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

Valley Spirit: 10 30, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

German Ladies and Families
(Column 6)

Summary: The author of the article reports on the impeccable behavior of women and children in Germany and offers an implicit comparison to their American counterparts.

Trailer: Rev. R. M. Sanders

Trouble In The Radical Camp
(Column 1)

Summary: Since the election, explains the article, the Republicans have splintered over the best course of action for the party to pursue. The split has become particularly pronounced over the issue of the party's next presidential nominee. The conservative wing has proposed Gen. Grant as the Republicans' candidate, a move that would surely provoke the ire of the "extreme men" in the party.

Full Text of Article:

The Radicals are in a pretty muddle since the elections in Ohio and Pennsylvania.--they are engaged in the excellent pastime of laying "hurly-burly." They are mad, but there is no method in their madness. They are splitting into factions whose initiatory sparrings show that there is a terrible clashing of rival interests in their ranks. There seems to be "an irrepressible conflict" of ideas, too, among them, as to what course is expedient for their party to take. Some wish to profit by the lessons of the late elections, and therefore cast their influences in favor of Conservative measures. They insist, that to ultra ideas in regard to the negro their recent defeats are attributable, and that as long as they persist in the advancement of their equality notion, they may reasonably expect fresh disasters.--There is no intention on their part to abandon the extreme tenets of their party creed permanently. They have not been convinced that they are wrong. But they are looking to the success of their party. With this end in view, they deem it best to sacrifice principle to policy temporarily, trusting to obtain a new lease of power by adroit deception, and determined, in that event, to violate their pledges to the people, and secure the ascendancy of their doctrines in utter disregard of the expressions of the popular will. All they want is a President who will be in sympathy with their designs, and a Congress that will put these designs into practical operation.--Then, no matter how the people may fume and fret and protest, they will proceed to carry out, to the fullest extent, their plans for the political and social equalization of the races, and the establishment of a strong, centralized government. Knowing the unpopularity of these, their darling schemes, they are casting about for a candidate whose personal popularity will counterbalance the odium which attaches to their obnoxious doctrines. The expediency men of the Radical party imagine that they have found such a man in the person of General Grant. They argue, that the military services which he has rendered the country have been so brilliant and so valuable that his very name would excite an enthusiasm throughout the country similar to that which placed Harrison and Taylor in the Presidential chair. In pursuance of this idea the name of this distinguished officer has been presented for this position by several clubs in our own State, and the organ of the Radicals in our own county place it at the head of its columns and gravely proceeds to give its excuse for doing so. It says, "in preferring General Grant we are influenced not by any consideration of availability," &c

Now we are perfectly familiar with the political ideas of our highly-esteemed friend who has charge of the Repository during the absence of its senior editor. We know him to be one of the most radical of Radicals. He is in favor of investing the negro with the same political rights that are accorded to the white man and does not hesitate to say so openly. He prides himself in always making a frank avowal of his honest convictions. One of the "superior qualifications" which he would require in the man of his choice for President, is the fullest sympathy with the extreme Radicals of the party. Has General Grant ever exhibited such sympathy? No. Has he ever declared in favor of negro suffrage? No. Has he ever expressed himself as partial to the military governments now existing in the South? No. Has he ever uttered a word to justify the belief that he desires to see the governments of the late rebel States in the hands of blacks--or the whites who have emigrated thither from the North? No. Then surely there is no peculiar fitness in the principles of the man to make him the choice of the Repository .--On the contrary, unless he boldly identifies himself with the Radicals, there is a peculiar unfitness in the nomination.

The truth is, that the "consideration of availability" is exactly what prompted this nomination. It is hoped that the country will get into such a furor of excitement over this military chieftain, that the desire to do him honor will override every other consideration, and enable the Radicals to achieve a victory the prospect of which would otherwise be utterly hopeless.

We do not believe that General Grant will be nominated. The extreme men of the Radical party have determined on the "rule of ruin" policy. They have made up their minds that they must have a representative man. They will run no risk of treachery hereafter. They want a man who is thoroughly and heartily committed to their ideas and mode of thought. No milk and water candidate will suit them. Hence they are refusing to second the nomination of Grant. They are advancing their ultra principles with more vehemence than ever. The Tribune insists that the fight must go on upon the doctrine of "manhood suffrage." There must be no surrender of, no backing down from the Radical position. The Press echoes the same declaration. Evidently the advance guard of the Radical party does not look with favor, or even with complacency, upon the movement to make Grant the Radical candidate. And so the quarrel goes on. The Radical party is in a frightful dilemma. If it nominates a Conservative, the ultra wing will secede--if it nominates a Radical, thousands of honest Conservatives will flock to the Democratic ranks. Take which horn it will, victory awaits the Democracy.

Radicalism Plotting Mischief
(Column 2)

Summary: Fearing that they will lose the State Senate, Republicans, say the editors, have "already commenced the the work of preparing the public mind" for one of their nefarious schemes to maintain control of the state government, just as they did three years ago when they gerrymandering several districts in the state.

Full Text of Article:

The Radicals are alarmed at the prospect of losing the Pennsylvania Senate at the next election, and they have already commenced the work of preparing the public mind for an outrage which they have in contemplation, and which we noticed last week, in order to maintain their majority in that body. When they made their infamous "gerrymander" of the State three years ago, they formed a "double" Senatorial district out of centre, Juanita, Mifflin, Blair, Huntingdon and Perry counties.--They made a "double" district, not because two districts could not conveniently have been made out of the counties they formed into one, but because they wanted to swamp certain Democratic counties and secure two Senators for themselves where they were entitled to only one. We believe Col. McClure, who is not particularly distinguished for scrupulousness in politics, warned his party friends that they were making a dangerous experiment, and that their two-edged sword might turn and cut themselves, but the warning was disregarded.

Sooner, perhaps, than Col. McClure himself apprehended, the turn has taken place and the cut has been given. The Democracy has wrested this double district from the Republicans, and by this one great achievement made a difference of four in the count of political noses in the Senate. With the certainty that the Franklin and Adams district; and that of Luzerne, will be carried against them next year, the Radicals feel that something desperate must be done to save them in the Senate. The following from the Pittsburgh Commercial foreshadows the violent measures they will adopt to maintain their ascendancy:

The defeat of Mssrs. McVitty and Robinson Republican candidates for the State Senator in this Twenty-first district, has caused and investigation to be made as to the manner of its accomplishment, and has resulted in developing frauds of a glaring character in Juniata, Perry and Centre counties.--Sufficient evidence has been obtained, it is said, to give Mssrs. McVitty and Robinson their seats, without reference to the large numbers of deserters that voted in Juniata and Centre counties. The election of Shugart and McIntyre will therefore be contested, with, it is claims, a certainty of success.

We entertain very little doubt that the election of Shugart and McIntyre will be contested with "a certainty of success," if the Democracy of Pennsylvania do not give the scoundrels, who contemplate this outrage upon the ballot box , to understand that the back window of the Senate chamber at Harrisburg, out of which Thad Stevens jumped in 1838, is still open, and that some of his disciples may be called upon to imitate that famous feat of his if they undertake to imitate his attempt to defeat the will of the people. Do these plotters suppose that the party which has so signally triumphed at the polls, will permit the fruits of their great victory to be wrested from them by the Radical Senate in defiance of law, and in defiance of the verdict of the people lawfully rendered in his case, dare to assist in rejecting Shugart and McIntyre, and yet hope to escape taking the leap which Thaddeus Stevens took thirty years ago?

The Radical Legislature which passed the infamous apportionment bill, under which members of both branches of the General Assembly are now chosen, went far enough. They studied how to make districts which it would be impossible for the Democracy ever to carry. If now, finding themselves mistaken, they undertake to use their ill-gotten power to maintain their waning ascendancy in either branch, and refuse to admit members who have been legally elected, the time will have come again for the Democracy of the State to assemble at the Capitol, as they did in 1838, prepared and determined to maintain their rights.

High-Handed Measures
(Column 3)

Summary: Reportedly, blacks in Virginia have formed a "Vigilance Committtee" that has given notice to certain whites in Richmond that they must leave the city. In reaction, the editors predict that, should the situation continue, "one of the most terrible and destructive conflicts" ever will occur.

Hauling Off
(Column 3)

Summary: The article in the Republican organ argues that Senators Wade and Chandler and other members of the party who promote black suffrage were the primary cause of the party's poor showing in the recent election.

Origin of Article: Pittsburg Commercial

Editorial Comment: "Some of the Radical newspapers show a disposition to haul off from certain leaders of their party since they have heard the election news. We find the following in the Pittsburg Commercial:"

Local and Personal--Fire
(Column 1)

Summary: Samuel Zook's Sorghum Mill, located near Orrstown, was destroyed by a fire last Friday. The blaze, which was caused by sparks from the smoke pipe, incurred a $500 loss.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Zook)

Local and Personal--Sold
(Column 1)

Summary: Matthew P. Welsh, the local Postmaster, sold his lot of 32 feet front on Soath's Main St. to A. L. Coyle for $2,500. Additionally, the farm of S. B. Johnston (dec'd) was sold for $91 per acre.
(Names in announcement: Matthew P. Welsh, A. L. Coyle, S. B. Johnston)

Local and Personal--Distressing Accident
(Column 1)

Summary: Relates that John Zimmerman's son serevely injured his hand in a Corn Sheller, resulting in a loss of two of his fingers. It is feared that it may be necessary to amputate his whole hand to save the boy's life.
(Names in announcement: John Zimmerman)

Local and Personal--Destructive Fire
(Column 1)

Summary: A fire broke out yesterday in the Broom Factory of Mr. Eyler, in Hamilton township, which destroyed the factory and the adjoining house. Eyler did manage to save a portion of his furniture, though he had no insurance. An estimate of the loss is not known.
(Names in announcement: Eyler)

Local and Personal--Court Proceedings
(Column 1)

Summary: A notice that court opened last Monday. The first case was Com. vs. Theodore Myers, on a charge of deserting his wife and refusing to maintain her. The evidence in this case disclosed the fact that the defendant married the prosecutrix for the purpose of settling a former prosectuion brought against him, and that he refused to live with her or do anything for her after the ceremony was performed. The Court ordered and directed that def't. pay to the prosecutrix the sum of five dollars per month, and be committed to the county jail, or give security in the sum of $500 for the faithful performance of this order, and also that he pay the costs of this proceeding. Com. vs. JOhn McGeehan--Charge Assault and Battery. Verdict guilty, sentenced to pay a fine of one cent and the costs of prosecution. Com. vs. Frank Jones. Charge, assault and battery. Verdict guilty of an assault. Sentenced to pay a fine of five dollars and costs of prosecution. Com. vs. Susan Spidle. Charge, larceny of a breast pin, gold buttons and other jewelry. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to two months imprisonment in the county jail. Com. vs. Mary Hays. Charge, assault and battery--Elizabeth Thompson, prosecutrix. Defendant plead guilty. Sentenced to pay a fine of one dollar and the costs of prosecution.
(Names in announcement: Theodore Myers, John McGeehan, Frank Jones, Susan Spidle, Mary Hays)

Local and Personal--Real Estate Sold
(Column 2)

Summary: Last Monday, H. C. Keyser, a real estate agent, sold the farm of S. P. Harbough, which comprises 96 acres and 61 perches, to a man from Cumberland county for $10,000.
(Names in announcement: H. C. Keyser, S. P. Harbough)

Local and Personal--An Accident
(Column 2)

Summary: While hauling wood last Tuesday, Leonard Divibliss caught his leg under one of his wagon's wheels, crushing the portion between his knee and his thigh. It is rumored that his leg will have to be amputated.
(Names in announcement: Leonard Divilbiss)

Origin of Article: Mercersburg Journal

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: On August 26th, S. Jacob Banker and Mary Kuhn were married by Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: S. Jacob Banker, Mary Kuhn, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: On Oct. 20th, John Edy and Martha Dehaven were married by Rev. James H. Bishop.
(Names in announcement: John Edy, Rev. James H. Kuhn, Martha Dehaven)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: On Oct. 22nd, H. Frank Landis and Emma Vandersaul were married by Rev. C. Price.
(Names in announcement: H. Frank Landis, Emma Vandersaul, Rev. C. Price)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: On Oct. 17th, Dr. J. S. Frickinger and Jennie McAllen were married by Rev. J. J. Pomeroy.
(Names in announcement: Dr. J. S. Frickinger, Jennie McAllen, Rev. J. J. Pomeroy)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: On Oct. 17th, William Mouer and Emma M. Hollar were married.
(Names in announcement: William Mouer, Emma Hollar)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: On Oct. 15th, W. L. McCollough, of Newville, and Eliza Bradley were married by Rev. Dr. Creigh.
(Names in announcement: W. L. McCollough, Eliza Bradley, Rev. Dr. Creigh)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Announces that Alexander McClintock, his wife Eliza, and their youngest daughter Susan Warner were re-interred on Oct. 22nd, after originally being buried in Baltimore. Alexander, the eldest son of John McClintock, died on Sept. 30th, 1859; his daughter died on June 18th, 1859; his wife died on Jan. 18th, 1861.
(Names in announcement: Alexander McClintock, Eliza McClintock, Susan W. McClintock, John McClintock)