Valley Virginian

The political cauldron still boils and bubbles in Washington and the North; the Radicals grow more bitter and unscrupulous every day, but Andrew Johnson stands firm in his support of true Constitutional principles. The country will soon divide into two great parties; one supporting the President and the Constitution and the other the Radicals and destruction. The election on Monday, in Connecticut, will have great weight, and strong hopes are entertained of a Conservative success. But of the future no man can predict, for the violence of the Radicals can [unclear] bloodshed and civil war at any moment if they are sustained by the people North.

We of the South having faithfully performed all of our obligations are forced to stand idly by, and see our cherished rights and interests bandied about by the most devilish set of men that ever disgraced a Country. We can do nothing but calmly wait the issue of the [unclear] [unclear] [unclear] [unclear] proposed to sustain Andrew Johnson and the Constitution. But there is no use to despond; now is not time to [section unclear]. The great work of restoring our [unclear] to its former position of active [?] participation; of taking care of our widows and orphans [section unclear].

And in this connection we [unclear] [unclear] the Convention that [unclear] the [unclear] [section unclear] and decided action. Whether the Convention is large or small, let it go to work with a determination never to give up, until the great Valley R. R., extending from the Potomac to Salem, is a fixed fact [section unclear] organize the company, and by [unclear] at the head of it capable and willing to do it that is, [unclear] try to accomplish [unclear] that is of more importance to us than all that [unclear] spite at Washington can be in an hundred years. The people of the Valley, men, women, and even children, are looking to your action with far more interest than they are to Washington. Then work. Let politics alone--devote every energy to your duties here and all will yet be well.

We perform a sad but grateful duty in publishing the proceedings of the Grand Lodge in reference to the death of this distinguished officer and noble gentleman. It will be read with interest by a community in which his loss has been so sadly felt. The resolutions and speeches in the Grand Lodge fully express the sentiments of admiration and affection felt for Wm. H. Harman, by all who knew him. A martyr in a noble cause, his memory will be revered and respected while manliness, rare integrity and whole souled generosity in man, is respected and honored.

Speech of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Edward H. Lane.

Before concluding, I have a sad and painful duty to perform. The Angel of Death has again visited us. For the second time in the history of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, its head has been stricken down. Another pillar has been removed from the temple [unclear] earth, to be transported in [section unclear].

Resolved, That so much of the Grand Master's address that pertains to the death of Most Worshipful William H. Harman, be returned to a special committee of three.

Report of Special Committee of Death of Grand Master

The Special Committee [section unclear]

We are called upon to mourn the death of a beloved Brother. A bright luminary of our Mystic Temple has been extinguished; another link of the chain that binds us, man to man, has been broken.

For the second time in the history of the Grand Lodge of Virginia death has removed its head. Wm. H. Harman, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, is no more. He fell in battle, at Waynesboro, on the 2nd of March, 1865. With him we were wont to meet in this Hall, and take sweet counsel together. But he is gone; his voice is hushed in death.

During his Masonic life, he was personally identified with every thing which concerned the prosperity of Masonry in general; sparing neither time, labor nor expense, in extending its influence and usefulness.

In varied walks of life, few men at his age were identified with so much that calls forth the action of a warm and generous heart. In him all classes of society--but more especially the poor--found a true and trusty friend. And who is he among us that, by his death, has not lost a brother and a friend?

As a man, he was highly esteemed by all who knew him; popular as a citizen; a genial and warm-hearted companion; he enjoyed, in an eminent degree, the confidence of the community in which he was born and reared.

In his domestic relations, he was an affectionate husband, an indulgent father, and a kind master; and we fondly hoped that in his character of Mason, we would have long enjoyed his counsel; that he would glide gently down the declivity of life, majestic as some mighty river, and [would?] very late, at a good old age, sink into the [unclear] of Eternity! But alas! our hopes are disappointed; he was stricken down at a time which we regarded as the [unclear] of his [unclear], and the height of his [unclear].

Thus has [unclear] Staunton Lodge, No. 13, the lodge of his affection, and his lodge of affiliation. Thus speak the [unclear] friends and neighbors of our illustrious brother, and [unclear] Grand Master. [section unclear--includes resolutions of mourning].

[unclear]
Wm. P. Butler
James F. Patterson

[section unclear]

Under this head the Examiner of last Saturday, gives the following conversation between Charles H. Lewis and a respectable colored Barber of Richmond. It says:

Thursday afternoon last, at about the hour of 5, there occurred, in presence of a most respectable gentleman of this city, the following conversation between a dirty white man named Charles H. Lewis, ex-Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and a decent colored barber in the "Shaving Emporium" under the Exchange Hotel.

Despicable White-- "And so you colored people intend to celebrate the 3d of April, in spite of the damned secessionists?"

Respectable Negro-- "I've nothing to do with it, sir; but I believe the colored folks think of something of the sort. I see no use in it; it can't do any good."

Despicable White-- "No use! It will show these infernal rebels that they are down, and that you know it, and that you intend to keep them down. Gen. Grant has rejoiced over them--why shouldn't you?"

Respectable Negro-- "I wish to do nothing of the kind. I have no such feelings."

Despicable White-- "Ah, but you should have. You and every other colored person in the city should join in the proceedings, and use every effort to make them as humiliating as possible to these insolent traitors."

Respectable Negro-- "I don't think so, sir, and I mean to keep away."

Despicable White-- "That is cowardly. These damn secessionists have been whipped, but not half enough. By--, half of them need to have their cursed necks broken. I want to see them crushed into the dust and the negroes triumphing over them. You have got them now where you can manage them if you choose, and I want to see you do it.

Thus spoke, substantially, that miserable scoundrel, Charles H. Lewis, ex-Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as we are prepared to prove by the affidavit of a most respectable gentleman. What is to be thought of so vile a monster? What adequate words are there to picture the total depravity of the infamous wretch who could so express himself to a negro? endeavoring to incite him to insulting jubilations over all the respectable body of this community. Oh, it is a damning outrage. When the negroes are thinking only of attending to their daily business in peace and quietness, here are the devils who squat toad-like at their ears to tempt them into sedition and violence. Here are your authors of the Third of April celebration!

The appeals of the Virginian have not been in vain, for our [unclear] ladies are proving in this matter. An Association has been formed, and the [unclear] the head of it, were never known to [unclear] work until it is completed, it is proposed to gather together all the Augusta dead, as well as all Confederates buried in the county, and bury them in the Soldier's Cemetery. Soldiers from every state in the South are now buried here, and their friends should aid in this patriotic work. Ladies through out the county are earnestly requested to organize associations and collect money and information. Communications should be made to Mrs. Robert Cowan, Staunton. Let us pay a merited tribute to those who died heroes, and let every one go to work with a will in this noble cause. It is all that is left us. Surely old Augusta will respond liberally for such an object.

Sunday morning our citizens were shocked and disgusted by an exhibition one John Scott, from Waterbury, Conn., a teacher in the Freedmen's School, made of himself, by escorting a negro girl down New Street. On coming down the street white persons "hissed" this creature, Scott; soon afterwards, the girl came back by herself, and the coloured people, collected on Crawford's corner, "hissed" her. She had evidently disgraced herself in their eyes, by associating with this fellow, and we agree with them. We saw a notice, the other day, of the arrest of an officer for the same offence, in Petersburg, and we call the attention of those in authority to the disgraceful conduct of this man Scott. The Superintendent of the Freedman's Bureau owes it to himself; to the ladies who teach in the School, as well as to this community, to discharge this disciple of Miscegenation at once. If he wants to marry the negro, let him do so, if he is willing; and speedily emigrate to Liberia or some congenial clime, where, to his heart's content, he can dwell in the sweet embrace of the "negro de l' Afrique." He don't suit this country.