New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-29
SOUTH CAROLINA.
= MORNINGS EXCITING SCENES

prAD FROM THE FRONT STEPS-wADE HANP
TONS SPEECH CoUNsELING ORDER.
CoIrNRlA. s. c., Nov. 2S.-At midnight last night
.bo State House was occupied by United States
troops No one was allowed to enter except on
mass from Mr.. Jones, Clerk of the late House. or
John C. Dennis, a United States Marshal, who
0cted upder authority of Gov. Chamberlain. About
o o'clock Gen. Gordon, United States Senator from
Georgia, and Gen. johnson, State Senator of Vir-
gipia. with Messrs. Peck and Jeffreys, members of
the Legislature, demanded admittance The rotunda
was filed with troops and arms stacked around the
Washington statue. Members of the Legislature ex-
hbited their certificates of election from the SUI
preme Court and the corporal of the guard refused
them admittance under the orders of Marshal Dem
mis- who was standing by. The Democratic MEM
bers then met in caucus, and at about 1l;45
o'clock marched up in a body to demand admittance
with John C.. Shepard of Edgefeld at their head
The door was guarded by United States troops and
by John B. Dennis, a United States Marshal. SheD-
ard asked for admission, whereup0n Marshal Dennis
asked if he had certificate of election from the
Secretary of State Mr.. Shepard said that he had
the certificate of the Supreme Court and Dennis
sad eff you have not the certificate OF the Secre
tary. YOU cannot enter" Mr.. Shepard then said he
demanded the right to read protest from the Dem
Ocrats, which he proceeded TO do, when he was
cratic Committee. Capt Kellogg U. S. A., who was
of the door, after conference said that all persons
having certificates from either the Secretary of State
or the Supreme Court would be admitted. Mr..
Shepard presented the certificate of the court and
passed in. The guard then examined the certih-
Gates and the Democrats all passed in, being first
asked for their arms, which they surrendered.
The Democratic members after gaining admission
to the State House, proceeded to the door of the
House of Representatives with the delegation from
Edgefeld and Laurens at their head. They de-
handed admission to the hall on the certificates OF
election taken from the records of the Supreme
Court Six soldiers stood ranged on either side of
the approach to the door, with the officers in the
center. The certificates of Edgefeld and Laurens
delegates being presented were decided invalid by
the doorkeepers whereupOn the entire body of Dem
ocrats withdrew to the front of the State House.
They assembled on the front steps of the building
and read the following protest in the presence OF the
military and citizens:
We majority Of the members OF the House OF Repre-
entayes elect protest against the refusal to admit us
10 the Hall of Representatives. We protest against the
military power Of the United States barring the
passage into the State House OF memberselect
Of the legislature We protest against the le-
galy Of the proceedings, and especially against the
army Of the United States being placed for the purpose
Of this exclusion under the command OF one John b.
Dennis q partisan Of Gov. Chamberlain. We protest
against the said Denniss instructions to the guard 10
admit no one to the State House except upon bis own
pass or pass Of A. Jones, the former Clerk OF the
House. VINO may thus exclude all except his own part
sans and who, by the Republican programme 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 asto our rghto
participate IN the organization Of the said House We are
m nnfg adj
said hail. except upon his pass the pass Of said jones' or
The certificate OF H T. Hayne, Secretary OF State who Is
under condemnation Of said court for refusing 10
pe certificates in accordance with its Judgment and
mandate
In protesting against this barefaced usurpaton this
smpng the laws and the Constitution OF the state
this defiance OF the highest tribunal Of the State 1t s
purpose TO offer no resistance 10 this armed nterYen-
ton, but to make our solemn appeal TO the American
people, without distinction Of party. Our veneratlon
for law, respect for the Supreme Court ana the
sAages Of all legislative assemblages, forbid our parci-
patton in such unprecedented and revolutionary pro-
seedinga
Isigned by all the Democratic members, "a IN number
The Democrats then proceeded to the hall over the
southern Life Insurance Company's building, where
aeaucus was held in secret session, which adjourned
to meet at p. m. at Carolina Hall. Mr.. Reddish,
prominent Republican member Of the Legislature
nom OraDgeburg. left the State House with the
Democrats, refusing to have anything to do with
The organization Of that body while Federal bayo-
nets were at the door,
After the refusal of the Democrats to enter II the
members from Edgefeld and Laurens were ex-
GUIDED, the Republicans proceeded to organize the
Legislature. Fifty-nine members answered to thew
names Mr.. JONES' Clerk of the old House, declared
% 70 be quorum, and E. w. NJ. Mackey and M.
neyer' ooOred, were nominated for speaker. No
Denocrshc members having come into the House,
aacEey, on the call Of the roll, received OF out OF
% votes and was declared the duly elected Speaker
Inc Democrats have retired and Mackey has taken
,necnalr. In explanation, it may be said that the
mouse when full, consists Of 124 members, and o3
yong majority, are a quorum for the transaction
Deafness. The Democrats, including the nine dis
vated members from Edgefeld and Laurens, have Ga
members, and the Republicans only 60 when all their
.nenoers are present. The Democrats claim that 63
we lawful quorum, while the Republicans claim
nal majority of the members admitted by the
Aovassers to be elected, viz, Ito, Is quorum and
win their so have gone to work. Mackey on TAX
.as his seat as Speaker delivered a speech, and the
70 members were then sworn in only Republican
Oelng absent o. A. JONES' the former colored clerk.
"ss elected and sworn in. The House as organized
s0n'sts Of whites and "a negroes.
One OF the Democratic members who bore certif-
ss'e OF the board of canvassers, having come into
.ne hAn and found the Republicans already organ
-so' With Speaker in the chair aud Clerk at the