The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-06-04
THE FOUL SPLCTER
Of CORRUPTION
Stalked in Hideous Naked
ness Through Legis1a-
tive Halls.
SlJCKTON- -cHIPLEY CONTROVERSY,
Little Beneficial Legislation Accomplished
BY the General Assembly, but the
Expenses in No Way Reduced
Treasurer Collins Trial.
Stockton -cHIPLEY CONTROVERSY.

Treasurer Collins Trial.
Special Correspondence Ocala Banner
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, May 31.-Th,
legislative session is now practically a
an end. But four more days remain
in which the assembled representa-
tlves-l will not say "wisdom-of tht
state can deal with matters above theiI
comprehension and inflict further in.
jury upon long-suGering people.
| find it difficult to adequately de.
scribe the present legislature. / FIND
it still more difficult to describe what
has been accomplished in the way OF
legislation. The entire story may be
summed up in ane word-nothing, al
an Infinite deal of expense to the over
burdened taxpayers of state already
sorely afflicted.
do not mean to say that this Iegis-
lature has passed no worthy measures
and killed no bad ones. 1t has, in
fact, accomplished both feats. 1t has
also hyptonized Chipley and forever
eliminated Call from the senatorial
politics of the state but at what a
price! Men in this legislature have
been bought and sold like sheep, if re-
ports be true, and the foul specter of
corruption has stalked through Talla-
hassee.
The story OF the controversy be-
tween Stockton and Chipley over the
TRAY letter has already been told
but it is one that VIII bear repetition,
and as a matter Of record, give below
the various statements made by the
| parties concerned. The fight was
opened by Colonel Chipley, who in
the senate had read at the clerks desk
the following:
CHIPLEY's CHARGES.
Mr. chiPley arose % a question of personal
privilege and sent the following to the desk:
MIR. PREsg DENT-I rise to question Of per
sonal privilege
am reliably informed that member Of the
legislature Of which this senate is a part, and of
which am a member, holds in his possession a
! letter addressed 10 me, which have never seen
or read, it having been procured without the
| knowledge or consent Of the writer or myself
| am further informed that the present unau-
thorzed holder Of my property has shown said
letter to members of this legislature for the pur
| pose of doing me an injury, and has said TO 9TH
ers that he held such letter, and that it would
injure me.
This property, feloniously taken aud unlawful
| ly held, has been secretly used rs documentary
| evidence to influence members of this legislature
in the discharge of their official duties ard
feel il TO be duty owe TO the meulbers OF both
| houses and but fair and just to myself as a sen
| ator, that be permitted to state within my
privilege and have spread upon the minutes this
statement and protest.
Tie letter now Illegally held by member of
this legislature was written to me by friend in
in Jacksonville. under the sacred confidence Of >
close and intimate correspondence between
| friends. Many letters written under such cir
curnstances. under skilful aud malicious perver-
| sion, might be used to nislead and deceive, but
| in this instance am assailed and held response
bic for the contents Of letter written to and
which have never seen
! The letter was written to me by NV friend
| placed under the protection of a United States
postage stamp and then deposited in the writ
er's pocket that he might mail it III the postal
car at the terminal station at Jacksonvile 1t be
ing his intention to depart from that station the
! next morning During the night the private
| home of my friend was invaded by burglar,
| and he was robbed Of money and clothes, and al
! so of the letter addressed TO myself, which was
( in his pocket In all ages a thief has been de
spised and execrated by honest men; yet there is
/ A lower and viier criminal than a thief, for a
thief at least has the nerve 10 risk his life when
| invading his sleeping victims home, but the
| beneficiary Of the theft, who secretly receives
| the stolen goods 20 his own profit or to further
| his own interests and purposes is recognized by
the law and the judgment Of all honest men as {
| worse and more dangerous criminal than thC
cringing thief himself
protest against this unlawful ana Surrepti
tious possession Of my property by member o
this Legislature
protest against the nefarious and secret ns'
of that letter in an effort 70 spair my usefulness
and defaine my character as senator. state
| unon reliable information and belief that th'
| person who holds aud uses said letter, as abov'
| set forth, is J. N. {. Stockton, member OF tn
house of representatives from Duval county.
ask to have this statement and protes
sn+ead upon the minutes Of the senate
Mr uartridee moved that the document jus
read be spread upon the journal, which wa
AGREED TO. and II was so ordered.
These charges, together with the in
situations conveyed, were altogethe
too rank for the proud soul of j. \. {
! Stockton, and therefore, on the da.
following, the nervy little banker-pol
itician from the principality Of Duval
entered upon the following explana
ton of his course;
sTOcKTON's SC0RCHER.
Mr. stockton. of Duval, arose 10 point ofpe'
o,,,l privilege. and offered the following state
ment
Mn srrAIER-T rise to question OF persona
,riv;Iepe, In doing 50 beg The indulgence c
, the souse that may add little history th'
will omen the eyes OF an siready outraged peopl
| and add an important fact TO convince all iai
minded men OF the methods used by the corp
r.t;o,,s their candidates and henchmen.
: member of the legislature. who was recent
candidate before the people of this state f
: The high Office of United Statef senator has see
AZ in the hour Of his chagrin disgrace and Sc
disappointment to use his senatorial pTeFogatn
70 reflect upon me. and in doing SO he disregaT'
all parliamentary usage aud the properties
1 | qentienanly conduct
3 But, Mt Speaker. have no iii-ieehhg 'o"a'
| this creature, who has used every method pV
chasable by money, or money Itself TO oepau'
the Florida legislature. but simply pity MN
= God grant that all good men throw aroui
l.. him the mantle Of charity. Let us be confer
Men of his iIk win find their level Let me $
TO the late corporation candidate tor the un'.
| states senate these words: BE sure your 81
will find you out
Now, in this statement made by th's cFeatnl