Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-03-28
The Adjournment Of tho LcgIsIa-
tllrC.


tnre.
The Legislature adjourned at $50 o'clocl
p. NJ, Friday evening last. This is tho las
session Of the present Legislature before the
next election.
When we consider the present status o
our government rs compared to what it was
on the 2sth day of November, 1876 VIC arc
constrained to cay the Legislature has done
wcl. On the 2Sth of November, 1876 there
was no government in tho State which tho
whole people acknowledged as the government
Of the whole people. The two parties of the
State were almost equally divided and each
gave its allegiance to the candidate of their
preference and hence there was confusion,
disorder and anarchy. The Federal power
was called in to aid tho revolutionary pro
ceedings of tho Radicals and tho civil authors
.Giawas ignored and suppressed by the force
Sho bayonct. With this condition of
<bic affairs the Legislature assumed control
And with the sixtyothrco members of the
/'Wallace House and minority of tho Senators
inauguratcd Governor Hampton and elected
United States Senator. Tho Wallace House
passed also tax resolution calling for volun-
tary tax from tho people to support the
Ldampton Government. Hampton having
'been inaugurated assumed control of tho
executive power of the State and by tho assist.
ance of tho voluntary tax contributed so
patriotically by the people, was enabled to
drive out Chamberlain, though he was sup~
ported by the strong aral of the United States
Army. By April, 1877, Governor Hampton
Swas recognized as the lawful Governor by the
State Courts and the United States Govern
~ment, and the troops were withdrawn from
'the State capitol. Upon this recognition,
chamberlain surrendered tho executive Office
Ito the Governor and left tho State. Immcdi.
.atoly after tho Governor entered his Office tho
Legislature was convened in extra session.
'On the 24th of April, 1877, tho Legislature
convened, tho Senate still being by majority
&of its members Radical. Tho two Houses of
the General Assembly met on that day and
recognized each other. Lieutenant Governor
Simpson took the chair rs the presiding Off
Ger Of the Senate, though the Radicals had
majority and were disposed to impede and
'obstruct tho full organization of tho Senate
The Legislature being organized tho work Of
purifyingitsef was begun by means of invcs-
tigations. These wero ordered and the Radi-
cal majotisS Of the Senate was reduced before
theclosed Of the session. Tho House purgcd
itself by keeping out the most offensive of
those who had participated in the revelation,
ary proceedings of the Mackcy House, and
thus made room for men Of character and in.
2auence.
Thus Charleston, Orangoburg, Fairfield and
Chester, with other counties, were allowed
representatives in the Legislature, who rep
resented truly the interest Of the people
A great deal Of time was thus spent IN tho
publication of tho Legislature itself from
offensive characters to make room for men
whose ability and character would add to the
power of tho Assembly This work being
dane. the Legislature directed itself to tho
publication of the Jud iciary. The Supreme
court was reorganized, Judge Willard was
,made Chief Justiee, Hon. Henry McIvor,
Associate Justice, while Judge Wright was
impeached for drunkenness. At this session
also Gen. j. is. Hershaw was elected Judge of
the 9th Circuit to displaco Carpenter. The
act to rotate the Circuit Judges was also
passed. thus eradicating tho influence Of tho
local Judges and placing thom upon q higher
plain and in creator sphere. Having thus
begun the work of purifying the judiciary, at
tho same time many othorimportant measures
were adopted. Salaries were reduced and
taxation lowered. The taxes were reduced
10 ten mills, while under the Chamberlain
Government the levy was l8 mills. Over ono
million Of dollars was Nus saved in tho first
year as compared with the expenditures of
the Chamberlain Government, and this, too,
during a session of the Legislature which
wae surrounded by mass of accumulated
deficiencies, amounting to millions. With
this large floating debt and the largo amount
of interest due on the bonded debt of tho
State, It was we'll that taxation could be
reduced so low. Tho results Of tho work Of