Florida Constitutional Convention of 1838 was convened on December 3, 1838, to fulfill the requirement for a United States territory being admitted to the union as a state. An act was passed by the Florida Territorial Council in 1838, and approved by Governor Richard Keith Call, calling for the election of delegates in October 1838 to a convention to be held at St. Joseph, Florida.
The delegates were to draft a constitution and bill of rights for the Territory of Florida. The Constitutional Convention convened with Robert R. Reid presiding as president and Joshua Knowles secretary. The work of the convention was carried out by eighteen committees, whose members were familiar with that particular area of government. The process was a relatively simple one, since they used the constitutions of several other Southern states as models. Only on the subject of banking did much debate take place. The Convention adjourned sine die on January 11, 1839.
A handwritten copy of the 1838 Constitution or "Form of Government for the People of Florida," signed by Convention President, Robert Raymond Reid, and Convention Secretary, Joshua Knowles resides at the State Archives of Florida. Considered "a secretary's copy" this document is the only known copy of the 1838 Constitution. The original Constitution, signed by all the delegates, has never been found. The preamble to the Constitution of 1838:
Delegates This is a list of delegates to the Florida Constitutional Convention held in St. Joseph, Florida, 1838—1839:
Richard C. Allen, Calhoun County Walker Anderson, Escambia County Thomas Baltzell, Jackson County C. E. Bartlett, Franklin County Abraham Bellamy, Jefferson County Samuel C. Bellamy, Jackson County Edmund Bird, Alachua County Thomas M. Blount, Escambia County Wilson Brooks, Columbia County Thomas Brown, Leon County Joseph B. Browne, Monroe County Edward C. Cabell, Jefferson County John G. Cooper Nassau County Alexander W. Crichton, Duval County William P. Duval, Calhoun County Richard Fitzpatrick, Dade County Isaac Garasson, Alachua County Samuel Y. Garey, Duval County William Haddock, Nassau County William B. Hooker, Hamilton County John M. G. Hunter, Gadsden County Edwin T. Jenckes, St. Johns County David Levy Yulee St. Johns, County Richard H. Long, Jackson County John W. Malone, Gadsden County William Marvin, Monroe County Banks Meacham, Gadsden County Richard J. Mays, Madison County Joseph McCants, Jefferson County Daniel G. McLean, Walton County George E. McClellan, Columbia County John C. McGehee, Madison County John L. McKinnon Walton County Jackson Morton, Escambia County Samuel Parkhill, Leon County John M. Partridge Jefferson County Leigh Read, Leon County Robert R. Reid, St. Johns County Stephen J. Roche, Washington County E. Robbins, Washington County Jose S. Sanchez St. Johns County Albert G. Semmes, Franklin County Samuel B. Stephens, Gadsden County John Taylor, Leon County Leslie A. Thompson, Leon County George Taliaferro Ward, Leon County Joseph B. Watts, Hamilton County John F. Webb, Columbia County James D. Westcott, Leon County E. K. White, Alachua County William H. Williams, Mosquito County Alfred L. Woodward, Jackson County Oliver Woods, Duval County Benjamin D. Wright, Escambia County William Wyatt, Leon CountyPolitical graveyard
See also Constitution of Florida Florida Constitutional Convention of 1885
References
fr:Constitution de la Floride