The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-11
CHAOTIC CAROLINA.
>~~>~>>>o>-~>~>~>~.~~~>~~
Disorder, Social and Political, in
the Palmetto State.
THE SECRET SrRING OF HER WOES.
Carpet-Bagisn the Root OF ALI
Evil.
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The Last OF the DarOns on the
Situation.
What an Octogenarian Huger
Has to Say.
~~>,.~~~~--~~~~~~~>.~~~>~-
An African Democrat Expounds
Freely.
An African Democrat Expounds
Freely.
His C5iniOn Of Two Dalar and a Half Secretary
Of State and Several Other Things
CHARLIE ron, S. G., May 6. 1871.



iooker-on III Meeiing street. Charleston, viii have
pointed out nm he erect form OF the Hon. Alfred
Huger, man o. cgny-raree years OF age, OF hercu.
lean build, whose ccks are white as snow, and
whose strong md derpy ncented eyes together
with his large aquinc nose, give him very decided
resemblance to The Duke Of Wellington, when that
hero was IN his last decade. This gentleman Is one
OF the few, il the last. OF the ola remaining gen.
temen Of wealth ana family whose infancy was
coeya with the Foundation o. the constitution and
the republic
The hugers are 10 the manner born, having ana
holding The
BRsT HUiUESor BLOOD N THE STATE,
and previous to the carpci-oag era Huger or
lowndes or rincSncy you'd have been listened to
and Needed by III, cnire white population or South
Carolina; and such mc arc Still listened to by those
whose hands are no. dirtIel with public money or
who are not undsr til Dan Of Official malfcasance.
For thir y years, and lader nine successive Presi
dents OF the United states, the Hon. Alfred Huger
ha held the position ii Postmaster OF Charleston.
and during that pcr.pd oi a generation he was uni
ycrsally respected. Every man, woman and child
In Char eston knows the iigare Of Mr.. Huger as he
takes his daily walk 10 bus provisions for his family
a duty 10 which he ateads himself, as he is now
a ruined man. wno once held 40 slaves, with plan
tations well stocked
TIE WAR SCATTERED THE NEGROES,
as IN many other states, and Hugers opuence,
deemed uaassatlabe, melted AXE snow before a
warm sun. THIS Is MS ure. record similar TO fifty
other cases in south Carolina
Deenlng II Il Judlc.ous thing to ascertain the
views Of q man wen known as Mr.. Hugcr on tho
present demoraket site Of AFFAIRS 1paid visit to
him al his residence, No. l4 Calhoun street, in this
city, having first armed myself with proper letter
OF Introduction VI. Hugcr lives IN a large house,
hn1 A. n ra
To Ire OLD CAV AIIER,
being but the wreck OF once fine fortune / was
received BY Mr.. Huger with all that high-bred cour-
tesy and stately dignity belonging TO the gentleman
OF the old school, aud on entering the parlor was
asked 10 take seat.
stated briefly that the object OF my visit was to
gain information in regard to the condition OF the
State OF South Carolina, anu that / had been in
formed that Mr. IIcger's iong connection with pub
lie affairs was guarantee that his Information, II
gwen would be correct.
"Well SIR said Mr.. Hugcr, ~ will let you know
all that is III my power. 1 am an old man, but /
sat for many years in our state General Assembly
WITH MES LIKE CALaoUs, M'DUFFrE, PiNCKNEY
ami others whose names have been handed down TO
Us. All those whom | knew, however, have passed
away, ana am let alone.u
II was touching plctlre to see the octogen aran
as he uttered tins las, remark The room served as a
frame to his grand Old ,cc aid white hairs and the
bamy ana olorous winds from the magnolia bios.
SONS came in Though the open windows and played
with his hoary locks.
"Mr. Huger," said the HERALD commissioner, II
desire to ask your honest opinion in regard to the
condition o. the state OF affairs in South Carolina at
present. Many thousand readers or the HERALD
believe that there Is reign or terror here and that
your financial system ana the framework or society
are
BREAKING UP AND GOING TO SMASH"
Mr.. HUGEB-"Sr, | consider the moral, polite al
and financial condition Of South Carolina to be
more dcplorable than am even capable or express
ing. Every intelligent and honest observer has
long since come to the same conclusion These are
the results OF the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF HER STATE GOVERNMENT
care the officials not honest ~ asked.
81 consider that there Is almost universal mai.
versltIon Ia pubic otlce. The money which is SO
lavlsnly squandered by some OF these men has
BEEN CRUELLY WIRING
from The oppressed and desolated people OF our
state. our property Is al the mercy OF pronlgate
AMI unprInc ped strangers and or ignorant and
rapacous reg roei; our ruin as people and State
is NECESSARILY INEVITABLE.
Isay this now that am In the ninth decade OF life
and with fifty years. experience as Senator OF
South Carolina
much from the present 0le at Columbia ~
GOOD GOD sIR,r
exclaimed the old gentienan; "can you ask me
such aquestionS Why, there seventy -four mem.
bers OF tue Leyislature-whch has taxed the state
this year four million six hundred dollars "a mon.
strous sum
WHO CANNOT READ OR WRITE.
In my time the Legislature Of South Carolina as
.enoied, as now, on the fourth Monday In November.
The longest session ever served ended on the 22d
OF December. Tie same body now sits between four
and nve months. Cur pay was three dollars per
day-thers Is now six. We never had recess for
more than few hours.
THEY GO HOME FOR THE CHRISTMAS
holidays and many OF them for q much longer period
and they pay themselves what they please; there is
no limit to their extravaganza. The cost OF session
IN our time was about forty thousand dollars; what
they now call Legislative appropriations amounted
for the last session 10 five hundred and twenty
thousand dollars Of yore The tax hai for the entire
State
WAS ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Every man VIII voted for that bin paid his proper.
lion OF IT, The tax bill ~ now four million six
hundred thousand dollars, and those voting such u
bill paying no taxes. we who nave TO pay the
taxes, however, nave no representation. Here IS
taxation without representation III It's most hideous
Iofmn
Then there must bea
GOOD DEAL OF BRIBERY
In the legislature remarked
'les, certainty. Add TO the Jour million six hun.
dred thousand dollars tue inca cuabie sums paid 10
the members for their votes. This money when
collected. Is divided IN one plea or another pv those
who iue and rob. IL Is gigantic system OF organ
lied robbery
How How We're you paid In the Old time. while
member OF the Legislature, sir ~ asked.
'Ibe largest pay blll ever received during pc.
Hod oi twenty-five years IN the Legislature
-, was one nuADRED AND TWO DOLLARS.
Ihe members OF this so-called Legislature now pay
themselves seven or eight hundred dollars. our
SESSIONS wee always short, never extending be-
yond TWENTY-FIVE or twenty three working days, yet
We We're not pressed Tor time. Much leg station In
those days would have been con sidcred an evil, In
those days the Governor was always a respectable