Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-05-10
Governor Brough ana the Cop
perheada.

There is 40 old fashioned Rip Van Win
kle notion that when Governor OF the
State is elected he becomes tho chief officer
Of the tshols people, and there are Q tsw
old fogies yet remaining who cherish the
idea that the dignity attaching to the eS-
ecutive Office should impel its possessor 20
ignore all the divisions Of party and lock
only to the calm aud impartial administra-
ton Of the laws, unbiased by the feelings
attaching to the political canvass in which
he was, Just before prominent
actor. That Governor BRouoH is not one
who cherishes such antqusted aud perhaps
childish notions is evident from his speech
at Camp Dennison to the National Guard.
We see him there plungiug overhead into
the muddy pol ofpol tc', diTgaCe ny the
position OF chief magistrate by calling
his fellow citizens dirty names II could
not be doabted, since there is such tangible
evidence Of the fact, that the Governor is
but flesh and blood, and therefore we sup
posed him su ect to all the in6rmities Of
humanity, but we hoped that at least, he
was philosopher enough to rise above their
ritation caused by the fact that there were
quite a respectable number of voters who
did not believe him the exponent of the
best policy Of our unhappy country at
this trying period of her history. We
have been disappointed then that Cover
nor BRoUoH could not forget the 1877 900
votes given for his opponent. Ond shows
that they still vex him in hisdesms, and
disturb the equauimity Of his waking
hours.
But there is more serious view to take
Of this: we are living in q period Of great
excitement; in time when men seem but
little disposed to tolerate any dissent from
tie views which they deem correct, and
when those who can call upon the "pow-
ers that be" to enforce uniformity Of senti-
ment not only do it, but find a ready re.
spouse to the call Under these circum-
stances, the speech Of Gov. Brough is es.
pecially significant. 1t says to those who
are willing to persecute for opinions sake
--"go on, you are right, the Executive
shares your feelings, and Sill add to your
malignity the power it needs and desires
to crush its victims" To those who do
rot accord with the Governor and his par
ty, it says-"you have no right to your O.
pinious on the political issues Of the day
no rights at all which we are bound to
rqspect--this glorious National Guard Is
the means which am going to use to
take out OF your heads all foolish notions
about free speech, free press, and such
like nonsense I am the State--you must
obey"
A foreigner enqUiring about this matter
would be curious to know what $4,000
men of our State had done. that they sho'd
be vili6ed and abused as M. Brough a.
bused and villifed them at Camp Denni-
son. He would be astonished when told
that it was because they believed peace to
be preferable TO war--that civil war is the
saddest Of all conhicts--tbata war prose.
cuted without one offer to compromise,
without one word of reason or expostula-
ton. without single attempt at settle
mcnt Of the matters in dispute, is shame
ful-that conflict carried on without re-
gard to those rules which have been devils
ed by civilized nations to mitigate its hor-
rors, is peculiarly disgracerul--that war
to keep in connection with as States who
united with us voluntarily TO form our
Union, is carried on in opposition to the
principles upon which our Government
was founded-and that since vast injury
has been done, the better way is to stop
and try to repair or save what is left, rath-
er than to keep on and do more. 1t is for
this that Gov. Brough calls his fellow.c cit
isens TRAITORS" for this he stands mp and
soils his robes of Office by throwing the
mire OF dirty names. "Copperhead" will
do for low stump speakers, and even for