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Staunton Spectator: June 11, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
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Summary: Issues an urgent summons for all conservative men to get out and register. Provides stats to show how the conservatives can have a slight majority only if everyone registers and votes. Considers anyone who shirks from his duty a disgrace to the state.

Full Text of Article:

We have endeavored to impress upon all who have failed to register heretofore to come forward and register when the lists are opened, which will be on Monday next--This is an imperative duty, and on this subject we have a little more to add previous to the re-opening of the registration lists. This we propose to do through means of figures collated by our contemporary of the Page Valley Courier.

From the Registration report of 1867 he gets the following figures:

Whites registered 120,101 Negroes registered 105,832 Total 225,933 White majority 14,269

The White votes for the Convention were 14,835. Among those were some Conservatives who were anxious for restoration and thought the Convention the best means of securing this. There is no doubt that the white Radicals all voted for the Convention. Since that time the number of those in the State affiliate with the Radical party has increased, as we all know. Assuming then that this 14,835 represents the white Radical strength at the first registration, the following is the strength of the Radical party:

White radical 14,835 Negro radical 105,832 Full radical strength 120,667

Deducting the assumed white radical strength from the registered whites, and we have the following result:

Registered whites 120,101 White radical strength 14,835 White conservative strength 105,266

Comparing the respective strength of the two parties, as above estimated, we get the following result:

Full radical strength 120,667 Full conservative strength 105,266 Radical majority 15,401

Many whites failed to register and Gen. Schofield said, "judging from the tax list and other data the number of whites who failed to register in Virginia is 16,343."

Assuming this correct and supposing they were all Conservatives, by adding this to the Conservative strength above, we get the total Conservative strength as follows:

Whites failed to register 16,343 Full conservative strength 105,266 Total conservative strength 121,609

Then comparing the total Conservative and Radical strength we get the following result:

Total conservative strength 121,609 Total Radical strength 120,667 Conservative majority 942

It will thus be seen that the registration of every man who has heretofore failed to register is essential to this calculation, the consideration of which must stimulate every man who values the future welfare of this State and people to see that all, who can, come forward and register. It plainly shows to every man who has hitherto failed to register that the onus of turning over the control of this state to an ignorant and irresponsible multitude will lie at his door, if he continues to fail to register. It virtually exhausts the argument on the subject of registration and deaf indeed to the appeals of duty must be the man who could fail longer to place himself in the position of a voter, by coming forward and registering. Callous indeed must be those who are registered, if they exert not themselves to secure a full registration. The times are threatening and every man must do his duty.

The Summary given above does not include those whites who have arrived at majority and those conservatives who have settled among us since 1867, which, deducting the blacks, who have reached the age of 21 since 1867, (which must be less,) would increase, to some extent, the conservative majority.

From this exhibit it will be seen that it is absolutely necessary for those who have registered to vote, and at the same time see that their neighbors are all registered and that they vote also. The entire conservative strength must be brought out, if we would rid the state of the abominations sought to be imposed upon her. Every man must do his whole duty. False indeed, to his people to posterity, is he who falters in this the hour of Virginia's direst need.

Register! Register!! Register!!!
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Summary: The paper urges citizens to register and vote against the constitution and its separately submitted clauses.

Synopsis of General Canby's General Orders No. 61, Concerning Registration and Elections
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Summary: Prints the very detailed regulations issued by General Canby on registering to vote and actually voting in elections in Virginia.

Full Text of Article:

The election will be held on the 6th day of July, 1869. The polls will be opened at sunrise and close at sunset, and will be kept open during these hours without intermission or adjournment: Provided, That if the commissioners should consider it necessary, and if the electors who appear cannot be polled between sunrise and sunset, the polls may then be kept open till 10 P.M.

No man who is a candidate can act as a member of the board of registration.

Persons who have heretofore registered are not required to register. But the board of registration have power to strike from their lists those who have heretofore improperly registered, upon being satisfied that the person was not entitled to register. (It would be well for those who have heretofore registered to be on the lookout to see that their names are not improperly stricken from the registration lists.)

The board of registration have power to add to such lists the names of persons who between the 14th and 24th of June, 1869, possess the qualifications required by the acts of Congress, and who have not already registered At the close of the registration a list of the names that have been added during the revision, will be posted in at least three public places in the registration precincts. Five days thereafter a second session of the board will be held and continued for two days, for the purpose of reviewing the evidence and deciding upon questions of challenge and other doubtful cases, and preparing copies of the lists for the commissioners of election. No new names will be added at this session of the board of Registration, unless it be shown to the satisfaction of the board that by reason of sickness or other unavoidable cause, the applicant was prevented from attending at the proper time.--Any duly registered voter, who has removed or is about to remove, permanently from the precinct in which he was originally registered, can, on application, obtain a certificate of the fact, and have his name erased from the original registration list, and on presenting the said certificate to the board of the precinct of his new residence at any time within the period commencing the 14th day of June and ending the 24th of June, 1869, he will be entitled to have his name entered in the list of registered voters for the said precinct.

Where the change of residence is only from one district to another of the same county: In such cases during the revision of registration a certificate should be applied for to the board of registration for the district. If they shall find the applicant was registered, they shall strike his name from the list of the precinct for the district of his new residence. [Where precincts have lately been re-established, it is necessary that all heretofore registered and who vote at re-established precincts, see that their names are placed upon the lists at these precincts.]

Where the change of residence is from one county or city to another county or city, the name and full description will be certified to by the board of registration for the district in which the person applying for the change first registered, to the board of registration for the district to which he has removed. Such certificate shall be held as sufficient evidence when presented to the board of registration for the district to which the person has removed, that he is entitled to vote in that district, and if prevented during the revision of registration, the name of such person shall be added to the registration lists of the precinct of his new residence.

Any duly registered voter of the State will be allowed to vote in any district upon presentation of his certificate of registration, accompanied by his affidavit that he has resided in said district at least ten days preceding the day of election, and that he has not already voted at this election. In default of the certificate of registration, the affidavit of the voter must set forth the fact that he was duly registered, and the name of the county and precinct in which he was registered. In doubtful cases the registrars or commissioners of election shall require such additional evidence as may be necessary to satisfy them that the applicant is entitled to vote under the provisions of the first section of the act of February, 1868.

Except as above provided, all registered voters will vote at the polling places that have been or may be established within the precincts in which they were registered.

All persons entitled to register, and who have not previously registered, must apply for registration between the 14th and 24th day of June, 1869, to the board of registration of their district.

To prevent the registration of any person not entitled to vote, two white and two colored persons, who must be registered voters of the district, shall be selected by the board of registration to challenge the right of any person to be registered who, in the opinion of the person challenging, is disqualified as a voter by reason of any of the causes set forth in the reconstruction acts of Congress.--Upon such challenge being made, the board of registration shall examine the person presenting himself for registration with reference to each cause of disqualification alleged, and evidence shall be taken if offered, to sustain or disprove the challenge.

The vote will be taken by ballot. No names, numbers, or marks(by which the vote may be disclosed) will be placed on the outside of any ballot; when the voter offers to vote, he shall announce his name, and if he is registered, one of the commissioners will receive the ballot or ballots without opening them, or allowing them to be opened or examined, and will deposit them in the ballot box, the name of the voter shall then be entered by each clerk in the poll list under his charge. No ballots will be received from persons who have not been properly registered, except in cases where the name of the person applying to vote has been incorrectly recorded on the registration lists, in which case, if the officer conducting the election is satisfied, either from his personal knowledge, or from the testimony of credible witnesses, that the person was actually registered, then his vote shall be received and his name entered on the poll list, and checked on the registration list.

Registration is evidence of the right to vote--challenges at the polls are allowed only so far as may be necessary to prevent repeating or fraudlent personations of duly registered voters. Two persons may be selected from each political party to act as challengers at each polling place, by or through whom all challenges shall be made. The challengers must be registered voters,and known to the commissioners as respectable citizens. Whenever any person challenged for identity, whose name is found upon the registration lists, is known to any one of the commissioners to be the person he represents himself to be his vote should be admitted; but if he be not so known, one of the commissioners shall administer the following oath: "you, do swear that your name is (here the name announced shall be inserted) and that in such name you were duly registered as a voter of the--------election district and--------precinct, and that you are the identical person you so represent yourself to be" If challenged for having already voted, the commissioner shall administer the following oath: "You do swear that you have not voted at this election, at this, or any other polling place."---If any person so challenged shall refuse to take the oath so tendered, his vote shall be rejected, but if he take it, his vote shall be admitted; but the fact and cause of challenge shall be noted on the poll lists opposite his name.

No person shall be required to work on the public roads, or to attend any court as suitor, juror, or witness on the day of election, or be subject to arrest under civil process during his attendance or in going to or returning from such election. No process shall be made returnable on the day preceding or succeeding the election day if his vote should be defeated thereby. If arrested on a criminal process for other crime or offence than felony, (before he has voted) he shall be allowed to vote before he is imprisoned.

Voters must be particular and see that they vote in the precincts where they reside and register.

Instructions to Boards of Registration
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Summary: Prints the elaborate legal details covering disfranchisement in the state. The rules and regulations are strict but still have a lot of wiggle room for many people.

Full Text of Article:

The following instructions to boards of registration announcing the extent to which the laws of the United States work disfranchisement in Virginia were issued yesterday by the commanding general:

1. All persons who were at any time members of Congress, or officers of the United States, civil or military, and as such officers took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and all who were at any time members of any State Legislature, or executive or judicial officers of any State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or gave aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; and all who have been convicted of felony against the laws of any State or of the United States are disfranchised.

2. The following are considered executive & judicial officers of the State of Virginia within the meaning of the law; Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, auditor of the land office, State treasurer, attorney general, sheriffs, sergeant of a city or town, commissioners of the revenue, county surveyors, constables, overseers of the poor, commissioners of the board of public works, judges of the supreme court, judges of the circuit courts, judge of the court of Hustings, justices of the county courts, mayor, recorder and aldermen of a city or town, coroners, escheators, inspectors of tobacco, flour, &c., clerks of the supreme, district, circuit, and county courts, and of the court of Hustings and attorneys for the Commonwealth.

3. "Executive or judicial offices of any State" are construed to be all "offices created by law for the administration of any general justice." This includes "county offices," but does not include "deputies" of county officers. The latter are not subject to disfranchisement. It also includes such city or town offices, as are created for the "administration of justice" but does not include any others.

4. No one is disfranchised for participation in rebellion unless he previously held some one of the offices above-named.

5. "Officers of the United States" whose appointments are not otherwise provided for in the constitution, are appointed by the President, by the courts of law, or by the heads of departments. Persons who derive their authority from any source inferior to those above-named, such as clerks, deputies or agents, are not "officers" of the United States, and are not subject to "disfranchisement for participation in rebellion."

6. Being in the military service of the United States does not, per se, disqualify an officer of the army, either regular or volunteer, from obtaining a residence in and becoming a citizen of this or any other State. Residence is a matter of intention, as well as of actual domicile. A person in the military service stationed in a State may acquire a residence there as well as any other citizen, provided he has resided in the Sate the length of time and otherwise complied with the requirements specified by the laws of the State with the bona fide intention of making it his permanent home. On the other hand, without such intention, no residence can be acquired by being stationed in a State, no matter how long the person may remain stationed there. Desertion from the army of the United States (volunteer or regular) works disfranchisement unless the person is relieved by an unconditional pardon, or by Congressional action.

7. No person is "disfranchised for participation in rebellion" by the constitution or laws of Virginia. But a person is disfranchised for participation in rebellion by the laws of any State, where a "legal State government now exists," provided he has been a citizen of such State at any time during the existence of such disfranchising law.

8. All persons who voluntarily joined the rebel army, and all persons in that army, whether volunteers or conscripts, who committed voluntarily any hostile act, thereby engaged in insurrection or rebellion. Any person, however, who was forced into the rebel army, but avoided, as far as possible, doing hostile acts, and escaped from that army as soon as possible, cannot be said to have engaged in the rebellion.

9. All who exercised the functions of any office under the Confederate Government, or the government of any of the Confederate States, which functions were of a nature to aid in prosecuting the war, or maintaining the hostile character of those governments, engaged in the rebellion, or gave aid and comfort to the enemy.

10. Voting, in convention, for the ordinance of secession, or, at the election, for its ratification, like any other act of engaging in rebellion or adhering to the enemy, if done voluntarily, works disfranchisement of the person who had previously held one of the specified offices; but if the act be committed involuntarily, through fear or force, it does not work disfranchisement.--Any act is assumed to have been voluntary unless the contrary is shown by satisfactory evidence. In reference to this and other questions the oath of the person applying for registration is to be given such weight as, in the opinion of the board, it is entitled to.

11. Those who voluntarily furnished supplies of food, clothing, arms, ammunition, horses or mules, or any other material of war, or labor or service of any kind to the Confederate military or naval forces, or money, by loan or otherwise, to the Confederate government, or aided in any way the raising, organization or equipment of troops, gave aid and comfort to the enemy, and participated in the rebellion and civil war against the United States.

12. To give individual soldiers food or clothing enough to relieve present suffering, or to minister to the sick or wounded, are simple acts of charity or humanity, and do not constitute giving "aid or comfort to the enemy." A parent may give his son who belongs to the hostile army food and clothing for his own use; but if he gave him a gun, horse, or other thing, to be used for hostile purposes, he thereby gives aid and comfort to the enemy.

13. Executive pardon or amnesty does not remove the disfranchisement under the acts of Congress; but removal of political disabilities by a joint resolution of Congress removes the disability when the oath of July, 11, 1868, has been duly subscribed. This oath is in the following words:

"I--------, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

Official: LOUIS V. CAZIARC.

Aide-de Camp, A.A.A.G.

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Summary: The congregation of the Presbyterian Church decided to construct a new church building. $14,000 has already been raised.

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Summary: The Commencement Exercises of the Augusta Female Seminary will be held in the Presbyterian Church on June 16th. Col. William Preston Johnson of Washington College will deliver the address.

Masonic Celebration
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Summary: Staunton Lodge Number 13 will hold a celebration on St. John's Day, June 24th. An address will be delivered by a fraternity member and a procession will be held. Delegations from lodges throughout the Valley are expected to attend.

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Summary: Col. Gilbert C. Walker and Maj. Beverly B. Douglas were in Staunton last Saturday. They addressed a crowd at the Court House and urged adoption of the expurgated constitution and election of the Walker ticket.

Memorial Day
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Summary: Describes the proceedings of a recent memorial day event. A few bands played, and people strewed flowers over graves. Also prints two odes written for the occasion, one by a South Carolina poet laureate.

Full Text of Article:

Saturday last was Memorial Day and a very large crowd was assembled to pay their annual tribute to our departed heroes.

There was no programme of proceedings and consequently no general procession of the people, though the Augusta Fire Company, Friends of Temperance, and the pupils of the Augusta Female Seminary and Virginia Female Institute, headed by the Stonewall Band, followed by a number of citizens and the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Institution Band and Fire Company, under the conduct of Col. Bolivar Christian, Chief Marshall; assisted by Maj. J.M. Hanger, Capts. Bum-Gardner, Berkeley, Arnall, Ranson and Lieut. Effinger, moved in procession at 8 1/2 o'clock, A.M. to the Cemetery Gate, where they were joined by the large crowd assembled there and proceeded to the graves of our soldiers.

After music by the Stonewall Band, the following ode, arranged by Dr. J.L. Brown, was feelingly sung by the Staunton Musical Association:

Strew flowery wreaths upon the graves
Of those who shed their blood, and died
In Freedom's cause; though 'twas in vain,
Their deeds elate our hearts with pride.

Strew o'er them flowers; mid battle's din
O think how hard their fate to die.
No mother dear, no sister there,
Nor friend, to close the death-dimmed eye.

A while they rest within the tomb
In sweet repose, till morning come,
Ten rise, we trust, to meet their God,
And ever dwell in his abode.

Celestial dawn! triumphant hour,
How glorious that awakening power
Which bids the sleeping dust arise
And join the anthems of the skies.

His weary life will soon be past,
The lingering morn will come at last,
And gloomy mists will roll away
Before that light unfading day.

The D. & D. Blind Band played several appropriate pieces and the vast assemblage then engaged in the sacred duty of scattering their tribute of flowers over the graves of our loved and lost, thus silently giving practical expression to the beautiful sentiments contained in the following ode, written by the lamented Henry Timrod, the poet laureate of South Carolina and first sung on the decoration of the graves of the Confederate dead, at Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, S.C:

Sleep sweetly in your humble graves--
Sleep, martyrs of a fallen cause!
Though yet no marble column craves
The pilgrim here to pause

In seeds of laurel in the earth
The blossom of your fame is blown,
And somewhere, waiting for its birth,
The shaft is in the stone!

Meanwhile, behalf the tardy years
Which keep in trust your storied tombs,
Behold! your sisters bring their tears,
And these memorial blooms.

Small tributes! but your shades will smile
More poudly on these wreaths to-day
Than when some cannon-mouldered pile
Shall overlook this bay.

Storm angels, hither from the skies!
There is no holier spot of ground
Than where defeated valor lies,
By mourning beauty crowned!

[No Title]
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Summary: The ladies of the Methodist Church South will hold a fair and dinner at the town hall on June 24th.

Union Royal Arch Chapter No. 2
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Summary: This chapter chose officers at a meeting held in the Lodge Room of the Masonic Building.
(Names in announcement: W. H. H. Lynn, S. KennerlyJr., S. H. Lushbaugh, E. Louis Ide, S. Mandelbaum, T. A. Bledsoe, W. L. Lushbaugh, W. L. Balthis, W. A. Burke, James F. Patterson, P. H. Trout, H. R. Matthews, Rev. J. C. Wheat, R. H. Phillips)

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Summary: The Pi Alpha Phi Society of Staunton will hold their first Annual Celebration in the Chapel of the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute.
(Names in announcement: William A. PrattJr., L. S. Crain, James H. McRady, A. St. George Hodge, J. P. O'Ferrall, Charles W. S. Turner, H. HarrisonJr., G. B. Underhill, R. W. Baird, H. R. Boykin, R. R. Matthews, William Tyree, E. L. Turner, M. S. Crain, R. G. Renolds, E. C. McRady, C. E. Pratt, A. C. Harman, B. Massie, R. Whitelaw, W. P. Tams)

Married
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Summary: James A. Craig of Augusta and Miss Sue K. Butler of Rockingham were married near Port Republic at the residence of Dr. G. W. Kemper, Sr., on May 27th by the Rev. H. H. Hawes.
(Names in announcement: James A. Craig, Sue K. Butler, Dr. G. W. KemperSr., Rev. H. H. Hawes)

Married
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Summary: Jac. George and Miss Catharine Grove, both of Augusta, were married on May 18th by the Rev. C. S. M. See.
(Names in announcement: Jac. George, Catharine Grove, Rev. C. S. M. See)

Married
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Summary: E. G. M. Greiner and Miss Mattie C. Mowry, both of Augusta, were married at Harper's Ferry on June 1st by the Rev. J. A. McFadden. "From the above announcement it will be seen that our friend Greiner has left the ranks of 'single blessedness' and become a willing subject of Hymen. We tender the happy pair our best wishes."
(Names in announcement: E. G. M. Greiner, Mattie C. Mowry, Rev. J. A. McFadden)

Died
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Summary: Mrs. Mary Carwell died at her residence near Middlebrook on May 29th after a brief but painful illness. She was 51 years old.
(Names in announcement: Mary Carwell)

Died
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Summary: William Larguey, formerly of Staunton, died in Covington on June 4th. He was 20 years old.
(Names in announcement: William Larguey)

Died
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Summary: Mrs. Carrie Robertson, wife of Capt. H. H. Robertson and daughter of Thomas J. Michie of Staunton, died suddenly in Covington on June 4th. She was 40 years old.
(Names in announcement: Carrie Robertson, Capt. H. H. Robertson, Thomas J. Michie)

Died
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Summary: William Clayton died at his residence near Deerfield, Augusta County, on June 2nd. He was 83 years old.
(Names in announcement: William Clayton)