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FLORIDA. This State, with Alabama and Georgia, composed the Third Military District created by the Reconstruction Act of Congress, passed March 2, 1867. The State government, organized under the proclamations of President Johnson, commenced on January 17, 1866. Under its administration the internal affairs of the State had been reduced to order in every department, as it had existed previous to the war, with the exception of the new relations of the blacks.

The order of General Pope, assuming command of this military division, was issued on April 1, 1866 (see page 17). By it, the District of Key West was merged in the District of Florida, and the whole placed under the command of Colonel John T. Sprague, with his headquarters at Tallahassee.

$51,801,948

On April 8th another order of General Pope (see page 17) directed the commanding officer in Florida to proceed immediately to divide the State into convenient districts for the purpose of registration, etc., as required by the act of Congress.

On May 31st Colonel Sprague established his headquarters at Tallahassee, and subsequently at Jacksonville.

On June 18th he issued an order, announcing the appointment of a superintendent of registration for the State, and requiring all officers of the army and of the Freedmen's Bureau to render him every assistance required.

The order prescribing the arrangement for the registration of voters in the State had been previously issued (see page 21).

On June 18th Governor Walker issued a proclamation, stating that, in compliance with a request from General Pope, all vacancies in civil offices in the State, which existed or might occur, should be reported by the proper officers or citizens, with the names of suitable persons to fill the vacancy.

In consequence of secret meetings of armed blacks, near St. Mark's, the commandant of the post at Tallahassee issued the following order, embracing the counties of Jackson, Calhoun, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor:

General Orders, No. 30.

HEADQUARTERS, POST OF TALLAHASSEE, FLA., June 27, 1867. 1. It has been brought to the notice of the commanding officer that many colored people are in the habit of meeting at night armed, in various portions of the above-named counties, and holding their secret night sessions under the protection of armed guards around the premises in which they are assembled. This practice must be discontinued at

once.

The carrying of arms, of any description, by citizens, as individuals, or as an organization, at secret or public meetings, or churches, is in violation of existing order; and all officers, civil and military, are required to see that said orders are strictly complied with, and to promptly arrest and bring to trial all who fail to obey them.

2. All drinking-saloons, bars, or other places where intoxicating liquors are sold, within the limits of this command, will be closed at 12 o'clock at night, on the 3d of July, and kept closed until 6 o'clock, A. M., on the 5th of July; and the sale or otherwise disposing of intoxicating liquors of all kinds, by the drink or otherwise, on the 4th day of July, within the above-mentioned limits, is strictly prohibited.

All officers, civil and military, will see that this order is rigidly carried out in their respective localities.

By order of Lieutenant-Colonel F. F. FLINT: G. N. BOMFORD, First Lieutenant 7th United

States Infantry, Post Adjutant.

The first appointment to a civil office made by the military commander of the district, Colonel Sprague, was that of the mayor of Apalachicola, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the preceding mayor.

On July 11th a Republican convention assembled at Tallahassee. It was composed of white and colored delegates. The objection was made against some of the whites, that they had not been in the State three months, and that all of them had not been in the State three years. Que hundred and twenty-five delegates were present, representing thirtyseven of the thirty-nine counties of the State. Resolutions denouncing the tax on freedmen, and appointing a committee to investigate any acts of gross injustice to loyal men, and tendering thanks to General Pope, were adopted; also, a series expressive of political sentiments, which were not published.

On July 15th Colonel Sprague issued an order in compliance with instructions from General Pope, stating that the registration of voters would commence on that day and be continued to August 20th. Officers of the

army on duty, and officers of the Freedmen's
Bureau, were enjoined to see that good order
prevailed, and to visit, from time to time, as
inany of the boards as practicable.
On July 19th the following order was is-
sued:

General Orders, No. 41.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT
(GEORGIA, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA),
ATLANTA, GA., July 19, 1867. )

The attention of all Boards of Registration in this district is called to General Orders, No. 10, from using any influence whatever to deter or dissuade these headquarters, prohibiting civil officers from the people from taking an active part in reconstructing their State government, under the act of Congress of March 2, 1867, and the acts supplementary thereto.

Boards of Registration are hereby instructed to inquire into this subject and report at once the names of any civil officers who have been guilty of any infraction of this order, or who may violate it hereafter.

By command of Brevet Major-General POPE: G. K. SANDERSON, Captain 33d United States Infantry and A. A. A. G.

This order was announced by Colonel Sprague on July 25th, with the further explanation that these orders "impose upon commanders the immediate displacement and arrest of all such as embarrass or impede the now successful measures in progress for a satisfactory reconstruction of the State government."

A convention was held in St. John's County on July 22d, at which preliminary steps were taken to organize a Union Conservative party in the State. The following resolutions express the objects of the convention:

Resolved, That we propose, under the name of the Union Conservative party, to form a political association into which all persons wishing well to the South, without regard to former party names or party associations, may enter and combine for the purpose of accelerating the return of the Southern States to their old position in the Union.

situation, and in good faith mean to obey and supResolved, That we fully and cordially accept the port the laws of the United States in relation to the reconstruction of the Union.

Resolved, That we shall hail with pleasure and satisfaction the formation of a constitution for the

State of Florida in all respects in conformity with the Constitution of the United States, fairly and honestly elected by the male citizens of the State, without regard to color or race.

Resolved, That, in our political action as set out in the above resolutions, we are actuated by truly Union and Conservative sentiments and real love for our whole country.

On August 12th the following order was issued by General Pope, in command of the entire district:

General Orders, No. 49.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT
(GEORGIA, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA),

ATLANTA, GA., August 12, 1867. 1. The commanding general has become satisfied that the civil officers in this military district are only observing his order prohibiting them from "using any influence to deter or dissuade the people from reconstructing their State governments under the recent acts of Congress," so far as their own personal conversation is concerned, and are at the

same time, by their official patronage, supporting and encouraging newspapers which are, almost without exception, opposing reconstruction, and obstructing and embarrassing civil officers, appointed by the military district commander, in the performance of their duties by denunciation and threats of future penalties for their official acts.

2. Such use of the patronage of their offices is simply an evasion (perhaps unintentional) of the provisions of the General Order above referred to, and is, in fact, an employment of the machinery of the provisional State governments to defeat the execution of the reconstruction acts.

3. It is therefore ordered, That all advertisements or other official publications, heretofore or to be hereafter provided for by State or municipal laws or ordinances, be given, by the proper civil officers whose duty it is to have such publication made in such newspapers, and such only, as have not opposed and do not oppose reconstruction under the acts of Congress, nor attempt to obstruct, in any manner, the civil officers, appointed by the military authorities in this district, in the discharge of their duties by threats of violence or prosecution or any other penalty, as soon as the military protection is withdrawn, for acts performed in their official capacity.

4. All officers in this military district, and all officers of the Freedmen's Bureau, and all Boards of Registration, or other persons in the employment of the United States under its military jurisdiction, are directed to give prompt attention to the enforcement of this order, and to make immediate report at these headquarters of any civil officer who violates its provisions.

By command of Brevet Major-General POPE: G. K. SANDERSON, Capt. 33d U. S. Inf. & A. A. A. G. The measures for the organization of a Conservative Party were continued in various counties. In Leon County, the convention proposed a State Convention to be held on September 25th, by the "union of all classes, without reference to national politics, in order to establish our local government on a foundation just to all." This Convention assembled at Tallahassee on Sept. 25th, organized, appointed a State Committee, adopted resolutions, and issued an address to the people of Florida. In this paper they say:

As members of the Constitutional Union party, we proclaim that our fundamental principles are the union, equal rights, under the Constitution, to all classes, colors, and conditions, whereby every political franchise appertaining to the citizens, whether white or colored, shall be fully, clearly, and distinctly guaranteed; and of this we assure the colored popufation, fully confident that they will place that confidence in the white citizens among whom they have lived, and which has never been abused, rather than on those people who are strangers to them, aliens to the country, seeking a pitiful and ignominious livelihood out of the colored man's honest labor, and when he becomes pauperized by their perfidy, leaving him, his wife and children, to starve or seek a support from the present white citizens of the country.

Ask our colored fellow-citizen what he wishes to obtain from the government and under the administration of its laws. We tell him we cordially accord him every thing that will enure to the white citizens; we mingle our interest with his, and the law that protects the one will necessarily protect the other.

The registration of voters in the State upon closing the books presented the following results:

HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF FLORIDA. OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT OF REGISTRATION, JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Oct. 12, 1867. I. General Order No. 74, headquarters Third Military District, Atlanta, Ga., October 5, 1867, is herewith transmitted for your information and guidance.

The following detailed Instructions for Boards of Registration in this State are issued in compliance with Par. VIII. of the above-named General Order. II. The Boards of Registration will meet at the county seat of their respective counties at 10 A. M. on the 31st day of October, and will remain in session for five days (Sunday excepted), for the purpose of revising the Registration list, in accordance with Par. III., General Orders No. 74, and the Act of July 19, 1867. The revision will be made in the "Regis tration Record" retained by each Board. The blank

pages left at the end of each precinct will be used for recording all names added during the five days, and each new name will be numbered as in the pre

ceding registration. Separate and duplicate lists of the names of those refused registration, and of those stricken from the lists, will be promptly sent to this office.

III. Printed lists of registered voters, to conform to the "Registration Record," but arranged alphabetically, will be dispatched to the several Boards as fast as completed. Before the election-day, the Boards will add (alphabetically) to the printed lists the names of all persons registered during the five days, who are qualified to vote.

IV. The members of Boards of Registration in this State will act as judges of election. In case of a vacancy in any Board, the remaining Registrars will appoint and qualify, in accordance with Par. VI., General Order No. 74, a competent person to act with them as judge of election, and promptly report

their action and send the oath taken to this office. V. The Election will be held in the Court-House at each county seat, and if there be no Court-House, at such convenient place as the Board of Registra

tration shall select.

VI. The judges of election will provide, at each place of election, one substantial ballot-box to receive the votes. Each ballot received shall be inserted through an aperture in the lid, by the judge VII. At the time of opening the polls, the ballotbox shall be publicly exposed, so that it may be seen that there are no ballots therein. The box shall be securely closed, and not be again opened under any pretext whatever, until after the close of the third day of election. The judges of election shall have custody and be held responsible for the safe-keeping of the ballot-box and its contents.

who receives it, and in no other manner.

VIII. The judges, before commencing to receive ballots, shall cause to be proclaimed aloud that the polls are open. But one ballot shall be received from each voter, which shall contain his vote upon the question of a convention, and for delegates, either or both, as he may desire.

IX. Each voter, in presenting his ballot, shall give his name to the judges of election, who shall receive the ballot, and call his name audibly; and if he be registered, and has resided one year in the State, and be the man he represents himself to be, his ballot will be deposited in the box, and his name will be so checked or marked in ink on the printed list as to prevent a repetition of his vote. check shall be conclusive evidence of his having

voted.

Such

X. The polls will be closed promptly at 6 P. M. on the 16th day of November, when the ballot-box shall be opened and the ballots counted by the judges, one of whom shall take them separately from the box, reading each aloud, and the other two recording (in the usual way) each ballot as read out.

XI. When the votes are all counted, the judges of election shall make and certify a statement on blanks furnished for election returns, showing the result of such count, and shall also sign the printed lists, certifying the same to have been the list of registered voters used by them at said election. They will then enclose, seal, and plainly mark the contents of the ballot-box as follows: "The ballot County."

of

XII. The presidents of the Boards of Registration in each county, immediately after the completion of their report of election, will forthwith proceed to deliver in person at this office, the printed lists, sealed packages of ballots, certified report of the vote, and the oath-book of registration, taking receipt therefor from the Superintendent.

XIII. The Board of Registration are enjoined to keep all official books and papers in their possession, and by them only are they to be examined until they are forwarded to this office.

0. B. HART, Supt. of Registration, By order of Col. JOHN T. SPRAGUE: CHAS. F. LARRABEE, 1st Lieut. 7th Inf., A. A. A. G.

At the election on November 14th, 15th, and 16th, there were polled 14,503 votes, of which 14,300 were in favor of a convention. The population of the State in 1860 was 77,748 white and 62,677 colored, and the vote in 1860 (white) was 13,980.

On December 28th an order was issued by General Pope, announcing the result of the election, designating the persons chosen to the convention, of whom 17 were colored, and appointing Monday, January 20, 1868, as the day for convention to assemble.

A question was raised in the State as to the legality of all the measures relating to reconstruction of the State subsequent to registration. It was asserted that by the act of Congress, the members of the Convention were " to be apportioned among the several districts, counties, or parishes of such State by the commanding general, giving to each representation in the ratio of the voters registered as aforesaid, as nearly as may be." It was charged that the commanding general "gerrymandered" the State in such a manner as to turn over the rule to the radical blacks; and "every county that could elect a conservative black or respectable white man was tacked on to some other county or counties, so that, voting together, none but radicals could be elected." The white people, seeing these things, gave up in despair, and refused to vote.

Some sheriff's and justices of the peace were removed by General Pope while in command.

The proceedings of the convention form a part of the history of 1868. They have come to hand too late for a statement in these pages.

An educational convention assembled at Tallahassee on May 20th, and organized a State Educational Association for the purpose of promoting the educational interests of Florida. The superintendent of the schools for freedmen reported nearly 2,000 children under daily instruction, and about 12,000 connected with the night schools. Between 2,000 and 3,000 were also under private instruction.

The fertile soil and genial climate of the State attracted many immigrants during the year, and created anticipations of great future prosperity.

FOULD, ACHILLE, a French statesman and financier, born in Paris, in October, 1800; died in Tarbes, France, of angina pectoris, October 5, 1867. He was the son of a rich Israelite banker of Paris, and, after receiving a very thorough education, was initiated into business by his father. Having a taste for the fine arts, he travelled much as an art-student in the south of France, Italy, and the East. He did not manifest any early predilection for political life, and was forty-two years of age when he was elected deputy, in the French Chamber, for Tarbes. Here he distinguished himself by his knowledge of financial matters, and in questions of customs, imposts, loans, and budgets, was looked upon as an authority. In 1844 he was named reporter of the committee on the newspa