The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-30
ID. Ii CHAMBERLAIS,
Governor of South Carolina.
Later.

transpired since noon, is that the mlsslng
members OF the Republican Legislature
nave been discovered and brought in,
which gave that body their quorum OF
SO. Immediately afterwards the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections ap-
pointed yesterday by Speaker Mackey,
submitted report stating that the Re
publican house had seated five colored
contestants from Barnwell county, for
which certificates had prevously ly been
given 10 the Democrats by the Board OF
State Canyassers and secretary OF state.
This was done BY vote of 45 to II. Pro-
tests were entered by two members that
the Democrats were not aware OF the
contests, and that the seats were accorded
on testimony which was er parte.
In the Senate, the concurrent resolu-
ton passed yesterday by the House, pro-
viding for canvass of the returns tor
governor and lleutenant-goVernor to-day
at 3 o'clc ok P. NJ, was amended, naming
II N. FRIDAY, to which time the Senate
adjourned.
Democratic Protest.
The following protest, signed by all the
Democratic Senators, was entered upon
the records of the Senate, in accordance
with the notice given yesterday:
ave, the undersigned, Senators CT the
State of South Carolina beg leave to
place upon record this, our solemn pro-
test agains. proceedings by this body
which IN any degree recognize or propose
to recognize the legality OF the body
calling itself the House OF Representa-
tives of South Carolina, over which f.
William Mackey claims to preside as
Speaker, which met on the 18th inst. and
claimed TO organize in the hall Of the
House of Representatives. The Con-
stitution OF South Carolina makes each
House the judge Of the election returns
aud qualifications of its own members
The Supreme Court of the State has, by
formal judgment, decided that the mem.
bers from the counties CT Edgeheld and
Lsurens, who received the highest
number of votes were entitled to seats.
These members have been refused admls-
sion to the hall and all participation III
the organ zation by armed soldiers OF the
United States, who barred with bayonetS
the door ot the hall OF the House OF
Representatives, and acted ~ Judges
of the election returns, and the
qualifications OF its members. We
have seen armed forces of the United
States overriding the plain declsra-
tion of the constitution OF the
state. We have witnessed the
solemn mockery OF corporal Of the
guard reviewing and reversing the
Judgment of the highest court. We
have seen the spectacle, ,humilatlng IN the
last degree TO every right minded Amerl-
can, of the halls OF legislation occupied at
the hour OF midnight ana holding them
against tle ingress OF the law-msklng
powers, and This ut time Of profound
est peace. when not single set Of vlo-
lence furnished the slightest preteXt for
the usurpation. Wehayo seen the stl,
more humilisting spectacle OF L. ,.
troops placed under the Immediate
control, and receiving orders from CIT
izen without authority, and partisan
OF the party III power, We have seen
| this citizen assuming absolute control OF
the Capitol OF the Commonwealt and
/ auulllLlNS IAI NIkH 'l'4'S Va "a ''4N "a @N''S
nels OF his own partissrs and his own
edict on written pass from one Jones,
other citizens who were selected by these
partlsans TO organize the House Of Rep
rescntstives. We have seen this body
of partissns, thus admitted, claiming
! 70 oryanIze without q quorum, IN vIois-
! ton OF law. 10 defiance TO the Supreme
! Court and under protection .! United
States troops. We therefore enter this,
our protest, against any recognition OF
said body pretending to De the House OF
Representatives OF the State pf Soath
Carolina. and for the following reasons:
Said body having organized without q
constitutional quorum, there being but
fty members present, as shown By It's
own journal, whereas u majority OF the
entire representation is requisite 10 q quo
rum, to-Sit: siXty-three members, as set
forth in the jouru tls OF the House during
the past eigat wears, and as confirmed
o. immemorisl practice in Legislative
bodies in every American StaIe; and
we do further ailege, oil our own reSpon-
sibiiity as Senators, that said body Is
still without 3 constitutional quorum,
aud therefore wanting IL the organic
character OF the House OF Represents
tives VI South Csrolins, and ought rot u
be recognized as such.