Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-12-16
SUMMARY OF NEWS.

..... Accounts from the Bombay presidency,
India, relative to the famine arc gloomier.
This years rainfall in the distressed districts
is not one-third Of the average fall. The pres
poets in the presidency OF Madris also continue
unfavorable. 80. Spanish troops continue TO
arrive in Cubs e. Patrick Taft, night watch
man at the Hunters Point depot OF the Long
Island railroad, was found dead in the Office
with pistol ball in his heart. Subsequently,
Dennis Dyer, another watohman, delivered
himself to the police, saying he had sccideLt-
ally shot Taft while they were examining re-
volver. But as a second wound was found in
Tafts head and the marks Of a third bullet in
the floor, his explanation was not accepted. -.
The Yorktown colliery, near Audenreid, Penn,
was destroyed by fire which originated in
the boilerhouse and quickly communicated
with the breaker. The loss is estimated from
$75, 600 to $4,000. . The official canvass
of Illinois gives Hayes 278 232; TiIden, 25S S07,
and Cooper, II, 109 .... On application for
Writs of bdbeds corpus the board of State can
vassers of South Carolina, who had been ar
rested and cent to Jail by the supreme court OF
the State, were takon into the United States
supreme court, Judges Bond and Bryan pre-
siding. The board we're in the custody Of the
sheriff. who, through counsel, asked for time
to make return to the application for the
write. The court signifed that the time would
be granted, and that the prisoners would be
held in tbs custody Of the court pending the
eturn. The application was based on the
ground that the board were discharging the
duties Of appointing Presidential electors when
the supreme court Of The State interfered with
them. The members OF the board we're re-
leased, but put under the charge Of deputy
United States mara shsls ...... The family resi-
dence Of Wade Hampton, near Columbia, s. O.,
was utterly destroyed by incendiaries, who
fred the house at night in such a manner that
the entire structure Was wrapped in flames
simultaneously the generals two sisters and
two young sons barely escaping with their
lives-the general being aheent. The only
thing saved from the mansion was bust of
Wade Hampton, the revolutionary patriot. -.
number Of franc buildings in Chicago, prin-
cipally occupied as saloons and eating houses,
we're destroyed by fire. -Four OF the occupants
Were burned to death. :. -. The deaths from
smallpox i'll the northwest Of British America
average 180 per day, and the Indians are flee
ing from the scourge. The fur trade is almost
! almost dead in consequence.
! On the night before the meeting Of the Leg
islature of South Carolina, two companies OF
United States troops took possession OF the
State House at Columbia. The board Of can
yassers Of tho State, arrested by order OF the
supreme court. had previously been released.
Eary in the morning members OF the Iegis!a-
turs we're refused, by the troops, admission to
The State House unless they held passes signed
by the clerk Of the old House, Wm. Jones' or
| Gen. Dennis Of the State militia. The Demo
cratic members met in caucus at ten o'clock,
and al eleven proceeded in body TO the State
House to demand admission. The orders had
been changed and they were admitted after the
officer of the guard had examined their creden-
tials. All members bearing arms gave them to
friends and passed the sentinels. The Demo-
Gratis were headed by the members from Edge
field and Laurens, whose election is in dis
pute, and when they reached the door of the
Legislative hall they were refused admittance,
the doorkeeper declaring their credentials null
and void The Republican portion of the
House meanwhile had organized. The Demo-
cratic members Immediately withdrew, and a
protest was read 70 the military in the presence
! Of large concourse Of citizens. The protest
declares We, majority of the members OF
| 4ba nf Tot, oIo -
against the refusal to admit us to the Hall Of
Representatives. We protest against the mill
tary power Of the United States barring the
passage into tho State House of members
elect Of the Legislature. We protest against
the legality Of the proceedings, and especially
against the army of the United States be-
| ing placed for the purpose OF this ex-
cluson under the command Of John B. Dennis,
a partisan of Gov. Chamberlain" The protest
concluded as follows: "In protesting against
the bsrefacod usurpation, this Urampling on
the laws and the constitution OF the State,
this defiance of the highest tribunal of the
State, it is our purpose to offer no resistance
10 this armed intervention, but TO make our
solemn appeal to the American people, without
distinction OF party. Our veneration Of law,
our respect for the supreme court and the
usages Of all legislative assemblages forbid
our participation in such unprecedented and
revolutionary proceedings. Gen. Hampton
WAS called upon, and counseled peace. He
said that one act Of violsnee might precipitate
bloodshed and revolution. He begged his
friends to disperse, to leave the streets, ant
keep perfectly quiet. The Democratic mem
bers also waited upon Gen. Ruger, and pro
tested against the intervention Of the troops
The Democrats organized in hall, and were
sworn in by Judge Cook There were eixty
} four Democrats and two Republicans who votet
with them, in the body. The full House il
composed OF 124 members, but the election o
those in Laurens and Edsefeld is contested
by the Republicans.
While tho South Carolina House of Repr,
senta'ives WAS in session, both Democrat
alI itei uhlican members being in the hall
, Gen. Aut sent staff officer TO the speaker
stand and notified Mr.. Wallace that the Demo
l cratic members from Edgefeld and Lauren
3 would not be perr1itted ON the floor Of til
e House. Whereupon letter was sent to Gen
7 Ruger, signed by prominent Democratic lead
ers, protesting against such action. AS the tw
Houses met in the same hall and wore preside
over by different officers, much confusion wa
Q the result, but everything was orderly.
q The two Houses OF the South Carolina Leg
q islature continued their sessions in the sam
@ hall, with speaker and different set of of
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