Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-08-20
South Carolina Affairs.
The Modern Moses.
COLUMBIA. S. S.C..Jnly "a. 1874:
THE COMING CAMPAIGN.

no cuucern what happens. Blu:
Moses is hard old coon to manage.
In the first place. he has possess
sion, which is vulgarly considered
nine poiuts in law, and is certain
ly -ine points in South Carolina
politics. BY virtue of the posses
sion of the Office he controls all the
patronage, and wivlds it to suit
his personal ends. He makes ap-
pointments with an eye to a ''sec-
ond term" for himself, and par
dons with the same end in view.
Taking these two classes together,
the penitentiary convlcts and the
Office holders, he has strong team
working in his interest. Then
there is no den ing but what he
has a stronger hold upon the col
ored people than any man in the
State. No man, l think, upon
the ground and with opportunities
for observing viii deuy this. A
few hours ago was talking to a
colored barber aFOut Moses.
"Who is the choice of the color
ed people for Governor p | asked.
"The most Of them wants Mo-
ses," he replied.
"Why do they want Moses" |
asked,
"Oh, cause he's friend to EN-.
They are afraid to trust many
white men, bat they amt afraid
to trust Moses. A heap of 'em
that's heard it are powerful both
cred because Grant is down on
Moses. Many Of EN- don't believe
a word of it, because they say that
Giant wouldn't g. back on them
that way; but l know it's true, for
I shaved a man that Grant said
the very words to. This bothers
the colored people about here
nightly. They don't know what
to do. They don't want to go a
gin Giants say SO, and they want
to stand up for Moses" "
GLOW about the country ne
.groes?'
"Wha', the common corn-feld
negroes 2
eyes"
son, they don't know anything
about it, and when you once get
it into their thick heads they won t
believe it. They 90 in the paths
somebody else marks out for them,
and alI they know about votin' is
inst to put piece of paper in a
box on election day"
From what You know, who will
be elected 2
"Moses, sir! You can't get the
colored people to endorse anybody
else. They are afraid. They
fear a Democrat may some way
get in. Lots of them actually be-
lieve that if Democrat were e.
Iccted they would be put back in
slavery. ! tell you. though | am
a colored man myself, that most
of South Carolina piggers has got
mighty little sense.
The Republicans, who propose
to act on Grants advice and over
throw Moses, are casting about for
an available man to do it with
There is some talk Of ex Govern,
or Scott, but Scott won't have it.
ID. III. Chamberlain is looked to,
but Chamberlain has been a long
time connected with the rotten
Government, and there are those
who say that his record is not SO
clear as the monday sun. Sena-
tor Robertson is talked of, but he
has little or no popular strength,
and is a weak man any way you
take him, No one appears as yet
equal to the task of coping with
the irrepressible Moses. How
South Carolina is to escap' him |
do not see. While the opposition
are uncertain what they will do,
and depending on Grant in a
vague sort of way to help them.
Moses is at work and laying all
the plans to get the nomination.
His pardened convicts and office
holders are busy in every county,
and will appear with large and
enthusiastic delegation in the Sep
tember convention. .
Moses makes no secret of his
intentions. He says he is known
outside the State as "the robher
Moses" the great South Carolina
thief, and such like titles of honor
and affection, and he wants an en-.
dorsement, "vindication" from
the intelligent people Of South
Carolina. To this end he 10 wor-
king for a nomination, knowing
t.nr,, urcn thnt if ln IL nnnninnfed