FLORIDA. 



271 



ous as they were horrible, in which the vic- 

 tims were in several instances colored citizens. 

 The first of these assassinations, following close- 

 ly upon a serious affray that had just taken 

 place between United States soldiers at Jack- 

 sonville and colored citizens, occurred on the 

 26th of February, at Marianna, in Jackson 

 County, when Mr. "W. J. Purman, a prominent 

 Republican politician, and a member of the 

 State Senate, and Dr. J. L. Finlayson, the 

 Clerk of the Circuit Court, while peaceably 

 returning to their homes, were fired upon by 

 concealed assailants. Dr. Finlayson was killed, 

 and Senator Purman seriously wounded. It 

 was believed that the motives which prompted 

 the assassination were purely political. This 

 same locality, in the latter part of September, 

 was the scene of other mysterious tragedies. 

 On three different occasions, in different parts 

 of the county, persons were fired upon by as- 

 sailants concealed in the woods. During one 

 week no less than five persons were killed and 

 several wounded victims of the assassin's 

 bullet. As might have been expected, these 

 occurrences caused much indignation on the 

 part of the citizens, who formed themselves 

 into organizations, and every effort was made 

 to bring the offenders to justice. 



The action of the convention above-men- 

 tioned was not without its effect, for, a month 

 later, on the 25th of November, the Republican 

 State Executive Committee, seeing the need 

 of a more complete organization of the Repub- 

 lican party throughout the State, held a meet- 

 ing at Tallahassee for the purpose of taking 

 some action with reference to that object. At 

 this meeting, it was decided to issue an ad- 

 dress calling upon the Republicans of the State 

 to meet in county conventions or mass meet- 

 ings in their respective counties, " and in all 

 the counties upon the same day, to consider 

 the principles and policy of the Republican 

 party, and to determine upon its present and 

 future course of action in the State." It was 

 the opinion of the committee that a State Con- 

 vention should not be called until after the 

 assembling of the county conventions. 



The address of the committee was issued 

 on the 28th of November, and the 20th of De- 

 cember was fixed upon as the day for holding 

 the various county conventions. The address 

 reaffirms the leading and commonly-accepted 

 principles of the Republican party, announces 

 the importance of united and harmonious ac- 

 tion on the part of the Republicans, and appeals 

 to the Republicans of the State " to unite in 

 urging the Legislature and the Executive to 

 the adoption of all proper measures, and to the 

 use of all available means, to secure such an en- 

 forcement of existing laws, and such additional 

 legislation, as will insure to all in fact that ab- 

 solute equality of right before the law, and 

 that entire and equal security of person and 

 property, which, guaranteed in theory, is the 

 first and paramount duty of a truly Repub- 

 lican party to secure." The position of the 



party on the important questions before the 

 people of Florida was also defined. 



In accordance with the suggestions con- 

 tained in the address, conventions or mass 

 meetings were held in the various counties on 

 the appointed day, and much interest and en- 

 thusiasm were manifest in the proceedings. 

 There was a general determination on the part 

 of the people assembled to take a more active 

 share in public affairs in the future, and to make 

 the organization of the Republican party of 

 Florida more thorough and effective. 



The first instance of the admission of a negro 

 to the practice of the law in Florida occurred 

 during this year, when Harvey S. Harmon was 

 admitted to the bar at a term of the Alachua 

 Circuit Court, held by Judge J. H. Gross. 



The condition of the various public institu- 

 tions of the State is becoming more favorable 

 every year. 



The State debt, at the close of the year 1869, 

 was represented to be $1,011,756.20, which was 

 composed of the following items : 



Bonded debt of January 1, 1869 $378,045 08 



Viz.: seven per cent, bonds, 1856, $220,000 00 



Seven per cent, bonds in school 



and seminary fund 262,045 08 



Seven per cent, bonds in internal 



improvement fund 66,000 00 



Eight per cent, bonds Constitu- 

 tional Convention 30,000 00 $578,045 03 



Of this there was paid, bonds of 1867, the 



past year 25,000 00 



Leaving of bonded debt of 1869 $553,045 08 



Accumulated interest on the $220,000 seven 



per cent, bonds of 1856 122,50000 



Interest on Convention bonds one year, at 



eight per cent 2,400 00 



New bonds sold 76,000 00 



Amount of outstanding treasury warrants 



and certificates 151,825 32 



Amount due on hypothecated bonds 105,985 80 



Total State debt $1,011,756 20 



The payments to be made during" the year 

 1870 are stated (upon the basis that all past 

 dues are to be met) as follows : 



Accumulated interest as above stated $122,500 00 



Warrants and certificates outstanding 151,82532 



To redeem hypothecated bonds 105,985 80 



Convention bonds and interest 32,400 00 



Interest on $553,045 08 bonds, at seven per 



cent 88,713 15 



Interest on $76,000 bonds, at six per cent 4,560 00 



Total floating debt $455,984 27 



Expenses for State government and contin- 

 gencies 200,000 00 



Repairs on Capitol, and addition to Peniten- 

 tiary 50,00000 



Total $705,984 27 



To meet this amount, the total resources are 

 estimated to be $545,100. In regard to the 

 remaining $160,884.27, Governor Reed, in his 

 last message to the Legislature, suggested that 

 " the further issue of warrants and treasury 

 certificates should cease, and a cash basis be 

 established. If this cannot be done, a tem- 

 porary issue of treasury notes for general cir- 

 culation, if admissible under the Federal Con- 

 stitution, may be resorted to. An issue of 

 $100,000, or perhaps $200,000, for circulation 



