The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-07-30

motiOn was made to adopt section OF the Ar
ncie reported ey the COMMITTEES, and Nj. Blount
moved the adoption OF his excellent substitute.
mr. Mann moved to lay the substitute on the Ia
taole; but. upon being demonstrated with from
several quarters OF the assembly, withdrew that
motion, and moved an indefinite pOstponement,
tnat DEBATE on the substitute might be permitted.
mr. blount then withdrew his substitute No
objection being made to their withdrawal, which
naturally carried the motion to indefinitely post
pone, MT Blount proceeded to offer test mo-
tion, which, in conformity with the rule. he nut
in writing, as follows: "Resogosd, That the
payment OF poll-tax shall be pre-
reg ,.., TO voting" The deciding of
the matter at rest, and rid the Convention of a
disturbing question. Mr.. Hicks just then asked
Mr. blount If there was not a motion pending
70 Indefinitely postpone, taking precedence Of
his motion. Mr. Mann took the cue at once.
ana held that Mr.. Blount's motion was out of
0roer. MT Baker like a package of highly in
hammable material, fred up Immediately. and
was soon in light blaze, 80 to speak, of pnrlia.
mentary Zeal, and apprehensions lest he might
De entirely consumed were raised in the minds
Of those-who didn't know Baker. Messrs.
Miller and Chandler supported him; and, when
luii IN Inc connagration occurred, Mr.. Yonge
rose and made clear statement of the case dur.
ing which statement he became engaged in
q9lte lively dispute with Messrs. Mann and
SIker. Dr., both OF whom sustained the point
OF order raised against Mr. Blount.
The Chair, with much irmness, overruled
~! me point OF order, and Mr. Baker appealed from
the decision. The House sustained the Chair
ny vote OF 40 10 81. Then the point was raised
by the parllamentarans that Mr. Blounts mo-
tlon was a resolution and, as such, would have
10 lie over until the succeeding day for action
This point the Chsir alsO overr,led, sustaining
mr.. Biount in the position that, though begin
ming with the word resolved" the matter in
DAn0 In s;,,,;l,
many which had been considered by the Con-
ventson without any such delay. Mr.. Blount, in
order to prevent the waste of any more time,
Withdrew his test motion. and quiet reigned
MT Goss made speech, after the termination
OF the foregoing scene weakly opposing
oaiiot-oox stuff1ing, election frauds, and other
irrelevant matters The Convention took n re
cess. al the conclusion of his speech" until 8
O'Clock p m, when the debate on the poll tax
was resumed.
Mr. Rsndell, of Madison, opened the discus.
sion, at the night session with good response
TO Mr.. Gloss charges of election frauds, etc and
dealt some heavy blows to Goss' party and their
views on this subject. Mcssn. Parsons and
Iurnbull both supported, in few sensible re-
marks, the position taken by Mr.. Randell They
were followed by Mr. Chalen, who took the
stand against the the poll tax, that property, not
men, should produce taxes. He evidently
thought protection of life and liberty quite
worthless
Mr.. Cook made forcbe speech in opposition
to the gentleman who had preceded him, and
gave some facts about the meeting of Jack
sonv'lie working men that had memorial
lied the Convention, protesting against the
poll tax. he was present at that meet
ing, and said it was composed OF less
than twenty five men, Mr. Miller spoke against
the poll tax, and quoted some Scripture by way
OF enforcing his pOsition-fOr even thus may the
~ n
consequential remarks in the same strain AS Mr.
Miller and quoted Th0s. Jefferson though it was
difficult to see how the passage quoted from that
great man could be distorted so rs to support
his side oil the case.
Mr. Yonge was the next speaker and he
handled the anti-P. r. P.'s in a mastery man
ner making lOrcible and convincing speech
Then Mr.. Thompson took up the anti-poltax
wall and quoted poetry and cited lynch law in
support OF his case. After him came Mr. Baker
and then Mr. Mann, both opponents of the poll
tax. Mr. Mann INDUCED in some pretty and
fanciful poetical flights and was really quite
sentimental. His colleague, Mr. Hendley,
who followed him. however, knocked
all the sentiment out of choice bit Of metaphor
with a master stroke Of ridicule and had the
whole audinence in almost continuous laughter.
His joke on Mr. Miller Was most successful
hit Excusing himself for his lack of historical
knowledge, he said he would try to remember a
Tekel, Upharsin.) As nearly as he could recol-
lect, il was mean, mean, take me away" which
he supposed was intended to apply to the poll
tax. MIR. Hendley possesses much magnetic power,
and he can raise laugh in his audience at will
His speech concluded, the Convention adjourned
to 9 A. NJ. Wednesday.
Wednesday morning the Convention, on taking
up for consideration the report Of the Commit
tee on Expenditures, found themselves con-
tronted with knOtty problem. Before facing
the main issue, however, which was, where were
the needed sinews" to be obtained, the Con
vention settled a question Of less actual lmpor
lance but involving matter OF principle. Mr.
Walker, Jr, offered an amendment to section 2
Of the report, providing that the money due tn e
attaches and employees of the Convention should
first be paid in full, before any Of the fund was
pro rated among the members. This amend
ment was also advocated by Mr. Mann. and was
passed, with an amendment including the mile
age of members in the moneys 10 be paid in full
before any division among the delegates should
be made. Then the question of raising the
money necessary to meet the deficiency in the
present appropriation was pretty thoroughly
discussed and various plans were proposed.
Some were in favor of making the certificates
recommended to be issued by the
President and Secretary, receivable for all State
and county taxes, etc. others were for appoint
ing committee TO negotiate a loan while 9TH
ers wanted the Convention to pass an ordinance
directing the payment Of the required cash out
ofthe State Treasury, and repeating any portion
Of the old Constitution conflicting with such n
proceeding. After the subject had been rolled over
time or two and placed on end both upside
down and right side-up. meanwhile being eyed
with AL admirng appreciation OF its manifold
completely, it was thrown back upon the hands
Of the committee, that they might have the
pleasure OF another wrestle with the unmanage
able thing.
Then Article XIV, on Suffrage and Eligibility,
was taken up, bringing with it the troub-
leus poll tax question. Messrs Greeley and
Hargret opposed the poll tax prerequisite.
Mr. Walter rose 10 correct u mistake,
made by Mr.. Cook on the preceding
day, and he and the gentleman from Putnam for
q few minutes entertained the Convention with
a wordy war. Mr. Hicks had the last say on the
subject, making q rather amusing, sOmew hat
ford speech, with very little argument hidden
away in it's ample folds, and that little hard TO
find, in opposition to the poll-tax prerequisite.
After he finished, Mr.. Maxwell, with the peril
nent remark that the subject, as we'll as many OF
the members, was about exhausted, moved the
previous question on the various matters then be-
fore the House, which were disposed OF in order,
and Mr.. BOunt's substitute for section l was at
last reached Mr.. Blount, with that vigor of
thought and cleAruess OF logic which are
now on all sides regarded as among his
prominent charsctsristics, advocated his
substitute Mr.. Mann opposed it, and
made vigorous appeals to the Con-
vention. But a namesake OF his acquiring power
his wants felt, and the Convention took recess
to look after him.
Refreshed, and ready for more duties, the
Cnn vanfinn pefnrnAd tn their work at 4 n m