Staunton Vindicator

At Lynnville Oregon county, Ill., a few days ago, a shoemaker named Ozias G. Elliot was arrested on the charge of having murdered his wife, whose body was found buried under mysterious circumstances, and whom he had always greatly ill-treated.--While the coroner's jury were holding an inquest on the body, the prisoner was attacked in the hotel, where he was in custody, by a number of infuriated women, who tore out his hair and handled him so roughly that his life was in danger. He was then locked up in an upper room by the officers, to keep him from the fury of the women, and while there he jumped out of the window and escaped.

We entreat our friends in the country to commence actively and immediately the work of organization throughout the county. If the friends of democracy and the Union go about the work with their whole soul (as we verily believe they will,) we have a lively hope and a distinct presentiment that old federal Augusta will yet be redeemed from Know-Nothing rule, and take its place among the counties of the old Dominion as a friend of liberty and State rights. We have very little doubt if we of the democracy do our whole duty, with a statesman so dear to his own party, and so respected and honored by his opponents, we will be able to carry a vote vastly superior to any ever polled in this old county. We will here state that Saturday, the 12th inst. was suggested by the central committee for holding meetings throughout the county, to appoint delegates to the District Convention, because it was thought very advisable by them, to have all these meetings on the same day so that a fair and impartial delegation may be appointed.

Our thanks are due the Rev. Geo. B. Taylor of this place, for a copy of his prize essay on Sunday Schools, for which the premium of $50 was awarded by a committee. We have, not as yet, read the work, but the reputation and ability of the author are sufficient ground for us to recommend it to the public as a first rate practical work.

Pursuant to a notice published some time previous in the Vindicator, the Democrats of Augusta assembled inthe Court House on Monday for the purpose of deciding whether there was a majority of the Democrats in the county in favor of holding a Convention for the purpose of nominating a candidate to represent this District in Congress.

On motion, Benj. Crawford, Esq. was called to the chair, and H.B. Michie, and J.M, Crank, appointed Secretaries.

Jacob Baylor, Esq., moved that the Chair appoint seventy-five delegates to attend a Convention, to be held the 30th of March, in the town of Harrisonburg, and requested the Chairman at the same time to appoint gentlemen whose personal predilections were not known to him.

John Harman Esq., opposed this motion on the ground that it was unfair to exclude democrats merely because there opinions had been formed, and moved as a substitute that if a Convention be held, that all the democrats of Augusta be appointed delegates.

Mr. Koiner presented the following resolution, to wit:

Resolved--That the Democrats of Augusta are in favor of holding a Convention for the purpose of nominating a candidate for Congress.

Mr. Geo. M. Cochran, Jr., presented the following amendment, to wit:

Resolved--That the Democratic party of Augusta will cordially agree to a district convention to nominate a candidate for Congress, provided that all the counties of the district unite with us in convention.

Capt. Reuben D. Hill spoke in opposition to a Convention, and was followed by Absalom Koiner, Wm. S.H. Baylor, Jacob Baylor, in favor of it.

The vote being taken on Mr. Cochran's amendment, it was lost by a large majority.

Mr. Koiner's resolution, "whether or no there shall be a convention: was then put to the house and was decided in favor of a convention by a triumphant majority.

Mr. Koiner then offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved--That 100 Delegates be appointed from the County of Augusta to the District Convention, proposed to be held at Harrisonburg on the 30th of March next;--that said, delegation be appointed by the Democracy of several magisterial districts, in meetings to be held in each district;--that the number of delegates from each district, shall be in proportion to the democratic vote cast by each district in the last Presidential election;--and that the Chariman and the Secretaries of this meeting are appointed a committee to make the apportionment, and publish the result of the information of the district meetings.

On motion of Absalom Koiner, Esq., resolved that the Chairman of the meeting be empowered to apoint thirteen active and energetic democrats as a Central Committee for the purpose of organizing the party for active service during the present canvass. The Chair appointed the following gentlemen:

Col. George Baylor, R.G. Bickell, H.B. Michie, J.M. Crank, Wm. S.H. Baylor, John A. Harman, David Bucker, R.H. Fisher, George M. Cochran, Jr., H.L. Opie, Sam'l B. Brown, Wm. A. Burke, Wm. A. Abney.

On motion, the meeting adjourned sine die.