1822 - Edocs

191
in reference to the immediate prosperity of this Territo-
-,-— [t will be recollected that the lute government of
Spain over- these provinces considered East and West
Florida, as two distinct depen#encies v from a connexion
of which r they could discover no immediate benefit to
Spain, and consequently the settlements were confined to
the vicinity of St. Augustine and Pensacola, more particularly
in West Florida, where the settlement of the
country was circumscribed, by an apprehension of Indian
hostility, the eftect'has been to prevent the'establishment
of a road, from the capitals of the above provinces to each
other, or to* the interior ; and as we are at present situated,
the nearest practicable road from one to the other by
land, is seven hundred and fifty miles, through Alabama
and Georgia, and the water communication round the
cape is as difficult as a trip to Liverpool or Bordeaux—
conclusion however unfavourable to the conjunction of
the two provinces in a Territory or state; cannot be drawn
from this fact, the distance not being more than three
hundred and fifty, or four hundred miles, through a healthy
fine country, a large portion of which your memorialists
are induced to believe, for fertility, is not surpassed
by any land in the southern country, a slight view of the
geographical situation of the country, its local and political
connexion with the United States, will demonstrate
the policy and necessity of preserving the connexion of
the Floridas, and also dictate the propriety of laying out
a road from Pensacola to St. Augustine, from which our
government in addition to the lasting improvement of her
Territory, for the labour and expense will derive more
than an equivalent from the sale of public lands, which
will be much inhanced in "Value, by such an improvement,
your memorialists would therefore request that your Excellency
would direct some intelligent officers of the engineer
corps, to explore the country and mark out a road
from Pensacola to Si. Augustine, and adopt such measures
as to your Excellency may seem fit, to have the same
opened in conformity with their report, and also that they
be directed to select some suitable place, in the Michasucky
country, or on the Suwaney river or the adjacent country,
for the permanent seat of Government of Florida, and
make report thereof to the Governor of this Territory, to
be laid before the next Legislative Council. Whilst we
are on the subject of the establishment of public roads, so
nearly connected with 'the growth, wealth and prosperity
of this Territory, we would also take the liberty to recommend
to the General Government the necessity and practicability
of opening the- road from St. Augustine, into
Georgia, known by the appellation of the Kings road,
which was opened at great expense by the British Government,
and could at this time be re-opened with very