Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-03-14
some Examples OF the Law Of
!. RaRrlAAla.

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No people have used it more frequently
than the American nation and no party
more frequently and uniustidably than the
present Administration let US have a
few examples
l. When the war was raging in Mis-
souri. guorrillas frequently destroyed tho
railroads. The citizens generally, along
the line of the road, were held responsible
for the safety of bridges. culverts. DC, re-
gardless of their guilt.
=. When steamboats, or gunboats are
fired upon along the Mississippi river by
guerrillas in the vicinity Of towns and
villages, the towns and villages are burn
ed. no matter by whom inhabited.
3. When Union citizens of Missouri
were driven into St. Louis by the ravages
of war in the interior of the State, the
residents of st. Louis, not of ABOLITION
sentiments, were assessed by the COM
manding General, and compelled to pay
large sums to support them.
a. When the barns aud out-houses of
some of ScHENcK's "loyal" pets in the
State Of Maryland, were burned to the
ground by persons unknown, his Majesty,
Schenck, assessed the damages upon all
the "disloyal" citizens within certain
number of miles, and compelled them to
pay it.
8. When Major KEITH's Corporal, or
Sergeant. SwIoART, by name, was shot at
over in the Big woods, at the edge of
Greene County, he arrested six innocent
neighbors, whom he held as hostages, and
one of whom he put in irons. There was
no claim that the persons seized were gull
ty, but simply that they were democrats
whose influential friends might hunt ont
and bring to justice the one who fired the
gun
6, When Altman, of Palmyra, Mis-
souri, Federal spy, was seized and car
ried away by rebel guerrillas. Gen. Nc
Neil arrested ten persons known not to
have been concerned in the transaction,
and held them for the surrender of Alt
man, or of his captors. The guerrillas
did not bring Altman back, nor were his
captors given up. Mcneil ordered the
ten men shot, and they lVere shot, in cold
blood.
All the foregoing acts were perpetrated
by authority, approved of by the Admin
istration, and applauded by Abolitionists.
We defy contradiction upon this point
General Mcneil is still General in our
army, higher in rank than before Scheuck
is the Congressman from this District.
Keith has been promoted to Colonelcy.
And the same rule still prevails as to the
safety of railroads, and the destruction of
towns along the Mississippi.
But to be a little more explicit upon
this Endorsement by abolitionists, let us
take the case of the Infamous Keith AT
ter his diabolical conduct among us here
at home, in seizing and holding in irons
the innocent for the crimes of others, pub
lie presentations and addresses were made
to him, in which he was complimented
upon his conduct here. He was placed at
the head of Sunday school professions,
and received silk flags from females. But
more than all, the Journal was full of full
some, lick'spittle praise, and seemed new
er to be satisfied with heaping honors up
on him.
Now, mark the difference. In all the
instances which we have given above, the
, reprisals Wers solely upon those innocent Of
the crime charged. Therein exists the great
wrong. But the principle laid down in
Mr.. VallandighAm's letter is the very re-
verse. His exact language is, ''instant,
summary, and ample reprisals upon the
persons and property Of the men at home,
aOhO by language and eon6aet are ats0ays
ineiting 10 these outraSss." He proposes
retaliation only upon the guilty. The ac-
tual instigstors, and therefore the real per-
Petrators of all the outrages upon us.
Can we hear from the dignifed editor
of the Lo,iyn0I nnon Mr. VallandiOham's