The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-03-18
Speaker Moses.

Speaker Moses.
Franklin J. Moses, Jr., is native
of South Carolina, and at the COM
mencement Of the late hostilitics was
aid-dc-camp to Governor Pickens, and
as such, claimed and was granted the
privilege of hosting tho Confederate
flag over Fort Sumptcr after it's gar
rison had capi,ulated. After this
"piece of daring" he received COM
mission in the Confederate service,
and was stationed where there was
prospect of "smclling gunpowdcr."
He thought that even a whiff of it
would impair his health, and never
took one, but managed to get an ap-
pointment rs an enrolling officer, and
in the pcrilous occupation Of sending
''men to the 'front.'" passed the re-
naming days Of the war At the
close Of hostilitics he edited paper
in Sumpter for short time, and sud-
denly changed his politics-if he ever
had any-and allied himself with the
Republican party. BY means of
pleasant address and an immense
amount Of check" for instance, his
delivering lecture upon "rcligion"
to the colorcd people, he was elected
to the Legislature from Charleston
County. In this body he was elected
Speaker, and it is but justice to say
that no one else could control the
members as we'll as he does. At the
end of each session the House votes
him five hundred dollars extra, which
he probably earns, as it is no small
tax to maintain order, now and then
in such disordcrly body. The rep
rescntatives, however, forget that
his exertions have been in their be-
half, and instead Of voting the extra
compensation out of their own pock-
els, vote il out of the State treasury;
to take which, under the circumstan-
ces, grieres the unsclfsh heart of
Moses, who, as he expresses it with q
tear in the corner of each optic,
'Iabors with an eye single to the good
of the people Of the State" Moses
speaks well, and makes Interesting
whatever subject he discusses He
has his favorites in the House, and it
is with difficulty that any but these
can secure the floor. 1t is useless
for the disappointed to appeal against
the decision of the chair, for it is
certain to be sustained. If Moses is
requested to: give. his reasons for a
"ruling," he will furnish them, giving
analogous cases at different periods Of
the worlds history, from the time
that Miss Pharaoh found Moses in
the bullrushes and "ruled" to keep
him, to the present. He will state
these reasons so rapidly as to confuse,
and with, an appearance of so much
cont dehce in the justice Of what he
is relating, as to convince the most
skeptical. But for his management,
not ono third Of the business disposed
ofin the House last session would
have been transacted, for which the
people of the State, generally, have
not much cause to thank him. At
present Noses is acknowledgement Of
the State, and will by virtue of his
office, command. the militia ut the
next general elections. "A brilliant
campaign may be anticipated, Moses
is ambitious. He aspires to, the Con-
! gressional seat left vacant by the
expulsion of Whittemore but if he
cannot get this, he will take the Office
Of Lieutenant Governor Of the State.
! IF the Radical party be successful in
i the coming campaign it is. probable
that: Moses!willbs Governor, as it, ia
stated that the programme Of the
tRadicaf party is to re-eleet Scott
Governor and eIect Moses Lieutehant
Governor then send Scott to the
4 United Statss Senate, and of course
Moses will step into the gubernato,
rial chair As regards his Cobgres
sionaI aspirations, J.H. Rainey, col
tored, State senator from Georgetown
County, who is spoken of in this con
tnection, will make ~ much bette,
Ereprssentatiye fMsr M + both ,p M ths white and