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

purpose of meeting you. In case you
should find it convenient to be in Wash
ington I shall be pleased to see you.
Yours truly, STANLEY MATHEWS.
Mr.. JAS. E. ANDERSON, Philadelphia.
ALEAF FROM HISTORY.
The Bayonet Era In the South Carolina
State House.
In the course of his speech on the Ar
my bill delivered in the House of Rep
a few days ago, the Hon.
Milton /. Southard, of Ohio, introduced
some very interesting kilograms aud tes-
timony relating to the dark days of 1877
in Columbia. We copy this portion of
his remarks from the official report in
the Congressional Record:
On the 18th Of October, 1876, this tel
egram was sent by Gen. Sherman to Gen.
Ruger, who had previously been trans
ferred to Columbia, South Carolina:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Oct. Il, 1876. 4
To Gen. Ruger, Columbia, S. c.:
We are all 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 if you
need them. w. T. SHERMAN,
General.
On the 18th of October Gen. Ruger
answered that telegram, as follows:
. COLUMBIA, S. c., Oct. 16, 1875.
To Gen. w. T. Sherman, Washington:
Think I have troops sufficient unless
circumstances change. Have nineteen
companies in tie State now in stations
of one to four companies. Have some
companies still in reserve. No special
disorder has occurred since Ellenton riot
last month. If need more troops will
ask for them. shall be here to-day.
RUGER.
Notwithstanding that telegram from
Gen. Ruger, in which he said that all
was peaceful and quiet there, and that if
he needed more troops he would call for
them, and without further information,
the very next morning a proclamation
was issued by President Grant, from
Washington City, declaring South Caro-
lima in insurrection, and there followed
numerous kilograms from the general of
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
is specimen of the kilograms sent:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Oct. II, 1876. =.
To Gen. W. s. Hancock, Commanding
Military Division Atlantic:
It will be necessary to reinforce Gen.
Ruger to the maximum possible, and we
may have to order every available man
from the North Atlantic posts.
Acknowledge receipt.
w. T. SHERMAN, General.
In obedience to these orders from
Washington, all available forces were
sent into South Carolina and other South
ern States under pretence of preserving
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 violatiog
of the Constitution of your country, in
violation of law, and in violation of
every principle of justice and right.
Not only that it did not stop there /;
military possession of those States was
continued until long after the elections.
The Legislature of South Carolina was
organized, not by the members who were
elected to it, but by the Administration
here in Washington through the use of
Federal troops. / hold here in my hand
the official kilograms relating to that Or
ganization. There was dispute about
certain members from Edgefeld and
Laurens who held the certificate of the
Supreme Court; they we're to be elected.
Gov. Chamberlain sent this telegram to
Washington City:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. i, 1876.
Hon. J. D. Cameron, Secretary of War,
Washington:
Cannot Edge6eld and Laurens men be
removed? They are now acting as MEM
bers, and have no credentials. If they
are removed the House can act and Or
der be restored. Cannot we be protected
against unlawful intrusion, when we
have no power to enforce the exclusion ?
D. II. CHAMBERLAIN, Governor.
Then followed telegram from the
attorney general to Gov. Chamberlain,
and also one to Gen. Ruger. from the
Secretary of War. Here they ara:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 1876.
Gov. D. n. Chamberlain, Columbia, S. c.:
The President thinks that you should
exercise your own resources as Governor
in behalf of the Legislature which you
have recognized by assisting it to purge
itself of unauthorized persons.
If you are resisted in this Gen. Ruger
has been instructed to enforce your au.
thority. ALPHoNso TAFT,
Attorney General.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 2, 1876.
To Gen. T. II. Ruger, Columbia, S. G..
The Governor of the State of South
Carolina should exercise bis own resour.
ces to purge the Legislature which he
has recognized of unauthorized persons
If he is resisted in this it will become
your duty to enforce his authority.
]. D. CAMERON, Secretary of War.
Subsequently the following kilograms
were sent in relation to the same subject
EXECUTIVE MANSION. 4.
WARRINGTON CITY, Dec. 8, 1876.
Gen. T. H. Ruger, Columbia, s. G.:
Fearing your instructions may be con-
flicting and leave you in doubt as to your
duties in the present unhappy condition
'of affairs in South Carolina, I wish to
say this: Governor Chamberlain is the
legal constituted Governor of the State
and remains so until the Legislature
canvasses the vote and installs his sue
cessor and he is entitled as such to
your support and protection. It is
civil duty to organize the Legislature
devolving on State authorities. All YOU
can do is to prevent unauthorized per
SONS from forcibly interfering with the
Governor and other authorized officer;
ia the performance of their duties. Tc
be plain, want to avoid anything like
an unlawful use of the military, but il
Al