, 1872-12-31

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nations impoverished by war, must come for
| lolns. The lad, however, seems to be uncon-
| sc;ous OF his destiny. He may be seen daily
| playing on the lawn IN front OF the castle where
| his father passed his naturer life.
SOUTH CAROLINA. =
A E7igh Old LesIs1ature-1gnoran
| Corruption, and IRascnEity-LaHy.
makers Of Hoth Co1ors-Whittenor ore,
The dct.Pcdd2cr-TtSo Speakers,
Both C4ksrcd-A Legislative Smoke
! PattcTsoI's Purchase - Wholesale
| Bribery.
Columbia, S. c. Dec. 2o Correspondence Of the Gin
| clNnaH Commercial
This being tho last session OF the Legislature
before the holidays, went up to the Capitol
Immediately after arriving. have been in the
| Ssate se1eral tines. but mover when the law
makers were il session, aud 2s they are famous
| the country over for color and q number Of
| things, made haste to 60 among them.
| The Capitol building is model Of durability
and stupidity. It was we'll under the process Of
! construction when the war paralyzod ali indus
| try, md since it has been worked upon in jerk
ETY., Indifferent why, wooden gable ends put in,
! and black-and-tan roof put on. It has walls Of
granite that will last thousand years, and time
serving roof that leaks already, Within, thu
observer is still further impressed with the mix
ture Of granite, mas6iveness, and temporary
| patchwork.
At the entrance, peanut and pie ped1ers OBJ
structed the way. and, inside, they disputed pos
session Of the field with Washington's monu-
ment. Gathered about in groups in the corners
| and dark recesBes were the legislators earnestly
| discussing great public questions that they arc
| supposed to know something about. In the dim
| light could hardly distinguish white from
black, pie pedlers from legislators, lobbyists
| from boot-blackB. It was only by the clamor
that knew thcm-the exchange of consttu-
tional observations and peanuts for 10 cents q
quart The rotunda Of the Capitol is d dark
place at best, and diamally cloudy day and the
serre to throw additional light On the subject.
| Up stairs there vas more light as well as more
| pie-Tending and constitutional gabbling. Sena-
tors, Representatives, boot-blacks, oDice-seek-
social hotch-potcE, and I awaited the hour Of
meeting 30 that the goats would separate from
tho lambs and small kids
! As you enter tho second story tho House of
Representatives is upon the right and the Senate
Chamber upon the left When the House WAS
called together, stepped in and took position
.;hero I could watch the process Of making
:-ws in South Carolina, and see the men who
E'sde thom.
COLOR AND PARTY.
Nre will glance at the composition of both
branches oftho Assembly. The total il 157 MEN,
bers,-rath zr heavy forco for light State.
Next to qunlity the quantity is alarming. OF
these SO arc Senators, and 124 are Representa-
ond ne sn ~ ahnnt +,.nu4h"io ~
the wAoio. An Americsn Lecislatura comnosed
= tso-thirds 1aegroee ia so1nsthing of novelty
It is certainly now thing even in our
enlightened and progressive country. In
politics the divisions OF the Houses is
still more ,one-sidea. In the Senate there
arc but Democrats, and in the House but
%. Only 81 out Of q total of 157 When We re-
feet that these 81 are the only Representatives
the Taxpayers aud property-holdera really have,
We do not so much wonder that extravaganza
and corruption run riot. AL this Spartan band
OF Democrats can do is to keep their seats, growl
~ Whispers, and vote the minority vote. Occa-
slonaly they enter protest" and it is solemn
" enrolled, but they might as well spread chap
ter OF - 1oungs Night Thoughts" on the record
for all the good it will do.
Tho House, upon assembling, was called to
order by S. Lee, the Speaker: He is i mulat-
to, thin and ST aro, quick Of motion, and ready of
speech, very good specimen Of tho typical
steamboat barber. He has boon in the Leglsla-
tE:o two or t1,rec years, and has picked up
enough scraps of parliamentary law and gospel
to hold tue House within bounds. His good
lungs aud 6nr1ll voice are valuable aids IN this
work.
After prayer, during the delivery OF which
there was . sort Of calm. business broke out in
vigorous style. From two to i've we're upon
the f1oo= at onco, gcsticulating wildly and talk
ing in unknown tongues. / could not catch the
drift Of tho argument, and it is doubted If the
participants know themselves. One black, but
consumptiyo-lookinE YOUTH whose strength Of
voice consrasted strongly, with his width of
shoulders, maintained the floor with vigor OF
purpose worthy Of more important cnuse. In
tha general flood OF voice aud roar Of surround
ing tongues could distinguish or recognize, US
it were. fragments Of discourse. caught from
the lil:: OF The cons11mptive youth something
about " de locks on der DOORS" and the 81 lca2y
roof" and tha. something or other was IN 'sim-
perfect contract" / don't know what an i'm
perfect contract is. but suppose. from the way
tho honorable gentleman ta1kc.l about it, it is
something peculiar to South Carolina jurispr1-
denco. While tho cxpounder Of the imperfect
contract was speaking, business went on about
this way.
II call tho gen'cm to ordcri"
II rise to a pint of c4aer!''