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Staunton Spectator: February , 1870Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
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For the Spectator
(Column 05)Summary: "A Jersey Farmer" wrote about his expectations that Virginia will soon return to her former glory, and his prediction that her fine soil and honorable people will attract a tremendous number of immigrants. He also hoped for the speedy return of Virginia to the Union.
Full Text of Article:Virginians Should WorkSTAUNTON, January 21st, 1870.
MR. EDITOR: -- Dear Sir -- Thinking that a few unvarnished remarks from a New Jersey farmer, sojourning in your pleasant town, would not be inappropriate to your valuable paper, I make the following. During my travels through the State I have seen a great diversity of soil, but have seen none better adapted to agriculture than the lands in and around Staunton, and I think when Virginia becomes reinstated to her former position in the Union, which I hope will not be long, and the leeches let go their hold on the State, there will be such an influx of immigrants into the State as will "astonish the natives," and I presume it is, owing to an erroneous idea that is prevalent in some sections of the country, that a stranger from the North would not be treated very civily among the people of your state that has kept many from settling in the State. But so far as my observations extend I know it is not the case. I have been treated with the utmost kindness and civility by the people of this Grand Old State. During my stay here, I have visited the different State Institutions, and have found them presided over be efficient and gentlemanly officers.
Dear Sir, hoping that Virginia may soon be restored to her former greatness, and the Divine Ruler of the Universe will so guide and direct the Representatives of the State that they will govern with fairness and equanimity, that it will become the greatest State in the Union, which I believe it is destined to be, I remain, Yours truly,
A JERSEY FARMER.
(Column 06)Summary: The Richmond Evening News blamed slavery for giving Virginians the false idea that manual labor is degrading, and urged them to return to work. Predicted that industrious and hard-working northerners would soon enter Virginia; warned southerners that the former would quickly become the leaders of the state if southerners did not adopt the northern work ethic.
Full Text of Article:The Richmond Evening News says that "the abolition of slavery has pleased us in new relations towards each other, and it will be well for us if its extinction would carry along with it many of the prejudices and wrong notions which its presence among us produced and cherished. It seems to us that in the past, the people of Virginia had a great disinclination to work because they had entertained the idea that manual labor was degrading. It was but natural that this should be so, because there was amongst us an enslaved class of persons, whom we considered as inferior to ourselves, to do such work for us. Slavery, also, by rendering it unnecessary for us to perform manual labor, did certainly imbue our minds with erroneous views in regard to the dignity of labor, and if it did not make us absolutely lazy, at least, it tended to keep dormant the latent physical energies which we possessed.
It behooves our people now to eradicate from their minds all such prejudices and notions, and make efforts to emulate the character of Northern men in this respect. Educated to it from boyhood, they work at all kinds of labor, not spasmodically, but persistently, not ignorantly, but intelligently, and as a matter of course they always obtain a competency, if not wealth. It has been proverbial "that a Yankee would make a fortune where a Virginian would starve," and really there has been much truth in the saying to make it pleasant to our ears -- they are coming among us, they will bring with them their energy, their skill, their industry and their thriftiness -- they will cultivate the land, they will put crops into it that it never heard of before, they will build manufactories, cut down the timber and saw it into slaves, develops the mining and mineral of the State, and do everything which will be productive of a dollar. We invite them to come, we want them, but, Virginians, are you going to stand idle, and see these men get rich out of your dear old State? Won't you rather put your shoulder to the wheel and help them, and as they prosper, you will prosper too. Throw off your old prejudices, old ideas, all barriers, and come down to your work like men. It is in you to do it, and we believe you will. Let our people be determined to acquire these characteristics of Northern men, and it will avail them much. -- It is folly to grieve over facts. It is wisdom so to act as to take advantage of them. Slavery is gone. We must labor. The Yankees will come amongst us, they will work, they will grow rich, and if we don't strive and keep pace with them on the road to affluence and position, ere long they will become the ruling spirits in this Southern land. What Virginian would like to see that? Bestir yourselves, then, and put forth the latent energy and strength that is in you, and all will be well.
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In the Union--Taken In
(Column 01)Summary: The editors of the Spectator expressed their relief in Virginia's return to the Union, but objected to the manner in which that readmission was carried out.
Full Text of Article:To the Young MenHow do you feel since the State has been re-admitted into the Union? Feel that we have been taken in, but, in the lingo of the "man and brother," we'll not take on much 'bout it." We will not shed unavailing tears over spilt milk, but will labor to make the Radical party "kick the bucket." They have "added insult to injury," and the injury inflicted will be forgiven sooner than the insult wantonly offered. A few days since, we asked an honest Hibernian if he felt any better since the State was admitted. "Divil' a bit," said he, "I don't like the way 'twas done!" He struck the key-note of popular sentiment. Our people "don't like the way 'twas done." They desired the admission of the State, but desired her to be admitted as the equal of any other State. They will not assent to her degradation. The deed has been done without giving the State an opportunity to express her assent or dissent. She has been taken in, nolens volens. She asked for bread and they gave her a stone -- a jagged fragment of Plymouth rock.
(Column 01)Summary: The Norfolk Virginian asked the young men of Virginia to remain in their native state. Gave a multitude of reasons, both economical and historical, why staying in Virginia would offer them the best rewards.
Full Text of Article:A Mode of Relieving DebtorsWe hope that the young men of this State will not desert their mother, Virginia, at this time especially, when she so much needs their assistance to repair her sad losses. They constitute her sheet-anchor of hope. She desires to keep her sons at home, and we hope that they will comply with her wishes. In the language of the Norfolk Virginian, "we trust they will join us in making a courageous fight for the full restoration of their Mother State to her former power. They can do it if they will only work with patience and resolution. It cannot be done in a day, but the natural advantages of Virginia will rise superior to all the combinations against her, and it is in this faith that we appeal to the young men of the State to hew out careers for themselves at home, among their own kith and kin, in sight of the graves of their own heroic ancestry, among mountains opulent in histories, and rivers which flow between banks rich in the memories of the illustrious dead. Youth is full of the love of adventure. Youth hears the same bells which tolled Tom Whittington's fortune. Youth looks abroad; but the Youth of Virginia owe it to all the high and peculiar considerations to which we have alluded to remain at home; and there are vast inducements to them to follow our advice. We have a mineral wealth which surpasses the gem-lit caverns painted in The Arabian Nights. We have a water power which foams seaward with a force equal to the manufacturing needs of a continent. We have cattle and butter-raising districts broader than European principalities.-- We have fat fields which grow the best wheat, the best corn, the best tobacco, and the earliest fruits sent either to foreign or domestic markets. We have a submarine mine of wealth in our broad bays, and noble rivers, with their innumerable tributaries, which furnish inexhaustible supplies of food that in other and less blessed countries men call luxuries, while these same waters furnish us the cheapest of all highways to our markets whether these be at home or abroad. We have, in addition, all the amenities of an old society whose graces have become a proverb in the land; and with this array of facts before the youth of this State, we may well be excused from any imputation of selfishness when we call on our younger brothers to unite with us in a resolute effort to restore Virginia to her former opulence and power. Virginia has suffered from emigration in the past. She sent forth men to build up the very States which have been most active in destroying her liberties; and now in her "voiceless woe" she appeals to her surviving children to remain within her maternal embrace and return some part of their final debt."
(Column 02)Summary: "Hamilton" suggested that personal notes be substituted for money for the payment of debts. He argued that because of the scarcity of hard money, many who could otherwise transfer their debts were unable to do so. Also gave an elaborate outline to show how substituting personal notes for money could work for everybody involved.
Full Text of Article:State Superintendent of EducationMESSRS. EDITORS: -- The Stay Law will expire by constitutional provision, in a few weeks. Creditors will then begin to press for payments of debts, and much distress must ensue. Every measure that will tend to give relief, and facilitate the settlement of balances between neighbors will be welcomed by the community. Money which is the ordinary measure of value and medium of adjustments, is now unprecedentedly scarce. All the lawful currency of the country is required to pay State, Municipal, and Federal taxes and foreign debts, and but little is left to settle balances between neighbors at home.
It becomes, then, a matter of interest to consider whether some substitute for money cannot be devised, which will answer the purpose of settling local balances, by becoming a medium of exchange.
Almost every man in the community occupies the double relation of debtor and creditor. Many have quite as much due to them as they owe to others. But by reason of their inability to collect what is due to them, they are unable to pay what is due from them, and are liable to be subjected to great loss and inconvenience.
In thinking of this matter it has occurred to the writer of this article that if a system of exchange of evidences of debt could be instituted, it would afford great relief to the community. Thus, if A owes B $100 and B owes C $100 and C owes D $100 and D owes E $100 and so on through the alphabet, it is obvious that if X at the lower end of the list, would take the note of Z for $100 and pass it to Y, in payment of his debt of $100, and Y in turn would pass it to W, who would pass it on to V, and so on, backward, to A, the one note of $100 would extinguish 25 debts of $100 each, without the intervention of a dollar.
The great difficulty is in giving practical effect to such an arrangement is the fact that debts are of different amounts, and therefore you cannot make the exchange, because the debts will not fit.
But this difficulty is by no means insuperable. Let us, by way of illustration, suppose a case.
A owes B $5,000 for which he gives him his negotiable note, payable at 90 or 120 days. -- Under ordinary circumstances B will either hold this note until maturity, or have it discounted at Bank where it will remain, dead capital, until its maturity, rendering no service to anybody.
But now let us suppose that B instead of giving one note of $5,000 gives 20 notes of $100 each and 60 notes of $50 each, making the same aggregate of $5,000, what would be the consequence. B probably owes the greater part of the $5,000, in small sums, to his merchant, his grocer, his shoe-maker, his tailor, his school-teacher, his blacksmith, &c. How easy would it be for B to go to these various creditors and say, "I wish to pay you, but I have no money. Here are notes which are unquestionably solvent -- take as many of them as will satisfy your demand and we will square our accounts." We venture to say that there is hardly a creditor who would not consent to take these notes, in satisfaction of his debt. He, in turn, would take them to his creditor who would use them in the same way, and thus, long before the notes matured, they would probably discharge forty or fifty thousand dollars of debt.
All that is necessary to give currency to these notes as a medium of settlement is that they shall be drawn and endorsed by persons of unquestionable solvency. They should be endorsed in blank so as to pass by delivery like Bank notes. Our ordinary Bank currency is but the negotiable note of a Bank secured by collaterals. And why should not the note of an individual or individuals of unquestionable solvency be just as current as the notes of a Bank?
The great advantages of this kind of paper would be that while it would perform the functions of money in settling the local balances at home it would not go abroad like money. It would remain here to be used in settling balances among neighbors to whom the drawers and endorsers of the notes were known.
We venture to say that if $20,000 or $30,000 of large debts were cut up into small notes of $50 to $100 each, they might be made available in less than one year to settle the large part of the indebtedness of the county.
A land bond for $1000 is really the representation of $1000 of Capital. But in the shape of a land bond, it is dormant capital. It does nobody any good. Cut it up into negotiable notes of $50 or $100, and, at once, it becomes active capital, available for most of the uses of money -- passing from hand to hand -- paying debts -- stimulating industry -- giving life to business -- starting new enterprises, and adding to the general prosperity of the country.
Let some of our business men set this thing on foot, and we are very much mistaken if it does not afford great relief to the community and impart new spirit to our people.
HAMILTON.
(Column 04)Summary: Jed Hotchkiss was mentioned as a possible candidate for State Superintendent of Education. The paper endorsed his candidacy.[No Title]
(Column 04)Summary: The Richmond Enquirer complained about the conditions of Virginia's readmission to the Union.
Origin of Article: Rich. EnquirerFull Text of Article:[No Title]We enter that once sacred edifice (the Union) overflowing with no emotions of grateful excitement -- agitated by no upwelling of tender recollections -- tearful with no illusions of fond expectation; --there is nothing in the terms of our admission, or in the temper by which those terms have been extended to us, to make us feel one spark of gratitude, or the slightest consciousness of obligation. We have been brought in loaded with fetters, and under every circumstance of ignominy. We have been received as slaves, and not as brothers; we have been brought in to be hewers of wood and drawers of water, and not as a star of equal lustre with the other members of the constellation. -- Rich. Enquirer.
(Column 04)Summary: The Virginia Advance compared Virginia's readmission to the Union to the mocking treatment given to Jesus before his crucifixion and the tortures of the Inquisition.
Origin of Article: Virginia AdvanceFull Text of Article:Virginia scorns, Virginia abhors such an admission. Treat her as conquered territory, but do not mock her with a crown of thorns. Imprison her as a malefactor, but do not array her in royal purple and press to her lips a sponge of vinegar and hissop. She will none of it, she is not so craven as to be the vassal of the Republican party -- her old limbs do not even tremble under the tortures of your inquisition. Do your worst, she will bear it to your shame. -- Virginia Advance.
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[No Title]
(Column 01)Summary: The circulating library established by the ladies of Staunton will begin delivery of books to subscribers on Thursday. The paper applauded their successful endeavor.[No Title]
(Column 01)Summary: The paper endorsed "Hamilton's" suggestion printed in a previous column for relieving debtors.[No Title]
(Column 01)Summary: Col. Josiah Given of the Distillation Bureau will meet with the distillers of Central Virginia in Staunton on February 10th.[No Title]
(Column 01)Summary: The revival in the Staunton Methodist Church was still going strong at the time of printing. Rev. Miller of the Lutheran Church, Rev. Williams of the Baptist Church, and Rev. Caperton of the South Carolina Methodist Conference joined Rev. Kramer this week. A dozen penitents were at the altar Sunday night.Mr. Geo. White Killed
(Names in announcement: Rev. Miller, Rev. Williams, Rev. Caperton, Rev. Kramer)
(Column 01)Summary: George White was fatally injured in a fall from the arched railroad bridge that had been partially destroyed during the war by Gen. Hunter's forces. The 67 year-old man was found by Mr. Erman, an employee of the Lunatic Asylum. White was taken to George Harlan's house and then John B. Scherer, Jr.'s residence, where he died. White claimed Daniel Mahoney pushed him from the bridge. Mahoney was tried before Judge R. G. Bickle and acquitted. Baldwin and Cochran and David S. Young argued for the defense and James Bumgardner, Jr., for the Commonwealth.In Memoriam
(Names in announcement: George White, Erman, George Harlan, John B. SchererJr., Daniel Mahoney, R. G. Bickle, Baldwin, Cochran, David S. Young, James BumgardnerJr.)
(Column 01)Summary: Mrs. Martha Steele Baldwin, wife of Judge Briscoe G. Baldwin, died at her Staunton residence on January 24th. She was 79 years old, daughter of the late Chancellor John Brown of Wytheville, and a long-time member of the Presbyterian Church. "She was a lady of fine intellect and generous feelings. Her genial and cheerful temper in early life made her the brightest ornament of the circle in which she moved, and the object of warm attachment to her family and friends. Her heart and her hand were always open to the appeals of charity. She possessed a ready wit, and a fine taste for music and poetry. In the earlier period of her life, when her children were growing up around her, her house was the scene of warm-hearted hospitality, and of delightful enjoyment to the young."Married
(Names in announcement: Martha Steele Baldwin, Briscoe G. Baldwin)
(Column 03)Summary: Tabner L. Riddle and Mahala J. Allen, both of Augusta, were married on January 27th by the Rev. A. A. J. Bushong.Married
(Names in announcement: Tabner L. Riddle, Mahala J. Allen, Rev. A. A. J. Bushong)
(Column 03)Summary: Jacob L. Piper and Miss Margaret R. Harmon, both of Augusta, were married on December 30th by the Rev. J. M. Follansbee.Married
(Names in announcement: Jacob L. Piper, Margaret R. Harmon, Rev. J. M. Follansbee)
(Column 03)Summary: James A. McFall and Miss Radie M. Harmon, both of Augusta, were married on January 23rd by the Rev. J. M. Follansbee.Married
(Names in announcement: James A. McFall, Radie M. Harmon, Rev. J. M. Follansbee)
(Column 03)Summary: Joseph Carson and Miss Lavalette Swink, both of Augusta, were married on January 25th in Mint Spring at the residence of John Towberman by the Rev. James Murray.Married
(Names in announcement: Joseph Carson, Lavalette Swink, John Towberman, Rev. James Murray)
(Column 03)Summary: William H. Magann and Miss Mollie E. Blackwell, both of Augusta, were married in Waynesboro on January 18th by the Rev. C. Beard.Deaths
(Names in announcement: William H. Magann, Mollie E. Blackwell, Rev. C. Beard)
(Column 03)Summary: Hezekiah Bernard Curry, son of the Rev. H. W. and Rachel Curry, died in Spring Hill, Augusta County, on January 24th. He was 2 years old.Deaths
(Names in announcement: Hezekiah Bernard Curry, Rev. H. W. Curry, Rachel Curry)
(Column 03)Summary: John Arey Hiet Kercheskie, son of Joseph and Mary Kercheskie, died in Spring Hill on January 24th. He was 1 year old.Deaths
(Names in announcement: John Arey Hiet Kercheskie, Joseph Kercheskie, Mary Kercheskie)
(Column 03)Summary: Mrs. Catharine Virginia Kiracofe, wife of Rev. J. W. Kiracofe, died in Maryland on January 11th. She was 23 years old. Her remains were interred in Mt. Tabor graveyard in Augusta County.Deaths
(Names in announcement: Catharine Virginia Kiracofe, Rev. J. W. Kiracofe)
(Column 03)Summary: John Ailor died at his residence near Deerfield on January 5th. He was 82 years old and a veteran of the war of 1812. He was "an inoffensive, honest man, and died without an enemy as far as known. He survived his wife but a short time. He leaves several daughters and many friends to mourn their loss."
(Names in announcement: John Ailor)
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