The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-08

regiment. AS adjutant he was in the
first Bull Run fight in the battles
around Richmond, Maryland Heights,
Sharpsburg, .Antietam, Fredericks-
burg, Charlottesville, Gettysburg,
Chickamauga, Wilderness, Spottsyl-
vania, Cold Harbor, Beryville,
Straassburg and Cedar Creek, at the
last Of which a mimic ball entered his
left eye, forever destroying the sight
of that orb. Besides this, he was
wounded in six other parts Of his
body, twice by shell at Gettysburg.
During the last few months of the
war he acted as assistant adjutant
general Of the brigade, commanded
by Brig. Gen. James Conner.
| At the conclusion of the war he re-
turned to his home and resumed the
study of law. He was admitted to
practice in the Law and Equity courts
in 1866 and was soon thereafter ad-
mitted to practice in the United Sta
| tes district and circuit courts. He
at once opened an office in Newberry
and was soon enjoying lucrative
practice. In 1865 he was elected dis
trict judge Of Newberry county by
the South Carolina legislature and
entered upon the duties of that office
in 1866. In the discharge Of his off,
cial duties he never had an appeal
taken from his decisions. This is a
very exceptional record, showing a
remarkable degree Of soundness i'll
the decision Of the lower court. He
served until the "Radicals' legis-
lated him out of office in 1868. In
1874 Judge Pope was elected mayor
Of the city Of Newberry and served
until the spring of 1877, when his
second term expired and he declined
/ to run again, having seen the indebt-
edness of the city wiped out and its
credit fully restored. In 1876 he was
made chairman Of the county central
committee, and during the memorable
campaign no one, white or black, was
injured in any political disturbance.
Elected to Legislature.
In 1877 Judge Pope was elected a
member Of the South Carolina legls-
lature from Newberry county and
served the long session Of 1878, hay
ing been elected to fill vacancy. 1t
was during this service that he first
attracted the general attention of the
citizens Of the State, for he openly
and successfully vindicated the
rights of the people against certain
bonded Indebtedness and by so doing
lie antagonized such men as Gen.
Hampton, Chief Justice Simpson and
the able bars of the cities of Charles
ton and Columbia. As result he
received an overwhelming majority
of votes of members of the assembly
as one Of the assistant counsel to the
attorney general in defending the
rights Of the State in the famous
tsbond cases." argued first in 1878
before special court Of claims OF
three special judges, and thea on ap-
peal before the supreme cou~t of the
State. The decision rendered by the
latter saved to the State one and
one-half million dollars.
His Campaign for Attorney General.
Judge Pope's practice was such as
to necessitate his retiring from the
legislature and. while taking an ac-
tive interest in the welfare of the
State, he remained out Of politics un-
til 1888. when he was elected to the
State senate from Newberry county.
He served as senator for two years,
advocating during that time the prln-
ciples which we're the basis Of the
Farmers Movement. which IN 199O
swept the State. Principal among
the things advocated BY him were
the establishment Of the Clemson Ag-
ricultural and Mechanical COLLEGE,
rigid economy in the expenditure Of
the peoples money and many Other
similar reforms.
On June 10. 1890, Judge Pope. as
the candidate for attorney general on
the ticket headed BY Benjamin t..
Tillman for governor, began a cam
psigri over the State which has nev-
er been equalled il the annals Of the
State. lasting two months. going into
every county in the State and arous-
I .L1>,. o,J # :. to ha ra-