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

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

A State Thrown Out
(Column 01)

Summary: Notes with outrage Congress' plan to refuse Georgia representation unless the state passes the 15th amendment. Believes Congress is acting with dictatorial power and is alarmed that people seem unaware of it. Also points out how Congress has plans to stifle the Supreme Court if need be in order to ensure passage of the 15th amendment.

Full Text of Article:

The facility with which the Radicals take a State into, or throw it out of the Union, is really surprising. To some few old fogies like ourselves, it seems somewhat startling, but the great body of the people keep no account of it. They have come to look up on the whole action of Congress as a sort of sleight-of-hand performance which can possibly do no good and, under the care of Providence, no harm. Bills have been introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives, which might well cause the bones of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson to rattle in their coffin. Were they in full life to-day, to witness the encroachments which the legislative department is making upon the other two branches of the government, they would warn the people in more impressive language than any ever employed by them, against the dangers which threaten their liberties. And, then, looking up the apathy which characterizes the American people in relation to the destructive legislation emanating from the National Capitol, they would be apt to concede that the spirit of '76 had ceased to animate American citizens and that the present generation are degenerate sons of noble sires.

In 1861, eleven States seceded from the Union. The whole military power of the remaining States was called into requisition to force them back. Four years of bloody war ensued, waged upon the basis of the celebrated Crittenden resolutions. The North triumphed. The Rebels threw down their arms, and since then, no act of hostility to the government has been committed. Four years have passed since the war closed, and yet Virginia, Mississippi and Texas have never been readmitted, while, greatest outrage of all, the State of Georgia, which had been re-admitted on terms prescribed by Congress, has been thrust out again.

The adoption of the fourteenth amendment was secured by notifying Georgia and other Southern States that they could not be admitted to representation in Congress until they would ratify it.

Next came the fifteenth amendment and, finding that there are not sufficient States willing to ratify it so as to make it a part of the Constitution, Congress has had recourse to the novel and shameful expedient of excluding Georgia until she agrees to ratify the fifteenth amendment also. Was ever such disgraceful legislation conceived of before? And shall all this tyranny be exercised in the name of liberty, and under the very pretence of securing a republican form of government to that State? Oh Liberty! What crimes are perpetrated in thy name! The consequences of this step do not attach to Georgia alone. They affect her less than they do Pennsylvania. In Georgia, the negro votes already. In Pennsylvania he does not. Let this system be carried out of throwing States out of the Union until they adopt the fifteenth amendment, and in that way, negro suffrage will be forced upon the unwilling people of this State. Congress thus, in fact, will regulate the suffrage in this Commonwealth. This is an assumption of power on the part of the legislative department which no Congress would have dared to attempt before the war. Shall we get back to the days of constitutional government, or are we doomed to submit to the despotism of a Congressional Directory?

And, through fear that this scheme will be thwarted at some future day, by a decision of the highest judicial tribunal that such acts are unconstitutional and, therefore, void, the Chief Magistrate is engaged in selecting men for the Supreme Bench who will be the tools of Radical Congressmen and hold, from their seats of justice, that Congress "can do no wrong."

And, lest the Supreme Court might prove obstreperous and still feel inclined to interfere with Congressional action, Congress is about to lop off from the Supreme Court the power to pass upon the constitutionality of any of its acts. A more ingenious plan was never devised to force such an obnoxious measure as this fifteenth amendment upon an unwilling people.

Border Claims
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper urges citizens to hire a member of the Chambersburg Bar to handle their war damage claims.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Methodist Bishop Simpson will lecture in the Chambersburg Methodist Church. He will discuss "The Cross and the Crescent." Tickets are 50 cents.

Concert by Trinity Sabbath School
(Column 01)

Summary: The Christmas Eve concert by the Trinity Sabbath School was a success. the children exhibited careful practice and training in rendering the complex pieces arranged by Mr. Wright. The group will meet requests to perform again at the Masonic Hall on New Year's Eve.
(Names in announcement: Wright)

Cumberland Valley Railroad
(Column 01)

Summary: The Cumberland Valley Railroad carried 18,785 passengers from Chambersburg alone during the fiscal year ending September 30th, 1869. The road carried 24,467,231 pounds of freight from Chambersburg and brought in 38,279,204. The road's passenger earnings stood at $191,831.76, freight earnings at $321,268.43 and mail and express earnings at $26,669.05. The expenses of the road totaled $347,076.64.

Lecture of Rev. Mr. Raffensperger
(Column 02)

Summary: The Rev. Mr. Raffensperger delivered a successful lecture in aid of the Ladies' Mite Society. His talk was entitled "The Humors of the Pulpit and the Pew." It combined solemn discussion of a minister's duties with many humorous anecdotes.

St. Nicholas
(Column 03)

Summary: St. Nicholas made an appearance at Repository Hall on Christmas Eve to the joy of the children of the Trinity Church Sunday School.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The Franklin County Horticultural Society held their regular meeting. Fruits and vegetables were exhibited, and club business expedited.
(Names in announcement: Mr. Jenkins, John Stouffer, Jacob Brand, Suesserott)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: A. A. Matthews and Miss Sallie J. Earley, both of Chambersburg, were married in Philadelphia on December 23rd by the Rev. J. B. McCullough, pastor of the Green Street M. E. Church.
(Names in announcement: A. A. Matthews, Sallie J. Earley, Rev. J. B. McCullough)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Thomas J. Duffie of Maryland and Miss Mary A. Hochlander of Greencastle were married at the Washington House on December 23rd by the Rev. J. G. Schaff.
(Names in announcement: Thomas J. Duffie, Mary A. Hochlander, Rev. J. G. Schaff)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: John Henry Baker from near Waynesboro and Miss Mary Rebecca Cline of Maryland were married by the Rev. H. W. Hibshman.
(Names in announcement: John Henry Baker, Mary Rebecca Cline, Rev. H. W. Hibshman)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: Jacob Hoover of Maryland and Miss Annie E. Gehr, from near Waynesboro, were married on December 16th by the Rev. H. W. Hibshman.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Hoover, Annie E. Gehr, Rev. H. W. Hibshman)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: D. S. McClure and Miss H. C. Matler, both from Shippesnburg, were married on December 16th by the Rev. T. C. Biliheimer.
(Names in announcement: D. S. McClure, H. C. Matler, Rev. T. C. Biliheimer)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: Jeb DeHaven of Franklin and Miss Margie Leady of Harrisburg were married on December 16th at the residence of the bride's parents by the Rev. Griffith.
(Names in announcement: Jeb DeHaven, Margie Leady, Rev. Griffith)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: William H. French and Miss Sue M. Rowe, both of Waynesboro, were married on December 16th by the Rev. J. A. DeMoyer.
(Names in announcement: William H. French, Sue M. Rowe, Rev. J. A. DeMoyer)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: Augustus Snare of Clearfield County and Miss Charlotte R. Embich of Franklin were married on December 26th by the Rev. L. A. Gotwald.
(Names in announcement: Augustus Snare, Charlotte R. Embich, Rev. L. A. Gotwald)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Susan McLaughlin died at Claylick on December 13th. She was 37 years old.
(Names in announcement: Susan McLaughlin)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Miss Elizabeth Plum, daughter of Joseph Plum, died on December 17th. She was 15 years old.
(Names in announcement: Elizabeth Plum, Joseph Plum)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: John Nishwander died near Upton on December 19th. He was 80 years old.
(Names in announcement: John Nishwander)