The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-13
A LEAF FROM HISTORY.

IL.
MR. JAS. E. ANDERSON, Philadelphia.
---zz-sz.-------
A LEAF FR0M HISTORY.
The Bayonct Era In the South Carolina
state House,
In the course of his speech on the Ar.
my bill delivered In the House of Rep
resentatives q few deys ego, the Hon.
Milton i. Soutnard, OF Ohio, introduced
some worry interesting telegrams and tes.
timony relating to the dark days Of 1877
In Columbia. We copy this portion of
his remarks from the official reuort In
the Congressional Record ~.
On the 14th Of October, 1876, this tel.
egram was sent by Gen. Sherman TO Gen.
Kruger, who had previously been trans
ferred to Columbia, South Carolina:
HEADQUARTERs OF THE Army,
WAsRINGToN, Oct. If, 1876. g
10 Geo. huger, Columbia, 8. C.:
We are ell back from California. If
you want anything, say so. want all.
measures TO originate with you. Get
along with the minimum force necessary.
but you shall have all we can. give IL you
ineeo them. w. i. SHERMAN,
General.
On the 10th of October Gen, Rurer
answered that telegram, as follows:
COLUMBIA, s. O., Oct. 16, 1876.
10 Gen. W. T. Sherman, Washington:
Ihink have troops sufficient unless
circumstances change. Have ninataen
companies in the State now In stations
.of one TO four companies. Have some
companies still in reserve. No special
disorder has occurred eiuce Ellenton riot
last month. If need moro troops will
ask for them. shall be here to-day.
RUaER.
Notwithstanding that telegram from
Gen. Ruger, in which he aaid that all
was peacefui and quiet there, and that if
he needed more troops he would call for
them, and without further informatior,
the very next morning @ proclamation
was Issued by President Grant, from
Washington City, declaring South Caro-
lina in insnrrection, and there followed
numerous telegrams from this eenaralnf
the army, ordering all the troops from
the Atlantic coast, from the. extreme
North to as far South as Fortress Monroe,
into the State of South Carolina. Here
Iis q specimen of the telegrams sent
:. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, .;i
WAsHIMGToJ, Oct. II, 1876. (,
To Gen. w. 8. Hancock, Commanding
Military Division Atlantic: ~
1t will be necessary to reinforce Gen.
Kruger to the. maximum possible, and we
may have to order every available man
fror, the North Atlantic posts.
Acknowledge receipt.
w. Z. SHERMAN, General.
Ii obedience 90 thh0ss 0fllefo from
Washington, all available forces Yere
sent into South Carolina aud other South.
efa States and5r pf5sssEes &c ezsss.yire
order, but with the purpose and effect of
carrying the election. Actual military
possession was taken of those States. and
the elections were controlled in violation
lof the Constitution Of your country, in
violation of law, and in violation of
every principle of justice and right.
Not only that 1t did not stop there :;
military possession Of these States was'
continued until long after the elections.
iTha Legislature, of South Carolina was
organized, not by the members who were
selected to it, but by the Administration
here in Washington, through the use of
Federal troops / hold here in nv hand
the official tolegratns relating to that Or
ganiZation. There %as . d:spn.44 about
certain members from Edgefeld and
Lanrens who held the certificate of tho
Supreme Court; they were to be elected.
Gov. Chamberlain sent this telegram TO
Washington City,:
CoLgMBIA, 8. O., Dec. i, 1876.
Hon. y. D. Cameron, Secretary cs War,
Washington: s.
s Cannot Edge6eld and Laurens men be
Iremoved3, They are now acting es men,
bffe, and have no cyedahtiais.e IF they
are removed the HOUSE can act and or
der be restored. Cannot we bs protected
against unlawful intrusion, when We
have no power to enforce the exclusion 2
sa. y. II. CHAIIBERLAIS,G Governor. !,
Then followed . telegram from che
attorney generai 70 Gov. Characteristic.
sia s.ss ,1::;ss &c Gen. Ringer, from fii,s
Secretary. of War. Here they are: 80
- - ;WAaaINGTnS, I1eh q 1876.
GDv.D. Fl. Chamberlain, Columbia. s, O.:
!, The President thinks that you shonld
exercise your OVID resources as Goyerhc5
IN behalf of tho Legislature which you
hRve recognized by assisting It to brrRa
itself OF Unauthorized persons. Z. 80
IL you are resisted iti this Gen. Rnset
has been INSTRUCTED to enforce your All
thority. ALPaoNso TAFT,
...s. ~ Attorney General.
war ADEPAETMENr,is7
i WAsHrEGToN, d. c., Dec. 9, 1876.
To Gen. z. II. RugeF, CoIumbia, SC.
The Governor of the Sfkte OF South
Carolina should exercise hia own reaour.
ces to purgo the Legislathfsi which he
has recognized OF unauthorized pefaOns.
a 40 ;e5s9t0,a s1s lis. LIS :. III. ~ Ls
your duty 70 enforce his authority.
J. d. CAMERON Secretary Of War.
Subsequently the following kilograms
were sent in relation 70 the same subject:
ExEcUTIvE MANSION, s.
- WAEHIR0Toa OrTYy Dec. 8, 1876.
Gen: 4: 81, Ruger, Coiunbin, g. o.;
Fearing your in8tructions may be con.
tlictiug and leave you In doubt as foyotiP
dntles Ia the present unhappy condition
'Qf atlairs in South Carolins, 1 wish 70
cay this: Governor Chamberlain is the
legal constituted Governor of the State,
aud remains so until the Legislature
cangasses the vote and instails his sue
cessor J, and he Is entitled as such to
your suppost and protection. Itsis a
civil duty 20 organize the Legislature
deyelying on State aiithofi Ais 3 ses,
can do Is 90 prevent lnaut thosiEe 3
aola frOli soEci interesting IN d
Governor and other authorized as rsfs
ia the performances of their duties. TO
be plain, want 20 avoid anything like
an unlawful use Of the military, but It
will be ehtifely right TO sustaih the GoV-
ernor, or any Of his agents or ofIicers, In
the performance of any duty in connec-
tion with the Legislature if inseFfsred
with by outsiders while Ia tho perform
ance of that duty. u. S. GRANT.g,
49, .-.-.af - +. =.