Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-18
THE DEPARTMENT CLERKS
AROUSED.


THE DEPARTMENT CLERKS
AROUSED.
To those now middle-aged and grave
gentlemen, resident of the Southern sec
ton Of this Union, who in ragged pants
enclosing empty stomachs, stalked about
under various commanders at the handsome
sum of from twelve dollars to six hundred
dollars per month (both amounts being of
equal value in the aimsy paper in which
they were paid, and discharged numerous
revolvers, muskets and cannon in an eff
fort to break up the government, in which
they signally failed, the news that they
will shortly be called on to 60 through the
same experience will be extremely unwel-
come, unless, indeed, the news we receive
from the sUnion Army Veterans" to the
effect that these now bald headed but sly
dogs have been surreptitlously anxious
for the same, is correct. Few who notice
them, as they trot patiently behind baby
carriages, or spring with greatly impaired
agility behind store counters, or stop be-
hind pillow to wipe the sweat from their
brows, or trudge along in other walks of
life, would ever suspect the fierce love Of
war which reigns within their placid
bosoms, but the Union Veterans" have
found them out, and last week, in the me-
tropolis of the nation, exposed them.
1t appears chat Company A, OF Wash
ington city, turned out last week to wei
come company something else, from Nor
folk. and that both companies, being only
companies and not regiments or batallions,
carried their company flags and not the
national colors. Company something
else carried the State flag of Virginia, in
which State Norfolk is located. This fact
was Immediately noted by that patriotic
body in the national capital known as
.sUnion Army Veterans or "Grand
Army of the Republic or names to that
effect, body Of patriots who, having
served their country in the field in capaci-
ties varying from aquartermaster to suit
Ter, are now serving it in the capacity of
government clerks at salaries varying from
six hundred to several thousand dollars
per annum. A meeting of these official
warriors was promptly held, and the re-
marks were of a character to stir every
patriots bosom. A gentleman, who oc-
cupies position of great danger in the
Garden Seed and Beet Root Department.
denounced the visiting company from Vir-
ginia in the handsomest style. He said
that ssthese internal rebels had been
whipped at Appomatox Court House by
men who carried the stars and stripes, ano
had skunk off like whipped ours: but now
they are coming back and exhibiting rebel
rags instead of the flag of the nation >
While there was undeniable style about
this address, the next following it, deliver
ed by the Grand Custodian OF the Ma
tional Colors of the Treasury Depart
ment quite eclipsed it. To thai
gentleman's keen vision we owe
the discovery that the blue flag
borne by the Norfolkians had the inscrip-
ton "Sic semper tyrannis,'' which The
Grand Custodian remarked was ''a motto
very dear to the Southern people, especi-
ally since Booth had used it at the time BIT
aesassinated President Lincoln and re-
calling the assassination the speaker be
came much excited and insisted that tin
stead of bearing flag at the head of thei
column they should have had a pair OF
pants inscribed 'Pestilence.'" A first class
clerk of the Wind and Bellows Depart
ment. followed with an offer 'sto be one Of
a party to go upon the streets and hoo'
and howl at company A until they were
driven back to their armory to get Uni
ted States flag" A commissioned Officer
at the Beef Contract Department hand
sonely offered ''to join party to compel
company A to carry United States flag
The Head Clerk of tho Fresh Poultry De
uartnent called the Norfolk company
sstbose creatures" and said that they had
come to Washington and "faunted an in
suit in the face Of Union men," He
mended his bold considerably in closing.
nv calling the Norfolk soldiers "rebel
whelps.''
This display Of affection for the ma
tional flag will be gratifying to the country
at large, giving comforting assurance
that neither pains nor expense Will OF
spared by the clerks OF the Departments
tn resent all insults Haunted at it by rebel
whelps. It is true that the company a
complained of was the first mustered into
service at Washington to defend that City
AGAINST the Confederates, and also chat not
a half dozen of the young Norfolk soldiers
ever saw an engagement or heard gun
fred in the war. but these are small mat
tars when we consider that the visit was
the occasion of a splendid Outburst OF
patriotic valor among the government
clerks attesting their readiness to march
down at once and engage in deadly con-
fict the now quiet and middle aged gen.
tlemen who composed the late Confederate
army, and who, we are told, have a sneak
mig preference lurking within their paid
heads for that appalling motto, "Sic semp-
per tyrannis." In the meantime let US
have the chorus from the Pinafore OF the
-'Capital
Tn, member of the G. A r.
In war I'm away of far
RTt IN times OF peace
NV courage will incr ease,
And I'm as fierce as Wild tl-Saf
+ hate the South and damn it too,
Whenever find it safe to do.
ineyer did fight. but bowls when wants; .,,n+s
And SO do my sisters and my cousins ana my anS
Choyns-And SO do his sisters and MS conslhs an"
his auntS.
LIT. Gen. Dick Taylor, son of EXPIRES
ident Zachary Taylor, and brilliant COM
mander in the Confederate army, died in