Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-04-10
chamberlain and Hampton the riva


governors of South Carolina, had fire.
0uent interviews with the President last
week, and both have returned to South
Carolina. The President has decided to
withdraw the troops from the State House
at Columbia, where they have been sta
toned for the protection of Chamberlain
and the Republican Legislature since the
first of the winter. The action virtually
recognizes Hampton, for no one believes
that Chamberlain can sustain himself
without the assistance of the General Gov
ernment, nor will he attempt it. The ae'
ton of the President is received with ia
vor by many, with doubts by some, and
with severe denunciation by others.
When the troops are withdrawn, Hamp-
ton will apply to the courts for posses
sion of the State House, and this will be
granted, as a majority of the county judg-
es have already pronounced in his favor.
The commission TO investigate affairs IN
Louisiana are now at New Orleans. 1t
consists of Vice President Wheeler, Judge
Lawrence Of Illinois, Gen. Hawley OF
Connecticut, Wayne McVeigh Of Penn
sylvania, General Harlan Of Kentucky,
and Ex-Governor Brown Of Tennessee.
The Louisiana question is more comph-
Gated than that of South Carolina. The
authority of the courts is there in doubts.
1t Is this complication which the commits
sion will strive TO unravel, by securing, II
possible, an agreement upon some tribu-
nal to which the claims of Packard and
Nichols nam be referred.
The following is copy OF the PresI-
dents order for the withdrawal Of troops
from South Corolina
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, d. &. Apr. ), ~.
Sir-Prior to my entering upon the du-
ties of the Presidency, there had been
stationed by order Of my predecessor in
the State at Columbia, ). c., detach-
mert of United States Infantry. Find
ing them in that place | have thought
proper to delay decision OF the question
of their removal until could consider
and determine whether the condition vi
affairs in that State Is now such as to
either require or Justify the continued
military occupation Of the State House.
la my opinion there does not now exist
in that State such domestic violence as Is
contemplated by the Constitution, IS the
ground upon which the military power Of
the National Government may be invoked
for the defence Of the State. There are,
it Is true, grave and serious disputes as
to the rights Of certain climants 10 the
Chief Executive office Of that State, that
these are to be settled aud determined not
bv the Executive Of the United States,
but by such orderly and peaceable meth
DDS as may be provided by the Constitu-
ton and laws OF the State. feel assured
that no resort TO violence is contemplated
in any quarter, but on the contrary, the
disputes in question are 10 be settled sole
ly 10y such peaceful remedies as the Con-
stiution and law Of the State provides.
Under these circumstances, and IN this
confidence, l now deem it proper to take
action in accordance with the principles
announced when entered upon the duties
Of the presidency. You are, therefore,
directed to see that the proper orders are
issued for the removal OF said troops from
the State House to their previous place of
encampment.
Signed K. B. HAYES.
To Hon. Geo. w. McCRARY, Sec. Of War.