Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-02
The Situation.
5 OUTH CAL 0 L | n A.

lu-tC q q Aub "LSiiOh "a hNN
terday, and the session continued Tor more
than .hree hours. The principal question dis
cussel related to events now occurring IN Co-
lumbia, based 90 a telegram received from Gen.
Ruger, OF which the following is an extract
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. |, 1876.
Gen. W I. Sherman. or the Secretary Of
Var, Washington, u. t.:
have carefully abstalned from interference
with the organ zltion Of the House from the
first. On the application OF the Governor, and
my own belief for the necessity therefor for
the preservation OF The peace, l placed troops
10 the State House, but Dot in the rooms OF
the assembly of either Of the Houses, on tbs
day of the meeting 1t cam about that Tor a
tine soldiers We're placed on either sthe OF the
iuor at the cUtrance 70 the Hall of Represen
~tatiVes, uUder the following circumstances: 4
person at the door OF the House, aud whi
claimed authority to examine the certificates of
those claiming to be members prior to atmls
sion to the hail, but wio, | think, had no legal
authority for so doing, applied 10 the officer III
command OF the troops placed 10 the Corridor
irc tie preservation oi peace, Tor asstsianc",
on the ground that me vas belng pressed upon
aud could oot perform his duty. The soldiers
& b.oSoN =" = Nh''o - ES'' oH = -" 49,.
lnioi med Of the circumstances. | ord red tn!
soldiers withdraWn, as [ bad previously III
formed Governor Chamberlain that | should
CO. fine my action to the preservation of the
prace, aud should do nothing with reference 10
keeping the doors of the rooms of meeting OF
be Houses or the rooms themselves, unless IT
| Decame necessary because OF u breach OF the
| peace which the civil officers of The Houses
| should be unable to restore. No act Was done
| by the soldiers except that OF the presence as
stated, but whilst they were so present per-
sons claiming the right OF entrance uuder Ger.
ti6cate OF the clerk Of the Supreme Court were
refused admission.
iSiyoed y THos. H. RUGER,
Commanding Department.
Another telegram was received from Geo.
| Ruver, asking Tor further ins! ructlous 10 re-
| gard to any further action on his part toward
| the rival Legislatures. On this question, it is
| understood, the Cabinet were divided, several
members advocating the sending OF Instructions
to Gen. Rugcr TO GUST The eight member, VINO
| hold certificates of election from the Supreme
| Court, willie other members contcDded that
| he Government had no right to that exIeut:
J that 1t was the duty of the Federal Govern.
meut to simply sustain the legally constituted
authorities anG preserve toe peace. Alter the
disbursement of tie Cabinet a telegram was
seut Gen. Ruger. announcing that his expla-
satiou of the ac,loD OF The military 90 Tuesday
last was satisfactory, aud that his c!urs, Was
July approved, and giving hlm further lG
structioUs, the nature OF which is unknown.
lhe following telegram, received by the Pres
ident at a late hour Oh Thursday night, was
| read at Cabiaet meeting:
COLUMBIA S. G.. Nov. 80.
l n, L,,U,,, - /Irunt tV,,H,,fan
Inc temvclatlc members u The Iowel tiouSs,
! sixty Eve 10 number, met quietly luth= hall 10
| day, with their Speaker III the chair. The re
uubiicans-itty ulne-aisp asse ID pled there and
placed their Speaker on the desk.
General Ruger proposes TO take out OF tte
| House eight members duly elected, holding
certificates from the Supreme Cour!.
The House is the srle judge OF tie quallhcS
| tlous OF lis members. We propose IL l'av.
| The question to the House.
These members Will remain unGl expelled by
force; but We earnestly desire a peaceful 80
luton.
iue LEGISLATURE will not Interfere with the
Presidential electoral vote. We ask only i
Constitutional Legislature, peaceably Assem-
bled, for the good OF The State. Very re-
| specially, your obedie0t ser9aut
WADE HAMPTON.
Reports prevail ia Washington of "a disagree
mcut in the Cabinet concerning South Carolina
affairs. occasioning much earneStness OF tx
preston, particularly, 1t is said, by Secretary
Fish opposing The Administrations policy 10
that State. aud ruuor says that the Secretary
coutemplates.. ...resiguation of his office.
The Washington correspondent OF tho Biitl
more Sun says:
"Mr. Fish, it is understood, did not concur
with the extreme views of the President, and
indicated his entire dissent from the propriety
Of the military interference With the Leglsla.
,ure. The result appears tn be that such mod.
lied orders were sent to Gen. Ruger as ueed
uot be coustru,d to warrant his Interference
uuless 10 case OF violence. MIR. Lamar received
this evening a telegram from Geo. Hampton
and Senator Gordon requesting him TO Inform
the President that both democrats and repub
licans In the Legislature desired non. ~iuterter-
euce OF the military, aud asked that they be So
Instructed. Mr.. Lamar showed the telegram
TO Secretary FISH, who Informed him that nr-
dcrs had already been sent to that effect. Mr..
Fish also said that Gen. Ruger never had oecu
! instructed to interfere with the organization OF
the L giSlature. This Indicates that the same
excuse will be made as 10 The Louisiana case.
namely, that be military acted Without orders.
In connection with this So; ct rumO:s were
circulated tonight that Secretary Fish bad re-
.iguel on acc ,uat Of Dissatisfaction with the
course of the President, but there appears TO
be no gvod lcuuda,ion Tor the rumors. Much
speculation is INDUCED 10 as to the causes
watch have iuduceu this unexpected back
d,wp. BIZ some it Is ascribed 10 pressure
which it IS alleged has been brought TO bear
from Influential republicans 10 the n rth.
Others say that il has been concluded 10 a0an.
don Chamberlain uow that the Hayes electors
are secured. But it Chamberlain goes by the
board, az he assuredly will if the government
keeps its hands fl, the Hayes electors will be-
ap. TO follow suit"
The situation in Columbia, up to a late hour
last night, was unchanged from that stated in
y Yesterdays Caste, though a proposition was
signed by the TWO SPEAKERS to adjoura the
respective Houses simultaneously, to meet to-
day at II u. with the status Of each uu
chanyed This Is to take IF ct immediately,
provided Gen. Ruger will agree. Ruger re-