Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-04-14
Home Rule in So. Caralina.
nnE srArE HoUsE VACATED.
wIrupRAwALoF CHAMBERLAIN
Special Dispatch 10 the Baltimore Sun J

dramatic interest. In all save the one essen
tal particular that they were gong OUT
never TO return the evacuation differed very
little from the Usual suppression OF The guard
which might have been witnessed any time
during these four months.
GOV. IIamptUn's published request in nrth-
erance Of his promise II Hayes that no demo-
crat should 90 near the State House unless
authorized by him to do 50 was carried ont TO
the letter. Not one WAS present at the cere-
mony. and saw none on the capitol grounhs
either before or after the performance. Tween
~ minutes before u o'clock yonr correspond
cut. with the other members OF the press, pre-.
sented themselves at the front door and entered
unchalenged, although a score OF the colored
special consiables were hanging about the en-
I trance watching our movements, with sullen,
unfrendy slauces.
Within doors was a confused crowd of per-
haps one hundred and fifty persons, mostly
colored people, standing in groups engaged IN
low aud dispirilel conversation. Here and
there were 10 be seen one or two smaller
groups OF white republicans similarly occupied,
and all looking badly demoralized. The guard
on duty to-day was detachment OF twenty
men Of company B Second Regiment, under
command of Lieut.. Haynes.
All necessary preparations for the evacuation
| had been completed before our arrival, and
| men, fully ACQUIRED, were resting in two
! ranks and with Guns stacked lefure the door
Of the comptroller general Office, which has
| been used as officers quarters \ solitary
/ sentry paced up and down on his old beat be-
! fore The executive Office Cil. Black and Adj
| infant Potter stood under an arch. frequently
| referring to their watches Gen Ruser's aids
| had arrived with the order during the morn
| inr. and Gil. Black was intent upon complying
with its precise instructions rs To- the hour OF
departure to wit. precisely twelve o'clock
/ lis NERVOUSNESS affected lis subordinate olh-
/ Gers.
\, ten minutes Def re twelve Lieut. Haynes
suddenly sounded the order, Attention =
| Then came in rapil succession Take arms, "
.. l'uix hayoncis.' Garry arms" Count
nuis. " Twos." Right, " March ~ The
lat oilcr brought tie squad sharply down on
the crowd. which gave way to- allow free pas
SAGE to the door, bat the line WAS not yet mp,
and a sudden halt was made rs the leading file
reached tie south entrance.
Tie scutry on duty bef re the executive Of
fee now relieved for the last time, resumed
his place in the ranks, and the command, COR
der arms heiu. given, the men stood at ease.
Presently the sergeant who has timed his
watch with tie city ball bell which in turn
was set with the clock in the Telegraph Office,
which in turn was regulated from Washing
ton by telegraph, whispers TO the Lieutenant,
zone minute more or 80" and is directed to
take hi, stand at the south door, next 10 the
l. g., Of tho first ID
the clock bell 10y wave of his hand.
Col Black seeing the maueuvre called the
sergeant and sent Lieut.. Briggs. Of the same
company to take the post Of warning. The
seconds are minutes now. and everybody Is
listening for the sound or watching for the
signal
There it goes Lieut. Briggs waves lis hand
to indicate the first tap, which was not heard
in the rcccssrs Of the hail and advances rapid
IS 10 Cul Black To report the fact.
The Cdoncl says I'D mt rnn. sir The
Lieut. .us the squat, then is heard "Atten-
ton, guard carry arms right shoulder
arms. tworisht march. The sound Of heavy
and hurried umlal,s resouud along the cor
rdors and before the bell has reached the flt
stroke of the twelve tie last file has crossed
the threshold
4 number of culure1 constaLcs, evidently
acting under pcrrnptory and urgent orders
Instantly sprung tu the heavy d"nrS and slam
med them to with a bang. in the face Of tho
crowd within, and in the immediate rear al
the last file of soldiers without. aud the Mill
tary occupation Of tie State is ended All
was home 50 suddenly that the clock could be
heard sinking after the doors were closed.
The crowd quickly dispersed almost in 81
lcncc. and In few minutes the wires were
flashing the tidiues 90 every town and village
IN the whole In J. The leia, hment 81 sol
Gicrs were al,Lcd die,t Il cir qnaiters and
dismissed
Clanlclhi. D, action to-day was a complete
surprise lo every body outside the small circle
It his immediate friends. and could not have
been anticipated ty any one not in bis couti.
dence. It was certainly known, upon eyi-
der ce contained in Lis own handwriting, that
so lately as Saturday night he was fully Dc
teruiued upon the p'licy of resistance to TN,
policy llis supporters here considered him
firmly committed, aud they were prepared t.
sustain him 10 II.
lie bad not in SINGLE instance given the
,lialtcst intjmati,n Of even The possibility Of
clan-c In The course he had marked ont. and
such 4 possibility las not hccn entertained for
a moment in the plans of Gov Hampton a0i
his friends. who have been engaged for several
DAYS d,v>ing the line Of attack to be pursued
in view Of bis purpose Of resistance 10 the last
legal extremity.
The truth is that Cllmberlain changed bis
mind within the past twenty-four hours and
the change to whatever Influence due, was
kept So secret that it WAS not even suspected
till the troops had actually departed from his
Office door and he had made formal and official
announcement Of his Abandonment Of the con-
test
Whatever tie reason for this course the fact
Of lis yi,llug at this inncture has gone very
far already towards modifying tie feelings Of
enmity entertained towards him by The majori-
ty Of his political opponents.
The city is very quiet after the exciting O.
vents Of the day, and there is little 10 be said
as vet concerning the new situation. The
other incumbents Of the State House Offices
are not included in the Chamberlain terms Of
surrender, and they all, so far as known, pro-
pose TO hold their ground until the decision Of
the Supreme Court in the quo warrauto cases
is promulgated
CoEREsPcNDENCE BETWEEN HAMPTON AID
CHANBERLAGS.
(" State NJ South Corolina, ErecTire Chamber,
Columbia ). e., April 10, 1sT7.-Sir: Having
learned that you now propose 10 turn over % me
the executive chamber with records and papers
belonging IN the executive Office now in your
possession. beg to inform you that viii send a
proper officer % receive the same at any hour you
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