Staunton Vindicator

An old darkey in Petersburg, Va., recently was heard talking on freedom. He was giving advice to some of his "colored brethren," and said, "Stay w'd your massa and work, he'll feed and clode you, but you cum to town and gits freedom, tis' like Confederate money, de more we hab, de wuss it is."

Under the plan of re-organizing the Southern States to take their position under the Government of the United States again, the civil offices of all the States of the South have been vacated and new officers are to be elected. What kind of justice will be administered, or in what way the laws will be executed, is left for the people of the States, who are qualified to vote, to say. Here in the State of Virginia, where we are more directly interested, and to which people we speak directly, any one can see that it is imperatively necessary that the BEST--the VERY BEST men we have should be elected to fill our offices.

This obtains from the situation mentioned above, but especially will it be the case if incompetent men should strive to get positions, supposing that others offering are ineligible.

Now, if we desire a discreet and just enforcement of the laws--freedom from harassments and feudish malice, and perhaps a permanency of our rights of property, &c, the people should rise in their might and place the very best men in office.

No stickling should be entertained about the taking of Federal and State Oaths. You expect to live in the State and Union, and why, in all common sense, should you decline to take the oaths to support the State and Federal Government, when you intend to support these Governments? By declining to do so you bear all the burdens without having any privileges. In truth you have no rights at all until you take these oaths, and you must take them sooner or later. Then come forward like men who realize facts and qualify yourselves as voters (which you can do by applying to Mr. J. C. Wheat, at Staunton,) and then go to the polls, at the ensuing election, and vote for the very best men you can select. Don't regard a man's political opinions in the past, but take him for what he is--take him because he is the best man for the position.

This is no time, because your crops or farms may suffer by a day's absence, which may be the case, for you to absent yourselves from the polls, for if you do your own interests and the interests of the community may suffer more.

Then let me appeal to one and all to come to the polls and vote, as you conscientiously believe, for the best men for each respective position. In this appeal we believe we have discharged the duty we owe to the people. It now remains for you, the sovereign people, to discharge yours. The election is next Tuesday. See that you do your whole duty.

For the "Vindicator."

Mr. Editor: I desire through your paper to call the attention of the people of the Waynesboro magisterial district, to the importance of selecting four suitable persons to be voted for at the ensuing election, for the office of magistrate. It has been the practice of this district, for many years, to elect two persons who reside in Waynesboro and two in the country. How the country Justices of this district have discharged their duties, I know not. But if there ever was a country that needed two faithful and fearless magistrates, it is that country known as the Waynesboro section in the fifth magisterial district. For the last four years, little or no attention has been paid to the execution of the laws; nearly all the houses from the river to the mountain, have been converted into liquor shops, where mean whiskey and brandy has been sold in broad day-light. And for nearly the same length of time, three establishments of the same character, have been, more or less, in operation in the edge of the village north of the town. More recently a regular Bar has been opened in the same section, where sorry white men and mean negroes resort and are made drunk by a very mean white man. To remedy these evils, I propose to the people of the district to vote for and elect, for the Waynesboro district, Wm. Withrow, Jr., and J. S. Wallace, two gentlemen eminently qualified for the office of magistrate, and who, I am sure, if elected, will make this class of violators of the law howl if they continue their evil practices. Whether these gentlemen are elected or not, I beseech the people of the district not to elect either of the old justices who reside at Waynesboro, for they have not been worth one cent to the preservation of the public peace.

A. Voter.

For the "Vindicator."

A large and influential public meeting of the citizens of District No. 9, Augusta Co., Va., was held at Churchville, on the 11th inst., to nominate suitable and proper persons to fill the different offices declared vacant by Proclamation of Governor Pierpont, of the 29th June, 1865.

W. G. Sterrett was unanimously called to the Chair, when a committee was appointed to draft resolutions and bring forward Nominees.

The committee consisted of the following gentlemen, viz: Dr. Jos. Wilson, James Cochran, Sam'l Myers, Ephraim Geeding and James Heizer.

The following persons were appointed by the Meeting for the officers of the district: For Magistrates, Jas. Wilson, John M. Huff, W. W. Montgomery, and Jas. Calhoun; for Constable and Overseer of the Poor, Jos. A. Wilson.

The Meeting also respectfully recommended for County Officers the following gentlemen: For Commonwealth's Attorney, Geo. M. Cochran, Jr.; for Sheriff, Samuel Paul, for Clerk of the Circuit Court, J. N. Ryan; for Clerk of the County, W. A. Burnett; Commissioners of the Revenue, 1st District, Thos. Donaho, 2nd district, John G. Stover; for County Surveyor, J. H. Callison.

That these proceedings be published in the Staunton Vindicator.
W. G. Sterrett, Ch'n.
S. B. Robinson, Sec'y.