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Valley Virginian: September 26, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports 502 arrivals at Staunton hotels last week.

The Situation
(Column 02)

Summary: The editors report a feeling of despair across the South as a result of the likely triumph of the Radical Republicans and their policies. The possibility of a "civil war North, and a servile war South" is hurting business. The paper urges citizens to hold out hope, develop southern resources, and "manage the freedmen," and all will be well.

Full Text of Article:

Recent events in the political world, and more especially the success of the Radicals in Maine and Vermont, have cast a gloom over our people and caused a feeling of doubt and uncertainty about the future, such as was never experienced before, even in the darkest hours of the late war. Men anxiously ask each other "What of the times?" and the answer is invariably desponding.

Many feel that the Radical Jacobins of the North will carry the day, and that even the great mind of Andrew Johnson will not be able to resist the pressure that will then be brought against him. This feeling affects and permeates through every transaction of a business character in the South. Sober-sided bank officers, in solemn council, after reviewing their correspondence from all parts of the country decide that, financially, business must be conducted in a view of a "civil war North and a servile war South." Old men talk about it, and mothers clasp their children closer to their hearts as they think of the future. Veterans of four years bloody work look to the future with no pleasant thoughts, and ask, "Is it for this we surrendered?--is this the return for a faithful discharge of all the humiliating conditions put upon us?--is there to be no end to these petty tyrannies, and is our confidence in the pledged word of Gen. Grant and the amnesty of Andrew Johnson to be rewarded by the extermination, confiscation, or worse still, the rule of the vile crew, called "loyal men of the South?" Business is deranged by this feeling and the condition of affairs in the extreme South is reported worse.

All this is bad, but there is something to hope for yet. Like the man at the bottom of the well, any change must be for the better for us. It would be well for our people to look hopefully to the future and never despond. When the worse comes, we can meet it like men, but there is no sense in anticipating troubles. If we are true to ourselves; if we are the men history shows us to have been in the past, we certainly have a future before us that is not all dark. The Radical Jacobins must run their course. Andrew Johnson and the Conservative North may be overwhelmed; another war may be inaugurated North, but for us there is one plain duty, and that is to be cheerful, to work hard, to manage the freedmen so that they will be our friends; to fully develope every resource of our glorious country; to raise up our children so that they will excel in every business, and especially in the mechanic arts--and, come what may, in a few years, we can defy the Radicals, the devil, and all his imps.

What has the War Settled?
(Column 02)

Summary: This editorial asserts that the war did not settle any principles, it only confirmed the strength of overwhelming numbers. Reconstruction, on the other hand, threatens to destroy the liberties of the people forever.

Full Text of Article:

Abraham Lincoln, in one of his speeches, delivered on his route from Springfield to Washington city, said, in substance that a civil war would settle no principle; that after blood had been shed and lives sacrificed, the same principles would still exist. Did the war settle any principle? We think not. It simply confirmed what every body knew, that five men were stronger than one. It affirmed Napoleon's declaration that Providence was on the side of the strongest army. It has developed the fact, says the Register, that this government cannot exist, as a Republic, unless it is administered upon the doctrine of the reserved rights of the States--or the sovereignty of the States--and the restricted powers of the Federal Government--departing from this cardinal idea, it must either run into a military despotism or wild anarchy. It has exposed the purposes and natural tendency of the Radical party, and proven to the world that the true supporters of the essential principles of the Federal Constitution, were those who sympathized with and participated in the struggle of the South; or, if more acceptable, those who approved the principle of the Democratic party. It is compelling history to repeat itself. It is fighting the battles of the Colonies over again. It is Andrew Johnson leading the column of Constitutional Freedom against the power of Radical Tyranny, as George Washington and the Colonists resisted the oppression, outrage and despotism of King George the Third. It has established the conclusion that Radicalism must be crushed and the Constitution vindicated, or this Republican Government, springing from the people, and designed for the good of the people, must go down in a furious sea of blood, never again to be vitalized, strangling in its dying throes the hopes of Freedom throughout the Christian world.

Danger to the Republic
(Column 03)

Summary: This article argues that Reconstruction threatens to undermine the American Republic, and reminds readers of the words of Washington against parties, factions, and tyranny.

Full Text of Article:

Some of the most sober and reflecting minds of our country, says the Transcript, are settling down into the mournful conviction that our Republican experiment is a failure, and that the United States, like all the other free governments of history, will end up at last in a monarchy. Up to a comparatively recent period, little significance was attached by the unthinking to the following solemn words of Washington's Farewell Address, but read by the portentous lights which are now blazing around us, their almost prophetic tone must impress every mind.

"I have already intimated to you," says the Father of his country, in his last words to the American people, "the danger of parties in the State with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discrimination. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you, in the most solemn manner, against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

"This spirit, unfortunately, is irrepressible from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissensions, which, in different ages and countries, has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads, at length, to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result, gradually incline the mind of men to such security and repose in the absolute powers of an individual; and sooner or later, the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own election or the ruins of public liberty."

That Bill of Abominations--The Constitutional Amendment
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Summary: The paper prints the text of the proposed 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and denounces its contents.

Hon. J. B. Baldwin
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Summary: This excerpt from a letter by John B. Baldwin outlines his views on Reconstruction and the proposed 14th Amendment.

Full Text of Article:

This gentleman has written an able letter to the Richmond Examiner, in answer to the strictures of the press upon his first one. While differing from Mr. Baldwin in his views, we give him credit for his known honesty, and heartily endorse the concluding position. He says:

"The progress of the political canvass now going on at the North renders the complete success of the Radicals a result by no means improbable. In such and event the people of the South will have need of all the calm courage and patient endurance that can be opposed to a dominant and overwhelming majority of number and of wealth, bent upon our humiliation and destruction. Against hostile legislation, the Presidential veto, which on several occasions has been so magnanimously interposed for our protection, will no longer prove a barrier, and we must expect and be prepared for every outrage upon our rights and feelings that greed and hate can suggest. There is, however, one wrong which can only be fastened upon us by our own consent. The proposed Constitutional Amendment cannot be adopted if the States and people of the South are true to themselves, and are united and firm in determination, that come what may, they will oppose to this outrage a calm and steady, and persistent negative; and will not consent upon any pretext or for any purpose to amend the Constitution of the United States."

Staunton
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Summary: This excerpt from the Richmond Examiner describes Staunton's determination and industry.

Full Text of Article:

"This place," says a correspondent of the Richmond Examiner, "is 'little but loud, diminutive but determined.' It has, perhaps, more bone and muscle and enterprise than any town of its size in Virginia. In fact, it assumes all the airs of a city, and stands asking tribute and extending protection and thrift to the great Valley of Virginia. The secret of success is community of exertion. While a few in other places devote their individual energies to the growth and development of their locality, every citizen of this place joins in any enterprise calculated to advance the general interest and in that way Staunton has contributed largely over her proportion of energetic and public spirited men to Virginia.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that Staunton's Rev. George B. Taylor is at Bristol assisting Rev. Mr. Kincannon in holding some meetings at the Baptist Church there.
(Names in announcement: Rev. George B. Taylor, Rev. Kincannon)

Flour
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Summary: B. F. Fifer, the flour inspector, inspected 3,950 barrels of flour between August 1st and September 25th.
(Names in announcement: B. F. Fifer)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: William C. Gordon was arrested and committed to jail for violence against a white woman. The incident occurred near Waynesboro. Justice George A. Bruce of Waynesboro handled the case.
(Names in announcement: William C. Gordon, Justice George A, Bruce)

Filthy
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Summary: The editors complain again to the Street Commissioner about the "filthy condition of the alley from the Court-House to Kalbrama. It is enough to breed a pestilence, and he should enforce the law without fear or favor."

The Colored Church
(Column 02)

Summary: The Committee of the African American Church sold their building to the Presbyterians for $2,000, $800 more than what they had paid for it. "The colored people have purchased a beautiful lot near the Academy, known as the Sealy lot, and intend erecting a fine Church on it. They have the best wishes of the community in their enterprise."

The Right Spirit
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Summary: The editors are pleased that many people in Staunton are "turning their attention to the Trades." The paper has received "a dozen applications, from respectable families, to take boys to learn 'the Art preservative of all Arts.'" They had enough help and had to decline, but put out a call for others to come forward if they are in need of boys or young men. "This spirit is worth a dozen political conventions."

"Robbing Peter to Pay Paul."
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that wagons loaded with railroad iron have been spotted coming up the Valley each week. "We understand that that 'dead broke' Company, the Manassas Gap, is taking the iron from its road near New Market, wagoning it to Staunton, and shipping it by rail to Alexandria to re-lay it on that end. This looks like selling your hat to buy a pair of shoes. Vote for the Valley Railroad and stop this foolishness."

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper reports that a body of an infant was found in a mill dam near Spring Hill. "Infanticide is prevailing," the editors assert.

The Fire Company's Fair
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Summary: The Ladies of Augusta held a fair to help raise money for uniforms for the Augusta Fire Company. The following committee was appointed to assist the ladies: Lt. William H. Wilson, Capt. James H. Waters, William R. Morris, William Wholey, and Jacob T. Parrent. "With proper management this should be a great success. No body of men deserve the support of the community, as much as the Fire Company. Let the Ladies go to work and make it the greatest Fair of the times."
(Names in announcement: Lt. William H. Wilson, Capt. James H. Waters, William R. Morris, William Wholey, Jacob T. Parrent)

The California Fever
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Summary: The paper reports assertions from the San Francisco Monitor that Chinese labor is unreliable, and that the presence "of a heathen population" in California is "demoralizing" the State. The editors caution both southern businesses that are thinking about employing Chinese labor, and Valley citizens who wish to emigrate to the West Coast. "The Mongolian, like the African race, is repulsive to the Caucasian, and we know that the vast majority of whites on this coast, of all conditions of life, are desirous to return 'home' as soon as they can," reported the Examiner.

Honor to Whom Honor is Due
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Summary: The paper reports on the progress of fund raising for the Lee Endowment, including the activities of agents from Staunton.

Full Text of Article:

We see it stated, says the Rockingham Register of Thursday, that the Rev. D. Stuart, of Staunton, now in England as the agent of Washington College, to secure donations for the Lee Endowment, has procured 60,000 pounds; and also that the agent in France is doing well, and the agent along the Mississippi River has obtained $50,000, with the prospect of a large increase after the cotton crop has been gathered. All this in addition to the $100,000 in hand.

It is not generally known that Col. M. G. Harman, of Augusta county, gave the initiatory subscription to this magnificent enterprise. The project of an Endowment originated with Gen. Lee himself. Last fall he addressed a letter to Col. Harman, suggesting that he would be a proper person to commence the work. The succeeding court day, after the receipt of the letter, Col. Harman called a meeting of the citizens of Augusta, and headed the subscription with $1,000. From this the subscription commenced, and although the original idea only contemplated a fund of $100,000, it has reached the large sum of over half million of dollars! and the prospect is that it will, before the close of the year, be swelled to the amount of at least a million of dollars.

Col. Harman is entitled to the credit of giving to the proposition of Endowment shape and substance, and to have first suggested the designation of "The Lee Endowment."

County Court--September Term
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper gives the proceedings of the County Court. The Hunting Law, passed by the last legislature, was voted into effect, 19 in favor and 5 opposed: "No person shall hunt, shoot, range, fish or fowl on the lands or water courses, without the consent of the owner of said land. The penalty for violating this law is a fine of five dollars; double that amount if committed in the night or on Sunday." Rev. Park P. Flournoy, of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. J. W. Grimm, of the United Brethren, were authorized to solemnize marriages. The Court ordered the father of a male child born out of wedlock to pay to the Overseer of the Poor $30 a year for six years in child support. William C. Gordon was charged with rape and remanded to Circuit Court for trial. Robert G. Bickle, William Chapman, and James Henderson were appointed county proxies to cast votes at the Nov. 22nd meeting of the Va. Central Rail Road. D. B. Hyde was licensed to keep a house of public entertainment in Mt. Sidney. The Overseer of the poor was ordered to bind out "Thomas Jefferson, (colored,) Mary Anne Pannell and Frederick Smith, (white,) all orphan children." Samuel Frank, James A. H. Lessley, George Hulsey, C. G. Merritt, John J. Larew, and B. F. McClung were appointed road surveyors.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Park P. Flournoy, Rev. J. W. Grimm, William C. Gordon, Robert G. Bickle, William Chapman, James Henderson, D. B. Hyde, Thomas Jefferson, Mary Anne Pannell, Frederick Smith, Samuel Frank, James A. H. Lessley, George Hulsey, C. G. Merritt, John J. Larew, B. F. McClung)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: George G. Valentine and Miss Loula B. Stouffer, both of Augusta, were married on September 12th by the Rev. W. R. Stringer.
(Names in announcement: George G. Valentine, Loula B. Stouffer, Rev. W. R. Stringer)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: W. T. Thacker, of Nelson County, and Miss Lizzie Apple, of Augusta County, were married on September 4th by the Rev. Hopkins.
(Names in announcement: W. T. Thacker, Lizzie Apple, Rev. Hopkins)