Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-12-05
THE SITUATION.

on Tuesday last, the day of meeting of the
South Garolina Legislature. the StateSHouse
at Columbia was occupied by q. s. troops,
put by President Grant at the service of Gov
eEnOr Chamberlain, and the eight Democratic
members elect from Laureus and EdgefeId
being refused admission to the hall of the
House of Representatives, the entire Demo.
cratic body Of members of the House, 81 in
number, retired from the scene, protesting
against the revolutionary and arbitrary pro-
eeedings- The Republicans organized with
SO members. IS negroes aud whites, which
ihsy claimed to be m,joEity aud conseouept>
y quorum Of the number of members shown
By the cauvassers to be elected. ZIG. Their
si1tisth member had retired in disgust and
Was soon after followed by another, thus leav-
ing Oalg So, which. not being msjority, even
according to their own count. was no.
quorum. The Democrats held that the full
House of Represen,atives-124 members
was elected, and that they were the properly
constituted quorum. Both of the disguised
Republicans joined them and they then num-
bered 66.
Events at CoIumbia, on Wednesday, were
mainly of negative though peculiarly inter-
estiug character. The State House remained
in the custody of the federal troops. The
rival houses had separate sessions The Re-
publican house increased its membership by
voting out the five Democrats returned from
Barnwsll county and voting in the Eve Re-
publican candidates in pretended contest
upon ez-parts testimony. Two of the Re-
publican members were honest enough to
protest against such action.
In the Senate resolution from the Repub
hcan house for counting the gubernatioal vote
was amended by fixing the hour at twelve
o'clock NJ. Friday The Democratic mem
bers Of the Senate caused to be entered on
the journal protest against the recognition
OF the so>called House and reciting the high
handed and unconstitutional measures by
which the existing state of affairs had been
brought about.
Thursday was another day of excitement at
Columbia The Democratic members of the
House having been assured by Gen. Ruger,
commanding the federal troops, that his or
deTs had been misunderstood, and that he
would not interfere with the entrance of the
Democrats to the hall of Representatives, ex>
eept in ease of serious disturbance of the
peace. they proceeded to the State House,
entered boldly. and their speaker, Mr. VAL
lace. took the chair. SIR. Mackey, the Re
publican Speaker, soon afterward entered,
and demanded the chair, which Mr. Wallace
declined % ssrreedere--A scana of confusion
and excitement followed. Finally prOpo>
sition TO refer the solution of the dilemma to
Senators Gordon, of Ca, and Robertson. of
8. c., was carried, but few Republicans
voting, however. This was followed BY the
appearance of messenger from Gen. Ruger
announcing that on Friday the Democratic
rnen5ers from Edgefeld would not be per-
mitted on the floor of the hall. This sur
pEising instance of disqualification on the
part of Gen. Ruger, illustrating in itself the
grim absurdity of military interference in the
regulation of civil affairs, was Immediately
met with letter from Senator Gordon, Gen
Hampton, aud Mr. a G. Haskell of the State
Central Democratic Committee. In this let
ter they plainly characterized his incou>
sistency alter they had relied upon his honor
as man and his character as soldier, and
announced to him that the members from
Edge6eld and Laurens would remain in their
seats until expelled by his buyOnets, thus
placing the onus and the odium of any further
difficulty directly where it belonged The
House remsined in session all day and night
The cabinet st Washington Thursday night
considered the situation and communicated
with Gen. Ruger.
The situation on Friday was unchanged
Gen. Ruger failed TO carry out hts threat to
turn the Edgefeld aud Laurens delegates out
of the Legislature, and the two houses con-
tinued in session in the same hall during the
day and night twas stated that Gen. Ruser
had been instructed from Washington not to
interfere. TIE counting of the vote for Gov
eruor and LIT Governor was postponed until
Saturday.
By yesterdays news the situation in the
South as regards results remains unchanged.
but the inevitable approach to solution of
the pending complications gives the situation
daily moro critical appearance The South
Carolina Legislature remained in session. but
trouble was anticipated yesterday in conse-
quence of the announcement that the State
eOnstabulary would be called upon to aid in
ejecting the Democratic members from Lau>
rens and EdgsfeId, and also the Democratic
Speaker from his chair Two of the most
prominent colOred Republicans went over to
the Democrats on Saturday, and the Repub-
licans seated four more contestants" With
out any contest. a motion was made Sat-
urdsy in the Supreme Court in behalf OF
WALLACE Sna.La- of .ha nar,a.-..;. us..s.