The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-02-21
Tide - E ecIion In Florida r rO'
cI,'rr1~d b1 a. publican
Member It Cog e~~
Gs.,IsI shat as de-

The r. port of the Committee on the
Election in Florida, declaring the Tilden
electors elected, was called up in the
House of Representatives on the 18th,
and during the discussion Nr. Purman,
Republican member from Florida, spoke
as follows:
This, Mr.. Speaker, brings me TO the
ora, am, n of my remarks lPon the subject.
y hich now take oc :asiOn 10 present TO the
+, Election OF my countIymen who believe
that IN purity aud exNctness OF the ballot
are the first foundations upon WHICH 10
rear and preserve the liberty and stIblllty
of our tree institutions. l waited patiently
for the special committee on Florida TO SUP
nit the report of their investigat on 10 ms
House. ana again 10 1ked forward with a
reasonable expectation THAI TIL Electoral
Commission would decide 10 admit evidence
sufficient at least to satisfy the country as
To which electors were really elected by the
D. uple OF Florida, Tut | find now the APP
prupriate opportunity 10 safe from my own
knowledge the true conui ion Of the PTcsl-
dential vote in NV State, concerning which
So much is involved in misunders tanuin2
and controversy. Til Republican parry IN
our State, with all its dissentions healed
and with The whole machinery OF the state
government in its hands, went into The last
campaiyn determined TO VIII, II our re-
sources md effuIts coupled with tile most
heroic devotion on the part of our voters.
could achieve such an cad. Free speech
and free locomotion were enjoyed to the
| fullest extent by tie speakers and mana
| gers 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. lt was, without
| exception, the most peaceful election ever
held In the State; aud not one case OF Vlo-
| lence or disturbance on election day has
| come to nv knowledge. 1t seemed the pc
culiar privilege of the Republicans To win
under all the advantageous circumstances.
| But iU 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, aud that the Dem
| ocratic Governor and the TIlden electors
! were truly elected. | make this declaration
| now under the most solemn sense .: public
| duty, and from an irresistible feeling OF
| obligation to the PEOPLE OF my STATE, VINO
| have right tn cX pect that however parti-
san their representatives. may be IN his Pc
! iical fIith, he should at least. on questions
| OF public fact, be an honest man. Bur, sir.
! | would not be undrr,t TODD in making this
| de claration rs laying claim TO any unusual
! honesty or conscience, but o ly assert IN y
| knowledge of the facts. | love the princl-
| pies of the Republican party, and for the IT
| sake have been singed by the fires OF M ar
! tyTd0m, aud believe ia the Ultimate tri-
umph of its regenerating mission; but |
cannot return TO my State aud look my
constituents in the face if, standing upon
| this fl Ger and in the presence of the Ameri-
can people anxious and entitled to know
! The whole truth concerning this dangerous
! Presidential issue, / should shrink from the
esponsibilty Of doing justice t. my state,
and defending her honest political victory
against the wiIltul perversion of bold,
dishonest and and unscrupulouS state Can
/ IL. 1
cratic side The Tilden electors were truly
elected in florida, and only by "ways that
are derk" and tricks that in his ease have
not proved to be vain, were these electors
States defrauded out Of their fair and lawful
victory.