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Valley Spirit: October 14, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

John Cessna's Portrait, Drawn By Hon. Francis Jordan, Secretary of the Commonwealth Under Gov. Geary
(Column 06)

Summary: Copy of a pamphlet issued by Col. Francis Jordan of Bedford County attacking John Cessna for displaying selfish ambition.

Seymour and Blair. The Great Tidal Wave of Popular Sentiment.
(Column 08)

Summary: Reports that the Democratic presidential ticket of Horatio Seymour and Frank Blair is receiving widespread popular support.

Conservative Citizens of Franklin County
(Column 01)

Summary: Goes over all the issues Democrats have championed for months. Claims Grant will use the army to force a Republican victory in the South. Details issues like military governments, black voting, the large debt, etc. Constantly urges voters to save the country by voting Democratic.

Full Text of Article:

The election is rapidly approaching. But one day remains to you. The time is short for deliberation. It is short for action.--The Radical party is active. Its leaders are unscrupulous. They are using money without stint. They are buying votes wherever they can get men to make a bargain with them. The New England States have thrown an immense amount of money into the hands of the Radical wire-pullers of this State. An attempt is being made to counter-balance the loss of men of calm judgement, who have abandoned Radicalism because of its fatal fanaticism, by purchasing the "floating vote." They feel that the principles of the Democratic platform have attracted the attention and won the approbation of Conservative men everywhere. They know that the masses are longing for a change which will better their condition. Men who are in the habit of reasoning in regard to matters of government, as well as in relation to their own private affairs, are thinking more than ever now. The Radicals do not desire any thinking to be done. They are doing everything to draw the minds of the people away from the issues of the day. They are endeavoring to fan into a flame the old embers of sectional hatred. The appeals of their orators are all to the passions.

The Democratic party asks simply for the exercise of the calm judgment of the people. It arraigns Radicalism, and asks for its condemnation because of its frightful extravagance and corruption, and terrible misrule.

The figures taken from the official records show that it costs five times as much per annum to administer this government under Radical rule as it did during the Presidency of James Buchanan. The public monies are squandered recklessly in every conceivable way. Economy never enters into their calculations. They pay one hundred and twenty millions per annum to keep up a standing army of sixty thousand men in a time of profound peace. They pay from ten to twelve millions each year to keep up the Freedmen's Bureau for the purpose of feeding and clothing idle, lazy negroes whilst the poor white men of the South are obliged to work for their living. They expend large sums of the people's money in such useless and costly undertakings as impeachment.

In the last three years they have collected from the people fifteen hundred millions of dollars. What has become of it? They are unable to account for it. Judge Black, in a speech lately made at York, says that at least one thousand millions of dollars have been stolen from the government during that short time. No wonder the National debt is increasing. Tax payers, look at these enormous figures and condemn the Radical party at the polls.

The Radical party seeks to rule this country by the force of the bayonet. Congress has usurped all the power belonging to the President and the Supreme Court, and is now delegating this usurped power to General Grant. He holds sixty thousand men at his command whose business is now to execute his will. He is the Radical candidate for the Presidency. He is making such disposition of his troops in the South as will insure the casting of the Electoral votes of the Southern States for him. His subordinate officers have full authority to arrest men at their pleasure for any reason which seems good to them. They will intimidate conservative men and thus keep them from the polls. They will give, as they are giving, protection to unprincipled carpet-baggers who are exciting the negroes to riotous demonstrations. Grant is using the bayonet to carry his own election. A huge military despotism is thus overshadowing the Southern portion of the American Republic. How long will it be until it casts its baneful shadow over the North? Friends of civil liberty, think of this and condemn the Radical party at the polls.

The Radical party is striving to put the negro upon an equal footing with the white man in this country. It seeks to clothe him with all the political rights that belong to the men of our own race. Observe how the Radical leaders are pushing the negro forward. He votes in the South. He sits in the jury box. He holds office. He is sent to the State Legislatures. A negro presides over the Louisiana Senate. Seventy four negroes and forty seven whites composed the Convention which framed the present Constitution of South Carolina. These seventy four blacks each paid less than fifty cents for taxes.

The Legislature of South Carolina now consists of ninety-seven negroes and fifty white men. Ninety-six of these negroes pay less than seventy cents apiece for taxes.

Ninety-three negroes were elected to seats in the Legislature of Georgia and held their places until a few weeks ago. Senator Sumner says that the proudest day of his life will be that on which a negro is sworn into the United States Senate. Senator Wilson says that the true construction of the civil-rights bill is that the negro is entitled to vote and hold office in the North as well as in the South.

Against the law of God, against the instincts of our nature, and against the experience of the world the Radicals are thus striving to found governments upon the stolid ignorance of the negro. Think of it, white men, and condemn the Radical party at the polls.

The Radical party seeks to increase the actual debt of the nation seven hundred and fifty millions of dollars by paying the five-twenty bonds in gold. Thaddeus Stevens, Senator Sherman of Ohio, Senator Morton of Indiana, Benjamin F. Butler of Massachusetts, all say that the intention of the framers of the law authorizing the issue of these bonds was that they were to be paid in the lawful currency of the country, whatever that might be. The Treasury notes were made a legal tender by the Radicals themselves for all debts, public and private, except the duties on imports and the interest of the public debt. Not a word about the principal of the debt. For that the treasury notes were made a legal tender.

There are fifteen hundred millions of these five-twenty bonds to be paid. Buy gold at fifty per cent premium with which to pay them, and it will require twenty-two hundred and fifty millions to pay fifteen hundred millions. All for the love of spending money. The widow and orphans and crippled or wounded soldier must take "greenbacks" for their pension. The day-laborer must take "greenbacks" as the reward of his toil. Why should not the bondholder take "greenbacks" for his bond? The bondholder may as well make up his mind to the fact that these bonds are to be paid in "greenbacks." And having so made up his mind, let him vote for the party that is bound to make "greenbacks" as good as gold. Let him cast his vote for the party which inscribes "Retrenchment and Reform" upon its banners. Let him vote to abolish the Freedmen's Bureau--to disband our large standing army--to stop up every hole out of which the public money is being drawn by thieves and plunderers--to put the Southern State governments into the hands of white men so that they can help us to pay the debt--and he will soon discover that the credit of the government will rise--"greenbacks" will run up to par because the world will see our willingness and our ability to pay, and the bonds of the government will be as good as gold. Let him vote to continue the rule of the Radical party and he will find that its terrible extravagance, unprecedented corruption and frightful misrule will render the nation bankrupt and his bonds will not be paid at all. Let the bondholder and the poor man think of this and condemn the Radical party at the polls.

Men of Franklin County, these are the issues before you. Meet them like men who love your country better than your party. Array yourselves on the side of Constitutional liberty and an economical administration of the government. Being so arrayed, work. Give all your time until the polls close next Tuesday to your country.--Let there not be a single laggard. Be active, watchful, diligent. Every thing looks bright. Let us not only maintain our majority of last year, but let us increase it.--Philadelphia will give a Democratic majority. The State is safe for the Democracy.--Let us help by increasing activity to swell the Democratic vote so that the voice of Pennsylvania may be a voice of thunder.

Democrats, Look Out!
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper warns Democrats to examine their tickets before voting to be sure they do not mistakenly cast a ballot for John Cessna. Cessna has been publicly betting that he will win 100 more votes than last election's Republican candidate in Mercersburg, Peters, and Hamilton. His confidence could be an indication of the existence of a plot to commit fraud.

Paupers to the Rescue!
(Column 02)

Summary: Accuses Republicans of conspiring to defraud the election. Claims they brought two paupers from a poor house for the sole purpose of voting Republican and then pay them with public funds.

Full Text of Article:

Democrats, look out for frauds everywhere. The Radicals stop at nothing. Two paupers, brought direct from the Poor House ten days before election day, are now quartered at Trostle's Hotel in this Borough for the purpose of voting the Radical ticket in this Borough. Their boarding is to be paid out of the Radical corruption fund. Where are these paupers to go after the election? Are they to be returned to the Poor House to be fed at the expense of the tax payers of the county? Unquestionably they will be. Democrats, be active and drive the willing tools of Radicalism from the places which they thus dishonor.

Give the Repository the Premium
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper declares the fair a great success, but asserts that they omitted to award the Franklin Repository a prize for lying.

Money! Money!! Money!!!
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that the Republicans have spent $400 on the campaign in Montgomery and Peters alone. They have spent an equal amount in Hamilton. The money is also flowing in the South Ward of Chambersburg. The paper suggests that this may be the reason for the inordinate confidence displayed by the candidates.

Frank Jordan vs. John Cessna
(Column 03)

Summary: Gives a lengthy report of a battle between two prominent Republicans. Tells how Cessna used every dirty and underhanded political trick in the book against Jordan, and urges people to denounce Cessna for what he has done.

Full Text of Article:

To supply the demand for Hon. Francis Jordan's pamphlet exposing the duplicity and contemptible trickery of John Cessna, we reprint it in this number of our paper. Col. Jordan was a Whig when that party was in existence, and when it died out he aided in forming the Republican party to which he has adhered consistently ever since. He is a gentleman of high respectability and was for a long series of years the leader of our political opponents in Bedford county. He is a Radical leader still, and as such he warns his political friends that John Cessna is nothing but an unscrupulous office hunter and ought not to be trusted by the Radical party.

The Radicals of Franklin county profess to be great admirers of Governor Geary. Let them remember that Francis Jordan is Governor Geary's Secretary of the Commonwealth. In official position he stands next to the Governor. He was appointed to this position by Governor Geary after he had published the "Address to the Union Voters of Bedford County" which we reprint to-day. The Governor may therefore justly be regarded as endorsing Col. Jordan's charges against Cessna. Those charges are of a very serious nature. They make out a character for Cessna which it would be hard to find the counterpart of anywhere outside of the purlieus of politics.

Look at Cessna's conduct. When Col. Jordan called on him in Bedford, previous to the Radical nomination for Governor in 1866, he said he had no thought of being a candidate himself and promised to support Jordan. But as soon as Jordan got out of town, Cessna came out as a candidate and went to work with all his might to defeat Jordan. Did any man in the world ever serve another a more scurvy trick than this? Did any honorable man ever do such a thing?

Col. Jordan exposes another dishonorable trick of Cessna's. After he had promised to support Jordan, and before he announced himself a candidate, he went to Jordan's friend Major Washabaugh, (Brother of the late Upton Washabaugh of Chambersburg,) who had been selected to represent Bedford county in the Radical State Convention, and begged the Major to substitute him, "alleging that he desired to go to enable him to define his position as a party man." After he got into the State Convention on this false pretence, and had secured, as he supposed, the control of the Radical organization by getting himself made Chairman of the Radical State Committee, he let it be known that he was a candidate for Governor in opposition to Jordan, and went to work to defeat Jordan's friend, Major Washabaugh, to whose generosity he was indebted for the privilege of sitting in the State Convention. Did the "Wickedest Man in New York" ever do anything dirtier than that? John Allen must hide his diminished head in the presence of John Cessna.

But Cessna proved himself capable of a still higher flight than this in scurvy political trickery. Being in Washington city, where Col. Jordan was then engaged as the Agent of the State, on the 21st of December, he submitted written plans to the Colonel by which a decision between them might be had in Bedford county. He then posted off home as fast as steam could carry him, without waiting for Col. Jordan to reply to his propositions, first telegraphing to his minions in Bedford to have the County Committee called together at so early a day that he supposed the Colonel would not hear of the meeting till it was over! But the Colonel did hear of it--not from Cessna, but through a telegram from Major Washabaugh. He then went to Bedford, and before the Committee met, placed in Cessna's hands a note accepting one of the plans he had proposed when in Washington. This upset Cessna's nice laid scheme to obtain a snap judgment against Col. Jordan, but he was equal to the emergency. He had the effrontery, in replying to the Colonel's note, to assume that the Colonel had declined his propositions, but expressed himself willing to take a vote under the "Crawford county system.' The next day exposed his hypocrisy, for instead of submitting to a vote of the party in general, he induced his pliant tools in the County Committee to take another course, whereby a direct vote of the party was avoided--"a plan," as Col. Jordan states, "in which a minority of the party might give a majority of the delegates."

We have not the time to pursue this exposure further. Let every voter read Col. Jordan's statement. Let it be remembered who and what Col. Jordan is. Let it be borne in mind that at the very time when John Cessna was doing all this dirty work against Col. Jordan and for his own personal benefit, the Colonel was at Washington serving the soldiers of Pennsylvania who had fought to save the Union. And let every citizen who values honesty, candor and fair dealing, vote to rebuke and put down the demagogue and trickster who has earned the disgraceful distinction of being politically the Wickedest Man in Pennsylvania, John Cessna.

County Commissioner
(Column 03)

Summary: Endorsement of W. S. McAllen for County Commissioner. His election is especially important for Democrats because it would give them a majority on the board for the next two years.
(Names in announcement: W. S. McAllen)

Honor to Whom Honor is Due
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper refutes Republican charges that Judge Kimmell was responsible for surrendering Chambersburg to the Confederates during the war. The editors place the blame on Alexander K. McClure instead.
(Names in announcement: Judge Kimmell, Alexander K. McClure)

The Prohibitory Candidate
(Column 04)

Summary: Again attacks Cessna, this time accusing him of planning to establish a national Prohibition Law if he gets to Congress(says he will "out-radical the radicals"). Calls on voters to vote for Kimmell instead because he won't meddle with states' rights.

Full Text of Article:

There was one year in the last twenty years when John Cessna was not a candidate for public office. This was last year. He then accepted an appointment from the State Temperance Convention to draft a Prohibitory Liquor Law to be presented to the Legislature. But before presenting his draft he made up his mind to run for Congress, and thinking he would need the votes of distillers and hotel and restaurant keepers, he concluded to let the temperance people wait awhile. To keep his hand in the temperance business, however, he traveled out to Cleveland in the early part of the past summer and took his seat as Temporary Chairman of the National Temperance Convention. He "changed the base" of his temperance movement. He passed from a State to a National arena. The Prohibitory Law which he was to have presented to the Legislature he reserved for presentation to Congress when he should get there.

The Radical Congress arrogates to itself the right to regulate affairs which formerly were understood to belong exclusively to the States. As "one renegade is worse than ten Turks," the renegade Cessna may be expected to out-radical any ten Radicals in Congress if he gets there. He may, therefore, be expected to claim for Congress the right to pass a Prohibitory Liquor Law, and he may be expected to press upon that body the passage of the law which he was to have pressed upon the State Legislature.

Judge Kimmell is as temperate a man as John Cessna, but he does not meddle with other people's business and does not approve of binding freemen with iron-clad laws prescribing what they shall eat, drink or wear. Let all who don't want a government spy set over them to watch and report what they eat, drink or wear, vote for Kimmell.

Surveyor General
(Column 04)

Summary: Criticizes the current Republican Surveyor General who is running for reelection. Compares the amounts spent under his administration and that of his Democratic predecessor.

Full Text of Article:

A Vote for Campbell for Surveyor General will be an act in favor of making the Department a source of revenue instead of burden to the State.--Repository.

Did the Repository know what it was talking about when it said that? If it did, it uttered a wilful falsehood. If it did not, it indulged in a random assertion unfounded in fact and calculated to mislead people.

James P. Barr, Democrat, was J.M. Campbell's predecessor in the office of Surveyor General. He was elected in 1862 and went into office in 1863. The expenses of the office for 1863 were $10,225; for 1864 $12,310; for 1865 $17,566--total for three years $40,101.

J.M. Campbell, Radical, was elected in 1865 and went into office in 1866. The expenses of the office for 1866 were $20,648; for 1867 $23,223; for 1868 $24,700--total for three years $68,571.

These figures, which are from the official reports, show that Mr. Campbell, the present Surveyor General and Radical candidate, has spent $28,571 more than Mr. Barr did in the same length of time. Is that the way to "make the Department a source of revenue instead of burden to the State?"

We may as well add another fact which the official reports will bear us out in stating. It is this: Barr paid more money into the State Treasury from the Land office in ONE YEAR than Campbell has paid into it from the same office in THREE YEARS.

Will the Repository explain how Campbell has "made the Department a source of revenue instead of burden to the State?"

Director of the Poor
(Column 04)

Summary: Gives some reasons why voters should put a Democratic majority on the Poor House Board.

Full Text of Article:

Let every Democrat bear in mind that Jacob R. Smith's election as Director of the Poor would give us a majority in the board for the next two years. Our opponents have had the direction of the Poor House for a long time, and they have not always managed it wisely. Some years ago they put up a new house of enormous dimensions and of no use whatever. The money wasted on it should have been devoted to the enlargement of the Barn and the improvement of the farm. Let us have Directors who will spend the people's money for useful purposes. Jacob R. Smith is a practical man of sound judgment and would not be likely to commit any mistake in the management of Poor House affairs.

Cessna's Age in Radicalism
(Column 04)

Summary: The Spirit criticizes John Cessna for claiming in an attempt to prove the soundness of his radical credentials that he supported Governor Curtin in 1863. The editors refute the claim, asserting he was on on-the-fence Democrat in 1863, and had even refused to speak at several Republican rallies.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Criticizes Hays for attacking a fellow soldier in his articles in order to help Cessna in the past. Expresses no surprise that now Hays is fearful of not getting elected.

Full Text of Article:

MR. S. WILSON HAYS, the Radical candidate for District Attorney, is very fearful that Republicans may cut "a gallant soldier," as he styles himself, and vote for Stenger who, he says "affiliated with Rebels. Why is it that the iniquity of this sort of thing did not strike his mind when he lent the columns of his paper to the most virulent abuse of the "Boy in Blue," Col. George B. Weistling, in order to further the selfish ends of John Cessna, who, while Colonel Weistling was in the Union army, was "affiliating with Rebels" just as much as Stenger? Why did he assist in slaughtering Weistling, a soldier, to aid Cessna, a stay-at home patriot? Consistency is a jewel. Let us have peace.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Attacks a Republican candidate's record by saying he was drafted into the army rather than volunteering.

Full Text of Article:

CAPT. ELIA K. LEHMAN, Republican candidate for Commissioner, served his country faithfully during the late rebellion, while his opponent stayed at home.--Repository.

Certainly he did. Captain Lehman was drafted and went into the army as a gallant conscript. That sort of Patriotism was mighty cheap during the war. The draft was'nt very particular as to where it struck. The fellows who were not hit thought themselves lucky then, but it seems that was all a mistake. It turns out to be a very cheap way of acquiring a reputation for patriotism. McAllen was'nt sharp or he would have managed to be drafted too. How are you conscript?

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Mocks the Radical nomination for District Attorney.

Full Text of Article:

THE NOMINATION of Col. Dixon sought him out, as the office should always seek the man.--Repository.

What a lively time the Radical nomination for District Attorney had "seeking the man" who got it. Hays tried his best to run away from it, but it captured him after a hard chase. He asked it to take Bone-brake; he begged it to take Eby; he implored it to take Chambers; but the stony-hearted office was deaf to his appeals, and Hays had to give in at last. "Seek and ye shall find."

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Breban's Swiss Bell Ringers will give a musical performance in Repository Hall.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Rev. Walter E. Krebs, late pastor of the Reformed Church in Waynesboro', resigned his position in Mercersburg to accept a position in a church in Allegheny City, Pa.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Walter E. Krebs)

Torch-Light Procession
(Column 01)

Summary: Call for Chambersburg Democrats to meet at the club headquarters on Saturday night to take part in a torchlight procession.

New Churches
(Column 01)

Summary: Two new churches are planned for construction in Chambersburg. The Second Presbyterians are planning to begin building this summer on property on the Diamond. The Episcopalians are also planning to build. A group representing the Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church has applied for incorporation.

Democratic Meeting
(Column 01)

Summary: The Democratic Party held meetings at Greenvillage and Funkstown as part of what the paper describes as an unusually thorough and well-attended election campaign. Additional meetings are planned at Strasburg, Waynesboro', Fayetteville, Cashtown, and Quincy.
(Names in announcement: W. S. Stenger, B. Y. Hamsher, George W. Brewer, C. M. Duncan, J. McDowell Sharpe, W. S. Stenger, Lieut. M. D. Reymer, Col. B. F. Winger, George W. Skinner, F. M. Kimmell, John R. Orr, A. K. Syester, William McLellan)

Col. McClure
(Column 02)

Summary: Statement from Col. McClure denying he collected $115,000 dollars from Republican Party members in New England to distribute in support of Pennsylvania campaigns.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: James Snelling, an Englishman and leader of the Citizen's Band of Chambersburg, absconded with instruments and uniforms belonging to the band. He is thought to be headed toward Pittsburgh. His disappearance has come as a shock because he had always held the "character of an honest man."
(Names in announcement: James Snelling)

Radical Meeting
(Column 02)

Summary: The Republicans held a public meeting in Chambersburg in front of the store of Gelwicks and Burkhart. A special train from Greencastle brought 100 men and boys "who swelled the crowd to a pretty reasonable size." A torch-light parade followed speeches by Gen. Joseph G. Hawley of Connecticut and Col. A. K. McClure. "It was the old story of the war and the treasonable purposes of the Copperheads."
(Names in announcement: Gelwicks, Burkhart, Gen. Joseph G. Hawley, Col. A. K. McClure)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: John Sweigert of Antrim and Rachael G. Bowers of St. Thomas were married in Chambersburg on October 5th by the Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: John Sweigert, Rachael G. Bowers, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: David Brookings and Miss Kate Reasner, both of Guilford, were married in Chambersburg on October 6th by the Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: David Brookings, Kate Reasner, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Married
(Column 03)

Summary: John H. Herr and Miss Matilda Lane, both of Greencastle, were married on October 8th at Boyd's Hotel by the Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: John H. Herr, Matilda Lane, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Died
(Column 03)

Summary: Samuel Zeller died at the Franklin County residence of his son-in-law Henry Angle on September 24th. He was 70 years old.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Zeller, Henry Angle)

Died
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss Lusette Young died near Waynesboro on September 29th. She was 36 years old.
(Names in announcement: Lusette Young)

Died
(Column 03)

Summary: John D. Lechrone, son of Samuel Lechrone, died on September 20th from the effects of a gunshot wound. "Young Lechrone was a quiet, inoffensive young man, of a religious turn of mind. Some time last winter, he attended a series of meetings at Jacobs' Church, conducted by myself, when we endeavored to instruct him in the way of Salvation through Christ, and as he, night after night, presented himself as an anxious inquirer, receiving instructions and the benefit of prayers of the church, he was enabled at last, to receive Christ as a gracious savior."
(Names in announcement: John D. Lechrone, Samuel Lechrone)