Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-05
CHICAGO.
The "Bummers, and ..Fire.prOOfs. ,,
Relief Funds Diverted for Political
Corruption.

1
Relief Funds Diverted for Politica
Corruption.
Gov. Palmer Military VS.. UsurpatiOn.
Phil Sheridan to be Called to Account
CHICAGO, Nov. Astounding reyela.
tons are made this morning of the opera,
| tons of Alderman c. c. Holden in the use
of relief funds. As Holden is President OF
the City Council, and candidate for Mayor
on the hummer ticket, additional piuuancy
is given to the matter. Immediately after
the fire relief society was formed, OF
which Holden was made treasurer. The
composition of the society not being salts
factory to the committees from Cincinnati.
Louisville, indianapolis, st. Louis and other
cities then here, Mayor Mason dissolved it
and directed that everything should be
turned over to the old relief society, an in
stitution under the control of citizens of in
tegrity, and regularly incorporated. This
was satisfactory to the committees of other
cities, but was not to some of the aldermen.
and they refused to recognize the new ar
rangement. This unpleaSantness was men
toned in these dispatches at the time. 1t
now transpires that Holden, while acting as
treasurer, secured at least $4,000 of relief
funds and considerable supplies, which he
refused to give up when a requisition was
made upon him by the proper authorities.
1t is alleged that this money is now being
used by Holden to secure his election as
Mayor, and very damaging evidence is pro-
duced.
In substantiation of this charge, among
other things, Holden has caused to be sent
to the regular committee a livery stable
bill amounting to $40. Payment has been
refused and the committee gives notice that
no carriages are needed in the work ofrelief.
To what purposes the beneyolence of the
country might have been put but for the
prompt action and forcing out the bummers
may now be seen from this specimen.
The public may rest assured that the work
of relief is now in good hands, and this
man Holden will be heldto a strict account
ability.
Gov. Palmer DenOunces the Military
UsurpatiOns of Sheridan.
The publication here of the letter of Gov.
Palmer to Attorney General Bushnell, re-
questing him to present the facts in the kill
ing of Gen. Thomas A. Grosvenor to the
Grand Jury of Cook county, has created a
sensation. Very good authority denies the
right of the Governor to initiate such pro-
ceedings unless the States attorney should
first refuse to present the matter to the
Grand Jury. But on the other hand Gov.
Palmer is recognized as a lawyer of ability
and not likely to make a mistake. 1t is
charged by the friends of Gen. Sheridan
that Palmer is unfriendly to him and has
taken this opportunity to do him an injury.
At any rate Sheridan seems the least dis
turbed about the matter of anybody.
Gov. Palmer, in his letter, reviews the
evidence before the Coroner's Jury where
it was shown that Mayor Mason requested
Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan to preserve order in
the city; that the latter authorized Col T.
+. Sherman to raise a regiment of militia;
that several companies were so organized
and acted under orders issued by Col. Sher-
man and that the young man Treat was
acting under such orders when he shot
Gen. GrosvenOr and is guiltless of any legal
OtienSe. The Governor says in conclusion:
''NO one will pretend that the power to
raise, organize and employ troops or to call
the organized militia of the States into ser
vice pertains TO the office of Lieutenant
General in the army of the United States;
nor viii it be easy to find defenders for the
opinion, if it should be expressed, that the
Mayor of city can either exercise or i'm
part such power to another; and | will not
with you discuss the dangerous and de-
ceptive theory of necessity or emergency,
that has been so often insisted upon TO
justify acts of lawless usurpatiOn. 1t is an
swer enough that the constitution of the
State has not entrusted the Mayors of its
cities or to military officers the delicate
duty of determining when its forces may be
called into service or its laws suspended.
If these conclusions are correct, | thing you
will perceive that it is now the duty of the
Governor and the Attorney General and of
all other officers of the State to exert them
selves to see that the laws are
enforced against all the parties concernedin
these illegal and dangerous acts. 1t is not
necessary, in determining upon the line of
duty to be adopted, to inquire whether the
Mayor of Chicago, Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan,
Frank. Z. Sherman, and his associates and
supposed subOrdinates, who were the agents
by which the. death of ThOs. w. GrosvenoT
was produced, in assuming powers
they did not possess, and that
while free government endures cannot be
conferred upon them, were influenced by
proper or improper motives or purposes.
They assumed to suspend the operation of
the Constitution and laws of the State, and
substitute in their stead the law of military
force, to be defined and applied by them
selves. They, by their lawless
acts attacked and insulted the dignity
and authority Of the State, and have by
their dangerous example weakened public
confidence in the constitution and the laws,
and in their attempt to enforce usnrped
and lawless authority they have sacrificed
the life of a peaceable citizen. Animated
by the confidence l have thus expressed,
and confident in the belief that the State of
Illinois, acting through the proper depart
mentS of its government, is capable of pro-
tecting its own people and of enforcing the
dignity and authority of its own laws, /
have to request that you, in conjunction
with the States Attorney of the Seventh
Judicial Circuit, will bring all the facts be-
fore the Grand Jury of Cook county, in
order that all persons concerned in the Un-
lawful killing Of Thos. W. GrosvenOr may
be brought to a speedy trial. have the
honor to be, with great respect,
JOHN N. PALMER"
The New Chamber of Commerce.
Plans for rebuilding the Chamber of Com
merce have been completed. 1t is to be a
more imposing edifce than the one burned.
The stone has already been contracted for
in Cincinnati, which is to be laid i'll cement.
1t is intended to have the building ready for
occupancy by the first of June next.
The .'Fire-PrOOT' Ticket.
Samuel W. Fuller having declined the
nomination for Circuit Judge on the Fire
Proof Union ticket, Lambert Tree has been
put in Mr.. Fuller place. A lively canvass
is in progress by both parties.
Negro Homicide.
Williams, colOred, who killed Grayson,
another cOlOred man, last night, was arrest
ed to-day as he was about to leave the city
on a railroad train.