The Florida Agriculturist.
A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO STATE INTERESTS.
Yol. I.
Contents of this Number.
rate 81 —Fourth of July, 1878—Address:
Indian River audits Resources;
Page 82 —We Reap what we Sovr, poetrv;
< aujrht in a Steel Trap; C'atchiasi fish at
Vancouver’s Island ; Recipes.
I’aare S3—Onion Culture in Florida : Soot
for Manure; Advertisment*.
Page St—Editorials; Value ot the I’abns;
<Nayot 8 Establishment a Myth.
—S5 —Inquiry about Guavas; Locals;
i lonoiana; Advertisments.
FageSd—How the Weather is F’oretold:
Howto Plow; Groundneas; The Cost id
Cotton Culture; Tho Value or Charcoal:
A Fruit Cellar; To Preserve the Colors ot
J ressed Plants; Legal Notices.
. Pace 87—Cochin China Oranges; Sweep
jug, How and When it Should be Hone;
>' hat is the Bible Like * Advertisments:
Page 88—Telegraphic; Advertisments.
THE FOURTH OF JULY, Isis.
An Address Delivered Before the
Press Association of Florida, at
DeLand, by Judge Win.
Archer Cocke,
Continued from last week
The manner of dealing with eccle
siastical questions—of the utmost im
portance in a republican government
—was properly and safely adjusted
by the wisdom of those who sepa
rated State from Church, and made
that happy and lasting union between
civil liberty and self-govSnnnent,
which was to that time unknown to
the jurisprudence of any age or
country.
Self Government, in a political
sense, is a phrase largely used on
both sides of the Atlantic, and con
veys an idea in political philosophy
worthy, of the deepest consideration.
“Individual liberty consists, in a
gr*mt. measure, in politically acknowl
edged self-reliance; and a self-gov
ernment is the sanction of self-reli
ance and sell-determination in the
various minor and larger circles in
which government acts, and of which
it-yuisists.. .Self-government is fouml
ciToTt rTrv 'wTtCngituct -s i
to take care of their own affairs, amt
the absence of that disposition which [
looks to the general government for ;
everything; as well as on the will-j
ingness in each to let others take care
of their own affairs. Self-govern
ment implies self-instruction, not only
at the first setting out of government,
but as a permanent principle of polit
oal life.
Self-government means everything j
for the people, and by the people, j
considered as the totality of organic j
institutions, constantly evolving in ■
their character, as all organic life is, <
but not a dictatorial multitude. Dic
tation is the rule of the army, not of
liberty ; it is the distraction of indi
viduality." Lieber, Civil Liberty and j
Self-government. __ j
Daniel Webster said, in bis Fan-!
euil Mali spoeeb, May 22, 1852 : '
But I say to you and to our whole j
country, and to all the crowned heads '
and aristocratic powers and feudal l
systems that exists, that it is to self
government, the great principles of
popular representation and adminis
tration —the system that lets in fill to
participate in the counsels that arc to
assign the good or evil to all —that
we uiav owe what we are and what
we hope to be.’’
This does not mean that the people ;
can do no wrong, nor does it sustain
the insufferable absurdity of plirase ;
“vox populi, vox doi, but it means,j
self-government requires politically,
in bodies, that self-rule which moral j
self-government requires of the imli-1
viduTil. It is restraint, but not weak- j
ness; it is the strength of self-denial.;
an attribute of power, controlled by ;
virtue and wisdom. Let these prin- j
oiplos prevail, and our government is i
strong internally and externally, and j
will be felt and sustained at home,!
and recognized abroad. i
In discussing the philosophy of
American history it. would be injus
tice to the life of the subject not to
notice the influence ot the religions
element on our national develop
inent. ,
In the language of the distinguish
ed Schlegel, “Historical particulars
oan only serve to characterize the
hi ward motives, the prevailing opui-
ions, the decisive moments, the crit
ical points in the progress of human
society; and thus place more vividly
before our eyes the peculiar character
, pi every age, each step of mankind in
intellectual refinement and moral im
provement." Philosophy of History,
Lecture XV.
The religious principle is the life
of the nation, free and untrameiled,
and in its introduction into self-gov
: eminent political theory did more
than any other cause to bring our
forefathers successfully through the
trials ol the Revolution, and in over
coming the diftculties that surrounded
the . chartering by the people of
National and (State government.
We allude with pleasure and satis
faction to tl.e speech make by Benja
min Franklin in the convention that
trained the Constitution ot the United
State.-, on the propriety of public
prayer by bodies engaged in affairs
of State. It was on his motion that
the convention was opened each
morning with prayer. On which
occasion, v ith his characteristic force
and brevity, he said “ T have lived,
sir, a long time, (SI years) and tho
longer I live the more convincing
proofs I see of this truth, ‘That God
governs in the affairs of man,’ and if
a sparrow can not fall to the ground
without Ilis notice, is it probable
that an empire can rise without His
aid 'i
A survey ot the historic page, from
the earliest period to the present time,
and the unassailable record of the Ho
ly Writ, reveals on every occasion the
hand of God in history. We learn
from the teachings of the bible, from
the lessons ot the awful retributive
justice of an unerring God, that those
nations who have laws
of God have paid the severest penal
ties, even to national extention;
while those that have lived in obodt
have had an easy, comfortable and
happy existence, but universally when
those laws have been disregarded
have we seen national woe and calam
ity.
•Let every nation observe the cause
and effects of that food which swept,
with but one exception, tlie human
family from the face of the earth.
We cannot estimate, yet we see
the salutary influence exercised by
the morning dew upon plants; the
vivifying effect of light upon nature ;
how the waters that filter through
the earth fertilize it by producing
fruits and flowers, and to the careful
observer it is manifest that history
rightfully written is the record of
Providence, and that God has in a na
tional sense rich schemes of mercy
for those people whose lives arc ded
icated to virtue.
War is an agency of human pro
gress. God has carried forward his
work through the instrumentality of
war. By this terrific agency he has
removed people and nations out of
the way, that obstructed his pur
poses, and brought into being other
nations which he would better lit to
advance his work. War removed
the Canaanitcs out of the way, and
made Isreal a nation. War built up
Greece, Home, England and Ameri
ca. It is the bitterest scourge of
Heaven, but is God’s plan to punish
wicked nations, and can only be
avoided by a national life of Christian
virtue. History and the bible prove
it beyond controversy or doubt.
It is a source of unbounded pleas
ure in contemplating that under the
political, judicial and social principles
which control the national and state
governments, how the territory of
the union, the domain of the states
: has increased in wealth and popula
; tion, Avitli all the intellectual and re
; ligious refinement that education can
i bring; since the inaugeration of
| tlie combined system; by adding
| sovereign and independent State nf
i ter State to the political firmament,
where, like fixed stars, tiiey can quiet
ly maintain their position without
disturbing the harmony of the
spheres.
DeLand, Florida, Wednesday. July 24, 1878.
In maintaining this happy equili
brium, a virtuous and patriotic states
manship demands that the constitu
tion and laws of the ujiion, and the
constitutions and laws of the States,
should revolve in their separate oi
bits; then a unity of -feeling, a com
munity of interest, with an honest and
virtuous purpose, will make all the
states part and parcel of the union,
lidding and preserving the liberty of
the body politic as joint tenants seiz
ed “per my et per t/*ut,” with the
constitution of the United States em
bracing them all with a common
band, cemented with?, the strong un
breakable. but gentle seal whereon is
inscribed in living moving active char
acters, as extensive as the circle, “per
petua Amacitia.’’
I vill make n<? • effort to dissect
and analyze the national and state
constitution, but to present to your
consideration, as I have endeavored
on this occasion, the principles on
which the constitution- act, and to
show by precept and example that
we have, theoretically and practical
ly. a government the strongest and
most powerful, yet protecting the cit
izen in all his rights with a more lib- (
oral and enlarged freedom than any
on earth; and if the people, we by
whom the laws are made and admin
istered, will it , the purest and most
satisfactory and the most durable ev
er offered to a nation- c xcopt by the
hand of inspiration }-but its durabili
ty will be a blighaiig and ruinous
curse on human libritv. unless ttnsul
ied and inflexible integrity shall pre- j
vail alike in private and public life.
The purity of tF administration
should be the substß' itimiof the body
politic;; its virtues (Gould be repre
sented in every department of tho
government, and lienee - reflected
throughout every climber and aven
ue ot the social fyi. VA virtuous
■ i .tm; uia--
the dogma, “All pnAi are bom ir<*r
and equal,” is true, remember how ;
soon and how often by their own
fault they are in fetters.
I see before me an accomplished
and honorable representation of the
Press Association, to whom I am in
debted for the honor of delivering
this address.
Gkntu’.m t:N : It gives me special
pleasure to appear before you.
The Press is an institution that tlie 1
people of America cannot appreciate .
too highly, nor honor sufficiently. It
was an active power in assisting us j
though the revolution. It represent-;
cd the highest talent in popularizing |
the constitution of the United States,
when Madison. Jay and Hamilton, j
were contributors to the wkekly
I’IiKSS, in a series of articles entitled
the “Federalist,” which for years lias
been a standard work among our vol
umes of political philosophy. In bi
ography, in essay, in poetry, it has re
flected tlie character and the virtue of
our distinguished authors, and pre
sented to the readers of the weekly
and daily papers the ever cherished
productions el'lrving, of Everett, of
Prescott, of Bryant and Longfellow,
with n brilliant list of distinguished
writers iivm nil parts of the coun
try.
The religious press has carried sa
cred and invaluable truths to every;
threshold in the land, and assisted
in erecting churches and altars to the
living God. respectful of all Christian
doctrines and rights. The literary
and scientific press has cultivated the
minds and assisted in giving tone and
character to millions of reading men
and women, who now adorn, like pre
cious jewels, every circle of Ameri
can society; while to the great mass
of our population, the daily press has
been the sunshine of their lives;
while tlie weekly and other periodic
publications have enlarged anti culti
vated the minds and hearts of all our
countrymen —and we have country
men from all parts of the civilized
globe —with an extent of knowledge
and intellectual refinement found in
no othe country, and among no oth
er people.
The political press has exercised an
influence as wide as the extent of our
country. It has circulated moral
and political truths which have in
formed our voting population of the
necessities of political issues. It has
guided the statesman along the path
way of political duty. Its editorial
columns have been sustained by won
derful talent, learning and virtue. It
has sustained the upright public men
who deserve office and station for the
good of the country, and often its
withering scorn has driven the driv
eling politician—the reckless adven
turer on human rights, in proper
shame and ignominy to the shades of
private life. It has exposed the cor
ruptions of the bench and the bar, and
done incalculable service in sustain
ing moral principle in every depart
ment of life. The highest t alent in
the country in senators and lawyers, j
scholars and authors, have graced its -
columns, and every one that reads j
our mother tongue feels the daily i
and weekly papers indispensable to j
his comfortable living. There are j
instances of weak, inefficient newspa- i
pers, issuing from an occasional press,!
but the virtue and talent of the !
editorial corps and the indignation of
the better class of readers have soon
consigned them to oblivion.
Gentlemen *of the press association,
the vast benefit you have been to the
country, history attests. Your past
usefulness ami the constant necessity
in every branch of society, in every
department of life, demands in the
editorial column your accustomed
talent and virtue, and if properly ex
ercised the whole country will owe
you that debt of gratitude which can
only be paid by the love and admir
raiion of an enlightened, virtuous and
affectionate people.
To my fair friends of this assemb
lage, I ask permission to,say that the
the spiritjWfitl
I protecting care and life giving pres
! ence of woman. Woman’s fortitude
and woman’s virtue have done more
to purify and elevate the social organ
ism than all human laws com
bined.
INDIAN RIVER AND ITS
RESOURCES.
Editor Florida Agriculturist:
We did intend to have replied to j
io your Philadelphia correspondent j
giving him information regarding!'
Indian Hirer, as he asked ior,
but an excess of work has caused us
to neglect it, and we .still fail to
find the time necessary. We have
in fact written up the peculiarities of
this lection so often, that it is an old
story to us, and consequently an irk
some task. In the Florida JVew
Yorker for both .1 une and July 1*77,
we think, is a full and explicit de
scription of the“ Indian river section,”
! and we doubt not your correspondent
could yet obtain a copy. We will
now simply answer his leading ques
tions briefly. The waters of the riv
er are salt; no tide beyond twenty-j
j live miles from the Inlet; length 140
j miles, width from one to six miles; j
j depth twelve feet, nine feet of water
at the Inlet, opposite old Fort Cap- j
ron. Lands generally high, alterna
ting between pine and hammock. —
Our summers are cool and pleasant.
This day we all pronounce exceed
ingly hot, as our usual daily breeze
lias not sprung up yet, and we find
the thermometer reaches 90°. Our
hottest weather this summer thus far
has been 95 s , for a few hours or so
last month. Give us nothing to do,
and we can keep cooler during the
summer here, than in any section of
country we have ever seen.
Despite the horrible and “ oft told
tales that our St. Johns friends re
gale the new comers with, our popu
lation continues to increase. Sereral
sales have lately been made, and sev.
eral valuable acqusitions have conse
quently been added to onr census re
turns. While many of them arc
planting groves, yet nearly all in
tend to invest pretty largely in pine
apples. This most delicious fruit is
now in season, and could you have
helped us eaten one we had to day,
you would readily believe the asser
tion that Indian river will soon be
come as much noted for its pine ap
ples as it now is for its oranges. I
fear however that I shall have to re
tract the assertion made in my last,
letter regarding the number of plants
to be set this season. The Magurdor
Bros. returned from Key Largo a
week ago, without any slips, and re
ported none to be had. The frost
last winter injured (’apt. Barker’s
plantation to such an extent, that no
plants are in the market this season.
Mr. Myers, who accompanied t'to
Magurdor Bros., proceeded to Xr;-.s
sua however, and expects to bring a
load from there, and if successful, wo
may yet get a goodly supply of
plants.
By the way the printer made sev
eral blunders in my last letter, the
most noteworth one of which, is call
ing Meritt’s island, Mosquito island.
Xo doubt but lie lias giot Indian riv
er and mosquitoes inextricably
mixed, but it is a mistake, we have
none ot the pests hero this summer
worth talking about, not enough to
a kw.y man busy brnshiuo ■
and we are going to have plenty of
them, as well as every one else who
has been here long enough. In two
weeks we will have plenty ripe, and
they will last until Jan. Ist, we hopq.
Jelly and marmalade will soon be in
order. Ex. Ai.akamia.v.
Rok Ledge. Fla., July 14th, 1878.
Florida Horses.
Editor Florida Agriculturist:
Can you inform me through the
medium of your valuable paper, of
the respective merits of native Flori
da stock, ponies, etc. Are they desir
able, where can they be obtained,
and at what price? Information on
the above will confer a favor.
A. K. I*.
—■“ Where are you going ” said a
young gentleman to an elderly one in
a white cravat, whom he overtook a
few miles from Little Ilock. 'T am
going to heaven, my son. I have
been on the way eighteen years.”—•
“ Well, good-by, old fellow, if you
have been traveling toward heaven
eighteen years, and got no nearer to
it than Kansas, I will take another
route.”
—A lew days ago a little chimney
sweeper entered the “ tommy ” shop
at Usworth Collinery, and asked for
a threepenny loaf of bread. The
shopman handed him one. The boy
looked at it, and said it was a “.small
yen.”
“ Oh,” said the shopman, “it will
be less to carry. ”
The lad then put twopence on the
counter and “ cut."
The shopman hastened to the door
and shouted for him to come back,
as he had not left money enough.—
“ Oh, cried the lad, “it will be less
to count. ” . ti-trxa
No.ll.