Year: 1871

ALetter from Gen. Schenck.


A letter from General Schenck to
the editor of the Dayton Journal
gives nauthontic information in re-
gard to the powers with which lie is
intr usted as Minister to England.
Exp licit information on this point
was requested and the General has
fra nkly furnished it. He is intrust-
ed with the discussion of the Ala
bama Claims, and all other questions
which have been withdrawn from the
London mission They all go back
I heir now. We had never supposed
that General Schenck would consent
to appear at the English court as a
mere figure head, or be satisfied with
the empty dignity of the position.
His letter confirms cur opinion that
all question at issue between the
Governments of the United States
and Great Britain arc to be placed
in his hands for discussion and ne
gotiation, and that such an assurance
was given with the tender of the
mission.


The General states that he will
present his resignation - the Rep
resentative ofthe Third District, on
the reassembling of Congress after
the holId ays, and expects to sail for
England on the 18th or 19th of JAN
nary, though this has not been so
definitely settled as to justify him
in engaging his. passage for either
of those days.


In regard to the contest, General
Butler will take charge of that bill
in the absence of General Schenck.
This is q good arrangement. Gen
eral Butler, as one of the managers
of the Soldiers Home, will give
faithful attention to the rights Of
the veterans there, and will see to
it that the laundering and unjust
decisions of the courts shall be
thoroughly sifted. The veterans
may safely trust the advocacy of
their right to vote to the care Of
General Butler.


In speaking of the English Mis-
sion, General Schenck says that the
present Secretary of Legation, Mr..
Moran, has been connected with the
mission for some twelve or fourteen
years, is perfectly familiar with all
its details, and is gentleman with
whom he is well acquainted. MIR.
Moran will continue to occupy the
position. This will serve as answer
to the applications which have been
N ade for this important place. The
General speaks of these applications
as being without number


Z, The statements made by General
Schenck in this letter, while they


embrace some matters which have
already been published, especially
in regard to the desire of the Ad-
minist-ation that he should take
charge of all unsettled que stions be-
tween the two Governments, afford
reliable information in regard to the
time of his resignation: the day on


which he expects TO sail, and the
course to be taken by General But
Ter in the contest to establish the


right of the soldiers to vote at all
elections. There can he no doubt,
as we believe, that the House will
decide the question of suffrage in
favor of the veterans, and that Mr..
Campbell viii not long occupy his
seat in the next Congress.


1t is expected that Congress will
definitely settle the voting question
by the passage of joint resolution
declaring that tue United States
claims no jurisdiction over the
grounds occupied by the Home
which interferes in any way with
the exercise of the right of suffrage
by the inmates of that institution.
When it is considered that the leg
islature of Ohio, in making a quail
fed eession of jurisdiction to the
United States, expressly reserved
the right of voting to The vetel ans.
such joint resolution would hardly
seem to be required But the Su-
preme Court, of Ohio jumped this
exercise of State authority, and thus
denied the right OF the State to
i1anS SuSh - iCSNAN alAOus IL WAS
just as much ofa contract as that of
agreeing TO pay the principal and
interest of our State bonds. The
Legislature made the reservation,
and the United States accepted the
grant on the condition specified.
The conclusion is that the soldiers
viii not be denied the right to vote.


1t should be stated that the letter
of General Schenck was private, but
IS it was an answer to one address
to him. there is no violation of con-
fidence in stating his declarations
in regard to matters in which the
public are interested, and to the
of which he, if consult
ed, as we believe, would interpcse
no objection.