The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-12-07


COLUMBIA, November SQ.ElPI N ,1-The
Democratic house took peaceable posses
sion of the State Legislative Hall at their
regular hour of converting, eleven o'clock,
this morning. The Republican House
entered the hall at noon, the regular
hour of meeting, Both Speakers are on
the stand. Wallace (Dem.) is in the
Chair and Mackey (Rep) at the Clerks
desk. debate is progressing; Republi-
can members, Hamilton and Meyers, de-
nounce the action of the Republican
House as illegal and unconstitutional.
Everything is peaceable and good tenn
per prevails. Noperson is allowed in the
hall except members
The Utmost Good HumOr Prevails.
8 P. M-The situation is but little
changed at the State House, Good hui
NOR is manifested on both sides. Some
efforts are being made'to compromise,
which may result satisfactorily.
Extraordinary Conduct Of Gen. Ruger-Trouble
..f...l ..n.. Brewing, ..f frf.H.i. ..
Gen. Ruger has sent his staff officer to
the Speakers stand and notified the
Democratic Speaker Wallace that at noon
tomorrow Democratic members from
Edgefeld would not be permitted on the
floor of the House, l....,YYr.
la. THE REPLY, .OL s)
Upon receipt of that order the follow
ing letter was Immediately sent to Gen
Ruger :r f. lII .l 1ol l.p b, rl
,a J COLUMBIA, November 30 1867 \
TO Gen Rlger Commanding United States
uHIrOOps IN South Carolina; I.. Of Inu4
DEAR SR-We have Just heard through
Major McGinuis, of your staff, your or.
der communicated to Mr.. Wallace, Speak
er of the House of Representative that
at twelve O'Clock to morrow members
elect from Edgefeld would notbe allowed |
upon the floor of the House. To say that |
we are surprised at such an order after
explanations and pledges made to
each one of us is to use very mild |
language. When the outrage of last
Tuesday was committed by the plae,
ing of rmed sentnels at the door of the
House of Representatives who decided
upon the admission of members to their
seats, and when the provisions of the
Constitution and decision of the Supreme
Court were brought to your attention,
you distinctly and warmly asserted again
and again that your orders were msun-
derstood; that you did not intend to have
sentinels at the door of the Hall, and
that you had not and did not intend to
assume to decide upon the legality of
any mans seat, or upon his right to en-
ter the Hall. You were then reminded
by us that your guard received instruC.
tions from one Dennis citizen and par
tisan of Governor Chamberlain, to admit
parties upon his own pass or that of one
Jones, and had through armed f rces ex-
cluded all Democrats from the Hall until
the Republican organization was com. !
pleted. You assured US again that such
were not your orders. You were told by
us that Notwithstanding The perpetration
of this inexpressible shame upon our
free institutions and the rights of the
people, the evils could still be remedied
without any violence or bloodshed, by
the simple withdrawal Of your guard
from the doors of the Hall, and that II {
majority of votes decides all question in {
accordance with law and the usages of ,
Legislative bodies. You stated that no
troops should be at the door and that
under no circumstances would you inter-
fere except there should occur a serious S
Of the peace. You affirmed q
your determination to exercise no super
visory control over the body or bodies
claiming to be the House of Representa- t
ives. All this occurred on Yesterday. i
Last night, in a later interview with
Senator Gordon, you gave the same as
Jurances, and this morning, after both {
bodies were assembled in the Hall, you G
assured Gen. Hampton, that under no e
would you interfere ex- n
,ept to keep the peace. What now can
Justly measure our astonishment at the
ssuance of such an order as the one Just Q
ent by you. There is no breach of the a
)eaCe and no prospect of its disturbance. r
You had it officially brought to your =
that absolute good humor y
prevails in the Hail. We cannot refrain y
rom expressing apprehension that the
act that number of leading Republi- +
ans are taking issue with the legality of 6
he proceedings ofthe Republican House h
las changed your viewsa to your line 4
# duty. 1t is proper that we should say a
n conclusion that we relied upon your !,
lonor as a man and your character as a N
older to maintain your pledged position .
# non-intervention. The Democratic h
members from Edgefield and Lanrens =
re entitled to their seats by the judge- h
nent of the Supreme Court of this State !,
nd we have advised them to remain in Z
hat hall until removed by your troopJ. r.
That issue may be made in this Centen. N
lial year of American Independence, y
whether we have Government of law "
IS constr led by the courts or central Il
zed despotism whose only law is force. ii
Let the American people behold the n
spectacle ofa Brigader General ofthe ar =
ny, seated by the side of Governor Cham q
Derlain in room ofthe State House and :;
ssuing his orders to a Legislative body -
peacefully assembled in one of the orig g,
nal thirteen Commenwealths of this r
Union. Respectfully yours, y
j. B. GORDON, n a
WADE HAMPTON, u
-. g.u.,d4 ry A. c. HASKELL. ,,
The three named persons above had i,