308 



FLOKIDA. 



successful than any single previous four years of 

 government since the State was admitted into the 

 Union. 



The Democratic Convention met at Jackson- 

 ville, on the 14th of August, and nominated 

 W. D. Bloxham for Governor, E. I). Bullock 

 for Lieutenant-Governor, and S. L. Niblack 

 and C. "W. Jones for members of Congress. 

 The following were the resolutions adopted : 



fiesolved, That we heartjly indorse the political 

 principles of the Cincinnati and Baltimore Conven- 

 tions and their nominees. 



fiesolved, That an honest administration of the 

 Government, national and State, is of paramount 

 consideration with all good citizens. 



Jtesolved, That in presenting our standard-bearers 

 for the contest in the State of Florida, at the coming 

 election, we oifer men of approved integrity and of 

 unquestionable ability, whose selections are made 

 without reference to sections or localities, pledged to 

 retrenchment and reform, and in their support we 

 invite the unity and cooperation of all men who de- 

 sire that the laws shall be impartially administered, 

 the rights of all citizens protected, and the finances 

 honestly and economically administered and ex- 

 pended. 



The election occurred on the 5th of Novem- 

 ber. The total vote for presidential electors 

 was 33,190, of which those favoring Grant 

 and "Wilson received IT, 763, and those in fa- 

 vor of Greeley and Brown, 15,427; majority 

 for the former, 2,336. The total vote for 

 Governor was 33,607, of which. Hart received 

 17,603, and Bloxham 16,004; majority for the 

 former, 1,599. The Legislature for 1873 con- 

 sists of 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, in 

 the Senate, and 29 Republicans and 23 Demo- 

 crats, in the Assembly. 



Governor Hart, in his message to the Legis- 

 lature, in January, 1873, speaks of the work- 

 ing of the existing election law in the follow- 

 ing terms : u The experience of the past few 

 months has demonstrated the necessity of 

 some changes in the laws relating to elections. 

 It has come to be regarded as a matter of 

 grave concern, under the law as it now stands, 

 whether the choice of officers depends upon 

 the voice of a majority of the people of the 

 State or counties, or whether it depends upon 

 the skill of a board of canvassers, in receiving 

 or rejecting, upon petty and technical grounds, 

 the evidence of the result. The liberties of 

 the people hang upon a slender thread while 

 the law permits mere administrative officers 

 to exercise judicial functions of so grave a 

 character. The law providing for the punish- 

 ment of those who falsify, suppress, or manu- 

 facture, fraudulent returns, is entirely inade- 

 quate to protect the people against these crimi- 

 nal practices. Thus far the firmness and in- 

 tegrity of the State Board of Canvassers have 

 protected us against the mischiefs which 

 might have grown out of any improper use or 

 abuse of their official powers in these respects. 

 The attention of the Legislature is respectfully 

 but earnestly invited to this subject." 



The financial condition of the State is quite 

 unsettled, owing to the want of proper enact- 



ments for the security of the Treasury, and a 

 negligent enforcement of such laws as exist. 

 The exact amount of the pu'blic debt is not 

 definitely ascertained, but, independent of aid 

 to railroads, is believed not to exceed $1,500,- 

 000. Seven per cent, bonds to the amount of 

 $500,000 were authorized in 1856, but what 

 amount was lawfully disposed of, and whether 

 the accrued interest has been wholly paid, is 

 not known. A few bonds of earlier date are 

 also believed to be outstanding. The liabilities 

 incurred during the war have not been re- 

 ported, and are of doubtful validity. In 1868 

 and 1869, $500,000 of six per cent, bonds were 

 authorized, of which about $100,000 have been 

 sold, and the rest hypothecated as security for 

 $135,000 borrowed money, including interest. 

 By an act of 1871, seven per cent. 30-year 

 bonds were authorized to the amount of 

 $350,000, all of which have been sold. The 

 floating debt, consisting mainly of Comp- 

 troller's warrants, is believed not to exceed 

 $230,000. These warrants are generally about 

 50 per cent, below par, on account of the un- 

 certainty of their redemption. The Treasury 

 at the beginning of 1873 was empty, but about 

 $340,000 was due for unpaid taxes for years 

 previous to 1872, and the revenue for that 

 year, also uncollected, it was thought would 

 swell the amount due to about $598,000. The 

 deficiencies of the Treasury seem to have been 

 due to the negligence and dishonesty of offi- 

 cials intrusted with the duty of levying and 

 collecting taxes. The most urgent recom- 

 mendations of the new Governor to the Legis- 

 lature, at the opening of the session of 1873, 

 were those in favor of clearly ascertaining the 

 indebtedness of the State, and providing for 

 its liquidation, and for the enactment of laws 

 which should secure a prompt and honest col- 

 lection of the revenues. The taxable property 

 of the State amounts to about $50,000,000, 

 while the requirements of the State Treasury 

 do not exceed $300,000 annually. 



Fifty-seven persons convicted of crime were' 

 pardoned by the Governor during the year. 

 Four persons were executed for murder. 



Among the projects for internal improve- 

 ment in Florida is that of a canal from the At- 

 lantic to the Gulf coast by way of the St. John 

 River. 



According to the census of 1870, there were 

 in the State 736,172 acres of improved land, 

 1,425,786 of woodland, and 211,583 of 

 other unimproved land. The cash value of 

 farms was $9,947,920; of farming implements 

 and machinery, $505,074; total amount of 

 wages paid during the year, including value 

 of board, $1,537,000 ; total (estimated) value 

 of all farm productions, including betterments 

 and additions to stock, $8,909,746; orchard 

 products, $53,639 ; produce of market-gardens, 

 $31,983 ; forest products, $7,965 ; home manu- 

 factures, $131,693; value of animals slaugh- 

 tered or sold for slaughter, $520,966; of all 

 live-stock, $5,212,157. There were 11,902 



