The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-02-28
THE LATEST NEWS.

THE LATEST NEWS.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. 2O.-The
deepest feeling Of indignation and
contempt prevails here tonight, in
consequence of gratuitous insult
offered to citizens of the State to-day
by order of Grant, and, it is suspect
ed, at the instigation of Chamber
lain. To be brief, Governor Hamp-
ton has, within the last fortnight,
commissioned officers for several mi
litia companies just organized in diff
ferent counties, and not more than
eight Or ten in number.
These companies, especially in Co.
lumbia and Charleston, have been
making extensive peaceful prepars-
tons to celebrate Washington s
birthday in the old accustomed man
ner, in conjunction with the civic
societies. To-day, however, the fol
lowing communication was officially
served upon the captains Of the seve-
raj companies in Columbia, the ne,
cessary changes being made in
names, etc, to adapt it to other To-
calities:
Posi- OF COLUMBIA,
Charleston, S. c., F~b. 20. 1871;
Capt. 900, Columbia:
DEAR S1R-I have the honor to no.
tify you that l have been this day
directed by the honorable Secretary
of War to inform you that His Ex
cellency, the President of the United
States, directs me to notify you that
the members Of the SO called rifle
clubs. who under his proclamation of
October last, were instructed to dis
band, not to make any public demon
stration or parade on the 22d inst,
as is said to be contemplated, and it
is hoped you will give cheerful ODE
dience to this order and notify the
members of your club or company, in
order to prevent q parade Of any kind
taking place. My orders require me
to see that no such parade takes place.
l am, sir, respectfully, your obedient
servant, H. Nj. BLACK,
Lieut.. Col. 18th INIT, Comdg. Post.
The announcement of the promul
CATION of the above order caused con
siderable excitement among all class
es of citizens, and it having been
brought to Governor Hampton's at
tention, he, to night, issued the fol-
lowing proclamation:
State of South Carolina, Execn-
tive Chamber, Columbia, Feb. 20,
ls77-His Excel|ency the President
Of the United States having ordered
that the white militia companies OF!
this State should not parade on the
22d instant to celebrate Washing
tons birth day, in Difference to the
office he holds, l hereby c.!l upon
those organizations to postpone to
some future day this manifestation
OF their respect to tie memory Of
that illustrious president, whose
highest ambition il was. lis it was
his chiefest glory. to observe the
constitution and obey the laws Of his
country.
If the arbitrary commands Of o
chief executive, who has not sought
to emulate the virtues of Washing
ton, deprive the citizens Of this State
of the privilege Of joining publicly in
paying reference to that day, so ga
cred to every American patriot, we
can at least show by our obedience
to constituted authority, however ar
bitrarily exercised, that we are not
unworthy to be the countrymen of
Washington. We must therefore re-
NIT to some more auspicions period,
which ] trust is not far distant, the
exercise Of our right to commemo-
rate the civic virtues of that unsul-
lied character, who welded his
sword only to found and perpetuate
that American constitutional liberty
which is now denied to the citizens
of South Carolina.
WADE HAMPTON, Governor.
1t is noteworthy that no restric-
tion has been placed on the negro
companies, which have paraded fire.
quently Of late, and will parade on
the 22d.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Much ex
element has been created here to-
day, especially among the members
of the Southern delegations, by the
arrival here of copy of the Ohio
State Journal, Hayes home organ,
NTH "a loal:.e