The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-01-25
AN ADDRESS
DELIVERED
HON. CHARLES w. JONES.
UNITED STATES sESAroR-ELEcr FOR FLORIDA,
legislature OF FLORIDA.
AT SSEE,
Wednesday, January 10th, 1881.
LEGISLATURE OF FLORIDA.
Wednesday, January 10th, 1881.

GetlD, Of the Joint assembly, Ladies and Geateoo:
enrauate you and the people of this republic that we
Are permitted TO employ of the old agencies and
methods necessary to free and fair expression OF the public
vii We still allowed hold popular and Legislative
srn>. and at times to through the form of eecting
rues though ALWAYS permitted to pu them
into ofce We ought to rejoice and be thankful heaven
while there have been and great strides in the rec-
oi making our government little than the organ of
@ who administer IT, through the providence God the
people have yet In their pewer bring it back what it
intended to be-a creation in their image and like
ne@s
great political parties are before the American people
today advocating opposing principles of government Ii there
nothing TO distinguish them except struggle between
IN aud outs respecting the public offices, would say
that such would justify you in devot-
moments time its issue. But this the If
portion Of the American people who have great
than any other preserving present admirable
government with all its constitutional limitations, is
IL people Our Constitution is the creation of preexstng
independent communities, who conscious of their weakness
arated States for certain wedhned objects created the
gyernmnt of the Cn"n with limited number of specific
powers the better protect and maintain the rights and uris
dton appertanng the several States The Importance of
having the people Of each its full control of every
cA object and interest and limiting the powers of the gen
m government to as few external duties possible
know ledged all times by wisest tateSmen When the
fathers determined establish popular government in place
Great Britain there but systems before
them from which they could draw examples The
the pare Democracy OF ancient times which was distinguished
by tie people assembling time time nrsse and max
in- Their laws The other the refined system
q cederaed republc- where number of small States the
better protection united together and delegated
central head powers be used for the benefit of
whole Neither of these systems afforded any example of
purely representative government which the administration
81 te will of the people through selected for the ur
pose This distinguishes our government from every
other That all public authority from the people, and
carried into effect through small bodies aud nd uAls whom
they have selected for the purpose.
Indr such system this the first and most import
thing to be considered is how tar and what have the
people authorized their in exercising public
thorv: If the agents of the people have the right do
whatever they please after they get Office the
Ei TO be representative and will become de
I where rulers masters and the people slaves There
must D then 10 every purely representative government chart
Constitution, to familiar expression, power of
which forth the of the authority which the
pie have conhded their agents The Constitution of the
United States Is nothing but great power of attorney in
shch the people of the United States have forth
powers Ehch their agents and may exercise while
holding public office. This kind of government necessarily
existence TO two opposing theories opOns respecting
IL administration The recognizing the people the orig
ma of all power and bowling the supremacy of tn r
VII faror advocates the exercise of authority for
which plain power of attorney from the people
cannot be found The other, while admitting that all public
e must emanate from the people, and that they trusts
for the benefit of the public uphods system of usurpaton
and tceates the undemocatc doctrine that when explicit
thory be found do particular the
10 anyhow, he thinks the good of the people require it,
We have in this country to-day political parties each
claiming be to the people than the other which al
Foe these respective doctrines The Democratic still
aiheng the principles of Jefferson and Madison holds that
the Constitution of the United chart furnished by
the people limit and control the action of every department
Of the government and unless power be found thre is
criminal usurpaon it, The Republican party also
true to the genius of its origin and with opposite views and
PURPOSES little regard to the limitations OF the Consttu
n and seldom heates do anything which it considers
neSsay for party Hence you that the great
between parties
under system of the hand and the OBJ
of the limitations and imposed by the
people upon their servants on the other The epubcans
having been all through the period Of the war; and
sail controlling the Executive Department of the
disposed continue the methods aud maxms which
rrsred the midst of ho-tties and which with
aeque~eence oy the people from necessity hat better
he required of this fact than the which
which passed avowedly measure, which author
the of armed sod the elections of the people?
This law enacted it to meet condition Of things no
longer IN existence-to the polls in time OF
actual warhe Republican party has persisted in continuing
IN operation for fifteen years of profound peace In Great
Britain for than hundred years has been high
penal ofrnse for any officer bring body of armed
within two mites OF voting place election day; while in
republican America, where the people rule soldiers aud ships
"Ar nave been ordered within easy of election
places Tor me purpose of using their it. I'M the judgment
- Irt IN command 1t became necessary do Outrages
M TINS kno nave not been conue the South where
have been found by the Republicans for the most fragrant
qsuAtions OF power but in the free North aIso the mailed
hand oi tyranny has been felt fact goes b show what
have always contended for that the liberties az this p are
nseParaoe and that fellow the qaarter-
@ consent to the invasion destruction OF
ramPng under foot every sacred right and maxim which was
cherished among the jewels of freedom at the south this same
party hurhed with arrogance and power 20
the rights and liberties OF the people IF the North The ex
pertinent was made first in Pennsylvania and in New
York But thanks the efforts Of the spirit,
Of the STATES the projectors those assaults upon the
del OF freedom met very threrhho and with
Pnes OF Democracy inscribed upon their hanner the peo
pie compelled the advocates Of dspOrm abandon their
design refreshing the
men like Geary OF Pennsylvania and John T. Hoffman
OF Hew when was attempted to make the military
PeriOr to the civil power the North.
eOvKRsoR HoF7xAN's noourxr PROTEST
Inc DrnoerAic Governor OF New York, Mr. Hoffman, thu
meeting Of the Legislature in January following the event
20 ~ nn message speaking of this Outrageous vioa
]aon q hw, said: - 81 l-1.