The New York herald., 1867-03-29
SOUTH CAROLINA.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE Of the HtiAlp.


CoLusBIA, s. c., March "a 1867
The railroads OF South Carolina are about equally de-
moralizcd with her citizens In a trip OF only hundred
miles through the State by rail the most remarkable
things happen enough TO sstonish the oldest and
most experienced traveller Precedents are not at all
regarded IN the Of these roads the
are frequently nothing than pens where men are
hudded in together to endure the greatest dscomort
and the most tedious journeys which, short in
their number OF miles OF being long and wear
some IN their execution The trans generally made
mp OF four onlyone for baggage ladies' one
for men without ladies' and the nigcers or both
sexes. On no pretext is the gentleman passenger al
lowed IN the ladies' car although frequently happens
n IL did on the trip from Charleston to Branchville
several days ago, that there only lady occupy
ing that comparatively comfortable vehicle. The
unfortunate traveller finds himself forced to
reos. still clad in tneir army gray, great,
sawky, uncombed, 6lthy dirty, odorferous
lures, contact with whom is snre TO result in
desirable acquisition. These shock headed big cared
rouud-shoudered saplings with their staring vacant,
ssuess eyes long thin faces sunken cheeks and snis
ter looks, are sufficiently demonac in appearance
70 frghten the wrcched traveller into act of suicide
il he be confined with them for a long trip
But shortly after the train has started OF another dis
comfort is discovered, and which is found even
than the flooding of the floor with tobacco Juice
which is invariably done most completely before
train leaves the depot The new ev however is much
worse in its effects the respectable passenger Every
traveller bv rail in South Carolina, It must known,
carries with him his well filled whskey bottle, with
which he aerecably beguiles the weary of his Jour
ney. The Northern traveller, IL is true frequently is
found doing likewise but here the custom seems gene
ra and one rich or poor thinks Of travelling over
hundred miles without having made abundant provision
OF the ardent ant consuming it, too, on the journey
So no sooner has the tram gotten out on
the road than the whiskey bottles are simultaneously
produced on all sides, and mbbation begins
in front of gulp down great monhas OF their fiery
red eye" from time to time until they like sponge
one OF the bait drunken party, removing the neck OF
the bottle from his slaver dripping lips invites you
drink which you do or pretend 70 do for the sake Of
peace and harmony for in Of refusal fight wond
probably ensue. Thus uncomforaby situated, and
moreover, with your feet sliding back and forth on
Moor slippery and shiny with tobacco juice and filth,
bumped and thnmped and Jared at tho Of
tan ofien only vc) miles hour towards Branchvile
whore you meet with the train from Augusta, which
Affords little better accommodations but runs equally
slow. for the rest OF the way to Columbia
orally found the most digned of individuals evidently
hate officers in the Southern army and plainly impressed
with the idea that their present occupation far be-
true Southern STYLE attended by darky, who by
night carries the lantern while they collect the tick
ct coupons, and by day answers all such questions
the white officials may think il beneath their dignity
10 answer 1t appears indeed, that every emplov6 on
me tram mas double or servant Of some sort to aid
slowly may therefore be. old gentleman from New
York remarked the other day on the "trip from Will
mipgton to Charleston that the always over
laden with employees.
The three railroad lines from New York by way OF
Weldon wrcichedly uncomfortable and uncertain
but raroading becomes worse and worse as We travel
% into this State where cents per mile s the
she trip are In inverse ratio to the expense. On my
journey BranchyiIle stopped several stations
m order to sscape from the bsas,ly company OF me
sasges and equal discomforis
At station called ROssvle, as was sitting in dh-
consoiate mood on my vasc under wood she'd yclept
grocery and contemplating through pouring rain the
I'D spectacle Of the disappearing train there appearing
no means immediately at nand Of reaching permanent
shelter was approached by bundle of rags containing
q mall darkey, who desired the privilege Of 'totng
my baggage. I told him willing il he could IN
form me where he proposed 70 tote IL TO- whereupon
sns railroad track al np muddy road leading into the
q faly an hours duraton and after suffering the add
tcnai dscomort Of taking many ''short cuts, as the
or Sas %s e.
tyy house, built n the Southern style, and was may
Be remarked Of everything IN this state, somewhat
weatherbeaten and oilapidated and moreover had ap
parently from s appearance and surroundings never
been the property Of very rich planter. Whom
negro found, seated before roaring wood fire which
1as bnxing on broad, oldfashioned hearth, middle
g cid clad in dark suit the coat being Of
ahe swallow tail species and all OF hts clothing quite
ahreadbare The lady modesty retired on my entrance
buS the old man received most cordially and without
giving TO say word, commanded the negro
boy in attendance on him 70 I'LL glass Of whiskcy,
aad thereupon started OF con6dentiay il we had
known each other for years garuious How Of In
quiy, intelligence and wittcism that would have done
e ss 70 was spI scsaS ~ nm
pressng much meaning In few words and yet keeping
mp constant rattle and clatter Of speech He was glad
hs aid, 10 me- always liked TO entertain people;
csmplmented me by stating that looked like dry
goods drummer. and that he certain Of it besanse
wsys came from; and went with much more OF the
same Sort only pausing occasionally 70 drink his whis
On attempting to draw out his opinions on the Recon-
ssraction bin, however touched him on tender point,
for n irsnspred that the old man had once been
worth, in niggers and other property fully $500 000
bus during the he with other property holders In
shs South had been induced by the and
70 ssl all his real In Charleston and in
Tsbei bonds This he did, and Of course, with the end
q s os ss 1 Ss even 70 n large
which cleaned out, burned and pinaged by sher-
mans bummen OF course the old man was rabid in
Ssine touched was terrific The manner in which he
"valked into'' the United States government would
grsw profsne too and rsved and tore aboutn dreadfuy
inccAerept style. Il.
hops by - thai IL will explode and 90 70 o-. used
70 like the stars and stripss once, but - - can
like thcm again and my children shan't IKE them
Rixgers niggei Yes. that's been the cry ever since
can remember. Let them vote or let them rule the
vhoae South and the North, too What do caref. IN
ssaa every southern State would send nothing else
ne old man kept this up until bedtime wishing,
Snoag other things that he could &c; position ~ the
by dissolve ruin IL After the brosching Of
abe reconstruction subject be appeared no longer the
joytai intelligent old fellow he at nrst and was
gad get well rid Of his wild rawlings by accepting the
loan Of his horse and riding on The next morning,
through the country 70 Branchvile station,
whore the havoc Of sheTmsns track is stl
plainly visible and the ruin and misery Of the scene
kept vivdly in my mind the melancholy spectacle of
shss poor old man whom bsd left in . afmaddsned
ss1e his country, praying for ts dissolution,
and ving frenzy Of rage the rretrievable loss
oS what he had laborsd lifetime TO secure.
Columbia too. shows the marks Of the Are and fury
Shat has swept her. and there signs OF
Immediate rsuscation from the trance into which she
been cast For although two years OF peace have
insryened the long streets still presided by the
gannt chimncys and crumblcd walls which mark the
track Of the destroyer The people IN conversing upon
political topics profess 70 be perfectly reckless as regards
the consequences Of the Reconstruction ball. although
have seen several legal gentlemen, who now practs
ing this city worked up 10 severe ~ OF passion by
the OF the fact that they are DISTINGUISHED
by the new act while their negroes given the right
Tta oh al Atx <fau~