The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-11-18

citizen, and none Other. could not therefore,
imagine that b vas exereiaing the illegal au.
thoeity he afterwards asserted.
Il u my impression now, derived mainly from
the olioisl RESORT of Lieut. Gen. Sheridan to the
adiutant general, that he had no regular troops
in Chicago until the night OF the 18th of Octo.
Der, a. he probably did not issue his orders for
tho movement Of troops to Chicago until after
the Issuance of the mayors proclamation 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, Louis
vile or Omaha ! am also convinced that
late ss the 18th of October he ordered additional
troops to Chicago to protect the banks from their
depostors.
! The Governor then gives Gen. Sherdan's
port to the Adj. Gen. of the U. s. of his "milita
| ~ operations" at Chicago in the name Of the U.
S. The Governor says he first learned of the
Mayors proclamation calling on Gen. Sheridan
for military assistance and virtually placing the
city under martial law on the 18th. On the
| 10Th he sent dispatch to Mayor Mason, asking
him what addition to lis police force he needed
to enable him to dispense with the cid of u. S.
troops? Mayor replies none, after 10 or 10 days
Oct. 20 the Governor replies that the legislature
having now made ample appropriations to pro-
vide for pay of police, he thinks military aid
should be dispensed with, and he scolds the
Mayor for calling to his aid u S. military at
| all, instead of calling on the Governor. The
Mayor replies, expressing astonishment at the
displeasure Of the Governor, saying ifhe had hint
ed HE disapproval Of the aid of Gen. Sheridan
when in Chicago on the 18th, he should have
dispensed with the U. s. military at once, and
saying he should dispense with them further
and forthwith.
The Governor proceeds
On the ED day Of Oct. first learned of the
death of Gen. Thos w. Gtosvenor, from wounds
| inflicted by one of the volunteers enlisted under
the orders of Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan, and on Mon.
day, the 23d of Oct, in compony with the dju-
tant general, visited Chicago to investigate the
| facts.
On the 2Sth day of October, from conviction
that it was my duty to see that the laws are en-.
forced, addressed an official letter to the attor
| ney general, herewith submitted, and on the Both
letter to Chas. II. Reed, Esq states attorney
OF the 7th judicial circuit on the same subject.
These letters have already been published.
| They simply direct these officers to bring the
matter of the death of Col. Grosvenor before the
grand jury, and express the opinion it would be
dishonorable to prosecute the boy Treat alone,
but that Gen. Sheridan, Mayor Mason and Col
| Frank Sherman should be included in the in
dictment
have thus presented with degree of mi
nuteness that may be thought unnecessary and
| tedious, an account of the efforts made by the
state authorities to discharge their whole duty
| and protect every interest of the citizens of the
state and then, TO make the history complete,
will add what is well known: That on the 10Th
day of October 1871 both houses OF The general
assembly PASSED bill appropriating 50 ,955 $40
with interest thereon until paid, from the treas.
| ury OF the state, for the relief Of Chicago and
for the support of its police and fire depart
ments-which bill was once approved BY the
| Governor.
1t will be easily perceived that this statement
| does not present complete history Of the acts
OF the Mayor and Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan, snd the
persons who acted under the command Of the
latter have been informed that he issued 9th.
er orders in respect to the organization and gov.
eminent of the regiment, and that either he or
his subordinstes assumed the right to command
the organized militia Of the state and that he
also gave directions to the city police to their
duties. Enough, however, can be discovered in
the facts developed to justify the statement that
the conduct Of the Mayor and the military forces
-as well as the regular troops as the volun.
teers raised by Lieut.. Gen. Sheridsn-was in all
respects violative of the constitution and laws of
the United States and OF this state, and at the
same time, by their direct effect and example,
subVersiye of the principles OF free government
And the ground upon which this dangerous
assumption of authority is defended Is that of
emergency or necessity. do not admit that
any necessity or emergency that could possibly
arise would Justify or excuse the acts OF the
| mayor and Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan but as this de.
Tense for their conduct has been vehemently
urged, and has no doubt made some impression
Oh the public mind, it may be proper to consider
it in the light Of the facts.
Up to the time of the arrival of the state
| troops, on the morning Of the 11th day of Octo.
Der, according to all the evidence presented by
the papers submitted, Lieut. Gen. Sheridan had
moi officially interfered in the slightest degree
with the affairs of the city, nor YVES there sin.
gle soldier of the army of the United States il.
Chicago. II there we're any doubts upon that
point they are put at rest by his own statements,
| in what is published as his own report. He
| there says: "The disorganzsd condition Of
affairs in this city, produced by and Immediately
following the late fire. induced the city authori.
ties to ask for the assistance Of the military forces
a. shown by the mayors proclaim alton OF Oct. II,
1871. To protect the public interests
entrusted to me by the mayors proclamation, /
called to this city companies A AVID K" etc. He
| obviously intends to inform the adjutnnt general
that he ordered the troops into Chicago prior to
that time. leave him to reconcile the fact with
his report to his official superior. The fire broke
out the night of tho 9th Ut October, and ceased
during the afternoon of the 9th, and during the
! day and night Of the 9th, and the day and
night Of 10th Of October, the civil officers of the