Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-07-08
General schsnck as Renovator

ideas in regard to the status Of the rebel
States as "mere nonsense" This speech
was published with approving comments
in the Dayton journal, from which we
must infer that our neighbor is preparing
to become disloyal by opposing the policy
of the Federal Administration. A few
months ago. that was conclusive evidence
of disloyalty. and according to the same
rule we cannot see why it must not be so
regarded now.
Here is General Schenck's own Ian
guage. After saying that all this stuff
about whether those States are 10 the
Union or out Of it is nonsense" he says
at is of no practical use whatever whether
they are to be regarded as States or Ter
ritories," He continues--"l hold that
for all practical purposes they are not as
States, and as individuals within tho
Constitution and law. except for the pur-
pose of bsing punished or pardoned as
traitors. They are in the govern
ment and in the country for the purpose OF
punishment and because of all the obliga-
tions from which they have been unable
to release themselves-and out Of the
Government 80 far as men can put them
selves out Of the power of the law by their
s;ns md ,r;ecopduct -
The only ''practical purpose in Gen
eral Schenck's estimation, for which those
people are TO be regarded as in the Union,
is to have them hung or pardoned as trail
! tors
Here we behold all the magnanimity of
courageous and victorious conqueror !
The common opinion Of mankind hitherto
has regarded with contempt and abhor-
renee the qualification ofrevenge against
fallen and helpless adversary. General
Schenck has appeared to preach the new
Evangel of "Woe to the conquered"
True, such inefficient soldiers as Grant
and Sherman, who have done SO little to
crush the rebellion, and who have under
gone so few hardships and encountered so
few dangers, may be excused for granting
honorable terms to their conquered enc
mics, and recommending mildness and
cancellation to the vanquished rebels-but
not 80 with General Scheuck. The un-
utterable anguish he suffered at Baltimore
by seeing secession colors displayed upon
children's cloths and even upon ladies
head gear, the laceration which his pa
triotic and sensitive heart experienced by
hearing the rebellious notes OF Dixie and
the Bonnie Blue Flag, emanating from
aristocratic parlors, the revulsion his re-
ligious feelings weresubjected to by seeing
disloyal people entering their houses OF
worship without sdorning their pulpits
with the flag of his country, all this and
perhaps even more may be plead in exten-
nation of General Schenck's fierce resent
ment, which regards the subdued rebels
as only fl for the halter.
His system of policy he distinguishes
By the term "renovdtiOn." He would ere
novate" the South. He would emulate
the Duke of Alva. He would make the
gallows permanent institution through
out the rebelious States, until all the
men left would vote for negro equality and
the republican ticket.
And why not ? Were they not all trGi.
tors, and of what practical consequence
is it whether such communities are called
States or Territories, now that they are IN
our powsr3 True, General Schenclk &C.
corded them belligerent rights in the field
they were treated with-priEoners were
exchanged. psroled. DC, but then these
rebels were powerful--now they are weak
and disarmed. True, they laid down their
arms upon condition that they were to be
permitted to return to their homes, to re-
main undisturbed by the United States
authorities until exchanged; but these
conditions were only granted to get the
arms out of their hands-and now they
are at our mercy ,.....
No doubt General Schenck approves
the indictment against General Lee, and
unlike General Ord, who is said to have
rendered his resignation rather than exc