The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-01-15
Elliott on Patterson.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE COLORED
CONGRESSMAN.
DR. Redheld's Letter from Columbia, S. c..
to The Cincinnati Commercially


! Yesterday l went around to see
! the black lion in his den-1 beg
pardon, home-for he lives in 4
style such as few white PEOPLE in
this smitteu city can support
: Elliott was originally from Mas
sachusctts, where he picked up
and crammed H. a good education
and enough knowledge to support
a Shinglc down here. Being an
aspiring young man: he wisely
concluded not to settle in the solid
State of Massachusetts. He want.
ed to wing his flight to some cline
where his own race prcdominatcd.
; Africa would have been the most
cougenial point, bat as that is
some distance, and as q man can't
get there without having his
stomach turned wrong side out
crossing the briny deep, Elliott
set bis sails for the next best At
ricanized land, and hove to in
! Edgefcld, South Carolina. There
he practiced law, and fell in love
with a beautiful three -fourths
white damsel. AS soon as he had
lost and won a sufficient number
of cases to have what the calcu
lating and cold-b -blooded world calls
4 start, he married and moved to
Columbia. Then the colorcd peo-
pie put him in an Office cf some
sort, and then in another, and f.
na!ly pitched him, head first. into
Congress, where be made 4 sensa-
tion on account of color and pre-
rious condition and an ability to
speak. The white noodles Of that
mighty body were astonished to
find q colored man who could talk
as much as thoy could, fill as large
a space in the Globe, and have rs
many ideas to the square yard.
In fact, Elliott was wei! received
by the gentlemen, but
MRS. ELLIOTT WAS not BY THE La
DIES.
She had colored blood in her in
ferior veins, and the, efore must
not move in Washington circles.
1t is a sad commentary on human
depravity to say that the wives
and daughters of tho Congress-
men 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 am obliged to record it.
! But will 60 back to where |
was a little while ago, if | can
find the place. Oh, yes-lhe E!-
liott interview. l called at the
colored Statesman's house, on La
dy street. The house is an at
tractive two.story, with a Man
sard roof, green blinds, large
porch, and two fountains playing
in front. a small yellow boy re-
ccived me. | inquired for the
statesman. The statesman slept.
Could see him? The boy said
he would take up my namo. The
statesman awoke and jumped out
Of bed like a cricket. l was shown
into the sitting.room. 1t is 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 a pin
and arranged like Il charm.
The Congressman came down
in
SLIPPERS AND DRESSING. GOWN.
He is a short, thick-set man
very black, and with the typica
features, even to the slant Of the
forehead. He is, no doubt, one O.
the smartest really black mer
now living. AS a lawyer he ha:
a front rank; and can hold hi:
own with any Of that technical
and learned profession who roos
in this State. While his face i:
black and his features heavy
there is an abccnce Of the Afri
can dialect. He talks like q well
bred white man.
"Mr. Elliott" l said, after som
preliminary conversation, "tht
opinion is abroad that Patterson
bought his election to the Senate
:. with money"
! Tho opinion IS correct" he 40
, swered quickly; "that's what h
!. did do"
"What do you think it cos
him ?"
"Well, the amount is variousl,
-. estimated at from
FIFTY TO SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
! I suppose about fifty thousand i
S what he expended"
4, How would he have run pro
z vidcd he had expended no mon
, ey?'
: Not at ali. / don't believe h
J would have got vote. He owe
his election entirely to money
, He bought up the Legislature
= that is the truth of the matter"
\ "That is q humiliatiDg state
ment," said.
Il know it u.s." he replied, "bu