Washington Standard

South Carolina.—Three full-blooded negroes and one mulatto are elected to Congress from South Carolina. The negroes have political matters all their own way in that State, and have discreetly concluded to dispense with the services of the carpet-baggers. The way they manage affairs is described by a correspondent of the World, who was present at a session of the Legislature during the election of a Judge:

As the election was by viva voce, it was apparent at the close of the call of names that the favorite of the leading negro members failed to have a majority of the entire vote. Just at the time the presiding officer rose to announce the vote an uproar began that surpassed any tumult in the long experience of the writer. A large, burly, good-looking negro, with a bright red neck-tie (named R. B. Elliott, and since elected to Congress,) commenced to call "Mr. Speaker!" Down came the gavel. "Mr. Speaker!" he screamed again, aided by about five other voices; again the gavel fell, and for eighty-seven times more by actual count, did this occur, until the speaker's arm seemed tired. During this time a small mulatto member with a prominent nose (De Large, since elected to Congress,) was busily engaged on the floor, passing from member to member, and at times, leaving the chamber and returning with different parties. All the Senators and members four-fifths of whom were colored, were loudly discussing terms conditional to changes in the votes, some receiving what appeared to be money. I turned to ask an intelligent-looking white man near me whether the delay was simply to give time to bribe refractory and exacting members. He replied, "Yes." Pointing down to those nearly under our section of the gallery he said: "Every man you see there demands his pay for every vote of importance he gives. Elliot and De Large are fomenting disorder to gain time; they are the intriguers of the House and they well understand that they must arrange to secure, by purchase, enough votes to make a majority. So notorious is the fact, that part of the House is known as the "Forty Thieves."

In the same body I saw "Raney," a bright, handsome mulatto, since elected to Congress from the Georgetown district. He seemed fully aware of the corruption, but took no part in it. Ransier was also there, since elected Lieutenant Governor, and busily helping Elliot and De Large. My gallery informant said "each of these men De Large, Elliot, Moses, &c., came here poor; their pay is $6 a day; they now own and drive teams alone that cost double their pay for an entire session, and their living is consistently extravagant. Some stylish women (colored) were on the floor. Who are they? I asked. 'Noted and influential courtezans and lobby members,' was the reply. 'Their political favor must be bought to secure the passage of any important bill.' This was the Legislature of a proud old commonwealth, composed (with only five or six exceptions) entirely of Republicans. The corruption was unblushing, indecent, acknowledged and undeniable, and yet for the six months since past I have failed to see a single rebuke in any Radical newspaper in or out of the State.

The same Legislature increased the State debt by millions, without fostering a single improvement; sold valuable privileges for personal considerations only; compelled equality in the theatres and academies, state-rooms and ladies' cars; demanded recompense pecuniarily for voting to educate their own children; and seemed ready, as a facetious friend said, "to take a red-hot stove, provided they could obtain iron gloves to lift it with."

The negroes of South Carolina, it will be observed, very closely imitate their white leaders in Congress. The chief characteristics of Congress—including the lobby—are well travestied by the South Carolina legislators.