The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-04-27
LRaIsLATIvE :PRocE1pIHGs.
TuxspAr. 2Sd.

Inc Nreete LOOKING lively yesterday. As ear
might hs seen standing around in front Of the
hotel, smoking and talking over the all-absorb-
ing topic Of the assembling Of the Legislature.
:. The privileged few. until the House should be
organised, availing themselves Of their rights,
and the courtssies extended them, entered the
halls Of the House and found there assembled
the two bodies claiming to be the lawfal Legisla.
ture Of South Carolina. ~ .sf'rs - " SIS =
The body known last December as the Mackey
while the Wallace or constitutional House were
seated upon the lsft = 49, 3
Precisely AT H.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 q beautiful, fervent and patriotic
prayer was offered by the Rev. VIM. Martin.
Immediately thereafter, n motion to adjourn
was made and carried, and the House adjourned;
most of the members and spectators repairing
to the Senate chamber. where, singuiarly enough,
the hands of tho clock pointed precisely to IL
o'clock. .tr
Ex-Licutenant Governor Gleavcs called the
Senate to order at IL NJ, and Mr.. Woodruff
called the roll. quorum answering to their
names, EI-Lieutenant Governor Gleayes said /:
Gentieme, of the Senate:
1t becomes my duty to make remaIk or two.
We have met to-day as Senate under psculiar-
circumstanoes-ciraumsta which / need not
recount at length. Since we last met events have.
taken place which change the political aspect Of
our State and Of our relations to you as Senate.
We meet new under the call Of gentleman who
has not heretofore been: recognized by this
body as the Governor Of South Carolina. If.
that gentleman is to be regarded rs 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
majority OF my fsllowcitizens. Those rights I
do not renounce to-day, but do not feel TINT
can advance the interests of those whom renrc-
sent by longer exercising my right as Lieutenant
Governor Of presiding over this body, and l
therefore announce to you that shall vacate
this chair from now forward. take nv 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 Termed between us which
are hard to break. / hope that no Senator prec-
ent has any feeling toward me but those of kind
ness ana peace l now call upon the Senator
from Williamsburg, as President pro tenpore of
the Senate. to assume the chair, and bid You
| respectful and friendly farewell.
Swais then asceaded the stand, and Gleaves
delivered to him the gayel, keys, So, belonging
| to the ofice Of President Of the Senate.
The Clerk then read the Governors PROCLAIM
alton convenng the Legislature, from the col,
umns Of the Register. -. -,
Mr: W'thorspoon announced that Lieutenant
Governor Simpson was present, aaai6ipyed that
= 400 committee Of three be appOinted sonduct
| sworn in.
This was the question that was to test the rel =
ative strength Of the two parties and on il there
arose sume discussion. ',...-
Mr.. Witherspeon Said that it was but common
courtesy to the Lsutesaht- Governor to proceed
| IN the customary manner. That he had already
besp sworn and qualified once. and should not
now be asked to stultify himself by any attsnip-
ted justification at this time. :, .a..s,H
that the Senator from Uniof,, Mr..
JoeS had on some previous occasion contended
that the Governor and Lieut. enant- crnor shall
qualify in presepce Of the Senate, and be sworn
IN by Justice of Supreme Court, and had cited
an ordnance of the convention to that effect.
MT. Jeter said Tint Nash was mistaken AZ to
by Nash. 'A'
The question was then put on adoptint. the
| amendment, and resulted in n vote of lG ayes
| to IL noes.
On tho adoption Of the motion, the vote was
| ayes 16, noes H.
messrs. l. D. WitherspoOn. W. F. Myers and
+. "A. Clinton were appointed us such committee.
Lieutenant G overnor Simpson having ascend.
ed the stand, said:
Gentlemen Of the Senate, I have already been
qualified and taken the oath of Office, and cam
not consent to take the oath again, Under the
constitution Of this State, am the presiding Of :,
@ nceI OF TINS body, and cannot consent to have
!nnt oath, which, having been regularly admin
istered to me, administered the second time.
tnis was nm unexpected difficulty in the way
OF the gag law pacty, aud Swails meekIy asked
what action would the Senate take
Colonel Simpson asked the Senate out es cour.
tesy to him not TO insist upon his taking the
oath after he had once already done 20 He
said he had reflected maturely over the matter.
and wns convinced Of his duty in the premises.
| and he understood that it had been agreed by
both Gleaves and Swails that he was not to take
the oath again. He concluded bysaying, "There
| II 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 MIR. Witherspoon rose to make state
ment OF the circumstances under which the pres
ent position Of things had arisen. He said that
on yesterday there had been a conference at
WHICH were present. amor rgst others, the Lieu
tenant Governor, the ex Lieutenant Governor
and Senator s. A. Swails. Th' it was agreed
there to try and bridge over the change between
the old and new administration with harmony
and courtesy. II was agreed there that the Sem
ate.would not place him in such 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 ,att the Senator had just sta
ted was true, but ut that conference it was well
understood that no agreement made there could
bind the Senate on either side.
Mr.. WithersPoon saidth sit was true what was.
agreed on at the conference could not bind the -
Senate.