[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7926-7927]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     TRIBUTE TO STETSON UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2001

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, as the State of Florida recently celebrated 
its 156th anniversary, Stetson University and President H. Douglas Lee, 
along with the Dean Gary Vauss of the School of Law, recognized the 
occasion by hosting an event attended by Floridians in Washington, D.C.
  Stetson University was founded in 1883 with a population of only 13 
students. It established Florida's first professional schools in 
Business, Law and Music.
  The University, with 2,491 students and a student-faculty ratio of 11 
to 1, embraces six core values of education: (1) Ethical Decisions, (2) 
Religious and Spiritual Life, (3) Environmental Responsibility, (4) 
Diversity and Global Awareness, (5) Community Service and (6) Gender 
Equality. The School of Law, with 708 students and a student-faculty 
ratio of 18 to 1, has established centers of excellence in Advocacy, 
Elder Law, Dispute Resolution Health Law and Litigation Ethics. It also 
ranks in the top three of accredited Law Schools in the United States 
for Trial Advocacy.
  I am pleased and honored to represent Stetson University, which lies 
within the Seventh Congressional District, in DeLand Florida. I am also 
delighted that the School of Law, which is located in the Tenth 
Congressional District, in St. Petersburg, Florida, is represented by 
my friend and colleague Representative C.W. Bill Young.
  Finally Mr. Speaker, the attendees of the State of Florida 
anniversary event received a copy of the March 15, 1845, edition of the 
St. Augustine Newspaper which detailed the Congressional action that 
confirmed Florida as America's 27th State. Some of the advice given by 
the editor in the article, to give us your ``good, tried and honest 
men'' who will lay ``party feelings . . . aside'' to represent the new 
state, should be equally important today.
  I submit for the Record the article from the March 15, 1845, edition 
of The News of St. Augustine, Florida.

                          The State of Florida

       The Bill for the admission of the State of Florida into the 
     Union has passed Congress. The day of trial has come, and the 
     people will soon feel the full benefits arising from the 
     change and from the visits of the tax collector. The die is 
     cast, and all, who have opposed State Government, must 
     submit. They can support the burdens of a State as well as 
     those, who have heretofore been most clamorous for it. In 
     many instances, the personal interests of those, who have 
     opposed our admission at this time, will probably be promoted 
     by the change. They resisted it not from personal 
     considerations, but because they entertained the sincere 
     conviction, that the interests of Florida and its prosperity 
     would be injuriously affected by it. Such is their belief 
     still. But the measure has been brought about despite of 
     their opposition. With others rests the responsibility, 
     whatever the result.
       Now it is the duty of all to adapt themselves to the new 
     order of things, and to make the most of it. All should unite 
     in organizing the new government in the best and most 
     economical manner. The intelligence and the integrity of the 
     whole Territory should be sought out and employed in putting 
     the government in motion. Much, very much of the future 
     prosperity and greatness of the country will depend on our 
     action now. More than the mere party politicians is needed at 
     this time. The occasion requires those, who have made our 
     free institutions and the science of government their study. 
     A direction and an impulse are now to be given to the 
     machinery of our institutions. Much nearly everything depends 
     on a right commencement. To do this, the mind of the country 
     must be put in requisition. Good, tried and intelligent men 
     must be sent to the Legislature. Party feeling should be laid 
     aside. Partialities and prejudices should be sacrificed to 
     the good of the country. The inquiry should be, who can lend 
     the most efficient aid in imparting the right impulse to our 
     State Government. By no other consideration should any be 
     influenced. At the first session of the Legislature, Officers 
     are to be selected, and their salaries determined;

[[Page 7927]]

     Taxes levied, and their amount fixed and adjusted; the 
     representation of the Counties is to be apportioned; and all 
     the expenses of the new government is to be settled, and 
     whether our burdens are to be light or heavy, whether we are 
     to be free or oppressed, must be determined. The consequences 
     of the action of the first Legislature will be long felt for 
     good or ill. Under these circumstances, we call upon our 
     friends in the country to reflect, and to act with that 
     deliberation, in preparing for the State Government and in 
     the selection of members of the next Legislature, which the 
     importance of the occasion and the momentous interests at 
     stake, demand of all. The power lies with the country, and we 
     trust it may be exercised with discretion and fidelity. They 
     are called upon to act not only for themselves, but for their 
     children. As the stream is now caused to flow, so it will 
     continue. Great effort will be required to divert from its 
     wanted channel. Reflect seriously, deliberate cautiously, 
     determine justly, and act patriotically.

     

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