Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-09
The Florida Ring.

which we are indebted 10 the Oh iso"''
| Republican), It appears another one ~
added to the list of the reconstruction
beauties The only difference We OBJ
serve between the way they adopt Con-
stitutions in Florida and our Tennessee
plap, Is that there is q little dispute
among the ringleaders, and here they
were held in such supreme contempt by
all gentlemen that their work was I'M
fortunately suffered to pass without re-
sis,ance, because of its supposed insig'
niicance. Very probably Florida viii
DO blessed with government as good as
that of Tennessee in very short time.
The St. Louis Republican says;
We have a statement through a Re.
publican press there, the florida Union,
which explains the origin OF the dis
graceful quarreling among the Conven'
tionists Of that province. That state
ment ia that three men, one OF them
named Liberty Billings, formerly OF
Maine. whom the Boston Advertiser de.
scribes as an INSCRIPTIONS and small
politician; another, Daniel Richards, OF
illinois, and the third black man from
baltimore, who now bears the name of
Saunders-formed, last summer po-
litical partnership, in other words
"ring," with view to control the Re-
publican party in their interests. Neither
Of them was eligible as voter or q
member Of the Convention. Never
theless, they so managed, BY dint Of the
most rascally appeals to the negroes, TO
get returned themselves, and enough CO.
conspirators to bring their force up to
nearly half the Convention. But as they
had not secured the majority which they
labored for, these confederates undertook
to salve over that difficulty with a new
trick.
II was agreed that the whole Billings
faction should be on hand promptly at
the FIRST moment of holding the Conven-
ton. Those not in the plot were not so
prompt, consequently when the time ar
rived Billings had rallied about twenty,
while the innocents had only half that
number. But as there was an unsus-
pecting quorum, the Convention pro-
ceeded 10 business; and as q matter OF
course the consprators elected full set
of officers, appointed all the committees
in their interest, and, shrewdest of all,
adopted rule, which required vote of
t,co-thirds to override decision of the
PRESIDENT
Thus far everything was lovely" in
the eyes of Billings and his accomplices-
But gradually, as the lacking members
dropped in, and those not in the ring
began to compare notes with each other,
the innocents perceived they were in q
clear majority; but in majority about
as helpless as it was clear. They knew
that Billings and his associated ring
leaders were not entitled to seats IN the
Convention, but how could they get
them out2 Every attempt looking to
their deserved expulsion was of course
declared out of order, and the decision
was sustained by the minority, who
formed more than onethird of the
So things stood for while,
"ring" watching vigilantly for
to turn up, Shortly something |
did turn up. Some of the innocents be-
ing absent on one occasion, the Billings
gang, finding they had pro tenn. ma
iority, suddenly thrust upon the assem-.
bly, full blown constitution, in which,
It may be presumed, they had carefully
provided for themselves, and were about
putting it to a vote, when the minority,
now alive to the situation, withdrew
in body, leaving the Convention with
out quorum. This last mentioned cir
was, however, not allowed by
the Billingsgates to balk them in their
purposes. The gang, though not quo-
rum and incapable of doing business,
proceeded to adopt their Constitution,
and then adjourned. Thereupon fol-
lowed q new move on this chess board.
The msjorlty-anti Billings-reassem-
bled and, having quorum, proceeded
10 business, and undd good deal which |
the Billings ring had done. Shortly |
after some of the Billings men joined
them, thus increasing their strength.
The Convention expelled Billings and
Richards.
But meanwhile these Billingsgates have
gone on TO Washington, and ere this laid
their work before Congress, as the action
Of the State of Florida. Why not?
Does not their convention represent the
State as really as the second and present
one2 If the first work suits the purposes
Of Congress better than the second, why |
should it not be adopted in preference |
Where everything is done outside of
rules and law, why is not |
one as good as the other, so far as the
egality and fairness is concerned2 Con.
.ress is certainly at full liberty to choose
between the two evils, And that which |
s least is that which conforms most |
nearly to its own precedent disregard of
he Constitution, decency and the rights
If the people. We see nothing now in
he way of adding one more blotch to
he constellation of stars Of the Ameri-
IAN Union, when Florida is pounding
way for admission with two applicants
It once.
No Capital 10 be Made by IL.
In answer to the Radical charge that
he Democrats are in favor of paying for