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Valley Spirit: November 10, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Still Gaining
(Column 01)

Summary: Expresses satisfaction at Democratic gains in the recent elections, especially those of New York. Quotes from the New York World proclaiming that the time has come to solidify Democratic power through honesty, good deeds, and conservatism. Ends by lamenting the loss Democrats suffered in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election.

Full Text of Article:

The result of the election last week is particularly gratifying to the Democracy. It exhibits a steady gain for them in all the States in which elections were held.

In Massachusetts, West Virginia, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Radical majorities have been diminished.

In New Jersey, the Democrats carried the Legislature, thus insuring the election of a Democrat to the United States Senate in place of Senator Cattell.

"Maryland, my Maryland" has been swept by the Democracy as if by a whirlwind. There is not a Radical in the Legislature. There is not a Radical elected to any office in the whole State. From Governor to Constable the State is Democratic throughout.

In New York the Democracy have achieved wonders. They have carried both branches of the Legislature, thus putting the State entirely under the control of Democrats.--Governor Hoffman has a Legislature now in political sympathy with him. For fifteen years, the Radicals have had control of the Legislature. They have passed the most infamous special legislation for the purpose of putting the power of New York City into the hands of Rings of Radical politicians, so that the great metropolis with its 70,000 Democratic majority has been in fact ruled by the Radicals at Albany. All this will be changed. The obnoxious acts which Radicals have passed will be repealed and the people will see the advantage of electing Democrats to office. The fact is that the Radicals, having been in power all through the war, had innumerable opportunities for stealing and improved them all, and they thus became so accustomed to it that they could not break through the habit. The Democrats did not learn this lesson, one reason being that the temptation was not thrown in their way. They may be expected, therefore, to set with some degree of regard for the interests of the people. Now is their time to show the wisdom of such action. Let them put the Radical party to shame on account of their corrupt practices, by the exercise of economy, prudence and conservatism. The World makes the following excellent comments: "There is no question but that the disgust of the people with the enormous and increasing corruption in the Legislature from year to year, under Republican rule, has materially aided the Democracy in securing a majority in both houses this year. The question now is, will the Democracy use this power in a manner that will make their supremacy permanent, or merely temporary? This is a question which they themselves must decide. All depends upon their own action. Nothing will please our opponents so much as to see, during the next session of the Legislature, a repetition of the scandalous proceedings which have characterized the Legislature under their rule. The Republicans have had control of the Legislature for many years without interruption, with the exception of one year in the Assembly. During this period, venality and corruption have been on the increase. Now the Democracy are to have full control in the State, and they are to determine whether these abuses are to continue or be arrested. This responsibility they cannot shirk, even if they would. If a wise course is pursued, and the people see that a reform in this respect is inaugurated, there will be nothing to prevent the future success of the party in the State to an extent that will exceed anything in the past."

And again, writing of the abuses and corruptions of the Legislature, it says: "The people have now called upon the Democracy to arrest this evil. The answer to this appeal must be given at the next session of the Legislature. The Democratic party cannot, if they would, fall to give an answer. Their action and conduct in the Legislature and the manner in which they use their power there will be this answer.--If it shall be as satisfactory as that which followed the change in the Canal Board from Republican to Democrat, nothing can prevent the Legislature from being Democratic for years to come. The State will likewise be so firmly anchored on the Democratic side that it will stand firm as a rock against the waves of Radicalism. The true course of the party is so plain in this respect that there is no room for doubt. We are satisfied that the counsels and influence of Governor Hoffman and our re-elected State officers will be on the right side, and that special legislation and schemes of all kinds will in the future, as in the past, receive their earnest disapproval. In this they shall have the support of The World to the full extent of its ability, and, we trust, the co-operation of the Democrats in both branches of the Legislature. The Democracy of the State of New York now hold the key to the situation in the nation. If wisdom and prudence prevail at Albany next winter, success in both State and nation follows as naturally and as easy as water rolls down hill."

The Democracy intended to do this in Pennsylvania. Asa Packer's election would have been a guaranty that honesty would have taken the place of dishonesty and that the work of corruptionists would have been at an end. The people were cheated, however, out of their Governor, and the rule of the "Ring" is not yet broken.

Out of Funds
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper argues that ever since the Radicals have controlled Congress, every contested election has been decided in favor of the Republican candidates, no matter the grounds or the size of the Democratic candidate's apparent majority. This has only encouraged all defeated Republican candidates to contest their election results, especially in the South.

The Border Losses
(Column 02)

Summary: Responds to a local Republican paper's denunciation of the former's call for border damages. Claims Republicans know Democrats are right on this issue and so try to deflect blame by calling Democrats rebel sympathizers. Asks Republicans to bury the hatchet and unite in an effort to reimburse the damages endured by Pennsylvania citizens.

Full Text of Article:

The article in the Repository on "the Spirit and the Border Damages" is really amusing. It evinces such a total disregard of the facts in relation to the attempts to procure payment of these losses that one would think its author had been sojourning in Alaska whilst the Democrats were voting to pay our plundered people. It says "the history of that party" (the Democratic) "proves, if it proves anything on this subject, that a much stronger probability of their payment by a Democratic Legislature would exist if they were rebel losses, and not losses of loyal men." During and almost ever since the war, whenever our Radical friends found themselves beaten in an argument by Democrats, or confronted with ugly facts, presented by Democrats, that would not down at their bidding, they raised the cry of "copperhead" and "rebel sympathizer," and thus appealed to the passions and fanaticism of their readers. We had thought, however, that they had become ashamed of this cowardly way of begging the question, but it seems we were mistaken.

In our columns we set forth the uniform action of Democrats in favor of the payment of the border losses whenever the claims were presented to the Legislature, and the uniform hostility displayed by the Radicals on the same occasions and in the same place. At this, our friends of the Repository seem to have become offended and they hurl again at the heads of the poor Democrats, who have wanted to pay our people all the time, the old hackneyed charge of sympathy with rebellion and anxiety to pay rebel losses. If such a conclusion can be logically drawn from the promises laid down by Democrats, to wit, their votes in favor of our losses, then we confess that we know nothing at all about the rules of logic.

The trouble about this matter is that our statements are true, and they pinch the toes of the Repository's political friends. The fault of its editors is that they try to shield them from the condemnation that they deserve for so long refusing "to do a simple act of justice to the border counties."

But we do not intend to indulge in further recrimination. What we want now is action, harmonious action. Let the errors of the past be retrieved by doing right in the future. Let the Repository take a bold stand in favor of the payment of these claims, and appeal to its political friends in the Legislature to support the bill that will be presented during the coming session. We will do the same. We will ask the men who are in political sympathy with us to join, as they have always done heretofore, in the attempt to secure payment of these claims. We will endeavor to convince them of the justice of these claims and also to show the need, on the part of our people, for payment. We have an abiding confidence in the ability of the border counties, if they but work energetically together, to procure the passage of a bill to reimburse them for the losses sustained by reason of the rebellion. Let us give then, a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, and let us hear no more about the inclination of Democrats to pay Rebel losses.

Steeple Finished
(Column 01)

Summary: The steeple of the Presbyterian Church has been completed. Everyone declares it the most beautiful in the state.

New Appointment
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper praises Treasurer-elect William Reber's appointment of J. Logan Kennedy as Clerk in the Treasurer's Office.
(Names in announcement: William Reber, J. Logan Kennedy)

Immersion
(Column 01)

Summary: The Minister of the Baptist Church has been performing immersion baptisms in the Conococheague Creek. Large crowds lined the banks to witness the ceremony, even though it was a cold, raw day.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Joseph M. McClure, who was admitted to the Chambersburg Bar a few years ago, was appointed Deputy Attorney General by Governor Geary. He read law in the office of Col. A. K. McClure.
(Names in announcement: Joseph M. McClure, Col. A. K. McClure)

Found Dead
(Column 02)

Summary: Philip Herr, a waterman and switchman with the Cumberland Valley Railroad, was found dead in his bed. He went to bed in apparent good-health, but was found the next morning by his daughter, who had not heard his usual loud breathing.
(Names in announcement: Philip Herr)

Court Proceedings
(Column 02)

Summary: Continues its coverage of the County court, summarizing cases and verdicts.
(Names in announcement: Judge King, John B. McLanahan, Thomas G. McCulloh, William Sprecher, Jacob Barnhart, Elizabeth Thompson, James Hunter, Daniel Baker, Lawrence Hamman)

Full Text of Article:

Court continued in session last week until Saturday night, Judge King presiding. In addition to the cases reported in our last issue the following cases were tried:

John B. McLanahan vs. The Cumberland Valley Railroad Company. This was an action of ejectment to recover a piece of ground occupied by the Company for their Warehouse. It was shown that portion of the warehouse stands on the plaintiff's ground. But the Company proved an agreement between themselves and Executors of Thos. G. McCalloh, from whom the plaintiff bought, by which they were allowed to build upon this ground. They also showed that after Plaintiff bought the ground the warehouse was repaired, and the plaintiff saw it being done without giving notice of his rights. Verdict for Defendant.

Same vs. Same. This was an action to recover for use of certain grounds of plaintiff adjacent to the railroad on which the Company had unloaded lumber &c. Verdict for plaintiff for $300.

Wm. Sprecher vs. Jacob Barnhart. Defendant had sold a farm to plaintiff. Plaintiff claimed that the grain in the ground passed with the farm, defendant alleged that he had reserved the grain. There was some of the hardest swearing in this case that we have ever heard in Court. Verdict for the defendant.

On Saturday, Elizabeth Thompson colored woman, who was convicted at the August Sessions of a conspiracy with James Hunter and others, and whose sentence was not then pronounced on account of her having a young babe, was brought into Court and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment in County Jail. Had it not been for the child, she would have been quartered in the Penitentiary also.

Daniel Baker, convicted of receiving the stolen horse of Lawrence Hamman, knowing it to have been stolen, was sentenced on Saturday to two years imprisonment in the Eastern Penitentiary.

The Court adjourned until Monday morning at 9 o'clock when motions were heard, and cases on the argument list disposed of.

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: G. W. Helman and Miss Anna E. McFerren, both from near Jackson Hall, were married in Chambersburg on October 28th by the Rev. J. Fohl.
(Names in announcement: G. W. Helman, Anna E. McFerren, Rev. J. Fohl)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: J. L. Bowman from near Waynesboro and Miss Martha B. Shatzer of Jackson Hall were married in Chambersburg on November 2nd by the Rev. J. Fohl.
(Names in announcement: J. L. Bowman, Martha B. Shatzer, Rev. J. Fohl)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: B. L. Burkholder of Quincy and Miss Malinda C. McFerren from near Funkstown were married in Chambersburg on November 4th by the Rev. J. Fohl.
(Names in announcement: B. L. Burkholder, Malinda C. McFerren, Rev. J. Fohl)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Cales Wade and Miss Sarah Baker, both of Quincy, were married at Boyd's Hotel in Chambersburg on November 4th by the Rev. S. Barnes.
(Names in announcement: Cales Wade, Sarah Baker, Rev. S. Barnes)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: J. Nicholas Shultz and Miss Maggie Shatzer, both from near Mercersburg, were married on October 28th by the Rev. J. H. S. Clark.
(Names in announcement: J. Nicholas Shultz, Maggie Shatzer, Rev. J. H. S. Clark)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Smith M. Robinson, editor of the Fulton Democrat, and Miss Emma R. Dickson, daughter of Mark Dickson, were married at the residence of the bride's father near McConnellsburg on October 25th by the Rev. S. W. Pomeroy.
(Names in announcement: Smith M. Robinson, Emma R. Dickson, Mark Dickson, Rev. S. W. Pomeroy)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Peter Wagaman of Hamilton and Miss Clara Martin of Franklin were married on October 21st.
(Names in announcement: Peter Wagaman, Clara Martin)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Charles Molly and his daughter Hortencia, formerly of Franklin, died in Schuylkill County on October 22nd. He was 53 years old. She was 6.
(Names in announcement: Charles Molly, Hortencia Molly)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Miss Annie E. Pomeroy, daughter of Thomas and Mary A. Pomeroy, died in Roxbury, Franklin County, on November 1st. She was 21 years old.
(Names in announcement: Annie E. Pomeroy, Mary A. Pomeroy, Thomas Pomeroy)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Mrs. Catherine Miller died near Greencastle on October 30th. She was 64 years old.
(Names in announcement: Catherine Miller)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Mrs. Charlotte Hammill, wife of Albertus Hammill, died in Greencastle on November 1st. She was 30 years old.
(Names in announcement: Charlotte Hammill, Albertus Hammill)