USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume I > Part 16
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"Thus discourses James K. Polk in his veto message on the harbor bill, and the sentiment is an insult to the country. Husband our means, forsooth! Are not millions being squandered by this same James K. Polk for the invasion of Mexico and the extension of slavery? Are not steamboats being bought and chartered daily at enormous prices to enrich his favorite prodigals? Are not the treasury doors unbarred whenever the 'open sesame' is whis- pered by the slave driver? And yet Mr. Polk outrages the intelli- gence of the people, his masters, by claiming, when a pittance is asked for a great Northern interest, that we must 'husband our means'-that the object for which we ask them is comparatively unimportant."-(Democrat, August 12, 1846.)
"His real hostility to the bill cannot be concealed by such a shal- low subterfuge. The objects of improvement lie north of Mason and Dixon's line and would benefit the North and West, whose growing prosperity is hateful to the slave owners of the South.
The lives of an hundred or two of hardy mariners and a few millions of property are of no consequence in the eye of James K. Polk, when weighed against a Virginia abstraction or that idol of the South-negro slavery. Three times already has the whole policy of the Government been changed at the command of the
Harry For atwood
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South, and its business broken up and deranged, because the slave owner was jealous of the prosperity of the free states. They were rising in prosperity-growing rich in commerce, agriculture, man- ufactures and great in intelligence, while the South, with the curse of slavery upon her, was standing still or going backwards. . All other pretenses of objections to the harbor bill are idle and vain. The North can and will be hoodwinked no longer. If no measures for protection and improvement of anything North and West are to be suffered by our Southern masters, if we are to be downtrodden and all our cherished interests be crushed by them, a signal revolution will inevitably ensue. The same spirit and energy that forced emancipation for the whole country from Great Britain will throw off the Southern yoke. The North and West will look to and take care of their own interests henceforth."- (Democrat, August, 1846.)
The morning of the opening day of the convention was joyous and brilliant; the streets were thronged with citizens and visitors. Flags were seen everywhere-on buildings and vessels. Blasts of martial music, the deep voice of artillery, the roll of drums and the cheers of delegations enlivened the auspicious opening. The procession assembled on Michigan avenue, thence marched on Mon- roe to Wells, thence to Lake, thence to Michigan avenue. Foreign delegations marched west 'on Madison to State, thence to Lake, thence to Clark, thence to the public square. Cleveland Light Artillery was present. The ship "Convention," drawn by eight horses, fully manned and under full sail, passed through the crowded streets. The Journal said there were 5,000 men in the procession. Militia and fire companies in uniform paraded, the lat- ter beautifully decorated and graced with the presence of young ladies and commanded by Stephen H. Gale, chief. Dr. Philip Max- well was marshal of the day. On Monday, July 5, 1847, the Journal said: "Delegate Meetings .- At 8 o'clock this morning the Illinois delegations meet at the tent on the public square; the New York delegations at the court house; the Missouri delega- tions at 100 Lake street, in Peck & McDougall's office, upstairs ; the Ohio delegations at the Sherman house. A great, a glorious day-a day which children's children will remember when the actors that took part and the hands that indited are cold and motionless; as a day when party predilections were obliterated ; when sectional interests were forgotten; when from eighteen free and independent sovereignties men came up to the achievement of a noble work, united their voices in one grand harmony for the pro- motion of an object demanded alike by the most enlightened self- interest, the most liberal view and indeed by common humanity."- (Evening Journal, July 6, 1847.)
Horace Greeley said in the Tribune of July 5, 1847: "Chicago has been filling up with delegates to the People's convention for the Vol. I-11.
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last ten or fifteen days, but it was not until Saturday that the pressure became burdensome. When we arrived on the 'Oregon' at sunrise yesterday morning, there was scarcely a spare inch of room in any public house save in a few bedrooms long since be- spoken. But the citizens had already thrown open their dwellings, welcoming strangers in thousands to their cordial and bounteous hospitality ; the steamboats as they came in proffered their spacious accommodations and generous fare to their passengers during their stay. The grand parade took place this morning, and though the route traversed was short, in deference to the heat of the weather, the spectacle was truly magnificent. The citizens of Chicago, of course, furnished the most imposing part of it-the music, the military, the ships on wheels, ornamented fire engines, etc. I never witnessed anything so superb as the appearance of some of the fire companies with their engines drawn by horses taste- fully caparisoned. Our New York firemen must try again; they have certainly been outdone. I think New York had some 300 delegates on the ground-among them John C. Spencer, J. DePeys- ter Ogden, Thurlow Weed, James L. Barton, Seth C. Hawley, George W. Patterson, Alvin Bronson, John E. Hinman, etc. From New England the number present is smaller, but still considerable. I notice among them John A. Rockwall, of Connecticut; Elisha H. Allen, now of Boston, etc. From New Jersey there are six or eight. From Pennsylvania I think fifty to 100, among them An- drew Stewart, Senator Johnson, of Erie, etc. From Ohio the num- ber may not be much greater, but among them are Tom Corwin, Governor Bebb, ex-Governor Morrow, R. C. Schenck, John C. Wright, etc. From Georgia there are at least two here, and one is Thos. Butler King. There is one even from South Carolina. Indiana, Missouri and Iowa are well represented. Michigan and Wisconsin have a large regiment each; while Northern Illinois is here, of course, en masse. A judicious estimate makes the number present to-day 20,000 men, of whom 10,000 are here as members of the convention. The citizens had provided a spacious and beautiful tent, about 100 feet square, pitched in an open square near the center of the city, radiating from a tall pole in the center and well provided with seats. It holds about 4,000 persons com- fortably. The rest of the gathering were constrained to look in over the heads of those seated.
A general call was made for Thomas Corwin, of Ohio, which could not be stilled. He was conducted to the stand by John Wentworth. Although coming to the stand reluctantly, Mr. Corwin addressed the convention for nearly an hour in his own inimitable manner on the relations and relative character of the Puritans-on the wants and just demands of the West-the absurd folly of considering harbor improvements on salt water constitutional and on fresh water not so, and the mighty strides of the West to greatness and dominion. The vast
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assemblage was electrified by his admirable effort. In his letter General Cass was content to say he could not (i. e., would not) come, and gave not the least expression of sympathy with the objects and desires of the convention. The letter excited much astonishment and was read twice at the urgent call of many dele- gates. The general expression was not flattering to General Cass. Andrew Stewart, of Pennsylvania, made a vigorous and animated speech in favor of internal improvements on comprehensive grounds. It was perhaps a little too plain and thorough-going for the week stomachs of some present, who had but recently begun to profess friendship for internal improvement. It pleased right well a majority of the convention, but brought up in opposition David Dudley Field, of our city (New York), who favored us with an able and courteous speech in favor of 'strict construction' and of such river and harbor improvements only as are consistent there- with. He was sharply interrogated by different members and in reply to their questions denied the right of the Federal Govern- ment to improve the navigation of the Illinois river, since that river runs through a single state only, or of the Hudson river above a port of entry. A portion of the members manifested con- siderable impatience during the latter portion of this speech, which is to be regretted, for Mr. Field was perfectly courteous, not at all tedious, and fairly called out by the speech of Mr. Stewart. For my part I rejoiced that the wrong side of the question was so clearly set forth. In the afternoon, Abraham Lincoln, a tall speci- men of an Illinoisan, just elected to Congress from the only Whig district in the state, was called out and spoke briefly and happily in reply to Mr. Field.
The resolutions having been read and accepted, Mr. Field very fairly objected to the last clause of the fifth resolution, affirming substantially that the 'common under- standing' of the constitution, through a long series of years, 'has become as much a part of that instrument as any one of its most explicit provisions.' This ought to have prevailed, but it did not.
. Thomas Butler King, of Georgia, made a most admirable speech in favor of river and harbor improvements and internal improvements generally. It was really a great speech, thoroughly National in its spirit and looking to the good of each section through the good of all. On the last day, the convention came together thoroughly resolved that no topic should be entertained which might mar the harmony and hearty unanimity with which the resolutions of the grand committee had been received and adopted yesterday ; so that successive efforts to get before it the project of a railroad to the Pacific, the free navigation of the St. Lawrence, etc., were promptly and decidedly thwarted by the undebatable motion to lay on the table. Previous to putting the motion of final adjournment, the president of the convention, Edward Bates, of Missouri, returned thanks for the honor done him, in a
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speech which took the convention completely by surprise-so able, so forcible and replete with the soul of eloquence. I will not attempt to give an account of this wonderful speech-no account that can now be given will do it justice. In the course of it he said that when he emigrated in 1812 to the French village of huts called St. Louis, which has now 50,000 inhabitants, he was obliged to hire a guard against hostile savages to accompany him across the unbroken wilderness which is now the state of Illinois, with a civil- ized population of 600,000 freemen. His speech was greeted at its close by the whole convention rising and cheering long and fer- vently. The convention upon its adjournment was instantly reorganized as a committee of the whole (with Horace Greeley as chairman), and Gov. William Bebb of Ohio took the stand. He dwelt upon the diffusion of intelligence, purification and morals, and the melioration of the social condition of man. He brought sharply and eloquently out that 'Vain will be all your canals and railroads, your river and harbor improvements, if the condition of the toiling millions be not thereby or therewith sensibly meliorated-if they shall still be constrained to delve twelve to fourteen hours per day for the bare necessaries of physical life. I hold,' said he, 'that this need not and ought not to continue-that society may be so revised that ten or eight hours' faithful labor daily will secure to every industrious man or family a full supply of the necessaries and com- forts of life, so that each may have ample leisure to devote to the cultivation and perfection of his moral, social and intellectual powers.' A. W. Loomis, of Pittsburg; Gen. Levi Hubbell, of Mil- waukee; S. Lisle Smith, of Chicago; Anson Burlingame, of Mas- sachusetts, late of Michigan; E. H. Allen, of Boston, and Horace Greeley, of New York, were called out in succession and each responded briefly. The speech of Mr. Smith, of Chicago, regarded as an oratorical effort, was the best of the many good speeches made here within these three days. It was beautiful, thrilling, brightly poetic-enchanting and enrapturing the audience. I will not attempt to sketch it. Mr. Allen's remarks were very happy in a very different vein-these two affording striking illustrations of Western and Eastern popular speaking respectively. William M. Hall, of Buffalo, advocated a series of resolutions offered by him concerning the proposed railroad to the Pacific. His resolutions were adopted as the proceedings of the mass-meeting and not of the River and Harbor convention. Thus has met, deliberated, harmonized, acted and separated one of the most important and interesting conventions ever held in this or any country. It was truly characterized as a congress of freemen, destitute of pay and mileage, but in all else inferior to no deliberative body which has assembled within twenty years. Can we doubt that its results will be most beneficent and enduring?" -(From a series of letters written on the ground by Horace Greeley and published in the New York Tribune in July, 1847.)
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Mr. Greeley showed that the Democrats generally were non- committal on the object of the convention, while the Whigs were interested. President Polk had just vetoed the River and Harbor bill, so the Democrats had to be cautious. Writing of the letter of General Cass, Mr. Greeley said: "Did mortal man ever before see such a letter from one who is by position and was by profession friendly to the objects of the convention? It was listened to with hardly less astonishment than indignation." William M. Hall said: "The meeting of that convention raised the value of Chicago prop- erty at once, and was the starting point of its unheard of prosperity until overtaken by the disastrous fire of 1871." "A New Wonder in the World .- The greatest wonder in the world is that the late convention should have terminated harmoniously. Old Babel never witnessed more discordant tongues than there were sentiments (upon everything else than the great one which called them to- gether) among the crowd. We not only had Whig, Abolutionist and Democratic orators and editors, but we had every variety of each kind. We had the Boston differences, the New York differ- ences, the Missouri differences, and the sectional differences every- where. Then we had our differences here at home. But no per- son on the ground would have mistrusted that we were not all members of the same great party actuated by one impulse and with the same great end in view."-(Democrat, July 9, 1847.)
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The convention was a splendid advertisement for the city. It furnished the second great impulse to growth; capital poured in and all public enterprises-railways in particular-were established and stimulated. The convention adopted a series of fifteen resolu- tions to the effect that the Constitution favored the promotion of commerce by the proper use of Government revenues; that Con- gress had derived this power, ample in extent, from the states themselves; that this power had been recognized from the founda- tion of the Government by the erection of harbors, lighthouses, piers, breakwaters, sea walls, etc .; that the principle had been "acknowledged to embrace the Western lakes and rivers by appro- priations for numerous lighthouses upon them, which appropria- tions had never been questioned as wanting in Constitutional authority;" that the power of Congress to regulate commerce among the states clearly included the power to build harbors; that the Government by extending its jurisdiction over lakes and rivers precluded itself from denying that jurisdiction or the legitimate regulation of their commerce; that the appropriations thus far for Western lakes and rivers had not been proportionate; that the proper protection of the lake harbors in case of war, presumably with Great Britain, demanded that the principal harbors be made secure at once; that the argument most commonly urged against such appropriations, that they invited sectional combinations to insure success to many unworthy objections, was unsound and unrepub-
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lican; "that we are utterly incapable of perceiving the difference between a harbor for shelter and a harbor for commerce, and sup- pose that a mole or pier which will afford safe anchorage and pro- tection to a vessel against a storm must necessarily improve such harbor and adapt it to commercial purposes; that we disavow all and every attempt to connect the cause of international trade and commerce among the states with the fortunes of any political party, but that we mean to place that cause upon such immutable princi- ples of truth, justice and constitutional duty' as shall command the respect of all parties and the deference of all candidates for public favor."
In July, 1847, it was declared by the Democrat that the fire com- panies of 1837 were able to make a better public display than those of 1847. In 1847 the schooner "John Lillie," eighty-three feet long, was built at Gross Point. The bridge at Randolph street was in such bad condition in the fall of 1847, owing to the enormous travel across it, that a new bridge was necessary and was built. In July work on the Galena & Chicago railway was in rapid progress. In July the street commissioner was busy turnpiking the streets, repairing side and cross streets, etc. Enormous quantities of lumber were taken by team into the country from Chicago at this time-the roads and weather being very fine. Wheat was 55 to 65 cents.
"Fuel for Lake Steamers .- The immense quantities of wood used by our steamboats is truly surprising. The Empire on some trips burns 700 cords. It is stated that on an average she uses 600. Calculating that she performs thirteen trips during the season, she will consume 234 acres of timber and employ forty wood choppers at an expense of over $10,000. This is a small item in the expense of this mammoth steamer; yet she clears from $20,000 to $30,000 a season. By this some idea may be gained of the immense profits of vessels engaged in the lake trade. At the present time there are sixteen first-class steamboats engaged in this trade."-(Demo- crat, July 14, 1847.) "Canal Boats .- We notice five splendid new canal packets on the South branch, made expressly for the naviga- tion of the Illinois and Michigan canal. They are beautifully fin- ished both inside and out and are to be furnished in excellent style when they start."-(Democrat, July 22, 1847.)
"The exhibition of the magnetic telegraph will be continued this evening with novel experiments in magnetism. A dead frog will be made to jump about the room as if alive, by its influence. This is the last evening that Mr. Swift will continue his experi- ments in electricity and magnetism. All those wishing to witness the operation of the magnetic telegraph, the greatest wonder of the age, should embrace this last opportunity. Wires are connected with the Sherman house, with which he will experiment." . . . "The Telegraph .- The steamer Empire, which arrived yesterday,
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brought workmen with the implements for setting the posts."- (Democrat, August 3, 1847.)
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The Erie and Michigan Telegraph Company petitioned the Coun- cil for a right of way through the city in July, 1847. In 1847 Chi- cago built many new vessels-mostly schooners. The steamer "Sul- tan" gave an excursion August 4, for the benefit of the Universalist church. Phrenologists gave public examinations. H. L. Stewart in 1847 succeeded William Stewart as postmaster at Chicago. The revised city charter of 1847 gave Chicago the following additions : "All that part of Township 39 north, Range 14 east, which lies north of the north line of Sections 27, 28, 29 and 30 of said Township; and the east half of Section 33, Township 40 north, Range 14 east, and fractional section 34 and in said Township 40, shall hereafter be included in, constitute and be known by the name of the City of Chicago." Nine wards, instead of six, as before, were defined as follows:
First ward-all south of the river and east of State street pro- jected; Second ward-all south of the river and between State and Clark streets; Third ward-all south of river and between Clark and Wells streets; Fourth ward-all south of Chicago river, west of Wells street and east of the South branch; Fifth ward- all west of the South branch and south of Randolph street; Sixth ward-all west of the South branch and North branch and north of Randolph street; Seventh ward-all east of the North branch, north of the Chicago river proper and west of La Salle street ; Eighth ward-all north of Chicago river and between LaSalle and Wolcott streets; Ninth ward-all north of Chicago river and east of Wolcott street. It was provided that each ward should be en- titled to two aldermen, of whom each should hold office for two years, a successor to be elected annually after the first year for each ward. The mayor was given the powers of a justice of the peace. At each annual election there were to be chosen a city at- torney, treasurer, collector and surveyor, besides assessors and street commissioners for each ward or for united wards. The city marshal was given all the powers of a constable under the state laws. Each male over twenty-one years and under sixty years was required to work three days upon the streets and alleys of the city or to pay its equivalent. The Common Council was empowered to lay out, make and assess streets, alleys, lanes and highways and make wharves and slips; could condemn land and order it converted to public use; could make, maintain and repair drains and sewers, had exclusive power over the erection or construction of float or drawbridges, could order built sidewalks, breakwaters, tunnels, etc., and the harbor protected, had power to lease for not over ten years Lot 5, Block 4; Lot 9, Block 50; Lot 6, Block 55; all in the Orig- inal Town of Chicago and donated for the use of schools under the act to provide for the dedication of lots in towns situate on canal
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lands-passed in 1839; had power to levy and collect taxes and assessments, could regulate sporting and animals running at large, etc. It was provided that convicts could be required to work on the streets. This they did with ball and chain attached.
In August, 1847, the Common Council named the square upon which the courthouse stood Jefferson square; also the ground east of the fence east of Michigan avenue from the north side of Ran- dolph street to the south side of Lot 8, Block 21, in Fractional Sec- tion 15, addition to Chicago, Lake Park. The public ground in Fort Dearborn addition to Chicago between Randolph and Wash- ington streets and west of Michigan avenue (now 1847 enclosed) was named Dearborn square. Also the land west of the west side of Dearborn square and east of Block 12, Fort Dearborn addition, was constituted a street. It was decided to number the streets from the river and its branches and from Michigan avenue west. In August, 1847, Chicago claimed 16,000 population. The City Coun- cil standing committees were Finance, Claims, Streets and Bridges, Fire and Water, Police, Schools, Judiciary, Printing, Wharves and Public Grounds, Commissioner of Schools, Board of School In- spectors. Fire department was organized as follows:
Engine Company No. 1, Fire King. C. P. Bradley, foreman
Engine Company No. 2, Metamora. S. Johnson, foreman
Engine Company No. 3. .G. S. Hubbard, foreman
Engine Company No. 4, Red Jacket. F. T. Sherman, foreman
Engine Company No. 5, Excelsior A. S. Sherman, foreman
Hose Company, Hope.
.J. R. Webster, foreman
Bucket Company, Rough and Ready J. W. Atkinson, foreman
The Historical and Antiquarian Society was organized in March, 1846, with Rev. A. M. Stewart president.
Members.
Washington Temperance society (organized July 1, 1840) ... 1,500 Junior Washington Temperance society (March 11, 1843) 300
Chicago Bethel Temperance society (July 10, 1842) . 150
Catholic Temperance society.
2,000
Chicago Democrat (Democrat), daily, John Wentworth ; Chicago Democrat, weekly; Chicago Journal (Whig), daily, evening, Geer & Wilson; Chicago Journal (Whig), weekly; Chicago Tribune (neutral), daily, morning, Wheeler, Forrest & Stewart; Gem of the Prairie; Commercial Advertiser (Whig), daily, morning, Al- fred Dutch; Commercial Advertiser, weekly ; Illinois Annual Reg- ister and Western Business Directory, Norris & Gardiner; Liberty Tree (Abolitionist), monthly, Z. Eastman; Norris Chicago Direc- tory, Norris & Gardiner; People's Friend, German weekly, Hoff- gen & Miller; Prairie Farmer, monthly, Wright & Wright; Better Covenant (Universalist), weekly, Rev. S. P. Skinner; Western Citizen (Abolitionist), weekly, Z. Eastman; Herald of the Prai- ries (Presbyterian), weekly, Walker & Morrell; Watchman of the
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