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Valley Spirit: October 6, 1869 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Situation in the State
(Column 08)

Summary: This article predicts the sure defeat of Gov. John Geary. He has rapidly lost popularity in the state because he places personal interest ahead of public good.

Origin of Article: Patriot and Union

Who Will You Vote For?
(Column 01)

Summary: Gives an extensive analysis of why voters should choose Democrat Asa Packer over Republican John Geary for Governor. Lays out all of Geary's faults, especially those concerning corruption and money mismanagement. Then pumps up Packer's virtues, especially honesty, hard work, and integrity.

Full Text of Article:

Every good citizen wishes to cast his vote next Tuesday for the candidates who will labor most zealously to advance the interests of the people.

The Radical candidate for Governor is to be judged as to his future action by his past conduct. What has that been?

John W. Geary has been a reckless pardon-broker, opening the prison-doors to let the guilty go free simply because they were his political friends, or for a pecuniary reward. He has violated his own published regulations in this respect, and has thus made all order-loving citizens tremble for the security of their property and the safety of their lives.

John W. Geary has lent his official influence and aid to the jobbers and lobbyists who buy members of the Legislature as so many cattle. He has been interested in the corrupt schemes which have been concocted at Harrisburg at the expense of the toiling tax-payers of the State.

John W. Geary approved a bill which estimates a man's limbs at not worth more than three thousand dollars.

John W. Geary signed a bill which values the life of the citizen at no more than five thousand dollars.

John W. Geary has thus usurped the province of a jury and compelled the widows and orphans of passengers killed on a railroad to receive this inadequate sum for their support.

John W. Geary wrote a private letter, and affixed to it the great seal of the Commonwealth, addressed to Hon. Edward McPherson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, in which he states his opinion that John Govode, alias Covode, had been elected to Congress from the 21st District of Pennsylvania. And this, after he had deliberately refused to proclaim him, or Henry D. Foster as the member-elect. McPherson laughed at the letter. The House hooted at the idea and his own political friends dubbed him "Supplementary Proclamation Geary."

John W. Geary sought to legislate an upright and honest Judge out of office. At the bidding of Peter Herdic, he signed a bill by which the 9th Judicial district was wiped out of existence. It was a blow aimed at the pure Judge Gamble, just because he is a Democrat and a man who will not be the tool of Peter Herdic.

John W. Geary sat in the Executive Chamber until midnight waiting for a bribed Legislature to pass this infamous bill so that he could attach his signature to it.

John W. Geary has been most signally rebuked for selling himself in this job, for the Supreme Court declared the Act unconstitutional and reinstated Judge Gamble in the position from which he and Peter Herdic and the other "pinchers" and "roosters" had driven him.

John W. Geary has been mixed up dishonorably with other jobs of a disgraceful character, such as the Metropolitan Police bill, the Twelfth and Sixteenth Street Railway bill, and the Cattle bill.

John W. Geary, during the last legislative session, signed 1343 bills. Of these 71 are general laws, applicable to the people of the whole State. The remainder, 1272, are acts of special legislation, procured at the instance and through the influence of individuals and corporations, and in the main, of no benefit whatever to the public. If a calculation were made as to what the projectors of each of these bills could afford to pay for its passage, some idea could be given of the amount of money that John W. Geary and a Radical legislature have pocketed, for the people can rest assured that they have made all out of this special legislation that was in it.

John W. Geary has publicly confessed his inability to cope with "the Ring," for in a speech made at Troy some two weeks ago, he blames it on the people who elect such scoundrels to the Legislature. This was a poor compliment to his political friends who have been in the majority in the Legislature for years, and consequently responsible for the laws that have been enacted.

John W. Geary could have prevented all this iniquitous legislation by the interposition of the Executive veto. As he failed to do it, the fair inference is that he was a sharer in the spoils.

John W. Geary has imposed an additional burden upon the already over-taxed people of the State by increasing the rate of interest on the public debt from five to six per cent.

John W. Geary has managed to grow rich in the Gubernatorial chair. Where and how did he make his money?

John W. Geary has betrayed the people in the matter of negro suffrage. In 1866, he told them that they would be permitted to vote upon the question, and that the negro could not vote until the people of the State would see fit to amend their State Constitution in the manner prescribed in that instrument.

John W. Geary, in open violation of these pledges, recommended the adoption of the fifteenth amendment to the Pennsylvania Legislature. He advised that body to snatch from the people of this State the great Constitutional right to vote upon a question of such grave importance as this.

John W. Geary has thus attempted to force negro suffrage upon the people of Pennsylvania.

Will honest people vote for such a man as this? Is there no virtue left in the masses? Are they still ready to be led off by military clap-trap? Are they still willing to drown reason with the clangor of sabres and roll of drums? It can not be that virtue and State pride and sober judgment have all been laid aside.

Turn to the other side of the picture.

Asa Packer has lived many years in this sinful world. And yet, the purity of his character is unquestioned. Unstained by the vices to which so many distinguished men have been addicted, his life has been one of singular abstemiousness and correctness.

Asa Packer is an honest man. Although possessed of untold wealth, there is not a creature in the wide world who will say that he knowingly ever took a cent wrongfully from any one. The fortune of which he is the sole architect has been amassed by honest labor. No wild speculations have marked his career. He has never gambled in fancy stocks, or, for his own private gain, deranged the financial affairs of his country by speculations in gold.

Asa Packer is a man of great foresight. His own intellect comprehended the situation and grasped the importance of the gigantic railroad enterprise which he projected. He saw where money could be made rapidly for himself and for others. In building the Lehigh Valley railroad, he saw that he would reap immense profits, but he saw, too, that it would add infinitely to the wealth of the country through which it would pass.

Asa Packer is a man of dauntless resolution. No difficulties that stood in the way of his darling railroad scheme ever dampened his ardor, or clouded his reason, or stayed his arm. Forward he moved, amid circumstances that would have discouraged and appalled many a stout heart, until success crowned his efforts and he begun to reap the glorious fruition of his labors.

Asa Packer is a man of liberal ideas on the subject of education. With princely munificence he founded the Lehigh University and endowed it, thus throwing wide open the doors of knowledge to the young men of the State. Surely the young men ought to attest their appreciation of this praiseworthy act by honoring him to whom honor is due.

Asa Packer is a man who is in perfect sympathy with the people. His early life was one of almost pinching poverty. Difficulties of every kind confronted him. He became a mechanic. He earned his daily bread by "the sweat of his face." By frugality and industry he saved enough to start in business. Such were his struggles, and every laboring man, every mechanic will feel that one who has gone through such sharp trials himself will readily sympathize with them, understand their wants fully, and labor earnestly to enable them to gather all the fruit of their labor. Laboring men, Asa Packer is the man you should elect Governor.

Asa Packer is a man whom the lobbyist and corruptionist will not dare to approach. They know well the reception that would be accorded to them. Uncontaminated by the companionship of such polluted wretches as those who hang around Geary. Asa Packer will administer the State Government with an eye to the abolition of the corrupt practices that have brought the present Executive into such marked disgrace.

Asa Packer will crush the corrupt "Ring" that has cursed Harrisburg of late years. By the exercise of the veto power on unjust and purchased special legislation, he will take away from the "pinchers" and "roosters" the meat on which they have grown fat, and their occupation being gone, they will be obliged to flit also.

Asa Packer will inaugurate an era in which honesty shall take the place of dishonesty and administrative ability that of blundering incapacity.

Asa Packer will refuse to lend his sanction to any project, or measure, which would take away from the people of Pennsylvania the right to regulate their own State affairs for themselves.

Asa Packer will stop up the immense leaks in the State treasury and insist upon the curtailment of the expenses of the State administration.

Asa Packer will see to it that the surplus funds in the hands of the State Treasurer be appropriated to the payment of the State debt, and that they be not manipulated for the private benefit of that official, at the expense of the overburdened tax-payers of the State.

Asa Packer will be one of your old-fashioned Governors, who by the selection of able advisers and the practice of strict integrity, will maintain the honor of your Commonwealth, and being back within her borders, the happy and prosperous days which her citizens enjoyed under Democratic rule.

Choose ye between them.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The party endorses Asa Packer for governor, Cyrus L. Pershing for supreme judge, George W. Skinner and D. B. Milliken for assembly, George W. Welsh for prothonotary, B. A. Cormany for clerk of the courts, Hiram T. Snyder for register and recorder, William Reber for county treasurer, Jacob Brumbaugh for commissioner, Frederick C. Long for director of the poor, and John Tritle for auditor.

Why Pensions are Not Paid
(Column 03)

Summary: Blames Radicals for the delays in paying out pensions, and claims they only concern themselves with winning re-election. Explains the reasons for the delays and insists Democrats will fix the problem if elected.

Full Text of Article:

Thousands of widows in the State of Pennsylvania are waiting anxiously for the money which is due to them as pensioners, and wondering why it does not come. They know that Congress has appropriated the money to pay them. They know that they have empowered Attornies to collect it for them, and they can not imagine the reason for the delay. Let us tell you. The agent for paying pensions at Philadelphia is an eloquent fellow, named Major A. R. Calhoun, who addressed the citizens of Franklin county at various places in the last campaign, in behalf of Grant. Geary has dragooned him into the service, by a threat of decapitation, and instead of remaining in Philadelphia attending to the duties of his office and thus relieving the wants of the poor, he is traveling over the State making stump speeches in favor of Geary's re-election. The widows must wait until Geary is attended to.

Many maimed and disabled veterans of the war are becoming exceedingly impatient because their six months pension has not come to hand. They are wondering, too, why they have not been paid. Let us tell you. It is because the agent for paying Invalid Pensions refuses to pay the money to Attornies whom you have selected to transact the business for you. You live a considerable distance from town. You come to Chambersburg and you employ an Attorney to collect your pension. You know him well and have perfect confidence in him. He prepares your papers for you and you authorize him to receive the money. You request him to send the money to you as soon as he gets it. He sends the papers to Philadelphia and the agent there sends him a check payable to your order for the money. He can do nothing with it until you endorse it. He sends it to you by mail. You must endorse it and then, not being able to get the money on your check at your home, unless you allow a considerable discount, you send it back to the very same Attorney. He collects the money and at last sends it to you by mail, after all the unasked for precaution which the Pension Department sees fit to exercise. All this takes time and of course delays the payment much longer than necessary. When you execute a power of attorney to one whom you can trust you have no reason to thank anybody for saying that you are not capable of making a selection of an Attorney, or of transacting your business in the way you see fit to do it.

Now the motive which prompts this action on the part of the Government officers is not any peculiar love for the soldier, or the soldier's widow, but it is a desire to pocket all the fees themselves that are chargeable for the collection of pensions.

Such a set of unprincipled men it is that have found their way into the offices of trust through Radical influence and by Radical appointment. The sooner the people rise up and drive these fellows from their places, the quicker will come the day when justice will be done to the widows of those who sacrificed their lives upon the altar of their country, and to the scarred surviving heroes of the late war.

In this connection, we would state that we have read the masterly argument of Mathews, Poulson & Co., of Philadelphia, on this question of the right of the pensioner to empower any Attorney of his or her choice, to receive the money on the pension voucher. It is a full and clear exposition of the subject and is a just rebuke of this extraordinary assumption of power on the part of the Pension Agent at Philadelphia.

The Secretary of the Interior, to whom the appeal was taken, whilst he decides against them, is careful to evade the issue, and does not touch the question of the right of the pensioner to appoint an Attorney to receive the money.

Keep the Radicals in power and before long, every citizen will find a self-constituted Radical Committee insisting on attending to his own private business. And if he does not watch closely, he will find himself robbed of all he has by these self-appointed guardians who will pretend that they want to take better care of his funds than he can exercise himself.

Vote for Packer and the whole Democratic ticket and oust these unworthy officials from the places which they have disgraced.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: Boils the election down to approving or repealing the 15th amendment. Says Republicans will uphold it and Democrats will defeat it, so urges voters to elect Democrats not only to keep votes away from blacks but also to preserve state rights.

Full Text of Article:

Are you in favor of the fifteenth amendment? Do you believe in the right of Congress to override your State constitution and force negro suffrage upon you? If so, vote for McKnight and Gantt. They will never disturb the resolution of the Pennsylvania Legislature ratifying the fifteenth amendment. McKnight says he is opposed to negro suffrage, but he only wants to catch Democratic votes. Should he be elected, he would chuckle over the trick by which he deceived Democrats.

Or, do you want the fifteenth amendment defeated? Do you wish to teach Congress that they must not interfere with the right of the people of a State to regulate the right of Suffrage? Do you want to prevent the negro from voting? If so, vote for Skinner and Milliken. They will both vote to repeal the resolution ratifying the fifteenth amendment. They deceive nobody on this question. Their position is taken boldly and without equivocation. They use no false pretences to obtain votes.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The paper gloats over the Repository's revelations of the expenditures during Republican administration of the Poor House. They spent three times as much as Democrats. The paper advocates remedying the situation by electing Democrat Frederick C. Long Director of the Poor House.
(Names in announcement: Frederick C. Long)

The Radical Border Damage Record
(Column 05)

Summary: The paper charges that Republican State Legislators opposed payment of war damages to residents of border counties.

Work! Work!! Work!!!
(Column 05)

Summary: The paper urges all Democrats to vote, and suggests formations of committees to bring laggard friends and neighbors to the polls.

[No Title]
(Column 05)

Summary: The paper endorses Democrat Jacob Brumbaugh as candidate to replace Radical Jonas C. Palmer as county commissioner. This election is especially crucial since a victory would give Democrats a majority on the board.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Brumbaugh, Jonas C. Palmer)

[No Title]
(Column 05)

Summary: The paper endorses William Reber, "an honest man," for county treasurer.
(Names in announcement: William Reber)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper warns Democrats that the county will be flooded with "spurious tickets" and urges them to check their own before voting.

Music
(Column 01)

Summary: Maj. H. R. Hershberger will begin giving violin lessons.
(Names in announcement: Maj. H. R. Hershberger)

Confirmation
(Column 01)

Summary: Bishop Stranahan administered the sacrament of confirmation in Chambersburg's Catholic Church to 25 young ladies and 19 young men.

A Festival
(Column 01)

Summary: The German Reformed Church of St. Thomas held a festival on the 24th and 25th to raise money for their Sunday School library. It was held in the churchyard, and cake, ice cream, and fruit was served. The Citizen's Band of Chambersburg performed. The event grossed $151 leaving a profit of $75.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Major A. R. Calhoun, Philadelphia pension agent, will speak at a Republican meeting at the Court House. "Whilst he is making stump speeches for Geary, the widows of soldiers are waiting, anxiously waiting for their pension money. He will mail the checks the day after the election. Until then, he has no time."

Club Meeting
(Column 02)

Summary: Capt. George W. Skinner, candidate for the assembly, addressed the Democratic Club of St. Thomas Township. "The Captain defined his position on the negro suffrage question and the Border Damage claim with clearness and force. The Democracy of St. Thomas seems to be wide awake, and we expect to hear from them after the election."
(Names in announcement: Capt. George Skinner)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Jesse Craig, "one of the most estimable citizens of Franklin County," died near Welsh Run on September 23rd. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Greencastle. The board issued resolutions of sympathy and respect.
(Names in announcement: Jesse Craig, J. C. McLanahan, L. H. Fletcher)

More About the Railroad
(Column 02)

Summary: Engineers are surveying routes for a railroad linking the Cumberland Valley road to Loudon. Citizens of Greencastle and Mercersburg have pledged $130,000 for a route that goes through their towns. An alternative route would go through Bridgeport in Peters Township. $75,000 would need to be raised for that route. The paper urges the people of Loudon and Path Valley to do it.

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Abraham Mills and Jennie Miller, both of Chambersburg, were married by the Rev. J. G. Schaff.
(Names in announcement: Abraham Mills, Jennie Miller, Rev. J. G. Schaff)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: George W. Howard and Miss Mary M. Hyers, both of Shippensburg, were married on September 12th at the U. B. Parsonage by the Rev. J. G. Schaff.
(Names in announcement: George W. Howard, Mary M. Hyers, Rev. J. G. Schaff)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Franklin Zarman, Jr., and Miss Annie M. Meessy, both of Chambersburg, were married on September 28th at the U. B. Parsonage by the Rev. J. G. Schaff.
(Names in announcement: Franklin ZarmanJr., Annie M. Meessy, Rev. J. G. Schaff)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: John Rosenberry of Adams County and Miss Sarah E. Mackey of Horse Valley were married on September 30th at the U. B. Parsonage by the Rev. J. G. Schaff.
(Names in announcement: John Rosenberry, Sarah E. Mackey, Rev. J. G. Schaff)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: William J. Reed and Miss Maggie McNinon, both of Franklin, were married on September 25th at Spring Run by the Rev. J. P. Anthony.
(Names in announcement: William J. Reed, Maggie McNinon, Rev. J. P. Anthony)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Christian Heneberger died in Chambersburg on October 3rd. He was 75 years old.
(Names in announcement: Christian Heneberger)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Mrs. Esther Winger, wife of Joseph Winger, died at Claylick on September 24th after a lingering illness. She was 54 years old.
(Names in announcement: Esther Winger, Joseph Winger)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Jesse Craig died near Welsh Run on September 23rd. He was 71 years old.
(Names in announcement: Jesse Craig)

Died
(Column 04)

Summary: Abraham Hass died near Waynesboro on September 24th. He was 53 years old.
(Names in announcement: Abraham Hass)