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Staunton Vindicator: February 23, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Sentiment of a Leader of the Privilege Class--Speech of Mr. Douglass
(Column 03)

Summary: Attacks a recent speech by Frederick Douglass in which he contended that President Johnson's policies amount to a "'base and wanton surrender of all the terrible efforts of this war back again into the hands of the very men, who, with broad blades and bloody hands, have sought to destroy the nation.'"

Origin of Article: Washington Union

Editorial Comment: "The following is an extract from the harangue delivered by the "orator" of to-night, in Quaker city, some days since, which will no doubt be retailed to the nation this evening:"

Full Text of Article:

"The crime of crimes which now threatens this nation is not one that kills the body, but one that murders the soul of the nation. It is one that strikes at the national honor. It is one that must bring upon the nation the gathered wrath of God and man. In Washington the crime of crimes, which overhangs us and threatens us is nothing less than the base, the wanton betrayal of this Republic by the very man, (cheers,) by the every man in whom this generous nation has confided the care of its honor; the base and wanton surrender of all the efforts of this terrible war back again into the hands of the very men, who, with broad blades and bloody hands, have sought to destroy the nation.'-(Cheers.)

"Is nothing less than the base, the wanton betrayal of this Republic by the very man-(cheers)-by the very man in whom this generous nation has confided the care of its honor." "The very man"-what man is this who is to betray the nation? According to Fred. Douglass, it must be Andrew Johnson who is going to surrender the nation into the "hands of the men with broad blades and bloody hands." Is Andrew Johnson a traitor? or is this Douglass a base liar and slanderer? With one acclaim, every honest patriot will declare Fred. Douglass a liar, and as insolent as he is black, though a fit mouthpiece of all who sympathise with him.

Had any white man used such vile language about the lamented Lincoln he would have been arrested and incarcerated in the Old Capitol as a rebel sympathiser, and justly too. The insolent nigger vituperator is not a rebel sympathiser, but is starting out upon a negro rebellion tour. This we suppose to be what he means by his insolent threat of "getting the people right."-Washington Union, 13th.

A Novel Question
(Column 06)

Summary: Referring to an incident in Alabama in which a Union captain closed a restaurant that refused service to two black soldiers, the author asks "is the proprietor of a public house compelled to receive negroes at his table?"

Full Text of Article:

Is the proprietor of a public house compelled to receive negroes at his table? That is the question. We are informed by a gentleman who came down on the Chattanooga train, Thursday, that the Post Commandant closed the eating house of Joiner & Co., at Stevenson, Alabama, because two negro soldiers were refused admission to dinner at the regular table. Upon their complaint, captain Wartman sent a guard of negro soldiers, stating that if they were not allowed to eat at the regular table, the house would be closed. The landlord refused on the ground that his customers would leave him; whereupon an order was issued closing the house at once. The proprietors have appealed to higher authorities.-Nashville Union 27th.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Questions the motives of those who are arguing against the Valley Railroad Bill in the Virginia Legislature by suggesting that the new line will undermine the prosperity of other parts of the state. The editor suggests that "such objections appear to us simply a desire to keep the Valley section down."

Full Text of Article:

The Valley Railroad Bill has been taken up in both Houses of the Virginia Legislature and has caused some spirited remarks. The great objection urged to the bill is that it will ruin the other Railroads and materially damage the future prosperity of the State. This, the only objection, looks very much like a last resort to defeat the bill. A charter has been granted which will bring the Lower Valley, as far up as Harrisonburg, in direct communication with points out the State, and, consequently, the productions of that portion of the Valley will find their markets elsewhere than in Virginia. By granting a charter to the Valley Railroad, the whole Valley would be in direct communication by railroad with all the prominent points in the State, and the trade of the Valley, instead of being compelled to leave the State to find a market, would find its way to the Virginia cities. It is objected that the advantage to be gained, by thus securing the trade of the Valley to Virginia, is more than counterbalanced by the opportunity afforded to the produce from the West and South West to seek a market further North. This is equally a futile objection. The lines of communication which the Valley Railroad would tap are the Va. & Tenn. And the Central railroads and Canal. All of these are tapped by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. The distance from Salem to Baltimore, by the Orange Road is shorter than by the proposed Valley Road, and besides, by the former, the mass of freight would have the advantage of transportation the entire length of two railroad lines as through freight, the tariff on which is less than on way freight, under which class it would fall if transshipped at Salem. And likewise for the Central Road and Canal, the tariff would be less in proportion if the freight is transported to Gordonsville and Lynchburg, respectively, than if transshipped at the junctions with the Valley Railroad. For the same reason, markets begin equally desirable, the tendency would be for freight to continue on the through lines of communications to Richmond without transhipment at any point.-Whether the latter would be the case or not; would both be at all effected by the Valley Railroad, for access to the Northern markets is as easy and over shorter lines of communication than it would be by the Valley Railroad from any point of its crossing with these railroads or canal. How any reasonable man can argue that the Valley Railroad would ruin the other railroads of the State and damage her future prosperity, when, if the reasoning is correct, more exaggerated causes are at work now than could be brought into play by the Valley Railroad, we of the Valley can not see. Such objections appear to us simply a desire to keep the Valley section down, and cause us to regard the pronouncing, or approving of lightly wrought panegyrics on our section as of no greater import than a passing wind. We of the Valley have proven our devotion to the noble Old Commonwealth, and we still desire her greatest prosperity, but if there is any thing which will make us regard the old State with less veneration, it is to hear such weak objections urged against a matter of the primest importance to us, and which can not fail to advantage the whole State. The Valley people need and must have the Valley Railroad, and it were high time such frail and untenable objections to it were left off in Virginia's Legislative Halls.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Referring to recent Democratic gains in local elections in Kentucky, the author argues that "the German element" in Kentucky, "not desiring to be made the equals of poor, hobby-ridden Cuffy, is siding with the Conservatives." If "Radical legislation in Congress" continues to pursue the same ends, he argues, "whole broods hatched by the Radicals will return to their own coops."

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Praises President Johnson for his recent veto of the Freedman's Bureau Bill, arguing that "in these days of mania for Constitutional amendments, it is exceedingly pleasant to hear some one in authority speak out boldly for the maintenance of the Constitution as it is."

Local Items
(Column 01)

Summary: Offers statistics provided by the Clerk of the County Court on the number of marriages in 1865 and births and deaths in 1864 in Augusta.
(Names in announcement: Wm. A. Burnett)

Full Text of Article:

OUR friend, Wm. A. Burnett, Clerk of the County Court of Augusta, has furnished us a statement of Statistics, showing the number of Marriage licenses issued, during the year 1865, and the number of births and deaths for 1864.

One hundred and seventy nine Marriage licenses for whites and twenty nine for blacks were issued during 1865, making a total of 208, which was more than twice the number issued in 1864.

In 1864 there were 235 births and 309 deaths in Augusta County, exclusive of the town of Staunton. By direction of the Auditor of Public Accounts, the births and deaths in the year 1863 were not taken by the Commissioners.

Local Items
(Column 01)

Summary: Reports that a mass meeting will be held next Monday "to endorse the policy of President Johnson and to renew an earnestly expressed desire to restore peace and harmony between the sections."

Local Items
(Column 02)

Summary: James Mayes, "an old and respected citizen of Staunton," froze to death while returning to his house last Thursday night.
(Names in announcement: James Mayes)

Local Items
(Column 02)

Summary: The Baptist Fair held last Thursday and Friday to raise funds to repair the Baptist Church was well attended and raised about 500 dollars.

Local Items
(Column 02)

Summary: Local resident Jas. Lovell was committed to jail last Wednesday for "passing a Countefeit $20 Greenback" to John O'Hare.
(Names in announcement: Jas. Lovell, John O'Hare)

Local Items
(Column 02)

Summary: Reports that "our venerated chieftain, Gen. R. E. Lee arrived in Staunton Monday evening last, on his return from Washington."

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: Sallie McGuffin, of Greenville, and Capt. John Greiner, of Rockbridge, were married on February 3 at the home of the bride's father by Rev. William Pinkerton.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Wm. Pinkerton, Capt. John H. Greiner, Sallie M. McGuffin)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: Harriet Cease, of Staunton, and Henry Loyns, of Shepherdstown, were married on February 15 by Rev. J. I. Miller.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. I. Miller, Henry M. Loyns, Harriet A. Cease)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Parmelia Hester Ast died on January 5 at the home of her father, Capt. J. H. Ast. She was days away from her 24th birthday.
(Names in announcement: Parmelia Hester Ast, Capt. J. H. Ast)