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Valley Spirit: January 20, 1864 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

Governor's Message
(Column 1)

Summary: The Spirit reprints Governor Andrew Curtain's annual address to the State Legislature. In it, he gives an overview of the state finances, proposes that state debts be paid in paper currency rather than in specie, and discusses expenses incurred by the Confederate raid in the summer of 1863. Curtain goes on to recommend several areas of action: a revision of the laws caring for orphans of volunteers to make sure all are cared for equally across the state; a revision of state revenue laws for the first time in twenty years; a revocation of transportation monopolies granted to certain large mining companies; a survey and tax on all unpatented lands; an extension of the provisions that allow municipal corporations to deduct and pay into the treasury the tax on all loans paid by them; and a tax on the gross receipts of all railroad and canal companies. Curtain also proposes a more permanent organization of the militia, and describes the establishment of the cemetery at the site of the Gettysburg battle.

The "Dead-Lock" in the Senate
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors note that Republican papers, among them the Transcript, are upset that the Democrats in the State Senate will not vote for a Republican to break the deadlock on the organization of the Senate. Republicans also accuse the Democrats of taking advantage of the absence of Major White, a Senator serving in the army who is a prisoner in Richmond. But even if White were in the state, say the editors, he would not be legally elected as he holds a commission as an officer in the federal army. This commission prohibits him under the State Constitution from holding any state office.

The Governor's Message
(Column 2)

Summary: The editors give lukewarm praise to the Governor's address, but criticize him severely for proposing to pay state debts with paper money. For those holding the obligations of the state, particularly foreign capitalists, this will devalue the worth of what is owed them by half, as this is the discount they will be forced to accept to redeem the notes. It is hypocritical of the governor to take this approach, particularly while it is paying specie to the federal government and demanding specie for its customs payments.

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: The editors argue that there are three types of Union being argued for by various parties in the county. Secessionists wish to give the states all the power and the federal government nothing; Abolitionists wish the reverse. Only the conservatives in the middle, say the editors, have the proper balance of reserving the rights to the states not expressly granted to the federal government.

[No Title]
(Column 3)

Summary: The new assemblyman for the district, Mr. Sharpe, has been appointed to four of the "most important" committees in the House of Representatives--the Judiciary General, the Judicial Local, Federal Relations, and Estates and Escheats. This is an honor for a new member, particularly one of the opposite party of the Speaker, and it speaks well of his reputation.
(Names in announcement: Mr. Sharpe)

Democratic State Convention
(Column 4)

Summary: The Democratic State Central Committee met in Philadelphia last Wednesday and set the date for the Democratic State Convention, to be held in that city on March 24.

The Democratic Platform
(Column 5)

Summary: The Democratic State Central Committee passed a number of resolutions concerning the recent elections, Lincoln's recent proclamations on abolition, and the procedure for seceded states to return to the Union.

Full Text of Article:

At a meeting of the Democratic State Central Committee, held in the city of Philadelphia, on Wednesday last, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That notwithstanding the apparent result of the late election in this State the consequence, as we believe, of an unfair use of the military power and the practice of gross frauds on the ballot by our opponents, we are still firm in the belief of the ultimate triumph of Democratic principles and policy, and that their ascendency [sic] is the surest means of redeeming our country from its present afflictions: and to that end we earnestly invite and entreat Democrats and all conservative citizens, in the several counties, wards, townships and districts of the State, to unite themselves together in more perfect and complete organization, as the best means to re-establish the purity of the ballot, maintain personal and public liberty, and to provide for a final effort, at the next election, to displace the men now in authority at Washington, whose policy and measures have proved so predjudicial [sic] to the cause of the Union, subversive of the rights of the citizens and oppressive to the people.

Resolved, That we deplore the enunciation of the schemes and purposes embodied in the late Proclamation of the President, appended to his Message, the inevitable effect of which must be to prolong and extend the bloody strife now raging among the people of the United States, and to furnish an additional verification of the worst apprehensions entertained as to the purpose of his administration, to wit: the intention to subordinate the cause of the Union to the cause of Abolition.

Resolved, That no State can withdraw from the Union by its own action; and that the assumption of Mr. Lincoln, as indicated in his late message and proclamation, that the revolted States, and that they can be reconstructed as States and re-admitted into the Union by a mere fractional vote of one tenth of their people cast within the limits of each, is a proposition at once revolutionary and preposterous, manifesting an astounding inclination on his part to act in utter disregard of the Constitution and the elementary principles of our republican form of government, and at the same time foreshadowing a scheme through which stupendous frauds may be practiced upon the upon the [sic] ballot at the next election, and a still more stupendous fraud upon sovereign States that have furnished without limit of their blood and treasure to put down rebels and rebellious States, by admitting into the Electoral College men who would have no legal or constitutional right to seats in that body; the consummation of which scheme would be so gross an outrage upon the rights of the people and the States, as might fully warrant resistence [sic] on their part, by all the means which God and nature have placed within their reach.

Resolved, That it is our deliberate judgment, that the enunciation of a wise and judicious political policy, at this time, on the part of the Administration at Washington, to the effect that, any State heretofore in revolt, within which resistance to the authority of the Government shall cease should be allowed, through the vote of a majority of its electors, to resume its former status and functions in the Union among the States, and saving the lives of thousands of our fellow citizens now in the field.

Resolved, That the Democratic party will continue their efforts to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and to re-establish its supremacy both at the North and at the South; so that neither the revolutionary schemes of the Abolitionists nor the Secessionists shall avail against it.

The resolutions were unanimously adopted.

On motion of the Hon. George Sanderson, of Lancaster Co., it was unanimously

Resolved,That the thanks of this Committee be tendered to the Hon. Charles J. Biddle for the able and efficient manner in which he has discharged the duties of Chairman of the Committee.

The Committe [sic] then adjourned;

Charles J. Biddle, Chairman.

Robert J. Hemphill, Secretary.

All About Whiskey
(Column 1)

Summary: The editors poke fun at the displeasure among local drinkers created by the hike in the price of a glass of whiskey to ten cents.

Returned Soldiers
(Column 1)

Summary: The 21st and 22nd Regiments of Pennsylvania Cavalry have returned to Chambersburg from the Valley of Virginia to recruit members prior to going into the service for three years. They are camped on the Shippensburg turnpike, about a mile from town. It is understood that several companies are determined to re-enlist, and the entire organization may go into the service again. Captain McDowell's battery has returned from the West, where it has served under Buell, Rosencrans and Grant. The editors hope that the battery will soon be full. A number of officers and men from the 77th Regiment Penn. Volunteers are in the area recruiting, as are members of the battery "one time commanded by the lamented Captain Easton."
(Names in announcement: Captain McDowell)

The Drama
(Column 1)

Summary: A number of drunken soldiers disrupted a performance by the scholars of the Franklin Academy on Friday evening in Franklin Hall.

Trial and Acquittal of Forney
(Column 2)

Summary: John Forney, who was arrested last year for the fatal shooting of Lieutenant Ford of the Provost Guard in Fulton County, was acquitted last week in McConnellsburg. Forney, who had been mistakenly drafted despite his being too old, had successfully appealed his draft several times, and yet Lieut. Ford was dispatched to arrest him for evading the draft, whereupon Forney shot him. Forney never denied shooting Ford, but argued it was in self-defense. Forney had turned himself in voluntarily, and was in jail when the Confederates raided the town, who then took Forney with them. He was later released, and voluntarily returned to jail. Papers of both political persuasions praised Judge Nill's charge to the jury.
(Names in announcement: Judge Nill)

A Word for Hoops
(Column 3)

Summary: The editors cite an authority praising the advantages of hoop skirts.

Diplomas of Graduation
(Column 3)

Summary: The war has prevented the graduation exercises of the Young Ladies' Seminary twice, but the editors note that graduation diplomas have been awarded to several scholars, among them Lizzie G. Gilmore and Mary E. Mull of Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: Lizzie G. Gilmore, Mary E. Mull)

Rail Road Accident
(Column 3)

Summary: David Humelsine of Chambersburg, a member of the 11th Penn. Cavalry, was crushed between two railroad cars on the Pennsylvania Rail Road near Middletown last Saturday. His remains were brought home on Monday evening.
(Names in announcement: David Humelsine)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: Mayberry G. Briggs and Elizabeth Bivens, both of Peters Township, were married on December 24 in the Methodist Episcopal Parsonage.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. W. Buckley, Mayberry G. Briggs, Elizabeth C. Bivens)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: John Glass and Mary E. Donathan, both of Valley Forge near Loudon, were married on December 24 at the Methodist Episcopal Parsonage.
(Names in announcement: Rev. J. W. Buckley, John Glass, Mary E. Donathan)

Married
(Column 5)

Summary: John A. Kitzmiller of near Shippensburg, Cumberland County, and Annie J. Darrah, were married on January 12 at the residence of the bride's mother near Scotland.
(Names in announcement: Rev. W. H. R. Deatrich, John A. Kitzmiller, Annie J. Darrah)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: John Sackman died on January 3 in St. Thomas, aged 79 years, 6 months and 9 days.
(Names in announcement: John Sackman)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Andrew Jackson Shuman died in St. Thomas on January 3, aged 6 years, 5 months and 3 days.
(Names in announcement: Andrew Jackson Shuman)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Sarah Alice Overcash died on January 8 in Guilford Township, aged 1 year, 4 months and 24 days.
(Names in announcement: Sarah Alice Overcash)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: William Franklin Walter died on January 8 in St. Thomas Township, aged 15 years, 9 months, and 13 days.
(Names in announcement: William Franklin Walter)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Mrs. Sarah Bonebrake died on January 11 in Guilford Township, aged 46 years, 2 months and 12 days.
(Names in announcement: Mrs. Sarah Bonebrake)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Valentine Keckler died on January 12 near Waynesboro, aged 64 years and 24 days.
(Names in announcement: Valentine Keckler)

Died
(Column 5)

Summary: Miss Barbara Laman died on December 17 in Hamilton Township, aged 32 years, 9 months and 8 days.
(Names in announcement: Miss Barbara Laman)