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Valley Spirit, , 1864Go To Page : |
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Address of the Democratic Senators
(Column 1)Summary: Sixteen Democratic members of the Pennsylvania Senate air their views on a number of issues facing the state legislature and attack Republican senators for trampling on their rights.
Gov. Bramlette on Negro Recruiting
(Column 3)Summary: Prints a letter written by Governor Thomas Bramlette of Kentucky to a general from that state in which he condemns those individuals who "trade" blacks and send them North to serve in the US Army.
The Rebellion Must Be Put Down--But What Then?
(Column 4)Summary: Suggests that there is no good outcome to follow the present war, and asks readers to support a return to the old Union.
Excerpt: "The opportunity to return to the safe policy is before us in the coming election. Let us go back. Let us present to the vast population of the South the old Union and old Constitution for their acceptance, with the rights of the States unimpaired. Let the principles of the Crittenden Resolutions be studied carefully and adopted heartily. The present disease of the nation is rebellion."
Full Text of Article:Men shrink, says the Journal of Commerce, from looking into the future. They find fault with those who insist on questioning the effect of present policy on the nation's destiny. The rebellion must be put down. To this all agree; but what then? This question is [illegible] ill-timed--copperish--disloyal. The voice of the dominant party overpowers the voice of the earnest lover of this country, who asks anxiously what is to follow the suppression of the rebellion? "What business is it of ours now?" they say--what right have you to interrupt the work of crushing the rebellion by suggesting that there is any other question?"
The rebellion is a terrible curse--a grand evil--a huge crime. It must be got rid of.--But there are other curses, other evils, other crimes. A disease in the human body is a great evil. But the Physician is a murderer who directs his whole skill to suppressing the disease, and pays no attention to the preservation of the constitution. Many diseases might be suddenly and wholly driven out of the system by doses of arsenic. Many a terrible swelling or tumor might be eradicated by a free use of the knife, but the blood and the life might follow the knife. Fevers might be cured by remedies that would bring bodily weakness and certain death soon afterward.--Shall we crush a rebellion in such a way as to destroy the vital system, when it can be done otherwise? Shall we carry on this war so as to come out of it weakened, impoverished, with a terrible load of debt and a terrible load of sectional hatred and bitterness, and without that compact, hearty, healthy condition of the nation which is necessary to enable us to recover even ordinary strength? The life blood of our country is the affection of the people for the Union; and if this affection fails, blood fails, and the body dies. Temporary alienation may be cured, but if we seek to cure it by means calculated to make the alienation permanent, we are not likely to benefit the system by our experiment. The work can be accomplished without this result. Why not be wise in time?
Men may seek to stifle these questions, but they are seizing fast hold on the minds of the people. It is plain as the noonday sun that if the policy of the present administration is continued into another four years, we have seen the end of the American Union. Mr. Lincoln and his advisers can never restore that Union to life and health, nor can they build up a new Constitution to replace that which they are destroying. They cannot save the life or the nation. If we are to trust to them, it may as well be confessed to-day, as it certainly will be confessed next year, that the old Union is gone, and forever, and that their new government will be a weak and worthless experiment. Why close our eyes to these solemn truths?--The principle of wholesale abolition and confiscation, founded on the idea of conquering and govering[ sic] as a conquered people millions of Americans, is contrary to the spirit of free institutions. It is poison in the blood of the Union. It is death to republican government. The one-tenth plan of Mr. Lincoln, by which one man is to govern nine, and one tenth of the population are to elect representatives, electors, legislators and governors for the whole population, wielding the old power of the whole, as if all were acting--this plan is in direct violation of American principles and of moral right. It is directly hostile to the constitutional guarantee of republican forms of government. At best the one-tenth ought not to elect more than one-tenth of the representatives--ought not to be wielding the power of more than one-tenth the population. How would free principles survive the shock of beholding one tenth of the population of Virginia balancing, in the House of Representatives, the votes of five Northern States, and ten times their number of Northern voter [sic]? The idea is not only absurd, but it is a deadly thrust at the whole fabric of our government! But what if that be permitted, and the one tenth do make a new State Constitution for the nine-tenths, as the absolute, incontrovertible law of the State, are those nine-tenths ever likely to be cheerful lovers of the Union? It is useless to discuss this plan. It is too plainly contrary to the fundamental principles of our government to commend the respect even of the most devoted followers of those who invented it.
What sort of a free government will the United States be when re-constructed on this plan? New York, with her millions of freemen, will find herself out-voted and out-weighed in both houses of Congress by other States with one-tenth of her own numbers; and that tenth will be partly or wholly negro, if the dominant party carry out consistently its present avowed policy! Does any one imagine that that will be a Union which North-men or Southern men will love, will cling to, will fight for? Was it such a Union as that, for which we have poured out treasures of money and life to save?
How will such a Union pay the interest on thousands of millions of debt? How pay the debt?
If the present policy is pursued, the war will last for years, and only terminate in an armed occupation, equivalent to a constant war, with expenses annually footing up hundreds of millions. We want no unwilling union, no mere conquered submission, to carry out such a debt as ours will be. We must have a cordial, hearty, willing union, or we are bankrupt, ruined. Our nation, united willingly, can carry more debt than any other people, and can pay it. Our nation, pacified by the confiscation of Southern property, the extirpation or disfranchisement of Southern men, cannot carry that debt. The first element of doubt and danger will be the existence of States unpledged to pay the debt, and mortgaged to act only by one-tenth of their people. The future is big with other forms of discord, with other elements of national disease, and if the union be not healthy and willing, they will break out as ulcers here and there.
It is in vain to close our eyes on these truths. The rebellion must be put down, but it must be put down in such a way as to leave the nation with vitality, energy, and hope. Under the present policy, there is no future of union. A new government, a new constitution, a new form of union, a new principle of unity--all these go into the radical calculation, but all these fail to show anything but a wreck of the old American Union in the radical view of the future. Men of American, rouse yourselves to the truths we have set before you! Awake before it is too late! The opportunity to return to the safe policy is before us in the coming election. Let us go back. Let us present to the vast population of the South the old Union and old Constitution for their acceptance, with the rights of the States unimpaired. Let the principles of the Crittenden Resolutions be studied carefully and adopted heartily. The present disease of the nation is rebellion. Let that disease be eradicated without introducing new forms of internal suffering and complaint. Let us act as millions of men talking to millions of men should act if they would exercise ordinary common sense based on the experience of nations in all the centuries.
Our of this terrible strait the nation may be brought, free, ennobled, strong, to resume her old pathway of glory and beneficence. Rebellion will have received a lesson which will prevent its hideous form from again rising for a century, either in New England or the South. But if we go on as now, the very principles established will be in favor of new rebellions whenever any part of the people become insane over some fanatical notion of reform.
Thrilling Account
(Column 5)Summary: Reveals that a supposed Unionist in Arkansas has been linked to a plot to kill President Lincoln.
Abolition Outrages
(Column 6)Summary: Takes note of incidents in Ohio in which abolitionist mobs destroyed the property of known Democrats.
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Description of Page: Poetry and fiction, columns 1-6, including a tale of friendship across the lines of battle |
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Description of Page: Classified ads, columns 2-6 |
Agricultural: Buying Cheap Fruit Trees
(Column 1)Summary: Warns readers against buying cheap fruit trees and provides tips on selecting ideal trees.
Butter in Winter
(Column 2)Summary: Suggests that feeding carrots to cows in the winter will help produce better tasting butter during that season.
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The Senate Unlocked
(Column 1)Summary: Praises Democratic senators for forcing their Republican counterparts to hold an election for speaker of the state senate.
Mischief-Making
(Column 1)Summary: Urges readers not to believe reports of the hanging of twenty-three Union soldiers by General Pickett in North Carolina. The Spirit condemns the manufacturers of such reports for exacerbating sectional strife.
Southern Pennsylvania Railroad
(Column 2)Summary: Suggests that the county's prominent citizens should attend a meeting about a new portion of the Southern Pennsylvania Railroad that would open up the East Broad Top coal region.
Governor Seymour Officially Vindicated
(Column 3)Summary: Notes that draft quotas for New York have been reduced and credits that state's governor for pushing for this change.
Origin of Article: New York World
The Testimony of Republicans
(Column 4)Summary: Notes that only five Republican US senators have come out in favor of President Lincoln's reelection.
Killed
(Column 4)Summary: Reports that a recent vote by Republican members of the Pennsylvania House to send military damage legislation to the committee on foreign relations is tantamount to killing the bill.
(Names in announcement: Mr.Sharpe)Excerpt: "Citizens of Franklin county, you who were deceived by the hollow promises made to you by Republican stump speakers during the last campaign, what think you now of the value of Republican pledges?"
Full Text of Article:The bill introduced in the Legislature by Mr. Sharpe to indemnify our citizens for losses sustained by the rebel invasions and which has been under discussion for some weeks was, a few days ago, referred to the committee on federal relations by a strict party vote--the Republicans voting in favor and the Democrats against the reference. This is considered as substantially killing the bill. Citizens of Franklin county, you who were deceived by the hollow promises made to you by Republican stump speakers during the last campaign, what think you now of the the [sic] value of Republican pledges?
An Act Related to the Payment of Bounties to Volunteers
(Column 5)Summary: Prints the transcript of a bill before the Pennsylvania state legislature that outlines the procedures for paying volunteers.
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Description of Page: Classified ads, columns 4-6 |
Obituary
(Column 1)Summary: Lengthy obituary tells about the life of Dr. Stewart Kennedy, who died suddenly of congestion of the lungs. He was a physician with the US Navy, after having practiced medicine in the office of Dr. A. H. Senseny in Chambersburg.
(Names in announcement: Dr.StewartKennedy, Dr.A. H.Senseny)
East Baltimore Conference
(Column 2)Summary: Lists names of ministers from the Frederick and Carlisle Districts who were appointed to the East Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. From Carlisle District: J. S. McMurry, Presiding Elder; Carlisle, Thomas Sherlock; Emory Church, S. L. Bowman; Carlisle Circuit, John Moorehead, E. F. Pitcher; Mechanicsburg, James C. Clarke; Mount Holly Springs, W. M. Frysinger; Shippensburg, Jno. A. Dixon; Shippensburg Circuit, J. G. McKeehan; Chambersburg, Thomas Barnhart; York Springs, W. G. Ferguson; Hanover, Collins Stevens; Gettysburg, S. L. M. Conner, J. M. Lantz; York, John H. C. Dosh; York Chapel, William W. Evans; Wrightsville, Emory Buhrman; Shrewsbury, George Warren, J. G. Moore; Petersburg, James Brads; Newport, H. S. Mendenhall; New Bloomfield, F. B. Riddle, D. A. Isenburg; Miffin, S. H. C. Smith; Miffin Circuit, George W. Bouse, T. Marshal West; Joseph A. Ross, Chaplain United States Army, member of Carlisle Quarterly Conference; Alem Brittain, Chaplain United States Army, member of Carlisle Circuit Quarterly Conference; A. G. Marlatt, President Irving Female College, member of Mechanicsburg Quarterly Conference; R. D. Chambers, President at Emory Female College, member of Emory Quarterly Conference.
(Names in announcement: J. S.McMurry, ThomasSherlock, S. L.Bowman, JohnMoorehead, E. F.Pitcher, James C.Clarke, W. M.Frysinger, Jno. A.Dixon, J. G.McKeehan, ThomasBarnhart, W. G.Ferguson, CollinsStevens, S. L. M.Conner, J. M.Lantz, John H. C.Dosh, William W.Evans, EmoryBuhrman, GeorgeWarren, J. G.Moore, JamesBrads, H. S.Mendenhall, F. B.Riddle, D. A.Isenburg, S. H. C.Smith, George W.Bouse, T. MarshalWest, Joseph A.Ross, AlemBrittain, A. G.Marlatt, R. D.Chambers)
Professional Slaughter
(Column 2)Summary: Praises the existence of new pills and medications that will allow people to care for their own stomach ailments without having to consult doctors.
Origin of Article: Boston Journal
Serious Accident
(Column 3)Summary: Reports that a son of Jacob Wise severely fractured his arm when working with the threshing machine belonging to Henry Shearer. Drs. Kennedy and Hays were forced to amputate his arm, and he is now doing well in recovery.
(Names in announcement: Mr.JacobWise, HenryShearer, Dr.Kennedy, Dr.Hays)
South Ward Meeting
(Column 3)Summary: Announces that a meeting of South Ward Democrats will be held next Wednesday at the house of A. J. Bland. North Ward Democrats will be meeting the same evening at Mrs. Montgomery's house.
(Names in announcement: A. J.Bland, Mrs.Montgomery)
[No Title]
(Column 3)Summary: Reports that Dr. R. S. Sales has resigned as surgeon for the board of enrollment in this district. Dr. S. G. Lane, now the surgeon of the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves, will probably replace him.
(Names in announcement: Dr.R. S.Sales, Dr.S. G.Lane)
Married
(Column 4)Summary: Rev. M. Wolf married George Pfeifer and Catharine Brown on March 6.
(Names in announcement: Rev.M.Wolf, Mr.GeorgePfeifer, Mrs.CatharineBrown)
Married
(Column 4)Summary: Rev. R. P. Thomas married James A. Sellers of the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry and Charlotte C. Reamer on March 6 at the home of Daniel Coble.
(Names in announcement: Rev.R. P.Thomas, Mr.DanielCoble, Mr.James A.Sellers, MissCharlotte C.Reamer)
Died
(Column 4)Summary: Mrs. Catharine Heagen, widow of Mr. Henry Heagen, died on February 28 at the home of her son-in-law, George Groop. She was 77 years old.
(Names in announcement: Mr.George A.Groop, Mrs.CatharineHeagen, Mr.HenryHeagen)
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Description of Page: Classified ads, columns 1-6 |
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Description of Page: Classified ads, columns 1-6 |
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Description of Page: Classified ads, columns 1-6 |