The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-12-14
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. IL, 1876.

labor to perform by the members since
the assembling of the Legislature, that I
have not found it possible before this to-
fulfill my promise, and even now find
it difficult to know what to write, fearing
that may Inadvertently write something
which at this particular time should not
be written.
As you are aware, the Democratic
members were summoned several days
before the time appointed by law for the
Assembly to meet. Every member WAS
present on Monday night Gen. Hamp-
ton and his faithful aids had plans ar
ranged for US to pursue, which plans were
submitted and approved by caucus Of
all the members on that night. Tuesday,
in pursuance to the plans adopted by the
caucus the night before, the Democratic
members of the House and Senate, with
the Edgcfield and Laurens delegation at
the head, all marched two and two to the
door of the Capitol The United States
scnsinels stopped us, refusing to admit
the Edgcfeld and Laurens members
upon the Supreme Court certificates.
Thereupon Mr.. Sheppard turned to the
vast assembly Of blacks and whites and
started to read a protest also adopted by
the caucus the night before. At this Den
mis-, who WAS Chamberlain's agent, roared
out that we were not prevented and could
proceed. The Lieutenant then demand
ed our certificates Of election and our
arms and allowed US to proceed to the
door of the Hall of Representatives. At
this point we were halted by a half
dozen Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, by
whom appointed we could not tell.
These kind of men could not have stopped
us and we would have gone on, but al
most immediately as we reached the door
squad of soldiers were hurried to the
spot, and at once placed themselves be-
tween us and the door. Gen. Hampton,
who was present, asked the Lieutenant
in command if he intended to prevent
the members of the Legislature from en-
tering their Hall. He replied he would
suffer none to enter upon the certificates
of the Supreme Court. Gen. Hampton
then said-Gentlemen, in my judgment
nothing is left for you but to retire. Inn
mediately the column about faced and
retired to the Carolina Hall, and there
organized the Lower House of Represen-
tatives. The Democrats had a majority
in the House, and had they been permit
ted to participate in the organization of
the House, could have elected Speaker
and controlled the counting of the cleo
toral vote and the vote for Governor.
Thus you see at once why such stringent
measures were adopted to keep us out.'
But it was not intended to keep US out
altogether. Let me explain, for their
plans were more damnable even than
their after acts. The Radicals assembled
in the Hall early in the morning, but the
Democrats could not assemble, being pre-
vented by force offered by United States
troops from so doing. Mr.. Orr and others
desired admittance of the Sentinels at a
few minutes to 9 o'clock, and had the
door rudely slammed in their faces. Now
the Radicals all assembled, the troops
were to interfere with and prevent us
from entering the Hall until after the
hour fixed by law for the House to or
ganize. While we were held outside the
hour arrived, the Radicals called one of
their number to the chair, but not having
quorum they could not proceed until
some of our men were let in. AS soon as
this could have been accomplished the
House was to organize, and before we all
could have been admitted by the slow
process of admission the Edge6eld and
Laurens delegations were to have been
voted out, and thus the Radicals would
have had majority in both branches of
the Assembly, and could have controlled
everything. The point to be observed
here is that the military acted in concert
with the low tricks of the Radical party,
and did not observe that impartiality
which is claimed for them by the admin
istration at Washington. The constitu-
tion fixes quorum at one more than half
!of the entire number (124) of members,
which would be sixty-three. We had
sixty-three in our House and the Radi-
Gals had ffty-nine, which of course was
not a quorum, but as it was one more
than half of the whole number elected,
(they claiming that the Edgefield and
Laurens delegations were not elected,
they claimed to have constitutional
quorum, and upon that theory based all
their subsequent actions. Our body
alone having a constitutional quorum,
and having organized by electing Wal
lace, of Union, Speaker, and Sloan, of
Richland, Clerk, message was sent To
the Senate notifying that body that we
were prepared for business. The Senate
refused to recognize Us, and even refused
to allow our message tn br read. We'd
n."... y ',.;i;'!....:; "'ht I"o. i"ur'l"y
il, j .:'c.oc:. nuI Louise ais; again. A lew
minutes after several gentlemen entered
our Hall and stated that they we're in-
formed by Gen. Ruger himself that if we
would go peaccably to the Hall of Repre-
sentativcs the troops would not interfere
with US. Immediately thereupon it was
determined to proceed by devious routes
and in squads of twos and threes to the
Capitol. Gen. Haskell Gen. Bratton,