New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-18
POLITICAL.
GOV. PALMERs FINAL DECLAhAlioN
AGAINST GRANT.

GOV. PAIIMERS FINAL DEOH
AGAINST GRANT
| REASONS WHY HE DECLINED TO DE '""
DIDATE FOR RE-ELECrloN'
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIKI TRIBUSHi
CHICAGO. April 17.-Tho following important lot
ter from Gov. Palmer to his neighbors anu irienoS
of Macoupin County. to-day made public, Is IN OK
PLANTATION of his declination to permit Ills han0 W
be used before the Republican State Convention ior
denomination 1t attracts great deal OF attention:
To he Editor of Ths Cariinriue Democrat
Sucb of nv old friends as may have heard the
announcement you were authorized 10 MAKE tnat
would not be O candidate before the hepuDhcan
State Convention for denomination, no douDt 1eit
some curiosity to learn the reasons LOT my cohuuce
and know of no medium so proper Tor giving tnem
the information as the columns of the newspaper es-
tablisbed by us in 1885, when the Republican
strength in Macoupn County amounted to 800 votes,
ont of voting population of nearly 1000.
Tho State Convention, which has been called To
meet at Springfield on May %. will be controlled by
men whose leading object will DO to secure the re-
nomination and election of President Grant. Ihcy
will mako all the nominations OF State oiicers SUD-
ordinate To that object and will have right to ex-
meet that tho candidate they select for Governor will
sympathze in their favOrite object and undertake
the canvass of the State to promote It's success.
do not believe President Grant should be renOml-
mated by the Republican party, and will not say go
Nor will consent to canvass the State to promote
his reflection unless the candidate placed I'D
the field against him is moro obJecuonaDe.
supported Gen. Grant in 1858 with great cheerful
ness. Then the issues which followed the war wero
of transcendent Importance 1t was then necessary
to provide complete guarantees for the liberty
eouality and protection of oil and, in comparison
with the perfect accomplishment of these funda-
mental objects of the Government, measures OF ao-
mipstratiye reform were of small Importance, and.
in fact from the state of the public mind were then
impossible. Now the most important pubic quos-
tons are such relate to the eniorcement
of the laws, the administration OF tho pubic
funds provision for the Of the helpless classes
the reduction of the burdens Of taxation the ENFORCE
ment of official honesty and responsibility. and
the protection of the liberties of the people AS all
who are familiar with my opinions know believe
that all reforms and Improvements in the direction
indicated must begin in the State, and tho first step
toward success must be to win back to the Govern
meut of the States the confidence and affection OF
the people.
No man need expect reforms in the admin
isration of the Federal Government until tho
people assume the Government of tho state and en-
force honesty and good government. The PRESIDENT
and too remote from the peopet pay any
great degree of attention to their wishes they must DO
impressed by the action and example oil the STATE
With these views. cannot defend or justify tho
opinion acted upon by Gen. Grant, when no ordered
four companies of infantry into this State TO act as
police and that dictated his approval OF the acts OF
Gen. Sheridan in raising troops by his own authorty
in this State. subjectng Chicago to military ruie
whereby peaceable citizen Of the State was unlaw-
fullv killed. These lawless and dangerous assump-
tions of authority cannot be defended apologzed
for nv me while the obligations Of an oath to sup
port tho Constitution and enforce tho laws OF tho
State rest upon me- If the powers claimed and acted
upon by the President in these instances exist IN
him. the State of Illinois is but dependency OF the
Government at Washington, and the lives and hber
ties of the people subject to the will OF the
President. To defend these acts Of the President IL
to concede that the power he claimed exists Such
a concession by the Governor would DO crime
against the people of tho State. Nor could l. II
n candidate for Governor. say to the people that
President Grant has the inclination and ability TO
enforce economy and reform in the Government nor
will submit my judgment on these points to Con-
vention that will be dominated by his appontees
and partisans JOHN N. PALMER.
ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS DESERVING THE ADMIN
ISTRATION.
SpEINGrIELD, April 1.-THE STATE Register to-day
gives the following as additional Illinois recruits to
the Liberal Republican Convention: Gov. Palmer, tho
Hon. Newton Bateman Superintendent of Public
Instruction. Secretary of State Rummel, Adjutant-
General Dilger the Hon. VIM. l.. Gross and hundreds
of prominent citizens beside. Other State officers
are believed to be in accord with the Governor but
have not vet formally declared their sentiments.