Page:Journal of Florida Secession Convention.djvu/60

 NINTH DAY. TUESDAY, January 15th, 1861.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment—a quorum present. Prayer by Rev. E. L. T. Blake. Mr. Beard of Leon offered the following resolution: Resolved, That in order to meet demands which must necessarily be made on the Treasury, without resorting to onerous taxation, the General Assembly should cause to be executed Treasury Notes to the amount of one million of dollars; and to effect the early redemption of said notes with specie, the Governor should be authorized to offer for sale State Bonds to the amount of one million of dollars, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding eight per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually and redeemable in twenty years; Which was received and referred to the Committee on Taxation and Revenue. Mr. Hendricks of Clay offered an Ordinance on Revenue. Mr. Finegan of Nassau, from the Committee on Sea Coast Defences, made the following report: Your Committee on Sea Coast Defences, to whom was referred the Ordinance herewith numbered one, for the consideration of this Convention, recommend the adoption of the same.

Your Committee have had under consideration the Ordinance herewith numbered two, and beg leave to state, that for the reasons hereinafter assigned, they do not recommend the adoption of the same. First, because the several fortresses heretofore constructed within the limits of this State were intended for the defence of its people and its commerce. It was never contemplated by the several States surrendering the jurisdiction over such sites, that they were ever to be occupied except for the purposes which were pre-supposed to belong to the exercise of a constitutional jurisdiction over the same. That the State of Florida having dissolved her connection with the Federal Government, the jurisdiction heretofore granted can no longer be exercised in contravention of the sovereign right of a State to legislate for its own territory. That the occupation of the forts by Federal troops, thereby menacing the surrounding country, is an overt act of defiance and hostility. That the same is an invasion of the States. The mere right of proprietorship does not justify the late Federal Government in thus arraying itself against the uninterrupted commerce of the State, to the