Staunton Vindicator

In our issue of the 5th inst., we took occasion to notice what seemed to us an extraordinary exhibition of gallantry on the part of a teacher in the "Freedmen's School," in escorting a colored woman down one of our principle streets. The teacher, objecting to our article, handed us what he stated to be an explanation, which being of a character to provoke further controversy we declined to publish, but deeming it but right to give him the benefit of explaining the occurrence thro' the same channel in which it had been noticed, and notifying him of our views, he wrote an explanation which we published, giving him the full benefit thereof, without one word of comment on our part. We thought that we had done all that justice and fairness required at our hands, but it seems that the Ass't Sup't of the Freedmen's Bureau does not agree with us, and has handed us another communication on this subject.

We do not deem it incumbent on us to publish this communication, but, since Mr. Tukey has shown a disposition to act with fairness to our people and feels called upon to notice this affair, we give it an insertion. But in inserting Mr. Tukey's article we also feel called upon to prevent any erroneous impressions it might make. Our article was not headed "Miscegenation in Staunton." That our article was personal we do not deny, for the occurrence in our view justified it and we intended it so to be. We knew of what we wrote, and the fact of the gallantry exhibited, as we described it, viz. that the teacher came down on one side of the street side by side with the negro woman, pointed the way, when she hesitated, and walked across the street with her, and having reached the other side, in a very gallant manner gave her the inside of the pavement, has not been controverted, nor even sought to be palliated, and surely the want of a hymn book on the part of the woman is no excuse for the scene witnessed by us. Mr. Tukey seems to think that under the circumstances the teacher did nothing improper, and that he would have acted precisely as the teacher did. Of this we need not speak, but we will say, that if the two intelligent and influential citizens, spoken of, had witnessed the specimen of gallantry, as we did, they would be far from saying that they would have acted as did the teacher, and should they ever act thus we promise them that they shall be handled with gloves off.

As to Mr, Tukey's belief of what the Editor would have done, placed in the same circumstances attendant on this case, an entire uprooting of our sentiments and feelings, an utter abnegation of [MISSING LINES] this case, an entire uprooting of our sentiments and feelings, an utter abnegation of self and self-respect, and a total disregard of the sentiments and feelings, an utter abnegation of self and self-respect, and a total disregard of the feelings and sentiments of the communi- at large, ere we could be quite so gallant.

Before this occurrence, we had been led to regard the teacher very favorably, from the fact that, in one instance which came to our knowledge, he would not permit his pupils to do an act calculated to wound the feelings of our people, and from his remarks since are charitable enough to give him the benefit of the assertion that he did not think that he was doing any thing wrong, (though at the time, after signs of disapprobation were shown, he acted in a manner which we characterized as with a "brazen effrontery,") yet that he did act in such a manner as to disgust every witness of the affair, and would not be sanctioned as proper by the two intelligent gentlemen, or even Mr. Tukey himself, had he witnessed it, we do not hesitate to assert. With this brief statement, we publish the communication in another column, not that justice requires us to publish it, after giving publicity to Mr. Scott's explanation without comment, but from the fact that Mr. Tukey has been actuated by a spirit of fairness to our people and desires its insertion.

Since the passage of the Civil Rights bill over the President's veto, we have expected daily to hear of some more monstrous proposition about to be acted upon. With the spirit and letter of the constitution violated by this bill and the rights of all the States invaded, it seems but natural to expect other violations of that instrument and more rights to be wrested from the States. We are now threatened with two things, the Negro Suffrage bill and the District of Columbia, which if passed is but a stepping stone to the passage of a general negro suffrage bill, equally as constitutional as to declare the negro a citizen, which is done by the Civil Rights bill; and that the Committee of Fifteen have at last agreed upon a plan for the reconstruction of the Southern States, which will be presented to both Houses at an early day and a two-thirds vote is confidently expected. Why is a two-thirds vote desired unless it is different in spirit from President Johnson's policy? He surely would not veto it if it is constitutional, and a majority is all that is necessary to carry it through. From the desire for a two-thirds vote on the plan of the Committee we suspect it is not all it should be, but that it may bear in it more humiliation than of reconstruction.

We have been, as we said, threatened only for the past week. May it end in threats for many weeks to come. Since the banishment of King Alchohol from the walls of the Capitol and the healthy signs given by the Northern Masses in their late municipal elections, the heated, feverish condition of some members has cooled, and we trust, with the abatement of the fever heat, reason will again be allowed to resume her sway, and legislation for the whole country take the place of the partizan measures, which have excited the people and wearied their patience for many months.

REV. WM. A. HARRIS, who has, for the past six or seven years, had charge of the Martha Washington College, near Abingdon, Va., has been elected Principal of the Wesleyan Female Institute in this place, vice Rev. Wm. S. Baird resigned. Mr. Harris arrived here on Tuesday last, but we have not ascertained whether he will accept the position tendered him. He is a graduate of the Va. Military Institute, and has a reputation of being an excellent instructor and a talented divine-just such a man as the Institute needs. We would be pleased to hear that he had accepted.

ON Monday last Mr. Charles Trayer was arrested and brought before W. B. Kayser and J. B. Evans, Esqs., justices of the peace, on complaint of an old freedman, named Ralph. An investigation was made, and from the evidence adduced the justices deemed both guilty of a breach of the peace, by fighting and other disorderly conduct on Sunday, and bound each over in the penalty of $50, with security, to keep the peace and be of good behavior for six months.

THE investigation, in the case of A. W. Greaver, which was noticed in our last issue, was completed on Saturday last. The attempt to prove Greaver to have been a Union man and that he was persecuted on account of his Union sentiments was a complete failure. Mr. Tukey has made his report to Gen. Terry and Greaver is still in the custody of the civil authorities, by whom he is likely to be tried for the offences charged against him.

For the Vindicator.

BUREAU OF R. F. & A. LANDS

STAUNTON, VA., April 13, 1866

W. H. H. LYNN, Esq.,

Editor of the Staunton Vindicator;

Dear Sir:-Having seen in your issue of 5th inst, an article headed "Miscegenation in Staunton," and thinking that it contained a greater degree of personality and unfairness towards the gentleman spoken of, than was called for by the circumstances, I waited until a second issue to see if upon sober thought justice would not be done; finding it was not done, I have thought it proper to say, on behalf of the family, that while we all expect to hold ourselves subject to the criticisms of the community in which we live and are willing to be governed by the ordinary usages of its society, yet we claim, and not only claim, but think we have a right to demand, when such criticisms are to be made, first, that the party making them shall have full knowledge of the facts as to which he speaks; second, that they shall be stated in a fair and impartial manner and that they be divested of that personality of tone and manner, which, in polite society, is always regarded as inconsistent with the dignity and character of a gentleman.

In reference to the particular case under consideration,--that of a teacher of the Freedmens' Schools, I have only to say , that after hearing his explanation of the circumstances, I am of opinion that I should have done precisely as he did;--a sentiment which, I think, would be concurred in by a large number of the intelligent, reflecting portion of the community; in fact, I have been informed by two intelligent and influential citizens, that they had no doubt they would have acted in a similar manner; one of them, who holds a high official position informs me that he has done so, many times during the past six months; indeed, so far from being an event of unusual occurrence, or calling for extraordinary comment by the Editor, I am constrained to the belief that had the Editor himself been placed in the same circumstances, he would have done precisely as the Teacher did; that is, allow a colored woman who called on him on business, to walk with him to his office.

Preferring to have my conduct speak for itself, rather than to have it a subject for defence in the public press, I am led to these remarks, not from any desire to evoke a controversy, or from a spirit of captious criticism, but simply from that sense of justice and fairness, which I conceive to be essential at this time in promoting sentiments of forbearance and moderation, so desirable to all parties.

Very Respectfuly, &c.,

F. S. TUKEY,

Asst. Sup't B. R. F. & A. L.