The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-12
RADICAL REMONSTRANCE.
Chamberlain's Letter to the President.
WASHINGTON, April 2, 1877.

Chamberlain's Letter to the Pres1dent'
WASHINGTON, April 2, 1877.
The following is Ex-Governor Cham.
berlain's last letter to the President:
l.. WASHINGTON, D. c., March 81, 1877.
His Escelle,,cy, the President:
SIR-I have been invited by Mr..
Evarts to lay before you my views of the
results to be expected to follow the with
drawal of the United States forces now
stationed in the State House at Colum.
bia, together with such statement of any
reasons therefor as may deem it proper
to make A brief preliminary statement
of the circumstances under which these
forces were stationed at the State House
will be of service in responding to this
request.
WHY THE TROOPS WERE CALLED.
In October, 1876, I made an official
call upon the President for the aid of the
United States in suppressing domestic
violence and insurrection. In response
the President ordered considerable
number of troops to various points with
id the State, distributing them in such
manner as seemed likely not only to sup
press the actual existing violence or in
surrection, but to prevent similar out
breaks in other localities. The causes
and objects of the violence now referred
to were purely political. An effort had
been at that time made by the Demo-
cratic party to secure political control
Of the State by the use, Of physical force
and violence. A large number of armed
military companies had been organized
and made effective for this work in viola
tion of the laws of the State. To over
come the actual, open violation inaugu-
rated by these organizations and hold
them In check pending the election, and
thus to receive fair expression of the
will of the people at the election in No
Yember, was the sole object of my call
upon the President and his action in re-
sponse. Under these circumstances the
election took place. Unfortunately the
election did not close the political strug-
gle but rather intensified it. ..a.- 81.
THE STATE HOUSE GARRISON.
About the ,25th of November last, on
the eve of the assembling of the State
Legislature, I deemed it my duty to call
upon the President to assist me in pro-
tecting the State Capitol against the vio-
lence OF the organizations already re-
ferred to, in order to permit the Legisla-
ture to assemble and organize itself
peacefully. In response to this call the
President gave orders which resulted in
stationing small military force in the
State, House. This force was shortly
after reduced to one company, number
ing from twelve to twenty men,. The
single object in placing this force in the
State House, as well as the. sole use
which they served, was to secure the
State government and Legislature against
attack and overthrow by the unlawful or
ganizations alreadysdescribed. .e,-5,A
"a, ef5.l THE DUAL LEGISLATURES. ssii4.al
1.-The effort to organize the House of
Representatives resulted in the organiza-
ton of two houses, one of which remained
in the State House, and, in conjunction
with the Senate, formed the Legislature,
while the other occupied a hall at some
distance from the State House. The
complete Legislature thus organized at
the State House in due course of proce-
dure eangassed the vote for Governor and
Lieutenant Governor, declaring me to
have been elected agreeable to the pro-
visions of the State constitution. From
that time until the present the pres
ence of the United States troops at the
State House has resulted in protecting
the Legislature while it remained in ses-
sion and the various officers associated
with me in the enjoyment of their official
rights and the discharge of their official
duties. In the meantime my present
competitor for the Office Governor had
proceeded. under declaration of his
election made by the House of Represen-
tatives in political affiliation with him
self; to assume the Office of Governor and
to exercise its functions. Owing to cause
not requiring present statement no settle
ment of the conflicting claims to the
Office of Governor was made during the
term of your Immediate predecessor, and
thus after your accession to the Presiden-
cy the conflict remained unsettled, and
the United States forces at the State
House were then and are now discharg-
ing the function or duty which I have
already stated.
PRESENT USE, OF, THE TROOPS.
From what has now been stated il: fol-
lows that. in my Judgment the United
States forces at the State House are there
in pursuance and execution of consti-
tutional duty oripractice Of the govern
ment' 'of the United States in its constitu-
tional relation to the State of South Car
olina. They are there for the protection
of the State government, of which l am
the head, against domestic violence and
insurrection; not now fragrant, but held
in check only by the presence of the
force referred to. -
In the meantime the dispute respect
ing the Office of Governc- continues, and
no available power or mo1e of settling it
has been found. Under. these circum-
stances my opponents desire and demand
the withdrawal Of the United States force
from the Stats House, and I am invited
to state my objections to such action on
the part of Your Excellency. 8. 4:
OBJECTIONS TosTHE WITHDRAWAL.
My first objection is that the with
drawal of these forces from the State
House would be a withdrawal Of support
and aid against domestic violence by the
government of the United States, to
which the State and iStds government
which I represent is entitled under the
constitution and laws of the United
States, The claim here made does not,
in my Judgment, involve an assertion of
claim to the permanent presence and
aid Of the United States in upholding a
State government. The cause of the
present condition Of affairs is the disputed
title to the Office of Governor. Two rival
governments are contending for posses
sion of the executive Office and its prop
erty, in order that they may possess the
proper facilities for exercising the Office.
RI tho oovernment of-thn TTnited States