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Franklin Repository: January 02, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: The article praises Gen. Geary's cabinet selections, particularly B. H. Brewster and Frank Jordan, who will assume the duties of Attorney General and Secretary of State, respectively.

From Harrisburg
(Column 1)

Summary: The Repository's correspondent details the political intrigue currently engulfing the state capital as the Senatorial candidates jockey for position, and offers his reasons for opposing the selection of Simon Cameron.

Full Text of Article:

Editorial Correspondence of the Franklin Repository.

HARRISBURG, Dec. 29, 1866.

Most of the members of the legislature are now here, and the active political skirmishing that has been going on for some weeks past, will develop in a pretty general engagement along the whole line by Monday next. It is not to be concealed that the Senatorship overshadows everything and the subordinate places become important as they are certain to effect, with more or less directness, the grand battle for the highest trust in the gift of the State. A decided majority of the members of the House prefer Col. M. S. Quay, of Beaver, for Speaker; and he openly prefers Gov. Curtin for Senator, as do his immediate constituents and four-fifths of the Republicans generally in his section of the State. While Mr. Hall, an open friend of Mr. Cameron, is cordially supported for Speaker of the Senate by the entire party, a vigorous contest is made by Cameron to defeat Quay, lest his success should impair Cameron's Senatorial chances. After coquetting for some time with Waddell, of Chester, Glass, of Allegheny, and McCreary, of Erie, it was yesterday decided that Colonel Glass would be the most available, and he is now pressed with all the energy and desperation characteristic of Cameron's movements. If he shall be chosen, Cameron will take fresh courage, and it is confidently counted that the Speaker, notwithstanding the clearly adverse wishes of his constituents, will cast his vote and official influence for Cameron. In his support, by the positive request of Mr. Stevens himself, in writing to his delegation, is embraced the Lancaster members, and several men in the West who prefer Curtin, so that while the election of Glass, if it should be accomplished, would not seriously effect the Senatorial contest, the defeat of Glass would make Cameron's subsequent efforts for the Senatorship but the convulsive throes of death.

The sentiment of the members on the Senatorial question is much more healthy than I had reason to expect. Considering that nearly every member has been visited at his home either by Cameron in person, or by some one charged with plenary powers to meet every condition required, there was just reason to apprehend that many would be taken in by his reckless appeals to cupidity and ambition. But, fortunately, the sentiment of the Republican people of the State has been aroused to very emphatic expression, and in no single instance has it sent cheer or hope to Cameron. The facts that nearly every expression made in the State has been for Gov. Curtin, and that nearly one-half of the strong Republican counties of the west have given their preference, while the Republican press of the State has declared for Gov. Curtin more than two to one for all others, have made it a most perilous step for members to disregard the manifest wishes of the party in disposing of its richest wreath of victory.

It is now manifest that no Republican members, outside of Dauphin and Philadelphia, can vote for Cameron and hope to be re-elected. It is a painful commentary upon political movements in Pennsylvania that a candidate so odious to the people and so fatal to his supporters, should even be seriously considered in a struggle for the office demanding the highest integrity and ablest statesmanship, and in no other Commonwealth could such a condition of things exist. Here we have yielded him power, and allowed him to compass the subordination of politicians and presses, until now he demands for himself, at the cost of every future hope of the party, his election to a position he has not a single attribute to adorn. Struggling as he does against the positive wishes of the Republican People, and relying for success solely upon influences and appliances which must stamp with shame both himself and his supporters, it is reasonable to suppose that the effort will be desperate; but with the overwhelming sentiment of the party known to all, and jealous of its sacred right to respect and obedience, I feel safe in saying that the State will be spared the humiliation of Cameron's election to the Senate.

Those know me not who urge that I have personal feelings to gratify, or disappointments to avenge, by thus earnestly protesting against Cameron's election. Of him personally I have nothing to complain, but by his political record I judge him, and no man can review it and honestly vote for him. Disgraced on the records of the government in the discharge of his Indian trust; stamped with corruption in every Senatorial struggle he has ever made, by the records of our legislature; made a cabinet minister by a fraud and dismissed to save the administration from the odium of his name; denounced as unfit and unworthy for public trust by the solemn verdict of a Congress two-thirds Republican, and whose blistering record still remains with the sanction of all, and a suppliant for the patronage and plunder of the apostate Johnson until he was compelled to desert him to make the Senatorial contest, is it singular that he should be opposed in a struggle for the highest honor Pennsylvania has to confer upon her statesmen? When our State Convention met, in March last, he it was who championed Johnson and wrung from that Convention a disgraceful compliment for Andrew Johnson, the chief traitor of our history, and even during the last summer he pledged the patronage of Johnson to effect his political ends. In Lancaster, when the legislative nominations were made squarely against him--the man who declared that he was "for Stevens first, for Cameron never" running the highest vote--he conspired to defeat the ticket by a combination with the Democrats by which the patronage of Johnson was to be apportioned, and it failed only for want of popular support. In Philadelphia he furnished means to Johnson officeholders to defeat regular Republican candidates for the legislature because they would not agree to support him for Senator, and boasted that he did so defeat Thomas in the 5th district. I have met several members of the legislature who were by him threatened with defeat unless they would pledge themselves to support him. I could name instances in which the pledge was given to escape his rule or ruin policy, and Mr. Marshall, of Union, who refused to violate the emphatic expression of his people, or to meet fraud with fraud, was stricken down and a Copperhead elected by Cameron rather than an anti-Cameron Republican.

To oppose such a man for the honored and responsible position of Senator in a time of fearful peril to our common country, is a duty that no patriot can disregard with integrity, and it is not a matter of surprise that the loyal People of Pennsylvania are looking to the result with the most earnest solicitude. But for the fearless candor of a few journals of the State, and the aroused sentiment of the faithful men who have so nobly won our triumph, he might have been successful; but with the thunder of the People reverberating around and through the capitol, and clouds of witnesses encompassing the legislature to triumph with its fidelity or proclaim its shame, the election of Simon Cameron to the United States Senate is impossible.
A. K. M.

Trailer: A. K. M.

Report of the Surgeon General U. S. Army
(Column 2)

Summary: The report offers an extremely favorable assessment of the Army's Medical Department and the head of the agency, Maj. Gen. Barnes, who "discharged its important and onerous duties during the rebellion with singular ability."

The State Finances
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Summary: In his forthcoming message, relates the article, Gov. Curtin will present a report on the state's finances, which, at present, are in a "most gratifying condition." Under Curtin's leadership, the state treasury has managed to reduce drastically the debt incurred by the war.

Judge Kelly On Cameron
(Column 4)

Summary: In the address, Judge Kelly rebukes Cameron for vilifying him and his colleagues, and calls attention to the many ignominious incidents in his foe's political career.

Editorial Comment: "In the fall of 1865 Gen. Cameron made a public speech in Philadelphia, in which he boasted that he had controlled the leading Philadelphia appointment of President Johnson, then just made, over the Republican Congressmen of that city, and in the course of his remarks made a coarse assault upon the entire city Republican delegation in Congress. To this wanton vulgar defamation, Judge Kelly, one of the noblest and ablest of our Radical representative men, made the following reply. It is no less personal in terms than in the fearful truthfulness of the revolting portrait. We quote it entire:"

Full Text of Article:

In the fall of 1865 Gen. Cameron made a public speech in Philadelphia, in which he boasted that he had controlled the leading Philadelphia appointment of President Johnson, then just made, over the Republican Congressmen of that city, and in the course of his remarks made a coarse assault upon the entire city Republican delegation in Congress. To this wanton, vulgar defamation, Judge Kelly, one of the noblest and ablest of our Radical representative men, made follow-reply. It is no less personal in terms than in the fearful truthfulness of the revolting portrait. We quote it entire:

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14, 1865.

To the Union men of the Fourth Congressional District:

A long and successful career in crime emboldens the guilty. A recent illustration of this law of human nature impels me to violate my life-long rule of conduct, and for once to notice a political slanderer. I do not, however, address you for the purpose of repelling his innuendos or falsehoods. My life has been passed among you, and if its record, familiar to you all, does not repel them, I have lived in vain. My purpose is simply to pierce the mail of ill-gotten gold in which the slanderer has clothed himself, and give you a glimpse at the loathsome object it protects.

The papers of Friday announce that Simon Cameron, of Dauphin county, was serenaded by his friends on the preceding evening at the Girard House in this city, and availed himself of the occasion to vilify my colleagues and myself, "the Congressmen of Philadelphia," in a speech to the assemblage.

I was but a youth when I first heard the name of Simon Cameron, and it was as the perpetrator of a great crime. He had been made the agent of the Government to carry a large amount of money, due them, to the Winnebago Indians, and had taken advantage of their ignorance and helplessness to enrich himself. Those of you who had then attained to manhood, though you may not, after the lapse of years, revive the burning indignation with which you regarded the infamous swindler of the poor Indians, will doubtless remember that, instead of paying the specie which the Government confided to him for that purpose, he retained it and gave them the notes of the Middletown Bank, of which he was an owner. At their encampment in the remote wilderness these notes were utterly worthless. The Indians could not use them for any purpose there, nor carry them to Middletown for redemption. But what was that to Simon Cameron? Was not their loss his gain, and was he not so much the richer by every note that failed to come home for redemption, though they did not suffer and starve? And those of you who are not old enough to remember all this now know why this bold, bad man is sometimes spoken of by your seniors as the "Great Winnebago," and sometimes as "Old Kickapoo."

For more than thirty years I have watched the tortuous career of this man, and have never seen reason to abandon my first impression of his character. Whether acting with the Democratic, the Know-Nothing or the Republican party--for he has in turn disgraced them all--he has never been false to his criminal instincts. He has endeavored to turn them all to profitable account. His ambition is sordid and panders to his avarice, and he measures honors by the perquisites they expose to his grasp. He has no confidence in the people, and is aware that they distrust him. His speech of Thursday evening was not characteristic of him, for he is prone to the use of instruments. His habit is to point the stiletto, but employ another hand to drive it home. Though an active participant in the politics of his country and State for more than half a century, during which long period he has pursued the profits of office, of jobs, of contracts, with eager and ceaseless assiduity; he has never dared to permit his name to be presented to the people of county or State as a candidate for an elective office. He crawls to the feet of the appointing power. He cares not who may be King, so that he may "still be Vicar of Bray," and to that end he chaffers with and corrupts weak and needy members of conventions and Legislatures of both parties.

I need not recite the disgraceful facts attending his several canvasses for the United States Senate. Their nauseous odor lingers in your nostrils to this hour. In the first he bought the votes of three Democratic members, and in the last bid twenty thousand dollars for one vote which would have elected him. This last transaction was so flagrant that the Legislature was compelled to take cognizance of it, and if justice be not lame as well as blind, the law and honor of our State will yet be vindicated.

The evil report of this deed pervades the country as a reproach to our State. Yes, unhappily for Pennsylvania and her great interests, the buzzard-winged fame of Simon Cameron is national. By months of abject solicitation and corrupt bargaining, he procured a mass of letters, certificates and recantations that imposed him upon President Lincoln as the representative man of the Keystone State. That was an evil hour for Pennsylvania. You will remember how he organized the navy agency in this city, and feel the ineffable reproach he thus brought on our navy-yard and commercial and other business men. In the course of his impudent and ill-judged harangue he said: "In the olden time a member of Congress from Philadelphia would have had sufficient influence to have carried his point (the establishment of a naval station at League Island) without a dissenting voice." Is that the assertion of a sober man? And did he who made it forget that our Congressmen in the olden time in proposing to locate a Government workshop at Philadelphia had not the terrible reputation of Simon Cameron, the Fagan of the Harrisburg lobby and ex-Secretary of War to contend with, and, therefore, had some chance for success? My colleagues and I were less happy than they in this respect.

As I have said, he begged and bargained for the influence which induced Mr. Lincoln to invite him to a seat in his Cabinet. It was now fondly hoped by those who had not sounded the depths of his depravity, that, being old and rich, he would take advantage of so distinguished an opportunity to prove that he could be honest, and could administer a trust without turning it to his own profit, or handing the fund over to his creatures, to be used on joint account. How sadly these hopes were disappointed is attested by the brevity of his term of office, and the circumstances under which it closed.

In less than one year from the day on which Simon Cameron was installed as Secretary of War, Congress, though at that early day it had before it but partial evidence of his crimes, indignantly drove him from that high office. Two-thirds of the members of the lower House were friends of the Administration, and would gladly have sustained each member of it as they did its distinguished head.

You can imagine how painful it must have been to them to find themselves constrained by duty to proclaim the fact that the first man, the head of their party, had been induced to appoint as the successor of John B. Floyd had exhibited greater aptitude than he for his worst tricks. But it became inevitable; for this old man, notwithstanding his boasted and reputed millions, believes that one of his name is never rich enough until he has a little more, and, to save their party and their country, the friends of the Administration in the House had to proclaim his infamy and denounce his crimes. Nor was the vote by which they did it a meagre one. His friends, and those who would most gladly have averted this disgrace from our State, could rally but about one third of the House against the resolution of condemnation. The vote was about two to one against him, though I as a Pennsylvanian, not willing to bear witness against the representative of our State, but too well satisfied of his guilt to vote against the resolution, failed to record my vote.

In this fact, gentlemen, you have the secret of this distinguished statesman's hostility to me and my friends. Mr. Walborn, the postmaster of Philadelphia, and other of his creatures, have offered me his friendship and support if I would endeavor to have that resolution expunged. My reply has invariably been that to stir foul matter would be to produce a stench. I have never in this or aught else endeavored to propitiate him or his creatures. No stone may mark the spot where my poor remains may finally rest, but I mean that my children shall be able to vindicate my name by pointing to the fact that Simon Cameron and his confidential friends were ever hostile to me.

With grateful regards, yours truly,
WM. D. KELLEY.

[No Title]
(Column 6)

Summary: It is reported that President Johnson has removed 215 of the 440 assessors and collectors employed by the Internal Revenue Department "for no other reason than their fidelity to the Republican party." Many of their replacements "are notoriously unfit for the positions," thus the Senate "will reject the great majority."

Origin of Article: Tribune

Harrisburg
(Column 6)

Summary: "Horace" informs readers that the most contentious battle in the state capital this past week concerned the effort to deny Col. Quay the Speakership of the House. The Repository's correspondent also relates the latest news on the Senatorial contest: the gap between Cameron and the current frontrunner, Gov. Curtin, appears to be shrinking.

Trailer: Horace

Local Items--Christmas in Chambersburg
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Summary: The piece reports that the various Christmas celebrations held last week in town were "truly a success."

Local Items--Waynesboro Items
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Summary: The Post Office in Waynesboro was broken into last Tuesday, and robbed of $125 in cash and stamps. Presently, there are no leads in the case. In other news of note, Benjamin Frantz's daughter suffered a serious injury when a stove fell on top of her in a freak accident that occurred while her mother was cleaning. The mother was also injured in the mishap, though both are expected to make a full recovery.
(Names in announcement: Benjamin Frantz)

Origin of Article: Waynesboro Record

Local Items
(Column 1)

Summary: The Musical Concert presented by the M. E. Church's Choir and Sunday School last Wednesday evening was "largely attended" and "delighted" the crowd, relates the article.

Local Items--Arrested
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Summary: Samuel Myers was arrested in Franklin county for stealing $1,000 from Mr. Crouse, of Carroll county, Ill. Myers roomed with the victim before absconding with the cash and coming to Pennsylvania. Shortly after being captured by officer Houser, Myers attempted an escape but was caught within a short distance and brought to jail to await "a requisition from the Governor of Illinois."
(Names in announcement: Samuel Myers, Officer Houser)

Local Items--Pardoned
(Column 2)

Summary: Charles Skelly, who was convicted in the April term of setting fire to Mrs. Radabaugh's barn and sentenced to the Penitentiary, was pardoned by Gov. Curtin because of his ill-health.
(Names in announcement: Charles Skelly, Mrs. Radabaugh)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 20th, Joseph Stouffer, of Altoona, and Hannah, daughter of Jacob Miller, were married by Rev. William A. West.
(Names in announcement: Joseph Stouffer, Jacob Miller, Rev. William A. West)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 24th, Thomas Kyle and Sarah E. Miller were married by Rev. H. Y. Hummelbaugh.
(Names in announcement: Sarah E. Miller, Thomas Kyle, Rev. H. Y. Hummelbaugh)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 20th, Benjamin Funkhouser and Sarah Kate Clippinger were married by Rev. James M. Bishop.
(Names in announcement: Benjamin Funkhouser, Sarah Kate Clippinger, Rev. James M. Bishop)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 20th, William Etter and Susan, daughter of Christian Miller, were married by Rev. Dr. Schneck.
(Names in announcement: William Etter, Christian Miller, Rev. Dr. Schneck)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 24th, J. Henry Eberly and Belle McGinnis were married by Rev. Thomas Creigh.
(Names in announcement: J. Henry Eberly, Belle McGinnis, Rev. Thomas Creigh)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Dec. 25th, George W. Scott and Anna E., daughter of John Lamaster, were married by Rev. Thomas Creigh.
(Names in announcement: George W. Scott, Anna E. Lamaster, George Lamaster)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 20th, William E. Dunkinson and Julia A. Ritter were married by Rev. F. Dyson.
(Names in announcement: William E. Dunkinson, Julia A. Ritter, Rev. F. Dyson)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, Rev. Henry Landis and Rebecca Heintzelman were married by Rev. Mr. Strawbridge.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Henry Landis, Rebecca Heintzelman, Rev. Mr. Strawbridge)

Married
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Summary: On Dec. 27th, John E. Poole and Annie E. Gaff were married by Rev. J. A. Kunkleman.
(Names in announcement: John E. Poole, Annie E. Gaff, Rev.] J. A. Kunkleman)

Died
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Summary: On Dec. 13th, Jane Elizabeth Doyle, 15, died at Doylesburg.
(Names in announcement: Jane Elizabeth Doyle)

Died
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Summary: On Dec. 18th, William Blankney, 75, died in Greenvillage.
(Names in announcement: William Blankney)

Died
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Summary: On Dec. 26th, Mary Rebecca, daughter of John W. Haulman, died in Mercersburg. She was 4 years old.
(Names in announcement: John W. Haulman, Mary Rebecca Haulman)