The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-17
FuBTHERNEws BY MAIL.
IraoM oua OWN napoRrEn.l

REpuprloAS VICE AND ooRRUPT1oN-THE PRICE
OF TIE "TRoorf Lo1L"-How THE VOTES SELL
THE. .cANDDATEs-PERsoNAL. sKsTcHEs-THE
DINNERS AND DRINKING BOUTS AND
HARD CASH, &C., &C., &c
CoLuMuA, s. c., July MA spectacle is
now on exhibition in Columbia, strGs as never
has been witnessed in South CaroGna-a spec
tacle, every phase Of which typifes the utterly
unprincpled character of the Republican par
ty, and illustrates the hightful depth Of de-
moralizstion to which men must descend to
secure respect as its "trooly lol" members.
In the language Of Northern tourist, who
fingers here for dayor two to enjoy the aen-
atorial fight as looker-on, sit is the most in
famous political contest that ever disgraced
free country; if this be the beginning ofthe
end, God help the people of South Carolina !"
sHere is q Legislature composed Of one hun
dred and twenty -four members of the House
of Representatives, and thirty-three members
of the Senate. or the former, forty.eight only
are white, OF the latter nine are colored. OF
Democrats .,ere are, in the House fourteen,
and in the Senate seven; making On aggregate
of seventy-two white and eigbty.fve colored
legislators OF South Carolina. The grave duty
devolved upon these bodies is the choice Of
two United States Senators. One has already
been elected with degree OF unanimity which
indicated preconcert Of action aud mutual
understanding. The other is yet to be chosen,
and it is the wicked, unparalleled and unprin-
cipled means employed to secure this result
that has dsgusted Radicals themselves, and
alarmed them for the safety of thei- party.
Bribery and corruption are in the ascendant.
No member can predict the hour when he may
not be called upon with the offer Of doucear
varying in value from two dollars and half to
IN indefinite amount of promise, for his vote.
While write the bids are going on, and as if
to magnetic the sense of hearing, the chink
Of counted gold rings through the corridors Of
the hotel, from certain room wherein I re-
cognize only the face Of the carpet-bagger and
stranger.
The candidates have already been frequently
announced. They are F. A. Sawyer: ESD, Col
ieet6a Of the Internal Revenue for Charleston,
cr. A. G. Mackey, the Collector OF Cuetoms,
and Rev. Mansfield French-whose profession
cannot be accurately ascertained. No one out
side OF the party will deny that all three are
Republicans. And yet the singular issue is
made against Mr.. Sawyer that because ne is
gentleman, recognized as such, and the recip-
lent Of some kind attentions from those who
do not agree with him politically, he must ne
cessarily be wretched Democrat. On the
other hand, DR.. Mackey has q host OF enemies
who declare that he belongs to the "Custom-
house ring" of Charleston; that he and his
family rule the Republican party Of the State,
and have absorbed the best of its fat Offices;
that be is arbitrary, dictatorial passionate, and
q somewhat extensive demagogue; that he has
not the abiding love fall the Radicals, and has
SUFFERED 30 proftably as to have made enough
to retire to the peaceful shades of private Life;
consequently that he will not be acceptable to
the majority. The Rev. NJ. F., on the other
hand, is looked upon with distrust; first, be-
cause his chief supporters are Northern men;
secondly, because be is too sanctimonious;
third, b: cause he has rot sufficient elQcutionar?
ability to represent even the ghost of McDufhei
and fourth, because not being drinking or
smoking man himself, he has let the job out on
contract, which, you must know, is terrible
drawback to success under the present circnm-
stances.
The contest between these three candidates
has been study. Mr.. Sawyer has held his
caucusses, and every night met end exchang-
ed views with the members Of the party.
Sometimes an ugly speech has been made con-