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Valley Virginian: April 3, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: 152 guests arrived at the American Hotel last week.

A few Words on the Convention Question
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Summary: This editorial comes out in favor of a Constitutional Convention, even if it means accepting the demands of Congressional Radicals. The South is forced to do so anyway, the editors argue, so white Virginians should register, vote, and be sure to control the ensuing Convention. "Most of those who demur, in such vehement and sometimes abusive words, to the doings of the Senate are those 'who never set a squadron in the field,' or smelt gun powder during the war. Let those who shouldered the musket be the ones to lead in the reconstruction of the government." "In the words of General Longstreet, we 'must recognize the fact that we are a conquered people,' and manfully perform the duties that condition imposes upon us. Do this like men; do your duty towards the colored people; send the best men available to the Convention, and in less than ten years you will see a new Dominion and a new South--rich, prosperous and free!"

[No Title]
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Summary: The paper denounces a hypocritical Congress who, in the case of Mexico, protest against the establishment of a foreign despotism on American soil, but do not take into consideration the "domestic military despotism, which is now over-riding the Constitution and Liberties of a people embraced in the limits of what was once the United States."

How they Missed It.
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Summary: This article asserts that the North missed a chance to surprise and impress the world by quickly and graciously reuniting with the defeated South.

Full Text of Article:

The yankees are fond of sensation, and of doing (whether good or evil) what will make people stare. At the close of the late war they had the finest opportunity ever offered to them of taking mankind by surprise and of doing what would have been the talk of the world for all time to come. Had the Federal government only observed the faith plighted over and over again, during the progress of the war, in the time of its agony and fear, by admitting back into the Union of their fathers, without condition, the people whom they were pleased to term their "erring brethren," a spectacle of magnanimity and good faith would have been presented to mankind which has had no parallel in the sixty centuries of the world's existence. As it is, they have but fallen into the old ruts, in which the car of conquering despotism has run, since history began its sad story of the pride and tyranny and faithlessness of the oppressors, and the woes and sorrows of the oppressed. The atrocities of the past two years, probably do not exceed the horrors of Austrian and Russian tyranny, and are equaled perhaps by England, France and other civilized powers. Hence--nobody stares and nobody wonders!

A Virginia Soldier's opinion of the Senate and its Traducers
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Summary: This letter to the editor denounces politicians who did not serve in or support the Confederate military during the war, and now obstruct action on a Convention.

Full Text of Article:

Baltimore, MD., March 22, '67.

Messrs. Editors:--In some of your exchanges, you no doubt have seen it strongly intimated that certain Senators of the Virginia Assembly are about to resign, influenced to that action by what they insinuate to be the compromise of "manhood" by that body. Now, I am no politician, and by the blessing of God, never will be; but when I see men from whose mouths the word "manhood" comes forth tainted with the poison of cowardice, dare to take upon themselves to rebuke a body composed of the wisdom and chivalry of Virginia, the pen that otherwise would never have miscribed their names, becomes animated with the desire to mete them their merited rebuke. Men, whose antecedents considered, strangely enough, from members of the Virginia Assembly, essay now to pass judgement upon their nobler colleagues; upon men who if they did not during the war, carry arms in battle, at least gave their hearty support in aid of our struggle, and better still, do not labor under the disgraceful charge of national duplicity. Men, who intrepid in the knowledge of unblemished innocence, treat with dignified loathing the pratings of peaceful warriors. These are the sages who may now expect the tongue lashings of fawning demagogues.

Audacity sometimes reaches an elevation which draws from noble spirits unconscious praise. Such is the feeling we have when we read the atrocious suggestions of that abandoned old man in Congress. With such emotions are our bosoms stirred when we look back to the scenes of revolutionary violence in France.

But the innate smallness of the men I speak of, forever precludes them from the possibility of thus ascending, and binds them down to subversive weapons, to carping and caviling. Men who during the war never snapped a cap, and who had an unheard of aversion to our honored grey; who, like the Irishman, worshipped the Virgin one day and the Devil the next, according as the fluctuating tide of war swept over their homes, thereby hoping (and successfully) to propitiate the constituents thus respectively represented, and who were wont to ensconce themselves in comfortable homes, with hearts at rest save about their individual selves, now turn men, statesmen, warriors, and lift their puny voices in opposition to the action of a bold and wise majority.

Before their twaddle should thus be heard, let them remove the leprous stigma which attaches to their names. Let them first in peaceful pursuits convince dissenting fellow citizens, that other causes than those imputed, blotted their escutcheons with what posterity will call cowardly turpitude. Let the debt incurred by absence from our bloody fields, be partially paid by whole souled co-operation for the benefit of our people.

Our law-giving power is virtually dead. Let those aspiring champions of "manly resistance," with the motto "de mortuis nil nisi bonis" inscribed on their phylacteries, retire to their "comfortable homesteads" and despised and rejected by their acquaintances, at heart let them brood over their degradation, their self-forfeited claim to unimpeachable courage, if ever hereafter to be received in the circle of suffering patriots, to come, wiser and sadder, better and braver men.
Truly, &c., R. B.

Clean Up
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Summary: The paper urges Staunton to follow Winchester's lead in appointing a Sanitary Committee. "Now is the time to go to work. Don't wait for the authorities, but let every man put his own house, back yard, &c., in order. It's the only way to fight the Cholera."

Our Dead
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Summary: The Memorial Fair and Dinner raised about $169 for the benefit of the Cemetery. The Ladies of Staunton are planning a "grand Fair and dinner" for May 10th, the day set aside for decoration of the graves of the Confederate dead. Contributions can be sent to Charley Arnald.
(Names in announcement: Charley Arnald)

Aid For the South
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Summary: The counties of the lower Valley are sending aid to the destitute in the deep South. "Old Augusta should not lag behind in giving her mite. Won't some of our leading farmers take the matter in hand? Remember 'he who giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord.'"

Registration
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Summary: General Schofield is preparing to register voters under the Military act, and the Convention is planned for June. "Let every man who can register. Not to do so would be about as sensible as 'inaction' would have been in old Jubal, at Fisher's Hill."

Mail Contracts From Staunton
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Summary: The following mail contracts have been awarded: Staunton to Sangersville, S. D. Jones, $160; to Huntersville, by the Springs, S. J. Reynolds, $2,500; to Cedar Grove Mills, Robert Boyd, $619; to Bonsack's, Robert Boyd, $3,333; to Winchester, John J. Ennis, $3,500; Cady's Tunnel to Bath Court House, A. D. Trotter, $740.
(Names in announcement: S. D. Jones, S. J. Reynolds, Robert Boyd, John J. Ennis, A. D. Trotter)

In Memoriam.
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Summary: The paper prints an obituary and tribute for George Paul Scherer, a veteran of the Stonewall Brigade.
(Names in announcement: George Paul Scherer)

Full Text of Article:

The resolutions of the Augusta Fire Company, tell the sad news and convey to his friends and comrades the mournful tidings that George Paul Scherer, of Company I., 5th Va. Reg't., Stonewall Brigade, is no more. He died at the residence of his father in Staunton, last Thursday morning, March 28th, aged 26 years. Paul Scherer, as familiarly known, entered the service April, 1861, with the West Augusta Guards, of which company he had been a member from its organization. He was every inch a soldier, and his appearance was remarked upon, even in that fine looking, well drilled and disciplined Company. He was wounded at the 2d Battle of Manassas and at Mine Run, but lost but few days from the field. He was taken prisoner at the Wilderness, May 5th, because his noble spirit would not allow him to stay back, though very ill. He was exchanged Nov. '64, and soon afterwards joined his Command and was in every battle up to Appomattox Court House. He was acknowledged by all, officer and men, to be one of the best, if not the best soldier, in the Regiment, and was selected to receive one of the two medals, given by a lady to the "two bravest and best soldiers in the Regiment." He was a member, in good standing, of the Odd Fellow's and Masonic Lodges.

No young man in Staunton was more universally popular, and no death has caused a greater sensation in our community. His funeral was the largest ever seen in Staunton: the Fire Company in full uniform, with their engine draped with evergreens and crape, headed by his old comrades, of the Stonewall Band, followed his body to the grave. All classes of our people turned out to pay respect to one, who though he had his faults, had "fought a good fight" for his country, and shown himself a soldier and a man. But he is gone; the gallant soldier; the kind messmate; the generous friend, the cheerful companion has departed from among us. In tendering our heartfelt condolence, to the bereaved family of our friend, we can only add: "Peace be with the dead! Regret cannot wake them. With a sigh for the departed, let us resume the dull business of life, in the certainty that we shall also have our repose."

Marriages
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Summary: Samuel D. Myers, of the Valley Virginian Office, and Miss Maggie J. Runnels, of Staunton, were married last Thursday by the Rev. W. A. Harris.
(Names in announcement: Samuel D. Myers, Maggie J. Runnels, Rev. W. A. Harris)

Marriages
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Summary: W. L. Ayers and Miss Isabella D. McLaughlin were married on March 27th by the Rev. W. E. Baker.
(Names in announcement: W. L. Ayers, Isabella D. McLaughlin, Rev. W. E. Baker)

Marriages
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Summary: Leander Wright and Miss Mary F. Laughlin were married on March 27th by the Rev. T. L. Preston.
(Names in announcement: Leander Wright, Mary F. Laughlin, Rev. T. L. Preston)

Marriages
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Summary: Alexander Dull and Miss S. F. Livick were married on March 28th by Rev. T. L. Preston.
(Names in announcement: Alexander Dull, S. F. Livick, Rev. T. L. Preston)

Marriages
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Summary: J. H. Engleman and Miss Sarah J. Arehart, both of Augusta, were married on March 21st by the Rev. J. W. Karicofe.
(Names in announcement: J. H. Engleman, Sarah J. Arehart, Rev. J. W. Karicofe)

Deaths
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Summary: Robert Lee Herring, aged 3 years and 1 day, died in Staunton on March 26th.
(Names in announcement: Robert Lee Herring)

Deaths
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Summary: George W. Mowry, aged 58 years, died at his residence near New Hope on March 29th.
(Names in announcement: George W. Mowry)

[No Title]
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Summary: This selection from the Roanoke Times asserts that a united white race has nothing to fear from universal suffrage. "A little kindly conciliation and patient teaching on our part will soon enable the newly enfranchised colored man to see that his own interest requires him to co-operate with his former master, and, after all, his best friend, rather than follow the lead of his designing deceivers, who would rob him of his paltry savings and lure him into a destructive contest of races."

Origin of Article: Roanoke Times