The Russellville Democrat., 1877-01-04

 ot representatives, who decided upon the admission of members to their seats, and when the plo- visions of the constitution and the decision of the supreme court were brought to yoor attention, you distinctly and warmly as serted, again and again, that your orders wore misunderstood; that you did not intend to have septi- nels at the do of the halb and that you had not, and did not in tend to decide uponJthe legality of any mans seat, or upon hls right to eutey the hall. You were then refninded by us that your guard received instructions from sile Dennis, a citizen and paJtisan of Gov. Chamberlain, to yadmit parties upon his own pass or that of one Jones, ard had, through armed force, excluded all democrats from the hall until the republican organization was com pieted. You assured us again that such were not your orders. You were told by us that no.- withstanding the perpetration ot this inexpressible shame upon our free institutions and the rights of tue people, the evils could still be remedied without any violence or bioolshed by the simple withdrawal of your guard from the doors of the hail. and that majority of the votes de cided all questions in accordance the laws and usages of lcgisla- tive bodies. You stated that no troops should be at the door and that under no circumstances would you interfere except there should be serious disturbance of the peace. You affirmed your determination to exercise no su- pervisory control whatever of the body or bodies claiming to be the house of representatives. All this occurred on yesterday. Last night, in q later interview with senator Gordon, you made the same assurances, and this morn ing, after both houses were as. semhled in the hall, you assured Gen. Hampton under no circum stances would you interfere, eX cept to keep the peace. What can now justly measure our as tonishment at the assurance oi such an order as the one just sent by you? There is no breach of the peace, ald no prospects ol disturbance. You had 1t official ly brought to your knowledge that absolute good numor pre- vails in that hall. We cannot re train from expressing apprehen sioa that the fact that a number of leading republicans are taking issue with the legality of the pro ceedings ny the republican house has changed your views as t' your line of duty. It is proper that we should say in conclusion that we relied upon yoar honol as a man and your character as ; soldier, to maintain your pledge aud position of on-interventiou The democratic members iron Elgefield and Laurens are enti tied to their seats by the judg ment oi the supreme court of this state. and we have advised then to remain in the hall until re moved by your troops, that thu issue may be made in this cen tennial year of American inde pendence whether we have q gov ernment of law as construed bl courts, or centralized ,lespotisn whose only law is force. I'm American people behold th' spectacle of a brigadier genera oi the army seated by the side. 0 Gov. Chamberlain in q room c the state house and issuing hi orlers to legislative body peace fully assembled, Tn one of tn original thirteen commonwealth of this union.
 Respectfully yours,
 J. $. GORDON,
 WADE HAMPTON,
 A. C. HASKELL.