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Staunton Spectator: March 9, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Inauguration of President Grant
(Column 01)

Summary: Gives an account of Grant's inauguration, including excerpts from his inaugural address.

Grant's Policy
(Column 02)

Summary: The Spectator is displeased with the inaugural speech of General Grant. Contrary to his campaign platform and the principles of states rights, Grant has spoken in favor of imposing universal black suffrage on the States.

Full Text of Article:

The Southern man who understands the occult art of extracting blood from a turnip may possess the rare faculty of extracting a few drops of comfort from the inaugural address of President Grant. Those who can discern in that document any encouragement for the people of the oppressed South belong to that class who have

"options keen, we ween,

To see what is not to be seen."

Grant's policy, if he has any, in reference to the South, is as yet an enigma -- it is neither expressed nor understood.

In plain terms, he expresses his desire to invest disfranchised negroes with the right of suffrage, but says not a word in favor of restoring suffrage to the thousands of white people in the South, who have been unjustly and wrongfully deprived of that right.

The mode in which the disfranchised negroes are to be made voters is more objectionable even than the end proposed to be attained, for it removes the foundation stone from the structure of States' Rights. For this mode of accomplishing universal negro suffrage in the several States of the Union he can find no warrant in the Constitution of the United States which he is sworn to preserve, protect and maintain, on the contrary, it is in direct contravention of the views and purposes of the wise framers of that instrument. Nor is he under any party obligation to recommend this mode, for the platform upon which he was elected not only does not express approval, but in plain terms, disapproval, for it declares that the question of suffrage is one for the several loyal States to determine each for itself. This mode violates the principle of the Republican platform, for it allows three-fourths of the Legislatures of the States to determine the question of suffrage in one-fourth of the States, however much they may be opposed. This policy is in contravention both of the constitution and of the Republican platform, and if consummated, will deal the heaviest blow ever inflicted upon States' Rights principles. It will be a seven-league stride towards consolidation.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that some people in Staunton's African-American community celebrated the inauguration of Grant "by making 'night hideous' with yells, the firing of pop-crackers, sky-rockets, burning tar-barrels, etc."

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: George H. Fox and Miss Mary M. Hanger were married on February 25th by the Rev. J. M. Shreckhise.
(Names in announcement: George H. Fox, Mary M. Hanger, Rev. J. M. Shreckhise)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Charles Wynn and Susan M. Heiser were married on March 1st by the Rev. George B. Taylor.
(Names in announcement: Charles Wynn, Susan M. Heiser, Rev. George B. Taylor)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: William H. Roach and Miss Emma J. Day were married on March 4th by the Rev. George B. Taylor.
(Names in announcement: William H. Roach, Emma J. Day, Rev. George B. Taylor)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: John B. Deter and Miss Julia A. Hill were married on February 25th near the Mossy Creek Iron Works by the Rev. John Pinkerton.
(Names in announcement: John B. Deter, Julia A. Hill, Rev. John Pinkerton)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Jacob Runcle, postmaster of McGaheysville, and Miss Ann Eliza Dennett, daughter of Aaron Dennett, were married on February 28th in McGaheysville by the Rev. J. L. Liggett.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Runcle, Ann Eliza Dennett, Aaron Dennett, Rev. J. L. Liggett)