Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Valley Spirit: September 04, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

To The Patrons Of The Valley Spirit
(Column 1)

Summary: In an article introducing themselves to readers, the new editors of the Valley Spirit lay out their political views and principles, which, for all intents and purposes, are the same as those held by the former owners of the journal.
(Names in announcement: John M. Cooper, Augustus Duncan, W. S. Stenger)

Full Text of Article:

As has been already announced, we have become the owners and proprietors of the VALLEY SPIRIT. It will hereafter be under our exclusive management and control.

In taking charge of this time-honored journal, it is due to its subscribers and patrons, that we should declare "the faith that is in us," and also be able and willing at all times to give a reason for that faith.

Since the year 1848, this paper has been the mouth-piece of the Democracy of Franklin County. It has been the faithful expounder of Democratic principles. Always turning a deaf ear to the blandishment of traitors to the Democratic cause, it has sought, by steady adherence to its well-established doctrines, to deserve and command the support of the Democratic party.

In the glad days of peace, when unbounded happiness and prosperity were the blessings vouchsafed to our land by the Almighty, it was the upholder and defender of all the great Democratic measures, in accordance with which the National Government was so successfully administered. During all the unhappy days of our late civil strife, it proclaimed itself the champion of Constitutional liberty, and whilst the silence of fear fell upon many lips which ought never to have been sealed, its notes of defiance to the mailed hand of despotic power ever rang out loud and clear. It must ever be a source of the utmost gratification to its late proprietors, that when the shouts of the mob were ringing in their ears, and the threatening orders of an arrogant "Lieutenant and Provost-Marshal" were laid upon their table, they disregarded them all, and, unawed by the threats and the gloomy prospect of fortress walls, maintained the unflinching determination the perfect freedom of the press.

Through all the years of its existence, this journal has regarded the Constitution of the United States as the supreme law of the land. It has labored to impress its provisions upon the people as the true, fundamental doctrines of a republican form of government. It has held the duties enjoined by that instrument to be binding upon all the citizens of the Republic, and has always insisted upon a strict construction of it. It has maintained that the Federal Government is only warranted in exercising that power which is given to it by express grant in the Constitution, and that "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." It has denounced the idea of a "higher law" which would substitute the ever-changing will of the people as expressed in the popular elections, for our written Constitution. It has looked upon this doctrine, recently so warmly espoused in certain quarters, as in the highest degree revolutionary, and the "fruitful source of all our woes." As it has been in the past, so will it be in the future. We intend to devote its columns to the dissemination of Democratic truths. We will labor to show.

"By what unseen and unsuspected arts

The Serpent Error twines round human hearts."

If possible, we will unmask our opponents and lay bare "the unsuspected arts" by which they are seeking to deceive and entrap the honest masses into the support of their grave political errors.

The cause of the Democratic party is our cause. We are proud of its record-not garbled, or misrepresented as it often is by our opponents-but entire, full of praiseworthy deeds and high resolves. Proud of its grand, historic memories-and of its honored, patriotic dead-proud of its inexhaustible vitality and unbroken spirit in the face of defeat-of its unfaltering trust in honesty, integrity and "sober second thought" of the people-of its lofty purposes-of its championship of the freedom of speech and of the press-of its condemnation of "unreasonable searches" of houses and seizures of persons-of its attachment to that great bulwark of our liberties, the trial by jury-of its opposition to a large standing army in time of peace-of its absolute horror of military commissions, "organized to convict' and dooming their victims to life-long imprisonment or death-of its unmitigated hatred to the military despotisms established by Congress in the Southern States-of its resistance to the attempt now being made, as in the days of our Colonial existence, "to make the military independent of, and superior to the civil power"-of its antagonism to the efforts of the Radicals to clothe the negro with all the political rights of the whites to degrade the white race to the level of the black-proud of its unselfish love for the Union of all the States-of its entire devotion to the Constitution which Washington, Jefferson and Jackson loved so well.

These fundamental tenets of the Democratic party have made this Government what it has been in the past, and we believe can alone rescue it from the perils to which it is at present environed.

Adhering closely to these principles we feel assured that our patrons will not find this paper to be what so many of the journals of the present day are, an "over-bubbling spring of endless lies," but on the contrary a fountain from which all may drink pure, unadulterated, wholesome truths.-Having the approval of our judgements as to the rectitude of our political faith, we shall labor, earnestly we know, effectively we trust-to disseminate the principles upon which that faith is founded.

To the people is intrusted the weighty duty of seeing to it, that "the Republic receive no detriment." Their action at this critical juncture of our national affairs is very important. It must be either for good or evil. This government will either be "administered by white men for the benefit of white men," or it will be under the control of negroes, administered for their benefit. It will doubtless be our duty, as faithful watchmen upon the walls, to utter the warning of approaching danger. We ask you to aid us so that our words may reach as large a number as possible. Every man should use his utmost exertions to awaken the masses from their apathy.-Urge them to read, and especially to read your own paper. Our circulation is large, but it should be larger. Seek to extend it; give us your hearty co-operation, and thus together we will animate the lukewarm, induce the sluggish to shake off their lethargic chains, and re-invigorate the already active, so that the "old Green Spot" may be redeemed from Radical rule, and contribute its share to the work of "reconstructing" the National Government upon Democratic principles.

JOHN M. COOPER,

AUGUSTUS DUNCAN,

W. S. STENGER.

Trailer: John M. Cooper, Augustus Duncan, W. S. Stenger

The Constitution Repudiated
(Column 2)

Summary: The article offers a stinging rebuke to Thad Stevens, who, in a letter to Col. Samuel Scheck, allegedly repudiated the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

A Sample Of Radical "Truth"
(Column 3)

Summary: The editors ridicule the preamble of a resolution passed at the late Republican County Convention, which declares that "all political power is of the people," and chide the author of the passage, Dr. Samuel G. Lane.
(Names in announcement: Dr. Samuel Lane)

Origin of Article: Repository

Editorial Comment: "The following is the firt section of the preamble to the resolutions which the Repository informs us "were offered in the late Republican County Convention by Dr. Samuel G. Lane, chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, and unanimously adopted:"

Full Text of Article:

WHEREAS, This Convention recognizes the indisputable truth that all political power is of the people, and that no party has a right to exist which is not in harmony with the will of the people and is not maintained by their approbation; and that is the duty of all organizations seeking public favor to enunciate distinctly the principle sand policy that govern them.

If this preamble had been "unanimously adopted" by a Convention made up of "Blockheads" of the Loyal League of New York, who undertook to regulate the conduct of Horace Greeley, we should, perhaps, have had but little occasion to be surprised at it. But it is surprising that it should have been adopted by a Convention composed of citizens of this enlightened county of Franklin, and we confess ourselves perfectly astonished that it should have been written by such a highly intelligent gentleman as Dr. Samuel G. Lane.

This preamble affirms that "no party has a right to exist which is not in harmony with the will of the people and is not maintained by their approbation." The "will of the people" must here be taken to mean the will of the majority; and the plain meaning of Dr. Lane'' preamble is, that no minority party has even the poor right to exist. It is not enough that the minority shall be excluded from all share in the legislation of the State. They must be "wiped out," Their very existence (as a party) must be put an end to.

Admit and enforce the rule of party existence laid down by Dr. Lane and his Convention, and what would be the result? There could be no Democratic party in Lancaster and other Republican counties, and no Republican party in Berks and other Democratic counties! But perhaps the Doctor did not intend that the "indisputable truth" of which he unquestionably is the original discoverer, and of right ought to be the sole patentee, should be applied to such small political divisions as counties. It is, however, equally monstrous, whether applied to counties, to states, or to the whole country.

It must be within the knowledge of Dr. Lane and the other members of the Republican County Convention that stamped this newly-discovered and "indisputable truth" with the seal of their unanimous approbation, that in 1856 the Republican party did not find itself "in harmony with the will of the people." Under their own doctrine, it had no right to exist after the defeat of Fremont. Why, then, did they keep it up? Why did the political doctors who had it in charge continue to stimulate it with doses of "bleeding Kansas," when, under the doctrine they now enunciate, they should have contented themselves with seeing the decently buried?

Do the members of this Convention believe the "indisputable truth" they are represented as affirming unanimously? If the next election should show that they are "not in harmony with the will of the people" of Franklin county, will they admit that they have no longer a right to exist as a party in the county? If beaten, will they again assemble in Convention and vote to disband?

Negroes In The Jury Box
(Column 4)

Summary: Relates that a judge in North Carolina has begun admitting black jurors in his court, based upon the premise that "no man" can "be excluded from the jury on account of color under the laws of the state."

Local and Personal--Religious
(Column 1)

Summary: Rev. Joseph H. Baclay, of New York, will preach at the Lutheran Church next Sunday.

Local and Personal--The Green Castle Pilot
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that the Greencastle Pilot has closed its sixth volume and will appear in larger format, under a new name--the Valley Echo.

Local and Personal--Meeting Of The Synod
(Column 1)

Summary: On Sept. 12th, the West Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church will meet in Chambersburg.

Local and Personal--Sword Exercise
(Column 1)

Summary: Informs readers that Maj. H. R. Hershberger is organizing a fencing class.
(Names in announcement: Rev. H. R. Hershberger)

Local and Personal--Farm Sold
(Column 1)

Summary: Daniel Reisher sold his farm of one hundred and fifty acres to Mr. Lehman, of Lancaster county, for one hundred dollars per acre.
(Names in announcement: Daniel Reisher)

Local and Personal--New Patent
(Column 1)

Summary: Notes that Christian Oyster, "an industrious and deserving mechanic," obtained a patent for his invention: an improved method of attaching wheels to carriages by means of a stationary linch-pin and hinged washer.
(Names in announcement: Christian Oyster)

Local and Personal--Narrow Escape
(Column 1)

Summary: William McClellan was in an accident on August 28th and barely avoided drowning after he and his son Jack attempted to cross the Conococheague in a buggy. Swollen as a result of the recent rains, the stream's current swept McClellan's horse off its feet and carried it, along with the buggy, into very deep water. McClellan's son saved the day, however, rescuing both the father and the horse from their dangerous predicament.
(Names in announcement: William McClellan, Jack McClellan)

Democratic Convention
(Column 2)

Summary: Summarizes the election results and provides a copy of the resolutions passed at the Democratic County Convention on Sept. 3rd.
(Names in announcement: William McClellan, Jacob R. Smith, Andrew Lohr, Dr. James Gelwix, Milton A. Embich, Mathias W. Kissecker, George W. Brumbaugh, Leander Brindle, Eli W. Fuss, David Pence, Hiram M. White, P. Henry Peiffer, William D. Guthrie, Newton Shilito, Alexander Martin, A. J. Brand, Peter R. Shields, Samuel A. Junkin, Frederick Long, Daniel Brandt, William Shettler, Martin Hammond, J. W. Heysinger, James Meloy, Hiram Sowers, Joseph Connell, Hiram Snider, Pharez Duffield, William Brandt, John Lindsay, John W. Etter, Daniel Palmer, Jacob C. Snyder, Michael Reed, Isaac Hockersmith, Abraham Hafer, S. P. Harbaugh, Joseph Kennedy, Frederick Zollinger, John S. Brake, William Forbis, Jason M. Gelwix, Joseph Mower, I. P. Grove, Samuel Flickinger, John McLaughlin, John Treber, William Divilbiss, George W. Welneman, Michael R. Keggeries, Allen Mort, William Boyd, C. Louderbaugh, Dr. A. R. Long, Hugh Smith, S. G. Breckenridge, William B. Orr, Jacob Hauck, A. J. North, George W. Wolfe, Michael C. Clem, James A. Cook, Adam Essick, Adam Oyler, David W. Beaver, Josiah Etter, Simon Bitner, Simon Bomberger, Andrew Lohr, John Jr. Gillan, Albertus Hicks, John Bryan, John Wishard, A. C. Gilbert, John Mullen, Henry Besore, Samuel Nicodemus, S. M. Seylar, Samuel Ferry, Joseph Phenicle, John McLaughlin, E. C. Detich, Milton A. Embick, Capt. George W. Skinner, John Goetz, William Reber, Daniel Tolhelm, Leonard Leidy, Col. B. F. Winger, Dr. Joseph H. McClintock, D. K. Wunderlich)

Full Text of Article:

The Democratic Convention of Franklin county met in the Court House, in the Borough of Chambersburg, on Tuesday, Sept. 3d, at 11 o'clock, A. M., and elected the following officers:

President -William McLellan, Esq., of Chambersburg.

Vice Presidents-Jacob R. Smith of Antrim, and Andrew Lohr, of St. Thomas.

Secretaries -Dr. James M. Gelwix, of Letterkenny, and Milton A. Embich, of welsh Run.

The following Delegates presented credentials and took seats in the Convention:

DELEGATES.

Antrim -Jacob R. Smith, Mathias W. Kissecker, George W. Brumbaugh, Leander Brindle, Eli W. Fuss, David Pence.

Chambersburg -N. W. -William McLellan, Hiram M. White, P. Henry Pelffer.

S. W.-Wm. D. Guthrie, Newton Shilito, Alexander Martin, A. J. Brand.

Concord -Peter R. Shields, Samuel A. Junkin, Frederick Long.

Dry Run-Daniel Brandt, William Shettler, Martin Hammond.

Fayetteville -J. W. Heysinger, James Melroy, Hiram Sowers, Joseph Connell, Hiram Snider, Pharez Duffield.

Green -William Brandt, John Lindsay, John W. Etter.

Guilford -Daniel Palmer, Jacob C. Snyder, Michal Reed, Isaac Hockersmith.

Hamilton -Abraham Hafer, S. P. Harbaugh, Jos. Kennedy.

Letterkenny -Fredk. Zollinger, John S. Brake, Wm. Forbis, Jas. M. Gelwix.

Lurgan -Joseph Mower, I. P. Grove, Samuel Flickinger.

Loudon--John McLaughlin John Treber, W. Divilbliss.

Metal -Geo. W. Welneman, Michael R. Keggeries, Allen Mort.

Montgomery -Wm. Boyd, C. Louderbaugh [INSERT ,] Dr. A. R. Long.

Orrstown -Hugh Smith, S. G. Breckenridge, Wm. B. Orr.

Peters -Jacob Hauck, A. J. North, Geo. W. Wolfe.

Quincy -Michael C. Clem, James A. Cook, Adam Essick, Adam Oyler, David W. Beaver.

Southampton -Josiah Etter, Simon Bitner, Reuben Bomberger.

Sulpher Spring-

St. Thomas-Andrew Lohr, John Gillian, Jr., Albertus Hicks, John Bryan.

Washington -John Wishard, A. C. Gilbert, John Mullen, Henry Besore, Samuel Nicodemus.

Warren -S. M. Seylar, Samuel Ferry, Joseph Phenicle.

Welsh Run-John McLaughlin, E. C. Detrich, Milton A. Embick.

On motion, the President appointed the following committee on Resolutions:

Jacob C. Snyder, of Guilford; Henry Besore, of Washington; Eli W. Fuss, of Antrim; Wm. Boyd, of Montgomery; Simon Bitner, of Mount Rock; Frederich Zullinger, of Letterkeny; and John Bryan, of St. Thomas.

The Convention then adjourned till one o'clock P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The Convention reassembled at 1 P. M.-The list of Delegates being read; Peter A. Hockenbery was substituted for Samuel A. Junkin, of Concord, who was not in attendance.

TREASURER.

On motion, the Convention proceeded to the nomination of a candidate for County Treasurer, when the following gentlemen were put in nomination:

Capt. Geo. W. Skinner, of Fannett;

John Goetz, of Antrim;

William Reber, of Southampton;

Daniel Tolhelm, of Mercersburg;

Leonard Leidy, of Montgomery.

Simon P. Harbaugh arose and said he was authorized to withdraw Daniel Tolhellm; after which, on motion, the nominations were closed and four ballots were taken, which resulted as follows:

Skinner. Goetz. Reber. Leidy. 1st 23 15 28 12 2d 32 9 28 9 3d 35 withd'n 29 14 4th 41 37 withd'n

Captain George W. Skinner having a majority of all the votes cast, was declared duly nominated, and on motion his nomination was confirmed unanimously.

ASSEMBLY

The Convention then proceeded to nominate a candidate for Assembly, when the following gentlemen were put in nomination:

Col. B. F. Winger, of Antrim,

Col. James B. Orr, of Orrstown,

Dr. Jos. H. McClintock of Loudon.

The name of Co. Orr was withdrawn before the ballot was taken. The Convention then proceeded to ballot, with the following result:

For Col B. F. Winger, 68 For Dr. Jos. H. McClintock, 10

On motion, the nomination of Col. B. F. Winger was confirmed unanimously.

ASSOCIATE JUDGE.

John Armstrong, Esq. of Chambersburg was nominated by acclamation for Associate Judge.

COMMISSIONER.

The following gentlemen were put in nomination for Commissioner, and a ballot was taken with the following result:

Alex. Martin, of Chambersburg 20 D. K. Wunderlich, " 18 Wm. Shenafield, " 39

Wm. Shenafield was declared duly nominated.

DIRECTOR OF THE POOR.

The following gentlemen were put in nomination for Director of the Poor, and a ballot taken with the following result:

Joseph Mower, of Lurgan, 24 John S. Brake, of Letterkenny 5 John Gillian, Jr., of St. Thomas, 45

John Gililan was declared duly nominated.

JURY COMMISSIONER.

The following gentlemen were put in nomination for Jury Commissioner, and balloted for with the following result:

Simon Bitner, of Southampton, 23 John Lindsay, of Green, 6 William Boyd, of Montgomery 42 John Gilbert, of Lurgan, 2 William Brandt, of Green 3

William Boyd was declared duly nominated. AUDITOR

Joseph Mower, of Lurgan, was nominated by acclamation for Auditor.

On motion, all the nominations were confirmed unanimously. RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. J. C. Snyder, Chairman of the Committee, then reported the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, it was of vital importance at the termination of the late rebellion, both for the interests of the people and the prosperity of our republican institutions, that the harmonious relations of the rebellious States to the Union, should have been restored at the earliest practical moment, and that the efforts of enlightened statesmeanship should have been put forth for that purpose, therefore:

Resolved , That this convention condemns the policy of reconstruction adopted by the last and the present Republican Congess as not promotive of that end for the following reasons;

1st. Because the principles of that policy find no warrant, and meet no sanction in the Constitution of the United States, as has been frankly conceded by Mr. Stevens who is to a large extent its author.

v2d. Because it takes from the States, powers plainly conferred by our present Constitution, thus tending to centralization.

3d. Because the elective franchise is thereby extended to the negro, which, in the opinion of this Convention, will result in the social equality, and finally, in the amalgamation of the races.

4th. Because the military is thereby rendered "independent of, and superior to the civil power."

Resolved , That we give our hearty approval to the action of the President of the United States in removing Edwin M. Stanton from the position of Secretary of War-a man who held his place and sought to retain it for the purpose of shamelessly betraying the secrets of the Cabinet-and we hereby express our detestation of the recklessness of a partisan majority which seeks to control the Chief Executive in the selection of his Constitutional advisers.

Resolved , That the Hon. George Sharswood, our candidate for the Supreme bench, we recognize the high-toned gentlemen, the able and eminent jurist, the patriotic statesman, and the devoted Christian; that by a life in private marked with unsullied purity, and in public, with the strictest integrity, he deserves the support of all good citizens of this Commonwealth.

Resolved , That the notorious corruption and reckless extravagance of our last State Legislature have so disgraced the people of Pennsylvania, that their own interests and reputations demand that the next Legislature should be composed of better men.

Resolved , That we hereby pledge our earnest support to the tickets this day nominated.

Wm. McLellan, Esq., then addressed the Convention, exposing the evils that would result form the adoption of negro suffrage.

On a motion, the President of the Convention was authorized to appoint the usual County Committee for the ensuing year.

Hon. George W. Brewer, in response to the loud calls, then addressed the Convention for a short time in his most felicitous style, his burning words and thrilling eloquence exciting round after round of applause from the enthusiastic audience present.

CONFEREES.

The following gentlemen were then appointed Legislative Conferees: Hugh Smith, Jacob C. Snyder and Major John S. Nimmon.

On motion the Convention adjourned sine die.

Local and Personal--Corn Crop
(Column 3)

Summary: Due to the "late seasonable weather," the corn crop is coming forward rapidly. All indications are that it will be a bumper crop.

Local and Personal--Potato Rot
(Column 3)

Summary: As a result of the "late protracted rains," reports the piece, potato rot has set in early, "materially damaging" this year's yield.

Origin of Article: Waynesboro Record

Local and Personal--Hurricane
(Column 3)

Summary: On August 28th, a great storm passed through Chambersburg and the surrounding region, uprooting trees and causing considerable damage. The storm also produced treacherous conditions near rivers and streams in the area. Two men, John A. Halton and William McClellan, narrowly escaped with their lives after they were swept by the rising torrents.
(Names in announcement: John A. Halton, William McClellan)

Local and Personal--Accidents
(Column 3)

Summary: On August 20th, J. W. Cramer, of Carlisle, was fatally injured while working at Foreman's Mill. Cramer was struck in the head by a piece of metal when a threshing machine cylinder exploded. On Sept. 2nd, George Brenner, foreman of H. Walter & Bro.'s marble yard, injured his left foot when a tombstone fell on it. Jeremy Long had an epilectic seizure and fell while working on the railroad. Fortunately, Long suffered only slight bruising as a result of his accident.
(Names in announcement: J. W. Cramer, George L. Benner, Jeremy Long)

Local and Personal--Doing Well
(Column 3)

Summary: Michael Cromer is "slowly recovering" after his accident on the railroad the week before last. He is convalescing at the residence of J. R. Smith.
(Names in announcement: Michael Cromer, J. R. Smith)

Superintendent's Salary
(Column 3)

Summary: "Tax Payer" advocates a raise in pay for School Superintendent Shoemaker, who currently earns $800 a year. Tax Payer opposes a plan offered by "Justice," a correspondent to the Repository, who endorses raising district teachers' salaries as a more prudent measure.

Trailer: Tax Payer

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: On Aug. 28th, Anna Coble, consort of the late Daniel Coble, died at the residence of Samuel Coble. Anna was 81 years old.
(Names in announcement: Anna Coble, Daniel Coble, Samuel Coble)