davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
Mr.. Graham and the Reconstruction
Committee.

Senator Graham, of North Carolina, pub
fishes the correspondence, the substance of
which has been heretofore given, in which he
asked and was refused permission to attend
the examination Of witnesses before the Re-
construction Committee where North Caro-
lima Was concerned. He concludes his card
Of explanation with the following very be-
coming sentences
" had no design or wish to be examined
as witness myself I should have consid-
cred myself rather as occupying the place of
counsel or advocate of the State And if
tie committee had intimatcd Il wish for such
information, would have taken pleasure in
furnishing them the address of gentlemen
in every section Of the State whose acGuain-
tancc, whose integrity, whose intelligence,
whose loyalty and interests and iden titication
with the country qualified them to speak of
the condition of affairs ard tlte state o. tccl-
ing and opinion towards the government of
the United States with full knowledge men
whose ambition has been chustehcd by the
fires of adversely, whose Affections and sacri-
tees would satiatc generous foe, whose de-
sire is to re- establish the constitutional rt.la-
tiOhs of all the States With the FEEDER i Union,
and, as preparatory to this, to disarm the
spirit of revenge and the remorselcss passions
engenGered IN great revolution, which, by
reason of its want OF success. many are una
bic to distinguish from petty rebellion.
And before Congress aud the people, to
which this evidence is submitted for their
verdict aud Judgment, respectfully claim
that the State of which l am citizen and
a servant, is not to be affected injuriorsly by
any evidence received by this committee
She has in good faith submitted herself to all
the requirements in that scheme Of rd,licC
prescribed by the President from the Poto-
mac to the Rio Grande; is obedient to every
law of the Union; is with heavy sacrifices
paying the arrearages Of taxes of former
years to the United States, as we'll as present
levies, aud not arrogandJ, but confidently ap-
peals to that sense of justice and those re-
membranes Of ancient friendships which
shall restore to her the full frrition of her
rights as State of the American Union.
w. a. GRAHAM.
Washington, March 16, 1866.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
BREAKERS AHEAD

Senator Salisbury, of Delaware-who is
one of the ablest men in the Scnate-made an
admirable speech few weeks ago on amend
ing the constitution, in which he took occa-
sion to comment on the persistent refusal Of
the majority to admit the Southern members.
and put this plain case before his house =
Suppose you, for the accomplishment of
here party purposes, exclude representatives
from these c'even States from admission to
the Halls of Congress until alter the next
Presidential election; suppose the party OPP
posed to you in the States which have never
been in revolt nominate an electoral ticket :;
suppose that these xciuded States also non.-
mat an electoral ticket-and they will, I'M
doubtedly; and suppose those who are opposed
to your policy shall have majority of the
Electoral College; suppose you simply, be-
cause you have Kept out Representatives from
the Halls Of Congress, should refuse to count
these votes. and should declare that minori
ty candidate of the whole people of the Ura
ted States shall act as the chief executive
officer of this Government for four years more,
do you believe the people would submit to it /?
do not know what they will do, but know
you had better not attempt it,"
The Senator, of course. believes. and meant
SO to intimate, that the people of the N0rth
would not submit to any such practical dis
union as must follow the plans of the radicals.
and we agree with him. The people of the
South fought their best to get ont of the
Union, and they may join the conservatives
of the North in light to get into it again :;
but they will never begin it.
1t is evidently the determination of the ma
jority i'll Congress to keep the Southern States
out of the Union till after the next PRESS
dental elcction-ccrtainly until they come
before Congress with clean bill for negro
suffrage. Negro suffrage is the ultmatum :;
and the South will stay out of Congress for
ever on these terms. We 10 not believe that
there is single Southern State that will
vote sahrnSe to the negro-though it should
never get into Congress but every Southern
State will certainly nominate an electoral
ticket and vote for it. and if these votes maize
a majority for candidate opposed to the
radicals, there will be a row in the North
and Mr.: Saulsbury's hint had better be
needed
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
THE R&G1sTRy Law.

In commenting upon +Ais tx famous enact
ment of the Wheeling Legislature, last week
we expressed the opinion that the registrars
had the right. under the Law, to propvund
any questions they pleased 10 discover the
want of loyalty OF applicants for registration.
Since then we have lcarne that tie radical
members cndeavored to Incorporate section
in the bill expressly giving this right to in
tcrrogate, but that it was voted down. From
this it is clear that the Legislature did not de-
sign to give the registrars any other mode of
testing the loyalty Of voters than the admin
isteri0S of the test oath embraced in the bill;
and, hence, the registrars should not be al
lOwed to put the questions set forth in the
circular from Shepherdstown, or any other.
The oath is only to be administered when
the registrar Las "a doubt of the LOYALTY" of
the applicant. 1t is not to be expected that
any registrar has perfect knowledge of the
politics of the people generalIy-indeed that
he can have such knowledge, without ga
doubt" of any man, and therefore he should
put the oath to each and every individual
applying for registration ; he should cer:a;;uv
require this oath to be taken by every one Of
whom he recsi7es any in;imation from any
responsible citizen that there exists ga doubt
of the loyalty of the applicant in the COM
mu0'ty where he resides, or that the applicant
has said or done things that do not square
with the oath. If this course il pursued. there
are many men, some Of them in high stand
ing and Office in the radical house of West
Virginia, who cannot take this oath without
fiat perjury men who have carried two faces
during the past four years of the war, and
who have given voluntary aid, comfort, or
encouragement to the late Confederate States;
and, we confess we should like to have the
oath applied to all such and to see the i'm
mense amount Of hard swearing they would
perpe:rate.
OF the unconstitutionality of the law We
have seen nothing to change our formerly ex-
pressed opinion. We are fully satisfied that
the law is in violation of the constitution of
West Virginia, and that of the United States
so plainly so that it will not be able to
stand before any honest aud upright Judge on
the Circuit or Court CT Appeals bench.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
structionists

SUPERVISORS CoURT.-Wc copy from
the last number Of the Register. the follow
ing FROM the account Of the proceedings of
the Supervisor Court which met in Shcp-
kcrdstoY"r; ca Monday the I9;h inst
Oh r:tUtior Of Supervisor Logic that tie
Bond OF Jefferson County, dated june 2lst
1861, to Howell Brown, for $500 be repu
dated, as the said money was used 1ur War
purposes.
Ordered that the assessment on the land
Of James NJ. Ransom be reduced from SO to
500 per acre.
/. Ordered that the assessment on the land
of Francis Hoof be reduced from sGU to So
per acre
Ordered that the assessment on the land
of Il. E. Cook be reduced firm $50 to 60
per acre.
On motion the petition of Nicholas Starry
for reduction assessment was rejected
On mDtion' of Supervisor johnson that tie
order in relation to James Wysong's land be
rccinded
Ordered that the assessment on the lands
Of james WysmIg be reduced to the assess
mCHt of 1859.
Ordered that D. NJ. Sheetz be paid SIS
tinsburg Jail
Ordered by the Board, that Joseph Crane,
late Sheriff of Jefferson County. be sum
r-Oned to appear at the Supervisors rooms
in Shepherdstown, on the n day CT Nprlf,
next, aud make settlement of all c ,unty
business in his hands with H.. e.. Entlcr
clerk of the Board Of Supervisors They
Can adjourn from day to day until the settle.
mcnt is Completed The result to be SUD-
mltted to the 30 ri for approval at it's next
meeting, on the Sd Monday In April.
Ordered that acres Of land be deducted
from the assessment OF John Stephenson.
Ordered that the three -fourths of the
assessment the buildings vi Andrew
Hunter be deducted
Ordered that the assessment on the land
Of Mrs. II. l.. Alexander be reduced to SIS
On motion Of Supervisor johnson. S r
Lindsey, VIM. IL. Simpson and Samuel
RIdenour were appointed school commission
ers for CharlestUwn Township.
Ordered that the assessment on thu land
of Mrs. y. j. Burnett be reduced to $50
per acre.
Ordered that the assessment on the lands
of Thomas B. Washiagton's heirs be reduced
TO s55 per acre.
Ordered that the assessment on the land
of Abraham TS!er eredGced to the assess
ment of 1859.
The following resolution was adopted ::
Resolved, that D. Billmyer, j. J. Miller
and H. c. Entler he appointed commits
tee to invite proposals for building County
Jail, in accordance with a plan now in the
hands of the Board of Supervisors. Said
proposals to be presented for adoption at the
next meeting of the Board
On motion of Supervisor Turner, the
order to pay the bond of Mrs NJ Wiltshire.
for slI5, for the hire of farm hand in the
year 1858, be revoked
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

Hon, Eli Thaycr, formerly Republican
mc:4bcr of Congress, from the Worcester,
Mass, District, is stumping Connecticut in
behalf of the Democratic State Ticket On
Wednesday evening, he addressed the people
of New Haven, il an eloquent and effective
speech. He mainta!ecd, says the Washing
ton Union, that all the" members elect from
the South ought to be admitted to Congress,
and said the object of the government is to
let the people alone. lie said the republi>
cans wore entitled to no credit for subdting
the rebellion, for it might and ought to have
been finished in 1862. He denounced the
frccdman's bureau bill, advocated free trade,
and urged that paper money ought not to be
issued by the Treasury at Washington.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
A Trip to Virginia.
Des0Iatio" Of the Country and Depression Of
the People.

a correspondent of the Albany Argus, who
has been travelling recently through Virginia,
thus tells us in part what lie saw there.
Throughout the State the whole COM
munIty Is III mourning. The Confederate
army was made up of SONS, husbands and faith
erS, (unIikG Ours, who had many cmigrants
from all parts Of the world, } aud thurc is
scarcely family but has lost a near friend.
All have lost their property except land
Their money is in Confederate bonds and bank
bills, worthless except small per ccntagc on
the bank bills.
They are, truly, objects of pity Their
negroes are lnafmg about the village, refusing
to work tor their former masters, and yet still
hanging about their old homes Some of the
planters have let their lands 10 their old SER
wants, giving share OF tie crop Others are
hiring hands aud working them; and many
are doing nothing with their plantations, hav-
ing no mcans to do anything.
y captain. one OF the officers of the Freed
men Bureau stationed ut Raleigh visits them
once week to hold Il court. (such Il court y
The presiding officer had the appearance Of
ha"lmS just returned from an cnca,npmcnt
where there wis a scarcity Of water; the
room filed With all colnrs, some smoking,
some talking, some splitting aud coughing.
others laughing, all moving to aud fro with
out order resembling Erog shop
His highncss, the captain, in the mean
time taking testi'Iuny in Il case OF tkett.
Wishing to see himi, | concluded to wait
until he adjOUrued the Court Accordingly.
| went to the hotel, being but one in the
place, supposed, OF course, he would put up
there, but, upon inquiry, he boarIed with
the negroes, aud was hail fellow with them.
On our return, among other places, we
visited Gordonsville, there we found an cx-
tcnsivc establishment. The buildings erected
by the Coniedcrat.s for hospitals. some twenty
or thirty in nTmber, are occupied by the
freedmen, receiving rations. attended by u
physician and teacher. all. of Course, at the
expense of the Government. and many able
bodied Wen and women idling about.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
The Valley Railroad.

The newspapers of the Upper Valley are
earnest in their advocacy of an early orgapi-
cation of a company for the construction of
the great Valley Railroad, for which char
ter was granted by the late Legislature of
Virginia. a convention for this purpose is
to assemble in Staunton on the 4th of April.
which it is hoped win be largely attended by
the representative men of the different Valley
counties. In referring to this subject; the
Stacuton Tt'yi"iGn, "f tie 22d says:
On the 4th of April, fourteen days from
to-day, the Valley railroad Convention is
to meet in Stauntou. A duty more imp6t-
tant than holding meetings. TO endorse An
drew johnson now devulves upon the people
OF the Valley counties, aud it is 10 hold meet
ings aud at once, anu seHd earnest business
men t6 represent them in thus Convention.
The people IN these counties who have not
acted III this matter, shOnld recUiect that the
President of the United States is aware of
the fact that he is endorsed by the people of
the Valley aud can live without their endorse
ment; but the people OF thus Valley cannot
live aud prosper without prompt action is ia
ken to organize the great Valley Railroad
Company aud to build the road
What is needed now is a conventions here
representing the wealth and energy OF the
Valley counties; men that will take the one
hundred thousand dollars worth OF stock me-
cessary to organize the company under the
charter. This, we believe, can be done by
Rockbridge, Augusta and Rockingham, but
We want the whole Valley fully represented
1t is no time for holding .baeG; every ri.ah,
woman aud child in the Valley of Virginia,
is interested in 'his great work, and if it is
to he the success we hope it will be-. every
man must WORK. The Goo7fhgtoh aud Ohio
Railroad will soon be- under contract Will
the Valley people wrap themselves up in
their poverty and let their great work fail for
want OF proper exertion now ?
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27

JEFFEEsoS DAvrs.-This distinguished
but unfortunate gentleman still remains
under the same rigid course Of imprison-
ment adopted shortly after his Incarceration,
which has not been relaxed in the slightest.
In the evening. and occasionally during the
daytime, he may be seen walking around
the Parapet in charge of the officer of the
day and file Of soldiers. Very few see
him, as, in his daily walks, he is taken to
the most obscure portions Of the fortress.
and, on returning, is conducted Immediately
to his cell by plank walk which connects
the balcony OF Carroll Hall with the para
pet. Though his name is seldom mentioned,
he has the cordial sympathy of many who
naturally feel deep interest in his lie and
fate.-Nortalk TIrainiun.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27

SO y letter received from the Dry Tor
tugas. on the Florida coast, dated the 18th
OF last l~Ontf, states that Edward Spanyler
and Arnold and O LaughIin have been all
that could be desired as regards correct
department since their incarceration. Spang-
Ter has earnestly and industriously labored
in the carpenter shop; has ne, or been subject
to reprlmand III any shape; aud though ouce
or twice indisposed and under treatment in
the hospital, has in each instance returned
to duty before required by re- sular discharge.
lie is we'll, aud nIltitests a desire to serve
out his sentence with patience. They are
all we'll cared for, and are represented to be
nmre comfortable and enjoying better health
probably. than if confined in any ordinary
PenItemtiary. Irons We're put upon all the
State prisoners, four in humber, solely on
account OF the attemPC made by Mudd to
escape The Irons have now been removed,
and all liberty consistent with proper prison
discipline is allowed them.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
WHAT MAS ONCE SAID

o. the 9th of December, 1850, Mr.
Lyman TrumbulI, CRadicaI) then, as now, a
Senltor of the United States, SAID:
lin my judgment, there is Il dist; ctiun
between the white and the black races made
by OmniPotencc itself. l do not believe
these two races can live happily and pleas
antly together"
Not five months later, Andrew johnson.
q Senator from Tennessee, said :
1.-The Senator from Illinois comedies the
whole ground, and all this ca,nor and clap
trap aoout liberty and man being created
equal falls to the ground"
In the same speech. lie said:
II Would rather this people involved
IN hostility against every power on the face
OF the civilized globe. than see it involved
in civil war. If blood rs. 70 he shed. be it
so, but let it not De the blood of the "Con-
tederate States fighting against each other"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27

THE KILLING OF BENNETT McCAED-
OF which mention was made in Our last issue.
has not failed to attract the attention OF the
Freedmen'S Bureau at Winchester. One day
this week representative from that body
was in town investigating the evidence taken
IN the Case By the civil authorities, and. as
we have understood, appeared well satisfied
with the prompt action taken by them to as
certain e Cause of his death and With the
effort made to Bring tie criminal to justice
After the facts were elected in the case by
the c"roners jury, and it was found that the
negro had come to his death by blow from
a wooden instrument in the hands of one
Theodore Dooley, of Charlestown, Va. the
Sheriff Of the County started in PURSUIT, but
failed in securing his arrest. This outrageous
act on the part Of DoOley. at tie time, met
with universal condemnation from our citi-
zens, and it was expected thaethe Freedmen
Bureau would act in the case, and we have
since been informed that a reward of three
hundred dollars had been ofaref for the ar
rest Of Dooley, who is still at large Clarke
Journal.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
ACCOMMODATING.

Mr.. George w. Anderson, blacksmith,
has been appointed registrar for Charlestown
township, and he graciously invites the voters
Of his township to come out to his shop and
rcgister-or not, as suits his fancy. Mr. IS
shop is on the waysidc, about 3! miles from
this town, on the miserable mud road to Lee
town, and very near the extreme line of the
township. The voters, old men and young,
lame, halt and blind, conservative and radi
cal, must trudgc out to this shop from Charles
town, and all other parts Of the district, to
see the mighty potenta'c who is to decide
upon their fitness and suitability to exercise
the right Of voting. Verify, Mr. Anderson
is an accommodating man-a fit type Of the
West Virginia oRice-holdcr-a proper person
to execute the infamous registry law Long
may he blow and strike
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
q F1NE ARrIsr.EIt rarely occurs that !

a FINE Artistic rarely occurs that
town like our own is visited by an artist of
such superior qualifications in his profession
as are possessed oy Mr.. A. f. Smith, whose
Photographic Gallery may be found on Main
street, opposite the Garter House" We
have had occasion to examine number of the
pictures lately executed by Mr.. Smith, and
we hazard nothing in Saying they are the
very best we have ever seen. For correct
ness of likeness and perfection of fuisE, his
pictures are unrivalled by any that nave ever
come under our observation. Oar readers
who may have the old style of pictures of
trends who have fallen during the war, can
have them tran sf1rmed to IN IRE m perish
able shape, aud flashed in u mach superior
style, by taking them to Smiths gallery. We
saw the other dry u large size ptmo5rlph
taken from sui Ill locket picture-Gf IL
young friend Of ours, who fell during the war,
which had as nearly as could be conveyed,
the expression and features of the original ::
and which, as likeness greatly surpassed the
picture from which it Was taken. This was
Was effected by Mr.. 8. in the finish of the
picture, branch of the art with which he is
thoroughly familiar. We understand it is
the desire of Mr.. Smith to establish Il perma-
nent gallery in Charlestown
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
STATE coNvENf1oN.

In view of the fact that the people of JEFF
terson have been violently torn from their
own State Of Virginia, and given over to the
repulsive embraces of West Virgina-made
subject to all the destructive laws enacted
at Wheeling, by the miserable set Of Con-
stitution breakers who composed tho Legis-
lature out there--it becomes us to do everything
in ourpowcr to aid the conservative and we'll
meaning citizens of that State in their efforts
to take the government out of the hands OF
the radical faction. We therefore publish
the following call, which we find in the
Wheeling Register, and ask our citizens to
take part in the proposed Convention
STATE CONvENTIoN.--The citizens of this
State who are opposed to the adoption Of the
proposed amendment to the Constitution of
West Virginia, are requested to assemble in
their respective counties, at such time as they
may deem most expcdient, and appoint one
delegate to represent each election precinct
in their county, in the STATE Convention
to be held at C2drhSGmy, Harrison county,
on Thursday, the 18th day of April. 1866,
for the purpose Of deyising measures of opUo-
sition to the radicaiism now dominant in this
State. BY ORDER; OF COMMITTEES.
Wheeling, March IA, 1866:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27

GETTING RLEU.--Rcferring to Greeicy's
scheme for reconstructing the South by the
aid Of negroes, the Raleigh Progress, Union
paper, says:
We take this occasion to say, for we are
getting rilcd, that we don't care Continental
d-1mjohn if we are never reconstructed.
Union men of the South have suffered 81 long
and so much that they are rather careless
about the .shcbang' any way; and if it is to be
run entirely for tue benefit of the niger, darn
IT they had rather sell out their interest than
not"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-27
A MATRIMONIAL RAID ON DARK1Es


That great moral negro agent, the Freed
mems Bureau, has lately issued an order that
will tell with crushing force on the "bed aud
board" of the African portion of our popu-
lation-au order which compels the masculine
black to join himself in due form Of law, to
the lady of color" with whom he has been
in the habit Of living as {: man and wife :" to
take her for better or worse, richer or poorer,
inHsickness and health-in short to marry
her, provide for her, and pay her doctors bill
Asa large number of these peculiar friends
of Sumner, in every portion of the South,
have always been followers of the Mormon
creed, and have plurality Of wives, so-caled,
this order will put them in pretty pickle.
They will be forced to choose between Dinah
and Kitty. If Dinah is taken to heart and
home, Kitty will necessarily be without her
old man, and Kitty's little ones won't know
who to call their daddy. Ought not Sum
ner, to carry cut his views of equality, intro
duce au amendment to the Constitution pro-
viding that the white man, who has not al
ready blessed himself with a spouse, shall
marry the iotsaken Kitty as condition pre-
cedent to his re-entering the Urion.