Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-12-18
RALEIGH, n. c., Dec. II, 1868.

RALEIGH, n. g., Dec. IL, 1868.
| Dear Journal An immense amount OF
important business is afoat in the Legis-
lature, though it is safe to predict that but
little will be comSttnanaated before the recess,
which, as you are aware, extends from the
Dist inst. to the 4th prox.
Since the date of my last letter, perhaps
the most notable incident has been the
formal swearing in of the Corruption Com
mlttee. It remains now to be seen what are
to be the developments. That venality
and bribery have been common and shame
less does not admit of doubt. Else the
spectacle daily exhibited, during the last
session of the Legislature, of impecunious
and VIGOROUSLY insolvent individuals
strolling around hotels and restaurants,
with suddenly distended pockets wearing
fine jewelry, Or driving fast horses, is in
explicable. One of the methods in which
the thing is managed is this: One of the
Ring approaches Mr.. -, who is
we'll known to be perfectly accessible, and
who is equally well known to have influence
with certain set in the Assembly. The
sum of 1000 or $40, 900 is handed over to
him, with the significant intimation that
certain scheme must be "put through"
and that he will be held responsible, in
view Of the " consideration" for it's sue
cessful manipulation. Mr.. knoDS
has men, and judicious distribution of
little presents, from a gold watch chain
down to stunning neck tie, or largess
of green backs, fixes the matter, and Mr..
- pockets handsome surplus.
Or thus : Mr. hints to such and
such a one that he is anxious for the sue
cess OF certain project, and winks his eye
knowingly. Shortly thereafter, such and
such one Is rather hard up" and aOOuLd
Mr.. -- be so very kind and obliging as
to accommodate him with the loan of a
hundred or two =? OF course, MIR. -
is only too glad to oblige his dear friend,
and, of course, that dear friend is not so
ungrateful as to vote against any project in
which so clever and liberal a gentleman as
Mr.. is interested. Aud thus the
hing is cemplete-hke that famous buckler
of Achilles, you know. of which MIR. Web
ster spoke in his great speech of March,
1850 {:
AID 6e+U the buckler's verge, and bound the
UE.Gt6 !'
Now, if that is not prostitution of the
beautiful Homeric description, 1 should
like to know what could be
Rumor has it that since the passage of
Mr.. Sweets resolutions, which the Ginger
boards " did so much to embarrass or de- |
feat, the probable exposures are sought to |
be frustrated IN singularly unique man
ner. For instance The such and such |
one above referred to, has been to Mr. |
-, and executed q note for the amount |
so generously and CONSIDERABLY loaned, lit !
being we'll understood that the note is |
never to be collected, or sought to be- SO |
that if the Committee should, perchance, |
get wind OF the original transaction, the |
note will be paraded In evidence that the |
affair was purely and altogether of a business |
character between two honest men ! Sucn
is one of the many expedieuts that are be |
ing, and will be, employed to thwart this |
investigation. But there are on that Com
mittee two or three men of inhexible cour- !
age and stern honesty, who are determined |
to bring these occult villainies to light, if |
possible. So that unless witnesses are re-
moved or swear falsely, it is confidently |
anticipated that disclosures will be made |
which, although they will unfold dark |
page In our hlstory-a page upon its hith- |
erto stainless record written by Radicalism |
will yet, / hope, open the eyes of our |
people to the drifting of events, and crush |
out this infamous crew who have fastened /
themselves upon the vitals at the State. il