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Staunton Spectator: January 8, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Sketch of Major Anderson
(Column 6)

Summary: A brief sketch of Major Anderson, who is in command of Federal troops in Charleston.

Western Virginia
(Column 6)

Summary: A piece outlining the conflicting interests of Western Virginia and the Eastern portions of the state, including unequal legislative representation and taxation discrepancies.

Origin of Article: Alexandria Gazette

Editorial Comment: "A correspondent of the Alexandria Gazette, writing from the county of Marion, under date of December the 22nd says:"

Full Text of Article:

Western Virginia is becoming aroused on the great question of disunion. Groaning under a burden of uneual taxation, the people are wide awake to their interest. The forum of the Legislature at Richmond this winter will present an interesting scene for demanding and conceding rights, long withheld, to the west, and long cherished by our eastern brethren in their enjoyment. The west is uncompromisingly in favor of the Union, not merely for the sake of the Union, but for the sacred and inestimable rights it guarantees to the people.

"If a State Convention is called, the first question to be settled is the basis of representation. The west will accept of nothing but the white basis as now represented in the lower House.

"The Convention, when called, must have power to amend the Constitution of the State, at least in that part which exempts a large portion of the slave property from taxation.

"If delegates are to be appointed to a Southern Convention, those delegates must be appointed by districts, arranged on the basis of the white population of the State.

"The obvious justice of these demands must commend them to the approval of all just thinking men. If our eastern brethren withhold these rights from the west at this juncture it will take one hundred thousand bayonets from a Southern Confederacy to force western Virginia into a union with the Cotton States. We want all these questions settled before we join co- partners with South Carolina."

Union of the States
(Column 7)

Summary: A brief article extolling the virtues of the Union, especially with respect to foreign policy and commerce.

How He Lost His Vote
(Column 7)

Summary: A parody of an immigrant's attempt to vote. Article suggests that supporting the Republicans will not help him gain the vote.

Full Text of Article:

By gar I'ave loss ma vote! I work ver hard tree four months for Messer Leencon, ze honest man vot spleet ze rail to mak free ze countree of tam neeger. I join ze wide open eye companee, I bear ze gran' torchfire of libertee, I care not for ze rain or ze mud, I all ze time gif tree cheer for Leencon and ze otre man Hameleen. I lose ma time, I gif ma monee, I stay out all ze night to bear ze torchfire and go in ze morning home wiz ze big breek in ma hat, ma wife give me feets for dat. By gar I get ver wet, ver muddee, spill ze tam tire oil on ma clotes, smell all like poly cat, gif tree cheer for Leencon, don't care for noting or any otre man, I go ze big pig for ze republican ticket, tre cheer for Leenocn, or any otre man, by gar! and zen, ma gracious! I after all loss ma vote! I go to ze poll, take ma place in ze line, wait tree four hour for ma turn to get to ze poll, offer ma ticket, ze man in ze poll ask ma name, Jacques Flam, he look ver sharp on hees paper, zen he ask me vot street--I tell heem Small street, numero ten, he say dare is no such street, I tell heem dere be Small street near ze poleece station numero tree, he say zat is Leetle street, by gar, I 'am made ze meestake, I find in ze yankee book small is leetle, leetle is small all ze sam or any otre man. I shall compren ze language a la yankee doodel, nevare! Ze man in ze poll look on ze paper and tell me ze name is not dere, I am not regeester! I say, 'ow is zis? Ma name must be on ze papere, you find him all right in ze detector, zen ze crowd push on me, keek me behind ma back, tell me to clear out, dry up, leaf de poll, tree cheer for Douglas, tare ma coat, jam ma hat over ma face, tro me out in de street, I sware ze poleece on zem or any other man, and run queek up de street like everything wiz ze large breek flying on my shoulder to safe ma life, all for ze tam regeester which 'ave not ma name in him.

A Word of Caution
(Column 1)

Summary: An article warning those who are "friends of the Union" to be wary of the drive to call a state convention.

Hopeful News
(Column 2)

Summary: Praises efforts of Border States' congressional delegations to reach a compromise solution to the secession crisis.

Highland Meeting
(Column 2)

Summary: The article summarizes the Highland County meeting that disavowed secession.

Individual Action Contemplated
(Column 1)

Summary: A rebuttal of a position expounded by the Richmond Enquirer, which advocated that Virginia should precipitate a collision with the Federal Government by individual action.

From Col. J.M. McCue
(Column 2)

Summary: Article announces receipt of a letter from Col. J. M. McCue outlining his support for a secession convention. Col. McCue is part of the Augusta County congressional delegation.
(Names in announcement: Col. J.M. McCue)

South Carolina
(Column 3)

Summary: Notes that South Carolina does not intend to put the ordinance of Secession to a vote of the people and blames a few "fanatic aristocrats" for pulling South Carolina toward secession.

Origin of Article: Charlottesville Review

Full Text of Article:

SOUTH CAROLINA.--We have not seen it adverted to, that the ordinance of Secession passed by the Convention of South Carolina, is not to be submitted to the people. They are transferred like a drove of hogs. Even in Naples, the other day, the people were allowed to vote upon the question of annexing themselves to Sardinia.--The Emperor Napoleon and Victor Emanuel went through the form in the case of Savoy and Nice. So of Tuscany, and the Romagna, and the Duchies. It is reserved to South Carolina to take the first step backwards. Their ideal is the Middle Ages. The people are a rabble.--They are to be governed not consulted. They are subjects, not the source of power. It is not the people of South Carolina who are dragging us into ruin: it is a few fanatic and chivalrous aristocrats.-- Charlottesville Review.

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: Report of a mass meeting of workingmen in Louisville in support of the Union. Article insinuates secession to be the work of the economic elite.

One Righteous Man Left in Charleston
(Column 4)

Summary: Article lauds the continued Union sentiments of noted Charlestonian J. S. Pettigru in spite of the secession fever gripping Charleston.

Origin of Article: The Washington States

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: Married on January 3.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J.H. Crawford, Wm. H. Cale, Sarah F. Morgan)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: Married on December 21.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J.R. Wheeler, Chapman Bagby, Theresa Humphreys)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Mrs. Butterly died on December 31 at age 25.
(Names in announcement: Annie Butterly, John Butterly)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Mrs. Cease died on December 18 at age 71.
(Names in announcement: Elizabeth Cease, Henry Cease)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: James Lewis Kyle died on December 22 at age 21.
(Names in announcement: S.K. TaylorEsq., James Lewis Kyle, Wm. KyleEsq.)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Emily Gamble died on January 4 at age 24.
(Names in announcement: Emily E. Gamble, Philander Gamble)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Henry Hobbs, son of Elizabeth and the late James Hobbs, died on December 14 at age 3.
(Names in announcement: Henry Hobbs, Elizabeth Hobbs, James O. Hobbs)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: W.H. Loudermilk died on December 26 at age 2. His windpipe was blocked by a grain of corn.
(Names in announcement: W.H. Loudermilk, Samuel Loudermilk, Elizabeth Loudermilk)

Meeting of the People of Highland
(Column 1)

Summary: Summarizes the minutes of a Highland town meeting that advocated seeking to remedy "Southern grievances" within the Union. Furthermore, the meeting deemed it inexpedient for the legislature to call a Convention without a vote of the people of the state.

Sudden Death
(Column 1)

Summary: Samuel Brownlee died suddenly on December 30th while he was on his way to Bethel Church in Augusta. He was 37 years old.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Brownlee)