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Valley Spirit: September 29, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The 15th Amendment
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper denounces the 15th amendment and asserts that all citizens must now choose to stand for or against black suffrage.

The Poor House and the Repository
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper defends Democrats against charges by the Repository of mismanagement of the Poor House.

Don't Trust Them
(Column 03)

Summary: Comes out fully against black suffrage and insists Franklin county feels the same way because even Republican candidates say they are against it. Urges voters not to be fooled by this and vote for Democrats who will repeal the 15th amendment.

Full Text of Article:

One of the best evidences of the unpopularity of negro suffrage in Franklin county, is the fact that the Radical candidates are positively trying to persuade the people that they are opposed to it. To hear them talk, when no Radical leaders are near, you would think that they entertained a perfect abhorrence of negro equality. Do not let them "pull the wool over your eyes," Conservatives. They are keeping the negro in the back-ground until after they are elected. They are in hearty sympathy with the principles of the party that nominated them.

Keep thinking of it until after you have voted, that McKnight will vote to sustain the revolution which is forcing negro suffrage upon the people of Pennsylvania against their will. Let repeal be your watchword, and support the Democratic candidates.

Not Settled Yet
(Column 04)

Summary: Employs a scare tactic by commenting on Radical racial policies. Claims their demands will never stop until blacks achieve full political and social equality, and points to the situation in D.C. as evidence. Calls on all Conservatives to end the "fanaticism" by voting for Democrats who will repeal the 15th amendment and end demands for black equality.

Full Text of Article:

The Radicals were wont to tell us that if Slavery were abolished "the negro question would be settled." Slavery has been abolished. Is the negro question settled?

They tell us now, let the negro vote and "the negro question will be forever settled." But this is not so. Already the further demands of the negro have reached your ears. Already have a few Radical extremists intimated that still further concessions must be made by the whites. Already have they told us that the privileges and rights of the negroes must be extended. In the District of Columbia, which is under the immediate control of Congress, the negro has not only been clothed with the right of suffrage, but he has been elected to official positions. He has become a member of the City Council. He dispenses justice as an Alderman. He decides upon the rights of life, liberty and property of the white citizen, as a juror. The common schools are thrown open to his children just as they are to the whites. The demand is made that, not only must they be allowed to enter the same schools, but they must be instructed together, and there must be no distinction of any kind made on account of race or color.

In the Southern States, the same demands have been made and enforced under penalty of permanent exclusion from representation in Congress. Hence, there the negro votes, holds office, is a juror and assists in making laws.

Do you suppose that Radical demands will fall anything short of this in the loyal States? Inasmuch as they have deliberately violated their plighted faith on the fifteenth amendment, can they be trusted now, when they say that if you give the negro the ballot, that will be a settlement of the negro question?

The Radical party expects to make the negro an element of strength in all future elections and, for this reason, will demand for him perfect equality with the whites. Once give him the ballot, and they will claim for him the right to hold office here. They will make him a juror. He will not only take his seat alongside of whites in railroad cars, but he must go into the common schools and into the same classes with the whites. Your Colleges and Seminaries will be thrown open to blacks and whites alike. Not only will your Colleges and Seminaries for young men be forced to admit negroes, but your female Seminaries will be subject to the same rules and your daughters will be thrown into association and companionship with the daughters of negroes. Give the Radicals the power, and they will soon supply the legislation necessary to accomplish this.

Conservatives, your only safety lies in stopping this fanaticism at the point which it has now reached. Elect men to your Legislature who will vote to repeal the resolution ratifying the fifteenth amendment, and, if the negro is prevented from obtaining the ballot, the demands for his elevation to political and social equality will cease.

Be on your Guard
(Column 04)

Summary: Tells Democrats not to be taken in by statements from the Republican Legislative candidate pledging opposition to black suffrage and paying border claims. Says Democrats should vote for Democrats, since only they can be trusted with Democratic principles and policies. Hammers at the issues of black voting and border claims.

Full Text of Article:

Democrats keep you eyes open. The Radical candidate for Assembly is a shrewd politician. He has been in the Legislature before. He has been moving about among the people of this County giving his views privately to the Democracy. We have heard of him in St. Thomas township. One of the most reliable men in that neighborhood has given us the substance of a conversation with him. He has been soliciting the votes of the Democrats there. He tells them that he is conservative--that he is opposed to negro suffrage--that he believes in hiring negroes to labor, but he wants them to sit at a different table from him. And then, he urges that he is particularly anxious to secure payment of the border claims.

Don't put any confidence in these statements. They are made for the purpose of obtaining votes. Wm. H. McKnight will never vote to repeal the resolution ratifying the fifteenth amendment. If a vote should be taken upon that question, he would vote to sustain the resolution which forces negro suffrage upon the people of Pennsylvania, notwithstanding all his palaver about conservatism, and opposition to negro suffrage.

Vote for Skinner and Milliken. They are both Democrats. They are openly opposed to negro suffrage. They have no hesitation in expressing their opinions publicly or privately. They make no statements to Radicals in private differing from the platform on which they were nominated.

And as to the border claims, they are just as anxious to secure the payment of them, and just as able to do it, as Mr. McKnight. Dr. Milliken has his heart in this business. He will not only vote, but he will exert all his influence to procure the passage of a bill to pay the border sufferers. He is an active, influential gentleman and may be relied on with perfect safety. Capt. Skinner's interests are identified with the interests of the people of this County. He will seek to serve his constituents, faithfully and effectively, by urging with all his energy and ability, this act of justice to our plundered people. Elect your own candidates, Democrats, and let us have a repeal of the iniquitous resolution forcing negro suffrage upon us, and let us have payment too, for the border losses.

Candidate for Assembly
(Column 04)

Summary: Endorses a Democratic candidate from another county who paid a visit to Franklin county. The editor says he holds solid Democratic principles and will repeal the 15th amendment if elected.

Full Text of Article:

Dr. D. B. Milliken, the Democratic candidate for Assembly in this Legislative District from Perry County, paid us a visit last week. He is a very pleasant gentleman and evidently a man of more than ordinary ability. Little Perry has made a selection which it gives us great pleasure to endorse. The Dr's visit was necessarily a somewhat hurried one, but he made the most of his time while here. He visited Greencastle, Fayetteville, St. Thomas, and mingled freely with the people of these places. He made the acquaintance of a large number of the citizens of this Borough and impressed them all favorably. We found him sound to the core in the principles of the Democratic party, exceedingly hostile to all the negro suffrage and negro equality notions of the Radicals, and earnestly enlisted in the cause of the border sufferers. We feel sure that, if elected, he will labor for the interests of our people, faithfully and energetically, and we know that he will vote to repeal that infamous resolution ratifying the fifteenth amendment.

False to the People
(Column 05)

Summary: The paper criticizes the Connecticut Legislature for ratifying the 15th Amendment after the people of the state had clearly rejected a bill granting black men the right of suffrage.

New Methodist Church
(Column 01)

Summary: A new Methodist congregation has been organized in Chambersburg led by the Rev. Pastor F. Dyson. They leased ground on second street on which to build a church. They had been worshipping in the German Reformed Church.
(Names in announcement: Rev. F. Dyson)

Horticultural Exhibition
(Column 02)

Summary: The Franklin County Horticultural Society held a successful exhibition. People thronged the hall to view the specimens of fruit and vegetables, and many discussed ways of improving cultivation in Franklin.
(Names in announcement: William D. Guthrie, Josiah E. Schofield, Frank Henderson, J. P. Keefer, Dr. Edmund Culbertson, J. L. Dechert, John Jeffries, T. B. Jenkins, J. S. Nixon, W. G. Reed, J. H. Brand, R. P. Haselett, William Hayser, Enos B. Engle, William G. Reed, Adam Stouffer, James Linn, Dr. William H. Boyle, Dr. George E. Platt, Solomon Miller, Albert Eyster, George A. Dietz, H. E. Hoke, J. S. Nixon, A. H. McCulloh, Joseph Cressler, W. D. Guthrie, John Stouffer, Josiah Allen, Jacob Heyser, A. J. White, J. L. Dechert, Lydia Lippy, B. L. Ryder, T. B. Jenkins, Dr. W. H. Boyle, Frank Henderson, J. E. Schofield, Dr. J. L. Suesserott)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: John H. Borner and Miss Mandie Nepper, both of Franklin County, were married near Quincy on September 19th by the Rev. J. Fohl.
(Names in announcement: John H. Borner, Mandie Nepper, Rev. J. Fohl)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: M. H. Stoner and Miss R. M. Besore were married on September 9th at the German Reformed Parsonage in Waynesboro by the Rev. H. H. W. Hibschman.
(Names in announcement: M. H. Stoner, R. M. Besore, Rev. H. H. W. Hibschman)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: John S. Wilson and Miss Agnes Mason, both of Franklin, were married at Spring Run on September 16th by the Rev. J. P. Anthony.
(Names in announcement: John S. Wilson, Agnes Mason, Rev. J. P. Anthony)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Blair Gilbert Spear, infant son of James H. and Lisie F. Spear, died on September 12th. He was 6 months old.
(Names in announcement: Blair Gilbert Spear, James H. Spear, Lisie F. Spear)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Minnie Rose Reisher, daughter of Daniel and Susan Reisher, died on September 9th. She was 2 years old.
(Names in announcement: Minnie Rose Reisher, Daniel Reisher, Susan Reisher)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Anna Mary Witter, daughter of Jeremiah and Susan Rebecca Witter, died at Union Mills on September 16th. She was 2 years old.
(Names in announcement: Anna Mary Witter, Jeremiah Witter, Susan Rebecca Witter)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: John C. Robinson died at his Franklin County residence on September 7th. He was 66 years old.
(Names in announcement: John C. Robinson)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Miss Mollie Wilkins died in Mercersburg on September 17th. She was 74 years old.
(Names in announcement: Mollie Wilkins)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: John A. Burton died in Greencastle at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Overcash, on September 22nd. He was 40 years old.
(Names in announcement: John A. Burton, Mrs. Overcash)