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Staunton Vindicator: July 26, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Word To Single Women
(Column 4)

Summary: The article advises women to marry patient and polite men if they hope to be happy. "In the severest of winter," it suggests, as the truest test of commitment, their husbands "would not mind going to bed first."

Fred Douglass' Speech
(Column 5)

Summary: In a speech delivered in Norfolk on July 4, Fred Douglass reportedly told his audience that the biggest mistake the Confederacy made in the late rebellion was its failure free the slaves and allow them to fight as freemen for the South. Had the Confederate authorities done so, white southerners would be a "free and independent people" today.

Origin of Article: Norfolk Journal

Full Text of Article:

The following is given, in the Norfolk Journal, as the conclusion of Fred Douglass' speech in Norfolk, on the 4th of July: "Had the Southern Confederacy not been blinded by prejudice, she would have used the means which were in her power to employ, of achieving a lasting independence. That is, the Confederate government would have unshackled every slave, and as freemen, armed for the fight, marched them, shoulder to shoulder with the whites, to the field of battle. Had this been done, said he, to-day you would have been a free and independent people. Mr. Lincoln struck the key-note of success just in time, when he issued his emancipation proclamation."

An Exacting Bride and a Sensible Bridegroom
(Column 6)

Summary: Relates the story of a bride who informed her fiance on the eve of her wedding that, once married, she would require a cook and a chambermaid otherwise she would not consent to the nuptials. Stupefied by her demands and unable to afford her wishes, the groom "acted wisely," opting to extend his life as a bachelor.

Origin of Article: Petersburg Express

Freedmen
(Column 7)

Summary: The article complains that a large group of ex-slaves has encamped on a peninsula on the Eastern Shore where they are reportedly living on rations provided by the Freedmen's Bureau. Contending that the blacks have refused all entreaties to relocate to places where they might find employment, the piece blasts the Civil Rights bill, which prohibits employing force to move them.

Origin of Article: Lynchburg Virginian

Full Text of Article:

A friend who has been residing in the peninsula for some months past, informs us that there are about 28,000 negroes between Williamsburg and Hampton--a distance of thirty-six miles. These people are sustained with rations furnished by the Government, at a cost of $60,000, monthly, while five companies of cavalry are required to patrole the country to prevent depredations. Every effort has been made to induce a portion of them to remove to Florida, the officers of the Government offering them free transportation. There is a standing offer of this nature made by Gen. Armstrong, of the Freedmen's Bureau, to convey the men, with their families, to any point they may select, with the view of engaging in useful labor. But they have persistently refused every offer of the kind and rejected every overture made to get them employment. Under the provisions of the Civil Rights bill it is impossible to do anything contrary to their wishes, and so they remain huddled within this limited area and are a heavy tax under the Government. Some of them have taken to highway robbery, and, but for the presence of a large cavalry force, a residence in that country would be intolerable. How long, we wonder, will the people submit to this enormous tax to support such idle and worthless pots of the Black Republican party? Verily! Radicalism is a dear experiment, taxing the patience and pockets of the people to a degree unprecedented in the history of any country.--Lynchburg Virginian.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors praise President Johnson's rejection of the Supplementary Reconstruction bill and concur with his assessment of the measure as unconstitutional. They describe his speech as "clear and concise" and based upon "conclusive reasoning."

Full Text of Article:

On Friday last the President returned to Congress the Supplementary Reconstruction bill with his reasons for not approving the same.

It is clear and concise, and with conclusive reasoning shows its entire unconstitutionality.

He asserts that the section declaring the intent and meaning of the prior acts fixes upon them a meaning at variance with their language, which made the government of the Southern States subject to military authority, in some especial particulars, or as they expressly stated, "as hereinafter presented," while this declaratory act makes them subject to unlimited military authority, and declares that it is impossible to conceive any state of society more intolerable than that to which the twelve millions of people in the Southern States are reduced by the United States Congress. He says the power given a military officer to remove any civil officer of a State is greater than all the Departments of the Federal Government, separately or collectively, have ever dared to exercise and shows, by the appointment of U. S. military officers to perform civil duties in the Southern States, that the United States assumes the civil government of these States, and makes patent the folly of the United States attempting to carry on governments which are declared illegal by military officers, who must perform the duties imposed by illegal State authority. He calls especial attention to that section which provides that military commanders and their appointees shall not be bound "by the opinion of any civil officer of the United States" and exhibits the folly of requiring officials appointed, who may be totally ignorant of their duties, to ask information solely from military officers who may be equally ignorant.

He points to the assumption of Congress that the ten communities are not States and have no legal governments, while in the acts of Congress from 1861 to 1867, by the action of the Supreme Court, and by the assessment and collection of the Revenue they are recognized as States of the Union, and successfully does away with the argument that these States are conquered territories.

Finally he alludes to the vesting of the power of removing from and appointing to office in the Southern States in a military officer, subject only to the approval of the General of the U. S. Army, thereby depriving the President of a Constitutional and essential power, he being responsible for the faithful execution of the law and yet deprived of the power to do so, and expresses his inability to give his assent to the surrender of this trust to any one, high or low, and says in conclusion:

"If this executive trust, vested by the constitution in the President, is to be taken from him and vested in a subordinate officer the responsibility will be with Congress in clothing the subordinate with unconstitutional power, and with the officer who assumes its exercise. This interference with the constitutional authority of the executive department is an evil that will inevitably sap the foundations of our federal system; but it is not the worst evil of this legislation. It is a great public wrong to take from the president powers conferred upon him alone by the constitution, but he wrong is more flagrant and more dangerous when the powers so taken from the President are conferred upon subordinate executive officers, and especially upon military officers. Over nearly one-third of the States of the Union military power, regulated by no fixed law, rules supreme.

Each one of these five district commanders though not chosen by the people or responsible to them, exercises at this hour more executive power, military and civil, than the people have ever been willing to confer upon the head of the executive department, though chose by and responsible to themselves. The remedy must come from the people themselves. They know what it is, and how it is to be applied. At the present time they cannot, according to the constitution, repeal these laws; they cannot remove or control this military despotism. The remedy, nevertheless, is in their hands; it is to be found in the ballot, and is a sure one, if not controlled by fraud, overawed by arbitrary power, or from apathy on their part too long delayed. With abiding confidence in their patriotism, wisdom and integrity, I am still hopeful of the future, and that in the end the rod of despotism will be broken, the armed rule of power be lifted from the necks of the people, and the principles of a violated constitution preserved."

The bill however was passed over the veto by a large majority in both Houses.

How the Message was Received--A Sharp Discussion
(Column 2)

Summary: The piece reports that the battle over whether to impeach President Johnson has divided Republicans in Congress.

The Iron-Clad Oath
(Column 4)

Summary: The article asserts that delegates attending Virginia's state convention will not have to take the iron-clad oath because members of the Convention are not included among the various classes of citizens required to do so.

Origin of Article: Richmond Dispatch

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Notes that several prominent local men delivered addresses last Saturday night concerning the present political situation.
(Names in announcement: F. S. Tukey, Capt. James Bumgardner, E. L. Houff, A. T. Maupin)

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Relates that Henry C. Kindig and A. J. Polmer purchased Peek's Mill, located on Christian's Creek, and have begun to make improvements on the structure and machinery. The mill will operate under the supervision of D. J. Hyden.
(Names in announcement: Henry C. Kindig, A. J. Polmer, D. J. Hyden)

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: With registration in the county complete, the final tally for Augusta is 3,484 whites registered to vote and 1,206 blacks.

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that Dr. McFarlan, of Dayton, and Felix T. Sheets, of Mossy Creek Paper Mills, were both injured after they were thrown from the wagon they were riding in. Apparently the accident occurred when the horses took fright and ran off.
(Names in announcement: Dr. McFarlan, Felix T. Sheets)

Origin of Article: Register

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Notes the passing of William Carroll, son of Jacob Carroll, who died in San Francisco on June 12. William was a native of Staunton, but moved to California 15 or 18 years ago. He was 40 years old.
(Names in announcement: William Carroll, Jacob Carroll)

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that "Delia Lewis and Nancy Robinson (colored)" were arrested on Sunday morning for using "abusive language and fighting on the street." The women were brought before the mayor and bound over for $50 each. Unable to provide the security, they were sent to jail.
(Names in announcement: Delia Lewis, Nancy Robinson)

Local Items--Registration
(Column 1)

Summary: Includes the final registration for several other counties in the area around Staunton: Frederick (1,931 whites, 501 blacks); Rockingham (2,851 whites, 424 blacks); Botetourt (1,376 whites, 632 blacks); Craig ( 411 whites, 45 blacks); and Clarke (765 whites, 371 blacks).

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Dr. B. B. Donaghue purchased the home residence and lots belonging to the estate of William Kinney, dec'd, for $12,300.
(Names in announcement: Dr. B. B. Donaghue, William Kinney)

Local Items
(Column 2)

Summary: Announces that, during the its last term, the County Court of Rockingham decided it was "'inexpedient and improper to allow any claims for provisions furnished during the war.'"

Origin of Article: Rockingham Register

Married
(Column 2)

Summary: On July 17 John R. Taylor, of Winchester, and Zeddie A. Achord were married by Rev. J. L. Miller.
(Names in announcement: John R. Taylor, Zeddie A. Achord, Rev. J. L. Miller)