Middletown transcript., 1876-12-02
THE SITUATION.

settlement OF the election lmDtO&uo cou
tinues unabated. All eyes are still turn
ed toward the South aud the contest i
the disputed States" is everywher
watched with tho most eager anxiety
Much has occurred, in each Of thos
States. since our last issue, to increas
the national anxiety and add to th
excitement In South Carolina, Of
Saturday last. the Supreme Court i'm
posed fac Of $500 upon each Of th'
Board Of Canvasssrs, whose refractory
conduct we related last week, and com
mitted them to prison for contempt o
its authority. In accordance with thi'
sentence they we're incarcerated iu the
common Jail at Columbia the same
night, where they remained over Sun.
day. On Monday morning the notori'
GUS Judge Bond. Of the United States
Circuit Court, issued writ of habe0s
corpus and had them released from the
jail--thus interfering directly with the
orders and authority of the Supreme
Court Of the State. In the meantime
Governor Chamberlain telegraphed to
the President for U. s. troops, upon
which President Grant. only too glad
Of the opportunity for interference, i'm
mediately instructed the Secretary Of
War that I'D. 81. Chamberlain is and
will remain Governor of South Caro-
lima until new Governor shall be duly
inaugurated" and that the War Depart
ment must sustain him in his authority
against domestic violence until other
wise directed. In accordance with
these instructions General Ruger was
directed to hold the troops under his
command subject to the orders Of Gov
ernor Chamberlain. Against this un-
precedented and unauthorized proceed
ing Gen. Hampton and large number
Of other leading citizens of South Caro-
lima and other States there present
sent an urgent protest to the President.
They say they will cooperate with the
troops in preserving peace, but object
to their use in controlling the organiza-
ton Of the Legislature and enforcing
the Inauguration of Chamberlain. In
conclusion they say that mot one drop
Of blood has been shed in any political
disturbances except BY the Republi-
cans" and that "is is literally true that
the Democrats received their greatest
majerities in counties where the United
States soldiers were stationed" For
confirmation of these statements they
''refer to the commander Of the United
States forces at Columbia and elsewhere
in the State" !.
The Supreme Court declined to give
certificates of election to the democratic
members elected to the Legislature from
Laurens and Edgefeld counties, but
directed its clerk to give them certified
copies Of the records Of the Returning
Board by which their election is clearly
shown. On Tuesday morning, the day
for the assembling Of the Legislature,
when the members elect of that body
went to the State House they found it
in the possession Of q. s. troops, who
refused admittance to all persons
not presenting certificates Of election
from the Board of Canvassers This
proceeding Of course admitted all the
Republican members. A little while
afterward however, all claiming to be
members elect Of the Legislature we're
admitted to the State House but not to
the Assembly Halls The democrats
went in body. with the members from
Laurens and Edge6eld counties at their
head, to the deor and demanded admit
tance, but we're refused. They then
read 40 earnest protest against the oc-
cupation Of the State House by armed
Federal soldiers and military interfer-
ence with the Legislature, and ad-
journed to the Hall in the Southern
Life Insurance Company's building
and, having a majority. and therefore
Constitutional quorum of the whole
number Of the members Of the Legiala-
ture, proceeded to an organization -
The members were sworn in by Judge
Cook Of the Circuit Court, and when
Orangeburg county was called Mr..
Reedish, who bad been elected on the
republican ticket but had refused to
take part in the bayonet legislature,
came forward and took the oath, amid
much applause Subsequently J. W.
Westbury. eolored republican from
Sumptcr county, disgusted with the
unlawful proceedings Of the republicans
and the control Of the Legislature by
the use Of the Federal army. joined the
democratic body and was duly qualified,
thus making sixty-six members-three
more than quorum. The House,
thus constituted. then elected Gen. w.
H Wallace speaker and announced to
the Senate that they were ready for
business. On Wednesday the republi-
can faction increased its numbers BY
voting to receive the Eve defeated re-
publican candidates from Barnwell. |
Against this action even two Of the