Staunton Spectator Brian Erb 04/08/96 Colleen Doody second pass, 6/7/97
StauntonAugustaVirginia
1861 September 10 Tuesday weekly 02
1 North and South Richmond Whig

The Richmond Whig says that "no people who respect themselves can desire association with the Yankee race--no State that cherishes independence can trust its fortunes to Yankee government. One by one the bulwarks of State sovereignty, and the muniment of individual liberty, have been destroyed, till nothing remains worth preserving. A reign of terror prevails in the Yankee States, and those subject to them, as complete, if not yet quite so violent, as swept over France in the days of Robespierre. As one of their journals remarks, it requires but one step to inaugurate the scenes of the French revolution when the guillotine was a perennial fountain of blood.

Men and women are daily arrested in Washington, New York and Philadelphia (says a contemporary, summing up the atrocities of the usurpation,) and thrown into loathsome dungeons, without warrant of law, and without being confronted with their accusers or advised of the charges against them. Journals are suppressed for denouncing the actions of the Government. Editors are lynched and their printing offices destroyed by the mob. Forced loans are demanded of the banks. A system of detectives is organized at Washington, to dog the steps of peaceable citizens, report to the tyrants and arrest persons suspected of opposing the usurper's will. No Neapolitan despotism or Spanish Inquisition ever exceeded in the measure of its cruelty, the present Dictatorship at Washington. The Doge's dungeon in Venice, which yet stands a monument of tyranny, is represented in Forts LaFayette and Hamilton, names that are worthy of a more honorable fate. The Government of the United States is prostituted to the vilest purposes of the most infamous men that ever walked the earth. There is no such thing as public or individual liberty in the United States. Men, to be free, must sing paens [sic] to a baboon and worship the Government of usurpers. They must sanction the most unholy war ever waged against a free people. They must approve of the destruction of their own liberties. They must become slaves, in order to enjoy exemption from molestation.

There is more in these arrests than meets the eye. It indicates a deep and determined opposition to the acts of Government, among the wiser and more virtuous men of the North. It evinces that the tyrants are trembling on their thrones and fear the day of reckoning, which will sweep them violently from their seats of power. They fear not only the armies of the Confederate States, which, in the language of a member of the Cabinet, are already "thundering at the gates of the Capitol." They stand in awe not merely of those gallant legions, which have driven them like dogs howling back to their kennels from Bethel, Manassas and Oak Hill. But they fear the, as yet, unorganized masses of their own section, who are preparing for them the doom of Belshazzar, and who will hold them to a just and stern accountability for their crimes. They fear the rising indignation of an outraged and down-trodden people, who have been betrayed by fear and excitement into an acquiescence in the usurper's acts, but who have not been educated in the short space of five months to support the yoke of an absolute despotism, after having received the blood bought heritage of freedom from their fathers, and enjoyed its blessings from their birth.

Meanwhile the Confederate States are calm and impregnable. But for the mustering of the troops, which we see about us every day, we should scarcely know that anything unusual was in progress. No man in the South complains that his individual rights are trespassed upon. No State feels that she is in danger of losing her liberties. Our independence is a fact. Our prosperity is beyond a contingency. The North may hurl charge after charge upon us, but their "Grand Armies" will be routed and driven back, as fast as they come. Ere long foreign powers will be seen marching on the field to salute the victor, and demand, in the name of commerce, humanity and civilization for the sake of the world, the peaceful recognition of Southern independence.

 Asserts that civil liberties are being trampled in the North, as freedom of speech and of the press have been curtailed and arbitrary arrests and harassment by the authorities have become increasingly common. The article also reports that no such abuse has occurred in the South, where calm, order and liberty are maintained.
1 Skirmish near the Hawk's Nest in Fayette Co. Dillard Frank Lofland Harry Reports a skirmish in Fayette Co. where Frank Dillard, who was acting as substitute for Harry Lofland, was killed.
1 Education "Whilst we are endeavoring to preserve the liberty and independence of the South, we should not neglect the duty we owe the youth of the rising generation, who, in a few years, will be the custodians of the weal and liberty of the Confederate States."

We would invite the attention of the public to the advertisement of Rev. Geo. B. Taylor found in our advertising columns. Mr. Taylor possesses the requisite qualifications to make an excellent instructor of youth. We hope that his school will be liberally patronized. Whilst we are endeavoring to preserve the liberty and independence of the South, we should not neglect the duty we owe the youth of the rising generation, who, in a few years, will be the custodians of the weal and liberty of the Confederate States. The very best investment parents make is the money devoted to the education of their children. It is better to give a child a good education, than to bequeath him a fortune of ten thousand dollars.

 Taylor George Rev. Item calls attention to an advertisement of George B. Taylor, who is "an excellent educator of youth."
1 The 52nd. Virginia Regiment

The 52nd Virginia Regiment under command of Col. John B. Baldwin will leave this place today (Tuesday) for more active and stirring scenes. Should this fine Regiment get an opportunity to pay its respects to the enemy, we feel confident that it will acquit itself with credit.

 Baldwin John Reports the imminent departure of the 52nd from Staunton.
2 The Battle of Cross Lanes on the 26th of August Article gives more details of the 26th of August battle.
2 Skirmishing of the Army of the Potomac Reports successful skirmishing with the Army of the Potomac.
2 Item reports resolutions of a meeting of the Lexington Presbytery at Mt. Horeb Church in Augusta County.
2 Confederate Elections Item reports the upcoming Confederate elections.
2 Ross R. Col. McCue John Col. McCue and Ross entered a contract with the Confederacy for the manufacture of saltpeter.
3 Mexico the Ally of Lincoln Reports that Lincoln has secured the permission of Mexico to march troops through Mexican territory for the purpose of invading the South.
3 Reaction in Kentucky Memphis Appeal Asserts that the citizens of Kentucky are in support of the Confederacy.
3 Reason, Right, and Vigilance Syracuse (N.Y.) Courier An attack on the abuse of civil rights is taking place in the North. Only a free press and a free ballot can counter this unconstitutional attack on rights.
3 The Reign of Terror in St. Louis Asserts that a reign of terror is taking place in the city of St. Louis. The citizens are allegedly suffering from a suspension of civil rights.
3 Earthquake in Tennessee Article reports an earthquake in Tennessee.
3 The Spirit of the South Reports that a Mr. Watson of Mississippi has raised a company and equipped it at his own expense. This is taken as a sign of the South's war spirit.
3 Openly Defiant Item reports that the people of Belfast, Missouri are openly defying the Federal Government and have declared their disloyalty to the Union.
4 An Appeal to the South, St. Charles Hotel Hospital Reports the activities of the St. Charles Hotel Hospital in Richmond and asks for donations from the citizens of Virginia.
4 Commissioners for Augusta Baylor Jacob Crawford Benjamin Michie Thomas Announces the appointment of Messrs. Michie, Baylor, and Crawford as commissioners for the county superintending the election of President and Vice President.
4 Northern Dispatches Various items of news from the North.
5 The Captive Confederate Officers The article gives a brief biography of several captured Confederate officers.
5 Sketch of the Proceedings of the Council of the Town of Staunton, August 31, 1861 Trout N.K. Price George Wilson W.H. Bell H.M. Taylor E.M. Points B.F. Sterrett W.G. Harman Thomas Getty E.G. Harman M.G. Skinner James McGuffin D.C. Waddell Jos. Proceedings of the town council.
5 Writer apprises the public about the condition of the sick in the Confederate army.
5 Camp Onward, near Fairfax C.H. McCue W. Crawford Article reports a meeting of the Augusta Valley Rangers in which a tribute of respect was offered to the late W. Crawford McCue.
5 More Soldiers from Rockingham Rockingham Register Announces the birth of triplets to Capt. William F. Destrick of the Company G Virginia Militia.
5 The Blockade a Farce Reports that ships are easily evading the Union blockade.
5 A Bloody Code for Missouri Article reports that Gen. Fremont of Missouri has declared martial law.
6 Died Gay Fanny Miss Fanny Gay died on September 2 at age 74.
6 Died Myers Horace George Myers Samuel Myers Ella Horace Myers died on August 25 at age 4 months.
Column 7 advertisements and markets
1 Disloyalty New York Day Book

We find the following editorial in the New York Day Book of August 26:

But it is said we are "disloyal." Disloyalty!--What is it? To be "loyal" must we believe in "the irrepressible conflict" of Seward, "the negro equality" of Chase, the "ultimate extinction" theory of Lincoln, and that the Helper book is a "valuable political document?" Must we believe that Seward is as great a statesman as Jefferson, that Cameron is as incorruptible as Diogenes and that Lincoln is as learned as Machiavelli? Must we believe that black is white, that two and two make five? In fact, must we commit intellectual suicide? Does Mr. Lincoln's Administration demand all this as the price of "loyalty?" If so, the price exceeds our ability to pay.

But it is said we oppose the Government. How, where or when? Bring on your accusers: let the case be brought before the court. Let me see the counts and the specifications. If to be "loyal" means sincere reverence for the Constitution--a fervent love of the Union--an inevitable repugnance to its overthrow, and earnest labor and exertion to prevent such a great national catastrophe--if these be the price of "loyalty," then do we and have we rendered them cheerfully, earnestly, and with a single eye to the good of our country. What more can we do? We cannot prevent the avalanche of falsehoods with which day after day Republican papers slander and libel us. To ask justice or mercy from these fanatical journals that seek to destroy the independent Democratic press because they fear its power, is to ask the lion to give up its prey after he has caught it. Puritanical tyranny never yielded power until choked into repentance.

At all events our right and duty as an Amer-citizen are fulfilled, and if for this we fall under the ban of official punishment, we shall not fail to protest against the unconstitutional usurpation, or to defend, until the pen is snatched from our hand, the rights of the people, and to execrate, ever though a dungeon opened its portals before us, the hypocrisy of a party which, getting into power under the pretence or regard for the negro, had riveted the chains of slavery upon millions of white men.

 Editorial from the New York Day Book argues that the paper is not disloyal just because it disagrees with many of the principles of the Republican party and opposes the Lincoln administration.
1 The Unfortunate Marylanders Alleges that the people of Maryland are fleeing to Virginia to escape the tyranny of Lincoln.
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