The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-05
From the Monticello constitutional
POLITICAL PERSECUTION.
Meeting Of the Citizens Of Jemer-
sen County Held March 20, 1ss1.

SEN County Held M0rcm 30, ASSAs
In response TO a call made through the Con-
stitution, large number of the citizens OF Jefler-
SON county assembled in the Courthouse al
Monticello on Saturday, the 26ih inst, to con-
slider what was necessary TO be done in conse-
quence of the indictment and arrest of certain
citizens under process of the United States
Court. The meeting was called to order at l2SO
p. m, and Mr. James S. Massey unanimously
called to the chair, and d. A. Fnlayson selected
az secretary.
AT the requst of the chair Captain 5. Pasco,
in few appropriate words, stated the object
Of the meeting and upon his motion it was re-
solved, that committee of five be appointed by
the chair TO report such resolutions and plan OF
action as they shall deem necessary for the meet
ing to adopt and take.
The chair appointed The following gentlemen
to constitute said COMMITTEE io-wit: Captains s.
Pasco, R. c.. Palkhill and J. F. Tucker. and
Messrs S. c. Bott and Wallace S. Jones. The
committee retired, and in a few minutes reported
as follows:
Address of the people Of Jtfferson county, Flor
ida, assembled in Mass-meeting at Monticello,
March goth, 1881, TO consider the arrest OF
of citizens of the county on charge of viola
ton of the election laws, and the duty of the
people in the premises.
During the present month number OF our
citizens, men of good character and upright
lives, have been arrested under warrants from
the United States Circuit Court based upon
indictments found in the Eastern Division OF the
| District at jacksonville charging them with
| violations of the election laws. AS soon as it
was known that Deputy Marshal was in the
county with warrants for these parties, they very
| generally fastened to the county site, surrendered
| themselves, and gave bail with the aid of their
friends and ncighbors, in The sum Of one thous
and dollars each, to appear at the opening of the
Court in Jacksonville on the first Monday in
April.
We have no words but those of respect for the
| Judges of this high court, and we cheertuly en-
trust the liberty and reputation of our accused
fellow citizens to them, confding ia thai judicial
| integrity and fairness which is our country's
boast and pride. We desire, however respect
fully to call the attention OF the country to some
matters connected with this class Of prosecutions
in Florida, which tend 10 show that the lower
officers of the Courts have executed these cleo
| ton laws in partisan manner, and not for the
promotion of fair and honest elections. We
have always striven for such elections in the
past. We are glad of any agency that will aid
IN giving full and free expression 10 The voice of
the people at the polls. But he people will
only have confidence in laws that are equally and
| impartially executed.
| Notwithstanding the notorious and shameless
frauds that have been p"rrcraicd in the interest
of the Republican party of Florida for years
past, not a single individual from this section
has ever been indicted or punished in The United
States Court on account of such offences; il has
come to be generally undC rslood that only Dem
ocrats are Indicted No Democrats are sum-
moncd as witnesses to go before the grand
| iuri(s. Grand juros are not even asked Tor or
empan He'd in the Middle Division If The District
where these Republican frauds have been the
most open and effective. But mdn often of low
character and doubtful v,racity, are summoned
all the way to jacksonville 10 90 hefOrc grand
jurors, living remote from our people, who are
not Of the vicinage who know not The character
OF the Witnesses or Of The accused. and indict-
ments are found which in the past have seldom
been proved established But the Court
officers and witnesses have received their fees,
the public money has been wasted, and the
character of honest men and upright citizens
has been impugned
We prefer, therefore, 10 Judge ouI accused
fellow citizens by their past ives rather Than by
the present indictments and Will regard them lis
innocent until they are proved 10 be guilty; and
we are forced to the conviction that he parties
who stir up these prosecutions aye trying 10 in
timidate Democratic voters and to break down
their spirits and independence, SO that The. true
voice Of the people may be smothcred in future
elections
, These prosecutions arc so conducted rs to be
Instead of being tried in their own division O
REmes' they aTt chi Idirsd 10 sef th,tse indct
ments with their witnesses, one hundred and
thirty miles or more from their county. Long
, delays often occur before cases are tried and
travelling expenses and hotel bills, and counse
fees soon waste The substance Of men Of mode
rate means and their business perlshcs for lack
OF attention during the period OF enforced alb
sence, while attending cuurl and waiting fol
trial. we feel that II IS not Just that these bur
dens should be borne by these parties alone
After few. journeys To and from court poverty
stares man in the lace, and even a verdict OF
acqntial means financial ruin and bankruptcy
We shall, Therefore, aud these accused persons
IN bearing The burden OF these prosecutions in
every legitimate way, by furnishing them the
means OF defence, by protecting their families
during their absence from home by keeping
their business from going 10 ruin so far ms prac-
tlcable, and we ask for suspension Of Judgment
upon these indictments against them until TREY
have been passed upon by hr jui,s of tie courl-
try, and The court having proper jurisdiction.
And We respectfully Call Tie attention of the
Executive and Legislative DEPARTMENTS of the
National Government to the manner in which
the election laws have been executed in Florida
and ask that the charges here made be investi-
gated, and such remedy he applied as is just and
right.
And we recommend he passage of the follow
ing resolutions:
Rcsolred, That a commilt, G. consisting of one
from each election precinct be appointed TO take
charge OF all contributions that have been or
may hereafter be raised, to aid our fellow CHI
zens who ire under indictment in the United
States Court for alleged violations of The cleo
ton laws; that This committee be authorized 10
raise further contributions IN such ways as they
may deem best, and that all such contributions
I've dlsbursCd under the direction of sEb-com-
mttce, to be appointed by said committee
Res0tred, That the people Of Jtffersen county
have confidence in the integrity of the accused
persons, and will deem them innocent until they
proved TO be guilty and will aid in all lawful
and proper ways in dct nding them against the
charges brought against them
ResOtCed, That The people of jefferson county
will in the future. they always have in the
past stand by the laws of their country, but they
favor and demand an equal and non partisan
execution of the same.
ReSolred, That the thanks of his meeting be
rendered to Marshal Jos. II. Durkee and Com
missioner Leroy ID. Ball. for the considerate
manner in which they have executed their du-
ties under the law in connection with the ar
rest and bail OF the accused persons While
every Officia! obligation has been faithfully aud
zealously discharged by them these officers
have treated The indicted parties with all leni
ency, and the arrests were managed that the
arrested parties were not separated from their
families, but were admitted 10 bail near their
! homes.
ResOIred, That copies of the address hereto at
tachcd, and such Of these resolutions as are of
general interest be sent TO our Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress, and that other copies
be sent TO The Governor, 10 be by him forwarded
to the President and Attorney General of the