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Valley Spirit: June 8, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Negro Cadet
(Column 01)

Summary: Cites the acceptance of a black cadet into West Point as another sign of the Radical plan for social as well as political equality for blacks. Quotes an officer saying soldiers should not be forced into this if other people won't do it. Makes special note of Governor Geary's son, a cadet himself, who took pains to ensure the black cadet would be accepted with open arms, hoping to embarrass Geary and the Republicans and drum up support for Democrats.

Full Text of Article:

As negroes are being pushed in everywhere, it could not be expected that the United States Military Academy would long be spared the infliction of their presence.--Accordingly, on the 30th ult., the first colored cadet reported at West Point for examination. His name is Michael Howard. He was appointed by Mr. Le Grand W. Perce, a carpet-bag member of Congress from Mississippi upon the recommendation of the colored Doctor of Divinity, United States Senator Hiram M. Revels.

The object of the radical leaders is to force the white cadets to meet, and associate with, this negro lad on terms of perfect social equality. The white people of the country can see what is in store for them, if this thing be not stopped very soon, in the remarks of an officer at West Point made to a reporter of the New York Sun on this very subject. Said he, "This question affects us differently from what it does persons in political or business life. In our case it forces the social aspect sharply to the front. A negro may be in Congress, or he may fill any civil or political station, without the fact of his filling it compelling his confreres to meet or to take the alternative of refusing to meet him socially. But with us it is different. We are often isolated, and our fellow officers are the only society we have. Imagine an officer, with his family, including daughters, stationed at a remote post, and with subordinate colored officers. There he is, isolated, and brought face to face with the social aspect of this question. He is compelled to meet it. I do not mean to say that he ought not to meet it in a broad, catholic, democratic spirit. But why should officers of the army be compelled to meet it any more than other people? I think it is not unreasonable to say, that until a father is willing to invite negroes into his own family, to associate with his own daughters, he should not help to force others into a position such as I have depicted."

This social problem is bound to come to us for solution. It is being pressed as rapidly and strongly as it can well be. This same reporter says that--"Prof. Mahan, who has been forty years in the Military Academy, informed us that Gov. Alcorn, of Mississippi, sent him, by the hand of his private secretary, information of the appointment of young Howard, and requested him to look after the boy. Prof. Mahan sent to Buttermilk Falls for Michael, and was pleased with his appearance and behavior, and knowing that his comfort, so far as the cadets could affect it, would depend most on the members of his own class, he sent for a son of Gov. Geary, of Pennsylvania, who is one of the new candidates. Young Geary is twenty-one years old; he served with gallantry during the war; is a very fine young man, and will probably have a controlling influence with his class. Prof. Mahan stated young Howard's case to Mr. Geary, and that gentleman cordially volunteered to canvass the matter with his classmates, and throw around the young Mississippian all the protection which it is possible to secure by a social aegis."

So it seems that the son of "His Excellency, Major General John W. Geary, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," is throwing "around the young Mississippian all the protection which it is possible to secure by a social aegis." The social shield is to be the negro's protection at West Point. He is to mingle with the white Radical youths as an equal, and any whites who demur, are to be ostracized from this social circle. The rule is to be, you must associate with the negro, or you can not associate with John W. Geary's son.

Step by step, has this infamous fanaticism advanced with lies in its mouth all the time. How often we have been told that political equality does not involve, and will not lead to social equality, it is not necessary for us to say. Our readers have all heard this asserted. But now, true it is that before the negro has exercised the right to vote in more than one State in the Union, thereby enjoying political equality, the announcement is made that the son of our Radical Governor is throwing around him "all the protection which it is possible to secure by a social aegis."

White men, here is a plain, stubborn fact. You can not shut your eyes to it. It is crowding upon you against your will. You must approve or reject it. What will you do? Are you for negro equality, both political and social, or will you join the "White Man's Party" in order to crush out this hideous doctrine once and forever? Do not forget that the Radical party means to force you into social equality with the negro. Grapple it to your memory with hooks of steel that the white son of your white Governor is throwing all the protection around a negro cadet "which it is possible to secure by a social aegis."

The Repository and the Fifteenth Amendment
(Column 01)

Summary: Shows the hypocrisy of the local Republican paper on the 15th amendment by quoting an article printed in 1865 which claimed only states had control over the franchise, something Democrats still trumpet. Now that paper supports the Federal Government's policy to enfranchise blacks even though Pennsylvania's constitution only allows whites to vote.

Full Text of Article:

It is interesting to note the progress that the Repository has made on the question of negro suffrage. The Democracy protested against the recent ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment on several grounds.--One of these was that even if adopted, it could not supersede our State Constitution and wipe out the word "white."

In 1865, Col. A.K. McClure was the Editor of the Repository. In writing of the proposed enfranchisement of the freedmen, on the 28th day of June in that year, he used the following language:

The General Government can not, by any possible means, lawfully secure to them the right of suffrage. To the States alone belongs that power and duty; and thus far not one of the regenerated States has proposed it. A national convention has been suggested, but that would require the States to ratify its action, and the States would thus hold the issue in their hands in any event. In Pennsylvania it could not even be formally proposed for three years, and it would require five years to strike the word "white" from our organic law. By the 1st section of article 3d "every white freemen of the age of twenty-one years," is a voter, and article 10th provides that "no amendment or amendments shall be submitted to the people oftener than once in five years." Last year the people ratified the amendment enfranchising our soldiers, and no other amendment can be offered before 1869, unless by calling a constitutional convention. Regardless of the doubtful issue in this State on the merits of the question, Pennsylvania is thus precluded from formal action on the question at present.

Thus it seems that Col. McClure at that time proclaimed the same view of the power of the General Government as to this Amendment, and its effect upon Pennsylvania, as the Democracy have ever held. And yet, in Pennsylvania the negro is a voter, notwithstanding the fact that no action whatever has been taken in the State to amend the State Constitution.

The Repository defends this outrageous fraud upon the people known as the Fifteenth Amendment. Will it explain?

Negro Census-Takers
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper reports that the "white people of Philadelphia" have been insulted by "the appointment of five or six negroes as census-takers in that city."

The Income Tax
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper denounces the House of Representatives for reenacting the income tax. They lowered rates and exempted low incomes, but the act is still objectionable. Even the poor who pay no tax suffer from its "inquisitorial nature." "The poor man is bound to disclose his poverty to the world. His neighbors must be allowed to know his circumstances. If he has been unfortunate in business, the fact must be bruited about in the community."

The Artful Dodger
(Column 04)

Summary: Criticizes Cessna for not taking a position on two tax bills in Congress. Says he would anger a lot of people no matter which way he voted and did not have the courage to take a stand.

Full Text of Article:

Whenever some mean political sleight-of-hand trick is to be performed in Congress, CESSNA is always on hand. Whenever some great measure of vital interest to his constituents is under consideration, he fails to come to time.

On Friday last, when the vote was taken to strike out of the Tax bill all that related to the infamous Income Tax, Cessna dodged. He was afraid to vote on it. If he voted to resurrect the tax, he knew that the masses of the people would condemn him for it at the polls. If he voted against the tax, he feared that the army of Internal Revenue officers and their assistants, would mark him for it, refuse to support him for a renomination, and possibly beat him at the polls in case he should become a candidate. Thus hemmed in, he lacked the independence to take either position, and dodged.

Again: When the proposition was under consideration to tax United States bonds, Cessna failed to answer to his name on a call of the yeas and nays. If he voted to tax the bonds, here would be the bondholders "after him with a sharp stick." If he voted against taxing the bonds, there would be a howl from the masses who are taxed to death on their investments and their labor, while the bondholders enjoy their high rate of interest clear of taxation. Thus he reasoned, and as he reasoned, he wavered, trembled, and finally dodged.

Bah! We wouldn't give a picayune for the man who has not the brains to entertain, and the manly independence to express, an opinion on any measure which so deeply concerns his constituents as these two measures which Cessna dodged.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The ladies of the M. E. Church of Mercersburg are holding a Strawberry Festival to raise money to repair the church building.

The Street Sprinkler
(Column 01)

Summary: Isaac Keefer and John Mullenix brought out their sprinkler and settled the dust on the streets of Chambersburg. "This is an excellent 'institution,' one that the town can not do without during the heat and dust of the summer season." John Bessner put up the wagon.
(Names in announcement: Isaac Keefer, John Mullenix, John Bessner)

"Going For" the Eight Inches
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper criticizes the town council for beginning a street-levelling project to deal with rises that are only inches in elevation. "We wonder who pays for all this. Can the tax-ridden people tell?"

Methodist Festival
(Column 02)

Summary: The First Methodist Church held a festival in Repository Hall. Attendance was inconsistent, but the church managed to raise $200.

Bible Society Agent
(Column 02)

Summary: The Franklin County Bible Society Agent visited 481 families during the month of May. He found 47 families without Bibles and 67 without any religious affiliation. "The names of those families have been handed to the Ministers in charge of congregations in this town, their church predilections having been ascertained by the agent." One hotel needed 15 Bibles for its bedrooms. "The agent's work is, in an important sense, missionary, and long since, should have been looked after by the Christian Churches of this place."

A Word to Justices of the Peace
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reminds justices of the peace that they must give the district attorney transcripts of all criminal cases within five days after charging anyone with a crime.

Sabbath School Tracts
(Column 02)

Summary: J. H. Cruzen, agent of the American Tract Society, is visiting the towns along the Cumberland Valley Railroad to supply families and Sunday Schools with their publications. Students and pastors of Sunday Schools may purchase tracts at a 10% discount.

Copper Ore Specimens
(Column 02)

Summary: D. B. Russell of Waynesboro unearthed some nice specimens of copper ore from the land he purchased from the heirs of Mr. Watson. The land lies near Monterey Springs.
(Names in announcement: D. B. Russell)

Horticultural Fair and Festival
(Column 02)

Summary: The Franklin County Horticultural Society will hold an exhibition and strawberry festival in Repository Hall on June 10th and 11th. A large variety of plants will be on display and fruit, cake, and ice cream will be served. The paper urges citizens to participate and help uphold Franklin's reputation as a fruit-growing capital. The Rev. P. S. Davis will speak on flowers, and music will entertain guests.
(Names in announcement: P. S. Davis)

Decoration Day in Greencastle
(Column 03)

Summary: Gives an account of the events at Decoration Day in Greencastle, mainly speeches and flowers placed on gravestones.
(Names in announcement: John D. DeGolley, Rev. Whetstone, Rev. S. N. Callender, Rev. J. X. Quigley, W. U. Brewer)

Full Text of Article:

The ceremony of decorating the graves of soldiers was observed in Greencastle on the 30th ult. The Valley Echo gives the following account of a portion of the proceedings: "The graves at the White Church Cemetery were first decorated; from thence the column marched to Moss Spring, where John D. DeGolley, Esq., delivered an oration of great force, beauty and power, at the close of which he was heartily congratulated by his friends on his brilliant display of oratorical powers. The Rev. Mr. Whetstone then offered up a prayer. The other exercises through with, in turn, all the graves of soldiers in the different cemeteries were decorated, the Band all the while discoursing beautiful dirges. At Reformed Cemetery, prayer was offered by Rev. S.N. Callender, after which the column reformed and marched to Cedar Hill Cemetery, where Rev. J.X. Quigley offered a fervent prayer, and W. U. Brewer, Esq., delivered the closing address."

Appointments
(Column 03)

Summary: J. G. Schaff lists the times and places at which he will "preach Jesus and the Resurrection" in Franklin County.
(Names in announcement: J. G. Schaff)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: John Osterman and Miss Sarah A. Martin, daughter of Alexander Martin and all of Chambersburg, were married on June 7th in the Catholic Church by the Rev. E. T. Field.
(Names in announcement: John Osterman, Sarah A. Martin, Alexander Martin, Rev. E. T. Field)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Dr. T. D. French, formerly of Franklin, married Miss Alice Peale of Vicksburg in Mississippi on May 16th. The Rev. J. E. Wheeler presided.
(Names in announcement: Dr. T. D. French, Alice Peale, Rev. J. E. Wheeler)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Elias Rosenberry and Miss Lizzie Carter, both of Horse Valley, Franklin County, were married on May 26th at the residence of Benjamin Rosenberry.
(Names in announcement: Elias Rosenberry, Lizzie Carter, Benjamin Rosenberry)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Capt. John Glayton of Huntingdon County and Mrs. Elvira Shirey of Greencastle were married on May 17th at the residence of A. G. Postlethwaite by the Rev. W. A. Moore.
(Names in announcement: Capt. John Glayton, Elvira Shirey, A. G. Postlethwaite, Rev. W. A. Moore)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: William Henry Smith, son of Henry and Elizabeth Smith, died in Chambersburg on June 4th.
(Names in announcement: William Henry Smith, Henry Smith, Elizabeth Smith)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: James Parker died in Orrstown on May 31st.
(Names in announcement: James Parker)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Peter Stake died in Fannett township on May 24th. He was 89 years old.
(Names in announcement: Peter Stake)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Michael Dice died in Letterkenny on May 11th. He was 71 years old.
(Names in announcement: Michael Dice)