Valley Spirit: January 8, 1862 — Newspapers

Page Description:

This Mason-Slidell article occupies over half of the front page and is continued to the next page.

Remarks of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens

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Summary:

Congressman Thaddeus Stevens speaks in opposition to a bill authorizing raising new troops for the defense of Kentucky. Stevens argues that present troop levels are adequate to defend the state, and that further defense authorizations would further increase the deficit caused by the war.

Names in Announcement:

Hon. Thaddeus Stevens

Excerpt:

"I ask this House if they are prepared to add to the burdens their constituents now have upon them, and which they must bear, twenty or thirty million dollars a year more, unless there is some imperative necessary for it? I cannot. Unless such a necessity be shown, I cannot vote for this bill."

Mason and Slidell Given Up

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Summary:

Reprints of official correspondence between Secretary of State Seward and British officials regarding the conditions of release of Confederate agents Mason and Slidell.

Origin of Article:

National Intelligencer

Page 2

Page Description:

The Mason-Slidell story occupies 5 out of 6 of the columns on page 2. Also includes brief Congressional report.

Mason and Slidell Given Up (continued)

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Summary:

Continuation of reprinted correspondence regarding the Trent affair.

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Fiction and humor

Page 4

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Includes miscellaneous war news and Congressional reports.

The Imbeciles

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Summary:

Editorial arguing that the Lincoln administration has consistently bungled the prosecution of the war. Because of its incompetence and the mixing in of the "nigger question"--i.e. abolition--the Lincoln administration has alienated potential allies in foreign countries and sympathizers in the border states and the south. The article also cites an article in the Philadelphia Daily News, a Republican paper, questioning the military competence of the administration.

Excerpt:

"Can any man say that this wicked rebellion is any nearer being crushed out to-day than nine months ago, although millions upon million of dollars have been expended and thousands of valuable lives lost in the unnatural conflict?"

Full Text of Article

We ventured to remark, several months ago, that the Administration had shown its entire incompetency to conduct the present war. We regret to be compelled to reiterate this opinion, but the sad experience of every day has not only confirmed it, but demands, in the name of our beloved Union, that the Press of the country speak out and spare not. It is undeniable that every move our army has made has been a blunder, our naval expeditions proved failures, and our battles resulted in defeats; with the exception of the brilliant little affair at Drainsville--the only bright spot in the dark and bloody panorama before us. Can any man say that this wicked rebellion is any nearer being crushed out today than nine months ago, although millions upon millions of dollars have been expended and thousands of valuable lives lost in the unnatural conflict. When this rebellion broke out we had the respect and sympathy of the whole world on our side. We could procure loans of money from the great powers of Europe, and buy up, in their markets, any quantity of munitions of war our country might need. By the bad management of the Administration all these advantages have been upset--we cannot now obtain from Europe a dollar, a cannon, or a pound of saltpetre; and those who we reckoned as friends have been made the allies of our enemies up in arms against us. Canada, our nearest neighbor, that tendered a regiment of lancers to fight in our behalf, have now eighty thousand men who have volunteered to fight against us! We might overlook--nay, despise--all this and still maintain our self-respect and restore the Union, had not the Administration cast a fire-brand among the combustible material in the country by agitating the nigger question in its councils, at a time it had no business there, and thereby driving off its Union friends in the South and border States, and injuriously dividing public sentiment in the North as to the objects of the war. When we add to all this the peculations, and downright robbery, by officials high and low under this Administration, we have a gloomy picture from the contemplation of which every honest and loyal man must turn with horror and dismay. Public opinion is every day demanding in louder and louder tones that this Administration give up the ghost or the Union is irretrievably lost. It has shown its incompetency to conduct the war successfully so far, and gives no promise for any better results in the future. We are not alone in expressing these opinions. Honest Republicans do not hesitate to give vent to the same doubts and fears as to the ability of this Administration to conduct the war. The Philadelphia Daily News a rabid Republican paper, says, unless something is done speedily to retrieve it, "the administration of Mr. Lincoln will prove to be the worst failure which the world has ever yet witnessed." We republish the article from the Daily News, of Saturday, which taken in connection with the recent speech of HON. THADDEUS STEVENS, to be found in another part of our paper, on the imbecility in the management of the war, indicates pretty plainly that confidence, in LINCOLN'S Administration, even in its own household, is about expiring. Mr. STEVENS concludes his remarks by begging "for Heaven's sake not to go on piling mountains upon mountains of debt and taxation until the nation itself is destroyed in the operations of this war." No people can, or will longer stand Millions of Taxes and Hundreds of Millions of Debt without some results for the honor and good of the country to show for it.

Slave Emancipation--A Precedent

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Summary:

Points to Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia in 1676, where Governor Berkeley freed the slaves of the rebels, as an example of the failure of emancipation to procure military victory--since freeing the slaves did not noticeably alter the course of the rebellion.

Origin of Article:

Washington (PA) Examiner

Taking Care of Pennsylvania and Her Interests

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Summary:

Article describing contracts given to Pennsylvania firms (by Secretary of War Cameron, the article implies) to supply lumber to Fort Leavenworth, Missouri, though there was abundant lumber to be had on the Missouri River.

Editorial Comment:

"Simon Cameron is distinguished for his regard of Pennsylvania and her interests. The latest instance of it we find in the Chicago Tribune, the leading Republican paper of Illinois...."

Origin of Article:

Chicago Tribune

Names in Announcement:

Simon Cameron

Connelsville Railroad!

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Summary:

Follows up on the letter of the previous week, urging the construction of the Connelsville Railroad from Gettysburg to Pittsburgh, and an "Air-line" railroad from Gettysburg to Washington, to insure the supply of coal from the west. The author argues that a delegation from Franklin and surrounding counties should go to Washington to lobby for such a route.

Trailer:

A Friend of the Road

The Constitution and the Union Must Fall or Stand Together

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Summary:

Cites an 1851 speech by Daniel Webster arguing that the Constitution and the Union are inseparable.

Editorial Comment:

"That shows where Mr. Webster would have been found, if he had lived to the present time. He would not belong to that school of politicians who believed that the Union could be saved by destroying the Constitution."

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Page Description:

Includes breakdown of party strength in Pennsylvania legislature, story of Spanish invasion of Mexico, market information, and advertisements.

Camp Slifer

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Summary:

The men quartered at Camp Slifer left for Camp Curtain, Harrisburg on Tuesday morning, where they will be consolidated with regiments forming there.

Public Library

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Summary:

A meeting of the Public Library Association will be held at the residence of William Heyser Esq. on Friday at 6 p.m.

Names in Announcement:

William Heyser, Esq.

Presentation

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Summary:

The congregations served by Rev. W.H.R. Deatrich presented him with a horse on New Years' Day.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. W.H.R. Deatrich

Clark's Lecture

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Summary:

The Rev. Joseph Clark delivered a lecture on the "History and Theory of Revolutions" and related it to the "Southern Rebellion" at the Franklin Hall on New Year's Eve.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. Joseph Clark

Excerpt:

"The subject was handled in a masterly manner and afforded much gratification to a large and respectable audience."

A New Year Gift

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Summary:

The teachers of the Lutheran Sunday School presented George R. Messersmith, superintendent of the School, with a Bible and hymnbook as a token of appreciation for his services.

Names in Announcement:

George R. Messersmith

Death of a Soldier

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Summary:

William Seiders of Chambersburg, age 19, a member of Capt. Stitzel's company, died of typhoid fever last week at Fortress Monroe and was interred in Chambersburg last Monday. He was a printer by trade.

Names in Announcement:

William Seiders; Capt. Stitzel

The Hero of Drainesville

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Summary:

Capt. Hezekiah Easton, who distinguished himself at the engagement in Drainesville, stopped in Chambersburg on his way to his home at Loudon and displayed the saddle of a Confederate colonel taken at the battlefield.

Names in Announcement:

Capt. Hezekiah Easton

Shakespearean

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Summary:

At the request of the Chambersburg Bar, J.B. McClintock, Esq., gave a biographical lecture on Shakespeare at the Court Hall on Friday evening and concluded with recitations from several of Shakespeare's plays.

Names in Announcement:

J.B. McClintock, Esq.

Cannonading

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Summary:

The sounds of cannons heard in the valley on Saturday and Sunday were most likely from the rebel shelling of Hancock.

Great Rise of Goods

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Summary:

Discusses the increase in price of thirty to fifty percent of cotton goods and groceries and implies that dealers in tea, coffee and sugar are withholding their goods to wait for further price increases.

Excerpt:

"Our readers may expect in the future to pay 'war prices' for their store goods."

Full Text of Article

For several months past, Cotton Goods and Groceries have been tending upwards in price, till now they have taken a sudden flight of thirty to fifty per ct. Sheetings usually retailed at eight and ten cents cannot now be bought in the cities at wholesale less than fifteen cts per yard, and shilling prints are held at eighteen cents. Dealers in Teas, Coffee and Sugar have withdrawn their stocks from the market waiting for a fancy price, and the prospect is fair that they will eventually get all they choose to ask. Country dealers are obliged to be governed in their sales by the wholesale men of the cities, and our readers must expect in the future to pay "war prices" for their store goods.

Married

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Summary:

W.F. Smith and Catharine M. Miller, both of Guilford township, were married on December 24 at the home of the bride's mother.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. S. McHenry; W.F. Smith; Catharine M. Miller

Married

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Summary:

Samuel R. Strike and Elizabeth Baker, both of Hamilton township, were married on December 26.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. S. McHenry; Samuel R. Strike; Elizabeth Baker

Married

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Summary:

Robert Patterson married Mary Ann Henry on December 26 at the home of the bride's parents in St. Thomas township.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. S. McHenry; Robert Patterson; Mary Ann Henry

Married

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Summary:

Isaac H. Thompson and Sarah A. Cormony, both of Letterkenny township, were married by T.A. Colestock on December 31.

Names in Announcement:

T.A. Colestock; Isaac H. Thompson; Sarah A. Cormony

Married

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Summary:

Joseph Rider married Elizabeth Stouffer, youngest daughter of Abraham Stouffer (from near Chambersburg) on January 2.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. Dr. B.S. Schneck; Joseph Rider; Elizabeth Stouffer

Married

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Summary:

Emanuel Forney and Barbary Dourty, both of Chambersburg, were married on December 31 by T.A. Colestock.

Names in Announcement:

T.A. Colestock; Emanuel H. Forney; Barbary C. Dourty

Married

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Summary:

John Kochenour of California married Barbara Hockman, from the vicinity of Chambersburg, on January 2.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. Dr. B.S. Schneck; John Kochenour; Barbara Hockman

Married

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Summary:

John P. Heck of Carroll County, Maryland, was married to Charlotte Johnson of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania on December 31 at the Chambersburg Hotel.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. W.H. Deatrich; John P. Heck; Charlotte Johnson

Married

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Summary:

Oliver D. Coldsmith and Harriet Burns, both of Greene township, were married on January 2.

Names in Announcement:

T.A. Colestock; Oliver D. Coldsmith; Harriet Burns

Married

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Summary:

John H. McFarland of Pittsburgh married Mary A. Kreighbaum of Shippensburg on January 1.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. A.J. Bartels; John H. McFarland; Mary A. Kreighbaum

Died

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Summary:

Elizabeth Fortna, youngest daughter of Curtis and Fanny Fortna, died on January 2 near Strasburg, aged 12 years, 10 months and 28 days.

Names in Announcement:

Curtis Fortna; Fanny Fortna; Elizabeth Fortna

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