[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  SENATE RESOLUTION 84--RELATIVE TO THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FLORIDA 
                               STATEHOOD

  Mr. MACK (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 84

       Whereas Florida became the first State explored by 
     Europeans when Ponce de Leon led a Spanish expedition that 
     made landfall along the east coast in the year 1513;
       Whereas Pedro Menendez de Aviles, captain-general of an 
     invading fleet, ousted the French settlement, Fort Caroline, 
     at the mouth of the St. Johns River, proclaimed Spanish 
     sovereignty over Florida, and on September 8, 1565, 
     established St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United 
     States;
       Whereas Spain, France, and England played a significant 
     role in the development and exploration of early Florida;
       Whereas President James Monroe proclaimed the Adams-Onis 
     Treaty in which Spain ceded Florida to the United States on 
     February 22, 1821, and appointed General Andrew Jackson as 
     the first provisional governor of Florida;
       Whereas on March 30, 1822, the United States Congress 
     created a territorial government for Florida, following the 
     pattern set in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 by providing 
     for public education and orderly political steps toward 
     greater self-government and eventual statehood as population 
     increased;
       Whereas 56 delegates representing the 30 counties of 
     Florida assembled in 1838 in the Panhandle town of St. Joseph 
     to frame the first constitution of the territory in 
     preparation for Florida statehood, who were mainly planters 
     and lawyers, were from 13 of the 26 States then in the United 
     States and 4 foreign countries, included only 3 natives from 
     Florida, included 3 delegates who would later become United 
     States Senators, included 2 governors, and included 5 members 
     of the Florida Supreme Court;
       Whereas a bill to admit Florida as a State passed the House 
     of Representatives on February 13, 1845, and the Senate on 
     March 1, 1845;
       Whereas President John Tyler signed a bill making Florida a 
     State on March 3, 1845, making Florida the 27th State to be 
     admitted into the United States;
       Whereas Friday, March 3, 1995, marks the 150th anniversary 
     of Florida becoming a State;
       Whereas the admission of Florida to the United States has 
     proved to be of immense benefit both to the United States and 
     to the State of Florida;
       Whereas 96 citizens of Florida have served the United 
     States and Florida in the House of Representatives;
       Whereas 30 citizens of Florida have served the United 
     States and Florida in the United States Senate;
       Whereas numerous citizens of Florida have served in the 
     executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the Federal 
     Government;
       Whereas citizens of Florida have fought and died in service 
     to the United States, and 22 citizens of Florida have won the 
     United States highest award for bravery, the Congressional 
     Medal of Honor, protecting freedom in the United States;
       Whereas Florida is the fourth largest State and is rich in 
     natural resources and talented people;
       Whereas Florida, home of the Everglades National Park, is 
     blessed with great natural beauty, clean waters, pure air, 
     and extraordinary scenery;
       Whereas Florida is a world leader in agriculture, 
     commercial fishing, education, financial services, horse 
     breeding, high technology, manufacturing, phosphate 
     production, and tourism;
       Whereas Cape Canaveral, location of the first United States 
     satellite launch and the first manned spaceship flight to the 
     Moon, continues to play a vital and leading role in the 
     exploration and discovery of outer space by the United 
     States;
       Whereas a special postage stamp saluting the 
     Sesquicentennial of Florida will be circulated throughout the 
     United States during 1995; and
       Whereas Florida is proud of its heritage and looks forward 
     to its future: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. SALUTE BY THE SENATE.

       The United States Senate salutes the State of Florida on 
     the sesquicentennial anniversary of Florida becoming a State 
     Friday, March 3, 1995.

     SEC. 2. COMMEMORATION BY CONGRESS.

       The Senate calls on the joint Congressional leadership of 
     Congress to agree on an appropriate time and manner to honor 
     the State of Florida, in recognition of the achievements of 
     all the men and women who have worked hard to develop Florida 
     into a great State, from pioneer days to modern times.

     SEC. 3. COMMEMORATION BY THE PRESIDENT.

       The Senate calls on the President to issue a Presidential 
     message calling on the people of the United States and all 
     Federal, State, and local governments to commemorate the 
     sesquicentennial anniversary of Florida becoming a State with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

     SEC. 4. COPIES OF RESOLUTION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall send this resolution to 
     the Florida Congressional delegation, the Governor of 
     Florida, the National Archives, and the Florida Archives.

  Mr. MACK. Mr. President, this week marks the anniversary of a very 
special event in the history of my State.
  One hundred and fifty years ago on the 1st of March 1845, the U.S. 
Senate passed a bill admitting Florida to the Union as the 27th State. 
President John Tyler signed the bill into law on March 3, 1845.
  Tomorrow, March 3, 1995, the State of Florida will celebrate its 
sesquicentennial.
  Florida has a rich history stretching nearly five centuries.
  The search for gold and glory brought Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de 
Leon to Florida during the Easter season of 1513.
  He and his crew disembarked between present-day St. Augustine and 
Cape Canaveral to claim the land in the name of the King of Spain. 
Ponce de Leon called this new land Florida--a Spanish word meaning 
``full of flowers.''
  From discovery in 1513 to early 1821, Spain, France, and England 
played significant roles in Florida's exploration and development.
  During the territorial period--1821 through 1845--Florida became one 
of the major cotton producing areas of the region. The struggle for 
statehood was a major political issue in Washington and throughout the 
territory of Florida.
  David Levy (Yulee), who later became Florida's first U.S. Senator, 
led the fight to bring Florida into the Union.
  Florida's admission to the Union and the contributions of its 
citizens have proven to be of immense benefit both to the United States 
and to the State of Florida.
  As the United States has grown and prospered Florida has become a 
world leader in agriculture, commercial fishing, education, financial 
services, horse breeding, high technology, manufacturing, phosphate 
production, and tourism.
  More than 20 million tourists visit Florida each year to experience 
the Sunshine State's great natural beauty, her pristine beaches, clean 
waters, pure air, and extraordinary scenery.
  Each region of Florida has its own unique identity. There are vivid 
contrasts between the excitement of Cape Canaveral and Disney World, 
the cosmopolitan feel of south Florida, the tropical world of the 
Florida Keys, the natural beauty of the west coast, the mystery that is 
the Everglades, the citrus and cattle country of central Florida, and 
the deep South culture of north Florida and the panhandle.
  The marvelous diversity of those who have migrated to Florida seeking 
a better life for themselves and their families have made the State a 
microcosm of America itself.
  The dedication and innovation of Floridians, both past and present, 
inspire all of us in Florida as we prepare our State for the challenges 
of the 21st century.


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