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 38
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Vol. I-23.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Among the objectors were S. S. Hayes, Philip Conley, Thomas Lonergan, Walter B. Scates, Andrew Schall, John B. Turner and others. The Bryan hall ticket was called the Regular Union ticket. There were, in addition, the People's Union ticket and the Anti-People's Union ticket. The Regular Union ticket won by a large majority.
In March, 1862, the city of Chicago, indeed, the whole county of Cook, was shaken to its foundation by the "cutting and carving of Cook county." The representatives of the county in the Legisla- ture redivided all the wards and constituted new election precincts to suit themselves. It was declared to be the act of the Secessionists in the Legislature. The Tribune of April 5, 1862, said :
"Certain partisans calling themselves Democrats are opposed to having the Republicans nominate a ticket for the charter election in this city. They want the Republicans to let the election go by default so that they may clutch the offices and control the city administration in the interests of secession. The people of Cook county tried those fellows last fall. The right hand of fellowship was cordially extended to them. Offices and honors were heaped upon them, and the treatment received in return all men know. They used these very gifts to render more certain the deadly blow aimed at the heart of their benefactors. Their behavior toward the Republicans who elected them has been treacherous and infamous, and no Republican with the least spark of self-respect will again consent to be insulted and betrayed by these tricksters. There are honorable exceptions among the Democrats. Republicans are per- fectly willing to unite and cooperate with earnest and sincere Union Democrats who advocate a vigorous prosecution of the war until the Rebels submit unconditionally to the National authority. This class of Democrats is always welcome."
In the spring of 1862 the Republicans nominated for mayor C. N. Holden and the Democrats F. C. Sherman. The election was un- eventful and the vote light, considering the importance of the ques- tions pending. The Democrats elected their entire ticket. The Times declared it was a triumph of "Democracy and the conserva- tive citizens over Abolitionism." That paper said, as follows, in the issue of April, 1862: "The Waterloo of Abolitionism .- The joy in Chicago over the victory of the Union arms at Fort Donelson was scarcely greater than that manifested last night over the Union victory won in the municipal election yesterday. Bonfires burned in all directions, the streets swarmed with happy faces, and the air was filled with jubilant shouts. Great as the victory was at Fort Donelson, we doubt if it was of so much value to the Union cause as will be the civil victory of yesterday in this city. And it will cheer the Union men of the South. If this be the voice of Chicago, they may well reason that Abolitionism has culminated as a power in the North. All honor to the Democracy and other conservative people of Chicago who have won the victory."
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In April, 1862, the famous Wigwam, which had been sold to the Garrett Biblical institute, was in the hands of carpenters to be fitted up for Brayton and Young, commission merchants. It was to be divided into ten stores, seven fronting on Canal street and three on Lake street, and the papers said, "Sic transit gloria wigwam." At the August election in 1862 an important question was on the new constitution. The vote for the constitution was 7,970 and against it 8,633 ; for the bank clause 9,164, against the bank clause 7,206; for a new congressional apportionment, 7,724; against new congressional apportionment 8,690. All these questions were lost in the state. The constitution was rejected by over 16,000 in the whole state.
In September, 1862, Judge Walter B. Scates joined the war Democrats and sided with the Republicans. Owing to his great prominence, the act gave encouragement to the Republican party. He advised the war Democrats to side against the Springfield con- vention and repudiate its principles and platform. On September 27, 1862, the best and most loyal members of both parties, Demo- crats and Republicans, forty-two in number, signed and called for a meeting to consider the Emancipation Proclamation. This was the time also that John A. Logan, S. W. Moulton, A. J. Kuyken- dall, General McClernand and C. E. Ingersoll, all Democrats, de- cided to act with the Republican party so far as management of the war was concerned. The speakers at the meeting to pass on the Emancipation Proclamation were C. E. Ingersoll of Peoria, Mat H. Carpenter of Wisconsin, U. F. Linder, F. A. Eastman, R. S. Blackwell and S. A. Goodwin, all Democrats. The newspapers
described this meeting as a "Carnival of Joy." Not half of those who wished could get into Bryan hall. All favored carrying into effect the Emancipation Proclamation and decided that the war should be finished on the lines of the Republican administration. The Tribune said: "Whether considered in regard to the numbers in the audience, the quality of the exercises, the appropriateness and earnestness of the speeches, this was the largest and most successful war meeting ever held in this city." Among the prominent Demo- crats present and active were the following: Charles H. Walker, Daniel Brainard, S. A. Goodwin, Mathew Laflin, P. L. Yoe, Alder- man Schall, Michael McCauley, C. T. Wheeler, T. B. Bryan, Syd- ney Smith, H. W. Beecher, Henry Greenebaum, J. B. Bradwell, U. F. Linder, John Van Arman, Colonel Cummings, Michael Diversy, John K. Pollard, William Raps, Judge Otis, J. Y. Munn, Morgan L. Keith and H. D. Colvin. A small meeting was held about the same time and for the same object on the courthouse square.
In October, 1862, the Republicans nominated for Congress Isaac N. Arnold, and the Democrats F. C. Sherman. The latter was mayor of Chicago and proprietor of the Sherman house. The
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newspapers made fun of Mr. Sherman's candidacy owing to his lack of education. Some time previously in a speech Mr. Sherman had used the expression, "Hove in a few remarks to faciliate busi- ness." This expression was taken up by the newspapers and Mr. Sherman was often referred to as "Hove-in Sherman." The Re- publican members made the most of this defect during the cam- paign. In October the Democracy held a strong meeting, on which occasion Richard T. Merrick openly denounced the Government for its management of the war. Present at this meeting were also F. C. Sherman, S. S. Hayes, W. F. Storey, Francis Peabody, Philip Hoyne, J. W. Sheahan, Dennis Coughlin, O. J. Rose, William Lill, Martin Casey, Barney Caulfield, Doctor Hahn and Charles Walsh. This meeting decided that the Emancipation Proclamation was unnecessary and uncalled for. On November 3, at a big Republi- can meeting, the speakers were T. B. Bryan, Governor Yates, Judge Scates, E. C. Larned and Emery A. Storrs. The latter became a favorite with Chicago audiences owing to his wit and his eloquent utterances. The Republicans were the victors at the No- vember election. The Tribune of November 5 said: "God be praised ! Chicago has redeemed herself. Glory enough for one day. Glory enough to have wiped out Toryism from our midst. The last vestige of Tory Democracy is swept away. They flooded the wards with illegal voters and counterfeit tickets. They deprived our gallant soldiers, so far as they were able, of the right to vote. But the war men of Chicago stood shoulder to shoulder and fought the battle like veterans. The result is the complete success of the Republican Union ticket."
Mr. Arnold was elected over Sherman for Congress by 1,740 votes. For sheriff in Cook county D. S. Hammond, Republican, received 10,085 votes and Charles Walsh, Democrat, 9,369 votes. The rest of the ticket gave about the same Republican majority. During 1862 the citizens of Chicago had prepared a new charter for the city and sent strong delegates to Springfield to have the same passed by the Legislature. It was during this campaign that the religious question as against the educational question cut a strong figure in local politics. The new charter divided the city into sixteen wards instead of ten as before. The Council was equally divided between the two parties, so that it was deadlocked and no meetings were held until March 23, 1869. The Tribune of March 25 said : "On Monday night the Council met for the first time since December 22, 1862. The reasons of the long interim are familiar as household words to the public-the dastardly at- tempt while Union members were absent from the city to throw the political power into the hands of an unscrupulous Copperhead faction by foul means to undermine the school system. To prevent this the Union men refused a quorum. A week ago a caucus was held by the whole Council to settle a basis by compromise, if possi-
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ble, upon which they could meet. The caucus was a stormy one and after several hours' debate the Union men offered to let the Copperheads divide Bridgeport into two voting precincts and allowed them to name five men as school inspectors to take the place of the five members of the old board."
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During the spring campaign of 1863 there were sharp contests between the two leading parties. Resolutions introduced in the Council by Alderman Holden were vetoed by Mayor Sherman on the ground of their being of too partisan a nature. Undoubtedly the Republicans at this time desired to commit the Democrats in the Council to a stronger support of the war measures of the ad- ministration. Back of Mayor Sherman, and no doubt sustaining him, was the old Invincible club, an organization of the Democracy more or less opposed to Mr. Lincoln's policy of carrying on the war. Alderman Shimp, a Democrat, held the balance of power in the Council. Whether he was purchased or not, he sided with the Republicans and thereafter voted with them, casting his vote for the patriotic resolutions introduced by Mr. Holden. During this campaign the Tribune said that Mr. Sherman was sound on the question of the war, but that he was in bad company when he affili- ated with the Times and the Copperhead element. In the spring of 1863 Mr. Sherman was renominated for mayor by the Democracy and T. B. Bryan was nominated by the Republicans. It should be noticed at this time that the Democrats did not condemn the war, but only the management of it. Their attitude is shown by the following resolution passed at one of their public meetings ; also will be shown the following opinion of the Tribune concerning an act of the mayor :
"Resolved, That we deplore the want of success of this adminis- tration in putting down this most wicked rebellion; that we arraign the party in power as responsible for the failure so far to vindicate the majesty of the Constitution and the supremacy of our flag; that we condemn the manner in which the war is conducted and firmly believe that the restoration of the Union is dependent upon the strong arm of Democracy-our conservative American people."
"An Infamous Outrage .- The Mayor of Chicago has Released the Inmates of Bridewell .- Yesterday the mayor of Chicago, 'Hove-in Sherman,' released nearly all the inmates of the bridewell on condition that they would vote for him today. This is an actual fact! Our streets are now filled with these jail birds, who will vote the Copperhead ticket. Union men of Chicago, will you endure this outrage?"
At the municipal election of the spring of 1863 twelve Republi- cans and nineteen Democrats were chosen, there being one vacancy. The Bridgeport ward was called the "Egypt of Chicago." Before the election the Democrats claimed that Bridgeport alone would elect Sherman, and the result showed that it did. Nearly the whole
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Democrat ticket was elected by majorities ranging from 250 to 300. Mr. Sherman, Democratic candidate for mayor, received 10,252 and Mr. Bryan, Republican, 10,095. The majority was narrow and the Republicans claimed that the Democrats carried the election by fraud. They appointed a committee to investigate and Mr. Bryan notified Mr. Sherman that he would contest the seat for the mayoralty. In June, 1863, Chicago was intensely excited over what was known as the "Gridiron Bill." It was an attempt to unite all the street railways of Chicago and to secure a ninety-nine- year franchise. Notwithstanding the protest of Chicago in public meetings and the fact that an immense petition against the measure was sent to Springfield, the Legislature passed the bill. On June 10 Governor Yates prorogued the Legislature and later vetoed the "Gridiron Bill," but the Legislature passed it over his veto.
On June 18, 1863, the Democratic party here came out boldly in opposition to a further prosecution of the war and demanded that a convention be named to secure peace upon a Union basis. During the fall the campaign was exciting. For superior judge, Joseph E. Gary was nominated by the Republicans and Buckner S. Morris by the Democrats. Gary was elected, his vote being 10,450 to 5,634 for Mr. Morris. The Republicans swept the county. At this time there were two precincts in each ward; there had previ- ously been but one in each.
At the municipal election in 1864 the Republicans carried the mayoralty contest by a little over 300 majority. The Common Council was pretty equally divided. In order to secure a quorum Mayor Sherman was more than once obliged to arrest and bring into the room a reluctant Republican. At this time Alderman Val- entine Ruh, a ward Democrat, came out for the Republicans and thereafter in the City Council voted with that party. The Council was deadlocked for eleven consecutive hours-from 8 in the eve- ning, May 16, until 7:30 in the morning, Tuesday, May 17. After coming out in their favor Mr. Ruh was serenaded by the Repub- licans, and on this occasion Alderman Shimp, likewise a deserter from the Democrat ranks, addressed and congratulated him for his course. In May, 1864, at the convention which nominated a candi- date for governor, Cook county cast its entire delegate vote of forty-nine for Richard J. Oglesby. On June 10 the Republicans formally opened the campaign here at Metropolitan hall, on which occasion Mr. Oglesby was the principal speaker. He was followed by Grant Goodrich; Frank Lumbard sang "Old Shady" and "The Battle Cry of Freedom."
The most important event in political circles during the summer of 1864 was the Democratic National convention held here. It was fixed for August 29, but delegates began to arrive by the 24th. Soon all the leading hotels were filled with the delegates and their friends. Among the prominent men who came here were Fernando
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Wood, Ben Wood, Clement L. Vallandigham, Horatio Seymour, S. J. Tilden, Dean Richmond, August Belmont, ex-Gov. William Allen of Ohio, George Francis Train, Joseph E. McDonald and Sunset Cox. The Tribune of August 26, 1864, said: "Vallan- digham took a walk last evening and returned to the Sherman house about 8 o'clock. He was followed by a suffocating crowd, the large hall being densely packed within three minutes after he had entered. Great enthusiasm was manifested, hats were thrown up, and loud calls were made for a speech, which, however, were not honored."
The Democratic campaign cry was, "An armistice and then peace." On August 26 Vallandigham delivered an extended speech on the courthouse square. Other leading speakers in the city were Henry Clay Dean of Iowa, Vallandigham, Fernando Wood, Sunset Cox and Samuel J. Tilden. The latter was one of the committee on resolutions. John Wentworth, who had previously been the most influential Democrat in Northern Illinois, was called upon for a speech and responded by endeavoring to answer Mr. Vallan- digham. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans was in the city at the time. Wil- liam Bigler of Pennsylvania was temporary chairman, but the con- vention was called to order by August Belmont, chairman of the national committee. The convention declared in favor of the Union, but also asserted that, as the administration of Mr. Lincoln had failed to restore the Union, hostilities should cease with the view of a convention to establish peace and to restore the Union upon the basis of states. The latter was the clause to which the Republicans objected. Horatio Seymour was made permanent chairman. The newspapers stated that Vallandigham was clearly the hero of the convention. McClellan was nominated on the first ballot by a big majority and then pandemonium broke loose. Val- landigham was one to move that Mcclellan's nomination be made unanimous.
During the fall the Republicans nominated John Wentworth for Congress and the Democrats nominated Cyrus H. McCormick. On October 6 Robert G. Ingersoll spoke on the issues of the campaign at Bryan hall. There were many personalities in the contest be- tween Mr. Wentworth and Mr. McCormick. The Tribune could not understand on one occasion why the Times should hang out the Stars and Stripes with the names McClellan and Pendleton in- scribed thereon. It was called "rank sacrilege." On one occasion the Tribune misquoted Mr. McCormick and was corrected by the latter, who said: "My statement was that the Union ought not to be restored on the subjugating, confiscating and exterminating terms of Mr. Lincoln."
One of the largest political rallies ever held in Chicago, up to that date, assembled here on November 3, 1864. All of Northern Illinois was represented; the adjacent counties and every town in Cook county sent large delegations. Lyons was represented with
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nineteen wagons; Evanston by a delegation at the head of which was an immense wagon containing thirty-five young ladies, who represented the States of the Union, dressed with blue caps with golden stars and with small flags on their sleeves. It was estimated that 75,000 people were present. Everybody was given a meal at Bryan hall; at night there was an immense torchlight procession. Many speakers held forth on public corners and at various halls. The next day Salmon P. Chase delivered a speech three hours in length. When the returns came in it was seen that the Ninth ward was the banner Republican ward of Cook county. Lincoln received there 1,428 votes and McClellan 784. The Tenth ward came next. Palatine was the banner Republican town; it gave Lincoln 280 and McClellan thirteen. Hyde Park came next with 115 Republicans and eleven Democrats. Lake went to Lincoln by a majority of one. Lincoln carried Cook county by a vote of 18,667 to 14,351 for McClellan. This was by far the largest vote ever polled in Cook county up to that date. On November 10 the Republicans held an immense meeting to celebrate the election. The speakers were: William Bross, lieutenant governor elect; I. N. Arnold, E. C. Larned and J. V. Farwell. During the week of the election the Tribune claimed to have circulated daily an average of 46,900 copies. In January, 1865, the all-absorbing question with the people was "The Ninety-nine Years Street Railway Extension Franchise." An immense meeting was held at Metropolitan hall and strong reso- lutions in opposition to it were passed. Only one representative from Cook county, William Jackson, had stood against the bill and was thanked publicly by this meeting. Two of the resolutions were as follows :
"Resolved, By the citizens of Chicago in mass meeting assem- bled, that it is the firm and deliberate conviction of his meeting that ninety-nine out of every hundred of the residents and property holders of said city are earnestly and unalterably opposed to any extension of the franchises of said corporations and to any further legislation on the subject.
"Resolved, That we hereby most firmly and decidedly censure and reprobate the conduct of such of our representatives as voted for this most obnoxious monopoly."
The bill was called "The Century Franchise" and was not a partisan measure. All people except those who expected to reap a benefit firmly opposed it. It was also called "The Ninety-nine Years Steal." On January 26, 1865, the friends of the bill in the Legislature applied the "Gag Law" and it was forced through successfully. Two days later an immense meeting in opposition to the bill was held in Bryan hall. The friends of the measure packed the meeting with from 200 to 300 of their employes on the front seats, but over 2,000 citizens assembled and ruled the meet- ing. All speakers opposed the bill that would unite all the Chicago
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street railways for a term of ninety-nine years. It was shown that 9,000 people here in one day had signed a petition in opposition to the measure and that in the Legislature, although two-thirds of the Cook county representatives opposed the bill, it was forced through. The speakers declared that if the Chicago street railways were strong enough to force such a measure through the Legislature, they should be resisted at once and to the bitter end. The follow- ing resolutions were passed :
"Resolved, By the citizens of Chicago in mass meeting assem- bled, that we view with astonishment and regard with indignation the bill recently passed by the two houses of the Legislature of this state in relation to horse railways in this city.
"Resolved, That said bill is a fraud upon the rights of the city and citizens and creates an odious and perpetual monopoly which is of great and permanent injury to the public interests and dan- gerous to the public right and welfare."
The Tribune of January 30 said: "Never has a larger or more enthusiastic meeting been held in the city of Chicago to protest against the invasion of popular rights." It was realized that the rights thus given away were worth to the public millions of dollars. A delegation was sent to Springfield to urge the governor not to sign the bill; the Board of Trade publicly condemned it; accord- ingly, on February 5 Governor Oglesby vetoed the same. The Legislature promptly passed it over his veto and intense excitement and. indignation were kindled in Chicago. It passed the senate eighteen to five and the house fifty-five to twenty-three; only three Cook county men voted for it, viz., Eastman in the Senate and Huntley and Dolton in the House. Governor Oglesby was thanked by the County Board of Supervisors for his veto. Immediate steps were taken to have the measure reconsidered.
The new city charter which came into effect under the law of February, 1865, provided that each town and each ward should have one county supervisor. In the city of Chicago it was provided that each ward should have one member of the board of education. The police commissioners were to be elected by the county and were to have county jurisdiction. The mayor was excluded from membership on the board of county supervisors, board 'of police commissioners and board of public works. In March, 1865, a citi- zens' committee of all parties was appointed to report on a method of instituting reform in the public service. County and ward asso- ciations were organized and, in fact, the association was extended to the county towns. The following is a form of the association :
"We hereby form ourselves into a ward association under the name of the Ward People's Anti-Monopoly and Reform association, to cooperate with the citizens' committee and agree to support a ticket for the next municipal election to be composed of honest and able men, without distinction of party,
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who are opposed to monopolies and to all unnecessary taxation and in favor of a strict economy in the administration of public affairs."
The officers of the central association were E. C. Larned, presi- dent; M. F. Tuley, secretary and L. C. P. Freer, treasurer. This organization seems to have died a natural death. In March, 1865, Samuel Hoard succeeded John Scripps as postmaster of Chicago. In March all voters were required to register. The Republican newspapers charged at this time that "Wabash C. Goudy and Wilbur F. Storey are the real mayor of Chicago." The Republicans nomi- nated for mayor John B. Rice and the Democrats renominated F. C. Sherman. The Republican ticket was elected by a large majority. It will be noted that the new city charter gave the three members of the Board of Police extraordinary powers; they were clothed with power over the Police department, Fire department and Board of Health. There was one police commissioner to each of the three principal divisions of the city.
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RUNAWAY SLAVES
I N the year 1802 a special convention of delegates from the re- spective counties of Indiana Territory petitioned Congress for the suspension of the Sixth article of the Ordinance of 1787, concerning slavery. In 1805 a majority of the Legislature of Indiana Territory remonstrated with Congress on the subject ; but in 1806 such Legislature passed sundry resolutions, addressed to Congress, "declaratory of their sense of the propriety of admit- ting slaves, and as the citizens of the Territory decidedly approve of the toleration of slavery" the Legislature communicated to Con- gress the reasons which influenced them to favor the measure. Ac- cordingly the usual arguments in favor of slavery were set forth and ended with the request that the aforesaid Sixth article be suspended for a term of years, passed Sept. 19, 1807.
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