Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-04
For the SPECTATOR.
0ld-Time RecollectiOns.

q
0ld-Time Recollecti0ns.
MIR. EDIToR:-Inthe quest, few month
since, Of cur venerable frie d, M atthe'
Pilson. an epitnme Of much of the histor
Of the past, the topics weie numerous, an
We could only enjoy their recital and recu
to them after. We asked him lately t
write out some of them. A brief descrip
tion of the
OLD COURTHOUSE
will enable the reader to better appreciat
what follows:
"The old house of brick was smaller thai
the pres nj, tho armed chai. occupied b.
tue Judge, and plain bench on the lef
by the magistracy, arranged much on tn
order Of what it is now. The portrait o
Chi-f-Justice Marshall-I do not remembe
when procured-graced the wall in rear o
the Judge. The bar, with railing in semi
|circular form and seat OF bench in from
of it. A large pillar a little way from til,
bar. and in rear, think, supported tn
roof. A box, chair-shaped, to the left, wal
occupied by the criminal on trial, with :
seat in rear of it for the jailor, so that III
might be near and have his 'ye on th'
prisoner. Preceding Peter Kurz, the jailo
was Henry Speck. In Judge Sluart's day
he was dignified and pai ticular in seeing
subordinates in their place. Some tria
was in progress that elected much interest
the Courthouse was crowded. Specl
brought in the prisoner, (anu very conse
qnential in manner and under certain Cir
cumstances put on a great deal.) marched
up and took his seat on the bench near his
witness. Mr.. Peyton prosecutor at the time,
the Judge, addressing him, said: "Mr. P,
will you please tell me who is the jailor OF
this cpunty?" Mr. Speck, with much con.
sequence, sprang up: 81 am, your Honor.
is your place. SIR" The Courthouse was
in roar, the Judge smiled, and old mau
Speck ever after roos ed lower. The Court
house yard was Of the same size as at
present, but enclosed with locust posts and
-four-inch scantling, three to the pann,l, and
inserted in diamond shape, and painted
red. Persons were not permitted to hitch
to the posts under any circumstances. The
Clerks office, one story, brick, was at the
north side of the yard.
ELECTION FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES FOR
1928.
There were two candidates in the field,
of whom the late David W. Pattison, a
native Of buckingham, was one. do not
remember who the other was ON his side.
do nos recall the exact state Of party is
sues at the time. yet think all were Wings,
but The local question of the removal of the
Capital to StauntOn at the time created
deep interest. Freehold suffrage was then
in existence, and the county all voted in
Staunton and the polls were kept open
three days. The most influential citizens
of town aud county all concurred in believ-
ing that We ought to have the strongest
and IN st influential delegation that cou d
be ,ut in the fed. Gen. Baldwin and
Daniel Sheffey were strongly solicited to
run They consented to serve if elected.
Col. Patti,on held on, the other candidate
declined, and the friends of each buckled
on their ar'mo and the young men, having
no vote, did much of the elecinneel ing.
the names Of the candidates having b en-
announced by old man C,llett in his PAPER.
The excitement ran high, and in the start
Gen. Baldwin led; presently Pattison came
up and up to the evening of the third day
eli three aiternated4 as the iFaiing caudf
date, when little before sun down Capt.
Samuel Miller, from the Iron Wotks, then
in the zeuith Of his success, as one of the
llrgest iron manufacturers i'll the Valley.
rode down street ut the head ot II party If
fifteen or twenty voters. Riding up, they
threw The reins over the posts around the
yard, and Capt. Miller, Il stalwarr in size
grave and Of few words. marched into th-
Court house, The others following in single
file. A large, anxious, and expeciant
crowd had assembled, and such was the
exciten ent aud suspense that the drop of a
pin could very nearly have been heard
john Churchman, us Sheriff, on saying,
'Samuel Miller, who do you vote for?' and
receiving The response Baldwin and Shef-
fey such shout went up as was perhaps
never before or since eXcelled.
MOVING THE CAPITAL.
do not know how long after. but a num-
ber of years, when our friend N. X. Trout,
who, rs you know, was exceedingly happy
with his pencil, ma'le the removal of the
Capital the subject of one of his Most suc-
cc.sful cartoons
lie represented the Capitol mounted on
wheels in big dray. Sneffry in the shafts
at the wheel, Gen. 3 B,ldwin in the lead
the University, which was then lin 1825)
thought the Capital and everything else
ought to be concentrated at that spot.
Judge Stuart was very warm friend Of
Mr.. Jefferson. and while exceedingly anx-
ious for the Capital to come 10 Stauuton,
didn't want Mr.. jefferson know it, for fear
of giving him offence. Nick represent d
the old man at Rockfish Gap very conspic-
uolrsly beckoning to Baldwin and Sheffey,
crI II l,o loiu
Jefferson, with big stone, was attempting
TO scotch the wheel, whilst Sheffey, strain
ing every nerve. was calling t., Baldwin in
his broken German, ''Bull. Baldwin, ull."
recall another exciting and memorable
contest for Congress between Jacob Swoope,
think, and Gen. Wm. Mccoy, of Frank.
the Rrvs. J ,hn McCue, Wm. G llhoun, AMI
VIM. Wilson, all great Federalists. took a
very active part, and gave great offence to
many Of their friends of the same polir ical
faith. Then the contest between Robert
Craig, of Montgomery, and Samuel Med.
Moore, of R"ckbridgc for Congress- was
of g eat feeling and excitement. Ths right
of suffrage had been extended. Mr.. Craig
had been in Coagicss, aud Mr.. Moo e, as u
member of the II emorable Convention of
IoEJ- oo. Hdu iilaue IL StTOun uSub lOr IT'S
extension The efforts in this county, al
though Mr.. Cfais came with c nsidtrAble
majority frcm the upper end of the district,
resulted in electing NJ. None.
One of The most memorable contests for
Congress. perhaps. in my remembrance,
was that between Gov. Nc cDowell and Mr..
Stuart. Although each sustaim d in the
most strenuous manner his opinions, it was
done with digniied courtesy aud an utter
absence of every thing that could touch or
wound the personal feelings. They trav-
eled in the same coach, and for auyht |
know, occupied the same room.
BETHEL CHURCH.
In the paragraph yo', published some
time ago, the facts of which furnished ynu,
it was CORE CT as far as it aent hut find not
enough. The Rev. VIM. II.
Scott, Of Handy county, son of the Rev.
A. Scntt "f Bethel. its first pastor, had two
sons i'll 'he III nistry, and, l think, some
glandsons. OF course, we have nu right TO
claim them Rev. Robert II. Chapman, D
D., pastor Of Bethel from 1916 to 1921, had
two sons, with whomT went to school at
Grecnville, Robert Chapman, D. D., i'll
North Caro- ina, and Rev. VIM. Chapman,
some time since in Missouri. We claim
Rev. james Humphreys now teaching and
preaching in Monroe county, W. Va, and
Rev. David c. Humphreys, who died young
n ftAv vears nyn Tbov :, o,o co,,c .,c Gan,