Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Staunton Spectator: December 15, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

President's Message
(Column 04)

Summary: An abstract of the President's Message to Congress, as published in the Dispatch. The President is critical of the reconstruction laws, and speaks against "the attempt to place the white population under the domination of persons of color." The President also speaks on matters of national debt and foreign affairs. He also speaks in favor of a reform of national elections, and recommends the direct election of senators.

Full Text of Article:

The President's Message was presented to Congress at 1 o'clock on Wednesday last. In lieu of publishing the message in full, which is very long and would scarcely be read by one in twenty, we publish an abstract of it, as telegraphed to the Dispatch, which, in a brief space, gives the reader the substance of it, as follows:

The President begins by calling the attention of Congress to the continued disorganized condition of certain States of the Union under the various reconstruction laws. A timely revocation of injustice and oppressive measures is the greatest good that can be conferred upon the nation. The reconstruction laws have failed, after three years' trial, have proved pernicious in their results, and should no longer remain upon the statue book. States to which a Constitution guarantees a republican form of government have been reduced to military dependencies in each of which the people have been made subject to the arbitrary will of a commanding General. Although the Constitution requires that each State shall be represented in Congress, Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas are yet excluded from the two Houses, and, contrary to the express provisions of that instrument, were denied participation in the recent Presidential election.

The attempt to place the white population under the domination of persons of color in the South has impaired, if not destroyed, the kindly relation that had previously existed between them, and mutual distract has engendered a feeling of animosity which, leading in some instances to collision and bloodshed, has prevented that co-operation between the two races so essential to the success of industrial enterprise in the Southern States. The Union has been agitated by grave apprehensions of troubles which might involve the peace of the nation. -- The Federal Constitution is now adequate to the settlement of the questions growing out of the late civil war.

The President reviews the condition of the country since the end of the rebellion, declaring that the acts passed were not warranted by the Constitution. He says that the best interests of the country demand the repeal of the tenure of office act, and the appropriation act of March 2, 1867, interfering as it does with the President's constitutional functions as commander in chief, and denying to States the right to protect themselves by means of their own militia, and should also be repealed.

The financial affairs of the Union need immediate attention as the public expenses are unprecedented. [Here the President sets forth substantially his letter to General Ewing.] -- Congress should make early provision to pay the indebtedness of the country; the fruits of labor should be enjoyed by citizens rather than used to build up moneyed monopolies in our own and other lands; the debt should not become permanent; the interest on the debt should be reduced, the owners of Government securities receiving seventeen per cent, on each dollar. This favors the few at the expense of the many. The national credit should be sacredly observed. The six per cent. interest now paid by the Government should be applied to the reduction of the principal in semi annual installments, which, in sixteen years, would liquidate the entire national debt. The large amount of capital now invested in Government securities should be released. The resumption of specie payments is recommended.

The condition of our foreign affairs is reviewed. The controversy with the Paraguayan Government is detailed. Negotiations are pending for the construction of a ship canal across the Isthmus Darien, and a comprehensive national policy would seem to sanction the acquisition and incorporation into our Federal Union of the several adjacent continental and insular communities as speedily as can be done peacefully, lawfully, and without any violation of national justice, faith, or honor.

Foreign possession or control of these communities has hitherto hindered the growth and impaired the influence of the United States. -- When firmly established as an independent republic, or incorporated into the United States, they would be a new source of strength and power.

No reference is made in the message to our affairs with England relative for the Alabama claims, the naturalization treaty, etc.

The President renews his recommendation that the judgement of the people should be taken on the propriety of amending the Constitution: First, for the election of a President and Vice President by the direct vote of the people instead of by the agency of the electors; secondly, that district designations should be made of the person who shall discharge the duties of the President in the event of vacancy in the office both of President and Vice President; thirdly, that senators should be elected by a direct vote of the people of several States.

In concluding, the President says: "Let us earnestly hope that before the expiration of our respective terms of service, now rapidly drawing to a close, an all wise Providence will so guide our counsels as to strengthen and preserve the Federal Union, inspire reverence for the Constitution, restore prosperity and happiness to one people, and promote on earth peace and good will toward men."

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper announces a meeting at the Court House about the Stay Law. The paper opposes suspension of the law. "We think that it should be modified so as to require the debtor to pay the interest and a certain per cent of the principal annually."

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The military commissioners of Virginia have been ordered to report the names of all court clerks and commonwealth attorneys who are disqualified from holding office.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: "Omrican" writes that the subscription to the Valley R. R. has unquestionably been passed by a majority vote, and recommends the formation of a company and the selection of engineers to complete the Railroad with all possible speed.

Full Text of Article:

MR. EDITOR: -- Augusta's subscription to the Valley R. R. has been carried beyond all doubt. The vote under the charter was a majority and not three-fifth vote, as in the Chesa. & O. subscription. 'Tis true the charter speaks of a vote by freeholders, but the orders from Gen. Stoneman attached to each poll-book over-rides this and opens the way to all entitled to vote for the Legislature, white and black. Even if a freehold vote, the subscription is carried by a decent majority, and great shame to the county if it had not carried it. Let the company be organized at once and the most capable engineer be selected to locate the route. Rockbridge has done her whole duty and the other counties will tread in her footsteps beyond doubt. OMRICAN.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Presbyterian Church in Churchville will hold a fair on Christmas Eve, Day, and Night.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Capt. Thomas A. Montgomery died on December 8th from the effects of a broken leg. "He was a good citizen and valuable member of the church, and his loss will be greatly felt in his neighborhood."
(Names in announcement: Capt. Thomas A. Montgomery)

United States Tax-Payers
(Column 01)

Summary: The Federal tax collector will be in Staunton on December 22nd and 23rd to collect all unpaid taxes.

The Concert
(Column 01)

Summary: The Juvenile Musical Association, under direction of Dr. Brown, gave a concert in the Chapel of the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institution. The weather prevented large attendance, but the performance was delightful. The concert will be repeated in the Town Hall.
(Names in announcement: Dr. Brown)

Election for the Valley R. R. Subscription
(Column 01)

Summary: The official results of the vote of Augusta county for Valley R. R. Subscription. Votes are broken down by county and by race.

Full Text of Article:

The following is the official classified vote of this county, on the question of subscribing the sum of $300,000 in the stock of the Valley R. R. Company.

Sherando and Waynesboro have not yet been heard from officially.

By the amended charter of the Valley R. R. Company, adopted March 1st, 1867, it only requires a majority vote of Freehold voters to carry the subscription, instead of three-fifths of the votes of those voting under the military order of Gen. Stoneman, as has been supposed. Whether a majority of subscription on the 5th inst., cast there votes in favor of the subscription or not, we are unable to say.

PRECINCTS. Registered (white), For Subscrp. Not Regist'd. (white), For Subscrp. Registered (colored), For Subscrp. Not Regist'd (colored), For Subscrp. Registered. (white), Against Subscrp. Not Regist'd. (white), Against Subscrp. Registered. (colored), Against Subscrp. Not Regist'd. (colored), Against Subscrp. Court House, 161 59 59 3 11 4 0 0 do doubtful 12 8 Union Hall, No poll opened. Middlebrook, 36 8 2 Swoope's Dep. 10 4 3 2 0 0 Craigsville, 3 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 Newport, 30 7 0 0 3 0 0 0 Greenville, 60 11 17 0 7 1 0 0 Midway, 20 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 Stuart's Draft no poll Sherando no returns Fishersville 30 1 0 0 13 0 0 0 Waynesboro, no returns. New Hope, 5 2 0 0 80 18 2 0 Mt. Meridian, 2 0 0 0 44 11 2 0 Mt. Sidney, 26 9 10 2 106 26 0 0 Spring Hill, 23 0 0 0 46 0 0 0 Mt. Solon, 46 18 0 0 71 15 0 0 Parnassus, 15 8 0 0 6 1 0 0 Churchville, 35 6 0 0 10 2 0 0 Deerfield, 11 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Staunton resolved to hire an inspector to examine the condition of the church tower.
(Names in announcement: George P. Baker, James A. Piper, E. M. Taylor, Capt. J. F. Smith, William A. Pratt, Capt. J. Hotchkiss, Harman Lushbaugh, David Bucher)

State Constitution, So-called
(Column 02)

Summary: The Petersburg Index criticizes the state Constitution, claiming it stands contrary to peace and liberty. Claims that the constitution is discriminatory, and places the white race under the authority of the Freedmen.

Full Text of Article:

In reference to the monstrous instrument, miss-called the Constitution, adopted by the mongrel Convention, the Petersburg Index says:

Life, under its ruthless oppression, for the white man who remained true to his manhood, to his associations, to his instincts and culture, to his intelligence and experience, would be so barren of all that the Spirit of Freedom craves, so prolific of all which that spirit cannot look upon and live, that there is no fate in the range of probability which seems not preferable to such.

From beginning to end it is one perfect antidote to Peace in the communities for whose oppression it was designed. Its whole structure is discriminative, in favor of the one, and against the other class, and the most studied effort to consummate a plan without flaw, by which it should be impossible to prevent conflict, inexpressible and endless between the races which inhabit Virginia, would fall short of its design, and fail of its object, unless 'twere written in the very spirit, and contained the exact features, which mark the despicable instrument of Tyranny. Under its operations there could be but one of two results: Either the white man or the black must go to the wall -- and if the former first, then both.

Industry will not be chained by sloth, intelligence will not be directed by blindness, property will not submit to pauperism, liberty will not be ruled by a despotism wearing the mask of license, the dwellers in a land will not be jostled out by vagrant usurpers -- without a dire and bitter struggle, in which these natural influences shall be worn threadbare ere submission be made. There can be no government of a people, born and taught in the fullness of individual and national republicanism, which unequalizes the rights of its citizens, and labors to the suppression of natural superiority, and the creation of artificial domination, but that government shall be brought forth by force and fraud, cradled in convulsion, reared in insecurity; live to the detriment of all that is noble and right in the ends to which Governments are designed of God, and die by the excess of its own destructive power.

And such is the accursed image which is sought to be reared in our midst by these prophets of Baal. Under its yoke, all that is best and highest in our people would be banished from power, all that is meanest and lowest be summoned to authority. Speculating sojourners would sacrifice every permanent and material interest of the people they have come to despoil, housing their ill-gotten hay while the sun still shone on successful rascality, while the owners and the thinkers and the workers of Virginia, should see their portion parcelled out without the lawful authority to give voices in the matter.

This is not declamation. The thing speaks for itself. Once in force with its gerrymandering of districts and its test oaths; and the white people of Virginia will be as hopeless upon their own soil as though they had never held a name, a glory, a freedom, or a self-dominion.

To Walk the Plank
(Column 03)

Summary: General Stoneman is removing from office all court clerks and commonwealth's attorneys who are ineligible under the 14th Amendment. "The enforcement of this section will deprive the State of the services of many of her best officers, and will supply their places with a set of scalawags and carpet-baggers, whose only merit is their baseness. The greedy lust for office of these people is to be gratified at last, at the expense of the best interests of the State."

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Charles E. Harris and Mary E. Pierce, both of Augusta, were married at Mt. Sidney on November 29th by the Rev. J. J. Engle.
(Names in announcement: Charles E. Harris, Mary E. Pierce, Rev. J. J. Engle)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Walter T. Fisher of Rockingham and Miss Winney E. Rodgers of Augusta were married near Deerfield on November 26th by the Rev. A. A. P. Neel.
(Names in announcement: Walter T. Fisher, Winney E. Rodgers, Rev. A. A. P. Neel)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: William H. Myers and Miss E. C. Van Pelt, and James B. Campbell and Miss Jinnie R. Van Pelt, all of Augusta, were married at the same time by the Rev. Dr. Huston in his parsonage at Baltimore on November 17th.
(Names in announcement: William H. Myers, E. C. Van Pelt, James B. Campbell, Jinnie R. Van Pelt, Rev. Huston)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: M. H. McComb of Augusta and Miss Sallie B. Robinson of Covington were married at the Nelson County residence of Mr. N. C. Clarkson on November 25th by the Rev. S. Wales.
(Names in announcement: M. H. McComb, Sallie B. Robinson, N. C. Clarkson, Rev. S. Wales)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: Renix Hodge died at his residence on the Calf Pasture River, Augusta County, on November 13th. He was 76 years old.
(Names in announcement: Renix Hodge)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: Henry Russell died suddenly in Parnassus, Augusta County, on December 7th. He was 82 years old and "had been a consistent member of the Methodist Church for forty years."
(Names in announcement: Henry Russell)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: The Fire Association of the Institute for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind pass resolutions of sympathy for principal Covell upon the death of his son, George E. Covell.
(Names in announcement: Prof. McCoy, George E. Covell, J. McClellan, William F. McQuain, L. W. Saunders, William F. Cabaniss, J. W. Garland, William C. Geiger)