New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-30
A TELEGRAM TO THE TRIBUNE FROM SEN
ATOR GORDON.

FEELING OF THE PEoPLE-THE DEMOCRATS ~ bh
ADMITTED TO THE STATE HoUsE-A MISTAKE By
MAJOR KELLOGG.
To the EDITOR Of the Tribune.
SIR: thank you for your invitation to send
another dispatch The last appeal of this trampied
people must be to independent Americans, without
distinction of party. If the transactions Of
the last two days are to be tolerated Dy
the Northern people; if the courts are 10
be defed; if no law except force is to be
rcspected: if sentnels at the doors of legislative
halls are TO review and reverse decisions OF the
highest judicial tribunals as l saw done yesterday
fpryate citizens partisans of Gov. Chamberlain and
candidates for Office are to decide they have done
here, upon the election, qualifications, and returns
of members of the Legislature and If these de
cisions in direct conflict with the judgment OF the
courts are TO be enforced is done here by the sol
diers of the United States then our people prefer
military government at once ! assure you such -
the sentiment of the entire people of South Caro-
Ina.
To-day in company with the Chairman of the
Democratic Executive Committee, called on Gen.
Ringer and asked what action he would take II the
Democrats should 90 into the hall and unite with
the better class of Republicans In undOing the
illegal action of yesterday. l promised that the
Democrats would be entirely without arms even TO
parliamentary one; that possibly some minor
disturbances might occur upon the noor'
or that the doorkeeper of the so-caled Republican
House might resist the entrance of Democrats even
with certificates Of the Secretary of state in Their
hands but that no other disturbances could occur.
His replv was that his orders had been mlsundcr-
stood by Major Kellogg; that he had not intended
to prevent members going into the hail. aud that he
would not interfere unless there was disturbance
and Gov. Chamberlain should call for troops.
Section 4. Article g of the Constitution says the
House of Representatives shall consist OF III mem
hers Section II says majority OF each House
shall constitute quorum. A quorum, therefore, IS
G3. The Republican House claims to have organized
and elected officers with only 80 members present.
The Democratic Iiouse organized with 90,
one a Republican. If Gen. Ringer VIII
take the soldiers from the State House,
the whole question will be settled in hour with
out bloodshed by the joint votes OF Democrats and
Republicans. Fourteen of the latter to-day en-
deayored to prevent the illegal and revolutionary
action of the so-called Republican House, and
leading Republican in the Senate offered resOlu-
ton to inquire into the legality of the former
OF the 90 usurpcrs of the House 81 are blacks,
whites The ascendency of such power, even
with constitutional sanction, would mperil ciyili-
cation here but usupers and revolutionsts as they
are if sustained by Federal power in defiance of the
Constitution, the laws and the courts, they will
bring ruin and chaos to this afflicted State. This is
not government, but a conspiracy, yet under these
great provocatOns the people remain peaceful and
law abiding j. Il. GORDON.