Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-03
LAW MUST PREVAIL.
Federal Power Between the Demo-
Gratis ana RAIDS Of the South
Carolina House.
True to the Best Side Of His Better Ma
ture, Grant Stands by His Army
Friends, and Praises them
for their Strict 0bedi-
ence to Instructions.

WASHINGTON, December 2.-There was
short session of the cabinet at the executive
mansion this morning, atwhlch all the men,
bers were present excepting Secretary Fish
| and Secretary Robson. 1t is understood
| that later official reports from General Ruger
were read by the secretary OF war. 1t was
believed that there was no necessity for any
additional official action by the government
at present, and the meeting adjourned after
it had lasted about twenty minutes.
The following telegram was received by the
President at late hour Thursday night:
COLUMBIA, S. c., November so, 1916.
His Excellency L. S. Grant, Washington:
The Democratic members OF the lower house,
sXtsfve In number, met quietly in the hall to-day,
with WITH thelr speaker IN the chair The Republicans,
ntty-nlne III number, also assembled there, and
placed their speaker at the clerks desk General
Ruger proposes to take out Of the house eight men,
bers duly elected and holding certificates from the
supreme court The house is sole judge of the quail
tficdtOn of its members. We propose TO leave the
question to the house. These members will remain
until expelled by force; but earnestly desire that
peaceful solution OF the legislative question shall
not interfere With the Presidential electoral vote.
We ask only constitutional pledges to them In regard
to the nOnnterference of the military with the meet
ing of the legislature peaceably assembled for the
good OF the State Very respectfully, your Obedent
servant, WADE HAMPTON.
Hon. L. Q. c. Lamar yesterday received a
telegram from Senator J. B. Gordon and
the President and cabinet waited on imme-
diately, by their friends, stating that absolute
peace prevails in Columbia, IN the house.
where both bodies were in session, and that
the Republicans were joining them.
The PresldenG IN conversation, 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 well;
he was gallant soldier, high-toned honor
| able man, and would scom to do a mean act,
under any circumstance. In regard to the
oft repeated charge that the administration
| had used the military to interfere in the af-
! fairs ofthe southern States toan extent nOtwar-
ranted by law, the President said the charge
was not sustained blythe facts. The command
ing officers at all military posts at the south
were at all times instructed simply to sustain
| helegally constituted authorities and preserve
| peace; where the military had gone further,
| 1t has been clearly shown to be a miscOnCep-
| ton Of orders, and the act has been promptly
| disayOwed by superior authority. In regard
to interference in elections, there is not a sin
| gle instance on record where the presence Of
the military had intimidated a single voter;
on the contrary, it has been clearly shown
| that both In South Carolina and Louisiana
the presence of the military enabled all the
colored people who wished to do so to vote
the Democratic ticket. The President has no
doubt but what all the questions growing out
of the Presidential contest will be peacefully
adjuSted-that the counsel of good and pa
triotic men in both parties will prevail
| In the telegram received yesterday
/ from General Ruger, asking for fur
ther instructions in regard to any further
! action on his part toward rival Legislatures,
the cabinet were divided, several members
advocating sending instructions to- General
Ruger to Oust eight members who hold GER
/ tifcates of election nom the supreme court,
while other members e0ntended that the
government had no right to 60 to that ex-
| tent, that it was the duty of the Federal gov
ernment to simply sustain the legally consti-
tuted authorities, and preserve peace, In
this view the President agreed, and it was SO
decided. After the adjournment of the cabi-
net telegram was sent to General Ruger,
announcing that his explanation Of the action
of the military on Tuesday last was satisfac-
/ tory, and that his course was fully approved.