davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
Free Negroes.

Ssme time ago proposition was introduced into
eur Legislature for the removal Of free negroes
from the State, and referred to select committee
The committee have recently reported adversely
to the scheme, and it is now regarded as pretty
well killed off, Every paper in the State that
has noticed the plan has denounced it, and it
seems to have met with no favor in any quarter.
The author of the movement stands alone in his
glory. We are glad to find that proposition so
cruel in its character has been promptly rejected
BY the people Of Virginia. Its altogether untrue,
as often asserted, that the freeblaek population of
the State arc nuisances, to be abated by any and
every means Many of them, doubtless, arc of
tina, description, but the majority of those whoa
We know are useful and respectable members Of
the community. They have rights, moreover,
which should be respected. The scheme Of Atri-
can Colonization deserves the patronage Of every
true philanthropist, and the voluntary emigration
of free negroes to the land OF their fathers should
be encouraged by individuals and tho State but
long may it be before the Commonwealth shall
fix stigma upon herself by the harsh and forcible
election of any class of her people.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
For the s eclator
PLAN for "a WING 70. Convent on

|. A poll to be opened at each place of voting
in the county on the 3rd Monday in March and to
be kept open the whole week. To be superin-
tended by the Wing Commissioners at the last
election, or by such persons as they shall appoint.
Each Wing voter, in his own district, to vote
for one person residing in the district as member
OF the county committee.
The too persons, at each place of voting, re-
ceiving the highest number Of votes, shall repre-
sent their precinct in the county committee.
3 The county committee to meet at the Court
House on the Monday of the March court, and by
vote of the whole committee to fill up delega-
ton Of ten from each precinct including the two
members of committee. The delegations so che
sen shall constitute the county convention which
shall meet at the Court House on the following
Saturday.
g. Each precinct shall have the right to cast in
convention the Wing vote given by it at the last
Presidential Election, which vote shall be equally
divided among the delegates appointed. Any del
egate failing 10 attend shall lose his vote.
4. Nominations to be made one at a time, in o.
pen convention AID by ujra voce vote. A najori-
ty fall votes present to be required for any nom
nation.
5. No convention not representing a majority Of
the whole Wing vote of the county shall noa1l-
nate. But as every voter is free to attend the poll
at his precinc, no objection to be taken because of
the slnallness of the vote in the primary cleo
tons.
submit the above plan to the consideration of
the Wings of the county. think it would take
pretty smart fellow to pack such Il convention
and as they have become necessary parts of pollti
cal machinery, it is as well to have them fairly got
ten up. Ifany one has a better plan let him pro-
pose it,
The county committee should be a permanent
body, charged with the management OF the cleo
ton canvass, and should hold Office until the next
biennial election when new one could be elected
in the same way. WING.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
For the Spectator.
Tiie Blue Edge Tunnel.


.lessrS Editors 1t is with no disposition to
occupy space in your columns, or to trespass upon
the patience Of your readers that We ask the publ
cation OF this hasty communication. Nor are we
actuated by any private animosities or personal
resentments in lis publication or its production
We trust we are moved by higher and more no.
bic purpose, which when rightly understood we
have no doubt will meet with the appreciation of a
large majority Of your readers. While we would
therefore discaim anything personally offensive to
any one, we would not wish to be understood as
offering any apology for entering your columns up
on subject in reference to which, as 4 private
individual, we feel we have right to be heard,
especially as its importance not only interests our
own community, but is of deep and abiding inter-
est TO the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Without further preface, we wish to call the
attention of the public to the progress and man
agement of that portion of the Central Railroad
constructed on State account, and more particular
ly to the policy pursued in the management of the
Tunnel The general sentiment Of our commune
ty, and particularly of those persons having ade-
quate means Of information is that the work is not
prosecuted with the energy which the interests of
the State demand and the tax-payng public ex-
pect. We do not inetd at present to specify
wherein the delay and mismanagemcnt lie, nor
to assert that it is the result of wiul inattention
that we leave for future investigation. But
complaints from the most reliable sources force us
to believe that the course ofthe Chief Engineer is
not free from censurc
His capacity no one will for a moment doubt,
but should he fail to make use of those talents to
the speedy completion of the work and to the best
interests Of the State, then as public officer he
should be compelled to render strict account Of
his stewardship to his employers.
We simply say this much with view of cali
ing public attention to an investigation the con-
duet of the Chief Engineer. If it be shown that
he has used all the means in his power to advance
the work as rapidly as ha might have done, with
a due regard to economy, then public sentiment
will be satisfied and his reputation stand freed from
censure But if the reverse be proven, then let
the Board of Public Works look to ii that the in
tercss of this most important work are not allowed
to languish and suffer in incompetent hands.
AUGUSTA.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
The eand i'm Lexington.

The twenty second of February was celebrated
as usual at Lexington by the students of the two
literary institutions at that place We extract the
following from an account of the proceedings Civ
en- by the Gazette:
The celebration was concluded by speech from
Clement d. Fishburn, of ''Old Augusta" who
was selected to represent the Graham P. Society,
College His was remarkable effort for one 50
young. # told finely on the audience; we do him
but scant justice when we say that every body
commended it. twas unique, original. There
were ns rhetorical ffourishes-no grandloquent
flights of the imagination. lie has no kindness
for eagles" He sent upnone at least; but rati-
or amused himself in sptefully "bagging' every
one he could lay his hands on. There was an
archness and irony in the strong, practical and
earnest manner with which he treated his subject
which showed pretty plainly his own views in that
respect.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
En, the lSllcctnf0r.

.Mcssrs Editors The time is drawing near
when our citizens will be called on TO elect
Mayor. We respectfully nominate Mr.. VIM.
RUFF, for that Office. He ought to be rewarded
for his former gratuitous services, by now having
the office when salary is attached to it. He is
one of class of our citizens who have not yet en-
loved the honors and emo!uments of the Office
Let cur numerous mechanics and working men
come up to and support him. Heis always at home,
always prepared with conscientious and honest
views to perform his duties. Others may hold
the office as kind Of sinecure, for they may per-
form the service without interfering with other
duties. But Mr.. Ruff must neglect his own bu-
sness attend tothat the public, and having thus
served us hitherto at an actual loss to HIMSELF let
us determine now to pay him for the past as well
as the present. Come, fellow-citizens, let us do
honor to an honest man and faithful magistrate.
MANY VOTERS.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

FROM EuRopE.-The Arabia arrived at New
York on Wednesday afternoon, bringing dates from
Liverpool to the 18th ultimo
The British Parliament met on the 9Th ultimo,
and discussed the programme of business for the
session.
The Protectionist Society has been entirely dis
solved.
The Convention between Chill and Great Brit
ain has been ratified.
The French taxes are not to be increased this
year
An outbreak occurred at Milan, in Italy, on the
9th nl.i,no The Austrians say the revolt was
m,elIei yun the loss of only five killed. The
nsurgeals s.a,a hat three hundred were killed,
which is moi probable. The insurgents attacked
the barracks TIE c,nhct was brief 6nt sharp,
the ASSISTANTS being Mostly without firearms
Tire citizens are sad have taken no part in the
affair. A dispatch daled the 9Th states that order
was entirely restored. Proclamations of Mazzini
and Kossuth were found posted over the city,
MANY arrests Rad been made and three persons
were shot.
Aus.r,a and France were sending troops to
Rome and ..omDardy respectively. The Sardini-
an Ministry had met hastily to consider the state
of affairs in Lombardy.
From China there is report ofthe capture and
subsequent hanging Of one hundred and twenty
rebels.
It was believed that the Montenegro war will
be speedily settled by negotiation. Omar Pacha
offers good terms to the rebels if they will surren
! der.
A commercial treaty between Prussia and Aus
tria is officially announced.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

rp,c,sc gaisr0ad.

The Pacific Railroad Bill was discussed In the
United States Senate during the greater part Of
last week. Notwithstanding it was supposed tohave
received It's death blow by the adoption of Mr..
WELLER's substitute. Several Senators have re-
vivcd their old constitutional scrupies on the sub
ject of internal improvements by the General Gov
ernment, and Mr.. WELLER sought to relieve the
difficulty by requiring the money appropriated to
be expended only in the Territories. With this a
mendmcnt attached, it is said the bill cannot pass
the Senate. Mr.. Mason opposes the scheme
throughout, and thinks if the bill becomes law,
the Democratic party WILDE broken up But the
old loges must clear the track-the bill is bound
to pass some time or other. ''The great political
question, says lon of the Baltimore SIN, sis now
prominently before the country, whether the con-
sttution, which allows the acquisition Of territory
gives also the power to defend it and render 1t use
full The strict constyuc;ionists will be overhrown
on this question"
For ourselves, we must confess that we are not
particularly in favor of the scheme. We cannot
see, any more than Mr.. Mason, how the road
passing for several thousand miles through will
deruess country-=is to be supported, even when
completed. And then, what an enormous power
in the disbursement of public money does the va
rous bills before the Senate confer up The Presi-
dent! The capital proposed is hundred millions
of dollars, and the Company are to have also a
monopoly of the public lands for many miles on
each side of the road. Strange that Democrats
who havesrsuch horror of.'mons:ers'' should sup
mort this schcmei
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

o. The tindicator says that out Of the eleven
hundred officers in the Departments at Washing
ton, but little over two hundred are Democrats,
A statement was published some months ago,
however, and uncontradcted, that the clcrkships
were about equally divided between the two par
ties. We know nothing about the matter, except
that the Secretary of the Interior has appointed
several Democrats to office. As to ''the enormous
frauds recently brought to light in the Metropolis,
and which seem to have been winked at by those
in authority" we refer the Vindicator 10 the fol-
lowing extract from letter of the Baltimore Suns
Washington Correspondent:
1t is reported, on high and well-intormed au-
thority that the evidence addnced before The Sen
ate committee relative 10 frauds in the expendi-
ture of the money appropriated for the Capitol en-
largemeut, is aj,nnble Qfmatice and p,oj,py
These charges implicate the Secretary ofthe In
terror, but they only excite the disgust of all who
know that gentleman personally.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
Another Outrage.

A friend at Mt Scion informs us Of another at
tempt to commit highway robbery in the lower
part of this county. Mr.. John w. Kirlin, a res
pectable citizen of that village, while returning
home, on Monday night, from Port Republic, was
attacked near Pleasant Grove Church; III the vi
Cinity Of Mt, Crawford, by two laeH, one ofwhom
seized his bride. The horse being very wild,
plunged desperately and broke loose from the rob
Der and Mr.. X. applying his spurs effected his
escape. A pistol was fired after him, but he
came off unframed. This is tile third or fourth
outrage of the kind that has occurred in the same
neighborllood. Is it possible that there is band
of highway robbers in Augusta county We
could not believe it, if The facts were not reported
TO US by individuals entitled TO full credit 1t is
high time for our civil authorities to do something
to protect travellers and ferret ont the despara-
does. No body is safe in traversing alone one Of
the most public roads in the State.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
AI'e.seed Frauds.

A great hue-and cry has recently been made
by the Democratic preSs-thc Washington Union
leading on--in reference to certain frauds said to
have been pcrpotrated by persons having charge
Of the Capitol extension at Washington. The
Wing press has simply demanded rigid investl-
CATION of the matter, without seeking to palliate
the offence or protect the guilty parties. A prom
inent Democratic member of Congress, however,
the Hon. r. II. STANTON, chairman of the com
mittee on Public Buildings, has stepped forth to
vindicate the persons accused. The Union hay-
ing stated that q deficiency of 100000 had oc-
Cured in an appropriation of $500 900, Mr.. STAN
TON, in a letter to that paper, testiies that the
whole amount has been properly expended, and
that the $400 900 now required to carry on the
work until the last of next June, is only part of
the sum originally estimated to be necessary. 'li
any one is to blame" he says, because of the in
| sufiiciency of the appropriation to continue the
work until the expiration Of the fiscal year, it is
|, who failed to ask for the full amount estimated
for and needed" The charges were first trump
ed up in the Senate by Mr.. BoRLAND and others,
but the result Of the anticipated investigation will
doubtless show very different state OF things
| from that represented.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
For the SDectaLor

.ucssrs EditorS:-NVe would, with your per-
mission, add one more to the numerous calls for
the announcement Of candidates for the House of
Delegates We would name Capt. Robert Guy,
respectfully requesting him to inform the voters of
Augusta as early as convenient, whether he would
suffer himself to be made candidate by the ap-
preaching Convention. He is so extensively
known in the county as man of sterling integrl-
ty of sound political views, of good practical conf
mon sense, and as veteran magistrate of the
very first grade, that it would i'll become us here,
to dilatc upon his qualifications for representa-
tive.
By an immediate announcement of his inten-
tons, he would confer a favor upon
VERY MANY VOTERS.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

o. The calorick ship Ericsson, arrived at Al
exandria, ON the 2st ult., on trial trip from
New York. She encountered several storms on
tho passage, and stood the test iii tine style The
Republic says
On approaching the mouth of the Potomac ,ne
weather became so thick that the pilot decllnea 'o
90 further, and the ship came to anchor at len
O'Clock Saturday morning. The engines had then
been in operation for seventy three hours without
being stopped for moment or requiring the slight
est adjustment, only one fireman having been on
duty at time during the whole trip. The con-
sumption Of fuel was under five tons in the TWEEN
ty-four hours Captain Sands, of the navy, who
was on board to witness the performance, is de-
lighted with the result, and says that he would
willingly go to Australia in her, Thus the great
principle OF the new motor is now demonstrated
reality.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
Lnr he ,SnnctnIni.
RIcHMoyp. VA. Feb. 25th. 1853

RICHMOND, VA, Feb. 25th, 1888.
lfessrs Editors Il have received letters from
many of my constituents requesting me to become
a candidate for a scat in the next House of Dele
gates of Virginia | have also this morning your
paper containing an articlesigncd MANY Voters"
quite complimentary to myself, and expressing the
wish that | should at once announce myself can
didate.
1t is now perhaps time that should speak out
plainly. The labors of my faithful colleagues and
myself are now before the people good Old Au-
gusta for their approval or condemnation. am sure
we have each tried to be faithful and if we have
erred it has been the error of the head and not Of
the heart.
Ifmy constituency are satisfied with my scrvi-
ces. and by Convention, or other method salts
factory to the County, call on me to be candi-
date whatever might be my private interest or
wishes, my Obligations to them for past favors and
confidence would not GLOW me to decline.
Very respectfully,
JAMES WALKER.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
HE Turaalnl.

We publish communication in this paper, call
ing the attention of the public, and particularly Of
the Board of Public Works, to tho management
of the Blue Ridge Tunnel. The matter is one in
reference to which cur limited information does
not enable us to speak. Towards the Chief En-
gueer of the work and his assistants, VIC ofcourse
cherish no unkind feelings personally, and we
should be sorry to be the medium ofnfiictlng upon
them the least injury; but when unnecessary de-
Law or other abuses are alleged by respectable
Individuals is Augusta--it is manitesty our
duty to suffer him to speak through our columns,
if requested to do so. The impression-just or
unjust-has undoubtedly existed for some time
past that the work was not prosecuted with due
diligence, and all parties interested should desire
full investigation BY the proper authorities we
understand that petitions numerously signed Will
soon be sent to the Board of Public Works from
this county, requesting them to institute such an
inquiry.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
For the SDectatOr

.Wessrs Editors AS the time is approaching
to select Delegates to the next General Assembly
of Virginia, we cheerfully recommend Capt. ID.
Mccall, of Mt. Soon Suitable in every respect,
to represent in part the interests of Augusta coun-
ty-knowing him to be amply qualified for seat
in that body-being a man of liberal education. u
hitting industry and extensive practical information,
and selfmade man in the fullest sense OF the term
He is Wing, but by nomeans ''oient partisan'
being liberal in his views II he VIII consent 10
become candidate, he will receive the cordial
surnort Of MANY VOTERS.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

1-The Washingt spondent Of the South
Side Democrat seems to have no very high oPln-
ion OF u portion Of his party. He says President
Pierce will have 4 hard battle with the horde OF
office seekers, Ga.phinizers Sc In the Presiden-
tial canvass, he says, most of the great principles
for which the party had struggled were oOlltera-
ted from their political creed. In some Northern
States the stump speakers plead earnestly that
they were protcctonists, while in the West sit
was deemed polite to greatly misrepresont our
real position on other subjects" He predicts that
full third of the party will ''slush" off within
three months
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

o. We publish in this paper the Commuuica-
ton of''Whig," proposing aplau ola Wing Coun-
ty Convention. This plan is novel one and on
which we have not had time as yet to give sufii-
cient reflection to form decided opinion. 1t ap-
pears cumbrOus, at first glance-more so than it
might prove to be in practice; the ratio Of the vote
for each District, estimated on the last Presided
tal election, would scarcely give the County pre-
cincs their fair proportion, as the heavy dofcion
cy in the Wing vote at that election occurred at
those precincts But these, and other objections to
the details Of the plan might be readily obviated,
and objections can be raised to any plan.
A Convention seems to have become neceSsa-
nv evil and the difficulty is, to constitute one 50
US to give general satisfaction. This plan would
seem to be fair one on its principle, and 1t pre-
sents some striking advantages als2 as standing
County organization, We commend 1t to Inc
consideration of the Wings of the Comfy, and m
we such discussion Of it, through our columns or
elsewhere as may serve to perfect 1t for final a
doption, if it be thought desirable.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
yhe virginia institution.

A bill of much Importance to the Virginia lnsi'-
tuition for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind has
just passe,. the Legislature. 1t increases the an
nuity TO the Institution by the addition of S5cOo
and appropriates $4,000 for the erection of new
buildings, $1,000 for heating the establishment
with steam, and $4,000 to light it with gas, by
forming conaeNion with the gas works at the
Western Asylum. The passage of the bill was
advocated in the Senate by Mr.. SHErFEY and III
the House bv Mr.. IMBopEH
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

o. "ADMIRAL SAUNDERS" as the Republic
STYLES the editor of the Democratic Review,
is out in another letter against the Old Fogy p:e's
He attributes the hostility of the Richmond En-
quirer to him, to the fact that ''the intellectual
head of the talented young editor of the Richmond
Examiner" was selected to grace the front of the
May number of the Review. He says, moreover,
that he has had no particular fancy for Judge
DOUGLAS since February, 1852, and, on account
of his late speech on Cuba, reads him out of the
party of Young America.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

GO. One of the Washington correspondents, de-
scribing men and things in Washington, justnow,
remarks: ''There arc but few young men in the
crowd now in Washington. Full three lourths of
the persons at the hotels are men over forty-five
years of age, and it is rare thing to hear man
addressed except as Judge .Coloncl, Mayor
lCenera. or al least Captain.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02
IMPORTANT FROM MExIco.-Tl

IMPORTANT FROM MExIco.-The latest adyi-
ces from Mexico state that Senior Ceyallos has re-
signed his Office as President of the Republic, in
consequence Of being unable to agree with Col.
Robbs and Gen. Uraga, 1.-TWO of the revolutionary
ofiicers,) who had arrived in the city of Mexico.
In this condition of things Gen. Uraga and the
Mexican garrison at once pronounced in favor of
the return of Santa Anna. General Lomhardeni
was acting as President sd interim.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-02

&C. The news brought by the Arabia of an IN
sIrrccliou in Milan, is regarded as the beginning
Of another storm throughout Europe. The reports
are contradictory and unsatisfactory, but it is
tbour,,t probable that the movement was prompt
cd nv Mazzini ard the Revolutionary Club Of
London.