Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-02-13
HOW THEY LOOK TO A STRANGER.

HOW THEY LOOK TO A STRANGER.
A correspondent of the New York. Times. fnr-
nishes that paper with the following pen and ink
sketch of the South Carolina Convention:
THE DELEGATES.
It is unfortunate for the convention that its dig
nifty is marred by one OF two white men, who, IN
irving to be funny, make themselves ridiculous and
bring discredit upon the body. Young Mackey is
one of these unfortunate buffoons, ,eminenty out
of place, disgustingly ignorant and prodlglously
foolish. So far as public respect for the body is to
be secured, he is standing ''thorn in the flesh. ,
remarked in former letter that the colored
men in the Convention possess, BY long Odds the
largest share of mental calbre. They are the best
debaters; and although the mistakes made are
frequent and ludicrous, the South Carolinians are
not allow to acknowledge that their destinies really
appear to be safer in the hands of these unlettered
Philippians than they would be if conhded to the
more unscrupulous care of the white men IN the
You may be astonished when tell you that
there is scarcely Southern white man in the Con-
yention who has character enough to keep him out
of the penitentiary. will not mention names,
but one was pointed QUITO me to-day who IS under
Indictment for stealing cow Tie was formerly
an overseer on large plantation, but was dismiss
cd on account of cruelty to the slaves, and to save
dignant negroes, joined Union League. Anoth-
er was recently fined $4,000 for violation OF the
internal revenue laws and sent to Jail, after being
turned out of the service Of the government tor
stealing horses and wagons from the planters: a
third has been recently indicted for city dlstll-
| ling whiskey; fourth hoisted the first Contede-
rate flag on Fort Sumter, was private Secretary to
Governor Pickens, and subsequently an enrolling
officer in the Confederate army and NTH IS
fourth-class Baptist chaplain. who used to pray
that 'the Yankee feet might be sunk into the BOT
tomless pit" These are only samples. might,
with similar information furnished me concerning
these men, 20 through the list. Fully six-tenths
of the white men are Of Northern birth, who
served in our army or held positions in the bureau
and have become eligible to Office by reason OF then
residence here. Some of the negroes have also
been, as learn, good Confederates, and beat the
drum or played the fife throughout the war, only
changing their tune to the music of the Union
since they have learned that it pays to be pohtl
clan.
Speaking of eligibility, by some strange law oi
convenience, I find that it is not necessary tor
delegate to have resided in the District which he
represents. A man may live in Charleston, yet i:
noted down as a delegate Of District hundred
by military authority, an Alderman Of the city o
! Charleston, represents distant Barnwel; Mackey
Charlestonian, so-called, went to Orangeburg
stayed twenty-four hours, was elected, and return
ed to his native heath; Randolph, u negro, iron
Buffalo, ditto; Pillsbury, a white bureau agent
represents Berkeley Arnim, an ex.Northern oth
Ger, recently dismissed disgracefuly, represent
Edgefeld; Elliott, Charleston negro, also repre-
E sents Edge6eld and so of dozen Others VIII
know scarcely score of people in the places t.
which they have been assigned by the powers tina
be- 1t is this burlesque on legislation and repre-
sentation which has disgusted the South Caron
!, ians.