Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-08-07

Conventions, until they reach the Congress
If the United States, their entire course
nrovokes the mirth and attracts the wither-
! inc inyectives of the orator and Wfl'er'
Their capers, too, form the fruitful subject
for the artist, aud none of the devices WHICH
sdorn the windows of dealers ana astracs
attention on the walls of club rooms are 50
eood or 80 popular as those which Illus
trate the notorious carpet-baggers. 1ne
raciest campaign songs, the Wlttlest Je"-
,pos-nrus the most pregnant anecdotes.
sook ont these fellows as their most tempt
in, y;ctins In fact, much of the humor
Of the campaign, and, we believe, much
of its effect, would be lost were it not for
these travesties upon humanity, these
practical Jokes upon decency, the very en-
bodiment of physical impudence and men
dacity. O.
The carpet-hagger, from the chrysahs
state, when he caucuses in the fence corners
with the "newly enfranchlsed," with his
veritable carpet-bag in hand, containing
its paper collars, moral and political tracts
and fne-tooth comb, until he becomes full
Aedged statesman, is, indeed, wonderful
character, and will form, in story and song,
in history and fiction, one OF the Leading
features of the present crisis. His poster
ity may not be proud of his lineage even
though enioying the comfortable results
of their ancestors disgraceful impotence.
One of the most vivid pictures of South
ern reconstruction, photographing the
"great moral exhibition of the Nineteenth
Century," with clown and harlequin, gym
mast and acrobat and the great political
Ethiopian delineator, we find in the fol-
lowing brief extract from recent speech
of the Hon. S. S. Cox a:
Next comes the Omnibus bill for six others
North Caro- ina, South Carolina, LOUISIANA. Ala
Dama, Georgia, and Florida Virginia, Mlssis-
sippi and Texas may follow, though see that to-
day it is proposed to put them to the sword yet
awhile The play is then to end IN some glddy
Black Crook spectacle These constitutions are
bv the warmth of Northern vagrAnts who, cukoo-
nke have set upon eggs not their own. Here
aud there are delegates from Canada and Jamal
ca unnaturalized Think of it, gentlemen from
the Llffey and Rhine. Mixed with this mosaic are
anpardoned culprts from South and North. Here
a black scoundrel from Sing Sing; there horse
| thief from the penEentiary OF Ohio Here ra-
zor- bearing barber, innocent of all but lather
and there razor-cutting assassin, guilty of all
the crimes In the calendar. These prepare SOW
eregn States for the family OF Washington They
are manufacturing Radical representation. Listen
to their eenseless iargon and audaclous mahgnl-
ty. Is it some mummery of dim traditions,
caught from their African f ores! No; these
Roger Sherman and Hamilton. They are making
organic laws for millions of Intelligent people !
Take photographs colored photographer a
| Southern convention. A few whites sit there in
simple courage and sadness. They can do no
good. Conspicuous only for their modesty and
intelligence they sit aloof from this extravaganza
4 Hunnicutt comes forth as ring-master:. Parti-
colored clowns appear. The reconstruction tan
ba? is raked over, and here are, Mr.. Merry
man! The black horse, Equality, is trotted out,
and then begins the eternal round OF loyal talk.
But do these caricatures of men make constitu-
| tons? No; no. Ohio has the rod over louisiana
Kansas has her lash on the back of Arkansas !!
| Wisconsin cares for Florida! New York and New
England have their busy bodies all through! and
| behold! these constitutions arise, not like the
walls of the ancient city, to Orphean music, but
to the banjo of negro minstrelsy!