The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-14
THE RECALcITRANT SENATORS.
Hauling TessSs. sawyer and Robertson
Over the Coals-DetafIs OF Legisia-
tion.
rpRcM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBIA, repTuaTy IL.
The House amused itself to-day during
considerable portion of Its session with one OF
its characteristic debates upon the question of
race, or, as Mr.. Sumner calls 1t In one of his
two hundred dollar lectures, "Caste." The
text was found 10 that silver-tongued Bosto-
MANS amendment to the amnesty bill, and the
provocatlon was furnished by the alleged re-
calcltrance of the Hon. Messrs. Sawyer and
Robertson, In speaking and voting against
that measure. 1t may be remembered that a
few days ago the Assembly passed resolu-
tion requesting the South Carolina represen-
tatlyes In Congress to give their influence and
votes toward the passage of Summers supple
mental civil rights bill, which aimed to do
aWay with ttlnvldlous distinctions on account
of color" and this resolution was duly certified
and sent TO Senators Robertson and Saw
yer, and also to the members from this State
in the lower house of Congress. Now, how
ever, when O square vote comes To be had
upon Mr.. Summers measure, Mr.. Robertson Is
found to vote against II, because, as he says,
its adoption would jeopardizs the amnesty bill
which he himself introduced, and to which 1t
was offered as on amendment, and Mr. Saw
yer follows his example, presumably on gene
General Assembly, with Its preponderanCe Of
colored members, and hence the howl that was
raised to-day. The trouble began by the In.
PRODUCTION by Elliott, oil Charleston, of the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution:
Whereas, The Hon. F. A. Sawyer and the
Hon. T. J. Robertson, senators In the United
States Congress from the Slate of South Caro-
lima, owe their positions to the colored people
of this State; and whereas, they have betrayed
the sacred trusts reposedin In them by the colored
people In using their influence and casting
their votes to defeat that eminently just and
wise measure, the supplementary civil rights
bill, In open disregard and defiance Of the eX-
pressed will of their constituents through con-
current resolution OF the General Assembly of
this State; and whereas, they have on every
occasion ignored the just claims and voted In
ed people, their constituents; therefore,
Resolued, &C., That the Hon. F. A. Sawyer
and the Hon. T. J. Robertson, senators of this
State In the United States Congress, be re-
ouested forthwith 10 resign the honorable posi-
tions they hold by the suffrages of afpeople
whose rights they oppose and wishes they
misrepresent upon the floor Of the Uniteu
States Sanates
This brought dozen members to their feet,
all prtmed with speeches on the negro ques-
ton, but the floor was accorded 10 Mr.. Bow
lev. who offered as substitute to the above
resolution another, which was almost similar
in all respects, except the substitution OF the
words "kepubican party" Instead OF "colored
people," wherever tney occurred. me tronoie
then began on the adoption If the SUBSTITUTE.
Hurley objected to this hasty action, saying
! that none OF the members knew exactly Wnat
thew were talking about. They had seen III
The newspapers thai Mes5rs. Robertson and
SAWYER had voted nay On certain measure,
but they did not know just how mat vote
came up, or what 1t was upon. Even Inc ols-
patches in the newspapers themselves were
contradictory. and he quoted from iHE
GHARLgsToN NEWS, The Georgia Constitution
ali,t and other papers, to show That tne slate-
mynt In this mornings Columbia Union was
probably inaccurate. he, therefore, moYeo
| TO postpone the matter until "Wednesday next,
| by which Time they could be In possession OF
| the official record and know what tney were
| talking about. The tide was too strong, now
ever. for Mr.. Hurley, and afler few spreao'
eooIe speeches from Byas, Jones, hunter
Iami.or and others, the resolution was ADOPT
cd by q strict party vote of seventy 10 nlne
Previous tv this little episode NUMBER OF
hills were passed as already reported by tele-
eraph, and the following bills, &C., were IN
| troduced. ~ oot ~
nroyide for the election OF superlntendents "
| lhe State penientIary, which provides ina
such officers shall be elected at general e!ec
| tion by the people, aud shall each nold ONCE
for the term of four years.
| Nv MIR, Hurley, tnotlce Of q bill to protec