Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 38

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

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TWENTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 3, 1859, and was in session for fifty-three days, adjourning Feb. 24. The Senate consisted of twenty-five, and the House of seventy-five members. The presiding officers were :- of the Senate, Lieut .- Gov. Wood; of the Honse, W. R. Morrison, of Monroe County, who defeated his Republican opponent, Vital Jarrot, of St. Clair, on a viva voce vote. The Governor's message showed a reduction of $1, 166,877 in the State debt during two years preceding, leaving a balance of principal and arrears of interest amounting to $11,138,454. On Jan. 6, 1859, the Assembly, in joint session, elected Stephen A. Douglas to suc- ceed himself as United States Senator, by a vote of fifty-four to forty-six for Abraham Lincoln. The Legislature was thrown into great disorder in consequence of an attempt to prevent the receipt from the Governor of a veto of a legisla- tive apportionment bill which had been passed by the Democratic majority in the face of bitter opposition on the part of the Republicans, who denounced it as partisan and unjust.

TWENTY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened in regular session on Jan. 7, 1861, consisting of twenty-five Senators and seventy-five Represent- atives. For the first time in the State's history, the Democrats failed to control the organization of either house. Lient .- Gov. Francis A. Hoffman presided over the Senate, and S. M. Cullom, of

Sangamon, was chosen Speaker of the House, the Democratic candidate being James W. Singleton. Thomas A. Marshall, of Coles County, was elected President pro tem. of the Senate over A. J. Kuy- kendall, of Johnson. The message of the retiring Governor (John Wood) reported a reduction of the State debt, during four years of Republican administration, of $2,860,402, and showed the number of banks to be 110, whose aggregate cir- culation was $12,320,964. Lyman Trumbull was re-elected United States Senator on January 10, receiving fifty-four votes, to forty-six cast for Samuel S. Marshall. Governor Yates was inau- gurated, Jan. 14. The most important legislation of this session related to the following subjects: the separate property rights of married women; the encouragement of mining and the support of public schools; the payment of certain evidences of State indebtedness; protection of the purity of the ballot-box, and a resolution submitting to the people the question of the calling of a Convention to amend the Constitution. Joint resolutions were passed relative to the death of Governor Bissell; to the appointment of Commissioners to attend a Peace Conference in Washington, and referring to federal relations. The latter deprecated amendments to the United States Constitution, but expressed a willingness to unite with any States which might consider themselves aggrieved, in petitioning Congress to call a convention for the consideration of such amendments, at the same time pledging the entire resources of Illi- nois to the National Government for the preser- vation of the Union and the enforcement of the laws. The regular session ended Feb. 22, having lasted forty-seven days .- Immediately following President Lincoln's first call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion, Governor Yates recon- vened the General Assembly in special session to consider and adopt methods to aid and support the Federal authority in preserving the Union and protecting the rights and property of the people. The two houses assembled on April 23. On April 25 Senator Douglas addressed the members on the issues of the day, in response to an invitation con- veyed in a joint resolution. The special session closed May 3, 1861, and not a few of the legislators promptly volunteered in the Union army. Length of the regular session, forty-seven days; of the special, eleven-total fifty-eight.

TWENTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY was com- posed of twenty-five Senators and eighty-eight Representatives. It convened Jan. 5, 1863, and was Democratic in both branches. The presiding officer of the Senate was Lieutenant-Governor

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Hoffman; Samuel A. Buckmaster was elected Speaker of the House by a vote of fifty-three to twenty-five.§ On Jan. 12, William A. Richardson was elected United States Senator to succeed S. A. Douglas, deceased, the Republican nominee being Governor Yates, who received thirty-eight votes out of a total of 103 cast. Much of the time of the session was devoted to angry discussion of the policy of the National Government in the prosecution of the war. The views of the oppos- ing parties were expressed in majority and minor- ity reports from the Committee on Federal Relations-the former condemning and the latter upholding the Federal administration. The majority report was adopted in the House on Feb. 12, by a vote of fifty-two to twenty-eight, and the resolutions which it embodied were at once sent to the Senate for concurrence. Before they could be acted upon in that body a Demo- cratic Senator-J. M. Rodgers, of Clinton County -died. This left the Senate politically tied, a Republican presiding officer having the deciding vote. Consequently no action was taken at the time, and, on Feb. 14, the Legislature adjourned till June 2. Immediately upon re-assembling, joint resolutions relating to a sine die adjourn- ment were introduced in both houses. A disagree- ment regarding the date of such adjournment ensued, when Governor Yates, exercising the power conferred upon him by the Constitution in such cases, sent in a message (June 10, 1863) proroguing the General Assembly until "the Saturday next preceding the first Monday in January, 1865." The members of the Republican minority at once left the hall. The members of the majority convened and adjourned from day to day until June 24, when, having adopted an address to the people setting forth their grievance and denouncing the State executive, they took a recess until the Tuesday after the first Monday of January, 1864. The action of the Governor, hav- ing been submitted to the Supreme Court, was sustained, and no further session of this General Assembly was held. Owing to the prominence of political issues, no important legislation was effected at this session, even the ordinary appro- priations for the State institutions failing. This caused much embarrassment to the State Govern- ment in meeting current expenses, but banks and capitalists came to its aid, and no important interest was permitted to suffer. The total length of the session was fifty days-forty-one days before the recess and nine days after.

TWENTY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 2, 1865, and remained in session forty-six

days. It consisted of twenty-five Senators and eighty-five Representatives. The Republicans

had a majority in both houses. Lieutenant-Gov- ernor Bross presided over the Senate, and Allen C. Fuller, of Boone County, was chosen Speaker of the House, over Ambrose M. Miller, Democrat, the vote standing 48 to 23. Governor Yates, in his valedictory message, reported that, notwith- standing the heavy expenditure attendant upon the enlistment and maintenance of troops, etc., the State debt had been reduced $987,786 in four years. On Jan. 4, 1865, Governor Yates was elected to the United States Senate, receiving sixty-four votes to forty three cast for James C. Robinson. Governor Oglesby was inaugurated Jan. 16. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by this Legisla- ture, and sundry special appropriations made. Among the latter was one of $3,000 toward the State's proportion for the establishment of a National Cemetery at Gettysburg; $25,000 for the purchase of the land on which is the tomb of the deceased Senator Douglas; besides sums for establishing a home for Soldiers' Orphans and an experimental school for the training of idiots and feeble-minded children. The first act for the registry of legal voters was passed at this session.

TWENTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. This body held one regular and two special sessions. It first convened and organized on Jan. 7, 1867. Lieutenant-Governor Bross presided over the upper, and Franklin Corwin, of La Salle County, over the lower house. The Governor (Oglesby), in his message, reported a reduction of $2,607,958 in the State debt during the two years preceding, and recommended various appropriations for pub- lic purposes. He also urged the calling of a Con- vention to amend the Constitution. On Jan. 15, Lyman Trumbull was chosen United States Sena- tor, the complimentary Democratic vote being given to T. Lyle Dickey, who received thirty- three votes out of 109. The regular session lasted fifty-three days, adjourning Feb. 28. The Four- teenth Amendment to the United States Constitu- tion was ratified and important legislation enacted relative to State taxation and the regulation of public warehouses; a State Board of Equalization of Assessments was established, and the office of Attorney-General created. (Under this law Robert G. Ingersoll was the first appointee.) Provision was made for the erection of a new State House, to establish a Reform School for Juvenile Offenders, and for the support of other State institutions. The first special session con-

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vened on June 11, 1867, having been summoned to consider questions relating to internal revenue. The lessee of the penitentiary having surrendered his lease without notice, the Governor found it necessary to make immediate provision for the management of that institution. Not having included this matter in his original call, no ne- cessity then existing, he at once summoned a second special session, before the adjournment of the first. This convened on June 14, remained in session until June 28, and adopted what is substantially the present penitentiary law of the State. This General Assembly was in session seventy-one days-fifty-three at the regular, three at the first special session and fifteen at the second.

TWENTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 4, 1869. The Republicans had a majority in each house. The newly elected Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, John Dougherty, presided in the Senate, and Franklin Corwin, of Peru, was again chosen Speaker of the House. Governor Oglesby sub- mitted his final message at the opening of the session, showing a total reduction in the State debt during his term of $4,743,821. Governor John M. Palmer was inaugurated Jan. 11. The . most important acts passed by this Legislature were the following: Calling the Constitutional Convention of 1869; ratifying the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; granting well behaved convicts a reduction in their terms of imprisonment; for the prevention of cruelty to animals; providing for the regula- tion of freights and fares on railroads; estab- lishing the Southern Normal University; pro- viding for the erection of the Northern Insane Hospital; and establishing a Board of Com- missioners of Public Charities. The celebrated "Lake Front Bill," especially affecting the interests of the city of Chicago, occupied a great deal of time during this session, and though finally passed over the Governor's veto, was repealed in 1873. This session was inter- rupted by a recess which extended from March 12 to April 13. The Legislature re-assem- bled April 14, and adjourned, sine die, April 20, having been in actual session seventy-four days.

TWENTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY had four sessions, one regular, two special and one adjourned. The first convened Jan. 4, 1871, and adjourned on April 17, having lasted 104 days, when a recess was taken to Nov. 15 following. The body was made up of fifty Senators and 177 Representatives. The Republicans again con- trolled both houses, electing William M. Smith,

Speaker (over William R. Morrison, Democrat), while Lieutenant-Governor Dougherty presided in the Senate. The latter occupied the Hall of Rep- resentatives in the old State Capitol, while the House held its sessions in a new church edifice erected by the Second Presbyterian Church. John A. Logan was elected United States Sena- tor, defeating Thomas J. Turner (Democrat) by a vote, on joint ballot, of 131 to 89. This was the first Illinois Legislature to meet after the adoption of the Constitution of 1870, and its time was mainly devoted to framing, discussing and pass- ing laws required by the changes in the organic law of the State. The first special session opened on May 24 and closed on June 22, 1871, continu- ing thirty days. It was convened by Governor Palmer to make additional appropriations for the necessary expenses of the State Government and for the continuance of work on the new State House. The purpose of the Governor in sum- moning the second special session was to provide financial relief for the city of Chicago after the great fire of Oct. 9-11, 1871. Members were sum- moned by special telegrams and were in their seats Oct. 13, continuing in session to Oct. 24 -twelve days. Governor Palmer had already suggested a plan by which the State might aid the stricken city without doing violence to either the spirit or letter of the new Con- stitution, which expressly prohibited special legislation. Chicago had advanced $2,500,000 toward the completion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, under the pledge of the State that this outlay should be made good. The Legislature voted an appropriation sufficient to pay both principal and interest of this loan, amounting, in round numbers, to about $3,000,000. The ad- journed session opened on Nov. 15, 1871, and came to an end on April 9, 1872-having continued 147 days. It was entirely devoted to considering and adopting legislation germane to tlie new Consti- tution. The total length of all sessions of this General Assembly was 293 days.

TWENTY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 8, 1873. It was composed of fifty-one Sena- tors and 153 Representatives; the upper house standing thirty-three Republicans to eighteen Democrats, and the lower, eighty-six Republicans to sixty-seven Democrats. The Senate chose John Early, of Winnebago, President pro tempore, and Shelby M. Cullom was elected Speaker of the House. Governor Oglesby was inaugurated Jan. 13, but, eight days later, was elected to the United States Senate, being succeeded in the Governor- ship by Lieut .- Gov. John L. Beveridge. An

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appropriation of $1,000,000 was made for carrying on the work on the new capitol and various other acts of a public character passed, the most impor- tant being an amendment of the railroad law of the previous session. On May 6, the Legislature adjourned until Jan. 8, 1874. The purpose of the recess was to enable a Commission on the Revision of the Laws to complete a report. The work was duly completed and nearly all the titles reported by the Commissioners were adopted at the adjourned session. An adjournment, sine die, was taken March 31, 1874-the two sessions having lasted, respectively, 119 and 83 days- total 202.

TWENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan 6, 1875. While the Republicans had a plu- rality in both houses, they were defeated in an effort to secure their organization through a fusion of Democrats and Independents. A. A. Glenn (Democrat) was elected President pro tem- pore of the Senate (becoming acting Lieutenant- Governor), and Elijah M. Haines was chosen presiding officer of the lower house. The leaders on both sides of the Chamber were aggressive, and the session, as a whole, was one of the most turbulent and disorderly in the history of the State. Little legislation of vital importance (outside of regular appropriation bills) was enacted. This Legislature adjourned, April 15, having been in session 100 days.

THIRTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 3; 1877, and adjourned, sine die, on May 24. The Democrats and Independents in the Senate united in securing control of that body, although the House was Republican. Fawcett Plumb, of La Salle County, was chosen President pro tempore of the upper, and James Shaw Speaker of the lower, house. The inauguration of State officers took place Jan. 8, Shelby M. Cullom becoming Governor and Andrew Shuman, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor. This was one of the most exciting years in American political history Both of the domi- nant parties claimed to have elected the President, and the respective votes in the Electoral College were so close as to excite grave apprehension in many minds. It was also the year for the choice of a Senator by the Illinois Legislature, and the attention of the entire country was directed toward this State. Gen. John M. Palmer was the nominee of the Democratic caucus and John A. Logan of the Republicans. On the twenty- fourth ballot the name of General Logan was withdrawn, most of the Republican vote going to Charles B. Lawrence, and the Democrats going over to David Davis, who, although an original

Republican and friend of Lincoln, and Justice of the Supreme Court by appointment of Mr. Lin- coln, had become an Independent Democrat. On the fortieth ballot (taken Jan. 25), Judge Davis received 101 votes, to 94 for Judge Lawrence (Republican) and five scattering, thus securing Davis' election. Not many acts of vital impor- tance were passed by this Legislature. Appellate Courts were established and new judicial districts created; the original jurisdiction of county courts was enlarged: better safeguards were thrown about miners; measures looking at once to the supervision and protection of railroads were passed, as well as various laws relating chiefly to the police administration of the State and of municipalities. The length of the session was 142 days.

THIRTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 8, 1879, with a Republican majority in each house. Andrew Shuman, the newly elected Lieu- tenant-Governor, presided in the Senate, and William A. James of Lake County was chosen Speaker of the House. John M. Hamilton of McLean County (afterwards Governor), was chosen President pro tempore of the Senate. John A. Logan was elected United States Senator on Jan. 21, the complimentary Democratic vote being given to Gen. John C. Black. Various laws of public importance were enacted by this Legislature, among them being one creating the Bureau of Labor Statistics; the first oleomargar- ine law; a drainage and levee act; a law for the reorganization of the militia; an act for the regulation of pawnbrokers; a law limiting the pardoning power, and various laws looking toward the supervision and control of railways. The session lasted 144 days, and the Assembly adjourned, sine die, May 31, 1879.

THIRTY SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 5, 1881, the Republicans having a majority in both branches. Lieutenant-Governor Hamil- ton presided in the Senate, William J. Campbell of Cook County heing elected President pro tem- pore. Horace H. Thomas, also of Cook, was chosen Speaker of the House. Besides the rou- tine legislation, the most important measures enacted by this Assembly were laws to prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumonia among cattle: regulating the sale of firearms; providing more stringent penalties for the adulteration of food, drink or medicine; regulating the practice of pharmacy and dentistry; amending the revenue and school laws; and requiring annual statements from official custodians of public moneys. The Legislature adjourned May 30, after having been

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in session 146 days, but was called together again in special session by the Governor on March 23, 1882, to pass new Legislative and Congressional Apportionment Laws, and for the consideration of other subjects. The special session lasted forty-four days, adjourning May 5-both sessions occupying a total of 190 days.

THIRTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 2, 1883, with the Republicans again in the majority in both houses. William J. Campbell was re-elected President pro tempore of the Senate, but not until the sixty-first ballot, six Republicans refusing to be bound by the nomina- tion of a caucus held prior to their arrival at Springfield. Loren C. Collins, also of Cook, was elected Speaker of the House. The compliment- ary Democratic vote was given to Thomas M. Shaw in the Senate, and to Austin O. Sexton in the House. Governor Cullom, the Republican caucus nominee, was elected United States Senator, Jan. 16, receiving a majority in each branch of the General Assembly. The celebrated "Harper High-License Bill," and the first "Compulsory School Law" were passed at this session, the other acts being of ordinary character. The Legislature adjourned June 18, having been in session 168 days.

THIRTY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 7, 1885. The Senate was Republican by a majority of one, there being twenty-six members of that party, twenty-four Democrats and one greenback Democrat. William J. Campbell, of Cook County, was for the third time chosen President pro tempore. The House stood seventy- six Republicans and seventy-six Democrats, with one member-Elijah M. Haines of Lake County -- calling himself an "Independent." The contest for the Speakership continued until Jan. 29, when, neither party being able to elect its nomi- nee, the Democrats took up Haines as a candidate and placed him in the chair, with Haines' assist- ance, filling the minor offices with their own men. After the inauguration of Governor Oglesby, Jan. 30, the first business was the elec- tion of a United States Senator. The balloting proceeded until May 18, when John A. Logan re- ceived 103 votes to ninety-six for Lambert Tree and five scattering. Three members-one Republican and two Democrats-had died since the opening of the session; and it was through the election of a Republican in place of one of the deceased Democrats, that the Republicans succeeded in electing their candidate. The session was a stormy one throughout, the Speaker being, much of the time, at odds with the House, and an

unsuccessful effort was made to depose him. Charges of bribery against certain members were preferred and investigated, but no definite result was reached. Among the important measures passed by this Legislature were the following: A joint resolution providing for submission of an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting con- tract labor in penal institutions; providing by resolution for the appointment of a non-partisan Commission of twelve to draft a new revenue code; the Crawford primary election law; an act amending the code of criminal procedure; estab- lishing a Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, subse- quently located at Quincy ; creating a Live-Stock Commission and appropriating $531,712 for the completion of the State House. The Assembly adjourned, sine die, June 26, 1885, after a session of 171 days.

THIRTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 5, 1887. The Republicans had a majority of twelve in the Senate and three in the House. For President pro tempore of the Senate, August W. Berggren was chosen; for Speaker of the House, Dr. William F. Calhoun, of De Witt County. The death of General Logan, which had occurred Dec. 26, 1886, was officially an- nounced by Governor Oglesby, and, on Jan. 18, Charles B. Farwell was elected to succeed him as United States Senator. William R. Morrison and Benjamin W. Goodhue were the candidates of the Democratic and Labor parties, respectively. Some of the most important laws passed by this General Assembly were the following: Amend. ing the law relating to the spread of contagious diseases among cattle, etc .; the Chase bill to prohibit book-making and pool-selling; regulat- iug trust companies; making the Trustees of the University of Illinois elective; inhibiting aliens from holding real estate, and forbidding the marriage of first cousins. An act virtually creating a new State banking system was also passed, subject to ratification by popular vote. Other acts, having more particular reference to Chicago and Cook County, were: a law making cities and counties responsible for three-fourths of the damage resulting from mobs and riots; the Merritt conspiracy law; the Gibbs Jury Commis- sion law. and an act for the suppression of bucket-shop gambling. The session ended June 15, 1887. having continued 162 days.

THIRTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 7, 1889, in its first (or regular) session, the Republicans being largely in the majority. The Senate elected Theodore S. Chapman of Jersey County, President pro tempore, and the House

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Asa C. Matthews of Pike County, Speaker. Mr. Matthews was appointed First Comptroller of the Treasury by President Harrison, on May 9 (see Matthew's, Asa C.), and resigned the Speakership on the following day. He was succeeded by James H. Miller of Stark County. Shelby M. Cullom was re-elected to the United States Senate on January 22, the Democrats again voting for ex-Gov. John M. Palmer. The "Sanitary Drain- age District Law," designed for the benefit of the city of Chicago, was enacted at this session; an asylum for insane criminals was established at Chester ; the annexation of cities, towns, villages, etc., under certain conditions, was authorized; more stringent legislation was enacted relative to the circulation of obscene literature; a new com- pulsory education law was passed, and the em- ployment on public works of aliens who had not declared their intention of becoming citizens was prohibited. This session ended, May 28. A special session was convened by Governor Fifer on July 24, 1890, to frame and adopt legislation rendered necessary by the Act of Congress locat- ing the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. Mr. Miller having died in the interim, William G. Cochran, of Moultrie County, was chosen Speaker of the House. The special session concluded Aug. 1, 1890, having enacted the following meas- nres; An Act granting the use of all State lands, (submerged or other) in or adjacent to Chicago, to the World's Columbian Exposition for a period to extend one year after the closing of the Exposi- tion; authorizing the Chicago Boards of Park Commissioners to grant the nse of the public parks, or any part thereof, to promote the objects of such Exposition; a joint resolution providing for the submission to the people of a Constitu- tional Amendment granting to the city of Chicago the power (provided a majority of the qualified voters desired it) to issue bonds to an amount not exceeding $5,000,000, the same to bear interest and the proceeds of their sale to be turned over to the Exposition Managers to be devoted to the use and for the benefit of the Exposition. (See also World's Columbian Exposition. ) The total length of the two sessions was 150 days.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 38

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388