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Staunton Vindicator: February 5, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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Summary: Comments on a fight going on between the Northern and Southern Methodist churches. A Mr. Phelps claimed the Southern church treated blacks and Union men unkindly but counter-testimony indicated the opposite. Editor believes the latter is more convincing.

Full Text of Article:

The Church question brought before the Reconstruction Committee by the Committee of Nine called out the Rev. Mr. Phelps of this place, who, in his remarks before the Reconstruction Committee, is reported to have said that "Some of his brother preachers in this section were under the necessity of wearing pistols in the pulpit and also to have charged "as a case of cruelty to the blacks that the white Methodists here had excluded the blacks from the Church."

Col. Baldwin, being re-called before the Reconstruction Committee, at the instance of Mr. Norris, of Alabama, (?) for cross-examination, asked permission also to make a statement in reference to Mr. Phelps' remark and quoted from the testimony of Mr. Phelps, at the investigation held here by order of Gen. Stoneman, in reference to the Methodist Church property in this place, in which Mr. Phelps stated "that he had always been treated with kindness and respect and had never been molested in any manner in Virginia." He also quoted from the evidence of Aaron Shoveler, colored, given at the same time, in which Shoveler stated "that the negro members of the Methodist church in Staunton had selected a negro preacher, formed their own communion, joined the northern African Conference, and declined to contribute to the support of the old church and its minister before they were informed that they could not be permitted to use the old church as a place of worship, and that then the white members as well as other white citizens contributed liberally towards the purchase of a new place of worship for them."

This, it is claimed by correspondents, refutes the testimony given by Mr. Phelps before the reconstruction Committee.

We give the above concise statement as the most correct we have seen of what tranpired.

In this connection we take the occasion, as but a simple act of justice, to correct an error into which the Dispatch, and others of our exchanges have fallen in reference to Mr. Phelps. He can not be denominated a "carpet-bagger," as he is a native of Frederick Co Va, owns a farm there and we learn has spent the greater portion of his life in this state.

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Summary: Comments on the passage of a universal suffrage amendment in Congress. Feels assured that most people in the country are against it but also know Radicals control enough legislatures to pass it. Wonders what will ultimately happen with such a measure.

Full Text of Article:

On Saturday last the Lower House of Congress passed the following joint resolution:

Be it resolution, &c., (two-thirds of both houses concurring,) That the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures, shall be held as part of said constitution, namely:

ARTICLE--

SEC. 1.--The right of any citizen of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or any State by reason of race, color, or previous condition of slavery of any citizens or class of citizens of the United States.

SEC. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

This is universal suffrage in a nut shell and is just what we anticipated. It was a brazen face indeed that would force universal suffrage, at the point of the bayonet, on the prostrate South, whose interest and prosperity it affects vitally and would withhold it in the North, where the principle is the only thing that can be contested. Hence we looked for just such a proposition. What favor it will meet with in the Senate remains to be seen. In all probability it will be forced through. Then comes the real contest. The Northern people have exhibited great opposition to negro suffrage and many of their Legislatures will refuse to ratify the amendment. Enough, however, we believe will ratify it, together with the Southern State Legislatures, filled as they are with carpet-baggers and manhoods, which will assuredly do so, to make its adoption as a part of the constitution sure. Those Northern States which refuse will then be in the category of the South--under the dominion of an inferior race and if there is not some kicking in the traces we shall be astonished. Its constitutionality will likely be tested and every effort be made to wrest the country from its dire effects. It will take time, but the door once opened to the wanton assumptions of a fractional Congress will redound to the ultimate good of the country. That such will be the result, if the joint resolution passes the Senate, we do not doubt and shall watch its course with interest. Perhaps the services of the Committee of nine may be needed in a new field--aiding in the reconstruction of refractory Northern States on the basis of universal suffrage.

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Summary: The Rev. Mr. Tyry is leading an ongoing meeting at the Baptist Church.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Tyry)

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Summary: N. K. Trout petitioned Congress for removal of his political disabilities.
(Names in announcement: N. K. Trout)

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Summary: John Smith, the African American baker at the Western Lunatic Asylum, was attacked and beaten by Frank Harris, a black man. J. T. Parent arrested Harris.
(Names in announcement: John Smith, Frank Harris, J. T. Parent)

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Summary: The Staunton Musical Association will give a soiree at the Odd Fellow's Hall on Tuesday. "These entertainments, besides affording a pleasure for the time, are for the benefit of the Association, which is the duty of our people to encourage. Nothing is so agreeable as good church music and this Association has added much in this respect to our church choirs."

Married
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Summary: Capt. D. H. Spradlin of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Miss Mollie E. Argenbright, daughter of Jacob Argenbright of Augusta, were married on January 19th at the residence of the bride's father by the Rev. J. H. Hott.
(Names in announcement: Capt. D. H. Spradlin, Mollie E. Argenbright, Jacob Argenbright, Rev. J. H. Hott)

Married
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Summary: John M. Lambert and Miss Maggie A. Gardner, both of Augusta, were married near Mint Spring at the home of the bride's father on January 27th by the Rev. J. Murray.
(Names in announcement: John M. Lambert, Maggie A. Gardner, Rev. J. Murray)