The Edwards papers

Front matter

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Chapter I

Letters of Henry Clay; a young lawyer; his clear statements abou business; political speculations; candidate for Senate of Kentucky ; portion of a letter of Mr. Clay lithographed ; removal of Ninian Edwards to Kentucky; his election to Kentucky Legislature; admitted to practise law in Kentucky and Tennessee, 17

Chapter II

Letter of Matthew Lyon ; the letter lithographed ; candidate for secretary of Upper Louisiana Territory; proposal to annex that Territory to Indiana Territory; Georgia Cession; Mr. Randolph opposed to it; the career of Matthew Lyon; elected to Congress from Vermont and Kentucky; Ninian Edwards candidate for Congress against Matthew Lyon; the ability and elevated tone of his speeches; appointed judge, he withdraws from the canvass; Lyon candidate for delegate to Congress from Missouri Territory, but defeated by Edward Hempstead; elected a delegate from Arkansas Territory; dies before taking his seat; his sons-in-law, Dr. Caldwell and John Messenger, prominent men in early times in Illinois; letter of Hon. John Pope of Kentucky to Governor Edwards ; his free criticisms on public men, particularly John Randolph; Matthew Lyon "turned fed."; the public service of John Pope ; his ability and force of character; a visit of the writer to Washington in 1840; a description of some members of Congress at that time; Zadoc Casey, John Reynolds, and John T. Stuart the members from Illinois; Another letter of Hon. John Pope; his philosophical speculations; good advice, - - - - - - 28

11 CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Letter of Shadrach Bond, Jr.; his complaint of Maj. Whiteside; declines to enter into a contest with him; sketch of Mr. Bond; his energy, judgment, and sound common-sense; called "Captain Bond"; his case like that of Chief-Justice Marshall, who was called "General Marshall"; his early residence in Illinois Territory; member of the General Assembly of the Northwestern Territory and afterward of the Indiana Territorial Legislature; first delegate to Congress from Illinois Territory; first governor of the State of Illinois; removes from the American Bottom to Kaskaskia; the house he built there, now in the last stages of dilapidation; his death on April 14, 1830; his remains removed to Chester; the State erects a monument to his memory; description of him by Governor Reynolds; letter of Albert Gallatin ( fac-simile ) in relation to the United States Salines; sketch of Mr. Gallatin; his long and honorable public career; letter of John J. Crittenden; appointed by Governor Edwards attorney-general for Illinois Territory; the appointment declined; his long and distinguished career in public life; letter of H. Butler about the Salines; letter of William Wallace on the same subject; letter of Acting -Governor Frederick Bates of Missouri Territory; letter of Lieut. Price, from Fort Massac; description of the old military post; letter of Thomas T. Crittenden resigning the office of attorney-general of Illinois Territory; letter of Governor Benjamin Howard of Missouri Territory, -------42

Chapter IV

Letter of Martin D. Hardin; a distinguished lawyer of Kentucky; father of Col. John J. Hardin of Illinois; description of Prairie du Chien as it appeared in 181 1; an interesting old French- Canadian settlement; its large commerce at that time; early working of the Dubuque and Galena lead-mines; first discovery of lead-ore in the United States; letter of Samuel Whiteside, an early settler in Illinois Territory; the Whiteside Family; "Whiteside Station"; Whiteside County; General Samuel

CONTENTS. iii

'Whiteside; a man of great courage and energy; a Democrat in politics, and a "Hard -Shell" Baptist in religion; letter of Governor Howard; letter of William B. Whiteside; Goshen Settlement; letter of Joseph Charless; publisher of the first newspaper ever issued in Upper Louisiana Territory, the "Missouri Gazette", afterwards the "Missouri Republican"; proposes to print the laws of Illinois for 1812; letter of Thomas E. Craig; his expedition to Peoria; brings away many of the inhabitants as prisoners; Antoine LeClaire one of them; Le- Claire becomes one of the founders of Davenport, Iowa; letter of Jonathan Taylor; a lessee of the United States Salines in 1810, '- - - .- - 58

Chapter V

Letter of George Robinson; question of dividing Randolph County agitated; petition for division ; Northwestern Territory; County of Illinois, Virginia; first counties established in Northwestern Territory; Washington first, Hamilton second, St. Clair third, Knox fourth, Randolph fifth; controversy about the county-seat of Randolph County; William St. Clair; other counties established in Illinois Territory; letter of Robert Brent, paymaster of United States Army; letter of Martin D. Hardin; letter of Captain William Clark; a distinguished explorer and governor of Missouri Territory; a brother of George Rogers Clark; letter of John Hays, an early settler at Cahokia; much of his life passed in the fur-trade ; postmaster of Cahokia, and sheriff of St. Clair County; other letters of Robert Brent; letter of Thomas E. Craig; Craig's report to Governor Edwards of his expedition to Peoria; speaks of certain parties at Peoria as " Dam'd Rascals", ------- yj

Chapter VI

Letter of Joseph Charless; printing laws of Illinois Territory; letters of Shadrach Bond to Governor Edwards while delegate to Congress; Edward Hempstead first delegate from Missouri Territory; resolution of the Legislature of Illinois Territory, respecting the partial introduction of negroes to carry on the salt-works;

iv CONTENTS.

thinks it "would make a fuss with some"; "the feds." smile when the news of Winchester's defeat was announced in the House of Congress; calling of an extra session of Congress "to Play the Deviel with "Western delegates"; Bond leaves "Racoon Grove" for "Washington; wants a guard; letter of M. D. Hardin; speculations touching the war; letter of Mr. Bond; successors to Judges Stuart and Griswold; the latter a good lawyer, paid his debts, and sung David's Psalms; Judge Sprigg, the successor of Judge Stuart; his contempt for street politics; presentment of the grand jury against the judges of the Territory for non-attendance and non-residence; letter of Edward Tiffin; his public services; letter of Shadrach Bond; an intelligent, faithful, and vigilant representative of the people; his address to his constituents, 91

Chapter VII

Letter of James Monroe, secretary of war; letter of J. Meigs, commissioner of the general land-office; letter of Benjamin Stephenson, an early pioneer, second delegate to Congress from Territory of Illinois, receiver of public moneys at Edwardsville, father of Colonel James W. Stephenson of Galena; Governor Edwards and Colonel Stephenson intimate and life -long friends; letter of Daniel P. Cook to Governor Edwards; brief sketch of Mr. Cook and Nathaniel Pope; Cook a man of great ability, four times elected to Congress from the State of Illinois, acting-chairman of the committee of ways and means during his last term of service, beaten for Congress in 1826 by Joseph Duncan; broken down in health, dies in Kentucky, October 16th, 1827; a brilliant and distinguished career cut short at the age of thirty-two years; "the paths of glory lead but to the grave"; though a Kentuckian, a strong anti- slavery man and opposed to the convention resolution; first attorney - general of the State ot Illinois, judge of the Circuit Court in the western circuit; Cook County named after him; married the daughter of Governor Edwards; left one son, General John Cook of Springfield, Illinois; letter of Shadrach Bond; applies to be appointed secre-

CONTENTS. V

tary of the Territory in the event of the election of Nathaniel Pope as a delegate to Congress; letter of John Pope of Kentucky, respecting his defeat for Congress; letter of Daniel P. Cook; desires to purchase land near where the seat of government is to be; letter of William H. Crawford, in regard to the United States Salines; letter of Joseph Charless, criticising letter of Major Christy; letter of Governor Clark of Missouri Territory, - - - - - - - 118

Chapter VIII

Letters of Daniel P. Cook; Col. Lane; Cook predicts that Mr. Clay would be secretary of war: seeks the appointment of secretary of Alabama Territory; in relation to expenditures of Mr. Boilvin as Indian agent at Prairie du Chien; declines appointment of clerk in the state department; speculations as to Mr. Pinckney, Mr. Rush, Mr. Clay, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Gallatin; letter of Auguste Chouteau, early settler and Indian trader of St. Louis; his great influence over the Indian tribes of the Northwest, negotiates many Indian treaties, a man distinguished for probity and integrity, brother of Pierre Chouteau, Jr., of St. Louis, his wife the daughter of Lieutenant-Governor Menard of Kaskaskia; another letter of Auguste Chouteau; letter of Daniel P. Cook; his canvass for Congress in 1818 against John McLean; warm opposition from slave-men, but still warmer support from freemen ; letter of Thomas H. Benton ; recommends that General Bissell be appointed to command in St. Louis; letter of Governor Bond to Edwards, Thomas, and McLean; another letter of Governor Bond in regard to additional pay for receivers of land offices; letter of Daniel P. Cook; recommends the appointment of Greenberry Ridgeley as secretary of Arkansas Territory; predicts "reappointment" of Governor Edwards to United States Senate nem. con.; later letter of Mr. Cook on the same subject; lawless projects to defeat the election of Governor Edwards; criticism of Governor Bond and Elias Kent Kane. ______ ^5 vi CONTENTS.

Chapter IX

Letter of Gov. Bond; rental of the salines; election of U. S. senator; Col. Jones a candidate; doubts as to who would be elected; letter of Thomas Cox; announces to Gov. Edwards his election

as U. S. senator; Kitchell did "his d st" to keep him out;

objections made to Edwards; Cox a prominent figure in early Illinois politics; a state senator from Union County; removes to Iowa, and commanded the "Regulators" at the "battle of Bellevue", April i, 1840; member of the Iowa Territorial Legislature and speaker of the House of Representatives; dies at Maquoketa, Iowa, in 1843; letter of John Marshall, president of the Shawneetown Bank ; letter of John Caldwell ; letter of Daniel P. Cook, when a candidate for Congress against John McLean, in 1819 ; what Jesse B. Thomas and Col. Michael Jones said ; Dr. Alexander says he shall not get a vote in his county; letter of Thomas H. Benton ; vote for John Scott for Congress to be major-general; letter of Richard M. Johnson ; "Rumpsey, Dumpsey, Col. Johnson killed Tecumseh " ; red plush and double-breasted waistcoat : a letter of John Reynolds ; the Goshen Settlement ; a friend of Daniel S. Cook ; " start Stephenson on the chase"; letter of Daniel P. Cook. - 152

Chapter X

Letter of Ninian Edwards when U. S. senator to President Monroe ; protests against the appointment of Foulke for one of the land-offices at Palestine ; calls attention of the president to his recommendation for office ; Gen. Smith recommended ; correspondence between Senators Edwards and Thomas in regard to action of the Senate on the nomination of Edward Humphrey as land-officer at Kaskaskia ; letter of Ninian Edwards to Wm. H. Crawford, in relation to Mr. Humphrey ; letter of Rufus King, U. S. senator from New York; Mr. King one of the ablest statesmen this country ever produced; born in Scarboro', in the province of Maine; the greatest man ever born in Maine; Sir William Pepperell placed next after him; George Evans intellectually the

CONTENTS. v ii

equal, or superior, of either of them ; Col. Benton's description of Rufus King; note verbale of Mr. Crawford; letter of Ninian Edwards to Mr. Crawford, touching recommendations to 'office by senators ; frank and able expressions of his views ; letter of William Wirt on the same subject; speaks with the authority of a great lawyer and statesman; the encroachments of the Senate on executive authority; senators now forming syndicates to coerce the president in matter of appointments; the intimate personal relations between Wirt and Edwards; the letters of Mr. Wirt to Benjamin and Ninian Edwards; the charming character of William Wirt; letter-writing now a lost art; letter of Thomas Reynolds, Junior ; wants Edwards to run for governor; Reynolds removes to Missouri, and elected governor of that State in 1840, - - - - - - 166

Chapter XI

Letter of Gov. Edwards; it is not known to whom addressed; undoubtedly to some prominent politician in the State; high compliment paid to Judge Lockwood; letter of John Reynolds in regard to senatorial election; Kitchell, McLean, Bond, and Kane all for Thomas; wants appointments to the land-offices hastened; disappointed people will kick up; some members want Lockwood to offer; thinks he can himself succeed if election is delayed; wants to know who are in the market for land-offices; letter of President Monroe in regard to land-offices at Springfield; letter of Samue.1 L. Southard of New Jersey, secretary of the navy under Mr. Adams, governor of New Jersey, and U. S. senator; letter of John Pope, gives advice about farms and about settling down; letter of John C. Calhoun; writes of his presidential prospects; high compliment to Gov. Edwards; his capacity, integrity, and firmness; letter of James Latham; name of Springfield, 111., changed to Calhoun; Mr. Latham wants an Indian agency; letter of Duff Green; he married the sister of Gov. Edwards; wants a mail contract in Missouri; letter of Salomon P. Sharpe of Kentucky; writes of national and state politics. ----___ jg 2 vii ; CONTENTS.

Chapter XII

Letter of Thomas Lippincott; a strong anti-slavery man; father of of Gen. Lippincott, auditor of public accounts in Illinois; desires clerkship in land-office at Washington ; the convention question ; letter of Governor Edwards to Rufus King; expresses his grateful appreciation for Mr. King's friendship; note verbale of Gen. Jackson ; brief note of Rufus King, advising Gov. Edwards of his confirmation as minister to Mexico; confirmed unanimously and without debate; letter of Daniel P. Cook in relation to the Edwards and Crawford controversy; is prepared "to meet all attacks with discretion and calmness"; letter of Gov. Edwards to President Monroe; states his reasons why he resigns his position as minister to Mexico; letter of John Sloane of Ohio; wants endorsement of Gov. Edwards; letters of William Wirt in regard to the Edwards and Crawford controversy, - 218

Chapter XIII

Letter of Wm. Lee D. Ewing; wants assistance of Gov. Edwards to get surveying contract; Mr. Ewing a senator in the legislature in 1832; being president of the senate, becomes governor for fifteen days in 1834; afterward elected U. S. senator; letter of Felix Grundy; goes to Edwardsville to defend Winchester for the killing of Smith; his long and distinguished public life in Kentucky and Tennessee; United States senator from Tennessee and attorney-general in the cabinet of Mr. VanBuren; his great reputation as a criminal lawyer; letter of John Scott of Missouri; wants "Coke on Littleton"; the third delegate in Congress from Missouri; a representative in Congress from Missouri for six years; gives the vote of Missouri for Mr. Adams, in 1824; letter of Judge Richard M. Young; urges Edwards to become a candidate for governor; Judge Young a long time on the Circuit and Supreme Bench of Illinois, United States senator, commissioner of general land -office; letter of Gen. Sam Houston; fac-simile of his well-known signature; letter of Gov. Edwards to Henry Clay; wants a favorable recognition of the Illinois-and-Michigan Canal from Pres. John

CONTENTS. IX

Quincy Adams; letter of Daniel P. Cook; Andrew Stevenson of Virginia offended because Cook had been placed above him on the committee of ways and means; high political positions occupied by Andrew Stevenson; the father of ex-Gov. Stevenson of Kentucky; married Miss Sarah Coles, a sister of Edward Coles, the second governor of Illinois; letter of Gov. Edwards to A. G. S. Wight; revives memories of strange times in Illinois; transfer of service of colored persons in Illinois; Col. Wight an early settler in the Fever-River lead-mines; letter of Daniel P. Cook; speculations as to the circuit judgeship under the new judiciary bill; another letter of Mr. Cook on the same subject; a letter of Mr. Cook to his wife; letter of Gov. Edwards to Henry Eddy, written during during the pending gubernatorial contest of 1826; Gov. Edwards fights all the factions single-handed and alone; his success as a political canvasser; Dr. Newhall's opinion of him; common people proud to vote for such a high-toned and elegant gentleman; the candidates for governor at this election; the full vote given; Henry Eddy, a man of ability and high character, - 232

Chapter XIV

Letter of Duff Green; suggests that Daniel P. Cook be sent as minister to Colombia: letter of John Marshall of Shawneetown; expresses deep feeling at the defeat of Daniel P. Cook; considers Gov. Edwards partially responsible for the result; admonishes the governor " that prudence is as necessary to success as talents"; letter of Duff Green; intelligent outline of the political outlook when the letter was written; Mr. Clay's visit to Kentucky an "abortion"; letter of N. Edwards to Henry Clay; explains the defeat of Mr. Cook for Congress; uncommitted in regard to the presidential election; letter of S. Simpson; interesting speculations on the subject of the presidential election; letter of N. Edwards to Henry J. Mills; disdains the aid of combinations and defies their power; letter of Duff Green; presidential speculations; letter of Sidney Breese; his modest ambition at that time ; another letter of Gov. Edwards to Henry J. Mills, in respect of the investigation of the official conduct x CONTENTS.

of the officers of the branch bank at Edward sville; letter of Daniel Webster to William Wirt; letter of Joseph M. Street; his description of Peoria in 1827; Mr. Street an early settler in Shawneetown ; large number of prominent citizens of Illinois who resided in that town in an early day, - - 253

Chapter XV

Letter of Gen. Joseph M. Street; writes from his residence in Shawneetown; description of a visit to Peoria; badly in want of an office; foresees the great advantage of the canal; prominent men who have resided at Shawneetown ; letter of George Forquer, the half-brother of Gov. Thomas Ford; Forquer and Daniel P. Cook layout the town of Waterloo, in Monroe County; Forquer a member of the legislature from that county; resigns to become secretary of state under Gov. Coles; senator from Sangamon County in 1832; elected attorney-general of the State in 1829; letter of Duff Green; bad state of health of Daniel P. Cook; his projected voyage to Cuba; Green's speculations about presidential candidates; another letter of Joseph M. Street; Jones, White, Eddy, McLean; yet another letter of Mr. Street; had been on a visit to Cumberland College, Princeton, Kentucky; his brother-in-law, Maj. Posey; criticism of Eddy's paper; call of the legislature unpopular; the administration of Adams reigning triumphant at Shawneetown ; few Jackson men to be found anywhere; describes a political discussion in Kentucky between Henry and Lyon, candidates for Congress.

Chapter XVI

Further letters of Gen. Joseph M. Street; more about the congressional contest in Kentucky; Lyon comes out for Jackson; fears that he will be elected to Congress on account of two administration candidates running, Henry and New; the new paper at Edwardsville, the "Corrector"; wants to resign as general of militia; sees Mr. Cook when passing through Shawneetown for Kentucky, never more to return; McLean has high hopes for senator; speculations as to the chances of the candidates;

CONTENTS. XI

description of a drunken row at a camp-meeting; "the Lord works in his own way, and will do as to Him seems good"; letter of Ninian Edwards to the secretary of war; shows his just appreciation of the condition of things regarding the Indians; urges prompt and immediate action by the war department; fifteen hundred men driven from the vicinity of Galena by the hostile acts of the Indians; letter of Joseph M. Street; his appointment as Indian agent at Prairie du Chien obtained; grateful acknowledgments to Gov, Edwards for his influence; still desirous of resigning as general, of militia, but will hold on if there be any probability of being called into action; about Kentucky politics; Clay made a mistake when he made John Pope his enemy; regrets that the really worthy men of Kentucky are arrayed against each other; they should press "forward arm in arm to victory." ----- 290

Chapter XVII

Letter of Governor Edwards to President Adams in regard to Indian matters; letter of the governor to the secretary of war; writes of certain Indian hostilities; reiterates application to the president for protection to the settlers; they have a claim on the government for protection against the savages; Colonel Field reports that about 3000 men had been driven from the Fever-River lead-mines; generous proposition of Governor Edwards to provide subsistence with his own funds; protest against Indians longer occupying ceded lands; letter of Joseph M. Street; delay in repairing to his post as Indian agent at Prairie du Chien ; letter of John McLean, overwhelmed with business, inquires about Mr. Cook; another letter of Joseph M. Street; his arrival at Prairie du Chien; easy manner in which he has "slid into the spirit of Indian affairs"; Indians soured by the conduct of the adventurers, flocking to and working the lead-mines of Fever River; they have a contempt for "naked Indians" and behave like blackguards; elaborate description of boundaries under Indian treaties; the "Winnebago Indians complain of the trespass of the miners; no notice taken of it, and the "diggings progressed"; Wawxii CONTENTS.

zeekootee, he who "Shoots in the Pine Tops", furious against the whites and tells the Winnebagoes : " Go strike the first blow and the Sioux will help you"; desires to be appointed a commissioner to treat with Indians: i Indians have a great opinion of his "gravity and portly look"; like Bolingbroke, does not mean to " make an every-day exhibition of his person ", - 304

Chapter XVIII

Letter of Governor Edwards to secretary of war; transmits estimate of sums necessary to pay militia; letter of Joseph M. Street; the extreme isolation of Prairie du Chien in the winter of 1827; no mails, no letters, no newspapers; neglect of the post-master; table of distances from Prairie du Chien to Edwardsville and St. Louis; proposes a new mail route from Edwardsville to Fever River, ultimately to be continued to Prairie du Chien; commencement of the town of Cassville, opposite the mouth of Turkey River; the Indian chief " Red Bird ", his fantastic dress; apprehensions of danger if he is hanged; hears of the death of Daniel P. Cook; a just and honorable tribute to his memory; "he was a clean politician, 'and a ripe and good one'"; still desires to be appointed commissioner to treat with the "Winnebagoes; letter of Governor Edwards to the secretary of the treasury, in relation to location of lands for a seminary of learning; letter of Hooper Warren, a pioneer printer in Illinois; early printers and publishers in Illinois have a hard time; Warren one of the original anti-slavery men in the State ; publishes the "Spectator" at Edwardsville during the great slavery struggle of 1823-24; opposes the election of Edward Coles for governor, for personal reasons; establishes in 1841, in conjunction Zebina Eastman, the "Genius of Liberty", at Lowell, LaSalle County; recommends to Governor Edwards the sale of the "Sangamon Spectator", ----- 319

Chapter XIX

Letter of Joseph M. Street; announces the death of Red Bird, the Indian chief, from natural causes; delay in the trial of the other

CONTENTS. X1J1

Indians; the Indians peacefully awaiting the promised treaty; believes he has obtained to a very considerable standing with the Indians, and gained the respect of the whites at Prairie du Chien; Indians deeply impressed with his great importance and consider him a "great chief"; his voluminous communications to the secretary of war; his long absence from his family; letter of Hooper Warren; "is heartily tiried of struggling for a subsistence in a laborious, unprofitable, and thankless business"; newspapers have but little influence, readers are few, and are taught to believe that all that appears in a newspaper is a lie; a printing establishment a poor investment; Colonel Cox preparing to "keep entertainment", has quit drinking and appears a new man; letters of Governor Edwards to General Clark; the the governor out of patience with the government for so long •delaying the removal of the Indians from the ceded lands in this State; suggests that force must be substituted for persuasion in dealing with the Indians; if government will not remove Indians, he will not hesitate to do so on his own responsibility; letter of John McLean, postmaster -general, in regard to the accounts of Daniel P. Cook; intimate and friendly relations always existing between Governor Edwards and Mr. Cook with Mr. McLean, ----__ 332

Chapter XX

Letter of Governor Edwards to the secretary of war; demands to know what measures have been taken to remove the Indians from the ceded lands in Illinois; letter to John McLean of Illinois ; tenders him the olive branch ; treats of the senatorship, and of the election of a Congressman; the election of Gen. Duncan to Congress; Smith, Kinney, West, Reynolds, Bond, Kane, and others would be for him, while all would be opposed to McLean; Smith has declared opposition to him, and is the life and soul of the party opposed to him; what will be Smith's management to obtain the election of senator? ; exposes the schemes of these men; thinks an alliance with Forquer would be more advantageous than one with Duncan; the object of Smith, Kinney, x i v CONTENTS.

and Co. ; they would disfranchise every man who would happens to differ from them in opinion; the election 'of Forquer to Congress would ensure the election of McLean to the senate; littleknown of John McLean at the present day; McLean County named in his honor; his official career; member of the legislature and speaker of the house of representatives, twice elected U. S. senator, first for a short term, second time for a full term; dies at Shawneetown, after serving for the long session of the long term; beautiful and fitting tribute paid to his memory by his surviving colleague, Elias Kent Kane; sketches of him by Governor Reynolds, Governor Ford, and William H. Brown; another letter of Governor Edwards to John McLean; further speculations in regard to congressional matters; Fever River an important factor in elections at this time; will not go for Pope for senator; letter of Sidney Breese; writes in relation to ordering an election for the legislature from Randolph County, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of John Lacy; wants to get a friend elected, - 342.

Chapter XXI

Letters of John McLean of Illinois; question of the United States senatorship; poor opinion of Judge Browne; meets the advances of Governor Edwards frankly; thinks but little of Smith, Kinney, and West; honest men should unite to prevent the rule of unprincipled pretenders; concert among political friends honorable when not prostituted to unjust and improper purposes; letter of Hooper Warren, in regard to the sale of the Sangamo " Spectator " ; letters of George Forquer, Alfred Cowles and Benjamin Mills; mandamus suit in which Governor Edwards was a party; notice of Benjamin Mills; a gifted, brilliant, and eloquent man ; one of the early lawyers of Galena ; member of the legislature of 1832-3; chairman of the managers to prosecute the impeachment of Judge Smith; his unrivalled speech; shows Judge Drummond his notes; "off coat and roll up sleeves"; prejudice against Yankees in Illinois; though a. Kentuckian, Daniel P. Cook stigmatized as a Yankee; anecdote of Daniel P. Cook; reminiscences of Benjamin Mills by John

CONTENTS. XV

T. Stuart; the long and honorable career of Mr. Stuart in Illinois; Mr. Mills runs for Congress against William L. May; defeated by unfair means; the vote between Mills and May; Mills unrivaled as a conversationist and had a ready and delicate wit rarely surpassed; a victim of consump:'cn, like Daniel P. Cook he left his Illinois home to breathe his last in the land of his birth; John McLean, Benjamin Mills, and Daniel P. Cook, three men^whose names will always stand out pre-eminent in the history of Illinois; though Mills, as a Galenian, was defeated for Congress, four other citizens of the same town were subsequently elected to that position, - - 358

Chapter XXII

Letter of Hugh Nelson, a representative in Congress from Virginia and a minister to Spain; a high tribute to Governor Edwards as an upright and honest statesman and politician; an opinion concerning a constitutional question ; letter of Sidney Breese, in regard to an election to fill a vacancy in the legislature; letter of Governor Edwards to Richard J. Hamilton; some sharp inquiries touching a loan made by the bank of Edwardsville to Judge Young; letter of George Forquer and E. C. Berry, in respect to matters connected with the banks; letter of Duff Green; his speculations as to whom would compose Jackson's cabinet; agrees with Governor Edwards on the land question, but does not believe the Supreme Court will sustain him; that court dwindles as you approach it; another letter from Duff Green; Gen. Jackson's cabinet; Gov. Edwards' position on the public-land question; in the Supreme Court is lodged the tyrant, the monarch of this country; letter of A. P. Field; sketch of A. P. Field; member of the convention legislature in 1822; Hansen put out, and Shaw put in; secretary of state from 1828-40; appointed secretary of the territory of Wisconsin in 1841; in New Orleans at the breaking out of the Rebellion; claims a seat in Congress in 1863, but not admitted; always a loyal man; wanted to die in that country over which the American flag waved; attorney -general for the State of Lou-

XVI CONTENTS.

isiana; died in New Orleans in 1877; letter of Hooper Warren ; looking for a place in which to engage in the newspaper business; Dr. Newhall an early and prominent settler at the Fever -River lead-mines; a surgeon in the United States army at Fort Winnebago; returns to Galena, where he lived until his death; actively engaged in the practice of medicine; letter of George Forquer; explains about recommendations for office; Charles Dunn; appointed United States district judge for Wisconsin; his intense hatred of Yankees; another letter of Hooper Warren; determines to go to Galena to start a newspaper; another letter of George Forquer; explains cause of his delay in repairing to his post of duty, - - 372