The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-08-19

WELLS 8e0toUno0ts
Those who accepted the absurd state
ment of Dr.. Troup Maxwell ~ to the
"44-ee" ruling of General Barnes will A.
certain their error by reading the follow
ing letters from Hon. J. J. MCGUIRE, of
Pensacola, and Hon. c. A. Finley, of
Lake City:
PENSACOLA, August 10. 1884
Editors Adcance- Gasette::
My attention having been called to . letter In
the ISmes- Uniea OF the S0th inst, written by Dr
Maxwell and reply By Hon W. d. Barnes. in
reference to the action Of the Democratic caucus
of the Legislature of 1879, and my name having
been mentioned 10 connection with the matter.
desire through your paper to make plain state
ment of facts as they occurred at the Time The
subject matter before the caucus was the consid-
GRAFTON OF the bill known the constitutional Con-
vention bill, which had previous to the assembly
OF the caucus been introduced 10 the Senate and
tabled by q small majority vote. The caucus
was called to decide whether the bill should be
taken up again
In the caucus submitted resolution as an
amendment TO one pending and offered by Evan,
Of Dade county, that the action OF the caucus
should be decided by too thirds Of the entire Dem
ocrdtsc representation insthe Legislature. That
resolution was carried and adopted, and governed
General Barnes in his ruling on the vote cast
which was A for and % against a recOnsidera-
ton of the bill General Barnes never ruled that
"A was not two-thirds Of g. but ruled that A
was two thirds Of the entire Democratic rep
resenta,ion in the Legislature according to rule
adopted as above mentioned. The point was
made at the time that there was a two-third vote
cast and the chairman explained that IT was not
two-thirds of the entire Democratic representa-
ton of the Legislature.
Captain Harrison, of Santa Rosa, was elected
| permanent chairman of the caucus previous to
| this time, but being indlspOsed requested Gene
| eral Barnes to take the chair and Barnes was
| elected unanimously by the caucus am aware
of the fact that men in my position had better
| refrain from newspaper correspondence on politi-
cal matters and only my name having been men,
| toned more than once in connection with the
| above matter, and deeming il a matter Of Justice
| 10 General Barnes, l request you to publish this
letter. When Hon j. B. Roberts mentioned this
matter to me last year. agreed with him as to
the number of votes cast-but not the ruling.
Respectfully ]. j. MCGUIRE
THE SECRETARY OF THE CAUCUS GIVES THE
| FACTS ABOUT GENERAL BARNES DECISION.
To the Editor Of the Times Union
l see in one Of your recent issues that DR.
Troup Maxwell charged General William D
Barnes, in speech, with having decided, while
chairman pro tenn. Of the joint Democratic caucus
OF the Senate and Assembly of 1879, that A was
error. General Barnes made no such absurd de-
cisOn. | was a member Of the Assembly o.
1879, and was secretary of the joint caucus o
the two houses, and herewith give you the facts
in the premises:
In caucus the night preceding the meeting
over which General Barnes was called TO preside
the following double resolution was introduced
by the Hon. Mr.. Evan, of Dade
Re&!ocd l. That majority vote shall deter
mine whether the caucus action upon the Qces
ton of calling Constitutional Convention shal
bind FAC h and every member of this caucus.
"ResO oed Q, That it shall require vote o
two-thir Is to determine whether or not Consti
tutional Convention shall be carried without de
lay"
Senator Mcclure, of Escambia, moved Il
amend by inserting in the first resolution afte
the words majority vote" and in the SECOND
resolution after the words "a vote of two-thirds,
the words of the Democratic members of TIL
Senate and Assembly" This amendment wal
agreed TO after some discussion, and the caucus
adjourned until the next evening at o'clock.
The following nights caucus was called TO or
der by President Harrison, OF Santa Rosa. bu
the debate bee ming heated the President re
quested that he be relieved, and General Barne
was placed in the chair pro tenn After some fur
ther discussion vote was taken upon the ques
ton of calling a Convention, resulting in vot
OF "A for and % against Convention. Genera
Barnes did not decide that A is not wothirds o
&c. but he decided that under the Evan reeslu
ton, amended by Senator MCGUIRE and adopted
by the caucus for its government in the premises
that A was not two-thirds of the Democratic
members Of he Senate and Assembly.
E General Barnes presided with great fairness
and could have rendered no other decision, thu
, caucus having adopted the EVAN resolution a.
amended. These are the facts, and in justice L
General Barnes, whom DR.. Maxwell is endeavor
ing to place in an absurd attitude give them
Respectfully, Z. A FINLEY.