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Valley Spirit: May 2, 1860 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

By Telegraph!! From Charleston
(Column 03)

Summary: Report from the Democratic National Convention.

By Telegraph!! For the Valley Spirit from Charleston
(Column 01)

Summary: Continuation of the report from the Democratic National Convention. Report ends mid-convention, after a fractious debate, on a note of optimism for Douglas's nomination.

The Abolition of Slavery
(Column 01)

Summary: Argues that freeing slaves would actually hurt the North.

Full Text of Article:

The abolitionists object to slavery as an element of political power. They complain that the whites of the South vote for their negroes--that three-fifths of all the negroes are taken into the account in adjusting the ratio of Congressional representation. This, they say, gives the South more political power than she is justly entitled to.

We reply that the Constitution of the United States provides for the enumeration of three-fifths of all the Southern slaves, and that to attack this arrangement is to attack the work of the founders of our Republic. But how much better off would the North be if slavery were abolished? If the Southern negroes were set free, not merely three-fifths, but all of them. would be counted, as all negroes are now counted at the North.

There are about five million slaves in the country, three millions of whom are taken into the account in apportioning political power among the States. Set them free and the two millions who are now excluded will have to be counted. At the present ratio of representation, this would give twenty more members of Congress to the Southern States! Do the abolitionists wish to endow the Southern States with more political power than they already possess?

The rooting out of slavery would not promote Northern interests. It would directly conflict with the interests of Pennsylvania, if there is any truth in the claim that the interests of this State require an increased tariff--for the South is opposed to an increase of the tariff, and if slavery should be abolished and twenty more Representatives be added to the Southern strength in Congress, anybody of sense can see that there would be just so many more votes against an increase of tariff.

The National Convention
(Column 01)

Summary: Acknowledges that the Valley Spirit's fears of disunity at the Convention were realized, and that the outcome can not be predicted at this juncture.

Full Text of Article:

At the time we write, several days prior to the date of our paper, it is impossible to say what will be done by the Democratic National Convention. Nearly a week has been spent in organizing the Convention, settling contested seats and endeavoring to frame a platform. The fears we expressed in our last issue, that it would be difficult to harmonise the conflicting sentiments of extreme quarters of the country, have been realized. There is no disguising the fact that there is considerable danger of a disagreement that will end in the withdrawal of a portion of the Convention. This deplorable result ought to be avoided, and we do not despair of being able to announce that it has been avoided.

If the policy of the administration upon the Lecompton question had been acquiesced in by all the leading men of our party, there would have been no contention in the National Convention about a platform. That policy would not have made a permanent addition of one foot of slave territory to the Union, but it would have prevented the demand made upon us by the extreme South for a Congressional slave code. Out of the opposition to it have grown all the difficulties that lie in the way of harmonious action at Charleston.

For the Valley Spirit
(Column 04)

Summary: Rebukes Republicans for playing on people's passions, and of libelling the President through the Covode investigation.

Trailer: Truth

Cincinnati National Platform
(Column 05)

Summary: Reprint of resolutions from 1856 Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati, which upholds popular sovereignty on which the Douglas supporters were campaigning in the 1860 Convention.

Borough Election
(Column 01)

Summary: Notes upcoming local election and urges Democrats to assemble candidates for local school board to purge the current board of big-spending politicians.

School Superintendent
(Column 01)

Summary: Election for Superintendent for County Schools is coming up. The Spirit urges the School Directors who will elect him to choose a man in the mold of the present Superintendent, who they credit with progress in the county's schools.

Chambers Artillery
(Column 01)

Summary: Col. Stumbaugh has resigned as captain of the Chambers Artillery, and Lieutenant Housum's name has been placed in nomination for the position.
(Names in announcement: Colonel Stumbaugh, Lieutenant Housum)

Pennsylvania Railroad
(Column 01)

Summary: Notes with approval the schedule and reputation of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Extras
(Column 02)

Summary: The Valley Spirit has been printing extras during the week to keep people abreast of the events at the Democratic National Convention.
(Names in announcement: Blair Gilmore)

The Census
(Column 02)

Summary: The census is due to be taken soon, and the Valley Spirit urges the federal marshal to appoint deputies "as will give entire satisfaction to the people of the county."

Appointment
(Column 02)

Summary: A.F. Armstrong was appointed to a position in the Department of the Surveyor General.
(Names in announcement: A.F. Armstrong)

The Census of 1860
(Column 02)

Summary: Humorous spoof of list of census question.

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Rev. Fitzgerald and Lucy Witherspoon were married on April 26th.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Andrew Carothers, Rev. James Fitzgerald, M. Lucy Witherspoon)

Deaths
(Column 05)

Summary: Died on April 24th at age 50.
(Names in announcement: Harriet Washabaugh)

Deaths
(Column 05)

Summary: Bridget Brown died on April 24th at 70 years of age.
(Names in announcement: Leonard Sellers, Bridget Brown)