 Cooley was appointed as an appraiser of property and slaves for Union Bank of Florida . His ally , Richard Fitzpatrick , purchased his coontie and citrus plantation on the Miami River for $ 2 @,@ 500 . Subsequently , Fitzpatrick was elected as representative for Monroe County to the Territorial Legislative Council . The unanimous vote for Fitzpatrick in New River was questioned by the Key West Inquirer . Cooley 's conduct was implicitly questioned as well , since as Justice of the Peace , Cooley conducted the non @-@ secret balloting . In Key West , Fitzpatrick lost to William Hackley . 
