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Franklin Repository: March 17, 1869Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
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Nasby Papers
(Column 07)Summary: This article from a Kentucky postmaster, full of spelling errors, lays out a Democratic case for passing the Fifteenth Amendment. He argues that while in the South black men "for sexual reasons can never vote," the Democrats generally control the lower classes of society. Thus, but using the same methods - he mentions keeping out schools and using associations like the Irish in New York - the Democrats can take control of more of the country by embracing the amendment and seizing the black vote.
Full Text of Article:MR. NASBY IS ALMOST PERSUADED TO ADVOCATE THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, SEEING IN THE SUCCESS OF THAT MEASURE A CHANCE OF GAIN TO THE DEMOCRACY.
POST OFFIS, CONFEDERIT X ROADS (Wich is in the State uv Kentucky), Feb. 11, 1869. That cussid Constooshnel Amendment hez bin on my mind nite and day for mor'n a week. I hev slept on it, dreamed onto it, and it hez monopolized my wakin hours to the excloosion uv everythin else. Ez an evidence uv how much it hez absorbed me, I wood merely menshen that twice while sitting in Bascom's thinkin it over, strangers in the place hev askt the crowd up to take suthin, without my heerin uv em at all, when in fact I went there, and wuz sittin there, and waitin there for the express purpose uv availin myself uv sich chauces. I stay at Bascom's solely to accept invitashuns to drink, for his benefit. Often hev I sed to him, "G. W., sich is my admirashen for the sterlin qualities in yoor hed and heart, that I will drink myself into delirum tremens for yoor sake, willinly. Yoose me in this capasity ez you will, my stumick is glass-lined and ken stand even your likker." Notwithstandin this self-sacrifis Bascom has never perposed to give me a per cent on wat I put into his drawer in this way. Shood he do so I cood easily earn enuff to pay my board; but shood he do it there wood be no merit in this sacrifis.
I hev more than half made up my mind to go for the adopshen uv the Constooshnel Amendment, and that for the benefit solely uv the Dimocrisy. I more than half beleeve that the adopshen uv that Amendment just ez it hez passed both Houses of Congris, wood result after all to our advantage; that is ef the posishen we hev alluz taken that the nigger is an inferior race be the troo one. The Dimocrisy hez never failed to git possession uv the inferior classes. They hev sole and undivided control uv sich people ez hev stumick alone, without brane - Dimocrisy flourishes best where school houses are not. Thus the patriots who inhabit the lower wards uv Noo York; the denizens uv Mackrelville and uv the Five Pints; the Southern half of Delaware whose people wood demonstrate the trooth uv the theory that men wuz orijinelly oysters, wuz there any possibility of makin men uv em; the Southern porshens uv Injianny and Illinoy; all these regions are strongholds uv Dimocrisy, and agin these rocks the waves uv Ablishenism beat in vain.
Now the question which agitates my mind is, wood the niggers ef given the ballot rise above us, or sink below us? They wouldn't have fur to go either way. Ez a matter uv course, we shood cultivate em. Ez a matter of coarse, the minit they hev the ballot, they become to us Objects of Interest. The minit they hev the fate uv a member of Congris in their hands, that minit the Democratic candidate for Congris goes for em. He cannot avoid eatin with em, drinkin with em, and sleepin with them. In the South the latter operation wood be no new experience; the practis hez been more common with that portion uv the race which for sexual reasons, kin never vote. But the candidate native and to the manner born, wood hev the advantage over the Northern carpet bagger uv havin long ago overcome his repugnance to color, which is a great pint gained.
Trained by us and mixin with us how long wood it take to bring em down to us? Kin Pollock and Bigler hold them niggers at Garrettstown in their hands forever? I don't beleive it. The poll is opened at Bascom's and Bascom's likker wood fetch em in time. It hez made many uv us loathsome objects, and why not them? At all events I know that among em there's any number uv lazy cusses who wont work, and who take to new whiskey ez naterally ez I do; and that porshen uv em we're as certin to git ez leaves is to fall. This class must gravitate to us for the sufficient reason that they hev no nowhere else to go to find conjenyel assoseashens. Whether these fellows armed with the ballot kin contaminate enuff uv the others to give us a majority, is the great moral question. At all events ez the thing is bound to go thro, I believe it is better for us to make the most of it, and by yeeldin a cheerful assent to what we can't help, make shoor uv this class at least.
I feel tolerably easy. Ef the ballot is given em in Kentucky and we kin keep out them cussid missionaries with their primers and spellin books and school-houses, I hev faith to beleeve that the Ablishnists will, after all, hev acheeved a barren victry; this is for the present. Troo, we can't allez hold em. The Bible Societies, and the Crischen Assoseashens, and them other nachrel enemies uv our party, spellin books, will evenchooally git hold uv em, but they can't do it for ten years, and before that time passes, I shel sleep in the valley. On good likker I cood only hope to survive ten yeers - on Bascom's a shorter period will suffise. I feel now a lack of physikle vigger. My haltin steps, and the incapassity to take over three drinks per fifteen minits warn me that my biler is rusted, that the rivits is weaknin, and that ere long it must bust. After that wat do I care who rools Kentucky? When I am sleepin in the buryin ground behind Pennibacker's distillery, wat difference will it make to me whether that buildin is convertin corn into sustenance, or whether it is bein yoozed ez a Young Ladies' Seminary, with teachers from Massachoosits with their hair in intellectual ringlits? When this frail body is mouldrin into dust, wat dust, wat do I care whether Confederit X Roads is what it now is, or whether its name is changed to Summerville, with a cotton factory, and a nail factory and a rolin mill and such; with the country cleared up around it and all devoted to dairies and markit gardens? Nary. But ez this frail body aint mouldrin into dust, and ez it aint sleepin in the buryin ground, but on the contrary, is livin and movin with wants and necessities, it prefers to hev Confederit X Roads remain jist ez it is doorin its stay on this sublunary speer. And to this end I am willin to do whatever may be necessary to keep it so. Ef the way is thro Afriky - I am willin to embrace Afriky. Ef it is kickin Afriky, why then Afriky shel find there's vigger yet in my foot and leg.
And the Dimocrisy, ef the are wise, will hold theirselves in ekul readinis to drop on either side. In Noo York city, for eggsample, ef the nigger theeves and suckers only vote ez the white theeves and suckers do, the carryin ov the State will allez be a shoor thing. The only question is, kin they be kept in that condishen? Here is where doubt comes in and beclouds an other wise fair pikter. Kin John Morrisey control the niggers in his Deestrik, ez he does the Irish, and by the same means? How long will it take to git a nigger uv ordinary sensibilities down to a pint uv assoshiatin with John Allen and Kit Burns? And for the sake uv their vote cood our Irish fellow citizens of Noo York be pursuaded to forego their trooly nasnhek amoozement in killin a d--d nigger now and then? I won't ask whether they cood be indoost to occasionally give them an offis, for that question wood be lunatic, there not bein quite offises enough in Noo York to pervide for the Irish alone, to say nothin uv the others who want em.
Upon the anser to these questions depends my askshen. I shall study it over for a day or two longer before I decide. In the meantime I shell prepare myself. I shel shake hands with sich niggers ez I meet, when unobserved by white men, and shel prevent, ef possible, the hanging uv any more uv them till I hev solved these doubts.
PETROLEUM V. NASBY, P.M.,
(Wich means Post Master.)
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Republicans, Are You Ready?
(Column 01)Summary: The paper urges readers to be prepared to surpass the efforts of Democrats in the upcoming spring elections. The editors assert that Democratic circulars have been issues throughout the state and fraud may be committed. They plead with Republicans not to overlook the importance of the spring votes.[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: The paper celebrates Grant's restoration to command in New Orleans. The editors assert that Johnson removed him because "he had offended by protecting loyal citizens, and exposing Johnson's criminal complicity in the bloody murders at New Orleans." The general persevered during his "banishment" by leading successful campaingns in Indian country.[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: This article announces that the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution has reached the lower house of the state assembly after passing the State Senate on a party-line vote. The author predicts a similar victory in the lower house.
Full Text of Article:"Cannot Something Be Done?"To-day the Lower House of the State Legislature takes up the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution. It has been made the order of the day, and the Democracy will have a fair opportunity to discuss it fully. It has already passed the Senate by a strict party vote, and will pass the House in the same manner. Every Democrat will of course record this vote against this just and enlightened measure. But it will make little odds. There is every reason to believe that it will become a part of the Constitution, and just as much, that it will commend itself strongly to the good sense and intelligence of the American people, as has every step yet taken by the Republican party in the road of true progress and enlightenment.
Before the vote is taken in the House, we hope to hear, not much talking by Republican members, but a concise, clear explicit enunciation of the principles on which our Government is founded, and a declaration that the faith of the people in the correctness of these principles demand and justify their incorporation into the Constitution. The favorite argument of the Democracy against it that the question of suffrage was not an issue in the election of the present Legislature amounts to nothing, and need not be answered. When the election was held they alleged that it was, and that it was the intention of the Republican party to make suffrage general. If they say now that it was not, they were guilty of falsehood either then or now, and they are at liberty to accept either horn of the dilemma.
But it is not a mere question of policy, about which the people can express a choice in the election of members. It is one involving the natural rights of man, and a portion of the population can have no voice, under our present laws, to express either assent or dissent. The Republican party may not have favored the passage of this Amendment before the year 1869, because the prejudices of the people were too strong against it. Nevertheless equal justice demanded it just as strongly at the formation of the Government as now, and the patriotic men of that day embodied it in the Declaration of Independence.
(Column 05)Summary: "A Citizen" writes to suggest that the legislature pass a law placing all drunken husbands and fathers who refuse to support their family in jail. They should be required to work while in jail, and have their earnings sent to their families.
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More Incendiarism in Mercersburg
(Column 01)Summary: Another attempt was made to burn the Mercersburg home of Capt. James C. Patton. The citizens of the town aided in putting out the flames before too much damage was done. "The incendiaries are supposed to have acted from a desire to revenge themselves on the Captain, because he has taken so prominent a part in having prosecuted the parties who were implicated in the robbery of Fallen's store." Patton's efforts succeeded in breaking up Robinson's and Seyler's gang. Dr. James W. Robinson, Thomas Hoeflich, and James of Mercersburg have been arrested for the incident, and are in Fort Fletcher awaiting trial after failing to meet $3,000 bail.The Velocipede Excitement
(Names in announcement: James C. Patton, Dr. James W. Robinson, Thomas Hoeflich)
(Column 01)Summary: Crowds have been descending upon Repository Hall to see the first velocipede in Chambersburg. The paper reports that many of the town's young men have already learned to ride. A demonstration will be held in the hall with prizes for the fastest and slowest riders. Admission is 25 cents.Housum Zouaves
(Column 01)Summary: The Housum Zouaves gave their first dramatic performance in Fayetteville's Union Hall. The audience enjoyed the show, and a repeat performance will be given in Repository Hall. A group of "street rowdies" from Chambersburg marred the evening, however, with "obscene utterances on the street, and by storming the doors and windows of one or two citizen's houses."[No Title]
(Column 01)Summary: The Republicans of Antrim met at Detrich's Hotel in Greencastle. John Ruthrauff chaired the meeting, and W. U. Brewer served as secretary. They nominated the following ticket for the spring elections: Dr. J. K. Davison for judge; David Kuhn for inspector; J. B. Osbrough, Solomon Bender, and Henry Stine for school directors; Samuel Alexander, John Helm, Abraham Bowman, and John E. Stover for supervisors; Samuel Lesher for assessor; Samuel B. Snively for auditor; Henry Harnish for treasurer; John Repp for constable; and W. H. Snively for town clerk.[No Title]
(Names in announcement: John Ruthrauff, W. U. Brewer, Dr. J. K. Davison, David Kuhn, J. B. Osbrough, Solomon Bender, Henry Stine, Samuel Alexander, John Helm, Abraham Bowman, John E. Stover, Samuel Lesher, Samuel B. Snively, Henry Harnish, John Repp, W. H. Snively )
(Column 01)Summary: Rev. Edwin M. Long of Philadelphia has been leading daily prayer meetings in Shippensburg for the past two or three weeks. The meetings are causing considerable "religious excitement." Fifty persons have been converted, and another 80 have awakened to "serious conviction." Rev. Long will soon come to Chambersburg where he will address local congregations.Ward Nominations
(Column 01)Summary: The Republicans of the South Ward met at the Indian Queen Hotel and nominated the following ticket: William Forbes for judge; Calvin Gilbert for inspector; Jacob N. Snider for school director; George W. Heagy for constable.Fire in Chambersburg
(Names in announcement: William Forbes, Calvin Gilbert, Jacob N. Snider, George W. Heagy)
(Column 02)Summary: The stable of Lewis Eyler occupied by Charles H. Taylor caught fire, but was put out before much harm was done. An African American boy was arrested an held on $100 bail on suspicion of starting the fire.Hotel Change
(Names in announcement: Lewis Eyler, Charles H. Taylor)
(Column 02)Summary: John Lantz of Quincy is taking charge of the Washington House in Chambersburg. David Harper will serve as clerk. Lantz has supplied the house with the best food and liquor.[No Title]
(Names in announcement: John Lantz, David Harper)
(Column 02)Summary: The Republicans of North Ward will meet at Fisher's Hotel. A large attendance is urged.[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: An African American man was discovered carrying off wood from Henry Feldman's yard at the Indian Queen Hotel. He was scared off with the discharge of a gun.Attention Republicans
(Names in announcement: Henry Feldman)
(Column 02)Summary: The Republicans of the North Ward will meet at the Hotel of John Fisher to select a ticket for the spring elections.Lecture
(Names in announcement: John Fisher)
(Column 02)Summary: The "Rev. Petroleum V. Nasby" from "Confederate X. Roads, Ky" will deliver a lecture in Repository Hall for the benefit of the Housum Zouaves. His subject is "Cussed be Canaan."Religious
(Column 02)Summary: Rev. Prof. H. L. Baugher will preach in the Lutheran Church on Sunday.[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: The paper reports that the meeting of the border damage claimants in Fulton County was a failure.[No Title]
(Column 02)Summary: Shippensburg will start a building association.Married
(Column 03)Summary: A. J. Miller and Miss Ella M. Senseny, both of Chambersburg, were married at the residence of Mrs. Catharine Hysinger, the bride's aunt, on March 9th by the Rev. Samuel Barnes.Married
(Names in announcement: A. J. Miller, Ella M. Senseny, Catharine Hysinger, Rev. Samuel Barnes)
(Column 03)Summary: John Croft and Miss Sarah Sites, both of Franklin, were married in Mercersburg on March 9th by the Rev. S. A. Mowers.Married
(Names in announcement: John Croft, Sarah Sites, Rev. S. A. Mowers)
(Column 03)Summary: George Gilbert and Miss Mary J. Lindsey, both of Franklin, were married at the residence of the bride's parents in Horse Valley on March 11th by the Rev. J. P. Anthony.Married
(Names in announcement: George Gilbert, Mary J. Lindsey, Rev. J. P. Anthony)
(Column 03)Summary: Lewis H. Eberly of Altoona, and formerly of Chambersburg, and Miss Sallie C. Shepler of Chambersburg were married on March 16th at the residence of the bride's parents by the Rev. J. A. Crawford.Died
(Names in announcement: Lewis H. Eberly, Sallie C. Shepler, Rev. J. A. Crawford)
(Column 03)Summary: Catharine Leedy died in Upper Strasburg of pneumonia on March 12th. She was 73 years old.Died
(Names in announcement: Catharine Leedy)
(Column 03)Summary: Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas died in Horse Valley on February 27th. She was 57 years old.Died
(Names in announcement: Elizabeth Thomas)
(Column 03)Summary: John Albert Nitterhouse died in Chambersburg on March 2nd. He was 18 years old.Died
(Names in announcement: John Albert Nitterhouse)
(Column 03)Summary: Leah Zuch died in Chambersburg on March 10th. She was 78 years old.Tribute of Respect
(Names in announcement: Leah Zuch)
(Column 03)Summary: The Falling Sprin Division No. 122 of the Sons of Temperance pass resolutions of sympathy and respect upon the death of Hugh Auld.
(Names in announcement: Hugh Auld)
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