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 42

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 42

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1856 .- Former issues dividing the political parties had disappeared, and new issues were being rapidly formed. The Whig party had ceased to exist, and on its ruins had been crected two other parties, one having for its central truth opposition to the further extension of slavery, and the other that American-born citi- zens must rule America. These parties had, of course, absorbed many of the members of the old Democratic party. The American party, not being opposed to slavery, or, at least, mak- ing no opposition to it, either in the States in which it existed, or the newly formed Terri- tories, where it had been made subject to ad- mission by the repeal of the Missouri Compro- mise, had become a numerous body in the South, with many adherents in the North. The Repub- lican party, basing its claims for popular suffrage upon its advocacy of freedom in the Territories, was not permitted an existence in the Southern States, and of necessity was confined to the North.

Early in the year, the American party met in National Convention at Philadelphia, and placed in nomination for the Presidency and Vice Presidency, Millard Fillmore, of New York, and Audrew Jackson Donelson, of Ten- nessee. Subsequently, James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, and John J. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, were placed in nomination by the Democracy for the same offices. The Republi- cans gave to the people John C. Fremont, of California, and William L. Dayton, of New Jersey, as their candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency. The campaign through- ont the State and Nation was an exciting one, the three parties being represented in all the Northern States by electoral tickets, and the Re- publican in two or three Southern, in addition to the Northern ones. In the State campaign Wil-

liam H. Bissell was placed in nomination by the Republicans, William A. Richardson by the Democrats, and Buckner S. Morris by the Amer- icans, for the office of Governor. In Sangamon county, the Republicans and Americans united on county officers, electing all their nominees but one-the Circuit Clerk.

The citizens of Sangamon county, being largely from the Southern States, did not spon- taneously enter into the Republican movement. Many old Whigs at once drifted into the Demo- ocratie party, making up the loss of its members who had, on account of the slavery question and the foreign element, united with the newly-or- ganized Republican and American parties.

1857 .- The year following a Presidential elec- tion is generally a dull one, politically; the peo- ple being disposed to give the new administra- tion fair play, and waiting to see its policy de- veloped.

Only county officers were to be elected; con- sequently the campaign was more personal than political. It now seemed to be conceded the po- litical fight was hereafter to be between the Re- publicans and the Democrats. The nominee of the former party for the Presidency the previous year receiving a majority of the popular vote, . though not elected, inspired the party to new zeal, and caused the latter to direct all its efforts against it. The American party, especially in the North, was daily losing ground; its mem- bers forsaking it for the Democratic or Repub- lican parties, as their views of public policy in- spired them. In Sangamon county, so far as political action could be said to enter into the campaign this year, was between the Republi- cans and Democrats; the latter electing their en- tire ticket, save County Clerk, the personal pop- ularity of Noah W. Matheny enabling him to be successful by a large majority.

1858 .- The attempt to fasten upon the people of Kansas, a Consitution known as the Lecomp- ton Constitution, by the Pro-Slavery men of that State, assisted by the Buchanan administration, caused a division in the ranks of the Demo- cratic party, throughout the Union. Especially was this great wrong resisted by the great majority of the party in this State, led by Stephen A. Douglas. The senatorial term of Mr. Douglas would expire March, 1859, and a legislature was to be elected who should choose his successor. Mr. Douglas was a candidate for re-election. By general consent, Abraham Lin- colu was chosen by the Republicans as his opponent. Sidney Brcese was likewise an- nounced as a candidate by that portion of the

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Democratic party favorable to the administra- tion in its contest over the Lecompton Constitu'- tion.

On the 21st of April, pursuant to a call issued by Alexander Starne, of Springfield, Chairman of the Democratic State General Committee, representatives of the Democratic party met in convention at the State House in Springfield, for the purpose of nominating candidates for State officers, to be elected the following Novem- ber. The Buchanan wing of the party met in the Senate chamber and was called to order by John Dougherty, of Union county, who read the call of the General Committee. Dr. Le Roy, of Grundy, was made Chairman. Returning thanks for the honor conferred, the Doctor then said:

" The enthusiasm you manifest is satisfactory evidence that the National Democratic party ' still lives' in Illinois, and although a few may falter, still the hard-fisted Democracy are sound to the core; and in November next they will speak in thunder tones to the factionists and disorganizers, who would ruthlessly divide and defeat us, to please man worshipers at home or abroad. As to him who has heretofore led us to victory, but for ambitious aims, now sides with the enemy, all we have to say for him is-

"' Slowly and sadly we lay him down,

From the field of his fame fresh and gory, We carve not a line, we raise not a stone, But leave him alone in his glory.'"

Colonel Dougherty being called upon for a speech said that for the first time in many years the party was called upon to face division in its own ranks, but they must not swerve from their principles even if opposed by those who should be their proudest defenders. The principles of the Democratic party were the same as for thirty years, and one of the cardinal of these was the rights of each and any State or any Territory to mould the institution under which they are to live. Ile ridiculed the idea that the Lecomp- ton Constitution was the result of fraud and charged the Douglas Democrats with having asserted there was no foundation for any such claims.

The committee on resolutions reported a plat- form embracing substantially the following points: 1. Adherence to the Cincinnati plat- form and the principles enunciated therein. 2. The Territories being common property, every citizen of the Union had a right todwell therein, and have with him any property he may possess, including slaves. 3. A Territory applying for admission to the Union, having the requisite number of inhabitants, and having adopted a

Constitution, Republican in form, should be ad- mitted, with or without slavery, as the people of the Territory may determine. 4. Endorsement of a portion of a speech of Senator Douglas, de claring that if any citizens of Kansas should re- frain from voting for Constitutional delegates, and a Constitution should be adopted repugnant to their feelings, they alone should be to blame. 5. Resolution condemning the course of Senator Douglas in opposing the National Administration and apparently affiliating with the Republican party. 6. Laudatory of President Buchanan in his course with reference to Kansas affairs. 7. Greeting to Democratic Conventions in other States. 8. Thanking that portion of the Press of the State that had sustained the President's course.

No nominations were made, and the convention adjourned to meet June 8.

The Douglas wing of the party met in the Representatives llall of the State House, and was called to order by A. Starne, Chairman of the General State Committee. This convention was more numerously attended, having delegates from every county in the State. John Moore was made Chairman. The committee on resolu- tions subsequently appointed, made the follow- ing report, which was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That the Democratic party of the State of Illinois, through their delegates in gen- eral convention assembled. do re-assert and de- clare the principles avowed by them when, on former occasions they have presented their can- didates for popular suffrage.

"Resolved, That they are nnalterably attached to, and will maintain inviolate, the principles maintained by the National Convention at Cin- cinnati, in June, 1856.

"Resolved, That the platform of principles established by the National Democratic Conven- tion, at Cincinnati, is the only authoritative ex- position of Democratic doctrines, and we deny the right of any power on earth, except a like body, to change or interpolate that platform, or to prescribe new and different tests, that they will neither do it themselves or permit it to be done by others; but will recognize all men as Democrats who stand by and uphold Democratic principles.

" Resolved, That in the organization of States the people have a right to decide at the polls upon the character of their fundamental law, and that the experience of the past year has conclusively demonstrated the wisdom and pro- priety of the principle that the fundamental law under which a Territory seeks admission into

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the Union should be submitted to the people of such Territory for their ratification or rejection at a fair election, to be held for that purpose, and that before such Territory is admitted as a State such fundamental laws should receive a majority of the legal votes cast at such election; and they deny the right and condemn the attempts of any convention called for the pur- pose of framing such a constitution to impose the instrument formed by them upon the people against their known will.

" Resolved, That a fair application of those principles requires that the Lecompton Consti- tution should be submitted to a direct vote of the actual inhabitants of Kansas, so that they may vote for or against that instrument, before Kansas shall be declared one of the States of the Union, and that until it shall be ratified by the people of Kansas at a fair election, held for that purpose, the Illinois Democracy are un- alterably opposed to the admission of Kansas under that constitution.

" Resolved, That we heartily approve and sus- tain the manly, firm, patriotic and Democratic position of Stephen A. Douglas, Isaac N. Mor- ris, Thomas L. Harris, Aaron Shaw, Robert Smith and Samuel S. Marshall, the Democratic delegation of Illinois in Congress, upon the question of the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution, and that by their firm and uncompromising devotion to Democratic principles, and to the cause of justice, truth, right and the people, they have deserved our admiration and increased, if possible, our confi- dence in their integrity and patriotism, and merited our warm approbation, our sincere and hearty thanks, and shall receive our earnest support.

" Resolved, That in all things, whenever the National administration sustain and carry out the principles of the Democratic party, as ex- pressed in the Cincinnati platform and affirmed in their resolutions, it is entitled to and will receive our hearty support."

The administration, even at this early date, had began a system of removals from office of all opposed to its policy. In view of this fact, Judge Drummond, of Chicago, introduced the following resolution :

" Resolved, That this convention view with re- gret the course pursued by the present Admin- istration in removing good men from office for the expression of opinion upon any given propo- sition."

The resolution was promptly tabled, thus showing the conservative character of those as-

sembled, and their desire to preserve harmony as far as possible.

W. B. Fondey, of Sangamon county, was nominated for State Treasurer, and J. P. Brooks, of Knox county, for Superintendent of Public Schools.

The Administration Democrats again met in convention pursuant to adjournment, June 9, and re-affirming their former declarations they nominated John Dougherty, of Union county, for State Treasurer, and John Reynolds, of St. Clair, for Superintendent of Public Schools.

The Republican State Convention met in Springfield June 16, and was largely repre- sented. The following is the report of the Committee on Resolutions, and submitted as their "declaration of principles:"

"We, the Republicans of Illinois, in conven- tion assembled, in addition to our previous af- firmations, make the following declaration of principles:

"1. We re-affirm our devotion to the Consti- tution of the country and to the Union of the States, and will firmly and steadily resist all at- tempts for the perversion of the one, or the dis- ruption of the other. We recognize the equal rights of all the States, and avow our readiness and willingness to maintain them, and disclaim all intention of attempting, either directly or indirectly, to assail or abridge the rights of any of the members of the Confederacy, guaranteed by the Constitution, or in any manner to inter- fere with the institution of slavery in any State where it exists. Nevertheless, we hold this Government was instituted for freemen, and that it can be perpetuated and made to fulfill the purposes of its organization only by devot- ing itself to the promotion of virtue and intel- ligence among its citizens, and the advancement of their prosperity and happiness, and to these ends we hold it to be the duty of the Govern- ment so to reform the system of disposing of the public lands as to secure the soil to actual settlers, and wrest it from the grasp of men who speculate in the homes of the people. and to corporations that lock it up in dead hands for enhanced profits.

"2. Free labor being the only true support of Republican institutions, our Government should maintain its rights, and we therefore demand the improvement of our harbors and rivers, which freight the commerce of the West to market, and the construction of a central highway to connect our trade with the Pacific States as rightful encouragement to home indus- try; and inasmuch as we now compete in the

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markets of the country against the products of unpaid labor at depreciating prices, it is there- fore eminently unjust that the National Admin- istration should attempt, by coercion, to extend a servile system in the Territories, or by patron- age, to perpetuate slavery in the States.

"3. The present administration has proven recreant to the trusts committed to its hands, and by its extraordinary, corrupt, unjust and un- dignified exertions, to give effect to the original intention and purposes of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, by forcing upon the people of Kansas, against their will, and in defiance of their known and earnestly expressed wishes, a constitution recognizing slavery as one of their domestic in- stitutions, it has forfeited all claim to the sup- port and confidence of the friends of free men, free labor, and equal rights.

"4. It is the duty of the Government, faith- fully and diligently to execute all our treaty stipulations, and to enforce all our laws for the suppression of the slave trade.

"5. That while we deprecate all interference on the part of political organizations with the action of the judiciary, if such action is limited to appropriate sphere, yet we cannot refrain from expressing our condemnation of the prin- ciples and tendencies of the extra-judicial opin- ions of a majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, in the matter of Dred Scott, wherein the political heresy is put forth, that the Federal Constitution extends slavery into all the Territories of the Republic, and so maintains it, that neither Congress, nor the people, through their Territorial legislatures, can by law abolish it; we hold that Congress has sovereign power over the Territories, and has the right to govern and control them whilst they remain in a territorial condition, and that it is the duty of the General Government to protect the Territories from the curse of slavery, and to preserve the public domain for the occupation of free men and free labor, and we declare that no power on earth can carry and maintain slavery in the States against the will of their people and the provisions of their constitutions and laws; and we fully indorse the decision of the Supreme Court of our own State, which declares that property in persons is repugnant to the consti- ution and laws of Illinois, and that all persons ithin its jurisdiction are presumed to be free, d that slavery, where it exists, is a municipal gulation, without any extra territorial opera- n.

6. The policy of this Government should o live on terms of peace and amity with all

the nations of the earth, so far as it can be done consistently with our National honor and in- terests; and to enter into entangling alliances with none. Our intercourse with all other na- tions should be conducted upon principles of exact and exalted justice, and, whilst firmly maintaining our own rights, we should carefully avoid any invasion of the rights of others, and especially those of weaker nations: Our com- merce ought to be protected from wanton inter- ruption, and our commercial marine from inva- sion and search; and, whilst we would deplore the necessity of war with any of the nations of the earth, we will still firmly, zealously, and pat- riotically sustain the Government in any just measures which it may adopt to obtain redress for injuries and indignities which may hereto- fore have been inflicted upon our citizens navi- gating the seas, or which may be necessary to secure them against a repetition of like injuries in the future."

James Miller was nominated for State Treas- urer, by acclamation, and Newton Bateman for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. After the nomination of the candidates and the adoption of their declaration of principles, the Convention passed the following resolution, amidst shouts of applause:

" Resolved, That Abraham Lincoln is the first and only choice of the Republicans of Illinois, for the United States Senate, as the successor to Stephen A. Douglas."

In the evening, Mr. Lincoln was called upon to address the Convention, which he did in his own peculiar, happy style. In that speech he re-af- firmed the doctrine that "a house divided against itself cannot stand," applying it to the divided state of the country upon the slavery question. In thus giving expression to this thought, many Republicans thought Mr. Lincoln had injured his own cause and that of the party.

On the 24th day of July, Mr. Lincoln ad- dressed a challenge to Mr. Douglas for a joint debate during the campaign. In consequence of previous appointments, Mr. Douglas declined meeting him on all occasions during the cam- paign, but suggested one meeting in each Con- gressional District. The arrangement was made, and seven joint discussions were held. No political debate, before or since, ever created such an interest, and it is doubtful if they have ever been equaled. They were printed and cir- culated as campaign documents in several States, and were ever quoted as authoritative exposition of the political questions of the day, from the standpoints of the respective speakers and the

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party represented by each. The interest mani- fested in this campaign by the people of Illinois was equal to that of a Presidential campaign; nor was the interest alone confined to the State, but all over the Union, men were observing the contest with an eagerness never before mani- fested in a State election. It was the prelimi- nary skirmish preceding the great battle for the Presidency in 1860. To the people of Sanga- mon county, this campaign was of special in- terest. One of the senatorial candidates was a citizen of this county, and had developed from the backwoods surveyor to the statesman with a National reputation, an orator of great ability, and one who was rapidly taking a position among the leading men of the Nation; the other had been a citizen for several years; was then a leader of a great party, with a personal follow- ing equaled by no American statesman save Henry Clay; a prominent candidate for the Presidency, and who was known as the "Little Giant." Lincoln, in Sangamon county, was doubtless the favorite, as he was daily brought face to face with the people, and with his great heart succeeded in winning their love.

On Saturday, prior to the annual election, the Republicans had announced a last grand rally at Springfield, to be addressed by Lincoln and others. The weather during the week was unpropitious, the rain having fallen almost inces- santly, but still the crowd came, one train of thirty-two cars coming from McLean and Taze- well counties.

Speaking in reference to this debate, in an address before the State Bar Association, Jan- uary 7, 1881, Isaac N. Arnold says:

"The two most prominent men in Illinois, at that time, were Douglas and Lincoln. Each was in the full maturity of his powers, Douglas being forty-five and Lincoln forty-nine years old. Douglas had for years been trained on the stump, in the lower house of Congress, and in the Sen- ate, to meet in debate the ablest speakers in the State and Nation. For years he had been accus- tomed, on the floor of the capitol, to encounter the leaders of the old Whig and Free-Soil par- ties. Among them were Seward, and Fessenden, and Crittenden, and Chase, and Trumbull, and Hale, and Sumner, and others, equally eminent, and his enthusiastic friends insisted that never, either in single conflict or when receiving the assault of a whole party, had he been dis- comfited. His style was bold, vigorous and aggressive, and at times defiant. He was ready, fertile in resources, familiar with political his- tory, terrible in denunciation, and handled with

skill all the weapons of debate. His iron will, restless energy, united with great personal mag- netism, made him very popular; and with these qualities he had indomitable physical and moral courage, and his almost uniform success had given him perfect confidence in himself.

" Lincoln was also a thoroughly trained speaker. He had contended successfully, year after year, at the bar and on the stump, with the ablest men of Illinois, including Lamborn, Logan, John Calhoun and others, and had often met Douglas himself-a conflict with whom he always rather courted than shunned. Indeed, these two great orators had often tested each other's power, and whenever they did meet, it was, indeed, 'Greek meeting Greek,' and the ' tug of war' came, for each put forth his utmost strength.

"In a speech of Mr. Lincoln in 1856, he made the following beautiful, eloquent, and generous allusion to Douglas. He said: 'Twenty years ago, Judge Douglas and I first became ac- quainted; we were both young then, he, a trifle younger than I. Even then, we were both am- bitious, I, perhaps, quite as much as he. With me, the race of ambition has been a failure. With him, it has been a splendid success. His name fills the Nation, and it is not unknown in foreign lands. I affect no contempt for the high eminence he has reached; so reached that the oppressed of my species might have shared with me in the elevation, I would rather stand on that eminence than wear the richest crown that ever pressed a monarch's brow.'

"We know, and the world knows, that Lin- coln did reach that high, nay far higher emi- nence, and that he did reach it, in such a way that 'the oppressed' did share with him in the elevation.

"Such were the champions who, in 1858, were to discuss before the voters of Illinois, and with the whole Nation as spectators, the political questions then pending, and especially the vital questions relating to slavery. It was not a single combat, but extended through a whole campaign, and the American people paused to watch its progress, and hung, with intense in- terest, upon every movement of the champions. Each of these great men, I doubt not, at that time, sincerely believed he was right. Douglas' ardor, while in such a conflict, would make him think, for the time being, he was right, and I know that Lincoln argued for freedom against the extension of slavery, with the most profound conviction that, on success, hung the fate of his country. Lincoln had two advantages over

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Douglas; he had the best side of the question, and the best temper. He was always good hu- mored, always had an apt story for illustration, while Douglas, sometimes, when hard pressed, was irritable.

"Donglas carried away the most popular ap- plause, but Lincoln made the deeper and more lasting impression. Douglas did not disdain an immediate ud captandum triumph, while Lin- coln aimed at permanent conviction. Sometimes, when Lincoln's friends urged him to raise a storm of applause, which he could always do, by his happy illustrations and amusing stories, he refused, saying the occasion was too serious, the issue too grave. 'I do not seek applause,' said he, 'nor to amuse the people, I want to convince them.'

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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 42

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