THE

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Administration of Gov. Matteson-Eighteenth General Assembly-Re-election of Senator Douglas—Laws— State and National Politics-New Parties-Nineteenth General Assembly-Election of Senator Trumbull — Prohibitory Liquor-Law-The Common-School Law. HE democratic convention for the nomination of State officers met at Springfield, April 20, 1852. Besides the delegates, there was in attendance a large number of spectators, and as a nomination was considered equivalent to an election, the candidates for the various offices to be voted for were numerous. Seven distinguished citizens signified their willingness to occupy the highest place on the ticket, and the votes of the delegates were distributed among them on the first ballot as follows: David L. Gregg of Cook County, then secretary of state,* 84 votes; Francis C. Sherman, also of Cook, 23; Joel A. Matteson of Will, 56; Col. John Dement, 53; Thomas L. Harris, 16; L. W. Ross, 7; Col. Daniel P. Bush, 6. Mr. Matteson, after a spirited contest, was successful on the eleventh ballot, securing 130 votes, to 67 for Gregg and 50 for Dement.

Gustavus Koerner of St. Clair County, was nominated for lieutenant-governor on the third ballot, receiving 132 votes to 113 cast for George T. Brown of Madison County. Alexander Starne of Pike County, was nominated for secretary of state on the seventh ballot; Thomas H. Campbell for auditor; and John Moore for treasurer-the last two for reëlection.

The whigs held their convention-which proved to be their last-July 7, having waited until after the holding of the national convention, which convened at Baltimore, June 16. There was not much enthusiasm manifested among the members, and their candidates were all nominated by acclamation; these were: for governor, Edwin B. Webb of White County; for lieutenant-governor, James L. D. Morrison of St. Clair; for secretary of state, Buckner S. Morris of Cook; for auditor, * Vice Horace S. Cooley, who died April 2, 1850.

GOVERNOR MATTESON.

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Charles A. Betts of Stephenson; and for treasurer, Francis Arenz of Cass County.

The free-democrats, or, as they were generally called, abolitionists, inscribing upon their banner "Free soil; free speech; free labor; and free men," also nominated a ticket, with Dexter A. Knowlton of Stephenson County, for governor, and Philo Carpenter of Cook, for lieutenant-governor.

Both Webb and Morrison were well and favorably known in the State, having served with distinction in the legislature, but their party was unable to arouse any enthusiasm for the national ticket, headed by Gen. Winfield Scott, against Gen. Franklin Pierce, the democratic candidate, and the canvass on their part was conducted without vigor or hope. The result in the State was as follows: for Matteson, 80,645; Webb, 64,405; Knowlton, 8809; which was relatively nearly the same as the vote for the presidential candidates, Pierce and Scott, and John P. Hale, the free-soil candidate. The whigs elected four out of the nine congressmen.

Gov. Matteson was a native of New York, where he was born, in Jefferson County, August 8, 1808. He had been a resident of the State for twenty years, and had been engaged in farming, as a contractor on the canal, a dealer in real estate, and a manufacturer. He was essentially a business man, of a practical turn of mind, and of sound judgment. Although making no pretensions to state craft, and lacking that qualification deemed essential to its exercise in this country, the art of public speaking, he was taken up by his party on account of the executive ability he had displayed in private affairs, and sent to the State senate. His ten years' service in this position had earned for him the justly-deserved reputation of being an industrious and capable legislator, and through it he had become thoroughly advised of the resources, financial condition, and internal politics of the State. Among his friends his standing was high, as that of an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, of kindly, benevolent impulses; while his party and indeed the public generally regarded both his ability and character with respect. He was large in person, and of quiet and agreeable manners. the last democratic governor elected in the State, but the only one of either party who, at the time of his election, resided north of Bloomington.

He was not only

Lieut.-Gov. Koerner was born in Germany in 1809, and emigrated to this State in 1833. He received a university education, and was a lawyer of the first attainments. He had taken a decided part in politics as a democrat, and was elected to the legislature in 1842. In 1845, he was appointed one of the judges of the supreme court. Upon the re-formation of parties in 1855-6, he became a republican, and when the rebellion broke out took a pronounced stand on the side of the Union. He served for a short period on the staff of Gen. Fremont, and in 1862, was appointed minister to Spain, which position he resigned at the close of the war.

The eighteenth general assembly was convened January 3, 1853. But one whig, James M. Ruggles of Mason County, had been elected out of the thirteen new senators, and he with four "hold-overs" gave that party only five votes out of the twenty-five in the upper house. Only sixteen whigs had been elected to the house, and one "free-soiler," Henry W. Blodgett of Lake County; all the rest were democrats. The house was composed very largely of new members, only fourteen of those who had occupied seats in previous legislatures being returned to this. Among the old members elected were ex-Gov. John Reynolds, Wm. H. Snyder, Samuel A. Buckmaster, Charles D. Hodges, Richard N. Cullom, James W. Singleton, Joseph Sibley, Wesley Sloan, and C. B. Denio. In the list of new members appear the names of John A. Logan, Judge William Brown of Morgan, James N. Brown, Samuel W. Moulton.

The officers of the house, as designated by the democratic caucus, were elected by acclamation. These were: for speaker, John Reynolds; clerk, Isaac R. Diller; assistant, F. D. Preston; door-keeper, M. R. Owen; R. Eaton Goodell was chosen secretary of the senate, and Edward A. Bedell, sergeant-at-arms.

Ex-Gov. Reynolds thus achieved the distinction never before or since reached in this State by any other of its public men, of having been placed at the head of the executive, judicial, military, and finally of the legislative department of the State government, besides serving eight years in congress—an incomparable record of public service. Twenty-seven years had elapsed since he had first occupied a seat in the house, and on taking the chair he made a feeling allusion to his long and varied service, in a few well-chosen remarks.