Valley Virginian

The yankees are fond of sensation, and of doing (whether good or evil) what will make people stare. At the close of the late war they had the finest opportunity ever offered to them of taking mankind by surprise and of doing what would have been the talk of the world for all time to come. Had the Federal government only observed the faith plighted over and over again, during the progress of the war, in the time of its agony and fear, by admitting back into the Union of their fathers, without condition, the people whom they were pleased to term their "erring brethren," a spectacle of magnanimity and good faith would have been presented to mankind which has had no parallel in the sixty centuries of the world's existence. As it is, they have but fallen into the old ruts, in which the car of conquering despotism has run, since history began its sad story of the pride and tyranny and faithlessness of the oppressors, and the woes and sorrows of the oppressed. The atrocities of the past two years, probably do not exceed the horrors of Austrian and Russian tyranny, and are equaled perhaps by England, France and other civilized powers. Hence--nobody stares and nobody wonders!

Baltimore, MD., March 22, '67.

Messrs. Editors:--In some of your exchanges, you no doubt have seen it strongly intimated that certain Senators of the Virginia Assembly are about to resign, influenced to that action by what they insinuate to be the compromise of "manhood" by that body. Now, I am no politician, and by the blessing of God, never will be; but when I see men from whose mouths the word "manhood" comes forth tainted with the poison of cowardice, dare to take upon themselves to rebuke a body composed of the wisdom and chivalry of Virginia, the pen that otherwise would never have miscribed their names, becomes animated with the desire to mete them their merited rebuke. Men, whose antecedents considered, strangely enough, from members of the Virginia Assembly, essay now to pass judgement upon their nobler colleagues; upon men who if they did not during the war, carry arms in battle, at least gave their hearty support in aid of our struggle, and better still, do not labor under the disgraceful charge of national duplicity. Men, who intrepid in the knowledge of unblemished innocence, treat with dignified loathing the pratings of peaceful warriors. These are the sages who may now expect the tongue lashings of fawning demagogues.

Audacity sometimes reaches an elevation which draws from noble spirits unconscious praise. Such is the feeling we have when we read the atrocious suggestions of that abandoned old man in Congress. With such emotions are our bosoms stirred when we look back to the scenes of revolutionary violence in France.

But the innate smallness of the men I speak of, forever precludes them from the possibility of thus ascending, and binds them down to subversive weapons, to carping and caviling. Men who during the war never snapped a cap, and who had an unheard of aversion to our honored grey; who, like the Irishman, worshipped the Virgin one day and the Devil the next, according as the fluctuating tide of war swept over their homes, thereby hoping (and successfully) to propitiate the constituents thus respectively represented, and who were wont to ensconce themselves in comfortable homes, with hearts at rest save about their individual selves, now turn men, statesmen, warriors, and lift their puny voices in opposition to the action of a bold and wise majority.

Before their twaddle should thus be heard, let them remove the leprous stigma which attaches to their names. Let them first in peaceful pursuits convince dissenting fellow citizens, that other causes than those imputed, blotted their escutcheons with what posterity will call cowardly turpitude. Let the debt incurred by absence from our bloody fields, be partially paid by whole souled co-operation for the benefit of our people.

Our law-giving power is virtually dead. Let those aspiring champions of "manly resistance," with the motto "de mortuis nil nisi bonis" inscribed on their phylacteries, retire to their "comfortable homesteads" and despised and rejected by their acquaintances, at heart let them brood over their degradation, their self-forfeited claim to unimpeachable courage, if ever hereafter to be received in the circle of suffering patriots, to come, wiser and sadder, better and braver men.
Truly, &c., R. B.

The resolutions of the Augusta Fire Company, tell the sad news and convey to his friends and comrades the mournful tidings that George Paul Scherer, of Company I., 5th Va. Reg't., Stonewall Brigade, is no more. He died at the residence of his father in Staunton, last Thursday morning, March 28th, aged 26 years. Paul Scherer, as familiarly known, entered the service April, 1861, with the West Augusta Guards, of which company he had been a member from its organization. He was every inch a soldier, and his appearance was remarked upon, even in that fine looking, well drilled and disciplined Company. He was wounded at the 2d Battle of Manassas and at Mine Run, but lost but few days from the field. He was taken prisoner at the Wilderness, May 5th, because his noble spirit would not allow him to stay back, though very ill. He was exchanged Nov. '64, and soon afterwards joined his Command and was in every battle up to Appomattox Court House. He was acknowledged by all, officer and men, to be one of the best, if not the best soldier, in the Regiment, and was selected to receive one of the two medals, given by a lady to the "two bravest and best soldiers in the Regiment." He was a member, in good standing, of the Odd Fellow's and Masonic Lodges.

No young man in Staunton was more universally popular, and no death has caused a greater sensation in our community. His funeral was the largest ever seen in Staunton: the Fire Company in full uniform, with their engine draped with evergreens and crape, headed by his old comrades, of the Stonewall Band, followed his body to the grave. All classes of our people turned out to pay respect to one, who though he had his faults, had "fought a good fight" for his country, and shown himself a soldier and a man. But he is gone; the gallant soldier; the kind messmate; the generous friend, the cheerful companion has departed from among us. In tendering our heartfelt condolence, to the bereaved family of our friend, we can only add: "Peace be with the dead! Regret cannot wake them. With a sigh for the departed, let us resume the dull business of life, in the certainty that we shall also have our repose."