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

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Summary: With the Legislature scheduled to meet next Tuesday, the editors offer their appraisals as to how the government will be organized and who will be selected officers of the two bodies. They predict Louis W. Hall will once again be chosen Speaker of the Senate, and Col. M. S. Quay will preside over the House. Additionally, they believe Messrs. Hamersly and Benedict will be named Clerk of the Senate and House, respectively.

What Of Reconstruction?
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Summary: The editors characterize the arguments put forth by southern leaders to justify their reluctance to accept the proposed amendments as disingenuous. Though there are no assurances that ratification of the amendments will automatically result in a re-admission, just as the southerners claim, their failure to adopt the terms prescribed by Congress stem from their refusal to accept their defeat more than anything else.

Full Text of Article:

It is one of the favorite pretexts of the rebels for resisting the adoption of the proposed amendments of the constitution, that they have no assurance of their restoration to civil rights and representation if they should accept the amendments. We regard it as too late to question the position of the Republican party on this issue. The last session of Congress, after considering various propositions relating to the reconstruction of the rebellious States, finally adopted the amendments with almost entire unanimity, and on that issue [illeg] their governments. The amendments were published in every Republican organ as the platform of reconstruction to be decided by the votes of the people, and Republican campaigners pledged the faith of the party that the adoption and faithful compliance with the amendments by the South would solve the difficult problem of reconstruction. Had Congress declared in advance, that upon the acceptance of the amendments the rebellious States would be admitted, it could not have more emphatically committed the nation to the position. It hastened to admit Tennessee as soon as the legislature of that State ratified the amendments, and had other States imitated the example of Tennessee, there can be no question that they would have been accepted in like manner.

It is true that Georgia cannot hope, by the ratification of the amendments, to secure the admission of the ex-rebel Vice President Stephens and the ex-rebel Senator H. V. Johnson to the United States Senate; nor can such men as ex-rebel Senator Orr, ex-rebel Treasurer Worth, ex-rebel General Humphrey hope to be continued as the Executives of their respective States. The amendments in express terms disqualify all such men for holding office, and to adopt the amendments and insist upon choosing such Executives and such Senators would be the hollowest mockery. Nor can they expect to be excused, by the ratification of the amendments, for the wanton barbarities practiced in many States upon Union men and Freedmen. While the nation has plighted its faith to those who were driven from wicked rebellion only by the sword of the conqueror, and practically pledged their forfeited lives, property and immunity from the punishment the laws demand for their crimes, it exacts from them in return a faithful acceptance of and obedience to the provisions of the amendments. To reject them will have the merit of candor; to attempt to evade them while in form accepting them would be a fraud upon the loyal people who have saved their government by appalling sacrifice, and an insult to the law-making power of the loyal people that has proffered the most generous terms ever offered to subjugated traitors in the history of nations.

Most of the rebel States have already rejected the proposed amendments, and by most decisive votes in the legislatures. But one Governor elected by those who rebelled against the government, has ventured to commend the ratification, and his counsel was unheeded. We see intimations that a renewed effort will be made to have those States re-consider their action on this important question, but its failure seems inevitable. What then remains to be done? The singular spectacle is presented of a sullen, obstinate rejection of most magnanimous terms by a people who have no right under the government but the right to suffer the fearful penalties imposed by the laws for their offences. They have forfeited life, property, everything. They persisted in their bloody effort to overthrow the government as long as they could marshal the battalions of crime to make new hecatombs of dead. They professed no love or sympathy for the government even when they yielded to the stern arbiter of war. They bowed from inexorable necessity; and now they propose to settle the question of their restoration as if they were victors instead of vanquished; rulers instead of criminals. They reject the proffered terms of the conquerer, and propose none in return, as if they courted the inflexible arm of justice to adjust the issue between them and their generous conqueror.

We have hoped, at times almost against hope, that the rebellious States would not force the issue to be made up anew. Unless the madness of treason still rules, they will not do so. They cannot have an attribute for their cause that could appeal with the remotest hope of success to the people of the North, and, with the new Congress already chosen and instructed on the question, the result of such a suicidal course must be apparent to all. The amendments will be adopted; the rebellious States will be territorialized; the work of restoration will go on without even the voice of treason being mingled with the voice of the loyal people, and the government will rest solely in the hands of the States which have maintained their fidelity to the Union for years to come--certainly until on the great issues and logical results of the war there can be no disagreement between the North and South. This result must be obvious to traitor as well as loyalist, and if treason will persist in drinking the bitter cup to the dregs, it will be the act of the South and not the act of the North. The refusal to ratify the amendments is an admonition to the North that treason is not yet conquered, and the work must be completed. If traitors will not rule justly and loyally, there are those in the rebellious States who will do so, and in their hands will be placed the political power and destiny of those States, and once placed there, there can be no appeal for the rights so insolently rejected. The whole North is most desirous to have the South restored to full fellowship upon the basis of the amendments, and with one voice it appeals to those who have made causeless and desolating war to accept the generous terms proposed by Congress. It may yet be done, but a month hence it will be too late and too late forever. With the South this issue rests, and it must answer to the living and to posterity for its action in accepting or rejecting generous and enduring Restoration.

The Press On The Senatorship
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Summary: The editors castigate Simon Cameron and his supporters for their efforts to portray the Senatorial hopeful as the favorite of Republican rank-and-file members and journals, particularly, they charge, since nothing could be further from the truth. The piece includes a list of the Republican journals in the state, grouped according to their allegiance to Curtin or Cameron.

The Senatorship
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Summary: The piece recounts Simon Cameron's attempt in 1855 to "force his election as U. S. Senator by a secret ballot," and includes an address published by his critics that spells out their reasons for denying him support.

Harrisburg
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Summary: Horace relates that the "appointments of the new Governor and the Senatorship" will overshadow all other business in the state capital for the next two weeks.

Trailer: Horace

Nasby Speaks
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Summary: In this, the latest installment in the life of the fictitious character Petroleum V. Nasby, the protagonist details his opposition to the possibility that the Democracy may come out in favor of black suffrage.

Local Items--Waynesboro Items
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Summary: Reports that a horse was stolen from Emmanuel Miller's stable last Wednesday, but was recovered shortly after between Hagerstown and the Potomac.

Origin of Article: Waynesboro Record

Local Items--Mercersburg Items
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Summary: From Mercersburg, it is reported that Daniel Tolhelm has been appointed whiskey inspector at Hollenshead's distillery; additionally, the Ladies Fair, held last Wednesday and Thursday by members of the Presbyterian Mite Society, was "a great success."

Origin of Article: Mercersburg Journal

Local Items--Accident
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Summary: John Stouffer broke his leg last Monday when he fell while carrying a bag of apples upstairs in Mr. Stewart's house. Stouffer had the limb set and was taken home the same day.
(Names in announcement: John Stouffer, Stewart)

Local Items--Cigar Inspector
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Summary: John A. S. Cramer has been appointed Inspector of Cigars for this Congressional District by Mr. Swope.
(Names in announcement: John A. S. Cramer, Swope)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 19th, William McKnight, of Chicago, and Kate, daughter of Dr. A. H. Senseny, were married by Thomas K. Davis.
(Names in announcement: William McKnight, Dr. A. H. Senseny, Thomas K. Davis)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, Joshua Lane and Mary Neal were married by Rev. S. H. C. Smith.
(Names in announcement: Joshua Lane, Mary Neal, Rev. S. H. C. Smith)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 20th, Godfrey Greenawalt and Carrie Zettle were married by Rev. S. H. C. Smith.
(Names in announcement: Godfrey Greenawalt, Carrie Zettle, Rev. S. H. C. Smith)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 8th, William Franklin and Maggie Shremes were married by Rev. G. Moore.
(Names in announcement: William Franklin, Maggie Shremes, Rev. G. Moore)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 16th, George W. Early and Emily Evilhock were married by Rev. G. Moore.
(Names in announcement: George W. Early, Emily Evilhock, Rev. G. Moore)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, Daniel Deardorff and Lizzie J. Hege were married by Rev. B. S. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: Daniel Deardorff, Lizzie J. Hege, Rev. B. S. Schneck)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 13th, John Miller and Sue E. Hege were married by Rev. B. S. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: John Miller, Sue E. Hege, Rev. B. S. Schneck)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 13th, Joseph G. Eyer and Christiana Suder were married by Rev. Solomon Bigham.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Eyer, Christiana Suder, Rev. Solomon Bigham)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 2nd, J. R. Snively adn Mary J. Hade were married by Rev. N. Callender.
(Names in announcement: J. R. Snively, Mary J. Hade, Rev. N. Callender)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 13th, G. Alexander and Eliza Rook were married by Rev. N. Callender.
(Names in announcement: G. Alexander, Eliza Rook, Rev. N. Callender)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, Charles R. Kennedy and Henrietta, daughter of Daniel Shook, were married by Rev. W. F. Eyster.
(Names in announcement: Charles R. Kennedy, Henrietta Shook, Daniel Shook, Rev. W. F. Eyster)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, John Row, of Maryland, and Catharine Koons were married by Rev. W. F. Eyster.
(Names in announcement: John Row, Catharine Koons, Rev. W. F. Eyster)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 11th, George Louis, of Maryland, and Susan, daughter of Michael Stine, were married by Rev. J. Wightman.
(Names in announcement: George Louis, Michael Stine, Susan Stine, Rev. J. Wightman)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 6th, Robert Cline and Lucy Reber were married by Rev. George H. Beckley.
(Names in announcement: Robert Cline, Lucy Reber, Rev. George H. Beckley)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 11th, Adam B. Wingerd and Virginia Motter, of Emittsburg, Md., were married by Rev. J. M. Titzel, assisted by Rev. E. E. Higbee.
(Names in announcement: Adam B. Wingerd, Virginia Motter, Rev. J. M. Titzell, Rev. E. E. Higbee)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, James K. Harbaugh and Laura Speck were married by Rev. Buhrman.
(Names in announcement: James K. Harbaugh, Laura Speck, Rev. Buhrman)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, William Koons and Hetty Sponsler were married by Rev. W. E. Krebs.
(Names in announcement: William Koons, Hetty Sponsler, Rev. W. E. Krebs)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 20th, Christian Zook, of Lancaster county, and Barbara Winger were married by Rev. Joseph Winger.
(Names in announcement: Christian Zook, Barbara Winger, Rev. Joseph Winger)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, Joseph Sackman and Charlotte M. Ramer were married at the residence of Mr. Shields by Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Sackman, Charlotte M. Ramer, Shields, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 20th, Leander Yawkey and Amanda C. Slaughenhaup were married by Rev. J. Keller Miller.
(Names in announcement: Leander Yawkey, Amanda C. Slaughenhaup, Rev. J. Keller Miller)

Died
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Summary: On Dec. 12th, Minnie Craig, daughter of W. H. and E. Craig, formerly of Welsh Run, died in Albia, Iowa. She was 5 years old.
(Names in announcement: Minnie Craig, W. H. Craig, E. Craig)

Died
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Summary: On Dec. 13th, Catharine, daughter of Dr. William J. and R. T. Thompson and wife of James Sheffler, died in Rossville, Clinton county, Ind. She was 39 years old.
(Names in announcement: William J. Thompson, R. T. Thompson, Catharine Sheffler, James Sheffler)

Died
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Summary: On Dec. 15th, Dr. William J. G. Thompson died in Rossville, Ind., while taking care of his sister.
(Names in announcement: Dr. William J. G. Thompson)