Valley Spirit: November 2, 1864 — Newspapers

Page Description:

Classified ads, columns 1-3; poetry, column 4

The November Elections

(column 5)

Summary:

Claims that the results of the recent local elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana show that the political tide is running in the Democrats' favor for the presidential election. Calls Pennsylvania a state "certain to vote for McClellan."

Excerpt:

"The result of the elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, as well as the recent town vote in Connecticut, settles the question that the political tide is running heavily against the administration."

Full Text of Article

The result of the elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, as well as the recent town vote in Connecticut, settles the question that the political tide is running heavily against the administration.

All the gain is on the side of the Democratic party, and now that the current has fairly set in, it will move with accelerated force up to the time the November vote is taken. The present is a good time, therefore, to present some estimates of the probable result in several States when the presidential vote is taken.

The whole number of votes in the electoral college (not counting Tennessee or Louisiana,) is two hundred and thirty-one, of which one hundred and sixteen are required to give a clear majority and elect a President. Now, can General McClellan secure one hundred and sixteen votes? We think--nay, we are sure, he can and will; and we give the following estimates as the basis of the faith that is in us:

States Certain To Vote For McClellan California 5 Delaware 3 Illinois 16 Kentucky 11 Maryland 7 Minnesota 4 Missouri 11 New Jersey 7 New York 33 Pennsylvania 26 Oregon 3 Total 126

But the administration may put a forcible stop to elections in Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware; so it becomes a question whether there are not some other States which will probably vote the Democratic ticket. That there are such will be seen by the following list:

States Which Will Probably Vote For McClellan. Connecticut 6 Indiana 13 Michigan 8 New Hampshire 5 Rhode Island 4 West Virginia 5 Wisconsin 8 Total 49

States Certainly For Lincoln. Iowa 8 Kansas 3 Maine 7 Massachusetts 12 Vermont 5 Total 35

States Which May Go Lincoln. Michigan 8 New Hampshire 5 West Virginia 5 Ohio 21 Rhode Island 4 Wisconsin 8 Total 51

It will thus be seen that if Lincoln carries the doubtful Republican, as well as the certain Republican States, he will still fall far short of the needed 116 votes.

It is easily demonstrable that the same percentage of increase of this fall's vote in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, as compared with last year, will give us all the States in November save those indicated above as being certain for Lincoln.

Although in all human probability General McClellan will be honestly elected President on the 8th of November next, still there is so large a margin of doubt, that Democrats cannot afford to consider the matter settled. All hands must turn to and work with a will in the brief three weeks before us. Democratic speakers must be stirring, the conservative presses must multiply their issues. One earnest and determined effort will make the assurance of victory doubly sure.

George H. Pendleton

(column 6)

Summary:

Prints vice-presidential candidate George H. Pendleton's defense against Republican claims that he is a "disunionist."

Excerpt:

"There is no one who cherishes a greater regard for the Union, who has a higher sense of its inestimable benefits, who would more earnestly labor for its restoration by all means which will effect that end, than myself."

Why Mr. Lincoln Should Not Be Elected

(column 6)

Summary:

Publishes Maryland Senator Reverdy Johnson's reasons for why Lincoln should not be reelected.

Excerpt:

"He has violated the Constitution by his Abolition proclamations. . . . He has violated his amnesty proclamation."

Election Frauds in Indiana

(column 7)

Summary:

Prints reports from various Indiana and Pennsylvania newspapers telling about instances of Republican fraud in the recent election.

Page 2

Page Description:

Previously published political notice, column 1; report on the peace resolutions before the Alabama legislature, column 7

Democrats to the Rescue

(column 1)

Summary:

Reminds readers that they can save the Union by voting Democratic in next week's election.

Old Line Whigs!

(column 1)

Summary:

Urges "old line Whigs" to help restore the Union of their fathers by voting Democratic.

Conservatives, Rally!

(column 1)

Summary:

Tells conservative men of all parties that their business pursuits will return to normal if McClellan wins the presidential election.

General McClellan's Parting With His Army

(column 2)

Summary:

Account of McClellan's last days in command highlights his "love" for and "devotion" to his soldiers.

The Frauds in Indiana

(column 2)

Summary:

Chastizes Republicans for resorting to fraud in the recent elections. Urges readers to get out and vote Democratic next week in order to combat this.

Excerpt:

"If elections can be carried by such means, and the people tamely acquiesce, then, indeed, are we already a nation of slaves."

Elect McClellan and You Will Have a Speedy and Honorable Peace

(column 3)

Summary:

Prints remarks of an "old line Whig" from a speech given to a McClellan meeting in Connecticut.

Excerpt:

"I do firmly and honestly believe that, if by the aid of this good old State of Connecticut, George Brinton McClellan shall be proclaimed President of the United States of America the fourth day of March next, as I hope and trust he may be, another year will not have expired without witnessing the final termination of the rebellion, and that the succeeding 4th of July will find us celebrating such a jubilee as has not been seen since that day was first hailed as the birthday of American Independence."

(column 3)

Summary:

Claims that not one rebel newspaper supports McClellan.

(column 4)

Summary:

Argues that Lincoln's supporters are those who are disunionist.

Be on the Alert, Democrats

(column 4)

Summary:

Urges readers to get all Democratic voters out for next week's election.

Excerpt:

"Recollect that the Abolitionists will resort to any means to gain the election, and we must be ready to meet them at all times."

Another Draft Impending

(column 5)

Summary:

Predicts that if Lincoln is reelected, yet another draft will be declared.

Excerpt:

"Every man who votes for Mr. Lincoln votes for more drafts and consequently for burdening towns, counties and cities with more taxes."

He Saved the State

(column 5)

Summary:

Points to the defeat of Lee's troops at Antietam as evidence that McClellan once saved Pennsylvania from devastation.

Farmers, Landholders, Attend!

(column 5)

Summary:

Notes that a new law will go into effect on April 1, 1865, that will raise landowners' taxes. Suggests that this law will become unnecessary if McClellan is elected.

Excerpt:

"If they [landowners] hope soon to escape from this burden of heavy taxes they must vote for some one who can close up the war speedily, honorably and finally, so that the heavy expenses now going on shall be stopped."

Election Returns

(column 6)

Summary:

Reports on the vote totals for each candidate in the October 11 elections. Notes that Democrats carried the judicial and part of the legislative ticket in the county. For president judge, Francis Kimmell (Democrat) defeated [?] King (Republican) 246 to 200; for Congress, William Koontz (Republican) defeated A. H. Coffroth (Democrat) 248 to 197; for the state assembly, J. McDowell Sharpe (Democrat, 3580 votes) and Alexander K. McClure (Republican, 3632 votes) defeated William Mitchell (Democrat, 3298 votes) and Samuel Roath (Republican, 3376 votes); for commissioner, John Armstrong (Democrat) received 3478 votes.

Names in Announcement:

Francis Kimmell; King; William Koontz; J. McDowell Sharpe; William Mitchell; Alexander K. McClure; Samuel Roath; John Armstrong

Hon. A. H. Coffroth Elected

(column 6)

Summary:

Corrects the above report and notes that after the soldiers' vote was counted, A. H. Coffroth officially defeated William Koontz by 49 votes.

Names in Announcement:

William Koontz; A. H. Coffroth

(column 6)

Summary:

Tells "abolition journals" that complain about fraud in the soldiers' vote to look at the Republican fraud that took place in the Indiana governors' race.

A Citizen Murdered

(column 6)

Summary:

Reports that Jacob Sweitzer, "a highly respectable citizen," was murdered last Wednesday night. The article indicates that a group of cavalrymen are to blame.

Names in Announcement:

Jacob Sweitzer

Excerpt:

"On the night of the murder a squad of cavalrymen made an attack on Mr. Sweitzer's house demanding admittance and alleging that he was a bounty-jumper &c., being a mere pretext to get into the house."

Full Text of Article

Mr. Jacob Sweitzer a highly respectable citizen, and a man of the most devout piety, was murdered in the most brutal manner, on Wednesday night last, in this place. The circumstances attending the murder, so far as we could ascertain them, are about as follows: On the night of the murder a squad of cavalrymen made an attack on Mr. Sweitzer's house demanding admittance and alleging that he was a bounty-jumper &c., being a mere pretext to get into the house. Mr. Sweitzer ordered them away when they drew up in front of his house and presenting their carbines threatened to fire into the windows. Mr. Sweitzer then left his house and went a few doors off to the house of a neighbor to get him to come to his protection. Whilst standing at the door of his neighbor's house he was struck a tremendous blow on the back part of the head by some heavy weapon, and felled to the earth dying almost instantly. The cavalrymen who were around the body were arrested, and before the Coroner's jury made such contradictory statements, together with some other evidence that appeared to implicate them, that the jury seemed warranted in authorizing their commitment to stand their trial for the murder.

Vote for Lincoln and Mortgage Your Farm

(column 7)

Summary:

Predicts that a new land tax is a certainty if Lincoln is reelected.

Page 3

Page Description:

Report on various troop movements in Missouri and North Carolina, column 3; poetry, column 3; classified ads, columns 3-7

The Latest Outrage: Attempt to Rob Democratic Soldiers of Their Votes

(column 1)

Summary:

Argues that charges that fraud was rampant in the soldiers' vote in the October election are "trumped up."

Another Great Crime

(column 2)

Summary:

Reports that a Union ship sent to collect soldiers' votes in South Carolina refused to accept McClellan votes.

Died

(column 5)

Summary:

Charlotte Hassler, wife of Abraham Hassler, Esq., died on October 21 at age 36 years and 2 days.

Names in Announcement:

Charlotte Hassler; Abraham Hassler, Esq.

Died

(column 5)

Summary:

On October 28, Curtis Lowry died at age 54 years, 11 months and 14 days.

Names in Announcement:

Curtis Lowry

Died

(column 5)

Summary:

Ruth Patterson, widow of John Patterson, died on October 20 at age 18.

Names in Announcement:

Ruth Patterson; John Patterson

Page 4

Page Description:

Classified ads, columns 1-7