Franklin Repository

On Friday last Mrs. Mary E. Surratt, Lewis P. Howell alias Lewis Payne, Geo. A. Atzeroth and David E. Harold suffered the extreme penalty of the law by hanging, in accordance with the verdict of the military court convicting them of participation in the assassination of the President and the attempted murder of Secretary Seward, and Michael O'Laughlin, Samuel Arnold, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd and Edward Spangler have been consigned to hard labor in the Albany penitentiary--the three former for life and the latter for the term of six years. Thus in less than ninety days after the conspiracy culminated in the murder of our Chief Ruler, all who actively participated in it have been brought to fearful justice, save John H. Surratt who is still a fugitive; and he must soon learn that his fiendish mother has atoned for her revolting crime on the gibbet. Carefully and profoundly as the great conspiracy was conceived and planned in all its details, the government was advised of the names, whereabouts and participation of all the leading actors therein a very few days after the Nation was appalled and shrouded in gloom by the untimely and violent death of Mr. Lincoln; and but one has escaped the just penalty for the horrible deed. The act for which they in their madness hoped to be blessed by millions of people, made them shunned and abhorred of all mankind--of friend and foe of the Republic, and they were wanderers until justice brought them within its terrible grasp. Booth, the chief conspirator and murderer was turned from almost every door without sympathy. Even in the land of treason he had to disown his name and crime to procure shelter, and finally he died unwept by any save the few who were dishonored by his name and blood, and none but the chief of the secret police and one trusted assistant can mark his grave. Now four others who shared his perfidy to their common country and joined the crowning crime of the nineteenth century, have been hurried, by the avenging arm of justice, to the bar of Him who shall judge all the living, and their names will live henceforth in history only as typical of the deepest infamy with which the annals of crime in the Western World are blotted. We would that they had been tried by the civil authorities--not because any injustice has been done, but because the impartial historian must record the constitution of a military tribunal for such a trial when the functions of the civil tribunals were fully and freely exercised, as a grave error and a dangerous precedent; but the verdict and its fearless execution will stand approved wherever justice is revered.

Thus swiftly and terribly has the strong arm of justice fallen upon those who were the immediate conspirators to deprive the nation of its constitutional and beloved ruler by violence; but we insist that the work of justice is yet unfinished. These columns have never counseled or sanctioned vengeance on the part of the government. In its great triumph over treason it will best serve its great purpose and vindicate its invincible power and blameless majesty by the magnanimity that ever characterizes the noble victor; but treason has given birth to crimes hitherto unknown in the history of civilized nations, and it would be neither just to the martyred dead nor merciful to the living to demand no atonement therefor. Jefferson Davis was the chief executive of the so-called confederacy. He it was who wielded despotic power for four years in the revolted States. He dictated and enforced the policy of the insurgents, and he it was who, as a part of his system of warfare, deliberately and remorselessly doomed thousands upon thousands of Union prisoners to the most horrible death by starvation and wasting disease. This monstrous crime stands out as the colossal crime of the war; the master-piece of treason's savagery. Around Andersonville alone some seventeen thousand have welcomed the grave as a refuge from rebel brutality and starvation, and other thousands still linger in hopeless disease, waiting for the fullness of treason's work.This revolting chapter was no accident, and was not dictated by necessity. It was deliberately planned by the rebel authorities and enforced with relentless cruelty by Jefferson Davis, now a prisoner in Fortress Monroe. Some of his officers have protested, and his Congress was compelled to take formal cognizance of the barbarities into which treason had dragged them; but Mr. Davis, who was supreme in power and had but to command or suggest and the starvation of prisoners would have ended, persisted in the diabolical murder until the last shadow of his power had vanished.

If Mrs Surratt and Payne and their co-conspirators were justly executed, as is confessed on every hand, what should be the action of the government in disposing of its arch-criminal now in Fortress Monroe? They murdered one man--though a chosen and revered ruler he had but one life to give to the demons who destroyed him. Davis has filled thousands of untimely graves with the victims of the most cruel murders in our history. It was wanton, causeless and without the shadow of excuse or palliation. He did it in insolent violation of the accepted rules of war. If he had shot down a prisoner brought before him in Richmond, who could gainsay the he should be tried by a military tribunal for violating the laws of war and condemned to die?--and when he, by the mere exercise of despotic power, deliberately dooms thousands of prisoners to the most shocking cruelties and death, what should be the penalty? We insist that he should be tried in conformity with the laws of war, by a commission composed of the ablest officers of the army, and when shown to be guilty of the horrible charge, he should die as did the murderers of less note and less guilt on Friday last.

Hon. Philip Johnson, M. C. from Easton has had the singular fortune to be reared in the Tenth Legion where Democracy, draft riots, bounty jumpers, and coppery serpents generally do most vegetate. Had he been a resident of a more enlightened and patriotic section, with his moderate attainments and immoderate semi-rebel proclivities, he would have been an outcast and a reprobate: but with a people in harmony with his views he has managed to worry his way into Congress, and has been thrice elected because his constituents have never been able to decide which of the many better men offering should be taken. Being in Congress, he well appreciates his own importance, and is a fit leader for the Micawber branch of the late Democracy. He is weary of standing out in the cold, hungry for the flesh-pots, and like the sanguine Micawber himself, he considers the eventful hour at hand when something is certain to turn up.

He tried to persuade the people of the Nation that the war was a failure--voted steadily against men and means to prosecute the war, denounced every act of the government for the suppression of the rebellion - bad draft riots and the murder of government officials as common occurrences in his district; but in spite of all these persistent efforts of his in behalf of treason and slavery, both have collapsed, and with them the prospects of the whole Micawber school. Something else must be done--something must turn up; and in the fertility of his invention he proposes to fling his slimy, treasonable arms around President Johnson and compass his destruction by his proffered support. He says, in an effervescing 4th of July letter, that President Johnson "has proven his devotion to the South and the Union by holding onto both and making more and greater sacrifices for both than any other man north or south. "Let him but be well advised!" proclaims this sanguine political Micawber, and all will be well. Let him but throw himself into the hands of the men who pursued him and his cause with tireless antagonism - let him dispense to his own and his country's deadly foes the honors and emoluments within his gift, and Micawber Johnson will hail President Johnson as "the restorer of his country," and sound his praises while his patronage lasts. But the negotiations seem to work badly. Since the letter was written, President Johnson has so far forgotten himself as to hang four of Micawber Johnson's friends in Washington, simply because they were treasonable murderers, and probably the fulsome praises of Micawber will cease. If President Johnson shall be so rude as to reject Micawber Johnson's tender proposals, let Micawber turn to some more congenial and appreciative friends. There is one Robert E. Lee in Virginia; one Davis at Fortress Monroe; one Breckinridge any where outside the confines of the United States, and various others of the same sort, all of whom are eminently devoted to the Micawber theory, and will join hands to praise or condemn the President as circumstances may warrant. We beg Micawber Johnson to be patient, somebody will take him although President Johnson will not; and if he can't get terms to suit himself and his seedy followers, he must suit himself and his crew to such terms as he can get. Patience is a virtue and we beg Micawber Johnson to study it. If he can't get President Johnson's old clothes, he can denounce him and wait for the good time coming for Micawbers. It may come in the next forty year, and if the old Micawbers can wait for it, they can console themselves by assuring the little Micawbers that the far future has something in store for them. However little or long ahead, it will be something to break the cruel surges of despair. In the meantime Micawber Johnson can go in freely--he can try all around. If the front door won't open, let him try the back door, the window, the kitchen, the cellar, or any other point with a savor of plunder about the White House, and when he has exhausted all his efforts, and finds just nothing for his labors and eulogies, he can return to the old camp of the Democracy no worse than when he started, and keep waiting, ever waiting, for the luckless day when something will "turn up" for the Micawber Democracy.

To the Editors of the Franklin Repository

I was gratified with your admirable article in a late number of your paper on the above subject, and as you desired an expression of opinion on the part of those who had cultivated the Tappahannock or (white smooth eared) Boughton wheat, I take the liberty of contributing my observation and experience in regard to its cultivation for three years past.

So far it has more than realized my expectations, although the severe winter of 1863-4 damaged the crop in every instance in this vicinity, so far as I know, except my lot of 21 acres, which was ripe for the cradle on the 25th of June (1864), and yielded 66 bushels of as fine a specimen of plump, white wheat as I ever saw. The flour from it was extra good. The reason why mine was not frozen out is to be attributed, I suppose, to the fact that I top-dressed it in the fall. My red Mediterranean wheat in an adjoining lot, sowed on the same day as the white (14th September), was nearly damaged by the fly. It yielded only 16 bushels to the acre.

This year I had but 21 acres of the Boughton wheat, and none of the red. It was ready to be cut on the 23d of June, although the threatening aspect of the weather prevented me from having it reapt until the 27th. Neither weevil nor rust effected it--not at all. It stood up well, although the growth was rank and unusually tall. Owing to this last, I attribute the fact, that the grains are not quite as plump as they were last year, although they are of fair size and I think will hold out in weight, (last year the weight was 64 lbs per bushel). I gave a slight top-dressing to a portion of it last fall also, and even the stubble now shows how grateful the land is for a little extra favor bestowed in this way. I think you are perfectly right when you say that the Boughton wheat should have a little extra culture. Give it a good soil and it will give a good yield.

I have 64 dozen of wheat from the above 21 acres. If it should yield only 50 bushels, it will be better than a great many of our best fields of red wheat will yield this year. But I am inclined to think it will yield nearer 60 than 50 bushels.

Of one thing I am fully convinced--we must discard such wheats as are late in ripening, at least until the weevil, fly and rust pass away. Whatever preferences we may have in other respects, we should see to it that we obtain wheat which ripens early, whatever kind of wheat that may be. So far the Boughton wheat has answered my purpose well, and hence I shall hold on to it. I may perhaps try the Amber wheat also, as it is said to be an early kind. R. S. SCHNECK.

CHAMBERSBURG, July 8

The Press of Friday last has the following sensible view of the Oil trade and Oil stocks:--The oil-stock business is still in its transition state. The wonderful success that many of the companies have attained in the past, the remarkable swiftness with which fortunes were made, by the lucky, stimulated speculation to an extraordinary extent. In the beginning everything was favorable, but too much speculation has affected the whole oil-producing occupation, and at the present time the petroleum interest is flattened out. Oil stocks are discouraged, and buyers are cautious. Undoubtedly many of the moonshine corporations which have been started will have to fail. They will exhaust the means and patience of their stockholders. The latter will resolve to pay no more money, considering what they have already contributed as inevitably lost. Either a few men will get the management of them, or they will be sold out, and those who come in at the death will bag the game. And yet, with all these disadvantages, petroleum, per se, will not suffer. It has become an object of worth to commerce, and the demand for it will be steady. If the number of producers decrease, the value of productions increase. The companies organized for the production of oil, which have avoided the arts of the stock exchange, which have at all times paid attention to the development of their lands, and which have been managed with patient industry, will reap the benefit. Their course was clear from the first. It was to attend to their own business, unmindful of the turmoil around them. They are now approaching the time when it will be demonstrated that this policy will pay. As the number of flimsy companies fade out--as the chaff is riddled from the grain--the old-fashioned, honestly conducted companies will rise in estimation. They will find their reward in good prices for their oil and enhanced value for their stocks. Happy they who have interest in such concerns, for they will undoubtedly receive the benefit of their patience and perseverance.

The general depression in all branches of business has seriously effected the stock market, and Oil stocks have been extremely dull for some weeks past. Indeed there are very few sales of any stocks, and there will be but few until the summer months are passed. But while stocks are dull in speculative channels, there never was such earnest, gigantic and diversified development in the oil region as this summer. Despite the severity of the winter, which stopped all operations preparatory to boring, and the destructive March flood, which carried off half the derricks on the oil streams, the work of developing has been prosecuted with boundless energy, and must soon tell sensibly on the value of all stocks which have any substance in them. All the leading commercial journals predict a degree of activity in oil stocks this fall surpassing anything we have yet witnessed. They will then be better understood--the worthless and bogus companies will be exposed and driven from the market, and the good companies will generally have tested the quality of their lands. The sooner the bogus companies are exploded the better, as the public will then be able to invest with much more safety and the stock of reliable companies, which is now prostrated with the bogus organizations because accurate discrimination is impossible, will advance in value to a just standard. We are glad to see the officers of several swindling concerns in the courts now in Philadelphia and New York, and the more vigorously that work is pushed by defrauded stock holders, the sooner will holders of good stocks realize a just value for them. All the indications point to the production of vast quantities of oil this summer and fall, and many stocks which now hang sluggishly on the hands of owners will attain vast value.

There are over twenty wells in various stages on the Imperial property, and four on the Sterling--all of which must be tested within sixty days, and some of them sooner. An 800 barrel well was struck on the 15th-hole quite near to the property of the Sheridan and Cherry Run property last week, and that stock is consequently held at an advanced rate.

The National Bank of Chambersburg has declared its regular semi-annual dividend of five percent and, as will be seen by the statement presents a clever addition to its surplus profits. Its total circulation, new and old, is $510,270; its deposits $268,323.48; and its surplus fund $39,833.41. Considering that it made a twenty per cent gold dividend when the change was made, it presents a flattering balance sheet.

The First National Bank of Greencastle presents its first quarterly statement in our advertising columns to-day, and does credit to the direction of the institution. Its loans and securities amount to over $30,000; its deposits exceed $35,000 and its profits and earnings reach $3,628.58. It is greatly abridged in its operations for want of its circulation, which it will have in a very short time.