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Valley Virginian: April 24, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Virginia soldiers have made 358 applications for artificial limbs, and 300 have been granted.

The State of "Great Moral Ideas."
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Summary: This article claims to destroy the myth of Massachusetts' moral superiority. "In spite of her churches and her lectures, her seminaries of learning and her sumptuary laws, Massachusetts is today more irreligious, more conceited, more fanatical, worse governed and has more of vice and crime and pauperism within her border than any other State in the Union containing the same number of inhabitants."

The Result of Inaction
(Column 03)

Summary: This article asserts that those who counsel inaction in the face of Reconstruction would betray the Confederate dead and the Confederate veterans by opening Virginia to rule by blacks and radicals.

Full Text of Article:

Did it ever strike the advocates of "inaction" that its natural result would be ten thousand times harder on the soldiers who fought for the South; the widows and orphans of her dead, than ever the vilest radical ever proposed in the Military bill? The result of "passive endurance" would be to put all of this class under the iron rule of such men as Brownlow and the radical negroes, a fate which even our enemies give us a chance to escape, by action. We cannot believe that the honest, but deceived advocates of this policy ever looked at the question in its true light, and we think it their duty to give the view a careful consideration.

The Jews
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Summary: The paper defends Jews from Manhattan insurance companies who refuse to do business with them.

"Pious Drinking and Moral Swearing."
(Column 03)

Summary: An informant in the capital asserts that Congress is full of "ingenious rascality and trickery." Congressional Temperance Societies and revivals are actually "pious Drinking" and "Moral Swearing Societies."

[No Title]
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Summary: The paper asserts that the only way to ensure a successful convention is to see that Hunnicut, Botts and their allies do not have power.

A Word to the Colored People
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Summary: Faced with African American suffrage, the paper prints advice that all white southerners should give to black southerners. Blacks must view southern whites, not northern radicals, as friends, and should work toward harmony with them by giving up ideas of "social equality" and instead focusing on hard work.

Full Text of Article:

In our issue of August 8th, 1866, we talked to the colored people as follows, for which we were called "foolish" by some of the "over wise." Now that suffrage has been given the colored people, we repeat the advice given them, and again urge upon all classes the necessity of harmony, in order to defeat the devilish schemes of the radicals for our destruction. And most earnestly do we appeal to the intelligent whites to allow no foolish prejudice to keep them from impressing the truths given below, upon the colored people.

In a few words we will try to state the case to the colored people. You are here, a part of the great body of the Southern society, and you have several questions to ask yourselves. 1st. Who are you and how did you get here? 2d. Who brought you here and sold you, and who has taken care of you since? 3d. What is your true policy for the future? In answer to the first question you know you are black, a negro, and that your forefathers were brought by force from Africa, a land of darkness and barbarism. To the 2d, we can answer that the immaculate and freedom loving Yankees, of New England, kidnapped you and brought you here, sold you to Southern men, and then set up a howl about the "brutality of Southern slavery," after these same Southern States forced them to abolish the "slave trade" in 1808, sorely against their will--for it was very profitable. These Southern people took your forefathers, ignorant and naked, and by their kindness, patience, judgement and love for you, brought you to your present state of civilization, which no other portion of your race has reached. In return you gave them your labor, and that you loved them was shown by your noble conduct during the war. Circumstances beyond your control freed you from the restraints heretofore put upon you, and an all-wise Providence allowed this same Yankee, who sold you into slavery, to free you--not for the love of you, but to gratify his infernal hatred to the Southern whites--your friends.

Such is the true state of the case? you have accepted the freedom forced upon you by Radical Yankee hatred of Southern men and no one blamed you for it, any more than they would blame a school boy for taking holiday, when the teacher is "barred out." And what are you to do? Ah! there's the rub--your dispositions and education prompt you to do right; prompt you to cultivate friendly feelings with your best friends, our people, but foolish people among us, and designing Yankees, tell you to carry out the same spite a Radical Yankee will always have. They urge you to believe that we are no longer friends and they are--and the promptings of vanity make some of you agree with these poor creatures--Now look matters square in the face. You are here forever unless you die out like the Indians, as the Yankees predict. How to do your part for society is the question. It is to trust your white people; to be prompt and energetic; to comply with all contracts; to work and study, and make up your minds that only by hard work and by trusting to the kind and affectionate feelings of those who raised you, can you exist on this Continent. Do this; show yourselves worthy of the position you are placed in, as you heretofore showed you could be trusted and your future is clear before you--always recollecting the great fact, the position of the honored dead and respected of your class exemplifies, that "you must respect yourselves to be respected." Listen not to fools or worse, who tell you about social "equality" and all that, for that's your ruin and extermination. Be honest, be faithful; make yourselves necessary to the community and the devilish schemes of the Radical Yankee to ruin the Country, through you, will be thwarted and your race saved.

The "Convention."
(Column 04)

Summary: The Richmond Times ridicules the blacks and their white supporters for their participation in the Convention.

Origin of Article: Richmond Times

Full Text of Article:

For two days past the African Church has been the scene of a grotesque, although melancholy traveste of the convention which the great political parties of Virginia were, in better times, in the habit of holding in that building. Where RANDOLPH, MADISON, MONROE, LEIGH, and UPSHUR were once heard with wrapt attention, HUNNICUT bawled like a harpooned gorilla, and CONWAY croaked like a gorged cormorant.

All who attended the convention assure us that the black "delegates" were, in deportment, intelligence and refinement, very superior to their white allies. The graduates of the corn field were immeasurably ahead of the products of the "town meetings" and "common schools." The impression general among the outsiders was, that taking the delegates as specimens, black missionaries should be sent to Massachusetts. It was conceded by all parties that at the great "mongrel convention" in Philadelphia, FRED DOUGLASS was the master spirit.--Richmond Times.

A Disgusted Delegate
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Summary: The Richmond Whig reports that E. L. Houff, speaking for Augusta's Unionists, expressed displeasure at the Convention which was run by "corrupt and designing white men for their own selfish ends." A resolution he presented against confiscation of land, or harsh treatment of ex-Confederates failed to pass.
(Names in announcement: E. L. Houff)

Full Text of Article:

The true sentiments of the Union men of Augusta, as expressed through one of their number, and who had manliness enough to repudiate the Hunnicut faction, The Richmond Whig, of the 20th inst., has the following statement of E. L. Houff, with resolutions.

"We have been called on by Mr. E. L. Houff, a delegate from Augusta to the African Church pow-wow, at whose request we publish the subjoined preamble and resolutions which were offered by him in that body and were unanimously and contemptuously voted "under the table." Mr. H., who seems to be sensible and well-meaning person, is satisfied that he was entirely out of place in any such body, and that the convention was got up and controlled by corrupt and designing (white) men for their own selfish ends. He will take care, in the future, not to be caught in any such company. The following is the paper which was submitted by Mr. H, and which expresses his own sentiments and, as he assures us, those of the "Union men" of Augusta":

"WHEREAS, The State of Virginia, as well as the whole of the Southern States, saw fit to secede from the General Government of the United States; and as the result of the secession involved the country in four years' war, the most terrible that has ever waged on this Continent; and, as the States thus seceded are at this time held by the United States Government as conquered provinces; therefore be it

"1. Resolved, That we, a portion of the citizens of Virginia in convention assembled for the purpose of bringing back our State to the faith of our fathers, while differing with the advocates of secession from the commencement of the political strife to the present time, yet we recognize them as friends and fellow citizens of a common country; and as all classes should work harmoniously together for the purpose of building up our dilapidated country and perpetuating the interest of our beloved State, we hereby ask the Congress of the United States, in the name of the loyal citizens of Virginia, and in behalf of our misguided friends, that no portion of their property be confiscated on account of the part taken by them in the late rebellion.

"2. Resolved, That, as Union men, we are desirous of fostering harmony in our beloved land, and intend to uphold the Union party and perpetuate its success by all legitimate means.

"3. Resolved, That we abide by the laws made by Congress to govern the State of Virginia, and we deem it our duty to uphold the Union now and forever one and inseparable.

"4. Resolved, That we, the Union men of Virginia, throw to the breeze our banner with this inscription: The Union, the Constitution, and the Enforcement of the Laws."

Who Are Disqualified
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Summary: General Schofield has clarified rules for voter registration. Any one forced into Confederate service through the draft will not be disqualified. "This will reduce the number of persons disqualified to vote or hold office to a very small margin. The disqualified will be confined altogether to those who volunteered in the early part of the war, few of whom are now living. The survivors are principally of the conscript class, save perhaps a few officers."

[No Title]
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Summary: The Staunton Lyceum decided by a 13 to 12 vote that the revolution of 1776 was a mistake.

[No Title]
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Summary: The Virginia Express Company organized and elected the following officers: Col. M. G. Harman, President; Gen. William Mahone, John Wood, Jr., James L. A. Trotter, Thomas Branch, and N. M. Lee, Directors.
(Names in announcement: Col. M. G. Harman, Gen. William Mahone, John WoodJr., James L. A. Trotter, Thomas Branch, N. M. Lee)

[No Title]
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Summary: The Circus is coming to Staunton, and the paper warns readers not to come to town "or you might be tempted to attend, leaving you minus at least two dollars and giving the yankees something to gloat over when they get North."

Babies
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Summary: The paper reports that a "baby epidemic rages fearfully in Staunton and vicinity." The area is averaging six births a week in a proportion of five boys to one girl.

[No Title]
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Summary: Gen. Joseph E. Johnson has written a letter correcting many of the errors found in Dr. Dabney's life of Stonewall Jackson. The "expose" was so forceful, the article suggests, that Dabney would be best served by burning the remaining copies of the book.

Origin of Article: Rockingham Register

[No Title]
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Summary: The paper reports that in Staunton there are "13 dwelling houses in the process of erection, besides several just finished, also a Saw Mill, Plaster and Grist Mill, a School House, for the Freedmen, 50x30, showing a spirit of enterprise which our people may well be proud of."

Colored Benevolent Association in Augusta County
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Summary: Senator Trout presented a bill incorporating the Augusta Benevolent Association of Colored Persons.
(Names in announcement: Senator Trout)

[No Title]
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Summary: The editors lament that benefit concerts and organizations for aid to the South "lose a screw or go by the board for want of patriotism on the part of all engaged. There is a lurking spirit of gain which prompts some people to take advantage of even the poorest."

[No Title]
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Summary: Capt. Arnall, the Depot Agent, reports that 4,456 bushels of corn, and 565 barrels of flour were shipped by the Central Railroad during the week ending April 22nd. Most of the corn was sent to Richmond, and the rest to South Carolina.

How They Are Deceived
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Summary: J. D. Caldwell, a visitor to the Valley from Montour, Pa., was looking to buy a "large tract of land" and went away "much pleased with the country and the people." He reported that many "respectable people" in the North were frightened to come South by "radical reports of danger from 'Rebels.'' 'All respectable people from the North will be well treated. So come along with your greenbacks!"
(Names in announcement: J. D. Caldwell)

Marriages
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Summary: Joseph Wilson and Mrs. M. E. Wilson, both of Augusta, were married on March 4th by the Rev. Mr. Pinkerton.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Wilson, M. E. Wilson, Rev. Pinkerton)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: W. C. Miller and Miss Mary S. Brownlee, both of Augusta, were married on March 4th by the Rev. Mr. Pinkerton, at the same time as the Wilsons.
(Names in announcement: W. C. Miller, Mary S. Brownlee, Rev. Pinkerton)

Deaths
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Summary: Mrs. Mary Hanrahan, aged 55 years, died in the Staunton residence of W. H. Tams on April 21st.
(Names in announcement: Mary Hanrahan, W. H. Tams)

Deaths
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Summary: Mrs. Maria Slanker, aged 70 years, died in her Staunton residence on April 11th.

Deaths
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Summary: Miss Julia Grove, aged 13 years, 7 months, and 25 days, died in Staunton on April 7th.
(Names in announcement: Julia Grove)