Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-08-08
True copy,
IFrem the Kingwood Argus

There are some few points in the contro-
versy between Judge Hoge aud Jno. Barton
Payne which seem not to have attracted pub,
lie notice.
Judge Hoge in his letter to Payne of Dec.
&c, 1881, uses this language: Gas you will
remember, 1 conferred with my friends, sta,
ting to them plainly the points of our un6er.
standing mark the words, not the terms
OF your proposition, but the points of our
understanding" or agreement.
Then according to Judge Hoges latter
there was an understanding" or agreement
between Payne aud himself and this un6er-
standing was communicated to his friends.
Now what friends of Judge Hoge then as
semblsd iu his room that night, and there
could not have been less in number than ten
or twelve, Except it be the eccentric and
redoubtable Sprigg-has ever reported that
''the points of the understanding" as commu-
nicated by Judge Hogo to his friends differ
from the memorandum of Payne?
Certain is it that Judge Faulkner has no,
said so, nor Col. VIM. T. Stewart. nor Col, T
E. Boyd, nor VIM. b. Colston We mention
the names of these gentlemen because their
names have been SGT forth in the newspapers
as being present and acting upon that occa>
sion as the friends of Hoge.
Judge Hoge in his letter of Dec 26, 1881.
protesting not to BIO accurate in his rccollec
ton OF that understanding" and stating that
there was difference of recollection" among
his friends, to relieve his mind from ali
doubt calls upon Mr.. Payne (his own agent
in reducing the agreement to writing) to give
him its exact terms, announcing: "Having
absolute confidence in you [ am content to
abide by your statement"
But no is no more true to his word here.
than he is with his compact with Lucas
Having appointed Payne his agent to reduce
the agreement to writing, and declared his
absolute confidence in the memorandum so
prepared-he now repudiates il, because it
does not suit his present purposes Just as he
repudiated the agreement by which he OBJ
tanned a seat in Congress through the favor
of Mr. Lucas, because he wished to serve an.
other term.
In the face of such cle,r and ascertained
facts-admissions drawn from Judge Hoge's
own letters-what convention can undertake
to present such n name to the Democratic
voters of this District? It is said there is a
"sort of honor among thieves"-that is to
say, they are taught not to betray or deceive
each other. Surely it c1nnot BIO that there
is less among Honorables who aspire to
seat in the Congress of the United States.
Again Judge Hoge in his letter anuounc>
ing himself a candidate for Congress, saws
that the Fairmont convention recognized or
established the rule that the counties West
OF the Mountains were to have two terms
the counties East of the Mountains two terms
aud SO on alternating every two year between
East and West.
If this be his construction of the rule of this
District, how ungratefully does he act towards
his generous alley who procured for him the
victory at Fairmont! BY this rule the mem.
bers East of the Mountains are only to have
one additional torn for the next sic vears
Why does Judge Hoge sock to monepolize
and appropriate to himself all that the East
ern counties can or will receive for the next
six years? IF his own strength had carried
him through at Fairmont, the desire would
have been oxcusable. But when he knows
that he proeured the nomination solely by the
temporary sacrifice of the claims of Lucas.
and without that he would have never occu.
pied seat in our National Legislature. the
desire to return has something in ID impurs,
if not criminal. IF he was not under the
most solemn written obligation to divide
with Mr.. Lucas the Eastern preemptivs oc.
eupation OF four years, common justice, fair
dealing, ordinary honesty and gratitude ought
to impel him to stand aside. But this fair
division of the Eastern privilege was not per-
mitted to rest upon Judge Hoge's sense of
justice or honest -frail indeed, would have
been its basis, if such had been the case-it
was the result of distinct written agree
ment,-it was tho sole condition upon which
Judge Hoge was allowed to sit at the first ia.
BILE of the Congressional feast-Lucas modest.
ly reserving to himself seat at the second
table. But Judge Hoge having once tasted
of the heavenly Congressional mama, and
having his appetite stimulated by its delica>
oies, Hogishly, if not hoggshy seeks to drive
his former ally from the table, and voracious>
ly devour the whole feast.
Is it to be believed that the people of this
Congressional District will sanction such sell
fshDess, injustice aud breach of faith