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Franklin Repository: September 26, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

A. J. "I," "Me," "My."! Gems of Johnsonism!
(Column 6)

Summary: Armed with extracts from speeches delivered by President Johnson over the course of his trip to Chicago as evidence, the article highlights his opposition to the plight of the freedmen and his support of the men who perpetrated the New Orleans Massacre.

[No Title]
(Column 8)

Summary: The article contains a dispatch from John T. Monroe, Mayor of New Orleans, to President Johnson. In his correspondence, Monroe advocates removing Gen. Sheridan from his command, and re-asserts his desire to have the American flag taken down because local residents feel it is "obnoxious," a step that would "be flattering to the popular heart." The flag's display, he intimates, was as much a cause of the recent massacre as was the "complexion of the assemblage" that had gathered to convene the scheduled constitutional convention.

Editorial Comment: "The New Orleans Times of the 12th published a despatch from Andrew Johnson to Mayor Monroe, declining an invitation to visit that city, but sending "thanks" for the "courtesy" of the butchers of the loyalists of the Southwestern metropolis. As the existence of a friendly correspondence between these two distinguished dignitaries is thus conceded, the probabilities are increased that the following letter, picked up at the railroad depot in Springfield, Ill., on the Presidential party passed through that city, is authentic. It was first printed in the Chicago Republican:"

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors announce the appointment of Matthew P. Welsh as Post Master of Chambersburg, then proceed to question his political integrity for taking the position. Welsh replaces John W. Deal, who ran into difficulties after denouncing the Johnson Soldiers' Convention in Philadelphia. If Welsh is "sensible to shame," they avow, "he will keenly regret the day that made him sacrifice his principles to a class of political corruptionists."
(Names in announcement: Matthew Welsh)

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: The editorial sardonically urges the "new Copper-Johnson appointees" to start saving their money because their first official act will most likely be to "contribute a heavy percentage" of their salaries "to promote the cause of the Democrats."

The Truth Triumphant
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors offer an optimistic assessment of the Republicans' political future, but caution readers to remain ever vigilant, particularly in the wake of the defections of several party leaders to the Johnson camp.

Editorial Comment: "The people are rousing themselves for the last battle with treason at the ballot box."

A. J. Proceeds to Kick!
(Column 2)

Summary: Although the editors were not surprised that Johnson, "under the influence of St. Louis beverages," would voice his plans to "'kick-out' Lincoln's office holders," they express considerable surprise that he had the audacity to undertake the process prior to the election. This "madness," they relate, resulted in the removal of several staunch Republicans from local office, including Chambersburg's ex-Post Master, John Deal. As for the replacements, the editors characterize them as less than able and of questionable integrity.

Full Text of Article:

The nation was not surprised when Andrew Johnson, under the inspiration of St. Louis beverages and flaunting rebel flags, announced in his speech that he would "kick out" Lincoln's office-holders, and followed it with the still more disgraceful declaration: "I will kick them out as fast as I can!" The faithful people of the country were fully prepared for his ostracism of every honest officer, and they welcome the fulfillment of his threat made in mingled ribaldry and blasphemy to the rebels of St. Louis.

We feared that he might have discretion enough, under the advice of some sage advisers, to postpone his kicking out process until after the election; but his madness has ruled over all, and the work of decapitation progresses as rapidly as commissions can be issued by the several departments. Mr. Scull, of the Somerset Herald, and Mr. Harper of the Adams Sentinel, and Mr. Deal, our Post Master, have been honored by their removal by the ruling debauchery of Andrew Johnson, and Hon. Alex. H. Coffroth, late M. C., succeeds Mr. Harper as Assessor, and Rufus C. Swope, of Adams, succeeds Mr. Scull as Collector of this district.

These appointments are fully in character with the degrading policy and the corrupt purposes of the President and his varied followers. Gen. Coffroth is bankrupt in politics and incompetent to earn a livelihood at his profession. He managed a palpable fraud to crawl into Congress for a few months, and thus pilfer several thousand dollars from the government for services in a position which all parties in the House finally admitted he had not been elected to, and now, that he has been rejected by Congress and rejected by his party at home, he has to be cared for. He is therefore pensioned upon the people in the most important office to them in the State. A man without business qualifications or moral fitness for any responsible trust, is made the arbiter of the taxes to be imposed upon the people of the district, and it is not doubted that he will use his official power unscrupulously for the attainment of the political ends of his masters, regardless of justice or the interests of the government. It is a shame and an insult to the intelligence and business interests of our people, to appoint such an officer to control their taxes, and it must react fearfully upon the abandoned rulers who have assented to it. Surely this Congressional district could have furnished some reputable and well qualified Democrat to fill the place, and for an office so important to the people, they had a right to expect some regard to fitness and qualifications in the work of political corruption by public patronage. Fortunately for the district, Gen. Coffroth is well known in Washington and he will of course be rejected by the Senate on the ground of unfitness.

Mr. Swope, the new Collector, was a follower of the army, as he now follows political power to forage upon it. He was a quarter-master and learned the science of profiting by the thrift that follows fawning. He was once a Republican, and would be so to-day if it would pay best so to think and vote; but as integrity in politics just now has no reward but an approving conscience and the blessings of a loyal people, he prefers the cash to all other compensations, and therefore swings around the political circle and accepts the situation. We presume that the Senate will reject Coffroth for being a fool--just what he can't help; but it will most likely reject Swope for corruptly bartering his principles and his country for the emoluments which perfidy has placed in the hands of his country's foes. It is some consolation to upright men to know that when Mr. Swope shall have been rejected by the Senate, the President will then fulfil his bond to the Democracy and appoint a full fledged Democrat in his place. The Senate will doubtless confirm all such appointments if they bear any semblance to fitness, for Democratic aspirants sacrifice no honor, no manhood, no principle in accepting office under Andrew Johnson; but the Senate owes it to the nation and to the purity of the administration of the government, to reject all men who come before it with their price stamped indelibly upon their foreheads.

Andrew Johnson has openly espoused the cause of the Democracy of the North and of the Traitors of the South, and his patronage belongs to those who honestly share his convictions and approve his policy. Whenever he shall cease his degrading and futile efforts to debauch men by his plunder, and appoint reputable and consistent Democrats to fill his offices, they will be entitled to confirmation and will doubtless be confirmed; but the Senate will never be a party to the policy of the corruptionists who auction their officer from door to door, appealing to the cupidity and ambition of men to make them faithless to their principles and faithless to the Republic. If honors thus won and thus briefly to be worn by Coffroth and Swope afford them any gratification, we can assure them that there are few who could envy them their success. They will be sadder and it may be wiser men by and by!

Inciting Riots
(Column 4)

Summary: The article reproaches those individuals responsible for the violence that occurred during the Republican meeting at Mr. Sellers's public house on September 17th. Regardless of whom is to blame for the melee, it charges, such actions are "lawless and riotous, and as such should be condemned by all law-abiding people and punishable by law." Should the perpetrators not be brought to justice, such inaction will serve as "encouragement to bad men to glut their lawless appetites." The piece also castigates the Valley Spirit for its role in inciting the disorder.

Full Text of Article:

This journal has never countenanced disorder or lawlessness of any kind, nor has it ever excused turbulence on partizan grounds. The proceedings about the public house of Mr. Sellers on the evening of the 17th, when the Republican meeting was held in front of the court house, were disgraceful in the extreme, and no good citizen of either party can justify or in any measure excuse it. We have heard various conflicting stories, each party criminating the other, but whoever may have been guilty of the provocation, the assault upon the house and person of Mr. Sellers was lawless and riotous, and as such should be condemned by all law-abiding people and punished by the law. To charge that one party or the other was wholly in the wrong, is to espouse the cause of lawlessness, and we cannot do it; but equally fallacious is the ever ready excuse for disorder that "the other party was guilty too." We trust that as a matter of justice to law-breakers and law- observers, and for the future peace, order and credit of Chambersburg, every man concerned in the disorder may be arrested and the guilt of the guilty and the innocence of the innocent established, and that just punishment will follow the guilty. If this be done, we shall have order at all public gatherings hereafter. If it is not done, and both parties shield and excuse the guilty because of their political faith, there is every encouragement to bad men to glut their lawless appetites.

It was not necessary for this journal to say so much by way of defining its position, but we have deemed it proper to reiterate our well known views because of the lawless teachings of the Spirit. Speaking of the disorder referred to, it says:

"If no other remedy will cure these outlaws, they will inscribe on our banners, 'an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth'--and house for house. Property holders take warning. A word to the wise is sufficient!"

It was just the malicious and fiendish spirit that pervades the foregoing extract that made all the disorder we have had, and there is not a lawless rascal in the county who will not thank the Spirit for inviting him to the destruction of property on any trivial pretext he may choose to invent. By such declarations the Spirit invites violence, and offers a premium to every rowdy in the land to excel in the gratification of his low and wicked instincts. Suppose the Spirit should carry out its doctrine to a logical conclusion. It needs but one rowdy to commence the work, and he is cordially invited to it by that journal. Once commenced each thief and vagabond is himself the judge of what would be "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, and a house for a house." Rowdy Smith hides in some alley and flings a stone into the Spirit office. He believes in the Spirit's politics, but he wants a row and a chance for revenge or plunder, and he starts the disorder to have it blamed on the other party, so that the work of retaliation--the "house for a house"--shall begin as the Spirit demands. The amusement of a "house for a house" would go on swimmingly for a time, but by and by the proprietors of the Spirit and many of their friends might begin to consider that for all this destruction they must pay their full share to replace it dollar for dollar, and the result would most likely be that while the law would restore every other man's property, it would justly declare that as the Spirit invoked the riot, and demanded the destruction of property, its proprietors must be satisfied with the fruits of their own acts. Should the rowdies of Chambersburg obey the rowdy counsel of the Spirit, and destroy property, the publishers of the Spirit would be just as guilty both morally and legally, as the braver rowdies who might lead in the work of destruction.

Let the Spirit cease its devotion to lawlessness, and join all good citizens in demanding that there shall be prompt, impartial, and severe justice meted out to all lawless men, and it will soon cease; but if there shall not be lawlessness hereafter it must be because the riotous counsels of the Spirit have been disregarded by those who love disorder. We do not fear lawlessness for the reason that, outside of a few men of both parties who follow the Spirit's follies, the people of Chambersburg without regard to party, feel themselves dishonored whenever a meeting of any kind is disturbed, and they will cordially join to bring to justice all who attempt lawlessness. They will not allow even the rowdy teachings of the Spirit to dignify turbulence of any kind, but on the contrary they will maintain for all the right of opinion and expression as guaranteed by our beneficent system of government.

How Treason Is To Rule
(Column 5)

Summary: Shortly after Montgomery Blair announced in his speech in Chambersburg that "if the North should elect sufficient members of Congress to make a majority when united with all the members elected by the rebel States, the President would recognize the Northern Democrats and Southern rebels as the Congress of the nation," the New York Times confirmed the President's intention to pursue that same policy. Consequently, the piece declares, the "real purpose of the apostate President" has been laid clear.

Origin of Article: The New York Times

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: Heister Clymer will speak at the Democratic Mass Meeting today, informs the article. His appearance will provide an opportunity for the "fifteen hundred honorably discharged soldiers of Franklin county" to query the gubernatorial candidate on a number of topics, such as his resistance to allowing soldiers to vote during the war and his stand on the controversy over re-admitting the former rebel states.

[No Title]
(Column 6)

Summary: Employing an extract from the New York Times to substantiate its claim, the article contends that Heister Clymer, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has lost the endorsement of key Johnson supporters and loyal soldiers, therefore, he has little chance of victory in the upcoming election.

Origin of Article: New York Times

Editorial Comment: "The New York Times, the leading Johnson organ of the country, has abandoned Clymer to his fate, as did the New York Herald a week before. Speaking of the remark of Gen. Grant, that is to ask any soldier to vote for such a man as Mr. Clymer was a gross insult, it says:"

[No Title]
(Column 6)

Summary: Relates that the "joint political discussions" between candidates Sharpe and McClure were conducted without a "single act of disrespect shown to either speakers." Indeed, "all parties seemed to be willing to hear both sides discussed in an earnest but courteous manner."

[No Title]
(Column 6)

Summary: President Johnson has made "a clean sweep of the Philadelphia offices," and has appointed "political adventurers and mendicants" to replace those loyal men who were removed.

[No Title]
(Column 7)

Summary: Senator Doolittle, of Wisconsin is scheduled to speak at the Democratic meeting in Chambersburg today, says the article. But, it speculates, Doolittle will advocate the same policies, such as suffrage rights for blacks, that he does at home.

[No Title]
(Column 7)

Summary: Reports that even the New York Times, "the President's special organ," has come out in favor of the proposed amendments to the constitution, deeming them to be "so reasonable that neither north or south can successfully resist them."

Origin of Article: The New York Times

General Grant On Politics
(Column 8)

Summary: According to the article, Gen. Grant opposes the President's policies and Hiester Clymer's candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania.

Origin of Article: New York Times; New York Herald

Local Items--Boys in Blue
(Column 1)

Summary: The article contains a revised list of the members of the Chambersburg chapter of the Boys in Blue.
(Names in announcement: John A. Seiders, D. F. Leisher, J. W. Fletcher, J. W. Stewart, T. J. Nill, B. F. Johns, D. W. Newman, Samuel H. Nesbit, John H. Rhodes, C. Hunting, B. A. Fahnestock, John N. Paxton, William McLenegan, W. H. Pfoutz, J. H. Harmony, J. W. Humphreys, S. W. Hays, Calvin Gilbert, I. A. Stumbaugh, Harry Strickler, C. M. Hassler, Scott Flack, David Forbes, D. S. Fleck, William B. Cook, D. R. Appenzellar, M. W. Houser, W. A. Hollinsberger, J. M. Zarman, J. R. Frey, George F. Platt, G. W. Daily, Albert Grove, W.F. Eyster, Samuel Z. Maxwell, George B. Wampler, W. S. Davison, John H. Cook, A. B. Beisel, William N. Pearse, James B. Smith, William Stitt, E. D. Reid, D. F. Stouffer, John Hassler, Leonard Stoner, D. A. Lippy, L. M. Dice, Adam Nicklas, John Stoner, Samuel G. Lane, D. M. McCune, Frederick Eyster, Samuel S. Gipe, Godfrey Greenawalt, Samuel Palmer, Jeremiah Gelwicks, B. F. Deal, Norris B. Dutton, Frank Ditzler, C. L. Bard, James Elder, J. C. Austin, D. H. Seibert, Abe A. Huber, George Watson, Solomon Huber, B. F. Zook, C. H. Cressler, F. S. Stumbaugh, B. Rodes, Robert Snively, Samuel McGowan, J. Amos Miller, James Aughinbaugh, James Jones, James B. Atherton, Wilson L. Stuart, Reges Stuart, John B. Heart, D. H. Geissinger, George Bessor, John Doebler, George Krugs, W. H. H. Welsh, David Bowers, Daniel Decker, John Caley, N. N. Hubler, H. Houser, J. W. Gibson, David Lewis, Jacob Atherton, Simon Melhorn, Aug. Whitmore, Charles Spear, D. S. Early, Anthony Burke, J. F. Snider, S. A. Stratton, David T. Asper, R. M. Reynolds, A. C. McGrath, J. R. Valentine, H. Hummelbaugh, Thomas Beckerman, George M. D. Lippy, Franklin Zarman, J. Warren Seibert, Allison Whitstone, Alex Flack, Upton H. Moore, C. M. Ditslar, Jacob Pott, George S. Heck, S. J. Patterson, George Miles, Christian Fuller, Buchanan, John H. Austin, Thomas Durboraw, Thomas Myers, George W. Harmony, Henry Daniels, F.S. Reminger, Charles R. Pilsbury, J. S. Weiser, Samuel Keller, Jacob G. Shirk, William Lawrence, John T. Murphy, John G. Bigham, David Chamberlain, F. Aug. Miller, Willam W. Anderson, Edward Ferry, T. Stratton, Cyrus Kelly, J. Monroe Barnitz, Frederick Fielman, John O. Halbert, Henry Bowman, Charles Ruff, Samuel Graum, William Herr, David Dine, Samuel Uglow, Joseph Rodgers, Walker Snearer, Edward Weston, John Bodder, H. W. McKnight, T. J. McLanathan, S. J. Banker, D. W. Embich, William H. Embich, David Frantz, Henry Werly, Napoleon Herron, John Herron, A. B. Miller, K. L. Myers, S. B. Barnes, Mark Davis, G. W. Suters, Lewis Vandrow, John Drace, Frank Vandrow, P. F. Williams, C. P. Bechtel, H. C. Mason, Augustus Bickley, Charles Ridgley, William Cauffman, William Bradley, John Doughty, A. S. Conrad, Edward Focke, Francis Brown, John Ferry, I. H. Eberly, E. C. Whitrode, John Leisher, Peter Dorty, John Ralph, Nicholas Snyder, Glass, George Cover, Thomas Kennedy, John W. Witherspoon, Alex M. Linn, John E. Aughinbaugh, James R. McCurdy, David Heagy, John O'Frey, Lewis Gingrich, Jacob Sheets, George H. Cole, William A. Fullmer, E. F. Coe, John W. Smith)

Local Items--"Boys in Blue"
(Column 2)

Summary: The "honorably discharged soldiers" of Mercersburg established a "Boys in Blue," reports the article. The following men were selected as officers of the chapter: Col. John L. Ritchey, President; Sergt. J. B. Myers and Private Seth Dickey, Vice-Presidents; Private S. C. Alleman, Recording Secretary; Capt. A. R. Davison, Cor. Secretary; Private J. D. McFarland, Treasurer.
(Names in announcement: James Agnew, N. S. Agnew, S. C. Allen, O. H. Anderson, John M. Anderson, Henry Anderson, Jacob H. Armstrong, Leonard Armstrong, Samuel Beck, Milton Benedict, Hezekiah Beck, David Beck, Milton Benedict, John Bennett, R. J. Boyd, John M. Brown, R. S. Brownson, J. J. Bradley, Peter Brubaker, Edward Byers, John H. Bush, Wilson Black, J. Angle Bowles, Jacob Blattenberger, John Brindle, Lemuel Clark, Samuel Cromwell, David W. Creager, John W. Curley, A. Curtis, A. R. Davison, Seth Dickey, David Divelbliss, Frank Eley, John Fite, r.S. Findlay, Edward J. Findlay, Edward Ferrenburg, Joseph R. Fulton, George W/ Gilbert, George Glee, David Gearhart, John W. Graham, Albertus Hamill, George W. Henkell, John H. Hornbaker, William Holstone, William H. Hospehon, John S. King, Michael Kreps, Thomas W. Lesher, John Lightner, W. H. McClelland, J. D. McFarland, Andrew McCallister, D. N. McLaughlin, William B. McCune, William P. McCune, John McCormick, Robert McClelland, W. E. McDowell, A. B. McDowell, Jacob B. Myers, Andrew A. Myers, David Miller, Robert F. Moser, George W. Moser, Thomas Metcalfe, Thomas C. Metcalfe, Jacob S. Mowery, John Miller, M. S. Murray, E. B. Murray, Jacob B. Myers, John Orth, John T. Parker, James O. Parker, James C. Patton, William H. Pensinger, John Pitman, Thomas Pensinger, Henry Potter, John L. Ritchey, John Rhodes, Jeremiah Resse, George W. Reitzel, John Rodgers, A. H. Strickler, Jacob Swisher, Robert M. Smalls, David Sharar, Jacob W. Sharar, Edward Small, Robert Shirts, William Selser, Joseph F. Shrader, George E. Sillik, John N. Schultz, Harry Shorts, John K. Shatzer, William Starliper, Frank Stoner, George Scott, James H. Tibbey, Washington Winters, David H. Woodring, George Wilkins, William Werdebaugh, James Williams, Albert Weilet, Wilson Burke, Jeremiah Cooper, James Black, Cecil Eberly, J. Knox Green, M. P. Halderman, Christian Houck, James Gorman, Zachary Potter, Col. John L. Ritchey, Sergt. J. B. Myers, Seth Dickey, Private S. C. Alleman, Capt. A. R. Davison, Private J. D. McFarland)

Local Items--Found Dead
(Column 3)

Summary: John Izer was found dead in the area near Buchanan's Farm. Izer's body was found lying in the road with "his horse standing quietly by his side." An inquiry was held; it came to the conclusion that he had died of natural causes since there was no indication that he had been thrown from his horse. Izer was 71 years old and had been in ill-health for some time.
(Names in announcement: John Izer)

Origin of Article: Mercersburg Journal

Local Items--Greencastle Items
(Column 3)

Summary: John A. Light will make a balloon ascension from Greencastle next Saturday. The piece also reports on an incident that occurred following a recent Republican rally. Evidently a train leaving town with people who had attended the rally was stoned by a group of men who emerged from a corn field adjacent to the train track and began pelting the locomotive.

Origin of Article: Greencastle Pilot

Local Items--The Guillotine
(Column 3)

Summary: The article lists the names of "loyal men" from the surrounding area who have been removed from office since President Johnson returned from his tour. Their only crime, it suggests, "is that they do not support 'My Policy.'"
(Names in announcement: Edward Scull, R. G. Harper, John W. Deal, Matthew P. Welsh)

Local Items--Fatal Accident
(Column 3)

Summary: A young boy in the employ of Grier Breckenridge was killed last Thursday after a horse fell on him, crushing him to death. The accident occurred while the boy was hitching up the animal.
(Names in announcement: Grier Breckenridge)

Origin of Article: Shippensburg News

Local Items--Base Ball
(Column 3)

Summary: Two baseball games were recently played involving teams from Franklin. In the first match, the second nine of the Amateur Club, of Mercersburg, defeated the first nine of Antrim Club, of Greencastle, by a score of 76 to 21. In the second, the Potomac Club, of Maryland, upset Dahlgreen Club, of Greencastle, 46 to 40.

Local Items--Anniversary
(Column 3)

Summary: Relates that the I. O. O. C. Path Valley Lodge's anniversary went well, though attendance was somewhat hampered by inclement weather.
(Names in announcement: William S. Everett)

Local Items--Death of a Soldier
(Column 3)

Summary: It is reported that Adam Wilt, of Chambersburg, died last week in Mobile, Alabama. Wilt was a member of Co. A, 126th Penn. Vols., and joined the regular army at the end of his service, where he remained until his death.
(Names in announcement: Adam Wilt)

Local Items--Balloon Ascension
(Column 3)

Summary: John A. Light will make his fifth ascent from Chambersburg on October 6th. On this flight, Light will take a dog in his gondola, attach a parachute to it, and "send it to earth from a great height."
(Names in announcement: John A. Light)

Local Items
(Column 3)

Summary: The lifeless body of a "colored" child was found in an out-house in Wolfstown on Sunday morning. The child's mother was arrested and charged with infanticide.

Local Items--Drowned
(Column 3)

Summary: One of Mrs. A. Ward's children died last Wednesday when she got caught in a water wheel at Middle Spring and drowned before she could be rescued.
(Names in announcement: Mrs. A. Ward)

Married
(Column 4)

Summary: On Sept. 19th, Francis B. Ripley, of Boston, Mass., and Laura F., daughter of Mrs. Mary W. Ritner, formerly of Chambersburg, and grand-daughter of Ex-Gov. Ritner, were married in Lewisburg, Pa., by Rev. Prof. Tusting.
(Names in announcement: Francis B. Ripley, Laura F. Ritner, Mary W. Ritner, Rev. Prof. Tusting)

Married
(Column 4)

Summary: On Sept. 9th, Reuben Overcash and Catherine Speilman were married by Rev. J. K. Miller.
(Names in announcement: Reuben Overcash, Catherine Speilman, Rev. J. K. Miller)

Married
(Column 4)

Summary: On Sept. 20th, David Brake and Charlotte Beam were married by Rev. J. K. Miller.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. K. Miller, David Brake, Charlotte Beam)

Married
(Column 4)

Summary: On Sept. 20th, Robert F. McElroy and Maggie Black, of Adams county, were married by Rev. J. Warner.
(Names in announcement: Robert F. McElroy, Maggie Black, Rev. J. Warner)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: On Sept. 17th, David Wertz, 76, died in Quincy.
(Names in announcement: David Wertz)

Died
(Column 4)

Summary: On Sept. 7th, Elizabeth M., daughter of William Wolff, dec'd, died in Ambrose's Valley. She was 17 years old.
(Names in announcement: William Wolff, Elizabeth M. Wolff)