| Quotes from Letter, December 22,
1860, Richard K. Call, Lake Jackson, to Mr. Hart (editor, Tallahassee Sentinel
newspaper), printed as a 1-page broadside:
". . . never at any time, or on any occasion within the last ten years,
have I seen so much unanimity, so much enthusiasm, in the support of the
glorious American Union, as on this day, appointed for its destruction
by political leaders. . . There are no men in your State, sir, who will
resent an insult, or avenge a wrong to Florida, with more . . . spirit
and pride than they. There are none who will resist the Black Republicans
with more firmness and energy -- none who will take up arms sooner -- none
who will fight more bravely, under the stars and the stripes of the Union;
but they will not be led like slaves -- they will not be lead, or driven,
into revolution, rebellion and treason against their country . . . I doubt
not, sir, that [their voice] is the voice of nine-tenths of the working
men of Florida. . . They will never yield any constitutional guarantee
of African slavery -- but they will "submit" to the law while it is constitutional,
and they will maintain the Union while it is
constitutional . . ." Following this is a postscript dated December
23 in which Call announces a "Glorious anniversary of a glorious night,
Jackson's first victory on the banks of the Mississippi. The 8th
day of January 1861 will be celebrated at the Lake Jackson Church. . .
a day of thanksgiving to God -- a day of honor and gratitude to the memory
of the great Chief. A Portrait of General Jackson taken 35
years ago will be displaed under a banner bearing a Star for every State
of the Union, which has not "nullified" the Fugitive Slave law and denied
the Supreme jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the United States. . ."
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