New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-17
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE REPUBLICANS IN COUNCIL AT CoLUM.
'lN pTA

"A REMARKABLE DEIIBERAUVE B0DT-THK
NEGRO AS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or
MoSEY-THE PRICE OF A COMMITTEE AND on A
CONVENTION. T.fr p
fPRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBUSs.l
COLUMBIA, 8. c., Sept 11.-If there remains
with any body, North South lingering desire for so
venge upon South Carolina for the which her hot
temper brought upon the country thirteen years ago.
think that desire would be than grated by the
scene presented IN her fororn Capital to-day The build
iDg In which the State Republican Convention Ia hold
ing lite sessions is the Capitol OF the statea building
projected and begun In the prosperous DAYS before the
Completed according to the original plan II would
be one OF the finest public edces in the United States
In its present half finished condition II Is osrnke un
prepossessing. and without age, almost a ruin. The
money which should have been appropriated for It's
completion not for the relief OF the people from mis-
government has found IT'S way into the pockets Of per-
iued State officers and worthless pensioners upon the
Treasury, and IL represented by horses the
broad avenues OF Columbia fast women In Charles
ton by sold for song all South Carolina. val
liable property in Northern cities, or board bills at
Northern watering places. The grounds surrounding
the building wear the air OF eareessly kept common
Ill grow apaco without well within the Cap
itol. Loaing negroes In shady places Summer
and bunny spots in Winter. A dozen convcts, whose
the clemency OF Moses has not yet reached pre-
tend to chip granite iuto shape suitable for building,
while sleepy guards armed but not uniformed sic
fence lie upon the and wachtne progress OF
their lazy labor the interior Is no more prepoesesepg
than the exterior. The floors ragged and dirty,
the walls and ceiling rough and upholstered. Tho
only ornament of the rot nnda il dustcovered and
scarcely recognizable cast OF Houdon statue OF Wash
ngton. Vendors OF apples peanuts lemonade and gin
gerbread have taken possession OF the halls Seedy
lounge about discussing politics. aud ragged boys and
girls play hide and seek in the corridors The only de-
cent parts Of the building the legislative halls and
the executive Offices Judicously expended, the t5ooe
more or less, avishly spent IN filling mp the former,
would have given the whole building respectable APP
pearanee. When the hall of the House Of Representa-
tiycs first furnished and adorned it have daz
zed accustomed to luxury as well as those OF the
plan taon hands who its first occupants But
the costly curtains and lambrequins, soft carpets and
costly sptoons only air OF shabby gentility,
and If all evidence of the original cost lost It
will not be for lack OF hard usage.
THE CONVENTION IN SESSION.
II is in this hall that the Republican Convention Is
in session. Surely gathering OF men
more unlike Geliberatlve body. On the platform sits
the temporary presiding officer, bright young coored
man, danked by pages white and black and with sew
eral colored men olling the chairs In the back
ground At desks in front and either side Of tho
chair sit the motley crowd Of delegates about $50 n num-
ber In pastures all betokening ease II not elegance
Some with chairs tilted a: dangerous angle; some
stretched upon the steps Of the Speakers PLATFORM
some loungng in the windows; many smoking cigars
and splitting upon the ue Brussels carpet II spittoon
not within easy reach Of the smokers mouth; very
many with legs crossed the desks at which they SIT
and their feet higher than their heads. 1t Is easy TO
divide the delegates into distinct classes. We zee
at glance the coored men Of Northern birth
and education with an air OF selfpossession
and l-concealed sense Of superiority above
their fellows; the smart young mulattoes grown
up since the war, in dress and ready speech;
ffl arahla hlapk ms
Disconnected by points Of order or materially influenced
by rulings OF the chair: sprinkng OF cleany aud de-
terInined looking Northern men who have settled in
South Carolina and live here honest Repub
leans the restless aud carpetbaggers. some
with clothes and jewery that tell Of fortunes made
and others with all their wardrobes on their backs and
evidently the watch for streak OF luck; the poor
whites who have linked their destiny with that OF the
party in power; aud few honest old South CarolDans
who were Union men during the war and who stub,
borny cling to the Republican party despite ITS nnsa-
worry record in these parts Members OF the Legisla-
ture and officials Of the state Government are easily
recognized by their costly if not always tasteful attire
A Senator delegate who gets nominal
salary Of 1900 year. by far the Congressman
who gets many thousands. II is not uncommon for
country member who comes to town In suit OF home
spun aud with single white shirt to appear Oh the
streets month later arrayed n custom clothes OF
stylish pattern, sporting diamond pin and driving
LEGISLATOR and to be Speaker Of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes or Chairman Of the Committee OF Ways and
Means is fortune TO quckwitted and unserupuioua
man, IL is not long since Chairman Oh the Commttee
on Ways and Means, conspicuous member OF this
Convention demanded 600 before reporting bill Tor
paving the per diem and mileage OF the Legisature'
although his own legitimate pay well as that Of hs
associate depended upon its passage
MEN OF MARK. =
One Of the most conspicuous men the floor is tho
state Treasurer Mr.. Cardoza fine looking mulato or
considerable culture aud excellent address He is sus-
pected of completely in jobs and specuations unbecom-
ing State officer but il his tracks are very eleyery
covered. Mr.. Cardozs is reported TO have acquired
fine property since the war. He lives in moderate
luxury and dspenses elegant hospitality The worst
charge against him that he discounts the bills against
the State According his accusers the plan is this:
A man presents a properly audited account at the
Treasurer's office; the answer Is No funds; the cred
itor OF the State goes out and ~ met by runner who
buys the claim 60 per cent OF its face yaue ON
the plea that with such discount he can afford TO wait
for the money. The claim Is then paid. aad IL Is noe
arrange that urder such circumstances the curostone
broker is suspected of being an emsary OF the State
Treasurer Congressman Elliott has one OF the shrewd
est heads in the Convention. He s very black man.
He proposes TO resign his seat In Congress, 70
the Legislature be elected Speaker OF the House,
and step from the Speakers chair to Senator Rob
ertsons seat In tue uhleu otates oena'e' jugs IL
T. Maekey Is the abest white man the floor. and
hear no reflections his honesty He ia Circuit Judge.
but that does embarrass him IN political log rolling
IN which he Is adept He eloquent speaker bus
commands comparatively little influence because there
are always doubts TO his sincerity and mono
"a TO bis inconsistency He was brave Confederate
soldier aud is still esteemed rs lighting mao c. +.
| Leslie Is q carpetbagger OF the worst kind; while
| Land Commissioner he accumulated 100000 or more;
went North to live and hes Invested his fortune BANK
| rupt by speculation he has now returned 10 south