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Staunton Spectator: November 07, 1865 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

President Johnson's Opinions
(Column 05)

Summary: An interview with the President, in which he argues that "to let the negroes have universal suffrage now" would "breed a war of races."

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: This letter castigates the resolutions of the General Conference of the United Brethren Church for endorsing "that broad Black Republican doctrine," the assertion "that the negro is the equal of the white man." The author suggests that members of the Church throughout Virginia should "hold meetings and denounce" the resolutions to demonstrate their disagreement with them, and singles out an unnamed "prominent man of their denomination" who is formerly a "citizen of Augusta."

Trailer: Ottobine

Mutterings of War
(Column 01)

Summary: Suggests that "there is a probability that the United States may soon be involved in war with England, France, or Maximillian in Mexico, and, it may be, with all at the same time." But, the writer contends, before going to war "with Foreign Nations" the government "should restore the people of the South to all their Constitutional rights."

Full Text of Article:

The signs indicate that there is a probability that the United States, may soon be involved in war with England, France, or Maximillian in Mexico, and, it may be, with all at the same time.

The United States' Government demands from the British Government compensation for injuries done to American citizens by the Alabama and other Confederate cruisers which sailed from British ports, which the latter positively refuses to grant. In the language of a contemporary, Mr. Seward demands indemnity, as a matter of justice, and Earl Russell refuses it as a matter of honor. A "commission" is tendered on that side and rejected on this, and there the matter stands. Now as to Mexico. In April 1864, when the United States had its hands pretty full with attending to the Southern Confederacy, so-called, the U. S. House of Representatives passed, by a unanimous vote, the following resolution:

"Resolved, &c., That the Congress of the United States are unwilling, by silence, to leave the nations of the world under the impression that they are indifferent spectators of the deplorable events now occurring in the republic of Mexico; and they, therefore, think fit to declare that it does not accord with the policy of the United States to acknowledge a monarchical government, erected on the ruins of any republican government in America under the auspices of any European power."

The New York Evening Post asks, "Does any one believe that Congress will care less, now, about the French usurpation in Mexico than it did at a time when our own perpetuity as a nation was endangered?"

In a late speech of Mr. Seward delivered at Auburn, N. Y., he used the following emphatic language.

"I expect that we shall see republican institutions, wherever they have been heretofore established throughout the American continent, speedily vindicated, renewed and re-invigorated."

In his connection the Richmond Bulletin says: "Of the temper in which such a warning and menace would be received by the Third Napoleon, were presume there is no room for doubt; while Maximilian, of his part, has already made his war speech, and vowed to shed, in defence of his crown, every drop of that blood which is now "all Mexican."

The feeling which is to determine the course of this country, must be sought among the people of the Northern States -- not here. The South wants war with nobody, and upon no cause. She is too much engrossed with her own sorrows, and has too much to do in repairing her desolations, to think about, or care about, either Mexico or the Monroe doctrine, Maximilian or Napoleon. She wants repose, and has no feelings to waste on the outside world, whether on the other side of the gulf or the other side of the sea. But the people and presses of the North are in a different mood; and it is they who hold the power and have the votes that are to direct it."

Before the U. S. Government become involved in war with Foreign Nations it should restore the people of the South to all their Constitutional rights. It would not look well to go to war with Maximilian to secure the rights of Mexicans, when constitutional rights were denied the citizens of the Southern States.

Negro Suffrage
(Column 01)

Summary: Argues that "the effects of negro suffrage" would be felt not only in the South, but also among "the white laboring men of the North." With the "Southern States" now powerless to resist, it remained for the "conservatism of the North" to determine "whether Abolitionism shall further dictate to the country this humiliation of the white man."

Origin of Article: Richmond Enquirer

Editorial Comment: "The Richmond Enquirer says,"

Full Text of Article:

The Richmond Enquirer says, "The immediate effects of negro suffrage would be felt in the Southern States; but the white laboring men of the North would not escape its effects. The subject is one to interest them and to influence their relation to parties, and upon their votes, in their own States, will depend whether Abolitionism shall further dictate to the country this humiliation of the white man. These Southern States are powerless to protect themselves against fanaticism; -- their effort with arms failed -- their voices at the polls are unheeded -- the country must be saved from black crusade by the conservatism of the North throwing itself between the fanatics and their victim. They have determined not only to rule these States but to ruin them; to make them the scenes of social experiment without regard to consequences. "To the victors belong the spoils" is their motto, and having plundered us of rights and property, they seek now to degrade us in social life. Our destiny and that of the whole country is involved -- and whether this is the Government of the white man will depend upon the defeat of the Republican abolition fanatics."

Mr. Stuart
(Column 02)

Summary: Reports that the Lynchburg Republican was the only other paper in the state, besides the Spectator, to advocate electing candidates who were unable to take the test-oath, and that the Lynchburg paper now expresses admiration for A. H. H. Stuart.
(Names in announcement: A. H. H. Stuart)

Vote for Congress
(Column 03)

Summary: Lists the votes, by county, for Lewis and Stuart in the recent Congressional election and praises the "firmness and independence" reflected in the overwhelming majority for Stuart, pointing out that "the Valley is the only portion of the State which had the manliness to vote for candidates for Congress who would not agree to take the unconstitutional Congressional test oath."

Full Text of Article:

The following is the vote cast in this District for candidates for Congress:

It will be observed that Madison is the banner county. The small vote in Craig county is accounted for in the fact that most of the citizens thought they belonged to the Abingdon District, and voted, by mistake, for Hoge. The Valley is the only portion of the State which had the manliness to vote for candidates for Congress who would not agree to take the unconstitutional Congressional test oath. Conrad in the Winchester District, and Stuart in this, are the only Representatives from this State who will refuse to take that obnoxious oath, and two better and abler Representatives could not have been selected. The independent, conservative, Constitution-loving citizens of the Valley feel ashamed of their fellow-citizens in Eastern Virginia who were wont, before the war, to accuse them of a too submissive spirit.--When the time arrived which "tried the souls of men," the election test showed who possessed the most firmness and independence, and the decision was in favor of the people of the Valley, and the counties West of it. Madison is a glorious exception in the East.

Pardons for Virginians
(Column 03)

Summary: Lists residents of Augusta, Page, Rockingham, and Rockbridge counties who recently received pardons from the Governor.
(Names in announcement: W. Compton, Jacob Baylor, H. Bell, Samuel Cline)

National Thanksgiving
(Column 04)

Summary: Reprints Andrew Johnson's proclamation, recommending that the first Thursday of December be set aside "as a day of national thanksgiving to the Creator of the universe" for the "great deliverances and blessings" of the previous year.

Local--Circuit Court
(Column 01)

Summary: Sketches the proceedings of the Circuit Court of Augusta, which has been dealing exclusively with a heavy docket of criminal cases.
(Names in announcement: Lucas Thompson, William Grove, Ralph Marshall, James Huffman)

Local--Painful Accident
(Column 01)

Summary: William Fisher, age 7 or 8, had his arm amputated after it was drawn into a cane mill. William was assisting his father in grinding cane in a mill on Middle River.
(Names in announcement: William Fisher, Dr. J. Bell, H. Fisher)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: On November 2 Mary Pullen and Francis Huff were married by the Rev. J. C. Dice.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. Dice, Francis Huff, Mary Pullen)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: John Sheets and Francis Radener were married on October 19 by the Rev. J. C. Hensell.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. Hensell, John Sheets, Francis Radener)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: Daniel Plecker and Mary Teaford were joined in marriage by the Rev. J. C. Hensell on October 19.
(Names in announcement: Daniel Plecker, Rev. J. C. Hensell, Mary Teaford)