The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-28

A MIDNIGHT DEED OF DARK
NESS.
FEDERAL TROOPS TAKE POSSESSION
OF TIE SOUTH HCARoLINA STATE
HOUSE.
A RUMP LEGIS-
LATURE.
Composed of54 Negroes and 8 Whites.
Kept in Place by the u. s. Army.
Members Elected by the People Refused
Admittance.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.

Columbia, S. c., despatch says General
Ruger arrived there at ten o'clock last
night and at midnight three companies of
U. S. infantry were quartered in the state
house.
The Democratic members of the legis>I
lature held caucus yesterday and last
night to select candidates for speaker and
other officers.
CHARLESTON, s. c.. Nov. 2S.-At mid
night the state house in Columbia was
occupied by federal troops who camped
in the rotounda aud kept the doors barred. |
This morning a Gordon of sentinels was
| formed around the building and admit
tance denied to all except those having
passes from Gov Chamberlain private
crowded with people from all parts of the
state. Quiet reigns, but the excitement
is intense.
COLUMBIA, s. O.Nov 2S.-There is excite
ment here to- day. U. S. troops have pos
session of the state house and have re-
fused admission to the Edgefeld and
Laurens delegation. A pass was necessary
to secure admittance to the state house
this morning.
About o'clock Senator Gordon, from
Georgia, and Gen'l johnson, state senator,
of Virginia, with Messrs Peck and jeff
cry, members of the legislature, demand
ed admittance to the state house. The
rotonda was filled with troops and arms
stacked around Washington statue. The
members of the legislature exhibited their
certificates from the supreme court, OF
their election, and the corporal of guard
refused them admittance, under orders Of
Dennis, ex-supt of the penitentiary, who
was standing by. The Democratic mem
bers then metin caucus at about II: rs and
proceeded in body to demand admit
tance In the meantime General Hemp
ton had an interview with Gen. Ruger who
then changed the orders so as to allow any
one to pass sentinels who claimed to be
, elected members of the legislature
Under this change of orders all members
are now being admitted slowly, as the cor
! poral sof guard examines their creden-
! tials. Members are thus admitted to the
! state house but not to the hall OF the ser
ate or the house of representatives.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov. 2S.-The Dem
ocratic members of the house, after gain
ing admission to the state house proceeded
to the door of the house of representatives
with the delegation from EdgefelG and
Laurens at their head and demanded ad-
mission on certificates of election taken
I from the record of the supreme court
Six soldiers were ranged on either side OF
the approach to the door with two officers
in the centre. The certificates Of the
Edgeheld and Laurens delegates being
presented were decided invalid by the
dOorkeeperS whereupOn the entire Ecdy oil
Democrats withdrew. They assembled in
4 front of the state house from the steps Of
which the following protest was read, il
the presence of the military and citizens.
: : COLUMBIA, S. c., Noy. 2S.-We, ma
Ijority of the members of the house of rep
resentatives of South Carolina elect, pro
test against the refusal to admit US to the
e house of representatives.
le We protest against the military power
s. of the United States barring the passage
&c into the state house, of members elect o
G, the legislature.
We protest against the legality of tn
proceeding and especially against the arm,
r. of the United States being placed for tn
purpose of this exclusion under the CON
ID mand of one John B. Dennis, a partisan o
Coy Chamberlain.
ir We protest against said Dennis's in
e e tructions to the guard to admit no on
w to the state house except on his own pas
or the pass Of A o. Jones. a forme
= clerk of the house, who may thus exclud
all except his own partlsans and who, b.
the Republican programme, is to organ
lze said house.
' We have presented ourselves with tn
}. Judgement Of the highest court Of Sout
ed Carolina, certified to by its clerk with tn
great seal of the court attached, as to GU
right to participate in the organization o
to the state legislature.
'e, We are refused by orders
Of said Dennis admission to said hall ex
cept upon his pass or the pass of sal
rs Jones, or the certificate of FL G. Hayne
" secretary of state, who is now under COZ
demnation of said court for refusal to issu
certificates In accordance with its Judge
ment and mandate.
n In protesting against this bareface
" usurption, this trampliDg on the laws an
4 constitution of the state, this defiance
q the highest tribunal of the state, it is OF
purpose to offer no resistance to this arme
70 Intervention, but to make our solemn az
es. peal to the American people. without di
oe tinction Of party Our veneration for Law
r our respect for the supreme court and tt
10. usages of all legislative assemblages fo
bid our participation in such an unprec
dented and revolutionary proceeding.
n Signed by all the Democratic member
f 64 in number.
wi The Democrats then proceeded to ii
u hall over the Office of the Southern Lii
:. Insurance Co.'S. building. where eaucu
s was held which adjourned to meet at
N. P, NJ. at Carolina hail. The Demt
'0 cratic members from Edgeiei
r and Laurens counties having been refuse
no. admittance to the hall of the house
Representatives.
Il The Republicans Immediately proceedt
n to organize Fifty-nine members answere
II to their names. Mr.. Jones, clerk of IL
Us old house, declared SO to be quorum, an
L. W. M. Mackey and N. Meyers, colore
nd. were nominated for speaker. No Dem
ky cratic members having yet come into Il
aqs ad house. Mackey on call of the roll, receiye
uli 81 out of SO votes, and was declared Il
!, Of duly elected speaker.
are The Democrats have retired and Macki
in has taken the chair.
,sl. ms. 10 explanation of these proceedings
ie- must be remembered that the house, whit
md F,.u oa2eses &c 0d o,,, hors and 80 hotY