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aforesaid, and we hereby in our official capac- ity guarantee the payment of the said bonds and the faithful execution of the deeds of convey- ances, free from all incumbrances, as herein set forth,
"W. D. SOMERS,
"T. A. COSGROVE, . "C. R. MOREHOUSE. "Committee."
(1)To show the reader something of the pre- vailing feeling in this county pending this elec- tion, the following appeal from citizens most
784
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
So, too, the land titles were investigated. Full abstracts of the titles to every piece of real estate were prepared and certified. In
interested, which was sent broadcast over the county, with other articles of like spirit, is here copied into this narrative:
"Shall We Have the University ?- During the year 1867 the Legislature of Illinois located the University of Illinois in Urbana on condi- tion that the county of Champaign would donate to the University $100,000 in ten per cent bonds, and in case the county failed to respond, the work was placed in the hands of a committe to locate the University at one of the competing points. The county has donated to the State in bonds and buildings a sum amounting to about $300,000, and many feel like ordering a halt. The struggle for the University had been fought with extreme persistence and bitterness. Every art that the old educational critics knew so well how to use, was directed against us. Jack- sonville, Peoria, Bloomington and Lincoln, massed their forces against the 'obscure up- start county.' Our foes scattered hand-bills through the outskirts of the county, telling the people that Urbana and Champaign would get all the benefit while they paid the bills. The Chicago Tribune, though paid for favorable mention, sneered and called the building which we donated the 'Champaign county elephant.' It took three years of sleepless vigilance and wearing toil and anxiety to secure the prize. Urbana and Champaign worked shoulder to shoulder, strife and differences were sent to the rear and all worked with a will for suc- cess.
"This locality is indebted for the success of this enterprise more to H'on. Clark R. Griggs, than to any other man. He was a polished gen- tleman, a skilled diplomat and a lover of educa- tion from the ground up. He was a member of the lower house and was offered $16,000 in cash to release certain members who were pledged to vote to locate the University in Urbana. He told them that his desire to locate the Univer- sity in Urbana outweighed all money consid- erations, as he had set his heart on that object. But space would fail to mention the names of men who, at home and in the lobby in Spring- field, toiled and worked night and day to secure the grand institution which has already grown beyond the expectation of the most sanguine and is destined to grow until it overshadows the whole state.
"At a meeting of the citizens of the township of Urbana, called to take into consideration matters pertaining to the location of the 'In- dustrial University' in this county, the under- signed were appointed a committee to compile and circulate such statistical information and estimates of resources, as would tend to remove misapprehensions in the minds of many citizens of the county with reference to the facts con- nected with this enterprise. In the effort to discharge this duty we have endeavored to sub- mit only such facts and suggestions as seemed to us to place this matter clearly before the public and which we think will bear the clos- est scrutiny. The history of the purchase of the college building, by the county, is doubt- less, familiar to every citizen.
"The total cost of this enterprise from its earliest inception to the present time is esti- mated at .a sum not exceeding $235,000. Large as this sum may appear at first glance, it will seem comparatively small when we take into account the vast resources of the county-pres- ent and prospective-especially so in connection with the magnitude of the munificent gift which the State has placed at our disposal.
"This college is a child of the State and Illi- nois has never been known to allow her children to ask for bread without opening a liberal hand;
several cases old unreleased mortages were discovered, the parties in interest hunted up and releases obtained.
In the meantime the Governor appointed a Board of Trustees for the University, as re- quired by law, consisting of twenty-eight gen- tlemen from all sections of the State, and
witness the appropriation of $345,000 to the State institutions at Jacksonville by the last Legislature. That enterprising city, backed by Morgan County and knowing the value of such institutions offered nearly $1,000,000 to secure the location of this college in that county. Ed- ucated mind makes the man, increases the wealth of a county and attracts intelligent and energetic settlers, hence the struggle among the various localities to secure the location of this college. Hundreds of our young men will be induced to attend this college on account of its proximity to their homes, who would other- wise never aspire to a liberal education. The idea that farmers' sons should not receive a thorough education has long since become ex- ploded. They are the jewels of this state and in proportion as they are polished, they the more reflect her glory. Besides, other institutions of a kindred nature will naturally follow this college-institutions for the education of young ladies-making this county an educational cen- ter; and we shall soon demonstrate to the world that the concentrated 'wisdom of the State of Illinois does not center at Jacksonville.
"McLean and Morgan counties were not pre- pared to see this boon wrested from their grasp by men representing the interests of a section of the State heretofore unacknowledged by state patronage, but whose indomitable energy and enterprise has made it a peer of the proud- est portions of our great State.
"The powerful and successful struggle which this county has made during the last session of the Legislature, has sent her name abroad over this and distant States, and has given her a reputation of which her envious rivals in that struggle are jealous, and which they fondly hope she may forfeit by some internal discord by which she may reject this princely bequest; and they now stand ready with covetous eyes watching the opportunity to seize the prize, should we let it slip from our grasp.
"The Trustees of the University have selected as Regent the Hon. John M. Gregory, formerly Superintendent of Public Instruction, for the state of Michigan, later lecturer on the theory and art of teaching in the Michigan Normal University, and now President of the Kalama- zoo College in the same State. His reputation as a man of high culture, large experience and great energy, is unequaled in the whole West, and under his supervision it is scarcely possi- ble that the institution should fail to attain the highest eminence.
"In whatever aspect this subject is viewed by any candid mind, it seems to us there can result only a series of advantages and conse- quences in securing its final location, which must appeal to all the impulses of our natures and induce us to lay to a bold hand in this work. and come up as a county heartily endorsing the action of the Legislature, doing credit to our reputation for energy, intelligence and enter- prise. Let us not put a stigma upon the fair fame of our county by rejecting what will make her second to no county in Illinois.
"T. R. LEAL, "R. T. MILLER, "Committee."
Urbana, Ill., March 16, 1867.
785
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
called them together
for organization at Springfield on March 12, 1867. (1)
The meeting of the Trustees at Springfield was adjourned to meet at the rooms in the building here, proposed to be donated to the State, on May 7, 1867, when it was expected that Champaign County would, if ever, be ready to make good its offer to the State. Many were not without hope that a failure on its part in some one of the many requisites made necessary by the law, would yet throw upon the market the matter of the location of the University, and the adjourned meeting became a matter of State interest and newspaper com- ment.
The seventh of May came and a nearly full Board answered to the roll call. With the chairman of the Finance Committee, to which had been referred the matter of determining the legal sufficiency of the bonds and titles offered by Champaign County, came an emi- nent real estate lawyer resident in another county, employed to aid the committee in the duty of passing upon these questions.
The abstracts, bonds and evidence of the affirmative election on the part of the people, were placed before the committee and after hours of scrutiny by its counsel, pronounced without fault. On the morning of May 8th the committee, through Emory Cobb, Esq., reported in accordance with the advice of its legal counsel, that Champaign County had in every respect made good its offer, but without any recommendation as to the action of the Board thereon.
This report was followed by some adverse skirmishing on the part of some Trustees understood to be favorable to other locations;
(1) Pending this election, every family in Champaign County was furnished with a copy of a scurrilous hand-bill issued, as was alleged, by some interested agency outside of the county, but unsigned, appealing to voters to defeat the proposed donation or suffer for all time under onerous taxes for the benefit alone of others, and bear the burden of an odious monopoly, as the University was denounced. The fact that these documents had their origin outside of the county robbed them of their sting, and without doubt helped the affirmative vote.
The following named persons constituted the first Board of Trustees: Lemuel Allen, Newton Bateman, Alexander Blackburn, Mason Bray- man, A. M. Brown, Horatio C. Burchard, J. C. Burroughs, Emery Cobb, J. O. Cunningham, M. L. Dunlap, Sam'l Edwards, Willard C. Flagg, O. B. Galusha, M. C. Goltra, David S. Hammond, George Harding, S. S. Hayes, J. P. H'ungate, John S. Johnson, Luther Lawrence, I. S. Mahan, A. B. McConnell, L. B. McMurray, J. H. Pickrell, Burden Pullen. Thos. Quick, J. W. Scroggs, C. H. Topping, John M. Van Osdell, Richard J. Oglesby, and John M. Gregory.
but all matters were soon set at rest by the offering by Trustee Brown, of Union County, of a series of preambles reciting a full com- pliance on the part of the county of Champaign with its offer to the State, and concluding with this resolution:
"Resolved, That the Illinois Industrial Uni- versity be, and the same is hereby permanently located at Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois."
A call of the ayes and noes upon Judge Brown's proposition resulted in a unanimous vote, twenty-four voting in the affirmative and none in the negative.
It may well be believed that a hearty cheer then went up from the large crowd of citizens of both sexes who were watching the proceed- ings. The long anxiety was over and Cham- paign County had "won out," after some years of contest and many hard fights. The prize had been well earned and fully won.
It will be seen from what has been detailed of the history of the location of the University at Urbana, that it did not come by chance, nor was the great prize had for the mere asking, as some unacquainted with affairs which took place in Champaign County between the years 1859 and 1867 might suppose.
Following this contest, which was heated and somewhat bitter, charges of the use of improper and corrupt means were made against our "lobby," but the proofs to sustain the charge were never adduced, nor were the general charges ever reduced to specifications. The writer was much of the time with our forces at Springfield, and confidently believes all such charges untrue and malicious. Cham- paign County won upon its merits, and the choice has been shown to have been in all re- spects a wise one.
Detraction and opposition was not allayed by the final action of the Board of Trustees in permanently locating the University as above shown, but for some years the press of the State-especially the western part, and one unfriendly leading daily of Chicago- teemed with unjust attacks upon the action and policy of the Faculty and Trustees. So far did the enemies of the University, and especially of Champaign County go, that a mass convention of the malcontents and de- tractors was called to meet at Bloomington early in March, 1870, the avowed object of
786
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
which was to take the University away from the control of the Board of Trustees and to invoke legislative aid for a removal to another location in the State. Dr. Gregory, the Regent, with about twenty-five citizens of the county, attended the meeting. The greatest opposi- tion to the University at the first appeared among many in attendance upon the meeting. Soon after the convention was organized Dr. Gregory got the floor and, in a conciliatory ad- dress of an hour, met and answered every attack upon the University, answering many questions asked of him by those present. At the close of his remarks a motion to adjourn the convention without day was made by one who had been most forward in calling it, and, without a vote from any other class of attend- ants, it was carried and all dispersed. Thus ended, so far as the writer knows, all organized opposition to the policy of the University and to the County of Champaign as its local home.
The old guard of the promotion of industrial education in this State finally saw that the in- stitution was doing the work they had planned for it, and doing it well; so, one by one, they ceased opposition and generally became its firm friends.
CHAPTER XXV.
POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES.
POLITICS AS A PART OF HISTORY-REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY-EARLY CONGRESS- MEN-SLAVERY QUESTION IGNORED BEFORE 1854- BREAK WITH SENATOR DOUGLAS-GATHERING OF FORCES AGAINST HIM-CONTEST OF 1858-W. N. COLER-HIS POPULARITY-VISITS OF LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS-LINCOLN AT A BARBECUE-NEWSPAPER COMMENTS-CONTEST OF 1860-"WIDE-AWAKES" AND "HICKORY BOYS"-CONTEST OF 1864.
It is a recognized fact that the history of the politics, as connected with the government of a country, and of the politicians who manipu- late parties, form a considerable part of the history of the country where they operate. Eliminate from any history of this country the chapters devoted to the politics of the nation since it became self-governing; and a void is left which despoils the work of its most im- portant parts as a history. This fact must be the excuse of the writer for venturing to write
upon topics which, while a part of the history of the county, yet frequently make necessary the uncovering of transactions which some may think would better be forgotten.
Hoping that lapse of time has removed from all minds any possible asperities occasioned by events which may be here detailed in course, so that a rehearsal of them will arouse no unpleasant recollections, each fact of suffi- cient importance will be given as a matter of history only, and with no disposition to re- flect dishonor upon anyone, living or dead.
Pioneers, as a general thing, do not take readily to politics, although it is in our fron- tier settlements where democracy nas assumed its most distinctively American features. The questions of self-maintenance, and of the re- demption of the country chosen for their dwell- ing place from a primeval condition, engrosses all their time and energies. So has it been in this county. The greater part of the actual pioneer settlement was effected during the ad- ministration of Andrew Jackson, and the men who then came were from Western States only, so it is a fact that the politics of the New Or- leans hero predominated almost unchallenged during the first three decades of the early his- tory of the county. How far political bias inter- fered with the choice of the early county offi- cers it would be difficult to ascertain; but it is doubtful if this occurred to any consider- able extent. At the first the officers were ap- pointed either by the Governor or by the Judge of the Circuit Court; and the number of candidates, in any way competent to fill the offices being small, left little to be determined by the appointing power.
Not until after the construction of the Illi- nois Central Railroad and the consequent in- flux of population, bringing in a new element which was generally made up of the opposite or Henry Clay school, did partisanship take form in the county and political lines promi- nently appear. True, party names were as- sumed by men, and at Presidential elections they followed recognized leaders in national matters, but in local affairs men ran for office upon their own motion and personal choice determined most elections. The people were evidently influenced by military fame, for the returns show that the Generals, Harrison, Tay- lor and Scott, secured majorities following closely upon majorities for the civilians, Van
787
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Buren and Polk, who represented the opposite school of politics.
Under the constitution of 1818, the Judges of each Circuit Court of the State appointed the Clerk of such court, (1) and by the early statutes the Clerk of the County Commission- ers' Court was appointed by that court also. We have seen in an earlier chapter that the choice, in both cases, fell upon Thomson R. Webber, who only made his appeal to the voters after the adoption of the constitution of 1848, during the same year, and again in 1849.
So, also, until 1845 the County Treasurer and Assessor was appointed by the Commissioners' Court, leaving only the Sheriff and Coroner to be chosen by the eople; and, if any great con- test ever centered around either of these offices, no information thereof ever reached the writer. How much of the politics of the day entered into the choice of the Representative in the General Assembly does not appear, nor does it appear that any considerable contest was aroused over any election for Senator or Repre- sentative in this county.
Dr. James H. Lyon, who has been elsewhere referred to as an influential citizen of Sidney, was chosen as Representative in 1836, and again in 1838. Dr. Lyon was succeeded in 1840 by Col. Matthew W. Busey, who suc- ceeded himself in 1842, and David Cox, former Sheriff of this county, succeeded him in 1844. James S. Wright succeeded Mr. Cox in 1846, and this county was not again represented by one of its citizens until the election of John Simpson Busey in 1862, since which date, ex- cept at the critical epoch of 1865, when a Representative from this county was so much needed, it has not been without a Representa- tive in either the Upper or Lower House of the General Assembly.
Dr. William Fithian, of Danville, was, in the year 1838, elected to the Senate from a district including Vermilion, Champaign and other counties and was re-elected in 1842, serving in all two terms, or eight years. Dr. Fithian, from having been a long time prac- ticing physician in both these counties, was held in high esteem and commanded a strong following, although the political complexion
of his district was adverse to him.(1) He had previously been a member of the House to which he was elected in 1834-the year of Lincoln's first election to the same body.
Not until the first election under the Con- stitution of 1870, which took place in Novem- ber, 1870, was a State Senator chosen from Champaign County. To Hon. James W. Lang- ley, long Judge of the County Court, belongs the honor of having been the first of this county's citizens to bear off that honor.
When the county came into being, Hon. Zadoc Casey, of Mt. Vernon, represented in Congress the Second District, which embraced this with eighteen other counties of the south- ern and eastern sections of the State. This he continued to do until 1843. Following this Champaign County became a part of the Fourth District consisting of seventeen coun- ties in the northeastern part of the State, ex- tending from McLean, Champaign and Ver- milion on the south, to the north line of the State, and including LaSalle and Bureau on the west, and in that relation was represented by Hon. John Wentworth of Chicago until 1851.(1)
Wentworth was a most skillful and adroit politician and, in practice, a useful Repre- sentative. From 1836 on, and until about the time of the war, he edited and published the "Chicago Democrat," which he succeeded in keeping in most of the families calling them- selves Democrats in his district. He never failed to visit every county of his district during each canvass, and it is not saying too much to state that no man in the history of Illinois ever had a greater personal following than he. He was many times before the
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(1) It was long told that one of the influences which secured the election of Dr. Fithian against an adverse majority was, that, when the candidate of the minority with little prospect of success, a scurrilous and libelous handbill, under the glaring headline of "Pro Bono Pub- lico," in which Dr. F. was attacked and charged with grievous offenses, was largely circulated throughout the district on the eve of the elec- tion. The effect was to arouse his personal friends, of both parties, and he was elected. Attempts were afterwards made by his oppo- nents to fasten upon him the authorship of the libelous hand-bill but without success.
(2) Mr. Wentworth was the first Representa- tive chosen to Congress in this State from a point north of Springfield. Owing to the fact that the southern end of the State was the first settled portion and remained the most populous for more than forty years after the admission of the State, all United States Sen- ators and State officers came from that section until after the middle of the last century.
(1) Revised Laws of Illinois (1833), page 42.
788
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
people from 1836 to the time of his death, but was never defeated for public office. He was not only very adroit in managing and securing the cross-roads politicians in every county-the real depositories of political strength-but he planned for the future by cultivating the good will of the boys of the district, whom he never forgot. There are men yet living who remember "Long John's" visits to this county when they were boys, and the generous distribution from his saddlebags of confectioneries and other things prized by boys of that period.
The figures given in the note below, when compared with the vote cast at presidential elections, will show the great personal popu- larity of Mr. Wentworth. (1)
The last election, that of 1848, shows Wentworth to have been in the minority, and he actually ran 36 votes behind the head of the ticket. When it is stated that, at the prior session of Congress, Mr. Wentworth had voted for what was known as the "Wilmot Proviso," a measure which proposed to re- strict the area of slavery in the Territories, and that to this time no ballot adverse to slavery had ever been cast in Champaign County, this loss of popularity will be under- stood.
(1) From the proceedings of several congres- sional conventions before the writer, the follow- ing facts are gleaned: The first Democratic convention was held at Joliet, May 18, 1843. It was presided over by Lt. Gov. John Moore. Champaign County had no representation. John Wentworth was nominated by acclamation, and elected in August following. The vote of Champaign County was:
Spring, 117.
Wentworth, 142;
The second convention was held at Ottawa, June 6, 1844. It was presided over by Gen. Hart L. Stewart, Col. Matthew W. Busey, of Champaign County was one of the Vice-Presi- dents of the convention. Champaign County was represented by Matthew W. Busey, David Cox and George Nox. John Wentworth was nominated by acclamation and elected in August following. The vote of Champaign County was: Wentworth, 222; Morris, 111
The third convention was held at Joliet, June 4, 1846. It was presided over by Judge Abra- ham Reynolds. Champaign County was repre- sented by Matthew W. Busey, George Nox and Matthew Johnson. John Wentworth was again nominated bv acclamation, and elected at the August election following. The vote in Cham- paign County was: Wentworth, 198; Kerr, 111. The fourth convention was held at Ottawa, June 6, 1848. It was presided over by Gen. Reu- ben Davis. Champaign County was represented by Henry Sadorus, William Nox and Thomson R. Webber. John Wentworth was again unani- mously nominated for Congress and elected at the ensuing August election. receiving in Cham- naign County 151 votes to 168 votes for John Y. Scammon. It will be observed that the returns of this last election show an increase in the vote in five years of only sixty votes.
Mr. Wentworth was succeeded as Repre- sentative of this district, then the Fourth, by Hon. Richard S. Maloney, of Belvidere, who was elected in 1850. The apportionment of 1852 placed this county in the Third District extending from Vermilion, Champaign and De Witt on the south to Bureau, LaSalle and Will on the north, embracing twelve counties, in which Jesse O. Norton was elected in 1852 and again in 1854, being then succeeded by Owen Lovejoy for several terms.
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