Franklin Repository

The Harrisburg Patriot and Union announces with an air of fiendish triumph that "several regiments have been precipitated upon Schuylkill to enforce the draft," and in the same perfidious spirit inquires--"How does that sound?" What becomes of Forney's idea that the draft is an expression of the popular will-something "desired by the people, if it has to be enforced at the point of the bayonet?" Considering that the Patriot and Union has spared no pains to provoke open resistance to the draft, by its shameless perversions of the tenor and aim of the conscription act, and by its undisguised hostility to the war and the success of our army, it is not surprising that it should gloat with infernal joy over the remotest prospect of riot and murderous lawlessness within the limits of its own State. If there shall not be riots and anarchy, in the mining regions of Pennsylvania, it will be no fault of the Patriot and Union, for it has appealed to every base passion, to every unholy prejudice, and now, after having aroused its dupes to the verge of resistance, it plays its last card by pointing to the bayonets it has made to glisten over its own malignant work, and seems impatient lest the bloody pageant should be averted.

The fidelity of the people of Pennsylvania to the laws, as a rule, has evidently been a source of the keenest mortification to Judge Woodward's central organ. For weeks past it has labored for a general revolution; but in no section, save in the mining regions, has there been a shadow of response to its mingled malignity and treachery. Despairing in its efforts for a sweeping hurricane of anarchy, it is still unwilling to forego entirely its treasonable enterprise, and it now bends its energies with unrelenting fury to crimson the mining regions of Schuylkill, Luzerne, &c., with the blood of their own citizens. It well knows that there and there only is a lingering hope of lawlessness--there where free schools are contemned and the regular Democratic ticket voted with a yell, it makes its last, exhausting appeal for the deadly work of revolution to begin.

It has well selected its field of operations. If it cannot breed lawlessness in Schuylkill, then must its occupation be gone, for in no other section of the State have ignorance, prejudice and partizan hatred promised such abundant fruits of treason. In portions of Schuylkill, peopled exclusively with minters, Jeff. Davis could reign supreme, surrounded by approving subjects, as long as Frank Hughes and such echoes of his sentiments as the Patriot and Union did not invoke their prejudices against him. The writer hereof had somewhat to do with this people a year ago when the last draft was made; and in Cass township the miners stopped work and resolved that they would not be drafted, and that they would permit no resident of that district, however willing, to respond to the call of his country. In pursuance of that resolution they mobbed the cars loaded with patriotic conscripts and drove them out with pistols, knives and stones, and but for the timely interposition of the Catholic clergy, who finally brought them to peaceable submission, we should have had the riots then which the Patriot and Union so badly wants now. A little inquiry into the character, habits and prejudices of these men, and the uses for which they are employed by designing and reckless political leaders, removes all surprise at their probable attempt to defy the laws. During three years there were thirteen deliberate murders in Cass township, and not a single criminal was brought to trial. The District Attorney labored in vain to have processes served and arrests made, but the civil authorities had become completely powerless before this perpetual mob. Democratic politicians must have their votes, and they cannot hand or imprison one half and vote the balance at their pleasure, so the laws have become a by-word and mockery, while an almost unanimous Democratic vote at elections; an occasional little home riot, and now and then seasons of labor at their own prices and under their own regulations, vary the amusements of the innocent creatures upon whom several regiments of men have been "precipitated" to enforce the laws.

Gen. Whipple, the military commander at Pottsville, has already had several rifle balls "precipitated' at him by skulking assassins, and the mines have been stopped by the operatives preparatory to a general shindy when the draft is made. They are perfectly masters of law-makers, law officers and property owners in their region; and when they want prices of gods reduced, wages raised, bosses discharged, systems revised, processes prevented, or particular laws defied, they resolve to have it done, and hitherto their decree has been final. Judges, Sheriffs, and other officers of the courts must be voted for by the enlightened and virtuous citizens of Cass and kindred townships, and when once elected it is trouble enough for the leaders to keep them in order for the next election, without exasperating them by imposing upon them the restraints and penalties of the laws. Their last resolve was against the draft--it should not be made--the conscripts should not report for duty, and all labor has been arrested to prepare for a free flight. But it seems ideas about Gen. Couch has some old-fashioned ideas about the Cass township amusements of killing, robbing and defying laws generally, and he has "precipitated" several regiments upon the exceedingly docile citizens of the mines. Instead of making speeches to them and telling them to vote the Democratic ticket and thus stop the draft and this "nigger-war," he has employed as his orators several batteries of artillery and the gleam of several thousand bayonets; and judging from the agonies of the Patriot and Union he has almost persuaded them to reputable citizenship. Whether they will submit, as do better men everywhere, or whether they will bring upon themselves the fearful consequence of lawlessness, is for the Patriot and Union, Frank Hughes, and other owners of their prejudices to determine. If they insist upon a riot in behalf of Jeff. Davis, a small experiment can now be made in that way; but beyond a few funerals of the men who should have been hung long ago for the reckless commission of capital crimes, and the consequent reduction of Judge Woodward's vote at the next election, we don't see the profits of the transaction. The laws will be vindicated--the time has come.

There should be a Union League organized in every election district of Franklin County without delay. It needs but a little effort, is attended with little or no expense, and in no way can so much effective work be done to promote the Union cause.

Union Leagues should be working institutions. With active officers and efficient committees, every vote in the district can be ascertained--the doubtful strengthened, the timid and hesitating supplied with documents, and, above all, a full vote can thus be secured in October. A full vote in Franklin, bear in mind, will give 1,000 Union majority.

Let the good work begin at once. There is no time for delay. The enemy is busy everywhere, quietly talking about taxation, debt, Abolitionism and kindred treachery to mislead honest voters against the government. Their efforts must be met sternly by the patriotic Union men, and they have but to expose the treasonable designs of Copperhead leaders, to alienate hundreds of loyal Democrats from the support of Woodward.

Sometimes public meetings are necessary or wise--sometimes not. Let the Leagues see to this, and when speakers or documents are wanted, call on the Chairman of the County Committee for them and they will be forthcoming. Now is the time to begin the work of organization, and we hope that two weeks hence will see a thoroughly officered Union League in every district in the county.

The skedaddling from this city even in May and June, 1861, could hardly surpass that of the past few days. In fact, in order to keep some of the drafted ones here, an embargo, in the shape of a pass system, has been put on, in order to get out of the city.

There is only one thing wrong in the draft of this District. It is this. The poor negro and the sojourners from the loyal States temporarily stopping here, have all been enrolled and their names put in the box, with the cursed disloyal population, natives of this place, "to the manor born"--those who have been sucking the milk of Uncle, or Aunt, Sam, if you please--from childhood to manhood, and gnawing away in their old age--yet silently stabbing the Government by night and by day. Those who you know, as well as I, that there runs not a drop of loyal blood in their veins. Among these have the names of the poor contraband, and free negro, and sojourners been mixed. Consequently the chances of these disloyal persons being drawn is diminished so much so, that almost every third name drawn is a poor negro. Consequently nearly all the quota of the District will be filled by citizens of the loyal States or by "men of color."

The new song which is all the rage in the Hospitals, and which is beginning to be sung in "First class boarding houses" here, very appropriately too, is--"When this Gruel war is over."

Norval.

It is not to be disguised that much sickness prevails in this community although it has not assumed a very malignant or epidemic character; but our citizens should not delay in adopting every proper precautionary measure to preserve the general health. The season has been eminently calculated to produce sickness. The protracted wet spell in July has made a most luxuriant growth of vegetation, and filled all the pools and low lands with stagnant water, which have dried out under the scorching sun of the severe heated term that followed; and deadly miasmas now fill the atmosphere. In addition to these causes, the military occupation of the county has contributed largely to create sickness. In every direction about Chambersburg, camps of soldiers, or corrals of horses, or camps of wagon trains, have abounded, and raw troops, especially when occupying places but temporarily, never practice the rigid rules of cleanliness necessary to preserve health. In the evening the citizens are met with sickening stenches in and around the town, arising from imperfectly buried animals, or the filth of corrals or camps, and unless some rigid sanitary regulations are speedily adopted, we may have an epidemic. It is worthy of notice that the present season is in some respects similar to the summer of 1852, when the cholera prevailed. True we have not the cold, damp weather alternately with hot suns, but we have the similarity unmistakably in the rapid tendency of everything to putrify or mould. It is almost impossible to keep fresh meat for even a day, and mould will be found in every close room or closet if closed up for even a short time.

It is not generally difficult to avert epidemics; but it is always difficult to arrest them when once they launch forth their deadly power. The prompt application of disinfectants, under any circumstances at this season of the year, is always wise, and now it is an imperative necessity if we would not expose ourselves foolishly to disease. Quick lime is the most accessible, the cheapest and one of the best disinfecting agents, and it can scarcely be used too bountifully. Every citizen should see at once to his cellar and to any filth about his premises, and have lime applied wherever there is decaying vegetable or animal matter. Old camps should be thoroughly sprinkled with lime, and every damp cellar should be promptly cleansed and limed, and ventilated as well as possible.

At the present time, when sun-stroke is alarmingly common, and when no one is altogether exempt from the sudden and usually fatal results of exposure to the great heat just now prevalent, it may be well to disseminate as widely as may be a knowledge of how to remedy, and, if possible, to avoid, this trouble. The following statements concerning coup de soleil may be taken as authoritative:

The premonition of an attack are readily recognized. There is a feeling of pressure upon the head; the blood tingles in the vessels; and the air seems too hot and tenuous for breathing. A person who was once thus affected tells us that he was relieved by immediately bathing the head, arms and shoulders in water. While performing this operation he experienced a sensation as though burning coals had been spread over his whole scalp; but in less than an hour every oppressive symptom had passed way. A young brother of his, who was similarly attacked, was not so cautious. He fell to the ground insensible, while at labor in the harvest field, and after lingering two or three days--much of the time comatose, and with what a physician mistakenly termed and treated as typhoid fever--was suffered to die.

The remedies "laid down in the books" are alcoholic and ammoniacal stimulants; these are "diffusive" and causing an equable circulation of blood throughout the body, and particularly to the surface. The patient is directed to swallow the medicine; but if he is "out of his head" it can be given by enema. Washing the head with cold water, and rubbing liniments upon the surface with the hands, keeping up the friction as long as may be necessary, will generally answer the purpose. When dullness or stupor remains, coffee and strong tea are efficacious.

The means of prevention are simple. Persons in sound health are seldom attacked; previous debility, general depression of the vital forces, unusual and excessive physical exertion, violent gusts of passion, excessive drinking of cold water or alcoholic beverages, superadded to the exposure to the summer sun or a hot fire, create the danger. Careful moderation in these particulars will generally secure exemption. The Arab, wandering in an arid desert, subsisting on camel's milk and a few vegetables, is seldom attacked; his blood is not vitiated by stimulating food or unwholesome drink. Sir Joseph Banks spent twenty minutes in an oven where beef was cooking, without harm. Fishermen, for the sake of protection, sometimes fill their hats with moist sea-weed; though any large leaves, or even a wet cloth upon the head, will answer as well. This is an infallible preventive and should be more generally observed by laboring men.

It is officially announced that the Draft will commence on Monday next, at the headquarters of Provost Marshal Eyster, in the Masonic Hall in this place, and will be continued from day to day until completed. The draft will be first made for Adams, then for Bedford, and then for Franklin, commencing with Antrim and the two wards of Chambersburg on Thursday of next week. Capt. Eyster has given notice by hand bills distributed throughout every district that the drawing will be public, and the citizens are asked to witness it. Of the entire fairness and impartiality of Capt. Eyster no one can doubt; but to avoid the remotest pretext for cavil, a joint committee of say three from each political party should be chosen by each township, to attend and witness the entire operation of the draft for their respective districts. This was done in Philadelphia in every ward, and we feel assured that Capt. Eyster would be glad to extend every facility for information to such committees. The people are all interested in the draft--if not for themselves, for their sons or other kindred; but they cannot all attend the drawing; and the better way is that three intelligent and reputable men from each party be chosen by their respective parties to represent the people on the occasion.

In our advertising columns will be found full instructions relative to the grounds and mode of exemptions. The list of names drawn for Franklin county will be published in the Repository, together with such incidents of note occurring during the draft as may be of peculiar interest. The several districts of the county will be drawn as follows: Thursday, August 27th--Antrim, North and South Wards; Friday, 28th--Fannett, Green, Guilford, Hamilton, Leterkenny, Lurgan, Metal and Montgomery; Saturday, 29th--Peters, Quincy, St. Thomas, Southampton, Warren and Washington.

The quotas of the several districts of this county are as follows: Antrim, 146; North Ward, 88; South Ward, 65; Fannett, 62; Green, 76; Guilford 79; Hamilton, 36; Leterkenny, 49; Lurgan, 32; Metal, 36; Montgomery, 111; Peters, 73; Quincy, 73; St. Thomas, 42; Southampton, 45; Warren, 19; Washington, 99--total 1131.