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Staunton Vindicator: February 11, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The New Constitution
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper prints a draft of the new state constitution.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper expresses disgust with Virginia's new representatives, who seem more concerned with forming new parties than providing for their constituents. Reminds them who they serve.

Full Text of Article:

Just after the re-admission of the State to the Union, and when all our people are anxiously hoping for the greatest possible improvement in the pecuniary condition of one and all in the State, and that Virginia will take the long talked of and lately vehemently promised rapid strides along the road of progress and prosperity, there is a sudden blow given to the hopes of even the least sanguine. Our Congressmen just seated, instead of taking into consideration the best interests of our State and people, and instituting legislation looking thereto, are found in consultation on the subject--well, what do you think?--of organizing a new political party in the State! Not to compare views as to the legislation best calculated to promote the welfare and prosperity of our people, their constituents, but to disturb them with the agitation of a new political party. Not as to what will conduce to the greatest progress of Virginia, but to see if they can devise a party to control her affairs and chain her to the car of Radicalism.

We respectfully suggest to the gentlemen who represent Virginia in Congress that parties are not made in a day or hour, and can not be called up like spirits by Congressional mediums. They are the outgrowth of of principles, to be lasting, and hence the folly of endeavoring to conjure them from the vasty depths of the future. Instead of trying to run a party "in the middle of political extremes in Virginia," you had better run "into the middle" of the good feeling of all our people by measures calculated to do good. The people would a great deal rather hear of you trying to remove disabilities at one blow, so that they might select whom of their fellow citizens they choose to serve them, or that you secure aid, so much needed to develop Virginia's resources, in building her railroads, canals &c. than to be racking your brains to start new parties, which can have no other result than to worry them.

Let go your political hobbies, gentlemen, and take hold of something useful. The people demand it and you are but their servants--now.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: An anonymous letter promoting the expansion of mechanical enterprises in the state. Says Virginia cannot remain solely agricultural, but must develop its resources to include manufacturing to better its future.

Full Text of Article:

Mr. Editor--In a former communication I endeavored to show the importance of making our town a manufacturing place--how I thought we might induce men of capital and experience to invest their means in manufacturing enterprises in our midst. I now propose to show that a purely agricultural community cannot be permanently prosperous. To make a people prosperous and happy, we must have the miner, manufacturer and mechanic laboring side by side with the farmer and planter in the same community, if we wish to profit by our magnificent resources, increase our wealth and keep step with the progress of intelligence and civilization. The husband-man and shepherd of the barbarous ages used their fingers for forks and the skins of their flocks for clothing, yet then Tubal Cains were forced to supply them with knives and instruments of Brass. The savages of America depended on their rude mechanical skill in constructing snares and bows and arrows to procure their food, while the Hotentot of Africa owed their precarious and miserable existence more to there ingenuity than to the material fruits of the earth. The soil cannot be made to yield fruits without some mechanical constructions. The burned stick of the Indian, the wooden plow of the Roman, the rude coulter of our grandfathers or the steam cultivator of to-day must be made use of. We would relapse into barbarism without the aid of iron and those metals which subject all nature to our use and pleasure, but we cannot obtain them without the miner and manufacturer, nor can we fashion them to our wants without the skill of the mechanic, yet science and knowledge are quite essential. The ancient manufacturer made ingots of steel and the East Indian of to day blowing through his sheepskin bag can produce half a pound iron per day. Science has increased the production to one hundred pounds. Our ancestors in England, in 1600, carried their coal, ore and iron on the backs of women and asses, and, fifty years ago, the planters of Virginia rolled there hogsheads of tobacco from Danville to Richmond. Steam now does the work with a thousand fold increase. It is thus manifest that the miner, manufacturer and mechanic are not only useful to the farmer and planter, but absolutely indispensable. They are the "handmaids" of science and skill.

The miner, manufacturer and mechanic are not only necessary for the production of food and clothing, but they furnish the means of promoting intelligence and civilization, the necessities, comforts, pleasures and luxuries of peace, and the implements of defence in war. These facts are evident and it is manifest that the richest soils must become eventually exhausted and valueless by constant drains on their resources without recompense. A purely agricultural people therefore add nothing to the permanent wealth of their country, while a combined manufacturing and agricultural community grows rich. There are many examples, but let Virginia and Massachusetts stand in evidence. The former was naturally rich but now poor, the latter was naturally poor but now rich.

The mineral resources of our county are equal to our agricultural, but the one cannot be properly developed without the other, and domestic industry must be employed to accomplish the result. We all desire permant material prosperity and let us work together then to secure it by fostering mechanical and manufacturing as well as agricultural interests.

A CITIZEN

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: "North Side" writes the Vindicator and asserts that many citizens wish to see the Valley Railroad extended to Salem. Public meetings will be held in Moscow to petition the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company and call attention to the issue.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that "the colored population continues to be thinned out here." Forty individuals left town on Monday morning.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Staunton Musical Association performed the cantata "Daniel" at the Baptist Church last week.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Rev. G. W. Samson, president of Columbia College, will deliver his lecture on Jerusalem in the Baptist Church on Friday. The lecture is based on his travels in the Holy Land. It will cover the city's "three mountains and surrounding valleys; its walls, gates and towers; the Jewish-Christian traditions as to holy places, and the scenes of Easter week; illustrating the principles of the Christian faith." Admission is 25 cents, children and Sunday School students 10 cents.

Arrest of the Waynesboro Burglars
(Column 01)

Summary: Deputy Sheriff Bull arrested a black man named Bill Mowry, aka Murray, who was wanted for a number of burglaries. "He was known to be a desperate character, and one that would resort to any expediency to accomplish his purpose." On his testimony, warrants were issued for the arrest of a white man named Alexander Bush, a white man named James Terrell, a black man named Jesse Harden, and a black man named Sam Harden. All are wanted for robbing the store of C. R. Haines, the home of Mrs. Wright, and stealing brandy from the distillery of Simon Koiner, the property of John N. Crouse. Warrants were also issued for a black man named Isaac Walker and a black man named Primus Bowles for stealing from the smoke house of David Wines. Justice Clinedinst committed all in custody to jail to await trial. The paper extends thanks to the sheriff for chasing Murray through the brush and arresting him, even though the suspect was armed with a Colt navy shooter.
(Names in announcement: Sheriff Bull, Bill Mowry, Bill Murray, Alexander Bush, James Terrell, Jesse Harden, Sam Harden, C. R. Haines, Mrs. Wright, Simon Koiner, John N. Crouse, Isaac Walker, Primus Bowles, Justice Clinedinst)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Gen. John Echols of Staunton joined a number of the directors of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in riding on the road in a special train to White Sulphur Springs. They returned to Staunton as guests of the Virginia Hotel.
(Names in announcement: Gen. John Echols)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: James H. Hutcheson, formerly of Greenville, and Jenny M. E. Reamer, daughter of S. R. Reamer of Harrisonburg, were married at the residence of the bride's parents on January 27th by the Rev. J. S. Gardner.
(Names in announcement: James H. Hutcheson, Jenny M. E. Reamer, S. R. Reamer, Rev. J. S. Gardner)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: John Palmer of Newport and Miss Mary Eago were married on February 6th at the residence of Mr. Palmer by the Rev. Mr. Engle.
(Names in announcement: John Palmer, Mary Eago, Mr. Palmer, Rev. Engle)