Party Proscription

Here is another article from the February 1, 1862 Covington Journal. This has nothing relevant to national - or perhaps even statewide - news, but it's an interesting example of how politics, political feelings and maybe even pure rumors started to play a role in how a local government conducted business and how people's lives were affected. (I must also admit that it does seem unlikely that political sentiments had never been involved in such a decision before, especially in an era where politics was a dominant topic, but allowing a relative's possible beliefs to be the reason to deny someone a job was probably new.)

In selecting teaches for the Public Schools of Covington, a few days since, the Board, for the first time in the history of its transactions allowed party feeling to control the appointments. Four lady teachers - experienced, popular and thoroughly competent - were denied a re-appointment, not because they had taken any part in politics, but because a father or brother was supposed to entertain States Rights opinions. The day is not distant when the members of the Board will be heartily ashamed of the transaction.