The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-11-24
THE CHICAGO DIFFICULTY.

NOFGEuOE L uOcS nOI 6CCHI " OC
inclined to give up the controversy with
regard to the military rule in Chicago
3 rule which was, to a certain extent,
for few days Immediately
after the great fire. That he feels much
aggrieved is apparent from the large
space which he devoted to it in his re-
cent message. That, in the haste of
doing things which were imperative
under the extraordinary circumstances,
some things were done in less formal
way than would have been proper I'M
der other circumstances, is not doubted.
And from a published correspondence
between the Governor and Mayor Ma
son, we infer that his excellency puts
quite as much stress upon the observ-
ance of forms-or rather upon the fact
that he was not consulted-as he does
upon the killing Of Grosvenor.
The incident of chief magistrate of
a great State taking upon himself the
Office of securing the Indictment of
persons in official stations, who were
trying to discharge the duty of pro-
tecting citizens, is extraordinary and
perhaps unheard of. Although Mayor
Mason has disclaimed any intention of
treating the prerogatiye of the Govern
or in way that could be regarded as q
slight, and has plead the haste and ex-
element of the occasion as an extenu-
alton of his offence, his explanation
seems not to satisfy the Governor, nor
appease his wrath. He continues in
his efforts to make the Mayor and
General Sheridan responsible for the
shooting of Col. Grosvenor. If the
victim of his own indiscretion had
been a man of less prominence, or had
been some poor outcast, it is quite like
ly that the matter would have passed
in silence. AS it was, his disregard OF
the order of the guard, or special po-
liceman, was an act which has common
Iy been regarded as a justification Of
the shooting, provided it were necessary
to secure obedience to the local regula'
tons which had been made for the pro.
lection of citizens from the outlaws
who infested the city. OF this necessity
there seems to have been no doub
whatever.
In the meantime, the grand jury, up
/ on which the Governor made a specia
effort to procure the Indictment of May
or Mason and General Sheridan, hai
acted, and the result, we apprehend, il
in direct opposition to the desires O.
the chief Magistrate. They not only
failed to bring in an indictment agains
Mason and Sheridan, but they full!
sustained the action of these two Off
Gals. We quote from the telegraphi'
report:
"Before being discharged they made s re
port upon the issue between Gov. Palmer ant
Mason relative TO the military occupation o
the city during and following the fire, ant
the efforts OF Gov. Palmer to have Mayor Ma
son, Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan, Col. Frank Thur
man and others, indicted for the killing o
Col. GrosVenor. The grand jury in the repor
desire to say that they fully endorse and com
his aid the services of Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan
that they honor the wise discretion of tn
mayor IN thrusting aside petty place and pc
| sition and summoning to his side the wises
counsel in our midst, and availing himself @
their powerful aid in the appalling emergenc
Of the late fire. In their opinion the thank
| OF Lne que 10 Lle Lieut.. 6eu
eral of the army for the timely and eficien
aid afforded in cooperating with the Fegula
police force of our city, recognizing in his ei
forts ne spirit of usurpation Of law or author
ity, but on the contrary an unseltish desire +
do q duty that the emergency Of the hour de
manded, the assumption of which was a gres
relief to the anxiety OF the people,"
The Illinois senate, on Friday last, ia
bled motion to print Gov. Palmer
message, and it is stated that he has bu
little sympathy in that body, in hi
fight on Mason and Sheridan. We be
lieve the public sentiment of the coun
try will fully sustain the report of tn
grand jury of the Circuit Court, how
ever much they may regret the unfor
tunate killing of Col. Grosvenor, ant
however much they may sympathy
with his family. And the general yer
dict will be that Mayor Mason and GeA
eral Sheridan did right in adopting ex
traordinary means for the protection o
the people of Chicago from the grea
danger that hung over them. 1t was
time for action, and not for the displa!
of cred tape"