Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-11
SOUlli St1rOlsI!il,

by the leading mrn OF his party 10 ! cOlnmuul
cation, in which they approve his course and
aequcscc il his ac!on.
Tho following correspondence took, place in
Coumbis, yesterday, after tue withdrawal of
the troops from the State House:
"Stute Of South Corol:na, Ececntice Cham.
her, Columbia, $. G., April 10, lS77.-.Sir:
Having learned that you now propose to turn
over TO me the executive chamber, with records
and papers belonging to the executive Office
DOW in your possession, beg to inform you
that | will send proper officer to receive the
same at any hour you may indicate rs luo.l
convenient to yourself. am, very respectfully.
your obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON, Governor.
TO Hon. d. H. Chamberlain"
Estate Of South Cuollau, Erecuttce Cham.
Der, Columbia, 5, t., April 10, lSIl.-Sr:
Replying to your notc OF this date, have to
say that my private secretary will meet such
officer as you may designate at T. meridian TO-
morrow, at the executive chamber, for the Eur-
pose indicated 10 Jour note
Very respectfully.
I'D. ii. CHAMBERLAIN, Governor, :. {,
"To Hon. Wade Hampton
The Columbia correspondent Of the Ralil
The removal OF the troops from the State
House today Was accomplished SO quietly and
quickly as to 'dcpr?c the occasion CT much Of
its purely dramatic interest. In all save the
one essential particular that they were going
out never to return the evacuation differed very
little from the usual suppression of the guard
which might have been witnessed any time dur,
ing these four months.
Gov. llampou's published request in fur
thcrancc oil his promise to Hayes that no demo
crat should 90 near the State House unless au,
th0rIZed by HIM TO 10 50 Was carried ont TO the
letter. Not one Vas present at the ceremony,
and saw none Oh The capitol grounds either
before or alter the performance. Twenty min
utes before II o'clock your correspondent, with
| the other members OF the press, presented
themselves at the trout door aud entered un.
challenged, although. 4 score Ui the c0ioTed
special c0ustables We're hanging about the CO.
trance watching our movements, with Sullcn,
| uutriendIy glauccs
Within doors WAS confused crowd 0i per
haps one hundred add fifty persous, mostly
coored people, standing in groups engaged in
low and dlspirted conversation. Here and
there were to be seen one or two smaller groups
Of white republicans similarly occu pied, and
all locking badly dcmorai2ed. The guard on
duty to-day was a detachment Of twenty lnau
| of company b, Second Regiment, under com.
! mand Of Lieut.. Haynes.
All necessary preparations iur the evacuation
had been completed before our arrival, and the
! men, fully ACQUIRED, we're resting in two ranks
and with guns stacked before the door Of the
| Comptroller Generals Office, which has been
| used as officers quarters. A solitary sentry
paced up aud down or his old beat before the
tina 81 fl,,,to d.
| ter stood under IN arch, frequently referring 10
their watches. Gen. Rugcr's aids had arrived
| with the order during the morning, aud Col.
Black was nervousy iutcut upon complying
| with its precise instructions as to the hour oi
departure, 10 wit, precisely twelve g clock, His
nervousness affected his subordinate officers.
At ten minutes before twelve Lieut.. Haynes
suddenly sounded the order "Attention !"
| Then came in rapid succession, Take arms,
| fours,' ''T8os, Right" "Iarch! The
last order broug ht the squad sharply down 90
| the crowd, which gave way to allow free pas
sage to the door, but the Iioo was not yet Up,
| AID sudden halt was made as the leading file
| reached the south entrance
The sentry on duty before the executive otica,
| now relieved for the last time, resumed his
place ia the ranks aud th, command Order
arms Being givcu. the men stood at case.
Presently the sergeant, who has timed lis
| watch with the city hall bell, which in turn was
set with the clock 10 the telegraph Office which
| in turn Was regulated from Washington by ttla-
graph, whispers to the lieutenant, One minute
more or so. aud is draatcd 10 take his stand
| at the sonth door nezt 10 the city hall, and 10
give n0tce OF the first tap Vi tho clock bell bg
a wave Of his hand.
Col Black seeing the maU1vuiia called the
sergeant aud sent Lieut.. Briggs, OF the samc
company, to take the post OF warning. The
seconds are mlntitr5 now aud everybody il
listening for the sounh or WaIcltng for tL:
signal.
There ii goes! Lieut.. Briggs Waves his hand
10 indicate the first tap, which Was uot heard III
the reces:hs ol the hail. and advauca= rapidly
to Col. Black to report the fact.
The Colonel says "Dou't run, sir. TIE
Lieutenant joins the squad, then Is heard Al!
tcnlion, guard; carry arms, right shoulder
| arms, two right march. The sound Of heavy
and hurried footballs rescued along to-: rorri.
doris, aud before the bell has reached the Eth
stroke Of the tS75ve the last Tile has cosasl the
threshold.
a number Of c>iorcd constabIc: csijcutly
acting under pcremptorY and urgent orders,
|
med them to with bang, IN The face of Iie
crowd within, and in the Immediate rear Of the
last file Of soldiers without, and the military
occupation Of the Stale is ended. All was done
so suddenly that the clock could be heard sIrik-
ing after the doors were closed.
The crowd quickly Dispersed almost in 81
encc aud in few minutes the wires we're
flashing the tiding7 to every town and village
in the whole land, The detachment Of soldiers
we're marched direct to their quarters aud dis
missed.
Chamberlaiu's action 10 day vas a complete
surprise to everybody outside the small circle Of
his immediate fricpIs and could not have been
anticipated BY any one not in his confidence. II
was certainly known, upon evidence contained
10 his own handwriting, that so lately as Sat,
urday night he was fully determined upon the
policy OF resistance 10 this policy. His support
ers here considered him firmly committed, aud
they we're prepared to sustain him in it,
He had not 10 single Instance given tic
slightest inlimaion Of even the possibility Of