Staunton Vindicator

By the latest reports the European peace conference had been abandoned in consequence of the demands of Austria, rendering mediation an impossibility. The belligerents are left to negotiate or inaugurate war, and her will doubtless be the result. It is thought that Prussia will commence the war. She has sent a circular to the neutral powers charging Austria with a flagrant breach of treaties. The immediate result of this news here was to send gold up to 159 ½ in New York. Thad. Stevens became a little restless also and proposed for the consideration of the committee on Foreign affairs the loan of $20,000,000 to the Republic of Mexico, to prevent the overthrow of its government and the establishment of a monarchy in its place. He warmly advocated his proposition, and also the enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine and did not seem to care that his proposition might be deemed a casus belli. From this it would appear that the impending war in Europe may not be without its effect on us and that we may be involved in a contest also in a very short time. Our sympathies are with the Republic of Mexico, but the course of Mr. Stevens, if carried out by the Government, which up to this time has been persistently neutral and only when the European sympathizers of Maximilian are about to engage in a gigantic war, is desired to change its policy, looks very much to us like national cowardice. Let Mr. Stevens turn his attention to the immediate reconstruction of this country, and we will have no need in the future to fear the powers of earth, whether they be at peace or war.

THE closing exercises of the last session of the Augusta Female Seminary took place in the Presbyterian Church, on Tuesday night of last week. The reports of examinations read, and the rendition of difficult pieces of vocal and instrumental music, exhibited the excellence of the instruction, both as regards essential and ornamental branches of education, and reflected credit alike upon pupils and teachers.

Twenty-five certificates of proficiency were awarded, and one diploma.

The exercises concluded with an address, by Dr. W. H. McGuffy, of the University of Virginia, on education. He treated his subject in his own peculiar an interesting style, and, as is generally the case, left a lasting impression on the minds of his auditory.

Mr. Editor:-- I desire to state through your columns that I signed a petition presented to me by Wm. J. Dews, but did not understand it to mean what I have since learned was its purport. Had I fully understood the intention of the petition I would never have affixed my signature to it. I have just had my name erased from the original paper.

June 9th, 1866 Jos. B. WILSON.