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Valley Virginian: May 15, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper asserts that the conservative party in Virginia will win as long as the "white voters take care to have themselves registered, and also vote."

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper complains that while the port of Charleston received 3,100 bushels of corn and 10,000 pounds of bacon from Maryland for the aid of the South Carolina poor, Augusta contributed nothing.

The Temperance Cause in Virginia
(Column 04)

Summary: The Virginia Council of the Friends of Temperance met recently, as the cause is thriving throughout the state. Mr. Bruce of Waynesboro and Rev. Dr. Dame of Danville will be participating in a supreme council.
(Names in announcement: Bruce, Rev. Dr. Dame)

Accepting the Situation
(Column 06)

Summary: This article from the Charlottesville Chronicle urges Southerners to accept and make the best of Reconstruction. World history is marked by progress, and not even the most committed conservatives can turn back the clock. Those who respond to black suffrage by retreating from politics and placing "all things into their hands" only place "the white race in irremediable ruin."

The True Path of the South
(Column 06)

Summary: The paper endorses the opinion of J. B. Sener, editor of the Fredericksburg Ledger, who, after a trip to the North, asserted that the future of the South should lie in "industrial prosperity."

Old Parties and Our Duties
(Column 02)

Summary: This editorial urges southerners not to divide and join political parties. The old parties have lost their usefulness. The only true divide in the South is along racial lines.

Full Text of Article:

It strikes us that the dictates of party as well as of principle, should make the Southern people avoid parties at present, especially those, whose mission accomplished, are certain to pass away. The old Democratic and Whig parties went down, in the South, during the war; and the Republican or Radical, having nearly run its race of rule and ruin, is rapidly travelling the same road in the North. This is shown by every indication which reaches us, as well as by the eagerness with which they seek support, for their waning power, among the hated "rebels" South. The Southern people, white and black, are now anxiously looked to by the dead and dying political organizations North, as the "cats" whose "paws" shall draw out a few "chestnuts" from the public toasting house for them. Have the hard lessons of the past been learned to so little purpose, and was the scorching our fingers received, at this little game, so pleasant, that we should again gratify the insatiable appetites of these political "monkies" at so great a cost?

Parties in the South, with the exception of a minority in favor of the enforced Union, too small to effect the result or exert any influence, good or bad, died during the war. Whig and Democrat, original Union men and Secessionists, union men and fighters in the Union, stood shoulder to shoulder in defense of their rights and buried all political differences forever in the graves of their comrades. The surrender found all true Southern men, especially the soldiery, standing together, with saddened and almost broken hearts, but hopeful of the future regeneration of their country, by hard labor. Who were their friends; who their enemies, what party deserved credit for the deep damnation of our taking off, they never asked, for they had made prisoners of soldiers belonging to every party North, and had found all united in fighting for our overthrow. With this knowledge, gained by no "royal" or "loyal" road, they went to work, relying principally on their paroles and the honor of the soldiers of the U. S. Army to protect them. And nobly have they stuck to it, regardless of parties or politicians of promises, threats or bribes. What has been done is only an earnest of the future material prosperity of the South, when her people, prosperous and happy as in the halcyon days of past, will bless the hands that worked and the heads and hearts that avoided parties and politics.

And what have these parties done that we should aid either? President Johnson tried his hand at "reconstructing" us, beginning by ordering the Southern people to do certain things. Old politicians looked cheerful, visions of the good old days of fat offices and nothing to do, enspired them to emulate the fulsome eloquence of other days, in heralding his "magnanimity." He was the "great reconstructor"--the "second Washington"--"our noble friend, Andy of Tennessee" and all that. What if he did ask us to do 'rough things'--it was all for the best--Andrew 'Jackson' Johnson would surely "win." The South accepted his plan, as a matter of course, nearly everybody being busy working and desiring peace. And it didn't take us long to fix matters up accordingly. We had Congressmen, Senators, Governors and Legislators, but "where are they?" Mr. Johnson, with the best intentions, no doubt, failed to carry the North for his policy and alas! Congress succeeds to come in with a "Constitutional Amendment," asking the South to unite in her own degradation. It was rejected, as it should have been by an honest people. Then Congress concluded to force matters, and hence the military bill of abominations, we are now forced to act under. It leaves us, as a people, no option--but it leaves us our honor and a hope of saving our local governments, all that is left. With devilish ingenuity it is contrived so as to make it appear that a powerless people approve of its measures, and to aid in forcing a Radical party into existence in our midst. The Democrats, or Conservatives, or whatever you call them, North headed by Johnson, are powerless to help us, if they would--they are looking to us for help. He is enforcing this very law--the "second Washington" places a military Governor over the mother and children of the "Father of his Country." In short one party North can't help us and the other won't, while both wish to use us in the next Presidential election. Between their experiments we have had a hard time, recovering from the wreck and ruin, inflicted by both, and we can see but one path to follow.

The Richmond Riot; the natural result of recent incendiary appeals to the negroes, should teach us a useful lesson. This riot may be but 'the beginning of the end' of a war of races, which should find every white man, no matter what his former politics may have been, standing up squarely for his race. It should tell us the only road to follow--the only path of safety. It is to submit to the Congressional plan as we did to Johnson's, but have no party organizations dividing true men in the South. We have no friends, with honorable exceptions, North, except from interest, and we should tie our faith and hopes to no party or set of men. We are powerful as long as we stick together and, in spite of everything, will yet be the balance of power in the United States. We are nothing, hardly a decent "cat's paw" when we divide into parties. This present strife and trouble must pass away, and the South will again become rich and powerful by the energy, endurance and devotion of her children, even if emigration does not rapidly fill our land with skilled labor and capital. Such a race inhabiting the most productive country in the world can not be long kept down, when their whole energies are devoted to its material development. It behooves us, then, while taking proper action to protect ourselves, under the Military Bill, to see that we are deceived into no "entangling alliances" and have no old parties or politicians weighing us down in the new race for life we have just entered upon. There are grand problems to be worked out; mighty issues soon to come before the people of this Continent--issues that will overwhelm all parties and powers now existing. Let us work--let us watch--let us act so that we may be prepared to play our part well in the grand future that is before us.

The 10th of May. Augusta Honors Our Sacred Dead.
(Column 03)

Summary: The Ladies' Memorial Association held services to decorate the graves of the Confederate dead. Much of the town participated in the procession and listened to the speeches.

Full Text of Article:

In spite of the dismal croaking of the overwise, the Ladies' Memorial Association persisted in carrying out their intention of "paying a fitting tribute to the memory of Stonewall Jackson and his fallen braves," and right noble did the people of our grand old County second their efforts. Preparations were commenced on Thursday, by appointing Col. J. B. Baldwin, Chief Marshall; Col. B. Christian, Major, Hall and Garber, Captains, Balthis, Waters, Bumgardner, Harrison, Berkeley and Hanger, Assistants. The ladies from the County, contributed evergreens and flowers, and from the mountains came a car load by the evening train. Thursday night the young ladies and gentlemen of the town met at the Town Hall, and prepared wreaths, crosses, &c.

Friday morning was cloudy, but nothing daunted, the people commenced pouring in. By 11 o'clock the Methodist Church was crowded, to listen to Colonel O'Ferrall's address, which we regret our inability to publish this week. It was a grand effort, worthy of the man and the occasion and added to the already high reputation of the Speaker. His beautiful tributes to the gallant dead of our town brought tears to many eyes. The speaker was loudly applauded throughout, and hundreds who could not get in the Church went away disappointed. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Baker. Col. Christian delivered a short address introducing Col. O'Ferrall.

The Procession was formed at 12 o'clock by Chief Marshall Baldwin, assisted by his Aids, in the following order:
The Stonewall Band
The D. D. & B. Institution Band
The Clergy
The Press
Confederate Soldiers
The Fire Companies--The Augusta and the D. D. & Blind
The Female Schools
Male Schools
Ladies
Citizens Generally
Carriages and Mounted Men.

In this order, to the solemn music of the Stonewall Band, the procession 1 1/2 miles long, moved to the Cemetery. The appearance of the procession, winding up the circular walks of Thornrose Cemetery, and extending as far back as the eye could reach, was grandly beautiful. The bright uniforms of the Fire Companies, the ladies enveloped in flowers, the children and the numerous colored people on each side formed a picture worthy of the "sacred day" that caused the gathering. At the Cemetery, the procession was marched under an arch having the following beautiful inscription:--
"How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest"--
and around the various walks, until all were filled. Then the Bands at the same time playing a solemn dirge, the graves of our loved and honored dead were strewn with flowers and watered with the tears of the fair women for whom they died. An hour was spent in this holy work. The procession then moved back to town; the Fire Companies were escorted to their engine house and--the sad, mournfully pleasant duties of the day were ended.

Nothing occurred to mar the harmony and good order of the occasion. At eleven o'clock all business was suspended in the town, the stores and work shops were closed and numbers of the colored people ceased their labor to follow the procession. At least 2,000 persons were in the procession and hundreds were kept from attending by the threatening appearance of the weather. It is a singular coincidence that it was just such a day as the 10th of '66. The Heavens seem to be draped in mourning, until the sacred services were over, when the sun broke forth with unusual splendor, as if Providence smiled upon the work that was just finished.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: General Lee is planning to attend the Episcopal Council in Staunton.

Episcopal Council
(Column 01)

Summary: The seventy-second Annual Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Diocese of Virginia is meeting in Staunton.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper jokes that marrying "has again taken an epidemic form in our town and County." At least six weddings have occurred in recent weeks.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Malcomb Rains, a policeman formerly of Staunton, "was knocked down by the negroes, in the riot last week, and seriously injured."
(Names in announcement: Malcomb Rains)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Physicians have been alarmed by widespread use of opium among women. "This is worse than whiskey and should be looked after, by the Temperance members of the sex."

Sudden Death
(Column 03)

Summary: Henry Gordon, "a respectable colored man" died suddenly of heart disease while working. He was 50 years old. "Some 800 colored people followed his remains to the cemetery."
(Names in announcement: Henry Gordon)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The Greenville Road "one of the most important coming into Staunton," is reportedly "badly out of repair and really dangerous in some places. Those in charge of it should make the necessary repairs, or sell out to somebody who can and will."

Southern General Synod
(Column 03)

Summary: The General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of North America (the Southern Lutheran churches) will meet at Staunton next week.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Lt. John S. Lipscomb has been elected Superintendent of the Gas Works. The price of gas has been lowered to $7, "and the supply will in the future be kept up to the demand."
(Names in announcement: Lt. John S. Lipscomb)

The Oratorio of Esther
(Column 03)

Summary: The performance by the Augusta Musical Association was a complete success. They played to an overflowing crowd of 1,000 at the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute auditorium. The concert "convinced even the most skeptical that Augusta contained musical talent of the first order," and succeeded in helping to "raise the standard of musical taste in the Valley." The editors assert that "the ladies all looked and acted their parts beautifully and with becoming modesty; that the gentlemen were rather bashful at first but, encouraged by the ladies, gradually recovered and 'came up to time'; and lastly that everybody was perfectly satisfied, enthused, enraptured, carried away--especially those who couldn't understand a word that was said--and that there is not a man, woman, or child who left dissatisfied."

Marriages
(Column 04)

Summary: Lt. Joseph N. Ryan married Miss Mattie E. Francisco, and Robert Cochran married Miss Sallie C. Francisco on May 14th at the residence of the father of the brides, C. C. Francisco of Augusta. The Rev. W. E. Baker presided.
(Names in announcement: Lt. Joseph N. Ryan, Mattie E. Francisco, Robert Cochran, Sallie C. Francisco, C. C. Francisco, Rev. W. E. Baker)

Marriages
(Column 04)

Summary: T. A. Pace, of Richmond, and Miss Ella R. Watts, of Augusta, were married on April 25th at Cedar Hill by the Rev. Mr. Hensel.
(Names in announcement: T. A. Pace, Ella R. Watts, Rev. Hensel)

Marriages
(Column 04)

Summary: Joseph Wilcher and Miss C. E. Rediffer, both of Augusta, were married on April 18th by the Rev. R. C. Walder.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Wilcher, C. E. Rediffer, Rev. R. C. Walder)

Deaths
(Column 04)

Summary: Henry McCadden, aged 79 years and 2 months, died on May 1st near Greenville.
(Names in announcement: Henry McCadden)