Mr. HUMBERT moved to reconsider the vote just taken, and to lay the motion to reconsider on the table. On this Mr. HAMILTON demanded the yeas and nays, which were taken, and are as follows: Yeas, 45; nays, 14. Agreed to. Those voting in the affirmative are: Mr. Speaker and Messrs. Gantt, Robinson, Reed, Brodie, Smalls, Simmons, Glover, Edwards, Prioleau, Vanderpool, Lesesne, Lazarus, S. C. Brown, Capers, Ford, Bryan, Tingman, A. Smith, Pinckney, Milton, Boston, Humbert, Keith, Wines, J. A. Smith, Martin, Green, Kinloch, Gaither, Hough, Dibble, Keitt, Bridges, Thomas, Straker, Morgan, Caldwell, Forrest, Curtis, Wells, Lowman, Peterson and Evans-44. Those voting in the negative are: Messrs. Hamilton, Myers, Miller, Lee, Coleman, Alexander, Gibson, Bird, Minort, Palmer, Johnston, Ferriter, Andrews, Westberry and Scott-15. Messrs. Fredrick Nix, Scipio Bennett, A. S. Jackson and William Brabham, being in attendance, appeared at the Clerk's desk, were duly sworn, and took their seats. PAPER FROM THE SENATE. The Senate returned House concurrent resolution relative to the canvass of votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, amended by striking out the words "and upon any such question there shall be no debate in either house" and "November 29," and inserting "Friday, December 1." On motion, the amendments were concurred in. On motion of Mr. REED, at 5:30 P. M., the House adjourned until to-morrow, at 12 M. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1876. Pursuant to adjournment the House met at 12 M. The SPEAKER took the chair. The roll was called and a quorum announced. Prayer by Rev. W. H. THOMAS. The Journal of the previous day was read and confirmed. On motion of Mr. CURTIS, the Rule requiring an adjournment at 3 P. M., was suspended for this day. The Chair requested any persons present holding the certificate of the Secretary of State as members elect of the House of Representatives to present themselves at the Clerk's desk to qualify. At 11:59 A. M., December 1, on motion of Mr. STRAKER, the House adjourned. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1876. Pursuant to adjournment the House met at 12 M. The roll was called and a quorum announced. The Journal of the previous day was read and confirmed. Mr. J. A. SMITH introduced the following concurrent resolution, which was adopted, and ordered to be sent to the Senate: Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That the Special Order for this day, at 2 P. M., (Joint Convention,) be discharged, and made the Special Order for to-morrow, at 2 P. M. On motion of Mr. KEITH, the Rule requiring an adjournment at 3 P. M., was suspended for this day. PAPER FROM THE SENATE. The Senate returned, with concurrence, A resolution that the Special Order for this day, at 2 P. M., (Joint Convention,) be discharged, and made the Special Order for to-morrow, at 2 P. M. RESOLUTION. Mr. STRAKER introduced the following resolution, which was immediately considered and adopted: Resolved, That the Committee on Privileges and Elections be, and they are hereby, instructed that in all contested cases of election referred to them for investigation they shall make a full report to this House, giving a synopsis of such evidence as has been brought before them. And that the said Committee give notice to all parties concerned in said contest, and grant such reasonable time for the obtaining of evidence as in the judgment of the Committee will not defeat the ends of justice: Provided, That, after notice has been given, should either party to the contest refuse to appear or submit necessary evidence, the Committee shall forthwith proceed to hear and determine the case. At 11:59 A. M., December 2, on motion of Mr. MINORT, the House adjourned. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1876. Pursuant to adjournment the House met at 12 M. The SPEAKER took the chair. The roll was called and a quorum announced. Prayer by Rev. C. W. Morsell, of Columbia. The Journal of the previous day was read and confirmed. Mr. J. A. SMITH introduced the following concurrent resolution, which was adopted and ordered to be sent to the Senate: Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That the Special Order for this day, at 2 P. M., (Joint Convention), be discharged, and made the Special Order for Monday, December 4, at 2 P. M. PAPER FROM THE SENATE. The Senate returned, with concurrence, Resolution to discharge the Special Order for 2 P. M. this day, and make the same the Special Order for Monday, December 4, at 2 P. M. On motion of Mr. SCOTT, the Rule requiring adjournment at 3 P. M. was suspended for this day. REPORT FROM COMMITTEE. Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on Privileges and Elections, submitted the following report, which was adopted: The Committee on Privileges and Elections beg leave to report, That they have considered the elections held on the 7th November, 1876, in the Counties of Edgefield and Laurens, aud do now report that, in their opinion, no legal and valid election was held in said Counties on said day. That, as to Edgefield County, the violence was so great, and the disproportion between the voting population of said County and the vote reported by the returns to be cast at said election is so great as to leave no doubt in the minds of your Committee that no valid election has taken place. That, as to Laurens County, your Committee find that no lawful returns of the election in said County have been made, the returns of the Commissioners of Election of said County being signed by only two of said Commissioners, and one of those two doing so under protest on account of fear of bodily injury or death. In addition to which fact your Committee find that the election in said County was attended by great frauds and violence, sufficient of themselves to have destroyed the validity of the election. Your Committee therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That this House hereby declares that no valid election was held in the Counties of Edgefield and Laurens on the 7th November, 1876. All of which is respectfully submitted. (Signed) WILL. H. THOMAS, JOHN VANDERPOOL, A. W. CURTIS, THOS. E. MILLER, R. D. GAITHER. Mr. THOMAS, from the Committee on Privileges and Elections, submitted the following report, which was adopted: The Committee beg leave to report, That in the matter of contest in the case of the County of Abbeville, on the part of Messrs. W. H. Heard, William Pope, H. A. Wideman, B. F. Porter, I. H. White, Republican contestants, against R. R. Hemphill, W. K. Bradley, T. L. Moore, F. A. Conner, William Hood, contestees, of the said County of Abbeville, South Carolina, that, after hearing all the evidence submitted, and after serving proper notice for appearance on the part of the contestees, the Committee is of the unanimous opinion that the aforesaid W. H. Heard, William Pope, H. A. Wideman, B. F. Porter and I. H. White are duly elected members of the House of Representatives, and legally entitled to seats therein. Mr. KEITH moved to reconsider the vote, and to lay the motion to reconsider on the table. Agreed to. Messrs. W. H. Heard, William Pope, H. A. Wideman and B. F. Porter appeared at the Clerk's desk, were duly qualified, and took their seats. The session of this day was continued until Monday, December 4th, when, at 11:59 A. M., on motion of Mr. JOHNSTON, the House adjourned. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1876. Pursuant to adjournment the House met at 12 M. The roll was called and a quorum announced. The Journal of the previous day was read and confirmed. Mr. Silas Cave, of Barnwell County, who had not previously appeared, presented himself at the Clerk's desk, was duly sworn, and took his seat. Mr. THOMAS introduced the following resolution, which adopted: was Whereas the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina did assemble in the hall of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the 28th day of November, 1876, a constitutional quorum of all the members duly elected as members thereof being present and answering to their names, and did organize by the election of Hon. E. W. M. Mackey as Speaker, and A. O. Jones, Esq., as Clerk, and did in all respects proceed to perfect its organization in conformity with the Constitution and laws of South Carolina, and has continued in session from day to day until the present time; and Whereas on Thursday, the 30th November, 1876, a body of men, comprising many persons having no legal claim or credentials, did enter the hall of the House of Representatives by force and arms, and did proceed to usurp the Speaker's chair and Clerk's desk, and did refuse, upon the demand and order of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to yield the same; and Whereas said body of men have been since the said 30th day of November, 1876, engaged in interrupting the proceedings and defying the authority of the House of Representatives, and are now preventing the House of Representatives from proceeding with business; and Whereas the Senate and House of Representatives, by concurrent resolution, have appointed this the 4th day of December, at 2 o'clock P. M., in the hall of the House of Representatives, as the time and place for opening, counting and publishing the returns of the election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; and Whereas the House of Representatives is unable to enforce its authority against said body of men, who have unlawfully intruded themselves into the House of Representatives; and Whereas said intruders have openly proclaimed that they will not obey the orders of the House of Representatives, or retire from the hall thereof, but will resist by force of arms any attempt on the part of the officers of the said House to enforce its orders and authority; therefore, be it |