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Franklin Repository: December 30, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

President Johnson's Proclamation of Universal Pardon
(Column 01)

Summary: The editor is incensed that President Johnson granted sweeping pardons to all former rebels. However, he takes comfort in knowing that the 14th amendment prevents these former rebels from holding office.

Full Text of Article:

President Johnson having abused and lost the confidence and friendship of those who put him in charge over the interests of the Nation, like the unjust steward, sits down and writes quickly to its enemies that their debt of treason has been forgiven. We suppose in this he too is wise in his day and generation and finds it better to make friends of those who aspired to be their country's murderers than to have no friends at all. On Christmas day Mr. Johnson published to the few remaining unpardoned rebels "a full pardon and amnesty for the offence of treason against the United States, or of adhering to the enemies thereof in the late civil war, with a restoration of all rights, privileges and immunities under the constitution, and the laws made in pursuance thereof."

This proclamation, our readers will see, is made without reservation, and is a message of unqualified pardon to such rebels as Jef Davis, Breckenridge, Mason, Slidell, Benjamin, Jake Thompson and others who have been wandering uneasily over Europe and anxiously longing to return to their former homes in the South. They can now return whenever they please without fear of molestation or harm.

The last act of the play, bloody tragedy in the beginning and unmitigated comedy at the conclusion, is ended. If it be sublime to suppress an indefensible and unwarranted rebellion which ravaged the whole land for four years and made its streams run with innocent blood, and then unqualifiedly pardon every rebel, the United States have made themselves sublime. We believe a little judicious hanging would have been wiser and better for all concerned, and that punishment should cease only in the proportion that crime diminishes.

The proclamation of pardon and amnesty does not, however, put these rebels in exactly the same relation to the government as are those who never needed pardon. The President, fortunately, has not the power to do this, and can only restore to the leaders of the rebellion their rights as private citizens. It gives them no right to hold office of any sort, civil or military, State or national. This can only be secured to them by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress.

The fourteenth constitutional amendment, section three, debars from any civil or military office under the United States, or any State, any man who having taken an oath as a civil or military officer of the United States, or as a civil officer of any State, to support the constitution of the United States, shall have participated in rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemy; but Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each house remove such disability. While these rebels can live in the country, hereafter, and be as fully protected in all their restored rights as those who never sinned, we are in no immediate danger of disgrace and shame by seeing them elevated to high official position, as we would be but for the constitutional power in the hands of Congress to prevent it.

There is nothing more that Mr. Johnson can do for his friends, the rebels. During his whole administration he has served them well. But the sun of his official life is low in the West, and the long and ghostly shadows it casts admonish him that when it sinks beneath the horizon he too will disappear forever. The dawn of better times is already lighting up the gates of the East, and, in two short months, will bring light and peace and joy under the wise and judicious and economical reign of Grant.

Grant's Policy
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper praises Grant for opposing further subsidies to the Pacific Railroad, as well as other measures that tend "to deplete the public treasury and to increase the already enormous public debt." These policies will help a "country groaning under the weight of an enormous public debt, and plundered on every hand by President Johnson's dishonest office holders."

Beloved Brethren in Christ of Every Land
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Summary: The Evangelical Alliance invites Christians to observe a week of prayer in January and publishes a list of daily topics.

The Concert on Christmas Evening in the M. E. Church
(Column 01)

Summary: A large crowd attended the Christmas Concert in the M. E. Church. The building was decorated for the season, and a number of holiday tunes were performed. The pastor, Rev. S. Barnes, presided. Prof. Noftsker directed the music.
(Names in announcement: Rev. S. Barnes, Prof. Noftsker)

Horticultural Society
(Column 02)

Summary: A number of citizens gathered at the Ryder Nursery Association to found a Horticultural Society. The committee drafted a constitution and by-laws, and elected officers.
(Names in announcement: Dr. J. L. Suesserott, John Ruthrauff, Seth Dickey, Elias Hoke, Luther Garver, Enos B. Engle, J. S. Nixon, Col. J. G. Elder, Dr. W. H. Boyle, T. B. Jenkins, W. Guthrie, Adam Stouffer, S. W. Hays, Jacob Brand, John M. Cooper, John P. Keefer, George A. Deitz)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper unfortunately reports that the fair held in Repository Hall to benefit the monumental association proved less successful than it had hoped. The editors state that the exhibition of goods was excellent, and the ladies worked unceasingly "for this noble object, and deserve great credit for their patriotic efforts." The public, however, gave only lukewarm support, perhaps due to the lack of money. About $600 was raised. The results demonstrated that "Chambersburg is not able, without assistance from our towns and townships, to build a monument for Franklin county soldiers, and unless our citizens in Waynesboro, Greencastle, Mercersburg and elsewhere, lend a helping hand, our attempt will be a failure."

Gough's Lecture
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Summary: Prof. Corwin Wilson will recite in the M. E. Church a lecture on temperance delivered by John B. Gough in Exeter Hall, London. Wilson has recited the lecture before, and the paper praises his delivery. Tickets are 25 cents, 15 cents for children.
(Names in announcement: Prof. Corwin Wilson)

Concert
(Column 02)

Summary: The Union Sabbath School of Fayetteville will hold a concert on New Year's Eve in Union Hall. The Brass Band will perform.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Dr. J. H. Shumaker will deliver a lecture on "Manliness" in the Court House on January 4th. The Young Men's Christian Association is sponsoring the event.
(Names in announcement: Dr. J. H. Shumaker)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: W. Scott Flack and Miss Emma V. Weagly, both of Chambersburg, were married at the residence of the bride's mother on December 22nd by the Rev. Irving Magee.
(Names in announcement: W. Scott Flack, Emma V. Weagly, Rev. Irving Magee)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: George W. Gaibl and Miss H. J. Hock were married on December 17th by the Rev. Irving Magee.
(Names in announcement: George W. Gaibl, H. J. Hock, Rev. Irving Magee)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: William H. Spotts and Miss Minnie E. Carothers were married on December 24th by the Rev. Irving Magee.
(Names in announcement: William H. Spotts, Minnie E. Carothers, Rev. Irving Magee)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: William Glass and Mrs. Hannah Rinehart were married on December 24th by the Rev. Irving Magee.
(Names in announcement: William Glass, Hannah Rinehart, Rev. Irving Magee)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: David S. Forbes and Miss Mary A. Rhodes, both of Chambersburg, were married in Shippensburg on December 2nd by the Rev. W. H. Houck.
(Names in announcement: David S. Forbes, Mary A. Rhodes, Rev. W. H. Houck)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: John S. Sollenberger and Miss Martha M. Rinehart, both of Franklin, were married at Boyd's Hotel on December 22nd by the Rev. A. Tripner.
(Names in announcement: John S. Sollenberger, Martha M. Rinehart, Rev. A. Tripner)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Daniel W. Sollenberger and Miss Nancy Brandt, both of Franklin, were married on December 24th at the residence of the bride by the Rev. A. Tripner.
(Names in announcement: Daniel W. Sollenberger, Nancy Brandt, Rev. A. Tripner)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Andrew S. Stover and Miss Annie E. Snively, daughter of Samuel Snively, all of Greencastle, were married at the U. B. Parsonage in Mechanicsburg on December 22nd by the Rev. J. Philip Bishop.
(Names in announcement: Andrew S. Stover, Annie E. Snively, Samuel Snively, Rev. J. Philip Bishop)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Conrad Schellhase and Miss Annie E. Nickolas, both of Chambersburg, were married on December 24th by the Rev. James M. Bishop.
(Names in announcement: Conrad Schellhase, Annie E. Nickolas, Rev. James M. Bishop)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: David Speer of Martinsburg and Miss Rebecca V. Bechtel of Chambersburg were married in Chambersburg on December 24th by the Rev. P. S. Davis.
(Names in announcement: David Speer, Rebecca V. Bechtel, Rev. P. S. Davis)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Henry Kuhn and Miss Maggie Louisa Swank, all of Fannettsburg, were married on December 23rd by the Rev. J. Smith Gordon.
(Names in announcement: Henry Kuhn, Maggie Louisa Swank, Rev. J. Smith Gordon)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: William A. Magee and Miss Maggie A. M'Vitty, daughter of Robert M'Vitty, all of Amberson's Valley, were married on December 22nd by the Rev. W. A. West.
(Names in announcement: William A. Magee, Maggie A. M'Vitty, Robert M'Vitty, Rev. W. A. West)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: John Hengardner and Mrs. Tillie Miller, both of Chambersburg, were married on December 24th by the Rev. F. Dyson.
(Names in announcement: John Hengardner, Tillie Miller, Rev. F. Dyson)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Hiram Shatzer and Miss Alice R. Hamilton, daughter of Benjamin Hamilton, were married in Mercersburg on December 22nd by the Rev. Thomas Creigh and J. H. Whitstone.
(Names in announcement: Hiram Shatzer, Alice R. Hamilton, Benjamin Hamilton, Rev. Thomas Creigh, J. H. Whitstone)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Mrs. Susan Whitmer, wife of Jacob S. Whitmer, died near Welsh Run on December 18th. She was 39 years old.
(Names in announcement: Susan Whitmer, Jacob S. Whitmer)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: William Spencer died near Orrstown on December 23rd. He was 22 years old.
(Names in announcement: William Spencer)