The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-06-02
"Reminiscences of 1875.

| Wallace Democrats seemed to daze
the Mackeyites of both complexions
and the conversion of Thomas Ham
ilton and N. B. Myers, who had been
bright and shining lights in the Re-
publican camp, perplexed their form
er political allies. Hamilton was
| coal black in color but had almost
perfect Anglo-Saxon features. He
dressed in black, always wore neat
linen and was an effective speaker
before the emotional people Of his
| race, for to the skill of the natural
politician he added fervor that
would have given credit to reviva-
( list preacher. Still he was lover
of race horses. Myers was more of
a mixer and his looks and manners
indicated worldly prosperity that
the less we'll to do looked up to with
longing to be in his class.
The speaking by members Of the
Wallace House from noon until mid
night was Gen. John B. Gordon's
plan of battle. People soon grew
tired of listening to two men stimuli
taneously, a Democrat and Repub-
lican, and turned their attention to
conversation, smoking and the con-
sumption of peanuts.
One of the most effective of these
deadlock speeches was made BY
Representative L. w. Youmans. It
Hall the Mackey House and seated
went home like solid shot and for
time shamed silence prevailed on
the Mackey side. And this was the
circumstances: During the absence
of the Wallace House in Carolina
the Republican candidates in Barn
well County for the Legislature.
Casear Cave, colored, of Great Cy-
press, was one of their candidates,
but his good sense kept him away
from Columbia and he never occu-
pied his seat. Somebody answered
to Caesars name on the roll calls,
and when Col. Youmans exposed the
fraud the character of Mackey &
Co. went below political zero, and
they realized It's significance. While
that succession Of Speeches proba-
bly, changed few opinions, it had the
good effect of keeping members oc-
cupied and so preventing ennui and
the irritation that might have made
trouble. OF what was being done
by their leaders the high privates OF
the Wallace House had little idea.
but they patiently held the fort. As
time passed and some of the older
and less robust members were al
most i'll by loss of sleep, unhealthy
air and lack of exercise, they were
so fortunate as to get night sub
stitutes of proved sobriety and
courage, and these weary members
went to their boarding houses and
slept in preparation for the session
of the following day.
Speaker Wallace kept his chair
for as we remember, over two days
and nights, wide awake, watchful,
and as calm and unruf1ed as could
be expected of one who hads led a
brave brigade in Virginia dozen
years before. Then, that he might
get some sleep, during the latter part
of the night time when nothing was
doing he delegated members to pre-
side in his stead. 1t was our turn
to be walked as day was breaking,
and that was one time that we were
not pipe enthusiast. AS the pre-
ceding occupant of the Speakers
chair arose we slipped under him,
and were greeted with Whit Of
strong plug smoke from the ancient
pipe of the Mackey pro tenn speaker,
a sea island brother in black. y
Even since that hour we have had
a lasting aversion to short cane pipe
stems. Our two hours as speaker
passed without our having to speak
a word or use the gavel.
AS stated in previous article
the Wallace House having accom-
plished all that was intended and
hoped for in securing majority OF
the membership of the House re-
turned to Carolina Hall satisfied that
the victory had been secured and
that only time was needed for the
surrender of the opposition. So We
made some more history in the din
gy little hall built of bricks and
bats gathered up after the burning
of Columbia eleven years before by
Sherman's army. All arrangements
looking to the sure operation of the
Hampton government until the tot
tering Chamberlain regime should
collapse completely were made and