The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-29
And still Some Mere.

| On Thursday Il dispatch in the Chicago Tine
dated NJ Springfield began as follows: "Tht
quarrel in the 10th regiment growing out Of tn.
recent election of field officers has become so Sc
rious that Adj Gen. billiard had decided to sep
aratc the contending factions" &C., dispatch
probably dictated by Gen. Hlliard or his otiicia
assistants. And the order has been issued, to-wit
| 1. The La Sale Light Guard, La Sale Rifles
Streator Veteran Guards, Ottawa Guards, Mar
settles Guards and Joliet Citizens Corps, hereto
fore forming part of the 10th Regiment, are here
by detached from that Regiment and will be con
solidated into separate Battalion, to be known
as the 18th Battalion Illinois National Guard.
III. Captain j. w. Preston, commanding Mar.
settles Guard, will assume active command OF
10Th Battalion and will at once make application
to Brig. Gen. ~. T. Terrence, commanding LIST
Brig AIDE, for an order to hold an election for
Field Officers for the Battalion.
From the course in this matter taken by Gen.
billiard, our boys look upon this movement as q
deliberate and successful attempt by the Adj.
Gen. to force the recognition of Parsons of
Dwight as Lieut.. Colonel he well knowing that il
the election determined upon at the Joliet confer
cnce were carried out Parsons "wOuld not get a
smelp'-and he would not AS for the "serions-
ness" of 1.-THE quarrel" it is entirely of the Gen.
N'"A Wv" AA"iNAA3' Ah hhASiiN" shN AOuAN"eA0AA
principle OF government is that the majority
shall rule. IT. therefore, this principle had been
allowed to operate in this case, no quarrel would
ever have occurred, the 10th would have been
organized according to law and at work. But
the majority happened to be on the wrong side to
suit the Adj. and his trends who have made all
this quarrel"
Now, the result: This is, that two battalons
are formed neither of which can ever rise to the
dignity of regiments except under Il new law
since, according to the present militia law, the
quota Is full and no more companies can be or.
ganized. Such a division is state of affairs for
which there can be no rational excuse and no
possible cause. 1t is simply an arbitrary rule to
further personal ends. Aaother possible result
is, that when the militia shall be ordered on
duty the state will be compelled to pay the
wages of two sets of officers for these battalions
which could be managed better with one.
Here is another order from the Adj. General:
Second Lieutenant d. II. Slagle, Marseilles
Guard, 10th Regiment, /. n G. having rendered
his resignation Internationally it is hereby ac.
cepted with much regret. Capt. j. w. Preston
will at once make proper application for an
election to fill vacancy through Commanding
Officer of Regiment to the Brigade Commander.
The explanation of this is that Slaglc being a
Morrill, man, was so bull -dozed by the Parsons
men in his company that it was case of "ground
hog' with him-he had to resign.
Now the sum total is that while the 18th bat
talon is composed of all the best companies the
10th, if it could become u regiment, all would be
satiled; it is though the boys rejoice over the
sacrifice of Dwight Odell, ETC., they "kick" Wig.
orously at this more than questionable treatment
of them and the regiment of which they once
formed part; being so very unreasonable as to
believe they have right to manage their own
affairs.