The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-11-18

knew that he was resident of Chicago,
and supposed him to be citizen of the
state, and That he was under tho same So
cial and political obligations that other
citizcn- are. i had hta"d that he had or
dered regular troops into Chicago during
the fire, and that he, like other citizens,
cxertcl himself to arrest the flames and
maintain order; and when ! learned from
Col. Diger, on The morning of the 18th of
October that the mayor had referred him
to Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan, and that he had
very properly conferred with him as to
what might be proper to be done, l still
supposed he was acting as citizen of the
city and the state, and that the regiment
of old soldiers was TO be u voluntary or
ganization of men accustomed to service
who, MS citizens were willing to give to
the state few days for the preservation
of order and law.
do not now suppose that the regiment
of cold soldiers that he referred TO was
that which was afterwards raised by his
orders, composed mainly of state militia
and students of the Chicago university
aud at our meeting October II, ! did not
imagine that was comforting with him as
a military officer of the United States. |
knew that it was my duty as govcrno of
the state to afford aid ~ the local autori-
ties, if necessary, and that his duties were
those of a citizen, and none other, l could
not, therefore, imagine that he was exer-
cising the Illegal authority he,afterwads
asserted.
1t is my impression now, derived mainly
from the official report of Lieut. Gen.
Sheridan to the acknowledgement, that he
had no regular troops in Chicago until
| the night of the nth of October, as he
! probably did not issue his orders for the
movement of troops to Chicago until
! after the issuance Of the mayors procla'
matcn on that day, upon which he relies
for his authority to employ them, and the
least distant point from which they were
! drawn was, probably, Louisville or Omaha.
! | am also convinced that a. late as the
! 18th of October he ordered additional
troops to Chicago to protect the banks
from trouble from their depositors.
| herewith submit the official report OF
Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan.
Headquarters Military Division Of the Missouri,
Chicago, October 25, 1874.
10 the Adi't General Of the Army Washington, d. e.
Sir The disorganized condition OF affairs IN tins
city, produced by and Immediately following the late
fire. induced the city authorities TO asS oI the ASST!
| aoce Of the military forces, shown by the mayor
| proclamation of October II, 1874. lCopy herewith
marked A. To protect the public Interests lntrsied
to me by the ma' 05I ,hs Sn;h infant from
Omaha companies A, II and X Of the titth Infantry
from Leavenworth company !, sixth Infantry ron
Fort Scott and accepted the kind offer Of Major Gen
eral Hallcck TO send me companies II and h Of tn,
4 | Fourth and company T. Of tie Sixteenth Infantry
from Kentucky. also, with the appreciation Of ms
mayor called into the service Of the city Of Chicago
a regiment Of volunteers for twenty days. lCopy o
this call enclosed herewith, marked b. These troops
both regulars and volunteers, were actively engaged
during their service here, in protecting the treasure in
the burnt district, guarding the unburnt district from
disorders and danger by further fires, and in protecting
the StorchuuSes. depotS and sub.dcpOts OF supplies
established for the relief Of sufferers from the fire
These duties terminated ON the s3d inst as
shown by letters herewith, marked {, ID and FL and
the 24h inst the regulars started to their respcc
tive stations, and the volunteers were discharged, as
shown By special order No 70, and general No from
these headquarters. Copies herewith 1t Is proper
service Of the United States, and no orders, agree
men,s or promises were made giving them any claims
| am, very respectfully your odedent servant,
=. II. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General Commanding
On the 18th day OF October, l first
learned of the existence of the mayor :
proclamation. On the l9th ! addressed
him the dispatch copied below
Hon. X. Il. Mason, Ceicago, nj.
What addition to your police force is necessary to
enable 20" to dispense with I ,%% STATE pi,Io5f
On the same day / received this answer,
Chicago, Oct. 70, 1874.
Hon. John NJ. Palmer Governor OF llino,
! do not think any additional force will be ncces
'''' '''''' '''' '''''' ''' " K.B MASON, Mayor.
On the Goth Of October | address ed hin
the following letter:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, ENEcurIyg DAFT,
Soringh -, oct. 20, 1874.
t. Hon. Il. II. Mason, Mayor Of Chicago
SIR: The general assembly has now
by ample appropriation provided for the
support Of police force in Chicago that
will be adequate to the protection Of per
sons and property in the city, and trus,
no time will be lost in making all neediuI
Preparations for relieving the military
force now on duty under the orders OF
Lieut. Gen. Sheridan. 1t has excited the
greatest surprise and has occasioned ,ne
! the ofoundest modification that You fall
ed t. inform me, II; you could easily have
done by telegraph, or through my conf
Dental secretary who reached Chicago
on the 9:h of October, of
the necessity in your judgement for the
employment Of military iorce for the
protection Of the city, and it has panied
me quite as deeply that you should have
thought it proper without consultation
me by telegraph or otherwise, to have
practically abdicatcd your functions as
mayor
Happily there is no necessity, either
real or imaginary, for the longer contin-
unncc of this anomalous state of things.
The United States troops are now in Chi
cago in violation Of law, Every act OF
officers aud soldiers of the United States
army that operates TO restrain or control
the people is Illegal, and their pre- sence in