Staunton Vindicator

We have never regarded President Johnson as the especial champion of the South. It is true that he has stood as a bulwark against the surges of fanatical hate which would have overwhelmed our sunny land but for his timely and most determined opposition, but not especially on account of the South did or does he oppose the huge attempts at a central despotism. To suppose him influenced thus would deprive him of the title of patriot and statesman which he has so justly earned since he came into position and power. On his accession to the Presidency he found the country just emerging from a vast civil war, with the antagonism of the past grown into seemingly unconquerable hate from the contests of the past four years, which overshadowed with a threatening cloud the prospects of a speedy and much desired peace. Difficulties of a monstrous character loomed up to be overcome, and his path was beset at every step by obstacles real and imaginary, which would have chilled the heart of any but the most undaunted. With fixed and patriotic purpose in view, the preservation of the Union, he looked around for the means of accomplishing it and found ready to his hands the Constitution of the United States, which had been rolled up during our intestine struggle, and nearly lost sight of. He calmly unrolled it, and found its bright face tarnished here and there by the mould of the last few years, but enough of it left to preserve his native Country and its government. Scarcely found, ere the desire for a new Constitution shows itself in the insatiate mania for amendments, calculated to pervert its primitive intent. Backing this desire is a large and powerful body of men, whose representatives hold the next promineat places in the government and whose front looks bold and threatening as did the Austrian Phalanxes to the brave Swiss at the ever memorable Lempach.-With serried ranks and lances drawn this reckless band of men moved forward for the destruction of the charter of our country's liberty. What remained for the opponents of their diabolical purposes? They must made to quaid before liberty's undaunted array or all is lost. In this dire extremity, counseling calmness and nerving his then small but trusty band of patriots by his brave example, like Arnold Winkelried of old, with the cry "make way for liberty," he hurled himself upon the destroyers of his country's Constitution, receiving their thrusts in his own person and causing them to hesitate, waver and retreat. His act receives the commendation of the great and good of the land, who desire peace and prosperity, to secure which they have risen superior to the passions of an hour.

Because the preservation of the, Constitution for which Andrew Johnson has so earnestly striven, would secure directly their rights to the South, leads many to believe him the especial defender of our oppressed section. We would call the attention of all such to the fact that the Constitution, lost sight of, perverted or destroyed would be equally burdensome to every State in the Union, and would utterly deprive them every right, save what might be vouchsafed by an unlicensed Central Government, or, more properly speaking, Consolidated Despotism. To prevent this president Johnson has thrust himself forward as the defender of the Constitution, and, knowing no North, no South, no East, no West, is battling to preserve the liberties of the whole country. That he will succeed, the patriotic masses of the north rallying to his standard give every promise, and while counseling his sympathizers in the North to persevere in their course, we of the South can only wish the President, and his patriot followers, "God speed" in their noble efforts to preserve the Constitution and the liberties of our entire people.

We call the attention of our readers to the communication of "Teacher" in another column. His suggestions are very good, and we commend them to the consideration of the people, and especially to the Teachers of Virginia. A system of text books by a convention of teachers of the State would accomplish the end so much desired by "Teacher," preventing the necessity of purchasing every new edition, gotten out with some pretended improvement simply to sell, or other text books at every change of schools or teachers, and also obviate the necessity of using books which contain such objectionable features as those spoken of by 'Teacher.' Will not our confreres of the Press in the State take this subject in hand, and urge upon the teachers the calling of such convention as [UNCLEAR] at an early day?

Mr. Editor:-I desire through your medium of your paper to call the attention of Teachers to some facts or rather evils, which ought to be corrected, if remedies can be found. All who are engaged in teaching have to a greater or less degree experienced much difficulty in classifying their pupils from the following cause, the great difficulty in obtaining suitable text books. Not that there is a want of variety from which to make a selection, on the contrary, the variety is so numerous and the number of editions so multiplied that to have uniformity is impossible, unless teachers require new pupils to purchase new books and these books must be changed every year, to keep up with the different editions. These various changes are gotten up more for the purpose of giving sale to books, than from a desire to improve them: in other words it is a scheme to make money. So great is the mania on this subject, i. e., to make money, that we may expect that the time is not far distant, when we shall have no pure Latin or Greek unless it is just published by some New England speculator.-How long will the people of this State, and especially the teachers, suffer themselves to be thus imposed upon? Have they examined the last edition of Goodrich's History of the U. S.? If so, they can longer use it in their schools; for are not the chapters it contains in regard to the late war offensive and insulting, besides being false and unfair? To prevent these abuses, let the teachers of the State hold a meeting, composed of delegates from different sections and adopt a system of text books for the State of Virginia. Then we would have uniformity of action, and the pupil when he changed teachers would not have to change his books, and in this way much expense would be saved the patron.-Let these books be published in the State, in fine let us be independent of all New England and New England influence. Believing that all teachers will concur with me, that much good could be accomplished by a convention of the teachers, I think a mere suggestion for it sufficient.

TEACHER.

THE Fire Company of Staunton made a grand turn out, by torch light, on Saturday evening last, and paraded through our principal streets to the fine strains of our "Stonewall" Band. They number about 100 members of whom about 80 turned out on the evening mentioned, and we do not hesitate, but take pleasure in saying that no Fire Company anywhere surpasses ours in the excellence of its material. As a citizen of Staunton we are proud-very proud of this company, and we think they should be encouraged to the fullest extent by our people. They need a uniform which will not only be a neat on a parade, but also serviceable at a fire and as many of the members can not easily spare the amount necessary to uniform themselves, and are not property holders, but are willing to devote their services and labor for the good of our people, we suggest to the ladies of Staunton to hold a fair for the purpose of uniforming them, and, if there be a surplus, to laying the foundation of a good library for the company. To the property holders, and others interested, of Staunton, we propose, by a subscription of $5 each, to purchase a new and good engine for this company. The only draw back to the company is the want of a good engine for this company. The only draw back to the company is the want of a good engine, for there is a full sufficiency of willing hands to work one and render efficient service with it in an emergency. We are satisfied that every property-holder in Staunton, or other person interested in the protection of property here, will willingly subscribe, and we call upon the company to appoint several parties to circulate a petition among them.

THROUGH the kindness of our friend, W. A. Burnett, County Clerk, we have been furnished with the following list of county and Circuit Court Jurors, drawn for the May and June terms respectively.

List of Jurors drawn for May term of County Court.

Jerome H B Seller, D W Link, Jno Roudebush, Henry Crist, Jr., Benj Stuart, Samuel Plecker, H M Loffland, Wm Armstrong, C W Baylor, Joseph Wright, Jos Miller, Linden B Waller, W K Wallace, S. Taylor, Noah Miller, J M Brown, Geo C Patterson, Washington Swink, Jno Seawright, Daniel Fall, Wm Lotts, A J Hunter, Jno Layman, G C Hawpe, J C Cockran, Casper Koiner, Sr., Solomon Wine, C W Burress.

List of Jurors drawn for June term of Circuit Court.

Wm Housemen, C T Palmer, Wm B Crawford, Jacob Swarzel, Jr., B F McNutt, H K Eakle, W A Mann, Nicholas Croushorn, Benj Carricofe, J H Coiner, W J Larew, W D Ewing, Henry Rader, J M Clarke, Andrew Yong, J W Hudson, Andrew Crawford, G W Swoope, Jno Bumgardner, J N Hunter, Adam Stover, Jacob Hoover, S F Miller, Henry Deffenbaugh, D S Bell, Jos Driver, William Phillips, E A Fulcher.

IN our last issue we mentioned that a petition, purporting to be signed by a number of citizens of Staunton, praying the return of troops, &c., for the protection of loyal men, was presented by Senator Trumbull to the U. S. Senate. We were furnished with a copy of the petition and its signers but a short time before going to press and invert it for the information of our readers and also as an act of justice to those Union men among us, who, though solicited, declined to sign this petition, being unwilling to give this monstrous falsehood the sanction of their names. We believe many of these names have been signed without authority by second parties, as we find several on the list who declared to us that they never signed or authorized another to sign this petition for them. We now call on those parties who did not sign the petition, but whose names are found appended thereto, to notify us and we will take pleasure in giving publicity to the fact. For the present we merely call attention to the petition and its signers.

P. S. When the affidavit was made before W. A. Burnett, it was simply to a list of names unaccompanied by any petition whatever.

SOME time during last month, an infant about two months old, was left in the portico of the residence of Mr. GEO. K. Keiser, near Waynesboro', between 9 and 10 o'clock at night. The child was wrapped up in a cloak and beside it a little willow basket, in which was found the following note:

To Mrs. C. G. MILLER:--Please receive this child and be kind to it. It was born in Rockbridge county, of highly respectable parents. Her christen name is Mary Barton. Be kind to her and you will receive your reward hereafter.

THE MOTHER.

Mrs. Sampson Pelter, Jr., who lives in Waynesboro', has kindly taken charge of the infant and will no doubt take good care of it.

THE remains of our gallant young townsman, Thos. M. Garber, youngest son of Albert J. Garber, Esq., color bearer of the 12th Virginia Cavalry, who fell mortally wounded in a cavalry engagement near Upperville, Va., were brought to Staunton on Tuesday week and re-interred in Thornrose Cemetery.

ISAAC CHANY, colored, who was tried by a military commission at this place for the murder of a Mr. Geralds and wife, near the Natural Bridge, Rockabridge county, and sentenced to be hung on Friday last, was reprieved on Thursday last by order of the War Department.

ROBT. LEWIS, colored, charged with stealing several watches from the Adams Express office, waved his right to an examination before the corporation Court on Wednesday last, and was sent on to the Circuit Court for trial.