CHAPTER XXXV. Review-Conventions and Elections of 1860-Administration of Gov. Yates-The Political Situation-Twentysecond General Assembly-Senator Trumbull's Second Election - War - Clouds - Lincoln's Inauguration Attack on Fort Sumter - The War of the Rebellion begun-Enlistments under Different Calls-Changed Conditions of Public Affairs. LLINOIS in 1860 had become the fourth state in the Union in population and wealth, having in the last decade outstripped the states of Virginia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Indiana. In the principal products of her fields-wheat and corn, she had now surpassed all other states and occupied the foremost position. In 1850, she had only 270 miles of railroad, a smaller number than the mileage operated in fifteen other states. She now had in successful operation 2900 miles, and was surpassed in this respect only by Ohio. The acreage of farms had increased from a little over 5,000,000 to over 13,000,000; a larger extent of cultivated soil than was found in any other state, New York excepted. Her mighty city on Lake Michigan, whose gigantic strides in population, wealth, and power have been the marvel of the world, had made the unparalleled increase in population of nearly 400 per cent, that is from 29,963 to 109,206. Her advance in power and influence in the councils of the Nation had been no less extraordinary than her local progress. From seven congressmen in 1850, she was now entitled to thirteen; and in shaping the policy of the Nation, and directing the course of empire, no voice was more potent than that of the Prairie State. Not in vain had her vast prairies, beautiful as boundless, waved their fields of wild grass, nodding their blossoming tops to the breeze, and beckoning man, lord of the soil, to possess them and transform their limitless products into gold. To the primal beauty of her native groves and smiling fields had been added the handiwork of their master, under whose touch they had yielded the richer fruits of industry, improvement, and culture.* The reaper and mower and fanning-mill had banished the cradle, the sickle, the scythe, and the flail, while the log-cabin had given place to more comfortable, convenient, and commodious dwellings of frame and brick. Where had been seen the oxteam or the springless wagon, were now speeding along splendid spans of horses drawing vehicles of comfort and elegance. The old log-school-house had very generally given way to more spacious structures of brick; while church-steeples, pointing to the skies in every city, town, and hamlet, gave evidence that the moral world, no less than the intellectual and material, had kept pace with and derived benefit from the efforts to achieve a superior civilization. In the world of politics, there was no less activity than in social and business circles. The ferment of discussion upon the slavery question had reached a point where some final adjustment of the momentous issue could no longer be avoided. The republican state convention of 1860 met at Decatur, May 9, every county being represented except Pulaski. It was held in a wigwam built for the occasion, and in material, enthusiasm, and numbers has not been since equalled. Lincoln, the rail-splitter, was there, and Judge Logan, and Browning, and Wentworth, Palmer, Hurlbut, Oglesby, and Peck. Judge Joseph Gillespie was elected to preside. The candidates for governor were Richard Yates of Morgan, Norman B. Judd of Cook, and Leonard Swett of McLean. Upon the informal ballot Judd had 245 votes, Swett 191, and Yates 183. On the formal ballot Yates gained 14 over Swett, * The following table, from the census reports, shows the increase in the principal cereals and live stock: Manufactures, which were so insignificant as to be considered hardly worth enumerating by the census taker of 1850, amounting. to but $2,117,887, had now reached the respectable figure of $57,580,886. The taxable value of all property in 1850 was set down at $119,868,336, in 1860, at $367,227,742. STATE CONVENTIONS. 631 and Judd also gained. The second ballot was likewise damaging to Swett, both the others gaining from him. The third ballot was as follows: Judd 252-he losing II votes, Yates 238, Swett 246. Upon the next ballot the friends of Swett went to Yates, giving him 363 votes and the nomination. Francis A. Hoffman of Cook County was nominated for lieutenant-governor; Jesse K. Dubois, auditor; Ozias M. Hatch, secretary of state; William Butler, treasurer; and Newton Bateman, state superintendent of public instruction. The democratic convention met at Springfield, June 13, and was presided over by Hon. Wm. McMurtry. The first ballot for governor yielded the following result: for James C. Allen of Crawford County, 157 votes; S. A. Buckmaster, 81; J. L. D. Morrison, 88; Newton Cloud, 65; Walter B. Scates, 14; and 4 scattering. On the second ballot, Judge Allen proved to be the favorite and was nominated. He had served one term in the legislature and two terms in congress, and was known as a popular and able canvasser. L. W. Ross was nominated for lieutenant-governor; G. H. Campbell, secretary of state; Bernard Arntzen, auditor; Hugh Maher, treasurer; E. R. Roe as superintendent of public instruction-a strong ticket. State conventions were also held by the supporters of the Buchanan administration and by those who favored the BellEverett movement. The former placed in nomination for governor, T. M. Hope, and for lieutenant-governor, Thomas Snell. The Bell-Everett ticket was headed by John T. Stuart for governor, and Henry Blackburn for lieutenant - governor. These, however, were but side issues, the great contest being between the republicans, and the democracy as represented by Judge Douglas. The national republican convention, held at Chicago, May 16, resulted in the nomination of Lincoln for president on the third ballot. It had become apparent at Decatur, that he was a much more formidable candidate than had been supposed. Forces were at work in all the free-states, of whose full extent he was not aware, which pointed to him as the probable choice of the people. He manifested some anxiety on the subject at Decatur, especially regarding the selection of delegates. And when asked if he would attend the Chicago convention, he replied, "Well, I am unable to decide whether I am enough of a candidate to stay away, or too much of one to go." Of course he narrowly watched the developments at Chicago, and was in constant communication with his friends, who kept him advised of every movement. While waiting at Springfield for reports, he varied the scene by playing a game of house-ball. Upon hearing the result of the second ballot he expressed the opinion that he would be nominated,* and when the great news came he took the dispatch, and saying "there's a little woman down on Eighth Street that would like to see this," proceeded to his home amid the booming of cannon, the music of the spirit-stirring fife and drum, the loud acclaims of the people, and the congratulation of his friends. What a contrast between the joyous realization of his hopes and ambitions at this hour, and those feelings of despondency, * Ballotings for president at the republican convention, Chicago, May 16, 1860: No. Delegates California Minnesota D. of Columbia Totals.466 1735 102 50 48 On the third ballot, Lincoln required but two and a half votes to be nominated, and before the result was announced, Ohio changed four votes from Chase to Lincoln, which gave him a majority; other states followed, giving him a total of 354 votes. For Illinois delegates, see page 1205. 8 | | | | | | | | ∞ | | | | | | | | | | | | | "3 3 49 42 1843 181 35 1634 0 I ΙΟ 18 8 I I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | || | || BATES CHASE ||||||||||| Seattering NATIONAL CONVENTIONS. 633 and signs of discouragement which met him four years before upon his return from the Bloomington convention. Flushed with his forensic triumph there, on arriving at Springfield he had notices posted that he would speak at the courthouse that night. The house was lighted, and every preparation made for a large meeting. But no audience appeared. There were but three present, himself, his partner-Herndon, and John Paine, an old-time free-soiler. Lincoln stood up, and, with mingled wit and melancholy, said, "when this meeting was called, I knew that you would be here, Will, and you, John Paine, but I was not certain that any one else would be present. While all seems dead, the age itself is not. It liveth, as surely as our Maker liveth, and the time will come when we will be heard. Let us be hopeful, and appeal to the people." The democratic national convention was held at Charleston, S.C., April 23, 1860, all the states being represented, with contesting delegations from Illinois and New York. After a session of eight days, and the adoption of a platform, the delegates from Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Louisiana-except two, South Carolina-except three, three from Arkansas, two from Delaware- including Senator Bayard, and one from North Carolina seceded from the convention. The convention then proceeded to ballot for president, with the following result: Douglas 1451⁄2 votes, Guthrie 35; Hunter 42, Dickinson 7, A. Johnson 12, Lane 6, Jeff Davis 11⁄2, Toucy 22, F. Pierce 1. The fifty-seventh ballot showed 1511⁄2 votes for Douglas, and 1011⁄2 divided among the other candidates, the former still lacking 161⁄2 votes of the requisite two-thirds. The convention then, on May 3, adjourned to meet in Baltimore, June 18. At Baltimore other delegations—those from Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Delaware, and Kentucky-withdrew. Judge Douglas was then nominated by the remaining delegates, receiving on the second ballot 1812 votes to 13 opposed. The seceding delegates nominated John C. Breckinridge for president and Joseph Lane for vice-president. A convention of delegates from twenty states, claiming to represent the "Constitutional Union party," met at Baltimore, May 9, and nominated John Bell of Tennessee for president, and Edward Everett of Massachusetts for vice-president. And |