Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-04-18
GOV. PALMER.

MS POSITION usEQUIyoCALLY DEFINED.
SrRtSGFIELD, H., April l6.--The follow
log letter from Gov. Palmer will sppeSr 10
Carliuville Democrat tomorrow
"EDToRs or TUE CARLNyiLLE DEMO.
CRAr: such Of my old friends as NAV have
heard the announcement you we're authOrIz-
Cd TO make that ] would not be a candidate
before the Republican State Convention foF
denomination, no doubt felt some CURIOSITY
- lsAru she reasons for my conduct Aui /
knOv Of no medium so proper for giving
them the information rs the columns OF t1t
newspaper established by u. in 1856, wien
the republican strength IL Macoupiu county
amounted 10 500 votui out oil voting poyu
lauon Of neSrly 1000. The State coayeu.
ton which has been called to meet at
Springfield on May - will be controlled by
men whose leading otssct will b. 20 secure
the denomination and election Of President
Grant, and thsT viii make oil the nOn,D4
Hons of Jtsis officers subordinate 10 that
object, and will have right to expect ,lui
the candidate for governor they select viii
sympAthike ia their fsvorite object, and Uu-
dertake the canvass OF the State 10 promote
us success. ! do not believe President
Grant should be renominated BY the Re.
publican party, ana will not say SO; nor will
consent TO canvass the State to promote
bis reelection unless tho candidate placed
10 the held against him il more objection.
able. | supported Gen. Grant in lsGs with
great ehserfulness. Then the issues which
followed the war we're Of trGnIcpudenI i'm
portAnes. /. was then necessary 10 provide
complete guarantees Tor the libsrty, equality.
aud protection of all. and in comparison
with The perfect accomplishment Of these
fundamental objects OF the government,
measures Of administrative reform were Of
small importance, and 10 fact, from the
state Of the public mind we're then i'm possi-
Bile. Nov the most important public qusS-
iiona are such MS relate to the enforcement
Of the laws; the administration Of the public
provision for the care Of the helpless elias.
ses; the reduction Of the burdens
Of taxation; the enforcement Of official
honesty and responsibility, and the proteo
ton 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 mus. begin in the
state, and the frat step toward success must
be to win back TO the government of the
states the confidence and affection Of the
people. No man need expect reforms in the
standardization OF the federal government
until the people assume the government Of
the state aud enforce honesty and good gov
erumsat there. The president and congress
are too remote from the people to pay any
great degree Of attention TO their wishes
They must be impressed by the action and
example ofthe state.
with these views, cannot defend or
justify the opinion acted upon by Gen
Grant, when he ordered four companies Of
infantry into this slAts to act as police, and
that dictated bis approval of the acts Of
Gen. Sheridan in raising troops by his own
authority in this state, aubjsoting Chicago to
military rule, whereby peAceAbe citizen
Of the state was unlawfully killed. These
lAulsss and dangerous Assum ptions of au-
ihority cannot be defended or apologized
Tor BY me while the obligations Of an oath
to support the oonsti,uiion and enforce the
laws Of this state rest upon me- If the
powers claimed and acted upon BY the pres
idsnt Ia these instances sxia, in him, the
state Of Illinois Is but a dependency Of the
government 81 Washington, and the lives
aud liberties Of the people are subject to the
will Of the president TO defend thsse acts
Of the president is TO oonoede that the
power he claimed exists. Such . concession
BY the governor would be q crime against
the people Of the state. Nor could /, il
candidate for governor, say to the people
that President GrAnt has the inclination and
Aoili'J 10 enforce economy and reform 10 the
governmsnt. Nor will submit my judg.
ment on these points 10 convention that
VIII be dominated by his appointess and
P"'h'ans' "JoHS NJ. palmer"