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Staunton Vindicator: March 15, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Bankrupt Law
(Column 4)

Summary: The article contains an abstract of the Bankruptcy Law that lays out the legislation's primary features.

Origin of Article: Baltimore Gazette

The Internal Revenue Law
(Column 6)

Summary: The article relates some of the "more interesting features" of the recently adopted law regulating taxes.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Rather than fight what appears to be a futile battle, the editors acknowledge that there seems little reason to resist the call for a constitutional convention. They do not support the move, but recognize that there is little they can do to stop it since the Radicals are in command of the political situation in Congress and seem intent on moving forward with the scheme.

Full Text of Article:

The subject of calling a Convention under the Military Re-construction bill seems to have exorcised the people of our State to a greater degree than was consistent with their usual calm and patient fortitude under trying circumstances. We believed all the while it was the occasion of greater excitement than there was any necessity for. Although our every feeling and sentiment revolted at the idea of Virginians being made a party to their won degradation, as it seemed to us would be the case if their representatives in the Legislature called the Convention, yet we did not think proper to add to the feeling, which seemed to be increasing, between those who opposed and those who favored a speedy call of a Convention by the General Assembly, by inveighing against the precipitancy which the latter proposed as the proper course to be pursued. We felt that it was useless to argue against the calling of a Convention by the Legislature, as we were satisfied then, as we are now, that Congress is not done with us. There is too much capital in Southern Re-construction for the Radicals to let go the hold which they have upon us yet.--He that thinks otherwise is but flattering the wishes which beget his thoughts. No! when Conventions are called and Constitutions framed in accordance with every requirement of this bill, Congress will refuse to approve them and admit our representatives, until every particle of Radical capital is exhausted from the anomalous political condition in which the people and States of the South are now placed.

The Stevens-Sherman-Shellabarger bill provided in a general way for Southern re-construction, by the calling of Conventions, &c., but failed to specify who should call these Conventions. This want of specificness induced the contrariety of opinion on the subject in this State, and has attracted the attention of members of Congress, as will be seen from the bills offered in the Senate by Messrs. Sumner and Wilson, which we publish in another column. It is stated by a late telegram that the Judiciary Committee of both Houses of Congress will report a bill similar to the bill offered by Mr. Wilson, which will settle this question by making it the duty of the Brigadier Generals to call the Convention, or if they prefer delegate the authority to the acting Governors. We doubt not this will be equally acceptable to those who opposed voluntarily accepting a degrading scheme and those who would soften the inevitable blow by a precipitate acceptance. We do not cease to report the S. S. S. bill as unconstitutional and outrageous, and to condemn its authors, aiders and abettors, who could force it upon a brave though powerless people, but we do feel a satisfaction in knowing, since come it must, that we are not to be made parties to our own degradation by voluntarily accepting it, but that it is to be forced upon us, and that the only subject of division among our people since the defeat of the Confederate armies is thus removed.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors report that an association of blacks named the "Loyal Political Society" was formed by "Hunicutt and his ilk" in the wake of the passage of the Stevens-Sherman-Shellabarger bill. The goal of the organization is to raise the political consciousness of Virginia's freedmen by sending lecturers across the state to speak. According to the editors, these lecturers "will endeavor to poison the minds of the negroes against their only friends, the whites of the South."

Full Text of Article:

Since the passage of the Stevens-Sherman-Shellabarger bill, an association of negroes styled "The Loyal Political Society" has been organized under the leadership of Hunicutt, and others of that ilk. The object is to send lecturers throughout the State to inform the negroes in regard to their newly acquired privileges and for whom they should vote, these lectures to be supported by an initiation fee of twenty-five cents and a contribution of ten cents per month. Here we have the seeds of future disturbances preparing to be sowed broadest throughout the State. These lectures will endeavor to poison the minds of the negroes against their only friends, the whites of the South, and will succeed with the ignorant material with which they will deal, unless an antidote is administered. This antidote we have at hand. It seems to us incumbent on those persons, in every community, who have the greatest influence with the colored class, to call them together and explain carefully and truthfully the situation in which they are placed, by the act declaring them suffragans, and point out to them the course they should pursue, which leads to no conflict with, but will retain the friendship of their white friends of the South, with whom their lot is inevitably cast, and upon whom they are certainly dependent. A failure to do this is a failure to perform a duty to our former faithful slaves, who will thus be left at the mercy of those men who will be sent among them to sow distrust broad-cast, and whose teachings can only be productive of evil to Whites and Blacks.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: Noting that if the circumstances were similar in the North immediate action would be taken to remedy the situation, the article discusses the contents of the report issued by Gen. O. O. Howard, Commissioner of the Freedmen's Burearu, which provides a breakdown of the number of destitute in the South. The agency supplied aid to nearly 60,000 people, more than half of whom were white.

Full Text of Article:

From the report of Gen. Howard, Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, relative to the destitution in portions of the South, we learn that the number of destitute persons in Virginia are, White 2,500, Black 2,500; North Carolina, White 3,000, Black 2,000; South Carolina, White 5,000, Black 5,000; Florida, White 500, Black 1,000; Georgia, White 7,500, Black 5,000; Alabama, White 10,000, Black 5,000; Tennessee, White 1,000, Black 1,000; Mississippi, White 1,862, Black 2,038; Arkansas, White 1,000, Black 500; Louisiana, White 300, Black 200, making a total of nearly 60,000 persons, in the States named, utterly destitute, and for whom Government aid is asked. This is indeed a sad picture, and especially in a section where want has been hitherto unknown.

If the Northern people were in a condition to reason, they could see that it is the reckless legislation of Congress, for the past two years, which has not only produced this destitution, but has kept the South in a state of productive inaction, which must tell ultimately on the national credit. They cannot understand this until it is brought home to their own doors, which the sages of the North see coming in the shape of bankruptcy and repudiation.

Be it said to the credit of Congress, however, which has so little on the score of magnanimity and generosity to be credited with that one House has passed an appropriation to relieve this deplorable destitution.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: Notes that George Tucker, the man selected Mayor of Alexandria by the town's Radicals and blacks, confronted the mayor-elect (based upon the returns of whites only) and "demanded possession of the seal of the Corporation and the keys to the public buildings." The request was "politely declined."

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: It is reported that President Johnson has determined his selections for the commanders of the southern military districts: Gen. Scholfield will command the first, Gen. Sickles the second, Gen. Thomas the third, Gen. Ord the fourth, and Gen. Sheridan the fifth.

Origin of Article: Baltimore Sun

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: Smugly notes that a measure in the Massachusetts legislature to request Congress to prohibit disfranchisement on "account of color" was overwhelmingly defeated. "It seems what is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander."

General McCausland
(Column 3)

Summary: Reports that Gen. McCausland returned to the South from his self-exile in Mexico last week.

Origin of Article: Mason County Journal

Sumner's Supplementary Plans of Reconstruction
(Column 4)

Summary: The article includes additional criteria to be fulfilled by the South before its representatives will can be re-admitted to Congress. Among the stipulations is a resolution requiring the establishment of public schools for blacks and whites to help reduce the region's abysmal illiteracy rate.

[No Title]
(Column 4)

Summary: After comparing President Johnson to Abraham Lincoln, the article contends that the two men's goals are the same--to keep the South in the Union--yet Lincoln never had to face the prospect of impeachmen as Johnson currently does. "Such," it declares, "is the consistency of Radicalism."

Origin of Article: Circleville (Ohio) Democrat

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Tells the story of Col. C. C. Clay, a former commander of the local post, who ran into some difficulties while traveling with his entourage in the vicinity of Jackson's River and Cow Pasture. Four of the nine men who accompanied Clay drowned when the boat they were traveling in capsized.

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors refute the rumor that Radicals intend to publish a newspaper in Staunton.

Origin of Article: Lynchburg News

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Notes that a black man named John Randolph was committed to jail last Thursday for stealing a pair of shoes from P. B. Hoge's store.
(Names in announcement: John Randolph, Justice Evans, P. B. Hoge)

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Relates that A. G. L. Van Lear, of Augusta, was among the "graduates in Medicine at the Maryland University."
(Names in announcement: A. G. L. Van Lear)

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: On March 1, Charles E. Langley died on the Stage between New Market and Woodstock.
(Names in announcement: Charles E. Langley)

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Notes that A. T. Gilkeson bought P. B. Hoge's home in Gospel Hill for $5,250.
(Names in announcement: A. T. Gilkeson, P. B. Hoge)

New Orleans Elections Stopped By General Sheridan
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that Gen. Sheridan postponed elections scheduled for next week until "the district commander under the new law is appointed, or special instructions received covering the case."

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On March 7 John W. Chase and Eliza A. Baer, of Churchville, were married by Rev. George A. Shuey.
(Names in announcement: John W. Chase, Eliza A. Baer, Rev. George A. Shuey)

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On March 5 James W. Teabo and Sallie J. Clough, of Louisa County, were married by Rev. E. Bagby.
(Names in announcement: James W. Teabo, Sallie J. Clough, Rev. E. Bagby)

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On March 12 W. P. Johnson and Elizabeth White were married by Rev. George B. Taylor.
(Names in announcement: W. P. Johnson, Elizabeth White, Rev. George B. Taylor)

Died
(Column 2)

Summary: On Feb. 18 Willie, son of James R. and Sarah E. Norris, died near Midway. He was 7 years old.
(Names in announcement: Willie Norris, James R. Norris, Sarah E. Norris)

Died
(Column 2)

Summary: On March 7 S. A. Richardson died at his residence in Staunton. He was 43 years old.
(Names in announcement: S. A. Richardson)

Died
(Column 2)

Summary: Col. William P. Tate, 46, died at his residence near Stauton on March 9, 1867.
(Names in announcement: Col. William P. Tate)

Died
(Column 2)

Summary: On March 9 Thomas F. Coursey died near Smith's Mill after suffering a few days illness. Coursey was 60.
(Names in announcement: Thomas F. Coursey)