Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-07
I, MOWER CO., MIMI, THURSDAY DECEMBER Z. 1876.
PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.

PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION,
What is Being Done in tho Disputed States
Up to this writing the contest fol
Presidential electors is still in progress
in Louisiana and Florida. The more
notable events of the week will be
found below:
South Carolina.
The following dispatch signed by Senator
Gordon OF Georgia, Senator Johnson of Vir-
ginia, General Wade Hampton, several circuit
judges, and large number Of State senators,
representatives, white and colored, and many
other prominent citizens Of this State, was
sent to the President, when the order placing
made public:
"We, the undersigned visitors tr,@.,a dis
tance and committee of the Desperate
members elect of the South CarOlin sgisla-
ture, the Democratic executive commits 4, and
citizens, having just seen by associa press
dispatch that Governor ChamberlaiEa5ks ap-
under his orders at the assembling OF the leg
islature tomorrow, send this, our solemn
protest, against the troops being placed under
the command of Governor Chamberlain. We
have no objection to the presence Of troops
and will cooperate with them in preserving
the peace, but we protest against the use Of
the United States army in controlling the Or
Inauguration of Governor Chamberlain, who
has been defeated by the white and COL
ored voters at the ballot-box. There is
not the remotest danger of the disturbance
OF the peace by the Democrats. If it occurs
it will be at the instigation Of Governor Cham.
berlain, whose partisans have taken the only
lives lives lost in the late exciting canvass in this
in any political disturbances except by Re-
publicans. 1t is literally true that the Demo-
Gratis received their greatest majorities in
counties where United States soldiers were
stationed. What pretense, therefore, is Gov.
Chamberlain's demand for troops to keep the
peace. We refer for confirmation OF these
statements to the commander of the United
States forces at this place and elsewhere in the
State."
The imprisoned returning board were
brought before U. S. Justice Bond, OH the
9th, on writ of habeas corpus, and the case
was set for hearing on the goth, the board in
the meantime being at liberty. The Demo-
cratic counsel telegraphed Chief Justice Waite
asking him to hear the case on Wednesday,
the 29th, but he declined.
MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE.
.
House at midnight Of Monday, the eth, and
on the morning of the 28th would only admit
members elect Of the Legislature who had
passes from w. r. Jones, Gov. Chamberlain s
private Secretary. Later in the day Gen.
Ruger allowed all who claimed to he men,
bers OF the Legislature to enter the State
House. The Democratic members with their
proceeding to the House of Representatives
found the door guarded by six soldiers.
The Edgefetd and Laurens members were at
the head of the Democrats and they being re-
fused admittance all the Democrats with.
drew, and proceeding to the State House
steps adopted protest, which was signed by
The Republican members OF the House, 50
in number (54 colored and white) met and
elected E. w. Mackey (colored) speaker, and
perfected an organization.
The Democrats, including the nine disput-
ed members from Edgefeld and Laurens have
81 members and the Republicans only go
when all their members are present. The DEM
ocrats claim that 63 is lawful quorum, while
members admitted by the canvassers to he
elected, viz, ll5, and with their 50 have gone
to work.
The Democratic members OF the Legislature
have organized separately, and both the DEM
ocratic and Re publican bodies met on the 29th
and adjourned until Dec. lst, without any i'm
portant action.
THE TWO LEGISLATURES.
There seems to have been some change in
day the U. S. troops offered no interference to
any ones entrance to the State House in Co.
lumbia. At 10 a. m. of that day the Demo-
cratic Legislature which had organized at
Carolina Hall and elected Wallace Speaker,
marched to the State House, 65 in number,
and entered the House Of Representatives:
Wallace took the Speakers chair and called
Mackey, Speaker of the Republican Legisla-
ture appeared and ordered Wallace to vacate.
Wallace refused and Mackey ordered his Ser
geant-at-A Arms to remove him. Gen. Wallace
ordered his Sergeant to remove Macke. Both
Seargeants came to the stand backed by
their adherents and q row seemed imminent,
but for some reason neither Sergeant at Arms
ensued. Both Legislatures have since been
holding continuous sessions in the same
room, the Democrats declaring that they will
not retire unless removed by y. S troops.
Wade Hampton sent the following telegram
to the President:
"Columbia, S. c., Nov. a0.-To His Excel
lency, U. S. Grant, Washington: The Demo-
cratic members Of the lower house, 65 in mum.
Der, met quietly in the hall to-day, with their
Speaker in the chair. The Republicans, SO,
also assembled there and placed the Speaker
in the desk. Gen. Ruger proposes to take out
of the House eight members duly elected
holding certificates from the Supreme Court.
The House is sole judge OF the qualification ol
its members: We propose to leave the !ques'
tion to the House. These members will re-
main until expelled by force, but we earnest
]y desire peaceful solution. The Legislature
will not interfere with the Presidential cleo
toral VOTE We ask only the constitutional
legislature, peaceably assembled for the good
of the State. Very respectfully your obedi-
ent servant,
[Signed, WADE HAMPTON.''
the Cabinet at Washington on the I'd inst,
and though there was at first a division Of
opinion it was finally decided not to order
Gen. Ruger to interfere at present. The Demo.
Gratis had previously sent very emphatic pro.
test to Gen. Ruger, declaring that the House
itself and not the military, was the Judge ol
the qualifications of the eight disputed mem.
bers.
The Democrats are seeking to get a sufficient
number of Republicans to join them to make
9 quorum Independent OF the Edgetield and
Laurens members, aud they obtained two
colored Republicans on Saturday. The Re.
publicans, on the other hand, are endeavorine
to award seats to enough contestants to give
them quorum, and in pursuance of this pro
SHdAl11C sACy Scalcu lOllE lEOI1l dU-
beyville on Saturday.
The Republican Speaker has possession O
the returns of the vote for Governor and State
officers and only awaits the desired quorum tt
make the canvass. The Democrats have ap.
piled to the Supreme Court for a mandamus
to compel the surrender0f the returns to tht
Democratic Speaker, and at last accounts this
application was being considered by the Court
MILITARY INTERFERENCE.
In relation to the action OF the militar,
Gen. Ruger sent the following telegram:
COLUMBIA, s. c., Dec. 1.-Gen. w. T. Sher'
man or the Secretary Of War, Washington:
have carefully abstained from interference,
with the organization of the House from tn,
t. On application of the Governor ani
my Own belief for necessity therefor, for tn
preservation OF peace, placed troops in tn
State House, but not III rooms Of the assembl,
of the houses. On the day of the meeting
came abont that for a time soldiers wer,
placed on either side of the door of entranc,
to the hall of representatives under the fol
/ 1.,-:,,., o:~o,,~,o&onooo roroO,1 Of tho 6oo,