The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-10-19
GOVERNOR PALMER'S MESSAGE
IMPORTANT Recommendations.
sr,rr OF lllrsors. Exrcr1vs prr.r1nrxr,l

STATE OF IILrSoIs ExrcuItvE DErArrNESr,l
rrRISGf CID, Oct. 10, 1871.
Gentlemen Of thc Seua g and House Of Repre-.
iou.r, YES:
| On the eighth day OF the present month
fire broke out IN the city Of Chicago,
which, IN few hours, destroyed II large
| portion OF tIat city.
1t is useless to attempt 10 describe the
awful and saddening spectacle of the de-
struclion Of the most wealthy and pupU-
luus parts of cur great city The destroyer
came suddenly, and under circumstances
well calculated to impress u with n sense
of our liltleness.
Chicago i. situated on the shore Of
great lake it is intersectcd by rivers it
was provided with all the means for pro-
lection against fire that are the product Of
the united efforts OF the advanced science
and skill OF modern civilization; yet, in
the presence of the destructive element,
men were powc;less and 1t pursued lis
course until nothing was let FOR it to de-
s,rOy.
In lhc course OF This remarkable confla-
grafton, which has already taken its place
IN history with The greatest calamities that
have afflicted mankind, thc flames, with
uncxump,ed fury, swept over the eastern
| half of the devoted cl.y, destroyed many
| lives, consumed churches, hospitals, schools
| dwellings, warehouse, sto Is, bridges
and structures ofevery kind. Everything
| pcr,shcd ut their touch, aud whole ward
| Of che city were let without house or an
,n1ubitunt. No reliable estimate of tho
number Of lives lost can rs yct be made,
bu. the amount Of property dc,t Dyed is
estimated at $500 OO0OOJ.
In view of the circumstances. felt it
| tu be my duty 10 convene "A session of the
General Assembly, and. acco dinghy, on
the lOlh day OF October, 49,, issued the
| proclamation which | have mad The honor
to Law before you.
At The time Of The meeting of the Gen
eral Assembly, all were still so far under
the control o. the feeling excited by his
extraordinary altmity, that no scheme
MAJ been .ormed for the employment of
| the powets and resource, of the State 10
meet the du1ie, thAt are imposed upon il
| 10y this unexpected condition of affairs.
But before proceeding 10 invite your
attention 10 the detail, Of toe cuisines, OF
the session, must be permitted, in The
name Of the people of the SlGle, 10 eApre.-
their grateful lhankfulness for the eNhibi
don Of outpou.,rg sympathy and bcneyo'
lence laa, tIis < eat and sudden calamity
has excited in all civilized lands. No
only have oar own people and the peopl,
of our sister States Distinguished them
selves by an active liberallly that Is with
out parallel, but in foieign countries, th'
hearts of men and women have throbbeC
with pity for Chicago, and their hand
filled with contributions have opened /,
supply the wants of it, suffering people
Where all have aided, and all nave don,
so much, it is impossible 10 give the name
of our beneiactOls. Their example :,
honorable TO them and TO human nature
is worthy of perpetual remembrance, ant
| trust that the General assembly vii
provide foi the publication of mcmora
volume, in which their names shall b,
preserved. The people Of the State should
be permitted 10 know the names of those
who when their brethren were hungry
fed them; and when they were naked
cioihcd them.
The first question to be decided by the
GENERAL Assembly, after careful review
: "l thc situation, j., what can be done foi
.he ielieI OF the people, and for the dis.
.halged Oh the duties of the State2 In
nhu'hs AN answer 10 this question, there
,, are some difficulties and causes of crnhar,
y rasshleht That are yet 10 be stated Sorf
OF lhose ARE that the court house iail pn,
o public Offices and records of Cook cn,n,,
!. are destroyed The INK book. ava con.
10 sumed, SO that the collection Of n,na;,
% taxes cannot, without great difHcnlty T.
Is enforced. The courts are powcrlcs,
4 The utmost confusion ms to the titles q
d. lands, must soon prevail, An the otlic,
IN and most Ofthe record Of the CITY Of Chic,