The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-02
[7elegrophed to the Rock Island Argus.l
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Communications With the
President.
A Cabinet Meeting,
The Administration Asked to Keep its
Hands om the State.
In Order That Peaceable Solution
May be Had.
The Cabinet Divided on the Subject.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The following
TELEGRAM was received by the president, at
late hour Thursday night, viz:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov 80 1876
The Democratic members of the lower
house, 65 in number, met quietly in the
hall to day with their speaker in the char.
The Republicans, SO 10 number, also
assembled there and placed their speaker
at the desk Gen. Ruger proposes to take
out of the house eight members duly
elected holding certificates from the
supreme court. The house is the sole
Judge of the qualification of its members.
We propose to leave the question to the
house. These members will remain until
expelled by force, but we earnestly desire
a peaceful solution. The legislature will
not interfere with the presidential electoral
vote. We ask only constitutional legis-
lature peaceably assembled for the good of
the state.
Very respect'y your obedient serv't,
ISignedl WADE HAMPTON.
L.Q. G. Lamar, yesterday, received a
telegram from Senator j. B. Gordon and
Gen. Hampton, urging him to have the
president and his cabinet waited upon i'm
mediately by their friends, stating that
absolute peace prevails in Columbia and
in the house where both branches we're in
session and that Republicans were Joining
them.
The president, referring to statement
made by Senator Gordon and Wade
Ham pton, wherein they charged that Gen
kuger had made pledges to them in re-
gard to an interference Of military at the
meeting of the South Carolina legislature
which he had failed to keep, said he was
satisfied that General Ruger had done nc
such thing. He knew that General well;
he was gallant soldier, high toned
honorable man, and would scorn to do &
mean act, under any circumstance
10 regard to the oft-repeated charge
that the administration had used the mill
tary to interfere in the affairs of the south
ern states to an extent unwarrauted by
law, the president said the charge was no
sustained by the facts. The commanding
officers at all military posts at the souti
were at all time instructed simply to sus
tain the legal constituted authorities anC
preserve the peace, When the military
had gone further it has been clearly showl
to be misconception of orders and the ac
had been promptly disavowed by superio
authority.
10 regard to interference in election
there is not single instance on recor'
where the presence of the military had in
tlmldated a single voter. On the contrar
it had been CLEARLY shown that both i
! South Carolina and Louisiana the presenc
: of the military enabled all colored people
who wished to do so. to vote the Democrat
ticket No doubt but what all the ques
4 tions growing out of the presidential COZ
test will be peacefully adjusted; that th
counsels OF good and patriotic men in bot
parties will prevail
In a telegram received Yesterday sroI
Gen. Ruger, asking for further instru
tions IN regard to any further action on b
part towards the rival legislatures, I'll
! cabinet we're divided several member
advocating the sending of Instructions
% Gen. Ruger 10 oust the eight member
who hold certificates of election from tt
supreme court, while otter members co
: tended that the government had l
right to go that extent, tn
te it was the duty of the federal go'
iie ernment to simply sustain the legally co
s. stituted authorities and preserve the peac
e In this view the president agreed and
E, was so decided After the adjournment
the cabinet a telegram was sent to Ge
Ruger, announcing that his explanation
~ the action of the military on Tuesday Ia
was satisfactory and that his course W
nu fully approved, aud there was nosneeess
for any additional official action by t
sir government at present.