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Staunton Spectator: December 22, 1863 Go To Page : 1 | 2 |

For the Spectator
(Column 6)

Summary: J.M. McCue writes that he recently visited the wounded and sick soldiers of the 5th and 52nd regiments in the Richmond hospitals, and he includes a list of the men he saw.
(Names in announcement: James M. Andrew, J.M. Beard, C. Donaho, W.H. Dennison, H.L. Hamrick, C.H. Jones, J.H. Lyder, G.E. McKendree, A.C. Ramsey, B.F. Whitmore, G.L. Berry, J. Fulwider, W.C. Hemp, G.T. Keyton, J.C. Koiner, A. Livick, M.M. Miller, Jno. Ryan, W.H. Reid, M.D. Sprouse, St. Clair Taylor, J. Tisdale, F. Whitmore, John S. Smith, Sam'l Lightner, D. Campbell, Peter Fitch, John G. Hogsett)

A Defiant Memphis Woman
(Column 6)

Summary: In response to a recent article in the Memphis paper calling on the populace to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving called for by President Lincoln, one women replied with great fervor against the proposed observance. She questions the sincerity of those citizens of Memphis who have pledged loyalty to the Union, attributing their pledges to fear of the "military despotism" of the system in Memphis.

Editorial Comment: "The following communications from a Memphis lady, is clipped from the Bulletin of a recent date:"

Lincoln's Proclamation
(Column 7)

Summary: A recent proclamation by President Lincoln establishes the criteria by which individuals and states can re-enter the Union.

Editorial Comment: "The following is the proclamation of Lincoln which was published with his message:"

Full Text of Article:

Whereas, in and by the Constitution of the United States, it is provided that the President shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment and whereas, a rebellion now exists whereby the loyal State government of several States have, for a long time, been subverted, and many persons have committed, and are guilty of treason against the United States; and whereas, with reference to said rebellion and treason, laws have been enacted by Congress declaring forfeitures and confiscation of property and liberation of slaves, all upon terms and conditions therein stated, and also declaring that the President was thereby authorized at any time thereafter, by proclamation to extend to persons who may have participated in the existing rebellion in any State or part thereof, pardon and amnesty, with such exceptions, and at such times, and on such conditions, as he may deem expedient for the public wellfare [sic]; and whereas, the Congressional declaration for limited and conditional pardon accords with the well established judicial exposition of the pardoning power; and whereas, with reference to the said rebellion the President of the United States has issued several proclamations with provisions in regard to the liberation of slaves; and whereas, it is now desired by some persons heretofore engaged in said rebellion to resume their allegiance to the United States, and to re-inaugurate loyal State governments within and for their respective States, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, do proclaim, declare and make known to all persons who have directly, or by implication, participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, that a full pardon is hereby granted to them and each of them, with restoration of all rights of property except as to slaves, and in property except as hereinafter excepted, that a full pardon is hereby granted to them and each of them, with restoration of all rights of property except as to slaves, and in property cases where the rights of third parties shall have intervened, and upon the condition that every such person shall take and subscribe an oath, and thenceforward, keep and maintain said oath inviolate, and which oath shall be registered for permanent preservation, and shall be of the tenor and effect following, to wit:

I do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all acts of Congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repeated, modified or held void by Congress or by the decision of the Supreme Court, and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President, made during the existing rebellion, having rference [sic] to slaves, so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the Supreme Court. So help me God.

The persons except from the benefits from the benefits of the foregoing provisions are all who are or shall have been civil or diplomatic officers or agents of the socalled [sic] Confederate Government, all who have left judicial stations under the United States to aid the rebellion, all who are or shall have been military or naval officers of said so called Confederate Government, above the rank of colonel in the army, of lieutenant in the navy; all who have left seats in the United States Congress to aid the rebellion, all who resigned commissions in the army or navy of the United States and afterwards aided the rebellion, and all who have engaged in any way in treating coloured persons, or white persons in charge of such, otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war, and which persons may have been found in the United States service as soldiers, seamen or in any other capacity. And I do further proclaim, declare and make known that whenever, in any of the States of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, a number of persons not less than one-tenth in number of the votes cast in such States at the Presidential election of the year of our Lord 1863--each having taken the oath aforesaid, and not having since violated it, and being a qualified voter by the election law of the States existing immediately before the so called act of secession, and excluding all others--shall re-establish a State government, which shall be republican, and in nowise contraving said oath, such shall be recognized as the true government of the State, and the State shall receive there under the benefit of the constitutional provision which declares that "the United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, on application of the Legislature, or of the Executive when the Legislature cannot be convened, and against domestic violence."

And I no further proclaim, declare and make known that any provision which may be adopted by such State government in relation to the freed people of such State, which shall recognize and declared their permanent freedom, provide for their education, and which may yet be consistent as a temporary arrangement with their present condition as a laboring, landless and houseless class, will not be objected to by the national Executive. And it is engaged as not improper that, in constructing a loyal State, government in any State, the name of the State, the boundary, the sub divisions, the Constitution and the general code of laws, as before the rebellion, be maintained, subject only to the modifications made necessary by the conditions hereinbefore stated, and such others, if any, not contravening said conditions, and which may be deemed expedient by those framing the new State government.

To avoid misunderstanding, it may be proper to say that this proclamation, so far as it relates to State governments, has no reference to State governments, has no reference to States wherein loyal State governments have all the while been maintained. And for the same reason it may be proper to further say that whether members sent to Congress from any State shall be admitted to seat constitutionally, rests exclusively with the respective house, and not to any extent with the Executive; and, still further, that this proclamation is intended to present to the people of the States wherein the national authority has been suspended, and loyal Sate [sic] governments have been subverted, a mode in and by which the national authority and loyal State governments may be re-establish within said States or in any of them; and, while the mode presented is the best the Excutive [sic] can suggest with his present impressions, it must not be understood that no other possible mode would be acceptable.

Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the eighth day of December, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States of America the eighty-eighth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Christmas
(Column 2)

Summary: A notice to the subscribers that "[a]s the Editor is absent" the employees have decided to suspend publication of the paper during the holidays.

Lectures In Staunton
(Column 2)

Summary: The Spectator's editor encourages Staunton residents to follow Richmond's example and hold a series of lectures during the winter season. He believes that such lectures could provide a useful and informative respite from the concerns of the day.

Full Text of Article:

We think it would be well if the citizens of Staunton would make some arrangement to have a series of Lectures delivered in this place, the proceeds to be appropriated for the benefit of the families of poor soldiers. We have no doubt that the services of able and eloquent Lecturers could be obtained, that the attendance would be good, and that the proceeds would amount during the Winter, to a very considerable sum, which, properly dispensed, would afford great relief to many deserving families. They might get Dr. Hoge to deliver the Lectures in this place which he is now delivering to crowded houses in Richmond for a similar object. The service of other Lecturers could be obtained, so that one or more lectures might be delivered each week during the Winter Season. Such lectures would afford innocent and instructive entertainment and would be well attended. Will not such an arrangement be made?

Our Loss Near Chattanoga
(Column 2)

Summary: The losses of the Confederacy at Chattanooga are listed as 323 killed, 1996 wounded, and 2319 missing. The Union losses are believed to be about 4000 killed and wounded, and 6000 captured.

Origin of Article: The Richmond Dispatch

Wm. E. Coffman Not Hung
(Column 2)

Summary: Following up on an article from the week before, it is reported that Wm. Coffman has not been hanged despite his court martial. Since Mr. Coffman is a civilian it has been decided that his fate must be judged by a civilian trial.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: Notes that the legislature is likely to adopt a measure conscripting all foreigners residing in the Confederate States into the armed services. The probability that many will choose to leave the country rather than enter the army doesn't bother the author at all.

Full Text of Article:

There is little doubt that the Congress will very soon pass a law conscripting all foreigners in the Confederacy. This ought to have been done long ago. It is a shame that these men should be permitted to enjoy all the privileges of the country, without bearing its full burdens. They have made fortunes out of the war, while the natives have fought the battles. This is manifestly wrong. Every one of this class should be made to select between leaving the country, or going into the army. The most of them will, of course, adopt the former alternative and leave us, but we cannot say that we either expect or desire them to do otherwise. They who are not willing to share with us the fortunes of the Confederacy should abandon the country.

The News
(Column 3)

Summary: Discusses a number of serious engagements near Salem and Roanoke, Virginia. In addition, the article also includes news from Tennessee.

Origin of Article: The Lynchburg Republican

The Lower Valley
(Column 3)

Summary: Reports unsubstantiated rumors of enemy movements in the lower Valley.

"The Age"
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports that a new publication, called "The Age," is being printed in Richmond. The new magazine will focus on the arts and sciences.

Reynold's Brigade
(Column 4)

Summary: The Atlanta Register has corrected the error of earlier reporters who believed that Reynold's brigade was the first to give way in the battle on Missionary Ridge. In fact, Reynolds and his brigade fought valiantly and held to the last.

Origin of Article: The Atlanta Register

P. O. Department
(Column 4)

Summary: The latest report of the postmaster general provides the specifics on the volume of mail handled by the postal service and notes the revenues and costs of the bureau.

Retaliation
(Column 4)

Summary: In retaliation for the Union decision to hold seventeen Confederate States navymen in irons and to try these men as pirates, the Confederacy has selected a like number of Union navymen for similar treatment.

Origin of Article: The Richmond Enquirer

Raid Into Kentucky
(Column 4)

Summary: A recent excursion by Captain Peter M. Everett, of the 1st Battalion Mounted Rifles, was remarkably successful, inflicting serious damage on the enemy while suffering minimal injury.

[No Title]
(Column 4)

Summary: Capt. George Washington Alexander, commandant at Castle Thunder, has been relieved of his position and charged with malfeasance in office.

Congressional
(Column 5)

Summary: The majority of action at the legislature has been devoted to the question of substitution in the military service. A number of measures were introduced and acted upon without final enactment by both houses.

A Yankee Opinion Of Their Friends In East Tennessee
(Column 5)

Summary: A letter intercepted by Southern forces indicates that at least some of the soldiers serving in Tennessee have a very low opinion of the Union sympathizers in that State.

Legislative
(Column 6)

Summary: The legislature has not produced much of note recently. One of the few bills to actually pass both houses was a bill that increased the compensation of the members of the general assembly, governor, judges, and other officers of the state.

[No Title]
(Column 6)

Summary: A soldier discusses the widespread discontent in the army and predicts problems unless remedial action is taken. In particular, the men have to be provided with opportunities to visit their homes and take care of familial concerns.

In Limbo
(Column 7)

Summary: Captain Joseph Biller captured by Confederate troops at Missionary Ridge is believed to be the same Joseph Biller who was tarred and feathered and run out of Savannah upon conviction for theft.

[No Title]
(Column 7)

Summary: During Governor Watts's inaugural speech, he praised Virginia in most effusive terms.

Editorial Comment: "Gov. Watts in his inaugural address, speaks in the following complimentary strain of the benign old mother of us all:"

Married
(Column 7)

Summary: Capt. M. X. White and Miss Mary J. Hogshead were married at her father's home on the 10th of December. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Emmerson.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Mr. Bernard S. Emmerson, Capt. M. X. White, Miss Mary J. Hogshead)

Died
(Column 7)

Summary: On December 13th, Mr. Andrew Stilington passed away in his 80th year of life, while residing in Millboro Springs, Virginia.
(Names in announcement: Andrew Sitlington)