The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-05-25
THE CHANGE IN CAROLINA.


10 sec large parties of wcll-drcssed ladies
aud gentlemen going up to the Capitol,
visiting the Senate and House, calling on
the Governor, chatting with the heads of
departments, and making merry all about
the dismal building, is sight 50 new and
novel as to invite attention. In all my ex-
pcricnce in the South Carolina Capitol,
which has been considerable in the past
eight years, l have never seen lady within
the alls of that building until this week !!
Th.- shows with what adherence the whole
thing was regarded by the white people
They had as much aversion to their Capitol
as to Il smallpox hospital. How changed !.
Yesterday and to-day have seen two or
three hundred ladies visiting the Capitol
Seats have been provided for them as much
as possible on the floor of the two Houses,
aud the sight of so much style and beauty
among them makes the old time colorcd
legislator open his dull eyes in astonish-
mcnt.
The House of Representatives is differ
cnt looking concern from what it was when
last saw it. Formerly the Democrats had
only from twenty-five to thirty members,
little body of whites shcvcd off in the
southeast corner and surrounded in front by
eighty or ninety veritable looking black
Republicans. They were powcrlcss to do
anything but argue with the black mass
around them, for their votes made but a
small showing upon the white side of the
book. Wallace, the present Speaker, was
then member, fine looking man from the
up country, but utterly unable in former
days to see Il way out. lie used to tell me
that he could not conceive from what dircc-
tion the salvation of South Carolina was to
come, but only knew that tho then state of
affairs could not in the nature of things for
ever continue Now the entire right side
of the Chamber is occupied by as fine look
ing body OF white men rs you will sec in
any Legislative assembly. What change
from the motley crowd of a few years ago
h IA change for the better in appearances
and conduct. The old black Legislature
was noisy and turbulent body, smoking,
drinking, dancing laughing and cutting up
all sorts Of unmanncrly capcrs in the truly
joyful African style. The Speaker had
about as much control over them as herd
Of Kentucky mules. Elliott was the only
black Speaker who could hold them within
the bounds of anything like dccency the
others, like Lee, who is 4 small man with
not much physical or intellectual force, could
do nothing but rap and yell, drowning other
noises with the volume of his own making
But now the body is SO well behaved as
to strike the observer the first moment he
enters. Upon the right, as have stated
every seat (savc two or thrcc) arc occupied
by white men. Upon the left half the seats
arc vacant, and the others are occupied by
obout thirty coal black negroes. What Il
contrast it makes Step to the front, and
look first to the Democratic and then the
Republican side. The contrast is oycrpow-
ering.
Yesterday | passed by Chamberlain's 5
house. Ills household goods are packed,
and his household goods have gone before
The hallway was filled with trunks and
boxes. The people pass by and say: The
chief of the carpct-b -baggcrs is going; let us
give thanks" Yet he daily and nightly
walks the streets without fear and without
insult, which he could not possibly have
done while attempting to force his claims
to the office of Governor. 1t was Cham
berlain as the leader of the blacks and as
Governor, set up by their votes, if set up
at all, that called forth such deadly hostili-
ty, and not Chamberlain as a citizen. AS
citizen he could remain here with all case
and safety, and get as much to do in his
profession as the next man, but should he
branch off into politics again. and 60 about
the State speaking to and organizing the
blacks, the deadly hostility would break out
again. The simple truth is, the whites be-
licvc that they have either to be under the
government Of the black, or on top
II Y. f.
Lovc-a little signing, little crying, and lots
Of l,;p