Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-02
Grant Talks About the
Constitution and De-
tends His Course.
The Cabinet Divided and the Eight
Democrats Not to be 0usted.
Usurpsrs Alarmed and Afraid Of the
Popular Verdict,

lowing telegram was received by the
President at a late hour Thursday night:
COLUMBIA, 8. c., November 80.
To His Excellency U. s. Grant, Washington:
The Democratic members of the lower
house, sixty-fve in number, met quietly
in their ball to-day, with their speaker in
the chair. The Republicans, fifty nine,
also assembled there and placed their
speaker in the desk. General Ruger
proposes to take out of the House eight
members duly elected and holding GER
t~iicstes from the Supreme Court. The
Bouse is sole Judge of the qualification
Of its members. We propose TO leave
the question to the House. These mem
bers will remain until expelled by force,
but we earnestly desire a peaceful selu-
ton. The Legislature will not interfere
with the Presidential electoral vote. We
ask only constitutional pledges to them
in regard TO non.interference Of the
military with the meeting of the Legisla-
ture p~eaceably assembled for the good
Of tHe State. Very respectfully your
obedient servant, WADE HAMPTON.
WASHINGTON, December 2.-Hon. l..
Q c. Lamar yesterday received q tele
gram rom Senator ]. B. Gordon and
General Wade Hampton urging him to
have the President and cabinet waited
on Immediately by their friends, stating
that absolute peace prevails in Columbia
in the House, where both bodies we're in
session, and that the Republicans we're
joining them. The President in CONVEX
s%ation, referring to the statement made
By Senator Gordon and Wade Hampton
wherein they charge that General Ruger
has made pledges to them in regard to
the non-interference of the military with
the meeting Of the South Carolina Leg
islature, which he had failed TO keep,
said he was Satisfied that General Ruger
had done no such thing. He knew the
General we'll. he was a gallant soldier,
q high.toned, honorable man, and would
scoru to do q mean act under any cir
cumstances. In regard TO the oitrepeat-
ed charge that the administration had
used the military to inter(ere in the affairs
Of Southern States TO an extent not war
ranted by law, the President said the
charge was not sustained by the facts.
The commanding officers at all the mill
tary posts at the South we're at all times
instructed simply to sustain the legally
constituted authorities and preserve the
peace. Where the military had gone
further it has been clearly shown to be a
misconeeption Of orders, and the act had
been promptly dissvowed by superior
authority. In regard to interference in
elections, there is not a single instance
on record where the presence Of the mil
itary had intimidsted q single voter; on
the contrary it had been clearly shown
that both in South Carolina and Louisi-
ana the presence Of the military enabled
all colored people who wished to do so
to vote the Democratic ticket. The
President has no doubt but that all the
questions growing out Of the Presiden-
tial contest will be peacefully adjusted
; that the coulsels of good and patriotic
men in both parties will prevail. In re-
gard to the telegram received yesterday
from General Ruger, asking for further
instructions as to any further action en-
bis part toward rival Legislatures, the
Cabinet was divided, several mem.
bers advocating sending instructions
',.c General Ruger to oust the eigh.
members who hold certificates o
, election from the Supreme Court
e while other members commended hat tht
2 government had no right to that extent
: : that it was the duty Of the Federal gov
eminent to simply sustain the legalll
constituted authorities and preserve tn,
d pesce, In this view the President agreed
and it was so decided. After the sd
tournament of the cabinet meeting a tele
gram was sent to General Ruger an
nouncing that his explanation Of the &C
ton Of the military on Tuesday last wa
satisfactory, and that his course was full.
% approved.