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 46
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* He emigrated to California in 1850, hoping to gain that worldly fortune which he had failed to find in Illinois; but meeting with poor success he returned in time to take part in the great political campaigns of 1858-60. When the war of the rebellion broke ont, he raised a company, and was commissioned colonel of the 28th Regiment. He was killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. On the morning of that mem- orable day, against the remonstrance of his friends, he donned his uniform and rode at the head of his command, where he soon bravely fell in the thickest of the fight.
507
FIFTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
office with credit to himself and tended to the promotion of the best interests of the State at this time. He was of medium height, solidly built, of florid complexion, and plain, though agreeable, manners.
The fifteenth general assembly convened Dec. 7, 1846. The democrats controlled each house by a majority of over two to one. Among the "hold-over" senators were Messrs. Willis Allen, Boal, Cavarly, Constable, Dougherty, Edwards, Kil- patrick, Matteson, Webb. Norman B. Judd and Jacob C. Davis entered upon their second terms. Among the new senators were Thomas G. C. Davis, Joseph Gillespie, who was in the twelfth house, Josiah McRoberts, Anson S. Miller, Silas Noble, and Wm. Reddick.
The house was composed mostly of new members - there being but twenty-two, out of the one hundred and twenty-one, who had previously served in that body. Among these were John Reynolds, after an absence of eighteen years, Wm. B. Archer, Curtis Blakeman, Newton Cloud, U. F. Linder, Dr. John Logan, Stephen T. Logan, Wm. Pickering, Francis C. Sher- man, and E. H. Starkweather.
Among the new members were Wm. F. DeWolf* of Madi- son County, James Herrington of Kane, Samuel S. Hayes, Dr. James M. Higgins of Pike County, Edward G. Miner,t and John B. Campbell of Scott, Isaac N. Morris, Joseph Morton, Dorice D. Shumway, Mark Skinner,¿ Rigdon B. Slocumb, Wm. Thomas, who had previously served in the senate, and Wm. H. Underwood.
Newton Cloud of Morgan County, who proved to be a pop- ular and efficient presiding officer, was elected speaker of the house-the whigs voting for Stephen T. Logan - John Mc Donald clerk, Andrew J. Galloway engrossing and enrolling clerk, and John A. Wilson doorkeeper-the latter by acclama- tion. The officers elected in the senate were, Henry W. Moore
* He afterward removed to Chicago, where he has acceptably filled many respon- sible positions, and is still living, though an invalid, at an advanced age.
+ Still living-an honored citizen-at the age of eighty years.
# Judge Skinner was born in Vermont, Sept. 13, 1813, and resided in Chicago from 1836 to the time of his death, Sept. 16, 1887. He was of high character, an eminent lawyer, and influential citizen.
508
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
secretary, Nelson D. Elwood assistant, and Wm. J. Cline ser- geant-at-arms.
The farewell message of Gov. Ford was very brief, and was confined to a review of the financial side of his administration, in which the striking contrast between the condition of state affairs at its commencement and close, was clearly set forth.
The inaugural of Gov. French was a plain, business - like document. He cautioned the members against excessive legis- lation, and the too frequent changes of laws; recommended the refunding and payment of the public debt; favored the completion of the canal, and the reorganization of the militia system; called attention to the advisability of a more liberal, as well as more efficient, common-school law; referred to the obligation resting upon the State to make provision for the insane; and took ground against "incorporate banking."
But while the members listened with commendable attention to the address of the new governor, they were not yet ready to enter upon its practical consideration. The usual elections which devolved upon the legislature were of paramount impor- tance. First, there was a United-States senator to elect in place of Judge Semple. As to a candidate for this place, how- ever, there was very little difference of opinion among the democrats, Stephen A. Douglas being their almost unanimous choice. No man had ever grown so fast into popular favor in this State as he. Thirteen years before this he had come to Illinois, a beardless boy, without friends, fortune, or profes- sion. But he possessed what was more valuable than these, a mental and physical constitution of the highest order. He read law, with a natural taste for it, was quickly admitted to the bar, and in less than two years was elected by the legisla- ture prosecuting-attorney of Morgan County, over John J. Hardin. At Vandalia, where the contest took place, his com- prehensive mind took in the objective political situation at once. He perceived that the democratic party, with which he cast his fortunes, lacked not only a leader, but also that essential pre-requisite to success-organization. To perfect this he bent his best energies. Taking into his counsels Ebenezer Peck and a few others, he soon brought order out of confusion, and thenceforth, under the convention sys-
-
.
& Aringlos.
509
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
tem adopted, there was no longer danger of losing an elec- tion by dissipating the party strength upon different can- didates. He was under the average size, being only five feet four inches in height-just a foot shorter than Lincoln- but was compactly built and gracefully formed, with a finely developed head-larger than the average - covered with a thick growth of black hair. A never-failing flow of animal spirits imparted to manners naturally polite and winning a feature of whole - heartedness which made them irresistible. Although reared in the cold latitude of New England he took kindly to the easy ways of his adopted western home. His faculty of adapting himself to his surroundings, and his remarkable power as a conversationalist attached him to his friends, with whom he was ever popular, while toward his opponents his demeanor, though frank and courteous, was aggressive-even belligerent. His courage quailed before no danger, his energy faltered before no obstacle. In the ranks of his opponents he created as much consternation as did Napoleon in his campaign against Gen. Wurmser in Italy; while among the old fogies of his own party he was regarded with suspicion and distrust. John Reynolds and Breese and Ford made no attempt to disguise their dislike of the man and his methods, and growled their ineffectual discontent-Douglas having endeared himself to the people who admired him as a man and hung upon his words: for he had already manifested the possession of those oratorical powers which soon made him the champion of his party and the foremost stump athlete of his time.
In 1836, he was elected to the legislature as has been shown, and although he claimed to have been elected to congress in 1838, Stuart received the certificate. In 1840, he was ap- pointed and confirmed secretary of state, and a few months thereafter elevated to the supreme court. But the bench was not to his taste, and in 1842 he ran for congress in the Quincy district against O. H. Browning. It was a remarkable contest. Browning was a Kentucky whig, who had served with dis- tinguished ability in the legislatures of his native and adopted states. He was a fine lawyer, and was considered at the time perhaps the ablest speaker in the State. They took the stump
510
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
and canvassed the district together, speaking in all the principal towns. Browning, dressed in Kentucky jeans, appealed to the sectional predilections of a Kentucky and Western constituency; Douglas, a Vermont Yankee, took off his coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and presented the issues of the campaign to and as one of the common people. The result was that in a dis- trict which two years before had given only one majority for VanBuren, the "Little Giant" as he had come to be popularly designated, succeeded in obtaining a majority of 451. At the next congressional election he was again successful-this time running against D. M. Woodson of Greene County-by an increased majority. He made a strong impression in congress, by his effort in favor of refunding a fine imposed at New Orleans against Gen. Jackson, and soon occupied a front rank among its leading debaters. And now, at the early age of thirty-three years, he reached a still higher round in the ladder of his ambition toward the presidency by his election, on Dec. 13, to the United-States senate. The whigs again cast their merely complimentary vote for Cyrus Edwards.
The success of the judge was celebrated by a grand fête given in his honor at the state-house. A fine collation was spread in the senate chamber, where the most dainty eatables, with no lack of drinkables, were dispensed by liberal and ad- miring hands. The chamber of the house was converted into a ball - room, where those having a taste for the poetry of motion enjoyed themselves till morning.
On December 19, Gustavus Koerner, vice James Shields, resigned, and Norman H. Purple, vice Jesse B. Thomas, were elected justices of the supreme court; and David B. Campbell attorney-general - the whigs casting their vote for Elihu B. Washburne, this being his first appearance in state politics.
On December 23, Horace S. Cooley was nominated and con- firmed secretary of state.
On January 2, Thomas H. Campbell was reëlected auditor of public accounts, and Milton Carpenter state treasurer, both by acclamation. January 19, Wm. A. Denning of Franklin County, was elected a member of the supreme court, vice Walter B. Scates, resigned; and on January 26, Jesse B. Thomas was again elected to the supreme court in place of Judge
5II
MOB-LAW.
Young, who resigned to take the position of commissioner of the general land-office .*
The fifteenth general assembly continued in session until March 1, and in contrast with its immediate predecessors was exceedingly quiet and orderly. The principal subjects of dis- cussion were the bill providing for a convention to frame a constitution,+ the new common school law, and the revenue laws. The Mexican War came in for its full share of political debate, strong resolutions in its favor being passed, to which the whigs succeeded in adding an endorsement of Gen. Taylor.
The school law-approaching very nearly the free system- contained 121 sections; authority was given the legal voters of any district to levy a tax to build school-houses, and sup- port common schools.
The favorite mode of expression by this legislature was. through joint resolutions, twenty - two of which -a greater number than by any other general assembly prior to 1869- were adopted. Among these was one relating to a geological and mineralogical survey of the State, and one instructing our senators and representatives in congress, in favor of a railroad from "Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean."
Other laws of general interest were enacted as follows: authorizing the sale of the Gallatin County salines; incorpo- rating the University of Chicago; authorizing the sale of the Northern-Cross Railroad; "to incorporate the Illinois Literary and Historical Society;" "to establish the Illinois State Hospi- tal for the Insane at Jacksonville;" authorizing a settlement
* After the election of Gen. Taylor, Judge Young made a strong effort to continue in the land-office, and had some influential whig support, as against Mr. Lincoln who was a candidate for the position, and who was generally endorsed by the whig mem- bers of congress. Young would have been re-appointed but for the fact that during the campaign he wrote a very severe article against Gen. Taylor and sent it to all the newspapers in Illinois, and on the copy he sent to Quincy, he stated at the bottom of the article in large letters "I wrote this. R. M. Y." Browning got hold of the article and sent it to Lincoln, who showed it to Gen. Taylor-that settled the pre- tentions of the judge in that direction. Through the influence of Daniel Webster, the land-office was given to Justin Butterfield of Chicago, (MS. of John Wentworth). Judge Young was elected clerk of the United-States house of representatives, (31st congress). He died at Washington in an insane asylum in 1853.
+ The whole number of votes cast at the August election, when the calling of a convention was submitted, was 99,654; for a convention 58,339, against 23,013.
512
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
of the Macalister and Stebbins bonds; providing that all the lands sold by the United States should be subject to taxation as soon as sold-the restriction of five years having been re- moved by congress; "to authorize the refunding of the State debt;" "to establish district courts in the State of Illinois." This latter act was passed to meet not only the judicial com- plications which had occurred in Hancock County, but, and more directly, the disturbances which had more recently occurred in the southern portion of the State.
Outbreaks of the mob spirit-local revolts against the con- stituted authorities have, indeed, been of rather frequent occur- rence in Illinois. In 1816-17, while yet a territory, a class of criminals-horse-thieves and counterfeiters-had become so numerous and powerful, including as it did many town and county officers, as to be able to prosecute their nefarious work with impunity. If any of them were arrested, their friends would connive at their escape, or, if tried, would succeed in procuring some of their number on the jury, who would be sure to prevent a conviction. What the government, through its weakness, was powerless to accomplish-the punishment of these bandits-was taken in hand by the citizens, who organ- ized themselves into companies and proceeded on their own responsibility to run down, punish, or drive away those whom the ordinary administration of the law failed to reach. In a sparsely-settled country, where sessions of court were infre- quent, these proceedings were not only winked at by the authorities, but were generally approved, as justifiable in the existing condition of civil affairs.
In 1831, a band of outlaws in Pope and Massac counties fortified themselves and defied the authorities to attack them. The challenge was accepted by the people, who stormed their fort, killed three of the beseiged, and made prisoners of the remainder.
In IS40, numerous and powerful bands of swindlers and knaves associated together for the purpose of horse stealing and counterfeiting in the counties of Ogle, Winnebago, Lee, and DeKalb. A few were arrested, but generally, through the aid of confederates upon the jury, perjured evidence, and changes of venue, they managed to avoid or escape that pun-
513
MOB-LAW IN MASSAC COUNTY.
ishment they so justly deserved. The people once more "became a law unto themselves," and by whippings, banish- ments, and two or three capital executions, soon rid the coun- try of the worst of these outlaws.
During the last year of Gov. Ford's administration, an- other rebellion, on a smaller scale, but characterized by equal violence as that in Hancock, broke out in Massac County. The arrest of a criminal for robbery led to disclosures by him, implicating a large number of persons who were banded together for the commission of crimes in that and surrounding counties. So extensive was the field of their operations and so great their numbers, that a large portion of the community formed themselves into a company of self-appointed regula- tors, who proceeded to notify the suspected parties to leave the county. At the August election, 1846, those opposed to these irregular measures succeeded in electing their can- didates for sheriff and county clerk. The failure of the regu- lators at the polls had the effect of redoubling their energies as an organization. They seized many suspected persons, some of whom they caused to leave the county, others they punished, and others tortured into further confessions. Upon complaint of some of those who had thus suffered at their hands, leading regulators were arrested and put in jail, but were soon after rescued by their friends. The sheriff and county clerk were ordered to leave the country.
It was at this juncture that the interference of the governor was invoked. Gen. John T. Davis was ordered to investigate the state of affairs in the perturbed district, and, if necessary, to call upon the militia for assistance. He brought about an interview between representatives of the warring factions, and succeeded, as he supposed, in effecting a settlement of the differences between them; but he had no sooner left than hostilities were renewed. As the feud progressed, parties who at first stood aloof-including many from adjoining counties --- became involved, not only through family connections, but also as partisans, on one side or the other, of the question of maintaining the supremacy of the law.
At the fall term of the circuit court, Judge Walter B. Scates presiding, indictments were found against several regulators,
33
514
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
who were arrested and sent to jail. The friends of the pris- oners assembled, and threatened to release them and to lynch the judge. The sheriff summoned a posse to aid him in main- taining his authority; but so great was the intimidation of the inhabitants that only sixty responded, while the regulators marched into Metropolis City with a much larger opposing force, and, as a result, the sheriff's party surrendered, under promise of exemption from violence. The victors then liber- ated their friends, carried several of the sheriff's posse off with them as prisoners, some of whom, it was claimed, were put to death by drowning in the Ohio River. The sheriff and his friends were again notified to leave.
Another attempt by the governor to restore order, through Dr. Wm. J. Gibbs, failed of any other result than to leave the regulators masters of the field and stronger than ever. They proceeded to seize, try, and punish alleged offenders with a high hand. Other indictments of regulators and collisions between their friends and the "flat-heads," as the other side was called, followed, and other seizures and outrages rapidly succeeded each other until the meeting of the legislature.
Ordinary processes and legal proceedings had been found wholly ineffectual, because nearly the entire body of inhabitants had become interested on one side or the other.
The object of the passage of the law to establish district courts was, in effect, to provide for a change of venue by the State-to enable the judge to hold court in any county in his circuit, so that the administration of the law would not be obstructed by interested jurors or tainted with partisan feelings. The determination of the state authorities to interfere and restore order had a quieting effect for the time on all parties. But the same lawless spirit has since been frequently manifested in that locality to such a degree as to be difficult of control.
The revolutionary proceedings of mobs, unless summarily checked, afford an evidence of the weakness and inefficiency of the government; and while sometimes the midnight lynching of a depraved criminal is but the execution of a swifter justice than is possible by ordinary processes, and is felt to be excusa- ble by the best citizens, lawlessness, when once countenanced and permitted to mark out its own path of administration, not
of 1826, up to that time no report had been presented to the legislature which
to be substantially correct. As remarked by Gov. Edwards in his inaugural address
Table showing receipts and expenditures of the State of Illinois from Dec. 1, 1818, to Dec. 1, 1848:
-RECEIPTS
-EXPENDITURES
Dec. I.
From Taxes.
Special Sources. +
Totals.
General Assembly.
Executive.
Judiciary.
Special.
Totals.
State Debt.
1818-20
$43,362
$10,000*
$53.362
$17,284
$8,000*
$7,200
$3,171
$35,655
1820-22
57,000*
5,000
62,226
14,966
6,940
7,932
17,306
47,145
1822-24
65,309*
5,000
70,309
15,000*
42,000*
13,000*
24,868
79,868
1824-26
60,304*
8,000
68,304*
41,008
20,834
16,128
29,812
107,782
1826-28
70,219
5,996
76,215
23,296
27,288
13,580
26,035
90, 1 19
1828-30
70,396
16,75 I
87,147
16,984
25,123
9,676
32,264
84,047
1830-32
88,218
18,680
106,898
15,932
53,952
9,323
40, 1631
119,370
$150,000
1832-34
76,864
32,675
109,539
27,790
52,93I
9,893
56,1032
146,717
267,000
1834-36
84,399
42,418
126,817
38,245
71,987
15,606
37,185
163,023
378,286
1836-38
87,196
62,023
147,970
97,167
53,978
15,925
1 36,8633
303,933
6,688,784
1838-40
128,382
39,125
167,507
155,841
74,261
14,575
244, 1204
488,797
13,039,572
1840-42
285,200
20,084
305,284
82,432
65,452
26,695
199,8225
374,40I
15,657,950
1842-44
230,648
141,783
372,431
91,658
75,955
25,688
141,2116
334,512
14,633,969
1844-46
361,98 I
19,454
381,435
69,897
108,505
26,372
129,6547
334.428
16,389,817
1846-48
584,010
59,884
643,894
78,527
79,125
34,242
442,8028 634,696
16,661,795
* Estimated.
+ Salines, Vandalia lots, bank dividends, licenses, State-house subscriptions, school and fund com'rs, from 1842-8.
1 Including 31,328 interest paid.
6 Including 100,534 interest on School, Col. and Sem. fund.
2
37,350
11
and bank-paper funded and burnt.
7
= 49,661 91,856
=
= and 62,000 on debt.
3
=
4
=
128,300
11 88,176
=
=
36,885
-
=
" 127,448 11
8
= 72,815 constitutional convention.
43,992 Mormon war. 234, 139 int. on pub. debt. 515
STATE RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
YEARS. Dec. I to
The above table has been prepared from the best accessible data, and is believed
=
60,268 for .new State-House and 51, 716 interest.
=
.
516
ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
only frequently results in the perpetration of fatal errors, where- by the innocent suffer instead of the guilty, but also leads to the subversion of all government.
The financial condition of the State under the constitution of 1818, as nearly as can be ascertained from the reports of the auditor, state treasurer, and governors' messages, is exhib- ited in convenient form in the foregoing table, which shows the receipts and expenditures, arranged biennially, to corre- pond with the several general assemblies, from the time of its organization.
The progress of the State during the first portion of this period has already been referred to. The growth in popula- tion had been steady and permanent, from 1835 to 1840, the increase being 206,207, about seventy per cent. From 1840 to 1845, notwithstanding the financial depression, and uninviting prospects for immigrants, there was an increase of 185,967, nearly forty per cent, the total population being 662,150. The State now had seven representatives in congress; and although it had not overtaken Indiana or Kentucky in this respect, it stood along-side of Maine, Alabama, and South Carolina. All the counties as now existing were organized except Kankakee, Douglas, and Ford.
Notwithstanding these evidences of healthy growth, Illinois at this period was in a crude and undeveloped condition. She had not yet come under the magic influence of the electric tele- graph, nor of the steam railway, which she was soon to feel, and had received but little benefit from the inventive genius of the American mechanic. Chicago, already the largest city in the State, could boast only a population of 16,859. The next largest city was Quincy, reaching about 6000, with Galena and exhibited anything like a distinct view of the amount chargeable on the respective branches of revenue, or of the aggregate amount of taxes that had accrued in any one year. And it may be added, that the manner of keeping the state accounts did not much improve for many years thereafter. Even as late as 1842, the auditor made two separate reports the same year which differed very widely in the statements of amounts received and expended. The amount received on account of the school, college, and seminary fund ($920, 136) is not included in the amount of receipts except ($141,252) for the years 1842-S. It is a singular fact that under the consti- tution of 1818 the value of real and personal property in the State was not reported separately to the auditor, except from a few counties, nor even the aggregate values from most of the counties.
517
ILLINOIS IN 1847.
Peoria not far behind; while Springfield, the capital of the State, could only number 4000, and Jacksonville less than 3000. There were but five daily and 45 weekly papers pub- lished in the State. The total assessed value of real and per- sonal property in 1839, as estimated by the auditor, was $58,- 889,529, and in 1847 had increased to $92,206,493; which latter amount is equal only to the present assessment in the five counties of LaSalle, Adams, Sangamon, McLean, and St. Clair; while that of Cook exceeds these early figures by fifty per cent.
But two of the State benevolent institutions had been estab- lished, and those on a small scale. The land was still plowed by the cast-iron plow with wooden mouldboard, the corn planted by hand, the golden grain gathered by sickle or cradle, threshed by flail or horsepower, and winnowed by hand.
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