Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-01
SOUTH CAROLYN



COLUMBIA, November 30, 1 pm ~ he Demo
cratic house took peaceabe possession Vi the State
legislative hall at their regular hour Of cOnyening-
eleven O'Clock this morning. The Republican house
entered the nall at nOOD-the regular hour of meet
ing. Both speakers are on the stand: Wallace DEM
OaIat, Is IN the chair and Mackey, Republican, Is at
the clerks desk Debate Is prOgressng Hamilton
and Meyers, Republican members, denOunce the ac-
ton Of the Republican house as Illegal and uncon-
stitutional Everything Is peaceable, and good tenn
per prevails. No person Is allowed In the hall eX-
cept members.
pm Situation but little changed at the State
house. Good humOr is manifested on both sides
Some efforts are being made to compromise, which
may be the result. General Ruger has sent his staff
officer to the speakers stand and notified the Demo
cratic speaker wallace, that at noon tomorrow the
Democratic members from Edgefeld would not be
permitted on the floor of the house. On the receipt
OF that order the following letter was sent to Cen
eral Ruser:
COLUMBIA, November 30
General T. II. Ruger, Commanding United States
troops In South Carolina:
DEAR SIR-We have Just heard through Major
NGnnts, of your staff, your order communicated to
Mr. Wallace speaker Of the house of representatives
that at twelve O'Clock tomorrow the memberselect
from Edgefeld would not be allowed upon the floor
OF the house. To say that are surprised at such
an order, after the explanations and pledges made
by you to each one of u.s. Is to use very mild Ian
gJiage. When the outrage of Tuesday last was COM
mited by the placing of armed sennels at the door
OF the house Of representatives, who decided upon
the admission of members TO their seats and when
the provisions of the constitution and the decision of
the supreme court were brought to your attention.
you distinctly and warmly asserted. again and again.
thit your orders were mlsundersto0d-thaty you did
not Intend 10 have scntines the door OF the hall
and that you had not and did not intend 60 assume
to decide upon the legality OF any mans seat, or
upon his right tO enter the hall. You were then
reminded by US that your guard received instruc-
tons from one Dennis, Il citizen and partisan
OF Governor Chamberlain, TO admit parties upon
his pass, that Of one Jones. and had through
armed forces excluded all Democrats from the hall
until the Republican organization was completed
You assured us again hut such not your orders.
You were told by us that Notwithstanding the per
petratiOn of this neXpressible shame upon free
Institutions and the rights Of the people, the evils
could still be remedied without any violence or
biOOnshed by the simple withdrawal Of your guard
from the doors of the hall, and that majority of
the votes decided all questions I'm accordance with
the laws and usageS Of legislative bodies. You
stated that troops should be at the door, and that
under no circumstances would you interfere, except
there should occur serious disturbance of
the pedce. You affirmed your determination
to exercise supervisory control whatever of the
body or bodies claiming to be the house of repre-
sentatlves. All this occurred on yesterday. Last
night. In later Interview with Senator Gordon, you
made the same assurances, and this morning, after
both houses were assembled In the hail. you assured
General Hampton that under no circumstances
would you Interfere except to keep the peace What
can now Justly measure our establishment at the
Issuance of such an order as the one Just sent by
you? There is no breach Of the peace, and no pros
pect of disturbance You had II officially brought
to your notice that absolute good humOr prevails In
that hall. We cannot refrain from expressing appre
heRsOn that the fact that number of leading Re
publicans are taking issue with the legality of the
proceedings by the Republican house has changed
your views as TO your line of duty 1t Is proper that
We should say In conclusion that we relied upon
your honor a man and your character as a soldier
TO maintain your pledge to the position Of nonnter
ventlOn. The Democratic members from Edgefied
and Laurens entitled TO their seats by judgment
OF the supreme court of the State and we have ad-
Ylsed them to remain In the hall until removed by
your troops that issue may be made in this centen
nial yearOf American independence whether have
a government of law, as construed by the courts or
a centralized deSpOtiSm, whose only law Is force
10 mi hp tba plQ Of hrfar-
adiergeneTal OF the army seated by the side of Gov
ernOr Chamberlain In room of the StatehOuse, and
issuing his orders 20 a legislative body peacefully
assembled In one of the original thirteen common
wealths Of the Union. Respectfully yours,
J. B. GORDON.
WADE HAMPTON
4. C. HASKELL.
The three had been In conference with General
RugeF yesterday and to-day