The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-18
The following letter is addressed to
the presiding officer of one of the
Leagues, in Horny District: isS"l

tiIa .tCoLUMBLA, July 10, 1868. !.
- MY DEAR AND HoNoRED SIR /: 7
promised to write you few lines, to
give you my views Of things in this
city, the seat of Government of this
glorious State. I pray that these
lines may find you in the enjoyment
of the best health, rs they leave me
e.. present. The delegation arrived
here in full health. We had our
place in the car with the white peo-
ple-the white people is grum on the
cars, except the white members OF
the Legislature; and especially the
candidates for Senate, for Judge of
the Courts, and such like. The can
didates and the white members treats
us like brothers. They sit on the
same seats in the cars; th0y call us
mister-none of your uncle or boy,
or such things which belongs to the
time when we had the hoe in our
hand. The candidates and our white
brother members. have treated Us
we'll; they is so friendly, that feel
somehow rs if this thing wont last.
I see white people here who was once
right rough, who now treat us real
kind. They invite us to take drinks
this is the greatest place for drink
ing, ever was into tell you the
truth, honored sir, I have not laid
down to sleep o single night since 1
arrived, without feeling as if I had
just as much to drink as I want
plain or with sugar-cost all the
same. Tis worth while coming to
the Legislature, just for the free
drinking. They have drink here,
they call cocktails half full
Of whiskey, ice, sugar and q bitter
stuff find this good drink; I
think it will keep off fever and ague;
the sugar makes the liquor too sweet,
so they put in the bitter stuff-the
bitter stuff makes the whiskey too
bitter, SO they put in the sugar.
The election for one Senator has
come off-the Hon. Tom Robertson
is elected. Mr.. McKinlay nominated
Mr.. Robertson. He spoke of him as
one who had imperilled his life for
the Constitution. I voted for Mr..
Robertson, because the party requir-
ed me to do SO; yet, I must say, [
don't recollect Mr.. Robertson peril
ling life for or against the Constitu-
ton; because he was wood con-
tractor on the South Carolina Rail-
road; and by keeping off the track,
his life was safe. He was Colonel of
a Reserve Regiment, in the Confe-
derate service-and not being called
into action, his life was in no danger
Mr.. r. keeps nice carriage, one
grey and one bay horse, and plenty
of good whiskey. On the whole,
Mr.. r. is good man; he has money,
and don't go on bonds of the public
officers.
The great election for Senator has
come of. Hon. Mr.. NIackey, Mr..
Sawyer and Parson French were
candidates. L voted for Mr.. Mackey,
first; then voted for Parson French,
and to-day for Mr.. Sawyer. French
kept quiet-Mackey and Sawyer
quarrelled powerful; Mackey's peo-
pie got up newspaper called the
Record, in which he cursed Sawyer
dreadfully. These white people quar-
rel SO, that I commence to think
there must be something wrong. The
colored people are the best in the
Legislature, by long odds. Mr..
Whipper is giant; so is Mr.. De-
Large. They are both far ahead of
any white people in the Legislature.
These gentlemen would be respect
able anywhere; but especially in this
Legislature, there are more poor
mean whites here than L ever saw
before. Honored sir, 1 feel the blush
of shame when L look at the white
Republicans in this body. The De-
mocratic members are only few, but
in candor, 1 must say, can find no
fault with them; they may be mis-
guided men, but they are honest and
straightforward. Sir, tears came to
my eyes when I saw them vote for
Sawyer, today; not that they loved
Sawyer more, but because they loved
Mackey less.
Honorcd sir, [ must close. Three
white men have asked mo to ride out
with them i'll one of Hon. Mr.. Fra
zee's carriages, and 1 60. 1 think
they want to talk to me about voting
for Judges. This meeting in New
York don't look right. They have
nominated men named Horace Sey-
mour and Franklin Blair; and, to
tell you the truth, our party don't
feel right. There is something mp in
the country, and 1 don't think Grant
can carry the day. In that case,
what is to be done? These mean