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Franklin Repository: November 23, 1859 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

John Brown's Speech From The Scaffold
(Column 1)

Summary: Speculation as to whether John Brown will be allowed to give a speech before he is hung. Also a discussion of what the scaffold will represent to Northerners--tyrrany of slavery--and what it means to Southerners--terror of a huge slave uprising.

General Houston and the Ladies.
(Column 2)

Summary: In a recent speech, Gen Houston talks of the woman's behind-the-scenes influence on her husband--militarily or politically--and that the attendance of women at his speech indicates their husbands and male relatives must be intelligent.

Full Text of Article:

Gen. Sam Houston lately delivered a capital speech at the South, and his peroration is so beautiful a panegyric of the ladies--a panegyric of whom, irrespective of politics, we must all agree to--that we publish it entire, hoping the sex will appreciate it:

"Ladies, I know that politics are always uninteresting to you, yet I believe you have in the general result an abiding interest. It is always a gratification to me to behold my fair countrywomen in assemblages like these. It is a guarantee that their husbands and fathers and brothers are men of intelligence and refinement, who appreciate their mental capacities, and desire their countenance in their undertakings. Your presence exercises a calming influence upon those antagonisms which are too often engendered in the heat of political contests. All parties desire your approving smile, and therefore are encouraged by our presence. I know that in the direct administration of political affairs you have no share; but yet, reigning as you do, supreme in the realm of love, your influence often controls the destiny of nations. Woman's love is the great lever which arouses man to action. The general, as he plans the strategic combinations which are to insure victory, look [sic] forward to a recompense dearer than the laurels upon his brow; the soldier as he trudges along on his weary march, or mingles in the scenes of the battle field, even with death around him, forgets awhile the carnage, and turns his thoughts to the fond girl he left behind him; the mariner, tempest tossed, driven by the rude waves, sings merrily aloft as he thinks of the little cottage by the shore, where his wife and dear ones await him; the statesman, as he devises amid deep and painful thought, plans of government, which are to tell upon his own and his country's fame, never loses sight of the joys which await him when cabinet councils are over, and he enters the portals of home; the sentinel, as he paces his weary watch, loves the moonlight tramp, that he may look beneath its rays at the dear moments of a beloved mother's or a fond sister's love. Over man in all his relationships, the influence of woman hangs like a charm. Deprived of her influence, which dignifies and stimulates us to noble deeds we become worse than barbarians. Let it be our's, and we can brave the cannon's mouth or face danger in ten thousand forms. You stimulate all that is good. You check in us ignoble purposes. You have also an important influence upon posterity. The early impressions which the child receives from you, outlive all the wisdom of latter days. Sages may reason, and philosophers may teach, but the voice which we heard in infancy will ever come to our ears, bearing a mother's words and a mother's counsel. Continue to instil [sic] into your children virtues and patriotism. Imbue them with proper veneration for the fathers of liberty. Learn them to love their country, and to labor for its good, as the great end of their ambition. Bid them proudly to maintain our institutions. Point them to the deeds of their ancestors. Make these their escutcheon. and bid them hand it down to their children as free from stain as it came to them. Do this, ladies, and your influence will not be lost in the future. In the language of the poet, it will still be said:

"Woman is lovely to the sight,
gentle as the dew of even,
As bright as morning's earliest light,
And spotless as the snows of Heaven."

Federalism Intensified.
(Column 1)

Summary: An argument that Jefferson's Democratic party is very different than Buchanan's modern version; that Jefferson created the party to prevent the strengthening of the central government; Buchanan's administration is doing just the opposite.

The Money Market
(Column 2)

Summary: This article, which begins with a reprint form the Philadelphia Ledger, discusses the evils of spending beyond ones means, and the Repository continues the argument by applying it to the Federal Government's debt problems.

The Irrepressible Conflict
(Column 3)

Summary: This article argues that the locofoco papers are the South's worst enemies, because of their inaccurate accusations that the Harper's Ferry incident is a result of Republican doctrine. The Repository wants to remind Democrats that Thomas Jefferson spoke out against the evils of slavery, and of the retribution God will take on a people upholding such a system.

The Dissolution Of The Union Postponed
(Column 4)

Summary: A response to Southern secession threats if the Nothern states carried Republican candidates in the recent election--Republicans did carry many Northern states, and yet the South has not seceded; perhaps the election of a Republican President will provoke it.

A Confederation Of Free States.
(Column 4)

Summary: This article reminds readers (and Democrats) that the concept of a Confederation of Free States--free of slavery-- was espoused by George Washington. The Repository proposes that the Valley Spirit would probably call Washington an abolitionist and a "freedom shrieker."

Buchanan On The Supreme Court
(Column 5)

Summary: The Repository reprints a speech (given in 1841) of Pres. Buchanan, in which he claimed that he would never want the Court to be the final arbiter on between the Government and the people on the question of constitutional liberty--a direct opposition to what occurred with Judge Taney and the Dred Scott decision.

Origin of Article: Chicago Times

Sketch Of Mr. Buchanan
(Column 5)

Summary: The Repository ribs the Valley Spirit for a sketch of Buchanan--the Repository offers a better one done by the Spiriti's editor, himself.

The Next Presidency
(Column 6)

Summary: The Telegraph argues that the most important duty at the February convention will be a unified Pennsylvania support of a Republican candidate for President, whether it is Gen. Simon Cameron or someone else.

Origin of Article: The Harrisburg Telegraph

Franklin Rail Road
(Column 1)

Summary: Description of a meeting at Hagerstown, on Nov. 21st, between committees of the Cumberland Rail Road and the Franklin Rail Road (consisting of A. J. Jones, Esq., President Jay Cook, Esq., and Clarence Clark, Esq.). Others accompanied them, including Hon. G. W. Brewer, of Chambersburg, and Major John Rowe, of Greencastle. The meeting's purpose was to arrange that the Franklin R. R. run by the engines and cars of the Cumberland V. R. R.
(Names in announcement: Hon. G. W. Brewer, Major John Rowe, A. J. JonesEsq., Pres. Jay Cook, Clarence ClarkEsq.)

Lushbaugh & Carson
(Column 1)

Summary: A report of the move of a new baniking firm in Brownsville, Nebraska. One of the praised partners, Mr. Carson, is teh youngest son of Hon. J. O. Carson, of Mercersburg.
(Names in announcement: Carson, Hon. J. O. Carson)

Painful Accident
(Column 1)

Summary: John Ligget, Esq., Post Master for the Chambersburg area, accidentally wounded his hand with a pistol. Dr. J. C. Richards treated his wound, and his wife, Mrs. Carson, has been nursing him.
(Names in announcement: John LiggetEsq., Dr. J. C. Richards, Mrs. John Ligget)

Appointments Of The East Pennsylvania Eldership
(Column 1)

Summary: On Nov. 9th, the East Pennsylvania Eldership appointed the following men: Chambersburg Station--B. Beck; Orrstown--J. Mackey; Shippensburg--J. Kelser; Newburg--C. Price.
(Names in announcement: B Beck, J. Mackey, J. Kelser, C. Price)

Correction
(Column 2)

Summary: The brother of Jacob Kelley (whose arrest was announce in the previous issue) visited the editors to correct their statement that Jacob Kelley is mulatto; he is, in fact, white and the editors were confusing him as a son of John Kelley, who is a mulatto.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Kelley, Mr. Kelley, John Kelley)

Election
(Column 2)

Summary: The following men were elected, on Nov. 21st, to the Board of Directors of the Bank of Chambersburg for the next year: William Heyser, A. B. Wingerd, J. Allison Eyster, B. W. Immel, S. M. Linn, John Stouffer, of J., David Piper, A. D. Caufman, B. S. Schneck, James Nill, Edmund Culbertson, Benjamin Chambers, John Cressler.
(Names in announcement: William Heyser, A. B. Wingerd, J. Allison Eyster, G. W. Immel, S. M. Linn, John Stouffer, David Piper, A. D. Caufman, B. S. Schneck, James Nill, Edmund Culbertson, Benjamin Chambers, John Cressler)

Election
(Column 2)

Summary: The Mercersburg, Greencastle and Waynesboro Turnpike Company held an election on Nov. 14th, and chose: President--A. B. Rankin; Managers--J. O. Carson, Jno. Ritchey, J. Wilhelm, Jr., A. Gordon, A. Frantz, S. Buhrman; Treasurer--G. W. Zeigler.
(Names in announcement: A. B. Rankin, J. O. Carson, Jno. Ritchey, J. WilhelmJr., A. Gordon, A. Frantz, S. Buhrman, G. W. Zeigler)

Lydia Marie Child's Reply To Gov. Wise
(Column 2)

Summary: The Repository prints Lydia Marie Child's response to Gov. Wise's answer to her request to come nurse John Brown. He had said that she has a constitutional right to visit Virginia, and in her response she lists a number of people who were not allowed to express their opinions while living in the South.

A New Phrase Of The Harper's Ferry Affair
(Column 2)

Summary: One of the participants in the Harper's Ferry insurrection reportedly said that he understood the purpose of the raid to run off slaves, because there were laboring men at Harper's Ferry who wished to get rid of the slaves.

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 15th, Rev. A. K. Nelson married Alex. C. Armstrong, of Knox co., Ill., to Catharine P. McDowell, daughter of Maj. James McDowell, of Franklin co. On Nov. 17th, in Chambersburg, Rev. Samuel Philips married Samuel Cook to Lydia R. Bemisderfer, both of Quincy Twp.
(Names in announcement: Rev. A. K. Nelson, Mr. Alex C. Armstrong, Miss Catharine P. McDowell, Major James McDowell, Rev. Samuel Philips, Mr. Samuel Cook, Miss Lydia R. Bemisderfer)

Died
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 3rd, in Pittsburgh, William Fisher, formerly a citizen of Chambersburg, died at age 51 after a protracted illness. On Nov. 12th, in the "Corner," Hannah Hoke, wife of Michael Hoke, died at age 47 years, 4 months and 19 days. On Oct. 19th, in Culbertson's Row, Thomas, son of John and Isabella Poe, died at age 19.
(Names in announcement: Mr. William Fisher, Mrs. Hannah Hoke, Mr. Michael Hoke, Thomas Poe, John Poe, Isabella Poe)