Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-12-07
SOUTH CAROLINA.

The South Carolina State Supreme
CoIrt, on the 25th, entered a Judgment of
81 800 fine each and commitment of all
| the Board of Canvassers to Jail until re-
| leased by order of the Court. United
| States District-AttorDey COrbin, counsel
far the State Board Of Canvassers, dis
claimed any intention of contempt, and
asked and was granted until the 9th to
satisfy the Court. The Court declined to
issue an order giving certificates
to members of the Legislature from
Edgefield and Laurens Counties, re-
fused by the Board, but stated
that such members could obtain a
copy of the record from the Clerk of the
Court, which would be equivalent to a
certificate The five members of the
Board of Canvassers who had been con-
structively arrested, reported at the Jail in
the evening, and were confined therein
Their names are: F. L. Cardoza. Treas
urer; T. g. Dunn, Comptroller; Gen.
William Stone. .AttOrney-General; Ii. +.
Payne, Secretary of State, and II. w.
Purvis, ex-Adiutant and Inspector Gen
eral 1t is stated that the Secretary OF
State claims that the Board had not disc
beyed any order of the Court, and that the
law was on their side.
Secretary of War Cameron received the
following order from the President on the
Goth:
SIR: d. H. Chamberlain is now Governor
of the State of South Carolina beyond any
controversy and remains so until the new
Governor shall be duly and legally inau-
gurated under the Constitution The Gov
ernment has been called upon TO aid with
the military and naval forces of the United
,t,f,R l.
Government in the State against resistance
too formidable to be overcome by the State
authorities. You arc directed, therefore, to
sustain Gov. Chamberlain in his authority
against domestic violence until otherwise
directed.
The Secretary of War telegraphed the
above order to Gen. Ruger, at Columbia,
S. c., and instructed him TO advise with
the Governor and dispose his troops in
such manner as may be deemed best IN
order to carry out the spirit of the order.
The Board of State Canvassers of South
Carolina were brought before the United
States Circuit Court at Columbia, on ap-
plication for writs of habeaS corpus, on the
9th Time was given until ten O'Clock
on the Goth to make return to the appll-
cation for the writs, pending which the
Board was placed in charge OF the United
States Marshal. A request, signed by
counsel in the case, was sent to Chief
Justice Waite, stating that conflict Of
jurisdiction had arisen, and that the issues
were grave, and asking him to preside in
the case. He responded that the business
of the Supreme Court required his pres
ence in Washington.
A Columbia Is. c. telegram of the 2Sth
says that, at ten O'Clock a. m, a company
of United States troops were marched in
to the State House, guards being placed
at the doors to prevent unauthorized per
sons from entering. At twelve m, the
hour for the assembling of the Legisla-
ture, the Democrats formed in a body and
marched to the State House, headed by
the 3 dgefeld delegation. They were re-
fused admission, and Mr.. Shepherd. of
the EdgeGeld delegation, read a vigorous
protest Afterward the Democrats with
drew to the R;chland Rifle Club hall, and
held a caucus to which no outsider was
admitted. The Republicans organized by
the election of CONGRESSMAN E. A. NJ.
Mackey as Speaker, when they proceeded
to swear in the members. A. .. Jones
(colored) was elected Clerk. They subse-
quently adjourned to meet at noon on the
29th In the Senate, Swalls (colored) was
elected President pro t6n., and commit
I tee appointed to wait upon the Governor
and inform him that the General Assem-
bly, was organized and ready to re-
ceive any communication he might
make. The regular standing committees
were appointed. The Democrats appoint
ed on the committee TO waiton Gov. Cham
berlain declined to act. During the even
ing the Democrats organized a Legisla-
ture by the election of w. H. Wallace as
| Speaker and J. S. Lloan as Clerk. Judge
Cooke, of the Eighth Circuit, swore i'll
the officers and members. Sixty-fOur
| Democrats were sworn in, and two Re
| puhlicans who withdrew from the State
! House Legislature. The Supreme Court
had not yet decided the question of count
| ing the electoral vote.
Both the Republican and Democratic
houses of The State Legislature held ses-