Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1892 — ILLINOIS POLITICS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ILLINOIS POLITICS.

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE BIQ CAMPAIGN OF 1856. Opening of the Grea' Prelude to the War —Bingen and Richardson—The Leaders on Both Sides—Blssoll'g Controversy with Jeff Davis. Old-Time Polltlrlans. The year 1856 was a most remarkable one in Illinois politics. It was in that year that the present Republican party was organized, with Fremont and Dayton at the head of its electoral ticket. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories, Judge Douglas, and the Chuirman of the Houso Committee, Col. NVilliam A. Richardson, were both Illinoisans, both a long time in Congross, wheel-horses in all campaigns, and eacli with a great and enthusiastic following. Fearlessness was a trait common to b th. They determined to meet tho issue squarely and without flinching. At Cincinnati Col. Richardson headed the Democratic delegation, and with it worked •, earnestly to secure the Presidential nomination for Douglas. Though receiving a flattering support, immediately on Mr. Buchanan’s vote reaching a majority the Senator telegraphed a withdrawal of his name and immediately entered tho canvass in advocacy of tho ticket. By one accord tho Democratic nomination for Governor fell to Col. Richardson, and with almost equal unanimity the Republicans nominated Win. H. liissell, tho former residing in Quincy, the latter in Belleville. Richardson was a powerfully built man, raw-boned, with keen gray eyes under sliaggy eye-brows, somewhat careless in dress, a strong grasp, und a manly man’s smile. Bis--Bell, in his Congressional days, was as complete a contrast as one would ordinarily 6oe. He was of medium sizo, clean-shaven, except a tuft of black beard coming down an inch or so upon his cheek, natty in his apparel, straight, active in movement, and of very pleasing address. In speaking ho was precise, narrowly escaping affectation, always rhetorical, and sometimes oratorical. At the Belleville bar, where he practiced with such legal luminaries as John Reynolds, Lyman and George Trumbull, Oustavus Koorner, Jehu Baker, W. H. Underwood, H. K. 8. O’Melveny, Joseph Gillespie, Murray Morrison, James Shields, IV. H. Snyder, Philip B. Fouke, and others of like dis-

tinguished character, he was held in the highest respect anti admiration. At the time of his nomination, however, and, indeed, through the remainder of his career, he was an almost helpless invalid. But one speech was delivered by him in the canvass, and that was from his chair at a meeting in Belleville. Richardson was a Kentuckian, about 45 years of age. Ho was eight or ten years a member of the Legislature, and iu 1844 was Speaker of the House. When the Mexican war broke out lie raised u compuny, served as Captain, and on tho field of Buena Vista was promoted by the unanimous vote of his regiment. Beturning, lie was, in 1847, elected to Congress, where ho served until nominated for Governor, when ho resigned. CoL Bissell was a New-Yorker, born in 1811, and therefore about the same age as his competitor. He was cducatod lor the medical profession, graduating in Philadelphia in 1834, and practiced in Illluois till 1840, when he was admitted to the bar. Like Richardson, he went to tho Mexican war us a Captain, was promoted on tho field of Buena Vista, und returning was a member «f Congress from 1849 to 1855. These, then, were the generals: For President and Governor, Fremont and Bissell on one side and Buchanan and Richardson on the other. The lines were closely drawn, and the campaign opened. From Galena to Cairo, from the Wabash to the Mississippi, resounded Hie “dreadful note of preparation.” jioon the State was a conflagration of enthusiasm and excitement. Dinna ye hear the slogan? 'Tis the Douglas and his men!” was inscribed on the banners of the Democracy. “Free States, free spoech, freedom and Fremont," rung out from amidst the clangor of tho Republican brans bunds. Clubs were organized; public documents wore in demand. Tho exploits of tho “grout Pathfinder,” his hardships in exploring the Western country, were printed In pamphlets and scattered broadcast. The life and services of James Buchanun, the old public functionary, found equal circulation among the pe pie. State committee rooms of both parties exhibited the greatest activity, and at frequent sessions the details of the canvass were gone over with tho utmost care, reports received from the different districts and counties, and public speakers assigned to the several localities where it was supposed they would do the most good. Mr. Douglas placed himself wholly at the disposal of the Democratic committee, and no amount of physical tension was too great for his massive, tireless constitution. The home talent engaged on the Democratic side embraced the eleven candidates ior electors, among whom were A. M. Herrington, Charles H. Constable, Samuel M. Moulton, Orlando B. Ficklin, Win. A. J. Sparks, and

the then rising young orator, John A. Logan, together with a host of speakers, many of whom have since reached more or less distinction. The Republican electoral ticket was made up of names like John M. Palmer, Leonard Swett, William P. Kellogg, Henry P. H. Bromwell, Ebenezer Peck and Richard Yates. In their nominations for county officers, members of the Legislature, Circuit Judges and Congress both parties put up the very best material that could be brought in the field. Many of these were pleasing and earnest speakers. The members of Congress elected that year were E. B. Washburne, John F. Farnsworth, Owen Lovejoy, William P. Kellogg, Bepublicans, and Isaac N. Morris, Thomas L. Harris, Aaron Shaw, Robert Smith and Samuel 8. Marshall, Democrats. Among the distinguished Democratic fampaigners were John A. McClernand, fcsher F. Linder, James W. Singleton,

Wm. C. Goudy, John T. Stuart, Wm. J. Allen, John R. Eden, Wm. F. Thornton, John Dougherty, David M. Woodson, Silas L. Bryan, Chauneey L. Higboe, Wm. R. Morrison, Stephen A. Hurlbut, Don Morrison, Jatnos C. Rob.'nvon, Wm. B. Anderson, Zodoc Casey—all of whom had a State reputation, and some of whom became known to the country at large. Conspicuous among the Republican speakers were Abraham Lincoln, Lyman Trumbull, Leonard Swett, Isaac N. Arnold, Joseph Gillespie, Richard J. Oglesby, Nprman B. Judd, Shelby M. Cullom, Gustavos Koerner, E. M. Haines, Casper Butz, Wm. B. Plato, Thos. J. Henderson, Cyrus Epler and John Woods. It is enough to say of the standing of

the gentlemen whose names are given above that more than forty are cn the roll of membership in Congress, and many distinguished themselves in the great civil war, whilst others have been governors, judges and representatives of the government abroad. Of course the press took a zealous part in the groat, campaign. “Long John” Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat, “Deacon” Bross of the Tribune, Andrews and Shuman of the Journal, Baker and Phillips of the Springfield Journal, Bailachc of the Alton Telegraph, Niles of the Belleville Advocate, Morrison of the Quincy Journal, Foote of the Bloomington Pantagrapli, wore among the principal editors, while the Democracy was represented by such journalists as Shoahan of the Chicago Times (Mr. Douglas’ home organ), Lanphicr and Walker of the Springfield Register, Bond of the Carlyle Democrat, Brooks of the Quincy Herald, Geo. T. Brown of the Alton Courier, and many others.

Soon after his return to Congress, after the Mexican war, Col. Blssoll, In eulogizing the Illinois soldiers, offended Senator Jefferson Davis, who construed Blsseil’s remarks to apply sarcastically to the troops from Mississippi. Davis commanded the First Mississippi Regiment and Bissell the Second Illinois at Buena Vista. Dn\is’ regiment fought with unquestioned bravery in the engagement and was severely cut up, Davis hlmpelf being somewhat seriously wounded, but Bissell with, as was supposed, the Mlssisslpplans in his mind, made reference to the comparative valor of the Northern and Southern volunteers in a way, to say the least, that did no injustice to the Illinoisans. Davis promptly challenged Bissell and Bissell as promptly accepted. The correspondence was short, sharp and decisive. Being the challenged party Bissell had the cho.co of terms and weapons. He selected muskets at twenty paces, for in a quarrel growing out of a question of courage he was determined to leave nothing undone to show his grit. Col. Bissell was brim full of pluck and Davis was no less hr ve. Both would probubly have been killed had the duel been fought, but the seconds intervened, further correspondence ensued and arbitration resulted in the withdrawal of tho hostile notes in the order o.’ their dates. The full details of this affair of honor wore never given to the public; the mutter was quiteed and soon forgotten. Now, the Constitution of Illinois contained a provision requiring every executive officer, before assuming his duties, to take an oath that ho had never sont or accepted a challenge to fight a duel. Home active Democrat who had been burrowing in that documont had run ugulnst this clause, and hurried off to Bhealutn, of the Chicago Times, to appriso him of the big find, hut was surprised to hear tho editor already know of it. Judge ».s pooh-poohed tho wholo matter. eued the ease to that of Judge Trumbull, who had been elected to Con-

gress and taken hie seat the year before, notwithstanding by the State Constitution he was ineligible, on account of he term for which he was elected Judge of tho Circuit Court not having expired. The Constitution said he was not eligible for any office during his term as Judge, nor for one year thereafter, and that any votes cast for him were null and void. There was the case, too, of Gen. Matteson, who hod sought, to bo elected to the United States Senate under substantially similar circumstances. But behind all this were two other important points; first, that the challenge and acceptance having been withdrawn, and the case left as though no belligerent correspondence had taken place, it was purely a matter of conscience wiih Col. Bissell whether he could take the oath or not. As the day of election approached the excitement gained 1 1 intensity. In the previous Presidential contest, 1852, the vote had stoxi: Pierce, Democrat, 80,507; Scott, Whig, 64,034; Hale, Abolition, 0,900. It was generally assumed that the Abolition vote would go to Bissell for Govomor. But the great number of Virginians, Kentuckians and Tennesseeans who had been “old Whigs,” and who had now attached themselves to the fortunes of Douglas, made the contest exceedingly doubtful from a national point of view. Besides, the growth of Illinois in population, and the accessions to the polling strength by young men coming to their majority, were expected to make an increase of from 80,00.) to 100,000 in the vote. One thing entered Into the calculations of both Sides; that every person throughout the State with the light of suffrage who could go or be token to the poll# would surely vote. In those days communication between the capital and other parts of the State was much slower than it is now. and it was several wetks before the result could be fully known. Eag- mess to know how the election had gone seems a faint term as applied to the interest of the people, but at length It was ascertained that Buchanan had carried tho electorial vote and Bissell had been elected Governor. The Presidential vote stood: Buchanan, 105,348; Fremont, 96,189; Fillmore, 37,444. Buchanan’s plurality, 9,150. The full vote for Governor is not accessible where this is written, but Bissell’* majority was 4,700 or thereabouts. It has been stated above that Bias'll was almost a helpless invalid. He had come home from the Mexican-war with a chronic disease which carried away or seriously impaired the health of the volunteers. His condition was much worse than was generally thought, but this was carefully concealed from the public.

At the time of the election Col. BlseeFl required the attention of a nurse as much as an infant would. He had become, under his sufferings, morose and peevish. Tho removal of the invalid to the capital was accomplished laboriously, but quietly, and in a sittiag posture at the mansion, the Governor-elect took tho oath of office and assumed his duties.. During his residence there ho was perhaps as many as half a dozen times outside the Governor's house for a ride, but all knew Bissell was a dying man. Ho survived till March, 1860, and died in tho mansion, being succeeded for tho remainder of his term, ten months, by Lieut. Gov. John Wood, of Quincy.

W. H. BISSELL. GUSTAVUS KOERNER.

JOHN WOODS. WM. A. ROCJARDSN.

E. B. WASH BURNE. RICHARD YAIES.

LEONARO SWETT. LYMAN TRUMBULL.