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Valley Spirit: February 20, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Radical Humanity
(Column 1)

Summary: The Spirit editor denounces recent Repository articles warning Northerners to remain suspicious of Southerners.

Editorial Comment: "We glean from the Repository the following choice extracts, as samples of the intellectual feats furnished by that hebdomadal, to its subscribers, at little other expense than of truth and fair dealing. Alluding to the Southern States, it says:"

Full Text of Article:

"Conquered on the battle-field, condemned by the arbiter they themselves had chosen, they again resort to political intrigue and chicanery, to accomplish by artifice the ends force failed them to attain."

Again-"Our only hope is we may find in Congress an Octavius too wise to be enchanted by fair words of flattery, too brave to be intimidated, and too honest to bow to gold."

Again-"We will be humane to the South, but come what will to them, we must protect ourselves."

As to the first extract, it is true that the South has been conquered on the battlefield. But where, or when, the intrigue, the artifice referred to? They have yielded as quietly, as submissively and in as good faith, as ever did one set of men to another. No one but such as would deny that he was the son of his mother, would dare, in sober earnest, to utter such a monstrous lie, in the hope of being believed. Such utterances are the idle cast of the meanest and most profligate politicians the world ever produced. They know they lie foully, and they know too they are not believed. But they live in hope that falsehood, well stuck to, will at length either command credence, or band together, in one determined conspiracy, a party force, that will laugh at truth and honor, and inaugurate another field of blood and carnage. For this purpose pimps and spies are scattered over the country whose office is to invent and propagate the grossest tales of southern barbarity and impute intentions and schemes, that have no other origin than their own weak and wicked inventions. Such vileness ignores all intelligence and understanding in the masses, all patriotism, and love of peace and substantial justice, on the part of the real lovers of the country. And what is it in the conduct of those they hate so fiercely that they denominate "political intrigue, chicanery, artifice," treason, &c., &c.-Would you believe it. It is simply that, having returned to their allegiance, they refuse by any voluntary act of theirs, to sign the bond presented to them, that deprives them of all their civil liberties, except the liberty to pay taxes into a northern treasury! And this negative reserve, this unwillingness to cut off their own right hands, to place a pollard at their throats, and bend the knee in craven humility and shame-this, forsoeth, is stratagem, is treason!

"God help the brainless wight

Pruned in Cimmerian night

Who could such rant indite."

The second extract is of little moment.-Its reference to the Octavius (Thaddeus Stevens) means simply an encouraging voice to cheer on the old demagogue to persevere in his unchristian course to territorialize ten States of the Union, so that they shall not have votes. The allusion to the courage of the back-window-jumper, as well as to the gold of the ruined South is palpably an attempt at covert sarcasm. We should like to see some of that same gold. There was a large sprinkling of Northern gold, the Repository says, among the republican members of the State Legislature. But Congress, especially a Rump Congress must be honest. No field there is for speculation. To be sure a Cameron and a Cake, may be willing to spend $200,000 for the privilege of sitting there; but then they are rich. Their history shows how innocent they are of contracts, greed and spoils.

We come to the last of these extracts.-It breathes such a flame of patriotism that we again recite it.

"We will be humane to the South, but come what will to them, we must protect ourselves."

Esop tells of a jewel found in a dunghill. Experience shows that tinsel is more apt to be discovered there. Whether this excerpt be gem or sham, depends on circumstances. Does the Repository mean to withdraw all its previous hostile and unmanly requirements, and now tender in good faith the hand of friendship to the stricken South on the terms of security to the North? This would be a gem of a price. Indorsed by its party, the era of peace and good will would be at once unfurled throughout the length and breadth of this once happy Union.

But if the meaning is "we have offered the most humane terms through the rump committee, and will have them, or aterner;" if it was intended as a mere repetition of offensive, unusual, and insulting terms, superciliously styled humane-then indeed the proposition assumes a different character.

The humanity you tender is their disfranchisement-your security, that negroes should rule them! What a blessed Christian you are. Your religion is that of the drunken maniac who strikes again and again his prostrate friend, and sums up the achievement by cutting off his arms-for future safety! Your "come what will to them" is very characteristic. It smacks very much of the "devil-me-care" anxiety. You ought to study the history of selfishness as exhibited in earlier ages. No doubt a scrap like this from Bavarian records would suit your taste, and with a slight alteration might serve as a bending for the Repository: "O holy saint Florian, save my house-burn others down."

Let Us Smite The Poisoner
(Column 2)

Summary: Alleging that Northerners "have been poisoned by the radicalism of New England" for the past thirty years, the article asserts that this propaganda has severed the "natural bonds" that linked the Middle and Western states with the South.

Origin of Article: Democratic Watchman

Full Text of Article:

We recollect having once read, in a wild Eastern romance, of a monster who fed upon human flesh, and who gave his victims a subtile poison to steal away their reason and leave their animal appetites uncontrolled.-By this means he fattened them for his horrible feasts; for their sole object was the gratification of their own appetites, the moans they employed were fitting them to gratify his. Wild and improbable as this tale has always been considered, the real condition of our country to-day will equal it, when portrayed by the impartial historian of the future.

For thirty years the Northern people have been poisoned by the radicalism of New England. Our schools have been polluted by books containing moral poison as deadly as the physical poison of the Arabian tale. Nearly all of our literature has emanated from the same source. Our histories, our geographies, our spellers, our dictionaries, and even our poetry and fiction, have been obtained at the same fountain head, and into all has been instilled the same slow and deadly moral poison. We would shrink from a poisonous drug with horror: but have seized with avidity something which destroys not merely animal life, but its capable of essentially killing that which is far more valuable to society and the world.-The reason of our people tottered when they listened to the precepts of the "Higher law," it fell from its throne, and left them at the mercy of their own passions, when they allowed themselves to be deluded by the cry of "bleeding Kansas" to the tune of "John Brown's soul," The literature of New England, and the travelling sons of Satan who came from the same hot bed of all evil, had accomplished the poisoning process when the Middle and Western States went to war with those of the South, and then began the horrible feast of the poisoner. The reason of our people had been dethroned by fanaticism, and while they seemed to be gratifying only their own unfounded and insane hatred of the South, they were in reality preparing themselves to be devoured by the monster who possessed them. New England reaped the profits of the late war, the East and the West fought the battles. We suffer to-day equally with the South; New England controls our legislation, and our loss is her gain. She is using the resources of a people infinitely superior to herself in every element of greatness, to further her interests, and in direct hostility to their own. Our own great State is distracted and torn by a political strife engendered solely by the baneful influence of New England poisons. The mighty West is striking wild and giant blows at its own mother and best natural friend, at the dictation of New England, and under the influence of the poison which she has disseminated. We are madly devouring our friends, and being in turn devoured by the natural enemy of both.

The natural bonds of Union between the Middle and Western States and the South are strong, while there is a direct antagonism between us and New England. Hence the necessity for a revolution in the government. A restoration of the Union upon the basis of the Constitution of our fathers, would take from New England the power which she now yields, and put here where she properly belongs. She will therefore always resist the Union. She is and always has been for disunion, and in the very nature of things can be for nothing else. We wonder not at the course of those who lead; but we do wonder at those who follow. The poison has spread widely and taken hold deeply in the morals of the people and no wonder. It has been instilled into babes in their nursery rhymes: the dose has been repeated in their school primers, doubled in their readers, and trebled in all their subsequent reading, until it has become a chronic poison, and will be constitutional in their children for generations.

The present condition of things in this country is altogether unnatural, and must have been produced by improper means.-We attribute it solely to the dissemination of the fanatical ideas of New England transcendentalists, and before applying an antidote, we propose as the chief remedy to eat off the stream of poison which is constantly flowing upon us. Let Democrats everywhere discountenance the use of Yankee school-books, and if others cannot be had, let our children read the scriptures of God, as our brave old fathers did in their youth. Avoid New England literature as you would the lair of Satan, and above all check the circulation of the romances which come from the home of the Puritans in endless succession. When the fountain is cut off, we can fairly apply an antidote to the poison. The father of Hannibal took him to the temple of the gods and bade him wear "eternal hate to Rome." When Rome trembled to her foundations as his army marched in after years, the world learned how well that oath was kept. Let Democratic fathers bid their children swear, before High Heaven, eternal hatred to New England and her institutions, and then rear them that the oaths will be certainly kept.-Let us bring desolation to the homes of the spoiler, and never cease the work until naught is left but the bleak rocks and barren hills as they were when first polluted by the tread of a Puritan. Let the few good men of New England flee to more congenial States, as Lot fled from Sodom, and leave the children of Satan alone with their father. This may we effectually check the evil which has grown upon us.-Democratic Watchman

Legislation For Louisiana
(Column 3)

Summary: The article savagely criticizes the bill abolishing the current state government of Louisiana. The legislation would create a provisional government in its place; the governor would be selected by the President and approved by the Senate.

Origin of Article: Age

Local and Personal--New Law Firm
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces that a new law firm, McCauley and Hays, has opened in Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: I. H. McCauleyEsq., S. Wilson HaysEsq.)

Local and Personal--In Jail
(Column 1)

Summary: Andrew Clarke, who was arrested in Gettysburg and charged with robbing the Waynesboro Post Office, has been returned to Chambersburg to face additional charges.

Local and Personal--Larceny
(Column 1)

Summary: Two black men, George Book and Pope Wilson, were arrested in Carlisle and charged with stealing a coat from White's Clothing Store.
(Names in announcement: Pope Wilson, George Book)

Local and Personal--The Spring Election
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces that the Spring Elections for borough, township, and election officers will be held on March 15th.

Local and Personal--Brutal Outrage
(Column 2)

Summary: Informs readers about the rape of a ten-year old who resides in the local Children's Home.
(Names in announcement: Officer Baker, Martin Snyder, Mary Elizabeth Eberly, Mrs. McComsey, John L. Atlee, Anna Yeager, Alderman Wiley)

Origin of Article: Lancaster Intelligencer

Editorial Comment: "We clip the following from the Lancaster Inquirer of last week:"

Full Text of Article:

On Tuesday last, Officer Baker arrested a man named Martin Snyder, who resides in West Walnut street, this city on a charge of committing a rape on a girl about ten years of age, named Mary Elizabeth Eberly. The prisoner was taken before Alderman Wilely, when the following facts were elicited: Snyder called at the Children's Home on Saturday last, and represented to the matron, Mrs. MConmsey, that he desired to secure the services of one of the girls in that Institution, as his wife was away on a visit to some of her friends in Mount Joy. The matron refused to allow the girl to be taken away, without an order from one of the managers. Snyder then left, but soon returned wit an order and took the girl away with him. On Monday, the girl returned to the Home, with a note from the defendant's wife, stating that she did not suit. Several persons who were present observed that the girl appeared to be suffering from some cause, when Dr. John L. Atlee, President of the Board of Trustees, was called in, and made an examination; when he discovered that the young girl had been brutally outraged. The girl, on being questioned in regard to the matter, stated that Snyder had committed a rape upon her person, while his wife was absent from the home.

A similar charge to the above was brought against the same defendant, by Mr. John K. Read, one of the Directors of the Poor, in the case of Anna Yeager, a girl about 14 years of age. Snyder had taken this girl from the Poor House, and kept her for several days, during which time he had violated her person, and then sent her back to the Alms House. Snyder was committed to prison by Alderman Wiley, to answer both charges at the next term of the Court of Quarter Sessions.

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 12th, Jacob V. Sommers, of Middletown Valley, Md., and Christiana Landis were married by Rev. B. S. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: Jacob V. Sommers, Christiana Landis, Rev. B. S. Schneck)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 14th, Benjamin Metz and Annie Bitner were married by Rev. B. S. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: Benjamin Metz, Annie Bitner, Rev. B. S. Schneck)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 14th, A. B. Houser and Mary E. Pisler were married by Rev. Charles Gelwix.
(Names in announcement: A. B. Houser, Mary E. Pisler, Rev. Charles Gelwix)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Jan. 31st, John E. Hendricks and Elizabeth Lutz were married by Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: John E. Hendricks, Elizabeth Lutz, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 5th, Jonas Royer, of Penn's Valley, Centre county, Pa., and Mary Bitner, daughter of Jacob Bitner, were married by Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: Jonas Royer, Mary Bitner, Jacob Bitner, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 7th, Leander M. Snyder and Catherine Unger were married by Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: Leander M. Snyder, Catherine Unger, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 10th, Joseph Miller and Mary Elizabeth Coble were married by Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Miller, Mary Elizabeth Coble, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 12th, Victor C. Bell and Ann E. Leady were married by Rev. W. E. Krebs.
(Names in announcement: Victor C. Bell, Ann E. Leady, Rev. W. E. Krebs)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 11th, Catherine Groff, wife of Jacob Groff, died at age 73.
(Names in announcement: Catherine Groff, Jacob Groff)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 8th, Michael Row, 86, died.
(Names in announcement: Michael Row)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 8th, Samuel D. C. Reid, 29, died.
(Names in announcement: Samuel D. C. Reid)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On Feb. 10th, Lydia Martha, daughter of Christian Wingert, died at age 22.
(Names in announcement: Lydia Martha Wingert, Christian Wingert)