Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-02
THE SITUATION.
The South Carolina
Middle.
THE DUAL HOUSES HOLD THE
FORT.
An Anxious Watt h Held Ovor
Night at the Capitol.
THE END NOT YET.
TIED END NOT YET.
Situation In Florida and LO0isI.
ana Practically Unchanged.
SOUTH CAROLINA,

special despatch to the Lewiston Journal
from Boston has the following dated Dee. L.:
|. Inc situation In South Carolina is full of dan
ger. Yesterday both Legislature occupied repie-
sentatlves hall, the democrats going 10 first. The
republicans came later and the speaker occupied
the clerks desk. After an hour of turbulence
but no outbreak, both bodies adjourned. Gen.
Ruger has informed the democrats from Edpefeld
and Laurens that they will not be admitted to-
day, and Senator Gordon and Wade Hampton
have advised them to remain unless removed BY
force. Trouble is apprehcnded.
New YORK, December |. The Herald prints
the following from Columbia, s. c., dated one A.
At one A. M. the two houses are still in session.
members sleeping, smoking, conversing, and q
lew listening to the eloqueHce of q negro from
Charleston county, known as Francis Bill. the
santel orator Both parties are holding the fort
TIL noon. The democrats know if they 20 out
they will not be admitted; and they propose to
stay until twelve NJ, to-day, when the Laurens
and Edgefeld delegations will doubtless be eject
ed by federal soldiers.
COLUMBIA, December |. The dual houses con.
tinued n session all night, and at nome mt before
II m. a motion was put by member of each side
that the House now adjourn. The motion WAS en-
tertaned BY each speaker. put and carried stimuli
taneously.
Speaker Wallace then announced that the hour
OF IL IN. having arrived the house was called to
order Speaker Mackey also called his house to
order.
The services Of yesterday were repeated. Mo-
tons were made on both sides and with some Of
der attained. There WAS intense suppressed ex-
element, all eyes being turned anxiously toward
the door in expectancy of the advent of the Uni
ted States troops.
Tom Hamilton Qnd. rep) remarked significant
ly-
This thing is going too far. It will break up
Reid, colored, spoke in favor of peace and bar-
mony and the adjustment of the difficulty 10 some
way amicable 10 both parties.
Hamilton replied, explaining that what he knew
and saw warranted him in the belief that there
would be row. He saw (pointing TO q corner of
the hall the republican committee on privileges
and elections in session, ready to seat and elect
any person TO that body to give them Q quorum
and majority sufficient to override all opposition
and carry out their programme, backed up by the
army of the United States. He warned the re-
publicans about what they were about to do and
said IT would be condemned by all the people of
the United States Overcome by his feelings
broke out in te ars, but continued his remarks,
making most earnest appeals to his colored broth
ers.
100 P. NJ. Arrived and no troops. A false
alai m which caused great excitement was created
by the falling in Of the relief for the guard who
loaded their muskets down stairs and were re-
ported to be getting ready to come into the
House to remove the democratic speaker and the
members from Edgefeld and Laurens.
A democratic member spoke in favor of COM
promise and solution of the matter of the Dual
House. He proposed that the matter be submit
ted to committee Of conference, composed of
six OF each party in the House and also six of
each party in the Senate, and that pending the
report of the committee the Dual House adjourn
until it is submitted.
The same correspondent says that a converse
ton took place this morning between prominent
democrats and Gen. Ruger during which the sit
uatiOn was fully explained to that officer. He
appeared impressed with the injustice done the
democrats through the instrumentaity of the
troops, and he now hestates to march into the
hail of the House of Representatives and remove
the Edgefeld and Laurens delegation and the
democratic speakers. 1t is further stated that he
has teegraphed to Washington for instructions
before acting.
The time for canvassing the vote for Governor
and Lieutenant-Governor is set by the republi-
cans at o clock p. M. If Hampton is counted
out by the republicans, the Hayes vote the dem.
ocrats say will fall also, for one s so indisolubly
connected with the other that what breaks one
breaks the other. This is understood TO be the
cause of Ruger's hesitancy.
Both speakers agreed to adjourn their e.pective
houses simultaneously to meet tomorrow at II m.
with the status of each unchanged. This to take
effect Immediately, provided that Gen. Ruger
will agree. General Ruger refuses ON the ground
that he must obey orders If he receives them
from Washington. The houses will not therefore
be likely TO adjourn.
WASHINGTON. December |. The following 10
an extract of the communication received from
Gen. Ruger:
COLUMBIA, S c., December |.
Gen. Sherman or tue Secretary of War, Wash
ington:
l have carefully abstained from interfering with
the organization of the House from the first. On
application of the Governor, and my own belief
for the necessity therefor, for the preservation of
the peace placed troops in the capital but not in
the rooms of the assembly of either Of the houses
on the day of the meeting. II came about that
for time soldiers were placed on either side of
the door of the entrance to the hall of represen-
tatives under the following circumstances:
person at the door OF the House and who
claimed authory TO examine the certificates of
those claiming to be members prior TO their ad-
mission to the hall, but who think had no legal
authority for so doing, applied to the officers in
command OF the troops placed in the corridor for
the preservation of peace and for assistance on
the ground that he was being pressed upon, and
could not perform his duty. The soldiers were
placed as stated.
As SOON as was fully informed of the circum.
stances l ordered the soldiers Withdrawn, O. l
had previously informed Gov. Chamberlain that
l should confne my action to the preservation of
tho peace and should do nothing with reference
to keeping the door Of the rooms the meeting of
both houses, the rooms them selves unless it be-
come necessary because of the breach of the
peace which the civil officers Of both houses
should be unable TO restore. No act was done by
the soldiers except that Of their presence as stat
ed, but whilst they were present persons claim
ing the right Of entrance under the certificate
of the clerk Of the Supreme. Court were refused
admission. (Signed),
THOMAS II. RuGER,
Comma ndinQ he Denartment