Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-05
Governor Chamberlain's Letter to
the President.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 1877,
The following is Governor Chamberlain last
letter to the Pre- sident:
WASHINGTON, ID. C., March 81, 1877.
His Excellency. the President:
SIR have been invited by Mr.. Evarts to lay
before you my views Of the results to be expected
to follow the withdrawal of the United States
forces now stationed in the State House at Colum-
bia, together with such statement of any reason
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 10 responding to
this request.
WHY THE TROOPS WERE CALLED.
In October, 1876. / made an official call upon
the President for the aid Of the United States in
suppressing domestic violence and Instruction.
In response the President ordered considerable
number of troops to various points within the State,
distributing them il such manner as seemed likely
not only to suppress the actual existing violence
or instruction, bat to prevent similar tbr eaks
in other localities. The and objects of the
violence now referred to we're purely political. An
effort had been at that time made by the demo-
cratic party to 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
10 violation of the laws of the State. To over
come the actual. open violation nauguiated by
these organisations and hold them in check pend
ing the election and thus 10 receive a fair express
sion of the will Of the people at the election in
November, was the sole object of my call upon
the President and his action IN response. Under
these circumstances the election took place. I'm
fortunately the election did not close the political
struggle but rather intensified it.
THE STATE HOUSE GARRISON.
About the 25th Of November last, on the eve of
the assembling of the State Legislature deemed
my duty to call upon the President TO assist me
in protecting the State Capital against the yo-
lence Of the organizations already referred to, in
order to permit the legislature TO assemble and or
ganize itself peacefully. In response to this call
the President gave orders which resulted iu sta
tioning . small military force in the State Heuse
This force was shortly after reduced to one COM
pany, numbering 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 Legsla-
ture against attack and overthrow by the unlaw-
full organizations already described.
THE DUAL LEGISLATURE.
The effort To organize the House of Represen-
tatves resulted in the org anization of two houses
one Of which remained in the State House. and
In conjunction with the Senate, formed the Iegis-
lature, while the other occupied q hall at some
distance from the State House. The complete
Legislature thus organized at the State House in
due course Of procedure canv sssed the vote for
Governor and Lieutenant Governor, declaring me
TO have been elected agreeable to the DIVISIONS of
the State constitution. From tina. time until the
present the presence Of the United States troops
at the State House has resulted in protecting the
Legislature while it remained in session and the
various State officers associated with me in the
enjoyment of their Official rights and the discharge
of their official duties. In the meantime my pres
ent competitor for the Office of Governor had pro-
eeeded, under declaration of his election made
by the House Of Representatives political affli-
alton with himself, to assume the Office of Cover
ernor and to exercise its functions. Owing to
causes not requiring present statement no settle
ment OF the conflicting claims to the office of Gov
ernor was made during the term of your immedi-
ate predecessor, aud thus after your accession to
the Presidency the conflict remained unsettled.
and the United States forces at the State House
were then and are now discharging the function
or duty which have already stated.
PRESENT USE OF THE TROOPS.
From what has now been stated it folio VS. that
In my judgment the United States forces at the
State House are there in pursusn and execution
of . constitutional duty or practice Of the govern
ment of the United States in its constitutional re-
laton to tie State of South Carolina. They are
there for the protection of the State government
Of which i am the bead, against domestic violence
aud insurrecton, not now fragrant, but held in
check only by the presence of the force referred to-
ln the meantime the dispute respecting the Office
Of governor continues and no available mode of
settling II has been found. Under these circum-
stances my opponents desire and demand the with
drawsl Of the United States force from the State
House. and am invited TO state my objections to
such action on the part of Your Excellency.
OBJECTIONS TO THE WITHDRAWAL.
Ny first objection is that the withdrawal of these
forces from the State House would be with
drawal of support and aid against domestic yio-
lence by the government Of the United States. TO
which the State and State government which I
represent Il entitled under the constitution aud
laws of the United States. The claim here made
does not. in my judgment involve an assertion Of
q claim TO the permanent presence and aid of the
United States 10 upholding State government.
The cause of the present condition Of Affairs is the
di puted title TO the Office Of governor. Two rival
governments are contending for possession Of the
executive Office and ts property 10 order that they
may possess the proper facilities for exercising the
Office. II the government Of the United States can
not properly, under the present circumstances, de-