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Staunton Vindicator: March 26, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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Summary: Steps up the attack against the Walkerites. Claims that if Conservative voters support the movement, the hated Underwood Constitution will be passed and blacks will ultimately control the state. Denounces each section of the Walkerite platform, urges all Virginians to vote down the Underwood Constitution to save the dignity of the state.

Full Text of Article:

The Executive committee of the latest "New Movement" have issued an address to the people of Virginia, calling upon them to support the Walker ticket which we published in our last.

The committee then deal in great praise of Messrs Walker, Lewis and Taylor. Now this is extremely absurd to say the least of it. What care the people of Virginia concerning the respectability of this ticket? It is principles not mere men we want. This is then the merest effort to sugar coat a very bitter pill, and we can tell the advocates of the Walker ticket that it will not be swallowed by the majority of the anti-Republicans of the State, though it be intensely sugar coated, and that those who do swallow it will find it to be a most nauseating emetic.

The committee then herald their platform. We give it for the amusement of our readers

"Peace and good will among men."

The prosperity and happiness of all the people.

Unity of purpose and combination of strength to build up our State and develop her inexhaustible resources.

Consolidation and concentration.

The removal of political disabilities.

The striking from the Constitution the test oath and the county organization.

The unity of the States and the glory of the Union.

The equality of all men before the law, and the equal protection of all of whatever color or previous condition in life.

True allegiance and loyalty to the Government.

And such a platform. Made up, in the main, as it is, of vague generalities, how could it excite anything but laughter. It must be a trick of their Republican Chairman to carry the Petersburg ticket and platform. The first four planks really mean nothing. The fifth and sixth trench on subjects which are of interest to our people, but pray what can the Walkerites do on the subject. It is true they may aid the Conservatives in defeating the disqualifying clauses in the Underwood constitution, but how do they propose to effect the county organization clause. The only thing proposed in Congress in reference to getting rid of the onerous features of the Underwood Constitution was concerning the disability and test-oath clauses. The constitution as a whole to be voted upon and the disqualifying clauses to be voted upon separately. If a majority vote "against disqualification" then that onerous feature of the Constitution fails to become a part of it, but this does not effect the county organization clause nor any of the other onerous features of that odious document. It is plain, therefore, that the Walkerites, nor even the Wells party, have any power in the world to rid the people of those onerous clauses save by voting down the whole constitution.

The seventh plank is rich. Messrs. Grant, Colfax, Blaine & Co. come down from yon high pedestals, the Walkerites are going to take care of "the unity of the States and the glory of the Union." Ha! ha!" unity of the States and glory of the Union."

The eighth plank goes back on the old "new movement" and the negro. The former said grant the negro suffrage and eligibility to office "to boot." Congress says the negro shall have suffrage and office, but the Walkerites say they shall have only "equality before the law and equal protection." But then you know the Walkerites are all powerful, for have they not taken in charge "the unity of the States and the glory of the Union."

The ninth plank beats all. "Allegiance, and loyalty to the Government." In the good old days of the Republic this idea was scouted. The allegiance of the fathers was acknowledged due only to the Constitution. That and that only they swore to support and defend. With the Walkerites, however, loyalty to the Government is the thing.

This is the platform of the party which solicits the votes of the Conservatives of Virginia. Let us examine into the probable results of the Walker movement. From the eighth plank mentioned it is plain that it can obtain but few recruits from the Wells party. The negroes will all stand by that party, since it does not cut them off from suffrage and office, but gives them the second place on the ticket. The ninety-two thousand negro voters will be a fine nucleus around which to rally and comparatively few whites, now allied with them, can afford to leave so strong a party. This seems to be in the mind's eye of the Walkerites, or part and parcel of the plan of Dr. Gilmer, and hence their high sounding but meaningless platitudes to catch conservative voters. Whether this is the intention or not, the result is the same. The Walkerites can only draw strength from the conservatives. Some conservatives will be caught, others will go with the hope of "loaves and fishes." What then will be the consequence? The Withers party will be the only one weakened and will fail to defeat the Constitution which they could do but for the weakening of their ranks by the Walkerites. The Wellsites and Walkerites will carry the Constitution. The Withers party and Walker party will vote to strike out the disqualifying clauses and the Wells party will elect their ticket. The Underwood Constitution, freed only of one objectionable clause, with all its other onerous and odious clauses untouched, will be the Constitution of Virginia. Wells is known to be an ardent aspirant for the U.S. Senatorship. The negro Legislature will elect him, and Harris, negro, become the Governor of Virginia. Picture to yourselves the Underwood Constitution, freed only of the disability and test-oath clauses, and enforced by a negro Governor. Reflect upon it and you are bound to conclude that this is destined to be the ultimate and only result of the Walker movement. Then we say to one and all, stand aloof from the latter as you did from the former "new movement," for its results are far more pernicious to Virginia. You, who have been inveigled into the Walker movement, leave it at once, ere you help to bring upon the State the dire calamity which we have predicted and which your reasoning faculties must force you to conclude is the only result which the Walker party can attain.

The only safety to Virginia and Virginians is to vote down the odious Underwood Constitution with all its onerous conditions. Then stand firm ye Conservatives. Let the Walker and Wells faction split the Republican party if they will. This will only add greater strength to the Conservative ranks. You will the easier be enabled to defeat the Constitution. This will continue military domination, but who will say that that is not better, far, then the inevitable result we have foreshadowed above?

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Summary: Denounces Walkerite Republican insinuations that conservative hopes lay solely with the Walker movement. Counters that the Conservative party has enough power to defeat the Wells faction if only defectors didn't join the Walkerites.

Full Text of Article:

The Walker party press are insinuating that if the Conservatives do not unite with them, that the onus of the terrible result in this State must fall upon us. We beg leave to differ with these gentlemen. The Conservative party as organized under their accepted leaders is a large and powerful party, able, unless from defection, due to the Walker movement, to defeat not only the nominees of the Petersburg Convention but to vote down the Underwood Constitution, and thus save the State from the dire results all fear. The Walker faction place their hopes on the respectability of their ticket and take the Underwood Constitution modified slightly. They call upon the Conservative to renounce their life-time opinions--their maintenance of time-honored rights and leave a large organization to unite with a few disaffected Republicans for a supposed expediency.

No gentlemen, you cry in vain for the mountain to come to you, and when it is so easy to go to the mountain and thus save yourselves from the flood which must otherwise engulph you, and you fail to do it, let the onus rest on your own shoulders and don't presume to shift it on others. Be warned in time and save yourselves from the threatening doom, while yet you may.

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Summary: Disagrees with one N.K. Trout, who proposes supporting those who would do the least damage to the state. Insists Virginia conservatives must stick to principle or their state would end up in the hands of blacks.

Full Text of Article:

As we mentioned the name of N. K. Trout among the signers of the Walker address published in our last, we, unsolicited, give place to his card published in the last Spectator.

We disagree entirely with Mayor Trout that we should all be of no party and should support men and measures for the sake of expediency alone, and we admonish the prominent Conservatives he speaks of that the course he indicates, instead of "lifting our bleeding country from the dust," will certainly and surely place it under the heel of cuffee.

In regard to his signing the address, in justice to ourselves, we merely say that the address appeared here (in the Richmond papers) several days before the Vindicator was issued and that not one of the signers, to us, or to our knowledge, asserted that he had signed it with a qualification, and hence we could but take it as we found it and treat it accordingly.

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Summary: Again urges all conservative Virginians to work to defeat any Republican movement in the upcoming elections.

Full Text of Article:

The "respectables" assert as one of their objects, "the rescue of the Republican party of the State from the control of designing and selfish politicians" and thereby prevent its inevitable defeat. We can not see what possible business the Conservatives can have in assisting the Republicans in this matter. What we want is the defeat of this same Republican party. Stand aloof then fellow conservatives and have nothing to do with rescuing the Republicans from designing or selfish men or from defeat. Stand as one man and secure their defeat.

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Summary: The citizens of Staunton were in great excitement over the appearance of a velocipede in town. Ira Benedict constructed and rode the vehicle.
(Names in announcement: Ira Benedict)

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Summary: The paper reports that an unnamed unionist "since war time" and a current Republican is looking to "sell" his stock in the party which he believes to be rapidly "dropping."

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Summary: The paper remarks sarcastically that an African American woman in town asserted that "since so many white folks are joining the colored people's party, it is a difficult matter for the colored people to distinguish them and suggests that they procure and wear wooly wigs to secure easy recognition."

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Summary: The paper complains that General Stoneman ordered all Augusta clerks removed, making it impossible to hold March court. "This was an anomaly in the history of Augusta county and exhibits one phase of the beauties of reconstruction."

Valley Railroad Meeting
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Summary: The citizens of Augusta met in the Court House on Monday to appoint a delegation to travel to Baltimore to lobby for a $1,000,000 subscription to the stock of the Valley Railroad. Maj. William M. Tate chaired the meeting with Jed Hotchkiss acting as secretary.
(Names in announcement: Maj. William M. Tate, Capt. Jed Hotchkiss, Bolivar Christian, Hugh W. Sheffey, David Fultz, John B. Baldwin, John Echols, A. H. H. Stuart, J. Marshall McCue, A. Koiner, Robert G. Bickle, H. L. Gallaher, C. R. Harris, M. W. D. Hogshead, Charles Grattan, R. Mauzy, W. H. H. Lynn, J. R. Crockwell, Marshall Hanger, W. A. Burke, R. S. Hansberger, William F. Smith, G. A. Bruce, Jacob Baylor, Chesley Kinney, R. M. Guy, J. D. Craig, I. J. Parkins)

Judges
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Summary: General Stoneman has appointed the following judges in the section including Augusta: David Fultz replaces H. W. Sheffey on the 11th circuit; Zeph Turner replaces John T. Harris on the 12th circuit; Edmund Pendleton replaces Richard Parker on the 13th circuit; Henry Shackelford replaces Egbert R. Watson on the 10th circuit.
(Names in announcement: David Fultz, H. W. Sheffey, Zeph Turner, John T. Harris, Edmund Pendleton, Richard Parker, Henry Shackelford, Egbert R. Watson)

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Summary: Names all the people appointed by General Stoneman for local offices in Augusta county.
(Names in announcement: Samuel A. East, William A. Burnett, R. D. Sears, Joseph N. Ryan, William Armstrong, James Wilson, William Link, Theophilus Gamble, David Alexander, Thomas J. Burke, W. W. Clinedinst, George A. Bruce, F. M. Finley, Absalom Koiner, John H. Dalhouse, John S. Ellis, John Silor, A. A. McPheeters, William W. Thomas, W. F. Smith, William GibsonJr., Lewis Bumgardner, George Reubush, William T. Rush, Joseph A. Miller, James F. Hite, Henry Mish, B. O. Ferguson, William Morgan, B. F. Hailman, Joseph T. Mitchell, B. F. Points, Erasmus L. Houff, John G. Stover, Henry B. Jones, Thomas M. Donoho, J. H. B. Shultz, George M. Apple, George L. Arehart, Adam Rusmisel, John K. Kayser, William M. Bush, Jacob Ewing, A. T. Grooms, James F. Davis, E. J. Bell, William A. Reed, John H. Heizer, Joseph A. Miller, James E. Beard, Benjamin M. Lines, Fred Burns)

Full Text of Article:

Gen. Stoneman has made the following appointments in this county:

CLERK OF COUNTY COURT--Samuel A. East, vice Wm. A. Burnett removed.

CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT--R.D. Sears, vice Joseph N. Ryan removed.

MAGISTRATES.--Wm. Armstrong, vice Jas. Wilson, Wm. Link, vice Theophilus Gamble, David Alexander, vice Thos. J. Burke, W. W. Clinedinst, vice Geo. A. Bruce, F.M. Finley, vice Absalom Koiner, John H. Dalhouse, vice Jno. S. Ellis John Silor, vice A. A. McPheeters, Wm. W. Thomas, vice W.F. Smith, Wm. Gibson, jr., vice Lewis Bumgardner, Geo. Reubush, vice Wm T. Rush, Jos. A. Miller, vice Jas. F. Hite, Henry Mish, vice B. O. Ferguson, Wm. Morgan, vice B.F. Hailman, Jos. T. Mitchell, vice B.F. Points.

COMMISSIONERS OF THE REVENUE--Erasmus L. Houff, vice Jno. G. Stover, Henry B. Jones, vice Thos. M. Donoho.

CONSTABLES.--J.J.B. Shultz, vice Geo. M. Apple, Geo. L. Arehart, vice Adam Rusmisel; Jno K. Kayser, vice Wm. M. Bush, Jacob Ewing vice A. T. Grooms, Jas. F. Davis, vice E.J. Bell, Wm. A. Reed, vice Jno. H. Heizer.

OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.--Jos. A. Miller, vice Jas. E. Beard, Benj. M. Lines, vice Fred. Burns.

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Summary: Prints a reply from N.K. Trout, who admits he supports men from any party whom he feels will get Virginia through Reconstruction the quickest, but denies signing a document which states he is a firm adherent to the Republican cause.

Full Text of Article:

From the Spectator

MESSRS. EDITORS:--

Give me a space in which to put myself right upon the record. I am published as having signed myself a member of a political party and a disciple of its creed. My name was by an unintentional mistake (of the telegraph) attached to the document.

Believing that in this dark hour of our affair, we should be of no party--should discard abstract political principles, and support such men and measures, and adopt such practical expedients for the evils of the day as will restore as honorably and speedily as may be, our oppressed Commonwealth to the Union--and to peace and prosperity, and having knowledge that the persons named in the new ticket are high-toned gentlemen--conservative in their politics--opposed to the Underwood Constitution with its present obnoxious features--in favor of removal of political disabilities--devoted to the advancement of the material interests of the State for which they are selected, I say, honestly entertaining these views, that when applied to, I most cordially and sincerely endorsed, above my name that the Gilbert C. Walker ticket met my approbation, and should have my support, but I declined to sign the document referred to.

If the people generally, after "a second sober thought," and as I know prominent Conservatives design doing, will put their shoulders to the work, we can elect the trustworthy and patriotic gentlemen on that ticket to the government and lift "our bleeding country from the dust."

NICHOLAS K. TROUT

Married
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Summary: William F. Crousehorn and Miss Mary C. Switzer, both of Augusta, were married at the residence of the bride's father near Mt. Sidney by the Rev. C. Beard.
(Names in announcement: William F. Crousehorn, Mary C. Switzer, Rev. C. Beard)

Married
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Summary: Junius F. Roots and Mrs. Mary A. Croft, both of Augusta, were married near Christian's Creek on March 16th by the Rev. C. S. M. See.
(Names in announcement: Junius F. Roots, Mary A. Croft, Rev. C. S. M. See)

Married
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Summary: J. Edwin Bolen and Sallie T. Hopewell were married in Mt. Solon on March 21st by the Rev. Thomas C. Carson.
(Names in announcement: J. Edwin Bolen, Sallie T. Hopewell, Thomas C. Carson)

Died
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Summary: Washington Swoope died at his residence at Swoope's Depot on March 11th. He was 73 years old.
(Names in announcement: Washington Swoope)

Died
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Summary: Miss Bettie J. Eidson, daughter of Henry Eidson of Augusta, died suddenly in Baltimore on March 19th.
(Names in announcement: Bettie J. Eidson, Henry Eidson)

Died
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Summary: Anna Maria Huffner, "maiden daughter" of the late Michael Huffner, died in North River near Mt. Solon on March 15th. She was 67 years old.
(Names in announcement: Anna Maria Huffner, Michael Huffner)

Died
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Summary: Abram Litten died on Middle River below Spring Hill on March 10th. He was 87 years old.
(Names in announcement: Abram Litten)