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Valley Virginian: August 5, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Shall Virginians Vote?
(Column 01)

Summary: The author of this article wishes to convey the importance of the upcoming election to Augusta's voters. He question: "Shall Virginia vote," is answered with an unmitigated "yes." He cites Virginia's previous constitutions (1851 and Alexandria) as the legal basis for electing electors for President and Vice-President, but more importantly, he suggests that Virginians have a duty to vote out the existing radicals and prevent more radicals from taking power. Those who fail to act on this duty will suffer the wrath of God's curses.

Full Text of Article:

Our answer has been, is, and will be--YES. Our duty to ourselves and to the great Democratic party of the country demands imperatively that in this hour of trail, Virginia's fair escutcheon be kept pure and stainless as when given to us by heroic sons of the two Revolutions. When Virginians laid down their arms at Appomatox, their matchless honor, bravery and integrity were themes of admiration--even amid our foes. None of these did they surrender to the recreant, whose quondam cognomen now heads the radical ticket. Will they yield to them now?--People of the Old Dominion, the spirit of Washington looks down upon us while we make our choice! The issues involved are not complicated; our honor is concerned, and we cannot, must not, WILL NOT hesitate! Should we fail to perform this duty, God's curses, mankind's, and our own will rest upon us!

The Constitution of 1851 is undoubtedly the Constitution of Virginia. Upon this point all of our best legal minds agree--although the Alexandria Convention made no change in regard to the election of electors for President and Vice-President--on this particular point the Constitution of 1851 remains intact. On this ground--if on none other, do we make out our case as having a clear right--which makes it an imperative duty--to cast our vote at the ensuing Presidential election. By the provisions of sec. 7, chap. 7, title 3, of both the Constitution of 1851 and the Alexandria Constitution, the Governor is required, "on or before the first day of August, in every year in which such elections are to be held," (that is, election of electors of President and Vice President) to "appoint three persons in each county--in the corporation of Williamsburg--and in each corporation in which wards are established, as commissioners, any two of whom may act, to superintend the election," etc.--This clearly defines the duty of our Governor, that is, if we have a legal Governor. In case he fails to execute the law--(no doubt he will)--or if we have no legal Governor--and no intelligent man would venture to affirm that we have, then again does both constitutions provide for the identical emergency. By sec. 11, ch. 7, title 3, of both constitutions, it is provided that "If only one of said commissioners appointed to superintend any of the elections before mentioned, shall attend and be willing to act, he may associate with himself as a commissioner and freeholder who may be present; and if none of the commissioners attend, or none shall have been appointed, then any two freeholders present, and agreeing to act, shall be commissioners. Any such commissioner, appointed or agreeing to act as prescribed in this section, shall take the same oath, perform the same duties, and be subject to the same penalties, as if he had been originally appointed as commissioner."

Such is the law. The infamous bill referred to the Senate (so-called) proposing to prevent us from taking any part on the coming election was defeated. We are free to make our own choice. Are you For or Against, men of the Valley? But no! We do not doubt you! For years did you face famine and death with a fortitude that has made the name of Virginia immortal, and now you will not desert the Right! Let us do our duty, and vote!--leaving to the Democracy of the North their duty--counting our vote! In your names we send them greeting, assuring them that although the birth-place of Washington and Henry and Madison and Lee is under the heel of the oppressor--that Virginia
"Is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb;
She breathes, she burns, she'll come, she'll come."

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
(Column 02)

Summary: This article is an appeal to readers to vote in favor of a subscription to a new segment of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Although the road has many opponents, the author nevertheless insists that the opposition's arguments are far outweighed by the benefits the new road will bring to Augusta. For one, the distance to Richmond will be shortened by a great deal, but more important, investment in the new road will bring significant returns to all those who subscribe. The author calls to the men of Augusta County not to stand idly by. They must apply themselves and work diligently to see the railroad through; otherwise, the company could take another, cheaper and shorter route. This alarming admission is meant to push Augusta men into action.
(Names in announcement: Stuart, Baldwin, Michie, Echols)

Full Text of Article:

We have time and again urged the friends of the subscription of this road to go to work, and canvass the county thoroughly, to discuss the subject fully in private and in public in every part of the county; to answer every objection of its enemies; to see every voter and convince the people of the importance and propriety of voting for the subscription. We make one more earnest appeal to you, to shake off your lethargy and go to work. Your wily opponents are working secretly, but actively and effectively, whilst you are idly and criminally sleeping in the shade.

Why was the election postponed by the last County Court? It was done in opposition to the wishes and remonstrances of the friends of the road, and just upon the eve of the completion of the contract with the commissioners. Can any one doubt that the sole object of the postponement was to defeat the subscription? We have heard, and do not doubt, that the settled purpose of some of the Justices who are in favor of the subscription look to this matter, and see that the election is not put off again.

The Legislature of Virginia and West Virginia have passed the most liberal acts of incorporation of the purpose of organizing a company to build this road, and have appointed commissioners to contract with some company to build it in accordance with these acts. In November last these commissioners entered into a conditional contract with the Virginia Central Railroad Company, whereby they agreed to invest the Central Company with all the property, rights, privileges and franchises of both States in the Covington and Ohio Railroad, provided that unconditional subscriptions to the amount of three and-a-half millions of dollars are made to the preferred stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company, by the counties and corporations along its line. This subscription must be made by the first of September, or the contract is void. If the subscription is obtained, the Virginia Central Railroad ceases to exist, or rather, it becomes merged into the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company.

The counties and corporations subscribing are to give the company their bonds, payable in thirty years or less--and for these bonds the company gives certificates of preferred stock, and they guarantee that when the road is opened to the Ohio river, that these certificates shall pay an annual dividend of 8 per centum. The present stock-holders surrender all claims to dividends until the new stock holders receive 8 per centum per annum, and the States of Virginia and West Virginia surrender all claims to taxes against the property of the Chesapeake and Ohio Company until they shall declare a dividend of ten per centum per annum on their whole capital.

The bonds of the counties will be called for in installments, as they may be needed in the course of the construction of the work, and the counties will have to pay the interest on these installments until the road is opened to the Ohio river, when the interest will be paid by the dividends. No one who had taken the trouble to inform himself on this subject doubts that when this road is completed that it will pay 10 or 15 per cent, dividends. If it pays 10 per cent, 8 per cent of that amount will pay the interest, and the other 2 per cent, set aside as a sinking fund, will pay the principle in seventeen and one-third years. So that for the trifling sum of thirty or forty thousand dollars, paid in three or four years, the county can receive all the benefits and blessings resulting from the construction of this great road, and in time enjoy the benefit of an annual income of twenty or thirty thousand dollars from her dividends in the stock of this road.

But this is not all. If the road is built on this place, you are guaranteed the short line from here to Richmond; if this short line is built, it will practically shorten the distance about one-fourth from here to that city, which will save one fourth of the freight and fare now paid by the people of Augusta to the Central Railroad Company. From the last annual report of the Central Company we find that very little less than $145,000 was paid for freights alone, and fully as much more for passenger fare, making $200,000.--If this short line had been finished, one fourth of that would have been saved to the county. One fourth of $290,000 is $72,000. This saving for one year is double as much as the county will have to pay in all, if she makes this subscription.

If the county does not make the subscription, and the Central Railroad does not build the Covington and Ohio Railroad, will the short line ever be built? We answer--No! Because it won't pay to build it. The trade and travel over the road will not justify the immense outlay of money necessary to build a railroad from Richmond to Charlottesville.

We have heard some of the persons who oppose the subscription say, that the Covington and Ohio Railroad will be built anyhow, and when it is built, the short line will be built as a necessity. This is a great mistake. If the Covington and Ohio Railroad is not built by the Central Company, that road will never carry the immense trade and travel of the West over the line. The same Company that owns the western end will own a line of its own through to Richmond and the Chesapeake Bay. Much as we regret to make the admission, still, after a careful examination of the map, and a thorough knowledge of the topography of the country, we are forced to admit that there is a shorter, cheaper, and better route from Covington to Richmond and Norfolk, than the present road through Augusta county. We would not call public attention to this alarming argument if we did not know that the people of the West had already been casting their eyes in that direction. They are only waiting now for the action of the Central Railroad Company. The vote of Augusta county on the 27th of August will forever decide the question of a short line from here to Richmond as well as the route of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Again, we say to the friends of the road, go to work with all your might until the election is over. And in conclusion, we must earnestly call upon Messers. Stuart, Baldwin, Michie, Echols, and all friends of the road, to make appointments and address the people on this subject, before it is too late. This is the great "reconstruction;" the only salvation of the State! Let us all work together, for the regeneration of our dear old Mother.

Adjournment of the "Fragmentary Congress."
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper rejoices that Congress has adjourned and the public "are to be spared the disgusting recital of the outrageous proceedings of the 'infamous' men who compose the majority of this most 'infamous' body." The editors assert that all the most objectionable bills affecting the South were defeated.

Impeachment
(Column 03)

Summary: In support of President Johnson, this article illustrates the evil designs of the Radical Party. The Radicals' plan, albeit "unconstitutional," is to seize power by placing "usurpers" from the South in the Senate, thereby creating the two-thirds majority necessary to depose the president. However, even if this comes to pass, President Johnson should stand firm and defend his office. In other words, the president should "resist the illegal order to abandon his post."

Full Text of Article:

Impeachment of the President is not dead, but only postponed until the usurpers from the South shall take their seats in the Senate, and swell to a two-thirds majority the ranks of conspirators against the government. We have no doubt that new articles will be prepared, and a vote taken to depose the President on some day previous to the counting of the electoral vote. It is essential to the plan of the radicals to have a creature of their own in the executive chair when this vote is counted, and Mr. Johnson must be gotten out of the way if only the day before.

It is for the President to determine whether he will yield to the judgment of a Senate where the two-thirds majority is composed of voting material so flagrantly unconstitutional and so palpably designed for partisan and revolutionary objects. In our judgment he ought to resist the illegal order to abandon his post at the helm of the Government. He is sworn not only to "maintain," but to "defend" the Constitution of the United States, and if he tamely suffers the Presidential office to be violated by unlawful and usurped power, he fails to keep his oath. He ought to refuse to give up his reins, and if the radical factions elect to use force, let them shoulder the responsibility and the consequences. A great many people believe this tyrannical and liberty-hating party will not cease their iniquitous war upon constitutional freedom until the mailed hand of the people brings them to their senses. However this may be, it is clear that the friends and defenders of the Constitution have forborne and given back long enough, and should now halt and take not another step to the rear. A stand may as well be made on this attempt to depose the President as any where else, and we trust that Andrew Johnson will vindicate his likeness to Andrew Jackson, and take his stand firmly in defense of his great office and of the people.

A Noble Letter from General Hancock Sustaining Seymour and Blair
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper prints a letter from General Winfield Scott Hancock endorsing Horatio Seymour and Frank Blair for president and vice president.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The Augusta Fire Company went on an excursion to Goshen last Saturday.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that the "Seymour Punch" is the "latest and most fashionable white man's drink in Danville."

The Valley of Virginia
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper quotes from the Religious Herald of Richmond that large numbers from the North and South are moving to the Valley of Virginia. Land prices are rising. A member of the Baptist Church of Staunton reported receiving an offer to buy land at $70 and acre, $20 more than what he had been asking a year ago.

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: John Hall and Miss Elizabeth Branaman, both of Augusta, were married on July 21st by the Rev. Jacob Killian.
(Names in announcement: John Hall, Elizabeth Branaman, Rev. Jacob Killian)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: Judge Nick Cleary of Washington and Miss Catharine McMahon of Staunton were married at Staunton's St. Francis Church by the Rev. Father Weed.
(Names in announcement: Nick Cleary, Catharine McMahon, Fr. Weed)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: Allie Virginia Yeakle, infant daughter of G. C. and M. E. Yeakle, formerly of Staunton, died in Washington on July 26th.
(Names in announcement: Allie Virginia Yeakle, G. C. Yeakle, M. E. Yeakle)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss J. Annie Newman died in Waynesboro on July 27th. She was 22 years old.
(Names in announcement: J. Annie Newman)