The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-14
A Republican Congressman on the
Florida Vote

Florida Vote.
On Tuesday the elections committee of |
the house. at Washington, having investi-
gated the Florida presidential election,
made a report that the Tilden electors
were chosen, and during the discussion |
on this report the white Republican con-
gresham from Florida. (Mr. Purman) is
reported as follows:
Mr.. Purman created sensation by IA
voring the majority resolution declaring
the Iilden electors duly elected The
Democratic members applauded him as he
said this and denounced the canvassing
boards action as INSCRIPTIONS and fraudu-
lent. 1 find now an appropriate oppor-
tunity to state, from my own knowledge,
the true condition of the presidential vote
IN my state, concerning which so much is
involved in misunderstanding and contro-
verSy. The Republican party in our state
with all its dissensions healed, with the
whole machinery of the state government
in its hands, went into the last campaign
| determined to win if cur own resources
aud efforts, coupled with the most heroic
| devotion on the part Of our voters, could
achieve such an end, Free speech and
| free locomotion were enjoyed to the fullest
extent by the speakers and managers OF
both sides, and at no time during the cam
paign or from any portion of the state
came up any cry of intimidation. With
one or two minor exceptions ii was, with
out exception, the most peaceful election
ever held in the state, and not one case of
violence or disturbance on election day
has come to my knowledge. 1t seemed
the peculiar privilege Of the Repub licans
to win under all these advantageous cir
cumstances. but it is a fact which | cannot
stand upon this floor and deny ana which
every man, woman and child in my state
knows, that Florida was lost by the Repub-
lcan party IN the late election, and that
the Democratic governor and the 1ilden
electors were truly elected. | make this
declaration now under the most solemn
sense of public duty and from an irresis-
table feeling of obligation to the people OF
my state who have the right to expect
that, however partisan their representa-
! tive may be in his political faith, he should
at least on questions of public fact be al
honest man. But, sir, would not be I'm
derstood, in making this declaration, as
laying claim to any unusual amount OF hon
esty of conscience, but | only assert my
| knowledge of facts [ love the principle:
OF the Republican party and FOR their sake
have been singed by fires of the martyrdOm
i. and | believe in the ultimate triumph o.
its regenerating mission; but | cannot re-
turn to my state aud look my constituent;
in the face, if, standing upon this floor ant
! in the presence of the American people
anxious and entitled to know the whole
truth concerning this dangerous presiden
tial issue, | should shrink from the respon
sibility of doing justice to ny state ant
S defending her honest political victor!
i against willtul peryersion of a bold, dis
honest and INSCRIPTIONS state canvassinl
board.
:, Mr.. Purman described at length tn
+, manner in which the canvass was conduct
d ed, and charged that Cowgill,a member o
q the board, was personally consulted upol
the fact of frauds having been committed
q and that he gave his assurance, In one In
: stance, that if it were plausibly covere
before them for adjudication. it shoult
. suffer no scrutiny or discount at his hands
d He concluded as follows: Il thank Go
IS and the good people of our state tina
Is Florida has not presented the alarmin
/ spectacle of two rival governments upo
l. her soil-both claiming to represent tn
5. sovereign will of the people. No one ca
:. foresee the future misfegtunes that ma
2, befall the states OF South Carolina an
B. Louisiana In consequence OF their du;
;; governments; though it Is my opinion thu
4, whether Gov. Hayes or Gov. Tilden wi
s. succeed to the presidency, in neither ever
|, will the Republican claimants be able
ss maintain their authority; whether RICH
& L,,i Lev cd ~ !
too great, both upon them and upon tt
te president, and the policy Of the Republica
administration which necessarily will be
- secure peace and reconciliation at IL
IN price of any concessions involving th
IS. rights Of the southern Republicans
be
NEu Gpnnrpv Srnnr -Thn rr,hl;o