The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-02
From the Ne1C York Herald, 29th.
AT COLUMBIA YESTERDAY.


We congratulate the country that the
exciting day at the capital of South Caro-
lima yesterday passed without any breach
OF the peace. Whatever there may be of
shame or reproach connected with the ex-
traordiuary proceedings at Columbia does
not lie at the door of Wade Hampton and
his supporters. We doubt if the citizens
of New York or Massachusetts, would have
gone through similar trial with equal
credit. If, 10 a contested election, when
both parties claimed the Legislature of this
state, federal troops had beer stationed at
Albany; if the soldiers had taken posses
sion OF the state house at midnight pre-
ceding the day when the legislature is re-
CURED to meet; it they had barred the
entrance OF members claimed to have been
elected by one political party: if they had
thus given the organization of the legisla-
ture 70 party which had to strain the
law to give it the false appearance of a
quorum, we doubt if the citizens of New
York would have been as patient, as for
bearing, as self.coDtrolled as the citizens
OF South Carolina showed themselves to be
yesterday when federal bayonets hedged
the passage to the legislative hall against
persons who had at least a colorado claim
70 take part in the proceedings.
The bearing of South Carolina citizens
in the great trial to which they were sub
lected yesterday was admirable. There
has never been a more critical and danger
GUS coDjuDcture in the history of Amer
lean politics. The whole country
had its attention fixed on the proceedings
at Columbia and there was a great strain
OF anxiety and apprehension lest scenes of
of violence and bloodshed should set the
whole country on fire and inaugurate
new civil war. Public passions are in so
intammable state that mere spark might
have kiDdled confagration of which the
consequences would haye been appalling.
Happily no spark fell into the dry finder,
and we felicitate the country that the point
of danger is passed
The credit OF preserving the peace at
Columbia yesterday is due to General
Wade Hampton.the Democratic candidate
Tor governor. He had only to lift a
hnger, he had only to signify the slightest
assent, aud the State House would have
been rescued from the federal soldiers
and his supporters could have controlled
the organization of the legislature. The
federal troops we're only three hundred,
and there were at least eight thousand
Democrats present in Columbia accustom
ed to the use of arms, with arms probably
upon thelrs persons, who could have
crumpled and annihilated the small federal
force had they given way to their iudig-
nation and their sense of wrong. 1t ia
fortunate that they have leader so strong,
SO sagaclous, so self-poised and so thor.
oughly trusted as Wade Hampton. He per-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the situation, and if we
may Judge by his conduct yesterday, he
Will make no mistakes. There was danger
at one critical moment that the excited
citizens might press their way into the
state House in spitelof the federal soldiers,
but General Hampton came forward and
made speech to the incensed multitude
which Gained their passions and caused
them peaceably to dispense. His
supporters have too much confidence in
him to do anything against his wishes, and
he understands the situation too well to
permit any resort to violence. He is too
clear sighted and cautious to give the Re.
publlcans such an advantage, and we are
encouraged to hope that this difficulty will
be settled by peaceful methods.
1t is clear enough that the use made sof
the federal troops yesterday was without
any constitutional warrant. At the very
utmost inere is thing which they could
legally da beyond the preservation of the
local pcar t.nt they undertook to de-
eide what G'eu.h, ~ are entitled to seats in
STATE i,A'sistHrr. They assumed to
overrUF he Judgement of the supreme
court OF Iha stare aud 10 decide that claim
ants to seats snouid got appear to presen,
their claims. There is no federal law
which authorizes this kind of interference
The constitution and laws VI South Caro-.
lima make this legislature itself the sole
ludRe OF the election of it's own meuiLers
and their titles to seats But the federal
troops took the question out Of their hands
and decided in advance that Democratic
members should not only be excluded
from seats, but that they should not even