The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-11-29
TAE Coup a'Eiat.

COLUMBIA, $. c., November 2S.--The
Democrats proceeded to the door Of
the hall, headed by the Edgefeld and
Laurens delegations. Six soldiers on
either side guarded the entrance, In
which two officers stood. The certltl-
Gates of the Edgefeld and Laurens
members were presented and decided
invalid by the door.keepers, when the
Democrats all retired and assembled
In front Of the State House, from the
front steps OF which the following was
read In the presence of the military
and citizens Of Columbia;
ave, IA majority OF the member of
the House OF Representatives OF South
Carolina elected, protest against tho
refusal to admit us to the Hall OF Rep.
resentatives, We protest against the
military power OF the United States
barring the passage into tho State
House Of members elect OF the Legis-
latute, We protest against the ille-
gality of these proceedings, aud especi.
ally against the army Of the United
States being placed for the purpose OF
this exclusion under the command of
one John b. Dennis, a partisan Of
Governor Chamberlain. We protest
against said Dennis instructions to
tho guard to admit no one to the State
House except upon his own pass, or
the pass OF a, G. Jones, former Clerk
of the House, who may thus exclude
all except his own partisans, who by
the Republican programme are
to organize the said House.
We have presented ourselves with
the Judgment of the highest
court 0fSouth Carolina, certified to by
Its clerk, With the great seal OF tho
court attached, rs to our right to par
tlcipate in the organization Of said
house, and we are refused by orders
OF said Dennis admission to said hall,
except on his or the pass Of a. 9. Jones
or the certificate of IL. r. Hagen, Sec
rotary of State, who Is now under con.
demnation of said court for refusal to
issue certificates in accordance with
its Judgment and mandate, on pro-
testing against this barefaced usurpa
tion--this trampling Oh the laws and
constitution Of tho State, this defiance
Of the highest tribunal of the State. IL |
is our purpose TO offer no resistance to
this armed intervention, but to make
our solemn appeal 10 the American
people, without distinction of party.
Our respect for the Supreme Court
and usages of all legislative assem-.
blages forbids our participation in UNI
precedented and revolutionary pro.
ceediugs,n
The document was signed by all the
Democratic members, sixty four In
number, who then proceeded TO the
hall over the Southern Insurance
building, where a caucus
was held which adjourned to meet at
3 p. M, at Barolina Hall.
The Democratic members who were
allowed In the State house before,
were requested to surrender their pri-
Vate arms, which were promptly given
lp, but were again stopped Mt the hall
loor. The Republican mem bers were
not quest oned regarding their arms.
A Democrat bore u certificate from
.he Board Of Canvassers who entered
and found the Republicans already or
,anized with speaker In the chair,
md clerk at the desk. He retired
oward the door, and was refused
'gress whereupou he threatened the
with prosecution with false
Mr.. Reddish, q Re-
publican member, refuses to enter the
lall with federal bay0nets at the door.
Mr.. Reddish is now acting with the
Democrats. An immense crowd gath.
red around federal officer, and ask
% him II General Hampton was In
he State house, and to prevent the
,rowd from pressing in. Hampton APP J
Deared on the front steps and ad-
dressed the crowd ss follows: "My {
friends am truly doing what / have I
Deen doing during this exciting con- I
est, pouring oil on the troubled wa
.ers. 1t is Of the greatest importance to
~ all, as citizens of South Carolina, {
hat peace be preserved. 1 appeal to {
you all, white and colored, as Carroll. I
iians, to use every effort to keap down
,iolence or turbulence--an net of VIC. ,
ence may precipitate bloodshed. ,
mplore you to preserve peace, and beg I
III my friends to dispense and leave
he grounds Of the capital and l also
dvise the colored men to do the same
o keep perfectly quiet, leave the
treets, AMI do nothing to provoke riot,
We must trust to the law and the Con-
titution. We have perfect faith IN
he justice Of our cause.n
The whites Immediately dispersed.
md were followed by u great many
olored people.