The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-10
ncPlorablo Condition OF Our Pub.
Suo Affairs - Dssorlbed by n Tribune
C0fre1pondlene.. - - -

The neplorabie Condition OF Our Pub.
sIo Affairs - Desoribed by n Tribune
| Correspondence. - '''s
WASHINGTON. February 22.-The con.
dillon OF South Carolina is deplorable.
ln the days of secession it was the
greatest offender. In the days of re.
construction it is tho greatest sufferer,
The government Of the State wns for.
metiy in the hands of an aristocracy.
They we're body of men jealous, viii.
iui, dogmatic. but high.tone and
honorable. The roll II its representa-.
lives IN Congres for near three qusrters
OF century. the names OF its civic and
military heroes in the war of the revolu-
ton. shine with lustre that is undim.
med by comparison with the men OF any
other State.
True to the souvenirs Of it's former
history, it preoipituted the shareholders
rebellion. and led its hosts to their
doom. 1t sought in its passion bloody
ar0ltrament on the field OF battle, and o
bloody arbitrament it has had. With
6O, QUO voters. it put 10000 soldiers in
the field. The end came. and South
Carolina was black with desolation.
The smoke and the fire of civil war
assembled from every household, and the
etaln OF blood was on the garments of
every survivor. Its young men bad
swiftly gone down to bloody graves till
the dead outnumbered the living. The
means OF support were swept away as by
ire and whirlwind. Havoc, and spoil,
and ruin were its only gain. This is
where the end of the rebellion left
S.utn Carolina. What has been it's
coudltl0n since? What is it's condition
now2
The population OF the State is some
thing over 100000 blacks, and some
thing under 30O.0 900 whites. The result
OF the war has made u yet greater dis
proportion in the comparative numbers
OF the voting population. These are
estimated to be in the proportion of
10000 white to 10000 black voters, the
aggregate being over 100000. But in
Inc Legislature. out oI 124 members.
thero are but thirteen representatives OF
the white minority. Tho rest of tho
assembly is black, with the exception
that here aud there is white repre-
sentative Of black constituency. There
arc enough of these, along with few
lnteiiigent colored. people, to lead the
great mass of ignorance aud barbarism
OF which the main body is composed.
Without going into details, it is
enough to say that the men who lead
and manage the Legislature and the
state Government are thieves and mis-.
creants. The great body of the Legis-
latn.e are the Ignorant aud corrupt in
struments with which the leaders work.
and tho Ugh the individuals composing
this mass are bought and sold like cattle
IN the market. their venality in some
cases IS relieved Of much of it's crimina-
MY by reason of the densencss of their
ignorance. Numbers OF the blacks who
occupy seats in the Legislature regard
themselves only in the light of en-
ployees OF the Government. Their pay
Is Six dollars day for the session, and
special pny for their separate votes on
every measure in which there is money.
These votes are bought and sold without
even pretence OF hiding the hagitioua
transaction. The negro himself is hard
~ conscious Of criminality while he
makes his bargain. He owns his mule.
he selln 1t. He owns his chicken. He
sells It, He considers his vote just Us
much part OF his personal property as
his mule and his chicken. Why should
he not sell it also? He does sell it, and
he Dalvely wonders that any body should
OF course, the scale of pay variec. It
is just according to each mans intelli.
gence and rapncity. A few hundred
dollnrs in special gratuities is enough to
satisfy the demands of IA plantation ne
gro. Others get more, aud moro, and
more. Que of the smarter sort was
accused, the other day. on the floor of
the House, by colleague, with then
having $4,000 Of State bonds in his
pocket, corruptly obtained. And the
charge was not denied.
But the evidence of gross and uniyer-
sal corruption is palpable in the way
verybody lives who has anything to do
with the Government. There is happy
air among them all. II black
gets into the Legislature, that is enough.
tie works no more. He has no occa-
sion. He has money enough. It ia the
same with the occupants of the execu-
live Offices. All are sleek and fat with
their ill-gottan gains They are like
pirates who have captured a richly laden
ship. They riot in the p,under, caring
not at all for, nor even thinking of. the
owners.
But the irrefragible evidence of piQan-
tic theft and corruption stands ike a
monument in the vast increase of the |