History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 40

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 40

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

248

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

eating human flesh. It seems the more wonder- ful that they should all have lived through, when their natural protector was separated from them so much of the time.

The scene of the great suffering just described began west of the Great Salt Lake, in a salt desert, and extended hundreds of miles west- ward, over a succession of mountain ranges, running principally north and south, known as the Sierra Nevada mountains. Localities could not then be described, except by natural boun- daries, such as mountains and valleys. The territory then belonged to Mexico, and the suf- fering and destitution that met the emigrants seemed only a realization of what might reason- ably be expected in leaving the land of the Stars and Stripes to come under the sway of the

benighted Mexican flag. But the old adage that " the darkest hour is just before the break of day," has been fully realized in this case to. those who survived. The war they found in the Sacramento valley, waged by Mexico for the avowed purpose of exterminating the few scat- tered Americans on the Pacific coast, termin- ated in that whole region of country being ceded to our government. Then followed the dis- covery of gold, the influx of Americans, and the organization of the States of California and Oregon, and, a few years later, Nevada. The locality of the closing scene, the camp where the Donners died, is marked by a small body of water among the mountains, now known as Lake Donner, in the western part of the State of Nevada.

249

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIII.

POLITICAL.

Like all other intelligent communities in the United States, the people of Sangamon county have participated with earnestness in the various political contests that have agitated the country at large, and have had also their own local polit- ical agitations. In the following pages the attempt is made to briefly show the various issues that have entered into the campaigns, fol- lowing the whole with the official vote of every general election, giving only the principal offi- cers voted for, as showing the condition of the various parties the time mentioned. A volume could easily be written the size of this work, upon the political history alone of Sangamon county. Centrally situated, and for almost half a century its chief city being the capital of the State, the greater number of the political con- ventions have been held here. From this point, therefore radiate the great political measures that agitate the people of the State, and their influences are first felt in this county.

1824 .- The first political question at issue this year, was that of a Constitutional Convention. This Convention was called for the purpose of amending the Constitution, permitting slavery in the State. In this county the friends of a free State were successful. The following is the vote:

For Convention. 153

Against Convention. 722

569

There were four Presidential candidates this year: Andrew Jackson, John Q. Adams, Wil- Jiam H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. The can- didates for county officers were numerous, there being five for Sheriff, and four for Coroner. John Taylor was the successful candidate for the former office, and James McNabb for the latter.

1826 .- Local officers were elected this year. Elijah Iles was elected State Senator over Ed- ward Robinson by a majority of 213.

1828 .- Another presidential year, the candi- dates being Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, the latter being a candidate for re-elec- tion. The usual number of candidates for local offices were before the people, and the canvass was quite spirited. The total vote polled in Sangamon county was 1,219, against 875 in 1824. James D. Henry was the successful can- didate for Sheriff and Philip Fowler for Cor- oner.

1830 .- Local officers alone were to be elected. James D. Henry was the successful candidate for Sheriff, receiving a majority of 1,503 over George Power.

1832 .- The parties this year were known as the Jackson Republicans and the National Re- publicans. Andrew Jackson was the candidate of the former for re-election to the Presidency, and Henry Clay the latter. The issues were those of national internal improvements, pro- tection to domestic manufactures, the United States bank and reform. The party supporting Henry Clay favored a United States bank, a protective tariff and a system of internal im- provements by the general government. Joseph Duncan was the candidate of the Jackson party for Congress, and Jonathan H. Pugh of the Clay party. No county conventions were held, but a large number of candidates were in the field for the various offices to be filled. Hand- bills were freely circulated setting forth the claims of each to office, or showing the unfitness of opposing candidates. The Jackson party was successful both in August and November. During this year that portion of Sangamon, afterwards stricken off as the county of Menard, began to agitate the question of a separation, and presented Abraham Lincoln as their candi- date for the Legislature. Mr. Lincoln was very popular, and obtained nearly the entire vote of that section, but was defeated by the Jackson men, who had a large majority in the county, and Mr. Lincoln being an ardent Clay man.

250

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1834 .- State and county officers were to be elected. For Governor there were four candi- dates-Joseph Duncan, William Kinney, James Adams and R. K. Mclaughlin. For county officers their name is legion. Abraham Lincoln was a candidate for Representative in the legis- lature, and was elected by a handsome majority, receiving a larger vote than any of his colleagues on the ticket: At his old home in Salem he was called upon for a speech, and replied in the following characteristic manner :

" Gentlemen, Fellow Citizens :- I presume you all know who I am. I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by many friends to become a candidate for the legislature. My politics are short and sweet, like an old woman's dance. I am in favor of a national bank. I am in favor of the internal improvement system and a high protective tariff. These are my sentiments and political principles. If elected, I will be thankful. If not, it will be all the same."

The political issues were the same as in 1832. The opposition to the Jackson men were called Whigs in this campaign. State issues of im- portance, were the construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal and other internal improve- ments. The canvass was quite spirited all over the State, resulting in the election of Mr. Dun- can as Governor. The question of the removal of the State Capital from Vandalia was sub- mitted to the people. In this county the vote stood as follows:

For Springfield 2,261

For Alton. 10

For Centre. 21

For Vandalia 1 For Peoria 3

For Jacksonville. 1

1835 .- The year was remarkable for the ex- citement which existed in relation to the local election. At this time a re-organization of parties was begun, looking to the Presidential election the following year. A considerable portion of the Clay or Whig party, represented by George Forquer and Peter Cartwright, went over to the opposition, while a portion of the Jackson men, or Democrats, represented by John Dawson and others, coalesced with the Clay men, which led to a very animated contest. E. D. Taylor and George Forquer each resigned their seats in the State Senate. Archer G. Herndon, (anti-Van Buren), and John Calhoun, Democrat, were nominated to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the former, and Job Fletcher

and Peter Cartwright the latter. Regular county officers were to be elected, and the usual number of self-sacrificing individuals presented their names for the suffrage of the people. The political issues were unchanged, but Jackson men were now known as Democrats and the op- position as Whigs; though as the latter names were not familiar to the people, the two parties were frequently spoken of as Jackson or Van Buren men, and White men. The names of Martin Van Buren and Hugh L. White being presented by their respective parties for the Presidency in 1836. The canvass in Sangamon county was an exciting one, each party using its utmost endeavor to be successful before the peo- ple. John Calhoun and Peter Cartwright had been sent as delegates to a State Convention at Vandalia, which endorsed the candidacy of Van Buren, and had there pledged, so far as they were able, the vote of this county for that gen- tleman. The opposition took up the challenge thus offered, and therefore the intense excite- ment. The Whigs were triumphant.

1836 .- Party lines were now pretty strongly drawn, for the first time in the history of the country. Martin Van Buren was the. nominee of the Democracy for the Presidency, and Wil- liam H. Harrison was the candidate of the Whigs for the same office. John T. Stuart had been nominated by the Whigs and William L. May by the Democrats for Representative in Congress, from the Third Congressional Dis- trict, of which Sangamon county formed a part. These gentlemen both resided in Springfield and were representative men of their respective parties. Mr. May was elected. The Whig ean- didates for State Senators and Representatives were each elected. In the legislature they were know as the "Long Nine," being nine in num- ber, the aggregate height of all being fifty-four feet. It is but just to say of these men that they were giants in intellect as well as in stat- ure. Several of the number made national reputations. Every candidate on the Whig ticket received a majority in this county.

1837 .- The State bank question was the prin- cipal political issue in 1837. The hard times so severely felt by the people caused a great de- sire for more currency as the remedy for all financial ills. There being no National or State ticket to be elected, there was but little political excitement. Both parties had put forward rea- sonably good men for the local offices to be filled, it was not a canvass on which political calculations could be based; therefore represen- tatives of both parties were elected. The ques-

251

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

tion of slavery now began to be agitated, and judging from the following record of a public meeting held at Springfield, it would appear the Abolition leaven was working in old Sangamon: "At a meeting of citizens of Springfield, con- vened at the court room, on Monday, October 23, 1837, Judge Thomas C. Brown was called to the chair, and I. S. Britton appointed Secretary. The following resolutions were adopted:

"Resolved, That the efforts of the Abolition- ists in this community are neither necessary nor useful.

"Resolved, That as citizens of a free State and a peaceful community, we deprecate any at- tempt to sow discord among us, or to create an excitement as to Abolition which can be pro- ductive of no good result.

"Resolved, That in the opinion of this meet- ing the doctrine of the immediate emancipation of the slaves in this country (although promul- gated by those who profess to be Christians) is at variance with Christianity, and its tendency is to breed contention, broils, and mobs; and the leaders of those calling themselves Abolitionists are designing, ambitious men, and dangerous members of society, and should be shunned by all good citizens."

In honor of the Whig victory in New York this year, the Sangamo Journal proposed a grand illumination, by setting on fire the prairies of the entire north part of the State. It had an illustration of a vessel " bound for the deserts of Arabia."

1838 .- Cyrus Edwards was the Whig candi- date, and Thomas Carlin the Democratic candi- date, for Governor of the State. John T. Stuart and Stephen A. Douglas were opposing candi- dates for Congress from the Third District. The local tickets were composed of good men, and a strong effort was put forth by both parties for victory. Mr. Stuart was elected. In this county the Whigs were successful by handsome majorities. The vote of the county was the largest in its history, being 3,271.

1839 .- This year only local officers were to be elected, and the political views of the candidates were hardly considered,-though each party had a full set of officers in nomination. Charles R. Matheny, Whig candidate for County Clerk, was elected by a majority of 762, while James Ad- ams, Democrat, for Probate Judge, had a ma- jority of 38.

1840 .- No previous political campaign in the history of this country can be compared with the " hard-cider campaign" of 1840. William H. Harrison was for the second time honored by 29 --

his party-the Whig-with a nomination for the Presidency. Martin Van Buren was nominated by the Democracy for re-election. The hard times that existed during the entire administra- tion of Van Buren caused many to desire a change, with the hope that a change in the po- litical administration of the Government would bring about prosperity. Taking advantage of this state of affairs, the Whigs seemed to be inspired, and went into the campaign with such spirit as almost paralyzed their opponents, al- though they made a gallant fight. The publish- ers of the Sangamo Journal issued a campaign paper called the Old Soldier, which was circu- lated largely throughout the State, and which exerted much influence in the campaign. The publishers of the Register, not to be outdone, also issued a campaign paper, called Old Hick- ory. Mass meetings, held at central points, were attended by thousands of people; many coming a long distance in lumber-wagons, camp- ing out, and enduring many hardships,-but en- thusiastic in the cause. Campaign songs were introduced, and doubtless contributed much to inspire the people, and in the election of Harri- son. As a specimen of the songs of the time, the following are given, the first being a contri- bution to the Old Soldier, by a Sangamon county poet too modest to append his name:

A GOURD OF HARD CIDER.

"Let Frenchmen drink claret and sweet museadine, And Germans drink Hock on the banks of the Rhine; But give me to quaff, with friends warm and true, A gourd of hard cider t' old Tippecanoe.

"John Bull may get drunk on his beer and his gin, Till he can't leave his seat or spit over bis chin; But if that's in the world on which I'd get blue, 'Tis a gourd of hard cider t' old Tippecanoe.

"Let the Don swill his port, and smoke his cigar, And Pisanos suck Tiffin and drink 'Bolivar;' But we in log cabins such trash will eschew, For a gourd of hard cider t' old Tippecanoe.

"With praties and whisky let. Pat fill his maw, And Donald get blind on his smoked esquebaugh- McFingal ne'er drank, nor did Brian Boru, A gourd of hard cider t' old Tippecanoe.

"In the White House Van Buren may drink his cham- pagne,

And have himself toasted from Georgia to Maine; But we in log cabins, with hearts warm and true, Drink a gourd of hard cider t'old Tippecanoe.

"Old Jove has drank Nectar for time and a day, To drown the dull cares of his heavenly sway; But if he'd be wise, he'd try something new- Drink a gourd of hard cider t' old Tippecanoe.

252

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

"Hurrah for old Tip !- from his side we'll not shrink- To our rights, and our laws, and our country, we'll drink,

Success to the banner of 'red, white and blue,' In a gourd of hard cider t' old Tippecanoe."

SONG OF TIPPECANOE. Air-Old Rosin the Bow.

"'Come, let us all join in a chorus, And shout it along as we go- Onr song the bright prospect before us, And the hero of Tippecanoe.

"When the savage invaded our border, And thousands most shockingly slew,

He drove them with death and disorder, On the banks of the Tippecanoe.

"When the British and Indians united, Believing they'd conquer their foe,

Most bravely Fort Meigs saw recited The scenes of old Tippecanoe.

"For an age he had served them in earnest, And ever was faithful and true;

And our country's now reaping the harvest Which was planted by Tippecanoe.

"From seclusion the people now call him, To come out before them anew;

For one single term to instal hin Our President-Tippecanoe.

"The Nannies have chuckled, denying That Harrison ever will do;

But, astounded, they hear the whole Nation Hurrah for old Tippecanoe.

"The Republican banner is waving, Unfurling its folds to the view;

Patriots! let your motto be 'Union,' And rally around Tippecanoe."

The first Whig County Convention was held at Springfield, Saturday, March 14, for the pur- pose of nominating candidates for the various offices to be filled at the ensuing election in August. As setting forth the views of the party in this county, the following resolutions, adopted by this convention, are appended:

"WHEREAS, The friends of Constitutional Government, based upon just and equitable principles, have reached a ground upon which they can meet -- a ground on which all personal preferences, prejudices and partialities, as well as all petty differences growing out of sectional interests, may be laid aside-when all may unite with a common purpose and for the com- mon good by rallying round their country's ban- ner, now so gloriously streaming in the breeze. And,

" WHEREAS, a voice has come up, 'like the sound of many waters,' from all parts of our common country, declaring that misrule shall

end-that the Constitution shall be restored -- that Executive power, which for the last three years has been extending its baneful and blight- ing influences over the land shall be confined within its proper limits-and he who has defiled the temple of our liberties-who has plundered the people's treasury, and is now fast reducing the hard-working men of this country to beggary-and who is now seeking through the aid of his army of office-holders, to 'rear on the ruins of the Republic the throne of his despot- ism,' shall give up the place to which he has crawled through the favoritism of his 'illustrious predecessors,' and which he never could have reached through the unbiased suffrages of a free people.

" Resolved, therefore, That without regard to the original preferences of some of us, and look- ing only to the good of our State and Union, we will cordially and zealously support the nom- inees of this convention, and hereby solemnly pledge ourselves to use all fair and honorable means to secure their election.

" Resolved, That William H. Harrison -- the son of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence -- the favorite aid-de-camp of Wayne in the battles which broke the Indian power in the West -- the first delegate of this western empire in Congress; and as such, the author of the present land system of the United States -- the Governor of the Northwestern Ter- ritory for many years-the victorious General who conducted our armies to victory and glory at Tippecanoe, Fort Meigs and the Thames-‘who has fought more battles than any other Ameri- can General of his time and has never been defeated'-the eloquent champion of Republi- can principles for many years in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Union -- our Minister to Columbia, and there, as every- where, strengthening and sustaining the cause of Republican Government; we recognize the hero and statesman, who has spent more than forty years in the service of his country in the highest offices, and when the mission was done retired from them all successively and pure, like Cin- cinnatus, and like Cincinnatus, poor.

" Resolved, That the election of Harrison and Tyler would emancipate the land from the Cata- lines who infest it; would restore it to pros- perity and peace, and bring back the time when good measures, good principals and good men would control the administration of our government."

The result of the campaign in this county was the triumph of the Whigs, every candidate

253

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

upon their ticket being elected by majorities ranging from 407 to 1,111.

1841 .- In this county, County Commissioners and a School Commissioner were to be elected. A member of Congress was also to be elected from this district. John T. Stuart was the candidate of the Whigs for re-election, and J. II. Ralston made the fight on the part of the Dem- ocracy. Mr. Stuart was successful in county and district. The Whig county ticket was also successful.

1842 .- Joseph Duncan this year received the nomination of the Whig party for Governor, and Thomas Ford that of the Democrats for the same office. With the exception of Lieutenant- Governor, this was the only State office to be filled. Full tickets for county officers, including State Senators and Representatives, were made by both parties. The entire Whig ticket Was elected in the county, but the Democratic State ticket was successful, Ford being elected Gov- ernor.

1843 .- A number of congressmen and county officers were to be elected this year. Mr. Stuart declining a re-nomination for Congress, John J. Hardin, who was afterwards killed at the battle of Buena Vista, Mexico, was nominated by the Whigs. He was opposed by James A. Mc- Dougal, on the part of the Democrats. Mr. Hardin was elected. Both parties placed full county tickets in the field, and a spirited canvass took place on the part of the friends of each. The Whig ticket was again successful, electing every officer by an average majority of 600.

1844 .- A Presidential campaign is always more or less exciting, the desire for office being almost innate in the mind of every American citizen. Those in possession of the offices pro- pose to retain them if in their power, while those out of office will ever make a fight for their pos- session. James K. Polk received the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, and Henry Clay that of the Whigs. It could not be expected the campaign would be as spirited as that of 1840. While some large meetings were held, there were none to compare with those of the previous campaign. The total vote was not so great as in 1840, it being three thousand two hundred and eight against three thousand two hundred and forty-nine. Henry Clay carried the county by a majority of four hundred and sixty- six. E. D. Baker was the Whig nominee for Congress, and John Calhoun that of the Democ- racy. Both gentlemen were talented, fine speak- ers, and afforded much satisfaction to their

hearers in listening to their flights of eloquence. The Democratic rallying cry in this campaign was "54:40, or fight." The Democrats of Spring- field, early in the campaign, erected a hickory pole in front of the Register office, and the Democratic ladies of the city made and presented a magnificent flag to the Democratic Association, bearing upon its ample folds the names POLK AND DALLAS upon one side, on the other their watchword, "Texas and Oregon." The Whigs, at a much greater expense, raised an ash pole two hundred and fourteen feet high, in front of the Journal office, and from its lofty top flung to the breeze a banner with the names of CLAY AND FRELINGHUYSEN. On the day first appointed for the raising the city was crowded with dele- gates from all parts of the State, expecting a grand occasion for congratulation; but early in the attempt to raise the pole, the stay ropes of a derrick broke, killing a Mr. Brodie instantly, and badly crippling William Conant. In a moment of excitement, without proper examina- tion, one of the speakers proclaimed to the crowd that the Democrats had cut the ropes and killed their friends. The evil one now seemed to pos- sess the people, Democrats and Whigs alike, and the immense crowd swayed to and fro wild with wrath, while curses loud and deep sounded the tocsin of alarm. The editors of the Journal soon issued an extra, explaining the cause of the ropes breaking, exonerating everybody. This allayed the excitement. New ropes were after- wards secured and the pole went grandly up.

The following reminiscence of the tragic event enacted on the streets of Springfield, on the occasion of the first attempt at raising the ash-pole, written by an old settler, was published in the State Journal in the summer of 1881:

"In the year 1844, during the Presidential cam- paign, the most intense excitement existed be- tween the contending political factions in this State and city. Mass meetings were being held day and night in every precinct, and the orators of both parties, there being but two in the field- the Whig, headed by Clay and Frelinghuysen, and the Democrat, with Polk and Dallas as their candidates-vigorously advocating thie claims of their respective party creeds and candidates. Each party vied with the other in creating the largest possible amount of enthusiasm, and often charges and counter-charges of foul play were indulged in. The Democrats had adopted the hickory as emblematic of their

ELASTICITY AND TOUGHINESS,

whilst the ash was the favorite of the Whigs, as typical of the home of ' Harry of the West,' as

254

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the people fondly loved to call the Whig candi- date for the Presidency, whose home was called Ashland. Some time in the month of July, 1844, the Democrats erected in front of the office of the State Register, then published by Walters & Weber, on Adams street near Fifth, a shellbark hickory pole one hundred and fifty feet in height, with the bark remaining intact. The Democrats were jubilant, and tar barrels, boxes and other combustibles were consumed on the public square, amidst speeches and songs and music by ' Balling's Dutch Band.' Balling will be remembered as the eccentric organist at the First Presbyterian Church.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 40

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084