THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA ENDOWED BY JOHN SPRUNT HILL CLASS OF 1889 VC812 L3U7 FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill https://archive.org/details/lastofcarpetbaggOOunse The T . ; •; : . / . .. . i Dramatic Account of Southern Leg¬ islation during the First Sev¬ en or Eight Years Af- This little volume is respectfully dedicated to Messrs. Lacy & Blair. Principals of the Ilickorv High School, at Hickory, Catawba County, North Caroliua, by the Al i HQK. April 6th, 1878. Mr Smith. —Well Joe, the war is jout over and I suppose all the slaves dll be set free ; if so what course will du pursue ? Joe .—Lord bress yeur soul, massa, is chile stay wicl you till Gabrel blow > horn. S. —What do you suppose the mass ' the colored population will do if set se ? J. —Oh massa, dey all stick to de i te folks ; dey knows where dar sal- tion am ; dey, dey knows who feeds d cloves urn. \ S. —Well, J oe, I have just this min- e received a dispatch ( receiving a per from some one and reading it) the effect that peace propositions : ve been agreed to between the north I d south, and that tho colored pco- i are from this time free, and that iy are to enjoy all the privileges and munities of other citizens. You are Me Then rise lip and go with me ; I have a few words of importont in¬ formation to impart to you, as well as a few words of admonition so that you may constantly be on yonr guard in watching these old rebels, your old and young masters. J Neber ! Neber! (with great feeling in a loud voice) will I leave my ole massa ; my good ole missis ! and all dem good children. Bress de Lord. (last two words in a low tone , Me I am surprised at you, Mr Jo¬ seph Smith. Are } r ou not aware there are great things in store for you ? J Yeth sar ; massa gat eberyting out ob de store he wanted. Me I mean have you not hoard the news that peace is made and you aro all free ? Not only free but to be en¬ dowed with the right of suffrage ? o o J Yeth Vs suffrin now ; I’s almost dead. mo free , ‘ T. (ftalIs to the gnound cri/i/?g and \ling oner in great distress and ex- riming) Oh massa I neber leahe 3 r ou, missis, dis chile must die / mass ill ! mass Bob ! mass Tom ! dis chile is die ! lie neber see you more ! 'S. (retires) j (sobbing , sits up) C§melius Me Caster. (with carpet ■h enters) Good morning. What is ; trouble with you ? You ought to rejoicing with great joy this morn- ; instead of sitting here crying, f. Oil 1 kin neber leaba my ol© ssa and missis j dey so good to ail u s. He. What is your name ? Jaw 4 fav, Jaw ? 1 never heard of any- '■eing named Jaw. Joe. Vc You mean Josce or Joseph ? Yeth. Hava no other name ? Jis Joe ; dats my name. What w\as j’our master's name Massa’s name Mifter Smif. le Smith ? Yes sar ; bress de Lord I Wei] then, your name is Jo- i Smith and you are equal in every >ect with 3 T our master, physically, ally, and above all intellectually , Bress de Lord. Me. Mr Smith (Joe winces and bats his eyes when called Mr Smith) you did not understand me ; I meant that you could all vote and hold office, and I am satisfied your class—• J (interrupting) I neber had a glass in all my life ; massa allurs gib us Chrismus gram in de ole gourd. Mo I intended to say that your race is much mere competent to vote, hold office and make laws than your old masters. I will give 3 ’on a hint of what is up, as ytc are alone. My name is Me Custer, I am from New En¬ gland, in other words, from Massachu¬ setts ; just arrived here this morning; am very short of funds—• J Bress jour soul, Boss, we allers had more fun an ye ewer seen. Mo. 1 meant to say that I am rath cr hard up—short of mone 3 r —and be¬ ing a special friend of your race I would accept an office at your hands— say a seat in the legislature—- » J ( interrupting) Massa allers gin us seat on a stool in de kitchen ; may de spirits bress dat good man, massa Smif. £ Mo. I think you oan comprehend what I raean when I *a 3 r that all your representatives are to meet at the Cap¬ itol ofyour State to make laws, under which you are to live and be happy* and if ! represent you I will do every¬ thing for the colored people if you will just give me your influence. u f I cant fluence nuffin ’cept clem ;ood etins ole' missurs allers gib urs. Me Mr Smith, I lave some very pecial information to give yon con- erning this matter, and I want you to ro to corner of 9th and Howard streets omorrow night where we are to hold political meeting with the colored oiks, for the purpose of nominating mlliflates for the legislature, (re- ires) J .VIif. Custard ; missurs use to gin • lots custard to eat.; I swailurd Lem hole lots o’ times ; oh, dem good le days neber see dem more. Mr bustard ; lie’s f jistde smartest man ber been indis seeshun ; I neber see man smart like iceive himself qualified f>>’ the trust i-ving liyed am mg y m all iny life i 1 elosely studying your interest, I • ifess that my acquirements are not rwit, even with all these advantages, •t his must be still less, a* he has, ke a vulture, just lit among us. I hould therefore think it would be t ere answerable to your dignity, and mdueive to your interest, to be rep¬ 's silted by a man at least of some ■ .ters. than by a cunning, crafty ear- •t bigger. If lie had come among s witii a yiew of becoming a perma- mt citizen, and engaging in some II lable enterprise., the case would be cry different. I do not make the as- u-timi, as I always like to be in the nuids of reason and truth, but I nrnld not be surprised if this man is a. meee adventurer, without mon- |:v, credit «r ek&ratUr at hoae. Who 'N (O co knows but he is an escaped convict from a northern penitentiary ? (Mo Gaster restless and exhibiting feelings ef resentment , rises and draws a pistol and demands of Smith whether he charges him with anything disrep¬ utable:f) S (cooly repliesi) I make no char¬ ges, sir ; l only stated that I should not be surprised if suck and such things were true. I say this from my general knowledge of the character ©f carpetbag adventurers. Now gentle¬ men, you know who I am ; you know my interests are so interwoven with your own that they are necessarily one and the same. We all rise er fall to¬ gether, and for these reasons, alii other taings set aside, the chance is in my favour, with respect to information. However, you will decide, and give your suffrages to him or to me, as you shall jjudge expedient, (at this junct¬ ure the mail arrises. Mr Vandyke hands Smith si JV Y paper (daily) from which Smith reads) ‘‘’Our Boston correspondent informs us that the no¬ torious scoundrel, Cornelius MeCus- ter, has been released from the peni— tontiary, having served a term of live years, for embezzling funds from va¬ rious source*, swindling the Orphan fuidonpmv out of one hun Ire l lUHisial d >lla'’s ail robbing tw > grave yards ! T lis villi n lias left, for the 8 >uth and we would advise all to keep a sharp loeU: out for the rascal.” [Me crawls out on hands and knees ] (Here a commotion takes place in the crowd , and a Mr Winters , who is a weaver by trade is induced to become a candidate) Mr Winters. Gentlemen I am your candidate for the legislature. I am no speaker and will thank you for your votes. I belong to the glorious old ’publican party, {applause) S (asks Vandyke to speak for him) Mr Vandike Fellow Citizens, I have not the smallest idea of wound ing the sensibilities of this weaver, but it does seem to me that it would be more to his interest to pursue his occupation, than to launch out into that of which he has no knowledge. > . r hen ho goes to the Senate liduse the iplication will not be to warp a web ; it to make laws for the people of this •eat State. Now suppose that the aking these laws requires a knowl- Ige of commerce, or of the interests Fagricglture ; or those principles up ii which the different manufactures spend, what service could he render ? i is possible he might think just lough, but could he speak ? He is it in the habit of public speaking, e is not furnished with those corn- i on pi ace ideas, with which even cry ignorant mou can pass for know- lg something. There is nothing hikes a man so ridiculous as to at- pmpt what is above his sphere. He !, no tumbler for instance ; should lie ire out that lie could vault upon a lan’s back, or turn heels over head ke the wheels of a cart, the stiffness f hi? joints would encumber him, and e would fall upon his posteriors to he ground ; such a “squash” as that, muld do him damage. The getting |jp to ride on the State is an unsafe filing to those who are not accustomed o such horsemanship. It is a disa¬ greeable thing for a man to be laugh¬ 'd at, and there is no way of keeping Lie’s self from it but by avoiding all ffeetation. Is it possible lie can un- erstand the affairs of government, irhose mind has been concentered to he small object of weaving webs, to he price by the yard, the grist of the bread, and such like matters as con- kern the manufacturer of cloths ? The ’eel of him who weaves, are more oc- •upird than the head, or at least as nucli ; and therefore he must be, at east but in half, aecuslomed to exer- •ise his mental powers. For these •easonss—if no others, you ought to j^ote against him. \<»u ought, at east to be represnted by a man of tome letters, I know nothing against i weaver more than any other calling, i have no prejudice against a weaver pore than any other man, nor do I know any harm in the trade, save that from a sedentary life in a damp place, there is usually a paleness of the coun jicnauce ; but this i» a physical, not a moral evil. Such usually occupy sub¬ terranean apartments ; not for the pur po.se, like Demosthenes, of sharing their heads and writing over eight times the history of Thucydides, and perfecting a style of oratory ; but rath er to keep the thread moist ; or be¬ cause this is considered but as an in¬ glorious sort of trade, and is frequent¬ ly thrust away into cellars, and damp out houses, which are not occupied, for a better use. But to rise from a cellar to the Senate-house, would be an unnatural hoist. To come from counting threads and adjusting them to the splits of a reed, to regulate the finances of a government, would be preposterous, there being no congrui- ty in the case. There is no analogy between knotting threads and framing laws. It would be a reversion of the order of things. Not that a manu¬ facturer of linen or woolen, or other stuffs, is an inferior character, but a different one, from that which ought to be employed in affairs of State. It is unnecessary to enlarge on this •ab¬ ject ; for you must all be convinced of the truth and propriety ot what l say. {takes the weaver to one side and prevails upon him to withdraw,) Now gentlemen, there seems to be no further obstacles in the way. This simple-hearted weaver, who never would have thought of running, had he not been persuaded to do so by the crowd, who always would rather vote for an ox than a man of education and integrity, has consented to withdraw, and‘Cornelius McCuster has fled the country—hence there is no one iu the field to oppose our most able, worthy and deserving reliow citizen, Mi fi horn as Smith, who has addressed you to¬ day so ably and eloquently. He will do us honor ; he will carry our banner to victory and wreathe it in glory. It will never trail in the dust in th» hands of this noble old Homan ( point - incr to Smith) I mean no flattery. And now gentlemen, with these remaiks, I. leavetho issue with you. (Just at this juncture a hustle takes place in the crowd and old Joe Smith (colored) is prevailed upon to become a candidate in place of Winters.) . Mr Smith Mr Vandike, what do rou think of the situation now ? Mr Vandi/ce Friend Smith, the situation just now is most alarming. understand that the crowd has pre¬ vailed upon old joe Smith, colored, to pecome a candidate 1 . The dange r of iis being successful is because of his ncomparable ignorance, lie has been n the employ of neighbor Captain Stokes since lie left his old master. 1 vas sure we had everything all light tnd satisfactory ; but it seems like the •rowd are determined to hare a bab- )oon in spite of all we can do. Joe Smith Genlemens, I’s jist been bunded to present yon in de—in—in ; cant say dat-—in de^Slegimaslator ob lo next jineration. I dunno what de Slator is but dat dovent matei es I .in git Tm rmation bout de bizness fen J gits dar ; dese white folks dinks Mgga no liiiflm ceptin dey got de edi- cation, but dey is mighty fooled, ase we kin do bizness in de peidition b de slolgi ers, and dais nmf to pas- i ify dc most gashious ov dese wite hkes. 3 eth, de time is h ived wen de 11 11 nd poplarnation is to take de gub- rnent fairs in dar own bans (exhibit- nrj his hands) and make de wite gin- ycrats ’habe demselves ; dats what le Slajimilator means ; den we is to mb de propity ami eberv sing ; den le bottom rail w ill be wliar de coon uns. ((/rent applause) Mr Smith rises and nods to Copt Stokes, requesting him to address the ■roil'd in reply to Joe. Copt Stokes. My friends and tel- ow citizens : I feel alarmed for both four individual and public welfare ; his is making the matter still worse, gentlemen. This servant of mine is lut a bog-trotter, who can scarcely >peak the dialect in which your laws >ught to lie written ; but certainly he ms never read a single treatise on any political-subject; for the truth is, he t annot read at all. This old slave lias elonged to Mr Thomas Smith all his ife, till the close of the war, since which time he has been my servant imd of course is totally ignorant of the jreat. principles of legislation ; and nore especially, the particular inter¬ ests of the goyernment. A free gov¬ ernment is a noble acquisition to a people ; and this treedom consists in an equal light to make laws, and to have the benefit of the laws when made. Though doubtless, in such a government, the lowest citizen may be¬ come chief magistrate ; yet it is suffi¬ cient to possess the right, not abso¬ lutely necessary to exercise it—or even ii you should think proper, now and then to show your privilege, and exert in a signal manner, your abso¬ lute prerogative yet is it not descend¬ ing too low to filch away from me a hireling, which 1 cannot well spare ? \ on lire surely carrying the matter too far, in thinking to make a Senator of this ostler ; to take him awav from an employment to which he has been bred, and put him to another, to which he has served no apprenticeship ; to set those hands which have been late¬ ly employed in currying my horse, to the dialling tiills, and preparing busi¬ ness for the house (Jr ihpnsf rations in favor of Joe) Iliad much rather you would send the weaver, though l thought that, improper, than to invade mv household, and thus detract from me the very person that I have about me to brush my ooots and clean mv spurs, (hurra for joe ! Joe ire'll have by the vrowd) I find it, answering no end to expostulate witn this multitude If the crowd will Keep quiet a minute I will speak a word, piivately, with Joe. Step here Joe, (they step aside) Joe, you are quite wrong in this mat¬ ter they have put into your head. 1)<> you know what it is to be a member of a deliberative body ? What qualifi¬ cations are necessay ? De you under¬ stand anything of geography? If a question should he put to make a law to dig a canal in some part of the State, can you describe the bearings of the mountains, and the course of the rivers ? Or if commerce is to be pushed to soma new quarter by the force of regulations, are you compe¬ tent to decide in sucli a case ? There will be questions of law and astrono¬ my on the carpet. How you must gape and stale like a fool, when you come to be asked your opinion on / I. I licse subjects. Are yon acquainted rith the abstract principles ef finance; ith the funding public securities ; the ays and means of rai ling revenue ; roviding for the discharge of w he ublic debts, and ail other things Inch respect the economy of the gov- rnment ? Even if you had knowledge, ave you a facility of speaking ? 1 ould suppose you would have too iucli pride to go to the house just to ly ay or nay. This ma}' not b3 alto- ether your fault, but you have been ’customed to dig turf all your lift, 7 hen a man becomes a member of a ublic body he is like a raccoon, or ther beast that climbs up the fork of tree ; the boys pushing at him with tchforks, or throwing stones or tooting at him with an arrow, the >gs barking »n the meantime. One ill find fault with your not speaking ; lother with your speaking, if you leak at all. They will put you in lie newspapers, and ridicule you as a prfect beast. There is wuac they ill the carricatura ; that is, represen- ng you with a dog’s head, or a cat’s aw. As you have a brown head, tey will very probably make a fox you, or a sorrel horse or a brindle >w. It is the devil in hell to be ex- osed to the squibs and crackers of e gazette wits and publications, ou know no more about these mat- rs than a goose ; and yet you would adertake rashly, without advice, to iter on the office ; nay, contrary to a vice, for I would not for a tiiousnml uineas, though I have not the halt to >are, that you should come to this ; ringing on you a worse stain. than ,eafing sheep, to which you are ad- icted. You have nothing but your laracter, Joe, in a new sphere to de¬ end upon. Let it never be said that ou quitted an honest livelihood, the iking care of my horse, to follow the ew-fangled wuims of the times and s a statesman, (they separate) Mr Smith Captain, what success 0 you meet with ? Capt Stokes I think Joe will with- raw unlesss he is prevailed upon to j jmain a candidate ; and it so it is uite likely he will be elected as their majority is very large. (Everything in a bustle , voting and hurrahing for Joe and 'Publicans) * * * Mr Foot (enters with newspaper) Mr White (enters) Good morning Esq Foot! Mr Foote Good morning Mr White. W Have you any election news yet? P Yes sir ; I have just been read¬ ing the morning papers in which I find that the Rads, carpet baggers and negroes have swept the Sate. We havent more than a dozen or twenty members in all. In the lower part of the State nearly every member is col¬ ored. I see in this paper that I am just reading that old Joe Smith color¬ ed, has been elected ! I see here, un¬ der the head of “Startling Frauds,” that the Radicals carried the election by fraud. They controlled the poll- holders who counted in.their friends without scruple or shame ! In some instances they carried the ballot box¬ es to the woods and old out houses where they changed the result when it was against them. There never has been such stuffiug and fraud pei petra¬ ted in this country since the adoption of the American Constitution. I also see where one, Cornelius McC uster manipulated the election returns in the lower part of the State in a most shameful and scandalous manner. He is the same rascal who ran away from here during the campaign. W Have 3 ,, ou seen any of the mem¬ bers of the legislature yet ? F Not yet, sir ; I gue»s they will be coming in by to morrow as the legislature meets next day. Sam Gobbler, col. (enters with old carpet bag and clothes) Howde-doo gemmens. I’s glad to see you, I is. (extending his hand to take theirs) W You should not be so familiar, you black rascal. ( drawing his hands back) Who are you, anyhow ? Sam Lord bress your life boss, I’s a prewentative ob de ’slator, I is ; y«tlx sa, I is dat. V." W What is your nam9 ? Sam Wot is my name ? TVs him. W Sam : is that all the name you lave ? Sam Tsham Cobbler is de whole biz- tess of ruesef. (pointing to himself) JV Then Sam Cobbler is your ame ; and why did your folks give oii'sueh a name as Cobbler ? I sup* lOse you were an ordinary shoo trim l- r ? Sam No sail ! (with dignity , he be* fig barefoot) No sail ; dis uigga’s roud to say daG no shoo ewer e >.nis rrhis foot. My ole boss gin me a tie Sundy shoes one time an l jist ookern and gin em to ray bru l ler. W Perhaps they were goc smill ? Sam No sar ; my foot would not- •nwiniently go in dem, vvidout a- ood deal ’suasion, W What No. were they ? Sam Boss said da No. foty. W Will your brother be here ? Sam Yeth, sa ; we is de harry quas.hinist family ob de State, we is. W You mean aristocracy. S Yes sar ; we is dat. W Well Sam,' you h iven’t told us- r hyyou were u uned Cobbler. S Yeth, well yeth, well l jis tell ou de truf ; ole m issa sel, y etii, lie lid riat, when I was aniggi, dat— W Well, go ou and tell us the re a* onofsuch a queer name ? S He sed, dat, dey cached dis pre-> rentative—yeth, he s lid I w is gvvin i >ng de pafbh one night wid a C >b- ler. Dis preweutative ’members nuf- u bout dit ; all dis preweutative limbers is dat ole boss hu i g dis pre- 'entative up by de-neck an l- giu him. ixteen hundred throusand ob dem a-dies, till dlir* wuseut nuif b dis preweutative to-a make spot ob rea*e : and den it was nuffib but ■obbler ! Cobbler ! Cobbler ! W Hem —1 Yes, II understand 1 n )\r. You were caught stealing a Ui’key. S Yeth, but dendat ’scape l ly mem >ry ail I’s jist as innercent s de chile,dat’s ueber gwineto be born. W And you say you are a repre- entative of the present legi datura ? Yeth sail, i is dat. Cin yon deslL ate wliar dat is ' W Yo i will find the lull in' tlie next building—the largest building in the city. S- (retires, ami as he 1 goes-out at the door calls back :) Mishter ! ’spos i de Slator will fur¬ nish de wishions for all dte bans ? W S )m ‘.times the State furnishes board, and clothing too, for its hands. Mr Foot, to all appearances the legis¬ lature will be filled with a- set of thieves and ignoramuses. F Discouraging l discouraging ! I tear the State will be seriously crip-* pled if not driven into binkruptcy, before wi see the end af this. Let us get to our hotel ; it is nigh 12 o’clock. The legislature meets to-morrow. We must be there, (both retire) Bill Bobbins, col. \_meets a farmer on the roii. Bill has on a ca'io coal reaehihg nearly to the gronnd , very vajqei pants and shoes ani hat , all cooered with red nv.il. Vevy polite and eloquent] Grood ebmin, Boss l Cin you gin dis dem mtative a bit ov flurislimeut to ’stain decoppera-- tion ob de witality, wich will wive him from de onsportable ’pivssion dat am.’whelming him almoft to d^ff ? I’s warked about 100 miles las’ night.* Fdvmev Are you that near starv¬ ed ?, I can only guess at what you' say ; you-mean to say that you want some nourishment to sustain your cor- porial vitality, so that yommay revive from your insupportable oppression with which you: are overwhelmed. But how came yrniiso wise an l elo¬ quent ‘t Bobbins Oh bus, I’s a demrita- tive ; ole mass s li l all dim* dings ; dat’s de way Elams em. Flv I liave nothing at all to give you.here on-the road. I have s*m; coldicorn bread to feed my dogs after the chase, but it is unfit for anybody to eat. Bobbins L>rl brass your soul, boss, d it will zietly m *et rn / ’qoire- m nits (recein is a c) n i/c a 1 1 b ’j'.ns to ■ eat. usi ig both h in Zxj Fa: Bit wi> di l voisay y >u were, an 1 where are ycu going ? B fbkins I’s a Jdeb'Mitative. I’s g vine down to de ’SUtor as a debm- Lilive ob de preple ; yeth, sa l is ; so you. see I’s one ob.de ’portiant f man -- n ;'»i «» / * 'I ■ 77 >■ i ing on his bretii like a ’possum'] cher- ructurs ob de stake, an 1 much ’pends pcm my survvival as to what conies lb de preple ob dis great nasliin. F You don’t mean to say you are a representative of the people and on your way to the legislature ? Bobbins Yetli sa ; dat is de ’por- bant perdition I’s called tei proccupy at dis immediate conjuncture ; an I must be gwine. F But what is the matter with you ? the roads must be quite muddy. Why did you not come down on the train ? Bob/cins 1 cum a piece on de strain md hit stopped, sorter, hand [long breath} hand Itlioit I’d ’fer to walk ? F You preferred to walk after pay ng your money ; that is strange ? B I ri le free gratis ; you see, I’s a lebrentative and I’s not gvyine to be posed ’pon F What did the conductor say to you ? Ii He said “trickets” and went •igiit on taken papers an 1 thrings and le had simtUin like punchers and he’d much de papers an he’d go on, till he *om) ter me, an he looked mad an sed •stiekets here.” F And what did you say ? Did [ou hand him your ticket ? B No sa ; l sed Debrentative. I is told de kindoetor dat I’s a debren- ative gwine to de ’slature, an to go oiio- bout his bizness and not bodder D ne if he didnt know who he was talk- in to. F Did lionet ask you for your air, then ? B Yeth s% ; an ] I toll him to go ray frum.ine, d it I was fairin as well .s could be speetel. Well, sa, do in think d it i nprugmt feller would ;t in ; lo le ? no si; It; den axed me >r de m >ngy. L said I’s ha 1 no inon- ■y ; dat 1 hadiit seen 5 cents in ix mump , but dat I would have mo n 1 could to it as soon as I got to •legislator. W 1!, sa, do you spos ; dat illor w. juI l take any skuses f I told f tm ebery iu humble argurment, and 11 sorts ’ploligies, but he got madder ii m id ler, and deads injun sorter "j.p;).ed a a 1 1 th >urt fore I’d hub a fuss wid him, Id jis as soon wark. F Then if I understand tbs mat¬ ter, the conductor put you off the tiain because you could not pay your fare ? J No sa, he didnt put me off ; he jis picked me up dis way, [taking hold of neck and seat of pants) and fro wed me bout 16 feet and stuck my head 2 feet in de mud, broke my neck and splashed rnr cloves all ober, he did. (Bill and Farmer pass on .J Peter Swingback , col [enters, walks, leaning very much back , has on artificial hands , about a foot long , and an extraordinary large pair of shoes , o/n old beaver hat , a long old overcoat , acid tight pants, made of patches with high, standing paper collar , a piece of rope, with ends untwisted for a neck tie} Say boy, say, [calling to a white boy} any Turnery stores down di 3 way ? I’s not ’quainted down here ; I’s a repentative ob de regislator ; list got to de sitty. Boy (scampers off and makes fun of h im} Peter Yer little rascal! If I jist had yer by de ears I’d make yer see stars ! [shaking his fists in a threaten¬ ing m i miner) Police (steps out and takes him by the collar) What does all this fuss and cavorting mean here in the streets ? You must go to the lock¬ up. Peter (trembling , badly frightened) Is you de Mister bulliece ? Police I am the police. Peter Wei! den, I jist axed dat wite boy fer some ’formation ’bout de Turnery store, an he comtempted me werry much, an I jist said what de bulliece or ter do wid ’im if da had him by de nock, I did nuffin mesef. Mister bulliece ; I’s a repentative to de regisiatur an I’s jist huntin de furriery store to git some draps. Police You can go this time, but you must not make an interruption in the streets, You will (lad a store of that kind over there, | pointing to one) Peter (goes over) Merchant Walk in ; what will you have ? Peter Some Turnery. I’s a reben- « .s *: i. rs * *? ' i ‘ » • • > V It t 4 • *r * • • *• *■ » * . r r * r •F r >r u , i - * % f • I ✓ »• tfnt.iv * nb fe ( *1 'tor an I wa of, soue ’tu n *ry dram T no d,> m * r.rn. Mb a Watt kin 1, an i ii >.v imuli will you have ? Peter ’Sp»seaga!lm oh do col- loou will be nutf. Me a (tend* a cnreless boy, who, thvoujh mistake, dnuv .'1 a gill on, of wq- u\ forks) Dick, draw this in in a w much am de brie* ? Me a Three dollors. (veeei ves the money) Pont you want some line rings ? Here are some nice ones, (ex¬ hibiting tome tin. ones) Pete a What da wort ? M Twelve and one half cents each Peter, (hands the merchant one dollar) I takes one dollars worf \_re- ?eiues his rings, ta/ces his jug and ''ea: ves) Peter (meets Joe Smith, colored.) Hello, Mifter Smifth, I’s jist been down to de Turnery store to git ’sply. I’s not gwine to put it on till de regis- latur meets, do. Merchant (discovers the mistake after he is gone) Dick, I will have to turn you off for your willful careless¬ ness ; you will ruin my trade ; you gave tiiat fellow a gallon of nitric ac- d —aqua fortis, instead of the cologne is directed. It will take all the wool off his head and skin off his back ! Enter Jacob Hatfield, Dem . J Q Milligan, Vein. Thomas Bullfinch, Ben. Wili¬ am Killgore, Don- Joe Smitlj} •olortd Bill Bobbins, col. Pete Swingoack , col . Sam Cobbler, col. Berm/ Id Crow, col. \? W V White, col. Mr Killgore ( rising) 1 nominate Tacob Hatfield, Esq., as speaker of die House of Representatives. Berry Crow I name de gate Jule Jquashins as de Sneaker ob de house 'b prewensions. He’s de greates’ lan in all Oalleedosh county, he 3 . Killgore (puts the vole and counts Tat field elected, who takes the speak• Cs seat) (rising) I move we go into le election of a principal clerk ; and >r that position, I nominate Mr Buck am. Berry C I’s got no ’jection to de bh-rk Win ; r w >t s fr • all de cnflirT fbkes. Sy ; ik-r RdfiTd (puts the vote and he is elected) Kdlgore Mr Speaker, T now move the home g >es into an election for As¬ sistant Clerk, an l for that purpose, I nominate Mr Hornfi Id. (T’o Whole Mi ft‘r Streaker, I's a h i.hbiii s mu ’j *ctio>n ter d • 0ornfiels. I’s b ;en in de cornfi -Is all de days mv life, 1 is, an’ Ps now, at dis ’ticlar time, ’posed ti an 7 mo corn (ids. Speaker (puts the vote and he is elected.) Mr Milligan. I move that the house go into an election for Princi¬ pal Doorkeeper, and for tha£ purpose I nominate Mr Bowersprout. Sam Cobbler I’& no ’jection to dat ; golly 1 fellers, dat gem men vominated de sour krout for de floorsleeper. Lookout, nigga ! some you go up de srpout, fust ting 3 T er know. Speaker (puts the vote and he is elected) Milligan I now move that the house go into an election for Assist¬ ant Doorkeeper, and for that purpose I nominate Mr Black as Assistant. Bill Bobbins I ’s gwine to pose— Sam Cobbler Set down, Bill ; yer don’ no nuffin ; lie’s gwine ter wote far his black sister. Speaker The vote now is for Mr Black for Assistant Door keeper, (puts the vole and he is elected) Mr Milligan J move the adoption of the following order : That the rules for the government of the House of Commons, adopted at the session of the last Legislature, be taken for the government of this b<»dy until oth- wise ordered. Sam Cobbler I don’t ’zactly ’stan’ dat- Speaker (interrupts and explains) It means the same rules for the house of Commons- Sam Cobbler (interrupting) Well, sa, I’s ’posed to all de commons fools commin hero an’ bodderin us in our ’fessional bliberations. Speaker (puts the vote which is carried) A message has just been re¬ ceived from the Senate, proposing that i committee of two be appointed on he part ol each house, to wait upon lis Excellency, the Governcr, and in- brm him that the two Houses are ful- y organized and are ready to receive iny communication he may have to nake. ( agreed to) Mr Milligan la order to complete lie further organization of the two touses, I move a message be sent to lie Senate, proposing to ballot forth- vlth for three engrossing Clerks, and >lace in nomination Messrs Starbuck, iassborn and Mr Freeman. Geo White Wot’s dat Mister ? Say lat agin. Speaker (explaining ) Mr Milligan iroposes the names of Messrs Star- lick, Bassborn and Freeman for en- rossing Clerks. Geo White Yeth sa, I ’stands it ow ; de propertition is to delect mis- rable sorry buck, cows-horn and free- rom, ter go inter de grocery bizuess. hit’s all right, dat is. ' Speaker A message has just been •ceivecl from the Senate, concurring the proposition to go at once into i election fm* three engrossing Berks, (puts the question and the tree are elected.) ■ Speaker A message has boon re- ived from the Senate proposing to • at once into an election for Public ■inter ; and have placed in nomina- >n Messrs Williams & Hoskins. ■Joe Smith Yeth sa * I know wot t minis. Hi’s de man wot prints r ’publican piper, he is. He’s been •kin to urs on de subjeo ob dat biz- is. I want ebary cullnd gemmen *e to ’scribe to Mifter Hotskins fur ; bi vness. iptaksr Is the house ready to ■o for Public Printer ? (puts the e- to g"> indo election and then for n ter. Ho ski ns elected.) Mr Killg >re Mr Speaker; as linn m of the committee appointed wait upon the Governor, we beg r e to rep >rt that we have discharg- i'uit duty, and that the Governor transmit a communication at 12 )ck to-morrow, lr MUligan I move that the house proceed to the election of an enrolling Cleric, and I place in nomination Mr vv heeler. doe Smith Yeth sa ; ’rolling qurk ! yeth sa, I’s heard my ole raassa olfen tell ’bout roll in one way and den de oddei way, an querkin dis way an den de odder way ; an now dars gwine ter be all dem tings done right liar ’fore ebery body. Speaker (puts the, vote) Speaker (raps with his gavil) For the information of the house I an¬ nounce the following ten standing committees. The names of the Rep¬ resentatives composing the several committees, are printed on these slips : (handing a slip of paper to each mem ber) A Committee on Propositions and Grievances—on Piivileges and Elec¬ tions—>on Claims—on the Judiciary —on Internal Improyements—on Banking and Currency—on Corpora¬ tion—Military affairs—on Agricul¬ ture Special committes will be announ¬ ced as they are ordered from the house, (At this stage. Messrs Kilgore ai l Mdligan have a (jigir , each , half smoked , which they throw awup also the doorkeeper arrives with the mail and distributes a newspaper and not less than one letter to each. All com¬ mence reading. A colored young Di¬ nah is primped at an appropriate place, and a country d irky has been midday tore to her. Joe Smith and G W V Whit) to ilks out of th 1 h ill and sees th ess stump v of cigars, pish th an up, having in Ihir pockete, cadi, a, half cigar, prepared for th i occasion', which they light and commence smoking with dignity and co.noo*- urc ; th) country looer appro idles and saint.:* them and enters into a conocrs ition with Jr ; the other member quietly gets aw ty, an l intro¬ duces himself to the colored lass, and begins to make love to her, which is quite agreeable on her part .) Country Negro, Ned Howde-do uncle ; how’d you do ? Joe Smith Ah ! I’s in ini tv fillin’ helpth. I’s got mo ’sponsibility dan my whisical constnifusion km sub¬ sport. I’s de ’portantest regulator in de meetin, I is ; jist lookey, Ned! 4 v 'Tl';' Mi’ll* N \ '! ( .V: l sai/ v *y - .V >Ij I Ml X *L tm* )’ now ; (e.r/\ Suiting his coni-n/Mee /•) dis tormittee biyne** miff to 0 anyb > ly’s c mstrutusion rigit r*), in »le mi 1 lie, and den split -wood ob de res’ ; oh ! how ray takes, Jist, jist lookyy here, Ned ! i de tormictee on LYisileges an’ clions ; dat means de relections :le prisilgers ; you unerstam dat, ? ed (shakes his head , k d on' un’~ ’ dat) )e Yon iggerant nigga yon d m’t uffin, Den Ned dar’s ds tormittee e Cranes ; dats de tings what flys ' de riber ; course any nigga un- tand dat. Den dar’s de Judis- ; I liant studied dat yit. Den s de tormittee on Intenal brove¬ ts, dat is de werry ting; dat ns all de good e ate ns for to ’prove t ob de inards. Den dar’s de one Le Bakin ail de Currences ; dat fol- de odor one on eaten ; dat is de rences is to be baked in de pie.— dar’s de one on de copperation ; :oase dat natrally follers de oder So you kin see how de prewen- yes ob your Regulator ’abstains construfusions by cours ob de less. Now, iVed, I’s gin you a lu- d extrigatiou ob dis whole bufness yon may know ’bout it in de con- on dat you shud eber be prompted ich high an unwardable pardition. at yoiTdoin in town here anyhow, 1 ?"’Speck you makin lire sparks I nrhar. We know if de trull, as te foks wulgardly cauls dat buf- Now, Ned, aint you got a swet- iomewhar down here ? d Dat are de rumination in de lit}'. ; I’d wise you to look out fur ^legislator gemmens ; da’s mop- ii sashnatin darselfs into de gra- less ob de young lagies ; da is. returns to his din ah, and fin ds G W V 5 making love to her. Ned tries all sorts .9 to win her smiles but to no purpose.) >d Dinah ! Dinah ! Don t you 7 me ? Don’t you know me, my I ise? [She tarns her hack upon cith a flirt of contempt.] \d i wish all dem niggas wat mi ts t > d it m *1 *glator up dar wii /5 p >ke 1 up in a ii filer tree an 1 had all de tire an de brimstone ill de whole ob de miguration ob vie world, I’d smoke em till de possum grease would scorch de roots ob de tree. Dat gal’s jist sli- ded back on dis boy, Ned, kase dit ’fi ii ten black niggaslator went eortm ’bout her ; Lse gvvitie tor let her know dat dis ehile am no sworry bean ; I is dat. 1's not gvvine ter plasteication wid her any' mo ; so 1 an’t. (Ned retires ; Geo While returns to the h<> use ; Dinah retires) S/i aker ( raps with gaoil) Mr Kdlgore Mr Speaker, I wish to introduce a bill to amend the Char¬ ter of the Green Swamp Company. (Doorkeeper 7'eceives them) Milligan Mr Speaker, I desire to introduce a bill entitled u An act to amend an Act concernig the govern¬ ment of counties, and hare it placed on the Calendar. K Mr Speaker, I wish to intro¬ duce a Dill instructing the Attorney General to inquire into the qualifica¬ tion of persons holding office in this State, and have it referred to the Ju¬ diciary Committee. Mil Mr Speaker, I send a bill to the clerk’s desk, which I wish placed on the calender and made the special order for next Monday at 12 o’clock. I will read the bill by its title for the information of the house. It is a Bill for the better protection of cattle against the ravages of distemper, Speaker If there be no objection the bill will take that course. The chair liea.is no objection. Speaker It will be so aeferred. Joe S Mifter Streaker, I’s wishin to induce a bill for de ’Lection ob de hookin cr.ugli Swjngback I claims to offer a- mendments to dat bill ol Joe Smifth’s S The representative is out of or¬ der. No amendment can be offered at this stage of the proceedings ; the bouse will proceed in the regular or¬ der of business which is the introduc¬ tion of bills. Swingback Mr Beake -, I claims dat I is in de bourger ; yeuh sa ; I’s in de bourger ob dis cor.gergasbin, an *ofc de 'bilitjr to mend dat bill ob Smi fth’s (raps) The representative will his seat. Business cannot be dU lied unless the house proceeds in ir. )E S Ah, nigga, tshit down. You - got nuff sense to frow a blind ie ober de fence. You han’t got >b larnin, you hant. I dont know I dem fool nigga’s down dar thort t lectin nigga like you ’d wout lar- mff to know anysing ’bout de ‘ger ob dis here reguslator. nr/back collars Joe and they have it for a mnute when three others interfere and ate them ) (raps furiously) Take your 5 ; the house must preserve ord@r. er is restored) ie house will proceed with the r of business. iLLGORE Mr Speaker, I hold in land a bill for the purpose of ifil¬ ing and maintaining the public s, which I wish to introduce, and referred to the Committee on s, ferries and bridges. The bill will take that course 3 $ otherwise ordered, II BoBKfNS Mr Squeaker, I’s ter offer a bill to de-bolish all de s, querries and ridges, fur de : takes to keep em worked is mo da’s all worfth. De cullud fokes r truble de rods no how, if da ake to de. woods. The representative is out of or-, he can introduce his bill, but ot speak on its merits, until it :s up, on its passage, under the • b Begins to look like eboiy out ob or ger de las’ frue days, a cant say ntillin, ceptin lie's out s ovger. (raps) The Representative must bis seat. n I wish all de wite ’stocracy xchufigated out ob de country, |e cullud po[)larnation cud make jvn laws an ha!) dar own guberu- lieap better dan dem wite fokes r (i'aj)s) The representative can- 3 indulged further; he must take his seat. The representative’s language is seditious, disorderly and disrespectful to the house aud can not be tolerated. Bobicins (shakes his fist at the Speaker in contempt , and is very an¬ gry) Yeth sa, we, de cullud paplarna- tion ob dis country, bab got de pow¬ ers ; an we’s gwine to put de bottom rail on de top rail ; an we's gwine to make de wite ’stocracy ’babe dar seifs An den we’ll know wheder we’s ’dish- us orgerly anspectful— S ( interrupting ) The repiesenta- tive is proceeding in open violation of the rules of the house, and unless he takes his seat, at once, I shall deem it ray duty to iiave the rules enforced in a summary manner. (Bill takes his seat) Milligan Mr Speaker, I beg leave to introduce a resolution, fixing the per diem and mileage 01 the members of this General Assembly- Bob (interrupting) Mr Sbeker, I's ’posed todiein em by de mile, I is— S Take your seat. You do not comprehend the purport of the resolu¬ tion— Bobkins (interrupting) Yetii sa, I’s com pretended ob de report ob de revolution ; yeth sa, hit means misth- chuf, hit does ; hit means de wite loks diem ! dat is da kill de nigga by de mile; dar’s juklux in dat ting, dar is ; dar’s ’oepshun—heap ’ceptshun in de bery bottom ob de bery bounde;a- tion ob dis buifness (speaks in ear¬ nest — Milligan Mr Speaker, I want to know who has the floor-?-- Bobbins Yetii sa, Mr Sbeaker, who lias de boo l Who knows but wot dars a throqsand ob dem jukluta under de boo right dis minis. Deni jukbits am de greatest dings wot de mgga am (raid ob, da is. Da hdl nig- o a lore he knows wha 1 h 1 •< cutil s hum. T’s ’posed to all sicl) rebolutions as dat one, which dat gemmeii pci juces in dis general oh de Senq-ies S (interposing) The representa¬ tive’s tears are entirely uncalled tor ; his suspicioiin are baseless—altogetli- er unfounded. For the representa¬ tives information, 1 will explain, that mlution just introduced by the sentative from the county of St. irds, is intended, if it passes eneral Assembly, to fix the it of pay each representative is ?ive, in money, for every day ssion of the Legislature contin- ikins Oh ! ho ! he, he, ha, ha ; de case, dis prevrentative ne-wer me till all de money’s ’wided. ised dat I’s so miss eomprefend whole desport ob de rebolution. ers onflushed wen I gits de ins ob de jugluts on de .nine, i me ’bout fourteen hundred lan splashes one time, da did, an dis Juwentative am not on intrimate sterms siuce dat nite deserlations. Dat was a big dat wus ; hit was a solumen wid dis one ob de prepie’s rep- tatives, do’ ; I jist say dis much m fellers wotjuglutted me dat am guilty ob de most hi-e-ne- dmes ob steal in a ship— [interrupting \ You mean sheep ? jk.ins Yetii sa, da jist piked it icxht whar dey resticated me, but [fe ticlars ob dat sheep dis repre- itire members miffia. q Smith [interposes] Bill, set dar ; you’s jist ’spo3en yersef ill de?e fokas ; yer hant got nuffter freed a puddler dorg, ant ; you s de most unphilicated in de zemble ob de regislator— [yapsj This desultory debate >t be indulged further. Repre- tives must takft their seats and rve order, [they &re se®£edj The gentleman from St Bula- s, is entitled to the floor for the >se of concluding his remarks in ;nce to the disposition ot kis res- LiLiGAtf Mr Speaker, all that I to add in reference to my Res- n, 19 , that it be referred to the ittee on finance, with instructions hat committee report the same to this house, as early as may be nient. If there be no objection the reso i will be so referred. The intro- on of bills and resolutions is still in order. Killgore Mr Speaker, I have pre pared a number of bills, which I now wish to introduce, and hare referred to the appropriate committres. I will read them by their titles : A bill to alter the time of holding the courts in the several districts of this State— Sam Cobbler ( interrupting) Mr Screbei, I’s in favor ob rewalishing dem corts altogeder ; da’s de most ag- grawatenest instertrusions ewer gor- banized in de wide world, da is ; Vs had some ’speriences wid em ; da brested dis indiwidual wid a praper wot seel I wus scharged wid habbin de waggrant act, an da jess took me to one ob dem courch housers, an da tarked all ober de waggrant bivness an a man wot set way up—he was mi- ty gashious lookm feller, he was ; an he Jist said I was cornwioted ob dt goppler bivness wot I s been tarkin bout befo’, an dat man tel* de sheritf man to take me out and gib me t’irty- nine slashers on de bare bacK, wicli he did refectuly I bleve he gin me nuffin less dan fow handed fore he quit. I tol’ my madder ’bout dat transiaction, an she jist sed dat I wus born 1 in de werry wust ob de whole season ob de year. Now sa, I s in ta- v®r ob de rewalishin ob de coarches, I is,-- Killgore Mr Speaker, I call the representative to order ~ S The gentleman will state hi* point of order- Killgore The bill which I have introduced, is not now before the house for discussion, and therefore all debate on the merits of the bill is out of order till it comes up legular- ly on its passage. # S The point of order is well ta¬ ken. The representative from the county of Brushbane will therefore take his seat— Sam C Mr Sbreker, I jist warntei to dUprach my disbrovemant on de— S (raps) Take your s^at, oi the Searo-eant at arms will be directed to take yon in charge, and bring you be¬ fore the bar of the house for a flagrant disrespect of its rules— Sam C Yeth sa, I’s Meprendent le wagrant bivness, now, 1 is ; Iks ^Tentative ob de prepiers, I is. is seized by the seargeant at arms , sts, is knocked down , hurt badly , seriously , cm/y pain ful ; hz gets sits on his seat; the seargent re - ? ; Sam wp, poc,Lm*quent«d slanguage. Ps ob de lion dat dis brasure ia ob de mos’ iraount desporlianoe to de stratc ; gwine tv r wote fur dat. y cter Swingback MrSbeek*r, I’s nt to gin my wote ter dis pov- it erasure as 1 dink dat de de- gement fur de brissels am anri- ly frustrifled will dc pevcriMi ur- standiua bout dc wa wicli ds s kin be skipulatcd in all do §mar* ob de world, an de money bringed k an spint in de State* will help de pie heap ; hit will dat. r oe Smith Misther Sbeaker, Ps n wantin to say sunthin oh dig plar smasher dis long time, but Ps niclar gin way to odder gunmen* dc glasiegal lsvuin. Da all hab df^ era ted on dis probjec wid all de mentation dat de ’portirmt scrasion ives. an 1 hopes fur de horner sn ^er ob de grood ole Strate wicli Ps de horner to nmsprewent will ie squar up to de barks an wote #n unnentatire side ob dis srugges- |. De brill hab been drawed up great drallribernations an dare* as spursret could be reason* f respected, Any furbentatire wotes agin dis frailboard brohjsct >e Uoldad to de mo ft spriteful re- jtabilityby dar reteligent konacrit- s ; c\als my ncholum deligratione is U¶ble smaftiue. i Berry O Misther Sbekar, Psjii rasin frum my seat wich I’s got de gorgisu* scr'mlege to procupy in orger too dorsemeat de biggest an de gradest abreech data bean said jaria de whole ob de scressions ob dis meet- in ob de zemblers. I’s in fltsfTerene* to de remarks ob de gemmins dat re* licited de glo*ing debtdgence ob de rt- casioir Bobbins Mr Seeker, hits hargely bsthlcary to gungertake to adge iny freebarks to de table ban squeloquent spreshious dat hab bsen deliberated on dis f'reeborable smash are ob di* neber-too-be gotten ocscrasion. Dis broject ob de tisthu ob Strate bongs, by de Sectuary kint b» presisted agin by any ob de zemblers ; de ’ponenU ob dit» prubjuct hab not open one ob dar moii'-ei yit ; da kint nrger agiu dis brill, nudder can da meet de ar- germents ob de fumcrou* frins ob de smasure. Wid dese leclusions, I gl«- ses de rebate an call fur de grevious gtylion. S You mean the previous ques¬ tion ? Babkins Y#th, dats wot I move fur. Me Killuork Mr Speaker, I hope the house will not rush this measure through under the previous question. It is a bill of too much importance to be pushed through the house — Sam Cobbler (interrupting) Pe risin to a pint of orgkr ! S State your point e»f order. Sam My pint is dat de b''iil kint be urge r men ted ’ponsrterde grebious creation am called fur. S The point of order is not well taken. The representative "as not dis cussing the main question, but -ras on¬ ly oiring his reasons why the previous question should be voted down. Sam Ps repeal in ft urn de ‘cision obde Rciieer. S The representative appeals from the decision of the chair. All in favor of sustaining the chair will say‘I.’ All opposed ‘no.’ The I s have it. The chair is sustained. The question now, is,shall the main question be now put— £ipLGORE Mr Speaker, \ hope sir, ■ . ' ., k Ttfqjm main question will not be forced vote before an opportunity is giv- or both sides to be heard. Mj id, Mr Milligan, aid myself desire ddress the house in opposition t© bill ; therefore the house cannot ir loose sight of its own honor, ity and self repect. as to press to »te, a measure of this magnitude* out, at least, giving the opposi- some hearing. u questionon all sides , by the ids of the measure.) Gentlemen, the previous ques- been called for. Is the house y for the question ? As many as tn favor that the main question be put will signify the same, by say* I.’ Those opposed ‘no.’ 3 ^na’s’ have it. The previous- quea does not carry. The main qima- is still open for amendment and ission. im G Misther Beeker, I kint eee dese wite ginnyeraie kin ’Alienee e ’jorities ob die house. Kase got de edification da jis makes niggas (exhibiting great displeas * owards his own color) wote jist x say. We’s got de ’jority an we gits woted down. I’s >i* gwine ly dat I wished ebery black eul- icrepregenative in dis zunbler* extricrimificated out ob dis bojy e slegergiator ; yeth sa, dem’s my srmentera ; da is. The representative will take his He is proceeding altogether out •der—the previous question har¬ den voted down. illigan. Mr Speaker, although hopeless minority, I feel that a e responsibility rests upon the few ds of the liberty-loving citizens is great, this glorious old State, srho have the honor to occupy on this floor, in this, the darkest of her history—yea, in this, her of shame and degredation, must •ard— will be heard l Would to 1 Mr Speaker, that her fortunes least in a different mould ; noth¬ in be worse, Alas 1 is her fate, j sealed forever? May heaven’s |i soon, again, dissipate the thick less which hangs, like a pall, over her destiny ; and may tha sunbeams of prosperity soon bring forth blos¬ som* of hope to her down trodden, but virtuous citizens ! I should feel that I had been dere¬ lict of ray duty, if I did not, in behalf of my constituents, an l «>f the State rais* my voice against a measure, sought to be driven through this house, per force of the u gag law” to wit : the previous question. No measure has been introduced, into this house, during the session of the legislature halt so pregnant with dan¬ ger as the one now under discussion. I shall, in my remarks, speak to the merits of the bill now before the lions© and thus pay my respects to the in¬ troducer ami to bis remarks in it* favor. I will leave it for my friend on my right to look after the other gentlemen who have spoken in favor of this biM. {Mr M pointing to the colored representatives and look¬ ing at Mr Killgore with & smile) Now, sir, the gentleman mad* a very fiowciy and plansiblt stat* ment in favor of our great railroad interest*. I concede the truth of ev try word h* said ; but, sir, h« wai care¬ ful to couch his language in eueb gen¬ eral term* that no one could take ex¬ ception to it. All I endorse is the general truth* contained in his argu¬ ment. But sir, the real motives have been carefully covered by a splendid stroke of deception, in well chosen words, well calculated t# allure, to de coy, not only the unwary, but the most vigilant. Now, sir, there is a •avage wolt lurking under the beau¬ tiful^ bite fleece of the sheep’s back, and I propose to show this house the monster. I will tear away the dia- guis* so that all may have a glanct, yea a fair view, of just what is con¬ tained in fliis dangermi* proposition. The 1st Sec. of the bill directs the pub lie Treasurer to issue sixteen millions at one time, without any condition, whatever. The bill makes it peremp¬ tory—not only for a part or the issue, but for the whole amount. The 2nd Sec. fixes the rate of inter¬ est which i* to be paid out of th« State lands, from the Treasury. Th* annual rest t,o be raised by direct taxation be one million two hundred and ity thousand dollars. T e ec 3, Provides that the bonds, as ii as they are completed shall be led over to said railroad Presi¬ ts, who are to he elected by the slature, regardless of qualifiea- s or conditions. ec 4, Provides that the bonds shall urned over pro rata , to the Presi¬ ts, as stated 01 the bill, on /heir .'f, after the 4th of March, simply heir receipting for said bonds, v, sir, here is the whole propossi- laid bare. The State is hound to ite a debt of sixteen millions of ars, place the bonds in the hands [•responsible men, without a single n ity! Yes sir without one cent ecurity! They are not even re¬ ed to complete any portion of the k before the whole amount of six- i millions is placed in their hands. legislature, however reckless it • be, will have the inclusive con- of all the railroads, or rather r officers. They will be mere po- al tricksters, in ad pi obability, and whole investment may be lost to State-*-rfca\e t he never ending, nev ying song of taxes ! taxes ! Who ■ heard oi a State making an issue onds for internal improvements, ion the dollar ; sir, with these provisoes the- State will have some little security. I am opposed to the bill altogether, but if it cannot be defeated ft ought, at least to be amended, J)allfinek Mr Speaker, I cannot see any necessity for amending the bill. Does the gentleman suppose that men will be employed to handle the bonds who are not honest, faithful and capable ? Does the g< nth-man suspicion everybody as being unwor¬ thy of our conlkknce ? 1 am opposed to the amendin'-nt. It will so cripple the measure that it will, if passed, be¬ come ft dead letter. No one will take hold of the work with such conditions. Milligan Mr Speaker, in reply to the gentleman’s argument, I will say that I hold it to be a duly which every one of the people’s representatives owe to their constituents, to guard well, every Interest of the State, and especially, where that interest involves her honor in her financial obligations. * 3 idea of placing sixteen millions of iars in 1 1 le hands of irresponsible* road officers, without any security, ild simply be an act of insanity— nving no parallel in the legislative ory of the State ; it could not be aided in any ocher light than that gnoianet or rascality. Tlie house ! pardon me for using such strong gunge, but I am fully convinced of tiuth of what 1 say. Are not enhers aware of the fact that this islature has passed (?) an act ch provides that the legislature 11 appoint all the railroad officers he State, and that the steckbold- shall have no voice ? It also pro- es that all who hold these cilices r shall be displaced, and others ap- nted ! The net in question see ms mve been passed through the legrs- ire in such u way that no one has knowledge of it l It is the fore- ner of this appropriation bill ; but f it got through is a profound mys- >•, to some of us at least. We tind nrolled and filed in the Sccritary state’s ( flice, new, ns a law of the te. Tor. Smith Mr Sbeaker, I’s ’posed all de menments ; l’s fur de ? aet- nd ob dat piopcrtition wot Mifter llfencfc injticed, jist as hit wus, wid- crossin de ‘i’s’or crossin de ‘trees,’ i. torn C Mr Sbeker, I’s fur de no igentical cons to be presuded de odder gt minims argeimentid Herry C Mr Becker, We’s totely 1 beuited in dat case, we is ; we’s erwine togedder fur dat. fill Bobbins Mr Sbreker, day’s i^en de irjernal disbiovements ob ?trate, an wen da goes home de •< s wo wid ’e, however, the gentleman will lid raw that motion, and if he refu- . I hope the house will have the )d aer.se to vote it down, s» that who desire to speak on this impor- t in ensure may have an opportuni¬ ty do so. 1 have sought all the He for an opportunity to get the >r, but I have given way to others this moment. Will the the gentle- n withdraw the motion lor the pte~ us question ? Cri«s from all sides, no ! no / d'C. cation 7 Vote 'em dowm ! Question ! e Speaker calling order ! order ! ■e your .seats ! and rapping furious - S Does the gentleman insist on motion for a call of the previous astion : Cries, yes ! question ! vote em down ! vote unnycrats down / and alt such calls while Speaker raps and calls for order .) S The question is, shall the main estion be now put ? Kill gore Mr Speaker, I hope, sii, it not the purpose of this house to *ce this important measure through der the previous question. It makes } matter look darker than it othei- 3 c would, to put it througn undei 5 “gag law.” it all finch I call the gentleman to :ler. Ail the colored members rising to “pint* of sr ! set ion down ! put him out, ! drag him ! wots him out ! moos to adjourn ! all on floor at one time , coding one thing and then other , Speaker acting 04 before] Kill gore Mr Speaker, I have eir mated every honorable means to get hearing on this subject and it seems at the'majority is determined to de- r me that privilege, by means of the lions gag law. My constituents ! iieir constituents 1 Yes sir, tli« do vn ad den, tax-ridden, honest, confiding iizens of this gtafe will hold them an awful ajc/GOUfttability lor their nduct in these proceedings ; but sir, 'eel that I have discharged my duty the best of my ability.- Bullfinch I insist on the gentle- m's suspending his remarks. He is 5 of order. (Here the same scene as above , is repeated more warmly.) S (puis the question , which is car vied in wild confusion) The motion for the previous question has been carried. The amendment is now in order. All those in favor of the nd^p tion of the amendment will signify the same by saving ‘1’ all opposed- Kill gore Mr Speaker, I demand the ‘yeas’ and ‘nays' on the vote lor the amendment. (Here a wild confusion occurs , cal¬ ling : no ! no ! set down 1 wote em down / put it down / kick it out ! go on, question ! rise to a pint of orger l Speaker goes through the usual rotine) S (puts the vote for the yeas’ and ‘nays,’ which is lost , Another wild confusion takes place ) Kill gore Mr Speaker, the conduct of this house to day has been of the most disgraceful character. Could the people of the State but witness what we have seen in this hall, they would hang their heads in shame ; and if but a fleeting recollection «*f their departed and renowned ances¬ tors, should engage theij minds, how could they resist toe silent tear aropj while meditating t ie shame, the dep¬ redation. the pandemonium which U now being 1 enacted in this noble old hall, where our illustrious sires and grand si res once did ns honor and transmitted to ns a name. The tear of pity, comes trembling, involuntari¬ ly, down the saddened cheek. The heart palpitates high in our bosoms, when we look round on these wallq and on these old seats, once s© nobly filled by our honored and loy^d de¬ fenders, who filled this hall with so much dignitv, fidelity and patriotic devotion. Oh, how- Bullfinch Mr Speaker, I call tht gentleman again, to order. (Here anvthe? furor similar to the others transpires , with all sorts of calls and all on the floor ; die speak¬ er exercising same course.) S The call for the ‘yeas’ and ‘nay§’ has been voted down. The question now recurs upon the adoption or re¬ jection of the amendment. All those ' V - Savor of the amendment, will say.‘I’ opposed *no.’ The amend men t is t. rhe question now is- upon the pas- ;e or’tilt bill on its second reading, the house ready for the question ? Milligan Mr Speaker- A n other co nf u s ion) , Killgore Mr Speaker--( anolfiev funion) 5 ' All those in favor of the passage the bill on its second reading will - 4 l\ All opposed ‘nod ( vote confusion , frequently repeating.) e ‘IV have it. The bill has passed 2 nd reading. The question is upon : passage of the bill on its 3rd ding. All in favor of the bill’s jsing its 3rd reading will say ‘Id [ opposed ‘nod (vote ‘/’ the same y.) The bill has passed its 3rd ding, and will be engrossed and it to the Senate. Killgore Mr Speake r, this has been ad day’s work for the welfare of s good old Statei The die is cast ; ; honor is bartered ; her fair fame stained ; yea, blackened ; her integ- y insulted ; her bullwarks of accu en¬ ded ages dismantled. Wliat a pict- ? ! May heaven save her children ! Berry Cvow Mifier Seeker, I’s splushed bout de sprasheze ob dat ejection bill. Dat bill is gwine to w urs ober wid de squerculation ob scurreney ; wen all dem bronze am Id in de markets ob de worl we kin v : ’IJejay bird settin on de limbrin swing, De tadpole lies in de bottom ob de spring. S This is all out of order. There nothing now before the house. Bills on tne Calendar may be pro- >d»d with. Bullfinch Mr Speaker, in as much we have now passed a bill for the mediate issue of sixteen millions of liars, i move that the rules be sus- lded and the Revenue bill be put >n its passage. There is no doubt »ut the passage of the bill in the late tomorrow, for the issue of the tetn millions of dollars. In as ch as that question is now a fore- se conclusion, it is the duty of ev- 'ery momher of this house to come, for* ward and vote for the tax bill. A large amount of money must now be raised to me. t the interest on the bonds to be issued, and in as much *s the legislature, in its wisdom, lias seen fit to make the appropriation for the completion of nil the State’s works of internal improvement, it crrtainly would be proper for every member, democrats and republicans, to now come forward and vote for this tax. Killgore Air Speaker, we have no lot nor part in this kind of legislation We have given our opinion, freely, in regard to it ; we do not intend to swerve one ioto from the course mark¬ ed out by us from the beginning- We are opposed to the appropriation and all its concomitant tiain of evils. One improper action often leads to numer¬ ous ones of a similar nature. That is clearly the effect of this one, as we are n j\v about to experience. G If V White Mr Checker, vre’e bound to de prassage ob de strax ob de rebernew fur de recessity ob de etratement made by de gem men ’fere de la* gem men wot am ’spos d to hal - in cle bill at all ewents. De strax ot> de rebernew is not cummin frum d# odder preple cept da ’long to de ’stoc- racy wots got de ’bilifcv to pay d* ’mount as da is de ’widuals dat U ’sossed ob de propity.— & The chair has indulged rep resell tatives in a wider latitude of discus¬ sion, than comports with the rules of order. The merits of the bill cannot be argued until the house order* it put. upon its passage. The motion is to suspend the rules and place the bill on its passage. (t./m question is put and rules suspended) Bull /inch Mr Speaker, 1 will read the title of the bill : A Bill to raise revenue off the property, polls and in¬ comes, to meet the curu nt expense* of the State for the next year. JN T cw, sir, 1 propose to fill the blanks by inserting two dollars on the hun¬ dred dollars worth of property, tod ■25 per cent 011 the gross amount of all incomes over $1000. This is as low as it will be safe tc fx the tax at, A large amount ot ■ , # r* y must be raised in order to meet y demands that will be made up- ie Treasury during the next year mfeeqence of the railroad appro- ,ions. 1 now move the previous • iun on the passage of the bill. iil,'r;r?i Mr Speaker, is it possi- hal this bill is to go through, un- he previous question, without al¬ io; it to be discussed at all ? The osition is a monstious one. The a i 11 banki upt everybody in the b who owns property of any coa- ence at all. ull finch Mr Speaker, I rise to a t of order, ami it is this, that 3 is a motion before the house for previous question which excludes debate on the question till that been voted down. If the representative insists on notion, it will be out of order to inue the debate further. illgore Mr Speaker, 1 appeal to ri presentative to withdraw his mo and allow the bill to be discuss- ro and eon. I rent confusion ; all Ihe colored hers and Bullfinch aymy no ! pvt, it ihtough 1 order ! r lhe r jher trying to p r i eserve order as /.) All th«se in favor that the main ition be now put, will say ‘I' all >sed ‘no’ (carried in wild confu- ) The h< use lias ordered the main tion. The amendments will be d upon first. [illigan Air Speak- dr eat confusion ; set down, Mr ligan calling Mr Speaker, and the rs crying go on ! set down I order tlion ! Speaker rapping oil the ’e.) . " Representatives will take their s and preserve order* All mo- s and amendments are out of or- The main question is to be vo- iiipon under a call for the peevious l;ti©n, and unless amendments were led previous t# ordering the pre¬ ss question they cannot be enter¬ ’d. 11 those in favor of tne amend- ,s offered to the bill by the repre- itive to insert two dollars on polls two dollars on property per hundred and twenty-five per cent on incomes over one thousand dollars, will signi¬ fy the same b}^ saying ‘P tliose op¬ posed ‘n#.' (vote ‘r in great con fusion o ften repeating.) The question is now upon the pas¬ sage of the bill, (puts the question which is carried ; puts the question on 3rd reading, it is curried in confu¬ sion) Bullfinch Now Mr Speaker, I move that the bill fixing the per diem and mileage of the members of this General Assembly be put upon its pa« sage. Joe Smith Air Sbeaker, dat is da most ’poitiant imbrovement whats procupied d* bli be rations- S (raps) The representative is not in order. The bill is not vet bt- •r fore the house. The question is shall the house take up the per diem bill and put it upon its passage ? (Question put and carried in wild con fusion ) Ball finch Mr Speaker. I move the following amendment : That the per diem of members of this General As¬ sembly be.fixed at twelve dollars per day and their mileage coming and going at twenty cents per mile. And now, sir, upon the passage of this bill I move the previous question. Kiilgore Ajr Speaker, is it possi¬ bly that every measuie like this, and similar ones, are to be forced through the legislature under this odious gag law ? The thing is becoming so glar¬ ingly shameful and scandalous, that it cannot, and w ill not be tolerated any longer. If this is to be £he coui sc pursued under all such circtfmatances, it would be better for our people to be under a government ol unadultera¬ ted gorillas. Sam C Mr Sprefer, dese gemmenc allers tarkin bout de law gag, an de ogirous an scambilus ccmjuct, Ac, Ac, ob de prepies’ representatives, dat S The representative is out of or- er. Take your seat, (raps) A me¬ lon is before the house tor the pievi- us question-- Kiilgore Air Speaker, I would like offer an amend nu n f , ifthe rcpresen- fivo will withdraw Ins motion fora >ment, to this effect, that the phf yon pe tluvc dollars, and mileage ten l its. ( The wildest opposition , no ! no ! it him oaf ! vote em down ! order \ wake r appeala for order and raps) S {pats the rate on calf on amend - nits of Mr Bail finch , and then on, ? bill, all of which is done in the Idest confusion seen daring the wie session') S I announce the passage of the 1, on its 3rd and (ina! reading. The r diem nt twelve dollars, and milc- e, coming and going, at twenty its. [Here the most ungovernable con fusion and imeful conduct ensues; the democrats walk ‘ in a consulting mood ; the others remain ing, talking and smoking, with heels cocked After a UttU the colored members begin to go ! one by one and talking over their success d future prospects, doelareing they will hold government at all hazzardsfor all time to ae. The democrats return .) Milligan Mr Speaker, I move the option of tliis house resolution, iich F hold in my hand. Resolved at a committee of three be appointed investigate the manner in which a rtnin railroad act was passed thro’ is General Assembly, on the 29Ui ij of February, “entitled an not au- orizing the displacement of all rail- mi officials and reappomtihg others • the legislature.” It is well known *, that the manner in which that bill ts got through the legislature, is to any of ns a profound secret. »S The question is upo.i the pas- ge of the resolution. Is the house ady for the question ? (question ! cation.) Killgove Mr Speaker, it is of the ly greatest importance that this rcs- \tiou be passed- Bullfinch (in great alarm) Would motion be in order.? K I have the floor. I do uot ?ld to the gentleman for a motion. B I hope the gentleman will yield o floor for one moment ? K Were I 1o yield the floor now, it might be in the gentleman’s power to stave off this resolution till the oth¬ er representatives return when they would be able to defeat it and prevent this committee. I cannot yield tne floor. B Thep the gentleman intends to press the resolution through under the previous question, in the absence of a large number of the members, the very thing he lias so strongly argued against all this session. K The resolution is but a tempo¬ rary matter. It is to investigate the legality n* illegality of the passage of a law. If if was of a different nature I should no^ insist on the previous question. B Mr Speaker, would a call for the house be in order ? K I do not yield the floor to the gentleman. I eail for the previous question as I know very well unless we can get it through in tiie next few minutes, members will return and de¬ feat it. and we never shall know the secret of the corrupt legislation that has been going on here. S The question is shall the main question be now put ? (question ! ques¬ tion !) (Bullfinch goes out to rally the members to defeat the resolution.) Those in favor of the main question will say ‘I’ Those opposed‘no.’ The ‘TV have it, the main question is or¬ dered. The question is upon the adoption of the resolution. Ail those in tavot* of the passage of the resolution will say‘I.’ Opposed ‘no.’ | Ju.d before the, rote in taken Bobbins and Berry Crow come in and vote no It is a tie and the Speaker votes in the affirmative .] Killgore Mr Speaker, 1 now move a reconsideration of the vote and move to lay that motion on the table. {Speaker puts the vote which is a tie and A? votes to lay on table. This fastens the matter, and just at this niche of time the rest come rush ing in) Bullfinch Mr Speaker, has the res olution been disposed of ? S It has passed, and I will ap¬ point the committee this evening. ( They are in great alarm, con milt¬ ing with one another in a lore tone , , looking wild and rolling (heir eyes in all directions) Bullfinch Mr Speaker, I move the house goes into an election for the presidents of the unfinished railroads, and on this motion 1 call for the pre¬ vious question. K Mr Speaker, I must oppose this motion till the investigating commit- tee makes a report- B I call the gentleman to order. I call tor the previous question. S The representative insists < n a call for the previous question, -(putts the vote which is canned. Also puts rote on the motion which is also car¬ ried) B I place in nomination Mr Jay- dark tor president ot the T carried .) S Gentlemen, the Treasurer’s clerk its come into the hall prepared to pay )ff the members. You will, therefore tuspend business for a few moments ‘or that purpose. (The clerk distributes to each one a large p’k \>f money, prepared for the occasion. There $ an uprorious confusion and jubilee over it .) Mr AT Mr Speaker, 1 have just come in possession of information of a very grave character, touching the reputation of several membeis of this General Assembly which I deem my % duty to lay before this body. I make this charge, and 1 shall be able t o sub¬ stantiate what I say, that Berry Crow Geo Washington Van Buren White and Sam Cobble are guilty of corrupt practices, to-wit : the receiving and paying out bribe money, in order to carry bills through this legislature and of forging certificates, upon which they have drawn money from the Treasury and of many other black¬ mailing practices. J therefore move their votes are no longer counted and that they be placed under arrest im¬ mediately. 4 / S Thev cannot vote while under such grave charges. The seargeam> will arrest them. ( The ssargeant ar¬ rests them and they are tied hard and fast.) (Th is throws all of them out of or der and so badly scared that they li¬ the vote go by default) K Now, Mr Speaker, I move their cases be investigated by this house at once, (the motion is put and car¬ ried.) Mr Speaker, I will now state that I have seen a letter, which is in the possession of Mr Martler, the artist, that will give us a clue to the mal¬ practices that have been going on, by these members, during the session of this legislature. Let him be sum¬ moned and directed to produce the letter before the house. S The Senrgeant will summon Mr M artier at once. (Mr M enters) Mr Martler, you have been sum¬ moned to produce a letter in your pos¬ session relative to the charges against these three prisoners. Please state to the house how 3 011 came in posses¬ sion of that letter. Mr Martler Well, sir, ervo of them came to my art gallery to get pictures* and by some means the letter was dropped from one or the other of their packets, 1 suppose, for 1 found it soon after tiny left. S Mr Martler, when were they ja your office ? M Yes lord a}' evening. S To whom did you show the let¬ ter first ? M Mr Kill gore S What time did Mr Killgore first see it ? M This morning. o ►3 (reads the letter.) Montrial, Canada East, Jan. 10, 18 - Mr Geo Washington Van Buren White ;— Dear Sir :—I am now ©n business m this city, and have time only to drop you a line. I left the United States a few days ago, to look after some business- matters in Canada. I will return in about two weeks or twenty days at furthest. I send you a check for five hundred dol lars, which you will please use to the best advantage, in procuring tlve pas¬ sage of your railroad op|>ropnation bill. Let Sam Cobbler and Berry Crow have enough money to answer their purposes till they draw some. Do not let the hill fail on account of money. As soon as the bonds arc is¬ sued arrangements are made to pay each member ten to twenty thousand dollars of the bonds, in other words in proportion to what each member does in procuring the appiopriation, I send this package by express so that you will not fail to get it. I will write you again, as toon as I return to the U S. Yours truly, J. Q. Quitman. S Mr White, stand up ffiere. [stands up.) When did you receive this letter from J Q Quitman ? White ’Bout de middle ob de las’ Jinny wery. 8 How did you come to drop it, and where were von ? W We jis went down to git oivber leroterscrafs. S So you got the money. W Yeth sa. S Then you all used the rooacr in selling or bartering awa}\the liber¬ ties and property of the State ? White [ makes no ansicer.) S How many members did you pav money to* in order to procure tho|r votes for the appropriation bill ; the bill ,to elect Presidents by the Legislature ; th e per diem bill and the Revenue bill ? W I don’t know ’zacly ; Us under de pressrou dat ’bout 50 got sum ob' de widens. W hen we wided de money lass time dar wuzent miff to go roim and sum had ter wate till de nex time. S That is sufficient. The officer will take the prisoners to the Court,' which is in session, where Jbev can' be tried at once, as they are now ex¬ pelled from the house. ( They are carried out. tried, con dieted and sen¬ tenced to the penitentiary for fire years. They are dressed in jienite/o tiary clothes , carried ac/oss the stage tied. They are put in prison , when they dress as soon as possibte and re¬ turn hack of curt atn and appear in the house in gojd style as democratic members in plane of the conmated once Mr Klllgore announce them by some name as they come in.} (G It F White passes by Dxnah and salute* her ; she stands gazing in amazement, when died mahes his appearance, tihe says : ] Ed¬ uard, Us mity glad ter see you, I is. Ned Yeth ; hem—y^eth gal Us not quainted wid you, and so I hain t You’re de gal) wat neber cud curapre- end, Ned, wen de Sentative rsoiniga¬ ted yo ’fectations. Us bin mistrified ’bout de way you fluted Ned at de last wisit. Dat gemmin gwine down dar wid do ’pearance ob de lira zee, is de wid util dat screppercates wid you, lit is ; ( passes on.) S. The gentleman will take a seat ns a member of the General Assem- bly. Mr. Milligan, Mr. Speaker, 1 have information, which l deem altogether reliable, implicating Joe Smilli as be¬ ing a party to the blackmailing, brib¬ ing, swindling and corrupt practices imposed upoR this Legislature and it* to. members from the time of its meeting to the present hour.Jbe evidence will be forthcoming at the appointed time, and I, therefore, make the charges specific, and demand his immediate ar¬ rest and close confinement. Joe Smith , (in great agitation, and wild jestnres,) Mister JS beaker, I’s in- nercent 1 I’s innercentl I is ! M ay de Laud bust Joe Smiff intwo peces wid dc bolt of sunder if Jo Smiff is inner* cent oi> de whole ob wat he’s bin doin S . (raps, Joe trembles,) the officer will confine Joseph Smith, a represen¬ tative in this legislature from the county of Conway, and have him be¬ fore the court without delay. An elec¬ tion will be ordered for a member ia his pLc>’ forthwith. {Joe is carried out tied dressed in stripe*, tarried across the stage as quickly as possible , when he redresses and returns a Democratic tncmb r to take part in c'osing seens.) Mr Killuore Mr Speaker, as'chair man of the cominitee appointed for the purpose of enquiring into the means used to pass an act entitled, 4 An act to complete all the unfinished Railroads in the State, and for other purposes,” ratified the 29th day of January, 18-, (blinks to be filled out in a low and unintelligible expres¬ sion) have had the same under con¬ sideration, and beg leave to report that they found the original bill and which, it appears from the endorse¬ ment, was introduced into the House on the 3rd of January, bnt that a fig¬ ure 9 has been blotted out partially and the 3 written over it. Its endorse¬ ment also shows that it passed its 2nd and 3rd reading on the same day.— There is also endorsed on it “Engross ed J anuan 9th” signed with the ini¬ tials U K M II,” as is testified by one Mr H T,—who was Engrossing Clerk protein. The title of the bill as en¬ dorsed on the back is K A Bill to a* mend an act ratified the 29th day of January, 187-” That on the inside is “An act to amend an act to incor¬ porate the G J Railioad Company, ratified the 5lh day of Februaiy, 1855 and of all the acts amendatory there¬ of” of the Bill is endorsed upon it , Mr /Jelrlioe's name as the introducer. No engrossed Bill can be found. Th« enrolled Bill in the office of the Secre¬ tary of State is appirentlv correct; is signed by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate pro temu and bears date, January 9th, 18-- On the back is the certificate of both the Senate and House Com. on enroTed bills, that it is correctly enrolled. The qyrinted Journal of the Hous* shows that a Bill was introduced in the House on January the 3rd at the morning session by Mr. Delrhoes, en¬ titled “A bill to amend an act ratified the 29th of December 18--,” but it al- 89 appears from the printe 1 laws of 18- that two acts were ratified on that day. On the same day under a sus¬ pension of the rules this bill so enti¬ tled passed its 2nd and 3rd readings. The Senate Journal, both printed and manuscript shows that a bill was re¬ ceived on the 8th of January, one day before it purports to have been en¬ grossed in the House, bearing now, the title, “Bill explanatory of an act ratified December the 29th 18— On the next day, the same day of its supposed engrossment in the House it passed its 2nd and 3rd readings in the Senate without the yeas and nays being recorded on its 3rd reading or any notice of the rules being suspend¬ ed to permit it to pass without this formality. In the afternoon session of the same day the Journal shows that the Presi¬ dent, protem, signed “An act to amend an act to incorporate the Grand Junction Railroad Company, ratified 15th February, 18— and of all other acts amendatory thereof’. The introducer, in his evidence, states that the bill was handed to him to be in¬ troduced ; that he was not the author of the bill, and that it was designed to get the bill through the house in such a way as not to attract attention. He says he knows very little about the bill. Mr Clitman testifies that he knew nothing of the bill till after Rs passage. He states that he was con¬ sulted confidentially by one person with reference to some bill relating to the subject embraced in this bill, and / . that he was especially requested to consider the application as a confiden¬ tial one between a client and his attor¬ ney. He would not disclose any in¬ formation nor give the name of the ap plicant. Your committee has not been able to procure the evidence of several wit¬ nesses who hare been summoned ; some excusing themselves under vari¬ ous pleas, others having left the State The committee have made frequent but ineffectual efforts to find the orig¬ inal Journals of the House, covering the date of the passage (?)of this bill. Your committee is of the opinion that the Journals are finally lost or de¬ stroyed. Mr Milligan Mr Speaker, I feel &dly satisfied nov. The evidence elic itted by the committee is of such a na¬ ture that it almost convinces cne that the bill was passed by improper means In plain wordy the bill was manufact¬ ured into a law, without its ever <*oinor through the Legislature in the way .prescribed b\ law- (A! this moment fu j officer or seargeant at arms, 7 he Door Keeper will answer for all e f the in — hands Mr Milligan a package, of let It rs.) Mr Milligan Mr Speaker, I have just received a package «f letters tak¬ en from an old box, in the corner of the room in which those convicts whom we sent from this house to the penitentiary, a short time since, lived. The officer authorized and directed to make search for evidence of this kind, has fully discharged his duty. Here are the letters. (Mr Milligan and the Speaker commence looking oner them , and while doing so Peter Swing back and Bill Bob kins walk out.) Bill B Mifter Sway*back, dis is worry difficult dangers wat dein fellers tm westigatin in dar ? Pet S Yeth sar ; da is dat. l’s ’p >se to dat kin slatshin, I is, Bill B Mr Sway’mck, how much de widens did you gi-5'inyhow, Pete ? Bet S Mr Botkins, jUt eeibed bout two hundurd and fottv ; but den I\s ter git ’bout ten throusand ob de scr© priatiorr bons, I is t Tin's hancen in de 9 markets, too ; da is. Bill B Mr Swayback, we’s toosmot' 1 for dem ; da’ll neber git de eberdence 'gin dese boys, Pete ? Pet S Mo sa, we’s too marfcablj well edicaled in dat buifness, we is.. Bill B Mifter Stringbrack, we’s orteivgit back nil see wat de sprogreste ob de slegislator am doin. Pet S Oh 1 ha ! ha ! ha ! Mr Spot- kins, at dc time when X fust cum down to depresent de slegiglator I jiw bot a ’sply ob de curloon and I forgot to try hits defects. Jis let me try hit an we’ll turn to de semly. ( The jug has a little water in it which he splat - le? s down his back , and then offers to the other who refuses. They walk in and the Nitric acid begins to smart and' he begins to get restless.) S I will state to the house that the evidence found in these letters is overwhelming. The seargeant at arms !7 H the doors * (which is done > Mr Milligan will read one of the let¬ ters, when the house will take such ao tion as the case demands. ( Hands the letter to Mr Jf w ho reads it.) Boston, Feb 14th, 18j_- Mr Bullfinch , near bir : lour letter has been re¬ cede ed. I am glad you are doin- drem bill are excellent additions. Our friends from Massachusetts, Mew Yo , rl J:,. Pe . nnsyIvan!a ’ 0lli °. Indiana and Illinois send their thanks to yon. We all join in our congratulations to vV m Bobkins, Peter Swingback and all the others who acted in such good faith toward us, in procuring the pas¬ sage of these measures. 1 Ue $25000 sent will pay us back handsomely. I hoy will get one thou sand dollar* each, out of the bonds. Om sped a.- thanks for forging the ap¬ pointment act through the Ie- tiened that the chambers of Washington and Brcckeuridge adjoined, separat'd by a turn orm of boards The General retired first, and when the .fudge entered hts own room, lie wa- /•d to hear Washington, in bed, laughing to himself with infinite glee, at the recollection of jus : , ■? to n ** • '*>■> . \*r- . ' • . ^ . . W • • - • - ■ • • * > 1 at> <4 .»*%*• -1- ■? - » T. ’ . ? v ■ A ; * • ; . T . - - ■ ■ »— • ’• *»' - . ' * — : ’ 1 •. • “* ® ftftifUJ • f ^ ' V A *f • ‘ • V I- \ ■ ,‘f I. „ ■. .. ■ - . * t * %