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Staunton Vindicator: April 29, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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Summary: Analyzes every plank in the state Republican platform and proceeds to show how each one is either ridiculous or superfluous to present conditions. The planks deal mainly with the fifteenth amendment, education, voter qualifications, etc. Actually quotes a black member of the Republican convention as coming out in favor of repealing all voting restrictions, and claims he is the only sane voice among the Republicans.

Full Text of Article:

The long-talked of Republican Conference assembled in Richmond on Thursday last, and, after several days of labor, produced the following remarkable declaration of principles:

1. An immediate enforcement of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the national constitution, in letter and in spirit, and the adoption of any other measures necessary to guarantee universal freedom of thought, speech and action.

2. A general and universal system of public education at public expense, under national law, whenever such a system is not adopted and enforced by State governments.

3. The fifteenth amendment having become a part of the constitution of the United States, by which universal suffrage is secured to the masses of our people, we declare in favor of universal amnesty, subject, of course, to the legislation of Congress.

4. The encouragement of internal improvements by the State and nation, keeping in view the careful protection of the interests of the people from the encroachments of monopolies.

5. An immediate, honest, and full enforcement of our new State constitution in letter and in spirit.

6. A hearty and generous support of the administration of President Grant, in its foreign, domestic and financial policy, and of the policy of the Congress of the United States.

The first is ridiculous, from the fact the whole civil power of the country, backed by the sword, is now enforcing these amendments, and that, at this particular period, there is no opposition raised or likely to be raised against their rigid enforcement, (however objectionable they may be to many) from the extraordinary circumstances which now obtain. They are declared to be fixed facts of the past, and therefore, ridiculous and farcical to be introduced as principles of the present.

The Second is useless, though a generally obtaining principle. The progressive spirit of the age demands the largest opportunities to all for thorough education and all agree in this. Hence, as a distinctive principle in a party, it is more than farcical to present it.

The Third seemingly declares for universal amnesty, but concludes by leaving it to the whims of Congressional Legislation, and is, therefore, no principle at all

The Fourth, though contested in the past, is scarcely to be made a subject of contest in the present.

The Fifth may occasion an argument as to what is an "honest and full" enforcement of the new constitution, "in letter and spirit." It is however being enforced and we should judge fully, from the objections made by many who voted for it. Those who voted against it seem willing, however, that it shall be carried out in the letter and spirit. As a distinctive feature, it, like the rest, is a fizzle.

The Sixth, however, contains a most anomalous declaration--the endorsement of the policy of the Administration and also the policy of Congress.

If there is one thing that we have most assiduously sought it is the policy of the present Administration. We heard the cry of retrenchment proclaimed throughout the land, and finding that national expenses loomed up higher and higher, we looked in Webster to see if he really know what he was doing when he "writ" the Dictionary, and came to the conclusion that he didn't.--We have, by every other light, scanned the course of the present administration, to get an idea of its policy, and were forced to the opinion that it had no policy. Congressional policy is also as much a myth.--One day it admits a State, the next day it thrusts her out of the Union. To-day eager for a general amnesty, to-morrow intensely proscriptive. In fact, vacillating as the interest of party daily dictates, and with no other policy than to keep alive a party, the death knell of which was inevitably sounded when reconstruction was settled upon.

What a will-o-the-wisp chase will not the Richmond conferees take in pursuing the policies of Congress and the Administration? Like the "little joker," now you see it--now you don't, and like the "thimble-rigger" we'll bet any member of the conference that they can't tell where the little joker is, as manipulated by Grant and Congress.

After carefully reading the above promulgation of principles, we can only conclude that the great lack of the Radical conference was brains. Indeed the only exhibition of brains was made by the colored State Senator Bland and to substantiate our statement, we give an abstract of the remarks of Senator Bland below, and ask our readers to contrast them with the silly programme of principles issued by the leading lights of the party in Virginia, and judge for themselves:

Bland (colored) of Prince Edward, was called on, and urged at length the repeal of all disqualifying and disfranchising laws passed by Congress. All the rights which his race could demand having been secured by the adoption of the fifteenth amendment, he was now, as indeed he was in the last campaign, in favor of universal amnesty.--He was opposed to granting pardons in detail. He wished to see every citizen of Virginia the equal in every way of every other citizen. He hoped that such would be the action of the party, and if it were not he would be compelled, as he had been before, to act independently of it. Bland wished to see, and he would make every effort in his power to see the wealth and the intelligence of the State in her positions of official trust. The charge had been urged, and successfully, in the last campaign, that it was the intention of the Republican party to subject the control of the State to ignorance and poverty, to the utter exclusion of wealth and intelligence. He considered the charge as too well founded, and he was opposed to such a policy then and now.

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Summary: Editor answers concerns from a correspondent about the County's financial investments. Assures the correspondent that stock in the Valley Railroad will go towards relieving taxation in the county and that the county still holds its shares in the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.

Full Text of Article:

Mr. Editor:--There is misapprehension in the minds of the people, in regard to the claim they will have on the stock they will have in the Valley Railroad, provided the subscription is carried. My opinion is well made up, that the stock, of $300,000, will belong to the County, and, when productive, the dividends, as far as they go, will diminish the taxes. Am I not correct? Please let us have your views.

Whilst on the subject, does the County yet hold its stock in the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, if not, what became of it?

QUERANDO

As to the first interrogatory in the above, we are pleased to state to our correspondent that he is correct. The stock in the Valley Railroad, spoken of, will belong to the County, and the dividends therefrom will go to relieve taxation in the County. Indeed, we look for a great relief in County taxation, in after years, from this very source, should the subscription be carried. We regard it as an investment to be paid during twenty years, which is ever after to be a continual source of revenue to the County and a consequent continual relief to County taxation.

As to the question "does the County still hold its stock (of $20,000--200 shares) in the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad? We are also glad to be able to say that it does."--We have taken the trouble to examine the records and find; that, on October, 27th 1863, an order of Court was made, authorizing the County Treasurer to sell this stock. That on November 23rd following, the Court decided that it did not have the authority to order the sale of said stock, and rescinded the previous order for its sale.--On the 28th day of November, just five days thereafter, the Treasurer reported to the Court that the 200 shares of stock had been sold, and asked the Court to ratify said sale.

The vote was taken, six Magistrates being on the bench, and the motion to ratify the sale lost.

Thus it will be seen that the County still holds her $20,000 of stock in the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and we trust, when that great road reaches the Ohio, to see our people relieved from taxation to a considerable extent, by the dividends which must accrue to the County from that source.

Registration
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Summary: Registration is set to begin on May 2nd, but it is thought the process will be postponed. Registrars are required to give 10 days notice by posting notices in each town they visit. Districts have not been divided into townships, and registrars have not been appointed, however.

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Summary: The commissioners are busily dividing Augusta County into six townships.

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Summary: Prof. Scharf gave a dramatic reading at the Town Hall on Tuesday. The audience enjoyed his talents, and hope he will perform in the summer and next winter as well.
(Names in announcement: Prof. Scharf)

Experimental Lines
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Summary: The engineers of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad are running experimental lines in Augusta County. They run from Fishersville, Waynesboro, and Staunton to Greenville.

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Summary: The Staunton Musical Association will perform on Tuesday night. Admission is 25 cents. "The Association has been in existence over three years, and is now an Institution of the town. It has in a marked degree improved the Church and other Music of the town, and ought to be patronized by our people." The present concert will consist of vocal solos, duets, and orchestral pieces.

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Summary: Reports on cases and appointments given in the county court. Cases mainly dealt with petty crimes and appointments were for various temporary commissioners until replacements could be elected.
(Names in announcement: William A. Burnett, James W. Baldwin, George W. McCutchen, William Hoover, John W. Cline, R. G. Byers, J. H. Craun, W. A. Reed, William H. Bull, R. T. Gamble, George Harlan, James BumgardnerJr., John Towberman, Thomas M. Donoho, J. H. Stover, John G. Stover, Joseph A. Waddell, Thomas D. Ranson, Rev. Samuel Driver, William H. Marshall, James Reid, Ben Bragg, James T. Acord, John Silor, C. C. Francisco, John A. Shuey, A. S. Borden, Col. M. G. Harman)

Full Text of Article:

On Monday last, for the first time in the history of the County Court of Augusta, instead of a Presiding Justice a veritable Judge presided.--Judge Hendron assumed his duties and discharged them in a manner that gave eminent satisfaction to all.

He appointed the following officers to serve till their successors are elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution:

CLERK OF THE COUNTY.--Wm. A. Burnett; and as his deputy, Jas. W. Baldwin.

SHERIFF OF THE COUNTY.--Geo. W. McCutchen; and as his deputies, Wm. Hoover, Jno. W. Cline, R.G. Byers, J.H. Craun, W.A. Reed, Wm. H. Bull, R.T. Gamble and Geo. Harlan.

COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY.--James Bumgardner, Jr.

COMMISSIONERS OF THE REVENUE.--John Towberman, 1st District; and as his deputy, Thomas M. Donoho. J.H. Stover, 2nd District; and as his deputy, John G. Stover.

COMMISSIONERS IN CHANCERY.--Jos. A. Waddell and Thos. D. Ranson.

Rev. Saml. Driver was appointed and authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony.

Upon the petition of Wm. H. Marshall, a portion of the public road, no 18, was ordered to be closed.

Jas. Reid, a very small colored boy, was tried for stealing a game rooster, found guilty and sentenced to five days imprisonment in the county jail.

Ben Bragg, colored, tried on two cases of petit larceny, and acquitted.

Jas. T. Acord, tried on the charge of bastardy, was committed to jail in default of the required security for judgment of court.

The titheables of John Silor, C. C. Francisco and John A. Shuey, were respectively required to aid A.S. Borden, two days each in opening his precinct of public road.

A motion having been made to the court by Col. M.G. Harman, President of the Valley Railroad, to order an election on the proposed subscription to the Valley Railroad Co. at the next general election, May 26th, the court overruled the motion on the ground of want of jurisdiction.

Married
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Summary: Sarah M. Henkel and Charles Koiner, both of Augusta, were married at S. D. Henkel's in New Market on April 13th by the Rev. S. Henkel.
(Names in announcement: Sarah M. Henkel, Charles Koiner, S. D. Henkel, Rev. S. Henkel)

Married
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Summary: Patrick H. Cain and Miss Virginia E. Humphrey, both of Augusta, were married on April 14th by the Rev. A. A. J. Bushong.
(Names in announcement: Patrick H. Cain, Virginia E. Humphrey, Rev. A. A. J. Bushong)

Married
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Summary: Thomas Robinson and Miss Henrietta Gibson, daughter of Burwell Gibson, were married near Staunton on April 20th at the residence of the bride's father by the Rev. Kennedy.
(Names in announcement: Thomas Robinson, Henrietta Gibson, Burwell Gibson, Rev. Kennedy)

Died
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Summary: A. M. McClure of Indiana died at Arbor Hill at the residence of John Shuey on April 22nd. He was 31 years old.
(Names in announcement: A. M. McClure, John Shuey)

Died
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Summary: Mrs. Catharine Fulwiler died at her residence in Dutch Hollow, Augusta County, on April 10th. She was 101 years old.
(Names in announcement: Catharine Fulwiler)

Died
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Summary: Mrs. Elizabeth Fairburn, wife of William Fairburn, died near Parnassus on April 17th. She was 63 years old.
(Names in announcement: Elizabeth Fairburn, William Fairburn)