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Staunton Vindicator: June 14, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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Summary: The editors remind readers of the importance of registering to vote, and examine some of the provisions contained in Gen. Scholfield's proclamation on voter eligibility. Evidently there is considerable confusion over who is actually disfranchised.

Full Text of Article:

We again called attention last week to the necessity of all, who are not disfranchised registering their names as voters, when called upon to do so by the Boards of Registration. In this issue we publish the notice, of the President of the Board, that registration will be commenced, in District No. 1 and 2, Staunton, and District No. 3, Middlebrook, on June 22nd, to-morrow one week, and continue until and including June 29th, Sunday excepted. The time for registering, revising the lists and reporting to the commandant of the State is short and we desire to impress upon all the necessity of promptly presenting themselves for registration.

There are also several points to which we desire particularly to call the attention of our people. There will be but one place of registration in each magisterial District, and consequently but one place of voting, and no one can vote except at the place he registers. Each one is, therefore, expected to register in his magisterial District, where he must vote.

there will be two lists, one for those who are registered as voters, and another for those who are rejected or are considered doubtful, with the reasons therefor. The latter we may call the doubtful list, and upon which we advise all, who are uncertain whether they are disfranchised, or are rejected, to have their names placed and let the matter be decided by the commandant of the State. In this way many will be allowed ultimately to register as voters, who are inclined to believe they are disfranchised.

We desire also to remove the impression that any one who aided the rebellion is, therefore, disfranchised. We publish the order of Gen. Schofield in our last issue, from which this conclusion was erroneously drawn, in the 3rd paragraph of which he distinctly says that no one is disfranchised for participation in the rebellion, unless he previously was either a member of Congress or officer of the United States, civil or military, and as such took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, or was a member of any State Legislature, or executive or judicial officer of any State and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against or gave aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States, or has been convicted of felony against the laws of any State or of the United States. He then proceeds to define the executive and judicial officers of a State to be "Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, 2nd Auditor, Register of the Land Office, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Judges of the Circuit Courts, Judge of the Court of Hustings, Justices of the County Courts, Mayor, Recorder and Alderman of any city or incorporated town, who are ex-officio Justices, Coroners of towns and counties, Escheators, Inspectors of tobacco, flour and other commodities."

No all who held any one of these offices before the war and afterwards gave aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States and all who have been convicted of felony are disfranchised, but no one is disfranchised for aiding in any way in the late war, unless he previously held one of the offices which General Schofield enumerates, as given above by us, and all such can take the oath required, which we publish again for the information of our people, and is as follows:

"I ---, do solemnly swear, or affirm, in the presence of Almighty God, that I am a citizen of the State of ---; that I have resided in said State for --- months next preceding this day, and now reside in the county of ---, or the parish of ---, in said State, as the case may be; that I am 21 years old; that I have not been disfranchised for participation in any rebellion or civil war against the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any State or of the United States; that I have never been a member of any State Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I have never taken an oath as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, encourage others so to do. So help me God."

Some may think that they can not take this oath on account of swearing that they have never been disfranchised for participation in the Rebellion, when the Alexandria Constitution disfranchised all who aided or abetted the Confederacy. We would ask all such to reflect a little and remember that Congress, by its Reconstruction act, ignores that Constitution, and consequently no disfranchisement under tat act could possibly be claimed. The President of the Board, and Registrars in this county so hold, as Gen. Schofield plainly does, for which we again refer to paragraph 3rd of his order No. 34, the substance of which we quote above, that no one is disfranchised, for participation in the Rebellion, (by the Alexandria Constitution or any act of Congress,) unless he previously held one of the offices we have enumerated. All conscientious scruples on this score must therefore, be thrown to the wind.

We have endeavored, in as concise a way as possible, to show that aiding in the Rebellion, according to Gen. Schofield's order does not disfranchise any one unless he previously held certain designated officers which required an oath to be taken to support the Constitution of the United States, and we again appeal to all as a duty they owe to themselves and posterity to come forward and register, and be thereby placed in a condition thereafter to exercise the right of suffrage.

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Summary: The article reports that the Piedmont Land Agency "received two installments of immigrants within the past few days" and has supplied area planters with white laborers. "All that is necessary," the piece contends, "is a little energy in this direction, and we can induce a large immigration of reliable white laborers."

Origin of Article: Piedmont Intelligencer

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Summary: Relates that a delegation of northern Republicans are in Richmond to help bridge the divide between the Hunicutt and Botts factions of the Republican party in Virginia.

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Summary: It is reported that Gen. Howard appointed J. M. Langston, a black lawyer from Ohio, as Inspector of Freedmen's schools in Virginia.

Southern Negro During the War
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Summary: The article contends that, contrary to northern beliefs, most southern blacks did not support the Union during the late war. Rather, it explains, "ninety five per cent. of them were as faithful to the Confederacy as any average equal number of Southern whites."

Origin of Article: New York Citizen

Local Items
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Summary: "The June Term of the Circuit Court for Augusta County, commenced its session here on June 1st, Judge H. W. Sheffey Presiding. The Grand Jury found indictments against Martin H. Lotts for Burglary and also for attempting to burn the jail against William Wilson, colored, for Barn burning, against J. Henry Bird, colored, for burning an unoccupied house, against Richard Taylor Smith, colored, for burglary, and various others for minor offences. Martin H. Lotts was tried on 1st indictment found guilty and sentenced to three years in the penitentiary. J. Henry Bird, colored, tried and found 'not guilty.' Richard Taylor Smith, colored, tried and found guilty of petit larceny--punishment not yet pronounced by the court. William Wilson, colored, arraigned and nolle prosequi entered--prisoner retained in custody and a Grand Jury directed to be summoned. Martin H. Lotts was tried on second indictment for attempting to burn the jail, and jury returned a verdict of 'not guilty.' Various matters of no general interest were disposed of."
(Names in announcement: Judge H. W. Sheffey, Martin H. Lotts, William Wilson, J. Henry Bird, Taylor Smith)

Local Items
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Summary: Notes that caterpillars have been "ravaging the forests on the Northwestern side of the town for some days past."

Local Items
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Summary: The article proudly notes that Lorenzo Sibert has obtained a patent for an invention that converts "iron ore into cast-steel, at any ordinary Furnace, at the cost of Pig-iron." It is "probably the greatest invention of the age," says the piece.
(Names in announcement: Lorenzo Sibert)

Local Items
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Summary: Announces that the Staunton Business College has opened its doors. Classes are held in the room used by the Odd Fellows' Lodge, above the First National Bank.

Local Items
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Summary: Several farmers in the county have noticed a blight on their wheat, reports the article. Consequently, it calls on all farmers to check their fields.

Local Items
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Summary: Notes that the Circuit Court adopted a law last week "allowing a practicing attorney to act as Judge pro tem in any case in which the Judge is interested."
(Names in announcement: Col. J. B. Baldwin, Judge Sheffey)

Local Items
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Summary: Reports that the "Ladies of the Baptist Church" made $105 at their Strawberry Festival last weekend.

Married
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Summary: On May 30 William T. Wright and Sarah F. Burges were married by Rev. A. A. P. Neel.
(Names in announcement: William Wright, Sarah F. Burges, Rev. A. A. P. Neel)

Married
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Summary: On May 30 John F. Houff and Mary V. Neff were married by Rev. J. W. Kiracofe.
(Names in announcement: John F. Houff, Mary V. Neff, Rev. J. W. Kiracofe)

Married
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Summary: On May 30 Joseph M. Jordan and Marie E. E. Craun were married by Rev. C. Beard.
(Names in announcement: Joseph M. Jordan, Maria E. E. Craun, Rev. C. Beard)