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

Franklin Repository: September 21, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Are Your Registered?
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper urges Republicans to see to it that they and their friends are registered to vote for the upcoming elections.

Meyers' Loyalty
(Column 01)

Summary: After the Repository accuses the Democratic nominee for Congress of being "a friend of the Confederate cause," Benjamin F. Meyers responds, calling the accusations slanderous. In this editorial, the Repository attempts to prove that Meyers really did sympathize with the Confederacy by reviewing some of his wartime writings.

Full Text of Article:

Mr. Meyers complains in his letter published in last week's Spirit that we have been guilty of a "malignant slander" in asserting that "during the rebellion he was a friend of the Confederate cause, and never hesitated to manifest as much sympathy with it as was consistent with personal safety." Mr. Meyers resided to Bedford during the rebellion, was editor of a Democratic journal there, and we have no doubt that his public declarations and acts are well known to his neighbors. Instead of calling upon any of them, as would be natural, to prove his loyalty, which for some reason best known to himself he has not seen fit to, he calls upon a gentleman who was or at least ought to have been at the front fighting the battles of his country; for during the rebellion he was wearing the uniform of the defenders of his country and was drawing the pay of one. More than this we are not prepared to say.

The charge we have made against Mr. Meyers is no trifling one and should not be made thoughtlessly. To a truly loyal man nothing is more sacred than his loyalty, and he is a malignant slanderer who wilfully misrepresents him.

We propose to call Mr. Meyers upon the witness stand, and let his testimony determine whether the charge we make against him or the epithet he applies to us be true.

In the Bedford Gazette of the 23d of September, 1864, he said in an editorial:

We hear of persons leaving their homes on account of the impending draft. Such a course will not protect them. They will be hunted down an any rate. The best plan is to stay at home until election day and help "swap off" the old draft horse, Abe Lincoln."

In the issue of same paper of the 5th of August, 1864, commenting upon an alleged assault upon a Mr. Wm. Lyons by some unknown person, who threw a brick at him in the night time, which passed close to his head as he was entering his door, the editor says:

"This cowardly attack was doubtless prompted by political animosity. Mr. Lyons' fearless and independent course in regard to the war having drawn upon him the malignant hatred of some of the miserable wretches who 'live and move and have their being' (like so many maggots) in the rotten carcass of abolitionism. It seems that the Democrats will be compelled to arm themselves in order to secure the safety of their person against the assassin assaults of their political enemies."

Inasmuch as it is stated that the assailant was unknown, one can imagine how excessively loyal must he be who could on such a povocation breathe out such terrible abuse and threats against the whole loyal party.

But, perhaps, the writer of the following should not be charged with friendship for the confederate cause during the war. It is found in the Gazette of December 2nd, 1864, and is part of the leading editorial, entitled, "ABOLITION REJOICING:"

"Let the Abolitionists rejoice, as they pretended to do in this place last week; let them rejoice at the dark monster brought forth by infidelity and abolitionism, before whose ebony throne the whole party has bent the vassal's knee; let them rejoice at the prospect which a continuance of the present devastation and cruel war sets before, let them rejoice that nearly every house in the land has become a house of mourning, that almost every cottage, however, lovely and peaceful heretofore, now contains a frightful skeleton ; but the man who can lay his hand upon his heart and say that he is not to blame for the ruin brought upon his country, has occasion for more real joy than they. But it is natural for such a party to rejoice amidst the gloom that surrounds us. Did not Nero fiddle while Rome was in a blaze? And did not Abraham Lincoln call for a ribald song on the bloody fields of Antietam, whilst the groans and shrieks of the wounded and dying were piercing the air? Why should not they be joyful while liberty is being dethroned and our country torn to pieces."

During the rebellion, it became necessary in order to keep up our armies, to fill up the ranks by conscription. To enforce the conscription act was by no means a pleasant duty, but the government had to accept the alternative of permitting the rebellion to triumph, and destroy the Republic of our fathers, or to fill our armies by draft. The whole loyal sentiment of the North, being in favor of the Union, approved and sustained the draft. The disloyal element, which fought our armies in the rear, denounced and resisted it. Unfortunately for Mr. Meyers' hopes to day, he was found working, heart and soul, among the latter class. In the Gazette of the 27th of February, 1863, just when our prospects looked most critical in the field, Mr. Meyers proved his loyalty by the following editorial:

"THE CONSCRIPTION BILL - We take up our pen not to condemn the measure whose title forms the caption of this article, but to warn Congress and the President against its passage.

"We have already denounced it as a bold infraction of the Federal Constitution and a contemptuous invasion of the reserved rights of the States. We have exposed its design to give the scepter of despotism into the hand of the President and have sounded the alarm to the people in regard to its insidious purpose toward the republic. But our duty does not cease here. We owe it, if not to ourself and our fellow men, most certainly to those in authority," to utter at least a word of warning to the men upon whose action depends the fate of the bill. We say in Congress stay your encroaching hand, let you awake the sleeping lion of Pennsylvania's pride. We say to the President make not a Dionysius of yourself, for there are yet Demons among the people of the North who will dare to resist any usurper! Your design against the liberty of the people and the sovereignty of the States is needless and wanton."

You can obtain soldiers to carry your war, by using the means which the Constitution provides, and by making drafts according to State regulations or where none such exist, according to the laws of Congress in such case made and provided. The people know this, and therefore, regard this conscription bill as an outrage upon the States and as an attempt to rob them of their liberty. You have asked much of the people of the North, and much have they granted. You demanded their substance and they gave of it; you asked for their blood and they poured it out; and, now, after all their meek submission to your exactions, after all their ineffable suffering and privation, you would wrest from them what they love better than even family and friends, Constitutional freedom? Do not, as you value the peace of the North, the stability of the Government, nay, your very lives, imagine that our people are such slaves as to submit to so great a wrong! We say to you, in friendly caution, beware! The people sent their sons and brothers to die for you, when you pretended to fight for the right; they will die, themselves rather than yield the right, and that, too, in defiance of any foe, be he perjured rebel or forsworn official."

On the 18th day of November, immediately after the re-election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, the following editorial appeared in the Gazette;

"'THE WAR WILL END' - The Presidential election is over and Mr. Lincoln, in his "way," has been re-made President. This great national calamity must be borne until it shall be God's will to remove the burden from the shoulders of the people. The nation has suffered terribly, but it seems that it has not yet drained the cup of misery to its dregs. The crucial horrors through which it has passed, have not yet sufficiently purified it and the fires of civil war must still continue to burn in order to smelt the hard metal of its unimpressible heart. How long the awful genius which now presides over the destinies of the American people, shall retain its horrible away, no man can predict. For our own part, we can scarcely hope to see the day, when the shadow of its gloomy presence shall no longer darken the land."

The above extract may aid the judgment of the people in determining between Mr. Meyers and the editor of the REPOSITORY. But they are only the beginning of what we have in store from the same prolific storehouse. During the progress of the campaign we propose to furnish others taken at random from the files of the Gazette as these were, and if any one remains in doubt, as to Mr. Meyers' war record when the election day comes it shall not be said that it is the fault of the REPOSITORY.

Meyers as a Tariff Man
(Column 02)

Summary: When the Democratic nominee for Congress, Benjamin F. Meyers, clarifies his stance on the tariff, the Repository calls him and other supporters of free trade, "unsafe and unsound public servants, and dangerous to the welfare of the people." The article suggests that Meyers's plan would make the consumer pay more to large manufacturers.

Full Text of Article:

Mr. Meyers defined his position on the tariff in the Harrisburg Patriot last week, as follows:

"We ourselves are in favor of the freest trade we can have in every branch of industry consistent with the purposes of the revenue as the theory most beneficial to the general interests of the whole."

But for the purposes of revenue to meet the expenses of the government he would have no tariff at all. This is the doctrine of free traders every where, and we claim, proves them unsafe and unsound public servants, and dangerous to the welfare of the people.

Let us illustrate how a tariff for revenue would rob the people. A tariff for revenue is a tax or tariff imposed on foreign imports and not with a view to discriminate against foreign manufactures in favor of those of our own country, but purely to raise money for public expenses. Take for example the matter of iron, largely imported to the country when not prohibited by a protective tariff. Suppose the price, untaxed, for imported and domestic iron be $30 per ton, and that both importers and domestic producers can make it for this under a system of absolute free trade. Mr. Meyers and his free trade friends claim that the iron manufacturers do not need a high duty in their favor to enable them to compete with the manufacturers of the foreign article. Impose a tax for revenue, say of six dollars per ton on imported pig iron. This at once raises the price according to the Free Trade doctrine to $36 per ton, and the increased price must be borne by the consumer. Last year we imported about six hundred thousand tons of iron, and made at home about eighteen hundred tons. We would then have derived from imported iron a revenue of $3,600,000. But the home-made iron is enhanced as much in price as the imported, and hence the price would be increased on that produced at home $10,800,000.

Hence, according to Mr. Meyers' theory of a tariff for revenue from our own people of $3,600,000, we would compel them to pay into the pockets of our own iron makers an additional sum of $10,800,000. In other words, to pay the smaller sum into the revenue, they must pay, in addition, the larger sum into the hands of the iron producers. This is the practical effect of a tariff for revenue on the Free Traders own basis. If this be true, the government had a thousand times better raise revenue by direct taxation, than take the hard earnings out of the consumers pockets in this manner. That is Mr. Meyers' theory of a tariff, and such is the effect of it, if carried out upon any imported commodity, which is likewise manufactured in this country, because Free Traders say that whatever tax is imposed upon a foreign commodity is added to the price of the same commodity produced in this country. For every dollar of revenue thus raised, Mr. Meyers would have the people pay three dollars to the manufacturers. If our people are in favor of Congress passing such a tariff, they can do their share towards securing that end by voting for the election of Mr. Meyers instead of Mr. Cessna. By electing him they will defeat one of the ablest and best protective tariff men in Congress, and will add one to the number of Free Traders in that body, who has been candid enough to pledge himself, in advance of his election, to labor for the overthrow of our manufacturing interests, for the free importation of all foreign commodities to the detriment and destruction of our own, and to the reduction of the price of labor to the standard of England.

Let us ask our laboring population, just here, how long do they think the price of wages would keep up to their present standard if the products of cheap European labor be allowed to come in untaxed and to take the place of the products of our high priced labor? Our German citizens who came to this country because labor was adequately rewarded here, would soon find themselves obliged to work for a mere pittance, as they had done at home, if indeed they could get any work at all. For the effect of it would be to put an end to nearly all productive labor in this country.

Too Late
(Column 02)

Summary: The Repository argues that the Democratic nominee for Congress, Benjamin F. Meyers, cannot be forgiven for his pro-Confederate stance during the war.

Full Text of Article:

The pit Mr. Benjamin F. Meyers digged for himself during the war, now yearns to engulph him, and he piteously begs that he may be allowed to escape it. Joe Jefferson's inimitable Rip Van Winkle when prevailed upon to take a drink after having signed the pledge remarked, as he swallowed the tempting beverage, "this time don't count." That is just what our Democratic candidate for Congress wants to be allowed to say now. He asks the Republican party to agree that his hatred of the war, his friendship for the leaders of the rebellion, his diabolical abuse of the President, his false statements as to Union defeats and rebel victories, his efforts to put obstructions in the way of filling up our armies, his attempts to weaken and destroy the financial credit of the Government, shall not be counted. In one sense we are sure that the people are willing that this shall be done, just as they desire to forget that the South arrayed itself against the Union. They are willing that Mr. Meyers' iniquitous record shall be buried out of sight forever so long as he does not ask reward for his sins, but only oblivion. But when he asks to be elected to one of the most honorable and responsible positions in the gift of the people, a representative position, then his past public and political acts must be counted. We can only judge of Mr. Meyers' future by his past. That has not been such as to commend him to the loyal voters of this district, be they Republican or Democratic.

We appreciate his anxiety when, as in the last number of the Bedford Gazette he beseechingly says:

A scire facias under the seals of all the courts in Christendom could not revive the death issues which devided the people during the war. The politician who drags from the grave their festering corses, is not a friend of peace, but a friend who delights himself in bitterness and strife There are present questions to settle. These are quite sufficient to engage the whole attention of the intelligent voter. Let the dead past bury its dead. Our faces are not turned backward, but forward. Let us act with regard to the things that are present before us, and linger not to consider the things which are behind us. Lot's wife looked back and perished but Lot himself looked not back and was saved.

Too late! Too late!

Meyers' Disinterested Work for the Payment of the Border Damages
(Column 03)

Summary: The Repository rejects claims that the Democratic nominee for Congress, Benjamin F. Meyers, is more concerned with border raid reparations than Republican incumbent, John Cessna.

Full Text of Article:

Mr. Meyers' Bedford Gazette of last week says:

Mr. Meyers is being warmly supported by the People of Adams, Franklin, and Fulton, without distinction of party, because of his earnest and unflinching advocacy of the bill to reimburse the sufferers of the border counties for losses during the war. Cessna, while in Congress, never opened his lips in favor of any measure of relief to the people of the border who lost their property by rebel raids and seizure by federal troops. On the other hand Mr. Meyers, last winter, in his paper, the Harrisburg Patriot, and by his personal exertions, did all in his power to obtain the long looked for relief.

This Border Damage business is one that it behooves Mr. Meyers and his political friends to handle tenderly, as may have been learned from our ventilation of the subject last week. As yet they do not seem to have learned this, though we are hopeful that they will before the campaign is over. That Mr. Meyers was not quite so disinterested in his advocacy of the border claims as the Spirit and the Gazette would have us believe, was proved by us last week, when we showed up the consideration he was to receive for his services. We thought then that no paper in the district would be imprudent enough to drag this question into the campaign except the Spirit, and we gave such a statement of the true secret of Meyers' support as we believed would deter it from further discussion of the subject. But we did not give the whole history of it, and since Mr. Meyers himself means to make capital and friends out of it through the columns of his paper he must take the responsibility of his own rash act. We say that in addition to the promise of support from the leaders of the Franklin county Democracy for his nomination for Congress, Mr. Meyers presented his bill to the Franklin County Border Damage Committee for the services of the Patriot in urging the payment of the border damages, and demanded payment of it.

We have no comments to make. Mr. Meyers claims to have been loyal during the war, as he does to be disinterested in the matter of the border damages. He seems to have been unfortunate in his manner of establishing both his loyalty and his disinterestedness, but it is no fault of ours. "Let us have peace."

Meyers' Loyalty Vindicated
(Column 03)

Summary: To prove that he remained loyal during the war, Democratic nominee for Congress, Benjamin F. Meyers, cites a letter from Union veteran T. H. Lyons. The Repository reminds readers that this was the same veteran who offered to help Andrew Johnson overthrow the government after the impeachment trial.

Full Text of Article:

In Mr. Meyers' communication, addressed to the editor of the REPOSITORY, he produces the following letter in vindication of his loyalty:

BEDFORD, September 3, 1870.

B. F. MEYERS, Esq - Dear Sir: Understanding that you are being assailed by the "Republican" press on the ground that your sympathies were not with the cause of the Union in the late war, I think it but justice to say that when the Union army needed soldiers you were in foremost in aiding the recruiting officers of the government. I recall gratefully your services in assisting to raise my company for the Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry, by addressing the people and otherwise Whilst those who now boast so loudly about their "loyalty" were sitting in their offices, or by their firesides, you were active in raising troops, giving freely your labor and means in the furtherance of the cause in which I had the honor to serve. The Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania volunteers will hardly forget your services, while in the Legislature, in obtaining them shelter in comfortable quarters, when on their first return from the seat of war, they were sent to camp Curtin to lodge in the mud, without tents or other shelter. T. H. LYONS.
Late Capt. Co. D, 55th P.V., and Capt. Co. I, 22d Pa Cav.

There can of course no longer be any doubt upon this question. Have we not here the voluntary testimony of a soldier? proof positive that Mr. Meyers was foremost in aiding recruiting officers, and laudably zealous in securing comfortable quarters at Camp Curtin for the gallant captain and his company. Who is this T. H. Lyons, late Capt. Co. D, 55th P. V. and Capt. Co. I, 22d Pa. Cav? The inquiry reminds us, not of a little story, but a bit of history. This Capt. Lyons is the military hero who telegraphed to Andrew Johnson, when the House of Representatives impeached him in the spring of 1868, add offered to march a company of his braves to Washington to drive our Congress and overthrow the government. Why his services were not accepted by the august tailor we have never learned. But what of that, he and he alone won the immortality of infamy by his silly telegraph.

Such testimony is conclusive. Let no man hereafter doubt the loyalty of Benjamin F. Meyers. Lyons proves it, and Lyons is above suspicion. The ugly part of this business appears to be that Meyers is obliged to array Lyons against his own written declarations, to prove Meyers to have been a falsifyer during the war in order to prove Meyers loyal.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: After the Repository refuses to publish a letter by Democratic nominee for Congress, Benjamin F. Meyers, it promises that it will print future communications if the Democratic Spirit will print letters from the incumbent Republican congressman, John Cessna.

Full Text of Article:

IN the Spirit, of last week, may be seen and read, a communication from the pen of Benjamin F. Meyers, Esq., a copy of which he sent to the editor of this paper, with the extraordinary request that he would give it a place in his columns. Mr. Meyers represents it to be a reply to our allegation that, "during the rebellion he was a friend of the Confederate cause, and never hesitated to manifest as much sympathy with it as was consistent with personal safety." We are glad that Mr. Meyers secured the use of the Spirit for the publication of his article, because it would have been unfortunate if such a marvelous production had failed to see the light, and we are in posession of so many still more interesting documents of Mr. Meyers' than this one, that we could not afford to give this one a place at the sacrifice of them. Though we could not publish it, we hope every person who can get a copy of the Spirit will be sure to read it. Mr. Meyers did not expect that we would give it a place in our columns, else why did he not send it directly to us instead of the editor of the Spirit? Again he did not expect it, because he gave the Spirit a copy of it in addition to the one handed to us. We never returned our's. It still remains in our possession, a literary and political curiosity; but the Spirit was at no loss for a copy for publication. Still further, Mr. Meyers could not expect us to champion him through the campaign, since he has as many papers to vindicate his political record, in the Sixteenth district, as there are to assail it, and one of them owned by himself. Nor could he expect it, because a perusal of the letter will convince any one that it is not a vindication of himself, from our misrepresentations, but an attempt to show that however bad he may be, his political opponent, Mr. Cessna is no better. Lastly, to show that we do not wish to be unfair to Mr. Meyers, we make this proposition: that for every communication, by Mr. Cessna, that the Spirit will admit into its columns, we will admit one from Mr. Meyers.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The Repository continues its campaign against Democratic nominee for Congress, Benjamin F. Meyers, by again declaring that he was disloyal during the war. This editorial observes that "a nomination for Congress has a beneficial effect on the nominee's loyalty."

Full Text of Article:

It is encouraging to know that a nomination for Congress has a beneficial effect on the nominee's loyalty. Meyers used to boast of his disloyalty. Since his nomination he has got so much better than that that he has written a letter ot the editor of this journal to convince him that he is and always has been as loyal as his Republican opponent, Hon. John Cessna. In view of this visible improvement, we could almost become reconciled to his election if we were satisfied that it would effect a complete change.

We take his letter at its full worth. We don't believe that he was any truer to the country during the war than we represented him to be, but we have no doubt that, in view of the present situation, he sincerely wishes that he had been. So far as his declarations in 1870, are better indices of his real character from 1860 to 1865, than his public declarations and acts during the latter period were, so far are we willing to accept them. Others may judge him as they see fit. We have no apprehensions that they can be deceived.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper complains that Democrats vote faithfully in every election while Republicans vote "if he is in town, and isn't too busy, and doesn't forget it, and isn't disatisfied with somebody about something." The paper urges all Republicans to vote this fall.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper asserts that "prominent Democrats" in Franklin County admite that Meyers will be beaten because of his war record and support for free trade.

Our Town Council and Their Improvements
(Column 04)

Summary: "An Old Citizen" writes to defend the many public works projects undertaken by the town council. "The item of tax is really a small matter, compared with the general increase in the value of property."
(Names in announcement: Gillespie, Dr. Suesserott)

Republican Meetings
(Column 01)

Summary: Chairman James G. Elder and Secretary John M'Dowell issue the schedule for Republican meetings in Franklin County.
(Names in announcement: James G. Elder, John M'Dowell)

Democratic Meeting in the Court House
(Column 01)

Summary: This report notes that at a recent meeting where the Democratic nominee for Congress, Benjamin F. Meyers, spoke, he accused President Grant's administration of being wasteful. The Repository denies this charge and responds by quoting the Speaker of the House of Representatives, James G. Blaine. The article concludes that Meyers's "defense of his rebel war record was miserable and humiliating in the extreme" and his speech "aroused no enthusiasm."

Full Text of Article:

The campaign Opened - The Ball Rolling, &c, &c. - Meyers heard from on his War and Tariff Record - Eminently Conservative on Both - "Let the dead past bury its dead." - As the bills posted about town for several days back announced, there was a meeting of the Democracy in the Court House on Saturday evening and Benjamin F. Meyers, Esq., Democratic candidate for Congress in the Sixteenth District was present and addressed it. The meeting was not large, but the Court House was three fourths full. We observed among the audience a large number of Republican citizens among those gathered to hear, doubtless attracted by the desire to hear what Meyers had to say about the political issues of the day, and especially to learn how he means to dispose of the mischievous ghosts of his political past, which are haunting his day and night dreams. It is always an encouraging sign for the Republican party if its voters are seen attending in goodly numbers the political meetings of the Democracy. We never had in our ranks such convincing political orators as have been furnished to our hands by the Democratic party, and when we succeed in getting our party to attend Democratic meetings we are almost sure to make more votes for Republicanism than in any other way.

Mr. Meyers spoke for more than an hour, and his language and manner were dignified, manly and temperate, and to this we desire to bear our testimony. As to the matter of his speech we disapprove of it altogether as being false in fact and in argument. Considerable time was devoted to a discussion of the financial policy of the administration, during which he tried to make his hearers believe that the party in power was extravagant, that it was burdensome upon the people, that it was corrupt, and that it made false statements with a view to deceive the people. He drew a comparison between the expenses of Buchanan's administration in 1860, and Grant's in 1870, and alleged that the former cost the people $60,000,000 a year and the latter $130,000,000, a difference of $70,000,000 a year after deducting from the year 1870 the interest on the Public Debt and the amount devoted to pensions and back bounty. Nearly all financial statements made by Democratic orators are false as to the figures, and it is difficult for the people to test them at the time. On the subject of the relative expenses of the administrations of Buchanan and Grant, Speaker Blaine makes the following statement in his recent letter of acceptance, which we set against that of Mr. Meyers:

"Excluding the items of the interest on the National Debt and the sum paid as Pensions to the scarred and disabled veterans of the late war, we find the following as the sum total of our expenses for the current fiscal year:

Military Academy $314,869 20 Deficiencies 6,419,694 46 Diplomatic and Consular Service 1,041,357 00 Works of Defenc 1,311,500 00 River and Harbors 3,945,900 00 Post-office Department, beyond the amn't received from postages 5,000,000 00 Legislative, Executive and Judicial expenses 18,949,258 40 Sundry Civil expenses 13,437,634 70 Army 29,321,367 22 Navy 19,250,290 29 Indian Department 6,323,565 02 $105,315,426 29

The last Democratic administration that was in full power in this country under President Buchanan spent for the objects embraced in this schedule something over seventy millions per annum in gold - an equivalent in paper to-day of eighty five millions of dollars. The population of the country was then less than thirty millions. It is now forty millions, so that President Grant would be entitled by the ratio which has always governed expenditure in this country, to spend a third more in the administration of the Government than was required under Buchanan, which would bring the sum total to one hundred and fourteen millions of dollars when in reality it is but one hundred and five millions. The details of expenditure in the two periods will also show immensely in favor of President Grant's economy. Under President Buchanan the army consisted of ninteen regiments, the maintenance of which cost for the four years of the administration an average of over twenty-one millions each year - more than a million dollars per annum in gold, or about thirteen hundred thousand dollars in the paper money of to-day for each regiment. The army at present consists of forty regiments, yet its whole maintenance for the year costs but twenty-nine millions of dollars, a trifle over seven hundred dollars in paper money to each regiment."

Other statements of Mr. Meyers were not more skillfully made than this. He denied that the last Congress had reduced taxation by about $80,000,000, or, indeed, at all, and to prove it made the statement that the appropriations made for the expenses of the present fiscal year were $290,000,000. If any one is sharp enough to see how the last statement, (granting it be true, which it is not,) proves the first one, we would like to have him come to our office and enlighten us. He argued further that the public debt had not been reduced at all by this administration, that all the monthly statements were false and that the debt was s large to-day as ever. Said he, Mr. Boutwell when he makes a monthly statement does not include the bonds issued to the Union Pacific railroad as part of the debt, but puts it in a foot note below. If he included that the debt would not show a decrease. Let us see about that. When Mr. Boutwell made his first Monthly Statement he excluded the railroad bonds, which merely showed that he estimated the public debt the amount of the bonds less than did Mr. McCulloh. Every month since then he has reduced it below the statement of the month preceding, which would be the case if he included or excluded the bonds. If a man owes a sum of money, which he estimates at a million of dollars, and his neighbor at two millions, he just as surely reduces it by paying a hundred thousand every month, be the principal what he claims it to be, or what his neighbor claims. Mr. Meyers says he does not, and asks sensible people to believe him.

But we cannot pursue his financial fallacies any further. There were other things he had better attended to than these. His defense of his rebel war record was miserable and humiliating in the extreme. He could deny non of the charges which had been made and proved, but had to content himself by claiming that though this was all true, Mr. Cessna was no better than himself. He declared that these were dead issues and eloquently entreated the audience not to turn back among "dead mens' bones." We never saw a more palpable admission of a man's own weakness. On the tariff, on which a number of Democrats desired to hear him, he had only a few unsatisfactory words to give. He admitted that his private convictions, but suggested that as a member of Congress he would be controlled by the wishes of his district which he admitted were for a protective tariff. It would be a smart trick indeed for the people who favor a protective tariff to elect a free trader to Congress, hoping to see him submerge his conviction on a vital question like this for theirs which he believes false and hurtful, when they can find a man whose personal convictions are in harmony with theirs. The Patriot, about two weeks ago, indignantly denied the insinuation of a Western paper that the Democratic members from Pennsylvania were against free trade, and asserted that Mr. Haldeman had always voted with the free traders. That is just the way Meyers would vote and work if he got to Congress.

The Democracy were discouraged and sick during the meeting. Meyers aroused no enthusiasm, and he felt the chilling influence which pervaded the audiences sensibly. Cessna is stronger for the meeting. We sincerely invite Mr. Meyers to return.

Republican Meeting
(Column 03)

Summary: This article reports on a Republican meeting where incumbent congressman, John Cessna, addressed the audience.
(Names in announcement: Col. J. G. Elder, A. D. Cauffman, W. N. Witherspoon, D. M. Leisher, John Stewart, B. F. Meyers, John Cessna)

Full Text of Article:

The first Republican meeting of the campaign, in this county, was held in the Court House, on Monday evening last. The attendance was very large. The meeting was called to order by Col. J. G. Elder, who nominated A. D. Cauffman, Esq, for President, and Messrs. W. N. Witherspoon and D. M. Leisher for Vice President.

John Stewart, Esq, first addressed the meeting in an able and eloquent manner, which was received with frequent rounds of applause. He spoke particularly of the effrontery of B. F. Meyers, the Democratic candidate for Congress, who although he had been a rebel sympathizer and a friend of the rebellion, yet came to the loyal men of this county to tell them how to rule the country he did his utmost to ruin. He referred to the mendacity of the same man in his statement of statistics and to his ignorance of the finances of the Nation.

Mr. Stewart was followed by Hon. John Cessna, who held his audience with one of the soundest and best political speeches ever made in the Court House. He answered to the satisfaction of his friends all the charges made against him by Meyers on Saturday. He fully established his loyalty to the Union in the days of the war. He expressed himself heartily in favor of Protection, and stated that in Reading, in 1858, he introduced and had carried the first Tariff resolution ever brought before a Democratic Convention in this State. He said in relation to the Border Raid losses, that he had never been asked by petition or otherwise to introduce any bill in Congress for their payment, and that if he had done so it would have put an end to a successful effort before our Legislature. He further stated that he worked for the bill at Harrisburg and at the earnest solicitation of Capt. Skinner he had appealed to Speaker Strang, to place Skinner on the Committee of Ways and Means, and that the Speaker had complied with his request and as a personal favor to him placed Skinner on this Committee.

Mr. Cessna spoke for about an hour and a half. As he had not the time to discuss all the issues of the campaign, he promised his audience to speak again on next Tuesday night in this place. We regret that we have not the space to give his speech at length, for we know that those who heard it were delighted with it, and, feel that those who could not find an opportunity to be present have lost a rich treat.

The meeting adjourned at a late hour.

Something to your Interest
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper admonishes business men to advertise now that trade is picking up again for the fall.

Miss Olive Logan
(Column 03)

Summary: Miss Olive Logan is scheduled to lecture in Chambersburg on October 15th. She will give her famous talk on "Girls." The paper includes good reviews of her appearances in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

Republican Township Meeting
(Column 03)

Summary: The Republicans of Green will meet in Scotland on September 24th to nominate township officers.

A Deplorable Accident--Death of a Good Citizen
(Column 04)

Summary: Capt. S. A Bradley was killed when his gun went off when he was getting on or off his horse while on a hunting expedition.
(Names in announcement: Capt. S. A. Bradley)

Anniversary Celebration
(Column 04)

Summary: The Repository notes that local blacks celebrated the eighth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, observing that "their conduct and decorum during the parade were unexceptionable." The article also reports that black voters are "thoroughly organized and aroused for the campaign" and will vote for Republican candidates.

Full Text of Article:

On Thursday night the colored voters of Chambersburg celebrated the eighth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, with proper ceremonies. At about 8 o'clock in the evening, they assembled and paraded in torchlight procession through the principal streets of the town. Quite a large number were in the procession, and their conduct and decorum during the parade were unexceptionable; just what all their former public demonstrations led us to believe they would be.

As this was not a political occasion, there were no political speeches made at, least not in public, and we haven't heard that there were any at their quarters. We may take occasion to say, however, that our colored voters are thoroughly organized and are aroused for the campaign, and will cast a solid vote for the whole Republican ticket at the approaching election. This is the case not only with those in Chambersburg, but throughout the entire county.

Death of Mr. George Flack
(Column 04)

Summary: George Flack died on Wednesday and was burried in Cedar Grove Cemetery. An "immense concourse of his townsmen" attended the funeral. Flack "was possessed of considerable means, and was actively engaged in business, having been associated with other gentlemen in business in a number of cases besides carrying his own. He was upright and charitable, generous to the poor, and scrupulously correct and systematic in all his transactions."
(Names in announcement: George Flack)

Fall From a House
(Column 04)

Summary: Conrad Schelihoss, who was engaged in roofing a house of Mrs. McCleary, fell and sustained injuries that will likely prove fatal.
(Names in announcement: Conrad Schelihoss)

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The Republicans of Washington have nominated the following ticket: Jacob S. Good for judge; James McIlvaney for inspector; Samuel Welty for auditor; Matthew A. Gordon for assessor; Charles West and Daniel Potter for assistant assessor; James McCaulley, George V. Mong, Jacob Potter, John Rodgers, for supervisors; Benjamin F. Funk, David Gilbert, and Peter Rouzer for school directors; Henry Hennicle for constable.
(Names in announcement: Jacob S. Good, James McIlvaney, Samuel Welty, Matthew A. Gordon, Charles West, Daniel Potter, James McCaulley, George V. Mong, Jacob Potter, John Rodgers, Benjamin F. Funk, David Gilbert, Peter Rouzer, Henry Hennicle)

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper calls for a large turnout at the Republican meeting at the Court House on Tuesday. John Cessna will speak.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Miss Adelaid Freeman died at Funkstown on September 5th from the effects of an overdose of Wright's Pills.
(Names in announcement: Adelaid Freeman)

Origin of Article: Record

Hamilton Township
(Column 05)

Summary: The Republicans of Hamilton Township will meet at the Public House of Michael Gable on October 1st to nominate township officers for the October elections.
(Names in announcement: Michael Gable)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: James B. Seibert and Miss Priscilla Skinner, both of Fannettsburg, were married at the Hays House in Greencastle on September 13th by the Rev. J. Smith.
(Names in announcement: James B. Seibert, Priscilla Skinner, Rev. J. Smith)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: Samuel Maloy and Miss Nancy J. Velles, both of Chambersburg, were married on September 13th by the Rev. J. G. Schaff.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Maloy, Nancy J. Velles, Rev. J. G. Schaff)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: George C. Wilson of Spring Garden Mills and Miss Margery E. Piles from near Dry Run were married on August 25th by the Rev. William A. West.
(Names in announcement: George C. Wilson, Margery E. Piles, Rev. William A. West)

Married
(Column 06)

Summary: David J. Campbell of Covell, Illinois, and Miss Mollie Gribble, daughter of Levi Gribble of Metal, were married on September 13th by the Rev. William A. West.
(Names in announcement: David J. Campbell, Mollie Gribble, Levi Gribble, Rev. William A. West)

Died
(Column 06)

Summary: Miss Martha Catharine Vantries died in St. Thomas on September 13th of consumption. She was 22 years old.
(Names in announcement: Martha Catharine Vantries)