Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03

opposition, and placed the door under the con-
troll of D. B. Elkins, of Fairfield. There
were no files of scurvy negro constables with
bludgeons, but the crowd, nevertheless, we're
excluded easily, only those persons with pass
es being allowed entrance, besides the men,
bers and those claiming to be members of the
House. The hall of Representatives wore a
fresher and cleaner appearance than it has
done since the days of reconstruction, the alb
sence of six dollars per day attaches being
conspicuously noticeable. ....,.
After the adjournment the Mackeyites hung
around for while and then crowded into the
Senate chamber. The objects of the Demo
Gratis in Immediately adjourning can be read
lily understood. In the first place, the Senate,
having Republican majority, was uncertain,
and past experience had taught the Demo
Gratis that every precaution must be taken
against political trickery by their opponents.
The House having organized without swear.
ing in the Mackeyites, by adjournment held
matters in abeyance until they could discover
how the Senate would act towards them. In
short, they were prepared to fight the devil
with fire, and by displaying bold front sue
ceeded in gaining a vantage ground not occu'
pied by the true representatives of South Car
olina since ante be1um days. Had the bold
and unscrupulous majority in the Senate re.
fused to recognize the rights of the minority,
or had they, by strict party vote, refused to
seat, except under obnoxious conditions, the
legally elected Lieutenant-G Governor of the
State, then would the House of Representa-
tives have had it in their power to pass, with
equal rigor, upon the credentials of the now
subdued and covering members of the historic
Bayonet House. Subsequent events in the
great victory of the day will show, however.
that once more, without doubt, the destiny of
South Carolina is in the hands of her own
sons.
At II A. NJ, ex-Lieutenant-G Gov. Gleaves
appeared in the Senate chamber, and, taking
the chair, called the Senate to order. The
clerk was directed to call the roll, which was
done, and the following named members were
found to be present, to wit: j. Byrd, (Rep.)
R. F. Bowen, (Dem.) VIM. L. Buck. (Dem. }
A. P. Butler, (Dem G. Cannon, (Dem.) F.
Carter, (Rep.) F. A. Clinton, (Rep.) J. +.
Cochran and H. G. Corwin, (Reps.) S. S.
Crittenden, (Dem.) S. L. Duncan, (Rep) w.
A. Evans, (Rep.) S. E. Gaillard, (Rep.) Sam.
uel Greene (Rep. R. G.. Howard, (Dem.) T.
B. Jeter, (Dem.) J. W. Livingston, Dem.
H. j. Maxwell, (Rep.) H. A. Meetze. (Dem: }
W. F. Myers, (Rep.) W. B. Nash, (Rep) S.
A. Swails, (Rep) VIM. N. Taft, (Rep.) j. D.
Marley, (Rep.) B. H. Williams, (Rep.) I'D.
Witherspoon, Dem.) B. F. Whittemore,
(Rep.) Absent: w. E. Johnston, D. j..
Walker, in Jail, and Jones M. Williams, de-
ceased.
Gleaves announced that quorum was
present, and then delivered the following ad-
dress: ..
Senators: We have met to-day as Senate
under peculiar cumstances-circumstanc
which I need not recount at length. Since
we last met events have taken place which
change the political aspect Of our State and
affect my relations to you as Senate. We
meet now under a call of a gentleman who
has not heretofore been recognized by this
body as the Governor of South Carolina. If
that gentleman is to be regarded as the actual
Governor of the State, it has occurred to me
that should no longer exercise my right to
preside here. In reaching this conclusion l
desire to place on record, in the most public
and unqualified manner, my sense of the great
wrong which thus forces me practically to
abandon rights conferred on me, as fully
believe, by majority of my fellow.citizeDs of
this State. Those ri ights do not renounce
to-day but do not feel that can advance
the interest of those whom represent politi-
cally by longer exercising my right as Lieu
tenant. Governor presiding over this Senate,
and therefore announce to you, Senator'S
that shall vacate this chair from this time
forward. In taking this step, am gratified
to he able to say that take my leave of you
with the kindest personal feelings towards ev.
cry member of the Senate With some OF
you have served here for more than four
years, and attachments have arisen which it
is hard to break. I allow myself to hope al
so that there is no Senator here who has, to-
wards me, personally, to-day, any but kind feel
ings. return to you earnest and grateful
thanks for your kindness to me, praying that
in your hands the peace, honor and prosperi'
ty of South Carolina, and of all her citizens,
may be advanced and secured. Honorable
Senators, now call upon the Senator from
Williamsburg, as president pro tempore of the
Senate, to assume the chair. and bid you
each and all respectful and friendly fare
we'll.
At the conclusion of this address, Swails
came forward and took the chair, Gleaves &C.
ompanying the transfer with the usual for
mua. Swails directed the Governors procla-
nation converting the extra session to be read,
which was done, and he then asked what was
the pleasure of the Senate.
Mr.. Livingston (Dem.) said: IL have the
honor to state to the Senate that Mr.. Simpson
is present and ready to assume his duty. l
move committee be appointed to conduct
him to the chair" Nash moved to amend by
inserting that he required to be sworn in.
Mr.. Witherspoon (Dem.) objected to the
amendment, and said that he hoped the Sen
ate would not attempt to force President
Simpson into such position. He has already
been duly qualified and sworn into the office
to which he was elected and I ask that you
will not endeavor to make him stultify him
self by submitting to another qualification at
this time. I hope that the amendment will
be Withdrawn.
Mr.. Jeter said that he would like to hear
the reasons of the Senator from Richland in
offering his amendment.
Nash (Rep) replied that he recollected that
at the last session, the Senator from Union, in
offering objections to the seating of ex-Lieu-
tenant-G Governor Gleaves, submitted an ordi-
nance passed by the Constitutional Conven-
ton, and held the position that the President
of the Senate must take an oath administered
by either the Chief Justice or one Of the Asso-
ciate Justices of the Supreme Court. That
was the position taken by the Senator from
Union at the last session, and I only follow
in his footsteps.
At the instance of swails, the reading clerk