*Aiken—Senator, A. P. Butler; Representatives, C. E. Sawyer, J. Woodward, L. M. Asbill, J. G. Guignard, all white.
*Abbeville—Senator, J. C. Maxwell; Representatives, W. K. Bradley, R. R. Hemphill, F. A. Connor, Wm. Hood, J. L. Moore, all white.
*Anderson—Representatives, H. R. Vandiver, R. W. Simpson, W. C. Brown, James L. Orr, all white.
*Barnwell—Senator, J. M. Williams; Representatives, I. S. Bamberg, John W. Holmes, L. W. Youmans, W. A. Rountree, Robert Aldrich, all white.
Beaufort—Senator, Samuel Green; Representatives, Thomas Hamilton, Hastings Gantt, Joseph Robinson, George Reed, N. B. Myers, Thomas E. Miller, all colored.
Charleston—Senator—W. M. Taft (white); Representatives, E. W. M. Mackey (white), J. J. Lesesne, B. F. Smalls, Robert Simmons, W. C. Glover, F. S. Edwards, Isaac Prioleau, John Vanderpool, William J. Brodie, J. S. Lazarus, S. C. Brown, Benjamin F. Capers, A. P. Ford, Richard Bryan, Julius C. Tingman, Abram Smith, W. G. Pinckney, colored.
Chester—Representatives, John Lee, Samuel Coleman, Purvis Alexander, all colored.
*Chesterfield—Representatives, J. C. Coit, D. T. Redfearn, all white.
Clarendon—Representatives, S. Melton, H. Boston, all colored.
*Colleton—Representatives, H. E. Bissell, J. M. Cummins, S. E. Parler, white; William Maree (colored), R. Jones (white).
Darlington—Representatives, R. H. Humbert, S. J. Keith, Z. Wines, J. A. Smith, all colored.
*Edgefield—Senator, M. W. Gary; Representatives, W. S. Allen, J. C. Sheppard, James Callison, T. E. Jennings, H. A. Shaw, all white.
Fairfield—Senator, Israel Byrd, Representatives, John Gibson, Daniel Bird, Prince Martin, all colored.
Georgetown—Senator, B. H. Williams; Representatives, C. S. Green, P. R. Kinloch, all colored.
*Greenville—Senator, S. S. Crittenden; Representatives, J. W. Gray, J. F. Donald, J. T. Austin, J. S. Westmoreland, all white.
*Horry—Senator, William L. Buck; Representatives, L. D. Bryan, J. K. Cooper, all white.
Kershaw—Representatives, R. D. Gaither, A. W. Kough, E. H. Dibble, all colored.
*Laurens—Senator, R. P. Todd; Representatives, J. B. Humbert, J. W. Watts, W. D. Anderson, all white.
*Lancaster—Representatives, J. B. Erwin, J. C. Blakeney, all white.
*Lexington—Senator, H. A. Meetze; Representatives, G. Leaphart, G. Muller, all white.
*Marion—Senator, R. G. Howard; Representatives, J. G. Blue, J. McRae, R. H. Rogers, J. P. Davis, all white.
Newberry—Senator, H. C. Corwin (white); Representatives, William Keitt, J. S. Bridges, W. H. Thomas (colored).
*Oconee—Senator, J. W. Livingston; Representatives, B. F. Sloan, J. S. Verner, all white.
The counties marked * were Democratic.
Orangeburg—Senator, J. L. Duncan; Representatives, D. A. Straker, S. Morgans, W. H. Reedish, C. M. Caldwell, E. Forrest, all colored.
*Pickens—Representatives, D. F. Bradley, E. S. Bates, all white.
Richland—Representatives, A. W. Curtis, Charles Minort, R. J. Palmer, J. W. Lowman, James Wells, all colored.
*Spartanburg—Senator, Gabriel Cannon; Representatives, W. P. Compton, J. W. Wofford, E. S. Allen, Charles Petty, all white.
Sumter—Representatives, J. Westberry (colored), Thomas B. Johnston (white), J. H. Ferriter (white), T. Andrews, colored.
*Union—Representatives, W. H. Wallace, G. D. Peake, William Jefferies, all white.
Williamsburg—Representatives, W. Scott, J. F. Peterson, John Evans, all colored.
*York – Senator, I. D. Witherspoon; Representatives, A. E. Hutchinson, J. A. Deal, W. E. Byers, B. H. Massey, all white.
The counties marked * were Democratic.
State Officers in South Carolina during the Reconstruction Period170
Federal Office Holders in South Carolina during Reconstruction Period171
There were many others but I cannot recall their names
Names of Congressmen who represented South Carolina during the Reconstruction Period172
Names of Congressmen who represented South Carolina after the Reconstruction Period
103 West 131st Street,
New York City,October, 1917.
Mr. Monroe N. Work,
Editor—The Negro Year Book,
Tuskegee Institute, Ala.
Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter requesting my assistance in getting data relative to the Reconstruction Period in South Carolina, I have the honor to submit the following:
It will be utterly impossible to give dates after a lapse of nearly fifty years, especially with reference to the terms the legislators served, unless I had access to the records. I was a boy when our family returned to South Carolina in 1870, two years after the adjournment of the Constitutional Convention. At that period I was not especially interested in the trend of affairs. I was thinking more of the splendid opportunities I had left behind in Canada.
I think it very important that all of the data possible should be collected pertaining to the Constitutional Convening as I regard it the most important Convention ever held in which colored men participated. I was very fortunate in finding a copy of the Proceedings of the Convention in the Public Library in this city. I have given only such names as I could positively identify as colored. No doubt some names have been omitted but not of any who took an active or important part in political affairs.
F. B. Perry, of Greenville, S.C., was appointed Provisional Governor of South Carolina by President Johnson in 1865.
Pursuant to a call for a convention of the people issued by Governor Perry in obedience to the proclamation of President Johnson for the purpose of organizing a State Government, the Convention assembled at Columbia, S.C., September 13, 1865.
To show the intense bitter feeling of Governor Perry the following is from his proclamation:
"It is a source of congratulation to know that the colored troops, whose atrocious conduct has disgraced the service and filled the public mind with the most horrible apprehensions, have been withdrawn from the interior of the State, and are to be placed in garrisons on the coast where they can do no further mischief. In all of my personal interviews with the President and in all of my dispatches to him I urged this course most earnestly."
A Constitution was adopted by the Convention without being submitted to the people for ratification.
The Constitution provided that only free white men were eligible for membership in the Senate and House of Representatives; only free white men were entitled to vote and that the appointment of members of the House of Representatives among the several election districts of the State should be in accordance with the number of white inhabitants in each.
The Convention adjourned September 27, 1865.
Congress decided that it was no part of the prerogative of the Executive to call conventions or to direct the adoption of Constitutions.
J. L. Orr, of Anderson, S. C., was elected Provisional Governor, October, 1865, to succeed Governor Perry.
Persuant to an Act of Congress of the United States entitled "An Act to provide for the More Efficient Government of the Rebel States" an election was held in South Carolina on November 19th and 20th, 1867, and the electors of that State voted in favor of a Constitutional Convention, and at the same time voted for delegates thereto.
Brevet Major-General E. R. S. Canby, Commanding 2d Military District of South Carolina issued orders for the delegates to assemble in convention at Charleston, S.C., January 14, 1868.
The Convention composed of 124 delegates, a large majority being colored, met at Charleston, on the date named.
T. J. Robertson, white, was elected temporary President and Dr. A. G. Mackey, white, was elected permanent President.
W. J. McKinlay and H. E. Hayne were elected temporary Secretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively.
General Carlos J. Stalbrand, white, was elected permanent Secretary. Josephus Woodruff, white, compiled the proceedings.
John R. Pinckney and Peter Miller were elected Sergeants-at-Arms.
F. L. Cardozo was Chairman of the Committee on Education.
S. A. Swails, Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Regulations.
Robert C. DeLarge, Chairman of the Committee on Franchise and Elections.
Colored members were on all of the Committees, in most cases being in the majority.
In looking over the proceedings I find that the following named delegates took a very active part in all of the deliberations:
R. B. Elliott, R. C. DeLarge, F. L. Cardozo, J. J. Wright, W. J. Whipper, W. J. McKinlay, S. A. Swails, A. J. Ransier, R. H. Cain, B. F. Randolph, and W. B. Nash.
The Constitution provided for the election of Senators and Representatives on April 14, 15 and 16, 1868, to assemble at Columbia, May 12, 1868.
The Convention adjourned sine die March 14, 1868.
The Constitution adopted in 1868 stood unchanged until 1895 when a Convention was called to meet at Columbia, on September 10, 1895, to revise it.
The fact that the old Constitution stood for nineteen years after the Democratic party came into power (1876) shows that there could not have been anything objectionable in it to the Democrats or they would have changed it immediately after regaining control. It speaks volumes for the wisdom and foresight of the men of the Reconstruction Period.
In the Convention which met at Columbia in 1895, there were only five colored delegates and they were all from Beaufort County, a county which has very few white persons in it. The delegates were W. J. Whipper, Robert Smalls, Thomas E. Miller, James Wigg, and L. R. Reed. Of these, W. J. Whipper and Robert Smalls were delegates to the Constitutional Convention which met at Charleston in 1868.
As General Smalls died only about two or three years ago what a wealth of information he could have furnished pertaining to the Reconstruction Period had your request been sent out before his death.
Inclosure 2 contains the names of State Senators and the counties they represented. In several cases of Senators and also of Members of the House of Representatives I cannot recall their initials.
There were 32 senators, the majority being colored, of whom the following were conspicuous for their activity on all important legislation:
S. A. Swails, J. H. Rainey, R. H. Cain, W. H. Jones, W. B. Nash and H. J. Maxwell.
Inclosure 3 contains names of members of the House of Representatives at various times. Some served more than one term. The more prominent were: R. B. Elliott, S.J. Lee, Dr. B.A. Bosemon, J. H. Rainey, R. C. DeLarge, J. A. Bowley, W. J. Whipper, D. A. Straker, C. M. Wilder, Prince Rivers, F. H. Frost, T. E. Miller, and W. H. Thomas.
The House of Representatives was composed of 124 members and colored members were always in the majority.
Inclosure 4—Names of State Officers.
Inclosure 5—Names of Federal Office holders.
Inclosure 6—Names of Congressmen who represented South Carolina.
I shall never forget the scene in 1876 when Col. A. C. Haskell, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee at the head of the Democratic members of the legislature forced his way into the Hall of the Representatives then occupied by the Republican members. Pandemonium reigned for a time. There were two Houses, each having its own officers trying to transact business at the same time. Finally the U. S. soldiers were called upon and those Democrats who had no certificate of election were ejected.
All of the Democratic members then withdrew and formed an organization in another hall.
Three colored Republicans whose names I do not care to mention went over to the Democrats, but the latter could do nothing without the Senate which was admittedly Republican.
The struggle was kept up until Mr. Hayes was inaugurated President, when he withdrew the U. S. troops, leaving the Republicans without any protection.
Governor Chamberlain and the State Officers elected with him seeing that they were deserted by the National Administration withdrew from the contest, leaving Gen. Hampton who was the Democratic nominee for Governor in possession.
The Democrats then organized the Senate and House of Representatives, and in joint session elected Gen. M. C. Butler, U. S. Senator. D. T. Corbin, who received the Republican votes, contested, but the Senate which was Republican by a small majority seated Butler. Senators Don Cameron from Pennsylvania and John J. Patterson from South Carolina, both Republicans, voted for Butler.
That there was no one killed or injured while the contest was going on is remarkable when the great excitement during and after the "Red Shirt" campaign is considered. It shows what absolute control the gubernational candidates had over their followers. No doubt the Democrats, who were assured that the U. S. soldiers would be withdrawn, did not care to make a slip as Chamberlin was still governor and the troops were practically under his orders.
Thus ended the Reconstruction Period in South Carolina.
At every step the Republican Party in South Carolina was betrayed by Republicans.
Col. T. W. Parmele, white. Superintendent of the Penitentiary, appointed as a Republican by Gov. Chamberlin, recognized an order from Gen. Hampton for the pardon of a convict. Legal complications ensued and the case was carried before Associate Justice Willard, white, of the Supreme Court, a Republican elected by the legislature, and he decided in favor of Hampton.
Three colored members of the legislature deserted to the Democrats, which practically made the House Democratic.
Col. Parmele and Justice Willard were Northern white men.
This paper would not be complete without some reference to the prominent colored men who helped to make history during that eventful period.
Robert Brown Elliott—
Born at Boston, Mass., August 11, 1842.
Entered High Holborn Academy, London, England, 1853.
Entered Eton College, 1855 and graduated in 1859. Studied law.
Member of the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives of South Carolina, 1868-1870.
Assistant Adjutant General.
Elected to the 42nd Congress.
Resigned his seat in Congress and was elected to the House of Representatives of S.C. for the second time, and was elected Speaker of the House.
He came within a few votes of being elected U. S. Senator in 1874, but the powerful influence of the Pennsylvania R. R. Co., was exerted in behalf of John J. Patterson, white, the successful candidate. There was a colored majority in both branches of the legislature at the time and had the colored members so desired they could have elected Gen. Elliott.
In 1876 Gen. Elliott was the nominee on the Republican ticket for Attorney General and was elected but was forced to withdraw with the rest of the ticket.
He was Chairman of the State Republican Committee during the campaign of 1876.
For scholarly attainments, legal acumen, political sagacity and oratorical power, Robert Brown Elliott stands out as the most brilliant figure of the Reconstruction Period.
Joseph H. Rainey—
Born at Georgetown, S.C., June 21, 1832.
Although debarred by law from attending school he acquired a good education and further improved his mind by observation and travel.
He was a barber by trade and followed that occupation at Charleston, S.C., until 1862, when having been forced to work upon the fortifications of the Confederates he escaped to the West Indies, where he remained until the close of the war, when he returned to his native town.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Georgetown County.
Elected to the 41st Congress, being the first colored man having that distinction, and was re-elected to the 42nd, 43rd, 44th and 45th Congresses, five successive terms, the only colored man with such a record.
He received a caucus nomination as Clerk of the House, from the Republican members of Congress, the only colored man who has ever been honored by a Republican caucus.
The House was Democratic.
He was a delegate to several National Republican Conventions.
Served as Special Agent for the Treasury Department.
Polished in his manners—a fluent and convincing speaker, he was prominent in the Councils of the Republican Party.
Gen. Robert Smalls—
Born in South Carolina, at Beaufort, April 5, 1839.
Although debarred by Statute from attending school, he educated himself with such limited advantages as he could secure.
Removed to Charleston, S.C., in 1851, worked as a rigger, leading a sea-faring life.
Employed on the Planter, a steamer plying in Charleston harbor as a transport, which he took over Charleston Bar in May, 1862, and delivered her and his services to the U. S. Blockading Squadron.
In recognition of his services was appointed Pilot in the U. S. Navy, and served in that capacity on the monitor "Koekuk."
Promoted as Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct, December 1, 1863, and placed in command of the Planter, serving until she was put out of commission in 1866.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Beaufort Co.
Elected to the 44th Congress, and re-elected to the 45th, 48th and 49th Congresses.
Was a delegate to every National Republican Convention up to within a short time of his death.
Collector of the Port of Beaufort, S. C.
Died two or three years ago, the last of the "Old Guard" in S. C.
Alonzo J. Ransier—
Born at Charleston, S.C., 1834.
Self educated. Employed as a shipping clerk in 1850 by leading merchant, who was tried for violation of law "in having a colored clerk" and fined one cent with costs.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives of S.C.
Elected Lieutenant Governor on ticket with Gov. R. K. Scott, in 1870.
President of Southern States Convention held at Columbia, S.C., in 1871.
Presidential Elector on Grant and Colfax ticket in 1868.
Delegate to National Republican Convention in 1872.
Elected to the 42 Congress.
A man singularly gifted with political farsightedness.
Robert C. DeLarge.
Born at Aiken, S.C., March 15, 1842.
Farmer—Self-educated.
Agent of the Freedmen's Bureau from May, 1867 to April, 1868.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives, 1860-1870.
One of the State Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
Elected State Commissioner in 1870.
Elected to the 42d Congress.
Very prominent in the Party Councils.
Rev. R. H. Cain—
Born in Greenbrier Co., Va., April 12, 1825.
His father moved to Ohio in 1831 and settled in Gallipolis.
Entered the ministry at an early age and became a student at Wilberforce University in 1860 and remained there one year.
Removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., at the breaking out of the war where he discharged ministerial duties as pastor for four years.
Was sent by his church as a missionary to the Freedmen in South Carolina.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Charleston Co.
Elected to the 43d Congress, and re-elected to the 45th Congress.
Bishop in the African Methodist Church and a power in that denomination.
William Beverly Nash—
Born in South Carolina.
Of limited education but endowed with wonderful common sense and political foresight.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Richland Co., in which Columbia is located.
For one term (four years) was Chairman of the Powerful Ways and Means Committee.
An elector on the Hayes and Wheeler ticket in 1876.
It was reported that he was offered $100,000 to vote for Tilden and Hendricks. Had he accepted the offer the Democratic ticket would have been elected, as the vote stood 186 for Hayes and 185 for Tilden. Be it said to his eternal honor he was beyond price.
Stephen A. Swails—
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Represented Williamsburg Co., in the Senate.
Elected President pro term of the Senate for the whole period.
A very strong character and exerted considerable influence in legislation.
Was in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry.
Had musical talent of a high order.
Judge Lee—
Judge of the Municipal Court of Charleston, S. C.
A man of ripe scholarship and of high legal attainments.
Until President Roosevelt appointed Judge R. H. Terrell of Washington to a similar position, I think he was the only colored man who ever occupied such a position.
Francis L. Cardozo—
Born in South Carolina, at Charleston.
Educated in Scotland, at Glasgow University.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Secretary of State for four years.
State Treasurer for two years.
Scholarly, courtly and dignified.
Took great interest in the education of the colored youth, and was popular among the boys on account of the fatherly interest he manifested in them.
Moved to Washington, D. C., after 1876 and accepted a position in the office of the Auditor for the Post Office Department.
After serving for several years in the Department he was elected to the Principalship of the Colored High School in Washington, a position he filled with honor and credit to the race and himself. After his death the Board of Education named one of the School Buildings the "Cardozo Building" as a tribute to his great interest in the educational welfare of the colored race.
Henry E. Hayne—
Born in South Carolina.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Marion, Co.
Secretary of State.
Was very much interested in the education of the colored youth.
Richard H. Gleaves—
Served two terms as Lieutenant Governor.
Elected with Gov. F. J. Moses in 1872 and with Gov. D. H. Chamberlin in 1874.
Was nominated a third time with Gov. Chamberlin and elected but forced by the Democrats to withdraw.
Henry W. Purvis—
Born in Philadelphia, Pa.
Son of Hon. Robert Purvis, the great Abolitionist. Member, house of Representatives, 1868-1870, and then was Adjutant General.
Was Adjutant General of the State most of the Reconstruction Period.
He was a man without fear.
In the campaign of 1876 he went to Edgefield, the homes of Generals Butler and Gary, the Democratic leaders, and regarded as fire eaters and spoke on the campaign issues. He also went to other parts of the State equally as dangerous and filled his engagements.
J. J. Wright—
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
On account of his great legal ability he was elected by the legislature as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. (There were two Associate Justices.) He had the respect of the entire Bar of the State.
He was pre-eminently fitted for the position.
He is the only colored man who has ever occupied such an exalted judicial position in this country.
Thomas E. Miller—
Born at Ferrybeeville, Beaufort Co., June 17, 1849.
Attended the free public school for Negro youths up to the breaking out of the war.
Graduated from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, in 1872.
Read law under Judge P. L. Wiggin and Chief Justice Moses of South Carolina and was admitted to the Supreme Court of S. C. in 1875.
Elected to the House of Representatives of S. C., 1874-1876-1878.
Elected Senator from Beaufort Co., 1880.
Elected to the 51st Congress.
Elected to the House of Representatives of S. C., in 1866, and while serving was instrumental in having the "State College for Colored Youth" established at Orangeburg, S. C., and on that account was elected its first President.
Dr. B. A. Bosemon—
Born at Troy, N. Y.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention. Member of the House of Representatives of S. C. Appointed Postmaster at Charleston, S. C., by President Grant and served four years with entire satisfaction to the people of that city with honor and credit to himself and the race.
Suave and polished he had a pleasing personality.
He had quite a large and lucrative practice in his profession.
Charles McDuffie Wilder—
Born in South Carolina. Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives of S. C. Member of the City Council of Columbia, S. C.
Postmaster at Columbia, S. C. for sixteen years. Appointed by President Grant two terms and one term each by Presidents Garfield and Hayes.
There were two white applicants for the position after President Garfield was inaugurated and Postmaster General James, who was supposed to be friendly with one of them, sent a Post Office Inspector to Columbia to find out the sentiment of the business men. They were almost unanimously for Mr. Wilder. They stated that he had served them efficiently for eight years and did not approve of a change.
Generals Hampton and Butler represented the State in the U. S. Senate at the time, Columbia being Senator Hampton's home and had he objected Senatorial courtesy would have sustained him.
It shows in what estimation Mr. Wilder was held by his home people.
Mr. Wilder's appointment of four successive terms to a first-class post office is a record.
Mr. Wilder was a delegate to all of the National Republican Conventions up to and including that of 1888.
Mr. Wilder was a man of good sound judgment, of great political force and one of the few who had anything to show after the political upheaval of 1876.
Samuel J. Lee—of Aiken, S. C.
Born in South Carolina.
Member of the House of Representatives of S. C.
Speaker of the House of Representatives for one term.
A lawyer of recognized ability.
An expert in parliamentary procedure.
A man of engaging address, of a genial disposition, a pleasing speaker, he was the most popular presiding officer of that period.
D. Augustus Straker—
A prominent member of the House of Representatives during the latter part of the Reconstruction Period.
A man of brilliant parts and one of the leading lawyers of the State.
Moved to Detroit, Mich., after the collapse in 1876, and played quite an active and conspicuous part in politics there.
William J. Whipper—
Born in South Carolina.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives of S. C.
A man of splendid legal talent.
Elected by the legislature a Circuit Court Judge but Gov. Chamberlain refused to commission him, (Ex. Gov. Moses, white, was elected a Circuit Court Judge at the same time and he was also refused a commission by Gov. Chamberlin.)
Judge of Probate of Beaufort Co., for more than ten years.
Prince Rivers—
Born in South Carolina.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives of S. C.
Brigadier General in the South Carolina Militia.
Called the "black Prince" and he looked it with his fine physique and military bearing as he rode at the head of the colored troops as they passed in review before the Governor at their annual inspection.
John Lee—
Born at Columbia, S. C.
State Senator from Chester Co.
Postmaster at Chester.
Self educated.
Very prominent in his county.
W. J. McKinlay—
Born at Charleston, S. C.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
One of the most prominent colored men in Charleston Co., and one of the most influential in the Party Councils.
Member of the House of Representatives 1868 and part of 1869. Resigned to accept position of Register of Mesne Conveyances, a very important office which he held for several years.
W. H. Thomas—
Born in Ohio.
A man of brilliant intellect.
One of the most prominent members of the House of Representatives at the close of the Reconstruction Period.
I remember well the conspicuous part he took in the proceedings in the House of Representatives in 1876. Those were times that tried men's souls but Mr. Thomas held his own with the best men in the Democratic party.
Samuel Lee of Sumter, S. C.—
Born in South Carolina.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
A very strong character and one of the bright young men of the state.
He was elected to Congress but the Democrats counted him out.
He contested the seat and though the House was Republican and his case a good one, the Chairman of the Committee on Elections, a Republican from Indiana, who was personally antagonistic to him failed to report on the case and Congress adjourned without taking any action.
Jas. A. Bowley—
Member of the House of Representatives.
For one term he was chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means.
He wielded considerable power in legislation.
Was considered the "Beau Brummel" of the House.
F. H. Frost—
Born in South Carolina.
Member of the House of Representatives.
Active in all legislation.
Polished and highly cultured.
Henry J. Maxwell—
Born in South Carolina, at Charleston.
Senator from Marlboro County.
Active in all legislation.
Considered the best dressed member in the Senate.
Known to his associates at the "Duke of Marlboro."
W. H. Jones—
State Senator from Georgetown Co.
Quite a fluent speaker and well versed on all public questions.
On account of his bellicose nature he was given the sobriquet of "Red Hot Jones."
A. C. Jones—
Born in Washington, D. C.
Clerk of the House of Representatives during the whole Reconstruction Period.
A very capable officer and very popular.
Walter R. Jones—
Born in South Carolina at Charleston.
Graduate of Oberlin College.
Secretary of the State Financial Board, consisting of the Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer and Comptroller, all white at that time.
Elected Clerk of the City Council of Columbia, S. C., by the unanimous vote of the members.
Resigned that position to accept the position of Private Secretary to Governor Chamberlain.
The best equipped and most brilliant young colored man I ever met.
J. E. Green—
Sergeant at Arms of the Senate during the whole Reconstruction Period.
A very efficient officer and a man of fine parts.
John Williams—
Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives during the whole period.
A very capable man and popular with the members.
There were many colored men who occupied positions of importance in the different countries—positions such as Sheriff, Treasurer, Auditor, Clerk of Court, Commissioner, Coroner and School Commissioner.
I never heard of any of them being removed for incompetency, dereliction of duty or malfeasance.
I regret very much that I cannot give you any information as to whether the men mentioned were free or slaves, as the persons from whom I could have gotten that information have all passed away. Had I received such inquiry eight or ten years ago I could have furnished it as there were several persons then living who, I know, were well posted on that subject.
Of the names noted in this paper the following were from the North.
Some of them may have been from the South originally and returned after the war: R. B. Elliott, D. A. Straker, Maj. M. R. Delaney, W. H. Jones, Dr. B. A. Bosemon, W. H. Thomas, H. W. Purvis, R. H. Gleaves, A. C. Jones, S. A. Swails, J. A. Bowley, J. E. Green.
The colored men of South Carolina played a more conspicuous part and held more offices of a high grade during the Reconstruction Period than the colored men of any other State.
South Carolina has the distinction of electing the first colored Congressman, (Joseph H. Rainey) and the last (George W. Murray.)173
South Carolina was represented in Congress by eight colored men—Rainey, Elliott, Ransier, Cain, Delarge, Smalls, Miller and Murray.
Mr. Miller and Mr. Murray served after the Reconstruction Period and most of Gen. Smalls' service was after that period.
When I compare the present political leaders in South Carolina with those of the Reconstruction Period I must confess that we have retrograted politically. They may be due to conditions. Not only in South Carolina, but where would you find in any State at the present time, political leaders who can measure up to the caliber of Elliott, Rainey, Straker, Cardozo, Swails, DeLarge, Bosemon, Wright, Ransier, Lee, McKinlay, Cain, Whipper and Wilder?
When the Negro race can again produce political leaders of the type named then we may look forward with some degree of hope for a solution of the Negro problem.
Your idea in collecting data relative to the Reconstruction Period is a laudable one, and the wonder is, and the pity of it is, that it had not been thought of long ere this. There are very few now left to tell the tale, and that in a very unsatisfactory way.
Some of the data relative to the Congressmen I got from Congressional Directories. To recall all names, dates and incidents pertaining to the Reconstruction Period after a period of fifty years would require the prodigious memory of a Macauley, even had I been an active participant in political affairs at that time. There may be a few errors but they are of a minor character. I am glad that I am able to be of some assistance to you in this matter, however, little, and I can only say in the words of Macbeth,
"The service and the loyalty I owe,
In doing it, pays itself."
Very respectfully,(Signed) H. A. Wallace.174All names referred to in this paper are of colored men unless otherwise stated.
Corrections of Data submitted by Mr. H. A. Wallace, of New York City
103 West 131 St.,
New York, N. Y.,February 18, 1918.
Mr. Monroe N. Work,
Editor—Negro Year Book,
Tuskegee Institute, Ala,
Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter of the 11th inst., I beg leave to state that Hunter and Dickson were white. As to Brokenton I probably was thinking of a Brockenboro in Washington and got the names mixed.
Before leaving Washington in 1913 I let Whitfield McKinlay have my book, "Reconstruction in South Carolina" by John S. Reynolds, to read. When I received your letters asking for assistance in getting the data relative to reconstruction in South Carolina I wrote to Mr. McKinley for the book. I wrote for it several times but not until about a month ago did he send it. I did not care to delay sending you the data, consequently I mailed it before the book came to hand. Had I received the book in time I could have made my paper a little more readable and avoided the errors referred to.
As you have, no doubt, taken data from the book by Reynolds I would like to correct a few errors I found therein.
Reconstruction Convention
Colleton—W. M. Vinery, should be Viney
Darlington—Richard Humbird, should be Humbert
Edgefield—John Wooley, colored, should be white
Greenville—Wilson Cook, should be Cooke
Kershaw—John A. Chestnut, should be Chesnut
Chapter III—Scott's First Term
Senate—
Chester—Lewis Wimbush, should be Lucius Wimbush
Union—H. W. Duncan, colored, should be white
This would make ten colored Senators
House of Representatives—
Abbeville—James Martin, white, should be colored
Charleston—B. A. Bosemon, should be Dr. B. A. Bosemon, Jr.
William R. Jervay, should be Jarvey
Chesterfield—H. L. Shrewsberry, should be Shrewsbury
Colleton—W. R. Hoyt is in the Senate column Wm. Driffle,
should be Wm. A. Driffle H. James and T. Richardson, as
members in addition to Thomas and Driffle.
Edgefield—John Wooley, colored should be white
Georgetown—W. H. Jones, should be W. H. Jones Jr.
Greenville—Wilson Cook, should be Cooke
Kershaw—John A. Chestnut, should be Chesnut
Williamsburg—Jeff. Pendergrass, should be Jeffery Prendergrass.
Jas. Martin, Lee Nance and Wade Perrin, representatives and B. F. Randolph, senator, were assassinated by the Ku-Klux Klan.
Page 111—"Among Mr Robertson's earliest official acts was the recommendation of an incompetent colored man to be postmaster at Columbia."
If you will look at the sketch I gave of Mr Wilder, the postmaster referred to, you will note that in 1880 when the Democrats had absolute control of South Carolina and Gens. Hampton and Butler represented the State in the U. S. Senate, Mr Wilder was confirmed for the fourth time, and as Columbia was the home post office of Senator Hampton it is not likely that he or Butler would have voted to confirm an imcompetent colored man when senatorial courtesy would have sustained them had they objected.
Page 229—W. R. Jervay, should be Jarvey.
Page 233—Relative to Henry E. Hayne going to the communion table I have to say that is all rot in so far as there were any objections. The communicants with the exception of Mr Babbitt and family were nearly all colored. I know that the wardens and vestrymen were colored.
Page 234—I do not know about all of the colored men mentioned as having matriculated in the School of Law, but I am certain that Mr Wilder did not.
Page 236—William R. Jervay, should be Jervey.
Page 333—With reference to Dr. Bosemon being under the influence of liquor I desire to state that he did not touch, taste nor handle the stuff. Dr Bosemon was a cultured gentleman, polished in his manners and was a surgeon in one of the colored regiments during the war.
Page 366—Instead of N. B. Myers being the elector for the fifth district I think it was his brother, Senator William F. Myers.
As N. B. Myers went over to the Hampton House it is not probable that he would stultify himself by voting for Hayes and acknowledging Hampton as Governor.
Page 462—Gen. Elliott did not become a department clerk in Washington. He moved to New Orleans where he practised law several years before his death.
All the Republican politicians who remained in South Carolina did not sink into actual obscurity or harmless inactivity after 1876.
Mr. Wilder was postmaster at Columbia until June 30, 1885.
Gen. Smalls represented the State in Congress for several terms after 1876, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1895. Was also Collector of Port of Beaufort.
Thomas E. Miller was also a delegate to the same convention and served a term in Congress, and was a member of the S. C. House of Representatives.
W. J. Whipper was a member of the legislature. Probate judge of the county for ten years and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1895.
John Lee was postmaster at Chester for several years.
Mr Rainey was a special agent of the Treasury Department with headquarters in South Carolina.
H. L. Shrewsbury and W. F. Myers were in the Revenue Service and active in politics as was A. W. Curtis.
There were others but I cannot recall their names.
Referring to the data mailed to you I desire to make the following corrections:
Page 2—J. H. Rainey was not a member of the House of Representatives but Senator from Georgetown.
Page 6—Relative to Judge Lee I desire to state that I am in error as to his case being the first where a colored man was elected to a municipal judgeship. Macon B. Allen was elected by the legislature as judge of the Inferior Court of Charlestown prior to Lee's election or appointment. Therefore Judge Allen should be given the honor.
Of course J. J. Wright who was elected an associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State by the legislature was the first Negro in this country who ever occupied a judicial position.
Page 7—Henry W. Purvis was elected Adjutant General for the four year term 1872-1876. Member of Legislature 1868-1870.
Page 10—W. J. McKinlay was also a member of the House of Representatives for part of 1868-69 period but resigned his seat to accept the position of Register of Mesne Conveyanes for Charlestown, to which the legislature elected him.
Page 11—W. H. Jones, should be W H. Jones, Jr.
John Williams was Sergeant-at-Arms from 1870 to close of period.
As there were no free public schools for colored youth in South Carolina it is an error to state that Thomas E. Miller was educated in that way. It was against the law for anyone to teach a Negro even to read or write.
I am also told that I am in error as to giving him credit for the establishment of the " State College" at Orangeburg. I will try to find out something about that matter.
Very respectfully,H. A. Wallace
Some Corrections for Data Submitted by Mr. H. A. Wallace of New York City
103 West 131 St.,
New York City.March 11, 1918.
Mr. Monroe N. Work,
Editor Negro Year Book,
Tuskegee Institute, Ala.
Dear Sir:
I presume you received my letter of February 18, also the one of January 19, relative to corrections in the data on Reconstruction.
I herewith send you a few more before you go to press on your book pertaining to the part the Negro played in the political history of the Southern States during the Reconstruction period:
I am in error as to James Martin, of Abbeville, who was assassinated, as being colored. I was informed that he was colored, but in reading the eulogies delivered by the different members of the House and Senate, I find that he was not even an American. He was a native of Ireland.
W. A. Bishop, who represented the Greenville district in the first legislature, was white, not colored. In the list of delegates to the Republican meeting at Charlestown, May 9, 1867, he is given as white in Reynolds' book. I met a friend from Greenville about ten days ago and in speaking to him about Bishop he said that he was white and that he knew of no colored Bishops in that district.
On page 9 of my data I state that Mr. Whipper was born in South Carolina. I met his son, who is living here, sometime ago and he informed me that his father was born in Pennsylvania.
With reference to Judge Whipper I would add that one of the first acts of the first legislature was to elect a commission of three members to revise and consolidate the Statute laws of the State and that he was the first member elected. Quite a tribute to his legal ability.
On page 12 add the following names as from the North.
Rev. B. F. Randolph—Senator—Orangeburg district.
W. J. Whipper—Member—Beaufort district.
Judge J. J. Wright—Beaufort district—afterwards Associate Judge Supreme Court, and on page 8, under his name please state—born in Pennsylvania.
On page 107 Reynolds' book—Abbeville Co.—W. J. Lomax, should be Hutson J. Lomax, this is official. On page 59 and 77 he has it H. J. which is correct.
Same page—Fairfield—Henry Jacob, should be Jacobs—He was also a delegate to the Constitutional Convention—See page 77.
Very Respectfully,(Signed) H. A. Wallace
Copy.
Sumner and Stevens advise with Reference to Reconstruction Policy in South Carolina
The late Honorable Francis L. Cardoza at one time Secretary of State for South Carolina, several years before his death stated to the undersigned the following in substance:
That a number of colored men met and appointed a committee which was sent to Washington to get the advice of Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens concerning the formation of the political organization for the newly enfranchised Negro citizen shortly after the adoption of the 14th Amendment.
Pains were taken to keep the plans from both the native whites and the so-called carpet baggers from the North. That both Mr. Sumner and Mr. Stevens advised the committee to tender the leadership to native whites of the former master class of conservative views: but this plan was frustrated because they were not able to secure the consent of desired representatives of the former master class to assume the proffered leadership.
(Signed) Kelly Miller(Signed) Whitefield McKinlayWashington, D. C., December 14, 1917.
Subscribed to and sworn before me, Samuel E. Lacy a Notary Public in and for the District of Columbia, this Fourteenth (14th) Day of December 1917.
(Signed) Samuel E. Lacy,Notary Public, D. C.
Some Negro Members of Reconstruction Legislatures
Texas
J. H. Stewart who now lives in Austin.
Edward Patton, San Jacinto County, now living in Washington is in Government service.
Nathan H. Haller, Brazoria County. House, 1892-94. Reelected and counted out. Contested his seat and won.
R. L. Smith, Colorado County, 1895-99, now living in Waco. Is president of the Farmers Bank and head of the Farmers Improvement Association. For sketch of, see Negro Year Book, p. 322. For his work in the Legislature, see attached letter.
Elias May, Brazos County, in the early days of Reconstruction.
R. J. Moore, Washington County, representative.
–– Gaines, senator, Lee County.
Copy.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics
College Station, TexasWaco, Texas, March 26, 1918.
Prof. Monroe N. Work, Tuskegee Inst. Ala.
Dear Mr. Work:
I was elected in Nov. 1894 as representative for Colorado county and was re-elected in 1896.
My majority in 1894 was 168 and in 1896 at the next election it was 450 as I recollect it.
I was appointed on the committee on education and on privilege and election and on agriculture.
I introduced a bill restoring colored trustees which finally passed.
I fought a bill establishing separate waiting rooms for the races at R. R. Station and killed it for four years.
I introduced a resolution inviting manufacturing cotton plants to come to Texas. I introduced a resolution granting the use of the Hall of the House of Representatives to the colored citizens of Austin to hold their memorial services for Fred Douglas. When one understands the race feeling in the South this was indeed a triumph. I introduced a bill establishing a college course as a part of our curriculum at Prairie View Normal which passed carrying with it a grant of fifty thousand acres of land.
I worked hard to help carry a bill through making any peace officer automatically lose his office whenever a lynching took place in his county. This bill passed but was declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. I was appointed by the speaker as a member of the visiting board for Prairie View State Normal. As a member of the committee on privileges and Election I single handed fought for a colored man elected from Brazoria county, N. H. Haller by name who had the nerve to contest the seat of a white man to whom the certificate of election had been awarded. After a long and bitter fight in which three times I carried in and presented a minority report we won and Haller was seated. This isn't the only case of its kind that I know of in this state.
Haller of course had able legal talent to take care of his case.
I voted for the purchase of the battle field of San Jacinto which is in Harris country about twenty miles below Houston. It was on this battlefield that Texas won her independence from Mexico in 1836. It is now a beautiful state park. For this action I was publicly thanked by the Daughters of the Republic.
Respectfully(Signed) R. L. Smith.
The legislatures which I served in were the 23d and 24th.
Charles A. Culberson, now U. S. senator was governor and our relations were very cordial.
In 1902 I was tendered and accepted a position in the U. S. Marshal's office for the Eastern Dist. of Texas by Pres. Roosevelt. Held same until 1909. This was the most honorable and best paid federal position ever held by a Negro in Texas except that held by Hon. N. W. Cuney who was collector of the Post of Galveston. In 1915 I took charge of the Extension Service work for Negroes in Texas which I now hold.
Some Negro Members of the Tennessee Legislature during Reconstruction Period and After175
By Honorable J. C. Napier, of Nashville, Tenn., register of United States Treasury, May, 1917
30 Contested, not seated.