Staunton Vindicator

In this, our last issue before the election, which takes place on the 12th inst., we cannot refrain from calling the attention of our readers to its importance. The members of the Legislature to be elected will go there, either clothed with conventional powers (by the voice of the people,) to change the present proscriptive clause of the Constitution, so as to allow all former citizens to be elected and to hold office, or merely to sit as a Legislative body, without the authority to relieve a number of good and reliable men from a burdensome proscription. We do not hesitate to assert our belief that the vast majority of the people of Virginia will vote wisely and confer the authority upon the Legislature to repeal the proscriptive clause.

While this is of importance, the question involved in the Congressional election is of more momentous consequence to us at present. We know the people of the South to be loyal and desirous of so acting as to secure the best interests of the States and the Union. They desire earnestly a speedy restoration of the Union. The great obstacle to the attainment of this end, to some, seems to be the "Test Oath" which is required to be taken by all the members elect to Congress before taking their seats. We do not conceive that the probability of this oath's being required to be taken, or the question of its unconstitutionality, has much to do with the coming election.

Some of our Northern exchanges say, that, whether our Representatives can or cannot take the oath prescribed, it is the settled policy of the Radicals, who had a majority in the last Congress, to prevent, if possible, any Southern State from being represented in the next Congress, and that it is likely that the moderate Republicans will act with the conservatives on this issue, and thus throw the majority in favor of the Conservatives, which will result in an early repeal of the "Test Oath." Others say, while the Republican Conventions of some of the Northern States have endorsed the policy of President Johnson, that it was done in order not to break with him at once, that they are now waiting and arming for the great fight in Congress, and that the "Test Oath" required will be finally adhered to.

We give the above views to the one or the other of which most of our Northern exchanges lean, with the desire that our readers may know the sentiments of the Conservative Northern press on this subject.

From all we can gather we incline to the belief that the action of the Radicals will not turn on the "Test Oath," but with the fear of losing the preponderance in Congress, by the admission of Conservatives from the South, they will endeavor by all possible means, to prevent the South's admission to the Union by a representation in the next Congress, and especially on the ground that the South is conquered territory and should be ruled as such.

Whether it would be better to have the door of Congress slapped in the face of representatives who can take the oath or those who cannot take it, we opine, is in reality the question for our people to determine. We know that they will endeavor to act for the best interest of the State and Republic and we trust that they, by their votes, will aid in strengthening the President and the Conservatives, who are the only real Union men in the country.

On Friday last, Sept. 20th, the quiet village of New Hope was the scene of an animated and brilliant Tournament. A large number of spectators, of all ages, sexes and conditions, assembled together from various quarters of the county, and manifested, during the day, the liveliest interest in the performances. At 10 o'clock A. M., about forty Knights, composed of the flower of our youth, elegantly mounted and handsomely decorated in trimmings and colors, were drawn up in line-of-battle by the Marshall, and on invitation extended by committee, Howe Y. Peyton, Esq., of Staunton, came forward and spoke as follows:

Sir Knights:--The manly sports, with which you are about to celebrate this day, are associated with some of the most stirring reminiscences of the Twelfth century and are beginning to excite in the minds of our own people an absorbing and romantic interest, which may well justify their being conducted, in the future, upon a larger and more splendid scale. The memorable wars of the Crusades, which engrossed the attention of all Europe for two centuries, and which resulted in the disenthrallment of the human mind from the bondage of a long dark night of a thousand years, gave birth to the sacred order of Knighthood, from whence sprang that spirit of chivalry which has filled the world with stories of wild adventure; produced examples of heroic self-sacrificing devotion, never before surpassed, and furnished to the Historian, the Novelist and the Bard an exhaustless theme for immortal labors. If it be your purpose to establish in West Augusta the ancient order of Knighthood, my warmest sympathies are with you and whatever counsel or assistance, I can give, shall be cheerfully placed at your command. There is nothing in such an Institution at all hostile to the spirit of the age, nor inconsistent with the character of a christian and a gentleman; but much to kindle in your breasts a generous emulation to rival the simple virtues of your ancestors and to attain the excellence of conforming to all that is sublime in religion and beautiful in morality. The idea of a true Knight is inseparably connected with that of a high-toned gentleman; and this term, in its modern signification, implies all that is noble, generous and chivalric in man. Truth, justice, honor, patriotism, sympathy for the bereaved, charity for the poor, respect and tenderness for women, admiration for the true, the beautiful and the good are the noble characteristics of Knighthood and the crowning glory of its votaries.

It is needless, Sir Knights, to prolong these remarks to stimulate your ardor on this [unclear] an eloquence in the scene around you which words can never describe. The gray haired sires and the noble matrons of Augusta have assembled from far and near to behold your feats of horsemanship--the bright eyes of Virginia's loveliest daughters are watching you with eager interest and some fond heart is surely throbbing for every lance within the lists. The memory of the trials and hardships you have endured and the magnificent deeds of daring which signalized your conduct during the mighty revolution, which has just swept over the land, will be vividly recalled by this day's exercises and as you may spur your steeds forward, with the confident assurance, that the sympathies of this great audience are with you and that every honor will be gladly extended to your victorious Knights.

Thanking you for the attention with which you have listened to these crude remarks, I may, in conclusion, express the hope that it may be vouchsafed to him, whose heart glows fiercest with the immortal fires of love, to reap the first honors of this day's labors and crown, with his own hands, the "Queen of Love and Beauty."

After the conclusion of Mr. Peyton's remarks, the equestrian exercises of the day commenced. The very difficult feat of carrying off upon the point of a spear, three separate rings hanging from different scaffoldings, about thirty feet apart, was required and in consequence, thereof, it was late in the evening before it could be determined who were the successful contestants. Indeed, all of the Knights seemed to be perfectly at home in the saddle and most of them were partially successful, but Mr. Crawford Miller, was adjudged worthy of the highest honor and entitled to crown the Queen of Love and Beauty. This he did in a modest and becoming manner, selecting Miss Sally Crawford, as the recipient of his justly earned trophy and crowning her Queen of the occasion, in the presence of the assembled neighborhood. The second prize was awarded to Mr. DeWitt Turk, who selected and crowned as the first Maid of Honor Miss M. E. Mowry. The remaining honors were awarded to Messrs. Courtney Roler, Sandy Crawford, Asher Harman and Frank Bell. Mr. Harman, crowning Miss Miller, Mr. Crawford, Miss M. Miller, and Mr. Bell, Miss Sarah Crawford. After the ceremonies of the coronation were concluded, the Queen, Knights, Lords, Ladies and attendants, were ushered into a magnificent dining-room, formed by the hand of Nature and partook of a simple but elegant feast, which had been hastily prepared for the occasion. May there be many returns of such glorious holidays in our midst.

Tournaments seem to be exceedingly popular in these peaceful times, quite an interesting one came off at Madisonian Academy in this County, on Friday evening last. The Knights were the pupils of the Academy, and unlike many of the Knights of this season, did not ride but ran for the honors.

The Knight of the "Rebel Girl" Master O. Wellington Koiner, took the 1st Honor having taken the ring five times, and crowned Miss Celestine Caldwell, Queen of Love and Beauty.

The Knight of the "Bonnie Blue Flag" Master Harry M. Dold, took the 2nd Honor and chose Miss Sallie M. Koiner 1st Maid of Honor.

The Knight of the "Southern Cross" Master John M. Koiner, took the 3d Honor and chose Miss Sallie C. Reives 2d Maid of Honor.

The Knight of the "Flying Cloud," Master Arthur Z. Koiner took the 4th Honor and chose Miss Emma C. McComb 3d Maid of Honor.

As a finale to the Tournament was a nicely gotten up Pic-nic, if we can judge by the nice present of nick-nacks sent the Editor, which we enjoyed hugely. We wish that the successful Knights may run the race of life as successfully, taking honors in the broad fields of knowledge and literature and be blessed in their swift career by the smiles of some chosen and treasured fair one.