The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-05-11
a RICH SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

A RICH SCENE IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Orr, on behalf of the joint committee
Z to whom had been referred the claims of the
members of the late Mackey House, made
the following report, which was adopted:
The committees on privileges and cleo
tions and Judiciary, TO whom were referred
the claims Of all persons alleged to have
been elected, and who refused to appear and
qualify as members, aud joined themselves
to another body, calling themselves House
of Representatives, &C., beg leave to report
that they have duly aud carefully consider
ed the same as far as their time has allowed,
and ask to make the following partial re.
port:
That though the conduct.of the persons
referred to in the resolutions has been highly
reprehensibile, and in contempt of the au-
thority of this houses stiiI the committce
broad, just and liberal policy of the Admin
istration, and prescribe mo one, as far as
they can do 70 consistently with the dignity
of the House of Representatives and the
majesty of the law. We beg leave to re-
commend as follows:
That from Beaufort Messrs. Hastings
CAN'T, Joseph Robinson, George A. Reed
and L. E. Miller, on presenting their Gre
dentials and purgiag themselves at the bar
Of the House Of their contempt, have the
oath of Office administered to them, and be
allowed to take their seats as members.
That from Chester Messrs. Samuel Cole
man and Purvis Alexander be admitted on
the same condition.
That from Clarendon Messrs. Syfax Mil
ton and Hampton Boston be admitted on the
same conditions.
That from Georgetown Messrs Charles
s. Green and P. X. Kinloch be admitted on
the same conditions.
That from Orangeburg Messrs Shadrack
Morgan, Christian w. Caldwell and Ellis
Forrest be admitted on the same conditions.
That from Richland Messrs. A. w. Cur
tis, @. s. Minort, Jas. Wells, R. j. Palmer
and VIM. NJ. LoMman be admitted on the
same conditions, and
That from Williamsburg William Scott,
james I Peterson and John Evans be ad-
mitted on the same conditions.
j. L. ORR,
RoBT. ALDRIoH.
Hamilton moved that the members named
in the report come forward, by counties, and
after purging themselves of their contempt
be sworn in. This plan was adopted, and
there followed one of the richest scenes that
ever was witnessed within the legislative
halls of South Carolina. The Rebels, as
they are fitly termed, appeared tofeel it all
over, and stood before the Speaker 8 desk
like parcel of disgraced school boys about
to be lectured. To those who had seen
these identical men last winter, insolent,
overbearing and loud -mouthcd, the very men
who had with similar resolutions poured
forth day and night their foul abuse upon
the heads of the legal representatives Of
the State, the scene to-day was immense,
and one that never will be forgotten. 1t is
almost incredible that the crying apologists
who appeared to-day, craving pardon, are
the same blatant partisans who. in December
last, threatened the life of the Republic
Beaufort was first called for and CAN'T
Robinson, Reed and Miller came forward,
in sort of wriggling gait, with their cre-
dentals in their hands. The speaker said
"You have heard the resolutions adopted by
the House. What have you to say for
yourselves 2"
Miller, who in the flush days of Radical
ism, was inclined to be verySshsttlesstepped
w WIG lious duu III u NSEy HtNlAyxy4sWHi6pcT,
in marked contrast with his asGSf Style of
haranguing said "What have done be-
liove to be right, but am perfectly willing
to recognize you as the legal Speaker, and
this as the legal House of Representatives"
A number of voices cried out "loudcr," and
Mr.. Sheppard said : "There is condition
precedent to Mr. Miller's admission, and
that is that he shall purge himself of the
contempt of which he acknowledges himself
guilty, and do not recognize iii his remarks
an expression of regret or penitence for his
palpable violation of the law" Miller, in a
half frightened tone 81 accept the PROPOSE
tion as laid down in the resolutions, and
consider this acceptation as purging my con-
tempt" A voice from the Democratic side
insisted that there should be an admission
of wrong, and a request for pardon. Miller,
finding that he had to swallow the dose,
blurted out that he knew he had done wrong,
and craved pardon for what he had done.
This was satisfactory, and the House agreed
Ito admit him.
Miller then said that he would state, on be-
half of his colleagues, that they made the
same apologies as himself. A dozen voices
'cried out that they wanted to hear each man
speak for himself CAN'T came next, and,
seeing the fate of Miller, was decidedly more
docle. He said: 81 accept the propositions
as laid down in the resolutions, and | am
willing to stand by them and apologize to
the House for my unlawful conduct" Reed
came next, and said that he knew that he
had erred, and asked pardon for what he
had done Robinson followed, and said he
craved the pardon of the House for having
erred, and accepted the propositions laid
down in the resolutions. These four Mack
cyites, who, it will be remembered, all voted
for the expulsion of the legal members last
winter, then presented their credentials to
The clerk and wern sworn i'm hv the Sneak.