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Franklin Repository: February 13, 1867 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Office of Teacher of Theology
(Column 5)

Summary: A transcript of the address delivered by Rev. T. G. Apple at the German Reformed Church to mark the inauguration of Rev. E. E. Higbee as Professor of Church History and Exegesis at the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg.
(Names in announcement: Rev. E. E. Higbee, Rev. T. G. Apple)

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that Congress has overridden the President's veto of the bill to admit Nebraska, and notes that this "action clearly foreshadows the early admission of Colorado."

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: The piece informs readers that Thad Stevens's "bill for the military government of the insurgent States," whose terms were endorsed by Gen. Grant, Thomas, Sheridan, Meade, and Sickles, appears likely to face defeat when Congress takes up the matter.

Reconstruction
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors express their disappointment with the South's continued intransigence regarding reconstruction policies. In spite of the Civil War's outcome, they explain, Southerners appear intent on claiming "an untrammeled voice and vote in the government they have exhausted all their resources to destroy."

Full Text of Article:

A rattle snake once located himself in a field of grain. A country man in reaping the crop cut off the head of the intruder, leaving a small portion of the body attached. All strength seemed gone from its poisonous fangs, and the man venturing too near its jaws was bitten and died almost as soon as the reptile. The giant serpent rebellion appears to have received its death-blow, but though we see the tail squirming in its agony in Texas, where the murder of Union men seems to traitors a most holy duty, the hydra-head of the monster with its fatal venom, the love of treason and defiance of law, yet rampant throughout the South, still remains to be crushed beneath the heel of the conqueror, before he can lie down to rest safely beside it. We may fold our hands in listless idleness, and halting at every objection to each plan, play "Walter the Doubter" in our dealings with these rebels. But our relations with them and their relations with the general government do not remain in statu quo month after month. They are struggling with the frenzied strength despair alone can give, and with the art and cunning years of practiced systematic crime alone can bring forth. Conquered on the battle-field, condemned by the arbiter they themselves had chosen, again they resort to political intrigue and chicanery, to accomplish by artifice the ends force failed to attain. Are any so mad as to dream that these restless evil spirits will quietly await our time and sit submissive and unchanging until we have found a political policy which all men shall consider perfect? Each hour we sleep at our posts, even though it be on a victorious field, the beaten cohorts of the enemy are strengthening themselves for renewed conflict. Already the South, another Cleopatra, seems to have charmed our Antony, and lulled him to worse than inaction on the soft cushions of the Presidential chair. Our only hope is that we may find in Congress an Octavius too wise to be enchanted by fair words of flattery, too brave to be intimidated and too honest to bow to gold. We may, we will, be generous to our foes, but we must be just to ourselves and to all the oppressed on earth whose hopes of freedom hang upon the success of our republic. Let Congress quickly take a decided step forward in the work of reconstruction.

"Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute
What you can do, or dream you can begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

During the war, as each day brought us intelligence of the murder of loyal men by traitors, we imagined that after the rebels had laid down their arms a faithful citizen of the United States would be safe in remaining loyal to the old flag, wherever he might choose a location for his home within the national boundaries. But now that the conflict of arms has died away and Southerners once more claim an untrammeled voice and vote in the government they have exhausted all their resources to destroy, we turn in horror from the scenes of New Orleans, of Memphis, Clarksville, Bowie co., Texas, and the Carolina jail conflagration almost in dismay, at the ceaseless deeds of crime throughout the length and breadth of the late rebellious districts. We eagerly examine the revised statute books of the pretended States hoping to see justice and humanity commanded in them, and would console ourselves that the shameless cruelty we behold is in violation of their penal codes and consequently will soon be prevented by "the strong arm of the law." But we discover that alike in the Southern mob and the Southern legislature loyalty and justice are forgotten, while treason and oppression are silently approved. One all-powerful talisman, "devotion to the lost cause," gives place and power to the blood-stained and yet blatant traitor, while even a suspicion of fidelity to the stars and stripes rears an unpassable barrier to office or influence. When we comprehend the sad reality of the condition of our country, our only hope is in the earnest energy of the faithful representatives of a loyal people in Congress, and we appeal to them in confident assurance that they are equal to the emergency. We do not presume to dictate what plan the council of the nation should adopt--but let them speedily move in the necessary work. Not in careless haste, but with timely though thoughtful decision. The data from which we must draw our conclusions are simply these. The rebels are conquered traitors, we are a victorious government. We will be humane to the South, but come what will to them, we must protect ourselves. Our loyal statesmen should not hesitate to change the present dangerous situation of the country to a better, because the new state of affairs would not constitute perfect happiness to all men or embrace a system of government without a fault. In the language of James Madison, in a case requiring a course of reasoning analogous to the present, "It is not necessary that the" latter "should be perfect, it is sufficient that the" former "is more imperfect. No man would refuse to give brass for silver or gold because the latter had some alloy in it. No man would refuse to quit a shattered and tottering habitation for a firm and commodious building, because the latter had not a porch to it or because some of the rooms might be a little larger or smaller or the ceiling a little higher or lower than his fancy would have planned them." We should not rest in sluggard inactivity when the crisis demands immediate action. To-day the rebels have lost a battle, but if we do not follow up our victory a swift Dessaix may come to aid the beaten Napoleon in time to win another fight before the sun of this national era has set. Now when the despairing cry of the vanquished falls upon our ear let us press forward with increased vigor, until the last man of the "old guard" of treason lies helpless. We must not relax our energies until we have formed a circle of fire around the scorpion rebellion, through which it cannot force a passage way, and then true to its impulse of destruction it will turn its poisonous sting upon itself and die.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: The editors voice their support for the Free Railroad Bill, which the Senate will take up today.

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: It is reported that the special committee of the House will recommend passage of the bill to convene a constitutional convention next October. The purpose of the convention will be to pass an amendment granting universal male suffrage to the state's residents.

An Evening with the Spirits
(Column 3)

Summary: The Repository's correspondent details his experiences while attending a seance in Philadelphia, and exposes the mediums who conducted the ceremony as frauds.

Trailer: A. K. M.

Across the Plains to Montana
(Column 4)

Summary: Another installment chronicling the adventures of the Franklin county men travelling to Montana. The letter describes that countryside and the group's interactions with the Plains Indians, who are portrayed in the worst possible light.

Harrisburg
(Column 6)

Summary: Although the legislature has adjourned for a week, relates the article, members of that body appear hesitant to return home because they fear the prospect of facing their constituents, many of whom are enraged by the recent spate of legislative actions.

Local Items--Fatal Accident
(Column 2)

Summary: While passing through Shippensburg last week, John Kenagy, a resident of Cumberland county, died in a terrible accident after he fell beneath the wheels of his wagon and was crushed.

Local Items--House and Barn Burned
(Column 2)

Summary: Joseph McKinney's home and all its contents as well as his barn were destroyed in a fire last Friday morning. The total loss has yet to be determined.

Local Items--Township Elections
(Column 2)

Summary: Reminds readers that the borough and township elections will be held on March 15th, and urges "all patriotic citizens" to cast their ballot.

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Jan. 17th, John G. Bigham and Jennie B. Hutz were married by Rev. Henry.
(Names in announcement: John Bigham, Jennie B. Hutz, Rev. Henry)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Jan. 31st, Samuel W. Clippinger and Sarah E. Monn were married by Rev. Soilomon Bigham.
(Names in announcement: Samuel W. Clippinger, Sarah E. Monn, Rev. Solomon Bigham)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Jan. 29th, Leonard Dornberger and Elizabeth Bert were married by Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: Leonard Dornberger, Elizabeth Bert, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Jan. 31st, William McFerren and Mary W. Small were married by Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: William McFerren, Mary W. Small, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Feb. 7th, John H. Rife and Mary, daughter of John Sleighter, were married by Rev. James M. Bishop.
(Names in announcement: John H. Rife, Mary Sleighter, John Sleighter, Rev. James M. Bishop)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Jan. 31st, Henry J. Lechrone and Alice S. Carbaugh were married by Rev. W. E. Kreps.
(Names in announcement: Henry J. Lechrone, Alice S. Carbaugh, Rev. W. E. Kreps)

Married
(Column 3)

Summary: On Feb. 8th, George Dockter and Lizzie Detrich were married by Rev. G. Roth.
(Names in announcement: George Dockter, Lizzie Detrich, Rev. G. Roth)