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Valley Spirit: March 20, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

Mr. Buchanan at Home
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports Ex-President Buchanan's arrival home in Lancaster to a large welcome. A transcript of his impromptu speech is included with the article.

Another Terrific Gale in England.
(Column 5)

Summary: Reports a storm in England that caused much damage.

Origin of Article: London Times

From the Baltimore Exchange
(Column 5)

Summary: Accuses the Lincoln Administration of filling all appointments with "the most obnoxious partisans".

Origin of Article: Baltimore Courier

Constitutional Amendments
(Column 5)

Summary: Gives the procedure for adopting a new Constitutional Amendment.

News of the Week
(Column 1)

Summary: News from around the country regarding the secession crisis, particularly rumors regarding Fort Sumter and the action of the border states.

Southern Confederacy
(Column 2)

Summary: Extracts sections of the Confederate Constitution and bemoans the fact that the "noblest government on the face of the earth has been broken up for the sake of a party which is largely in the minority in the country".

Full Text of Article:

The following articles extracted from the constitution established and ordained by the Confederate States of America will be perused with interest by our northern readers. This Constitution was unanimously adopted by the Congress of the Southern Republic for its permanent government on the 11th inst. It certainly looks as if secession was no myth and that the hope of reconstructing the Union is "clean gone forever," what a humiliating spectacle is here presented--the noblest government on the face of the earth broken up for the sake of a platform of a party which is largely in the minority in the country. We may as well look the present national calamity squarely in the face--the Union is dissolved, the country on the eve of civil war, and the Republican party is alone responsible for all the trouble. It was their everlasting agitation of the "nigger question" and their aggression on the South that have brought these disasters on the country--ruined her business prospects and disgraced her in the estimation of the whole civilized world. They cannot shift the responsibility of the damning deed from their shoulders--it will stick to them like the poisoned shirt of Nessus until the great wrong done their country is atoned for.

It will be observed that the African Slave trade is prohibited in the Southern Constitution. In the late Presidential compaign [sic] the Democratic party had to bear the odium of being in favor of this measure, notwithstanding the positive proof that the party was opposed to it and that the South did not want it. It will now be seen how much the Democratic party was vilified in regard to this measure. The 9th Section of the 1st Article of the Constitution of the Confederate States says:--

The importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same.

Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or Territory not belonging to this confederacy.

The 10th Section of Article 1st provides as follows:--

No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, or ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts; or grant any title of nobility.

No State shall, without the consent of the Congress lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspectation [sic] laws; and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any State on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the confederate States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of Congress.

No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, except on sea going vessels, for the improvement of its rivers and harbors navigated by the said vessels; but such duties shall not conflict with any treaties of Confederate States with foreign nations; and any surplus of revenue thus derived shall, after making such improvement, be paid into the common treasury; nor shall any State keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. But when any river divides or flows through two or more States they may enter into compacts with each other to improve the navigation thereof.

The election of the Executive officers of the government is the same as provided for in the Constitution of the United States, with some slight modifications. The President and Vice President are to hold their offices for the term of six years. On the eligibility for the office of President the Constitution provides as follow:--

No person except a natural born citizen of the Confederate States, or a citizen thereof at the time of the adoption of this constitution, or a citizen thereof born in the United States prior the 20th of December, 1860, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years and been fourteen years a resident with the limits of the confederate States, as they may exist at the time of his election.

The oath taken by the President before entering upon the duties of his office is the same as that in the Constitution of the United States, with some unimportant change in the working, and reads as follows:--

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Confederate States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution thereof."

The definition and punishment of treason is the same as that laid down in the constitution of the United States. This Section is precisely the same as that in the old Constitution with the exception that the words "Confederate States" are used in place of "United States."

The article in the Constitution of the United States which provides that "no person held to service or labor in one State" &c., reads in the Constitution of the Confederate States in this wise:--

No slave or other person held to service or labor in any State or Territory of the Confederate States, under the laws thereof, escaping or lawfully carried into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such slave belongs or to whom such service or labor may be due.

The only change in this article is the introduction of the word "slave." "Person," did not seem to cover the ground sufficiently to meet the views of those who, although living in the South, are not taught to look upon the possibility of the white race ever being designated by the term "slave." They are not willing to confound white and black under the single term "person." This distinction must be viewed as right and proper.

The following Section of Article 4th embodies the most important changes made between the two Constituents:--

Other States may be admitted into this confederacy by a vote of two-thirds of the whole House of Representatives and two-thirds of the Senate; the Senate voting by States; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the junction of two or more States or parts of States without the consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations concerning the property of the confederate States, including the lands thereof.

The Confederate States may acquire new territory, and Congress shall have power to legislate and provide governments for the inhabitants of all territory belonging to the Confederate States laying [sic] without the limits of the several States, and may permit them, at such times and in such manner as it may by law provide, to form States to be admitted into the confederacy. In all such territory the institution of negro slavery as it now exists in the confederate States shall be recognized and protected by Congress and by the territorial government, and the inhabitants of the several confederate States and Territories shall have the right to take to such territory any slaves lawfully held by them in any of the States or Territories of the Confederate States.

The Confederate States shall guarantee to every State that now is or hereafter may become a member of this confederacy a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the Legislature (or of the Executive when the Legislature is not in session) against domestic violence.

We have here presented for the information of our readers the most important features in the Constitution adopted for the government of the Southern Republic. It is copied almost verbatim from the Constitution of the United States with the exception of the few alternations and additions we have pointed out. The instruments are still so nearly alike in all essential particulars that our secession friends can hardly claim that they are not still living under the Constitution of the United States.

A Friendly Warning
(Column 3)

Summary: The Spirit expresses its difficulty in refraining from comment on "the vile sheet" published by the "straight out Douglas town clique."

The Dutch Plank
(Column 4)

Summary: Alleges that Lincoln promised Administrative appointments to get the German vote. This has supposedly led to infighting between the Know Nothing Republicans and the German Republicans.

The Great Gaines Case
(Column 4)

Summary: Announces Supreme Court decision in the Gaines Case.

Population of Pennsylvania
(Column 5)

Summary: Table shows population of each county in Pennsylvania for 1850 and 1860 based on census data.

United States Senator
(Column 5)

Summary: Reports that David Wilmot was selected to serve the unexpired term of Gen. Cameron. The Spirit takes a jab at Wilmot claiming he can "readily change his principles to suit every emergency."

Negro Applicants for Office
(Column 5)

Summary: Asserts that many blacks have applied for government jobs and suggests that each applicant be required to state their race on the application to weed out the blacks before they are mistakenly hired.

Origin of Article: New York Express

The New York Tribune on Maj. Anderson.
(Column 6)

Summary: The Spirit accuses the Tribune of hypocrisy for criticizing Maj. Anderson for evacuating Fort Moultrie and refusing reinforcements at Sumter.

The Southern Ports to be Blockaded
(Column 6)

Summary: More news of the blockade plan and Southern reaction to this maneuver.

Borough Election
(Column 3)

Summary: Reports the results of the borough elections.
(Names in announcement: T. Fletcher, George Flack, B. Nead, K. Taylor, Charles Getwicks, Jacob Jarrett, R. McClelland, George Jarrett, S. Worley, William Guthrie, J. Boyd Wright, H. Davison, James Reilly, A.J. Brand, Samuel Boyd)

Full Text of Article:

--The election in this place for borough officers on Friday last was warmly contested. A larger vote was out than has ever before been polled at a town election. In the South Ward the Democracy made a clean sweep, and in the North Ward where we are usually beaten two to one, the Republican majority was whittled down to so small a point that it leaves them nothing to brag of. They only succeeded after the most strenuous exertions in their Gibralter--the North Ward--in electing their Justice by seven of a majority and their constable by five! The following are the officers elected:

NORTH WARD--Justice: T. M. Fletcher; Judge: George Flack; Inspectors: S. M. Shillito and B. F. Nead; Assessor: K. S. Taylor; Ass't Assessors: Charles Gelwicks and Jacob Jarrett, Constable: R. K. McClelland.

SOUTH WARD--Justice: George Jarrett; Judge: S. M. Worley; Inspectors: Wm. Guthrie and J. Boyd Wright; Assessor: H. B. Davison; Ass't Assessors: James Reilly and A. J. Brand; Constable: Samuel Boyd.

Death of John Heck
(Column 3)

Summary: Reports the death of former resident Rev. John Heck. He died in Smithsburg, Md., where he had been in charge of the Lutheran Congregation.
(Names in announcement: Rev. John Heck)

How can the Revenue be Collected?
(Column 4)

Summary: Questions how the revenue can be collected from the seceded states.

A String of Pearls
(Column 4)

Summary: Criticizes Lincoln by using excerpts from his speeches.

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: Married on March 12th.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Samuel Philips, Thomas Graham, Elizabeth Etchberger)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: Married on March 14th.
(Names in announcement: Rev. John Ault, Samuel Parks, Sarah Dulaborn)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: Married on March 14th.
(Names in announcement: Rev. S. McHenry, John Lowry, Catharine Keller)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: Married on March 14th.
(Names in announcement: Rev. S. McHenry, David Beeler, Susana Hullinger)

To the Editor of the Valley Spirit
(Column 1)

Summary: Letter from XYZ telling the editor that he and his hunting party found a poem amongst the animal remains of last year's hunting party on Ray's Hill. The poem, entitled "The Camp," is included.

Trailer: X.Y.Z.

Cuban Messenger
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that Havana has granted the establishment of warehouses to store Southern cotton.