The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-12-14
COLUMBIA. 8. c.. Dec. II. 1875.

labor to pert Irm by the members since
the assembling Of the Legislature, that |
have not found it possible before this to
fulfill my promise, and even now I find
it difficult 10 know what to write, fearing
that may inadvertently write something
which at this particular time should not
he written
As You are aware, the Democratic
members were summoned several days
before the time appointed by law for the
Assembly to meet. Every member was
present on Monday night. Gen. Hamp-
ton and his faithful aids had plans ar
ranged for Us to pursue, which plans were
submitted and approved by caucu. of
all the members on that night Tuesday,
III pursuance to the plans @iopted by the
caucus the night before, the Democratic
members of the House and Senate. with
the Elgciield and Laurcin delegation at
the head, all marched two and two to the
door of the Capitol. The United States
'cn;Inels stopped Us, refusing to admit
the Edgcfcld and I.aurcns members
upon the Supreme Court certificates.
Fhercupon Mr.. Sheppard turned to the
vast assembly of blacks and whites and
started t" read protest also adopted by
the caucus thu nigh. before. At this Den
mis-, who WAS ChamL.rlain's agent, roarcd
ont that we were not prevented and could
proceed. The Lieutenant then demand
ed our certificates Of election and our
arms and allowed US to proceed to the
door of the Hall of Representatives. At
this point wc were halted by Il half
dozen Assistant Sergeant Arms, by
whom appointed we could not tell.
These kind of men could not have stopped
us and we would have gone on but al
most Immediately Is we reached the door
squad Of soldiers were hurried to the
spot, and ut once placed themselves be-
tween us and the door. Gen. Hampton,
who WAS present, asked the Lieutenant
in command if lie intended to prevent
the members of the Legislature from en-
tering their Hall. He replied he would
suffer none to enter upon the certificates
of the Supreme Court Cen Hampton
then said-Gentlemen, in my judgment
nothing is left for you but to retire. I'm
mcliatcly the column about faced and
retired to the Carolina Hall, and there
organized the Lower House of Represen-
tntires. The Democrats had majority
i'll the House, and had they been permit
ted to participate in the organization of
the House, could have elected Speaker
and controlled The counting uf the e!ec-
toral vote and the vote for Governor.
Thus you see ut once why such stringent
treasures were adopted to keep us out
l'rt IL was not intended to keep us out
altogether. Let me explain, for their
plans we're more damnable even than
their after acts. The Radicals assembled
III the Hall early in the morning, but the
Democrats could not assemble, being pre-
| vented by force offered by United States
troops from so doing. Mr.. Orr and others
desired admittance of the Sentnels at q
few minutes to o'clock, and had the
door rudely slammed in their faces. Now
the Radicals all assembled, the troops
| we're 70 interfere with and prevent Us
from entering the Hall until after the
hour fixed by law for the House to or
ganize. While we were held outside the
hour arrived, the Radicals called one of
their number to the chair, but not having
quorum they could not proceed until
some ct our men were let in. AS soon as
this could have been accomplished the
House was to organize, and before we all
could have been admitted by the slow
process of admission the Edge6eld and
Laurens delegations were to have been
voted out, and thus the Radicals would
have had majority in both branches of
the Assembly, and could have controlled
everything. The point to be observed
here is that the military acted in concert
with the low tricks of the Radical party,
and did not observe that impartiality
which is claimed for them by the admin
istration at Washington. The constitu-
ton likes quorum at one more than half
of the entire number (l24) of members,
which would be sixty-three. We had
sixty-three in our House and the Radi-
Gals had fiftynine, which of course was
not quorum, but as it was one more
than half of the whole number elected,
lthey claiming that the Edgefeld and
Laurens delegations were nos elected
they claimed to have constitutional
quorum, and upon that theory based all
their subsequent actions Our body
alone having q constitutional quorum,
and having organized by clecting Wal
lace, Of Union, Speaker, and Sloan, of
Richland, Clerk a message was sent TO
The Senate notifying that body that we
were prepared for business The Senate
refused to recognizes us, and even refused
{" allow our mes:>:tge tn nc read Wed
a. N.,.. fo.:iail.et. tsEa 100. inIr,,iny
a. / ''c.oc.. rar i.outc .,, again a irw
minutes after several gentlemen entered
our Hall and stated that they we're in
formed by Gen. Rugcr himself that if we
would 60 Heaceably to the Hall of Reprr-
sentatives the troops would not interfere
with us. Immediately thereupun it was
determined to proceed by devious routes
aud in squads of lwos aud threes to the
Capitol. Gen. Haskell, Gen. Brattop.