Valley Spirit

The editor of the Cleveland Herald, having been tolerably profuse in his compliments to the pretty girls of Cleveland, has been requested to say a good thing in behalf of the homely ones, and he does it this:

First--The homely girls of Cleveland are in a hopeless minority, but they mean well.

Second--They go to Church every Sunday, and are fond of their meals. They had rather have their meals regularly than new bonnets.

Third--They understand their business and wear No. 5 gaiters.

Fourth--They are bright, intelligent, devoid of low jealousy, fond of music, dance at parties as though it was the chief end of life, and always go in when it rains.

Fifth--They always thank the gentlemen for giving them seats in street cars; never flirt with the boys, because it is out of their line, and keep out of the fire.

Sixth--They never have half a dozen young sprigs keeping company with them.

Seventh--They wash their own handkerchiefs, iron their own collars, and darn their own stockings.

Eighth--They never wear waterfalls that weigh over one hundred and fifty pounds and have neither "rats" nor other animals in the hair.

Ninth--They don't call the young trash "perfectly splendid."

Tenth--They never eat between meals.

Eleventh--They are all going to get married.

Twelfth--They will all marry well.

Thirteenth--Their children will be bright and shining lights in the world.

Fourteenth--They won't keep hired girls till their husbands can afford them.

Fifteenth--They sleep under the musquito bars when convenient.

Sixteenth--They can make coffee and nut cakes, and can do chamberwork.

Seventeenth--They are O. K.

Hurrah for the fellow who wrote that.--His head is level. We like homely girls ourself, with their quiet, kind, and cheerful ways. We endorse them.

In less than two weeks from now Congress or what purports to be a Congress will again assemble. What extravagant and revolutionary legislation may be enacted by this "rump" body during the coming session it is impossible to predict. But what it will be bad enough in all conscience we may rest assured. Whether they will undertake to impeach the President will depend very much on circumstances. If they can carry out their designs without impeachment they will forbear to resort to that extreme measure, but if their revolutionary purposes can be accomplished in no other way we have no doubt the counsels of Phillips, Butler & Co. will prevail, and the country will be hurled anew into civil war; for it must not be supposed that the President would tamely submit to being tried by an illegal and unconstitutional tribunal, or that the conservative masses of the country--the real friends of the Union and the Constitution--would permit him to submit. If the radicals force this issue upon the country it will be the end of their ill--gotten power, for the honest people of the country will rally again in defence of the Union and crush out Northern disunionists as effectually as they did Southern disunionists, only it will be done in much less time. If a new war comes upon the country in this shape, it will be in fact what the last was only in name--a war for the Union.

The late war was a war between the Radical leaders of the North and the Radical leaders of the South, for political power.--When the war was imminent in the spring or 1861, and the patriotic portion of the people of both sections were laboring to preserve the peace and unity of the country by compromise, the extremists North and South, interposed and prevented a settlement because it would have interfered with their schemes for power and plunder.

The Radical leaders prevented a compromise at that time, because as they alleged, it would have disrupted the Republican party. They preferred the disruption of the Union to the disruption of their party, and through their criminal neglect to aid in averting the impending calamity, the country drifted into civil war. War with all its horrors having thus been brought upon the country, the patriotic masses of the North without stopping to inquire into the causes, flew to arms in defense of an imperiled government. The Radical leaders, to make their ulterior designs, bawled themselves hoarse with the cry of "Union."

The war waged under false pretenses, so far as the political leaders who shaped the war policy of the government were concerned, but the patriotic masses who composed the rank and file of the Northern army, knowing only their duty to their country, fought the war through to a successful issue, fondly believing that a restored Union would be the reward of their perils and sacrifices. But in this they were mistaken. It is almost two years since the war closed, and yet we are to-day apparently further from the attainment of the pretended object of the war than at the time of the surrender of the rebel armies. Why is this? It is because the same political leaders who, in 1861 prevented an amicable settlement to preserve the Union, for fear of disrupting the Republican party, are now arbitrarily and illegally preventing a restoration in order that they may retain their hold on political power. The arrant knavery and hypocrisy of these men, by which a too credulous people has been deceived during the past five years, is thus made manifest and exposed.

The South went to war and were defeated. They acknowledge themselves whipt and accept the situation. They are anxious to return to the fold from which they vainly attempted to stray. They have given every evidence that could reasonably be asked of their present loyalty and good faith, and the conservative portion of the Northern people--the same who labored so devotedly in the winter and spring of 1861 to preserve the Union without bloodshed--are willing to receive them in order to restore perfect harmony again to the Union of our fathers, and that peace may once more smile upon the whole land, bringing prosperity and happiness to all its people.

But this grand consummation, so devoutly wished for by all true patriots, is prevented by the infernal spirit of radicalism now dominant in the North. Its revolutionary leaders have usurped unlimited power in the Legislative branch of the government, and, in defiance of the plain mandates of the Constitution, stubbornly refuse to restore the Union themselves or permit its restoration by any other department of the government. Is the Union then to remain indefinitely divided because a conspiracy to that end exists among the Radical leaders of the North? This is the pregnant question which now presses itself upon the minds of the American people. This is the problem which must be solved in the near future.

Our Republican friends held a Convention in the Court House of this place on Tuesday of last week to express the choice of Franklin county for United States Senator, and to instruct the Senator and Representatives from this district to vote accordingly. The Convention was tolerably full, and was managed in the interest of Curtis by our neighbor of the Repository, who was himself a delegate from Guilford township.

The anti-Curtis forces were led by Col. Weistling, of Quincy, but it was evident from the start that the Curtin men had the concern too well "set up" to admit of any division that would be entitled to be designated as a contest. Col. Weistling played his part well. His tactics were good--we might say admirable--but unfortunately for his cause he had no votes to back them. On all test questions, on the call of the yeas and nays, there was an almost unanimous response as Col. McClure dictated. To be sure occasionally a weak brother would get a little mixed and seem not to know exactly how to vote, but a little prompting would invariably bring him all right. It was a dull and spiritless affair, being entirely too one-sided to be interesting.

The Repository last week gave its readers a full report of the proceedings of this Convention, as understood by it and its friends. The Harrisburg Telegraph, a few days ago, contained another and quite a different account, dated at Chambersburg and doubtless written by an ardent friend and admirer of the great "Winnebago Chief." As it is doubtful whether the Repository] will so far forget its prejudice as to publish the Telegraph account, we have conceived it to be our duty, as lovers of fair dealing between belligerent neighbors, to transfer it entire to our columns, so that the people of Franklin county may have an opportunity of seeing both sides of this interesting controversy. Our love of justice, and respect for the defeated Winnebagoans of this vicinity would not permit us to stand idly by and see them driven to the wall by the merciless strategy of the Repository. We have therefore kindly and voluntarily opened our columns for their defence. We trust our conduct will be duly appreciated and that the friends of the tribal chief will ever hold us in grateful remembrance for interposing our kind offices in their behalf. We ask no higher reward.

"Some of our white ministerial friends do more in the way of procuring farms and keeping our poor race in ignorance than anything else. They pretend when they are North that they would come down here and do anything for our race in the way of enlightening them; but instead of this, when they see the cotton gag, they forget all about Christ and Him crucified, and the saving of souls," Of certain Northern Merchants, he says: "All they wish to do is, teach what President Lincoln has done, and pat the colored man on the shoulder with the left hand, while with the right hand they catch hold of his pocket book. And when they have got the last cent from him, their friendship suddenly ceases. Then, "he is only a nigger."

CHAMBERSBURG, NOV. 15, 1866.

GEORGE BERGNER, Editor, Harrisburg Telegraph:

DEAR SIR:--I have been looking over your valuable paper for a full report of the so-called McClure-Curtin Convention, but failing to see any reference to it, I sit down to give you a fair and truthful account of its proceedings.

This Convention met on the 13th of Nov., for the avowed purpose of electing a United States Senator who could be handled like a puppet by our distinguished "Pete," alias "Horace." Curtin, being about to relinquish the Governor's chair, and the chances for our distinguished townsman to buy and sell the next Chief Magistrate of this State, of the next three years being rather small, he is now attempting to place his own man in the United States Senate for the purpose of speculating in national affairs. But, Mr. Editor, I am digressing from my first intentions, to sit down and give you a report of the proceedings of the McClure-Curtin Convention.

Mr. McClure, the editor of the Repository, labored assiduously, for the last several weeks to induce the Republicans of Franklin county to attend the delegate elections called at his instance, and express their sentiments for United States Senator. The elections were held throughout the county on Saturday last, Nov. 10, 1866, and the following is the actual result:

These are all the townships that held a partial election, and it will be seen that scarcely one-twentieth of their regular Republican voters obeyed the mandate of McClure, to attend the delegate elections.

In Orrstown ten persons attended en mass meeting, and selected delegates.

In Lurgan township, nine were present to go through the same operation.

In Letterkenny, twelve noses were counted at the meeting.

In Concord, four gentlemen presented themselves.

At Sulphur Springs, five participated.

In Metal township, twenty gentlemen were present.

In Peters township ten voters participated.

At St. Thomas thirteen were present.

In Montgomery ten were in attendance.

In Hamilton twelve were on hand.

Warren township did not respond to "Pete's" call.

Mount Rock did not hold a meeting.

Welsh Run did not elect delegates.

In Loudon eight gentlemen met and appointed delegates.

Counting all the persons who participated in this movement we have the number of four hundred and seventy-three for Curtin. Against, two hundred and eighty-two. Fifty-three gentlemen voted for various delegates without giving any instructions to them.

Thus you have a truthful statement of the interest manifested by four thousand two hundred and fifty Republicans of this county, who voted for the representatives to the next Legislature, at the last October election.

When the delegates met, sixty-six gentlemen, self-constituted, met for the purpose of instructing the gentlemen elected by the Republican party from the counties of Franklin, Perry and Adams as to whom they should vote for United States Senator.

The Convention was called to order, and Col. McGowan a law student of McClure's, was placed in the chair, to act as President. "Peter" rang his bell, and most of the delegates answered "yea" to all he said

Wherever but one delegate appeared from a district, he was authorized to cast the full vote of the township or borough, and in this way McClure makes it appear that seventy-six delegates were present at the Convention.

After this arduous duty performed by our friend, "Pete," the Convention agreed to dine.

In the afternoon, "Pete" moved that the Convention proceed to nominate a candidate for United States Senator.

Before this motion was seconded, Colonel Wiestling obtained the floor, and stated that he did not appear as the champion of any particular candidate for United States Senator, nor for the purpose of impugning the motives of any gentleman who had managed to call for the present Convention, nor to criticize the anticipated course of any one whom the action of this Convention was intended to effect, and spoke against the expediency of giving instructions to our Representatives, as to whom they should support for United States Senator. Col. W. closed by offering the following:

Resolved, That this convention recognize the right and legality of giving expression to the views of the people on the important political questions of the day; and also of the advising and instructing their servants, the public officers whom they place in power, as to their proper course of action with reference to such questions; but they also believe with St. Paul, that all things which are lawful may not be expedient.

Resolved, That where important principles are at issue, or where local interest are at stake, it is right and expedient to give instructions to our Representatives as to their actions; but upon questions of personal preference such as the present one before this convention, we deem it unwise and inexpedient to give any instructions to our Representatives as to which of the Honorable gentlemen named for the position of U. S. Senator they shall give their votes.

Resolved, That having confidence in the honesty and faithfulness of the officers we have elected, we place implicit trust in their discretion and judgement to do what is best for the best interests of our State.

"Peter" did not relish those resolutions, and spoke briefly against them.

On the call of the yeas and nays, Quincy township voted a solid yea. Some two or three others voted the same, but "Peter" had the convention "set up" so completely that the resolutions were negatived.

After this, the convention went through the formality of nominating and electing the next United States Senator, and, of course, "Peter's" friend Curtin, with whom as rumor has it, he divided a big thing when the tonnage tax, Sumbury and Erie, and other big jobs were run through the Legislature, carried on the palm, and is now elected U. S. Senator by his distinguished servant, "Peter."

The loyal citizens of Pennsylvania need not fear that the 473 Curtin men of Franklin county will frighten the Representatives from this district. They will discharge their duty faithfully, and select such a man for U. S. Senator, as will satisfy and represent the true sentiments and feelings of the Republicans of this State.

I will merely mention one fact to show your readers who M'Clure managed the delegates. One delegate appeared from Washington township. He was instructed to cast the seven votes from that township for Mr. Stevens, and he obeyed, at first, his instructions. But "Peter" induced him (by what means your correspondent knoweth not) to vote for Curtin.

I have one word in reply to the Harrisburg correspondent of the Chambersburg Repository, who signs himself "Horace," alias "Pete." He says that the card published in your paper is a libel on Colonel Stumbaugh, and a fraud upon the people. If this is so, Colonel Stumbaugh ought certainly to prosecute you for libel, and then he might follow the example of "Peter"--threaten you for tow or three terms of court with a violent prosecution of his case, and then step up magnanimously, enter a nolle prosequi, and give his counsel money to pay costs of all proceedings had. Such things have been done in Franklin county, and they might be repeated in yours.

I have merely given you the above hasty sketch of the proceedings of the Convention held in this town so that the people may not be misled with representations that Franklin county has instructed her Representatives for any man. They have been elected by the Republicans of this district, who have the utmost confidence in them, and they will discharge their duties without listening to the mandates of a corrupt faction.

ADAM