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Staunton Spectator: February 16, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

"Don't Give up the Ship"
(Column 01)

Summary: Editorial from the Mobile Register encouraging Democrats to remain hopeful. It claims that the Republicans face many dangerous obstacles, and that the Democrats should patiently wait for them to make an inevitable mistake.

Full Text of Article:

The Mobile (Ala.) Register says that, "in the battles of war, or politics, or life, men who fight without hope cannot hope to win. Nor is the divine inspiration which drives noble souls on to struggle in storm and adversity, to be quenched by one or a hundred reverses. The great soul rises from defeat, and a great cause broken and forced to earth, gathers up its fragments, like shattered battalions, to reform and renew the battle of freedom which man cannot afford to lose and live. Those who despair of the final triumph of the Democratic party and of the cause of our constitutional liberty which it bears on the points of its spears, it seems to us, are at sea without chart or compass, on an aimless voyage. The motto of such should be that which is written over the portals of Hell:

"Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!"

For our part we can see nothing in the signs of the times to push men to this despairing extremity. These on the contrary indicate that the Jacobin power has reached its culminating point, and has in it abundant elements of rapid decline and disintegration. Corrupt and incompetent, the leaders of this party have raised a storm they cannot guide, and all political experience is at fault if it is not their doom to be swept away by it. A powerful and united Democratic party is calmly watching events and stands ready to seize what it seems must be the inevitable opportunity to strike its enemy staggering under administrative difficulties, torn by intestine squabbles for place, and angered by bitter recrimination. Situated as the Jacobin party is, it would be a miracle if it should pass through the four years' term of Gen. Grant, with its organization unbroken. Meantime, the great public is looking on, groaning under taxation, alarmed at the daily increase of the national debt, and either dreading or hoping for a collapse of the paper finances. Every million of debt-increase augments the ranks of the repudiators. Radical policy and necessity command the increase to go on, and the repudiators will grow accordingly. Repudiation is death to the party that is responsible for the debt, and that death seems imminent, when the party seems utterly incapable of managing it. Here is hope enough to keep the friends of freedom out of the "portals" of despair. -- And yet this is but one of the rocks and shoals that lie thickly in the path of the Jacobin party. The spoils question, wherein a hundred are soured and disappointed where one gets place; the tenure-of-office question, threatening an open and bitter rupture between the President and Congress, and, of course, a division of the party in Congress; the gold payment bond question; the question of the assumed power of Congress to fix the qualifications of voters in all the States, are but a few of the dangers which threaten the Jacobin party, and give the looked-for opportunity to the Democracy. There is no need or room for despair. Responsible for none of the public evils of the land, the Democratic party is to be the attacking party, and it patiently waits for the gaps to sure occur in the enemy's line of battle, to break through and overthrow him. Why not, then, stand by our arms, and wait, if only in the hope of victory, when that victory will bear the fruits of Southern liberation from carpet-bag tyranny and scalawag treachery."

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Senate voted down a proposal to enfranchise those Southerners disfranchised for their service in the Civil War. The Lynchburg News interprets this to mean that any efforts at compromise will ultimately fail to secure universal amnesty.

Full Text of Article:

During the contest in the Senate on Tuesday, over the universal suffrage amendment to the Constitution, Mr. Vickers, of Maryland, submitted an amendment looking to the restoration to the exercise of the elective franchise, of all those now disfranchised by reason of participation in the rebellion. The proposition was rejected, the vote standing 21 ayes to 32 nays.

It will be seen that the majority of the controlling party in the Senate is not disposed to concede amnesty for political offenses to the disqualified citizens of the South.

There is now, says the Lynchburg News, no shadow of reasonable calculation that the mere concession of negro suffrage will induce Congress to extend amnesty to political offenders in the South; and there are many circumstances which justify the conviction that Congress is unwilling and afraid to remove disabilities except on the condition of party service.

Since the Radicals have determined to withhold amnesty except on the condition of party service, it only remains for all classes of Virginians to quietly await the result, uncorrupted, unawed by the demoralizing circumstances and influence of these evil times. Our advice to the people, now as always, is, wait in patience and faith the deliverance to be wrought out eventually from these present troubles. Vote for nothing and sustain nothing that does not meet with the fullest approval of your conscience and sense of honor.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Rev. John Lafferty preached in Staunton's M. E. Church South. "His eloquent sermons were adorned with classic allusions and brilliant imagery."

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Reconstruction Committee reported favorably on removal of disabilities for the following: John A. Harman, B. F. Fifer, R. G. Bickle, D. C. McGuffin, and R. D. Hill.
(Names in announcement: John A. Harman, B. F. Fifer, R. G. Bickle, D. C. McGuffin, R. D. Hill)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Musical Soiree of the Staunton Musical Association was a great success despite the poor weather that kept many at home.

Appointments of Magistrates in Augusta County
(Column 02)

Summary: List of magistrates for Augusta County appointed by General Stoneman. Samuel Landes replaced William Crawford; Zach Calbreath replaced John J. Ellis; Robert Torrill replaced George A. Bruce; Frank N. Myers replaced J. W. Bell; John Wissler replaced William Chapman; David Myers replaced Samuel B. Finley; Elijah Curry replaced D. N. Van Lear; Charles Bates replaced James D. Patterson; John A. Blume replaced William G. Sterrett; Henry R. Eakle replaced James D. Craig; Alexander Anderson replaced E. M. Cushing; John Smith replaced John M. Huff; Samuel Cline replaced Theopilus Gamble; Jacob Bear replaced James W. Calhoun; William Showalter replaced J. Marshall McCue; George A. Shuey replaced James Wilson; Junius F. Maupin replaced Charles C. Francisco; Jacob Stover replaced Absalom Koiner; David Firth replaced Henry Eidson; Henry Rippetoe replaced William W. Montgomery; David Fishburne replaced William D. Anderson; Abner Shumake replaced T. J. Burke; David L. Snyder replaced Chesley Kinney; Miletus G. Jones replaced John C. Rivercomb.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Landes, William Crawford, Zach Calbreath, John J. Ellis, Robert Terrill, George A. Bruce, Frank N. Myers, J. W. Bell, John Wissler, William Chapman, David Myers, Samuel B. Finley, Elijah Curry, D. N. Van Lear, Charles Bates, James D. Patterson, John A. Blume, William G. Sterrett, Henry R. Eakle, James D. Craig, Alexander Anderson, E. M. Cushing, John Smith, John M. Huff, Samuel Cline, Theopilus Gamble, Jacob Bear, James W. Calhoun, William Showalter, J. Marshall McCue, George A. Shuey, James Wilson, Junius F. Maupin, Charles C. Francisco, Jacob Stover, Absalom Koiner, David Firth, Henry Eidson, Henry Rippetoe, William W. Montgomery, David Fishburne, William D. Anderson, Abner Shumake, T. J. Burke, David L. Snyder, Chesley Kinney, Miletus G. Jones, John C. Rivercomb)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Anonymous writer "Merchant" calls for a regular fire-department and investment in a steam engine and hose.

Full Text of Article:

All cities that are not possessed of a regularly organized and efficient Fire Department, deeply feel the need of this property and Life Saving Institution. Staunton is almost a city. It has at least approached nearly enough to that epoch in its history to feel the need of a regularly disciplined Fire Company, supplied with all the equipments and appliances requisite to a vigorous and successful prosecution of its work. The Augusta Fire Company is not as perfect in discipline as it might be, yet all will admit that it is composed of the nerve and sinew of our mountain Town. Were we not personally acquainted with its members, we should wonder at the promptness and energy they display, with no pay, very little thanks and a worthless apparatus. Cannot our Town Council appropriate three or four thousand dollars for the purpose of purchasing a good Steam Fire Engine and Hose?

If the funds in the Treasury are inadequate for such purchase, or if it be deemed imprudent to use them in this way at present, I doubt not that our citizens would cheerfully consent to pay a special and proportionate tax for the purpose. The taxable real estate of Staunton is valued at $914,737, and the personal property is assessed at $136,441. Property has appreciated materially since this valuation was made as there has been no general assessment since 1850. So we see at once that the tax would be insignificant indeed in comparison with the advantage derived therefrom.

Property holders should look to their interest and guard against the devouring element before it is too late. For such precaution is even more important than insurance, which is neglected by no prudent man.
MERCHANT.

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: Merritt W. Magann of Nelson County and Elizabeth Stover of Franklin County were married on February 4th near Stuart's Draft by the Rev. C. S. M. See.
(Names in announcement: Merritt W. Magann, Elizabeth Stover, Rev. C. S. M. See)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss Nannie Catlett died in Staunton on February 15th.
(Names in announcement: Nannie Catlett)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: N. Cleary died suddenly of congestion of the lungs at the American Hotel. He was 53 years old.
(Names in announcement: N. Cleary)