The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-16
RscoLLrcrroxs or A CARPrz.BAesEA.
what Became Of shs Nsnbers Of . Csasti.
tsaisaal Csavensioa aaa Oaher Gentry.

srative body organized In Florida by the ear
pot-basgers was that remarkable gathering OF
impecunious statesmen called the COnstitu-
tional Convention. It finished its labors. and
the new Constitution was signed By forty-six
members on the 25th OF February. 1868. or
these members seven teen were carpet baggers.
who at that limo wore mere soldiers OF fortune.
without property In the state they proposed to
control. They were bent only on plumber; they
saw years OF good stealing In the PROSTATE
State. Thirteen OF the members we're negroes.
all OF them without money and but very few Of
them without price. OF the fortv-six signers
two became Governors OF the State. o. II. Hart
by election and Marcellus Lycurgus Stearns by
the lottery OF disease. succeeding to the throne
at the death OF Hart. Two OF them. to their ut
ter surprise. reached the United States Senate.
Thomas w. Osborn by main strength and
Simon B. Conover by . combination OF the
Southern loyallst. Democrat. and negro
against the. at that time. all.powerful carpet
bag ring which had headquarters In Jackson
vile and headquarters all over the State. Two
became members Of Congress T. Walls.
colored. and William J. Purman. plain. They
faithfully performed the duties Of Congressman
in hunting places for their clamorous constitu-
ents Only two Of the members hold any posi-
ton now. either State or national. and their
Republican. j. L. A. Davidson. holds the position
OF brother to tho Democratic member Of Con-
gress from the First district OF Florida. and is
also Postmaster at Quincy. The other carpet
Dagger. j. W. Childs. Is now special agent OF
the Interior Department. draws a big salary.
and hns good time travelling over the coun-
try at Government expense.
Col. Childs Is nm old friend Of mino. and Is q
hearty. whoe.soued fellow. He Is as red
headed as q woodrecker. red bearded also. slow
OF walk and speech. and has a general slouchy
don't-care-a-cuss appearance. He was Union
soldier marched with tho boys from Michigan.
and won his title on the field OF battle After
this state had been lifted out OF the Slough
OF Dsspond and placed on its feet and
after the pet-baggers had begun to search
it's pockets. the good fat Offices created were
parcced out to tho members Of the Conven-
ton. who by their gigantic labors had made
office possible. and the infiammatory-h headed
Chllds was made Tax Collector Of Alachua
county. BY strict economy and by watching
chances he accumulated wealth rapidly. After
the collapse Of Reeds administration Childs
bought q livery stable In Washington. u. c..
dabblsd in gold and stocks. and got badly
squeezed all around. II he could only be In
duced to tell all he knows about the deviltry
flush times OF reconstruction. he would make
many politicians cheek turn pale. and many
OF
PLACED in Office on the first deal. ,,
by the carpet-bagg.rs WAS tho Legislature OF
ls6s-7O The State senate had twenty-four
four we're negroes, and S1 one new was Rsp%siiean
pork repudiator from Madison county. The
latter was a. man nan Of standing and honor and
long. The Republican majority Was six. The
President OF the senate WAS William H. Glen.
biias. water blond. short and wiry. Keen. guard.
Of mixed ErHyy He He walked very; very quickly ana
ee GLEASON came Fora 'Sr o nan Wisconsin
energy. He was mixed up in everything o.
E"m fe IN, Scn of the Sy h. D to n
now, for he ls all alive yot tho most active and
incessant schemer .vor met. Withal. he was
scheme after schc mo was Matched In his pro-
Of paper. It was he who first started the idea
q magniiicsnt ship canal across Florida. and
ons time the s' eopmnies whist he sf p ens
had granted TO them by the Legislature nearly
two millions Of acres OF the finest land in the
upon the Rip Van Winkis citizens OF the he hall hall
dead State were the Inland Navigation Com
pduy, me ToUlcitl company,
and. sons say. the ssa,h '"f Flor diip &Ii::
yssor Teeth, drawing company !iimitsd,.
rendered the state to the B Democrats
those developing companies all went to
Legislative position was the only one ever held
by Gleason. save III his own county. whore he
was omnipotent;; There il tradition that at
certain election In his section, there we're two
voting precincts. one of which gave y small Re-
publican majority. and the other u large Dem
In h.Al.t
Offices. and OF course was the returning board.
Now II goes without saying that. In tho hands
is mightisr than the ballot. Gleason knew that
no Democrats were needed i'll Tallahassee SO
on some technicality no threw out tn? votes OF
publican member as duly elected 1t is further
reported that this lucky individual was himself.
Glsason's career was his bringing to Tan-
hassse wild lrishnen., six feet four inches
hiGh and ying TO ps ,Inn MN ~. off, on TIC Lg,.
provisions Of the aarpei.bas Constitution the the
lower house Of the Legislature. and there was
avery general DISPOSITION on the part Of the
pa ut to sme mi they took
tall. gaunt FeniHn. and tried to pass him off rs
half breed Seminole. there WAS tremendous
prottxc retired disconhted Gleason would
hardly alloy this snpp1;rd warrior y moment
but one night the boys managed to got him
among them in retired room In tho hotel. and
engaged in u whiskey Symposium. When
Gleaspn finally found him he was singing u
song IN tho richest SORT Of brnEue and dancing
nm old fashioned Irish jig. He was sent away
the next morning by nrst train. and for the re-
inainder Of tho session the mighty descendants
OF Osceoln and william Bowlegs ESQ. were
without representation.
Leon county. once the homo OF tho wealth
aud arstocracy Of the state. was represented Ia
tn. State Senate BY u "o!orsd Methodist Bishop
G. II. pierce,, Pierce was man Of education
and fine address. had II well shaped head,
covered with crisp rInglets. curly beard. and
thoughtful. baneroent features. Pierce got
into Trouble right off through his too conldinY
nature. or something else, and was tried and
convicted oil bribery while In the Senate. But
the carpet! -bn.GerS stood by their Old friends
then. and Pierce was promptly par,!oned.
Conover WAS mainly instrumental in securing
Plerce's pardon. and promptly deserted by that
gentleman ~ soon rs mis- political fortunes he
gan to wane. The negro politician hardly
knows the meaning OF gratitude.
Gadsden. u strong and rich county. was rep
resented by senator Harry Cruise. u light
headed negro Of tho color Of Il now saddle who
had mouth like mullet. lie was the clown
OF the SNnate-R bundle OF ignorant self-con-
trayesty OF the worst SORT. aud disgrace to tho
i,o v,p bnp Ind