National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-29
which was refused by the Governor, as appears



by the following letter.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
TALLAHAssEE, fla, Jan. II, 1873
Sin In reply to your several communications
upon the subject, and in accordance with my
promise Of the 1lh inst, have to say that under
existing circumstances II will be impossible for me
to issue to you certificate OF election as member
of Congress from the State of Florida TO the Forty
sixth Congrcssof the United States of America. |
have some time since issued and signed certificate
for nno thcr person 10 that position and have no
power 10 revoke the former certificate. If you are
entitled to seat In the Fortyslxth Congress ii Is
for that body to decide. This conclusion was
reached after careful consideration and after con
sultation with some ftho best lawyers In the state
GEORGE f. DREW
To Hon. HoRArio BsBEF IN,
This and other pressure brought to bear In
fluenced the Democratic county board OF cam
vassers to falsify the returns making the vote
appear as follows Hull, 80; b., IL llulps
majority, 269, or majority of 6S for Hull in
the district. Fortunately this fraud was dis
covered in time, and so plainly shown to the
State board of canvasseTs that the returns were
rejected as fraudulent without dissenting
voice. Fearing the efforts IN Brevard might
fail, tho canvassers of Alachua County threw
out three precincts which had given Bsboe
40 majority, on the ground of Irregularities
Had this been permitted and so canvassed
Hull's majority would have been 269. Tho
Supreme Court, however ordered a recanvass
by the county board, in accordance with tho
vass showed majority of 5G7 for Blsbee, re.
storing his majority In the district to POI.
We cannot better state the unenviaho posi-
tion held by the Governor than by quoting the
following from letter by Mr.. Bisbee;
Now desire TO state that the Attorney General
of the state officially advised tho Governor In q
written opinion that II was his duty to issue TO me
certificate OF election II is also true that other
prominent Democratic lawyers advised the Cover
nor to tile same elect but II is apparent that he
waited until lie could find some lawyer to give HIM
political opinion, although he does not say In his
letter to me that he followed the advice of the law
| yers he consulted | am pleased to state that At
torncy.Geueral Raiuey did not prostitute his office
| by giving political advice.
II Is Il fitting climax to series of the most In
| famous frauds and crimes that ever were perpe-
trated in 80 short time; that the Governor of the
State, elected by reformed Democracy, should
| commit high crime and misdcmcanor In Office to
| cheat an opponent and an humble citizen out of
| the evidence of title TO his office. But fear the
| public does not yet,knOw the worst II does know
| lhat the mask has been torn oil and tile spectacle
| Is revolving.
Two years ago the Governor issued q certificate
| of election to w !. Purman, as Representative In
Congress from the first district, based on the can
vass by the state board; and afterward, on u re-
canvass under the mdnddBus Of the Supreme Court,
In case instituted by George +. Drew, q second
| certificate was issued to Robert NJ. Davidson, on
| which certificate Mr. Davidson was sworn In, and
now holds his seat In Congress. Not only so, but
| Governor Drew himself issued certificate of cleo.
ton to j. j, Finley, Representative In the Forty
inh Congress, without any canvass declaring
him elected, and when held q certificate of clcc'
ton, issued on the canvass declaring me elected.
Worse than this-GOvernOr Drew, two years ago,
issued certificate OF election to the Tildcn electors
on canvass made under an act of the legisa'
ture nearly two months after the vote for Presi'
dent had been cast by the Hayes electors holding
the certificates based on the first canvass The
reader can draw his own conclusion aud make his
own estimate of such conduct on the part of the
Chief Magistrate OF the State. II. BlSBEE, JR.
JACKSONVILLE, January IL, 1879
1t would seem that party exigenc!es re-
quired certain rulings, regardless Of law, and
that the Democrats are blessed Tor cursed) with
II Governor who is ready to do any dirty work
assigned to him by the party. IL may be wei
to add that the county canvassers Of Brevard
and Alachua Counties, the inspectors of Pre-
cinct No. A, Of Madison County, and Mr.. Hull
the Democratic candidate. have been indicted
the Brcvard County board tried, convicted
and sentenced for their part in these crimina
transactions.