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Franklin Repository: January 03, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Memorial
(Column 5)

Summary: A synopsis of the resolutions included in the memorial drafted by Franklin county residents during a meeting held in the Court House on Dec. 22, 1865. The document calls upon the legislature to indemnify those individuals who suffered property loss during the three Confederate raids that occurred in the county during the war.
(Names in announcement: Col. D. O. Gehr, W. S. Stenger, J. W. Douglas)

Speech of Mr. Stevens
(Column 7)

Summary: Extracts from Thad Stevens's speech delineating his position on the proper course of action for re-admitting the rebellious states. Basing his opinions on recent judgements rendered by the courts, Stevens contends that the former Confederate states constituted an "independent and belligerent" nation during the war and, for that reason, Congress has sole discretion in determining what criteria they will have to meet before being re-admitted to the Union. In particular, Stevens insists that white southerners will have to re-evaluate their stand on the place of blacks within society before any plan is considered.

Editorial Comment: "Hon. Thaddeus Stevens delivered a speech recently in the House of Representatives on Reconstruction, which, like all his productions, is pungeant and powerful. It was carefully prepared and read from manuscript, and may therefore be accepted as giving the settled conviction and policy Mr. Stevens will adhere to in the coming struggle on the re-admission of the rebel States. However men may differ as to the policy of enforcing universal suffrage, and the propriety of keeping the rebellious States in the territorial condition for "some years," there are none who can successfully answer his argument as to the legal status of those States. On this point he says:"

Franklin Repository
(Column 1)

Summary: In this its seventy-third year, the Repository has rebounded from the damage it suffered during the invasions of 1863 and 1864 and is now more prosperous and popular than ever. And as in the past, the editors note, the newspaper will "earnestly, faithfully, untiringly" continue to promote the "cause of the Union party."

The Great Issue in Congress
(Column 1)Relief for Chambersburg
(Column 3)

Summary: The editors issue their support for a memorial recently drafted by Franklin county's residents. Though the previous two legislatures rejected appeals to indemnify those who suffered losses at the hands of the Confederate raiders, the new proposals are different because they do not seek restitution, the authors of the piece contend. In an era when the Commonwealth is "overflowing with wealth," they maintain that the state can easily afford to ease the "crushing desolation" of the "several hundred families rendered homeless by the vandalism of McCausland." Should the legislature fail to act, these same families will be consigned to "hopeless ruin."

Full Text of Article:

We give in our columns to day the Memorial of the citizens of Chambersburg for legislative relief, and we bespeak for it the candid consideration of the legislature. It is essentially different in its proposition from the indemnity measures rejected by two successive legislatures, and is an appeal to the generosity of a mighty Commonwealth, overflowing with wealth, not to make restitution, but to relieve measurably the crushing desolation which befell our people on the 30th of July 1864. Even when this shall have been done by the legislature, the losses of the sufferers of Chambersburg will be infinitely greater than the losses of any equal number of sufferers by invasion in any of the border counties.

This appeal goes to the legislature as the offspring of necessity. If it is denied it will consign hundreds of people, who have struggled thus far, to hopeless ruin. Of the several hundred families rendered homeless by the vandalism of M'Causland, not one-third can restore their buildings or resume their business, and all upon whom this concentrated hate of treason fell are more or less seriously crippled in their operations. In a thrifty town of over five thousand inhabitants, the whole business portion was entirely destroyed, and none were left with means to redeem the ruins. By the generosity of the State in appropriating to the indigent, and the liberal contributions of citizens at home and abroad, absolute want has been averted measurably from the sufferers; but still bankruptcy remains, and the only hope of a general resumption of business and the re-building of the town, is in generous aid from the State.

The people of Chambersburg do not ask that their losses shall be paid, nor that even half of them shall be restored. They have paid their taxes; have contributed their full quotas promptly on every call to fill up our armies; have shared all the exactions and bereavements of war with their fellow-citizens in other sections of the State; and in addition have suffered raids and invasion with their inevitable desolation, every year from the commencement of the war to its close, for which there has not been restitution in any degree. Exclusive of the crowning vandalism of M'Causland, the border people suffered four-fold more than any other portion of Pennsylvania; and after all that had been borne, when Franklin county had nearly enough soldiers in the service to have resisted the forces of M'Causland, and was left entirely defenseless, the enemy sought to strike terror in the North by the sacking and burning of Chambersburg. It was not aimed at Chambersburg alone. It was a blow directed against every loyal man in the North; but the desolation, the overwhelming sorrow, fell upon a few hundred citizens, who had to bear the stroke of rebel vengeance on behalf of a loyal people.

It seems probable that in time the national authorities will make restitution, at least to citizens of loyal States, for extraordinary losses incurred in the war; but it cannot be done in season to be of essential service to our hopeless sufferers. Unless they can be aided now, they must abandon all hope of retrieving their business. They must yield to strangers who can command the means to restore their houses, and start anew in the world, many with large families, without any means whatever to aid them, and most of them staggered with debt. While war raged and threatened other sections of the State with the same misfortune that was visited upon them, they appreciated the caution that prevented the legislature from giving aid to the despoiled; but now that peace has been won by the heroic sons of Chambersburg, side by side with the brave defenders of the flag from every county of the State; when common sacrifices have been shared in treasure and blood to rescue a common country, and victory has crowned the effort, there would be fitness in a recognition of the claims of Chambersburg--the only town in the North that was destroyed--upon the generosity of the State. To aid Chambersburg to the extent of one-third the losses sustained by the people would enable them to recover from the fearful desolation that was visited upon them, and it would not impose a farthing of taxes upon the people of the State, nor would it be even felt in our plethoric treasury.

We have now restored the Nation by the valor of all sections. Our finances never were so prosperous; our people in all portions of the State are requited in their industry and successful in their business operations; and we appeal to the representatives of a happy people not to be unmindful of the crushing spoliation suffered by a few people in Chambersburg, who, after having cheerfully yielded all and even more than most of their fellow-citizens in other counties to preserve the government, were selected by the leaders of treason for its direst vengeance--for its wildest desolation. They ask not restitution--they ask only that the State shall aid them so that they may partially recover from the terrible blow, and receive back its generous appropriation, principal and interest, should the national government ever be just. To the humanity and sense of justice of the legislature the Memorial of the people of Chambersburg appeals, and we cannot doubt that generous aid to our citizens will be heartily sanctioned by the people of the State.

The Vote of the 77th Regiment
(Column 4)

Summary: Since their arrival several weeks earlier, it has been discovered that the ballots purportedly cast by the soldiers of the 77th Regiment, stationed in Texas, are fraudulent. The author of the article expresses the belief that the ballots were fabricated to "bring odium" to the recipients of the votes, Mr. McConaughy and Col. Rowe.
(Names in announcement: Col. Rowe, McConaughy)

Full Text of Article:

Some weeks ago we received information that the 77th Pennsylvania regiment, stationed in Texas, had voted on the proper day, and given sufficient Union majority to elect Mr. McConaughy and Col. Rowe. We had the information, in advance of the receipt of the returns, from an officer of the Battery, that an election was held, and that the vote was more than two to one Union. Subsequently a return was filed in Harrisburg by Capt. Beers, the Commissioner sent to Texas to deliver the proper papers and receive the returns, purporting to give Mr. McConaughy 31 majority and Col. Rowe 17 majority--electing both gentlemen. We did not doubt that the return was genuine and honest, and so accepted it without inquiry.

We have never seen the returns made to Harrisburg and to the Prothonotary, but we have information relative to them that leaves no doubt as to their character. They are manifestly manufactured and fraudulent, and we feel assured that neither Mr. McConaughy nor Col. Rowe will claim their places on this vote. It is established that many of the names returned on the poll-list as having voted, were not there at all. Some were at their homes in this county at the time they are put down as having voted in Texas. Others were never residents of the county, several are dead, and the officers of election whose names are given as certifying to the election returns, were not present nor in the State on the day of election. In addition to these conclusive facts, the returns bear upon their face the strongest evidence that they are not honest. Not a vote is returned for any of the local candidates but the two who were defeated by the home vote--Messrs. McConaughy and Rowe, and the tickets, purporting to have been voted in different portions of Texas, are all written and in the same hand-writing. These facts, taken in connection with the other evidences in the case, leave no doubt that the returns as made up were an after-thought, and were proposed by some man or set of men to effect [illeg] the home vote for two candidates.

We belive that the candidates effected by the fraudulent returns had no part in their creation, as both of them openly disown them. But who did commit the fraud? It is known that Capt. Beers was home at least two weeks from Texas before he made this return, and then he made a false return. How did he get it and whence did come? The fact that he made the return is not conclusive evidence that he is the author of it, or that he had any hand in the fraud. He may have received it by mail, or it may have been delivered to him by returning officers of the 77th regiment; but it is due to the public and to himself that he explain exactly when, where, and under what circumstances the returns came into his hands. This will doubtless be demanded of him, and he cannot be silent under the inquiry. It is clear that some party or parties have attempted to force a fraud upon the Union party of this county and Senatorial district and make it responsible for the wrong; but the Union party will not stain its fair fame by even an attempt to sanction or conceal the villainy.

Messrs M'Conaughy and Rowe will contest for their respective places; but they will, we feel assured, show clean hands touching this wrong. If they did not, they would be scorned by the entire party that supported them, as it seeks no triumph at the cost of integrity. It supported those gentlemen because they are eminent alike for honesty and ability, and whoever may have perpetrated this wrong, it will not be laid to their charge. But it must have some paternity. It manifestly was not done to make Mr. M'Conaughy Senator and Col. Rowe District Attorney, for no man of ordinary intelligence would have conceived and executed so stupid a fraud. Upon its face it bears strong evidence that the return was fabricated by some party adverse to the success of Union candidates. It looks as if it had been carefully designed to bring odium upon Messrs. M'Conaughy and Rowe in their contests before the Court and Senate, and this view is strengthened by the positive evidence of several members of the 77th Regiment, now at home, that an election was held and full tickets,--including the entire county ticket--voted in some companies--including the Battery. Was the true return destroyed or suppressed? It looks so from the fact that the Commissioner has given no return, or delivered none when he came back. We trust that there will be a searching, thorough investigation of this transaction, let the blame fall where it may. We belive that it will prove to have been a deliberate plan to suppress honest returns and throw the semblance of fraud upon the Union party and its candidates. There is manifestly fraud somewhere--let it be fearlessly exposed.

[No Title]
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports that Congressman Leonard Myers's attempt to procure appropriations to reimburse the $800,000 that Pennsylvania loaned the federal government failed to be approved by the House. Gov. Curtin contributed the funds to pay for the organization of the state's militia during Lee's invasion in 1864 under the assumption that they would be refunded as soon as possible.

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: The article praises Thad Stevens's speech, found on page one of the newspaper, as "a masterly exposition of the policy he so earnestly advocates."

Local Items--Normal School
(Column 1)

Summary: On December 29th, delegates from school districts of the county met at the Court House to discuss the establishment of a Normal School in Franklin county.
(Names in announcement: John Orr, J. W. Douglas, A. McElwain, F. M. Kimmell, P. M. Shoemaker, William Bossart, Simon Bitner, John Croft, J. O. Carson, William Gabby)

Local Items--The District Attorney
(Column 2)

Summary: In response to the controversy surrounding his election as District Attorney, William Stenger contends that he defeated his opponent, Col. Rowe, fairly. Stenger vanquished his rival with the aid of votes cast by deserters, despite the existence of a law prohibiting those men from exercising their franchise, a measure Stenger claims is unconstitutional.

Local Items
(Column 2)

Summary: Relates that R. J. W. Weightman, of Greencastle, regaled an audience with his lecture on "'Prison Life,'" which detailed his experiences as a prisoner-of-war in the South.
(Names in announcement: R. J. W. Weightman, Rev. T. V. Moore)

Local Items--Honor Confered
(Column 2)

Summary: At the last annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette College, W. S. Everett was conferred with an honorary degree; Everett also received an honorary degree from Jefferson College in 1859.
(Names in announcement: W. S. Everett)

Local Items--Appointments
(Column 2)

Summary: The Directors of the Poor named John Ditzler as Stewart and E. J. Bonebrake as Counsel and Clerk, "both excellent appointments," at their last meeting.
(Names in announcement: John Ditzler, E. J. Bonebrake)

Local Items--Sudden Death
(Column 2)

Summary: Solomon Stamy, "a well-known citizen of Quincy township," died last Saturday after suddenly taking sick.
(Names in announcement: Solomon Stamy)

Local Items--Sold
(Column 2)

Summary: A. S. Monn recently sold the Quincy Hotel property, now occupied by H. M. Jones, to Andrew Shank, of Funkstown, for $4,400.
(Names in announcement: A. S. Monn, H. M. Jones, Andrew Shank)

Relief of Chambersburg
(Column 2)

Summary: Extracts from articles that have appeared in various newspapers across the state supporting efforts to provide relief for the citizens of Chambersburg who suffered losses during the Confederate invasion.

Origin of Article: Press; Inquirer; Harrisburg Telegraph

Editorial Comment: "The following favorable notices of the movement for the relief of our depoiled citizens by the Legislature, we clip from our exchange:"

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 3rd, Israel Brake and Miss Gelwicks were married by Rev. S. McHenry.
(Names in announcement: Israel Brake, Miss Gelwicks, Rev. S. McHenry)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Jan. 1st, Michael H. Gsell and Hannah Lowry were married by Rev. S. McHenry.
(Names in announcement: Michael H. Gsell, Hannah Lowry, Rev. S. McHenry)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 9th, James Will, of Adams county, and Catharine Stokes were married by Rev. S. H. C. Smith.
(Names in announcement: James Will, Catharine Stokes, Rev. S. H. C. Smith)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 30th, Martin Overholser and Rachael, daughter of Rev. A. C. Wingerd, were married by Rev. H. C. Lesher.
(Names in announcement: Martin Overholser, Rachael Wingerd, Rev. A. C. Wingerd, Rev. H. C. Lesher)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 28th, Jeremiah Witters and Susie R., daughter of John Good, were married by Rev. H. C. Lesher.
(Names in announcement: Jeremiah Witters, Susie Good, John Good, Rev. H. C. Lesher)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 21st, William M. Byers and Clamina M. Fraker were married by Rev. A. K. Nelson.
(Names in announcement: William M. Byers, Clamina M. Fraker, Rev. A. K. Nelson)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 26th, John Russell, of Mummasburg, Adams county, and Anna Maria Ward were married by Rev. J. Benson Akers.
(Names in announcement: John Russell, Anna Maria Ward, Rev. J. Benson Akers)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 26th, John B. Kreps and Nancy Jane, daughter of Frederick Smith, were married by Rev. Thomas Creigh.
(Names in announcement: John B. Kreps, Nancy Jane Smith, Rev. Thomas Creigh)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 21st, Jacob Hockman and Amanda Dysert were married by Rev. W. R. H. Deatrich.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Hockman, Amanda Dysert, Rev. W. R. H. Deatrich)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 25th, Philip Funuiry, of Washington county, Md., and Susan C. Mong were married by Rev. A. Buhrman.
(Names in announcement: Philip Funuiry, Susan C. Mong, Rev. A. Buhrman)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 26th, Andrew J. Dentler and S. C. McKee were married by Rev. A. Buhrman.
(Names in announcement: Andrew J. Dentler, S. C. McKee, Rev. A. Buhrman)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 26th, William Neotling, of Bellville, St. Clair county, Ill., and Mary C. Sanders were married by Rev. A. Buhrman.
(Names in announcement: William Neotling, Mary C. Sander, Rev. A. Buhrman)

Died
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 28th, Allan Haiston, Sr., 68, died in Metal township.
(Names in announcement: Allan HaistonSr.)

Died
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 7th, Christian D., infant son of George and Sarah Garling, died of diptheria. He was 11 months old.
(Names in announcement: Christian D. Garling, George Garling, Sarah Garling)

Died
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 15th, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Mary Ripple, died near Waynesboro. She was 11 years old.
(Names in announcement: Mary Elizabeth Ripple, Joseph Ripple, Mary Ripple)