The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-11
STATE RIGHTS AGAIN.
&c Preslaent sad ths eovsEnor.

The President and the Governor.
GOV. AltgeId, Of Illinois, took umbrage
at the order for Federal troops to snstain
the Federal courts, and sent long pro-
test to the President. in which he says:
As Governor Of the State of Illinois l
ask the immediate withdrawal Of the
Federal troops from active duty in this
State. should the situation at any time
get 50 serious that we cannot control il
with the State forces we viii promptly
and freely ask for Federal assistance, but
until such time protest with all due de
ference against this unealled for reflee-
ton upon our people. and again ask the
immediate withdrawal of these troops"
The Presidents answer Is as follows:
Federal troops were sent 70 Chicago in
strict accordance with the Constitution
and laws Of the United States, upon the
demand OF the postofiiee department that
obstruction of the mails should be IT.
moved and upon the representation Of
the judicial officers Of the United States
that process Of the federal courts could
not be executed through the ordinary
means and upon abundant proof that
eonspiraeies existed against commerce
between the States. To meet these con-
ditions, which are clearly within the
province of federal authority, the pres
ence Of federal troops in the city Of Chi
cago was deemed not only proper bat
Necessary, and there has been no inten-
ton of thereby interfering with the plain
duty of the local authorities % preserve
the peace of the city"
Governor Altgeid sent Mr. Cleveland
another telegram, answering the latter's
response 10 his first message. In his tel
egram Governor Altgeld says that if the
presidents presumption that he has the
power 10 order federal troops into any
state is right, then the principle Of local
seif-government never existed in this
country or It has been destroyed
The governor says that the fundamen-
tai principle in our government Is that
the military shall be snlservient to the
civil power except in time Of war, bat
that the federal troops in Chicago are act
ing directly under orders issued from
military headquarters at Washington.
The governor then says: you say that
troops were ordered into Illinois upon the
demand of the pOstoflice department and
upon representations Of the Judicial ofli-
Gers Of the United States that processes Of
the courts could not be served, and upon
proof that conspiraeies existed We viii
not discuss the facts, bat look for a mo-
ment at the principle involved in your
statement. All Of these officers are ap-
pointed by the executive. Most of them
can be removed by him At viii. II sever
al Of them can apply for troops, one alone
can, so that under the law rs you assume
il to be, an executive through any one OF
his appointees can apply 10 himself the
power to have the military sent into any
city or number of cities and base his ap-
plicsition on such representations or show
ings as lac sees ff u make His judg-
meni. that i. his will, Is the sole guide
and il being purely a matter Of discretion,
his decision can never be examined or
questioned. This assumption a. 70 the
power OF the executive j. certainly new
and | respectfully submit that il i not
the law of the land. The autocrat OF Rus
sia could certainly not possess or claim to
possess greater power than i possessed
by the executive of the United states il
your assumption is correct.
THE executive has the command. not
only OF the regular forces Of the United
States but of the military forces Of all the
he sees fit 10, and, as there are always
more or less local disturbances over the
country, it will be an easy matter under
your construction of the law for an ambi-
tious executive to order out the military
forces Of all the states and establish al
once military government. The only
chance of failure in such movement
could come from rebellion and with such
a vast military power at command this
could be readily crushed, for, as a rule.
soldiers will obey orders. A. for the sit
uatiOn in Illinois. that i of no eonse-
quence now when compared with the far
reaching principle involved.
'-Inasmucl, As the federal troops can do
nothing bgt what the state troops can do
there. and believing that the state is am
ply able % take care of the situation and
to enfore the law. and believing that the
ordering out OF the federal troops was un-
warranted, again ask their withdraw
al
The president Immediately wired the
following brief but pointed reply:
"EXECUTTvE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, II. ., July Il
Hon. John p Ahgeld, Governor OF Hi
nois, Springfield, III.
While | am still persuaded that have
neither tTanscended my authority or duty
in the emergency that confrOnts Us. il
seems To me that in this hour Of danger
and public distress. discussion may well
give way to active effort on the part Of all
in authority To restore obedience 10 law
and - protect life and property
fSlgnedl GROVER CLEVELAND"
OLNEY on ALT0ELD.