On the other hand, there are constant dissentions here, and charges against each other of improper practices among the Government officers themselves. The military men abuse the Treasury agents roundly, accuse them of enormous speculations on their own account, and the most unwarranted system of spying into the operations of others.[[24]]
[[24]]The tax Commissioners, and other civil functionaries, fare little better; while the military men, according to the stories of the civilians, believe the modern substitute for glory to be—“loot.”
All accounts, both here, at Jacksonville and at St. Augustine, agree that the country contains little more than is needed for the sustenance of the inhabitants. Trade may come by and by, when Florida begins to be used again as a grand national sanatarium; but for a year or two, the openings for business with the Floridians are likely to require very little of the capital now looking for Southern investments.
There was a parting tune from the band as we left General Gillmore’s boat, kindly good-byes with General and staff officers. Altogether the pleasantest party met, thus far, on the trip. The “Wayanda” fired a gun as she began hoisting her anchor, and we were off for a sail of five hundred miles, along what used to be considered the most dangerous coast of the United States.
[24]. An account in the Port Royal New South of an April-fool performance at Fernandina (said to be a literal record of an actual occurrence), is greatly gloated over by the military authorities, as a specimen of what they call the meanness and imbecility of the civil officials. It illustrates, at least, the state of feeling between the services. The account sets forth that a Mr. Goodrich had brought into Fernandina, from Nassau, a small schooner, in ballast. The Collector had suspicions of intended contraband trade. He was stimulated by pretended disclosures, to the point of bringing Mr. Goodrich before the Provost Marshal for an examination. The New South proceeds:
“Mr. Wells testified that Mr. Goodrich had, in a season of friendly confidence, exhibited to him, at his house, a pipe of whisky, which he admitted having brought on shore from his schooner, after dark, and without the knowledge of the Collector of the Customs, the said pipe of whisky being ignored in the vessel’s manifest; and that Goodrich further disclosed that he had two more pipes in the house, that would be brought into requisition when this was exhausted.
“Mr. Goodrich admitted that he had no witnesses to examine, and very little to say in his defense, but he would like to interrogate the witnesses who had testified against him. Permission being granted, the following conversation ensued:
“Mr. Goodrich—Do you swear positively, Mr. Wells, that you saw the pipe of whisky?
“Mr. Wells—I do, solemnly.