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Valley Virginian: November 11, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Augusta County Fair for 1868
(Column 04)

Summary: Page-long list of prize-winners at the Augusta County Fair.

The Presidential Election--The Result and the Prospect
(Column 01)

Summary: Collection of newspaper reactions to the election of Grant, many stressing a "wait-and-see" approach.

Northern Men in Virginia
(Column 02)

Summary: In opposition to widespread accusations leveled by the northern press, suggesting that a bitter South treats all northern men as carpetbaggers, this anonymous author suggests exactly the opposite. Rather, the southern citizenry shuns only unscrupulous "grasping" men, and welcomes honest, hard working settlers from the North. These men should not fear harsh treatment, but expect to share in the future prosperity of Virginia that immigration will help to foster.

Full Text of Article:

A correspondent of the Baltimore Statesman writing from the Halifax C.H. says:

I am grieved at the misrepresentation of the people of Virginia, in which the Northern press persists. Their repeated charges that Northern men are denounced, indiscriminately, as "carpetbaggers," and treated with insult and indignity, are cruelly false. I have lived for seventy years in this county, which probably was most affected by the events of the war, because of the large slave population; I am familiar with the sentiments and feeling of its population, and I know, form observation and correspondence, that they fairly represent the sentiments and feelings of the whole State.

It may be of doubtful utility to repeat what has already been so often stated, but it may be of possible benefit to explain the precise attitude in which Northern men stand with reference to our citizens. The honest immigrant--the real settler, the tradesman, or mechanic--who comes from the North and seeks to establish a permanent home in Virginia, not only has nothing to apprehend in the way of personal annoyance or injury, but is sincerely welcomed as a desirable addition to our population. His political opinions do not affect the estimate which his new neighbors form of him; that depends entirely upon his personal character and conduct, and the testimony, on this point, of men from every part of the North, is abundant and conclusive. I might mention two well-known names to which I am willing to refer, and by whose evidence I am ready to abide. I mean the Rev. Dr. Sears, at Staunton, and General Mulford, at Richmond. But that class who are designated as carpetbaggers stand in a very different relation to us. they come among our people to obtain office, and to profit by our disorganized society. They bring no character with them, and have left no good reputation behind. They are mere adventurers, impecunious, irresponsible and grasping; they stir up sedition and strife, and they debauch the minds of the ignorant negroes, deluding, deceiving and plundering them. In many instances, outcasts from Northern society; in others, escaped or pardoned felons, they form a ready alliance with all that is bad in our midst; they are without sympathy with black or white, without stake in the community, without interest in property, and yet they aim, and too often succeed, in filling official positions and exercising a relentless and irresponsible authority over us. It would be strange indeed if every emotion of our natures did not revolt at the presence of such men. No Northern society would endure them, and yet when we revolt against these calumniators of our oldest and best citizens; these slanderers of our purest womanhood; these perverters of the real feelings and purposes of our people, we are blamed by the very class at the North who would deem themselves contaminated by their touch. It is strange that we complain of the recognition which some men obtain from authority, and the readiness with which their falsehoods are received with pretended belief, and made the pretext for new oppressions? We are willing to accept the consequences of the war in every true and honest sense; but the presence and the power of this class of men present the most depressing illustration of our humiliation; the most hateful reminder of our helplessness and degradation. I trust that the North will take the trouble to understand our real feelings and notions. Let them believe Mr. Adams, Dr. Sears and others, who bear true testimony to both. Let them not do the grievous injustice to themselves, to their own motives, to their own civilization, which will be involved in the demand that we shall include among the inevitable results of conquest, willing acceptance--as part of our social and political system--of an element which no organized society would endure for a day.

I may be uselessly consuming the space this hurried communication will take in your columns, but I feel impressed with the duty of declaring how willingly our people will welcome honest and true settlers from the North; how cheerfully we will labor with them in working out whatever prosperity the future may have in store for our poor old State.

The Norfolk Convention. Sketches of its Members
(Column 03)

Summary: This article offers brief sketches of some attending members of the Norfolk Convention. Among those mentioned are Alexander H.H. Stuart and N.K. Trout from Augusta County. The author emphasizes the intellect and ability of the men he describes.
(Names in announcement: N. K. Trout, A. H. H. Stuart, William H. Tams, Maj. J. C. Covell, Bolivar Christian, J. H. Skinner)

Full Text of Article:

"G," the correspondent of the Richmond Whig, has been at his old tricks, making personal sketches of the leading members of the Norfolk Convention, a few of which we give. He says: "To the left of me, and about midway the dress circle, sits, with the air of one who was born to be seen and heard, Alexander H.H. Stuart of Augusta. I do not know how it is with others, but for myself, I have never been able to conceive of his presence in a deliberative body so august that his individuality could be entirely lost or his personnel fail to excite favorable comment. But who is the goodlooking man near him who deports himself to his seat as if he were accustomed to go to church, and had acquired the habit of listening. My neighbor reporters do not know, never having seen him before in a convention. To the left of Mr. Stuart is seated his fellow-townsman, William H. Tams, cashier of the Virginia Insurance Company at Staunton. His bearing is thoughtful, and at a glance you see that the commercial column is the first portion of a newspaper he reads, and that upon the subject of direct trade and finance he has clear and well defined ideas, and yet he will never appear in the daily convention reports, I venture to predict, because he will remain silent and listen, in many instances, to talking men with not a tithe of his, information in regard to the great and all-important questions before the Convention. I turn my head and there in the parquette, in front, but some distance from the chair, is John B. Baldwin, whose face and head show that he is massive in intellect, but hardly indicate, as in the case of Mr. Stuart, the full measure of his great ability.

Major J.C. Covell, Superintendent of the State Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, attracts me, and I skip a half dozen politicians or more to sketch him. He does not seem to be thinking of direct trade, as I commence, but, like your correspondent, is examining only more critically the personnel of members. He would, it seems to me, make a great detective, and will, if he lives long enough, connect his name with some highly important invention.

What a familiar group, and one composed of Virginians who have figured conspicuously and influentially in the Legislature and in public assemblies of the State, have we in Bolivar Christian and J.H. Skinner, of Augusta; William E. Ward, of Botetourt; N.K. Trout, of Staunton; R.W. Hughes, of Abingdon; Colonel Edmund Fontaine, of Hanover, and others like him, who are, heart and soul, devoted to the advancement and development of the great commercial, manufacturing, agricultural and mechanical interests of Virginia. For a military picture, my canvass is too contracted to allow me even in miniature to sketch any below the rank of brigadier, and I therefore confine myself to Generals Ruggles, Echols, James Walker, Robert Preston, Imboden, Terry and Maney, (of Tennessee), neither of whom looks warlike, and all of whom seem eager to enlist, without bounty or choice of the branches of service, in the ranks of the cohorts now being marshaled to battle for the commercial independence of the States. May the same gallantry and indomitable perseverance, but far better success, attend them than their efforts for the political disenthralment of the South.

Samuel McDowell Moore occupies a retired seat in the parquette, and is the sole representative from Rockbridge. He was in the great Convention of 1829, but has still fire in his eye, and Virginia fire in his heart, too. No member is more cordially welcomed to the body. The question, Where is Flournoy?--is he coming?--was answered by the arrival awhile ago of the eloquent gentleman himself. He looks as hale in person as he is vigorous in intellect and indomitable in will.

Wholesome Advice
(Column 04)

Summary: The author informs his readers that the lack of interest in the presidential election resulted in serious consequences for the conservatives of the state. This was also due, in his estimation, to the lack of political organization. The upcoming vote on the recently adopted state constitution will require both greater interest and organization.

Full Text of Article:

The Alexandria Advertiser says:--With the subsidence of interests in the Presidential contest will come to us in Virginia a struggle far more momentous than that in which the party leaders of this State elected to take no part. The constitution recently adopted at Richmond will doubtless shortly be passed to a vote. Had the conservatives of Virginia organized for the Presidential campaign, even though their votes were not counted, yet they would now have had a compact and disciplined political organization with which to meet the well organized "Loyal Leagues" whose strength is about to be put forth in support of the proposed constitution. It is, however, not yet too late to organize. Better late than never.

Valley Railroad
(Column 04)

Summary: This piece announces the meeting regarding the subscription of $100,000 for the Valley Railroad. Included is a list of speakers and officials.
(Names in announcement: Mayor Trout, Judge Sheffey, Col. M. G. Harman, Dr. C. R. Harris, Maj. J. B. Watts, Jed Hotchkiss)

Full Text of Article:

On last Wednesday night a large and enthusiastic meeting of our citizens took place at the Court House. The question of subscribing $100,000 to the stock of the Valley Railroad was ably discussed. His Honor, Mayor Trout presided and J.B. Evans was Secretary. Addresses were delivered by Judge Sheffey, Col. M.G. Harman, Dr. C.R. Harris, and Majors J.B. Watts and Jed Hotchkiss. A committee of influential citizens was appointed to canvas Staunton in favor of the 100,000 subscription.

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: George D. Almarode and Miss Susan J. Whitesell, both of Augusta, were married in Staunton on November 5th by the Rev. William E. Baker.
(Names in announcement: George D. Almarode, Susan J. Whitesell, Rev. William E. Baker)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: Thomas Johnson and Miss Delila Allen, both of Augusta, were married on October 29th by the Rev. J. M. Shreckhise.
(Names in announcement: Thomas Johnson, Delila Allen, Rev. J. M. Shreckhise)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: William A. Beard and Mrs. Rachel E. Adair were married on October 27th by the Rev. Harvey Gilmore.
(Names in announcement: William A. Beard, Rachel E. Adair, Rev. Harvey Gilmore)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: John Wampler of Rockingham and Miss Catherine A. Miller of Augusta were married on October 22nd by the Rev. Frederick Miller.
(Names in announcement: John Wampler, Catherine A. Miller, Rev. Frederick Miller)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: J. W. Marsh and Miss Willie A. Freeman, both of Augusta, were married on November 3rd by the Rev. C. S. M. See.
(Names in announcement: J. W. Marsh, Willie A. Freeman, Rev. C. S. M. See)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: Jacob Brown and Miss Lucy Riley, both of Augusta, were married on October 20th by the Rev. John L. Clarke.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Brown, Lucy Riley, Rev. John L. Clarke)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss Maria Blackwood died near Greenville on October 18th.
(Names in announcement: Maria Blackwood)