The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-03-16
THE SOUTH NJ TIE SENATE.

THE SOUTH I'M fHE SENATE.
Now the New soutA Dimer. rrem the Old
south In the Matter or ssases@en---Peints
and PcA.PIetures.
1t is perhaps well that the old South,
made her mark in the Senate Chamber. for
the new South does not.
| HER GREAT LIGHTS
seemed to have passed away or been snuff
ed out, or been put under bushel, for the
roar Of their oratory has ceased to be
heard in the Senate, and their places are
flied with wooden men.
SOUTH CAROLINA
formerly took front rank in the Senate
Chamber, her representatives being equal
in point of ability Ia. those sent from the
other States. The~aist of her former Ssn-
atOrs is long array Of eminent names.
But from place among those at the head,
she has dropped to the tail-end and is now
represented by a Massachusetts school
teacher and a native peanut planter.
Robertson and Sawyer were never heard of
beyond their respective school-districts be-
fore the war, never held Offices Of profit or
trust, even to being members of the Legis-
lature, which is next to nothing, and but
for the war would have been padding
down the stream of life, one raising pea
nuts among his native sand hills, and the
other teaching young ideas how to shoot,
at five dollars a month and board The
only evidence we have Of their ability is
the fact that they do not often attempt to
say anything. They have sense enough to
understand that they have no ideas that
will enlghten anybody, and for this de-
serve credit. Once in while Robertson
spreads his wings for an oratorical fight,
but his ideas are crude, his wind short
and he soon fiOps into his seat, where he
should have remained in the first place.
Before the war, if a patriot had proposed
running either of these men for the Legis-
lature, word would have been sent to the
nearest lunatic asylum, inquiring if they
hadn't lost an inmate.
As FOR VIRGINIA,
the mother of Presidents, it is to be re-
gretted that she cannot call back the ghosts
of some of her departed great to repre-
sent her now. Messrs, johnson and Lewis
are clever gentlemen, but in healthy and
well regulated times the Old Mother would
hardly select them to represent her at the
council board of the nation. If her present
Senators are fair specimens of her states
men, her tobacco land is not the only thing
that is on the decline.
ALABAMA USED TO LOON UP
in the Senate, but she hangs her rebellious
head in shame now, and well she may,
when she is represented by such men as
George Spencer. He is without ability,
and if a fifth of the charges against him
are true, without character either. His
operations in Alabama as cotton agent and
his transaction with Judge Busted, the
bribe taker, do not reflect the more honor
upon him the more they are investigated
Goldwaite is fair man, but will not
make his mark now. II the stuff had been
in him to make it, there would have been
surface indications Of it some time ago He
has held the Office of Circuit Judge, and is
an average lawyer. Spencer's experience
as Statesman" before the war began and
and ended as assistant clerk or door keeper
of the Iowa Legislature
ARKANSAS Is A NEW STATE,
without the glorious Senatorial record to
look back upon, as a solace for the present
! feebleness, that some States have. Even
this dubious privilege is denied poorArkan-
sas. Without much reputation before the
war as Senator-sender, she is not in fair
way to make any now; and, till sheget Rice
and Clayton out, her feebleness will be pit
liable. How much it cost Clayton to get in
cannot be stated with precision, but as he
had ~ buy off the Lieutenant Governor,
johnson, at a price Of not less than ten
thousand dollars, and three impeachment
committeeman, at not less than five thous-
and dollars each, it will be seen that his seat
in the Senate was a very expensive affair.
Some of the friends of ex-Lieutenant Gov
ernor johnson insisted that the old fellow
sold out to Clayton for fifteen thousand
cash, they wanting TO make it appear that
he drove a sharp bargain, but think the
actual sum was something less than that.
He looks to me like man who would sell
out his satchel Of principles any time for
ten thousand dollars, ON easy terms, say
one-half cash, and the balance in six or
twelve months, with interest.
AS FOR D. F. RICE,
he is weak Senatorial reed, even for the
weak and helpless State Of Arkansas
His total legislative experience up to the
time he entered the Senate consisted Of
having served one term in the Kentucky
Legislature. Think of it, We gods A term
in the Kentucky Legislature a a qualifca-
ton for the United States Senate 1t is an
estimated distance of only one step (three
feet, if the legs are not too long, from the
sublime to the ridiculous, but in this in
stance Rice has certainly reversed the
proposition. and gone from the ridiculous
to the sublime at leap. From the Ken
tucky.L Legislature to the United States Sen
ate at leap! Is there another instance on
record hope not.
GEORGIA Is THE EMPIRE STATE
Of the South, and ought to be we'll repre-
sented in the Senate, and, after seven long
years of contest with the carpet -baQgers.
| jobbers and robbers, she had upon the floor
yesterday, for the first time since the war.
two Senators, honored and qualified for the
duties of their position. By an extra streak
Of good luck, seldom run upon by 9
Southern State since the war, she has
escaped Blodgett, the notorious iobber I;
FarrOw, the rebel saltpeter dirt digger and
Whitley, the spostate Confederate Colonel,
all Of whom were elected to the Senate BY
the stupid and ignorant Legislature.
Norwood was sworn in yesterday, and,
for the first time in ten years, Georgia is
fully represented in Congress. Both Nor
wood and Hill are men Of good character.
Hill was member Of Congress, before the
war, and was the only one of the delega-
ton who refused to withdraw and 20 into
the rebellion.
As FOR FLORIDA,
neither Of her Senators ever had any ex-