USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. I > Part 37
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Among its members were included a future president of the United States, a defeated candidate for the same high office, six future United-States senators, eight members of the national house of representatives, a secretary of the interior, three judges of the State supreme court, and seven State officers. Here sat side by side Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas; the gallant Edward Dickinson Baker, who repre- sented at different times the states of Illinois and Oregon in the national councils; O. H. Browning, a prospective senator and future cabinet officer, and William L. D. Ewing, who had just served a brief period in the senate; John Logan, father of the late senator, Gen. John A. Logan; Richard M. Cullom, father of Senator Shelby M. Cullom, John A. McClernand, afterward member of congress for many years and a distin- guished general in the late civil war, who is yet living; "Uncle" Jesse K. Dubois, afterward State auditor for eight years, Gen. James Shields, Col. John J. Hardin, Wm. A. Rich- ardson, John Hogan, Robert Smith, and James Semple, speaker of the house, all of them future members of congress, either in the senate or house, or both; Augustus C. French, a future gov- ernor, Usher F. Linder, Milton Carpenter, John Moore, John Dougherty, Newton Cloud, Archibald Williams, Cyrus and Ninian W. Edwards, W. A. Minshall, Edwin B. Webb, William Thomas, and John Dement .*
The political affiliations of more than two-thirds of the house were democratic. In the senate, a small whig majority enabled that party to elect the president in place of the lieu- tenant-governor, A. M. Jenkins, resigned; while the honor of the speakership once more fell to James Semple, who out- stripped in the race two competitors, Newton Cloud and John
* In this connection it is worthy of especial remark, that of the eminent whig leaders in this brilliant array, three, Lincoln, Baker, and Hardin, met with death by violence in their country's service.
408
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
Dement, all of them democrats, the minority declining to nom- inate a candidate. It so happened that Lincoln and Douglas for the first, and probably the last time, found themselves voting for the same candidate, Mr. Cloud being the choice of both.
This session of the legislature was not only distinguished by the activity of its members, but was even more conspicuous on account of the important character of its proceedings and leg- islation. The election of a United-States senator, several cir- cuit judges, and State officers, brought together more than the usual number of hangers-on, lobbyists, and candidates. Van- dalia never was so full of people, and the opportunities for effecting combinations and trades were never so great. Every day brought forth its exciting discussions, and every night its secret conclave and factional manœuvring.
The governor in his message, after referring to the canal-loan of $100,000, which he had effected, reiterating his views in favor of free schools, and recommending that the State subscribe for stock in the State Bank, branched out upon the subject of national politics, arraigning President Jackson for having vio- lated the constitution, and condemning his abuse of the appointing power, concluding by invoking an expression of opinion on these topics by the legislature. It was an unfortu- nate appeal, the house placing on record its approval "of the general course of the administration" by the emphatic vote of sixty-four to eighteen. Following this came a discussion on the slavery question, which had a conclusion still more one-sided, Mr. Lincoln and five others being all that could be mustered on the anti-slavery side.
The senatorial election was held December 14. There were five candidates, namely, Richard M. Young, Samuel McRob- erts, Archibald Williams, Wm. L. D. Ewing, and Thomas C. Browne, and three ballots were required to decide the contest, when Young received 68 votes, McRoberts 24, Williams 17, Ewing 12, Browne 7, and Wm. Wilson I.
Judge Young was a native of Kentucky, and had served on the bench very acceptably since 1825. He was not gifted as a speaker, but possessed attractive manners and a splendid phys- ique-being said, indeed, to be the finest-looking man in the State.
409
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The election of State officers occurred Jan. 16, and resulted in the selection of Levi Davis, auditor of public accounts, John D. Whiteside, treasurer, and Usher F. Linder, attorney-general.
In the meantime, as the two most important subjects of legis- lative action came more prominently into view, all other ques- tions were left in abeyance. These were internal improve- ments, and the removal of the capital.
The people of the entire country had at this time become possessed by the spirit of improvement in the means of trans- portation. In New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, impor- tant works of this character had either been completed, or were in process of construction. Canals found the greatest favor in the East, while in Kentucky, macadamized roads received the popular endorsement. The people of Illinois had for two years been seeking to find some means by which their State could be placed in the front rank in this "march of progress," and the question now took complete possession of the minds of the enthusiastic young statesmen to whom had been intrusted the legislation of the commonwealth. Owing to the level conforma- tion of the State's surface, the construction of railroads seemed to afford the readiest solution of the problem. Their success- ful operation in England, and their growing popularity wher- ever they had been tried in this country, were strong arguments. in their favor.
The advocates of this improvement pointed to the fact that the twenty-three miles of this new method of transportation which existed in the United States in 1830, had grown to. nearly eleven hundred miles in 1836, of which Massachusetts had 140 miles, New York 175, New Jersey 109, Pennsylvania 231, Maryland 156, Virginia 100, and South Carolina 136.
Pennsylvania had taken the lead in internal improvements, having now in operation 218 miles of railroads and 914 miles of canals. Why should the State of Illinois fall behind others in providing the necessary facilities for commerce and trade?
To strengthen and encourage this feeling on the part of their law-makers, the people held public meetings in various portions of the State, at which its superior advantages-its fertile soil, genial climate, and broad extent - were presented as only needing the improved means of transportation furnished by
410
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
railroads to enable it to take the lead in population and wealth.
Perhaps the most important of these meetings was a con- vention held at Vandalia, attended by delegates from all parts of the State, at which the legislature was urged to act without delay.
The first member formally to move in proposing a plan to the legislature was Stephen A. Douglas of Morgan County, who, early in the session, introduced a series of resolutions, in which the improvements to be made were specifically described, and setting forth that they should be constructed and owned by the State, and that for the purpose of carrying them forward a loan of - millions of dollars should be negotiated on the faith of the State. These resolutions formed the basis of the report of the committee on internal improvements, which indorsed and enlarged upon the plan thus briefly outlined. The example of Pennsylvania and Indiana in adopting a general system of improvements was cited, and it was urged that if Illi- nois failed to exhibit equal enterprise, not only would immigra- tion cease, but the State would lose the inhabitants she already had; that such a system was entirely practicable, and, if adopted, would result in the entry of large quantities of land, as well as increasing the taxable property; and that the tolls on the road would yield a sum sufficient to pay the interest on the cost.
A bill, embodying substantially the plan recommended by the committee, was introduced, and after full discussion and a few amendments, was finally passed, Feb. 27. In the house, the vote stood sixty-one yeas to twenty-five nays. Among the for- mer were Douglas, Baker, Edwards, French, Hogan, Lincoln, Snyder, McClernand, Robert Smith, Shields, and Semple; among the nays were Hardin, Minshall, and Richardson, in the house, and Browning and Thomas, in the senate.
The council of revision returned the bill with their objections, the governor taking occasion to remark, in accordance with his well-known and frequently-expressed views, that such works could only, in his opinion, be made safely and economically in a free government by citizens, or by independent corporations, aided and authorized by the government. But notwithstand- ing the objections so wisely urged, and the persistent efforts of
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411
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.
the able minority, the bill again passed by the constitutional majority .*
The bill providing for a change in the seat of government was under the charge of Mr. Lincoln and the nine members from Sangamon County. This delegation was remarkable, not only for the mental ability of its members, but also for their phys- ical stature, their combined height aggregating precisely fifty- four feet-an average of six feet for each. For this reason they were then, and have been ever since, spoken of as the "long nine." Their names were A. G. Herndon and Job Fletcher, in the senate, and Abraham Lincoln, Ninian W. Edwards, John Dawson, Andrew McCormick, Dan Stone, Wm. F. Elkins, and Robert L. Wilson, in the house.
The movement of population toward the centre of the State, had made it evident for some years that Vandalia would not be permitted to remain the capital after the expiration of the twenty years specified at the time of its location. A bill, in- deed, had been passed at the session of 1833, submitting the question of a relocation to the people, offering them a choice of selection between Springfield, Jacksonville-the centre, Alton, Vandalia, and Peoria; but neither of these points was able to command anything approaching a majority. Vandalia led in the poll, but received only about one-fifth of the votes cast.
One of the reasons urged for the necessity of a speedy change was that the State-house, which had been badly con- structed, was no longer habitable. To obviate this difficulty the old building had been torn down during the summer and a new
* The gigantic scheme thus adopted provided for the construction of the following public works, at the cost specified :-
Improvement of the Wabash, Illinois, and Rock rivers, $100.000
each; the Little Wabash and Kaskaskia rivers, $50,000 each; total for rivers,
$400,000
For the improvement of the Great Western Mail-Route, - 250,000 On Railroads: from Cairo to Galena, - 3,500,000
Alton to Mt. Carmel, 1,600,000; Northern-Cross R. R., 1,800,000, 3,400,000 A branch of the Central Road to Terre Haute, 650,000
Peoria to Warsaw, 700,000; Alton to Central R.R., 600,000, 1,300,000 Belleville to Mt. Carmel, 150,000
Bloomington to Mackinaw town,
- 350,000
To counties in lieu of railroads or canals, 200,000
$10,200,000
412
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
one built, at a cost of some $16,000, of which the citizens and workmen took the risk. Of this sum, the governor had advanced $6000 from the contingent fund. But when the peo- ple found that their enterprising scheme had failed to affect the question of removal, they were very glad to have an appropria- tion bill passed covering the amount of the bills for its erection.
The single measure, to the success of which the "long nine" bent all their energies, was the permanent location of the capi- tal at Springfield. They had no favorite route for a railroad, and were thus left perfectly untrammeled to assist and promote the pet schemes of others, who were willing to reciprocate in kind. Nine solid votes would go far toward turning the scale in favor of any close question, and were always thrown where they would accomplish the most satisfactory results. Still, such was the power of local interests, every other would-be capital having its friends outside of its delegation, as well as its active "log-rollers," that at one time the fate of the bill seemed more than doubtful, and the hopes of its promoters began to fade. Mr. Lincoln, however, never for a moment faltered. Assembling his colleagues for consultation, he proceeded to outline a policy, evincing at once his sound, practical sense and his perfect knowl- edge of human nature. The result was to inspire the advocates of the measure with fresh courage .* New combinations were effected, and the bill was finally passed, Feb. 25, the vote standing in the house 46 to 37, and in the senate 24 to 13.
The internal-improvement measure became a law, Feb. 27, and the next day the two houses met "to select a place for the permanent seat of government," in pursuance of the pro- visions of the former bill, which resulted in the selection of Springfield on the fourth ballot.+
The act appropriated $50,000 toward the erection of a State- house at the point to be selected, contingent upon the donation by individuals of the same amount, to be secured by bonds,
* Arnold's "Life of Lincoln," 5.
+ The following is a statement of the balloting in detail :-
PLACE. BALLOT: IST. 2D.
PLACE. BALLOT: IST. 2D.
3D.
4TH.
Springfield, 35
43
53
Alton,
15
16
14
6
Jacksonville, 14
15
9
I
Illiopolis,
-
IO
3
-
Vandalia, 16
Peoria,
16
15 12 3D.
16 II 4TH. 73
15 6
Scattering, 25
7
15
7
413
ERA OF SPECULATION.
together with not less than two acres of ground, to be donated to the State, upon which to erect the public buildings.
A necessary part of the system of improvements adopted was the construction of the Illinois-and-Michigan Canal, to fur- ther which a law was passed authorizing the sale of canal lands to the amount of $1,000,000, and providing for an addi- tional loan of $500,000, the proceeds of which were to be expended during 1838.
The fact that the internal-improvement and canal schemes, and that for the removal of the seat of government, were made to support each other, secured many votes for each which it might not have been able to obtain on its own merits. The friends of the canal were menaced with defeat if they failed to support the general-improvement bill, while the promoters of the latter threatened to withhold support from the canal unless their measure went through. The counties which failed to secure any railroads or canals were placated with the promise of $200,000, to be divided among them according to population. The "long nine" in the meantime stood ready on all occasions to apply their strength where the most valuable returns might be obtained.
Another measure which was also made to bear upon the gen- eral result was the law increasing the capital stock of the State Bank $2,000,000, and that of the Bank of Shawneetown $1,400,000.
After having enacted laws more far-reaching in their results than the members had foreseen, the legislature adjourned, March 6, amid the plaudits of a grateful constituency. Only the so-called misguided and narrow-minded minority were received with coldness, and made the subjects of public censure.
The adjournment was followed by an era of speculation unprecedented in the history of the State. There was about to be realized in rich fruition the rose-colored future of prosperity depicted by the governor in his message of 1835, in which he alluded to the construction of railroads and canals as "bearing with seeming triumph the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes, and ocean, almost annihilating time, burthen, and space."
The fever of speculation, then in its incipient stages, rapidly
414
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
advanced in intensity until, when, the advocates of a vast sys- tem of improved transportation beheld, in the passage of this act, the materialization of their wildest dreams, fever developed into mania, reason was dethroned, and the folly of inflation held high carnival.
The ease with which sales of real estate were effected was equaled only by the phenomenal profits realized upon its redis- posal. Towns sprang up in a night, and cities in a day, the names even of some of which have long since been forgotten. On paper, each was destined to become the metropolis of a dense population, and corner lots sold at fabulous prices, while less eligible sites were valued in proportion.
This speculative craze, however, proved an ultimate boon to Chicago, toward whose extraordinary growth both blind chance and sagacious foresight seem to have contributed, for in her case the vagaries of speculators served as an advertisement, against whose value even the subsequent hard times failed to militate.
With the hurricane of speculation which swept over the State, the tide of immigration flowed in like a torrent; every steamboat on the rivers and lakes was crowded with eager passengers, coming either to locate permanently or to partici- pate in the prospective gains which this furor of inflation prom- ised.
Soon after the adjournment of the legislature occurred an event as unexpected as it ultimately proved to be disastrous to the business interests of the country. This was the suspension of specie payments by the banks throughout the United States -a policy which necessity forced the Illinois banks to adopt. But as the law incorporating these banks provided that if they refused specie payments for sixty consecutive days they should forfeit their chartered privileges, the governor was requested to call a special session of the legislature to determine the ques- tion of legalizing the suspension. It met July 10, and the gov- ernor, after referring in his message to the deranged financial condition of the country, availed himself of the occasion to recommend the repeal of the internal-improvement law of the last session, wisely remarking that "the disasters which had already fallen upon the commercial world suggested the neces-
415
FUND COMMISSIONERS.
sity of escaping from the perils of a system which could only be fraught with evil." The law to legalize the suspension of the banks was passed, but the bill for the repeal of the internal- improvement system, introduced in accordance with his advice, was laid on the table by a vote of 53 to 34.
Little other business was transacted at this session, which adjourned July 22.
The fund commissioners, under the law, were clothed with the power of negotiating all loans, and the care of the moneys. arising therefrom. They were elected by the legislature, the first board consisting of Thomas Mather, Charles Oakley, and M. M. Rawlings. In the latter part of July, 1837, the commis- sioners proceeded to New York for the purpose of raising money. And although they were somewhat disappointed in not finding that demand for State securities which they anticipated, and notwithstanding the disturbance in bank circles, which the opponents of the "system" hoped would prevent the making of any loans, they succeeded in effecting sales of 4869 bonds, whose par value aggregated $4,869,000. One hundred sold at a premium of 5 per cent, 200 at 212 per cent, 1216 at 2 per cent, and the remainder at par. Other sales were negotiated, and by Dec. 24, 1838, there had come into the hands of the commissioners, as shown by their report, the sum of $5,668,000, while the amount disbursed by them up to this time was. $4,648,399, on the following accounts :----
For bank stock, - $3,000,000
To the commissioners of public works, - 1,142,027
To counties, -
For interest, - 292,250
144,700
For iron and expenses, 69,422
Leaving an unexpended balance of
1,019,604
The board of public works, also elected by the legislature, consisted of William Kinney-president, Murray McConnel, Elijah Willard, Milton K. Alexander, Joel Wright, John Dixon, and Ebenezer Peck. As fast as routes could be surveyed in their respective districts, contracts for construction were let. The first work done was on that part of the Northern-Cross- Railroad, from Meredosia to Jacksonville, in May, 1837. The
.416
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
amount expended by the board upon the several objects of improvement up to Dec. 24. 1838, was as follows: Railroads, $950,593; the Great Western Mail-route, $102,988; rivers, $26,212.
The State debt at the incoming of Gov. Duncan's administra- tion was $217,276, which included the amount of the Wiggins loan of $100,000, and the forced loan from the school and sem- inary fund, $117,276. At the close of his term, Dec. 4, 1838, it reached $6,688,784, as follows :-
Bonds sold for bank stock
$2,665,000
Bonds for internal improvements - 2,204,000
Bonds for construction of the canal
1,000,000
Due to the school and seminary fund 719,784
Amount of the Wiggins loan
100,000
Total
- $6,688,784
Having brought the history of Gov. Duncan's administration, so far as it relates to legislation and internal policy, to its close, an event will now be noticed which not only formed an exciting ·episode of the time, but assumed even national importance- namely, the Alton riots.
Elijah Parish Lovejoy, a native of Maine, where he was born Nov. 8, 1802, was the son of a Congregational minister. Emi- grating to St. Louis in 1827, he found employment upon the staff of the St. Louis Times, a whig newspaper. After entering the Presbyterian ministry, in 1833, he assumed editorial control of the St. Louis Observer, a religious newspaper, patronized prin- cipally by his denomination in Missouri and Illinois. In 1835, Mr. Lovejoy became earnestly interested in the slavery question, and many of his editorials contained strong arguments against "the peculiar institution." Being published in a slave-state, they not unnaturally excited unfavorable comment and even animadversion. So much so, indeed, that nine influential citi- zens and supporters of his paper, among them Judge Gam- ble, Rev. Dr. W. S. Potts, and Nathan Ranney, addressed him a letter protesting against his course, and counselling him, in view of the excited state of the public mind on the subject of abolitionism, "to pass over in silence everything connected with the subject." To which request, in a very able article on the
417
REV. E. P. LOVEJOY.
liberty of the press, he declined to accede. He was then requested by the proprietors to retire from the editorship of the paper, to which he consented; but in the meantime the paper changed hands, and he was continued in charge as before. In the issue of June 21, 1836, he announced his intention of removing the paper to Alton, but on the eve of its transfer the office was entered by a mob and most of the material destroyed. What was left of the press was in due time shipped, but during the night after it was landed was thrown into the river and destroyed. The citizens of Alton, at a pub- lic meeting, disavowed the act, and subscribed money to pur- chase a new press, and the first number of the paper was issued at Alton Sept. 8, 1836.
At the public meeting alluded to, Mr. Lovejoy stated that, while strongly opposed to slavery, he was not an abolitionist, and it has been alleged on the one hand and denied on the other that he gave a pledge not to meddle with the subject. Be this as it may, as the months rolled by the anti-slavery tone of the paper became more distinct, and his paper came to be as offensive to the pro-slavery element at Alton as it had been at St. Louis, and the general indignation found expression in reso- lutions condemning the course of the Observer, adopted at a public meeting July 11, 1837. His reply to the committee who presented them was courteous but unyielding, and on the night of August 21, a mob of a dozen persons broke into the office and destroyed the press and material.
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