New Orleans Republican., 1877-05-19


writes from Columbia, South Carolina:
At that time the Senate consisted of
seventeen Republicans and twelve Demo-
Gratis A full Senate consisted of thirty
three members but at the former meet
ing, held in December, it will be remem-
bered that no decision was made in the
Edgefeld, Laurens and Abbeville contest
ed election cases. The fourth Senator who
went to make up the full Senate died, and
an election to fill his place was held under
authority of the Democratic claimant,
Simpson, who was not then acknowledged
as Lieutenant Governor. Previous 10
this, however, the Lieutenant Governor,
Gleeves, determined to give up his place,
and he did 80 on the first day of the
present session. Then Simpson took the
chair, and his first act was to ape the ar
bitrary example set by his superior
Hampton. Without consultation with
any OF the Senators, without any warrant
in law, without any right under the con-
stitution, without any precedent upon
which to base his action, he called upon
the four Democratic Senators from the
counties of BarnGell, Edgefeld, Laurens
and Abbeville, and caused them to take
the oath of Office. The Republicans of
the Senate protested, and declared, that
this action was arbitrary, illegal and un-
Just, but he refused to listen to their pro-
test Then they appealed from his de-
cision, and he ruled that such an appeal
could not be entertained, as the question
involved was a constitutional and not
parliamentary one. This outrageous usur-
patton of power on the part Of Hampton's
saoor1 l., noD,Ooopd ;ncraocad tho naDoo.
cratic membership to sixteen. This much
having been accomplished, Judge Tom
Mackey seized Senator Walker, Of Ches-
ter, on a trumped-up charge of fraud,
which had been abandoned some years
ago, and although the Senator had con-
stitutional exemption from arrest for ten
days before the meeting of the Legisla-
ture Mackey, like Simpson, acting with
out any legal warrant, threw him into
Jail. For his release the Senator's friends
offered the best bail in the State, and it
was refused. Then, that he might be
present in the Senate, they rendered ready
money as bail TO any amount which might
be asked. This also was refused by
Mackey, end not until the organization Of
the Legislature was Walker released on
promise that he would resign. So the
shotgun leaders reduced the Republican
majority, and the Senate stood sixteen to
sixteen, Simpson, the Democratic pre-
siding eficer, casting the deciding vote.
So much for Wade Hsmpton's promises
regarding the maintenance of the status
ouo in the Senate His manner Of obtain
ing control of the Assembly was equally
infamous. When the lower house met,
none but Democratic or Wallace members
were admitted. When organized upon
this basis they refused peremptorily to
recognize any of the Mackey members,
and afterward referred their cases to o
committee which reported in favor of ad-
mitting certain members, who were FIRST
however, obliged to purge themselves OF
contempt by humbly begging perdon" for
not having Joined the Wallace House in
the first instance. The members who were
admitted were noted for their ignorance
and utter lack of parliamentary knowledge
and legislative experience. All the Re-
publicans of intelligence-men like Sto'
ker, of Orangeburg, and Thomas, Of New
berry, were summarily elected, no reason
for such tjecment being given except that
they were ''smart negroes, and might
make trouble" For the same reason Mr..
! johnson, of Sumter, and Mackey, oi
Charleston, the two leading white Repub
licans, were prevented from taking theii
seats. Indeed the entire Charleston dele
cation, elected by an undisputed majority
Of six thousand votes, has not yet beer
permitted to take their places. The con
sequence is that the Democrats have ever
greater control of the House than the.
have of the Senate. They have majori
ty Of about twenty on joint ballot.