Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-12-02

election from the Supreme Court, to
the corporal of the guard, who under
the orders of Dennis refused admis-
sion. Gen. Ruger after an Interview
with Gen. Hampton modified his or
ders SO that all persons claiming to be
members elect Of the Legislature,
were admitted to the State house, but
not The Senate or House Of Representa-
tees. At Ills a. m, the Democratic
members elect, headed by the delega
tion from Edgefeld and Laurens, (the
counties omitted by the Returning
Board), demanded admission at the
door of the House of Representatives
on certificates taken from the record
Of the Supreme Court. Six soldiers
and two officers were guarding the
door, the certificates were decided in
valid and the Democrats withdrew.
They then caused the following pro-
test to be read in front of the State
house. in the presence of both military
and citizens
/
COLUMBIA, Nov. 28.-We, major
ity of the members of the House of
Representatives Of South Carolina
| elect. protest against the refusal to adj
NIT US to the hall of representatives.
| We protest against the military power
of the United States barring the pas
sage into the State house of the mem
bers elect of the Legislature. We
/ protest against the legality of the pro-
ceeding, and especially against the
army of the United States being placed,
/ for the purpose of this exclusion, I'M
der the command of one John B. Dem
mis-, partisan of Gov. Chamberlain.
We protest against the said Dennis
instructions to the guard to admit no
one to the State house except upon his
OWE pass, or pass of A. o. Jones,
former clerk of the House, who may
thus exclude all except his own parti-
sans, and who by the Republican pro-
gramme Is to organize the said House.
! We have presented ourselves with the
Judgment of the highest court of South
Carolina, certified to by its clerk, with
the great seal of the court attached, as
to our right to participate in the organ
4 ization of the said House. Weare re-
fused, by the orders of the said Dennis,
admission to the saidhall, except upon
his pass or the pass of the said Jones,
or the certificate of I'll. Il. Hayne, sec
1 rotary of State, who is now under con-
demnation of the said court for refusal
to issue certificates in accordance with
its Judgment and mandate. In pro-
testing against this barefaced usurpa-
ton, this trampling on the laws and
Constitution of the State, this defiance
of the highest tribunal of the State, 1t
: is our purpose to offer no resistance to
this armed Intervention, but to make
our solemn appeal to the American
people, without distinction of party.
Our veneration for law, our respect for
the Supreme Court aud the usages of
all legislative assemblies, forbid our
participation in such unprecedented
revolutionary proceedings.
This protest was signed by all the
Democratic members, ga in number.
After caucus at the Southern Life
Insurance rooms they adjourned to
meet for business at Carolina Hall.
Meantime the Democratic members
from Edgefeld and Laurens counties
having been refused admittance, and
the other Democratic members having
refused to enter without them, the Re
publican members elect took posses
sion of the House of Representatives
and proceeded to organize. There
were found to be FIVE whites and fifty
four negroes. Mr.. Jones, the clerk of
the old house, called them to order,
and declared the fifty-nine quorum.
They elected e, w. NJ. Mackey, col
ored, speaker.
It may be here stated that the num-
Der constituting quorum is dispu-
ted point between the Democratic and
Republican sections. The law con-
stitutes 4 majority of the House a
quorum the whole number of Repre-
sentatiyes including those from the
disputed counties is 124, leaving 63 a
quorum, but the Republicans claim
that, the nine members from EdgefeId
and Laurens not having the certificate
of the board, there are only lis mem
bers in the legislation, which makes
SO quorum. On the Democratic as
sumption it takes 63 to make quo
rum. The Republicans, therefore, on
their own theory have a quorum, but
not on the Democratic theory; while
the Democrats have a quorum on the
Republican THEORY but not on their
own.
Considerable excitement existing at
this stage among the crowd surround
ing the State House, Gen. Hampton,
at the request of the Federal officer in
T charge, made speech earnestly en-
|, joining peace and order on the people.
Finally, at l:45 the Democratic mem
bers, with John C. Shepard, Of Edge-
field, at their head, having had the Of
fetal vote administered by Judge
Cook. went In Lody to the House Of
Representatives and demanded admis-
sion. The door was guarded by United
States troops under the direction of
John B. Dennis, United States mar
shall. Shepard was int ,.ted wheth-
err he had a certifcat election from
the Secretary Of Sta he answered
no, but produced tn Certificate of the
Supreme eourt-wfg fused entrance.
Shepard then depa ed the right to
read protest fro. the Democratic
members, but az stopped by the
chairman Of the Democratic commit
tee, who seems to have been in confer
ence with the Federal officers. After
the conference Capt Kellogg, U. s. A,
granted admission to all persons having
, the certificates either of the Secretary
of State or of the supreme court
Shepard was then admitted, aHd at last
report the Democrats were passing in
as their certificates were examined.
1t may be stated here that one Re.
publican member, VIM. HI. Reddick,
refused to enter the hall with Federal
bayonets at the door and is now acting
with the Democrats.
INTIMIDATION.