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Staunton Spectator: January 14, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Unconstitutional Convention
(Column 04)

Summary: Record of the proceedings of Virginia's State Constitutional Convention.

Conservative County Committee
(Column 04)

Summary: Col. Baldwin will hold a meeting of the County and District Superintendents at his offices.
(Names in announcement: Col. Baldwin)

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Article asserting that disarray in the Republican Party has opened political opportunity for the Democrats.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Article criticizing the hypocrisy of Hunnicutt, who was once "a violent and proscriptive enemy of the blacks," but who has now become a Radical leader.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The article asserts that the Radical Republican "war upon cotton culture" threatens to destroy the South.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Ben Jackson, ex-slave of J. Wayt Bell, died in Staunton on December 31st. "He was a faithful servant, a good man, and died with the consolation of religion."
(Names in announcement: Ben Jackson, J. Wayt Bell)

Staunton Lyceum
(Column 01)

Summary: The Staunton Lyceum debated whether or nor there was hope for restoration of the Union. Rev. W. A. Harris, Pierce, and Fauntleroy argued in the affirmative; Powers, Peyton, Hewitt, and C. R. Harris in the negative. The question was decided in the affirmative. The next question for consideration is: "Can divine goodness be proved without the aid of revelation?" Rev. J. L. Clark and Coleman will argue in the affirmative; Dr. Fauntleroy and A. M. Pierce in the negative. Dr. C. R. Harris will lecture before the Lyceum next Monday.
(Names in announcement: Rev. W. A. Harris, A. M. Pierce, Dr. Fauntleroy, Powers, Peyton, Hewitt, C. R. Harris)

Sunday School Society
(Column 01)

Summary: The Sunday Schools of the Churchville Circuit of the M. E. Church South met in Parnassus. The meeting established the "Valley Sunday School Society."
(Names in announcement: Rev. A. A. P. Neel, James Cross, William O. Ross, William Hedrick, J. A. Fauver, J. A. Hamrick, J. A. Whitmer, J. J. Edmunds, J. E. Whitmore)

Death of a Valuable Citizen
(Column 02)

Summary: Daniel Forrer of Mossy Creek, Augusta County, died in his residence of rheumatism of the heart on January 2nd. He had not been ill long, and was 67 years old. "He was a gentleman of great strength of character and determination of will. Whatever he undertook he did with all his energies enlisted. He had been, originally, a very strong and decided Union man; but when the struggle came, and the South was overrun, no man was more firm and determined in his devotion to the cause of his section. He was the friend and patron of education, and his neighborhood will miss his influence which he exerted in favor of this great interest."
(Names in announcement: Daniel Forrer)

Origin of Article: Register

Marriages
(Column 04)

Summary: Martin J. Gochenour of Augusta and Miss Virginia C. Roadcap of Rockbridge were married on January 9th by the Rev. R. P. Kennedy.
(Names in announcement: Martin J. Gochenour, Virginia C. Roadcap, Rev. R. P. Kennedy)

Marriages
(Column 04)

Summary: Henry H. Taylor of Rockbridge and Miss Mary Jane Price of Augusta were married near Newport on January 2nd by the Rev. J. M. Shreckhise.
(Names in announcement: Henry H. Taylor, Mary Jane Price, Rev. J. M. Shreckhise)

Deaths
(Column 04)

Summary: Mrs. Jane G. Crawford died at her residence near Deerfield on January 1st. She was 73 years old.
(Names in announcement: Jane G. Crawford)

Deaths
(Column 04)

Summary: Mrs. Lucy J. Clarke, wife of Rev. John L. Clarke, pastor of Staunton's Southern Methodist Church, died in the Virginia Hotel after a lingering illness. She was 86 years old.
(Names in announcement: Lucy J. Clarke, Rev. John L. Clarke)

Deaths
(Column 04)

Summary: Major Robert T. Poage died on January 11th near Mt. Sidney. "Like most of his county men he was opposed to the war, but when it came upon us he buckled on his armor and fought gallantly--having had two horses killed under him, and was severely wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. The disease of which he died--consumption--was contracted from exposure in the field. He leaves a disconsolate widow and an infant daughter. Peace to his ashes."
(Names in announcement: Major Robert T. Poage)

Letter of Mr. Stuart
(Column 02)

Summary: Letter of Alexander H. H. Stuart to a committee of conservative Democrats turning down an invitation to speak at a banquet. The devastated condition of Virginia and his humiliation at the loss of his civil rights prevents him from taking part in the festivities.
(Names in announcement: Alexander H. H. Stuart)

Full Text of Article:

The Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, having been invited by a committee to join in a banquet in Washington, on the 8th inst., the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, thus beautifully and appropriately replied. The letter speaks for itself.

Staunton, Va. January 2, 1868.

Gentlemen:--I pray you to accept my thanks for your kind invitation to attend a banquet to be given at the Metropolitan Hotel, in the city of Washington, on the 8th instant, under the auspices of leading members of the Conservative Democratic Party.

Under ordinary circumstances it would be peculiarly gratifying to me to participate in the festivities of that occasion, and to enjoy "the feast of reason and flow of soul" which, I doubt not, will give zest to your entertainment. But situated as I am--disfranchised as a citizen, denied the political privileges which are accorded to my negro servant; repelled from the hall of the House of Representatives, to which I was elected almost by acclamation; my native State, the proud old mother of Washington and Henry, and Jefferson, unrecognized save as Military District No. 1--I must confess I would feel somewhat out of place at your board.

In former days, when I visited Washington as representative of the people, or as the associate of Webster, Crittenden and Corwin, in the executive councils of the nation, I felt that, in the eye of the law at least, I was the peer of the loftiest in the land. I was privileged to think freely and to speak freely on all matters of public concern. Were I to join your circle now, I should feel painfully conscious of the difference between your position and mine. No military order can consign you to a dungeon beyond the reach of habeus corpus, and no persuasive bayonets admonish you to speak with "bated breath." With me the case might be different. But be that as it may, while Virginia mourns I cannot rejoice. While the cypress encircles her brow I cannot twine the myrtle round my own.

But may I not hope that the present condition of things is temporary? If I do not misinterpret the signs of the times, the day is near at hand when, by the mandate of a magnanimous people, the shackles will be stricken from the limbs of Virginia and her Southern sisters, and there shall be given unto them "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." When that glorious day shall have arrived I shall be happy to meet you and your fellow patriots around the festive board, and on behalf of Virginia to offer a willing and hearty tribute of gratitude to the noble Conservative Democrats who set her free.

Respectfully, your ob't serv't,
Alexander H. H. Stuart.