Territorial Governors- Documents

Call Family and Brevard Family Papers, 1788-1920s.
M92- 1

The Florida State Archives' entire collection of the correspondence, writings, and other papers of Richard Keith Call, territorial governor of Florida, and his family can be found on the "Collections" section of the Florida Memory Project. http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/CallBrevardPapers/

Andrew Jackson letters
Particularly significant among the Call papers is correspondence between Richard Keith Call and Andrew Jackson, shown here. The Andrew Jackson letters from 1812-1842 were published in The Collector: A Magazine for Autograph and Historical Collectors between 1901 and 1908. Jackson wrote the letters to Richard K. Call from Washington, D.C. or from Nashville or the Hermitage, Tennessee.

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 1
Letter, July 1, 1820, from Headquarters, Nashville, published September 1901, concerning dispatch of troops for "removal of all intruders found within the Cherokee nation not holding a written permission from the Agent," appointing Call to command the expedition and ordering him to arrest "all white men and their stock of every description, and [deliver] them to the Marshal of the Territory, whence they may be arrested and dealt with as the law directs. . . You will remove the white females of all intruders from the Indian country . . . always remembering that the wife and children of intruders is always there by the order of the husband and fathers, leaving them of the property of the husband a competent support, and taking care that the wife and children are not maltreated by the soldiery . . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 2
Letter, January 5, 1822, from Hermitage, published September 1901, concerning family travel plans, his ill health, the weather, and matters concerning various public figures.

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 3
Letter, November 21, 1826, from Hermitage, published December 1901, concerning "the melancholy intelligence of the death of your two little twin daughters and Jackson Butler . . . we ought to rejoice at their change from this world of evil and woe to those heavenly climes where happiness forever reigns . . . With all my philosophy, and whilst I cheerfully submit to the will of providence, I cannot but regret the untimely fate of my little favorite namesake . . . I am happy that the unpleasant difference between you and Col. White has been satisfactorily and honorably adjusted. . . The faction in this State is buried, and harmony prevails the whole -- and the Executive influence cannot devide it -- we will have peace and harmony. . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 4
Letter, September 9, 1819, from Hermitage, published April 1902, concerning Call's involvement in his friend Major Eaton's approaching duel, urging him to require use of pistols and not rifles or muskets: "These are not the weapons of gentlemen. . . Charge your friend to preserve his fire -- to keep his teeth firmly clenched, and his fingers in a position that if fired on and hit, his fire may not be extorted. . . charge your friend to preserve his fire until he shoots his antagonist through the brain, for if he fires and does not kill his antagonist, he leaves himself fully in his power. Have every rule written down and signed . . . The attack upon Major Eaton, was in the first place wanton . . . [his accuser] shows a meanness and cowardice . . . that induces me to believe that he will not fight. It may be -- he may rather select me . . . if my pistol fires, I kill him."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 5
Letter, October 15, 1822, from Hermitage, published May 1902, concerning "the destructive fever that has ravaged your City. The death of so many valuable citizens is deeply regretted by me, and the loss of my bosom friend Bronaugh is deeply felt," advising Call not to enter public life until he has secured his private fortune, and discussing the national importance of Florida as a territory and a future state.

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 6
Letter, March 17, 1836, from Washington, published July 1903: "It is with heartfelt sorrow I have read your letter of the 29th ultimo giving me an account of the melancholy death of your dear wife, Mary . . . all there is left to me is to present my heartfelt condolence . . . Your nomination as Governor for Florida was confirmed last evening by the Senate by a unanimous vote -- I send you the journal. Eaton's nomination was also confirmed. . . This disrobes White of his hypocracy in his professions and pledges of friendship to me, and my administration, that deception is now at an end . . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 7
Letter, September 5, 1826, from Hermitage, published November 1903, concerning the quarrel between Call and Col. White, and advising Call to allow White to explain his side of the dispute before resorting to a duel.

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 8
Letter, January 18, 1827, from Hermitage, published March 1904, advising Call to say nothing more about his past dispute with Col. White. Also, "I see from the Governors proclamation that the Indians have been making some unprovoked massacres of your citizens . . . I trust you have chastised them severely for this unprovoked outrage. Remember, in Indian warfare, vigilance and celerity of movement, with silence and good order, on the march can alone ensure success . . . but you were with me too long in Indian Warfare, ever to be surprised. . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 9
Letter, August, 1825, from Hermitage, published March 1905: "It was a source of great pleasure to myself and Mrs. J. to learn that you and Mary were received at New Orleans, and Pensacola, with so much good feeling, by the citizens of both places. They are a kind grateful people, and to you they owe much. . . If the summer should prove unhealthy let me conjure you to send Mary to the Hermitage -- where as long as it is possessed by its present incumbents she will find a home and where you know you will always be welcome. I am happy you were present in N. Orleans on the reception of Lafayette, he expressed to me great pleasure in meeting you and Mary there. . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 10
Letter, July, 1826, from Hermitage, published March 1905, advising Call not to trust politicians "until from actual experience it is found that the individual is worthy of it. . ." and discussing the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams: "I have been led here to make arrangements for paying the respect due to the . . . sage of Monticello, the father of liberty, the patron of science, and the author of our declaration of independence, who had the boldness to declare to the Despots of Europe in 1776, that we of right ought to be free. . . Jefferson is no more, he died on the 4th instant 10 minutes before one p.m. On yesterday when just to make the arrangements for this melancholy occasion, the mail brought us the sad intelligence that another of the signers of the declaration of independence was no more, that John Adams had departed this life on the 4th instant at 6 oclock p.m."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 11
Letter, September 9, 1842, from Hermitage, published April 1905, thanking Call for "giving me your lucid views of the scenes during the invasion of New Orleans, by the British forces in 1815 . . . The illiberal attempt by the majority of the senate, and particularly by Mr. Conrad of New Orleans, to throw censure upon me uninvited and founded in falsehood, made it necessary for me to notice the assault -- and your communication just received, is the more highly appreciated, and will be important to the faithful historian. . . I am still greatly debilitated, but slowly improving -- it will give us great pleasure to see you at the Hermitage."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 12
Letter, February 13, 1821, from Nashville, published November 1905, bemoaning the reduction of the army by Congress and conveying the news that "The Floridas are ceded and I have at last received a letter from the President and one from the Sec. of War requesting that I would accept of the Government of that country. . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 13
Letter, December 1822, from Hermitage, published November 1905: "I am happy to learn that my advice for your abstaining from public employ, that would draw you from your practice, has been approved by you. . . The circumstances of the heart burning between E. and Judge B._____ I sincerely regret. . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 14
Letter, July 1, 1827, from Hermitage, published November 1905, expressing pleasure at the safe arrival home of "your dear Mary and your sweet little daughter. . . and reporting that "the powers that be thro their panders, have been having out all their vials of wrath against me, that falsehood and forgery could invent . . . to induce the ignorant and unwary to believe that I have been using the public money and applying it to my use, contrary to law. -- The vigilance of my friend Eaton in this, has entirely discomfitted them. . . The accounts were obtained certified by the proper officer and lo and behold there was only about $7000 difference . . . When men high in office descend to such baseness and falsehood to injure me, what will they not do to retain power. . . The coalition having been thus met, defeated on all their attempts to disgrace me by their vile slanders, are for the present palsied . . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 15
Letter, February 5, 1828, from Hermitage, published December 1905, regretting he could not attend a dinner to which Call had invited him, and describing a scene "presented by the eighteen steamboats, and the shipping in the harbor . . . The division being formed, the Pocahontas wheeled down the river, the cloud disappeared, and when passing the city, the sun shone out with unusual splendor, spreading over the city the most delightful rainbow I ever witnessed. You can figure to yourselves the magnificence of the scene, the smoke arising in columns from eighteen steamboats, the sun shining, and the cannon roaring from the batteries, the steamboats and vessels with all their colors displayed. I can only add it was the greatest sight I ever saw."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 16
Letter, May 18, 1828, from Hermitage, published December 1905: "While absent at New Orleans, my political enemies have opened a general and systematic attack upon me -- the last dying struggle of a desperate coalition. Clay . . . has written a book -- Clay ought to have remembered the adage, 'Oh! that mine enemy would write a book'. . . Cartloads of . . . the most base calumnies are circulated by the franking privilege of members of Congress. Even Mrs. J. is not spared, and my pious mother nearly fifty years in her tomb . . . has been . . . held up to scorn as a prostitute -- inter married with a negro -- and my oldest brother sold as a slave in North Carolina. . . My philosophy is almost worn out, but all my enemies expect is to urge me to some rash act. This they cannot do until the election is over. If my hands are not tied by the event there will be a final settlement. . ."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 17
Note, December 1828, from Hermitage, published December 1905: "The little junta of calumniators here have found their level. The verdict which has been pronounced against them by the people has taught them that truth is mighty and will prevail, and calumniators will meet with the just abhorrence of a virtuous people."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 18
Letter, May 25, 1836, from Washington, published December 1907, denying that Call's letters to the Secretary of War regarding the situation in Florida had been neglected, complaining of the failure of General Gaines and General Scott to defeat the Indians, and criticizing the panic resulting from "the appearance of five Indians killing one negro and burning a deserted building and killing one white boy . . . For the Lord's sake take some energetic stand, raise your people to action and energy, pursue and destroy every party of Indians that dare approach you . . . You must act promptly and regain the military fame lost by the wretched conduct of Genl Gaines and Scott, instead of complaining of those, as you have the power. I expect you to act with energy, or you will loose your military fame." This letter is preceded by a letter to the editor (apparently) from "Mrs. E. K. Call" defending Jackson's actions in regard to several duels and arguing that he fought duels only to defend the honor of his wife.

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 19
Letter, November 1, 1836, from Washington, published February 1908, criticizing Call's handling of military actions: "I sincerely regret your retrograde -- You must arouse and regain your lost time and what of more importance your military reputation, Why did you not force your passage and take possession of Powells position . . . concentrate your supplies, and your forces, and by a prompt, vigorous and gallant movement surprise and beat Powell and his clan . . . with the force you have, with the Indians united you can make a dash upon Powell and destroy him . . . and all will surrender, and if they do not, you can . . . drive them into the Peninsula and clear the St. Johns, and the whole country in your rear of Indians and negros . . . you must with the Tennesseans and your other force attack and destroy Powell and take your position on the Withlacoochie river . . ." On the verso of this letter, General Call wrote, "From Genl Jackson, written on a subject of which he was totally uninformed, and assumes as facts that which did not exist, and as practicable, that which was totally impracticable."

Box: 5, Folder: 5, Item: 20
Letter, December 22, 1828, from Hermitage, publication date unknown, regarding Mrs. Jackson's illness after being "suddenly and violently attacked with pains in her left shoulder and breast, and such the contraction that suffocation was apprehended -- before the necessary aid could be afforded. Dr. Hogg, has relieved her -- and altho' worse to day than yesterday -- I trust in kind Providence, that he will restore her to her usual health. . ." She died the following day.

05 05 21
Letter, August 5, 1818, from Nashville, publication date unknown, regarding possible Congressional approval or disapproval of General Jackson's "conduct in possessing myself of the forts of St. Marks and Barrancas. . . From the silence of the Cabinet I am induced to believe they have become alarmed, and under a panic may be weak enough to order the withdrawal of our troops. . . Should the troops be withdrawn we will soon see our frontier again deluged in blood . . . To be prepared at all points, I wish you to obtain all the proof you can of the Spanish Governor at Pensacola, feeding the Indians, and furnishing them with the means of war . . . and at what time and every circumstance that will show that the Spanish Governor, aided, abetted and excited the Indians to War, against us. From the silence, the Executive may attempt to throw all the responsibility on me. . ."

05 05 22
Letter, August 1818, from Hermitage, publication date unknown, regarding receipt of orders "saying that our Post-troops must be withdrawn from the Floridas, and they will be evacuated of course. Therefore there will be no longer use for your services there. You will then on receipt of this join me as soon as possible at Nashville. On the first of Oct. I shall be in the Chickasaw Nation, to hold a treaty with them. If you should pass by Ft. St. Stephens you can fall in with me there."