Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1872-01-26
a strange story,
THE DEGRADATION OF dEsrus-raoM THE
PULPIT TO THE GUTTER. ~


-l ~
The RicRipond Dispatch inquiries about
George w. Carter, who is the central figure
Of tho strife, of factions in, Louisiana, aud
who III adding newInnd sttahge episodes to u
life which has already been 'trngcally event
full. Wlthin tho memory Of the youngest
adult ambngst us, ho yas a, minister of re.
markable influence mud Gde e'repdtatiop in the
Virginia GQnference Later he was the respcc
ted head dNofNan institution Of learning in this
city, and we can recollect when charges of in
discretions, illbecomng his sacred calling
were hrst brought agails, ,in, how indignant
ly they were repelled by hosts Of friends,
and how heated become the controversy be
tween the many excellent pprsons who retain
cd their faitlt in the minister, and those who
are satis6edsthat his garb vas oloaking any
thing but piety and morality.
Without knowing what was established
against Carter, we 'recolleot that he lost his
previous high position, and ut last fell under
grave suspicion. He noYcd South. and left
many behind to clin. to him as an injured
man, and one who would yet triumph over
the maliser of his enemies Thu war came
on, and he was heard Of us m ardent seues
slonlst, created quito atstiriI Texas hy his few
or aud cl"qucnce. Shortly aftor he became
Colonel in the Confederate army, aud re
manned such for some munths, but left the
service on docount OF somd difficulty with n
brother othcer. Next there wasa great deal
of mystery a ID some stir about a secret mis-
sion that Carter had in Richmond it was
evident that>fron sDne cause he had become
person ot much importance, and WIS ire.
quently insconfdcntial standardization with
the CasInet officers. During the war we
never heard OF surmise ps to the nature Of
this scheme, but few weeksngo while travel
ing happened to hear all about it.
Carter had in some incp,npreh6nsible man
ner discovered the secret, so jealously guard
ed by the English Government, of making the
Armstrong gun. lie brought his drawings a nd
evidences of their genuineness to Richmond,
and convinced Colonel iorgas,. ns was the
ftct. shat ho had learned that principle He
was attsr time given discretionary powers
in the premises, sent to New Orleans, formed
company, bought foundry, brought his
imported workmen in on a bluckader, and
was just beginning to work when New Or
leans fell, ending in heavy losses to the con
tractors what would have been an immensely
profitable speculation From this time to the
surrender his history is rather obscure. ex.
cept TINT he distinguished himself in bat.
tie near Little Rock, Arkansas, and was then
known to have lott the army again
Alter the war, he started in political life
IN Texas, did not succeed, subsidized, and
next appears in New Orleans, where, after a
few months OF utter debnucl,ery, he develop
ed into furious Radical, and wns soon recoy
nized as mnn Of brilliant Abilities skillful in
the management of men, and dangerous frou
the utter nnscrupulousness which marked his
character. Hero in hnranguing the negroes
his former pulpit experieno proved of great
use, and he confined to grow in Importance
until now he is power in the State, welding
one wing OF the Republican party with mns
terly ability, and being, says our informant
thePnly' man Of lis fnction with at ono,
brains Ant 'herVa.>ennuah. to prevent War
mouths carrying Louisiana against Grant
But For his habits, he might be anything he
chose; but he has sunk to beastIiness in al
manner of diespntion,I BY corrupt ohninec
tlon with railroads and other schemes before
the Legislature, he has, in the last year
made enormous sums of money but squan.
ders thousands at the gamiue table at night
Wnndfrs about for days stupefed with drink,
and spends Ills time ordihnrily among the
lowest Of the low characters who form the
dem monde of New Orleans TIe is reported
to have lostlall sense Of self.reapect, and to
revel in tho openness Of his offenses agains,
society aud morality. ale is brave, has a
tine mind, is ready in resource, fluent in
speech, popular in manners, and the most ao
complished copversationaist in Louisiana, -
said his. acquaintance "but his appetites
control him. and he will find the bottom.
And this is the true end of man who il
remembered hero as minister of Christ nd