Valley Virginian: March 14, 1866 — Newspapers

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Summary:

The paper reports that "a lot of negroes got up a small sized row in Richmond last week, which ended in a few of them being wounded and the balance arrested."

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Summary:

The paper disparages Congress's decision not to receive a letter from the Governor of North Carolina on grounds that NC is not a state. "Aint we harmonizing rapidly?" the editor asks sarcastically.

Early and Sheridan: Letter From General Early

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Summary:

Confederate General Jubal Early responds to a letter written by Union General Philip Sheridan, in which Sheridan gave an account of his 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign. Early argues that Sheridan used his letter to sustain a "fictitious reputation." He disputes each of Sheridan's estimates of troop strengths and prisoners taken, arguing that the Confederate forces were smaller, and Union forces larger, than Sheridan depicted.

Origin of Article:

New York News

Amendments to the Constitution

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Summary:

The paper ridicules Congress's desire to pass more constitutional amendments by publishing a list of items suggested for amendment by a Brooklyn salesman.

Full Text of Article

The rage for amending the Constitution has been extended to a back street in the city of Brooklyn, and a practical statesman there, thus announces the amendments which he favors:

1. To provide that no landlord shall raise rent of any house to be let for the ensuing year.

2. To regulate the price of butter.

3. To limit the price of surloin steak to twenty cents a pound.

4. To prohibit the city railroad companies from carrying more than sixty passengers in a car; also, prohibiting the companies from employing as conductors agents for the circulation of counterfeit currency.

5. Authorizing ladies to occupy seats in the railroad cars and ferry-boats, whenever they can get them.

6. To suspend the collection of all taxes.

7. Providing everybody with a house and lot or farm on Long Island.

8. To regulate the price of coal.

9. To raise everybody's wages.

10. Abolishing gas bills.

11. Abolishing railroad accidents.

12. To provide husbands for all marriageable young ladies over thirty-five.

13. To compel every subscriber to pay in advance for his paper.

I have two or three dozen more amendments, but those will do to start with.

What is the use of having a Constitution, if it won't regulate things to suit everybody?

Next to the claims of the superior race, the alleviation of the condition of married men with small incomes and large families ought to attract the attention of Congress.

They have been at the mercy of landlords, coal dealers and corner groceries long enough.

There are several other measures which I propose to lay before Congress.

One to establish a bureau to take care of everybody who don't feel like working for a living, with authority to draw on the government for rations of roast turkey, charlotte russe, overcoats, whiskey and chewing tobacco.

To pay off the national debt by a tax on public speaking.

I am not in favor of universal suffrage.

I don't think children in arms should be allowed to vote.

Or emigrants before they come to this country.

But the franchise ought to be extended to women.

Men have had exclusive control of the voting, and a pretty condition of affairs they have brought the country to.

Lovely women may stoop to folly, but she can't do worse than the men who elected the present Congress.

I think I will run for Congress next fall on this platform.

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The Valley Railroad--Labor in Virginia

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Summary:

The paper prints an editorial in favor of a bill incorporating the Valley Railroad. The editors argue that the road would attract capital to the Valley and establish Richmond as a key center of Atlantic trade, bringing both goods and immigrants to Virginia. The article also comments on usury laws, and the need for labor in the South.

Full Text of Article

We agree with the Enquirer when it says: The Legislature succeeded in not doing some good things, and for that reason has been reproached with having done nothing at all. But of one act there is a division of opinion, which on the one side produces perfect satisfaction, and on the other most unanimous dismay. We allude to the act of incorporation for the Valley Railroad. Already an immense volume of words has been published on that subject. But we have not seen a view of the question presented from an entirely disinterested source--disinterested either in point of emolument or pride of citizenship--until our attention was directed to a letter in last Friday's issue of the New York World, from the pen of their experienced and well informed correspondent who is sojourning in this city. He speaks truly when he says that "the Shenandoah road will, even before its commencement, infuse new life and energy through the whole Valley, rouse the farmers to activity, and bring capital like a fertilizing summer rain after a long drouth, to make the harvests wave again over those desolate battle-fields." The recent and daily occurring purchases of real estate all along the Valley between Staunton and Winchester by Northern capitalists, while they divest the language of the correspondent of its prophetic sense, they corroborate its correctness.

"This," he adds, "necessarily creates a back country to enrich the tempting city of Richmond, which, seizing the golden moment, will at once turn its wonderful water-power to account, and become--as it would and should long since have been--one of the, if not the most flourishing manufacturing cities of the United States. In the meantime the capitalists of the far-off State of Ohio and Missouri, quite as interested as even those of Virginia in finding the nearest and most direct outlet to the Atlantic ocean across her surface, will doubtless come eagerly forward to aid in building the Covington and Ohio Railroad. Norfolk, with its fine climate and magnificent harbor, capable of holding the navies of the world, will necessarily bestir itself to meet the coming change and lines of ocean steamers will be speedily established, brining foreign immigrants direct to the shore of Virginia, and returning to Europe with the rich produce of the great West, which must ultimately take that route to the Atlantic, which is hundred of miles nearer than via New York, and open at all seasons of the year."

The refusal of the Legislature to repeal or amend the Usury Laws, leaves the people under the most serious disabilities in obtaining money. The correspondent advises all farmers who find themselves so situated, to place parts of their farm upon the market. It will thus enable them to cultivate the rest, "to employ abundance of labor, while every blow struck into the earth around his reserved lands will increase the latter in value, for the people who will have bought of him will be Northern husbandmen who mean work, or they would not come." In conclusion, he says that "a large infusion of white northern laborers would doubtless do much good; but I am quite sure, from present indications, that the South could get along admirably with her old laborers, under their new condition, if philanthropic marplots would only let them alone."

Covington and Ohio Railroad

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Summary:

The paper announces that John B. Baldwin has been named commissioner from Augusta for the Covington and Ohio railroad project, with authority to grant charters to capitalists.

Names in Announcement:

John B. Baldwin

Mr. Seward on Reconstruction

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Summary:

The paper reports that Secretary of State Seward replied to a disgruntled Pennsylvania radical Republican that the administration's policy was that which "Mr. Lincoln had adopted, and was carrying it out when he died, and that Mr. Johnson was merely continuing it; that the people of all parties would sustain it, and there was not a Rebel to-day in the whole country, and he should not use that word." The paper asserts that "Mr. Seward is in favor of the admission of the entire body of Southern members, just as they are, and the repeal of the test oath."

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Summary:

The paper announces that Major H. C. Lawrence, Freedmen's Bureau Agent for Fayetteville, NC, came out in a letter against the continuation of the Bureau in the South. "He was an original abolitionist from New England," the paper exclaims.

An Act Providing for the Adjustment of Liabilities Arising Under Contracts and Wills Made Between January 1, 1862, and April 10, 1865.

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Summary:

The paper prints the content of a bill, passed March 3, 1866, making provision for payment of debts and contracts entered into during the war. It provides guidelines for handling depreciated and/or worthless Confederate money used in payments.

Page 3

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Summary:

The paper reports that 4,067 1/2 gallons of whiskey were inspected in Augusta during the month of February, and 400 gallons still remain to be inspected.

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Summary:

The paper reports that "fires, supposed to be the work of incendiaries, generally Freedmen, are reported frequent in the neighborhood of Barterbrook" in Augusta County.

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Summary:

The paper reports that oil has been discovered on the farm of Isaac Moyers, two miles from Churchville. "There is great excitement about it."

Names in Announcement:

Isaac Moyers

Burglary

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Summary:

The paper reports that "100 lbs bacon, some flour, a lot of cigars, eggs, and some greenbacks" were stolen from A. M. Pierce's store on Saturday night. The total loss was estimated at $50.

Names in Announcement:

A. M. Pierce

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Summary:

The paper reports that Alex W. Greaver, of Smoky Row, Augusta County, was arrested and put in jail "on the charge of stealing 15 bushels of oats and some corn from Jacob Baylor, Esq."

Names in Announcement:

Alex W. Greaver

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Summary:

The paper reports that Mrs. Rebecca Imboden, who lives "a short distance above Lexington," was robbed of "200 lbs bacon, some lard and a barrel of meal." "This lady has been robbed five or six times in a few months."

Names in Announcement:

Rebecca Imboden

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Summary:

The paper announces that the "Staunton Glee Club" serenaded the editors. "We can assure the Club we appreciate the compliment paid the Valley Virginian, and to the soldiers who do the work on it."

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Summary:

The paper laments that "it is time something was done to put Staunton in a sanitary condition."

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Summary:

The paper states that "thirty-two idle negro men were counted by a gentleman, in a fruitless search, around the square, to find one to do a small job for him last week. How do they live?"

Crops

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Summary:

The paper reports that the wheat crop is "looking badly" but "preparations for a large corn crop are being made."

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Summary:

The paper suggests that Staunton should follow the lead of the Winchester Fire Company in refusing to expose firemen in efforts "to protect houses where the occupants keep shells as relicts."

Improvements

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Summary:

The paper reports that "new improvements of all kinds are progressing in Staunton. New houses are going up rapidly and old ones are being repaired and 'reconstructed.' Considering the 'hard times' Staunton is showing more enterprise and energy than any town in the State."

The Valley Railroad

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Summary:

The paper urges that the Valley counties be "fully and ably represented in the Convention" concerning the Valley Railroad to be held in Staunton on April 4th. "Let the energetic business men of each county see that this is done and our future will be in our own hands."

The Staunton Base Ball Club

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Summary:

The paper announces that a baseball club has been organized in Staunton. A. M. Garber, Jr., was elected president; H. F. Richards, vice-president; J. C. Wheat, Secretary; John H. McMahon, Treasurer; G. P. Scherer, J. B. Scherer, Jr., and John Beard, Directors. "On Saturday last the first game was played in Stuart's Meadow, and excited considerable interest. With earnestness on the part of the members in practicing, this club will soon be one of the Institutions of Staunton. A notice in today's paper calls a meeting for Friday night. The regular field exercise will take place in Stuart's Meadow every Saturday evening, until other arrangements are made."

Names in Announcement:

A. M. Garber, Jr.; H. F. Richards; J. C. Wheat; John H. McMahon; G. P. Scherer; J. B. Scherer, Jr.; John Beard

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Summary:

The paper reports that William A. Burke is making progress in building his Virginia Iron Works. "The frame work is up and the energetic proprietor intends to push things along, until the works are in full operation."

Names in Announcement:

William A. Burke

Marriages

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Summary:

Lieut. Charles Young and Agnes Atkinson, both of Staunton, were married on March 8th by the Rev. Mr. Latine.

Names in Announcement:

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Summary:

Miss Louisa M. Bear died in Augusta County on February 24th.

Names in Announcement:

Louisa M. Bear

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