Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-08

Governor Chamberlain, Of South Carolina,
in an extended despatch to the New York
Tribune. gives an interesting and important
statement Of the facts in regard TO the action
Of the United States soldiers, at Columbia.
lie says
First. 1t Is MT true as charged that
United States army ficers have assumed
any duties here without being properly call
ed upon to do 50. The orders Of the Presi-
dent To the commanding officers here, dated
Nov p, are well known. Acting in view
of those orders called upon Col. Black, on
Monday, the 9th ult.. for force sufficient to
protect the State House against intrusion of
armed and violent men on Monday night and
Tuesday morning prior to the hour for the Leg
stature TO assemble. This | did upon eyi-
dence that plan was matured to take
forciblc possession Of the halls of Legislature
and car1y out the shotgun policy in the
organization Of the two Houses Col Black
as he was bound to do, responded By ordering
4 company Of soldiers to guard the State
! House.
Second. 1t is not true as charged, that
the mili;ary,eOmmander here has assumed to
decide upon certificates of members of Gen
eral assembly The clerk'oi the former House
has decided that no persons except those
holding certificates signed by the Secretary of
| State were entitled to enter the hall of the
| House or to participate in its organization.
/ Whatever has been done by the military
| forces in this respect has been done to en-
| force this decision and order of the clerk
To say that all this is not the business of
the military forces is to say that the Presi-
dents orders to enforce my authority and to
protect the State against domestic violence
are improper.
Third Ii is not true as stated that any
persons hold certificates of election from the
supreme Court The court on application
refused to issue any certificates. What the
persons from Edgefeld and iaurens coun-
ties hold are mere evidences from the clerk
of that court that the court made an order
requiring the canvassers and the Secretary
of State to do what they have never done.
Fourth. The House now presided over by
Mr. Mackey was organized with sixty pres
ent, holding certificates of the Secretary of
the State based on the action OF the canvassers,
fftv-nine of whom voted in election of
Speaker. This is n majority of lie, the
whole number holding certificates of the
Secretary of State.
Fifth. The body presided over by Mr..
Wallace has never had more than 81 persons
holding certificates of the Secretary of State.
Sixth The present position of affairs is
caused BY the attempt of the Democrats to es-
cape from the effects of the blunder COM
mitted BY them on Thursday in refusing to
.ake part in the organization of the House.
They have forcibly injected themselves, in
GLIDING persons holding no certificates from
Edgefeld and Laurens, into the House. pre-
SIDED over by Mr.. Mackey, and the Edge
held and Laurens men refuse to retire.
That the whole force of the State. if any
force was available, ought to be employed
by me in enforcing the lawful orders of Mr.
Mackey as Speaker, entertain no doubt.
As such force Is not available, what alterna-
tive is left except call upon the President
for aid in suppressing domestic violence.
To call this parliamentary struggle is to do
violence to language, as well as to misstate
facts. II body Of men can be permitted,
without credentials and without right, to
take their places in Legislative body al
ready duly organized, and call their refusal
to retire on the order of the lawful officers
of that Legislative body and the usurpation
Of the Speakers chair, mere parliamentary |
struggle. the results are plain. There is in
Eact domestic violence now, and will soon be
evolution To yield to such violence is to
.bandon lawful government.
Seventh. The Republicans desire speedy
nd peaceful settlement of present difficulties;
nut they will never, with nv consent, yield
ne hairs breadth of their legal rights to Sc
ure peace, especially under the present
lenaces of South Carolina Democracy.
ave fought corruption in my own party and
hall not blanch before violence in the Dem
ratio party.
d. II. CHAMBERLAIN.
Columbia, s. C., Dec. 4, 1876. "