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

settled section of the district then repre-
l.sented in Congress byA s. Wallace, u
Twas surprised to find an unusual assem-
blage of meii, on horseback and afoot, at
IIIa scross road to whichI was approach
Ling. At frat view it appeared to he a
sporting match or militia muster. hut
an reaching thespotI / perceived that the
magnet of attraction for the assemblage
was an old fashioned family carriage,
drawn by d pair of cadayerous mules,
which stood among the chinquepin BUSH
es by the roadside. On the front seat of
The vehicle sat a 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.
sBshind him, reclining at full length, was
= big, hurley negro, whose feet Qiterally
a foot each) were elevated SO that they
almost brushed the ears of the little man
lin front.
amazed at this extraordinary exhib-
ition. / asked gentlemanly looking
person for an explanation. 'Oh, it;;lis
only tax gathering said he, and with
asmile, 'We are paying tribute to Cm-
lsar-old Cesar Moses-whom you see
in the carriage Why, have you a col
3orsd collector Yes sir or rather j
sshould say Governor Scott has negro
collector. We have none, the white
lInen of South CarolinaSssir have very
little share in the selection of the officials
Ewho govern Them, But who is the lit
ltIe man that seems to be doing the bust
lness2 sHe is low fellow, sir, formerly
ga grocery keepers clerk. He now acts
ias coachman and clerk for the darkey.
I0ld Cesar. who can not write his own
Adame, is obliged to give half his sallery to
sScruggs to attend to business for him.
sWhat salary dots he getF. One thou
iaand dollars and perquisites. During
this conversation old Cesar, arose to q
point of order. Ameek looking country
man had asked if State money would be
received forItaxes. The negro was too
qrunk to sit upright, but heard the ques-
zion, and pulling aside the curtains, he
presented n bleared, sensual countenance
which oughtto procure his admission 10
Ehe penitentiary without warrant. No!
No, stree, !, he began in maudlin tone.
tWe 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
bfyou.'
3 sThe coachman,i however, had been
4, u greasy copy of the statutes,
and he now whispered to his employer
that State money was receivable for
State taxes. ~
s "Don't kno, muffin bout dat growled
the negro. I 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, dats al, And present.
ly he subsidized into his free and easy po-
sition, with his feet at the little mans
ears as before. The latter disregarded
his orders and took the farmers
money. being evidently accustomed to
old Ciesar's ways.
1 had seen good deal of negro rule in
the South, but this spectacle saddened me
notwithstanding its ludicrous features.
From my my observation am satisfied that
every dollar paid for taxes in souah Car
olina runs at least twenty different risks
of being stolen before it reaches the
Treasury and is certain to be stolen
afteritgets there.
COMMUNICATED. i