The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-11-16
THE MILITARY OCCUPATION OF
CHICAGO.
Correspondence Between Gov. Pal
meT aud Mayor Mason.

| HASA NuN AAOlOt MNbOue
CHICAGO, Nov. 15-The correspond
enCe which took place between Gov. Pal
mer and Mayor Mason just before the
withdrawal Of the troops from this city, Il
published. Gov. Palmer, in his letter, says
ut excited the greatest surprise and has
oCcasloned me the proioundest mortitica'
ton that you have failed to inform me, us
could have been easily done by telegraph
or through my confidential secretary, who
reached Chicago on the 9th OF October, OF
the necessity, In your judgment, for the
employment OF military force for the pro-
teclion of the city, and 1t has panied me
quite as deeply that you should have
thought il proper, without consulting with
me BY telegraph or otherwise, 10 have
practically abdiCated your functions as
Mayor Happily, there is no necessity,
either real or imaginary, for longer con.
tinnanCe ol this anomalous state OF things.
Tho United States troops are in Chicago
In violation of law. Every act Of officers
and soldiers Of the United States army
that operates 10 restrain or control the
people Is illegal, and their presence In the
city, except for purposes Of the United
States, ought to be no longer continued.
1t is due TO you that l should con.
Tess that under the circumstances that
surrounded you OH the occasion Of the
late disaster, 1t was natural that you
should incline to accept aid from any
quarter, to enable you TO afford protection
to the persons and property In your city,
but regret that 1t did not occur to you
that II your own powers, under the laws,
were inadequate to meet the emergencies,
that you were entitled upon notice to me,
to tue support OF the whole power rof the
Stale. From information, that have not
been offered an opportunity to acquire
officially, | have learned that Lieut.. Gen.
Sheridan has rendered valuable services,
for which he deserves tho thanks oi tho
people Of Illinois, but II would have been
more satisfactory to them II he as Citi.
zen, had given TO you the assistance OF his
eminent abilities TO organize the people to
act In conjunction with the civil officers
for their own protection"
Mayor Mason, in his reply 10 the above
letter, says:
clad your ExcellenCy, when in Chi.
cago On The nth and 18th of this month,
informed me or Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan OF
your disapprobation ol the course that l
had thought proper to pursue In having,
on the 10th inst, solicited his aid in pre-.
serving the peace and order of the city,
and protecting tho lives and property Of
It's inhabitants, satisfactory reasons could
have been given your Excellency for so
doing-many OF which, even now, it
would be unwiSe to make public. In the
performance of my official duties | be.
lieved the emergency required me to
take the step that l did. do not be.
lleve that when the lives and property of
the people and the peace and good order
of a large city are In danger, that It Is
time to stop and consider any question of
policy but that Il the United States, by
the strong arm OF its military, can give
the instantly required protection to life,
property and order, II Is the duty of those
In power to avail themselves Of such
assistance"