New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register

GEN. JACKSON IN FLORIDA.

The following is one of the Ordinances decreed and promulgated by Gen. Jackson while Governor of the Floridas, immediately after his proclamation, promising to the inhabitants a continuance of their previous laws and municipal regulations, and shows pretty conclusively, what a man of his temperament would do, in case he should be entrusted with power, or permitted to act as his own capricious and arbitrary humor might dictate. It is an ordinance changing the form of government of the town of Saint Augustine, the capital of East Florida, and residence of the Governor; taking from the people the right of electing their town officers, which by law they held under their former (Spanish) government, and transferring it to himself: and taking from them also the right of enacting their own police regulations, and the invaluable privilege of taxing themselves, and transferring the exercise of them to a Council of his own creation, some of whose members had not been in either province a month.

AN ORDINANCE BY

MAJOR GEN. ANDREW JACKSON,

Governor of the Provinces of Florida, exercising the powers of the Captain-General and of the Intendant of the Island of Cuba, over the said Provinces, and of the Governors of said Provinces, respectively—

That, with a view to the preservation of the good order and health of the town of St. Augustine, I Do ordain :

Section I. That there shall be appointed, annually, by the Governor, a Chief Officer, to be called the Mayor, and six subordinate officers, to be called Aldermen, who shall form a Council, and have and exercise ALL THE POWERS necessary to the good government of the said town.

Sec. 2. That the said Mayor and Council shall have power, by ordinance, or otherwise, to impose fines and forfeitures, for the infraction of their regulations; and appoint such officers as they may deem necessary, to enforce their ordinances; and to levy SUCH TAXES AS MAY BE NECESSARY for the support of their Town Government.

Sec. 3. As the Christian Sabbath is observed throughout the civilized world, it is ordained, that, in order to remove any doubt which might be entertained with respect to the Mayor and Council on this subject, that the said Mayor and Council be authorized to make ANY REGULATIONS on the observance thereof, WHICH THEY MAY DEEM PROPER.

Sec. 4. In order to remove all doubts on the subject of the limits of the town of St. Augustine, and its dependencies, as well as to place under the IMMEDIATE CONTROL of the Mayor and Council ALL THE FOUNTAINS AND SPRINGS, from which the inhabitants are supplied with water, it is ordained, that the incorporated limits of said town shall be as follows: Bounded East by the waters of the harbor; South and West by the river St. Sebastian, and on the North by a line fifteen hundred yards North of the gate of Fort St. Mark.

Sec. 5. [Relating to matters of police, is omitted.]

Sect. 6. [Gives to the Mayor and Council the power to acquire and dispose of property for the public use.]

SECT. 7. That all the innkeepers, grocers, and other retailers of liquors, are, by this ordinance, expressly prohibited from FURNISHING, or selling, ANY LIQUOR, or ardent spirits, whatever, to any soldier in the service of the United States of America, under the penalty of nineteen dollars for each offence, and to stand committed to the common jail until the said penalty, with costs, is paid.

Pensacola, July 18, 1821.

ANDREW JACKSON,

Governor of the Floridas, &c. &c.

W. G. D. WORTHINGTON,

Sec'ry, &c. for East Florida.