The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-20

General Schenck at ChillicOthe-Im-
portant Statements.
The brief report of recent political speech
of General Schenck at Chillicothe, Ohio, which
we publish to-day, embraces some very impor-
tant statements touching the reconstruction or
restoration policy and measures Of President
johnson.
General Schenck says that "the spirit of the
rebellion has not yet been extinguished;" that
''the idea that one or more States Of this Union
have the right to break up the whole government
at pleasure and bring upon us all the horrors
we have just passed through still PREVAILS" and
that until it is extinguished our work will not
be completed. But he says, further, that in this
view of the subject the present movements of
President johnson for the restoration of the
rebel States are regarded by the President as
temporary experiments, simply to give the
people an opportunity to show whether they
will develop the right spirit and policy neccs-
sary for full restoration to their proper posi-
tion," and that "while regarding them as expe-
riments the President intends that the military
power of the government shall hold them in
check, so that If they be found straying back
into rebellious ways" they may be curbed at
once.
This explanation throws good deal Of light
upon the late and present proceedings in the
Southern States in reference to this business of
State reorganization. President Johnson gives
free rein to the politicians concerned; but it is
to try their temper. If it is good they may go
on; but if they show a vicious and intractable
spirit he will show them that he still has
his hand upon the bride. General Schenck
leaves us in no doubt upen this matter. He
says that "only ten days ago, in a full and free
interview with him, the President said he re-
garded the local governments set up in the
rebellious States as temporary experiments"
&C., and that. in adverting to the recent cleo
ton In Richmond, s'where the citizens mani
tested their rebellious spirit by electing to
Office the very men who had recently been in
arms against the government" the President
stated that cit was with his sanction that the
military authorities had set aside that election
and he gave this as an example of what might
be expected in cases Of a similar kind" For
the information, therefore, of all parties in the
South concerned in this work of restoration,
we give the benefit of our columns for the diff
fusion among them of this important revelation
from General Schenck. He is q responsible
man. and he doubtless speaks by authority.
1t simply amounts to this; that II the people
or politicians. charged with this business of re-
construction, betray therein rebellious or
vindictive spirit, their work will be rejected
and they will be compelled to 60 back and try
it again. candy johnson" is no trifler, and
will have no trAers about him.
Upon another matter we have no doubt
General Schenck echoes his conversation with
the President. The question of negro suffrage
did not trouble him in the least. This was ga
question for the future and for the South itself
to determine, not for US, and there was no
need of the Union party being disturbed by a
discussion of the subject" General Schenck
speaks here like man Of sense, and his
opinion is the common voice Of the army but
it is very clear that the abolition radicals, sink
or swim, are bent upon different course.
They are resolved upon immediate and uncon-
ditional negro suffrage, rule or ruin, and this
is the point upon which President johnson,
supported by the masses Of the people, is des-
tined to bury in the same grave the implacable
secession elements Of the South and the disor-
pauizing abolition fanatics of the North.