The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-06-03
"PRLNCIPLE VS.. EXPEDlENCY."

The people of Florida must not be
led astray by the cry of Gall and Anti
Call, Chipley. railroads, wool. hats" or any
other empty sound uttered by interested
parties who would fain hide the real issue.
Said Senator Hammond on the floor Of the
caucus: "Again measure swords with
the senator of the 23rd, and again stand
on the rock Of principle while l find him
here again on the ground of expediency."
And on the same line the battle has been
fought from the beginning to the end.
In the campaign before the people the
opponents of Mr.. Call attacked his rec
ord and urged from this that he was un-
fit to represent the state he had DETAINED,
whose interests he had neglected, whose
people he would deceive. l. was
answered only that the legislature was
the proper tribunal before which these
charges should be preferred.
The legislature met. The democrats,
as usual, agreed to meet in caucus and
name the candidate who should receive
their votes in joint session.
The thirds rule was reafirmed and
adopted. The senator from Gadsden, a
Call man, moved to make the adoption
of the two-thirds rule unanimous. 1t
was done. Could aught be made more
binding?
That there might be no mistake, the
senator from Hlllsborough moved that
each memb,r of the caucus pledge him
self to have no election in joint assembly
till nomination had been secured in eau
Gus under the rule. The motion aoas
adopted. Could it have been made more
binding by any form of speech?
Mr.. Call pledged himself to the caucus
that he would not accept an election ex-
cept under the rule, by the caucus.
Should he not be bound by his own de-
claration?
Two antagonists joined battle with the
weapons named and plain agreement to
strike as hard as possible, but strike
above the belt. The grounds of opposi-
ton to Mr.. Call were plainly stated in
the hearing of Mr.. Calls friends and
under the same roof which sheltered him
at the same time. The sound Of the ac-
cuser's voice reached his ears. Yet the
gage of battle was not taken up Justly
and reasonably his strength steadily de-
creased.
Then the democratic caucus was broken
up. The usages and principles OF the party
were violated and democratic members o
the legislature orenly avowed the power
to shake off the ties assumed by themselves
They agreed to go into joint session and
elect Mr.. Call although their own commit
tee had distributed the vote to prevent ar
election. There can be no dispute ovel
these facts for they are too fresh in thu
minds of men.
Society is held together by the confidence
of men in each other. So is business
made possible. So is government pre-
served. The rules and principles of 30
ciety become the law of government ant
hose fundamental ideas of truth and trus
|. and honor (which distinguish civilize,
man from the savage must bind the demo
cratic party or no common purpose is COS
sible.
When neither democratic rule, nor part,
principle nor adopted law nor plede g,
, faith projected the minority, majority O
the senate broke the quorum and quietl
, passed into Georgia. A minority of th
house sat silent and refused to join in tn
game which protest and argument an
: authority had failed to prevent. Then NJ
Call received 81 votes in joint session
counting that Of MIR. Slapler of Hamilton
who said in casting his vote tina: he we
paired with Mr.. Vaughn of Eecambi
j. then absent on sick leave.
This is how the claim of Mr.. Call to r,
; election has been secured. With the leg,