The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-01
- I7EF.as7.-l - 7777717s-77 :
j k0,tsn Carolina.

ArEoTEsT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S.
The following protest, signed by all the
Democratic senator's was entered upon the
records Of the Senate in accordance with
notice given =: ..a safass Az
We, the undersigned, senators Of the State
Of South Carolina, beg leave to place upon
record this our solemn protest against pro-
ceedings by this body whichsin any degree
recognize or propose to recognize the legal
ity Of the body calling itself the House Of
Representatives OF South Carolina. over
which E. e. NJ. Msckep claims to preside as
Speaker. which met on the 28th instant aud
claimed to organize in the ball OF Represen-
tatires. The Constitution of South Carolina
makes each House the Judge of the election
returns and qualifications Of its own men,
bers.
The Supreme Court OF the State has ty
formal Judgment decided that members
from the counties Of Edgefield and Laurens
who received the highest number Of votes
were entitled to seats. These members have
been refused admission to the hall and par
ticipaiion in Organization by armed soldiers
OF the United States, who barred with bayo-
nets the door OF the hall of Representatives
! snd acted as Judges of the election returns
and qualification Of its members. We have
seen armed forces OF the United States over
riding the plain declaration OF the Consti-
tuition of the State; we have witnessed the
solemn mockery OF a corporal OF the guard
reviewing and reversing. the Judgment of
the highest court; We have seen the
spectacle, humiliating to the last degree to
every risht-minded American. of the halls
of legislation occupied at the hour OF mid
night. and holding them against the ingress
Of the law.makihg powers; and this at u
time Of profound peace, where not single
act Of violence furnished the slightest pre-
text for usurpation. We have seen q still
! more humiliating spectacle: United States
troops placed under the immediate con-
troll and receiving orders from a citi-
zen without authority and partisan Of
the party i'll power. We have seen
this citizen assuming absolute control
OF the capitol of the Commonwealth,
aud admitting through the lines OF armed
sentinels OF his own partisans upoh his own
| edct or written pass from one Jones, an
other citizen Who was selected by these
partisaus 10 organize the House OF Repre-
scntatives. We have seen this body Of par
tisanS thus admitted claiming to organize
without a quorum, in violation OF law, in
defiance OF the Supreme Court, and under
protection OF United States troopa. We
| tnereloTC!enttF tnls our ploIest oS,'ins @u5
recognition OF said body pretending to be
the House of Representatives OF the State
Of South Carolina, and for the following
| reasons:
Said body having organized without a
constitutional quorum, there being but So
members present, IS shown by its own jour-
nal, whereas majority OF entire represent
alton is requisite to q quoruln-to wit: 81
members as set forth in the Journals OF the
House during the past eight years, and as
confirmed by immemorisl practice in Iegisla-
tive bodies in every American State; and
we do further aliege, on our own RESPONSE
bility as senator's, that said body is still
without constitutional quorum, and there
| fore wanting in the organic character Of
the House OF Representatives Of South Caro-
lima, and ought not to be recognized as
| surb