Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-12-14
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL RUGER.

The committee appointed by the Constitu'
tional House of Representatives to wait on
General Ruger and ascertain under whose or
ders the Statehouse was filled with United
States troops, performed that duty on Friday
last. The following questions we're submitted
by the committee:
lst. Weare committee Of the House of Repre-
sentatives directed to wait upon you.
I'd. You are the commanding officer of the
troops in Columbia.
Sd. You are aware that troops are in the State
house. Will you be kind enough to inform us by
whose authority these troops are in the
and for what purpose they are there :?
4th. We wish to avoid the bare appearance OF
violence, but our House being the legal House, we
wish to occupy the hall of the House Of Repre-
sentatives.
5th. Are your troops instructed to resist the
peaceable entrance of our House into the hall?
9Th. You know there is aforce of State constab-
ulary there as deputy doorkeepers Of the House;
they are guarding an illegal House. Are your
troops authorized to support them, if they resist
After hearing these questions, Gen. Ruger
replied:
II prefer that my official reply to these ques-
tions shall be in writing, and shall so reply at
my earliest convenience. am willing, however,
to state verbally general answer which think
will cover the whole gronnd, and shall speak
plainly. I am, of course, the commander Of the
troops in Columbia, and they act under my Or
ders My orders to them come from the Presi-
dent of the United States, and I act as under
stand those orders Governor Chamberlain ap-
piled to the President for troops to preserve the
peace against violence and insurrection. Presi-
dent Grant recognized Chamberlain as the Cover
nor of South Carolina, and ordered the troops
placed at his disposal. The troops, as they are
now placed, are to preserve the peace and to pre-
vent interference with the House which Cham
berlain recognizes as legal"
In further conversation, General Ruger said
he had received no official information to the
effect that President Grant would recognize
neither House until it had sixty y-three men,
bers with certificates from the State Board of
Canvassers. He also said if the people of
South Carolina have been debarred of any of
their rights, it is not the fault of the soldiers,
but of Governor Chamberlain, under whose
orders they are that the orders come through
Chamberlain, recognized by the President as
Governor of South Carolina.
Subsequent to the above interview, General
Ruger addressed the following written reply
to the committee, under date of the 9th in
slant:
Gentlemen of the Committee Il have the honor
to say in reply to your inquiries based upon the
resolution, of which you handed me copy on
yesterday, that the United States troops in the
Statehouse were placed there by my order for the
purpose of executing such orders as might be
given, and in this connection I would say, with
reference to inquiries numbered six and seven,
that if your body should appear at the Statehouse
for the purpose Of entering the hall of the House
of Representatives and should be refused admis.
sion by those having charge of the doors, and
Ce>.Sch person should apply to the officer in COM
@. 6pf the troops at the Statehouse for assistance
der ss<sto prevent your entering, the present
Of A dispaoaicers would require them to rem
naa oaa.;dsrsa in says that it
tslesrsphsd to Rogsr above We. reply
on As showing Grants duplssasr srsa'as se1s wax
&C. duct towards this State. or the mtSss2e'ou
ct. of Gen. Ruger in defining his own pos
We quote the following dispatch, dated wa
We ington, 9th instant: ,,,,.,on b
90 The President to-day, upon applcanobR, 1 b,;S
card for confirmation OF the statemel' puurS srs
to- that the Cabinet yesterday determined 70 sus
for Shamberlain as Governor de Jdcto ana de ls. !,
recopnize the Mackey House and not 70 WI Wishu =,
len troo5s from the State capitol, &C., repileo = :
ina was no trut Satbe statement.