First Post-Civil War Legislature
A Journal of the Proceedings of the Assembly of the State of Florida, at Its First Session
Notes: The record of the state assembly's first legislative session after Florida had adopted a Reconstruction constitution.
"In November, 1860, the constitutional rights of the people of Florida were subverted and its civil government was overthrown. Since then the State has been without a constitutional government and subject to military law... The Congress of the United States... prepared a plan by which the State could regain its forfeited rights... Under this plan, you have framed a government which we are here to-day to inaugurate and prepare to make effective. You have formed and adopted a Constitution based upon the great theory of American government, that all men are by nature free and endowed with equal rights. You have laid deep and broad the foundations of the State upon the principle of universal freedom."—from the message of Gov. Harrison Reed (p. 4).
Among the more interesting issues addressed in the journal were a proposal to prohibit segregation (p. 131ff) and new regulations for telegraph operations, where were "almost exclusively under the immediate control of those who have opposed the Federal government, and who are inimical to the establishment of a Republican State government" (p. 150ff).
This legislative session was "begun and held at the Capitol in the city of Tallahassee, on Monday, June 8th, 1868" and ended on August 6, 1868.
225 pages, including 7 pages of administration reports, paginated continuously with the journal.
Edition + Condition: Front cover (self wrapper) spotted and chipped; contents otherwise generally very good. Front cover inscribed, "Compliments of O[scar]. E. Austin," the representative of Putnam County. Finely bound in three-quarter's leather and marbled paper-covered boards. The spine has raised bands and is stamped in gilt. A truly lovely period-style binding.
Publication: Tallahassee, FL: Printed at the Office of the Tallahassee Sentinel, 1868.
Item No: #361631
Price: $250