Valley Virginian

Judge Sharkey told the Reconstruction Committee very plainly that the reason Secessionists filled all the offices in Mississippi was that, "we really had no material of respectability to run against them." Exactly, and as in Mississippi, so everywhere South. And yet radicalism insists upon it that we shall elevate the disreputable trash that were vile before the war, viler during the war, and are now at their very vilest. Put them in a post of profit merely and they will take the salary and neglect the duty. Place them in trust, and they will betray it; give them an office of honor and they will defile and degrade it. They have neither ability nor integrity. Entrust them with money and they will steal it. Put them where a little manliness is required, and they will fly at the appearance of the least danger, or cringe in abject terror at your feet. Knaves and pimps, they may be fit for the office North--not here.

Unity. The practical difficulties in the way of this most desirable result, are greater than even the most sagacious had supposed. Most of us thought that the governmental machine, so soon as the obstructions to its operations were removed, would work smoothly along in its usual and accustomated course. Bitter experience, however, is teaching us better. It is even more painful, and greatly more difficult, to restore a dislocated joint, than to make the dislocation; and it is long--very long before the restored limb regains its former ease and efficiency.

We must not then be too much surprised to find, that the restoration of dislocated States is both a painful and difficult operation; to find that the huge and comprehensive machine, so long revolving in new orbits, around new centers, will not suddenly change its motions, and resume the old directions, nor those portions of the machinery, whose operations were entirely suspended during the war be instantly [section unclear]. This result could scarcely be expected if all parties were honestly and earnestly endeavoring to affect a complete and harmonious restoration. Much patience and labor would still be required in readjusting and rebalancing the detached fragments of the disjointed machinery.

But the parties who seem to have most control over the machinery of government, to wit; Stevens and his radical crew, so far from linking together its separated parts are forcing them more widely asunder.

So far from binding up the bruised and broken limb, they are even tearing the muscles that hold the broken parts, regardless of the sufferings of the wretched victim of their barbarous singing. So far as they hold the reins, they imitate the career of Phaeton, when driving the chariot of the sun--and as little heed, that the ruin of a universe is the result of their reckless driving. It is of course idle to reason or remonstrate with these madmen. What power they have for mischief, they will exert; and we must make up our minds to endure what blows they can inflict. It is their nature, their interest, to strike, where the blow cannot be returned.

It is scarcely worth the while even to remind them of the old fable of the belly and the members, or hint, that whether States, Territories, or conquered dependencies, the Southern States are still members of one kind or other of the body politic; and therefore it is utterly impossible to hit Florida, without hurting New York, or to strike any other of these now insignificant and despised limbs, without doing some damage to the general body politic. These people can and will continue to belabour the defenceless Southern limbs, until the northern ones get tired of being hurt in that way themselves, and make them stop it.

How long a vile faction, supported by a minority of the people of the U. S., will be permitted to sport with the vast material interests of the country, in the indulgence of their lust for power, and their fanatical hatred of the South; how long the nation, or that portion of it who have still the means to resist, will submit to be driven to ruin, remains to be seen. How long a party whose every public act is in defiance of justice and constitutional right, in utter disregard of the national welfare, and conceived in the corrupt and selfish purpose of perpetuating their own power, and that power exerted only for tyranny and coveted only for oppression, likewise remains to be seen.

We have ample guarantees that the President wishes every [unclear] means in his power [section unclear], and we know the people of the North are holding up his hands. We know too that we are, and can only be, mere spectators of the great game in which we have such a terrible stake, can scarce utter a cheer of encouragement to the combatants in the arena--can only wait, and hope or despair.

At a meeting of the Staunton Bar on the 23d inst., Thomas J. Michie, Esq., was appointed Chairman and Nicholas K. Trout, Secretary.

On motion of Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, a committee consisting of the chairman of the meeting and Messrs. Stuart, Echols, Trout, Henderson, Christian and Baldwin were appointed to prepare resolutions.

Subsequently Mr. Michie from the Committee reported the following which were adopted.

1st. Resolved, That with feelings of the deepest sorrow the members of the Staunton Bar have heard of the afflicting dispensation of providence, which has removed from among them in the midst of his usefulness their friend and fellow citizen Judge Lucas P. Thompson, for many years the able and incorruptible Judge of this circuit and recently elected to the branch of the Supreme Court of this State.

2d. That in the late Lucas P. Thompson we recognize a lively and illustrious example of all that is noble and attractive among men. With him a fearless love of justice was beautifully tempered with charity and a heart feelingly alive to the finest sensibilities, while over all his manly virtues, the graces of a pure christian faith shed their benignant light, and marked him as one more fit for Heaven than for the strifes and turmoils of earthly habitation. He must be ever remembered as a just, upright, conscientious and learned Judge, and in all the relations of private life as a courteous gentleman, a true, faithful and warmhearted friend, and a charming social companion.

3d. That in his death the State has to deplore the loss of one of its purest, ablest and most faithful officers--society one of its brightest and most cherished ornaments, his family circle of the kindest and most affectionate husband, father and brother.

4th. That we tender our warmest sympathies and condolence to the bereaved widow and family of our friend, with the assurance that we mingle our tears of sorrow with them in this great affliction.

5th. That in token of our esteem and affectionate regard for the deceased, we attend his remains to the grave and wear for thirty days [unclear] badges of mourning.

6th. That the proceedings of this meeting be presented to the family of the deceased and published in the newspapers of Staunton and Richmond, and that a copy be communicated to the County Court of Augusta which meets to-day and also to the Circuit Court at its next session.

List to me plantation niggers,
While I am [unclear]
Though I fell straight down a rigors
Let me say a word and [unclear]
Niggers does dis look like freedom
I can't see it any hows
Blacks am fools, and white folks lead 'em
But who cares for niggers now.

Chorus.

Look here niggers, I am dying
See the death sweat on my brow,
Dis am freedom, no use crying;
Who will care for niggers now.

Some say niggers good as white folk,
Gizzard foot, and ebon shin
Don't believe it, 'tis a tight joke,
Handsome, but you don't come in.
Well you libed on an old plantation,
Earning wid a sweating brow,
Plenty clothes, and plenty rations,
But who cares for niggers now.

Chorus.

White folks say dey give freedom,
What dey gib us is all my eye,
Free to suffer, free to languish,
Free to starve and free to die.
No potatoes, corn cake, bacon,
We must to starvation bow
If dis freedum I's mistaken,
But who cares for niggers now.

Chorus.