Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-01-09
Elliott OH Patterson.

Elliott OH Patterson.
[Dr. ReddelGs Letter from Cotmm6ia, s..
c., to the Cincinnati COMMERCIAL
Yesterday went around to see
the black lion in his den-I beg par
don, home-for he lives in a style
such as few white people in this smit
ten city can support. Elliott was
originally from Massachusetts,, where
he picked up and crammed in a good
education and enough knowledge to
support shingle down here. Being
an aspiring young man, he wisely
concluded not to settle in the solid
State of Massachusetts,. He wanted
to wing his fight to some cline where
his own race predominated Africa
would have been the most congenial
point, but as that is some distance.
and as man can't get there without
having his stomach turned wrong side
out.crossing the briny deep, Elliott
set his sails for the next best African
lied iaud, and hove to in Edgefeld,
South Carolina. There he practiced
law, and fell in love with beautiful
three-fourths white damsel. As soon
as he had lost and won sufficient
number of cases to have what the
calculating and cold-blooded world
calls start, he married and moved
to Columbia. Then the colored peo-
pie put him in an Office of some sort,
and then in another, and finally pitch
ed him, head first, into Congress,
where he made a sensation on account
of color and previous condition and
an ability to speak. The white moo
dies of that mighty body were aston.
ished to find colored man who could
talk as much as they could, fill as
large a space in the Globe, and have
as many IDEAS to the square yard.
In fact, Elliott was we'll received by
the gentlemen, but
MRS. ELLIOTT WAS NOT BY THELAD1Es'
She had colored blood in her infe-
rior veins, and therefore must not
move in Washington white circles.
1t is sad commentary on human de-
pravity to say that the wives and
daughters of the Congressman who
owed their positions to the ballots Of
the colored race, would not associate
with Mrs. Elliott, but it is true. and
as an impartial historian of current
events l ara obliged to record it.
But I will go back to where l was
a while ago, if I can find the place.
Oh, yes-the Elliott interview.
called at the colored statesman's shouse,
on Lady street. The house is an. at
tractive two story, with a Mansard
roof, green blinds, large porch, and
two fountains playing in front. A
small yellow boy received me. in
quired fer the statesman. The states
man slept. Could I see him? The
boy said he would take up my name.
The statesman awoke and Jumped out
of bed like cricket. I was shown
into the sitting.room. 1t is a gem
A rich carpet covers the floor, and
three large glass-fronted cases OF
choicest books stand against the walls.
The mantles and tables are covered
with ornaments, and everything is as
neat as pin, and arranged like a
charm.
The Congressman came down in
SLIPPERS AND DREssING-GowN.
He is a short, thick-set man. very
black, and with the typical features,
even to tie slant Of the forehead.
He is, no doubt, one of the smartest
really black men now living. As
lawyer he has front rank, and can
hold his own with any of that tech
nical and learned profession who roost
in this State. While his face is black
and his features heavy, there is an
absence of the African d alect. He
talks like well-bred white man.
"Mr. Elliott" I said, after some
preliminary conversation, "the opin-
ion is abroad that Patterson bought
his election to the Senate with money"
"The opinion is correct" he an
swered z, quickly; :" that's what he did
What DO you think it cost him.
We'll, the amount is variou<iy ,.>-
timated Al. from
FIFTY To.s:NrY FIVE THOUSAND L
l suppose '.5out fifty 'inn<a,d .."i
lars Is W. .,r rxinnir'I.
Hv, ri he I.av" run ,ro..
ded he i. Il ,.Xl,-.rnI-,l 10 ::la,.rv -
Not i; /; j '.,.nt 'o.iirvr -,
wonl,! li;.vi a..i.:, y',l,' .i..p.....a
election en;r + 10 ;:iomr". y n" 1t
up the .r:.-...nrr: !i. i
OF the ln.:i;.i
That is !. Illuminating <.a;v1nr,
l said.
al know i is, he replied, Iui
it is the tru;l. Now. uniersta :: u,...
/ am not -. .-.:! this ON .ni ,.r,%-r.:.,
feeling. ! rs It. can,i,laie :.l..,
the Legisla!:l;.' aud was 'Iri."t',
can bear dei,..: III; ihe .l.l..;..'
the thing llae brought i;j",:, '.,t- -
ored race, ti.rt< What l.lri~ n.-. Ur:
race is now OH rial before the wnrloi
as to It's titnc-s 10 govern. What
would be said after such wholesale
buying-up as this? The colored men,
as You know. are in large majority
in the Legislature; and then for them
to deliberately sell out by wholesale
is blow that we can't get over for
years. It is a blow at our integrity,
our honesty, our manhood. The re-
port has gone to the world that the
colored legislators, making laws fol'
South Carolina, have been bribed by
wholesale, and the report is, unfor-
tunataly, true. What will the world
think Of it?'
I told him the world would think