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Staunton Spectator: April , 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

President pro-tem of the Senate
(Column 05)

Summary: Mr. Waddell of Staunton, long-time editor of the Staunton Spectator, was selected President pro-tem of the State Senate.
(Names in announcement: Waddell)

Origin of Article: Richmond Whig

Valley Railroad
(Column 01)

Summary: Commented on an upcoming vote concerning subscription to the stock of the Valley Railroad. The Spectator favored such a subscription because it will speed up the construction of the railroad line through Augusta.

Full Text of Article:

On Thursday, the 28th of April, the vote will be taken on the proposition that Augusta county shall subscribe $300,000, to the stock of the Valley Railroad. This subscription, and $200,000 from Roanoke is necessary to be given in order to hold the $1,000,000, just voted by Baltimore, and without Augusta's subscription the whole road fails for an indefinite time; with it, the work will at once be put under contract from Harrisonburg to Lexington, and for the $300,000 given by Augusta more than $1,500,000 will be paid out in the county, for the building of the road and for land damages. Augusta cannot afford to lose this chance for maintaining her reputation for sagacity and public spirit.

We shall have something to say next week in reply to what has been said recently in some of the Richmond papers about the people of this Valley, in connection with this great improvement, the success of which will depend upon the action of the people of Augusta. We will now merely remark that whilst our people are true to Va. and to all her best interests, they demand, as their right, the development of the boundless resources of their Valley, and perfect freedom of trade with all portions of the Commonwealth, and especially do they insist that their vital interests shall not be crushed by the power of a consolidation, which, through the preference of fear of Baltimore, seeks to repress their energies and enterprise. Give us a complete line of Road throughout the Valley and our increased wealth and population will give to Virginia strength and prosperity which the chance afforded us of trading with Baltimore can neither impair nor avert.

Shenandoah Valley R. R.
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reported that the Shenandoah Valley Railroad Company has been organized in earnest. A large amount of stock has been subscribed and the officers ready for action.

Programme of the "True Republicans"
(Column 03)

Summary: The Spectator published a letter of protest from the "True Republicans," who disagreed with their party's decision to reject the leadership of Governor Walker. The True Republicans hoped to gain the support of the voters who elected Walker, and then use that support to win upcoming elections.

Full Text of Article:

We publish below the protest of such of the "True Republicans," as they call themselves, as oppose the attempts to divide them from the great body of the Conservatives of the State, with whom they acted in the election of the 6th of last July. This protest, with the prefatory remarks as published in the Richmond papers, is as follows:

Be kind enough to publish the subjoined paper. Several efforts were made to get a meeting of all the members of the True Republican Executive Committee, but failed, because of the absence of some of them from the State, and the business engagements of others. This protest, however, was shown and read to eleven of the original sixteen members, all of whom endorsed its provisions and signed it, save Normond Smith, John B. Crenshaw, John M. Higgins and C. S. Bundy.

TRUE REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S PROTEST.

The undersigned members of the State Executive True Republican Committee deem it due, alike to the party they represented, and to the great body of Conservatives with whom they co-operated, in the election of the 6th of July last, and to their own consistency and self-respect, to declare their opinion of the political movement which occurred recently in this city.

The True Republicans were invited to aid "in combining and perfecting an organization which shall be made as effective and instrumental as possible in support of the administration of General Grant, and the policy of the majority in Congress." The purpose was declared to "kill off his Excellency and the rebel majority in the Legislature;" and Senator Lewis, who left his seat in the Senate for the occasion, thought proper to repeat the stale slander of Radicalism upon the people who elected him, "that the safety of every Union man in the State depended upon rescuing the State from the hands of the Rebel Democracy," that is, from the hands of those upon whose ticket he was elected Lieutenant-Governor last summer, and who, but the other day, made him Senator.

To compare these ends Senator Lewis, Porter, Platt, Wells and the like came together, with three members of the True Republican Committee, and have set on foot further measures to make the intended coalition complete and perfect, and to rally a popular vote to its support. What are the elements which are expected to compose this vote? Not the mass of True Republicans and Conservatives who gave Governor Walker and the expurgated constitution 18,000 majority! It must comprise the 97,000 colored voters and 4,000 white voters who gave Wells his 101,000. The accessions which are to turn this vote into a majority must be drawn from the Conservative and True Republican ranks which elected Walker, and this result, it is hoped, will be achieved by the seductions of the Federal patronage, which these men profess to command, the expected divisions to arise from competitions for the State offices and by what proselytism may be effected through the supineness and false security they think they see in their opponents.

It is apparent that the first fruit of their success would be to band the colored voters together against the whites who oppose it, as Democrats who opposed their freedom and are inimical to their newly acquired rights, to keep up, and a word, the war of races; and in the next place to disperse the political party which organized the State, and to defeat the policy it maintains.

What is the policy of our party?

It aims to maintain the control of the affairs of the State, and in that connection to give a firm and hearty support to the State administration which it has placed in power. It would consign to the grave of the past old party names and party dissensions, and shuns the renewal of dead political issues. It would secure to the colored race all the rights properly resulting from their enfranchisement, and infuse into them, as far as practicable, sound and wholesome views of their new situation and of their relations with the whites. It would strive for the rebuilding of the fabrics of the State upon stable foundations, connecting with that object the renovation of its domestic resources, undisturbed in its work by the baneful influence of party spirit. Cut off by the exclusion of the test-oath from a proper representation in the General Government, and thus divested of influences in its action, it will not be embarrassed, at present, with national political names and issues, but will reserve itself for the time when, with a restored representation in Congress and in the Electoral College, the weight of the State may be fairly cast in the scale which will settle what is best for all her interests.

Holding the new elements which are seeking to coalesce, as at war with the policy here indicated, and with the successful party which maintains it --

Resolved, That to unite with and strengthen the defeated Wells' party, would be, on the part of those who defeated it, an unprincipled desertion of the men and the measures which succeeded in the elections of the 6th of July; and that we denounce all such attempts as totally unworthy of the approval or adoption of the people of this State.

Resolved, That the members of the Legislature who support these men and these measures, should, in our judgement, proceed to organize the true Republican and Conservative vote of this State in time for the approaching contest,

GEORGE RYE,

J. W. LEWELLES,

H. J. SMITH,

JAMES C. SMITH,

P. F. BOYLE,

JOHN VILES,

B. HASSEL,

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: R. P. Kinney of Staunton has received an appointment to the United States' Naval Academy.
(Names in announcement: R. P. Kinney)

Centenarian
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reported that Catharine Fulwider of Dutch Hollow, Augusta County, just turned 101 years old. She has 14 children, 101 grand-children, between 500 and 600 great-grand-children, and between 15 and 20 great-great-grand children.
(Names in announcement: Catharine Fulwider)

Breast Excised
(Column 01)

Summary: Dr. A. M. Henkel, assisted by Dr. B. P. Reese and S. H. Henkel, successfully performed surgery to remove the left breast of Catharine Newman, who was suffering from cancer.
(Names in announcement: Dr. A. M. Henkel, Dr. B. P. Reese, S. H. Henkel, Catharine Newman)

Sad Accident
(Column 01)

Summary: A son of Dr. Alexander of Waynesboro accidently shot a boy named Quinland who had come to get the gun for Mr. Hunt. The wound will probably prove fatal.
(Names in announcement: Dr. Alexander, Quinland, Hunt)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: William B. Dunlap and Miss Sarah C. Brown, both of Augusta, were married on March 20th by the Rev. D. B. Ewing.
(Names in announcement: William B. Dunlap, Sarah C. Brown, Rev. D. B. Ewing)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: David C. Trainum and Miss Frances L. Smith, both of Augusta, were married on March 24th by the Rev. D. B. Ewing.
(Names in announcement: David C. Trainum, Francis L. Smith, Rev. D. B. Ewing)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: James L. Dunlap and Miss Mary A. Kerr, both of Augusta, were married on March 27th by the Rev. D. B. Ewing.
(Names in announcement: James L. Dunlap, Mary A. Kerr, Rev. D. B. Ewing)

Deaths
(Column 05)

Summary: John S. Crawford, who owned a large mercantile establishment in Staunton, died at his home in Bath County on April 2nd of heart disease.
(Names in announcement: John S. Crawford)

Deaths
(Column 05)

Summary: Catharine McKee, wife of Samuel McKee, died near Middlebrook, Augusta County, on March 18th after suffering a painful illness for three weeks. Previously connected with the United Brethren Church, for the last three years she was a devoted member of the M. E. Church. She lived an outstanding Christian life and bore her suffering with fortitude. She left behind a husband, two sons, and many friends.
(Names in announcement: Catharine McKee, Samuel McKee)