USA > North Carolina > The last of the carpet-baggers : a dramatic account of Southern legislation during the first seven or eight years after the war : a burlesque on Negro legislation in the South > Part 4
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Killgore Mr Speaker, is it possi- ble that every measure 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 will not be tolerated any longer. If this is to be the course pursued under all such circumstances, it would be better for our people to be under a government of unadultera- ted gorillas.
Sam C Mr Spreker, dese gemmene allers tarkin bout de law gag, an de ogirous an scambilus conjuct, &c, &c, ob de preples' representatives, dat I's-
S The representative is out of or- der. Take your seat. (raps) A mo- tion is before the house for the previ- ous question-
Killgore Mr Speaker, I would like
offer an amendment, if the represen- . it might be in the gentleman's power live will withdraw his motion for a oment, to this effect, that the per em pe three dollars, and mileage ten uts.
( The wildest opposition, no ! no ! t him ou! ! vote em down ! order ! caker appeals for order and raps)
S (puts the rate on call, on amend- ents of Mr Builfinck, and then on , bill, all of which is done in the Idest confusion seen during the ole session.)
S Iannounce the passage of the 1, on its 3rd and final reading. The r diem at twelve dollars, and milc- e, coming and going, at twenty
Here the most ungovernable confusion and meful conduct ensues ; the democrats walk in a consulting mood ; the others remain ing, talking and smoking, with heels cocked
After a little the colored members begin to go , one by one and talking over their success l future prospects, declareing they will hold government at all hazzards for all time to ie. The democrats return. )
Milligan Mr Speaker, I move the option of this house resolution, ich I hold in my hand. Resolved at a committee of three be appointed investigate the manner in which a rtain railroad act was passed thre' is General Assembly, on the 29th y of February, "entitled an act au- orizing the displacement of all rail- adi officials and reappointing others the legislature." It is well known ', that the manner in which that bill is got through the legislature, is to any of us a profound secret.
S The question is upon the pas- ge of the resolution. Is the house ndy for the question ? (question ! estion.)
Killgore Mr Speaker, it is of the ly greatest importance that this res- ition be passed-
Bullfinch (in great alarm) Would motion be in order ?
K. I have the floor. I do not Id to the gentleman for a motion.
B I hope the gentleman will yield e floor for one moment ?
K Were I to yield the floor now,
to stave off this resolation till the oth- er representatives return when they would be able to defeat it and prevent this committee. I cannot yield the floor.
B Then 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 has so strongly argued against all this session.
K The resolution is but, a tempo- rary matter. It is to investigate the legality or illegality of the passage of a law. If it was of a different nature I should not 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 call for the previous question as I know very well unless we can get it through in the 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 'I's' have it, the main question is or- dered.
'The question is upor. the adoption of the resolution. All those in tavor of the passage of the resolution will say 'I.' Opposed 'no.'
I Just before the vote ix taken Bobkins and Berry Crow come in and cote no. It is a the and the Speaker rotes in the affirmative. ]
Killgore Mr Speaker, I 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 hs rotes 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, consult- ing with one another in a low tone,
looking wild and rolling their 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 I 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 for the previous question.
S The representative insists on a call for the previous question. (puts the vote which is carried. Also puts vote on the motion which is also car- ried)
B Iplace in nomination Mr Jay- clark for president of the 'T & Y Railrood ; Mr Stockley for President of the A F' & N Railroad ; Mr Dewit for president of the St Croix railroad ; Mr Spotshin for president of the Great Southern Line railroad, and Mr-
Joe Smith (interrupting) Mr Sbe ker, I denominates Mifter Bullfinch fur de prestivent ob de Grand Junet- ure line wot is to run to de great pas- trific on de odder side. Dis is de morst 'portiant road an Mifter Bull- fince is de man fur dat.
MR MILLIGAN Mr Speaker, I am opposed to all these nominations .- They are all strangers. They are, so lar as we know, irresponsible. I move to postpone the matter indefi- nitely.
S You have heard the motion. All n favor of it will vote "1" all opposed 'No." ( It is voted down in derision.)
Question ! question ! [from Repub- ican side.)
S ( Puts the question to go into an election, which is carried. Also for the nominees which 8 carried. )
S Gentlemen, the Treasurer's clerk las come into the hall prepared to pay off the members. You will, therefore suspend business for a few moments or that purpose.
( The clerk distributes to cach one a large p'l of money, prepared for the occasion. There s an uprorious confusion and jubilee over it.)
MR K Mr Speaker, I have just come in possession of information of
a very grave character, touching the reputation of several members of this General Assembly which I deem my duty to lay before this body. I make this charge, and I shall be able to 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. I therefore move their votes are no longer counted and that they be placed under arrest im- mediately.
S They cannot vote while under such grave charges. The seargeant will arrest them. ( The ssargeant ar- rests them and they are tied hard and Jast.)
( This throws all of them out of or der and so badly scared that they le 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 som- moned and directed to produce the letter before the house.
S The Seargeant will summon Mr Martler 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 you came in posses- sion of that letter.
Mr Martler Well, sir, owo 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 pockets, I suppose, for I found it soon after they left.
S Mr Martler, when were they je your office ?
M Yesterday evening.
S To whom did you show the let- ter first ?
M Mr Killgore
S What time did Mr Killgore first see it ?
M This morning.
S (reads the letter.)
MONTREAL, CANADA EAST,
Jan. 10, 18-
Mr Geo Washington Van Buren White ;-
Dear Sir :- I am
now on business in 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 m 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 the pas- sage of your railroad oppropriation bill. Let Sam Cobbler and Berry Crow have enough money to answer their purposes till they draw some. Do not let the bill fail on account of money. As soon as the bonds are 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 appropriation.
I send this package by express 80) that you will not fail to get it. I will write you again, as soon as I return to the U S.
Yours truly,
J. Q. QUITMAN.
S Mr White, stand up there. (stands up.)
When did you receive this letter from J Q Quitman ?
White 'Bout de middle ob de las' Jinnywery.
S How did you come to drop it. and where were you ?
W We jis went down to git ouber seroterscrafs.
S So you got the money.
W Yeth sa.
S Then you all used the money
in selling or bartering away the liber- ties and property of the State ?
White [makes no answer.)
S How many members did you pay money to, in order to procure their votes for the appropriation bill ; the' bill to elect Presidents by the Legislature ; the per diem bill and the Revenue bill ?
W I don't know 'zachy ; I's under de pression dat 'bout 50 got sum of de widens. - When we wided de money lass time dar wuzent nuff to go roun and sum bad ter wate till de nex time:
S That is sufficient. The officer will take the prisoners to the Court. which is in session, where they can' be tried at once, as they are now ex- pelied from the house. ( They are carried out. tried. convicted and sen .. tenced to the penitentiary for fire years. They are dressed in peniten- tiary clothes, carried across the stage tied. They are put in prison, when they dress as soon as possible and re- turn back of curtain and appear in the house in good style as democratic members in place of the convicted oner MR KILLGORE announce them by some name as they come in.)
(G W V White passes by Dinah and salutes her ; she stands gazing in amazement, when Ned mahes his appearance. She says : ] Ed- uard, I's mity glad ter see you, I is.
NED Yeth ; hem-yeth ; gal l's not quainted wid you, and so I hain't You're de gal wat neber end cumpre- end, Ned, wen de Sentative nomiga- ted yo 'fectations. I's hin mistrified 'bout de way you fluted Ned at de lass wisit. Dat gemmin gwine down dar wid de 'pearance ob de Brazee, is de widual dat screppercates wid you, he is ; (passes on.)
S. The gentleman will take a sext sa a member of the General Assem- bły.
Mr. Miltigan, Mr. Speaker, I have information, which I deem altogether reliable, implicating Joe Smilh as be- ing a party to the blackmailing, brib- ing, swindling and corrupt practices imposed upon this legislature and its
members from the time of its meeting to the present hour. the 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 jestures,) Mister Sbeaker, I's in- nercent ! I's innercent 1 1 is ! May de Laud bust Joe Smiff intwo peces wid de bolt of sunder if Jo Smiff is inner- cent ob 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 in his place forth with.
(Jos is carried out tied dressed in stripes, carried across the stage as quickly as possible, when he rsdresses and returns a Democratic memb r to take part in closing seens.)
MR KILLGORE Mr Speaker, as'chair man of the commitee appointed for the purpose of enquiring into the means used to pass an act entitled, "An act to complete all the unfinished Railroads in the State, and for other purposes." ratified the 29th day of January, 13-, (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- inent, was introduced into the House on the 3rd of January, bnt that a fig- nre 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 January 9th" signed with the ini .. tials "R M H," as is testified by one Mr H 'T, -- who was Engrossing Clerk protem. The title of the bill as en- dorsed on the back is "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 Railroad Company, ratified the 5th day of February, 1855 and of all the acts amendatory there- of" of the Bill is endorsed upon it, M. Delrhoe's name as the introducer.
No engross yt Bill can be found. The enrolled Bill in the office of the Secre- tary of State is apparently correct; is signed by the Speaker of the House and President of the S-nate pro tem. and bears date, January 9th, 18- On the back is the certificate of both the Senate and House Coin. on enrolled bills, that it is correctly enrolled.
The printed Journal of the House 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- se appears from the printel laws of 18- that two acts were ratified on that day. On the same day under & 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 explanatoty 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 bil! 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 Its 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 have been summoned ; come 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 fully satisfied nov. The evidence clic ited by the committee is of such a na- ture that it almost convinces one that the bill was passed by improper means In plain words the bill was manufact- ured into a law, without its ever going through the Legislature in the way prescribed by law_(At this moment Fre officer or scargeant at arms, The Door Keeper will answer for all of them-hands Mr Milligan a package of letters.)
Mr Milligan Mr Speaker, I have just receive.l a package of 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 over them, and while doing so Peter Swing back and Bill Bobkins walk out.)
Bill B Mifter Swayback, dis is werry difficilt dangers wat dem fellers am westigatin in dar ?
Pet S Yeth sar ; da is dat. 1's 'poose to dat kin slatshin, Fis,
Bill B Me Swaybuck, how much de widlens did you gis inyhow, Pete ?
Pet S Mr Botkins, jist ceibed bont two hundurd and fotty ; but den I's ter git 'bout ten throusand ob de scro priation bons, I is. Da's hancen in de amarkets, too ; da is.
Bill B Mr Swayback, we's too smot for dem ; da'll neber git de eberdence gin dese boys, Pete ?
Pet S No sa, we's too markably well edicated in dat buifness, we is.
Bill B Mifter Stringbrack, we's orter git back an see wat de sprogress ob de slegislator am doin.
Pet S Oh ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Mr Spot- kins, at de time when I fust cum down to depresent de slegiglator I jis 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. ters 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 will guard the doors. (which is done; Mr Milligan will read one of the let- ters, when the house will take such ac tion as the case demands. ( Hands the letter to Mr M who reads i !. )
BOSTON, Feb 14th, 183-
Mr Bullfinch,
Dear Sir : Your letter has been re- ceived. I am glad you are doing your work well. The Railroad act seeuros the success of the whole scheme. You managed the railroad appropriation measure admirably. The tax and per diem bill are excellent additions. Our friends from Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois send their thanks to you. We all join in our congratulations to Wm Bobkins, Peter Swingback and all the others who acted in such good faith toward us, in procuring the pas- sage of these measures.
The $25000 sent will pay us back handsomely. They will get one thou sand dollar+ each, out of the bonds. Our special thanks for forging the ap- pointment act through the legislature. More anon.
Yours truly, TH STINELEAKY
PS. Keep this a profound secre ... Burn the letter.
KILLGORE Language is inadequate ! Theft ! Bribery ? Black Mail ! For- gery ! !
( At this stage Bobkins and Buli. finch makea rush to escape at the doors ; Bobkins is seized ; Bulfinch. dodges under the seats ; Bobkins it hung ; Bullfinch is being hauled out, by two members holt of his legs. Pete Swingback in spusms.)
1
NOTE.
After many solicitations the author, reluctantly, consented to write this little play, the "Last of the Carpet Baggers," or "A Burlesque on Southern Negro Legislation." The time for doing so was so short that it made the effort altogether impromptue. The author is fully aware of its many defects but is satisfied the subject is a good one. The play might be greatly improved by another edition. There is little doubt but a dramatic writer could manufacture from this subject a play, that would meet with success.
One of the defects in the author's opinion is the similarity of the negro language used. He has kept constantly in view the negro character, rather below that of mediocrity, which made it ner- essary to distort simple words, which accounts in part for this defect. Therefore, in order that it may not become stałe, actors may exercise much latitude in playing it. Of course no additions could be permitted touching the vulgar. The actor should play the negro so as to make it easy to himself. The author had nothing to guide him but his own ideas of what was real in the sub- ject dramatized, It is true, some verbatim quotations have been made from · Judge H H Breck enridge's "Modern Chivalry, " of whom this anecdote is related : On a particular occasion the Judge fell in with Washington at a public house, where a large crowd had gathered together for the purpose of discussing the subject of improving the navigation of the Potomac. They supper at the same table, and Mr Breckenridge essayed all his powers of humor to divert the General ; but in vain, He seemed aware of his purpose, and listened without a smile. However It so hip. pened that the chambers of Washington and Breckenridge adjoined, separated by a thin partil'on of boards. The General retired first, and when the Judge entered his own room, he wa. .. ed to hear Washington, in bed, laughing to himself with infinite glee, at the recollection of mus stories.
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