The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-27
SUMMARY OF NEWS.
Interesting Items from Homo and Abroad,

SUMMARY OF NEWS.
Interesting Items from Homo and Abroad.
On the nlgnu before the meeting Of tho Log
islature of South Carolina, two companies OF
United States troops took possession Of the
State House 1T Columbia. Tho board Of can.
vassers of the State, arrested by order Of the
supreme court. had previously been released.
Early in the morning members Of the Legisla-
ture were refused, by the troops, admission to
the State House unless they held passes signed
by clerk Of the old House, VIM. Jones, or Gen.
Dennis, OF tho State military. The Democratic
members met in CO eess at ten o'clock, and At
eleven proceeded in & Body to the State House
10 demand admission. The orders had been
changed, and they were admitted after the
officer of the guard had examined their creden-
tials. All members bearing ARMS gave them to
friends and passed the sentlnels. The D mo-
Gratis were headed by the members from Edge
f+held and Laurens, whose election is in dis-
pute, and when they reached the door Of the
Legislative hall they were refused admittance,
the doorkeeper declaring their credentials null
and void. The Republican portion of the
House meanwhile had organized. The Demo-
cratic members imr ediately Withdrew, and
protest was read to the military in the presence
Of . large ooncouise Of citizens. Tho protest
declares: "We majority Of vhe members Of
the House Of Representatives elect, protest
against the refusal to admit US to tho Hall Of
Representatives.. We protest against the mill
tary power Of the United States barring the
passage into the State House Of members
elect of the Legislature. We protest against
the legality Of the proceedings, and especially
against the army Of tho United States be-
ing placed for the purpose Of this e1-
olusion under the command Of John B. Dennis,
I partisan Of Gov. Chamberlain" Tho protest
concluded Is follows: "In protesting against
the barefaced usurpation, this trampling on
the laws and the constitution Of the State,
this defiance Of the highest tribunal Of the
State, it is our purpose to offer no resistance
to this armed intervention, but to make our
solemn appeal to the Am can people, without
distinction of party. Our veneration OF law,
our respect for the supreme court and the
usages of all legislature assemblages forbid
our participation in such unprecedented and
revolutionary proceedings" Gen. Hampton
was called upon, and counseled peace. BE
said that ono act of violence might precipitate
bloodshed and revolution. he begged his
friends to disperse to leave the streets, and
keep perfectly quiet. The Democratic men,
bers also waited upon Gen. Ruger, and pro-
tested against the Intervention OF the troops.
The Democrats organized in hall, and were
sworn in by Judge Cook. There were sixty
four Democrats and two Republicans who Vot-
ed with them, in the body. The full House is
composed of 124 members, but the election OF
those in Laurens and Edgefeld is contested by
the Republicans.
While the South Carolina House Of Repre-
sentatives was in session, both Democratic
and Republican members being in the hall,
Gen. Rnger sent staff officer to the speakers
stand and notified Mr. Wallace that the Demo-
cratic members from Edgefeld and Laurens
would not be permitted on the floor Of the
House. Whersupon letter Was sent to Gen.
Ruger, signed by prominent Democratic lead,
era, protesting against such action. As the two
Houses net in the same hall and were presided
over by different officers, much confusion was
the result, but everything was orderly.
The two Houses Of the South Carolina Leg
islsture continued their sessions in the same
hall, with a speaker and different set Of off,
GERS presiding over each body. Generally,
while ono body WAS transacting business the
other listened, but at times members Of both
bodies would have the floor. After continu-
GUS aession of t~enty-four hours acompromise
was proposed, but not accepted by both
Houses, and therefore failed. 1t WAS expected
that on the day Of the count OF the gubernAto-
rial vote Gen. Ruger, with the United States
troops, would exclude the members from tho
two disputed districts, but this Was not done.
Both bodies seemed disposed to hold their
position at all hazards, and not vaoate unless
compelled to do 30 by force. The Democratic
body at this time claimed that il they we're not
interfered with from Washington they would
win aud declared that il they were inter-
fered With and Chamberlain WAS declared elect
ed, they would set up dual government, with
Hampton as governor, their own State off,
Gers and legislature, and then the citizens
would decide which government they would
obey.
Gen. Ruger, in charge Of the United States
troops in Charleston, telegraphs to Gen.
Sherman that he has carefully abstained from
interference with the organization OF the South
Carolina Legislature from the first. he placed
troops in the State House upon the application
Of Gov. Chamberlain, and because he believed
this was necessary to p.eserye order. He
says: "a ,perdon ct the door Of the House,
and who claimed authority to examine the GER
ti6cates Of those claiming to be members prior
to their admission to the hsll-but who, I
think, had no legal authority for so doing-ap-
piled to the oficor in command OF the troops
placed in the corridor for the preservation Of
the peace, for assistance, on the ground that
he was being pressed upon and could not per-
form his duty. Tie soldiers were placed as
stated. As soon as was fully informed Of the
circumstances I ordered the soldiers with
drawn, as I had previously informed Gov.
Chamberlain that should conhne my action
to the preservation Of the peace, and should
do nothing with reference to keeping the
doors Of the rooms Of meeting Of the Houses,
or the rooms themselves; unless 1t became
necessary because OF breach Of the peace
which the civil officers Of the Houses should
be unable to restore. No aot Was done by the
soldiers except that Of their presence, az stat
cd but, whilst they were 10 present, persons
claiming the right Of entrance under certia-
cate Of. the clerk Of tho supreme court were
refused admission"
After continued session Of tho two Legis
latures in South Carolina for five days, it Was
announced that the State constabulsry, SUE
tanned by the United States troops, would eject
the delegations from Edgeheld and Laurenr.
As soon As this was fully announced, the
Democratic House left in body and went to
the hall they had previously occupied. They
had been in joint occupation with the Repub-
lican House for five days. hamilton, Reddish,
Meyers and Wcslbury, four Of the Maokey
House, wont with the Democrats. This In
sured tho strength Of the Democrats, with
certificates, to sixty members. The Demo-
Gratis have, in addition to these sixty, the eight
members from Edgefeld and Laurens, who
hold tho certificates Of the supreme court,
rnakino si-ty-ni0ht in ALL