Valley Spirit: August 7, 1867 — Newspapers

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The Tennessee Election

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Summary:

In the wake of Gov. Bronlow's re-election in Tennessee, the editor asserts that his victory was secured through "fraud and force."

A Mongrel Convention

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Summary:

The Virginia Republican Convention was marred by strife between the two competing factions within the state party. According to the article, Hunicutt, the leader of the minority faction, enlisted the support of blacks to help disrupt the proceedings once it became apparent that his opponents would control the convention. Apparently, Hunicutt's "tactics" proved successful.

A Trip For General Grant

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Summary:

With rumors swirling that the Republicans will nominate Gen. Grant as their presidential candidate, the article declares that, since "there is nothing in his character or his antecedents which can recommnend him to the Republicans," their sole motivation for such a move is "to remove the danger of his nomination by the Democrats."

Origin of Article:

New York World

Firing Over The Grave Of Liberty

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Summary:

Had the vast majority of white men in Tennessee not been illegally disfranchised, Etheridge, the Democratic candidate, would have won the recent election for governor by a margin of over 80,000 votes, avers the article.

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Summary:

The piece decries the current state of the American economy and ascribes blame for the predicament to the "political uncertainty" induced by Radical rule.

Editorial Comment:

"We find in the National Intelligencer the following article which should be read by every business man in the country. The Radical Convention endorsed the action of Congress, and what Congress has done for the business interests of the people is thus pointedly and plainly stated by the Intelligencer:"

Origin of Article:

National Intelligencer

Full Text of Article

The great depression of business throughout the country is the subject of much remark. It is not confined to any one section or to any one branch of industry. Commerce, navigation, shipbuilding, and manufactures of all kinds are almost at a standstill, and jobbers and retailers of goods are not better off. We published a statement in yesterday's paper showing the great decline in the manufacturing business in New England. The cotton, woolen, leather and shoe trade are all declining. Colleries and Iron foundries in Pennsylvania have stopped work as well as the Eastern cotton mills. In the South, as is well known, there prevails an utter stagnation of business. There is no commerce and no money for the South. Cotton is very low-nearly one-half lower for some grades than the price of last January-and the growing crops will not be remunerative to the planter, though it will be smaller by one seventh than the crop of last year.

When we inquire into the causes of the depression of trade we will find that political uncertainty is the most active and influential of any that can be named. Congress has seen fit to quarrel with the President in regard to Southern reconstruction, and has sought to keep the South out of the Union until it could be admitted without danger to the continuance of the Radical party in power. Congress endeavors to perpetuate disunion until its usurpations of the whole power of the government shall be confirmed and upheld. That is, Congress says; We will retain our two-thirds' power, and will not admit the excluded Southern States until they embrace our policy, and send Radical men to Congress to unite with us in support of Radical measures. There is no prospect before the country but that of disunion, anarchy, profligate and corrupt appropriations of public money, the final obliteration of State governments, and the establishment of a great central despotism.

The North has much capital yet, and much enterprise, both of which would be employed in the South, to the advantage of both sections, if Congress would give us peace and restoration of the Union. This is necessary to give the country confidence in the future. Trade will not revive while the Radical rule prevails. That is a business and political fact. That a fair crop of grain will put starvation from our doors is very true; but it will not be sufficient of itself to set in motion the capital, labor and industries of the country.

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Summary:

At a cost of $60,000 a month, the government is feeding 28,000 freedmen and women who have encamped between Williamsburg and Hampton, says the article. Allegedly, the ex-slaves have refused all entreaties to find employment in the region and have also rebuffed an offer made by General Armstrong, of the Freedmen's Bureau, to re-settle in Florida. "Radicalism," the piece expounds, "is a dear experiment, taxing the patience and the pockets of the people to a degree unprecedented in the history of any country."

Editorial Comment:

"In a late number of Lynchburg Virginian, we find the following:"

Origin of Article:

Lynchburg Virginian

Page 3

Local and Personal--Degrees Conferred

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Summary:

Relates that Prof. E. E. Higbee, of Mercersburg, received a Doctorate of Divinity and Col. D. Watson Rowe, of Greencastle, was awarded an honorary degree of Masters of Arts at the commencement ceremonies of Franklin and Marshall College.

Names in Announcement: