CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

P. 253  PERIOD OF POLITICAL UNREST

ILLINOIS’ FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR—

OFFICIAL OATH AGAINST DUELING—SOME MATTERS OF LOCAL INTEREST—

POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS IN 1858—

WHEN DOUGLAS CAME TO CAIRO — LINCOLN IN ANNA AND JONESBORO.

       The inauguration of a Republican governor in Illinois was an event of no ordinary interest. The Democratic party had furnished all the governors since the days of Shadrach Bond. The new party was less than four years old, yet it held within its ranks in Illinois men who became famous in the halls of legislation, in high executive stations, on the bench as honored jurists, and as heroes upon the field of battle. Governor Bissell was inaugurated January 13, 1857. He had for some time previous to this campaign been an invalid, having been paralyzed in his limbs. He could walk only with the aid of crutches and then only with difficulty. He was not able to go to the capitol to take the oath, so the legislature went in a body to the executive mansion where, in the presence of the two houses, he took the oath of office. His inaugural address was read to the two houses. It was a very simple, plain document. However, it was to many members quite objectionable in­asmuch as the governor took occasion to discuss the slavery question in Kansas. When, therefore, a motion was made in the house to print 20,000 copies of the message a debate was precipitated which was so violent as to engender a bitter feeling among those who took part in it.

       To understand this topic it will be necessary to review some of our history. Dueling had been a common practice between “men of honor” for many years. The law of Illinois regarded dueling as murder when the “affair” ended in the death of either party. For being engaged in one of these affairs when death was not the result, the punishment was a disability from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit, and a fine. But the laws were seldom executed though many prominent citizens were entangled in these ‘‘affairs of honor.

OFFICIAL OATH AGAINST DUELING

       In the constitutional convention of 1847. there was found a very strong sentiment in favor of some measure which would effectually put a check to this heathenish practice. It was noticed that most of the “affairs of honor” had been between men who either were or hoped to be politicians and office holders. The thought was presented that the practice of dueling might be checked by adding to the ordinary oath of P 254 office a sort of ironclad oath which could not be taken by those who had engaged in dueling. Accordingly, Mr. R. B. Servant, a delegate from Randolph county, introduced Article 13, Section 26, which is as follows: “That from and after the adoption of this constitution every person who shall be elected or appointed to any office of profit, trust, or emolument, civil or military, legislative, executive or judicial under the government of this State, shall, before he enters upon the duties of his office, in addition to the oath prescribed in this constitution, take the following oath: ‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm as the case may be) that I have not fought a duel, nor sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel, the probable issue of which might have been the death of either party, nor have been a second to either party, nor in any manner aided or assisted in such duel, nor been knowingly the bearer of such challenge or acceptance, since the adoption of the constitution; and that I will not be so engaged or concerned, directly or indirectly in or about any such duel, during my continuance in office. So help me God.’

       It so occurred that Colonel Bissell, while a member of congress in 1850, sat one day and heard a member from Virginia, Mr. Seddon, speak slightingly of the conduct of the Illinois troops in the battle of Buena Vista, and praise the valor of a Mississippi regiment which was commanded that day by Jefferson Davis. Colonel Bissell had the honor to command the Second Illinois regiment in that battle, while the lamented John J. Hardin was in command of the First Illinois regiment. Hardin fell dead upon the battlefield and his place was taken by Lieutenant Colonel Weatherford. Both regiments lost heavily in the battle —the First losing 45, the dead being 29; the Second lost 131, the dead numbering 62.

       Colonel Bissell resolved not to rest under the disgrace thus heaped upon Illinois’ sons living and dead, and although a new member he made one of the most dashing, and brilliant speeches of the session in which he proved that Davis’ regiment was not within a mile and a half of the battle at the stated time and never fired a gun in that part of the engagement. Colonel Bissell, fired by his patriotism and his love for the dead he left on the Mexican soil, marked himself as one of the nation ‘s most brilliant orators. Jefferson Davis, who was then a senator from Mississippi, made inquiry of Colonel Bissell by means of a note as to his reflection on the Mississippi regiment. Colonel Bissell's reply was of such a nature that Davis felt called upon to challenge Bissell to a duel. Bissell accepted the challenge, chose army muskets as the weapon to be loaded with a ball and three buck shots, the distance being forty paces. Bissell was in earnest and before the hour set for the duel the friends had succeeded in bringing about a compromise, and the difficulty was adjusted.

BISSELL - DAVIS AFFAIR

       When Colonel Bissell was elected governor in 1857, the question naturally arose whether he could fill the governor’s chair. Colonel Bissell and his friends said the interpretation of the constitution was that the participants should have taken part in a duel in the territory of Illinois, but that since he was in Washington, it did not apply to him. After his inauguration and when a motion was made to print his message Bissell was violently attacked by his political opponents. It P 255 fell to John A. Logan to make the bitterest speech that was made. Not only on this occasion, but throughout Governor Bissell's term he was relentlessly pursued by the majority party in the house. The Democrats of the senate appear to have been less resentful.

       The summer of 1858 witnessed another very exciting contest between the Democratic and the Republican parties. Congressmen, members of the lower house of the legislature, a treasurer, and a superintendent of public instruction were to be elected. The legislature which would meet in January, 1859, would select a successor to Senator Stephen A. Douglas.

       The campaign opened by the meeting of the Democratic State Convention in Springfield, April 21. For treasurer, W. B. Fondey was nominated, while ex-Governor Augustus C. French was nominated for state superintendent of public instruction. This convention, while representing the Democratic party did not endorse Senator Douglas for re-election to that position. Since Buchanan had been President he and Douglas had had radically different views as to the admission of Kansas into the Union, and as a result the federal administration was not willing to endorse Douglas for the senatorship and although the convention praised his course in congress, it failed formally to endorse his candidacy for a return to the senate. The federal office holders and a few anti-Douglas Democrats held a convention and nominated John Dougherty for treasurer, and ex-Governor John Reynolds for state superintendent of public instruction. This was called the National Democratic party. It was also called the Buchanan Democratic party. It received a few more than 5,000 votes.

       The Republican convention met in Springfield on June 16, 1858, It renominated James Miller for treasurer and Newton Bateman for superintendent of schools. But this work was not the important work of the convention. For months before the meeting of the convention all eyes in the Republican party had been turned toward Lincoln as the one who should contest the senatorship with Douglas. The fact that Douglas had broken with the Buchanan administration was regarded by some in the east, especially Greeley, of the New York Tribune, as a most favorable omen for the Republican party. These people said to the Republicans of Illinois, let Douglas return to the senate, he can be of more service there than could a Republican. In fact some seemed to think that because Douglas had opposed the admission of Kansas with the Lecompton constitution, that he might eventually come into the Republican fold. This word, brought back by William Herndon, who had been sent east to gather up the consensus of opinion about Lincoln, was very discouraging.

       But, however much of the east might doubt the wisdom of Lincoln’s contesting the election with Douglas, the Republicans of Illinois had no such misgivings. Cook county came to the Springfield convention with a banner which read Cook County for Abraham Lincoln. A downstate delegate proposed an amendment to the Cook county proposition. He proposed to substitute Illinois for Cook county and the amendment was passed unanimously. Lincoln was formally endorsed as the candidate of the Republican party for Senator Douglas’ place in the United States senate.

       Lincoln, knowing that he would likely be nominated or endorsed by this convention, prepared a carefully arranged statement of his views P 256 and of the line of argument he should use in the canvass. It is claimed by Mr. Herndon, who was Lincoln's law partner, that Lincoln showed his speech to a number of his friends and they all, except Mr. Herndon, tried to dissuade Mr. Lincoln from expressing himself so radically. But Lincoln insisted on giving the speech as he had prepared it. This is called the “House divided against itself speech.” “A house divided against itself can not stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free.”

       This speech of Mr. Lincoln was delivered from manuscript, and Mr. Horace White says that Lincoln regarded it as the most important of his speeches. The issues were joined between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas and there was no way to prevent a great political contest between the two men.

       Senator Douglas returned from Washington, arriving in Chicago July 9, 1858, where he was welcomed by thousands of enthusiastic admirers. He delivered a speech from the balcony of the old Tremont House on Lake street. In this speech he presented mainly the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty. On the evening of the 10th of July, Lincoln answered Douglas, speaking from the same balcony. Later both spoke in Springfield. While these were not joint discussions, they served the purpose of placing before the people of the two congressional districts in which Chicago and Springfield were situated the political doctrines of the two men.

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE

       On July 24th Mr. Lincoln addressed a note to Mr. Douglas asking him if a series of joint discussions could be arranged. Mr. Douglas in reply stated that his speaking campaign had been arranged, and it would not be advisable to disarrange it. However, he proposed to Mr. Lincoln to arrange seven appointments, one in each congressional district in which they had not yet spoken, and in these districts hold joint debates. He volunteered to select the seven towns in which the meetings might be held.

       Mr. Lincoln answered Mr. Douglas on July 29th and Mr. Douglas wrote finally to Mr. Lincoln on July 30th. In his letter of the 30th, Mr. Douglas wrote as follows:
 

BEMENT, PIATT Co.,
July 30, 1858—
Dear Sir:
Your letter dated yesterday, accepting my proposition for a Joint discussion at one prominent point in each Congressional District, as stated in my previous letter, was received this morning. The times and places designated are as follows:
 

Ottawa, La Salle county, August 21, 1858
Freeport, Stephenson county, August 27, 1858
Jonesboro, Union county, September 15, 1858
Charleston, Coles county, September 15, 1858
Galesburg, Knox county. October 7, 1858
Quincy, Adams county, October 13, 1858
Alton, Madison county, October 15, 1858

       I agree to your suggestion that we shall alternately open and close the discussion. I will speak at Ottawa one hour, you can reply, occupying one hour and a half, and I will then follow for half an hour. At Freeport, you shall open the discussion and speak for one hour; I will follow for an hour and a half, and you can reply for half an hour. We will alternate in like manner in each successive place.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S.W. Douglas, P 257

Hon. A. Lincoln, Springfield, Ill.

Mr. Lincoln sent a short note in which he agreed to the above arrangement.

       At that time there were nine congressional districts in the state. The Seventh, Eighth, and part of the Ninth comprehended all the territory we now call Southern Illinois. The following counties constituted the Seventh district: Logan, Macon, Piatt, Moultrie, Coles, Edgar, Clark, Cumberland, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Lawrence, Richland, and Clay. The member in congress from this district was Hon. Aaron Shaw of Lawrenceville. The Eighth district included the counties of Madison, Bond, St. Clair, Washington, Marion, Jefferson, Monroe. and Randolph. The Hon. Robert Smith of Alton was the representative. The Ninth district included eighteen counties as follows:

Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Saline, Williamson, Jackson, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Massac, Pulaski, and Alexander, The Hon. Samuel S. Marshall, of McLeansboro, was the representative.

       The first joint debate was at Ottawa. It was held in the public square and was largely attended. The second debate was at Freeport, and the third at Jonesboro.

SOME MATTERS OF LOCAL INTEREST

       Without doubt the Lincoln-Douglas debate which occurred in Jonesboro, Union county, September 15, 1858, was the most memorable, profound and far-reaching political event which ever occurred in Southern Illinois. Southern Illinois had been the cradle of French interests in the Mississippi valley. It was the seat of British power west of the Alleghenies. Here Gen. George Rogers Clark unfurled the flag of the infant republic. Southern Illinois furnished the first governors, the first congressmen, the first United States senators, and the first supreme court judges of the Prairie state. The names of Nathaniel Pope, Ninian Edwards, Rev. J. M. Peck, Morris Birkbeck, Sidney Breese, James Shields, Wm. H. Bissell, John Reynolds, John Rice Jones, Elias Kent Kane, Jesse B. Thomas, Shadrach Bond, Daniel P. Cook, Joseph Duncan, James Hall, Gustavus Koerner, John A. McClernand, Henry Eddy, Joseph Duncan, Elijah P. Lovejoy, Joseph Gillespie, and E. D. Baker were as household words in Southern Illinois. Among these honored sons. were distinguished lawyers, profound jurists, able statesmen, patriots, soldiers, and orators. The rank and file of the people of this end of the state were familiar with the above named citizens. They were familiar figures in the various sections of Southern Illinois. They had often been heard in public gatherings. They compared quite favorably with honored sons of other states. But when we bring Lincoln and Douglas into this galaxy of bright stars, their magnitude diminishes perceptibility. Lincoln and Douglas were stars of the first magnitude and the lustre of our local stars passes into the third, fourth or fifth class of political luminaries. It was, therefore, a rare treat for the citizenship of Southern Illinois to be privileged to have the opportunity of hearing and seeing these two men. It is not at all likely that either of these two men had ever been seen in Southern Illinois except perhaps as lawyers at the bar. It is said that Lincoln attended court in the old stone court house in Thebes, between 1845 and 1860. At any rate, the coming of these two men was an event of extraordinary importance. P 258

       The plan of campaign adopted by both Douglas and Lincoln was to have a number of speaking dates at points on the line of travel in going from one joint debate to the next one. Thus there were seven days between the Ottawa debate and the Freeport debate, and about twenty days between the Freeport and the Jonesboro meetings. This space of twenty days was used by each of the gentlemen in doing a number of lesser engagements throughout the country.

       Mr. Horace White, now of New York city, was at that time a personal companion of Mr. Lincoln on all his campaigns during the period of the joint debate. He has left a complete itinerary of Mr. Lincoln’s journeyings from Freeport to Jonesboro. From Freeport Mr. Lincoln and Mr. White went to Carlinville, where John M. Palmer and Lincoln had a joint discussion. Thence to Clinton, Bloomington, Monticello, Paris, where Owen P. Lovejoy, the great abolition orator, spoke with Lincoln. From there to Hillsboro, Greenville, and thence to Edwardsville. This place was reached on September the 13th. Here Judge Joseph Gillespie presided and greatly encouraged Mr. Lincoln. This Edwardsville meeting, it will be noticed, was only a dozen miles from Alton, where the last joint meeting was to be held. From Edwardsville Mr. Lincoln and Mr. White went to Alton, thence to Springfield, thence to Decatur and from that point direct to Anna on the Illinois Central.

       The whereabouts of Douglas from the Freeport meeting for a few days have not been traced, but the St. Louis Daily Morning Herald of Saturday, September 11, 1858, has an account of a visit of Douglas to Belleville. He went from St. Louis to Belleville on a special train carrying twelve coaches loaded with Douglas enthusiasts. It appears that Douglas and Mrs. Douglas had been visiting in St. Louis. Mrs. Douglas accompanied her husband to Belleville. Of Mrs. Douglas the Herald Bays: “Of the beauty and grace of this lady much has been said; and all who saw her yesterday are quite ready to testify, with entire truth.”

       From Belleville, where Douglas spoke on the 10th of September, he went to Waterloo on Saturday the 11th. Just where he spent Sunday is not certain, but on Monday the 13th he spoke in Chester. That night he boarded the “James H. Lucas,” a river steamboat plying between St. Louis and Memphis. By Tuesday morning, September 14th, he rounded the southern end of the peninsula and steamed into the Ohio and within less than an hour had landed on the wharfboat at Cairo.

POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS IN 1858

       In the summer of 1857, Douglas and Buchanan came to the parting of the ways. The Lecompton constitution was presented for its acceptance. Douglas, and Governor Walker of Kansas, had both protested against the acceptance. Buchanan yielded to the demands of the slave power and recommended the acceptance. Douglas had preached state sovereignty with all his might and now it looked as if his whole theory was to be cast to the winds by the administration.

       When Douglas reached Washington for the sitting of congress in December, 1857. he called on Buchanan and they went over all the ground. Douglas told the President that he would denounce the Lecompton constitution on the floor of the senate. This he did in a great speech in which he defined the slave power. The fight between P 259 Douglas on one side, assisted by a few brave souls, and the slave power on the other, was dragged on till June 16, 1858, when congress adjourned.

       Illinois Democracy sympathized with Douglas and there grew up two factions known as the Administration faction and the Douglas faction. The regular Democratic state convention met in Springfield April 21, 1858. Douglas’ course in congress was warmly endorsed. Wm. B. Fonday was nominated for treasurer and ex-Gov. A. C. French was named for state superintendent of public instruction. When it came to the resolutions which indorsed Douglas there was a bolt of all the anti-Douglas delegates. They assembled in another room and after some deliberation called a state convention to be held in Springfield, June 9, 1858. The convention was accordingly held. There were representatives present from forty-eight counties. John Dougherty of Jonesboro, Union county, was named as the candidate for state trea­urer; and ex-Gov. John Reynolds of Belleville, St. Clair county, was the candidate for state superintendent of public instruction. The party title was the National Democratic party. Douglas was denounced by the convention and the praises of Buchanan were sung. The convention was in a large measure made up of federal office holders throughout the state, together with a few disaffected politicians here and there. It was urged that candidates for congress and for local offices be put forward everywhere.

       Senator Douglas felt he must defend himself in the senate, and a week later made a speech in which he. denounced the “bolters” convention, calling the party Danites. This name stuck to the Buchanan or Administration Democrats during  the entire canvass.

       The Republicans had nominated Mr. D. L. Phillips, of Anna, for congress in the Ninth congressional district. The Regular Democratic organization had nominated Mr. John A. Logan, of Benton, while the “Danites,” as Douglas called them, the Administration Democrats, nominated Mr. Wm. K. Parrish, In the Twenty-fifth Senatorial district for state senator the Douglas party put forward A. J. Kuykendall, of Vienna, the Buchanan party put forward Aaron R. Stout, In the First Representative district, made up of the counties of Union, Alexander, and Pulaski, the candidate for the Douglas party for state representative was Wm. A. Hacker; for the Administration party, John S. Hunsaker.

       To show the disaffection of the Danites we append the vote for the several positions:

For representative: Wm. A. Hacker—Alexander county, 322; Pulaski county, 554; Union county, 566; total, 1,442.

John S. Hunsaker—Alexander county, 24. Pulaski county, 113; Union county, 620; total, 757.

For state senator: A. J. Kuykendall—Alexander county, 307; Union county, 558; Johnson county, 816; Pulaski county, 579; Pope county, 608; Massac county, 636; Hardin county, 309; Gallatin county, 610; total, 4,425.

Aaron R. Stout—Alexander county, 225; Union county, 561; Johnson county, 29; Pulaski county, 78; Pope county, 25; Massac county, 27; Hardin county, 46; Gallatin county, 395; total, 1,386.

       It was probably because of the fact that the Buchanan forces were so strong in the extreme southern counties that Douglas named Jonesboro as the point where the joint discussion should occur in the Ninth P 260
 
       Yesterday morning about 9 o’clock the James H. Lucas, with the Lilliputian giant, on board, announced her coming by the report of a cannon, whereupon the committee appointed for the purpose hoisted their collars, straightened their hair and mustaches. wiped the last "licker" off their lips with their coat sleeves, and made tracks for the wharf boat. As soon as the boat landed, a cannon brought from Mound City for the purpose (the brass piece here is a Buchanan cannon, and would certainly have bursted on such an occasion) commenced belching. The committee then went to the Lucas. Judge Duglas was visible and the chairman said "How d'ye do Mr. D?" as natural as possible. Mr. D. replied "I am tolerable!" The rest of the committee were then introduced to the circus giant and a procession was formed.

       In the tent was Mr. Douglas adorned on one side by Mr. S. S. Taylor, six feet two or seven inches high, and on the other by Mr. Brooks, five feet four inches high. Mr. Douglas had on a white hat and a coat. The balance of the procession consisted of fifteen or twenty persons who marched up to the top of the levee, where they were met by four banners, one flag, and ten or fifteen more people, who joined them promiscuously. The imposing spectacle then moved, led on by the immortal twelve, up to White's corner, then down to Bailey Harrell's and thence down commercial avenue to the Tailor House. Here was the grand display. Little Mr. Douglas and his large white hat went into the Taylor House parlor, followed by several of the committee. About a dozen of the faithful had collected at the corner, and one of them proposed three cheers for Mr. Douglas. An attempt was made to give them, but barring the aforesaid dozen or two it was an ignominious failure. Three cheers were then proposed for Sam Marshall which were given by about eight persons in the very weakest kind of style. When Mr. Douglas was cheered, he appeared at the parlor window, and smiled very benignly upon the crowd. One of the committee then appeared at the window, called the attention of the crowd, and stated that Mr. Douglas' time was much too occupied with speaking and he could not speak more than once a day, speaking would therefore be commenced at 2 o'clock. The crowd quietly dispersed without a word, save from one man, who exclaimed, "Well, let him rip, then." The band then played one more tune, and everything was soon quiet as if Mr. Douglas was not in town. From the time of his arrival on the Lucas till he reached the Taylor House, there was not the least enthusiasm among the crowd--not even a cheer was proposed, and the march through the hot sun was gloomy indeed. Altogether, it was the flattest, dryest and most insipid reception we ever saw.

LATER

       At 1 o'clock Mr. D. assembled himself up on a platform which had been erected for his benefit in front of the Taylor House, and delivered his stereotyped speech. The remainder of the day was spent in various amusements until evening, when the ball commenced. Politics having been confined to the kitchen, the ball went off very pleasantly. Judge Douglas' enthusiastic (?) reception, will long be remembered by our citizens. Verily there was ice mixed with it.

 P 261

 congressional district. Mr. A. J. Phillips now a citizen of Anna, son of David L. Phillips, who in 1858 was the candidate of the Republican party for congress in the Ninth district, says his father told him that Lincoln did not want to come to Jonesboro to debate, as he thought there was no chance to elect any of the Republican candidates from that region to the general assembly. But Mr. D. L. Phillips and Mr. Lincoln were great friends and the former prevailed on Mr. Lincoln to come.

WHEN DOUGLAS CAME TO CAIRO

        We have already mentioned the fact that Douglas reached Cairo on his way to Jonesboro Tuesday morning, September 14th. Old citizens now in Cairo have a very distinct recollection of that noted occasion. By reference to the vote in Alexander county that fall, we find Douglas’ friend, Wm. A. Hacker, received 322 votes while Mr. Hunsaker received only 24. Douglas was therefore in the midst of his friends. However, the paper published in Cairo at that time, the Cairo Weekly Times and Delta, was very bitterly opposed to Douglas, as the extract on the preceding page will show, this being taken from the issue of September 15, 1858.

       From personal interviews, and correspondence with men who were in Cairo at the time, the following may be stated: A brass band of twelve pieces from Jonesboro had been engaged to come to Cairo and furnish music for the Douglas reception. It was under the leadership of Prof, Joseph E. Terpinitz.    The reception committee consisted of Col. S. Staats Taylor, Col, John S. Hacker, S. S. Brooks, B. O‘Shaughnessy, Capt. Abe Williams, Capt. Billy Williams, Mose Harrell, mayor of Mound City, John Q. Harmon, M. S. Ensminger, Henry H. Kandee, H. Too Aspern, Ed Willett, and others. The committee had provided a small cannon. The committee, the band, and the cannon were on the wharf when the James H. Lucas landed at the wharf boat. The cannon was fired several times and quite a crowd gathered to welcome the distinguished guest. It seems certain, however, that enthusiasm was not at a high pitch.

        The band led the way and the committee with Douglas marched to the Taylor House, a three-story wooden hotel that stood on the southwest corner of Fourth and Commercial avenue. Mrs. Douglas accompanied the Senator and they were guests at the Taylor House. The band played a piece or two and the crowd dispersed. Arrangements had been made for speaking in the afternoon. A few prominent people were guests at the hotel for dinner.

        The speaking occurred early in the afternoon. Men who were there seem to think the audience was not demonstrative. Evidently there were few, if any, of the leaders of the party present except local notables. Capt. W. W. Williams, now of Cairo, thinks Josh Allen. John Logan and Gen. Uriah Linder were present. Captain Williams says Douglas seemed to be feeling the strain of the campaign and spoke with considerable difficulty.

        An interesting story is told by Captain Williams. He says he called at the Taylor House to pay his respects and was introduced to Mrs. Douglas in the kitchen, where she was assisting in making pies for the dinner or noon meal, as they were expecting many guests. Other citizens confirm the story. Hon. W. T. Dowdall, now of Memphis, P 262 Tennessee, was a prominent participant in the reception of Senator Douglas, and has rendered valuable help in the preservation of the details of that memorable day. He has much to say of the charm of Mrs. Douglas. His notion is that she was of inestimable service to her husband in this noted canvass.

        It would probably not be wide of the truth to say that the visit of Senator and Mrs. Douglas to Cairo on their way to Jonesboro was more a social event than it was a political affair. Great preparations were made for a reception and ball to be given in the Taylor House on the evening of the 14th. The evening meal was served promptly and elaborate preparations were made in the large dining room for the social functions. This feature seems to have been in charge of Hon. Wm. A. Hacker, C. G. Simons, H. Watson Webb, and others. Professor Terpinitz and his musicians furnished the music, Senator and Mrs. Douglas led the grand march. Mrs. Douglas, never weary of service in the cause of her noted husband, danced with many of the noted gentlemen present, particularly Colonel Taylor and Captain Billy Williams. Senator Douglas needed to husband his resources for the great conflict on the morrow, so he retired early, but the “younger set” kept up the dance till the wee hours of the morning.

        On the morning of the 15th a special train stood ready upon the Illinois Central tracks to convey the Little Giant and his party to the little village of Anna, in Union county, where they would debark for the historic town of Jonesboro. The train consisted of several coaches; attached to the rear was a flat car upon which was a cannon manned by the “Cairo artillerymen.” There was not a large crowd of Cairoites who went to Jonesboro. Professor Terpinitz thinks the cannon was fired often on the way to Anna. The country passed through was mostly timbered and hilly and he says the reverberations of the artillery waked the natives. Anna was reached about noon, and after some delay a procession was formed and the party marched to Jonesboro a mile west.

        The following extract from the Chicago Journal of September 16, 1858, is of interest, as it helps to settle some matters which the oldest inhabitant does not remember.

 “(Special Correspondence of the Journal).

        “Just as we go to press, we received a letter from Southern Illinois, a portion only of which we can publish today:

“CAIRO. Sept. 14, 1858.

      Senator Douglas with his cannon arrived here yesterday (it should read today) and made a speech (today) to the assembled Cairoites. Linder, Judge Marshall, and John Logan also had their say. We did not get here in time to hear the speeches. In the morning, Douglas and his cannon proceed to Jonesboro, where he meets Mr. Lincoln in debate before the Egyptians, for the first time, tomorrow afternoon. Mr. Lincoln is already there, having come down on the same train which brought us to Cairo. He was received by a number of friends at the depot (in Anna) and is the guest of Mr. Dresser.

        He looks well, feels strong, and is full of courage as he has every reason to be. A warm time is expected tomorrow, and we hear some whispers of a proposed attempt on the part of Missourians and Kentuckians, who are coming over to shout for Douglas, to “put down” P 263 Lincoln. But we cannot believe that the attempt will be made. Mr. Lincoln will not be without friends at the meeting. We find that he is personally popular even here in Egypt.”

       A correspondent for the Chicago Journal, writing from Jonesboro at the close of the debate, and reviewing the day’s doings, says: “The extra excursion train from Cairo, for the State Fair at Centralia, brought up Senator Douglas and his cannon this evening (evidently afternoon as the train reached Anna about noon or shortly thereafter). We came upon the same train and were surprised that notwithstanding the cannon was fired on the arrival at each station not a solitary cheer was given nor any sign of enthusiasm manifested between Cairo and Jonesboro. When the train arrived at the station, his cannon (he always carries it with him, on an extra wood car attached to the train) fired his own salute.’

        Another correspondent to the Press and Tribune says: “Shortly before two o’clock the people entered the fair grounds, a little north of the town, where the speaking stand had been erected. The inevitable brass cannon was there before them filling the yard with a loud noise and a bad smell.”

LINCOLN IN ANNA AND JONESBORO

        Mr. Lincoln reached Anna from the north probably about 2 o’clock in the afternoon of the fourteenth. He was accompanied by Mr. Horace White, Mr. D. L. Phillips, and probably Mr. Robert R. Hitt, the shorthand reporter. In the letter above to the Journal, the correspondent says he was to be the guest of Mr. Dresser, but Mr. A. J. Phillips, son of D. L. Phillips, says his father entertained Mr. Lincoln. Mr. A. J. Phillips was eleven years old and he says he remembers the occasion in all its details. The elder Phillips had an office in a two-story frame building about where the Miller opera house stands and Messrs. Phillips, Lincoln, Hitt and White, possibly others, spent some time in the office, and later Mr. Lincoln went to the home of Mr. Phillips on the north side of the street from Anna to Jonesboro and remained over night. Messrs. Hitt and White went to Jonesboro and stayed over night at the Union Hotel, which is situated on the east side of the public square. In all probability Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Phillips were at the hotel for some time in the evening, for Mr. Horace White, now of New York, writes as follows: “The only thing I recall at Jonesboro was not political and not even terrestrial. It was the splendid appearance of Donati‘s comet in the sky, the evening before the debate. Mr. Lincoln greatly admired this strange visitor, and he and I sat for an hour or more in front of the hotel looking at it.” Mr. White further says:

        “The country people came into the little town with ox teams mostly, and a very stunted breed of oxen, too. Their wagons were old-fashioned, and looked as though they were ready to fall to pieces.”

        On the morning of the fifteenth Dr. McVane, a prominent Democrat, who lived near Mr. Phillips, offered to take Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Phillips out driving. Mr. Lincoln consented. Dr. McVane was quite a horse fancier and drove a fine span of matched geldings. When they were ready to start Dr. McVane asked young Phillips to go with them and of course the youngster was glad of the chance. The four drove P 264 over to Jonesboro, around the town, and westward along the picturesque road leading to Willard’s Landing on the Mississippi river. They returned and Mr. Lincoln made some calls, one of which was to the home of a Mrs. Hacker, a daughter-in-law of Col. John Hacker and wife of Dr. Hacker. Some years ago Mrs. Dr. Hacker gave the writer the story of the visit of both Mr. Lincoln and Senator Douglas. She says when Lincoln called she had in her arms a six weeks’ old baby. She observed his ungainly appearance, the awkward gait, the long, bony hand, the kindly look in the eyes, the sympathetic conversation, etc. He stayed but a few moments, fondled the child and departed. Douglas also called. He was tastily attired, his hands encased in kid gloves, and everything denoted the air of a cultured gentleman. In his visit to the home he strengthened the ties already strong between himself and the Hackers, the most influential name in the extreme south end of the state at that time.

        Mr. A. J. Phillips says they returned to Anna for an early dinner and within a short time the village was startled by the roar of a cannon. Everybody rushed to the station and a large crowd of people welcomed the Little Giant. Mr. Horace White says: “I was standing at the railroad station at Anna when Douglas’s special train arrived from Cairo. My recollection is that there was a flat car attached to the train on which a small cannon was mounted and that it was fired several times after its arrival.”

        Andrew J. Bunch, now seventy-five years of age, living at McClure, in the northwest part of Alexander county, was a young man twenty-one years of age at the time of the debate. He was living in Jonesboro at that time. He says: “Jonesboro was a small town of less than one thousand population. There was a large hotel on the east side of the square kept by a man by the name of Sheets, and one on the west side kept by a Mrs. Williams. The courthouse in the center of the square was very dilapidated. There was no floor, only a dirt floor. The present courthouse was just being plastered. The prominent men were Col. John Hacker, his two sons, William and Henry. The latter was a doctor. William was a very active politician. Col. John Dougherty was a very prominent man. His son, Lafayette, was the United States marshal for the southern district of Illinois. Other prominent men were John E. Nail, Willis Willard, John Greer, Adam Cruse, Dr. Toler, William Bunch, Ephraim Kimmel, Joseph E. Terpinitz, John R. Miller, George Williams, Samuel Flagler, Jeff Baldwin, etc. But Jonesboro was almost solid for Buchanan and it was a cold reception that Douglas got. The reception committee consisted of the Hackers and Dr. Toler with others who were nominally on the committee. Slight preparations were made. The debate occurred half a mile north of the square. The reason the preparations were slight was that no Buchanan man would do anything toward making arrangements. The Douglas cannon was taken to the grounds and placed to the south of the speaker’s stand and fired several times while Douglas was speaking. When the speaking was over someone shouted for Dougherty to speak and he took the platform, but the confusion was too great. Josh Allen got up and shouted for Linder, who came forward and spoke. I do not know what became of Douglas and Lincoln after the speaking.”

        Prof. Joseph E. Terpinitz, the leader of the band, after telling of having some difficulty in getting anything to eat, says: “Upon P 265 arriving at Jonesboro we were again disappointed in getting refreshments, The square was alive with people and streams of men and boys were moving toward the fairgrounds. Finally the band led the way and the march to the grounds was taken up. I remember we were tired and hungry and not inclined to pay much attention to what was going on. But as we were going up a gentle slope near the grounds, I noticed to the left of the road in a path a tall, odd looking man walking along with his hands behind him. He wore a tall plug hat, rather long-tailed coat, and was a person who would attract attention in a crowd. He seemed in deep meditation, walking with his head down. I asked— Who is that odd looking man? Someone in the band said that was Lincoln from Springfield, who was going to speak. He was not particularly with anyone, though there were many people walking along and his friends may have been near.”

        The debate was without unusual incident. The audience was indeed very small. No one has estimated it more than two thousand, while those who were accustomed to size up audiences place it at fifteen hundred. The correspondents for the city papers speak of a good delegation coming from the State Fair at Centralia, and of a good sized crowd from Cairo. Mr. Horace White says: “My impression was that the audience at Jonesboro was rather stolid, and took little interest in the questions discussed, but that it was composed of honest, well meaning, old fashioned country folks. I do not think Lincoln made any converts at Jonesboro. I doubt if Douglas made any or even held his own.”

  History Table of Contents

  Biography Table of Contents

  Name Index

  Memorial Library Illinois Selections

USGenNet.org - First & Only 501(c)3 Host for Genealogical & Historical Sites

Livingston County Michigan Historical & Genealogical Project

  American History & Genealogy Project

  Home

© 2006~ Pam MARDOS Rietsch    pam@livgenmi.com