New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-24

illegal arrest Of the Judge after the battle OF Newof
leans. This for q long time stock ques-
ton for party wrangng and upon 1t schenck and Doug
las first measured swords In debate Sehencks speecn
him recognized position in the House as anorator
Joseph Gales then of the editors of The National IN
telh0encer, of remarkably extensive pontlcal
knowledge and eminent in tho accurate use OF language
made inquiry next day Of exGov Vance Oh ONO apouo
his young colleague schenck, and said "He has tue
rare accomplishment of talking good sense and goo9
English; he willbe to make his mark" 1t is amin
terestng fact that this first speech in defense OF
Judge Hal, Englishman, who was attacked, among
other things for his English birth and contained
euiogy upon English jursts and English law.
Gen. schenck's first Committee service upon the
committee OF Elections Afterward he for six years
member of the Naval Committee, and during the short
Lived supremacy Of the Wings in the House, from 1si7 to
1s49, Mr. Winthrop, then Speaker, gave him the Chair
manship Of the Committee Roads and Canals, then
much important Committee in the questions OF in
terna improvements than OF late years. The Tariff que
was leading issue in Congress duringthe whole
Of Gen. schencksfrst eight years in the House. He was
then nova supporter OF the good Wing doc
trne Of Protection American Industry, which has
been from the beginning Of his public Life one OF the
general rules Of his political faith But the internal I'M
provement question also standing ISSUE quarreled
over every year with earnestness difficult to realize at
| this day.
What ran like an undercurrent, affecting fall the sur
face issues OF the time, the Slavery question: then
taking the form OF resistance to the further extension OF
the institution. The Shave power was In the fulness OF
It's strength and had complete controbof the National
Government. schenck held strong antslavery views,
and in speech Sis bill to estabisa Territorial
government for Oregon, he declared himself an advo
cate for free institutions and free SOIL" and said, I'm
utterly and forever opposed carrying Slavery Into any
| Territory where my vote can prevent IT."
After four years service in the House he determined
to return to the lucrative law he had abandoned
Tho nav Of n q
during the sessions and his pay and mileage together
did not make an annual income equal to the salary OF
second-cass Department clerk He declined renoml-
nation but, when the Convention met, he was waited
upon by the Chairman who told him that the delegates
had taken informal ballot to see Who OF the half
dozen candidates. would have been their choice IL
schenck had withdrawn that there were 70 dele
gates and schenck had received rs votes. He could
no longer refuse and remained In Congress for two terms
more when he determined TO quit and holding to his
determination this time in spite Of all persuasion no LETT
the House March, 1851 to go back as he supposed to
private life. President Fillmore however, Immediately
gave him the mission to Brazil in accordance with de-
sire expressed by Taylor before his death. During
the first part OF his In Congress, Gen. Schenck
gained National reputation as vigorous thinker,
powerful speaker and careful Legislator His style OF
speaking already acquired much OF the cearness,
force and drectness that especially characterize his
later efforts He addressed the House but rarely always
got leave to print an essay for the benefit Of his
suents Indeed in the whole of his legislative
career he wrote but one speech, and that was
speech thepubc credit, delivered In February 1862
Twelve years elapsed before Gen. Schenck reentered
Congress- he was years in South America, where
he negotiated the treaty for the free navigation OF the
Rio de la Plata and his return he kept out OF politics
and public affairs Mr. Lincoln wanted to send him back
TO Brazil OF give him the Mexican Mission but he de-
cned TO accept ether but when the news came OF the
attack Sumter, he telegraphed TO the Presdeht an
offer services In any capacity ana was gVeh "'
once Brtgadier Generals commission, receiving AFTER
ward a Msor-Generashp for gallantry In BATTLE HIS
return 10 Congress contrary to his own desires he
was lying In Washington in the Fall OF 1862 helpless from
bad wound received at the second battle OF Bull Rum
when his friends in Dayton teegraphed to ask his con-
sent to nominate him, as the only man who could
beat Vallandigham who then represented the district
He at refused to be candidate, but yielded TO the
solicitations Lincoln and Chase who thought the i'm
portance preventing the Democrats from getting con-
troll of Congress to be only secondary to that OF defea
ing the Rebels In the field 1t the black year OF the
war and the Union party lost heavily in the elections
and narrowly escaped losing the House. In twothrds OF
l. Ohio not single Unionis was elected 10 congress, Dut
Gen. schenck easily beat his adversary although he TOOK
no active part in the campaign. he mad not seen MS
constituents year before and did not see them for
year after the election. AS soon as his wound would
permit him to get out Of bed he was put IN command
OF the Middle Department with $4,000 troops under
bs orders scattered throughout the border country OF
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia; and when ne re-
signed his commission just before the meeting OF the
XXXvIIth Congress, In December 1862 he had an IN
dersandng with the President that IT, after helping to
organize the House. wished 10 return to the army he
should be reapponted to his old grade He at once
made Chairman OF the Committee on Military Affairs,
| and found @ work to do Of moro Importance TO the
successful prosecution Of the than anything which
one man could have accomplished in the army Gen. Gar
field was his second the Committee and the two Gen.
erals fresh from the field threw all their energies into
the work OF passing the most vigorous war measures
They found tie politicians all against them. Political
expediency and the necessity OF carrying elections were
the ruling motives and the politicians recoed from the
severe legislation proposed fearing that their own sue
cess might jeoparded. The most important work OF
Gen. schenck's entire Congress career was, without
doubt the passage OF the Draft law of 1864 which filed
our exhausted armies time to give the finishing stroke
70 the Rebellion Few people know the inside history OF
| this law In June, 1864, President Lincoln sent for
schenek and Garfield and said he wished to tell them
some facts which he dared not put IN message to Con-
eress Within six months he said 300 900 men would leave
the army by expiration Of their terms OF service Grnt
had already lost 10000 in the wilderness; ana I'M
les tle places OF these at once hled Grant
must return from before Richmond and sherman from
ATLANTA The old draft laws were providing few recruits
for nearly every drafted paid the $500 Communication
The only thing to do he said was to repeal tne conmu
| men schenck the necessity for instant action ana
carried the measure through his Committee ana or9nSht
alarmed. The Presidential election and al the con
elections O wfrs that T the odons
would ruin the Republican party MI Liheon was tou
by rPa e tR rew himself SH up to his u hight and
pled with that solemnity Of tone and manner wheh ne
sometimes exhibited IN moments hs 81 bnnd he Pres
dent OF the United States It necessary tnat the war
men and will end the before present term ex-
pires" Many OF the best men in the House appealed to