Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-10-02

settled section of the district then repre-
scnted in Congress bysA. 8. Wallace, u
WAS surprised to find an unusual ASSEM-
fblage of meii, on horseback and afoot, at
d cross road towhichI was approach
ling. AT first view il appeared to. be q
sporting match or a militia muster. hut
on reaching the spot / perceived that the
magnet Of attraction for the assemblage
was an old fashioned family carriage,
drswn by pair of cadaverous mules,
which stood among the chinquepin bush.
les by the roadside. On the front seat of
the vehicle sat little weasel faced man,
who had upon his lap huge ACCOUNT
book, in which he made entries, as from
time to time he received small packages
of dirty shinplasters from the bystanders.
/ Behind him, reclining at full length, was
Ss big, hurley negro, whose feet Qiterally
d foot each) were elevated SO that they
Utmost brushed the ears of the little man
Fin front.
Amazed at this extraordinary exhib-
ition. asked q gentlemanly looking
Sperson for an explanation. oh, it is
only q tax gathering said he, and with
a'smile, we are paying tribute to Ce-
lsar-old Cesar Moses whom you see
i'm the carriage Why, have you a col
sored COLLECTOR yes sir or rather /
Should say Governor Scott has negro
Icolleetor. We have none, the white
fnen of South Carolina sAsir, have very
little share in the selection of the officials
who govern them, But who is the lit
tile man that seems to be doing the bust
lnessf HE is low fellow, sir, formerly
IA grocery keepers clerk. He now acts
as coachman and clerk for the darkey.
Old Cesar. who can not write his own
aame, is obliged give half his sallery to
Scruggs 70 attend to business for him.
What salary dots he get? One thou
sand dollars and perquisites. During
|Sthis conversation old Cesar, arose to a
|eoint of order. A meek looking country
baan had asked if State money would be
aeceived for.taxes. The negro was too.
drunk to sit upright, but heard the ques-
sion, and pulling aside the curtains, he
presented n bleared, sensual countenance
which oughtto procure his sdmission to
dhe penitentiary without warrant. No!
No, stree, he began in maudlin tone.
I'VE don't take no State money: we
don't want dat trash. Don't want muffin
but the greenEac, we don't. You jist
fork out de greenback, dat's all we ask
YOU
aThe coachman, however, had. been
slEiping y greasy copy of the statutes,
And he now whispered to his employer
Chat State money wqs receivable for
State taxes.
{ 'Don't kno, muffin bout dat,D growled
the negro. j know my business. Sam
Melton, the Affirming Ginerl, he told
ME not TO take muffin but the greenbacks'
Dat am my gospel. You feller, just fork
out dem stakes, OATS ail, And present.
ly he subsidized into his free aud easy po-
sition, with his feet at the little men's
ears as before. The latter disregnrded
his orders and took the farmers
money. being evidently accustomed to
old Cesar's ways.
/ had seen good deal of negro rule in
the South, but this spectacle saddened me
notwithstanding its ludicrous features.
From my observation am satisfied that
every dollar paid for taxes in soHsh Car
olina runs at least twenty different risks
ofbeing stolen before it reaches the
Treasury and is certain to be stolen
afteritgets there.
COMMUNICATED.