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Staunton Vindicator: January 4, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Deep Snow
(Column 03)

Summary: Saturday brought "the heaviest snow we have had for several years" to Augusta.

Full Text of Article:

Deep Snow.

Not withstanding the clear, beautiful sky and genial sun which blessed us last week, Saturday brought us a gloomy heaven and the commencement of the heaviest snow we have had for several years. The snow fell constantly until Sunday night, and Monday morning it was about two feet in depth. Bright and early the merry sleigh bells made music on our streets, and frolicksome [sic] men and boys amused themselves by tossing snow balls. A real, genuine wintry snow rejuvenates age and makes us all feel like boys again.

Sudden Death
(Column 3)

Summary: Samuel Brownlee, a member of the firm of Robertson & Brownlee, live stock dealers, died suddenly on December 30.
(Names in announcement: Samuel BrownleeEsq.)

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Full Text of Article:

A few negro women were hired publicly in this place on New Year's day, by Col. R. Turk. One of them brought $86.50 and another $84, large increase [sic] over last year's prices. Women servants are in great demand, while men are less sought after.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Mr. Armentrout, the long-time jailor for Augusta county, vacated the jail on January 1st. Capt. Peck, Sheriff of the county, will now occupy the jail, while Judge Marshall will act in the capacity of jailor.
(Names in announcement: George A. Armentrout, Col. H.H. Peck, Judge Marshall)

Seventeenth Volume
(Column 2)

Summary: The Vindicator commences its seventeenth year in existence with this issue. It has always been loyal to the Democratic party, but it is very disturbed by the party's defeat in the 1860 election. Elections have become contests between the sections, not the parties, and the North refuses to listen to the South's concerns. As a result, the Vindicator's primary loyalty can no longer to the party, but must be to Virginia and the South. The paper pledges to "unite our efforts with all good men in the vindication of the honor of Virginia and the South, and the maintenance of the principles of constitutional liberty as understood by our fathers."

Full Text of Article:

Seventeenth Volume

This number commences the Seventeenth Volume of the Vindicator. Coming into existence at a time when the Democratic party of the county numbered not more than six hundred, it has sustained ardently under most unpropitious circumstances and amid the varying fortunes of a doubtful enterprise, the cause of the Democratic party, until the numerical strength of the organization has been more than doubled and the paper established upon a firm foundation.

Seventeen years have witnessed the steady growth of the Democracy and its triumphs over the elements of opposition, under whatever name presented, with almost unvarying success, until the year 1860, when through its own dissensions and disintegration, it yielded to the more firmly united and better disciplined forces of the enemy.

It is no difficult task to trace the recent result of the Presidential election to the human agencies that brought it about. But why it should have entered into the hearts of men to plot the destruction of the most perfect system of government the world has ever seen, is past finite comprehension, and is one of those unfathomable mysteries which the more confound us as we approach their investigation. There can be no rational motive given as an excuse for the action of men, that is pregnant with such untold disaster and misery, not only to the present generation of our country, but to the generations yet unborn, and to the cause of human freedom, religious and political throughout the world. Were we alone to realize the blighting and destructive influences of the dissolution of the Union of these States--a Union hallowed by so many glorious associations, cemented by such sacred ties, and baptized in the blood of our fathers--then we might with some palliating excuse assume the responsibility of so tremendous an undertaking. But this is not the case. We are acting for posterity. Many of us believing that the government has failed to accomplish that good designed and contemplated by its founders, are unwilling that a living libel upon their wisdom, patriotism and philanthropy, shall longer exist. A recurrence to the fundamental idea of our political system convinces many that in the practical operation of our governmental machinery, the end there proposed is not being carried out. Instead of the equality of all, the tyranny of numbers is substituted. Instead of sovereign State independence and State responsibility, the people of other States assume to say what we shall do, and regulate our system of morals as well as our domestic institutions. Solemn and serious warning does not bring them to a sense of the injustice they would perpetrate. Expostulation they "will none of." But determined upon the point that they are right and every body else is wrong, they are daily seeking by all the devices of the hypocrite, the bully and the incendiary to force their views upon an unwilling people, regardless of consequences.

These causes have brought the Southern people to the investigation of the fact, whether or not the legacy bequeathed by our revolutionary fathers is being faithfully administered--whether its designs are being studied and its ends encompassed--that posterity may receive it from us as we received it from them.

The consideration of such momentous questions and the contemplation of the probable result, will necessarily absorb all mere party issues and erase party distinctions. Henceforth, it is a contest of Sections. Things are rapidly drifting to a focus. The reasonable demands of the South that the North should retrace their hostile steps, give assurance of future fidelity to the national compact, and cease their aggressions, have been met with insulting sneer and taunting defiance. They dream little of the volcano over which they are sporting. If the North by such means expect to intimidate the South then they are fearfully deluded. What heretofore has been deemed conservatism in Virginia, is being aroused to stern and relentless indignation. If the North expect co-operation, then they are mistaken. The South will be as one man in defense of her honor, her rights, her sovereignty and her equality.

Heretofore, we have remarked, the Vindicator has been enlisted in the interests of the Democratic party, with the firm conviction that the faithful administration of its doctrines is the most efficient agency by which to perpetuate the Union. The defeat of that organization, has sounded the deathknell of the confederacy. While we shall cherish the tenants of the Democracy as those most assimilative to the true idea of our government, their advocacy and elimination have become unnecessary for the present, and henceforth we shall unite our efforts with all good men in the vindication of the honor of Virginia and the South, and the maintenance of the principles of constitutional liberty as understood by our fathers.

We commence the seventeenth volume of the Vindicator and the year 1861, with a dark and portentous cloud lowering over our political horizon, but whatever may betide, through civil war may rage and the country be drenched in blood, with Virginia and the South our destiny is cast, and with the same zeal and energy we have in the past endeavored to uphold the flag of the National Democratic party, will we rally to the support of Virginia and the South. Where Virginia leads there will we follow to victory or to death. With her glorious motto, "sic semper tyrannis," streaming in the breeze, we will join in resisting an oppression more odious than that of George the Third, and crushing out a despotic fanaticism as repulsive as the Spanish Inquisition.

A Note of Warning
(Column 3)

Summary: The Vindicator states that it has always discouraged extreme sectional rhetoric in its attempt to hold the Union together. However, it now appears that the paper was mistaken in its belief that the North "would correct the fanatical dogmas of some of their leading traitors." The South now has little choice but to adopt a policy of self-protection.

State Convention
(Column 4)

Summary: Papers from the eastern part of Virginia are indignant at the idea that the subject of taxation should be dealt with at a State Convention. However, people from western Virginia argue that "If the East believes, as does the West, that slaves are property, and desires to do 'justice' . . . to the West, then an amendatory clause to the Constitution could be reported in a very short time, and the matter settled at once, without the necessity and expense of calling another convention in a few years."

Resignation of Secretary Floyd
(Column 5)

Summary: John Floyd, the Secretary of War in the Buchanan administration, resigned his position in protest of the actions taken by Major Anderson in Fort Sumpter. The administration had pledged to maintain the status quo in the Charleston forts as long as negotiations were pending between South Carolina and the federal government. However, Major Anderson evacuated Fort Moultrie and occupied Fort Sumpter, which put the military in a much stronger position. The Vindicator condemns Major Anderson's actions.

Meeting of the Legislature
(Column 5)

Summary: The Virginia Legislature will meet in an extra session on January 7th. Its first duties will be to call a State Convention and take steps to arm the state. The Vindicator disagrees with the Whigs, who want to wait several months before calling a Convention and want the people to vote on the question of whether a Convention should be held. Instead, the Vindicator wants the state to take action before March 1st, when the "Black Republicans" will gain power in Washington.

Full Text of Article:

Meeting of the Legislature

The Legislature of Virginia meets in extra session on Monday next, the 7th inst. In no period of the history of the country has a deliberative body been called upon to consider graver, or more important and stirring events than those that will be presented to the General Assembly of Virginia during its present session. Among its first duties will be to call a State Convention, and take efficient steps towards thoroughly arming the State. While there are objections that might be urged to the Convention at this time, we think the considerations which call for it are paramount, and that it should be instantly authorized, and the day of the election of delegates fixed as early as possible, to the end that the Convention may meet before the fourth of March. We are utterly opposed to the suggestion of our esteemed contemporary of the Whig, that several months should transpire before the assembling of the Convention, and that its action be submitted to the people. In ordinary times, we should favor the policy of "making haste slowly," but now, it seems to us urgently important that Virginia should act at once, decidedly and promptly. Her position should be clearly and distinctly taken before the 1st of March. Events of great import are pressing upon us. We should meet them, and be prepared for any emergency. The rule of Black Republican treason and fanaticism should never be permitted to be inaugurated at Washington city. Virginia should be prepared to play her part in resisting the act which would place the purse and the sword of the government in the hands of a power that will use them for her destruction and that of the South. We do not wish to act rashly. But it would be madness--inexcusable suicide--for us to sit quietly down with arms folded in supine indifference to our own identity, while our avowed enemy is forging the chains that are to manacle us, and whetting the sword that is to prove our executioner. Let the Legislature consider these matters, and act as becomes brave men and patriots who have the nerve to stare death in the face when honor and right are at stake.

The Festive Season
(Column 5)

Summary: Despite the current political crisis, the people of Staunton and Augusta were "unusually gay and happy during the holydays [sic]."

Fasting and Prayer
(Column 6)

Summary: President Buchanan has called for January 4th to be a day of fasting and prayer to save the country from destruction.

Four Free Negroes Drowned
(Column 6)

Summary: Four free black men drowned on December 26th in Rockingham county. They were attempting to cross the Shenandoah river near Port Republic.

The Conspiracy
(Column 7)

Summary: The Richmond Whig quotes a number of prominent South Carolinians to prove that they have long been conspiring to leave the Union.

Origin of Article: Richmond Whig

Proclamation of the Governor of South Carolina
(Column 1)

Summary: Proclamation of South Carolina's dissolution of the union between the State and the other states of the Union.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: The bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church have decided that the act on the subject of slavery is not binding on the membership of the church.

Married
(Column 4)

Summary: Married on December 21.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J.R. Wheeler, Chapman Bagby, Theresa Humphreys)

Married
(Column 4)

Summary: Married on December 25. Miss Glendy is from Rockbridge.
(Names in announcement: Rev. W.G. Campbell, Hugh Kelso, Mary M. Glendy)

Married
(Column 4)

Summary: Married on December 25. Mr. Bailey is from Charlottesville.
(Names in announcement: Rev. W.G. Campbell, Charles E. Bailey, Fannie E. Bashaw)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: James Kyle, son of William Kyle, died on December 22 at age 21.
(Names in announcement: James Lewis Kyle, S.K. TaylorEsq., Wm. KyleEsq.)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: Elizabeth Cease died on December 17 at age 71.
(Names in announcement: Mrs. Elizabeth Cease, Henry Cease)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: Annie Butterly died on December 31 at age 25.
(Names in announcement: Mrs. Annie Butterly, John Butterly)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: Margaret Bell, daughter of Alex. Bell, died on December 15.
(Names in announcement: Miss Margaret R. Bell, Alex. R. Bell)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: Died on December 7 of dropsey at age 6.
(Names in announcement: G.H.B. Altafer)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: Died of diphtheria at age 6.
(Names in announcement: George R. Witts)