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 36
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The Chicago Democrat and the Chicago Democratic Press, still flying their own names and invoking the shades of the immortal Jackson, were yet thundering for the cause of the Republican party in November, 1857. Senator Douglas was humorously called "The Dwarf Giant." On November 1, he delivered a two-hours' speech here covering the whole ground of the slavery question and dwelling particularly upon negro equality and popular sovereignty. He said that "if the black Republicans could have their way, the blacks will push us from our sidewalks, elbow us out of our car seats, stink us out of our places of worship and everywhere overrun and over- whelm us." Late in 1857 he reversed his position on the Kansas question in a speech delivered in the United States Senate. His friends in Cook county ratified his changed views.
At a large Republican meeting held January 30, 1858, at North Market hall speeches were delivered by Messrs. Hoffman, Sturte- vant, Larned, Wentworth, and Bross. Frank Lumbard sang sev- eral campaign songs. About the same time at a mass meeting of the Germans, Messrs. Arnold, Gale, and Schneider of the Staats Zeitung. delivered addresses. At the convention of the Democrats on January 30, 1858, to nominate candidates for municipal offices E. Van Buren served as chairman and Thomas Lonergan as secretary. The meet- ing was held at Light Guard hall. Among those who took part were W. Y. Daniels, D. Stuart, B. Y. Semmes and Messrs. Kennedy, An- derson, McHugh, Woodman, Diversey, Smith, Allen, Sherman and Snowhook. Mr. Sherman objected to the use of his name as a mem- ber of the committee on permanent organization, but Mr. Stuart declared the name should remain there "to show that Sherman had returned from his backsliding from the Democratic party." At this convention Dr. Daniel Brainard was nominated for Mayor and H. D. Colvin for treasurer. At the Republican city convention in February, 1858, John C. Haines was nominated for mayor, Elliott Anthony city attorney, Alonzo Harvey treasurer, Alexander Wolcott surveyor. The campaign of March, 1858, was very spirited. Ward meetings and mass meetings were of almost daily occurrence. The Press of March 25 said, "The most exciting election for years takes place today. The most intense feeling prevails." It was generally con- cluded that the result meant either the endorsement of the Douglas policies or the reverse. As a matter of fact the eyes of the entire country were fixed upon Chicago during this election.
Senator Douglas by this time had changed his ultra attitude and was nearer what his Northern friends desired he should be-really opposed to the extension of slavery. At the election Mr. Went- Vol. I-22.
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worth offered $100 reward for the detection and conviction for false voting. So far as known, for the first time at this election, betters who lost wagers upon the election were required to saw wood upon the public square as a penalty. Henry Greenebaum lost thus to G. F. Leverenz. Greenebaum thereupon sawed wood on the courthouse square beginning at ten o'clock A. M. In the same way Mr. Weihe lost to Mr. Lochbeiler and his punishment was about the same. An admiring crowd viewed the interesting pro- ceedings. It should be noted that the Buchanan supporters favored the Lecompton constitution and tried to make it a basis of Democ- racy, but Douglas took a stand against such a step and hence caused an important division in the Democratic ranks.
The struggle in Congress on the Lecompton constitution was viewed with concern and emotion by the people of Cook county. At the time Senator Douglas delivered his famous speech in the spring of 1858 in the Senate there was an unprecedented rush there to hear him. As a matter of fact he practically sided with the Republicans on that question and against the Buchanan administration and the South. During the speeches made in Congress at this time Mr. Farnsworth, Congressman from this district, declared defiantly in the House that his consent would never be given for another slave state. The Lecompton constitution was killed in the House. Crittenden's amendments were adopted. All of the ten wards in April, 1858, elected Republican county supervisors. The towns of South, West and North Chicago elected very generally Republicans to office. This was true also in the entire county with few exceptions.
The following were the Cook county delegates to the Democratic state convention : Daniel Brainard, S. S. Hayes, H. D. Colvin, J. B. Vaughan, E. S. Kimberly, Dennis Coughlin, Edmund Barrett, E. Van Buren, J. F. D. Elliot, Nathan Allen, B. F. Bradley, P. A. Hoyne, H. A. Clark, William Price, Hugh Maher, W. Bateham, J. W. Bell, J. W. Sheahan, W. W. Drummond, J. B. Bradwell, H. H. Honore, D. A. Gage, Harvey Danks, R. T. Merrick, J. T. O'Bannon, O. L. Hodge, J. L. Marsh, T. P. Abell, W. W. Jackson, I. H. Rob- erts, L. D. Boone, Charles Welch and J. C. Smith.
In the spring of 1858 the town of New Trier went Republican for the first time in its history. The Democracy in this county was hope- lessly divided this year. The Douglas wing and the Buchanan wing were far apart in their views and of this fact advantage was taken by the Republicans. Isaac Cook, postmaster, headed the Buchanan wing of the Democracy. His followers assembled at the recorder's court room and the Douglas wing at the Democratic hall. The Bu- chanan state convention of the spring of 1858 did not nominate state candidates but was considered a bluff by Buchanan supporters to secure concessions from Senator Douglas.
The Republican state convention was held at Springfield July 16, 1858. Norman B. Judd was a member of the Republican Central
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committee. To this convention Cook county sent thirty-eight dele- gates. Over one hundred additional persons interested in the outcome also went to Springfield. This convention passed resolu- tions of great strength against prevailing Democratic doctrines. They reaffirmed the Republican platform and declared for Abra- ham Lincoln . for the United States Senate to succeed Senator Douglas. They also complimented Senator Trumbull on his Legis- lative record. The Dred Scott decision was repudiated and the power of Congress over the territories affirmed. At this conven- tion Cook county politicians bore the banner-"Cook County for Abraham Lincoln." A delegate arose and said he had but one serious fault to find with the banner. It seemed too narrow in sentiment and application; he therefore desired to amend it so as to read, "Illinois for Abraham Lincoln." His amendment was carried amid such a whirlwind of applause as those present had never before witnessed. The entire convention sprang to its feet, gave three times three cheers for the new banner, whereupon the amended resolution was passed amid such applause and such feel- ing as to wring tears from the eyes of many present. In his great speech at this convention Mr. Lincoln used these memorable words : "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this Gov- ernment cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other."
The Press and Tribune of July 14 said: "The masterly refuta- tion of the leading points in Senator Douglas' speech, made by Hon. Abraham Lincoln in his speech of Saturday evening last, is a subject of constant congratulation among the political and personal friends of the latter gentleman. It is desirable for the good of the cause that the two speeches go out side by side broadcast over the State."
Upon his return from Congress in July, 1858, Senator Douglas was given a magnificent reception by the Cook county Democracy. He was received at the railway station on the lake front by an im- mense crowd and escorted to the Tremont house and there imme- diately delivered a speech from the balcony. The Times declared that 30,000 people heard this speech. The Press and Tribune fig- ured the number at from 12,000 to 15,000. The following night a crowd estimated at 12,000 heard Mr. Lincoln's reply here to Sen- ator Douglas. Mr. Lincoln also spoke from the Tremont house balcony.
"The Times publishes Douglas' speech twenty-four hours after everybody had read it in the Press and Tribune. It promises to insert Lincoln's speech tomorrow. We doubt whether Douglas will allow it. We make the Times an offer: We will publish the speeches of Douglas and Lincoln side by side in our weekly of this
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week if the Times will do the same. Dare you do it, neighbor? Dare you let the Democrats of the rural districts read both sides of the questions? Are you afraid of free speech and free discus- sions?"-(Press and Tribune, July 12, 1858.)
"Hurried and imperfect as his preparation for a lengthy and important effort must have been, we can point to the speech itself as signal evidence of Mr. Lincoln's thorough and appreciative acquaintance with the facts of the country's political history, his devotion to the Republican cause, his eminent ability as a contro- versialist and his sterling worth and honesty as a citizen and a statesman. More than that: We point to it as a clear, compre- hensive and overwhelming refutation of the sophistries and char- latanisms with which Senator Douglas had only twenty-four hours before enveloped the questions discussed and the momentous con- sequences involved. Plain in form of expression, in fact character- istically idiomatic in its construction, without a trace of rhetorical display for effect, with no appeals to the passions or prejudices of his hearers-it is a clear exposition of political truth-an epitome of the policy of his party-a sovereign prescription in its recom- mendations and suggestions for the disorders of the times. We can proudly compare its honest and indisputable statements of fact- its legitimate and logical deductions therefrom-its candid review of the opinions of his opponents, with the equivocations, subter- fuges, concealments, misstatements, bad logic and bad manners of the Senator. We shall show our confidence in the superiority of Mr. Lincoln's speech-whether considered as an oratorical effect or as a document for political effect-by printing the two speeches side by side in the weekly Press and Tribune and trusting the judgment of their merits to the thirty thousand readers to whom that sheet will be carried."-(Press and Tribune, July 12, 1858.)
R. R. Hitt, stenographer, took down in shorthand the above mentioned speeches, both of Douglas and Lincoln and they were reproduced and used during the campaign of 1858. In September, 1858, Carl Schurz of Wisconsin spoke here in the cause of the Re- publicans. The most noticeable part of his speech was a telling analysis of popular sovereignty. He declared that "this was the first successful attempt in the history of the country to raise slavery from an obnoxious fact to a national principle. It was the first broad declaration that slavery had rights outside of the local law which made it possible-that it was the sister and the equal of free- dom under the American flag." In September, 1858, Isaac Cook's county convention, as it was called, met at the courthouse. This , convention declared in favor of the Buchanan administration and favored the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton constitution, condemned the anti-Democratic course pursued by Senator Doug- las and his coadjutors from Illinois and their affiliations with their allies the black Republicans, and objected to his attempt to advance
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his personal interests and gratify his unbounded ambition by advo- cating doctrines repugnant to the people of the United States. At the Republican county convention I. N. Arnold was declared to be the choice of the Republicans for Congress. The Democrats re- quested Mr. Wentworth to run for the senate in opposition to Mr. Lincoln. At this time Mr. Douglas lived at the Lake View hotel. On July 16, one of his first great speeches was delivered at Bloom- ington. Mr. Lincoln was present but deferred an answer to a sub- sequent date. On July 17, both delivered powerful speeches at Springfield. It was at this time that the demand arose for Lincoln and Douglas to stump the state together, though the latter began his campaign before a conclusion was arrived at. Attached to his train was a cannon which was fired upon entering a city to call the people together. On July 23, the Buchanan Democrats held a large meeting here on which occasion the Douglas wing endeavored to control it. R. J. Hamilton presided and Col. R. B. Carpenter de- livered the principal speech. He contended that Douglas and his followers were "bolters" from the national Democracy. Immedi- ately following this meeting Mr. Lincoln challenged Mr. Douglas to public debate. Finally Mr. Douglas accepted the challenge. The result is history.
The Buchanan wing of the Cook county Democracy, in Septem- ber, 1858, nominated Col. R. J. Hamilton for sheriff and M. Shaughnessy for coroner. At a Republican meeting held here Oc- tober 6, 1858, Frank Blair, of Missouri, Senator Dolittle, of Wis- consin and Cassius M. Clay, of Kentucky, were the speakers. On October 18, 1858, at Metropolitan hall, the Douglas Democracy held a rousing meeting at which S. S. Hayes, E. A. Van Buren, Frank C. Sherman, Dr. Hahn and others were the speakers. At a German Republican meeting at Metropolitan hall, October 25, 1858. Frederick Hecker, of St. Clair county, Francis A. Hoffman and George Schneider delivered addresses. At a large Republican meeting at Thornton, October 26, there were present about 1,000 persons. Schuyler Colfax in a rousing speech sustained Republican principles ; John Wentworth and A. C. Hesing were also speakers. On October 26, 1858, Salmon P. Chiase entertained Chicago Re- publicans with a speech two hours in length. Owen Lovejoy was called out and delivered one of his eloquent addresses, continuing for half an hour; Mr. Lovejoy also spoke at West Market hall; Ex-Gov. W. F. Johnson, of Pennsylvania, was also here."-The Press and Tribune thus referred to the Lovejoy speech: "He was logical, brilliant, witty, sarcastic, and pathetic by turns, and elo- quent all the while. There was not a man who listened to his burn- ing words, fervent appeals, and terrific denunciations, who did not feel that it was good for him to be there."
The Douglas Democracy also held a large meeting at Metropol- itan hall and were entertained for three hours by an extremely elo-
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quent and sarcastic speech from Henry Clay Dean of Iowa. He was succeeded by Lieut .- Gov. McComas. In the issue of October 29, the Tribune editorially published a splendid eulogium of Abra- ham Lincoln. Both parties on Saturday, November 1, held strong meetings in every part of the county, and particularly was Chicago brilliant with torch light processions and with eloquent speeches from its most distinguished orators. The Press and Tribune of November 2 said :
"Citizens of Chicago-This is the last appeal we can make to you in behalf of the everlasting right before you cast your votes in the most important election you have ever participated in. For many months the eyes of the Union have been fastened upon you. From the forests of Maine to the lakes of Minnesota it is believed that the destiny of the American people hinges on the event in Illi- nois today. We believe so. You believe so. It is a most grave and serious trust that is reposed in your hands." The Douglasites were groaning and cursing alternately at the prospects of fair weather today, enabling all the voters to come to the polls. Remember that this day, fair or foul will never come again; and that every Irishman in the city limits will be on hand, voting twice if he can though he has to swim to the polls. Republicans of Chi- cago, do you the same thing if need be."
When the returns of the election of November, 1858, were counted it was found that Mr. Farnsworth, Republican candidate for Congress, had received 10,109 votes, Mr. Dyer, Douglas Democ- racy, 8,259 and Mr. Black, Breckinridge Democracy, 304 votes. This was the Cook county vote and indicated the majority of the rest of the ticket. On November 17, 1858, Senator Douglas, who had been absent, was given a splendid ovation upon his return and deliv- ered one of his characteristic and artful addresses to an immense audience from the balcony of the Tremont house.
In December, 1858, and January, 1859, Chicago was called upon to consider a new city charter. One was prepared here and was called by the Republicans "Tom Dyer's Charter" and also the "Le- compton Charter." The Press and Tribune charged that Mr. Went- worth desired the passage by the Legislature, of the Dyer charter, but this was denied by Mr. Wentworth. At this Time Ebenezer Peck and Norman B. Judd were the objects of sharp and sarcastic attacks in the newspaper edited by Mr. Wentworth.
When it became necessary to select a new municipal ticket in the Spring of 1859, the important questions were whether the last admin- istration had been economical, successful and fair. The Tribune of February 21 said: "The city has never had an administration that has more honestly and faithfully appropriated its revenues. During the year the city has not lost by defalcation or peculation a single dollar. When Dyer's administration went out of power in March, 1857, it had consumed the proceeds of fourteen
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mills taxation and all the other revenues it could lay its hands upon. It also ate up one hundred thousand dollars of borrowed money and added the same to the permanent debt of the city, on which Went- worth and Haines have since been paying the interest ; and over and above this it bequeathed to its successors a legacy of $194,092 of debts which the Republicans have since been struggling to pay. In other words the expenses of the Dyer administration in a single year exceeded its income by $294,092. Wentworth came into power in March, 1857. He caused a tax of seventeen mills to be levied-fif- teen outside of the lamp districts and largely increased the revenues from fines and licenses. He managed to carry on the government without adding to the funded debt, and reduced to some extent the floating debt. He payed $119,003 of Dyer's debts, leaving $75,089 for Haines to pay. But there were turned over for Haines to pay various items, such as $34,000 for improving the courthouse and square; $21,152 bonds of George E. Lee, belonging to the funded debt which had fallen due; $21,602 for improving Dearborn park, contracted for under Wentworth; $20,839 belonging to the sewerage fund collected in 1857 ; and $4,919 for the steam engine 'Long John,' besides some small items, making in all $110,216. So that in truth when Haines came into office he found a floating debt upon his hands amounting to $185,305. He has reduced the floating debt to $131,- 300, which is less by $53,945 than he found it a year ago. Went- worth levied a general tax of seventeen mills inside, and fifteen mills outside of the lamp districts, which yielded him $567,000. Haines levied thirteen mills inside and eleven mills outside of the lamp dis- trict, which yielded him $430,000. Consequently the taxes this year are $137,000 lighter than last year. All the outstanding floating debt was created by the last Democratic administration and not a dime of it by either Wentworth or Haines."
The Democrats nominated M. D. Gilman for mayor and the Re- publicans nominated John C. Haines, the latter being re-nominated. His administration was abundantly satisfactory to the Republicans at least. At this time Dennis Coughlin of the "Bloody Tinth" Ward was a prominent local politician. During the campaign the North Side was called "Over the Rhine," owing to the large number of Germans residing there. Bridgeport was the reverse, consisting of a large number of natives of the Emerald Isle. When the votes were counted it was learned that Mr. Haines had received 8,587 and Mr. Gilman 7,728 votes. The Press and Tribune of March 2, 1859, said : "For a month past the Democracy of Chicago have been engaged in a still hunt. With candidates long ago selected-with the aid of a new secret society of Democratic origin-with money stealthily but lavishly spent-with a magazine of falsehoods in relation to the ad- ministration in power-with appeals for economy of expenditures and complaints of high taxes-with every Republican jealousy skill- fully fomented-with every prejudice fostered and flattered-with
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all machinery of the party in working order-with every train laid and every gun charged, they went into the contest with confident assurances of victory. They contested every inch of the ground- fought as men ought to fight for a better cause than that in which they were engaged. But their labor went for naught. The Republi- can party of the city, true to its principles, the men of its choice and itself-has again triumphed by an emphatic majority."
It must be considered that this was a partisan view of the contest. The Democrats charged extravagance and unfairness upon the Re- publicans, and declared that they had won the mayoralty contest only through gross fraud practised at the polls.
The judicial election for superior judge in April, 1859, was hotly contested. It is doubtful whether any man ever before in this county was so lampooned and abused as was Van H. Higgins, can- didate of the Republicans for that position. Grant Goodrich was the other candidate of the Republicans and both were elected by a majority of over 3,000 votes in the whole county. In May, 1859, the Democrats elected the sewerage commissioner, Mr. Conley, over the Republican candidates because there were three of the latter, and they received in the aggregate more votes than the Democrat candidate.
During the summer of 1859 a strong fight to oust Isaac Cook, postmaster of Chicago, from his office was made, but failed to suc- ceed. Lincoln's great speeches in Ohio in September, 1859, in answer to those of Mr. Douglas, attracted the attention of the. country and were particularly scanned and enjoyed by the Republi- cans of Cook county. On November 19, 1859, the Press and Tribune came out with a strong editorial for the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for the presidency in 1860. During the Novem- ber contest of 1859 a fight was made over the county treasurer. A. H. Boyden, the Republican candidate, received 6,401 votes and Mr. Maher, the Democratic candidate, 4,877, and Mr. Speer, an Independent candidate, 131. This was not a political contest, but was conducted almost wholly along personal lines.
In December, 1859, several public meetings, on the occasion of the execution of "Old John Brown," were held in Chicago. The des- perate attacks of the Southern wing of the Democracy in Congress, about this time, caused bitter comment in the local newspapers. It was decided in December, 1859, that the National Republican con- vention of 1860 should be held in Chicago. Norman B. Judd was national chairman from Illinois.
On January 6, 1860, Isaac Cook, postmaster, and a few others in sympathy with him called a public meeting, endorsed the adminis- tration of President Buchanan, pronounced in favor of the Cincin- nati platform and against "squatter sovereignty" and therefore against the Douglas wing of the Democracy. In January, 1860, the Pennsylvanians residing in Chicago organized a Cameron and Lin-
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coln club. On January 16, 1860, the Republicans held a mass meeting and selected a new county executive committee for the com- ing municipal campaign. Among those who took an active part were: Luther Haven, chairman; I. N. Arnold, N. B. Judd, A. C. Hesing, John Wentworth and E. C. Larned. It was decided to or- ganize clubs in every ward in the city. At the Democratic municipal convention held in February, 1860, Walter S. Gurnee was nominated for mayor, E. I. Tinkman treasurer, and J. A. Mulligan city attor- ney. In February, 1860, the Press and Tribune again came out with strong editorials for the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President. The Republicans nominated for mayor, John Went- worth; treasurer, Alonzo Harvey; and city attorney, John Lyle King. What was called the Chicago Union club, in February, 1860, nominated a city ticket with Eliphalet Wood for mayor. The spring campaign of 1860 was lively. All realized that the condition of the country might be seriously affected by the way in which local affairs were administered, and hence they took an active and a fighting interests in the results here. It was asserted that voters sat up all night in order to be ready to cast their votes the next morning. It should also be noted that the Republican newspapers referred to the Democratic ticket as the Irish-Catholic ticket. The Republicans carried the election by a goodly majority, Wentworth for mayor receiving 10,007 votes and Gurnee 8,740. The Press and Tribune of March 7, 1860, made the following comment: "Yesterday was a day notable in the annals of Chicago, without a parallel in the history of our charter elections. It was the most exciting contest that ever was witnessed here. It called out, as will be seen, more votes than were ever cast in Chicago before. There was no resist- ance-no disturbance. Not a citizen was deprived of his vote if he had one."
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