The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-05-10
YOUNG CAROLINA.
A Sketch of the New House and its
- Leaders.
Correspondence Of -as Journal Of Commerce.

which have crowded upon each other
with such .rapidity aad which have
wrought such revolution in the political
and material interests of the State, have
prevented me from saying word about
the personnel of the House of Representa-
tives of redeemed South Carolina. The
change to be obseryed,in the composition
of the new House is most striking to one
who, like your correspondent, has had the
opportunity during the past eight years
to witness the debaucheries and jobberies
of the palmy days of ring rule and carpet
bag thieving. .rag
/ In the long and gloomy years of Caro-
lina's- humiliation and shame, the few of
her faithful sons who have from time to
time been called upon to serve her, have
found themselves bound hand and foot
by the overwhelming majorities elected
by fraud and force-powerless to stretch
forth their hands to save their State and
only compelled to sit by and witness the
carnival of roguery which was carried on
iagainst their earnest protests and in their
very faces. We have changed all that.
The visitor:to the hall of the House of
Representatives to-day will see a dark
cloud with silver lining, only the silver
lining has assumed the proportions of a
white cloud with an exceeding small
black fringe. The Democrats occupy the
left of theIhall as you enter the door, and
those of the contumacious Mackey fol-.
lowers, who have been condoned their
offences, and admitted to a seat in the
House Of Representatives, sit on the right.
The other rebels, who are still on proba-:
ton; skulk around the lobbies or loll of.
in the rear, munching peanuts and chew
/ ing the cud of bitter reflection, as they.
dream of the played-outf days of pay GER
| tiicates. and inexhaustible contingent
funds, ....;.y s,.,.
Upon looking around the House for
the first time, your correspondent saw the
faces of many gentlemen who had served
the State in .the,past, but under less au-.
| spicious circumstances. But the old,
| familiar faces wore, different aspect.
The old rail had resumed its natural
place "on top" and; d;these men, who stood
| by thefStatein her darkest hours, cannot
Danish from their. faces now the flush Of
| victory in q virtuous cause. Colt and
Redfearn, of Chesterfield; Austin, of
Greenville; Muller; of Lexington; Brad
ley;of Pickens; Woford, ofSpartanburg,
and Wallace, of Union, all old war horses.
occupy their accustomed seats. Cannon,
Of Spartanburg; Howard, of Marion;
Meetze, the veteran of Lexington; Liy-,
| ingston, of 0conee; Bowen, of Pickens,
and Crittenden, of Greenville, have trans
ferred the spheres of. their usefulness to
the Senate chapber, where they are now
most needed, and viii prove to be wake
full sentinels on the watch towers.4yi =
It will be seen, therefore, that the ma
jority of the Democratic members of the
new House are new men, or at least men
ripe in the service of the State, but new
in their present positions. i'a
-2i4.! SPEAKER WALLACE.
It was ahappy inspiration that led to
the selection of General W. Il. Wallace
as the presiding officer of the House Of
Representatives. A more accomplished
gentleman: or more impartial officer could
not have been selected. General Wallace
was born in Laurens County in 1929, and
was the son iof, Major General Daniel
Wallace, who represented the Fourth
Congressional District of the State in
Congress for three terms, having. been
first elected in 1848. The Elder Wallace
was contemporary of General Quitman,
and was one of the most prominent South
ern men in, Washington. He was noted
for his firmness of character and integri-
ty of purpose, and welded an influence
in the councils of the nation which made
ibelffelt in the administration, and which
was always exercised for the honor and
welfare of his native State. Speaker
Wallace'is graduate of the South Caro-
lima College, of the class of 1849. After
leaving college he spent several years of
his life lin agricultural pursuits; but in
1860, after course of careful study, ap-
piled and was admitted tosthe bar. In
1860 he was elected to represent Union
district in the Legislature, but upon the
breaking out of the war, entered the army
and served throughout the four long
years of the. deadly struggle. He was
sent to the Legislature from Union Coun-
ty in 1872, and has served in that body
ever since. He brings to the chair all
the culture and grace of refined gentle
man, and the experience and knowledge
acquired by his long service in the lower
House. In his rulings he knows no par
ty, no politics he does his duty simply
and earnestly, but firmly, fearing no man
and favoring no friend.
~, ~ .rHE HON. JNo. G. SHEPPARD.
:. A very singular and somewhat signif-
cant feature of the organization of the
new House, is the fact that the three
recognized leaders of the body are all
Young mon. The Hon. Jno. O. Shep-
pard, of Edge6eld, who, by reason of his
position as chairman of the ways and
means committee, is looked upon as the
leader of the House, is a gentleman OF
limited experience, if years be taken as
the measure of experience, but remarka-
BILE ability, quick perceptions, and above
all, of bold aggressive manner-in very
fact the right man in 1.-The right place.
MIR. Sheppard was born in Edge6eld
County, in July, 1850, and is consequent
ly but 81 years of age. He was the son
of the Hon. James Sheppard, who repre-.
sented Edgefeld in the lower House of
the General Assembly for several terms
.D6IOIe tuo WdE. 'hl. SnCPPaAu "oo eou
Gated at Furman University, in Green
vile, and was admitted to the bar in
1871. He is an indefatigable worker,
and is destined to make his mark in the
reconstructed future of the Palmetto
State.
HON. ROBERT ALDRICH,
The Chairman of the judiciary commit
tee ranks next in Parliamentary etiqutte.
Mr. Aldrich is the son of Judge Aldrich,
name as well known as it is universally
respected in South Carolina. He was
born in Barnwell, in September, 1S44,
and entered the Citadel Academy in
1860. AT the breaking out of the war,
he volunteered as private in the Sixth
South Carolina Cavalry. he was soon
promoted to Sergeant-Major and then
i -.