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Staunton Spectator: February 2, 1864 Go To Page : 1 | 2 |

Cure for Stretches in Sheep
(Column 4)

Summary: Offers cure for the fatal "stretches" disease currently plaguing sheep in the county.

Confederate States Congress
(Column 5)

Summary: Reports on the proceedings of the Confederate Congress. Discusses a heated debate over a bill that would recruit free blacks to work as cooks and teamsters in the military.

The Legislature
(Column 6)

Summary: Summarizes recent activity of the Virginia Legislature, including the consideration of bills for the relief of soldiers' families.

For the Spectator
(Column 7)

Summary: Urges Washington Dice, Esq. to declare his candidacy for sheriff.
(Names in announcement: Washington DiceEsq.)

Trailer: Vox Populi

For the Spectator
(Column 7)

Summary: Thanks the women of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Zion Church, Waynesboro, for donating forty-four pairs of socks, ten pairs of drawers, two pairs of yarn gloves, one shirt and two barrels of provisions to the soldiers of the 31st Virginia Regiment.

Trailer: W. P. Cooper, Major Commanding Regt.

General Orders, No. 7
(Column 7)

Summary: Announces that a temporary reduction in soldiers' rations is necessary.

Trailer: R. E. Lee, Gen'l

How to Cure Desertion
(Column 7)

Summary: Lists suggestions for minimizing desertions, including a plan that would declare all marriages to deserters illegal.

Origin of Article: Mobile Register

Buying Cotton in Texas
(Column 7)

Summary: Notes a Texas plan that would allow the government to purchase half of the cotton produced in that state and to export it through the blockade or into Mexico.

Strange Sentiments
(Column 1)

Summary: Criticizes the Richmond Enquirer for supporting the suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus.

Full Text of Article:

In our last issue, we noticed the fact that the Richmond "ENQUIRER" not only advocated the policy of suspending the writ of Habeas Corpus but denounced it as the "criminal's writ." It seems from an article published a few days after, that the "Enquirer" is not only in favor of suspending the writ of Habeas Corpus, but also of "tearing up the Constitution as waste paper." The following are extracts from an editorial article in the "Enquirer" of January the 25th:

"In common with the people, we would sacrifice every right of person and of property, submit to the unrestricted use of any and every power, that can contribute to the overthrow of the enemy. The success of the cause is embarrassed by the trammels of a Constitution designed and constructed for the development of a people in times of peace, but which fetters the public arm in the present conflict of life and death. Nations, like athletes, must strip for the fight. The earnestness of the enemy, as well as their resolution, is exemplified in the manner in which they broke the fetters of their Constitution, and rushed to the conflict with limbs free from clogs of every kind. But in this conflict with a giant, the Confederacy often finds its hands tied by its own Constitution.

This tender regard for the constitution is very much like Mr. Pickwick in the Fleet--"on principle." But it won't drive back the enemy, and won't feed the army; it aids bad men in harboring desserters [sic], and protect traitors who won't plant, because the Confederate Government don't pay as much as the speculator. Speaking only for ourselves but firmly believing we represent the people, we boldly avow that we would tear up the Constitution as waste paper, rather than suffer it to impede the public defence, or embarrass the Government in the conflict for Independence.

In noticing the strange and startling sentiments expressed by the "Enquirer," the Petersburg "Express" inquires, "who would have thought three years, or two years, or one year ago, that any respectable Southern journal would come out and boldly propose to set aside the Constitution which the President and every officer of the government has solemnly sworn to support because "the success of the cause is embarrassed by its trammels?" Who would have dreamed that such a journal would have held up as worthy of imitation by our government the example of the Yankee Administration in breaking the fetters of their cons[t]itution that they might rush to the conflict with limbs free from clogs of every kind?" That it would ridicule "a tender regard for the constitution" as Pickwickian foolishness! And that, finally, speaking for itself, with the belief that in so speaking it was representing the people, it would "tear up the Constitution as waste paper rather than impede the public defence, or embarrass the government in the conflict for independence!"

The Constitution, it seems, was intended only to dispense its benefits in times of peace! This, to say the least of it, is a strange idea. There is nothing in the instrument itself that by the remotest & most arbitrary construction can be interpreted into such an intention, and certainly there is everything in the circumstances under which it was framed and adopted to indicate that it was designed to operate as well in times of war as in times of peace, for the country was on the very brink of war when it was framed and accepted as was well known at the time to its framers. When the Permanent Government was organized, of which the Constitution is the life and soul, the country was in the very midst of a war, which had already been waged on a gigantic scale for more than six months, and yet nothing was then said or thought about its being designed only for peaceful developments. The truth is, the Constitution and the Government (not the Administration of the Government) are synonymous things, if not terms, because the last is organized upon the platform of the first and derives from it all its vitality. There is not a power that it possesses that is not granted by the Constitution. The whole orbit in which it moves, and the movements themselves, are ordained and regulated by the Constitution, and the moment this connection between them ceases, the government, such as it now is, dies.

We do not--we cannot think that the people of the Confederate States are prepared as yet to give themselves up to the embraces of absolutism. They can conquer the enemy without the shadow of a necessity for resorting to this prodigious sacrifice. They can triumphantly bear themselves through the struggle, and preserve at the same time the Constitution, which is the charter of their rights."

The Tithe Tax
(Column 1)

Summary: Reminds farmers that everyone is required to deliver the tithe of their products once they are notified to do so.

The Army Bill
(Column 2)

Summary: Expresses opposition to a bill passed by the Confederate Senate that would tighten up military exemption rules.

Encouraging
(Column 2)

Summary: Urges readers to be optimistic for Confederate success this spring.

The Animus of the Enemy
(Column 2)

Summary: States that a Yankee resolution to guarantee protection from interference to states that submit to the federal government is unacceptable.

President Davis
(Column 2)

Summary: Provides an excerpt of a patriotic speech given by President Davis in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Substitute Farmers Exempt
(Column 2)

Summary: Notes that the Confederate House of Representatives voted to exempt those men who have substitutes and are engaged in the production of grain.

Northern Democracy
(Column 3)

Summary: Warns readers that the Northern Democrats' attempts at conciliation are insincere.

Origin of Article: Richmond Dispatch

Small Pox
(Column 3)

Summary: Notes that small pox is abating in Danville.

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: Announces that Dr. C. R. Harris will address Augusta County residents next Saturday on "the currency and state of the country."
(Names in announcement: Dr. C. R. Harris)

Fight With Swamp Dragons--The Swamps Whipped
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports that the Swamp Dragons were forced to retreat after confronting Confederate troops in Pendleton County.

The Duty of the People
(Column 4)

Summary: Suggests that anyone not serving in the army should do all he or she can to feed, clothe, and encourage the Confederate soldiers.

[No Title]
(Column 4)

Summary: Cites a letter from a man living near Winchester which reports that several Yankee regiments gave up a planned raid up the Valley when their terms of service expired.

Reward of Virtue
(Column 5)

Summary: Pays tribute to the average soldier who selflessly has given up his home, endured bad weather, and faced carnage without complaint or expectation of promotion.

The Duty of Each
(Column 5)

Summary: Argues that there are some men who would be more productive for the Confederacy at home on their farms than on the battlefield.

Full Text of Article:

Every man has his work to perform in carrying on the war. The farmer, the manufacturer, the mechanic, the editor, and numbers of others, if they faithfully discharge their duty, can render a far more valuable service to the army and country at home than they can with muskets on their shoulders in the field. In fact, it were impossible to conduct the war at all if a sufficient number of these, especially farmers, are not left at home to provide for the wants of the army. Bread and meat are to be made, clothing and other supplies of the army are to be manufactured, intelligence to be disseminated, the spirit of the people to be kept up and made equal to the necessities of the time, and their liberties guarded against encroachment--all this can be done only by those who remain at home, and they constitute as indispensable a class in time of war as the soldiers themselves.

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On December 31, 1863, Rev. John L. Blakemore married John B. Harman and Delila Messersmith.
(Names in announcement: Rev. John L. Blakemore, Mr. John B. Harman, Miss Delila Messersmith)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On January 24, Rev. John Blakemore married John C. Yeakle and Elizabeth Blakemore.
(Names in announcement: Rev. John L. Blakemore, John C. Yeakle, Elizabeth Blakemore)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On January 25, Rev. D. W. Arnold married James E. Bolen and Mary A. Wilson at the residence of the bride's father in Spring Hill.
(Names in announcement: Rev. D. W. Arnold, James E. Bolen, Mary A. Wilson)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: Rev. Mr. Dice married James S. Kennedy and Elizabeth V. Webb on January 26.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Mr. Dice, James S. Kennedy, Elizabeth V. Webb)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Dr. T. Rennolds died on January 28 after an attack of nervous rheumatism resulted in pneumonia. He was 69 years old.
(Names in announcement: Dr. T. Rennolds)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: In the Hospital in Staunton, James P. Risk died of wounds received at Bristoe Station on October 28. He was a member of the 2nd Rockbridge battalion.
(Names in announcement: James P. Risk)

Trailer: Amicus

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On November 11, 1863, John Paxton died of pneumonia. He was a member of the 2nd Rockbridge Battery, McIntosh's Battalion of Artillery.
(Names in announcement: Mr. John Paxton)

Trailer: H.

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On January 13, Margaret E. McIntosh died at age 51 at her residence in Staunton.
(Names in announcement: Mrs. Margaret E. McIntosh)

Recruits Wanted
(Column 5)

Summary: Calls on men who have the privilege of selecting their company to join the Augusta Lee Rifles of the 25th Virginia Regiment.
(Names in announcement: John PilsonSergeant)

The Army Bill
(Column 6)

Summary: Provides transcript of a bill recently passed by the Confederate Senate that makes it much more difficult for men to obtain an exemption from service. The bill includes a provision that repeals the exemption of men who employ substitutes.

In Augusta County Court
(Column 6)

Summary: Lists men appointed by the court to purchase supplies for soldiers' families: C. C. Francisco, District 1; John Trimble, District 2; Jno. J. Larew and William T. Rush, Greenville district; G. A. Bruce and David S. Bell, Waynesboro district; Samuel B. Finley and J. D. Craig, New Hope district; William H. Gamble and Cyrus Brown, Mt. Sidney district; J. G. Fulton and Thomas S. Hogshead, Mt. Solon district; William H. Bell and J. J. Martin, Middlebrook district; A. B. Lightner and William W. Montgomery, Churchville district.
(Names in announcement: William A. BurnettD. C., C. C. Francisco, John Trimble, Jno. J. Larew, William T. Rush, G. A. Bruce, David S. Bell, Samuel B. Finley, J. D. Craig, William H. Gamble, Cyrus Brown, J. G. Fulton, Thomas S. Hogshead, William H. Bell, J. J. Martin, A. B. Lightner, William W. Montgomery)

Trailer: Wm. A. Burnett, D. C.

Home Guards
(Column 6)

Summary: Announces that members of the Staunton Home Guard who are newly liable for conscription should return their arms and accouterments to Lt. James W. Crawford.
(Names in announcement: J. Wayt BellCaptain, Lt. James W. Crawford)

Trailer: J. Wayt Bell, Captain