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Staunton Vindicator: June 28, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

How The Negroes Are Deluded
(Column 7)

Summary: The article reports that Radicals in Mississippi have intimidated blacks into voting the Republican ticket by threatening them with physical violence. These same Radicals have duped blacks into believing that the federal authorities intend to confiscate property and distribute it among them.

Origin of Article: Brandon (Miss.) Republican

The Boston Slave Trade
(Column 7)

Summary: Based upon information gleaned from a "reliable source," the article reports that, after embarking on ships bound ostensibly for Liberia, numbers of American blacks have been shipped surreptitiously to Cuba and placed back into slavery.

Origin of Article: Lincolnton (N. C.) Courier

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that the Methodist congregation in Staunton voted to remain part of the Methodist Episcopal Church South by an overwhelming majority. The decision was contested by members of the northern branch of the church in Staunton and black congregants, who filed a lawsuit to nullify the vote.

Full Text of Article:

In our Circuit Court last week the question came up as to which branch of the Methodist Church were the real owners of the church property located in this place.

The Congregation now worshipping in the church property have held undisputed possession of it for upwards of fifty years. The last Legislature, with a view no doubt to make a peaceful solution of the question as to the right of property, passed an act granting the privilege to the members of the various churches throughout the State to take a vote as to which branch of the church they would adhere to.

The Methodist Congregation in this place, in accordance with that act, took the vote and out of 118 persons entitled to vote, 101 voted to adhere to the Methodist Church South, while the remainder either failed or refused to vote.

The result of the congregation was reported to the Circuit Court to be entered upon the record as the law requires.

Col. Baldwin as Counsel for the Congregation South, presented the papers in Court, when Mr. Woodson of Harrisonburg and Maj. Bell of Staunton, counsel for the Northern branch of the church, offered a petition of remonstrance signed by Rev. Mr. Consor, the preacher in charge of the Northern Methodist Church at Staunton, Rev. Lawson, colored preacher in charge of the large colored Congregation, now worshipping in their own church in Staunton, by one member of Mr. Consor's Congregation, and three colored persons, members of the colored Congregation.

These petitions objected.

1. That the Methodist Church in Staunton is built upon a lot which was conveyed for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church and that it belongs of right to the members of that Church.

2. That the congregation now in possession of the Church do not belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and consequently have lost their right to the property.

3. that the petitioners and others, belonging to the two congregations represented by them, are the true members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and as such are entitled to the Church property, and

4. That the act of the Legislature under which the proceedings have been had is unconstitutional and void, and the whole movement without validity, and that the papers relating to it ought not to be admitted to record.

For the congregation it was replied:

1. That the title to the Church property could not be tried in this proceeding, except so far as this congregation has a right to it, and that if others claim an adverse right they must sue for it in regular form.

2. That the object of the law of the last legislature was to protect local religious congregations who when their Church divided were compelled to make choice between the different branches of it, and to allow them in such cases to take their property with them, and that it was the purpose of this congregation to claim the benefit of that protection.

3. That the petitioners, which they claim to be Methodists, do not pretend to belong to this congregation, and of course have no right to interfere with a proceeding which concerns this congregation alone and cannot effect the rights of any other parties, and that the law of Virginia recognizes only "religious congregations," each of which is, under the law, distinct from all others, even of the same Church.

4. That in this proceeding the court will confine its inquiries to the regularity and fairness of the steps taken to ascertain the determination of the congregation, and will hear no objection which is not founded upon some suggestion that by reason of fraud, accident or mistake the vote has not been correctly taken or reported.

5. That the Court will not undertake to pass upon the constitutionality of the law until the question is distinctly presented in an issue fairly made between, proper parties, so that a decision will end the controversy.

The question was extensively argued, but the Court refused to entertain the objections of the Petitioners of the ground that they were not members of the Congregation, whose action they opposed, and that the only legitimate inquiry in these proceedings was as to the regularity or fairness of the vote of the Congregation, under the Act of the General Assembly, The action of the Congregation being found regular was ordered to be entered upon record.

Whether this controversy will be prosecuted further, is not known. If it should be the final result will be of considerable interest to our people, involving, as it does, a large amount of church property.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that Gen. T. W. Patton, of Pennsylvania, was invited to deliver an address before an audience of blacks in Richmond last Monday, but when the organizers of the event found out the "tenor" of his "proposed remarks" they refused to allow him to speak.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: Calls on registrars to remain vigilant so as to insure that black men under 21 years of age who, "through ignorance," may try to register to vote.

The Negro Experiment Worked Out In Jamaica
(Column 3)

Summary: Following the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies, recalls the article, Parliament granted limited suffrage to blacks. Later, the qualifications were relaxed, allowing a far greater number of blacks to vote. According to the article, the failure of the electoral experiment pushed Parliament to rescind voting rights in Jamaica and place control of the island in the hands of a committee appointed by the Crown.

Origin of Article: New York Express

[No Title]
(Column 4)

Summary: Freedmen in Virginia believe that a black man should, and will, be on the next Republican Presidential ticket, relates the article. In contrast to most portraits of the ex-slaves as political neophytes, the article presents blacks as cognizant of their importance in the upcoming Presidential election and intent on benefitting from their position.

Origin of Article: New York Times

Full Text of Article:

A correspondent of the Anti-Slavery Standard, writing from Virginia with an evident understanding of the party machinery among the negroes, gives the Republican party fair warning of what is in reserve for them. The negro vote, he says, will decide the Presidential election. The negroes understand this perfectly and are laying their plans in accordance with it. "There are several negores," says the writer, "fitted for the position of Vice-President, and that race claim that the second office in the nation shall be filled by a negro." The correspondence fully indorses their claim, and wishes it distinctly understood that it must be conceded or the negro vote will be cast against the Republican party. The party, he says, dare not refuse it as its defeat, without the negro vote and the vote of Northern men who will back their claim, is certain. What will Senator Wade do in this contingency? He has pledge himself to "keep ahead" of the people on all questions of radicalism, and here is one which demands its immediate attention. Threre are negroes who, we are satisfied, would preside over the Senate with quite as much dignity, intelligence and grace as Senator Wade himself does:--but will he think so? Perhaps he can get the negroes to postpone this question until that of the "redistribution of property" is settled.--New York Times.

A Good Idea
(Column 4)

Summary: The article proposes that northern and western farmers should form an association and invite their southern counterparts to "visit them and examine the workings of the system which they have adopted for the cultivation of the soil."

Origin of Article: Philadelphia Inquirer

Railroad Meeting
(Column 5)

Summary: The article provides a synopsis of the proceedings from the June 24 meeting on the extension of the Central Railroad Line to the Ohio River. Those in attendance agreed upon four resolutions in support of the railroad project.
(Names in announcement: Gen. Echols, H. W. Sheffey, Bolivar Christian, Jed. Hotchkiss, Col. J. B. Baldwin, H. M. Bell, Col. M. G. Haman, William A. Burke, J. M. McCue, A. H. H. Stuart, T. J. Michie, William W. Witherow, J. Echols, R. G. Bickle, D. Forrer, N. K. Trout, J. M. Hanger, C. Kinney, J. G. Bell, J. Walker, M. W. D. Hogshead, A. McChesney, T. W. Shelton, J. A. English, J. D. Craig, R. S. Hansberger, S. B. Finley, J. G. Patterson, J. D. McGuffin, W. A. Burke, R. S. Craig)

Trailer: H. W. Sheffey, Chairman; Bolivar Christian and Jed Hotchkiss, Secretaries

Register! Register!
(Column 5)

Summary: The poem calls on white men to do their "manly" duty and register.

Origin of Article: Examiner

Editorial Comment: "After reading the following appeal made to the manhood of her countrymen by a Southern lady, what man, young or old, who has one spark of gallantry in his bosom will fail to enroll his name and become a volunteer in the new war for the ascendancy of his race, and the honor of his State and her fair daughters. 'Breathes there one with soul so dead to every manly impulse' that he will not leap to the front in joyful response and register."

Trailer: Ella B--

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: The article notes that blacks attending a "mixed political meeting" in Charlotte County, Va., "took ground against the reconstruction policy." It is surmised that their position reflects a growing concern among blacks that the white majority in Virginia is too strong to overcome at the ballot box, therefore, blacks must reach a common ground with whites to make sure they will not "be unfairly dealt with" once whites return to power.

Origin of Article: Richmond Whig

Local Items
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that an instrumental concert performed by the blind students at the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute on June 25 was warmly received.
(Names in announcement: A. J. Turner)

Local Items
(Column 2)

Summary: States that "very little of general interest transpired" during the June term of the County Court, which was held last Monday. As called for by the legislature, ten men were selected as Directors of the Augusta Agricultural Fair.
(Names in announcement: J. B. Baldwin, A. W. Harman, James Henderson, G. T. Antrim, J. M. McCue, P. O. Palmer, S. B. Finley, Maj. James Walker, W. A. Burke, W. M. Tate)

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On June 16 Alexander Laporte and Rachel Ann Roberts were married by Rev. George A. Shuey.
(Names in announcement: Alexander Laporte, Rachel Ann Roberts, Rev. George A. Shuey)

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On June 20 Alexander S. Peaco and Elizabeth M. Peaco were married by Rev. W. R. Stringer.
(Names in announcement: Alexander S. Peaco, Elizabeth M. Peaco, Rev. W. R. Stringer)

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On June 6 John W. Patterson and Sarah E. Moneymaker were married by Rev. R. C. Walker.
(Names in announcement: John W. Patterson, Sarah E. Moneymaker, Rev. R. C. Walker)

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On June 20 John A. Ashby and Nannie V. Roudabush were married by Rev. R. C. Walker.
(Names in announcement: John A. Ashby, Nannie V. Roudabush, Rev. R. C. Walker, Alexander Roudabush)

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On June 25 Charles D. Stoneburner, Foreman at the Staunton "Vindicator," and Blanche L., daughter of John Trenary, were married by Rev. J. I. Miller.
(Names in announcement: Charles D. Stoneburner, Blanche L. Trenary, John Trenary, Rev. J. I. Miller)