The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-17
THE NEW REGIME.
The Lawgiver OF the Lobby.-Bzibcsy
aud Corruption-The Forty Thieves
"Seeing Light"-A Naturalization
in OMce-Camparsson OF Colors, DC.
NUMBER VIII.
TIMOTHY HURLEY.

natural, because, although officially discon.
nected with the Legislature, &c is more widely
known than any member of it. "Tim," as he
is called for short, Is native of New England
and has all of the sharpness for which the In
habitants of that section are noted. AS we are
informed, he has been lobbyist tor several
Legislatures before this the great recon
structed" came into existence. He was sup
posed to show the members flight" so that
they could see the exact and nearest course
tor ''billn to travel to reach an s'ect" He
generally did his work quietly, and his move
ments were seldom noticeable. When it was
necesscry to pass the Phosphate bill over the
Governors veto, he had very little time to
work, and worked industriously ss beaver
the result of which was that several thousand
dollars were spent, and Of the one hundred
and twenty three members who voted, ninety
tour voted to pass the bill over the veto. A
glance ut his account book would show many
things to amuse. but taore to sadden.
BRIBERY ANB CORRUPTION.
The South Carolina Legislature enjoys the
rerutation, both at home and abroad, Oh oelns
one OF the most corrupt legislative bodies in
existeace. Whether this reputation be de-
served or not cannot be stated with any degree
of accuracy, but that 1t was very corrupt
body is beyond doubt; certainly upon this
point both the friends and foes of the General
Assembly are agreed. 1t is recorded that q
short time since, In New Orleans, one negro
'Cnnnt
for the manner dat dem fellars, both niggers
and white folks, changes dar tick tacks in the
Legislature. One day dey Is toof and toe nail
agin bill, and the next day dey fights for 1t
like de debbil." "Shaw, niger, you dunno
muffin. De fust day, you see, dey Is feeling
round like. After maxim rppin smart speech
gin a bill, dey goes out to see man, and dc
next day dey Jest as well as says deys seen
'em.n
tits ellknown that the action ofa large num-
ber of our South Carolina legislators has been
similar 10 that of their Louisiana brethren. In
fact, this corruption was SO great. that to hear
that such one had received bribc excited
no surprise whatever. A remark frequently
made among the white men i'll Columbia,
Radicals and Democrats, was that two hun
dred thousand dollars, judlclonsly circulated
among the Legislators, would secure the pas
sage ola bill repeating tho Emancipation act,
and putting all but colored legislators back
into slavery. Charges were frequently made
against members that they had been brlbcd,
and the amount they had received stated. 1t
would be easy to give names of parties, but
the charges could not be proven If made.
Certainly the men who rendered the brbes
will not testify, as in 80 doing they would
criminate themselves under section first
of bill passed last session "to pre-
vent and punish bribery and corruption,'
which provides that any person who corruptiy
gives, offers or promises to any legislative
officer, after his election or appointment,
either before or after he is qualified or has
taken his scat, any gift or gratuity whatever,
with intent to influence his vote on any ques-
tion which may be then pending, or may by
law come or be brought before him in his
official capacity, shall be punished by impris-
onment in the State Penitentiary at hard labor
not exceeding five years, or by fine not c1-
ceeding three thousand dollars, and imprison-
nent in Jail not exceeding one year. Two or
more legislators have asserted, in jesting
manner, that this clause was inserted to pre-
vent tie principal witness, perhaps the only
one, from tcstifying against any legislative
officer who may be arraigned under section
second of the same bill, which provides for the
punishment Of any one OF them who may ac-
cept gift to influence his vote. AS We have
stated, it is difficult to prove that any one
member has received bribes, but it is not diff
cult 10 give points Which will convince any
one that large number Of tie members were
corrupt For instance, here are forty in the
lower body known as
THE FORTY THIEVES,
composed of both colorcd and white members
of the House, but mainly of the former, who
were organized for tho purpose ofprcventinS
the passage of measure unless money was
paid to the members Of the organization,
which had captain, three lieutenauts, four
scrqeants, four corporals and twenty-eight
privales. O'Connell, Mcintyre, Miller, white,
and Mobey and Rush, colored, were the most
members, or, at least, were heard OF
outside of the organization most frequently
None of the prominent Legislators were spoken
of IS being members of this body, but they
were charged with receiving the largest
share of the ''bribe money" and leaving little
to be divided among the faithful forty. As the
vota of this or0anization WAS sufficient to de-
termine any question, flvorably or uniavora-
bly,, care was taken 10y interested parties to
secure its vote for The measure to be consid-