Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-11-29

COLUMBIA, Nov. 49, The demo-
cratic members of the House, after
gaining admission to the State House,
proceeded to the door of the House
of Representatives with the dclcga-
ton from Edgefield and Laurens
counties at their head, and demanded
taken from the record Of the Supreme
Court. Six soldiers were ranged on
either side of the approach to the
door with two officers in the centre.
The certificates of the Edgfcld and
Laurens delegates being presented
they were decided invalid by the
doorkeepers, whercupon the entire
body of democrats withdrew. They
assembled in front of the State House,
from the steps of which the follow
ing protest was read in the presence
of the military and citizens:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov. IS.
We, a majority of the members Of
the House Of Representatives of South
Carolina elect, protest against the re-
fusal to admit us to the House of
Representatives. We protest against
the military power of the United
States barring the passage into the
State House Of the members elect of
the Legislature. We protest against
the legality of the proceeding and es-
pecially against the army of the U.
s. being placed there for the purpose
of this exclusion under command of
one John b. Dennis, partisan of
Gov. Chamberlain. We protest
against said Dennis instructions to
the guard to admit no one to the State
House except upon his own pass or
the pass of o. A. Jones, former clerk
of the House, who may thus exclude
all except his own partisans,and who
by the republican programme is to
organize said House. We have pre-
sented ourselves with the judgment of
the highest Court of South Carolina,
certified to by its clerk, with the great
seal of the Court attached, as to our
right to participate in the organiza-
ton of said House. We are refused
by the orders of said Dennis admis-
sion to said hall, except upon his pass
or the pass of said Jones, or the cer-
tificate of III. e. Hayne, Sec'y of State,
who is now under condemnation OF
said Court for refusal to issue ccrtifi-
Gates in accordance with its judgment
and mandate. In protesting against
such barefaced usurpation,t this tramp.
ling on the laws and the Constitution
of the State, this defiance of the high
est tribunal of the State, it is our pur-
pose to offer no resistance to this
armed Intervention, but 10 make our
solemn appeal to the American PEG.
pie without distinction of party. Oul
veneration for law, our re-
spcct for the Supreme Court and
the usagcs of the Legislative
asscmblagcs forbid our participation
in such unprecedented and revolu.
tiOnary proceedings. This is signed
by all the democratic members, sixty
four in number.
The democrats then proceeded &c
the hall over the Southern Life In
surance Compahy's building, where
a caucus was held, which adjourned
to meet at 3 O'Clock p. IN. at Carolins
Hall. The democratic menibcrs from
Edgeficld and Laurcns counties hav.
ing been refused admittancc to The
hall OF the House of Representatives
the republicans Immediately pro-
ceeded to organize. Fifty-ninc mem
bers answered to their names. Mr..
Jones, Clerk of the old House de-
clarcd 50 to be quorum, and Il. w.
M. Mackey and N. Myers (colorcd)
were nominated for Speaker. The
democratic members not having yet
come into the House, Mackey, at the
call of the Clerk, received 81 out of 50
votes, and was declared the duly
elected Speaker. The democrats hay-
ing retired, Mackey has taken the
chair.
In explanation of these proceed
ings, it must be remembered that the
House, when full, consists of I24
members, and CD being majority
are quorum for the transaction OF
business. The democrats, including
the nine disputed members from
Laurens and Edgeficla counties, have
GA members. and the republicans only
70 when all their members are pres.
emit. The democrats claim that sixty.
three is n lawful quorum, while the
republicans claim that a majority oil
the members admitted by the Can
yassers to be elected, viz: 1l5, is \
quorum, and with their 50 have gone
to work.
Mackey, on taking his scat fol
Speaker, delivered a speech. and Tho
81 members were sworn in. Only one
republican being absent. o. A. Jones
former colored clerk, was elected and
sworn in.
The House as now organized con-
sists of 5 whites and 81 negroes.