Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Staunton Spectator: February 26, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Union Sentiment of Virginia
(Column 4)

Summary: Praises the state of Virginia for putting the cause of Union ahead of Democratic party politics as evidenced by the Convention elections.

[No Title]
(Column 6)

Summary: Writer requests that Christian citizens ask God to guide the actions of the Convention and save the Union.

Trailer: C.

[No Title]
(Column 6)

Summary: Writer ardently defends the Union and blames the leaders of the seceded states for being unwilling to compromise. He accuses the seceded states of tyranny against their own people in the form of forced loans and high taxation.

Letter from George Washington
(Column 7)

Summary: Excerpt of a letter written by George Washington in 1786 that argues against the right of secession.

Still They Come
(Column 2)

Summary: The Spectator reports that requests for subscriptions to the paper continue to increase. This is taken as evidence of a popular endorsement of its unionist views.

The 22nd in Staunton
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports the celebration of George Washington's birthday with a parade by the West Augusta Guard.
(Names in announcement: Capt. William Baylor, Capt. John Imboden, Alex Stuart, Major Gen. Harper, John Doom)

Equal Taxation--Let Justice Be Done
(Column 1)

Summary: Appeals to the Convention to remedy the problem of unequal taxation, which favors the planters of eastern Virginia and penalizes the citizens of the west.

Full Text of Article:

It will be seen by reference to the proceedings of the Convention on Thursday, that Ex-Gov. Wise said that the resolutions offered by Mr. Woods, of Barbour, justified the course which he and four other Eastern members pursued in the Convention in 1850, when they contended for equal taxation and equal representation for the West and East. If justice to Western Virginia demanded, as it certainly did, equality of taxation in 1850, justice demands the same in 1861. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Wise will endeavor, in the present Convention, to have justice done to Western Virginia in respect to taxation. Since 1850, the State has been taxed to a very large amount for the purpose of protecting the property of the East. There are, if possible, stronger reasons for equalizing taxation now than in 1850. No people, we venture to say, have ever submitted with equal patience to such palpable injustice as the people of Western Virginia have done. We hope thrt this Convention will do justice to the Western portion of the State. The people of the West should demand justice at the hands of this Convention. Fiat justitia, ruat calum.--Let justice be done though the heavens fall.

The Rights of the People Disregarded
(Column 2)

Summary: Asserts that, if given the chance to vote, the citizens of all the seceded states except South Carolina would have voted for the Union. The article argues that the politicians in those states have usurped the rights of the people.

An Appeal to the People
(Column 2)

Summary: Argues that any decisions regarding secession should be submitted to the people for ratification. The decision cannot be left up to the legislature, because this body as it is now composed is not representative of the conservative unionist opinions of most Virginians.

Arrival of Lincoln in Washington City
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that Lincoln arrived in Washington.

The Chief Object--The Preservation of the Union
(Column 3)

Summary: Argues that the chief reason for the abandonment of the Articles of Confederation in favor of the Constitution was to preserve the Union. Cites as evidence the resolutions adopted by the Congress of the Confederation in 1787 and statements from Washington's farewell address.

Secret Oath-Bound Cabals
(Column 6)

Summary: Blames secession on a conspiracy of secret societies which preserve order by "secret management" in the face of increasing Union sentiment. Allegedly, Unionists are watched and are ordered out of the province if they speak against secession.

Married
(Column 7)

Summary: Married on January 31.
(Names in announcement: Reuben Baziel, Sarah Horn, Rev. J.L. Blakemore)

Married
(Column 7)

Summary: Married on February 19. Mr. Garber is from Rockingham.
(Names in announcement: Rev. R.C. Walker, Christian C. Garber, Miss A.E. Conner)

Married
(Column 7)

Summary: Married on February 14. Mr. Pool is from Rockingham.
(Names in announcement: Rev. D.W. Arnold, Richard N. Pool, Josie Hite)

Married
(Column 7)

Summary: Married in Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania on February 12. Capt. Newton is from Augusta.
(Names in announcement: Rev. A.A. Eskridge, Capt. J.W. Newton, Miss M.W. Eskridge)

Died
(Column 7)

Summary: Horace died on February 17 at age 6 years, and Willie died on February 19 at 3 years. Both died of scarlet fever.
(Names in announcement: Horace Lushbaugh, Willie Lushbaugh, Samuel H. Lushbaugh, Sarah Lushbaugh)

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Questions the secessionists dedication to states' rights when the most radical of their wing wish to disregard the voice of the people of Virginia, who voted for pro-Union delegates to the Convention in the recent election.

Origin of Article: Alexandria Gazette

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Contends that the people of Natchez were not in support of secession and questions the right of the Mississippi Convention to secede without the people's consent. The Courier also questions the right of the Southern Confederacy to appoint rulers, alter Constitutions and impose taxes without popular consent.

Origin of Article: Natchez Courier