Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-05-10

he whole Republican party scquiesced
n the withdrawal OF the troOps, ana
llthough neither the President nor his
Importers were convinced that Hamp-
ION had valid title to the Executive
,fice, they hoped that the peace and
Of the State might be pro
noted by allowing him to take posses
sion Of il. The result was the total
Of the Chamberlain Govern
ment.
when the Legislature met the "Wal'
lace House" seated enough members
from the contested counties to give the
Democrats Q good working majority,
but the Senate stood eighteen RePubli-
cans to fifteen DemOersta, and this was
a barrier to the complete and absolute
supremacy of the Hampton party, in
asmuch as no bill could he passed with
out the consent of both houses. 1t was
therefore necessary to get rid OF the
Republican majority in the Senate
We have heretofore explained how
this was accomplished. Influences were
brought TO bear upon q ,cedk Repubii-
can which were sufficiently potent to
induce him to premise TO act independ-
ent. This made the opposing parties
stand seventeen to sixteen. 1t was
only necessary to get rid OF one more
Republican, and then there would be
q tie. which would give the Lieuten-
ant Governor the casting vote and Sc
cure q Democratic majority. This was
done by the arrest of Dublin Walker, q
charge Of having (when filling the Of
a r Oh ~srr =.
issued q pay certificate for $62 to u
teacher TO whom nothing was owing.
Although Walker was the owner of
considerable property, nobody dared
to incur the odium of going on his bail
bond, and Judge Maa key very prompt
ly sent him to Jail. Walker Says that
the signature which purports 10 be his
on the back OF the pay certificate is a
forgery. Whether he Is guilty or not,
1t Is q most extraordinary circumstance
that no notice should be taken of the
charge for three years, and that II
should make its first appearance in le-
gal form on the day bef0rethe meeting
Of the Legislature. Poor Walker re-
msined In Jail three or four days aud
then sent in his resignation. Gov.
Hampton promptly issued q proclsma.
tion declaring vacancy in the Chester
Senatorial district and ordering Q new
election. Although the county il
strongly Republican, nobody has the
ieast apprehension but that Demo
cfal will be chosen, and that his ms
jsrity will be very decisive. In fact,
il Is not likely that any Republican,
black or white, will care to make the
canvass.
/ Having thus secured both branches
Of the legislature, 1t might have been
supposed that the Hampton party
could afford TO be msgnanimous. TneiI
supremacy was complete; the RepuDli
cans were in q hopeless minority
which was certain to grow feebler every
day, and the Democrats were In q po
sitiOn TO fOrtiiy themselves in power by
whatever legislative devices the inge
nuity of their political leaders coulC
invent. But they were not satisfied
with this. The Republican member,
OF the Legislature must be made to
walk through "tbe valley of humilia-
ti0n;" their manhood must be insulteG
and degraded, and they must be COM
PEELED to make public exhibition o.
their poverty and helplessness. Ac-
lcOrdingly hn Orgier was passed com
manding every member OF the HOUSE
of Representatives who had maintained
his seat in what is historically knowI
as the 'Mackey House, to expires.
contritinn for his wayward course, t.
admit that he had done wrong, and Il
ask the pardon of the body of which h,
now claimed to be q member, and de.
claring such as refused to thus abas,
Themselves to be in contempt and liza
BILE to expulsion. The object of thil
order was to get rid Of the few intelli.
gent white men who had held seats il
the Chamberlain Legislature. AS 1
matter of course they refused to submit
to such humiliation, and, for anything
that we know to the contrary, are nov
debarred from taking part in the pro.
ceedings Of the House by reason o
tho House by reason of their "cOntu
macy" The seryiIe habit OF the ne
gro race was not entirely erxdicatsd BY
emancipation and enfranchisement
and some thirty Of the mbers of th'
'Mackey House" were willing to purg,
themselves Of contempt by complying
with the order. The high.toned gen
tlemen who are supposed to constitute
the Democratic majority threw them
selves back in their chairs and listened
to the stammering excuses OF the roo
negroes in utter Inconsistencies of tn,
crueity Of the performance. When on,
Iof the patients would try to coinpro.
mise with his conscience by saying iha
II he had done what he believed to b.
right, and that il his judgment had lee
him astray be regretted the mistake
he vas promptly called down and ed
monished that such evasions would no
be tolerated. "You must say that yol
are sorry for what you have done 0
Iy0u will be expelled" This being tn,
dire alternative; the unhappy dsrke,
used the language put in his mouth by
the inquisit0rs, and was graciously per
mitted to retain bis seat.
/ It Is painful fact that the Republi.
cans of South Carolina, in the peril.
,,snd exeitements Of the late campaign
were unable to 6nd men fit to repre-
sent them In the Legislature who wert
willing to take the risks incident e
the canvass; but when we come to bal
lance the ignorance and serviIity of The
ipoor fellows who were elected, sgains
the arrogance snd cruelty that com
pcIOu tnCu W save tuCtE ooatS LII tlt
Legislature by abasing themselves ir
the dust, we are at loss to know
which party will cut the most respect
able figure in history. Here is . Die
ture OF the proceedings 10 single cass
drawn by a newspaper correspondent,
who exulted in the scene; Forrest, .
negro member, who had acted with tht
chamberlain party, 10 brought to the
bar of the House: -.
"Forrest-T am sorry for my violation o.
the Constitution of the State The Speaker
l-'Do you ask forgiveness p Forrest-'I al
ways axes forgiveness when does wrong
The Speaker-'Do you, admit that you ha n
done wrongT Forrest-'Of course, if have
violated the Constitution, l has done wrong
Voices from the Democratic side-'Ne don,
propose to have this man shuttle round in thi.
way; he must purge his contempt or leave
Forrest (much moved)-'l say axes humble
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