The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-30
luxurious Legislation.

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the luxurious manner OF living amongst
tho negroes and carpet baggers that were
in the South Carolina Legislature inNthe
riotous days OF SCoTT, MOSES, and CHAM
pERLAIS. They made the State pay their
current household and club-room expenses.
Since the rule Of Governor HAMPTON the
smelling committees have been unearthng
the extravagant expenditures and the rob-
ber1es OF the legislators and government
officers. The Philadelphia Times has got
ten, it says, as it were, drop in the quicker
of the developments, and gives its readers
the following precious examples:
Among the supplies furnished one honora-
bic senator who never saw better fare than
ham-fat and hoe-cake before he came to CO.
lumbia were eight gallons OF whiskey, sevc.
raj cases OF champagne. three bottles OF
Curacoa, thirteen boxes Of imported cigars,
norter and Bass ale al R6tt1tm. haif Il
dozen pineapple cheese, many Dottles OF
sherry. several boxes OF saraines, anu "hX-
ings'' to match for whole round or swell
banauets. The bill in this case amounted
to sSG1 so, and was paid by the clerk OIL the
Senate bv order on the State treasurer.
Another senator, OF the same color, had
about the same line Of goods, with the
addition OF six bottles OF brandy and half
dozen quarts OF Worcester sauce and half
dozen quarts of pcpper-Sauce; amount OF
ono weeks bill, S33S.3S. a. j. Ransier,
colored Lieutenant. Governor and president
of the Senate, took box of cigars, gallon
OF whiskey, and hali-gallon of gin, i'll sim
gle lot. at the expense OF the State. MIR.
Rsnsier afterwards became member OF
Congress, and found old Blue-Jeans Will
liams not so liberal caterer. More high
toned was the Hon. c. 2. Leslie, who,
being perhaps a total abstainer, took his
minor stealage out in marble-top bureaus,
paintings and hanging same, arm-chalrs,
tete-a-tetes, eaSy-chairS, 4 fine walnut cham
ber-suit, and five mattresses. His account
fS6SG) was endorsed "Ordercd paid j.
Woodruff, Clerk OF the Senate" {. ID.
Haync, a colored senator, also turned his
frugal mind towards house-furnishing, and
the State in his behalf purchased honey
comb quilts. blankets OF finest patterns,
wtne-cloths, sheets, pillow-cases, Brussels
carpets. ingram carpets, tbree-py carpets,
and so on through the long catalogue OF
luxurious appointments OF stylish town
house, not emitting the cradle and Oriental
hassocks. Sometimes, however, cnumera.
ton became tedious. and the disguised
clerk of the Senate turned an honest tholl-
sand By bill against the State OF South
Carolina for 81, LIS ''to sundrlcs ana trans
portation on account of L. c. Jennings" a
person whose existence was hSment OF
the clerks own thieving BRAIN AS usual,
such bills also were CURLY :. ordered PAID"
The unsophisticated reader may wonder
how such frauds were ever perpc'rated.
Nothing is simpler, now that 1t has been
explained BY those in the ring to- lngratlate
themselves with the authorities. Reports
of committees being in order, the chairman
OF the Committee on Accounts would rise
in turn with great roll OF papers in his
hand, and, selecting some just claim OF
small amount Qarger ones were never passed
without consideration. however lusD,
would read aloud that claim only, and beg
to submit that and others. Another non
orable gentleman would move that the
reading be dispensed with, and that
the several accounts presented, hav-
.iur-~tecn passed upon by the commit
tee, be ordered to be- paid; and it was
always $50 ordered" for no senator. could
be sure that his own grocery, liquor, furni-
ture, or livery bill was not in the batch.
Thus are exhibited some OF the minor vii
lainies OF these rosues whom President
Grant kept in power, and for DESERVING
whom Mr.. Hayes has the i'l-wlll OF the
Maine and Iowa Republicans, to come no
nearer home. 1t is not well that they should
be forgotten. The plague OF vermln that
afflicted Egypt was not worse than that oy
which South Carolina was Impoverished
under the carpet-baggerS. And now that
the thieves are in the tolls the New York
Times has labored articles to show that
their trial is sspolitical persecution !"