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Valley Virginian: May 6, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Hand Writing on the Wall
(Column 01)

Summary: This article warns the people of the corruption of the present administration. President Grant is merely a tool of the Radicals and the Supreme Court is its puppet. The author indicates that the Radicals make a farce of the Constitution, which in turn has consequences not only for the Southern states, but the Northern ones as well. Despite the oppressive circumstances at the present, the author is confident that the next general election will yield positive results against the radicals. He assures his readers that Grant will soon have no backers.

Full Text of Article:

From every quarter we have indications of the increasing unpopularity of the present administration. The great bell which is to toll the knell of Radical supremacy is hung, and its tones will soon be heard reverberating from one end of the land to the other. The party tool, who "did not seek" the high office conferred on him, has shown his weakness, and has proven himself so willing a cat's-paw, that even those of his original friends who shouted for him,, are becoming disgusted with the calf they held up for the people to do reverence to. The constitution has become a mere myth--the Supreme Court, whose sage judges were in times past looked upon with awe and reverence, has, as is proved by its dismissing the appeal in the McAardle case, been awed into submission to party power. The veto power of the President is held as naught--and even if the present Executive considered it his duty to withhold his approval of a bill, he has not the moral courage to do it; Grant dared not veto the tenure of office bill though it tied his hands, through fear of vengeance of the party that lifted him into power. Power! where is his power? Congress is the Government de facto; the President is a mere tool, the Supreme Court is a puppet, and the people good easy fools who can be taught to swallow buncombe speeches about the stars and stripes--patriotism--rebel atrocities--Cuban independence--equal rights--free love and spiritualism.

The verdict of the people will be given through the ballot box at the next general election; such a state of affairs cannot exist long; the blind shall be made to see; for what government can exist which is based exclusively on party measures--created by party power, and sustained by closed caucus of leaders? An oligarchy will not be sustained by the People. Congress has issued its edict, asserting a despotic rule over Presidents, Courts, States, and the people, making the ideas of an Union and a Constitution a farce, and coercing whole communities beneath their heel. This decree affects not only the Southern but the Northern States. The "Rebels" are not the only ones to be ruled--the people of the "loyal States" are to be enslaved. If the voters of the Northern and Western States are not blind beyond cure, they will be made to see by some political optimist. Senator Sprague is doing much towards opening their eyes--other leading Radicals are openly denouncing the corruption and rascality that now exist in high places, and before long Grant will scarcely have a backer.

Joseph Segar
(Column 01)

Summary: The author of this article is skeptical of the promises made by Congressional candidate Joseph Segar. Segar, a Republican, claims to be opposed to many of the radical propositions for the Constitution. Most importantly, he supports universal suffrage. While "shy" regarding Negro suffrage, he agrees with the current sentiment acknowledging the matter as "fixed." The author thinks this politician is making promises too difficult to keep, particularly those concerning the development of Virginia's industries.

Full Text of Article:

We have received (franked by Geo. W. Anderson, M.C.) the address of Mr. Segar, the republican candidate for Congress for the State at large. He says he never admired the caucus system in any of its forms, and thinks that popular sentiment will be far more likely to be advanced by the voluntary suffrage of the people, who are sure to bring the test to personal qualification. He defies caucuses and cliques; he wants the people (the dear gullible people) to judge the innovation and the innovator. He thinks the work of reconstruction has been accomplished, and congratulates us all, "that the magnanimity and statesmanship of President Grant have removed the obstacles that lay in our path, by providing for the submission of the Constitution to the people, either stripped of its offensive features, or to be voted on its separate sections." The smallest favors thankfully received! He says he is determined to vote against the test oath--So are we. He lays particular stress on the fact that ninety-nine out of a hundred voters will be deprived of the right of franchise on account of their having in some way aided the rebellion. Mr. Segar can safely vote--he was far from being an aider and abetter of the rebellion; but he knows something about the pointing of the guns of Fortress Monroe upon the town of Hampton at the opening of said rebellion. He is also opposed to disfranchisement, and says that the county organization provision will entail upon the people a taxation that will eat out their substance. To clinch the matter he says, "I scarcely need add that if the present Constitution were presented to me as a whole, as it now stands, I should be constrained to reject it."

Of the Fifteenth Amendment, which makes suffrage universal throughout the Union, he is rather shy. "Negro suffrage" he says "is a fixed fact. We can no more avert it than we can stop the sun's course, and it is, our policy to settle this negro question at once and forever." What, settle a fixed fact? He promises if we the people will make him our representative to the Forty first Congress, to develop the resources of Virginia--to see that her railroads are completed; in fact he is an advocate for internal improvement; and will put on the brow of Virginia "the wreath of both commercial and manufacturing renown, and place her, ere many lustrums, along side the Empire State." According to his ideas, railroads can be built without money--all we have to do is select a smart man to Congress, and we will get an appropriation of public lands, or a loan of the national credit. He winds up with stating that--

"We have in General Grant a statesman magnanimous, wise and firm, who comprehends our difficulties, and understands our needs, and who will smooth our way to reconstruction without oppressive or dishonorable conditions."

Illusive Hopes of Grant
(Column 02)

Summary: Although Grant has been authorized by Congress to submit provisions of constitutions to each separately to be accepted or rejected by the people, the author does not have high hopes. Some Democrats assume that Grant will submit the worst provisions first and that they will be immediately rejected. While this is good news for the Democrats, it has the Radicals worried. However, since Grant is "undeniably in the hands of the Radical party," he will not act on this authority. Thus, the Democrats have no reason to be elated and the radicals have no reason to be worried.

Full Text of Article:

The Democratic organs of Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, says the Louisville Courier Journal, are greatly exultant because President Grant is authorized by Congress to select according to his own discretion such provisions of those States as he pleases and submit them separately to the people for acceptance or rejection. The Radicals on the contrary are said to be greatly mortified and disappointed, their universal desire having been that each constitution should be submitted as a whole to the people of the State voting upon it. The Southern Democrats take it for granted that the President will submit separately all the most odious and obnoxious provisions of the proposed constitution, and that those provisions will be rejected, whilst the Radicals are said to be painfully apprehensive of such a result. Our own decided conviction, however, is that the Democrats have very little cause to feel elated in regard to the matter or the Radicals to feel depressed. Grant, we hardly need to say, is undeniably in the hands of the Radical leaders, and if there are, in the constitutions of the three States spoken of any provisions, no matter how offensive and revolting, which are deemed necessary to the full consummation of the Congressional plan of reconstruction in all its enormity, none of those provisions will be submitted separately as the Radical leaders may think can be dispensed with without detriment to the success of their despotic designs. We should have hoped better things from Grant a few weeks ago, but Grant has murdered hope.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The author instructs all disinterested eligible voters to act. Although many assume conservatism has "been kicked overboard," they should nevertheless vote. If not, they, as well as their children, will be subjected to everlasting disgrace.

Full Text of Article:

We look to the Valley to win this fight. Shall we be disappointed? Where is John Letcher? and Robert Y. Conrad? and Moses Walton?--Richmond Enquirer & Ex.

We are of the opinion that the Valley will give a good account of itself. To be sure there are many well meaning men, who say they don't see why they should bother themselves about registering or voting--as conservatism has been kicked overboard. These men, however will wheel into ranks when the excitement begins to work. They will have the god sense to choose between Walker and Wells--between a Constitution divested of its objectionable parts, and the real Underwood Constitution with all its humiliating enormities sticking to it like an itch. Let every man who loves his honor--who would not entail upon his children an everlasting disgrace, register and vote in order that he may defeat the Underwood Constitution.

Improvements
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper remarks on the "number of handsome stores and dwellings" that are "looming up in this growing town."

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper criticizes a northern Methodist Church minister who declared that "legally they were entitled to the Southern Methodist Church property; but morally they were not."

Lecture
(Column 01)

Summary: Dr. C. R. Harris will repeat his lecture on "The Influences of the Fine Arts on the Moral Sensibilities" at the lecture room of the Methodist Church. The price of admission is 25 cents and the proceeds will go toward buying equipment for the Augusta Fire Company. The lecture comes with excellent reviews.
(Names in announcement: Dr. C. R. Harris)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: James W. Brooks and Miss Sarah A. Fauber, both of Augusta, were married in Churchville on April 29th by the Rev. J. J. Engle.
(Names in announcement: James W. Brooks, Sarah A. Fauber, Rev. J. J. Engle)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: David S. Howser of Augusta County and Miss Eliza J. Golliday of Nelson were married at Hardwicksville, Buckingham County, at the residence of Capt. John Donald on April 15th by the Rev. Mr. Whithers.
(Names in announcement: David S. Howser, Eliza J. Golliday, Capt. John Donald, Rev. Whithers)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: Samuel Robinson and Miss Althea A. McGilvray, both of Augusta, were married in Greenville on April 15th by the Rev. C. Dameron.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Robinson, Althea A. McGilvray, Rev. C. Dameron)

Marriages
(Column 03)

Summary: Dr. Charles H. Perrow of Nelson and Miss Fannie A. Mitchell of Augusta were married at the residence of the bride's father, Joseph T. Mitchell, on April 29th by the Rev. J. A. Latane.
(Names in announcement: Dr. Charles H. Perrow, Fannie A. Mitchell, Joseph T. Mitchell, Rev. J. A. Latane)

Deaths
(Column 03)

Summary: George Thomas Cleavelde, son of O. E. and Sarah A. Cleavelde, died on May 1st. He was 2 years old.
(Names in announcement: George Thomas Cleavelde, O. E. Cleavelde, Sarah A. Cleavelde)