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Valley Spirit: July 25, 1860 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

Henry B. Foster
(Column 02)

Summary: Pennsylvanians shouldn't overlook the important upcoming gubernatorial election and shouldn't let the split in the national Democratic party get carried over into state elections. The paper supports Henry D. Foster.

Origin of Article: Mifflintown Democrat

All the Ratical (sic) Abolitionists for Lincoln
(Column 03)

Summary: Believes that, since a man may be told by the company he keeps, the fact that the Anti-Slavery Convention supports Lincoln means that he is a radical abolitionist.

Origin of Article: Genius of Liberty

Artemas on Abraham
(Column 03)

Summary: A "racy burlesque" about Lincoln.

Origin of Article: Cleveland Plaindealer

Republican Economy
(Column 04)

Summary: The Republican charges were disproved before the committee. Furthermore, the "Black Republican House" printed 100,000 committee reports at government expense. The sole purpose of the committee, the paper argues, was to make political capital.

Origin of Article: New York Tribune

Editorial Comment: The Covode Committee was created to prove the Republican charges that the Democrats were extravagant and that they used public money for partisan purposes. The Tribune wrote the following article about the committee.

Distressing Event
(Column 05)

Summary: Miss Anna Mary Wolf of Hamilton Township, PA, fell and broke her neck.
(Names in announcement: Anna Mary Wolf)

The KGC--"Mexico is to be Southernized and Americanized"
(Column 06)

Summary: General Bickley published an address to the Knights of the Golden Circle stating that Texas has raised money to Americanize and Southernize Mexico, "looking to the establishment of a Southern Confederacy." He encourages other southern states to contribute.

Gov. Johnson's Acceptance
(Column 05)

Summary: Reprint of Johnson's Acceptance speech for the Vice Presidential nomination. In it, he states that the secessionists were waging war against Douglas at the convention, not fighting for principle.

The Transcript on the "Nigger Question"
(Column 01)

Summary: Includes an excerpt from the Transcript on what it terms "Nigger Democracy," which aims to crush free white labor with slave labor. The Spirit criticizes this view and says that the Republicans care more for slaves than for poor laboring white men.

Full Text of Article:

The whole policy of the Nigger Democracy has been, for years, to crush out Free White Labor and substitute the unpaid toil of negro slaves in the places accustomed to be filled by white sons and daughters of industry who, regardless of the sneers of the oligarchy, voluntarily prefer to work with their own hands for an honest livelyhood to living in idleness supported by the sweat and toil of a despised, abused, persecuted race of helpless, hapless beings--poor, ignorant Africans.

We need scarcely tell our readers that the above elegant extract is from the luminous editorial columns of the Transcript. It bears so much evidence on the face of it of the stupendously brilliant mind that presides over that sheet that there is no mistaking the source. Our readers will recognize it at once, and without any trouble, as one of the "feats of agility" that the smart editor of that paper weekly performs, in conformity with its motto, that "it is essential that public opinion be enlightened." Well, he is the boy to "enlighten" it as "clear as mud," and we are sure our readers will feel grateful to us for transferring this small sample of his light to our columns, and thus allow the ambitious editor more room to spread himself, as his own paper is becoming entirely too contracted for his extensive pretensions, and wonderful capacity, to show off with advantage. We, therefore, take him under "our wing" as one of our "tender brood," and considering the material we have to work on, we hope to bring him out full fledged and able to crow like a respectable "bantam" and earn a "livelyhood" by his lively scratching. The orthography belongs exclusively to the Transcript.

It will appear by the extract from the Transcript that the maudlin sympathies of its editor is strongly enlisted in behalf of the "poor, hapless, ignorant Africans."--He means the niggers, of course, but is too polite to his esteemed wooly-headed friends to call them by any other name than that of "Africans." The Democracy, however, in his exalted estimation, are "niggers"--he professes to know them by no other name than that of "nigger Democracy!" His phelinx for the "poor Africans" are so much worked up that his outrageously strong christian propensities are excited to such a degree as to induce him to hug the whole wooly-headed race to his bosom and boo-hoo over them as his "tender brood," but the "Nigger Democracy" are not dark-skinned enough to find a place in his affections. Should he be crossed in his love for the nigger, it is to be hoped that he may not commit suicide, or die of a broken heart, as the Democracy could not well get along without the valuable assistance they expect from him in the present campaign.

We suppose we must take him as we find him--the embodiment of the Republican party in Franklin county--the head and front of that institution--the organ from which is ground out the music to which that party must dance--well then, as the exponent of the principles of that party, we have from him their platform on the "nigger question," in a nut-shell, in the above extract. It is their intention to set the niggers all free and make the "white sons and daughters of industry" take their place. The negro must be the master and the white man the slave. The "persecuted race of helpless, hapless beings--poor, ignorant Africans" may "live in idleness" but "white sons and daughters" must work, work, work. This is the doctrine laid down by the Transcript, and we have long suspected it to be the aim of the Republican party, but never before found an editor fool-hardy enough to make the declaration.

We feel loath to deprive the Transcript of the pleasure it finds in terming us the "Negro Democracy," but after the love it has expressed for the "ignorant African," and its avowed intention to set the negroes free and enslave white men and women too, we must consider the Republican party fairly entitled to be called the "nigger party." The Transcript cannot hereafter, with any show of consistency, call us ugly names. I must give up the beauty and burthen of its editorials, and acknowledge that it prefers the nigger to the white man, or eat its own words.

Will the poor laboring white men, of Franklin county, be found in the ranks of a party that is constantly expressing so much love and so much pity for the nigger and not one word of sympathy or condolence for them? The "abused, persecuted race of helpless, hapless beings--poor, ignorant Africans," is the burthen of their song. All their efforts are now directed to stock the sugar plantations of Louisiana, and the cotton fields of Georgia, with white slaves in place of black ones, so that the nigger may be the nabob and live in idleness. O! How they do love the nigger, and if they could only get him to vote here, as they have in Massachusetts, their happiness would be complete.

The Slavery Question in Congress
(Column 02)

Summary: Calls for an end to all the slavery agitation in Congress, which is seemingly unable to accomplish any business because of Republican agitation.

The Disunion Nomination
(Column 03)

Summary: Argues that the men who nominated Breckinridge and Lane did so because they supported dissolving the Union and dividing the Democrats, not because they believed that this ticket could win.

Democratic Mass Convention
(Column 03)

Summary: The Democratic Party of Pennsylvania will meet in Harrisburg on July 26th. The Spirit hopes that Franklin County Democrats will stand by the regular nominees of the party.

Sound Talk
(Column 05)

Summary: The Banner considers it the duty of every Democrat to support the regular nomination wholeheartedly.

Origin of Article: Mt. Vernon (Ohio) Banner

Editorial Comment: This paper opposed Douglas before his nomination, but "now comes out in the following manly language."

Mr. Editor
(Column 06)

Summary: Writer argues that the secessionists are demanding protection of slavery in the territories; this is not the traditional Democratic stand for non-intervention. He believes this new position would increase friction between slave holders and abolitionists in the territories.

Railroad Prospects Increasing
(Column 01)

Summary: A New York railroad company sent out a Mr. J.E. Wharton to survey the proposed road near Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: Esq. Emmanuel Kuhn, Hezekiah Easton, James Kelly)

Full Text of Article:

While Philadelphia and Baltimore Merchants and Capitalists remain inactive, as they too frequently do, New York has a competent and intelligent citizen now going over the route of the Allegheny and Connelsville projected railroad, gathering such information as will enable him to place as true and correct a statement of the route as he can do by a visit and information obtained from old surveyors before the Capitalists of New York. Mr. J. E. Wharton, the gentleman alluded to above, arrived here on Thursday noon last, had letters of introduction to many of our citizens, with whom there was much communicated on the subject of the contemplated railroad; he appears to have no fear of the controlling influence of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad over the Cumberland Valley, he views the matter thus: they cannot discriminate, or charge more than their charter allows, and the short distance of the Cumberland V. R. R., being only fifty miles, is but a drop in the bucket when the length of the Road from New York west and southwest is taken into consideration. That New York must have an outlet to the great west and southwest shorter than she now has to keep her commerce and business in advance of Philadelphia and Baltimore where she now has it. And who can blame them for acting on the principal of the man whose only prayer was "bless me and my wife, my son John and his, we four and no more," while we acknowledge a degree of mortification, that Philadelphia the metropolis of our State thus far has shown no disposition to avail herself by immediate action to secure the advantages of this route to build up their city, compete with, and get in advance of New York. We at Chambersburg, as well as Fulton, Bedford and Somerset counties who have had to pay our full quota of State taxes for the Canal and Central R. R., by which Philadelphians are enriched, and however mortified we may be at their apathy, we hail with pleasure the action of New York in the case, and feel disposed to vary the prayer alluded to and say "Bless Chambersburg and the city who builds the road, we two and that will do.

On Friday morning last, Emanuel Kuhn, Esq., an old surveyor of this county, took Mr. Wharton in a carriage as far as Loudon.

Mr. Hezikah Easton, who is perfectly acquainted with the locality of the route from there to Cowans Gap, and form the Gap to the Burnt Cabins, conveyed Mr. Wharton to Burnt Cabins, and when there, it was calculated from the known anxiety of Mr. James Kelly to get out of the mountains by Railroad, he would see to his comforts for the balance of the road to Bedford, where Mr. Wharton will be put under the care, we suppose of the Little Giant John Cesna and others, who can aid him.

In our next issue we expect to give some railroad statistics of Somerset County, as she had either five or six delegates at the Harrisburg R. R. Convention, to whose names the significant letters were attached, Hon., which ought to mean able to write, and additional information from Mr. Wharton's survey of the route from this to the Sand Patch.

Douglas and Johnson Club
(Column 01)

Summary: A special meeting of the Douglas and Johnson Club was held on July 21 to select permanent officers.
(Names in announcement: D.W. Beaver, A.J. Brand, D.W. Deihl, C.M. Duncan, Augustine Duncan, Captain Matthew Gillan, J.T. Hoskinson, William Kennedy, H.C. Keyser, J.P. McClintock, Vincent McCoy, S.R. McKesson, B.F. Nead, Hon. James Nill, T.X. Orr, Hon. Wilson Reilly, James Reilly, J.G. Ripper, D. Watson Rowe, D.W. Rowe, Jacob Seilers, Esq. J.M. Sharpe, Hiram White)

Railroad Survey
(Column 01)

Summary: The above-listed men were appointed to a committee to make a collection for the defraying of expenses for a railroad survey.
(Names in announcement: B. Kuhn, Wm. Seibert, J.W. Fletcher, Dunlap Dickson, Peter Hollar, Samuel Linn, H. Easton, Geo. Stenger, Hartman Dickhout, Charles Campbell, Samuel Walker, James Brewster)

Full Text of Article:

--The following gentlemen have been appointed Committees for their several Districts to make collections to defray the expense of making a survey for a Rail- Road between Chambersburg and Burnt Cabins:

For Chambersburg--E. Kuhn, Wm. Seibert, J. W. Fletcher.

St. Thomas township--Dunlap Dickson, Peter Hollar, Samuel Linn.

Peters township--H. Easton, Geo. Stenger, Hartman Dickhout.

Metal township--Charles Campbell, Samuel Walker, James Brewster.

Agricultural Association
(Column 02)

Summary: A meeting of the board of directors of the Farmers and Mechanics Industrial Association of Franklin County was held on July 21st to complete arrangements for the upcoming fair.

Insurance Companies versus Individuals
(Column 02)

Summary: Mr. Ditman and Mr. Ott, who were not insured, have rebuilt their property more quickly after the recent fire than has Mr. Deckelmayer, who was insured. The paper criticizes insurance companies for not acting promptly.

Full Text of Article:

--If any of our readers desire to witness a specimen of the energy with which individuals can go to work and repair their damages, when not trammeled by Insurance companies, let them visit the scene of the late fire. Mr. Ditman was not insured and he has his property now repaired and doing business as usual. Mr. Ott was also not insured and he has his house now under roof and will have it ready to remove into a short space of time. Mr. Deckelmayer, the only party insured, owing to the dilly-dallying of the Insurance companies, has been unable to make any repairs and is suffering a heavy pecuniary loss every day. If Insurance companies wish to stand well with the public they should act promptly and repair all damages that they have stipulated to make good, or place the amount of insurance in the hands of the owner of the property destroyed, that he may go to work at once and repair the loss he has sustained.

Boat Excursion
(Column 02)

Summary: Mr. Solenberger has fitted out a boat for parties to rent out for excursions on the Conococheague.

Full Text of Article:

--We take pleasure in informing the ladies and gentlemen of this place that Mr. Solenberger has fitted out a safe and elegant boat in which parties can enjoy a delightful boat excursion on the Conococheague. His terms are very reasonable and the ride is certainly a safe and pleasant one, infinitely more agreeable and conducive to health, than a drive through the dust and heat of our streets. Mr. Solenberger may be found, every evening, at the "wharf" at the Baptist church. We hope Mr. Solenberger's enterprise may be liberally patronized. We would say to parents bring out your little ones and treat them to a ride on our romantic and beautiful stream, and let them enjoy the fun "as they sail, as they sail" and it will plant a bloom on their hearts as well as their cheeks.

Extract of a Letter
(Column 02)

Summary: Letter from a citizen of Somerset, Pennsylvania about the railroad survey.

Full Text of Article:

From a highly respectable gentleman, well known to our citizens, of Somerset, Pa., July 15, 1860.

"Our friends here are active in pressing forward the Rail-Road project. Agents, (now on the route exploring--see another article in this week's Spirit,) have been appointed in New York to press the claims of this road on Capitalists, and there is a constant correspondence between that City and those interested in this road. Funds have been raised to have a survey made, the New Yorkers to furnish the engenuity. By their means we will be able to furnish statistics to convince the skeptical as to the feasibility of the enterprise. When this is once accomplished, the money will be forthcoming, so say the knowing ones."

Wire Walking
(Column 02)

Summary: Prof. Pries performed his high-wire walk between Fisher's Hotel and Mr. Heyser's Drug Store, over one hundred and fifty feet.

Full Text of Article:

--On Monday, in this place, Prof. Price, performed the hazardous feat of walking a wire stretched from the roof of Fisher's Hotel to the top of the building occupied by Mr. Heyser as a Drug Store, the distance being about one hundred and fifty feet. The feat was performed in a very clever manner, was everything promised, and gave entire satisfaction to witness the daring and interesting exhibition.

Water Works
(Column 03)

Summary: The paper is gratified to learn that the Town Council is determined to build a water works. They have written to the Chief Engineer of the Philadelphia Water Works to ask for his help in surveying and estimating costs.

Almost a Fire
(Column 03)

Summary: Someone set a fire in the stable of Mrs. Margaret Reidell on West Market street. It was extinguished before it destroyed her property.
(Names in announcement: Margaret Reidell)

Constitution and By Laws
(Column 03)

Summary: Reprint of the Constitution and bylaws of the Chambersburg Douglas and Johnson Club.