The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-14
SOUTH CAKOLlNA's CAPITAL.
Its Past clories and present seediness
Ctrrt.pondeaee q Me Sirinafeld Republiean. Z

COOAAA OALbVAaNA'I9 VfAI IA 4As
Its Past Glories and Present Scediness.
Correspondence q Ae Springfield Repubriean. Z
r COLUMBIA, s. c., May lS, 1877.
South Carolina has sinncd deeply and
suffered terribly. That remark may be
rather trite, but to any stroller over this
unfortunate town it speaks with fearful
force. Before the var Columbia was ONE
of the most tasteful and charming inland
cities in the Union, w:th broad streets,
fine old shade trees, and imposing build.
ings. Its people were cultured, high
toned and aristocratic, with all the graces
and faults of Southern chivalry. The
State Capital, intended to be the finest
building Of the kind on tho continent,
lacked only fraction of its cost to COM
picte it: tho State College was in the
full tide of prosperity, and was the best
educational institution in the South,
while the wealth and pride of the State
centered hero for its home. When Sher-
mans army marched northward from
Savannah, the soldiers could not spare
Columbia. do not blame them 1t was
part of the punishment Of the State for
forcing on the war, and the city was to-
tally destroyed. A few of tho public
buildings, notably the capitol and college,
were spared; but the business blocks and
nearly all the private dwellings were con-
sumed. 1t is curious fact that among
the few residences saved was the old
family mansion of Wade Hampton, who
is now trying so hard rs Governor to re-
deem the State. Hence to-day there is
very little that is attractive about the
town. 1t is fair-sized village, very
cleaply and plainly built up, with here
and there n modern-looking block Of
stone upon its main thoroughfare. A
listless, sleepy, apathetic air pervades
the streets, and there seems to be little
or no business save what is connected
with the Legislature, which is now in
session.
went up to the Capitol this forenoon,
and strolled all over it. The architectu-
raj plan is decidedly imposing but owing
to the war and subsequent misfortunes it
is in a pitiable condition. The main
building was raised. ready for the roof,
and then the work was stopped. A cheap,
unsightly roof of unplancd boards, coy-
cred with tin, has been put on it, and the
legislative chambers have been fitted up,
and IRE now used. The material is a
light, fne-grained granite, and the
grounds are filled with huge blocks of
stone, fewn and unhewn, columns, cop.
ings, etc. counted "a huge monolithic
pillars: nearly all futcd and finished, and
ready to be set up. The Secretary of
State, Col. Sims, told mo that at the time
of the burning of the city there were
over 81 100000 worth of Tennessee and
statuary marbles all ready to be put in
place Upon the building that we're en-
tirely destroyed! They were packed to-
gethcr in wooden structures upon the
grounds, and when the soldiers burnt the
sheds the marbles became so calcined as
to be utt2rly worthless. AS an example
of the unrcasoning, foolish methods of
the negroes when in power, I give a sin
gle instance. The architect had secured,
of course at great expense, single block
of unhewn stone that was over 60 feet
long, intending to have it dressed for q
column. His ambition was to have one
monolith in the building that was longer
than the obelisk of Luxor in the Place
de Ia C6ncorde in Paris. 1t lay in the
yard with the others, and some members
of the negro Legislature, desiring to pro.
cure n cen7otery monument for one of
their fellow-members who was dead, SO.
cured the gift of that stone, and when
they had obtained it were obliged to
break it into three pieces to get it AWAY |
Scores oflstones of the size they reduced
it to were scattered over the yard, but
no, they must destroy the valuable mon,
olith rather than take what was suitable
for their purpose. When Gov Hampton
took possession Mt the breaking up of the
negro Legislature, tho building was in
such all unwholesome and horrid condi.
ton that he was obliged to employ o
gang of men to clean away the filth. .
Iattended the session of the L.egisla-
ture to-day, and wish could photograph
for your readers all saw. The South.
erners must be like the Greeks in their
admiration for fine physiqucs, for most of
their officials arc st.ana:a-looking :i1+n.
Tue speaker, Gen. Wallace, is O tall,
portly man, with a smooth, full, resoL Int
voice and strong, courageous face, soft
ened by very pleasant smile, The loft
side of the chamber Cooking from the
speakers chair) is composed Of negroes,
some Of them nearly white, but many as
black as though lust from the Congo.
The right side is occupied by the whites,
most Of :hem serious, earnest.faced men,
with no signs of ngliness or dissipation
anywhere about them. The question
before the body was on appropriating
money to pay the interest upon tho largo
consolidated debt, and l witnessed. the
closing Of the debate. I was surprised
at the fine voices and easy oratory and
correct English of the negroes, and
equally surprised 1T The lack of 'pith and
logic in what they had to say. They did
most of the, talking, jumping up and
airing their elocutiGh continually, but
the weight of thought was all with the
whites. The resolve, Liam glad to say,
passed by q large minority. This tinan-
cial Question is an exceedingly difficult
one here. The debt of the State has
been, within a few years, piled ;;p 90
something like dozen millions, with
nothing whatever to show for it.; they
have been robbed and skinned by the
cafpet-baggers and their minions; but
their credit always ranked So high before
the war that the old State pride makes
them anxious to pay every honest claim
that is held against them. .,,..t.
4. o'clock 'ciioocsa1 th7 ti7 sSSvela:o iniicI in 20
unite with the House in electing an AS
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court.
1t proved to be season of differentiation,
for the Democratic candidate, McIyer,
received every vote. In the nominating
speeches heard Hamilton, the negro,
who, though q radical, came over early
from the Chamberlain Legislature, and
has remained ever since. He is q full
| hlooded black, with a square, strong,
heavy-jawod, nnintellectual face, and is
evidently very proud of his will and his
| independence. He .annke with create.
defects Of grammar and moro of plan.
tation accent than the other negroes, but