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Staunton Spectator: August 22, 1865 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 |

Negro Equality
(Column 04)

Summary: In poetic form, the author expresses his fears that whites will be "equaled to the 'nigger,'" with special attention to the prospect of "amalgamation."

Full Text of Article:

Over all creation,

In the church and forum,

Black and white are rated

Equal ad-valorem

Worth is estimated

By the form and figure;

Won't you feel elated,

Equaled to the "nigger?"

Everywhere we see it,

Though we do not like it,

In amalgamation,

Black and white united,

We are not fastidious--

Can put up with either;

But protect us, Heaven,

From a race of neither!

Velvet-headed preachers,

Kinky-headed lawyers,

Curly-headed teachers,

Wooly-headed employers,

Mixed in everything,

Mingling everywhere,

Neither white nor black--

Neither wool nor hair!

Women clad in sable,

White as white can be--

Kinky-headed baby,

Dancing on the knee!

Little ebon beauty,

Just the very figure

Of the woman's husband--

North Carolina nigger!

See high official,

And his lovely-bride,

In an open-buggy,

Seated side by side;

He of Massachusetts,

Haughty too as Hades,

She's Guinea sable,

Black as ace of spades!

--Day Book

A Southern Convention Suggested
(Column 04)

Summary: The editors commend the idea of a convention of Southern delegates to correct the "false impression" held in the North that Southerners "are still cherishing a spirit of rebellion." The suggestion was first made by the Memphis Commercial, and endorsed by the Richmond Whig and the Charlottesville Chronicle.

Origin of Article: Memphis Commercial; Richmond Whig; Charlottesville Chronicle

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: A letter from a group of citizens presenting B. F. Hailman as a candidate for the House of Delegates.
(Names in announcement: B. Hailman, George Shuey, J. BaylorJr., Johnathon Bosserman, P. Wiseman, C. Palmer, William Cale, J. Shirey, D. Strouse, Joseph Miller, George Miller, Jacob Cale, H. Swatzley, Jacob Argenbright, Haze Moffett, Dr. W. McChesney, David Rusmissell, J. Dunlap, A. Baylor, J. Thompson, G. Rusmissell, J. Beard, John Cale, J. Miller, Johnathon Baylor, P. Strouse, R. Hoover, George Shuey, Joseph Trimble, D. Clemmer, Robert Bickle)

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: A letter from "Soldiers" urging a meeting at the county Court House to select men who are not "obnoxious to the disabling clause of the Constitution" for the various offices in the coming elections.
(Names in announcement: John Newton, Elijah Hogshead, W. Cochran, David Young, Reuben Hill, Dr. B. Walker, William Tate)

Trailer: Soldiers

Before And During The War
(Column 01)

Summary: The pre-war editor of the Spectator returns to editorial duties, and recalls his views, and those of his paper, before and during the Civil War. He was, he explains, opposed to secession but supported the Confederacy once the North attempted to use "military coercion." He also maintains that "the citizens of the South should be restored as soon as possible to all the rights, privileges and immunities of citizens of the U. S."

Federal and Confederate Strength
(Column 03)

Summary: The article points out the disparity between the two armies at the close of the war and expresses wonder that the Confederate army was able "to hold out so long."

Married
(Column 01)

Summary: Jacob Baker and Mary Frenger, both of Augusta, were married in Greenville on the 20th by Reverend Gaver.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Gaver, Jacob Baker, Mary Frenger)

Married
(Column 01)

Summary: Martha Freeman and Francis Stringer were married on August 21 by the Reverend William Baird.
(Names in announcement: Rev. William Baird, Francis Stringer, Martha Freeman)

Married
(Column 01)

Summary: Mollie Beard and George Hansberger were married in Sangersville on August 10 by the Reverend J. W. Howe.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. W. Howe, George Hansberger, Mollie Beard, William Beard)

Died
(Column 01)

Summary: John Stevenson died at his father's residence on July 31. He was 19.
(Names in announcement: John Stevenson, R. W. Stevenson, M. C. Stevenson)

Died
(Column 01)

Summary: Sally Taylor, the daughter of Rev. George Taylor and Susan Spotswood Taylor, died on August 15. She was almost two.
(Names in announcement: Sally Taylor, Rev. George Taylor, Susan Taylor)

Died
(Column 01)

Summary: Lizzie Bare, wife of J. W. Bare, died August 17 at the home of Henry Bare. Lizzie Bare had both "a good mind" and "the advantages of a liberal education;" she was 22.
(Names in announcement: Henry Bare, Lizzie Bare, J. W. Bare, Mary Cease, H. B. Cease)

To The Voters Of The Sixth Congressional District
(Column 02)

Summary: In this letter John F. Lewis announces himself a candidate for Congress, explaining that he is "emphatically for peace."
(Names in announcement: John Lewis)

Origin of Article: Rockingham Register

Full Text of Article:

I respectfully announce myself a candidate to represent you in the 39th Congress. As I have few personal acquaintances in some of the counties, and have neither the time or health requisite for canvassing so large a District, I take this method of announcing to the voters my opinion on some of the subjects which claim the consideration of the people.

Before the election for members of the Convention which passed the ordinance of Secession, I had never sought nor held office. I was elected to the Convention by an overwhelming majority of the voters of my county, who, up to that time, differed from me in political opinion, and elected with the distinct understanding that I admitted neither the right, justice or practicability of secession, and that, under no circumstances would I vote for or sign an ordinance claiming to exercise such a right.

I have always opposed and condemned the radicals of the North, and am as much as ever opposed to their principles and policy; but now, as before the war, I would oppose them in the way and with the means compatible with the Constitution of the United States and the institutions of our common country.

Such was the wisdom that formed our system of Government that the grossest mismanagement and corruption in the Executive and Legislative departments never wrought oppression upon any human being, and I believe the wise and pure men who established it were instrument in the hands of Providence to provide for the people of the United States a Government which will be to them a blessing and protection for all time.

I have never believed slaveholding a sin, whilst it was allowed and protected by the Constitution and by the laws of the States; but the experience of the last fifteen years had convinced me that it was not an economical institution. I do not believe it has been legally or Constitutionally abolished, but it has been practically destroyed, and I think it the part of wisdom to accept the situation as it is. I am afraid the violent disruption of the relation of master and slave will be productive of much evil, principally to the freed class but I hope and believe (if the people act wisely) Virginia will attain to a much greater degree of prosperity and happiness than she ever would have done with slave labor. That strenuous efforts will be made to forego negro suffrage upon the States which are without Constitutional State Governments, I cannot doubt; by I rely on the wisdom of the present Federal Administration, and the conservative members in the next Congress, to avert that evil from our country. Hence the importance of sending to the next Congress, from the Southern States, men of whose loyalty there can be no question, and in regard to whose rights to their seats no serious issue can be raised. The voter of every conservative member of the next Congress will be of priceless value to the South.

What influence I could exert was used to have the restrictions removed from the voters of this State, and, if elected to a seat in Congress, I shall exert myself to have every one restored to all the political rights he enjoyed before the war. I do not believe that a Republican Government can exist with the present restrictions upon the qualification to hold office. I am satisfied that the only requirement should be an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, to restore every one to all the rights of citizens. I think the most lenient and kind course that can be pursued towards the Southern people consistently with the duty of the Government, will be best calculated to restore peace, prosperity and fraternal feelings. I am opposed to any attempt upon the part of the United States to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. I am emphatically for peace.

John F. Lewis