The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-01-06
rsayonet nuEe IN EElanoss.

Cus Of the besetting sins Of Grants adj
ulinislration is his constant resort to the
use Of the military to suppros either real
or an anticipated disturbance of the public
peace. Accustomed to command soldiers
and to be implicitly obeyed, and being pro-
fourdy ignorant Of the rights ard duties Of
the general government and their relation to
those Of the States, he has an unbounded
faith in the supremacy of the bayonet and
suprene contempt for courts and their pros
coedings. His latest military exploit is an
unwsrranted intervention by United States
troops In the civil affairs of Illinois. Somc
time after the great FIRE in Chicago, few
timid and indiscreet citizens Of that place,
cop}uring up before ther heated imaginations
rots. plundering and all manner of lawless-
ness, called upon the administration at Wash
ington TO station four conpanies of United
States soldiers al or near the city until it
should appear that no danger of rotous pro
ceedings existed. The request was Of courss
promptly complied with. Governor Palmer
Of Illinois, although republican. has pro
:
his State, and feeling oggrevcd at this Illegal
invasion Of her soil by Grants military, in
formed him on the 2Oth Of November that
he did not need the services Of his troops in
preserving the peace of Chicago and prot0ct-
ing the rights and property Of its citizens,
and demanded that they should be with>
drawn and sent to the army where they pro-
perIy belong. Governor Palmer's protest
has met with contemptuous disregard on the
part Of Grant, and the troops are still psr~
forming police duty in that city. If the
Chicago FIRE can be made sufficient excuse
. far resOrting to bAyonet rule in defiance of
tha expressed wish Of the Governor Of the
State, the safeguards of the constitution may
BE trampled under foot by the military
power anywhero on equally light and friv-
olous prsts1ts. Grants entire conduct in
:hls matter is wholly iudofsnsible-a sheer
usurpation-and is one Of the many eyden~
ces Cf how rapidly our government is booon-
Ing q military dcspotisn, and how insenaible
the great mass Ct the people appear to he to
tha gradual but certain change. Gov. Pail
mer has recently called the attention Of The
Legislature of Illinois to the facts connected
With this high>handed proceeding in spe>
cial message, from which we make the fol-
| Loving extract. The views Of the Governor
are eminentIy sound and will command uni
versal approval:
at seems to me, from the letters of the
/ President aud tho papers laid before tbs Gen
! oral Assembly, that Gen. Sherman and Lieut..
/ Gen. Sheridan entertain the belief that, under
our sy=tsm of government, il IS part Of the
duty Of the officers OF tho army of the United
States to snDerintsnd the administration Of the
/ local governments, and that IL they arc not
satisfied with the measure of protection afford
ed br the States to the persons and property of
their oun citizens, the officers Of the army
have the right, at thor own discretion, TO in
troducs part Of the army, and, through ia
agency, afford such additional protection to
the people ns they may think necessary or pro
per. and that their RI .ht to interp0se for that
purpose does not depend upon tho ability Of the
States TO discharge their duties There is no
other ground uP5n which the conduct OF Gems.
Sherman and Sheridan can be placed II one
viii pre- end that the State OF Illinois is not
( abls 20 ealoTCe It's own laws, and protect every
person and all tho property within It's limits
but Gen. Sheridan. in the the exercise of Eis
/
with the provisions msdo by the State for the
safety of property and the control of what he
is pleased TO cell tho turbulent element in
Chicsgo and hs therefore iufoT med the Adiu-
tEHt General that i am Satisfied Of the nsces-
sty Of thajr liour companies of infantry pres
! ence here, and ask the authority of the Secre-
tary Of War to bring them and Gen. Sherman,
acting upon the same principle, promptly in
formed him by telegraph that -four companies
OF the Eighth Infantry are ordered to Chicago
to act as police, under your letter of the 29th.'
1t is due to the dignity of the
people OF the State that l should say that |
cannot consent that the grave and import tant
4ui jscts that | have urged upon the attention
of the President shall Ge decided by sn officer
of the army; but l must hereafter, as / have
done in the past, protest against all interference
by the eEcsrs OF the army in the affairs Of this
state. must protcs: against such Interference
because it will establish precedent dangerous
TO liberty, because it familiarizss the people
with military role ana inspires them with dis
trust o: the capability OF civil government to
afford them needed protection; and it is now
for the Representatives OF the free people OF the
State to discharge their 6uties according to
their own convictions and subject to their own
responsibilities "