Staunton Spectator

The New York Herald, in a late article on Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which it declares can have no effect, except where there are armies in a position to carry it out, has the following paragraph:

The Constitution defines treason and prescribes the mode of punishing it. Whole communities cannot be legally made traitors by proclamations, nor their property seized and confiscated; and if Congress passed fifty laws on the subject they would have no legal efficacy. Consequently, if slave property should be taken away from the citizens of the United States by Generals of the army, in virtue of the proclamation of the President, the property must be restored or paid for by the United States Government, unless the persons from whom it had been taken should be convicted of treason in a court of law, and after a full and fair trial.

The Herald is correct. The slaves taken from our citizens during the war will have to be accounted for at its end, either by restoration or indemnity. The matter will not admit of controversy, for, in addition to the obvious propriety of such a course, the exact question has been adjudicated by the United States, and stands on record against them. At the end of the Revolutionary War, and again at the close of the war of 1812, this point came up, and it was settled in the Treaty of Peace of 1788, and in the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, in favor of the restitution of slaves abducted by military authority from the South.

On Sunday week, Captain McNeill, commanding Co. E, Col. Imboden's cavalry regiment, Partisan Rangers, pitched into Milroy's ordinance and baggage train 5 miles below Moorefield, and captured 50 fine horses and harness, and 25 Yankees. He brought to camp 17 of the Yankees and 48 of the horses. This feat was performed in broad day-light, in an open field, and in full sight of the whole marching column of the enemy. The whole work was done in 10 minutes. Capt McNeill had but 37 men present. The enemy shelled them furiously as they fled up the mountain side with their prisoners and booty. The horses captured are very fine.

Capt. McNeill has performed several most daring exploits as a partisan leader during the last three months.

We feel curious to know what the deluded people of the North think of the present unprecedented high prices of slaves in the South. Just at the very time when Lincoln declares that they are to be emancipated, they command higher prices than ever before. Could anything demonstrate more satisfactorily the futility of his infamous proclamation? The people of the South never felt that the institution of slavery was ever safer than at the present time. The futility of Lincoln's emancipation proclamation eclipses that of the "Pope's bull against the comet," but differs in this, that the Pope's bull against the comet exhibited no evil design, whilst Lincoln's proclamation shows that he was impelled by a motive of a fiendish character. The Pope was innocent of crime, Lincoln was not. The Pope was ignorant of astronomy, Lincoln ignorant of Southern character. The Pope was a fool, Lincoln both fool and knave.

The following prices were obtained at public auction on Saturday, the 27th ult., in Greensville in this county, for 13 negroes belonging to the estates of John Randolph and N. Torbett, dec'd:

A man aged 25 years, and defective, $1,500; man aged 21 years, $2,305; man aged 45 years, $2,000; woman and child $1,500; girl, aged 14 years, $1,500; man, aged 60 years, $1,615; man, defective, aged 35 years, $1,225; boy aged 13 years, $2,410; boy 12 years old, $1,605; woman 25 years old, $2,050; woman, 45 years old, $1,700; man, defective, 85 years old, $1, 015. Amounting to $21,865.

On the 1st of January, in this place, Bruce & Peck Auctioneers, sold eleven slaves, two of whom were small children, for the sum of $13,915--averaging $1,265 each.

It will be seen from the subjoined correspondence that the people of Augusta have not been insensible to the signal services rendered to them by "Old Stonewall." Surely no man ever more richly merited the testimonial which has been so appropriately offered, and gracefully accepted. A few months ago, our country was threatened from the west, and the north, with invasion and spoliation by two hostile armies under Milroy and Banks. Their advance guards were at our very borders, and a general feeling of insecurity pervaded the community. In the midst of our apprehension, and when some of our citizens had begun to remove their families and property, a significant message was received from Gen. Jackson, urging our people to remain quiet, that the enemy were not yet in Augusta!

Within a few days after this message was received, Gen. Jackson, by a brilliant strategic movement, fell unexpectedly on Milroy and routed him, and while Banks was under the impression that the conquering hero had fled to Gordonsville, he in turn attacked the two divisions of Banks' army under Fremont and Shields at Cross Keys and Port Republic, and drove them discomfited and demoralized from the Valley of Virginia; and the citizens of Augusta were thus, by the brilliant strategy and unsurpassed valor of the gallant Jackson, relieved from all apprehension of danger.

These signal services of General Jackson sunk deeply into the hearts of the people of Augusta, and the testimonial which they have now tendered to him is but a faint expression of their gratitude and admiration.

Lieut. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson:
Dear Sir.--On behalf of a number of the citizens of Augusta county, we respectfully beg your acceptance of the horse and equipments, which will be delivered to you by the bearer of this note.

The people of Augusta are deeply sensible of the important services which you have rendered to the country generally, and more especially to them, in protecting their homesteads from desolation, and themselves and their families from insult and oppression, and they now desire to tender you this small testimonial of their gratitude and admiration.

That you may pass safely through the perils of the great contest for liberty and independence in which we are now engaged, and be speedily restored to the enjoyments of peaceful life, is our most earnest prayer.

Very respectfully,
Your friends and ob't serv'ts,
ALEX. H. H. STUART,
SAM'L B. FINLEY,
S.P. THOMPSON,
JOHN N. HENDREN,
WM. B. KAYSER.