The Portland daily press., 1876-12-02
THE SITUATION.
No Change in South
Carolina.
Both Legislatures Holding
the Fort.
Some Prospect of a
Compromise.
Proceedings Before the Florida
and Louisiana Board.
SOUTH CAROLINA.


bers, Hamilton and Meyers, denOuncing the
action of the republican House as illegal and
unconstitutional, but everything was peaceable.
Some efforts were made to compromise About
3 o'clock Gen. Ruger sent his staff officer to
the speakers stand and notified democratic
speaker Wallace that at IL clock, Friday, the
democratic members from Edgefeld would not
be permitted on the floor of the House. Upon
the receipt of that order, protest signed by j.
B. Gorden, Wade Hampton and A. @. Haskell,
against such proceeding, was sent to Gen.
Ruger.
At 10 o'clock, Friday morning, the House re-
manned in session. The members were Sleep
ing, smoking, conversipg, and few were Ms
tening to the eloquence of negro from Charles
ton county, known as Fancy Bill. the Santee
orator.
An Appeal 10 Secretary Cameron.
COLUMBIA, Dec. Last evening General
Bradley l.. johnson, who was in college at
Princeton with Secretary Cameron, and has
since been on terms of friendship with him,
telegraphed to the Secretary, stating the actual
condition of things in the House of Represen-
tatives. He said there was no danger of a
breach Of the peace, and that the dispute would
be adjusted by legal, peaceable, and parlia-
mentary methods and that the quarrel had and
could have no influence 10 any manner upon
the choice of Presidential electors or membeas
of Congress. For this reason Gen. johnson
asked the Secretary, as the legal adviser of the
| President and as citizen in favor of equal
rights for States and citizens, not to allow the
| army to interfere.
Yesterdays Proceedings in the House.
Especial to the Evening Telegram.l
The dual houses continued in session all
night and at a moment before ~ a motion was
put by member of each side that the house
now adjourn The molten was entertained by
each speaker, put and carried simultaneously.
Speaker Wallace then announced that the hour
of II m. having arrived the house was called to
order.
Speaker Mackey also called his house to or
| der. The scenes Of yesterday were repeated.
| Motions were made on both sides and with
some order attained. There was intense sup
| pressed excitement, all eyes being turned anx
| iousy toward the door in expectancy of the ad
| vent of the o. S. troops.
Tom Hamilton Qnd. Republican,, remarked
| Significantly, This thing is going too tar. II
will break up in row.
Reed. colored, spoke in favor of peace and
harmony and the adjustment of the difficulty
| in some way amicable to both parties
Hamilton replied explaining that what he
knew and saw warranted him in the belief that
there would be row. He saw (pointing to a
corner of the halD the Republican committee
on privileges and elections in session ready to
seal and elect any person to that body and give
them quorum and a majority sufficient to
override all opposition and carry out their pro-
gramme backed up by the army of the United
States.
He warned the Republicans about what they
were about to do, and told them it would be
condemned by all the people of the United
States.
Overcome by his feelings, Hamilton broke
out in tears, but continued his remarks, max
ing most earnest appeals to his celOred breth-
rem.
1.30 p, m. arrived and no troops
A false alarm which caused great excite
ment was created by the falling in of the relief
for the guard who loaded their muskets down
stairs, and were reported to be getting ready to
come into the House to remove the Democratic
Speakers and the members from Edgefeld and
Laurens.
A Democratic member spoke in favor of
compromise and ISOLATION of the matter of the
dual House. He proposed that the matter be
submitted to committee of conference; six of
each party in the House and also six of each
party in the Senate, and that pending the re-
port of the committee the dual House adjourn
till it is submitted.
The same correspondent says conversation
took place this morning between prominent
Democrats and Gen. Ruger, during which the
situation was fully explained to that officer
He appeared impressed with the injustice done
the Democrats through the instrumentaty of
the troops and he now hesitates to march into
the hall of the House of Representatives and
remove the Engfeld and Laurens delegations
and the Democratic speaker. 1t is further stat
ed he has telegraphed to Washington for ms
tructions before acting.
The Situation Unchanged.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA despatch from Co.
lumbia, dated at 6 CLOCK this evening, SAYS:
Everything remains unchanged. Both par
ties in the House are expecting Federal inter-
ference. Gen. Ruger has done nothing as vet
with regard to excluding members from Edge
field and Laurens counties from the floor of the
House. There can scarcely be change before
tomorrow.
COLUMBIA Dec. 1.-The situation is but
little changed and propositions have been sign
ed by the two speakers to adjourn their resnec-
tive honses simultaneously, to meet tomorrow
at IL M, with the status of each unchanged,
this to take effect Immediately, provided Gen.
Ruger will agree.
Gen. Ruger refuses on the ground that he
must obey orders if he receives them from
Washington.
The Houses will not therefore be likely to
adjourn. Several Republican m embers have
sgnified their intention to abandon the Mackey
organization.
Especial despatch to the Boston Journal]
Threatened Assassination of Gov. Cham
herlain.
WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-Despatches from
South Carolina state that threats are openly
made to assassinate Chamberlain; also the
Lieutenant Governor. There is good reason to
believe that the attempt will be made The
streets are filled with drunken men, fourishing
revolvers. Yelling for Hampton, Butler, Jeff
Davis and death TO all Northerners."
Gen. Ruger's Statement.
Especial to the Boston Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The following, ac-
cording to a Democratic statement here, is
zen. Rugers explanation of the proceedings
at Columbia yesterday. Gen. Ruger said: THE
State House is now under control of Mr. Den
mis-. do not know the man. He is the only
agent of Gov. Chamberlain, and has authority
to control the troops" The General also said
that he had taken possession of the State
House the night before on information that the
Democrats had seized the House and intended
authority was solely to keep the peace and
prevent disorder. He bad not meant to adj
Indicate upon the rights of persons asking
admission in to the House, or interfere in the
organization of the assembly. He then sent
Capt Macgennis to instruct Major Kellogg
I'm command) to admit every one who stated
that he was member, and any other proper
person, taking care that no one went in armed
This order was delivered to Major Kellogg and
The order was put into operation. Members
were admitted by the outer Guor Kellogg
consulted with Dennis, who ordered the door
keeper at the hall to admit no one but those
meeting his approval. To carry out this order,
the doorkeeper said the crowd was too great to
keep back, and Major Kellogg at once sent for
Major Stewart who placed guard at the door
of The Hall of Representatives, Then followed
the refusal to admit the Democratic members.
Gen. Ruger being informed of these facts, and
that the whole trouble had arisen from a mis-
construction of his orders, said that he had
expressly instructed bis officers not to interfere
With the entrance of members.
Opinions of District Attorney Corbin and
Judge settle.
New YORK, Dec. 1.-The Worlds CORE
spondent, in an interview with District Attor-
ney Corbln, ELECTED from the latter that in his
opinion Chamberlain will be Governor. 81 see
nothing now to prevent it; every body knows be
has been elected Every honest Democrat will
or ought to admit it,"
Q-What do you think of the legislative
squabble?
Mr.. CT was astounded when heard of the
action the Democrats had taken. Their stu
pidity seems to be boundless. knew and felt
that they had control of the situation from the
beginning. Ii they had taken their seats,
they could have controlled the House. Only
one majority Isa easily overcome in a South
Carolina Legislature, but instead of acting
senslDly they threw their chances away, and
gave the Republicans command of the situa-
ton.
Judge Settle said ia substance what Corbin
did about the grave mistake made by the Dem
ocrats in not going into the House, and that
the only way to rectfy it was to return and
take their seats
Correspondent-Don you think the Repub-
licans have the practical control of the situa-
ton, and that Chamberlain will be declared
elected?