Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-09
south Carolina.

consider them, but that 10 genera! hc dld not
regard the withdrawal of the troops as affecting
his legal rights, whatever effect 1t might nave
on his practical ability to maintain them. He
said it would probably be his duty 10 hold his
c!hco until removed from 1t by forc':, ln au'
swer to an inquiry as to his course It Hampton
should convene the Legislature immediately,
he said he could not DOW determine that lie
could only say he Intended to pursue course
consistent with firm belief il the justice OF
his nositiou and cause, without regard TO per-
sonal consequences.
\ special dispatch 10 the Baltimore Sun from
Columbia, under date Of yesterday, says:
| The problem Of the hour here IS lie course
| 10 he taken BY Chamberlain after the soldiers
| leave the State House. The statement he gave
| IA the Associated Press last nlght Is not con.
s;dcred GoaI, fer Chamberlain has developed
wonderful facility Tor changing his mlnd and
bafi!pg public antlclpallons. Ills present o.
| iect seems 10 be TO sustain the spirits OF his
discouraged nartisans. Most Of these are How
insisting with great earnestnes5 upon their ex'
trcmnIv moderate republicanism in times past,
and If they cannot be said to talk Hampton
outright, they certainly squint strongly 10 that
direction. They express great satisfaction W!h
Gov. iiampton's address, AID equal confidence
ia hi7 Intentions aud ability 10 carry out his re,
heated promises and pledges. They sag that II
he means all he says he ia as much republican
az democrat, or at least republican enough ter
all rractioa! purposes and tor them.
Republicans, however, 10 less than The oem
| ocrais, are waiting TO sec what Mr., Chamoer'
lain's next move will be, and much OF his lo'
lowing and Influence among his late constltu'
cn.s will depend upon that move. IT they su5'
paat that he Is working tor his own immediate
nr future interest he will lose control at once,
ard that suspicion he tries to allay by repeated
declarations that what he does and will do IS
solely for the sake Of the party. 1t is pretty
we'll settled that be does not propose to vacate
his rlsc, unit! forced to do so, and in this de-
termination he will certainly be supported By
al IF his secretaries and the members OF the
rrturopg board who elected him, and who are
morally bound to see him through the difficulty
in which they so largely contributed 10 involve
him. Their position is ia brlGt that the re-
luoyal Of troops simply leaves matters where
their ;otrrIarenca found them, and that the
thread Of the fight in this Stale must be taken
nm inst there ard followed out on the tangled,
erIcs3 line nauguratcd in the Supreme Court
last ia. It is needless 10 say that the lamp
ton programme, the details OF which arc Kept
very close, does not concrde with the czpncta.
tions Ct Chamberlain s supporters. The pledges
given to the President, however, Will he Err;
to the letter.
The Wa7.n2ton Republican Of this lnarn
,Dg says
The suddaana:s with which the Chamber,
lain party 10 South taroioa have chaoged
their tactics With respect to the question Of the
Co7ernorship. Of the State has quite naturally
set the rnhlic mind wondering al the reason
therefor. II ii kDown fact that when the
President !. intention RI Withdrawing the troop:
from Hon:h Carolina vas made public the sup
D,rt2rs II Gov Hhan! bcrlaa we're divided IL
op:c.ya ~ to what vas best 10 be done.
Bowen. rorbiu ani Patterson urged the policy
Ct :teallast resistance Ia the rrd Whiio Gov.
Ch.mharia;a himself, upheld bT several Of hi.
na;s3nmi iri,nd9, seemed 10 be Of the opinion
that the best thing 10 ID would be to quietly
withdraw without further opposition after the
t:oops had iatl The State House The latter
course vas decided upon I,y Gov. Cham berlain,
and il became matter OF public information
being admitted Oh ali s!l!a9.
A. sooa Is this was done, Aassrs. Patterson
and Bowen immediately set 10 work to make
! the most Of the situation, ana called upon GeD.
Hampton, saying that they would abide ny the
results, give !hcir allegiance 10 the Hampton
governments, holding the "H0vernor TO the
promises Sci forth il his Inaugural. The Tea.
Y0n Tor this impctuous bending OF !he knee On
} the par; Of these extreme gentlemen caused
much comment at The time. 1t was generally
attributed to the "ugliness" Of their feeling
against tic policy Of the Administration and
their desire to work with any party as against
the onc rar!sa2ly Identified with the Admin
is;raiion. But now it seems that Governor
Chamberlain has changed his mind as to What
nc w do, aud Patterson and Bowen both
chine in aud Say they have reconstructed their
action. tioy. Chamberlain Intends to stand by
his p2st, and will Gny leave the Office 10 the
O1nier as provided for by the Constitution.
lie says it is not . uater to be decided by lc-
caI process, but by til" Legislature or else q
n2S election.
Tic Chamberlain party nnntaio that moth.
ur short OF 4 new clcc.0n will settle the dis.
putc, utlass il he a resort to lyDchlaw process.
They say that Hampton will, no doubt, act up.
on The decision iu the Wallace IS. Mackey case
before The Supreme Court Of the State, which
decided that the Hampton House was the legal
House and Wallace lis Speaker, aud that
Hampton will resort to legal process Of ejectlDg
Chamberlain from the executive office. They
further claim, however, that, though one or all
Of the circuit courts OF the State should issue q
writ CT ciactment against Chamberlain, the
| maj IET WUulu Ue SulJeCl W uu appear w tHG
Supreme Court. This court being composed
of but two Justices at present, divided 10 onn-
ion, is would he the same as if no court existed.
"a decision could not be obtained.
Admitting that the Hampton House is the
legal onr, they claim to have republican ma
jority in the SeuaIe. If. therefore, the Dues
lion OF disputed title comes up before the Leg.
islature, and the House votes for Hampton and
the Senate for Chamberlain, there would be no
agreement; and as further provided by the
Constitution. the matter must then remain in
statue quo and new election ordered, to take
place wtbia sixty days. Chamberlain meanwhile
holding over as Governor. Now, if this theory
Is di<reaarlcd By Hampton, ard he proceeds to
compel The enforcement of the writ by mere
physical force, then Chamberlain will, 90
doubt. yield, and throw himself upon the coun-
try in the hope Of creating sympathetic seuli'
! mGnt.
1t is difficult OF course, TO understand exact.
ly what are the causes of this changed policy CT