The Van Buren press., 1876-12-05
SOUTH CAROLINA.
One Senate and Two Houses of Repre-.
resentatives--Protest Of Senators.
COLUMBIA, Novcmber

account OF absentees, which leave it
without quorum. The senate is dis
cusslng a concurrent resolution passed
by the house yesterday, to 90 into the
canvass of returns for governor and lieu.
tenant governor. The democratic house
went into secret session in Carolina hail,
after receiving the report Of the commit
tee appointed yesterday to obtain returns
from the secretary of state foI governor
and lieutenant govenor The committee
reported that the secretary had surren-
dered the returns to Mackey, speaker of
the republican house. The military still
garrison the state house.
Supreme court met and adjourned with.
out transacting any business, the lawyers
being engaged in making the returns to
the habeas corpus case of the board of
canvassers in Judge Bonds United States
circuit court.
The sergeant-at-arms OF the republican
house is engaged in looking up absen.
tees, without success So far.
The only matter Of Importance that
has transpired since noon is that the
missing member of he republican legis
latnre has been discovered and brought
in. which gave that body their quorum
of fifty nine. Immediately afterward the
committee on privileges and elections,
appointed yesterday by Speaker Mackev,
submitted report seating republican
members, five in number, from Barnwell
county.
The republican house seated five col
ored contestants to seats for Barnwell
county, for which certificates had pre-
viously been given to democrats by the
board of state canvassers and secretary
Of state. This was done by vote of As
to IA, protests being entered by twa
members as the democrats were not aware
of the conte is, and the seats were award.
ed on testim my which was exDarte.
In the senate concurrent resolution,
passed Yesterday by the house, providing
tor canvass of the returns for governor
and lieutenant-govenur to-day at p. m i,
was amended, naming II m, Friday, to
which time the senate adjourned.
The following democratic protest,
signed by all the democratic senators in
accordance with notice given yesterday ::
We, the undersigned senators of the
state of South Carolina, beg leave to
place upon record this our solemn pro-
test against proceedings by this body
which in any degree recognize. or pro-
pose to recognize the legality of the bo-
dp calling itself the house of representa-
tpes of South Carolina. over which f.
w Nv Mupl fl m 10, Ia T.,
er, which met on the 2Sth inst. and claim
ed to organize in the hall of representa-.
tlNes.
COLUMBIA, NV. 30 sc, pm
The democratic mouse took reacable
possession of the state legislature hall at
their regular hour of eonvening, III
o clock, this morning. The republican
house entered the hall at noon, their reg
niar hour of meeting Both speakers
are on the stand-WaIlace, democrat, is
in ,e chair, and Mackcy, republican. at
the clerk desk. Debate is progressing.
Republican members Hamilton and Mev
ers denounced the action Of the repuhi-
can house as illegal and uncoastitution-
al. Everything is peacable, amp good
temper prevails No person is allowed
in the hail except members.
3 m-The situation is but little
changed at the courthouse Good hu-
NOR is manifested on both sides. Some
efforts are being made to compromise,
which may be the result.
Gen. Ruger has sent his staff officer to
the speakers stand and notified demo
cratic Speaker Wallace that at noon to
morrow the democratic members from
Edgelield would not be permitted on the
door of the house. Upon receipt Of that
order, the following letter was sent to
Gen Ruger.
COLUMBIA Nov. 80
Gen. I. II Ruger, commanding L. 5.
troops in South Carolina:
DEAR SIR-W have just heard hrough
Major McGinnis, of your staff, your or
der communicated to Mr.. Wallace, speak
er of abe house Of representatives, that
at II IN. to morrow the members elect
from Edgeficld would not be allowed
upon the floor Of the house. 10 say that
we are surprised at such an order after
the explanations and pledges made by
you to each one of us, is TO use very
mild laegnagc When the outrage of
Tuesday last was committed, bv the
placing OF armed sen,inels at the door of
the house of representatives, who decl-
ded upon the admission OF members to
their seats, and when the provisions of
the constitution aud the decision of the
supreme cou were brought to your at
tention, you distinctly and warmly asser
ted, again and again, that your orders
were misunderstood; that you did not
intend to have sentnels AT the door of
the hall. and that you had not. and did
not intend to decide upon the legality of
any man seat, or upon his right to en-
ter the hall You were then reminded
by us that your guard received instrnc-
lions from one Dennis, a citizen and par
ti>an of Gov. Chamberlain, to admit par
ties upon his own pass or that of one
Jones, and had, through armed force,
excluded all democrats from the hall un
til the republican organization was COM
pleted. You assured us again that such
were not your orders You were told by
us that notwithstanding the preparation
of this nexpressihle shame upon our
free institutions and the rights of the
people, the evils could still be remedied
without any violence or bloodshed Ivy
the simple withdrawal of your guard
from the doors of the ball, and that a
p.i ,rity at the votes decided all ones.