The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-06-13

adherence to the two-thirds rule, have
been variously characterized by part o.
the press of this state, and our course
has been freely stigmatized as "undemo
cratic" Mr.. Clark of Polk, upon the
floor of the caucus, stated that the mi
nority were undemocratic because they
would not yield to the majority; and tina
it was never known in democratic caucus
or convention that majorities should yield
If it is undemocratic to adopt the two
thirds rule, we have yet to learn the fact
If it is undemocratic to adhere 10 it after il
has been unanimously adopted. we have
strangely erred in democratic faith. In the
first democratic convention that was evel
held, the national democratic convention
in Baltimore in 1882, the two-thirds rule
was laid down. and in national democratic
conventions from that day until this it has
obtained In unbroken line. The state con
ventions model their existence upon the
national, and the county conventions theirs
upon that of the state, and the analogy oil
the caucus to the convention is too plain
and too generally admitted by political
writers to need discussion here. The two
thirds rule always finds Its way, in demo.
cratic ranks, where nominations are to be
made. The wisdom of the rule cannot be
doubted-long experience has attested it
and the very purpose and intent
OF the rule is, the su1jugation OF
n'ajorsties. 1t was intended to prevent a
small majority from wantonly disregard
ing the rights of a respectable minority,
and only respectable minority can ever
hope to hold out against the will of a
majority. When minority does hold
out, it is then the purpose Of the unwrit-
ten law, that majorities shall yield. The
history of the rule proves that in many
and notable instances majorities have
yielded, and did not consider it undemo-
cratic to do so. Such was the case in the
democratic convention which nominated
James K. Polk for President of the United
States; in the democratic convention
which nominated Francis P Fleming for
Governor of Florida; in the convention
which nominated Milton H. Mabry for
justice of the supreme bench of this state,
and in numberless instances which time
will not suffice us to mention.
Therefore we submit to you, the people
of the democratic state of Florida, wheth-
or we, the minority, have been or not
undemocratic. The caucus voted to
adopt the two-thirds rule; we voted to
stand by the two-thirds rule; and we re
sisted by every legitimate means in our
power, the abrogation Of the two-thirds
rule, and the violation of the pledges and
good faith which it involved. In the
legislative caucus we were welded to no
one man; we were only unalterably
opposed to the election of any man
unless he could secure that cleo
ton by democratic methods. Never
at any time did we vote in the caucus
for any man whom we were not willing to
see elected; but never at any time were we
unwilling to lay down our candidate, and
accept any other man Of ability and integ-
rity, whom the majority might present to
u.s. We conceived that 1t was our right to
have the majority lay down the candidate of
their choice, when they found large MIN
ority unal,erably opposed to him, and pre-
cent another whom We would accept. But
never once did they concede this right TO
US; and by a majority of only too cotes, they
have swept away party precedent and
party law, and declared the election of q
man to the United States senate, wAo had
said he did not desire an election until NOM
tnGtion under the too thirds rule had been
maGde6y tile caucus, Whether he was nomin
ated by democratic methods, you shall
judge,tor you have the facts before you; that
he will accept the Office without such NOM
in alton, who can doubt? The record is
made up; the plain statement of the case is
before you; if the matter is of interest to
you, make up your verdict, and judgment
will be entered accordingly.
SENATORS.
FRED T. MYERS,
W. W. FARMER,
r. F. ROGERS,
z. KING,
w. A. DRAKE,
w. J. BORDEN,
B. F. KIRK,
EDWARD NJ. HAMMOND,
JOHN BRETT,
J. j. JOHNSON,
w. H. BRISTOL,
JOHN WILKINSON,
J.F. BAYA,
J. b. WALL.
REPRESENTATIVES
S. E. SPARKMAN,
j. RICHBOURG,
THEO TURNBULL,
T. W. SHINE,
II. F. ATKINSON,