New-York tribune., 1876-12-05


also adjourned. This indicates weakness in the
Republican ranks. 1t is supposed the Senate will CO.
operate with the Democratic House and count the
Governors vote.
The proceedings in the Supreme Court to require
the Secretary of State by mandamus to deliver the
returns for Governor to Mr.. Wallace, arc going on.
The court is hearing testimony. 1t is thought the
court Willis mandamus tomorrow.
1t is positively known tonight that Gen. Ruger
did not authorize the troops to support the State
Constable. The Democrats confident of success.
Speeches were made tonight by Wade Hampton and
other Democratic speakers, full of spirit but cOun-
selling peace. The city is crowded with armed DEM
ocrats, and many are arriving by every train. The
Democrats will not fire shot, unless under orders
to sustain the Supreme Court. CHAs. II. NOISE.
Columbia, S. O., Dec. A. 1876
A TELEGRAM FROM GOV. CHAMBERLAIN. :
THE WEAKNESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION EX-
PosED-THE REPUBLICANS OF THE HOUSE IN
THE LAWFUL MAJORITY-vARIoUs MIssTATE-
MENTs ANSWERED..
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
The Jealous and heroic dispatches with which
Senator Gordon and other persons, who have sud-
denly landed here with their carpet-bags to take
charge of South Carolina are flooding the country.
make it proper that should give an exact and
faithful statement of the facts. First it is not true
as charged, that the United States army officers
have assumed any duties here without being prop
erly called upon to do sO The orders of the Presi-
dent to the commanding officers here dated Nov 25,
are well known. Acting in view of those orders,
1 called upon Col. Black on Monday, the
the 27th ult for a force sufficient to protect the
State House against the intrusion of armed and vio
lent men on Monday night and Tuesday morning
tn he bour for fha Lar sla afu fo
This did upon evidence that plan matured
to take forcbe possession of the halls of the Legs
lature and carry out the shotgun" policy in the
organization of the two houses. Col. Black, as he
was bound to do, responded by ordering a company
of soldiers to guard the State House. To say that
ought to have done this myself is to speak without
knowledge of the condition of affairs here. There
is State force available for such purpose-a fact
perfectly well known here.
On the morning of Tuesday the 27th ult de-
tailed State officer to take charge of the admission
of persons to the State House. with instructions TO
admit only such persons as had official business in
the State House, who held the certificates Of the
Secretary of State as members of the General
Assembly. These orders enforced, whenever
necessary, by the military officers on duty
in the State House. Later in the forenoon
it seemed best to relax these orders and admit per-
Subsequently the Democratic members reached
the door of the House of Representatives the Ser
geant-at-Arms and his assistants, who were in
charge of the door and acting under the orders of
the Clerk of the former House, found themselves
pressed upon and about to be overpowered by body
of Democrats demanding admission. The Clerk had
properly given orders to admit only those who held
the certificates of the Secretary of State.
In this emergency the Sergeant-atArms called upon
the military officers in charge Of the United States
troops TO aid him in guarding the doors against the
intrusion Of unauthorized PERSONS and such aid was
granted II is true that after conference with me
upon the point, Gen, Ruger properly lntehded tlat
this call for aid at the door should be submitted to
him before the aid gven and this is, 50 far as
know, the only act done by the military forces
which was not previously sanctioned by Gen. Rugcr.
This act however, was in no sense i'll excess or yio-
ation Of his orders from the President. No person
holding the certificate of the Secretary OF state was
at any time refused admission to the State-housc or
to the House of Representatives.
Second: II is not true as charged that the mill
tary commander here has assumed to decide upon
the certificates of members of the General Assembly.
The clerk of the former House has decided that 10
persons except those holding certificates signed by
the Secretary of State were entitled to enter the
hall of the House or to participate i'll
by the military forces in this respect has
been done to enforce this decision and order of the
Clerk To say that all this is not the business of the
the military forces s to say that the Presidents
orders to enforce my authority and to protect the
State against domestic violence are improper. 1t
was certainly my duty to enforce the authority OF
the Clerk il had the power; and If, as was the
fact had no adequate force to do this, then II my
authority was unquestioned the action of the mill
tary force would seem to be warranted.
Third: 1t is not true as stated, that any persons
boldcertiicates of election from the Supreme Court
The court on application refused to issue any cert
Gates What the persons from Edgeheld and
Iaurens Counties hold arc mere evidences from
the clerk of that court that the court made an order
recurring the canvassers and the Secretary OF State
to do what they have never DONE III such papers are
said to be valid certificates of election emitting
the bearers TO be recognized as members OF the
House, take issue. and appeal to the judgment of
courts and lawyers. The Democratic members hold
ing valid certificates refused on Tuesday, doubtless
under the advice of Senator Gordon and our other
Democratic strangers to go into the House. because
their friends from Edgeield and Laurens counties,
without certificates, were refused admittance. No
impedIment otter than this was placed in their way
by any civil or military officer.
Fourth: The House now presided over by Mr..
Mackey was organized with go present holding the
certificates of the State based on the action OF the
canyassers, 80 of whom voted i'll the election OF
Sneaker. This is a majority of 116, the whole
nnmber holding the certificates of the Secretary OF
the State.
Finh: The body presided over by Mr.. Wallace
has never had more than 81 persons holding the GER
t6cates of the Secretary of State-less than major
ty of 116.
tTh, obors Ia all that ds recetud up to the hour gong
lA"' N % pTessl