Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-02
Before the Reconstruction Committee.
A special telegram to the Dispatch dated

Before the Reconstruction Committee.
A special telegram to the Dispatch dated
January 18th, reads:
1.-THE Reconstruction Committee again to-day
had under consideration the proposition of the
Virginia Conservatives. A Rev. MIR. Elder, a
Methodist preacher of that State, testified to
the committee that society in Virginia was In a
fearfully bad condition, that neither person nor
property was safe, and that he could not preach
a sermon there without having two rcvolvers in
his pocket; that he would be egged if he were
unarmed, etc.
To this Mr.. Brooks, a member of the com:
mittee, remarked that the reverend gentleman
would require whole battery of guns to pro-
tect him in New York if he should speak as
violently of the people in the latter State as he
represented himself as speaking relative to the
interests of the citizens of Virginia. Mr.. Els
der, however, made !, very plausible statement
from his standpoint"
WHO is "Rev Mr.. Elder? asks one of our
exchanges He is Presiding Elder Phelps, of
Staunton, carpet bag preacher. l-Rackmond
Dispatch.
The following is an extract from the Edito-
rial Washington correspondence of the Rich
mond Wing of Jan. 25th
II understand that the carpet,bag preacher,
who is the Presiding Elder of the Stauntonn
District Baltimore Conference, drew dismal
picture Of the political and social condition Of
the Commonwealth, represented the lives OF
loyal men, as unsafe, and actually declared
privately to one of the committee (Mr. Farms
WORTH that he was under the necessity of
preaching with pair of pistols belted around
him. Mr.. Brooks, of New York, lone of the
committee overhearing this declaration, told
MIR. FarnsWorth that he was not surprised at
such a man having to go armed, for he was
satisfied after hearing his statements that if he
undertook to preach in New York, anywhere
south of Albany, instead of one pair of pistols,
he would need at least four pairs for his pro-
lection Just think-this wretched creature
calls himself a minister of God!'
The following is an extract from the Edito-
rial Washington correspondence of the Rich
mond Dispatch of Jan. 25th:
Before Mr.. Whittlesey was called before the
committee, the political parson, Phelps, from
Staunton said his say. 1t was called Zero
cious sermon, a sort of sermonized canting
PHILIPPE upon the southern people, in which a
gross outrage upon that people was sought to
be justified by their alleged wickedness. The
rubicund and boiling parson declared that such
was the peril in which he lived that he had
been compelled to preach with two pistols in
his pocket A member of Congress present
said to another that if the parson we're to
preach any such sermon as that in New York
anywhere South of Albany he would require
four pistols fer his protection. He thought it
doubtful whether even with that number he
would escape with whole bones hardly his life.
Mr.. Phelps confessed that the Methodist
church in Staunton-one of many he is trying
to seize and possess-had $40 odd members,
while he had none to speak of; Mr.. Baldwin
says only one besides his son, who is irregular
in his attendance y but only give him the
church, and his commitments would increase
as rapidly as Falstats in Buckram and Kendall
Green. There was an irrepressible smile at
these bright prospects of the red and boiling
parson
The Washington correspondent e. of the
Bait Gazette under date of January Goth says !:
"a conversation with the Richmond commit
tee makes it quite clear that they have no hope
of the present Congress doing anything for the
relief of Virginia. Only few days ago this
committee was hopeful-now they are despon>
dent. General Schofeld assured them to-day
that he thought there was no hope for relief
until after General Grant should be inaugura-
ted. J. S. Barbour and several other distin-
guished Virginans arrived to-day to add their
become satisfied that it is hoping against hope
to anticipate such action at the hands of the
present Congress as would tend to relieve the
embarrassments or restore the prosperity Of the
Old Dominion.
The following is the Associated Press Des-
patch Of Jan. 9th:
Colonel Baldwin to day, before the Recon
sruction Committee, combatted the evidence
given by Elder Phelps, Of the Northern Meth
odist Episcopal Church. by producing Phelps
evidence before the investigation ordered by
General etoneman The two statements, it is
claimed, contradict each other in way fatal to
the credibiity of either
Mr.. Whittlesey made quite long argument
against the plan Of the committee Of nine and
the removal Of the political disabilities of the
incumbents Of Virginia Offices. He concludes
tomorrow.
The following is an extract from the Editorial
correspondence of the Richmond Wing dated
Washington Jan. 9th, from which it will be
seen that Mr.. Phelps did not say that she was
under the necessity Of wearing pistols in the
pulpit, but that one or some of bis brother
preachers were:
Il spent another morning in attendance on
the Reconstruction Committee, Colonel Bald
win, (who arrived last night in company with
Judge John A. Campbell and J. T. Campbell,
Esq, distinguished Conservative member Of
the late Constitutional Convention, was punc~
tually in attendance at the hour Of ten, to meet
his appointment with the Reconstruction Com
mittee. The carpet-bag member from Ala~
bama Mr.. Norris). at whose instance Col.
Baldwin was re called for cross examination: at
once entered upon bis task, and task it seemed
to be. He fumbed over the manuscript cons
tanning Colonel B. s former testimony, and at
intervals of some minutes, propounded cues
tions sometimes embracing statement, an ar
gument and question In the same proposition.
The questions had but little relevancy or point,
and were answered by Colonel B. with the ut
most clearness and ease. The aim OF the in>
terrogator seemed to be to show some inconsis~
tency between the different parts of the wit
ness statement, but failing to do so, and find
ing in Col. Baldwin more than his match, he
soon announced that he had no more questions
to PROFOUND No other member Of the COM
mittee asked questions, and so the cross exam
ination ceased, after occupying about twenty
minutes Colonel Baldwin then asked and obs
tanned leave to say something in regard to rep
reservations that had been made to him in rela-
ton to the testimony given before the commit
tee on Friday last by the Rev. Phelps, who
was mentioned in a previous letter. The Chair
man Mr.. BoutweD stated that Mr.. Phelps
had not testified that he was under the neces-
sity of wearing pistols in the pulpit, but that
one or some of his brother preachers we're
Col. Baldwin then referred the committee to
the evidence given by Phelps and others before
a military commission sent to Stanton by Gen.
Stoneman, which evidence is now at General
Stonemans headquarters in Richmond. y