USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 29
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"Mr. President : What do these members know about the Kaskaskia River? I live on the banks of that stream, and I say to you and the members of this august body, that turtles have been known to run aground in that stream, and, further, that I can go on a six weeks carousal and lay flat on my belly, and drink it dry from its source to Its mouth."
This settled It and the Kaskaskia is not navi- gable to this day. In this respect it is not un- like the Sangamon River.
In the Act of the General Assembly of 1821
Incorporating the Town of Vaudaiia the Board of Trustees of the Town were authorized "to employ some skillful persou to paint the State Hlouse iu a neat and workmanlike manner, and to make such alterations in the chimneys of the house as they might deem necessary; and it was also made thelr duty "to take possession of and keep lu good repair the State House during each and every recess of the General Assembly."
On December 9, 1823, during the third session of the Legislature held at Vandalia, this buiid- ing was destroyed by fire. After the fire the Senate for the rest of Its session occupied a building erected for divine worship by all de- nomluations, but which was afterwards sold to the Presbyterian Church. This building was sit- nated on the north side of the public square but was afterwards removed to a side street and is still standing.
It was afterwards iu the tower of this first church edifice erected in Vandalia, that the first Protestant church bell in Iilinols was hung. The beli bears the foliowing inscription :
"ILLINOIS RIGGS
TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF VANDALIA, 1830."
Miss Riggs was a daughter of Romuius Riggs, a merchant of Philadelphia who had extensive business dealings In Illinois and became the owner of a large amount of lands In the State. The French Catholics had several bells in their monasteries and churches at Kaskaskla and in the neighboring viliages. Thls Vandalia bell is still in possession of the Presbyterian Church in that city. The donor, now Mrs. Iliiuois Riggs Graff, is (1910) still living in Philadelphia.
This church building was erected pursuant to an act of the General Assembly, approved June 12. 1823, by which the Governor was anthorized to convey to certain persons as trustees, a tract of ground for a graveyard, and also to convey to them five lots in the town of Vandalia, "for the purpose of erecting a house for divine wor- ship, which shall be free to all denominations to preach in." On one of the lots the building was to be placed and the other lots were to be sold to pay for the cost of the building.
After the burning of the first capitol building the Ilonse of Representatives finished their ses- sion in a private house. The General Assembly does not appear to have taken any steps imme- diately for re-building the capitoi. The second
645
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
State House, however, was built by the citizens of Vandalia in the summer of 1824, and was a two-story brick structure, costing about $15,000, of which amount the citizens of Vandalia con- tributed $3,000, advancing the money for the bal- ance, which the State refunded in the fall of that 'year. The corner-stone of this edifice was aiso laid without public ceremony. In this building the General Assembly continued its ses- sions until the erection, in the summer of 1836, of a third building, still standing in the public square In the City of Vandalia, and now occu- pied as a court house for Fayette County but known as the Old Capitol Building.
Tlils iast building was not erected by the State but was built by three private citizens of Vandalia on their own responsibility and, for the most part, out of their own private funds. Without warrant of law but by common consent. they tore down the old brick building erected twelve years before, and used the ma- teriai, so far as it was available, in the con- struction of the new capitol.
Governor Duncan. in his message to the Tenth General Assembly (December, 1836), says: "In consequence of the dilapidated and failing con- dition of the Old State House, the public officers, mechanics and citizens of this place (Vandalia), believing that the Legislature would have no piace to convene or hold their session. have built the house you now occupy. This work has been done in a thine and under circum- stances which evinces an industry, zeal and pub- lle-spirit that does honor to the place and com- mands our grateful acknowledgment; and I hope thelr services and expenses will be promptly remunerated."
The cost of this building was about $16.000, of which amount $6,000 was repaid by Governor Duncan out of the contingent fund of the State and $10,000 advanced by three private citizens referred to. This was done by them in order to counteract a movement, then on hand, to re- move the capitai from Vandalla. The State afterwards re-imbursed them, however. A goodly portion of the constructive material, ex- cept the brick and shingles, is said to have been obtained without leave from the United States Government, which was at that time en- gaged In constructing the National Road and building bridges over the openings In the grad- ing across the bottom east of the town and across the Kaskaskla River at that point.
CHAPTER IX.
MOVEMENT FOR A THIRD CAPITAL.
AOITATION BEGINS FOR SELECTION OF A NEW STATE CAPITAL-QUESTION SUBMITTED TO POPULAR VOTE IN 1834-ALTON RECEIVES TIIE LARGEST VOTE BUT NO FINAL ACTION IS TAKEN-TIIE "LONG NINE" FROM SANGAMON COUNTY IN TIIE TENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY-THE INTERNAL IM- PROVEMENT ISSUE-MOVEMENT FOR SELECTION OF A NEW STATE CAPITAL SUCCESSFUL-ACT PRO- VIDING FOR VOTE IN JOINT SESSION OF THE LEG- ISLATURE-SPRINGFIELD WINS ON FOURTII BAL- LOT-SUPPLEMENTAL ACT RELATINO TO DONATION OF SITE FOR CAPITOL BUILDING BY CITIZENS OF SPRINGFIELD AND APPOINTING COMMISSIONERS FOR ERECTION OF SAME-LAST DAYS OF THIE CAPI- TAL IN VANDALIA AND ITS DECLINE IN POPULA- TION-TIIE REMOVAL TO SPRINGFIELD WIDELY AP- PROVED BY TIIE PRESS OF TIIE STATE-ENTIIUSI- ASTIC CELEBRATION OF THE EVENT IN SPRINO- FIELD.
(By Clinton L. Conkiing.)
In 1833 strong efforts were being made in the northern part of the State-which was filling rapidly with settlers-for the removal of the capital northward. The geographical center of the State was about twenty miles east of Springfield, where is now the Village of Illiopolis, a dis- tance of sixty miles north of Vandalia. By the terms of the Constitution and the first act of the General Assembly. this removai could not be made until the expiration of twenty years after the first day of December, 1820. Tills did not, however, prevent Vandalia from asserting her claim with a number of other citles. The following act was approved by the General As- sembly February 5, 1833 :
"AN ACT PERMANENTLY TO LOCATE TIIE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF ILLINOIS.
"Be it enacted, that at the next election to be held in the several counties of the State for members of the Legislature, there shall be opened at each place of voting a book, in which shall be entered the votes of the qualified voters in favor of the following named places. as their choice for the permanent location of the seat of government of this State. after the expiration of the time prescribed by the constitution for its
646
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
remaining at Vandalia, to-wit: The geographi- cal center of the State, Jacksonville in Morgan County, Springfield in Sangamon County, Alton in Madison County, Vandalia in Fayette County, and Peoria in Peoria County. The place or point receiving the highest number of votes shall forever remain the seat of government for the State of Illinois."
At the next general election held August 4, 1834, in the several counties for members of the Legislature, the vote was as follows: The Geographical Center received 790 votes; Jack- sonville, 273; Springfield, 7,035 .; Peoria, 423; Alton 8,157; Vandalia 7,730. Although Alton received the highest number of votes and was entitled under the Act of 1833 to be made the permanent seat of government, this fact was never officially declared, no appropriation for a new state house was made, and so far as the public records show, the vote was never can- vassed nor the matter referred to during the entire session of the Ninth Generai Assemhiy.
During the year 1835 and 1836, the removai of the capitai from Vandalia was freely dis- cussed. At that time the United States Gov- ernment was engaged in building the old Cum- herland or National Road through Illinois, and it was a question whether it should he huiit west from Vandalia to St. Louis or to Aiton. The people of the southern portion of the State were nearly unanimous for St. Louis, while the peopie of the northern part of the State were in favor of Alton. The feeling hecame quite warm. The Vandaiia people favored St. Louis, which so irritated the Aiton people that, when the matter of the removal of the capitai came up in the General Assembly of 1836-37 and they hecame convinced they could not get the capital, they threw their influence to Springfield in order to get even with Vandalia on account of the National Road question. They were also influenced by the help given hy the members of the General Assembly from Sangamon County wherehy the termiuals of three railroads were located at Alton under the Internai Improve- inent Acts.
In the Legislature of 1836-37 Sangamon County had two Senators and seven Representa- tives. They averaged six feet in height and were known as the "Long Nine." Archer G. Ilerndon and Job Fletcher were in the Seuate and Abraham Lincoln, Ninian W. Edwards, John Dawson, Andrew McCormick, Dan Stone, William F. Elkin and Robert L. Wiison in the House. Their combined height was fifty-four
ieet. Mr. Lincoln was "six feet four inches, nearly."
At that time Sangamon was the second county in point of population in the State, heing ex- ceeded in 1840 hy Morgan by nearly 5,000.
For some time the people of Springfleid had been preparing to urge its claims to become the capital city of the State, and these men were chosen, Senators and Representatives, with this purpose in view. Prior to the meeting of the Teuth General Assembly, a furore for public improvements swept over the State. The people at many public meetings demanded that rail- roads, canals and state highways he constructed and operated at public expense, utterly ignoring the fact that there was neither population nor commerce sufficient to support these enterprises. Under this pressure of public opinion, many ieg- islators were elected to that General Assembly upon this issue of public improvements.
The members from any given locality were ready to trade or "log roli" for votes favoring the construction of a railroad, canal or maii route through their own particular county. The members from Sangamon County gave their spe- cial attention to securing votes for the selection of Springfield as the capital. This singleness of purpose, with help judiciously given to others in the advancement of their projects, produced a favorable impression for Springfield. In Feb- ruary, 1837, the Legislature passed a hill entit- led "An Act to establish and maintain a generai system of Internai Improvements." This was followed hy two supplementary acts passed the next month.
These acts appropriated upwards of ten mii- lions of dollars from the public treasury for the construction of raiiways and for the improve- ment of waterways and of the "Great Western Mail Route." The construction of the Illinois & Michigan Canai was also authorized. For many years the burden of this improvident and reckless iegislation rested heavily upon the State, destroyed its credit, retarded its improve- ment and gave opportunity for questionahle transactions which tarnished its fair fame.
This bili was disapproved hy Governor Dun- can and the Council of Revision, hut the friends of Springfield finaiiy effected such a combina- tion that that city was selected as the capital while the Internai Improvement act was passed over the Governor's veto.
While the internal improvement hill was pend-
647
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
ing the "Long Nine" were busy. They said lit- tle or nothing In reference to locating proposed railroads, but would assist other localities, where votes could be secured for locating the capitai at Springfield. The result was the pas- sage of "An act permanently to locate the seat of government for the State of Illinois," which was approved at Vandalia. February 25. 1837. This law provided for a joint session of the two houses, on the 2Sth of the same month, to select a situation. An appropriation of fifty thousand dollars was made to commence building the State lıouse. The law also declared that no place should be chosen unless its citizens contributed at least $50,000 to aid in the work, and not iess than two acres of land, as a site for the capitol building.
This act was as follows :
AN ACT PERMANENTLY TO LOCATE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the General As- sembly, That the two Houses of the General As- sembly shali meet In the Hall of the House of Representatives on the 28th day of February, 1837, at ten o'clock A. M. and then and there proceed by joint vote to select some suitable point or place for the permanent location of the seat of government for the State of Illinois; Provided further, that said election shall not continue more than one day.
Sec. 2. Each member shali be at liberty to vote for whatever point or piace he may choose; and no point or place shall be deemed selected until it shall have received a majority of ali the votes given.
Sec. 3. In case no point or place shail re- ceive a majority of all the votes given on the first vote, the two Houses shall continue to vote until some point or place shall receive such ma- jority ; Provided, that this section shail not be construed to prevent an adjournment from day to day.
Sec. 4. When any point or place shall have received a majority as aforesaid, such point or place shall be and remain the permanent loca- tion of the Seat of Government for the State of Illinois, from and after the time for which it is fixed at Vandalia shall have expired, and the sum of fifty thousand dollars is hereby appro- priated for the purpose of erecting a State House and other needful buildings (if any) which shall be expended under the direction of three Commissioners to be appolnted by the present General Assembly ; Provided, that this act shall be null and void unless the sum of fifty thousand dollars be donated by individuals and secured by bonds and security to be ap- proved of by the Governor and made payable to the State Treasurer, to become due at such times as the Governor shall direct; which bonds
shall be executed and filed with the State Treas- urer, on or before the first day of May next, and which donation is especially designed to meet the appropriation hereiubefore made, and shall be applied exclusively and immediately to that object, and also, unless sufficient quan- tlty of grouud not less than two acres, upon which to erect public buildings be donated and conveyed to the State without expenses to the State of Illinois.
Sec. 5. An Act entitled "An act permanently to locate the Seat of Government of Illinois " approved February 5, 1833, is hereby repealed : Provided, however, that if the General Assembly shall fail to select a point for the Seat of Gov- ernment as provided for in this act, then and in that case this section shall be void and of no effect. This General Assembly reserves the right to repeai this act at any time hereafter.
Approved, February 25, 1837.
Accordingly on February 28, 1837, at 10:00 o'clock A. M., the two Houses met in joint ses- sion and, on the fourth ballot, Springfield was chosen as the new capital receiving 73 votes, a majority over all competitors. Altogether twenty-nine different places were voted for.
The ballots were as follows:
1st.
2nd. 3rd.
4th.
Springfield
35
43
53
73
Jacksonville
14
15
9
1
Vandalia
16
15
16
15
Peoria
16
12
11
6
Alton
15
16
14
6
Scattering
25
7
15
7
Illiopolis
10
3
Illiopolis at this time was a "paper town" uf mammoth proportions, covering 8,000 acres laid out by Governor Duncan, John Taylor, Eli C. Blankenship and the Sangamo Land Company near the site of the village of the same name.
In the following month Commissioners to erect . the new State House were appointed by the following act :
"AN ACT SUPPLEMENTAL TO AN ACT TO PER- MANENTLY LOCATE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF ILLINOIS.
"Sec. 1. Be It enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the General As- sembly, That the county commissioners' court of Sangamon County is hereby authorized and em- powered to convey to the Governor of the State of Illinols, for the use of the people of sald State. all that piece or parcel of ground situate, lying and being in the town of Springfield, county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, known as the "public square," containing two and a half acres, be the same more or less, upon which piece or parcel of ground wben conveyed as aforesaid
648
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
shall be erected a State House and other neces- sary publle buildings for the State of Illinois. Archibald Job, of the County of Morgan. A. G. Henry. Thomas Houghan. ( Hogan), of Sanga- mon County, are hereby appointed Commis- sioners to superintend the erectlon of the pub- lic buildings atoresaid, who, before they enter upon the discharge of their duty, shali enter Into bond to the Governor of this State, with approved security In the penalty of ten thou- sand dollars each, conditioned for the faithfui performance of their dutles, and shall severaily take an oath, that they will well and truly and diligently discharge all their duties as Commis- sioners to superintend the erection of public buildings. They shall cause to be erected a building of suitable size for a State Honse, upon the most approved and convenient plan and pro- viding the necessary offices and committee rooms for publle use. Said commissioners shall stipulate for all payments to be made out of the fund appropriated for that purpose and no other, and they shall be allowed three dollars per day for thelr services, out of the same fund.
Sec. 2. If the County Commissioners' Court of Sangamon County shall fail to convey the iot of land hereln contemplated, the said Commission- ers shall procure a sultable and convenient lot of gronnd for the purposes aforesaid.
Approved 3d March, 1837.
Dr. Hogan declined to act as Commissioner and in 1839. William Herndon was appointed to fill the vacancy. This commission was legislated out of office in 1840 and a new one appointed consisting of the Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer, who were then. James Shields, Ly- man Trumbull and Milton Carpenter.
At the last session of the Legislature held at Vandalla, the Act of February 19, 1839, was passed giving to the President and Trustees of the Town of Vandalia and to the County of Fay- ette, to be owned, occupied and used by tbe said corporation and connty In severalty, the house on the Public Square in Vandalia theretofore used as a State House. The west half was to be used as a conrt house and the east half for school purposes by the town of Vandalia. Some of the stoves, chairs and tables ont of the State House were given to the county, and the re- mainder were to be sold by the President and Trustees of the Town and the proceeds to be invested in a ilbrary for the use of the inhabi- tants. The Square was to remain forever a Public Square. The remaining lots owned by the State situated on the original grant from the United States Government and not otherwise appropriated, were directed to be soid by the county and the proceeds to be used In the 'mak-
Ing or repairing of bridges in the county of Fayette.
At this time Vandalia had a population of about 2,500, but after the removal of the capitai the population rapidly declined. During the in- terval between 1819 and 1855, the only means of transportation in and out of Vaudalia was by the old wagon roads iu wagons, carriages, bug- gies and stages. It was an Important post on the Overland Stage Line, which conveyed pas- sengers and the malls in the old style slx-horse Concord coaches. The approach of the mall coach was heralded by the blowing of a horn by the driver as it approached the towu, and was the signal for the male population to as- semble at the postoffice and the stage stand. In January, 1855, the Filinois Central Railroad was completed to Vandalia, and thereafter it had better means of communication with otber parts of the state.
In the early days the County Court licensed the taverns and fixed the charges of the land- lord to his customers. The following is an In- dication of the articles demanded and the prices at which they were served during the days that the members of the Legislature patronIzed the taverns in Vandalia :
For breakfast or supper 25c
For dinner .371%c
For night's lodging 121%c
For horse feed 1834c
For horse for night .50c
For 1/2 pt. rum, wine or French brandy 371/c
For 1% pt. peach or apple brandy. 25c
For 1/2 pt. gin .25c
For 1% pt. cordial 25c
For 1/2 pt. of cherry bounce. .25c
For 12 pt. of whisky 121/4℃
After the removal of the capital, the popula- tion of Vandalla declined until, In 1850, it did not have more than 300 inhabitants. The only thing that kept it allve was the fact that it was the termination of the National Road, this road never having been brought farther west.
At that time the old State House was in a very dilapidated condition. Tbe floors in the lower part were largely gone and cattle and stock of all kinds sought shelter thereiu from the weather. The county In 1857 acquired the ownership of the whole building, which was re- modeled and is now In an excellent state of preservation. Since then various Improvements
HENRY PAUL
MARY PAUL
649
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
have been made and the building is still serviug as the Court House for the county of Fayette.
During the time the capital was at Vandalia it was the social center of the State. Its prom- inent residents were composed of familles originating from the old Puritan stock of the East and from the wealthy and aristocratic families of the South. Taken altogether, a more cultured, refined and intelligent group of people was never congregated in so small a place as Vandalia was at that time. It was the custom of the society people from nearly every part of the State to spend their winters there during the sessions of the Legislature, during which time there was one continuous round of receptions, balls, parties and private theat- ricals.
CELEBRATION IN SPRINGFIELD .- The "Spring- field Journal" of March 4, 1837, contains the fol- lowiug reference to the act of the Legislature :
"On Tuesday last the Legislature selected Springfield as the future seat of Government of the State-a result which, as a matter of course, was hailed by our citizens with universal ac -. clamation1. Mingled with the natural re- joicing which is felt and manifested by our citizens is a feeling of gratitude to the members of the Legislature, and renews an increased confidence in those who have made the selection with exclusive reference to the interests of the State and the convenience of its citizens. It is no slight ground for our confidence to have seen the Legislature deciding a question so ex- citing and involving so many interests with an entire disregard to party considerations ; and we cannot but exult that the representatives of the people have been just enough to determine the question on Its merits, wise enough to per- ceive the propriety of the choice they have made, and firm enough to act on their convictions promptly and effectually."
The "Chicago Advertiser," of that day, said: "We congratulate our friends at Springfield on the selection of that place as the future seat of Government,-a selection no less judicious from Its central position than for the public spirit and enterprise of its inhabitants."
The following is from the Chicago Democrat of about the same date :
"LOCATION OF THE CAPITAL .- Upon the fourth balloting Springfield, in Sangamon County, was selected as the future Capital of the State. No town could have satisfied a greater portion of
our citizens. It is rather south of the geographi- cal center, but the salubrity of its climate, and its facilities for accommodation will amply repay a little extra traveling."
At the other end of the State there was equal acquiescence in the change, as shown by the following from the "Shawneetown Journal :"
"The Legislature has wisely settled the ques- tion of the seat of government It is perma- nently located at Springfield : and, not only from its central position, but from its situation in the heart of the richest part of Illinois, we ap- prehend that it will suit the entire approbation of the people of the State."
Among the incidents in connection with the removal of the seat of government from Van- dalia to Springfield, was a "public dinner" given to the members of the Legislature and other distinguished citizens of the State, "as a tribute of respect for the faithful performance of their public duties." The dinner was prepared by Col. Spotswood, at the Rural Hotel.
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