The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-12-01
LEGISLATURE OF SOUTH CAROLINA


T. The Senate was called to order at IL m. by
Hon. D. T.. Corbin. Senators from Abbeville
and Clarendon, and one from Charleston were
not present. The newly elected Senators were
all present and sworn in. ess,
The Senate proceeded to the election of q
Presidentpr tenn. Hon. G. w. Montgomery,
of Newberry, was elected unanimously, and on
taking the chair delivered brief address.
|! Mr.. Joseph Woodruff was unanimously cleo
ted Clerk of the Senate, and was also empow-
cred to appoint his assistant clerk.
The remaining officers were then elected, and
the Senate proceeded to the election of its COM
rnittees. The following committees were then
appointed: First, to examine and report upon
the unfinished business of the last session ; to
wait upon the Governor, and inform him that
the General Assembly was organized; and to
wait upon the Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor elect, and inquire when it will suit them
to qualify The Senate then adjourned.
!! ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
|. At u m. the House of Representatives was
called to order by the ferraer Clerk. On mo-
tion, Hon. f. j. Moses, jr., was requested to act
SIS temporary Speaker. The roll of members
WAS called and those present were qualified. A
quorum being in attendance, the House procee-
ded to business. i@a
/ FL. Moses, jr., was unanimously elected
Speaker, and on taking the chair, returned
thanks for the honor conferred upon him, and
called attention to the condition of the State
and the duties before the members.
"A. O. Jones was unanimously elected Clerk
and, took the oath Of Office.
John Williams, of Edgefeld, was elected
Sergeant-at-Arms. =
Committees were appointed to wait upon the
Governor and inform him that the House was
organized, and to nominate officers and attaches
of the House.
On motion, the House resolved itself into a
Committee of the Whole on the state of affairs
in South Carolina. Benjamin Beseman was
called to the chair.
Dir. w. j. Whipper was the first speaker,
and said that he desired to have a general ex-
preston of opinion on the deplorable condition
of affairs in the State; that members of the
Legislature were obliged to come there by
stealth, and that in Edgefeld and other places
there was no safety of life; that the hope had
been expressed that the dagger might be driven
to the heart of every one of the miscreants who
pretend to govern rs and that this work must
be done in the dark (; and that General Gary
and other prominent men nave used such Ian
|guage; that the neglect or delay Of the Exec
ntire to put stop to the lawlessness That ex-
lists, amounted TO criminallty. He hoped some-
thing would be done.
Mr.. Jones moved that the Hon. Joseph
Crews be reqU csted to give an account of his
experience in the disturbance at Laurens.
Mr.. Byas objected, saying that, as Mr.. Crews
was a member of the House, he had right to
address it without an invitation.
Mr.. Jones replied, that Mr. Crews was very
difident, and needed something to draw him
out. But Mr.. Crews coutradicted him by walk
ing up to the front Of the Speakers stand, and
facine the House, without the motion being
adopted. He there told pitiful tale about
.e:me and my son." finding it necessary to run
away and hide in the woods and under piles of
cotton. He said his @pauty'' has majority
there, but with tears in his eyes he implorcd
the Legislature to do something" to protect
them. Those who troubled him, he said, can
raise 5000 men in six hours. "They are not
the trash, not the drinking rowdies, but the
most respectable men of the county" Hesaid
he knew the men who produced and acted in
this disturbance. And colored member asked
why they were not arrested? He replied that
the constabulary was not able to arrest them.
A coloFed member then asked what is the use
of constabulary?
Mr.. Wilkes of Anderson then addressed the
Committee, saying that he deeply deplored the
state of affairs, and asking the members to come
to the consideration of the means of remedy
ing it. free from all party feeling, but in the
snir;t of ranrns entstjvps of a great and noble