Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. II, Part 41

Author: Moses, John, 1825-1898
Publication date: 1889-1892. [c1887-1892]
Publisher: Chicago, Fergus Printing Company
Number of Pages: 878

USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. II > Part 41

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).

ROBT. T.LINCOLN

LAMBERT TREE

E.B.WASHBURNE

STEPHEN A.HURLBUT

CLARKE.CARR

ERSUS CTG. CO.

CHICAGO.

TOR Ny LIBRARY

98 1

ELECTION MACHINERY.

In 1878, there was a close contest for the chairmanship between John W. Bunn of Springfield, who had long been an industrious member of the committee, and A. M. Jones, which was decided in the latter's favor. With the exception of the campaign of 1888, which was conducted by Gen. James S. Martin, Jones has continued at the head of the committee since that time, hardly ever securing the place, however, without a struggle, until in 1890.

The first secretary of the committee was Jesse W. Fell of Bloomington, who was followed by Horace White of Chicago, in 1860-2. James P. Root, also of Chicago, then came in for three campaigns, 1864-6-8. Daniel Shepard of Chicago, was elected in 1870, and has been continued in the position ever since.

Much of the success of the committee's work depends upon the secretary-all of whom have been singularly able and efficient. Daniel Shepard possesses especial fitness for the place. By reason of his long service in the position, and as clerk of the house of representatives, and assistant-secretary of the constitutional convention of 1870, he has become famil- iar with the "lay of the land" in the various senatorial and con- gressional districts, and with the "heads of messes" in the several counties. He can name the leading men on both sides, their standing and influence, and tell how any particular county is likely to vote. He keeps it "in his head," and he knows a great deal more than he tells. He has a happy faculty of eliciting infor- mation of the kind he wants, and gives very little in return. His coolness in emergencies is only equaled by the art with which he throws an opponent off the scent, and never falls into the extremes of good or bad temper.

The democratic state- central committee, during the cam- paigns of 1858 and 1860, was presided over by Virgil Hickox, who was succeeded by Benjamin S. Edwards in 1862, but the organization, during the war and for some years thereafter, was not effective. From this period to 1877-8, the chairmen and secretaries were as follows: 1864-6, Isaac R. Diller, George Judd; 1866-8, John A. McClernand, R. E. Goodell; 1868-70, John A. Mc Clernand, Alexander Starne; 1870-2, Albert G. Burr, Geo. S. Kimberly; 1872-4, Cyrus H. McCormick; Edward L. Merritt; 1874-6, Wm. Brown, Edward L. Merritt. Thomas

982

ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.

W. Mc Neely acted as chairman in 1878, D. B. Gillham in 1880, John H. Oberly, 1882-4. Alfred Orendorf, previously secretary, in 1886; Erskine M. Phelps, 1888; Delos P. Phelps, 1890. Edward L. Merritt was a member of the committee from 1868-78, and its secretary from 1872-6; was succeeded by W. J. Mize in 1884; and he by Theodore Nelson in 1890.

Naturally, the province of a state-central committee is to conduct a campaign in the state with a view to success. It involves, generally, the distribution of political documents, the preparation of the tickets in due form, arranging for public meetings, which are appointed with a view to their effect in doubtful districts, and the employment of speakers. Specifically, it involves not only the scrupulous watching of the movements of opposing parties, but frequently requires the adoption of counteracting measures. It places itself in direct communication with each county-central committee, through which preliminary polls of voters are secured-an important work, which is more beneficial to the local than the state committee.

To perform the labor devolving upon state-central committees requires the expenditure of considerable sums of money-larger amounts in presidential years than at the biennial elections. The necessary funds are raised by assessments upon candidates for state offices, upon office - holders, and upon the liberally- inclined wealthy members of the party.

Republican candidates for state offices are generally assessed $1000, which they must pay promptly, in addition to their other campaign expenses. When it is considered that the average salary of state officers is only $3500, the wonder is that there should be so many aspirants for the positions-and "still the wonder grows," when one remembers that in some instances the total cost of obtaining an office is greatly in excess of its legitimate income. These state assessments, however, are much lower than those for municipal offices in large cities, demanded by either party. The price for the privilege of running for sheriff and county treasurer in Cook County is $5000-with that for minor offices in proportion. A candidate for alderman in Chicago is usually called upon to pay, between assessment and other expenses, a sum largely exceeding the amount of his salary. In New-York City, however, it costs still more to be a servant of "the dear

983

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEES.

people," although the aldermanic compensation is much higher.

The sums thus raised amount to from $7000 to $30,000 during a campaign, and while many of the disbursements are legitimate, others might be considered questionable. A large discretion is left to the chairman of the committee, and it requires the exercise of a rare confidence in his judgment and honesty to permit him to use the funds committed to his care, without requiring from him a strict account of their disburse- ment. The less the accountability and responsibility, the more danger there is of a misuse of the funds. Formerly, the repub- lican committee made complete reports as to how the general funds collected by it were used; and what sums were needed for what is called the "finer" work of the campaign were col- lected specially with the understanding that no report was to be made.

The sum paid to speakers varies considerably. Some time ago, one of these, who served a term in the United-States senate from a neighboring state, when called upon by Chairman Babcock, after speaking at Chicago, for the amount of his bill, declined to present one, saying that he would take nothing for his services. In a few weeks thereafter, he sent in a bill for $1500, and it had to be paid.

Much more efficacy is ascribed to the work of a state-central committee than it deserves. Politicians from the rural districts sometimes have the idea that the committee has in some way come into the possession of funds which can be drawn on to an unlimited extent, and that all they have to do in order to secure the amount desired for use in their own locality is to make known their wants. They find out their mistake and their overestimate of the value and importance of a state-central committee at the same time. Members of the committee them- selves, who do not belong to the inner circle, are frequently brought up with a round turn in this respect. The fact is, after all, that the best work for the success of a party is done in the country precincts and smaller election districts. Wherever the organization is the most perfect, there is the greatest vigilance and industry, and the best results are attained at the polls.

The greatest political changes in this State, aside from those in Cook County, were effected between 1860 and 1864 by the

984

ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.

transfer of nine counties in "Egypt" from the democratic to the republican column, Their democratic majorities in 1860 and their republican majorities in 1888, were as follows: 1860 1888 1860 1888 1860 1888

Alexander, 578 470 Massac, 752 731

Saline, 1238 240

Clay, 389 50 Pope, 1075 735

Washington, 772 242

Johnson, 1523 810

Pulaski, 340 703 Williamson, 1662 328

8329 43II

These changes, beginning and mainly completed in 1864, were effected by the new political relations of Gen. Logan and other war-democrats. As a partial offset to the foregoing changes, the democrats have captured the following republican counties:

REP. MAJ. 1860 DEM. MAJ. 1888

La Salle,

1052

307

Perry, -

429

Logan, 208

315

St. Clair, 668

256

Marshall, 254

Tazewell, 180

500

Moultrie, 207

322

Since 1864, democratic majorities have been cut down in the following counties:

MAJ. IN 1864 MAJ. IN 1888

Fulton,

703

Jefferson, 838

397

Clark,

1176

268

Monroe, 967 461

Jackson, 420 65

Ford, - 25(d) 905(r)

and increased in the following:

1864

1888

1864

1888

Clinton, - 58

774

Peoria, - 203 799

Effingham, 588

1055

Sangamon, 380

712

Gallatin, - 68

417

Union, - 606

IO2I

Mason, - 97

558

Republican majorities have been reduced in the following counties :

MAJ. IN 1864 MAJ. IN 1888

MAJ. IN 1864

MAJ. IN 1888

Bureau,

1558

583

Lake, - 1530

1072

Coles,

- 655

138

Lee, - - 1389

876

Cook, - 14,316

816

Stephenson, 670 55

Jo Daviess, 727

and increased in the following:

1864

1888

1864

1888

Madison,

I31(d)

310

Vermilion, 907

1626

Rock Island, 549

940

Will, - 551

II00

985

ELECTIONS, 1864-1888.

With the foregoing exceptions, the voting in this State has been singularly steady and uniform; nearly all the counties, indeed, notwithstanding the changes in political issues and in population, having turned out about the same majorities on the same side in the last presidential election as they did in that of 1864, as will be seen by the following table:

DEMOCRATIC COUNTIES

REPUBLICAN COUNTIES

1864

1888

Adams,

1066

1108

Bond,

441

409

Brown,

600

671

Boone,

1485

1705

Calhoun,

251

350

Carroll,

1460

1315

Cass,

380

550

Champaign,

983

IOOI

Christian,

563

497

De Kalb,

2244

2178

Crawford,

549

212

De Witt,

- 202

Cumberland,

543

237

Douglas,

219

268

Edgar,

175

Du Page,

1042

742

Fayette,

626

496

Edwards,

306

653

Franklin,

217

Grundy,

686

636

Greene,

1271

1165

Henderson,

333

445

Hamilton,

763

546

Henry,

- 2139

2068

Hancock,

274

342

Kankakee,

1549

III8

Jasper, -

386

551

Kendall, -

I295

1085

Macoupin,

661

633

Livingston,

646

223

Marion,

251

327

Lawrence,

219 (d) 26

Menard,

221

446

McDonough,

32(d) 295

Montgomery,

686

732

Macon,

3II

295

Morgan,

217

Mc Henry,

1763

1561

Moultrie,

280

322

Mc Lean,

1419

1773

Pike, -

522

772

Mercer,

659

545

Randolph,

207

152

Ogle, -

2097

1910

Richland,

Piatt,

218

235

Schuyler,

585

384

Stark,

561

533

Scott,

283

Warren,

592

692

Shelby,

II29

1486

Whiteside,

1872

I 390

Wabash,

163

252

Wayne, -

210

White,

562

659

Woodford,

415

598

729

572

Iroquois,

973

851

Hardin,

138

Knox,

2381

2565

Winnebago, 3264

2910

It is to be noted that it is the vote of Cook County that most affects the majority in this State, and that in the other counties, with the exception of the years 1868 and 1872, when there were extraordinary reasons for a republican increase,

1864

1888

Jersey,

986

ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.

the result on presidential elections would have been about the same for the last twenty-four years.

The result of the state elections, based as they are upon national issues, are largely influenced by the canvass of the candidates for congress. The contests for these seats in the federal legislature have been the most animated, have attracted the widest attention, and have involved the candidacy of her most distinguished citizens.

Gen. John A. Logan, who was nine years in the house and fourteen years in the senate, has the honor of having served the State the longest period in congress.

Judge Douglas served eighteen years, four in the house and fourteen in the senate. Each of these distinguished statesmen had entered upon his third term in the senate, and had served the same proportion thereof, when his career was terminated by death.

Judge Trumbull is the only senator from Illinois who has served three full terms in the United-States senate-eighteen years-1855 to 1873; and Joseph G. Cannon, at the expiration of his present term, will have represented the Danville district in the lower house an equal number of years, from 1873 to 1891.

Shelby M. Cullom was six years in the house-1865 to 1871 -and has entered upon his second term in the senate, which, when completed, will make his service in congress also eighteen years. If to this length of service is added his eight years in the state legislature, and six years as governor, his public career will stretch into a period of thirty-two years-longer than that of any other public official of the Commonwealth.

Elihu B. Washburne was elected nine times consecutively to the lower house-1853-69-but resigned, before entering upon his last term, to accept, shortly after, the position of minister to France, making his term of service sixteen years.

Thomas J. Henderson of the 6th district, and William M. Springer of the Springfield district, began their service in the same congress, the 44th-1875-and have since been continu- ously reelected, giving them each eighteen years at the expira- tion of the 52d congress.

William R. Morrison of Waterloo, Monroe County, served sixteen years, from 1863-5, and from 1873-87 continuously.

THOS.J.HENDERSON

WM. M.SPRINGER

WA.R. MORRISON

CARTER H.HARRISON

CHICAGO

JOS.G.CANNON

LOR

LIBRARY

987

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

William A. Richardson of the Quincy district, served six and a half terms in the house and two years in the senate, as successor to Judge Douglas, making his service a period of fif- teen years.

Samuel S. Marshall of McLeansboro, served fourteen years in the house, as did General John F. Farnsworth of St. Charles, Kane County.

Charles B. Farwell served seven years in the house-one term being shortened by a contest-and will have been four years in the senate on March 4, 1891-making eleven years.

Those who have served six years and over and less than twelve in the senate are comprised in the following list: Jesse B. Thomas, eleven years; Elias Kent Kane, eleven years; John M. Robinson, eleven years; Richard Yates, house, four years, senate, six; Ninian Edwards, though twice elected, only served six years; Richard M. Young, Sidney Breese, James Shields, Richard J. Oglesby, and David Davis, each served a full term of six years.

John Mc Lean was twice elected to the senate but only served partly through two sessions, having been elected in the first instance to fill a vacancy, and dying soon after entering upon his full term.

David J. Baker, father of one of the present judges of the supreme court, served through one session, and Samuel Mc- Roberts, James Semple, Orville H. Browning, and William A. Richardson, from two to four years.

The following members served ten years in the house: Zadoc Casey, James C. Robinson, John R. Eden, Horatio C. Bur- chard, Lewis E. Payson, and John R. Thomas; and the follow- ing eight years: Daniel P. Cook, John Reynolds, Robert Smith, Orlando B. Ficklin, Owen Lovejoy, Burton C. Cook, Greenbury L. Fort, Wm. A. J. Sparks, Robert R. Hitt, and Geo. E. Adams.

Col. Edward D. Baker had the honor of representing two districts in different portions of the State as did John A. Mc- Clernand and James C. Robinson.

Samuel W. Moulton enjoys the distinction of having been elected once as a republican in 1864, and twice, 1882-4, as a democrat .*

* Complete lists of all the members will be found in the Statistical Record.

CHAPTER L. Education-The Common Schools-Colleges.

I F the progress of Illinois is a proud one in respect of national

growth-if her position in the sisterhood of states is an advanced and commanding one-she has no less cause for self- gratulation in the rank which she has taken among those commonwealths, which have sought to advance the higher interests of the people by promoting education and fostering learning. In the amount expended annually for the mainten- ance and improvement of her common schools, she is surpassed only by the more populous and far older state of New York. Upon this subject, her citizens are practically united, men of all parties being harmonious in the expression of broad and liberal views, in conformity to those of the founders of the Nation.

National legislation began upon this important subject before the adoption of the federal constitution.

The first act passed by the continental congress, on May 20, 1785, relative to the survey and for the disposal of the public lands of the western territory, laid the foundation for the establishment and growth of schools therein by the following provision: "There shall be reserved the lot number sixteen [containing 640 acres of land] of every township for the main- tenance of public schools within said township."

With a view to directing the attention of the people of the Northwest Territory to this matter and impressing upon the minds of those who should be called upon to administer its government the importance of the subject, congress, in the ordi- nance of 1787, declared that "religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."

During that period of the State's history when Illinois may be said to have been in territorial leading strings, no steps were taken toward utilizing the munificent grant conveyed by the ordinance; but, as has been already pointed out, the enabling

988

989

CONGRESSIONAL PROVISIONS.

act of 1818, under whose provisions the people emerged from a state of pupilage to that of a full-fledged statehood, not only confirmed the previous donation of land for school purposes, but, on motion of Judge Pope, secured a large fund to be available for a like object. The provisions of the act in ques- tion on this point were as follows: "that section numbered sixteen, in every township, and when said section has been sold or otherwise disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto, and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to the State, for the use of the inhabitants of such township, for the use of schools.

"That five per cent of the net proceeds of the lands lying within such State and which shall be sold by congress, on and after the Ist day of January, 1819, after deducting all expense incident to the same, shall be reserved for the purposes follow- ing, namely: two-fifths to be disbursed under the direction of congress in making roads leading to the State; the residue to be appropriated by the legislature of the State for the encour- agement of learning, of which one-sixth part shall be exclu- sively bestowed on a college or university.

"That 36 sections or one entire township, which shall be designated by the president of the United States, together with the one heretofore reserved for that purpose, shall be reserved for the use of a seminary of learning, and vested in the legis- lature of said State, to be appropriated solely to the use of such seminary by the said legislature."

The first state constitution, unlike that of Indiana, contained no article or section in regard to education, and the first law upon the subject was passed at the second session of the general assembly, which transferred these lands to the several townships for the use of schools, and provided for leasing them.

By act of February 15, 1831, commissioners of the respective counties were authorized to appoint a special commissioner in each township to sell the lands upon petition of three-fourths of the legal voters therein. This power was subsequently trans- ferred to county school-commissioners, provision for whose election was made by law in 1841. The national legislature had not, at that time, however, formally given its consent to Buch sales in this State as it had done in Ohio in 1826, and in Indiana in 1828; but by act of August 1, 1842, those already

990

ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.

made, in the sixteenth section in Chicago, were confirmed by congress, and, by act of February 15, 1843, authority was con- ferred upon the State legislature to provide by law for similar dispositions in the future.

The whole number of acres donated to Illinois by the grant of the sixteenth sections was 985,066-which if contiguous would make a state larger than Rhode Island. The number of acres remaining unsold, June 30, 1882, was 8,513; the average price per acre for those sold having been $3.78. The first sales were made in Greene and Morgan counties in August and September, 1831,

Upon the establishment by congress of land-offices at Detroit, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia, in 1804, the secretary of the treasury was directed to designate in each district-Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois-one entire township for the use of a seminary of learning. That selected for Illinois was in Fayette County, and contained a considerable proportion of waste land; in conse- quence of which fact, upon petition of the legislature, it was taken back by the United States, and the State empowered to select 36 sections in its place. The act, above cited, granted to the State another full township for this same purpose, which was carefully selected in different counties by commissioners appointed by the governor in 1823. These two townships constituted the basis of the seminary fund.

In 1829, the State adopted the policy of selling the sem- inary lands and borrowing the money. They were the most valuable lands in the State. Many tracts were either already occupied by lessces, or so situated as to be available for the extension of the limits of adjoining farms, and the demand for their sale came from these interested parties. The revenue derived from taxation was not sufficient to pay the ordinary expenses of the State government, and by acceding to this demand, a sum might be raised which would obviate the necessity for resorting to unpopular measures to augment the revenue. Thus, from selfish and unworthy motives, these lands were placed upon the market at a time when there was no general demand for them. On one side, interested buyers were enabled to acquire them at the government price; while on the other, the party in power avoided the odium of adding to the burdens of taxation of a people not over-supplied with

991

PERMANENT SCHOOL-FUNDS.

money. As a consequence, there were sacrificed for the paltry sum of $59,832, 43,200 acres of land, which, had they been kept until their proceeds were really required for the purposes of the original grant, would have realized at least $500,000.

The four and a-half sections of seminary lands remaining unsold, in 1861, were donated to the Illinois Agricultural College at Irvington, in Washington County. They were sold for $58,000, but the proceeds were so grossly mismanaged by that institution as to be practically almost squandered, only about $9000 being saved for the seminary fund out of the wreck.

In 1890, the entire amount of educational funds derived from the various grants of congress, with the accumulated income, was as follows:

PERMANENT SCHOOL-FUNDS :*

School-fund proper, being three per cent of the net proceeds of the sales of the public lands in the State, one sixth part excepted, - Common-school fund, arising from the money received by the State by act of congress pro- viding for the distribution of the surplus reve- nue of the United States, - -

- $613,363

College fund, being one sixth of the three per cent of the net proceeds of sales of public lands, designated by congress for this purpose, 156,613 Seminary fund, being the proceeds of sales of two townships donated by the general govern- ment for this purpose, - - - 59,839

- 335,592

County funds, created by act of the legislature in 1835, which provided that teachers should not receive from the public funds more than half the amount due them for services rendered the preceding year, and that the surplus should constitute the principal of a new fund to be called the "county school-fund," -

Township funds, proceeds of the sixteenth section donated by congress, - $5,780,692 Value of lands unsold, - 5,204,861 10,985,553

162,312

* Superintendent's Report, 1890.

992

ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.

Industrial-university fund, proceeds of lands

donated by congress in 1862, - $440,819 100,000 540,819

The State pays interest on $1, 165,407 of the above funds- the annual income arising from all of which is $635,000.

Such have been the magnificent results of the liberal policy of our revolutionary forefathers, who, however far seeing may have been their vision, certainly "builded better than they knew." Their liberality was truly munificent, and to it is to be ascribed, in no small degree, the marvelous growth of the American free educational system, which has challenged the admiration of the world .*

Of the schools taught by the ecclesiastics during the period of French ascendency in the Northwest, nothing authentic is

· The following table shows the number of acres of these school grants for the different states :

STATE

GRANT

DATE

Ohio,

704,488

March 3, 1803.

Indiana,

650,317

April 19, 1816.

Illinois,

. .

985,066 April 18, 1818.

Missouri,

1, 199, 139

March 6, 1820, 1812, and 1824.

Alabama,

902,774

March 2, 1819.

Mississippi,

.. 837,584

March 3, 1803, 1852, and 1859.

Louisiana,

786,044

April 21, 1806, and 1843.

Michigan,

1,067,397

June 23, 1836.

Arkansas,

886,460

June 23, 1836.

Florida,

.. 908,503

March 3, 1845.

Iowa,

905, 144

March 3, 1845.

Wisconsin,

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Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. II, Part 41

Author: Moses, John, 1825-1898 Publication date: 1889-1892. [c1887-1892] Publisher: Chicago, Fergus Printing Company Number of Pages: 878

Author: Moses, John, 1825-1898
Publication date: 1889-1892. [c1887-1892]
Publisher: Chicago, Fergus Printing Company
Number of Pages: 878