Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-01-01
"Assistant Adjutant General"


For the consideration Of our readers we
publish the following letter from one who
dcservedly holds high position in the ven
Grafton of the people not only Of this State
but of the entire South. AS disinterested
looker-on his words, if not sufficient to car
ry conviction, should, at least, cause each
and every one to calmly consider the matter
before they finally place their cdict against
the county subscription to the great Valley
Railroad.
LEXINGTON, VA, II Dec. 1868.
My Dear Colonel:
I am glad to learn from your
letter Of the 18th, that the prospect for the
early construction Of the Rail Road from
Harrisonburg to Salem, is SO favourable.
It is work Of great importance to the fertile
region through which it will pass. Besides
enabling the farmers to send to market their
staple crops with greater ease and profit, it
will render valuable many products of the
farm, orchard and garden, which now, for
want of proper facilities cannot reach a
q market, and in addition will greatly en-
nance the value of the farm itself 1t will
also open the rich mining interests of the up
per part of the Valley, and will afford an
avenue by which capital and labor may be
introduced for the Development of manufac
lures. The almost unanimous vote Of Rock
bridge county, to subscribe four hundred
thousand dollars to the road, proves its i'm
portance in the eyes of its citizens. If the
rich county of Augusta will give an equal
sum, and the counties of Roanoke and Bote-
to4rt each half that amount, it ought to in
sure the early construction Of the road. Rail
Roads have BECOME essential to the growth
and prosperity of a country. Any section
beyond their reach and influence is looked
upon as cut of from the rest Of the commune
ty. They are as necessary now as common
rosds we're a generation ago.
I believe that the advantages which will
flow from this Railroad, when completed
will more than compensate OUR people for
all the money they may spend in its construc-
ton, and will Justify its energetic prosecu-
ton in the face of all the difficulties by which
we are surrounded. The greater our diff
culties, the greater the necessity for contin-
ued effort to overcome them. They are not
insurmountablc and will surely yield before
prudence and energy.
With my earnest wishes for the speedy
completion Of the road,
ana, very respectfully,
and try y yours,
B. B LEE.
Col. NJ. G. HARMAN,
Prest Valley Railroad.
The CoLoREp CoNGREssMAN.-N1enard,
the colored man, who claims to have been
elected to Congress from Louisiana, asserts
that he is the grandson Of Gen Mepard,
who emigrated fIom the province Of louisa
ma to Illinois territory. Menard iabored on
farm in Southern Illinois until he was
nineteen, when he removed to the northern
part of the State. There he worked during
the summer months and attended school
during winter. In 1859 he entered Liberin
College, Ohio, where he remained until
1861, when he visited Canada, returning to
the United States in 1863 He entered the
army as hospital steward, but remained only
a few months, when 4o was assigned desk
in the Immigration BUREAU Of the interior
Department. The prejudice exhibited To-
ward him in his position soon induced him
ITO resign and. he sailed fer British Hondu-
ras. Here he was employed by the British
Honduras Company to make an exploration
of the country, which duty he performed
satisfactorily. He next visited Jamaica and
Hayti, returning to New York in 1865
He then removed to New Orleans and COM
menced his public political career,