Valley of the Shadow: Civil War-Era Newspapers

Staunton Spectator: March 11, 1857

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-Page 01-

For the Spectator; Abolition
(Column 6)
Summary: Examination of Abolition: what might the effect be of an abolition decreee; impossibility of two races living equally side by side; looks at the Bible, the Greeks & Romans for examples. Some sections are faint, blurry, hard to read.

Trailer: W. B. B.; Elendale, Va.

The Great Snow Storm; Interesting Facts
(Column 7)
Summary: Excerpts from National Observatory Report on the 1/18/57 snowstorm. It stretched from North Carolina to New England. Calls for a system of weather reporting via telegraph.

-Page 02-

Description of Page: Lots of news from Washington about the Senate, the Cabinet. Print at top of page is so faint it is barely readable. Congressional report, Markets in 7.

The President's Address
(Column 1)
Summary: Review of Buchanan's inaugural address. Issues include Squatter Sovereignty, the Tariff, Public Lands, Highway to the Pacific.

Reforms in Congress
(Column 1)
Summary: Complains about the disorderly proceedings of the end of the last session. Makes the process impossible to follow, inefficient. Calls for the removal of desks from the halls, to cut down on the length of speeches, abolition of the franking privilege.

A New Paper
(Column 2)
Summary: Annoucnment that a new paper is being published in Richmond, called "The South."

For the Spectator; To Will Woffle ??
(Column 4)
Summary: Top is illegible, but must be part of continuing debate over women's ability to run the town.

Trailer: Kate Kareless

Important Decsision
(Column 3)
Summary: Report on the Dred Scott Decision, delivered 3/7/57. Details the main points, agrees with it.

For the Spectator
(Column 4)
Summary: Letter nominating Walker to run for House of Delegates. Hopes the rousing local support will encourage him to run.
(Names in announcement: Maj. James Walker)

Trailer: Many Citizens

For the Spectator
(Column 4)
Summary: Report of a recent ball in Monteray.

The Inauguration
(Column 5)
Summary: Report on the Inauguration including the text of Buchanan's speech.

Died
(Column 7)
Summary: Died from an explosion of a gun, age 17 on 3/5/57
(Names in announcement: John Argenbright)
Died
(Column 7)
Summary: Julia Sipe, on 3/5/57.
(Names in announcement: Adam Hayne?, Julia A. Sipe)

-Page 03-

Description of Page: Page is all ads, including prospectus for "The South" (new Richmond paper)

-Page 04-

Description of Page: Cool ad for Ladies Confectionary store in col. 7.