Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-03-19


eighteen hundred Ku-Klux prisoners were 10
jail at Raleigh. | suspect that this opportu-
nifty to have prominent opponents arrested and
temporarily put out of the way is not over
looked by politicians. 1t is very easy to get a
negro to make an affidavit Ku-Kluxism was
doubtless organized for self protection, but ran
into lawless excess It is not general in the
South, is not countenanced by the intelligent
natives, and, though greatest effort was made
to connect leading minds with it. not one was
found to have belonged. 1t is the recoil of op-
preston. 1t the operations of the Ku-Klux
had been against the head devils in this PAN
demonium, think there would have been wide
spread JOY at their taking off, but cowardly and
cruelty they spent their force in whipping and
frightening niggers" just imagine the Ku-
Klux applying the lash, not to poor muddle-
headed negro, but to one of these plethoric,
polished kuayes at the head of affairs, who,
upon salary of twenty-five hundred or three
thousand dollars, is clearing hundred thous-
and per year. 0! murder! Hear him howl,
troops troops Whack See the bonds flying
out OF his clothes at every cut like autumn
leaves-State bonds, railroad bonds and stocks,
| speakers certificates, special charters &c.
Ito for him. Whack whack the lobby fund
is cut; his life-blood is gone he collapses.
THE 'LEGUsLATUR. -
Our first curiosity was the legislature, or, as
the colored 'gemmen'' pronounce it, the ''leg-
uslatur'' AS the door opened and got the first
peep, it looked like mattress manufactory-
curled hair lying about in great profusion-but
on close inspection it proved to be an immense
ant-hill of niggers, all the Republicans in the
House being colored but seventeen. e., there
were over eighty negro members Add to these
twenty-three Democrats (white) and you have
the aggregate Of the House.
The Senate has a less proportion of white men,
the chief among whom is Rev. Whittemore,
who was expelled from Congress for selling
cadetshlps.. The Senator from the principal
district ID the State is douby- dyed black man.
who was for twenty years boot black at one of
the hotels The Speaker of the Senate, or
Lieutenant Governor, is negro; the Speaker
OF the House is white man of jewish extrac-
ton, SO in that body Europe, Asia and Africa
are represented. The Governor is white man
from Ohio; the Secretary of State is negro;
the Attorney General white man from Massa-
chusetts; the State Treasurer white mon from
same, and the Comptroller white man from
North Carolina. had the pleasure of meet
Ing most of these gentlemen, and did not hear
one OF them complain of hard times 1t seems
they have bought out Aladdin and can now
serve the people on very small salaries without
losing money. The scenes In the House beggar
description. The wardrobe of the negroes is
not as gaudy as you would expect, but occa-
slonally figure struts before you in frey vest
and sprangled bosom. This reminds me of
story they tell on Senator Crews, who, before
the war, was "a slave driver or. as we would
call him, "a drover," and was accustomed to
bring In lots for sale at Charleston every month.
He is now Radical member of the Senate
Recently committee was appointed to visit
the State Insane Asylum and report upon its
condition. The committee consisted of about
dozen. Crews was the only white man, and
was was chairman. Upon entering ths grounds of
the asylum at the head of his sooty delegation,
he was met by an inmate named Harris, or
Harrison, who had, when In his right mind,
been prominent citizen of Charleston and oft
en- bought slaves of Crews, and who, ignorant
OF the great change in affairs, aoeosted the Sem
ator as follows: why, Crews, how dive do.
glad to see you?' Then stepping back, and
scanning the colored committeeman, continued,
We'll, this is the likeliest lot of niggers ever
knew you to bring. Well dressed all got white
shirts On. Why, hoW can you afordatg Busi-
ness must be good. About then there was a
general exhibition of ivory, followed by loud
looked as if he had much rather be on some
other cruise
One day while we were seated in the House
a colored member drew his chair up to Silas
P, blunt boy of dozen years who was
seated behind me, and picking up printed bill
which was lying upon his desk, said, BOSS,
read dis bill to me, won't you ?'' Sias' red head
kindled and he grufHy replied. "No I won do
it. Il you can't read you have no business
here"
There was great excitement while the biga-
mist, Bowen, In the latter part of his five hour
| speech was charging Governor Scott with sun-
| dry lndecencies. Cries of order order rang
| from all sides of the hall; hands instinctively
reached under coat skirts where each member
| carried six-shooter, but at length the tragic
yielded to the comic and the crisis was passed
During this scene was oonvulsed by the ex-
| cited speech of one sable Cicero. Springing to
his feet as if he had collided with darning-
| needle In his chair, he cries out, "Mr. Speaka,
Mr. Speaka, lrise to pint of order u Speaker
The gentleman from - has the foor Will
the gentleman state his point of order? He
begins. ''Mr. Speaka My pint of order am
dIs Is we, Is We, is We met yher to discuss
| Governor Scott's private characta, or is we yher
to leguslate for de State of Souf Carolina 2"
| Spedker-That is no point Of order. The gentle
man will state his point of order or yield the
Aoor MIR. Speaka, (vociferously,) does dat
gentlemen ,(meaning Bowen, )de very man that
Governor Scott locked up In Castle Pinckney
| for hooken de poor colorded folks cotton, mean
to insult dis house dat am met yher for de
purpose Of sittin on de best interest of de State
mad elevantiDg (elephant-ing) its resources. I"
Here the Speakers gravel falls, and the gentle
man subsidies, to be followed by dozen others in
the same ludicrous style. AT times the Speak
er relazes the rules and then there is general
smoke, &c On one of these occasions IN look
ing over my shoulder discovered my dignifed
travelling companion, Col NJ, in a most
obsequious attitude holding a lighted match to
colored gentleman S cigar. You would have
supposed | was suddenly seized by oramp in
the stomach
AS court ia in session, please allow me to
finish next week.
Yours respectfully,
s. r. PEALE.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
| XLIInd CONGRESS, End SESSION.