Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-02-22
Sensational Episodeinthe
House Debate on the
Florida Contest.
Purman, the Republican Con-
gresham, Launches Out In
Favor of the Democrats.


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 ev-
ident that he favored the reso-
luton of the majority, declar-
ing the Tilden Electors duly
elected, the Democratic men,
bers gathered around him. He
said: 81 find now an appro-
pirate opportunity to state
from my own knowledge the
true condition of the Presiden-
tial vote in my State, concern
ing which so. much is involved
in misunderstanding and con-
troversy. The Republican par
Ity in our State, with all its dis
sensions healed, with the whole
machinery of the State Govern
ment in its hands, went into the
last campaign determined to
win, if our own resources and
effects, 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 campaign,
or from any portion Of the
State, came up any cry Of in
timidation, with one or two ru-
NOR exceptions. 1t was with
out exception the most peace
full election ever held in the
State, and not one case Of Vi
olence on election day has come
to my knowledge. 1t seemed
the peculiar privilege of the
Republicans to win under all
these advantageous circumstan-
ces, but it is fact which | cam
not stand on this floor and de-
ny, and which every man, wo-
man and child in my State
knows, that Florida was lost to
the Republican party in the late
election, and that the Democrat
ic Governor and Tilden Elec-
tors were truly elected. / make
this declaration now under the
most solemn sense of public du-
ty and from an irresistible feel
ing of obligation to the people
of my own State, who have the
right to expect that, however
partisan their representative
may be in his political faith, he
should at least, on questions of
public fact, be an honest man.
But, sir, l would not be under
stood, in making this declara-
ton, as laying claim to any I'M
usual amount of honesty or
conscience, but / only assert
my knowledge Of the facts. l
love the principles Of the Re-.
publican party, and for their
sake have been singed by the
fires of martyrdom, and l be-
lieve in the ultimate triumph
Of its regenerating mission; but
| cannot return to my State and
look my constituents in the face,
if, standing on this floor and in
the presence of the American
people, anxious and entitled to
know the whole truth concern
ing this dangerous Presidential
issue, / should shrink from the |
responsibility of doing justice
to my State and defending the
honest political victory against
the willful perversion of a bold,
dishonest and INSCRIPTIONS
State Canvassing Board. ZAP
plause on the Democratic side. I |
Should my Democratic colleague
in this House introduce a reso-
luton here declaring that st.
Johns river had its rise in the
Southern portion of our State,
northward for hundred |
miles and emptied it's waters in
to the Atlantic, l would be
compelled to support the afir-
native of the resolution, for the
reason that I would know the