persons as a sense of propriety in each House may deter-
mine.
2. After a bill shall have passed both Houses, it shall be duly en-
tolled by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, or by the Sec-
retary of the Senate, as the bill may have originated in one or the
other House.
3. When bills shall be enrolled, they shall be examined by a
Joint Committee of at least two from the Senate, and two from the
House of Representatives, appointed as a Standing Committee for
that purpose, who shall forthwith make report.
4. When a bill or rcsolu'ion, which shall have passed in onu

House is rejected in the other, notice thereof shall be given to the
House in which the same may have passed.
5. When a bill or resolution which has been passed in one House,
shall be rejected id the other, it shall not be brought in during the
same session, without notice of ten days, and leave of two-thirds of
that House in which it shall be moved.
6. Each House shall transmit to the other all papers on which
any bill or resolution shall be founded.
7. No bill that shall have passed one House, shall be sent for
concurrence to the other, on either of the last three days of the ses-
sion.
8. After each House shall have adhered to their disagreement, a
bill or resolution shall be lost.
9. When elections are required to be made by joint vote of the
two Houses, the time of electing shall be previously agreed upon,
and each House shall communicate the nominations made therein to
the other, prior to the voting.
10. Each House shall communicate to the other the nominations;
and the result of each voting.
11. In every Joint Committee the member first named tin the part
of the House first proposing such Committee, shall convene the'
same.
S12. During the election of officers there shall be no motions en-
tertained, except to adjourn, to proceed to vote, to nominate and to
withdraw a candidate-which itotions shall have precedence fi the'
order they stand.
13. The doings throughout shall proceed without debate.
14. Communications shall be made on paper, and signed by the
Secretary of each House, and transmitted by the Messenger, or
Door-keeper,
15. In the election for the Senate 6f the United States, both Sen:
ators shall be voted for at the same time, until one or both of them
shall be chosen.
16. In every case of disagreement between the Senate and House
of Representatives, either House may suggest conference, and ap.
point a Committee for that purpose, and the other House shall also
appoint a Committee to confer at a convenient hour, to be design.
ted by the Chairman; said Committees shall meet, and confer freely
on the subject of disagreement.
17. Whenever a public bill or resolution is ordered to be printed
for the use of either House, a number shall be ordered sufficient for
the use of both Houses; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of
the Senate or Clerk of the House, as the case may be, to inform the
9H

66

other House of such order, and to transmit to that House the requi-
site number of printed copies.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
B. C. POPE,
Chairman of Corn. on part of House.
M. A. LONG,
Chairman of Com. on part of Senate.
Which report was received and read.
Mr. Dell moved that the rules reported by the Committee be
adopted by the House;
Which motion was lost.
Mr. Dell moved that a Committee of three be appointed to act
with a similar Committee on the part of the Senate, for the purpose
of drafting and reporting Joint Rules for the regulation of the two
Houses of the General Assembly during the present session;
Which motion was agreed to, and Messrs. Dell, Shine and De-
witt were appointed said Committee.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.

ORDERS OF THE DAY.

Resolution asking that Picolata be made a Port of Delivery;
Was read the third time, and on the question of its adoption the
"vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Coombs,
Dewitt, Dismukes, Dummett, Fennel, Galbraith, Haddock, Haynes,
hollaman, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Noel,
Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer,
Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Wall and
Zeigler-31.
Nays-None.
So the resolution was adopted.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled, An act to amend the Patrol Laws of this
State;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Carter, Chaires, Coombs, Jones of Monroe, Par-
sons, Pope, Prescott, Speer, Thompson of Levy, and VanZant-10.
Nays-Messrs. Bowers, Brown, Fennell, Haddock, Haynes, Hol-
laman, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Noel, Penn, Riviere, Rowley,
Shine, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall and Zeigler-10.
So said bill-was lost.
A bill to be entitled, An Act to empower Malcolm Nicholson, a
minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
Came up on third reading, and was postponed until to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled, An Act authorizing James M. Cockroff, to

67

erect a Toll Bridge across East River, in the County of Walton,
at or near Cockroff's Ferry, on said River;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was :
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Chaires, Dewitt, Dis-
mukes, Fennell, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Hollaman, Jones of Nas-
sau, Langford, Neel, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Reviere, Rowley, Speer,
Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Wall and
Whitehurst-25.
Nays-Messrs. Carter, Jones of Monroe and Zeigler-3.
So the bill passed-title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize B. T. Jordon, of Co:
lumbia County, to build a Toll Bridge across the Suwar.nee River;
Was read the second time, and ordered to.be read a third time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled, An Act to afithorize John W. Robarts to
practice Medicine;
Was read the second time.
Mr. Jones of Monroe moved to strike out the enacting clause, up.
on which the yeas and nays were called, ana resulted as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Dewitt, Hollaman, Jones of Monroe, Penn and
Zeigler-5.
Nays-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Coombs,
Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Langford,
Neel, Parsons, Pope, Prescott, Rowley, Speer, Thompson of Levy,
Wall and Whitehurst-22.
So the motion was lost.
"On motion of Mr. Dummett, the bill was laid on the table.
The following message from the Senate was read :,
SENATE CHIAMBEr, Dec. 12, 1854.
Hon. Speaker of the
House of Rcpresentatives :
SmI :-TheSenate has passed the following bills and resolutions,
viz:
House bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize Andrew J. Smiley,
a minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
House bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize Neil Monroe, to
establish a Ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
A bill to be entitled, An Act to repeal the road tax of Santa Rosa
County;
A bill to be entitled, An Act to amend An Act in relation to Pi-
lotage, at the Port of Key West;
House bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Watson W.
Leggett;
House resolution to declare iM ii tlc: a Port of Delivery;

68

A resolution in relation to the Election of officers therein named;
A resolution designating adjournment of the General Assembly.
Very respectfully,
D. G. LIVINGSTON,
Secretary of the Senate.
Ordered that the House bills and resolution be enrolled, and that
the Senate bills and resolutions be placed among the Orders of the
Day.
Mr. Haynes moved that the House reconsider the vote on the
question of the passage of a bill to be entitled, An Act to amend
the Patrol Laws of this State;
Which motion was lost.,
Senate resolution in relation to the election of certain officers
therein named;
Was read and postponed-until Thursday.
Senate resolution designating the day for the adjournment of the
General Assembly;
Was read the first time.
Mr. Penn moved that the resolution be laid upon the table, upon
which the yeas and nays were called, and were as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Bowers, Brown, Carter, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett,
Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Par-
sons, Penn, Prescott, Rowley, Thompson of Levy, VanZant and
Wall-18.
Nays-Messrs. Baisden, Chaires, Coombs, Dismukes, Fennell,
Hollaman, Langford, Neel, Pope, Reviore, Shine, Speer, Thompson
of Santa Rosa, Whitehurst and Zeigler-15.
So the resolution was laid on the table.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to repeal the Road Tax of Santa
Rosa County;
Was read the first time and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to amend An act in relation to
Pilotage at the Port of Key West;
Was read the first time and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
.The following message from His Excellency the Governor, was
received and read:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, 1
December 9th, 1854.
To the Hon. Wx. F. RUSSELL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir:--I nominate William P. Dewees for the office of Notary
Public, in and for Duval County.
JAMES E. BROOME.
Also the following:

69

EXECUTIVE CIIAIBER,
December 9th, 1854.
To the Hon. WMr. F. RUSSELL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
SIR:-I respectfully nominate Jacob A. Garrard and Cyprian T.
Jenkins, as Notarie's Public, and James A. Boyet and John E. John-
son, as Auctioneers, in and for the County of Hernando.
JAMES E. BROOME.
On motion, the consideration of the nominations therein made,
was postponed until Thursday next.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10 o'-
clock.

WEDNESDAY, December 13, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings'officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
The following Bills and Resolution which had passed the House,
were transmitted to the Senate, viz:
Bill to be entitled an Act for the relief of Algernon S. Speer and
Arthur Ginn;
Bill to be entitled an Act to authorize Samuel A. Leonard to
build a Wharf in the City of Pensacola;
Bill to be entitled an Act to authorize Stephen C. Gonzalez to
build a Wharf in the City of Pensacola;
Bill to be entitled an Act to authorize James M. Cockroff to build
a Tdb Bridge across East River, in the County of Walton, at or
near Cockroffs Ferry on said River;
Resolution asking that Picolata be made a Port of Delivery.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Haynes introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act to incorporate a Bank in the Town of Jacksonville;
Which was read the first time by its title, the rule waived, read a
second time by its title, and 75 copies thereof ordered to be printed.
Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills on
some future day:
By Mr. Pope:
A bill to repeal the Third Article of I ourth Section of the law
providing for sales or property under execution; also
A bill to alter and change the laws now in force providing for the
selection of Jurors.
By Mr. Brown:
A bill to authorize William A. Gainer to build a Toll Bridge over
Bear Creek in Washington County,
By Mr. Shine;

70

A bill to be entitled An act to regulate the fees of Justice's of the
Peace; also
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of William R. Hayward.
By Mr. Parsons:
A bill to be entitled An act in relation to Pilotage at the Port of
Bayport; also
A bill to be entitled An act in relation to the offices of Sheriff and
Tax Assessor and Collector in Hernando County.
By Mr. Dewitt:
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Oliver II. Hearn to build
Bridge across the Ocilla River.
By Mr. Carter:
A bill to be entitled An act to provide for the payment of State
Script and for other purposes.
By Mr. Haynes:
A bill to be entitled An act to regulate Pilotage on the Bar of the
River St. John's.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Fennell introduced a bill to be
entitled An act to amend the laws of this State relating to gambling;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
On motion, the rules were waived to permit Mr. Thompson, of
Levy, to introduce a bill without previous notice.
Mr. Thompson of Levy introduced a bill to be entitled An act to
increase the salaries of certain State Officers, &c.;
Which was read the first time, and the rule being waived, read a
second time by its title.
Mr. Dell moved that said Bill be laid oh the table;
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called, and were as
follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Bowers, Brown, Dell, Fennell, Haddock,Iolla-
man, Johnston, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Riviere and White-
hurst-12.
Nays-Messrs. Baisden, Carter, Chaires, Coombs, Dewitt, Dis-
mukes, Dummett, Galbraith, Harris, Haynes, Penn, Prescott, Row-
ley, Shine Taylor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa,
Wall and Zeigler-19.
So the House refused to lay said bill on the table.
On motion, said bill was referred to the Committee on Finance
and Public Accounts.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Pope introduced a bill to be en-
titled An act authorizing and empowering A. J. Lea, Administrator,
to sell certain real estate therein specified;
Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read the second
time by its title, and ordered to be read a third time on to-morrow.
Mr. Dummett introduced a resolution authorizing the Governor to

turn over sixty muskets and accoutrements to the Florida Indepen.
dent Blues;
Which was read the first time and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Mr. Hollaman moved that a copy of each of the newspapers pub-
lished in the city of Talahassee, be furnished each member of this
House;
Which motion was agreed to.
Mr. Baisden, from the Committee on Engrossed and Enrolled
Bills, reported as correctly enrolled the following bills, viz:
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Henry Benner to estab-
lish a Ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Neil Monroe to establish
a ferry across the Withlacoochee River;
A'bill to be entitled An act to authorize Andrew J. Smiley, a mi-
nor, to assume the management of his own estate;
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Allen Mondinjto estab-
lish a Toll Bridge across the Witldacoochee River.
J. T. BAISDEN,
Chairman.
The following message from the Senate was read:
SENATE CIIAMBER,
December 13, 1854.
Hon. Speaker of the
House' of Representatives :
SIR:-The Senate has passed the following bills and resolution,
viz:
,House bill to be entitled An act to restore the force and opera-
tion of the General Laws of this State, in relation to the migration
of free persons of color into this State;
House bill to be entitled An act to authorize Jackson Lee of Ham-
ilton County, to assume the management of his own estate;
House bill to be entitled An act to legitimatize Lucinda Read, and
to make her the heir at law of William M. Read of the County of
Hamilton, Florida;
"A bill for the relief of John B. Anderson;
"A bill to be entitled An act to allow the Supreme and Circuit
Courts to hold extra terms;
"A bill to be entitled An act in relation to Evidence ;
"A bill to establish a Ferry at Brown's Ferry in Jackson County;
"A bill to be entitled An act to prevent fraudulent voting;
"A bill to be entitled An act explanatory of the several acts in re-
lation to the migration of free persons of color into the port of Key
West;
A bill to consolidate the office of Sheriff and Tax Assessor and
Collector of Jackson County;

A resolution in relation to the payment of the members of the
Board of Internal Improvement.
Very respectfully,
D. G. LIVINGSTON,
Secretary of the Senate.
Ordered that the House Bills be eni olledi and the Senate bills and
Resolution be placed among the orders of the day.

ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled.An act to repeal the fifth clause of the sixth
article of the Constitution of this State;
Was.read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time
On to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An act in relation to Dower;
Was read the second time and referred to the Judiciary Commit.
tee.
A bill to be entitled An act concerning the retailing of spirituous
liquors ;
Was road the second time, and referred to the Committee on Fi-
nance and Public Accounts.
The rule being waived;Mr. Galbraith introduced a bill to be en.
titled An act to provide for the appointment of Inspectors of Tar
and Turpentine in this State;
Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An act to empower Malcolm Nicholson, a
minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas--Messrs. Baisden, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Christie, Coombs,
Dell, Dismuukes, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Hol-
laman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Neel, Parsons,
Penn, Pope, Prescott,Riviere, Shine, Thompson of Levy, Thompson
of Santa Rosa and Wall-27.
Nays-Messrs. Dewitt, Langford and Taylor-3.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize B. T. Jordan to build a
bridge across the Suwannee River and for other purposes:
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Chris-
tie, Coombs, Dell, Dismukes, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Haynes,
Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford,
Neel, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott,'Rowley,Shine, Taylor, Thomp.
son of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall, Whitehurst and Zeig-
ler-31.

SNays--None.
So said bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to amend an act to provide for the
payment of Jurors and State Witnesses, approved January 8, 1848 ;
Was read the second.time, and on motion, the House resolved it-
self itself into a Committee of the Whole for the. consideration of
said bill, Mr. Shine in the Chair.
After some time spent in consideration thereof, the Committee
rose, and by its chairman, reported progress, and asked leave to sit
again ;
Which report was received, and leave granted.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to repeal an act entitled An act
in relation to a Road Tax in the Counties of Santa Rosa and Es.
cambia, so far as relates to the County of Santa Rosa ;
SWas read a second time, and the rule being waived, read a third
time by its title, and put upon its passage, upon which the vote was:
.Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown,Carter, Chaire, Coombs,
Dell, Dewitt, Dismukes, Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Harris,
Haynes, Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau,
Langford, Neel, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Presscott, Rowley, Shine,
Taylor,Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall, Whitehurst and Zeigler--31
Nays-None.
So the bill passed title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
SSenate bill to be entitled An act to amend an act in relation to
Pilotage at the Port of Key West;
Was read a second time.
Mr. Jones, of Monroe, moved that the rules be waived to permit
the bill to be read a third time;
Which motion was lost.
The bill was then ordered to be read a third time on to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled An act for the relief of John B. Ander-
son, of Jackson County;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to allow the Supreme and Circuit
Courts of this State to hold extra terms whenever the regular terms
cannot be safely held in consequence of the prevalence of any con-
tagious disease, at the time and place, or places, appointed by law
for holding the regular terms;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrtow.
Senate Bill to be entitled An act in relation to Evidence;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on'
to-morrow.
10,Hl

74

Senate bill to be entitled An act to establish a ferry at Brown's
forry, in Jackson County;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow,
Senate bill to be entitled An act to prevent Fraudulent Voting;
Was read the first time, -and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled, An Act explanatory of the several Acts
in relation to the migration of free persons of color into the Port of
Key West;
Was read the first time.
On motion of Mr. Pope, the rules were waived, and said bill was
read a second time by its title.
Mr. Rowley moved that the rules be waived, and said bill be read
a third time.
The Speaker put the question, Shall the rules be waived ?" and
upon a viva voce vote, the Speaker decided that the House had vo-
ted in the negative .
Mr. Rowley called for a division of the House.
The Speaker decided that after a decision of the vote by the
chair, a call for a division is out of order, from which decision Mr.
Rowley appealed.
Upon the question, shall the decision of the Chair be sustain-
ed ?" the House voted to sustain the decision of the Chair.
The bill was then ordered to be read a third time on to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled, An Act to consolidate the office of
Sheriff and Tax Assessor and Collector of Jackson County;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
Senate resolution for payment of the Board of Internal Im-
provement;
Was road the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10-
o'clock.

THURSDAY, December 14, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of yesterday's proceedings
was read, amended and approved.
The following bills which had passed the House were transmitted
to the Senate, viz:
Bill to be entitled, An Act to empower Malcolm Nicholson, a mi-
nor, to assume the management of his own estate;
t

Bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize B. T. Jordon to build a
bridge across the Saw:nnee River, and for other purposes; and
Sena't bill to be entitled, An Act to repeal An Act entitled An
Act in relation .to a Road Tax in the Counties of Santa Rosa and
Escambia, so far as it relates to the County of Santa Rosa ;
Mr. Hollaman gave notice that he would on a future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill for the relief of the citizens of Quincy.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Shine introduced a bill to be en.
titled, An Act for the relief of William R. Hayward, and others;
Which was read the first time, and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow,
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Baisden introduced a bill to be
entitled, An Act to amend An Act entitled An Act amendatory of
the First Clause of the Sixth Article of the Constitution of this
State;
Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
Mr. Jones of Monroe moved that a Select Committee be appoin.
ted to ascertain why it is that the House is now paying to the prin-
ter elect fifty cents more per page than is paid to said printer by
the Senate;
Upon which motion the yeas and nayswere called by Messrs Jones
of Monroe and Langford, and were as follows:
Yeas-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, DismukeF,
Fennell, Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau,
Langford. Neel, Riviere, Shine, Speer, Thompson of Santa Rosa,
Whitehurst and Zeigler-18.
Nays-Messrs. Bellamy, Carter, Chaires, Christie, Coombs,
Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Harris, Haynes, Parsons, Pope,
Prescott, Rowley, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, VanZant and Wall
-19.
So the motion was lost.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Dewitt, introduced a bill to be,
entitled, An Act to authorize Oliver Hearn to build a Toll Bridge
across the Ocilla River;
Which was read the first time.
Mr. Dewitt moved that the rules be waived, to permit said bill to
be read a second time;
Which motion was lost.
The bill was then ordered to be read a second time on to mor-
row.
Mr. Bo ers gave notice, that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill, making an appropriation out of the Inter-
nal Improvement Fund for removing obstructions and clearing out
East and Yellow Rivers, and Four Mile Creek, in the County of
Walton.
Mr. Parsons presented petitions from 163 citizens of IIernando

--- -- ---- ------_~

76

County, asking the location of the county site of said county, at
Bay Port;
Which were read and referred to a select committee, consisting of
Messrs. Harris, Thompson of Levy, and Baisden.
The following communication from the Treasurer of this State
was received and read:
TIEASPRER'S OFFICE,
TALLAHASSEE, December 13, 1854.
To the Hon Speaker of the House of Representatives :
,Sin:-Accompanying, herewith, I send a map of the United
State, received from the late Comptroller, who informs me that it
was purchased for the Representative Hall.
I am, very repsectfully,
Your obedient Servant,
C. H. AUSTIN,
Treasurer.
Ordered that the Sergeant-at-Arms, hang the map, accompanying
said letter, in some place in the Representative Hall, convenient for
reference.
The following report was received and read:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills beg leave to report the follcw-
ing bills as correctly enrolled:
A bill to be entitled, An act to restore the force and operation of
the General Laws of this State in relation to the migration of free
persons of color into this State;
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Jacksno Lee, of Hamilton,
County, to assume the management of his own estate;
A bill to be entitled An act tor the relief of Watson W. Leggett;
A bill to be entitled An act to legitamatize Lucinda Read, and to
make her the heir at law of William M. Read, of the County of
Hamilton.
Respectfully submitted,
J, T. BAISDEN,
Chairman.
Mr. Taylor, from the Committee on Corporations, to whom was
referred a bill to be entitled An act to amend the act incorporating
the city of St. Augustine, reported the same back to the House with-
out amendment, and recommended its passage;
Which report was received, and the bill placed among the orders
of the day.
The following message was received fromhis Excellency the
Governor:
EXECUTIVE CIIAMIBER,
TALLAHASSEE, December 12th, 1854.
To the Hon. Speaker of the
House of Representatives :
SI:;-I respectfully nominate Thos. Shea, David Stow, Benja,

wnin Lucas, Daniel Pratt, and Robert Myers, as Auctioneers, in and
for the County of Frlanklin ;
N. Baker, A. R. Allender, J. Milligan, Harry Swain, B. L. Tur-
ner. H. Harrison, sen., and James P. Penn, as Port Wardens, in and
for the County ofFranklin;
Samuel Benezet, Robert Myers, William A. Kain,Francis k. Allen.
der, and Benjamin Ellison as Commissionel s of Pilotage, in and for
the. County of Franklin.
JAMES E. BROOME.
Which was read, and the nomintiaons therein made advised and
consented to.
The following message was received from his Excellency the
Governor:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
TALLAIIASSEE, December 13, 1854.
Hon W. F. RUSSELL, Speaker of the
House of Representatives:
SIR:-I inclose a communication from the Treasurer (if the State,
showing that the appropriations for criminal prosecutions, and for
pay of Jurors and Witnesses, have been exhausted, and furnishing
estimates for the probable outstanding balances.
I respectfully recommend that an early appropriation be made by
the General Assembly to cover those outstanding balances.
JAMES E. BROOME.
Which was read, and the communication from the Treasurer ac-
companying the same, referred to the Committee on Finance and
Public Accounts.
A message was received from the Senate announcing that Messrs.
Long, Eppes and Brinson had been appointed a Committee on the
part of the Senate to act with the Committee on the part of the
House, for the purpose of drafting Joint Rules for the government of
the two houses of the General Assembly.
The following message from the Senate was read:
SENATE CHAMBER,
December 14, 1854.
lion. Speaker of the
House of Representatives :
SIR :-The Senate has passed the following bills and resolution,
viz:
A bill to be entitled An act governing Judges of Probate in cer-
tfin cases;
"A bill to be entitled An Act to create a fifth Judicial Circuit;
"A bill to be.entitled An act to incorporate the Tallahassee and
Quincy Plank Road Company;
House bill to be entitled An act to authorize James M. Cockroff
to erect a Toll Bridge across East River, in the County of Walton,
at or near Cockroff's Ferry on said River;

'78

Hisneo bill to be entitled An act to authorize S.:nuel A. Leonard
to build a whuifin the city of Pensacola;
House hill to be entitled An act to authorize Stephen C. Gonza-
lez to build a wiharf in the city of Pensacola;
House resolution asking that Picolata be made a Port of Delive-
ry,
Very respectfidly,
1). G. LIVINGSTON, .
Secretary of the Senate.
Ordered that the lHouse bills and resolution e enrolled, and the
Senate bills placed among the Orders of the Day.
ORDERS OF TIlE DAY.

The nominations made by His Excellency the Governor, in his
Message of the 9th instant, were advised and consented to.
Senate resolution in relation to the election of certain officers
therein named ;
Was read the second time.
Mr. Dell moved that the resolution be indefinitely postponed, up-
on which motion the yeas and nays were called, and were as fol.
lows:
Yeas-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. BaisIden, Bellamy, Bowers, Brown,
Carter, Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell,Dewitt, Dummett, Gal-
braith, Harris, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Parsons,
Penn, Pope, Prescott, Speer, Taylor, Thompso n of Levy, VanZant
and Wall-26.
Nays-Messrs. Dismukes, Fennell, Haddock, Hollaman, John-
ston, Langford, Nell, Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Whitehurst and Zeig.
lcr-12.
So the resolution was indefinitely postponed.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to incorporate a Bank in the Town of
Jacksonville;
Came up on its second reading, and was postponed until Monday
next.
A bill to be entitled An act to amend the Laws of this State rela-
ting to Gambling;
Was read the second time.
Mr. Jones, of Monroe, moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed,
upon which motion the yeas and nays were called, and were as fol-
lows:
Yeas-Messrs. Coombs, Dewett, Dnmmett, Galbraith, Johnston,
Jones of Monroe, Parsons, Prcscott, Rowley, VanZant and Zeigler-
11.
Nays-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Dis-
ankes, Fennell, Haddock, Harris, IIaynes, Hollaman, Jones of Nas-

sau, Langford, Pope, Speer, T'alor, ''hoolpssn of Levy, Thfompson
of Santa Rosa, Wall and \Whitchutrst-20.
So the motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Fennell, said bill was referred to the Committee
on Propositions and Grievances.
A bill to be entitled an act authorizing and empowering A. J. Lea,
administrator, to sell certain real estate therein specified ;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which the
vote'was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Brown, Carter, Christie,
Coombs, Dell, Dismukes, Dummett, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris,
Haynes, IIollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau,
Langford, Neel, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Tlhompp-
son of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Wall and Zeigier-29.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed-title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Resolution authorizing the Goveinor to turn over sixty muskets
and accoutrements to the Florida Independent Blues;
Was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on the
M ilitia. .
A bill to be entitled An act to repeal the Fifth Clause of the
Sixth Article of the Constitution of this State;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which h
the vote was.
Yeas-Messrs. Dell, Dummett, Haddock, Haynes, Penn, and
Prescott-6.
Nays--Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Cliaices,
Christie, Coombs, Dewitt, Dismikes, Fennell, Galbraith, Harris,
Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langbfod,
Neel, Parsons, Pope, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of
Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall and Whitehurst--30.
So the bill was lost.
Mr. Rowley moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow, 11
o'clock, A. M. ;
Which motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Speer, the House adjourned until to-morrow,
10 o'clock, A. M.

FRIDAY, December 15, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quonrtn being present, the Journal of yesterday was read, amen-
ded, and approved.
A bill to be entitled An act authorizing and empowering A. J. Lea,

80

Administrator, to sell certain teal estate therein specified, which had
passed the House, was transmitted to the Senate.
On motion of Mr. Dell, Senate Resolution for the payment of the
Board of Internal Improvement was placed first among the orders
of the day.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Hollaman introduced a bill to he
entitled An act for the relief of the town of Quincy;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second,
time on to-morrow.
Mr. Fennell gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill making an appropriation out of the Interna
Improvement Fund for removing obstructions out of the Choctawhat-
chie River,
Mr. Speer gave notice that he would on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to establish the county site of Orange Coun-
ty at Mellonville, until otherwise ordered by law.
The Committee on Engrossed and Enrolled Bills, reported as cor-
rectly enrolled, the following Bills and Resolutions, viz:
Resolution asking that Picolata be made a Port of Delivery;
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Stephen C. Gonzalez to
build a wharf in the city of Pensacola ;
A'bill to be entitled An act to authorize Samuel A. Leonard to
build a wharf in the city of Pensacola;
A Resolution to declare Manatee a Port of Delivery.
The following report was received:
The Select Committee to whom was referred the Petition of A.
T. Frierson, and one hundred and sixty-two other citizens of Her-
nando County, praying that the Court Ilouse of said County be per-
manently located at Bay Port, in said County, have had the same
under consideration, and beg leave to
REPORT :
That they recommend that the prayer of said petioners be granted,
for which purpose, they herewith report to the House a bill, and re-
commend that it do pass.
W. S. HARRINS,
JAMES T. TIOMPSON,
JOSIAHt T. 'AISDEN.
Which was read, and the accompanying hill read the first time,
and ordered to be read a second time on to-morrow.
Mr. Dummett, from the Select Committee to whom was referred
a bill to be entitled An act to organize the County of Volusia. re-
ported said Bill back to the House without amendment, and recom-
mended its passage;
Which report was received, and the bill placed among the orders
of the day.
The following message from the Senate was read:

.: SrF.ncA CIIA.\IDUnR,J'
S. -- Dee,:ml,,'r llh, 1S5 4.
ItoI. Sprak,'r DofAth' +
House of Repreeeiitatives+:
SnI :-T'he Senate has passed the following bills, v.iZ
A Bill to lie entiill..' A.n ai:t to incorpoi aie,: the Palnh'it andl Mica-
tio.'y I'.Lnk Po..l ('nmp.ani ; :
A Bill to b.- ..Tnrili. A\i a0 t.i iL.eeal, An act ainen tory of An
act ti- i'ls hlis i a Manyoi'- (C'nrt in the cilv ol' Apalilhicola ;
A :ill In li. cnitlil d An n. t to enii.ci il e la \s a.lains the viola-
linl 1' th[lie Sabbath <1.i in MoAlro.- CLouuty;
A lill 1to hbe ntileld An act to authorize the drainage ol' the Alach'
una savannah;
llnuse Rill to be entitled .n act lor the relief of Dr. Algernon S.'
Speer and Arthur Gin ;
V er" Rrespectfully,
D. G. LIVIN(;STON,
: Secretary of the Senate.
Ordered that the Hous)e bll be enrolled, and the Senate bill be
placed among the orders of the day.
The rule being waived, the Ifllo ring report was received :
The Committee on Finance, to \ hom 'wa;n rel'err,.l tIhe: comn-uni-
ntions of the Goiernor and Tr ranurer. respectii;i defici-iiuiq in the
appropriations fI;r Criminal Prosecutions and taite \\i"itneiese and
Jurors, beg leave to
REPORT:.
.That in order to susitin the. credit oif the State, it is important
that the additional amount asked for be immediately appropriated,
as the funds are in tlie treaIury, but cannot be paid out but in pursu-
ance of law. -They, therefore, present a bill for this purpose, and
ask your favorable action.
:: JOHN PARSONS,
,-C" chairman Committee on Finance.
Which was read, and the accompanying bill read the first time,
and ordered to be read a second 't;nio .i to-morrow.
The following enrolled bills. which., hIlting passed both Houses of
the (';cheral Assembly. and hnil I,,r:-t signed by the presiding officers
th. ri' ol,.w\rco tranmittred to*His Excellency the Governor for appro -
val, iz :
An Act to auhiorize Henry Benner to establish a ferry across the
\\'ihlacoochee River:
"An Act to anthoriz Neil Monroo to establish a ferry'across the
\iIl,rcoochee Riv.-r;
An Act to nulhojize Allen Mondin to establish a toll bridge a-
cross the Withlacoochee River;.
11 H'

-I-'

-82

.:i ., i to authorize Andrew J. S'.ll y 1if Columbia County, a
minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
Art Act-to restore the force and operation of the general laws of
this State, in relation to the migration of free persons of color into
this State;
An Act to authorize Jackson Lee, of Hamilton County, to assume
the in ii,,' In.*i, of his- own estate; .
A,, \.: I ..' Ih relief of W atson W L..2._ I;:
S.An Act to legitimatize Lucinda Read, and to make her the heir-
at-law of William M. Read, of the County of Hamilton, Florida.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Senate Resolution for the payment of the Board of Internal Im-
provement;: .
W as read the second time, the rule waived, read the third time,
and put upon its passage, upon which the vote was:
SYr.n--Mi- iM 'p-',aker, Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter,
C'ib ;' ','', 'i Dell, Do'witt, Dismlkes, Dunmmett, Fennell, Gal-
,..lh. i.,l.I.I IiHirris, llaynes;, Hollaniman, .Johnston, Job es of
Monroe, Joics of Nassau, Langliod, Ne l, Parsons, Penn, 1'ope,
Prescott, Rivicrc, Rowley, Shine, Speer, 'Tylor, Thompson of Levy,
Thompson of Santa lRosa, VanZa:t, Wall, Whitchurst and Zeiglcr
37.

So the Resolution was adopted.
"Ordered that tho.sdme'be certified to the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to provilo for the appointment of In,
speptors of Tar and Turpentine in this State;
Was read the second time by its title.
Mr. Dell moved that 75 copies of said bill be printed;
Which motion was lost.
On motion, the bill was referi-ed to the Committee on Agriculture-.
.Senate bill to be entitled An act to amend An acnet in relation to
Pilotiage at the Port of Key West;
Came up on its third reading, and was postponed until to-mor-
row. -
A bill to be entitled An act to amoed An act to provide "for the
payment of Jurors and State Witnesses, approved.January S, 1S48;
Came up on its secondreading.
The ii.I--. in a Committee of the-Vhole resumed the considera-
tion of said. bill-Mr. Shine in the Chair.
After some time spent in consideration of s:,id hill, the Conimiti;c
rose,-and by its Chairman, reported the same back. to the IHoiise
with amendments, and asked to be discharged;
*Which report was received, the :!ioendmeii ntO concurred in, and th
Committee discharged.

Crdered that the bill b, *.:inriI:.---.I for a third reading on to-mor.
row.
"Seonate'bill to be -. tii.d A.1 nt foi the relief of John B. ASider.
sonl ;
Was read the 'eo:-: tii,., and oid, .'-..I ir a thiriI reading on to-
lorrow.
Senate bill to be niiilk.1 An act to allow OIth Siw.'l,:[n. and Cir-
cuit C.-.Il i.. 1l .1l :. |;1 : t r.i, ;
Wi- r..:l.1 t'!. -..ound-time, and ordered for-a dhiil i li.e.lii, on to-
morlrow.
srnat..- I.,1! to be en'titled'An act in relation to EPl.. cFr ;
Was read the second time.
Mr. Penn moved that 75 i:'i;,.' Ilher-..f Ie. printed;
Which motion was lost.
The bill was tlh,:.n .i J. r..J (o be read a third time on to-mor-
row.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to establish a Ferry at Brown's
Ferry in Jackson.County;
Was read the second time.
Mr. Rowley moved that the rules be waived to permit him to
intake a motion;
Upon the question of waiving the rules, the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, 1; -, Brown, Carter, Chaires, Gal-
braith, Harris, Haynes, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nas-
sau, L N.1. el, Parsons, Penn, Pope, P,1-..II, Thompson of
Levy,Ti.. -.--* of Santa Rosa and Wall-20.
Nays-M-essrs. Dell,' Hollaman, ;....i y Shine, VanZant, W.hite-
hurst and Zeigler-7.
Sc the House refused to waive the rules;three-fourths of the mem-
bers present not voting therefore.
Said bill was ordered to be' read a third time on to-morrow.
S.-..i- i-, I.ll to be entitled An act to prevent fraudulent voting;
Was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on
Elections.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act explanatory of the several Acts
in relation to the migration of free persons of color into the Port of
Key West;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was :
Yeas-Messrs. Bowers, Coombs, Fennell, Jones of Monroe,.and
Jones of Nassau-5.
Nays--Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Brown, Chaires, Dell, Dewitt, Dis-
mukes, Galbraith, -H Ii.-.1.. Harris, Haynes, Jlollaman, Johnston,
Langford, Neel, Parsons, Penn,- Pope. Prescott, Riviere, Rowley,
Shine, Spoer, Tralor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa,
VanZant, Wall, Whitchurst and Zeigler-29.
So said bill was lost.

Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act to consolidate the office of Sher.
iff and Tax Assessor and Collector of Jackson County;
Was read the second time, and referred to the Judiciary Com.
mittee.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act governing Judges of Probates in
certain cases;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act to create a fifth Judicial Cir-
cuit ;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An Act to incorporate the Tallahassee and
Quincy Plank Road Company;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An Act forthe relief of William R. Hayward
and others ;
Came up on its second reading, and was postponed until to-mor-
row.
A bill to be entitled An Act to amend An Act entitled An Act
amendatory of the First Clause of the Sixth Article of the Constitu-
tion of this State;
Was read the second time, and on motion of Mr. Pope the House
resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole for the consideration
of said bill, Mr. Galbraith in the Chair.
After some time spent in consideration thereof, the Committee
rose, and by its Chairman reported the bill back to the House, with
all after the enacti-g clause stricken out.
Which report was received.
Mr. Rowley moved that the bill be indefinitely postponed.
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called, and were as
follows:
Yeas-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Bowers, Brown, Carter, Chaires,
Coombs', Dewitt, Dismukes, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Hollaman,
Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Parsons, Penn, Riviere,
Rowley, Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Santa Rosa, Wall,
Whitehurst and Zeigler-26,
Nays-Messrs. Baisden, Dell, Fennell, Haynes, Langford, Neel,
Pope, Prescott, Thompson of Levy and VauZant-10.
So the bill was indefinitely postponed.
A bill to be entitled An Act to authorize Oliver H. Hearn to build
a Toll Bridge across the Oeilla River;
Was read.the second time, and ordered to be read a third time
on tomorrow.
A.bill to be entitled An Act to organize the County of Volusia

Was read the second finiv by its title, and ordered tb be read a
third time on to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act, to repeal Section 4 of An Act
amendatory of An Act to establish and organize a Mayor's Court
for the City of Apalachicola, approved January 4th, 1853;
Was reaA the first time, and ordered to be read a zio-coil time on
to-morrow.
SSenate'bill to be entitled An Act to enforce the laws against vio-
lations of the Sabbath day in Monroe County;
Was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
On motion, the House adjourned until to-morrow, 10 o'clock,
A. M.

SATURDAY, December 16, 1854.

The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, on motion, the reading of the Journal of
yesterday was dispensed with.
Senate Resolution to provide for the payment of the Board of In-
ternal Improvement, which had passed the House without amend.
ment, was transmitted to the Senate.
The following Enrolled Bills and Resolutions, which had, passed
both Houses of the General Assembly, and had been signed by the
.presiding officers thereof, were transmitted for approval to his Excel.
lency the Governor, viz:
An Act to authorize Sanuel A. Leonard to build a Wharf in the
City of Pensacola;
An Act to authorize Stephen C. Gonzalez to build a Wharf in the
City of Pensacola;
A Resolution to declare Manatee a Port of Delivery; and
A Resolution asking that Picolata be made a Port of Delivery.
Mr. Thompson, of Levy, gave notice that he would, on some fu-
ture day, ask leave to introduce a bill to extend the time granted
George H. Tresper to establish a ferry on the Suwannee River, and
for other purposes; also
A bill to amend Article Fourteenth of the Constitution of Florida,
by striking out the second Section thereof.
Mr. Baisden gave notice that he would, on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled, An act to Incorporate the
Suwannee, Santafee and Gulf Navigation Company.
On motion of Mr. Galbraith, a Committee of three was appointed,
consisting of Messrs. Galbraith, Dell and Speer, to wait on the Sen-
ate and ask the return of Senate Resolutions for the payment of the

Board of Internal Improvement, which had passed the House on
yesterday:
.Said Committee having waited upon the Senate, returned, and re-
porl. I l.. ., had performed the tdty assigned them.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Pope introduced a bill to be enti-
tied, An act for the relief of George Bell;
Which was read the first tLie, and ordered to be read a second
time on Monday next.
MIr. Taylor gave notice that he would, on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill granting pre-emptions to settlers on Statu
Lands lying on the disputed boundary line between Fiorida and Geor-
gia.
A Committee from the Senate returned to the House Senate Res-
olution to provide for the. '..... n: of the Board of Internal In-
provement;
On motion of Mr. Pope, the vote upon the adoption of said Reso-
lutibn was reconsidered.
On motion, the Resolution was placed first among the Orders of
the Day.
Mr. Bellamy moved that a Committee of three be appointed to in-
form the Senate that the House will hbe ready to go into an election
of a United States Sena tr to-day, at 12 o'clock, M., and ask the
concurrence of the Senate ;
Which .motion was agreed to, and Messrs. Bellamy, Speer aun
Parsons were appointed said Committee.
Said Committee having waited upon tlhe Senate, returned d re-
ported that they had performed the duty assigned them.
Mr. Dell presented a petition lromi snndry citizens of East Flor-
da, praying the passage of a law to provide for the drainage of the
Alaclhua savannah;
Which was ordered to be placed with the bill already introduced
for that purpose.
The following Report was received and read:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills ask leave to report the follow-
ing bills as correctly enrolled :
A bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Doct. Algernon S.
Speer and Arthur Ginn.
A bill to be entitled, An Act to authorize James M. Cockroff to
erect a Toll Bridge across East River, in the County of Walton, at
or near Cockroff's Ferry on-said river.
Respectfully submitted,
"J. T. BAISDEN,
Chairman.
The following Report was received and read :
The Joint Select Committee appointed to draft and report Joint
Rules of the General Assembly, having conferred together and con-
sidered the subject, beg leave to repo t the following:

"87

"JOINT RULES OiF THE GENERAL A.-'lMliLY.

RULE 1i M.-... CI'TIi either House to the other shall be sent by
such persons as a sense of propriety il each House may determine.
"2. After a bill shall'have passed both Houses, it shall be duly en-
rolled by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, or by the See-
retary of the Senate, as the bill may have (li nI.It..I in one or the
other House.
3. When-a bill or resolution which shall have passed in one House
is rejected in the other, notice thereof shall be given to the House in
which the same m1!,y I.': p ..-. 'I.
4. When a bill or resolution which has ,.c-i i:','rd in one House
shall be rejected in the other, it shall not be brought in during the
same session, without notice of ten days, and leave of two-thirds of
that House in which it shall be moved.
5. Each House shall transmit to the other all.papers on which any
bill or resolution shall be founded.
6. No bill that shall have passed one liA.-.- shall be sent for con-
currence to the other.on either of the last three days of the session.
7. After. each House shitll 'have a1.1 ,...I .to their disagreement, a
bill or resolution shall be lost.
8. When elections are required to be made-by joint vote of the
two Houses, the time of electing shall be previously agreed upon, and
each House shall communicate the nominations made therein to the
other prior to the voting.
9. Each House shall communicate to the other the nominations
and the result of each voting.
"10. In every Joint Committee, the member fi,-t ,.:III:-1 on the
part of the House first proposing such Committee, shall convene the
same. '
11. During the election of.officers,' there shall be no motions en-
tertained except to adjourn, to proceed to vote, to nominate and to
withdraw a candidate, which motions shall have precedence in the
order they stand.
12. The doings throughout shall proceed without debate.
13. Communications shall be made on paper, and signed by the
Secretary of each House, and transmitted by the Messenger or Door-
Keeper.
14. In every case of disagreement between the Senate and House
of Representatives, either House may suggest conference, and ap-
point a Committee for that purpose, and the other House shall also
appoint a Committee to'confer, at a convenient hour, to be designa-
ted by the Chairman ; said Committee shall meet and confer freely
on the subject of disagreement.
15. Whenever a public bill or resolution is ordered to be printed
for the use of either House, a number shall be ordered sufficient- for
the use of both Houses ; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of

'

88

the Senate, or Clerk of the House, as the case may be, to inform the
other House of such order, and to transmit to that House the requi-
site number of printed copies.
Respectfully submitted,
M. A. LONG,
Chairman on part of Senate.
PHILIP DELL,
Chairman on part of House,
On motion, said Joint Rules were adopted.
Ordered, that the same be certified to the Senate,
Th.' following Message froni the Senate was read:
SENATE CHAMIBER, December 16, 1854,
lIon, Speaker of the
House of Representatives I
Sir:--The Senate has passed the following Bills, viz:
House Bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Henry Christy
and Theophilus Higginbotham.
House Bill to be entitled, An Act to empower Malcolm Nicholson,
a minor, to assume the management of his own estate.
House Bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Jose Vigil
A Bill to be entitled, An Act in relation to a Road Tax in the
Counties of Putriam and Marion."
A Bill to be entitled, An Act in relation to Slaves and Free Per,
sons of color.
A Bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of Doct, C, A. Hentz.
Very respectfully,
D. G. LIVINGSTON,
Secretary of Senate.
Ordered, that the House Bills be enrolled, and the Senate Bills be
placed among the Orders of the Day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Senate Resolution for payment of the Board of Internal Improve-
ment;
Came up on its third reading.
On motion, the vote ordering said Resolution to be read a third
time was reconsidered, and said Resolution was placed on its second
reading.
Mr. Pope moved to amend said'Resolution by adding the follow-
ng :
Be itfurther resolved, That upon the Comptroller auditing said
claims, it shall be the duty of the Treasurer to pay the same out of
the Internal Improvement Fund; Provided, said amount so paid shall
be returned to said fund whenever any money shall come into the
Treasury, resulting front the sale of Swamp Lands.
Which motion was agreed to and said amendment adopted.

89

Mr. Rowley moved to amend the Resolution by adding the follow.
ing:
Be it further resolved, That from and after the passage of this
Resolution, all laws which established the Board of Internal Improve-
ment are hereby repealed.
Upon which motion the yeas and nays were called by Messrs,
Rowley and Langford, and were as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Bowers, Fennell, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel,
Riviere, Rowley and Thompson of Santa Rosa-8.
Nays-Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter, Chaires, Christie,
Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes,
Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Parsons, Penn, Pope, Pres-
cott, Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, VanZant, Wall and
Whitehurst-27.
So the House refused to adopt said amendment
Mr. Rowley moved that the Resolution be laid upon the table,
which motion was lost.
Mr. Pope moved that the rules be waived, and the Resolution be
read a third time, and put upon its passage, upon which motion the
vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Bellamy, Carter, Chaires, Christie, Coombs, Dell,
Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Hollaman,
Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Neel, Parsons, Penn,
Pope, Prescott, Riviere, Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy,
VanZant, Wall and Whitehurst-29.
Nays-Messrs. Bowers, Langford, Rowley and Thompson of
Santa Rosa-4.
So the motion was agreed to, four.fifths of the members voting
therefore, and said Resolution was read the third time as amended,
and put upon its passage, upon which the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter, Chaires, Coombs, Dell,
Dewitt, Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harriss, Haynes, Hol-
laman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel,
Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Riviere, Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thomp.
son of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Wall and Whitehurst-31.
Nays-None.
So the resolution was adopted,
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate Bill to be entitled An Act to amend An Act in relation to
the Pilotage of the Port of Key West;
Came up on its third reading.
On motion, the rules were waived, and said Bill was referred to a
Select Committee, consisting of Messrs. Jones of Monroe, Parsons
and Speer.
A Bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of the Town of Quin.
cy;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
Tuesday next.
12 H

90

A Committee from the Senate informed the House that the Senate
had concurred in the motion to go into the election of a United States
Senator at 12 o'clock.
A Bill to be entitled An Act to permanently locate the Court House
bf Hernando County;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
Monday next.
A Bill to be entitled An Act making additional appropriations to
defray the expenses of Criminal Prosecutions, and for the payment of
Jurors and State Witnesses for the fiscal years 1853 and 1854;
Was read the second time, and ordered to be read a third time on
Monday next.
A Bill to be entitled An Act to amend An Act to provide for the
payment of Jurors and State Witnesses, approved January 8, 1848;
Was read the third time.
On motion of Mr. Pope, a call of the House was ordered.
Upon calling the roll, the following members were absent, viz:
Messrs. Baisden, Brown, Christie, Dell, Dismukes, Haddock, Lang-
ford, Porter, Shine, VanZant and Zeigler.
On motion of Mr. Pope, the Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to re-
quest the appearance of the absentees.
The roll being again called, the following members were absent,
viz: Messrs. Brown, Dismukes, Porter and Zeigler.
On motion of Mr. Fennell, further proceedings under the call were
dispensed with.
The Bill was then put upon its passage, upon which the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Bowers, Carter, Chaires,
Coombs, Dell, Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes
Hollaman, Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford,
Neel, Parsons, Pope, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Thomp-
son of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant, Wall and White-
hurst-31.
Nays-Mr. Taylor-1.
So the Bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate Bill to be entitled, An Act for the relief of John B. Ander-
son;
Was read the third time and put upon its passage, upon which the
vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Bowers, Carter, Chaires, Chris-
tie, Dell, Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Johnston, Jones of
Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Laingford, Neel, Parsons, Pope, Prescott,
Riviere, Rowley, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of
Santa Rosa, Wall and Whitehurst-27.
Nays-Messrs. Coombs, Dewitt, Harris, Haynes and VanZant
-5.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.

91

The rules being waived to permit Mr. Rowley to make a motion,
Mr. Rowley moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms be instructed to is-
form persons within and without the bar that smoking is not permit.
ted in the Representative Hall during the sitting of the House;
Which motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Dell, the House took a recess of ten minutes.
At the expiration of ten minutes, the House resumed its session.
The roll being called, there was a quorum present.
On motion of Mr. Carter, a Committee of three was appointed,
consisting of Messrs. Carter, Shine and Parsons, to inform the Sen-
ate that the House was then ready to proceed to the election of a
United States Senator.
Said Committee having waited upon the Senate, returned, and re-
ported that they had performed the duty assigned them.
The Senate entered the Hall:
The President of the Senate, by invitation of the Speaker, took
the Chair.
The President declared the object of the joint meeting to be the
election of a United States Senator, and announced that nominations
were in order.
Mr. Long (of the Senate,) nominated David L. Yulee.
Mr. Hollaman (of the House) nominated Thomas Brown.
The vote was:
FORx Y LEE.-Senate-Mr. President, Messrs. Bird, Brinson, Cone,
Crigler, Filor, Hawes, Kilcrease, Long and Provence-10.
House.-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bellamy, Carter, Chaires,
,Christie, Coombs, Dell, Dewitt, Dummett, Galbraith, Harris, Haynes,
Parsons, Penn, Pope, Prescott, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, VanZant
and Wall-21. Total-31.
FOR BRowN.-Senate-Messrs. Eppes, Gillis, Hopkins, Myrick,
Nicholson, Smith and Tracy-7.
House.-Messrs. Bowers, Brown, Fennell, Haddock, Hollamap,
Johnston, Jones of Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Neel, Ri-
viere, Shine, Speer and Thompson of Santa Rosa-14. Total 21
BLAmN..-Senate-Mr. Wynn-1.
House.-Mr. Rowley-1. Total 2.
The President declared David L. Yulee duly elected United States
States Senator for six years from the fourth day of March next.
On motion, the Joint Meeting adjourned, and the Senate returned
to their Chamber.
On motion of Mr. Parsons, a Committee of three was appointed,
consisting of Messrs. Carter, Parsons and Bellamy, to act with a sim-
ilar committee on the part'of the Senate, to wait upon the Hon. Da-
vid L. Yulee, Senator elect, and inform him of his election.
On motion, the House adjourned until Monday morning, 10 o'-
clock.

MONDAY, December 18, 1854.
The House met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Tydings officiated as Chaplain.
A quorum being present, the Journal of Saturday was read, anmen,
ded and approved.
The following Bills and Resolution, which had passed the House,
were transmitted to the Senate, viz:
Bill to be entitled An Act to amend An Act to provide for the
payment of Jurors and State Witnesses, approved January 8, 1848;
Senate Bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of John B. Ander-
bon; and
Senate Resolution for payment of the Board of Internal Improve-
tnent.
The following communication was addressed to His Excellency
the Governor:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
December 18, 1854. t
Iris Excellency JAMEs E. BROOME,
Governor of the State of Florida t
SIR:-We have the honor to inform your Excellency that at a
joint meeting of the General Assembly, held on the 16th inst, for the
purpose of electing a United States Senator for six years from the
fourth day of March next, Mr. David L. Yulee was declared duly
elected United States Senator for the term aforesaid.
Very Respectfully,
D. G. LIVINGSTON,
Secretary of the Senate.
HUGH A. CORLEY,
Clerk 1Ho. Reps.
On motion of Mr. Penn, leave of absence was granted to Mr. Noel
tntil to-morrow.
Mr. Langford gave notice that he would, on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a Bill for the relief of John Sapp, of Madison
County, Florida.
Mr. Harris gave notice that he would, on some future day, ask
leave to introduce a bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of William
R. Friar, of Marion County.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Carter introduced a Bill to be en.
titled An Act to authorize County Commissioners to grant Licenses
to retail Spirituous and Vinous Liquors, and for other purposes;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Brown introduced a Bill to be
entitled An Act to authorize William A. Gainer to build a Toll
Bridge across Bear Creek;

Which was read the first time, anl ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Taylor introduced a Bill to bi
entitled An Act to grant Pre-emptions to Settlers on the State Lands
lying on the disputed Boundary Line between Florida and Geor-
gia;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Pursuant to previous notice, Mr. Parsons introduced the following
Bills, viz;
A bill to be entitled An act in relation to Pilotage at the Port of
Bay Port; and
A bill to be entitled An act to unite the offices of Sheriffand Tax-
Assessor and Collector, in Hernando County;
Which were read the first time, and ordered to be read the sec-
ond time on to-morrow.
Mr. Prescott presented a petition from 125 citizens of Duval Coun-
ty, asking that said County be divided and a new county established
out of a portion thereof;
Which was read, and referred to a select committee consisting of
Messrs. Prescott, Baisden and Wall.
Mr. Penn presented a petition from sundry citizens of Apalachico-
Ia, asking the passage of An act to improve the Harbor and Bay of
Apalachicola;
Which was read.
The rule being waived, Mr. Penn introduced a bill to be entitled
An act to improve the navigation of the Harbor and Bay of Apalach-
icola;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Mr. Carter offered the following resolution
Resolved, That the Comptroller be requested to furnish the House
of Representatives a statement of the amount of scrip issued under
the act of the last General Assembly, entitled An act to provide for
the payment of Captain Sparkman's, Parker's, and other volunteer
companies, for services in the year 1849, including the interest there-
on, to the first day of January, 1855.
Which was adopted.
Mr. Carter offered a resolution to make Tampa a Port of Entry;
Which was read the first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Mr. Carter offered a resolution relative to extra compensation of
the Clerk in the office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts;
Which was read the first time, and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
Mr. Brewers offered a resolution making appropriations for the pur-

91

pose of clearing out the obstructions to the navigation of East and
Yellow Rivers and Four Mile Creek in Walton County ;
Which was read the first time, and ordered for a second reading
on to-morrow.
The Committee on Militia, to whom was referred a resolution
authorizing the Governor to turn over sixty muskets and accoutre-
ments to the Florida Independent Blues, reported the same back to
the House with an amendment;
Which report was received, and the resolution placed among the
Orders of the Day.
Tile Committee on Enrolled Bills made the following report:
The Committee on Enrolled Bills have examined the following
bills and report the same as correctly Enrolled:
"A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Jose Vigil;
"A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Malcom Nicholson, a
minor, to assume the management of his own estate;
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Henry Christy and
Theophilus Higginbotham.
Respectfully submitted,
J. T. BAISDEN,
Chairman.
Which was read.
The Select Committee, to whom was referred Senate bill entitled
An act in relation to Pilotage at the Port of Key West, reported
said bill back to the House with amendments;
Which report was received, and the bill placed among the Orders
of the Day.
The following message from the Senate was read:
SENATE CIIAMBER,
December 18, 1854.
Hon. Speaker of the
House of Representatives:
Si :-The Senate has passed the following bills, viz:
A bill to be entitled An act to amend the act regulating Common
Law Proceedings;
A bill to be entitled An act to repeal An act entitled An act to
amend the several acts concerning License to retail Spirituous Li-
quors.
Very respectfully,
D. G. LIVINGSTON,
Secretary of the Senate.
Ordered that the bills be placed among the Orders of the Day.
The following bills which had passed both Houses were trans-
mitted for approval to His Excellency the Governor, viz:
An act for the relief of Algernon S. Speer and Arthur Ginn;
An act to authorize James II. Cockroff to build a Toll Bridga

95

across East River in the County of Walton, at or near Cockroffs
Ferry on said River.
On motion of Mr. Shine, a call of the House was ordered.
Upon calling the roll the following members were absent, viz:
Messrs. Bellamy, Chaires, Coombs, Dismukes, Hollaman, John-
ston Neel, Penn, Pope, Porter, Whitehurst and Zeigler.
On motion of Mr. Shine, further proceedings under the call were
dispensed with.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
A bill to be entitled An Act to incorporate a Bank in the town of
Jacksonville ;
Came up on its second reading, and was postponed and made the
special Order of the Day for Wednesday next.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act to allow the Supreme and Circuit
Courts to hold extra terms whenever the regular terms cannot be
safely held, in consequence of the prevalence of any contagious dis-
ease at time and place, or places, appointed by law for holding the
regular terms;
Was read the third time, and upon the question of its passage, the
"vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Christie, Dewitt,
Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Jones of Nassau, Langford,
Parsons, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Taylor, Thompson of Levy,
Thompson of Santa Rosa and Wall-20.
Nays-Messrs. Dell, Harris, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Shine,
Speer and VanZant-7.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled, An act in relation to Evidence;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Bowers. Brown, Carter, Christie, Dell, Dummett,
Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Jones4of Monroe, Jones
of Nassau, Langford, Parsons, Prescott, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Tay.
lor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant and
Wall-24.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed-title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act to establish Ferry at Brown's
Ferry, in Jackson County;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was :
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Dell, Dewitt,
Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes. Jones of
Nassau, Langford, Parsons, Prescott, Reviere, Rowley, Shine, Speer,

Taylor, Th'impson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa, VanZant
and Wall-25.
Nays-Mr. Jones of Monroe-1.
So the bill passed-title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act governing Judges of Probates
in certain cases;
Was read the second time, and referred to a Select Committee
consisting of Messrs. Parsons, Shine and Carter.
Senate bill to be entitled, An Act to create a Fifth Judicial Cir-
cuit;
Was read the second time.
On motion, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the
Whole for the consideration of said bill, Mr. Shine in the Chair.
After some time spent in consideration thereof, the Committee
rose and by it Chairman reported the bill back to the House.
On motion, said hill was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Senate bill to be entitled An Act to incorporate the Tallahassee
and Quincy Plank Road Company ;
Was read the second time by its title, and referred to the Com-
niitt e on Internal Improvements.
A bill to be entitled An Act for the relief of William R. Hayward
and others;
Was read the second time.
On motion, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the
Whole for the consideration of said Bill, Mr. Parsons in the Chair.
After some time spent in consideration thereof, the Committee
rose, and by its Chairman, reported the bill back to the House with
amendments:
Which report was received.
Said bill was read the second time as amended.
Mr. Dell moved to amend said bill by striking out the words to
be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropria-
ted at the end of the first Section, and adding said words to the
end of the second Section;
Which amendment was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Carter, the further consideration of said Bill
was postponed until to-morrow.
The following message from his Excellency the Governor was
read:
EXECUTIVE CIIAMBER,
Tallahassee, December 15, 1854.
Hon. W. F. RUSSELL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
SIR:-I have approved and signed the following Acts:
An act to authorize Henry Benner to establish a ferry across the
Withlacoochee River;

97

An act to authorize Neil Monroe to establish a ferry across the
"Withlacoochee River;
An act to authorize Allen Mondin to establish a Toll Bridge
across the Withlacoochee River;
An act to authorize Andrew J. Smily of Columbia County, a mi.
nor, to assume the management of his own estate;
An act to restore the force and operation of the General Laws of
this State in relation to the migration of free persons of color into this
State;
An act to authorize Jackson Lee, of Hamilton County, to assume
the management of his own estate;
An act to legitimatize Lucinda Read, and to make her heir at kw
of William M. Read, of the County of Hamilton, Florida.
JAMES E. BROOME.
Also the following:
EXECUTIVE CIIAM3BER,
December 15, 1854.
Hon. W F. RssLL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives:
SIR:-I have approved and signed the following Bills and Reso-
lutions:
An act to authorize Samuel A. Leonard to build a Wharf in the
City of Pensacola;
An act to authorize Stephen C. Gonzalez to' build a Wharf in the
City of Pensacola;
"A Resolution to declare Manatee a Port of Delivery.
"A Resolution asking that Picolata'be made a Port of Delivery.
JAMES E. BROOME.
Also the following:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
December 15, 1854.
Hon. W. F. RUSSELL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives :
SIR:-I respectfully return, without approval, An act entitled
An act for the relief of Watson W. Leggett."
The Act proposes to relieve Watson W. Leggett from all liability
on account of a certain Judgment obtained against him (by tlh
State of Florida) as one of the Sureties on the Appearance Bond of
Ashley Braswell. To my mind, there are insuperable objections as
a matter of State policy, to the precedent which this act would es-
tablish. But without discussing these, it may be I;. ; .- for me to
rest my objections on the want of Constitutional Power in the Gen-
eral Assembly to pass such an Act.
The 2nd Article of the Constitution of this State distributes the
powers of Governmentbetween the Legislative, Executive and Judi-
cial Departments, and expressly declares that neither "shall exercise
13 H

08

any power properly belonging to either of the others, except in the
instances expressly provided in this Constitution."
The power to remit fines and forfeitures, is conferred on the Gov-
ernor, and may be found in the eleventh clause of the third article of
the Constitution ; and if this judgment is upon a forfeiture, which
seems to be the case, it will hardly be doubted that the power of
remission properly belong," to the Executive, and not the Legisla-
tive Department of the Government.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES E. BROOME.
On motion, the consideration of the bill returned by His Excel-
lency with his objections, was postponed until to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An act to organize the County of Volusia;
Was read the third and put upon its passage, upon which the vote
was :
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Christie, Dell,
Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock, Harris, Haynes, Jones of
Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Parsons, Penn, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley,
Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa
and Wall-25.
Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to repeal section 4 of An act
amendatory of An act entitled An act to establish a Mayor's Court
for the City of Apalachicala, approved January 5, 1853.
Was read the second time, and ordered for a third reading on to-
morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to enforce the laws against vio-
lations of the Sabbath day in Monroe County;
Was read the second time, and on motion of Mr. Penn, indefinitely
postponed.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to incorporate the Palatka and
MAicanopy Plank Road Company;
Was read the first time by its title, and ordered to be read a sec-
ond time on to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An act to authorize Oliver HI. Hearn to build
a Toll Bridge across the Ocilla River;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, Brown, Carter, Christie, Dell,
Fenrinell, Galbraith, Haddock, Haynes, Jones of Monroe, Jones of
Nassau, Langford, Parsons, Penn, Prescott, Riviere, Rowley, Shine,
Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, Thompson of Santa Rosa and
"Wall-24.

9>.

Nays-None.
So the bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to.the Senate.
A bill to be entitled An act to amend the act incorporating the
City of St. Augustine, approved February 4, 1833;
Was read the third time, and put upon its passage, upon which
the vote was:
Yeas-Mr. Speaker, Messrs. Baisden, Bowers, 'Brown, Carter,
Dell, Dummett, Fennell, Galbraith, Haddock,- Haynes, Jones of
Monroe, Jones of Nassau, Langford, Parsons, Penn, Prescott, Ri-
viere, Rowley, Shine, Speer, Taylor, Thompson of Levy, Thomp-
son of Santa Rosa, VanZant and Wall-26.
Nays-None.
So said bill passed, title as stated.
Ordered that the same be certified to the Senate.
Senate bill to be entitled An act to authorize the drainage of the
Alachua Savannah;
Was read the first time by its title, and ordered to be read a sec-
ond time on to-morrow.
Senate bill to be entitled An act for the relief of Dr. C. A. Hentz;
Was read the first time.
Mr. Rowley moved that the rules be waived to permit said bill to
be read a second and third times and put upon its passage;
Which motion was lost.
The bill was then ordered to be read a second time on to-mor-
row.
Senate bill to be entitled An act in'relation to slaves and free per-
sons'of color;
Was read the first time by its title, and ordered to be read a sec-
ond tinie on to-morrow.
The rule being waived, Mr. Shine introduced a resolution author-
izing the Governor to allow compensation to counsel employed in
behalf of Florida in litigating the boundary line;
Which was read the first time and ordered to be read a second
time on to-morrow.
Mr. Jones of Monroe moved that the House adjourn until to-mor-
row, 10 o'clock, A. M.;
Which motion was lost.
Senate bill to be entitled An act in relation to a Road Tax in the
Counties of Putnam and Marion ;
Was read the first time and ordered to be read a second time on
to-morrow.
A bill to be entitled An act for the relief of George Bell;
Was read the second time, and referred to the Committee on
Propositions and Grievances.
Mr. Carter moved that the House adjourn until to-morrow, 10 o'-
clock, A. M.;

	Title Page
	November 1854
	December 1854
	January 1855
	Appendix

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