The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1874-03-26
A Scene in the Legislature.

We copy from the letter of "Vidette," !"
the Columbia correspondent of the Charles
ton Ne,cs and Courier, the following ac-
count of the difficulty in the House Of
Representatives, at Columbia, on the night
of the 18th inst.
"It was about this time that, in the Ian
guage Of the minstrel people,
THE TROUBLE COMMENCED.
The House, after disposing of this mat
ter, proceeded to take up the bills on the
calendar, but it was up hill work in con-
sequence of the quantity of bad whiskey
which had been so freely imbibed by
some of the rural members. Dannerly, of
Orangeburg, had by this time become so
drunk and in his inebriation developed
his combativeness to such an extent.
that it was difficult thing to keep him
squelched, Notwithstanding the fact that
the services of the sergeant-at-arms were
called into requisition. A discussion arose
upon the bill to amend Part 4, Title !,
Chapter 1876 of the General Statutes
The bill proposed to strike out Section 9
of the chapter in question. which, it
seems, is kind Of civil rights section,
prescribing penalty for distinctions on
account of race or color by railroads and
steamboats,. 1t was upon this that Dan
nerly spread himself: After good deal
of persuasion he was, however, silenced,
and, vote being reached, the enacting
clause of the bill was stricken out.
BROKE UP IN A ROW
The next bill which came up for Sec
ond reading vas the Senate bill to amend
the act to regulate the pay Of the members
of the General Assembly. The bill pro.
vides that each member of the General
Assembly, hereafter, shall receive such
per diem compensation for each regular
session as will amount to, and not exceed
5000, and the further sum Of 90 cents for
every mile of ordinary route of travel in
going to and returning from the sessions
of the General Assembly. And when
convened in extra session, each member
shall receive the same per diem compcn-
sation, not exceeding in the aggregate
three hundred and fifty dollars and mile
age, as are fixed by law for the regular
session, and none other. Bowlcy moved
to amend by striking out the word "six"
and insert seven dollars per diem, &c
This caused the member faom Orange
hxxs. D.A.>rls. a -risa- -essin, his feelings
being too affected to allow him to sit still.
His articulation by this time had become
very husky and his patriotism under the
influence of bad whiskey bubblcd from him.
He was called to order, but he refused TO
come to order for the &C. damnation
crowd" The sergeant-at-arms attempted
to remove the honorable member, but he
resisted and drew
A PERsUADER WITH FOUR BARRELS,
silver.mounted and loaded with slugs, by
the assistance of which he completely de-
moralized the sub-sergeant-at arms and a
half dozen deputies, and put them to in
glorious fight. Severa! members made a
rush to get to tho bellicose representative,
but his colleague, H. Riley, another color
ed member from Orangeburg, rallied to
his support, and grabbing him by the COL
lar with one hand, kept the crowd ut bay
with the other
PISTOLS WERE DRAWN,
and sixteen dollar cuspadors, desks, chairs,
and inkstsnds overturned in the melee
which ensued. For considerable length
Of time the Orangeburg delegation kept
the floor, and remained masters of the
situation. The sergeant-at.arms was not
present, and his deputies evidently enter
tanned wholesome dread Of the 'persua-
ders" which we're fourished around SO
promiscuously. In the meantime, the
seats in the vicinity of the row were
hastily vacated, and those members of
the House who seemed more inclined to
neace than to war, made tracks for the
door. The speaker raped his gavel In
dustriously, and called upon the sergeant
alarms to
DO HIS DUTY,
bpt the person who was acting in that ca
pacity MAS powerless 10 do anything
Dannnly and his colleague, in the mean
time, kept up an incessant fire Of oaths,
and still held their position. In this
emergency, Bowlsy, the colored chairman
of the committee on ways and means, Sam
Greer, of Beaufort, Lilly, Of Chester, and
one Or two other colored members who
wee evidently not afraid Of Orangeburg
Al holl