davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
RICHMOND, Aprit 18th, 1870.
rae Chahoon, ESQ.

George CAaAoon, Esq:
Sir,-Yours of this date has been received
Using your own language, l have to say that
Il am unwilling that any private interest or
ambition of mine shall be maintained at the
expense of Richmond" If had consulted
my private interests I would have declined
the office of Mayor when rendered me by the
unanimous and wholly unsolicited vote of the
City Council; aud as TO personal ambition, it
exists, on my part only to the extent of earnest.
ly desiring to discharge faithfully all the
duties which are devolved on me, and thus to
secure the'approval of my fellow citizens.
In the steps which have been taken by
myself ond those associated with me to mains
tain the rights of our city and State under
our Constitution and laws, we have been in
fucnced by no private interests or personal
ambition; and we are confident of a triumphant
vindication Of our course by the courts of our
country.
1 can assure you that there is no necessity
for anxiety as to the payment from the city
treasury of the public school-teaehers and
other employees Of the CITY, except the police
Arrangements have beeu already made for
for their payment, and there will be no great
err delay in meeting all the peculiarly obliga>
tlons Of the city than is usual at this period Of
the year.
l decline your proposal that we both cease
to exercise the duties Of Mayor, and also de-
cline the proposition to consolidate the police
This is not necessary to save expense, for the
city ought never to consent to pay both police
organizations And under the instructions
which both of US have given to our men there
is no danger of collision. The peace and good
order Of the city will be fully preserved.
But, participating in your desire for
speedy settlement of the matters in controversy,
propose the following: That we bring be
fore a full bench of the Supreme Court of
Appeals of Virginia (Which meets to morrow),
by writs habe0S corpus sued out by a person
you have confined in Jail and by person I
have confined in Jail, the question of the con-
stitutionality of the law of the State known as
the 'tenabling act" under which hold Office
Let us both waive all technical questions, and
ask the judgment of the court on the main
issue. If the court decides the law to be I'M
constitutional | will at once withdraw all
claims to the Office of Mayor and cease to ex-
ercise its duties. IF the court declares the law
constitutional you are to dismiss all proceed
ings in the circuit court of the United States
and give up all claims to the Office.
IF you agree to the above, it may be proper
for to unite in joint note to the Chief
Justice explaining our course, and assuring
that we mean no disrespect to him. | will
send the note by special messenger to Wash
ington, and if Chief Justice Chase consents
to the arrangements, as he doubtless will, our
municipal controversy may be settled this week.
Respectfully, your obedicnt servant,
II. X. ELLYSoN.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
The Richmond Mayoraltv Case,

Below we give to our readers CORES
pondence between the two Mayors of Rich
mond, which is a step towards a settlement of
the existing municipal difficulty in that city !:
RICHMOND, VA, April 11th, 1870.
II. K. Ehyson, Esq:
Sir,-Without going into the merits of our
municipal difficulty, it must be apparent to
every one having an interest in Richmond
that the city is being greatly injured by the
present anomalous condition of things; and
while am thoroughly satisfied that justice
and right sustain me in the course L have
taken, and that the final decision when reached,
will vindicate the correctness of that opinion,
still the case has just been postponed, and
may be again. In the mean time the city
is the sufferer both in reputation and money.
am unwilling that any private interest or
ambition of mine shall be maintained at the
expense of Richmond and to the end that
good feeling may be restored, and the I'M
necessary drain upon our city treasury be
stopped, and that injunctions may be dismissed
which act to stop the pay of our police, the
teachers of our public schools, the laborers
upon our streets, in the gas and water depart
ments, &c, from the best of motives, and in
the hope that you will feel no delicacy in its
acceptance, respectfully submit the following
proposition ::
We shall both at once cease to exercise the
duties of Mayor, and leave the Recorder or
Senior Alderman to act as though there were
vacancy in the Mayors Office. The police
force to be recognized as constituted on the
10th of March the men since appointed by
either of us to be,paid as special policemen
up to the date of this agreement and dis
charged. This proposition is to be construed
as not in any manner affecting our case before
the courts, nor to be binding after judicial
settlement is effected, its whole intention being
to save the city from large and useless ex-
penditure of money and to secure payment to
large number of worthy persons who are
wholly dependent upon their daily labor for a
support
If you consider this proposition ilIiberal in
any respect, please state your objections cam
didly, with view that some agreement may
be speedily affected.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE CHAHooN.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
CELESTIAL Or OTHERWISE.

The times may change, the sentinel may
know little of what transpires within camp,
but the most ludicrous of all is the attempt
of a star to shine in the clear light of noon
day The little luminary at Martinsburg has
borrowed "the wings Of imagination" and
come down from its orbit, to perch upon the
more prominent of railroad prcjects-the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad-where, with
the majesty of the eagle, he has announced
that doubtful things are very uncertain"
meaning, of course, that it is exceedingly
doubtful that the people Of Berkeley will vote
in favor of the Martinsburg branch, when the
Charlestown and Luray route of the great
t'snA line lies for a considerable distance
through or alongside the territory of Berkeley
county. However, ''let US be cherry"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
DIED.

On Tuesday last, at his residence in Clarke conn
~, Mr.. JOHN Il. CAMPBELL, formerly OF this
place, aged IS years.
On Saturday, the srh inst, near Duffield,e Depo,
MrsSMARY ELiENSFRODS, wife OF p H. Strobe :
ESQ., Hna dSSgher q the late Col Ed E.EdsLucaeS
Thus passed away by Consumpt,on that in,;5 inn.
disease which hFings sad Bereavement 10 90 many
hearts, genlles loving spirit who.bv tbe nn;for1,
kindness OF ~ her actions. showed disposition 90
great aniability and bound herself in the stron
bonds of affection large circle Of admirin fisr5s
mourn as those who are without hope Tor she died
expressing her faith and hope in thar sayior mo-
teachings aud example had exerted 60 great an in
huence upon her life.
On the 18th inst, at the residence of her father
in this county, Miss ELlZABE1H WATSON
daughter of Josiah Watson, aged about II yeaIs
On Tuesday evening last, at Duffield's Depot in
this county, Hlr. JOHN F. BANE, aged so years.
His IemAius Tere inferred by ths Masonic knteE-
nifty.
At the rcsidcnee OF Mr. Isaac HeidwohI, on Thura-
day morning last, Mr. JACOB P. CRAFT, of this
county, aged about "a ytars.
Near UnionvilIs, Saturday evening, the 9Th
met, Mr. DAVID NICHOLS, u highly respectcd
citizeIs aged 81 years.
At walnut Grove, on the 9Th jnst., of TIpho;d
Pneumonia. DR.. CLARENCE RIVERS, in tie ISL,
year OF his age.
At Bunker HilI. Berkeley county, on the sth ina.
after long and painful illness, which chs bore
with Christian fOT tituie, Nj ANN BOW ERS con-
sort Of the late Henry Bowers, aged - years.
In Martinsburg, on the llth inst, of ConEump-
ton, Miss SUSAN MENTZEH, in the pod year of
herage.
At'Ossan. - in this county, tho residence OF hi.
parents, on the 9th Ult., THOMAS ALEXANDER
in faut SON of Arthur NJ. and Jane S. Allen,
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
VALLEY ITEMS.

From our Valley exchanges We cory the
following items =
= For the week ending the Tth of April,
there was shipped from the Staunton Depot
of the Ches. & o. r. r., I'll barrels of -four
= The Virginia State Council of the
Friends of Temperance will meet in Waynes-
boro', on Tuesday evening, the 26th of April.
- Messrs. Baker & Co, of Winchester,
have in contemplation, the erection of an i'm
m snee Touring mill that will turn out two
hundred barrels of flour per day.
The effects of Mike Lipmau's Circus ad-
and G. p Gather, Deputy Sheriff, sold in
Winchester, on Saturday week, for 1870.
John Quinlan, the little boy who was
weeks since in Waynesboro', Augusta county,
fingered until the 9th, when he died.
A young man by the name of Campbell,
employed at Cotopaxi Furnace, near Shcr-
ando, Augusta county, while Telling trees, .
few days since, was caught under falling
tree and crushed to DEATH
Mr.. Richard Randolph, of the Baltir
more & Ohio Railroad, assisted by Mr.. Charles
G. cambridge, with his corps of Engineers,
have commenced the survey of the Valley
Railroad from Harrisonburg TO Salem.
100. F.-The annual meeting of the
Grand Council of Virginia, which came off at
Winchester on Wednesday, was quite a
cess. There were~present over fifty members
from distance, representing nearly every
Lodge in the State.
Jacob Fogle. while engaged in chopping
timber on the farm of Daniel Sibert in
Powell's Fort Shenandoah county, on the 9th
inst, was caught by falling tree, receiving
injuries from which he died the following day.
Judge Pendleton has purchased Selma,
the late residence of Hon. James NJ. Mason
near town, for $4,000, $1,000 advance on what
it brought two years ago. The tract contains
| nine acres. Judge p, we are glad to learn,
| proposes erecting handsome residence. In
the short sojourn he has already made among
us, he has earned the respect aud esteem OF
the community, aud the prospect of his per-
manently making his hone in Winchester
gives general pleasure mcAester Ne,cs
Terrible r. r. AccIDENT.-The En-
CINE, Rappahannock, attached to the regular
Freight, on Captain I1en's train, running
between this point and Harrisonburg blew up,
on Monday night last, whilst standing at the
depot at lIarrisonburg, about four minutes
beior the schedule time for leaving that place
on the return trip. The explosion was terrible
III tile extreme. shatterInT into fragments the
entire engine and killing instantly Mr.. Charles
Davis, engineer. and Mr. james Ash, fireman.
Mr.. Davis was blown upon the left aud Mr.
Ash upon the right of the engine. the former
torn into four pieces his head found about
eight feet from his body, and one foot stripped
of the boot, was found upon the opposite side
of the engine. The body of the fireman was
found about ten feet on the right of the en-
CINE. with his torch close by his side-his
neck and left leg broken and bruise upon his
faco--t Shenandoah Herald
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
DEMOCRATIC CONSERVATIVE
CONVENTION,

In this issue will be found call from the
State Executive Committee. for State Con-
vention, to be held at Charleston, on the Sth
OF June next An early organization of the
masses opposed to the present proscriptive
policy of the Radical party in this State, is
most desirable, and we trust that the County
Executive Committee will lose no time in call
ing the people together for the purpose of
electing delegates to said Convention. Let US
close up the ranks and march in solid column
to the conflict, and the ides of November may
witness the dawning of a new era in the
political history of West Nirginia
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
RICHMOND, VA, April II, 1870.

H. K. EWySon, Esq:
Sir,-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your communication Of this date,
proposing to leave the matter in controversy
between US to the decision of the Court OF
Appeals Of Virginia.
Being exceedingly DESTROYS of having a
speedy termination of our municipal difficulty,
l most cheerfully consent to your proposition
and hope that no unnecessary delay may occur
in obtaining decision that will have the eff
feet of restoring Richmond to peace and quiet,
and relieve our people from unnecessary ex-
pense.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedlent servant,
GEORGE CAHooN.
From the Wing of the 18th instant, we
take the following -
The acquiescence of General Wise in the
course of proceeding agreed upon by Messrs.
Ellyson and Chahoon, was communicated
from Washington yesterday. Accordingly a
petition was presented to the Supreme Court
of Appeals yesterday by Archibald Dyer,
praying for a writ of habe0s corpus. The
substance of the petition is that Dyer is ile-
gally detained in custody by the act of Henry
X. Ellyson, representing himself to be Mayor
of Richmond" 1t is unnecessary to state
more fully the contents of the petition, as the
sole object was to make case to bring the
question of constitutionality before the Court
The writ was awarded, returnable on Mon
day next. An earlier day could not be fixed
on, as it was inconveDient for one or two of
the counsel to be present until the day named
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19

LoNGEvITY.-We notice that sundry ex.
changes are giving the extreme ages of certain
of their inhabitants with the view of estab-
fishing the salubrity Of particular localities
We are entitled to say in this matter.
There resides in the town of Warrenton an
aged couple who were born in the county of
Fauquier. and have never in life eanderings
wandered beyond the sight of the smoke of
the parental chimney, whose united ages
make one hundred and ninety FIVE years.
The age of the husband is SO years, that of
his wife Sc; both enjoy uninterrupted good
health, and, with the exception of being
somewhat deaf, are in the full possession of
all their faculties. The husband occasionally
transacts business on the street, but generally
employs his time at light work about his
sons premises. He rarely uses spectacles
and has lost but one tooth in his life !; and
the wife does not consider herself exempt by
age or infrmity from indoor domestic duties
They were married upwards of seventy six
years ago, and the day for the celebration of
their golden wedding occurred more than
half century since. They are quiet, uu-
obtrusive old couple. the evening of whose
protracted lives we trust, is illumined by IN
faltering. faith in the comforting promises of
that Great Eternal, who, if he has withheld
from them riches, has nevertheless melted out
to them an unusual length of days.
WarrentOn Lder.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
A CORRECTION

Within the past week we have been sur
prised to learn that report is current, in
some portions of the county, that previous to
the late election we received a communica-
ton taking ground in opposition to the rail-
road subscription, and refused its publication.
It is true that such an article, prepared by a
well known citizen of Jefferson, was present.
ed by his son to one of the editors of this pa
per for publication, just previous to the last
issue prior to said election; but the article
being SO extremely lengthy as to preclude its
publication, unless we did so to theexcluson
of almost everything else, the gentleman was
requested to cut it down and give us the SUBJ
stance in more condensed form. This he
promised to do, but, unfortunately, sickness
prevented, and hence the cause of its nom
appearance in the columns of the Spirit.
We regret exceedingly that such report
should have gained credence among our read
ers, as we makssit rule not to close the COL
umns of our paper against an honorable reply
to anything contained therein, but trust that
the above explanation will be sufficient to al
lay all blame that may attach to US in the
matter. The press should ever be the i'm
partial organ Of the community where pub
lished, and on this platform we mean to cons
duct the Spirit Of JEFFERSON, reserving to our
self the right to say to what extent our COL
umns may be used
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19

PROPOSED NATIONAL NAVY YARD AT
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.-At meeting of the
Norfolk Board of Trade on Monday, report
was made by special committee, favorable to
the establishment Of National Navy Yard. at
that city.
The report sets forth in brief the natural
advantages of the city for the purposes-the
climate, harbor, &c. which was unanimously
adopted by the Board, and a committee con-
sisting of five northumberland VIM. Lamb,
Colonel John Hinton, Washington Reed,
Hon j. McMinn and S. A. Stevenson-weTe
appointed to proceed to Washington and lay
the subject before Congress before site is
selected for the transfer of the Brooklyn Ma
Wy Yard. The Navy Yard at Portsmouth
Uhe Gosport Yard) is large and has every
facility for repairing and building vessels, but
itneeds considerable repairs to make it as com.
plete as it was previous to the war The fresh
water from the Great Dismal Swamp will be
excellent for IRON cads, and the facilities are
such, that all our feet can be accommodated
there at one time.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
a PHENoMENoN IN MA1NE.-A cores

a PHENOMENON IN MAINE.-A cores
pondent of the Lewiston (Ie.) .J"mrn0L says
singular phenomenon occurred last week in
the field of John Gould, Ir., in Lisbon. A
loud noise was heard in the vicinity and On
the same day ti'e shock Of an earthquake was
experienced at Richmond People rushed out
OF doors and around to discover the cause of
the noise, but nothing unusual could be seen.
Since then, it bad been found that a lurgs
mass of earth had been lifted frrp. its place
in Mr.. Gould's field by some unkn power
The earth removed is nearly in the form of
parelelogram on the surface. 1t is as regular,
aud the corners well defined, as though cut
by saw, and was thrown out apparently by
some tremendous power exerted by all parts
alike, and ii was deposited right side up
half its width from the place it formerly oc-
cupied. The ground on one side of the hole
is pulled MP about six inches, to the rising
land, about a rod distant.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19

WHERE Is BARNUM.-Mr. Conrad Grim,
an. individual who nearly sixty years ago
opened his eyes upon the beauties of nature as
revealed in the blue hills of Loudoun, and
who from that day to this has lived within ten
miles of Leesburg, the county seat, made his
first appearance upon our streets on Monday
last. TraditionalIy, he learns that when a
child he was once carried to the District
beyond that he has no knowledge of ever before
having been SO far from home as on Monday,
when in this town. Mr. e. is small of stature.
somewhat Rip Van Winklish in his appearance
but converses well, and is possessed of the
full average ofintelIigence. Several negroes
are now confined 10 the Jail here upon the
charge of robbing him Of watch sometime
since, and to his supposition that they would
have been tried on Monday, are we Indebted
for his presence at that time
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19

IMPORTANT Discovery OF GoLD-R Rob,
berry and Shooting.-On Saturday. A pril
OH, while Doctors Murphy and KolIoeh, of
Philadelphia, we're working the Goodwin
Mine, belonging to the Lewis Brothers, of
Spotsylvauia, they came suddenly upon a rich
vein of solid gold, and in a few minutes took
out several hundred dollars. On leaving the
property for the night, they left guard of
three men with loaded guns, TO protect the
gold that was still in sight their names being
john Stubs, William billiard. and Robert
secray. About 8 o'ci"ck, Sunday morning,
they discovered two Oftae workmcu secretly
going into the mine. named Alexander Brooks,
aud Thad. fairfield they " re ordercd out by
the guard. who appeared suddenly upon them,
fading them collecting some Of the gold. and
not going soon enough, one of the guards were
fred upon three times. the men. fortunately
for themselves. escaped without injury. We
hope this will be lesson To them. warrant
for their apprehension has been issued.
Fredericksburg Herul4.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
Fearful Leap of an Insane Woman.

AT Troy, n. Y, few nights ago, young
woman was sent to private hospital, where.
as the Troy Times relates, the following re-
markable incident occurred
'In day or two species of mild insanity
developed itself. but by careful treatment and
nursing this was materially mod fled. On
Sunday night last the attack was renewed
In the middle of the night she arose suddenly
and made rush for one OF the windows in
the ward, which was in the third story of the
building, and attempted TO jump out OF it to
the ground below, distance of lhirty-six feet
The attendant observed her just as she was
making tie fatal leap. and succeeded in catch
ing her by the clothes and holding on to her
until assistance arrived from the male depart
ment One of the male attendants caught
her by the hands and attempted to draw her
back into the window but his strength was
unequal to the task. and the woman continued
to siuk lower and lower as the tension upon
his arms grew greater and greater each mo-
ment. No one could render him the least as
sistance. When his strength was wholly ex-
haus.ed he was compelled to let go of the girl.
and heavy thud from the earth below echoed
painfully through all hearts, as it was supposed
she could not make the fall without being
killed. The attendants rushed down to the
girl, expecting to fad her lifelcss remains be-
low but fortunately in this they were mis-
taken, and with little assistance the poor
woman was enabled to walk back to her part
ments She scarcely injured When
asked the next day why she attempted to jump
out Of the window, she said she thought she
heard her mother calling her. She is now
improving rapidly.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19

General Sheridan is about to order a new
coat of arms, having promised to bestow upon
his orderly that bearing the torch and the
burning haystack. The device of the new
one will represent a wooden soldier rampant,
with one foot resting upon a large pile of In
dian women and children with their throats
cut from ear to ear. One hand will sustain
the American flag, and the other will grasp a
butcher-knife pointing downward and stream
ing with blood, while from the heroic lips of
the warrior will fall the motto in articulate
thunder, Thus Perish the Enemies Of My
C0untry.- Courier Journal
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19

EsT A recent Washington letter to the
New York independent reminds us of two
little incidents, the one in the life of Senator
Brownlow and the other in that of Senator
Drake. These men are now hand-in>g glove
with Revels and his Radical colleagues in Con-
gress, and yet few years ago BrownIow
prayed that if he died at the North his coffin
might be left open at one end so that he
could crawl away from the Abolitionists and
about the same time Drake introduced bill
into the Missouri Legislature requiring all the
free colorcd people in that State to be sold into
slavery!
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-19
Bs% Late Cuban advices indicate that til

Bsy- Late Cuban advces indicate that the
reVolutionists are in bad way, and are di-
minishing with frightful rapiditJ. The rebel
Congress has been dsbanded and General
Jordan, the Commander-in Chief, has fed the
country. In several cities the Cubans are
volunteering in support of the old government,
and as the main body of insurgents is already
surrounded by the Spanish, speedy termi-
nation of hostilities may be looked for. OF
course fighting will continue for some time,
but it will be after the guerrilla style so pecu-
liarIy adapted to the nature of Spanish Amer
leans.