Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-08
The South Carolina Imbroglio.

COLUMBIA, s. c., Nov. %.
Gen. Ruger arrived here at ten o'clock
last night, and at midnight three COM
panies of United States infantry were
quartered in the State-House. This
morning Gordon of sentinels was
formed around the building and no one
was allowed to enter except on pass
from A. o. Jones, former Clerk of the
House, or John B. Dennis, ex-Superin-
tendent of the Penitentiary. The streets
were crowded with people from all parts
of the State, and there was great excite
ment.
About nine o'clock .. s. Senators Cor
don of Georgia, and Johnston of Virginia,
with Messrs. Peck and Jefireys, mem
bers of the Legislature claiming to be
elected from Laurens and Edgefield Coun-
ties, demanded admittance to the State
House. The latter exhibited certificates
from the Supreme Court of their election,
and the corporal of the guard refused
them admittance under the orders of
Dennis, who was standing by. The Dem
ocratic members of the Legislature then
held caucus and proceeded in body
to demand admittance.
In the meantime Gen. Hampton had
an interview with Gen. Ruger, who
ordered that anyone be allowed to pass
who claimed to be a member of the Leg
islature. Under this order all members
were admitted to the building. The
Democratic members of the House then,
with the Laurens and Edgefield delegates
at their head, proceeded to the door of
Representatives Hall and demanded ad
mission on the certificates of election
taken from the Supreme Court records.
Six soldiers were stationed on either side
of the door, with two officers in the cen
ter The certificates of the Edgetield
and Laurens delegates were decided in
valid by the doorkeepers, whereupon
the entire body of Democrats withdrew
and assembled in front of the State
House, from the steps of which, in the
presence of military and citizens, was
read a protest against the refusal
to admit them to the hall; the
United States military barring the passage
of members-elect into the State House,
the legality of the proceeding, and espe-
cially against the army being placed un-
der the command of Dennis, partisan
of Gov Chamberlain. The protestants
say they have possessed themselves with
the judgment Of the highest court of the
State, certified to by its Clerk, with the
great seal of the court attached, as to their
right to participate in the organization
of the House, and conclude: In pro-
testing against this defiance of the high
est tribunal of the State il is our purpose
to offer no resistance to this armed inter
vention, but to make our solemn appeal
to the American people, without distinc-
tion of party"
After the withdrawal of the Demo
Gratis the Republicans proceeded to or
ganize the House. Fifty-nine members
answered to their names. Clerk Jones,
of the former House, declared quorum
present, and Z. w. NJ. Mackey was
elected Speaker, receiving ffty-seven
votes.
[The House, when full, consists of 124
members. The Democrats, including
the nine disputed members from Edge
field and Laurens, have "a members.
The Democrats claim that SO is the law
full quorum, while the Republicans
claim that SO. being a majority Of the
members admitted by the Board of Can
Vassers-115-is a quorum.
On taking his seat as Speaker, Maekey
delivered a speech and the tifty-nint
members were sworn in. One Republi
can member was absent. Jones, the
former Clerk, was reelected and sworn in
The House as organized consisted o.
five whites and ifty'four negroes.