The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-08
THE SENAIORI4L ELECTION
The Caucussing Mt Night-Getting Rea-
dy for the Race-The Vote In the Sen-
ate and the House-The General Elec-
top Law.
rFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBIA, Decemper D.
The election of an United States senator has
been at last reached. To-day, at IL O'Clock, IN
pursuance to law, both houses commenced BAL
lotting. Strange to say, there was little or no In
terest manifested. Hardly any spectators were
present, it being pretty generally conceded that
nothing ofimportance would be done until to-
morrow or next day, when both houses would be
in joint convention.
The conservative element Of the Legislature de-
cided last night in caucus to cast their votes for
General NJ. C. Butler, and the result to-day shows
that their programme was carried out
1t is rather difficult just now to venture an
opinion either in regard to the merits or dement's
or probable chances Of any OF the candidates. SO
many rumors are set ahoat, and mems actions
differ 30 from their expressed opinions, That one
cannot tell whom or what to believe.
N1GHT OF CAucUsSING.
Last night was emphatically night Of eau.
cussing. Every room OF any size In the city was
secured by the friends Of some one or another OF
the candidates, and a liberal spread Of good
things made. 1t was 1z and pop here, there and
everywhere, Jersey champagne nowing like wa
ter and champagne cigars ad. lib. CT course, all
the caucusses terminated in general drunk, and
all the members and their friends awoke this
morning with severe headaches. II they didn't,
it wasn't the faul: o, the wine supplied them.
One very strange thing occurs to as that In all
this Saucussing 1t is extremely difficult to discover
In whose interest these meetings are held. The
only correct way to find out is to question the
caterer. All seem to feel as If they were doing
something wrong. and were trying to lay the
blame on some one else.
The caucus at the Statehouse last night was, as
usual, q fasco. Mr.-beg pardon-Colonel Mar
tin f. Delaney. Parson Cain, T. j. Mackey, and
crowd of like vultures seem to goat over the op-
portunity to make spread-eag& speeches, and
members OF minor influence seem to consider 1t q
fine opportunity to offer themselves for sale. In
fact, the language used by some OF these men
SO broadly hints Of corruption that it ceases to be
startling, and becomes disgusting. Radical
paper Of this city says it will not believe that
votes are bought and sold, which is all very con-
verient and nice, but another class OF citizens do
know and believe, these things, and have to feel
the effect Of them, too, when they pony up their
taxes.
THE PROSPECT.
There are many subjects that can be handled
more easily and with less danger OF mistake than
that OF an election by the General Assembly. It
is a good idea and one that should be carried
out, to carry along the election until all the
money s exhausted, and then let man stand on
his merits But that, after all, wouldn't work
here; for the question Of color would then come
In, and we can all anticipate the result. Those
parties here who understand anything about
managing legislation, II they have the 'stun" to
bac athem, have regular "heads win, tails you
loosen game. AS you will have the announce
ment OF the election about as soon as this Is be-
fore your readers, any further premises Will be
uninterestiDg.
resolution was sent to the Speakers stand,
just prior 70 the election to-day, oy >. J. Lee,