The Republican journal., 1877-02-22
Speech of VIM. j. Purman.

publican member of Congress from that
State took the floor, and to the utter
amazement OF the whole Republican side
OF the House, and to the complete surprise
OF the Democratic side, made the follow
ing speech;
This, MIR, Speaker, brings me to the
grayamen of my remarks upon the sub
lecl, which | now take occasion to present
to the reelection OF my countrymen who
believe that the purity and exactness OF
the ballot are the first foundation upon
which to rear and preserve the liberty and
| stability OF our tree institutions / waited
! lmpatientiy for the special committee on
| Florida to submit the report OF their in
vestigatiOn to this House. and again look
| forward with reasonable expectation that
| the Electoral Commission would decide to
admit evidence sufficient at least to satisfy
| the country "a to which electors were
really elected by the people of Florida
but find now the appropriate opportun-
| ~ to state from my own knowledge the
true condition of the Presidential vote in
my Stale, concerning which so much is
| lAyoiYed in misunderstanding and contro-
ycrsy
The Republican party in our State. with
| all its dissensions healed and with the
| whole machinery of the State government
| in its hands. went into the last campaign
| determined to win. if our resources and
efforts coupled with the most heroic devo-
| ton on the part of the voters, could
achieve such an eud, Free speech and
| free locomotOn were enjoyed to the full
est extent by the speakers and managers
| OF beth sides, and ut no time during the
campaign, or trOm any portion Of the
| State, came up any cry Of intimidation,
| with one or two minor exceptions. 1t was
| without exception, the most peaceful cleo
| ton ever heid in the STATE; and not one
| case Of violence or disturbance on elec-
| ton day had come to my knowledge.
1t seemed the peculiar privilege Of the
| Republicans to win under all these aQvan-
| tagcOus circumstances But it is fact
| sir, which | cannot 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
| GOVEENuN AND TUE TupEN ELECTORS
| " ERE TRULY ELECTEp | make this dec
| laratj0N now under the most solemn sense
| af public dutY, and from an irresistible
| feeling Of obligation to the people of my
| however partisan their representative NAV
| be in his political faith, he should mt least,
| on au4stiOnS uf public fact. be an honest
man
But, sir. would not be understood. in
making this declaration. as LAYING claim
| to any unusual honesty or conscience, bat
| | only assert my knowledge of the facts
| love the principles Of the Republican
party. and for their sake have been
| sinreI by the fires of martyrdom and
believe in the ultimate triumph of it1 re.
generating mission: but [ cannot return
| TO nv state and look nv constituents in
| the face it. standuo uDon this floor. and
| in the presence OF the American people
anxious and entitled to know the whole
truth concerning this dangerous Presi
| dental issue. | should shrink from the
responsibility of ,ipinU iustice 4, my
State and defe, ding her honest political
| victory AGAINST the WiltuI neryersion of a
bold. dishonest and unscrupulous State
| Cauyassiuu Board (Applause ON the
Democratic siJpl The Tilden electors
were truly elected in Florida and only
| bv "wavs that are dark" and tricks that
| in thi4 case have NOT nroyed to bn vain
| were These electors and majority of the
| people of the United States drfrauded ont
| OF their fair and lawful victory
| On the tw,nty-tfth day alter the cleo
ti0n tne State Hoarl Of Canyasstrs met in
pursuance OF law. and on the sixth dav
! at December 1876. the boar, comoleted
| il. cany.s1 and declared the Rennbicau
| Gnvnrt,n1 In ba elected Inv a maior1t1 of
! Jl4 anal thn lI9vrs electors hy u majority
/ board. may mere sr,ut. ,s.,s,.a55t Is IL
| did miawiuIIv exercise judicial powers
|