The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-01-21
The Abbeville Press pays its Respects to
Solomon L. Hoge.

In commenting upon the protest made
by S. L. Hogo against the expressed will
of the people in the recent Congressional
election, the Abbevlle Press severely
criticises the pretensions and statements
of this suporlativcly loyal carpct-bagger.
We would take pleasure in publishing the
article entire, but can only make room
for the following extracts: -
Who is Solomon L. Hoge? He is a
man unknown among US. His name is
not familiar to our ears. He has never
earned Office from this people by residence
in their midst, devotion to their irinterests,
sympathy with them or the exhibition of
great abilities. Indeed We are not in
formed that he ever distinguished himself
anywhere or in any line. We have made
efforts, but have not yet satisfactorily as
certained whether he first saw tho light
in Ohio OF Pennsylvania. We. have not
been able to learn much of his youth or
carly history, except that he. claimed to
be q Democrat and still does. We do
not certainly know that he was ever ad-
mtted to practice law in any State; but
as we first heard of him as Captain in
the army, we may safely say that he new
err practiced much anywhere, and is no
lawyer-certainly knows nothing of South
Carolina law. Yet he had himself elected
one of the Associate Justices of the Su-
preme Court. We however never heard
any friend venture to mint that he had
the slightest qualifications for that high
and dignifed Office, which had always
previously been given to great legal abil
tiles, and as a reward for long professional
experience and high character: Soon
tired of his new honors as Associate JUS
tice, which seat. We believe, lie had not
then warmed, he procured from the Radi-
calls the nomination for Congress He
had then never seen the upper country.
We believe he never was in AbbcvIlle but
once, and then he came with guide.
He came on the railroad, and no doubt
was informed that if he would keep his
seat the cars would bring him TO the land
of promise He camo to spie out dis
trict to represent in Congress. 1t was to
him tour Of discovery "a search for
Office in land Sierra iaeognita' He
brought along with him one Randolph,
colored man, also, as we are informed,
from the State of Ohio, evidently in that
way to make an appeal to color and race,
to Stir up strife and get the votes of the
negroes for Congress- Mr. Hoge did not
receive very warm reception, and soon
changed his base by beating q hasty re-
treat. Does any man in America, Sfany
party, think that the people of Abbeville
wero wrong in giving him the cold should
er? Docs any decent man, white or
black, think that he deserved to be taken
to the hearts Of the people OF Abbevillc
and made their Representative in Con-
grcss? AbbcviIIc which has sent more
mon of distinction to Congress and to the
councils of the nation than any othor ter
ritorv of the same size on tho continent,
except, perhaps, old Albemarlc, of Vir-
ginia.
To leap at one bound from Captaincy
in the army to bs Associate Justice OF the
Supreme Court Of South Carolina, and
then 80 soon aftor to be Il candidate for
Congress. Indicate that he is no ordinary
man. and we are very anxious to know
more of him. We would DO very thank
full if some admircr would favor the
world with a campaign life Of Solomon l..
Hoge. Let him tell lis where and when
he was born; how and where be spent
his early youth where he got his, educa-
tiOn; how many cases he ever managed
at the bar; how be came in the army
and. above all, when he came to South
Carolina. How it happened that he was
elected Associate Justice, and how he
procured tho nomination for Congress-
All this would be extremely interesting
to his constituents.
Mr.. Hoge makes charges very reck-
lessly. We acquit him. however, Of
making false statements knowingly; for
he admits that he knows nothing person
ally upon the subject. He declares that
he cannot 60 into the districts, and must
make all his statements from hearsay and
mere rumor, which everybody knows is
common liar. Mr. Hoge does not know
the people OF this country. They were
distinguished for good order, intelligence,
virtue and patriotism before he was born,
certainly before he favored them with his
presence, and modcstly proposed to hon,
or them still further by forcing himself
upon them as their Representative in
Congress, as the successor OF Robert
Goodlaw Harper, McDuffie, Calhoun,
Pickens, Burt, Butler and others. -,
We solemnly declare that it would be
difficult to meet gentleman in Abbevilfe
who is not quite as intelligent and more
fit in every respect, to say nothing OF
residence or citizenship, to represent us
in Congress than Mr.. Hoge, yet, he is
evidentiy y OF different opinion. He has
been defeated by an overwhelming vote
yot he persists in the idea that he is the
man, and should turn out Mr.. Reed, who
was bred and born among us-has spent
his life in our service, is representative
NAN in svmnatby with our people, and,