Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1891 — GENERAL PALMER WINS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GENERAL PALMER WINS.

THE ILLINOIS SENATORIAL CONTEST ENDED. Moore and Cockrell with the Democrats Republicans for Llndley—Exciting Incidents. General John M. Palmer is a United States Senator* The contest in tho Illinois joint assembly contihu&d through seven weeks to a day. and took 154 ballots. It was known early In the morning by everybody that Palmer would be elected unless some accident interfered, and all Springfield went to the Capitol to try to secure admittance to the House floor and galleries. Those who could not get Inside remained in the rotunda and satisfied their curiosity with echoing tho cheers Insldo. The Republicans knew they were beaten, and accepted their defeat with complacency. No attempt was made In either houso to do any business. The members sat about in groups, telling stories, singing songs, and exchanging experiences. There was good feeling everywhere, Republicans and Democrats mingling on both side*. Two hours before the joint assembly met, the galleries and the floor of the House began to fill. An hour before the battlo thflto was a flonse crowd packed In every spaco sot apart for visitors. Tho Republicans who were in their seats began to sing,. “Wo Are Going Home." The doorkeeper announced the Senate, and shortly after, that body was admitted

the vote was taken. Ths Speaker' announced tho result as follosaG-> .• • “On this, the one liundYdcl a'nd fiftyfourth Joint ballot, tho wliolo number of votes cast Is 204. Necessary to a*choice, 103, of which John M. Palmer has received a total of 103, C. J. Llndley, 100, Streeter, 1." The Speaker then formally declared Gcnoral John M. Palmer elected Senator to represent the State of Illinois In tho United Statos Senate for six years from March 4, 1891. Senator-elect Palmer was then introduced, and delivered a short speech. John M. Palmer was born In Scott County, Kentucky, Sept. 13, 1817. He cast his first vote in Illinois for Stephen A. Douglas for Congress, but ho was always an anti-slavery man In and left the Democrats when the Missouri comprombe was repealed. Then he became a Republican. In I'SSO he was Chairman of the Republican State Convention at. Bloomington. He ran for Congress In 1859*- but was defeated. In 1860 he was a Republican Presidential Elector for the State at largo. In 1861 he was appointed one of tho five delegates (all Republicans) sent by Illinois to tho peace Congress at Washington. When the civil conflict broke out ho offered his services to his country, and was elected Colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the engagements'at Island No. 10; at Farmington, where ho sklllfu'ly extricated his command from a dangerous position; at Stono River, whore his division for several hours, I)oc. 31, 1862, held an advanced position and stood like a rock, and for his gallantry there he was made Major General; at Chickamauga, where his and Van Clece’s divisions for two hours maintained their portion when they were cut off by ovofpbwerlng numbers. Under Gen. Sheftnart ho was assigned to tho FQurteohth Army Corps, and participated in the Atlartta campaign up to a date In August, wlf6n he asked to be relieved bccaitsb Gen. Sherman ordered htm to repqrt to (1 on. Schofield. " In February, 1865, G6’n. Palmer was assigned to tho military administration of Kentucky, which was a delicate post. General Palmer Was nominated for Governor of Illinois by tl\p Republican State Convention which met' at Peoria May 6, 1868, and his nomination would probably have been made by acclamation bad he not persistently declared tint he could not accept a candidature for the office. Tho result of the ensuing election gave Mr. Palmer a majority of 44,707 over John R. Eden, the Democratic nominee. - '■'* *

Since the expiration of Governor Palmer’s term, while he has been somewhat prominent in Illinois politics, be h&S'devoted the most of his time to the practice of his profession. In 1887 and 1888 he was the candidate of his party for the United States Senatorshlp, but was defeated, the first time byChas. B. Farwoll, and the second time by Shelby M. Cullom. The Democratic State Convention held in 1888 nominated him again for the oilice of Governor. Ho carefully canvassed the who:e State, and was defeated by Joseph W. Filer, the present incumbent. Ho re.'-eived the indorsement of the Democratic State Convention held in June last for the'office of United States Senator, and the instructions which every Democratic Senator and Representativ3 elected In November last received were considered as obligating him to vote for no one for United States Senator but John M. Palmer. Gen Palmer has been twice married. ' In 1842 he was united in m&riiage to I Malinda Neely, who died in 1883. He | was married to his present wife in the l spring of 1888. ============= Adam Obebhoibeb is an 80-year-old resident of Wapakoneta, Chio. A year or so ago he induced a voung woman to marry him by giving her a large oil I farm and $5,000 cash. The other day she presented him with a son and heir, and Adam vented his joy by going about the streets singing at the top of his voice. Charles VII. of France had a pair of, j ill-made legs. He wore a long coat to conceal thorn, and so everybody else wora 1 long coats.

GEN. JOHN M. PALMER.