The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-04-27
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
1'uEsDAY, 23d.

hotel, smoking and talking over the all ll-absorb-
ing topic Of the assembling Of the Legislature.
The privileged few, until the House should be
organized, availing themselves Of their rights,
and the courtesies extended them, entered tho
halls Of the House and found there assembled
the two bodies claiming to 5e the lawful Legisla-
ture Of South Carolina ~sr' IS
The body known last December as the Mackey
House were seated upon the right of the entrance
while the Wallace or constitutional House were
seated upon the left.
Precisely at ll.57 a. NJ, Speaker Wallace as
cended the Speakers stand, accompanied by
Clerk Sloan and his assistants, when the roll of
the constitutional House was called.
After the calling Of the roll by the Clerk. the
Speakers gravel sounded, every one present
arose, and beautiful, fervent and patriotic
prayer offered by the Rev. VIM Martin.
Immediately thereafter, motion to adjourn
was made and carried, and the House adjourned;
most of the members and spectators repairing
to the Senate chamber. where, singularly enough,
the hands of the clock pointed precisely to ~
o'clock.
Ex-Lieutenant Governor Gleavcs called the
Senate to order at IL NJ, and Mr.. Woodruff
called the roll. quorum answering to their
names, Ex-Lieutenant Governor Gleaves said
Gentlemen Of the Senate:
1t becomes my duty to make remark or two.
We have met to-day as u Senate under peculiar
Observation-Disclosures which need not
recount at length. Since we last met events have
taken place which change the political aspect of
State and of our relations to you as Senate.
We meet now under the call of gentleman who
has not heretofore been. recognized by this
body the Governor of South Carolina. If
that gentleman is to be regarded the actual
Governor of the State, it has occurred to me
that should no longer exercise my right to pre-
side here. In reaching this conclusion desire
| to place on record in the most public and un-
qualified manner my sense of the great wrong
| which thus forces me practically to abandon the
rights conferred on me, as fully believe. by O
| maj jority of my fellow. citizens. Those rights
| do not renounce to-day, but do not feel that
can advance the interests of those whom repre-
| sent by longer exercising my right as Lieutenant
Governor Of presiding over this body, and
therefore announce to you that l shall vacate
| this chair from now forward. take my leave
of you with the kindnest personal feelings tow
| ards every member of the Senate. With some
of you have served here for four years, and
attachments have been formed between which
are hard to break. hope that no Senator pree-.
ent has any feeling toward me but those of kind
ness and peace. now call upon the Senator
from Williamsburg, as President pro tempore of
the Senate, to assume The chair, and bid you O
respectful and fl iendy farewell.
Swails then ascended the stand and Gleaves
delivered to him the gavel, keys, &C., belonging
to the office of President of the Senate.
The Clerk then read the Governors PROCLAIM
alton convening the Legislature, from the COL
umns Of the Register.
Mr.. Witherspoon announced that Lieutenant
Governor Simpson was present, and-ppved that
committee of three be appointed aScoaduct
| him to the chair.
Nash moved to amend by requiring him l. bo
| sworn in.
This was the question that was to test the rel
ative strength of the two parties, and on it there.
arose some discussion.
Mr. Witherspoon Said that it was but common
courtesy to the LieuteVaht- Governor TO proceed
q, l.
been sworn and qualified once, and should not
now be asked to stuiry himself by any attenp-
| ted qualification ut this time. =. .'...
.tsnsSasr said that the Senator from Union, Mr..
| Jefer, had on some previous occasion contended
that the Governor and Lieutenant. Governor shall
qualify in prcsepce Of the Senate and be sworn
| IN by Justice of Supreme Court, and had cited
an ordinance of the convention to that effect
Mr. Jeter said that Nash was mistaken as to
his having made the argument attributed to i'm
| by Nash.
The question was then PIT on adopting. the
amendment, and resulted in d; vote of lG ayes
| to ii noes.
On the adoption of the motion, the vote was
ayes l6, noes H.
Messrs. |. ID. Wtherspoon, ". F. Myers and
r. a. Clinton were appointed rs such committee.
| Lieut. enant- Governor Simpson having ascend
| ed the stand said
| Gentlemen Of the Senate, | have already been
qualihed and taken the oath Of Office, and can
| not consent to take the oath again Under the
| constitution of this State am the presiding Of
| icer of this body, and cannot consent to have
| that oath, which, having been regularly admin
istered to me, administered the second time
| This was an unexpected difficulty in the way
or the gag-law party, and Swails mcckly asked
what action would the Senate take.
! Colonel Simpson asked the Senate out Of cour-
tesy to him not to insist upon his taking tho
oath after he had once already done 60 lie
said he had reflected maturcly over the matter,
and was convinced of his duty in the premises.
| anu he understood that it had been agreed by
| both Gleaves and Swails that he was not TO take
the oath again. He concluded by saying, "There
| is no power on this earth that can compel me to
take that oath again" [Cheers in the gallery
| and lobby.l
Cochran moved to reconsider the vote on the
| adoption of the amended resolution
On this Mr. Witherspoon rose to make n state
ment OF the circumstances under which the pres
ent position Of things had arisen lie said that
on yesterday there had been conference at
which were present. amorgst others, the Lieu
tenant Governor, the ex Lieutenant Governor
nnd Senator :. a. Swails. Tn: it was agreed
there to try and bridge over the change between
the old and new administration with harmony
ant courtesy. II was agreed there that the SEN
ate. would not place him in such q position. He
asked the Senate not to require the Lieutenant
Governor to do that which they knew was wrong
and which they would not do themselves under
like circumstances.
Swails said that W ,at the Senator had lust STA
ted was true, but at that conference it was well
understood that no agreement made there could
bind the Senate on either side
MT WithersPoon said tn tit was true what was
agreed on at the conference could not bind the
Senate.
Nash said that although he had not been aware