The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-12-19
a SENSIBLE GOVERNOR.
an Illinois Executive Against
SsTassss, G
A Protest Against State Degree
dation.

Ga Saturday last Gov. Palmer. Of Iii.
nos' sent to the State Legislature spe.
ciai message in relation TO the military
occupation OF Chicago together with the
correspondence between Himself and the
President and Gen. Sheridan. The fol
lowing is the message:
In submitting these papers to the Gen
cral Assembly, it is not improper for me
to say that when The regular troops that
had occupied Chicago from the ilth to
The 23d day OF October. 1871, we're or
dersd TO their stations, and the voluateer
force organized hv Lieut. Gen. Sheridau
WAS d'Sbanded, did not believe it to be
possible that any officer of the United
States army could again find pretext
for ln'srmeddiing in the affairs OF the
State Of illinois. Ny expectation Of
future exemption froal military interfer-
enc3 w%S based upon the belief that the
authorities Of the State had already done
enough for the maintenance OF tie law
and the protection Of the interests Of the
people ofChirago TO merit their full
confidence. and that the local officers Of
tue city were tHen so alive to their du-
ties and so confident of tie support Of
powerful State, that 10 room would be
left for external intervention. Every
thing, indeed, hal heca done for tn. aid
aid protection Of the people Of Chicago
that MAS possible, and If al their inter
ests were not secnre. it was because The
resources OF civil Government were not
equal 70 their necessities.
Tie papers and correspondence here
with transmitted demonstrate, however,
that WAS mistaken, and that the appro-
piistiohs male by the Gcuersl Assem-
by for the support Of An adequate po-
lice force. in Chicago, the energetic dis
charge Of duty by the police, and the
most orderly conduct on the part Of the
peopis, were alike unayaiin1-foI', on
the 5lst day Of October, 1871, Gen W
IT Sherman, upon the application Of
Lieut.. Gen Sheridan, ordered troops to
Chicago 10 act rs police .'
| My letters TO the President Of the
United States Of The 81 and 2Gth Of No
vember vii prove that | hsve exerted
mJse}f TO iadnce he President to wits
draw these troops from the State, or TO
prohibit them from interfering in its in
ternsl affairs; ~nd those of the Presi.
dent to me, Of date Of November 8 and
25, will show that my efforts have been
fruitess, and that the President has prsc.
tieally referred the whois subject to the
decision of the officer whose conduct is
questioned ''
1t is manifest that the. order Of the
/ President, described in his letter Of No
vember 25,ends all discussion,a and leaves
Lieut.. Gen Sheridan with four compa-
MES Of infantry in Chicsgo, with ditcre-
tionary powers to intsrmeddle in affairs
that are within the exclusive and pecn-
liar Jurisdiction Of the State, sild-with
which the President and his military
subordnates have no rishtful concern
whateYsr. ".'.
1t seems to ne, from the letters Of the
President and the papers laid before the
General Assembly, thst Gen. Sherman
and Lieut. Gen Sheridan entertain the
belief that, usdsr os- system Of Govern
ment, it ID part OF the duty Of the OF
GERS of the army Of tbe United States to
superintsad the administration Of local
governments, and thst, if they are not
satisfied with the measure Of protection
afforded ny the States to the persons and
property Of their own citizens, the Off
! csrs OF the army have the right, at theil
OWE discretion, to introduc. part Of
the army, and through its sgency afford
such additional protection 20 the people
IS they may thisk necessary or proper
and that their rigI. to intsrpose for tb'
purpose does not depend upon the abil
ity of the States to discharge sheir du
=, ties. I'D =. ="
There is no other ground upon which
the condhct of Generals Sherman are
| IShsridan can be placed No ONE vii
pretend that the State of Illinois is no
able to enforce its own laws and protsc
every person snd all property within i'll
: liNits; but Gen. Sheridan, in the exer
else of his supegintsndesce Of its sffsirs
, was not satisfied with the provisions
made by the State for the safety Of prop
erty, and the control Of Whist he is pleas
! ed to cal the turbulent element" in Chi
cs1o, ana he therefore informed the Ad
: jutsnt General that, Il km satisfied o
the necessity of their (foar companies o
infsntry) presence here, and ask the su
| thoriy Of the Secretary OF War to brin;
: Them" and Gen. Sherman, acting g'upoI
the same principle, promptly informe'
him by telegraph thst ''four corhpanie
; of the Eichth Infantry are ordered t
Chicago to act as police, under your let
ter Of the 29th." '''''.'.'..''.4 al 81
rI The President, it is true, in his lette
to NE Of the 9th Of November, inform
ed me THAT the only thing thought o
in. ordering these troops to Chicago wa
! how to benefit q people stricksn by
cslanity greater than had ever befslIel
a community of .he same number be
fore in this country. The aid was Of
: like nature with. that given on any emer
gsncy requiring immediate action" !
is TO be remembered that Chicago is
part of one of the most wealth
and powerful States Of the Union; tina
the State Government is in full vigor
snd its laws everywhere enforced, AM
that its resources are ample for the dis
r charge Of all its duties 1t will SUI
, prise no one, then, that l protest tina
no emergency has existed at any tim
in the history Of The State of Illinoi
, for which it was unable to provide, ant
: nothing in the Constitution or the law
} to give the President or his military sub
f ordinates the right to determine rhel
/ it is necessary or proper for the author
, tiles of the United States to interfere il
: the internal affairs Of the States.
l also deny that the officers Of til
} army have the right to determine th
measure Of the duties Of any civil off
, Ger, under any circumstances whatever
: or that their powers ars increased b,
t sny emergency that can possibly hap
, non in fhe affsira Of eny StatA Tbn,