Valley Spirit: March 8, 1865 — Newspapers

Page Description:

Classified ads, columns 1-3, fiction and poetry, column 4, agricultural tips, column 7

A Union Speech in the North Carolina Legislature

(column 6)

Summary:

Applauds the speech given by a North Carolina Unionist to that state's legislature which pronounced the Confederacy's war effort over and called for reconciliation. Notes that the North Carolina legislature protected the speaker when President Davis tried to have him arrested.

The Constitutional Amendment

(column 6)

Summary:

Provides a list of the states which have already ratified a constitutional amendment abolishing slavery. Notes that Pennsylvania is among the sixteen states to ratify, while seventeen states, North and South, have not yet voted.

Page 2

Page Description:

Reports of troop activity in Virginia and North Carolina, columns 6-7

Inaugural Address

(column 1)

Summary:

Suggests that the public is not interested in Lincoln's second inaugural address because they realize he probably will not fulfill his promises.

Excerpt:

"This indifference is attributable, probably, to the fact that the people know too well how utterly his practice has been at variance with the professions he made in his first inaugural, to have any confidence in his utterances now."

Full Text of Article

The inaugural address of President Lincoln, which we print this morning, has been looked for by the public with less interest than is usually exhibited, even in ordinary times, in regard to a public expression from the pen or lips of a President of the United States. The indifference is attributable, probably, to the fact that the people know too well how utterly his practice has been at variance with the professions he made in his first inaugural, to have any confidence in his utterances now. It was expected, however, that he would make some attempt to excuse his violations of the Constitution which he had swown [sic] to support, and his abandonment of principles which he had solemnly put forth as his rule of conduct. In lieu of any such attempt, however, he has given us the mere trash to which we refer our readers as unworthy of comment. In regard to the wide gulf between the professions in his first inaugural and his practices ever since, he has attempted no explanation. He had nothing to say, and he has said it.

The Taxpayers Foot the Bill

(column 1)

Summary:

Notes that Charles Knapp, a contractor for heavy cannon, recently hosted a party in Washington, DC, that cost over $100,000. Suggests that the wages of workers are unfairly supporting this expense through war taxes.

Origin of Article:

Patriot and Union

Excerpt:

"Out of every dollar earned by the laborer and mechanic, through sweat and toil, one-half is taken for the war tax. It is thus clear that the expenses of these grand shoddy entertainments are paid for with the money wrung from Labor."

(column 1)

Summary:

Reports that Lincoln has signed a bill preventing officers and other military officials from interfering in state elections. Suggests that this legislation came too late.

Excerpt:

"Having made sure of another four year's term of power, the Abolition party are now preparing for the fast approaching time when the tables shall be turned against them."

The Public Debt

(column 2)

Summary:

Reports that according to the Secretary of the Treasury, the total public debt is now $2,153,735,444.26. Add to that amount the total unpaid requisitions and the sum rises to $2,289,735,444.26.

Pulpit Balderdash

(column 3)

Summary:

Expresses dismay that pulpit preaching is becoming increasingly animated by talk of devils, agony, and anguish.

Excerpt:

"'Devils,' and 'snakes,' and 'Arabs,' and 'serpents,' and 'agony,' and 'kisses,' and 'defiling lips,' and 'anguish,' and 'abomination' make a pretty strong dose of ecclesiastical eloquence, but the young and old women, the loyal church wardens and vestrymen, swallow it gratefully. What would that meek, and moderate, and decorous, and saintly man, Bishop White, say, if he could revisit our moon-struck world, and hear such wretched stuff?"

Full Text of Article

Pulpit eloquence, like everything else, is in a state of revolution. Barrow and South, and Sherlock and Tillotson, and Warourton, and Horseley, and mild Simeon, have passed into oblivion, and Beecher, and Brooks, and Parson Brownlow are trump. Beecher, it is said, has talent. Brooks is a sort of elaborate, premeditated Spurgeon--that is a Spurgeon without his physical antics. Being of bulky frame he only cuts paper rhetorically, the following from the Inquirer indicates:

There was an Arab once who had the devil for his servant. When his term of service had expired, the devil begged as his reward to kiss the shoulders of his master. The request was granted, but out of the spots where the devils lips had touched sprang serpents, which ever darted their fangs into the breast of the unhappy man. He strove to tear them away, but could not for the agony. The devil of slavery had kissed the strong shoulders of the republic, and serpents sprung from her defiling lips are preying upon her life. It is agony to tear them off, but it is death to let them remain. Despite our anguish, we have taken courage to rid us of the abomination.

This is the style in which the Rector of Trinity indulges, and in which the feminine congregation of Trinity delight. "Devils," and "snakes," and "Arabs," and "serpents," and "agony," and "kisses," and "defiling lips," and "anguish," and "abomination" make a pretty strong dose of ecclesiastical eloquence, but the young and old women, the loyal church wardens and vestrymen, swallow it gratefully. What would that meek, and moderate, and decorous, and saintly man, Bishop White, say, if he could revisit our moon-struck world, and hear such wretched stuff?

How Prisoners of War are Discharged: Letter of Mr. Emerson Etheridge of Tennessee

(column 4)

Summary:

Accuses members of the Lincoln administration of accepting payment in return for securing the President's order to release certain prisoners.

Origin of Article:

Washington Constitutional Union

Excerpt:

"There are thousands of anxious parties in the country to whom this subject is one of the most absorbing interest, and they cannot but feel the most intense indignation upon learning that the levying of black mail is carried on so openly beneath the eaves of the White House."

Stealing Church Bells

(column 5)

Summary:

Calls "inappropriate" the theft of church bells, books, and other items from Southern communities by the Yankees.

The Inauguration

(column 6)

Summary:

Prints a transcript from President Lincoln's second inaugural address from March 4, 1865.

Excerpt:

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness on the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

Page 3

Page Description:

Classified ads, columns 3-7

107th Penn. Infantry

(column 1)

Summary:

Lists the names of the members of the 107th Pennsylvania Infantry who were killed, wounded and missing in the battle of Dabneys' Mills, near Petersburg, February 6 and 7. Killed: Private John Pinniard, Company C; Private John Knouff, Company D; Private George G. Chick, Company F; Private Charles Riley, Company G; Martin McMillen, Company G; Private Samuel Fetter, Company H. Wounded Officers: were Captain Theodore K. Scheffer, Company A; Second Lieutenant Aaron Treher, Company B; Sergeant Major Lord B. Green. Wounded soldiers in Company A: Privates James Brady, George W. Sinn, John Anderson, John Davis, Michael Castello, Elias Miller. Wounded soldiers in Company B: Corporals Will Carr, and Charles Fisher; Privates John Deitrich, and Daniel Losh. Wounded in Company C: Color Sergeant Francis J. Swoyer; Corporal Solomon Hottenstein; Privates Andrew L. Crouk, Joseph Clark, Andrew Fogle, Joseph Guest. Wounded in Company D: Sergeant Adam Palmer; Privates Joseph Peters, Joseph Miller, William Harman, Andrew Gehr, Francis Herron. Wounded in Company E: Sergeant Martin V. Cochran; Corporal George Hawes; Privates Henry Singleman, John Vessel, Isaac Hathaway. Wounded in Company F: Michael Miller and Gustavius Wolf. Wounded in Company G: Sergeant Edwin S. Wilcox and Private Lewis Guichard. Wounded in Company H: Privates William A. Murphy, James Morris, Thomas Durkin, Levi Sloughenbough, Joseph McBride, James Roney, Henry Mitch. Wounded in Company I: Sergeant Isaac Dyssinger; Corporal Isaac M. Spong; Privates Absalom Gockley, Lewis Lenois, George W. Rouzer, Richard Welker. Wounded in Company K: Privates Henry E. Canhan, George Robinson, George Trover, John Tresler, Archibald Blythession. Missing in Company A: Corporal Christian Shearer; Privates Joseph Schrimskie, Frank Harrigan. Missing in Company B: Corporal Peter Altymier; Privates Henry Amey, William Dottery. Missing in Company C: Privates Harman Foster, Jacob Gilbner, Thomas O'Brien, Abraham Spencer. Missing in Company D: Corporals Benjamin Hoover, William Wilson. Missing in Company E: Privates Conrad Lankerman, Henry Hierchamp, George Haas. Missing in Company F: Private James Francisco. Missing in Company G: Privates Pisterious, John M. Shank, George W. Rinard, Henry Silvis, John A. Walter. The total killed = 6. Total wounded = 2 officers and 51 enlisted men. Total Missing = 21.

Names in Announcement:

John Pinulard; John Knouff; George G. Chick; Charles Riley; Martin McMillen; Samuel Fetter; Theodore K. Scheffer; Aaron Treher; Lord B. Green; James Brady; George W. Sinn; John Anderson; John Davis; Michael Castello; Elias Miller; Will Carr; Charles Fisher; John Deitrich; Daniel Losh; Francis J. Swoyer; Solomon Hottenstein; Andrew L. Crouk; Joseph Clark; Andrew Fogle; Joseph Guest; Adam Palmer; Joseph Peters; Joseph Miller; William Harman; Andrew Gehr; Francis Herron; Martin V. Cochran; George Hawes; Henry Singleman; John Vessel; Isaac Hathaway; Michael Miller; Gustavus Wolf; Edwin S. Wilcox; Lewis Guichard; William A. Murphy; James Morris; Thomas Durkin; Levi Sloughenbough; Joseph McBride; James Roney; Henry Mitch; Isaac Dyssinger; Isaac M. Spong; Absalom Gockley; Lewis Lenois; George W. Rouzer; Richard Welker; Henry E. Canhan; George Robinson; George Trover; John Tresler; Archibald Blythession; Christian Shearer; Joseph Schrimskie; Frank Harrigan; Peter Altymier; Henry Amey; William Dottery; Harman Foster; Jacob Gilbner; Thomas O'Brien; Abraham Spencer; Benjamin Hoover; William Wilson; Conrad Lankerman; Henry Hierchamp; George Haas; James Francisco; Pisterious; John M. Shank; George W. Rinard; Henry Silvis; John A. Walter

Lent

(column 1)

Summary:

Explains the Catholic observance of Lent, including when meals should be taken and what should be eaten at those times.

Carrying Deadly Weapons

(column 1)

Summary:

Observes that reform is needed to cut down on the number of deadly weapons being carried. Notes that a number of lives have been lost as a result of this "cowardly practice."

Origin of Article:

Exchange

The Old 77th

(column 1)

Summary:

Notes that the 77th Pennsylvania Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Rose, is preparing to return to infantry duty. Notes that the 77th has taken part in "some of the most severely contested actions of the war."

Names in Announcement:

Colonel Rose

Married

(column 5)

Summary:

Rev. F. Dyson married Jacob Nogger and Catharine Douser on February 28.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. F. Dyson; Jacob Nogger; Catharine Douser

Married

(column 5)

Summary:

John Kimble, a soldier, and Margaret Warden were married on March 5 by Rev. F. Dyson.

Names in Announcement:

John Kimble; Margaret Warden; Rev. F. Dyson

Married

(column 5)

Summary:

Miss C. Monn and John J. Miley were married on February 26 by Rev. J. F. Oiler at the residence of Mrs. Ogle.

Names in Announcement:

Mrs. Ogle; Rev. J. F. Oiler; John J. Miley; Miss C. Monn

Married

(column 5)

Summary:

Jane Miller and James Holt were married on February 28 by Rev. W. E. Krebs.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. W. E. Krebs; James Holt; Jane Miller

Married

(column 5)

Summary:

Rev. Wesley Howe married Elmira Rhodes, of Cumberland county, and John H. Hoover on February 23.

Names in Announcement:

Rev. Wesley Howe; John H. Hoover; Elmira Rhodes

Page 4

Page Description:

Classified ads, columns 1-7