Florida Constitutional Convention of 1838
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:
History of Tampa, Florida
On January 10, 1861, the state of Florida seceded from the United States along with the rest of the American South to form the Confederate States of America, touching off the American Civil War.
Two Tampa locals attended the Secession Convention; judge and "Florida Peninsular" newspaper editor Simon Turman and lawyer James Gettis. The "Peninsular" was one of Tampa's oldest media publications. Both Turman and Gettis signed the Ordinance of Secession. Gettis's law partner was Henry L. Mitchell.