The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-03-24
Plantation Manners"

| p ~ .
Some years ago, when, the influence oil
the South prevailed at Washington and
gave tone TO society as well as legislation
the enyious Yankee congressman com
planned of nothing SO strenuously as what
they choose to denominate plantation
manners" In those days, we had some
thing like honesty in law and decency in
private life at the National Capitol, but the
teverish and hypocritical Puritan Paul Prys
affected to discover nothing but hauteur in
the men and fippahcy in the women who
led the Washington world at that time.
These saintly agitators were blatant in pro-
claimitig. the changes they intended to bring
about when their hobbies and their repre-.
sentatives should rule the roast. Time, in
its revolving cycles. gaze these sour reform
ers the victory; it likewise afforded them
an opportunity to display the quality of
their virtue. After while plantation
manners" ceased in the Halls of Congress
and in the social life of the city. Puritan
morals came into vogue, and here, from
their own sources, We have apt illustrations
of how much heaven and earth have been
benefited by the transfer. The New York
Tribune correspondent, writing of thescene
at the counting of the electoral for Presi
dent, said :, s.., s.sY ,-. s,.
"lhe rules prohibiting the privilege of
the floor were suspended, and down there
on lounges, and sofas, and Representatives
seats, were ladies and children, wives and
relatives Of honorable members, relieving
the sombre aspect of the chamber. But
there were Others too: noted lobbyists, and
even strumpets of the street, some way or
Other, found admission. There was Mrs.
Cobb, the pardon broker, and Mrs. So-and-
So, whose reputation is not doubtful
How they got there, who invited them, no
one. perhaps will care to tell, or acknowl-
edge, but were there, to the disgrace of our
civilization and the shame of the House.
So much for the first witness. We
pass to the second; who is no less shin
ming Radical than the correspondent OF
the Chicago Republican. He thus testi-
fies g.
immediately outside the left hand en-
trance to the Senate, looking from the
Vice-Presidents desk toward the main
doorway of the chamber, is as elegant
apartment. 1t is handsomely gilded and
frescoed; elegant carpets cover the floor
luxurious arm chairs and lounges are num-
erous, and every thing invites to repose and
quiet and abandon. 1t is the reception
room ofthe Senate. 1t is easy of access
from the chamber. This room is notori-
ously the greatest assisnation place in
Washington. At any time during the SEES
sion of the Seaate, the visitor may sec
there, in brazen efrontery, known women
of ifl-fame. They are attired in costly
fabrics, diamonds and lace, and the latest
fashions. Senators do not hesitate to
come from their seats. and the work Of leg
islations at their bidding. The officers of
the Senate know them, or if they d. not,
they ought to; but instead Of being de.
|barred admission, they are allowed to ply
their vocation in the very Capitol of the
nation. do not say that oil the ladies
who go there are of this charactor-but /
do say that in the course Of a single day
more than score of this class of people
are to be found in that room.''
Picture it-think oft! A Chicago Rad
cal is absolutely forced to blush for the
proaigacy Of the Senate of the United
States, whose least vice is that Of drunken
ness And this is the Senate which hold
so tenaciously to what it assumes to be the
rights of man and true Republican liberty.
This is the Senate which Grant will have
to light. The man Of mystery is called
upon to combat the men of devious ways.
If the impulses of the soldier are really
honest. his chief danger is right in the path
way OF the Senate, whose seething corrup-
ton has sounded the unhallowed depths
which Juvenal laid bare, in days of old, for
the horror and instruction of mankind.