Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-04
CLENDENIN'S REMOVAL.
Some of the Circumstances Relating to the
Deposing of the General

Some OF the Circumstances Relating to the
Deposing of the General.
Gen. William Clendenin has been
formally removed from the command
| of the Sixth regiment by Governor j.
p. Altgeld. 1t Will be remembered
that when Gov. Altgeld some weeks
ago wrote the general politely invit-
ing his resignation, it was the
same kind of note he
addressed to Gen. Fitz-SimOns. Gen.
Clendenin, unlike Gen. Fitz-Simons,
wrote a reply. Here it is:
''Sir; Yours of the 9TH inst, ask
ing my resignation because the best
interests of the service require it,
has been duly consider ed. and since
| have served in the National Guard
over fifteen years without previous
intimation of inefficiency or unfaith-
fulness in any respect, and since |
can but regard your request a re-
Election on the service | have render
ed, | beg you win advise me in what
particular my absence from the SER
vice would be to its advantage. Be
plain with me. III the reason of your
requirement is inefficiencv, corrup-
ton, or any other humilating cause,
please let me know. 1t is fairly in
ferable that Il change in organization
for the best interests of the service
calling for my resignation means
that the record of the service | have
rendered is in some way wrong. If l
were incumbering a political office l
should feel differently. In being,
however. forced from service re-
moved by it, nature from politics
that has interested and honored me
so many years, it seems only proper
that l know why l 90 and that no
cloud of any kind whatever should
obscure any part of my military
| record l have during so many years
| endeavored to keep clean and honor
able.
To this Adjutant General Alfred
Orendorff replied that the letter
above given had been referred to the
governor, who had directed that in
asmuch as the general showed no
disposition to comply with the cour-
teous request heretofore made no
good purpose could be subserved by
an extensive correspondence and if
the resignation regiment did not
come in few DAYS he would be for
mally removed under the provisions
of the constitution. To this Col.
Clendenin replied in substance that
feeling in a sense accused, or that
the National Guard is being dragged
into politics, l do not conceive it my
duty as n soldier or citizen to assist
in accomplishing the pretended
change in organization you desire.
and rather than do so prefer to hear
from You again"
Formally Removed
The next time he heard from the
commander in chief of the state mil
itia in the following form:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE
OFFICE, SPRINGFIELD, March 80, 1898
To the Hon. w. II. Hinrichsen,
secretary OF state, Springfield, Ill
Dear Sir: March Z, 1898. | directed
the adiutant general to notify Gen.
William Clendenin that it had been
determined that the best interests of
the service required changes in or
Ganization which his resignation
would facilitate and he was requested
to tender same. / took this action
for the further reason that it was
evident to me that in his capacity as
brigadier general he did not dis
charge of the duties of that office,
and because the successful admins
tration of the same and the inaugu-
ration of certain reforms demanded
the change contemplated. March
% a discourteous and insubordinate
letter was received from the said
Clendenin impugning the good
faith of the governor. Being fully
convinced that the said Clendennin
is incompetent to discharge the du-
ties of his office / hereby, in pursu-
ance of the powers vested in me by
the constitution and the laws of the
state of Illinois, remove William
Clendenin from the office of brigadier
general in the Illinois National
guard. and declare his office vacant.
Very respectfully,
JOHN p. ALTGELD, governor of Hi
nois.