The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-03-08

Assembly bill No. l1S: 10 he entitled an act
for the relief OF Dr. NJ ]. Powledge.
Assembly bill No. 1871 to be entitled an act for
the relief of Albert Fries, OF Duval county.
Assembly bill No 234 To be entitled an act
for the relief of Augustus ]. Driggcrs, of Orange
county.
Assembly bill No IL: to be entitled an act to
enable settlers on Stale lands to obtain titles
thereto.
Assembly bill No $50: TO be entitled an ac,
to incorporate the Monticello and Georgia Rail
road Company.
Adjourned.
Il Assembly.
The roll was called-a Quorum present
Mr.. Miller presented the following report of
the Committee OF Investigation in the case OF the
members from Monroe county:
+ The committee appointed TO investigate GER
ain charges made in an editorial Of the Sunldnd
Tribune OF Tampa, of which j p. Wall is editor
which charges are contained IN the following
extract from said editorial
Before The Key West Democrat undertakes
to critci>e the Tribune and den0unce il as a
chronic fault finder il might do we'll to try and
inform itself on matters o; public interest and
nl>o determine for what purpose it is published
whether To inform the public or to merely IN
duige in jnjune uterances and play the role of
claquer Tor PARTISAN purposes. In discussing
the topics If the day, the Tribune is neither
ashamed nor afraid To let the public know what
/ IL DtlleFeS, tllal II IS interested IN knowing, anu
I to give expression 10 such sentiments Of public
men and their acls as they may deserve. 10
doing this, however, the Tribune does not AFRO
gate infallibilily nor indulge in tenacty of
opinion tor mere opinions sake Its function
is that of the ordinary journal Of the day-to
lead men 10 think for themselves on all mat
ters involving the public interest. II: would
be useless, We presume, to commend such an
open, frank and independent course TO the
Democrat, inasmueh as 1t has failed 10 say any
! thing about certain bargains for u "divy" of
the spoils entered into between the members of
the Legislature from that county and those 10
be appointed its county officers. Concerning
these matters and the truth Of such a state of
things, the Democrat can hardly be ignorant, as
rumors have even reached here from apparent
/ ly reliable sources, of there being in existence
certain written agreements binding the respec
tive parties to such n dizzy" of the profits of
the county Offices of Monroe county. Will
the Democrat please inform US if il approves Of
this cdrpet-bag style which made Republicanism
odious in the South; and if not, why has it
moi had the manlintss to find fault with i?'
After full investigation, and an eXamina-
Of the author of the article above cited and of
the Witnesses brought to sustain the charges,
not only do nOt find any testimony duplicating
the members from Monroe in any dshonorable
act or bargaining but do find testimony of
positive character disproving these charges and
showing them To be unfounded. While il is
the duty Of free and independent press to
expose fraud and corruption in the servants of
the people, the indulgence of a too tree license
not only impairs the usefulness of public
journal but wholesome criticism degenerates
into defamation and SANDER, as baseless
cusation uttered by far reaching press, how
ever publicly refuted, is never entirely recalled,
it works lasting injury to the purest character
Very respectfully, w. Miller, Chairman S. Go.
nani A.. @. Morgan, F. NJ. McMeekin. On
motion, the report was received and adopted
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
Senate bill No. 1893, to be entitled an act for
levyng tax for the years 1881 and 1882; was
taken up and read the second time, amended
and passed.
The Speaker read the following from Chief
Justice Randall:
Tallahassee, February 20, 1891
Speaker Of the assembly:
SIR One week ago there was introduced
into the Assembly resolution reciting that
"cerIarn charges had appeared IN the Journals
OF The SAFE, (meunng new spapers, / SUPPOSED
and also in pamphlet published ttco pears ago.
by an eminent member nt the bar, touching he
the judicial character and purity of { hiei Justice
Randall. of the Supreme Court, and,
whereas, It is due 10 The Chief Jus ice himself
that if these charges are untounird, q full nves
tigaion should show them 10 be- 81, and restore
him 10 the confidence Of The people, and that
committee OF five be appointed Ito inquire into
! the matter above set forth" gath the above
from the journal OF The Assembly. If The Hon
orable, the Assembly, shall take action upon
said resolution l respectfully suggest That 1t be
so modified that it shall moi appear that the
Assembly has prejudgcd me. The assumption
that a Newspaper paragraph printed and Tor
gotten over two years ago, long before the
last session of The Legislature, and an anOny-
nous pamphlet of probably the same anliqui-
" IA copy Of which the eminent member of
me bar" has never sent TO mel had deprived
me of the confidence of the people. and that
it was necessary that their confidence should
be restored, cannot surely be the deliberate re-
solve of The Assembly. The American people
are the last who should be willing TO condemn
the humblesi citizen unheard therefore pro-
test that when the resolution shall come be-
fore the Assembly for its passage, it shall not
retain language which implies condemnation
in advance of fair hearing, and in saying this
/ do not intend to reflect upon the gentleman
who offered the resolution, for cannot believe
he is tue author of it, or could deliberately
do me such injustice. When a committee shall
be authorized 10 act, hope TO be apprized Of
the time and place of It's meeting, and that
may be informed of the character of any charge
TO be made Very respectfully,
/ T. M. RANDALL.
Whereupon Mr.. Cooper offered the following:
WHEREAS, The Journal of this Assembly of
February 81. 1881, contains q resolution intro
duced by Mr.. Miller, of Washington, touching
an investigation OF certain charges against Chief
OuSICc ISduudiI, III WHICH sdlo ItSuuuOu tule
language was used. to Wit; "And ichereas, 1t
is due the Chief Justice himself that If these
charges are unfounded q full Investigation
should show them 10 be % and restore him to
the confidence OF the peoples" ResolOcd, That
this Assembly did not intend by the adoption of
said resolution TO PREJUDICE Chief Justice Ran
dali In the premises, nor 10 imply IN advance of
an investigation any proper conduct on his part,
nor that he has forfeited the confidence of the
people Of this State which was adopted.
Senate bill No. l76: to be entitled an act for
the assessment and collection Of revenue; was
taken up and amended.
| AFTERNOON sEssToN.
The Senate resumed It's session, and resumed
the consideration OF Senate bill No. 1856: 10 be
entitled 80 act for The assessment and collection
Of revenue, which was further amended
Mr.. Newsom, Chairman Of special commit
tee, made the following report: Your jDint
committee E0f Senate and Assembly appointed
10 examine into the circumstances OF the origin
and disposition Of the bonds Of this Stale issued
10 1874 and 20 ASCERTAIN u suits should NOT be