Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida
The Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, often referred to as the Florida Territorial Council or Florida Territorial Legislative Council, was the legislative body governing the American territory of Florida (Florida Territory) before statehood. The territory of Florida was acquired by the U.S. in 1821 under the Adams–Onís Treaty. Replacing the form of martial law that had existed in the territory since Florida was acquired, the U.S. Congress in 1822 established a territorial government consisting of a governor, secretary, thirteen-member Legislative Council, and judiciary, all of whom were appointed by the U.S. president.[1][2]
Congress changed the Legislative Council's structure many times in the 1820s and 1830s, gradually granting the territory more autonomy. Beginning in 1826, Council members were popularly elected rather than appointed by the president.
The Council was superseded by the General Assembly of the State of Florida after statehood was granted in 1845.[5][6]
Capital
The Council determined to rotate between the historical capitals of Pensacola and San Agustín. The first legislative session was held at Pensacola on July 22, 1822; this required delegates from St. Augustine to travel 59 days by sea to attend. To get to the second session in St. Augustine, Pensacola members traveled 28 days over land. During this session, the council decided future meetings should be held at a half-way point to reduce the distance; eventually Tallahassee, site of successive Indian settlements until burned by Andrew Jackson, was selected as a half-way point between the former capitals of East and West Florida.[7]
Dr. William H. Simmons and John Lee Williams of Pensacola were commissioned by the second Florida Territorial Council to select a central point between St. Augustine and Pensacola to serve as capital of the Florida Territory in 1823.[8] The
Significant acts
One of the requirements for a
Jackson County was created by the Florida Territorial Council in 1822 out of Escambia County, along with Duval County out of St. Johns County, making them the third and fourth counties in the Territory. The county was named for Andrew Jackson, who had served as Florida's first military governor for six months in 1821. Jackson County originally extended from the Choctawhatchee River on the west to the Suwannee River on the east. The county had been reduced close to its present boundaries by 1840 through the creation of new counties from its original territory. Minor adjustments to the county boundaries continued through most of the 19th century, however.[9][10][11]
Participants
See also
- Constitution of Florida
- Florida Territorial Court
References
- ^ 3 Stat. 637
- ^ 3 Stat. 654
- ^ 4 Stat. 146
- ^ 5 Stat. 263
- ^ "Acts and Resolutions of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida archives".
- ^ "Florida Constitution of 1838". Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
- ISBN 0-8130-1167-1, Copyright @ 1993 by the Board of Regents of the State of Florida
- ISBN 978-0-7385-2371-2.
- ^ Jackson County Information - accessed February 10, 2008
- ^ Encyclopedia Americana - Jackson, Andrew Archived 2008-02-10 at the Wayback Machine - accessed February 10, 2008
- ISBN 0-9606708-0-7
- ^ Schafer, p. 60.
- ^ Schafer, p. 72.
- ^ Scahfer, p. 75.