Valley Spirit

The writers decry the Lincoln administration for its restrictions on civil liberties and for its pursuit of emancipation at the expense, as they see it, of white civil rights. The recent elections, they claim, have broken the power of the Republicans. The Democrats will now demand the restoration of all "constitutional rights and privileges of the States and citizens," including letting the South regulate slavery itself.

The editors accuse the administration of trying to soften the blow of the news of McClellan's removal by releasing a letter by General Halleck the same day, as well as the findings of the Harper's Ferry commission. Despite Halleck's explanations, the editors do not believe that McClellan should have been obligated to move his army on a particular day chosen by political leaders--this has no parallel in military history, they claim. The real reason for McClellan's dismissal, they assert, was a purge by radical members of Lincoln's cabinet aiming to get rid of the conservative generals in the army.

The editors poke fun at an editorial in the Transcript and Repository, which claims that those who support slavery are "only rushing upon the thick bosses of Jehovah's buckler." The emancipation proclamation, the editors note, was issued by Lincoln with no claim of divine guidance, but perhaps, they assert, the President had talked to the editor of the Transcript and received the word "through the medium of our inspired neighbor."

Quotes Edward Everett and Daniel Webster to the effect that the war should not be fought to free the slaves, and that the national government has no right to interfere with this state institution.

Reports that legal proceedings will be instituted against the Cumberland Valley Railroad by parties in Philadelphia who were injured by the accident on the Cumberland side of the river opposite Harrisburg. The train crashed with a load of Pennsylvania militia returning from guarding the border of the state. The president of the railroad states that they will pay reasonable damages to avoid a lawsuit.

A letter from a correspondent in the 126th Reg't Penn. Volunteers, writing from near Fredericksburg, Virginia, describing their march from Warrenton to Fredericksburg.

Encapsulation of the week's war news, including details of the build-up of troops near Fredericksburg.

The drafted militia encamped near Chambersburg have elected the following officers: Colonel, D. B. McKibben; Lieut. Col., E. S. Troxell; Major, Martin Hale (of Cumberland County). The editors praise the selections and note that Col. McKibben served in the 14th U.S. Infantry as a captain.

The Grand Jury of Lehigh County, in a report to the Court, recommended that the county commissioners provide support for the families of drafted men in destitute circumstances, as they do for enlistees. The editors urge Franklin County to adopt such a policy.

The editors warn of counterfeit five-dollar treasury notes in circulation. They note that they are well-made and not obvious to a casual glance. However, they are slightly longer, made of harsher paper, the signature shows more plainly, and the shading of the engraving is darker.

The editors reprint an order from the adjutant general commanding all drafted men to their camps of rendezvous, noting that their service will commence when they arrive at camp. It also states that any draftee or substitute who has left the camp of rendezvous without permission will be considered a deserter.

The editors commend the local citizens for their respectful and sober celebration of the holiday.

Superintendent Thomas H. Burrows has issued a notice to all county superintendents to notify him if they insist upon holding school on Saturdays. Many superintendents, the story notes, have been demanding of their teachers twenty-two or twenty-four days a month, preventing them from attending District Institutes. The teachers need the exposure to these institutes, the editors claim, in order to improve themselves and thus their students.

Reports that the Thanksgiving dinner given to the inmates of the two military hospitals in the area was a success. Many families went without for their own meals in order to supply the soldiers with a feast. There was so much food that it took care of the soldiers' needs for the rest of the week. The soliders wrote a card of thanks to the "Ladies of Chambersburg," signed by the above men plus 75 others who were not listed in the article.

The Franklin County Educational Association met from Wednesday, November 19, and continued through Friday, November 21, at the Washington Street Courthouse. D. S. McFadden was appointed President pro tem and Joseph Eckhart, Secretary. T. M. Richards opened with a prayer. Messers. T. M. Richards, P. M. Shoemaker, and Miss Kate Wilson were appointed a committee to report presiding officers for the meeting. The program then began. Shoemaker and Richard made remarks on written arithmetic with Richards illustrating on the board. A. McElwain opened the evening session with a prayer, and vocal music was given by several young ladies and gentlemen. The committee on officers reported Rev. J. Dickson, president and D. S. McFadden and George M. Stenger, vice presidents. Remarks were made on arithmetic by A. McElwain; remarks on Geography by J. M. Andrews, and remarks on Grammar by Eckhart. Thursday Morning--McFadden occupied the chair; prayer by Mr. Dietrich. J. S. McElwain exercised the teachers in grammar by the correction and analysis of sentences. Rev. J. Dickson then appeared and took his seat. A. McElwain lectured on Penmanship, and J. W. Coble remarked on the same subject. Thursday Afternoon--Prayer by Rev. J. Dickson. A. McElwain made additional remarks on Penmanship, followed by G. B. Miller on the same. A. B. Wingert exhibited his method of teaching common fractions. S. D. Stach gave his view on classification, his method of giving recitations, and of solving and explaining questions by analysis. The body then endorsed a resolution passed by an educational association in Harrisburg requesting area preachers to preach a sermon on education in December. Thursday Evening--Prayer by Rev. Mr. Smith. On motion of P. M. Shoemaker, the chair appointed a committee to report officers for the ensuing year: Shoemaker, J. S. McElwain, J. L. P. Dietrich, W W. Hockenberry and S. D. Stach. A. McElwain read from a religious newspaper which complained that the public schools did not provide religious training for pupils; McElwain commented to the effect that "religious inculcation of religious creeds is very properly left to others, instead of the Common Schools teacher." Essay read by Miss Virginia Reilly on music, and by Miss Annie Walk on orthography and reading. Mr. Richards exercised the teachers in mental arithmetic. Friday Morning--Committee on officers reported Joseph Eckhart as Recording Secretary; J. L. P. Dietrich as Corresponding Secretary; John W. Coble as Treasurer; and as the Executive Committee, A. McElwain. S. D. Stach, J. W. Kuhn, J. M. Andrews, and S. Gelwicks. Resolutions passed included an expression of sorrow for those who have fallen fighting the "demon Rebellion," and one decrying the irregular attendance of students at school. J. S. McElwain, P. M. Shoemaker, J. W. Kuhn, A. McElwain, and Rev. F. Dyson all remarked on Mental Arithmetic. A. McElwain and P. M. Shoemaker reported on Algebra. Friday Afternoon--Prayer by H. C. Phenicie. D. S. McFadden read from the committee on orthography and reading. J. W. Kuhn, from the same committee, by request, "uttered the Elementary Sounds, as they are practiced in the Lancaster County Normal School." Mr. Kinney from the Academy, by invitation, gave some remarks on reading.

A report on the movement of Jackson's forces from Winchester toward Richmond.

Mary R. McCleary, daughter of George and Mary McCleary, died on November 27, in Quincy Township, aged 8 years, 3 months and 13 days.

Robert B. Smith of Orrston, a miller, advertises his desire for a position.