The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-02-24
aisrcllanr.
SPEECH OF HON. J. W. ROSS,
uliuoi. House of Representatives,.
M THE
Military Occupation OF tlle CIsy of
Chicago.
DEMOCRAT, OF FULTON COUNTY,
THE

INGFIEID, I'LL, Feb. 1.-The Goie.t of ths
Brown resolution. and the discontinue of the
Root.Cary faction of the republican party in the
house. is the topic of general converss ton to-day.
EVERYBODY regards IL as defect OF the admins
tration. The following ia tho substance Of the
speech of Mr.. Ross, which craatod SO much fun
in the house:
Nj. SPEAKER: There can be 10 more CRATE
ful task within the line of duty OF tho legislator
Of the period then the recognition Of merit in
high or low official st tiop, wherever it can be
found. The resolution Of the gentleman from
Massac (Mr Brown rscoeniziug, as it does, the
services of those Lit,n III public esteem, face us,
and we must meet the issue. This is the era of
new departures. And while l my di,appoint
the expectations OF those with whom | have
hitherto acted in the construction OF great poti.
cal issues, and Who GOOD opinion esteem,
must consult nay on. conscience and the views
Of my own consisteueg, cyeA ii they conduct me
to the support OF the resolution now before the
house (Applsuse from the administration rle n.
bers.
Permit me to say, then, that it is painful to
reflect that any considerable number of the rrr-
resentstives of the people can rest i'll pe.-y 81 lie
the resolution before Us remains uuiuGo.z.E by
the loyal Legislature. As progressive raru1li.
can, must confess tie anguish which has over.
come me, asI have observed the diaboical al.
tempt made by fsctious minority of this l.r.e
to prevent the passage Of resolution .'.r'
President Grant, Gen. sherman, aud Lieut.. Gen.
Sheridan FOX the brilliant services rr' r-
them to Chicago, the STATE TIE r....... ..
world, in seeking to ests,L,s.. ~. ..... '.-..
strong and stable govern l.eat on t...... Dbl.
the municipality. App.ausel i p. '.... ..
contemplate the remit, bad.
sition Of what looks like 4 e.. ..........
planted Sheridan on the Sa,L2 W. uls Herculq.u
labors
A hundred thousand people, homeless wander.
ers thousands of wOuau frantic hungry cold
and heart-broken; huudreds OF baUiog whose FIRST
faint walls arose with the flames to heaven, until
the very winds seemed to listen and to pity, and
the voice OF sorrow mounted up to tho great
white throne-what could have saved the burned
district from the disciplined foes save the strate-
gy and genius of the general who foucht the Pie
gan Indians?
Shall we not, then, thank the general? OF
course, had not Sheridan been near to accept the
blushing honors showered so thick upon him.
Chicago must have been the scene of worse than
Communist lawlessness and bal 1.rltv Irnfor.
tunately the world at large, especially Illinois
and Gov. Palmer, were obivious OF Chic.go's
needs. The commsnder-in.chief Of our state
forces knew nothing of war. He was not lieu.
tenant general, empowered by the constitution of
Illinois 70 act for himself in dangerous emergen-
cies, he could not have received valuable instruc.
lions by telegraph from war.otice 4 thousand
miles away. The Chicago police force is motor.
lousy thin, and unaccustoned ia that suddsuness
OF execution which shoots challeu ged citizens ut
sight. What safer thing can mayor Dc than
surrender HE authority to soldier temporarily
honorisg the state and city with his presence
who had seen service and was hot atrsid of the
force against which he commended. How uufor.
tunatc that this soldiers duties called him svav
with the Grand Duke at a time whom Nev a.
naaSAA 10 INN rn1o
strike down revolt and turbulence What other
than the absence of Sheridan could have deferred
the government ut Washington from settling tho
war OF factions IN the Crescent city, whittier the
turbulent spirit" seemed to have migrated. New
Orleans in trouble, and Sheridan 500 miles
away!
prolific nature could afford but one such man.
And cast the die IN moulding Sheridan"
And what heart can fail to we'll up in srsti.
tude to our heuored president for the great ser.
vice In behalf OF the city laid in ashes? Ho,
shall comment upon this effort OF disafT.ct.d
republicans aud jealous democrats to prevent the
recognition of the services Of the greatest
OF the age Now know that il he. been claimed
that we cannot endorse Gen. Grant fully with
out refecting somewhat upon the acta OF q nov.
ernor OF a. Insignificant state, oace called SOW
ereignty. Why! Because Palmer hss been
unreasonable enough 10 protest against the exer.
hadn't been slected governor, or who, il no were
elected, hadn't seea "swsra ill.," Why Sheridan
shouldn't play governor If he had time and ~
willing, 1t 10 difficult to explain. But 90 il VA
Gov. Paliaer. seemingly oJiivlaus Of the respeot
due 10 rank and high military renswn, a sevlp.
tured by Buchanan Read, wrote to Gen Grant
that he was still acting governor until Phil
should be sGsra il, and intimated that Shori Ian
could be sp.rsd W New Orlesas, or suv Other
seaport where the spirit Of turbulence" mixbt
be. Then Grant wrote to Sheridan, tellinx him
that If he didn't think he was governor no ought
not to play, aud ths, If he had done .nvthinv hs
was sorry, for be saEht to be exceediuely xlsd at
it, or words 10 that effect. But 40 Sheriisn hss
not rescuded HI. order, it plain that no thinks
he has not tr.n'sre-sed any of the rules Of con.
stitutiouo! ctiquetts, aud Sheridan being q "a.
nous constitutions. lawyer, and "a certain Of his
legal opinion, c.s't see why his opinion ought
aot 20 be ius!. But that, as understood il. il
tho source OF the disagreement between Palmer
and Grant Now Ia that coudot u, legal man
can he'l'I'e .. to the side he will cham pion
Scins Gay Don't viii die and there will ~
vacancy Hp~ Msoh mCre hoaor.h!e to s.r,e
tEt h.;ion thsn ,h. state! States ere v~~.,.,iv
eN"l'TAnnx. Ihs genera. yov.roM.,, con ds s,.s
ot'r aPro'nte's ere eot,r-. subtle The zen.
ocai eoyornmeet h.s stock IA trad. in "A, 80,
erai.order bnsine~e. Site. .ro nl.h.i., NJ,
OF tho frnoti0as ~ the .etorsI ,,ver,nsn, ~.
long 10 Loaf, S.s,~ grow III. Tn. general
go1srnn,nt 10 young and vicoro.., lad ia !.
trsiatnS '"r smother four mile snp->.
Grant Is tried and trur,y r.pnblic,n-sl.
ways mas beeN-sad IL II in.u Of pr,u.unc.a
views. Palmer hsA been repuhlic onlv sin,,
oA Grant knows hnr-o. Palmer has don.
nothing more ~emorsh,r tlnr. 70 pr.n.r. IA.