The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-01-20
Solomon Z. Eoge's Protest.


In another column we publish, by re-
quest, extracts from the protest Of Solo
mon L. Hoge, copy of which he has
served upon Hon. j. P. Reed, the men,
Der elect from the 3rd Con. Dist. of this
State, and whose seat is contested by
the former. We publish only such parts
of this voluminous document as have a
general application to the election in all
parts of the Congressional District, and
such as relate particularly to the elec-
ton in Newberry.
. We do not propose to enter into a
refutaton of the charges against the good
people of ,Newberry, contained in this
protest. That will be done at a proper
time, and in a proper manner, by ire
sistibie, overwhelming proof But We
cannot allow them to go forth without
an unqualified denial of these truths
from beginning to end. The last election
in Newberry, passed off as quietly as
any that ever was held within its limits.
The good order that prevailed through
out the district was the subject, not
only of general remark, but of congrat-
ulation. We do not pretend to deny
that large number of negro voters re-
manned away from the polls, but not for
the reason assigned by Solomon L. Hoge.
1t was not violence, nor threats of vio-
lence that kept them away. 1t was the
result of q. proper view of what their
true interests required them 10 do.
They, or rather the greater number of
them, at an evil hour, and under the
eyi! counsels of such men as this hungry
aspirant for place, had, no doubt, been
committed to follow radical leaders, but
as the election approached, and they
heard the discussions that took place
upon the issues it involved, the scales
began to fall from their eyes, and they
were enabled to look upon Radicalisin
in all its defolmity. They listened to-
the counsels of our wisest and best
men, and saw plainly that their duty
and their interests called upon them to
turn. their backs upon those who had
deceived them with lies and false promi-
ses. Some of them had heard that same
Solomon when he came here to enlighten
them as to their duty But even what
he told them on that occasion failed to
convince them that radicalism was what
it had been promised to be. He was
hooted and hissed st by the little boys
as he went away, and this he calls an at
tempt at assassination! How could such
man hope to get the votes even Of
negroes? Assassination seems to be the
ghost of Hoge. 1t has appeared before
him on more than one occasion. 1t is
said that it followed him on wings of ire
along the line of the GreenVille d Co.
lumbia R. R., from Anderson to Colum-
bia, all the way, shaking its cory locks"
at him. Even while writing this protest
it must have haunted him and made
his hair stand on end. Is it possible
that the terror which got possession of
him last summer has produced a mental
delusion which has conjured up the facts
contained in this protest? This, at least,
is the most charitable conclusion. But
then he is a judge-sits upon the bench
and wears the robes which were ONCE
honored by Cheves, Harper, John
stone, and an ONeall. 0 TEMPoRA, 0
MoREs!
We invite attention to this extraordi-
nary paper, and the charges it contains.
We hope that the commissioners and
managers of elections, the democratic
clubs, and all good citizens Of the dis
trict, will give our member elect all the
aid in their power, to enable him to re.
fute by proof in proper form, the facts
stated 10 this protest, so far as they i'm
pute to the people of New berry, violence,
fraud and corruption in the late election.
We all know chat these charges are un-
true. Let US nail them to the counter,
or hereafter we may as well let our cleo
tons 60 by default.