July 19, 1865---"The Freedmen must be our equals before the law."

JULY 19, 1865:                  

In his inaugural speech, William Marvin, the Provisional Governor of Florida, a Southern Unionist, and a former slaveholder, advises his constituency that, “In all respects the Freedmen must be our equals before the law.” The speech is met with boos and derision in the Southern Press.

The “official” Confederate State flag of Florida never actually flew anywhere. There were numerous unofficial flags used by the State. A popular battle flag (here emblazoned as a Regimental banner)  was based on the flag of the Army of Tennessee (usually called the “Rebel flag” today).

After the Civil War, of course, Confederate designs were suppressed by the Reconstruction government of Florida. In 1866, the Legislature adopted the State Seal on an argent background as the official State flag.

The designer of Florida's current State flag was Governor Francis P. Fleming (1889-1893) who had been a Captain in the Army of the Confederacy. During his term he suggested adding a red saltire (St. Andrew's Cross) to the State Flag so that its white field did not appear to be a flag of surrender. This was precisely the rationale behind the Confederacy's adoption of the Blood-Stained Banner in 1865, and the saltire is reminiscent of the saltire on Confederate battle flags. The official adoption of the design of Florida's flag dates from 1900, with a slight change in 1985.