The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-01
FROM THE SOUTH.
Attitude Of the Legislature.
Edgefeld and Laurens Members 8
to be Removed.
Letter from Hampton, Gordon and
q Haskell to Gen. RuUsr.
The Canvass III in Louisiana About
Closing.
An Attempt to Invalidats Mrs.
Pinkston's Testimony.
A Protest from the Republican
F~ 4a Candidates.
.r... I..n.-
Florida All Right.
Florida All Right.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Tho Two Houses.

State Legislative hall at their regula
hour Of convening, II O'Clock this A. N
The Republican House entered the hall a
noon, the regular hour OF meeting. Boil
speakers are on the stand. Wallace Dem
ocrat, is in the chair and Mackey Re
publican, at the clerks desk. Debate Il
progressing. The Republican member
Hamilton and Myers denounce the &C.
ton Of the Republican House as illega
and unconstitutional. Every thing Il
peaceable and good temper prevails. NJ
person is allowed in the House excep
the members.
The situation is but little changed a
the State House, and good humor il
manifested on both sides. Some efforts
arc being made for compromise, which
may result satisfactorily.
Gen. Ruger has sent his staff officer tG
the Speakers stand and notified the Dem
ocralic Speaker (Wallace) that at noon
Tomorrow the Democratic members from
Edgefield would not be permitted on the
floor OF the House. Upon receipt Of that
order the following letter was immediate
ly sent TO Gen. Ruger:
COLUMBIA, November 80.
Gen. T. d. Rug1, Commanding D. S. Troops
in South .Carolina: .E
DEAR SIR-We have Just heard through
Major McGinnis, Of your staff, your or
der communicated to Mr.. Wallace, Speak.
er Of the House OF Representatives, tha,
at IL o'clock tomorrow the membera
eiec. from Edgeield would not be allow.
ed upon the floor Of the House. To say
that we are surprised at such an order
after the explanations and pledges made
by you 10 each one Of us, Is 10 use very
mild language. When the outrage ol
Tuesday last was committed by the plac'
ing Of armed sentinels at the door Of the
House Of Representatives, who decided
upon the admission Of members to their
seats; when the provisions of the Con-
stitution and the decision OF the
Supreme Court were brought to
your attention, you distinctly and
warmly asserted again and again that
your orders were misunderstood; tha:
ysu did not intend TO have scntinels at
The door Of the Hall, and that you had
not and did not intend 10 assume to de.
eide on the legality Of any mans seat or
upon his right to enter the Hall. You
were then reminded by us that your
guard had received instructions from
one Dennis, citizen and partisan Of Gov.
Chamberlain, to admit parties on his own
pass or that Of one Jones, and had, through
armed forces, excluded all Democrats
from the Hall until the Republican or.
ganization was completed. You assured
usagain that such were not your orders;
you were told by US that, notwithstanding
the preparation Of this inexpresSible
shame on 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 door Of the hall and
that a majority OF tho votes decides all
questions In accordance with the law and
usages Of the Legislative bodies. You
stated that no troops should be at the
door, and that under no circumstance,
would you interfere, except that there
should occur serious disturbance oil the
peace; you affirmed your determination
10 exercise no supervisory control over
the body or bodies claiming to be the
House OF Representative. All Of this
occurred yesterday. Last night, in =
later interview with Senator Gordon, the
Governor gave the same assurances, and
this morning, after both bodies were as.
sembled in the hall, you assured General
Hampton that under no circumstances
would you interfere except to keep the
peace. What now can Justly measure
our astonishment at the issuance OF such
an order as the one Just sent by you
There Is no breach Of the peace and no
prospect Of lie disturbance. You had it
officially brought to your knowledge that
absolute good humor prevails in that
hall. We can not refrain from express.
ing our apprehension that the fact that
a number OF leading Republicans are
taking issue with The legality OF tho pro.
Of the Republican House has
changed your views as TO your limo Of
duty.
IL Is proper thht We bnoulu say
in conclusion that We relied upon
your honor as a gentlemen, and your
character as a soldier to maintain your
pledged position Of non intervention. The
Democratic members from Edgefeld and
Laurens counties are entitled 10 seats by
the judgment OF the Supreme Court Of
this State, and We have advised them 10
remain in that hall till removed by your
troops, that issue may be made 10 this
year OF American ludepend.
ence, whether We have u Government OF
law "a construed by the courts, or a
centralized despotiSm whose only Law Ia
force. Let the American people behold
the spectscle Of a Brigadier General of
the army, seated by the aide Of Governor
Chamberlain, In room Of the State
House, and issuing his orders 10 legisla-
tive body peacefully assembled in one Of
the original thirteen Commonwealth Of
The Union. Respectfully Yours,
WADE HAMPTON,
--'.' J.B. GoRpoN,
O. Il. HASKELL.
The three had been In conference with