| Citizen's meeting |
|
|
|
An adjourned meeting of the Citizens of Alachua county was
held at the Court house in Gainesville, on Saturday the 13th instant,
Col. L. Dozier, in the Chair and J. C. Gardner, Esq. Secretary. |
|
The object of the meeting having been explained by the
Chairman, on motion of Hon. Phillip Dell, a Committee consisting of
Messrs. Dell, Dr. S. F. Harvard, S. W. Burnett, Esq. F. McDonell Esq.,
Rev. John Penny, A. E. Geigar, Esq., Jesse Willis, Esq., Wade H.
Sparkman, Esq., C. Rain, Esq., and Maj. Go. Helvenston, was appointed to
prepare business for the meeting. |
|
The Committee reported the Following Preamble and
Resolutions, which, on motion, were received, and unanimously adopted: |
|
Whereas: We are informed from reliable sources, much to our
surprise, regret and mortification, that his impotent Excellency, Gov.
Milton, and a number of individuals deeply interested in the success of
the Railroad schemes of Middle and West Florida, are attempting by
unjust, unfair and false representations, to prevail upon our
authorities at Richmond, to grant an order to remove a portion of the
iron from the Florida Railroad, running between Fernandina and Cedar
Keys, to be used to consummate their long desired plans of connecting
Middle and West Florida with Georgia, and to construct a huge gunboat
upon the Chattahoochee, when all the parties interested, politically and
pecuniarily, have the means at their hand in the St. Marks and Brunswick
roads -- when it would be less expensive to the Government, than to
remove the iron from the Florida Road -- which they could use by acting
patriotically, without the least danger of injuring our cause, or
exposing the lives and property of their citizens. |
|
And whereas, our authorities at Richmond for two years,
very wisely refused to interfere with the iron on the Florida Rail Road,
which they knew from experience to be a "bulwark of strength" to us, as
a means of protection, and besides a matter of great economy. It seems
to us that in view of such important facts, that Gov. Milton, who never
had a well defined policy, and who the people and the Legislature are
afraid to trust with extra power, for want of competency as an executive
officer, is egotistically, and ridiculously so impertinent as to urge
the fact that he is a better judge of military matters, than our
authorities at Richmond, when they know that we were compelled to call a
convention to keep him from ruining the State forever. |
|
Therefore, We, the People of Alachua County, in meeting
assembled, declare that we have always proven our zeal for, and
patriotism to, or great cause, and if a necessity should arise, we are
not only ready to sacrifice our corporate rights in our high-ways, but
all our individual interests -- our lives, our property. But as we do
not conceive that there is a necessity which would, in the least,
justify the removal of any portion of the Fla. Rail Road, which has
been, and is, of so much importance to us as a means of military
protection, and of developing our vast resources, in enabling us to aid
the Government in the prosecution of this unholy war, we hope that our
authorities at Richmond will adhere to their determination in refusing
to yield to the pittiful appeals of an impotent Governor, and
petitioners who are pecuniarily interested in the issue, and continue to
maintain us as ever, as we have, and ever will maintain them, at any
sacrifice which justice may demand or justify. |
|
Be it therefore Resolved, That Alachua County as
ever, stands ready with her honor, her property and the lives of her
citizens, to yield when necessary, all pecuniary interest, and to
maintain at all hazards, the honor, dignity and independence of the
Confederate States. |
|
Resolved, That past experience has shown that the
Florida Rail Road is a great means of our military protection and
defence, and that its destruction would be extravagance and not economy
on the part of the Government, and would result in our overthrow and
ruin. |
|
Resolved, That while it would be of some convenience
to the military, the traveling public and speculators during the war, to
have the connections desired, the necessity is not so pressing as to
justify the destruction of our road, upon which so much depends in the
present emergencies. |
|
Resolved, That if the connections are declared a
military necessity, those roads which will be most benefitted during,
and after the war, should furnish the iron, and are selfish in
attempting to take advantage of the unfortunate state of the country to
obtain ours, when it is of so much importance to us now, and will
continue to be after the war. |
|
Resolved, That Governor Milton, who believed last
winter that we were virtually in the hands of the enemy, is laboring
under a grave error, and is not capable of placing a proper estimate
upon us and our road, as a means to aid the great cause for which we are
contending, and he could spend his talent and labor more profitably and
beneficially o the families of our volunteers, than to urge upon the
authorities at Richmond the importance of taking a step which would
ultimately leave them to the mercy of a brutal foe, by ruining their
means of protection and transportation. |
|
Resolved, That if an attempt is made to remove the
iron from the Florida Railroad, we will appeal to our Circuit Court for
an injunction, and stand by its decision in maintaining the supremacy of
the civil, over the military authorities, at every necessary sacrifice;
for, when civil authorities cease to be regarded, our liberties cease to
exist, only in terms. |
|
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to give the
correspondence between him and the military authorities or any other,
touching the removal of the iron, or any portion of it, from the Florida
Railroad. |
|
Resolved, That the following gentlemen are appointed
a committee to represent us in any issue which may arise, viz: Hon.
Philip Dell, Gen. E. Earl, Stephen McCall, Esq., Enoch T. Geiger, Esq.,
and Elias Banknight, Esq. |
|
The Meeting was eloquently addressed by Maj. J. B. Bailey,
Hon. Philip Dell, Charles P. Cooper, Esq., and Ex-Gov. J. E. Broome,
after which, on motion, the meeting adjourned sine die. |
|
L. Dozer, Chm'n |
|
J. C. Gardner, Sec'y |
|