The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-24

Hoyt exhibited his fitness to command.
He was present wherever the most des-
perate assault was made and encouraged
his men by his chivalrous daring
Wherever the fight ragged thickest his
sword flashed in the sunlight and his
CHEEKY voice inspired his followers to the
highest pitch of enthusiasm. In this
fight he, together with his associates in
command, Coleman and Riddick, we're
badly wounded, the small bone in his
left leg being so badly shattered that on
the next day it was resected, three inches
being taken out. The credit of this en-
gagement has been ascribed to the militia
captain who acted as kind of rear guard
to the Confederate forces and was out of
reach of the guns of the enemy. So i'm
portant was it in its results and 80 neces-
sary to the maintenance of Lees army
that we desire to correct this mistaken
idea and give "honor to whom honor is
due"-to Hoyt and Coleman who
planned the defence and remained at
their posts, wounded and bleeding, Civ
ing orders to their commands until the
enemy had been finally repulsed and
driven from the field. Colonel Hoytwas
model soldier-devoted to duty, eau
tious and -brave-after the. pattern of
Cambronne of the "Old Guard" ready to
die but never surrender.
AS politician he is success, and has
taken an active part in every movement
of interest and importance that has of
late years agitated the public mind. A
Democrat of the straightest sect he
nevertheless has an abundant supply of
good hard common sense which is all
powerful in one who hopes to regulate
the public pulse. In 1860 he advocated
the right of secession, and is still firm in
the conviction ofState's rights, or, as they
say across the line; "home rule" his po-
litical views being based upon the CON-
stitution, the only safe and sure founda-
ton upon which we can ever build.
Since the war Colonel Hoyt has taken
much more prominent part in politics
than formerly, and is remarkable alike
for his strict adherence to what he con-
ceives to be right and the strategy with
which he more than once has brought his
opponents to discontinue and defeat.
In 1867 he made:a most. vigorous opposi-
tion to the anti-reconstruction policy of
Hon. B. F. Perry, and urged the people
to take a firm hold upon the opportuni-
ties then offered them for victory, to ac-
cept in good faith the State constitution
then adopted, and to these ends used his
influence as a public journalist. AL
though a member of the Masonic Order,
as will hereafter appelr, he objects to
secret political organizations, and strenu-
ously opposed the outrages of the Ku
Klux and the later inhammatory teach
ings of the Union League.
In 1870, Colonel Hoyt was candidate
for the State Senate from Anderson
County on what was known as the "Re-
form ticket" and after hot and closely
contested canvass was beaten by the in
dependent candidate by the small lmajori-
ty of two hundred votes. He represented
Anderson County in the State Conven-
ton that nominated Carpenter and But
Ter, and spoke, against Carpenters nomi-
nation on the hoor of the Convention.
He opposed this nomination mainly upon
two grounds: first, because of the i'm
policy of the Convention giving its sup
port to such man; and, second, the
propriety of running no ticket for State
Offices in that year, 1870 believing that
the true remedy for our political and gov
ernmental wrongs rested in the majority
in the two branches of the Legislature
and not in the Executive Department.
In other words he favored the passive
policy" as to the election ofState officials,
and thought that q supreme effort should
be made for an honest and intelligent
representation in the Legislature.
Colonel Hoyt was a member OF the
Taxpayers Conventions of 1871 and 1874
from Anderson County, and was q mem
Der of the Executive Committee of che
Convention of 1874. He was q delegate
from the latter body to Washington, and
assisted in preparing the famous Memo
rial to Congress, which related the wrongs
our people have suffered under Radical
rule, and turned the attention of the civ.
ilized world to the depths into which our
PROSTATE State has sunken, and which
has resulted in at least our. partial deliY-
erance from the ruin that threatened to
overwhelm us.
In 1868 he favored the election of Sey.
mour and Blair, stumped his County and
carried it for that ticket. he supported
Greeley in 1872 and the State Boilers
ticket. In 1874 he rallied to the Green
standard and carried the County for him
but gave tardy support to Chamberlain
after Green's defeat. While he admits
that Mr.. Chamberlain's promises are all
that can be desired he fails to see any
very tangible results from them all, and
is now in favor of thorough Conservative
organization throughout the State. BE
has recently published some scorching
criticisms Of the course adopted by the
Governor, and is practical, in so far as he
desires deeds instead of words. He was
appointed by the State Democratic Com
mittee at its late meeting to organize the
party in Anderson County, and has. gone
to work with an earnest vim which must
triumph.
Colonel Hoyt is distinguished mem
Der of the Masonic Order; and last year
held the position of Most Worthy Grand
Master Of Ancient Freemasons in South
Carolina, to which Office he was elected
| in December, 1874, as the successor OF
General ]. B. Kershaw. He has been a
Mason for only ten years, yetin that time
has reached the highest honors of the
Order, and is much admired and beloved
by his brethren of the mystic tie. For
two years he served as Grand High Priest
of the Grand Chapter of the State, and
manifests lively interest in all the work
ings of the craft In addition to his con-
nection with this Order he is member
of the Grange, has been prominent as an
Odd Fellow, is in earnest sympathy with
the temperance cause, and, better than
all, is an humble and devoted Christian
of the Baptist Church, for the prosperity
of which he has exhibited the greatest
energy.
In every object tending to develop the
,,,+o.;o1 roso,,roou of tha State and nqr-