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Staunton Spectator: November 10, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Our People Calm and Serene
(Column 01)

Summary: The people of Augusta are optimistic and happy, despite the election of President Grant. Asserts that Grant is not a Radical, and that his policies may in fact be quite conservative.

Full Text of Article:

Though the Presidential election has not resulted in accordance with the wishes of our people, they are not foolishly wading in the "slough of despond," nor are they the helpless victims of "blue devils," but, in the language of Bill Arp, they are "cam and sereen," exercising philosophic composure, if not christian resignation. The result has not taken them by surprise, for they saw that the Democratic party suffered itself to become "demoralized" when it felt the strength of the hosts of Radicalism in the "reconnoisance" which took place in October. Since they witnessed the evidence of that demoralization, they could entertain little, if any, hope of success in the general engagement, on the 3rd of November.

They were, therefore, somewhat prepared for the reception of the sad news that the Democratic legions had been routed, "horse, food, and dragoons." Our people are too sensible to spend time in vainly fretting over spilt milk.-- They know that that would be as unwise as unmanly, and they are too sensible to act the part of fools, and too manly to act the part of children.

The majority of our people, we are sure, have sufficient spirit and good sense to comport themselves with becoming propriety, and to act the part of men, even though there were not a ray of hope to cheer them, and they were convinced that their liberties were, for all time, to be ruthlessly trampled upon by the Radical party. But such, fortunately, is not the case. There is good ground for the hope that the ultra Radical policy will not be carried into effect. The President elect is not a Radical. If not a Democrat, as he was before the war, he is a conservative Republican. Though he accepted the nomination of the Chicago Convention, (as he would have done that of the New York Convention if it had been tendered him) he has not committed himself in any way to the policy of the Radical party. He was not, as he very well knows, the choice of the Radicals. He knows, too, that they nominated him, because they were satisfied, from the elections in October 1867, that any representative man of the Radical party would certainly be defeated.

He knows, furthermore, that he owes his election the thousands of Democrats and Conservative Republicans who, whilst being opposed to the Radical party and the policy they advocate, voted for him, though a candidate of that party, because they believed that his administration would be conservative, and that his policy as President would accord with his well-known moderate and conservative sentiments as evinced heretofore both by his expressions and conduct. He has studiously, persistently, and consistently, so far as the public know, refused to commit himself to the policy of the Radical party. This is an important and significant fact. He is free from the trammels of committal, and can act the part of a wise, moderate, and conservative President without violating any pledge. He occupies a most favorable position to do justice to all sections of the country, and to win a name for wisdom and statesmanship which would eclipse all the honors won by his sword.

We admonish our people to be of good cheer. There is, as yet, no reason to despair. There may be a good time coming. At any rate it is best to think so.

The Election of Grant
(Column 01)

Summary: Claims that Grant is not a representative for the Radicals, and is in fact a Conservative. Thus, his election was a victory for the Democrats, as the Radicals will come to realize after his inauguration.

Full Text of Article:

The Presidential election has resulted in the choice of Gen. Grant. Some may think that in this result the Radicals have secured a triumph, but this is an error. Gen. Grant is not the Representative of the Radicals, though he received their votes. The Radicals did not like Grant and did not wish to have him as their candidate, but they felt assured that any Radical would be defeated, and were afraid to nominate one, hence they agreed to nominate Grant. The Democrats are proverbially smart in the management of election campaigns, and in the one which has just closed they exhibit more smartness than usual and played the surest of all games. It was like that of heads I win and tails you lose, for they were destined to win however the election might result.

In this election the Democrats practised towards the Radicals that kind of liberality which the white man proffered the Indian when he told him: "You may take the buzzard and I will take the turkey, or I will take the turkey and you may take the buzzard."

The Democrats had a candidate, for the Presidency upon each ticket. The Radicals elected one of them. Grant has been a life long Democrat, and has studiously avoided any committal to the policy of the Radicals. The Radicals supposed that he kept his mouth shut because he had nothing to say, and flattered themselves that he would make a fine catspaw for the Radical monkey to use. But Grant knew what he was about. He knew how to get the votes of the Radicals without committing himself to their policy in any way, and he succeeded. The Radicals have elected a Democrat for President. When they discover the strategy which has been so successfully practised upon them, they will knash their teeth, and curse the deep policy of the man who said he had "no policy," and for whose election they labored earnestly, spent their money lavishly and voted early, late and often. The Democrats in this election successfully flanked the Radicals. The Radicals will not fully appreciate this fact till about six months after Grant shall be inaugurated as President. Then they will see how they were fooled. They will howl in the agony of their chagrin and disappointment and the Democrats will laugh at their calamity.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Petersburg Express urges the young men of the South to labor in civil life with the same energy they fought with in the Civil War.

Full Text of Article:

The Petersburg Express asks that the young men whether they have brought back into civil life the energy that characterized them in the camp and on the battle field, or are they sinking listlessly into habits of inactivity and ease.

Have they awakened to the new order of things -- the new life before them that demands the exercise of their utmost energies, or are they dreamily feeling around for soft places where they can doze away their lives in comparative idleness.

Many, we know, have gone earnestly to work and are reaping for themselves and those dependent upon them the rich fruits which are the inevitable results of industrious labor.

But are there not many others who are living upon inadequate salaries, or under the idea of finding no employment suited to their taste, are doing absolutely nothing.

It may be true that they can find nothing that suits them -- but can they not suit themselves to something that will amply compensate them for the sacrifices they make.

Do young men consider in wasting their time they are throwing away the fortune and its comforts that is within their reach? We know that in a country like ours no young man with health and strength need be without employment, or dependent upon his friends.

Look to the cry for labor that goes up from day to day all over the South. Look at the broad fields that are turning to waste for want of development, and the timbers that stand in our forests inviting to be felled.

Young men look around you -- ponder the situation. You have made many noble sacrifices, therefore, make them again. Go to work and bring back to our shattered old State the days of prosperity and comfort.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Baltimore Gazette asks the Democratic party to remain hopeful. General Grant, they claim, may act in a conservative manner, and should not be judged before he enters office.

Full Text of Article:

Now that the struggle is over, says the Baltimore Gazette, it becomes the Democratic party to endeavor to hope for the best. Let it even try to believe beforehand that it may be mistaken in its estimate of the character and aims of its antagonists. This is their country as well as ours, and now that they are in the secure possession of absolute power it may be that they will yet hesitate before they utterly and irrevocably consign ten States, with their millions of inhabitants, to humiliation, ruin and despair. While we cannot without further experience alter one single opinion that we have honestly formed and uttered, we do not hesitate to say that the party in whose defeat we share should await with calmness the advent of General Grant's administration and judge it with perfect candor. Nothing can be done by now to avert any impending peril that may await the country, and in this hour of distress and danger the party which has gone down in the struggle for constitutional liberty can only stand aside, prepared to make one more manly effort against further revolution, should time and occasion call for it. General Grant has now an opportunity before him such as is accorded to but few men in the lives of nations. If he is the man of comprehensive intellect and patriotic impulses that his friends assert him to be he can quickly sweep away the embarrassments which now surround the country, and restore her again to her olden prosperity. It behooves the Democratic party to hold fast to this last hope. With General Grant it rests to restore or to overthrow forever our time honored Republic. The Democratic party should cease to judge him further for the present and look with anxious solicitude for the first indications of his capacity and his intention to save the country.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Richmond Enquirer claims that the Radical's inability to fully discard democratic institutions, as well as the Providence of God, will sustain Virginia. Asks Virginians to hope that Grant will prove to be a reasonable President.

Full Text of Article:

This glorious old Commonwealth, says the Richmond Enquirer, was never intended by God and nature to become the mean prey of unprincipled adventurers, and by the aid of her own true sons she never will. Our adversaries dare not yet discard the forms of Republican government, and by the proper use of the means we have in our power we shall still make these forms avail us for salvation, at least until the whole country is caught up in the tide of the coming revolution. We shall soon find our mettle, our determination, and our endurance tested in a fiercer fire than ever, unless we do not read aright the signs of the times.

Of the immediate future, which is big with events only a little less in importance than those which will succeed them, we need hazard no predictions. The whole country will listen with ears erect for the earliest outgivings of the purposes of the President elect. In the hands of the men who put him forward, we fear that it is hardly probable that he will manifest any disposition to deal with the down trodden South in the spirit of true patriotism and elevated statesmanship. Still we have many notable examples where the possession of power has developed a new born conservatism, and we can but hope that this may be the outcome of General Grant's "policy," or rather his lack of such a thing. If it turns out so, we shall rejoice in the fact, and take it for a sign that the God of Nations has not yet directed his angel to enter upon the record of time the Last Days of the American Republic.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Lynchburg Virginian claims hopes that Grant will seek to secure his place in history by ending the "Radical war on the Constitution and the South."

Full Text of Article:

The Lynchburg Virginian says that as Gen. Grant was instrumental in bringing the war for the Union to a termination, he may seek to round off what he would doubtless desire to have in the future: a great historic character, by bringing the Radical war on the Constitution and the South, to an end, with the restoration of an enduring peace on the basis of a fraternal Union. He will be able to accomplish more in this regard, than any other man that could have been invested with the Executive functions of the Government; and if he will repudiate the counsels of the extreme, malignant Radicals, we shall have a near prospect of peace and returning prosperity to the whole country. We are not without hope that such may be the result of Grant's administration; and no sound policy would suggest the propriety of making no factious war upon him, in advance. For ourselves we may say, that, while we think as badly of the Radical party as Christian charity would permit, we regard him as being a great deal better than the majority of those who availed themselves to his popularity to appropriate him as their candidate. We shall, therefore, endeavor to judge him fairly, by his official acts, awarding our humble meed of praise whenever it may appear to be deserved. "Let us have peace."

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Norfolk Virginian claims that Virginians will have a bright future so long as they remain true to their principles, including their opposition to universal suffrage.

Full Text of Article:

Let us remember, says the Norfolk Virginian, that we have, as Virginians, a great future before us, if we are true to ourselves;

And in what does this consist?

It consists in standing together as white men, bent and determined on doing justice to all members of our society, but above all, determined to be true to our race and traditions. Let us maintain the plain proposition that negro suffrage is not a wise or wholesome thing for us, or for the negroes; and rather go down, as the Cumberland did, with our flags flying, than basely to surrender and submit to loss of honor and material property both at once. If true to ourselves, the election cannot deprive us of a future rich, at least, in material results.

Augusta County Fair
(Column 04)

Summary: Article from the Rockingham Register talking about the successes of the Augusta County Fair. General Lee was also present at the event.

Origin of Article: Rockingham Register

Full Text of Article:

As indicated in our allusion last week, to the Augusta Fair, held near Staunton, this last public movement of our neighbors was a most triumphant success. The exhibition of articles was larger than had been expected from the shortness of the time given for them to be brought in. The attendance of citizens and strangers was unusually large, especially on the second day of the Fair, when the scene presented was exhilarating in the extreme. We have seen nothing grander since the war. The handsome natural amphitheater was crowned with intelligent and high spirited men and beautiful women, the surrounding country having poured out its jewels for this great occasion. And then, as if to complete the perfection of this enchanting vision, Virginia's great son, Gen. R. E. Lee, was there, not in all "the pomp and circumstance of glorious war," but in a presence becoming his quiet, unassuming dignity and ease. He was dressed in his plain grey clothes, with his cavalry boots, and mounted upon his grey charger, the same noble animal that had borne his master in many a fearful conflict in the eventful period of the past. To us the sight was almost bewildering. It seemed as if the South had achieved at last a triumph, a great civic triumph -- a triumph of the arts of peace.

* * * * * * *

It was a grand demonstration -- an exhibit of many of the best implements of agriculture, of seeds and trees, and shrubbery, of fowls, of every species of beautiful needle work, of all kinds of domestic animals; but especially an exhibit of some of the finest and best specimens of the human race of both sexes to be found in the world. At least such is our deliberate judgment. --Rockingham Register

The Liberian Paradise
(Column 04)

Summary: Article endorsing emigration to Liberia for African Americans.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Nightly meetings led by the Rev. John L. Clarke have been held in Staunton's Methodist Church for the past week. "Considerable interest has been manifested, and there have been five or six professions of conversion, with others anxiously seeking the 'pearl of great price.'" The meetings will continue into next week.
(Names in announcement: Rev. John L. Clarke)

Staunton Lyceum
(Column 01)

Summary: The Staunton Lyceum will discuss questions of conscience and government at their upcoming meetings.
(Names in announcement: Prof. J. H. Hewitt, R. Mauzy, Rev. George B. Taylor, Dr. C. R. Harris, Capt. James Bumgardner, Capt. J. H. Skinner, Col. Bolivar Christian, Col. George Baylor)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: "J." writes to the Spectator complaining that those who attend Staunton's Union Prayer Meetings are not religious people. He suggests that this may be due to the non-sectarian nature of the meetings, and calls it "a sad commentary upon the religion of our town."

Valley R. R. Meeting
(Column 02)

Summary: A meeting was held at the Court-House in support of the Valley Rail Road project. Several speakers offered arguments in favor of the subscription of $100,000 to the stock of the Company, and explained why the Railroad would be a profitable venture for Augusta.
(Names in announcement: Col. Bolivar Christian, N. K. Trout, John B. Evans, Col. M. G. Harman, H. W. Sheffey, Dr. C. R. Harris, Robert G. Bickle, R. Mauzy, J. C. Marquis, Jed Hotchkiss, William H. Tams, H. M. Bell, William A. Burke, Maj. John B. Watts)

Full Text of Article:

On Wednesday night last, a meeting was held in the Court-House to discuss the question of subscription by the town of Staunton to the sum of $100,000 to the stock of the Valley R. R. Company.

On motion of Col. B. Christian, Mayor N. K. Trout was called to the chair, and Jno. B. Evans, Esq., appointed Secretary.

The meeting was then addressed by Col. M. G. Harman, the President of the Valley R. R. Company. He earnestly urged the propriety of the subscription, and gave the assurance that the road would be put under contract within a few months after the sum of $1,000,000 should be subscribed by the counties and towns along the line of the proposed road, and expressed the belief that that amount would be subscribed.

Judge H. W. Sheffey followed Col. Harman with a speech characterized by sound, practical views. He said that there would be, in a short time, a tendency to immigration into the South, and particularly into this fertile Valley.

There are times, said he, when people were called upon to decide, and that promptly, whether they would be great and successful, or stand back and be beggars. The present is such a time with the people of Staunton. This is not the time to be alarmed at taxes.

Years ago, the old fogies of Staunton were startled when it was proposed to establish a water works. They feared the taxes could not be paid, and that the town would be rendered bankrupt. Now Staunton has eight miles of water pipe, and it has increased both the value of property and the population of the town.

He said there were two things which the citizens of this county were wont to do successfully: 1st. To choose the best men to represent them in the Legislative Halls. 2nd. To do boldly what they were called upon to do. -- This was a time for the citizens of Staunton to act boldly, if they wished to win the distinction of being the city of the Valley.

One thing is certain, and that is that the Valley R. R. will tap the Covington & Ohio R. R., and it will depend upon the action of the citizens of Staunton whether it will thus tap that great line of trade and travel at this place or not. If Staunton shall subscribe the proposed amount it will be made a point on the Valley R. R., -- if she does not, that road may tap the Covington & Ohio R. R. at some other point. The interest on the $100,000 at 6 per cent would only be 40 cents on the $100 value of property in the town at its present valuation, but the population and the value of property in town is destined to a great increase, and the tax thus rendered less burdensome.

In November 1846, a meeting was held here to secure the extension of what was then known as the Louisa R. R. from Gordonsville to Staunton. Rockingham county tried hard to make Swift Run Gap a point on the Road.-- The President of the R. R. hesitated, rather than leaning in favor of that route, with Harrisonburg as a contemplated point on the Road. -- After an anxious consultation with Col. Crozet one night, Judge Sheffey, (then one of the Representatives of this county,) the next day offered an amendment to the bill providing that the route should be in the direction of Covington and to cross the Blue Ridge where the distance and cost would be least. The bill thus amended was passed, and the Road secured to Staunton.

Staunton, said Judge Sheffey, cannot afford to fail to vote the proposed subscription of $100,000.

Suppose the Valley R. R. should cross the Covington & Ohio R. R. at the toll gate four miles from Staunton. The scream of the whistle then would make the oldest fogey in Staunton grunt. Then they would regret that they had not voted the tax. Should this be made a point of intersection of the Valley and Covington & Ohio Railroads, Staunton will become a place of wealth and population not now ever dreamed of by the most hopeful.

The building of the Road through this county would necessitate an expenditure within the county of more than a million dollars. All will be benefitted by the expenditure.

By the construction of this Road through the county, its citizens would make four times the amount of the tax in a mere business point of view. He dated the prosperity of Staunton from the building of the McAdamzied Road in the Valley. He concluded by the expression of the hope that this people would work out a noble destiny.

Dr. C. R. Harris, being called upon, addressed the meeting briefly. He said this was not the first time he had spoken in advocacy of Railroads -- that when he had the honor to represent Augusta in the Senate of Va., he had spoken in favor of the great line of Railroad which passes through this place. Also in the Staunton Lyceum when the vote was very gratifying to him.

He maintained earnestly that the prosperity and life of Staunton depended upon voting the proposed subscription. He said if Staunton did not vote the subscription, that if it did not die it would, like the Yankee butcher's calf, "kinder gin cout." His remarks were greeted with applause.

At this stage of the meeting Col. Harman moved that the vote of the meeting be taken upon the question of subscription. The vote was taken, and resulted unanimously in favor of it.

On motion of Col. Harman, the chair appointed a committee of ten to canvass the town in favor of the proposed subscription of $100,000.

The chair appointed the following to constitute the canvassing committee of ten: Robt. G. Bickle, Dr. C. R. Harris, R. Mauzy, Jno. B. Evans, J. C. Marquis, Jed Hotchkiss, Wm. P Tams, H. M. Bell, Wm. A. Burke and Bolivar Christian.

Prof. Jed Hotchkiss made a few remarks, in which he said that there was in two deposits of iron in the country -- one in the Eastern and the other in the Western part of the county -- a sufficiency of that valuable metal to last hundreds of years -- that the working of this iron would bring here the coal of the West, and that these two minerals would add greatly to the population and wealth of our county.

Maj. Jno. B. Watts, in response to a call, arose, and, with that easy manner and calm dignity, which so distinguishes him, with the skill of the master builder, placed the graceful and finishing cap upon the column of discussion reared by the other speakers.

For some time, he enchained the rapt attention of the audience, and by his lucid statement of facts, logical arguments, and stirring eloquence elicited frequent and rapturous applause from the delighted auditors. Any effort to report this great speech would be doing manifest injustice to the eloquent speaker -- hence we merely allude to its character in general terms.

General Grant's Policy
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper prints rumors that General Grant is not a radical and plans to lead a policy of reconciliation toward the South.

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: George D. Almarode and Miss Susan J. Whitesell, both of Augusta, were married in Staunton on November 5th by the Rev. William E. Baker.
(Names in announcement: George D. Almarode, Susan J. Whitesell, Rev. William E. Baker)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Thomas Johnson and Miss Delila Allen, both of Augusta, were married on October 29th by the Rev. J. M. Shreckhise.
(Names in announcement: Thomas Johnson, Delila Allen, Rev. J. M. Shreckhise)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: William A. Beard and Mrs. Rachel E. Adair were married at Fairfield on October 27th by the Rev. Harvey Gilmore.
(Names in announcement: William A. Beard, Rachel E. Adair, Rev. Harvey Gilmore)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Silas C. Echard of Augusta and Miss Phebe C. Burnside of Rockingham were married at the residence of Robert Cox in Taylor Springs, Rockingham County, on October 20th by the Rev. Henry Bovey.
(Names in announcement: Silas C. Echard, Phebe C. Burnside, Robert Cox, Rev. Henry Bovey)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: John Wampler of Rockingham and Miss Catharine A. Miller, daughter of Samuel Miller of Augusta, were married at the residence of the bride's father on October 22nd by the Rev. Frederick Miller.
(Names in announcement: John Wampler, Catharine A. Miller, Samuel Miller, Rev. Frederick Miller)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: James W. Marsh and Miss Willie A. Freeman, both of Augusta, were married near Barterbrook on November 3rd by the Rev. C. S. M. See.
(Names in announcement: James W. Marsh, Willie A. Freeman, Rev. C. S. M. See)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Jacob Brown and Miss Lucy A. Riley, both of Augusta, were married on October 20th by the Rev. John L. Clarke.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Brown, Lucy A. Riley, Rev. John L. Clarke)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss Maria Blackwood died near Greenville at the residence of her brother, David Blackwood. "She had been for many years a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and has gone from earth to the better land; but her memory and her virtues will be green and bright long after her body has perished in the dust."
(Names in announcement: Maria Blackwood, David Blackwood)