New-York tribune., 1876-12-16
so. CAROLINA LEGISLATURE.
i. LETTER FROM GOV CHAMBERLAIN.

|
| To the Editor Of the Tribune
SIR: should make unworthy use of your per-
mission 20 reply TO Senator Gordons last dispatch If
did not cOnfino myself to such matters clearly
affect the merits of the issues now presented to the
country by recent events here. The temptation to
rctort is great, but put it aside and say:
First: Senator Gordon says that his com
! plaint IS not against the direct action of army
officers here but against the placing OF the army
under my control and that of Dennis. trust this
admission will be noted by the public and contrasted
with the letter 10 Gen. Ruger of Dec. signed
| by ]. b. Gordon, Wade Hampton, and A. G.. Haskell,
! in which Gen. Ruger is assaled in unmeasured terms
personally and officially and his direct action de-
| nounced as personally dshonorable and officially
tyrannica Tho writers of that letter did not then
relieve Gen. Rnger of responsibility by putting 1t
! upon me and my confederate. But Senator Gordons
last refuge fails when the fact is stated
n fact which / here challenge Senator
| Gordon and his confederates to dsprove in any
partcular-that no United States troops have at any
| time been placed under my control or that OF any
other persons than the proper officers of the army
Gen. Ringer has acted wholly independently of me
and upon his own Judgment and responsibility as an
ocer and it is certainly time that any pretense TO
| the contrary be withdrawn or proved
| Ssoond: NV information as to the design of the
Deroocrats TO take forcible possession OF the halls
of the Legislature prior to the hour for assembling
! on Now 81 was received from members OF the rlhe
| clubs here. Whether this information was correct
mr. not Senator Gordon doubtless knows better than
| do. But repeat that my information was direct
| abundant and worthy Of belief L will add that
events which have since taken place confirm mo IN
the opinion that such design was formed ana
matured. -.
Jsird: Senator Gordon seeks to throw dlscredit
q hat offac
available for the protection of the State Govern
ment by declaring that have control OF all the Of
dinary lawful agencies for enforcing the laws;
| and he considers my statement q suggestive
| ocknowledQment. 1t is indeed suggestive. IL
| ia suggcstiye of the fact that there exist
| hers agencies outside the law, organized
| and equipped armed and differed, too powerful TO
| be resisted by any lawful force at my command
| The Republicans here rely upon the law so COM
pletely have they relied upon the law that they are
now without the means OF resisting OF
| overcoming the unlawful agencies when
| threaten them. Neither Senator GOrdon nor
| any man acquainted with the 1acis douDts
! that the State Government is unable to protect
itself against tho force now acting IN opposition TO
il here. What thcni Does this impair the validity
of tho State Government it's right to be proteeted1
| When Senator Gordon asserts that Gen. Hamp-
| tnn can keep the peace with no force eX-
| cent the civil tribunals and public opinion,
! he simply asserts that the Repuoicans
here are law-abiding aud peaceful; and when on
the other hand he asserts that with all the Lawful
| agencies on my side 1 cannot keep the peace he
asserts what is true; that the Democrats are not
law-abiding and if left to their own Will would
! break the peace and overthrow the law. lhls is
correct picture of the relations OF the TWO
parties here.
/ II. Iaafra IN ron
under this head aro these First that no person hold
ing the certificate of the Secretary OF State or even
the certified copy II an order of the Supreme Court
failed 10 obtain admittance to the State House on
the 2sth of November; aud, second, that no person
| holding the certificate Of the Secretary OF state
| was refused admttance 20 tho hall OF the
! House OF Representatives. | repeat these state
ments in view OF what Senator Gordon now asserts
! There may have been delay in admitting persons
who applied until their right TO enter was ascer'
| taned but nothing more 1t was q precantlon
necessary 10 the public peace and the peaceful
! organization of the Legislature that persons not
! having official business in the State House
should be excluded on that day. and it was n pre-
caution necessary to the end that only persons
declared elected by tho State canyassers should be
| admitted TO the hall of the House Of Represent
| atiyes. Tho former order WAS issued by me
| and enforced by Cen Dennis rs my Oihcer,
| ard the latter was issued by Mr. jones'
| the clerk of the former House, anu
enforced by the officers of the House under his con-
| troll The exclusion Of Democratic members was
self-imposcd They chose to retire because persons
| not entitled to admtta were not admitted with
| Them. This is the exact statement OF the whole
| case and we stand upon II.
| FTnh: Senator Gordon seeks TO divert attention
! from the real issue and to represent the RepuOi-
! cans here as acting against the judgment oi our
| State Supreme Court well as the United states
! Supreme Court. He will not succeed. We say
that tbe only power competent to declare the cleo
tons was the board OF State canyasses and no court
has decided otherwise Senator Gordon is stranger
herr He is not familiar with the decisions of our Sn
preme Court This is not his fault perhaps, but 1t Is
certainly his misfortune when he comes forward to
rouo this case before the country. lie represents
our Supreme Court as declaring nearly three years
oyo that the county canvasscrs returns were suil-
cent sufficient for what purpose Ito cnttie per-
son to take his seat iii the General Assembly, lie
| means this his reference Is pOlntleSS' but
| our Supreme Court has never decided that county
canyasscrs returns sufficient to entitle person
| 20 = s,at in the General Assembly. Nor have they
made any decision equivalent to tins. Senator Tor
don incidentally be,rays his want of familiarity
tt, the decisions of our Supreme Court IN express
in Lis belief that none of its decisions have ever
been reversed on appeal to the supreme COurtol tue
limited States. In this he ia mistaken, but IL IL
a mistake of little Importance compared win TIE
/ error into which lie tails when no uhdertaNeS 10
r.fer to the decision of our Supreme Court Oh the
subject of q Legislative quorum lie says that thiS
CONT decided in a case not political, and when
the court aud Gov. chamberlain were Ill
accord. that a majority of ia members
J 4 nd uOtn IN o..