Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-18
NEGRoEs AND GEKs.


A correspondent of the New YorI
"World," in letter dated Charleston
November 3, says:
Posslbly just now few rough no.c:
taken by business man in South Carroll
ma may be OF interest 20 yonr readers, and
give them an insight into Radical Repub.
lican political virtue where that party il
dominant. About midwinter the writer
was IN Columbia, S. G. Curiosity prompt
ed him to visit the Legislature, then in
session. He went to the gallery of the
House OF Representatives just as the Sen
ate was entering the Chamber to unite
with the House in joint convention to elect
Judge the Speaker of 5ne House, q Col
onel Moses (son of the Chief Justice of the
State), was IN the act of vacating his seat
to the President of the Senate, the Hon
ID. ID. Corbin. few minutes brought the
Joint convention into organization, and the
business OF the day was proceeded with. -
AS the election was by UiUd UOce it was ap.
parent at the close of the call of names
that the favOrite of the leading negro mem
bers failed to have a majority of the en-
tire vote. just at the time the presiding
officer rose to announce the vote an up
roar began that surpassed any tumult in
the long experience of the writer. A large
burly, good-looking negro, with bright
red necktle (named Il. B. Elliott, and
since elected to Cor 0ress), commenced to
call: ''Mr. Speakerr Down came the gave,
MIR. Speaker p he screamed again, aided
by about fifty other voices; again the gavel
fell, and for eighty-seven times more by
actual count did this occur until the
speakers arm seemed tired. Daring this
time small mulatto member with q pro.
m1nent nose DE Large, since elected to
COngress), busily engaged on tho floor,
passing from member to member, and at
times leaving the Chamber and returning
with different parties. All the Senators
and members-four-fifths of whom were
colored-were loudly discussing terms con-
dltlonal to changes IN the votes, some re,
celvlDg what appeared 20 be money. /
turned to ask an intelligent looking white
man near me whether the DELAY was simply
to give time to bribe refractory and ex-
acting members. He replied Eyes. -
Pointing down to those nearly under the
section of the gallery, he said, every
man you see there demands his pay for
every vote of Importance he gives. Elliott
and De Large are fomenting disorder to
gain time; tney are the intriguers of the
HoTse, and they we'll understand that they
must arrange, to secure, by purchase,
enough votes to make O majority. So no.
tOrious is the fact that that part of the
House is known as The Forty Thieves ,"
In the same body saw ''Rainey," q
bright, handsome mulattO, since elected
to Congress from the Georgetown district
He seemed fully aware of the corruption,
but took no part in it. Ransier was also
there, since elected lieutenant governor,
and busily helping Elliott and DeLarge.
My gallery informant said, leach of those
men, DeLarge, Elliott, Moses, etc., came
here poor their pay is Sc per day they
now own and drive teams alone that cost
double their pay for an entire session, and
their living is consistently extravagant.-
Some stylish women (cololed) were on the
floor Who are they ? asked. 'Noted
and Influential courtezans and lobby NOM
bers," was his reply. ''Their political
favor must be bought to secure the passage
of any important bill This was the Legis-
lature of proud old commonwealth, com
posed (with only five or six exceptions)
entirely of Republicans. The corruption
was unblnshing, indecent, acknowledged
and undenlable. and yet for the six months
since past l have failed to see single re-
buke in any Radical newspaper in or out
of the State.
The same Legislature increased the State
debt by millions. without fostering a sin
gle Improvement sold valuable privileges
for personal considerations only !; com
PEELED equality in the theatres and acade-
mics, state l, oms, and ladies' cars de-
manded recompense pecuniarily fer voting
to educate their own children; and seemed
ready, as q facetious friend said, Sc to take
a red-kot stove, provided they could obtain
iron gloves 10 lift it with