The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-29

Meeting of the Legislature-TheL nurens
and EdgefieId Democrats Prevented
From Entering by United States Troops
Democrats Withdraw in a Body.
COLUMBIA, Nov. 2S.-The Democratic mem.
bers of the House of Representatives met last
evening and decided to take possession of theiI
seats and hold them until elected by United
States troops, but subsequently abandoned this
plan under advice of Gen. Hampton and Sena-
tor Gordon. They decided not to resist the
slightest show of federal authority. District
Attorney Corbin, Judge Little and other lead.
ing Republicans were cl0seted in the room OF
the District Attorney and no one was allowed
admittance. The Republican members of the
legislature held a caucus, at which the state
canvassers were present.
AT midnight three companies of infantry
were marched into the state house and took up
their quarters there. No one was allowed to
enter unless on pass from Mr.. Jones, clerk of
the late House, or Mr.. Dennis, one of Cham
berlain's men. About 9 o'clock, Gen. Gordon
of Georgia and Gen. johnson of Virginia with
Messrs. Peck and Jeffreys, members of the
legislature, demanded admittance. The rotun-
da was filled with troops and arms stacked.
Members of the legislature exhibited certif-
Gates from the Supreme Court of their alectionn,
and the corporal of the guard refused them ad-
mission under orders of Dennis, who was
standing by. The Democratic members then
met in caucus. =. At about IL. 15 they proceeded
in body to demand admittance. La the mean
time Gen. Ruger changed the order so as to al.
to be member of the legislature. Under this
change of orders all members were
admitted slowly, on the corporal of the guard
examining their certificates. The members were
thus admitted to the state house.
After gaining admission TO the state house
they proceeded to the door of the House OF
Representatives with the delegation from
Edgefeld and Laurens at their head and de.
manded admission on cereificatef of election
taken from the records of the Supreme Court.
Six soldiers were ranged on either side of the
approach to the door with two officers in the
centre. Certificates of Edgefeld and Laurens
delegates being presented were decided invalid
by the doorkeeper, whereupon the entire body
of Democrats withdrew.
After retiring the Democrats assembled in
front of the state house, from the steps OF
which they read the following protest in the
presence of the military and citizens:
We, a majority of the members of the House
of Representatives of South Carolina elect, pro-
test against the refusal to admit us to the hall
of Representatives. We protest against the
illegality of the proceedings and especially
against the army of the United States being
placed for the purpose of their exclusion und Ell
the command Of one John B. Dennis, partner
of Gov. Chamberlain. We protest against
said Dennis instructions to admit no one to
the state house except upon his own pass or a
pass of o. A. Jones, formerly clerk of the
house, who may thus exclude all except his
own partisans and who by the Republican pro-
gramme is to organize said house. We have
presented ourselves with the judgment of the
highest court of South Carolina, certified to by
its clerk with the great seal of the court at
tached as our right to participate in the organi-
zatlon of said house. We are refused by order
of said Dennis admission to said hall except
upon his pass or the pass of said Jones, or the
certificate Of 81, E. Hayne, Secretary of State,
who is now under condemnation of said court
for refusal to issue certificates in accordance
with its judgment and mandate.
In protesting against the barefaced usurpa.
ton, this trampling on the law and constitu
ton of the State, this defiance of the highest
tribunal of the state. it is our purpose to offer
no resistance to this armed intervention, but
to make our solemn appeal to the American
people without distinction of party. Our ven
Grafton for law, our respect for the Supreme
blages forbid our.particpation IN such unpre-
cedented and revolutionary proceedings.
Signed by all the Democratic members, sixty
in number.
The Democrats then proceeded to the hall in
the Southern Life Insurance Company building
where caucus was held, which adjourned to
meet at p. M, at Carolina Hall.
The Republicans imm ediately proceeded to
organize, Fifty-nine members answered to
their names. Mr.. Jones, Clerk of the old
House declared fifty nine to be quorum, ard
E. N. M. Marley. and N. Meyers. colored,
were nominated for Speaker. Markley on the
call of the roll received ffty-seven out of fifty
nine votes and was declared duly elected Speak
En- Markley took the chair. In explanation
of their proceedings it must be remembered
that the House, when full, consists of 124 mem
bers, and GO being a majority, are quorum for
the transaction of business. The Democrats,
including nine disputed members from Edge
field and Laurens, have GA members, and thu
Republicans only 60 when all their members
are present. The Democrats claim that 63 is
the lawful quorum, while the Republicans claim
that majority OF the members admitted by
the canvassers to be elected, viz, 115, is quo
rum, and with their SO votes have gone to
work.
Marley on taking his seat as Speaker, de-
livered a speech, and the 59smembers were then
sworn in, only one Representative being absent.
0. A. Jones, the former colored clerk, was re-
elected and sworn In. The House as now Or
ganized consists of five whites and 81 negoes.
COLUMBIA, Nov. 29.-The Democratic mem
bers, before they reached the door of the state
house building, surrendered all their private
arms. One of the Democratic members who
bore certificate of the board of canvassers
went into the hall and found the Republicans
already organized with speaker in the chair
and clerk at the desk.
He turned to the door and was refused egress
until he threatened prosecution for false inn
prisonment. VIM. I'll. Reddish, a prominent
Republican member, refuses to enter the hail
with federal bayonets at the door, and is now
acting with the Democrats.
Mr.. Reed, Republican, also withdrew.
During the excitement created by refusn
to admit Democrats an immense crowd had
enbled in front of the state house, when
the federal officers in charge approached Gen.
Hampton who was endeavoring to prevent the
crowd from pushing in. Gen. Hampton i'm
mediately appeared upon the front steps Of the
capitol and addressed the crowd as follows:
My Friends,-I am truly doing what L have
done earnestly during this whole exciting con-
test, pouring oil on troubled waters. 1t is OF
the greatest importance to all of us as citizens
of South Carolina, that peace should be pre-
served. l appeal to you all, white men and
colored, as Carolnians to use every effort to
keep down violence or turbulence. One act of
may precipitate bloodshed and desola-
ton. implore you then to preserve the
peace. l beg all of my friends to disperse, to
leave the grounds of the capitol, and l advise
all colored men to do the same. Keep perfect
ly quiet, leave the streets and do nothing to
promote riot. We trust to law and the const-
tuition and we have perfect faith in the justice
Of our cause.