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 34
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The Democrat of March 3, 1852, said concerning the municipal election : "None of the defeated candidates should have any un- pleasant feelings. There was nothing like personalities involved in the whole contest. There was a general cross-firing and confusing of opposition measures. . . . In times like these when candidates have to expend large sums of money a defeat leaves often very great embarrassment, and we regret to say that the time seems fast approaching when no poor man need run for office, as he cannot obtain it. . . . Some people say that there should be a law against expending money at elections."
The year 1852 is noted for the relentless and bitter attacks of
354
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
the Democrat upon Ebenezer Peck. The nomination of General Scott for the presidency in June, 1852, was ratified by an immense meeting of the Whigs in June. A feature of the campaign of 1852 was the activity of the Democratic Invincible club of Chicago. In after years this organization became very prominent.
In 1852 John Wentworth was again a candidate for Congress. A mass convention of Democrats held at the City hall in September was addressed by Joshua R. Giddings and Samuel Lewis. In September the Whig convention nominated John Sears, Jr., and Samuel Marrs for representatives, A. A. Dexter for sheriff, John Filkins for Circuit court clerk and A. B. Wheeler for coroner. The Democratic county convention nominated Homer Wilmarth and William B. Egan for representatives, Cyrus C. Bradley for sheriff, Louis D. Hoard for clerk of the Circuit court, Austin Hines for coroner, and Norman B. Judd for senator. At this election the Whigs were divided. There was a Dutch wing and a Wilson wing. It was declared that Richard L. Wilson of the Journal made Whig principles secondary to his private interests. In Sep- tember Senator Douglas spoke in Chicago on national issues and was listened to with intense interest by an immense assemblage. The motto of the Democrats in 1852 was as follows: "Our cause is just, so win we must, and this we mean to do; the Whigs we Polked in '44 we'll Pierce in '52."
Concerning the election of November, 1852, the Democrat said : "Chicago City Election .- We have been at many elections in our own city and we never knew one characterized by such bitter and vindictive personalities as that of Tuesday last."
At the presidential election in 1852 the Democrats polled in Cook county 3,767 votes, the Whigs 2,089, the Abolitionists 793, and the Dover Whigs 1,712. In 1852 the vote in this county on the constitutional amendments was as follows. For the amend- ments, 710 votes; against the amendments, 213 votes. The vote for congressman in 1852 was: Aldrich, Whig, 2,493; Went- worth, Democrat, 3,423; Collins, Abolitionist, 585. It should be noted that at all elections in Chicago and, indeed, in the county as a whole the foreign element cut a very important figure. Very often they held the balance of power and thus managed to secure what spoils they desired. In 1852 the question of a sewerage com- mission was taken into politics and was important.
The vote for mayor in the spring of 1853 was as follows : Charles M. Gray, 3,270; Josiah L. James, 991. For judge, George Manierre received 1,224 votes, R. S. Wilson 1,867, P. Ballingall 619, Alonzo Huntington 348. For treasurer, Edward Manierre received 2,526 votes and Mr. Gilbert 1,575. The municipal election of 1853 was quiet and uneventful. At the November election in 1853, for judge, H. L. Rucker received 2,647 votes and W. H. Davis 1,863. For clerk, C. B. Farwell received 3,272 and E. S. Kimberly 1,206.
G. K. SCHMIDT
C.R. CHINDBLOM
0
JOSEPH CAROLAN
J. J. ELIAS
J M.DENNIS
C
W. SCHROJDA
2
W. J. UMBACH
O R.HILLSTROM
GROUP OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
3
357
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
For school commissioner, J. W. Waughop received 2,622 and T. O. Wilson 1,818. For surveyor, J. Van Horn received 2,394 votes and J. E. Thompson 2,102 votes. For treasurer, H. N. Heald received 4,549 votes. The parties had united on the latter candi- date. The fall elections of 1853 were likewise uneventful.
In February, 1854, the following call, signed by nearly four hundred citizens of Chicago, was issued: "The undersigned citi- zens of Chicago, opposed to the abrogation and restriction and prohibition of the Missouri Compromise Act, with a view to favor the introduction of slavery into Nebraska territory, would respect- fully call a meeting to consider and protest against any action of Congress for the repeal or modification of an act which time and the public both have made sacred." This meeting was held on February 8 at South Market hall. Of this meeting ex-Mayor James Curtiss was chairman and H. T. Dickey, R. S. Blackwell, C. L. Wilson, George Manierre and Thomas Lonergan served as committee on resolutions. Strong measures against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise were adopted.
Early in 1854 the great speech of Senator Douglas on the Ne- braska bill in Congress kindled immediate and emphatic opposi- tion at Chicago. The Whigs and Abolitionists unitedly and many of the Democrats denounced his course and declared that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was an unbearable outrage. When John Wentworth was asked how he was going to vote on the Nebraska bill he humorously answered, in imitation of some other members of Congress: "I will take an open, bold and manly course. I ,will either vote for the bill, or against it, or dodge it." In February, 1854, the Illinois Legislature adopted a resolution in opposition to the Douglas Nebraska bill. Meetings all over the state were held for the same purpose. The united ministers of Chi- cago in a stirring meeting protested against the passage of the bill. Douglas answered them in his usual able, artful and adroit fashion. Later a total of 504 ministers throughout the country protested against the passage of the bill. There was intense excite- ment here in April during the debate in Congress on the provisions of the bill. Everywhere throughout the West, including Cook county, people began to prepare to invade Kansas with the de- termination to make it a free state.
In the spring of 1854 the Maine or Prohibition law came promi- nently before the people of Chicago. The Temperance people organized and nominated A. G. Throop for mayor. At this time there were but two important questions, viz., the Nebraska bill and the Temperance cause. Opposed to the Temperance candidate was Isaac L. Milliken. At the election Mr. Throop received 2,432 votes and Mr. Milliken 3,517 votes. Thus in Chicago the liquor element was stronger than the Temperance element.
A large meeting of the Nebraska men was held in the spring. Vol. I-21.
358
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Among the speakers were Isaac Cook, Dr. McVicker, E. H. Had- dock, W. H. King, C. Nye, Andrew Harvey and others. The opponents of the Nebraska bill attempted to control the proceedings of this meeting and partially succeeded. Against the bill speeches were delivered by R. S. Blackwell, S. S. Hayes, Peter Page, E. C. Larned, Hugh T. Dickey. and Mark Skinner. Notwithstanding their efforts, however, resolutions favoring the passage of the bill were duly passed. Those in favor of the bill argued that the people of a territory should decide for themselves whether or not they wanted slavery. They thought it right to give back to the people the privilege which the Missouri Compromise took away in 1820. It should be stated, however, that the Democratic party here generally opposed the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
On March 16, 1854, the German citizens held a large meeting and passed resolutions, two of which were as follows: "Resolved, That we especially consider Stephen A. Douglas as an ambitious and dangerous demagogue; that we consider him a blemish upon the honor of the state of Illinois and deem it our duty to do our best in ridding ourselves of him as quickly as possible. Resolved, That we express our deepest condemnation of the servile manner in which our Legislature has hurried itself into an endorsement of the Nebraska bill." Of this meeting G. Leverenz was chairman. It was held at North Market hall and at its close Senator Douglas was burned in effigy. Among the speakers were Messrs. Hoffman, Breck and Schlaegel. The people of the city generally condemned the burning of Senator Douglas in effigy. The Democrat said : "We have yet to hear the first word of approval of the burning of Judge Douglas in effigy on Thursday evening last. Every citi- zen from whom we have heard an expression of opinion condemns it in unmeasurable terms. However, in no city of the Union is there a more firmly settled or stronger feeling of opposition to Judge Douglas' Nebraska bill than in Chicago." The Journal of May 23 said: "While the passage of this iniquity is deplored, it is nevertheless politically considered a source of gratification, for it aroused the Whig party from a season of depression, despon- dency and gloom to action and vigorous life." That paper quoted the following from Algernon Sidney: "That which is not just is not law, and that which is not law ought not to be obeyed." A correspondent of the Democratic Press of August 24, 1854, said : "I have been a resident of the city for the last seventeen years ; during all that time our elections have been a disgrace to a civilized community-on account of men made furious by whisky. Most of this time it has been hazardous even to life for a quiet and peaceable citizen to go near the polls to vote, and this state of things has been growing worse and worse until our whole elections turn on whisky and brutal force." The Democratic Press replied as fol- lows: "What our correspondent says is true in a great measure.
.
1
359
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Few elections have passed off since we came here to reside-seven years ago-without the perpetration of brutal outrages on peaceable citizens. It is also very true that our elections have at times been controlled by unscrupulous demagogues who have pandered to the basest passions of men by first inflaming them with whisky pur- chased for the express purpose and then inciting them to play the bully about the polls and frighten or drive away sober-minded and virtuous citizens by acts of violence, whose vote would probably change the result of the canvass."
In August, 1854, Dr. John Evans was an Independent candidate for Congress. He opposed the Nebraska bill so far as it repealed the Missouri Compromise, favored the river and harbor appropria- tions and advocated a continuation of the new postal rates. At this time Isaac Cook was postmaster. Of course, he supported the administration and also supported the measures of Senator Douglas. It was in 1854 that the Douglas Democracy, at the head of whom were Isaac Cook and Collector Snowhook, established a paper here called The Times, for the dissemination and support of the views of the administration generally and of all the policies of Senator Douglas in particular. They attempted to read out of the Demo- cratic party such men as Norman B. Judd, Francis C. Sherman, Judge Dickey, Judge Skinner, W. S. Gurnee, Colonel Taylor, Doc- tor Maxwell, S. S. Hayes and Alderman Dwyer, but were unable to do so. On September 1, at North Market hall, Senator Douglas attempted to explain to the satisfaction of Chicagoans his course in regard to slavery and his attitude on the Nebraska bill. At the meeting great opposition and disrespect to him were displayed. There were many interruptions and he was unable to finish his speech. A few days later Joshua R. Giddings, then in Chicago, answered Senator Douglas at an immense meeting called for the purpose. The Times from the first demanded that opposition to the Nebraska bill in the Democratic ranks should cease. On Septem- ber 9 Lieutenant Governor Willard of Indiana delivered a power- ful speech in opposition to the Nebraska bill and Knownothingism to an immense crowd in Dearborn park. He was answered by Senator Douglas the same evening. The Times denounced every person as an Abolitionist who did not support the measures of Senator Douglas. James H. Woodworth was the candidate of the Democracy for Congress and R. S. Blackwell the candidate of the Whigs.
The Nebraska bill completely divided the Cook county Democ- racy. The Free Soilers left that party and held a convention of their own. The Douglas wing convened at the United States court rooms and the Free Soil wing in the courthouse. The Free Soil Democracy refused to make the support of the Nebraska bill the test of Democracy in Cook county. The result was almost an equal division in the Democratic ranks. The Liberal or Free
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
wing of the Democracy nominated Edward L. Mayo for Congress and the Douglas wing nominated J. B. Turner of Chicago. Mr. Woodworth was elected to Congress. He was the fusionist or Knownothing candidate.
In October, 1854, strong speeches for and against the Nebraska bill were made throughout the state, culminating in an immense meeting a Springfield. Senator Douglas delivered one of his mas- terly speeches and Abraham Lincoln answered in such a manner as to attract the attention of the whole country. Mr. Douglas thought it necessary to reply to Mr. Lincoln the following day, whereupon Senator Trumbull and Judge Breese spoke in opposition to Mr. Douglas. Speeches also were delivered by Mr. Calhoun, Col. E. D. Taylor and Colonel McClernand.
In 1854 the vote of Cook county for congressman was as follows : Mayo, 210; Turner, 1,175; Woodworth, 3,448; Blackwell, 467. The vote in Cook county this year for state treasurer was as follows : Moore, Democrat, 1,636; Miller, Whig, 3,644.
In November, 1854, Thomas H. Benton and James Shields passed through Chicago on their way to Washington. The election of November, 1854, was quiet and uneventful, as shown by the fol- lowing extract from the Democratic Press of November 8: "Never in the history of the city have we had so quiet an election. The noise and confusion which have too often disgraced our city on such occasions were entirely 'dispensed with."
The municipal election of March, 1855, is remarkable in that not a candidate for mayor announced himself until within five days of the election. The Press of March 6 said: "It was unprece- dented in the history of our city and we presume without parallel in any other municipal government in the country." The paper deplored the apathy shown and declared that the public should know every individual in office and who the candidates were to be in order to investigate their fitness for office." The election resulted as follows: For mayor, Levi D. Boone 3,185, Isaac L. Milliken 2,839; city attorney, J. T. Thompson 3,141, Patrick Ballingall 2,878; treasurer, W. F. DeWolf 3,072, Harris 2,827; collector, Jacob Russell 3,146, L. M. Wilson 2,846; surveyor, Greeley 3,206, Cloghe 2,797. This was a victory of those opposed to Democracy. It turned out afterward that the interests of private persons were alone considered at this election. The Press of March 6 said: "It is the old story. Demagogism has triumphed over public interests and an excited people have become the willing instruments of corrupt and scheming men. Our election today has no direct reference whatever to the interests of the city. Fitness for office, faithfulness, integrity, and the policy to be pursued are made to give way to a single question of caste and nationality. Several years ago party nominations for city office were abandoned. We see no reason for going back to them now, especially when both parties are alike intangible and irresponsible before the public."
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
During the spring of 1855 the Kansas-Nebraska question was elaborately, ably and bitterly discussed here by the press, the rostrum and the pulpit. The Times vehemently favored the position of Senator Douglas when all the other newspapers opposed it. The question of popular sovereignty was discussed and rediscussed. On October 11 Senator Trumbull delivered a powerful address here in opposition to the Douglas policies. About the same time Senator Douglas also delivered a speech of great power here, to an immense meeting. On October 17, at a large anti-Nebraska meeting held at the South Market hall, S. S. Hayes, a Democrat, opposed in a speech of great strength the measures advocated by Senator Douglas. Mr. Hayes, upon invitation, had interrupted Senator Douglas during the speech of the latter, but was not allowed to proceed. Strong resolutions condemning the attitude of Senator Douglas and the encroachment of slavery were adopted at this anti-Nebraska meeting. The Times was particularly severe with all who opposed Senator Douglas. The election of November, 1855, in Cook county resulted as follows: For county treasurer, John M. Gleeson 2,548, John L. Wilson 2,140; school commis- sioner, W. L. Greenleaf 2,756, J. W. Waughop 1,991; surveyor, Alexander Wolcott 2,582, John Van Horn 2,151.
"The Times of yesterday crows lustily over the result of the election in Chicago for county officers, claiming it as a victory of the Nebraska party. The fact is, no such political issue entered into the canvass, nor have our county elections for several years past been of a party character."-(Press, November 8, 1855.)
In February, 1856, L. M. Keith was nominated for mayor by the Douglas Democracy and Francis C. Sherman by the Nebraska Democrats. Mr. Keith refused to accept and Thomas Dyer was nominated in his stead by acclamation at a subsequent convention. The Democrats themselves were responsible for the reopening of the entire Nebraska question in Chicago. The spring campaign was very bitter. Personalities of the most insulting character were resorted to by the partisans. C. L. Wilson, editor of the Journal, criticised very sharply Thomas Hoyne, United States district attor- ney. This led to a personal encounter between the two late in February. A few minutes after the event the newsboys on the street were crying "'Ere's yer evenin' Joinel-great prize fight between Charley Wilson and Tom Hoyne." Sherman was called the anti-slavery extension candidate for mayor. Many Whigs voted for him. He was supported by such men as W. B. Ogden, J. Y. Scammon, Mark Skinner, F. A. Hoffman, J. M. Davis, E. C. Larned, John Wentworth and C. S. Blackwell. These men and others at an immense meeting on March 1 adopted the following resolution : "Resolved, That we, the people of the city of Chicago, are opposed to party dictation in our municipal election ; but įnas- much as the issue of freedom or slavery has been forced upon us
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
in this canvass, we are compelled to accept it, and we resist the en- croachment of the slave power and show our devotion to free prin- ciples by supporting for mayor Francis C. Sherman, the free laborer and advocate of freedom for all in the territories consecrated to freemen."
The Press of February 28 also said: "Money is flowing like water, it is said, in order to prostitute the city to the Douglas slave- crats. Let every man feel it his duty to put down the gross corrup- tion." The vote for mayor and for president in 1856 was as fol- lows :
WARDS.
MAYOR. Dyer-Sherman.
PRESIDENT. Fremont-Buchanan.
First
264
598
787
330
Second
499
738
1,040
609
Third
374
464
702
475
Fourth
375
290
419
367
Fifth
621
763
1,190
795
Sixth
553
497
300
604
Seventh
999
219
600
703
Eighth
592
358
532
571
Ninth
433
191
327
352
4,712
4,138
6,397
4,945
This occasioned intense joy to the supporters of Mr. Douglas, who thereupon projected a celebration where money flowed like water and the city, figuratively speaking, was turned upside down. Dyer was a Democrat, so also was Sherman. All not Democrats and all free Democrats united against Dyer. Hence his victory was considered by his friends an event which should be properly cele- brated. The Press of March 5, 1856, said: "Chicago is disgraced -Dyer is elected. Yesterday demonstrated that in Chicago for once at least the men with principles stood no chance with the men with money and whisky. Never was there an election where the moral sense, the virtue, the intelligence and integrity of the whole community were so generally and so cordially united; and on the other hand the blacklegs and vagabonds of every hue and stripe went en masse for Dyer. The entire liquor interest also cast their vote for Dyer. . . Money was used without stint. The basest falsehoods were constantly circulated against Mr. Sherman, by which almost the entire foreign vote was polled for Mr. Dyer. This combined with the liquor interest secured his election."
During the spring of 1856 the anti-slavery agitation continued in this county with unabated intensity. Never had the citizens been so profoundly moved as they were by the conduct of Southern Con- gressmen, Senators and press. Meetings denouncing every feature of slavery were held throughout the county during the entire year of 1856. The Republican party emerged from the ruins of the old parties-called into existence by principles such as never before had kindled emotions in the human heart. Clubs and wide-awakes
363
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
everywhere paraded and resolutions denouncing slavery were of almost daily occurrence. On the other hand, Senator Douglas and his supporters, in order to weather the storm, exerted themselves with a force and a brilliancy worthy of a better cause. Even in the City Council the members were literally at war. Anti-Nebraska clubs clashed at public meetings and in the public streets. At the Nebraska convention held at Springfield the acts of delegates and of Congress were sustained, but the proceedings of that convention were denounced by the united press of Chicago, except the Times. At the Cook county Anti-Nebraska convention held in May, 1856, the nine wards of Chicago were represented by the following dele- gates : Mark Skinner, J. W. Waughop, D. R. Holt, J. C. Outhet, J. C. Haines, R. A. Williams, G. Schneider, Enos Ayres and J. H. Kinzie. The civil war in Kansas, the destruction of Lawrence and the violent and murderous acts of pro-slavery partisans in that ter- ritory aroused the wrath of Chicagoans opposed to slavery as noth- ing else had ever done. At an immense impromptu meeting held in May a large subscription was raised to assist the fight of the Free Soilers in Kansas. At one of these meetings Mr. Hoffman served as chairman and B. F. Downing as secretary. Speeches of great eloquence were delivered by Mark Skinner, Isaac N. Arnold, E. C. Larned, J. C. Vaughn, John Wentworth and Mr. Blackwell. Arnold's speech was one of unusual power, a portion being as follows :
"Violence reigns in Kansas-violence reigns in Washington. There is no security for a free man either in the heart of the country or in its extreme limits. The slave power is setting its heel upon freedom to crush out its heart's blood. But a few months have passed since the country was at peace. The senator who disgraces the state of Illinois (Douglas) and represents the slave power has endeavored to force slavery upon free soil, but that territory shall be free by the help of God. Why these outrages? Why these refugees fleeing from their homes-for their lives? These outrages are perpetrated under the sanction and authority of the. United States Government. Shame upon such a Government! The issue must be met. It is slavery or freedom. The invaders must be repelled; the Government must be changed."
The speech of E. C. Larned was also particularly direct, incisive and brilliant. The following is an extract therefrom: "For the first time in American history the floor of the Senate chamber has been stained with the blood of a United States Senator. Why? Simply because he sustained the principles of liberty learned in Faneuil Hall, the Cradle of Liberty. O shame! Fellow citizens, can you refrain from tearing from their places of power the men who gave encouragement to this outrage? Has it come to this, a crime to love freedom? The battle is begun. Slavery or freedom must give way; they cannot exist together."
364
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The Cook county delegation to the anti-Nebraska extension con- vention at Bloomington were Grant Goodrich, F. C. Sherman, W. James, A. Dolton, James Michie, George Schneider, John Wentworth, C. H. Ray, J. L. Scripps, C. L. Wilson, Samuel Hoard, A. Aiken, H. H. Yates, I. N. Arnold, N. B. Judd, J. W. Waughop and Mark Skinner. The convention adopted powerful resolutions against the Douglas policies. The convention was held late in May, 1856.ª On May 28, 1856, an immense meeting was held at Metropolitan hall to endorse and ratify the nominations made at the Bloomington convention. Among the speakers were O. H. Browning, Burton C. Cook, Governor Reeder of Kansas, Owen Lovejoy, always a favorite to Chicagoans, and Abraham Lincoln. A correspondent of the Democratic Press of May 29, 1856, said concerning Mr. Lincoln's speech :
"Abraham Lincoln of Springfield was next called out and made the speech of the occasion. Never has it been our fortune to listen to a more eloquent and masterly presentation of a subject. I shall not mar any of its fine proportions or brilliant passages by attempt- ing even a synopsis of it. Mr. Lincoln must write it out and let it go before all the people. For an hour and a half he held the assem- blage spell-bound by the power of his arguments, the intense irony of his invective and the deep earnestness and fervid brilliancy of his eloquence. When he concluded the audience sprang to their feet and cheer after cheer told how deeply their hearts had been touched and their souls warmed up to a generous enthusiasm."
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