of Illinois regards the Constitution, with its amendments, as the supreme law of the Union, to be respected and obeyed in all its parts; and the political distinctions founded on race and color being now abolished, we pledge ourselves in the future, as in the past, to maintain at all times the constitutional rights and franchises of all men, without regard to previous condition. Resolved, That taxes should be levied solely for the support of the Government and the maintenance of its credit, and that the imposition of taxes having for their object the transfer of capital from one class, section, or individual to another, without the consent of the owners, is unjust, delusive, impolitic, and opposed to all the principles of republican government. Resolved, That commerce, trade, and industry, are founded upon the mutual exchange of services among men, and that whatever operates to cripple or obstruct such exchange can only be productive of loss to the whole community. Resolved, That the present tariff has destroyed the ship-building industry, and almost annihilated the foreign commercial marine of the United States; that it has prohibited the construction, on our lakes and rivers, of iron vessels with increased carrying capacity in proportion to tonnage and draught of water, with greater durability and diminished outlay for repairs and insurance-all which tend to materially cheapen the transport of products; that while this tariff is unnecessarily increasing the profits of the iron-producer, it is crippling the ship-building and ship-owning interests of the great lakes and rivers, so that, as respects competition with our Canadian rivals, these interests are placed by the General Government at a great disadvantage-and this in the face of the most abundant natural resources for shipbuilding and navigation. Resolved, That to the same unwise policy is chargeable, in a large degree, the heavy cost of railroad transportation, the cost of such transportation being always in proportion to the cost of iron; and that it is idle for the Western farmer, notwithstanding his superior advantages of soil and climate, to expect to compete with agriculturists in other parts of the world, when his products are conveyed to market over rails which cost seventy per cent. more than they cost elsewhere. Resolved, That our system of taxation should be readjusted and simplified, with a view to raising the necessary amount of revenue from the smallest number of articles, to the end that the cost of collection may be decreased and a fruitful source of corruption removed. Additional resolutions were offered, declaring more directly in favor of "full and absolute free trade; recommending the establishment of a Department of Labor in the national Government; denouncing "all combinations or rings-Tammany or otherwise-for political or partisan purposes;" demanding full amnesty for past political offences; insisting that American citizens should be protected by the Government in every part of the world; favoring a recognition of the rights of labor; urging a return to specie payments; calling on the Legislature to pass laws for the protection of miners; demanding that public lands be hereafter held for the benefit and use of actual settlers only; declaring in favor of an honest payment of the public debt, but against any special favor to creditors not warranted by the acts creating the debt; demanding retrenchment and reform in the Federal Government, and denouncing the "corruption of the warmaking power of General Grant in the San Domingo question as a gross violation of the Constitution." These resolutions provoked some discussion, but were finally adopted. The election took place on the 8th of November, and resulted in the choice of John L. Beveridge, the Republican candidate. The total vote was 253,263, of which Beveridge received 137,926, and Hayes 115,357, making the majority of the former 22,589. In October the city of Chicago was the scene of one of the most terrible conflagrations of modern times. There had been several unusually destructive fires on previous days, but on the evening of Sunday, the 8th of that month, the main conflagration commenced, having its origin in a small wooden barn on De Koven Street, in the Western District of the city. The buildings in that quarter were mostly of wood, and there were several lumber-yards along the margin of the river. Through these the flames raged with great fury, and were carried across the stream by the strong westerly wind which was prevailing at the time, and thence swept up into the Southern Division, which was closely built up with stores, warehouses, and public buildings, of stone, brick, and iron, many of them supposed to be fire-proof. The fire raged all day on Monday, the 9th, and crossed the main channel of the Chicago River, sweeping all before it in the Northern District, which was occupied mostly by dwelling-houses. It ex In the Western Division, where the fire originated, about 194 acres were burned over, including sixteen acres swept by the fire of Saturday evening, October 7th. This section contained, besides several lumber-yards and planing-mills, and numerous wooden structures of an inferior sort, the Union Depot of the St. Louis and the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railroads.-500 buildings were destroyed in all, and 2,250 persons rendered homeless. In the South Division the burnt district comprised about 460 acres. tended from a line running diagonally from the corner of Michigan Avenue and Congress Street, west-southwest to the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Polk Street, up to the main channel of the river on the north, and filled the whole space between the southern branch of the river to the lake, one block only remaining unburnt in all that area. This district contained the greater part of the most expensive structures in the city-all the wholesale stores, all the newspaper-offices, all the principal banks, and insurance and law offices, many coal-yards, nearly all the hotels, and many factories, the Court-house, Customhouse, Chamber of Commerce, etc. number of buildings destroyed in this division was about 3,650, which included 1,600 stores, 28 hotels, and 60 manufacturing establishments. About 21,800 persons were rendered homeless. In the North Division the devastation was the most wide-spread, fully 1,470 acres being burned over out of the 2,5331 The acres in that section. Of the 13,800 buildings in that whole district, not more than 500 were left standing, leaving 13,300 in ruins, and rendering 74,450 persons homeless. The buildings burned included more than 600 stores and 100 manufacturing establishments. That part next the lake, as far north as Chicago Avenue, was occupied by first-class residences, of which only one was left standing. The total area burned over in the city, including streets, was 2,124 acres, or very nearly 3 square miles. The number of buildings destroyed was 17,450; of persons rendered homeless, 98,500. Of the latter, more than 250 lost their lives. The following is a summary of the losses: The population of the city was 334,270. Of these inhabitants, 98,500 were rendered homeless. About 50,000 left the city within a few $8,515,000 weeks after the fire. The 17,450 buildings 2,700,000 destroyed were about 30 per cent. in number, 3,100,000 865,000 but not less than 50 per cent. in value, of the 888,000 whole. While five grain-elevators and 1,600,000 bushels of grain were burned, eleven ware2,880,000 2,989,000 houses and 5,000,000 bushels remained; 65,000,000 feet of lumber were burned, and 225,000,000 remained. 1,008,420 249,780 2,121,800 1,763.000 $53,000,000 $5,262,500 Not less than 350 produce commission-offices were burned out: BUSINESS: WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. Fifty-six insurance companies, in different parts of the country, were forced to suspend $97,500 payment on account of their immense losses. Of these, sixteen were in New York City, five 1,215,000 in Hartford, five in Providence, four in Bos340,000 1,040.000 ton, three in Buffalo, three in San Francisco, 600,000 three in Cleveland, eleven in Chicago, two in 1,940,000 Albany, and a few in other cities. The suspended insurance companies in New York City represent as their gross assets, by the last published statement, $11,757,638; Hartford, $2,360,075; Providence, $1,618,000; Boston, $2,854,533; Buffalo, $1,425,058; San Fran1,000,000 cisco, $2,600,000; Cleveland, $1,058,000; and 5,175,000 Albany, $680,000. The losses were computed 4,510,000 to be, in New York City, $12,425,000; Hart3,650,000 ford, $3,575,000; Providence, $2,095,000; Bos1,300.000 ton, $3,100,000; Buffalo, 1,750; San Francisco, 1,145,000 $2,500,000; Cleveland, $1,350,000; and Al1,610.000 bany, $765,000. 1,060,000 $13,500,000 4,120,000 900,000 700,000 10,000,000 The suffering occasioned by the fire was 13.255,000 very great, and elicited prompt expressions of 26,775,000 sympathy and offers of material aid from all $78,700,000 parts of the country and from various cities of Europe. A Relief and Aid Society was imme$41,000,000 diately organized to receive and distribute the 2,010.000 supplies and funds sent in from various quar5,700,000 ters. A report of the Society, published on the 7th of November, about one month after $58,710,000 the fire, states that $2,050,000 had been received at that date, out of $3,500,000 sub5,262,500 scribed. The Society was then aiding 60,000 persons. The committees were engaged in 58,710,000 aiding those whose houses had been burned, to erect small temporary homes on the sites of their former dwellings, or on grounds leased for the purpose. Four thousand of these houses had already been built, capable of sheltering 20,000 people, and it was intended to build others to accommodate about 3,500 people still unprovided for. The cost of these $53,000,000 13,255,000 378,000 .$196,000,000 Including depreciation on real estate, and loss to business occasioned by the fire, the grand total of pecuniary damage has been set down at $290,000,000. On this there was in temporary dwellings was about $1,200,000, and the balance of the relief fund was devoted to supplying food, clothing, and fuel to those in want. as Assembly to grant, and which will be suggested by In the legislation that may be suggested, I ask On the 10th of October, Governor Palmer your honorable body to believe that the citizens and issued a proclamation, summoning the Legisla- city authorities can be trusted as heretofore to carry ture to meet in extra session on the 13th, to on the city government. I have no doubt that, with take into consideration such measures the aid of the present efficient city officers, the present city government will be equal to the emergency, should be deemed expedient for the relief and and that it, and the city government which is soon to assistance of the people of Chicago. The succeed it, can be safely intrusted with all matters of Legislature met on the appointed day, and, a municipal character. after adopting the following resolution, adjourned until the 16th, to enable the members to visit the afflicted city: Whereas, The most destructive conflagration known in history has recently swept over the city of Chicago, destroying untold millions of dollars' worth of property, and the homes of more than a hundred thousand people, occasioning a frightful loss of human life, and producing the greatest suffering; and Whereas, This appalling calamity has left houseless and penniless many thousands of people, whose destitute condition and great misfortunes now appeal to the civilized world for material aid and Christian sympathy; and Whereas, This unparalleled disaster constitutes an extraordinary occasion" in the affairs of the State, requiring the convening of the two Houses of the General Assembly in special session, to consider measures of relief: therefore be it Resolved by the House, the Senate concurring herein, That we do hereby extend to all the sufferers by this great conflagration the most earnest and heart-felt sympathies of the whole people of the State of Illinois; that, while profoundly sympathizing with the people of Chicago in this their great affliction and hour of need, we will also extend to them material aid to the extent of our powers under the constitution, and as far as the resources of the State will ad mit. poses. The corporation is without a dollar with which to replace its public buildings, build its bridges, improve streets, or pay its current expenses. An assessment of taxes, based upon former values, ought not to be, and cannot be, collected. A new assessment, or something equivalent thereto, should be authorized. Taxation must of necessity almost wholly close for the next year or two. Special assessments for local improvements must cease. The most rigid economy must be exercised, but the interest upon the city bonds must be paid, and the credit maintained. With the assistance which can be given by the State in refunding the money expended by the city upon the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and other legislative aid which it is in the power of the General The magnitude of the disaster that has befallen the city, and the fact that tens of thousands of our citizens need all the aid that can be rendered to them, are undoubtedly well known to all your members. It is unnecessary for me to make any appeal in the behalf of our suffering citizens, as your honorable body will undoubtedly render them all the aid within your power. Very respectfully, R. B. MASON, Mayor city of Chicago. On the same day a message was submitted by the Governor, presenting various suggestions of his own on the same subject. The principal measure of relief adopted was embodied in an act to reimburse the city of Chicago for the money it had expended in deepening and widening the Illinois & Michigan Canal. At first it was proposed to raise the funds for this purpose by a loan payable in ten years, but it was finally determined to use in part for the purpose the Illinois Central Railroad fund, in part a special tax of 13 mill on the dollar on the assessments for 1871-72, and in part a temporary loan of $250,000. The substantial aid rendered to the city by this act amounted to $2,955,340. The Legislature adjourned on the 20th, to meet again on the 15th of November. Meantime a controversy had sprung up between Governor Palmer and General Sheridan, which attracted attention all over the country. Lieutenant-Geneneral P. H. Sheridan was in command of the military Division of the Missouri, and had his headquarters at Chicago. During the excitement occasioned by the fire, he had telegraphed to Omaha, Fort Leavenworth, and other military stations, for supplies and campequipage, and also for two companies of troops for temporary service. There was an intense excitement and an apprehension of plunder and disorder throughout the panic-stricken city, and, on the 10th of October, the following circular issued from the temporary headquarters of the mayor: LET US ORGANIZE FOR SAFETY IN CHICAGO." 1. The mayor's headquarters will be at the corner of Ann and Washington Streets. 2. Police headquarters at corner of Union and Madison Streets. 3. Every special policeman will be subject to the orders of the sergeant for the district in which he performs duty. The sergeants of districts will be appointed by the Police Superintendent. 4. Five hundred citizens for each of the divisions will be sworn in as special policemen. 5. The sergeant of each district will procure, from police headquarters, rations and supplies for special policemen in his district. 6. Orders to the police will be issued by the Superintend ent of Police. 7. The military will cooperate with ton. the police organization and the city government in the preservation of order. 8. The military are invested with full police power, and will be respected and obeyed in their efforts to preserve order. Health Department, corner of Ann and WashingR. B. MASON, Mayor. General Sheridan was urged by numerous prominent citizens to assume military control of the city, and, on the 11th, Mayor Mason issued a proclamation in the following words: The preservation of the good order and peace of the city is hereby intrusted to Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, United States Army. The police will act in conjunction with the lieutenant-general in the preservation of the peace and quiet of the city, and the Superintendent of Police will consult with him to that end. The intent hereof being to preserve the peace of the city, without interfering with the functions of the city government. Given under my hand this 11th day of October, 1871. R. B. MASON, Mayor. The general immediately obtained eight companies of the regular troops from Omaha, Leavenworth, Jeffersonville, and Louisville, and ordered Colonel Frank T. Sherman to organize a regiment of volunteers for twenty days' service. The Governor also sent several companies of State militia, which were placed under the control of General Sheridan, who disposed of all the force as he saw fit, for the purpose of protecting citizens and property, aud preventing any kind of disorder. The Governor appeared to acquiesce in these proceedings until the 19th of October, when he telegraphed to the mayor to inquire what additional police force would be required in order to dispense with the troops. On the next day he wrote a letter stating that the General Assembly had by ample appropriation provided for the support of a police force in Chicago that would be adequate to the protection of persons and property, and he trusted no time would be lost in making all needful preparation for relieving the military force under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sheridan. "It excited the greatest surprise," he continued, "and has occasioned me the profoundest mortification, that you failed to inform me, as you could easily have done by telegraph, or through my confidential secretary, who reached Chicago on the 9th of October, of the necessity, in your judgment, for the employment of military force for the protection of the city; and it has pained me quite as deeply that you should have thought it proper, without consultation with me by telegraph or otherwise, to have practically abdicated your functions as mayor. Happily, there is no necessity, either real or imaginary, for the longer continuance of this anomalous state of things. The United States troops are now in Chicago in violation of law. Every act of the officers and soldiers of the United States Army, that operates to restrain or control the people, is illegal, and their presence in the city-except for the purposes of the United States-ought to be no longer continued. It is due to you that I should confess that, under the trying circumstances that surrounded you on the occasion of the late disaster, it was natural that you should incline to accept aid from any quarter, to enable you to afford protection to persons and property in your city; but I regret that it did not occur to you that your own powers, under the laws, were adequate to meet the emergencies, and that you were entitled, upon notice to me, to From information, that I have not been afthe support of the whole power of the State. forded an opportunity to acquire officially, I have learned that Lieutenant-General Sheridan has rendered valuable services, for which he deserves the thanks of the people of Illinois; but it would have been more satisfactory to them if he, as a citizen, had given to you the assistance of his eminent abilities to organize the people to act, in conjunction with the civil officers, for their own protection. That course would have been far preferable to that of concentrating a part of the army of the United States in Chicago, and the assumption by him of the substantial military control of the city. I hope you will at once inform Lieutenant-General Sheridan of your readiness to resume the complete government of the city." The mayor made a reply on the 21st, which contained the following: "In the performance of my official duties, I believed that the emergency required me to take the step that I did. I do not believe, when the lives and property of the people-the peace and good order of a large city-are in danger, that it is the time to stop and consider any questions of policy; but that if the United States, by the strong arm of its military, can give the instantly-required protection to life, property, and order, it is the duty of those in power to avail themselves of such assistance. Before the receipt of your communication, I had already, upon consultation with other city officers, decided to dispense with military aid in a day or two, and I am happy to inform your Excellency that on Monday, the 23d inst., your Excellency will be relieved of all anxiety on account of the assistance of the military in protecting the lives and property of this people." On the 23d the following was addressed to General Sheridan: |