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Franklin Repository: 11 14, 1866 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

A Note of Warning
(Column 8)

Summary: An extract from the New York Post that warns the South in no uncertain terms that it must ratify the proposed amendments, or face the consequences, which will undoubtedly be far more grave.

Origin of Article: New York Post

Editorial Comment: "The New York Post tells the Southern States that if they defeat the amendment, being "the mildest terms ever offered to beaten rebels," they will let loose upon themselves the worst punishment ever inflicted upon such offenders. Their refusal to accept these terms will cause the people who defeated the rebellion to lose all patience. And then, says the Post:"

Money and Business
(Column 1)

Summary: Noting that the "present condition of the country is peculiarly sound," the editors refute the notion that an economic disaster is looming.

Full Text of Article:

Some apprehensions are felt in the country about business revulsions, the probable reduction of values, and the violent contraction of all channels of industry and enterprise down to the old standard before the war. We regard such a result not only as altogether improbable but as absolutely impossible. There is nothing in the present condition of the country to justify such apprehensions. There can be no violent change in business operations unless business men are generally in debt beyond their means, and a sudden contraction of accommodations by the banks with a fatal reduction of values follow, when the bubble of overstrained credit bursts. All our previous financial panics were produced by excessive over-trading and extravagant indebtedness among the people. When the last feather would be piled upon the back of credit, it would break down, and panic would complete the work of destruction.

The present condition of the country is peculiarly sound. Speculators may be embarrassed, and many of them may fail, but it cannot effect the general condition of the people. Never before in the history of the nation were the people as free from debt; never before were they as wealthy; and instead of the country wanting means, the people have a superabundance of money, or what would at once command money. It is true that there has been gradual contraction of the currency, and it has limited operations immensely in speculative circles; but that class is but a small proportion of the people. Their operations have been unsuccessful within the last two years. Most speculations have proved unfortunate, as they ever will when the nation is returning gradually from inflation toward specie payments; but it does not so much as create a ripple of uneasiness among the substantial producers of the country, who are its main source of wealth.

Franklin county is as fair an illustration of the general condition of the country as any other, and a little reflection will show how baseless is the apprehension of financial revulsion. The active business men who expanded largely during the war when money was superabundant and was expended lavishly, feel severely the altered condition of things; but it is not because we are approaching any violent change in financial affairs. Look for a moment at the paper circulation of this county in 1864 when business and speculation were in their highest tide. The Bank of Chambersburg then had $511,000 of circulation, and $475,000 of deposits--giving it nearly a million of resources to aid business operations. Now the same Bank has but $260,000 of circulation, under the national law, and but $175,000 deposits--thus reducing the capacity of the Bank more than half a million dollars, and of course reducing just to that extent its accommodations to the people. True, we have Banks in Greencastle, Waynesboro and Shippensburg, but their aggregate circulation does not reach over $175,000, leaving a large diminution of the local paper circulation in our midst. In addition to this, it must be considered that probably $200,000 of other State circulation has been withdrawn, and the government has also been steadily retiring green-backs, so that the aggregate contraction of paper circulation in this county alone is over half a million. Government securities have absorbed hundred of thousands of dollars from our farmers, all of which are laid away as so much productive surplus means, which could be called out at any time if the legitimate business interests of the country demanded it.

The contraction now felt in business operations pertains to but a small class of the people. Merchants sell one-fourth or one-half less goods than two years ago, and all who supply other than the necessaries of life naturally feel restricted in their business; but the great mass of the people, upon whom rest our great financial structure, never was so free from debt and never so sound. The towns, which gathered the rich harvest of the war only to plunge it into extravagance and speculation, must suffer. Many will be crippled; many will retire with partial loss; a few will break when the gradual contraction reaches a certain point, but those who survive will find themselves back again to a legitimate business and will do well again. But while the towns gathered and squandered the riches flung out so profusely by war, the great producing classes also gathered from year to year, as their crops commanded fabulous prices. They have not been tempted from their frugal ways, but have saved their profits, and now have their new acres, or mortgages, or Government bonds to attest their prosperity.

Let no man be deluded by the fear of financial panic. If half the business men of Chambersburg, or Greencastle, or Waynesboro, or Mercersburg, would fail, it would not lessen the price of a single acre of farm-land about those towns. It might make stores and shops unsaleable, but there is not an acre of productive land in Franklin county that cannot command a purchaser at a high price any day, because the farmers were never so able to purchase, and land never possessed such intrinsic value as it does now. And what is true of the country generally is equally true of the cities as a rule. Speculators and a limited class of jobbers may be crippled, but money never was more abundant for first-class borrowers than it is in the cities now. Money cannot be borrowed on anything but undoubted security. It cannot be had for doubtful enterprises; but for legitimate business purposes it is abundant at a low rate of interest. Looking at the nation throughout, therefore, both city and country, the financial condition of the people never was more sound than now, and panic or serious revulsion is impossible. Fatal revulsions can only follow a sudden reduction of the substantial values of the country, and that can come only when there is no class able to purchase them at fair prices. So far from the people being unable to maintain the price of lands, stocks, bonds, &c., they never were so abundantly able as now, and we look for the nation to move on gradually to specie payments without any general revulsion being possible. It may take many years to attain it, and bad government may retard it and even damage our financial system; but any change of that kind could only diminish government credit and currency, and thereby give a fictitious value to land and reliable securities. We regard the inflation of values as possible, but panic and violent reduction of values is among the impossibilities.

Who Are True Men?
(Column 2)

Summary: The editors chastise their counterparts at the Delaware County Republican for challenging "Gov. Curtin's fidelity to the Republican party and to Congress." To substantiate their claims, the Republican's editors based their allegations on the fact that Curtin did not denounce Andrew Johnson in his last governor's message. In response, the Repository's editors note that most Republicans, in fact, had not broken ranks with President Johnson as of January 1866, the date of Curtin's last annual address. Indeed, it was not until Johnson's veto of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill that the President's intentions became clear.

The Great Verdict!
(Column 3)

Summary: With all but six states having completed their elections, it is clear that the Republicans will hold at least two-thirds of the seats in Congress. As such, say the editors, the result represents "a declaration of the People that cannot be misunderstood by any section of the country." If the southern states wish to re-join the Union as full partners, they will not only have to accept the constitutional amendments, but must enforce them as well, otherwise Congress will offer much less generous terms.

Full Text of Article:

Of the States now represented in our National Congress, all but Tennessee, California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Rhode Island have elected their Representatives to the 40th Congress, and a Republican majority of more than two-thirds is now positively assured. The States yet to elect cannot effect the result. Conceding all that the most sanguine of the other side claim in them, still there will remain the power in Congress to veto the veto of the President when he shall interpose his despotic and traitorous will against Freedom and Justice.

Nor is this emphatic verdict the result of political management. It is the solemn, deliberate decree of the PEOPLE, asserting their supreme power in opposition to perfidy in the highest places within their gift. By an aggregate popular majority of nearly HALF A MILLION have the loyal States declared against the policy of Andrew Johnson, and in favor of the policy of Congress as defined in the proposed amendments to the constitution.

Andrew Johnson appealed to the People. He went from place to place and in mingled ribaldry and blasphemy he harangued them, always proposing to leave the issue between himself and Congress to their decision. He prostituted the immense power of his administration to aid the cause of those who have been overthrown, and his offices and plunder were bartered at every corner for votes to sustain his treachery. Every man holding office by the appointment of Mr. Lincoln, who did not betray his principles, was relentlessly ostracized, and some blatant traducer of Mr. Lincoln's principles appointed. But in defiance of all--spurning the bribes of power and the appeals to ambition, the People have declared in thunder tones that the great cause for which they gave countless sacrifices shall not be betrayed when it is about to gather the fruits of its bloody victory.

This overwhelming declaration of the People cannot be misunderstood by any section of the country. It demands the acceptance of the constitutional amendments, and will enforce them, or terms of restoration not less severe, if they are not accepted. Will the South still be blinded by passion to reject the most generous terms ever offered by a conquerer to a conquered people? If they do, upon themselves must be the consequences. The North will not wait indefinitely for their pleasure. The work of reconstruction must be consummated speedily, and if not done by the co-operation of the vanquished upon the terms proposed, it will be done on terms less generous and more just to all. The North has performed its part. Will the dregs of treason and rebellion render a new and harsher policy necessary? With the rebellious States this question now rests, and it is for them to decide whether there shall be a still fuller measure of justice visited upon them for their wanton war against the best government of earth!

The Thunder of the People!
(Column 3)

Summary: The article provides a summary of the results from the twelve states that held elections on November 6th; all but two of the states elected Republican majorities.

The Next Congress
(Column 3)

Summary: The piece relates that the Republican majority in Congress will increase by 6 seats in the House and 4 in the Senate.

[No Title]
(Column 4)

Summary: The editors scoff at the suggestion made in the Philadelphia Age that the Republicans secured their election victory in Pennsylvania through illegal means. According to the Democratic journal, the contest in Franklin county typified their allegations. There, Republicans used "fraud, intimidation and money" to defeat the Democrats, a claim the Repository's editors ridicule.

Origin of Article: Philadelphia Age

Advantage of Life Insurance
(Column 5)

Summary: The letter questions the benefits of purchasing life insurance.

Trailer: Bobtail

United States Senator
(Column 6)

Summary: The author of the letter endorses both the move to give the people a voice in selecting the next Senator and Gov. Curtin's bid for the seat.

Trailer: F

Senatorial Instruction in Adams
(Column 6)

Summary: "Adams" repudiates the Repository's claim that the Adams County Convention instructed their representative to vote for Gov. Curtin. He avows "no such instruction was given." A resolution was introduced "to the effect that Gov. Curtin was the choice" of the convention, but it was a viva voce vote therefore it was "uncertain whether the ayes or noes prevailed."

Trailer: Adams

Local Items--Court Proceedings
(Column 1)

Summary: A summary of the cases heard during last week's court sessions.

Local Items--Delegate Elections
(Column 1)

Summary: According to the editors, the elections for delegates to the Senatorial County Convention were warmly contested, though, in the end, the "overwhelming sentiment in the county" was clearly in favor of Gov. Curtin for Senator.

Full Text of Article:

THE DELEGATE ELECTIONS.--The election for Delegates to the Senatorial County Convention was warmly contested in both wards of Chambersburg, and it brought out some 100 votes in the borough. One ticket, regularly nominated at a meeting in the ward, was favorable to Gov. Curtin and instructions, and another ticket was run, made up partly of friends of Gov. Curtin, opposed to the policy of instructions for any one, so that the vote did not exhibit the relative strength of Senatorial candidates here. There was some little excitement, and a few who had allowed themselves to become very fervent, imagined that the party might be distracted because they were somewhat distracted themselves, but all closed up as other contested delegate elections close up, and the straight Curtin ticket had 90 majority. All parties, of all shades of sentiment on the question, participated actively in the contest, and will of course yield a cordial submission to the decision of the party. In most of the districts about the town--Guilford, Green and Hamilton, there was no contest: the sentiment of the party being so overwhelmingly for Curtin as to forbid a contest. In Antrim no opposition was made to the Curtin ticket, as all concluded that it must carry in a contest; but notwithstanding that, there were 117 votes polled. In Quincy they elected delegates adverse to instructions, and in Washington they instructed for Mr. Stevens, as their first choice. Upon the whole we believe that the elections were attended as they usually are when nominations are contested, and the expression manifests an overwhelming sentiment in the county in favor of Gov. Curtin for Senator. The proceedings of the convention will be found elsewhere in to-day's paper.

Local Items--Trouble About the Spoils
(Column 1)

Summary: The controversy over appointments has not abated, says the article. There are many offices that have yet to be filled, and it is unclear how the results of the last election will effect the process.
(Names in announcement: J. L. P. Detrich, Nathan Pearce, William H. Blair, Jacob Kaufman, J. N. Shilleto, Augustus Bickley, Samuel Fisher, George Davison, D. A. Corunny, Samuel Brandt, Samuel Boyd, Robert A. Moore, Miller, J. H. Montgomery, Adam Ferguson, Hyssong, John McKim, Dr. Clingston, Dr. Stewart, William McClure, William Reber, James Reilly, Simon Harbaugh, Lewis F. Henkle, Unger, Samuel Seyler, Hollingshead, P. W. Seibert)

Local Items--The Pilot
(Column 1)

Summary: Announces that Mr. Crooks has retired from the Greencastle Pilot, and has been replaced by J. R. Guff, of Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: Crooks, J. R. Guff)

Local Items--Base Ball
(Column 1)

Summary: The second nine of the Franklin Club defeated the first nine of the Conococheague Club, of Loudun, by a score of 50 to 33.

Local Items--East Pennsylvania Eldership
(Column 2)

Summary: At the meeting of the East Pennsylvania Eldership of the Church of God, which was held in Mechanicsburg on November 1st, appointments for the following year were made.
(Names in announcement: G. Sigler, J. S. Stamm, B. F. Beck, C. Price, S. Hunter, Carwell HairleighJ. M.)

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: Rev. Charles G. Fisher was solemnly ordained to the holy ministry, and installed as pastor of the Grindstone Hill congregation by a committee of the Mercersburg Classis.
(Names in announcement: Rev Charles G. Fisher, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Local Items--Farmers Look Out For Them
(Column 2)

Summary: The piece informs local farmers that "well-dressed, smooth tongued scamps" are making their way through the area, exhibiting and selling a "hay and manure loader." The con artists' methods are simple: they give an order on a manufacturing establishment, where they pretend to have a contract, in exchange for a farmer's note, which they immediately cash at a discount then "clear out."

Local Items--Whiskey Thief
(Column 2)

Summary: Tight Adams, a resident of the Wolfstown section of Chambersburg, was arrested and charged with stealing a bucket of whiskey from the Indian Queen Hotel last Sunday.
(Names in announcement: Tight Adams)

Local Items--Good Templars
(Column 2)

Summary: Under the guidance of John M. Gilmore, and assisted by several members of the McMurray Lodge, a Good Templars Lodge was instituted in Fannettsburg last Thursday.
(Names in announcement: John M. Gilmore, John Latherow, Hettie Moore, S. O. McCurdy, Ann Miller, J. M. Miller, J. C. Miller, Jane Forsythe, Amanda Parker, Margaret Moore, Cynthia A. Reeder, David Moore)

Local Items--Important Soldiers
(Column 2)

Summary: Reminds all soldiers who are owed a $100 bounty that they are entitled to an additional $100 as a result of the law passed by Congress last August. To collect the extra bounty, soldiers must apply within the next three months.

Local Items--Quincy Post Master
(Column 2)

Summary: Samuel Secrist, not John R. Smith as had earlier been reported by the Repository, has been appointed Post Master of Quincy.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Secrist, John R. Smith)

Union Senatorial Convention!
(Column 3)

Summary: A brief review of the proceedings at the Senatorial County Convention held last Tuesday.
(Names in announcement: Theo. McGowan, Robert McKinney, William L. Smith, James Clayton, George Zeigler, George H. Miller, Jacob Whitmore, John Bert, William Walter, Jeremiah Detrich, James M. Brown, Jacob s. Snively, John Ruthrauff, George Zeigler, George L. Miles, William Gelwicks, J. W. Fletcher, John Fisher, Jacob Hoke, John A. Seiders, R. H. Brown, Harry C. Greenawalt, Robert Kirkpatrick, Solomon Sollenberger, M. B. WingertJr., Jacob Bollinger, Henry Wallace, Frank D. Ditzler, A. K. McClure, J. Allison Eyster, Michael Ebersole, L. M. Snyder, John Limm, John Walker, D. L. Raff, W. W. Britton, John R. Weist, Capt. John Eyster, Jacob M. Kauffman, John Hollar, Henry A. McLoughlin, Isaac Donathan, Thomas Pomeroy, Robert Barr, C. H. McClay, S. A. Bradley, J. W. Patten, J. F. Parker, J. Houston Work, Charles Campbell, N. M. Witherow, William P. Skinner, Daniel Keefer, William L. Smith, David Spencer, Robert McKinnie, John Coffee, James Patton, George Weistling, John G. Weistling, A. F. Dowd, John P. Study, H. M. Jones, John Bowermaster, John Cell, Alex Dale, Joseph Culbertson, Wilson Piper, Peter Sharer, Henry X. Stoner, Jonah Kurtz, Michael H. Stoner, Abraham Barr, James H. Clayton, William H. Brotherton, William Weagley)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 1st, William Holby and Catharine Laymaster were married by Rev. H. Y. Hummelbaugh.
(Names in announcement: William Holby, Catharine Laymaster, Rev. H. Y. Humelbaugh)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 1st, Daniel Strine and Mary E., daughter of John Teeter, were married by Rev. J. Dickson.
(Names in announcement: Daniel Strine, John Teeter, Mary E. Teeter, Rev. J. Dickson)

Died
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 4th, Mary Aughinbaugh, formerly a resident of Chambersburg, died in Pittsburg. She was 80 years old.
(Names in announcement: Mary Aughinbaugh)

Died
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 6th, John Furry, 79, died in Green township.
(Names in announcement: John Furry)

Died
(Column 3)

Summary: On Nov. 6th, John Nitterhouse, 75, died in Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: John Nitterhouse)