Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-21
EXECUTIVE AND MILITARY FRREG.
EIARITBEG


Among all cur Radical exchanges the
New York Tribune is the only one that has
defended Gov. Palmer, Of Illinois, for his
outspoken defense Of law and the rights of
his State. Referring to the Governors
message recently transmitted to the Legis-
lature, the Tribune says at isunanswerable
IN its facts and its logic" and adds:
Stew attempt to answer the Governors
statement. Abuse of him and compliments
to the distinguished officers he has incul-
pated form the staple of their comment.
He probably expected nothing more. His
former message, in relation to a similar
violation of law, excited a storm
OF vituperation against him. The
journals of the baser sort attacked him after
their fashion. Many respectable ones
among which we are sorry to see The at
td1ltic Monthty-have been guilty of the IA
tai carelessness of saying that, though Gov.
Palmer was technically right, it was not
worth while to make so much trouble about
it. If anything in the world is worth max
ing trouble about, il is the beginning of en-
croechments by the military upon the civil
authorities. Gov. Palmer has done great
deal of valuable public work, but nothing Of
more Importance, nothing which viii be
longer and more gratefully remembered,
than this resolute and courageous vindi-
cation Of the law against executive and
military Irregularities.
sit is improbable that this thoroughly
manly and statesmanlike protest will meet
with any immediate response or result.
The persons who have committed this
wrong against the law and dignity of great
State are the most famous and most popu-
lar soldiers of the nation. The offense has
been thoughtiessly invited and recklessly
condoned by some of the best citizens of
Chicago. Their conduct has received the
tacit approval of the distinguished soldier
whom we have made our President. But
whatever loud inYectives may be uttered
against Gov. Palmer for this outspoken de-
Tense of law, he may be sure that most Of
those who denOunce him know that he is
right. 1t does not take long to outlive the
unthinking clamor which attacks a public
man who prefers duty to popularity. The
only regret is that an act so thoroughly
right should ever be unpopular.
The following resolutions offered few
days since in the lower branch of the Il
linois Legislature, by Mr.. Koerner, (Rep.)
of St. Clair, shows that the seed planted by
Gov. Palmer has taken root, and bids fair
to bring forth appropriate fruit:
"Whereas, Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan of the
United States army, on the 10Th day of Oc-
tober, A. D., 1871, upon the request of GER
tain highly respectable citizens of the city
Of Chicago, in this State, applied for United
States troops to assist the police force of
Chicago; and whereas, Gen Sheridan, u. S.
a., did order such troops to said city in con-
fOrmity with said application, and the Pres
ideni of the United States sanctioned such
order:
abe it resolved by the House of Repre-
sentatives, the Senate concurring, that
while We 90 not question the motives of
either of said officers, nor of the President
in making such disposition of said United
States troops, we ueem said assistance to
said police force, which was not called for
by the properly constituted authorities of
Illinois. when the presence of such troops
at previous time had been deprecated by
the Executive of the State, and while said
city was under the complete protection of
the laws Of the State, as forming danger
GUS precedent, and that we cordially ap-
prove the temperate, dignified and firm ac-
ton Of Gov. Palmer, in protesting, as he
has done, in his communica ion to the
president, dated Nov. 20, A. d. 1871
against sending those troops and against
their presence in said city, for the purpose
of exercising or assisting to exercise police
powers in said city.
~. That unless the said United States
troops are considered By the author ties ofthe
United States as necessary for the protection
of the United States property in the city Of
Chicago, and are to be kept there for that
purpose alone, we deem it the duty of the
government to request the proper depart
ment Of the United States to have said
troops withdrawn, so as to restore full har-
mony between the respective authorities
of the United Sites and this State"
After quite lively debate, the resolution
was referred to the committee which has in
charge the Governors messages. The fol-
lowing offered by Mr.. Lee (Dem.) of Peo-
ria, was disposed of in similar manner:
"Resolved by the House of Representa-
tives, the Senate concurring herein,th That
of military rule in Chicago by
he United States Government after the late
in that city, was an unwar-
rantable innovation upon the rights and
liberties of this State, and that we firmly
protest against any further violation of the
civil powers Of the State by the General
in times of peace, and call up
on the Governor to promptly resent all such
in the future
As far as can now be ascertained, the
is likely to sustain Gov. Palmer
and in so doing will admins
er to President Grant and Gen. Sheridan
sharp and well deserved rebuke.