Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-01
The Situation.

ASH
proceedings in that city yesterday.
Pursuant to ADJOURNMENT the democratic
House. Of Representatives convened at ~
o'clock this morning, and Immediately went
into sccret session. From the hurried manner
in which the members went ia and out Of the
hslI it was soon suspected that some decided
| action had been determined upon. A few mo-
| meuts passed, aud then the plan became appa.
rem, TO all that the democrats had at last de-
| cided to make q bold stand and demand their
rights in the legislative hall of the State. In
squads of lours and Fights they steadily pressed
| nearer to the State House. At tho door OF
| the State House stood a guard OF the United
| States troops, but they evidently had other
orders than those under which they acted on
| Tuesday. The democrats were admitted, aud
in q solid body assembled the stairs towards the
| door Of the Hall of Representatives.
Colonel a. G. Haskell aud Mr.. James l..
| Orr headed the body and were stopped at the
door by a United States Marshal aud the radical
| Serrcant-at.Arms. They asked for admlttance
| and were refused. The members On the front
rank drew their certificates. The doorkeepcr,
not suspecting the crisis, were nonplussed. The
| door was opened to pass the front members 10,
who, on getting halfway 10, flung open the
door and the democrats, as u body, marched
ipto the hall and took their seats, There was
| but one sharp, decisive struggle and all vas
over, although at one time it seemed that blood
shed was imminent. Inside of the hall were
seated about forty of the negro members, who
stared with blank astonishment at the lDtux oil
white faces.
Gen. w. il. Wallace, The democratic Speak
or OF the House, proceeded at once TO the
| Speakers stand ard took the chair, followed
by the democratic clerk, who also took bis po-
sition on the stand. The democratic Sergeant
at farms renamed at the door aiongsluc OF the
radical Sergeant-at-Arms.
Things remained at q stand still for about
five minutes. when Gen. Hampton applied Tor
admittance at the door aud was refused by the
radical Sergeant.at. Arms. Il scutte ensued
and trouble again appeared inevitable, but be-
fore the issue came Gen. Hampton declined to
enter and withdrew.
Five minutes more passed, when everybody
attention was attracted to the door by the en-
trance of Mr.. Mackey, the Speaker OF the re.
publican House, with the CLERK and others OF
the hangers on. As they neared the Speaker
stand Gen. Wallace raped With the gavel and
said: The House of Representatives vii
come to order" Mackey and Jones assembled
the steps, and Mackey, trembling with excite,
mept and gasping for breath, said to Gen;
Wallace: "You will please vacate this seat.
Gen. Wallace remained seated and replied
II have been elected by a majority Of the
nouse of Representatives Of the State OF South
Carolina, duly sworn in in the South Carolina
Hall, on Tuesday, the 18th day OF November,
instant. The constitution provides that thc
Legislature shall meet 10 the city OF Colunbl:
on the fourth tuesday, November. 1t make:
20 provision that the House Of Representatives
shall be organized in this hall. On Tuesday lasI
q majority Of the members OF the House OF Rep
resertatives, with certificates of election, were
refused admission to this hall. They retired *
the Carolina Halland organized, wltha member
ship Of sixty. six, who according to the conssi
tuition, were duly sworn ia and their oihcer:
elected. We arc her. in pursuance OF on:
rights under the constitution OF the Ssaso OF
South Carolina. We desire to Cypress 10 one,
and to deprive DO man OF his rights on tn;
floor. We desire to claim only the rights that
belong to US, and those rights We intend TO
have
Mr.. Mackcy said.-"I claim that was elect
ed Speaker Of this House by a legal quorum o
members, legally sworn iu. We do not rcoog
nizs that any others than those sworn IN here
gu Tuesday last are members or this tiouse'
and those men who are visiting this hall With
out our consent must keep order. must agair
demand that you, Gen. Wallace, leave this
chair"
Cen, Wallace.-"I have already declared
that I am the legally elected Speaker Of this
House, and | must request you TO retire. .
Mr.. Mackey.-"The sergeant a alarms VII
please step forward and enforce my orders.
Gen. Wallace. -"The sergeant-at arms vii
please step forward aud enforce my orders.
The democratic and republican sergeant.at
arms marched up the aisle together, and each
proceeded to obey the orders given them, ant
several of the democrats and radicals assembled
the stand aud stood behind their respective
leaders Neither Gen. Wallace nor Mr.. Mac
KEY moved, and there was a general croTdlns
towards the stand as if in anticipation OF /
fight. But no fight came, both parties helG
firm, the sergeants alarms standing Oh cithel
side glaripg at each other. Mr.. Mackey called
out to bis crowd 10 take no notice OF the dem
ocratic Sneakers commands, aud told MT
Jones, his clerk, to call the roll. Mr.. Jone:
proceeded to call the roll, while the democrats
continued addressing Gen. Wallace as Speaker
all the while. When Mr.. Jones got through
calling over the names, being answered only BY
radicals, Mr.. Mackoy said, "a majority belns
present the proceedings will be opened viii
prayer
Mr.. Thomas, Of Newbcrry, the mulatto chair
man OF the committee Of privileges aud cleo
| tions, who admitted the negroes from Barnwel
yesterday, then went upon the stand and Offered
q prayer.
MIR. Gray, Of Greenville, moved that tht
chair appoint o committee of three to Inform
the proper authorities that the House OF lie
representatives. vas disturbed and usurped By
| band Of insurgents. Mr.. Mackey then called
upon all the members who had not been sworr
to come forward and be sworn. Speaker Wal
lace did the same. No one came forward
Sayeral democrats then arose and were recog
nized by Speaker Wallace. Several radical:
did the same and were recognized by Mackey
Both democrats and republicans began to de
livcr..speechcs, each addressing himself to thell
own party.
At this stage Mr.. Mackey had a conference
with Mr.. Dennis, aud sent a message to Gov.
Chamberlain stating that the House was dis
turbed by men not members, and calling upon
him tn send troops to eject them. Mr.. Dennis