This State, with all its old traditions, has seen many vicissitudes. It
belonged to Spain from 1565 until 1763, nearly two hundred years, when
Great Britain traded Cuba for it. In 1781, the British were expelled
by Spain and that country again assumed possession of Florida. In a
very few years the inability which Spain has ever shown to properly
govern her Colonial possessions was manifest. A war broke out between
the Spaniards and the Seminole Indians of Florida and soon the whole
State was in a condition of virtual anarchy. Emboldened by their
successes in warfare, the Indians molested the frontier of Georgia. The
Government of the United States then took an action which constituted a
precedent for its action in invading Cuba in the late war with Spain.
It despatched a military force into Florida under command of General
Andrew Jackson. He virtually took possession of Florida and speedily
restored order. His conduct excited much debate in Congress and in the
Cabinet, a strong anti-expansion sentiment developing. The matter was
finally settled by purchasing Florida from Spain for $5,000,000. This
was done in 1819. Emigration poured into the territory from the States
further north and soon the value of Florida as an acquisition to the
country became evident and the anti-expansion sentiment died away. In
1845 Florida was admitted into the Union as a State. In 1861 it seceded
with other Southern States and returned again to the Union in 1868.
It may be pertinent right here to say that when the United States buys
or comes into possession of a tract of land it becomes the property of
the country and is called a Territory, and under the Constitution it is
so treated, without representation in Congress until such time as it is
admitted into the Union and becomes one of the United States.