USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 30
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We copy the following iu reference to it from the files of the Journal :
"The cloth having been removed, the follow- ing among other toasts were offered and re- ceived with great glee :
"The State of Illinois-Fertile in her soll, rich in every . natural advantage; when the measure of her greatness shall be full, she will stand the fairest and tallest of the Sisters of this Great Republic.
"The Legislature of the State of Illinois- Their duty has been nobly done; may smiling faces and joyful hearts greet them as they re- turn to their homes.
"O. H. Browning, Senator from Adams County -When the column and the dome of the Capitoi shall be raised aloft, as we gaze upon its beauty and its grandeur, Sangamon in her gladness, will remember him as introducing into the Senate the bill locating the seat of Government. That pillar, that dome, shall be his monu- ment."
After the music had ceased and the cheering had subsided, Mr. Browning rose and answered this complimentary toast in the happiest man- ner. He had regarded the location of the seat of Government as a matter in which the people of the whole State were interested; that, from its central position, from the beauty and fer- tillty of the country, from its great natural advantages, the people's interests required this
650
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
locatiou at Springfield. He believed a large majority of the people were in favor of its present location. He said on this subject he had voted solely with reference to his important duties as a representative of the people. "But, gentlemen," said he, "the sentiment just given does injustice to your own delegation. It was to their judicious management, their ability, their gentlemauly deportment, their unassuming manners, their coustant and untiring labor for your interests, that you have now to congratulate yourselves and the State, that this long un- settled question is determined; and that, in your beautiful town will soon arise the Capitol of Illinois-alike your pride and the pride of all its citizens. And when it shall be accomplished -when the column and the dome shall be reared aloft, the attention of the people from all the other States will be drawn to your capital, and you will feel its influence in developing the great advantage of your county aud your town, will feel its effects in a growth and population which you can hardly anticipate." Mr. Brown- ing concluded by offering the following toast :
"Springfield-The magnificence of the Capitol, when completed, will make her the pride, as the hospitality of her citizens has already made her the favorite of our State.""'
"The 'Long Nine' of Old Sangamon-Well done good and faithful servants."
"Col. McClernand-The efficient Caual Com- missioner-May he live to see the waters of Lake Michigan mingle with those of the Illinois."
Col. McClernand offered the following in reply :
"Internal Improvements-Identified with the prosperity of the State."
"Old Sangamon-United we stand, divided we fall."
"The Internal Improvement System-Can only be sustained by wisdom and prudence."
By A. Lincoln, Esq. : "All our Friends-They are too numerous to be now named individually, while there is no one of them who is not too dear to be forgotten or neglected."
By S. A. Douglas, Esq .: "The last winter's legislatiou-may its results prove no less beneficial to the whole State than they have to our town."
By S. T. Logan, Esq .: "The System of In- ternal Improvement adopted by the last Legis- lature. The best mode of rearing to perfection
would be a liberal pruning of the superfluous branches."
Judge Thomas presided as President at the table, and Maj. Iles as Vice President. The cordiality and good feeling on the occasion may have been equalled, but never was surpassed. The dinner was provided in haste; but it proved to be "a feast of reason and a flow of soul."
Tradition says that something stronger than water was used in drinking the toasts on that occasion, as there was not a man to be found after the festival who could tell who made the last speech.
CHAPTER X.
SPRINGFIELD THE PERMANENT CAPITAL.
LAST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN VAN- DALIA- THE STATE ARCIIIVES REMOVED TO SPRINGFIELD-FIRST MEETING OF THE LEGISLA- TURE IN THAT CITY IN DECEMBER, 1839-THE STATE CAPITOL BEING UNFINISHED, TIIE SES- SIONS ARE HELD IN DIFFERENT CHURCHES- ABRAHAM LINCOLN, JOSEPH GILLESPIE AND STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS AS MEMBERS-CONTRIBU- TION OF SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS MEN TO COST OF CAPITOL BUILDING-PLANS AND COST OF STRUC- TURE-LAYING OF THE CORNER-STONE JULY 4, 1837-COL. E. D. BAKER ORATOR OF THE DAY- DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING-DISTINGUISHED MEN WHO HAVE ADDRESSED AUDIENCES IN ITS IIALLS.
(By Clinton L. Conkling.)
The last General Assembly to meet in Van- dalia was the Eleventh, which convened in that city December 3, 1838, remaining in session until March 4, 1839, when it adjourned. During the latter part of the year the State archives1 were removed to the new State capital, the
1In what purports to be a list of the State prop- erty left in the abandoned State house building in Vandalia, on the removal of the capital to Springfield. the following illustrates the simplicity of furnishings with which Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, Orville H. Browning, Edward D. Baker. John J. Hardin, James Shields and other statesmen of that
651
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
work being accomplished by the use of wagons for transportation, tiere being theu no railroads in operation in Iilinois, although the Northern Cross Railroad (now tbe Wabash) was in course of construction between Meredosia and Jacksonville.
On December 9th of the latter year this Leg- islature reassembled at Springfield for a seconnd session, which was the first held in the new State Capital, continuing until February 3d fol- lowing.
As the new capitol building was not com- pleted in time for this session, the House of Representatives met in the Second Presbyterian Church on Fourth Street near Monroe, the locality being now known as Nos. 217 to 219 South Fourth Street. The building was then quite new and was the largest church edifice in the whole central and northern part of the State. It was built of brick, had a square belfry and a gallery around three sides of the interior, but had not yet been occupied for church purposes. This building was torn down in 1875.
The Methodist Church, a small frame struc- ture on the southeast corner of Fifth and Mon- roe Streets, was used as the meeting place for the Senate and St. Paul's Episcopal Church, then a wooden building, was used by the Su- preme Court.
At the succeeding special session of the Leg- islature, begun November 23, 1840, the House of Representatives met in the Methodist Church, but on the second day a resolution was passed, "tbat the Senate be respectfully requested to ex- change places of convening with this House for a short time, on account of the impossibility of the House discharging its business in so smail a place as tile Methodist Church." The ex- change was made and the House moved over to the Second Presbyterian Church.
period had been accustomed to disharge their duties as legislators :
Twenty-nine tables for members of assembly. Four benches.
Ninety-four chairs.
One small cbair.
One press to preserve papers.
Two desks for clerks.
Three chairs and one bench.
Two stoves,
Twenty-five cork ink stands.
One pewter ink stand.
Twelve sand boxes.
Twenty-three tin candie sticks and one iron candle stick.
Three tin pails and six tin cups.
Three pairs iron tongs.
Six pairs of andirons.
At this special session the Whigs were in- terested in preventing a sine die adjournment,- (because they desired to protect the State Bank which had been authorized in 1838 to suspend specie payment until after the adjournment of the next session of the Genral Assembly), and to this end they sought to break the quorum. All the Wbigs walked out, except Abraham Lin- coln and Joseph Gillespie, who were ieft be- hind to demand a roll-call when deemed ex- pedient. A few members were brought in by the Sergeant-at-arms. Lincoln and Gillespie perceiving that there would be a quorum if they remained, started to leave, but finding the doors locked, Lincoln raised a window aud both jumped out-an incideut, as Mr. Herndou says, . which Lincoln "always seemed willing to forget."
Springfield, at the time of the location of the seat of government, contained some eleven hundred inhabitants.
It was not an easy matter to agree upon a location. If land was selected far enough from the existing business to be cheap, the fifty thousand dollars could not be raised. Those already in business around the Square refused to contribute, because the State House, being so much larger and more attractive, would draw business after it, thus depreciating the vaiue of their property. It was finally determined that the only practicai way was to demolish the court bouse and use the site for the State House.
Under tbis arrangement the business men around the Square pledged themselves to con- tribute to the fund to the extent of their ability. The citizens as required by the act pledged the sum of $50,000. This was a very large sum for such a community to raise, besides fur- nishing the ground, and inany of the mem- bers of the Legislature thought it to be un- reasonable to require so great an amount. During the special session of 1839 Stepben A. Douglas, then a member from Morgan, County, proposed to bring in a biil releasing the citizens from the payment of the pledge. Abraham Lin- colu, however, objected and, though fuliy ap- preciating the kindly feelings that prompted tile proposal, insisted that the money should and would be paid. The bill was not intro- duced. Arrangements were made for paying tile amount in three installments. The two first payments were made without any great
652
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
difficulty. In the meanwhile the hard times of 1837 had swept over the whole country and financial ruln had come to many of the citizens. Under these circumstances, the money to pay the last installment was borrowed from the State Bank of Illinois on a note signed by one hundred aud one of the best citizens. Soon after this the State Bank failed but the note was finally paid off with internal improvement serlp, which, after the failure of the internal improvement system, at one time fell to four- teen cents on the dollar in the market. Thls scrip the State afterwards redeeuied dollar for dollar.
The original note Is preserved in The Ridgely National Bank. The following is a copy :
"$16,666.67 SPRINOFIELD, March 22, 1838.
"One year after date, we, the undersigned, or either of us, promise to pay to the President, Directors and Company of the State Bank of Illinois, sixteen thousand, six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents, for value received, negotlable and payable at the bank, in Springfield, with interest until paid, at the rate of six per centum per annum, pay- able semi-annually."
John Hay
L. Higby
Joseph Thayer
P. C. Canedy
William Thornton
Jos. Klein
M. O. Reeves
P. C. Latham
W. P. Grimsiey
A. G. Henry
William Wallace
Ninlan W. Edwards
John B. Watsou C. H. Ormsby Moses Coffman Geo. Pasfield
Erastus Wright
John Todd
B. C. Webster
S. M. Tinsley
Thomas Mather
Thos. Houghan D. Prlckett
J. Calhoun Josiah Francis
Washington Iles Joel Johnson C. B. Francis Wm. S. Burch
J. M. Shackleford
A. Trailor
B. Ferguson
Beujamin Talbott
R. B. Zimmerman
William Hall
James L. Lamb
M. L. Knapp B. C. Johnson
Thomas Moffett John F. Rague Simeon Francis Nathaniel Hay Robert Irwin Virgil Hickox George Trotter
Stephen T. Logan
N. A. Raukin
Robert Allen
James R. Gray
J. Adams
J. S. Britton
James I'. Langford
W. B. Powell
Henry Cassequin
F. C. Thompson
E. M. Henkle
James Maxcy
James W. Keyes
Z. P. CabanIss
Wm. Porter
E. G. Johns
Wm. H. Marsh
Amos Camp
W. Ransdell
Thos. J. Goforth
Joshua S. Hobbs
Benj. F. Jewett
John G. Bergen
W. M. Cogwill
This note appears to have been fiually pald February 19, 1846.
Nine plans for the new State House were sub- mitted to the commissioners. That of John F. Rague of Springfield, and Singleton, of St. Louis, was selected. Three hundred dollars was paid for tbese plans. The estimated cost of the building was $120,000. By the time it was fiualiy completed in 1853 it is sald to have cost $260,000. In addition in 1854 $20,000 was appropriated for enclosing and embellishing the grounds about the bullding, so as to "correspond with and be equal to the courthouse square in the city of Chicago."
As provided by the supplemental act the County Commissioners of Sangamon County, conveyed to Governor Joseph Duncan the block in Springfield known as the "public square." The deed is recorded in Book K, page 503, in the Recorder's office. A subsequent deed to per- fect the title In the State was made to Gover- nor French in 1847 and is recorded in Book Y, page 581. The brick court house, erected in the middle of the Square in 1831 at a cost of about $7,000, was torn down to make room for the new State House.
The stone for the new building was takeu
Garret Elkin John Capps Alexr. Garret
Gershom Jayne
T. M. Neale
William G. Abrams Dewey Whitney M. Mobley Foley Vaughn Abner Y. Eilis
S. H. Treat Elijah Iles Heury F. Luckett
J. M. Cabanlss
John T. Stuart Jonas Whitney
E. D. Baker A. Lincoln
Ephraim Darling Joua. Merrlam Ira Sanford
Charles Arnold
John L. Turner Joshua F. Amos Sullivan Conant And. Mcclellan Alexander Shields
C. C. Phelps
Jesse Cormack
C. R. Matheny William Butler
B. S. Clement
ADNA EMERSON PHELPS
H. EMERSON PHELPS
MRS. H. EMERSON PHELPS
653
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
from what is known as the "State House Qnarry," then the property of Leroy L. Hill, located on Sngar Creek, about six miles south of Springfield. It cost one dollar a load at the quarry and was bronght to the town by ox teams. It Is said that there was barely enough rock in the quarry to finish the building.
The corner stone of the State House was laid on the Fourth of July, 1837. The day was celebrated in Springfield with unnsual eclat. The military' companies of the town, and Capt. Neale's newly organized company of horse, under command of Major E. D. Baker, were early on parade. A feu de joie was fired at sunrise. After various evolutions of the inili- tary in the forenoon they partook of dinner in the grove, furnished by Mr. W. W. Watson.
In the afteruoon a procession was formed at the First Presbyterian Church of members of - and south sides were small rooms for various purposes. The main entrances were on the north and south sides and opened into what was called the "rotunda," from which in the center rose two flights of stairs, meeting half way up . and again dividing and so reaching the second floor.
the Mechanics' Institute, with banner displayed, and citizens who were escorted to the Methodist Church by the military, where Mr. Wiley deliv- ered an appropriate address; after which the procession again formed and moved to the public square. The Imposing ceremony of laying the corner stone was then performed. The Com- mittee for that purpose were A. G. Henry, Act- ing Commissioner; J. F. Ragne, President of the Mechanics Institute; B. Ferguson, Vice President ; Ahner Bennet, Secretary; Capt. G. Elkin, of Sharp shooters; Capt. E. S. Phillips, Lieut. Wm. M. Cowgill, J. S. Roberts, J. N. Francis of Artillery.
The corner-stone being put in place, Major E D. Baker (afterwards United States Senator from Oregon, and who was killed at Balls Bluff near the beginning of the Civil War, being then a Colonel in the Union Army) de- livered an eloqnent address. At the close "the welkin rang with huzzas-a salnte was fired, and the people and the military retired highly gratified with the proceedings of the day."
When the building was completed it was looked upon with wonder and admiration hy the people. It was considered to be a modei of architectural beanty and to be amply sufficient for the needs of the State for all time to come. By many it was deemed a monument of ex- travagance and far beyond the needs of the Government. But in less than a generation it became wholly inadequate for the needs of the State, and was considered as unshapeiy and nnworthy of the great State of Illinois,
The architecture is of the Doric order. It Is 123 feet long, 90 feet wide, with porticoes on the north and south projecting 111% feet. In the basement were storage rooms. On the first floor In the northwest corner was the office of the Secretary of State. Next south was the State Library and In the southwest corner was the office of the Auditor of State. In the south- east corner was the Treasurer's office. Then came the Supreme Court Room, where also the Clerk of that Court had his desk, while the northeast corner room contained the law library. The west side of the second story was entirely taken up with the Hall of Representatives, a very fine room with a gallery on the east side. In the north part of the east side was the Senate Chamber, while in the southeast corner was the Governor's private office. On the north
The lower and upper rotundas and the legis- lative halls, when the General Assembly was not in session, were for many years used for public fnnetions of many kinds. Horticultural Society shows, church fairs and suppers, revival and other religious meetings, public funerals, wan- dering lecturers, conventions of all sorts and, most of all, political conventions and meetings each had their turn. In the Hall of Represen- tatives Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas debated questions of state and the former de- livered, on the occasion of his nomination to the United States Senate in June, 1858, his memorable speech in which he said:
"A house divided against itseif cannot stand. I belleve this government cannot endnre per- manently, half slave and half free."
In the Governor's room, Mr. Lincoln received his visitors after his nomination and hefore his departure for Washington in 1861, and in its anteroom U. S. Grant waited many an hour for his appointment in the volunteer army. In 1865 Mr. Lincoln's remains lay in state In this same Hall of Representatives where he had so often addressed his fellow-citizens on matters of publle concern. Here. too, John A. Logan, as a young man, the idol of the ladies who
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
thronged the galleries to hear him speak, first came into State-wide notice.
CHAPTER XI.
PRESENT CAPITOL BUILDING
GROWTII OF SPRINGFIELD-AGITATION FOR REMOVAL OF THE STATE CAPITAL-STRUGGLE OF 1865-67- PROPOSED REMOVAL TO PEORIA-OTHER CANDI- DATES-BILL FOR ERECTION OF NEW BUILDING IN SPRINGFIELD ADOPTED-OPPOSITION OF CIIICAGO PAPERS-ACT UPHELD BY SUPREME COURT-CITI- - elected to the lower House one of hier most ZENS OF SPRINGFIELD CONTRIBUTE NEW SITE AND COUNTY TAKES OVER OLD BUILDING-GROUND BROKEN AND CORNER STONE LAID IN 1868- LATER APPROPRIATIONS AND PROGRESS OF WORK- PLANS OF ARCHITECT-LIST OF STATE HOUSE COMMISSIONERS-PEORIA RENEWS ITS STRUGGLE IN 1871-PROJECTED TEMPORARY REMOVAL TO CIIICAGO DEFEATED BY THE GREAT CONFLAGRA- TION-FINAL APPROPRIATION AND COMPLETION OF BUILDING-DESCRIPTION, OF PRESENT STATE CAPITOL-STATUARY AND DECORATIONS.
(By Clinton L. Conkling.)
4
During the period from 1837 to 1867 the population of Springfield increased from eleven hundred to seventeen thousand, and the State from less than half a million to nearly two and a half millions, while the wealth of the State increased in much greater proportion. The northern portion of the State particuarly had grown In populatiou and wealth. Chicago, from a small town of four thousand people, had be- come a city of a quarter of a million. The capitol building was too small for the various officers and bureaus, many of whom had to occupy rented quarters in various places In Springfield.
For some years the question of moving the capital had been spoken of, and time and again members of the Legislature threatened to in- troduce bills for this purpose, but for years the diplomacy and good mauagemeut of the mem- bers from Sangamon County, assisted by the citizens, averted the movement until in 1865,
when a bill to remove the seat of government to Peoria was introduced in the Senate. Chi- cago, Jacksonville aud Decatur, also, set up their claims. The "Chicago Tribune," with many other papers, favored the removal. Lack of hotel accommodations and exorbitant charges were the maiu arguments, self-interest iu each case was the chief motive. The Senate Special Committee, to whom the bill was referred, re- ported it back for favorable action, but when it reached the House it was laid on the table by a vote of 61 to 16.
In the queanwhile the citizens of Springfield built, what, for that day, was a most elegant and commodious hotel, "the Leland," and thus removed one objection, but the agitation in- creased, and seeing that the question must be met, Sangamon County, in the fall of 1866, capable and public-spirited citizens, the IIou. James C. Conkling. Back of and supporting him was a large and well organized body of the most influential citizens of Springfield. The Board of Supervisors agreed to purchase for $200,000 the old State IIouse and square for a court house. The city offered to donate the Mather lot, some six or elght acres, which cost $62.000. The Legislature met on January 7, 1867. The members received every attention. They were invited to numerous social gatherings and receptions arranged by the ladies of the city, who also attended the sessions of the two houses and made themselves agreeable to the members. The Leland was opened with a grand ball and supper to which all were Invited. To the invitations to these private functions a few of the members, by way of regrets. sent un- signed notes saying, "Too late, the capital is moving." The bill for the erection of a new State House was introduced and, from the first, met much opposition, but Its enemies could not combine effectively against its passage, because they were too much interested in the strife for the location of an Industrial Uulversity, for which a congressional grant had been made in 1862. Jacksonville, Pekin, Lincoln, Bloomiug- ton and Chicago wanted to divide the fund ; while the eastern part of the State was for Champaign. The south wanted the new peni- tentiary and Chicago wanted many things. So finally 'the opposition was narrowed down to the efforts of Decatur, which offered ten acres of land and one million dollars in money from
1
655
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
Macon County, which sum was nearly one-half the assessed valuation of all the land in the county. This great offer is said to have been backed by the Illinols Central Railroad. This effort to sell the location of the capital to the highest bidder was looked upon unfavorably by many. One member in derision introduced a bill to dislocate the capital, aud which pro- vlded for a peregrinating Legislature by rail- road to stop at every place where a notice ap- peared that legislation was wanted. The very persons named to superintend the erection and disburse the fund were so distributed as to gain friends for the blll. Besides all else, Springfield was said to be historic ground, the home and last resting place of Abraham Lincoln.
On February 25, 1867, the General Assembly passed an Act for the erection of a new State House. The Governor was authorized to convey to the connty of Sangamon and the City of Springfield the existing capitol and square for $200,000 and the site for the new capitol. The cost was limited to three million dollars, and the act named a board of seven Commissioners to carry out its provisions in superintending the erection of the building.
The "Chicago Times" and "Tribune" continued bitterly to denounce the measure; nor was De- catur willing to accept the situation. On May 13, 1867, at her suggestion and cost, the Superior Court at Chicago, in a proceeding by quo war- ranto, removed the Commissioners holding that they were officers whose appointment, under the constitution, should have been made by the Goveruor and confirmned by the Senate, and who could not be designated in the blll as had been done, thus rendering the act void. On appeal the Supreme Conrt in the following September reversed the decision of the court at Chicago, and held that the Commissioners were not officers and were rightfully entitled to carry out the law.
The act contained an emergency clause and the Commissioners proceeded to thelr work with- out delay. On March 11, 1868, ground was broken for the new bullding. On June 11th the first stone was laid, and on October 5, 1868, the corner stone was laid by the Masonic Fra- ternity, Judge John D. Caton making the prin- cipal address-an eloquent and scholarly essay of historic value. In September, 1869, the fonndation was completed at a cost of nearly half a million dollars; in 1876 the Capitol was
first occupied in an unfinished condition; In 1885 the final appropriation was made and it was completed in 1888.
In response to an advertisement by the first Board of Commissioners offering a premium of $3,000 for the best design for the building, twenty-one designs were submitted, from which that of John C. Cochrane, of Chicago, was ac- cepted July 2, 1867, and in January, 1868, Mr. Cochrane was appointed Architect and Snperin- tendent of the work, on a contract of two and one-half per cent. of the cost of the building, and W. D. Clark, of Davenport, was appointed assistaut superintendent. In 1886 Alfred H. Pinquenard, of the firm of Cochrane & Pinque- nard, undertook the personal supervision of the work, and acted as resident supervising archi- tect until his death, November 19, 1876. M. E. Bell, who had been appointed Assistant Superin- tendeut in 1874, vice W. D. Clark, assumed the personal supervision after the death of Mr. Pinquenard.
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