The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-02-22
A Republican Speaks.

IA lCplDllCdu Spc1kS.
! The Way Florida was Carried
by the COnspirators.
| During the debate on the Florida
question on the 18th inst. Mr.. r.Purman,
Republican Representative from that
State made the following speech:
Mr.. Purman rose to debate the re-
port of the Florida committee. Up to
that time no interest whatever had
been taken in the debate, but when it
became evident that he favored the
resolution of the majority, declaring
that the Tilden electors were duly
/ elected, theDemocratic members gath
cred around him. Mr.. Purman said:
l find now an appropriate opportu-
nifty to state from my own knowledge
/ the true condition OF the presidential
vote in my state, which is 80 much in
voived in misunderstanding and con-
troversy. The Republican party In
our state, with all its discussions
healed, with the whole machinery OF
| the state government in its hands,
went into the last campaign determin-
ed TO win it. Our own resources and
efforts, coupled with heroic deYotion
on the part of our voters, could achive
such an end. Free speech aud free To-
comotion we're enjoyed to the fullest
extent by the speakers and managers
| of both sides, aud at no time during
the campaign or from any portion of
the state came up any cry of intimida-
| ton, with one or two minor excep-
tions. 1t was without 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 Pc
cullar privilege of the Republicans to
win under all these advantageous cir
cum stances, but it is a fact which [
cannot stand upon this floor and deny,
and which every man, woman and
child i'm my state knows, that Florida
was lost by the Republican party in
| the late election, and that the Demo-
cratic Governor aud the Tilden eiec-
tors were truly elected. make this
! declaration now under the most SOL
emn sense of public duty, and from
irresistible obligations to the people
OF my state, who have a right to ex.
| pect that. however partisan their Rep
resentative may be in his political
faith, he should at least on questions
of public tact be an honest mau. Bnt,
sir, would not be understood in max
| ing this declaration as LAYING claim to
any unusual amount OF honesty or
conscience, but k,Only assert my know
ledge OF the facts. love the princi-
pies of the Republican party, aud for
| their sake have been singed by the
| fires Of martyrdom and believe in
ultimate triumph OF its regenerating
mission, but | cannot return to my
state and look my constituents in the
face if, standing upon this floor, and
in the presence of the American peo-
pie, anxious and entitled to know the
whole truth concerning this dangerous
presidential issue, should shrink
from the responsibility of doing JUS
tice to my state and defending her
honest political victory against tine
willful perversion of bold, dishonest
and INSCRIPTIONS state canvassing
board. Applause on the Democratic
side1 Should my Democratic colleague
here declaring that the st. Johns riv-
Of our state and flowed northward for
hundreds of miles and emptied its wa
| ters into the Atlantic Ocean, would
be compelled TO support the "affirma-
| ton of the resolution for the reason
that would know the statement to
be true, being personally acquainted
with the geography of that country.
Tn; refore, for like reasons, am COM
| PEELED to give assent to any declara-
/ tiOns which have been or may be made
upon this floor that the Tiiden electors
were truly elected in Florida, and that
only by ways that are dark and tricks
/ that, in this case. have not proven TO
1 be vain, were those electors and ma
/ iOrity of the people of the United
| States defraudcd out of their fair and
lawful victory.
| Mr.. Purman described at length the
manner in which the canvass was con-
| Quoted, and charged that Cowgirl, a
member of the board was personally
| consulted upon the fact of frauds hav-
| ing been committed, and that he gave
| his assurance in one instance that if it
were plausibly covered before them
for adjudication it should suffer no
| scrutiny or discount at his hands.
Mr.. Purman concluded as follows: !:
Il thank God and the good people of
/ our state that Florida does not present
the alarming spectacle of two rival
/ governments upon her sol. both claim
! ing to represent the sovereign will of
the people. No one can foresee the
future misfortunes that may befall the
/ states of South Carolina and Louisi-
ana in consequence of their dual gov
ernments, though it is my opinion
that whether Governor Hayes or Gov
er'nor Tilden will succeed to the presi-
dency, in neither event Will the Re-
publican claimants be able to- maintain
their authority whether rightfuliy en-
titled or not. The pressure will be
too great both upon them and upon
the President, and the policy of the
Republican administration necessarily
will be to secure peace and reconcilia-
tion at the price of any concessions in-
volvfng rights to Southern RcPubli-
cans