The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-03-06

~ nat IecpuDllGdfiSm was IN one
Southern State il was 10 all. The party
was composed of The same class OF poiit-
zeal adventures, and their following was
the same mob of deluded, ignorant and ir
responsible blacks who had no conception
Of the obligations Of citizenship. The
opportunities for plumber were nearly the
same in all, and taey were improved to
greater or less extent according to cir
cumstances. Since the Democrats came
into power IN South Carolina, they have
taken the trouble to investigate the
crimes Of which that State was the vic
1 tim, and We will venture to say that
there never has since the world began
been exhibited d parallel to them in off
/ ciai corruption and rascalty unless it be
found concealed in the archives of the
other carpet bagged States. We have
before Us some items from report of a
/ joint commission of the two Houses of
the Legislature Of that State, which have
been conveniently collated by contem
porary and which we will publish for the
edifcatiou OF our readers. Among the
vouchers found in the State Treasurers
office there was spent in one legislative
session, under the hc.sls Of supplies,
/ sundries, and inc.aet.... expenses" $780,
600. OF this sum S125, 900 went for
wines, liquors and cigars. The sable
Solons and their ''mean white" fellows
were accustomed to give orders for their
luxuries each day, and the following is
specimen of the daily consumption
Of James A. Bowley, a statesman Of
color:
'One box champagne, one box port wine,
/ one box whiskey, on box brandy, one box
sherry wine, three boxes cigars.
One merchant, Hardy solomon, had
paid certificates issued to him for "sup
plies" purchased in 1872, to the amount
/ of S24, $50 80. On the 9th of March of
that year, he sent to the Senate 81, 63l
worth of wines and liquors, and on the
/ 7th Of the same month, 81, S52 10 in the
same articles to the same body. Solomon
/ testified that he had no difficulty in
getting his money" From the lst to
/ the 7th OF March, 1871, the Senate, con-
| sisting of 33 members, had wines and
liquors to the amount of So, 157 80 The
following year Washington's birthday
was celebrated, and this bill--one among
many others-was presented by negro
merchant-politician who made a fortune
out of his transactions with the Legis-
lature:
COLUMBIA, Feb. 22th, 1872.
GOV. \. J. RAMsIERE, DR..
80 JOE TAYLOR
''for Licours & Sugars and other ar
''Receivueid paymen
'JOE TAYLOR"
How the fortune was made will appear
from the prices of a few of the articles;
Brandy. SD gallon; sherry wine, $40;
whisky. IS; lager beer, 81 80 per doz n;
cigars, $50 per hundred; champagne, $4OO
per case; port wine, $40 per dozen"
In four years over 5000, 600 was spent
for furniture alone, Of which only ST.
200 worth is now in the State House.
The carpet item is suggestive. All the
rooms in the State House, and the COM
mittee rooms outside, require only 300
yet, in one session, 1868 yards
bought, nearly third of which was the
best Brussels Al the end of each SEES
sion, the carpets were regularly carried
off by the members. So were the $50
clocks and the 5000 mirrors. 1t was testi
fed before the commission, that stationery,
so called, .'included refreshn nts, dry
goods, groceries, carpets, furniture, horses,
carriages and miscellaneous articles of
merchandise"
What are meant by miscellaneous
articles of merchandise" the following
summing-up will explain:
In 1869 and 1870 the articles purchased
were of such low degree As So clocks. forty
cent spittouns. 81 benches, straw beds. clay
pipes, pine tables, cheap whisky and 81
looking glasses. In 1871 and thereafter the
lis presents 5000 cloahs. So 'cuspidors,'
5000 crimson velvet sofas, sponge mattress
ses and Oriental pillows; $50 gothic chairs
$50 library tables. finest Havana cigars,
champagne 5000 mirrors. etc. dd infRituln
When il is said that such articles OF temi-
nine attire a are known or guessed at by the
names OF 'bustles,' extra long stockings,
'chignonS.' 'palpitatOrs,' 'garters,' 'chemiSes,
boulevard skirts and 'paraSol,' are found
in the same list with mules, horses, wines
coats of arms, axe helves, dictionaries
diamonds Jugs. cuckoo clocks, cradles and
cQffirs, something may be lett to the imagi-
nation
These are the sort of abuses which
the corrupt and ignorant rabble that
went by the name of Republican govern
ment, practiced upon the people of
South Carolina. Every fair minded
man will say that they would have been
justified in resorting to any
method, however revolutionary, to rid
themselves of the yoke. And
what was suffered in South Carolina,
was inflicted in greater or less degree in
every other Republican ridden Southern
State. In our own State of Mississippi
we had specimens it in the costly ex
penditures which were made for the re-
fitting and refurnishing of the Execu-
tive Mansion and the Capitol, the ille-
gal use of the Executive Fund, the Sc
cret service money, and other monstros-
tiles which the CLARION exposed at the
time and called upon the people. to re-
dress. 1t was a long night of dismal hor
rors with which the exposures of Repub
lican rule in South Carolina nave re-
freshed our minds. To these plumber
ings are to be added the military usur-
pations and political prosecutions with