Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-03-27

as well as more pie-vending ant
constitutional gabbling. Sena
tors, representatives, boot-blacks s
office-seekers and officials were al
mixed up iD a sort of social hotch
potch, ard ! waited the hour of
meeting SO that the goats wouiC
separate from the lambs and small
kids.
As you enter the second story
the House of Representatives i,
upon the right and the Senate
Chamber upon The left. Wher
the House was called together,
stepped in and took position
where | could watch the process of
making laws in South Carolina,
and see the men who made them.
~. COLOR AND PARTY.
We will glance at the compo
Isition of both branches of the
Assembly, The total is one hun
dred and fifty-seven members ra.
ther heavy force for a light State.
Next to qunllty the quantity is
alarming Of these thirty-threc
are Senators, and one hundred and
twenty-four are Representatives.
In color, the black Senators num-
ber sixteen, and Representatives,
eighty, or about two thirds of the
whole. An American Legislature
composed of two-thirls negroes
is something OF a novelty. 1t is
certainly a new thing even in our
enlightened and progressive coun-
try. In politics the division of
the House is still more one sided.
In the Senate there are but eight
Democrats, and in the House, but
twenty-three. Only thirty one
out of a total of Que hundred aud
fffty-seven! When we reflect
that these thirty one are the only
Representatives the tax payers
and properly holders really have,
We do net SO much wonder that
extravaganza and corruption run
riot. All this Spartan band Of
Democrats can do is to keep their
seats, growl in whispers: and vote
the minority vote. Occasionally
they enter "proteSt," and it is
solemnly enrolled, but they might
as well spread a chapter of
"Young's Night Thoughts" on the
record for all the good it will do.
The House, upon assembling, was
called to order by S. J. Lee, the
speaker. lie is a mulai O., thin
aud spare, quick of motion, and
ready of speech, a very g0od spec
linen of the typical steamboat bar
Der. lie has been in the Legis-
lature two or three years, aud has
picked up enough scraps of parlia-
mentary law and gospel to hold
the House within bounds. His
good lungs and sbrill voice are
valuable aids in this work. After
prayer, during the delivery of
which thare was a sort of calm,
business broke out in vigorous
style. From two to FIVE were up
on the floor at once, gesticulatlng
wildly and talking in unknown
tongues. | could not catch the
drift of the argume IT, and it is
doubtful if the participants kn<w
themselves. Ole black, but con-
sumptive looking youth, whose
strength of voice contrasted
strongly with his width of eshoul-
ders, maintained the floor with a
vigor of purpose worthy of a more
important cause. In the general
flood of voice and roar OF surround
ing tongues. could distinguish or
recognize, as it were, fragments of
discourse. l caught from the lips
of the consumptive youth some
thing about "de locks on der doors" l"
and the "leaky roof and that
something or other was an ''im-
perfect contract. l don't know
what an imperfect contract is,
but / suppose, from the way the
honorable gentleman talked about
it, it is something peculiar to South
Carolina jurisprudence.I Whilethe
expounder of the imperfect con-
tract was speaking, business went
on about this way: Ag ks
81 call the gen'emto order!!"
81 rise to a pint of order!"
"The gentleman is out OF order
hisself!" gm gsasw
Estate your point oforder.'
"The gem'en is.discassin' that
which is not afore the hoase
"Imoves the previous question,
81 moves to lay it on the table.
"Set down, you've not got the
for
"Mr Speaker, on, Nj. Speaker
81 had the flo fust..ss.st - esa
"Both of them are out eforder. y
"CaH the yeas and nays on it" !"