Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-14

than names on the voting list, the
number of ballots to bring them
down to tally with the voting list had
to be drawn out by some one blind
folded, and it was very easy matter
to select the heavy paper and leave
tho thin. The result in most Of the
, boxes, after the drawing out process
was completed, showed large Demo
cratic majorities. The face of the
returns showed a large Democratic
majority, both for State officers and
members Of the Legislature, but the
returning board, or State canvassers,
composed of the Republican State
officers, decided to go behind the
returns, and they threw out the
returns from Laurens and Edgcfcld
counties and refused to issue com
missions TO the members of the
Legislature elected from these two
counties.
Gen. Kruger was in command OF
the United States soldiers and being
called upon by the Governor Cham
be. ..ain) furnished troops to guard
the State House and to prevent the
entry into the hall Of the House of
Representatives, Of any member who
did not have commission from the
State Board. In addition to the
soldiers the Republicans sworc in
hundreds of State constables to
guard the State House, many OF
whom were roughs and cutthroats.
One was brought from Louisiana, an
lrishman, who had shot a member of
the Legislature few weeks before
when they had a similar trouble to
ours. They also brought up the
lIunkidory Club from Charleston,
composed of negro longshoremcn,
toughs and x-convicts. The Repub-
Leans organized in the hall and
elected e. w. NJ. Mackcy Speaker
the Democrats in the Carolina Hall,
and elected Gen. w. II. Wallace
Speaker. The Wallace House went
down in body and were stopped by
the United States soldiers at the en-
trance of the building and their pis-
tolls taken from them, when they
were allowed to proceed to the door
Of the hall. There they were
met 10y another squad of Uni
ted States soldiers who de-
mandcd that they show their
commissions before entering. AS
eight of the members had no com
missions and going in the hall with
out those eight would have given the
Republicans a quorum and majority,
the Democrats declined to enter, and
returned to Carolina Hall. The
United States soldiers were then re-
moved from the State House and the
Democratic Executive Committee
and the Wallace House decided to
take the hall, still guarded by State
constablcs. a committee was SC
lcutcd to lead the assault and the
whole Wallace House marched down
in a body accompanied by the Demo
cratic Executive Committee. On
reaching the door the foremost man
was asked to show his commission to
the Chief Sergeant alarms of the
Mackey House, which was then in
session. This he did, and az the
Sergeant was examining il through a
crack, the door being slightly ajar,
the member pulled the door wider
open, and strong and willing hands
scizino !: forced it entirely back
and held it. there while eycry
member Of the Wallace House
rushed in, thrusting aside the
constablcs who stood in the way.
The entrance was made so suddenly
and quietly that the Mackcy House
was stunned with amazcmcnt for n
moment and then pandenonium Of
noises broke ont, but General Wal
Lace walked upon the Speakers desk,
accompanied by his officers, and all
took their places. Excitement was
intense, firing was expected every
moment and one single pistol shot
would have bathcd the whole State
in blood, but most fortunately no
shot was fired. There were two
speakers, two sets Of officers and the
members soon arranged themselves
on separate sides of the hall, com
mcnccd transacting business, fire.
1ucntly two of them speaking at the
same time on entirely different sub
jects. Including the eight members
from Edgcfcld and Laurcns, the
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