Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-10
Nlistellaueuns &eadiug'
SENATOR BUTLER'S POSITI
A Liberal and Consistent South Carolina
Democrat.
From the Charleston News and Courier

COLUMBIA, April 28.-In view of the many
wild rumors ahoat relative to the probable
course of General M G. Butler, concerning
his position as United States Senator elect,
and his attitude as regards the policy Of the
Democratic party as announced by Governor
Hampton in his speeches and addresses, and
in view, also, of the many misrepresentation
of his feelings toward the colored people in
the South, your correspondent obtained to-day
an interview with General Butler, when the
following conversation took place:
Reporter "Gen. Butler, will you give me
decided answer whether or not you intend
to ask for new election as United States
Senator?"
Gen. Butler 81 will not ask for a new
election, because I do not consider it necessa-
ry. I do not think it necessary, first, because
lean acquire nothing more than / have &C.
quired already, to wit: Governor Hampton g
credentials. i have heard of no proposition
for new election, except from Radical sources
and from some ambitious Democrats who ex-
pect Radical support. I think my election is
naintainable upon legal grounds, and I have
no doubt that when the United States Senate
is fully in possession of these grounds, my
title to the seat will be fully recognized, and
l will be admitted. The act of 1866, provi-
ding for the election of United States Sena-
tor, determines the case. Where the two
branches Of the Legislature are controlled by
different political parties, and they refuse to
20 into joint assembly for the election of a
United States Senator, the State might be de-
prived, for an indefinite period, of representa-
tion in the Senate. To meet this difficulty the
act was passed. 1t provides for the contin-
gency described by directing that, where the
two houses refuse to meet in Joint assembly,
either house may notify the other of its pur-
pose to 20 into an election for United States
Senator, and if it can secure from the other
house an attendance sufficient to make, with
its own members, quorum Of the membership
of both houses and the election is had with
such quorum, the said election is good and
valid. That position was taken by Mr.. Nor
ton, in his argument upon the Kellogg case
in Louisiana, and applies specially to my case,
and hence think my election maintainable
on legal grounds.
"When my election was had, quorum of
the membership of both houses was present
and voting; and I received majority of
| C1OSo VOIeSj W VII W, "ueu II Sotoo "oulu
have been enough to have secured my elec-
ton therefore, I think new election now
would throw cloud upon my title, which I
regard as perfectly good Governor Hamp-
toms credentials, he now being recognized as
Governor, certainly give me prima taeie
right to my seat, and I entertain no reasona-
bic doubt of my being seated,
Reporter; General, are you in accord with
the policy of the Democratic party, as an
nounced by Governor Hampton in his letters
and addresses ?"
Gen. Butler: II am entirely in accord ,oith
the policy Of the Democratic party as announced
by Governor Hampton. l think that in what
ever proper measures Mr.. Hayes proposes for
the benefit of the country, especially for the
interests of the South, it is the duty of every
patriotic citizen to support him; and as long
as he continues to follow out the policy of his
Inaugural and his subsequent declarations
towards the South, I shall feel bound to meet
him halfway. l think Governor Hampton's
position impregnable, as Conservative Dem
oorat The bane of politics for the last ten
years has been too much partisanship and too
much sectionalism and whilst I believe the
theory of the Democratic party to be the cor
rect theory of government, believe in liber-