Staunton Vindicator

The people of the South have looked with longing eyes to the acts of Congress for some light to break on the darkness of their condition, but have looked in vain. Compelled to give up the unequal struggle they had borne, with heroic zeal, for four years, and, having yielded in good faith to the fiat of the successful Northmen, they set about to show their acquiescence in the settlement, forever, of the questions which had vexed the sections for so long a period, and did all that was required at their hands. Under the circumstances they naturally looked to the successful section for a moderation, and an exhibition of liberal ideas which would again set this once happy country on the high way of prosperous progress. Instead of a kindness of feeling to the Southern people, which would have challenged the admiration of the world, removed all the bickerings of the past and made the people the most united and happy, and our country the most prosperous of nations, we find in the Nation's Legislature a seeming determination to irritate, rather than appease, and a desire to plunge our section into the lowest deep of humiliation and despondency. Is it a wonder then that the ambitious, both for fame and prosperity, should leave our sunny South to seek a home in more favored localities? The wonder to us is rather that so few have left the land of their nativity.

While we can not find fault with those who have thus gone from us, yet we counsel the many who are still here not to despond of the future. The dark clouds which now lower about us must ere long be dispelled and the foul spirit of radicalism will have played its part on the political stage forever. When the interest of the whole country, which will be the case at no very distant day, shall compell the fostering of the South rather than the discouraging of her people and the retarding of her progress, she will exhibit as gigantic prosperity as she has shown in powers of recuperation from the ravages and devastation of war, and will be equaled by no section of this or any other country in the rapidity of her progress, her productiveness and her wealth. Some of those who have gone to other States from this do not find them to be Virginias, and, we learn, are about returning, and we say to others, who may be discontented, profit by the example of those about to return to us, remain where you are and rest assured our Sunny South at no distant day will be the wealthiest section in the Union, and you, instead of strangers, will be the envied possessors of her sacred soil!

We have been handed the following letter from Gov. Henry A. Wise, which will be read with pleasure by our people:

MANCHESTER, Va.,

March 27th, 1866

GENTLEMEN:--If practicable I will attend the Convention of Delegates, from the Valley counties, at Staunton, on the 4th of April next. I will take pleasure and great interest in promoting the Valley improvement which ought to have been completed long ago, and I heartily congratulate you on the prospect of developing the rich resources of your great Valley, needing the power of getting to market with every aid of steam and telegraph.

I am, gentleman, with the warmest interests in your improvements,

HENRY A. WISE

To N. K. Trout, Jno. Echols, R. H. Catlett, Thos. J. Michie, Jno. B. Baldwin.

PROCEEDINGS of the Augusta County Court at 4th March term:

The Grand Jury found an indictment against M. D. Gearhart, Julia Painter and Geo. Greaver Sr, for petit larceny.

J. M. McCue, Chesley Kinney, Thos. J. Burke, Theophilus Gamble, Wm. F. Smith, A. Koiner, J. S. Ellis, Samuel B. Finley, Jas. F. Hite, David Kunkle, J. Wayt Bell, and C. C. Francisco qualified as Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth vs. A. W. Greaver, charged with felony. This case was sent on to the Circuit Court for trial.

The Court appropriated $200 to rebuild the bridge over Christians' Creek.

G. H. Hudson was appointed sealer of Weights and Measures for Augusta County, vice Jno. F. Smith resigned.

B. F. Kemper was appointed road Commissioner vice S. B. Finley.

The Middlebrook & Brownsburg Turnpike was surrendered by the Company, and taken charge of by the County. Col. J. M. Lilley, one of the road Commissioners, was ordered to divide this road into precincts and assign hands to work it, and confer with the President and Directors of said Turnpike concerning the same.

The Justices were ordered to be summoned at the April term next for the purpose of electing a presiding Justice, granting licenses and to take into consideration the expediency of adopting the fence law passed by the late Legislature.

J. G. Fulton and G. W. Sutler qualified as Notaries Public.

A motion was made to quash indictments and proceedings of the Grand Jury, made during the war, and still pending, on account of illegality, which was overruled the Court.

THE following gentlemen were appointed a committee of arrangements for the Valley Railroad Convention, to assemble in Staunton on the 4th of April next, viz:

Powell Harrison, Geo. M. Cochran, Jr., H. H. Peck, P. B. Hoge, E. M. Cushing, and R. M. Guy

Isaac Chany, a freedman, who was tried before a Military Commission at this place, some time since, on the charges of murder, larceny and arson, committed at the Natural Bridge, by the decision of the Commission, is to be hung in Richmond on the 4th of May.

Died in Staunton, on the 4th day of February last, Mrs. MARY E FREEMAN, in the 43d year of her age, leaving a husband, one little daughter, a fond mother, three affectionate brothers and a number of relatives and friends to mourn their irreparable loss.

It was the pleasure of the writer to have known the subject of this notice in early childhood, and we can bear willing testimony to the many virtues that at that period adorned her character and which never forsook her in after life.

She early connected herself with the church and her walk and conversation through life fully sustained the reputation of a true and devout christian.

In her death she gave conclusive evidence of the purity of the religion she professed, and although sorrowing to leave husband, child, mother and brothers, yet as it was her Heavenly Father's will to take her to himself, she was willing to go, and made her exit with the blissful hope of a glorious immortality beyond the grave.

Grieve not therefore dear relatives and friends, at your loss-although her body is encased within the narrow limits of the grave, her immortal spirit has no doubt, ere this ascended up on high, free from sickness, pain and death, in the Paradise of God.