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Valley Virginian: August 7, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
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Summary: The paper reports that the white majority in the Valley stands at 8000.

What Are We to Do?
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Summary: This editorial denounces the developments at the Convention which resulted in Hunnicut's faction triumphing by passing a Radical agenda. The paper counsels that Virginia's citizens abide by the Military Bill, but do all in their power to defeat the Radical party.
(Names in announcement: Fultz)

Full Text of Article:

Evil days are upon us; a Just God has seen fit to try our people sorely and allow their enemies to harass them, almost beyond measure. But we should not despair, or give way to a natural feeling of indifference, for has He not blessed us most beautifully with the good things of this life and heaped our garners high with the products of his foot-stool? If He has punished us severely for our "manifold sins and wickedness," has He not "tempered justice with mercy" in providing for all of our material wants, and does not this fact bid us be of good cheer; bid us work with renewed hope and a firm reliance on Him who holds the destinies of Nations, and of men, in the hollow of His hand? It strikes us that this should have a wonderful influence on a people professing to be christians, and that even the weak and sinful should be strengthened by these manifestations of God's goodness and loving kindness.

But "what are we to do;" how are we to save ourselves from the evils present and to come--how can this people do right, act honestly and be relieved of the terrible oppression and uncertainty of the present and future? Aching hearts ask this question every moment. Every thinking and reasoning human being in the South feels the dead weight of it on his life, and anxiously looks about him, for the light that is to guide us out of the troublesome sea of our misfortunes. As a mass, we believe no people ever thought so earnestly and tried to do their duty more faithfully, than have the Southern people, white and black, and no people have met with so many difficulties, or overcome them so heroically. Take out a vile, low, Hell-inspired act of agitators, called Radicals, and we find the great mass, honest in the desire for peace and a determination to do everything, consistent with honor, to obtain that great blessing--a blessing appreciated only by the war-worn and weary.

This being the true feeling of the great mass of our people, it well becomes them to ask "what are we to do?" Many schemes have been proposed and some honest men believed, until recently, that "co-operation" with Hunnicut and his "right bower," Botts, would save us. The action of the Convention (so-called) in Richmond last week must convince all honest men, white and black, of the fallacy of such hopes. Hunnicut, and his rule or ruin mob, took charge of that Convention, and one of the truest Union men of this County, Mr. Fultz, was so disgusted at the whole proceedings that he returned home after the first day. We regret that we can not publish the a full report of that Devil's own gathering in Richmond last week, but it is sufficient to say that the most extreme Radical views were carried out, and that all ideas of Conservatism were rudely trampled under foot. The Radical party, led by Hunnicut, is determined to rule or ruin the State, and so confident were they of success, by the assistance of the low white men and by deluding the colored people, that they insultingly and defiantly repulsed all efforts at "co-operation," made by some of the first men of the State. While we honor the motives of the gentlemen who attempted this "Co-operation" movement, we can not feel sorry at its complete failure; for it will show the honest masses of the State where the Hunnicut faction desires to lead them and stir the people up to act as men should, when all they hold dear is at stake.

"What are we to do after all this," is still the anxious enquiry, and never was a question so hard to answer:--never in the history of the world had conscientious Journalists so much difficulty in directing their readers to the right path, regardless of past prejudices or the temptation to indulge in indifference or despair, as natural to them as to all of our oppressed people. Still, to the independent press, their only voice, now that our old leaders are struck dumb by the awful present, the people look for an answer to this ever present question, and we should feel ourselves false to them; a disgrace to the position we hold, did we not answer it, honestly and frankly, to the best of our knowledge, with the lights before us.

Looking over the muddy, miry, roads left for the people of the South to travel, we can see but one, that gives a hope of reaching a safe 'camping ground' at its termination. It is to accept the Military Bills as a finality from the powers that be, and hold them to it. Their great aim and object is to build up a Radical party South, and it should be ours to defeat them. Let us look upon it "as a great business transaction," in the language of one of their organs, and make clean work of it. There are enough honest men, white and black, in the State to carry out those bills and defeat this infernal party, if every man will work. In doing this we defeat every plan of our worst enemies and aid our friends North, for if they refuse to admit us on a Constitution, conforming to the Military Bills; if they repudiate their own orders, then they are lost North. If they admit us, we hold the balance of power and, any way, we can't be hurt by trying it. To remain inactive is to give the State to Hunnicut, Botts & Co., and that is ruin. To act, to strike home, in conformity with the Military Bills, as a guarantee to the North, saves our State from the fate of Tennessee and places our future in our own hands. This is hard to do, but we must do something and every man do his part. In addition, we should throw a million or so acres of land in the market at low rates, invite immigration; establish a liberal system of free schools; have a perfect understanding of the colored people, and we can defy even the ingenuity of Radical hate to harm us. Some may say this is doing what the Radicals order. So it is, but it is not what they want us to do. It is simply using the Devil's fire-wood to fright him with--no other material being available at this time. Let us deal fairly and honestly with the colored people and explain this matter to them, and, together, we believe we can so "corduroy" this road that, if a little rough, it will secure us a safe passage into the Union. We don't believe Capt. Mason's "Black Brigade," of Jackson's Corps, (the same that rebuilt McClellan's bridge over the Chickahominy, in two hours, while the Engineers were planning it out,) could possibly make a "footpath" over any other.

A Letter From Staunton
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Summary: A correspondent of the Daily Petersburg Express gives a description of Staunton including its agricultural production, its buildings, and its civic institutions.
(Names in announcement: A. H. H. Stuart, Rev. Latane, Davis Kayser, A. H. D. Moore, Dr. Crockwell, A. M. GarberJr.)

Full Text of Article:

Correspondence of the Daily Petersburg Express

Staunton, VA, July 26, 1867.

Dear Express: This popular Valley town is at present enjoying a repose which is not at all consistent with the bustling, stirring scenes, which many of your readers witnessed here during the war. I do not mean to say, however, that Staunton is more dull than other towns and cities in Virginia are at this time. July and August are proverbially dull months everywhere.

I see that wheat and flour are beginning to arrive at the depot here in considerable quantities. So abundant a yield of wheat in this section, has not been known for many years, and it is feared that the carrying capacity of the Central will be taxed to its utmost to accommodate the demands.

Here may be seen specimens of the finest milch cows which have come under my observation since I left Petersburg. Some of them, I am told, give four gallons per day. Butter, of course, is abundant.

The greater portion of this town is located in a basin, surrounded by high hills. On many of the hills are beautiful residences. Those of Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, Rev. Mr. Latane, Davis Kayser, Esq., and others, were pointed out to me. They are handsome specimens of architectural taste, and in the summer season, must be cool, pleasant and salubrious.

I notice here a Restaurant, called "The Cockade House," whose proprietor, I am told is from Petersburg. There is also here, a manufacturer, whose name was once familiar in your city. It is A. H. D. Moore. He has a carriage and wagon manufactory. He first saw this section of Virginia during the war, and then resolved, "that if he survived the dangers of the battle-field and the maladies of camp, he would make this his future home." He did survive both and here he is, hale, hearty and robust as a mountaineer.

I am surprised to find here three papers, viz: the Spectator, Vindicator and Valley Virginian. They are all published weekly and doing well. I have met with Dr. Crockwell, the junior of the Virginian, who informs me that there are no people in the old Commonwealth who extend to the press a more liberal support than those of this wealthy and extensive Valley section. Dr. C.'s enterprise is comparatively new--having been commenced only since the war terminated. He has been compelled to enlarge his sheet recently, and now publishes one of the largest, neatest and most spirited weeklies in Virginia. His associate, the widely known A. M. Garber, Jr., it was not my good fortune to meet.

There are many churches here, and stores of every description. The people are said to be hospitable, and all agree that there is not a more pleasant place on God's footstool to reside.

The country around is fertile to a high degree, and the scenery pleasant to look upon. Many, I hear, from Pennsylvania and Maryland, are turning their attention to this section, with a view to making their future homes. My impression is they might go much further and fare a great deal worse.
Yours, etc.,
Toledo

The Excursion To Covington
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Summary: 450 citizens of Richmond, Charlottesville and Staunton enjoyed a "pleasant and successful" trip to Covington, where they were "magnificently entertained, fed and talked to, as only the free mountaineers of old Alleghany can do such things. The ladies did wonders and had enough provisions to feed 5,000 people." Several prominent citizens gave speeches.
(Names in announcement: Gen. Echols, Capt. C. R. Mason, Skeen, Col. Fountaine, Farish, McGruder, Mayo)

Robinson's Big Show
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Summary: John Robinson's famous circus is rumored to be planning to come to Staunton. The event is expected to draw crowds from throughout the Valley. "The bare announcement of the fact that the veteran showman John Robinson is about to visit us is enough in and of itself to insure a crowded canvas both afternoon and night. The name of 'Robinson' is as familiar to our old citizens as household words, and hundreds of our readers will remember with pleasure the many hours that they have spent under his canvas."

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Summary: 1,868 visitors stayed in Staunton hotels during the month of July.

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Summary: The apple crop in the Valley is expected to be large.

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Summary: The Staunton Gas Company raised the price of gas to $8 per thousand feet.

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Summary: The Commissioner of the Revenue issued a list showing 475 white voters in the town of Staunton during 1867.

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Summary: The current total of registered voters in Augusta stands at 4,690 with a white majority of 2,278. 500 more whites are expected with the next revision.

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Summary: Union Prayer Meetings are held every Sunday evening in different churches. The next one will be held in the Presbyterian Church.

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Summary: The Bethel congregation of the A. M. E. Church is planning to hold a fair at the Town Hall to raise money for their church building.

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Summary: An estimated 50,000 people have emigrated from Augusta to the West and South. "Think of it; this County alone has populated States and will continue to do so, unless you divide up your big farms."

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Summary: The congregation of the Methodist Colored Church, led by Parson Lawson, raised $205 at their fair last Thursday. "We have rarely seen a more handsomely gotten up affair."

Can It Be So?
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Summary: The paper is shocked to learn that the bondholders of the Manassas Gap Railroad who are holding up its completion by refusing the terms offered by the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Consolidation are Augusta citizens.

Be On Your Guard
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Summary: An "enterprising thief" has been entering Staunton stores at night with the help of a false key, and has "helped himself liberally." "He was caught at Mr. Evan's store and caned, at night, but made his escape, leaving his key."
(Names in announcement: Evans)

A Necessity
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Summary: The Valley Turnpike Company "is remetalling Augusta Street, for about the tenth time since the war." Since the road runs to the depot, it is constantly subjected to wear and tear. The paper suggests opening Lewis Street and extending the grading on New Street to solve the problem. "The growing trade of Staunton imperatively demands these improvements."

Another Big Show
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Summary: The paper calls readers' attentions to B. M. Clinedist's Fine Art Gallery "where there is constantly exhibited the finest specimens of Art ever produced in this Valley."
(Names in announcement: B. M. Clinedist)

Registration
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Summary: The Board of Registration is convening to revise voter lists and register those eligible who have not yet done so, at the following places and times: the Court House (1st District), the Market House (2nd District), and Middlebrook (3rd District) on August 12th and 13th; Greenville (4th District), Waynesboro (5th District), and New Hope (6th District) on August 14th and 15th; Mt. Sidney, (7th District), Mt. Solon (8th District) and Churchville (9th District) on August 16th and 17th.

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Summary: Another round of the "epidemic matrimonial" is predicted for Staunton in the Fall.

Common Council--August Session
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Summary: The August session of the Common Council met, Mayor Trout presiding. Only Crawford, Hope, Bruce, Points and Peck were absent. Mrs. C. W. Skinner presented a petition asking for a better distribution of water through larger pipes. The Water Committee Report shows the height of water at Spring to be 25 1/2 inches above the supply pipe. $57.61 in work was done by the Superintendent. Mr. Bickle presented a petition authorizing sale of the Market House, but a decision was postponed. The Street Commissioners were ordered to look into the cost and feasibility of repairing the sidewalk between Valley Bank and Frederick Street and between Frederick Street and Newtown. Mrs. Bolen's petition for remission of taxes on carts was postponed. The tax ordinance was amended as follows: theatrical exhibitions, $20; other shows, $40; circuses and menageries, $60; side shows, the price of 10 tickets.
(Names in announcement: Mayor Trout, Crawford, Hope, Bruce, Points, Peck, C. W. Skinner, Bickle, Mrs. Bolen)

Deaths
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Summary: Mrs. Christiana Argenbright, formerly of Augusta, died of paralysis in Versailles, Missouri, on June 10th.
(Names in announcement: Christiana Argenbright)

Deaths
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Summary: Richard Henry Baskins, son of Samuel C. Baskins and Amanda Baskins, died on July 29th. He was 4 years old.
(Names in announcement: Richard Henry Baskins, Samuel C. Baskins, Amanda Baskins)