Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Franklin Repository: April 08, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Does it Pay?
(Column 01)

Summary: The author casts scorn on President Johnson during his impeachment trial, accusing him of betraying his political friends in his removal of Stanton as Secretary of War.

Full Text of Article:

The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson developes as one of its incidents the madness and folly of betraying ones political friends in order to conciliate one's political foes. Except as a warning to traitors and demagogues, the trial by the most august court of the land of the Chief Executive, attracts no less and more attention than that of any great criminal; and the people judge correctly in the premises. Andrew Johnson is to-day as completely without sympathy from either Democratic or Republican party as the wandering Jew, and his distinguished counsel defend him just as they would defend any one charged with a felony. This is his real attitude before the country. No one believes that the attempted removal of Stanton from the War Office and the appointment of Adjutant General Thomas as Secretary of War ad interim was prompted by an honest desire to serve the country, obey the laws, or to allay the fear and anxiety of the people. It was simply the blind clutching at straws of a drowning man. He had mounted the political wave and it was rapidly carrying him into rocks and breakers where his boat, freighted with all his treasonable schemes, must inevitably have gone to pieces. Cast out from the party which has raised him to power, because of his crimes, it became necessary to secure another; but Congress had so hedged him about that he was not able to pay the price of admission into the band of leaders of the Democratic party. True the offers were tempting enough to beguile even better men than the Democratic leaders, but the consideration always failed. The admission of traitors to Congress from the seceded States, with blood on their hands and perjury in their hearts, was a generous bid and would have secured a correspondingly high place in the copperhead ranks; especially as the re-enslavement of four million freedmen was a trifle thrown in. But Congress was on alert and the consideration failed. The attempt to debauch the great Captains of the army, which Johnson's position gave him an opportunity to try, might have made him friends of the disloyal party, but, except by a few adventurers, his blandishments were spurned with virtuous and indignant contempt, and the consideration failed. Postmasters were willing to lick the dust and revenue officers to defraud the Government in his service, but these alone could not rescue the Democratic party from defeat, nor fill the rapacious maws of hungry office-seekers. The price was inadequate, and Johnson was in despair. Only one thing remained to be done. Congress could neither be frightened, swindled, nor bought; and Stanton, by the action of the Senate, had been restored to the War Office, where so long as he remained the treasonable designs of the President must fail.

In his last attempt to defeat a loyal Government, and place its power in the hands of traitors, Johnson may have judged wisely of the willingness of the Democratic party to sustain his wicked policy but he certainly failed to measure their party courage. The people are honest and just, and no party dare ask them to do a wrong thing as a wrong thing. Hence it is, when the extreme test came the President found himself without a party and without a friend. The several Democratic State Conventions have wholly ignored him; the Democratic National Committee insulted him, and the army officers whom he cajoled, and flattered and raised to power prudently avoid any expressions or actions in his favor. His favorite "policy" has become a scorn and a byword, and he stands before the people whom he outraged, today, a culprit to be tried for violating and trampling upon laws which he had sworn to maintain and defend.

Andrew Johnson failed to remember, in his besotted madness, that if he betrayed his political friends, he could not deceive his political foes. Circumstances now transpiring will doubtless refresh his memory.

More Fruits of My Policy
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper gives an account of the assassination of an important man by the Klan and calls for swift justice against "southern traitors" who continue to commit outrages.

Full Text of Article:

Encouraged by the reprobate who so unfortunately for the interest of the country presides over the destinies of this nation, southern traitors are still at work. No crime is so enormous, no act so heinous, that they will not perpetrate to retard the growth of loyal sentiment, or check the sympathies of their own neighbors in behalf of the Union.

In Columbus, Ga., on the 3d ult., there was held a Republican meeting for the purpose of listening to the eloquent remarks of the celebrated colored orator, Rev. Mr. Turner. Hon. George Ashburn, who resided in that city, a sterling Radical, and one of the most prominent advocates of Congressional Reconstruction, was present. Traitors could not permit this. He must pay a penalty for his love of the "old flag," the "stars and bars" must be vindicated, and loyalty must be suppressed, even if the assassin's weapons should be used. At two o'clock on the following morning, he was murdered by the admirers of Andrew Johnson and the friends of Modern Democracy.

He adds but another name to the list of patriots whose devotion to liberal ideas made them martyrs. This noble band could easily have purchased peace and safety for themselves and their families, by silence or an outward acquiescence to the subjugated members of Jeff. Davis' confederacy, but their consciences forbid it. Our statesmen and our people cannot regard these expressions of hostility and deadly enmity in any other than their true light, and demand of those in power an honest investigation, a speedy trial, and a certain execution. Let it once be known that the hour of mercy has passed forever, and that stern retributive justice shall be meted out to both the principals and accessories in those horrible outrages, and then, and not till then, will the "Ku Klux Klan" melt as rapidly as Lee's army at Appomattox Court House.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper applauds the action of the legislature in passing a registry law. The editors believe that such a law is the state's greatest need. The new law will prevent voter fraud and reduce the number of delays and challenges at the polls.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The editors believe that the trial of Andrew Johnson has highlighted the blind partisanship of Democrats. The paper asserts that members of that party are determined to acquit the president, and ignore all evidence against him, no matter how strong it may be.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper denounces Washington College as a hotbed of treason.

Full Text of Article:

Washington College, Lexington, Va., at the head of which is Robert E. Lee, is pronounced by competent witnesses, to be a regular school of treason, where students study the glory of the postponed Confederacy, and where the only jurisprudence recognized is that of the justice of the rebel cause. The Students of Washington College organize raids on every Union man living in the neighborhood of Lexington, whom they rob, threaten, and when possible, drive from the country.

A Registry Law
(Column 05)

Summary: The article details a new bill requiring voters in the state to register before voting.

Full Text of Article:

The Legislature has passed, and the Governor signed, a supplement to our election laws, requiring the registration of voters throughout the State. This is a much needed measure, and calculated to accomplish a great deal of good in the way of preventing fraud at elections. The following is a synopsis of the most important features of the bill:

Section 1: - That the assessors shall make lists of voters annually with their residence, whether housekeepers or boarders; the occupation and name of employer, if working for another; whether native citizen voting on age, naturalized, or having declared intentions, expecting to vote upon full payers to be procured before election.

During the present year such list to be made out sixty days after the passage of the act; qualifications to be then inquired into before the 1st of September; meetings for rectification and placing additional names on the registry, to be held by the assessors during four days, if necessary, and ten days before the election.

Section 2 - Duplicate copies of the registry lists to be made out; one copy to go to the County Commissioners, the others to be posted on the door of the house where the election is to be held prior to August 1st in each year.

Section 3 - Assessors, inspectors and judges of election to attend at places for holding elections on Saturday, the tenth day preceding the second Thursday of October, to place names on the registry not thereon, upon due proof of the right of the voter. At the election no person to be allowed to vote whose name is not on the list. Where a person has been omitted he may request a special meeting of the officers to decide on his case; and all such claims may be heard at the election house on the Saturday before the election.

Section 4 - Voters may be challenged and put to proof, notwithstanding the fact that their names are on the registry, and the matter be decided according to the law. Naturalized voters must produce their certificates of naturalization, the election officers to place the word "voted," with date and place of election.

Section 5 - Registry papers to be sealed up after the election with other election papers.

Section 6 - Registry to be reopened in years when there are Presidential elections ten days before the election, and names of voters omitted to be placed thereon.

Section 7 - At special elections the registry to govern, but not to exclude citizens not registered who have the right to vote according to law.

Section 8 prescribes the oath of office for assessors, inspectors and judges of elections.

Section 9 - On the petition of five or more citizens, under oath, setting forth reasons for believing that frauds will be practiced at an election, the Court of Common Pleas may appoint two persons as overseers of elections, one from each political party, if the inspectors belong to different political parties; but when these officers are both of the same party, the overseers are both of the opposite party. The overseers to have a right to be present at the election and to see what is done, keep lists of voters, &c. If said overseers are not allowed to perform their duties, or are driven away by intimidation, the whole pole of that election district or division to be thrown out.

Section 10 - If a district polls more votes than are registered, it shall be prima facie evidence of fraud, and the whole vote may be rejected up on a contested election.

Section 11 - No court of the State to naturalize any foreigner within ten days of an election, under penalty of misdemeanor in the officer issuing the naturalization certificate. Voting, or attempting to vote, on a fraudulent certificate of naturalization, subjects the party to imprisonment not exceeding three years, and fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

Section 12 - Issuing false receipts by a tax collector, fine not less than one hundred dollars, imprisonment not less than three months.

Section 13 - At elections hereafter, polls to open between 6 and 7 o'clock, A. M., and close at 6 P. M.

Another excellent bill is pending before the State Senate, which if passed, as it assuredly must, will prove a most valuable and acceptable adjunct to the Registry law. This bill proposes to compel officers of elections to register the names of naturalized voters, with such facts connected with their naturalization as will prevent fraud.

The Band Concert
(Column 01)

Summary: The Chambersburg Band gave an entertaining concert on Saturday. The audience was particularly amused by John Schmidt in his role as "The Persecuted Dutchman."
(Names in announcement: Pillsbury, Henninger, Miss Sipe, Miss Forbes, Harry Brooks, John Schmidt)

Bunyan Tableaux
(Column 01)

Summary: A renowned "moving mirror" depicting scenes from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress will be displayed in Chambersburg beginning April 9th. The work won rave reviews in New York.

Accepted
(Column 01)

Summary: Rev. Dr. Gerhart of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster accepted appointment as professor at the Mercersburg Theological Seminary.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Dr. Gerhart)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports that Chamberbsurg's Jewish citizens are making preparations to celebrate Passover. Housewives are busy cleaning their abodes and preparing unleavened bread.

I. O. O. F.
(Column 02)

Summary: Jacob Spangler, District Deputy of Franklin County for Columbus Lodge, No. 75, I. O. O. F., installed a number of new officers at a recent meeting.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Spangler, Joseph L. Hockersmith, John S. Hicks, W. H. Boyle, Jacob B. Holtzworth, A. J. White, George H. Wood, Stephen D. Lightcap, Charles Pilsbury, Joseph T. McClintock, David Hyssong, B. F. Nead, Warren Seibert, William H. Mong, John Rodgers, Jeremiah Miller, Thomas Henseberger, Jacob N. Snider, Edmund Culbertson)

S. of T.
(Column 02)

Summary: The Falling Spring Division No. 122, Sons of Temperance, chose a number of new officers and "Lady Officers" on Friday.
(Names in announcement: Thad M. Mahon, W. F. Eyster, W. S. Roney, J. A. S. Cramer, James B. Gillan, David Appenzeller, N. Schlosser, F. U. Keefer, Hugh Auld, Jacob Wolf, Joseph Freeze, Miss Lottie Heck, Miss Emma Smith, Miss Emma M'Culloh, Miss Tillie Oaks, Miss Mollie Auginbaugh)

Delicious Confectionary
(Column 02)

Summary: F. X. Deckellmayer has opened a new confectionary, well stocked with "sweetmeats" and delicacies.
(Names in announcement: F. X. Deckellmayer)

Religious
(Column 02)

Summary: The German Reformed congregation of Fayetteville, under the leadership of Rev. C. Cort, pastor, received fourteen new members, three on application and renewal of profession and eleven by confirmation.
(Names in announcement: Rev. C. Cort)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: Robert T. Shirts of Nebraska and Miss Emma M. Geyer, daughter of Smith Geyer of Mercersburg, were married in Mercersburg on April 1st by the Rev. Thomas Creigh.
(Names in announcement: Robert T. Shirts, Emma M. Geyer, Smith Geyer, Rev. Thomas Creigh)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: John Shaffer and Miss Mary C. Leaper, both of the Caledonia Iron Works, Franklin County, were married on March 26th by Charles Lego, J. P.
(Names in announcement: John Shaffer, Mary C. Leaper, Charles Lego)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: John Brindle died in St. Thomas at the residence of Frederick Gelwicks on March 26th. He was 77 years old.
(Names in announcement: John Brindle, Frederick Gelwicks)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Mary Ellen Wingart, infant daughter of Joseph B. Wingart, died in Hamilton on March 29th. She was 1 month and 24 days old.
(Names in announcement: Mary Ellen Wingart, Joseph B. Wingart)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Mrs. Elizabeth Maxwell, wife of Dr. James B. Maxwell, died at Jackson Hall on March 30th. She was 57 years old.
(Names in announcement: Elizabeth Maxwell, Dr. James B. Maxwell)