And
what will they think, when we tell them that the man whose name is
so frequently sounded through the columns of the press as the head of
police, and applauded for his activity among thieves, is the well-known
prince-officio of a voluptuous dwelling, where dazzling licentiousness
fills his pockets with the spoils of allurement. This man has several
counterparts, whose acts are no secrets to the public ear, and who turn
their office into a mart of intrigue, and have enriched themselves upon
the bounty of espionage and hush-money, and now assert the dignity of
their purse. It may be asked, why are these men kept in office?--or
have these offices become so disgraced that honest men will not deign to
accept them? No! such is not the case. It is that moral integrity is not
considered in its proper light, and is not valued as it should be;
that these men have a secret influence which is well known, and are
countenanced and retained for the weight of their control among a
certain class; and, strange to say, that the party ex-officio make these
demoralizing things the basis of their complaints against the "powers
that be;" yet such is their feeble dependence, that no sooner are they
in office than we have the repetition of the same things.

Now, how far his honor is answerable for these things we must leave the
reader to judge. The leading characteristics of his nature conflict with
each other; his moral character is what is considered sound here; and
truly he is entitled to much respect for his exemplary conduct, whether
it be only exerted as an example, or the heartfelt love of Christian
purity. Some people are pious from impulse, and become affected
when purpose serves to make it profitable. We, however, are not so
uncharitable as to charge such piety to our worthy head of the city
government, but rather to a highly developed organ of the love
of office, which has outgrown the better inclinations of his
well-established Christianity.

We must invite the reader's attention to another and still more glaring
evidence of the demoralization of social life in Charleston. A notorious
woman, who has kept the worst kind of a brothel for years, where harlots
of all shades and importations break the quietude of night with their
polluted songs, becomes so bold in her infamy that she appeals to the
gracious considerations of the city council, (board of aldermen.) How
is this? Why, we will tell the reader:--She remained unmolested in