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An Independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence. VOL. 4. ANDERSON, S. 0., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1869. NO. 32. ?hq JLntl^rsoit Saftig Jnt^Utjgcn^iv BY HOYT & WAITERS. TERMS: TWO B?LLARS AJTD A HALF PEE ANITTTH, IS UNITED STATES CURKENCT. RATES OF ADVERTISING. Advertisements inserted at the rates of One Dol? lar per square of twelve lines for the first insertion and Fifty Ceuts for each subsequent insertion. Liberal deductions made to those who advertise by the year. Egg* For announcing a candidate, Five Dollars 'in advance. ANSWER OF JACOB P. REED. If ember Elect from the Third Congression? al District of South Carolina, to the Forty-First Congress ol the United States of America, to the Fro test of his Competitor, Solomon L. H?ge. Andebson, S. C, January 21st, 1869. The undersigned, member elect, at the election held on the third day of November A. D. 1868, from the 3rd Congressional District of Suuth Carolina to the Forty First Congress of the United States of America, respectfully {submits to the House of Keptesenlutives the following , answer to the very extraordinary paper purporting to be a protest ol his said elec? tion, which has been served on him by Solomon L. H?ge, his competitor, via: 1. 1 admit that the charges made against me in the specifications 1, 2. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, # and 9 ol said protest, with the excep? tion ot the latter clause of specification 8, are substantially-true. 1 was a member of the Legislature of South Carolina in 183S and 1839, and again in 1848, 1849 and I860. *I was elected Solicitor ot the Western Circuit of South Carolina by the Legislature on or about the 8th day of December, 1850, and t o-elected at the end of every lour \*ears up to and inclusive ol December, 1866, and continued to did charge the duties of said office, without intermission, up to the 15th ol December last, 1868. At my several elections as member of the Legislature, and at my election as Solicitor in 185U, 1854 and 1858, I took an oath to support the Con? stitution of the United Slates of America, and of the State of South Carolina. At my re-election as Solicitor in December, 1862, I did take an oath to support the Constitution ot what was then known as tho Confederate Steten ot America, and ol Uie State of South Carolina; and at my Vo election to the same office in Decem? ber, 1866. I again took an oath to support the Constitution of the United Slates, and ot my own Stale?having previously, in 1865, took the oath ot allegiance and am? nesty tendered to the people ot tho South by the President, regarding it, whether erroneously or not, alike the duty and in? terest of every citizen to yield true faith and allegiance to the government to which he is subjected, and lo which alone lie can look tor protection for the time Leing. 1 ulso admit that! was a member 'of the Secession Convention ol this State in 186?, and voted for and advocated Un? measured of said Conventron. But I af? firm that my political predilections have always been eminently conservative. 1 was an ardent friend of the American 'Union under the Constitution, and accep? ted the policy of secession with great re 'itictancc, alter almost evety other citizen ot' the Stale had given in his adhesion to the measure. And being onco in, I sup .porled the issues involved with all ibe en? thusiasm of my nature, and during the greatly lo be regretted and to me unex? pected war (hat ensued, gave all the sym? pathy, aid and encouragement in my pow? er, short of actually bearing arms, which as a civilian, and on account of hi}' age and habils of-life, I never did to the Con? federate cause. 1 admit that I was ineli? gible *o office, State or federal, under the 14th amendment of the Constitution of the L'nirod States, at the date .of my elec? tion to Congress; that my .political disa? bilities have not yet been removed by' Congress, and thai a portion of the elec? tors of the Congressional District doubt? less knew, vrhen they cast their Votes for me, that I was at the time ineligible. But I affirm that almost the entire adult white male population of the Congressional Dis trici concurred in the opinion, thai as our population had acquiesced in the situation peaceably, loyally and in good faith, and the State had been restored lo the Union under the Congressional plan of recon? struction, with its entire adult male pop? ulation, without regard to race, color or former condition, admitted to ihc ballot box, that tho disabilities of the person elected to represent them in Congress would lie removed, and that he would be permitted to lake Iris "seat, and 1 respect tally suggest that such will bo the notion of tho American Congress. ButU is not truo, as ?s charged in the latter clause ol the Sili specification, that I am still 44 op? posed to the United Slates government, and to tho reconstruction acts ol Con? gress." in the sense in which tho charge is made. 1 affirm that my allegiance to the United Stales government has long since been restored with perfect fidelity, and ?hat I am ardently attached to the unity ?and perpetuity of that government under ?the Constitution and laws made in accor vianco therewith. I admit that I w;is op? posed, in principle, to the reconstruction jiets of Congress, regarding them from my standpoint as harsh and unnecessary measures, but I accepted them as si finali? ty on the subject of reconstruction, until changed by tho peaceable instrumentali? ties of tho ballot-box or the courts, and was in favor of our people uniting in an effort, in accordance with their iequip? ments, to restore our State to its stains in the Union at the earliest practicable mo? ment. And I now regard tho purposes of their enactment as fully accomplished, 60 far as the Slate of South Carolina is concerned, and that the Constitution and laws of the State, framed and enacted un? der the authority given by them, are tho Constitution and laws, until altered or amended according to the forms of law; an?! such have been my publicly expressed opinions everywhere. 2. I deny tho truth of tho libellous ?b?rge contained in the 10th specification tit the protest, and affirm that it is in let ter and in spirit, so far as applied to my self or the party who sustained me as such at the election on the 3rd day of No? vember last, utterly and unqualifiedly false; and I charge that I obtained a very large majority of the rotes cast for mem? ber of Congress for the 3d Congressional District of South Carolina, on that day, by none other, so far as I am informed and believe, than legitimate and proper influences, such as are admissable and or? dinarily resorted to in popular elections everywhere. 3. I deriy the truth of the several charges contained in specifications 11, 12 and 13 of the protect. It is utterly un? true that any combination was ever en? tered into by myself and friends, or by any other persons with my knowledge or consent, to prevent an election being held in the county of Edgeficld. It is une qnivocally false that any nets of violence were resorted to by my friends or others, with inj* knowledge or consent, for the like purpose, or any other purpose, anil if any such acts of violence were committed, I never heard of them except through the protest of contestant; and I charge that, if committed,they are attributable alone to reckless individuals, who acted of their own accord; and it is not true that my? self or the party which sustained me are in any way responsible for the failure to hold an election in Edgeficld county. On the contrary, 1 charge that myself and friends were exceedingly anxious that a!i election should be held in that countj, and felt outi aged that the proper authori? ties did not cause said election to be held. And 1 am informed, believe and charge, that the Commissioners of Election, whose duty it was to provide for holding an election in said county of Edgvfield. were Republicans and partisans of contestant, and purposely neglected and refused to do so, because they were aware that a large majority of the electors ol said county would east their votes lor me as member of Congress from the 3rd Congressional District. 4. I deny that the charges contained in specifications 14, 15, l?, 17, If, 19 and 2U, having reference to the election in the county of Lexington, or any of them, as therein stated and charged, are true. It is not true that nine htindned and fill}* persons, who were lie; entitled to vote, irom non-residence or any other cause, were permitted to vote and did cs.st their votes tor me in said county ; and I charge that it any illegal votes were cast fur me, by cither residents or non-rtsi dtfUts, they were identified and thrown out of the count by the Commissioner-, acting as County canvassers. The facts, j as 1 am informed, believe and charge, tare these: A number of Citizens, legal voters | of the county of Edgeficld, in which no election was held, (the exact number* 1 do not know, but probably three or four hundred.) attended at several of the must convenient election precincts in the coun? ty of Lexington, and claimed the tight to vote for member of Congress, and were permitted to do so by the managers, near I}* all of said managers, as I am informed, believe and charge, being friends and par tizans of contestant?on the ground, that I?eing qualified voters in the adjacent county of Edgetield, in the same Congres sional District, where no election was held, they wer? justly entitled to vote for a representative in Congress in any coun ty of the same (iirdj Congressional Dis? trict. The ballots cast hy said citizens, legal voters of the county of Edgetield, as i am informed and believe, were marked by the managers and thrown out of the count by the County canvassers. And it is charged that said citizens, legal voters of the county ol Edgetield, being de? prived by the authorities oi the privilege of exercising their right of franchise in their own county, were entitled under the Constitution and laws, us had always here? tofore been permitted by tbelawsof South Carolina, to vote for a representative in Congress in any county of the sain-- Con? gressional District, and that the said County canvassers had no legal authority to throw out of the count the votes of said citizens, and in doing so, if their votes were cast for me, as is alleged by. contestant, atid as to which 1 have no knowledge, they unlawfully deprived me of?t least four hundred legal votes, which should have been counted tor me. At is therefore denied that any illegal vote or votes were counted for mein the count} cf Lexington, and charged that ? was un? lawfully deprived as aforesaid of at least four hundred legal votes, which contes? tant alleges were cast lor me. It is not true as charged that 1, by my advice and through the agency of friends, deprived my competitor, the contestant, of lour hundred and fifty, or any other smaller number oi lawful and legal votes in the county of Lexington. 1 deny that 1 ever gave any advice on the subject, and 1 know nothing personally us to the manner in which either the canvas or the election was conducted in said county, but 1 am in? formed, believe and charge that it is not true, as alleged by contestant, that bodies of armed men, or other persons, on the day of election, or at any other time, im? properly interfered at any one of the elec? tion precincts or elsewhere to prevent qualified voters from going to the polls and exercising the franchise at their pleas? ure. I deny that contestant was deprived of any legal vote in said county by any other than lawful and legitimate influen? ces, and charge that if any illegal votes were counted in said county they were cast and counted for my competitor. 5. I deny that the charges contained in specifications Nes. 21 to 40, inclusive, of tho protest, having reference to the elec? tion in the county of Abbeville, or any of them, as therein stated and charged, are true. . It is not true that thirty-lour hun? dred, or any smaller number of colored voters in said county, who vvould have 1 voted for contestant-, ^vere ker/t from tbe polte by " threats, fraud, intimidution and acts of violence of your (my) friends, mado and done by and with yoar (my) consent and knowledge," as is fnlsel charged in the 21st specification of the protest. But if acts of violence mere committed in said county of Abbeville, they were committed by some reck leas and lawless individual or individuals, of their own malice and on their own re? sponsibility, againnt the persons of other individual, for which neither the part}' who sustained me in my election nor the great mass of the people of Abbeville county ate in any way responsible. And I deny that the said thirty-four hundred voters, or any of them, were kept from the polls by intimidation, or that there was any reasonable excuse or sufficient cause for such intimidation if it existed, as was demonstrated by the result Of the election at th# several precincts on elec? tion day. And I am further informed, believe and charge that the voters who ahscnted themselves from the polls on election day did so either of their own accord or under the effect of influences addressed to their understandings, such as are resorted to in popular political elections everywhere, and 1 deny the suf? ficiency of the evidence upon which it is affirmed that the said voters, or any of them, would have voted for my competi tor, the contestant, if they bad gone to the polls. It is not true, as I am informed, believe and charge, that fifteen hundred persons, non-rtsidents, or any number approximating fifteen hundred, came into the county of Abbeville on election day. mounted, and armed with deadly weap? ons, in the sense in which it is charged in specifications 22 and 23 of the protest. It is admitted that a number of citizens, both white and colored, legal voters of Edgeficld county, one of the counties of the 3rd Congressional District, in which no election was held, came to the election precincts in Abbeville county, most con? venient to them, and claimed the right to vote for member of Congress, and that tbey were permitted by the managers at some of the precincts to east their votes, under the impression that tlwy were le? gally entitled, under the Constitution and laws, to vote for representative in Con? gress in any county of the Congressional District, as had always heretofore been permitted by law in South Carolina, (as heretofore charged,) which impression it is insisted was correct. The exact num? ber of said persons I do not know and cannot stats, probably one or two hun? dred, nor do I know whether they voted for mysell or my competitor, the contes? tant. Some of these persons came, na I am informed and believe, singly or in pairs, mounted on their mules or' horses, as persons ordinarily go to election grounds, and a portion of them, both white and colored, doubtless had arms .?hont their persons, as is loo frequently I he case in these times. I am informed, believe and charge that the)'are the only persons, non-residents, who came into the county of Abbeville on election day, and they came for tho laudable purpose of voting for a person to represent them in Congress, the privilege of doing so in their own county having been denied them by the partisans of contestant. But it is not true, as I am informed, believe and charge, that they, or any other per? sons, scattered themselves about over the county of Abbeville, and took possession of the polls, at the several election pre? cincts, or any of them ; nor is it true that they rode from precinct to predict, vo? ting lor me, or that they prevented any voter, white or colored, by any unfair or violent means, from going to the polls and depositing his ballot according to his pleasure And 1 am further informed, believe and < harge that it is not true, as stated in the specifications of said pro? test, in relation to the several election precincts in the county of Abbeville, that any illegal vote or Voles were cast forme by persons who were non residents of said county,or other persons, tit any ono or mure of said election precincts, other than by the few persons, legal voters (and it is not admitted that any of them voted for me) of Edgetield county, and also, in an election for member ol Congress, legal voters of Abbeville county, as it is insis? ted, who were permitted to vote at cer? tain precincts, as before stateil; nor is it true that any illegal votes were cast for me in tho county of Abbeville; nor is it true that any number of colored persons, legal voters, were driven from the polls, or prevented by any unfair moans, from voting at any one of tho precincts in said county ; nor is it true that armed bodies of men look possession of the polls at any election precinct on election day, for any purpose whatever. But it is true, as I am informed, believe and chat go, that the said election passed off with the most perfect qniet, good order and fairness, at every election precinct in the said county of Abbeville. lMive nt the precinct of White Hall, where a disturbance did take place, in which somo acts of violence were com? mitted, and in which certain colored per? sons, friends of contestant, Were the ag? gressors and are alone responsible for. 6. I deny that the charges contained in specifications Nos. 41 to 48, inclusive, of tho protest, having reference to tho elec? tion in the county of Ne wherry, or any of them, as therein stated and charged, are true. It is not true, as I am informed, believe and charge, thai a system of in? timidation and violenco was practiced for weeks before tho election, for the purpose of terrifying tho colored men, and break? ing up the Republican party in the coun? ty of Newberry. It is not true that the acts of violence referred to, or any of them, were committed, if committed at all for tho purpose of preventing the said colored men from voting, or lor any political purpose whatever; and it is ut? terly and unqualifiedly false, if any suoh adtt of -violence dr outrage w-sre cdau?ittfed by any personor persons, thai they were engaifed in with my knowledge or consent; und 1 charge that any acts of violence that may have been eommitted. duiing the summer or fall of 1868, were the re*. *ult of private quarrels, and had no re? ference whatever to the pending Congres? sional election. It is not true that the death of Lee Nance, which is admitted, gave entire control over the appointment of munagers of the election in said county te the Democrats The managers for the county of Newberry hud been selected and agreed upon by the Commissioners, with his full ausont* before his death, and it is false thftt the party who sustained me in my election were in any way re? sponsible for his killing, or any other out rv.ge that my have been committed in the county of Newberry; uor is it true thai contestant might not have canvassed the county of Newberry, or any other coun ty in the Congressional District, with perfect safety, if he had possessed the equanimity ot temper to encounter the taunts und jeers?punning upon his name and otherwise of a few mischievous per? sons. It is not true, as charged, that twelve hundred, or any other number of persons, non-residents, who were not en? titled to vote, came into the county of Newberry on the day of election, and wer? unlawfully and illegally allowed to vote for me; but it is true that a few ot the citizens, (the exact number I do not know, probuhly one hundred.) legal vo? ters of the county of Edgctield, in the same Congressional District, in which no election was held, and for the reasons stated and charged as to the same class of persons who went into the ceunties of Lexington and Abbeville, came into and were permitted to cust their votes for member of Congress in Newberry coun? ty. I do not know and cannot state whether said persons voted for myself or m}' competitor, but insist, us heretofore, that under the Constitution and luwe they were legally entitled lo vole in the coun? ty of Nowbt-rry. or any other county of the same (3rd) Congressional District, for a representative in Congress. And I de? ny that any other non-residents came in? to Newberry and voted for member of Congress on election day, and also deny that any illegal vole or votes were cast or counted for me at said Congressional election in Newberry. And I further de? ny that said persons came into said coun? ty mounted and armed,otherwise than as many persons, white and colored, mount and arm themselves on going from home for any purpose. It is not true that fif? teen hundred colored persons, legal voters of said count}- of Ni'wberry, or any smaller number of persons, were preven? ted from going lo the different election precincts or driven away from said pre? cincts, and prevented from voting tor con? testant ; and I charge that the electors in said county, if any, who absented them? selves from the polls, or being present left the pnlls without voting, d.d so ot their own accord, under none other than legitimate and proper influences. And I deny that any voter was kept from going to the polls and voting, or that any voter, who was absent, or being present leiL the polls without voting, would have voted for contestant. And I deny the truth ol the charges, and every of them, contained in specifications 43, 44, 45, 46 ami 47 ol the protest, having reference to the re? spective precincts in Newberry county, and charge that each and every ot said charges are in fact untrue; and as evi? dence ot the trulh of similar charges madtt in relation to other election pre ekicts in Newbeny and the other counties, state that but lorty-one votes in all were cast at tho precinct of May bin ton in said county, where it is charged by contestant that two hundred illegal voles were can for mo by persons who were neu resi? dents of said county. 7? I deny that the charges contained in specifications 41), 50, 51 and 52, inclusive, of the protest, having reference to the count}' ot Anderson, or any ot them as therein stated and charged, are true. In answer lo specification 4t), 1 state and charge lhat it is not true that bodies ot armed men, at any lime, rodo over the count}- of Anderson, committing any of the enormities charged. It is not true, in the sense staled, lhat the houses of color? ed men were broken into, and men, wo? men and children beaten, furniture de? stroyed, &e., &e. In the spring of 1868, before parties were organized or candi? dates nominated lor any office, an occur? rence cl ihe kind mentioned did lake place, in which a white woman and sev? eral colored persons, living in close prox? imity, were beaten and maltreated by persona who have not been discovered, without reference to political matters; and I charge that it is the only occur? rence of the kind lhat bus happened in the county. It is not true that any colored manor moo in said coun? ty were ever forced to swear they would bo Democrats, and threatened with death if tiny went lo the polls and voted the Kepubiican ticket. It is not true that any number of voters, er even a single voter "in sttid county, was kept from tho polls by intimidation or oth er unfair moans, or that any single voter was driven from the polls and kept from voting at any election precinct in the county. And I charge lhat each and ev? ery voter, if any, who remained away from the polls in Anderson county, on the day ot tho Congressional election, did so of his own accord, under proper, and legitim ale influences, addressed lo his understanding; and that no voter who absented himself f rom the polls would have voted for contestant, it present. And I deny, and charge that it is false, that any illegal vote or votes were cast for rue in Anderson county. It is not true, as I am informed, believe and charge, that the person who was conveying the Hepubli 'ean txdrete to the ele'oti?o precinct tff Greenwood, in ?uid county, was shot at und driven olf, as in charged in specifics-.- j Man No. 50; nor is it inie, us charged in the same specification, that one man at Dark Corner precinct,in said county, was 1 whipped until he promised to vote forme, or that any voter of said couniy was, by j violence, or any other unfair or i I legal j means, kept from voting us he desired at : Dark Corner or any other precinct in Anderson couniy. But it is true, that no vote was cast tor contestant at raid pre einet, and it is also true that one man was shot und wounded cither the night before or very recently before the election, but I charge that he was shot in a private quarrel with another individual, having no reference whatever to the election or political matter?, and that the person shut was a aealous member of the Demo? cratic party. It is not true, as charged in specification 51 of the protest, as I am informed, believe and charge, that one of the Commissioners of Election was ' dogged," or in any way interfered with, by any person or. persons, 2suv is it true, as charged in tlio same specification, that ai.y person, white or colored, in said county, voted lor me through tear, or were forced to so vote. And I charge that each and all of the allegations made in the said protest, against the managers of election and people of Anderson coun ly, are entirely unwarranted by the facts and are false. Anderson is my plate < f residence, and I affirm that there has been less disorder,and lewer violations of the rights of person and property in sa;d county, during the last fifteen months, than has occurred in any equal length of time for eighteen years past, during ?II which I have been the Attorney for the Slate, and was necessarily informed of all violations of the criminal law. And I further affirm, that according to my in? formation and belief, more perfect peace, quiet and good order has not prevailed, during the same time, in any county ofany S;ate ia the United States. And I charge that the numerous allegations, as to vio? lations of the public peace, and tenden? cies to disorder and violence, which were made against the people of Anderson county, and most of those made against the other counties, prior to the election, were concocted with a view to secure the presence of military garrisons, and if pos? sible overawe the people, so as to secure the success of my competitor in the Con? gressional election, and that they have been kept up and reiterated since to en-a? ble him to set aside the voice of the peo? ple, and secure a much-coveted seat in Congress, as the fabled Bcuttle-fish avoids its antagonist by escaping in the dark J ness of its own effluvia. In answer to specification 52 of the protest, relating to Anderson and other counties,! charge that the facts stated and conclusions ar? rived at by contestant arc alike unwar? ranted and false. 8. It is not true, as stated and charged in the 53rd specification of Paid prolest, I hat I said in a speech in Columbia that if the Republican party should carry cer? tain Slates in the October elections, " the colored people might have the audacity and impudence to attempt to vote as they please," but that ?? in my part of the Dis? trict tho negroes should voto the Dem? ocratic ticket, or they should trot vote at Jail." I may have expressed tho 'opinion there, as 1 certainly did elsewhere, both publicly and privately, that the result of the Congressional election in this State would depend, in a great measure,on the result, of the October elections in the Stales of Pennsylvania, Ohio-and Indiana. That if tho Republican party cairicd those States, it would most likely st'rmU-1 late tho carpet baggers and colored per sons to turn out to tho election and over? whelm us. But that it the said States should be carried by the Democratic par? ly, it would discourage them, so that they would probably abandon tho contest. That it was my impression that the col? ored voters in my part of tho country were very much inclined, either to vote with their .white ti-lloW-citizens, who the}' were beginning to learn were their only j true friends, or remain away from the | polls. But I did not, on that or any other occasion, state that any voter, uf any class, should vote otherwise than as he was prompted to do by his own free will: Nor is it true that I ever said, on tho Greenville Railroad cars or elsewhere, that 1 '-advised the most ex iretne violence against all Republican leaders and speakers in the District.'' The charge is alike slanderous, libellous and tslse. So tar from sirch a charge be? ing true, I affirm, as is known to every individual in the Stale with whom I had any intercourse, that I was more conser? vative and moderate, in my public ad? dresses and private conversations, than any other individual in the Slate,occupy in?; a public position, with whom I came in com act, of either of the political par? ties. 1 insisted most sirenuottsly, every? where and on all occasions, that the peace must be preserved, all acts of violence avoided, and none other than moderate and fair means resorted to, tocairy the election, and if any other means were resorted to, I had no knowledge ol them, either before or since the election. And 1 further affirm that I had taken no ac tivo interest in political matters for three or four years prior to the opening of last summer's campaign; that said campaign had progressed lor weeks before I identified my suit' with cither of the po? litical parties ; that I was present at a large Democratic demonstration at Ander? son, (my own home,) and another at Greenville, in August last, and wub en tircly ignored by the leaders and mana? gers, because I was charged with having too pliantly accepted tho Bitnation ; and j when I was induced by friends to declare ! my opinions, and accept, a nomination lot Congress, ono of my leading- purposes? ' tnd, indeed, the leading purpose? an 1' ? The Intelligence? Job Office. Having recently made considerable- additionr to .his department, we arc prepared to execute MS WdDISK (D)J MsL KHftlBB In the neatest style and on the meet rtaeonfeUe terms. Legal Blanks, Bill Heads, Posiert, Cordt-, Handbills. Pamphlets, Label?, and in fact every style of work usually done ih a country Printing Office. ? ? 8?* In all cases, the money will be required upon delivery of the work. Orders, accompanied with the cash, will receive prompt attention. proclaimed publicly and privately, was to endeavor to moderate the teal and Ira* proprietioM. as 1 considered them, with which the campaign had opened?to pour oil on the waters, which 1 perceived were likely to be troubled, and contribute, by all the means in my power, to the peuce, Juiet and good order of the country. And affirm that such was my purpose throughout, as was known to aU with whom 1 hud intercourse, and 1 am not conscious thut 1 ever mentioned thenam* ot a political opponent in any offensive sense, or uttereu a word that just excep? tion CO' Id be taken to. 1 addressed the colored persons specially, wherever I mot them, and endeavored, in simple language, to enlighten their understanding* and sonv nee their judgments, and 1 never, On any occasion, attempted directly ortnoJ* reetly, by word, thought or act, Id ihfld eticei their votes in anj otbt r way. 1 umt therefore, surprised ut the recklessness of the charges made in specification 6fle< the protest. "> M. In answer to the charges contained in specification 54 of the protest-,'i ?tat? that they are not true, as therein stated, and charged. I deny that any combination, and conspiracy was ever formed by per? sons resitting in any part of the State of South Carolina, for the purpose ol effecting the objects, or any ot them, us charged fa the said specification, or for any other purpose. It is true that political Organi? zations ot the respective parties were tormed. The Republican party Was or? ganized into Union or Loyal Leagues, and the Democratic party formed, iti most purls of the Slate, a counter organization under the name of Democratic Clubs, atod it is these latter, 1 presume, that are mod? estly styled combinations und conspira? cies. But if so, 1 charge that, it'not ra name, they were in fact just such con? spiracies us were formed by the respec? tive parties in every Slate, and perhaps in every county in the United States. Their sole object was to promote, by all legiti? mate und proper means, the success'of their parties. 1 admit that some of these organizations did pass resolutions that they woukl not give employment to, or permit to reside on their lunds, persons who affiliated with and sustained by their votes tho opposite party. But 1 deny lhat any such organisations, brother per? sons, ever resolved or proclaimed, as is charged, that such prisons " would be [driven with violence from said State, and prevented from remaining and living in ihe same." i was never present at any place where any resolutions, to the effect first named, were passed, and no stub re? solve was entered into by the association ! ai Andet son, ol which 1 was a member. And i deny that any portion ot tire peo? ple ot'thetfrd Congressional District Were compelled to conform to the wishes and Opinions of the aforesaid organizations, whether such wishes were expressed in j the form of resolutions or otherwise. 1 I deny that bodies ot armed men were formed in and patrolled the-3rd Congres? sional District, or any paitof it, by day or by night, for any length of time, tor any of the purjrowes^or commuting any of the out tages charged in tho said sj>ecification.n I deny that any portion of the people of the 3rd Congressional District were.in? timidated and overawed, so that they were prevented from voting for the can? didates of their choice, anil I deny that ten thuuau'ird, i'r any smaller number of electors, who Itad-determirted to cast their votes for contesiart, were prevented flora doing so by any of the means charged^or other unlawful means, or that any vtrter who was absent tVom the polls, or failed to vote, it present, for any cause, would have voted tor contestant. 10th. In answer to specification 55 of said profest, I deny thai it is true that all or an}' of the fraudulent nnd illegal votes cast in sard Congressional District, if ilny such were cast, were east for me, and charge that nil fcueh votes were cast for contestant; and I accept, for what it is worth, the notice of Contestant that he will demand a comparison of tho ballots, registration and poll-books. 11th. In answer to specification fift of the protest, I state lhat contestant as. ei? ther laboring under a very great delusion himself, or is trying to deceive otaeu per? sons by the statements of this specifica? tion. I charge that contestant can go into the counties of Newberry, Abbeville and Anderson tor the purpose ot tailing testimony in this contest,nr lor any oUier lawful purpose, with as mtieb safetyas he could go into any part of any other Slate in the Union; and his allegation to the contrary is msde, not only to give the appearance of sincerity to his numerous unfounded charges against the Managers ot Elections and people ot said counties, but to evade the Act of Congress pre? scribing t he mode of taking testimony in contested elections. 12th. In answer to the charges can* tained in specification 57 of the protest. I deny that the facts stated, and conclu? sions drawn by contestant, as expressed in said specification, are true, and churgo that whilst ho received a small minority, 1 received, according to the official count and declaration of the Stute Canvassers, all ot whom are persons in high official position, and leading members of the Republican party in South Carolina, a majority of three thousand and eight of tho votes cast for member ot Congress from the 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina, at the election' held on the 3rd day of November, A. P.. 1868. That I was fairly elected to said - office, and my disabilities, as herein admitted, aside, which it may bo the- good pleasure of Congress to remove, 1 am justly . enti? tled to the seat to whicii I have been elected by the people. And I charge.that the Commissioners of Election in the several counties of tho 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina, whosn duty it was to establish the election precincts,