The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-02-29
A Renaissance of 1875.

The news of the death in Colum-
ebia on the 18th instant of John Sam
uel Werner brings afresh to recollec-
ton an incident which seems to have
been forgotten in the city where the
characteristic event occurred.
In November and December, 1875,
many of the best men of the State
were gathered in Columbia. The
legislature was in session. Daniel
H. Chamberlain was governor. A
strong garrison of the United States
troops was stationed there. In the
general election held in November
the Democratic candidates headed by
Wade Hampton had received the ma
jority of the popular vote, electing
the State officers and a majority of
the members of the house of repre-
sentatives. To nullify the result the
State board of canvassers, composed
entirely of Republicans, had declar-
ed that no fair election had been
held in Edgefeld and Laurens coun-
ties and had refused to issue certifi-
Gates of election to the representa-
tives chosen in these counties.
There were two houses of repre-
sentatives in session at that time,
the Mackey, or Republican wing, oc-
cupying the hall in the capitol build
ing, the Wallace, Democratic, house,
holding it's sessions in Carolina hall.
Neither branch had clear ma
jority of the 124 members compos-
ing the full house of representatives.
General u. S. Grant, then president,
had agreed to recognize the house
first securing a legal quorum. The
leaders of the State Democracy de-
cided that the Wallace house should
go quietly, few in a body, leisure
ly stroll to the capitol building and
take their seats in the hall of the
house of representatives. This was
done on a pleasant, spring like morn
ing, before the Republican represen-
tatives discovered the movement.
The late Capt. John D. Browne, of
Columbia, was sergeant-at-arms OF
the Wallace house. He had num-
Der of assistants, all Confederate vet
erans of the rank of colonel and
higher command. The chief door
keeper of the hall of the house was
a stalwart son of Erin, or at least of
Irish descent, a resident of Columbia,
and a good man despite his employ
ment. Admission to the hall was
refused to the members of the Wal
lace house, but Werner, representa-
tive from Oconee county, STOPPING
his body below the stout arms of the
Irishman holding the door, jumped
into the hall, the first member of the
Wallace house to get home. 1t was
whispered to the door keeper that it
would be dangerous for him to resist,
an especially strong and courageous
representative grasped and propelled
the door keeper a good many feet
away and the trouble was over.
Gen. w. H. Wallace took the
speakers chair and the Democratic
representatives occupied the seats on
the left side of the door. The Re-
publicans came in later, took the
seats on the other side Of the hall
A chair for their speaker, E. w. M.
Mackey, of Charleston, was placed
close beside that occupied by Gen.
Wallace. A few days and nights of
speech making, etc., were sufficient
to convert to Democracy enough Re-
publicans to give the Wallace house
the legal quorum.
Representatives Werner was one Of
the youngest members of the Wallace
house. He afterward was comptroll-
er general and for number of years
master in equity for Richland coun-
ty-Barnwell People.
The Young American Fire Com
pany of Orangeburg has placed an
order for a combination automobile
onor;po ond boeo u,ooOn tho aDnara-