Valley Virginian

We give this heading with no pleasant feelings this week, not that we feel so very badly over "the situation," but because we know there are many of our people; many brave men and glorious women, who do. And, in fact, "the situation" is not cheering, nor does the future break upon us with paths strewn with flowers, or of "pleasantness and peace."

The Radicals have carried, if not with increased majority, any how with enough for all practical purposes, the great States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa. Baltimore City is still under the iron heel of radical misrule, and the shouts of triumph, from the victors, over the friends of law and order, are the only sounds that reach us from the North. General Geary, Governor elect of Pennsylvania, speaks in no uncertain tones, when he congratulates the supporters on the triumphs they have gained; he boldly proclaims the President a "traitor," and stigmatizes him as a "tyrant," compared with whom "Nero, whose infancy is written in the immortal pages of [unclear]," is a patriot and a gentleman. He proclaims a policy for his party that looks to the elevation of the negro to an equality with the white man. The lesser lights of the dominant party are jubilant, vindictive and mean, and, like flee dogs, make more noises than the sturdy curs of power.

The whole North seems to be in a whirl of excitement, and foolish people there talk of war as a thing not only to be expected, but to be desired. They talk of "impeaching the President," for doing his duty conscientiously, and men who carried them successfully through the war are glibly called "traitors," "perjured scoundrels," &c. Amid [unclear] storm of abuse; of vilification; of run mad folly, the President backed by the Conservative or Democratic party North, stand true to his principles, a giant among the pigmies.

That the President will continue to stand firm, every indication leads us to believe and, as foolish as we think the radicals, we can not bring ourselves to believe they are fools enough to try the game of impeachment. Men, in the struggle for political power, especially in a Republican Government, say many things they never intend to carry out or attempt. Braggarts and cowards, who never faced a Confederate line of battle, talk bravely of war and of subduing unarmed "rebels," but the war proved one thing, viz: that no war can be carried on in this Country without a draft or conscription, and those who talk about it would do well to count the cost.

It is a consoling thought that those who fought through the war, on both sides, have had enough of it, and that those who "shirked" are not likely to get up a war for their own amusement. In short, the sum and substance of the result of the late election is that the radicals used every social influence; excited every Northern prejudice; run Generals for office, lied on us, bragged, bullied and won. And now they have secured the power, we believe they will not be able to make our position any worse, even if they wish to.

A Northern Radical argues this way--"you Southern people controlled this Republic for sixty years, you tried to break it up, on a principle, and we overcame you. Now do you think we are going to give up all this power or let you share it? Never, as long as we can help it. We are not particular about the means we use. We don't care about the negro, only so far as he is a good party rallying cry and so far as we can use him, but of one thing be assured, we will use every means, good or bad, to hold the power." In private this is about the argument of leading Radicals and no matter how vindictive and mean some may be, we do not think the leaders are such consummate fools as to allow that party to be led further.

"And what are we to do?" still comes up from the Southern people. The answer is simply, attend to your own business and work. We can do nothing to effect the results North; this radical party must run its course and nothing has dum founded them so much as the utter indifference displayed by the Southern people, as to what is going on North. To all amendments made to the Constitution we must utter an emphatic "No" and all threats, or bullying about war we must laugh to scorn. If any fighting is to be done, gentlemen, do it on "your own line," we have had enough. In the words of the Cavalier Bayard of the South, the gallant and gifted General Hampton, of South Carolina: "The essential points then, in the policy we should pursue, are, it appears to me, these: That we should fulfill all the obligations we have entered into, to the letter, keeping our faith so clear that no shadow of dishonor can fall on us; that we should sustain Mr. Johnson cordially in his policy, giving our support to that party which rallies around him; that we should yield full obedience to the laws of the land, reserving to our selves at the same time, the inalienable right of freedom of speech and of opinion; and that, as to the great question which so materially affected our interests, the abolition of slavery, we should declare it settled forever. Pursue this course steadily; bear with patience and dignity those evils which are pressing heavily upon you. Commit yourselves to the guidance of God, and whatever may be your fate you may be able to face the future without self-reproach."

"The negro is not to be neglected," justly and sensibly remarks the Nashville Christian Advocate, "because he is no longer our slave. He must be enlightened, not left in ignorance--drawn to us, not driven from us--treated kindly, not coldly--as if he were to blame for all the evils which have come upon our land--he must be encouraged to labour, and that, too, in the cultivation of the soil, not trusting to a precarious and perhaps dishonest support, in towns and villages. Let him see that his old master is still his best friend; and that the Churches which have done so much for him will do still more, by the blessing of God, if he will not refuse their aid."

This is a burning shame upon Augusta, that while other towns are proudly inaugurating their Cemeteries ours is at a stand still. A meeting will be held Monday evening, to devise ways and means to aid the Ladies in making the Cemetery all it should be. People of Augusta and the South do your duty towards the thousands who died for you and you can face the future bravely. People of Augusta go to work and take this shame from among us.

We find an eloquent and beautiful letter of thanks to the Ladies of Winchester, from this distinguished officer, in return for their patriotic attention to his fallen comrades. His letter closes thus:

"It is sad, sad indeed to be an exile from my country, and still sadder to mourn the loss of the most just and sacred cause for which man ever fought; but there is some comfort in knowing that the struggle which developed the heroism on the part of our soldiers and so many virtues in our women has not been all in vain; and wherever I may wander, I will bear with me the proud consolation derived from the knowledge that my countrywomen, who were so faithful and devoted during all the trials and vicissitudes of our dreadful contest for independence, now that it has gone against us, remain true to the memories of the dead. Power and money may procure costly monuments and testimonials to communicate the names of those who fought for the successful party, but all the power and wealth of the world cannot command so rich a tribute as that paid to the memories of the heroic dead of the Confederate armies by the tears of the women of the South."