The New York herald., 1876-12-01

DY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
COLUMBIA, Nov 80, 1876.
To-day while the House OF Representatives was
in session. both democratic and republican mem
bcrs being in the han, General Ruger sent stair
otllcer to the Speakers stand and notified Mr..
Wallace that tomorrow the democratic members
from Edgefcld and Laurens would not be permitted
on the floor OF the House. Whercupon the follow
ing spirited letter was sent to General Ruger:--
LETTER TO GENERAL RUGEI-
COLUMBIA, S. C., Nov 80, 1885,
General 7. II. RUGER, commanding United States
troops in South Carolina:-
DEAR SIR--We have just heard through Major
McGnnis OF your staif your order communicated
TO William Wallace Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
sentatves, that at twelve O'Clock tomorrow the
members-elect from Edgcneld would not be allowed
npon the loor or the House.
To say that we are surprised at such an order, Of
ter the explanations and pledges made by you to
each one ofus, is to very mild language. When
.he outrage OF Tuesday last was committed by the
ylacing OF armed sennels at the door OF the House
ofRepresentatves, Of who decided upon the admission
Of members to their seats, and when the provisions
OF the constitution and the decision OF the Supreme
Court brought to your attention, you distinct
ly and warmly asserted again and again that your
orders were misunderstood that you did not intend
10 have sentinels at the door OF the hail. and That
you had not, and did not intend TO assume to
decide upon the legality of any mans seat
or upon his right to enter the hail. You were then
reminded by us that your guard received lnstruc-
tons from one Dennis, citizen and partisan OF
Governor Chamberlain, TO admit parties unnn his
own pass or 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 that such were not your
tcrs, anl were told by us that Notwithstanding
the perpetration of this inexpressible shame upon
free institutions and the rights OF the people,
the evils could still be remeded without violence or
bloodshcd by simple withdrawal of your guard
from the doors of the hall, and that a majority
OF votes decides all questions, in accordance with
law and the usage OF legislative bodies. You
stated that no troops should be at the door,
tcrfcrc, except there should occur a serious
disturbance OF the peace. You affirmed your
determination to exercise no supervisory control
whatever over the body or bodies claiming
to be the House OF Representatives All this oc
Cured on yesterday.
Gordon, you made the same assurances, and this
morning, after both bodies were assembled In the
hall, you assured General Hampton that under no
circumstances would you interfere except to keep
the peace.
What now can justly measure our astonishment
by yous There is no breach of the peace and no
prospect OF its disturbance. You had II officially
brought TO your knowledge that absolute good
humor prevails in that hall. We cannot refrain
from expressing the apprehension that the fact
that number OF leading republicans are
taking issue with the legality of the proceedings
by the republican House. has changed your views as
to your line Of duty. II is proper that we should
Say, in conclusion that we relied upon your honor
rs man and yonr character a soldier TO main.
lain your pledged position OF non-intervention.
The democratic members from Edgeneld ard
Laurens entitled to their seats by the Judgment
Of the Supreme Court of this State, and we have
advised them to remain In that hall until removed
by your troops that the issue may be made in this
centennial year OF American independence whether
we have a government OF law as construed by
courts, or centralized despotism whose only law
is force. Let the American people behold the spec
tace Of a brigadier general OF the army seated by
the side of Governor Chamberlain In room in the
State House and Issuing his orders to legislative
body peacefully assembled In one OF the original
commonwealths OF this Union.
Resp gsuily yours, j. B. GORDON.
WADE HAMPTON,
A. c. HASKELL.
These three gentlemen had been in conference
with General Ruger yesterday and to-day.
whetse, -.ssarism Is to be ne next issue not Is
serious question"
BOLD STROKE By THE DEMocRATs-AH
ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE OF RFPREsESTA-
rIvEs ErFEcrED-rwo HOUSES IN SESSION
IN ONE HALL-A SCENE OF CONFUSION AND
uPRoAR-uSAvArLABLE xrYoRTs AT CON-
PROMISE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CoLrxBIA, s. c., Nov 30 1s76
The members Of the democratic House, numbering
sixtv-sx which has bccn holding secret sessions IN