A correspondent of the N. Y. Times gives an interesting
account of the Union meeting at Jacksonville, Fla., the spirited resolutions of
which we have already published. The
writer says:
About an hundred men were present, said to be nearly all the
men left in the town. The first words
spoken were by Mr. Frazer: “Fellow
citizens, we are met here as loyal citizens of the United States of
America. I take it that no one is here
who is not prepared to acknowledge his allegiance to the Union.” He spoke earnestly, but only a few
words. Mr. C. L. Robinson was called to
the Chair, and his speech was also short, but full of meaning. These men felt that they were taking their lives
in their hands, in thus openly avowing Union sentiments for the first time in
Florida for more than a year. But there
was no mincing matters. The whole tone
of the meeting was determined, but not enthusiastic. The matter was too serious, but the unanimity
was unmistakable. The resolutions and
protest, which I append were endorsed in the heartiest manner, and the meeting
adjourned, to resume its movements in two or three days.
On the same day Gen. Sherman issued this proclamation to the
people of East Florida. – There was no sort of collusion, there was no attempt
made to influence these people. Gen.
Sherman declined to be present at the meeting; he did not know what would be said
or done beforehand; he did not issue his proclamation until the resolutions
were sent to him and after the meeting he made certain of the willingness of
the people to stand firm in their allegiance.
It was not attempted to induce the Floridians to return to the Union;
the movement originated in themselves and forced a response from the commanding
General. – After he gave orders which will secure their safety, and probably
lead to a spread of the sentiment so eagerly avowed. The citizens manifested the greatest
satisfaction; invited the National officers to their houses and tables,
introduced them to their families; the women and children turned out in the
streets at evening parade, and every person who met a Union officer accosted
him cordially. They seemed never tired
of the endeavor to convince the Nationals that their loyalty was real. They insisted that the Union sentiment is
shared by thousands of others; that many of the rebel troops are ready to
desert; and indeed on one day that I was in Jacksonville half a score came in
from a neighboring camp, and took the oath of allegiance. The triangle formed by Fernandina, Baldwin
and Jacksonville, is said to be especially full of loyal people. The whole population is represented to be
suffering, and at least half of it anxious to be relieved from the results of
the rebellion.
At St. Augustine nearly the entire population remained in
their homes and the Mayor of the place raised the American flag once more. National troops are stationed there, so that
in the southernmost State of the entire Union the loyal sentiment is found to
exist in all its purity and fervor. It
is even said that a company of troops could be readily raised in Jacksonville
to fight for the Stripes and Stars.
– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 4
