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Staunton Spectator: November 01, 1870Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
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Constitution of the Augusta Memorial Association for the Confederate Dead, Adopted October 19th, 1870
(Column 05)Summary: Printed a copy of the Constitution of the Augusta Memorial Association. Included articles detailing when meetings would be held, how much each member pays in dues, and when to gather for a Memorial Day.
Full Text of Article:[No Title]ARTICLE I.
The name of this Association shall be "The Augusta Memorial Association for the Confederate Dead."
ARTICLE II.
The object of this Association shall be the preservation, care and annual decoration of the graves of the Confederate Dead, who are interred in Thornrose Cemetery, and other localities in Augusta County.
ARTICLE III.
The members of this Association shall consist of all persons, not deserters from the Confederate Army, who shall contribute annually the sum of fifty cents for the purposes of the Association.
ARTICLE IV.
Honorary members of the Association shall consist of all persons who shall contribute to the sum of five dollars for the purposes of the Association.
ARTICLE V.
The officers of the Association shall be a President in Staunton, and one Vice President in each Township of the County, a Secretary and a Treasurer; and these officers shall be elected by the Association at each annual meeting, convened for the purpose of decorating the graves of the Confederate dead. Their duties shall be such as are appropriate to their respective offices, and as may be specified by the By-Laws of the Association.
ARTICLE VI.
There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of five members, inclusive of the President of the Association, who shall be ex officio, a member and chairman thereof, to be chosen by the Association at each annual meeting thereof, and of whom three shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to transact the current business of the Association; to determine and direct all the operations of the Association in reference to the graves of the Confederate dead, and to make all contracts in regard thereto; and to control all the expenditure of the Association. Upon their draft, all the moneys of the Association shall be paid by the Treasurer, and to them the Treasurer shall report the condition of the Finances of the Association whenever required so to do. Said Committee shall have the power to draft by-laws for their own government and for the government of the officers of the Association, to appoint sub-committees, and to appoint a Secretary for purposes of keeping a record of all their acts and resolutions; and shall meet whenever required to do so by the chairman of the Committee. The Executive Committee shall make a report of their transactions to each annual meeting of the Association.
ARTICLE VII
The Association shall meet yearly at a place to be designated by the President, on the 9th of June, as the annual "Memorial Day" of the Association, to decorate the graves of the Confederate dead and to transact appropriate business.
The President of the Association, assisted by the Executive Committee, shall prescribe the ceremonies of the Memorial Day, provide for the delivery of such addresses as may be proper, and give sufficient previous notice thereof by publication to the newspapers of the County.
The President and Vice President shall be, ex officio, Marshals at the day.
ARTICLE VIII.
The annual contributions of the members of the Association shall be expended, under the direction of the Executive Committee, in keeping in repair the graves of the Confederate dead in Augusta. The fund arising from the contribution of honorary members may be invested in a permanent fund or otherwise as the Association may determine.
ARTICLE IX.
The Secretary shall inscribe the names of the members of the Association in a well bound book for preservation, and the roll of members shall be published annually, in the papers of Augusta, under the direction of the President.
A true copy,
CHAS. D. McCoy,
Secretary of the Association.
(Column 06)Summary: "MONTANUS" wrote to the Spectator to complain that a Staunton resident has been nominated candidate for County Treasurer. He suggested county resident Samuel Paul as an alternative because Staunton already dominated so many of the county offices.
Full Text of Article:[No Title]For the Spectator
To the Voters of Augusta County:
There are three candidates in the field for the office of Treasurer of Augusta county. Two of them are independent candidates; the other being the nominee of a county convention. Disclaiming any intention of assailing the integrity of either of the other candidates, the sole object of this communication is to remind the voters of the county of the urgent claims that Capt. Samuel Paul, the independent conservative, has for their support.
Capt. Paul chose not to submit his claims to the decision of the convention; to do this he had not only the privilege, but an unquestionable right. And why? I claim that no man, who has substantial and specific claims, is safe in submitting them to a hasty, boisterous, and fillibustering convention. Do not construe me as calling into question the honest intentions of the county convention; but had it been held in the territories, I would not hesitate to assert that it stultified itself. Why? In the first place the avowed object of the convention was to rule off all the conservative candidates save one who would the more likely be able to defeat the so-called republican candidate. This part of its duty the convention performed, but it committed the singular paradox of nominating for one of the county officers an individual whose war record is identically the same as that of the republican candidate for treasurer. Again, the convention floundered into the wretched error of nominating for treasurer of Augusta county a citizen of the city of Staunton. Why not a citizen of Lynchburg or Richmond? If Staunton be a city it is doubtful whether a citizen thereof is eligible to a county office. The city will have its municipal officers, including treasurer. The treasurer of Staunton will have nothing whatever to do with the funds of the county; nor, on the other hand, will the county treasurer have aught to do with the funds of the city. If Staunton be not a city, but vote, and so on, with the county as heretofore, why then I cannot appreciate the modesty or magnanimity of one of her citizens who would desire the office of county treasurer, when the town already monopolizes the offices of profit and honor in the county.
Although Staunton has the State Senator, the three members of the House of Delegates, the Superintendent of Public Schools, and the Clerks of both the Circuit and County Courts, yet she had not less than four candidates for treasurer--being nearly one-half of all the candidates--although she has only about one-seventh of the whole population of the city and county combined. It is truly distasteful to see such an inordinate greed for office.
There is springing up in the county a feeling of antipathy towards the town (city?) By way of parenthesis, I ask to be pardoned for using the terms "town" and "city" interchangeably. I do not wish to give color to the allegation of many citizens of the county that Staunton wishes to be a city for certain other purposes. But, to return to this contest between the county and the city: Is it causeless? it is surely needless. It is impossible for the one to prosper without the other prospering also. But whilst the prosperity of the county and the city is almost necessarily mutual, yet this contest is not altogether innocuous. It may be hurtful when concert of action is necessary in some public measure. It has already defeated one measure which was deemed of vital importance to the county. The contest is either not causeless, or the city of Staunton contains all the talent and qualification for office in the limits of the county. It is difficult to imagine that all the talent, integrity and qualification for office is concentrated in the city of Staunton. Yet, after the incubation of a miserable caucus before the election for members of the Legislature in 1869, we received the startling intelligence that the caucus had hatched out all four of the candidates from the town of Staunton, and we must vote for them, otherwise a radical or radicals would be elected. This was just a few days before the election, and the people of the county voted for and elected them; they will never do so again. We honestly believe that there is some talent, qualification and patriotism outside of the city.
What are the comparative claims of the three candidates for your support? As to Mr. McCutchen, the so-called republican candidate, I choose to draw the mantle of charity over his war record, and pass on to Mr. Cochran, the nominee. He has as much claim as any other honest and qualified man of Richmond or Petersburg; or if Staunton does actually embody all the talent and qualification for offices of honor and profit in the county, why then vote for him. But I unhesitatingly assert that he has no substantial claim whatever upon the people of the county for their support. He has no specific claim, for he was not in the army at all, being exempted from duty all the while.
Capt. Paul has substantial and specific claims upon you. That he is honest and capable no one will undertake to deny. These are the pre-requisites for all offices. He needs the profits of the office, a thing not remarkable, for nearly every faithful soldier who served throughout the war was necessarily crippled in finances. His war record is well known; of this I need only give a very succinct review. He volunteered in 1861 and served faithfully in the armies of Gens. Johnson and Jackson until the battle of Port Republic where he lost a leg. As soon as he sufficiently recovered, he was appointed Enrolling officer for Augusta county, in which position he gave entire satisfaction to the close of the war.
Voters of Augusta! a faithful and disabled soldier, one of the county's wards, desires and needs an office. I deem it almost a work of supererogation to more than simply remind you of your solemn obligation to support him in preference to all others. This is an obligation from which nothing can absolve you. I boldly assert that no convention, nor the fear that a candidate of the Republican party may be elected, nor anything else can release you from your obligation to support one of Augusta's disabled sons. If the voters of the county have so soon forgotten their obligations to their crippled defenders, it matters but little who is elected to office, provided he be honest and competent. I hope it will be a cheerful duty for every man in the county to go to the polls and cast his vote for Capt. Samuel Paul.
MONTANUS
October 1870, lt.
(Column 07)Summary: Letter purportedly from Simon Socks, a rural visitor to the Augusta County Fair. He talked about the changes in Staunton in recent years and gave a day-by-day account of the fair. The letter served to poke fun at rural views and speech patterns by printing the letter in dialect.
Full Text of Article:STANTON, FRYDAY NITE,
after thee Fare
DEAR WIFE--I arriv here Mundy arter-noon at the "Merriken," kep by Ed. Cushin--u recolik he war a little boy when we imigrated to "ole Flu." I tel u Pol, Stanton is pintedly changed since we last seed it. It is a city now counten the deef and dumb and the lunatix. Lots abildings has gon up and lots of the old citizens two. A grate big hi brik house has bin put up on the korner where Nob Brooks used to hand u out your male. Nob is gone as well as the ole bildin. The Post Offis is now kept up on Augusty street, what we use to call the Mackadmized rode. Time and space wood fale me to tel u 1/2 the strange things that have taken place. I tel u ole gal, when I looked roun for the ole residenters and could'nt fine none; for the ole lan marks and they want thar; when i seed the gas lite's and the grate number of yung gals at the skules, and the bar rooms and the tigers which is even in the winders, I felt orfully solum and tolrable ole--u bet i did--and I cood but xclame in the langwige of the poit,
"I'll drink a cup of kindness yet
For ole lang sine."
So I stept into the fust salune I cum to and drunk it.Tuesdy mornin I pade a quawter to ride doun to the Far grouns in a hak. I war by myself on the hine seet an u ort to hav seed me rar bak. I no u would hav bin proud of my personal appearance. It war the same bak which was used to haul niggers to the poles at the Ralerode eleckshun, but tha did'nt have to pa nuthin. I nu it war the saim by the smell. I did'nt think much of the Far--thats honest. I don't think any body did, unless it war a feller that got the niggers to strike a boarde with a big wooden hammer at 10 cents a lik. The niggers war licked as wel as the board. Kunnel Baldin was ridin aroun the trak on a white hoss considerabel. The Kunnel is grate on a notty case at the bar and rite hard to beat in a perlitical canvas, but I hurd peeple sa he made sum mistake in carryin on these Farrs. Tha sed if thar war more attenshun pade to bizness and less promenence given to amuzements, the Farrs wood not come so nigh unto a fizzle. Tha beleeved that if thar war more good stock and other sorts of agricultural produxs and so forth to look at and less ridin of tournaments and kickin-ups on the green, the practicle farmers of the county wood fele more interest in the consurn. One feller sed that the Judges did'nt no much about what they had to xamine--xcept the licker judges which ar generally appinted from the legle perfesshun. I'm a good judge of licker miself.
The Bloon did'nt go up Tuesday, which war a grate disappintment to menny who, findin nuthin else to look at, intended to look at the Bloon. Wednesday she went--but not very far, and sune cudid in smoke.
Thursday it raned and the fellers could'nt ride at the tournament. It war a fine thing for the hosses, but a wanderful disappintment to the Queen of Buty and the Mades of Honor and the gallant Nites.
I hav heard considerabul tawk on politix since I arriv in the city. Folks generally is doun on Harris. U reckerleck Jno. Harris who was at the law schule when we lived here. Well, he ar the radicle nominee on the conservativ ticket for Kongress. Tha do sa John is a political trikster--always on the winnin side. The Harris family ar grate for luk--sho. Sum sa tha intends to vote fur Aron Shovler. He ar a cullud radical and a man of sum principle. John's perliticle principles hev always counted 7--5 loaves and two fishes.
I mus now bring this effectionate correspondence to a close. When I found out they did'nt pay premiums at the Farr, I koncluded not to enter the dried simmons. Remember me to all the children and tell Isaac not to fergit to fede the houn purp.
your affexionable Husburn,
SIMON SOCKS, of
Fluvanner cownty.
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[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: "Augusta" urged conservative voters to cast a ballot for Corbin M. Reynolds instead of John T. Harris for representative. Told voters to ignore rumors that only a vote for Harris would prevent a Radical victory.To the Conservative Party of the 6th Congressional District
(Names in announcement: Corbin M. Reynolds, John T. Harris)
(Column 03)Summary: John T. Harris wrote to denounce "false and sensational circulars" being distributed by his political enemies on the eve of the election. He asserted that a united conservative party offered the best chance to defeat the radicals.
(Names in announcement: John T. Harris)
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Valley of Virginia Manufacturing Company
(Column 01)Summary: Reported on the impending formation of a joint stock company called the "Valley of Virginia Manufacturing Company". The company hoped to establish a capital stock of between $50,000 and $100,000 at $50 per share. The company also had plans to build a factory in Staunton to manufacture agricultural equipment.[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: The House passed a bill providing for re-assessment of Staunton real property values. Mr. Cochran also planned to introduce bills appointing a constable and three justices of the peace for Staunton, along with a bill rescinding the contract between the Board of Public Works and Konrote Kreamer in regard to the Staunton and Parkersburg Railroad.[No Title]
(Names in announcement: Cochran, Konrote Kreamer)
(Column 02)Summary: The Catholic Fair, held in Staunton, raised $500.[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: John Echols and N. P. Catlett passed resolutions of sympathy and respect on behalf of the National Valley Bank of Staunton upon the death of E. M. Taylor.Plan of Organization for the Formation and Distribution of a Relief Fund for the Sufferers from the Late Flood
(Names in announcement: John Echols, N. P. Catlett, E. M. Taylor)
(Column 02)Summary: Circulated resolutions calling for the formation of county committees to begin the work of flood relief. Said committees should be appointed at public meetings, and asked ministers to give their support to the endeavors. Also requested all the donations should go to the Governor of Virginia for distribution.Married
(Column 03)Summary: Jerome Keller and Miss Audie McCutchen, both of Augusta, were married at Churchville on October 24th by the Rev. J. J. Engle.Married
(Names in announcement: Jerome Keller, Audie McCutchen, Rev. J. J. Engle)
(Column 03)Summary: Edwin F. Taliaferro and Miss Lizzie Stover, both of Augusta, were married at Jenning's Gap on October 27th by the Rev. J. J. Engle.Married
(Names in announcement: Edwin F. Taliaferro, Lizzie Stover, Rev. J. J. Engle)
(Column 03)Summary: William F. Acord and Annie E. Yago, both of Augusta, were married at West View on October 19th by the Rev. P. Fletcher.Deaths
(Names in announcement: William F. Acord, Annie E. Yago, Rev. P. Fletcher)
(Column 03)Summary: Mrs. Lelia Hendren Wilson, wife of D. N. Wilson and daughter of W. M. Dudley, died at Aspen Hill, Augusta County, on September 22nd. She was 25 years old.Deaths
(Names in announcement: Lelia Hendren Wilson, D. N. Wilson, W. M. Dudley)
(Column 03)Summary: Edwin M. Taylor died at his Staunton residence on October 29th. He was 57 years old.Deaths
(Names in announcement: Edwin M. Taylor)
(Column 03)Summary: Robert Lee Cochran, son of George W. and Mary Jane Cochran, died near Summerdean on October 12th. He was 7 months old.Deaths
(Names in announcement: Robert Lee Cochran, George W. Cochran, Mary Jane Cochran)
(Column 03)Summary: Mrs. Mary Ann Brunt died on September 27th. She was 26 years old. "Mrs. B. left a husband, two little girls, and many friends to mourn her loss."
(Names in announcement: Mrs. Mary Ann Brunt)
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