The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-06-14

COLUMBIA, S. c., December 5, 1876.
To Hon. j. d. Cameron, Secretary of
War, Washington, d. c.:
General Rugsr announces this morning
that he will no longer guard doors of State
House. The city is filled with armed and
violent men. There is greater need than
ever before of protection of State House.
Specific orders must be sept respecting this
matter at once, in order to avert riot and
bloodshcd. Vacillation here now is most
unfortunate.
Please answer. Ali I ask is that State
House be protected againt violence.
ID. II. CHAMBERLAIN.
Governor of South Carolina
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON Cry, December 5, 1876.
TO Governer ID. H. Chamberlain, Colam.
biz S. c.:
General Ruger's instructions are to pro-
tect tho Legislature from all outside inter-
ference, and those instructions will be
repeated. j. d. CAMERON,
Secretary of War.
hold in my hand the official testimony
taken in relation 20 use of troops at tho
Presidential election, before a special COM
mistee of the last Congress, of which the
honorable gentleman from New York (Mr.
Wood) was chairman and I was member.
Tho publication Of this testimony could not
be obtained at the time, but I.haye it as It
was written. In it [ find the testimony of
Gen. Ruger in plain and unmistakable
terms that he construed these kilograms to
him to mean that the Laurens and Edge
field members and the other conservative
members of the South Carolina Legislature
were the "unauthorized persona" And he
interpreted these kilograms Alright, for they
could have no other significance, and accord
ingly he took steps to enforce these orders.
The kilograms and the testimony OF Gen.
Ruger 1 will insert in my remarks.
Gen. Ruger sent word by his orderly to
the Legislature of South. Carolina, after the
two houses convened in tho hall of the State
House, telling the Conservative members
that they must not be there at IL o'clock
on the next day. In obedience to that Or
der they withdrew, and having Withdrawn,
committee waited upon Gen. Ruger, and
asked him If these members would be per.
mitted to return the next day, and he told
them that they must not go back. Here is
the testimony of Gen. Ruger:
Question. Did you give Governor Cham.
berlain any assurance that you would aid
his force in excluding anybody at that time
from the hall of tho House? 1 mean while
the two Houses were in session together.
Answer. had some orders in reference
to that subject, but gave Governor Cham
berlain no such assurance, prior to receipt
Of such orders, that would aid in exclud-
ing any members.
Q. What orders did you have?
A. think you have the kilograms
here. u
Q. At still later period than that did
you make some order in reference to the
exclusion Of certain persona from the house?
A. A committee Of the Conservative
Legislature called upon me and submitted
certain propositions in writing; do not
recollect now exactly the words, or perhaps
the substance, but they asked that they
should be permitted to occupy the hall as
the legally constituted Legislature. / told
them that is their body went. to the hall
for the purpose Of entering there as the
lower House Of the Legislature they would
not be- permitted to enter, that is, that if
they wero refused admission by the civil
|oficers or the civil guards at the door, aud
|if the donFkeepcr should call upon the
military o. 4cers there to prevent their forc-
ihle entrance, or assist ID. doing 20, the off,
|pSf3 pppja prayelt' It. That ives after they
ostl - the frsts place and when
1I' ~ 4 p = sskfbss shey did not
4 - 4 q B. e