USA > Illinois > Piatt County > History of Piatt County; together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time > Part 6
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CHAPTER VII ..
ILLINOIS A STATE.
" What constitutes a State ?
* * * * Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain. * * * * *
And sovereign law, that states collected will O'er thrones and globes elate,
Sits empress, crowning good, refreshing ill."
A NEW era in the history of Illinois began in 1818. The people for some time had been wishing for a change of govern- ment, and accordingly Nath. Pope, the delegate to congress, was instructed to plead for the admission of Illinois into the Union. Judge Pope's discernment led him to make some amendments to the bill for admission, by which the port of Chicago was brought within the boundaries of the state. This addition to the new state connected her interests more firmly with the east, the south and the west. Thus while greatly advancing Illinois, another link was added to the chain which bound the states in union.
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ILLINOIS A STATE.
Another amendment of great importance in the future well-being of Illinois was the appliance of three per cent of the fund from the sale of public lands to the advancement of education.
A convention was called to meet in July, 1818, at Kaskaskia, for the purpose of drafting the first constitution of the State of Illinois. Elias K. Kane was the principal member of this convention, and to his talent are we indebted for many worthy features of the constitution.
An election for the officers of the new state was held in September, 1818. Shadrach Bond was elected as the first governor of the State of Illinois. Gov. Bond was a native of Maryland, and was a plain man, who made no pretentions to learning, but was possessed of good com- mon sense. Pierre Menard was made the first lieutenant governor of the state. He being a foreigner, and not having been a citizen thirty years, the people of the state showed their belief in his worth by alter- ing a part of the constitution for his special benefit.
These two men bothi had counties named in their honor.
In October, 1818, the legislature convened at Kaskaskia and elected Joseplı Philips chief justice, while Thomas C. Brown, John Reynolds and William P. Foster were made associate justices. Ninian Edwards and Jesse B. Thomas were elected Illinois' first senators to congress. Elias K. Kane was appointed secretary of state, while Daniel P. Cook was elected first attorney general ; Elijah C. Berry, auditor of public accounts, and Jesse B. Thomas, state treasurer.
By the men whose names are here recorded, Illinois, as a state, was launched upon the sea of time. She was only launched as yet ; her voyage began when on December 3, 1818, congress declared her one of the United States, and placed her upon an equal footing with the original states. At the time of the adoption of the constitution only about one-fourth of the state was organized into counties. Fifteen counties were formed, and of these Bond was farthest north. The settled portion of the state was all south of this county. In 1820 the population of Illinois was 55,211. The increase during the preceding decade had been enormous. With the exception of the French and Canadian settlers most of the inhabitants came in from the south.
At this time the majority of the people of Illinois were in debt. This had come about by the anticipations of the settlers to become suddenly wealthy. A crisis came and the legislature sought to remedy the evil by creating state banks. Several banks were founded, the principal one being at Vandalia. This banking scheme, however, proved a failure. During Bond's administration the seat of govern- ment was moved to Vandalia.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
GOVERNOR COLES.
Ed. Coles was elected governor in 1822. The slavery question was thoroughly discussed at this election. Anti-slavery gained the day. Mr. Coles was a native of Virginia, and, upon leaving that state for Illinois, had emancipated his slaves. This election came while the people were still agitated upon the settlement of the Missouri question of slavery. Although with the election of Gov. Coles the slavery party was defeated, it was not by any means anni- hilated. This party expressed themselves as determined to carry their measures in the sessions of the legislatures of 1822-3. Soon the entire state was in an unheard of condition of excitement. A furious contest began which was to last for some eighteen months. Contributions were raised for the benefit of both sides. Gov. Coles cheerfully con- tributed $4,000, his entire term's salary.
The day of election finally arrived, and both parties exerted them- selves to the utinost to show a full vote. At last the decision was inade and again anti-slavery gained the day. Illinois had never witnessed such an exciting and angry election as took place that day. But all ill-feelings soon subsided and before a year had passed all seemed pleased with the existing state of affairs.
The summer of 1825 was noted for the great increase in the number of immigrants. The majority of the people seemed bound for Sangamon county, which at this time was the most populous county of the state.
Some space will readily be used just here to make mention of Gen. La Fayette's visit to Illinois. Gov. Coles had met Gen. La Fayette in France, and upon hearing of his arrival in the United States had requested him to visit Illinois. This visit was made in May, 1825. Great numbers of people extended to La Fayette a patriotic welcome. Receptions were given him at Vandalia and at Shawneetown. From this place La Fayette took a kindly and affectionate leave of his Illinois friends.
GOVERNOR EDWARDS.
In August, 1826, Ninian Edwards was elected governor. Gov. Ford's description of Gov. Edwards is quite brilliant. His "princely appearance" and "florid eloquence" are made special mention of.
At this same election there was an exciting contest between Dan P. Cook and Joseph Duncan, the candidates for congress. Mr. Duncan gained the victory. This election may be considered, aside from the troubles in 1824, the beginning of party principles in Illinois.
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ILLINOIS A STATE.
Gov. Edwards no sooner entered the duties of his office than he began to complain of the condition of the state finances. He thought he detected wrong acting in the officers in some of the banks, and did not hesitate to make known his charges. Many of the influential men of the state opposed Gov. Edwards in this movement, and the result was, that all the men were acquitted of the charges brought against them.
During Gov. Edwards' administration, in 1827, occurred the Winne- bago war, or scare as it is sometimes called. This trouble has already been referred to. In 1827 Galena was fast attracting men to the lead mines .* Already there were six or seven thousand miners in and around Galena. It was there at this time that the offensive name of "suckers " as applied to Illinoisans originated. Many people from the central and southern part of the state were in the habit of going up tlie Mississippi to the lead mines to work during the summer, but went back down the river to winter. Some one saw a resemblance between such movements and those of the fish known as suckers. Hence the Illinoisans were termed "suckers." Some other accounts are given of the origin of the term, but this seems the most plausible. It is to be hoped that the use of this odious terin, as well as of those terms applied to the inhabitants of some of our neighboring states, will ere long be done away with.
In 1830 the population was 157,447.+ From Alton to Peoria set- tlements were quite plenty, principally near the streams. As yet the people had strenuously avoided settling on the open prairies.
GOVERNOR REYNOLDS.
John Reynolds was elected governor in August, 1830. Gov. Rey- nolds was a native of Pennsylvania. He came from Tennessee to Illinois in 1800. He had long lived among the frontier people and he had thoroughly imbibed their ways. Stuvé styles him "one of the public oddities in the annals of the state." Gov. Ford styles him as a "man of remarkably good sense and shrewdness for the sphere in which he chose to move." He had a kind disposition, and was always ready to bestow a favor. He was in public life a great deal, and died in 1865. The Black Hawk war, which has already been mentioned, occurred during Gov. Reynolds' administration.
The session of the legislature in 1832-3 was especially distinguished by the fact that at this time the first serious efforts were made for the construction of railroads in the state.
* Ford. + Ford.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
GOVERNOR DUNCAN.
Joseph Duncan was made governor of the state in 1834. Gov. Duncan was a native of Kentucky, distinguished himself during the war of 1812, and later held several state offices. During the session of 1824-5 he greatly distinguished himself by framing and introducing the first bill in regard to a system of free schools in the state. In Gov. Duncan's message he recommended many state improvements, which were quite fully carried out. Public highways were made throughout the state and a good deal of attention was paid to the canal and railroad charters. At the time of Gov. Duncan's election the state was in an unusually prosperous condition and the people were free from debt.
During his administration several banking schemes were brought forward with the hopes of bettering the condition of affairs ; but it was soon discovered that this was a mistaken idea.
Under his administration, too, was begun the "State internal improvement system," and at the close of his administration people liad not ceased to be dazzled by this grand scheme.
In 1837 the Lovejoy riot occurred." Lovejoy had tried to start an abolitionist paper in St. Louis. Being compelled to leave that city he went to Alton. He was strongly urged not to start such a paper in Alton, but notwithstanding such urging, and in spite of threats, he started a religious paper. Soon his abolition principles began to be manifest, and the community was roused against him. The final result was that a riot occurred, in which Lovejoy lost his life.
In 1837 Ex-Gov. Reynolds, with others, built the first railroad in the state. This road was six miles long, and connected a coal mine with the Mississippi river opposite St. Louis. The first locomotive in Illinois was put upon the Meredosia & Springfield. railroad Novem- ber 8, 1838.
GOVERNOR CARLIN.
Gov. Carlin, of Irish lineage, was elected in 1838, and was a native of Kentucky. He came to Illinois from Missouri in 1812. He was a commander of a spy battalion in the Black Hawk war. He held several publie offices. Ilis death occurred in 1852.
Although some began to see the folly of the system, yet Gov. Carlin was decidedly in favor of the state internal improvement system. Before a year had passed, however, the governor began to change his mind in regard to such a plan. In 1840 the end came.
* Reynolds' " My Own Times."
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ILLINOIS A STATE.
The state improvement system had proved an absolute failure. Illi- nois had not been alone in this species of folly. Several other states had learned a like lesson. The state was now in debt, and hard times had come. Gov. Ford, speaking of the year 1841, says: "For want of full knowledge of her condition abroad, and of the condition of other new states in a short time, Illinois and some others in the west became a stench in the nostrils of the civilized world. The people at home began to wake up in terror ; the people abroad, who wished to settle in a new country, avoided Illinois, as they would pestilence and famine, and there was great danger that the future emigrants would be men who, having no regard for their own characters, would also have no regard for the state where they might live.
An additional trouble came to the people of Illinois when in February and in June, 1842, the state bank and the bank at Shaw- neetown exploded. Certain ruin seemed impending over this and its neighboring states.
GOVERNOR FORD.
Thomas Ford was elected governor of Illinois in 1842. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1800. His father was killed by the Indians in 1802. After his father's deatlı his mother with her family moved west and finally settled in Illinois.
Gov. Ford was quite a good lawyer. As an author, too, he ranked quite high.
Gov. Ford thus sums up the condition of the state at the time he became governor : "The domestic treasury of the state was indebted for the ordinary expenses of the government to the amount of about $313,000. Auditor's warrants on the treasury were selling at fifty per cent discount, and there was no money in the treasury whatever, not even to pay postage on letters. The annual revenues applicable to the payment of ordinary expenses amounted to $130.000. The treasury was bankrupt ; the revenues were insufficient ; the people were unable and unwilling to pay high taxes, and the state had borrowed itself out of all credit. A debt of near $14,000,000 had been contracted for canals, railroads, and other purposes. The currency of the state had been annihilated, and there was not over $200,000 or $300,000 in good money in the pockets of the inhabitants, which occasioned a general inability to pay taxes. The whole people were indebted to merchants, nearly all of whom were indebted to the banks or to foreign merchants ; the banks owed everybody, and none were able to pay.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
The governor and legislature set themselves to work to extricate the state from some of her embarrassments. In spite of many dis- couragements success was the outcome. At the close of Gov. Ford's administration the state government expenses were reduced from $313,- 000 to $31,212. The treasury contained $9,260. About $3,000,000 of the public debt had been liquidated. All this had been done be- sides other things not mentioned, so that the credit of the state became sufficient to borrow enough money to finish the Illinois & Michigan canal. Mr. Stuvé says: "The year 1845 was the turning point in her financial embarrassments and marks the beginning of her since una- bated prosperity and march to greatness."
Gov. Ford was certainly the right man in the right place. It would be impossible for Illinois to estimate how much of her present pros- perity she owes to the genius and fidelity of this honored man. After his term of office closed Gov. Ford retired to private life, and during his retirement prepared his history of Illinois. Upon his deathbed in 1850 he placed the manuscript in the hands of Gen. James Shields, with the request that he should have it published for the benefit of his family.
GOVERNOR FRENCH.
In the election of August, 1846, A. C. Frenchi was chosen to suc- ceed Gov. Ford. Gov. French was a native of New Hampshire, and was born August 2, 1808. His father died when he was young, and most of his early education devolved upon his mother, who died when her son was but nineteen years old. Notwithstanding his fatherly care of four brothers and sisters, he attended Dartmouth College for a time and afterward read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1831. After this he removed to Illinois and became a warm friend of Stephen A. Douglas. After the close of his services as governor he occupied the chair of mathematics of McKendrie College at Lebanon. Gov. French being, as he was, at the head of the state, found himself equal to the emergency, and through his economy, prudence and discretion the credit of the state, which had been partially regained by Gov. Ford, was completely restored. Stuvé says of him : "He was zeal- ously devoted to the best interests of the state, ever acting for the public good without regard to personal advantage or aggrandizement."
When Illinois was admitted into the Union a compact was made by which all lands sold within her boundary were exempt from taxation for a period of five years after their sale. After several appeals to
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ILLINOIS A STATE.
congress the legislature gained its object, and finally, by act of February 19, 1847, it was provided that lands were subject to taxation immedi- ately after their sale. By this act the revenue of the state was greatly increased.
In 1847 the Northern Cross railroad, now the Wabash, was sold. With these and other judicious acts by the governor and legislature the state continued in a prosperous condition, and in 1850 "for the first time since 1839, the accruing state revenue, exclusive of specific appro- priations, was sufficient to meet the current demands upon the treasury."
It was in 1849 that the legislature passed the first township organi- zation act, which was revised in 1851, and again in 1871.
After repeated advisals in Gov. French's messages, the legislature in 1851 passed an act to exempt homesteads from sale on execution. Toward the close of his administration quite an excitement was raised in Illinois and in the city of St. Louis by the latter's attempting, without permission from Illinois, to change the main current of the Mississippi river to the St. Louis side by constructing a dyke across the eastern channel of the river from Bloody Island to the Illinois side. A com- promise, however, was ultimately made and the dyke was completed, and East St. Louis is the result.
In 1849 the Illinois legislature began and kept up for several years work on what was known as "State policy." The object of this state policy was that Illinois was to fix the termini of all railroads crossing the state, and that these should be placed so as not to build up cities of other states to the detriment of her own. One of the prime causes which first brought forward "state policy" was that Illinois had no disposition to assist in building up St. Louis, since it seemed she had so lately, in case of the "Bloody Island" dyke, been trying to take undue advantage of Illinois. But finally the narrow state policy gave place to a more liberal view, and when this was done Illinois had sur- mounted another obstruction which had checked her onward progress.
Congress, in September 1850, granted to Illinois 3,000,000 acres of land, for the completion of the Illinois Central railroad, which had originally been a part of the state internal improvement system of 1837. Not only the government, but the state, was vastly benefited by the building of this railroad. Immigration increased and the value of lands in the vicinity of the railroad advanced rapidly.
GOVERNOR MATTESON.
The democracy gained the victory in 1852, and Joel A. Matteson
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
was made governor. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, August 8, 1808. He received a common school education, and prior to his settling in 1833 in Kendall county, Illinois, he had spent a good deal of time in traveling in the east and in the southern states. Upon arriving in Kendall county he opened a large farm. In 1836 he moved to Joliet, and in 1842 he was elected state senator.
Gov. Matteson had proved himself a very successful business man, and when the helm of the state was placed in his hand, he, by his liberal views and sense of justice, was amply fitted for his task.
Gov. Matteson, in his message, spoke at length upon the increasing advancement of the state. He recommended the building of a northern penitentiary. He also advocated the adoption of a free-school system ; but it was not until 1855 that the law for maintaining free schools was passed.
The educational interests of the state began to advance rapidly under the working of the new school system. The proportion of pupils attending school increased rapidly, and the wages of teachers were advanced.
During Matteson's administration over $7,000,000 of the public debt was paid. The population of Chicago during this time was doubled, and about 2,500 miles of railroad were built in Illinois.
GOVERNOR BISSELL.
In 1856 Wm. H. Bissell was elected governor. He was born April 25, 1811, in Yates county, New York. After gaining a fair education he came west and located as a physician in Monroe county, Illinois. He soon found that he had mistaken his calling, and so began the study and practice of law. In 1840 he was elected to the legislature, after which time he was admitted to the bar. In 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican war, and was elected colonel of his regiment and greatly distinguished himself. Upon his return home he was elected to congress and served two terms in that office. A disease contracted by exposure in the army caused him to be unable to walk without crutches. His death occurred in 1860, nearly a year before his term of office as governor expired. Mr. Stuvé thus quotes from Gov. Palmer's funeral oration : "When it is remembered that Wm. H. Bissell, in the short period of sixteen years, without early educa- tional advantages, abandoned, at the mature age of thirty years, one profession -quitting the dull and laborious routine of a country doctor and resolutely turning his attention to the profession of the law, as
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ILLINOIS A STATE.
affording him a wider field for his active imagination and aspiring ambition ; attained speedily at the latter eminence as an irresistible advocate; distinguislied himself as a soldier; as an accomplished orator took front rank in the halls of national legislature; and, as the standard-bearer of a new party marching toward national freedom, was elevated to the first position of his state by the partiality of a grateful and confiding people, his life may be considered a brilliant success."
After Gov. Bissell's inauguration a stormy session of the house ensued. Logan made a speech which lasted two days, and which "in severity of language excels, perhaps, anything that that gentleman has ever uttered."
Another stormy discussion occurred in 1859 over the apportion- ment bill.
Gov. Bissell made many mistakes while in office which may in part be traced to the state of his health.
It was also in 1859 that the great frand known as the "Canal script fraud" was discovered. The excitement subsequent to the discovery was greatly increased by the fact that the feeling of confidence and respect, which the people had had for Ex-Gov. Matteson, was suddenly reversed. Gov. Matteson, upon his retirement from office, was respected very highly indeed, but with the discovery of the frauds soon the public opinion was turned against him.
GOVERNOR .YATES.
In 1860 the republicans of Illinois gained a grand victory. Lin- coln was elected president of the United States, and Richard Yates governor of Illinois. Richard Yates was born January 18, 1818, at Warsaw, Gallatin county, Kentucky. His father moved to Sangamon county in 1831. In 1837 he graduated with the first honors from the Illinois college at Jacksonville. He afterward served three or four terms in the legislature. He held the chair of state during the most exciting term of four years that our country has ever seen. At this time he had the implicit confidence and trust of the people of Illinois, and his love for the Union led him to work always in its behalf. He gave a ready second to all the military efforts of the state. His procla- mations and special messages are noted specially for the depth of feel- ing and elegance of expression portrayed. The civil events during Governor Yates' administration were not of very great importance. The time was mostly taken up by bitter party quarrels. Much party
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
excitement prevailed during the constitutional convention of 1862, and again at the last democratic legislature of 1863.
GOVERNOR OGLESBY.
Again in 1864 the republicans of Illinois gained a victory and Richard J. Oglesby was elected governor. Governor Oglesby was born in 1824, in Oldham county, Kentucky. He was left an orphan at eight years of age, and when twelve years old came to live with an unele at Decatur, Illinois. Here he, at various times, studied law and worked at the carpenter's trade, and at farming. He volunteered in the Mexican war, was elected first lieutenant of Co. C, 4th Illinois reg., and took part in the battle of Cerro Gordo. He has traveled considerably in this country, in Europe, and the Holy Land. He was elected state senator in 1860, but when the war broke out lie was made colonel of the Sth Ill. reg. He was distinguished for his bravery in battle, and upon his partial recovery from an almost fatal wound, he was promoted to a major-generalship. His wound, however, led him to retire from active service in less than three months.
Notwithstanding the great draft of the war upon Illinois at the close of rebellion, in prosperity she was the peer of any state in the Union. This was the case, although at its beginning times seemed unusually hard.
Peace was made in 1865, and since then the elections in the state liave, in general, had a republican majority. Ex-Gov. Yates was elected to the United States senate in 1865. Illinois was the first to ratify the 13th amendment to the constitution of the United States abolishing slavery. This legislature gave itself up quite thoroughly to the enactment of local and private laws.
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