The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-14
BY TELEGRAPH.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT.
TO THE DAHy LYTELLIGENoER
HOUSE.
WARRINGTON, February ls.

rope. Passed.
The report Of the Committee on Elec.
tions in Florida, declaring the Tilden
electors elected in that State, was con-
Mr.. Wilson asked Mr.. Hopkins what
latitude he was going TO allow for debate.
Mr.. Hopkins said as much as stlesired.
Mr.. Wilson replied that he did not
want any time. lie did not want TO be
bothered by this. funereal business.
Mr.. Hopkins said he had intended lin.
iting the debate to one hour, but since he
had seen the extraordinary spectacle OF
the tribunal refusing TO investigate into
the received vote OF Florida, since he
had seen the report Of the minority Of
the committee, containing evidence that
had never been taken and containing re.
Elections upon the majority Of the COM
mittce that were utterly unwarranted, he
thought there should be more time for
debate. He then argued in support Of
the resolutions.
Mr.. Dunncll, who had signed the mi.
nority report, spoke in support OF that
report.
Mr.. Purman rose to debate the report
OF the Florida Committee. Up to that
time no interest had been taken in the do.
bate, but when it became evident, he ia.
yored the resolution Of the majority. de-
claring that the Tilden electors were duly
elected, the Democrats gathered around
him. He declared, amid much applause
from the Democrats, that the Tilden eleC.
tors had been legally elected in Florida,
and that the action Of the Canvassing
Board was INSCRIPTIONS and fraudulent.
MIR. Purman said, | find now the ap.
propriate opportunity to state from my
own knowledge, the true condition OF the
Presidential vote in my State concerning
which 20 much is involved in the misun-
derstanding and controversy. The Re-
publiCans IN our State with all their dis.
senSions healed, with the whole machine.
rY OF the State Government in their
hands, went into the last campaign de.
termined 10 win with their own resources
and efforts, coupled with the most heroic
devotion by our voters that could achieve
such an end. Free speech and free loco.
motion were enjoyed TO the fullest ex.
tent by speakers and managers OF both
sides, and at no time during the cam.
paign or from any part ofthe State, came
up any cry OF intimidation, with one or
two minor exceptions. 1t was without
exception the most peaceful election ever
held in the State, and not one case Of VIC.
lenCe or disturbance OH election day has
come to my knowledge. 1t seemed the
peculiar privilege OF the Republicans to
win under all these advantageous circum-
stances, but ii is fact which | can not
stand upon this floor and deny, and
which every man, woman and child in
my State knows, that Florida was lost by
the Republican party in the late election,
and that-the Democratic Governor and
the Tilden electors were elected. make
this declaration now under most solemn
sense Of public duty and from an ire.
sistible feeling Of obligation to the peo.
pie OF my State, who have right to cx.
pect that however partisan their repre-
sentative may be in his political faith,
he should at least on questions OF public
fact be IN honest man. But, sir, l would
not be understood, in making this
declaration as laying claim to any unusu-
nj amount OF honesty or conscience, but
| only assert my knowledge OF the facts.
l love the principles Of the Republican
party, and for their sake have been singed
by the fires OF martyrdom, and l believe
in the ultimate triumph OF its regenera.
tive mission, but cannot return TO my
State and look my constituents in the
face ii, standing on this floor, and in the
presence OF the American people, anxious
and entitled 10 know the whole truth
concerning this dangerous Presidential
issue, l should shrink from the response
bility OF doing justice to my State and
defending her honest political victory
against the wilful perversion Of bold,
dishonest and unscrupulous Cavassing
Board. Applause on the Democratic
side Should my Democratic colleague
in this House introduce resolution here
declaring that the 81. Johns river had
its rise in the southern portion OF our
State, flowed north for hundreds Of miles
and emptied its waters into the Atlantic
Ocean, would be compelled to support
the affirmation Of the resolution, for the
reason that | would know the statement
to be true, being personally acquainted
with the geography Of that country.
Therefore, for like reason am compelled
to give assent TO any declarations that
have been or may be made upon this
floor that the Tilden electors were truly
elected in Florida, and that only by "ways
that are dark and tricks that in this case
have not proved to be in vain" were these
electors and majority OF the people of
the United States defrauded out OF their
fair and lrwful victory.
Mr.. Purman described at length the
manner in which the canvass was con-
Quoted, and charged that Mr.. Cowgirl, u
member OF the Board, was personally con-
suited on the fact OF frauds having been
committed, and that he gave his assur.
ance in one instance that il 1t were
plausibly covered up before the case
came before them Tor adjudication it
should suffer no scrutiny or discount at
his hands.
Mr.. Purman concluded us follows ]
thank God and the good people OF our
State that Florida does not present the
alarming spectacle Of two rival govern.
ments upon her soil both claiming to
represent the sovereign will Of the peo,
pie. No one can ioresee the future
mitsortunes that may befall the States
OF South Carolina and Louisiana in con.
sequence OF their dual governments
though it is my opinion that, whether
Governor Hayes or Governor Tilden will
succeed to the Presidency, in neither
event will the Republican claimants he
able to maintain their authority, whether
rightiully entitled to 1t or not. The
pressure will be too great both upon
them and the President, and the policy
Of the Republican administration neces'
sarily will be TO secure peace and recon-
ciliation at the price Of any concession in
volviug the rights of Southern Repnb'
licans.
Mr.. WOodburn, Of Nevada, member
Of the committee, criticised the gentleman
from Florida (Purmam for Characteriz'
ing the Canvassing Board as a bold, un,
scrupulous and dishonest set. The
gentlemen composing that Board would
compare favorably with the gentleman
from Floridaor any member on this floor
and lie wished to remind that gentleman
that he had been canvassed into this
House by the very same Board and in
I'm Il L.