The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-04-29
Hoers ENTRANCE INTO CONGRESS.


the 9Th instant, it was charged broadly and une-
ouiyocslly that the credentials" of SOLOMON L.
HooE, ,upon which he was afterwards admitted to
a seat, we're no less than fraud and base forgery.
We knew this to be strong language in describing
the official conduct of the immaculate patriots
now srunning the machine" in the interests of the
Radical party but We were confident then, and
more than ever convinced nov that the ''certi6-
cate" issued to HooE was ante-dated. Without
entering into any further explanation Of the rea-
sons inducing this belief, we desire to record
singular coincidence respecting this opinion as re-
CARDS the conduct of HoGE and his partners in
this disgraceful transaction, to use mild express
sion On the 9Th inst, (the same day in which
our editorial appeared the Hon. Mr.. KERR, Of
Indiana, made this identical charge upon HoGE, in
presence of the latter, and within few hours az
Ter his inglorions entrance into Congress In dis.
cuss;ng contested election case from Louisiana,
Mr. KERR incidentally alluded to the case from
this Congressional District, and in order that tie
reader may obtain the drift Of his argument, We
make lengthy extract from this able speech,
calling particular attention to the last paragraph
We copy from the Congressional Globe:
Mr.. kerr Mr.. Speaker, 1t is not pleasant for
me in the discussion of case like this tu be COM
pelled in terms which may appear to be unkind to
spy member Of the House to criticise the conduct
of members of the House or of committees of the
House; but when I am engaged in the discharge Of
o great public duty, in which every impulse Of my
nature and every conviction Of my judgment con.
Cur to prompt me to do what do, can have no
hesitation arising from mere feelings Of delicacy
must therefore beg leave further suggest to the
House that the conduct Of the House in the deter
mination Of cases of contested elections aud in the
arbitrary and despotic power exercised by this
Committee of Elections, has had parallel in the
history of the country. 1t has had no example in
my own observation as o member Of this house.
It appears to be the determination ef the majority
Of the Committee Of Elections to assume that their
time as members of the House is Of infinitely more
value than the supreme right of the people of the
country to fair, honest, and constitutional repre-
sentation in Congress- appears to be their de-
termination to shun the grea! and necessary labor
and painstaking Deliberations demanded by clear
duty and their positions upon that committee in
connexion with cases of this kind, and to act upon
the most hasty and immature examinations limi-
ted TO hurried consideration of imperfect, il not
er parte statements of facts and law, without suf
fcient discussion by the parties or their counsel
enter my solemn protest against this proceeding und
ses. These are cases to be resolved by US udcially
or ought to be, but not, and yet the House at
tempts to decide this one in two hours achieve
ment which no intelligent court of justice in the
country could accomplish; Or can this House. In
wears past, and under better auspices, these ques
tious of privilege stood in the front rank of ques
tions 10 be considered by the House, and their
consideration was approached with more care.
more particularly, more lsborious investigation
N fai
and just results, than any others which came be-
fore Congress.
But now they are brought in here under the lash
Of either party drill The previous question, and
rushed through right or wrong, without even
telling the House who was elected by the people.
Il might have been inferred, from all that the gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. Cessnal said in
presenting the case of Hoge against Reed to-day,
in such an extraordinary manner and spirit. that
the FORMER received majority of the votes cast in
the third congressional district Of South Carolina,
when in truth he knew that Nr. Reed, the Con-
servative candidate was elected by an honest and
fair majority of 5000 votes.
Mr. BRooKs. Does the gentleman mean the
House to understand that the gentleman who was
thrown out this morning had majority of 1900
over the gentleman who was admitted
Mr. KERE. I do mean TO say that, and more.
+ mean to say that the gentleman who was thus
expelled had the only legal papers, the only legal
iy executed evidences, of election to that seat.
And further assert that every evidence OF title to
. seat here that was either furnished to the COM
mittee or that existed anywhere in favor of the
gentleman who was sworn i'll to-day was itself
fraud both upon the law and against Mr.. Reed, and
had no. single particle of legal validity. 1t was
gotten up by set of partisan officers who have
disgracefully stulti6ed themselves on the record.
and have gone through the eountry as pack of
corrupt and revolutionary conspirators 10 defeat
the high purposes of representative government,
and promote only the unmanly and dishonorable
efforts of minority candidates to. fest themselves
by fraud upon on oppressed and suffering cons.it-
uency. 1t is in that way that be was brought in
here, and wish him God speed in his repentance
for this outrage to which he is party and in any
efforts he may make by humane and honorable ser
vice towards them to atone for it,.