IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4 / o {./ '^ 1.0 i.l 1^ 1^ IM 1.8 1-25 nil 1.4 ii.6 V] <^ /i <^ ^"'V /: 7 >^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut canadien de microreproducticns historiques 1980 Technical Notes / Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. L'Instltut a microfilm* le mellleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Certains ddfauts susceptibles de nuire d la qualitd de la reproduction sont not6s ci-des^ous. 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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour Stre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont filmdes d partir de Tangle supdrieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombro d'images n6cessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 C O M P L E T E lilSTOKY OF ILLIHOIS FROM 1673 TO 1873; ElVIBRACINa THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY; ITS EARLY EXPLORATIONS; ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS; FRENCH AND BRITISH OCCUPATION ; CONQUEST BY VIRGINIA; TERRITORIAL CONDITION AND THE SUBSEQUENT CIVIL, MILITARY AND POLITICAL EVENTS OF THE STATE. BY ALEXANDER DAVIDSON AND BERNARD STUVE. SPRINGFIELD : ILLINOIS JOURNAL COMPANY, 1874. ^L /T)'^^ ■; /J TABLE or OOXTET^TS. niAPTEU. " PAOE. I. (iEOLOfiV OF ILLINOIS 1 II. TOE'OCJHAPHY, HIVEltS, SOIL AND CLIMATOLOGV. Ori^rin of tlio I'liiirics: 'I'uhlc of Tomporatiiro and Rainfiill 14 III. ILLINOIS ANTIQUITIES; THE MOUND IJUlLDEllS 23 IV. THE INDIANS OF ILLINOIS. Alyoniiuins and IrcKjuois; Illinois Coiifpflcrncy; Saos and Foxps; Kiekapoos; Maseoutiiis: I'laiikisliaws: I'ot towataniios; Art of Iluntiiin: (ictu'ral t'nnii- cili?; Constitulinn of tlic Indian Family; Methods of Sepultiiri'; llolipf ill a Fiitiiro Slato; Why the Iti'd Kacc sliould give way to the White — 30 V. OPEKATIONS OF THE MFSSlO.VAlilES-RXTENT OF THEIR Olf-ltATTONS VI' 'I'O ur,:(— The? Froiu'li on tho St. Lawrence; IjoSalle Discovers tha Oliio 53 VI. EXPLORATIONS BY .TOLIET AND MARQUETTE-I(i73-1«;5 59 VII. EXPLORATIONS IJY LA SALi-/ Tlie (iriftin; Fort Crevc Coeur 67 VIII. TONTPS ENCOUNTER WITH THE IROQUOIS 79 IX. FURTHER EXPLORATIONS RV I, A S.\LLE. His IndiMii (^llony on the Illinois; Discovers the Month of tlie Mississippi and talvcs possession of all the (^ountry in the name of tlie Kinp of France; niiil Conipiest of Illinois; Tho.v are met and overwhelmed by tlie Missoiiris; Fort Cliartros Iniilt; F,.\terinination of the Natchez; Opera- tions of the Company of the West in Illinois 115 Xir. lT:«-n5n-ILLINOTS AND LOUISIANA UNDER THE ROYAL C.OVERNORS. War with the Chickasaws: Itcath of C.ov. D' Artiipuette; Ccannicrce of Illi- nois; Milliners and customs of the French ; C^ininioii Field; Common ; Inter- course with the Indians: Avocation and Costiinio of the People; Mode of Admliiistcrintr the Law: Operations of the Ohio Conn)any ; Fort l)u(.!ue8ne; M. DeVilliers of Fort Cliartres defeats the Virjiinians at the (ireat Meadows; War between the French and English Colonists PH IT TAIUJ', OF CONTKN'I'H. XIII. IT.V.i-lTtU^TIlK CONSI'IUaCV OF PONTIAC; ATTACK UI'OX DKTUOIT. ])i;-tni(tiT TEUHITOKY. Ordinance of 1T8T: OrBani/.atinii of St. Clair County ; liar of Illinois in 17!K); f lu- poverished condition of the French; Indian Hostilities, 17Ki to 17!!,"); UuntioliiU County; American IniniiKratioin Sickness; Territorial Assembly ut Cincin- nati; Notnblfj Women of Olden Time; Witchcruft in Illinois. ~10 XX. IKIO ISOii-lLLINOIS AS PAUT OF THE INDIANA TEUUITOUY. Its ()rt;anizalion; Extinguishment of Indian Titles to Lands; (iov. Harrison's Facility in this; Land Speculations and Frauds on Improvement HiKhts and Headrlghts; Meeting of the Legisluturc at VincenDes in ISOo; Statutes of 1,«07 ~'32 XXI. 180!)-1LLINOIS TEIUUTOUY. Opposition to divi.^ion; .lesse 1!. Tlioiiiiis; Gov. Fdwards; Nrtthaniel Pope; Ter- ritorial Federal .Iud(res;The (iovernor avoids the mealies of the Separa- tionists and Aiui-Seperalioiiists; Condition and Poiiulatimi of the Territory. L'U XXII. TNDTAN TROmLES IN ILLINOIS PUECEDlNCr THE WAR OF 1813. The Country put in a State of Defence by theoivanizutioii of KauKinM; Coin- ]iuniesaiiil the biiildiiiM: of Mlock Ilousesand Stockade Forts; Gov. Edwards sends tin envoy to (.iomo's Vilhijie; Hattic of Tippecanoe; Indian Cotincil at Cohokia.... 247 XXTIL THE MASSACHR AT CHICAGO; EARLY HISTORY OF THE PLACE 200 XXIV.*ILLINOtS IN THE WAUOF 1812. Gov. Edwards's Military Camp»i-. Hoiid; Our Noitlicrn Hoiiiidiiry; First Constitutional CiiiivontlDii iiiiilsdniPlliinKiil'ilic iiisl nnnciil friimod; (iov. H(ind;Llciit.-(i()V. M(!niird; Mci-tintf of tlii^ liUKislutiire and eK'etion oC State Olllccrs; First Supreiin; Court; llurj Tinica and First Stuto liuiik; Orifuuization of Courts. 205 XXVII AI>MlN'ISTUATION OF COV COLKS, A ri'siinic (it lSiuv(!ry In Illinois from Its oarlltmt dnto; Indentured Slaves nUu'k Laws; Life and Cliaractor of Gov. Coica; The effort to make Illinois a Sl;.ve State in IHUi 1309 xxvrrr. miscrli^anfofs mattfus. Liui.-^lative— HcorKanl/.ation of the .luillclaryjChief Justice Wilson; Hubbard as (lovernorad intcriin; l'o)iiilnti(>n of 1M:.'U; Visit of Layfnyette 328 XXtX. AnMrNISTRATrONOFCSOV. ETIWAUDS. CanipalHii of isr'il; Tlic (iidieriiiitorial faniMdates; Contest between Daniel P. Cook and Joscidi Dinican I'di- C.inM:i'e.>JS: Cliaiaeter of Fdwards' speeches; His cliarHres aijrainst the State liaidc Oiliceis and r«sult of tln^ iniiuiry into their cmidiiet; itepeal of the I'lreuit Court System; (Jov. I'ldwaivls claims for the Stute title to all ))uhlie lands within her limits 335 XXX. ISW— A HKTUdSPECT. Advance of the settlements: Note; Galena, its early history; Orlsrln of the term "Sucker:" DouRlas" humorous a<'coinit of it; Trials and troubles ot I'ionijers in new counties; Fiiropean (Jolonist; Financial condition of the State; Trade and Commerce; Farly Mail Itoutea; Newspapers and Literati; Politics of the Pjople; Militia System 340 XXXI. AOMIXISTUaTION of (iOV. lilOYXOLDS. The riubunaitorial Candidates; Their Lives and Characters; The Campaign; The Witrjrins' Loan; Impcachuient of Supremo .]u>.t?e Smith; W. L. T). Ewinp Governor for 15 days 303 XXXn. riLACK HAWK WAlt. Winnebajro Tlostllilif s; Indians unable to resist the encroachments of the Miners; Coalition with the Sioii.v; Attack on a steamboat; Comiielled to sue for Peace. a. Sai s and Foxes; Mlackhawk; Keokuk; Sac Villay-cs; Invasion of the State; Militia anaim; (iT llioiii ; i^luvory Anilal ion li.v I,ii\ cjoy ; liiMluutli 4Ili XXXVri-STATK INTKKXAI, IMVUoVKMK.NT SVS'I'EM 4X1 XXXIII— IKW-IKJS—ADMlMSTHATKtN OK (i()\ . C'AKLIN. ('oiitimiaiice ol' ilic siilijcct Siiiitti : I'loplu'tic iiilHsiiin ; Followcis iciiio\i; to Mls.soiii'l ; E.vpul.-lon I'fom tliu Statu : > 'VAR. .MamuTof Siiiitli's dialli: Chai'acfur of tlii' .\Ioniioiis ; Aposllis nssunio the (;oven'"iciit of llic Cliiircli ; Trial ami ami afiiuittal of thu assa.'s.siiis : Saints (Irivoti Iroin the vicinity of Lima ami (Ircua I'lains ; LcaiUnw' Moiiiioiis re- tire across the Mi.ssisslppl; Italtluut Naiivoo; E.vpiilsioii oftlie luliabitants.. 50H XLITI-ILLINOISIN TIIK MEXICAN WAR 5r.':i XI,!V-CONSTITrTIOXAL CONVENTION OK 1S4T, AND SOMETIIINC. OF THE ORGANIC LAW FRAMED liV IT 54:5 .'.YA XEV-1840-]8r.L'-ADMINTRTRATIONOFGOV. FliENCH. -'• . Lives ami cluiractorof the Ciiibernaloi'ial (".imliilates : FiiiiditiK of tlio State .. ' (lcl)t ; Refusal of the people lojfi\c the Lc'sri.-^iat lire control of the:.' iiiill tax; •■ ( ^ Township oiK^mization : Homestead F.xeniption ; 1'lie Hloody Island Dilnuit of land; iloldlirook ('liiiiter ; Hondholcler's sctieine ; The ^ T per cent, of its gross earniiijrs; I'a.^sufio of its (Iliaiter; Iteiielits tlu! (,'oiu- \ pany , the State, and individinds; Note; Jealousy of polliieiansoii accouutof \ its glory J Correspondenc of Jlessis. Ihcese and Douglas 5*1 XLVI 1-OIJR FREE on STOCK HANKS. How a liiink mi'-'ht be started ; The siniill note net; Panic of l.S.")4: Revulsion of 18.J7; WindiiiK up 58o XLVIIT—18.in-18r)7— ADMINISTRATION OF COV. MATTESON. Demiicratie ami Wliijr (;;(]nventions; Sketches of the Cubernatorial candi- •. . ' dates; Financial condition and physical developnient of the State; Lejiisla- ,^( tion lK")3-5; Maine Law and riot at Chicu^'o; (Jiir coniimm Schools and trials • ■' in the estiiblishmcnt of the Free School system 50!) , * XLIX-DTIELSINILLINOIS AND ATTEMPTS AT DUELS. '^- Affairs of honor and personal dilllcultics, 618 TABLE OF CONTKNTS. VII. L-18:.!.'-lHr.il-()|{(iANr/,ATION OFTUn ItEPrUI-ICAN PAUTY. Tlio Illinois Wiliiiot Tn»\ Iso; DissDlutioiiol llic Wliitfimrty; Itcpi-iil of tlio Mo. (^mlpl•omi^:u; IiiIciisl- politlcul IVclintr; DoiijrliiH denied Irtc speech i« Cliiciit-'o: Kno\viiotliinnisin: Deiuociiitie imd lleinililieiiii t'oiiventioiis of lH."iti; Kesiilt of tlio uiiiupiiiu-ni Liiicolr .pica foi- Imnuouy at tlio Chleiino Imnipiet •*•'" Ll-l,s57-18til--Al)MIMSTUATION OF (iOV. lUSSKL. Life and elmi-aetcr of tlio (Joveriior. (iross iittnek >ipon liini in tlio l,e;flshi- turu on iiceoimt of Ills ducliiDf iill'iilr, Tnrlnilenee of piiily strife and want ofolllclal eouitesy, Ulsvrniueful action in oirani/iiiK the house, Apportion- ment bills of IWiT-lt, Citnul serip fraud, 'I'lio Macalister and Steliliiiis bonds •'•■'" L1I--0UH SIOXATOHS IN COXGUESS. Tliulr lives and clmnicters; .Senatorial contest between Lincoln and Douglas iu 1858 vrs Uir--lKtll-lsii.-,-AT)MIMSTl{ATtON (1K GOV. YATES. I'ai-ty eon , eiitions of LS.'hJ; 'I'he two Kreat labor sy.stoms of the eountry in di- rect iintagonlsni; Life and character of Gov. Yates; Lieut. Gov. H|{ivi:h ii.M'kdition, kkdcctkinok Momi-KtsiiKitM vn'sm vitcn Tu Tin; SKA; KMDrcTIl >.\ ( >K W||.Ml.\(iT()\ ; M.AItCIl Tlll((ir(il*l Till.; CAUOMXASi CLOSE OF Tl IK W'AU .... * • nui LXV--J'( )LrnCA L AND PAUTV A FKAIIIS DUIUNO THK HKHKLLION 8("ntlm..nts()ftl,o Illinois D.Muocnu'y in tlu^ winter ,.r l.sco-l ; |'utii..tic focllna on (h.. l.ivakhm: out „f iM.Mllltk.s Irn'spcctlvc or ,,u.ty as Inspir,.,! by l>()iiKlas; licvivHl of imi-tlsan loulinjf; Constltullonal ConviMitioii of IWWi Its liiuhi.fcti.nsl.ms, Conlllct with the (iovcrnor. Sotnc lc.atuii..s of tlif liistiiinuM.t liaiiKMl, it l,c.o.Mnus a party •.,casiiio, Tlio vote- upon It- Party Con vent ions of |h,i;.'; TIio last Dcniocrati,' L(.«lslatnro ; Frauds in pnss- iiiK iMlls ; Uui'-lion aniouH- tliu people against tlio I'eaee movement • Military arrests; Suppressing tli(. Cliiiaxo V/mcs; .Seeret I'olitieo-Military Societies- henw.eratie mass Convention ol' .lune ITtli, IWlli, Hepubliean mass Conven-^ tion.Sept., im; Peace meetinKS ollwU. Notc--Cl.ioa«() Con8i>iruey 806 LXVI--Ar)MINISTllATI()N OF COV. OCLKSHr. Hepubliean nnd nemoenitio Slate Conventions of 1H«1; Lives and ohni-neter of OHiesby and Hmss; Prosperity and eoii.Iition of the Slate duririK tlie U(d)el- lion; Lei-'islation. political -.-.ml special, in iHtr.-T; H mrd of K,,uali/,atioa established; Location of the A«:rieultural Collejre! Illinois Capilais and their removal; History of the Peintentiary , ^~ LXVII-lKCfl-'Tli-ADMIXISTKATION OF GOV. PALMEIL Kepublleanand l)em<,eratic State Conventions, Life and character of Oov Palmer, Legislation, the ta.v jrrabbinK law, Lak^ Front bill, \e The Con- stilutiononSTO, The jrreat Chicago lire 9„j, Clia])tor.s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0, 7, S, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1.'}, 14, Ki, 17, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41, 42, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 5f), (50, fil, 02, 03, 04; the Dciitl. of Lovcjoy in 30, luid ''Note, Conspiracy of Chicago," in 05, have been written by ^Fr. Davidson. Cliai)tors io, IS, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23, 21, 25. 20, 27, 2S, 20, 30, 31, 30, 37, 38, 30, 40, 43, 44, 45. 40, 47, 4S, 4!», 50. 51, 52, 5;5, 05, 00 and 07, have been written by Mr. Stuve. PREFACE. Altlioiiyli Illinois, whose ft'i'fissy plains liavo l»coii st.vk'd llio Edc'ii oftlui new world, contains tlic oldest pennaiioiit setlk'nietits ill the Valley of the MisslssiiJpi, and in her strides to empire is destined to become tlie first State of the Uidoii, her his has been stranj-'ely neglected. Fragments have been written at ditfcrent times but only of detached periods and embracing but a small part of tho two centuries, which have elapsed since the first ex- ])lorations. To supply this deficiency and furnish a history com- niensiirato with her present advancement in power and civili/a- tion is the object of the present work; whether it has been accom- plished remains to be seen. Not having taken any part in the shifting and instructive drama enacted by those who have directed the affairs of State, no rank- liii;,' jealousies have been engendered to distort conclusions ; no niidiKi predelections to warp the judgement, treasures have been estimated by their results; men by their public acts. While no disposition has existed to assail any one, it must be remembered that none are faultless, and to speak well of all is the Avorst of detraction, for it places the good and the bad on a common level. A principal aim lias been to render the the Avork complete. A large amount of matter has been inserted never before published in connection with the history of the State; yet important facts, though familiar, have always been preferred to new ones of minor significance. The main consideration, lioweA'er, has been to ren- der it truthful. In the wide field which has been gleaned, every available source of information has been carefully consulted, and "^^ PREFACE. it is believed a dej^ree of accunicy lias been secured, wliieli will eoiiipare fuvoiably with that of other similar eUbrts. Still there will always be room foi imj)rovement, find any corrections which m-.y be otfered by parties who have witnessed, or been connected with events desc-ribed, will be thanidully received and inserted in fntin-, editions of the work, the cbj"ct being- to make it a complete repository of relialde facts for the general reader, the politician, tlie lawyer, and all who may wish to become acquainted with the history of our noble State. To the nmny in different parts of the State, who have furnished information, or aided us by valuable snogestions, we return our thanks, es])ecially to Messrs. Kummel and Harlow, Secretaries of State, for the use of public documtuts, and to the proprietors of the State Journal and State lieokttr, for access to their valua- ble flies. Spkinofikld, Dec. 10th, 1873. , , , .. , . •> ... CnArTEK I. GEOr.OGY OF TLLIXOIS. On tlio f>on]op:i('al stmctiiro of a, oouiitiy dopoiul the pursuits of its iiili:il)it;iiits and tlic in'cnins of its civiliziition. Aj^ricultni'c is tlio ont,yro vtli of a fci'tile soil; niinin;;' I'csults from nii.icnil resources; and from naviji'able waters si)riuive to different com- munities and states cliaracters as various as the diverse rocks that underlie^ them. Jn lik(^ manner it miiy he shown that their moral and intellectual , he becomes enlijihtened and virtuous; and where, on the siinds of the desert, labor is unable to i)rocure the necessaries and com- forts of life, lie lives a savage. The civilization of states and na^'inis is, then, to a ji'i'eat extent, but the reflection of ])hysical conditions, and hence the ])ropriety of introdnciiiji' their civil, ])olit- ieal and military history with a sketch of the yeologieal substruc- ture from which they oriji'inate. (iKoLouY traces the history of the earth back through successive stnges of dev(>lo])ment to its rudinu'ntal comlition in a state of fusion. Si)eculative astronomy extends it beyond this to a gasccms state, in which it and the other bodies of the solar system consti- tuted a nebnhuis mass, without form and motion. When, in the process of development, motion was comnnuiicated to the chaotic nuitter, huge fragments Avere detached from its circumference, which fcuMned the juimary ])lanets. These retaining the rotary motion of th(^ sun, or central nniss, in turn threw off other and smaller fragmcMits, thus forming the secondary planets, as in the case of the n)oon which attends the earth. All these bodies are similar in form, liave a similar motion on their axes, move substan- tially in a common plain and in the same direction, the residt of the lu'ojectile force which detached thcMU from the parent nmss. These facts are strong evidence that the sun, and the planetary system that revolves around it, were oi'iginally a common nmss, and became separatinl in a gaseous state, as the want of cohesion among the ]>articles would then favor the dissevering force. From the loss of heat they next passed into a fluid or plastic state, the ]ioint in the history of the eartli where it comes withiji the range of geological investigation. AVhile in tins condition it became flattened at the polivs, a form duo to its diurnal rotation and the mobility of its particles. At a 3 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. I'lii'tlicr reduction of tciiipciattiR' its incited disk was transformed into a crust of ij^iieons rock. A j;reat many facts render it almost certain that the vast nucleus within this envelopin^^' crust is still an iucaudcscent mass. Comjiared with its enoruu)ns bulk, the external coxeiinji' is of only lllmy thickness, the ratio of the two bt'inf;: as the l>ul]> and peel of an (nan;;e. In this world-cruciltlo arc held in solution the (il elementary substances, which, variously cond»iuin,n, produce the yreat variety of I'oi'nis. ener;.;ics and modes of beiny, which diversify and enlivi'n terrestrial nature. From the: same source the precious metals have been forced into the fissures of the superincund)ent rocks, whither the miner descends and brinu's tlicm to the surface. Volcanoes are outlets for the tremen- dous tbrces ycnerated in these dei'p-scated fires. As an evidence of their eruptive ])ower, Vesuvius sometimes throws jets of lava, rescnd)!inj;' coliunns of flame, 1(I,(M>() feet in hij^ht. The amount of la\a (jccted at a siu,nle eruption from one of the vitlcanoes of Iceland, has been estimated at 4(»,(M»0,(I00,(I(K> t(»ns, a ([nantity sulii- cient to covtM' a lari^c city with a mountain as hi,i;h as the tallest Alps. liy the jtnK'ess of congelation, which has never ceased, the rocky crust which rests on this internal sea of tire, is now supposed to be from thirty t(» forty miles in thickness. The outer or upper portion of it was the most universal jicolouical formation, and constituted the ihtorsof the primitive oceans. The rocks com- ])osiii,ii' it ar(> dcsij;nated unstratiiied, because they occur inirre,iiular masses, and iuueous from havinj;' oriiiinally been melted by intense heat. The \ast cycle of time extendiny' thr((U' the prim- itive mountaiti chains and the first land that appeared above tlu? face of the waters. The upheaval of these vast plications was attended with depressions in other parts of the surface eonstitntins: the valleys and basins of the original rivers and oceans. Through the aucncy of water the ui)lifted masses were disinte^nrated and the resulting sediment swept into the extended depressions. Here it settled in ])arallel layers and constitutes the stratified rocks. In S(»me localities these are entirely waidin.n', in others many miles in depth, wliile their uveraye thickness is supposed to be from six to ei,i;ht miles. The plain, separatinf>- tho stratified from the unstratifled rocks, runs parallel with the oldest i»art of the earth's crust. AVheu solidification commenced it was the surface, and as induration advanced toward the centre the crust thickened by increments on the inside, and, therefore, the most recently formed ij^neons rocks are the farthest behnv thi^ surface. Stratification connnenced at the .same plain and extended in an u]»ward direction, and heniie- the most recent dejiosits are nearest the surface, when not displaced by distui'l»iu,n' causes. In the silent de]»tlis of the stratified roitksare the fornu'r creations of plants and animals, which lived and died durin,i>' the slow, diayyiny centuries of their formation. These fossil remains are GEOLOaT. 1V;i,uiii('iits of liistoi'v, wliicli (Miiiblc tlic jiToloyist to ONtciid liis i('S'';n'('li<'si'ai' buck iiitotlic rciiliiis of tlic ]tiist, iiiid not only dotcr- minc tlu'iv fovnicr modes ol' life, l)iit stndy tlic contcniijoi'iuicon.s liistory of tlicir rocky beds, iind yroni) tlicni into systems. I'lio iossililcroiis rocks iirc not only of ii'rcat thickness but iVciiueiitly tlieir entire structure is an a^<;re;iation of cemented shells, so nnnierous that millions of them occur in a sin.yh' cubic foot. Such has been the i)rofusion of lil'e that the i;reat limestone formations of the ju'lobe consist mostly of animal remains, cemented by the infusion of minei'al ma'.ter. A hw^v part of the soil s]>rea(l over the earth's surface has been elaborated in animal orj^anisms. First, as nourislunent, it enters the structiu'c of plants and forms vej^ct- able tissue. Passiuin' tli('i!c(> as food into the animal, it becomes endowed with life, and when es or Systems, Tlir Idiirruthni Si/sloii or A(/r is the lowest, and therefore the oldest, of the stratified seri<'s. I'rom the eifects of j^reat heat it has assunu'd, to sonu' extent, the chaiacter of the ij;neous rocks below, but still retains its ori;iinaI lines of stratiticatiou. A ])riiicipal effect of tlu' .yreat hear to which its ro<'ks were exjtosed is crystali/.ation. Ci-ystals are IVequeiitly formed by art. but the most beautiful s])ecimens are the ]»roducts of nature's lalxuatoiies, 'arded as the first ai)pear- ance of senti<'nt existence. This discovery, as it extends theoiijiiu of life backward throuf;h .">(),(»()(> feet of strata, may be lei^arded as oni' of the most important advances made in American ^colo-^y. Its sui)posed bejiinnin^", in a considerabl<> vas n'jiarded by y-eolo.n'ists as t<»o abru]>t to correspond with the^^'radual develo])ment of tyjx'siu subse(|uent strata. The discovery, however, of these incijtient forms in the Laurentian beds, renders the descendinji scale of life comidi'te, aiul vei'ilies the conjectures of physicists that in its earliest dawu it should commence with tin 'uost simi>le orji'anisms. Tlic lluronimi Si/sfem, like the one that i)reeedes it, and on wliich it rests, is Jii<>hly crystalline. Althouiih fossils have not been found in it. yet from its i)osition the infei'ence is they once existereat lakes, and thence northwesterly towaid the Ar<'tic Ocean. Theydeiive their names from the St. Lawrence and Lake Huron, on the banks of Avhich are found their ])rincipal outcrops. Their emergence from the (M'can was the birth of the North American continent. One face of theui)lift looked toward the Atlantic, and the other toward the I'acitic, tlius preilyurinu- the future shores of this jireat division of the i-lobe, of Avhich they are the .iicrm. Kru])tive forces have not operated with suHicient ]»ower to iirin,n' them to the surface in Illinois, and therefore the vast stores of mineral wealth, which they eontain in other places, if they exist here, are too deep below the surface to be made available. ni«TORY OF ILLINOIS. The ISiliiridH Af/Cj coinparcd uitii tlic more stiihlc I'oniiations of sul)S('(iii(iil tiiiit's, was one of coiiiiiiolioii, in wliicli fire ant' wator ])lav»'»l a conspicnons ])art. Kartli(|nakcs and volcanoes fitriowed the ,vi('ldin<;- ciiist with ridj^cs, and threw np islands wliose erajij;y sunnnits, liere and tliere, stood like sentinels above the niniicy deep whieh ur[)oses, and slii])i)e system. Besides outcropping in a nund)er of other localities, it a])pears in the blnlfs of the Illinois, where it forms the island- like plateau knitwn as Starved Kock. Jn souh> localities, being eonii)osed almost entirely of silica and nearly free from coloring matter, it is the best material in the West for the manufacture of glass. The Deronian Age is distinguished for the introduction of Verte- brates, or the fourth sub-kingdom of aninuU hfe and the begiiuiing of terr(\strial vegetation. The latter appeared in two classes, the highest of the tlowerless and the lowest of the llowering i>lants. The Le]>idodendrou, a noted instance (»f the former, was a nuijestic upland forest tree, which, during the coal i)eriod, grew to a hight of SO feet, ami had a base of more than [\ feet in diameter, lieautifid spiral llutings, coiling in opposite directions and crossing each other at lix((l angles, carved the trunks and branches into iliomboidal eminences, each of which wa.s scarred with the mark of a falling leaf. At an altitude of (50 feet it sent oif arms, each separating into bramihlets covered with a nxternal accretions, as ]»laii!s of the ])resent day, but like the buihling of a monument, by additions to the top of its trunk. Mosses, rushes and other GEOLOGV. (liiiiiimtivc llowi'rk'ss phiiits arc now llu' only siii\ i\ iiii; rt'iii'i'seu- T;ili\(' 1)1" lliis cr.vpto^iiiinic xcjLictiitioii.wliicli so largely i>i('d<»iiiiiiii- t('(l in flic early botany of the {ilohc. Floral bcanty anil Ira, franco • were not cliaraclcristic of tlu' old I)(^vonian woods, ^'o bird existed to enli\«'n tlieir silent proves with son;^', no serpent to liis.s in their fenny brakes, noi' beast to j)nrsne, witii hideons yells, its jtantin;;' j)rey. The vertel)rates consisted of fishes, of wliicli the (lanoids and IMacoids were the ])rinci|»al uronps. Tlie toi'iner were the fortv rnnners of the I'cpfilc, which in many rcspci ts f iicy closely jcsen)- ' bled. They embraced a larj;(' nnmber of species, many of wliicli feet in leii;4tii. ilolh ^■ron[)s lived in the sea. and if any fresh water animals «'\isteither jjcrished or not been found. »So nnmerons were the i diabitants of the ocean, that tlnj Devonian has been styled the aiic of fishes. In their anafomical .stiiiclnre Vtas foresiiadowed flic orjiani/ation of man; reptiles, birds and mammals bein^' the internu'diate gradations. The con- tinental sea of the ])recediny' aji'c still covereil the larger jiurt of ZSorth America, extendin,::' far norfhwest and opeiiinn' sonth into the {inW of .Mexico. In its shallow basins were deposited sand- stwiies, shales and limestones, which westerly aftain«'d a thickness of .->()() feet, and in the reyi(»n of the Allcjiiianies l..")()() feet. The ji'feat thickness of the hitler deposits indicat«'d oscillations, in which the downward inovennMit exceeded the npwai'd. Shallow watei's, tberefore, iidersjx'j'sed with reefs and islands, still occn- '■ ]»ied the sites of the Allejihanies and Ifocky Mouiifains, which ' now look down from abo\e the clonds on the finished continent. ! The tft. Ijawrence and the Hndson may have e.xist<'d in miniafnre, l>nt the area of land was too snnill for rivers and other bodies of fresh watei' «»f considerable extent. In the disturbances closinj;" t-'ie l)e\(»nian a.iLic aihiitions were made to the surface in Iowa, I AN'isconsin and Illinois. The tworesultinu' fonnations in thistState are the I)e\'onian limestone and the Oriskany sandstone. Thei'c t j'.i'e outcrops of the former in the bluffs of flie Mississipi)i, l{ock suid Illinois rivers. It coidains a ;ureat variety of fossils, anIains, and im)>enetral>le forests c.ov(.'red tii<^ njiland slopes and hiylils. 'I'lie ^iraceful lei»idod( ndion, now fully developed, was one of the luincipal coal produeiaiy plants; sul»- serxiuj^- the same ])urpose and associated with it was the yinautie conifer, a nuMuber of the pine family. The ancient fern, another coal plant, .urew to a lii^iit of S(t feet. Jts ti'uuk, regularly fretted Avith scars and destitute of branches, ternunated in a crown of foliaye I'ivaliiif;' that of the ])alm in i)rofnseness and beauty. Tlie si.yillarid, however, as it contiibut(>d most largely to the produc- tion of coal, was the characteristi<' plant (»f tlie period. TIk^ trunk, widch rose from 10 to (»0 feet hi^h from its alternate tlntinus and ribs, appeared like a clustei<'d column. At an altitude of l'.'» or .')(» feet it sejiarated into branches, covered with a ;;rass iikti foiian'c intermin.uied with lonu catkins of obscure llowers or stiiir^s of seed, arranged in whorls about a c(»mnion stem. The strui-ture of the trunk was peculiar. ( )ne, ."> feet in diameter, was snrr(aiiid<'(l Avith ;s as tindKU', bn' the bark, of Avhich they larj^'cly i-onsisted. was impei'vious to mim id solutions, and valinible for the produ<'tioa of eoal. The calainitcs. j;rowin,ii,- Avith the sij;il.larids, covered Mitli dense bi-akes tlu^ niarsliy tiats. Their hollow stems, marked vertically with tlutinjis and horizon- tally Avith joints, <;Tew in clumps to a hi,uht of 2t) feet. Soaie species were branchless. Avliile from the Joints of other s])ranj;' branches, subdi\ idinu into wIkh'Is of bi'anchlets. The vast accumulation of veyetable matter from these and other earbiaiiferous plants, either imbedded in the miry soi' in which it yrew, «tr swept from adJacciiT elevations into shallow lakes, became covered Avitli sediment, and thus were transformed into coal. It Inis been estiniaterocess of its foi-mation was exretly the same as ])racticed in the manid'acture of charcoal, by burninj;' wood niuler a coverinji' of earth. Vejictable tissue consists mostly of carlton and oxyji'en, and decom]>osition must take place, «'ither nnder Avater or some other imper\ ions covcrinii', to prevent the elements from forndnn' carbonic acid j;as, and vhus escajjinn' t(» the atmos- phere. ConlbrMdn.^' to these retpnrcments, the immense vej^'ctablo growths fornnnji' the coal-fields sidtsided with the surface on which they .irrev , ami were buried ben<'atli th(> succecdin.u' (h'posits. KoA'a Scora has 7<> dilfercnt beds, and Illinois 12; and conse- quently, ill these localities there were as many diiferent lields of GEOLOGY. vcM'diirc nvci'w IicIiikmI in llic dirt-beds of tlic scsi. Tims, loiii;' Ix'- loi'c (lie st;irr,v cycles liiid mcasim'tl half the history ol' tlic iiii- loldiny- conl^iicnt, and avIicii ilrst the expanding' stream of life but lows the dee]) in opposition to winds and wa\('s, making' its watery home a hi;;hway for the connnerce of the world. Trior to the formation of coal, so j;reat was the volume of cai'- bonic acid ,yas in the atiuosjdiere that (»n!y slow breatiiini.^ and cold-blooded animals <'ould «'\ist. (!onse(pient upon its coin crsiou into coal, all tlu' j>recedinj;' sjtecies of i)lants and animals pei'ishcd, and new forms cauu' ui)on the sta;;'e of bein;;- with oi,!.;aui/,atiou.s adapted to the imjjroved conditions. In the new ccoimmun, as at the present time, stability is maintained in the atnn>s|)liei'e by tiic reciprocal relations subsistiiif>' between it and the iiu'omin;^' tyjtes. The animal iuspiics oxyu'en and «'Xi)ires carbonic acid gas; tiu>, vegetalde inspires «*arbonic acid gas and e\j)ires oxygen, thus pi'e- serving the, (Mpiilibrium of this breathing medium. The coal-liclds of I'lui'ope ave estimated at b'^,(>()l) stjuare miles, those of the I'liited t^tates at l.lO.iiOO. The Alleghany coal-tield contains (lO.OOO square miles, with an aggregate thickju'ss of lliO feet. The Illinois and ^Missouri (i(),0(H) scjuare miles, and an aggregate thickness in some localities of 70 feet. Othei- lields occiu: in ditf<'rent localities, of various thicknesses. In Illinois, three-fourths of the suiiace are untlcj'laid by IkmIs of coal,and tin- State conseipu'utly has a gicater area than any other nieud)er of the Union. There are lU different beds, the two most imi)ortant of which are each from (> to S feet in thickness. The entire carboniferous system, including the coal- beds and the intervening sti'ata, in southern Illinois is 1'7,(MU) feet in thickness, and in the northern part only .")()(). Xext to the inuuense deposits of coal, tiie JJnrlington, Keokuk and St. Louis limestones are the most iuii)ortant foi'iualions. They receive their ai)i»ellations from the cities whose names they beai' — wher(^ their lit liol(»gical cluirai^ters were first studied — and in the vicinities of which they crop out in Illim)is. The Turling- ton furnishes inexhaustible su]»plies of building ston<' and (juick- lime, but is nu)stly interesting on account of the immense nund)er of interesting fossils which it contains. Along its northern out- crop Crinoids are foriud in a profusion unequalled by that of any h)cality of similar "xtent in the woi'ld. Though initold ages have elapsed since their 'ucarceration in the rocks, so i)erfe<-t lias been their preservation, their structure can be determined witii abnost as much ])recision as if they had ])erislM'd but yesterday. The Keokuk is extensively used for architectural ]>urposes, and fur- nished the material for the celebrated iNIormon Temi»leat Nauvoo, the new Tost-ollice at Springlield, and the Custom Houses at (Jalena and Dubucpie. It contains some of the most inten-sting crystals found in the State. These consi.st of hollaw sjiheres of 8 III8T011Y OF ILLINOIS. (luiii'tz ;iii(l cliMlccdoiiy <•!' viirioiis sizes, iind lined on the insido ■\vitli cr.vstiilcts (»r dilTcrfnt minerals. T(tns of specinu'ns have l)e«n taiuMi IVdmi llan('t«'i< cunnly antl distrilailed oxt^'tlie I'liiled States and Kiirope. tt» oinanjent the ealtinels of niineiaht;.;ists. The St. Lonis is ahii(»st pMi'e eaihonet el' lime, and tlie best ma- terial in the State I'ur tlie nuinnract are of (|nieU-Iime. It is hir;:;t'iy quanied at Alton. The Ai/r of li'rptllcs is distiiijinisiied for chaiijics in tlu' conti- nental hoi'deis. which ;i-enerally ran witiiin tlicir present limits. The snl) niai'ine ontlincs of the l>ay of New York, and the eoni'sc of the Hudson, indicate that the adjacent siiorcs dniin;;' the early j)art of tins aj^e were beyond their present limits. wSontliward tlie sea line I'an within the present shore, the distance increasing' fi'oni (10 miles in Maryland to 1(H» in (icoif^ia, and :.'U0 in Alaliauia. U'he Texan .ynlf-sliore. and that of tiie peninsula and Stale of California, wei'e ])arallcl. and mostly within their present posiiioiis. These biirders were frin;.;('d witli deposits, winle inland the lioiijdi of the old continental sea was liec(imin,u more shallow. The alti- tude ol' the Alle,i;hanics had nearly reached Ilieir [acsent hiyiit. The Iioeky INbuintains, in the transition from the close of the. ])resent to the beuinnin;^- of the sul)se(|ncni a.^c, l;c,i;an slowI> l»t emei';;(' fnan the watei's under which tiiey had hitherto shuubcred. The (inlf of JMexico formed a (U-ei* liay exteudinu to the mouth of the Ohio, ami. protrudinin' itself uen too limited to ira<'<' it with cer- tainty beyond the head waters of the .Missoui'i and Yellow Stone. These are, therefore, amonij, the more recently formed rivers, and cannot be compared with the primeval St. liawreucc and lindson. The .Mississipj/i was a stream of not more than one-half its present lenjjth and vohnne, t'allin,u' into the .uulf not far fr<»ni the site (tf Cairo. The Ohio drainetl substantiaUy the same re'iiou it ilor:^ at the prt'seiit time. In the earlier i»art t>f the a,;4c the ,i;('o,iirai»i!ical distribution of fossils indicates a common temju'rature, from IJeh- rin.;;- Strait in tlie Northern to that of .^ia.u'ellan in the Soutlieni Jlemi•^|lhere. In the latter part, howcvci'. a diffi rence is pcrcei)- tible, indicatiiiii' also a difference of temperature and the com- inencement of climatic zones. This chaiiinc, caused by the partial iijiheaval (»f mounlain chains north of tlie i'](|nator, and the do- C'liu;- of internal heat, marked a new era in the physical history of the ^lobe. As the I'csult. currents commenced liowinji' in tliu ocean; the constant monotony of ]Mevious ajjes was broken by the ]»lcasant diversities of chanuin.i;' seasons ; life was ini[)arled to the atmosplicre, and the breeze came foilh laden with the Incatli of sprin<4-; the temjiest madly burst into beinj;' and bejian its work of destruction, and the trath'-winds (Mtnuneiiced bIowin<:', tad it was reserved for a fntui'e age to make tliem the common carriers of the ocean's commerce. The principal formations of the age, none of which exist in Illinois, were sandstones, chalks ami limestones, interstiatilied with de]M»sits of s;dt and gypsum. Their absence can beex]»Iained either uitonthe sniiitosition that the surface of the State was either above the waters in which they were de])osited, or, having originally b(-en (h'])osited, they were substMpiently swept away by denuding' agencies. The former was X)erhaps the case, as no aiiueous action GEOLOGY. could have opciatcd with siininCiit power to iciiioxc all tiiicrs of tlw'ir loiiiicr I'xistt'iicc. The ciiaractcMistic plants of tlic coal a;;v, now dcciinin;;', wcic^ replaced by c.vcads and many m-w forms of (Mtnilers and ferns. The evead was inlerniediate in char.ieter. reseMd>lin^' the fern in the opeiiin^i' of its folia^ic, and the palm in its ;;•( lU'ral habits. It was n«)W in the full zenitli of its expansion, wliih' the fern was d.viny ont and the conifer was yet to be devel- oped. .Moi't' tiran ltM> an^iiospernis made their appearam-e, one-half «»f them closely allied to the trees of modern forests and tla^ frnit tr<'es of tem|)erate rejiions. In the latlei' ]>art of the aiic the palm, at i»resent tiie most perfect tyjie of the ve;ietable kin.i;dom, was als(» introdnceil. New animal species made their appearance, attended by the extinotion of all pre-exist in;^' forms, lieptiles now reached tlusir cnlmination, the earth, sea and air, each ha\ iiiji' its jx-cnliar kind. Their fossil remains indicate a lar,i;-e nnmber of botli herbi\-erons and cainiverons species, which i.n many instan- ces attained a len<;tli of (»() feet. I'he itththyosanius, a pioininc nt example, nnitt'd in its strnctnre ])arts of scNcral relaleil animals, having' tin' head of a lizard, the snont of a porpoi.se. the tetth of a crocodile, the si»ine of a lisli and the paddles of a uhale. Its eyes, enormonsly larj^'c, were arran;^'ed to act both like the telescope and the niici', thus enablin,y it to see its jncy both niuht and day, and at all distances. It subsisted on tish and tiie yonn,i;' of its own species, some of which nuisl have been swallowed several feet in length. Associated with it was the Pleiosaurus, an animal i'esend>lin,n' it in its genera! struct ire. A renmrkable diiVerence, however, was the ^reat len.^tii ;' time luled the seas and kept the increase of other animals within ])roj)ei- limits. Itut the most ,yi.u:uitic of reptile monsters was the l,yuanoects. The Rocky ^lountains were elevated to a lii,nht of 7,(H»(l feet, the Wind IJiveichain (;,S()(). the I'.ij;- lloiii :\lountains (!,()(»(», Tike's Peak t,.1(M). The upheaval of the Ikocky Mountain re>;ion j^reatly enlarn'cd the Missouri, jtreviously ;in inconsiderable stream, adding to it the Yellowstone, Platte, Kansas and other tributaries. The TiOwer Mississij/pi was foi'ined and discliarn'cd its \ast volume of accumulated waters lu'ar tlu^ present coast line of tin; (Julf. The ele\ationof mountain m:!ssos to snowy altitudes cooled down the temperature and introduced 10 TIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. siihsliiiilisilly tlic present eliiiiiiles. In lOuiope the eliini^'e was fiiiMliiiil tVuiii tiopiral to snl»tiy do^^s. Their remains are ahniidantly distrih- nted over the noithera part of the I'nited States, indtedded nsnally in marshes where the animals were perhaps nured while in search of food or water. A lar.y'e fossil specimen was recently exhnmed in Macon connty. Illinois. L' miles sontheast of llliopolis, in the ed.^c of Lon.u I'oint Sliaiuh, Ity the side of an oo/y sprin.ii'. The fossils have heen fonnd in other localities of the State, and the ])rairies may have heen places of fre(|nent resoit. i'ontemporane- ous with them were the Dinotherinm and Me.i;atlierinm. and other ereatnres of the most ,i;i,i;antic proporti(»ns. 'I'he ma^nitnde of tlu; ]\lammoth seems almost fahnloas. l)nt that of the Dinotherinm ]»r(il)alily surpassed it. One of its most remarkahle features was its enormous tusks. ]»i'oJectin.u' from the anterior extremity of the h»wer Jaw. which cnrxt'd down like those of the walrus, liike the rhiiu>eer(»s, it lived in the water, and was well adajiled to the lacus- trine condition of the earth conunou at the time it llourished. Tin; ^Megatherium, h-loniiinii' to the sloth family, was also of colossal (linu'usions. Its l»ody, in sonu' instances IS feet Ion;;', rested on h'^i's resemhliuL^' columns of support rather than or;;ans of locomo- tion. Its s]»inal column contained a nerve a foot in diameter; its I'enuir was three tinu's the si/e of the elei)liant's. while its feet AVere a yai'd in len;^th and more than a foot in width. Thi' tail near the body was two feet in diameter, and nsed with its hind h'^i's as a tiipod on which the animal sat when it wielded its huyo arms and hands. Toward the close of theaji'c oscillations oceuired in the northern part of the continent, .greatly modifyiuii' the condition of its sur- face. Dui'in.ii' the iijiward vibration vast j^lacicrs spread oxer IJritish America and the conti.u'uous portion of the I'nited States. These lields of ice. becomin.u' tilled with hard boulders, and niov- in^i' southward by expansion, jiTound intofra^inu'nts the nnderlyinn- rocks. The sediment was ^iathei'cd nj) by the moviii,n' mass, and Avhen a latitude sutliciently warm to melt the ice was reached, it was spread over the surface. Accumulations of this kiinl consti- tute the (b'ift ^vhi<'h extends from New h'nuland westward beyond the Mississii>])i, and fiom the ."ilttli pai'allel northward to an un- known limit. In Illinois, with the exception of small areas in the IK »rtl I western and southern itarts of the State, it co\'ers the entire surface with a varyin;;' stratum of from 10 t(t 2(H) feet in thickness. Mere, and in other parts of the A>'est, not (»idy i^iiaciei's, but ice- bergs, Avere connected with its distiibution. The waters of the OEOLOOT. 11 hikes tlicM t'Xtt'iidrd soiitliwiird pciliaps to llir liiuliliiiiils, crossiiifj tlif Stiitc iVniii (iiiiiid 'I'owcr cjisl t»»\\;inl llicOliio. This Itmricr Ini'iiH-d llh- soiiihcrii liiiiils ol' tliis s«-ii, and also ol' the diil't which was disliihiitcd oxtT its liotlum i»y Ihiatili;!; iuidics (»t' ice lilh'd w itii st'diiiiciit |»rt>\ ioiislv drtachrd tVoiiitlic i^lacins tartluT north. 'I'htt upward aioNcmcid of the juhicial i-pocli was foUowt'd li.v a (h'pr«'.s- sioii of the siii'facc Ix'hiw its picsciit h'VcK The sidtsidciicc in Coiiiicftinil was ,")(• feet; in Massachnsctts, 17<>;in New llanip- sliirc, L'OO; at .Montreal, 4."»((; and several hundred in the re^^ion of Illinois and the i'aeilie. Trevionsly the adjaeent .\tlantie scaiioard extended into the sea Itevond its picseni linuts; now it receded, an*l the St. I.awi'ence and i-ake Clianiplain heeanie jinlfs extend- ini: far inland. As the residt of the down-throw the teniiteraturc was eh'vated, causing' the ^^laeiers to melt, and a farther dissend- iiation of the drift. K'ennlar ontlines, dne to the dinamic forces, ice and water, \ver«' thns iini»arte(l to the snrface. whi<'h a snbse- ,(MH) species. The jtahn alone, cuhni- n;itin,u' in the present eia, and standiuj.;' at the heail of the \e;;'eta- l»le kin.!;(lom, emhraces 1,(100. Commensnrate with the variety of ]>lants is the extent of their distribution. They are found univer- sally, fi'om Arctic snows to Tropical sands, j;row in,i;' in the air and watei', coxci'in;^- the land with verdure, and ministerini;' to tin; wants of their cousins, the ditlerent forms of animal life. In the Jini'^le the wild beast makes his lair; the biril builds her nest in their shelteriuu' leaves and branches, and subsists on their fruits; aiihysical conditions has impressed a multiplicity and variety U]>on the animals. The ap])i()ximate nnml»er of species at the present time is ;>.")(I,(H»(I, each sub kinudom nmnberinii- as follows: IJadi- ates, l(»,()(l(»; :\lolhislvs, l.'(t,0(l(» ; Articulates, ;'',(»(»,0(l(t; Vertebrates, l'!,0(>(>. Of the existinji Vertebrates, Fishes embrace 1(I,(KK»: I\\'i)- tiles, L',()(»(>: i'.irds, 7,()(K>, and Mammals, IV*"'*- ^Vit'> the appear- ance of ^laii on th«' staj^e of beinj:', in the latter jiart of the pre- cedinji' a;;'e, many types of the lower animals, in which maiiiiittide and brute ferocity W(!re ])rominent characteristics, became extinct. Their successors, as if harmonizing;' with the higher life develoi»in<^' in their ntidst, were f^enerally i-eilturd in size, less brutal in their nature, and more active, beautifid and intelligent. lieceiit di.seoveries have shown that the appearance of man, iu- 12 IIISTOUY OP ILLINOIS. Ntctul of Ix'iii;;' roiitiiii'd to tli«' ;>'(>olo;;'i('al i\}iv wliicli l)ciirs liis iiiiiiio, iniist Ik' I'xtciidcd ItacU to iiii itiilt'liiiitt' pciiod. His rt'iriiiiiis :iiid tlu' n lies of his iirl show that he was a coiitciiipoiai-.N ol' tlic main moth; that h«' witnessed th<' iiiiindatioii that Ixiricd tlic iiotthrtn plains of the Old and New Worlds under the sea ». I' ice: and lliat even lieloie that tinu', wlieii sni) li'opieal animal.-, dispoited tliem- si'lve.s in the lorcsts ol" middh> llindpe, haxc t races of his existeneti been discovered. Thoniili the ahsolnte time of his a(l\cnt cannot lie detei'mined, he dtndtt less was an in haliitant of the earl li several hnndicd tlionsand .veais hefore he was snllicieiitly intelli:;('nt to prest'ivc the records of his own history. His apjicarance as the head of the animal kin;.^dom nniiks a new st:i;;(' in tin* nnfoNhnent ol" terrestrial life. His claim to this prceminein-c is based on the snperiority ol' his menial, moral and spirit nal endownn'nls. Ilav in;; an understandin^i' i'apaltle of endless pro;^ression in knowledge, ho is able to stnd.v the laws of nature ami make hem sid»ser\ lent to Ills will and wants; to institnte systems of ;;overnment foi' his liri»tcetion, and to hold in snbjection th(> lower animals, however ^really they may exceed him in size or physical stren;;tli. He is the lirst of terrestrial bein;^s capable of eomprehendin;j; the natnu; of moral relations ; of dist in^iiiisliinji li^iit from w ron;;', and ot' d( ri- Ainu happiness from the practice of virtne ami sniferin.i;' in conse- «pieiice of vice. In his reverence for tin* Deity and aspirations Ibr immoi'lality he is rennncd still further tVom the animal plain, and stands as a connecting;' link between the latter and spirit exist- ain-e. 'I'lie present a;;*' still retfuns, in a diminished dc<;rcc of activity, the ycoli laical Ibrces of pi'cvions periods. ICxlmsivi' llats at many ])oints idttn;;' the Atlantic coast, and the deltas and other allnvial Ibrmations of riv«'rs, are slowly extending; the present sinl'ace. The latter, in nniny jdaces, is becoming;' modilied by the prodnc- tnni of pealbeds; in volcanic re;;ions, by the ejection of lava, and in jiaroxysimd distnrbances, exteiisive areas are still sidtjecl to elevations and (leiacssions, evidently a eontimmtion <»f previons oscillations. As observed by Moravian settlers, the western coast of (ircenland, tor a distaiu'c of (ilKI miles, has licen slowly sinkin;;' dnrinu' tin; last foni' centuries. The border of the continent, from Labrador sonthvvaid to \ew Jersey, is snp'poscd to be nnder;;()in,!;' ehan.ii'cs of level, bnt more a<'cni'at<' observations w ill l)c necessaiy to (h'terndne the extent of ilie nn)venn'nf. liike the nninterrnjited hases oc( nr, };ivin,u' distinctiveness to the center of each and distin!;iiishini; it, from others. The •;erni of each was Ion;;' working' forward in tho ])ast bclbre it attaiiwd its fidl dcvelo])nn'id and pecniiai'characicr, and extended far into the fntnre for its decline and final extinction. There is, hence, a blendini;' of periods and their prodncts, and, ■while centrally well defined, their be;;innin;;s and en(lin;;s are Avitliont lines of demarkatioii. The ratios, re])rescntin;;' the coin- l)arativ(' len;;th of each a.i;'e as detei'inined l»y the thickness of its rocks and the i.ite of their foi'ination, arc as Ibllows; Salnrian, inelndin;;' tlni Laurentian and llnronian, H>; Devonian,!'); Car- b tnitli. Th^ (ITCt liowrvrr, siiHicifiitl.v <'»trit'('t to ;tivf tlit- |>i'(»|»(»i(ioiiiit(' (liiriition of tlics*' yrciit ;i«'oIo;;i('iil i'lns. iiiid will f a};cs re«|iiired to etVeet <'oiiiparati\ ely small results. The wateis of Lake I'jie ori;Liiiially <'\teiided below the jueseiit Falls of M.ijiara, and the cataract, in sul)seqnentl.v jiass- in;>' Ironi the same point to its i»ieseiit j)ositi(tn, excavated the intervriiin;;' channel of the river. Allo\v in;; the rate of iiuiveiMcnt to lie one inch per year, which is pcrhajis ic i loo low an estimate, it would require .'!SO,(M)() y»'ars to jiass over the six miles of ictro- cession, flnd^iin^i' from this estimate, what lime would be rc(|nired toexcaxale the canon of the < 'olorado, which is .'!(I0 luilcs Ion;;', and has been worn a lar;;(' part of the distanc(> throu;;li ;iranite from .KiOO to CAHH) I'ec't in dejith. Captain Hunt, who for many years was stationed at Key \\'est, and whose opportunity for observations was j;«iod, estimates that the coral insects, wliiili liave built up th(> limestone formations of Florida, must liavo re(|nired more than r),0(H),(MI() years to complete their 1 ibors. Chapter TI. Tin-: TorodKArriY, iuyeks, soil and climatolociy. Tlie Hirers ami Topofiraphi/ of the State nro based upon aiid oov- i'Os|>(»iirial was sid»se(inently deposited in these prindtive water coni'ses from 10 to moi'c than liOO feet in thickness, and now forms tiie channe' of the existiuii' sti'eams. For the Ibrniation of tlieso ancient river beds of sucli jireat width and freipiently excavated several hundred feet in hard carboniferous rocks, the dimiiush«'d waters now lloMinj<' within their lining- of drilt are v>holly inade- (piat<'. Furtln'rmore, the alluvial valleys winch the riveis now occupy are far too broad to correspond with the present volnmo and swiftness of the waters. The alluvial bottoms of the Illinois are nearly ecpnd to those of the Mississipjii, tliou.iih the latter has a current twice as i'a]>i(l and a tinantity of water (i tinu's as larj^e as the former stream. The smaller streams of the State occnjiy valleys filled with dritt, f hrcMiuh which the waters have been v.nable to cut their way to the ancient tron,yiis below. Owiiijn' to this, tho sti-atified rocks in nmny localities have never become exposed, and it is diflicnlt for the .neoloyist to determine the character of tho iniderlyinji' fornmtions. Thou.iih the surface of the State is peneially h'vel or 8li,i;htly undulatinji', there are some pctrtions of it considerably eleva- ted. The highest summits are found alonn' the northern border between Free])ort and (lalena, known as the mouiuls. The cuhni- iiant points of altitude ureL'OO feet above th<' surroundinu' country, r)7.-| aitove the watei's of Lake ^lichi.i^an, !>(I0 above the Junction of the Ohio and Mississi]>]»i, and l,ir)(t above the ocean. Tlie toi)S of the mounds coincide with the original elevation of the surface, and their pnjsent condition as isolated hills is due to denuding TOPOfJKArnY AND EIVFiT?S. 15 foires which have carriod away the suiTouiidiiiy strata. ]\I<>iiii(ls <><'('iii' in otlicr places, some of thi in haviii;;' a iii,n]it of .")(» feet, and frccr u|»(»n tiicir snnunits, wliicli ^ivcstiicni the aii]»<>aranc(' of islands in snrronndinji' seas of ])iaivie vcnlure. l>csi(h's the nionnds there are in the State ~> ])rincii»al axes of dis- turbance and elevation. The most northerly of thes(> enters it in Ste]tlienson county. crossin.i:' I'ock rivei'near Dixon, and the llliiuns not far from LaSalle. On the former river it Itrinys to the surface the St. Peters sandstone: on the latter. nia,iiiiesian limestone, a Silurian formation. At LaSalle the coal strata are uplifted to the surface from ade]>th of -KM) feet, which shows that the distnrltance occui'red after their formation. On the >\Iississip])i, in (.'alhouu county, thei'e occurred an U]>heaval of the strata, attended with a om lon<>' habit we are arcustonu'd to look upon it without considerinii' its wonderful ])roi)erties and .yreat im]»ortauce in the economy of animal life. Not attractive itself, yet its pro- ductions far transcend the most <'laborate works of art; and hav- in;;- but little diversity of apju'arance, the endless variety which ])ervades the ve,iietable and auinnd kinii'doms spriujis from its pro- lific abundance. Its mysterious elements, incorporated in the struc- ture of plants, clothes the earth with verdure and pleasant land- scapes. They bloom in the flower, loa' the diseases to which it is subject. From the saiiu^ source also i)roceed the elements Avhich, enterinj;' the domain 'Geological Smvpy of Illinois, by A. H. Worthcii. ! ' ^'•■-^^- ^viM.s.' .'/•^, <;. ';"ti. in uhH-hi ';;;'"; <-^<;i!..- I<)vo( J'><'ii, flK,s(. , ,, . / /"'="' ^^''iM "VPs •,,.:• •" ^''*" >""^f<>.v of <"'N ,ni.s,s("s , Hi ^'" "l'J»<''- ^lississi,,,, ' i'"'^ V'' ^'-^<^«""h'ii(li(l soil t'oniiinj;' deposit is destined to make Illinois the ^reat centic ol" American wealth and |to]>ulation. I'erliaps no other country of the same ext<'nt on the fa<'e of the j^lohe can boast a soil so ubi(initons in its distribntion and so universally ]»rodnctive. ICnriched by all the minerals in the crust of the eartli, it necessa- rily <'ontains a .yreat variety of constituents. Since plants dilfer s(» widely in the elements of which they are comjiosed, this multi- j)licity of eomiM)sitiou is the means of ^rowinii' a ureat diveisity of cr(»i)s, and the amount ]>i'oduced is correspondingly lar_i;'e. So ji'reat is the fertility, that years of continued cultivation do not materially diminish the yield, and should sterility be induced by exc<'ssive working', the subsoil can be made available. This ex- tends from 2 to 10 and even I'O and .'>(• feet in depth, and when mixed with the mold of the surface, j^ives it a jireater ])i()ducinji' cai>acity than it had at first. Other States hav«' limited areas as productive, but nearly the entire surface of Illinois is arable land, and when brought under cultivation will become one continue(l scene of veral theatre for the use and invention of ajiricultiiral implements. Owinj;' to tlie eheajaiess attendinj^" the use of machinery, with a ji'ixcn amount of ca]>ita1, a ated. The severity of the labor expenderoporfionately diminished, and those en;4a,iied in husbandry have time to l)ecoine, acquainted with tin' theoretical as well as the ]»ractical i)art of their duties. The ])rofound ])hil<;so])hy involved in the lirowth of jdants furnishes a fiehl for investijiati(»n and experimeut retjuiriiij;" the ln,uhest order of talent and the most varied and extensive at- tainments. Afiricultuie, aided by chemistry, vegetable ]ihysiolof!,y and kindi'od branches of knowledii'e, will i'ecipitated is less, ami finally it is almost entii'cly supplanted by the aridit\ of the desert, in a section extendin;;' across the continent irom New Voik to San I'rancisco, the amount of rain -fall strikingly coincides with the alternations of wood-land, l>raii'ie, and desert. The i'ei;ion extending tVom New York, which has an aiiniiai rain-fall of I'J inches, to Ann Arbor, Inninj^' LM) inches, is heavily covered with timiu'i'; thence t(» (lalesburj;', 111., havinji' L'(J inches,* is mostly pr;iiri<' interspersed with clumps of forest ; thence to I'ort Laramie, haxiiii;' 20 inches, it I'apidly changes to a continiU)Us ]»raiiie; thence to l''ort Vounni, having' only -■{ inches, it l)ec()mes an inhos])itable desert; ami thence to San Fi'ancisco, havinu' 1*2 inches, it chanii'cs to lirxuriant forests. Illinois is thus within the re.yion of alternate wood and jirairie, Avith the latter lar.ii'cly ])redomimitin,ii'. This wide belt, owin;^' to a difference of c;!i»acity for retainin.ii' moisture, has its eastern and western boi'ders thi'own into ii're<;ular outlines, resemblinj^' deeply indented bays and i»roJectin,<;' headlands. ^\s the result of decreas- \u'^ moisture, only IH) arborescent species are found in the wooded rcijion which on the east extends a considerable ' tlironyh more than KM) dej;rees of lonjL;itn(l<'. AH these desert jdaces, wliere local causes do not interfere, are fiirt about by f^rassy ]>laiiis and belts of forest. * 'I'lic snlijiiiin'i! Iiil)l(' liM.s lii'i'ii kiiicUv t'liiiiislKMl lis by I'liif. r.iviuirstiiiic, ol' Li)iiibiiiil Tiii- vi'isity. It will be seen tli.il tbr intMii ;ii\iiM;il l('iii|ii'int lire nf ( ialc.sliiii'Z is 4^ ilciiri'i's, iiiiil its mean iiniiiiiil |>ri'('i|ilt!itiiin of nxiistiiri' '^4 iiiclus. Tlii' sdMlliiin iiiid wi'.sti in portions of the State Nliijlitl.v t'xcccd tlio aliovo li;iiiies: Jini. 1 Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. .Tilly. Aug. ! Sop. ! Oi-t. Nov. ! Dec. Aiin'l 5 '5:2 ye" 14 y4>> 14 " 1 ••* "^ 1 r- '^ ;«)» 2.'>'4!)»!r'S GO" H TO" H. 2 2. 3 1 2.' 2 z.' 2 £.' ? ' S.i 2 : z. ;)-j'.")9n;40 "1" 4:1 c;!",;!'} .'iii'> a,-) y.v'iii •J(i'> \s ST 3' •26 LM) IIISTOKV ()!•' ILLINOIS. Some ciiiiiicnt jjliysicists refer tlie treeless eliiirncter of the };reat };i'iiss,v plains to the ineciiiinieal iiihI cheinieiil t-haraeter of the soil. J'eriiaps, in the constantly \ar\liiro- ]>hetic of laltor. intelli^i'ence and the enjoyment of a noble man- lUMld.* The ('liiiitih)lo(i!/ of the State, in c<»nnm»n with other countries of the same latitude, has four seasons. 'l"he meltinu' snows of winter, jl'euerally atteiuled by rains, convert the rich soil of the prairie into mud, and rendei' early spriu;^ the most uni»leasaut part (»f the year. The heat of summer, althou;ih nutre intense than in the same lati- tude on the Atlantic, is "greatly relieved by the constant breezes which fan the jtrairies. Autumn, with slowly diminishinji' heats, terminates in the serene ami beautiful season known as Indian summer. Its mild and uniform temperaiure, soft and hazy atnuts- ])hei(', and forests beautifully tinted widi the huesof dyinii' folia/^c, all <'onsi>ireto render it the pleasati.' jtart (»f the year. Next t'ome the boreal blasts of winter, with its social liresides, and tinklinij bells in the mystic liyht of the nu)on, as merry sleij^hs skim over the level snow clad prairies. The winter has its sudden (-hauiics of temi>erature. causin,u' (-((Ids and other diseases arisiu;;' from extreme vicissitudes of weather. This is tlu^ most nnfavorabh? feature of the climat*', which in other respects is salubrious. The }>'eneral belief that Illimtis is scourged by bilious diseases is sub- stantially unfounded, i' is well known that the i)ioueers of Ohio, Indiana and ;\liclii,i;an suffered far woi'se from nnilarions diseases than th(»st! who lirst subdued the soil lain (»f these climatic extremes, but a short residence in the country soon con- vinces him that many of the most kindly tVuits and plants could not be cultivated and matured without them. Owin;;' to this troi)i('al element of the summer, tln^ lu'ach, "irajx', sweet potato, cotton, corn and other i»lauts readily mature in Illinois, thoujih its mean annual temperature is less than that of Knj;land, whei'e their cul- tivation is impossible. These facts show that a hiyh tempei'ature for a short season is nunv benelicial to some of the most Aalued ])lants than a moderate temperature lonji' contimu'd. This is well exemi)litied in tin- cidtivation of our jiii-at staple, maize, or Indian corn, which, wherever the conditions an' favorable, yields a jureater amount of nutriment, with a given amount of labor, than any *Sei' (ifoftiapliii'iil Smvi'.VM of Un' Stati', iiiid Fiislii's I'Uysitiil (Ji'iij^vaiiliy of tlic Mi.ssis- sipjii Valli'.v. tl'"(»st('i's I'liysiial Ucography. C'LIMATOLOdY. 21 known (MTciil. it WHS ori^iiniill.v ii tiopiciil j^iass, iuul wlu-n culti- Viitcd in icuions of a lii;^!! and protractt'd trnipfratiirc. cxliiltits a stronji tcndcncN to rev cit to ilsoi'i<^inal (•••ndition. In the (i id t States it ^Tows to a "^icatciliij^lit than tartlnT nortliward, hnt its vicid ot' fciccd iscoiiTs)>ondin;ily less, in tiif \ alleys o|iciiiii.u sc;i\\arreate.;t yield is aliont tiie 41st ]>aralle1, and llioii<;'li la i' less ini])osin.<^' in its appearance than on the (iidf, its prodiietixc capacity is said i:. he four fold -ireater than either there or on the i'acitie. it is wonderfnl that a jilanb .slionid nii(h'j';L;() snch a .yreat transfoi'niation in stiiu'tnic and nat- ural liahits, and that its greatest ]»iodncin^' capacity shonid ho neai' the noi-thern limits of its jtossihle ctdtivatioii. 'I'hese facts isn^ii^est tinestions of ^^rcaf scientilic \ahie iclative to the de\eloii- meid of otlu'j' j)lants hy renH)vin,i;' llieni from tlieir luitixc localities. One of lh«' cans«'s wjiich assist in iiapai'tin^' these extremes to the climate may he Ihns «'\]»laiiwd. 'I'he different continental masses (lni-in<;' the sniiimer liecome lapidly heated iindo' the inthi- <'ni'e of the snn, wliile the snridnndinii oceans are less sensitise to its eir«'<'ts. As the residt, the lands Itoi'deiin;^' on the sea have a <'o!a]>arativeIy mild temjieratniv, while the interior is snhject to intt'iise lieat. i)in'in!:>' winter, tor similar )-e;isons, tiie interior Jiecomes si'verely cold, wJjile the sea-^irt shoi-e still enjoys a innch milder tenijx-iatnre. ihif a uicatei' modifying intlncnce n]>on the rlimate are the wimls to which it is snhject. The sokicc of lliese is at tiie e(]uator, where tlie air, becomin;; raritied from the elfeets of heat, rises and Hows in vast nmsses toward the )»olcs. Oil reachiniL,' cololes toward the iMpialor where the rotation is ureatest, fall behind the earth, and that in the nortln-rn hemisjiliere Hows from the northeast, and that in the tsonthern from the sontheast. in like nmnner the iiit]>er-cnrrcnts, Howin.ii; from tlie yreatei' veh)city of tlie tMjnator towaid the less at the jtoI«'.s. j^'et in adv.MU'c of the eaitli ; and the one in the north flows from the sonthwe.^i, and the other in the south fiom the lioilhwest. If the .ylobe wei'e a pei-fectly smooth sjihei-e, the flow esid<'s these, the northeast trade-winds, in their jiro- gress toward the (Mjuator, im])inj;(' ajuainst the lofty chain of the oo F I ll^i s II! niHTouv OP r,Lmor.s. i ir^ ClIAPTKU TTT. ILLINOIS ANTlQriTIKS— THK :\I()rXI) lU'lLDKHS. It is tlic opinion of nntitiiiiii-iiins tlnit tlii-'c distini't rin'<\s of ])('()|»I(' iivcfl in North Auicricii prior to its occnpiition l».v tlic present ])opniiitircsent utter wreck. Comparing' their com)»let<' desolation with the I'uins of Ualhec, Palmyra. 'I'heltes and Menii)liis. they must lia\e been old when the latt<'r wei'e heini;' built. May not America then be called the old world instead of the lU'W ; and may it not liave contained, when these Central Anu-riean cities weuc (^v«'cterestin,u' class of antiipiities found within the limits of the l'nitei)arently villa^(\s, altars, tem]»les, idols, cemeteri«'s. monuments, camps, fortitications. jylcas- ure grounds, etc. The farthest i'eli<' of this kind, discovered in a northeastern direction, was near Ilhu'k river on tlie south side of Lake Ontario. Thence they extend in a southwestern diieetion l)y way of the Ohio, the Mississippi. Mexican (iulf, Texas, New ]\iexicoaiul Voucatan, into South Anu-rica. Conunencinj>' in Cata- ran,ijus conuty. New York, there was a chain of forts extending more than ."iO miles southwesterly, not more than 4 or ~> miles ajtart, and evidently built by a people rude in the arts and few in iniml)ers. Further southward they increas<' in nunil)er and mag- nitude. In West Vir,<>inia, near the junction of (irave creek and the ( )hio, is one of the most aujiust monunu'uts of remote anti(piity found in the whole country.. According;- to measiu'cment it has an altitude of *M) fi-et, a diameter at the base of lOO feet, and at the summit of -tii feet, while a partial examination discloses within it 24 IIISIOIJV (tF II.I.INdlS. II, the ('xist(>iic<' ot'iiDiiiy tliou.saiMls ol' liiiiiiiin Klu-lctoiis. In Ohio, wlicl't' tli«> iiioiiikIs Ii:i\c liccli ciU'rl'iiIlN txiiliiilinl, niv toillid sninc of til*- most ('\lciisi\f :iii(l ilitrirsiiii^ t liiit occur ill tlic i'liilcd Stillcs. At tlic liioiilii ol' the .MllsUiii;;illii, iiiiioli;; a iiilliiltci' of curious works, w us a rcctaii;^iihir fort coiitaiiiiiij; 10 acres, I'licirclcd In a wall of earth IC feet lii;L;li, and perfmated with openings reseiiiMiii};' gateways. In the inoiiiid near the fort were found tln^ remains of a swnrd, which a|)|)eared to ha\e Iteeii hiiiied with its owner. Itestiii;^ on the forciiead were found three laijic copiier bosses, plated with sihcr and attached to a leather iMiekler. Near the side of the liod\ was a plate of siixci'. which had perhaps In en the upper part of a copper sea I ilia id, portions of w liicli were liih d with iron rust, doiilitless the reinaiiis of a sword. A fort of siinilai' coiistiiiction and diinciisioiis was fouial on Lickin;^' ri\er, iiear Newark. I'aj^iit f^ateways pierced the walls, and were jiiiardt'd liy iiioiinds directly opposiic each on tiie inside of the u^ak. At (ir- cle\ ille, on the Sciot(», there were two forts in Jiixiapositioii: the »iiie an exact circle (!(» rods in diameter, and the other a |ierfect s(piare, .V) rods on each side. The circular fort ilicat ion was siir- roiiiide(*() Icet in alliliide, and ciician- passed by a wall 10 feet in lii^lit, madeof sioiie in their naliiial state. The area thus inclosed contained i.">t» acres. On the south si(h' of it there were ioiiud the reinaiiis of what app<'ared originally to lia\e been a row of furnaces orsmil h shops, altout which cinders were found sexcral feet in depth. In the bed of the cre«'k, which Avashes the foot of the hill, were tbiiiid wells which had be<'ii cut thiMtiiiih solid rock. 'I'liey were more than .'> feel in dianu ter at tlu; top, neatly walled w it li jointed stones, and, at the lime of diseo\ cry, covered o\er by circular stones. So numerous were works of this kind ill Ohio it would re(|uire a lar^e \(iliime t«> speak «)f them in detail. Aloiiii' the Mississippi th<'y reach their maxiimim size and coiilaiu some of the most interest inji' relics, 'i'lie number of mounds found here at an eai'ly day were estimated at ima-e than .'>.(l()i», the smallest of which were not less than I'll feet in hi.yht, and KUt feet in diam- eter at the base. A lar,ue number of them wei'e found in Illinois, but, mifortuiiately, most ot' those who haxc examined them wero little (pialitied to furnish correct informatiou res])ectiii>i' their real character. It is greatly to be rejiietted that the State has iie\«'r ordered a survey of these works by persons (pialilied to do tlui subject Justice. .Many of the most interest iii<>' have been ruthlessly destroyed, but it is belie\ed a suflieieiit iiumbei' still remain to justify an examination. It may, however, be safi'ly assumed, fiiuii what is already know n respcctiii;;' them, that they wero substantially the same as those Ibund in other parts of the I'liited States. One (d' the most siu^^iilar eart hworks iii this State was found in the lead region on the toi» of a rid;4e near the east bank of the Sinsiiiawa creek. It resembled some hiine animal, the head, ears, uose, leys and tail and yeiieral outline of which beiiii;- as per- fect as if made by men versed in mo(hrii art. The iidj;e on which it was situated stands on the prairie, .'!(i(» yards wide, 100 feet in liight, and rounded on the lop by a deep th'^iosit of clay. Ceu- ANTlgrniHS — Mdl'M) lUILUKKS. ti'iill.v, aloii;; tli«' line of its siiiiiiiiit iiinl tlirnwii ii|i in tlic t'oriii of an riiil):iiikiiM-iit llii'cf ItM't iiiuii, t-xtciHlcd tlit> uiitliiif tiTii (|iiii(liii- ])('<), liii-iisui'ili;; L''")!) Icct iVoiii the tip ol' tiic nose lo tlc' cIkI oI' IIk^ tiiil, iiiid lia\ iiiu a widtlinl' IxhIv at tia- rnitfi' of IS t'ct't. 'I'la' la-ad was .">.") let I in Ituulii, tlifcars Id, lfj;s (iO, and tail 7.">. The (■iir\atiii'c in ixitli tlif I'oit'and liiial lc;;.s was nataial to an iiaiinal l.viiiy on its side. The general (»atliiH' ol" tlir liiiiiic most iitariy rcscinltlcti tlic cxtiiM't animal known to ycoloLiists as tlic Mcjuatia'- I'inni. 'I'Im- *|n<'stinn natarallv aiiscs, Itv w1h)Mi and lor wlial |>iii'- l>oMi' was this caitii li;;ni'(j raised. Some have conjectured lliat iininlx'i's of this nowcxtind animal lived ami loamed over the ])i'aii'ies of iliinnis w hen the miHind Unilders first nnide their a|)|M'ai'- aiM'c in the npiter pait (tf the Mississippi Valley, aial that their uonder and admiration, excited 1>,\ the colossal dimensions of tliest; lni;;e cicatares, IomimI exii.'cssion in the erectitai ol' this limine. The holies of sona' similar jui.nantic animals were exhnmed on this stream aiioat •'( miles iVom the same place.* David Dale Owen, a <'elehrated western ju'eolojiist, in his report to the land olliee in |s;!!>, refers lo a nnnd»er of liyiires. similar lo the one alto\e deserihed, as exisliny in Wisconsin, lie IliinUs they >V('reeonne<'temeii raised o\er his body ii mound j'esendilinu the animal which had iteen nsi-d as a syiidiol to desi<;iiate his fandly. ^Ir. l'ii'eckenrid,i;<', wh(»exaanned the antiipiitios of the westein country in IS17, speakiny of the mounds in tin' American I'lottom, says: "The;;reat iMoaher and the extrenu'l.\ laru'e si/e of some of tlieiii may he re<;arded as fnrnishinj;, with other circinnstances, evidence of their anti(piity. I have sonu'times been indnced to think that at the period when they were constructed theic was u ])opulaiion here as numerous as that which (Mice animated ihi^ boiders of the Nile oi' of the I'iiiphrates or of .Mexico. Tlie most nnna'rous as wctl as considerable (»f these remains are found in l)recisely those parts of the coinitry where the traces of a inina'r- ous |io|)ulation nd.i^ht be looked for, namely, frcan the mouth of the Ohio, on the east side ol' the Mississippi, to the Illinois rixcr, and on the west from tlie St. [''rancis to the Missouri. I am per- fectly satislicd that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several hundred thousaml souls, have existed in this country.'" Says Ml'. (', Atwater, the author of an able work on the anti(pii- ties of Ohio: "•Nearly opposite St. Louis there are traces of two such cities, in the distance of o ndles. They were situated on the Cahokia, which eiosses the Anu'rican Hotvoni opposite St. Louis. One of the mounds is .S(H) yards in eircumferenc(> at tlu' base, and 1(K> feet in hi^^lit." The follow inji' descrijition of this mound, which is the lariiest in tlie Uniteil States, is condensed from an aiticle in the l!elle\ille E(((i1c : It is silimted (l^^, ndles northeast of St. Louis, and is ctim- moidy known as the Monk's mound, from the Monks of La Tiai)[)0 lni\ in,u' settled on and arouml it. It is an irregular oblonji, ex- temliuii' north and south, ami its shoi'test sides east and west. The top contains about .'5.'^ acres, ami about half way (low n the sides is a terrace, extendiufi' the whole width of the nn)und, and *Galeua Jett'eraouinu, lt<5J. 1/ ANTU/riTIl'.S — MOfM) 111 II.DI'.I.'S. L'7 toj'.v, tVolii 4 to "» feet ill tliiiiiHlcr, wvw cxIhiiihmI mmih' ."{() (ret Im^ low tli(> sitrriin-, iiiiil liiid <>vi*li>iitl.\ Im-cii iisciI in tlir iiiaiiiiriirtiin' (iT -~:ill liv III*' iiiomikI Imildt'is, or stmic nlliiT iiiirinit |u'o|ilf, y wcri- tlic ancestors of tlie A!;.',nii<|iiiii anil other trilies louml li\iii<4' in their iniiist, when lirst \isiletl 1»,\ I'airopeaiis, Imt ill_\ ae<-or»ls with thee\ie eiirioiis relies a rtt t'ra;iitieiits ol' a liistoiy wiiieli point to a peoi»le tlilVereiil in physi- <-al striieliire I'roiii the red men, and ^reall,\ in ad\ aiiee ol' tliein in iii't and ei\ i!i/alioii. 'I'he latter in general area tall, rather slen- der, strai;>'lit liiiilied people, while the toniier were short and tliieU set, had low loreheads. hiuli eheek holies, and were reiiiarUalile tor their lar;;e eyes and liroad eliiiis. Their limits were short and stout, while the'"' '.vliole ph.vsiipie more elosely n'semhied that ot' the ( lerinan than anv exist in;; raee. The remains of their art also indieated a people wholly tlistiiie!. I'^roin these tnmiili lia\f hreii taken siher, iron aial copper implements, exliihitiiifi in their coii- striictioii a tle^rce of skill ;^rea(ly exceelaces, liearths and <'liimiieys, imhedded in the allinial hanks of the Ohio and .\Iiiskiii,4iini rivers, are frcipiently hroii^ht to li^lit 1>\ the ac- tion of their waters. 'I'lie Indians of these localities never erecti'd .siicli works; while their j^reat de)ttii helow the surface, and its lu-avy jiiow til of trees, is evidence that they were not made hy l-ai- ro])eaiis, Iieiice must he referred to the mound hiiilders, 10\ ideiice of this kind iiii;.ilit he multiplied iiidetiiiilely, hut what has heeii said is deemed sutlicieiit. Not only liati the mound hnilders made c(»iisiderahle i>ro;nj'ess in the arts, hilt they wcr*' not wholly waiitiu,u" in scieiitilic attainments. The lines of nearly all their works, where the situation would admit of it, conform to the four cardinal points. Had their authors im» kiiowh'dnc of astronomy, they could never have determined tlio ])oints of the compa.ss with such exactness as their w(U'ks indicate. This mthle science, which in modern times has };iveii us siuli ex- teudcil views of the universe, was among the lirst in tlie earlier 28 IIISTOllV OF ILLINOIS. iijics to iiri'cst tlu' iith'iitioi) oCiiiiiiikiiKl. Tlic pMstoriil life of ]»iiiiii- tivc liiiics, wlicii iiicii dwell in tciiLs, of tlic open air, witli tiie liciivciil.v bodies in I'idl view, was very i'avonible to the study ot" astioiioin.v. 11' I lie iiiouiid builders were not tlie aiicestois of (»ur Indians, who were they ! The oblivion which has closed over tlieni is so complete that only conjectures can be ^iveu in answer to the (pies- tion. Those wh(» do n(»t believe in the coniiuon paientajie ol nian- Idnd contend that they were an indiijcnoMs race of the western lieniisi»here. Others, w ith more i>laiisibility, think they came Ironi the east, and ima.yine that they can see coincidences in the reli,L;ion • (fthe Ilindoosand Southern Tartars and the snp])os<'d theology of the mound builders. An idol was found in a tomb near Nashville, 4'onsistinj;' of three busts, re])resentin;;' a man in a state of nudity. On the head of each were carved the sacred lillet and cake with which, in ancient (ireece. durin.i;- sacritlces. the heads of the idol, tlie victim, and priest wei'i' bound. The Oiceks are snpjjosed to Inve borrowed these sacred appliances from the Persians, with Avhoia they had fre(iuent wars and an intimate nnuitiine inter- couise. Another idol, consistin,i;' of three heads united at tli(( back, was taken from a tond» on the headwaters (»f the Cumber- land river. Their features, which were expressive, exhibited in ii strikin,!^' uunnier the lineaments of the Tartar countenance. It has b*'<'M further observed that wherever there was a yroupof monads three, of tlieni wen- uniforndy larger and inon' favorably situated than the rest. The triune charactei- of these ima/^cs and mounds ;u'(^ sup]>osed to rei)resent the three ju'incipal ji'ods of the Hindoos, IJrahmin, Vishnoo and Si\a. This siip|)osi)ion has been fartiier strcn.ythen;"! by the discovery in numy mounds of murex shells, which wore sacred in the relij;ion of the Ilindoc^, used as material iu the constriU'tion of their idols, and as the nnisical instrumciits of Iheii- Trit(»ns. In di,ii;Liin,ii' a well near Nashvilh', a clay \essel was found liO fiH't below the surface, it was of a jilobose Ibnn, terminatiu<>' at the toj) with a fennde head, the features of v, lucli wt'i'c stron.iily marked and Asiatic. The crown of tiu' lieay the recession of the waters, they are now from ."> to it miles distant from tlii'ir original lindts. The surface, which became ex]»osed by the retirement of the waters, is now covered with a xc.tictable mold tVom (i to H> in<*hcs deep, and it nmy reasonably be supposed that a lonj;' inter- val of tiiue was recpured for the produ«'tion of the forests by whose decomposition it was foiined, \'>\\t a much lonjicr interval would be riMpiired for the Niaj^ara to deepen its channel and thus cause the subsidence of the wateis in the lake. What finally became of this peo|)le is another (pu'ry which has been extensively discussed. The fact that tlieir works extend into 3Ie\ico and Tem has induced the Itelief that it Wiis their i)osteiity that dwelt in these countries when they were first visited by tlit^ !S))aniards. The Mexican and reruvian works, with the exception of their j;reater majiiiitude, are similar, b'elics common to all of them have been occasionally found, and it is believed that the reli- fi'ious uses which they subserved were the same, (.hw of the i)rin- «*i])al deities of the iSonth Anu'iicans was tlu^ p»d of the shiniui;' mirror, so culled because he was su]»|»osed to reflect, like a mirror, his divine ])erfe<'tions. The same jiod was also a Mexican divinity ; and while other (h'ities wei'e syndtoli/ed by imaj-es, this one was represented by a mirror, and held in yicat ven<'ration as the un- known ji'od of the universe. Isinjilas, c((nnnon in the mcaiiids in the Tnited Htates, was the nmterial iicneiiilly empl<»yed for the construction of miirorsin Mexico; but in South .Vnu'rica, obsidan, a voh-auic i>rodnct, which answered the same purpose, was more fre(pM'ntIy use(l. If, indeed, the Mexicans and l'eru\ians wer;' tlu^ ])i'o;;('ny of the more ancient mound builders, then Spanish rajiacity for ^i'old was the cause of tlu'ir overthratiou can only }»ivo us valoits, and even tradi- tion is silent respectinii' them. If we knock at the tombs, no s|Hrit comes back with a res]>onse, and only a sepulchral echo of forget fulness and death reminds us how vain is the atteini)t to unlock the mysterious i»ast u]»on which oblivion has fixed its seal. How forcibly their mouldering' bones and perishinj: relics remind us of the transitory character of liuman existen<'e. (lenei-ation after fi'eneratioii lives, moves and is no more ; tinu'has strewn the tr;ick of its iiithless march with the frajiinents of miyhty em[»ires; and at lenj,4h not even their names nor works have au existence iii the speculations of thos(>. Avho take their phices. ClIAPTKR IV. TJIK IM)1A^S OF ILLINOIS. Till' third distiiict race wliicli, accordiiiin' to ctliuolo^iists, has in- habited North Aniciica. is tiic prrsi'iit Indians. Wlicn visited by early lOnropean jiioiieers tliey were witlioiif (•nlti\ ation, retinenient or iitei'atiire. an(l I'ai' Itehind tlieir ])i('(Mirs(»rs. tiie nine hypothc-'s is that they are an oii.yinal raee indi^cneous to the Wester ' .,-inisi>here. 'I'liose who entertain this view think their ]»eeuliarities <»1' physieal structure ])reclu,de the possibility of a common i>arenta,i;(' with the rest ot" mankind. Prominent amon.u' these distinctixe traits is tlie hair, which in the red man is round, in the white man o\al, and in the black man Hat. In the pile of the l-'uropean the colorinp,' matter is distributed by means(»f a centi'al canal, but in that of the Imlian it is incorporated in the libr(»ns structure. ISrown, who has made an e.\haiisti\<' examination of these varieties of hair, conchnle.s that they are radically dilferent, and belonj;- to three distinct brain lies of the human family, which, instead of a coninioii. have had a trinary oi'i;;in. Since, therefore, these and other peculiar ethnolon'ieal features are chaiacteristie only of the aboriginal in- habitants of America, it is inferred that they ate indi,i>'enons to this ]tarl of the ,ulobe, A more common su|)}»osition, however, is that they tire ii deriva- tive race, and sprang' from one or more of the ancient jieojiles of Asia. In the absence of all auihentic history, and when even tradition is wanting;-, any attempt to point out the jiartieular theater of their origin must prove iinsatisfact(uy. They are ]>erliai)s au otTshoot of Sliemitic jiarenta^'e, and some imauine, from their tribal oi'uaiii/arion and soiik' faint ••^incidences of laii;4naji'e and relijiioii, that they were the descendants of the ancient Hebrews. (>i!;ers, ■with as riiiich propri<'ty, contend that their ])rof'enitors were the ancient Hindoos, and that the lirahmin idea, which uses the sun t(» s\ mbolize the ( "reator of the Iniverse, has its eonnterpart in the sunworship <»f the Indians. They idso see in the Hindoo i>oly- theism. with its ;!(I.O(l(» divinities, a theolo<:y corn'spondin^' with the innumerable minor Indian deities, of which binls, (piadrujieds, ri'ptiles, and fishes are made the symbols. Tiie Persians, and etiicr piiiiiiti\e oriental stocks, and even the nations of I"]nrope, if (he testimony of ditVerent anticpiarians could be acceptt'd, inij;ht claim the honor of first peopliuii America. Thoii^^li the «'.\a('( place of orijiin may m-vei' be known, yet the striking coincidences ot' [divsiciil or{;anization between the oriental 30 , INDIANS. .IL typos of iiiiiiikiiKl iiiid tlic Tiidians, point unmistakably to sumo ])art of Asia as llic j)!ac(' wIkmu'c tlicy ('migrated. Instead of J.S(H» years, the time of their ro\iii^' in tiie wilds of America, as (h'termined l)y Sj)anish interpretation of their ]>ieto;nrai>iii(; reedrds, the interval has i)eiliaps been tliriee that i»eriod. 'flieir reli.iiions, sn]terstitions and ceremonies, if of iurei^ii origin, evi- dently beloiiii' to the ernde tlieohii^ies lU'ovalent in the last cen- turies before tin' inti'dduction of Mahometainsm or Christianity. Scarcely ."iOOII yeai's woidd sullice to l>lot out perhaps almost e\cry irace of tiie lan;.;ua;;'e they l»ron:;Iit with them from the Asiatii! cradle of the race, and introduce the i)resent diversity of al>ori- {i'inal toimues. Like their oriental pro;.;-enitors they lia\e lived for eentiii'ies witlniut progress, while the Cancassian variety of tlu^ race, nmlcr the ti'ansforminji' ]>ower of art. science, and improved systems of civil ]»olity. have made the nn)st rapid advancement. At the tinx' of their departure eastwai'd. a ureat current of enii- ji'i'ation tiowed westward to I']uroi»e, makin;;- it a ,ureat arena (;f hunian elfort and improvement, 'fhence inoceedinji' farther west- ■ward if nu't in Ameiica, the midway stati(Ui in the circint of tlio ;;iobe. the ooposinu ciu rent diicct from Asia. 'I'lie shock of the lirst contact was the beninnin;^' of tlu' yreat contlict w hich has sinc(3 been wa;i('d by the I'ival sons of Sliem and .laplieth. The hrst thouyhtofthe Indian, when hostilities commenced on the Atlantic. border, was to I'ctire westward, it was frloy an aborii^inal alleiiory, ••'flie Indians had lon.u' disc<'rm'd a dark cloud in the heavens, cominj;' from tlie oast, which threatened them with disaster ami death, Hlowly risiiiji' at lirst. it seemed shadow, but soon chanticd to sub- stance. When it rcache(l the summit of the Aile>iliauies it as- .snined a j;." The movement of the sombre cloud typified thealains of Abraham. T(» the Ibitish ollieer sent westward to scenic tjic fruits of \ictory. he said: •• 1 stand in thy path." To the assend)led chi<'fs of the nations in council, he iinfolde' with his stirrin,i>' appeals, and the valleys of tiie AVest ran with the l)lood of the white invaders. Ibit Tecumseh fell a martyr to his cause, and tln^ second attempt to turn lta<'k the tide of civilization was a failure. The Ai>palachian tribes, nndei- the leadei'shi|» of Tuscaloosa, next waycd a continucais war of threes years aj^ainst the sonthern iVontiers. The ccuitlict terminated by the sublime act of its leader, who, alter a reward had been olfcied for his head, voluntarilv snri'endei'cd himself for the u'ood of his t!' Bl I 32 HISTORY OF TIJ.TiVOIS. Mi I li ■ coiiiiti'viiicn. After tliis dd'ciil, tlic soiitlicin tiihcs ahaiKloiicd tlicir loiiii' clit'iislicd idea ol' rc-cstahlisliiiii^- Indian siipicinacy. A lasl and iVnitlcss cfVoit of lliis Uind, 1»\ the Sacs and 1m)X»'s ol' Illi- nois, plart'd tlic vast domain cast of tlic .Mississi|)i»i in (lie hands of the rntlilcss con(|iicrors.* AhiniKjiiiiis (i)i(l IrotiUDis. — Of tlic several ji'reat brandies of Nortli American Indians, as dctermineil l)y sameness of lanuna^'e and mental and i»liysical tvpe. tlie only ones entitN'd to considera- tion in Illinois iiistoi'y, are the Al.u(»n(|Min. and incidentally the Iroquois. Uei'ore the cncroaehnK-nts of I-'nropeans cansed the I'c- tirement of the Al.^'oiKinin tiilies. they occupied most of thel'nited States lietween the .Jot h and (lOth i>aralh'ls of latitudes, and tho (loth and l(l.")th meridians of loniiitnde. They were Alaid;s of the Mississippi and Illinois, and on the shores of the ji'reat lakes and Hudson Hay. The same .yreat fannly wa.ucd war with th(^ Puritans of New I'^niiland, entered into a covenant of ]»eace with I*enn. and furiushed a Pocahontas to iidercede for the life of the aihculurous founder of Virginia. The startin,n' jioint in the wanderiny these tribes. This would i)laee .ii the central line of march. Illinois, and tlie ad- jacent regions, whei'e the tirst I'airopean e\i>lorers found corn extensively cultivated and used as an article of food. On reachiu!:;' the Atlantic they moved northeasterly alony- the seaboard to the mouth of the St. Lawi'cuce. iutroducinsi' alou^' their track the <'ul- tivation of maize, without which many of the eai'ly Pritish colo- insts must ha\(' perished. Next, asceudiui;' the St. Fiawrence and the yreat lakes, they spread noithward and westward to IInj)i. In this wide dispersion the original stock was bi«»ki'U into niinor tribes ; each, in the eoui'se of time, deviatinji' in speech from the jiarent lauiiuau'e. and fornuu^' a dialect of its (»wn. The head (»f the nnyratory column, circlin;^' round the s(»iii-ce of the ]Mississip]>i,recrossed it in a southeasterly din'ction above the falls of St. Anthony, and passed by way of (Jreen Pay an'an into the present limits of Illin(»is, Indiana ami Ohio. Thus, after revolvinji' in an in-euular eliitseof some .'>(KK> miles in diame- ter, they fell into the original track eastward. The territory of the Irocpiois lay like an island in this vast ixren oi" Alu'onipnn ])opulation. They had three conilictin,n' traditions of their orijiin: that they came from the west, from the north, and si»runj;' from the soil «»n which they lived. Their eonfederacy at lir.st consisted of 5 tribes, the ]\iohawks, Oneidas, Onondajius, ♦Schoolcraft's, Part 5 ; Speucci's lllBtoiy of the Uulted States i . INDIANS. .33 Cayiiuiis and Sciicciis, to wiiicli a (Itli. flio Tiiscaroias Avas after- wards added. Macli trilx' liad a s('i)ai'at(' jxditii-al organization in Avliicli till' saclicins wci'c tlic lulin^' sjtiiits. \\'lM'n ioit'i.;^n liiltcs AVi'ic to he consulted, or tlie jicneral interests ol' tlie eont'ederaey recinired (hdiberation, tli<' saelienis of tlie several tiibes met in lUcneral «'ouneil. Hasty writers, jndj;inji'frver- rated tlieir viit lies. 'I'liere is ii(» doubt as to tlieii'sneeess in war. Itiit it wasratlier tlie result of eireunistanees than inherent woitli. >s'ot- witiistaiulini^' their iiiueh lauded ehxiuenee. diploiiiaey and eoiirane, there is little ii(|uiii tribes of the same latitude- were in the.se res|)eets fully their e(|uals. As it ref^ards eiaiiial indieatioiis, the lro<)Uois had an excessive development at the Itasillar re,ni(»n, and the .\lji'on(|uins ,i larji'er intellectual lob(>, and the conduct of the two races correspoiids w ith their ceicbral dif- ferences. It is well known that fortlie exhibition of brutish ferocity ill battle, and the lieiidish butchery of prisoners, the former wersue('<'ss in war was in a j^reat measure the result of local and otliei' aassion foi' war yav<' tliem a ])reemineiice in the aits best suitecpii\ed of these advantai^cs it is doubtful whether they would have been loiiu' al)le to cope with the tribes which they outraged by incessant attacks. The Aliioiupiin tribes wei'e too widely dispersed to a(biiit of ,i Jl'eneral confederacy; the iiiter])osition of ^reat lakes and rivers ])revente(l concert of action, and hence each community had to contend sinjule-handed with the unit<'d enemy. ICven in these une- (pial contests they were sometimes the coiKiuerors. as instanced in the triumpli of the Illinois on the banks of the Iroquois, a stream in our iStat*' whose name still commemorates the victory. It is not, however, in the petty broils of tril)al warfare, but the fierce conflicts with the civilized intruders upon their soil, that a correct opinion is to be formed of these rival races. In these bhwxly stnijijLiles, which decided the fate of the entire ab()ri,uinal pojuilation, it was that the Alyonqnins evinced their ^reat su])eri- ority. I'lilike the Iro«|uois, who. in their hauj;lity independence, diso beyond their own narrow realms for assistance, and who. in their yreat thirst for cariiajie, even s di' carccrin.y iioi'scnicii iiiipiinlcd on tlic I'acc \}\' tiic miii and iiKuai. 'ITiis compactly toinicd confederacy years later, lor the (huninion of the western wildenie.-s. }se\('i' berui\' Iiad tlie Indians e\iiibite«l sucii feats (»f couraj^'c, siieii siull ill diiilomacy and such strateiiy in war; and ne\«'i before, li(»r aflerwards, were tlieir efforts attended with siicii terrilih' coii- s<'; as tlie eoiilrolliiii; spirits, a confederacy of continental proportions was tiie resiiil, emliraeini;' in its alliance the tribes of every name and liiiea,u'e, from the northern lakes to the .yiill' on the south. J'ontiac. haxiii;;' breailied into them his implacable hate of tliti I'lnj^lisli iiitriiders, ordereped at the |)rincipal town of the confederacy, situated on the l)anks of the river 7 miles below the ])i'eseiit town of Ottawa, it was Ihcn called Kaskaskia. and according: to Manpieftc. I'ontained 7 t lodges, each of which doiiii- cilcd si'veral I'ainilies. .Manpiettc I'etiirncd to the village in tlu; spriiiu' of I(>7."», and established the Mission of the liiiiiiaciilate < 'once])tion, the ohh'st in Illinois, and siibseipicntly traiisfcn'cd to the new town of Kaskaskia further southward. When, in !(i7!>. La Salle \ isited the tow n it had .urcally iiicrcaseiL iMimberin.i;'. accordiiiu to Ileiinc]iiii. KiO lodges, and at the annual asscniblino- ,,i' the dilfereiit Iriltcs from (i.(l(i(» to S,()(t(t souls. The h)d;;<'s extended aloiii^' the banks of the ri\('i' a mile or more, ac- «'ordiii^' to the niimbei' of its tliictiiatinn' jiopiilation, which e.\- tensi\ely cultivated the adia<'c!it meadows and raised crops of immjikins, beans, and Indian corn. .\t this time the coiifcdciaey ]>ossessed the country from the present town of Ottawa and the lower I'apids of the Mississijtpi to the nioiith of the Ohio, ami. ac- i'ordiii;^' to the missionary l""atli<'r L'asles, besides tlu' lU'iucipal town occujiicd some 10 or lU other xillaycs. In the irruption of the Irotpiois, the following year, the principal town was burned and the several tribes jiiirsiied down the river to the INIississijipi, where IIk' Tamaroas wci'c attacked and 7(10 of their women and <'hildren made juisoncrs. These were burned and butchered till the savage victors were sated with earna,i;(', w hen the survivors were lead into captixity. With the withdrawal of the enemy the tribes rcliirned. rcltiiiit their town, and in Itisi' fiirni-sheil Ll-'OO of the .'l.SdO warriors embraced in liaSulle's cohniy at Fort Saint Louis on the Illinois. After tiiis tliey wer<' forced further south- ward liy norlhern nations, and Teoiia. ("aholda and Kaskaskia, became the centres of the tribes indicated by their name*. The 'J'amaroas were associated with the K.askaskias. and the Michi- iiamies weri' located near Fort Charlrcs on the Mississippi. Wiiije here they were the centre of -b'siiit missionary operul ions, and <:reat elforts were made to con\crt them to Christianity, but with only ]»artial success. In 17L'!Mhey were siimmoucd by M. Pcirier, (!o\ cruor-deiicral of Louisiana, to assist in liie rcduclion of the Natcliez. who were dislurl»inj>' the peace of ihc pid\iiice. ()ii I lie iireakiii;; (»ul of the ("hickasaw war they were a,i;aiii called to tiie assistance of their allies, the French, and under one of Illinois' most gallant yeiierals, I! 36 IIIS'I'OK'V (tK ILLINOIS. (I; l |i ! tln' Clicviilici' D'Artnjiiiu'ttr, tlicy siicccssivcly sloruird iiiul ciinicd two nl' till' niciiiv's stiuu^liolds. :iii(l would have taken a third but for tilt' fall ot' tlicir licroic leader. ill eoniiiiou with othef westeiii tribes they beea me involved in the coiisiMiaey of rontiae, but tioiii fieiiiieni defeats by siilToiind- inj; tribes, and loiij^' eontaet with eix ili/ation, they had lost to a jtreat extent the warlike eiier>:y. tor which, aeeordin;;' to tradi- tion, they were aneieiitl\ distin^nished. When, therefore, lin^ ^reat chief visited thcni in the antnnin ot' 17ly water was stopped by the enemy sevcrinj; tin- cords attached to the vessels by which they elevated it from the river Ix'lovv, Thus eiiviroiu'd by relentless t'oes. they took a last linjicrinu' look at their beautiful hunting grounds, spread out like a panoiama on tlie j^eutly rollin>;' river, and, with true Indian fortitude, laid down and expired with- out a siyh or a t<'ar. Fiom their traiiic fate the loftv citadel on "which they jierished received the unpoetical name of "Starved L'ock," and years afterwards their bones were seen whiteuiuy,' on its summit. The Tamaroas, although not entirely extenniiuited, lost their icU'utity as ji tribe in a battle with the Shavviiees, near the eastern limits of IJandolph county. At the commencement of the present century the <'out ractiuy' cir«'le of hostile tribes had forced the renniantsof this oiu'c iiowerful confederacy into a small eomjiass around Kaskaskia. When the country was tirst visited by lairopeaus they numbered iL'.Obtt souls; now they were reduced to two tribes, the Kaskaskias and I'eorias, and could only muster I.")!! warriors. Their cliict' at this time was a half-lu'eed of consid- erable talent, named l)u (^)uoin, who Avore a medal ]n'esented to liim by Washini;ton, whom he v isiti'd at riiiladeli>liia. In the early ])art of the present century the two ti'ibes under his ^iuidanco emijirated to the Southwest, and in IS.KMliey wert' in the Indian Territory, and numbereil St ])ersons. 'J'lie Sacs and Fouts. who have ti.nured extensively in the his- tory of Illinois, dwelt in the northwest part of tin- State. The word "Sau-Kee." now written "Sac," is lU'rived from the com- pound word '' A-sau-we-kee," of the Chippewa laiijiuaj;<'. sis^nifyinji- yellow earth, and "• .Alus-ipm-kee," the orijLiinal name of the I"'oxes, iiwans red earth. Thoiijih still retaininii' separate tribal iianu's, when livinji' in llliiutis they had, by lon<>' residence toi^ether and inti'i'marriau'e. become sul)stantially one peo]>le. liotli t ribesorij;i- iially lived on the St. Lawrence, in the neij;liborhood ol' (,)uebec, and Montreal. The i-'oxes lirst renn»V('d to the West and estal)- lished themselvt's on the river which liears their name, emitty- SACS AM) KOXKS. 37 line tlicy snlVcrrd m si'^iial tlir l''i'i'ii*-li iiiul tlirii' indiiin ■< to iiiiitr willi llic Siics, to pw.- ri. 'I'lic Siirs lu'ciiiiu' iii\(»lv«'(l ill ;i Idiiji' ami bluixl.v war willi \]\v. \\\iX illt'» 111*' ll«'!lav. luir iin> MiinuM ii .-m-^HiII ticltat iVoiii tlif ('oiiihiiM'd toK'cs of tlir l''i'i'ii*-li and tlirir Indian allies, wliicli ran.M'd tlicni all* rwaids to nnitr willi llic Sacs, to \)iv.- xcnt cxtci niination. I nc r>ars occanu' ni\(»iv«'(i in a lonji ami nioon.v war wim iii St. liaw- rciir*' Inward the West. Iicliriim hclorc these roniiidaltle enemies, t,he\ IK'M <'ii<<»iiiilered the \\'.\ aiid(»ts, l>,v whom (hev were dii\cn larlheraiKl t'arther aloii<> the shor<'s of the/^reat lakes till at leii;i;th tiK'.v loiiiid a temporarv resliiii;' ]>Ia«'e on (ir<'eM i'.ay, in the neinh- lioodol' Iheir ?'e!ati\<'s. Ilie |''o\<'s. |''or miitnal pniteetion a^^ainst the siirroiiiKliiiL; nations a union was here instituted lielweeiillK' two trilMs, wlii<'h has iemaiiieroken to the )treseiit tim<'. The tiiiu' oC tlu'ir miiiiatioii I'rom tli«' St. Lawr<'iie«' to the reuion of tlie»i]nt(r lakes raunot lie (U'liniteiy as^'eitaiimd. (ireeii I'.av was visite hv l''atlier Alloiiez, a .lesiiit, who <'sial»lished a iiiis- sioiiar.v station tlieii'. and in tin' wiiit4'rot' HiTL' e\t<'nded liislalM»r,s to the l"\»\es, who at tirst treati'd him with the .greatest eoiiteinpt. Soim- of IIm' trihe had re<'( iitlv been on a tradiiii; e\|i<'ditioii to .Montreal, wher<' thev had he<'ii loullv itcd a criwilix tln-y threw tol)a«'co on it as an olferin.u'. lie soon alli'i'NV ards laiiiiht the whole \illa.ue to make Ihesiiiii of the cross, and paintiiiL;' it on their shi«'lds. in one of tln'ir war «'X- jM'dilioiis, they ohlained a .ureal victory over their i-neiides. Thus, ultiio JlK'y kiM'W hut little of its sinniticance as a reliiiions eiiihU'iii, in wai' they I'euarded it as a talisman of more than ordinary jiower. I'^roui (irecji 15ay they iiioxcd southward, and shortly after the l''reni It i)ioueers \isited the country they took ])ossession of the. fertih' jilaijisof North\\<'st4'rn Illinois, drixiiiji' out the Sauteaux, :i branch of flu- ( 'hippewas. In their southern miration, accory attracted the attention of the entire nation, and won a historical r<'piUatioii. .Much labor has Ix-eii expended to ascertain whether the cele- brati'd ('hi*'!', I'oiitia*'. was of Sac or Ottawa lineaiiC If a simili- Jirity in the trai's of character, which distiii.uuished him ami the Sac tribe, <'oiil not only siisl;iiii('t tii<- lios tilt' trilx's, IhiI \M'|'«' iiMionu the most :Mii\f iiiul «-onra,u«'oiis in tliti Miliiii<;;ition, or liitlit'i' I'Ntt'iniiniilion, of llic ntnni-ious ;iuil power- ful lllinoi.^ eonfeiler.icv. Tliex had ni;iM.v wins, tdl'ensive and tlefeii- sixc, with Ihe Sioiix, tlie I'awnees, lln' ()sii^;es an'l oilier liilies, some of wliieh are ranUed anion;; the most tieree ami feiocioiis warriots of the \vh(»le ettntiiient, and it does not ap|>ear that in these eon:!iet>. riinnin;n thit»n;;!i a lonu period of .\ears, they were found wanting; in this the ;;reate.'>t of all sa\a;L;e virtues. In tin; Lite war with (Ireat I'.ritain, a part.N «d' llie Saes and l'\>\es fon;;lit under the liritish standai'd as a matter of ehoiee.and in the reeeiit contest helwceii a fragment of tliesi' trihesand llie I ailed Slates, althoii;;h defeated and literally eut ti> pieees lt\ an overw lielmiii^' foree.it is \cry qiiesiionahle whether their re|nita!ion as hiaves Moidd siiU'er l>y a comparison with liiat of their victors. It is lie- lieved that a eonraj;foiis pei)itle, shrewd, politic, and eiilerprisiii;^', with not more of teroeit> and li-eaehei\ of charactei' than is common aumii;^- the liihes by whom Ui<'.\ were sniTonnded," 'Ihese tribes, at ihe time of the iShndv Ilau k ssar, ueie di'* ivied in- to -t> families, li,' of w Inch were Sacs and S Fiivt's. As marks of dis- tiiuiioii,cacli family had its parlicalar tolemii- symltol, repri'senief the liver Des.Moiiies, the secoiid farther up on the east shoie of tiie same stream, the third on the Iowa, an»l the fourth on liock river near its entrance into the Mississippi. The latter ;;reatl\ i'\ceei. and ;iave addi- tional interest to this time inuiored resi(h'nce of the nation. According; to liieiitenant I'ike, the Sacs luimUered l!,.S,'>tt souls, of whom 14(10 were children, ITtU wonu'ii, and 7(K> warriors. The total number of Foxes were 17."»0, of whom S.">(l were children, .")tK> women, and HH) warriors, in l.si*.->,the Secretary of War estiina'.ed tlu' i'litire number of Sacs and Foxes at 4,(iO(). showin.<;' in the iu- terveiduiLi' ])eriod of 20 years a considerable increase of ])opnlation. After the iJlaek Hawk war, these tribes retired to their lauds in WINN Kill A( JOES — KirKAI'OOH. IW lowii, wliciicc tlicv were liiiiill,\ I liiiislci red tit llic liiciiiiii Territory, iliiil ill \S'){) iiiiiiil)t'i'i>clif\fm|iiiiis naiiiid tlii'iii iit'li'i' tlii> h:i\ in|iiiiis nainiil tlM'iii attfi' tin' l»a,\ on wliicli tlicy li\cil, W tfii ni Im i:o;;s, wliicli .siil)s('(|iicntlv iMM'aiiic an^ilifi/cil in tlir I'onii of Winiichajiocs. Tlii'V wen- [MTsoiis of jiood stature. iiianl\ lifiirinj;', lanl tlic clnirc- tcrislic itiack <'ir('iilar liaiiof tlieir riice, ami were ,L;eiierall,\ more iim-ontli ill tlieir lialiits iIkiii tiie sairoiiniliiiL: triiies. 'I'lieir l;iii~ 4k-ii>ti>-ii (t'-tk* •! ilititlt ii'l I t t i tl-> t I illi1l/*lllt lit IfMll-li •lliil wliitW-w tli'tt tliiil' triiH's, ami ir may also De aimed more imjtiaeanie in tiieir iiaired of tlie Americans. Tliey were jimoiiy tlie tirst to eominenee bat- tle, ami tlie last to snhinit ami enter into treaties, rnapiieasealile enmity led tliein into the tield against Oenerals llarmar. St. Clair and Wayne, and first in all the bloody chariics at TiiipeeamiO. They were ])romineiit anion^^the nuilherii jiations, which, for more 40 iriSTOKY OF n,r,INOTH. tiiMii II t't'iiliir.N, \vii;;r(l :iii cxlcniiiiiMliiiji wiir ii;;i(iiisl lln' Illinois <'niiri't iiu.tilc iifl ul' lliis kind wiis pcrpi'liiitt'd in isd.'i, :ini|j|ist suMif pool' Kiiskiiskiii rjiilditn. whom llu'v lonnd ;;;ilin'iin.u .s| inwlti'irics on Hit' piiiiiic iiltnvf tin' low n u iiirli Immis liu' nnnic ol' tiit'ii' Irilir. Scizinu ii cun^iilrnililc nunilicr o[' tlicni, 11h'.\ tli'd l»» llicir villiijm's Itct'oic liir »'iii'ii;LiCkiiskiiis ('(niUl (»\»riiiki' tlit'iri nnd rcsrni' tlirir oll'spiin^'. Dining liu- ncmis |si(» and |S| I, ill I'on.JMMction with the ('liippfwns, i'ii1:iwiil.iiiiics iiinl Ottawiis, tin'.v roininitU'd so iintn.v tlicrtsnnd iniirdris on thf iVoii- tit r sclth'Micnts. (hill (lovi'iiioi' lldwiirds wiis coiiiprlh'd lo niiploy niilitiii'.N loitt' lo siippifss Hm'Iii. W lit'ii iciiioM'd lidiii Illinois tlic.v still ict;iint'd tlicif (»ld ;iniin(»sili('s ii;iiiinst ilic AincriciUis, iUnl went to 'rcxjis. tlirn il pio\ iiicc ol' Mexico, to ;^t't hi-sond tin' Jiiiisdictioii of the I nit I'd States. 'I'licv da lined relationship with the I'otawatainies, and perhaps the Sa<'s and i'\i\es, and Sliaw- lices. The follow iii;ilradil ion respeeliii;^' the orijiin of this iril»«f Mils related in l.^lL', at the Indian Snpeiintendeiiey at St. Louis, l»v Louis Ifod Ts, a Shawnee: "It is nian.v years a uo since the niindier of the Shawnees was verv jireai. They were, on an inijiortant occasion, encamped to- ^i'etheron the prairie. At iii;^ht one half of them fell asleep, tin* otners remained awake. The latter a liandoiied the sleepers hefore niorniiif;, and betook themselves to the <'onrse where the snn rises. Tin' others fiiadnallx |Mirsned their roiiti' in the dire«'tioii where the ,siin sets. This was the orii;iii ot the tw^iiace of six Innirs. N<'croiiianc\ and pro- jdiecy were wilhtlier cir highest state, and were jnactieed without fei^inin;;'; :• ne, such were the ;iifts ot heaven to them that nothi' ,trt of their iiieonceivable power to per- form. And at Shawnees ha\e waiitleied to the reinoiest AVest, and reti. I'^ast t(» the orijiinal plac*- of separation, the: W(uld will have linished itscjire«'r. It is believed by tlu' Slniwiiees that the consnmniatit)!! of this iirojihecy is not far distant, because they have, in fnllillinent of it, reached the extreme westc'rii point, and are now retrouradin.L; their steps." A frajiineiit of the Shaw nee nation, in early times, dwell in llio .southeastern part of Illinois, in the vicinity of Shawneetown, which beais their naiiie. The nation, bold. ro\iii.u and advt'iilnr- ous, ori.uinally inhabited the Atlantic seaboard, between the Alta- maha and .lames rivers. iU'cominji' embroiled in wars with Iho Ii'o({iiois, to save themselves s(»ine took refnjic in the ("arolinas and I'lorida. True to their native instincts, in their new location they soon came to blows with the owners of the soil, and about the year IT.'iO removed to the Sciota. in the present State of Ohio. xV-bout IT.')!*, a discontented fraction broke off from the rest of the MASCorXlNS— riAMvl.SIIAW.S. 41 Iiiitioii iiimI went to I'iist Tt'iiiii'ss«><>, iiiul llifiicf to llifii' Inciitinii cni lipiits ol' llu; iStiit*>. licir, too, I Mil 1 1 till iiisfhcs ;inloi.,\ iit lirst snpposrtl Iht'v wcic i'\c!u(l('d tlit- 'i'aniiiitKis in itiittle, tiiey re- joined tlieir lnpposed Itv son. to liaxe eonstitnted a sixth trilx^ of theiiconlederaey. 'i'he name, ".Masi-ontin," is synonvnioirs w itii prairie, and was applied to t Ids triiu' from lin* eirenmstanee ot' their dwelling on (he ^reat yrassy plains east of the Mississippi, 'i'he Tirst I'lnropcan w lio mentions them is Father A Hone/., who ton nd them, in KKiU, on the Wisconsin river. .Martpn-lte saw them in lt»7.>, near the pt>ita;;(' »if tiie l-'ox ami Wisconsin rivers. .Marest states that tlu'V iiad Coiined settlements in ITl'J on tlie W'aliash, and in sid»sc(|n('nt times they ran,iie(l over the praiiies Itt'tween I lie \N'ahasii and the Illinois. 'I'hey were also intimately associated \vith the i'oxes and KieUapoos, whom they rescndiled in deceit and treachery. Charlexoix states thai the .Masconlins and the ivicka- jtoos Hinted with the I''oxes in a pl(»t (tf tlu' latter a;;ainst tlni Frencli, l»nt were surprised l»y the Ottaw as and I'otawatamies and loO of them cnt to i»ieces. After tiw ( cssion of the I'rench |»osses- sions to the Mnjilish, Col. Ci'o.uhan was sent to conciliate the wo tern tril>es. Ilavinu' descended the Ohio to the site of Shaw iict-towii, they, with the Kickapoos, attacked and made him and his men ])risoners. I'nder the nana- of Meadow Indians they are men- tioned l»y (Icn. riark, whom, in 177S, they endeaxored t(t cnt oil" by treachery. 8nl)se((nently they appeal- to have been absorbed by the Kickajioos and P'oxes. y/ir l'itli sides of that stream, and west into the Illinois teirit(»ry as far as the dividing- l■id^(' between the sources of the streams llowin more lar^t'ly represented in La Salle's colony, at Fort St ' iiis, than any otJier tribe, i.nd were active participants in l..^ eoii- 42 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. » s]>irii('.v of I'oiitiiic. Tlio ('(HilcdcnicN . like that <»f the Illinois, Mils rcdiicfd to llic last cxtrciiiity l»v ici»catr(l attacks I'loiii tlic li'o ((iKiis. IJiil tlicv liil a coiisidcralih' sjiacc in wcstcin annals, and {iiivc liiitli to Little Tnitlc, wlio couiniandcd the Indians at St. Clair's dcicat. 'I'lic i'iankisliaws. alter rlieir removal from Illinois, were t lansl'eired to the Indian 'I'eiiitoiy, and in l.s."t(l were reduced to 1(>7 persons. I'lif i'ohiirntaiiiics are represented on earlv l^'icneh maps as inhaltitiiiiLi' the country east of tlie smitliern e\treinif,\ of Laki' Michigan. At the month of the St. .Joseph, falliui; into this part of the lake, the .lesnits had a ndssionary station, which, accordin};" to Mar«'st, was in a tliiniis' iij^ condition as early as ITI'J. Ilert', an immeasnred distance .<\\\ ci\ ili/atioii. fur moi'c than half ;i <'entM;y the devoted nnssioimries lalmred for their si>iritnid wel- fare. These yeai's of toil and self-denial were, however, little ap ]treciat (1, for in I'ontia<''s war they jiroved themsehes t(» hv amonu' the most xindiclivc of his adherents. Disynisinji' their oliject nnder the mask of iVieiMlsliip. tliev api)roached the snndl military post located «)n the sajne river, and having ohtain<'d in- gress, in a few nunntes bntcheicd the whole of the ^^arrison, except three men. l''roni this locality a jtortion of the tribe passed iiamd the south- ern extremity of the lake, into inntheastern Illinois, Time and ;i chan.y'c of residence seems not to have moditied their t'eidcious ciiaract<'r. I'aitly as the icsidt of liritish intriiiine, and partly to {iiatify their thirst for blood, they perpetrat<'d, in Ism, at Chicajio, the most atrocions massacre in the annals (•!' the nnrtiiwM'st. After their removal iVom Illinois, they found their way to the Indian Territory, and in 1S,"((. nundiered I, .")()(» souls. The following' le^i'cnd of the trilte ^ivcs their theology and origin: "■Tiiey believe in two ,i;reat spirits, Kitchemonedo. the j^'ood or benev- olent spirit, and Malchenionedo, the evil spirit. Some have doubts which is the most |iovvei'fnl, but the ^reat part Itelieve that the (irst is; that he made the vvorhl and called all thiuj^s int(» bein.ti. and that the otliei' oii.i;iit t(» l>e despised. When KitcIuMnonedo first made the world he peopled it with a class of beinji's who only looked like men, but they were jiervcrsc, nn.urate- ful. wick<'d do;;s. who never raised their eyes from the jiiouud to thank him tor anytliinj;'. Seeing this tin- (Ireat Spirit plunged them, with the world its<'lf, into a .yicat lake and drowned them. He then withdrew it from the water and made a single nnin, ii very handsome utiini;' man. who as he was lonesome, apiieaied sad. Kitchemonedo took i)ity on him and sent him a sister to cheer him in his loneliness. Af*^er many yeais the yonnirit forbids you t(t answer or even look up and smile at the first four; imt when the iiftli comes, yon may speak and lauj;h and show that yon are pleased. She acted accordiiijily. The first of the five stran.i;crs that called was I'sama. or tobacco, and having;' been i'epuls<'d he fell down and died: the second. Wapako. or a ])umi>kin. shared the same fate; the third. Ivshkossimin, or melon, and tlie fourth. Kokees. (U' the bean, met the sanu' fate; but when Tamil! or .Montamin, which is maize, presented himself, she opened the skill tajiestry door of her lod,i;e, laiij;lied very heartily, and gave liiiu u friendly iecei»tion. They were immediately marrietl, potawata:mies. 43 iUid fiuiii this iiiiioii tlir Iiidiiiiis siniiii.u'. 'raiiiiii loitlnvitli buried tlic lour uiisiU'ci'sstMl siiilms, ;iiid IVoiii tlicir urip.cs tlicic sxvi'W toliucco, melons ol' nil soils, mid liciiiis; iiud in lliis iiiaiiufr tlic (licit Sjiiiit |>ro\id('d that the lacc^ whicli lie iiad made shoidd ha\c so;;i('thii:;4' to olVcr him as a liitt in tiieir feasts and ceremo- nies, and also sometliin.i;' to pii) into tlieii' ((brhs or kettles, aloiij;' wit li theii' meat.'"* rmtioiis ol' the < 'iiipjiewa iuid Ottawa trilies were as-oeiated with the I'otawataiiiies in the northeastern part of the |ire>( nt limits of lliin(iis. Thev were anion.!;' the most ciier.uctie and iiowev- fnl nations of the iiorlhwcst. and loiiiiht with .ui'eat teroeitv in most of the wars caused 1>\ the w<'stward athanee of civilization. In th<' coiis]»!racv of I'oiitiac thev were the immediate followers of the yreat war chief, and impelled l»v his imperious w ill, at Detroit, 3Iackinaw and other Ihitish jiosts. they wcic without rivals in the work of <-arna,i;'e and death. The iSui'tciiii.r, n luaiich of the Cliip- ])ewas, dwelt on the eastein hank (tf the Mississippi, and had xillaiics on tin- sites of ijock Isli.iid, (i>uinc\ and other adjacent l>laces. 'l'he_\ wei'edri\en west of the ri\'er hv the Sacs and Foxes, aftei' which theii- piiiicipal town was l)av«'n]>ort. All these triltes have intw passed licvoiid tiie limits of the State. Some lon.n' since were e.\t<'nninated, while tin- dcticnei'aie otl'spiiiij;' of othei's are found in the Indian 'feiiitory and other parts of the: west. liillcNilile as if hewn from a rock, thev were unable to adajit themsehcs to liie retpiiicments of civilized life, and could but tlce before it or j)eri>h. Their fast disappeariiiii {graves, and the reli<-s «)c<'asioiially tiii'iied ii]) by the plow, are now the only melancholy vestiyt's of their ibi'iiier existence in Illinois. In common with the whole Indian race, theii' most exalted con- ception ol .uloi'N was success in wai', and a knowledjic of its arts the most valuable attainiiieiit. The a.u'cd chief looked back to his exploits in battle as the ciowiiin.ii acts of his life, while the .urovvin.L:,' youth hniked forward to the time when he vv(Mild be able to win symbolize blood, he coiniiieiice;P(>iind Avitii ;;i'eat liny, tiiiowin^' liieir Itodies into liie diil'ereiit attitudes «)!' eonihat, di.st;- the wai'cry witli tlie rii.yhtriil shriek el' niadnieii. Tiiese hideous or;^ies, walciiii; lij) all theliieand eiier^y of the Indian's sitiil, weie a littiii^- ]»reln(le to the premeditated eai'iiauc If a yoniiL;' nian participated in the dance, it was tantamount to an en- listment, and he could not atterwarly withdraw. 'J'l(r Arl of J/iniliiH/ not (Mily siipi)lied the Indian with food, Imt, like that of war, was a means of jiratifyin.u' iiis ioxc of distinclion. The male children, as soon as tliey acipiired siifticieiit a;^(' and sti'en^tli. were furnished with a how and arrows and taii,;;lit to shool hirds and other small uame. SiK'cess in Uillin;^ lar.uc (piad- ru]teark canoes witli a place in frcuit foi' the reception of a laij^c ihiiii- beaii, whose linht was preveiitetl from rexcalini;- the hunterby \]n>, intei'position of a screen. As he descended the iiariow streams, the i\i'i'\\i seeing' only the lij;ht. was attracted by it to the bank.s and <'asily shot. Hut by far the noblest oitjects of the chase which the Indian eii- C(>untei('(l (Ml the ja'aiiies, was the bulfaht. It is an animal conlined to lemperate latitudes, and was found in larjic numbers by the first explorers, roaming' o\er the yi'assy ]»lains of llliiatis, Indiana, ►Southern .Alichijian and Western Ohio. It has a remarkably larji'e <'lies|, a heavy mane co\ ciiiiu the w hole of its neck and breast, horns turned slightly upward ami lariic at the base, eyes red and fiery, and the whole aspect furious, in its native haunts it is a furious and (ormidable animal, worthy of the indian's prowess. Like the THEIR OENERAL COUNCILS. 45 moose iiiid otlicr iiiiiiiiiils of the saiiir t';iiiiily, iiatiiic liiis bestowed on it tlieiiiost excuiisile power of scent. Tlie inexperienced liiinter of tlie i»resent d;iv, luiiiwiire tiiiit the tainted liree/e lias i'e\caled liis lu'cscncc to tlieni, is often siirpri?;ed to see tlieni inj;in.ii their rapid llii^lit aeidss the prairies, at a distance of two or tliree niih'S in ad\ance, witliont any apparent canse of ahirin. He is tlierefon! necessitated to dismount and approach tlieni on the leeward, under eo\er of the horse. When within a inoper distance he vaults into the saddle and speeds forward in the direction of the prey, which coininences its reti'cat, .ycttinii' over the .uionnd with ^reat raiiidity for animals so unwieldy. Intnitively it directs its c«Mirse ov«t the most broken and dillicult i^roniid, caiisiiiu Itoth horse and rid<'r to frequently imperil their ii\es by falling;. \\ lien wounded they sctnictimes turn with ^reat fiiiy upon their pnisiier, and if he hap- pens to l)e dismounted, notliin,u' but the greatest coolness and de\- teiity can sa\ e his life. The itow and arrow, in the hands of the tiibes which formerly raiiucd the prairies, wi'iv said to be more forniidaltle weapons in linntin.n' the imil'alo. than the li'iins sui)se(pieiitly intr(idiH*eitoiis banks of the rivers. Uutfalo IJock, a larLiC promontory rising lifty oi- sixty feet hijih, on the north side of the Illinois, six mih'S below Ottawa, is said to have deri\'ed its name from this jiraetii'e. It was customary to select an active yoiin.u' man and dis- jiuise him in the skin of the bulTah*, prepared for this purpose by ]»reserviny th(^ eais, head and horns. Thus (lis;^uised, he took a ]»osition between a herreviously selected crexice, while the animals in front, pressed by the ino\in;4' mass liehind, were precipitated over the brink and crushed to death on tlie rocks below. 'I'he Indians also often cap- lured lar.ii'c numbers of these butValo, when the rivei's -were frozen o\cr, by dri\ inu' them on the ice. If the jii'cat wei.<;ht of the ani- mals broke the ice. they were usually killed in the water, but if too stionj;' to break, its smoothness caused them to fall powerless plyiii,n' the demands for food, mei'cly to gratify a brutal love foi' the destruction of life. Their General (Utnncih were composed of the chiefs and oM men. AVhen in conneil they usually sat in concentric circles aiound the speaker, and each indi\idual, iiotwithstandin,u' the tiery passions tliat rankled within, ]»reserved an exterior as immovable as if east ill bronze. JJefore comnienciiiji- business, a ]tersoii apjieared with the sacr«Ml j)ipe and another wiili lire to kimlle it. After iteinj;" li.yhted, it was presented first to tJie heavens, secondly to the earth, thirdly to the j»residin,i;' spirits, and lastly to the several councilors, 40 niSTORY or ILLINOIS. !i I k : . 1 i , > \ f! I if OiK'li of wiiom look a wliitt'. These foiiiiiiliticsAvcrc observed with its iimcli sirii|>iiloiis exii-tiiess ;is state etiiinette in (',i\ ili/ed courts. Alter file speaker ('(»miiieiiee(l niid Iteciiiiie iiiiiinated in the ilisens- sion of iiis subject, his stiitue-like iiiiditois sijinilied tiieir iisseiit to whiil lie said l>v (hep uiiltnrMi ej;icni;itioiis. 'riiesc ^iil lieriM;;s. in di.t^iiily. .j^rinity and decornin, were sc;ircel,v e(|n;d!ed li\ tiie deli- berative bodies of the most enb,nlitened centres. It is siud that the Fiidiiins were wont to express tlie jireiitest snrprise on witness- ii!,U tlie l!\it\ e.Nliiliiled \>y l-'rencii oirieials, in tlieir i»nb!ic iisseiii- blies ;it l''ort ( "Inirtrcs. 'I'lie indiiin council Inid no antliority to .yive force and valiibty to its rnactments. If it decided to cnjia.uc in war. it had no power til < nfoice its eniistnients, and therefore \olunteers had (o lij^lit llic baliles. If its decrees of peace were obsei'ved, it was not the resnlt of coinpnlsiou. bnt (\]U' to the conlifh'iice whicli the nation placed in its wis(lii;ned to each ,i;ift, which the >]:( aker exphiiiU'd as he proceeded in his discoui'se. ( 'orrespoiidin.u' with the \arions objects to be accomplished by nejicttiat ion, there were ijifts to propitiate the (!reat Spii'it ami cause him to htok \vith favor upon the council; to open the ears and minds of the contractinjf ]»arlies. that they mi^ht hear what Avas said and undeistand their diit.\ ; lo inter tjie bones of the dead, ami heal the Avoniids of their ]i\in^' friends; to bury the tomahawk, that it mi.ulit not aj^ain bo used in sheddinii blood, and to so bri;nhten the chain (»f friendshi]» that the disalfecled tribes miulit excr afterwai'ds be as one people, 'i'lie thonulits uttered in these connciis. and on other public occa- sions, w<'re iVcijUenily of a hiuh older, Heejily imbued with the lo\c of free (lorn and independence, their ideas on these suljects were ^ iieiali\ of a lofty, unselfish and heroic charactei', I'iiiiiot- ism, their most cherished \irtue. furnished their orators with themes for the most stirriiiji' apiieals, I'airenucss of laiii;ua;',:(' uecessitateoi)le by the Si(»uxs at a con\(»catioii ofchict's in is;;7, at the national capital: "They say they would as soon make peace with a child as witli us. They know better, for when Ihey made wai- ou us they fouud us men. They tell y(ai that pi ju-e has often been made and wo ha\e biokcii it. How happens il then that so many of their braves Jia\c been slain in oiir country, I will tell yon: They invaded us, Ave ne\('r invaded them; none ot our braves have been killed in CONSTITUTION OF TnH INDIAN I'AMILY. 47 tlicir 1:111(1. Wc liavo tlioir sciilps and we can toll yon wIkm'o avo todk tliciii;' lUack Hawk's sjx'ccli to Col. ICiisticc. in cliari^cor Fortress Moii- r(»o. wlicM lie and his tcllow ])i'is<>iM'rs were set at liberty, is luit only elo(|iient. Itiit shows tliat within his chest of stci'l there heat a heart keenly alive to the emotions ot uralitiKh' : " I'rotlicr, I liavc eoinc on my mvn pMit, iind in lii'liiiH' (>f my roiii]i;inio)is, to bid \(m fiircwrli. Our urcMt iMtlicr liiis al Icnutli liccii |)l(iiarl>iirism of mnch of its rei)iiisiveness, was the family tie. The nnirital rite which ]»recedes tiie faMiily relations re(|iiire(l only the consent of the parties and their ])areiits, witlnuit tiiiy conciir- I'ciit act of mao'istracy, to jx'w'i' it \ alidity. The hnshand, with e(|iial facility, mij^ht also di.s.solve this tie or increase the niindier of his wives withotit limit. Thoiiyh the marriau'c coiiii>act was not very strono, the ties of coiisanoiiinity wererij;idly ]»reser\('d, and iiered- itary lij^hts, ji'cncrally traced tlir(»n,iih the female line, were handed down from the remotest iineestiy. JMtr this ])nrpo.se they had tin! instirmion of tiie Totem, an einhlem which .M-rxcd as a liadiic of distinction forditferent clans or families. This tamily snrname wa.s represented by some (|n;idrnpe(l, liird. or otiier oliject of the ani- ni;d world, as the wolf. deer, hawk, tl<;c. nill'erent dejirees of rank ami dignity were indicatetl by \arioiis totems, those of the bear, wolf, and tni'tle, Ix'iny' lirst in honor, secured the oicatest icspect for tlio.se who had tiie ri.yht to wetir them. ICacli clansnnm was ]»roii(l of his (Misiiiii, and if a member of the fraternity was killed, lie feit called upon toaveii,o'e his death. As the ditferent meinbers of a clan were connected by ties of kindred, the,v wore ]>roliiltited from intermarriau'c. A I>ear coiild not marry a Uear, lait miuht take a wife from the \VoIf or Otter clan, wher(d»y all the branches of a tribe or nation becamo niiited by bonds of consan,oiiinit\ and friendship. I>y this siinjile institution, notwitlistandinii the wan- deriiiu' of triites and their \ icissitiides in war. family linea.u'c was ])re,sei'\('d and the hereditary ri^lits of I'lirnishino' chiefs, accorded to certain clans, was transmitted from iicnei'ation t(» jicneratioii. Thoiii^li in many of the most endearino' relations of life the men, iVoiii immemorial custom, exhibited the most stolid indifference, yet instances were notwantinj;' to show that in their laiiiily attach- moiits they fre(piently manifestod the jj,Teatest alt'ection and sym- l)athy. No calamity can cause more ,i;rief than the loss of ;i itrom- isiny son, and the father lias often yivon his life as a ransom to 48 IIISTOIJY OF TLLIXOIS. save liiiii riniii llic stiikc. A slrikiii^i' instance ol" lliis kind uccnr- rt'il in tiic wardl'liif ITtli crntiirv lirtwccM tlic I'oxcs and ('liip|ii'- "was, near Mdnlrcal. In tiiis war tin' I'oxcs captincd the son ol u C'ck'hnitcd and a;^t'd cliitl' di' tlic < liipitrwas, nann'd IJi-ans wall, wliilc the latlii'i' was al>scnt iVoni liis wigwam. On rcarhinL; his lionic. the old man heard the hear! rending' news, and knowing' what the lato of his son would be, followed on the trail of the enemy, and, alone, reaehed the Fox villaji*' whiU' they were in the act of kindlin,<;' the lire to roast him ali\c. lie ste|i|)ed holdly into the artMia and olfered to taice his son's place. •• .My s(m,"' said he '-has seen but few winters, his feet ha\c nexcr trod the war path; liut the hairs of my Ix'ad are white: 1 ha\(hiin.u' many scalps over the iiijis, Mas deposited in a rndecoltin. fancifully painted with red colors. In this condition they were jtlaced on scallblds decorated w ith ,i;itts of livin.u' relatives, ami built snlliciently iii.uii to i»roteet them from Avohcsand other animals of prey infesting' tln' luairies. Ihit Jud;;inji' from the remains of graves, by far the greater jiart of the ancient in- hal >il a lit s of Illinois and the .idjacent parts of the Mississipj)! N'alley, deposited lar.nc numbers (d their dead in a common tomb, and ^cn- erally marked the place by the erection of a mound. The plains and allu\ iiims of Southern Jlliiiois, lia\e in iiuiny places been liter- ally sown witii the dead, exincinn a density of population ,ureatly cxeeediiiii' that found l»y the lirst l']uro[)ean I'Xplorersof this re;;ioii. Theenstom of raisin,u Iieaps of earth over tlu' .graves, was jM-rhaps ]U'actieed as a mark of distinction for the tombs of emim'iit [(ersoii- a.ucs. and for such as contained the bodies of warriors slain in bat- tle, oi' were made comiiKUi r«'positaries for the dead of whole elans and \ illa.^es. It is sometimes dillicult to distiiij;iiish between the ])laces of sepulture raised by the ancient mound builders, and the more inodern jiiaves of the Indians. The tombs of the former wcrt^ in ji'eiieral laij^cr than the latter, were used as receptacles for a j;reater number of l»odies, and contained ri'lics of art evinein.!;' a lii;;lier deyrce of civilization than that attained by the present ab- orijiinal tribes. The ancient tmimli of tlu' moniid builders have in some instanc(\s been a]i]U'oi>riated as burial places by the Indians, but the skeletons of the latter may be distin;;uishe(l from the osteu- loyical remains of the former by their greater stature. 5IETIIODS OF SEPULTURE. 49 The existence ofii future stnte was rojrardod by Hieju-airie tribes as' ail aeliiaiity, and upon tliis idea was i)n'dieated tlie eii^toiii of de|n)siliii]) ro])erly studied and understood. TIm' red man of thei)rairies and ibrests, like tlie rest of mankind, was also ])sycholoiL;ically religious. Without si)eakinj;' of the diver- sitii's of belief entertained by ditfen'iit tribes, only the ji'eneral fea- tures of their laitli can be <;iven. Prominent amonji' these Mas the idea that every natural ])Iienomenon was thesju'cial manifesta- tion of the Cireat 8]tirit. In the mutterin<;s of the thunder cloud, ill the aii;nry roarof the cataract, or the sound of the billows which beat ujxin the shores of his lake-jiirt forests, he heard the voice of the (ireat Spirit. The li^htninji's Hash, the mystic radiance of the stars, Avere to him familiar displays of a s])irit essence whicli up- held and jiovei'ued all thijij^s, even the minute destinies of men ; while the Indian attributed to the (Jreat Spirit the ^ood he eiijoyi'd ill life, he re<'oy this duality of deities he was careful to jiuard his j^ood and merciful God from all imi>utationsof evil by attribiitiiifi- all the bad inb'iitions and acts which atilliet the huiiiaii family to the Great F>ad Spirit. Doubtless, in part, as a result of missionary instructions, tlie Illinois and other branches of Algonquin stock, designated their 50 niSTOllY OF ILLINOIS. (Iroiit Spirit as tlu^ Aiitlior of Lift', the I'plioldcr of the I'liivcrsc. Tlu'.v believed liiin all-wise, all-iMiweiliil, and all-fi'ood, and \ari- ously assijiiied liiiii a d\velliii;n place in (lie snn. moon or indetinite slvies. Tlicy not onlv distiii.uiiisiied tlie principle of tliefs of e\il. I'lider such a iiiiiltii>licity of aiila;;»»nistic poweis, I'verythin;; wliicli the Indian saw or heard in (Ik- external world iini^ht be liiecaMseof intense liojte or fear, and keep him in per- ]»etiial donlit as t(» whether it foreboded liood or e\ il. A prey to these mysterious fears, lie readily fell into the belief of sorcery and other siipi)ose(l maiiie inllnences. I'^roni this cause they were j constantly \iclimized by their in'iests, Jujij^Iers. and prophets, a class who lived l»y these ini|)ositi(»ns instead of linntiiiiu'. ; Til" belie!' in a future state was coiiiinoii. According to their j, traditions, which had been modiiied by missionary teacliinjis. the ' \vicked. at death, sink into a dark rctribiiti\c streaii:. wiiile the '' jidod are rewarded with an abode in a delightful hiiiiliiiji ;^roiind. i In their lively imaucry, they spoke of this place as the land ot the |j blest, or the country of souls, throujiii which meaudered nciitly « llowiuu' rixcrs. They supposed these streams replete with e\er.\ kind of llsh suitable for ibod. and that those who bathed in tlieiii Avere exempt IVoiii tlu' ills which afllict life in the present state of II beinj;'. ()v«'r the surface, aiirceably diversilied with hills and val- leys, were prairies interspersed with noble forests, under whose islielterinj;' branches disported the \arious creations of animal life. IJirds warbled their swet^test music in waving' yroNcs. and nolde animals grazed on the vei'dant plains so numerous and prolific that the demands of the hunter were always met without cxliaustiii!; y the sui)ply. Xo tempest's destrncfi\e blast, n(» wasting' |iestileiice |, nor desolatinti' cartlapiake. emanating' from the Sjiirit of l']\ il. oc- '. currcd to mar the sweet and \aiied jileasurcs of life. Such was the Indian's fiitur(3 state of existence, the (hvcliinii iilace of the Great Sjiirit, who welcomed home at death his wauderiuji children. I The belief in this terrene elysium, the Indian's most exalted idea J ol'iiaradise, (h>iibtless explains his stoical indilference of death. ; "With him I " TiuiL" comes luisis'licd for, luirciirctlcd flics; I PIcMScd thiit lie lives, liiippy tlliit lie ilics." ^ As it regards the Indians in <;'tnieral, it is an adaji'o amonj;' those whose observations have been the most extensive, that he w ho lias seen one tribe has seen them all. This seems to be true, iiot- ( witlistaudiiii;- their wide ,ii-co<4ra])liical distribution, and the ,i;reat i; oxtrenu's of climate to which they are exjiosed. Whether enjoy- ^ inji" the jireat abundance and mild climate of the Mississii»])i N'alley, or chilled and stinted by the bleak and barren rejiions of ij the extreme noith and south of the hemispheie. over w hich they •■ arc scattered, they Inu'e tiie same <;'eneral lineaments. '"AH pos- sess, tliou,!nh ill varied dejirees, the same huiji', lank, black hair, tin' dull and slee]»y eye, the full and comi)ress<'d lips, and the salient liiit dilated nose.''* The cheek bones are ])romincut, the nostril expanth'd, the orbit of the eye squared, and the whole niax- *Schoolcraft! I>nHAN^ARAOTKRrSTI(,'M, »l'"-v n'«i...i ,M»,„I,.r,M,s Tlw "^ -3 "•.HI, is „v.,i ' " V ' '''f'*'"""^-. Til,. I •'' ':'•'""' \vi.ii., '"■•'" i"^'i( ;'\"'' i''!.v'^'<-'inii ;;:-,«r.f l:n;;r ,;;---. ;,S^ niSTOUY OF ILLINOIH. flic truck of tilt' piilc fiiccd iMoiict'i', iiuil tcrmiiiLj iiiillittiis of a lii;:lici' lift' li:i\t' t;ikt'ii I lie placf tif a ft'w Wiiinlfiiii;^ liinitt'is aiid llslit'iiiicii. After ('t»liiiiilMis iiiiit[t> kiitiwii to ICiiitipciiiis tiic »'xis- Iciitt' of tlic iit'W wtultl. ]»rit)iit.\ t>f tliscovery wiis ctnisitU'rctl as coiift'iriii^' uptiii tilt' ^(»vt'iiiim'iits iiiMlcr w liosc |iati'oiia;it' it was iiiatlf, tilt' ii;:lil tif t'.\tiii;;iiisliiii;^ the liiiliaii tit" . I'iii^laiiil, in tlif fxt'icisc t»f this ri;ilit, tn-atctl the Imliaii^ .siili.laiitially as she dill Iht own sul»j('('ts. Slit^ icspcftcd tlit'ir claim to occii|>y and list tlic ct>iiiiti\ lor tlii'ir own hciit'tit, but ditl not pciiiiit tlicni to alienate it except tt» her own people, in accordance with the jain- cipU^ of l'-n;;lish law that all titles to laiids iiro vested in the cn»wn. The I'nited States, hy the aet|nisition of intlepeiitlenee, sneceedctl ttt the rij;ht of the mother ctaiiitiy, and has forced npon them similar iestrietit»ns, antl accortletl the same privileges. Lii every instance the ji'overnment has extin;iiiisheil their title by treaty or purchase. It iinist, however, be atlinitttHi that in many instances these treaties j^rew ont t»f wars prt)voketl by frontier settlers, for the sole purpose of tleniandin^' territtay in the way t)f reprisal. It must also be atlileil, that when lainls have been obtained by purchase, the considerutiun was I'rctiuently of the must trivial character. ■i* C'lIAPTKR V. OPEIJATION OF Til 10 iMlSSlONAIIlKS— KXTKXT OF TIlFlJi EXl'LOJJATiOXS UT TO KIT.J. Allliimjili •'oiiiinorcial I'litiTjuisc is i)(M'liiii>s tlir |>i'in('i])al ajiJ'iit foi- the (lissciiiiiiatinii of ri\ ili/atioii in the iiiidcx cIoimmI i(';;iniis ^)\' tlic ^Idbr. its «'\h'iisi()ii into tlic INlississijipi \allc\ was due to a diJlVrcDt caii.-if. IMdiircrs, actuated l»,v a i('li:;i(»iis Icrvni- and OMtlnisiiisii) liitlirrlu witlioiit a ])ai'allrl in lli*> liislorv of tlir world, wciT tin" liisl to cNjjlin*' its trackicss wilds, and attempt to teaeii its savayv iiiliahitants the it'tinenients of eivili/ed life. These self den.viii.u e\j»!<)re)'s helon.ucd )iiostl.v to tin' .lesnits or the Society of Jesus, a fanions j'eliyious ord«'i' foiindetl hv lyiiatins Lo_v(/ia, a S|>anisli knivhl of tlie sixteenth rentnrv. lie nave (»iit that the eojistitntion of his ordcj' was ui\eii liini by immediate in- sj»iratioii. Nolw itlistanilin;;' his hinli jactensions, he at tirst met with little eiieoiirau'ement, and the I'oiK', to whom he applied for the aiithoiii V of his sanction, releir«'«l him to a committee of cardinals. The latter decided that liis i>ro))oscd estahlislMnent Moidd not only he iis«'Iess, l)nt danj^erons, and tlie I'ope refused to.i;i\(*il his aj»j)ro\al, Too\ei'come the seiuj)les of the Poim', in addition to the vows of other orders lie re(|uir«'(l the members of liis society to tak<' a aow of obedieiicv to the Pope, Avherehy they Itoujid themselves to _yo whit lu'rsoeA cr he should direct them ill the service of icliyion, without i'e(iuirin,ii' anvthin^^ from him as ii means of sn]ij»oit. Jn otln')- orders the ])i'imarv object of tho mojdi is to se|)arate hinis<'lf from the rest of tlu'worhl, anle ami i)ra\('rs. l.ovola, oji the contrary, jtrcfeired tiiat the members of his society .should jnin^le in theaffairsof men, and thev were accoi'diu^ly ex- fmj»ted from those ansterities and cer<'monies which consumed much of the tinu' of other oi'deis. Full of the ilicit oJK'dience wjiich h«' ha4ave to his order a .n«»vernment wholly monarchical. To a j^cneial, ulio should be chosen foi- life from the sev«'ial ])rovinces, the members wei'e c ]'e(juii'ed to make known to him even the thoughts and leeliiin's of tlieii' inner life. At the time this offer was made, tho pa]>al ])ow<'r had received such a shock from the refusal of many initions to submit to its authority, that the I'ope could not look ii]»ou it with iudilf«'i-ence. He saw that it would i)!ace at his dis- posal a body of the iiH)st riji'orously discii»Iined ecclesiastics, whose powerful intluence wouhl eiial)le him to re]>el the violent o3 M inSTdUV or ILLINOIS. jiHSMiilts with wliicli the |>ii|):il system \v;is cvcrywlicrt' ussiiilcil. lit' tlifi'clorr iiiilli(ii'i/<'*i till' t'slaliljsliiiinit nl' ilic uiilri, ;iii*l up lM»iiitt'(l L(i\i»Iii ils liist ;;('in'i;il. 'Ilif icMilt prtncd llic tlisfrrii- iiii'iit nl tlic I'tipc, lor tlif ('ii;^iiit'iA Im- lliiis |iiit in iiiwlioii :il no (tistniit *l:iy t>\t<'ii ciii'tli. i'x't'oi'c tile tci'minalioii ut'tiir I'itli rtirliii'v , llit' Mxirly I'm iiisiicd tlic (■(iiicatoi's in mo>t til' tlif Ciitlioiit- ftmnliit's ol Hni'o|ic, ii prix !!«';;'(' wliit-li «>\t'itt'il a mort' ctnitroiin^j: iuliiu'ncc in niiililin;; natitinal tliarat-tfr than that uhicii t-manatcs tVtim all other sonifes eomliiiied. Allhoii;;li takin;; a \ti\v of poxeity. it mana;;t'il ttt lapiilly inei'ease in wealth. I'ntler the pretest ot pronnitiim the snceess tit' their iiiissitms, they tilitainetl the piivi- Ii'l;!' til' tiailii'^ with the natitms they were iinleav oiin;.;' to etinxfit, anti thus fretpiently lietame the masters til' e\tensi\e etinnneiiial enterprises. Ih'sitles the .lesuits, the Ivcettllet mt>nks litire a t tins|iit (it)i(s [>art in the iiisliiry t»t' the I'lt-neli Amerieaii po'-^essioMs. '['hey were :i liianeh til' the l-'raneisean tirtler, I'tniniletl in the early |»arl til' the l.'Uh eentury by St. Francis til' Assist, a matlman, saint or hert>, acetinlin;; to the tlill'ei't nl \ lews entertainetl respeeliii;; him. Like all other saints, he heeanie the siilijeit tit' .^iiperiiatural \ isitatitms, etmsistiu;^', in his ease, lar;:fly til' tlit'ams revt-alin^; tt) him the natnre tit" the wtirk whieli prov idenee liatl ealletl him to perl'tirm. In entering' itptm the labors tit' his mission he tlressetl in the la^s of a he^^ai', antl at last pitsentetl hiniM IT in a slate til" ntulity tt» the I'lishtip tif .Vssisi, antl lie;;j;t'tl the mantle til" a peasant. lie next rohlietl his t'athei', tti ^I't means to hnild himsi'lf a chapel: ertiwtls <;alheretl tti listen to his I'anatieal appeals, antl Kiirope stitin became tltittetl tiver with the convtnts of his tinier. In the course of time, the Franciscans lost the \ i'^or ft»r which they weif first tlistinjiiiishetl. but the IkCctillets, a nl'ormetl bianch tif the tirtler, at the time tif the l""reneh e\plt>ralians still retaiiictl much t)f its pristine spirit, 'rhese two ortlers, antl incitlentally that of iSt. Siilpice, played an imptntant part in the expU»ration antl colo- nization t»f the Mississippi valley. 'file St. Lawrence and its chain tif lakes enterinji the continent on the east, antl the Mississippi fitun the stintli, arc thi^ twti jiveat avenues thron;.ih which l^nropeaiis lirst niatle their way to Illinois. The ftirmer tipenin;^- witii a bi'tiail cstiiai-y iidt> the Atlantic, tlirectly opptisite ICnrtijie, lirst ili\ertetl a portion tif its (iallic end- jiratiou to the i'ej;'it)ns drainetl by its tributaries. I'itmeers. letl by the intlefati;;able desnits, stion reachetl lUintiis. and maile it au imi-.tirtant centre in the vast schemes iirojectetl by the rrench court ftir the iH)Ssessit)ii of the .Mississippi valley. The Frvnch on tliv St. lAiivrviiur years before the tliscovery t»f the .Mississippi by DeStito, .latt[Ut.!.s Cartier ctintliu'tetl an cxpetlition Iti tiie St. bawrenee. which he ascemletl as far as the islantl t)f Orleans. Several attempts w«'ro shortly afterwiirtl matle to jdaut colt)nies in the newly tlisctiNcretl rejiitin, but they failctl in ctmsei(iience tif the inclemency tif the climate antl Imsiilities tif the natives. France, at that time, was too much ennrini;' this year Champlain, a boltl iiciviyator, Avith a number tif ct»lt>nists, sailed up the St. Luwreuee, KAlli-Y EXPLOUKUS. 05 iiiitl liiiult'd ut llic loot of the Inl'ty |»r«»moiitoi_\ wliicli risi's in tlin iWr^U- luliiicd 1»V tin- colilliii'iMT ul' IIm- Si. riiiirlis. ( ';ii |i('litcl's weir set to wuik, mimI within n few wccKs n pilr nl' Imiiilinus msv iM'iir tilt' Wiitn's ('(!;:(•, tlic t'wst i't'|)i«'s<'ntiiti\<'s «»t' tlit- s|iiUMt»iis rliMrclics, convents, dwcllinji's und i'!ini|iiiits wliicli now I'oiin tin' opnlrnt iind i'iil<'iiirisin>;' cits of (j)iiclu'c. TIu'M' l»ni!(lin;;s consti- Intt'd lli<> lii':i(li|niii'l('i's of < 'Ii;iin|ihiin, :inil wt-ic sniTonndcil liy il \\iio<|*-n wail pici'ccd witli o|Miiin;:s foi' a iimmiIk'I' of >niiill cannon. 'l"o .sccMic tilt' lViciHislii|» t»f tilt' lliii'tiiis ami iH'i;4iilioriny' Ai;;(tii- (|iiin nations, ( 'iiainpiaiii was iinlnct'il to assist tlicin in a war a.uainst tiic ii'o<|iiois, iniiai)itin;j; tlic coiintr.v stnitii of tlic St. Law- rt'iict'. \'ictoiv attcndcti liis .siipcfior ai'ins, Imt it nronscd tlic. iiii)»la('al»l(' lialc tif tiicsc triltcs, and for a jx liod of !•(> years tlicy continncd towrcal; tlicir fnr\ ii|Min tlic Indian allitv of I'lancc, aiitl niatcriall,\ contriltiircd to tlic linal ovcrtlirow t)f licr ptiwcr. In H)].') Cliainplaiii returned to {''ranee, and hroii.^lit l)ac!< with liiiii four l'cet)llct monks, (ircat was tlic astonisliineiit of the Indians at lirst helioldiiijLt' these iiiemlieaiils, elatl in tlieir rude <;()Wi)s of coarse ^^ray cloth. 'I'lieir lirst care was tt» select a siti! iititl erect a <'oiiv»'nt, the completion of which was Iitniored l)y the ceicliratioii of mass. All New l'"rance pailicipated in tlie myste- rious rite, while from llie sliii)s and ramparts of the fort cannon thiimleretl forth an apjtroN in;^' salute. 'I'lieii- jiicat oliject was the .sahatioii of the Indians, and iinappalletl hy the perils that awaii<'d them, t liey met in conncil ami assi;;iicd to eacli his pro\ ince in llit> >ast (ieltl of lahois. As the result of ninvearied elVort. they estah- lisht'd missions frtim Xo\a Scotia to Lake Ilni'on. Imt liiidin.^' tlic task too yi-cat foi' their siren,:ulli, they applied to tlic .lesnits for jissistance. 'I'lic followfi's t)f Loytda ea,ii('rly respondetl to the iii\ itiition. and Canada for the lirst time saw the order which, in aitcr years. lii;iired so extensively in her history. Tlion^li snlVer- iiiy- iiiiisf he their fate, and pei'haps martyrdom their crow !i. tliey jieiiclrated to the most remote I'c^ions and \isited the most w ;;r- like tribes. Missions wt'if established on the Str;iits of St. ."Mary, the noillicrn slioi-cs of I>ake Iliii'oii, the tributaries of Lake Alielii- jian. and liiially ainoiii; tlieir iiiMterate enemies, the Iitxpiois. <'hi:m]»laiii. after having acted as <4t)vcrnor ibr a period of -7 years, died on the Cliristmas of l(i."!."», a hundred years after the lirst visit of ('artier, and was biiiicd in the city he had Ibunded. Sharing' with others of his time the illusion of lindin,u' a ]»assa!.ie jici'oss the continent to the Pacilic, he made voyages of iliscovery with a view of lindinj;' ilie Itm^ soiinht commercial highway. In one of his excursions lie discoveicd the lake w liicli b'ars his name, iiiitl was anioiiy the Jii'st Enro]>eans who set their I'eet on the lonely shores of Lake Ilnroii. What indesci'ibablc tlionulits mnst liaxc thrilled his bosom ;iy he looked out on its broad exi>anse, or perhaps awt"! by its majt-s.ic solitudes, he listened with str.iii,::;e delight totlie loinl refrain of its billow-lashed shores. {)is o'cri/ of flic Ohio 1)1/ J.aSdllc, It ili'.l.— After the de;itli of Cliai:i|»laiii, tlu' next actor in tiie tiehl of ex]»loration \\as Koliert Csvaliei', better known as I^aSalle. His father's fa mil\- was amonj;" the old ami wealthy biirjiliers of Ivoiien, l"'raiiee, and its seveial ineinbers were fretpieiitly entrnstetl witli iiii|»ortant positions by the jiovei'iimeiit. Ivobert was boi'ii in 1(»4.">. and early exliiliited tlie liaits of eliaiaeter which distiiiiiiushed him in his western 5G HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. career. Iliiviiif;' a wealthy iatlier, Ih' ( njoyed aiiiiile lacilities lor oblaiiiiiij;- an education, and made rjipid pro.uvess in the exact sciences. lie was a Catholic, and il is said a Jesnit ; Itnt jiid^ing from Ids snbse(|uent Ute, he was not a relij>i()us entliiisiast. The orch'r of Loyola, wiehU'd at the centre l>y a single will so compli- cated and so harmonious, may ha\e attracted his youthful ima;ii- iiation. It was, however, none the less likely that when he found himself not at the centre, but movin.ii' in a ]>rescribed orbit at the circumference, he would leave it. Ilaxinu' an individuality Aviiicii could not i>e molded by a sha|>in^' hand, he was better (|ualitied for a ditfei'cnt sphere of action. Me therefore ])arted with the -lesiiits on .nood terms, with an unblemished character, for his lofty ambition com])letely dixestcd him of the petty aiu- mosities to w liicli urovelin^' niiiuls are subject. lie had an oldci' brother liviuj;' in Canada — a i)ri«'st of the order of St. Sul|>ice — auu,L;hts often wandered over the "wild ind (^>uebt•(^ to »>l)tain from (bivernor Courcelles his a|»proval. His itlausiltle statements soon won over to his plans both the (b)Vernoi' and Intendant Talon, and letters patent were issued antlutrizin;^' the enter- piise. Xo pecuniary aid beiuj; fiirnislied by the government, and as LaSalle had expended all his means in improv inji' his estate, he. was compelled to sell it to procun^ funds. The superior of the Seminary, beiny favorably disposed toward him, bought the DIFiaOULTIES ENCOUNTKKKlJ. 57 j;r('iit«'i' ])iii't of liis iiiii)i()V('in('iit, niid iciiliziiij;- 1,'S0() li\ res, lie jxiicliascd Ibiir ciiiiocs iiiid tlic iit'ccssary supplies lor llu cxiicdi- tioii. The SciiiiiiJU'.v, iit tlu' saiiie tinic, was ])i('])ariiiji' lor a similar cx])loi'ati()ii. Tlic ]»ri('sts of this orinaiii/.alion. ciimlatiii;^' tlio <'iit('i']»ris(' of the »I('siiits, liad ('stablislicd a mission on tlir iiortli- orii slioie of Lake Ontaiio. At tliis point, licarini;' of ]»opnlons tribes furtlier to tlic noitli\v<\st, tlicy resolved to essay their eon- version, and an e.\j»edition, under two of their nniidter, was titled out foi' this pnrjKJse. On j;oinj;' to (^Mieltee to i)roeure the neces- sary ontlit, they were advised l>y the (lovernor to so modify their plans a.-: to aet in concert with TiaSalle in explorinji' the ureat rixcr of the west. As the I'esnlt, both expeditions weic jnei'ut'd into oiM' — an arran.ii'ein«'nt ill-suited to the .ycnius of LaSalle, whom natui'e had formed for an undisputed chief, rather than a eo-lal)orer in the enterprise. On the (ith of duly, lOtii). everythinj;' was in readiiu'ss, and the c(»mbined party, nundx'riniii' lit persons, i'lnbaiked on the St. Lawrence in 7 canoes. Two additional eamx's cariied the Indians wh(» had visited LaSalle, and who were now actin,n' as liuides. Threading' the dexious and romantic mazes of the I'ivei' in o]»|)osition to its rajiid current, after three days they aj)j)eared ^m the broad e.\i»anse artially innlerstandin;^ their lanj^uajic, was compelle«l to crisoner from one of the westei'n tribes, the only jterson who could serve tlu'm as gnide. This and other unfiiendly ticatment which they received, caused them to sus]»ect that the -lesuit. Jealous of tlieir euteri>rise, liad iiitentionally misrej>resented their oliject, for the purpose of defeatin;:' it. With the liopi^ of aecomjdisliiu^' their object, they liuii'ered fora month, and at length had the iiood fortune to meet with an Indian fr;un an Inxjuois cohuiy, situated near the head of the hdie, who assured them that they could there tind what they wante' villa,u('. One of them jM'oved to be Louis '•'•et, a yomi.u' man of about the a^e of LaSalle, and destined t . acquire fame l>y his explorations iu the west. He had been sent by Talon, the intendant of Canada, to exjdore the coppei' mines of Lake Sui)eri(»r. but had I'ailed. ancl was now 0',i his return. (ii\iny' the priests a mai> i'ei>resentiu,i;' sucli parts <»f the upper lakes as he had visited, he iufornu'd tiiem that the Imlians of those reiiious were in lireat lu'cd of spiritual advisers. On re(!eivin<; this information, the missionaries decided 58 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. tliat the Indians ninst no loiij^vr sit in darkiu'ss, and tliouf;]it that tlic discovcrv of llic iVIississipiti mi^ilit be ctfcctcd as easily 1>\ a nditiiciii idiitc, tlir(>u,n!i tiicsc triix's, as by .yoin.u' fartlicr south- ward. l-aSallc, rcmonstiatinji' against tlieii- (h'tcrniination, in- foriiird them tiiat this direction was inii)ractieahh', and in case tliey slionld \ isit tliat re.uion, they wouhl periiaps liiid it ah'eady occupied hy tlie .Jesuits. He liad, for some tinve, been al'llicted witii a violent fever, and finding his advice unheeded, he told the ■priests feliat his condition would n(»t alea of sickness was douittless a ruse to etbct a. scjiaration; for the invincii)le determination (»f LaSalle never pernntted an eideri»iise which he had undertaken to be defeated l)y other considerations. A friendly ]»artin.i; was ai'ian^cd, aud ai'tcr the celebration of mass, LaSalle and his men fell back to Lake Ontario, while the Snlpitians descended Ciraud river to Lake Va'w. The latter ])rosecuted their Journey up the lakes, and (»n .irri- vinj;' amon;;' the Indians of whom .loliet had spoken, they found, as I^aSallc had surmised, Manpu'tte and Dablon established amony' them. Learnin.u; too, that they needed no assistance from 8t. Suii»ice, nor from those who made him their i»atron saint, they retraced tlieir stei)s. ami arrived at -Montreal tlie followiufi' dune, w ithout haviu,i>' made any discoveries or converted an Indian. Tlu' course pursued by liaSalle and his ]»ai'ty, after Icavin;^' the priests, is inxohcd in doidtt. The mtist reliable record of his movements is that contained in an ammynutus ])aper, which pur- ]>oits to hav«'bcen taken from the lijis of LaSalle Idmself, durin.u' a \ isit subsc(juently made to Paris. Accordiuu to this stat<'mcut. lie went to Onondaga, whei'c he obtained j^uidcs. and passed tlH'nce to a tributary of the Ohio, south of Lake iu'ic, followed it to the ju'incipal liver. and descended the latter as far as the falls at I,ouis\ilie. It has also been maintained, that he reached the JMis.sissippi and descended it sonu- distance, when his men de- serted, and he \\as compelled to return aloue. It is staled in the same manuscript, that the followiu.i:' year he end»ark<'d cm Lake Erie, ascended the Detroit to Lake Huron, and jiassed throu^ih the strait of ^Mackinaw t(» Lake Michigan. Passinjito the southern slioi'e, he ]>rocecded by hind to the Illinois, which he tbllowcd to its contlueuce with the .Mississi])|ti, aud descended the latter to the .'With (h'^ree of latitude. Here, assured that the river did not fall iido the unlf of Califorida. but that of Mexico, he returned, with the inlcution of at sonu' future day e\|»lorin^' it to the mouth. The statement that he visited the falls of the Ohio, is |>t'r ]»oi'tion of tlic ;^i('at river had |)rolial)Iy iicNtT hccii seen h.v any I'jiropcaii. Tlic lioiior of iiiaii- iiiiialiiiy llic successful attciui)t to reach this stream is i\nv to M. Talon, who \vis]»e(l to (ilose the loun' and useful term of his servi- ces, as tile lutendant of Canada, by rt'iiiovinu' tiie mystery wliieli enshri>U(h'(l it. I'\>r tliis ]»ur|tose lie selected Louis .loliet, a fur trader, to conduct the expedition, and .Jacques Mar(|uette, a Jesuit missionary, to assist him. 'i'alon, howevei', was not to remain in the country loni;' euouuh to witness the completion of the enlerpi'ise. A misuudcrstandiii;;' aio.se between Inm and (Jovernor Courcelies in rej^ai'd to the juris- diction of tlu'ir respective oflices. and Uotii asked to be r»'called. TJK'ir recpusts wcic granted, and early in tlie autumn of l(i72. Count I'^i^ontenac arri\cd at aired. r.efore sailing;- for I'rauce. ,M. Talon reconnneiided to I-'roti-naf' Joliet and iMarcpu'tte. as sidtable jtersous to execute his projected discoveries. The former was born at (j>uebec. in Hlt.">, of lunuble I'.areiita.ii'c. He was educates! by the .Jesuits for the priesthood, but eariy abandoned his clerical vocaticai to enuaiic in the fur tra(h'. Tiioujih renouiicin,u' the priestliood. he still retained a par- tiality for the oi-dei' which had educated him. and no doidit this was the principal I'cason which induced 'I'alon to labor for his appointnu'iit. INisscssiu.y' no \ei'v salient ]>oiuts of character, lu^ yet had sullicieni enterprise, boldness an to ;i villn^c of tlif .Miiscoiitiiis and Miaiiiis. .Martiiicttc, who iicvci' siil'lcrcd tilt' hcaiitit'.s of nature to escape Ids attention, speaks in ehxpient terms of tlie broad prairies and tall forests wliieli lie saw IVom tluf suiiiinit of tlie liill on wliicli it wassilnated. His admiration of the scenery was, ln)wever, fireatly exceeded by the Joy whicli he exjierienced at heholdin^i' across planted in the midst of the place, and decorated with some of the most xahied of Indian imple- ments. With due ceremony they were introduced to a conncil of cliiefs, when ;\Iar(pH'tte, pointin^^' to -loliet, said : " .My friend is an envoy of I'-rance. to discoxci' new countries, and I am an endtas- sadoi' from (!od, to enlighten tlu'm with the Irutlis of the gospel."* The speaker then nnnlethem some i»resents, and asked lor .uiiides to conduct them on their way. Thoiijih the Indians rejiarded their journ«'y as exti'emely hazardous, these were granted, ami the voya.ucrs re-endtarked in their canoes. All the \illa,i;e followed them down to the rixcr, W(»nderin^' tiiat men could he found to umh'itake an enterpi'ise so frauj;ht with danp'rs. 'IMieir .unides led tiiem safely through the de\i(ais windin.us of the river. Iieset Avith lakes and nnii'siu's overila.s4(', they soon cai'ried their liuht canoes and scanty i>a,i;,iia.i.i(' to the Wisconsin, about three miles distant. Fi'ance and papal Christendom were now in the \alley ot' i!m' Mississippi, ready to connnencc the drama in which, for the lU'Xl succeedin^i' !M> years, they were the principal actors. Their j^uides now icfusetl to accttmpany them fnither, and endeavoi'ed to induce them to return, by recitiuj;' the dan.^ers tliey nuist encounter in the further prosecution of tlie Journey. They (Stated that huj;e demons dwelt in the j;reat river, whose voices could be heard at a loiiy' distam-e, ami who cnuulphed in the, I'llo'i III)' \V';lfii|'< nil W'iiii <'tiiiii> M'ifliiii tlii>ii' i'i>:ii-li Tlii-v :i1.^ii ri>iiri>. JOLIET AND MARQTTKTTE. 61 tlicir natural beauty tlio most skillful trainiiijiof rultuvcd liauds. Tlie ITtli ol' .June hroujilit tliciii to the iiioutli of t lie livci, and Avitli yicat Joy tlicy ])us!i('d flicir fiail harks out on the Hoods y Lirace- fidly rounded valleys covered with v<'idure, and gently risini; as they r<'cede from the mari^in of the waters. The rocky suniiiiits of the headlands, risyij^- hi,t;h above their <;reen bases, had been "wrought by the corrodin.y elements into a yreat variety (»f fantas- tic forms, which the lively ima;^iinitiou of Manjuette sha]»ed int(» towers, ^iyantic statues, and the crumblinji' ruins of fortihcations. On .li'oinji' to the heads of the valleys, they could see a country of the ;;reatest beauty and feitility, ajipan'utly destitute of inhabi- tants, yet preseiitiuji' the ai»peaiance of extensive manors, under the fastidious cultivation of lordly ]»ro|)riet(»rs. IJy and by uicat herds of buffalo a])peared on the op|»osite baidvs, the more timid females kee]>in,i>' at a safe distance, while the old bulls ai)proaclied, and throuji'li their tauj;led nnincs l(»oked deliance at the stiaii^e invaders of their j;rassy I'calms. Near a> hundred miles below the mouth of the Wisconsin, the voyaj^ers discovered an Indiau trace, Icadinj; from the western shore, .loliet and Alarcinette, l«'avinj;' their canoes in chai',u(' of their men. detci'mined to follow it and make themselves ac((uainte(l "with the tribes of this region. 3Iovin;:;' cautiously throu;;h prairies and forests, rendered beautiful by the verdure and bloom of .July, they discovere<'cted salnti'. had partially subsided, four elders advanced with uplilted cabimets to nu'ct them. A IViendly fireetinji' ensued, and alter in- lbiniiue. Here they were jtresented to the chief, w ho, standinj^' near the door of liis wijiwam in a state of comidete luulity, (lelivered an a' his wij^wam, tilled with the dij;nitaries of tlu^ tribe, Mar- quette announced the nature of their enterpiise, asked for informa- tion concerninji' the 3Iississip]»i and alluded to their ])ati'oii. the (io\-eriior of t'anada, who had Innnbled the Inupiois and compelled them to sue for ]>eace. This last item <»f information was j:(»od news to these remote tribes, and drew from their chief the compli- ment that tlie "j»resence of his j>uests added flavor to their tobacco, made the river more calm, the sky more serene and the earth more beautiful."* Xext, followed a rejtast, eonsistinj;' of hominy, fish, and buffalo and doy's meat. The Frenchmen i)artooksumptionsly Discov. of the Great West. Gti HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. (»!' all tlic (lislii'S, ('xc(']»t tlic liist, wliicli tlic.v iailcd to iipincciatc, altliniijiii one of tlic {^Tcalcst Indian (Iclicacics. The jifiicioiis hosts, witli true forest coiirtt'sy, as tlic.v dislicd out the dilfcrciit aiticlcs. first blew tlicir liicalii upon cacli iiioisci to cool it. and tlicii. wilii tlifir o\\ n hands, placed it in the iiioutiis of their j;uests. They endea\()r<'d to jiersiiaiU' the e\i>lorers, l»y depict ill}; the yreat dangers they wdiiid incur, to abandon their oliject. I''indin.L;' that tiieir elforts were unavailing, on the follow inuday they huip^dii the neck of .Mar(|iiette a sacred caluiiH't, hrilliaiitiy decorated with feathers, as a pioteclioii ainon<4' the tribes lie was about to visit. The last mark of respect, which the chiefs could now offer tiieir departiii,ii' friends, was to escoi't tlu'in with (>(>(> of their tribesmeu t(» llu' ri\<'r, where, aftei' their stolid manner, they bade them ;i kindly adieu. A.::ain they were alloat on the broad bosom of the unkiiowu stream. Passiii;:,' the mouth of the Illinois they soon fell into the shadow of a tall i)i'omassed around the body o\er the head and between the Icus. It was an oltject of Indian wtu'ship, and .yreatly impressed the mind of the ]»ious missionary with the niM'cssity of substitutini;' for this monstrious i(h»latry, the woishi]! of the true (Jod.* Ilefore these tijiiiresof the idols had faded Irom their minds, a new wonder arrested their attention. Tlie\ ran into the curi'ent of the Missouri, swccpiiiji' directly across iheir ti'ack, and threateniii,i;- to en^iulf theiii in its muddy waves. Fra,ii- nieiits of trees were driftin.L;' in larii'e numbers, which must have cut a {greater A'e.'^'etable wonder was the Spanish moss w liich huiiii' in lonu' fes- toons from the branches of the trees, exipiisitely beautiful, yet, like funeral draiu'iy, excitiuii' in the behohler feeliiiiU'.s of sadness. Anotlier chanjic was the increasin;;- heat, which, ii(»w ra]>idly dis- sipated the hea\y fojis which previously, to a late hour, had hun^' over the river, (.'louds of mosipiitos also aiipeared in the relaxing' atnios|)here, to annoy them by day, and disturb tlu'ir much needed rest at ni.uht. •Xi'iir the month of tlic Tiiisa Crcok, on the blulT, there is a smooth roek in a caveril- oiis clelt. iiiiilei' an ovoihanuiiiy dill', on whose tace, "lO feet Irom the base, are iKiiiUed some ni\eient pietiires or hii-ro^flyiihics, of jrreat Interest to the eurioufi. Tliey aro placeil in a liori/.ontal line from eaut to west, reprosontin^ men, plants and aninails. The paintiniis, thoiif.'li protected Irom dampncssiind storms, arc in yreat i)art destroyed, marred bv portions of the rock beeoiainii- detached and faliinu down. See I'rairie tilate, IS.VJ. JOLIET AND MAllQUETTE. 03 ^^'itll()ut siisiK'ctiug thv ])i'es<>iu'o of Indians, tlic.v siiddnily <1is- roNci'cd ii imiiilx'i' on tlic ciistcin banks of tlu' river. .Mai((ii«'tt(i licld aloft tlic svnihol of ix'acc, fiiniislicd liiiii by the Illinois, and tlic sava<;('s approaciicd and invited lam and Ins party aslioi'c. Ileic tliey were feasted on bidfalo meat and beai's oil, and after tlie repast was over, were informed tliat tliey conld reach tlie month of llie I'ix'ei' in ten days.' 'Piiis statement was donl»tless ma(h' with tile best intention, i)nt witli little trntli, for the distance was not far from 1,(>0(> miles. 'J'akinii" leaxc of tiieir hosts, and lesnminj;- the jonriiey, (hey ])eneti'ate(l a lonj;' monotony of bintfs and for<'sts, and aiiain dis- eover<'d ln(1ians near the month of the Arkansas, nu.shinii' from tlieii' wi,irwams to the rixcr, some of tliem sallied forth in canoes to cut off their escape, while others |»lnn<;('d into the water to attack them. .Maripiette displayed the calumet, which was iiii- lieeded till the ari'ival of the chiefs, who ordei'cd the warriors to read for their receiftion un(U'r a shed before the Iodide of a ]>rincii)al cliief. Soon they were surroun(hul l>y a semi-cinde of tlie villa.^'ers — tlie warriois sittin,u' nearest, next tlie elders, while a promiscuous crowd stared at them I'roia the outside. The men were .stark naked, and the Avomen imper- fectly clad in skins, wearinj;' their hair in two masses, one of which was Iteliind each ear. Fortunately, there was a youn,^' man in the villa j>e Avho could speak Illinois. By his aid, JNlanprntto Dccame niroieraoie. It was now the middle of July and the voyagers debated the ]tropriety of furthei' len«itlieiiin.Li' out their Journey. They liad liccn on the river foui" weeks, and concluded they had descended sufliciently far to decide that its outlet was on the Atlantic side of tlie continent. Their jn'ovisions wei-e nearly exhausted, and they also feared if they visited the river Ixdow tliey mi^ht be killed by the savaji'es, and the benetit of tlu'ir discovery would be h)st. Intluenced by those considei'ations, they determined to retra(!e *iw.;,. of.^,^c T ,>.ix-;.,,v +!..> A ,.i-... ....... ,-ai.....,, <-i.,,,. ,.,,,. ...,..,,.,.....,1 :l 64 mSTOUV OV ILM.NOIS. sntVciinji' with i\ii attiick of (lysciitcry. Her*' tlicv were iiir(inii('<| l),v (lie lii(li;iiis that tlic IMiiiois i'liiiiislicM a iiiiich iiioit' direct loiiii^ to tlui hikes tiiaii the Wiseoiisiii. Actiii};' upon this iiit'oriiiatioii, they entered the lixcr, and found, l>esi(U's liein;^- nior«' direct, that its ji-entie eurrent ollered less lesistanee than lliat of tlie .Mississ- ijijii. As they ad\anced into llie eonntiy,a scene opened to liieir view which j;ave renewed stren^^th lo tii«'ir wearied Itodies, and awoke in tin-ir ian^nid minds the j^reatest adndration and enthu- siasm. I'laiiies s|>read out hefoic tiieni lieyond llie I'eacli of vision, coxcred witii tall ;ii'ass, wiiich nnchdated in tiie wind likei waves of a sea. In furtiier imitation of a watery ex]>anse, tho surface was stu(hh'd with eluni|is of tindter, resendilinj^' ishinds, in wiiose jiiacei'nl outlines eonid lie traceamper<'d pioducts of cultivation, were profus»'ly s|.rinkled over the j^rassy landscajie, and ;;a\(' their wealth of fraurauee to the jtassin;;' bree/e. Innnense herds of hidfalo and deer jii'a/.ed on these rich pastures, so pi'olillc that tlie continued destruction of them for a<:(>s hv the Indians, had failed t(» diminish their nnui- hers. l'"orthe further sujiport of human life, the rivers swarnn-d Milh lisli, ;;reat pe(l at a town of the Illinois, called Kaskaskia, wh(»se mnue, aftc rwai'ds transferi'ed to a dilfer- enl locality, has become fani(»us in the history of the country. Here they secured a chief and his men to comluct them to Lake ]\Iichij;an and ])roeeeded thither l)y the way oi' the ri\ers Illinois, Desplaines and ("hicajio. I^'oliowiuiu' the western shore* of the lake, they entered (ireen J>ay Ihe latter jiart of Septendier, haviuj^ been absent about four moiiths, and traveled a (listauce of L',.")(tO miles. ManpH'tte stopp<'d at the mission on th<' head of the bay, to rejiair his shattered health, while .loliet hastened to (^lU'bec, to reixtrt his discoveries. Hitherto fortune had fi'reatly favored him, and it was oidy at the tcrndnation of his voyaji'e that he met his lirst disaster. At the foot of the rapids, aboxc Montreal, his canoe was ca])sized, and he htst the manns«'ript eimtainiuji- an account of his disci »vei'ies, and two of his uumi. lie says, in a U't- ter to dovernoi' Frontenac: " I had (Escaped every peril from the ludians; I had passed 12 rapids, and was (Ui tin* ]>oint of disem- barkinji', full of joy at the success of so h)n,<;' and difticult an enter[)rise, wlien my canoe capsized after all the dan,u'er seenu'd over. 1 lost uiy two men and box of i)ai)ers within sijilit of the liist French settlenioiits, w liich I had left almost two years before. JOLIET AND MAIIQT KT'J'K. (}.'. Notliiiiy rciiiJiiiis to u\o iii»\v Itiit iii.v life, iiiid tlic indent (Icsiic to fin|»l(».\ it on ;iiiy service von Mi;iy |>le;ise to direct." W'lieii tlie snccessfiil issue of tiie voyii;:;'e heciiiiie known, ii Te Jhinii \\:\s clniiited in tlie ciitliednd of (^)iieliec, jind mII ("imndii Viis tilled Mitii joy. Tile news crossed tlie Atliiiitie, :ind l'"r;ince saw, in the vistii of coniinji' yeais, :i \ ast de))endency sprin^iinji' np in llie yreat \allev pailiaily explored, which was to eniieh her merchant ])rinces with the most Inei'ative conmierce. I''eaiin^' that i'^n^^land, whose settlenn-nts wei'c rai)idly e\tendin;n' alonj;- tlie. Atlantic, mijLiht attempt to ^rasp the rich prize liefore she eonhl <)ctli of Octobei', 1(>7I, accompanied by tw(» J''renchmen and a number of Illinois and I'otawatamie Ind- ians. The lich and \aried tints of autumn w<'re now lapidly C!han,y the L!th of Mar<'h, beinj;' able to rec(»mmen<'e his journ«'y, the two jiwu carried their canoes over the portajic between the Chica.n'o and I)es]»laines, and connnenced to (h'scend the latter stream. Amidst the incessant rains of ojieninu' s]>riiij4'. they were rapidly borne forward on the swollen riverto its junction with tlu' Illinois, and down the latter to the object of their destination. Here, it is said, he was viewed as a nn'ssenn'cr from heaven, as he a isited the wii^wams of the villau'ei's and discoursed of paradise, the Re- deemer of the woi'ld, and his atoiu'inent for sinfid men. The o.xcitement at len.i>'tli drew to<>etlier, on tin' i»lain between the liver and the ]»resent town of Utica, some ."»()() chiefs, and a. j^reat nn- knowi! >i.iicoui'se of warri(»rs, women and children. In the midst of this mnltitude lie exhibit<'(l four larju'c i)ictnres of the Holy \'ir.uin, ami with nvout earnestness hai-an.uned them on the duties of Christianity, and the necessity of makingtlieir conduct conform ; I ' I t I : (iO IIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. to its pioccpts. Tlic ;iiim. On tlie I'.MIi of tlie inuiitii he conM '^o in* faitlier. wlien, at his re(|nest, iiis tw(» friends ian(h'd and Itnilt ii Inil. into wiiieh In- was eaicfnily cdnveyed. Aware tliat lie was lapidiy appntaehin^' his end, in', witii j;reat eom]»osnre. uave dii'eeli«»ns eonceiniiii;' his Inirial, and tlianked (iod that he was |)ermitied to die in tin- wilderness an nnsliakeii believer in the faith which he had so de\ otcdly preached. At ni.uht he told his weaiy allendanis to rest, and when In- found death ai)pr(>acliin}4' he A'ould call them. At an early honr they wen^ awakened by a feeble voice, ami hastening' to his side, in a few moineids he breathed liis last, j;raspin;;' a crtmilix, and mnrniurin>;' tin- nanu' of the Nir^iii .Mary, ilavin^i' buried his remains as directed, his trusted companions hastened to .Mackinaw, to aum)unce the sad news of his demise. Three years afterward, a i)aity of Oltawas, huntinn' in the vi- cinity of his juruve, deterndned, in accctrdance with a custom of the ti-ibe, to cany Ins bones with them to their honu' at the nus- sioii. llavin,n' opened the inra\-e and carefully cleaned them, n funeral jtroccssion of .'!0 canoes bore, them toward .Mackinaw, the Indians sinj;in<4' the sonj^s which he had tau;;lit them. At the shore, near the nussion, the sacred relics were recei\('ss('ssio" of its valley, To fnrthei' his oltject, he fiained llio intluence and sn]t|)ort of l-'rontenae, and induced some of tho Canadian merchants to become i»arlneis in the adNcidiMc. yurt Froiitcnac. — Tin' new uoveiiH)!' had no sooner Iteeii installed in olliidati(nis, which re- quired the fur traders of Canada to carry on theii' trade with the (57 ''t !i 4 08 HISTORY OF ir.T.lXotS. I ! Iiidiiiiis witliiii tin- liniits of lli«' scttlciiM'iits. In \ icw. Ii(»\v('si'i', nt' its ;^l'Cill im|Mil'tilli('<' lis il liiciilis til' (Irfclicc il;;ilili>l llii' IroqNtils. ;i!l l(>;^;il (ilijt'ctioiis \\fi'«> \\iii\ <'(l, :iii*l |iro\isioii wiis iiiiMh' lo iiiiiiiiliiiii it. It iilsn st'ivcd iis a sirppiii;; sloiic lor its siil».-,cilily, aiid to negotiate with iiiiii lor a ;:i'aiit in seij;ll(.r,^ of tile new tort and ad.jaeeiit lands. Asa eoiisideratioii for the lat- ter, lie ii;;reed to reiininirse hiiii I'orwliat it had already cost to niainlain in it an adei|nate ;^ari'isoii. and provide lor the spiiiliial wants of tiie selllenieiits that ini;:hl ;:allier alioiit it. Mis |ielitioii was yniiited. and heretiiiiied to Canada the propiietor of one ol' the most \aliiaWle estates in the province. His relatives, plea.sed with his llallerin;;' prospects, advam-cd him lari^c suiiis of inoiicv, which enaliied liiiii to coiriply with his a;:reeiiieiit. Ilesides I'lir- iiishiiii; the stipulated military and clerical forces, and providiti;; a chapel for the latter, he liiiilt four small decked vessels to cair.v trei.L;lil lo the head of the lake, u hither he next expected t<» ad- vance. A jieiiod <»f mere than three years now succeeded, in which all Caiiiida was rent with civil fends. .Mtercatioiis spran;^ lip lietweeii rival traders ; .lesiiits and Ifccollets were einhit Icred l»y dissensions, and the civ il ant horilies liecame corrupt, and eii- }>ii;^ed in iiitrijuiies, attended with the ;;reat«'st acrimony. It was impossihie for a person of LaSalle's proininciice to avoid Itccomiiiin a mark for the shafts of those who dilfered with him in o|iiiiioii and interest. As soon, however, as he could extricate himself from the Jarrin;; tactions, he a/iiiin visited France, to obtain the recojiiiition and support of the ;i()V('riiiiient in his contemitlaled iindertakiii;^'. His oliject heiiij^ regarded with favtir by the minis- ter, he was aiithori/ed to proceed with his discoverii's, and occupy tlie new found countries by the erection of forts, while, in lieu of other sujiport, he was granted a monopoly in ItiilValo skins, which, it was believi'd, would be a source of ;;reat wealth. His relatives much' additional advances of money, and in July, 1(!7S, \w sailed with.'Sd men and a laij^c siijiply of iinplements for the const met ion and oiitlit of vessels. After a prosperous voyaj^c he arrived at (Quebec, and pro(X'eded tlieiUM' up the river and lake to his seijiiiory. Amoiiii' file eiii]»loyes lie had broiijilit with him was an Italian, named Henri Toiiti. who had lost one of his hands by the exi>lo- sioii of a {grenade in the Sicilian wars. Not withstrindinn- the loss of his hand, and a constitution naturally feeble, his indomitable! Avill made him su]»erior to most men in |>liysical endurance. J'lcsides these (lualities, so valuable in the pioneer, he possessed ii fidelity which neither iidversity nor th(^ intrijiue.s of enemies Krunoe to escape tlio jiolitienl oniiviilsi()ii>< of 111-* iiiitivo coiiiitry. If e wiis nil sible iliiiuiuler, iiud won UistiuctiDii as the inventor of Tontine Life liisuninoo. I.AHALLK. 00 IN'coIlcts, lull ill other i» >|m'cIs din't'iciit. II('tiiM'|tiii, in ciirlv litV', read witli iiii\\cii."it>ldicr. I<'indin;;, at lcn;>'tli, Ins old inclination to ti'a\'('l rt'tnininji;, lie ol>tainfd |>ci mission of Ids snitciior to \ isit Anu'iica, wImti', iu armi'dann' with Ids wandi-rin;;' piorliv itv, hr lircanic (■oniifcltMl villi till' adventures of LaS 'c. In this capacity lie won distinc- tion as an cNplorei', hut altei..ai'ds tarnished his reputation with lalse pretensions. K'il»oiii'(ie was a hale and cheerriil old man of l)\ years, and ihoii^li possessing;' I'ewer salienl points tor the privations o!' a missionary, and at h'st was stricken down Ity the parricidal hand of those he fain Mould have heiielite«l. Meiidirc, like I leiinepin, is accused ol' \ anity and falsehood, lie must, howi'vei", have possj-ssed redeeiiiinj; traits, I'oi- he Ion.;- remained the faithful companion of LaSalle, ami liiially peiisiied in his service. On arriviiii; at the tort, LaSalle sent 1.") men with merchandise to Lake .'Michi.uan, to trade for furs. Aftei'disjtosinn of tlie;;oods, tla-y weie insliiicted to proceed with the haiti'icd coinmodilics to Illinois, and there await his arrival, 'i'he next step he hoped to liialie ill liis westward pioi^ress was the erection (d" a fort at the month of the liver Nia;;aia. lie tlioii;;lit if he coidd control this ];cy to the chain of lakes al)ove, he could also contiol the Indian trade of the inlei-ior. I'or this piii'iiose, l,aMotte and lleiiepin, uirh I(» men, on the IStli of November, emharked in one of tin! •small vessels which lay ;it the fort, and started for the month of the river. l»etaided by adverse winds, it was not till the filii of December that they reached their dest ination and etfected a land- in;^. Here they met with a band of Seiiecas from a nci.i^hborin;;" villa;j;e, who i;azed ii|»on them with cnrions eyes, and listplies foi' the new settlement, arrived. They had also encountered unfavorable winds, and LaSalle, aux- icais to liasien forward, entrusted one of his vessels to the pilot, ■«vho, disi'enardinnhis instructions, sutfereil her to becoiiu' wrecketl. The crew escaped, bnt with the exee]»tiou of the cables ami anchors inteiidi'd to be used in bnildin.t;' a slii]) above the cataract, the car^o was lost. JjaSalle, who was nunc than an (udiuary uuis- 70 lll,'|(.i;s (.1 ||J,|\(»IM, III ()(■ liiili;iii l. Ill lil-ll ol III!' loll, he VMM jK'l mil li-i| lo Mfrl :i Uiin'linii,><'. 'I'lii- Uii-, i<»iii|(lc|« d, :iimI ii-fij iis ;i iliclli r lor till' liK'ii (liiriii;/ llic r-iiMlili;4 u ilil <-r, :i iiilor,\ I'oi iiii-r (•li:iii
  • « I on I lie lis <-r. '11 M- jMiiiil (IimIciI loi llii- |iiii|)o-i- u;i-s on I he iM^t -idi* ol IJM- ri\i-i. ;il llii- inoiilli ol (';i\ii;si <'ri.-;ii\ (•(|iii|.in(iil -, iiiiii on llic :."J(| ol ,l;;iiii;il\ , Kii'.t, ('iiliinicnci'il llic Lilioiion l;i L ol cai i) iiiv llicin lo IIk point. Hclcclcd. -onic r: iiiiici
  • |, in llic l;iKc. .\ol w il ji>l;iinliii;j llic nlN inpl ol' liii' Scnccii'- |ti Imiii llii' \ c.^M'l iis .>lic ;jic\s on llic -locli ■., ill line lime \|ic \\;i ^ lini 'Inil iiml rc;ii|\ lo hiiincli. 'lite lirin^j; ol' cniinon Jiinonnccil iicii-oiii' |ilclioii. iinil ;i> l'ic men clnmicil a .son;; in honor ot I heir .>iii-cc .s, :ilii| Ihc lliiliiin- -hlieil ;il the no\e| 'Ivill, .lie ^'Kieclnlh [.'hijiil oiil on llic \\;ilci.^ ol' Ihc .\ i;i;j;ir;i. hniinji Imt coii--I iiii| ion, llic\ ucic i^icalJN aiiiiizeij at the \t\i-. ol Ihc hii.vc inoiiilci-, l»nl now llie\ looKcil >\illi increa.^cil .-.nr|»iiM' at Ihc ^'iiin iiin//,le,s of ."» iliij not occur till .Xnyiii, he liasin^;. iii the ineaiiliinc. Iiicn ilelained l»\ (iiiaiicial ilillii all ie •>, vK'^^il'^r ••Hi, ol'llie allciii|il ol cncinics lo in jnie III ■ I'll dil . He liioirdit uilU liiin iiilioiii'de and Meniliie, to |ire;ieh the I'ailli anion;; tin liilics ol' tlid west, which he nou |»;o|io>.-d lo \\\{. To dcCcr tin- <'nter|iii,sc loii;;ei-, uonld l»c lo dclent il, and on tin* Till of Aii;;iist, HiTM, till' \(tya;^ei'- eiiiliaiKcd. 'I'iic cMcuded .sails of their lillle rral't catehiiiv. iln- Itrcc/.c. Iioic hcrsalclv out on Ihc lio.som of l/ilvc i'irie. .Never Itel'oic had licen |ii.-iiiicil in its waters the iiiia,!L'.e ol' lint leriii;/ caiiv a -. ami to llic ol'dcei , tnrkev > ami hear-, npou whose llesli llieeievv feasted W'lli the ;'reatesl reii>li. A •cendiny;■ I-ake St. ("lair ami the rest of ih" strait lliey entered I,ake nnroii, which ap|»ear<'d like a vast mirror ■ct ma I'raiite fantastic w itii ror-ks ami verdure. So oiiie and Iraiisparenl were tlie waters, llie lisiion llic pclililed liollom lie|o\' seemed the onlv inlialiitant.s of earlli, w liii<- their litlle hark Moated like a .loml in inni air aliove tliein. .\t liisl tlie vova,;jc was piospcioii-. Mini islet after islet loomed n|» licfore tliem, which the strange iniia;;!- of tlie, waters converled into iinye 'I'ritons .slaikin;^ rapidly l»v, ami di.sap- )ii ariii;4 in I he di-lame In hind. Soon. Iioucvcr, tlieliiecze lieforn whieli tiiey moved iresiiciicd into a ^ali^ and at last Itecame an i.ahai.m;. I iiW/yy Iciiipcisl, (%n\H\l\n lln* ^iTiih-nl ;il;iriii. All Iril In |)i;i,\ iii;^ cs- • •i|.l liii' |(iiol,s\lio w;iri iii<;ciiw<| ;il ilic idcji ol i;^ii. 'I'lic h;iiiil, il i> s;iiil, iiii-i\\cicl liiri ciilci)iiiic. Willi iiiul i\ ;iy. i I ere he uiis neciv ed \\ il li ;^reiil. lin,-']iil;i)il> h,\ :i i'olii \v:il:tiiiie eliid', ii/id md with :i niiiiilier nl' his liiidcrs, wlin, unlike Ihc olhers, h:id r;iitlilidl,s di.-|in.Mi| nl' his ^nndsiind enlleiUd ;t hir^e, (jiniiilil.v nll'Ms. lie iil nnee n-Mihcd Jo send ilieiii, uilh nllie|-s he liiid colledcd on llie \\;i> In Ni;i;;;iiii, i'nr the III /idit of lii> eicdiUns. Siidi ;i I iiiiisiid inn Uii-- nnl mil hnr JZ'd li\ his liieii-.c nl' diseiM c)_\, \d Ids will uiishiu, :iiiil d<,|)ile, I lie jiioUv^t III' his rnllnwer.S, llic I'lll-H wcie e;iiliei| ;iiin:iid I he (uif- iiii. 'J he pilot, jirici' lnncc. IjiiSiillc, with the leniiiiniii;; iiien, iinw cinliiirked in ciinnes, hidcn with ii I'lir^c, tools iind ;inii.>;, :ind htiirtcil lor the nioiith of l!ic St. .Iii-e)ih. I id'orl iiiiiite!;. , ihcy round the jiikc hiokcn uilh eniist;iiit stnniis. uliidi riei|iH'>:! i\ im- pcrilcil tlicir own lives iind niiide them Ircmlilc ioc the jiitc nl the (iiillin. .Mler il Inii^ \ ii,\ ii^c, in uhidi llie\ siiU'eied iiindi liiini liiird.diip iind hunger, llie\ iiiri\crovisions, and tliey were c(»in- pclU'd to return. Shortly after, of their own accord, the absent men made tlicir way to tlie fort, and the entire party was ayaiu united, 'fiie only care wliicii now o]ti)ressed LaSalU' was the ab- sence of the (iiiftin. .Vmple time had elapsed for her return, l»ut nowhere on liie wild solitude of waters was lie clie( red with the si,ulit of a sail. K'ncful forcbodin,i;s sa7!>, the |»arty, numbering' .'».'! persons, c(»mmenccsepli. Already tiie inar.iiins of the sticain were .ulassed with sheets of ice and the adjacent forests were .lii'ay and bare. Four days broimht them to the site of South ISeiid, to look for the path leading;' at-ros.s the jiortajie to the Kankakee. A Mohe<;'an iiuuter, who accoinjta.- ]iica lijiht, made up to it, supposinji' it came from the camp of his men. To his sur|)rise it proved to be the lonely bivouac of some Indian, who liaant. He took possession and slcjit unmolested till moriiinji', when, without further ditilicnlly, he found his way to cam]). Meanwhile, the ^lohejraii hunter Iiail arrived, and soon the whole ])arty stood on the banks of the Kan- kakee, coiirsinu its way in /.i,iL;-zaj;s amonj^' tufts of tall s of alder, into its curn'iit, which a tall man niijiht easily iiestride, they set their <'anoet<, and shiwly moved (hiwn its shiic- gish, slimy waters. So full was its channel that the voyji^crs seemed sailinsi' on the surface of the ground, while their evening- shaihiws, unobstructed by banks, fell far beyond their canoes, and trooped like liufic phantoms alony by their side. \>y and by it j>rew to a consideral>le stream, from the drainafic of miry barrens and reedy marshes skirtinji' its banks. Still farther on succeeded prairies and woodlands, recently scorched by the tires of Indian LASALLE. limilci's, iiiid Ik'ic :iii(1 tlicrc (Iccjily sciirrcd witli tlic trails oC luif- liilo. Ocnisioiiiillv, oil the (list;iiit vci'uc ol" tlic piiiirics, llicy could sec liidiiiiis in pursuit of tlicsc iiiiiiiiiils, wliih^ at iiij;lit 1li<; lioii/oii l)hiz('d witii camp tires wiicic tlicv were cookiiij:' and fcast- iu}X iil'<»" tiK'ir swcctiv flavored meats. LaSallc's .Molie<;an liunter liad been iiiisiiccessiul, :iiid liis Iiall'-starved men would jiladly have sliared witli tlie lny discovery of a lin;ne bull so deeply mired he was iimtlile to esciipe. So jMtiidei'oiis was his hu,i;'e body that when killed it re«piired lli men, with the aid of cables, to extricate him from the mud. K'efreshed with a boini- til'ul repast, they a^ain betook themsehcs to their canoes, and soon entei'cd the Illinois, meanderinj;' Ihroiiiili plains of richest \er- dure. They were then the ]»astiii'e grounds of innumerable deer and bulValo, but now wondrously transformed into scenes of a,i:ri- (■nltiiral tliiift. On the riylit they passeaiiioiis. Soon some of his men discovered lari^'c (plant ities of it stored away in pits, but at lii'st refrained troin takinji" it, lest they niiylit seriously offend its owners. Necessity, liowever, jicnerally yets the better of prudence, and they took a quantity suflicieiit to sujiply their ])i'esent wants, and departed down the liver. On the 1st of .laniiary, KiSO, they aj;aiii landeil to hear mass, and wish each <»tlier a happy new year. I"\itlier Hennepin closed the exercises by liaranjiuinj;- the men on the importance of patience, faith and constancy. I'wo days afterward they entered the ex- ]»aiision (»fthe river now called I'eoria Lake, after the Indians who dwelt upon its banks. Columns of smoke, rising' jiiaeefully fi(»in the I'orest below, now announced the i»resence of Indians, who, LaSallc liad reasons to suspect, were averse to his enter) iri.se. Dn- disniayecs. LaSallc, aware that the lea;t hesitancy on his ]»art would be construed as fear, Icajied ashore with his lit- tle band of l''r<'iK'hmen, each armed ami ready for action. Such andacitv Mas too much, even for Indian heroism. Wonu'ii and children trembled with fear; brave warri.Ms tied in the utmost teri'or, but a few of the more bold rallied and made overtures of peace. Two chiefs iulvauced anlaiis with fa\(ir, he concluded liy statin;!; lie would i>ass on to the Osaj^cs, in the jtrcseiU limits of .Missouri, ami .nive them the l>eiietit of his trade and intlneiice. The allusion to these Indians aroused tlieii' Jealousy, which had loiii; existed between the two tribes, and the Illinois readily assented to his A\ ishes. and were loud in theii' jtrofessions of t'rieiidslii]). Xotwithstaudiiii;' this auspicious i'ecei>tioii. it soon became evi- dent to LaSalle that secict enemies were intriunin^ to defeat his enterprise. Some of his men, dissatislied and mutinous from the lirst, secretly endeavored t(» foment disallection and ill-will in the bettei- disposed of his foHoweis. 'I'hey re|uesented to their coiii- ra(les the folly of lonuer reiiiaiiiiiiii the dupes and slaves ol' a leader whose wild schemes and imaiirinary hopes ecuild never i>e I'ealized. AVhat could lie exi»ected. said lliey. after ibllowini: him to the extreme coiilines of the earth and to remote and dan,i;froiis seas, but to either miseralily jierish or return the \ictims of dis- ease and ]>o\('rly. They urycd that the only way to escape these e\ ils was to return before distance and the waste of streii'^^th and means I'eiidered it imi»ossible. It was even hinted that it miulit be best to escape from their jireseiit calamities by the death of tlu'ir iiutlior: then they nii^iit retrace their steps and share in the <'r«'dit of what had already been accomplished, instead of fnriliej- ju'otiactin;^' their labors foi' another to monopoli/e the hoiiois. Fortunately those who entertained these \ lews were too few in iiiimbers to reduce tlu in to practice. I'nable to elTect anythiiij^' Avitli their own countrymen, Ihey next turned to the sava.^ics. ]lavinj;<»btained a secret interview, tliey informed them that La- tSalle liad entert'd into a conspiracy with the liMxpiois to etVect their destruction, and that he was now in the country to ascei tain their streii.uth and build a ibrt in I'liitherance of (his object. They also said that, while he was ostensibly prepariii>4' to visit I'ort I'rontenac, liis leal object was to invite th«' Irotpiois to make an invasion into th' ir connti'y as soon as he was pi^ejiared to assist them. The Indians, «'ver suspicious and ready to listen to charj;-es of tliis kind, became morose and reserved. LavSalle, iiotieinji' t heir altered rudence nor humanity would excr permit him (o form an alliance with the Iicupiois, whose brutal and rcNenncful conduct he had always reyai(lenf fortuiic a.yiiiii ciiiiic t(» liis rescue. l>y the timely iid- iiiiiiistratioii ol' nii tiiilidote tiie |M»isoii was iieiitiiili/ed, and his iil'e Avas saved. 'IMiiswasaii a^e of poisoners, and it had not heen loiiy- since a siinihii' iitteiiipt a.nainst llie life (tf LaSalle had Ix-en made at l''ort l''i'oiiteiiac. Hardly had hiiSalle esea])e(l the niaehinations of his own men, 1)efoi(' he Itecaiiie imolved in the meshes of others, with wliom he sii--!aiiied not e\'en the most remote connection. The new in- ti-i.Lrnes, LaSalle, in a letter to Coiuit I'^rontenae, atlrilmtes to the .Jesuit Priest, Allonez, then a missionary amoiiii' the Miainis. I'erliiiiis LaSalle on account of his |iaitiality for the Kecollcts, or more likely fearin::,' that the latter, throiiiiih his intlneiice, mi.ulit hccoiiie more pot cut Ihaii his own order, he sent a .Mascoiitin chief, called Moiiso, lo excite the jealonsy of the Illinois ajiiiinst him. They <'ame (Mjiiipped witii itreseiits. which drew to.i;«'ther a ni.i;htly <'onciave of cliiej's, to whom Monso nnbosomed liis oitject. Ilisiii";' ill llicir miilst he said he had lieen sentlty a certain l-'i^enchnian to warn them a;;aiiist the designs of I>aSaIle. lie tlK'ii (lenoni;ced liiiii as a spy of t he I liMjiiois on his way to secure t he co-opcrat ion of tribes l)eyoiid the .Mississijipi, with the hope that by a com- bined attack, to either destroy the Illinois oi' drive them from the country. In conclusion he added, the best wa,\ to avert these ca- laniilies was to stay his fai'ther |»ro^ress, by cansiiiii' the desertion of his men. Ibninj;' thus roused the siisjiicions of the Illinois, the envoys hnriidly dejiarted, l(\sttliey mi.uht have toconfront the object of theii' fold aspersions. The next mornin;;' the savau«'s looked suspicions and sidleii. ^\ jilance sniliced to convince La8alle that new dillicnlties awaited him, nor was it Ion;;' till ho ascei'tained tlicir charactei-. A chief, to whom the day before In^ liad uivcn a liitei'al supply of presents, ]irivately informed him of uhal iiad transpired at the council the jtrecedin^- iii^ht. This information was <'onHrmed by what occurred at a teast, jiiveii short 1> aitei'ward by a brother of the ]>rincipal <*hiet', to Avliich LaSallc and his men were iiiviteil. While the repast was in pre- jiaration their host endeaxored to ]»ersna(le them to abandon tlieir journey by nm^Hiiifyin^' the dangers which would attend it. lie informed them that (he object of his imitation was not only to re- fresh tiieii' bodies luit to )'emo\ e from their minds the infatuation of farther attemi>tin.i; an errand which could never bo aoooin- l)lislied. If yon endeavoi' to descend the .Mississi])])i, said he, you will Iind its banks beset with tiilies whom nc'iher numbers nor coiiraye can overcome, while all who enter its waters will be ex- ]»osed to the devonrinii' fan;;s of seri»ents and unnatural n)onsters. Should they avoid these, he added, the river at last boconns a succession of I'an'inu' whirIp- ]iis tliaiiks for tlie timely waniiii,u-, lie replied as follows ; "Tlir u:rc;itcr tlic (iMiiLicr tlu' ifrciilrr \\\r luuior; mid i vcn if ilic ilanu-fi' Wivo. rciil, II I'^rciulmiaii would luvcr \k- iilVaid lo iiic( t il. JJiit wire iiol tin- llliiiuis jridiiiis? Had tiny imt Iiccii deluded hy lies? We weiv iml .'isleep, my hri'lliei', w lieii >roiiso cMiiii' to tell yon, under cover of iiiulit. thai we were spies of the Iloi|iioi^. The l>resellts lie "jjave yoil, t hut- you niiullt belli ve his fidsidioods, iire ill Ihls iiiomenl buried In the earth under this lodji'e. If he lold the irutli why did he skulk away in the l eaine ainoni;' you, and your ('ani|) was all in confu-'ion, We ('ould have killed you wilhoui iieediiii;- help from llie Iro(|nois, iind now while 1 am sprakiiu', could we iiol put, your old men lo death, while yt)ur youiiir warriors are all u'one away to liiinl. If we imant to make war (Ml yoii, we should m'cd no help from the lre(|unis, w ho ha\i' so often fi li thu fore<' of our arms. Look al w hat w< have lirou<;lil you. ]| is i ol wi apon^ lodis- stroy ymi, but merchandise and tools for your jfood. If you still harbor evil tiiouiihls of us, be i'vnwk as we areand speak them boldly. (Jo afler Hie iiu- posti-r, .Moiiso, and brini;- him back Ihat we may answer him faci' to face; for lie never saw either us or the Iroipiois anil what of his men had iiasely deserted. Diuilit- less, ill part to escajic the imauiiiaiy daii;;ers already alluded to, but mostly on account of ]>revious disaffection, they had aiiaii- doneil their employer at the time when he had the liieatest need of their services. LaSalle asscmiiled the remainder, and spok<' in severe terms of the liaseiu'ss of those who iiad left him. '• If any one yet remains, " he continued, " who from cowardice desires to I'etnrn. let him wait till sprin.u', and he can tiieii uo without the stijiiiia of ilesei'tioii. " One of the i»rincipal dilliciilties alteiidino' tlie early I'lcncli entcr]»rises of the West was to procure trusty iiieii. The wilderness Wiis full of va^ahond hunters who had lied from the discipline of cixilized life, and now exhiliilcd an extreiiio of lawlessness ]iro])ortioned to their pre\ious jcstiaints. Tlieir I'reedom from care, and immunity frloyment. Fort Vreccraurc. — LaSalle, wearied with these dilliciilties, now determined to erect a fort in which he and his men minhtjiass the winter without molestation. A site was chosen on the east side of the liver, a short distances lielow the outlet of the lake. This Avas the extremiry of a ridu*- approiichiiiy within I'lH) yards <»f the shore, and i»rot<'cted on each side hy (h-ep ravines. To fortify tlio hlutV thus formed, a ditch was iXw^ hehiiid to connect the two raxines. KmliankiiM nts were thrown up to increase the altitude of the dirt'erent sides, and the whole was surrounded with a ijalisade li.") feet in lii.iiht. The work was completed hy erectiuj.;' within the enclosure hiiildiiiys for lIu- a«commodation of the men. LASALI-E. 77 LiiSiillc Itcstowcd (HI it tlic iiiiiiici 'it'x t'cd'ni'.* iiii iii»|»t'll;iti(>ii wliicli still |M'i|H'tiiiitcs tilt' iiiislortiiiics iiiid disappoiiitiiit'iits ^A' its loiiii- »l«'r. Tlic Indians rcmaiiicd tViciidi.v, and tlir new tortilicalinii snltscivcd more liic pniposc of a sanctnaiy tlian a place l\)v the disciiai'.yc ol'nulitaiv dnty. Ilcnnc|)in prcaclicd twice (in flic Sah- Itatii, cliantcd \ cspeis, and ic,i;i'cttcd that tlic want o\' wine pre- vented tlie cclchration of mass. .Meniere daily visited the Illinois and, despite their tilth and (lis;L;iistin,u' inanners, laltorcd e;iriicstly, Itiit with little success, lor their spiritual wcllai-e. Siicli was tlic lirst l''rciicli occupation ol' the Icri'itory now enihraccd iii the present limits of Illinois. Tlic place of this ancient fori may still Itc seen a shoit distance below the outlet of I'eoria Lake. ]''or years after its erection the country around the lake remained the home of sa\ a.ycs, and rich iiasture ;;ronn(ls for herds of deer and Iinffalo. Ilitlicrto. LaSalle had entertained some liojie tliat the (.'rilliii, which had on hoard anchors, li^f^inji', and other neccssaiy articles r<»r the constrnction of another vessel, mij^lit still he safe llo proi>osed to hiiild a vessel on the Illinois, freij;lit lier with hulVah* liides, collected in the descent of the Mississipjii, and thence sail to the West Indies or I'rance. and dispose of the carjio. Tlic(!rif- liii. howcNcr, with her much needed stores, ne\'er made her ajipcar- ance. It was variously helicNcd at the time that she had found- ered in ;i storm — that the Indians had hoarded and hnrnt lici — and tl.'at the -Icsiiits had coiitrixcd her dcsti'uctioii. I^aSallc was of o|)inion that Iier own crew, after r(>iiio\inji' the car;;!) of furs and nierchandise. sunk her and then ran away with their ill-uotteu spoils. But the cause of the loss was of little inoment ; they wcrti ^oiic. and thcic was no alternative left LaSalle hut to return to J''contcnac and .yet others to su])ply their ]>lace. His j^reat anxiety in coiinectioii \\ith this step was the fear that others of his men ini.ulit take a(lvanta,n'e of his ahseuce and desert. While i('\(>lviiij4 this .suhject in his mind, an incident (K'ciirred which enal>led him to disabuse their minds of the false: state- ineiifs thc.\ had licaid in regard to the dan.ti'crs of the ^lississippi. Dining- a hunt in the vicinity of the fort, he chanced to meet with a yoiinji' Indian who had been absent .some time on a distant war excursion. Finding him almost famished with hunii'ei, he in\ ite(l him to the fort, where he refreshed him with a jicnerous meal, and questioned him with ai)])arent inditferenee respectin'i' the ^Missis- sippi. ()wiii,n' to his lon^' absence, he knew nothinji' of what had transpiicd between his countrymen and the French, and, with preat in,i;('iiuousncss, imparted all the iiifoiination re(piirc(l. La- iSalle now ^a\(' him presents not to mention the interview, and, ■with ii number of his men, icpaircd to the cam]) of the Illinois to expose (heir misre[>resentatioiis. Ha\in.y' found the chiefs at a feast of bear's mci t, he boldly accused them of fidsehood, and at once proceeded to verify his charjucs. The Master of Life, he de- clared, was the friend of tiutli, and had revealed to him the actual charactei' of the .Mississippi. He then jiax'e such an accnrato ac(M>unt of it, that his astonished but credulous auditors believed his knowl(Mlanecs ainon^' Ids men diirin;^' Ids aliscnce, lie set tlieiii at woi k on tlie new vessel. Some of Ids best carpenters had deserted, yet eneiiiV supplied tlie place of sUill, and hefore his depai'Inre lui saw the new craft on the slocks, rapidly approaching' completion. He also tliou.i^iit that llennepiii mi.u'ht accomplish j; renter results liy e\|»loriii,u the rpjter .Mississijipi than liy preachiiit: sermons, and lie was therefore reipiesled to take charge of an expedition for this ]>iirpose. The friai', not wisliiii;^' to incur the dan^^ers of the under- taking;, plead liodily infirmitN, and endeavored to have one of his spiiiliial collea,!;'iies appointed in his stead. K'iltoiirde was too old to endure the hardships, and Memhre. though disgusted with his clei'ical duties amonji" the Illinois, preferred an iiiiplcasani lield of labor to one besei with perils, ilcuiiepiii, lindin^ iio alteniatix c hut toaccepl. with rare modesty and ^reat reliance upon pro\ ideiice, says: "Anybody but me would have been iniicli much friiihtenccl with the daiii^crs of micIi a Journey, and in fact, if 1 had not placed all my trust in (lod, 1 should not liax'c been the dupe of LaSalle, who exposed my life rashly.." A profusion o\' ,i;ifts was |)laced in Ids canoe, tf» conciliate the Indians, and on the last day of Febru- ary, Ioint in tiie river above, where the swiftness of the cnricnt ke]»t the channel oiten. Little tlionyht these lonely wandereis that the. desolate s]iot where this incident traiis]»ired. was one day to re- 8(aiiid witli the iramp of the mnltitnde which now tln'on^s the .sti'ccts of i'eoi'ia. A laborions mai'ch of four leajiues, tliron,nii iiieltinj;' snows, ])laced them above tli(^ icy bai'rier of the lake, and they launched their canoes. Thence, to the ,:;i'eat town of the, Illinois, they found the river at different iioints blocked with ice, and their Journey was iiuulc alternately by land and water, in the drenchinj;' rains of o|M'inn^' sprinj^-. They found the xillajic with- out inhabitants, and its lodges crested with snow. The adjacent meadows were still locked iu the fetters of winter, and the more distant forests, beaided w itli crystals, flashed in the nunninj^' sun lilcea sea of dianu>nds. Yet the fiozen landseajte was not without lite. The impress of nioccasined feet could be traced in th(! snow, and occasionally a stra.uinliuj; butfalo could be seen, and one of them was shot. While his men were smokinji' the meat of the aninnd, LaSalle went out to reconnoitic the country, and soon fell in with ;> Indians, oiu' of whom i)roved to be the i)rincipal chief of the Illinois. Inviting- him and his associates to his cami>, he made them jtreseiits, and refreshed them Avith the best food his scanty larder could liuiiish. lb- then informed the chief that he was on his way east to procure arms and amniunition for the de- fense of his tribes, and obtained from him a ])romise that he would send provisions to his men in th(! fort duriuf; his absence. While here, he visited (Starved Eock, the remarkable cliff previously alhuled to, a nule or more above the village, on the southern bank of the river, lie afterwards sent word to Tonti to exannnt! and fortify it, incase an outbreak of tlie Indians rendered it necessary.* *Scverrtl years since, it was soleetetl l)y some cntorprisiiiijr Yanlcecs as a site lor a town, wliioli tliuy very approi)rlately culled Gibraltar ; but now it rctuaiua houseless, as in the time ot the great explorer. 79 ti^l' lU)"ft 80 inSTOUY OF ItJJXfUS. Oiitlif I'llli (if Miin-li LiiSiillc It 11 tlir \ illiiut', anil t'ontiniicil liis Jdiiiiifv as hcriiic, paillv li\ land iiinl in part li\ walcr. liil williin two miles til' the site ni' .l]>ose(l to he the Huron, which, after makiiiji' a caiioe, they descended to tin; J)( troit. Thence, marchin^castwavd to the hike, .)(• miles disian!, tliey einharked ill a canoe and pushed across (he lake toi' tin tails of Niajiiira, whither (hey arrived on Kasier Monday, KJSO. Here lie found tin' men left sit the eataiaet tlu' i>revious aiittimu, who not only eonlirmed the loss of (ho (iritrni, hut informed liim that a ear.uo of merchandise helon^iii;;' to him, valued at L'li(HI livres, had recently heeu swallowed up in (he (iulfof St. Lawrence. LeaviuiLi' the weary com])auioiis of liis jucvious Journey at >.'ia<:Jii'a, he set out w ith fresh men for Fort rronteitac, and on the (ith day of i\iay discovered tliroii<;li the hazy atmosphere, (he familiar oiit- liiii's of liis seifiuioiy. lie had now traveled within (io days the. distance of KlOO miles, w hicli, ccuisideriuj;' the circumstances, was oiH' of the uiost reniarkahle journeys ever uiade hy the early ]''r«'iich e\]>lorers. I'ossessini; an in\ incihle de,termiiiati(Ui and ii fram<> of iron, lie surmounted ohsta(;l"s from wiiicli a person less favorahly endoAved would have turned away in disi)air. How clianji'ed has since heccnue the wilderness throiijih which he wan- dered. Its dark forests have become a rejiion of har\ ests, and the traveler of to-day accomi>lislies in less than ♦wo days the Journey Avliich reiiuired of him more than two mouths. At the fort he learned that his agents had treated him with had faith; that his creditors had seized his jirojierty, and that several canoes beloufiintj to him, h>ade(l with valua'des, had been lost in the rapids of the St. Lawrence. Without useless re])ininfi', ho hastened to Montreal, where his presence excited the greatest sur- TONTI'H KNroUNTffiK WITH TltK IK()<>r(»IH. 81 prise, iiiiil wIhtc, iiotw itlistiiiKliii;^ liis ^rciit tiiiiiiiciiil losses, liis ])('l'si)iiaclied the utmost limits of hnman endnrance, on seeing' the hopes of his enterprise so tVe(|neidly le\ «Iled to the ^loiind. While, however, weaker men ■wonid have turned away in dispair, no eye could detect in his stern demeanor an altered ])urpose or a shaken resolve. His only liol»e now seemed to be in Tonti, and could that faithful ollicer l»reser\<' the v<'ssel <'ommenced on the Illinois, and the tools which had been conveyed thithei' Avith so much labor, it nn^ht constitute an anchor to which he could attach the driftiui;' wreck of his f(»rtun<'s. ]la\ iiiiL; ])rocui'e(l sujiidies and everythiiijn' needful for the outfit of a vessel, without furthei' (h'lay he set out, on the KMholWu- ^iist, for Illinois, accom]>anied 1 his lieutenant, La Forest, and L*."> nien. He ascended the river llund>er, <'i'ossed Simcoe Lake, and descended the Severn into Lake Huron, over which he jiassed to the Straits (»f ^Mackinaw. At the stati(»n he found it ditlieult to replenish his ]»rovisions, and, not to be (h-layed for this purpose, he i»nslied forward with lUmen, leaving' LaI"'orest and the remain- der to follow us soon as they could procure sup])lies. November 24th he arrived at the St. .losepli, ami, anxious to jaish forward more iai)idly, he left tlu' ^reatei- ])art of the stores, with o nu'ii, at the ruiiu'd foit, and with the remainder ascended the river, cntssed th(^ ])oi-ta^"e and eoninu'nced tlu' descent of the Kaidcakee. Not nieetin;:>' with any traces of Tonti and his men, he concluded they must still be at the fort on the river below, and hastened thitlu'r, jureatly relieved of the anxiety he had felt for their safety. Kumors for sometime had prevailed that the Irocpiois were mecli- tatin^- a d(\scent on the Jlliuois, and should it ])rove true, itmi,Ie iiiaues and iiiisiiiiitly tbi'ins nii,L;!d well have inspired an approaehinj;' foe with terror. lint il \at- tles foii.i;ht anions' themselves as the result of i^ailantry, or peihaps tile more ambitions motive Iteeomini;' the eiiami»ions of their sha;^^:y herds. Tiie [)arty wishinj;' a su|ii>ly of bntVal«t meat, landed and eoiiimenced a wai'fare on the tem])tin,i;' name. Some dra,!:.u('d themsehcs throniiii t lie thick ^rass and witii nnerrin,i; aim bi'ou.nht down their favorite animals, while others, willi less labor and jii'eater success, concealed themselves liehind the banks of the river and shot snch as came to diink. Twchc hiiinc carcasses re- waich'd the labors of the hunt, whicli the men cut into thin Hakes and dricfl in the sun lor future use. With abun of vvelconu'. The i>lain on which the town liad stood was now sirevvn with the charred tVa.^ments of lodges, which had so I'ecenlly swaiined with sa\ a,ue life and hilarity. To render more hideous the ])icture of desola- tion, larj^e uunduTs of skulls had been i»laecd on the ujipcr ex- tremities of lodye ]»oles, which had escajied the devouring; llames. In the midst of the hoiiois was the rude fort of the spoilers, ren- dered fright ful with the same ,i;hastly relies. A near ai»proacli showed that the, j;Ta.ves had been robbed of tlu'ir bodies, and swarms of buzzards Avei'e discovered .yluttiu};' their loathsonuj stomachs on their reekiiii;' corruption. To complete the work ot destruction, the, yrowinj;' corn of the village had Iteen cut down and buint, while the i)itscontaininursue in futuic. In his search the i)revious day he had discovered (! posts near the river, on each of which was ])ainted the tiyure of a man with ban«la,yed eyes. Sui'misinn' that the li;.;ures nn,L;ht represent (J French pris- oners in the custody of the Iroquois, at daylight he made known TO^Tl'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE TUOQUaiS. 83 liis iiitciitidii of li'.tlici' (Icscfiiiliiii;' tlic livci' to iiiilold the iiiy.s IflV. Heroic liis (Icitiirtiuc Ii<' i>nl''i('(l .", of liis iin'ii to coiK'ciil tliciu- selves Mild i»!i;;^';iji(' in tlie liollow of some rocks situated on ii iiei,:;Iiltoriiii;' island, iiiid keep a sliaip lookout Ibf t'lii-tlior develoii- jiieiits. Tliey were instnieted to relVaiii iVom tlie use ol" lires, Avjierehv tliev iiiij;]it atti'aet the attention of enemies; and should others of the men arrive tlie.v were to secrete lliemselves in the same jtlace and await his retiuii. lie now set out with the 1 i-eiiiainiii,:; ni('n,eacii pidperly armed and I'liinislK d with merchan- dise to conciliate the Indians who mi,i;ht ite met on the way. ,Se\- eral Icaynes helow the town tlie,\ landed on an island, near the .. ,..'t,...i. .a,,...,, .,1.....,, ii... ('....itii',. mil,..;.. i..>.i i..i-.,i. i./.c,..,,. western shore, where tin- fnuiti\(' Illinois had taken icfii.ue. Directly opjjosite, on the main siiorc was the deserted camp of the lro(luois enemy. lOacli chief had carved on trees ol' the forest the totem oi' liis clan, and siun^i imlicatin,!;' the streiiylh of the forces lie had led to the war and the niimhcr of the Illinois he had killed and ca])tiired. I'^roni these data I.aSalU' eoncliided that theeiitire streii.!L;th of tlu' invaders could not have been less than .)S0 war- riors. Xothin.u' was found to indicate the ])i'es( iice of Fienchmen, and LaSalle a.uaiii fell down the river, and ]»asscd in o'le day (» additional cainjis of the Jllinois and as many more heloni^in;;' to their enemy. J'>otli ](arti<'s seemed to liave reti'eated i"; compact l)r»dics toward the HKMith of the liver. l':;.>siii^' I'cori:: Lake lliey found the fort destroyed, as stated in the letter of Toiiti, hut the vessel was still on the stocks and only sli,;.;]itly injured. Further «jii they discovered t additional camps of the oi)posin;i' armies. and near (he mouth of the river met with the iisiial .sequel of an Iro- (jiiois iinasioii. On the distant ver<;t' of a meadow they discovered the half-charred bodies of women and cJiildren still bound to the stakes, where they had sulVered all the torments that hellish hate t'oiihl dcxise. The men, regardless of (heir lu'lplcss cliar.ycs, had «'\ ideiitl\ lied at the first approach of danger to sa\e themselves. Their wives and children, unprotected, fell into the hands of tlie enemy, who, in addition to tliose w ho had iteeii biirnt, thickly cov- «'rcd the place with their iiiaii,!^led bodies, many of which l»ore marks of brutality too horrid lor ree(»i'd. ilelpless iiiuoeeuee, in- stead of excitin.i;' comjiassioii in the hearts of these monsters, had oiilyiier\ed them for the (ieiidish task of iiidisci iminate slaii,i;liter. LaSalle, seeing no traces of his lost men, itidccedcd to the mouth of the ri\er, where he saw the ^reat hi,uliway which for years had been the object and lioiics of his ambition. Its\as( Hoods rolled mysteriously onward t(» an unknown Ixairne, Ibr tliedis- eoxery of which, with new resolves, he determined to devote his life. J lis men proj)osed, without fiirtlu'r delay, to proceed on the Ion;;' contemplated voyage, but LaSalle, hedged in by untoward comjdicatioiis, Mas compelled to await a more faxorable time. Thinkiu,!;' that Touti ini^lit still be in the iii;;lib(uliood, he fastened to a tree a ])aintinipe <»f i»eace. To the paintinj; h<' attaclu'd a letter, addressed to Tonti, the i»iir])or( of which was (hat he should hasten iij) the river and Join him at (he .urcat (own of the Illinois. The party next coinmeiiced the ascent of (he river (o the same jilace, and vi.uoroiisly plyiii^their jiaddles ni^ht and day, arrived at their destination iu 1 tlays. JJuriii^ (he upward voyaye, 84 IITSTOUY OF ILLINOIS. tlic .yrciit coiiict of K'SO iii (le.iMi'ees, LaSalle sjieaks of it as an ohjeet of scientilie iii- (piirv, while Increase Matiu'V, a celel»i'ate.'e\v ilnjiland divine, Avitli the snpeislition common to his time, said that "it was fiau^iht Avitli teirilic portent to the nations of (lie world," At the Indian town tiie.v found the men wiio had been left be- hind, unharmed, and anxiously awaiting; their return. After yet- tin;^' some coin from tlie ra\aji'ed granaries of the burnt \ illa.!L;«', the whole i)art.\ embarked, and commenced the ascent of the river. On tiie (Jtii of .January, KiSl, they arrived at tlu' junction of the ])es|»laines and ivankakee, and passinji' up the latter a short distance, they discovered, not far from the shore, a rude hut. La- Salle landed, and enterinj;' it, found a block of wood which had I'ccently been «'ut with a saw, thus indicatiuji- that Tonti must ha\e. l)assed uj* tlie river, This discovery kindled anew the hopes of the dispaiiin^' voya.ii('rs that tiieir friends were still alive, and with liyhtt-r hearts they started directly (»verland to Fort .Miami. On the way the snow fell in blindinji' storms, and not \muw shoes, LaSalle hd the way to open :i traclv and iir^i'e on liis followers. Such wastiie depth of the snow, liis tall fijiurcwas freIe and cold, was much better rpnditied to connnand the respect of his men when present, than secure their good will and lidelity when absent. His dei>artur<' eastward was, therefore, the eonnneiu'cnu'iit of unlawful acts ann)ng his nn'n. A short time afterward, another event occurred which greatly increased the s])irit of insubordination. The twonu'U who had been sent t(tloolc for theOiiflin, had, in ])ursnanci' (,f liaSalle's oiders, arrived at the fort with disheartening intelligence. They infoiined the al- ready disalfected gai'iison that the (Irillin was lost; that Fort J''rontenac was in tlie hands ofLaSulle's creditors, and that he was now wholly without means to pay those in his eni]»loy. To ]»rev<'nt the desertion of his men, it v as usual for TiUSalle towithhohl their wages till the term for which they were employed should exjtire. Now the belief that he would ne\'er i»ay them, gave rise to a siiirit of illlll no XXMICI llilll IH'f >tllll [llll|MI>«, tliiiii tlic garrison of the tort refused loiij^cr to siiltniit to iiutlioi'ity. Tlieii- fij-st act of lawlessness was llie (lest nietioii of tlie fort; aft<'i' uliicli, tliey seized tlie aiimiiuiit ion, provisions, and other poi'ta- bles of value. anatlie, eoniineneed nervin;^' tlieniselx es for tin- coiiiinj'' IVay. Tonti, lonj;' an olijeet of siispieion. was soon siu'romided hy an anjiiy crowd ol' wairiors, w Iio a<-eiised him ol' hein^' an emissary ol' tlieenemy. i lis inal>iiil \ properly to defend himself, in hoitse- (juenee of not fidly underNtandin.u- their laniiiia^c, left llieni siill in<'lined to lieliexc him ^idlty. and they seized I he forp' and otlin- cU'eets l>ron;;ht from the fort, and threw tlu'm int() tiie rixcr. ] )on 1)1 in. n' their a l)iiily to defend themselves without the assistance: of liieir youn.i;- men, who were absent on a war expedition, they embarked their woun-n ami chihbcn in canoes and sent them dow u to the island whei'c liaSalle had seen theii' deserted huts. Sixty warriors remained with them for protection, and the rennunder, not exceedinji' KK>, returiu'd late in the day t«» tin- villauf. Alonj;- the adjaeeid shore they kindle(l hu:;'e Ixndires, which I'asi their •ilare for miles around, ^ihiin^ (he viihiue, river and distant niar- ^iinsof the forest witliihi- li^ht of day, Thecntire u'.uht was spi'ii: in ^reasiny' their l»odies, paintin;;' their fa<'cs and |,»erfonu- inj;' the war (hince, to prepaie tiieniselves for the aj»proachin,!; con llict. At early dawn the scouts who had l»een s( nt out n-turned, closely followed by the !ro((Uois, most of whom were aimed with j^uns, j)istols and swords, oblainetl from the Knj:lish. 'I lu' scouts innl seen a chief arrayei'onuse that he and Ins < en would ;:o w ith them to nu'ct the en- emy. With their suspicions pai'tially lulled, they hurriedly crossed the river ami ap|ieared on the plain beyond Just as tlieenemy <'nu'rj;('d in swarms from tin- woods skirtinii the banks of the Vvv- iidliou. The two foes were now face to face, and both comnieiic<'(l discharjiin^' their ,uuns and simultaneously leaping;' fnan sidi' to side, for the puri>ose of doilpin;.; eacii ((ther's shots. 'I'oidi, seeiu^i" the Illinois ontnuaiberedand likely tosusiaiu a defeat, detei'nnueil, at the innniiK'Ut risk of his life, to slay the li|^lit by an attempt at mediation, rri'snminj;' on the treaty of [leai-e then ex istiuy,' be- tween the, French and Iro(inois, he exchanp'd his '^nu for a belt of wamimm and ad\ anced to m 'et the sa\ a;^e nudt itude. attended by three compaiuons, who, bein,^' umu'cessarily exposed todan^ici-, lie dksinissed them and proceeded alone. A short walk bronjiht liim into the midst of a ]iack of yelpin.;.; alient to sln-d his blood. As the result of his swarthy Italian complexion and half savajie eostuuie, he was at first taken for an Indian, and before the nustake was disco\-ered a yoniiiii' wariioi' approached and stablu'dat his heart. Fortunately thebhule was turn«'d aside by conn u;^' in contact with a rib. yet a lar.ut' tlesh wound was inllicted, which bletl pi'ofusely. At this juncture a chief discovered his true character, ami he was led to the rear and etlbrts nmde to staunch his wound. When sullicienlly recovered, he declared the Illinois were under the pro- tection of the French, anddeunuided, in eunsideratiou of the treaty TONTl'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE IIIOQTTOIS. 87 l»('t\v('('ii tlic hitter iiiid tlic Inupiois. tliiit tln'v sIkhiM Itc stitt'crcd to rciiiniii witlidiit I'lirtlKT iiidlcslntioii. Diiiiiii;' t Iiis coiirci'dicc, a ,V<>iiii^' wiinidi' siiiit<'lit'\ had been killed, can set 1 the l>attle to "breeze n]!" with increased inten- .sit,v. Sininltaneoiisl.y, intclli^cnec^ was i»r()iij;lit to the lro(|iiois that Freiiciiiuen Avero, Jissistiny their enemies in the li;^ht. when the contest ovei' 'i'onti was renewed Mith redoubled fnry. Some declared that he shonid he innnedialciv |)nt to death; while oth- vrs, liiendly tit I>aSalle, with eH' him as an instiument to delnde the Illinois with a pretended trin*e. The old wari'iors therelbre advaiiced totheJVont ami oi'dered the lirin,u' to cease, w Idle Jonti, dizzy Irom tlu' loss of blood, was furnished with an emblem (»f l>eace and sent sta^'^^ci'in.u' across the ])lain to rejoin the Illinois. The two trials, who had Just returned from a distant hut, whither they had I'ctired for pra.\er and meditation, were the liist to meet him ami bless (iod Ibr what tliev regarded as a miraculous deliv- t'rance.* With the assurance broiijiht by Tonti, the Illinois re- <'rossed the I'iver lo tlu'ir Iod,i;es, followed by the enemy as far as the oj>posite bank. >.'ot loiij;' aftei', lar^c numbers of the latter, umh'r the inrtext of hiintin^, also crossed tin' liver and hiiiiy in tlireateiiin^i' ;;roups about the town. These liostd«' indications, air, tl>' well known disrej^ard which the Iro(piois had always evinced for their jtledjics, soon conviiic<'d the Illinois that their only safety was in lli;^lit. \\'ith this conviction they s»'t lire to their anc«'stial homes, and while the vast \olnme of tlame and ismoke diverted the attention of the enemy, they (juietly droppcil down the river to rejoin their women and cliildreii. Shortly after, the remainder of the Jroipiois crossed the river, and as soon as tli« contlam-ation wo-dd itermit, entrenched themselves on the site of the \illa,n'e. Tonti and his men, n'mainiii;.;' at the village, were orilered by the sus])iciou>s savag'es to leave their hut and take up theii' abode in the Ibit. At liist their ass(M-iates seemed niiuili elated at the disciiiulitiu'e of the Illinois, but two days aftei'. when they discovered them re- <;onnoit«'rin,i;' on the low hills Ix-hind their intreiichments, their conrajie j^reatly subsided. With fear, they recalled the e\a,u^(ia- tionsof Tonti, respect ill ^' their numbei's, and immediately concluded to send him with a hostage to makeoNcrtures of j)cace. Ilestarled on his mission, and lu^ and the hostajne were received with delijiht by lli(^ Illinois, who readily asseided to this jjrojxisal which he brou.niit, and in turn sent back with him a hostaj^cto the Ii-o(pU)is. Oil his return to the fort, his life was again placed in Jeopari'e wcr(^ soon alter summoned to attend a coiuicil (d' the Iro- (pHiis. They still labored under a wholesonie fear of Count Fion- tenac, ami disliUin,u' to attack the Illinois in the |)rcsencc of the French, their object was to induce ihe latter to loa.e tho country. At t he asscndtlin^i' of the council, (! i)ackaj;'es (d' beavei- skins were inli-odnccd. and thesaxauc orator, presenting' them separately to Tonti, explained the nature of each. '• The lirst two, " said lie, ''were to declare that the children of Count I'ronteuac, that is, the Illinois, should not be eaten ; the next was a pl;>s(er to heal the wounds (d' Tonti ; the next was oil wherewith to annoint him and .Mendtre, that they mijiht not be fati;;ut'd in travelin;^' ; the ucxt pr(»claiuu'(l that the sun was brijiht ; and the sixth, and last, rc<|uircy had so nnjnstly imadcd. The council j;re\\ boisterous and an;:ry at the idea that they should be demanded to do that which they re<)uired of the French, and some of its nu'Uibers. for'iettiii;^ their previous ]»h'd^(', declarcil that they would "eat lUinttis (lesli before they departed." Tonti, in inutalion of the Indian nninncr of expressiuji' scorn, iu- di.uiiantly kicked away the lu'csentsof fur, sayin,;;,siuc»' they nu'aut to devour the chihb'cu of Could Froideuac with cannibal ferocity, he would not acccjd their .uifts. This stern rcbnkc of perfidy re- sulted in the expulsion of Tonti and his companions from the couucil, and the next day the en raj;e(l chiefs ordered them to leave the country. Tonti had now, at the .urcat risk of his life, tried every ex[)edi- cut to avert from the unoffeudinii' Illinois the slau,i;hter which the unscrupulous invaders of their soil wer(> seeking;' an op])ortunity I ■ to effect. There was little to be accomplished by remaining,' in (he coiiutiy, and as a lon,!.;('r delay nu^ht imiicril the lives (tf his men, he determiiu'd to depart, iH)t knowing;' when or where lie would be able to rejoin LaSalle. With this (d)ject in view, the ])arty, con- sisting of (I jtersoiis, endtarkcd in canoes, which soon pi'oNcd leaky, and llu'y were compelled to laud for the pui'pose of making;' I'e- ])airs. WhiU' thus duployed. Father Jiibourde, attracted by the beauty of tilt! surroundiii,n' Iandscai>e, wanderetl forth ainoii<;' Ihe proves tor meditation and prayer. Ntd returnin;i' in tine time. Tout! became ahirmetl, and started with a coiuiiauiou tt> ascertain 'Discoveries of the Great West.— I'uikmun. TOM'l'S KNfJOITNTKK WITH J'lIE IllOtiUOlS SO tlic riiiisc <»f llic loiij;' delay. Tlicy soon discovered (nieli.s ol' Ind- ians, l».\ w liniii it was sii|>i»<)sed lie iiad been m i/ed, and ^^niis were lired to direct Ids rclnrn, in case in- was still alixc. Sceinj;' nothing- of him dnriii;; the day, at ni;;ht they li.iilt lires al(in;;tli(» bank of the livcr and retired to the opposite side, to see who nn^ht appioach them. Near midnight, a nnmhei' of Indians were seen tlittin<;' ahoni the li.^lit, liy whom, no donlit, had heen made. the tracks seen the previons evening;'. It was afterwaids learned that they were a hand of Kicka|»oos, who had, for several days, been hoveling- ahont the camp of the Iroipiois in (piest of scalps. >»'ot l»cin,i;' snccesstid in ohtainin.u' the oltject of their desires from their enemies, they, Ity chance, fell in with the inotfcnsive old friar, and s<'alped him in their stead. "Thus, in the (l."»tli year of Ids a^c, tin' only In-ii' to a wealty lini'.unndian hoMs<' perished under the war club of the savaj;es, for whose salvation he had renouncctl easo and aftlueuce."* During' the performance of this traucdy, a far more revoltinj;' one was beiniu; enacleursuit of the retreatin,!;' Illinois, Day after day they and the oi»posiii,<;' forces inovt'd in compact ariay down the river, neither bein;;' able to yain any advantaj^c over the other. At k'n};t]i they obtained by fals<'ho{)d that which nnndx-rs and ju'owess denied them. They jiinc out that their oi)ject was to possess the count ly, not by destroy in, y-, l)ut by driviiij;' out its i»resent inhabitants. Deceived b.N his mendacious statement, the Illinois separated, some descending;' the ]\Iississipi>i, ami others crossinj;' t(> the ■western shore. I'nforf unately, the Tamai'oas, more credulous than the rest, remained near the mouth of the Illinois, and were sud- denly attacked by an oveinvhelnun^' force of the enemy. The men tied in dismay, and the wonwu and children, to the numbci' of 7(M>, fell into the hands of the ferocious enemy. Then followed the- tortures, but<'lieries and burinn;is which only the infuriated ami iiubruted lro(pu»is could ]»erpetrate — the shockin;;' evidence of Avhieh I^aSalle saw only two weeks afterward. Aftei'ihe ravenous ]n»rde had sulliciently j;lutted their ureed for carnage, they I'ctircd from the. country, leadinj;' with them a nnudier of wonuMi and chihlren, whom they reserved either for adoption iido their tribes, oi' as victims to .yrace the triumphs sonu'times accorded them on their return home. Their departure was the signal for the return of the Illim)is, ■who rebuilt their town. The site of this celebi'ated village Vias on the northern bank of the river, where it Hows by the modern town of (Jtica. Its inuuediate site was on the j^reat nu-adow which, iit this ])oint, ori<;inally stretched up and down the stitam. The larji'e (juantities of Itones and rude imi>lemeuts of sava;4'e life which are annually turned up by the plon,i;lisliai'(', are the only sad traces of the populous tribes that onc.-e made this locality their ♦Discovery of the Grout AVest— rarkiuiiu. 90 niSTOIlY OF ILLINOIS. ]»riiicii)al lioiiic. Altui;^ tlic soiitliciii sulcofllit' livci- cxtciMls a I'liiiuc of hills, wliirli tcniiiiiatt' a iiiiji- and a hall' ahnvc in tlic naliiial altutincnt Unctwn as Staivctl IJock, on wiiich llic l-'icncli, in Kisj. Iiuilt a lort. Scvcial miles lirluw. an ()|icninji (iccnrs in the hills, tluonuii 'Aliich IIh' waters of the I'.i^- \'crniili(»n nnite with (h(»st' {){' (he lllin(»is. It was In means of these pioniinent landmarks I'rancis Taiknian, lvs(|., a tew ,\ears since, was enabled tu idenl il'\ the site of the Intlian town, w hieh, lor nnin\ ,\ ears pre- \ ions, was entirely unknown. Alter the death of Ilihonrde, the men nnderTonti ajuain resnmed tlic aseent of the river, lea\ iii.ii no evidein'c of their passa;;*' at the janetion of the two streams w hieh form the Illinois, 'i'lieir craft a;;ain iiecominu' disahled, they al)and:»ncd it, and the party started on foot for Lake Michi;;an. Theii' snjiply of piovisions soon l»e- canie exhansted, and the ti'avelers were comi)elled to snhsist in a ;;i'eat na'asnre on roots and acorns. One of theii' companion.s wandered otf in search of ;;anie, lost his way, and several «lays elapsed before he had the ;;(>od fortinie of rejoiniiii;' them. In his al»sen<'e he was w illiont Hints and l»al''.ts, yet c(aitrived to shoot s(Hne turkeys l»y usiuj;' slnj-s cut friai' a pewter porrinjicr and a lirehrand t(» discliarj;e his piece, it was their ol>iect to reach (Ireen JJay and liiul an asylum for tlie winter amonji' the Potawat- amies. ,\s the result of pri\alion and exposure, Tonti fell sick ot a fever and ^icatly retarded the ])ro;ires^ of the march. Nearinji' Groeii Bay, the c(»ld increased and tlu^ im-ans of suhsislenco |>ro- ]toilionately diminishiiiii'. the pai'ty woidd lia\e perished liad they not found a few ears of corn and some frozen squashes in the fields of a des«'ited villa;^e. Mear the dose of Xo\»'nd)er they had the ii'ood fortune of reacliinii' the I'ofawatamies. who iiireeted them with a warm reception, an«l siipplieil them with the necessaries of life. Their chief was an ardent admirer of the l-'rench, w liom ]w had befiiended the year i)revioiis, ami was accustomed to say: '•There were but three ^reat captains in the world, himself, Ttmti and La Halle." riiM'i'i'.i.' ix^. FlJRTlIKli KXPL()I{ATI()NS I5V LaSALLE. "\\ (• iinist now ii'tiiiii l(» liiiSjillc, wliosc cxploifs st;m(l out in siicli hold relief. In (lie previous discoveries 1m' li;id oitserved Unil white eneiidi's were nsin^' the lr(M|iiois to eiiennn cut ids o|iei':itions ; tinit Iheii' incnrsions must lie stopped, or liis defeat wiis inevitable. Alter due consideration, he conelinled the hest wav to prevent their inr(»ads was to induce the westei'U trihes to I'or^et tliei)' animosities, and nndei' a league against tlieii' inexora- ble enemies, eoloui/e ihem around a fort in the \a11e\ of tln^ Illinois, where, witli the assistance of I'rench arms and I'lench ,U<'Ueralship, t\\r c(nnnn»n enemy would he iniahle further to molest tlieni. I'lcncli colonists could teach them the arts of agriculture, llecollei moidxs instruct liu-ni in their religious duties, and the shi|ts of l'"rance su]>|d\ nn-rclmndisc t(» ti'afiic with them for the rich harvest of furs annually .uathcred from their \ast interioi' wilds. .Meanwhile he proposed to explore the ^lississippi. and make it a highway for the conunerce of the world. 'I'lius. conclu- ded iiaSalle. the jdains of Illinois, which foi' centuries have been a .slaughter pen tor warriiiji' savages, ndnht l»e made the theatre of a ci\ ili/alion as fannins as their i)ast history had been rendei'ed inianious by deeds of earnaue. To the execution of this new ex- )»edi«'ni for advaucinj;' his plans, he now turned his attention. After the teii'ible scouruc of Ixinn' Philip's war. a number of the conipu'red Indians left their eastern homes ami took refu.uc in the vicinity of the fort, whei'c LaSalle had spent tlu' winter. 'I'hesi^ wei'e mostly Altcnakis and Ab)hejiaus — the latter havin;;' fiunisiied the hunter who had so often, by his supeiioi' skill, i»ro\ iiled La- Salle's hungry followers with food, lie wasalso master of several Indian dialects, which, at this i)articnlar Junctuie of LaSalli'"s atVaiis, he (;ouId use with ji'reat advanta.u'e. To these exiles from the east LaSalle lirst dir<'cted his attention, and tbtnid them unaniuM>iisly in fa\(M'of casting' their lot with his, askin,!^ no rec- omi>ense save the privilej'e of callinjn" him chief. A new ally, in the person of a ])oweiful cldef from the valley of tlie Ohio, also a|)peareil, and asked i>ernussion to enter the new confedeiation. LaSalle I'cplied that his tril)e was too distant, hut let them come to me in the \ alley of tln^ Illinois, and they shall be safe. The chief, without stipulatinj;' fni'ther, aijreed to Join him with l."i() warriors. To reconcile the Mianns and Illinois, and thus s<'cure their co-operation, was now the i»rincipal obstacle. Althouuli kindred tribes, they bad loi)'ed, and it was only after the re(H'nt (b'|)redations of tlu' Tro(|uois, they beyan to see the advuntaye of ox>pusiijy a united front to their outrayes. Wish- 02 IIIHTOUV or H.LINOl.S. in;; lirst to consiiU the Illinois, iiiiiii,\ of wliotn had returned sitter tlicevacnation ol'tlie Iroquois, tlie,v found liie itniiriesstill encrusted w'.tli snow, from the dii/.zliii;^ whiteness of wliieli, l/aSalle and sexeial of the men lieeame snow liliiid, aud were compelled to eu- <-ami» under tiie ed;;e ol a forest till they could reco\«>r. While sulfrrin<;' from the loss of vision, they sent out a companion to ^iatiier pine leaves, which were supp(»sed to he a specitic f.ir their nialaily. ^^'llile on this errand he had t he •^ood fortune t'allin with a hand of the P'oxes, from whom he learned that 'I'onti was safe amon;>' the Potawatamies, and that Hennepin had pas-id thron;;h tlieii country, on his way to Canada, 'fhis was wiienme, news to LaSaile, who had Ion;; Iteen anxious in re;;arand of tint Illinois, rau;iin;ii' the prairies in quest of ;:ame. LaSalle expressed Ids regret at the jireai injury they had sustain-'d fium the Iro- qu()is,and ui';;'ed them to form an alliance witii tiu-ir kindred, the 3liamis, to prevent tin- recurrence of sinular disasters in the fu- ture, lie promised them that he aud his companions woidd lake up ihei)- abode anuHijL;' tln-m, furnish them with ;;'oods and arms, and assist in defendi;i.u' them in the attacks of the common enemy of tiie Alj;dn(piin race. I'ieased with La.Salle's pro|M>.sil ion. liiey supplied him with corn, and pr(Mnised to c(»nfer with others of theii' countrymen on tiu' suhject, and lei liiiii know the result. IIa\in,y- completed lli^ ne,n(Uiatioiis with the Illinois, he sent La- F(';'<'st U> Mackinaw, whither Tout i was expecied to ;.;(», and where both )f them wci'c to remain till he coidd follow them. ' It now rciiiaiued for him to consult the .Miamis, and he accordiuuly visited one of their principal \illajics on the jioita.uc lielweeii the St. (losepli aud the Kankakee. Here he found a hand of Iroijiiois, w ho IumI for some time demeaiieil themselves with the ^^reatest insolence toward the \ illa^crs, and had spoken with the utmost coiitcnipt of himself and men. He .sternly reitiiked them for tiieir jirro;;a!u*e ami calumnies, which <'aused them to slink away, and iit niiilit tiee tlu' country. The Miamis were astonished heyomi nicasiiie when they saw LaSalle, with only 1(1 l''renclimen. put their hau^ihty visitors to lli.iiht, while they, with hundreds of wai- riors, coidd not even secure I'cspeet. LaSalle now resohcd to use tile i)resti;i;e he, Inul ;;ained iii fiirtlierinj;' the ohject of his visit. There were present in the villau'e Indian refiiiices from recent wars in N'irjiinia. New Vork and Khode Island, tt> whom LaSallo communi(!ated the mitnre of his errand, and promised Ikhucs and ]trotection in the valley of the Illinois. Ft is a goodly and heau- tiful land, said he, ahoundinj;' in name, and well siipiilied with ^i'oods, ill which they should dwell, if they would only assist him in restorin;>' amicahle relations hetwceii the Miamis and Illinois. The co-operation (»f these friendless exiles, ,vho now knew how to Aidiie the hlessinjis of |»eace and a settled i! ihitation, was readily enough secured. The next day the Miamis were assemhled in council, and La- Salle matle known to tlieiii he ohjects he wished to accomplisli. J'roni lonji' intercourse with the Indians, he had hec(»niean exjx'rt in foi'est tact and elo(|uence. ami on this occasion lie had come well provided with presents, to give; ailditional efticacy to Ids pro- LASALLK !(;{ ('('(•(liiiys. lie Ix'^TMii Ill's a(l<1r('SM, wliiclt i'onsistcd <»(" mctuplidii- ml iilliisioiiH to tlic «h'ii«l. 1»\ disliilMitiii;;' jiil'ls iiiiioiij; IIh' lixiii;;. rrcsfiililiy tliflll will) cloth, lie loltl IIm'Iii il Wiis In rn\cr llicir ' iiiiioii;; tliriii Ix-iKls mikI lirlls. he statfd tlicv wcic to il('cur;itc tlifir persons. Tlic li\ iii;^-, while ilppropriiltili;^' these pieseiits, were j;ie;iil,\ pleilsed ;il the eniiipliiiieiits piiid tlielr (lep:il'teil Irieiids, iiiid thus jiliieed in ;i Miiliihle stiile of iiiiiid for thiit which wits lo follow. A chief, foi' wlioiii they eiitertiiilied the ;;ie;itest ri'speet. ii;id l'e<'elitl\ lieeii killed. :iiid l.iiSidle told tlieiii he w oidd i':iise him from the (lend, iiieniiiii;^' Ihiit lie would nsstiine his nniiie ;iiid pi'o\ ide I'oi his liiinil,\. This ^•eiiei'oii.s olfer was even iiioie tlinii Intlinn ^rn\ity could heiir. nml the whole iisseinlduii'e Itecnine iiproiirioiis with e\- citemeiil ititd iippliiiise. Lnstly, tocon\iiice them of the sincerity of ills intentions, lie piv(> iliein (i ;>'uns, si nuinher of liateliets, niid tliiew into llii'ir midst a liUjuc ]»ile of elothin;;', caiisiiijn' the eiitiic iiiiiltitiide to explode with yells of the most e\tra\a^anl delijiht. After tills, LaSalle tliiis linished ids iiaraii;;ue; " He will) is my iiinst( r, aiid llii' muster of all this (inintrv, is a mi.iflity chief, J'earid hvllie wiii>lr woi'M ; lint he loves peace, and his Words jire for u-ooil mIoiu'. lie is called the kinj; of France, and is tlie miirlitiest aiuontr theclnel's tieyond tlie great, water. '''■; ifoodness extends even to your chad, and his sniijeets come amonji yoti I 'se them to lite. J5nt it, is ids will to jireservo tlie lil'elieJiasf^iven. It is his . 11 that you should ohey liis laws, and maUe no war without the leave of Froiilenac, wlio conunaiids in his name at (^iieliec, and loyi's all the nations aliki', heeaiise such i-i the will of the threat kintr. ^'oii (inuhl, then, lolive in peace with your iieiLddiors, and above all with the '111- iioi^. Von had canse of (piarrel with them, Inil their tlefeat has aven,i;e(| yoii. 'flionn'h they are still .■-trong, they wish to make jieace with yon. J5e eonient with I he f;lory of haviiii^ compelled ihem to ask for it. Yon have an iiderest in jireservini; them, since, if the Irocpniis destroy them, thej will next destroy yon. Let ns all ohey the ureat kini;, and live in peace undir his jiroteclion. Be of my mind, and use these tiun.s 1 have given you, not lo make war, hut onl3' to hiuil and defend your.sel ves ""* Ilavin;;' thus far Ix^eii .successful in iinitinn' tiui western tribes, lie was now ready to ti.se the alli nice foiined in further extendiu.i;' liis discoveries. I'iist, it was necessary to return to Caiiadii and collect liis .scattered resources, and satisfy his creditors. Toward the latter jiart of May, UW I, they left \'\>v\ Miami, and after a short and prosperous triii anivt d at Mackinaw, w here they liiid tile liapi»iiiess of meetinj;' with Toiiti After the kindly ^reetili,iis of the loiiy' iiliseiit friends were over, each i-eeouiited the story of his misfortunes.' Such was LaSalle's (■(iiiaiiiinit,\ and even cheerfulness, that .Meinhre, in admiration of his condnci, exclaimed: ''Any one else exce(»t him would lia\e altaiid(»iii'd the enterprise, but he, with it tirmnes.s and constancy which never had its equal, was more resolved than ever to push forward his work,'' Jlaxiii^' reviewed the past, and formed new resohcs for the future, the party embarked lor rronteiiac. The watery track of 1000 miles inter\eiiin^' between them and their destination, wiis soiui cros.sed, and IjaSalle was a^ain in consultati(»n with his creditors. ]n addition to the cost incurred in biiildiiiji the fort, and maintain- ing in it a j.;airi.soii, he was now further burdened with the debt of sub.setjtient fruitless explorations. The fort ami sei;,;iiiory were iiiort^aj;ed for a lar;,a' sum, yet by partiiij; w itli .some of his mo- * Discovery of the Great West— Pivrltiniiu. i '^l 04 TIISTOllY OF ILLINOIS. iiopolics, iind Nccnriiij;' aid from a wcaltli.v relative, lie iiiaiiajicd to satisty Ills ciTtlilofs and seeiire means for anotlnT ontlit. Owiiii;' to nnavoidaltie (', lavs the season was far advanced wlien hi.; ttotilla was pnsla 1 ont on the waters of Lake .Miehiuaii. Their canoes were iiea(h'd foi' the iiionlli of tli<' S(..luse|»ii, and as they slowly creitt alon;; the dreary siiores ol' tiie lake, it is easy to ima",i K^ the mor«' dicary tiion^^lit that harrassed the niiud of LaSalle. A past of nnre([iiittcd toil and sad disapi>ointineiit, a ]>!'"seid eniltittered hy tiie ton;;iie of hate and shin;till >>'()vember air, told LaSiille that his ,Mohe;;an and ^Vbcnaki allies were awaitinji' his retiirn. ^^'otwithstandin^ these were the rem- nants of the triltes •• whose midni.uiit yells had startled the lior- <'s and ba^'^a^c to the w<'s- tern b)'ancli of the Illinois. Findin;^' it also brid.ii'cd oxer with ice they tiled down it in a loii^- procession, jtassed tlie teiiantless vil- la.Ljc of the Illinois and tbuiid the river open a slioit distance below Peoiia Lake. The season, and other U!ifa\ orable circum- stances, reach red the buildiii.u' of a vessel, as ori,uinally c(Uitcin- jilated. at this i»oint wholy impossible. Thoy were compelled theielore to proceed in their canoes, and on the (ith of February they rea<'lied the (Jreat I'iver which was to bear them onward to the sea. Wailing' a week for the lloatin.i; ice to disaiijieai'. they .glided i(ily entering the realms of spring. LASALLE. 95 On tlic l.'itli of ]\rar<'li. tlicir jittfiitioii wiis ni'icstcd by tlui hodiiiiiii;' of iiii liidiiiii ilniiii, and sliouls jodcccdiiij;- from a war dance on tlic M't'st<'ni side of (lie river. lU'ini; imaltlc, in consc- (|ii('nc(' of a foii'. to set'tlic antliors of tlic dcnionstiations. tlic.v icliicd to tlif opposite shore and tlirew np hreast works as a means of ])r(»teetion. Wlien tlie nnst rolled away tlie astonished savages for tlie first time saw tlie stranii'ers. wlio made siiiiials for tlieni to eoiiie over the I'ivei', Sexcral of them, aeeeptin^' the iii- \itation, were met midway the stream l»y a Frenehmaii. who. in turn was invited in a friendly manner to visit their \illa,i;'e. TIk^ whole party, tlins assnred, crossed the river, and LaSalle at tiieir liead marched lo the o])eii area ol" the town. Here in the midst of a vast concourse of admirinji' villagers, he erected a cross, l»earin,y' tlie. arms of France, ^lemiire san;^' a hymn in canonicals, and liaSalle, ha\in,^' olitained from the eliiefs an acknow led^c- nieiil of loyalty, took [lossession of the coniitry in tiie name of the kiiii;-. 'J'his li\-ely and jicnerous jieople, so different frou! tlie cold and tacitiun Indian.", of the north, were a trilie or the Ar- kansas, ami ersoii sat his three wives, wlh» howled whenever he spoke, to do luiii honor. After making- l.im a iinniiierof ]ires»'nts, which he yracionsly received, the A'isitors proceeded to examine the tem]ile. similai' in size to the liuildini;- occiipiey the kin-;'. A\'itliiu were the bones of dejiarted chiefs, and an altar kept i)ei'])etiially burning' by the two old men de\ote(l to this sacred otiice. On the top of the temple were carved three eajiles. lookin.ii' towanl the east ; while around it was a wall studded with stakes, on the tops of which liiiiii;' the skulls of enemies who had been sacriliced to the Sun. The chief, in response to a friendly call, \ isited the camp of LaSalle. A master of ceremonies was sent to announce his ooinin.i;', after which he made his a])pearance. r the chief claimed his ancestors were derived. His dcnieanoi' was yraxe and iiilied in the presence of LaSalle, who treated him with becoming? eotutesy and frieiidslii]i. After receivini;' a number of- presents, the iirincijial object of the visit, lie returned to his village, ami the travelers started down the river. 96 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. yiiortly al'rciwiinl, tlicy I'cll in with Jiiiotlnr Iriln', and IjaSallo 'vvisliiii^' to approach tlit'iii in a iVicMtllv manner, cncaniix'd on tlu^ opposite sliore. lie then peiiiiitted Tonti, uitli a lew companions, to nndrincipal town was not far distant, reDaired thither to have an iiderview with tiie head chief of the t rihe. As amoni; the Taensas, he saw here a royal residence. a tem])leof thesnn, witii i' leipetnally Iturnin;;' lire, and oIImm' e\ ideiiees of nn)re than ordii .ly Indian pvoj;i'ess, llefore lea\ in;;', LaSalle erected a cross in tin- midst of tiie t(»wn, to which was attached the armsol' I'' ranee, an act which tlie inhabitants re- ;;arded with ;4i'eat satisfaction, i)nt had they known its nn/anin;;' their displeasnre W(»nld iia\'e been eipndly intense. Next, they discoM-red the month of Kcd River, and after pass- ing' a ninnher of other \illa,u('s, fonnd tliemselves at the Jniu'tion of tin' tlu'ce chainn'ls of tin- river whicii hraneii olf into the (inlf. .V ditferent party entered each jtassa^e, and as they moved sonth- ward the water rapidly ciian.u'ed to brine. and the land l)ree/,e became salty with the breath of the sea. On tlie fith ar(<'d, and, witlMtnt i'nitlicr molcslation, i'ca<-1icd J''ort IMiid- Inininie, ulicie LaSallc was sci/cd Avilli a dani^crous illness. I'nable to go liiinseli', he sent Tonti and a few companions to aii- noi!nc<' tlie news ol'liis discoveries at ^Mackinaw, whence if was to lie uis]iatched toi'anada. .Mthoniiii carcrnll.v atteniea( ineasnre, recovered, and reached .Mackinaw on the 1st of »~ic]il<'nil)ei'. Thence Menibre was sent to France with dispatches iiialun^' known the <;randeiir of LaSalie's disco\('ii<'s : the \ ast rciiion visited; the iinnieiisity of its iiioitntain iaiij.':es, and itsj;reat plains, vei)ie(l by mi,i;hty streams. it was LaSalie's intention also to visit France, bnt hearing- that the Iroijiiois were about to I'enew tln-ir attacks on the wcslcin tribes, he decided Ihatliis presence was necessary to the safety of Ids ])roJectc(l ])olicy. He accordin,i;Iy ictiirned to the Illinois ri\-er, whither Tonti had already preceded iiiin, and at once coniiiiciiced ])rcparatioiis to meet tin- enemies. As a means ofdcrcnce it was detcniiiiied to (brtify Starved Koek, whose mililaiy advanta.ues had previously attra feet. Three of th<' sides it is impossible to scale, while the one next to the land may be climbed with dilliculty. ]"'rom its sumnut. almost as inac- cessible as an eaj;ie's nest, the valley ol" the Illinois s])reads out in a landscape of exquisite beauty. The I'iver, nearliy, stru.n,nles between a number of woodid islands, while fuitlK-r below, it qui- etly meanders thi'ouii'h vast meadows, till it (lisa|ipears like a thread of liiiht in the dim distance. Here, on the siimniit of this rocky citadel, in the month of November lic^ b('<;an to entrench him- self. Storehouses were constructed from the tiees that <;i'ew on the top, and when the su]>ply was exhausted, at immense labor, timl'ers were di'a<>f;cd uj) the steej) ascent to construct a palisaded inelosiire. \\'itli the eoiniiletion of this stronj;hold, which was <;alled in honor of the French Kwg the Fort of St. Louis, the In- dians l)e<>an to ji^ather ai'ouiid it, rei^ardin;^- LaSalle as the ureat chamjuon who was to ]>rotect them a.iiainst the IiTxpiois. 'i'lie country, which lay under the ])rotection of the fort, recently strewn with the fi'hastly lelicfs (tf an JrcMpiois victory, now bet-ame ani- mated with a wild concourses of siivajije life. The givnt town of the Illinois, the .lerusalem of these tribes, Fluenix like, had s]»run' hills and over the adjacent plains, the fraj>inents of 10 or IL' other tribes, numberiiij«' sonus 14000 souls. ]\Iiamis, from the s(mrce of the Kankakee; Shawnees, from the Scioto, Abenakis and ]\Iohe,nans, from the Atlantic seaboard, and other tribes whose rouis — had iiicl with iiiU'Xiiiiiplcd siirccss. in wiitinj: to tiic I-'icim-Ii Minister oi' Ma- rine, lie wrote that liis e4)l()n_v liad sjirniiiH' up as if by nia.L;ie, in a ■siiiiih' niulit. and contained l,()()(t warriors and sonie I'O.dOO sonls. )'>y llie iiii\ ileii'es whicii had been eonferrcd on Inni as a discoverer lie rnh'(i liis wild domain as a seiinniory. and granted portions of liuul to his followers. Jjittio prolit, however, was realized in this nianner, for the .ureater part of his men were so reckless that tiieir Iradncers weri' wont to say of them that eacii married a new s(juaw every day of the week. To maintain his colony, he now fonnd it necessary t(» furnish its memlters with protection aj^ainst the coinnioii enemy, and iner chandise to barte)' for tiie immense (piantities of furs annually jiiitliered in the interior of the continent. I'i('\ iously, the aveinic of trach' lay tliroiii^h Canada, but it Mas LaSalle's intention to establish an entrepot at the inoiith of the Mississippi, whereby his colony would have the a coniitrelieiid his objects, were strivinj:' to defeat them. Unfortunately, (lov. Frontenac had been recalled, and De La Uarre, an avaricious old naval oiHcer, had been sent out to take his place. His conduct soon ])i-oved tliat he was wholly iiiitit ibr the olVice he was called to till. Like his predecessor, he was fiuilty of violating;' the royal ordinances rein'nlatiii.1;' the fni' trade, but the former partially atoned tor this wronj;- by an enerjiictic ad- ministration of ]»nblic affairs, while the latte:' added inability to his faults, whereby the best interests of tlu^ coiintiy became paral- lized. He was the s))ecial chanipiitn (>f the enemies of I>aSalle, Avho, enji'rossed with the affairs of his colony, was ij^-norant of tln^ ji'reat Jealtiiisy with which his affairs were reiiarded. Xot kiiow- itiii' the disposition of La J>arre, he wrote to him froi.: h'ort St. ]iOuis in the sprinj;- of KJS;;, expressinj;' the ho|)e that lie would have the same i;ounsel and support from him that he had '• ceixcd from his ])redecessor. After caiitionin.u' the (lovernor that his en- emies would endeavor to misrei»resent his objects he i)ro(;eeds to jiive an account of his ex])loratious: With only 22 Frenchmen, he states, he had formed amicablci relations with the \arions trilu's ali»n,i;' the ?ilississippi, and that his royal patent enabled him to establish forts in tln^ newly dis- covered country, and to make pniuts around them as at Fort Fron- tenac. lie adds : "Tlie losses in my enterprise's liiive exceefletl 40,000 crowns, I iini now un- iii!i'400 ItMjruis sontlnvest of tliis ])l;»e<' to iiiilnec tlic CliieliMsaws to follow llie Sliiiwnccs iiiul other tril)es, iind settle lilve ilieiiuit Fort St. Louis. It remained only to settle French e()loni.> Miaiiiis were soalanncd by tlicm tliat they abi'iuioiicil tlicir town and IIimI, h>it, on luj' rctiiru tlii'V came back, and liavc been induced to settle wilii the niiiiois at my Fort of SI. Louis. Tlie Iro(iuois iiavi,' lately niiirdereil sonut I'aniilies of their mitioii and tliey arc all in terror ai^ain. I am afraid they will take flight and so pre- vent tiie Missouris and iiciiildiorins; tribes from cominii- to settle at St. Loiii.s, as they arc about to do. Bome of the lliirons anil French tell the IMiamis tiiat I am keeiiinu' tlu ni here for the IriKiiiois to deslny. 1 iiray tiiat you will let me liear iVom yon, that [ iii;iy ,i!;ivc lhes<' people some assurances of proleclinn before they ar(^ destroyed in my sis;ht. J)o not sulfer my men who have come down to the sctth'tucnts to be lontrer jircveiited from nturniiii^. There is irreat need here of reiid'orci'iuents. The Iro(inois. a-^ I h;iv(! said, have lately entered the country, and a irreat, terror jircvails. I lijivc postponed iroinij; to ^lackinaw, bi'cause, if the Irmpiois strike any blow in my absence, the Miainis will think ih-.tl am in letiunc with them; whereas, if I and tlicFrciicli stay amons;- them, they will reji-ard us as [iroteclors. I5ut, Monsieur, it- is in vain that we risk our lives here, and that I e.xhaust, my means in order to ful- fill the intentions of his majesty, if all my uieiisurcs are crossed in the settle- ments lielow, and if I hose win) u'o down to brim;' luunitions, wit'iont whicdi we cannotdefend oursidves, are detained, under prete.vts Irumpe'l up for the occa- sion. If I am prevented from bringini;- uj) me-n and supplii's, as I am allowed to do by the permit of Count Fronlenac, then uiy patciit from the kini^- is useless. It would l)e very hard for us, after having- done what was rc(piired, even be- fore the time i)reseribed, and after snlferin!^ severe losses, to have our cfiVu'ts frustrated by obstacles i^ot up desijfnedly. I trust that, as it lies with you aloue to i)ri'vcnt or to permit the return of the lueu whoiu I have scut down, you •will not .so act as to thwart my |)lans, as part ^ l' the i^oods which I have sent by them belonj^ iu)t not tome, but the iSii'Ur (i(^ Toiiti, and are a i)art of his pay. Others are to buy munitions indispensable for our defense. Do not let my creditors sci/e them. It is for their advantau;e that my fort, full as it is of aoods, should be held against the enemy. I have only 20 men, with scarcely 100 pounds of powder, smd I cannot long ludd tlie country without more. The Illinois are vcr\' capricious and uncertain. . . If I had luen enough to send out to reconnoitre tin- eneniy, I would have done so before this ; but I li.ave not enough. I trust you will" put it in my pow"er to olitnin more, that this impori.'int colony maj' be saved." * Wliilc LiiSiillc Wii.s tliu.s coft'cspoiidiiiii' willi tlic uovcnior, tlie liiU(M' wa.s wiitiiio- Icttcfs to tlic Ficiicli ('()l(»iii;il .Aliiii.slci', siiyiiig tliiit lie (ioiihtctl flic rciility of litiSjillc's discovci'it'.s ; that with scafce a srow of vaualioiids lie wa.s about to set liiiiisclf up its kiii^i', and wa.s likclv to involve Canada and the western ti'ibes in a war with the InKpioi.s. The extent to which the enemies of La- Sallc sntfcrcd liicir jcalon.'sic.'s lo lead tliciii asti'ay may l»c yiitlicrcd fi'om tlie ]Mistiire of atfaii'.s at tiu' time, 'fhe ;;'ovciiioi' of New York, witli the iio]»(^ of divertiii}^' the fur trade fioni .Montreal to .\lltaiiy, wa.s incitiii'f the Iro(|nois to make another attiick on the wcsiern tribes. Alrhon.uli tliis ])rocecdiiio' was IVaii.uht with the oreatest (hin.^'cr to ( 'amnhi, yet La IJarrc and his political menials were willin.u' it mioht succeed, and the entire country be endan- .yered, provided it resnlfecl in the rniit of LaSalle. When, there- fore, tliese ]>ests of the ioresf, under the iirlliience of l>ritish intri,uiie, were a^iiiin makin,i;' preparations to invade the country of the Illinois iiiid .Miainis, instead of an earnest ettbrt to check their 0 lIISTOltY r)F IIJ/.NOTS. I)(».iMics.>, ) ii,]/()hi('iu'ed of the men whom lie had sent to securii them, he was L;reatly mortifu'd to lind himself wliolly unable to make i^ood his pled;;e. Fortunately the rumors were prenuilure, but as his ivlations with the /.governor were otherwise intolerable, he determined to visit I'ranee ti» obtain I'clief. With this object in \ icw, he IclY Tonti in command of tiie fort, and on his way to (}iu'bec met with the {governor's otliccr, who made known to him the natiiie of his mission. LaSalle, snbmittinj;' fiiacefnlly to an indijLiiiity he could not well avoid, wrote to Tonti to receive the otliccr with line courtesy, whereu[>on, without further business, they parted, in due tinm the dra<;oon arrived at the tort, and lie and Tonti spent the wilder haimoniously, the one com- manding' in the name of tlu^ governor, and the other in that (»f La- Salle. The threatened invasion (»f the Iroquois, thouj^h ])ostpoued, was not abandoned. ])urin^' the latter part of the sjtrinji' they made an incuisioii o the country and attacked the fort, but the rocky citadel ju'oved too strong' for tlie assault, and after a siej;e of (■> days they w«'re coini)elled to retire. LaSalle, on arrivinji' at (Quebec, sailed for France, taking a last leave of the jii-eat arena in which, tor the last l(» years, he had been the priiicijial actor; had snll'ered the most harrassinji' anxie- ties, and had Avon the jiroudest triumphs. From Ibrest solitudes and sipialid wigwams, a ])rosi»erous voyaj;e introduced him to thc! busy thron.iis and sculptured ma;;niiicence of the French capital. Jts venal court, bewildered by the pompous display of wealth and the trai)i)inut the son (d'the burj^jlier of l^»nen, unm(»ved by rejial vanities, and with a natural di,nnity far tran- scendinti the tinsel of titled rank, announced his discoveries to the jiiddy court. He asked for means to return to the new tbund lands, and to tbund a colony on the .Mississi|)j»i, to protect them from thc intrusion of tbreiuners. Two ]ioints on the ]Mississi|»pi ]»ro]»erly selected and Ibrtitied, he arj;ued, would <;uar(l the whole inteiior of the continent, with its vast areas of fertile lands and boinidless resources. Count FVontenac j>ave him the aihantajic of his iutlueuce, the minister of nmrine eutere;ust, KiSt, they sailed from Ifoehelleon their adventurous voyai^e. friMinent calms retarded their pro;;ress, and when at lei)<;th tlu'y aiiived at Ilispaniola, the Fiancais, tilled uith munitions and other necessaries for the colony, was captn)'e4l by a JSjianish jirivateer. This disaster, for which IJeau- jen was evidently to bhime, w;is the tirst of the disasteis which afterward alteinhd the e\pe debark his followers on the Inne shore of the bay. I'or this ]nni)os('. the Aiidable w."ivinji- the earyo. A y the waves, scat- tered the remaiidnji' treasures uiuui the ravenous waters. After the landinii;" was eftected. the Indians became troubles(»me, and a tort was iuiilt, with i>r('at labor, two ndles above the mouth of the l^a Vaeca, a. small stream falling' into the Hay. L;iSalh', as in previous instances, named the forritication St. Louis, in honor of liis kin;;. Here he planted the; arms of France. oi)ened a tield for j'hintin;; a crop, anil thus foumled the tii'st •■'I'ench settlenu'iit nnnle in Texas. The country, thus fornndly occupied, .yave t:) France a chtim which she never abandoiu'd till Louisiana became a part of the United States, nelirly ll't) years afterward. 102 IIISTOIJV or ILLINOIS. The scciK' iinmiid llic toil wiis not iiiiiiitcrcsiinj;, niul (n somo cxtfiit rclii'vi'd Hit' dfjfclioii iiri>iii;4- IVoiii ilic i-ccciit iiiisrorliiiics. Tl.c t)ii\, Itordi red hy iiiiii'.-^iit's, >tn'tclicd awity in a smillicaslrrii direction, wliilc tiic otiiiw pitiiits of i lie ciiiiiiiass spread (iiit in an expanse of |)rairie spi'iidlc, and uidcii siili rani; ld;;li anion;;iiie lloial beauties ol" sontln'i II j^ardens. At certain seasons of (lie year, tlin <;rassy area was dotted over with .i;ra/iii;; hnffaio, whilt' tiii' adja- cent waters swarmed witli (ish and water fowl. Necessity soon lan.^iit the colonists the best niethotls of secnrinj;- them, and tlui sports of the anj;Ier, the hnnter and tiie fowler not <»idy .yave /est to their wilderness life, bnt fiiini>lied them with an abinidance of food. It was ciistomiiry tor the women to miiinle in the hiintiii;^ ]tartiesand assist in cullin.^ iii» tin- meat, and tinis a hnnler and fair huntress itccame enamored (tf each oilier, and were mairied. Their nnplials were solemnized with the usual e.\|)r<'ssions of mcr- I'inieiil, forllic .uennine i'reiichman, whatever maybe hissitnation, always thinks it better to be merry, than to brood o\vv the mis- foi'tnncs he is unable to remedy. LaSalle, ha\in.i;' pro\ idcd for the security «>f his people, next ■went l.">0 leaji'iics alonj;' Hie coast, east and west, to search for the liidden liver, but without success, lie also determine«l toniak*- a tour of observation toward the mines and settlements of Northern ]\Iexico. After cousnminj;' four unnilhs in this expedition, and ji'atheriny such inlbrmation from tin' Indians as conviiic<'d him that his previous conjectures ii'speciinu the situatitm of the Miss- issippi river Were correct, theparty rctraceil thi'ir steps, and arrived at the fort March (Jth, KiSll. travel-worn, weary, and theirdotlies iii tatters. Soon after, it was ascertained that the Uelle, the only remainiuji- vessel, had been sunk, and her carju'o, consisting- «>t' ihe personal etVecls of LaSalle and a ;^rea' quantity of amunition and tools, were s<'attered in the waters of the jJiulf. Thi' hiss was a fatal blow to all attem|)ts in tlie future to move the colony to tlic^ ^Mississippi, and left little hope of the unhappy exiles ever a^aiii Iteholdinji' the vine clad hoiiu-s of their siinn\ !•' ranee, LaSalle, forced by the necessities ot' his situation, now deler- niined to make his way, castwiird, to the MississijH)i, ami thence to ( 'anada or France, to obtain relief. Xo sooner had he tbrmed this resolve, the oll'sprini;- of dire extremity, than preparations were completed for the join iiey. April L'L'd, IJd men issued from the fort and made their way across the ]»rairie. followed by the anxious eyes of those who were left behind. Day after day they held a northeasterly diicciion. passint;- through n country of wild and pleasini;' landscaiies, made uj) ol' prairies, woods ami .proves, <>reeii as an emerald with the heauty oi May. After haviii.^' made a distance of sonu' KM* miles, their ammunition and provisions failed them, and they were com]telled to return to the fort without liaviii,u' accomplished the object of their journey. Twenty men Innl pme out. but only S returned, some havin.ii' (h'serted. and others perished in ilie attemiii to I'caeh ihe fort. The latter num- ber would doubtless have been .ureatly increased, but for the assistance of lioises purchased from theCeiiis Indians, the most easterly tribe visited. The temporary elation produced by the return of the absent party, soon _ya\e way to (hjection. and La- Salle had u heavy task to pievent the latter from beeominy (lis- LASALLE. 103 ])iiii'. II(> WHS iiiit'iijilly stcni iiiid uiisyiiipatlii/.iii;^', .\ct lie could Nortcii into coiiipassioii jit tlio gn^iit exirciiics ol' d;iii;;t'i' iiiid (listless of tliosc ;il)()iit liiin. Tlic Mudiicitv ol" liopc witli wlncli lie still cliiiij;' to I'k^ iiccoiii- plisliinciit of his ol)j(ct, dctci'iniiH'd liiiii to niidcc a second and more ]M'i'scv('rin<;' cfifort for this jjiirposc. It was decided that the, adventiir<'rs should consist of LaSalle, liis hrotlier, and two iie|tliews, ("a\ alier and Moraii^ct; Dallant, a person of r^'pntahle biitli; jjcotot, ii sur,i;'eon ; .lontel, who afterwards hecanie the historian of the expedition, and some !.*(( others. Ai!.oitji' those left behind were the wonn-n and children, and Z«'nol>e Meniltre, •who had so Ion,!;- followed the foi'tnnes of LaSalle. l'lver,\ thin<>' bein;;' in readiness, the travelers for the last time entered the rnde diapel of the fort, mass was solemnly celebrated, and, wit li tiie dond of incense which rose from tbe altar, ascended the prayei's of the coloinsts for the success of the Journey. Next came the. ])artin;L:', of si^iis, of tears, and of eml»races — all seemin;;- intui- ti\<'ly to know that they should see each other no more. -January iL'tli, i(»S7, the chosen band filed out of the fort, placed flieir baj;- ,uaj;(' ou horses, and started otf in the direction of the ])re\ious Journey. l'ushiii,u' forward across ])raii'ies and woodlands, anionj;" tribes some friendly and some hostile, they passed the llrazos, and encaiiijM'd on the loth of March near the western waters of the Ti'inity. They were now in the vicinity of some corn which La- Walle iiad coiKjealcd in Ids xirevious Journey, and lie seid Diillaiit, Leotot ami some (ttliers, to j^ct it. The ;^raiii was found .s])oiled, but in returning' tiiey shot some lar.uc j;aiiie, and sent for liorsesto convcv it to camj). Moranji^ct anreviously i^ot him into difliciilties, berated them in a violent manner for claimiii,ii' this ]»ri\ ile<;'e. and ended by takin.ii' all tile meat himself. This outburst of jiassion kindled to an a\ ciiji- in.ij Hame a ;;rnd,i;e which had for some time existed Ix'tweeii Du- JIautanired with Leotot to take the life of his neidiew. Xi.^ht came (ui, the evening' m(>al was ♦lispatched, and when the intended \ictini had fallen aslee]), the assassins a]t)troaclicd and shot him, Theconimission of one crime jicnerally requires anotln'r, to sa\(> the ])eii)etrator from merited ininisliment, and LaSalle was marked out as the next object of veiiu'eance. Two days i)assed by and the latter, hearing nothing of his ne]»liew, began to eidertain rueful forebodings in regard to his safety. At length, unable longer to endure his suspense, he lett .Jontel in command of the camp and started in search of his rela- tive. Accompanied only by a friar and two Indians, he a])- ])roached the ca]n]> of the assassins, and when near by (iicd a pistol to sunniio-.i tliem to his ]rescnce. The cons])irators, rightly Judging who had caused the repoit. stealthily ajtjiioached and shot their intended victim, Leotot exclaiming as he fell, "■ You are down now, (irand Lashaw, you are down now."* They then des- poiled the body of its elothingy and left it to be devoured by the Mouette's Val. of the Jlisa. 104 IIISTOIIV OF ILLIKOIH. Willi l>cii.sls(»rtlu'l«tr«'Ml. Tims, at lliciijic of I.5, in liis vigorous iiisiii- IuxmI's |>riiii('. |l(•^i^lH■(l one uiiosc exploits liiixc ((fiicjill^ ciiiiclMMl the iii>tcnfs, I lie siaillurn sun, llic norllicrn lilasi, fatlLMic, laniino and whiili, Coriolanus-like, d( rlareil itself most siernly in the lliickesl prevs ol' Iocs, has in il sonii Ihiii;;' to ehalh ii.nc admiral ion. Never under the impeiiclrahle mail of paladin or crusader heal a heart of more in- tripid lueltle than wilhin the stoic panoply that armed the liicast ol'LaSalle. To estimate ariuht the umrvels of his jiaiient loiiiiuile, one mu>t follow on his track Ihrouuh llie va.-l s('.inds of weary miles of forest, marsh and river, w heri', a.uain and aj;'ain, in the hitler- iK's.s of hallled slriviuif, the unlirinu' pil'^rim pushed onward toward liie ;.;oal he was never to at tain. America owes him an enduring uu uiorj' ; for in thi^ mas- culine liyiire. east in iron, she sees the heroic pioneer who guided iier to tho possession of hi'T richest heritage." * Tho.se who were not in sympathy w ith the assassins coticeahMl their fe.sentnient, and on the I'd day after IIm' inurdev the i)aity Mils iioain in motion. On the main stream of the Trinity they "Were a,i:ain compelled to halt for the purpose of lui.viii;^' provisions ol tlie Indians. Here the two murih-rers, who had arroj^ated to tlieiiisel\-es the coiiiniaiid of the cxiM-ditioii, dcchired their inten- tion of lettirninj; to the fort, and there biiildinj;' a slii[> in whii-h to i'scaiio to the West Indies. This impossible scheme, toj^cther with tlieii' refusal to let their acc()ni|»lices in the murder share in tho spoils ohtained hy it, .soon led to dissensions. 'I'lie breach itipidly w ideiied, and tit last the a^ofieved jiartics shot the mtirder«'rs, an act which was but tlu" iccoil of the crimes they were the tiist to in- troduce. Thus ended the bloody trajicdy, enacted with such atroc- ity Ity these pione«'fs of Clnistianitv and «'ivili/af ion, that even the debased sava^ic of the wilderiiesss looked on with the utmost ama/emcnt iin of Tonti's Mien, whom he had left here in his assent of the Missis- sijtpi/ This noble otVieer, who had iteeii restored to th(> eoiniiiand of the fort on the Illinois by order of the Kiii.u, had heard of Lil Salle's disaster, and iiiiiiiediately e(iiiipped an expedition with his own means to reli<'Vi' him. With L'.") Freiieliinen and o Indians, he, left the fort on the l.'tth of l''ebriiary, KiSi;, and soon descended the Illinois and .Missi;,sip|»i to the (!nlf. Not tiiidin;;' any traces of him at the month (»f the i-iver, 1m' sent his canoes to scour the shores for a. distance of .'!(► lea;^nes on either side. Not seeini; or lieariiiji' anythin.^ of l.aSalle, who at the same time was waiideriuLi anion:; the wilds of Texas, in a search equally fruitless, he relia<'('d liis course to the fort on the Illinois, lea\ iiiu, as already mentioned, HOMK^ of his men near the imtiith of the ArUansas. The travelers, from motives of |»olicy, carel'nlly concealed the death of LaSalle IVoin their hosts, and when siitlicieiitly recruited rccomiiieiiced theirjoiiniey. I'roceedinji'down the Arkaiisas,tli('ysoon found t hem- selves on the yreat lixcr which had so loiijii' been the object of their search. The l.'ltli of Sepleiiil»cr found them at the coiitlii- eiic*' of the Illinois, ami II days more broiijiht them to the tort- crowned rock, which, like a sentinel, stood watch over its peaceful waters. They landed and were, soon met by paitiesfrom the fort, mIio, after the usual s.ilntatious, iii((nircd for LaSalle. Siilistit ut- in^' adroitness for a frank a\dwal of the truth, they replied that they had left him in Texas, and at the time of their depaitur*' he was in liood health. It is said the oltjcct of the evasion was to enable the old priest, Cavalier, hs the icpresentalive of LaSalle, to derive some advaii- tajic for himself and coiii])aiiions in the settlement of his brother's estate. T(Uiti v,as al)seiit, li;;litiii,i;' the Irocpiois. but his lieiiteiiaiit received *lieni with a salvo of musketry, and provided for thcni comfortable (piai'ters in the fori. Tonti, not lon;n' alter, returned from his niaitial expedition, and listened with |)r(»tbund interest ami symjiathy to the story of the disasters and siitferinys of the tra\ clers, as I'clated by the elder Cavalier. He did not scruple to tell Tonti the same stoiy by which lu; had deeeived others in re- j^ard to the death of liis brother. Moreover, after liviiit;' for months on the hospitality of his ^ciierons host, he ad'otten furs ihv elothinjL'; and means to de- fray their exi»enses liome. Without further delay, they made (heir way to (^>uebec, and thence t(» l-'rance, whither they arrived in Oetober, 1()ility iiiMi rilcr;iV, \fl. iiio\cl iiifssiii;^ lifccssilv. IImv |ii'1 ruiiiird oiH'olllif iiiu>l iciiiai kiiltlf \n\a.i;r.s (111 locoid. 'I'licy iii>\\ , lur I hi- lll'Ht tiiiit', r l/iSalliAs tiratli, ami tiir kiii;^' issiHil (H<|('is tor ilic aiifsl III' all wliu wcic |»ii\ y to liis niiiidci'. It tlors mil a|i|itMi' n-rlaiii llial any ul' tlicm wrir t>\ «-i' siiliji'di'd to a niiiiiiial |iros('<-iiiias, and was ihcnci' ."Uiicd to him in tin- loit on I he illiiKiis. It is uioi'(> rasy to ima;L;im> than d<-sci-ilM' the I'rcl- in;:;s of this ni'isl dcMilcd ol' all LaSallc's rdlluwcis w hen he Icaiiitd thf tragical manner ul' his death. Hnt wiliiuiil ii.seles> waste ol' time in ^liel' for him w lioin he had so Ion;;' and so laithliilly served and who was low iieyond reaeh (iT help, he deteiiniiied to make an eiroil to resei.e his pelisliin.L; colonists. Imh' I his pni|)ose he lel't the I'oi't in Deeeiidier, ItiSS, with .1 I'leiiehmen and >'* Indians, and, iil'lei' a toilsome Joniney, arrived at the month ol' it'ed lki\er. where he leai'iM'd that some of the aeeompliei's of LaSalle's mnrdeiers were in a \illa;:(' some SO leagues distant. On makiii,u' known his inteidion to \isil the town all his men rei'iised to aeeompan,\ him, exeept two, a j-'renchman and an Indian. Not bein;;' aide toeul'orer oliedienee. he resolutely set out with ihem.linf nid'orlnnalely a Tew da\s al'terward.'.. lost the greater pari ol' his ammnnilion. Still nmleterred, he pushed on to the town, imt no trace of the eriniinals could he found. When, howc\ci', he (|in'stioned the villagers lespectiii;;' them, he concluded from their sus|iieious demeanor, that they had pre\ iously been there, and thai the Indians, incensed ill their misdeeds, had probably p>d them to death. I la \ in;;' accom- pli islied nothing thus far, and now aiiiiost without ammnnilion. w it li iiiller disappointment he was compelled toretniii. In retraciu;;' their steps they met with more than the usual amount of hardships atteiidin.y a march tliroiijih an um'X|ilored wildei'i\ess. On arriv- ing' at the Indian \ illa;u'e on the Arkairsas, Tonti. as the residt of exliaiislion and exposure, became sick of a I'cNcr, but recoxcred in time to I'eacli the fort on the Illinois by tlnr first oi' Se|ileniber. This nnsuccessfnl effort uas the last attempt made to i-esciie tln^ uid'orluiiale colony fioin fln^ sava.uc imnuiisity thai shut them out from home and civilization. Their linal destruction by the Indians was learned from the Sjianiards of Mexico. Sjiain clainn-d the couidry boi'derinn' on the (Inlf of iNIexico, and from the capture of LaSallc's vessel in the West Indian Seas, his designs became known. After several attempts to llml the location of his colony and destroy it, a Mexican expedition, .ynided by on(i of the Frciicli deserters, pushed aci'oss the wilderm'ss to the foit. Seeiii;;- no evidences of life without, the SjiaiMards spurred their lioises tliroiiyh the open jiiatcway of the fort, and fouml oidy the ruins of "w hat had once constituted the stoi'cs and furniliirc of the jiai-rison. J-'roin French desertors domesticated amouii' the Indians, it was learned that alioiit .'» months before, a band of savau'cs ambusln'd themselves under the banks of the river, while others drew the pirris(Hi out of the fort for the ])urpose of trallic. At a yiveii si^- luil, the concealed foe rushed from liis co\-ert, and immolated indis- criminately the men, wonu'U and children. Thus ends one of the LASAr,],!',. iiiosf t'xtt'iisivj' t'X|il(>nitioii.s known to lii.slory. As ii ^ji-cal ;>i'o- ;;r.i|>!ii("il iiiN<'ov('r.v, it is onl.v s»c<»ml to tlwit wliitli niiiiic iiiiowu to ICiiio|M' tin- cNlsli'iin' of tlir NNi'slcni ll»'iiiis|»li('ic. 'I'lic ;;iiiit XiillcN lIlllS IJH'OWII l>|M'll ililS silllT Im'CII lilit'll Willi il l'0|l>lt'lhllin|| ol |iio,s|M'i'oiis, ii:i|>|)V stiitcs. Til*' cil V wliirli ilc:)! lMlt'|ii'i\ cii liini III' roiiliiiili;;, iilid wliicll his >.ii;:iicit,N loioiiw Woillil litcuiiii' niu- of till' \i\{".[\ iiiiii't ;of iIm> riirtli, is now tli*' ('iiipoiiiini of tlii> South. Aiiii'iiiM owes him a ilrl.t of mnlitmlr wiiirli shr will cNtT l>r 1111:1- l)ir lo p.iv, iiiiil iii'hivi' iiiiUiiifr, as a t,\lM- of iiicaiiialc (•ii(-r;;^\, liis dccd,^ -lif will M('\('i' foi';L;t'l. Ill wKi'iN.- It will 111' I'iMiii iiilxTcil ttint Iji\Sii1Ii! Im\ln>f crmcliiilccl tliitt lli'iiiicjilii ciiiijil ild iiion Li'oiiil li.\' I'Vjiliii'lriu' till' llllniiis Miul rplicr .Mlssls<l, tliiiii In |>i'i'.irliliiu 8i'riii>>i>~.iniliiii. ilavlnu' •Ii'miikIiiI till' I IhtiniMiiiil I'oiiiiiiciiiTil I lie ii-i'i'iil nil III' Missl»-i||iii:, llii'> wi'ii' >'iH|i|'|si'il. mill liilii'ii liv 11 li.iii'l lit Slur V Willi niiii|ii''lril llii'iii ii|i till' liMT 111 I 111' 1,11 K III Si A II I In ill) , ii in I t lii'lii''' III tlirli' \ liliiVi':- I'l t III' V'ii'liiily III' Mlllc Liii', tVlsi'oiisiii Hit ' lli'iiiii'|iiii '|ii'iil I III' SiH'liiu mill Siiiiiiiii'i' I iiiiiilliiLr, iii'iiii'^Mis 11 |ili\ »li'liiii, mill ~liiil> liiM' till' Siiiii.v hiiiiiii.i'ji'. All! iiiiiii III li'liiJlit ('.inic. mill Willi till' ('iiii>iriil 111 tlii' I'liirl I ii'.v Wi'i'i' iiii'iiiil Mil In (li'imii . I'liii'i'i'illiiu- li.\ wiiy ill I 111' lliitii, Mls«isvi|i|.|, Ui.-i iiii-iii, anil Fux iiM'r> tn 1 iiicn Imy. Iln-.v "liiiil I In' ^Viiili'r wjtii I lii' .li'.iiill MIm^ 11 a nil Irs W ii li iln' ii|i('ii|ri)i- iit S|iiinu' tlii',\ iiiii\i'il iliHVi; llir lalii'smnl St I.awii'iii'i', to l,iiii'lii'i',\vlii'ii' lli'iiia'jiln win 11 rii I'll liv ilii- !.'ii\i'iiiiii', wini lisliiii'il Willi |ii'iitiiiiiiil jnli'ri'.'-t |n|ln' ri'rilal nt Ills iniM'Is. I'l'iHii Aiiii'i'li'ii III' Weill III I'l'iinci', wlici'i'iin acciiiint nl Ills I nivcls witi' |iiiliil-liri| in (lilVi'i'i'iil laiiuiia!;i'c, ami rcinl H It 11 ureal iiilei'i'sl Nut iin'elini;' wllli llie eiieuiirajje- liii'iit III I'laliee lii'i'X|iii'|i'il, lie Weill to lliiiiiainl ami was taken Intii Hie 'iel'\ iee nt' Kitiu W'illlaiii Tills iriiiiareli wisliieu' In set ii|i II I'laliii tii l.iiiiisimia. inWiK'i'il Iniii l<> niD'lily till' iiai ralive el' lijs ihsi-nv ery sn as to l'a\ iir liis elailii ^■il■illill^^■ In Ills ii'i|iiest III' wiipIc il new aeeoiiiit. in wliieli lie lalsely staleil tliiit liel'nre Ills Miyaire up tlie rher lie llr«l ili'Siieiiileil it In tlie sea. 'I'liiis while lie emlea\ ( itil In roll IjiiSaiie nl lil> priiiei- |ml liiiir els. lie t.iriiisli.'il Ills own laiiie ami was iilterwarils stiyniiili/.eil liy his eniiinrj- DK'ii ij.s lliu |iniui' lit' liii's. ClIAPTKR X. J70()-171!)— ILLINOIS A 1)EI'EXJ>EXCY OF CANADA AND TAirrOF LOriSLVXA— THE (;()VKK>\MKNT A TIIIOOC- KACY— OPEL'ATIOXS OF CIJOZAT. A Dependency of Canada. — Twclvo ymir.s elapsed after LaSiille\s friiillcss a<^teiiii)t to IuiiikI a (•. and wliiie lie was en,iia,L':e- himself of his assistance. DMlterville resolveien\ille, and other jiarties, he jiassed uji the river to the Nacluz trilie, which he found moi'c powerful and civilized than others he ]iad visited. The ;oii\ille: "(lod alone coidd have saved ('anada in lOSS. I'.nt for the assistance obtained from the jxtsts of the west, Illinois nnist have l)een abandoned, the fort at Mackinaw lost, and a jncn- eral ii])."isin^- of the nations would have completed the destrnction of New France."* liinnor states that, after the i»eitbrmance of these acts, he resi(h'd sevei'al years in Illinois, and then returned to France. As the St. Lawi'cnce had been made an avenin- fortlie a])iu<)ach of settlers to Illinois, so, afier the ex[»loration of tin^ ^Mississippi, it also became ahi;^hway for the intlowinji'of i)o])nlation. Throu.i;h tlK'se channels, communicatinji' with the external world, cauie tlie ])ioneers who, lu'tween the years KISO'-OO, founded the villa,ues and settlements of Fort St. Louis, Kaskaskia, Call, >kia, and others of moi'c recent date. These settlements, in comnntn with most of those «'s(ablislied in the interior of the continent, were, to a j;reat extent, the work of the Jesuit and IJecollet missionaries. These hardy and enteri^'isin^' embassadoi's of tlu^ cross, with a zeal Avhicli detied the o])position of the elements, heat, hunger and c(»ld, fati,!4ue, fandne and ]»eslilcnce. ent<'rcd the pi'airies of Illi- nois 1000 miles in adxanceof its sectdar ])o]iuhition. We Justly adnnre the fortitude of Sndtli, the founder of V'irj^iina, tlie eourajic^ of .May-Hower j)il,<;iinis, the fathers of New l-lnji'land; but iiil these Iiad royal patrons; then what shall W(^ say of the devoted nnssionaries, who laid the foundations of States in th(> remote wilderness, when their moimstic vows denied them even the feebhi aid of ecclesiastical sui)port ? Neither commercial liain nor secu- lar fame, l>ut reliiiions fervor, could have nerved them to meet the toils and dangers incident to their wilderness life. The first mission in Illinois, as we have already seen, Avas com- luenced by ]\iar(|uetfe in .\]»ril. I()7."». It is said as he entered the rude dwellinj;s of the inhabitants and i)reached of Christ and tiu^ Virgin, heaven and hell, (h'uions and anjicls, and the life to come, he was received as a celestial \ isitor. The Indians besought hint to remain amonj;' them and continue his instructions, but his life, Avas fast ebbinj;' away, and it behooved him to dei»art. He called the iclipous society winch he had established the "IMissitui of the Immaculate Conception," and the town '" Kaskaskia," after one of tli(^ Illinois tribes bearin;^' the same name. The fust military oecu])ation of the country was at Fort Creve- ea'ur, erected in February, UJSO; but there is no evidence, that a settlement was commenced there or at I'eoria, <»n the lake above, at (hat eaily date.+ The first settlement of which there is any authentic account, Avas commenced Avitli the building of Fort St. *nan<'r()ft. f AduuIs of tlie West, 110 HISTORY OF ILLOOIS. Louis, on llic Jlliiiois livcr, in KiSi'. It n'liiiiiiicd in existence at least till 1700. wlieii Tonti seems to liave al)an(lone(l it and .uone soutli. l)ut liow Ion;:' at'tei' tliat (late is not delinitely icnown. Tiio oldesi iK'iiiiiincnt setllcnicnt. not only in Illinois hut llic valley ol' llie Mississijipi, is Kaskaskia. situated (i ndles ahosc the mouth ol' the river of the same name,* There is no evidence to sub- stantiate the statement that LaSalle left colonists here and at (.'aliokia on his retuiii fioni the successl'Ml exploration of the Miss- issippi in ](!Sl'. The mission hen; ^vas (uiyinally established at the j;reat tovi n of the Illinois, I)ut with the removal of the tribes farther south- ■\vaid. it was tiansfericd to Kaskaskia. leather draxicr, who had l)i( vionsly been stationed at 31ackimiw, ell'ected the remova' s(»m(5 time ]»rior to 1(I!K>. the exact date lieinjii' unkntnvn. lb,' was the lii'st of the missionai'ies to ascertain the principles of the Illinois lan_uua,u<' and reduce them to rules. \V len recalled from Kas- kaskia () Mat'kinaw, he was succeeded by fathers J>inneteau and !'in<'t, tiie latter of whom established the mission and villa.uc of ("ahokia. So successt'ul was I'inet in attractinj;' the att<'iition of the ai)ori,i;ines, his chaix-l was insiilliciciit to hold the larj:c num- Ixr that att«'ndedhis ministrations. The Iinlians under his chaij;e were the Tamaroas and ( 'aliokias. the latter tribe finnishini:' tlie villafiC its name. Ilinneteau. to attend to his ministerial labors, t'ollowi'd the Kaskaskias in one of their hunts on ihe iiplauil }(Iains of the Mississippi, and died. Now stilled in the tall ^lass, n(»w p;intiii.n' with thirst on the arid prairie, paiched by day with lieat, and by ni.i; lit exposed on the .'ground to chiliinji' erin.y over hills, in pain|iaiiicd by "iilj' two savaurs, wlio iniiilil ahaiidDii me I'vinn levity, oi- miiilit tly tlirdimli fi ar df t'licmics. 'I'iic l( rror of llirsi.' vast iiiiiiilialiiiahle rcLi'ioi.s, ill wliicli for 12 ilays not a siiiulc soul was st'cii, aliiuwt took away my cmiiauc Tliis was a joiirmy wherein llierc was no villaue. no bi'idiie, no tVrry lioiit, no lioiisc, no l)eMl(ii jialli; and over lioiindhss piairiis, iiitcrseclcd l)y riviilels and ris'ei's, lliroiiuii forests and tliickels tilled witii briars and thorns, Ihrouuli marshes, in wliieli we somelimes plniijred to the i^irdk'. At ni^ilit repose was soiiirJn on the u'rass or leaves, exjiosed to the; winds and rains, lia])i)y if by the side of some rivulet whose waters miuht (liieneli our thirst. ^Meals were jirepared I'roin siuh uamc as niiglit be killeil on the way, or by roasting ears of eorii." Early in the 18th (century he was Joined I)y Mennet, who had ]treviously founded a mission on the ()hi(». "'the gentle virtues I'.nd fervid eloiiueiice ol' Mermet made himtlies.iiil of the ^Mis'-i(ni of Ivask.-iskia. At early dawn his pupils came to church, dretcr iniMJiciiic, and their skill ixh l)li\-^i(i:ms did more than all tlic rest to win conHdcncc. In tlic Mflcrnoon !lio catcclii^iii was lani;lit in tlu' ju'cscnce of liic yoiini; and the old, when every ono without di'^tiiiction of rank or ai^c, answered the ((Ucslions of the missionary. At (•venini;; all would assend)le at the chapel for instrnclion, for jtrayer, and to (•haul the hymns of the church. On Sundays and festivals, even after vespers, i\ homily was pronounced; at the close of the day]);irlies would meet in houses' to rccile the ( haplels in alternate choirs, and sini;- p.salnis till late at ni.iiht. 'rinse psahns were often homilies, willi words set to familiar tunes. Saturday imd Sunday were the days ajipointed for confession and conuiiuidon, and every convert confessed once in a fortninht. The success of this mission was sncli that inarriaiics of the French inmiijirants were soinetiuus solemnized with the daiiufiiters of the Illinois, aecordini;- lo the rites of the (.'atliolic church. 'J'ho oecupaiiou of the countr}' was a c;uitoiimeut amou;^' the mitive proprietors of the forests and prairies.* Fallicv Cliiirlcvoix, who -sisitod Illinois in ITl'l, thus spe.ik.s of th(! < 'iihokia and Ktiskiiskiii Missions : "We lay last niirlit in tlii' villau<' of the Cahokias and Taiuarons, two Illinois tribes which have been united, and compose lu) very numerous canton. This villiii^^e is situiiled on a verj' small river width runs from the ea^l, and has no WMier e.xcept in the Siirini;'. On this account we had lo w.alk half a leai;ue he- tore we could sjet to our cabins. I was astonished that such a ])oor situation liiid been selected, when there are so many li'ood ones. P)Ut 1 was told thai tlu; JIi,ssissi|ipi washed the foot of the villaii'e when it was built; that in !j years it had shified its course half a league farther to Ihe wcst.jind thai llu'V were now thinkinir ofchanjring' their habitation, which is no irreat ail'air amoni;- these In- Oiaii.s. I i)asseil the idght with the missionaries, who are two ecclesiastics from the Seminary of (Quebec, fornu'rly my discijihs, but the; must now be my mas- ters. One of them wasabsent, butl found the other sucdi as he had been rep- resented tome, riuid with himst'lf, full of charity to others, and displaying; in Ids own pers(ui an amiable pattern of virtues. Yesterday I arrived at Ivaskn.s- kia about !) o'<;;ue be- low stands Fort (Jhartres, about the distance of a nuisket shot from the I'iver. JI. de iJoisbranl commands here for the company to whicdi the place belonirs. 'J'he French are now bei!;innin<; to settle the country bet ween the fort and thi! first udssion. Four leauiU's farther, and about ii leaiiue from the riv(;r, is a larjie villau'e, inhabited by the French, who are alniosl all Canadians, and have a Ji suit for tlu ir curate. The seeoml village of the Illinois lie s I'ariher up Ihe country, at the distance of two leagues from the last, and is under the charge of a fourth Jesuit. "The Indians at this place live much at their ease. A Fleming, wlio was a domestic of the Jesuits, has tauj;;lil them how to sow wheat, winch succicds well. They have swine ami black cattle. TIk^ Illinois manure lluir jiround afier their fasjiion, and are very laborious. They likewise bring up poultry which they sell to the French. 'J'lieir wonuMi are very nciit handed and indus- trious. They s[)in the wool of the buH'alo into threads as tine as can be made from that of the Eng;lisli sheei>. IN'ay, L-ometimes it might lie taken for silk. Of this they manuf •'•lui'c fabrics which are dyed black, yellow and red, al'ier wliich they are made into robes, which they s('W logeth(r with the sinews of the roebuck. Thej expose these to the suu for the .sj)ace of three ila_\s, and M hen dry, beat them, :muI without dilliculty draw out while threads of gr( at fineness." Ucsidos the villa<>(\s nicntioncd iihovc, othci's spviiiiii' up in stib- Si'ciin'iit times, as i'ltiirie dii Kociie, sitiiiited ;it tlie l>iisi' ui ;i, rocky bluff of the Mississijtpi, 4 miles below Tent Chiirtres, and Pi'iiiiie dn Poid, a jnih^ south of Ctihokiii. Other missions wcie also establislied, iind ilomish elerjiy continued to \ isit the comitiy, and in the id)senee of civil government, tu'ted not only its spiritual •Bancroft. 112 IIISTOKY ())'' ILLINOIS. {iUHli's, hilt ;is l('iii|t(>riil iiilcrs ol" tlic pcoiilc. In lliosc diiys of <)csiiit <>iitiiiisi:isiii, liolii IIm' |iric.sts iiiid tln'ir Hocks, in iidditioii to tlicir strong religious feelings, possessed in iiiiinv instiinccsiiii inte;;"- I'ity wliicli tilt' most ti'viii;^' tfinptiitions were iiowcrlcss to ('(uriipt. It is ti'iic iiiiicii of lliis <'iitliiisi;isiii \v;is iaiiiiticisiii, w liicii iiitci prc- tt'd tiic I'csiilts ol' nntiirn! I;i\v as sitccial int»'r|>ositi(»iis of pv«>vi- dciicc; wiiicli icjianlcil self imposed piivsical pain an act of virtue, and eoiistriied tlieir trivial dreams as ])roplietic of future li'ood or «'vil. Tiiese superstitions were eoinmoii to the a.u'e. and rather added than detract«'d from their moral teachinjis. ruder their I'ormative inliiieiice, the lirst Ficiich settlements of Illinois wei'O deei>!\ imhued with a sjiiiit of Justice, honesty, charity, and other \irtiies, which enabled them to exist nearly a century witlioiit a court of law; willntnt wars with their Indian neij^lihors, and up to llie lime of r>(»isbriaiit, without a local ;^(i\-ernmeiit. The conli- deiice inspired by the priests, as the ministers of a supposed infal- lible chnrcli, ;;;iive Ihein ample authority to settle, without the tardy i>roeeedin;^s of courts and their atti-ndant costs, all dilfer- t'lices which occasionally disturbed the ])eace of the colonists, fliistice, under these circmi'stances, was dispensed as iii Israel of old, by the power of tlu' mind to discriminate between rijiht and Avroui;', rather than by laws whose intricacies and technicalities fre(|iiently suffer the jiuilty to j;(» iinimnished. Such was the res- pect for ri,uht, and the parental rearison with its Ilebrew ])rototyi»e for the I'cliyious /eal ami virtuous conduct manifested by its subjects. A Part of Loui,sioit(i. — Hitherto the settlements of Illinois and tliose subsequently founded on the Lower .Mississippi by DMber- ville and his brother, IJieiiville, had been separate depeiKh'iicies of Canada. >sow they were to be united as oin' province, inider the name of Louisiana, havin<;' its cajtital at .Mobile, auii()iiccrs of newly discovered countries, and whether discoxcries arc made or not, it .yciicrally ictards their permanent ;ufo\vtli and ])ros]ieiity. 'I'o such an extent were Crozat and his ])artiiers in- llnenccd I)y this shininj;' bnblile that they frecpieiitly iiiijoiiilied the most trivial prosjK'cts int(' (piantities of lead aid iron ore were discovered ,n .Missdiiri: but the ;.;i'( ;;t abun- dance of these metals in the civili/,ean(lon the scheme (d' i-oiiimercial relations with the ports of the jiiilf. Another project was to establish trade by land with the interior S|)anisli jirovinces, lait in this case he also failed, for, after a protracted ctfoit of ti\e years, his o(),i(ls were seized and coiitiscati'd and his ai^vnts impri,s(nied. NOr had "See Dillon's Indiana. 8 114 niSTOBY OF ILLINOIS. tli«' i'lir triidc witli llic liidiinis, iiiKitlicr soiiicc of aii(i»'i]i;it('(l wraltli, iiict with siirccss. Kiij;lisli ciiiissiiiics I'loiii the ('iiidliiias liiid l»('('ii active ill tlicir clloits tocxcitc Indian iiostilitics a;;ainst till' Frcncli. and wiicrt'Vt'r |tiacli»'al)l(', had coiitKiJhMl tin' fur liinh', h,V fiunisiiin^ pidds in cxclianj;'*' at reduced juices. Aj;iictiltnre, the only resource of lastin^i' jii'ospeiit.v to tlie couiitiy, liad iieeii ]ie,!4lecte(l, and t'rozat, failinji' to reali/e any inolits iVoni liis etVoils in otiiei' directions, was iinalile to meet his lialiilities. lie liad expeiuh'd 4-!"),()()0 livres and realized only .'KKI.ddO, and failiii.u lo ])ay his men, dissatisfaction ensued. I)es|tairiiij;' also of lieinji' more successful in the future, in 1717, he petitioned the kiiii; to have his charter revoked, which was done, and the fiovernmeiit reverted solely to the otlicers of the crown. Diirin;^' his couiieciioii Avitli the i»ro\ iiice, the jirowth of the settleiin'iits was slow, and little was aconiplislied for their periiiaueiit beiietit. The .urea test ])rosperily they enjoyed ;irew out of the eiiteijiriseof huinhle indi- viduals, who had succeeded in estahlishin^i' a small trade between themsehcs.the natives and some iieijL;hl)oriiiji'Kiirt»i»eau settlements. IJuteven these small sources of ])rosj>erity were at length cut olVhy the fatal monopolies of the Paiisian merchant. Tlu^ white pojm- latioii of the country had slowly increased, and at the time of his departure, that <»ii the Lower Mississip])i was estimated at .SSO, and that of Illinois, which then included the settlements of the Wabash, ^I'd souls. Cidzat's partner had died tlio year previous, and ^vas succeeded in hisoflicial capacity by Uienville, the former jLioveriior. Prior to his installation some French hunters and straarties, erected and garrisoned a fort, to prevent the recur- rence of similar disturbances in the future. It was built on the site selected 1<» years befor«; by his Inother, and was called K'osa- lie, the name ot'lhe capital he iirojiosed to build at the same place. This was the origin of the present <'ity of 2v'atchez, the oldest jier- luanent settlement in the ]\Iississi})pi VaUey, south of Illinois.* With the retirement of Crozat, Bienville was succeeded by L'l'][)i- nai, who brought with him 50 emigrants and ■'} com[>anies of infan- try, to reinforce the garrisons of the dirt'orent posts. *rt seems that Arkansne Post has never been almndoned since Tontl's men erected their cabin there, after bis fruitless search for LaSalle's colony, in the spriiis of 11).% Chapter XI. 1717-1732— 1LL1^'()IS AXI) LOUISIAXA UNDER TUE COMPANY OF Till-: WEST. Louis XIV. liiid recently died, leiiviii.u' n debt ('(Hitrnetod by Viir« iiiid extijiviijiiinee iiiiioniitiii;;' to .J.OOO.OOIMKK) Hvres. lie Wiis succeeded by liis j;i;iiidsoii, Louis X \', who, beiiii; tlieii only n child live yeiirs old, the Didce of Orleiins was iii>|»oiiited recent. In the midst of the tiiianeiid eonfnsion j^rowin^' ont of the etfoits of the reii'ent to [>iiy the interest on the oveiwhehninji' public! debt, -John JjSIW ]>i'esented iiiniself lit the French court with ii scheme for atfoi'diny' relief. Fie was the son of an l-'dinbnri^h banker, and shortly after the death of his father, wasted his i»at- rinntny by ,nand)lin,y and extiavaji'ant livinj;'. l''or .'{ years he wandered over I'^nroj»e, sni)i)ortinj;' himself l>y les of timince. Alter i)erfectinroject of a land luiuk, which the wits of the day riilicnled by caljinji' it a sand bank, which would wrevk the shij) of state. Several years after- ward lie jiresentod liis plan to the Dnke of Savoy, who told him lie was too poor a ])otentate and his dominion was too small, for so jiiaiid a ]>ioject. lie tiioii,i;ht. however, that the Fi'ciich ])eo])le Avonld be de1i^litehui so new and plausible, and advised him to yo to France. Accordinii' to liis theory of bankin*^, the eiirrency of a country is the I'ciiresentative of its niovina])er beinj>- liased on the vahu> of coin at the lime lie made his issues, wavS witlnmt fluctuations, and on this account soon commanded a premium of l.l ])er cent. The rejient was as- tonished that paper money could thus aid sjiecie and be at a pre- mium, w'hile .state bonds were at 78 per cent, discount. 115 iii; IITST015Y (»!•' IT-LINOIS. Tlic biiiikcr's inHiH'iicc briny' now irresistible, lie pioposed liis fiiiiMius ?\Iis^i.ssi|l|)i sclieiiie, wliicli made liiiu a proiiiiiieiit actor in till' lii>toiv (iT Louisiana and lllin(»is. The vast resonrees of l.on- isiana still liiled the imaginations of l''reneh statesmen with visions of bonndless wealth. 'I'he want of success which had hitherto atl<'nde(l the ellorts of l)'Ii>er\ ille and Crozat. was still insuttieieiit to jirodnee in the publitr mind nnire sober views. The story of its vast mineral deposits was .soon rexivcd; iiiydts of jiold. the iircMliiets of its siii>itose(l mines, weie exhibited in Paris, and the sanj;iiiiie French court saw in the future of the province an empire, with its fruitful fields, yrowiiiji' cities, busy wharxcs, and exhaiistiess mines of ;^old and silver, |)ourin;j;' its j)recious ireij;Iits into the avenues of French commerce. No .sooner, there- fore, had Cro/at surrendered his charter, than otiieis aiiiieiired, eaucr to enter this vast tield of adventurous enlcri>rise. Accord- ingly, in 1717, ail organization was enected under the ansjiices of Law, known at first as the Western Company. Amoiij;' the pii\i- leycs eoiifeired on it maybe mentioned the rii^lit e\clusi\ely to control the commerce of the i)r<»\ince for a period of -."> years; to make treaties with the Indians, and wa;;(' war aj^ainst tlii'in in case of insult : to oi>en and work all mines free of duty; to cast cannon; build ships of war, le\y troops and nominate the jiov- eriiors and those who were to command them, after beiii;; duly coiii- inissioned by the Uinji. To lurlher encourage the company, he liromised to .i;ive them the protection of his name ajiaiiist fbreiiiii l)owers, presented them the xcsseis, forts, miinitiy mean.s of Law's bank, the interest on this ]>ortion of the i)ublie, debt was proni])tly ]>aid. and, as the result, it imme- diately rose from a j;reat depreciation to a hi«'.(I(K). AVhelhcr this was the a<-t of Law or the reju'cnt, we are n(»t in- loriiied. That he lent his aid to inundate the whole country Mitli ])aper money, is conces dazzled by his foi-mer snc- eess, he was h'ss jiiiarded, ami nnconscioiis that an evil day was fast approaj-hinj^'. '^flie chancellor, who o]>])osed these extensive issues, was dismissed at the instanc<' of liaw, and a tool of the recent was a)»]iointed in his jilaci'. Tli<' I-'r^'iich parliament fore- saw tin' dan^icr approaching;, and remonstrate»l in\ain with the i'e;.veiit. The latler aiiniilled their dc<-r<'es, and on (lu'ir i)roi)osinj>' that Law, v*liom they rc.uarded as the canse of the whole evil, should lie broiiiiht to trial, an still devote new shares were added, and its franchises extended. The stock was paid in state .S4'cinities, with only 1(M» livres for .")()(( ot' stock, l-'or these new shai'cs .'lOO.non aj)]»lications wei'e made, and Law's house was beset fr(tm morninj^' till niijht with ea.ucr ap]»licants, and before the list of fortnnate stockholders could be complet(Ml, the pnblic imi>atience rose to a ))itch of fi'eiizy. Dukes, manpiises and counts, with tlK'ir wiN<'s and dan^hters. waite(>() livres each ; and stu'h was the ea.irerness of the j>eople to snbsciibe, that, had the ;;(>\'ernment or(lere«l three times that nunibei', they would all have b«'en taken. The first attem]»ts of the ;'omi>any at coloinzation in Louisiana, vroi'o attcjKh'd with careless iirodi^ality. To entice emi;iraids thither, the rich ]»rairi<'s and the most invitin^u' li<'lrairie in Aikansas, bounded on all .sides by the sky, was jiianted to Law, where hedesiijiicd to plant a colony, and he actmdly expended a half million of livres for that purpose. Fi'oni the represejitations of the company, New Orleans lis IIIMTOIJV (iF ILLINOIS. Imthiiic riiiiioiis ill I'iiiis as a Ucaiilil'iil cil.v Itt'lorc llic wuiU uf nitliii;; i'iiiiii ul' lia- iiidsI rxtciisiNt- trallii-, and as i'ivaiiii;^' soiiK' of III*- citii's III' I'liiiitpi- in r«-rui('iiifnt, ia.^iiion and i'fli;;i<)iis cidtiir)'. In line, to diniitt tiiu \v«>alliM»t' liiaiisiana was In jadvulvc anj^t-r. I,aw was now in (lie / ctVcct of this spcciilalion on the pnlilic mind and manners was (»verwhelmiii;i. TIh' laxity of public imaals, Wad enoii;j;li lie- lore, now hecame worse, and the peniicitais lose of yaiiihlinj; dil'- I'lised ilseir liii(>n;;h society and liore down all piililic and lit arlv all private virtue heiore it. While conlitleiice lastitl, an imiuilso \vas ^iiven to traile never Welor*- known. Straii^^frs lloekcd to the (■a|iilal IVoiii e\t'r\ |)art of the ^thihe, and its popiihition increased .■ior),(l(MI stalls. Ileds weic inatle in kitchens, ;;aiit'ts ami c\«'n sta- bles, for the aeeoinmoilalioii ol' lod^cis. Trovisioiis shared the ;i'ent'ral advance, ami wa;^t's rose ii. the same propta tioii. An illii- sorv policy e\ fiyw here pre\ailctl. and so da/y.led the eye that none coiilil see ill the hiari/.tiii the ilark cloud that annt>iiiiced the ap- ])roachiii;; sttirin. Law, at the time, was by I'ar, the most inlliieii- tia! man in the realm, while his wile and dauyhters.were etinrled by the liiLiiiest nobility ami their alilaiice soii;;hl by diical ami princely htmses. Suspicions, liowt'\fr, soon arose; sjiecic was deinaiidcd ami Law became alarmeil. The iirecioiis metals had all h ft the kin;:iloin, and (•oil! for more than .')0(> livres was ileclareil an illej;al tentler. [N'dTE.— A colililf I', wlu; hiifl n stiill ncnr Law's dIUco, ^.'nincd nenr 2(10 llvrcs jicr day tiy Irittini; It, nrid tlmlini:' >liitiiiii('r}' I'di' Inuktrs iiml ntjii'i' i^iiiiii.s. A lHiiii|iliiii'ki' trui'S, yaiiiiil coii-iilciiilili' ■liion, were seen waiflinf in the nnte-eliaiiiher of liaw, to lie^i'ii pfalioiiof his stock. He was iinaMe lo wail lai oiie- tentii purt of tin; applicants, and cmtv .nei-icsof inni'iiiiity was employed totiuiiiiln midience. Peer?, whose ditrnity would liaxc lieeii oiitra^red if the reuciit had niado them wait lialf an hour for an intei\ i(!W, were (Mintent to wait li liiairs for the purposi» ol seeiiDf tin? wily adventurer. lOnorin ns fees were paid to his servants to iiniioune-o th'ir name, and ladies of rank einployeil the hlandishmentsof their smiles. One lady in imrticular, who had striven in vain many days to see fjiw, ordered licrcoaehmmi to keep a strict watch, and when he saw liiiii comiiii.'. to drive ayainst a post and upset her eiirrlaire. This was siiceessfiilly nt'complislieil, iiml Ijiw, who witnessed the ap|iareiit accident, ran to hi.'r assistance. She was led to his lioiist-, and a.s soon asslie thoiiirht it (idvlsalile, recovered from her friy hi, aiKdotized for the iiilrnsion.iuul confessed the strataf-'em. Law was a (rallaiit, and could no lontrcr ri-fiise, an I entered her name on his book as the purchaser of some stock. Another lady of nink, knowiiiif lliat Law dined at H eortain tim(\ proceeded tiiitlier in hercarriairo and kuvo tlie alarm of lire, and while everybody wasscaniperiiiir away, sht; made haste to meet him ; but he. siis- {H'ctlnnthe trick, rim oil in 1 In; opposite directitin. A celebrated physician in I'aris iiid boiitrht stock at an iinlaMirable time, and was an.\ioiis to sell out . While it was r»l>idly failinir, and while his mind was lilled with the sub.ii!i:t. lie was euUi d on to atlend a lady who 'lioiii-dit herself unwell. Heinsr shown up stairs, be felt the la ill |):i|M-r ui-rc in i-iiriil;itioisi>riant, hearin;;' a commission anthori/in;: i>ie:.\ille to act as }i()\ernoi'-j;ciieiiil of the j»ro\iiice, and S(H» iniiiii,:nranls. 'I'lie ji<»v- ornor ayain coniinenced the duties of his ollice, still eiitertaininji liis pre\ ions com ictions Unit the c;i|>itiil of the pro\ im-e should he removed Iroiii the sterile sniids of the Oiilf coast to llie hunks of the Aj is.sissip])i. lie leasoned that if estahlished on the fertile allil\ ii.'ii or nplamls of the iii'eat river, it wimld hecoiiM' the ceiilrt; of il coiKiniinity devoted to ;i;;riciiltiii(', the only hraiich of industry that could .ii'ivc perniiiiieiit .urowtli iind prosperity to the province. lie tlieicfore selected the site now occupied hy New Orleans foi' a capital, and jiiavc it the naim' it now hears, in honor of the i;e;i('iit of l''iane<'. I'liylit convicts were sent from the prisons of l>'r;iiiceto (•lear away the copj)ice which thickly studded the site. Two ycHrs afterward the royal en;;ineei' siirv«'y«' it hecanie the jirovincial and <-oiiiinercial capital of Loiiis- iann. Alllion^h .M. lliiltert, who had chaij^c of the c<»ni|)any's aifiiirs, iclnctantly conij)lied with the iidxice of IJieiiville in remov- ing: the dejiots to the new capitiil, time has jiroveii the superior jnd.unient of the former. l''roni a de|M)t for the comnieicial trans- actions of a single company, it has hccome the emjtoiinm of tin; iiohiest valley (»n the face of tin' ylohe. 'I'he delusion that dieann-d of sihci'and .t;old in Loiiisiaiiii, iiiid which had so lar.n('ly contiihiited to the ruin of ( 'ro/.jit. .^t ili liaiint- <'d the minds of Iiis successors. T'liwillin;; to profit l>,\ his expe- rience, they concluded that his success wiis rather the result of Ids unskillful assayers flnin the ahseiice of the precious metals, iiiid accordinjiiy IMiillii) Jicnanlt was made dircctor-;:'eneral of the mines, lie left I'laiice ill ITl'.t, with - niST<)UV OF ILLINOIS. \\\\ iiiiirs iiliii\(> KiiskiislviM, ill wliiit is iniw tin- soul iiu est roriicr III' Monroe coiiiitv, :iiiil ciillrtl tlic \ill:i^r wliicli lit- loiiiKlt'd Saint l'liiili|)>. (ii'fiit *>\|i('(-tiitioiis pi't'Niiilcil ill l''i'iiiii'i- ill iiis piosptTt- i\«- >iii-('<'ss, hilt tiicv ill! t'liilcti ill (lisa|>|ioiiitiii('iit. I'^roni lliis ]Hiiiii lie sent out f\|iloiiii;; partirs into various jiaitsol' Illinois, wlilcli tlicii constitiitnl ('p|)«>r lionisiana. Scarcli was inadt' lor laiiifials aloii;^ 1 Mew rv's cit'ck, in .laclvsoii coniitv ; alioiil lln' St- .Alaiv's, in i)aiiilol|ili roiinl,v; in .Monrof <'oiint,\, aloii;^ SiUcr ( rt'cU ; ill St. Clair roiinty, and otlicr parts ol' Illinois. Silvcr crcrU look its nainr iVoiii tli*> explorations inatle on its Itaiiks, ami traililioii, very iiiiprolialilv. stales that coiisiilei'aMe (piantilies of sihcr were (IisconckI liere and sent t(» I''raiice. 'I'lie operalions of Jienaiilt were at len;;tli hroiijilit to a close I'roin a cause least ex- jH'cled. I'.y tile edict (»!' Ilie kiii;^ the Western Coiiipany liecanic! tile C'onipanv ol'llie Indies, and the teirilorv w as relroeeded to tlui Clown, 'i'lie ett'orts ot' the company had totally tailed, am! Uiiiaiilt ■\va.s left to |»rosecnte the hiisiness of niiniiiiiji without jiieans. In the iiieantinie a tierce war had been raiiiii;;- Uetwceii I'raiK'c and Spain, ami their icspective colonists in Ndrlli America pres<'nled a coiitinmiiisdispli.y of warlike prcjiaratioiis. ItieiiNille, with his reg- ulars and provincial troops, l(K» Indians, aial a few armed ve.>sels, made a descent on I'eiisacohi and laid it under sicfic hcfore its j;anisoii could lie reiiifoi<-ed. .M't<'r an assault of") lioiirs, and ii delermined resistance on the part of the hesieti'ed. the S|)aiiisli coinmandant siirremlered. 'i'he approach of a powerful Spanish armament shortly afh-rward, compelled l;ieiiville lo rcliiMpiish the foil and retiirii lo MoWile. where he. in turn, was lM'sie,i;ed in the fort of I>aii|)hin Island. The squadron endeavored, l»y a furious homhai'diiient. to reduce the fort, hut its commander. liiidin;.t his elfoils uiia\ ailinji, after 1.'! nt 1ii(^ (tperatimis of tiie war w'<'i'e not confined to the lower ])artof tlu' pKivince. 'I'laders and liunters had discovered a route across the vveslern plains, and dctaclnuents of Spanisii cavalry ]»iislied across tlie }ireat American desert, and were llireatening Illinois. Tiie Missouri Indians were at tlie time in alliance witli the f'reiicii, and the Spaniards planned an expedition for the ex- termiuation of tliis trihe. that tliey mi.iiht afterward destroy the settlements of Illinois and replace tlu'in vvitli colonists from .Mex- ico. Tiu' expedition for this ])urpose was titled out at Saiila !''(», and directed to proceed hy way of the Osa.ues, to secure their co- o])eration in an attack on tiie 3Iissouris. Consistin;;' of soldiers, ])riests, families and domestic! animals, it moved like an immense caravan across the desert, piepared hoth to overthrow the ficnch cohuiies and to establish others in their stead. l»y mistake, their guiile.s led them directly to the Missourks uistead of Llic Oaages, MASSACKK Ol' I'OI.'T ItOSAMi;. IL'I illiil iis ciicll s|M)k(> tlic siiiiir lilli^AMii;;'*' tllty lirlifvcil tll<>llisclvfs III till' iMcsciuM' of tlu'! liittor tril«'. Tlic wil.v sii\iiy»"s, uii Iciiriiiii;;' tlifir ImisJiicss, cncoiirii;::)'*! tlir iiiisiiiiilrrshiiiiliii;:, mid I'niiicsicil two (lays l(t iissfiiiltlc tlit'ir winiiois iind |trc|iiiir lor llic iilliifk. Mor*' lliiiii ISlI iiiiiskcts wi'i'f |iiil into llicii- Inmls, hikI lict'oif llio S|iiiiiiiii'.|tiii»'(l to t«'II tlic I'iitc ot' liis iiiifoifiiii!!' iiiitr\iiM"i. Ill ;mli('i- Jiiltioii of siiiiil:!!' tliU'riillirs, Itoislii iillit \v:is siMit lo Illinois ill ITl'O l>,\ tlic NVcsfjTii Coiiipaiiy, toJTCJ't a I'oit on tlir . Mississippi, lor tlif piotcctioii (tf the siirroiiiKJinji" icuions. 'riiiis ori;;iii;it»'ii l''oi't Cliiirti'fs, wliicli pl:i,\V»'slcrn ('onii»;in,\ tinidlv Imilt their wiirehonscs, niid when, in ITUI Loiiisiiina was di\ide(l into distriets. it lieciime the hend- 4piarters of Hoisiiriaiit, the iirsl local governor of Illinois. The 7 distriets were New Orleans, IJiloxi, Moiiile, Alaitania, N;iteliez, Mat* iiiloehis, ;ind Illinois. Soon after the ei'eetioii of the fort, Ciihokia, I'rairie dii Ikoeher, and some other vilhiincs, received larye iiccessions to their jiopnla- tioiis. All till- settlements between the ri\ers .Mississippi and Kaskaskia liecame ;L;reatly extended and increased in niimher. and ill 17-1 the .lesnits estaitlislieeeanie an incorporatetl town. and liOiiis X N' p ran led the iidialnlants a coinnnins. or icistnic ^ronnds, i(»r tlieii' stock. Iniiiii;.:rants rapidly settled on the fertile lands of the Amerieaii ISottom, and I'ort Chaities not only lieeame the Iiead<|iiaiiers of the <-oniiiiannnislied them haisldy for tilt! most trivial otl'cnse. I'lider these eircninstaiices the ('liic- asaws, Natchez, and other trii)es conceived the desi;;ii of destroy- in;;' the I'^rcnch, and sent a,i;<'nts to the Illinois to induce them to <'nt off the settiements iiitheii midst. Tiie aMack was t(1eoniinence at dillereiit i>Iaces at the same lime. l)nt from some iiiikiiowu cause tin' Natchez wei'c the Iirsl to carry the design into execution, althou.uli the Chicasaws were the first to ]>ropose the eonsiiiracy. It is said that the niimher of days to elapse from the new moon to the time of the massacre, was imlicated by a certain number of reeds, biindlesof which were sent to the ditl'ereiit tril)es. One reed Avas to be drawn daily from each bundle, and the attack was to Mouette'sViil. ot the Miss. 122 TIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. coiiiiiK'iK'c when tlic last one was drawn. l}y dcsijiii, or acci;o- vcmiu'r, ITl'!*, at ti»e dawn of wiiidi tiic (ircat (!iii<'f, or Sun, with a iiiiiiihcr of cliost'n warriors liavinj;' concealed wca|Mtns. repaired to Fort liosalic. At a i)reeoncertcd si;;nal, the warriors drew their AVeapons, and at a siii;^lc onset the little ;iarrisoii slept the sleei> of death. Other i)arties were distriltnted through the eontif;iious settlements, and when the aseendinin' smoke of the hiirnin.i;- fort was seen, these became the scenes of slaii.iihtcr, (ill the iMitirc^ Avhite nndc popniation, niimherinu TOO, were destroyed. While tlie massacre was rauiii^', tin; (IreatiSnn seated himself in the s])a- cioiis warehouse of the comiiany, and with the greatest apparent nnconccrii, smoked his |»ipe as his warriors piled np (he heads of the fi'arrison in the form of a pyramid near l»y. whose apex was the head of the commandant. When the wariiors inl'ormcd him tliat the last l-'rcnchman ceased to lixc, he ordered the pillaye to commence. The nc,!j;ro slaves were ordered to brin;; in the spoils for distribution, bnt the military stores were reserved for futnnj use. As loii^' as the arih'iit spirit lasted, day and ni.uht alike pre- sented a coiitinned scene ofsa\ij;(' triiunphs and driiiiken rexclry. Tlie setlleiiieiils on the Ya/(»o and other jilaces. met with a similar late, but tliosi' within the present limits of Illinois, (»win;.;- to the loyalty and fricndshij* of the ]>rairie tribes, remained unharmed. As soon as the massacre became known, .M. INrrier dispatched vessels to France for troops and nulitary supplies, and ccauiers xverc sent to I'ort Cli'ii'ties and other posts, nriiiiij;' npon the sev- eial commandants the necessity of })reparation toco-operate with him against the common enemy. Aj;ents were also sent to tlu^ (Tioctaws and other Indians in alliance with the French, for fur- ther assistance. The governor immediately ,u'ot ready to march to the scene of disastei- with the troops in the south<'in ]>art of the proxince; but the ne.yroes, nnnil>erinji' some l',000, betrayed symptoms of revolt, and he was detained to watch the intended insnrre<-tioii. In the meantime, the ("lioctaws, who had committed no overt act of hostility, lia.d lieeii \ isited by tme of tlie company's agents, and induced to fiiinish (iOO warriors. At I'earl river he received an accession of (100 more, and with this formidable body of warriors he nio\cd forward and encamped neai' the enemy, to await the arrival of other for«'es. It was. however, .soon ascer- tained that the Natchez, unsuspicious of danji^r, were sijcndinji: their time in idle carousals, and the (hoctaws rushed on tln-in IlKii tiiiii' III iiii«. i<(i«fiit"^fii>^>(iii«i (ii\ viiirii(i«>r^ jii>~^[i«Mi \rii iiiiiii unexpectedly, and alter a brief coiillict, returned with t!0 scalps. ]S'ol lon;^' afterward French tro(»i)s arrixcd, com|th'ted the victt»ry, and libeia'led the women and children. The larjicr part of the tribe, led by their (li'cat Snn, lied across tlie Mississijpi and for- tified tlH'iiisehcs on lUack river. Thither they were followed by troops trom I'rance and the ]»rini»cial settlements of the pr(»vince, and in tw(( snccessfui battles wer(M'oini>lete!y cut to pieces. Tin* (ii'cat Sun and 400 wariiors w«'re captured and taken to New Or- leans, and ilience to San Domingo, and sold as slaves. Thus |te)'- ished this jiowcrfid tribe, and '-vith them their mysterious worship of the sun and i>Ioody rit.es of sepulture, i^'u tribe was, perhaps, CHARTER SUR R KNDE RED. 123 iiKH'c {' (Icatli, ill liulitiiiji' for tlicu liju'lits and coiiiitry. 'riicjurcat ('Xpt'iiditiircs in ])ros('<'iitiii;^' tlif Natclicz \vai',tli(' coiise- (|ii<'iit loss of trade with other triltes. iiiid (lie fiiiaiieial einbarrass- iiieiits incident to Law's taihire. induced tiie coiii|tany to ask ibr a sill reiiderol'tiieir charter. 'I'iie kin;;' readily .-^ranted their petition, and on the l(»th of April, 17.">L'. issued a proclaniatioii dechirinj;' ]joiiisiaiia free to all his siilijects. with eipial jn i\ ileji'es astoeoin- liieree and otheiiiiterests. The 1 4 years the company had possession of tiie country, iiotwitiistaiidiii;;- the many adverse circniiistanccs, ivas a peri(»d (»f eoirparative jirosperity. When it assumed con- trol, the niimhei' of sla\('s was L'd; now it was L!,()l)(). Then tlic entire white ]»oi)iihitioii was 7(10; now .l.tHIO, ainon^' which ■were many ]iersrises, iiowever, were, to a j;reat extent, jtaralyzed by tlie arbitrary exactions of the company. The agriculturists, tlie miners and the fur traders of Illinois were held in a sorl of vassala.yc. which enabled tliose in ])ower to dictate the price at which they should sell their products, jiinl the arfioiint they should ])ay them for iiiii)orted inercliandisc. The interest of the company was always at vaiiance with that of the producer, and it would have lieeii (lifticult to devise a state of iilfairs so injurious to both parties, and so detrimental to the pros- perity of Illinois and other parts of Louisiana. I'* Chapter Xll. 1732-50— ILLINOIS AND LOTLSLVXA UNDER THE IJOVAL eiOVEKNOKS. "NA'lu'ii tlio C()iii])iiii,v of tlu' liidii's jiiivc up their cliaitt-r, the uov- iM'iiiiit'urof Frmicc I'csmiicd tlic ;i(liiiiiii.striitit»ii of iml>lic affiiiis, 31. PcrriiT ri'iiiaiiit'd ^.'-ovi'iiioi-jit'iiciiiK and M. (rAita^iicttc hccaiiic local ^^ovcnior of Illinois. Tiic coiiiiiion law of I'arisliatl prcx ioiisly been adopted as ti" code of Louisiana, hut had never been foiiiially extended ovei' iiMuois. The ecclesiastical alfairs were inider the superintench'nce of the vicar-ji'eueral of New Orleans, as a part of the diocese of the bishop of (^)uebec. One of the i)rincipal oltjects of tlie go\('rnor was, to establish his autliorit\ over the diHerent Indian tribes inlnibitin,^' thi' country under Ins conmjand. 'I'he Chicasaws, insti;;ated by English eoloiusts. had nuule intercourse between Illinois ami New Odeaiis so ]iazar(h)us that eoniinerec Avas \iitually suspeinled. and the setthMs kept in a constant state of alarm. 8iuih wast he aninn>sity and activity of this tribe, it als(» sent secret envoys to the Illinois, tor the pur})ose of (h'bauchinj; the time honored ati'eclion which had existed between them and their French ni'i;ihbors. and inducing; them todcstroy tlie latter. 'l'he>e tawny sons of the [»rairies, however, refused to desert their friends, and sent an euvo.\ to New Orleans to otfer tiieir services to the (», directin;^' D'Artannette to ,i;('t in readiness theErench forces under his command, and sinh Indians of Illinois as hecould induce to unite with him in the war. It was arran';'ed that D'Aria^uette should (U-scend the .Mississijipi to some suitabli- i»oint of debarkation, and then cross to the country (Ui the head waters of the Talahatchee, where thcnemy's str(»ny hold was situated. Ill the meantime Ijjeiiville, who had aji'ain been commissioned by the kinj;' as i^overiutr-^iciu'ral, with the forces of southern Louis- iana, was to ascend the Tombi^bee to the eoutlueiu'e of its two principal tributaries, and nnirchinji' theiu'c by laml, etfeet a juiu;- lion with the forces from the north. Ivirly in the spiin:;-. I>ien\ille moved with his tbrces from New Orleans to Moltile, and thence to ♦Uuncriift. JL'l INDIAN IIOSTILITIKS. tlic point (l('.sij;iiiito(l, wlicrc a fort liad prcvKnislv been cicctrd to sci'Vi' as a dcjiot of siij»i»li('s. Here, l»_v ottcriiij; icwartls tor scalps and making- jjioscnts of iiu'icliaiidisc, lie drew to^ctluT tin- larju'o force of 12(HI ("lioctaws. After laciny' it ill the foit, tiie solitude of the priiiutisc forests and blooniinn' prairies was broken 1»\ the tread of tiie forces niosin;; in the direction (»f the enemy.* On the L'otli of .May, they arrived within ;> miles of the (.'hieasaw villaj^e, l»ut several (hiys behind the lime fixed for meetinii' tlie northern forces; a delay, which, as thei se(piel will show, proved fatal. The villa;;(' was 1!" ndles from the; fort, and within a few miles of I'ontotoe, Mississippi, which still ]ierpetnates the name of the Indian stron.yhold. and became famons as a point in (irierson's ^reat raid in the war of the rebellion. ]5efore daylight, the next morninj;', the impatient and tinj4'o\crn- able ("lioctaws move(l aiiainst the lo^' citadel of the enemy, expect- iiii; to take its occupants by snr|irise. On the contrary, they found the ;;ai'rison on the aleit, and the fort a ski]itnll\ constructed fortilicatioii, erected nnder the siijiervisoii of I'Jijilish trath'rs. Twi<'e diirinji' the day, Hienville attempted to carry tlie w«)rks by vigorous attacks, bnt was repidsed with a loss of (io wounded, ami '.i'2 killed; the latter eiubracin^i- 4 ollicers of rank. The billow- ing day, .sonic skirmishing occnrred between the Choetaws and the oiiemy, without any decisi\t' resnlts, when IJienville, mortified at liis defeat, and beiie\inghis own forces too inconsiderable for llio reduction ofsneli formidable v/orks without the co-oj»eration oftlic northern forces, of which ln' ha"Artaguette, accompanied by DeN'iiicennesand I'ather Lcnat, had led his army of.jO Frenchmen and more than lotit) re fly. \incennes, too, whose name is perpetuated by thccity ofthe Wabash, chose also to remain ami share the eai)tivity of his h-adcr. The wounds of the jirisoners "Were staunclu'd, and at first they were treated with great kindness by their captors, who expected to get a large reward from I'.ien- •Uaiicroft. 126 1I18T0UV (»P IIJJNOIS. villc for tlicirsiit'cn'tiini. WIumi, Iiowcvit, tlicy la'iinlol'liisdiscom- litiirc and witlidiiiwii!, Ilicy disitaiicd of receiving' a laiisoiii lor the jdisoiHTs and pioposcd to iiiak«' tlicia victiias of a ,sa\a^c triiiMipli. For tliis ]tiiiiM».s(' they were honic to a ncijililtoi'inj;' ticid, hound to stakes, andtorturcd before slow and intei'Muttiny lii'cs till deatli mi'icifnlly released tlieni fioni their snlferiii^s. Thus jK'rished the laithful Lenat, tlie yctun^' and intrepid l)'Arta;;iiette, and tho lieroie Vineennes, whose names will endure as Ion;;- as the Illinois and NVahash shall tlow by the dwellings of eivilized men. The ("hiekasaws, elated by victory, sent a (U']>utation to an- nounce tlieii- success and the torments inllicted on their captives to the I''nj:iisli colonists, with whom they were now in sympathy. I5ien\illc, on the other hand, chagrined at the result of tho campaign, determined to retrieve his honor and the jilory of France by a second invasion. The apjtrobation of the ."Minister haxinji' l)een ol>tained, t(»\vaj'd the close of the year 17.">!( he <'(»ni- menced ]>ultin;;' in operation his plans for the icduction of the tierce anta,u()nists who had before so successfidly delied him. The signal for ]»reparation was ;niven to the commandants of tiie dif dei'cnl jtosts, which residlcd in efforts far transcendinj;' in military dis]>lay anythin:;' befoi'e seen in the provinces. A fort was erected at the mouth of tlie St. Francis, which served as a placi' of rcnde/vons, and afterward of de]»arture for the j;rand army eastward, to the country of the enemy. The force from Illinois, consisting;' of -(»(> French and ;>(>(» Indians, was connnanded by i.a IJuissoniere, who had succeeded the lameided I)' ArtaW) Indians and nc,i;roes. Tlie whole, under the command of r)ienville, was soon moved to the month of With' river, where it was delayed in the erection «if a second fort, in which To deposit their military stores, ami care for the sick. I'.etore the fort, which boic the name of Ass\iinp- tion, wa-i completed, nndarioiis fevers so fatal to iMiropean consti- tutions, had seri(»usly disabled the army. Hardly had the early frosts of winter abated the disease, when famine, a more forinida- ble enemy, threatened them with annihilation. Sui>itlies coidd only be obtained at Ft. Chartres and New Orleans, and hence the consummation of the cami)aij;n was necessarily postponed till the followini;' s]»rin_ii'. Sprin;;' came, but sn<'h had been the dcbilita- tinji' elfects of the winter and the want of wholesome food, that only 200 men were now tit for (bity. ITudeterred, however, l)y tho want of numbers, M. Celentn, a lieutenant of La Ihiisscniiere, bold- ly set out 1(» nu'ct the Chicasaws, \vli(», supposing the whole l'"rencli army was behind him, sued for peace. Celeron, takinji' advantaj;o of tlie mistake, obtained from them a declaration that they would renounce the iMiiilish ami resume i>eaceable I'clations with the Fi'eiich. To conlirni their statements, a de|)ntation «)f chiefs ac- coini)aiiied them to Ft. Assnin])tion and entered into a treaty of peace with IJienville, wliii^i was latilied with the customary In- dian ceremonies and festivities. The army now returned to tho fort on the St. Francis, wlier(> Ilienville disbanded it, and " a^^aiu inylorionsly floated down the river to New Orleans.''* This was the end of the second cami»ai^n ajiainst the Chicasaws, when'iii Bienville not only tailed to retrieve his tarnished military fame, tMonetto's Val.of the Missi ' ' MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 127 T)nt iiicnrrod tlic (lisplciisiirc (if Ilis sovereign. Two sinnios li;i(l 1»<'('ii sMciificcd ill iiii iittt'iiii)t to iiM-tc out to tin- Cliicitsjiws tlie fate tliiit liiid Ix'liillcii tlic Niitclit'z; hut like tlicir aiiccstois. who ii(»(> years hct'ore liaeditioiis teniiiiiiiteil liic .miheniatorial career of llicm ille, Avliich, witli slight iiiterriiiitioiis, liiid extended tlir(»iijili a periocl of 4(( years. A^^c had cooled down the ardor and enerj;y of his manhood's ]»riine, ;ind tlie honors Avon in ]>r<'vioiis years were now obscnred in a clond of disapprobation and censure. Ifetirin;;- from oflice, lie was succeeded by the Marquis dc \'aii- dreiiil, who siilisecpieiitly Itecaiiie (rovernor of Canada. After tlic ostaldishineiit of aiiii<'al»le relations with the Chicasaws, the na- tive tribes f '.rrouiihont the valh'y of IIm' 31ississippi siibniitted to the dominion of I'raiice and l)ecame her iillies. A eoinmcrcial in- tercourse with them succeeded, and ajiriciilti.ire, now freed from company nioiioi»olies, rapidly sprang into new life. Su,i;ar cane was brouuht from San Dominpi. and the first attempt at its cnlti- Aation pro\ in,y successful, it has since become the .meat staple of the ]»resent state of Louisiana. Cotton nas introduced and siic- cessi'ully cultivated as far north as Illinois. .V uiu was sul>se- (jueiitly invented by ]M. Dubreiiil, and tliou<;h imperfect com])ared with Whitney's of the present day, it ji'reatly facilitated the ojier- ation of s<'])aratin.ii" the fibre i'rom the see was one of unusual pros]»erity. M<(iint'y.s and Customs of ihe French. — Unlike the l^nylish and other Kuroiieaiis, who usually lived in spaise settlements, the French fixed their abode in comjiact villajics. Tliese Averc ii'cn- orally built on the banks of some ]»ure stream of water, confiuu- oiis to timber and ])raiiie, the one furnishing them fuel and the other with jiround for fillauc. The construction of the dwellinjis was of a ]»rimitive character. The frame work consisted of jiosts planted in the earth three or four feet deep and stronjily bound to^iether by horizontal cross-ties. The interstices thus foiiued weie tilled with luortur, intermixed with straw or Sxiauish moss, to 128 IIISTOKY dl' ILLINOIS. ji'ivc it tciiiicitv. Tlic siirl'iicc of tlio Willis, botli internal and ex- ternal, were waslird witli white lime, wliicli imparted to the Imild- inii's !in air of cieaniiness and domestic eomforl. Most of tlio dweiiin^s were snrronnded by piazzas, on wiiicli tin' inmates fonnd Ji pleasant retreat to while awa.v in social converse the snltry snni- mer <'\cniii.us. Destitute of nnichiner.v for cnttin<;' their Irei's into boards, they split them into slabs, wliicli wen- nsed for llooriiij;', doors and otin^r pniposes. wiiileas a snbstitnte for shin;iles they thatched tiieir l»nildin.i;s witii straw. Altlion;^ii having' the jureat- est amplitude for wide streets, they ji'enerally made them so nar- row tlnit tlie merry villa.u'crs livini; on o|)i»osite sides could carry on their s[iii;4iitiy conversations eacli from his own lialcony. K\('U in detache oi' t j;»'iierations. CoiiDUon Field. — A duty imjiosed ujion the commandaid of each villane was to I'cserve a tract of land for a comnntn lieltl, in which all the inhabitants were interested. To each villajicr was assigned a ])ortioii of the field, the size of which was ]»ro]iortioiie(l accord- ing- to the extent of his family. Lands thus ai)portioued were subject to the regulations of the villages, and when the party in possi'ssion became iu',iili^('nt so as t() endanjicr the common inter- est he f(uieited his claim. The time of j)lowin^-, sowinj^and har- ^(■stinp■, and other a;.;iicultui'al opeiations. was subject t«) the enactnu'iit of the villa.iie senate. Kxcn the form and arranj;ement of enclosur«'s surrounding the dwellinjis and other buildinjis were the subject of sjx'cial euactmeuts. and were arranged witli a Aiew to ]»rotcction against the Indians, should an exiji'ency occur making' it necessary. ('iii)imou,s. — I.esides the common held, which was desijiiied for tilla,ue, there was a common which was free to all the villa;;ers lor the pasture of their stock and the sujiidy of fuel. A.-a accessions were made to the families of the community, I'ither by marriaj;c or the arrival of stranjicrs, portions of land were taken from tho connnon and added to the comnntn ticid for their benefit. Jnlvrcoiir.sc irith the. Indhins. — Owin.n' to their amiable disposi- tions ami the tact of injiiatiatinji' themselves with the tribes that suri'onnded them, the l-'rcm-h almost entirely escaped the broils whicii weakened and destroyed other colonics less favored with this trait of character. Whether explorin^ii' remote rivers or tra- veisiui;' huidiujL!,' ^irounds in pursuit of j;ame; in the social circle or as participants in the relij>ious exercises of the church, the red jueii became their associates ami were treated with the kimlness and consideration of brothers. Like the (Quakers yiiided by tho example of Penn, they kept up a mutual interelianj>e of friendly ollices with their red neif^hbors, and such was the community of interests, the feeling' of (lependence and social eipndity, that inter- marriayen freut the hliint and sturdy An;;lo-Sa\on vlio siipphuiled him that was made the vietiiii of sa\aj;(' ven- geance.* The calm and t|niet tenor of their lives, remote from the bustle and iiari'assin,n' cares of civili/ation, imjtarted a serenity to tiieir lives lai'ciy witnessed in communities wiiere the ac(|iiisitioii of wealth and honor are siilfered to exclude the Itetter feeliiiys of liiiman nature. Lands of iine(|iialed fertility, and tlie still more prolilic! waters and the (;liase siii)plie(l almost unsolicited the wants of life aniasm time had mellowed down to sobei- enjoyments aj^aiii became yonn.u' and ])articipate(l in the niazy exoliitions of the dance. Even the slave, iml)ii»inji' the spirit lapy, and the latter in turn was ph'ased at the enjoyment of th" slave. Whenever the old, who wei'c authority in such cases, decided that the eiitei'taiiiment had been juotractcfl sulliciently lonn were ffivc^n up by the Ka.skas- kinstotho civil anthorit.es of the newly established .American jioveriinient. The pop- ulation of Kiiskaskia WHS still entirely I'rench, who leit niiioli sympathy for their tiidian friends, and saw these hard proceedings of tbelawwith jrreut dissatisfaction. The la- dies, partitiularly, took a warm interest inthefateof the younR aboriKines, and deter- niineti if they must die, they should ut least be I'onverted to Christianity in the mean- while, and be liai)tized in the true church. Aecord1.n>>ly, after due preparation, amintrementswereniiide for a public baptism of the iieophitesin the old cutnednil of the village. Each of the youths was adopted by a ludy who ^ravehiina name and wiis to stand trfxl'iKither in the ceremony, and the lady pntronessei with their respet'tiNc Iriends were busily en>rape,t J ^j„. ^,^vtu•s lively ana "'"■'^'' \ , "*" ru. nM.n.ious U'^U;'^ j,^, ,,,,,,1 -.nul ^vo.■k i.nT.au.|; 1- • ,_^,,,u,„ -ana uoeloi All Nv.iv ^'^''^'''\\'^;\u , u'sisassi.i.aual !^ ^^^ ;^ ,,t schools eouus.-l..rs "^/^'^^V as tlu' ovarl. u. - \. ..itUan u.hih.'S- tlunv Hun..iat>o,.s on tU ^ .^,^^^.1 ^^^ c-n.-as an^ n^u V!,.} ,„, u>vc AstlHMvsult \'^ *"; J ,^„a attVHiouato. ', '\.^,,ti,,Hvil»uti' to In.sbanas ana ^^nc'^ | ^ ....tt.rs; .^uhI "^ '^ *\\ • ,,,.i.,i .quity lH>r n.ona -»'^^^ ;;^, .. than slus ^^^^jX^.r nvuulU.a t. IH'^' "'-•^*' "r''^''x u i uu- than slus .-;;-;! !^t to. nvuulU.a to tvatr at a ,^1'")'*^'.' , .,vntU' and ""l'*^'V „ rv colU'ct^'d and U"t.-t an.l i-nt nve> > ; ;\ ,,„in^.att.v .w ^^ ^^ ^^ , ,„a inno. .nt spent U.e vemanuU-r o In -^^ V'v<.t.'stant sn^ a mu ,^^ ,f pastinu's. lo Ih > ^ ,^,,,,,^,1. ; but the I \ '^^^ ^t of theU" ana.le for ^'•■'»r'"^^";.:\\;,,\tabU' he ^^naeve hm sU ,,,x ,„vs of lite the UH. e aa i ^^.^,^ , ,, Uu- Ni . ' ,i, ,vc-ve, tor. 'H.ey e..ntenaea h. t .,.^1,,, ^.um » - ^ ,,,;,ainaev t le .xi.ivssion <> .l''>'' f, A t ^ir nei^hhovs »l" >"^,.! \\, ^^.U- p.onc ii,u-.' fai>ri«. *'"'■ ','";' X ■ r .luii..;; «i.i»;i-, :;'«.„'^ ,i' ,WA< ««s ',f ,.„.,s.. 1. !"• .;:>;',:»' .nd 1;."K ^'-f ":, 1, lu.li, i" •■"", roSITAIKS AND ( »C('t'l'ATI()NS. I'll 1)lii(' liiiiulkcrcliicr ioldcd ill tlu> tonii of a tiii-biin. In tliu saiiio iiiiiniici', Idit liistt'liillx Irinmicd witli ril»l)oiis, was foniKMl the laiicy liciid dl'css wliicli I lie woiiicii woro ill hulls ;iiiotli sexes woie iiioeeiisiiis wiiieii, on piddie, occiisioMs, were viiriousiy deeoriitcd witli shells, l»eiids, iind rilthonx, •4i\iii^' tlieni ;i tiisty Miid piet iires(|iie iippeiiriinee. No niecli:iiiie;il \oeiition Jisanienns of ciu iiiiiy' ii livelihood, was known. The priiieipjd oeen|iati(Hi Wiis :i;L;ii( idtnr*', whicli, owiii;; to the extreme feitility of the soil, produced the most niiiuilieent hiirxcsts. Voiiiii;' men of enterprise, nnxions to set* the world and to dislinunish themselves, heciime voyiiji'ci's, liiiiitcrs, and ajicnts of I'm- eompiinies. ;iiid in diseliiir^iii.i;' tiieir dnties. visited the remote soiii'eesof the Missouri. .MississipjM. iind their ti'iimtaries. After months of idtseiiee, spent in this iidxcntiironsemplovmeiit iimonj;thc most distiint snvii.ye imtions of the wildei'ness, thi',v W(»idd icturii to their mitive villitucs, hnlen with furs ;ind peltries. These iiitieles for ;i lon,n' time eonsLitnt<'d tlieoidy medinin of exeliiiii;^(', and the ineMiis whereby they proosed to be iimh'i' the dominion of l"'rance. T'pon tin* I'cception of assurances, however, from (Jreat lUitain, that they should be i)rotecte(l in their projiert.v and reli^^ion, many of them renifi'ied. Those who liad removed to the west side of the river enjoyed but a bi'ief interval of ])eace. Intelligence was ]'ecei\('d that l''i'ance had ceded all western and southern Louisiana to Spain, and althoujili Spanish autiiority was not extended over the territory for a period of lixc years, it was a jieiiod of uncer- tainty and anxiety. The S[»anisli jn'oxciiiment, like that of Fran(;e, was mild and parental. Every imluljicnce was extended to her new subjects, and for thirty years they continued to enjoy their ancient customs ami relijiifui. Tln^ next inroads upon their aiiti- (pnite.d habits Mas the ad\ance of the Americans to the Missis- sip[>i, in the rej^ion of Illinois. The unwelcome news was received that all Louisiana was ceded to the United Slates and a new sys- tem of jurisiirudenee was to be extended over them. I'revioiis to i;!2 IIISTOIJV Ol' ILLINOIS. tliis cession llic.\ liiid to ii ^iii'iit cxlciit ItccoiiM' n'i'oiicilt'd :iii(I I iitl;iflit' up tin' wonderful inachineiy of man. Witlniiit ellbit and nsefid indiisliy he is the creature of languid enjoyments, and a stian^cr to the hij^hly wron;:lit sensi- bility and tiie e\(piisite delij;lils resnltiiij;' from cultured n\ental and i)liysical powers. I'nrtheiinore, without enter|>iisi', the vast material toices which slnmbei' in the cnist <»f the earth, and its mantle of e.\liiib(>raiit soil, cannot be made available. W'hiU^ tliere was ])eace and contentment on the banks of the Illinois, the AVabash, and tin' I'ppcr Mississipjd, it was reserved for a dill'crent race to dev<'loi) the vast coal fields and exhaiislK'ss soil of this favored I'ciiion. and cause their life sustainin;;' products to pulsate tliidu;;h the ureal coinim'rcial arteries of the continent. \\'hilethis simple. \ irliioiis and happy i>('oi>le, dwelt in the granary of Nortli j\merica almost unconscious of its vast resources, there was clinji- inj; to the inhosi>itable shores of the .Vtlantic an intelli}i«'iit and sinewy race, which was destined to sweep (»ver and occni)y their fruitful lands as the tloods of the j^reat rivt'r oNcrwhelms and iin|»orts fertility t(» its banks. Only a few remnants of them have ('sca|»ed the intlowiii;;tide (»f .Vmerican population, who still retain to a yreat extent the ancient habits and customs of their fathers. AVith their (h-cline came the downfall of their tawny allies of the forest, and a new direction Avas jiiven to American history. Fiance, conid she ha\«' remained supreme, with her far reaching and advent iirtms ^^cniiis, aided by .lesint enterprise, would perhaps have partially ci\ ilized the sava-^cs and thus have arrestej;res.s of civil and relij;ioiis liberty would have been temporarily but not permanently suspended. The ])resent free institutions of Americawonhl have been I,ii I'.iiissoiiicr, jrovcriior of llliiiois, wtis siiccccdwl bv Cli, valid' .Miiciirty. Tlic pciic*- w liicli liad^iivcii such iiiicxiiiiiplcd ]»ros|iciil\ In l.oiiisiaiiii, was somi t(» Im- ltri»l<<'ii 1»\ the (•laii;t(tr and (liscurd III' war. Already, in llic r(»ntro\('i's_\ hctwccn i'rancc and Knulaiid in icjiard to llicir icsiK'cliv*' posscssioiis, could l>c ln'ai'(l tlic lirst f lirocs ol' tlic icxolntioii wlncli jL^avc a new master and new inslilntions not only to Illinois, Imt to tlie w hole continent. I''i'anc(', <'lainied the whole valley ol'tlie Mississi|(|»i. which her niissionaiies iiml j)ioiieers haila]id and France now saw that their territorial contest (toiild only lie settled ]>y a resort toariiis, and <'ach ur.t;('d its coloinal au- tlioi-ities to iiistitul<' ]>i-eparatioiis for defendin.u' their resjtcctive boundaries. In the coming;' <'ontest the residt c«»idl,(M)(l, while those oftlie latter wei'c oidy .->L',(»(I(I. I'.esidc this ;;reat disparity of numbei's, {''laiice bad transmitt<'d to her jiossessions institutions Mhich shackled their juo/^ress. The ICnjilisli colonists brou.ulit with them air,>. i iir iiiiu'i ^\ii.'s rioM'ii ii^iiiiiMb 'Very ray of llH'olnjiical li^^lit, iiiiil rilish ;^o\eriimehl, aiitl wonid deleiid his ])osition with all the skill aixl loree at his eommand." W'ashini; ton, alter eiieonnteriii;; inneh haidship, reliinied safely, ami reported the icply of the I'reneh ollieei'. The follow inu .Mar ho received orders from the /ioxeriior of Viriiinia to proceed with L'tiO men and complete theci-eclioii of a fort al Ihe, junction ofllte .Monon- men ami complete tlieci-eciioii oi a loir al 1 1 icj unction ol lite .Motion - •iiihela iind the Allejiiiany, previously coiiimeiieed liy the Ohio company, 'i'lie attempt to execute tlie((rdcr was defeated l>y tiie I-'reiich ollieer, M. ( 'oiilrcco-iir, w ho, aiil icipaf iii;^ Ihe arrival of | lie Virginia forces, moved down to the inoiith of ilie Monniii^ahcla in advance, with IS pieces of cannon and a force of l.ttOO I'lench and Indians. lie drove away the small (keta<'hiiient of \'iri:inia milliia and some ('inployes ill the Ohio eoinpaiiv, and completin,;;' tin- fort they had coinineiiced. they called it hii(^)iiesiie. in honor of Ihe jioveinor of New l''raiiee. In Ihe meantime, a small detacliineiif under .liimiiionville. was sent to notify W'ashiii^tofi In withdraw from l'"reiieh territory. The American officer, Icarniii.u i»efoiehaii(i 1 1 II t •) 1 vi ifj I'li'li I a' I 1 1 II I II II kl I \' 1 1 1 1 » n I -. I f III •_ I I'lvl II iriilili .11 f < 1 1 1 r* 1 1 1 /III 1 1 i III 1 1\^ MIMTAHY Ol'KKATIONS. I.'IS oxcc tlic }^i:i\<' of .iiiiiiiiioin ill)', iiiid liow iiiiin.v liopt-s t-liistcri'd siIkmiI till* niiill*' oI' iIk- iiilMiil Louis."* I'ort ('li:ii'li('s wiis ill this tiiiii- tlif tlt'pot ul' siipplirs iimi iIm* lihirc ol' I'fiMl'.'/voiis lui' llic iiiiihtl lurrt-s of Illinois siikI oilier jiosis of Loiilsiiiiiii. Slioi tly i'.ilfr llif lilViiv ill Hit' I ittic Mi'iidows, M. (if N'illifi's, :i iwotlin' ol' Jiiiiiiuoia ili,'. iiml ul tin' tiinc iin ol'tiiTr lit Fori ( 'liarli'i's, solicitfd .M,:ciirl,\, the * tMiiiiniiHliiiit of the tor- tros, to ;;o iiiiil iMcii;^*' t!.»' (lentil ol'liis ieliiii\e. Peiiiiissioii \v;im ^liiiited. iiiid with ii I'oree iiom the miiiisoii iiiid a liir^e iiiiiiiImi' 4)1 llidiiiiis, h«' jiiissed d(i\\ II the !Missis,>i|i|>i ;iiid ll|* tlie <>liio to J''olt l)ll(^>lieslie, of which lie silhse»|lleiill,\ lieeiiiiie the eoiiiliiiilider. I-'roiM the fort he proceeded to the <;rollli(l of the recent Itiillle. W'ilsliiiiiiloii. liiidin.n' hiiiiself coiifroiiled with ^leiitlv siipciior f4>i w itii a force of (»(»(• l''i'eiicli iind a siiialler niimheiof Indians, who toolk possession of iiii adjaceiil eiiiiiK'Uce and coiniiieiiced rn'iniitest lietwceii t he colonists lu'canie fiirtlier iiiteiisitied. In I 7. "),"», (ieiieiiil iJiaddocU ;irri\»Ml in N'ir.^inia witii Iwo reuinieiils of Jirilish lejiiiliirs. \\'asliin;,'ton wiis made one of his aiiie«'ne, and at the Lillle .Meadows recei\cd ;'lt('|li^(■|lce of the expected jirrival of ."itK) tr4»ops to strenj;then the j:iirrisoii of tiie lurt. Lea\in.u' Col. I)uiil»;ir with SOO men to itriiiu np his stores, he hasleiicil forwiird with the remainder to rciicli the fort in ad\iiiice e;iujeu wilji a force of L'"i(t l''rencli and (>()0 Jndiiins lo check tlieii' adxiince. Sexcii miles from the foil they <'once;iled themselves on the luu'deis of a ravine tlirniiuli which ]5i'add()ek must pass, ;ind iiwaited his arri\!il. As soon iis his men I'litered the hollow, the concealed enemy opened upon those, in front. ;ind the rear forces jaishcd rapidly foiWiird lo siipporf them. IJefore this could lie ell'ccted, the ad\iinced <(>luiiins fell hack in a lieap on tiie artillery, and the ;irmy became j^icatly c(Ui- fiised. At this JniH-tur*' the \"ir;L;inia forces. contr;iry to orders, took positions behind trees iind foiiuht till :ill were killed excei>t tliiiiy men. The i'ej;ulars. i-emaiuin,u' In a compiict body, wci'e terril)ly cut to pieces. JJraddock received ii moital wound and •Bancroft. VM) HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. iiicr«';isci'ia^ani, fi-U before the vietori(»iis aims of lMi,i;land. and finally it teiiiiinated in IT.")!! liy the eaptiire of (^)nebee. ^Vs the result of the eonfest on the I'lains otWhraiiam, Illinois and its vast resources became the heritage of a different race. Anji'lo-Saxoii enerjiv and projiress Aveic now to .ualher from its iirolilic soil treasures far exceeding in value the exiiaiislless mines of jj,()ld, which liad haunted the inia,u- inatioii of its (Jallic inhabitants, even if their dreams had been realized. In this closiii.^ Itattle the colossal ptiwer of France in ]Soith America recei\('d a fatal blow, l''rom her tirst permanent .settlement on the St. Lawrence she held dominion over its waters for a ]»eriod of lod years. The 'reulonic race, with its [lartiaiity for individual ri;;hts. foi' self-Lioveiniiiciit and freedom, now ob- tained the dominion of a continent iVoiii the ( inlf of ^lexico to the I'ole, and the lMi;;Iish ton^ii.m', wlios*- utterance l.-><» years before was conliiied to two small islands on the western verjic of Kiirope, was now to become the lanmia^c of a continent, and ultimately, ]»erliai).s, a uiii\i'rsal vehicle for the ex])ression of human thought. *|N(>TE — .Ills. Hall, in his Sttotchcs of tlie West, siiys : " Tlio Vrciu'li Imd also ii fort on the Oliid, ut)oiit :i(i iiiilis iilio\e I he .junction of thiit rivor with tlic Mississipiii, of whicli tlic Indiuii.K olilainc|ifiiri'(l ill I lie I Illy 1 iinc (jn the oppoj-itc siilc of tlic river, each covitciI with ii 1 ■cur- skin. walkiiifT on nil funis, and iiintalin^' tlic iiiotion.S''! that iiniiniil . Tlic Krcncli snp- jxiscd tlicni to lie Hears, and ii imrty crossed tlie .i\(?r in piirsiiit of them. Tlio reiniiiiidcr ': the trliiee Is also referred to some times as the -'old Cherokee Fort." The Letters Kditi- untes indicate it to lia\e liecii a mission and triulliiM- jiost aliont ITII In l.sdd t wo eom- pnniesof (■ S. troops were stiilioiicd sit Fort Ma.Ksac iinri a fciv liiniilics resided in tho vicinity. In lK'i."i, ^-a.NS He.\ noNIs, he vistcd the site. 'I'lic walls of the ruins wire i;i."> fei't S(iiiare, pallisaded with earth lietwccn.and with stroiij.^ liast ions at each iin;jl(.>. Tlirce-i7(;;5— TiiH ("onspiuacy of i'onti AC— attack UI»()X DKTh'OIT— DHSTKL'CTION OF I'-LJITISII POSTS AND SETTLE.M i:XTS. T( liiis alroiidv Ik'cii stilted tli;it tlic downrall of ((Jiicltcc was tlie Dvcitliiow (if I'lt'iicli ]Ki\\('r ill North Aiuciica. It was not, liowcvcr, until 170(1, wlicii tlic t'cchic and dislicartciuMl <;inTison of ]M(Mitr('al (•ai)itiilatc(l witlioiit icsistaiicc, tliat Canada and its dr|i<'iidfiici('s wciv suiicndfit'd to tiif Hiitisli. Tlic o\ crtlirow of Fifiicli siipnMiiac.v was latw assured, hut the recoil o( the blow uliieli liad siiiittcii it down was the cause of another jireatstriijijile nioi'ii dcsolatiiiji and widely cxtciHh'd than the lirsf, hut eialcd Mithoul accoiiii>lisliin;; any political results. In the second contest the red man hecaiiie the ]>iinci|>a] actor and exliihited a (h'jiree of sagacity and eonstancv of juirpose never before witnessed in the liistorvof his warfare. The lOiiulish, to reap the fruits of their victory at (i)ucltec. sent .Major Robert Ifoycrs to take possession of the oiitjiosts on the frontier. He was a nalixc of New Ilainii- sliirc, and his startliiiu adxcntures in the recent colonial struuiiio liad made him the model hero of New I'liiuland liresidcs. As he coasted aloiiL;- tiie southern shore of Lake Mrie in the early ])art of Xoveiiibei', 17(iO, on his way to Detroit, it suddenly became cold and stormy, and he determined to put ashore and wail the reliiru of [)leasaiit w>'athcr. A camp was soon formed in the adjacent forest, then clothed in the fading' hues of Autumn, wiieii a iiuiiil)er of chiefs made their ai>pearance and announced themselves as an embassy from I'ontiac. The day did not pass away Itelbic tho daiin<;' chief himself came to the camp and demanded of IJouers liis business in the counlry. Tlii' latter replied tiiat he was on his May to Detroit to make ]K'ace with the white men ami Indians. T'ontiac listened with attention and said lie would stand in his pal ii till moriiin;;, and after iii(|iiii in^i' if they needed aiiytliin;^' which his country atlbiih'd withdrew. This was Ko^'ers' first iiiterxiew with tjie "Na]»oleon ol' his I'aee, whose ]nreat coiisjiiracy forms the suliject of this chapter .\ccordiiiiH' to tradition, he was of medium heijilit. commandinji,' ajipea ranee, and iiossessed a muscular frame ol'^reat symmetry and Ai:^'or. His eomplexicMi was darker than usual with individuals of liis race; his features stern, liold. and irrcuular. and his bearing' that of a person accustomed to surmount all opposition by tliii force of an imperious will, lie was ;i( nerally clad in a scanty cincture i.;irt about his loins, with his loii;^' black hair tlowiii;;' h)osely behind, but on public occasions he plumed and jiaiiited 137 138 III«1^)BY OF IIJJNOTS. after tlic iiiMiuit'i' of liis ti'llu'. On the foUowiiij; iiioiiiiiiiL;. in coiii- ])iiiiy witli liis cliicfs, lie ii.ii;iiii visited tlie ciiiii]* and told Ifoncrs lie WHS williii;;' to lie at jteaee with tlie Mn.ulisli and suH'er tiiem to remain in his eonntry as lonji' as tiiey treated him and hiseonnlrv- men with due (h'I'erenee and Justice, ilitiu'rto lie liad l>een iiie indian warriors. Tiie Canadian militia were next disanned. and the Indians, unable to eom]irelieiid wiiy so many should siilimit to so few. regarded with astonishment what they considered as obse- (piioiis conduct oil the ]iart of their recent allies. Nothiuii' is so effe(ii\(' ill winniii,<; the respect of sava.ucs as ai; ♦■xhilutioii of ]iower, and hence the Indians tbinied the most exalted coiiceiitious of Kujiilish [irowess, l)ut were j^reatly snrpi'ised at tlu-ir sparing: the lives of the vaiH|uislied. Thus, on tlu' l".»tii of >i'o\('mlier. 17(>(>, Detroit jiassed into the hands of the I'ln.tilish. '{"he l''reuch j^airison was sent luisoiiers down the lake, while t he Canadian I'esidents were sutfered to retain their houses and lauds on t he cay and the nioiith of the St. .biseiih, and those on the .sti'aits of St. .Mary and .Mackinaw, were j;arrisoiieriiss.,;.'nil fii'rins, tli<' report of Mnrsc. tSL'r?, on f tie Smo nii' tlicir cxaniplc. l>v iiis own iiilirrcnt i)o\vcis and assistanco olitaiiicd iVoin tlic Ficncii, lie iiad hccoiiu' tjic a('iino\vl('d^c<[ licad of llie Iriht'N of Illinois, and the nations dwelling' in tln'r(';;ioii of llic ^^rcat lakes and tlic Ijtpcr .Mississijipi. Savs Captain Morris, wlio wab istiit West l»v (iciit'i'al (ia<;»' to conciliate tln^ tribes of Illinois: " This chief has a more extensive ])o\ver than was ever known anitiiii;' the Indians, for every chief used to coiniiiand his own tribe, but bS nations by French intriyiie liaxc been broii,i;'ht to unite and choose him as tln-ir conimandei." Thus the llame kin- dled in Illinois, and tindiii^' material in many other localities upon the eve of i,niiition, as we shall see, spread farthei' and wider, until all British America became invohcd in the licry ordeal of war. /^itiii'>ltiwl lltkikll ikV'cjklll'llil' i*i*it«ifijkii •ilwl;ortli. I>uriii;i' the war he fou;;ht \aliantly for I'raiicc, am! is said to ha\e commanded the Otiawasat the detent of Ibinidock and materially contributed to his overthrow, For his devotion and <'onrai;(', he was ]iresented with a full l'"i»'nch uniform by IheMar- (juis .Montcalm, only a short time before the famous battle on the I'lainsof Abraham, .\ftcr the defeat (•!' the l''iciicli and the arrival of Iioiicis, as i)reviously intimated, he manil'estcd a desire to cnlti' vate the I'lieiKlship of the con<|Uerors, but was ^^reatly disapp(»iiited in the ad\anta;4t's lie expected to derixc from their inlluciice. His sa,i;acious mind disi-oxcred in the alteied postiireof alfaiis ihejireat danj;cr which threatened liis race. The c((iiibbrinm hitiicrlo snbsislin.u' between the I'''reiich and lOnjilish, j^ave the Indians the balanc<' of powei', and both parties wei'e compelled to some extent to respect their rij;iits. I'lider Fn/^lish domination their import- anrepared by roiitiac for this purpose. The atteiidiii,u' eliiefsi and warriors, iiioxcd by these impassioned appeals, pled-^cd theni- selves to assist in the war, and the feivor thus exitited rapidly sjM'ead till tln^ whole .\l;i(in(]nin race was a,inl<>\v with eiithiisiasi". The attack was to Ite made in May, ITH.!, only one month after tlu' treaty of Paris, l»y which Illinois and all the \ast possessions of France, east of the Mississi]»i>i, passed under the dominion of (Jreat ISritain. This event was one of the three important stejis by which Illinois i»assed from a I'rench ]tro\ ince to its present ])ositioii as a. member of the American republic, the first bein,;;' foreshadowed in the triumph of NN'olfe on the IMaiiis of Abraham, the second in the eompu'sts (»f Clark, and the last in the battle of Y(U'ktowii. in accordance with the recpiiremeiits of the cession, the p(»sts of southern Louisiana were siii'reiidered to Ibitish uarri- 8(»ns. In Illinois, owinj^' to the impenetrable barrier (»f hostile sava,i;('s, which siirround(>ttlers upon these lands, and thus have removed a ]>i'iiicipal cause of irritation amoiiji' the Indians dwelliii,i;' aloiii;' the ICnulisli frontiers. But while the benevolent intentions of the kiiiji' slum- bered in the breasts of unfaithful stewards, the forests were alive with prei>aratioiis for strife and eai'iian'e. Indian maidens were eliantini;' the war soul;-; maiiicians were retiring to the uloom of rocky defiles anil caverns t(» fast and learn the will of the (Ireat Spirit in the cominj;' strujiule. while in the j;iare proeeedinii from liundrcfls of nightly camp fires, chiefs and warriors weri' enact inji' the savaii'e pantomime of battle. The warlike sjurit of the Indians pive ffr<'at satisfaction to the Frencli inhabitants of Illinois, who had so unwillinjiiy been made subjects of Hritain. To impart aii.i;Iisli bad taken ])ossessiou of Canada, but that now he was awake ajiain and his armies were advaiicin;;' up the St. Lawrence and Mississippi, to drive out the iiitJiulers from the homes of his red eliildreu. , 142 IIISTOllY OF ILLINOIS. In ncconliiiKM- willi llic ;irr:iii^'cni(>iit of Poiitiiic, tlu- (lii'l't'iciit ]Mtsts wcrr to l»t' iilliickcd (Hi Hie siiiiir »l;iy bv tlic iidjiicciit liiiliaiis. Tlir iiicli (■(iiispirMlor liiiiiscir witli sonic of liis tiilx-s Ii\ctl in tlic vicinity of Detroit, iind -liiiit point soon Itccanic the locns of tlic bloody strii.n'iiic. To iiistitnic pi'ciiniinary iii'i'aiiycinciits, a place of rendc/.\ mis was selected on tlic ii\cr below tlic town, and mes- sengers sent to sniiiinon tlic tribes to meet liim in coiineil. In oltedieiice to the <'all stia,i;,ulin,u' bands of Ottawas, \\'\andots, Cliippewas, and I'ottiiwatoiiiies, of all aj;es, sexes and conditions, for se\eral days were seen emeryin.i; iVoin the forests. S(|iiaws aecoiiipanied by swarms of nake(l children, came to atteml to (he doincsiic anaii.ucmeiits of the caniiis; yoiitlifiil j^allants attcmU'd by maidens. liedccUed with feat hers ami ruddy with paint, were ]»rcsciit looking' love at each other and enjoying' the social amiisc- mciits of saxaj;*' life. Uiit the most important i)ersonai;('s were stalwart warriors, who. while waitin;^ the arrixal of tardy dele.i;a- nations, lonii^cd the la/.y hours away in feasting' and .uamltliii;.;. At Icii^th. on the I'Ttli of Api'il, tiie last st ra;;;il<'rs had arrived, when, variously costiinied and armed aftci the manner of theii respective tribes, they seated themselves in circles on the jironnd. Pontiac immedialt l,v appeared in their midst and with impassioned voice cominenced his address. ( 'oiitrastin.u the l']|i.iilish with the Freiicli, Ijcdeclared the former had treated himself with contt nii»t and his coiintrymen with injustice and violence. Present in convocatioii was now eoiisunimated, and lon.n" belor<' the inorninj;' snn broke thntiiyh the mists that hnnjiovcr the river, t'he sa\a:ne multitude had disappeared in (he j;loomy re- cesses of the forest. Notliin. warriors, and i)resentin;;' himself at the pite of the tort asked perniission to dance before the ofllcers of the, {garrison. Aftci' some hesitation iieiniission was ;Li'rantein'ts of tli<' fnit liad bt'cii cx- niiiiiKMl the 40 i('tir<'(l, w itlioiit ciiiisiiij;- llic slitilitcsl siis|»i(i(»ii as (o tli<' (ilijcct wliicli iiidiicctl tlic visit. Mcssciiucrs were auaiii sent 1(1 sMiiiiiioii tlic cliicl's to iiicci ill tlic village nl' llic I'ottaw atomics. licit' a ImiKlrcd wily cDiispiratitrs seated lliciiis<'i\(s in iIk; (■(iiiiicil liall ol' tii<- town to iicifcct in tiie dariciicss oi' iii;^lit iIk; ItlacU scljciiic tjiey liad eoiicocted for the dcsiriicl ion of tlie foit. J'^itfiil llaslies fioiii liic tire in llie centre of tlic room fell ii|ion I'eatiircs stolid and iniinov alilc as if cast in iron, despite tlic lierce. )»assioiis that lanUled in the Itrcasts Itciieath tiicin. As Tontiac in an excitinu' haiian.yiic reiterated the wrongs they had siislained at the hands of the I'lnylish, and made Uiiowii his jilaii of attack, deep yiittiiral expressions of approval rose from his statue like audience. I'lider pretense of holdinu' a <'oiincil he propo>ed to ohtaiii admiltance to the fort for himself and principal chiefs, and while in coiM'erence with theotlicers. with concealed weapons they would put llieiii to death. Meanwhile the Indians loitering' alxnit the jtalisade were to rush on the iinsiispcctiiiu^ariison and iidiict on tiicm a siiniiar fate. Detroit, now threatened witii destruction, was founded in 1701 1>y \/.i ,Mott Cadilac, who siil>se(pieiitly heeaine the (loxcrnor (leii- eral of L(tiiisiaiia and the partner of Crozat. Ifoycrs. who visited it at the clos«! of the I'^rciich war, estiinatc(l its jiopiilatioii and tiiat of the adjacent settleiiicnts at 2.">(H> souls. The fort which siir- I'oiinded the town was a ]>alisadc L'."» feet Iii.iih. furnished with bastions at the four an.u'les and lilock houses oxer the t;ate ways. On the same side of the river, :uid a little below the fort, was the village of the Pot tawatomies ; southeasterly, on the other side, Avas that of the \\'yan(I. ts, while on the same Itaiik. ."» mill's above, Avas tli(^ town of the Oltawas. The river, alxait half a mile in Avidtli o])posite the fort. Ilowcd throiiiih a landscajic of nnrixaled beauty. In its pure walci-s were .ulassed the outlines of the iiolile forests that .yrew on its banks. I'^arllicr back wliilt' Canadian cotta^U'es looked cosily out of the dark jireeii foliage, while in the distaiiee Indian wijiwaiiis sent up wreathy columns of smoke hinh in the transparent northern atmosphere. I'ontiac. the master si>irit ol' this syhaii i)aiadise, dwelt on an island at the outlet of Lake St. Clair, and likeSatan ofohl revolved in his powerful mind scliemes foi' marriiiji' its beauty and innocence. Though he was friendly to the I-'rciich they seemed to apprehend some comiiij;' disaster. The ()ctol)er i»recediiiji' the oiitlireak dark clouds leath- ered (»vei' the town and settlement, and drops of rain fell of ii strong sulphurous odor, and so black the people are said to have collected and used them for ink. Many of tlie simple Canadians, refiisinj;' to accept a scientilic e.\i»laiiation ol' the pheiioineiion, thoii;^lit it \\i\R the precursor of some j^reat calamity. .Vlthoii^h bi'cathiii,!'' out veil jieanco and slaughter auainsf the English, the desi^^ns of the chief were to be del'eatt'd. Accordin.ii' to local tradition, on the afternoon of the (Jth of .May, tlie day jire- cedin^' the intended assault, intelligence of the coiis]»iracy was coiiiniunicated to (Jladwyn l»y a beautiful Chippewa j;irl. who had formed for him an attachment and wished to save his life. Osten- sibly she visited the fort to deliver a jiair of ornamental moccasins wliieli he had ri'ipiestt'd her to make. Al'lerdeltverinu' them, she was seen, late iii the afternoon, lingering about the Ibrt, with a dejected Ml IIISTOHV OF ILLINOIS. 11 counti'iiiincc. (iliuhvyn liiiiisciriit Iciijutli not iced liciMltcicd iiiiiii- iicr, iiiiil iiskt'd tlM' ciiiisc oT her troiihlf. NNlicii ;issiiic(l tliiit she would not he hctriivcd, she stiitfd th:it on the t'ollowiii/^d.iv. I'oiilian ;iiid <)(» chicls, with ;;iiiis coiiccidcd iiiidfi- tlicir lihiiikcls. woidd visit tiic loll to iiold ;i coiiiicil. siiid liiMt Ml'tcr lie iiiid iircsciiti-d m |»c:u-e belt in :i rc\<'rscd jtosiiion iis ;i si;;nid for iilt;icl\, tiic <-iii('l's were to shoot down tlic olliccis. iind their men in tlie streets were to ninnh'r tile .^iirrison. (iliidwvn ininiediiitely eonininniciited winit lie liiid jieard to the garrison, ;iiid preitanitions were eonmieneeil io iixcrt tile ihreateiH'd ealaniil.v. I ol' the I'ot lawatoniies and coninienced considiin;^' 'willi their chiet's in rej;ard to another attempt ayainst the fort. .\s tin? I'csidl, on the ! till of .Ma v. the coin nion I m hind the fort w as crowded ■witli savaycs, and their chief, advancinj;' to the j;'ate, asked that lie and his waniois nii^iit lie admitteil and enjoy with tin- yairisoii the frayi'aiice of the friendly calumet, (iladwyn concisely lint iiiicoiirteoiisly replied, that '•he inijiht enter, bnt his ralilile niitsfc remain witiioiit." 'J'hiis cii'ciiniveiited, he hecanie li\ id with liati^ and deliance. and .stalked olf in liie direction of his warriors, larjic nnniheis of whom were proslrateon the ,i;roiind. and siid- y nia;4ic, se mcd alixc w ilh yelpiii,i;' ereafiires part man, [tart wolf, and ]»art de\ il, who riislieied Avith red-hot mi.s.siles wa.s immediately l>rouj;ht to bear on the dry material, which, bc^comiiip; wra])t in llames. soon caused tin' eon- (!ealed savajics to retr<'iit with jirecijiitation. For six Inairs the attack was unabated, but as the ' obje('t, .shot arrows tiljped Avith bnridn.u- tow npon the houses within the fort. These efforts, liowever, jiroved abortive. Cisterns were dug inside to 10 Md JIlHTdl.'V (tl' II.I.INOIS. (piciK-li tlif lliiiiics ;iii(l si>rli('siiiitsiilt' wt'iT iiiailc I'luiii I inn' In linut till all III*' iMiJiKM'iit nirliiirds, I'ciiiTS iiiid liiiililiii;:s, wt-rc Irvrlfd to I lie ;;l'(iiiiid. iiimI lit) stitfii was Irl'l lo coiircal a liiiUiii;.': luf. Tlif Indians. cNpcctiiiji' to lake llif tort at a sin;^!*' l»l»i\v. Iiad failed l«> piovidc I'oi' a itioiiacicd sicyc. Tlifir niinilM is daily an;^iMcnliii,u l>\ llic airi\al oC slia;A',uliii,!H' liands ol uariKUs iVdin Illinois and other pails of liif W Cst and Sdiitli. IIk- qiicsiidn of I'odd soon iM'canif an inipoitant considcralion. To olilain it tlicy had alroad.N iriilatcd tlic Canadian lainicis li,\ conindll iiii;' dcpi'c- dai ions upon th«'ii'slo*'k. and a dclcjLialion of llifir head men called on I'onliac lo reinonsiiale a;^ainsl these ontraj^es. ileadnctled the li III h of I lie alleviations, expfessed le^nicr lor I he injniies liiey had SI I. stained, and at once insliliiled means lor olilaininu supplies witlioiil their repetition in the i'iiliir«<. lie visited the dilt'erent Canadian lainilies, inakin<;' a earel'nl esliniale ol' iheir proxisitnis, le\ ied upon each a propoilioiiale anion lit lor I lie siisleiianee of llie, asseinlileil Irilies, now iiiiiiiliei iiii; nearly l,(l(»0 warriors and more than L'.OdO wiHiieii and children. 'I'lie le\ ii's ilms made were, liroiiuht into camp, and a coiiimissaiy apptiinled lo prcM'iit the excessixc eatiiij;' and waste which the .-.a\a^e always practic<'s when iinreslricled in ids access to food, i'onliac. Itein;;' iinalileto make iinmediale coiii|>ensatioii, naxc promissory notes, drawn on hircii hark and signed wilii the lij;iii'e of an otter, the totem ol" iiis faniily. 'l"o iiis credil il is said these were all alterward iioii- oral»l\ paid. This ajiproach to liie usages of ci\iliy,»d life was doiiidless sn;;ji'este(i l)y some of Iiis Canadian allies, yet his ready adoption of llieiii indicates a sa,ua«'ily wiiicli iswitlioiit a paralli'l in the history of his race. In the jirosecntioii of the sieuc lie also endeavored to ohtaiii from tiie Canadians the method of makinii;' approaches to a fort as practiced in civilized warfare, likewise, to aid his nndiscipliiied warriors, he sent eiiihassadors lo M. Neyon, the commandant of Fort Cliarlres, for regular sohiieis. 'I'liis ollicer had no sohliers at Ids disposal. l)iit ainindanliy fiiriiisiied miiiiitions in tlieir stead. Says Sir \\ iiliam .lolinsoii, Superiii- jierinteiident (»f Indian all'airs : "It now Mppciirs from the very best iuitiioritics, and ctin he proven l)y tlu; oiitli of scvinil rcsiiccltilili; ])(rs(>ns, prisoinrs anionif ilic Indians of Illinois, and from the account of tlic Indians llicmsi'lvcs, lliat not oid^- manj' Fiuncii tiailci's, I)iital.so llicFrriicli ottici'i's, went amoii^thc Indians, as tlicy said, fully aiilliorizcd lo assure llieiii thai tiu' French King- was determined to support tlieiii to the ulinosi, and not oiilj' invited them lo visit Illinois, wlure Ihey ^vere ))lenlit'ully supplied wilh aiumunilion and oilier iieees'-aiies, hul also sent .sevi ral caiioe loads at dilfereiil limes up the Illinois river lo the ^liamis, as Weil as up the Ohio to the yiiawneesand Delawares." Tims, wiiile Detroit Wiis tiie scene of tiie ])rineipai onll)reaic of the war, Iliinois more iarf;ely tiiaii any otiier place fnrnisiied tiic nieaiis to put it in niotioii and keep it alive. P.iit vvliile other localities were lilecdinji' and sore from tiie veiij;cfiil thrusts of tiie strife, tin' Illinois Frenchmen, caressed and pi'otected l»y savaj^i' admirers, iinnted and lislied as usual in the peaceful forests and .yt'iitle rivers of his vveslcrn paradise. As tlie]»erils were thickeiiiii;;- around Detroit, tlierecame vaji'iK^ riiiiMns from time to time of seltlenients destroyed, forts attaclied and liarrisoiis Imteliered. These llyinj;' reports were soon followed by delinile information tliat, witli the e.\ce]»lion of Detroit, ali the posts scatlercd at wide intervals tliruuyhuut the vast forests west PONTIAfJ'S rONHPIKACY. 147 of l"'orts I'ilt iiiid Mii;^iini, had i'iiUen intotlic IkiihIsoI' iliiMiHiny. TIh' lirsl rcli;ililt' (•\i(l('ii('i' of this Uiml was ilic npiMMiiiiK'c of ii parl.v of warriors in (lie itiir ol' Detroit. iMariiij: aloft a iiiiiiiImt of .s('nl|>.s tak«'ii from viipes. w it li fei;;ned indifference eommeneed a eoiiveisation, dniin;; wliieli they snd- deiily seized and disarmed him. Simnltaneously a diseoi'dant din of \ells and llieelnslnnu' of anus was lienid w itliont. and w hen I'aMlly alleruard was tiiUen fiom the room hy his eaptors, he beheld thti j»arade ui-onnd shewn wilh themanuled itodies of his men. At ni.uht he was eondueted to the lake in the li^ht of the hnrninn' fort and slart<'d o\ci its still waters for Detroit. On the flth of.lnne, a nnmlier of I'ottawatoinies with some pris- oners, who proved to he I'lnsi^n Sehlossei, the commander of l''ort St. .Joseph.* and three of his private soldieis. Their captors had come to e\chiinu«' them for some of their own men, who for some tinu- had Iteen retained as prisoners in the fort. Al'tei' this was ett'ccted, the Kn;^lislimen relate(l thestoryof their captni-e. Karly in the morning' pi'ecedin^' the attack, the iieiuhltorho'id of tlw fort was enli\ cned l»\ the appearance of a lar;;e niindier of l*(»t taw at- omics, who staled that tliey har a Jesuit priest arrived at Detroit, 1»'in^in;^ with him a letter from ( 'aptain l\theiMnyton detailing' the capturci of Ihe fort at .Alackinaw. of which he was connnainlei'. for several successive days tlu' ('hipj>ewas had lieeu assendiliny on a plain near the fort and jtlayiiii; yamr-s of hall. I'inally, on the 1 Hh of .lime, while enpiycd ;it this pastime, the h:dl was intentionally thrown near the fort, and the Indians, rushini;- up as if to ^ct it, seized Captain I'^thcjin.uton and Lieut. Lesley slaiidin,i;' m-ar the pite,aiMl hurried them (»lf to the woods. At Ihesame time, another ]»arty rushed int(» tin' fort, and with hatchets furnished I»y their s(piaws, who had previously entered with them, concealed uuj^ w ilhout a leader, snri'cndered. The Indians afterward apoloi^izcd for their conduct by declarin;;' the attack was not the result of their own inclinations but due to the pressure which had been broujiht •OrlginuDy Minmi, 148 IIISTOKY OF II.LIXOIB to liciii' (III llii'iii l),\ .siin'oiiiKliii;; trilirs. Tliis plfii nmv liMXr lirni tl'llc. I'd!' tllt'N V.t I'C t'lirtlll'l' K-IIHI\<-(I ri'ilIM l']||;:li>ll illllllfllCt' ticiii most of the ollit'l' tlilifs Mliil liciiiM- iiioir |i:i<'ili('. Fort Miami, oil tli«^ Miiiimcr, in t'omiiiiiml ol' lOiisi^^ii IIoIiih'm, iuMt'd iiiiotlifl' to tlir list ol' (",i|iliii'('iic'i- hiiicc. (Ml tlif-Tthol' Mux an Indian ;;ii'l, u ho was lixiii;; witli liim, told him that a sijiiaw lav sick in a mi^hluirin;: w i^uaiii, ami dt'sii'i'd iiim to administer nit'dical reiiel'. i'laeiiij^' t lie lit most coii' lldeiice in the ;^irl, he loliowed her till the,N came in si;.:li( of ii iiiiiiiIh'I' ol' lod^^cs, whni she pointed out to him the one eoiitaiiiin<; the iiivalit! ami V, i' iidrew . Holmes, iiiisiispieioiis of danger, con- tinued on his errand of meiev till as h«- mared the ui;,;\\am two ^iiiis llasln-d from Itehind it. and his lifeless l)od,v felt jnostrate on tlie.nionml. i'Aiiltant \ells of sa\a;;es f(»llo\ved llii- report of the •:1111s, ami a Canadian soon came to the fort and demanded its surrender, inforiiiiiiu the ;;arriNoii thai their lives would he spared if they eomplied. Imt in ease of refusal their i-laims to me rev would he foii'eitetl. 'I'akeii hy surprise, and without a commander t(» direct them. llie_\ threw open the ;;ates and {^ave tlu'insclves up as l)risoiiers. With the previous (lisast CIS fresh in the iiiinds (»f Ihehelea^ueied •garrison at Detroit, on the -'2([ of .liiiie, their attention was atti'aeled to the opposite side of the rixcr wlieic tlie_\ saw tlu' sav- a;;('s conducting Fiisij^n ("hristie, the commandant of Tresipie Isle, and the prisoners to the camp of roiitiac. Christie afterward fsea]ied and related the particulars of the sei;;c and surrender of his post, situated near the pieseiit town of I'lrie on the southern shoifof the lake iifter which it was naineil. On the l.">th of .liiiie it was suiroiiuded ii\ L'OO Indians, and the jiarrison iininedialely retired to llie hloekhoiise, the most impre;;ualile part *»l' the forli- licalions. Tiie sa\ aj;es, slu-ltercd in a- ravine, close i»y, sent vuUevs of bullets at the |)ort holcM and hnriiin*:' halls of i>itch upoutlu) roof ami a,i;aiiist the sides of the hiiildiny. Kep^'atedly it took lire, and finally the barrels of water which had bceii itnividcd for extiii^uishiiif; the Hamcs were all exhausted. There was a well in the parade ;;rouiid, but it was instant death to approach it, ami they were compellf d to diji' another in the blockhouse. Meaiiw hik* the enemy had made a siibteriiean passai^c to the house of the comiiiaudant and set it on lire, ami the walls of the blockhoii.'e near by were soon wrapt in a sheet of Maine. The well was u(»w' complete and the liro subdued, but the men were almost sulToeated by heat and smoke. Whih^ in this condition they learned that aiiother more effectual atteini>t W(mld soon he made to burn tliein, and at the insiance of the enemy they a^^iced to eajiitulate. Parties met for this purpose, and after sti[mlatin.y that tli«' pirri- son should march out ami retire unmolested to the nearest post, till' little fortress which had been defended with so much valor was surrendered. Notwithstanding' the terms agreed upon, a part of the men wfiv taken as prisoners to the cami»of Pontiac, ami i»art bedecked as warriors wore adopted hy the (lifl'erent tnl)es ol' the comjiierers. The destiiiction of Laboeuf and Vi'iianno, on the head watery of the Allcyhany, closes the black calaloyuc of captured post«. I'ONTI Ac's (ONSIMIIACV. Ill) On tlif I Sill III .liiiM', a lar;;!' iiiiiii,b('r(it' liitliiiiis .siii-nMiii)l<'(i tint loniH'r, tlic rtiiiv ;iviiiliil)l<' (IclViicc of wliirli was a lilocU Immisc. V'wv allows wt'if sliowcicd ii|ioii it. ami liv laiiliiiulit. Ilir ii|ii»('r storv was wiajil in llaiiics. 'I'lic assailants ;;allii'ici| in IVoiit and ('a;;nin;;' llii'(Mi;L>h tlii' rrai* wall, and passiii!;' out iiii|i)>i-- n'i\ I'd. It'll lilt' savaut's i-xnltiiii;' in tlic; tlionulil llial llit-v wcrci ix'iisjiiii;; in tiif llanit's. Kiit I'naii N'cnaiijuo, di'siroxfd altoiii llic same liiiu', iiol a sin;il(' |»«'i'soii escaped or was left ali\t' to tell of tlicir fate. Not liaiy aflei'ward il was leaiiieil from Indians who w iliii'.ssetl its ile>li'netioii, thai a |tarlv tif wanitns eiitereil il iiniler the prefext of friendship, and ejosinu' tlie ;;ates liehintl tiiein, hntflieretl all the ;;ariisoii exeepl the piineipal oilieir. w lioiii they ttiitnifd over a slow lire several siieeessixc iiii;lils till life was e.\- tinel. iMtrls I'ili ami Nia;,'ai'a were also at tacked. l»nt like that of Detroit, their garrisons jiroveil toti slroiij; for the sava^f assail- ants will) sought their deslriietion. l>Mi the tlesiinctioii of life and propert.v in the forts was onlv a IVaeliiai of the los>e.s. The storm of sa\a;.;t' \i'n.ut'iinee fell wilij ap)talliiirolilir soil and imlnstry were rapidly miiltipl,\ iiij;" (he necessaries of life, were entirely de])o]>iilateil. Fieltls lipeii- h\}X tor harvest weic laid waste; hods of domestic animals, like their owners, were killed: dwelliiiijs w o'c Itiirnt to the liiennd. and vliere jileiity and hai)piiicss had once lived to,uetiierin peace, tlu-ro Avas now only desolation and death. Thonsands of fnuitives tied JO the intei'ior towns ami made known the feaifnl iraiicdies they Iiad wilncssed, and sncii had heeii the deeji dissimulation of the. sava.iii's, the story of their bnlciiciies jirecedeil even the t'ainte.st .sn.sjiicion.s of (]an,i;i'i'. \v ('HAI'TKli XIV. WlKdK OK IH'/riJOlT— I'ONTIAC [{ALLIHS TIIK WHSTKUN TUlJ'.lvS—lllS 8LllM18SJO^' AND DEATH. DctroK \v;is slill Uiclicjid (tC savajjo niacliiiiatioiisainl tlit' home (»(' the aicli coiisitirator who, with the complarciKy of a Nero, h)ok('(l round on tlic coiistantly widciiiiiu- cii'dc of ruin and o\ c, wiui-li ji'rew larji'ei' and hiijiiiter as it descended the stream. I'res<'uily it loomed up in a violent contlauration and, fortunately passiii;; l»et ween tlie vessels and the fort, revealed Willi tlie liylit of day the tracery of conlajie and spars on oiiesiile, and tin- loiiu' line of pal isades on the other. The distant «)Utlinesof the forest and a dark multilude ot' sa\a,ues were plainly \ isihle on the oi»[»ositi' sidi' of the stream, the latter watehiiiu. the etfecls of their artifice as the cracklin;;'. ^limmeiin^ mass floated down with the current of the Avaters, in which its lU't's wer«' linally tiueiiched. Thou;ih all the arts of sava^'c warfare were eiiiitloyed to prevent the ri'inforce- Jiient of the fort, it was at leu;;th accomi»lished, and an assa.iilt made on thecami»of I'ontiac. In this lieree conllict. which rose to tliedijiiiity ol" a pitched iiattle, the lMi.:;lish were defealetl with a heavy loss, and coiii|>elled lo retiic to liie fort for safely, Atti'acted by thissueeess, lar;^(' numliers ol warriors th)eked to the standardof l*(»ntiac,aud the si>irit of his men. [u-e\ iously lie^in- liiiiii' to Ha;.;-, was re\ivedand the siej;e prosecuted withuuexam- l»led \ i^or till tin- last cd' September. The Indian is nauirally tickle and impulsive, and perhaps the history of his race docs not furnish another instance of such protracted etl'ort and constancy as this. Thcii' remarkable pers<'verance must, nodoubl. beatlrib uted to their intense hat i«'d of the I"ai,nli>h, the hopi'of assistaiu'e from France, andthee«>ntrollini;inthu'iiceof I'outiae. Theiratumii- iiition. however, was now (xliaiisted. aial as iiitelliiit'iice had been received that .Major \N'ilkiiis, with a large force, was on his way lo .•ri'i PONTIAO'S CONSriTlAfJY. 1.")1 Dctioir. iiiiuiy ot'tlicin were inclined tosnc for ix'iicc. Tlicy A'iirod tiic iiiinicdijitc consciincnccsor ;in iittaciv. iind proposed by inllinji' llie ImiuHsIi into secniity. to retiie iiniiioiested to liieir wintei' linnt- in.i;- m'onnd and icnew olVensive opcialionsin I lie spring. A eliiefol' t]ie( 'iH)>pe\vas. tiierel'ore, visited 1 lie fort and inl'oniied (iiadwyn that the rotlawatoiiiies, Wyandots and liis own people were soi'iy for what lliey had done, and desired lliei'eafter loli\e in jieaee. 'Pho ICn.ulisli ol'lieer well knew the ciiiptiness of their ]ii-eteiitions. hut jiranted their request [hat he nii.uht lia\e an opport unity of replen- ishing' the fori with ]»ro\isions. 'i'lie Ottawas, animated by tlu^ Mnco)M|ii('iiil»le s|>iiit of I'ontiae, eontiiined a disnltory wailare till thelirst of 0('(oi)cr. when an niiexpeetcd blow wasdcalt tlieiinpei- ioiis chief, and he. too. retired IVoiii the contest. (leueial Andierst, now aware that the occii]»ation <»f the forts in Illinois by l-'reneh liarrisons ureatly seivetl to piotraet and inteii- Nify the war, would fain have reiiioved tlieni, i»ut still found it impossible to itreak through the cordon of sa\a,yt' tril>es w hicli j^iit it ai)oiit. I'oiitiac had derived tlience not only moi'al support, but !ar,L;e supplies of jiuns and ammiinitioi!,* and the oiil.\ reiiieer of his counti'ymeii iiiniiediately dei)ait<'d for the c its inlial)itants and renew tliecontesi the ensuing sjniii'i'. "With his witlidrawa!, Detroit lost its si^iiilicaiMe in the war, and its leadci' was to retui'ii no moi'c except as an iiiterceder for JKMCe. 'I'lic winter of ITtl^J-lpassedaway without the occurrence of any event of sjK'cial intei'est. The eiisiiiiii; siimniertwd expeditions Avere litted out by the l-Ji.i;lisli ; one iiileiided To ojieiate a;;aiiist the sa\a,i;('s residin,ii' on the ;;reat lakes, and the other foi' tiie 'eduction of those living' in the valleyof the Ohio. IJoutpiel lia\- iniii" charge of the latter, advanced from {-'(U't Pitt, and ciu'ouiiter- iii;;' the warlike Shawiiees and Delawares on liie banks of the .Aluskinu'iim, soon reduced tluMii to an iincoiidit ii»nal])eaee. Anion,:;' tile d( iiiands made by this et'li<'ient ollicer, was the surrender of all their priscmers. liary'c numbers wei'e i)r(»iij;lit in IVoiii Illinois and the region east\varpi, :uiit li.is Iteeii tlie prineipiiie.iMse or onrniit ifiunintr possession of Illinois, wliieh the l''ieiieli, as well as the I ml in lis, are iiiteresti'il in pre\ eiil iiiy. " +()r the seenes atieiiiliinr tlit! reunion of liroken fiiiiiilles ami lonj; siimtereil Irieiiils, a lew ineiilenis lime been preseiveil ami are worthy of relation A yoiiiiy Viryjiiiiin, who hai\ been rohb(>(l of his wife lUiil eliilil, enlisteil in the army oflioiiiinet lor the linrpdse of reeoverinjr them. Alter snllerinK' 'he most in tense an \ let y. he at lenat h ilis- covered her in a unnip of prisoners, bearing- in her arms a eliild borii in eapti\ ity ; but 162 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Uriidsticct. wlio (•(Hiiii)iiiitl('(l till' otlicf force, wivsti'd from tlio Siiviijics the iiiilitiir.v liosts, which (•uniiiii.Li' iuul trcachcrv hud l)hi(j('(l ill their power. As u pint of iiis phm. whih' iit Detroit, he sent ("iiptaiii Moi'ris, and ;•. nniniter of friendly (Canadians ami Indians, to iiKhiee tlie savaj^cs of lliiiioi.^; to make peaee with tiio Eii.uiish. llaviii.u- elfeeted airan^ciiients for this puri»()se, tliey aseeii(h'(l tiie Maiiiiiee in a canoe, and soon fell in with a i)arty of some l'(M) Indians wiio treated .Morris with i;r<'at violence. 'Hiey liad eoiiie directly from the camp of rontiae, and soon letl him into the presence of tlie jjreat chief, who with a serctwiinji' brow (haioniiccd the JMiulish as liai's. lie then displayed a letter ..ritteii l»y some {•'reiichiiiaii. t lii>ii.uh i»nrportin,u to he from tin' Ivin^- of France, which Morris declares contained the ureatest calnmnies that ingenious malice could devise for prejndicinii' the inindsof tlici Jndians a^^ainst the i^iinlish. 'i'he party, after heiiiu' stripped of everything' except their ciothiii.u, arms, and canoe, were snifered to depart. IJesiiminu' the -(sceiit of the river, in se\cn days they reaclietiire the ]»recediiij;' year, the Cana- dians hail l)nilt their honsi's within its palisades, and a f«'W Indians made it a temjioi-ary abode. A Miami \ ilhi.nc was directly opi)0- site on the other side of the sti'ca 111. w Idle the meadows immediately around it were dotted with lod.^cs of the Kickaiioos, who iiad re- cently arii\(Ml. After ,uettin,ii: ashore they ])ro<-eeded throii;^!! the ]iiea(lows toward the fort, hilt before reachin.i^' it they were suddenly snrroiiiidcd by a mol) of infuriated sava.ncs, bent on piittiii,u' them to death. l''ortiiiiately tiie chiefs interposed, and before any seri- ous violence was offered the sndileii outburst of sava.^c passion was clieeked. Threatened and insulted, however. Morris was con- ducted to the fort and there ordered to remain, while the Cana- dians Wi'ic forl»idden to shelti'r him in their houses. !!<' had not loiiji' bi'cn in this situation befoie two warriors entered, and with uplifted tomahawks seizepearance to induce the ehit'fs to spare his life. The nephew of I'oiitiac, who jiossessed the liold spirit of his uncle, was also jtresent and pointed out to the rabble tiie impi'o- tlie pleasure of tlio meeting: was alloyed by the iilisonce of iinotliev ehilil, wliieli liiul l)eeii taken Ifoiii the mother iiiiil earrieil she knew not wither. An.vions days and weeks passed away, but no tidintisot' its fate were received. At lenj;th the niother, nlninst Iren/.ied with despair, diseovered it in llie arms of an Indian and seized it witli irrepri'ssilile ti-anspoils of .joy. i i Vouiiir women, now the wives of warriors and the mothers of a monirrel otVspriiifr, were reluclarit ly hrouirht into the presence of their white relatives ; and ung to sh^ep on her knee ha.l now foi'notten her in old aye. "Thi^ hiunanity id' " )U(|uet sutru'ested an expedient : 'Sintrthe sormsyou used to sinu' to her when a ehilci.' riio old lady obeyed, and a sudden start, a look of l)ewildcrment, anil a jiassionate tiooduf tears restored tlie long lost daujfhter to the uiotlier's arms." — I'AUii.MAN.] •^ .» I'ONIIACS ('(>.\S1M1{A('Y. laa piicty of piittiii.u' liiiii to arinj;' Ins life, and aflei' ha\in,u \iolently thrust him out of the xilla^c, tliey NuU'eicd him to return to the fort. Ileic the Canadians would liave treated him with kindness, hut were unable to do so without cxposin.!;' themselves to the tierce resentments of the sa\aj;('s. Despite the inauspicious commeiieemenl of the Journey, jloiiis was still desirous of coin]tletin,i;' it. I»nt was notilied by the Kieka- ]»oos if lie attempted to i)ass them they would eei'tainlx put him to death. Il<' was also informed that a deleiiation of sSJiawin-e war- riors was on its way to the post for the same purpose. The sanu' l)arty, with a mnnbei' of Delawares, haroe( cded westward, spread- in,ii' the contagion of their hostile feelin;L;s amon;.;' tiie tribes of Illinois, and other Indians, ix'tween the Ohio and Mississippi, dcclarinji' that they would li,:ulit the I'ln.ulish as lon.^- as the ^ull i'ui'nisliecllri\e had taken upon himself the arduous duties of the vacated situation. Mobs of Illinois, and end>assies Ironi the Delawares, Shaw nees, and Mianiis, dail,\ im- IMiitinu'd him for arms and ammiuntion. to l>e used aji'ainst the. lOnji'lisli, 'i'he lla.i;' of I"'rance, which they had been tau.uht to revere, still cluni; to the stall' on the sumndl of the foil, aial llli- iKtis was now the only sanctuary which remained for them to defend. While thus actuat<'d by feelings of patiiotism there were other causes which .L;ave intensit\ to their zeal. 'I'he whole region boi'dcriii.1;' the .Mississijtpi was tilled with l"'rencli traders, who re- <;arded the iMiulish as dan^i'ei'ous rivals and were ready to resort to any expedient which mi^lit be instrumental in their exi)idsioii •Pai'limuii. 154 IIISTOUY OK ILLINOIS. ll ,!t from tlic coniitiy. Tsinj; «^v('ry caluimi.v and falscliood that iiialico coillU siij;;;{st, to excite (>i>i)(»siti(»ii to tlie objects of tlieir Jealousy, tliey now told llie Indians that the l-'ji^Iish were endeavoring to stir iii» ci\il lends anion^' them, wherel»y they nii;:ht li^ilil and desti'oy eacli other. They still insisted that the lonj;- delayed armies of l''ranee wonld so(tii he in the country, and to Uee|iali\e this oil repeated lalx'houd the traders apiieared t'ic<|iiently in J*'rench uniforms, represent inu Ihemselves as endiassadoi's of tlie Kiuy-, and sent for^n'cd letters heai'ln^i' Ihf loyal signature to i'ontiac, ur;;in<^' him to pei'sist in hisetforts against the common enemy. As intimated, Tontiac. wiili 1(»0 warriors, in the Autumn of ]7anscs of jtrairie vei-diire. to the homesof the Illinois. These Indians, repeat- edly subihwd l>y surroiindinji- nations, had lost theii- warlike, spii'it. and were icprinianded by I'ontiac for their want of zeal. Hastily collecting; an assend)la,ue. he told the cowering; multitude: that "he would consume then: as the lire consunu's the dry ,i;rass on the prairies if they hesitated in olferin;;;' assistance." This snnimar.N method of dealini; with the tardy savaj^es drew from them unanimous assent to his \ lews, and promises of assistance Avhich the most warlike tribes would have been unable to i»erform. I-eavinti' the Illinois, he hastened to l''ort ( 'hart res. and entered the council hall with a ictinue of IIM) warrioi's. Assumiuii the jiiaxity ai'd dignity characteristic of his I'aee on i 'blie occasions. lie addr' ssed the commandant, as follows: "Fiitlicr, \\r liiivi' loiiii' (1( ."-ii'itl to sec vdu, ■mil <'iij(>y llic |)l' Msurc of takim; you liy tlic liiHiil. Wliilc wr iilVcsli oinscJvc. willi the soot III iiir iiieriisc nt' tlio Vricndly cahiinrt. wc will recall tlic lialilrs I'dmuIiI by our warriors auaiiist llie oiiciny' wliicli still sciks our ovcrllirow. JJiU while we speak of llnir valor ami victories, let us not I'orjict our I'alleii lieroes, and witli renewed resolves and more constant endeavors strive to avent not louiier remain inactive and sull'eryour red brothers to contend aloneai;ainst the foe, who siH'k our comniou distruetion. \V<' ileiuand of yo\i anus and waniois to assist us, and when t he tvinlish do^s are driv<'n into tin- sea, wu will ai;ain In pciK'c and happiness enjoy with you thesi' fruitful forests and l)rairles, the inil)li' herilasze presented liy the (ireal Spirit to our ancotors." St. Aiiue'. boiiii;' tinal>le to lurnish him with men atnl munitions, olfered in their stead compliments :ind ;^ikh1 will. Hitt I'ontiae, re;iiirdinji' his mission to(» imiiortiint to be thus rejected, eom- l)laincd bitterly thiit he should receive such poor encouiaiicmeiit from those whose wrongs he \vas endea\ oriiiii' to redress. His AVitrriors pitched their lodges abotit the fort, iind sttcli were the iiiiinifestations of disiileasiire thiit the commandiint sipprehened ill! attack, roiitiac had jtreviously caused his wixcs to prejiare a belt of wainimn more than six feet in leiiiith. interwoven with Iho totems of the d life rent tiibcs ;ind v illa<;es still associated wit it liini in the prosecution of the war. While iit the fort tiiis was tissiyiu'd to a chosen band of warriors who were instructed to descend the POM'IAC'S CONSPIKACY. li>."> ^lississipjii. iiinl cxliiliitiii^' it to (lie iiuiiiciuiis nations li\ in;;' on its Itanks, cxiioil tiicni to ifjicl all attcin|i1> which the l^n^lish mi.ulii make to ascmd llic ri\ci'. 'liicy were iiuliici' rciiuiicd lo fall on the ^oNniior of New Oilcan.-; and olitain the assistance wliicli St. Anuc had refused. I'ontiac. aware tiiat the .Missi>si|(|)i on the south, and the < )hio on the east weic t he channels In w Inch Jlliiiois WHS most accessible to the Mn^lish. wisely deteniMncd to iiitei])ose i)an'iers t(» their appfoaeh l»v these «'ot lolly after the departure (»f ids warriors. tidin.;;s were rec<'i\ ed ill the fort which verilied the sa.uacitv and coi'rcctiiess ol his anti- cipations. The prexions sprinii- .Miijor l.oflus. with a force of 40(1 men, sailed from i'eiisacola to New ()rleans. lor the pnrpose of ascend- iiiji:' I lie Mis>issippi ami taUiiii;' possession of l^'ort ( 'hartres. I'.einy- einliarUed in iinwieldx lioats. Ids iJio^ress was slow, and when oidy a short distance aitoxc the town he was miexpeetcdly assailed by tin- warriors of roiitiae. 'I'hey were lired upon from both sid<'s of the rixcr, wiiieh. swollen liy a freshet, had iniiiidatcd its banks and formed swampy lal»\rinlhs. from wliieli it was impossible to dislodji'e the foe. Several soldiers were killed at tliellrst diseharj;«', and the teirilied ofiicers immediately deciding a lartln'r ad\ anet! impossible, fcil back to New Orleans. Here liiey Ibiiiid the imiri- meiil of the l-'reiK'li greatly excited at their discomlitiire, which, it was alh'-cd. had been caused by not more than .'!(> warriors. Loflns. smartiiiu iimler the ridicnie. boldly accnsed the p»\eriior of lia\in,i:' been the author of his defeat, thon.uli there was not tlic sli,uhtesi yroniid for such suspicion. As the result of fear, from which he liad not yet recoxcicd. he likewise conceived tlu' idea that the Indians intended to attack him on his ri'tiirn on the river below, and petitioned the ji'ovei'iior. whom lie liad just accused of colliisi(»ii with the savages, to interpose and jirevent it. The, French ollicer, with a look of <'ontempt. agreed to furnish liim with an escort (»f ]''rencli solders, but Ltdtus. rejectiii}; this hiimil- iatiii^' oiler, declared he only wanted an interpreter to eoufer w itli tlix Indians whom he slioidd meet on the way. One was ;L;r;!iited, aial hi' sailed from I'eiisacola. lea\iiiji the forts of Illinois still in the hands of the l''reiich. but \ ii'tually controlled and iirotected by the warriors of I'outiac. After this aboiti\e elVort to reach ]'ort ('hartres, Captain Pitman sailed fr(nn Mobil.' to make a sec- ond attempt. Ileariiij;' in New Orli'ans the commotion excited ainoii<;' the sava,<4«'s by the messengers of Pontiac. ho was deterred I'ldiii proceediiiji' ojieiily without an escort. It however occurred lo him that he iiii.uht reach his destination in the .yiiise of ii l''rencliman. by ^oin^' with a company of creole traders, but ow iii^' to the ureiit danger of detection, this also was abainhtued. In the meantime the ambassadors of I'oiit iae, 'rue to the trust reposed in them, had traxcised the immense forest solitudes, watered by the tortuous windiiius of the .Mississippi, reekinj^- with the deadly exhalations of pois<»iious marshes. Visitiiii;' the tribes scattered o\er this vast wilderness, even to the southern ex- tremeof Louisiana, w hither tlie fame of Pontiac had preceded tlii'iii, they infused into them a spirit td' resistance to IJritish eiicroach- iiieiits. N<'xt re|tairiii,u to New Orleans to demand military aid, they found the inhabitants excited o\<'r the transfer ol' their territiuy to the dominion (d' S[»ain. l>y a special ]»ro\isioii >iew 156 IILSTOUV Ol'" UJ.INOIS. Oilciiiis liiid not IxTii iiK'liKlcd in llic ct'ssioii iiiiidc to Kiijiliiiid ciisi (it I lie .Mississi|t|>i, iiiid now tlic.v liiid jnst Icaiiu'd tliiit llicir ]>;ir( III <'oiinlrv liiid tninsl'criTd nil licr i'('iii:iiniii,n' possessions to tlif crown of S|>;iiii. TIic iiiliiil»it;iiits cordiiillv imtrd (lie Spiiii- iards, iind llicir piitiiolic ptvcnior. iiiortilicd at the disi;iacc. he caiiie the victim oi' a disease that shortly alterwaid caused his death. Uowed with disease and shame, lie received the messt'U- jicis of routine in the council hall of the town. IJesidcs the J'"rciicli otlicials, a niimlier of lOn^lisii otiiccrs were jireseiit at tiu3 iiilii\ iew. '{"he orator of the Indian deputation was a Shawnee Avairior, wlio, displavin^' the ^reat belt of wani]»iim and ]toinliiijj|,' to the IOn;^lis|i, said : " Tlicsi' iX'tl* tings liavc criiwdcd upon asmorcuiul more, iiiul wlicii we ii>k \\ liy lliiy do it, we lire lold tli:il yoii, our I'M-ciu'li I'atiicrs, liuvc given tluni oiii' hind. ]jui we linow tjicy liavc lied. Tiicsc laiids arc ncitlicr yours nor liich's, niid no niMii sIimII give orsi'll tlicin williout, oiir ('onscnt. Fal Ikt.s, we IniVf always liccn your failhl'nl cluldren, and \vc: have come to obtain from you arms to aid us in "iliis war." Afti'r an iiietl'eetual attempt bv tlieyox criior to allay the animos- ity exiu'cssed in tlie .speech, and a promise to furnish them with supplies ibr theii' immediate wants, the council adjourned till the next day, When, however, it a^aiii asseinl)led, the d_\ iiiu' j;(»\t'r- iior liad lireathed out liis life. .M. Aubrey, his successor, presided in his place. After one of the Indian orators, according to the solemn custom of his pi'ople, had <'Xpressed his r«';^ret for the sud- den death of tlie ^^overnoi', a, .Miami chief arose and said : "Siiici' we last sat, on tiicsc seals we liave iieard strange words. We liaro learned tiial you, wiiom we have loved and ser\'ed so well, liave given liiese lands on wiiieli we dwell toonrcommon foe. AVe liave also ascerlaiiied that tlie Eiiglisli liave forbidden you to send traders to our villagi-s, and that you, whom we tlionght so great and brave, liave' obeyed their eommands iik. All we a>k is liie guns, the knives, and tin- haiehets we liavi' worn out in liiihting your baltles." To tlie.se liome thrusts of Indian invective, M. Aubrey could make l)iU a fcelile reply, rrcseiits were distributed aiiioii^ them, but pioilnccd no effect on the iinli.iiiiaiil v, :!iriors, and on the mor- low tiiey coiiiiiieiiccd their ascent of llie uieat lixcr. The j;Teat inllMciice of I'ontiac in Illinois convinced (ieiu'ral Cbtji'e, the successor of (ieiiei'al Amliei'st, that as Ion;;' as the posts uf Illinois remained in the hands of I'^reiich ofliceis and the lla.u'of ]'raiice was rcco^iii/;cme all opposition, and at once' termiiiale the war, l>\ ]eiiio\iim the caii.se. ^Vftcrthe I'epulse of Loftiis the soiitlierii route to Illinois was rejiarded as impracticable, and it was decided to send tlie troops by way of tho Ohio. ( icor^c ( "roj;han and liieiiteiiaiit I'ra/.er. accoiii|iaiiied by a small escort, were sent in advance to prepare the Indians Ibr the adveiil of the contemplated expedition, ("ro.uhan had Ibr years lieeii a trader amoii.u' the western tribes, and by the aid of his manly character had won the respect of the s;ivao«'s, and was well litte(i for tlie discharge of this imjiortajit trust. The party set out •Alluding to the red coats of the British soldiers I'ONTIACS CONSriU'ACr, 167 for l'\)rt I'ittiii Kcbriiary, 17(!r», jmhI aflci- Ikia iiij;' penetrated siiow- 1)01111(1 forests and inonntnin deliles diirinu the rigors of a seveio winter, tlu'.v arrived sal'elv at tlie fort. Here ('ntjiliiin was de- tained several wi'eks, for the pnritose of iiiivinj;' a eonsnltatioii uith llie SlnnvMees and Dehiwai'es, alont;' whose sontliern liorder the expedition was to pass. In the ineiinlinie, fearin.i;' that tla^ delay attendinj;' his nejidtiations niijiht lane a pre.iudi«'ial elfeet upon the triltes of Illinois, he sent I'i;izer iniiiiediatel\ forwind to enter npon the important dnties wilii which tiiev had Iteen en- trnsted. The ie\ i»loekade which dnrin,u' the winter had oltstineted the na\i.i:ation (»f the Ohio, now disappeared, and tlie parly eni- barUin^ in a canoe, deseeinled with (he enrrent ttf tiie river near I, (Kill miles wilhonl enconnteriiii; opposilioii. Itnt when a landing' was etfected the follow<'rs of I'oiit iae were on hand, and he met with a reception sinnlar to that accorded to Morris the pre\ ions aninmn. Ilidfeted and Ihreatened witii dealh. he aUandonei! the j<'ct of his \isit,and tied in dis^^iiise down the rixcr to seek a reinjic amftnji the I-'rcnch. The universal overthrow which liad at1ende the river with a boat load of y'oods. which lu^ was instructed to distribute amoiiij,' the Indians as jtresents from the Kniiiish. Intelligence of this nntxcmcnt traveled far more rapidly than the supplies, and I'ontiac determined that they should subserve his own iiderest and in>t that of his enemies. He. therefore. watched the arrival of the boat, and no sooner had a landing;' been elfecti-d than his nuMi leajx'd aboard, and liavin.u' tlo^u'ed the Frenchman and his ei'ew, distribute(l the ,u'oods amon^' themselves. As was (Mistonniry, these snjiplies were soon s^juaiMlered with reckless ]>rodijiality, and the savaiics w hen pressed with want turned to the Fjcncli for assistance. Ibit the latter were now expectin.L; I he arrival of a Jbitisli foi'ce to take possession of the conntry, and fearinji' that i)Uiiislinient nuiiht overtake them foi- ])ast olfences, ('oncliided it best to withhold their assistance. St. Anji'e and other oflicei's, also belie\in,ii' tiiat their successors would soon arrive, informetl them that henceforth they must lo<»k for snitplies to the Kn;^lisli, whose <;-ood will it was now their interest t(» cultivate. Hunger itself is un>re jtowci'tnl than an "army with banners," and when tin; sava,m's saw other disasters e(jnally api>allin^ and imminent, the most resolute warriors bewail to hesitate in rej>ard to the further jtrolonyation of the struii.iile. Even Poidiac. whose inasculine fibre and enduring fortitude the ordinary vicissitmles of war failed toatl'ect, beyan to waver when he learneil that the hijihest Fi'eiM'h dignitaries refused to <;rant him aid. The expi'ctalions which had so lonj;- nerxed his arm were fast Aanishin.L;, ami Avitli a sorrowful heart he beheld the vast civil and iidlitary com- binations he. had fonned, in a state of hopeless disintegration. 1.18 IIISTOUY OF ir.LINOIH. Drscilfil l>y iiMics on (xcrv liniid, tlicic Wiis no itliicc of i('rii<;(', wliitlicr lie iiiiylil llv I'oi- satct v. In tlic soiitli :iiiil west wcrr licrcc liiliis, tlic licrcditiirv ciioiiiifs ol' liis pcuitlr ; rioiiillic ciist ('iiiiic ill! <)\ri'\vlirliiiiiii;' I'oc to «iii lil'iil iietixilies iiiid iispi- JMtioiis, Wiis iiiidei llie uiiiis of :iii iiii|ire;^liiil>le fortress. At pi-eseiit, iiiialtle l(» extrieale liiniself fi-oiii llie lalivriiitli ol' iiii|tciid- iii;^ daii;H( rs, lie was (•(nii|ielled lo siibiuil and wail a fiitiiic da,v of V<'li,y'eaiice. ( 'i'o;;liaii, lia\ iiiu' eoiiiiileled Iiis eoid'ereiiee willi llie Indians at l-'orl I 'ill, Willi liis own men and a n inn iter of I >ela ware and Sliaw- iiee wairiors, oil the l.'itliof .Ma.\, 1 7ii.">, stiii'ted down the Oliio. NN'itli little detention, lie landed on IIh' Illinois shore, a short dis- tance lu'low the iiiontli of the Nv'altash.* Soon after diseiiiliark- iii,U', he was iiiie.\|)ectedl,v iiieeled l»y a shower of liiillets proceed- iii.n' from tani^led thickets on the hanks of ihe river, wherchy ."» of liis iiieii were killed and most of the remainder wounded. Iiiiine- diately follow iii.i; the explosion of mnskeliy. SO yelpinu Kickapoos ru.Nlied from llieir co\ crts. and disai iiiiii;^ the Mn^ilish, took posses- sion of all their pei'scmal etVects. When thus rendered powerless, the as.ailants lie^aii lo apologize for I he dastardly attack. They declai'ed to ('r(i;;liaii thai the I'reiich had lold I hem I hat his escort consisted of Cherokees, their moi'tid enemies, and that under this false impression, they hail made the as.sanll. 'I'his pi'ctext was, liowever. aiiolher iiislance of the (hceitlion for whicli that trihe was (list iiijiiiished. Though endea\diin^' lo excuse their conduct on the plea of i.uiioraiice, it was afterward ascertained that they liad do.u';,;cd Cro^han foi' several days, and knew well the charac- ter of his escort. Willi less jzovernini'iit over tlieiusel\-es than children, and lilled with the inslincl of (le\ ils. their real olijcct was to wreak \cii,ueaiiceon the i']n.ulish and j^iatilX a rabid areiil cordiality by Indians with whom he had been pi'cx ionsly ac(piainted. Here he spent sexcral da\s ill i('ceiviii.u' and shaking hands with deputations of chiefs and warriors from the siirroninliii;^' rejiiion, all of w liom were appar- futly anxious to be on friendly terms with the Eiif^lish, and expressed a desire for llie return of iteace. In contrast with tliesi^ eviileiiccs of jiood will, a Frenchman arrived with a messa^ic fr(nn a chief liviii.u' in Illinois, iir,^in,u the Indians in the vicinity of the fort to 1)11 1 tlie i'ln^lish ambassador to death. l)es|)ite tliis mur- derous retpiest, he was assured by liis savaj>(' friends that they Avoiild iiol only protect his jierson, but assist in takiii.u' possession of the country where tlic^ hostile chief resided. Unexpectedly ii '"Ontho fitl) of .Imn' tlicy iinivcd atHio tnoiitli of the W'uliasli. Hero tlioy fomida broiistwiirk. supposed to imve liecii erected by Indians. Six miles fiirtlier, tliey enc'aiiipe:i('<-, MiHJ ( 'I'ouiiiiii rctiinif the < 'iK'lokces ;i;;ililist his liiet hicii of I lliliois. iilid thus reduce IJit'iii t(t servitude. The lMi.!4lisli, he ii;;reed, miylit tiiUe possession of Fort ChMi'tres and the otiier militaiv posts, hut sii.uaeionsly iiiti- mated tiial the I'^t'ciich had iie\er piiicliased the lands ol'ilie IlliiKiis. ami as they lived on them by siin'eiaiiee only, their suc- cessors \v(»iild haxcno ieyal ri^lit to tiieir possession. 'Mieamieahlei t'eelin,us manii'ested l>y the Illinois ehiel's who were present, olixiated the iie<'essity of his proceediii.u' fnrlher westward, and lu^ next directed his attention to the tribes of the noi'lli cast. Accompanied l»y Ponliac he crossed to Fort .Miami, and deseeiid- iiii;- tlie .Maiimee, lield conferences with the dilfereiil tril»esd\\('lliiiji' ill liic immense forests which shelter the haiiUs of the stream. I'assinj;' tiienee lip the Detroit, lie arrived at the fort on tiu^ ITlli of Aii.nnst, where he found a vast concourse of nei^lihoriiiL;' tribes. 'J'lie fear of iMiiiishiiiciit, and the loii.u privations tliev had suifered from the suspension of the fiir trade, Jiad l)aiiished every thoiiuht of hostility, and all wei'e anxious for peace and its attendant bless- iiiji's. After numerous interviews with ditlereiit tribes in the old town hall, where I'ontiac tirst essayed the execution of his treachery, Croj^han called a tinal nieetiii,u' on tlu' L'Tth of Au<;iist. Imiiatin/i" tln^ forest elocpieiico with which he iiad loiiy been familiar, he thus addressed the convocation : " ('liildi'cii, wi' MIT very ylad to sec so iiiiiny of yoii present !it your iiiicieiit council lire, wliicli liMs l)een iiegleeted for sonii; time pMsl. Since tlu'U liiuli winds liiive l)lovvn and rinsed liciivv clouds over your couiilry. I now, l)y tliis bell, rekindle your iincii|ion it, that tiie lilaze luay ascend to heaven, solliat all nalioiis may see it and know that you live iu jieiice with your fathers, the Knt;lisii. iJy this helt 1 disperse all tiie black clouds from over your heads, that the sun uiav shiiu; clear on your women and cliildreii, and that tliosi' unhorn may enjoy the lilessin^s of this jieneral jieaee, now so hai>))ily settled between your fatliers, the JOnglish, and you and all your younger brethren toward tln^ sunsetling." Poiitia(^ reiilied: "Father, we have all smoked together out of this peace pipe, and as ijio Great Spirit has brouuhl us toi;:ether for nood, I declare to all the luiliinis that 1 have made peace with the lMi!j;lish. In the presence; of ail the tribes now assiinbled,! lake the Iving of Enuiaiid for my fatlier, ami dedicate this pipe to Jiis Use, tliat theucefortli we may visit him and smoki' together in peace.' The object of C'roj;liaii's visit wa.s now eoiisuminated, liut before he dejiarted he exacted from I'ontiac a promise that tin' followino; siiriii,n' he vvoiihl rei)air to Osvvcji'o and enter into a treaty with Sir AVilliam Joliiison, in behalf of the western nations as.soeiiited with ]dm in the war. "Jn tiie meantime a iiiiiidred lli^ihlamU'rs of the tUd rej;imeiit, those veterans whose battle erv had echoed over the bloodiest ino mSTOKV OI-' [M,lNOls. lit Ills (iT AiiMTir:). Iiiid Iri'l i'ml Tin iiiitN'r cuiiniiiiiMl ol' (':i|itiiiii ►Slirliiiy. iiiitl (Icscfiitliii;^ tln'()liio iiinlt'tcncd l».\ (lie rijictr (tf llui sciisoii, ill rived iit ( 'li;irtit's jiisl iis liic snows ofcMily wiiid-r l)<';;iiii 1(» uliitcii tilt' li;iUct| lorcsis. 'I'Ih- IIii.u oI' l'"rilicr (icsrclKlt'd tniiii tlif riiiiipMil, iiiid w itii tlic slt'i'ii (•(iiiitcsirs of \viii- St. Aiijit- \ icidcd ii|i his |Misi, (lie citiiilcl of iijiiiois, |o its iww iiiiistcrs. In tlnit il(-| WMs ('oiisiiiiiiiiiitcd llir doiihic li'iiilii|ili dl' Hl'itisli |M>\vt>i' ill AiiM'ricK. I')ii;;liiiid liiid ('iiisiicd Ikt lH-rc(liliir\ tui-; I'liiiicf in Imt i'iill had ict't to in'*'tricviild<> i-iiiii th<- snxii;;)- trilx-s to whom lirr ]ioli<',v :i!id s<'lf-iiit('i'»'st li:id lent :i tniiisifiit sii|»|toit."* The doomed liMlioiis were next to sesil lln'ir siiltmissioii to tiie power wliieh IkmI wi'oii.i;lil tiieir ruin, iiiid IJritisli swiiv would he coinidete. Ikeiiiinded ol' his |iroiiiise ti» Cloi^hiin l>,V the le:il'\ <|i"i|)eiy of snmmei'. I'(»ntiiie icpiiired to( )s\ve;i(», and for the last time appealed lieforetlie represeiitat i\ es of l'!iij;li,sh SDVeieiiilitv. Ill the midst of a lar^e eoiieoiiise. whieli the impoitaiiee of the occasion had jliaw II tonctiier, he arose and said : "l-'atiier. w<' tiiank the (Ireat S|)irit will) liasyiNeii lis this day of hriuht skies and j;enial warmtli to consider t lie uriMl aiVairs now hefore us. in his |)reseiice, and in heliaif of all the nations toward the snnsettiii;u', of which 1 am the master, I now take ,voii hy the hand. I call upon him to wit- ness, that 1 have spoken from my heiul. and in the name of tla^ Iriltes wiiicli I represent. I promise to keejt this coxfiiant as lon;^' as 1 liv«'." Ilaviii;:' now fidlilled liis promise, lie retired tVoin the scene of his liiimiliatioii with a sad heart, r.efore his tierce .ulaiu'n tlie\aii which liides the present from the fiitiire was withdrawn, and he saw his people, (h'cei\('d Ity iiilriidiii.u' st!aii,i:t'rs, drixcii from the iionie of their ancestors and lleeiiii^ westward to perish on the desert with liiiiijicr. After tlie Irealy lie returned to the west, iiiid for three years buried his disappointment in the seclusion of its dark forests, ])ro\ii;il»l<' dcl.-r- IllilMMl tttcflrct liis lU'stnirtioii. He :i|>pi'Oiii-lM'(l ;i \ ii^^iilMiiid liidiilll of t lir Kiislviiskiii Iriitc, ;iiid Itiilicd him witli ii biiircl ol' wliislxcN to <'\ci-nt«' ids iniirdt roils iiitciit, Tlic :iss;issiii ;i]»|»ro;icli('d tlic w Is, and ill II liivoiiiliic iiioiiicnt glided up Ix-liiiid tlit- <-lii*-t'iiiid inirird liis liiiiiiiliiiw ii ill Ills iirniii. Tlnis itiisclv tiTiiiiiuitcd tlic ciiirrci of tlic WMi'i'ior, wliosc i^rciit iiiitiii'Ml fiidowiiiciits iinidi' liiiii llin roud mausoleum is the j^reat city which ha.s siiicc^ risen above liis unknown ^rave, and his lend re(|iiieni the H tif Ihiif (hen hi/ llic (tiirhcv Hill — Land (i rants by Jhitisli CoiiiiikiikIiihIx — Ciirioux linlidu Ihnls — i'lmdUvn of the tS( lilt UK ulx ill ITiKi, 1)1/ Cii/iliiiii rHiiiiiii — liiHilii's and M_v tlie lla;^ of (ireat JWilaiii. At (lie time tlie colonies of the Atlantic seaboard wero assriiililed in iireliniinarv eon;iress at New York, dreaniiii;; ol' liit- t'rt,\ and independence for the continent, while the ;;i»'at \alley east of the .^iississip|»i, with its Itroad ri\ers rnshinj;' from tiie inountainsand yallierin;; in the plain, its vast piairies unsnrpassed lor their wcaltli of soil, its lioimdless primeval forests with their deep s(»litinles, into which were presently to he snmnioned Iho ea^cr millions of many ton;;ne.s to Iniild their hapi)y homes, passi-d iinallv from the dominion of France nnder the yoke of (lieat IJrilain.* I'.esides Wein^ (•oiislriui i\ cly a jiarl of I'lorida for o\cr 100 years, dnrinj;' which tinw no Si»aniar«l set foot npon hi'r soil or rested his eve npon lier Itcanflid plains, Illinois, for iiearlv !l() years, had been in the actnal occnpation of the French, their jmny .settlements slnndieiin;;' (piietly in colonial di'iiendi nee on the far- off waters of the KasUasUia, Illinois and Waliash. Lut the An;;lo- Saxoii had gained at last a peiinanent foot holil on the i)aiiks of the ureal rixci', and a new life, insliiiet with ener;;y and }>ro};ress, Avas altoiil to be infnsed into theconntry. M. 2seyon dc N'illiers, loiij;' the commandant of Fort C'hartres, kept from the P'rcncii, and i»articiilarl\ the Indians, so loii^i' as he, could, a kiiowledjic of the cession of ihe country to (Ireat Itriiaiii l>y the treaty of I'ai'is, and linally, w hen it lia»l {gained imblicity and when the power and intlneiice of the j^reat Indian conspirator Avas broken, lather than dwell under the detested llaj;' of tliecoii- (pieror, he abandoned Illinois in the siiinmer of 17(il, followed by many of the inhabitants, to ]S'ew' Orleans. The command of the fort and country tlien devolved upon 'S\. St. An^ic de IJellerive, ii veleran Canadian ollicerof rareta<"t and laijic <'.\perience, who, 40 years prior, had escorted Charlevoix tliroiij;li the Wesr, the .lesuit traxelermentioninj^liim with commendation. 11 is position recpiired •Bancroft 162 llllITISII OCCITATION. 1(13 skill Mini iiildit'SM to siivr liis fcclih- colniiv I'loiii a rciifWtil war witli llif I'liirlisli, aiMJ I'liHii a ;;i'litiiil laassanr iiv llir iiicfiix-d lionirs ol' ,sa\a;;<-.s iiiidri' I'oiiliai- siiriiMiiMliii<^ liiiii. I>,\ llir linriic, ^'ovi-niiiifiit Ih' liaa\a,L;es w itli fair speeches and oi-ca- siiiiial present s. w Idle he anxiously awaited the com in;; of the I Jiitish garrison to lake |iossessioii and rcliev e iiiiii of ids dilciiiiia.* Alter the evaeiialioii of i'orl ( 'hail res, lie also retired rrmn the country, cy a secret ireaty, ralilied No\einiter .'!, 17. .■\lississippi to its I'cinolcst trilmtaries. incliidinu New ( )rleaiis ; l»iir, the ci\il Jiirisdictioii of Sjiaiii was not enforced in Ipper Louis- iana until I7lil).f i'rior to liis departure, with a fatherly care and ltelie\<)lent intent, , St. Ali.i;(' ilisl il iited for those he left lieliilid ill Illinois sdiiie wise and saliitory rcuiilalioiis re;;ardiii.i;- titles to their laiids.| 'I'lie exodus of the old Canadian I'rench was laruejiist pri(U' and durin.ythe Uiilish occiiiiatioii. riiwillinu' to dwell under the tla,i;' «>!' their hereditary enemy, iiiany. ineliidiii;;' some of the wcaltli- iesl families, removed witli their sknesand other pers(>. I'.y the lieyira, one-third of the wliites and a ;;i('atei- pro])orlion of the lilacks reiiio\cd. lea\ in,;;' judhalily less than L',(I(HI souls at the coiiimeiice- ineiit of the llritish occiipatii i,ilurin.i:' which the inlliix did not more than keep ]>a<'e with th . Itliix. I'ew iMi^lish or Americans even visited tlie country under the Uiilish rule, and less settlciL Scarcely an .\ii,yIo-Saxoii (oilier than tin- Lrilish troojis. traders, oIliciM's and favored land spci-ulators) was seen theic diirinj^ tliis time, and until the compiest of Clark in 177S. Captain Sterling;', of the ll'd Itoyal lli,i;lilaiiders, lti(tu;L;ht out Avitli him, and in takin;;' jais.session of iMU't Cliartres. piildislied till' follow in;;' i)roclamatiou : " IJy Mis TCxccllcncy, TIkhdiis G;i,ffi', ]\[;ijiir-Gciicr:il of the ICiiii;',- arinirs, Colonel of till' '2'li\ rciiimciit, Gciici'mI coiniuiindiii;: in cliiff all the t'orcrs of His ^lajcsty in Noilli Auu ricn, ilc, tic: *.Soolii8 lettor to Governor T)'Al)bn(lic, Sept. 9th. +Mont'ttc's Vnllo.v of the Mississippi. tPeck's Annuls of the West. 104 IIISTOllV OF irjJNOIS. "Wlnrc'is, liy I he )i('!i('cf()ii('l 11(1 I'll Ml I '.'iris, nil I iir Hull 111' Filini;n'\ , 17(i:i, llir mil 111 ry nf Ilir Iliiimis IimsIhtii fnlnl In Ili'^ HritMiiiiic ^lajist y, ;ui(l tlir liiUiii!: ])i>--sis>i(iii of I III' Miiil country III' llir Iliiimis by I riinps nf His Miiji'Sty, tli(Mn:ii ticliiyiil, Ikis liccii ili'li'i'miiii'd upini, wi' liii\c roiiiul il trnod In inaUi' kiidwu to till' iiilialiilaiils — • "'{"iinl IFis M.'ijrsl V i;r;uits lo llir inliabitaiits of llic Tlliiuiis tlir lilii'rty of t lie C'allii'lic rcli.Lrioii, MS il lias iilri'Mily lircii unuitcd to liis siilijccts in CiuhkIii ; Ik; lias conscciiiciilly irivcn Ilic most precise and clt'ecfive orders, to tlic end that liis new Koniaii Catliolic siilijects of the Illinois iiiay exercise the worship of their relisrion according to the rigli's of the Uoiiian {.!inirch, in the same manner as ill Canada ; " That Hit; .Majesty, inonovcr, agrees that the French inlialiitanls, or others, •who have hecii siilijecis of the .Slost {'hrisiiaii Kiiiir, may retire in full safely (111(1 freedom, wlieicverthey please, even to New Orleans, or any oilier pari of Louisiana, alliKumh il should liapjieii that the Spaniards take jiossession of it in the naiiii of His Calholic Majesly ; and they may selltlieir C'state, jirovided it belo suhji'cNor ili> .Maie>ty, a:id Iranspoil their elfects, as well as [lersoiis, •wilhoiii resii-aini upon their emigration, under any pretense whatever, except ill coiisc(|iieiice of delits or of criiniiial ])rocess; ''Thai those who choose to retain their lands and become siihjects of His !Ma.jesly, shall enjoy the same riulils and privikues, the same security for their lieiMiiis and ell'eets and liheity of trade, as the okl sliliji els of the Kinii'; "Tliat ihey are ci'liimMlideii, liy these jiresents, to lake the oath of lidelity and iiliedience In His .Majesly, in presence ot Sieiir SleiTnii;', Captain of Iho llii;lilaiid reiiiineiit, the hearer hereof, and furnished with our full powers for this iiurpnse ; '■ Tnat we recomnnnd forcibly to the inhabitants, to conduct tlicmselvesliko gonii and failhful subjects, avoidin,u' by a ■wise aiiil iinuleiit demeanor all causu of cnliiplaint ai;aiiist them ; "TliMt they aci in concerl with His ^lajesty's ofKcers, so that his trooiis may take peacciible possession of all the pnsis, and" oriler be kept in the couniry ; by this means aliHie they will spare His .Majesty the necessity of recurring to lnrc:c of arms, and will timl theinselves saved from the scourge of a blooely war, anil of all the evils which tin; march of an ariiiv into their country would dra\7 after if." " \Ve direct that these presents be read, publislied, and posted up lu the Usual places. " Hone and given at Headquarters, New York. Signed willi our hand, sealed wilh our seal at arms, and countersigned by our t'ccrctary, this iJOth of JJe- cember, lT(i4. "Thomas Gage, [L. S.] " Jiu IIU E.,-rf//en,y: " G. Matuuin." With siicli fair iiiid liberal coiicc.s.sioti.s, so wollcalciilatod to jjaiu tlu' favor and alVcctioii of the French, iiiid istay their <'ini}iration, ('ii])t;iin Sterliiiji bejiaii the goveriiiiieiit of this isolated colony. IJiit it was destine'' to be of short dnration. lie died some three months after his arrival, leaviiifi' tlie otiiec of conunandant vacant. T'lider these cireiinistitnces their ibiiner beloved conunandant, JM. St. Anjio, returned to Fort tJhiirUes and di.seharjied the duties of the ottice until a successor U> Oiiptidn Sterlinji' sliould be sent out. ]\IaJor Fr;i :cr Avas next sent out from Fort IMtt. lie exercised a bri(f but arbitrary power over the settlements, when he Mas re- lieved by il Colonel Keed, who lU'oved for the colonists a bad cxchanji'e. For IS months he enac^ted the petty tyrant by a series of military opjiressions over theses ferbh' settlements, which were, by reason of theii' isolation, entirely without redress. Me was, how- ever, at liist renK)ved and succeeded by Li(Mitenant Colonel Wil- kins, who arrived Sejttember a, 17G.S. lie brou};ht orders for the establishment of ii court of justice in Illinois for the iidministra- tion of the laws and the adjustment and trial of all controversies nUITlSH OCCUPATION. i(;5 existiiifj" lu'twccii t lie people relatiiijn" to debts or property, eiHiev rciil or ])ersoiiiil. On tlir I'lst of Noveiiiliei'. 17»iS. Col. Wilkins issued liis i)roelii- iiiatioii lor :i civil adiiiiiiistriitioii of tlie laws of tlie eoiiiitr.v. l''or this jairpose lie ap])oiiite(l seven iiiaiiist rates oi- jiKl.u'es, Irom aiiion.i;' lla' ])eoi»le, as a civil trii»Miial. to liold iiioiitidv terms ot coiii'f. The names ot' Ihe.ve first exponents of the ])rinci])les of th(i common law of J'ai,:;lan(l iij)ou the soil of Illinois, we ai'c unable to transmit. A term of this court was held, eommeuciuf;- DecendxT (I, ITfJS, ;it I''ort ('lia)ti'<'s. which was the liist common law juris- diction eser exercised witiiin tlie present limits of Illinois. Al- tlionyh v/e <'all this a common law court, it was in ])oint of fact a \<'i\ nondesc)i|>r affair, ll was a conrt of lii'st and last resort — no appeal lay fiom it. It was the hij^hest, as well as lowest — the tiidy court in tli<' couutry. it pi-oved anv thiny but ]»opnlar, and it is Just ])ossi)iIe that the honorable judjics, tlu'iuselves taken fi'om amonj;' lh<' jH'ople, may not have been the most enlii;litened <'Xponents of the law. 'i'li<' people were under th"' laws of IOn;;Iand, Itnt the trial by jiu-y — that ^^reat Indwark of the subject's ri^ht, coe\al with the coitimon law ami i'eit<'i'ated in the Uritish C'oiisti- luti<»n — ilie l'"n'nch mind was unable to ap]>reciate. i>articu- laily in ci\il Dials. 'l'lie.\ thon.i;iil it very inconsistent that the J'aiirlish should I'cfer ince (jnestions relatniju^ to the lights of ])rojierty to a ti'ibunal consisting' of tailors, slioemakei's or other artisans jind tradesjM'ople, foi' deternriiiation, rather than the judiii's leariu'd in the law. U'jiile thus nndei' tlie lOn^lish admin- istiation <*i\il juiis)n'iid<'nce was soiiulit to be broiiuiit nearer to the jieoplc, \\hei"e it should be, it failed, Iteeause. owiny to the teachings and j>e]lia])s neiiiiisof the l-'jcnch mind, it <'ould not be niarle of the jicople. Foi' near Hit years had these settlements been ruu'd by the dicta ami decisions of tlie<»cratic and military tribu- nals, absolute in both civil and criminal cases, biit. as may well be ima.u'ined, in a post so I'emote. where there was neithci' wealth, culture nor fashion, all inc<'Utives tooi>j)ress the colony reniain 'd ilormant, and the extraoidinary powers (d" the jtiiests anatriai'<'hal si>iril which yained the ]o\e and implicit conlidi'iice of the ])eo))le. JJelievin^' that their I'ulers were ever ri^lit. t hey ;nave tlu-mselves no tr(»uble or j)ains to review their acts. Indeed, many y4'ais later, when Illinois had passed under tin' Jurisdiction of the I'liited States, the ]>eri)lexed inliabitiinis, uiniltle to comprehend tli<- to them complicate'' ma- chinery of repnltlicanisin, beiii,fed to be delivered from the .., .'< r- abl(> bnrdeii of self .yovei'iiment and a,i;ain subjected to the will of a militiiry commandant. in 1771 the I'ai.ylisii I's'.iliament restoicd to the pco]»le their ancient lav.s in civil caseti, without the trial by jiir,\ ; guaranteed the free ext'icise of tlu'ir I'eliiiioii, and relialtilitated the IJomau Catholic clei-;^y with the pri\ ilexes stii>nlatepi. in<'ludin,uall the i''rencli inhabitants at J)etroil. IMackii.aw. on the Wabash, and in the Illinois country. Its object was to lirndy attach these I'enmte l''rencii coloides, sis well as all Canada, to the I'ai^ilish uoveriiment. and to thwart the risiny (»]tposition of tiie colonies on tiu' Atlantic !*eaboa,rd to its 'i:l: im IIISTOI'tY OF Il.IJX(Hg policy. 'I'lic hitlfi' stKiiiiily ia,i;,ilioii. Tiit' colonists were t iicii oju'idv ana,\ cd a,uainst the arbitiaiy acts oltlit' iioiiie jiovcrimiciit. At a coii\cii- tioii lii'ld at Faiiiioiitli. .Mass.. Si'ptciidx'i' L*l', ITTt, il was icsoixcd tliat ''As the vciv cxtiaoi'iliiiaiy and alaiuiiii.u act foi- cstalijisldii^" tlic Ifoiiiaii ("atlatlic rt'ii.uioii and l'"rciicli laws in Canada may introduce tlic I'lcncii or Indians into our IVonlicv towns, wc rtconi- incnd tliat c\civ town and individual in tliis c(»iinli'\ siioidd Im- ]iro\ idcd witli a proper stock ol' iailiiar\ stores." (•!<•. Tlie I'l-endi <"olonists, apprised of the l)itt('r opjxssii ion of the l-ai.Lilish colonists to the (i>Hel»ec bill, and lielievin;^' that IMiritanisni was incliiud to d.]irive them of the reiii^ioiis privileges uranted l»v it. were Itonnd the closer to the support of the ,uo\(rnmcnt during llie tiist \cwrs of the revohitionarv war. It is asserted that the l'"reneh supplied Indian war ]»arties with arms and ammunition to commit depre- dations upon the \.'estern fi'ontiers of the lai^lisli setllemenls.* After the actpiisilion of New Fiance liy (ireat !!ritain, the kin.u, l»y his proclamation of October 7th, ITfi.'i, forbade his subjects 'Muakin,u' an\ pur<-hases or settleuu'nts whatever, «tr taking' pos- session of au\ of the lands beyoml the sources of any of the liveis Avhieh fall into the Atlantic ocean iVom the west or northwest."' The policy was to reser\(' this vast and fertile rej:ion as a luintin*'" ground for the Indians, and by means of the lakes {»la<'e witliiu ]5ritisli ♦■ontrol their enornntus lurand jteltry trade; toconJinetlie English colonies to the s<'a.l>oar- ]»iu^', which woidd be more promotive of trade and connneree, V liiie the j;rantin,y of lari^c bodiesof land in the lemote interioi', it. Avas appreheiuled, woidd tend to separate and render independent the i»eople, who would want to set up for themselves.! Notwithslandin.u' this |M>licy (»f the iiome govern men i. the nmst noticeable fcatniv of ( "olouel W'illvins' ailministratioii was the w(Ui- (U-rful liberality with whicii he parceled out the licii domain o\cr M'hich he ruled in lai'jictr cts to his favorites in Illinois. I'hiiadel- ])hia and elsewhere, without (fther consideration than the re(|inrinj;' of them t(» re-c(Uivey to him an interest. Indei' the ]U'oclanniti(in of the kiuji, dated October 7, 17(>.>, t he taking' or juir- chasiiiiiof lauds fr(un the hulians in any of the American colonies "was strictly forbidden, without special leave or license beiui; liisfc obtained. In \iew of this prohibition. Colonel Wilkinsaud s(uni; others of the c a inlanders tlurinu the Ibitish occupation of Illinois, J'roni I7(!.") lo 177.">, seem to ha\(' considered the i»ro|»erfy of llu? J'rench absentees as actually forfeited, and j:ranted il away. Hut this transaetitm ne\er re<'eivcd the saucli^m ol' tliekinu; ly no oflicial a(;t was this properly in any manner annexed to the Jii'it- isli crown.* Tiiie, under the laws of I'ai^laml. an alien eou'd n(tt liold h'.iid, yet to divest his title, and cause it to Iweoiiie escnealed, a process in the nature of an impusition was necessary. Did not the same rule apply in the case of a con(|iU'red country before the tbrfeiture of the lands of an absentee became complete .' Colonel W'ilkins' grants amounted to many th(»usauds of acres. O.U! l)e(!aine afterwurdts somewhat notorious. Thks was made to 'Dillon's Ind. ',KI, tSee letter ol' the Uoyal Governor of Georfiia to the British Lords of Trade, ITtJB. BllITISlI OCCUPATION. k; Joliii r>ii\ iildii, Sjiiiiiicl AVIiiiiloii ;iii(l (Icdi-.m- Moi'.uMii, iii('icli;iiit.s of I'liiladcliihia — wlio, "tra(liii.i; in lliis coiiiitrv, liavc uicallv coii- triltiitcd t<» his iiiajcst.v'.s service" — •' tor raii!i;<' oTeatlie ami lor tiliiii;^' tiTiW"/' '^iii'l to t'oiitaiii J.'J/.ISi; aeres, Imt tlie metea and bounds diseioseW it to cover sonu' .">((.(MIO acres.* It was a nia;;- ]iiliceiil domain, Ivinj^' between lln' \ iilaufs of I\askasl. \ <'omlitio]i is annexed that •'■Tlie lorc.iioiny- i)e \oi(l if disai>|)ro\('d of by his Miajesty or the <'ommander-in chief." On tlieL!.")th of .Inne following, at Kort ( 'hart res, (ieor,ii'e ."\Iori;aii and .1. b'amsey execnted an instrnment of writini;', recitiii!.;- a nnnd»er of grants besides tlie fore,u(>injv. together with the nanu's of t he ^raidces. wherein in considei'at ion of ( "olonel -lohii \\ ilkins, ''the better to |)r(Unote the said servic*', has a,uiced tobe interoted one sixth part therein,"' they ••en.tia.u'c that each of the beloic men- tioned j)ersons shall assign oxer to the whole, and to Colonel "Wilkins. live-sixth parts theicof." etc. I'or tlie better cairyiii,^' out of their ])]aiis, the Jb'itish ollicei's. and their grantees p.rhaps, C'oinniitted a wanton oiitrayc on the records of the ancient l'"reiicli jji'aiits at Ivask'.!ski;i. destroyinj;' to a ,^reat extent their reuidar chain of title and comcyaiices.t l!y act of conj;ress of ITSS, the (b»veriior of the Northwestern tei'i'itory was jiiitlitu'ized to conlirm tlin jiossessions and titles of the ]''rencli and ranadian inhabitants and other settlers on the jniblii; lamls, who, on or betbre ' 7SS, had professed tin'iiiseh cs <.'iti/(?iis of tlie I'liited Slates, oi' any one of them, (bixcrnor St. Clair conliiined many of these ,mants in a xcry loose nianner, .soinetiines by the bundle. l!nt this Uritish _i;raiit of .">(>,tMt(l acres, uhicli had been assiyiied to .lohii Mdpir. uas i»ateiited by the (Mivcrno)' to I'ldj^ar and liis (the (bivernoi's) son. ,lolin Miiri'ay St. Claii', to whom ICd^ar. jirevioiis to the coiilirmation. had convey»'d :i moiety by deed. ^Iiich fault was Ibnnd with this and many other transactions, and .some ,;;'ra\»" charges were made by .Michael ,ioiu;.s sind K. JJackns, TJ. S. land eoinmis.'jioners for the district of Kas- kaskia, as to the nianner of obtainiii;;' confirmation of innnmerable old land .lirants. IJiit the title to the cl;iiiii in ipicstion was after- ward contirmed by tlu^ V. 8. (Joveiiimeiit to Ivliiar and St. (.'lair, notwithstandini:: the advers(^ report of the commissioners. Miliar was for iiiany yeai's the larii'cst land holder and richest man in Illinois. He had deseited the Uritish naval .service, and in I7S4 came to IvaskasUa with a stock of ,yoods. At an Indian conncil held at Kaskaskia. in 177.'5, an as.soeiatiou of I'aiiilish traders and merchants, stylin.i;' tin nisehcs '"Illinois liaiid Company,'" obtained, .Inly .">tli, from ten chiefs and head nu-ii of the Kaskaskias, Caliokias, and Peorias, by a curiously sij;i!ed deed, two ininiense tracts of land, the tir.st ♦Aiiiericim Stiite rapers, vol. 11, rublio Liiiiils. +Ain. Htnte piipers. 108 lUSTOUV OF ILLINOIS. ■I ' II 'I '" ! h\\ " nri;iiiniiii;' at Ihcmouili of ilic IIui'dii creek, ("illcil liy tlie French tlie river of M:iiv, lieinii' alidUt ii ltoss j;itn worms, 2 j>i'oss awls, 1 <>'ross lire steels, 1(i doz. (»f iiarteriii^', ld,dddlbs. of tloiir, ."tdd bits, of Indian corn, 12 hor.ses, lli horned cattle, I'd bits. (»f salt, I'd jitnis, aiid 5 shillin;:;s in money. This deed was ihily sij;iied by the liuliau chiefs and attested by the names often [ter.sons, and was recorded in the oflice of a notary imblie at KaskasUia, Se[ilember I'd, 1773. The traiisiiction was effeoted for the Illinois Land ("omimiiy by a, member immed William Murray, then a trader in the Illinois country. There beloiijicd to it two tnembers in London, ten in IMiilailelphia, tw(» in Liineaster, tliree in various counties of i'enn- sylvania, one in I'ittsbiii;.;, and (ieorjic (!asil('r and .lames L'liinsey, inerchaids of the Illinois conidry. The names indicate the members to have been mostl,\ .Jews. In 177."», lionis Niviat,;'. inerchaid of the Illinois eonnlry, aetinji- as the a^cnt of an association deiuiminided the Wabash Liiml Conii>any,* obtained by a iU'vil dated October I8th, from eleven I'iannkeshaw chiefs, immen.se trticts of land lyin<>tm botli sides of *Wo reuuKuii^u lu this eoinpauy sume ol the wtme uaniuB u.s iu the IlUnoia Cuaipuuy. mUTISII OCOri'ATKW. 109 tlic ()iiiil)ii('li liver, one (•oiiinu'iiciii;;- :tt Cat river ~)'J leajiiies above A'iiK'eiiiies, to i'oiiit Coiijiee, witii 10 lea,mie.s in widtii on tlie east side and .'!() leaj^iies (ilO miles) on the west side — liliuisis. Another traet, also on liotli sides of tin- ri\<'r, l)e_i;innin;.; at tiie nioiitii of AVhite ri\cr, to the Oiiio, od iea;^nes, iind exlendinj; K» lea^^nes into Indiana and .'10 into Illinois. 'I'lie iiiinilier of acres contained in these grants was ahont .'>7,l!>7,h Land Conii)anies." Tlironnh their aj^eiits they now ai»i>liod to conuress reiteate1, 171>7, 1S(H and bSKI; bnt that iiody Mas lirm, and ail their api)lications were rejei^ted. AVe here juive some valuable extracts from an old Kn<;lisli report of lOS ]>aj^'es, entitled, '•The present state of the lOnropean Setlle- menls <»n the Mississipi)i," by Captain Phillip I'itman, published at London in 1770. Captain I*itnian was en.uineer in the Hritish army and was seid ont to make a survey of the foi'ts and icport the condition of the \illa,n'es and impi'ovements in these newly actiuired territoiies of the Jiritish crown. This work is a docu- ment of I'are vabie, (illini;' n]), as it does in a nicasuic, a hiatns in Illinois history for which there are no <»tlier anthentic sonrces of inlbrmation. lie visited illinois in 17()(i. Of Kaskaskia, he, gives the tbUowinj;' description : '' Tlie vill:ij;r of Noire Dainc dc Casrasqiiias is by f;ir tliu most considirnlile st'tllciuciit ill llic country of ilic Illinois, as well from its number of iiilialii- tauts MS from its a(lvaiiiM!4-(-ous sitUMtion. ***** " Moiis. I'asjcl was the first who introduci'd water mills in this fotintry. and lie constnicted a Very line one on the ri\'er Caseasquias, whieli was lioili for jiriiidiiii;- corn and sawiiii? lioanls. It lies about one mile from the village. The mill proved fata) to him, beinu; liilled as Iw. was workiiifr it, with two negroes, by a party nf the ("heroUees, in the year 1704. "The priiieijial liuiMings are the church and Jisiiits' House, -wliieh has ii small cliajiel adjoining it ; these, as well as some other houses in the village, are linilt of .stone, and, eonsidering this pari of I lit! world, make a very goocl ai)|)earaiice. T\\i: Jesuits' plantation consisted of '2-ii) arpents (an arpenl is b5H)0 of an acre) of cnltiv.'ted laml, a very good stock of cattle, and atirewery; \\ hieh was sold by tlieFre eli eommandant, after the country was cedeil to the English, for the crown, in eonseciuence of the suppression of the oriler. " .Mons. Heauvais wasllif [nireliasir, who is the richest of the English sub- jects in this eountry ; he keeps 80 slaves; he I'liniishes S(),()(K) weight of Hour to the Iving'.s magazine, which was only part of the harvest he reaped in oiieycar. Sixty-live families reside in this village, beside mendiants, other casual jieople, and slaves. The fort, which was burnt down in October, 17(10, stood on the summit of it high rock opposite the village and on the opposite side. of the river. It wasaii oblong (piadraiigle, of which the extreme polygon measured S'.H) by 251 feet. Ii wa- built of vir thick .-(piare timber, and dove-iailed at the angles. An olHeer and twenty soldiers are quartered in the village. The ollieer governs the i iilialiit;nits, iindei' tin.' dirietion of the ConmuuKlaiit Ut Fori Clmrlres. Here are albo two companies of mililia." 170 IIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. rraiiie (111 liocluT — " La Prairie des lioclics" — is desmlu'd a.s beiiijL^' "Aldiiit 17|14|inilrs finiii (';is(iis(|iiiiis. Il is 11 sinnll villiiirc. coitsistiii!;' (if 2'2 ilwclliiin' liiiiiscs, III! ufwliicli ;irc iiiluiliitcil hy ms in;in_v I'aiiiilics. llirr is ii lill'h- cliai)!'], Inrmci'iy ii ciiiipcl iil' cnsc to liu,' ciuircli ;il Fori Ciiarli'cs. TIk' iiiliMliit.iiits iirc viiy iii(liisirii)Us, aiul raise u^iicat dtal nf roni and cvciy iut little use." JkCjiiii'diiiy the soil, pnKlii('t.s and couimerce, of the colony, I'itt- iiiiiii .siiys: " The soil of this country, in general, is very rich and luxuriant ; it jiroduces all kinds of European grain.s, hops, hemp, tlax, cotton and tobacco, anil European fruits come to great perfection. The inhabitants make wine of the wild granes, whi'h is very inebriating, and is, in color and taste, very like the red W!U' of Provence. In the late wars. New Orleans and the lower jiarts of Louisiana were sup- plied with Hour, beet, wines, lianis and other |)rovisions, from this country. At imseiit its conunerce is mostly conlincd to the jieltrj' and furs, which are got in trallie from the Indians; for wliicli are received in ict urn such European conmiodities as are necessary to carry on thiit commerce and the support of its inhabitants." " . Of till' Indians, ho say.s: "The principal Intlian nations in this country are, the Cascasiiuias, Kaho- quias, Mitchiganiias, and I'eoyas; these four trilies are generally called the Illinois Indians. Exeejit in the hunting se.isons, they resiile near the English seltlemen's in this co\intry. They are a poor, debauched, and detc.-table ])e(tple. They count al)i»ut ',\')i) warriors. Tlie Paiuiuichas. Mascoutins, Mi- amies, Kickapous, and Pyutonoiis, though iu)t very numerous, are a braveand warlike people." Of old Fort Chartre.s, the stronj^cst fortress in liie Mississippi valley, Avhich was re-biult by the French liovernnient in 1750, F marisii occrPAiioN. 171 duriitj; tlic French :iii(l l'iii,ii: " Fort Cliartrcs, wlicii it bcloiitrccl to Friiiicc, was tlic sent of tlic uiivcriiiuoiit of the IlliiioiH. Till' li(ii(l(iuiiricis of tlu; Kiijilisli comiiiiindiim' oili<'< r is now 111 re, \\ lin, ill tact, i-i tii(! iirbitrary jrovcnior of the comitry. Tiic tort is mi irrciriiliir (|U;ulriiii!fl(' ; llic sides of tlic cxlfiior polyiion iii'i' -I'.tD l'iiard-lh)use ; they are each thirty yards lon^- and ei.ii'ht broad. 'I'he former consis'a of two lariic store-rooms, (under which is a la 'ije vaulted cellar,) a lai'iic room, a bed- cdiamber, and a closet for the store-keeiier ; tlu; latter of a soldiers' antl ollicers' guard-room, a <'hai)el, a be(lcliamb(U', a closet for the chaplain, and an artillery sl(.i'e-ro()m. The lines of barracks liave never been finishid ; they at ])res(,'nt consist of two rooms each for ollicers, and three for soldiers; they are each twenty feet sipiar<', and have betwi.xt a small passai^e. Tliere are line spa'jiou.s 1( ft?; over each building which reach from end to eiul ; these are made use of to lodire rcirimenlal stores, w(ukiiiir and entrenching;' tools. iV'c. It is irenerally Ix'lieveil thai t his is the most con venieiit and liest lunlt fort in North Ainerioa. * * * In the year 1704, thrrc Were about forty families in the villaue near the fort, and a parish church, seived by a Franciscan friar, dedicated to .St. Aiim; In the foUowiu.ir year, when the Fni,disli took possession of the coun- try, they abandoned their houses, except three or four fimilies, .and settled in the villaLres ( n the west sitle of the ^Slississipjii, choosiuii to continue under tlio French trovernment.'' Ill ITol), wlii'ii tlu' tort wii.s ri'htiilt, tlie intcrxcniiiy (lisiiiiice to tlic bank of tlic Mississippi was .some !KH> yards. A .sand bar was t'oriiiiiin' op|)ositc. to which the ri\cr was fordablc. At tin; time of Captain Pitman's visit, the current had cut the bank away to Mithin SO yards of the lort, the sand bar had become an island coxered with a thick yrowtli of cott(»iiwoo(is, and the iiiterveiiiii,i;' (diaiiiiei was K» feel deep. The i; real rrcsht t of 1771*. which iiiiiii- tiieir (piarti'i's at i"'ort (ia.i;(', on the bliilt of liio Ka^ka.skia, opposite the ancient villajic of that name, to which th« seat ol .i^ovcriiment was removed. Since then the ^reat citaiU'l of !New I'^rance has been a ruin. Those of its walls winch escajted •lestriictioii by Ihe Hood, were in urcat part iiatiled away by the iiei«ihl>oriii,n' villaji'ers for btiiiditij;' pnrpo.ses. In ISijO the ruins were visited by Dr. Lewis ('^>e(dc and .Mr. Hanson of Illinois, who made an acciirat<' drawing' of the plan for the Illinois and .Missouri (lazetter. Many of the rooms, cellars, parts of the. Avails, showing the opening' for tlielarj;*' jiate, jiort-holcs, v\:c., were still found in a tolerable siatt' of preseivatioii. The exterior lino of the walls measured U47 feet. By l.S,>0, a (len.se forest siir- 172 IIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. l-<)iiii(lt>(l iiiid (•((vcicd tlio niiii.s, iiinl trcos, ."J IV'ct in (liaiuch'r, liiid grownup williiii llic ciiiiiililiiii;' \\;ills.* I''<)rl (iii.uc, wliicii ('(iiitiiiiu'd to he tlif li*':i(l<|ii:ii'U'rs of tlic iirit- isli wliilc tlicy occupied tlic couiitiT, was, in siiaiH', an ohloii;^ pai- allcloniaiii, L!.S(» h\ LTd feet, laiilt of lar;;t' ,s(|iiaird tiiidtcrs. In 1772 tlic liiitisli ;^airison consisted of oiM,\ l!(> soldiers and an ol'liccr. li» tlic villa};(' of KaskasUia were organized U small companies of Avell disciplined I'reiicli militia. When (leoiinc Ito.u'crs ( "larU. in ]77S, elfected the Itlooilless coin|iiest of Illinois, not a iliitish sol. diei'wason ;iarrisoii duty in the c<»iinti',\. M. |{ocliei)lave,a l""i('iicli- maii, was in command asthc iSiilish ;;-ovenior. lie occupied l''ort (iai^t'c, and ill KaskasUia the {''rciicli militia was kept in^ood order. A\'e lind no cliroiiicle of how loii;;' Colonel Wilkins remained ill ('omiiiand, or w hen the last remnant of the ISrilish ;;'ai'rison took iii> its !iiUM>f departure. It isiii,i;hl,v prohalilc that these withdrawal.s ■were made with the break in;; (»iit of the war <»!' the rcNoiulioii. The illinois I'' rench were remote from the main theatre of liio l'e\()liiti()nary war; and while they had periiaps little sympathy ■with the ohject for which the colonies s|riij;;iled, their hatred of their liei'e(MI warriors, I'cd, white and mixed, and marclu'd thence to St. -losepli. On the way, through the broad i)raries on foot under the lays of the summer's sun, AI. Aiiilin, one of his men, cxhaiiftcd with fati;.;iie, j^ave out. CeieritN and secrecy bciiiji' t'sscnliai to success, and iiiiwillinL; to be enriimlicred with the sick, the soldier fell a sacrilice to the t(tma- liawk. Slink in ids brain l»,^the brutal commander. Arriving;- at the post, the fort was siirronnded, and, alivr an obstinate eiiuajie- nieiit, rliejuarrison surrendered and was permit tetl toretireto< "ana da. The pi-isoners of IJrady's party were released, and the stores of iiicrcliandise, said to have ainonnted to !:5.")(>,0(H), were bronj^ht away to Peoriai.t *lluyuours I'loueer History. +yce Peek's Aiimils of the West. ('iiArii:K XVI. 177S— (J()X(KTEST ()!• illinois. 15v (;k()k(if. iiochijs claim;. i While tlic ('(tloiiists of tlu'cjist wcic iiiaiiitaliiiiijiii licico stnijxulo ^vitll tlic iiniiics ul' ICii>4liiii(l. tlicii- wcstcin IVonticrs wcu' i';i\;il;c(1 l),v iiicrcJlcss Imtclicrics ul' liidiiiii wiul'iirc. Tiic Jealousy of ilie. SiivajH*' had been aroused to action by tlu' rapid extension of Ann-rican settlements westward and the iniprojx'i' iiillneiiee exerted by a nninl>er of military posts ;.;ariisone(l by llritish troops iit diiferent jKirts of the west. To prevent indiscriminate slan;;liters arisin,u' from these eanses Illinois became the theatre of some «if tho most . IT.")!.*, and like his yreat eotemixti'ary of the iJevoliition in his youth studied and i)raeticed the art ol siirveyin;;' lainl. The manly exercise con- iie<;ted with the original surveys of the (MHintry seemed to create a l)artiality for the adventurous exposure of military life. Little is known in rej^ard to Clark's early history. It is said he became a protielent in j^eoyraphy ami devoted <'onsiderable time to the study ofiiiathematics, lad owinj;' to the iin])erfeet condition of the schools and the exeitinj;' times of hisycaith, the presumi»tioii is that his education was eontiiu'd to the useful rather than ornamental branches of learninj;'. Shortly aftei' attaining' his majority he en- listed as a staff ollicer in (iovernor Duumore's war and with many other dariuji' spirits of the times was prest nt in the eampaijiu of 177 1 on tlu^ river Scioto. For meretorions conduct he wasolfered ii commission in the royal service which, o\viu;j to the unfriendly feel- in;^' then existinji' between tin; colonists and tlie mother eounti-y and unsatisfaetctry teiinination of the war, he declined. Dumuoro became ai»prehensive that the colonists would rebel, and it wa.s belicned by \Vashinj;ton and others that he was instructed to so treat with the Indians that he could use them as allies in ease of revolt. A spirit for adventure beinj; awakencul in the mind of younod\. and de>|iite tile elTorts of lieiideisoii and oilier Noilli Caro- lina land speculators, the dispiiled territ(ir\ was erected into the coiiiiiy of Kentucky, w liieli eniitraced the limits of the pi'.si nt Stale of the same name. In addition to this political rcc!iliit,(l such elfective means of defense that in all the lierce eoiitlicls with the sava.ii'es. which ,i;a\(' Kentucky the name of *•! Woody ( Iron lid," his \ alor was more l han eipial to 1 he emer.i;cncy, Inl imalcly acquainted with the pro.yri'.'s of colon i/.at ion west of tlie Alleiihanies, he was the lirst to fully coiii]trehen(l the advaii- ta.!i»'s which would arise from the extension of American coiupiesl to the Itaidis of the .Mississii>pi. While associatetl with the mili- tary operations in Kentucky, his sagacity eiialiled him to trace the Jiidian ra\aj;fs to the instijiutions of liritish emissaries at Jvas- kaskia, Vineenues. Detroit and other places in their possessii'>n. These remote jyosts furnished the Indians with clothinj;' and mili- tary stoi'cs. and Clark Itelieviuy that their capture was the only l)ossil)le way toaltate the evils caused hy their sava/n'e allies, sent twos]iies hy the name of Moore and Dunn, to learn the nature of their defences. They liavinj;' made observations returned and re- ]torted that their militia was well oi',i;anized and active: that tho ]uedatory excursions of the Indians were eiicoiira.ucd by the British authorities ami that not wit listandinjiTlritish agents had eiideaviu'cd by misrei»resentatioii to i»rejudice the minds of the I"'rencli inhab- itants aiiainst the colonists nianyof them were evidently in favor of their cause and interests. Clark, fnniisiied with this inforuia- tiou, a.yain started to Virj^inia to make kuow ii to the ^o\ eruineiit ])• ; idans respect iut deemed prudent to entrust tho lUJlTISII (K'Cl I'AI'Kt.N. 17.". (iiicctidii ot'it h> llii'l(';4:islatiir<'. liciii;;' iiitcrrnyatt'd liy .IclVi rsoii us to wliiil 1h' Wdiilil (Inr/c : "Yi'U tire to pri)( il willi nil (•(iiivci:iciit s])cc(l to riisc 7 cnmpiiHiisof soldiers, to coiisi*! of 50 men each, olHci'rcd in tlie usiml iiiinnier, :inil ;irmeil iiiosl |>rii|)- erly fnr ilie enliTprise ; 1111(1 witli lliis lorcM- iitliiek llie IJiilish force til Kiiskns- ki:i. Il is cuiije<'tiirril tlml- llicre Mi'c iiiaiiy piecesof ciiimoii,aii(l inililaiy sIoiih to a coiisiilerahle aniiiiiit at llial place, tiie lakiiiu; and preservai ion nl' whicli wonM 1)1' a valnahli' actpii-ition to ilic state. If yon are so foriiinale, iIki', fnic, as to succeed in yoin- expedition, you will tal\e every ])ossilile measure to secure the ai'lillery and stores, and whiite\'er may advaiiiauc the slate. For I lie transportation of the troops, provi>ioiis, etc., down the ( )liio, you are lo appl}' to the conunandini; ollicer at Fort, Pitt lor Ixiats, and duriim the whole lians- .aclicni you are to take espe(;ial carelokee]) the true destination of yonr fnrce Secret ; its success depends Upon this. Orders are, therel'ore, niven to ('aptaiii Smith to secure 1 he I wo men from Kaskaskia. U is earnestly desired that you show humanity to .such Miilish sulijects and other ])ersons as fall into ymir JianiN. Ifihe white inhalHtaiits of ih. it post and neiiilil)iirliood will i;ive llii- doiihtcd evidence of their allachmcnl to this slate, Inr it is ceriain lliey live within its limits, by lakiiii;' the test prescribed by law, and by every oilier way and uu'ans in their power, let them be Ireatetl as fellow-citi/.eiis, and their persons and pro[)eriy be duly respected. Assistance and pruteciioii auainst ail enemies, whatever, shall be all'orded Ihem, and the (•omiuonweallh of Virginia is pledged to accomidish it. Hut if these i)eoi)h.' will not accede to these rea.soii- able demands, they mitsl feel the consecpieiices of war, under that, dirnli.r.i of hum, inity that has hitlierlo distinguished Americans, and wliieli il is expected you will ever cmisider as the rule of your (.•onduct,and from which j'oii are in uo insiance to de[iart. 'I'hu corps y(ni are to couimand arc to receive the pay and allowanci; of uiililia, and to act under tin' laws and regukitions of this state now in force as to militia. The inhabitants of this i)ost will be informed by \ on that in cas(- they accede to the olfeis of l)ecoming' citizens of this couunou- Wealth, a proper garrison will be maintained among them, anil every alleiitioii bestowed to render tiieir couuuerce beiieticial ; the fairest pros[)e('ls being oi)eiied to the dominions of France and Si)aiu. ll is in contem|)lation to estalilisli a post ni'ar the mouth of the Ohio. Cannon will be wanted to fortity it. I'arl of those at Kaska.'^kia will be easily brought Ihillier, or otherwise secured as circumstances make necessary. You are to aijjily to tjeiieral Hand, at Pitts- burg, for powder and lead necessary for tnis expedition. If he launol supply it, tile person who has that which C'a|)tain Sims brought from iS'ew Orleans can. Lead was sent to llam[)shire, by my orders, ami that may be tlelivered to vou. NVisliing you success, 1 am vour humble sirvaiit, P. IIknky. " These in.striictioiis breatlie u <^eiiei'osity and hiiinanity in stiik- in;4 contrast with the .spirit of the J>ritisli ji-overninciit, wiiosc jiiiiiioiis were sntt'eriiij;' otir soldiers to perish l»y tiioiisands in jtrison-siiips lor the wjiiit of tood and otlciin,ii' boitnties to cncoiir- aji'e tiie merciless savag«'s to murder and scalp our lieli»less women ami children. It wtis tho'iyht best to raise tlie reipiisiie number of troops west of the iVllegUaiiies, as the colonies needed all the IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 ■-IM 1.4 niM 1''^'''^ I.I IIM 1.25 1= 1.6 v: ^ /a 7 >^ J m V 170 lIlS.l'<>liY OF ILLINOIS. a\;iil:il)l(' forces of the cast lor tlic Atliiiit ic dcl'ciiccs. To enlist men -Major William l>. Sniitli went to tiie scttlenicnt of tlic llol- stciii,iin(l for tlie same |>ari>ose ("a]»tains liconaid ilclm and .I<)sej)li IJowman visited otlier localities. Clark |»idpose(l lo j^ct assist- unce at I'iltslinrii', Itnl on account of Jealonsy arisin;;' from the rival claims of I'ennsylvania and Virj^inia to tiie dominion of the Kentncky settlements, he was nnsMcecssful, and the latter coh»ny lurnislied the troops. His real destination Iteini;' nnUnown, many thonyht it wonld l»c better to remove the Keutiickians than to attempt their defenci' while their own citadels and tli(^ whole c<(untry roniid I hem was threatened by tlie sava;;(^ confe(h'ratcs of England. (Jlaik in the meantime beinn' informed that Major .Snnlli had raised t <-ompanies, and that ( 'ajitains I b'lm and l!ow- man wouhl j( in him with two others at lirownsviHc, on the 3b)non,yahela, made no further attempts to secnrc enlistments at J''ort Pitt. Alajor Smith's men were to p» by way of ( 'iimberhiny Ca|)tain Ail)iiekle, commandinii' tlie fort at tlie junc- tion of the two rivers, for assistance in captiiriiii;' a Itand of Indians Aviio iiad attacked him tiie precedinji' day. Thinkiini, iiowcver, his (>\\ II enterprise was of greater moment, and wishin.ii' to strictly coinpiy with his instructions, lie c(»ntiniied on ids course. lie landed at tiie moutli of tlie Kentucky, with the intention of ereet- iiiii a fortification at tiiat point. i>nt alter mature consideration altamioiied it for a more faNorabJc position farther westward, at llie fails of the Oiiio. \\liile iiere, ieai'iiin;i' that of the 4 com[)a- iiies promised l)v Major Smitii, Captain Dillard's alone had arrived in Kentucky, lie wrote to Captain Uowinan, inforiniiii;' him of Ids intention to cstal)iisli a fort at tiie falls, and liavinj;' in view aii eiiteriirise of tlie y Captain IJownian's jiarty from Ken- tucky, it was discovered that the w ithdiawai of his forces from the country left it to a jireat extent without i>i(>tection, and therefore only a poi'tiou of them were enjiaji'cd, witli the nnderstandluji' that mIicii tiie I'cniainder of Ma.jcu' Smitirs men arri\eany, the l)()ats were secured and sentinels stationed at dilferent points where the Ohio was sui>[»ose(l to bo i"ordal»i(s JSotwitiistandinj;' these jirecautions, oiur of Cai»taiu Dillard's lieutenants and tiie most of tiie men, iiassino' the senti- nels unperceived, waded to the o])])osite siioic and disappeared in the woods. A mounted party tiie next day was sent in pursuit of the fuj;itives, with orders to kill all who refused to return, and altiiougii overtaken 20 miles from tiie river, sucii was their vi,uil- ance that only 8 Avere caught and brouyht back. *' The disaj)- BRITLSir OOCT'l'ATION. 177 ])oiiilinoiit caused by tlio loss of flic, iiicii," says Clail" in liis jciiiiial, "was cruel, and in its c()nse([nences alarniinj;." Tiio reniainilci" of Hie desei'lei's, dispersed in t lie woods to elude ]iiir- snil. sntfei'ed tiie most intense i>ri\ atioiis, and wlien linaily tliey reaclierave Keiitnckians were so exas]>erated at the Itaseness of tlieir coinhu't tliat for a lony time they refnsc^d to admit them into tin'ii' stations. The forces were now altoiit to separate, and in a day of rejoicin,!;' and mutnai encouragement the li«'rocs of liie IvasUasida e.\pemery, only nnndiercd l."»;j lueii. I*]verythin;n' bcinj;' in readiness, on the -4tli of fliine, 1778, Avhile the sun was in a total eclijtse, he left the |)osition whicii he had I'ortitied and fell down the liver. This ]»licnomenon tixcs the time of ("lark's embarkation, and l)y the same means other im]>or- tant events of history, the dates of which were wholly unknown, Inivc been detcniiincd with |>erfect pi'ccision. Science in modern times has so far divested occurrences of this kind of the ferroi's which they excite*! in ancient armies, that amon;Li' the men of the expedition but little importance was attac^lied to the e(;lipse, as a liarbinticr (or ,ha;;'.iiaji'e was lelt behind that they mij^Iit not be cneundu'red in the dillicnlt marcli which they jtroposed to nndce aci'oss the couidry, in order to reach uui»ercei\('d the ])ost which they desiyiM'd to capture. Clark was anxious to make an assaulc U]»nu the ]>ost of \'incennes, but the fireater extent of the French settleuMMits in Illinois, the ])ros])e(tt of securinii' them as allies if they wci'e concpieicd, and the facility of retreat to the Spanish possessions beyond the .Mississippi, in case of deleat, inclined him to the orij^iind ]»lan of the campai,i>u. While descendin,ii' the liver a letter was fortinuitely received from ("(tlonel ("ampbell, of lM)rt Pitt, statin.1;' that an alliance had been entered into between I-'rance and the Tnited States, and that l^e ai'niy and navy of the former were c()nnn<>" to our ii.ssistance. This infonnation was calculated to make a favorable impression u])on the French and Indians of Illinois, and (herefore of the .greatest imjuntaiK-e to the successfid ternunatioii of the expedition. Landing on an island at the mouth of the Tennessee, th(> j;inird sto])])ed a man by the name of .lohn Duifaud a numbei- of othei- Amei'ican hunters, from whom they also had the ,si"c»')d fortune to obtain valualtle infornnititui resi)e(!t- ing the <;arrison at Kaskaskia. Dutf and his [larty had recently been at that i)la(U', and he iidormed Clark that a Fi'cnch ('anadian by the nanu' of l{(»chel)lave was in command; that he ke])t th(^ ndlitia well drilled; sentinels stationed on the .Mississipj)!, and had ordered the hunters and Indians in their excursions thronj-h the country to watch for the rebels, or " Lonjjf Kiuves," as they desij^nated the Virgiidans. They also stated the fort was ke]>t in order as a place of retreat in ease they were attack<>d ; that its de- fence was attended to more for the jtnrjjose of niilitaiy disciplinii than from any iipj>reliensions of innnediate danger, and that if any assault was anticipated, its great strength would enable the garrison to nndie a formidable resistance. The declaration of ]\loor<^ and Dunn respecting the fearl'ul api)rehensi()ns with which the iidiabitants regarded the Virginians was likewise corrobora- te 178 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. te Itoals ill a small creek ciiipt viii,i;' iii(<» liicrlNcr. 'I'lic (listaiice IVom this point to Kaskaskia is IL'O iiiilcs, and at that tiiiic tlic iiilcr- Vciiiii^iCoiiiiti'v was (lilliciilt to ti'avei'sc, in roiisccpiciicc ol' sticaiiis, swamps ami other ohsliiicl ions. 'I'lie expedition started across tliis tract in the, direction of Kaskaskia, l>otli leader and men sharinj;- the vicissitinles incideiil to Iraxel in the wilds of an iin- (Mlltixated re.iiioii. Success depended entirely upon siM-recv, and to send out hunting' parties in piii-siiit of j^aiiie. upon wliicli tiiey mostly depended for subsistence, it was feared nii^lit he the means of discovery. On the third day, -lohii Sauii: the men to ])ut him to death. lie, however, accoin|»anied by a yuard, was i»ermitted to jio to the adjoininji' i)rairie for fiirllier search, and was (old unless he directed them into the hunters' ])atli leadinji' to Kaskaskia, a road in conse(iuence of havinyso fre- ((iieiitly tra\ele(l he could not easily forjiet, he slutuld certainly be liunji'. Aft<'r speiidiii,ij some time in examinin.u the features of the country, he exclaimed: '• 1 know that j)()iiit of timbei', "and point- iuf>' out the dire(!tiou of Kaskaskia estaidished his innocence. In the afternoon oi'theUh of -Inly, 177S, the in\adinji' ])arty. with their jiarments worn and soiled, and beards of three weeks' growth, approached the village where their long and wearisome journey terminated, and c()iic<'aled themselves among the hills east of the Kaskaskia I'iver. Clark sent out i)arties to reconnoitre, and at night-fall, a detachment took jxtssession of a house ^^ of a mile al>ove the town, and on the west side of therivei'. From the family living in it, he learned that there were a great many men in t\vu if they appean^d in the street. Kaskaskia, at that time, contained about lioOliouses, and the British ollicer, who had charge of the place after the I'cvolt of (he Atlantic colonies, endeavored to creati^ in the minds of the unsus- ))ec(ing French the most dreadful ai)]»reliensions respecting the ferocity and brutality of the " Long Knives; " (elling them that they not oidy plundered property but indiscriminately murih'red men, women and children when they fell into their hands. The object of these falsehoods was to stimulate (he ])eo]»le of these remote outposts to make a (h'termined resistance in case they w«'re attacked, and to induce them to supply the Indians with guns, ainmunition and scali>ing knives to aid tlu'ia in theii' dcjiredations upon the Americans. Clark now wisely concluded if he could sur- prise them fear would cause them to submit without resistauce, BIUTISH OCCUPATION. i!> 1 iuid tlic.v \v<»iil(l iiltas.sii|o' into the villayc at itolli cxtrcniitics with tiic most liidcous ontcrics, alamicd tiic nnsnspcclinu inliahitants. wiio coninifnccd scrcaniinj;' '•tin' Loiiu' Iviiivcs, " "llic Loni;' I\ nixes." In ahonl two lioiir.s al'tcp llic snipiisc, the townsmen, panic stricken, dcliNcrcd np tlicir arms, and tlioniili (lie \ ietorv was complete il liad been obtained williont slieddiiii;- a drop ol' blood, 'i'iie \ ictors, in obedience orders, rendered iln^ remainder ol' llie ni^lit a ]iandemoninni of tumult. This art i lice as it ])rc vented opposition and tliectfiision of blood, was the most innocent means thai couiil have been icsorled to to ill Older t») be successful. .M. l{ociieliia\ c. t lie iWil ishcomiiiadant, was not aware llial he was a piisoiiertill anofticerof tli(Mletaclimeut which had entered the fort, peiietra led to his bedroom and tai)ped him ou tile, shoulder. 'I'lie public ]»apers wer<', cither concealed or resuinin,i> upon tlu' i'o one excelled Clark in the res|»e(rt which he entertained for the ri;;hts of others, and he keenly felt himself the hardsliijts which the necessities (»f his situ- ation compelled him to inllict upon those in his ]»owei'. The tei'ror hitherto iutcnseuow reached its climax, and when ho|)e had nearly ISO IIISTOK'V OF It.LINOlS. viiiiislicd Cliirk, wlio of jill (•(MiiiiiiiiKlcrs liad the clciircst iiisi<;lit into liimiiiii iiiitmc, ^TuntcMl ;iii nmliciicc to llic pru-st iiiid five or six elderly men of tlu' villiijuc Tlie sliock wliieli tlie.v received 1'roni llie eiipture of tlieir lownjty an enemy wliieii they rt-piided willi so miieli lion(»r, could only he e(|naled hy their surinise when admitted to the presence of their eaj)tois. Tlieii' clothes were torn anil soiled hy tin' ronjU'h n.saye to which they had heen ('X|)osed, and, as Cliirk says, they looked more IVi^htfid than savaj;'es. Their appeaiam-e, nneontii in the extrenu', doubtless to the sensibility ami relinemeiit of the aiuMcnt French, seemed worse than the reality. After admission the depntatatiim remained scHnetinni iinable to speak and when at leant h their business was demanded they could not detcrmim" who should lu' aihlressed us comman(U'r so effectually had the hardships of the expedition obliterated the distinction between the chiettain and his men. Colonel (lark bcin^ l»oiided out, the priest in the most submissive tcuit^ and posture, said that "the people expccte(l to be separated, perhaps lu'ver to meet ayain and they reipu'sted the pri\ile,i;(' of mei'tiu^' in the church to take leave of each other and commend their future lives to the jtrotcction of a merciful (iod." Clark, aware they snspectedliim of hostility to their rclij> ion, carelessly remarked that "the Anu'ricaus did not interfere \.ithlhe beliefs of others hut let everyone worship (lod accordiu;^' to his convictions of ." Some farther conversation was attem])ted, but tiiat the alarm mij;ht not abate it Avas roujihly repelled, Clark aliruptly iid'onuin^' them that he had not tinu' foi' further intercouise. Tlu'Cidii'e population immediately convened in the chni'ch, and the houses bein,n' deserted orders were <;i\'eii that they .should not unch/r any pretext be enterv'd by the soldiers, ami that all ])rivate ])ro]ierty should be hoiu)rably res]»ected. After remaininji' in church a lonj;' time the priest v ul a fev; others ayain called upon Colonel Clark, and expressed their thaidis for the j^rcat favor which he had ^fanted tiiein and also n desire that he would inform them what disposition he proposed to make of tlie ])eoiile. They stated that, owin^- to the r«'moteuess of their situation they did not fully compreheiul the nature of the coldest between lOufi'laml and her colonies; that tlieir (conduct had been inllueiiced by Uritish commanders wlnun they were constrained to olu'y, ami that some (»f their citizens had expressed themselves in favor of the Americans, whenever the restraint to which they were subject would jwiinit. They .tdded, their present condition Avas the result of w:.: and they were willinj-' to submit to the loss of i»roperty, but In nm'd that tliey lui.u'ht not be separated from their families, and tliat some food and clothiii};' miyht be retained for tlieir future snpi)ort. Clark liavin,i;' now sunicieutly wi'oiiyht upon their fear, resolved to try the etfect of lenity. "NN'hat I" said he, abrni)tly addressiuj;' them, "do you mistake ns for sava}>es? Do you think Americans A\ill strip women and children and take the bread out of their niouths'.'" "My countrymen," said the j;allant colonel, "disdain to make war upon helpless innocence. It was to jirotect our own Avivesaud children that we i»eiietrated the wil(U'rness and subju- gated this stroiiiihold of Uritish and Indian barbarity, and not the desx»icablo object ofplinnler. We do not war against rrenchmeu innTisii ()(;cupATiON. 181 I Tlic Kiiij;' of Fiiiiicc, .v(»ur foniHT ruler, istlic ally of the (ioloiiips; liis tlcctsjiiHl anus arc lij;iif iiij^diir l>al lli'.s,aii(l the war iiiiist shortly triiiiiiiatc. I']iiil»iac(' wliicii cxcr side you (Icciii Iicst. and ciijoy your rcliuioii, lor Aiiicricaii law rcspcrts the liclicxcrs ol' cNcry vvi'v<\ and pi-olccts Ihciii in their rights. And Mvc the anxiety of tlieij- IViends and sti'ictly com]>ly with tho terms of n ]»roclamation which he was about to issue. Tho j;ood news sopy deliveiance. ('lark's anticijiations Mere fully \('rifu'd, the iniiabitants were allowed all the liberty they could desire and all cheerlully submitted to him as the commandant of the villa;;e. .\n expedition was now planned aj;ainst Cahokia, and seveial intiuential Kaskaskians voluntarily olfercd toacc(mi[)auy it. They jissured Clark that the Cahokians were their kindred and tVieiids, iiml that when the situation of Kaskaskia was expl, lined to them they would be willinj^' to change tlu'ir political relations. Their offei' was acce))ted. and Major llowman and his company wero .selected as one jiarty for tlic new comjiu'sl. and ihe other tho French ndlitia commanded by their Ibrmer ollicers, the eutiro »leta<'hment bein.u' but little infeii'))- in numbers to that which invaded the country. Mounted on ii.vsel>a<-k' the exjiedilion reached Cahokia before the surreufler of Kaskaskia was known to the inhabitants. On b(in,in' licrceivcd.the cry of "the Lonj;' Knives, tlie iyitwman took possif)n of the fort without oitposition: the Indian force in the \icinity Avas disi»ersed, ami the iniiabitants a few days alterward took tlie<»ath of allegiance. The sucst intinmto relations with the Spaiush on ilu- west bank of the ^Mississippi, and instructed his men (o creat(> the ii!:;!ressieralions would be resuuu'd upon a more extended scale. This ai-tilice enabh'd him to counteriset the extensive iidlnenee of his adversaiies, and ultimately triumph over their siijierior strei)_i;tli. 182 IIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. '; \ In tlio iiH'iintiiiio ^^. Ocnc wliosf iiilliu'iicc (MaiU liiid cmlt'iiv- orcd to olitiiiii Ity scciiiiii;:' liis prt»iit'i(y iiiid i'iiiiiil\, lu'Ciiiim iiiixioiis to rctiini to i\:isU:isUi;i. l-'«>:iriii;;' to pliict- liiiiisrll' in tlio liiinds of tlic Ann riciiii ollicci' williont some protection, lie pro- ciii'fd Icttci's of iccoiiiiiiciidiilioii lioiii the Spiinisli ,l;(»\ cnioi' ol St- liOins, iiiid llic I'oiiiniiiiidniil of St. (ii'iic\ icx c. wilii ;i \\v\\ lo ol». tidiiiiij;' :i passport. Clark. Iiowcvff, icfiiscd iiis application, and inliinatcd tliat it need not Ite repealed, as lie iintood lliat M. Cei re was a man offense, and if lu' liad uol lieen unill v of eiicarities. lie need not appieliend any dandier. These sentiments liavinn' been commiiniealed to M. ('eiic, lie Im- mediately lepairetlto KaskasUia. and called upon Colonel Claik, \\ liii I 1 1 I'l ki'ii I i >i I liiiii tli-tf Ikit \v;v: i
  • i I l\ i t 1 1 I f Id ' I t I 1 1 f I- Mm I 1 1 j I i • i 1 1 o who informed him I to JvasuasKni. and called upon < oionel t lark, tiiio iiiiipi iiii'ii iii;ii liiat he was cliar,v,<'d with iiieilin^ tiie Indians to pluiKh'rand murder I he Americans, and (hat humanity reipiired that such violators of lionoralile warfare slioidd be puidshed aceordiiii;' to the enoiinity of their erinn's. The mercliani, in reply to this ae<-iisalion. said In- ehallenucil any man to |>rove Ihal lit? had encouraj^t'd the depredations of the Indians, and that tin the contrary, he conid jn'odnce many witnesses wiio Inul heard him repeatedl_\ condemn sneh criu-llics in decidt'd lerms. Ilefnrlher remarked that he never interfered in matters of state, ('\cci>t when liis business demanded it; that he was not well actpuunted wilU the nature of the contest in which the colonists were eii^ap'd, ami that these chaij;es were perhaps prefeii-ed by some of his deitlors, who sonj;ht by this nnaiis a release from IIhmi' obli;^alioiis. Ueinj;' Avillinitants, but when M. Cerre was (n'oiiiiht into their nuiiiiiiMi lie .>ii iiiiiiiii M,> [miii>iievi. .\i iiii' v > lii ni- sion of these remarks, the witnesses commenced wliisi»erin^ wilU each other and retiring, till only I oul of 7 was left, lie Itein,!.; called on for his proof, replied thai lie hail none, and M. Cerr*> was thus honorably a<'(piitled. His liicids and neijiihbors conj^ratu- lated him upon the hap])y terminalion of the trial, and Clark i n r. ki'i I ii.i 1 liiiii llt-it ' 1 1 1 1 1< ii 1 1 1 1 1 it \\''>>.: i liis^i i»i I lit . liit wlii.iiiil I ti .. >i 11 1 1 i* >iti cspiiii.' eu. (Hark lU'ver resorted to artitice or jtunislinient except when he could make it conducive to the public ji'ood. lu \\n) cases narra- ted he ke]>t up the a]>pearance ol' ri^(M' with the view to rnhancinj;- 4I..1 I',..'.,.... ..'i,i..i. ...ji,,. .....1 ii... ....,,..,....;... ;t V ,.!' I.;.' ..>. i. /i;.......; .... ..V .V. I'. ........... .|'< . .^... .......... ............,,,.,., i,„ the favors which policy and I in; ma.unanindty of his own disposi- tion inclined him to .yrant. So adroit had been his mana^eimnt that li(! subdued without bloodshed all the I'rench setlleiiu'nts Avithin the i)reseut boiuidaries of Illinois. The captures, as we shall have occasion to show, wci'e fraii,iiht with j:reat c(mse(pieiu-e.s to the nation, ami does it s[»eak less honorably foi' him who, with THnnsii orouPATioN. 183 groiit skill, liiid iiccoinplislicd tlicin with lew instfiid ol" tlioiisiiiKls, or lu'ciiiisc lie iiail coiKiucrt'd witlioiit tlic Hlicddinji' of hlood iiistciid ol" iii;ii;iii;i" tlic pliiiiis cd" Illinois n'ory witli (lie 1>I(mm1 ol" I iic ('iiciiiy and lliiit (>r Ills IVicnds ? The css^'iicc (»r true licroisin is tln-siiiiM', wliiitcvt'i' niii.v he tiic scale of action, and altlioMnIi nnndxTs are the standard l)y which military honors arc usindly awarded, they are in reality only one of the extrinsic circiinistaiices. So ini|M»rtant weic Clark's achievements considered, that on tlicL'.'ld of Ndvend)er, 177S, ho and his brave ollicers and men were voted the thanks of the \'ir;;inia ll(»nse of Delegates for tlieii- extraoi'di- iiary r<'soliition and perseverance in so lia/.ardous an eiiterpiise, and the importaid services tlicrel>y rendered the country. In lids cxtiaordinary c(»n(iuest tlic Americans were doidttless assisted l)y the affection which the i'^rench inliahitants still retained foi' tlieir ancient Fatherlantl, now allied with tlie colonies. ciiAPTKK xvir. CLAI;K Or,TAINS POSSKSSION of VIXCKNNKS— TI{KA- TIKS WITH TIIK INDIANS— VINCKNXES FALLS INTO TIIK HANDS OF THE KNGLISII, AND IS KE-CAPTUKED J'.V CLAKK. f'liuk iMnv tmiicd liis Mttciitioii to tlic P>iitisli jtost of St. Viii- criils (N'iiicciiiics), llic siiltjiiiiiitioii of w liicli Wdiilci Hot only cxlcinl llif (ioiiiiiiion oi" liis iinii\ (' Stiiic. Uiit IVoiii its contijiiiitv icudri' liis «)\\ii |)ositioii iiinl .uoNfiiiiiiciil iiioic scenic, lie, t lu'i('loic..M'iit lor 31. (iiliiiiilt, wlio, Itciii;; tlic ( 'alliolic priest holli of Niiiccimcs ;iii(l KiisUiiskiii, coultl jiivc liiiii iuiv iiiloiMi;itioii lie dcsiicd. He iiitonncd (.'link i'".it (ioxcnmr Altltol liad latelv jioiic on Itnsincss to Detroit, and thai a niililar.v expedition against tlie iiiaee was \viioll,v nnneeessar.v. Desirous ol' iiavin^' his paiishioneis Tree IVoni the violence ol" war. iieolTcred to induce the |)co|iie to transfer llieii alh'jiianee to tiie Americans wiliioiit tiie assistance til' troops. This proposition was readily accepted, and DeLal'oiit and a spy Avcre selected to accompany iiiin. 'I'lie eiuhassy set off for N'inci'ii- iies, and after a fall exidaiiation iietw«'eii tlic y»ri«'st and his Hock, the iiihal)itants concluded to sever their relations with the lUitish ji(t\ crninent and take theoatiiof alleniaiicc to the commonwealtli of N'ii'i^inia. A temporary p»v«'ruor was apiioinled, and the Amer- ican \\:\ix immediately displayed over the fort, to the j^reat snr- l»rise of the Indians. The savajics weic told that their old father, the kin.:; of I'rance, had come to life and was an;.;ry with them because tlu-y foiij;lit for the Enj;lisli, and that if they did hot wish the- l.md to be bloody with war they must make peace witli tho Americans. M. (libaiilt and party returned about the 1st of Aujiust, with the Joyful intelligence that everythinji was i)eace- ably adjusted at Yincennes in favor of the Americans. This news Avas both a source of astonishment and {^ratilicatiou, as sueli a result was hardly to be exi>ected. The .'5 iiKtnths for wiiieh Clark's men had enlisted Avas now ter- minated, and his instructions beiii<>' indelinite, he was at first at a h»ss how to ]>roceed. If the country v as abandoned at this Jiuuv tiire, the immense advantages already gained Wduld be sacriticed, and, therefore, actin!j,u|)ontliediscretioii which necessity demamU'd, he re-enlisted as many of his own men as were willin;;' to continue in the service, and commissioned l-'rench olhcers to raise a com- pany of the inhabitants. He established a <;arrisoii at Kaskaskia, under the eommand of Cai»tain AVilliams, another at Caljkia umh'r Captain IJowman, and seh'cted Cai)taiii Sims, who liad accom]»anied thii expedition as a volunteer, to take charge of the iiieu wliu wislied to return. The latter oliicer Avas also intrusted 184 AMKUKJAN OCCUPATION. 185 with orders from Cliii'k for tlio rcjiioviil of tlic slatioii from Corn J slant I, at tlir l'':ills of the Ohio, to the main la ml, and a slockadi) fort was crt'ctcd whcrt' Loiiisx illc, the mt'tiopolis of KciitncUv, lias since been hiiilt. Captain .iolin .Mont;;(iiM('ry, in elwujL^e of J{o(hehla\e and the hearer of dispatches, was sent to Kichmond, wliicli had become tiie oipilalof Vir:;inia. it had itccii the inlcii- tion to restore l(» the Mrilisli <'(tninii',,der his sla\('s, w hich iiad been seized as pnhlic piopcrty, ans'an(l l'!ii^lisli, lint iiuw tli*' iNmkIs wcih) Innslh'tl a\\a,\ lie cdald sec I lie MiOii;; Knives' were in the rij;lit, and it' the I'ai^lisli coniiiificd lliciii, llic,\ niiulil also tii'iit tin- Inilians in tla'sanif \va \ ." lie llicii Jiiiiiix'd iip. sli'iirk his hiinds a;:aiiist ills l>i'rast,and said, "li<- had always Imcii a iiiuii and a wai'iidi'. and now he was a ■iiOiiu' Kiiilr'' and wonid tell the red I |>l<' to h'oody th*' la ml no loii;:<'i' I'oi ihr lai.ulisli."' lie and liis led iMfthriM llu'ii took ('apt. Ilt-lin h.\ the hand, and diiriii;^ the rcinaiiKh'r ()!' his lil'r, he rcinaiiii'd the siaiiiich Iricnd of the AiiK'iicans. I)\iii;L;' twoyrars aftci wanl at liis rc(|in'st lit- was hiiricd with the honors of war, near the l''ort of ('alioUia. Many *-hicl's south of Lake .Mit-hi^^an followed the f\aiiiplc of the (iraiid Door, and tlir llritish iiilltifiicc, which had caiisrd ;;i'(>at lliiscliiff to Ihc frolitii'l' sfttlciiiclits, d;iil\ declined. .Milch of the Nilecess altemlili.u these iie^iol iiil ions was due In llie inlliieiiee of the Ficiich. for the Indians, relyiii;^' iiii|>lieitly iipoii their state- ments, became ureally alarmed at the ;;ro\\ inn power of the Ameri- (•aiis. Clark's method of v'tfeclinj: treaties with them was attended with reinarkaltle success, lie had sindied the i''n'nch and Spaiiisli inclhods of intercourse, and thoiiuht their plan of iir<4iii^' them to make treaties was founded upon a mistaken estimate of their ('haracler. He was of opinion that .siu-li oxcrtiires were construed 1»\ IIm' savages as e\ ideiice of either .e.'r or weakness, and tlier«'- lore stndioiisly avoideil niakinu the lir.vl advances, i'niiketlio ]'aiulis|i. w ho eiidea\(tr<'d to win their uood will hy freely uraiit inn' them |»resents, he either heslowed tii<'iii rehiclantly. or foii;;lit tliem until they were compt'lled to seek reliij^e in treatios as ii means of self preser\alion. The ceremonies at leiidinj; his conn- <'ils with these scais of the forest, as 1 hey illustrated I heir charac- ter, are W01II1 record iiifi'. The tirst convocation of this kind in Avhich < oloiiel Clark was present, met at Cahokia alioiit the 1st of Heptemher. The various parlies trad assemhied, and as the Indians Averethe solicitors, one of llie<*hiefs approached I he lahle where. Colonel Clark was sittinji, heaiin.u' three belts, one of which was emblematical of ])eace, another contained the sacred pijie, and a third the lire to lit;!it it. After the pipe was lighted, it was (irst jtresrnted to the hea\ciis, then to the earth, next foiniiiii;- a circle, it was ottered to all the spirits, invokinji' them to witness their ])roceediii,us, and tinally to Colonel Clark and the other members of the coiin« !!, .\l the conclusion ot' these foiinalit ies, a chief arose and s])oke in favor of peace, after which he threw down the bloody licit and tlaji, which had been il I inn- till- liidiiiiis i'rii.ss<>iiil)l(>(l, Chii'k tints iHldirssrd tlii'in: " Mkn and Wahhioks : i'ay ntli'iitioii to my wonlM. \|ii>d tlii' ( Jrciit S|iiril liiid lipoiitrlit us liiuftlJH'r for jiixid. I liiivc liicsiinif lii>|i»', iiiid trust nirli ptirlywill siricily nijiicri' to N» iiiitcvt'r is auri'fd u|iuu, wiifllicr it l>r pi-arc nr war. I am a man a ' H'ai'i'ior, nut a couiirilur. I I'arry war in my ri^dil luind, |Mar<' in my ii'I'l. I am scut l>y tlu'ui'ral I'uunril ul of Idrds wliich live on lilood. I know lliere is a mist lielore your eyes. I will dispel the clouds that you may clearly see tlic causes of tlu' war Ipclwceii the liOiu;- Knives and the iMiVli^h ; then you may judi;e wliich partv is in llie riuhl, and if you are wai'riors, as you profess, prove it liy adherinj; faithfully lo the party whiidi you sliall'lic- lieve to he I'lilillcil to your friendship." After ('liiik liml cxpliiiiictl in iNdail the r;iiise and ellect id tlio war i'\istiii,y itewei'ii tlie IOii;;lisli iiliii tlie ruloiiies, lie tiiiiscoii- ciililed : "The whole land was dark ; the old men hidd down their hciids shame, hecause they could not see ;lu' sun ; and thus there was mourn • in^^ for many ycai's over liie land. At last the ( Ireat Spirit look pily on us. and kindled a ^'real council lire at IMiil.'ulelplii.'i, planted a post,' put a tomahawk liy it and went aw;iy. The sun immedialely broke out, the sky was Mue a^^ain, and the old men In Id up their lieads and asscmlileil at llie lire. 'I'hey tool; up the halcliel, sharpened it, and ininiedialely put it in the hands of our you n^ men, orderin^f them lo sliike the lOiii?- lisli as lonji; as they could liiid one on this side of the (ireat W'aler. 'I'ho yoiiiiK nu'ii immedi.ately struck the w;ir post and lilood w;is shed. In this way tin- warhei^aii, and the i^nniisli were driven from one place lo another, until they ^ot weak, and tlieii hired the red peojde to li^;lit for them. The (ireat Spii'it j^ot ans^ry at tliis, and caused _\()iirold father, the J'"rench Kinj;', and oilier jj^i'cat nations to Join llie Lon^' Knives, and lijihl witli tlu'iii aj;ainst all liieir enemies. So the l^n^lish have In-come like deer in the woods, and you can see that it was the ( treat Spii'it that ti'oul)led your waters, hecause you have foi'iiht for the people with whom In- was displeased, ^'ou can now judjj ■ nlio is in the rij^ht. I have already told y,)U who 1 am. Here is a hlooti^- helt, and a jd'ace licit ; taki' which you please ; hehave like men, and do not let your hein^ sur- rounded hy Loiifj: Knives cause you to take up one hi'll with your hands while your hearts take up llie otlier. I f you lal^e the hlooily path, you can yo in safety and Join your frii'iids, the Knirjish. W'l' will theii'try like warriors who can stain our clotlies tlie longest with hlood. If, on the otiicr liaiid, you taki' the path of jieace, and are received as lirollu'i's by the liOiiu; Knives, and then listen to had hirds thai are llyinj; throuj^h the land, you cannol lont^-er he considi'red men, hut creaturi's with two toiif^ues, wliich ought to lie destroyed. As • am convinced tliat you never liearil the tru'th before, I do not wish you to answer me bi'fore you have taken time for consideration. We will therefore jiart tliiseveniiif^, and when the (ireat Spirit sliall bring us together again, let u.sspuak and think as men with but one heart ami one tongue. " Oil the Ibilowiii};' day, tlie council lire vas kindled with more than ordinary ceremony, and one of the chiefs came forward and said : "We have listened with great attention to wliat the chief of the liong Knives told us, and are thankful that tlu- (ireat Spirit has opened our ears aud hearts to receive the truth. We believe you tell us the truth, 188 HISTORY OV ILLINOIS. for you do not speak like other jieojile, iintl that our oltl men are rij;lit, who always saUl the English sjjake with doulile tongues. We will take the lii'lt of |)(...'.'e, antl east down the hloodly belt of war; our war- riors shall be ealled home ; the tomahawk shall be thrown into the river, where it ean never be found ; and we will carefully smooth ^'u' road for your itrothers whenever thiy wish to come and see you. Our friends Hhail lu'j'r of the good talk you have given us, and we hope you will send ( liefs anu)iig our countrymen, tliat they may see we are men, and adhere to all we huv • [)romised at this lire •, hieh the (Jreat Spirit has kindled fo" the good of all who att< 'id." Tlie pip,' was aji'iiin lijiiitcd, tin' s]):iits were called on to witiics.s tlu' ti'ansaction.s, and tlu'coimc concliul'd by sliaUiM;^ liands. In lliis manner alliances we;- loriiicd with other tiihcs. and in a slioit lime ("laik's ])ower was so w<''l cstahlislicd that a siiiiilo soldier could be sent in sat'ety ••< I'.u- north as the head waters ot' tlu' sti'cains nnptyin^' into tlu Likes. In the vicinity oi" tiie lakes the IJrivisli retained their inlliiencc. somu' of the tiil>es bein<;' divided between them and the Americans. This sudden ami extensive chanjiC of sentinn'iit amon^' the Indians, was due to the .stern and comniandiny' intluence of (\tlom'l Clark, siipi>orted l»y the alliance of the i-'rcnch with the colonies, ami the re;;ard which the Indian., still retaineil for their tii'st(Jr»at Father. It lecprired jiicat skill on the pait of Clark, while in command of such diuiin- ulive forces, to keep alive thi^ imi»ression which had orij;inally beeii nnide respecting;' the arrival of forces frt)m the Falls of the Ohio. To create a favorable impi'essi(»n, the fe( s connected with the adaiinistration of Justice were abated. The nniintenain-e of I'ricmlly intercoui'se will tin' Sjianish authorities, and the per- ini>sioii of trade ainoii.u the inhaiiitaiits on l)oth sides nl' the Mis- ifeissippi, was also in'iMliictive of jiood will. in his neji'otiation with the Indians, an iiirideiil occurred al-oiit this time whiidi, from its rmnaiitic ctiaraclei', is worthy of imMition. A lar.^'e n-ward was otlerecl the Meadow or .Mascoiitin Indians, who ac(;(»inpaiiied the otli<*r tribes to the council, to assassinate the American c(»mmaii(ler. l'\)i' this purpose they pitt'hed their eaiiip on the same side (d' ('aliokia creei; occupied by Clark, dis- tant 100 yards from the fort and the Aiiiericaii iiea(l(|iiarlers. It was arranj;ed that a i»art of their niimbcu' should (uo.ss the (icek, whicji could easily Ix^ waded, tire in the (lir<'ction (d' the. liidiiiii encaiiipinent, ami then tlee to the (]iiarters of Clark, where, under the pretense of f« ar, they were to oi>taiii admission ami put the liiirrisoii to deal 'i. The atteiujtt was made about 1 o'clock in tJie moiiiiiij;'. The tlyinj;' party lia\iii,i; discharjicd their j^iins iu .such a manner as to cast suspicion upon tlie Indians on the oppo- .site side ol the creek, started directly to the Aineiican enciim|iiiient for protection. Clark was still awake with the innltiplied cares t»f !iis situation, and the guards beinu- stronger than had been anticipated, presented their pieces and cduipeiled the fugitives to lisilt. The town and garriM)U wore immediately under arms: the IMascoutins, whom the guard had recognized by moouliglH, were, sent for, ami being interrogated respet-ling their conduct, declared that tlu'y hud been liird ipoii by enemies on the ojiposite side of the creek, and that they had tied to the Americans fcu' refuge. The French, however, iiiiderstandiiig them bett(-i than their compier- ors. <'alled for a light, and on e.xaniination discoveicd that their leggings and moccasins were wet and muddy, which was evidence AMERICAN OCCUPATION. 189 tliiit tlicy liiul crossed tlie creek itnd tliat tlie Indians they visited were friends instead of enenues. 'I'lu' intended assassiiis were dismayed at tliis discovery, and (Mark, to convince tlie Indians of tile conlidence wliicli he reposed in tlu' French, hanch'd over the (Milprils to them to he (h-alt witli as they thon^ht jn'opcr. liiti- nialions were, liowever. made to tlieni privately, that theyou;;ht to lie conlined, and they were accordinj^ly nmnacled and sent to the ;iiiard Immisc. In this condition they were daily l)ron;;lit into the council, where he whom they had endeavored to kill. s\as fornun^trieiidly relations with their red brethren of other tribes. AVhen all the other bnsiness of the conncil was transacted, Clark ordered the ii'ons to be struck olf, and said: ".lnsti<'i' re([Mir«'s that yon die lor yoni- treacherous attempt n|)on m\ life durint; the sacred delibei'ations of a council, 1 had determined to iutUi death np(»n you for your base dcsiiius, and you nuist be sensible that \ro,visions for your Jomncy home, and wlnle here you shall be tr«'ateiiie and i>elt of peace on the table, made s(»nie explanatoiy reimirks. The interpreter stood ready to transhite these wevds of friendship, but Clark refused to hear them, and raisin<;' his sxt'ord and shatterinji' the pipe, declared that the Lonji' Knives never treated with women. Some of the other tribes with whom alliances had been formed, now iiderposinj; for thedisconditted Indians, besou.yht Clark to ]>ity their fannlics and IXVAUt them pardon. To this en + rcaty he coldly replied, that "tiie Loni"' Knives Jiever imule war uj»on thes<' hulians; they arc of ii kiu(l which Ave shoot like wolves when we meet them in the woods, lest they kill th(^ deer." This rebuke wr<»n.iiht more and more upon the li'uilty ])arties, and, after ai;ain takinj;' counsel, two of the ;soun^' nu'U canu' forward, covered their heads with blankets, and sat down at the feet of the inexcuable Clark. Two dnefsalso arose, and staiulinj;' by the si«h' of the victims who tlius olfcred their lives as an atonement for the crinu' of their tribe, aj^ain pre- sented the pi[)e of peace, sayin.i>', we ho]»e this sacritice will a}»pease the anfi'er of the Lonn' Knife. The American comnmnder, iu)t replyiujn' inuiu'diately, as, if still uiisatished, the most ])roi'onn(l silemu^ reigned in the assembly, and notliin;^' was heard but the deep broathinjn' of the multitude, all turinnji- their eyes upon Clark, as if to icad in the «'xpression of his countenance tho fate of the devoted Indians. The sndotli, provided with interi)rct- ers, took their seats at the same stand and coininenced tlie confer- ence. r>lack IJird said he had lony- wished to have an interview with a chief of our nation ; he had soui;ht information from piis- oiu'rs but could not conlidc in tiieir statements, for they seemed afraid to speak the truth, lie admitted that he had fou;nlit ajiainst us, altliouj;h doiilits of itsjiistice occasionally crossed his mind; some mystery hun,i'' over the matter which he desired to have removed; he was anxious to hear both sides of the ipiestion, but liithertt) li(^ had only been able to hear but one. Clark undertook to imjiart the desired inlbrmat ion, but ow in;;- to the ilifliculty of renderinji' himself intellijicut, several hours were sjieiit in answeiing liis (piestions. At the conclusion, lUaek l>ird, ainonji'other thinjis, fsaid that he was ;^Iad that their old friends, the I-'iench, liaduniiel('. A few |)lied Willi presents and iiccoinpaiiicd. at his re(|iiest, l»\ an aiicnl of Ciaik, set olV for his iiatixc forests. His eoiidiict afterward ext'iii- jililied the honesty ol' his jirofessions, for he thei'eafter reinaiiied the faithful friend of the Anierieans. Clark in his intt'reoiirse with the Indians, nevei' blamed them i'or a('ee|)tin.i;' the presents of the I'ai.ulish. as the iieeessities ot' their eondition and the inability of tiie Anu'iieans to supply their wants, reiidei'ed it unaMiidable. ( "oninierce lud to some extent already iiitrodin-ed aiiioiii;- tiieiii superior apjilianees of civilization. The rille and its aininnnition had loiii;' since superceded the bow !ind arrow, and blankets, cookini;' utensils, cutlery, and oth 'r ir • pleiiieiits niamifactiired in an athance state of arts, \\»re .!s necessaiy to the sa\a,iie as the civilized man. W'liih , however, lie foreboic to leproach them foi' receivinj;' jiresents from tho English, he eudeav(»red to iinju'ess uiion theii' minds the de^iiada- lion of lii:litiii^ for hire. The ''Lon.n' I\iii\'es," he said, ''rejiarded the scalps taken while ti^htiiij:' in self-defence as the .yreatesl of tro|)hies. but those obtained in mercenary warfare, are thrown to the doj^s or used as toys for the amnsemeiil of tiieir children."' Anothei' chief by the name of Kaiics, about this time, sent a letter to ("laik. lie was also known by the api»ellation of I'A'^ (iate. a title which he received from liavini;' shot a Uritish soldier, standing;' at the fort when I'ontiac. with whom he was then associ- ated, iiesieyed Detroit. Se\cral maraiidiiiL; parties a.:^aiiisl our iVontier settlements, had been successfully commanded by this warrior, who hivpjx'ned to fall in with a party of I'iankeshaws S'oin.n' to Kaskaskia to make the Americans a \isit. (1 a udily decked in the full costume of war. and with the bloody belt, which tiie British had uiNcii him, suspended aliout his neck, he daily came to the council and occiiiiied oneoftlie most pi'omiiient seats. Asa silent spectator he thus attended till all the pultlic Itiisiness was transacted, the American oflicer then accosted him with anapoloiiy lor not luniuu' ]»aid his respects durinji' the deliberations of the assenilily. Altiioiijih w<'are eiieaiies, said he, it is customary with the white jx'ople to treat celebrated warriors with resjiect, in jiro- ]>ortlon to the exploits which they Uum' performed a.i;aiiist each otlier in war. lieinj;' ii distiniiuished warrioi', Clark invited him to dinner. Surprised at this civility he at lirst endea\dred to decline the imitation. The American otlicer, howcNcr, when he attempted to offer an ex(!use, ro])eated with j;reater warmth his solicitations, till the feelin.ys of tlie chief wer(> wrouiiht up to the. lii.iiiiest pitch of excitement. K'oiised in this manner he advanced to the center of the room, threw down the war belt, toi'e off tho clothes and tlaj-', which had been t;iven him by his friends, tlie- En.ii'Iish. J)esi)()iled of these i»i'eseiits, he struck himself violently on the breast, anricans and was i>reparin^ another war party, when he heard of Colonel Clark's arrival ; that he had determined to visit tho Auiericaiis, who he now thought were right, and that he washeuee- 102 HISTOllY OF ILLINOIS foitli ii ''Loll};' Knit*'" and would war no loiiiicr i'or the l'iii;;Ii,sli. flo tlicii ('oiiclitdcd l)y sliakiiin' liaiids willi Clark and his oriiccrs and saliilin;; tliciii as hrollicrs. The comical part of liic alVair waslliat the new brotlicr was now naked, and since he ninsl he clollicd, a iinc laced snit was jn'ovided and lie appeared at the enleitainnient ana.Ncd in all the trapjiiniis of niilitarv costume. Al'ter ihe i'e|iast ^\■as over, in a i)i'i\ ate intei\ lew, he disclosed to Clark the situation of hetroit, and otl'ercd to ol»tain a scal[)or prisoner tVom its jiarri soil. Clark not wisliin<;' to encoura;.i(' the hai'baritiesoC the Indians, declined the i'oiiiiei', hut assured the warrior (»t" Ids willingness to accept the latter, pro\ ided he treated the captixc kindlv when he got iiim ill his ))ower. This i»olicy of ai)pealinj; to the hetti-r I'eel- iu'fis (»f iiuir.auity was little appicciated l»y the saxa.ces, and in .soiiu' instances caused them to unite with tlu'less scrupulous I'UeiiiN who siiH'ered them to plundt-r and murder without stint. l>r<»\ided Hi'itish a;^j;randi/emeut was the I'esult. When the chief de[»arte(l Claik j;ave him a captain's commissiiui and a meilal as i'\ ideiice of the new relations and I'esponsihilities which he had assumed. While the American connnander was thus neuotiatiuji' with the Indians, Hamilton, the IJritish .iiovernoi'of 1 )etroil heard of Clark's in\ asion, and was incensed that the country w liich he had in charyo (jliould be. wrested fromhiml>ya few raj^'^cd militia from Virj;iiiia. }\v theret'oi'e hurriedly collecte J'"i'eiich Canadians and K><> Indians, and niarchiuji' l)y way of the AVahash appeared before the f(»rt at Viucenues on the loth of December, 177S. The inhabitants made no elVort to defend tho tdwii, aiKJ when Hamilton's forces arrived ('apt. Helm and a man by the name of Henry were the (Uily Ameiicaus in the fort. Tho latter (•har;;iii<>' a cannon, placed it in the open jiateway, and tlio t'a]»tiii'i standing; by it with a lighted nmtch cried out as llannlton came in hailiu,u' distance, "halt." The Ibitish officer, uot knowing the strength of the garrison stoj>ped and deiiKiiid' d the sui'rendev of the fort. Ib'lm exclaimed "no man shall enter here till I know the terms." Hamilton responded, "you shall have the honors of Avar." The entire gai'rison. consisting of oiiecdVu-er and one ])rivate, then ca])itnlat<'d, and rv'ceiviiig the custoniai'y courtesies for their l)ra\<' defense, marched out with the Iioikus of war. ('apt. Helm "was retained a ])i'isoner. the l-'rench inhabitants were disarmed, and a large ])ortion of Hamilton's troojis were detached against the .settk'ments on the Ohio and Mississippi. These movements transjjired at Vincennes, W'ceks before the intelligence reached Kaskaskia. thus verifying the serious appre- hensions which Clark, in the meantime, had entertained for the safety of the place. In consequence of these forebodings, he en- gaged Colonel Vigo to go and reconnoitre the situation of tho post. No choice could liave been nuire foitiinate. jVlthough Vigo "was an Italian by birth, no one excelled him in devotion to tho cause of fi'ccdom and sympathy for an opju'cssed ])eople strug- gling for their rights. Ass i.-iated as a mercliant with the Spanish govei'iior of St. Louis, he amassed a large fortune, which, "with tho greatest generosity, he expended during the revolution for tho benefit of his adopted country. Having for a long time resided in Indiaim, and died there, the State, in honor of his nn'mory, called a county after his name, and Congress ultimately refunded a larj^e AMERICAN OrClH'ATION. 193 pnrf r/t tho money wliicli lie Imd cxpt'iKlcti, Alter eoiileiTiiij'' with ('liirk. lie stiirfeii on liis mission, luid wiien williin ll\c miles of liis destination, li" Wiis (Mptnred h.v Mie IndiiUis and taken Itet'oie Governor Ilnniilton. He was re<;arded as an American spy, but Ix'inu' a Spanish snltjeet. and vei'y popniar willi tlie inlialtitants of the town, the Uritisii oriieer did not dare to proceed against him uccordinjj' to his suspicions. 'I'liecitizens tliicalened to stoj* hig sni)|)lies if u'' was not sutVered to dejKirt. lianiiiton relin-tantly ]>ioposcd to let him yo if, duiin;^' tin' war, he would not do any act injurious t(» I>ritisli interests. Colonel Vi.u'o peremptorily refused to become a jiarty to such a c(unpact. Aj^icein^, liowcvfi", not to (h> anything' jtrejudicial in Ids homeward Journey, he was jM'i'mitteash and uji t'le Mis- sissijipi, to St. Louis. He remained neutral Just lon-4' enonj^h to ccunply witli liis stipulations, for, on his arrival home, lie imme- diately chanu'cd his clothes, and set oil" for Kaskaskia to commu- nicate the infoi'iiiati(»ii which he had obtained to < 'oloiiel Clark. After del ailiiiii' the cajiitnlation of Vineeiiiies and the disposition of the British force, he made known Hamilton's intentions of le- f'oiKjiieriiijL;- Illinois, and his meditated attack upon Ivaskaskia, on tlu' I'e-assembliii;;- of his forces in the sprin.i;', a^i the surest way of i.'tlectinpi. Clark, in view of the ei'itieal condition of the country, and tin*, extreme peril of Lis own situation, wrote to (lovermtr Henry, of Vii'u'inia, acquainting' him of Hamilton's desi;^iis, and askin;^' him lor troojts. Parties of hostile Indians, sent out by the Jtritisli j>:over!ior, be^an to appeal', and as assistance could iiotlie obtained from the State in time, with the iiromiitness whi\'h the emerycney demanded, he irsolved to help liimsell'. Anticipatinj;' his rival, he conimeiK'ed pre])arati<)ns with his ow u limited nu'ans to carry the war into the enemy's conntry, for, as he says, " I knew if I did not lake liim, he would tak«' me." Colonel Vi,i:() had informed him that, t)winj>' to the dispersion trf the I'ritish Ibrci's, the pirrison at Viiicennos was reduced to S(l men, three i)ieces of eannon and some swivels, and that if the town was attacked be- fore the troi>j)s were recalled, it mij^ht, without diniciilty, bo re(,'ai)tured. Without a momeiit's delay, a yalley was lifted u]), nioiintinjji: two 4-pounders and 4 swivels, and placed in charjio of ( 'a])t. John Kojicrs, and a comjiany of 4(i men, with orders after reaching;' tln^ Wabash to force their Avay up the stream to the mouth of White Hiver, and remain there for further instructions, ('laik next ordered Captain Mowman to ovacMiate the fm't atCalio- kia for the ]Mirposo of oriianizin;;' an expedition to proceed across by land, and oo-ojiei-ate with tli(^ force under Captain J\N),ii(rs. oompanies, conimanch'd l)y Captains McCarty and Charleville, which, witli the Anierieans, amounted to 170 men. On the 7th of I'ebruarv, 1779, ju.st 8 days after the reception of the news from 13 194 IIISTOra' Ol' ILLINOIS. i. ' Viiu'ciincs, this forloiii liopc. coiiiiiKMiccd its iniM'cii in it iioilliciist- prly (lircctioii, oNcr llic iiiiiiiiKiiitcd tints <»!' the coiiiitry, in m wet, bill iurliiiiiilcly, not cold scasoii. T«» rt'licvc tiif Iniidsliips ol' liio jniiiiicy. wiiicli was |m'I'Ii;i]»s (lie iiuist drcarv one ]ici roniicd diiiiiiiL;- the rcvolntiiMi, liiintin.u', jiiinn' feasts, and Indian war dances were institntcd lor tlit- aiimscincnt <»f tlic im-n. Altci' incrcdiliie liard- slii[(s, (»n llic I.'ltli tiu'V fcaciwd ;!m' forks of tlic Lilllc Waltasii, tlic low l)(»ttoin lands of wliicli were covcrrd with walcr. At tiiis J>art of the stream the opposite haiiks Avere ."> miles apart and the water so deep when ("lark arrixcd as in many plac's to l)e waded with the yrealest dillieiilty. Mere, dreiieiied in the rains wiiieh tell aiiiiosl daily, they nnina^j^ed to eonstniet a, canoe, and ferry over their baji,i;a,iie to the opposite shore. Ililh- erlo they had hoiiie their labors with threat fortitude, but now many became disconra,i;cd by the coiilimied obstacles which i>eset the way. While wadinj;' ihe'Wabash, and in some instances to the shonldeisin mnd and water, an incident occnrred which, by its merriment, ji'reatly I'elievcd the (lespondiii,u' spirits of the men, Thei'c was in the service an Irish drnminci', who was of small stat- nre, but jK)ssessed rare talent in siiininj;- comic son.us. On comin;; to a depression beyond his depth, he i>iit his drnin into tlu; water, ant! iiioiinliii;.; on the head, re(pu'sted on<' o^' the tallest men to pilot him across the stream, while lie enlivened the cumininy by liis wit and mnsic. On the morniii,n' of the 18(h, 11 (hiys after h'a\'in^v Kaskaskia, they heard the signal j;iins of the fort, and dininu' the evening;' of the same day, arrived at the (Jreat Wabash,!* miles below Viii- cennes. The j^alley had not arrixcd with the snpi)lies, and the men beinji' e.xhansted, destitnte ami ahnost in a -tar\in^' con- tion, it rcipiired all of Clark's address toket'p thcMii om yivin;^' nj) in despair. The I'iver was out of its banks, all liie low lands were sultmer.u'ed, ami before means of ti'ansportation could be i)ro- eured they nii^ht be discovered by the llritish and the entire i)arty captured. On the L'dtli, a boat from \'incennes was hailed ami bj'oii<;ht to land, from the crew of which was received the cheer- ing intclli.u'ciice of the friendly dis])osition ol' the l''rench inliabit- iints, and that no suspicion of Clark's movements was entertained by the JUitish pirrison. The last (hiy of the niaicli, the nu)st formidable diilictdties were encountered. Says Colonel Clark, in his journal: " The nearest land to us, in tlie direction of Vlucennea, was a spot called tlie 'Siiinar Camp,' on the opixtsite side of aslou^^li. I sounded the water, and lindin^' it di'e)) as my iieclv, returned with tlie desijiu ol' hav- ing- the men transportt'd on l)oard the canoes to the eanij), though 1 knew it would spend llu- whole day and the ensuinj;' uif^lit, as tlie vessels would pass slow iy ti)rouj;li the bushes. The loss of so luuch time to men hail-starved, was a matter of serious eonserpieuce, and I would now liave given a great deal for a day's provisions or one of our horses. Wiien I returned, all ran to hear the rejiort. I unfortunately sjioke in u serious manner to one of tlie oltieers; tlie whole were alarmed without knowing what I said. I viewed tlieir confusion for a ' iiiiite, and whis- pered lor tliose near me to do as I did. I immediately put some water in n)y hand, poured powder on it, blacdveued my face, gave tiie war- wlKx'pand marched into the water. Tlie party innnediately followed, one a'.ler another, witliout utteringa word of eomi)laint. lordered tliose ■ •near mo to sing a favorite song, which soon passed through the line and uil vveut choeriully. I now intended to Imve tliejn transported across AMI'.KIf'AN OCCri'ATION. i!>:. L tlio (U'l'iK st piirt of tlio water, Itiit when ahout waist-docp, one of the men inrormod nic tliat lie tlioiijrlit lie liad (li-;c()vcr('(l a iiatli. \Vc tol- lowcd it, and tiiidiiiu: Hiat it kt'pt on iiittlM-r ^M-oiind, witiiout rurllicrdif- fKiiity arrived at tli'. ('ainp, wliere tlieie was dry jri'ound on wiiieii to piteli oiir lod^ics. Tlie l''renelnn<'n that wo liad talvcn on tlie river, appeared to l>e uneasy at onr situation, andhe^f^'cd tii.at they ndfilit 1)0 permitted, duriui;' llie ni.uiit, to visit tiie town in 2 canoes and hriutr, from tln'ir own houses, provisions. 'I'hey said tiiat some of our n\en could f(dlo\viuy; morning, the linest we had exjierienccd, I har- anj^ued the men. What I said I am not now ahle to ret»all; iiut it nusy he easily imae-ined hy a person who posses-^es the regard which I, at that time, entertained for them, I <'onchided hy iul'orminfr them, that pass- im;' the sheet of water, which was then in full view and rcachinji' the opposite woimIs, woulil put an end to their hardships ; that in a few hours they would have a si,i;ht of their loni:-wislu'd for ohject, and imnu'di- ately stepped into the water without waitiuu' for a ri'ply. Hel'ore a third <)f the men had entered, I halted and called to Nhijor Itowman, and ordered liim to fall into the ri'ar with I'o nwn and j)ut to death any man who refused to march with us, as we did not wish to have any such amony us. The whole f;:ave a cry of appi'ohation, and on we went. This was the most tryiufi of all the ditth-ulties we e.\|)ei'ienced. I jicu- erally kept l") of the stron<;est men next myself, and jud<;ed from my own feelings, what must he that of the others, (iettinj; ni-ar the nnddle of the inundated plain, I found myself sensilily failin;;, and as tlu'ii' were no trees foi- the uuMi to support themselves, 1 teared that many of the weak would lie drowned. I ordered the canoe to ply hack ami forth, and Avith all (iili<;-ence to ](ick u]) the men ; and to encoura.uc the party, sent some of liie St ron,<;;est forward with orders that, when they h;idadvanci'd a certain distance, to pass the word ha(d< that the water w.as f^eltini? sjiallow. and when near the woods, to cry out land. This strataifem had the desired ellect. 'I'he men, encoiir.a'ied hy it, exerted themselves almost heyond their ahilities; the weak holding' on tlie st;(>n' clieerinjr to theii- comrades. Tills little refreshment ga"v<' reiK>wed life to llu' company. Wt- next crossed a deep but narrow lak- , in the <'anocs, and marehiii}:; some ilis- tance, came to a copse of tinibi" called Warrior's Island. We were now (Usiaiit only two miles from town, which, without a .single tree to ob- struct tlie view, could he seen from the position we occupied. "The lower portions of the land between us and the b)wn were cov- ered with water, which served at this season as u resort for ducks and otliei' water fowl. We had observed si'veral men out on liorseliack shoot- ing them, half a mile distant, and sent out as many of our active young Frenchmen to decoy and take one of tiiem j)risoiier, in such a manner as uot to alarm the others. Beiug successful, in addition to the informu- ion IIISTOWV 0|- ILLINOIS. ■ ;!i! M. lilii tlon wliicli liiul l)i>oiK)l)taiiHHl from thosc> tfikon on the river, tlie captive rcpurtt'd tliiil ilic British li;iii tliaf cvfiiiu'r coniplt'trd tin- wall of tlin fori, and tlial tlierc were a u<'od many Indians in town. Our siliiatioii was trnly crilical. \o |)ossiliilily of iTircat in rase of dflV-at, and in full vii'W of tla' town, wlucli, ai tliis time, liad tiiMi men in it— tri>ops, inlialiitants and Indians. Tin' rrcw of tlic naili'y, tlionj^h not -Mi men, would now liavf hcen a rc-inforccmcnt ol' immensi' nia^niliidc to our little army, luit we could not think of waitiiiLf for them. Hiidi had for- p;otten his sutreriny, and was r»'ady for the fray, saying what he had HU tiered was nothinj^ hut what a man should hear for the jfood of lii!4 country. The idea of hein^ made a prisoner was foreij^n to every man, as each I'Xpecled nothin;? Iiul torture if tlii-y fell into the hands of the Indians. Our fate was to he determined in a few hours, and iu)thin^hut th" most dariiii^ conduct would insure success. I knew that a numher of tlu' inhahitants wished us well ; tluit many weie lukewarm to the in- terests of either party. I also learned that tlu- (irand Door had lait u few days helbre openly declared, in council with the British, that he was a l)rothi'r and friend of tlu' Lon;; Knives. 'I'hese were favorable circumstances, and as there was little prohahility of our remaining- until daik undiscovered, I detei'miiu'd to commence operations immediately, and wrote the following; placai'd to the people of ilu' town. ' To tin; in- hal)itants of Vinceunes : (u-ntlenu'n, l>einK now within two miles of your vlllajie with my army, determined to take your fort tiiis niKlit, and not heinjj; \\iliinn' to sui'prise you, I take this opportunity to recpu'st .such of you as are trui' citizens, and williu;^ to enjoy the liberty which I brintr .vou, to lemain still in your housi's, and thosi.', if any there be, who are friends of tlie kin^, let them instantly repair to the fort and join the hair-laiyer general ', and light like men. And if any of the latter do not go to the fort, and shall be discovereil afterward, they may depend Upon severe punishment. On the contrary, those who are true friemirt to liberty, may dcpi-nd upon being well treated, and 1 once more reijuest tlu'm to keep out of the streets, for every one 1 tiiid in arin.s on my arri- val shall be treated as an enemy.' " This fontible k'ttcf, which shows ('lavk''s iiisi^iit into Iniuiaii iiatmv Ity iiisiiirinj:' coiilideiicc hi tlu' riieiully, and lillin^tiieadveisc l)aity witli dismay, was half the hatth' tliat lullowed. On the receipt of the h-ttef, the peoi>U' (d' the town supposed liie invadevs liad com*' IVoin Kentucky as no one iinajiined it possible that aii expedition could come IVom Illinois, in eonsecpience of the iVeshe.ts whicli prevailed at that season of I he year. ToiU-epeen tins iini»u's- sion, letters pnrportinj; t^) eoine i'roni well kiH)wn j;eidlenien in Kentucky, were written and sent to the inhabitants, and so well establisiie(l was the cotivielion, that the piesence of Clark could not be credited till his person was pointed »uit by one who kiu'W liiin. The soldiers, as on juevions occasions, were directed to greatly exa.u'iii'rate the stren;j,tli of the Ainoricaii forces. About sunset on the I'od, they sallied tbrth to attack the ibrt- When in full \ lew of it, they were divided itito platoons, each dis. l)layiiij;' a iliU'ei'ent tiaj;', and by niarchinji' anooi'. with wlnnn ii tiealN had ))rc\iously been concluded, ap]i<':!i-ed with 100 warriors and offere0 yards of tint fort, whose ^uns in conseipiem-*' of tln-ir elevation, were UM'less, iind no soonij" was a jioit hole dark<'ned than a dozen I'ith's discharircd their contents into the appei'ture, and the Miitisli soldiers could no longer he kej»t at their posts. Clark ])ei'ceivinj^ theii' difficult i<'s. in tli«' couise ot the morniji.1;- demanded the siu-- rendei' of the fort, which Hamilton refused, statinii that he would not beaw<'d into anythiiii,' unbeiionunj; a IWitish otliccr. The nu'U vcre uru'ent to take the fort by storm, but Clai'k lossession of it withoid the e.\i)enosed their desires. In the evening of the san)e day Hamilton, apiu'chensiv c that he woidd be com- pelh'd to sui'rendc)' at disciction. sent a thii;' to the bcsei^crs ilesirin.1;' a truce of three nfei'ence which ensued, the American comnnnuh'r reject- inu' all the oxoitiu'es of his antaji'onist. resolutely adhered to his liist i)ropositi(»n. and when (apt. Helm alti'm[>ted to moderate his 198 IIISI'ol.'V dl' ILLINOIS. (tfiiiaiHls. hf int'oniicd liiiii llial a |)i'isuiii-r had iiu li^lil Id iiitt-i fnc. Ilaiiiillnii ili('i'('ii|Hiii i'('|ili*'ii. tliat lit- \\a.> tVr*' IVuiii tliat iiioiiit'iit, l)iit <'lark iiiiiiioxcil, wiiiilil iiol a<'(-f|it liis rclcasr ii|m)Ii llifst> tcriiis, telling liiiii lie iiiiisi I't'tiiiii atitl altiiic Ins t'al*-. and tlir Kiitisii ollicci's tiial llic lii'iii;; unidd iccoiiiiiiciicc in I't iiiiliiltcs. 'I'lii' ;;('ii- tlfincii wciv JilxMil l<) retire lo llieif res|)eelive <|iiarlers, wlieii JIaiiiillDii called ('lailv aside, and |iiiliiel\ asl^ed liis |-easiins lor rejei-tin.u llie lilieral teiins uliieh liad lieen ol't'ered. '{'lie laller bterniv replied, "I am aware llie |irinei|ial Indian partisinis irtmi Jleli'dil are in the lurl, and I oids \\a\\\ an ImiinraWIe u|i)Hirl nnily of |>nllin^ sneli instiL^alurs nt' Indian Itarliaril i<-s lo dealli. 'I'ln^ cries of widows ainl oi|»lnins made l>.v tin'ir iudeln'ries, iciiniro sneli liloodat niv hands. I consider this elaini npon me lor pnnisli- nient next to divine, and I would rather l(»se .'id na'n tiian not '(>.\eeute a \('n;i;('ance demanded l>v so miwh ininxent Idooil. 11' (i«»v. Ilamiltini is w illin^' tt> risk his j^arrison lor sneh ndscieants, lie is at perfect liluMtv todoso." .Major Hay, whit heard this slale- ineiil in(piired, "rray. sir, w ho do \oii mean l>v "Indian parsisans,'"^ (Mar! prompllv replied. "I ciuisider Major lla.\ oneof ihe [>rincipal ones." The latter, as if .unilt.v of the <'har;;c, immediiUely tnined deadly |)ale, tr«MnliIed and conld hardl.\ stand, (ios. Ilandlloii hliished tor this e\hil>il ion of cowardice in presence unns to eelehrale the reco\ery (»f this important slronj:hold. SeNcnty prisoners were captured, and ;i eonsideralile qnani ity of military stores hecann' the properl\ of the \ictors. Most of lln' prisoners were perndlled lo retniii lo Detroit on jiarol of honor, hnl I iamilton and a few others wtMo sent lo N'ir^inia, where the council niihred them into conlin"Uient as a pnnishment for their idti'a harltariisni, in ufferin- rewards lor the scalps of those who were eai>tiii'ed l>y Ihe Indians, (ien. Phillips proteslinji against this rij;id ireafnienl, .lefferson referred the matter to Washington, who considerin^i it a violation of the ajireemenl made at the snirender ol the lort. tliey wcj-e released. Diirin;; the sie^^c of the foil, a i>aity of Indian warriors, hriiij;in<; with them two white ])(Tsons, w Inim they had captured in a raicl on the frontier of Kentucky, ariised and camped in lln- vicinity of the villaji'e. l,nnoiant of Clark's presence, he sent against them a forces which scton routed th(>m. with a loss of nine wairiors. The I'cmaiiider preci|titately tied, well pleased toeseape with theirllves from an enemy whose piowcss on pre\ ions occasions tlu-y had learned t(t f"ai'. A few days afterward, Capl. Helm and (iO men weic detached lo proceed up the W'ahash and intercept val- uable military stoi'es then on the way from l)etr(»it to Vincennes. The expiulilion was successfid, secininj;' the conxoyin^' party and l>ro]»erty to the ann)nnt of 8'»<>,(HI(>. On the return of tin; dctac^b- ment laden with their s})oils, the ^alh'y hove in si«>Iit, and was 'Uutler'a Kentucky. AMKUrCAN oocrpATiox. 109 Itrcpiiriiiy- for ill! attark on tin- litth^ rivrr H«M't, wlicii tin' «'ii.sij;ii ol' rn'rarti(!ipatin<;' in the i'*mIim-- tion of tlic foi't. After takinji' N'inccnncs nndrr ohslaclcs \vlii<'li. liv any oliifr coMiniandcr <'\crpl Clark, would lia\f hctMi defined insnrnioiiiit- aliie, this hrilliant aein<'\ enientw as rand rielier eoinpiests, Delroil was niidonlitedly willdn llie I'caeli of the enterprisin;^' \'ir;.iinian. " l''ortnne lias tliiis l\\ ice plaeed I Ills point in my power," lie writes |o ( lov . I leniy. ''Had I heeii aide to raise r»(»(l nieii when I lirsl arrived in tini conn try, or ■"•00 when at V'ineeiines, I should have alteiii|ited its Hiilijiii^ation." Inlelli^eiiee was hroiii^ht to him thai i he tia i'is(ni at that lime eoiilaiiied hiit SI) men, many of wlnmi were iiiNalids, and thai llie inhaititanls ol' llie tow n were so partial to the Amer- icans as to lejoicc excel dinjily when they heard of iiamiltoii'.s ra|>liire. In \ iew of lliest> facts, ( 'lark delermiiied to make an allack upon the |»l;ice, when reeeisiiiji' dis|ialclies from the.utiv- crnor of N'ii^^inia pronnsin^ a battalion (d' men, he deemed it most ])riident to jKtstpone ojieratioiis till the iciiifoicemeiits should snii\ ('. licavinj;' Capt. Helm in connnand at Vineennes, Claik embarked on boarnionlli '(, had lianslrncd ail this \ast rf;:ion to Mn^land, and ronhl inaU(^ IM> claim. She, intwcvcr, (d»jcclcd to tiic lijiht of the i\Mier- ieans, hopin;^ Itv this stroke of policy in fa \ or of her jealous ri\ a Is, to ;;aiii some other poiid in the controversy where she was umu'O directly interestj'd. Nor had i:n;;lan(< the p)'esnin])tion to cion lookiii;; to Urilish aj^^j^ran- disement, hati it not iieeii for the ci\il and ndlitary ride previously eslaitlished by the .\meiicans;' In eslimaliiijn I he aron Stenb"n in the ICast against the traitor Arnold, ami tinally enlisted as a bri}f- adier-jicneral in the armies of Fiance to operate ajiainst the Spanish possessions on the lower .Mississippi, llelbre anything Avas effected, (lenet. the Kreiicii minister ai'd leadei' of tin- eiiter- ])rise, was recalled, Clark's commission was annulled, and he retired to private life. Dnriiifi' the latter years of his life ho became an invali«l, siiflerinji intensely from rhenniatic atlections caused by exi»osure in his previous campaifiiis. \\ ith advanciiifj; a{>e the disease assumed the tbrni of paralysis, and terminateil fatally, his death and burial oceurriiif; in ISIS, at Locust (^Jiove, near Louisville. The rippling' waters of the beautiful Ohio still niurmiira re»|iiiem over the {.jrave which contains his dust, and his tireless eiicrjjy Still lives in the «'nteri)rise of the millions who dwell in the land lie loved and defended. Jn other respects the innovations of lime have ruthlessly I'tlected a clianye. Only the relies of the race which contended witli him for the cmjiire of tlie wilderness, can be Ibiind in the cabinet of the antiquaiyj forests, solitary and unproductive, have passed away, M AMKIMi'AN OCrrPATION. L'Ol iiiitl ii new crciitioii of tViiitt'iil fit-Ms iiiitl ciilliviifcd liiiiilHni|ics luis tiikcii tiK'ii' place ; tiic uiitniiiifd ciici'^tics iiiiil stiitiotuiry coiiilition <»r sa\ii;'«' lilt' liiivc hccii Mi|K'ifc(|((l It.v a fix ili/atinii wliosc uiiwnid iiiarrli is liraid in tli<> IiiiiikiII ol' lisiii;: citirs, tii*- 1N()IS INDHK VIlJdlXIA. The French Take the Oath of Alltyiaiicr — Jliiiiols County — American Iiintti(/raliiie\s Expedition — The ('cNsion of the Conn- tri/, and Drhii/s Inc'ilntf Thereto — .Vo Ueijnlnr Conrts of Law — Cariom Land fSpeeidation. A COUNTY OF VmOTNIA. 203 i fcst ;i lii^^li rcji'iird t()\var(l llis ( ■iitliolic ^riijcsty, mikI tcndfr tlio IViciHlsliip mikI s('r\ ices of liis jm'O])!)^ to llic Spaiiisli coiiiiiiiiiKlaiit ill St. liOiiis. A larjic «liscrcti()ii was niNcii liiiii in liis adininistra- tioii (>r cix il atlaiis, ard inontidy rcpoits wci-c asked, III tlic spiiiiu' (»r 1770, Colonel Todd visited Kaskaskia. and Iteuaii at once to oruaiii/<' a teinpoiary ,!^d\('riiiiieiit lor tlie uolo- iiies. On the lotii of .Iiiiie, lie issued the rollowin;;' proelainatioii : '• Illinois [r,(///,/.v] la-iril ; " Whereas, from tlie fertihty nnd hiMutifnl situntion of the huids l>()r- (leiiiin- ujx)!! tlie Mississippi, Ohio, I lliiiois and W'aliasii rivers, the talviiifjj lip of the usual (piaiitity of land heretofore allowed for a stttlenieiit liy the "i'overniiieiit of \'irfiliiia, would injure i)otli the stren;;th and eoiii- nierr that all the claims to 1 ids, in said county, may he fully known, and some methoil provide .1 for pcrpctuatintif, hy n-eord, the .just claims, every iiihaliitaut is re(|ulred,as soon as conveniently may he, to lay before the jterson, in each district appointed for that purpost', a memorandum of ills or her land, with cdpii's of all theii' vouchers ; ami wliere vouchers liave lieeii nivcn.^or aiH' lost, such de|iositi(Mis or certilicatt's as will tend to support their claims: — 'I'lie memorandum to mention the (piantity of land, to whom oriji;inall.v ^rranted, and whi'ii, di'ducitif; the title thioiiiih various oceuiiaiits to the present possessor. The nunilier of adventurers wiio will .-horlly nveri'un this country, renders the ahove method necessary, as w< II as to ascertain the vacant lands, as to ^''uard against tresspasses which will prohaltly he committed on lands not on reciiiil. (iiveii under my hand and seal, at J\^askaskia, theloth of June, iu the ord year of the coiiinionwealth, 177!). "JohnToihj, Ju. " IMaiiy of ilie I'^reiich iiiliabitaids at Kaskaskia. ("aliokia and \'ini-i'iiiies, readily took the oath (d' aUe.uianee to N'iruiiiia. Not only these, but iininy of the ; the Illinois and W'aliasli ri\ "is, all within the present honmlai'ies «'f Illinois was tlit^ abode of the nomadie. sava.u'e. Diii'iii^' the y<'ars I770-S(>, the westward eiiii^^ratioii fi'oiii the Atlantic States, look a \ cry eoiisidenible start. Aiiioiin' the eireiiiiistanees wliieli }.;iive it impetus, were the brilliant aeliie\ cmeiits of < ol. ( 'lark at Kaskaskia and N'ineeiines, which were the occasion of pnblisliing abroad the h'ltile plains id" Illinois; the triiiiniili td' the IJritisli anus in the south, and a threatened adxaiico upon \'ir.i;inia ; and tlio liberal iiianner cd' the lattei' State, in iii\it iiiy' fiunilies to take pos- .sessioii of the ]»ublie lands claimed by her in the western eoiintry. Three hundred family boats arrived at the l-'alls of Ohio in the s|triiiu' of 17S(>. mostly destined for Keiitindiy.* Anioii^i' the ini- Jiii.urants to Illinois, we inde the names oim1 and llic icsl sctllcd in tlic Ameri- can liottoin (iVoni wiiicli circumstance that name is derived), near Harrisons ille, afterwards known as iIm- hlockiionse IVtrf. .lames ri,i:,ii<>l, .loiiii Doyle. IJoherl Wiiiteliead and a Mr. Ilowcn, soldiers in Clark's expedition, also shortly alter settled in Illinois. Doylo had a family and tanuiit sclio(»l. lie was. peiliaps, the lirst teacher 1o make that )>iofessioii his bnsiiiess in Illinois. He also spoke I'rencli and Indian, ami in the hitter Janjiiiajic was Irecpiently em- Li..!. ..i .10 iiif ..I'l.i'.ili.i- \'..f iiiifil 1 T v. 11.10 tl.io IWtli. K.ii'..l .A' ])loyed as interpreter. Not nntil ITS.") was this litth' hand of American |»ioneers r<'inforccd. Th American |»ioneers r<'inlorcc(l. J lien came .losepli Oule. .loscpii AVarley and .James ^Vndrews, all from \'iijiiiiia and each with m lar^-e family. In the following year the American settlements Avere a^^aiii aiigiiienled l)y the arrival of -lames Lemeii, (ieorj;o Atclierson, and I)a\id W'addell with their i'ainilies, besides several others.* While the country was iiiidev the Virginia regime (hui without the sanction of her anthorities), La ISaliiie. a nati\c of l''rance. in the fall of 17S(> dn ring the re\ oliitioiiary war, made another attempt to lead an ex]»edition from Kaskaskia against the IJritisli. It <;()U- sislcd of ,')() men, and was ostensibly formed to i-aptiire the i)ost of Detroit. At ^'inceniies it. was reinforced by a lew men. Thy j>arty moved up the Wabash, and at the head of the Maiimee ntlack(>d and destroyed a iWitish trading post calletl Kekionga, on the site of the i>resent l''ort Wayne. After securing the Itooty, the party retired to the banks of the small river Aboite, where. they encamped. Her*' a ])arty of Indians attacked tlu'iii in the I.;,. 1.1 n... I.....I..I. .....1 .. !'..„ ..)' i.io r..ii.,M-,.i.,.. it-,..... i.;ii..,i ti... ... ju«-| 01 I lie iiiiiiiiii 1)1 iiiiii uiMiiei III ixi'i ^..... >..,,. ,.., .M.MMlicst Indian battle e\cr fought in Kentucky. Cols. Todd, 'I'rig, Harlan, and a son of Daniel ISooiic, all fell. It was a sad day ; the Kentnckians lost (iT men, more than a third of their force, mostly killed. Col. Todd had Just retnrned I'roiu Virginia on business pertaining to the Illinois county. His gov- erniiient in Jllinois was po))iilar. The successor of Col. Todd was a Frenchman, named Timothy dcMontbriin. of whose administration, how long it lasted, or who was his successor, little or nothing is known. Montbrmrs name appears to land grants and other docnmeiits among the archives lit Kaskaskia. TIh' CcsNion of Illiuois. — As we have seen, all of the Xortli- Avestern territory, by private compiest. passed under the dominion of \'irgiiiia at a time w hen all the States were engaged in a commoii Avar, defending against the power of the mother country to reduce tlieiii to subjection ; and whatever was the right of a State to organize, an individual war enteri>rise, and turn its success to *S('i- .Animlsof the WcfJt. +Kfyiiolil's Pioneer History. A COUNTY OV VIIJOINIA. 205 ])ii\alt' advaiitaov, l).v oxti'iidiiifi' licr jiirisdicfion over a vast and IVi'tiK' r('<;ioii lor licr srparah' bcnclit and a;;,iiran(li/('iiu'nt, tlu^ coiiyn'ss of tlic States, |>r(iliid)Iy lor tlic sake of liarniony, ac(|iii- t-sccd ill tlic \aliditv ol'tiiis. Jiiit \'ii'.uiiiia and a niinilierof ollnr States asserted still anotlier claim to these western lands, and dniinj;' tlie revolutionary war tliese eoiitiietiii.u' claims became <|iiile a liiiKlrance to tli(^ i)idm])t adoption of tlie articles of confetlera- tioii. Many of tlie original colonies Iiad tlieir lioiindaries exactly deliiied in tlieir royal cliarters. but N'iryinia. Coiiiiccticiit, Massa- clmsetts, and tlie Carolinas, (;l}iiiiied to extend westward to the farther ocean, or to the .Mississi]>i>i ; since, under the treaty of Paris, 17(!.>„ that ri\cr had iM'come tlie established western boundary of (ireat Ibitain. New V«»rl<, too. under (.'itaiii alleycd concessions to her Jurisdiction made by tlie Iro(|iiois,or six nations, the comiiierers of many A],uoii(|iiin tribes inciiidin.u' the Illinois, claimed almost the wiiole of the western country from iieyond thci ]akes on the north to the Ciimberland mountains on the south, and west to tlie j^reat river. Ijarj^c ideas as to the pecuniary value of the wosterii lauds obtained at the time, from which \ ast re\ ciiues were anticipated. Tlu' prosjiective well tilled coffers of the States, as well as tlui broad expansion of their dominions, <'\cited the envy of tlieir land- less sisters. The latter held, therefore, that as these lamls, as well as their own independence, had to lie wrested from the 1 bit itiU crown by Joint etlbrt, they on^iit to become joint property. Still, the claimant States in ciniiiress had succeeded in ,^('ttiii,u' a clause inserted into the ]>roposed articles of confederation, that no State should be deprixcd of an.\ t<'rritory for the Joint beiietit of all. ]>ut Maryland, a non-claimant State, refused her assent to the aiti- cles with that provision. The adoption of the articles, which would make of the colonies a union, was very much desired. N*'W Wn-k now, \vli<)s(^ claim was the most baseless, o]UMU'd the way by allow- iiiji' lierdelej.iates in conjii'ess. at discretion, to cede to tlu' union all her interest west of a line drawn throu,i;h the western extremity of Lake Ontario, ('oiiji'ress ui'ji'ed this example ii]ion the other claimant states, acres iit Northwestern Ohio, known since as the Western licserve. 'J'liis she also reliinpiished in the year ISOO. The Yiifjiiiia a.s.sembly, liojiiiiin' to reanimate the lla,i;j;inowered by act of the State, signed the articles 200 HISTORY OF IIJ-TNOIS. «)i' (-(iiil('hi(). The deed of cession was executed l»y her deiej^ales ill Coiijiress, Thomas .lefVei'son, Samuel Hardy, Ailiiiir Lee and .lames .Monroe. It sti|iiilaled that t he teiiitory .shoiihl lie cut into States not less than 1(10 nor more than ITiOmiles s(|nare: to lie repnhlican in form, and to lie admitted into the union with ••the same ri;;'its of soNcreiuiity. freedom and inde- peiideiice as (lie other Slat.'s ;" that indemnity for the e.\]>e uses of Jieicxiieditions incurred i i siihdiiin.L; the liritish posts in the west be allowed her; that land, not exeeedin;^' l.">(».()0(t acres, promised hy her. siioiihl l»e allowed to (leoryi' Koyers Clark, liis oflicei's and soldiers; that t he proceeds of t he sales of the lands ceded shall he considered a common fund for all the States, ju'esent and future; and thai ••the I'rencli andCanadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the KaskasUi;^s, i'ost \'inceiines. ;iiid the neii;liboriii,L;' villaji'cs, who have professed theiiisehes citizens of \'iri:iiiia. shall have their possessions and litles contlrmed to them, and be [irotcted in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties." Iiiimedialely al'lcr the execution of the deed of cession by ^'ir- jiiiiia, ( 'on^ress proposed by ordinance. (.Vinil L'.!. 1 7S4.) t(t eslnblisli a form of "iovernment for the entire western I'cjiioii, from the (in II' to tlie !,akes, thoii^h it was not yet wholly ac(|nireetition or by act of Coninress, wei'e to iceeive authority to create} a temporary form of jLioxcinment ; but when L'O.OdO free inhabi- tants had settled within any of them, they wci'c authori/.ed to call a coincntion. Ibrm a constitntion. and establish foi' themselves a permanent .government, subject to the follow iiiy- I'cipiireiiients : to remain forexcra part of the eonfedeiacy of the '.iiitcd States; to be subject to the articles of confederation and the acts and ordi- iianees of ("oi,;iress like the oli.uiinil States; not to interfere with the ai'tv sliall have been daly convicted." lint this]»i'oviso faiU'd on account of not vcceiviiij;- a inajoiity of tlic States. The four Nf-w lCn;iland States, with New York and IN-nnsyhania, voted Ibi it; New .hrsey, Delaware and (leor^ia, were iinicpresented ; North Carolina was divided; Maiylancl, South Carolina and ^'ir;;inia, (Mr. .lelferson beiuy oveiltorne by his collea^iues.) \oted against it. The autisla\ery clause was stricken out and the resolutions became an ordinance. While such was the law for these territories, it never received a])i)licatioii to any of them ; no or^ani/at i(Ui was ever elfeeted under it. Noi' had Massachusetts in the nieaidime relin(|uished herdiiim in the territories. In 17S.">. Hufus Kinj;' reiu'wed tlie anti- slaveiy ])io\iso in con^iress, as a condition u])on which she would nudie a cession of iici' claim. TiuM|uestion was referred to a coin- inittee of ei;^ht States, where it slept the sleep that knows no Making;-. Massai-husetts, however.in acccudance with the V'irjiinia scheme of dixidin;^' the western territoi-y into small Slates, ceded hei-claim. April !'.>, ITS."); nud with the consent of Con^res)^ to acccjit the cession of Connecticut, w ith the res<'rvation of ;).(I()(),(MI() aeres. Sei)tend)er l.'ltli, ITSd, the title of the confederated States to the laials north west of the ri\('r Ohio Itecaine complete. In the, ineantinu', by act of con,uress, surveys and explorations were goinji' on in the territories which j;larinj;ly e\]»ose(l the total disic- j^ard of natural boundaries, iiiid the in<'onvenience ]'csidtin,u' from cuttin,i;'up the western count ly into fourteen small States. N'ir.uiuia and .Massachusetts were uow called upon to modify the conditi(»ns of theii' deeds, so as to allow that ]»(irtiou of the territory north- west of the Ohio to Ix' divided up into three or tive States, at the o))tion of Con.yi'css, which was accordiui;ly (haie. and the follow in,i;' year CN>njiress j>asscd the ordinance of 17.S7. This was a slow transition peiiod, which was doubly eX])erienced in tlie settlements of Illinois which were the faitlier(st icmoved from the seat of power, be it Virj;inia or the I'nitcd States. During all this time, and Ibi' three years after the adoption of the ordiiKince of 17S7. and until the organization of the county of St. Clair, by (io\eriior St. Clair, in 17'.M>, there was a very imitei'fect administration of the law, which consisted of a mixtni'e of the civil or the French, the I"]nj4lish, as resnltiu;^' from the pro- innljintions of the arbitrai'y acts of (he Ui'itish c(Munuindants at Fori Chartres. and such as had been instituted by the X'ir^iiua authorities. There were no rcjiiilar courts of law in existence in the conntry,an(l no civil {iovernment worth meidioniui;'. The peo- ])h> were a law unto themselves; theii' morals were simple and j)nre, ami the grosser vices wei'c kej)t dormant. Crimes aj;ainst the peace of society were rai'c, niisdefneainu's infrequent, and fraud and dishonest dealinjis sehlom practiced. ])nrin;<- part of this tinu', too, the Indians were hostile, conimiltiui;- many brutal murders, which en<;a,u(Ml the settlers in constant warfare and mutual protection ajj;ainst the savages ; a .state of afl'airs not con- I 208 IIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. ii (»!" tlic biw wlicrc even tiic most pcitccr «M»(1»' cxisls. The foliowiiij^ ciii'loiis iiiiid spcciilatioii, iiit (»f a territorial court ilistitut('(l by Colonel Todd, as it relates ill jiart to Illinois, may not be amiss to traiiseiii»e, as it illustrates also the lallibility of men in olliee, and the necessity of tlie peo- ple to ever hold a watchful <'ye over their ollicial servants. In .liiiie, 177!(, Colonel Todd established a court of civil and criminal Juiisdiction at Post Vinceiines, comiiosed of several maj^- istrates. Colonel . I, .M. P. Le^iias, liavinj; been appointed coiii- niaiidant of the post, acted as president of the «'oiirt, and exercised a controlliiifi intlueiice over its i»i'oceedin<;s. Adoptiiij;' in soiiu; measure the usa.ucs and eiistems of the early l''rencli command- aiits, the court bc^ian t(» ^raiit or concede tracts ol' land to tlio French and American inhabitants, and todillereiit civil and mili- tary ollicersof the country. Indeed, the court assumed the power of .uiantiiiii lands to every applicant, mostly in tracts vary in j^- from thesi/e of a house lot to UK» acres, though some were several lea>:iies s(piare. I'>efore 17s;?, about L'(;,(M)0 acres of land were thus jiianted to dilfi-i'eiit individuals; and from 17T.'5 to 17S7, when in the latter year the practice was stopjx'd by (leiieral llarmar, the jiiants amounted to l'll,(l(M> acres, makinji' a total, first and last, of 4S,(M»0 acres. The commandant and uia^iistrates, after haviii<>' exercised this power for s<'ai'ance of beiu};' the [disinterestedj act of liis fellows only."* This sliameful transaction beiiij;' totally illegal, as no a^cnt or trustee (!an make sale to himself, failinji to prove a source of profit to the j^rantees in oi»en market, was in a measure abandoned. Still, as the ^rant was in due form, under the j^reat seal and autlunity of Virjiiiiia, land speculators, spyin;;- out the matter, quietly ])urcliased freely of the lauds thus fiianted, wliicli couhl be readily done for a sony, and then y it, tlic whole of tlu'coiiiili'v iioiili-wcst of llic ri\ ei' Oliio was coii- stitiitcd one district, for tlic purposes of teinp(»rai\ <^()\»'iiiiii(id. It pi'o\ ided for tiie descent of property in equal shares, sulisiiiii- tiaily as niider our ])ieseiit laws, (a Just pro\isiou, n«)t tlu'ii jicneraliy reeonnized in tlio States,) "saving', however, to the French and Canadian iidiabitants ami otlier settlers of Kaskaskia, St. N'incents, :ind other nei;ild)orin,i;' \illa;;('s, who iuive heret«)fon; ])rol'cssed themselves citizens of \'ir<;inia, their laws and customs in)W' in force anu)n,ii' them, relativi' to the descent and conv<'yancc of i)ropei'ty." A .governor was provided lor, whose term of ollice ■was three years, who was to reside in the district and own a freehold of 1,(100 acres of land; u secretary, whose commission was to run four years, subject to revocation: he was to reside in the distri<;t and own ."((to iieres of land. A court was provided for. to ct»nsist of three Jim1,u('s, two of them to constitute a court ; they were to exercise common law Jurisdiction, to reside in the district, own oOO acres of land, their commissions to last durinji' jiood belnnior. They, Jointly with the ^'oNcinor, were to a(loi)t such laws of tlie original Slates as were suitable to the conditions of the country, to remain in foi'ce until the orjiani/ation o\' the ji'eiieial assembly, Avhicli mij;ht alter or re-adopt them; conjiress, also, mijiht dis- approve tiu'ni. The ^■overnor was constituted comniander-inchief vl' the ndlitia, with power to a|)point all oflicers below the jirado of;;'eneral officers. Until the organization of the jieneral assend>ly, the uovernor was to appoiid all the civil officers in each county. lie was to establish counties from tinu' to time, to whose linuts lej^al jn-ocess was to run. AVitli r),0(lO free nude inhabitaidsof full a^-e, the teiritory was entitled to a ueimral assembly, the time and l)lace of election to be fixed by the p)vernor; each ."iOO were eiditled to one rei)resentative, till the number reached L'.->, after Avhich the h'^^islatun^ was to i'e};uhit<' the number and i»roi)ortion. The qtnditications of a njend)er were, either a residence, in the 210 NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY. 211 ti'iTitory tlirco yi'iirs, or citizciisliip in a State I'oi' tlircc .vcara and pit'scnt rcsidrncM' in flu^ tcnitoiy, ami a Ice siMi|il(» ri^iit t(» 2(M> acres (if land witliiii llic sann", <|nalili<-at inn ot'an ricctoi' : t'lccliold of ."•(> acres and citi/,enslii|» in one oC the States, or ii lilly was to consist of llie ^dvcrnor, coniicil and honscol" representatives. Tliecftancil was to consist of li\t' niendiers, three to constitnte a (|noriini ; tinn' of service, liv<' years. Conjiress was to select the conncil I'roni ten men — residents of the territory, each liavini;- a IVeehold of .")()(» acres — nominate<| by the lionse ol' represenlatix cs. IJills, to ItoeonK' laws, mnst i)assl)oth houses ity a majority and receive the siiiiiatnre of tlie uovernor, who possessed an altsolnt<' veto Ity simply wilhholdin;.;- his apprnxal. The two houses, liy joint hallot, weic to elect !i delegate to couj^ress, who was allowed to (leliate, but not t<» vote. An oath of ollice of oliice was t(» be taken by all the otlicers. l''or exlcndinu' tlie fundanmntal principles of ci\il and relijiions lil»erty, and to tix the basis of .government of future States to bo formed out of said territory, it was fiiithei' provided, in six unal- terable ailicles of jierpetind conii»aet ix'twcen the ])eoi)le of tho ori^^inal states and the peo])le of the terriloi'y : J. No person, in peaceable denu'anor, was to be molested on ncconnt of his mode of worship oi' religious sentiments. II. 'i'lie inhal»itants were ji'uaranteed llie bt netits of the writs of habeas corpus ami trial by jury ; a ju'oportionate representatiou in the l<',i;islatui'e and judicial proceedinj;s according;' to the course of the common law. "All persons shall be bailable, unless for <'a])ital otfenses, where the itroof shall be e\ ideiit or the ])i'esumptioil j>'r"at. All lines shall be moderate; and no cruel or luiusind i)un- isnmeids shall be inllicted. Xo nnin shall bedepiived of his libeity or his ])i'operty, but by the judunient of his peers, yr the law of the land; an»l should the judtlic e\i;;('iicies nudiness of mankind, sclicMtls and the means of education shall foicver be enconrajicd. (iood faith, justice and humanity toward the Indians, was to be observed: their lands and ])roperty not to be taken without consent, a id peace and friend- ship to be cultivated. J\'. The territory, and States to he foiined therein, were to remain forever a ])art of the I'nitcd States, subject to her laws; the inhabitants to pay a just ]»ro])ortion of tlie [tublic debt, c(Ui- tracted or to be coidracted ; not to tax the lands of the riiited States, nor those of iion-iesidents hij;her than those of residents; the lujvijiable waters of the lakes to remain forever fre(^ to all citizens of the Tnited States. V. The territoiy Avas not to bo divi |innislinicnt of ciinics, •wlM'irol' llic jiiiity sliiill IniAo Ix-cn duly convicted;" this section ]>i'o\ idin;;' idso lur tlic rcciiiniatioM oi" l'M;^ili\cs iVoiii labor. Siicli wassulislantiail.v tlic In nda mental law of this vast territory, Avln<*li has cvei- had a eontroliiiij; inllnence upon the destiny o\' tho States carxed unt of it, and saved sonn- of them fr(tm the perma- nent bli;;lit of slavery. While the convent i(Hi at I'hiladelphia Avas occupied \\itli frandiij; the constitntion of tln' I'nited Stales, ('on;;i'ess, sittinu in New Voik, disposed of this snlijcct, which was IVan^lit with an importance second only t(» the constitntion itself. The anti-sla\<'ry clause, it will be obser\<'d, was substantially the same as that reported l»y .lefferson in ITSt, for the orj^ani/ation of all the western t( viitory, but which was then icjected. 'l"he ordi- nance was i'e|M)rled from comnnttee by ^Ii-. 1 >ane,of Massachusetts, and unanimously adopted by the ei;;ht States then only repre- st-nted in eoiijiress. On October ."», 17S7, Major (ieiu'ral Arthur St. Clair was, by conjii'css, elected governor of tlu' Noithwesteru teiritory. St. Clair was born in Scotland and enii;:iraled to America in 17.V). He served in the French and l>ritisli wai', mider (lenend Andu'rst.at the takinn' of Louisbinji', in IT.'iS, and at the storming of (j)uebec, under Wolfe, in 1 7 "»'.». After the jieace of 17(i.'5, he settled in western I'ennsylvania. In Ihewarof the licvolution he was first commissioned a colonel, raised a rejiinunt of 7.")(> men and was afterward i»i'omoted to the rank of major jicnerak In 17SS he was tried by court-mai'tial for evacuatin^i' Ticondei'oj^a and .Mt. Independence, but was honcuably acquitted.' lie remained in tlie .service until the close of the war. In 17S(> ho ■was elected .to conjiiess, anpi, and north to the 41st decree of north latitude. In the summer of 17SS, the jiovernor ami Judjics (Sanniol Iloldeii Tarsons, dames ^Mitchell Varnum, and -lolin Cleves Synnues), m(^t at Marietta, the seat of jj'ovennaent, and adopted and promulgated a code of laws for the wlude territory. The governor innnediately established some counties, except in Illinois, appointed the civil oHicers tVn- them, and thus, .Inly loth, the. nuicliinery of the terri- torial ^ovennnent nnder the U. S. was put into operation. These "ills letter tlTW'. U. Giles, of Viigluia. NORTH WKSTKRN TKKKITOItY. 213 Nt«'p.s l)y tli(',iiHlj;r<'.s iiiid fiovciiioi' wcii'coiiimoiily (Iciiniuiiiiitcd tin', lirst ui'iKlc dl' Icnitoiiiil .L;(»\ciiiiii»'iit iiinlcr llic ordiiiiiiict'. As ciiiiliictfrislic ol' llic jifiinil, we iioli' lli;it llic piiliisliiiifiil lor criiiics. owiiii; tollic wiiiil (•!' iiiisoiis, were jit'in-iiilly of ii siiiii unify cliiii'iM'Irr: I)c;illi loi' iiiiinlcr, trc'iisoii. ;iim1 iirsnii. (iC los.s (»!' lift' ciisikhI llicicrioiii) ; w lii|>|»iii;;' witli .'»!» laslics. iiml line, lor liirrciiy, l)iir;;l;iiy iiiid rolilx-iy ; lor iM-rJiiry, \vlii|>|>iiiju', fine, or stJiiidiiii,' in IJM' itilloiy; for lorycry, line, (lisfrnncliismicnt nnd .stiiiiilin;^^ in the |iillory: dninkcniifss. line, I'oi' non |i:iyni<'nl of uliirli to stiind in tiic stocks ; for non puynirnt of lints ^^i-ntMidly, tin' slicrilf wns rnipowcrrd to Itind ont tin- convict for ;i term not <'Xcc<'\- ciiMuenrs conlideiice; morality and ]>i('ly were enjo\ned, and tlie »Salil)atli prononnt-ed sacred. I'lider date of Oetolier (itli, I "Sit. president \Vasliin;;t(tn wroto to ( iov ejiior »St. Clair; Von will also proceed, as s< ton as yon can, svitJi safety, to execntc flie orders of the late con};ri'ss rcspectinj;- the inliahitants at Post Vinceniu's and at the I'CaskasUias, and the other \ illa:;es on I he .Mississippi, It is a circnmstance of some im- poi'lance, that the said inhaMtaids should, as soon as possible, })ossess the lands which lhe_\ are entitled to, hy some known and iixcd juinciple. A«'coi'din,u!y in l''el»rnary, (Jov. St. Clair and the Sccj'etai'y, \\ inthi-op Sarueiit. ari'ived at Kaskaskia. The conntry uilliin the IxMindarics of onr jnesent Slate «'.\len(lin,i; northward to the nioMtli of the Little Mackinaw ci'cck on tla^ Illinois was or;;an- i/ed into a ironnty, which was named after His Ivxccllency, St. Claii', and may he called the mother of conniies in Illinois. It vas jnd.i;-es appointed, namely : .lohn l'M;;ar, of Kas- kaskia ; John iiaittislc liailwan, of I'rairie dn ii'ocher, and John J). Moulin, of Cahokia, each to hold tin' courts for and in the dis- trict of his jesidence. The terms were li.\eVilliam St. ('lair, bi'other of the itoxernor, vas apjtoiuted clerk and rccor«U'i' of deeds, and William Hiiiys, .slu'iiif. Cahokia became the county scat. While the clerk couhl issue process foi' the count\. and the slu'i'ilf serve the same, suit liad to be bi'ouji;lil and «'ntitled of tlu' (listri«'t where the defendant resided, and the writs to Iwar tost of th('Jud;;cs of the respective ilistricts, dated at tlie res]iectiv<' villaiics aniiM coiirts.* Tliiis uiis laiiiii'licil I lit* llrst coiiiity (•r liliiinis iipdii its ciin'cr itl' nscfiilinss. with nil its pulitical iiia- t'liiiH'r.v «liil\ <»i;:iiiiii/cil iiiMltr the laws uf liic riiilcii Slalt-s. I)i»wii to tills |H>i'in*l, ii iiiixtiiiT III' ili(> old I<'i'('ii< li, I'liij^lisli and \'ir;;iniu laws liad inaiiilaiiinl a sort ol* o1)soli>ti' ('xiNtmcc and o|)t>ratioti. It iiiav not lie niiiiit<'i'fstin<:' to it'lal*- that tin- Itarol' Illinois, in I Till', was illnniiiiatt'd 1»\ liiil a siiij;I(' nifinUcr, who was. liowc\cr, a host hinisi'il'. This was .lohii l)iri> .lours, a \\'<-l('liiiiaii, Itorii IToO. Il«' was an accomplisln'd liii^iiisl, possessed of a classifal •'dncation. ami ;i lhoi()n,nli UiKtwlcd^ic ol' the law. lit" was tlif carlii-st prat-litioiitT of law in Illinois and wtMild have hron <-oii- spifiioiis at any Itar. His praclicf i-Mcndcd fniin KaskasUia to \'inrciin»'s and Clarksx illc, (Loiiisv illc, K,\.) Contrary to tlio haitits of front icr lifr, he wasiicNoi' itllc. Asa >|i Wi'stcrn eonntiy that eonj;ress, wliose ineetin;;s wer«' in jiieat part secret, had l»y treaty a;.;reed with Spain to a temporary reiinipiisli meiif of the ri.ulil to the free na\i;iatioii of the Mississijipi. 'I'ln- western people, who received these reports ;iieatl\ ma^inilied. were bitterly iiiceiise«rty and subpienas for the witnesses, (Itted out a boat witlia suitable stock n( jroods for the Indian trade and proceeded thilher with his papers Ilavinp- served the summons and gubpteiiaed the witnesses, which incliKled the (jreater ])art of the inhabilantsof I'rairio du Chten, he naid(! his return eliartrint! niilcajre aial s rvieo for each, as lie had a li^ht to, his costs and the y a law of congress of I7SS, the ^o\eiiiorof tlie territory was authorized to <'oiitiriii the possessions aiul lilies of the l"'rench to their lands (und those people in their ri;ih|s,) wlio, on or l)el'ore the year 17.S.i, had professed themselves citi/eiis of the United Stat«'s, or any of them, lliit iiotliiiij;' had lie«'n , to <*arry these instructions intoelfeet, the j;(»veriior issiu'd his proc- lamation to the inhahitanis, ilirectiu^' tlieni to exhibit their titles and claims to the lands wlii<'Ii they held, in order to be coiilirmcd in their i)ossessioiis. Numbers of these instruments were exhib- ited, and for thos<' found to be aiitlientic, ordcis of siirNcy wci'e issued, the expense whereof was to be paid by the owners. Such l)ayment was anylhiii;i but satisfactory to the peojili', as w ill be seen by the siil»ioined ipiotalion from the noxeriior's report to the (secretary of state, in ]7!H>; and from it ma\ further be jL^leaiied the de]»lorabl(^ condition of the I'reiicli, at the time of the ;;()ver- iioi's visit in llii.s oft-painted JmIcii of the I-'ar \\'est as if over- flow iii^' with abundance : "Orders of survey were issued for all the claims at Kaskaskia, that ai>peare«'opI<', objected t<» paying- the surveyor, and it is too true that tlicy are ill able to pay. The Illinois ele furnished the troops under Colonel Clark, and the Illinois rejiimeiit, with everythinji' they eoidd .spare, and often w ith much more than they ctaild sjiare m ith any coiixeiiieiice to thcmsehes. Most of these certilicates tor these sup]>lies are .still in theirhands, ♦Reynold's Pioneer Hist. il6 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. iiiili(|iii(liit('(l imd uii)»iii(l; iiixl in many iiistuiiccs, wIkto applicii- tidii lias bcoii made lor ]>a,vnH'iit to tlic State ol" Viijiiiiia, under Avliose atilliorit.v the eertilifates N.cre ;^ranted, it lias been ret"us(Hl. The Ilhnois reninieut heinji disbancU'd, a set of men, pretendin;;' tlie aiitliority of MrK'i'ii'? endiodied themselves, and a scene of general dei)re(latiart of tiieir trade with the Indians, which was a great resource, canu; upon them at this Juncture, as >vell as the liostile incursions of some of *he tribes which had ever been in friend.^lii]* with tiiem ; and to thes«' was added the loss of their Avhole last crop of corn by an untimely frost. Extreme misery could not fail to be the consequence of such accumulated nnsfor- tunes." The imp(»verishe(l condition of the French settlenu'nts is fur- thei' ])ortrayed, and doid»tless truly, in a menunial adch'essed to (iovernoi' St. Clair, Avhile in Illinois, which iH'ars the date ".)une!>, ]7!»(l," ami is signed by "P. Cibault, I'riesI," and ST others, (iibault was the sanu' t'cclesiastic wlio, in 17SS, conducted the suc- cessful end)assy of Colonel Clark to Yiucennes, severing the allegiance of that jiost from the British : "The memorial huniMy showeth, that by an act of congress of June 2(), 17S.S, it was (ieclarod ilial the laiidn lieretotbre possessed by the .said inliabitauts, should lie surveyed at their expense; and that this clause appears to them neltlier necessary nor adapted to (juiet the minds of the l>eo|ile. It does not appear necessary, because from the establishment of the colony to this day, they liave enjoyed their i)roperty and jwsses- .sions without dispute' jr law suits on the subject of their limits; that thesurveys of them were made at the time the concessions wereobtained from their ancient kings, lords and commandants ; and that each of tlu'in knew what belonfj^ed to him without attemiiling an encroachment on bis neighbor, or fearingthat his neighborwould encroach ou him. It does not appear adapted to i)aeiry them ; because, instead of assuring to them the peaeealile iiossessions of their ancient inheritances, as tliey have enjoyed it till now, that clause obliges them to bearexjieuses wlileh, in tlieir present situation, they aie absolutely incapable of paying, and for the '"allure of which they must bedepriveil of their lands. " Y( ar Excellency is an eye-witness of the jioverty to which the inhabitants are retluceil, and of the total want of provisions to subsist on. Not knowing where toliuil a morsel of bread to nourish their fam- ilies, by what means can they supj)ort the exjjenses of a survey wbicli has not been sought for on their jiarts, and for which, it is conceived by them, there is no necessity? Loaded with misery, and groaning under the weight of misfortunes, accumulated since the Virginia trooj)s entered the country, the unha])py inhabitants throw themselves under the pro- tection of Your Excellency, and take the liberty to solicit you to lay ilielr dei)]orabIe situation before congress ; and as it may be interesting for the United States to know exactly the extent and limits of their ancient possesssion, in order to ascertain the lands which are yet at the disposal of cougress, it appears to them, in their luimble opinion, that the expenses of the survey ought more prt)perly to be borne for whom alone it is useful, than by them who ilo not feel the necessity of it. Be- .side, this is no object for the United States ; but it is great, too great, for a few uiihai)i)y beings, who. Your Excellency sees yourself, are scarcely able to supi)ort their pitiful existence. " The French settlements steadily declined and nudtedaway in pop- tdatiou from the time thecimntry passed uiuler Anglo-Saxon rule, 17(i."», until their exodus, many years later, became almost complete. After their lirst liegira, eonmieiicing with the English occupation, NOUTinVESTKUN TKHRITORY. 217 downtolSOO, tlioiiiuiii^iration (tf tlic liittoi-raocsciiicolycouiitciluil- ancedtliocmijiraliou (»f the tunncr. Iinlccdjtlu'i'cwasii tiiiicduiiii}^ tilt' Indian tioiihlcs, tliat tlic balance Tell inncli Itcliind ; but after the treaty of (ii'eenville, in 17i>."), iniini;;i'ali(>n wasyicatlyiacreased. lu 1800, the population was little, if any, gre.iter than in 17(>5. In ('ai)a('ity for eonipiest or colonization, for eneial liberty, the .i;('m of republicanism, and which furnished our unrivaled feder; tive system, which nniy yet be the means of jxditically entVanchisinj;- the world. To have Ids secluded abode and remote (puetude stirred up by su(!h a lace, "with whom he felt himself incapable to enter the race of life, the Frenchman of these wilds lost his <'ontentment, and he aban- doned his ancient villaj;'esin Illinois, to the new life, instinct with the ])royress opening all arouiul them, after an occupation of over a century. INDIAN nOSTILITIKS — 1783 TO 17!),'). After tlift tide of Euiopean immiiiration had forced back the red men of America from tlie Atlantic sloi»es, they found their best hunting grounds in the nuiginficient forests and grassy ]»lains beyond the Alleghanies, north of the Ohio and east of the Missis- sippi. When, alter tlu' war of the Kev lution, this empire region, wrested IVom the grasp of the I>ritish crown, was thrown o|ten to settlement and the ))ioneers of the pale faces begiiu to jioui' over the mountains and into tin- valley with a steadily augmenting ■stream, the red men deteiiiiine(4 not to give back farther, 'i'liey resolved to wage a war of extermination for the retention of this vast and rich domain. Here had gathered the most warlike tribes of the AlgoiKpdn nations, who have given to known Indian history the ablest chieftains and greatest warriors, I'ontiac, Little Turtle, Tccumseli, and his brother the one-eyed Prophet, IJlack Hawk, and Keokidc. During the wai'of the llevoliui(»n all the most belligerent tribes residing within this region, and the lisheries along the great lakes of tin? north, had arilaiii theii- shadowy claim over a part of the northwestern territory, iw- qiured by their wars with the llurons and Illinois, and in 17(iStho six nations had conceded to her their rights to the lamls south of the ( )liio, but the compiered tribes residing ujiou t hem and making them their hunting grounds, abandoned them but teiiii»orarily, and I'eturned and did not respect the transfers. An Indian compiest, unless followed by permanent ooeupation, was sehh^m more than a 218 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. mere raid, and could not be sai.l to draw title after it. Tlieie- fore, by tlie treaty of peace of ITS,), tin' II. k^. received uotliiiijj;' from JMi}iiaiid beyond the old siiiall Freiieli juiaiits, and the title of the six nations i),v con'.inest. such as it was, to tlie western teiritory. ln(lee;(»vernnient, on account (»f the adhereiu'e of the Indians to the side of the British durinji' the war, if not deducinj;' actual title, was inclinent widle it attenipted to obtain treaties of cession from the several nations, it also immediately threw open the country to settlers, made sales to citizi'us, and in the exei'cise of supreme dondnion, assigned reservati(Mis to some of the natives, dictalin.y terms and pi'cscribin.u- boundaries. This at once produced a deep feelinji' of discontent amonji' the Indians, and led directly to the formation ot' an extensive confederation amoiij;' a j^reat number of the northern tribes. In October, ITNt, the j;()vernment Indian comndssioncrs made a sec(»nd treaty at Foit Stanwix with a portion only of th Ir(Mpu)is, Avhich, on account of its not beinji' made at a ^■enei,,, coujiress of all the northern tribes, was refused to he acknowledged by their leadinji' chiefs, ihant, IJed .Jacket, and others. Thi' followinj; year, at Fort ."Mcintosh, the ;;t»\erument a;^aiu treated with a por- tion of the tribes — the Wyantlot, Delaware, Chippewa, and Ottawa nations — only partly rei)reseuted ; and in .lanuary, ITSO, at the mouth of the (ireat .Miami (l-'ort Kinney,) with the Shaw- auese, the Wabash tribes refusing; to attend. We have seen that amonj;- the instructions issued to (i(»v. St. Clair, he was to carefully exannne into the real temper of the Indians, and to use his best elforts to extin>iiiish their titles to lands, westward as far as the Mississii»|>i, and north to tlie lakes. In the fall of 17SS, lu' invited the mtrtia-rn tiibcs to «'onlirm the Lite treati<'s of Fort Stanwix and Fort Mcintosh, cedinj; lands; but the Indians, in i^cneral couikmI assend>led, refused to do so ami informed the (iovernor "that no bargain oi' sale of any jiart of these Indian lands would be considei'cd as valid or bindiuii." The (_lov( 1 por, nevertheless, persisted in coUectin;^' a few chiefs of two or three nations, at FoTt llarniar, (mouth of the 31uskinj;iim). and from them obtained acts of contirmation to the treaties oi l^'oits Stanwix and Mcintosh, cedin;^ an immense country, in which they Avere interested only as a branch of the confederacy, and unauthor- ized to wuikv any j^rant or cession whatever.* The nations, who thus participated in th«' acts of conlirnuilion, w«'ie liie Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, I'otawattonues, ami Sacs; but the confederation of the north claimed that it was doiu' without authority, with the youny men of the nation, allejicd to have been iutinudated and o\erreached.t Ibit aside IVom the fact that the g(»verninent had treatetl with separate tribi's, the j;rants obtained from the lro(pu>is and their kindred, the Wyandots, and the Dela- waresandShawanese, were open toscarcely -niy obJ('ctioiis.| Those most vehenu'ut in denouiiciuu' the validity of the concessions were 'I'lvK^-^cdinKf of luilliin Council lT9a— Sec Aiuerit'iui Hliitc papers, V. 357—7. ■Hdcp.i. t8ti)ii(;, 11.^81. NOllTIIWESTEllN TKRUITOllY. ;i9 tli(^ Miaiiiis, (Mii])j)(nvii.s, Piaiikiisliaws, K<'1 Uivcr Iiidiaus, Wens ((^)uias Oiiiatciioiis,) and Kaskaskias, the latter luiir iiiakiiij;' their resi(h'iiee in jiicat i)arl in Illinois. 'I'he conlederaev of Indians at ail times sticniiouslv insisted that llie Ohio ii\('r shoidd constitute a peipetuai honndaiy between the red and white men; and to maintain this line the lorMieroi'.uan- i/.ed a war a.i;ainst tlie latter, the aldest and most stupendous known to their annals, in the (iin-Uiny of which the "government uas actively enj;aj;('d for six years, and whicli was linally accom- l»lished only by the prowess of ".Mad Anthony"' Wayne. In their det<'rnnnation, e\ idem-e is (pnte abundant tliat the Indians were ins]»ired and sii])porred by the ad\ice and encourapMnent of J^ritish ajicnts ami ofticials, supplemented by the avarice of IJritish ti'aders. It was to their interest to Innc this s|ilendid country remain the abode of the sava,i;t's, with whom to e.\chan,i;i' their ;.;('W-<;aws for valuable ixdts and furs; a lucrative trade which would cease with th<' advaiu-es of Anu'rican civilization. The r>ritish continued to hold the northwestern ])osts trom which tosui))»ly the Indians; and tiie home caltinet entertained hopes that circum- stanc'cs nM;;ht yet compel the I'. S. to reco.unize tln^ Ohio as its nor;hw«'slcrn boundary.* Much of the dissatisfaction of the Indians was clearly traced to the inlluence and intri;;ues tnider tlie siiperintendc'.'ce of Col. M(d\ee, the IJritish a.ycnt at Detroit and the K'apids of the JMaumee.t The Indian discontent was openly encoiiia^A'ed, and their hostility fanned into a lla;ne t>f war ; the Mari'ior bands obtained their outlit of arms and ammunition from the Ibitish tra, (ien. Ilarnmr conducted ii laru'c, but fruitless, expedition of liiOO men, nu)stly K«'ntucky and J'ennsylvania nnlitia, poorly arnu-d and without discii»line, from J-'oit NVashinii'tini, (Cincinindi) af^ainst the Miand villa,i;('s on the Maunu'e and head waters of the Wabash. Caution had foolishly been taken so mttify the Ibitish at Detroit, that the troojts colIect'Ml were to be used a,uainst the Indians alone.f The villajics were found deserted. They were destroyed, t(»;;cther with LMI.UUO bushels of corn. Two detaclnnents of from .">(HI to 1(H) men «'ach, the tirst umler Col. Ti'otter and the next under Col. Hardin, rival Kentnckians, en.i;a,yed the Indians, butowin;;' to wretched nnuiaj;e- ment and worse discii)line, both nn-t with defeat and very heavy losses.ll The defeated army inar<'lied back to Fort Washin;iton, and the Imlians were only eneourayed in their dastardly work of nnirder upon the settlements. In the si)rin<;' of 17!M, con;nress authorized l>rieiMlent <'Xi»e- dilion ayainst the Wabash Indians. It consisted of about 1,(MK) ♦See niii-nctfs Letters, p. 100. lAiii State! I'Mpers — \\ ayii(.''s nispiitehcu. iUnd II Am State Papers, Aslieton'a Statciuent. imil Cists' Cln. Miscellany 220 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. iiiouiilcd voliiiitt'crs, wlio Id't tlic Oliio, Muy I'.'Jd. Early on tlio iiioruiiiy ol' June l.st tlu-y loiiclii'd the Wabash at thcohl \Vc;i towns, a lew miles above the present Terre llaule. Tln^ villa j;c.s Avere discovert'd by the ascendiii.^' smoke from the lodges. The army was formed in onler of battle and moved briskly foiward; the in- habitants beiny in blisslid ij^noranee of the stealthy ajiproaeh of the foe. (ien iSeott rep(»rts that the town was situated on the low groimd bordei'in.u the Wabash below the i»Iain across whieli they marched. "On turuin;;' lln^ point of woods, one house presented in my front. Capt. l*ri(;e was ordered to assault that with 10 men. lie executed the eonnuand with j;rea( gallantry, and killed two warriors." This remarkably ''j;allant" exploit (lonbtless was the means of savin;^' many human lives, otherwise totally surprised ou this early June morniny. Gen. Scott continues : " When I ganied the summit of the eminence which overlooks the viliuyos on tlio banks of tlie Wabash, 1 discovorcd the enemy in f^reat eonfusiou, emiL'avoring to make tiieir escape over the river in canoes. I instantly ordered Lieutenant Colonel commanding Wilkinson to rush forward with tiie first l)attalion. Tlie order was executed with iirompti- tuile, and this detachment gained the l)ank of the river just as the rear of tlie enemy liad eml)arketl ; and, regardless of a Itrisk tire kept up from a Kickapoo town on the opposite bank, they, in a few nnnutes, by a well (hrected lire from tlie rilles, destroyed all the savages with which five canoes were crowded."* I low this attack dillered from a rej^ular murderous liulian raid, is lel't to the diseox'ei'y of thereader ; as also,how many (d' theenemy were women and children. "Many of the inhabitants of the villa ;;o (Ouialenon) were French anroceedepecam)e) which was done, mxloiibt "gallantly." (leu. St. Clair in a letter to Washington dated Sei»t. 11, 17'.>.S, says the Iventuekians were "in the habii of retaliating, l)erhaps, with(»nt attending pi'ecisely to the nations fr(»m which the injuries are received." In August, Col. Wilkins(»n, with an imlep<'ndent counnand. sur- })rised the natives on Kel river. "The men." says Wilkiiisiui, "Ibrcing their way over every obstacle, plunged through the river witli vast iidrepidity. The enemy was niialde to nudvc the smallest resistance. Six warriors, and (in tin- hurry and confusion of the charge) two scpmws and a <'hiid weni killed, .'M prisoners (sipiaws and children) wei'c taken, and an unfortunate captive I'cleased, Avith the loss of two im-n killed undone wounded." Four thousand ♦Am. Stiito Papers, V. 131. tScott's Ueport. NoirnnvEsTEiJN teuihtory. 221 acivs of corn wcro de.sti'oycd, and tlio cabin.s biiiiicd.* lie; was voted tlic tlianks of coii<;t('.s.s. On tlu' caily iiioriiiiij;' of Xovcinbcr 4, 171)1. occniTod tliat most disiisti'oiis dcft-at of (Icii. St. Clair, in western Oiiio, on a small Inaneli of tlie Wabash; l»y !* o'clock a. ni. liis Iteafen and c(»nliised army, what little was left ol' it, was in a com|»lete and precipitatii ront toward Vint .b'Ifersoii, distance 2!> miles. From the fnst onset, the troops were thi'own into disoriler and confusion \>\ ihe. ninrderons lire of the savaji'es, and panic reii^ned supreme. t Thii loss was .'}, 1(1 of the confej;ree that tiie Ohio shall remain the boundary line between us. * * ^loney to us is of no value ; and to most of us unknown ; and, as no con- sideration whatever can induce us to sell tlie lands on which we jjjet sustenance for our women and children, we lioe we may l)e allowed to point out u motie l)y wliicli your settlers nia^ be easily removed, and peace therel)y ol)tained. 'VHrotliers: We know that these settlers are poor, or they would never have venture«l to live in a country which lias been in continual tr()id)le ever since they crossed tlie Ohio. Divide, therefore, this large sum of money, which you liuve ottered to us, amoiifi; tliese people. Oive to each, also, a proportion of what you say you would give to us, anniuilly, over and al)Ove this very large sum of money ; and as we are persuailed, they ■would most readily accept of it in lieu of tlie land you sold them. If you add, also, tlie great sums you must expend in raising and paying armies, with a view to force us to'yield you our country, you will certainly have more than sullicient for the purpose of rei)ayingtliese settlers for all their lalior and their imi)rovements. * * We want peace, liestore to us our country, and we shall be enemies no longer." It i.s a cnricnis I'act, illnstratinji' our dealings Avitli tlie Indiiins, that a treaty of peace and fiiendshii) was entered into at \'in- ceniies, yeplend)er 27, 17it2, by JJrij;-. (Jen. Kidns I'ntnani, accom- panied by fJohn lieckvelder and ol Indians of the Wabash and Illinois tribes, the Ith article of which contai)ied tlie following lan.v ii liiir |tiii<'Ii:is(', iiiid t<» llicir siitisfiiction. Tlmt tlic hmdH (»ii_i;iiiiillv lM'l(>ii;;cti to tlir IikIImiis; it is tliciis, ;iii«l llicirs only. Tliiil tlicy liiivc i) liji'Iit to sell, aiid ii rijiiit to rcl'iisc to sell. And tlint tlic I'nitcd Stiitcs will jn'otccl tlicni in tiicir siiid ri^^iits." NN'iicn tlic trciity. wiiicli coiitiiint'd 7 articles, was laid hclorc tlui Tnilcd States Senate, the llli article was oltjcctionahlc, and al'lci' niiicli (It liiieiation, it was, .Ian. !>, 17!>4, rejected by a, vote, oflil to 4,_Senate -lour. 1. IL'.S to 14(>. Tlie Illinois settlements were i'oi'tnnately beyond tlie main tlieatre of this sa\ aji'c war; still, owiii;:' to the j^cneral hostility of nearly all tlie ti'il>es,their deprcihit ions were each yt'ar extended to (hem. :ind a comparatively , urea t nnnd>er of harbavons mnrders AVO'c committed l)y the KicUapoos. These we will ^ive condeiisi'd from the "Annals of the West," jiajivs 7(10 to 10'): Til 17K.S, t\ siniilc niunler, that of Janios Flannory, was first comniittcd while on a Juuitinj,? excursion, liiit it was not accounted an act of war. Jn 17S() iIk- Indians attacked the Amerfcan settlements, killed .lanios Andrews, his wife and daujjhtcr, James White and Samuel ^Icl'lure, and two K'rls, daujj;hters of Andrews were taken prisoners. One of these (lied wnii the Indians, and the other was ransomed by French traders. She is now (IS-KI) alive, the mother of a larj^e fanuly, and resides in St. Clair county. Tlie Indians nad previously threatened the settlement, and the people had built and entered a blockhouse ; but this family was (jut and defenceless. 17S7. i']arly in this year, five familii's near IJellcfountaine, united and built a blockhouse, surrounded it with palisades, in wbicb these i'ainilies resided. While laboring in the corn field they were obligod to carry their rilles, and often at night had to licep guard. Under these embar- rassments, and in daily alarm, they cultivated their corn-fields. 17SS. This yeartbe war assunu'd a more threatening aspec^t. l<]arly in the spring, AVilliam J5iggs was taken prisoner. While himself, .John Vallis, and .b)sepli and Benjamin Ogle, were passing from the station on the hills to the blockhouse fort in the liottom, (hey were attacked by the Indians. Higgs and Vallis were a few rods in advance of the party. Vallis was killed and Higgs taken jirisoner. The others escaped unhurt. P)iggs was taken through the prairies to the Kickapoo towns on the Wabjish, from whence lie was linally liberated by means of the Freiicli traders. The Indians treated him well, ofiered him the daughter of a brave for a wife, and proposed to adopt him into their tribe. He after- wards became a resident of St. Clair county, was a member of the terri- torial legislature, judge of the county court, and wrote and published u narrative of bis captivity among the Indians. On the Itlth day of December, in the same year, James Garrison and lieiijainin Ogle, while hauling hay from the liottom, were attacked by twoJudians; Ogle was shot in the shoulder, where the liall remained"; Garrison sjirang from the load and escaped into the woods. The liorses taking fright, carried Ogle safe to the settlement. Jn stacking the same hay, Samuel Garrison and Mr. Kiddick were killed and scalped. 17S1). This was a jieriod of considerable ndschief. Three boys were attacked liy six Indians, a few yards from the blockhouse, one of which, David Waddel, was struck with a tomahawk in three places, scalped, and yet recovered ; the others escaped unhurt. A short time previous, James Turner, a young man, was killed on tlie American hottom. Two men were afterwards killed and scaljied while on their way to St. IaiuIs. In another instant, two men were attacked on a load of hay, one was killed outright, the other was scalped, but recovered. The .same year John l<'errel was killed, and John Demphsey was scalped and nuule his escafie. The Indians frequently stole llie horses and cattle of the settlers. 17!t(». The embarrassments of these frontier people greatly increased, and they lived in continual alarm. In the winter, a party of Osage In- dians, wilt) had not molesteil hitherto, came across the Mkssissippi, stole a number of horses and utterniited f'> recross the river. Tlie AiiierioauH NORXnWESTEUN TERRITORY. 223 followed and ttred upon tliem. Jamca Worley, an old sottlcr, havin}; got in advance of his party, wius sliot, ac'aI[H'd, anil his head cut oil" and left on the sand-har. The same year, James Hmith.a Raptistpreaeher from Kentucky, wliile on a visit to tliese frontiers, was taken ])risoner by tlu> Kickapoos. On the lOth of May. in company with Mrs. Huff and a Frenchman, lie was l)roceedinir from the l)!ockhotiHe to as(>ttlement then known hy the name of liiltle Villaire. The Kickapoos fired upon them from an aminiscade near Mclleroiintaine, killed the Frenchman's horse, sprang upon the woman and hcrchild, whon» they despatched with a tomahawk, and took Smith i)risoner. His horse lieiiif'sjiot, he attempted to lice on foot ; and havinji; some valuahle pajx'rs in his saddle l)afi;s, he threw them into a thicket, where they were found next day t>y his friend. Haviiif; retreated a few yards down' the hill, he fell oii'his knees in jjfayer for the poor woman they w<'re hutcheriiif;, and who had been seriously impressed, for some days, about relitiion. The Frenchman escapi'd on foot in tlie thickets. The Indians soon had possession of Smith, loaded him with packs of plunder which they had collected, and took up their line of march thr(iui,di the i)rairies. ' Smith was a larjic, heavy man, and soon became tired under his heavy load, and with the hot sun. Several con- sultations were held by the Indians, how to disi)ose of their prisoner. Some were for desijatchinfj; him outright, bein<^ fearfid tlu' wliites would follow them from the settlement, and freipicntly pointinj; their fj;uns at his breast. Knowing well the Indian character, he would bare Ins breast as if in detianc(>, and point ui)wards to signify the (ireat Spirit was his protector. Seeing him in the attitude of prayer, and hearing liim singing hymns on his march, which he did tf) relieve his own niiini of di'spoiidency, they came to the conclusion that he was a "great medi- cine," holding daily intercourse with the (iood Spirit, and must not be ]iut to death. After this, they took oif his burdens and treated him kindly. 'J'lu'y took him to the KickajKX) towns on the Wabash, whi're, in a few months, he obtained his deliverance, the inhabitants of New Design jiaying ?17(» for bis ran.«oni. 17iH. In the spring of this year, the Indians again commenced their depredations l»y stealing horses. In May, John Dempsey was attacked, but made his escape. A party of eight men followed". The Indians were just double their number. ' A severe running light was kept uj> for several hours, and conducted with great ])rudence and bravery on the part of the whites. F]ach party kept the trees for shelter, the Indians retreating, and the Americans pursuing, from tree to tree until night put an end to the conflict. Five Indians were killed without the loss of a man or a dro}) of blood on the other side. This party consisted of Cajit. Hull, who commanded, Joseith Ogle, sen., IJeiijamin Ogle, James N, Semen, sen., J. llyaii, Wm. IJryson, John Porter, and I). Draper. 17i)l'. This was a i)eri()d of comparative ((uietness. No Indian fight- ing ; and the only depredations committed, were in stealing a few horses. 17!).'i. This was a period of contention and alarm. The little settle- ments were strengthened this year by the addition of a band of emigrants from Kentucky ; among which was the family of Whiteside. In Feb- ruary, an Indian in ambuscade wounded Joel Whiteside, and was followed by John Moore, Andrew Kiniu-y, Thos. 'i'odd, and others, killed and scalped. Soon after, a party of Kickapoos, suj>[)osed to have been headed by the celebrati'd war chief. Old Pecan, made a i)redatary excursion into the American bottom, near the present residence of S. W. Miles, in Monroe county, and stole !» hor.ses from the citizens. A nunil)er of citizens rallied and commenced pursuit ; but many having started without prejiaration for long absence, ami being iipprehensive that an exi)edition into the Indian country would be attended with much danger, all returned but 8 men. This little band consisted of Samuel Judy, John Whiteside, Wm. L. Whiteside, Uel Whiteside, William Harrington, John Dempsey and John Porter, with Wni. Whiteside, a man of great prudence and uniiuestionable bravery iii Iniliau warfare, whom they chose commander. They passed on the trail near the present site of Belleville, towards (he Indian camps ou Shoal Creek, where they found 3 of the stolen horses, 224 HISTORY OP ILTJNOIS. ■which tlioy seciiri'd, The narty tlioii, small as it was, divided into two part.s of four men eacli, ami approaclied tlie liidinn camps from opposite sides. Tlie siirmd for attaclv was the dischar^re of tlie captain's fiuii. One Indian, a son of Old Pecan, was killed, anollier mortally, and otiiers slijrlitly wounded, as llie Indians tied, leaving tln'ir jjuns. Such a disjilay of courage l)y tiie wliites, and ln'ing attaclicd on two sides at once, inado them iielieve there was a lar^jje force, and the old chief ai)proached and bejrired for(|Uarter. Hut when hediscovored his foes to lie an insif^nificant iinmlier, and liisown i)arty numerous, hecalledaloud to his liraves to ret urn and retrieve their lionor. His own t^nn liesurrendered to tlie whites, hut now lie seized tlie ^un of the cajitain, and exerted all Ids force to wrest it from him. Captain Wliiteside was a ;iowerful man, and a stranger to fear, luit he compelled the Indian to retl e, deeminji it dishonoral)Ie to dt'stroy an unarmed man, who had previously surrendered. This in- trejiid hand was now in tlie heart of the Iiulian country, where hundreds of warriors could he raised in a few hour's time. In this critical situa- tion, ("apt. Whiteside, not less distint;;uished for prudence tlian hravery, did not loiif? hesitate. Witli the horses they had recovered, they imme- diately started for home without the loss of time in liuntinf; the remainder. They traveled iii^dit and day, without eating or sleeping?, till they reached in safety Whiteside's station, in Monroe county. ()u the same night, Old I'ecan, with 7(1 warriors, arrived in the vicinity of t'aliokia. From that time the very name of Whiteside struck terror among the Kickapoos. Hazardous aud daring as tliis expedition was, it met with great disai>prohation from many of the settlers. Some alleged that Old Pecan was decidedly friendly to'tlie whites; that another party had stolen the horses; that the attack upon his camp was clamlestine and wanton ; and that it was the cause of much subseciuent mischief. Tliese nice points of casuistry are dillicult to he settled at this jieriod. It Jias long been Iviiown, that one portion of a nation or tribe will be on the war iiath, while another party will pretend to lie peaceable. Hence it has been found necessary to hold the tribe responsible for the conduct of its party. 1T!»4. The Indians, in revenge of the attack just narrated, shot Thos. Whiteside, a young man, near the 'station ;' tomahawked a son of Wm. Whiteside, so that he dietl, all in revenge for the death of Old I'ecan's son. In February of the same year, the Indians killed Mr. Hull', one of the early settlers, while on liis way to Kaskaskia. 17!»5. Two men at one time, and some French negroes at another time were killed on the American bottom, and some prisoners taken. The same year the family of Mr. McMahon was killed and himself and daughters taken prisoners. This man lived in the outskirts of the settle- ment. Four Indians attacked his house in day-light, killed his wife and four children before his eyes, laiil their bodies in a row on the floor of the cabin, took him and his daughters, and marched for their towns. On the second night, ^Ir. jVIc^Malion, tindiiig the Indians asleep, put on their moccasins and made his escai»e. He arrived in the settlement just after his neighbors had buried his family. They hail inclosed tiieir bodies in rude cotlins, and covered them with earth as he came in sight. He looked at the newly formeil hillock, and raising his eyes to Heaven in i>ious resignation, said, "tiiey were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death are not divided." His daughter, now Mrs. Catskill, of Ridge Prairie, was afterwards ransomed by the charitable contributions of the people. Not far fnmi this period, the Whitesides and others to the numljerof 14 persons, made an attack upon an encampment of Indians of superior force, at the foot of tlie bluff's west of Belleville. Only one Indian ever returned to his nation to tell the story of their defeat. The graves of the rest were to be seen, a few years since, in the border of the thicket, near the battle ground. In this skirmish Capt. Wm. Whiteside was wounded, as thought, mortally, liaving received a shot in the side. As he fell, he exhorted his sons to tight valiantly, not yield an inch of ground, nor let the Indians touch his body. Uel Whiteside, who was shot in the arm, and disabled from using tlie rifle, examined the wound, and found the ball had glanced along the ribs and lodged against tlie spine. With that presence of mind whicli is sometimes characteristic of our backwoods NORTH WKSTKUN THIIUITOUY. 225 hunters, lie whipped out his knife, gashed the sltin, extracted the Itall, and lioldJM^; it up, exiiltin^ly ex4, which cidniiniited in tho victory of (lie L'Otli of Aii;;iiston (Im' Miuimee, proved a complete suc(;('ss. The confederated (i'il»es, defeated and disin'artened, now retired to wait the loiij;' i)romi,se(l snpjxirt of the Eii;;lish. iirunt, ftf tin' Iroipiois, said : "A foit had been i»iiilt in their country (by tlie lOn^iisliJ under pretense, (d' ^'ivini;- rtd'ii^c in case of necessity, but when tliat tinn^ came, the };iites were siiut af;ain,st tlieni a.s enemies."'* For sev«'ral years didicnlties had existed between (Ireat Uritain and the United States, wliicli llritisii Indian a.ucnt.s and tra(h'i's Inid se(hn)usiy taught to red luen must speedily e\en- tuate in war, when they would becouM! their open and powerful ally. But on the l!>th of November, 17!)4, after piotracted neiio- tiations, -lay, at Lomlon, c,(nududed a, ti'ealy of amity, connnerce, and navigation between (he United States and Cireat lU'itain, in Avhieh the Kinj;' i»led<;'ed a firm peace and ajiiced to witlnlraw, by the 1st of dune, IT'.Mt, all his troops and j^arrisons from the posts within the Ixaindary lines of the United States, as (ixed l»y the treaty of 1783. This took away from tin- Indians the last iiojie of British aid, so lonj;' promised them, ami tlie vast confederation of sava<;e tribes, bending' to their inevitable fate, hastened to the head(puirters ot (ien. \Vayne dui'inji' the w iider, and signed ])relim- imiry .iitides of peace, which resulted in the treaty of (ireen\ ille, and wliieii, ;>fter a i»rotracted council with all the sachems, chiefs, and principal men of tiie confederacy, lastinji' tVom .luiie to Anynst 3d, iil)."), wa.s timilly sij^ned. A vast body of lan tracts (5 miles s(|uare at various pi;i!'ts in tln^ northwest, annnij^' which we note. as beinj;- in Illinois, "on*' ])iece of laml, (> miles s(pmre, at the mouth of (,"lii('a;.i'o liver, emptying into the south-west end of Lake .Michigan, where a fort tbrnu'rly stood ;" one i)iece 12 miles s(|uai'e, at or near the mouth of the Illinois river, ami "one ]>iece (! miles scpiare, at the (dd I'eoi-ias fort ami village, nt-ar the south end of the Illinois lake, on said IIIiin)is river." The Indians also allowed free passaj^c throu. ()f;i;iiii/e,v an act of coii;;ress, 171*1, 100 acres of land were ;iraidod to all heads of families wiio made impi'oxcmeuls in Illinois prior to ]7SS, except \illa;;(' ini|»rovcments. These i'i half of them into the ;;irave by the approach of winter. No such fatal disease c\-er appeared before or since in the couidry.t The old inhabitaids wi're n(»t att'ectcd. The intelli- gence of tins unwonted mortality produced abroad the wron;;fid impression that Illinois was a sickly conidry, which tende(l no little to retard imnn.<;ration. It is now well eslal)lished that lllinoi.s is far healthier than many of her western sisters. Anion;;' the lirst Amei'icans who formed .settlements remote from the French, a ;;reat want was nnlls. The latter had had their wind mills and water nulls since a very early date; but with their ]H';;ira the wiml nulls fell into decay, ami for the others the water frcipiently failed, and the Americans wow comi»elled to have recourse to other means. The simplest modes of trituration was by means of the pater and the mortar. The lirst consisted in the brisk ridtbin;;- of an ear of corn over a piece of tin closely jtierced with orifices. The mortar was extemporized by excavatin;;' with 'IJcynolrVs I'ionoer Hist. tWt'Steni Annuls. NOlfTinVKKTFJlN TKKUITOBY. 227 liic llir 1)1111 ol'ii <;(»(k1 sized .short lo;;, (([i-cikUmI, sulliciciiLly ih'vp to lidld ii peck oi' more of corn. Over tin's was elected a sweei) 1(1 lilt, i>y coiiiiler tiiielioii, a piston with a linn, blunt encl, wliieh seived to |)onne mills, and last waler mills.t I'rom ITSS to 17!i.">, (lov. Si. Clair and the .Indies of the north- western tiM-rilory, in their lejiislativtf cajtaclty, adopted (It stat- \iles, .'is at Cinciiumti ill the last named year. In Ajnil, I7!>S, 11 more were adi>pted.* I<\»iii-lit'llis (»!" these laws were im|M»rted from I'eiuislvania, and a few from Massnehusetts and N'iijiinia, This Liiive to the c(Minti'y a complete system of statute law, which Wiis i)ei-liaps hut little inferior to that of any of the States ;it that eiirly period. Aiinm;; them was the cominon law of IOnj;laiid and stiitiites of I'arliaiiient in iiid thei'cof.of a ,i;"eneral nature iind not local tothat Kin;;dom,down to thetth yciirof the I'ci^^nof -liimes I; which isthe law in Illinois to this day, e\c<'pt as varied hy statute. I''r(mi it we derive all those fundamental principles of the Hritish Coiistl- tntion which secure t<» the citizen personal liherty and protection to life and in-ojierty — the habeas corpus, ti'ial by Jiii'y, »S;c. This Mas imported from Virginia; but the I>ill of ri;;hts is also in the oi'diiiance of 17.S7. In 175).") the (lovernor also divided St. Clair county in Illinois by rnnnin;! a Iin(> thi'ounii theXew DesiM-ii settle- ment in the present Moiu'oe county, due east to the Waitash — all that country lyin^' south of it beiiijL;' established into the county of Jiandolph, named in honor of Mdniund Jtaiidol])h, of \'ir^iniii. Iiefore the close of the year I7!MI, the while popiilalion of Ohio alone was ascertained to exceed ."i.OOU. IJy the (U'dinance of 17S7, the country was entitled to the I'd ;4riide of territorial .lioNcrnnient so soon as it should contain ."»,(>(>(> white inhiibitants. There being lU) lon,i;('r any , 171IS, issued his pjoclamation directiiii;' the (jiialilied voters to hold elections for territorial re])resentatives on tlie 'M .Monday of December. 17l)S. From Illinois, Shadiach IJond, subsequently the lirst governor of this State, was elected. The rei)reseiitativcs elect were conv<'ned -lanuary L'L'd, 17!Mt, at Cincinnati. In accord- ance with the |)rovision of the ordinance of 17S7, they nominated 10 nu'U to the President of the V. S. (Adams) to select ."» from, who were to constitute the legislative council. These wei'e contirmed by the Senate of the U. S., 3larch 21', 171)Jt. The assembly, after making the nominations for the council, immediately adjourned to September Utth following, at which time both houses met, though they did not perfect their organization till the LMth. This was the first time that the people of this country, through their i-epiesenta- tivfs, enacted their own laws for their own local government. The Legislature confirmed many ol" the laws enacted by the governor and Judges, and ])asse(l 4S new ones, the governor vetoing 11. They were prorogued December 19, 17i>!).t + IiPvnolirs IMonoer History. ♦Dillotr? tiKi, I. ("hiiso's Statute 1T90, 1795. tSee Dliiona's Ind,, Vol. 11. L'L'8 IIISTOUV Ol' ILJ tlicii' iinpi'css ii|miii tlic pciiod of tlifir t'xislciicc, \vc caiiiiol in jnslict' loiiicar to nicniion a few. Tin- tir.st which we notice was the well known Airs. LcCoinpt. Slic was hoin in IT.'il, of P'rcncli parents, on the eastern shore of Lake .Miclii;^an, at the old station on tlw St. •loseph. This was tlu* eonntr.N of the wailike I'ottawatoniie trilioof Italians. 'rhronj;liout her lonj; life Mrs. IjcConipt had ever tin'- westein sava;;(' for a liei;ihl>oi', She earl.v l>ecanie pidtieient in the dialect of the Indians and ;4ained a deep insi;;lil into their character. She was married at >IacUinaw, settled with her hnsltand, wlatse name was St. Aiif^e, or I'elate, at Chicafio, but snltse(piently rennived to Oil- hokia, and, liei' hnsltand d.vin;;', she here married Mr. LeCompt, a Canadian. l''roni thi.- niarria;;!' spinn^ (tne of the lar;L;est P'rcncli t^unilies in Illinois, i^ater in life, after the deatii of Le('omi)t, shu married a;L:ain, this time that Thomas Ilrady wlat condncted an nn- foi'tnnate marandiii;;' expeililioii a;;'ainst the l'\)rt St. .loseph iit 177S. Of (his anion no issiM' resnlted. This extraordinary woman was possi'ssed of an iron constitntion, a stronj; mind and danntless conraj^e. Her person was attractive and her manner winniii;^'. She traveled mncli, took many lonj; trips, and underwent ninch exposure to the inclemencies of the weather, yet she was seldom sick. She liv( hardy and frii;;al lif(^ I5y her knowledi-'e of the Indian lan.yua;;c, ..nd a tliorou.i;h a|ipri'ciation of his <'haracter, she at' were nu)stly away on the chase, or as boatnu'ii down the river, while the remaininj;' inhabi- tants, terror stricken, would arm themselves for such defence as NOIMIIWKSTKKN TKRlMTOllY. 229 i Mit'.v \V(>ro OttpabU' of. Wlial would l>t^ tlicirjoy tost'c^ tliiu I'xtriior- iliiiiip.v woman j'scortiiiyii swarlli.v IkiikI of warriors to tlic village, <'liaii;;i'i| IVdiii I'im's to tVifiids! (Tin- liiiliaiis, u|miii siX'li occasion, would paint tlii>Miscl\cs ithuk to niaiiil'cst tlicir sorrow i'oi' tlicii inlcrnal niuiilcrons intent upon llicii IVicnds.) Alter a tlioioujiili I'castiny; of the sava;;-es, sometimes lor days, their reconciliation wonhl usually hist some time. Mrs, Le(Jompt, as she was still called ari«'r llrady's death, Used to the extreme af^c ol' 1()!» years'. {She died in ISl.'}, at Caliokia. lOxdov. We.vnolds, from whoso )>ioneer history wii arc- in i;rcat part indel)te(l for the above account, sa.vs he knew her well I'oi- ;!() years. Mrs. Jolni IJli/di: — This accomplished witman, the ceider of fashion for remote. Illinois in the olden t inn', ])resided for nniny years with (Mjiial yrace and dignity over her hnshand's splemlid mansion at KasUaskia, the abode ot hospitality and resoit of tho I'liK' for Ueai' a half century. It wasin tin'sp/cions and elej;iintly Inrnished parlors of this honst- that La Ka, .-tte, on his visit tu lllin(»is in ISlIo, was snmptinHisly entertained, by a banipu't and ball. Mrs. Ivlnar's name nu'rils lunh rank on tin- scroll of re\(»ln- tioinii'v heroines. My birth, edncation, and s.\ mpath.v, she was American, but her husband, .lohn Edj;ar, was an ollicer in tho iSrilish navv, ii^rhlini;' against the colonies in theii' stru;ij;le for lii»ert,v and independence. Wy her talent, shrewdness, anil above all, her patiiotic devotion to herconntry, she won over n(»t only the heart of her husband to the Anu'rican canse, bnt was the pro- jecloi' of many plans l»y wliich sohliers in the Ibitish army were indnced to tpiit and Join the raidcs of the patiiots. She had, ni>ou one occasion, arranged a plan of escape for three soldieisand was to fiirnislf them i^nns, Anniican uniforms, etc., and all m-edfnl in- formation to enaltlc them to I'cacli the patiiot camp. When they <'ann' she was absent iVoni home, bnt her husband, a conjidantv of all her operations, notwithstanding;' liis jutsitiuu in the «'nemy\s navy, supplieil them with theontlit prcpari'd for them by her. Ibit the deserters wer(^ apprehended, letnrned to the IJritish cainj), and compelled to divulj;e the names of their abettoi-s. This impli- cated Kdj;aranted wife, who I'cmaincd back, enabled her to save from the wreck some SlL'.OOO, with which she joined her liusband two years afterwards in his western home.* 'I'heir union Mas childless; but they were for nuiny years the most wealthy i'andly in Illinois. Kdyar was a larye, portly man. A county of the State ju'ipctuates his name. Mrs. Uobcrt Morrison. — This talented lady was a rare acquisition to the society of Kaskaskia. Iicai'cd and <'ducatcd in the monu- inental city, slu'. in ISOo, accompanied her brother, (-ol. Donaldson, to St. lionis, in the far off wilds of the west, whither he was sent as a, commissioner to investi;;ate tlu^ land titles. Ibit the west iM'cauM' her p<'rmanent honu'. She was married the followin.ii' year to liobeit ^loiiison, of Kaskaskia, which jtlace became her re.''- dence Ihencofojth. Well educated, spriiilitly and encrj^-etic, her miinl was {iifted with ori;;inality and romance. "Her deliyht was •Bco ttist. Skotofi of Hiiiidolph & Co. aud Itcynold's Pioneer Hist, tlteynold's I'loUuer Hist, of IlJb. L 230 HISTOIJV OF TLMNOIS in tliP rosy WMs of ]M)ftiy."t Ilcr lu'ii \v;ts scldoiii idle. Slic (•diii- ])(is('(l willi !i ready laeility and her wriliiiji's pos.sessed a lii;;li de,i;re(' ol" merit. 1 Icr coiinihiitioiis to tlie seieiilitie |tnl»iicali(iii.s of \V. W'alsli, of LMiiladclpiiia. and otiicr periodicais of llic time, Itotli verse and prose, wcie miieli admiicd. Nor did the poMtical (liK'stions of the (hiy escape lier ready i»eii. Tlie discussion of liiese topics in our newspapers were ea,i;i'rly read liy liie jxiliticiaiLS of Illinois. A feat of nuicii in,yenuity was h( r wori< of reMioddlin.^' and co'iveriinn' into M'rse the i'salms of David. The volume was presented to tlie i'idladelpiiia I'reshytery and met with iiiuh coin- niendation for many of its excellencies, though it was not adopted. Later in life, she j^avea thorouj;h inve^'i^alion to the doctrines of r<'li;;ions .seets, and after much retli )n muted with the ("alholic church. Possessed of j^reat forci' of character, and zealous and ardent in whatever she esp(»useur that his unstress had proved too jMiwcrfid tor his ju'cromancy,"' and this it seems was I'ldly believed, stud he was e\ecute(l. The case was murder; but there was at this period a very imitertect administratii>n of the laws in Illinois, la the same villajic, i^^norantly inspii'ed by a belief in the existence of this dread jiowfr of diabolism, another ne,uro"s life was ottered \\[) to the JMoloeh of superstition, ity bein^ shot uted to pitsses.^ the supernatural jiowcrof destroyin,^' life and l)i()[»erty by the i»otency of her incantations. insjMred si;ch terror l)y lier appearance that adults as well as children would llee at her apinoach. It was a \cry common feeliii;.; amonji tin- i'reneh to dread to incur in any way the disj)leasur«' of certain old colored l)e(>!.'le, undei' the vaj^ne belief and fear that they possessed a clandestine power by which to invoke the aid of the e\il one to "Work mischief or injury to]»erson or pro])erty. Nor was this belief solely eoiitined to the iM-eiich, or this power ascrilted only to the colored peojile. An old woman ii\in,L;' on Silver ('leek was almost generally accredited with the i)ower (»f wiiehcialt. which, it was believed, she exercised in takin.u' milk from her neij;hbor's c(»ws at jileasure, witlnait llie aid ol any physical a;;ency. The African's belief in felislies, and the jiower of their divination, is well known. ]\Iany superstitions blacks in this country have clainu'd the descent to them of fetish jtower; the infatuation lejiai'dinj;' Miudouism, formerly so wide spn-ad, is not yet extinct amon^ many ii^norant Jlicynold's IMoncur Hist. ' NOETinVESTKRN TERTUTOBY. 231 blacks of Louisiiuiii, lis we read occasionally from Now Orleans lta])ei-s. IvCiiauU. aji'ent of the "("()iiii)any of tlic West.'' hoiiylit in ITl'O, al Wan J )oiniii.ii(», oOO slaves wliicli li< brought to Illinois, ]Maiiy of wlioin were direct from Africa, and thus was i]n]iorte(l. the claim totliis occult jiower, which, ])erlia]>s, had no dilli<'nlty in iindin^' lod.yement in the minds of the superstitions freuch of Illinois. Mankind have ever be«'n prone to superstitious b<'liefs; there are very many ])ersons now who are daily fioverned in the mullii)!ied alfairs of life by some siyii, omen, or au^^ciT. Nor were the red children of the forest in American free from superstition. The brother of the Shawanee w.urior, 'reciinibeli, mimed Lawlelueskaw, the loud voiced, better known as the (Uie eyed I'lojjhet, who connnanded the Imliansal the battle ol Tippe- caiuie, seekinji' to reform his pett])le, eaiiu'stly declaimed a,i;ainst the vice of witchcralt, as well as drunkenness, iutermari-yin;, with white nuMi, etc. In oltedience to tin' conunands of the maniteau, the (Ireat Spirit, he fulminated the i>enalfy of de.dh a.^^ainst those who practiced the bhick art of witchcraft and mayic. Ilisxehe- ment Inuranjiues evoked amonj^' his folhtwers a i)aroxysm of suixrstitious iidatuation. An old Delaware chief, named Tate- bock(»she, wasaccused of witchcraft, tried, condemned, tomaliawked and consumed on a pyre. This was enacted on thi^ i)resent site of Yoi'ktown, J)elaware county, Indiaim.* The chief's wife, ins nepiiew, I>illy I'atterson, and an a.iicd Indian named floshu.a, were next accused of witchcraft and the two latter conxicted. sentenced and burned to the stake; l»ut a brother of the chief's wife boldly stepix'd forward, seized his sister aiul led her Irom the council house, without op|)osition from those ]U'esent,and immediately re- turned, and in aloud tone haran<;ued the saxaj^es, exclaim injj;': 'Olaniteau, the evil spirit has com<' in our midst and we are murderin;.>' oiu' another." This, to,ii('ther with the eariu'st letterof (Jo\'. llarj'ison, sent l>y s]»ecial iiiessen,ii'ei' in the siirin.^ of lS()(i, exhorlin;^' the Indians to spurn the pretended ]»rophet, clieeked the hcnrid delusion. 8ee Drake's Tecnmseh, SS. *Ui' liiKlulfio ollcnclcil liy liis inlliicnco in liiiii^riiijf aliniit tlio trciity of Aiiir. isdl, by wliicli tliL' ('liiul's mid lusid iriiMi (if tliu Kt'liiwiiiTs cciU'd to tlic L'. S. tliat largo tract of lauil iu southern nidiuiia, siiicu known as tliu '•pocket." Chapter XX. 1800-1809— ILIJNOIS AS PAKT OF THE INDIANA TEKRI- TOIIY. Its On/dnizatioii — Ktfiit(iiiis!i;ii(f Iii«li(in Titles to Lauth — Uov. liar- rm)ii\s Fdciliti/ in TItiN — Laud A^>r(»/«//(>/(,v and Frauds in ^^Ijiipron-nivnt-riuhts'^ and '•'•llead-ritihts''' — Mtdinij of the Leyida- at ViuvcnncH in 1805 — IStututes of iSOl. My act of ('oiijircss, iii)]H(»v('(l iNIay 7, ISOO, the larjio iuid unwieldy (enitory ol' llie ><'((i tliwest was dixided ; all tiiat i)art <»t' it l\iii,i;' wesiwiii'd of a line heniniiin;;' on the Ohio river oi>positc the month of the Kentucky, ninniiij;' thence north via I'ort Ke*'ov- (n-y to the IJritish possessions, was constituted a separate territory and called Indiana. It enchised the present States ol Illinois, Wiscousiu, .Michi;;an, and Indiana excei)t a litth' strip on tlui eastern side between the nM)iitli of the Kentucky and (ireat Miami. QMie white population of the country was estimated at l,87.">, and lu'^ro slaves l,'!,"), while the aj;j;i'ejiate nnnd)er of Indians within the extreme. limits of the territory was fairly reckoned at 100.(»00. The seat of (iovernnu'nt was tixed at Viuceiines, and the oi'dinanee of 17S7 was api»lied to the teriitory in amoditied form : that clause rt(piirin;; r»,(((IO free white nuile iidiahitants of the a^e of -I years and upwar,...,i..i..i. fix. i..4^f,... f..-,. ;.. in:..,.:., fi. ...... 1....1 jiiiiiiii^ lilies iiiiu i;i iiiii III,;:; liinus mi i:eiiiuii pei.MMi."^ nu iiiiiiiiii^y services, and the laying out thereof, remained unexiMited, causinj^' {;reat discontent;* and the unpopularity of (iovcrnor St. (,'lair was constantly on thi' increase. Ills unfortunate cumpaiun aj;ainst the JMamnee towns, whi«h had j^reatly shaken tlu' conlidence of the people, had bid rendeicd his conduct of civil atfaiis more arbitra- ry and deliant. Ii«' vetoeil nearly e\ery act of the le;;islalnre establishiu};' new counties, to the great inconvenience of the people •Sec report of Committee In CongrcBS— Am. State Pap. XX, 'M6. 232 INDIANA TEUUITOHY. L';J3 ill tiicir tr;iiis;i('ti(tiis witli clcrfis nnd recorders, iuid to the vexiitioii ul" suitoi's iit iiiw. The territoiiiil h'j^islMtinv sitting at ('iiiciiiiiiiti, electecl, on th(> 3d (»!' Ocloltcr, I7*.>!l, W'illiiiMi Henry lliirrison, tiien secretary of the territory, a (ieh'gate to con,i;ress, over Arliiur St. (Mair, Jim., l»y 51 vote ol" 11 to 10. Tile contest elicited wide and nmisiiai interest, and was not uiiatteiided liy iiiucii acriinony and ill blood, 'i'iio St. Clairs were federalists, and parly feelinj;' ran extremely liijih ill tliose days. Ilairisoii was lar;;ely instriiineiital in ('oii;;ress in ohtaining tile )»assai;e of tile act of division. I'p to tliistiiiie tlie smallest tract of jmhlic lands which could Ik; entered was KM) acres, excejit I'ractioiial jiieccs cut by im|iortaiit streams. This uas a ji'icat hindiaiice to settlement, and to the poor our land sys- tem Avas a curse rather than -a blessing. Harrison, fully appreciating this grievance, urged through Congress a law anlhorizing the sale of the public lands in tracts of.'iL'O acres, with a cash i»ayment ol only one-fourth and the bulance in one, two and three years. The passage of this law was regarded in the west as H public .service of the great«'st importance, rendering Harrison ex- tremely popular. He was. M;iy l-'l. iSdO, :ippoiiil<-d vlovernor for the Indiana territory, .lohii (iibson (he to whom in 1771, Logun, tlie great Indian chief had delivered his celebrated speech), was ai>pointed secretary; and \Villiam Clark, -lohii (Irillin and Henry Vauderbiirgh, teiritoriiil judges. In the aiiseiice (»f the governor, secretary (iibson jiioceecled in .July to jiiit the machinery of terri- torial government in motion by ap|ioiiiting the necessary local oHicers i'or the administration of the laws, vVc. In .lamiary. ISOI, (ioxernor Harrison, having ariixcd at his post of duty, immecliute- ly coincned tlieJiKlges with himself at the seat of government, for the ado|»tioii of "such laws as Ihe exigency of tlu', times" reipiiicd, and to the discharge of such other duly for the government of the territory as congress had by law imposed upon tliem. They remained in si'ssioii two weeks, passing several res(»|iitions ]»rovi- diiig ])aymeiit for various services, iiiul a,"», Loui;-- iana was detachcil and erected into a se]»arate territory. Shortly alter this Aaron Ihirr entered upon his treasonable eflort to wrest from the Ciiited Slates this largi- domain ami to found his soiith- Avestern empire. To organize an expedition for his enterprise, he visited, among other jihices in the west, N'incenues ;ind Kankaskia, and induced a fi w men of the territory to enroll their names on the, list of his followers; but the scheme came sjieedily to naught — his nieii abandoned it, andlie was arrested in Mississipjii in the spring oflS()7. Alter the purchase of liouisiaua. it became desirable to learn something respecting the vjist region lying between the Mis- 234 niSTOKY OF ILLI>'OIS, .sissi)»i>i and tlic- I'acitic. Coiii^Tcss llicrctoic iiutliori/.t'd ail ovoi'laiid cxitloriii.y' cxpt'ditioii. !<» the <'()iiiiiiaiid of wliicli llic, J'rcsidciit appointi'd Captains Mcniwcatlu'r Lcwi.s and William Dark, the latter a Itrotlicr of (icn. (lcor,uc KopTs Clark. Tlui ]»ai1y, consistin;^' of .">4 men, ciicaniix'd dniin^' tlic winter of lS(K»--4 in tlie American l)oitoiii, near the niontli of Wood lixci', below A'ton — then the nltama thnluof the white setth-meiits in Illi- nois — and started thence npon tlieir toilsome and i»erilous jonrney, May 1 Ith, reachinj;- the racilic NoNcndier 17, ISd,"). The exjiloicrs retnrned in safely to St. l^onis about a year tlie reai'ter. 'i'he. ])eninsnla of .Alicliij^an was also, l>y act of Confi'ress, flanuary 11, bso,"), detached from Indiana and ere(;ted into a separate territory, the act to take effect Jane ;!(>, bSd,!, The nndn toi»ics of interest dnrin;^' the !> years that Illinois con- stituted a i)art of the Indiana teiritory, were: the ac(|uisition of land titles from the resident Indian trilies, land speculations, and the adjustment of laud titles; ne;^ro shncry; or^ani/.aiion of the leriitorial le.uislature, extension of tlu' ri^ht of sulfrap' and the; detaclnnent of Illinois fr«un the Indiana ti'rritory.* Captain Wil- liam Jlenry Harrison, besides liis a|)iiointMU'Ut as jiovenior, was also constituted superintendent of Indian affairs, and ncsIimI ■with plenary powers to uejiotiate treat ii's between the United States and the several tril)esof Indians residin.u' within his oflicial jinisdiction, for the cession of lands. As the rai)idly advancing .settlements of the \vliites ]ienetrated i'artlier daily, and crowded ii]ion the domain of the I'cd nnin, it becanu' desirable on the ]iart of the ji'encral .iioxcrument to eular,u(' the area of its landed ac(|ui- sitions beyond the sti])idations of the treaty of Cireenville, by^ Avhich 17,71*4,18!) acres of laud were obtained. IJy an active exer- cise of these ])owers. in which his Ivxcelleucy disco\ered ii remarkable ai>titiide, no less than ten treaties were concluded with various tribes by the close of the year bSO,"), extinjiuisliiu,i;' the In- dian titles to about ."JO,!*!!!!,!)!!!) acres juore of land. AVe cite in brief the ti'ealies of that i>eriod, )»y which lauds lyinj;' either wholly or in part within Illinois, weic relintpushed : Tn((ti/ of Fort \V(ii/ii<; concluded rlune 7, bSO,'{, with certain chiefs and head nu'U of the Delawares, Shawam^se. I'ottawatouiies, Eel IJixcr, Wea, Kickapoo, Tiaukeshaw, and Kaskaskia tribes — ratilied at N'iiH'eniH's Au.uiist 7, 1SU;>, by three of the tribes and the Wyandots, by which there were ceded to the I'nited States, 1,((.'54,0 acres of land, L5.'j(i,i-8 of which were situated within Illinois. Treaty of Mitnitiics, concluded August lo, 18(».'?, with certain cliiets and wariiors of the Kaskaskias, in consideration of the pro- tect in,u' care of the j;o\('rniiu'nt. of >*-"»8(> in <'asli. of an increase of their annuity under the treaty of (irceuxille to $b'<'<>, of ?<.'J(>() toward buildinj^ a church, nnd an annual paynn-nt for s('\-en years of •*H>(l to a Catiiolic jniest stationed amon.u' them, the tribe of Kiiskaskias, r«'duc(-d to a few hundred indi\ i(luals, but still repre- senting the once jiowerful coid'ederacy of the Illinois, ce(lei, ('iiil)i'iiciiiii' tlic ^rcjitor i)iirt of soiitlicni lIliiMtis, .sonic M,()0S.l(i7 iirrcs, n !ii;i^iiiliciciit .yiMiit. Trcdfi/ of' iSt. /v*»(.v, ('oiiclndcd Novciiilicr .'id, 1S0[, by wliicli llic, cliicl's iiiid liciid iiicii of tilt' iiiiilcd Sat' and l''o\ naliiins ccdfil tt) tlic rnitctl States, a yit-al ti'at't on l)t)tli sides of llie .Alississippi, e\teMdin:4' on tlie east l)aid< IVoni tlie nioiitli tif tlie Illinois tti lln^ li"ad t)l' thai liver and tlieiit'e to tlie \\'iseonsin, antl including': on tlic west eonsideialile ptntions of Iowa and .Missouri, from I lie nioiitli of tlie (iascoiiaiie noil liward. (In ISIO tjie ^Dverniiieiit, ,i;raiited liaek to the iiniled tribes alioiit r),(H»(l,()l»() acres in Iowa). Out of this treaty, as wc shall see, siihsetjuently grew the IJIack ]lawk war. Tnvl;i of Viiironies, eonclntleil Deconiber ."JOtli, ISO,"), by which the chiefs ami warriors of the I'iankeshaw triiie ceded to the I'liitetl States their claim to a tract of country in Illinois, bortlering on tile Wabash river ojiposite N'iiicenncs. extending north antl south for a consitlerable distance, and comprising -.(iWi.iL' t acres. 1'hiis by successive treaties all the soul hern third of Illinois antl a broatl belt of hintl between the Illinois ami Mississijjpi rivers, bordering on both streams ami running northward to the Wiscon- sin, was divesleil t»l' the Imliaii title as early as 1S(»."»; but wliihi iniicli of the country was thus lawfully tlirt»wii t)pen tt> the ail va nee of the eiitei'prising itioneer. the chiltlreii of the forest still lingered aroiintl their ancient hunting grounds, reluctant to aliamlon tin; scenes of their youth anil the gra\fs of their ancestors, notwith- standing tlie solemn cession of their native lami to the jiowerfitl goveriiiiieiit of the ]tal(? faces, the receipt of i>ayineiit, ami their ]»r()mises to retire. Nor ilid they abstain from occasional maraud- ing excursions into the frontier settlements of the whites. Tlu! I'emoteness of Illinois from the Atlantic sea-boarti, its ilestitutiou of many of the comforts of ci\ ilizetl society, ami exposure to the precarious amity of the savages, to a great extent tletei'red emi- granls t'rom coming hitlier. They Ibuiid, aside from the (|ualily of the soil, e(|ual o]»portuiiities in Kentucky, Ohio, anil southern Imliana, with greater security i'roiii danger and more comt'iiience of access in their slow ami toilsome iiiotle of travel. Meiice, at this time the settlements on the Waliash, the Illinois, ami the I'lipor ]\Iississippi, increased slt>wly. comparetl with the regions above iiieiitioned. N'irginia, by her tleed of cession, liatl stipiilatetl that '"the I'^reiich ami ('anatliaii inhabitants, antl all other .settlers of thi! Kaskas- kias, St. \'iiiceiits, ami the iieighboriiig villages, who juiifessetl themseht'S citizens of N'irginia, shall have their possessions ami titles conlirmed to them, antl be ]»rotecteil in the enjoyments of their I'iglits ami liberties."' '^flie congress of the oltl coiifetleration, by resolutions of .June L'Otii antl August l!!), ITSS, ortlained that steps be iniiiiediately taken for contirming in their possessions antl titles to lantis the i'^rench ami Camitlian inhabitants, and other settlers, who, on or befort^ JTS.'i, had jirofesseil themselves citizens of the I'liitt'd States, or of any State; and that a domiMoii shoiihl be given each of the families then lixiiigat either of the \ illage.s of Kaskaskia, Prairie du Uocher, C'ahokia, Fort Cluirtres, or St. IMiillips. Out of this grew the old "heatl-righ^elaims, of which it seems there were only a total of I'll in all the counti'y. We lia\t' seen that in IT'JO the French, iu i:lii:ir impoverishod condition, i 230 UISTOKY OF 1LI.1M(J1S. olijcctod strciiiKMisly to i)ii,viii,i'' llic ('xjh'IIsc of surveys. Confess l>;iss('(l ;i liiw Mil fell .'!, 1 T'.tl, |tro\ itliii;;' fill'tlicl', tliiit \\ lici'»! liiinls liixl ix'cii iictuiilly iiii|»i'o\»'(l :iM(l «'iilti\ jitcd, midcrii siipixtscd <;raiit of tlic siiiiu'by iiiiy <-oiiiiii:iii(tiiiit or coiut claiiiiiii*; iuitliority to make .sucli uraiit, tlic (io\»'iiior of the territory was eiiipowei'ed and eliar.u'ed witli tiie duty toeoidiiiii to llie persons eiilitle acres to any one person liowexer. 'I'lie benefits of this act were extended to persons eiiti- tle(l undei' it, bnt who had removed out of the eountry, pro\ ided they or their heirs shonid return and oeeni>y their lands v, ithin ~) yi'ars. l>y the (itli section of the same act, in the same manner, n <;i'anl of land not exceedini;' KM! acres was pro\ided to each person >vho had not already obtained a donation as abo\ c from the I'niled States, and who, on the lirst day (tf An;;nst, 17!»(», had been en- rolled in the militia and art of claimants, and those who desired to see llio i'otintry till uj* and prosper, to hiivc these obstacles cleared away. As a renu'dy, a law was passed by eon.i;ress, March I.'), bS()4,estal)- lisliinu' land oflices at Kasl, 1S0;>, as wcie not claimed by any other tribes. Michael tlones and IC. l>ackus were ajtpointcd register and ri^ ceivei". respect ixcly. of the land oflice at Kaskaskia. These j;entlemen, in entcrinji' upon their duties as commissioners, soon learned that it wouM be necessary to ]»roeeed with j^reat circum- spection, as many of the land claims present«'d (iisco\ered ('vidences of fraud, and hence their labor of in\esti,uation becamo immense, and they made but slow pioyress. 'I'hey nuule an elal)o- rate rei)ort in ISIO, which may be seen in Vol. 11, American State I'ajK'rs — IMiblie Jjands, to which we are indebted for our facts in great ]»art. See jkiuc 1(L'. l''roni a very eaily time these land claims of ancient j:i'ants. both French and l']ii,nlisli — of (lonations to heads of families, '-head ri<;hts." of im])rovement I'iiihts, and ndlitia rights, became a rare iield for the operation of s]te<'idators. The l''reneh claims, owinj>' to the |M)\('ity of this ]»eople, were in j^real ])art un ■onlirmcd, and tliis cireumstauce, with others, ('(Hitributed to lbrc<' many of them into market. We have seen, also, with what facility the IJritish connnaudant, Wilkins, made extensive ,i;rants to nunuTous la\()rites in various portions of the eountry, and these lieing INDIANA TEUKITORY. a]>i);n'('iitly in coiitriivoiition <)f'tli<> Kiiiji's procliuiiiitioii of Octolicr Ttli, 17(»;>, were pmcliiiscd I'oi' ;i tritlc; ;iml ;i.s*1or tlic iiiililiii rimlits of KM) ;h'1v ti'iicts, wliiU' \iili(l, liicy sold freely iit .">(> cents per sicre, in liiyli pri(;e(l and trillin.^ inercliandise, p'ronrtlic passii,i:{' oftlic law of 17i)l to till' time tiiat tlie cominissioiiers tool; np the inv('sti;;ali(»n of these elainis, speculation in tlieni was rife,and very lew of lliein renniined in tiie iiaiids of oiij^inal elainiants. 'I'lie yiced of specnhitorscansed nnnicroiiH claims to pass cnrrent with- out close scrutiny as to the ])roofs npctn which they rested, a circumstance which at the same lime tended all the moretostimu- hite the pro<1uction oi' tiaiiduleut claims. The numlier of fraiiiliilent claims was comparatively yreat, hut by purchase and assignment they, more than the j^cnniiie. became concentrated in the hands of a few sju'culatoi's. The ofli<-ial report of the commis- sioners for the district of Kaskaskia, made in ISIO to the secretary of tho treasury, siiows that they rejected S!l(> land claims as either il]e;^al or fraudulent, ."•TO beiiij;' supported by perjury, and a considerable innnber foi'jicd. The report furtliei' shows that the assignees were privy to both these atteiupted frauds; the jteijured dei)ositions a])pt>ared in the liandwiitinj;' of claimant sjx'culators not unfretpuMitly without a word ciianii'ed by the sworn sij.',ners. There ai'c 11 names yi\'en, both lOii^^lish and l-'reiu-h. who made it a rej;idur business to furnish sworn certilicates, professinji' an in- tiiimte knowledji'e, in every case, of the settlers who had made certain inii)rovemeids, and when and where they were located, upon which claims were pr.'Jicated. In some cases these names were assnined and thede]»ojient woidd never a]>itear;in sonu' tlu'y Avere real and well known ; while still in (»thers. ]mrpoi'tin.i;to coiiui from a distance, well km.^vn names would be for.^ed. In one case; several hundred dei)ositioiis i)oured in npon the commissioners from St. Chai'les, Missouri, in the names of gentlemen formerly well known in Kaskaskia. The conuuissioners, having; their suspicions aroused that they were forgeries, sumnnmed them to appear before them, which they I'cadily did, thonj;h they <'onld not Inive been comjx'lled to, and with tears in their eyes declared on oath that they li\cd in r])per Lonisiana, that they had never been in St. C'hailes in their liv<'s, and that the dei)ositions were (les)>i(!- able for,neries, A J-'remdnnan, clerk of the Parish of l*rairi<' dii liocher, "without juoperty and foud of liipior," after ha\inj;' ^iven some liOO dei)ositions in favor of three ceitain land <'laimaid spec- nlators, whose names would be fannliarly recoi>ni/ed today, "was induced eithe)' by com])eusation, fear, or the im])ossibility of obtaining absolution on any other terms, to declare on oath that the said despositions were false, and that in fi'ivinji' them in. he had a regard to something beyond the truth.'"* It is not pleasant for an Illinoisan to read in the pul)li(^ ai'chives of onr conntry, noted after the hoiu)red names of tin' tirst pronu- iient settlers of onr State, whose descendents have becon)e consi)icnous in its subse,bcrt Reynolds, Win. Morrison, Itielmrd ord, Wm. KoUey, and others. Am. Stale Papers, vol. ii, lOl— Pub. Lauds, 3, ib. 115— ^ 23S IIISTOK'Y OF ILLINOIS. is tlip fact. Well iiiiiilit :i ('olcinporiiiy, voiiiiy' at tlu' time, snl>s(i- (|ii»'iitly rxi'laiiii, tii.il ••[lai lies wci'c hraiidfil willi pcijiir.v and t(ir;^('ry to an alariiiiii;^ t'\tciil."'t liiil when lie I'liitlicr says that '*thr best citi/cns in the conntiy wci'o sti^inati/.cU with tlic above criini's, witlioiil cause." the facts appear a^^ainsl him. Mncli rancor and jtaftisan leclin.u was en^cnderefl a.uainst the coinniis- sioncis by ihe inlhiential claimant specnhitois, wiio were llnis tliwarte, while the impoverished l^'icnch were nnable to bear the exjiciise of the j;dvernmcnt surveys, the rich and inlhiential specnlators readily met this dillicnlty and oI»tained their patents. It seems that many of tin' ji()vern(»r's c(»nlirmations wi-re made by tlie bnndle. As bnt a single instance, ont of many, we will cite his contirmation, in one balk, of 1)0 donation rights to heads of fam- ilies, of 4(10 acres each, anionntinf;' to .'{(»,(KH) a<'res of land, in tlie liands of .John Ivluar as assij;iiee. AN'e have already noted Ins contirmation of an i'>n;^lish urant described as conlainini;' l'),0((0, acres but which really contained ;i(»,(l(l(», a nnjiety of wliicli liad l)een incviously conx'eyed to his son. AVhile this was Ihe laruesi, there were many otheis in which liis son shared, that I'cadily recei\cd his contirmation. 1^ v id en t fraud and imposili(»ii wei'c also i>racticc, ISO."», widcli was lo meet at N'incennes, I^'ehriiary 7tli followiiij^'. and nominate ten men for tlie ie,uislati\c council. 'I'lie iiieinhers elect from Illinois wei'c Sliadracli liond and William I'.i.uiis, of .Si, ( 'lair, ami ( ieor^c f'islier, of Ikandolpli. 'I'iie names presented from Illinois for conncilors, were Jean I'raiicis I'errcy and .lolin Hay. of St. Clair, and rieric JMeiiard, of l»aiidolpli. {'resident .lefferson waived his ri,<4lit of seleciioii in faxorof (ioverinn' Ilaiiisoii, askiiiu' only that he reject "land Johl)ers, dislioiiest men, and those who, thoii^h holiesl, mi.u Id suffer themselves to be warped by party prejudice."' I'errey ami .Mellaril were selecte(l for Illinois. On the 7th of .Iniie I'oliow- iiiii', the .uo\ eiiior issued his proclaiiiat ion coii\ciiiii,L;' the Icj^iislaliiie for tlie L'ilth of .Inly, lS(»r». This was the secomi time that the jieople of this coiintry, thron^h their I'cpreseiitalix es. <'.\ercised the law maUiii,u' power for their own local ;;(iveiniiient. In his message, delivered the followin;^ day, the j;'overnor re- commended the jiassa^c of laws lo i»r«'Veiit the saleof intoxicating' li(|ii()rs to the Indians, sayin<4' : " Y'oiihave seen onr towns crowded Avith (ij^'iiikeii sa\ii,!;'es; oiir streets llowinj^' with blood ; their arms and clot hin.n' bartered for the liijiior that destroys them ; ami their miserable women and chiidreii eiidnrin.i;' all the extroniitics of cold and hnii.iici'; whole \illa.ii('s Innc been swept awiiy. A miserable, remnant is all that remains to mark the situation of many warlik(i tribes.'"' lie recomincmk'd, also, ii renH)deliii<;' of tlie inferior courts, so as to iiisnie a more ellicient administration of Jnstice; an im]»roved militia system; more eflicieiit [mnishmeiit for horse stealiiij;'; and ways and means for raising;' a revenue, sayiiiji'. that this latter would be their most diflicnlt and delicate duty; that while few were the ol»jccts of taxation in a new country, it must still i)e a burthen, and the commencement of onr linaiicial operations must lie cxjiectpd to be attendiMl by some trilling', thoiijih lu; trusted, temiiorary enibarrassineiits. The le.iiislatiire, by Joint ballot, elected IJenJaniin J'arke. of Indiana, territorial delcLiate to coii- ji'ress. The Icvyinj;' of taxes, as was aiilici[»ated, created consid- able dissatisfaction amon;;' s, 1807, where it was " resolved"' that they would "withdraw their conddeiMM'and supjiort forever from those men whoadxocated, or in any niaiiiier ]»romoted, the second jiiade ol' jiovi-rnment."* The lejiislature ]'e-eiiacted many of the i^'eneral laws selected and adojited by the ji'overnors and Jtiducs of both the Northwestern and Indiana territoiities, under the first jiiadeof their res])ective, p>veriimeiits. I'l'ox isioii was made for a collection and tlioronj:h revision of thelaws, by a commission. Accordiiijily, a volume was, two years later, produced, bearinj;' the following;- title: " Laws of the Indiana Territory, com])risiiij;' those acts formerly in force, and as revised by ]\lessrs. ,Iohn Kice Jones and John Johnson, and ^Dillon's Indiana. 1 240 UISTOIIY OF ILLINOIS. jjiisscd (al'tci' iiiiicii(liii»'iits) 1)\ llic Ic^iisliiliirc ; and llic ()ii;iiiia'. aiis jdissctl ill llic lirsl session ol' the second ^I'Mcnd asst'inl»l,\ of tln' said It'iriloiy — hcj^an and held at tin- lioron;;ii of V'incrnncs, on tlic Hitli day of An^iist, A. 1>. ISOT.'" Messrs, Stont aial Snioot, '• |>iintcrs foi' t lie tcnitory," were liic pnhlislifis ; llic paper, on wliieli it was printed, was l)rouj;lit on iiorseliaek iVoni (ieor^e- town, Kentucky. Tliis collection of old statnfcs relates juincipally "to the orj;an- izalion of superior and inferior <'oiirts of Justice, tlu' appoint- ment and dniies of territorial and connty oilicers, ])rison and ]>risoii Itonnds, real estate, interest and money, marria;,;('s, di\(»i'ces, licenses, fei'ries, ;:rist mills, elections, militia, roads and lii;ili\vays, esira,\s, t respassin;;', animals, inclosiire and enltivaliou of common lields, I'elief of poor, taverns, improvinji' tiie breed of Imrses, taxes and revennes. ne;4r(pes and midattoes nnder inden- tnres as servants, fees of oilicers, sale of inloxieat inji' li(piors, r«'li«'f of persons imprisoned for debt, killin;;' wolves, i»roliil>itin^' the sale of arms and ammunition to Indians and other persons, the standard of wei;ilits and measnres, vaj^rants, ant horizin,^ aliens to ]iui('hase and hold real estate in the teri'iloi'y,"* etc. The pen- alties ]»rovi(le(l for (-rimes and misdemeanors, were, death for treason, murder, arson and horse-stealing-; nuinslanjihter, jmnisli- aitle as ])roviiled at common law; burglary and robbeiT, each by whipi)in,n', line and, in some cases inij»risonment not exceediii;;' iO years; riotous conduct, by line and impiisonment ; larceny, by tine or whipping', and in certain cases, bound out to labor not exceedinf'' 7 years; for;;('ry, by tine, disfranchisement and stand- in,ii' in thi' pillory; assault and battery, as a crinu', by line not cxceediuf;' .*n><>; hoj^-stealiny', byline and Avhippin*:'; "^iunblinj,;', jtrofaue swciirinj;' and Sal»balh-l>reakinj;', each by tine; bi^^amy, by line, whipping;' and dislVanciiisement. The disobedience of ser- vants and children, a Justice of the ])eace was entitled to ])unish by imprisoiMuent in the Jail until tho culprit was '• humbled," and if the olfense was accomi>anied by assault, lu- mi<;ht be wliipiied, not exi'cediu" 10 striiies. •Dlllon'slndiunn 'Dillon 8 indiunn. Till' laws, reltitiiig to ludontureU slaves, are treated under Governor Cole's aduiinis- triitiou. ClIAPTEU XXT. 1 S( »!)_] ILLINOIS T !•: I ! I M '!'( ) I { V. Opjuisitiou to Dirisi.oti — .Irs.st; It. Thinuax — (Inr. Ktlirardx — Xathdiiii'l I'djw — Tn'ritoritil Federal Judi/cs — The (Invevuor aroids ihe meshes of the Sepnratioiiisfs toid AiiliSe2)(ir<(fio)ii.slf< — Condition (iiid Vop- nUition of the Territon/. V>\ Met oF conj^it'ss, ;\]»)>rov(Ml l-'cltinurv .">, lSO!t, mII flint i)art ol" I lie liMliiiiiii 'i'cnitoiy l\iii,i;' '"west dI' the \V;ilt;isIi lixrr, iiiid ii iisli river iiiid I'ost N'iiiccinics, due iioi'tli to the tcrritoii;!! line hctwccii tlic I'liitrd Stiift's ;iii,("'•', lea via <;• in Indiana ahont doable that nnnii)er. Tliere are many tliinj;s wliicli iisnally iid1nenc(^ any American community in the desire to be indejtendent. Tlie main reasons advanced by Illinois in favor of a sej)iiration fiom Indiana were, the "wide extent of wilderness conntry" which inler\('ned bet wceu the civili/ed sijttlements of the conntry on the .Mississippi, abont the only ones in Illinois, ami the seat ol' ^'overnment on the AVabiish, renderin^i' the oidiimry jirotectioii (»f ;;(>vernnieiit to life and projjcrty almost iiniiatory; the in<'0]iveiiience. expense and •lanuers of lonji' jonrneys whose routes led tliroM,iih sections wholly iidial)ited by savajics, which litijiants in the snperior coni'ts of tin; terriloiT were eom])elled to iiicnr t'oi- themselv«'s and witnesses; and tht^ almost total obstrnctioii to an ellicient adnunistratioii of the laws in connties so distant from the sent of .government as those of Jllinois. Xotwithstandin.i;' the I'cmoteiiess and isohiticai of this conntry IVom the ceiitei-s of ])oi>idation in the (nited^ States at tlnit early day, the tide of emiiiiation i)ressed westward with a yradmd bnt ever increasinj;' tlow. In ISO.I .Miehi,L;an was erected into a se)>arate territory, an(i by tliistime Illinois contained SI white ])opnlation tally as j;ieat as that of the wjiole tei-ritory of Indiana when detache(l tVom Ohio five years befoie. The (jnestion of separation in Illinois j^rew ai)ace from this time on; it was re- peatedly pressed npon the attention of con^iress by lejiislative inenH)iials in ISOtJ, ISO" ami ISOS, nntil that body linally disposed of thesnbject as above stated, lint while the people of Vincennes and neijihb(»rin,n' villa<;es east of the Wabash (tpposed the sepaia- tion fi'om interested motives, for a divisi(ai wonid before many years elapsed take from tliein the seat of }:(>\erinnent and remove it to SI more central locality, and would sdso increase the rsiles of ]0 241 242 IIISTOKV Ol' ILLINOIS. t'lixiitioti, wliiit iiiiiy !i|i|H':ir tlillinili ol' soliitinii wii.s tiic tact that ill Illinois tlx'if \\:isaii\ lliiii;; lint iiiiiiiiiiiiit v in t'a\t)r of tli\ isi(»ii aixl iii(li'|M'iit'|iaralii)ii |iail,\ spniii;^ ii|> lirrt*, wiiicli, tliiHij;li ;;r('atl\ (»\ I'llMiiiif li\ ininiln'fs, Itv ils arti\ity nrdiist'd a (in-p ami aii;:r,\ Iccliii^ wliicli iiltiiiialcl.N rcsiillcil in MiiimIsIii'iI. r>,\ III*- iiiacliiiiatioiis o[' tlit' ii|i|Misrrs to ;i division '•(Mif (iT till' waiiih'sl tViniils ami alijcsl ailxocah's of tiii' iii«'a>iii** was assassiiiati'il at KasUaskia in (M»iisc<|iiciH'f."* 'I lie «|iHNiiuii of sc|iai'ati(iii tiii'iicd ii|m)|i iIic al)ilil,\ of llit> llliiinis iiiciiiIm'Is ut' till' lit ^isliitiirc, in sessional N'iiicciim's in ( )ctiiliiM- lso,s, lu <'lrcl. a il iti\ isioii. 'i'lie lllinoisans t'oiiml a suit- alile eaiidiilale in an Indiana ineiidiei-ot' the House, who was also Speaker, l>\ the name ol" Jesse 11. 'I'lionms, who, I'oi' the sake of {;(iin;;' to congress, was ready to viohile the sentiments of liiseoii- stitiieiits upon this (picstioii. Ihil the Illinois meinlteis, w itli a due appreciation ol' (he promises of politiei;ins, cNcn at that eaily da\, reiiiiiicd of this yfiitlemaii. liefoie lliey would \tite for liiiii, 1o snpport his pled;;t'.s l)y his lioiul, conditioned that he woiihl pioeiiie fidiii eonj;i('ss a division, whei'enpoii he was trininphanlly cleeled liy a liaic majority with the aid of his own vote.! lie was hnii;;' in elV!;;\ at N'incennes liy Ine anti-sepaiationisis; Itnt he ilis- cliai',ucd his pled;;*'s and his bond, i»y prociiiin^ the division iVoiii congress; and, as it wasdtailttlessdesiiahle to eliaii).;e his residence, he came lioine with a coinmissioii for a federal Jiid^^cship of the liew teriitorv in his pocket and rcimncd tt» Illinois. i>y the act of separation, the people of Illinois were also entitled to all and singular tlic ri;.'lils, pri\ ilexes and ad\anla!^es jiiaiited and secured to the peojile under Ihe ordinance of 17S7, which was ap|ilied to Ihe territory — fair words cnoiij;h, Init the oidinanci' coii- t'erred little political power; the iirevionsdiit its wire imposed upon the new oflicers, and the rresideiit was eiiipoW(r«'d to make appointments dnrinji' the n'cess of conj;ress; |in>\ision was inado liMliie or<;aiii/.ation of the second ^rade of territorial ^idvcriiincnt, whenever tin- <;(>veriior should at any time he satistied that a ma- jority of the iVeeholders of the territory desired the same, not w ithstandiii;;' there were less than ."i.tKIO inhaliitanls, lixinj; tho iiuinher of representativ«'s, in such case, at not less than seven nor more than nine, to be apportioned aiiion,u the counties hy the ;;ov- criior; the lej;islalivi' coniicil and dele;;ates to;-oii,nress wt'ie made clectivi' by tlie jieople; the old otheers wcic eoniinned in the exer- cise of their duties in Indiana, but prohiliiled in Illinois; pro\ isioii wasmaile for thetinal disposition of all Miits from Illinois jiemlinji' in the court at Vinceiines, for the collection of taxes levied and due; and the seat of ^iovernmcnt was lixed at Kaskaskia, until otherwise ordered bv the Ie"islature. •See odilrcssi of citizens to Gov. Edwiirds, at Kn»kiiskin, June, 1801), +.>oe t'ord's Illinois, p. 30. iXoiT. — .\ ciKidiis state of afTairs olitiiiiii'd witli rciraicl to Iiulinna after the separa- tion ot Illinois. On the ritith ol' Octoher, l.sdS, the ^-overnor had (iissoUcil the lijrisla- t nil' : li.v act ol idM^iiess, Fetuiiarj' ;f. ISIIH, Illinois was (li^taehed, taking: with ll live liicintiei s, whieh would have dIssoUcd the louislatiire had it not aliiMcly l)i'cn d'ssoUi'd; later in the same month, on the r.'Tth, eoiifrress passed a law extendiiif:' the riulil ot siitlraue and preserililnjj the number ot representatives foi' the territory, and turllier, directed the lefiislature to apportion the representatives ; but there was no leiiislature in oxist(Miee to make the ai)portionment. Indiana was in political chaos— somethiuK was re<|uired of a body that she did not i)ossess, and which it was impossible lor her to lefrally cieate. Knt (Jovernor Harrison cut the frordean knot, and, le;rall.v or otherwise, uppo'.tioued the territory, issued writs of election for a new legislature, "aud in October ILI.l.NnlH TF.UKITdllY. I'la Niiiiiiii I'Mwiirds. !it flic tiiiif cliicf' i'lsticr of the ('0111 tot' A])iM'iil.s iti Ktiitiick V. iMM'iiiiH' iiitiiH-lit (<'' eiitleiiiaii has held (lirst asajiid^c of our Superior ('oiiit, and f liei) promoted to his present station). e\ iiiee how highly he is <'sti- nialed aim> lu'iis." And in a let I erol° I lie same dale to t he I Inn. U'lilit. Sniilli. he ;aid: "Mis political principles aeeord with those of tlii^ licpultliean party. llis;;ood nnderstandiii;;', weij;lil of eharaeter and eoiieilialory inaiiiiers, ;i;ive him very fair pretentions to tlio oflice alluded lo. * » # | |ia\ c no doiiht thai t he whole repre- sentation from the State, when consulted, would concur in ascrih- iii;;' to him e\<'r> ipialiticalion for theolhee in (piestioii." Niiiiaii I'M wards was horn ill MoiilLtomery eoiinly. Md., in I77."i, and at 1 he time of his a|ipoiiii meiit as ;;o\ eriior was a I tout .11 years old. lie olitaiiieil his eai'ly ediieat ion in company with and partly nnder the tail ion of William Wirt, his senior l>y t W(» ,\eais. and life, loiii; friend. Aft<'r a collegiate I'oiirse at Carlyle, I'a.. he coiii- ineiiced the study of law. hiit l»el'ore. linishiini' it was sent to Kentucky to select lauds foi' his brothers and sisters and open a farm, lie located in Nelson eoiinty, and heiii.u' fnriiished with ample means in a new coiintiy where the eharacler of society was as M't iiuforiiied, and snrroiinded liy ('oinpaiiions whose pleasures and pursuits were in sensual indul^emres. he fell into indisereticuis and excesses for t w (I or three years.* l»ul in the then standard (d' society, this did not jUfxcnt Ids election to the Keiitnek,\ l.e^isla- fiire. Sul)se(|ueutly he broke away from his diss\ crnor, was appointed secre- tary of the territory. He was horn in K<'nliicUy, at the Fallsof the Ohio, in ITSf, His ed neat ion was collej;iate, ht'inn'oiic (»f tin- early •iiadiiates of Transyl'. ania Tniversity, at Lexiiiutoii. His natural i'lidownieiits of head and heart, wcie vci'y snperior. To a tine analytii-al mind, he added a genial and heiievoleiit dis[iosilion, andjiTcat dignity of characti'r. He selected the law for a j)r()fes- sioii. and soon iiiasteres iiic i w o coun- ties t>f the Illinois tenitory. On the ;Jd ()f jMay, he sii»poiii(ed and eommissioiicd Klias Hector altoiiiey-jicneral. John llay sheritif, ImiocIi .\loore coroner, and 17 Justices of the peace. On the Ilth of .Iiinefollowiiiii, (lovernor Edwards assniiied the dnties of his otlice. He had taUeii the oath of ollice in Keiitncky, Itefore his departure. I'poii his arrival at Kaskaslda. his llxccl- lency was tendered a tlatterinji' piihlic address by the citizens, in Avliich he was asked to espouse the side of the '■ virtuous inajorily"' l>y whose patriotic^ exertions the territory had been divided and his Kxcelleiicy attained his lii.i;li station, and to whom oii^lit to be distribiitt'd the otllices in his jiift, lather than to those wh(» jie\ cr ceased to oppose the measure and heap caluinni(>s andindiy- nities upon its friends. The j:o\criior, iinwillin;^' to become a part- isaiioii either side, made a felicitous but iion-commiltal ifply. He re-appointed .loliii Hay cleik of St. Clair county, and, as a curious instance of oflicial self-succession to othce in tliis country, we will ]iieiili(ni that he held that [tiihlic trust from thence on, until his decease, in l.S4,"». In place of l{eeti»r, I)eiijaiiiin 11. Doyle had 1)een appointed attoriiey-.ii'cncral, and he resi^iiiiny, -John . I. Crit- tenden, of KeiiliicUy, was appointed ; hut the latter, after holding; the otlice a few months, also resigned, wlieii his brother, Thomas L., succeeded him. On the Kith of .luiie, ISO!), the governor. Joined by Judges Stuart and S)trigg (Tlnniias being still absent in Washington), constitut- ♦licytiD.ds, ill Ills I'ioiicci- History, siiys tluit Spria^r iiccoiniiiiiiiccl fiovcrnnr Kdwards in liis ciinipnimi nsriiiiist llic Iiiiliiins (111 ecdi'la LiiUc, 111 I SI:.', iiiiciicuiiilicicil liv friiii orollicr Wen poll iiiiliciitiii«' liilliLicrciicy . "Ills piu-ilii- ami sirkly appfaraiu-i', toj:il lirr with liis perlcct plillosopliic indilVorciH'e asto wiir or peace. Hie or cleatli iiiinle liliii tlie mbjout ol' imioli discussion aiuoiiKtliu troops, lie was tlio only savaui in i lie army. " ILLINOIS TKUllITORY. L'45 m inn' ;i l(',ni.sl!itiv(' body in tlic first .uradc of Icrrifoiiiil .ii<»v('niiiioiit, * iiiitlci' llic ."itli sfctioii ol' tlic ordinance of 17S7. met iiiid I't'-ciuictccl , sncli of tlic laws of flic Indiana territory, with \vlii('li tlio people, I wlio foi' nine years liail formed a pai't tiiereof. were familial', and I as were snitable and ap[)lieal»le to Illinois, and not local or speeial ' to Indiana. Many of tlicsc laws were those which, withont ehan,i;e, I of phraseology, had either 1 teen originally imported or enacted by i the anthorilies of the old Xorthwcstern territory, I Thus was ])id into opeiation the inachinery of civil g-ovoniment I in the Territory of lUii.ois; bnt (lovcrnor lOdwai'ds, owin.ii' to the I local political dissension^, ^rowini; out of the tpu'stion of territor- 5 ial division, which had dc;;enerated into jiei'sonal animosities, met \ with no inconsideral)le dillicnlties in avoidin*;' the meshes of these factions, striii;.iilin.L,' tiercely for respective ascemlancy. lie re- solved not to l>e can^hr in the t<»ils of either ]»aity, and for the intei-csts and |»r()s|»ei'ity (»f the conntry, sonj^iit to i,i;iiore the entire 4)Mestion that it mi.irht )»ass into oblivion. At that day. the militia system, which had )-eceived the earnest I'eccmimendation of (Jover- Dor Ilai'risoii, and which was also a- necessity of liic times, was in full and ett'ective o])eration. Witklhe dissolntion of the Indianii territ(ny. it became the dnty of (lovcrnor iMlwards to re-oryani/.e the militia for the new teiritory (tf Illinois. The scparatioiiist.s urj,'ed his l'L\cellency to appoint none to oflice in the militia who liad ever o|tposed the division of the t<'rritory; but this wonld have committed him <-ontrary to his jnd.uiiH'nt. The anti se]»arii- rionists pressed iiim tore-appoint all the old olliccrs; bnt as a lU'W commission wonld have \'oided all oti'enses I'or which any ollicer miijiit ha\»' been tried and jinnished by dismissal, he refused to accede to that also. To steer clear of both Hcylla and Charibdis, lie rcfcrreti the (picstioiito the peo|de. by direcli:iL!,- the militia I'ompanics to elect the company otiicers, and the latter to clir)o,se the Held otiicers. With these orders, his lv\c«'llency i('tire(l from the tield o)' contention to Kentncky, to wind np some nntinishcd <-onrt bnsiness, and upon his return, late in the fall, he issued an address tothe pi'ople. cxplanatoiw of his (iourse, and commissioned the militia otiicers returned to him as el«'<'red. The population of the teiritory, at the time of its orLiani/.atiou, was estimated at '.l(>(>(»; tiie census of ISIO retunu'd it at a total of iLM'Si'— 1I,:)(H whites, ](if<, slaves, Oi;; of all otheis, e\c<'pt Indians — Ix-iiii;: an increase ofsoaie 1()(» per <-t .it during' the ]>i'eccdinj4' tU'cade. The frontiers had been steadily advanced b\ the adven- turous pioneers. To the north, the settlements had extended to the Wood river <'ounlry, in the present ."Madison county; east- ward, on Silver erect aiui u|>lhe Kaskaskia river; south and east, from Ivaskaskia, s(niie l."» miles out on the l"'ort Massac load; the l>irds had located at the mouth of the Ohio; at old Alassac and the Ohio salines, there had been nuclei of setllemeiits for .some lime; Sliawne<'town,* the nearest p.iint on tin- Ohio to the •salt wells, JL} miles west, had eoutained ., .. \v stra;;gliii^ houses "ShinriKM'diwii. whicli 'Icrivcs Its immo I'pom a diKsntisHod bnnd of that trllieof Iiid- liiiis lociitcd llii'ic Iriiin HS'i iiiI 1T»1(i, \v:is l:iii| out liy t lie iliiccliori of tile I'nitrd Stiitcs fj-o^iMiiicnt, ill If*!:!-! I, ,md for m (imiitci- of ii cciitiiry mm* the prliiciniil town in the Slate Tlu' -ili-. iliosrii wit li ii-IVrciico to its coiif i«-iiity"to tlic I TiitcdSt.iti'Ssaliiius, was an iiiiloitiiiiiiti' one, liiinsj siili.jrct to i-c oca toil imiiulat ions. In fslli, a Hood I'osc to rl f ridsrc )ioli'soii the fools of many of tlu? loy houses, andswepi 40of them away, lie- Fiilc:) oth' r daiiiaye to stock, Icncin^r, etc, I'etitions to change the location tu the uioiithul' the Saiinc creek, S miles below, were disregarded. 240 HISTORY OF ILI.l^sOIS. since ISO."); iilon-- tlic west side of tlic Wiiltasli. oppoMtc \ m- (•(Miiics, wciv sciittcrcd a few lamilit's, one Mc<':i\vl»'y liaMii- im'Ii- ctiated inland to the ('r<»ssiii.u (if tiic latllf Waliasli i)y the \ in- (M'lincs road, 1»mI llic latlt'i' wciv mostly ahaiidonod dufinji' tlic war of ISlL'. Indeed, tlic new selllenients were veiy sparse and all feeble, and from ISlO, nntil the close of tlie war, 4 years later, immiuration was almost at a stand. Ninetentlis of tlie terrUory \vas a liowlinu wilderness, over whicli red savajics lu'ld domni- ionand roamed at will, outnnmlterin-' the whites at least three t(» one. ClIAl'TKli XX 11. INDIAN TKOUI5LES IX ITJ.IXOIS PKECEDIXd TllK WAK OF LSIU The Countrj/ )))if in a Stdtc of Defence hi/ the Orddiiization of Iihikj. ing Companieii and the BmhUmj e1; l>ritis]i. after tlic war u'.' IiidcixMidt'iicc, rcliiuniislicd witli fji'cal I't'liKiaiicc. as we have seen, tlicii- liold upon tlir iioitliwcst- <'rii t('rrit<»i'y. Tlic ('('iil'cdciatcd tril)t's of (lie noilliwcst (inly rcascd tlicir wjiifan' vlicii llicv Joiiml tlit'ir last iio|M' <»!' iJritisli jiid cut «>(1' l)y .Tax's tifaty at Loiidcm. Xoxcinlx'i', 17!M;ltiit this ti'caty did not covci' all tiic oiitraj;('oiis j)ifl<'iisioiis of (iicat Ilrit- aiii. ill her (l('si)('.rat('\var with Fran(!(', later, she Ixddly hoai'dcd Ain^'iicaji vessels on llie In^li seas, searelMn.i' t'oi' Kiiuiisli-lioi'u seanK'ii, iin]»i'essin;;' tlieni into iiei- niaiiiie service upon tiie .i.',ronnd of '' once, an ICn^lislinian. alwa\s ;iii l'>n.i;lislinian." and denying- exj»atriation and Anu'iicaii <'iti/ens]iip liy natnrali/ation. Noi' did slie scrutinize veiy closely as totlie nationaiily of tlie seamen iuiitressed, as in tlie case of tlie riicsaiieaUe. i>oarded oil' tlie i'oast ())'■ N'ii'^inia, wliei'e. of four of tlie crew taken as desciters, tliree weje of American hirtli. in tlie retaliatoi\\ ineasui'es lietween i'-rance and Fn,iilaiid, to ])i'e\('nt trade and coiiinH-i'ce with either jiowi'r, our vessels, as neutrals, hecaine t lie prey of hotli liostile nations. The atl'air of tli<' Chesapeake inteiisitied the feel- ing already deep; .letferson ordered all IJritish shipsufwar out <»i the waters ot" the I'liited Slates, and con.ui'ess laid an emharu'i* on American v<'ssels, ioi'liiddiiii;' the'ii to lea\e port, to the yicat injury of American commerce. In the West, llritish emissaries were, busy arousing;' (he north- western sava^icsto war against the I'liited Slates. llaiiison's Zealand activity in divesiin,u' the Indian titles to western lands. was no iiiconsideralile I'lrovocative. In Seiiteiiilier, ISU't, he had l>eld a treaty at l''ort Wayne with the Delawares, I'otawatloniies, JMiamis, Jvickapoos, Weas and lOel Ifixer Indians, who. in consid- eralion of >(l!,.'>r>(» as annuities, and .*S,lM)(> of jireseiils in hand, ceded to the I'liited States a laru'c ti'act of countiy. coi!ip]i.-iiii>- near three million acres of land in Indiana, cxteiidiiiu up the \\\\- basli above i'erre Haute, and interioily to incliidi.' tlie middle waters of White river.and treiichinji- upon the home and hniilin^' ground of tin; great Shawnee warrior, 'recnmseli, wliosi- nation 247 248 HISTOIIY OF ILLINOIS. Mas not a party to the ticatv, and who tlcnouuft'd it as unjust iiud ilU-al. At a foiuicil, in\itt'(l 1»_\ (iovcnior Ilanison and iicld at \'in- ccnncs. Auyiist IL', ISIO, 'rccuniscli, I'ollowcd hy Kl(( wairiois, jnaintaincd lliat all the north wt-slrrn trilu's wi-ri' one nation, hold- ing their lands in coinnion, and thai without the consent of all the trilies concerned, no ti'cat v id' ])iirctiase and cession was valid; thai his inir|iose was to wiest [jower I'roni thc^ village chiels and put it in the iiands of the; war chiels. Nor did he deny having tiireatened to kill the cliiels who had treacherously sij;neaek from the sea coast now to be pushed into liie lakes. Harrison ridiculed his itretensions and tin- wronjis of his people, whereupon 'reciimseh spran.u' lo his feet, and excilediy charjiX'd his Kxcellency with clieatiii,i; and imposiiii; niton the Ind- iaii.^. His red warri(»rs, inllamei. In ISll, tlio Iiidijiiis ('((iimiiftcd iiiMii.v iiiiinlcrs ii|i()ii tlic wliitfs ill Illinois. Xoiir tlio iorksol' Siioal ciccU, on tlic 11(1 of .lime, tilt' rmiiily of ^[^. Cox liciiij;- iiiisciit, e.\c('|it ii voiiiiin- iiiiin iiiiil wdiiiiiii. ;i piiit.v of S!i\ii,iics killed llic loniicr, iiKiiijiliii.n' liis \hu\\ iiorrihly, stole tlic horses. ;in«l e;ii ried oil' the jiiil ii prisoner. The Coxes iiiid nei.;:hl»ois, to the niiiiilicr of ei.uht or t<'ii. niiide |>iirsiiit, iiiid some ."iO miles north of the pres- ent S|)riii. Wliitesid<'s, .lames 15. Mooic. and .lacob Short. Independent caxalry ci>mi»aiiies were also orj;auized for the protection of the reiiiole settlements in the lower Wabash country, of which Willis 1 lar.^ijn c, \\'illiam .McIIeiiry, Natliauitd J(turn<'y, Captain Craij;', at Shawneetow n. and \\'illiain IJoon, on the llii; .MuddN . were, respectively. <'oinimiiiders, ready on short notice of Indian outraii'cs. to make puisiiit of the depredatoi's. These i'au,i;in,ii' companies pci'lbiiiicd most etiicieiit service iu the ])rotectioii of the settlements iu Illinois ajiainst the sava!j;'e foe. The raniiciN and inonnled militia, in times of supposed peril, con- .slantly scoured the country a considerable distance iu ad\aiice of the frontier st'ttlcrs ; and yet the sa\a.u<'s would often prowl thronjih the settlements, commit ontraues. and elude succetssful ])iirsuit. (Ileal numbers (»f block house fortsfor stations for the security of families, were built, extciiilinj;- from the Illinois river to tlu^ Kaskaskia. tlieiKn^lo the I'iiit«'»l Stated salines, near the pres«'iiti town of lM|uality, up the Ohio and Wabasli, and nearly to all set- "•iteyuold's IMoiioer History. 2.")() IIIS'J'OUY OV ILLINOIS. tlciiiciits ill Illinois. S<»iiM> (if tlicsc forts were sitiiiitctl as follows: One oil llic incsciit site of tlic town of ('iiil,\lc; one a small resent town of lOdwards- villc, called Cam]) Kiissell. in honor of the colonel commaiiding' the 10 ran<;in,u' companies. The simplest form of lil(H'k-hoiise forts consisted of a sin,ule lioiise built of lo^s, compacliv laid n|> a story and a half or two stories liijili, with tin? coiners closely trimmed, to ju'event scaliiijectinj;' part, which commaiiiled the walls and spa<"e below against any Indian attempts to force an entrance. They atl'ori for water, or. possibly, the site was selected oxer a sjainu'. There wei'e usually two lieaxy entrance yates in the stockade walls, securely barred on the inside, and larjic eiionjih to admit teams. In times of extra ]>eiil. Iioises. and sometimes other \aliiable do- niesl ic animals, were taken into t he stockade o\ er iii_i;hl for saicty. If the foi't was not built out on the prairie, the woods was invaria- bly cleared back some distance, so as to alford no place of con- cealment to the stealthy enemy. It was often hazardous to lirst open the ji'atesof a nioriiiii.u. Milkiiiji; parties, upon their errands, were not unfrctpiently att.tckcd liytiie skulking' red I'oe. At times, seiitiiK'ls were often ]»osted diiriii}^ the iii;^lit, as in the case of re^ulai' piri'isons. 'i'he most notable, as also the larj;est, stroiijicst, and best ai)i»ointed in every respect of the stockatle forts, was Fort IJussell, IJ.LLNOIS TEKIMTCjUY. li.U ('si;i1ilisli('(l 1»\ (iovcriior T'Mwiirds citilv ill ISIL*. ;il»nii( lA miles iioi lliwcst (if llic |iicsc!il l"](i\\iirse, tiieir llmiider tones rexcrlieiatetl over the inoad e\|>aiiseot' wilder- ness |tiaiiie. and upon days of festivity, dress jtarade. and other displavs, added eelat to the occasions. 'I'his stockade was made tlie- niaiii depot for niililai'v stoi'es. and liecame also tiie ^^cneral rt'ii- de/.\(>iis tor the militia \ itliinteers. ran,u('rs and regulars, as well as the urea t jxiiiit il'dpinii for tlie orjiaiii/at ion of expeditions into the country of sa\a.ues on tiie I'eoria lake. Tiie onl\ Tiiited Slates reunlars. however, whi<'h camped at tins fort diirin;^ the war, was ii small comiiany, under the command of Captain !»amsey, early in the spring' of ISlL'. W hen (loxernor 1m I wards, duriiii; tlie ]»eriIoiis times of ISIl*, with Indian hostilities threateiiin;^' on e\cry hand, assumed c«)nimaiid of the Illinois forces, it was here that he estaltiished his head- <]narters. Ilei'e was ii'athered alioiit him the beauty and chivalry (ioiiio of tiic iinixal ol' ('iii»liiin IiC\('riii;n' willi a Icllcr lor liiin from (iovcriior Kdwards; but an Indian liad proccdcd liini, and r('|)ortcd that Lcscrin;^' was a»'com|ianicd In a force of oOmcn, and (lomo was unwiiiin,^' to meet iiim witluMit an armed escort of II waniors. On the morniiij;' of llieoth, however, the chief laised tin- Ameri- can tla^', and in answer to a messaue, called and received tlu) (> »U' iiKue persons. It was L'.'i l>y oO feel on the ili.^ide: slee|)iu,i; iuiuks. (i by 7. and ."» feet hijiii weie, arranged aionnd the lod^c. upon which the Indians slept or IcMiiiiicd, with their heads poiutinj;' toward the centre of the room and their feet toward the walls. ('a|>taiii Loeiiiij; and his companions were honored with one u«'\t to that of the chief ami his family. .Mtliouuh it was late when the visitors arrived, a. dish of new coin was set befoie them by the chief's stiuavv, and A\ hile they were j>arlakiniav es, char^^cd with crime, bein.ii, that tlu'y had depailcd with such aiul such chiefs on an expedition; that they had iiociuitrol over them; that it wi:siH»t their business, and (lid not concern them, etc. The aud>it ion of the youii^' biaves to )»e able to exclaim, during' their or;^ies. "1 am a man: who can gainsay it .' I have killed an Osa^c ! Ihavekilled a while!" stimulated them to t he cfuumission of oulra,i;«'s; while their frequent immunity from punisliiiu>nt, led them to infer inac- tivity, if not feai', on the i»art of the whites. (i(inu>was anxious the chiefs should atteml at the (h'livery <»f the governor's address, and hear tor themselves, so that they <'ould not afterwai'ds charjie liim with feai' or treachery, and denounce him as --su^ar mouth.'' In a conversation, (icuno s]»oke of seeinj;' \\'ashin,!L;t(Ui at I'liihi- (h'lpiiia. in I7!l-'!. and his elder bi other remembered the time when the IJritish put the Indians in the front of battle. •J). W. KUwurds" Lilu ot his I'uthur. ~ . ILLINOIS TKKUITOHY. 2.-13 A miiiihcr nl' cliicrs iind \v;ininis Iiii\ iiiy iinivcd, in olu'diciicr lo (ioiiio's siiiiMiioiis, tlicy iii(liil;;«'(l tlicii' coiiti'iiipt in a littlf iict of olVt'iisivoncss l»y displayinj;- the Anicriciin llii^i union !)(' adopted, rc^ardin;; tilt' dtinand ol'tlic Ainciicans rorliic snn'cndci' of ilu' nini'dcicrs and the stolen piopeitv. 'I'lie olfend- ers were greatly scattered, rceeix ini; tiie protection of eiuefs iinn- dreds of nnles away, (ionn) favored the sending' of an Indian connnission for tlieni, Itnt foresaw tiiat it would lie said to liini tinil lie l)elon;;cd on llie Illinois, and that lie liett«'r attend to liis ow II ti ihe ; and lie disliked the coyardly appeai'aiice of hav- ing' made the alleiii|il and failed. ( )t hers opposed the sniiciider of anythinj;' hnt the stolen properly. Meanwhile, the I'.rilish inspired the |»olicy of sendin;;' Little Chief, who was a "talkalixci fellow," to uive, the .Vinerieans any aiiioiint of assurance t<» answer present purposes, with which these, like many previous outrages, soon lobe covered hy jiassinj; events, would likewise reliniinary eonvcrsatioii with Cai»tain iieveriiiL;', indicated liis displeasure l»y sayinji' tlisit he hoped the lettei' of the jnovernor would he fully told ilieni as it was written, at which insinuation .Air. l'"orsythe. tlie interpreter, became not a little incensed. On the moiniiifi' of the Kith of Au;;iist. ISl 1. Captain Levcrinj'' l)ein.n' informed that the Indians were ready to proceed to the council cliiimher, promptly rei>aire(l thither, ac<'oiiipanie(l by his leading' men and Ihe inhahitants of Peoria whom he had invited. Aflei' a preliniiiiary "talk" on the part of Captain Ii«'V('riiij;. and sniokinji' tlu' pipe, the addi'css of (iovernor Kdwards, dated Kas- kaskia, July 21st, was slowly dclivc'red to them and carefully inlerpi'eted. It was addressed "(o the chi«'fs and vvarii(»rs of the tribes of I'otawatlomies. residin;^' on the Illinois liver and its waters, in the territory of Illinois." The u-overnor explained to them how faitlifidly tlie president had carried out all treaty obligations with the Indians, and that it was his jiicat desire to Jiavc his I'cd and white children live in peace and friendship ; that the tomalniwk and scaljiin^ knife had been ibr a lon^' time buried, but that a storm seemed now to be ^atheriuj^ ; that the whiles were beiiii^' ]iliinderc(l and niui'der«'d : citiiiji' a number of acts of hostility and};ivindf the address the council dispersed, and on the tbllowinj;' day (iomo made the subjoined rei»ly. which was interjireted and written down on the spot, and is not only very interesting' to peruse but shows this chief to have been the pus- 5! 254 IIISTOUV OF lIJ.INOIri. Hess(»iM)r ii lii;;li (»rifssiii^' j;Iii(lliesfs lot' (lie opiiurt iiiiilx , ( loiiio .v|Htl\(' ;is follows : " ^■(Hl set' till- color of our skill. 'I'lie Orcat Spirit, wlicii lie niailc and dis|:0>('d dl' man, placed tlic rcd-.-lviiis in this land, and lliosc w ho vorc hals, on the other side of llic lii>i walt'rs. When the ( ileal Spirit ])la<-e(i Us on lids j^ronnd, we Uiuw nothing Iml what was tin- ni.-hed to us hy nature. We made n>e of our stone a.\es, stone knives and cailhcn vi>-els, and clothed oursehes Iroio the skins of the lieasts <»l the lorest. \'et,\\e Wire conteiiti d I When thel'ifiich liist made lai;;e canoes, they crossed the Mide waters to this country, and on tirsl sd'in;; the red people, they were rejoiced. 'I'liey lold lis that we must consider onrselv(s as the children of the J-'reiich, and they would he our father ; I lie country was a jiood ont-, and they would cliaiigf goodH lor skins. "formerly, we all lived in one lar^t' villa)j;e. lu that villa^re (here was only one chief, and all tliinns went on well ; hot since our intercourse with the whites, llu-re are almosl as many chiefs as we have youiij? men. '• At the the time of the takint; of Canada, when the liritisli and the J""rencli were ti},ditin<,Mor the same country, the Indians were >olicilcidi'. If we are lool>, the wliitis are the caii.-c of it. from the commencement of their wars, they used many piMsiiasioiis with the liniiaiis ; tlu-y made them pre>ent> ol merchandise in order to {^ii them to join and assi>t in their iiattUs- >ince which time there have always hi-eii tools ainonj; us, and the whites are lilanu'ahle for it. •' 'I'lie British asked the Indians to assist them in their wars with the Aiiicricans, tellinj; them that if we allowt'd the Anieiicans to remain npoii our lands, they would in time taki' the whole country, and we would then have no jilace to jio to. Someof the Indians did join the British, Iml all did not; some ol tins nation, in ]Kirti(ular, did not join them. The JJritish persisted in iirjiinji ujion ns that if we diii not assist them in (Irixinji the Anu'iieans from our lands, (Uir wi\es and (ddldreii would lie miscralile for IIk' reinaindi'r of our tlays. In the course of that war, the American jicneral, Clark, came to Kaskaskia, and sint tor the chiefs on this river to meet him there. Weattended, and he desiri'd us to remain still and (|iiiet in our own villaj;es, .-ayin^ that the Americans wi'ii' alile of tlani>el\(s to li.ulit tlu' British. \ ou ,\iiieiieans ncnerally speak sen.-^ihly and jtlainly. ^Vt the irt'aly of (irieiiville, (oneral Wayne sp a dog that way when we make a saerillee. IS'ow, listen to nie well i'l what 1 havi' to say to you. "Some time ago, one ot our young nieii was drunk at St. IjouIs, and was killed by an American. At another time, some jierson stole a liorse near Cahokia. Tlu' citi/eiis of tlii' village lolloweU the trail, met an innocent Kiekapoo, on his way to l^askaskia, ami killed him. Bast fall, on the otherside, and not tar IVom J-'ort Wayne, a Wyandot Bidiau set lire to the prairie; a settler came out ami asked liiui how he came to set lire. The Indian answered hat he was out huutiug. The set- ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 255 tliT htnick lilt' liiili:iM iiinV't'oiitiiiiit'd to lictit liiiii till llicy wci'c |i:irlt'il, will- 11 iiiiotlicr M'ttliT shot tilt' liiiliiiii. 'I" I lis siiiiinn'r, ;i ( 'liippcwii liid- iiiii.iit Detroit, wiis looking lit a k>"i, wlicii it Wfiit olTacriiiciituliy iiiiil shot .111 Aini'ricaii. 'I'll*' Cliipiicwii was (li'iiiaiiiltil, diiivi rt'tl up and cxfciitt'd. Istliistiic way (Ji'iicral Wayne exliiliits Ids ciiarity to llic ri'd-siiiiis? NN'iicMi'vi'r uii iiistaucc of tiiis kind liappciis, it is usual lor tiic rt'd-kins to n't;ard it as an accident. You Anieiicans think that all the niischiel's that are coniniitled arc known to llie eliiei's, and iniineili- atcly call on tliciii I'or the surrender of the oHendei's. W'e liiiow iiotli- inir of tlicni ; our liusiiiess is to hunt, in order to feed our woineii and children. It is ueiicrally siii)posed Unit wc red-skins arc always in tlu' wroii^f. If we kill a hoj;:, we arc called fools or had men ; the same, or worse, is s.aid of us if wc kill .in horned animal; yet yon do not tak(^ into consideration that, while the whites are liniitinj;' iiloiifj; our risirs, killinj^oiir deer ami hears, wc do not speak ill of them. When the l''rench caine to Niau.'ira, Detroit, Mackinaw and Chicago, they liiiilt no forls or Ltarrisons, nor ilid the I-hiulish, who came after Ihcm ; hut when the Americans came, all was cliaiiKe' a resume of tlic liis- tory of the wjiiie setth'rs on tiiis coiitiiieiit, niid tiicii' conliict \\ilii tlie red iiicii. 1 le (iciiicd llnit tlic I'oit.s iit Cliica;;*). I'ort Wiiyiie, or llir one opposite tilt' liKititii of tlie Missouri, wt-re t'stahlislicd to liireateii oi maUe war on the Indians, hut that tliey were hiiih to allord protection to llifii'.tri<'iids ; that the .Viiiciicans. unlike the. JJritisli. had iiex i'i'taii.ulit nor employed the red men to join in war.s and otitra;;('s upon the whites; lliaf cncii in the icvolittionary strit,i:'.!.;Ie they had ad\ised tlie Indians to lie on tli«'ii' skins at lioiiit', I'aise coni and kill deer, hut not to eiiua.ue on eitiieir side ; lie .showed tlieni tlieir mistake rcpiidiiiji' the tnaly of (ireetn ilie, that all inurd»'rei's,oii citliei' side, should l>e(h'!i\ cied up totlic oppo- isitc ]tarty ; tJiat the jitiverniiieiit at Wasliiiiuion would not lia\ti •Seo Edwurtls' Life of Edwurils, 2M IIISTOUY ol' 1 1, LINE'S. pciinittctl Wiiyiic to do lliis, but tlmt nil ofVciidns iiji'iiiiist our jiiws iiiii>i III- nicil iiiitlt'i' lilt' Iiiws li\ ii jiii'v ol' iJ iiH'ii, iiiitl iliiiti Jii.^lirf noiihl Im- iiit'tt'il oiil to liKliiiiis tiic siiiiif iis tlit' wiiilt's. At tlif coiirliisioii. liitllf Cliifl' said : ''I i'c<|iirst voii now lo lalu^ tlif iiiiincs of llii> cliifrsiiiid wiiiiiois. tliat .\o" '"•>> '"'lii'^v to voiir fallici' ill KasKasUia. Iiow ivad\ we have hccii to allnid liis wnids." (ioiiio. tlic da\ rollowiii;;. iipoii tlic liiial adjoiiriiiiiciil ol' llic cniiii- cil. said : "W'c lia\«' listcnrd witli patient altciitioii, and I liopf tliat tlif yrcal Master ol' Ia;;lil was iiotieiii^i it. Wlu-n tlie Mas- lerol' lii^^lit made man, lie (iidowed tliox-wiio wear lials with «'\('iv ;;irt. all and know led ;;e. Tlie red sUins. as _\oii see. Ii\c in lo(lL;es and on tlie wilds ofnalnre." Tliis seiitimeiil evinced a liijuli a|i|ireeialioli of llie lelalixe stains of tlie two races. 'I'wd iiorses only were delivered np. Little ( 'liief promising; to retiiin two \\u>\v to Captain lleald, at <'liica;:o, and (ionio prom- ised to try and letiirn all. as soon as tliey could I»e I'onnd. TIh^ iiiiiidei'ers of tlie Coles parly in Missouri, were revealed to lie in ii \illa;i;e altoiit L'O miles west of tlic I'ropliet's tow ii — 'i'ipi»ecanoe; that by invitinji' them to I'oit Wayne with others Ihcy miulil lliere be seized ill t he fall. Unlit is said that sonic of thciii were, in ]M>i!it of fact, with tlieiii then. So ended liiiises from this rat her shrewd but treacherons and implacable', iiaiitMi. were had. w hid i were also w rilt«'n dow n as interprct«'d. r>nt tliron^hoiit the west |ji,iilisli emissaries kept np the dastardly work of ••setting the red men like do^s upon the whites,*' in the eiici'jiftic lan;i;iia;L;(' ol'Tcciimsch to llarrisdii. 'i'hat jiicat warrior, the fit snccessor of I'ontiac, iiaviii;;' conceived the plan of brin;;- inji' the sonthern tribes, tin- Creeks, Clioclaws. and Chicasaws, into a Ica^ne with I he tiibcs of the north, to make war aj^aiiist tho I'niteil Slates till their lands were restored to them, started thither on liis errand in the sjiriiiiidf bSll. The pniposes of this chief- tain ami his biotlici', the one-eyed IM(»plK't. beiiin well nnderslood by (iov. Harrison, he determined, diiriii;^ the former's altseiice, to strike and disjicrse the hostile forces collected under the latter at Tippecanoe. lie started IVoni \'incennes in the fall of bSll and arrived in the vicinity of the IMophct's town on the (ttli of Nov., with an ett'ectivf I'oice of something over TOO men, ileic he was jiH't by ambassadors from the Pr<»i)liet,and a susj»ension of liostili- ties was arran^icd until an interview on the followinji' day conhl be, had. 'I'lic j^'ov criioi'. desiriii;^ a j^dod jiicce of j;ioniid to cami> ujion. allowed the treacherons foe to i)oiiit it ont; Itnt the site was not selected williont examination and appro\al by his (illicers. rjion this si»ot. before the dawn of the followiiiii nKMiiinji. tho stealthy foe, with a snperior foi'cc, attempted to re enact the defeat of St. Clair 21 yeais before. I'nder cover of darkness he crept upon the American cani]*. and bej;an a mnrdeiiais attack with savap' fniy uncommon «'\eii to him, and maintained it with j;reat obstinacy; but the snrjirise was not coiaiilete, and he Avas nlti- niately repulsed and put to flight, "witl, a loss equaling that of tho ILLINOIS TKKKITOUY. • X Ameplcniis. TIh' Iosm of tlic liiltor was, in kill«' piirliiMiliii ly )ll'il\,V. or till' I IlilHtisilllS who t'fll lll'IC \\<' IllilV lllt'MiK'l IsiliK*. ^VIlil»^ for sonic \(';ii's ilic ^^oxcinincnt iiycnl «»!' I lie () io snlini's, will), li:i\ ill;; I'fci'iv <■(! tlir a|)|Miiiil iiiciil of nipliiiii of :i iniliti:i coin- ])iiii\ fidiii (io\. lOtiwiirds, in ISIO, joined the i'\|M'ditioii of (lov. Harrison. Ilisdriitii w:isnin<;ii i-c^^icltcd, and the Tt'i'iitoiiiil \a>i^- isl:ilni'(', in ISI."), [o |irr|M>ln:ili- his nifinorv, iiiiiiicd tin- count v of W'liilc in honor of liiin. 1 1 cic, loo, fell t':c ;:ificd iiiid Itiillianf ,V(Minpi' .Major .Foe l>a\icss, whose (h'cds o valor have also itccn coniMicinoralcd in Illinois liy naniiiiiL;' a <-oiinty aflcr liiiii. 'I'lio intatioii of an early war witli tiu' United Slates, the l>iilisli anient at i'rairie dii ('hieii. Col. Dixon, it was reported Jty Indian traders, liad eii,:4a;;cd all the warriors of that rcLiioii to descend the Missis- sippi and ex terminate the sett lenient s on both sides of the river;* Init upon the l)real;iii;u' out of actual hostilities in dune of that year there was more piessiii;;' need for sa\a;;e recruits in Canada, which donl)tl<>ss saved liie elfiisioii of iiiiicli liiood in the denser .settlements of Illinois; still many murders were committed. The Jjonhiitnut (}azitti\ .March iMsl, ISIl!, reports *.) mnrdeis in the dia- trict of St. Ciiarles; 1 at l''ort .Madison; '1 at tlie lead mines in Jllinois, and a jtarty of men who left ilie i'orl in I'dniiary for tho mines, not liavin;;" Iteeii lieai'd Uo\\\, were siippo.sed to have fallen info the hands of the savau'cs. 'i'wo hniidred Winiieh i^oes from Illinois made a |»liiiideriii.u raid upon a '-factory store" of the. United States, siMialcd (MI tiie west hank ot the .Mississii»pi. tlui ])resent site of i>ellev iie. laeiiteiiants ilamilloii and N'ascpies, with a small force of I'e.nniars, made a ;;allant defence and repulsed tiie. sava.yes. A few niarandin;;' jiarties pem-trated far down into Illinois. Andi'cvv ."Moore and his son. on their way hcnne from the doiirdan ltl(»cklions(', nnule cami* near the ini_v feats of yreat (h'Merilv to tide ou and iiiMh'r an ox. tiins escapini^ the sa\a,u('s and sa\ in,ii' liis life. The Indians were meanwhile en,iia,^('d in ;i n.uht at the fort oxer the pickets, and were I'epulsed with loss, as indicated hv the trails ot' lilood. thev, as usual, caiTvinj;- away the wounded or dead.* In ;\Iaich, ISlL'. (lo\crnof I'ldwaids scut ('apt. I'Mward ilehcit uitii another tricndiv in<'ssa,u('lo I he Indians residinumi the Illinois, in\ ilini; them to .1 conucihand recpiotin^ traders of exciv descrip- tion to withdraw till the 1 ndian atfaiis iiecame more set t led. and if Ihe latter did not instantlv comply they neeil e\|)ect no further indulncnce. On the Kith of April. ISlU, His Ivxcellency met in protracted council at Caliokia, with Ihe chiel's and warriors of the following' imtions: Of the I'ottawatomies — (lomo, Pepper. \\'hitc Hair, little Sauk. (Ireal Speaker, Yellow Son, Snake. Maukia. Hull, Jenian. Xeckkeenesskeesheck, l,i;nance. Potliw atomic Prophet, I'amousa. i^hkeclu'c. Toad, Alan wcss. Pipt I'ird. Cut Pranch. Tlui South Wind, and the Plack i'.ir(■. oiter, .Makkak, Yellow Lijts. I )o,<;- IJinl,au(l IJlack Seed. Of the Oltawas — Mittitasse 1 representat i\o of the P>hu'kl>ii'd), Kees- ka-<»n. and .Malshwashew ii. Of the (.'hippewas— the \\'iiilo J)o-.+ The (lovcriior (h'liveicd in person a forcihle address to them, lie spoke of the ardent desiic of the .li'eneial jio\crnment to imuu- tain peace an*l inirmony with all the Iinlian nations; defended the I'nited States a.uainst the chai'ii'e of rapacity for their lands; Avarncd them a.nainst the arts and deeepticus of the vShawaneo I'rophet and other 'd>ad hirds."' or evil counselors, whom tliii J5ritish hatl sent anionji' them; poitrayed the power and resources of the Anu'iican nation, which desired not war but peace; insisted that the MUirderers, w liom they had haihored all the tini(\ notwith- standing their denial to Le\('rinji, must he snrrenow('r of n (dnef to sell lands; they wanted to live in jieace : if tln're was a chief amoiij;' them of iidlnence enouj;h to delivcu' up a *U(\vn laws anmnj;' llicni like the whites to ])Mnisli ot'lrndcrs; denied listeniiiiu' to evil birds or interl'erinu' hetweiMi the, iSiitish and Americans. They wonld not Join the British, lor in the last war they had left them in the Inrch and .vonld do so ayain. When lie wanted a hlanke! he Itonuht it. The liiitish had in\it' to show his l''i\cellen<'y. as (iomo naively said, liow raiijued and needy they were. 'I'liis, to,i;('ther v>itli their fair piomises of .n'ood be- liavior and peaceable intentions, had the desiicd effect. '1 hey cauH^ away loaded with substantial presents. An eaily wi'iter says: ''Tin' wild men e.\<'rcised tin- nntst diplomacy, and made the, i^ovei'nor believe the Indians w<'re for peace, and that the whiles need dread nothin.i;' from them. They ]U'omise(l enoufih to obtain ))resents, and went olf lau,uhin,<>' at the credulity of (he whites. "t Some of them w<'re in August follow inj;' concerned in the horrible massacre at ('hica,i;(). The savages ol' th<' northw(\st, however, were tliorott,i;hly stirred np and did n(tt desire peace; in this the reports of travelers, traders, and sjjies all coiicnrred: the red wami)um was constantly, ])assin,i;' between (he dillei'ent tribes in all i)arts of the country, from tlie, Sioux of tin; St. I'eters to tlu^ tribes at the head of the AN'abash, and a ji'eueral condtination was fast ripenin;:;'. The Uritish a.u'cnts at Prairie du Chieii, Fort Maiden, and othei' points, in anticii>atioii of a war with thelTnited States, soufjht to eidist the favor of the savages by the lies of ji'oods, arms and annnunititui to them. The l"ji_<;lish coidiniu'd their in.-.idts to our Hag' upon the hifjli seas, and (heir fi'overiunent refus- ing' to I'elincpiish its offensive conr ', all liojie of a ])eacefnl issiu> was abandoned, and congress, ou the llUh of .luiu', 1SI2, tbruudly declared war against (jicat IJiitain. In Illinois tlu^ (hi'eatened Indian troubles had already caused a uiore thoiough organization of the nnlitia along' (he, frontiers, (Vo:u the mouth of t!ie Illinois dctV.'u (he Mississippi to (he Ohio, thence np that stream an\ llic Potuwat- toniic trilin of Indians, on tiic 8it«; ol' the present eity of Clii- cau*). {•'roin early Indian tradition, it lias been ^i'atliered tli;it tluf niontii of tlie Cliicaji'o river \v;is;i l;i\drite resort of tlx' Illinois tril)es in very renH)te times. IJesides its lisliin};' facilities, it was the oidydeep inlet from the lake on its southwesterly bend. The ]»ortaj:t' betwcMi the Chicago and the Inadwaters of the Illinois, otferenre watei's of the lake. Knt its uiost eoinmouly accepted definition is "wild onion.'' from that rather o(b»rous vej^'ctaltle <;Towinj:' abundantly on its biinks in early times.* A small I''rench tradinj;' post was established there in the peiiod of the I'rench explorations. I"'or the better jtossession of their western empire, the French built forts at various points, from Canada, via I'eoiia, to New Orleans, inclndiiif;' one at Ohicayo. On tlu' earliest kn(»wn map of this re;;ion, dated (Quebec, KWS, ii eorreet outlines of the lake is <>iven, and tlii^ river accurately loca- ted, with 'I'^u't Chicaj^'o"' marked at its mouth. Subscfpu'Utly, the Americans found no vesti^^c of the eaily French setth'rs there. By the treaty of (lieenville, to whicli the Fotawattoinies from this reiiicai, with many <»thers. were piirties, "oiu' ])iece(»f land (» miles s(|uare, at the month oC the Cliekajo river, emptyin;^' int(( tin? .souili-west end of Lake Michigan, irlicrr a fort Jhrmtrhf nfixxl,''^ Avas I'eliiKpn'shed. 'i'he tide of emi;4iation settinji' into Indiami and Michijian aifer the treaty of (Ireenville, 17i>r», conceid rated the Indians in j;reiiter uumbers about this ])oint, and larj;cly iii- ereiiseciite(l ; >Iohn Kin/,i(^ beinj^' one whose; deseendants are, residents of (Miica;^o down to the i>resent time. The jicneral ,u(»verniiient, in ISO I, laiiit, (Ui the south side of the river, l''ort Dearborn, * Clilcugo and ila great uoulltigrutiou. I'GO ILLINOIS TKlMnrORY. L'Cl iiiiiiHMl iiftorii jiciicriil of ihv army, and ^arriHoiiod if witli 50 men and ;> pieces (»l' iii1ill<'ry. 'I'lie fort consisted of L' block lionses, with 11 ]»;irii(le ground ;iiid siillyporl, or snl)ti'rriine;in i)iiss;i;4(' to tlie ri\<'i', liie w iidle snnoiinded l»y ;i sto<-U;ide. Willi tiiis ]>]v,- cMiiiiiis idolectioii, tlie iiiiiiilH'r of tinders increiised and a few set- tlio'.; ci"i t lii>r<>il ;iriiiriiil tlii> ixxt of lliis i»liice ('iilleii llai'dscnibbh'. On tlicTlii of An^iisl, iiirixcd tlie ordei- of (ioveriior Hull, «"tiiiiii;inder in chief of the iioi'thwest, by the li;iniih- lislied on parade t lie order lor e\ aeiialiiin' tliejiosl. 'I'lie ollieers whose eoimeil iiad lieeii lliiis ij;iiored in so iiiiporlaiil an eiiH'r.Lj'eiK^v, reiiioiislrated a^aiiisl this sie|». and i>oinle\ the women and cliil- dreii. and invalid and siipcraiiiiated soMicrs; how the lew rriciidly cliiels. who had from ino|i\csor prixate re,uard lor the family of JMr. Kiiizie, oppo.sed .siicces^rnllN an attack upon the fort the ])re- eedin,u autumn, were now, when the country was at war with Cireat Ilritaiii. powerless to ivstraiii their tribes. They advised I'eiiiaiiiiiii;' and forlifyini;' Ihemselves till succor came ; at any rate, it was lietler to fall intothe hands of the ilritish, as i)ris(Uiers, than a sacrilice to the Itriital fert)city of the savages. Captain Jleald, however, dreadinroinises than he allowed himself to lie persuaded to \iolate them. Mr. Kinzie, well knowinj; the ticaclu ry td' tin; lnk of tiie hostility of their people ajiainsi the Americans, there werc^ still several <'hiefs and bra\t's who retained a ])ersoiial rc,iiard Ibr the inhabitants of this ]»lace. Amoii^' these was iJlack I'ariiidiic, a chief of some renown. He now eiitert'd the (piarlers of Cajit. Ileald and spoke as follows: "r'ather. 1 come todeli\<'r np to you the medal I wear. Jl was ..^tile dis]»osilion of the l\)ttawatro\ isioiis. I're- ])aratioiis were therefore made to march on (he morrow. The reserved ammnnition, 25 rounds to the man, was now distribiHed. The ha«i}ia,u(' wajions for the sick. the women and (he children, con- taininji' also a l»ox of cartridjics, were ;^oi read\, :iiid amid the ])ervadiiij;' + IIISTOllY OF ILLINOIS. cxrcpl llif ruillil'iil s<'iitiiicls rctii'cd lor ji little repose. Tlie iiioni- iiiji' of the I'atal l.")tli of Aiij;iist, iMll,', iirrived. The siiii slioiie Avil h its wonted splendor, and Lidvc .Miclii.L iii "was a sheet of Imiii- ishe(l yold."' ICaily in tlie nioriiiiij; Mr. Kiii/ie r<'eeived a iiiessaj^o I'roiii 'I'opeiieehe. a fiiendiv eiiief of tiie St. .losejih hand of I'olta- vatondes, warniiiii him tlial his people, not withstandinji' tiieir ])i'onnse of safe conduct, desiyned ndschief. INIr. Ivin/ie with iiis ehh'st son, wiio iiad a.ureed tc accompany the j;arrison, was iii'Lj-ed to ;.:<• witii his family, for which a boat had heen (itted out to coast around the southerly end of liie lake to the St. .losepli. .\t ';! a. ni. the parly (juitted the foi't amidst martial music and ill miiilaiy array, ('apt. Wells, at the head of his hand of Mianns, led the \an, his face hiackened after the manner of the Indians. The ti()o]»s with loaded aims came, next, followed hy the waf^ons contiiiniiii;' the women and childi-eii. the sick and the lame and the ha.ii;,uaji('. A little distance in liie rear f >llowed the escort ofpiiout odO I'ottawatomies. The jiarty took the l»each load sonthwaid with the lake ui)ou their left. On reachinu the rauj:t' of sand iiilis sepa- aatiu,u the heach from the prairie, the Indians defiled to the ri^iit, l»riii;:;inj; these shore elevations lietweeii them and the whites down on tlie heach. Tliey had marched ahoiit a iinle and half from the fort, wlieii ('apt. NN'ells rode furiously hack, shouting: "They are ahoiit to attack us: form instantly and ciiarj^c upon them.'" The Avoids were scarcely uttered when the saxaj^cs poured a x'oUey of liinsketry from hehind the hills upon the i>arty. The troops wt've liaslily formed into line and they char.yc*! up the hank. Oiio veteran of 70 \<'ars fell as they ascended, 'flic action l»ecam(3 general. The Miamis lied at the outset: tiieir chief rode up to tho Pottawatomies, cliar^fd them with treacliciy, and !»raiiisliinii' his tomahawk. declarc(l "he would he ihe lirst to head a i»ariy to return and punish tliein." lit; then turned his horse and i>alIope(l after his cowardly compani<»iis. The troops hehaved j^allaiitly, lint were overwhelmed hy nund)ers. The savages tiankcd ihein, and '"in ahout l'> minutes ;.;()t possession of the horses. |)ro\isions, and haji^aiit' of every description.''* IJere the niiirderon.s work ui>on the helpless women and children was eominenced. ^Irs. Helm, wife of l.ieiitenant Helm, was in the action, and fnrnislied Mr. i\iu/,ie, her stepfather, many thrilling' incidents. t Dr. Voorliees, who had heen wouikUmI at the lir.st tire, was, w hile in a paroxysm of fear, cut dcwii hy her si(!, siii'renack. Tlins fell \\in. ^Vayne Wells, a white man of excellent ]»arenta<;'e and descent, reared annniy the Indians, and of as In'axc and ji'enei'ons a imtnre as man e\-ei- jjossessed, a saerilice to his own rash impidse inspir<(l by a- deed of nnist sava}j;e ferocity. Mis renniins were teriibiy multilated ; the heart was cnt in pieces and distribnted aminii;' the tribes, as was their wont, for a token of bravery. I>illy ("aldwc-ll, a half bi'eed AVyandol. lon,y' well known in ('hica,ii(> alterward, arri\inj;' lu'xt day, gathered np the several porti(»ns of the body and bnried them in the sand. Wells stn^et, in the i>resent eity of Chicaji'o, perpelnates the memory of his nann-. The following' is copied from ihe olticial rei)ort of Captain Heald: "We proceeded about a mile and a half, wlien it was discovered the Indians were j)repared to attack us from liclund theliank. I inuuediately inarched tlie company up to tlie toj) of tlie liank, wlieii tiie action cnni- nienced ; after lii'in>i-one round, reclKirgt'il, and tiie Indians j>;ave way in front and joined tiiosc on our t1ard\s. In aliout lo niinnles,.they fj;ol pos- session of all our iiorses, provision and liajij^ajn' ol' every descripli(.n, and flndinj)^ tlie Miamis did not assist us, I drew oil" tlie lew men I laid left, and took possession of a small elevnlion in tiie ojien prairie out of sliot of the bank orany otiier cover. 'l"he Indians did not follow me, luit assembled in a body on tlie top of the liank, and, after some eonsuKation auionjj themselves, made si<^ns for me to approach tiieni. 1 advanced towards tlu'in alone, and was met by one of the rottawatomie diiefs, called the iJlackltird, with an interpreter. After sliakinir iiands, lie re- quested me to surrender, promising;' to sparethe Ii\-es of all the prisoners. On a few moments consi(leration I concluded it would he tlie most pru- dent to comply with his reijuest, althoujib 1 did not jiut entire conlidence in liis promise, .\fter riitality .\ distiii<;iiisliiii;:' trait (d' civiii/e'd liiimanity is. pidleetion Cor the helpless: with the sa\a^(', tlicsif become the olijects of ven^icaiiec. .Mis. Helm writes: '-An old s(piaw, iiil'iiiiated l>y the loss of tViciids or excited Ity the saii;;ni- iiary scenes around lici', .seemed possessed lack l'atri(lj;e. Wabanseeand others, and who now "iiardcd them. Ulaek I'atridye, interpretiii};' their looks and intent cor- rectly, (deserved to \\'abaiisee in an undertone, lliat their wliit(! I'rieiids were lost. l>iil at (his moment the whoop of another band of Indians was heard on the opposite shore. lUaek I'alridyc liast- ily advanced and met their chief in tlie darkness, on tlu^ river's l)aiik. ••Who." said he, ••are _\oii f ''•A man," answei'ed tiie elii(l', ••who are you f' '"A man, like your.self," replied Ulaek J'atridj;'.' ; "but tell me, who are you tbrf "1 am," said tlie *Hr()wii, Hi--t. Ills., patro 31fi, note .'i. snys: "Mrs. Ileiilrl and Mrs. lieliii liaWnsr oclipscd tho most, visiouai'.v tiistool i()iiiiii)c(>, with which luodta-n litLi'ature iiboiuiils, lived lor uiuiiy years thereul'ter, highly respected." ILLINOIS TEUHrrOlJY. L'dT cllicl'. " llic Sim n;i iiiisir' (tllilt is, llic l''li;;iisliiii;ili). "'riicii lii:ik(f all sjti'cd l() the lnMi.s<'," Wiis Hie n'|»Iy ; "Ndiir IVit'inis iiic in (imi- yvr, iiml ,vt)u iiloiic (tiiii SUM' tliciii."' It was Hilly Caldwell, liu- half l>irc(M\'.\ amint. to wlium wci lia\ '' iciri'i'cd as l»iii\ iii^ liif rcinaiiis ul" ('a|(laiii Wells, lie liiir- lied I'urw aid, entered llieiiniise witii a resolute step, dclilierately removed Ids aecoiilreaieiits. jtiaeed Ids rille lieldiid tlie doy ids presence of mind, Cahiwell aNcrtetl the murder of the Kiii/.i(! family. The prisoners, with their wi\cs and ehildreii, were dispeised amoiiy the rotawatlomie trilies on the Illinois, IJock river, the Waliasli, and some to .Milwaukee, The most iirrs. — Sir- oiiil H.riH'ilHUm to I'eoria Ijakr — fiiiliuu Miinlrrs — Illinois and Missouri srnd tiro l-J-rpcditioHs ajt tllf Mississippi in 1S14 — Tliiir Halt lis and Disasterii. Ai'tcr liis i;ement three men and wounded sexcral more. l>y the cooliu'ssof the commandei' ami the ciieruy of tlie.i;arrisoii.tlioujnli j;reatly rediKU'd by sickness, the buildinj;s were mostly saved, and tlie Indians at daylight repulsed. They, iiow- ever, shot, killed, or (lro\«' away, nearly all (lie hoys, cattle and Mork oxen beloiiyinj'' to the tort. (iov. Harrison superseded (ion. Hull, and was also appoint<'(l major-general by brevet in the Keidiic..y militia. This youiij;' State, in the course of a lew weeks, by tiie aid of Kichard M. .lolin- son and othci's, jmd raised a force of 7,000 men, a portion of which Avas directed to tlu' aid of Indiana and Illimtis, N'inccnnes being' desiyuated as llie i-endezvons* The IJritish had (U'scemled the ]\Iississippi to liock Island, and were disliibutinj;' loads ol" yoods as presents to the Indians, throuuh one (liity. In the meantime (Jovernor Kdwards was active in making i)re- parations for an exi»edition aj;ainst the ivickapoos and I'otawat- 'Luuman Bio. Sketches. L'OS ILLINOIS TKinnroiiY. 2(M) totiiics oil tlic Illinoi.s river. Tliscxccllciicy, "lu'lore <'(»iij;r«'ss Inul jiiloptcd liny iiit'iisiii-«>s on the siiliircl of \ (ilimtcci' riiii^rrs, or;:':iii- i/t>(l <'oiii|);iiiifs. sii|)|>li('*l till-Ill witli iii'iiis, iMiilt stockiiilt- rmls, illhl cstiihlislMMl II line ol' |mis|s IVoiii tlic iiioiitli ol' III*- Missouri to tlif Waltjisli." His foiiiiiiissioii liiiil :it tliis time expired iiii*l liis ill'poiiiliiM-iit li:i(l iiol Ix't'ii I'l'iM'Wcil, l'eiiil('i'iii<;' liiiii lc;^iilly liiilile lor iIh' fxpciisrs ol' tli«- expedition, ii ii-spoiisihility w liieli, irlvin;;' upon t he justice ol' liiscoiiiitry, lie did not liesitiite to iissiiiiie.* Col. AVilliiiiii liiissfll. (»!" tlie ITtli rt'L;iiiient, on tlie lltliof Oetolu'r, stiirti'd I'roiii tlie li('i;',li'>o!liood of N'iiieeniies witii two siinill coiii- jiaiiit'S ol' I'. S. Ifiin^crs, coniiiiiinded liy Ciiptiiins l*cri\ ;iimI IModi'cll to, join the expedition of (iovenior I'jiwiirds.f The pliieo »)f reiide/voiis for these forecs wiisCaiii]) I {nss«'ll, already desnilicd. (ieiiei'al Samuel llopliit it was destined to meet with f;iiliiro and disj;race on the part of the KeiitiicUians. In that ill-compacted and iiii(lisci|)liiied crowd of horseiiien tln-re had already lieeii dis- content and mnrinnrs ayainst ]»roccedinj;' fiiitlier, at Viiiceiiiic.s and Uosseroii. At Fort liarrisiai a nnmlter «»'.' the men and oiio ollicer " broke off and rctnriicd."' About the middle of October, however, the Wabash was crossere\ ailinji' the exixMlitioii bore promise of aiccess. At the request of(ien. Ho|)kiiis,a council of tlie oHicers was now lu'ld, and tlio object and destination of the expedition considered, which wcro lii,iilily favored. In liish'tter to (lov. Shelby, of Kentucky, dated October LMi, ISlL', (Jen. Ilo|)kins writes: "Tiuiikhig myself st'cuie in the confKlonceof my brother offlecrs and the army, we proceeded ou our march earlj'on the I'tth, and eontiiuied it four days— our course lay north on the prairie — until we came to au Imlian house where some ('ori), Ac, had i)een cultivated. Tlie last day of tiie march to this plai-e I had lieeii made accpiaiiiti'd with a return of that sjjirit of [discontent] that had, as 1 had hojjed, subsided; and when I ordered a halt near sunset (lor the Urst time that day), in a tine ])ieeo of tirass in the prairie, to aid our horses, I was addressed in the most rude and tlictatorial manner, re(|uirin>jf me immediately to resume my march, or his battalion would break from the army and return. This was a Alajor * * * 1 mention him in justice to the other officers of that grade ; biit, from every information, Ibegan to fear that the army waited but for a pretext to return. This was afforded the next day by our uuides, who thought they bad discovered an Indian village at the site of a grove, about ten miles from where we had encamjjed on the fourth night of our march, and turned us six or eight miles out of our way. An almost •Edwtirds' Life of of Edwurds + Dlllon"sIiid. 1. tAiinuls of the West. w -«^. ^^«> o .'V^^-.v<^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST T RGET (MT-3) V. / // A O ^■ L'c'/ t/j %1 1.0 I.I 2.5 1.8 11.25 mil 1.4 llll 1.6 ! V] . *^ «"". '<^.*^ f 6^ f^'*'. ".^.^ ■•." . <* 270 IIISTOlv'V <)I' ILLINOIS. universal (liscoutcnt soi'iiu'ii to |)iwnil, and wo took our course in sueli a (lirecti((n as wesuiiposed wouldatone lor tlie error in tlie nior-iinfi'. About or al'tersunset, we eanu' to a tiun strove aflordiusj: water. Here we tooi< oureanip; and alioiit this finu'arose one of llie most violent trusts lever reinendier to have seen, not ijrori'ediiiu; from clouds. Tlu' Indians had set tireto the]irairie, w hi<-h ilrove on us so furiously that we were coni- )iell<'d to (ire around our canip to protect ourselves. This seems to have decided tlu' army toretin'n. I was inlormeil of it in so many ways, that, early the next morninir, Oct. :Jnth. I re<|iiestcd the alteinlance of the aciiera! and lield otlieers and stated to them my appi'ehensions — tiie ex- peclatioiis of ourcounlry — the disgrace altendiuji tlu' measure — the ap- proliation of our own c(Misciences. Against tliis I st;ited tiie weary situation of our horses and the want of provisions — widch tome seemed oidy partial — six days only havinii' pitssed since every part of (he army was furnished with ten days' r.ations in i)acou, heef, or hreadstud". The reasons ^iven for relurnin.ii, I nHpicsled the eommandauis of each rejri- nu'id, with tiie wlioie of the olticers i)elou,irin.Lj to it, to take fully llie senseof the army on this measure'^' '• •■'and to ri'[)ort to me in writiny — adilinji that if ooil volunteers would turn out, I would put myself at their head, and proceed in (piest of the towns ; and the halanee of the army miL'ht retreat, under the conduct of the olticers, in safety, to l"'ort Har- rison. In less than a hour the report was made, almost unanimously, to return. I then re(iueste iiu'ii. at Camp Iviissell, by the tiuu' Captain {{ns.scji airivi'd ironi N'iiicennes with }i l»ait (d' t wo (•(tmiianics, (•(msi.stin.y cd" .">(> piixates. The \ snuill i^'uiiueiits, cominaiuh'd by Colomds Mliiis Itcctor and hcnjainin tStcplu'ii.soM, i'»'speeti\cly. Col. Kiis.seil commanded tin' l". S. iJaii^ci's. Col. Deslia of tiie l'. S. aiiiiy, Major John ^loredoek and otlieis, were tlie lield ollieers. Tlie coiupaiiies were comiiiaiMled respect i\cly by Captains Samuel and W iiliaiii !'>. Wiiitesides, dames 1'.. .Moore, dacob Sliort, Willis llarjiiave t'roni tlie Ohio Saliiia, Meiieiiry afterwards of White Comity, .laniiey. and l.ieiit. I'oaksoii with a small independent eompaiiy. ('ai»tain Samuel dudy had also or^ani/ed an iiide- ])en(l(Mit e(»rps of spies. e(Misisliii;4- i'e!son Ivcelor, and Lieut. Kobert K. JMeLaiif;liliii, of the U. S. Army. Col. Iviif^sell, an iinpreteiidiiiy bul very n.LINOIS TEni?TTOT?Y. 271 eftlciciit onicci', was next, in coniiiiaiKl to liis lOxccUciicy, l)iit lie iicitlu-r liad nor wanteii aids. TJa^'ya^c waii'oiis tor the army were not provided in tliis siiort caiiijtaiiiii, 'I'lic men were oi'dcrcij to l)a<'ic eaeli on iiis lioisc L'O days' rations. Tlie iiorscs wrrc to sustain tlicnisclves on ])rairi(' ,urass. Some <)\' tiie ollicers employed exti'a pack-iiorses. Captain Craiu'. of Siiawneetown. was detaelied wilji a siiriicient force to man two boats, one laden with i>rovisioiis and the neces- sary tools to hnild a I'ori, and the other armed with hliinderlaisses and a swivel, both solbrlilied that the enemy's bullets coiiM not ja'tU't rale their sides. He wa< dispatched in ad\ a nee apt he Illinois river, with (aders to wait at Peoria nidil further word tVom the 4(10 mounted men, took up its line ot march trom Camp Kiissejl. The privates, it seems, looked upon the expcilition as affordimi;' tliem r;ire spoi't. not carinii" whether tliey Mere '•marched into (lan.u'er or frolic." The route pursued was upon tin- west side of Cahokia ci<'eic, thence to the Aiauonpin, which was (aossed near the ]»resent site of Carliiiville: tlieuce northeasterly, erossin^ i ho Sangamon below tlie Junction of the north and south fork:-, east of the present capital of the State: piissilm' thence east ol' I'ilkhiirt .U"rove, crossing' Salt (M'eek not far from the present city of Lincoln, and theiKM' '' '' ' '' "• ■ --i.: ii i ... i and theiKM' in a, northward direction strikini;' an old descrI'Ml Kickap(»o villa..>. ..I. .....,..,...,..,<;...,• .1.,. ...>,i .i;,,.. .,...1,.;.,...,. Kit.,.. ,v..,,.-,.i' ..,1 1 1... ,..,,. enemy, or rarner ine imiian rown. rour mi'ii. naineiv i nomas Carlin (subseipiently .udveriior), and three ol'llie Whitesides — lloliert, Stephen and Davis — volunteered for this ]»erilous service, and were entrusted by the governor with its delicate execution. They proceeded to the village, explored it and the approaches to it, thoroughly, without starting' an liidiaii or pro\ oiviii^- the bark of a don'. The ])osition of tiie town was ascertaiiie;iss;il)I(' to iiKniiitcd iiicii. Ill the lii't'li'ss and clii'i'iicss «'iiiii|> all was silent as llu' uravc*. A tl('('i) jiiiooni, with many niisnivinins, liad sctllcd iii)(»ii the men. The I'ati.^iiiiiii' miirclics Ii;i(l ccast'd t(» be rrolii'soiiic. Tlic troops It'll jiidfd and sulky, and they were within the enemy's country. They reposed ii])on their arms, with tiieir iiorses tethered near at hand, ready saddled t(» l)e instantly ni(»iinted for action. During' the ni,i;ht a n'lin in the hands of a troopei' was carelessly dis(diar;;»'(l, wliich caused ji'reat consternation in the camp. The stealthy foe, Avith j;ie;iminy' tonmliawk raised ovei- ids victim, was monwiitarily expected. Ail the iiorroi's of the ni^lit attack at Tippecanoe, then IVesIi in the minds of every one, presented themselves to theactivo imuuinations of tin' men. lOvei-y white coate*! soldier at tiiat Itiittle, it was said, liad been sinj^lcd out in the dusky mornin,n and killed by the savages. In a monn-nt now not a white coat I'cmained in sij^ht. IJnt directly the asinrin;^- voice of his IO\(!eI- lency cried out thiit the lirin;;' was an accident, and all becam*) (piiet a^ain. ICarly on the followin,!i' morniiii;', with a dense fo;j,- prevailing-, the army took nj* its line <»f march for the Indian town, Caplaiii -Indy witii hiscori»sof si)iesin ad\aiice. On the route in tlie tall ^rass tiny cauM' up with an Indian and his s(piaw, both mounted. Tiio Indian wanted to surrender, but ( "ajtt. -Iialy observed that he "did in)t leave home to take prisoners," and instantly shot aie of them. With the blood streaunnji from his month and nose, and in his a,i:()ny '• sinuinji' the death souji;-,'' pi'om|)led by tin' instinctive emotii»n of self-defense which e\cn a trodden worm will exercise, the dyiuf;' Indian raised his jiiin, shot and moitally wounded in the i^roin a Mi'. Wrijiht, and in n few minutes expired. \\'ii,uiit ■was fj(nn the Wood river settlement, and died after he was broniiiit home. Tlui rest of those who had incautiously approached the wounded Indian, when they saw him seize his jiiin. <|Uickly dismounted on the far sides of their horses, makinji' of them, as it were, a. bi'cast-work. .Many j^iins were innnediately discliarj;'ed lit the other Indian, m»t then Known to be a stpiaw, all of which, ill the tre|)idation of the occasion, missed her. Badly scared, and lier husband killed by her side, the a,u<»ni/,inji- wails of the sipiaw Avere Ivarl rendiiiji-. She was taken prisom-r, and subsequently restored to her nation. Owinji' to the fo^-, the army was misled into the s]»oiijiy bottom, some ihree-fouiths of a mile below the town, with the miry creek to cross, which deranjicd the i)laii of attack. The villajic thus esca])eda surprise; and while a halt was made, preparatory to erossinji', the Indians were observed rmininj"' from the town, bouudin;^- Ihroiijih the tall jirass on their horses, almost hid from view. An attaitk was every moment ex[)ected while erossinj;- the treacherous stream, and the advanced eorps, under Judy, sat lijihtly in their saddles, expectinn' bi draw the fire (d'tlie hidden foe. To their j;reat satisfaction, no attack was made or meant ; the Indians wen; tieeinj;' from their village and iiiipendin;^' death, ])ell iiii'll, women and children, some on liorse-back and some on toot, into the swamp amoiijithe tall yrass, and toward ajxiint of timber, in which the {ioveruor, disappointed in his char;;e upon the town, judged they intended to make a stand for battle. '' f ILLINOIS TEllUlTOUY. iiiiiiicdiiitclv «'liiiii.i;(M] my course," lie writes, ••ordered iiiid led on a ;^'eiier;d cliiir^c niton llieni," bnt ••owinj;' to tlie nnsonndness of the juround," llie ])ursiiers, liorses, riders, arms and ha.uua.uc, I'roni 1ms i''\<'ellen<'\ so \aliaiitlv leading: tlie ciiar^c to tin' sinaitin;;" snitaltern and ])ri\'ate, all .iiaied in the common cataslro|)lie alike, and were nnhorsed ami (tvei-whelMied in the nn)rass. it wascalled a democratic overthrow, in which all Wi'Vt' literally ''swamped."' rpun this yieldini;' ;;roiiiid. into which a horse woidd sink and ]>lun;;e withont avail, a inoniiled force conid not be mov«'d. A ])iirsnit (Ml foot was ordei'ed, which was both iliflicidt and exfi'enn'ly danu'erous on acconnt of the tall jurass in which the lndiani» wero birkiiiii'. Several jtarties on fool traih'fl in pnrsnit of the Indians, liowe\er, two or three miles acioss the sat nrate iiov'e-nor, ("he(pieneboc,, a ft ei' a chief, was here bnrned. 'I'lie Indians ti(-d toward theinte- jioi' wilderness. Anotliei' party made i>iirsnit of the fn<;itives in a dilVerenl direct ion ; but the Indians making' a stand in considerable Ibii-e, these were compelled to retreat, jfeinfoicements were sen), uheii the savaj;<'s eiitii'ely dispersed. Sonn- of the troops were Avoiinded in this action it is reported, but none killed. In tin) ineantiim*. the villa.uc was ]>illa,ued and bnrned by the main body «)f the troops. The Indians, in their pi'eci])itate tli.uht, had left behind all of their wintei's st(n-e of pro\ isions. wliich was de- fstroycd oi- taken away. Hiding ai»ont the bnrninu' embei's of the rnins, were fonnd somu' Indian children, left by the fri;4litene(l l'u};itives ; also, some disal)led adnlts. (me of ^»hom was in a starv- ing <'othin.y liavinj"' been Inward from (Jeneial Iloplunsand bis 'JOOO moulded Keiilncky rillemeii, and ap[»rehensi\(' that a laryc force of wari'iors would be speere\a'ile(l at the time, but the dread of pnrsnit caused them not to iuterinit their travels till darkness overtook them, when, yreallv exhausted and wet, without lire to dry their clothes, "is 274 HISTOIIV OK ILLINOIS. or food to iioiiiisli tlnir ImmHcs, tlicy sank into sleep on tlic wet ^I'diiiid, tlit-ii' clotliiii^ c.oN'cr*'*! witli tlir iiiiid of tlic inoriiss. 'I'litt (li'c:i(| wiiri'ior did not iiitpciii'. "Our uriiiy r<-tiii'iifd liome Willi :dl •■oiiNcniciil speed." writes (ioveriior IJeyiiolds, wlio in iIk^ ('iiiiipiii;;!! e:iriied llie soidtriipiet of " ( )ld Ifiin;^*'!','' iii'il to whose; sii'i'oniil we are liii';^! iy iiidciiled fortius. < )ii the nioirow., ;i detiieiinieiil in eliiU'.u'e of Lientenanl I'eylon, wa-iiiuain sent o\erlo I'coria witiia niessajic to Captain ("rai;;' in eiiarjit' of the provision Itoals, to ri'lnrn as speedily as possilile. This pait\ on tlieir wa.\ Itiiint a .Miami \illa,ue within a half inilo of i'e(»iia. Tin' loice of Captain Craii;, in charge of tin- piovisimi lioals i'oi' tin- armies of Hopkins ami iCdwards, and under instriietiou i'roni ids iv\cs:i*iit Vttiiii \\-|)i>rit In. I'ii;ili>fl •Sec Ut(? of f!()\(M'iior 1'Mwiirfls, by his son. +.\ Iter Hie Iniililiiiy: of Fori ("rev (•(•u'lir, in liisfl, Pcorin hike was over fnmillnr to wo8- t( 111 iriiN I I Mini liisioiy ; Iml there is no iiutliciii io uccnnnt ot a ticrninn'-iu Kni-opeiiii sellleinenr Ihi're iintil IVT.S, when LiivilU^ ile Meillel , riiiiied idler its loiunler, wns St II It r( I On Mecoimt ol the (|U!ilit> of the wiiter mikI it.« iri enter siiihilnity, the local inn WiiseliMiiucil Inrther down tlie hike to the incsent site of I'uoria, iliul liy IV'.lii, the old hud lieeii entirely aliiiiidoned lor thi' ik'W \ illime. After itsdeslriietioii, in l.s|;.', il \vas not sell led a L'a in until is 111. and then by .\nieiletin idoneers, thoii^'^h 111 IMl^i, I'ort Clark was liiiili there, which pave II name to the i)lHee for .several y<;ars. In IHIH, the fort was destroyed by lire. In 18;ij, the county ot I'eoria was estubllrthed and the county seat located. ILLINOIS TDWKITOKY. 275 services," In Iiis jiddress. to Hie Si. ( 'liiir e(iiiiity niilitiii. Hie ;.;(»v- ei'lior s lid : ''Yuiir ltr;i\ei'_v iiiis eiiiilileil inc to lepel hostile iiiviis- ioii aii(i lo Wii^e \\;ir upon llie eiiciiiv in tlieii' own ediintry. * * ^Oiir iiili'('|ii(iil,\ iiiid pMlriotisni ii:i\el)een e(|ii:illv lioii()i':ii)le to ,\niirseh cs, ;iimI iisel'iil t(» \ otir count l\ ." Not lo Itc oiiltioiie ill siicli lliilt(i'itiu lestinioiii;ils, tiie niiiiliii. Iliron^li liieir oHicers, replied in ;is reiicitoiis ;i vein. 111. il liis I'Xeelleiicv liiid '•.mciitly iiicrciised ids cliiiiiis iiptui llic ;;i';il il iide ol' llircoiiiitrx lor Ids wise Iiieiisiires." Mild lli;il lliey liMil "witnessed Ids coolness, delihei'iilion iiiid pi'oinplitiide ill the lioiir of peril." It seems. liowe\ cr. I liiit Ids Kxcelleiicy wns not willioiil ii\;ils for tlie liiiirels of lids CMliilcd^li. Willi inilcli coiiceiii, lie writes, under diite of Dccein- her L'.")lli, iSlL': ••! diseoxer tliiit some pitiful ;illeiiipls jirr imiUiii^' to dei>ri\(' iiic of tlie credit I am eiitiiled to. i)y ;;i\in;.'; il to ('oloiiid li'ilsscll, wlio Inippciied lo join liie (aooiit lliree da,\s ttefore I com- iiieiieed my inarcli) willi.">(> raii^^crs. Tlie iiijiist ice of lids is known and attested Ity the whole i>\' my little army," etc.* 1S1."». — I<'ai'ly in lids year, the country was juif in >iicli state of (lefeiise auainst the hostile Indians as its sparse population admit- ted of. IJlock house stations and stockade forts were repaired and .stren;f|heiied aloiii;' the entire froiilier, and the remote settler.s and i'ecltle jiarri.soiis were removed lo the denser seltleiiieiils. New I'anuiiiji companies were formed and ,so stationed as to easily I'anye lliroiiiili llie setlleiiieiits. l''roiiillie present A.'toiilo Ka.s- kaskia, twenty-two family forts were scat I.ered aloiiL;-. In sjiite of these precaiilioiis. Uie e\l<'ii; of the front ier was soi;real thai no diliii<'iice in raii.i;iii;;- affordeiU'iitire iiiiiniiiiit \ from sa\ i,u(' attacks. Niiinei'ons depi'cdations and murders were coiiimitled Ity marand- in,ii' hands ol' the reoon's company, but haviii;;' I days the start, made (Msl (ilV ^niiiifiiis, .Mcl^ciiii i)liiii;;r(l iiitiitli<' ii\fi', swiiiii loflic I'iiiIIk'I' slion', ;iii(l cllcclcd liis csciiiH'.* Soiin- iiiiiitit is were ii ls( mm ini milted on CiiclM-iiv cr in I lie inrsciil Alf\;iiHli'icuiinl.v.. On IIm' Wiiliiisli, ."lit miles iiltove \incennes, MfiiP I'ort liJimollc, I lie. wircol':) .Ml'. I liiMslon ;inil I'oui' cliiMii'n were killed. In :i .snnill jiniiiie L' nr .'! miles riuin llie piesenl Alliiun, in lldwiii'ds eiHint v, il t'iinner iiy tlie liiiine ol' iSollenlioilse, Wiis killed, the piaiiie iteipel- mil in;: liis n;ime. ( 'onsideiin;; llie rre(|iieiit mnideis ;ind lliefiiel llml I lie jicnei;d •^oxeiiimeiii had made no |iro\ision to snslain the militia and \ ohinleei's, which caused those of Illinois to he dischaij^cd fVom the ser\ ice on the Sth of .hine, l>y IIm' i^ox eiiioi, il ma,\ Ite said tiiat the yeai' isl.; presj-ided Imt a ^loom\ |>ros|»ect for t he exposed seltlcMM'nts in the west. Srctiiul I'lriHilHiim (it I'corin, — liaijjic nnndieisof hostile Indian.s Aveie known to have collected ii'iKn;^ the INttawat tomies and Ki<'ka|ioos on Lake i'eoiia, whence maramlin;; [tarties, which Lanassed the fiontiers of both IIIin(»is and Missonii, were sei:t out. It liecame a.uain an (»li/)ect therefore to penetrate t heir country witha mililarv force, dispeise them from t heir con vcnient location, and drive iliem far into the interior. In the latter part of the snmnier a Joint expedition from Illinois and Missouri °vas projected ior this purpose. An army of some !I00 men was collected and Gen. Howard, who lialat,forin, lioriie up by 2 <"an(»es, and joined the lllinoisans. They Avere commanded by (!ol. .McNair, afterward j;(iveriior of Missouri. The whole I'oice was re,-oi';;anized iiiloa bri;;ade, of which (leneral Howard was in chief command. 'I'lie march was continued iiptlie Mississippi. On the, present site of t^iiincy they passed a i-cceiitly (leserlecl camp and villaf^c, sii|)posed to liav«^ contained 1,(KM» Sac; wai-riors. Ala point called the "Two rivers," they struck out east- Avaid and a<'idss tliehi;;h juairies (o the Illinois, which was reached ~*Mli«(iiiii Ou/.ett(i, March im. " M.MXnlS 'li;i{IM'l'i<)ii IiumIs ;irri vol :iii(l luiilv (III hniii'd llif sirk. 'I'lit- iii;ir(-li \\;is niiiliiiiit'il ii|> tlin llliiHiis III IN'oiiii. wlicic iIh'It Wiisii >iii:ill stiickiKlc in cliiir;;!' ot" ('ii|il:iiii Nii'liol;is id' llic I'. S. Aiiii.v. Twu iliiys iM'Torc, )li(i lliiliiiiis IiimI iikhIi' ;iii ;iMii('k nil llif I'nrl, IhiI were i't>|iiils«'|is ;it no time ohscrx iiii; ii liiuli dc^iicc of disci|iliiM', iiiiiiiy niiiH'>iti',N ni;;lil ;iliiriii> urnii-rcd ; ilirv were imriidnl, tVc)|iifiil ly oi'iicn-d to nriiis, iiiid iiiidrr tin' ^i-iiri';il rxcitciiHiit iiicidnit ton, ronsliiiit drciid ol' iiioiiii'iitiiry nl tiick, yiiiis wen- iiMMiit ioiisly liifd, :iiid oiM- liiH' Noiinu 1\» iiiicKy triio|ici'. wiis sliot di'iid l»y ii tear MiiitU'ii sniliiifl. All tlii> liiiif I lie diend siivaj'cs wnc liir ;i\Viiy. 'I'Im' Jinny \\;is niiiiclii'd ii|i tlic liilu- to rioino's villii^r. tlic- liii'sriil .sill- of ( 'liilirotlic, iind iiiidiii;;' tliiit t hi' t'ln-niy Inid iisci'iidi-d 1 JM- Illinois, t wo drscrlcd \ illii;;cs welt' dt-inolislii'd iiiidrr lln- sliork of its oiisci, iind iMinii'd, wlini il look ii|) its i'ftrii;;i':id<- in:ii'<-li. At tlic outlet of the liikc tlii' present site ol" i'eoriii. the tiuo|»s leiiiJiiiied ill e;iiii|) se\ eiiil weeks, liiiildiii<; l''ort ( 'link, iiiiiiied in iiieiiior\ of (ieii. < ieor;;e K'o^ers ('link. IMiijor Christy, in the, liieiiiitinie, w;is dis|iiitclied uitli ;i force in eliiir;;e of two fortified Keel hoiits n|) the i'i\ei' to tiie fool of the nipids, to eliMstise iilid rout siieli of the eiiein.\ ;is iiii;:lit Inixe loiljied in t liiit |-e;.;ioii. JMiiJoi' ISoone w;is s<'iit with :i fmce to seoiir tlie S|iooii ri\er eoiintry, tow;irds IJoek rixcr. IJotli evpeditioiis ret iiiiiey ii. direct; roiile to('iiiii|» iJiisscll, where the \ iiliiiiteers ;ind iiiilitiii were dis- hiilided, ()ctol«T:!'Jd, ISi;{. The (Mniiiiii^ii, ilioiit;li no buttle w;is foimlil or enemy seen, was still fraught with ^leai lieiielii in iitl'ordiii;^ the frontiers immunity i'loiii the iiiiirderoiis iiiciiisioiis of the saviij^ics for the entire siie- eeediii^- winter. To the foe was unfolded the |Hiwer and resources he liad to eonteiid with, and shakinu his head he iiiiillcrcd, " |iale. laces like the lea\('sin the lorest — like the j^iass on t he |trairies — they i;row every w here I"' ISI 1. — Tlie_\ear ISl j, was. however, also |irolilic with horril»i(>, ake laie, Ihe recovery (»f Del roit, and the defeat of the r.iilish at tiie Italtle of the Thames, where, 'I'eciiinseli fell, which was fought lietorc tliecloseof ISI.'!, had the, ell'ecl to eanse the savaj;<'s to retreat from <'aiiada. and concentrate, ill j^ieal iiiiinlteis on the hanks of the upper Mississipjii ; and jiiaraiidiii;:' hands aj^ain \isiled the seltleinents of Illinois and Missouri, eoiiiinittin;; many ilepredations and niiirders. We do iKit jHcteiid to cite all. In -Inly, a hand of Indians raidiii;;- in the Wood ri\ cr set tie- iiieiil. (I miles east of the present Alton, massacred a Mrs. I{eajiaii and her (iehildreii. 'i ' ■'hnshainl and father, absent at the time, ^vas the first to discov r the dreadful slaii^jhter. On arrivinj;' lioiiie after iii;^:lit tall, and opeiiin*; tiie, door of his cabin, ho 'AiiiiuIh or tlie West— ApiH'iiilix. sm- 278 IIIST()I!^■ ol" II-MN(ilS. 8t«'|>!)(Ml iiilotlic •;(>r('t>r his lovi'd f'liinily, uihI licln-ld tlicii- stiirU anil iiiiiii;;lfil rriiiaiiis. Captain Saaiiicl Wliitt-sidcs willi liis t'onijianv ol' laii.ufis itiiisui'd llic saxaucs l«» llic Saiiuaiiioii, w licrc, ill a lliii'Ut't, all ('M'a|M-il *-\('('|)l llic leader ol' llic liaiid. wlio was sliot out ttl' a trci- top. in Ins lu-ll Ik- had daii;;lin^' the scalp of .Mrs. Ifca-aii. Ill till' wfsicni part of Clinton coiinlN, in-ar tlic crossin.u of llic jMcsciit <). •& M. U. II. over a >licain. .Icssc Ilailcs and wifr wcki looUiiiji' lor llicir litijis on a Siiiida\ fSfiiiii;.; in the «'i('t'lv hotloin, anil tlic do,us lia\ inn at a lliickci, it was supposed ilic,v \\i-\v lonnd ; but on appi'oarliiii;^ tlir Ihickcl. tlic Indians, concealed witliiii, lircd upon hotli, the ladv onlv liein^ liil. She was taken t«> lier latlici's house, Mr. Iiradle\, and died in a .short time. In An^^ns!. while a conipaiiv of ( 'aplain Slnnl'.s lan^eis wci'*^ encamped at the liiv«'l,\ caWiiis. a trail was discoNcred which led diii'ctlv to the starlinji' of 7 Indians with II stolen horses. When oxerlakeii a skirmish eiisned, in which the rangers weic rather worsted; one was woiiiKh'd. a horse killed, and another, Moses Hliort, received a hiillet whii'h loducd in a twist of tobacco ilk his ]>ockct. William Stout, with i;reat .peed, went to camp for icin- Ibrcemcnts. Captain Short with ■">(' men now followed the trail all iiijilit, and next morning; overlook the iiiaraii(h>rs on a Ibrk of the Little Wabash, A la,uj;inj; Indian here shot a turkey, and the report of his ^i ii ai»prised the piirsiiers of their pioximity. On discovering the whites, the rear Indian ran in .meat hasii- forward, and all jtreparcd for battle, in ij;noiance pidbabl_\ of the miiniier of the piirsninji force, and assured «loiibtIess by tln'ir previous siic<'ess, for the\ mij;lit have casdy made their escape. They wcrc! dii'cctly surrounded, and when they realized their situation, sanj; the death son^, shouted dctiance, and tbii^ht bravely tt> tlie last. All were killed. The pursuers lost oii(> man, William O'Neal, Mho, while takin;;- deliberate aim, met an adversary (quicker than liimself, and was shot. [NoTbi.— The most (Ifspiinite sliifilt'-lmiiilud coinlint, witli Indians, «!ver I'outrliton tlic pnll of Illinois, wns that of 'I'oiii lliyjriiis, Aiiu'iist :.'l. IHU. Uisfffiiis was ;.'.') yrais old, of 11 iniisciilai' aiul com pact build, not tall, I ml strong'' and active, I n danircr lie iiosscsscil 11 (juick and djsocniinfi'.jiidynu'nl, and was williont liar, lit' was a iMcniln'rol.iounic.v s raniicrs, consisting of II nicn, statimic I at Hills I'ort, S miles sonthwi-^t of the present (iiccnville. Disi'ovcriny Indain ^i^irlsllca^ the loit, the compaiiy early the I'ollowinK morninjf starteil on the trail. 'I'hey had not .uone far liefore they were !■ an amlnis- cadc of a larjrcr party. At the Ihsi tire, t h(dr eonnnander .lourney and :> ' icn ft II. Si.v retiuatuii to th(M'ort in tlifiht, lint Ili^Kins slopped ■■ to lia\ c anollu'r pull at the red Bkiiis," and tiikiny deliheratc aim at a stiatrfflinsj- sa\ aui', shot him down, lliufiin's horse had bofii wounded at the lirst tire, as he snpposeil, mortally, b.it eondiifi to. he was aliont to eliuct his esi'ape, when the familiir voice at' liiiryes's haileil him from the lonff Rrass, "Tom don't leave inc." in«->rins tolil him to comealonir, hut I Surt! ess replied that hi8 h'K was snuished. Ilim.i;;\s al lem|>teil to raise luin on his horse, but the animal took lri;:ht and ran away I li^'v'ins then directed Huihcss to limp olV as best he could, and by crawling: throURli the fjrass he readied th(! fort, while the former loaded his frm> and remained behind to protect him awairjst the pursninj; enemy. When Iturucss was well out of the wa.v, lo throw any wanderiny enemy olf the trail, lli«uins took aiiolher route which led by a small t hickct. Here he was unexpectedly conli ontcd l)y osavasjeg npproachiny:. H*'" ran to a little ra\ine near .it hand for slitdtcr, but in the elfort dis- eo\i'red for the llrst limi; that he was ba<><> Sioux, W'illlieha^'oesiiml l'ols;iV(»isiis, wliom lie Wiis (■(iiKliietili;^ tt> (';1iiim1h, .\ sMi;ili niillison of " MueUiniie feiieibles", in eoiiiiiiiili(l of :i r.ritisli oilieer, Wiis left in ( iiiir;^e of liie pl;iee, Itnl IteiiiL; ,i.'re;itly oillmiiiihered l»y <'l;iik's foi<'e.s, tliey joined Hie lleeiiii; iii!i;iliil;iiils, Cliirk's unopposed troops were (iii;irlered in llie lioiiseof tlu; ]\Iiiekiii;iw l''iir <'oiiip;iny, iind ;i fort, eiilied.-iiejliy, was hiiiil. in •luiie (lo\, Cliirk reliirned to St. Louis, wiieie tiu' people tendered liiiii it piihlieoviition in iionor of liis eoininest. Tiius easily did lie will military <>lory, i'.ut in .liilya lar^c foiceof I'.ril isli and Indians undei' ("ol. .\laekey, eaiiie i»y water from .Maei^inaw, \ ia (ireeii J>ay .111(1 the \\iseonsin,aiid after a short seij;-e,(lo\ . ( 'lark's eiil ii(i j^aii'ison eajtitulated and was paroled, leaviiij;' the Uritisj) w ii ii the new foi'f in iiiiieh lietter eoudilion than two months hefoic, Siieli sire the f(M'tiiiies of war. In the meanlime, (ieii, Howard. ha\ in-;' returned to his post, deemedit advisable t(* streM^^theii so reimtte a post as I'rairie dii Cliieii, and to that end sent reinforeeiueuts to the numlier of KlS men, in eliar^(> of liieiit. Caiiipliell of tiie re^iilai' army, in thre«i keel boats np the river. Of tliis force (iti men were Illinois liaii;;- <'rs, under ('ajttaiiis Stephen Hector, and iJi;;',i;s, who occupied two boats. The reiiiainder were withCampiieil in the other boat, li'ock Island, wlieic they laid iij) for a iiiuht, was jtasscd wiHniiit molestation, but at the foot of the rapids j;reat numbers (»f tlm Sacs and Fox Indians \ isited the boats with ]»rofessions of frieiid- .ship. Some of the l-'reiich boatmen were known to the Indians, iiiid vei'y much liked by them. They would s(|iieeze their hands with a juill (low n the river, indicating;' that it would l»e well for fheiii to leave. It was rinhtlx Judged by them that the treacherous sax a'4('s meditated an attack, of whicli Lieut. ( 'ampbell was duly informed. lie. however, disi-eyarded these hints. The sutler's and contractor's boats, and , two barges with Hie Illinois rangers, liad passed the rapids, and had uot some two miles ahead, when Campbeirs l»ar,ii(' was si nick l>y a j;ale from the west so si ion;; as to force her a,nai list a small island, next to the Illinois shore. Tliiiikin,!;' it advisable to lie to till the wind abated, seiiliuels wore immediately stationed, while the men went ashore to cook break- liini, WHS niiscil ii)) l).v it. He quickly seized liis miii, imd liy ii imweiTiil blow enisliefl ill the skull (if one, i)Ut hroke his ritle. His rem liniun' iiutiiuroiiisl still Kept up the eontest iiiiikiujr thrusls wil h his kiiite iit the hleediuf" ami exiiiiiisted lliiinirs, whiih he jmiiied with his broken (run lis liest lie eoiild. Most id' this desperute eiiifftpeiiieiit was in plain view of the J'ort, but the ranf-'crs, hiivirin been in one iitiibiiseade, sa'v in this llvrlit only ariiso to draw out the Imlaneo of the (.'unison. Ibit a .Mis. I'liisely, lesHliiif? at the Kort, no lonsrer able to see so brave ii mim eoptemi iinaiiled for his lile, seized a (run. and mouiitiiiK a horse, started to his rescue, /m .his t he men took cmiraiie and liHstened aloiiK 'I'lie Indian seeliiy aid eoiiiiim:. lied. Hiyirins liciiiM' luiirlv hacked to pieces, fainted from loss of blood. He was carried to the Kort. 'riuM-e beimi- no siir- jreoti, his conirades cut two balls from hlsllesli; others reiiiained in Kor da\s his life was despaired of, but by tender nursiiisf, he ultimately recovered his health, badly crippled. He resided in b'ayctle County for many years after, where lie raised a lar«e family, and di(Mi in IS:.'!). Ho received a pension, iHirsued farminj;-, and at on.' time was door-kooper of onu of tlio Louses of the Ouneral Assembly at Vaudaliu . Ifeynold's Plo, Hist.-p.S^Jl. 280 insToRV OF Illinois. 1;ist. \{ this tiiiir ii liii-;>'f torcc of liMliiiiis on the i itiiii sliorc, tiiiilci' llic riiiiiiiiiiiiil of r>liick IliiwU, coiniiKMicni iiii iithick. 'riio h:i\ ii;;cs, ill ciiiint'S, |)ii>sf(l i':i|ii)ll\ In liii' ishinil. iiimI wiliiii \\:ir w li<)(i|t riisiic*! iipuii llic iiH'ii, w lit) iclrciitt'd iiiiil S()ii;:iil icl'ii;;!- in llic l»iir;;<'. A Icilllc ol' Itiisk imisiicti'.v now ciisiicd lirtwccii liio I't'W I'fjL^iiliit's iiitoMi'd liif stniiHird l)iii'!^c Mild III*' lioi'dfs of liidiiiiis under cover ol' I ices on I lie isliiiid. with seM'ie loss to tir.' ioiiiiei'. 3lejin\vhilt'. Ci.ptiiins liector and l{i;;;;s, iihend with tii ■ l>iii';;('s, seili;;' the siii(d\e of Icitlle, ess;i_\ed jo relllili. ImiI in the stroiij;' pile Iki^ins" hoiit lieeaiiie iiiiiiiiiiiiij;eiihle niid was st landed on the rapids. |{eetor, to avoid a similar disast«'i', let ji(» his anchor, 'liu; iaii;;crs. however, opened with ^ood aim and telliii;;- elVect on tho sava.i:cs. The iineipial coiidiat hav in;; ra;ni'd for some time, the eon una mi - cr's liarjic w illi maiiv vvonnded and several dead on hoard, ainoiij;- the foinierof whom, verv hadl.v, was Cainpltell himself, had almost' ci'ascd li^litiim when slie was iliscov ered to Im- on lire. .And now Slephcii li'ector, and his hrave crew of Illinois raii;;eis, compre- heiidiiiu the horrid situation, perforined, without (lelav, as cool and heroic a deed, and did it well, as ever imperiled the life of niortal man. In llie how lin.^' uale. in full view of hiindredsof llu^ infuriate sava.u'es, and within raiiyc of their ritles. they delilieralely raised anchor, lightened their ha rjiC l»v caslinj; overhoard ipiaii- lilies (d' jti'dv isioiis. and ^iiiided it with the utmost lal)ord(»wn tlui Nwi ft current, to the w iiidward of the lairninii' liaijic, and, in llui I'iillinu' lire of the cnemv, resciied the survivors, removed thei v.'iinded. the d.viii^ and all, to their vessel. 'I'his was as heroic ii deei,' of iioldc dariiiji' as was performed during' the war in the, AVcst. 'i'lie island, in iiiciikmv •>!' the stiii;;,ulc. was named after Caniplicll. hut with iJectorand his crew of Illinois rangers remains the ulorv of tli»' action. 'riie manlier of ctfcctini;' the rcscm- killed — I ranjicrs, ;> re^iiilars, I woman, I child ; wounded 1(5, anioiij;' vvIkuu vveie liicut Camplicll and Dr. Stewait, severely.* JJectcu's Itainc was nncomforlahly crowded for the vvoiindcd, hut as the force was larp' they rowed iiijihl and daynntilSt. Louis was reached. The Indians, after the ahandoiimenl of (."ami»l>eirs l»ari| tilt' rivt'i, iilxl lii:iii,\ ii piitiiol liriiit u ;is riiiul(> ;;'l!i(l l)\ llit* liiiiil li(liii;^s oT llit'ir siil'i-lv. Still iiiiotlici' t'\|n'ililii>ii lortlu' I'|>|»t Mississipid whs |»iojtM'tc(| this sciisoii iil'lt'i' till' two I'nrruiiiii;; (lisiislcis. It \\;is til t •<«'lsoii Itt'ctoi, and Sainiirl Wliitrsiilcs, with tlic lliiiioisans, wows ill coiiiiiiaiKl of iioats. It was jiciicrall.v n';;ai(lt'tl as of inati'iial iiii|Miriaiiri> loliavf a stroii;;' fort wilii a ;.:airis(iii well ii|i the .Mis sissippi ill tlic heart of the liiiliaii roiiiitiv. The plan was to proct'i'il alioM' the rapids, and in desi-i'iidin;; sweep lioth Itaiiks of the i'i\('i' of liir Indian xillaucs, dcstrov llieii' coin down to Itock Island, and tlicn' Iniild tin' loil. 'i'jic rxpcdil imi dt'partrd its place of i('iidc/\ oils, Aii;;iist -•"). 1S| |, ;iiid passed IJock island and the h'apids iiniiiolested. It was now leanied that the coiintiy was not (Mil.N swaniiiiii; with Indians, lait that the iCnulish werc^ there in coininand, w itii a dclachineiit ol re,milars and aitillcry. The advanced Itoats in coniinand of Kector, Whitesides, and lleiiipstead, turned about and lie^aii to descend the Kapids, llulit- iii.i; w itii iir«'at uallantrv the hoa riles of the eiieiiiy poiiiin^- theic tire into them from the shore i'\er,\ step. A lit lie w av alio\ e the iiionlh of liocU rivei', not fai from .some willow islands. Major Tayloi' anchored his tieet out in the .Mississi|ipi. I)iirin<:' the iii.uhf tin' l']n;;lish planted a haltery of si\ pieces down at the water's (>(!;;*' to sink or disahle the boats, and tilled the islands with redskins to butcher our men. who iniLihl, iiiiarined. seek refuj;'(^ Ihei'e. JJiit ill this scheme lhe,\ were friisl rated, in the niorniiij;- Taylor ordered all the force, except L'O boatmen on each v«'sscl. to the upper island to dislodge the enemy. 'I'lie order was executed with .ureal liallantry, the island scoured and the savages, many of whom wei'c killeil. driven ti) the lowerone. in the meantime the liritish caniioii told with elfect upon the Heel, piercing many of llie boats, 'i'he men rushed back and the boats were drop|>ed down the stream out of laiiiic of the cannon. Caittaln iicctor was now ordered with his company to make a sortie on the lower island, which he did, drixiiij; the Indians back anions the willows, but th«\v belli jf reinforced, ill turn hiiilcy 'I'aylor had by this tiim^ decided that I heir force was insnfticient to contend w itii the enemy, who oiitiiunibeied them three to one, and the boats wer(^ in full retreat down the rivei. As Uector attempted to jict underway, his boat jiroiinded, and the savages, with dciiKMiiac yells, sui- roiiiidcd it, when a most desperate hand to hand eii,i;aiicnient ensued. The .gallant ran.i;er, Samuel Whitesides, oii.scrviii!.;' the immiuciit j>eril of his biiive Illinois comrade, went iininediately to his rescue, who, but for his timely ai. IS14. Opposite the mouth of I lie 1 )cs >ioiiies, on the site of the present town of Warsaw, a, fort was built by Taylor's men, called ICdwards, ■wliieh consisted of a roiiuli stockath; and block'., miscs of nnliew u logs. Fort Madison, oil thewest side of the Aiississi[»pi and farther 2H3 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. lip, iiftcv beiiifi i'«'i>('at('(ll.vattack«'el!ar,u('d Oetoiter ISih, ISit.* Thns ended the last, like the t/.(! ])re\ ions exjx'ditions (i|) the jMis.-issippi dining the war of IS!:.', in defeat anlieaii notions of tlie necessity of co-ordinate brandies of jioveriiiiieiit. I'nder tliat celebrated <»rdiiiance, tlie jiolitical |iri\ ilcucs of tlie citizen were few (•!• none, lie could not exercise llie elective iVaiicliise unless lie was a IVeeliolder of .")() acres, nor asi»ire to a seat in tiie territo- rial le<>islatnre unless lie was .1 freeliolder of fniiii UOO to ."itMl ac'cs. Those of tlie teiritorial oflicers wlioni tlie president did notappoint, were appointed by tlie ,i;"»\<'riiveiiiors, unless it was tSl. ('lair, the people were all tlie time clamorous for an exten- sion ol' siilVraiic. Conj^rcss (not the jioverimr) finally, by act of .May I'l, ISlL', laised Illinois to the second ;;rade of territorial jiovcinnienl, and further extended the lij^lit of sn(fra<;(' to any white male ])erson L'l years old, wli(» had paid a territorial lax and reside* 1 one year in the territory next pieced in j; any elect ion. a ill hor- iziii;.:' such elector to \(»te for rejircseiitative, memlier of I he le^^is- lati\ e council and d«'le,i;ate to coiij;r<'ss. The property (pialilicatioii, undei' the ordinance of 17S7, was abolislu'd. This was a very j;'reat coiM-ession to the people. 'I'he j^'ovcrnor was rcipiired to apportion the territory. On the I ttli of l''eiiriiary, ISli;.accordin,nly, he issued his jiroclamation, ordcrinj;- an election to take the sense of the ])eoi>lefor or a^ainstcnterinji" iiiioii the second jiiade of territorial y iiiiollicr procliiiiinlinn of tlic siiiiic diit*-, an i'lcclioii lor r» iiiciiilicis of tlic lc;4islali\ (■ coiiiicil, 7 rt'iiicsciitat i\('.s and a dclcjialf lo conjiTcss, was ordci'i'd to he licid in cacii county on the Stli. 'Mil and l(»lli days of OctoWrr folJowiiii;-. At lliis clcr- lioii. SliadiiK'li I'lOiid was rlntcd to con^icss. Tlic liu'inhris elect of the le;;islative council were, I'ieiie .Meiiaid, of liaii(lol|tli — clioseii to preside ; NN'illiani l'>i.ujis, of St. Clair; Sainiiel .Iiid_\.of 3Iadisoii: 'riionias l''er,!4i:soii, of ,Jol' ni, and Heiijainiii Talliot, of (lallatin. Tlu' meiiibers elect (»f tlie lioiise of represenlat i\('s w«'re, (ieoij^o I'islier. of i;andoli)li; .losliiia O.uleshy and ,Facol> Short, of St. Claii': William .loiies. of Madison: I'liillip 'I'lainiiiel and Alexan- der Wilson, of (iailatin, and dohn (Iraniiaar. of .lohiison. We sniijoin hi'ief sketches ol the inembers eoiistitiltiiii; the first <,'eiieral asseiiil>ly of illinois. I'irrrc J/ry/^nv/. a ( "anadian I'leiich- liiaii. settled at Kaskaskia in IT'.tO. He was a merchant and enjoyed an e\teiisi\e liade with the Indians, over whom he ex- erted a ,i;reat inlliieiu'e and was foi- maiiyyears the i;(>\ ernment a.uciit lor them. lie was well inlormed. eiierj;ctic, frank and honest, and was very popular with all classes. Wiilidiii />'/V/_(/.v w as an intelli_<;('nt and I'espectable nieinher, who had heeii a soldier in Clark's expedition, and ten years afterward had heeii a prisoner for se\ eral years amoiit; the Kick a poos. He w rote and pnl dished a complete iiarrati\e of his Indian <'apt ivily, and in Isi'd. con,i;ress Aoted him three sections of land, lie was for many years county Jnd,i;c. tSaiiiiirl '/kiIi/ — the same who. in the fall preceding, com- manded the corps of spies in (loxcriior iMiwanIs" mililary cam- l»ai;:n to Teoiia lake — was a man of "energy, fortitude and enler)irise." Some of his descendants now icside in ;\ladisoii coiinly. .f().sliiil(ic()b Short, the colleague ol' O.uleshy, removed t(» Jlliiiois with his father. .Moses, in IT'.MJ.and pursued farming;-. Dur- ing; the war of 1S12. he distiiii;iiisiied himseif as a lanuei. (Ii(trer at Shaw- iieetown, of fair abilities. WiUiiun -/aiKs was a llaptist preacher, };rave in his deporlineiil. and possessed of moderate aliilities. He Mas born in North Carolina, removed to Illinois in ISdii. jmd set- lied in the l»attaii prairie, east (»!' .Mtoii * 'I'liis was the first ap|tearaiice in public lit'e of ,/<)liii (Irdniniar. He afterwards rep- resented I'liion county fre(pieiitl\ diirinj; a period of liO years. Jle had no education, yet was a man of shrewdness. After his election, it is iclated that to piocuic the necessary apparel to ai»]teai' at the seal of {;overimu'iit, lie and the family }4alliered w *Auuul8 of tlie West. ILLINOIS TKIMMTOUV. i;sr> lar^i'c (iiiniitily of" Iiickory iiiits, wliicli wcic l;ik<'ii to tlic Ohio siiliiK' iiiid ti'iult'd lor l)lii*' sliniidiii^, siicli :is tlic liidiiiiis wore lor hi'cccli cloth. Wlicii tilt' iici;ilil)oiiii,n' women iissciiihltMl to iii:iko up tlH' .iiMi'iiM'iils, it WHS I'oiiiKi tliiit he liiid not invested (|iiit(' enon;;li nuts. Tiie piitlern Wiis nieiisnred in e\ery wny possilde, ImiI wiis iinMiist;d;;ilily scant. Wlierenpon it was decided to niaUo a '•holt-tailed coat and a lonj^- pair of ie;Li;;in.us." Arrayed in tiiese, lie daly appeared at the seat o'' jitivernnient, where he continued to weai' his |)rimiti\e suit i(M' the j^i'eater part of the session. >ra<'tinildin.n' of uncut limestoin', with steep roof and yal)les of nnpainted boards, situated in the centre of a sipiare, whicii, after the ruin and abandonment of i''ort Ciiartres, had served tho J''reiich as the headiuiarters of the military commandant. The Jiist thior. i\ lai'nc low, cheerless room, was lilted ii]> for ti)e lioiise, and a small chamber al>o\(' for the council chamber, 'i'he latter body chose John Thomas their secretary, and the former elect ei I for clerk William ('. (ireeinip. 'i"he two houses had a (loor-k«'eper in comiiKm. All the IU nu'iuiters boarded with one family, and lodged, it is said, in one room. How unlike jireseiit times! 'I'lui members addressed themselves to the business iu hand, witliout delay or circumlocution. Windy speeches or coiiteidion were unheard of. and jtarlianuMitary tacticians, if any there were, met with no induluciice. It has been nai\('ly remarked that not ;i lawyer appears on the roll of names. The assembly ertected a ])eacei'ul revolution of the civil polity of the tei'ritory. at a time when actual war was the all-absorbin;>; public (piestioii. \',\ act of DectMiiber 1.'!, ISll', all the laws l)asse(l by the Indiana leuislatui'e, and in force .Alarch 1, 1S(M>, ji'encral in their nature and not local t(» Imliana, which stooil nnrepealed by the u'ONcriior and Judges of Illinois, ami all laws oriiiinally adopted for Illinois under t lie (irst jn'rade of territorial };d\('i nmeiit. rcmaiidnj;' nnrepealed, were by them re-eiiactelc. Siifli oIImt liiwsMsit \v;> ■ .'hciiiimI tlic coiiiitrv it'(|iiiif(l, were piisscd, iiiiil al'ici' a liricl' scssiuii, llic liist k'^isliiliiic iid- Joiii'ikmI. Tlic liiwsol' till' It'iiitorv wci'!' nrtcrwnrd icviscd iiiid di^icstcd, iiiidci' llic niitlinrily of tlii' Ic.uislatiir, l»,v Niitlmincl Pope, and piiiilcd ill oil*- xoliiiiic l)v .Malllicw Ihiiiraii. priiitci' ol' the tcni- toiv, wiiich bears tlir date .liiiic 1', ISl."). Tlicrc arc besides, two small \()!iiiiies, bv liie same printer, ol' tl <• session laws of lSir>--l(> and bSl-TlS. Wliile llie laws are raill'i'iillv rendered, the iiiecliaii- ical a|iite;iraiiee of tliese books, owini;' to l!ie j^real eoarseiiess of tlie paper and liie use of eliiiiisv tvpe, ill.v conipares willi worU of (lie present lime. Maiiv of I lie laws imported, re\ ised and adopted b\ tiie j^overiioi' and jiid,L;es. were \\<'li drawn but liie j;reat bodv of lliose oii^inated in llie le.uislatnre present mneii criulitv, Itotli ill eoiiiposilioii and j;rasp of the snitjeets intended to be snbsei'\ ed. We will aliiitle to somefealiires of the territorial code, iio^ hapjiilv oi»>olete, which ,i;i\(', b\ contrast with the pres- ciil, an idea to liie reader of tiu^ pro,uress and ainelioration allained in criminal Jiirispriidcnec ami the |innishnient for debt. Tims, ill the pnnishment of crimes, both felonies ;nid inisdeiiican- (»rs, the barbarous practices of whijipiiiu on thebaic bacU. coii- tinenienl in stocks, staiidiiijL;' in the pillorv, and brandiii,^' with hob irons, were the penalties iVeipiciilly prescribed; besides lines', inipi'isonijicnt. and loss oi' citi/,enslii|». 'i'hese snininar\ modes ()t" chastisement .yrew, in l»art, out of the condition of the country. It was but sparsely settled, the peo|)le were poor, they had no gen- eral prison or p<'niteiitiary. and the few .jails were so inseeiire as to ])rcseiit scarcely any bairier to the escape of i»risoners, W'hip- j>in.u- upon the bare back, besides other ininishineiits at the option of the court, was |)rescribed in bnrjilary or robbery. ."!!> stripes; in perjury, larceny, the receiving' of stolen ^iooils, and obtaiiiiiij;' ptods by fraiidnleiit pretenses, .'U stripes; liorse-stealin^', tirst offence, from .")(► to lUO lashes; lioj;-slealin<;', from 2."> to ."i!! lashes ; alterin,!^' and del'acin,u' marks or brands on. doinestie animals at lar.Lic. 10 lashes ••well laid (Ui;" bigamy. i)iinislied with from l(K> to .JOO .striites : forsodomy, from lot) to. "idO lashes were prescribed; l«)rcibly takin;^' away a female to marry aiiainst her consent, was declared a felony and nii^uht be punished by whippinu: chihlreii or ser\ ants for disobedience^ mi^lit, \\\h>\\ complaint and coii\ iciioii before a justice, be whipped mtt exccediiiji' Ktstripes. In all these olVeiices tiicn^ were other penalties provided, allernatively oraddi- tionally, at the option of the conri — such as lines, impriscmmeiit, restitnlion. etc. I'ines were collected fi'om tli(»se unable to pay, by the sheriff hiriiij^ or selliii;;' them to any one who would pay the line or costs, ibr such terms as the court mi^lit deem reas stii[»es. kStandinj;' in ]»illory was |>re- scribed, in addition to other ]»enaItio.s, in perjury, forjicry, and tlio altcrinji' or defacing' of brands or marks on domestic animals. For this last olfcncc, on second conviction, tin' culprit was to \\,\\\' the letter T branded in the h^ft hand with a red hot iron. To incvent the cominon ciime of killiiij;- stock runiiinj;' on the lanji'e, every one, inclndiiiii' the owners, wasrc(|uired to exhibit the eai's of liojis, or hides of cattle, killed, to a ina,nistrate or two freeholders williiii three o.\ at lislienl't's. lotteries, elc., were pnnished hy lines. In I.SIO, a l;iw was adopted to snppress" dnelin.!;', which made the fatal resnit ol" a on and sold under e.xecntion. The sale was absolute — no time of rc(lem]»tion, as at present, was allowed in the case of I'ealty. If the land failed to sell for want of ltidtake it al>soluiely at the appraised Aalne made by lU jurors. I5ut this was n(»t idl. If the property was insudicicnt to ])ay the jud.unient. the Itody of the debtoi'mi^ht be seized and cast into prison. Here he won hi l)e alloweon lands. Those situated in the river bottoms of the ."Mississippi. ( )hio and tho "NVabash were taxed at the rate of !?1 on every 1(M> acres. Tlio njdands w<-re class<'d as second rate, and were taxed at the I'ate ol" T") cents ]>er tOOacics, rnlocaled, but conlirnu'd land claims, were taxed at the rate of .'JTi cents per I(i(» acres. The county revenue was raised chiefly by a tax ni)on personal property, in- cluding' slaves or indeidured servants between the aji'cs of 1(» and 40, not to exceed $1 each, 'i'he only I'eal property taxed was lots and houses in towns, an ami npwanls. There was levied also a capitation tax of si on every able-bodied sinjiie nuin. ha\in,u' attained his majority and ownini;' .*2(l(> woi'th of taxable property. This on^^ht to hav<5 induced marriaj^e. Two men were appointed to apjtraise the prop- erty re(piii'ed to be assessed. .Merchants and ferries were licensed at $1.1 and ><1(> res|)ectively. Horses and cattle were taxed by th(^ head, not exeeedinj^oO and 10 cents, respectively — not accord- h\ S!> had actually been paid into the treasury; the l)alance — nearly hall" — 8-. •"{"■'^ 17 remained in the hands of delinquent sheriffs. The delinciueiicies of sherilfs, in their capacity us collectors of the revenues, remained a curse to 2SS msToiiY oi' ir-i,iNors. Illinois not only •Inrin}'' its territoriiil existence, hut for many years aft<'r it became a State. Ill IS] \ tile le.uislatiire attciiipled to reoi'^anize tlie Judiciary by estalilisiiiii;:;- ilie siipiciiie court of tlic tci'iiloiv. 'i'iie I'liitcd States jiid^Lics for tlie territory were assif;iied to circuit diity,eacii iiaxiii";' a ciicuit composed of two counties in cacli of widcii two terms of c( Ml it were to be lield iiiiuialiy. Tlie c(»iirts possessed common law and cliaiicery Jiiri.s i lion, and suits were t() be tried in tlio coiiiities ill wliicli iliey originated. Once a year the .iiid;4('s weio to coincne in banc at tlic scat of ji'overmneiit, to bear appeals and revise erroneous decisions IVoiii the conrls lielow. 'i'iiis arraiiji'c- ineiit was well calculated to j;i\t' to tiie people in tlicir counties a more tlMa'onjih administration of the laws than the <'oiiits of coinmon pleas altbrded ; liiit tlic idea of circuit oj^'ethei' w ith the oltjectioiis of the Jit(lj;<'s and thereply of the ^o\ i iiior, with an addi'css 'M'e(jiie.stin>;' lhe])assaj;'eol;' a law declarin;^' the aforesaid act valid, or to pass some law moro explanatory of the relative duties andpowcrsof the .jiidii'esalbresaid and of this lej;islature." Coniiress, i>y act of .March .'», ISlo, juissed "an act re^iilatiiiii- and detiniiiii' the duties of the I'niled States judin'cs for the Territory of Illinois,"' which substantially embodied the ]>ro\isioiis rc(piired by iiie lc,i;isiature. The Jiid.nes Mere reipiired to do circuit duties and reside in their I'cspectivo circMiits, and to inctit in banc twice a year at the seat of ^'overn- inent. as a. court of appeals. They were also .subjected to tho re;iulations of the lejiislatiire as t(» the times of holding' their terms. The \'eriior appointed tlie clei'Us In the meantime by a suplemental act the le}.;islature attlie same sessi(»n had abolished the ^t'ceral coui't, whose jiiri. fiction was to be siipeiseded by the supreme cornt ; and by another act thecourt of common pleas was abolished, and coun'.y courts (the jjerin of our i>resenr county system) which had no Juiis)2(> in debt. Sitting- as an examining tiibunal, to what court could a justice of the peace Lave validly bound over a culjirit duiinj;' this period of partial judicial vacuum? However, we have liothing showing' to the cou- ILTilNOIS TKTIUITOUY. 2.S!) trary, but that tlic i)('0])lf' got aloiifj.jnst as well aslu'lnic and after. By a<'t of ,laii. !(, ISKl, (he diilics of tlic JimI^cs of tlic court of appeals \vei-e more clearly iletiiied, and a law rclaliii.i;' lo this court was amended in IS17 and the ciicnits reor^ani/ed ; next l)y an act of .Inne I'J, ISI,',, a radical change was made. There lieini; somo ol»senrity in llw connty conrt ael passed in \x\l, its dnties were more clearly delined hy a snpplenn-nlal act of the same session. The civil jurisdiction of the Jnsticte's eonrl was in IS17 extended to $40. 'I'hns it will l>e ohsei'vcd that at a very eaily jjcriod the Lejii.s- latnre of Illinois fell into the habit, winch itecann- elironie. of <'han,uiii■■.■ adojttion of the constitu- tion of JStS. Since then this species of legislation seems ti> have <'xpended itself in the •VeipuMit chan^'cs of the terms of (MMirt in the various cintnits. Next to chan,i;inj;' and sidftin;^ the well •settled principles of the law in its relation to the rights of i)roperty and tlu' midtifarioiis tiansactions of Itusiiu-ss, notliin;;' is so ]ivr- incious as the varying- of the means and nnxlcs of ohtainin.ij: redress in oui- coui'ts. IJotli onyht to be ])erirninent. Dnrinji' the territoi'ial existence ot' Illinois tiiree u'cneral assem- blies were elected by the people — the conncil lioldili.ii' over the .second term. In bS!4 Col. I5enjamin Stephenson, father of tlu^ late jiiillant .hnnes W. SteiduMison, of (ielena. was elected delegate to congress, and in ISK; Nathaniel Pope, who took his seat in i'onjiress l)ecend)er 1.S17. The Icj^islalure met eveiy year at Ivas- kaskia,but the sessions w«'re short. New(!onnties were establislu'd from time to tinu'; in bsir>. the tii-st formed by the lejiislature, was named Kdwarils, in honor oi' the ji'oNciiior. In bSl."), White (MMinty was or^ainzed. muned in honor of (Japt. Isaac. White, who fell at Tippe<*anoe; in iSKi, Moni'oe, Crawford, .lackson, and i'ope, tin' lattei' in honor of the newly elected delei;ate to eonuress; in ISK;, ISond. in honor of Shadiack IJond, first (ioverin)i' of the, State afterward ; and in l.SbS, L'nion, Fianklin, and Washington connfie.s were organized. A\'e subjoin a few specinuMis of cnrions leuislation (birinj'' teri'i- torial times. It will be ol)ser\('d that the S«oloiis of that jteriod thundered considerably in the preandde. By a law of JSoptendx'r 17, 1S()!>, to rej;idate the elections, all comni- -^sioneil odicers, either fedei'al or teiritorial, except Justices of the peace and nnlitia. ollicrers, were made ineli;^ibU^ to a. scat in eitliei' branch of the jieneral assembly. The oliject (d'this law is not set clear, unless it was to avoid a monopoly of oflicial di^idty and imjHirtance; but sm-li pi'oscriptiou could m)t be liiooked, and aceordinjily it fell i»y act of J)e(!einbor 14, 1SI4, the preand)leof which, ('(Uisistiuj;' of li Avhex'eaHcs, i.s as lm<>'e a specimen of "gaseous buncond) to conceal a trn«' intent, ami nnike it appear that the law of lS(»!t was immensely oppi-essive to the ptoiile, as can be reclaimed from theeaily annals of i>(»litieal denia;j;()guery in Illinois: " WiiKKKAS, Tiie free people of this Territory areaseompetentii.s their pul)lic serviuits to decide on whom it is tiieir interest to elect to re|)reseiit them ia the f^eneral a send)Iy; and are too euli,!j;iitened and inch'pendent to reeoffiiizetiie odious andaristoeratieal doctrine that they are tiieir own worst enenues, or to admit tliat it is tlie duty of tiieir re^jresentatives to' save the people from themselves; and ly 290 IIISTOllY OF ILI.INOia. "WiiKiiKAH, TliiH lof^iHlature, lu'lii^r foinposed of tho sorvaiits, not the nmstei's ol llif pi'opk', caniiol witlioiit iiii arliitrary a.ssiiiii|itioM of pusvor iiii|)(is<> rcstriftioiis iipoii tlic latU'ras to tlii' clioico of tlii'ir ri'ini'.sciila- tivi's, wliicli aiv iiol warrantcti Uy tlif cxju'i'ss words or lu-ci'ss^ary iinplicatioiis of the onliiiaiico from wliicli tlu; Ifgisluturi' dciivts its j)o\vt'rs : ami '■\Viif:hi:\s, 'I'ln' duties of tlu" Judges of 1 1 H' county court cstalilisiu'd by law arc sucii as liavc iicrt'tol'orc been [HTforiiicd in liic tciTitoi'y liy justices of tiic peace, l>y wlioni liiey are also usually pi'rfornu'd in many of the States, and tlici'e heiiijj; notliinir in the ordinance, nor any reason to exchide from a scat in the Icjiislalurc those jud^i's of tlie county, or surveyors, or prosecuting allorncys, that do not apply with i-qual Ibrco to niilitai'y otlicers and Justices of the peace, and tlic dutii'.s of llu' foi mer heinj; no more incompatahle with u scat in the Icfiislalu.'c than those of the latter, tlu'rel'ore," itc. By one short section of two or three lines, laws inccmsistcut with tlu' uhove sentiments were abolished, Aijoliu'i' spcciiiM'ii, wiio.sc object is disclosed iiitiie preaiuble, .ve caiiimt lorbear to f;ive : " WiiKUKAS, Voters have hitherto been obliged to vote by ballot, and the ignorant as wel' as those in ombarassed circumstances arc thereby subject to lie impost'd upon by electioiu'crin^zi-alots; and "\Viii:ukas, It isconsistenl withthe spiritof representative republican government, since the opening for bribery is so muuifest which shouhj ever be suppressed in such a governnrent, for renu'dy whcri'of,'' &c., when follow tho sections abolishing the ballot. These reasons would hardly be- tenable at thei>resent time, and were doubtless false then. "i'.y iiii act of DeecMiber 24, 1814, "To prouiote retaliation upon hostile Indians," we liiul evidenct's ol" llie extiemc^ uu'asufes of delcnce to wliicli the piiuieeis had toresoit. Tins may be diniciill. lor us at tills liuu', witli a popiilaliou e.vceediii}; li,."i()(>,(Hl(l, and the linliaiis many limidiccls of inih's away, to a[)pi'e('iate. The \nv amble icrers to tliu ••liostih' iiiciii'sioiis of savages, tiieif indiseiim- iiiate siaujiiilei' of incii, women and eliildreii. Iv\p«'iieuee sliows tiiat noliiiiiji so iiuicli lends to elieclv those bloodthirsty moiistefs as ietalialioii."aiid "to eiieoitra<;'e the bravery and enterprises ol' our leilow cilizeiis and other peiscms hereat'ter t'iij;agrd in iVoutier deleiiees," it is eiiaeled : I. Tliat when in such ineiirsions into the setth-meiits, the eoininission of murder or other depredations by Indians, citizens, ianj;ers, of otlier persons who shall make l)risoiiei's of, or kill such Indians, shall receive a reward lor each Indian taken or killed, ol fjSoO -if done by ranji'ers or others enlisted in the deleiice of the eonntry, $i;."> only. '2. That any jtersoii, haviuji' obtained ])erinission Ircuii a eommandinj;' ollicer on the frontier to i^o into the territory of hostile Indians, who shall kill a warrior, (»r take prisoner a scpi.iw or child, is entitled to a reward of $Uld for each warrior killed, or s(piaw or child taken l)risoiier. 'A. That any i)aily of ranj;ers, not e\<'eediiiranted make incursions into the country of hostile Indians, shall receive a reward of $">() tor each warrior killed, or s(jiiaw or child taken prisoner. In ISU! a relalialmy act was passed to prevent attorneys at law from Indiana i>raeticin}>' in any of the (;onrts of Illinois, for the I'eason stated in the preamble, "Whereas, by a law now in force in the Slate of Indiana, persons who do not resid(> therein are not peiinitted to practice in the courts of the said State; and wlu'reas, that fesliictin such cxnltcd nil's; but. pcrliiips, she \v;is rii^lit iiltcr mII. ;is \\c liiid tliiil Ity net of .Iiiiiiniry *.K ISIS, Illinois ntVci'cd tiic lollowinj;' prcniinnis \\>v sKstiiiiirtl indict- nii-nls. In section I. lixiiii; tlic snliii'v of |>rost'»MitinL;' iitloincys iit .*!(»(►, it is pi-o\ iilfd tinit in nddilion to liis siiini'v in- sjnill rcccivo "in cncli and every case ol" felony where his indielnn'nf is sus- tained the snni of !*!.">;" and lor other '• present nn'iitH in eases less than felony, "if the indictnu-nt was snstained." he was to reeeivn a pertpiisite of iit.*). Hut the most unacconntahle featnr' ot' tiiis law icinains to he told. In section (» it was provided that if tho indictment was snstainecl, not willistandiii.ii' the accnsed shoidd ho acfpntted I>y the traverse Jury, the fee of the prosecntin.i;' atlorin-y was to be paid l>y the i)rosecntini;' witness. What person, thonj^h never so i^ood a citi/eii. in \ iew y ::n act of 1/ec. .'H, 1S17, the territory of Illinois was in a manner turned oxer to and parceled on! between the medical " his fees in any court or before any imij'istrale. The act was repealed by the lirsl leji'islatiire under the .'■tale ^■overnment. Willi the close of the war of 1812, and the cessation of Tiidiaii hostilities, the tide of emijiiation sef^ into Illinois with a xoliimo unequale-ely by his iiiHueuee i» pro- curinij;' tln^ passaj>e of the act of pre-emption. Prior to the close of the war of 1S12, money was \'ery scarce in the west. The ])elts of the {\i'i'r, raccoon, «S:c., for which there was a ready market, were to a certain extent a standard of exchan<>e, and su|)]>lie(l ill a manner the eirculal in <>' medium. This condiliou of the country wasjirealiy improved by the money distiibuted in the payment of the rangers mid militia for their ser\ iee.s during ilM 1 , 1-! m mm 292 TIISr(»i:\ y tlM> iiirrciiscd iiuiiii^^iiilioii at'l'-i' iLs clttsc. l'M'.si(|«-s, tli<' li'i'i'ildi'iiil li';;i.sl;itiii'<', t'liiiiliitiii;^' tlic liiiiiiichil iispinil ions of Oliin :intl Kt-ii lucky, wliicli liad t'acii aiillioii/i-d < iiiiiiiIm r ol' ban Us, iiinii'|i(M'al*-(l at its session of iSiii, ihc ItaiiU oi illiiii)is, located at Siiawiieetowii, and at the siieeeedin;; session, tiie hanks ol" lOdwardsv ilie and Kaskaskia. I'liey were l>anks ol' issue. And the le;iislatiire, not satislied witli tiiis, vciv nnjnstiv lent its aid in t'oicin^ Ihe issne of these hanks iipoii the |ieo|ih': Hot onl,V tliese, IhiI tlie issues of tiie hanks of Oiiio. Keiilnckv, 'r«'iinessee and Missouri, 1»\ tiie ena<'linent of laws postiioninj;' the ettneclioii of (h'iits unless tiie creditor Would recei\ e I lie notes of these, liaiiks, were thus likewise forced upon ihe people. l>olh he«'aiiie hanks of deposit for the I'liited States funds, aiisiii;; froiii the sali's of inihlic lands, wliicli tliev used as their own. The j;overiinieiit hi.st 1>.V tlie Mtlwardsviile Itaiik, .*,"il,(MI(l, foi which iiid;;ineiit was ohtaiiied, hut ne\«'r collected ; the Shawiieetown hank e\ i-iitnally accoiinled lo the ;;()v«'rniiient in full. Tills made iiuuiey, such as it was, ahiiiidaiit, times Hush, and rendered a spirit of speculalion rife, which was apparcnlly a desirahle state of atVairs, if it had heeii all. The circulation of hank notes aiuoii^' a [leopU^ lar;;('ly i;;iioraiit and unused to them, atl'orded to the \ i ioiis a rareopportiinity to set atloat yi> ii, upon sucli offtMulers as were to their secret cahal proxcii ;;uilty. A l>r. Kstes, of Melleville, was chosen as their captain. Many makers or ntterers of the hase currency, and for other crimes, fell under their hail and were punished. It created fiicat excitt'iueiil in llie comitry. IMililic opinion soon withdrew its countenance and condemned the order. Altera few nioiitlis time its orj;aiii/atioii ceased to exist. The visionary schemes of hanking' operations diiriii('ily charier, granted at tlii' session of ISIT-IS. The low toi:;.iiie of land hetweeiitlu' Ohio and Mis- sissippi rivers at their coutiiieiicc, was at a very early period re- pirded as the l»est position in the west for a ^reat and important city, *•' as it resjjccts commercial :'dvaiita;i«'s and local sup|(ly," as the preaiiihle had it. Such a city, it was arj;iied. must heconie of vast coiisetpieiice to the jirosperity of t, n territory. IWit this low jioint of land was fre(pieiitl_\ iiiiiiidated •. \n answer to which it was further argued, that as the ordinary iiiiindatiims oi' the two yrcat riv<'rs rarely happened simultaneously, an emhankmeiit mijilit lie constructed to effectually ohviate the injurious coiise- qneiicesof floods. Tlie propriet" scheme to build ill) a Iar<>(^ city there, ]ionr wealth into their cotters, and at the same time render tliem- selves public heiiefaetors. The basis or capital of the hankinji,' in- stitution was lillOO (!airo city lots, (>(> by ILM) feet, valiu'tl and lim- ited at $1.")0 ea(!li. The streets were to he SO feet iu width. As fast ILLINOIS TF.UIMTOHV. 203 as tlic lots \vcr«' sold !^."»(hi|'llit' piod'cds ol'riicli wjis to hv dcvntctl to IIh' coiistnii'lion of :i Icxt't' to scctirc tlicin ii^Miiist tlic llooils, SI I id to I lie iiii|)roM'iii<-iit of | lir i-it \ l),\ tlif liiiildiii.u o|' |iiil)lir I'di- tiers. 'I'lic rrsidllf -Itcili.i; ■*<1;iii.\ , iit ihesjiine session, for the ciilliii;ndl ii e:in;il :i few iiiiles noilli of ( 'uiro to unite the u.'iterA^ik'* the Mi.ssi,s>i|ipi wiliitlie Oliio, \ i:i tlie town (d* Aiiierieii, liieii in .lohlisoii comity, owned l>y tlie eoinpiiny. 'I'olls, Willi rfii;.;e cliiir;;es, etc.. iiiidei' <'eiliiiii restrict ions, were periiiitti-d to this coiiip;iii\ : hilt iiolhiiii:' ciiiiie of it- 'I'lie scheine w;is some 1.") or is ye;irs since re\ived, in coiinection with the present INIonnd Cily. ('niiimeire tln'ou^^lioiit tile eiirly iiiid territoriiil period of Illinois, :ind to no inconsideinUie extent for some t ime iiflerwiiid, w;is in its lieljiU'ss infiiiM-y. All foreign products (•onsiimed here, either nat- iiiiil or imiiiiifiiclnred. wer<' hroii^ht to Illinois \ in New ( )rleiiiis, in keel hoiils, pn>li<'d iit ij^reiil hilior, with lonu poles, and towed at jtoiiits will) lon^- ropes, a process called '•cordellin ;;■.'' a,L;aiiist tin; .stron;;' ('iirrcnl of the Mississippi, !ty the hardy lioatmen of that e wiis ir.;i(le over the liroiul rtMclii'S of ) lu' ri\ (T, e.\eite(l ii iiii.M me of terror iiikI smprise iinionji' iiiiiiiy ol the Bettlei'K on the liuiiks, wlioni the niiiior of such nil invention hml never reiieheil : tinil it is reliitod thai on the iinex|)e<-te(t iiriiviil of the Itoiif before Louisville, in tlieeoiiise |Mir.siiits 1)1' ilic pcoplt' tliii'iii;;' tfiiiloiial tiiiH's, witc mainly ii;;rii'iilliii'iil, \ iirit'd li\ liiiiiliii;: iiiid ti'M|i|)iiiju. \'\\\ iiifnliaiits wt'if i'iM|iiii'«Ml lo sii|)|)l,\ llir nrdiiiai'N ait iclfs of ntiiMiiiipl inn nttt pi'iMliiccil or iiiaiiiiracliii't'il at Ininii-. ( 'olV<'*-, lea. anil Miuac tiiil mil tiitn Ufni'iailN > nlcr into llii- tiailv nnais of tin- lamil.v. Ma- tt'iials lor pergonal wear were iithfr ;;ro\vii, or lak'ai'in*-nt.s In wil'i- or (lani^litcr, tin* niri'i'lianl snpjilx in;; (inl,\ '^onn- of tin- <|\<- .stall' to rolor llii- viool, lla\or cotton. l''oriM;:ii mannfartiircil hoots ami sliofs, or lials ami caps, were worn Iml 1)\ few — liomciria(l(> nio«'casins anti nu*- cooii caps snpplyiii;.: tlic place. Mechanics in pnrsnit of their trades, are scMoni pioneers, ami ever\ settler was his ou n carpen- ter. 'l"he houses, mo>lly lo;; cahins. were laiill withtiiit ;ilass, nails, hin^t's or locks ; the I'nrnitMi'c, loo, naMl<-letist preai her, iiiid a larii.er liy oeenpation, who inannla<'l nred the liarness tor Ills teams as oeeasioii i'e(|nlred, that lie iriy employed plow in.'' a piere of slnhlile itrouml one day.on tiirnln^''ont lor dinner he lidt the harness on the lieam (d' the plonuli, as was his wiait. Ills son not dilVerintf fi'(aii the proverliial minister s lio>s perhaps, who ha . a-->isted him liy reiiio\ iriu tlit^ Htraw fr(Mii the el ijfH:in« plow with a pitelifork, remained hrliind lonu emaiiih ti> ooneeal one of the eollars, that lie mlKht laui' a pUi.> inji .spell while his tatlu'r was ueenpieil in makinu anol her lint his plot laili-il ; on ret iirnlnu: alter dinner and nilss- ili« the collar, Ills lather, rellictinu- lor a l'e>. miinites. pKiniptly divested liliiiself of his leather lireeehes, stnlled till' leifs with stnlilile, straddled them ai'f.iHs the iieek of the horse for a collar, and plowed the remainder of the day liare leuiied re((nliiinf (he a.ssistanee of the trnanily inclined lioy all tlm t iiiie. .\t thisday, to proviile for Hiicli a inis|>a|i, half day would ha\c lieeii spent in ^oin^ to town after another col- lar, and the bov wtaild' o.olialiy have Kiim'-"'! 'li!* point.— l-'rom Kord's lli.sl(a'y of Illi- uola. Chai'tku XXVI. OIM'.ANI/ATION OF TIIK STATK (1< >VKl{NMi:XT— A D- MIXISI K'A'I'ION Ol' (i<>\i;i{NOli I'.OXD. Our Sortlieni livuitbuji — Firnt (Jonstitiitioiidl i'imn'ntiim ami Smne- tliiiii/ of tlir Iii'i/niiunit FromH — (iorrnn'r lioid — Licntomnt- jl of ]io)>iiliitioii, Illinois iisjiircd to ii position !iiii>>iij;' tin- sistciliood of so' (•i<'ij'ii Stiitcs. A<'coniiiijj[iy, tlic tt'i ritori.ii Ic^islntiirc, in session :it Kns- kiiskiii in .liininiry of tliat yt-iir, pn'piirtMl antl s*-nt to N;itii:inifl I'opc. our (l<'lt'i;iit(' in (•oimjiicss. tiit'ir petition piayini; for I'le iitlniission of Illinois into tlieCnion on an etpnil fool iiii^- nit li t lie (triuinal StiVtes. 'I'lie petition was pi-oniptl\ preseiiteil. and the conoeit!)-,- on territories in duetinie r<'poiteill as it eanu' iVoni the hautlsof the coniniittee, in several essential features. One of these was toex- ten(( min. extended tlie boundary .'lO nules farther noi'th. To the vi<;ilance of Xathaniel I'oj)e, tlieretoi'c. are we indebted for a coast on Lake IMichijian to this extent: for tin; site occupied l»y the present mij^hty city of ("hi- <*ay«»; for the northern t«'rminus of the Illim)is anti Michiuan canal, and for the lead niiiu's of (ialena — all of which come within that extension. It was upon the above (pjoted lan;;najie of thcordiinuice of 1787, which was declared a compact to renuiiu 295 k I i:i 206 IIISTOIIV OF ILLINOIS. forever uiuilterahle, tlmt Wisconsin siibseciiiently based her claim to tlic It iiortliei'ii coiiiities of lliis State. Wliii*' the lorf^oiiij; were iciramouiit et»iisi(h'ratioiis willi Ihu l)eo[»le of IlliiKiis, oiiicrs were iirjicd with iiuicli force aiul entire ell'ccti\ t'liess upon con;^ress, aclin.i; for the nation at iai'^e. Kveii at tiiat (lay statesmen had not faiU'd to mark the iniicrc lit weak- Jiess, and consequent easy dissohition. of coiifech'raled reimlilies. Tlie late «Mvil war liad not tiieii demonslrated iiie sUcn^th and unity of the Ameiican coiife(h'ralion tlirou;;h tiie lo;,aily of tlu' l»eoi»h'. l]iiro|)ean statesmen iiad eiit\'rtaiiied no otiier tlioniiiit than tiiat at llie tirst internal hostile tronhle, the bonds of tin^ L'liioii wonid be broken and scattered to the winds. It was easily .shown that the ;;eoj;rai»iiical position of Illinois made her the key ill the western arch ot' States. The sonthern extremity of Illinois peiie; rated far lielweeii the slaves States down t(» the main Mis- sissippi, attbidiii,u an tiiitlet to the tinlf the year round, and skiite*■! could not be altered or changed without the consent e — Sainiicl O'Mclvcny. Ilainlct l-'crn'iisop.. .lackson — ('onrad Will, dailies Hall, jr. Crawt'ord — ,Foseiili Ivitdiell. I'ldward N. ("iilloni. IJond — Tlionias ivil|)atrick, Saiiiiiel (1. ^^ol•se. Knion — Will. lOrliols. dolni Wliitaker. Wasliiii.n'ton — Andrew IJanksoii.* l''raiikliii — Isliain liarrisoii. 'I'lioinas Itolierts. .Jesse i>. Tlionias was chosen iircsideiit, and Win. C. Greenup secretary of the c(Miventioii. 'i'lie coiistiliilioii was not snliinittcd to a vote ol' the people tor their approval or rejection: nor did the people liaxc iiiiich to d(» with the choice or election ofolliceis uciierally under it.otlier than that (»!' ;;d\»'rnors. the .general asseniitlies. sherin's and coroners. Xotwiflistandinj; the elective I'rancliise was in a Itla/oii nianiier i'Xteiidcd to all white male inhaltitaiits aliove the a.^e of lil. having- SI residence in the Stall' of (> inonths next in'ecediii;^' aiiv election, which it will he jtcrccived included aliens and possilily imited iiiiiiii,nralion, there was scarcely an ollicc left to lie tilled l»y its exercise. 'I'lie electors or people were not trusted with the choice of State ollicers, other than iiicii t ion ed : nor of their judges, eit her siipreine, circuit, or proiiatc: mn' of tln'ir proseciitiii,ii attorneys, county or circuit clerks, recordcis. or jiisiicesof the peace; tin- appoint iiieiit of nearly all these liciiii; vested in the i;ciieial asseiiilily. which body was not slow to avail itself of the ]»o\\ers llnis conferred to their full extent. The lan.unajic ol' the schedule was, "an auditor of ituhlic accounts, an attorney ,u<'iicral. and such other ollicers of the State as may he necessary, may he apiioiiited iiy the j^cneral as.sembly. whose duties may he re,utilated by law." it is said to have lieeii a «|iiestion for many years, in view of this lanjina,y(!, theli" soutliorn linuiulnry : tliiu they •lisflaiined liny iiitpiition to absolve thoinselves train iiiiy pci'imiiiry rrspmisiliility crentcil by the Icirishiliire of niiiiols on iiccniint of till' IritiT Hill inipiDvcMicnt system , etc The resulutions were iilnplcd ii nun inn msl>'. A cniMiiiittce ul '.I Wiis iippdiiiteil to pi'Mece(l to Miidison, witli lull power to eonsult with 1 he (fovernof iuul the Icjlshitiire ot Wisconsin terrihn'v tiovi'mor Itoty iind t he leulslatiin' yiivi' thcMi their MssiirMneesor eiii'ili'Sl eo-opcriition in petitioiiin^reon'rress to\V;iril the end in \ i"\v Hut nolliinir .'vcr eiiiiie ot nil the eliiiilor. 'I'le' I'sscniiiil point was, whether the nets ot the eoiiirrcss ol' the eoiili'dcratecl Slates are ol sueii liiMdinir loi-ce that a eonirress nf ih.. I'liitecl Stales eamiot annul or anienil them —whether the fornu'r possessed a llluher power tiian the latter. *Uaaksou'a colleague died during the session ot the coiiveutiou. 298 inSTOUY OK ILLlNOrS. \vli;it was -'an ollicci- of I lie Stale." 'I"ln' ;.;(>\ friiois were lor a t iiiit^ allowfd In a|i|M)iiil Stale's allnriie\s, icerdders, Stale eniiiiiiis- siniieis. l)aiiU tlireelois, tSLc, liiil the le;;islal iire.> al'lerw ai'd Nested li,\ law I lie a))|H>iiitiiielil ul' all llieseaixl iiiaiis iiKireiii I lieiiiseh es. Oceasidiially, wlieii in lull ixililieal aeeoid, tlie L:n\ei-iiMi' would l)e allitweil the aiipoiiil iii.u powef picIlN tVeels, lo peiliaps lie sliorii ol' li\ a siicceediii;;' le^islal lire. In the adiiiiiiistral ion of I )iiii<-aii, w lio had lorsaUeii .iaeksoii and ineiirred llie dis|ileasiii'e of llie doiiiinaiil party, tiie ;;o\ei'iior was linally stripped of all pal roiia^e, excepi the appoiiitiiieiil ol' notaries piililie and pnlilie adiniiiisl ralors. It was a liad lealMreol' the eoiisl iliilion : it not only depri\cd the people of their just lights lo elect the \a. lolls oflieeis as at proeiit, liiil led hordes of place liiinieis lo repair lo the sieal of i;(>\ erninent at cncin session of the le^iislal lire, lo liesie^e and loiineiil iiieinliers for ollice. Indeed, this was the chief oeciipal ion of iiiaiiN an hoiioiahle iiienilier. I nnniiierahie in- trigues and coiiiiplioiis for place and power were' t hiis indulged. To llie /ioNcrnor was denied the \elo power: Imt he. jointly wilh 111* loir siipreiiie Judges, was const iliited a council to re\iseall hills passed, l»elui-e tlie\ should lieeoine law s. l'"or this piirpox- the Judges were reipiired to attend at the seal of .uo\ erniiieiit, diirini; the sessions of the le;;i>lat iiie. without coiiipeii>at ion. The validit.v of all laws was thus decided in ad\ance. If the council of revision, or a iiiajorit \, tieeiiied it ini|iroper for aii,\ lull toliecoiiie a law. their ohjeclions were to lie noted in writiiiu; Imt the liill iiii.i;lil. not w it h.Nlaiidin.u. he passed o\er t heir oiijecl ions h\ a iiia jorit\ and hecoine a law. While the executive is coininoiily a (■o-ordinale hraiich of I he la w inakiii;;' power, here he waseiil iiely stripped ; and while the Jiidicial depart iiieiil is iievei' thus vested, here it was clothed with a (/nasi le;;islative preniju'al ive. The const it lit ion wasalioii! the liist orj^aiiic law of any Stale in the I'liioii to aliolisli iiiipri>oiiiiienl for dehi. It did not prohihit the legislature from uranlinu divurces; and this was a fruitful source of Hejiislatioi. asiheold >lal iiles ahmidanlly teslit'v. ISiil its worst fealnie. perhaps, was the want of a limilalion a;:ainst t he le^islal lire loaniiiii or pled;;iii^' I lie fail li i"id credit of t he Stall! in aid of, or lo the iinderlakiii;^' of, any piihlic or priv ale eiiler- |iri,se; or to the aid of any individuals, associal il./.i'. wliflliiT Illinois slioiilil lie iiiailc a sliivi! iStatc, wlii'ii llicy votL'ii lor the lital tune, unil uiiuiiiniouMly U}?niiistsluvury." Uovuiuor I'linl's History./ UOND'S ADMI.MSI'KATION. 2m TIk- lil'st clcftinii iiikIci' IIh* ruiislitiiliolK lor .i;<)\ cilMil', liciit, p»\t'i'iior. ;inil iiiciiilicis (»l" llic i^ciicinl iissciiiidy, wns. iK-coidin;^ rn llir :i|)|)iiiiiliii('iil of I III' (Mill \<'i 1 1 ion. In 'It I on I hi' tliiril 'I'liiirsihi.v, illiij I ill' t \Mi siirri'cijiliu (|;i\ s, in Si'pt riiiltcf, iSjS. All w liil i- liiiili' iiiliiiliihiiils Jl M'iii's iilil, I'l-siiliiii; ill llif Sliili' :il the :iili)|)l iiHi ui' t lie cuiisl il III ion well' |»(iiii il U i| lo \ olr. 'I'lic i^i'inrnl ;isst'iiil»l\ wns 1(1 iiii'cl ill l>i:i.>i\iiski;i (til lliclirsl .MoiMJiiN ( Iii'Iiil; I lie .'»| Ii) of Oct, Inflow ill.L;-, Id set I lie lii;icliiiii'l\ ol' the lit-W ;;o\ criiliiclil ill liiuliitli. A I'lcr I li;il. ri'^iiliir M'ssioiis were to coiiiiiiciici- on 1 he liisl .Moiiiliivs of Dcci'iiiIht. Sliadi'Mcli lioiiij wjis I'lrclcii ^omtiioi' :ini| I'iriri^ iMciiiinl li('iit('ii;iiil i;(>\ I'liior. ;is liail licni cniiitIciI cncii lictoi-c t lie rnrinalioii of I Im' coii^l il iil ion ; I lifv lind no o|i|io>ilioii. 'riicir tniii-. of si'i'\ ici' wi'ic t ill ISL'L'. four \ rais. ( io\ I'liior r>oii(l w a> horn in P'rcdciick I'oiinl v. Maivlainl. in I 77.!, iiiiil was laisi'il a fai hut on liis fatlii'i's |ilaiilalion. ami a.^riciill iirr, was his piiisiiil in Illinois, w hii her he I'liii.uialcil in ! 7!M. IJi- Iia«l rccciM'il hula jilain Iji^lish ciliical ion. 'I'd a <'oii\ i\ iai, hcii'\ olcnt • lisjtosil ion, he Joinrij a naliiially slncwil ohsri'x at ion of men ami il clcai apiircrial ion of cxfuls. His prison was erect, slamliii^ (5 led in hi^lil, ami afler niiildle lite he hecaine |»orll\ . wei^hin;^ IMKI jtoiiinls. His features were sln>ii^l_\ inasciiline, eoiii|>ie\ioii | |io|)iilai' man of his day. He had hceii a memiiei' of I he general asseinldv under the liiiliana 'reniloiv. a delei^ale to ei'ii.mess in hSIl,', and in tlieialler (•a|»ai'il_\ he |iiociired the li.nht of |»ie einpl ion on (he piihlic, domain : in hsj I he was a|)|M)iiited receiver of the |iiii)lic inoneys ill Kaskaskia. Afler his j^iihernaloriai term expired he ran in isj I. for eoimiess a.uainsl Daniel I'. ( 'ook, inil was uealeii. S:ii»- .seipieiitlv he was ajipointed register of the land oflice at Kas- kaskia ; vv here he died, in peace and conleiilmenl. April I I, 1S;!0. 'I'iie I'oiinlv of Kond was named in honor of his memory. I'ieire Menard was iioiii at (^)iiehec in I7<>7. At the aj^c of l!l, inspired hy adv ('iiliire. he came lo N'ineeiines and entered llu^ eaiplov ol'Tol. N'i^o.a mercliaiil. In i7!>l) heiemoved lo KasUaskiii and eii;^a.i;('d in merchandising with iMiliois. of \iiiceiines, lly his Irade wit h I he I ndia lis. and in v a rioiis pnl die capacities, he soon. Iteciime w ell know n. Nalnremade him frank, kind nnd honest; liis mind, with Iml an ordinary e(hicalioii. was st ron^, and his Jnd.uiiient ipiick and iineirin^i. His imiiisl ry was wonderful, heiiiif never idle. l"or maiiv vears he was jnovcriinieiil a.^ent for tlm Jndiaiis, and thai race had llie most implicit coiilideiice in his in- tejii'ity. As a merchant, it is said, he could hiiy their pelti'ies ill lialf the price a *• l,oiiu Knife" wo'ild have lo pav. H«^ had heeii a meinher of the lower house of the legislature vvliih; Illinois was under the ImiiiiiiH re.i^ime. and a iiieinlter of I he Iliinoi.s Ie;;islaliv e council fr!I the le^islalnre Innioicd his name l»y estahlisiiinj;- the c(»niily of Menard, lie died in IS|| ill the ripe a.n'e of 77 yeai's. The State le,i;islal lire met at the a|ipoiiited t iiiie. October .Mil, IHIS. Niniaii i'^dwards, the retiring' e\eciiti\(' (»f the defunct territorial uoxt'iiiineiit, and .lesse i!. 'I'lioinas. one ot'tlie federal Jiid^cs for the territory, who had also lieen president r of ]»iil»lic accounts, .John 'I'liomas, Slate treasurer. Daniel I*. ('olh houses aiiiiiii met in joint session on I hi' Si ji. ;ind on the llrst hallol .Jos<'pli i'liiilips was elected chief Just ice l>y '.Vl oiil of 40 V(»l<'s cast ; 'I'lioinas ( '. lirown rccei\ ini;- Land Henry S. Dodii^c ."{. l''or associate Justices. Win.!'. l''osler and Thomas ('. I)idwiiw<'re, chosen. on the tirsi ballot. Henry S. Dodu'c recei\iiiji' at the same time IS votes, William Wilson !."),('. It. Matheiiy U. John Wainock 1. .lames W. Whilini;' I. and ,lo>epii KitciielJ 7. On itallotin;;- a.naiii, a new candidate, -lohii IJeynolils. afteiwanls j^on crimr. was hron^ilil forwai'd and on the second liallo! elected l>y L'l' out of the '10 votes east. I'liiilips was a lawyer of tine inlellecliial eiidow- iiieiil. lie ha4i'. He remained on tli(>l)ench till llii^ constitntion of ISIS went into ellect. a period exceediiiii' thirty years. l>'i'.\ Holds, in his ''Own Times," written many years later, tells how he came to liechosen a memlier of that exalted tiiltniial, the, supreme court. At the lime he resided at Cahokia and had no ilitenlionof xisitiny Hie session of the Ic.nislatiire. whi<'li waseennie a candidate for sii|neme Jiidue. This r((|iiest, lie says, lii'()layiii;;'. in a familiar tone, ''lJo,\s, the court is now open, .loliii is on the Iteiich.''' Tiiesc omissions of ceremony were not distasteful to his honor, lor he utterly detested any kind of mock dignity, though he says he was not re.uardless of I lie",Nolemn. serious di,uiiily and decornnr" proper in the proeeedinjis of court.* lM»ster, anotlier of the supreme Jiidjics. resijiiied within a year — .liiiic 2L', l.Slil. lie •' was almost a total staiijicr in tiie coun- try, lie was a .ureat rascal, lint no one knew it liieii. lie ha\ ini;' Iteeii a citizen of the Stale only for alioiit three weeks before he was elected. He was no la w.\ er, ne\ cr lia\ iiii; cither studied or piacticed law ; lint a man of winiiin.u. |iolislied manners, and willial a gentlemanly swindler, from some jiart of \'ir,uinia. * * He was l>elie\cdto he a clever fellow , in t he American sense of that pliiase, and a ^ood liearted sdiil. He was assiiiiied to hold courts in the circuit on the \\'aliash ; hut heiiiy tearful of expos- iii,n his iittiT incompetency, lie iiexcr went near any of them. In the course of one year lie resi^iiied his liijih ottice, hiif took carc^ liisl to po(;ket liis salary, and then removed out of the State. He I'' a •fjov. Vnri\ fn his lilstory, writos; "Ttiis siimc jiidwo preslilrrl nt a court. In whicli a mil II iiiiiiircl (irccn wnw coiiviclcd of iTnirilcr; iiinl it licciimc his uriplciisiiiit 'liity to |>i-o- lioiiiicc scMtciiri' (it liciil li ii|ioii the ciilinil lie ciiIUmI the piisoiici' liclorc liiiii, iiikI wiiil to liiiii: 'Mr. (liccn, the .jury in their \ crdk'l siiy you me yiiilty of iiuiiiUm-, iitul tlio law siiys you arc lo lie liuii|i\ Now I want you ami all your I'riiiiils ilowii on Iniliai) ' riM^k, to know ihat it is not I who condcnins > on. hut it is the .jury and the law. Mr .irccn, the 111 wallows yon time I'or lire pa rut ion, and so tin' court wants to know wliat time you would like to III- hnmi.' 'I'otliis the prisoner rcjilicd, '."ay it pleasi^ the <'ourt, I am ready at any time; tliosc wlio Kill the lioly have iii'' ILLINOIS. siftciwiirds licciimc a noted swindler, iuy llie resij;iiation of l''oster. Wilson was a youn.i; luaii, seai'cely L'."> years old, of spotless eliaraelei', ^'ood ednealion (tlioi!;^'li not eoile^iale), and fair attainments as a lawyer, lie was soeial in his disposit ion, eandiiit Illinois had iM)t yet been declared adnntted into the I'ldon; congress was not in session. \{ the <)cl(d>er meeting of the assembly therefore, no leyisl;!! ion or business other than the elec- tion of ollicers, was attempted, tor obvions reasons. After a session of ei,;;lit days a recess was taken till the lirst ]\Iomlay in .lannary, ISlit. In the meantinuM-oniiress met, and by resolntion oi' Decemiter .'id, ISIS, declared liliiiois to be •• one of the I'Mited States of America, and admitted into the I'lnon on an equal foot- ing with the original States in all I'cspeets." Of the I. "» comities or,iiani/,ed at Iheadoiition of the constitution, the faithest north was I'.ond. Only abont one fonrth of the terri- tory of the State was embraced in these 1,") cstniities. The settled pnrlionsof tlie State were all sontli of a line drawn from .\lton, \ ia Carlyle, to ralestine on the \>abasli: bnt within this area were lary'e ti'actsof wilderness conntry of several days jon'-ney in exlent ; the settlenuMits beinji' mostly scattered aloii^- the Itordt'i's of the ,n'reat rivers. All the vast i)rairies north of this lim'.eom- ]>risin;i' the most fertile lands of the Stale, and nearly every acre, ol which was snsce])tible of cultivation, ready cleared and pre- })aie(l, as it were, foitin' hand of the husbandman, was aliowlin;jj vvilderness, uinnhabited save In the red sa\a.:i«' mid the prairio wolf. The ])opida1ion of tlie new Stati' for admission into the Tnion was required to be 4«»,(I(M> ; the census of lS2(t showed r»r».L*lI. This was a remarkable ratio of increase — exceedii:^' .'5(10 per cen- tnm within the ))receding decade — the jiieater i)art of which had conu' hither since the closeof the war of ISlL'.* Of this population, scarcely a twentieth part were the desceinlants of the old l'"i-ench or Canadian settlers, whose blood, by their lonj^' isolation, had becci:il relations, upon all of soul licni Jlliiiois, wliicli arc in /^ical part rclaiiicil to this day. 'I'lu' nivalis of ('(liicatioii were cxtrciiicly liinilt'il. ami with the cxccplioii of one school for siirx c\ iiiii ainl Itook-kccpiii;^-, the only Inaiichcs of Icaniinj;' lan^^hl at that lime were spcilin;;, rcadiii;:, wriliiij; ami jii'ilhmctic. Nor were tlu^ latleryciicrally taii};lit, or \vilii(»iit i)ri('0. I'rofessional iiieiicaiiie almost invariably from abroad, unless they M'crc ministers of tiie i^ospcl, \vh 44, part of which was in the hands of deliii([iieiil col- lectors, while Ibi' still another part, the sherilfs of St. Clair and (lallatin coiii'lies had refused i;) receive the warrants. A lemi>o- rary loan of ."^-T^OIMt was therefoi-e a.nthori/ed by llir le,l;•islatllr(^ The jiovermtr also advised n reviion and modilicatioii of the ter- ritorial laws lor the punisliiiien! of crimes, Ihe penalties whereof were iinneiu'ssarily severe. Ibit this the le^islatiire did not \ iew' in the siiini! lijiht, and no anielioration in tlie barbarous jienalties of the territorial code was made. They were recnacted verbatim (the enactin.y chinse alone beinjf chan.ycd to conform to the new j;-overiiiiieiit), with all the whip|)in,us, tlio .stocks and pillory, and death by lian,i>iiiin' for rape, arson, horse-stealinii, etc., left intact. They were, howexcr, modilicd at the session of ISlM ; and not oidy the criminal code, but all the standard lawswerti rej^nlarly altered ut every session down to the re\ isioii of ISUT.* 'J'he imildinu' of Jails and a |teiiifenitary was also recommeiidi'd by the yovermtr ; so also the leasing;- of the school sections — the. ])r()cee(ls to be expended for education, and those from the town- ship of .seminary lands, to be reserved for .siibse(|ueiit use. The. }>'overnor also recommended at that early day, the takinj;' of some, steps toward the construct ion of tlie Illinois and Miciii,uan canal, ;i work which was not accomplished, howcM-i', for thirty year.s after, but tliroii<;h which, at this w|•itin<,^ by the ent<'r|>rise of Clii- ca.!4(>, the liin|)id waters of I/ak«' Michigan course their way to the (lulf of -Mexico. Tiie legislature fixed the salaries of the Stale ollicers as follows : Clovermtr and siiprcMiie ,judj;'es, s^KMK) each; auditor. 87(M> ; see- I'ctary of Slate. 8(I(H); treasurer, !!*•"»<•<>; jKiyable »piarler!y out of the State treasury. The pcu' diem compensalioii allowed to nieni- bers of the. I(^«j,i,slature,, tiiid also to the delej>ates who fraiiied tlio constitution, was $4, and to each of the presiding' ollicers !?."). The State revenue was chiefly raised by a tax upon lauds owned by lion residents, which at an early day fell almost wholly upon the military tract between tlie Illinois and Mississippi rivers, wliile •" Kor a Inntr tiino tln> riijre for miif'ti'linir mi'l iiltorlrur was sodroat, tliiit it was saiil to Ima iroixl lliiiiir Uiat the Uoiy S(M-iptiii'«'sili(l not iiavo to cotiii' he tort' tlio it'SfislatiM'-', lor tiiat boily would lie c(^rtairi to alter or uiiicMiil tliom, sotliut no one eouid tell what was or was not tlic word of (rod, anv more than could bo told what was or was not tho law ot tbo State."— Ford's History 111. im oOl IIISTOTJY OF IM.INOIS. tlu' coiiiity revcmics were raised by u tax <»n itcisoiial itroin'ity, iiicliKliii;;' slaves or indent iired ser\:iiits, and by a resident lantl tax. IJnUke as at incsent. tiie \abiation ol" lands weie liieii ti\ed bylaw, ill tliree <'lasses, »»f !?L'. «.'» and-Yl pel' acre, lespeetixcly. The levies of taxes were made aeeordiiiji' to tlie estiinales of liu^ siiins rei|iiired to ilefrav aecrilili;; expenses, eitlier State or eonnty. Non-residents were rtMpiired to enter their lands foi' taxation direrlly with the andiloi', under oath as to class; and the taxes (Ml their lands were payal)le direetlx to this ollieer. The eolleetioii of the State. rev(Miiie on deliiKpieiit lands was enforced by seiidiiiji lists thereof to the slierilfs of eoiinties where sitnated to be ex- posed at public sale. The penalty for failure of payment was three times the tax imposed and costs. A peculiar feature in the legislation of the times was the inak- in<;' of im|)oi'lMnt public iiiipro\cm«-nls b\ means of pri\ate'lot- tery schemes. Thus, the na\ i.uat ion of the \\\>x Wabasli at the (iiaiid liapiirit of spcir- ulation became rife. Towns were numercMisIy jthitted, lots i»ur- <'liased on credit, houses built on promises. y(»vernment lands entered in larji'c quantities — the price at the time lieiiiy !?!.' per acre, one-fourth cash (the paper money of the banks beinj; re- ceived at the land ollices, Avliich also deposited with the bank), and three-fourths on ."> years time, under [K'aalty of forfeiture for iioii-l»aynieid at maturity of contracts. ICveiybody invested to the utmost limit of his credit, with the conlideiit expectation of r«'ali/,iiiji;' a handsome advance before the expiration of his credit, from the coining' imini<;raiit. The merchants, ever eiiterprisiii';-, boujiht vast quantities of j^oods on time, transported hither by the. increased facilitiits of steam navij;ation, while the ready credit obtained at the stores, beji'ot extravaj;ance amoiij^' the i»eo[)le. Everybody was inextricably in debt t»o everybody. I>y ISll), it became apparent that a day of reekonin;islature, at its session of ISlfl, sonjiht to bolster up the times, or stem the tide of ai»i)roaehinj;' (lisaster, b^ incorporating a new liaiik of Illinois, a iiumster couceru, Avitli bond's administration. 303 a <-a|)itaI of !?L',(t(>(M»()(» ; slock was divided into slmivs of !?10(», Avliicli inijilit l»(' siihscrilM'd by coipoialioiis or individuals, tlio State leservinjr tlie ii;;Iit to tak«' part (»r all tliat .slioidd remain, as tlie condition of tlic treasury inijiiit wariant, wlicnevci' tiie icj^isla- tnic slionld deem it pi'oi»er to do so. Tlie cliaiter was to rnii L'T years. Wlicn l."» percent of tiie stock was paid in, it was to ;•() iato operation. The total amount of its debts was nexcr to exceed twice tlie amount of paid np stock, beyond wliicli ollicers weic to become liable individnally. It nii^ilit deal in specie, excliaiij;e, or ])aper pledooks were ojieiied for snbscriiitioii in divers towns, but not a dol- lar of stock was ever taken, and it utterly failed to meet the I'xijiciH'y of the times. I>y 1S20, the banks of neijihborin<;' States were broken, and those of Illinois susp«'nde«l ; specie had tied the country; inimijjraiits came as moiieyh'ss as were tliose who had looked forward to their well lilled ]>nrses; i)a])er towns failed to ;4row into Hourisliiny \ il- latics; trade tlaj;',i;('d: there was no coinmeice to briii;^' money into the countiy ; real estate was unsaleable; while (contracts wildly entered into, matured. As the folly of the ))eople became appar- ent, ruin stared them in the face. lOnormous sacrifices of ]>roperty under ])rospective executions must ensue, unless some scheme for relief <'<)uld be devised. In Au^iust, ISliO. a new Icjjislature was elected. The jneinus of this body was invoked on the behalf rtf the <'iiibarassed ])eo])le. At its session of ISl'O-lil. it willinjily addressed itself to this work, and evolved the " Illinois State IJank" with a caijital of half a million dollars, based entirely upon the credit of the State. The bills of this bank, issued in from $1 to $20 notes, were, by sectioji 12, directed to be loaned to the i)eo]»le in sums of $1(M> on ])ersoiial security, deemed to be, in the opinion of the boai'd, j^ood and suihcient ; and all sums over 8100 — not to ex(u'ed $1,000 to any one borrower — on real estate security of double value. In- terest was six per cent. To briuij the bank nearer to the people, a mother bank was located at Vandalia with blanches well distrib- uted — at I'idwardsville, IJrownsville, Shawneetown and the county seat of Edwards county — the State, for the convenience of the judilic^ beiuf; appoitioned into 4 bank distiicts. Each cub- lic officers were payable in them. They were also made a sjiccies of Icfijal tei ,ler, for unless an execution creditor endoised his exe- (iution "Tlie bills of the State Uauk of Illinois, or either of the branches, will be received in discharge of this execution," the de- fendant was entitled to three years stay by replevy and ])ersonal security, a most unjust fejitur/i\ Three hundred thousand dollars were or( K»,(l(K) were sack. Miiii,\ ot'tlitisr who i«MM'i\ fd iiccoliiiiHxhitioiis, i(';;iiidt'd il I'loiii tin,' sliiil as •• Nd iiiiicii ch'ar ^iaiii," and iicil lici did iioi' iiilcndfd to jiay. altliuii;;ii at tlic .siii»M«'(iii('iit dcinvciatioii of tlif ciinciicy il was not ditliciilt to do so. Tlic issues l)ortt L' percent annual interest, and were reravely instructed to use their ulinosl exertion to pi'ocnre them to be made receivable at the land ofliees in this State. "When this resolution was ]»iit toa vole in the senate, the old l-'reiich lieiitenant^dveinor, Colonel .'\Ieiiard, presiding over that body, did up the business as follows: (ienlle- iien of dc senate, it is moved and seconded ih(f tie notes of (Uh bank be made land ollice money. All in f,i\ or of daf motion say a.ve; all a;;ainst it, say no. It is de«'ided in f\{H) lie ncrcr he made (mid office moii(if.^''j Such lU'oved to be the fact. The legislature were not unadvised of their infatuation, .bdm ]Mclieaii, subseiiiM'iitly a senator in conj;ress, was si»eaker of the house. He was opposed to the measure, and his power as u forcilile debater was Justly drt-aded by the bank men. It i.s riilaitle to debate all important bills in committee" of the whole, that the speaker may participate. To avoid an arrai;;ninent of their bantlin*;' by him, the bank majority resorted to the trick of refusing' to ^d into ;,'ommiltee of the whole. IJurnini;' with imli^'- iialion at such treatment, he promptly resi«;n( ,i the si>eakersliip, and takinji' the floor, denounced in scathing' terms the expensive folly of the scheme, presajiinji' the injurious results wliicli must inevitably tlovv frojii its passage, involving creditors in ruin and tiie Slate in bankrupt(!y. Ihit it was pre-deteiniined to [»ass the bill, which was done; over the veto by the I'CMiuisite leajority. The issues of th<' bank did not long remain at par; as their worthles.s- ness became apparent, giKx! money was driven out of cii'culation. Tliis was ])articularly so with small coins, and it became so dilli- eult to make change that bills had to be cut in two. By various .ste])s, they depreciated to lio cents (»n the dollar; and with this \vorthless 8tj)te currency Avere the pectple cursed for a jieriod ex- ceeding fojJj' years. By the year liSU4, their depreciation had Die etfect to almost impede the wlnels of government. The oi'dinary revenue, for State purposes, amounting to some $.'?(),(((•(( annually, wasiaised by a tax on landsbelonging to non-residents; the exjien- ditiires in good money eiiUaled the revenue. As taxes might be ])aid in bills of the State liank, non residents, as well as residents, iivailed themselves of the 'S Al)MINIS'l'KA«ON. .307 Viiiitii;;(' over residents wliosc tiix went into tiic (•oiint v tiejisniicst. ]>nt til*- latter, in niiiny instances, resurti>(l to t lie aitiliee of lifting tlieii- laiid.s in the names of nnknown or lietitioiis peisons siip- ]»ose(l to l»e noil residents, jiaiiiiii;; lliiis the same adxanta^ies, uliieh was a jnolitie source of injury to many counties. \\ liilo the State thus nominally received its full revenue, it was in |Kunt of fact worth only oiie-foiirth, or one-third, as niueli as yood nmiiey. I'nder lliese circiimstanees, the leyislaliire, tlie de|iaitiiieiit (»f tli(5 p>vei'iiment that had made the Itills a (|iiasi le^al-tender which an execution creditoi- was eom|»eIle(! to take or wait tlii'ee ytars for Iiis pay — than whicli iiothinu' could i»e nioi'e iiiijust hcftiitatcd not to c<»mmit the enormity of xotiii^' themselves, the State »»t1iciaki, jiidjics, and for other expenses, their per diem compensation, csahi- ries, etc., in treble theamonnt of aiulilor's wairants, rated with tln^ depreciated stiiir to eipial i;i value i;ood money, 'i'liiis while the ordiiiaiy expenses of the State ^■overiinieiit were .*<.'I0,(MM) annually, by these i)raetics they were swollen to .*!»(».<»(»(», which the tax-pay- ors 'lad iillimately t(» foot. Never was law more dishonorable. With such examples from their law makers, what would ha\»'bccii the moral etl'ect upon the ]ieople had tla-y been iiiHueiici'd by them. A crumb w as. howoNcr. throw II to the lattei-. It was enacted for the acconimoilation of the debtors — the hi^'^icr class, but ayaiii in(»st unjustly t(» the creditors— aiitliori/,iii;4' the renderiiiji' of Jialj;'- ineiits against them for only one-third of their ilcbts. and exempt in;;', by aiiotlier act. all I'cal jiiopcrty, other than mortj;a;;e(l lands, ''from liability to satisfy jud,i;iiieiits for said debts." This l>aiikiii;;' folly, not to characteri/e it worse, is said to have cost the State, first and hist, duiin^i' the ten years for w hich its eliarter was t(» I'un, the full amount of the authori/ed issue. 8"»(*<),- ()()(>. though •"^•iO'M*"*' was all that was ev<'r actually issued. Its j)ernicioiis inlliienee on the ji'eiieral i>rosp<'iity of the State, and its daman'inji' elfccts upon tlu^ I'evenne. became speedily so palpa- ble that no le;iislature ])ossessed hardihood enou^ih to eiicoiiiiler the jjublic resentment by pro])osiiij;' tli.it the State issue the, remaimiiii;' .*!-<><)l),(UM) provided for in tlie charter. Still issuiii;L;' auditor's warrants and )>ayinj;- llieni out at *.') for !?1 to defray State exiM'iises ji'enerally, as authorized by the le.yislatiire, was inliiiitely woise. in 1S-J."», the State thus ]»aid out *!()7,(MM» in ati- dito)''s wai'i-ants when itsor [»er centum interest — a most luinous i)olicy if well followed. The ciiri'eiit expenses of the ))rineipal bank for the year IS24, exceeded the discounts by .^L*, KK! !»(». \\'itliout ever meet iii>;- the fond expectations of its friends — unless it was in the contriN aiiee of robbin;;' the creditor class for the benefit and relief of the debtor class — without (tbserving' any of its promises, the old bank, a fri<>litfid source of le<;isIation all its life, linj;ered out theallotted time of charter, and was finally wound up by the State in IS,'!!. This was doiK! by ineatis of the " Wiy/^ins loan" of .slOO.OtIO, ■which yave to the State the reipiisite funds. This loan was for a lony- time, unjjopular in many sections of the State, where it Avas currently believed, it is said, that the State was sold to Wijj;- i;ins. It lias been asserted that if the State had originally assumed directly and gratuitously the obligations of the clamorous 308 HISTORY Ol" II.I.INOIS. (li'btors, it would liav«'n»rov('(l less exjK nsivd to tlio tnnsiiry ; cer- tiiiiily less inJiii'ioUH to its crnlit. At tlir session of ISL'l, tin* <'»»iinti('s of (Irccru', [•"'nyctt*', Moiit- goiiit'iy, Lawri'iic*', lliiiniitoii, Saii^iiiiioii and I'iivc, llic latter iiit'liidiii;; ill! tiie State north and west of tlie Illinois ri\ei- anrin- rijtal opponent, .losepli l'liilli|)s, then elii<>t' jnstie(^ of the State. Theie weje t\V4» other eantlidiites in the tield, Tlionias (7. lirown, associati' ju.stiee of the supreme eoiirt, and .Major (leneral dames ]S. Moore, of the State niilitia. Adolplins I'^rederiek Hidtbai'd wan elected lienteinint ;;overnor. The other ciindiiiates for lientenant jioxcjiior were diinies Lemon, ji'., Joliii G. Loften, Win. Tine, and dames A. I'eacock. Into this election the question of slavery entered to a very ooii- si(leial)l<^ extent, Coles and Moon^ heiny- anti, and Thillips and l>ro\vn pro slavery. The conntry had l»nt Jnst (Mner^i'ed from tlio jniijry contest ovei- that snl»ject as connected with the a() dej;ress and 'M) minntes, while onr niemher of the House, Dainel 1*. Cook, with much vi;;(>r liad opjjosed the ant the sub- ject of ]ii'incipal intei«'st dnrin;;- his administiation was the (•onvention stiiiji,ylin;.i' to make Illinois a slaxc State. To f;ive the reaflei' a more connected idea, we have hei'ctofore purposely omitted to j>resent in chroiiolojj;i<'al ordci' the kindred sultjects c(tnstitutiu^ the heading' of this ehaptei', and now ^'roui» them toncther. African slaves weic tirst bronj;ht to Illinois in ITl'O l»y Iicnault, a;;'ent ami business manaj^er of the ''('omiKiny of St. riiillips." The belief (d)taiued in Fran('e at that time that the wealth of the western world consisted in ifs jx'arl lislieries, its mines of j;'old and silver, and the wool of its wild cattle.* A mouoi»ol3- of these resources with many others, was tirst jiranted by the Kin;;' to Crozat in 1S12, and upon his i'esi<;inition in 1717, to the ^reat "Com])any of the West," of which tlie St. rhilli[>s was a branch. Kenault left Fi'ance in 1719 with a cargo of mechaincs, ndners and laboiers •Charlevoix, ill, 389. 309 310 niSTOKY {)V ILLINOIS. iMHiilx'iiiiji sonic L'OO, nnd on liis wii,v liitlicitoiiclicd willi his vessels iit San l)oniin;i<), where lie iMirclnised ."(0(1 slavi's. and thus pre- ])ared to inoseciite llie objects of the eoiniiaiiv. he ani\t'd in Illinois. He loiiiided (he \ illa<;(' of "St. IMiillips," in what is now the southeast eonier of .Monroe eoiilitv, whence he sent out exiihn- inj: paities to vaiions sections in Illinois and Missouri, to |H'ospcct, lor the piecioiis metals, in 17U. hefore his return to I'rance, Iveiianlt sold these slaves to the i-'reiich c(y|oiiists of Illinois, Vi\ iei'. a missionary amon,i;' the Illinois, six leagues from l''ort- Charti'cs, under date of June S, 17.10 writes: "We have here, wliitcs, ne,t;roes, and Indians, to sa\ iiolliiiiuof the ci'oss breeds. There ai'c li\e French xiilaj^cs, and thie*- of the iiativi's, within ;i .si)aee of I'i leagues, situated Itetweeii the .Mississii>i)i juid another I'iver called the Kaskaskia. In the Ihe French villa.yes are, perliai»s, 1,1(1(1 whites. .'>(»() blacks, and some (Id red slaves or .savaji'es. 'ihe thre*' Illinois [Indian] tt)wns d(» not contain more than SOO souls, all told." These San l)oiiiiii,n-o slaxcs thus intro- duced became the pi'Oii'ciiitors of the French sl;iv«'s in Iliinois. The edict (»f Lonisthe XIII. dated A[)ril L'.J, 1(>I.~>, first recognized slaveiy in the French possessions of America, and the French .settlers of Illinois bron,L;!it with them from Canada the l''rciich laws and customs, amoiiu' thi-iii the law which tolerated shi\ cry. Jn March, 1724, Louis XV i)id)lished an (trdinaiice reeuact'u;; the edict of XIII, and for the '•re.nnlation of the novi-rnment antl administi'ation of Justice, police. disciple, and Irallic in iieuro slaves ill the i»rovinc(' of Ii(»nisiana," which included Illinois. It |>rovides that the slaves be ba]>tized and instructed in tlu' Roman Catholic religion and that they obserxc the S;il)batli ; prohibits theinter- niarriajie of whites ami blacks, under penalties, and the priests Iroiii soli'mnizinji' such niarriaj:'es; provides that tlu' chihlr- n of slaves shall be bomlsmeu. or if one jiarent is free the children sliall follow the condition of the mother; that sla\ cs enfe»'l»led by ajic or inliri:«iity shall be maintained liy the master; allows the inastt-r to ])iirsue and recai>ture fuj;itives; prohibits their severe tr*'atment, and the separate sale of husband or wife, or children iimh'r aji'e, of a family, either by bill or e.\eeiiti articles, ami may be found at larj;(- in Dillon's llistoiy »»f Indiana, i, .U. It Avas more Just, and tempered with j;r('ater mercy, than nmst laws of that character. Thus was sla\ cry ori,i;inaIly established in Illinois. r>y the peace concluded at Paris, Feb. Id, 17(>.), this country, as a ritain,and whendeueral (lajio took ]»ossession of Illinois, he iiromised in his |iroelamation of I)e<'. M), 17(tl, to the latci subjects ot' France, "that those who choose to retain their lands and become subjects of his [ilritauicj majesty, shall enjoy the same ii;;lits and pi'ivilejics. the same security for their p»'rsons and etl'eets, and liberty of trade, as the old subjects of the kiiij;'." .\.t this p<'riod iOni^land reco^iiiized slavery in all her American colonies, and the actpiisition of Canada and its dependencies operated to extend her colonial laws and customs to these. coles' AD:\IINISTRATIf)N. 311 Next, Vii'iiiiiia, 177S, tlivoimli Ikt expedition iiiKler tlie ('oiiiiiiiUMl of (ieoi'ju'e IkOi^ers Cliirli, iiiade tlie coiiqiK-st ot' Illinois, and as soon as I lie news was received, lier house of hui',uesses Ini'tliei' declared as williin lu'i'clnirtei'ed liniitstlie whole of the northwest teiTitory, and jiroceeded l»y act to ei'ect it into a county which was called Illinois, and extended o\-er tiiis conntry her laws and Jurisdiction. The jueanilileof the act recites, "that the iidialtitants liad acknowledii'ed themselves citizens of tlie coniiiionwealth of \'ir,i;inia, and had taken the oath of lidelity to the Stat<'," wherelore it was declared "that they should enjoy their own reli;;ion, with all their civil lights and jn-opcrty." Other States caiiK! forward with charter claims, bur that of N'iriiinia was as liroad as these; added to which was lier title by comiuest, yoiiij;' back to the first principles by whicli all titles are ()ri,uiiially deduced, and her actnal occupation coii- stiliitinn' the best of teniii'cs; and while it was iir,yed that the !al ter could not operate a.iiaiiist her confederate claimant sister Slates, «'n,i;ajied in a common war Jointly with liei, coii,i;ress did iioi deny the riylit of her separate coiKjuest. After some liesitation, Vir- j;inia liiially authorized lier deleiuates in conj>ress to convey all of the northwestern lei'ritory to tlie I'liited States. The deed of cession was executed .March 1st, 17S4, the. same day accej)led and by coni^ress ordered to beenr<»lled amon<;' the jtnblic archives. In the meantinie, by th(> treaty of peace witli (ireat Uritain. iu 17s;l, the whole of lliis country was ceded to the l'iiites.se.ssions and titles conlirmed to them, and be ])r()tected in the enjoyiiieiit of their rights and liberties;." The lirst effort made l)y congress to or^yanize the northwestcrii territory was as early as 17(S1. Tlu^ bill contained the ])i()\ ision, '•that after the vear 1800 there shall be neither slavery nor iiivol- initary sei'vitude in any of the said States," to be formed out of the territory. When the bill came up for action, the ]»ro\iso, on a separate vote, failed, althoiijih (i Stales voted foi' it to .'? against; i>iil under the ai'ticles of confedeiatioii the vote of !> States was rcipiii'cd to carry a measure. On the l.'Uh of .Inly, 17S7, congress adojjted the oidinance Cov the jioveriimeiit of tlui teiritories northwest of the ri\ cr Ohio, llie (illi article whereof I'cads as follows; --'i'liere shall be neillier slavery nor involuiitaiy servitude in the said territory, otherwise than ill punishment of crimes whei'cof the party shall have been duly convicted."' The ordinance was subsecpicntly approved under the coiistiliifion, when the latter went into opeialion. The ads of coin;ress dividiii;n' the territory, both in the case of Indiana and Illinois, extended to the inhabitants of each, ail and siiijiular the lights, privileges, and advantaiics j;rante(l by the ordinanco originally, as we ha\'e seen. The census of ISOO yave the niimbei* of slaves in the Indiana territory, wiiich then included Illinois, as l.'J.'i. In ISIO Illinois separately had KJS slaves; in ISUO, !»17, whi(!li l)robal)Iy includediudentured and registered servauts,aiid in bs.io 740. 312 HIHTOKV OF TLT-INOIS. Tlic r»tli iiiticle of tilt' oidiiiiiiK'c of 17.S7, proliibitin^' slavery, becaiiic at an ciirl.v period ai .suhjeet of repeated ('oiiij)laiiits. Iii 17!H) four persons in Kasluiskia, (loiiMless pietiiriii*:' to tiieiiiselves ill j;<»l(ieii colors tlie ease and aflliieiiee incident to sia\'e labor, ]>etitioned congress to snsitend the restriction of tiio ordinance. >»'oveinl»er L'li, ISOL', (lov. Harrison, in coni])Iiance with the wishes of a ninnher of iniial>itaiits. l»nt with what le,i;al rii;ht it is dilticnlt to conceive, issned his jtrocianiation directing; tiie jteople to hold an election in the several eonnties (»f the tt-rritorv on the lltli of December and ciioose delej;ates, who were to meet in convention at "N'incennes on the -dth instant, to deliberate on "territorial inler- osis." Fioni Illinois, for the c(»nnty of St. Clair, Shadrach liond, flohn .Moredoek, and .lean F. Perry were retnrned, and for I'andolph, Ifobeit Moiiison, Pierre Menard, and Robert Keynolds; (lov. Harrison presided. The object was to obtain from con,uress a rejieal or modilication of the (ttli article of the organic act, ]»rohiltitin,u the introduction of slaves into this territory. A meiiiorial was prepared and tiansmitted to congress, deelarin;;' the consent of tl »> people to a snspension of tlu' prohibitory clause: tiiat .- '.. suspension would be hij;hly advantageous to the territory and would meet the approbation of nine tenths of the j.'(K)d citi/.ens" thereof; that "inasmuch as the nnnd)ei' of s!a\ cs ill the I'liited States would not be aujiinented by the measure,"' the abstract (itiestioii of liberty and slavery was not involved; that the inlro(lucti(»n of slaves into the teiritoi-y where labor was scarce, from the Stales where it was al>undant. would ]»rove e<|ually tidvantaji'cous to both sections; that shivciy was pi'ohibited in tlu; territory by con.uress when •Mhey were not represented in that liody — without their bciiii;- consulted and without theii' Unowledyc or ai>pi'obation ;■' that the number <»f slav«'s coidd never bear sucli a ratio to the white populati(tn 'ms to endanger the internal j)eace or ]»rosperity of the country ; that slaves were tolerated in other territories; that amon^' their smad farnu'rs they would l>e "better fed and clothed than wherelhey were crow (led on lar^e i»lantatii»us by hnndn'ds."etc.* in M;irr«Muote the jirowth and setllcMU'ut of eol(»nies in that r«'j;i«iii. That this labor, demonstrably the dearest of any, can oidy be employed to advantaue in tlu' cultivation «»f products more valuable than any liiu)wn to that (piarter of the Tnited States; that the c very distant day, lind ample r<'numeration for a temporary privation of labor aiul imnnn'ration." How prophetically tiiie! A resolution «'nd»odyin^' these views was also reported. Thisrei>ort, ma and the females at Ul ; hut no action was had on the r«'|»ort. Aj;ain, at the le^iislative session of iSOo-tl, additional memoiials of similar import weic picjiared and submitted to con^^ress. and in thc^ House I'efeired to a select committee, with Mr. (iai'uett, of Virjiinia, as chairman; and aj;ain a favorable report to the prayer (»f the memorialists was made, Feb. 14, concludinji' with a resolution snb- istantially like tin' one of Mr. JJodney. The rejiort was made the special order for a certain day, but it was never called nj». ^Vitll the openiiiji" of the next conji'ress, more resolutions from the Indiana le.i;islatnre transnntted by (lov. Harrison, wen; presented, ur,i:in,i>' in a lonti' preand»le a suspension of thedth article of the ( ad i nance. "J'he snliject was linally ieferi'<'d to a special comnuttee, this time Avith Mr. I'arke, the teriitorial delejiate, as chairnuin, and fortius third time a favorable lejiort was madi', to,u('t her with a resolution suspending;' the ol)no.\i(»us article; but no action was had and the report slept with its pre(lecessors. Simultaneously with these iiu- ])ort unities upon the House, copies of memorials and I'esolutions wei'e also transmitted to the president and by him sent to the senate. r.ut while, those favorable to throwing;' open the territory to the influx of slaves were active, the opponents were not idle. In October, ISOT, a lar.n'c anti enthusiastic meetinji'of the citizens was held in Clark county, Indiana, and a remonstrance drafted ex- pri'ssive of the impropriety of the suspension, and solicit in;;' con- ji'ress to defer action until their population shoidd entitle them to tbi'm a constitution, etc. They also charj;'ed that the slave pai'ty, by some '•lej^'crdcmain," obtainiMl the name of the president of the le;;islative'Council to the last resolutions seat to congress, which he, denies sinnin:;'. In the senate a committee, consistiuyof I'lanklin, of North Carolina: Kitchcll, of New ,Jei's«'y, and Tillin, of Oiiio, was appointed, to which the whole subject was referred. After duly consideriiiii the matter, they rejtorted adversely to the ]»ray- er of tile legislative memorialists. Thus ended the Ncry \tvv- sistent, but hapi)ily abortive, efforts to throw open the doors of this vast and fertile re,yion to the blij;litinj;' iutliuMices of slavery. !Not the ])eopleat home, but ('(nin'ress sittin;; at NNashiuiitou, saved us from thiscuise. X(»twithstandinj;' the words of the ordinance, '' ther(! shall be neither shivery or involuntary scr\ itude in said territory," it was very early contended that tiie words in the deed of cession from Virj;inia—'' shall have their possessions ami titles coutirmeinia, or were then the descendants of such slaves, and remained slaves by tlu' compact entered into between the State of V'ii'.i;inia and the .li'eiu'ral government. And although others conti'inled that the words "titles," '' possessions," '•rights'' and "libeity." in tJie deed of cession, '• were never intended by Virginia to guarantee the jiossessions of slaves," still all that class 314 niSTORY OF ILLINOIS. of iRMsoiis wcit' licld as slaves, and the ri^litfiiliicss of tlicir ten- ure was not bioiiylit before tlie i)roiu'r trilamal in this State until tlievear 1S4."). 'IMie lirst thcision siistaiiiinf;' the sixth artich' of tlie onlinaneeof 17S7, was made by (iii^ s^l»relll(^ court of Indiana. Next. l>y tinit of Missouri.* In tin' former, themollu'r of i»laintilf had i»e«'n a tihive in \'irj;inia, was taicen to Illinois before the ordinain-e of 17S7. held in slavery there before and after its passaj^c, and thei'e tlie plaintiif was born after its passaji'e. It was held that she was free. In the ease of Menard vs. As|»asia,+ the mother of As]»asia was born in Illinois Itefore the ordinance, and lu'ld as a slave from birth. Aspasia was born after the oi'dinance, at Kaskaskia, and held as a slave. The supieme court of Missouri held that she was entitled to her freedom, and upon a wiit of ei ror to tlie su- }>renie court of the Uiiitecl States, tliat court reme conit of this State, and it was decided that the descendants of tile slaves of the old I'rench settlers, born since the ad(»ptiou of the ordinance of 17.S7, or before, or since the constitution, could not be held in slav»'iy in illinois.J Juthnfinril and h'l'j/islcrol Sl<(r<:s, — Failin;L;' in their etf(»rt with eoniiicss to modify the restriction of the orjianic law with re^^ard to slavery, tlu' next steji to compass the same result, was by the law inakiiifi' powers of the territoiy, both of the 1st and 2d j>rades, and in dedance of the i)roliil)ition, a law was adopted entitled '• an act <'oncerniii,y the introduction of ne^'roes and mnlaltoes into this territory." The act bears date Seplend)er 17. 1S(I7, but this sim- ]»Iy means that it was reiioitetl amon;^' the rex iscd laws by ,Iones ami .lohnson, the whole batch of which was re adoi)ted on that day at N"incennes. It was a law adopted liy the lirst jirade of ter- ritorial j;'ov;'rnment. 'J'he lirst j.';eneral assend»ly met at N'inci'iines July -\K ISO,"), yet nntre than a year pre\ ions, April (», 1804, Gov- ernor llairison. learning' that certain persons were about to remove a number of indentui«'(l persons from the territory for the pur- pose of sellinj;' them as slaves, issued a prochnnation forbidding;' their i'emo\al and <'allin<;' upon the civil authorities to interpose. AVe (iiu)te from the law (tf iS()7: "Skc'TIon 1. It sliall and may l)e lawful lor any i)erH()n, Iveinji' the ownerof any ne^irecs or nnilattoes of and al)()ve tlieaj;e of 1") years, and owiiiK service and lai)()r as ^ilaves in any of the Slates or territories of tlie I'nited States, or for any citizen of tlie I'nited States or territories, pnieliasinj:; the same, to l)rin<;- tlie saitl ne};n)es or (uiilattoes into lids territory." Section '2 provided, that within ,'5(1 days after l)rin,,';in}; tlie slaves into the territor.v, the owneror niastersiiouhl takethem In't'ore tlie clerk of the court and "have an indenture ln'tween the slave and liisowner entered uiioii record, specifyinjj: tlie time wliicli tlu' slave was eompelled to serve his master; [the term liein;; generally tixed at !ii> years, a perioil ln'yond the ordinary term of luinian life]. Seelion .'! friiarded the property of the master aii^ai list loss liy allowinj; him, in the event of the slave refusing to enter into siieli afjjrt'enieiit or indenture, to iiave the lawful rigid, within (10 days, to removesueh slave to any State or territory where such i)roperty could lie legally held. *.li)lin MuriT vs. TilHn and MemuU, 1 Mo. U.T25. +5ili Peters, nio. 4:8eo 2d Uiliniin, p. 1— Jarrot vs. Jurrot. COi^KS' AWMIMSTUATION. oio 'J'lit' 4tli section |)i'('scril»('(l tlic TiiMiiiicr of (•()n<'<*liii.i;' tlic scr- vaiil fur laziness, hiisheliin ioiir. or disorderly eonduct, tlie pun islinieiit heinj; cliastisement wilii '• stripes." ' Si:('. o. Any jjt'rson renioviny; into this territory, and l)einijr tlie owner of any ne.trro onnnlalto under the aucof 15 years, it shall and may lie law ul tor such jjcisom, owner or ))ossessor to hold the said n euro or niuhiito to serviee or lalior, the males until they arrive at tlie a^e of .■!•") aii- years. "Sic. |;{. 'I'lu' childieu horn in this territory of a parent of color, owint? service of lalior hy indenture', according' to the law, sliall serve the master or mistress, the males until the age of .'SO, and fenudes until the age of I'M years." Tlieotlier sections of tlie act were all in liannoiiy \vi»h tin- piir- l)(>s(' to introduce, inaint;ii!i and inotcct sljivery in Illim)is in deli- aiicc of tiic ordiiunice <>l' 17S7. Slavery was tints not only introditce(l, htir in;' le hereditary. l»y ini|)osiii,<;- upon tiu' cliildreii born iiiidcr it the ohli^iitiun to serve the owners of their jiareiits iiidil -S and .'{() years. It also poitited out the mode iii which the master mij;lit sell his servants Ity an assi;;nineiii resunial)le that they \ver«' under the impression that it Avas valid and had been all tin* time; and it was oidy in icMjuire- luent of the cnabliuj;' act of conjiiess that they enacted article \'I, Hcction I : "Neither slaveiy nor involuntary servitude shall here- «//*'/• be inl rod uceut the veto poweiof the territorial ;i(»v<'rnor was absolute, and his Jvxcellency (Ictver- iior Kdwards hesitated not to exercise it, assij;ninj;' reasons at consiilerable leiijilh, as was his Avoiit : " 1 conscieutiously ]»elie\e liiat the legislature was competent to i)ass the law— of which oi>inioii were also the Jnd]n«'S with whom 1 was associatecr' in the Jidoption of the law, " previous to the orj;anization of (»ur general assenilily." He held that conj;ress could not violate the sli])ula- tions in the deed of cession from N'irj^inia, "tiiere was and still is ylavcjy in the territory, notwithstanding;- the article in the orlt years in most eases — should be held for tlu' \vh(»l«' term speeitied in their eonti'acts of indenture, and even theii- children were to owe ser- vice, the mail's till 21 and the females till IS years of ajic ; and this pi'ovision, as w<^ have scimi, the supreme court liehl as valid. Thus slavery in lllim)is, while it was steadily decrcasinj;', was not •Governor iidwards wns htnisplt' the owner oi' ciuitu a number oflndenturcJ slaves. 111. lutelligeucer, S.pt. 0, Ittia. COLES' ADMINISTRATION. 317 wliolly iibolislicd until flu; iidoptioii of tlui coiistitiition of ISIS, -\vliicli contaiiUMl the. followiiiji jtntvision : "Then; slmll be ncitlici- sliivciy nor involuntary servitude in this State, except as a pun- isiiinent foi' eriine," etc. The '•^ Jildck Jaiivs.'''' — After the adoption of tlie constitution of 181S and the admission of tlu' State into the iriiion, the lirst j^cii- eral assenddy, notwithstandinj;' the siiiall niunber of ne^iidcs as eoiiipared with the wliite inlialtitants, re-enacted, J\lai<'h IJO, IS1!>, the ohl strinectinj>' fn-e iie- jjroes, mulaltoes, servants aiul slaves," with only such slij;ht revi- si were nu-n not only mostly born and bied in the midst of slaves, but wlio looked for- ward to the niakinji of Illinois a slave State. Xo nefjro or nndatto, by himself or with his fanuly, was jHTinit- ted to reside' or setth^ in the State, until he had lirst pro«luced a U'V- titicat(! of freedom under seal of a court (»f recmd, which, tojicther with a d(vs<*ription <)f the person produciiij'' it, and his fandly, if any, was to be entered of record in the county he propivsed set tlinff in and so duly endorsed ; but the overseers (dtlie poorweic not wit h- Rtandinj;' emi>owered to ex])el such fannly in tlieii' discretion. Any person connnj"' to theState toemancipate his slaves, was re(piiri'd to execute to the county a l)ond in $l(KK)as j^uaranty that the eman- cijtated X)erson should not become a public charge ; for nef;lect or refusal of Avliich he Avas liable to a line of $L'(H> ; all resident iiejjroes or mulattoes, except slaves, before the 1st of .June ensuing, were to enter their nanu's and every member of tlu'ir families, with the circuit clerk, toj-ether with tlieir evidences of freedom to be certitied by the clerk, but which should not bar the owners to reclaim them. Ko jjcrson was to em])loy any ne«;ro or mulatto without such (tertificate, under a penalty of .$l..'>0 for each day em- ])loyed, recoverable before a justice, one third j;<>in<>' to the inform- er, the rest to the owner or the county. To harbor any slave or servant, or hinder the owner in retaking" a slave, was declaicd a felony, i>unishable by restitution, or a. tiiu' of tMo-fold Aahie and Avhippinj^- iK)t to exceed 'M stripes. Every black or mulatto not Laving a proper eertiticate was deemed a runaway slave, subject to arrest and commitnu'ut by ajustice, then to be described and advertised for (i weelcs by the sheriti', when, if not reclainu'd oi' his freedom established, he was to be sold for one year, at the einl of which tune he was entitled to a eertiiicate, except as against his owner. No person Avas to sell to, buy of or trade with any ser\ ant or shiA'e, without the consent of his master, unon juiljihient to order ;{!( stripes. In all eases where free ]iersons were pnnislialde hy line, slaves <»r servants, were to lie ehastis<'d by wliippinji. at the rate of -0 lashes for «'very ftfS (»f line, not to exceed 40 stripes at any one time. Thus was the free State ol' Illinois provided with a complete slaxc code. In IS17, the convention which revised the constitution, in aiti- cle Xl\', re(piired of the j;'eneral assendtly at it.slirst session under the anu'niU'd constitution, to pass such laws as would etfectually pi'ohibit free jiersoi IS ot" color IVom immij^ratinj;' to or setllinj;' in this State and pieveiit the owners of slaves fiom brinj;inj;' them in- to the State for the jairpose of settiii};' them free. In pursuance of tliis provision, the legislature i»assed an act of ]''eb. IL', IS."),'), which provided that if any neuro or mulatto, bond or free, came into tliis State and rcmaineil ten days, with tlu^ evident inteidion of residin;;' therein, he shoidd.he deemed jiuil- ty of a hi^li misih-nieanor, and foi' the lirst oti'cnce should l»e tined .*."»0, and if the tine was not forthwith ]>aid he was to be comnntied to the custody of the sheriff, to be advertised ten days and then sohl to any imtsoii who would })ay the tine and costs for the short- est pei'iod, the pui'chaser bein.ii' empowered to hold and work (he eul])rit duiin^- the time. One case under this act was taken u|)to the supreme court from Hancock county, and decided in 18(14* The court held the law to be valid : that the punishment was not slavery, because the jK'i'son was sold only fora limited i)eriod; it was only a sjiecies of ap](i'enticeslii)) ; and that the State mi<;lit define oH'ences and ])i'escribe the i)unishment, and the exercise of such powers could not be intpiired into by the court. 'flic "black laws," as they were for a loii^ time kiu>wn, were continued, with slijiht modilication, in all the revisions of the laws iVom ISl!) down to JStio, when by act of Feb. Ttli, they were re- ])caled. Durinii' that time, however, efforts were repeatedly nnnle to al>olish them. IJut they had ceased to be enlbrced for nuiny years ]»reviously, and, except the act of IS."),'}, were re^ai'dcd as a dead letter. The obstiiuicy with which they were letained was owiny in ^I'cat i>art to the Abolition excitenn-nt of mo(h'i'n times, wliicli in a manner constituted them tests of party fealty. KitliHt}tj)in(f. — JJut the nn»st odious feature of the act of .^fai'ch 30, 1810, '•respeetiufi' free nej;ro»'s, mulattoes, servants and slaves,"' was one of omission, oi' the inadequate provision nuuh' for the punishment of theciinu' of ki'. it provided, "section 1>, (1)1(1 he it further enacted, that any i)ersou ly take out of this State •Sec Nclsou vs. Tlie People, Sec. Il« coles' A1):M IMHTKATION. 319 any frfc ncj^ro or iiniliitto liaviii^i' jfaiiiod ii Icjiiil si'ttlcinciit in tlii.s Stilt*', shall lurlcit uimI l>iiy lor cvciy siicli oHciicc tlic sum (»!' .^HKM) t(» the party injured, to he rt'covcrcd in tin' ininio of the people of the (Stale oi" Illinois, by action of debt in any eonit havinj;' cogni- zance of the same.'' J>y a pro\iso it was added, that this should not apply to the recapture of fn;iitive slaves. 'I'lie line, it will he observed, was for (lie party injured, who miylit have been successfully carried to so icinotea section in the south an sold into bondage, as to precliule the jtossibility (d* liis retuiii. \o share (d* it wastoj^oto a prosecutor. It in eltect ]>rovided a preiiiiuiii for the successful kidnapper who would steal the remedy with the iiersoii. The remedy was civil : no i)rovisioii occurs in the law for any other ])uiiishment if the culprit was uorthless in visible worldly ellects upon which to levy an execu- tion, and this doubtless was the condition of the kidiiapi»in;4' seoiindi'cls in W cases out of every ](>(>. The law reads: who '•shall forcibly take and carry out of this State" &c; liiit in the majority of cases the jxtor ignorant blacks, by !Vaud and deceit, Avere iiiveij;led into atrip south on a Hat b(»at, or other errand, ami at some i>re-arraii^cd ]>oint on the river they would be turned over to confederates, forcibly and rapidly taken totlie interior and there sold into slavei'y, the orij;iiial parties often leavin.i;' the iiii])ression u[H)ii their ItJack dii|)es that they had no hand in the outraji'c. Af^ainst such enticements the law cit«'d made no provi- sion, and they were ])eii)etrated with impunity. .\ not her mode was to seize a black and forcibly convey him to a rendezvous either on the Ohio or .Mississippi, but not outof tiie State, where a ccmfede- rate would apjtear and carry him beyond. Nor were the blacks allowed their oaths against whites, and hence it was jicnerally im))ossible to convict. The crime of seiziiif;' tree blacks, runniiiji' them south and selling them into slavery from this State, for a I011.U time was (piite C(tiu- nion. The jxior iniiorant colored creatures, aiiainst whom was not only tlie law but apparently every iiiaiTs hand, were hanijiered in the south by all the contrivances of inj;eiiious slave codes to pre- vent their escape, whih' the weary years of nnretpiitcd toil rolled slowly ai'ound. ev«'r embittered by heart lonjiinys to return to home and kindred. The same may be said of the att'ectionate ones left at home. No crime can be <>reater than this. Tort ions of southern Illinois ftu' many years attbrded a safe retreat to these kidnaiipinji" outlaws. AVe cannot cite the numerous cases of kid- na])])iiij;. An early conviction for this crime was that of deptha Lambkins, at thetei-m of the Madison county circuit court, Novem- ber, 1822. We hav not the i»articulars. On the ni,nlit of May l'.~), 1SL'.'5, a free colored man named .lackson Jlutler, liis Avife and o children, residing- in Jllinois a few miles from Vincennes, were kid- iia]»ped by a band of villians from Lawrence county in this State. ]>utler had been purchased by Gov. Harrison in Kentucky, brouj^ht to Lidiana, indentured, and liad served out his term faithfully. His wife was born free, which rendered the children also free. They were taken (h>wn the Wabash to the Ohio, tlu'iu^e south. Harrison leariunj;' of the outraj^e, otlered a reward of $'M)0 for the apprehension of the kiil.* Ill the first liiessii};(' to the j^ciieral asseiiildy, Deeeiiilter, ~>, 1S1,'2, (Jov. Colics ealled sju'cial attention to the siil»iect of Uiilnap- piii^ ; that crime, lie was sorrv to say, was loo (dten comiiiitted in llie Slate with iiiipiinil.v ; iir;;edthat liiediity ot's(»ciet.v as well as every beiie\(»Ieiit I'eeliii}; denianded better protection tor the free blacks, while Ihey remained in the Stale; tliat the peciiMar situa- tion of the Slate, liorderiii;; on lliiee rivers coinmniiicaliii;; witli the coiiiilry wiiere there was always a demand for sla\ fs, alVorded it ^rcal lemplalioii and facility to the lawless and inhninan to eii;:a<;'o in this criiiie, and that more ellicient laws were required to luex cut the kidiiai»piiij; of free blacks. This part of the niessa;;e, with tiie subject of slavery, was refer- red to a special coininitlee <"onsislinji' of .Messrs. N\' ill, l-^mmil and ]\Ioore, wli(t i-epoi'ted Dec. lU, ISL'U, as ibllows : "Yoiir commit lee lia\c carefully e.\aiiiiiie(l Ihe laws upon tlie subject, and with deep rcuret aiiiioiiiice tlieir incapability (»f devising a more elVecliial i>lan than the one already i»rescribed i»y law for thesui»pression of siicli intaiiioiis crimes, It is believed that the benevolent views of the executive and the beni;;ii pnij»oses of the slatiites can only be realized by the redonbled dilii^icnce of our ^iiaiid juries and our inanistrates, aided by the well directed siip[»ort of all just and jiood men.'' The lejiislature was ixtlitically op[)osed to the };_v riili\ iissiiii;' tlic IIMIIH's oI' IcikI- iiiji coiiventioii advcx^iitCiS ill lSi»;{-4, iiiid iVoiii otiu'i- cii'ciiiiistiiiM'cs, it iii;iy ln' asscrtcMJ wilii entire siiiety lliat tlie ediistitnlionni eon- venlioii of ISIS, jet'l unrestrained l»y liie oidinanee ol' I7S7. «ii- lli(> i'lialiliny act to loini a eonslitntion, would have estaltlislied slavery. As it was, that convention in a inanner evaded tiie lull re<|iiiienM'nt of I lie acts of eoii,i;i'ess hy declaring (article \'l. sec. I.). '•Neitlier slavery nor involnntary servitude sliall hcno/lrr l»e intro- duced into tins State;" and hy the .'Jd sect ion of t he same article; they yave to iiid<'iitiired slavery the only validity it ever had. Tile tVelin;,' in lavor ot'slavei'y was still stroiij;' after the adinissioii of the State. The linaiicial einharrassnieiits of the ]»eo|>le, to Mliicli we iiav(; adverted in the preceding' cliapler, (toiipled witii the >;oId<'ii ])ictiiresof ])ros|)erity which that institnti(»n would hriii!^ to the country, as they were wont to re;;ard it, Sl*2, as we have noted, tlie ques- tion of slavery eutere«l to a larye extent, and while it was not j;eueially sharply delined, it was well known that ("oles was a zealous oj)[)onent of the institution of human chattels; so also was (Jen. Moore; and foi-these reasons the ]>artisans of freedom rallied Avitli little division foi- Coles. Jlis a^j^re^ate vot(^ was L'SKI, that of .Moore 522, total ;};{;52. The vote of Phillips was 27<;(> and that of IJrowii 2.51.'}, total ~)'.i{)li — heinji" ii majority, so far as this ex- ]»ressiou was a criterion, of about 2()()() in favor of the introduction of slavery. ])Ut personal ('onsiderati(»ns at that day entered more lai'iicly into election contests than principles. Edward Coles, tlie j>overnor elect of Illinois, was born in Vir- frinia, Dec. I.'), 1780, and was amoiifi- the yonnjiest of ten children. His father was a planter, owniuj;' many shives. Duriii};- college life the r liis I'iil lit-i- in ISOS, lie iM-ciUiic riilil lt'y the Jndieitnis exercise of these he is said to lia\c in'oii^lit into new bonds of lrieiidshi|i Mr. Madison and .Mr. Monroe, and Mr. Adams and .Mr. .lelVerson, who had respec- tiv»'l,V lieeii someuiiat estian;;('d. ill ISKi he was sent in the sloop of war "I'roiiiethioiis" on a special mission to IJnssia.as the ln-arer of iniportani dispatches to the .\nierican ('mhassadors at Si. iV'terslnir;;. i'.efore his return he made the tonr of Mnrope. After his arrival home he shortly determined to <{o west. lie spent the sninmer of ISIS in Illinois, and witnessed the lahors ol the eonveiitioii at KaskasUia to enact the tirst coiislitiiti.tn. In the following' sprinji', ISIO, he removed with his slaves to Illinois. On the trip hillier, made mostly on Hat boats down the Ohio, the nejsroes, bein;; i;;iioraiit of t heii- destination, were one clear niooii- li<;lit evening in .Inin-, while calmly tloatiiijii down the placid stream, called t(»j;etlier, and by their master addressetl in a plain, uliort speech in which he ])roiM)niiced them all free. Their ^rati- tnde was so pidfonnd that they tendered him one year's service at their new home, lint beiii}: nnich touched at this nianifestatiou of their attachment, he refused their otter, lie <;ave, besi«les, to each head of a family 1(10 acres of land in Illinois, in the neijili- boihood (»f Kdwardsville, aided them with money, and for many years exercised i)aternal care ovei* them.* In 1S;»;{, at the a;^f of 47, he remove ' to Philadelphia, and was married t<» Miss Sallie liO<;an Ifobeits, by whom he had one da.iijihter and two sons, lie died .Iiily 7, IStlS, in the Slid year of his afic. On coming" to Illinois. Coles received the apitointmeiit of rej^ister of the land otlice at ICdwardsville, from Mr. Crawford, secretary of the treasury, who was an aspirant to tin' presidency. Cposed, was sent ont to counteract the intlnence of (lov. Kdwards, who favored Cahonn.t The jrartisans of slavery, althonf;li beaten f(n' governor in 1S22, by a schism in their ow n ranks, had carried both houses of the general assembly, and the lienteiiant-jiovernor, and throujiliont the lirst lialf of his term, the j;'overnor experienced a want of a(;cor(l ♦The law of 1810 respecting free negroes renuired the ciniinclpntor to give bond that they should not beuome a county ehargo Having proviiled them iinipiy with lands, Coles neglected to do this, whereby he incurred a liability to u tine of S5~(I0 for (Mich negro, wliich might be sued for by the county In which tliey were settled. During tlic heat of the convention struggle the county commissioners of Madison were insti- gated to bring suit against the Governor lor this i)enalty, resulting, in Sc|)tpmlier, IS24, In a verdict of $:.',000 for setting at liberty negroes without giving bond I'ending a motion for a new trial, in January 18:i5, the legislature released all penalties incurred under the act, including ttiose of Coles. At the ne.xt term of court he plead this re- Icastf in l)ar of .judgment against him. But .lodge MeUoberts decided that the legisla- ture liad no power to t.iKu i';om a municipal (K)rpi)ration its vested right in a line, any more than from an inJividual, aud rendered judgment on the verdict. This decision, believed to have been influenced by the feelings growing outof the slavery contest the year before, caused no little popular excitement. The cast; was talten to the supremo court and reversed, tl.e power of the legislature being held to be arni'lc in the premises The o|)lnion of the court, by W'ilson, chief justice, says: "It is said tlie king cannot remit an informer's interest in a popular action after suit brought ; this is no doubt Pa ■ ■ ■ true, but it is ciiually true that the Pari lament can. It is not pretended that the exe- utive coiild remit tn tFord's History of cuti ve coiild remit th>i penalty In this case, but that the legislature may." ■" " ■■■ ' " Illinois. COI.KH' ADMINISTKATION. 323 widi that body. ( ln\ t'liior ( 's diit'ctctl iittriitioii to tlie siiltjcct of sliivrrv, ami in clear aiiati()ii (if tiic i'"r»'iH'li ,sla\t's, icniiiiiiiciiih-il a revision of the Made laws in aeroi'tlancr with the dirlates of hntiianitv. and the rnact- nniit of nioi'c adcqnatc laws to icpirss the frcciacnt ciiinc of kid- napping, as we hav(> Motic-4-.tr(.:i;;' cIVoil to introdnci slavery into Illinois, wlii( h coidd only hr done by anientlin;; !!ie eonstitii- tion. which recpiiied a t wo-tliiids \ ;ite in each laaise to pass tlio proposition snltniiltin^ the (piestion to a vote of the people. So nineli of the message as i-elaled to the abro;;ati»»n of slavery, was referred t(» a select coniniiltee, eonsistiiii; of Messrs. Ileaird, I»oon, liJiiUl. Kinney and White, who in a few days reported as follows: After ^iivinji' a historical resume of the establishment of slavery in Illinois, (h'nonstratin;; its U"^:\\ existence and claimin;.;' that thu j)rovisi(»n in l' e (\r{'{\ of cession from Vii>;inia, vi/ : that the inhabi- tants of the territoiy who professed tliemsehes to lia\e lieen citi- zens (tf Virginia pre\ ions to the cession, slioidd "liav«' (heir ]»()ssessions and titles eonlirined to then.', and be protected in the enjoyment of their rijihts and lilM-rties." coidd n(»t be overridch'ii and set aside by the snbsecpient act of con;;ress, which pr(»\ ided that " there shall be neither slaveiy nor involuntary servitude in the said t«'rritory :" that the lan-^najic in the deed of cession wa.s too plain anou an eipial footinji with the orijiinal Sta(es in all respect.s whatover; and whatever causes :»f rej^ret were experienced by the restrictions imposed upon the tirst conven ion, your conindttee are clearly of (he opinio.sition of nofi'ro slaves they choose, without any breacrh of faitli or violation of com])act, oi'dinances or acts of couijress; and if the leasoninji' <'mployed be correct, (here is no oilier course h-ft by which to accomitlish the object of this portion of the jiovernor's nu'ssaj^e, than to call a convention to alter (he c(>nsti(u(ion." And (hey recommeiuled the ad<»p(ion of the following;' resolu- tion : " AV.w/a'f/, That the ficneral assembly of the State of Illi- nois (two-thirds thereof concurring;' tlu'rein), do recommend *o the electors, at the n<'xt elecition for mendu'rs to the jjeneral assembly, to vote for or aj;ainst a convei'^ion, aj^reeably to the 7th article of the con.stitution." "See 111. Intelligencer, Dec. 14, 1822. .'J24 nisroKY oi" ii,i,i\()is. On iiKttioii di" Miitliticl .Touch, the- r('|i(»rt Wiis <'oii('iiii«'(l in. A minoity i(|piiii u;;s iiiiidt- l»y liisdcn Moctic ;inlv iiryiii;; llic iiholilion <>l" slavery, I In- iniiclioriilion nl'llic l>liirk laws, ami ;4icat('i' st lin.ncncv rr;;ai(liM;; I lie piinisli- iMcnl of ki(liia|i|iiii;4. Mi. Will niadt' a M'paialc ii'imhI, of a aiilk am! water eluuiieier. Ill llie seiiale. il w as s|»ee(|il\ aseeilailied 1 lial t lie re(|iii.-^ile I \V(»- t liinls \ ule Id pass llie resoliil ion I'lHllie call of a eoiixeiilioii lo aiiiemi the ennslilnl ion, eoiild We ohiaiiied, and to spar*-; l>iil in tlielionse llieease slitod ollieiwise — tlie,V needed one \o|e. At tils* il was slieiiiioiisly argued llial tlie I wo-tliiids vole icipiiied l»y r eoiisl itiil ion lo pass llie eoii\ eiil ion I'esohit ion, meant two- tliirds ol° the two houses in joint session. r>nt llie opponents Avere loo powei I'lil in ar;;iiiiieiit upon lliis point, 'i'iie iiiaJoiil\ wa.s iiol lobe toiled in tlieir purpose, liowe\ei'. .Vnollier mode jirt^ >seiited itself — all that was leipiired was ('onia;^!' to peipetiale a {;ioss (»iilraj;-e upon a recaleiti'ant meiiiliei'. 'I'here had heeii a eonU-sted election case lrvn sla\cry, lo the United Stales senate, hiil fai-tliei- than this lie \vonld not ^<». Shaw, who Ta\oreil the comcntion pio(ect, was now discovered to lie justly entitled lo the seal! .\ motion was thereupon made lo reconsider the admission of Hanson, wliicli ]ire\ailed. It was next fiirlher nioM-d to strike ont the nann^ of Hanson and insert that of Shaw. iMirin;^ tli«^ penden(*y of tin*, resolnt ion, a I iimiiil iioiis crowd asseinliled in tln^ evenin;^ at the: state jioiisc. anil after the deli\(-i'y of a niimtier of incfiidiary speeches, inlianiin;; the minds of the peoph; a<;'aiiist< Hanson, they jiroeecded tliroiiiih tlic town witii his efliL;y in a Ma/e. aecompa- iiied liy the lieatiii;;(if drnins, tin- sounds of biij^les, and shouts of " ( 'onxeiitioii or deatii." 'I'lie molioii lo expel Hanson and admit Shaw was adopted, and Ihe lat lei- rewarded the majority ii\ \oliii<; for t he coii\ cut ion res- olution, which thus barely passed by his aid on the ni;;lit follow- iiiji'. .\ niimlier of the niembeis of both houses entered tiieir solemn protest a;;aiiisl this ylaiinji outrage of iinseatin^ Hanson, liotli as to the object intended and llie manner of perpet rating' if. iMany retlectin;^ men, earnest in their support of the convention question, condemned it ; and it proved a powerful lever befon^thc jicople in the del'eat of t he slavery scheme. The passa;;c of I he con \ cut ion rcsolnl ion was icj^arded as taiila- inouiit to its cania;;('. at the polls. The pro slavery part, cele- brated their Iriiimph by an illiimiiial ion of the town and u ]irocessioii. accompiiii ied by all the horrid paraphernalia and dis- cordanl music ot' achivarai, marched to the residemu' of (lovernor ("oles and the (piailers of the chief opponents of the measure, where tlie\ performed I heir demoniac music to annoy and insult Ihem. The pidcessioli is said to have been headed h.> such di;^na- laries as ex jiid;^e and late gubernatorial caiiidaie, .losepli i'liil- li|»s; the newly chosen chief justice, Thomas Iteynolds, afterwards goveiiior of -Missouri; associiale, sul)reln^^ jiid^^e, Smith ; pros- <'oi,i;s' ADMiM.^ ;i;ai ION. |»c(',liv<', liciitciiiiiil ^ovcriKii' l\iiiiic\, etc., lollowcd l»y niiiiiy of the lioiioriildc iiiciiilicrs ol llic Ifj^ishiliiic, IIm- I(il»l>\ists — soiiic of lliciii sti'iiimfis I'loiii iidjoiiiiiit; slii\ <■ Stiili's — llic inlddc, etc. TIh', icji)iciiius (»r llii' cdiiv ('III ion |);iil\ iilso roiiiid cxiircssidii in |tiili- lic, diiiiiiTs. iiiid (d' IIk' t(»;ists llicic ^ivcii we siihjoiii ;i I'cw : Tlici (•iiii\ <'Mt inn : 'I'Im' nicMiis (d' inl ludiicini; ;ind .s|iiciidin.L; tlic AlViriin I'iiMiilv — I iiif'c cIhmts. 'I'Im' <'n('Mn('.s (d' t lie conx'^nl ion : .Miiv iIk'.V i'ienliili\ e iind seiiiiloriiil distiil. teeiiie/;cc/^f/o;-," at Ivl wards\ ille, edited by Hooper Warren ; one al Shawneelown, ediP-d by lleiiry Kddy ; the llliimis / iih'lll;ifiic<'r. located al N'andalia. which, at tirsfc jtrocoin cut ion, v\ as siibse(|iieiil ly pnr<-liased by ha\id l>laclaper writin;;s, were aihh'd tracts and handliills of a most incendiary tone, 'ilie Ivcv. Dr. Peck, who, in his voeati(»n of dis- tril)utin;i' Itibles, had the opportunity to observe the mana;4ement of the campaign on tiie part of tlu' opposition, shaix-d iiis ends with the tact and skill of a ji'eiu'ral. to meet them at every hand. Political meelinus wen^ called, and almost e\ery stun)p resounded with the declamations of indi;;iiant orators, both pro and con. The raidv and lile of the pt )ple, no h-ss excited, wrangled and suj^tied with each other whe,' ver they met. 3liich time was cou- Kumed, and intbistry was at a staml. In the meantime, the pro-slavery party was not idle, ami ad(»l»ted the same means to rea<'ii the pul»lic mind. F.lias Kent Ktiue ; Thomas Ueynolds, tlu^ chief justice ; -ludfic Tiieo[)hilus \V. Snutli, of the supreme court ; .1 nd j^c Sam lu-l Mcivoberts, Kmaunel J. West, A. 1'. i'ield, .b>seph A. llaird, (ieor^f Korcpu-r and others, were their pn»miuent writers; while ainon^' tiieir chief orators, besides some of these, may be in«Mitioned It .M. Voiuij;', John ^b'Lean. .Jesse U. 'I'liomas, ex (iov. lictntl. (iiiiininn ujion each other by which they raisi'd about -*l()tt(> tor their side of the cause. \\ illiam Kiiuu'y, alterward lieutenant governor, to his vcunition as a pro-slaveiy politician a' interest in tlie subjeet, nnd as the eanvass was exten- ded lor a ])erio(l of IS inonths. they came to tlioroiiyhly ai>i)re- ciate all there was in it It.v the day of election. Thecontest was not devoid of extraneons pio-slavery inllnenees frcm heyond the borders of the State, as ini,i;lit well be expected, brd; snch inij>ertc- iieiice was promptly met as it deserved. \Vlien the day of election tinally arrived, the ntmost exertions at the polls thron,i;liont the State wei'ensed by both sides to brin;;' ont a fidl vote. The aji'ed, the crippled, the chronic; invalids, all that could be conveyed with theii' bodily inlirmities, were bron.uht ont and cast their votes, either for a;;ainst the call. The result was that the convention scheme was (lefeated by s ine 18()() nnijoiity. This was a womlerfnl victoiy to achieve, showing a yain for the anti-slavery canse, excc'cdin;;' .'{.")(»(> votes since the ^iibermitorial contest of two yeais before. The ajj',iirej;ate vote was ll,(ilLJ; 4,i>7L' for, and (!,(I40 aj>ainst. This was a laryc vote; at the ])resi- •lential election in November following, the a;;j;rej;ate vote of the ►State was 4,707. And thus ended the most important, excited, and anjiiy election that took ])lace at that early day in Illinois. All feelini;, however, speedily subsided, ami in (I months alter, is it said, a politician who favored tin- introduction of slavery was a rara avis. The victory was decisive of the question for all time. Chapter XXVI II. lSL't-0— MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Ler/islafio)! — h'e-on/duization of the Judiciari/ — Cliirf Justia^ Wil- fioit — Hubbard as Gonrnor ad htterim — Pitpulation of l.Sii,"i — Visit of LaFaycltc. The {convention strun^ilt- ovci', oilier ndaii'.s elaini our attention. And liist as to the leyislatnit'. wliicii was aiiti-eonveiition in its i)olitieal sentiments, Tiie nieiuhers eliosen siinnllaneously with the defeat of the convention call, eoiistituted in a .sensic the lirst ever eh'cted in Illinois upon (ttlier than personal eonsidcrations. J'ernianenI pait.v principles and oi'puii/ations had been, as Vi-t, torei;;n to the vir^^in soil of Illinois. To land one and deliune the other candidate was, nj) t(» that time, the oidy recoi^ni/.ed mode of conduct in,i;' a ])()litical caii\ass, and the canii)aij;ns weit- usually .shoit. (lovernor Coles, in his inessaj;<', eonuratulated the pe(»plo ui)on the result over the slaveiy qnestion, and aj;ain recom- mended the abolition of the remnant of Afiican slavery still exist- inii;', as an anomaly in this free State. lint the lej^islaiure, notwithstanding' its anti-convention majority, was n(»t abolition, and it paid little heed to his reeommendation. Two United States senators, four suprenu' Judj^t's, and hvi' circuit Jndjies, besides a crowd of other oflicials, were to be electeTy (contest, beinj;' absent in NNash- in<:ton. It was at this tinu' that he becanu' involved in his unfor- tunate (puirrel with .Mr. Crawford, secretary of the treasury, which caused him to j;ive np the .Mexican nussioii to which he had been appointed. Oiu' week later, IClias Kent Kaiu' was also elected to the Cuited States senat«'. I h' defeated for the position siudi prominent anti convention men as (lovernor Coles and Samuel I). Lockwood. Kaiw was perhaps the ablest writer that the conven- tion i»arty had duriuj;' the (contest, althouj;h a northern nmn by birth and education. Two leading pro conveution nuMi were thus houtu'cd by an anti-convention legislature with the two highest ollices in their gift. JJy the constitution, the terms of ollice of suprenu' Judges were to expire with the close of the year lSli4. The legislatur(! re-or- ganized the Judiciary by creating both circuit and suprenu^ courts. The Statt! was divided into live Jiulicial circuits, providing two terms of court annually in eueli county. Tlie salaries of the eir- 328 COLKS' AUMIMSTKATION. ;529 ciiit Jiulj^t's were lixcd at $<»(>(). Tlic IV)ll(>\viiij>- circuit jiulj;<'s were cIioNcii : .ioiiii V. Sawyer. Samuel McKoherts, Ificliard M. Vouuj;', James Hail and -loiiu O. Wattles, uamed iu the ordi-r ol' tlieir resi)e(;tive circuits. Tiie sii|»reuie court was relieved of circuit duties iiud made a court of appellate Jurisdictiou. It was to bo held twice a year at tlie seat of ;;<>ve,iiiueid, aud as Iteforc, com- jtosed of four Jud.ijcs, l»id uow eomuiissioued duriu,i;j;ood belunior. Tlieir salaries Were cut down from ."jSHKH) to ."JSSOO. J)ec.eml)er ;>U, 18U4, the two houses met in joint session to elect one chief jus- tice ami three asso<'iate justices. On the first ballot, William Wilson received .■).') votes, Thomas lieynolds, chief justice up to that time, li). Wilson havinj;' receiNcd a majority of the whole number of votes (;ast, was duly dec^Iared t;hief justict' of tlio State of Illinois. For associate justices there were six candidates: Thomas (', lirown, Samuel 1). Lockwood, Theophilus W. Smith, David JUackwell, Thomas Iteynolds and John Iteynolds. in the course of five ballotinjis, the Hrst three named were chosen. .lames Turney was elected attorney ^^'eneral. The two Heynolds, Thomas and .lolin, um-le and ne|)hew. wiio were rejected, had been on tile siiprcnu' lieiich up to tliat time, and the former had been a conspicuous convention man. William Wilson, at th«' time of his elevatitm to the liiuh and lioiioiable position of chief justice of Illinois, was but L".> years (»ld, and had i»een already tivcyeais on the siipreiiM' bench as associate justice. He was born in Loudon county, N'ir^iiiia, in 17!).")- When quite youiij;' his father died, leavinj^' his widow w ith two sons antained for him a situation in a store. Ibil the yoiiiii;' man discovered no apti- tude for the business of nieicliandi/in.ed an unusual ^reed for books, readiii.i;' e\cry one attaina- ble, to the almost total ne.i;iecl of his duties in the store. At the aj>e of 18 he was placed in a law ollice under the tuition (»f the Hon. Jolni Cook, who ranked liiuii as a lawyer at the Itar of \ir- fiinia, and who also served his country with honor and distinction abioad as miiiist<'r to the court of !■' ranee. In IS! 7, \oiiiij;' AVilson came to Illinois tt> look for a home, and siicli was his jieisonal bearing and prepossessinii' appearance, that one Near later, at the iiiaiii;iiratioii of the State j^overnmeiit. his name was broiiylit before tlie le;;islatiue for associate supreme judaic, and he came witinu votes of an eleiition. AN'ithin a year, as we have M'cn, lie was cli(»sen in the |>lace of I-'oster. I'or live years he ser\('d tln^ pe(»ple so acceptalily upon the bench as to be at this time chosen to the lirst p(»sitioii by a larj;e majority over the former chief justice, iieynolds. This was the more a mark of apiii(»bation, because .liidjuc Wilson was totally de\(>id of, and never in his life could wield, any (»f the arts of the ]»olitician or ])arty schemer. As rei;arle for (he probity of his ollicial acts and his upi"ij;ht conduct as a citizen and a man. His education was s;utU as he had ac(piired Ity dilijicnt read in;;' and self cull lire. As ii writer his diction was iiure, clear and elegant, as may be seen 330 IITSTORY OF IIJ.INOTS. l».v it'lt'i'ciicc l(» Ills piiblislicd opinions in tiic snprcnicconrt reports. "NVitli a niiiul of rare analytical power, iiis jiKlj^nient as a lawyer Avas (liseriininatin^' and sound, and upon tlie heneli Ins learniii<;' and iniparliaiity coninKinded res|)t>ci, wiiile Ids own di;;iiilie(i deportment inspired decoiiini in others. I>,\ the niendiers of the liar lie was lireatly esteiMiied ; no new iM'^iiniier was ever without tint |>roteetioii of almost a fatherly iiand in his eonrt, a<4ainst the arts ami poweis of an ohh-r o|ipoiient. In polities, ii|M»n the foini- ati people were couiiled in two weeks time. Sanj^a- inoii connly was, at that time, without doubt the most i»opnlou8 county in tiie Stat<'. All the nortliein counties were most dispro- ]»idportionately represented in theiiciieial assembly. \\'hile such counties as J\andoiph and White had each a senator and tlir«'e re|i- reseiitatives, Sangamon had one re]ireseiital i\ c and one senator «»nly. It liaj»]iened at tliis time, that (!o\ernor Coles was temiioiarily absent ona visit to N'iruinia.and Lieutenant {iovernor Hubbard was the acting ji'oveiner. His Exc^'lleiicy ml hdcrhu, struck with the in- justice of this uiietpial representation, issued his proclamation for an e:vtra session of the h'^^islat lire, to coiixcne at the seal of j:(»v- erninent on the llist .Monday in ilaniiary, 18-0, for the pnipose of apportioning the State, and for busiix'ss <>'enerally. He was not loth to claim ]M»wer. (loveriior Coles returned on the last day \ernor dv Jure under section IS, article 111 of the constitution, which icad : " In case of an impciiciinieiit of llie fi;()vernor, his removal from ofTlce, death, refusal to (|uality, resiiiiiatioii or aliseiici' from tiie State, tlie lieuteuaut-goveruor shuii exercise all the power aud authority apper- coles' ADMlNISTKATlOiV. 331 taiiiini; to the ottice of ^jovonior, until the time poiiitod out liy tlu' con- HtitutioM for the clcclion of a governor, sluill arrive, inili-ss tlii' jreiitral Uj^scnihly sliall oIluTwisf jn'ovide l)y law lor the (.'lection of a governor to till sueii vacancy." Alice the aniviil of Coles. FIul)l»iiiard. uox eiiior of Illinois. The rule bein.u granted, tin' secretary answeied, slatinji' the facts, wlieichy tin' wlntle (pu'slion was hionuld Itefore the court and ai'^ned at leuf^th with luin-li ahiiity by talented counsel for both sides. 'I'iio Jndincs, al'tcrmiM'h deliberation. delivered sepaiale opinions of yreat learuini;' and research. I>nl all a ;i iced in the jud;:iiienl prouounced, tinit ihe ride must be dischariicd. Ilid)bard was still irrepressible, and next nn'nH)riali/.ed tin- lej^islalure in reference to liis j;rievance. l>ul the senate (le<'ided that the subject was a Jiidicia! on.-, inex- ]»edient to leyislale upon, and the house laid his mcMuorial uikui the table. 'l"he census of lSl*."> I'etnrned a population of 71'. SIT, beinti •"o"- isidcrably l«'ss than the sanjiuiiu' expectations of niiUiy led them to hojte for. The State was duly ai)poiti()ned anew at the sjn'cial session in -lanuaiy, lS:,'(i, with rcferense to the (list rii)ut ion of pojui- laliou. The (pu'stion was also nM)oted at this session of repealinj^" the circuit court system, not that the court did not sidtserve a ,i;reat ])ublic need, but that |)o!ilicians in Iheir disappointment in obtain- ing ollice the winter ]»rece(linji', soujiht to redress Iheir .yrievanees liist by (lei)rivin,y' the circuit Jud.iics altoii't'ther of ollice, and next by loadinji' the snurenu' Judj^cs with additiomd labor by remaudiuf^ them to circuit duty. Tin' latter, beiniece of pleasantry, inserted a section to lepeal the wolf-seali) law, in which the seinite did not concur.* '•THE nation's guest." •Ill ^tiircli siu'ci'i'il iii«, witliin ."> miles of wlifrc tlio k'Kisliitiiri' had siit.a livi; your olil cliild (it DiiiiU'l liiiliniiii, which had waiKleri'il triiin hoiiM' into tliu woods a niilo or so, was attacked and killed by a wolf The aiiiinal was seen leaving Us nian^^led und partly Cionsunicd boay by thu iioiglibors iu search of it ou the following' day. 332 UlSTOllY OF ILLINOIS. eariKstly iiivitinji- liiiii to i'xtriid his western visit to Illinois. On tile !)tii of Deceniher tiie addn'ss, witli an att'ectionateiy written letter IVoni (iov. ( "oles, wlio liad fonried Ids peisonal a<'quaiiitaiic(^ in l-'raiiee in ISl", were transmitted to(ien. Iiai"'ayette. I'lider date (»f WasliinjLiton, .Ian. 1(5, ISl',"), he expressed his j;rati(ieation for the lionor doiu' Inni by Illinois, addinji': "It has excr been uiy eaj^er desire, and it is now my earn«'st intention, to visit tlii' western States and ]»articiilarly the State of Illinois. The feelinj;s which ionr distant weleome eonid not fail to excite, have in- creased that ]>atriotic euH'ernes.s to adndre on that blessed .spot, the happy and lapid resnils of rei>id)lican institu- tions, i»nblic and domestic virtues. I shall, after the celebration of the L'L'd of Febrnary anniversary day, leaver this place for a journey to the southern, and from Xew Orleans to tlar western states, .so as to return to lloston on tlie 14tli of .lune, when the ■ corner stone of the Hunker's Hill monument is to be laid; a cere- mony sacred to the whole rnion,aud in which llnive been enj;a;;«'d to a(!t a peculiar ami honorable part." On the L'Sth of April, ISl',"), the steand)oat Xache/, with (iencral Lal-'ayette and suit on board, anchored below ^t. Louis at the old Fieucli \ illaj;e of Carondolet. On the followin<;' nita'nin;^' };ov- crnors Clark of ^Missouri, and Coles of Illinois, Col. l>enton. and ollieis, ]'c|)aired thither to escoit the distinj;uished visitor ui> to the city. During' the forenoon the boat with the entire party steamed u[) to St. Louis, where, upon the wliarf.au immense concourse of jteo|)le had asseinl»lcd to <;reet and honor the patriot liero. lie landed amidst the boominji- of cannon ami the animated cheers of the vast nudtituch'. lie was accom])anied by his son, named (Jeorye Washiiij^ton Lafayette, and his secretary, Col. LeVassear; by a deputation from Louisiana consist iuj^' of Col. .Morse, aid to tlie y()\-eruor, .^Ir. LeCiair, his private secretary, and .Mr. l*riei', re- corder of New Orleans, and Col. Ducros; by Col. Scott from the State of ]\Iississip]»i, and by MaJ. (ien. (iibl>s, MaJ. Ivutlcd.nc, Mi'. JJolcli and Ml'. Stewart, (»f Tciin. Addresses of welcome and res]»onse.s were made, when the entire coiK^onrse moved to the- ele,i;aiit mansion of Pierre Choteau, where; a reception was held. Su]»i»er was had, followed by a number of toasts and a]»iiropi'iate spi'cches, and in the eveiiiiiji a splendid ball at ^lassie's hotel, attended by (icncral LaJ'ayette, liis suit, and all the dii^nitaries. Jn person JjaFayette was about six feet tall, incliuiiijn to corpu- lency, and a tiorid complexion. He limi»ed upon his left Icji, the I'csult of a wound. He spoke the English lan^uaye fluently and had a leady command of appropriate exi>ressioii. On Saturday, April 30, ISL',"), (Jen. J.aFa.\ette and suit, attendi'd by a lai';ne delcjuaiion of proniineiit citizt'iis of ^lissonri, made a visit l)y the steamer Natchez to the ancient town of Kaskaskia. No military i)arade was attemi»ted, but a f^reat multitude of patriotic citizens bade him welcome. A reception was held at the elej;ant residence of ]Mr. F^djiar. (iox. Coles, on lu'half of the jteople of Illinois, delivered a .nlowinj4 address of welcome to the illustrious ynest, to which LaFayette reiilied in a most feeliny and hapj)y vein, expi'<'ssive of his exquisite gratiticatiou for the honor done him uiK)n that occasion. After this a general introduction of the citizens and hand-shaking followed, when a most touching scene was presented. A few old GOLKS' ADMINISTIIATION. .'533 icvolmitioiiiiry soldici's ('((Ilcctcd iinniiid tlic (Iciiciiil, who lijul loiiylit uiidcr liis c'V(^ at IJiaiidywiiK^ and Vorktown, and ■svlio all r(!(!()llt'('l('(l liiiii and now ;- the hattlts ot" libei'ty. The entire company of dislin;iiiislie(l j;nests, visitors, and citi- zens next ]»ro(!eeded to tin- taxern kept liy Col. Swcel, where an ample diunei- had Iteen i»re|»ared. The |»atriotic ladies had deco- rated tlu' diidnj; hall with lanrel wreaths in u most tastefid and appro{>riate manner, and over the table where tlu^ heroand hohoi-ed guests were seated a beaut did rainlxtw of roses and flowers was .S]>anned. \V(! cjui oidy give a very few of the after dinner toasts that weici drank: lljl IjaFajictte — Kaskaskia and Illinois; may their Joint pros- ])eriry more and moi'c evince the blessings of congenial iudu^try and freedom. /»',// (jIi>v. Colas -The inmates of Lafirangos [LaFayotte'.'*liome]: let them not be anxious; for though their father is 1,(100 miles in the interior of America, he is yet in the Piidst of his alfectionatc children. [Very good]. />'// G. IV. lj((F<(i/i-tf('—T]u' grateful confidence of my father's children and grand-children, in the kin// Oor. Hand — (leneral LaFayette; may he live to see tli: libeity established in his native country which he helped to estai>- lish in his ado])ted country. AN'hen this toast was given the general arose and (»l)ser\('d that he woidd driidc the latter pari of the toast — the liberty of his adopted country — standing. After dinner the distinguished ]»arty icitaii'ed to the large and commodious house of Wm. ^Morrison. Sr., Ksq., where a giand ball was given for their delectation. Here during the night (piite an interesting int<'rview took ]>Iace between the renowned (iencral and an Indian s(pmw whose father had scrxcd under him in llu; lievolutionary war. The squaw, learning that the great \N liite Chief was to bt^ at Kaskaskia on that night, had ridden all day from early dawn till some time in the night, from her distant home, to see the nnui whose name had been so often upon her father's tongue and witli which she was so familiar. In identitieation of her claim U) his distinguished ac(puiintan(!e, she brought with her an old worn letter which the general had written to her father, and which the Indian chief had [(reserved with great care, ami finally be(pu'atlied on liis death bed to his daughter as the most pre<;ious legacy he had to leave hei*. Jly \'l o'clock at night, (Jen. LaFayette returned to tlie steam- boat, and started on hisi-oute to Nashville, (Jov. (Jole.s accomi)any- iiig him, the boat being chartered by tluifState. lie returned from Nashville on the steandioat IVIechanic. On the 14th of May, l.S2o, when the boat appeared in sight at Shaw- lU'ctown, a deputation of tluH-itizens waited on the general, anda})- prised him of the reception in waiting for him. As the bout 3;u IIIHTOKV (»K ILLINOIS. npproiiclMMl till' liiiidin^, a .salute of 24 rounds was fict'd. 'I'Im' |»'0- plcof tlu- town and snii'onndin^' connlry liad tninctl ont en in:issu to own this passed the eoiiiiiiitlecs of reception, town ollieials. and other dignitaries, and received the nation's yiiest. who with the distinynished party accoinpanvinj;' him, passed up the line, tin' citi/eiis standiii;^ uncovered in per- fect silence, niitii his arrival at the door of the iiolel. wheic a larjic imiiiher <»[' ladies were ;isseiiil)led. Here an address of ;it1'ectioniite welcome was delivered l»_v .ludj;(' .lames Hall, iial-'iiyette replied witiiont preparation, in a voice Iremnloiis with emotion, tliankiii<; the people for this evidence of their love and jiiat it nde. A colla- tion Wiis then piirtakcn of, followed hy a iinmlter of toasts sniliii)le t<) the occasion, Ai'lei- speiidiiiiii' a few hours in pleasant converse, the jiciieral was conducled hack to the slcamci', when he took a most alfectionate leave. A saliiti^ was lired af the departure. The general appeared much vvcnn with the f;itij;ue of his tii|». (ioveriior Coles quitted hiiii at Shawneetowii, and proceeded by land to V^indalia. CiiAPTEK XX rx. ]8LM)-.",()— ADMINISTK'ATIOX OF (lOVKIJXOIl KDWAIMhS. Camim'ujn of 1S2(! — Tlir (HiihrnHitoridl Candidates — Coiift'st hetivecn Jhinicl /'. Cool; and Jost'idi l>nnrmi for ('onj/rcsN — ('Immctcr of (tor. Edirardn' spccclits — His eliafj/esayoinst the State Ji(iiik(>(ficers and trsult of the iuiinit'ij into their eonduet — Uepeal of the Cirenit Court system — dor. I'Jdirards eloinis for the ISt((te title toall puh- lie funds within her limits. At tlic {joiHTiil election of Aiiji^nst, ISL'O. there were tliree ltai'd. 'I'iie latter was at tlio tiiiio lientenaiit-<;()Vernoi'. That lie was ambitions to beeonie governor, we have s«'en in his attempt to snperedc^ (iov. Coles, failinj;' in which lie now sonjiht that distinction, as was more hecomiiij^-, directly from the hands of the people. ''As a pi(!tnre of the tinn's," (Jov. ("oles '/ivv.s the following;- niorcean, from Ilnhlyard'.s speeches to his constitntents : "Fellow citizens, I offer myself as a candidate before yon, for the ottice of >;'overnoi-. J do not pre- tend to be a- nnin of extraordinary talents; nor do I claim to be tMjnal to Jidins Ca'sar or Napoleon IJonaparte, nor yet to be an j;reat a nnin as my oi»p()nent, (lo\. ICdwards, Nevertheless, [ think I can jjjovern yon ]>retty well. I do not think it will re(piii*e a veiy extraoidinary snnirt man to fi'overn yon; for to tell you the truth, fellow-citizens, 1 do not thiidc yon will l)e very hard to govern, no how." lie was an oddity. The contest lay between Sloe and Edwards. Sloe was a {icu- tlcMnan of <>()od sense and capacity, whose bnsinoss was merchan- disinj;-. lie had been much in i»nl)hc life, and as a member of the h'' the peoi)Ie he arrayed himself iu the style of a gentleman of the olden time, dressed in tiiu' broadcloth, with short breeches, lonj? stockings, and high, fair-to])i)ed boots; Avas drawn iu a fine car- riage driven by a m^gro; and foi- success he relied upou his speeches, which were delivered with great pomp and iu a style of diffuse and florid eloqueuce. Wheu lie was inaugurated iu 335 .'{;«'. nisroin oi" m.mnois. 1SL'(», he iii)|K'iir .sin;;iilar at this tla,\ . holii were ministers of the gospel, I he I'tunier a Kaptist, the lattec a .MelhiMlist. Kinney was <)n<> of the uhl pioneei's, lijiviiii;' emi;iia!e.| to lllin(»is with his father in IT'.t?. lie possessed natniallv a ;l;(io(I mind, lint hadieeiexed no ediiea- tion. until after mania;;*', when liis wife tan.uht him its rndinu-nts. lie had been nineh in pidtlie lite, and was an efticient and nntir- iii;;' canvasser. In the eoiiveidion (contest, he had been nneeas- iiiu in his elforis to lender it a success. He was wcaltlix, an of rcpi'cseiitatives, in disre;;ard of the will of the people, chose the one who had received next to the hi^ihest number of electoral Notes, Mr. Adams. Mr. Clay accepted the liij;lu'st ])osition in the cabinet, but Mr. ("ruwford refused otlice under tlie m-w adiniuistratiiMi. Some bitterness of I'eelin;;- sprang;' up between Mr. Clay and (b'li. .Facksoii, the tbriner liaviii;-' written a letter in which lu^ deprecated the election (d" ii "military chieftian*' to the hi^ih ollice of |»resideiit, which Avas tlioui^ht to rellect upon the latter. A coalition of the Clay and Adams iikmi followed, and as dackson had received a plurality of electoral votes, nnu'c than doultle tli(»se of Crawlbrd, and as Ik; further, throu;;h the iiomination of the le;;islatiii'e ot Tennessee. dire(!tly became a candidate a,naiii for the same p(»sitioii, it became evident at an early day, that the next contest would lie between bim and ]Mr. Adams. The friends of Mr. Crawford, therefore {javo in tlieir adhesion to the .lackson ]»aity, as. by so doin;;-, was there any hope of defeat in;;' Adams. I'arty i»riiiciples did not .is yet obtain; indeed Jackson had voted, while in the senate, .vith Adams and Clay, and supported attirmafively S different bills jn'ovidin;;' for internal im|»rovenients by the ^i'cneral ^^overiimcnt, and also the tariff of 1821, founded on the principle of lU'otection. EDWAKDM' AnMTNrsrUATI(»N. 337 I'iirty «l'viMi()iN IiivoIvimI imtsoiijiI (•(iiisidcriitioiia only wliic^h wiTc V('r,\ iiciiiiionioiis. Diiiiii'l l\ Conk, ill tlic clfctiiiii of tS'JI, niii ii^siiiist (iov. I'oihI for nui^ilTss, iiiiil Wiis rltTlcd. I )iiriiij;- I In- fiiiii|»;ii;ili, I lie pioliii- liilil.v of tlic |)i'<-si(lriiliiil clt'ctioii ;i'oiii;> into tlic lioiiso Wiis not iiiit'orsccii. iiiid he li;i(l pledged iiiiiisclf in siicli (•oiitin;4:riicy, "f(» Mile, iis ii rcpiTsciitiilivc, in iircoidMncc willi I In- clciirclv cxpicss- »'d sense ol" u iniijniity of tlinse w liose will lie should he called upon to express." 'I'lie titliil popnliir \»>le ol' Illinois, whieli \oted hy districts, was 4.707, of wliicrli loH wei'c cast lor I lie electors of Aihims. rj7.'! lor .Jackson, 101(1 for Clay, L'lS for Crawford, and (»_'!! for ,1 allies 'riiriic.N, elector lor Clay and Jackson joint l_\. If half of these latter \(»tes had lieeii added to .lacksoii's. it would lia\(^ }ii\eii him a jiliiraliy but not a nnijorily. The electoral col|e;n'e' of Illinois, in Deceiiilier followiiiLi', droppiii;;' Clay and Crawford, j;a\e to .lackson two \(»tes, and to Adams oiH'; iiiit when the elec- tion of president came hcforc the house of representatives in <'on- jU'ress, Mr. ( 'ook cast the \y the peopli' (who proliahly made no distinction between the highest ]iopnlar \oleaiid majority) in violaliiuiof his express- ed picdtifes ; and they believed that (leii. Jackson had been ;;ross- ly clicatcd, by their representative.* And now Mr. Cook was a;;ain a candidate for eon;;rcss. Prior to his votiiiy for Adams, he was the most ]M)pular man in the Slate. This was attributable in ;j;'reat part l<< his social (pialil ies, beiii;^- <;ifled with a natural charm ot" manner almost irresistible, and ii ready adaplabilitv to surroiiiidiii^is, wliich were to him a ^reat aid in his clectionecriiin' inlercoursc with the people, and wliic'' enabled him to accommodate himself with ac<'eptaltility to every ciicuiiistance and condition of wesferii lifc.t Thus, with iiotliiiijn' ai^ainst him but his vote for Adams, did he start into the campaiirn of I.Sl'O. Ills former opponents, ,lohii McLean, I'lias Keiil Kane, and x (Iov. I'xiiid had been Iieateii so badlv and not aiipi'eciatiii;^' the piililic I'eseiitinent, they even now feared to a.nain e.ssay the i-aeo, and Joseph Dnnciin, afterward jiovernor, tlieii but little known in the State, liad the temerity to come out against him. .Vt that time Duncan was an ori^^iiial .lack- ♦RoynoltVs Life aud Times, Jiajie 254. l+l/iii'iii)f thociiMVi'iitioii cuniimiKn, in 1834, when Mr. Cook ininnlnif for cntfrcss, wiis oppdscil Ity ex (iov. Iloiid, he liaarty feeliiif? smonlderin^' in the breasts of the peojde on jicconnt of the defeat of .lackson, was not didy apprecialed nntil the defeat of Cook and the election of Dniican by a majority of (!tl — ihc \()te slandinji' t>,.'{21 for Duncan to ."ijtiSO foi-Cook. Aside from the <'on\ cnt ion slrii,u,L;lc in ISi' t. none other than mere local and j»er,sonal considerations hade\er before coni ■olleil the icsult of an eh-ction in Illinois. In the jiidternatorial contest the party lines were not so closely drawn. Sloe was the nndonbted -lackson candidate, bi;| Ivlwards, too. professed adherence to the political forlnnes of the '"military chieftain."'' I hit the bnrS.) Ibr 81; showed the loss from this policy must neces- sarily be >f-2 tor )^l received; that a debt of .sl.-»(>.(IO(> had been imposed upon the State yearly when the ordinary iMirreiit expenses should have been but about >'2.">,0()(>; that these losses must event- ually be wriiny (»ut of the jieople by ti'cble taxation; that no State. liowt'\er jureat its eneriiies or resources, coiihl Ion;; wit list and so enormous a (h'aft upon them : that it tended to check immigra- tion: emi.urants as a class were •'ueilher the most able mn'themost williii.y to pay hijih taxes;" thai while the annual Stat<' re\enue amounted to between fjtOiddl) anay taxes yearly and non-residents semi-annually; that as the State revenue was chietly derived from the latter, human inyeniiity could not hav<' devised a more ettect iial scheme to produce an annual delicit in the State trcasui'y. This it was that created the demand for new issues of lh»ods of auditor's warrants w hich de[)reciat('d the currency and aftbided the opportunity for sjieculators to riot on tlu' necessities of the people; but I'or this unfair ad\aiitaiLie the further emission of these warrants would cease. '••Hut tlicii.'" he exclaimed to his auditory, "this W(»uhl have withered, if not anni- hilated, that spcculalioii which has so lonj;' Ix-en Inxiiriatinj;' upon the resources of the State and the honest cai'iiinus of the sweat of your brow s. Such impositions as these, upon a free, hiyhminded EDWAUD.S AUMlNlSTliATION. 3.']9 ;iihI iii(l<'|)('ii(lciit ]t<'o])l«'. I 1»ols, and cndiuctli all thin-s."* Kdwai'ds loiifi'ld liis cainpai.Liii battles sini^ledianded, and solely njion tlie yronnds of fiscal reform as atleetinn' tlie welfare of tlio Slate. irres])eeti\(' ot" party afliliations. Tins bi'onylit liiin in array ajiainst. nearly e\cry imbiie Mian of any proiniiieiiee in tlie State, wiiile many of liis fri<'iids st(M»d aloof. (le<'inin.ii it liazardoiis to be ideiitilied witli iiiiii. l>iit from li's triiimpli it may well be (lediie<'d that Ills forcible and instriictixc addresses <:aiiied the <'ar of tlui l)eo)»Ie. 'I'lie leuislatiire was. however, lai'.ii'ely a,uaiiist him. Ilis caiii]iai;;ii s|teeclies ha\ ini;' |irodnced a j^ood effect iijion the jieopio, as e\ iiiced iiy tlieir siistaiiiiii;^' him, and eiicoiirajicd by his remark- able triiiiii])h. he now attempted to y'o fiirtiier. In his inaiiiiiiral mes.>a^(' lie alluded to the (!eliii<|iieneies of the Slia wiieetowu branch of the State bank, as reported by the committee of iiivestij;a- tioii. statin.n' that "'its eoiieeins had iieeii htosely and iirej;idarly conducted;" that the deraii^cil state of its aecoiints did not exhil»it the amount of debts i\\n\ and that money had been loaned wilhoid security, contrary to the refpnremeids of the law. sworn l)y all its odicers to execute faithfully the injunction, "1 will not peiiiiit money to be loaned to any iiidisidnal without security." From which he deduced imM only irand and imposition, but the dearest moral i»erjiiry, voluntarily and deliberately committed. t And now followed in short f)rder several messaji'cs from him to the lionse. charyiiiy s|»eeilic acts of eorriiption, particularly ii]>ou the (dticers of the Ivlwanlsville branch of the State l)ank. A loan of $2,0"''* '""' been ol>tained by a mort,iia,ii'e upon real estate, wliicdl on execution was valued at *7.">7.7.~) and which actually sohl for ((Illy >'l'.n.S.'): another loan of ij<(),(L*5 was eU'eeted ujion realty vahied at .f.'t.lKt.Tl. when the sworn duty of the oflicers was to exact real estate seeiii'ity in doulile \alne of the loaii. and to loau but .sl.OIMIoii such security atone lime to one man. Three days Jater, in another message, he ehai\yed that these loans were to Thus. .1. ^IcC.uire. i-jiianiiel .1. West, and Theoiihiliis AV. Smith, to establish a press at JOdwardsx ille. inteudcfl to pi'omote the iiitro- diu'tioii of shncry into the Slate; that lieiiteiiant-;:(>verinu' Kinney jM'esideiii of the bank, advanced the money to buy the press, that Mediiii'e was the pi'inter who oblainecl the loan with West as security, and that Smith the cashier, became the eililor; that no entries on the minute book showed when the loan was made, tS:c. These details were ])erhaps indiscrete, as they ;;iive color to the, charge that his excellency was a<'tiialed by somi'lhinj;' more than i'eclinus purely of refoi'iii, IIa\ iiiii' obta.iied further intbrmatioii, the yovermu', on the 2r)tli of .lanuary, submitted to the house of representati\('s, as tlui ^raiid imi of the Slate. cliai',i.'('s of j^ijnc and serious import against tiie oflicers and boai'd of ilireetors of the branch bank at Mdwardsx ille, alleju'cd tc* be )U'edicat< <1 u])on the bo<1(M» MiHUi ixTsonal security — tiiiit tlir president liiin- se!t' linil two several loaiis of sKKtO each oil ])ers(>iial security, liiaile. too. out of the 10 per cent I'uiul whieli was nex'er to he put into cireiilat loM ; ."xl. loaniiiu on real eslate not IVee Ironi iniaini- braiices; 4tli, loaniu;^ on iiisuHieient secmily ; ."idi. culi»al)lc iic{»- ]eel ol' ilnly in not prot«'sl ini; o\ t-rilue i)aper and proeeedinn- to llie eollei'tion tliereol'; all in \ iolat ion (»l' llu' jiositivc re(|iiire- inents of tlie law ; statinji tliat anionu' the hatch of promissory uotes due and nui'eiiewed. rnnnin,u' hack tor three years, and lianded over hy 'I', ^\ . Smith (late cashier) to his successoi', there ■\v«'re eleven lorucries delected as early as ISi'i;, yet no ctl'ort had l)een made to hriuji the olVender to punishment; that in ISi't, Thomas , I. Mc(iuire had ohtained a loan ot ?!(1(>0 on a mortj;a,in(' improperly executed and without reliuipiishinii dower (he heinj:; inariied). on a |»iece of property not woith s.'JOd ; the same to ]']uiaiuu'l J. West ou land valiu'd oii execution at 8.'>(H IS; that h> the law. all loans, hel'ore made, wci'c to he i»assed ujion hy two- thirds of the hoard, yet T. \V. Smith had »»htained a loan without t)eiug' >so sauctiuueil, hccause at the tiuu' tlie jtresideut wasabseut fr<»m the State, two of tlie four dir<'ctors were atteuveruor, Iia\ iu<;' eifd)arked in tiie uudei'- taUin condition of the hranches. all of which the law re(piircd, and in all which i)articulars the law had Tmmmi violated. This ines- saj^c. too, was referred t(t a connnittee. Still a;.;ain he charged that Thei>ro|)riate to his own use a lar^ic amount of funds of the bank, which he still withheld, and as he ])residcd over the circuit court in the county of his residence, he asked that provision he made foi instilntiiiu suit ai;ainst him outside of his own circuit. And now there was intense ex«iteinent at the c: ,,iial. The ,<:<»v- enioi' had, sinj-le handed, to deal with adroit and saj;acious ])oliti- <'ians of the dominant parl.\, some hi;L;li in otlice, betore a le<;islature with whom he was in a jiarty minority. The cry was raised tiuit the charj;'es " emanated fiom a hase and maligna ♦". (b'lerniinati(Ui. on the jiai't of the ;;(i\crnor, to prostrate e\cry in- dividual who had dared to o]ipose his elect ion,"* (lovernor i''ord *SeoJ. M. JDiiuaiii'siuttur, Housu Journal, Jaiiuui-y L'«,l«27. EinVAKOS' ADMIMSTKATION. 341 says: "A ])()\v('ifnl (';«'d witli base motives ; aiidtlial kind of stiyiiia was altciiiptcd to Im> cast on liini wiiicli is apt to li\ ilscil' upon aconiniun inrornicr. His cliai-^cs aj^ainst .Mr. Ciawloid wj-rc icmcndicrcd, and lie was now cliarurd willi hriny' inllncncccl l»y iiostility towards .Ind^'o .Smith, wlio liad been a tVinid to.Mr. Craw ford's ch'ction." 'I'hc charges a.uainst .1. .M. !)iincan Wi'ic speedily dis|»os('d of. 'J'iic committee, I'eliniary Stii. rejiorted, "cxculitat in;;' the cashier of the ))rincipal !>anli from all censure," and that there was •• not the h-ast semidance of the \iohition of his duty," in any of the <'hai'i;es preferred l>y his lv\celleu;'y ; and as t<» the misapi»licat ion of the bank finals l»y ,Iuroce<'(lin;;s beiu^' taken down in writing and fully reported to the house. + .Many of the cliai'.i;cs, apparently hiistily made. wer<' satisfactorily explained, yet much inej^^nlarity in the<'oiidu<'t and mana;.;«'mentof flu* bank also a|»p<'ared, chief of which was in conne<'ti(ni with the insnllicieiicy of the real estate security rcipiiied. Hut this was i)artly explained in that val- nalion.s weie made al'tcr the (h'preciat ion <»fthe bank noti's, in accordance with the real vaitu' of 1 he money received, while the hanltintes incident to that pei'iod also caused a \erv lireat de|)re- «'iatiou of pro|>crly generally. 'J'he loans e\cecdiu^ .* 10(1(1, made to directors and otiicers. it aj>peai-ed, were aut horized bysection jSof llie law, whi«'li allowed them to borrow 8T.-)t»*' in a allowed to individuals, which luid l»ecn sanctioned by llu' uoveriior himself in the case of Oaniel r'aikins«)n. a direcitu' from Sanyamon. who ha, An^iusl 0, bSL'l, on a n«»te. with N, ivlwardsas personal security. it ai>]»eared turther that this .snne i'arkinson had presented and di'awii the nnniey (Ui the eh'ven ><1(((» n(»tcs alle^cil by the ^ovcr- iior to be forced. Tlu' nol<\s purported to be from a nund)er of paities, but •' a|>peared to have been sii;ned in the handwritini:- ot" tile dir<'cto>' from Sangamon. ( )u iuipiiry. I'arkinson said he was not pei-sonally acqiiainted with the makeisnf the notes, but he liad licard thai they were u<>od. and lived down on Indian creek. T. \V. Smith made aflidavil that he had licm iiitbrnu'd by the .slierilf and clerk of vSan^anion c(Hinl,\. who had made diligent search for them in ordci' to serve tlnni witli process at ihe suit of the bank, that no such persideiit. directors and cashier ol' tlie hraiicli hank at ImI- AvardsviiU', t()-\vit : William Kiiuiev, .losepli A. IJeaird, 'I'lioiiias ("arliii. Ahi'aliam I'licUclt, I'MiJali iles and Tln'ophilus W.Snutli, whicli Would Jiislilv tlie l>eliet' tiiat tliev had acled coriiipl i,v and in had faith in the nianam-nient ol' I lie alfairs of said hank;" which was adojited hy the house. Thus «lid Ihe atteiiipt of the jiovernor to iiiipeacii the niaiia;i('rs of the old State Hank [)rovc ;i coiii|ilete failure. As illusi ratiNC hotli of tiic cordialit,\ existing;' hetnceii two of tlie co-ordinate hranches of p>verniiieiit iiiid tlii' relative dignity 4»f tlie same, we i^ive the following-: Some joint r(>soluti(Uis, addressed to eoiij;ress. were passed hv the lej;islature in favor ol' ameiidinji' the constitution aecordi!i<; t(» Mr. Henton's idea, to allow the people tovote directly foi' president antion of p(»wer not j^ranled to I he two houses luuler the con- stitution; that such ■• lan^iiajic was \iolative of llu'ir relative inde- pendence," and that he " declined obedience to a cianniand sci unwarranted;'' he would, however, conijdy with a "re(pu'st'"ltt that i'ffect.* The otVeiisive word was cliaii_\;ed I One of the most excitin.i; measures pass<'d at tliis .s<'ssion, was the repeal of the circuit court system, established U year.s hefore. Duiiiiji that time deiiiaj;(i;^ues. well knowiu!; how to t-reate polit- ical ca[»ital hy inference in the absence of facts, charj^cd extrava- j^ance and a prodijial waste of tlu' jteojile's money in sustaining ;i Judiciary, and virtually i)ensioninj; the suju'cme court, which uii.uhl well peilbrm all the cin'iiit duly. A j;ood deal of ujiposi- tion had been stirred up amoii.u the i»eo[»le l>y the ^(ueriior duriii,ii' liis eairvass, ami lu^ also iirjicd the rept al in hisinauj;iiral messaj;e. Tpon the (»ther hand, all the nine jud.ufs, circuit and supreme, ojiposed it. r>iit in this nu-asiire the governor was aided by some «)f his wor.stenemies, who had failed in their judicial aspirations two years before when the court was r( -or^ianized. and the hill pre- vailed. The State was divide*! into (inc ciicuits. assi-^iiin^ one of the sui»reme Judges to each of four, to hold two terms of court ill each county \early. One of the circuit Jud,i;fs, tiie Hon. K. .M. Youu;;', was retained on a circuit in the military disiiict. I'.ut i>ne yearly term of the supreme couit was |>ro\ idcd. 'I'lie salaries id' tliejudji'cs were increased from !ut Ihe mere tpu'stion of expense, and the petty re- venfi'eof sore aspii'ants, were not the only things which conspired to tins repeal. One of the eii'cuit jud.ucs was to he ])unished tor "pr<>seri]»tiou,"it was said. The circuit .jud;.;('sliad power to ajipoint *t^ce liousu .Inuiiuil, p. i'>\. EDWAKUS' ABMlNlSTltATION. 343 circuit clerks, hut that froui this as a coi'ollavy Innowcd tiic i)()\ver of itinuN al, WHS uol so clear. Judjic McKoltcits so viewed it, aud had exercised holli powers. |>r(»scrii»li\ civ, it was thought, lie, had removed tVoni tliat ollice, in .Madison counl.v, .Iose|)li Com way, SI political opponent, and a|)poiiited in ins stead. Knianuel .1. West, his trieiid. ( 'onway. lieiny well known and i)opiilar, was electeil to tile State senate, and after lidiiiu into ollice on iiis j;iievanc(^ before the jx'ople, in tiie le,nislature lie brought it to b-ar a.uainsC tiie entire system, and completed his reveii;^-e aiiaiust McUobeiTs by repi'alinL;- all the Jnd,i;<'s but one out of otiice. , Indue Mclfolt- erts, inteliectnaly oiu^ of tin' lirst men of the State, was also un- ])opidar on account of arbitrarily enterin,!i' u]) Juduinciit a,uainst (iovernor Coles, after he had been released by an act of the le,nis- latiire iVom tiiM' in cmancipat iii.u' his lU'.iiroes witliout uivint;' bond that they sliould not l)ecomea cinirj^c upon the county. Tlu' supreme Jmlfi'es appointed at the session of bSl'l-.") to revise the Stat uics, sulunitted tin' result of their labor so far a> com- l»leted. Ap}»reciatinj;' the nia.unilude of such a worl<. frau,nlit; with such <;Teat interests, to the jierfectiou of which j;reat and uninterrupted research shotdd be brought, they had not com- pleted many cliaplers. A joint commiltee iVom botii houses was appointed, which went eariu'slly at woik to finish up the revisicm, em]»loyin;4' as assistants the circuit Judges in attendance at tln^ .seat of j;-overnnn'nt. The revision embraced all the \arious laws relatiui^- to the rii^lit of ))ro])erly, conti'acis ami civil actions, and tlie riiilitsof persons aud society, and the unxles of redress. Jus- tices of tilt; peace were at this sessicui made elective bv the peo- 1,S2S-J> — Harly in llu' session of bSUfi-T, the legislature had uii- cents j»er acre; to keep an otiice constantly open tor that purpose, ami to ])ay to tJM' n'eiieial .yoveriimeiit annually L'.~) cents per acre tor all that shall have been sold." Lat<»r, the conunittee to which the <;overin)r's conuiuinicatioii had been referred, rei»orled, and takiiiix a st<'p in advance, re(iuii'ed from eonu'iess a surrender ol' the public lauds '•uncomlitionally, subject to such disposition as the people of the Statc,by their representatives, may deem most ('(tudiicive to their prosjierity and happiiu'ss." 'J'his proi)osition threw the governor's effectually in t!u' siiado, ami he was not heard from a.ii'ain diirint;' the session upon llie sub- ject. Ibil by the meetin;n' (»f the le;.iislature in bSL'S. he had had ample linu' to work this subject up to its larji'est i)roportions. lie uow eclipsed the bold deumiid of the committee, by liroadly claiminy in his message of extraordinary length, evincing unusii- 344 IIISTOHY OF ILLINOIS. al U'jiJil rosciiicli and iKMiiiicii, that tlu^ |»iihli(! lands within tho limits (if ililMois b('l(>nj;t'(l aUrad.v to tlic State, lie sh(t\vi'd that the ailiclcs ol' contVucration not onl\ atl'iiiiicd the ri^^ht of every iState to all the lands witiiiii its limits, lint e\i»ressly deelaicMl that "lu) Stale shall he deprived of territory ibr the beiu'lit of the United States." lie ariiiied tl at the I'nited States, 1»\ the terms of the constitution, eoiild not acMinire or hold any land, in any oriyiinii State, even witii its t)\vn eonsent, exeei)t what nniy l»c necessary ''for the erection of forts, nni^iazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful i»nildin;;s ; " that as liiis State had been adnii'ted on an e(|nal fooiin^i' with the original States, the I'liited States (H)nld hold no moic land than for these i»nri»oses within its limits, and for anytliinji more the jicneral p)verninent had to obtain "the consent of the le.uislatnre of the State;" that till the ::diiiission of the Stale into the I'nioii, it had no rij;hts as a State nnder the const itnl ion, and conse(iiieinly no competenc.v to act in that character ; it was like a minor, not within thea.ucof consent ; that the State coidd iu)t tiierefore be bound by the acts of the territ(»ry, in conseidin,u' for the I'nited States to hoiil lands within her limits; that if the federal j;-overiiment enjoyed tins ltri\ ile;:;(' of dominion o\'er the public lands dnrinj;' "its political mimirity, it ceased on the admission of the State into tlie Union, having' thence forward the sanu' ri^^hts of sovereignty, freedom, and indei)emlence as the other States; that the sovereij;iity of a State includes the ri.Lilit to exercise snpreim' and exclnsive control over all lands within it ; that the freedom of a State is the ri^^lit to do whatever may be done by any nation, and inclndes tho li^ht to dispose of all the jinblic lands within its limits, according;' to its own will ami pleasure; that the imh pemU'iice of a State includes an exemption from all coidrol by any ollu'r State or jiation over its will or action, within its own territory. The gover- nor seems t(» have been deeply in earnest. Jleyond tiiis broad claim it was impossible Ibr the iej^islatiire to p). 'riu'y did theret"ore the next best Ihiny, which was, to divide the credit and honors of the ;;rand discovery with his excellency. The commiltee who had considered the subject, re[)orU'd : That from a carefid examination of tiie ^-overnor's arj;iiment and aided by the best li.yhts they conld jjit, they believed the piisitioii assumed in tin' messai^c to be correct. They close recommendiii<;- the adoption of resolutions by the Semite and House of iicpn'scn- talives of the State of illinois; that this State iu)ssesses the exclnsive so\ ereiyidy over all lands within its limits; that the United States jiossesses lu) rijiht of jurisdiction over any lands within the limits of Illinois; that the I'lnted Slates cannot hold any lijilit of soil within the limits of the State but Ibr the erei-tioii of forts, maptziiies, arsenals, dock-yards and other needful bnild- inji's, an*l that this State possesses the ri,uht of soil of all the public lands within its limits. The resolutions were passed, and it was fnrther }»rovided, that they be sij;iM'd by the sjieakers of both houses and coi»ies thereof sent to our seimlors and re})resenta- tives in conjiii'ss, with iiistriu'tions to lay ihem before that body. Coi)ies were also to be transmitted to the ^^overnors of the several States of th(^ Union. ''Having' thus laid a. broad foumlation to euiich the State with the public lauds, the uieiubers retiuiied to EDWAUDS' AUMINISTUA'l'IOX. 345 tlicir (•((iistitiiciits swclliii;;- with imiiortiiiicc and liiuli ( \|icctiitioii,s of fiitiiic favor. J>iil i\\v people wi-re not sneli I »i^ fools as was tlM)n<;lit, foi* nniny laii,uhe(l at tlieii' representatives in veiy seoni of tiieir pfelensions."* Tiie splendid hiintliii^' I'ell still Itoi'u upon the pul)li<:, and nothing more was heard of it aflerwanl. •Foi'd'B History. It- CiiAi'iKi; XXX. TS;!(>— A KKTKOSIMOCT. Aih'diicc of til f Sitfh'iiH'nts — \n(c: (SnUiiii, its /■^(uli/ J/istorj/; Orif/iii of the ftriii ".S//(7.v;;" l>oi(i/l<(s^ Humorous Account of it — Ttitds uuil Troulilcs of I'iouccrs in New Counties — Enropcun ColonicH — Fiudiicidl Condition of the Stotc — Triiilc and Commerce — J'Jitrh/ Mail lionles, Xeu'sixiperSj and Literati — I'olitics of the reople — Militia Si/stem. Tlic poimlatidii of tlic Slate in ISl'O was ir)7,H7, Iiavinj;' nearly tiebled itself (liuiiin' the preeediii;;' deeade. I'lieie were at tliis time .")() eoniities uryaiii/,(' in^i' between (iaiena and ( 'iiieaji«»,exlendin;; sonlli- \vard to the lvasl;askia. tlie headwaters of tiie Vermilion, alonj;' the Ifoek Kiver and far down into the military tract, eonslitnlinji" at present the most densely settled and liest improved portions, Avasa trackless j)rairie waste, overrun by the Sac and l'\»x, Winne- bago, and I'otawattoniie Indians. Mn<'h of the interior of the south part, and the country Itorderin;; tiie i'anbjirrass. the San;;- amon and their tiil>iiiaries, had ceased to be a wilderness. Into the country of the Sanj^amon iiiimi,i;ralion had forsoiin'time throiiu'ed. Alon.ii the Illinois to ('hica^^o, (hen j'lst be;iinnin,ii to attract attention, there weic seal tered a few seitleiiients ion i;- dis- tances apart, l-'or some years after, the settlers, eitlier in chister.s or separat<'ly, continued to liuj;' the outskirts of the timber border- inj;' the rivers and creeks, or the edyc of ^iroves, scart-ely any \enturin,n' out on the open prairies. Alon;;' tiie .Mississijtpi, ►settlements were scattered at distant intervals, culminatinj;- at the lead mines on Fever river, where had gathered a heterojicnous l»oj»nlation from many parts of the world, nnnd»eriniiiK were iiiready l>nilt in Sahj;ann»U eouiiiy, wliieii iit tliat date eniUraeed all tlie northern purl of the Slate. iitid ill' volopuil, i\nil till! iiiimliiT of mliKM's hint IniTcased toltlOO. Tn I8!i6, a one tiorso iiiiiil WHS (sliihiishcil Irom Vnrnlaliii lo (iiilciui, oiicc every ^' wecl's. In l'*:.'". till' ^loviiniiiciit liisl siiivi'.vcil the town, peniiitlinu- piirtiea to occiipv and iiniiiovc lots, on I'onilition tliiil I liey \iieiiti' them on :ill ilujs not ice. 'I'll Is wiis nil tlu' ti- tle .my oei'iiiiiiiil IkiiI ii|> to Isijs. Till- next tiei>;liliiirs (it the (iiilenliiMs, siiutli, were the I'coiuins : and between the two jiliiees lay ii vast wilderness ot iininhalilteil t'lri- tory. Ill IH.'.'i.Mr. Kelloif started his " trail" rroin I'eoria to (i.iiena, rossiiiK Uoek river a lew miles alio\e t he |i resent Dixon, t hence I ly the West (irove to (jalena. Tlio Wlniieliaiitis M-^sisted in lerryln'-' Hork rhcr. 'I'wo canoes phieed side liy side foiiiu^l till' teny lioat, the wheels ot one t iile ot a waniin iiione, and thosi- of the opposite in the other canoe. 'I'he hores swam, 'riie next year, "11 'lies 'I'rail" was estalilished. The river was teriied at Dixon, wlierethe Illinois Central raiiriiad liridue now crosses. This was more direct, and liecame shortly the main loiitt' ot travel to the lead miiicH. In I he sprinu- ot IH.'T, the Inivel was so ureal that in a very tew day.sL'hl) teams passed at this point, 'rhere were als()i)tlier'"trails' larther to the west, 'I'he ''I^'wistoii t rail " crossed Itock river a little aliove I'roplietstowii, Whiteside county. (Kroni the lli^lory ot OltIc county ) 'rhe low co^'-iiomcn ot 'sucker," as applied tn Illlnoisans, Is said to have had Itsorltrin at the lead mines. Says (ieia'^re UriiiiK, ot San'jainoii : I,ate in the tall of I.sL'ii. 1 was St. I II iicj-on t lie levee of what is iio\s' (iaicna. watch iiii; a mmilier of our Illinois lioys no on lio.ird of a steamiioat liouiid down the river, when a man Irom Missouri >itepped up andaskeil— ''Hoys, where are you yointr y" 'I'he answer was, ''lioiiK,'.' "Well.' iic re- plu'd. 'yiMi iMit me in iniiiil of siicivcrs: up in the spi'lny, spawn, and all ret iirnin tho tali" 'I'he appellat ion stuck to the lllinoisaiis ; and when .liidye Sawyer ciinus up to the niiiC'S on his circuit duty, he was styled '•Kiii'i' id' the Suckers " These who sta.ve(l iivrr wiuli'i'. inii.stly IViaa Wisroiisin, wi-ir I'lilliil l!ailj;i'iH. 'I'lie I'lilliiwiii!; spriiit; tlic Misim- riiiiis piiMii'il iatn till' MiiiiiiiL: ii'iiiiiii in siiili niiialiirs that I he State was saiil te'liavi' taken a jiaki'. anil the nlli'iisivc appi'llatioii ef ■ Takes" was lliiniit'in ward applii'il tnull .MiHsDuriiius. Jial ilii' fiillowiu^ is a imiie tasteful iiri'.;ili nf the appi'llatimi iif "SMrkrl'" : Oa iii-i' isiiu lit a pirisuit calerLiiaiiii'iit at l'l'll'l■shlll■^■, Virginia, .Jiiil'ii' Diiii:;las ijave tho fiilliiwini; himiiiriiMs ai'iniuit nf the miL^iii ef the lena "Siirkers" as applli'il In llliiiiiisaim^ tho arniiiiit is valaahli' firttlii'i'. and riial'irs a piiiiiil ilist iiirtiiai Mpiin Illitiiiis. in that it clears up all iliialit ii"4aiiliiii; the ilisrnvery i>f that iiiipnrtaiil anil inspiring; hevcraiii' rallcil "iniat .jali'p." a ineiiiiiiliius i|ai'stiiiii heri'lefori' ciivi'iril with iih.si luily ami liesct w itli many iliaihts, iiiit iiiiw ill the li'.;lit of llii'si' facts. lia|ipil.\ plareil at rest. It is iiul iaipnihahh' that a ;;las.s lit (III' aiiiaatiai; hi'Vi'iaye served tn ipiii'kiii the iiieciiory iif the hiiiiiaahli' senater nil tlu) ociasiiai. ': .\lmiil the year 1777, CJoiirne KiiijiM'H Cliirk applied to the iioverniir of Vlr;;iiua. and siij;- fli'sti'il to him that, as peace iiiiuht he di'ilareil at any lime lietwei'ii (irriit Hiitaiii and the col- oiiii'N. it uoiild he well for us to lie in po.s.-.i'>siiiii of the iiorlliwisl leriiloiy, so that wlirii the I'liiiiiiiissiiiiicrs caiiie to lii'^oliate alriatv.we iiii;;ht act on thi'Well known ]>i'iai'i|ilt' of iffi /los..' I amiilliiis toi;etlier (for they li.iil niiarniy wai;iiiis with snpplii's, ii.' satli'i. and no stores, anil hy this time iooUeil rau'u'cil eiiiiie.;h). anil lookup his line of inaich for the little Kreinli lowii of Kaskaski.i. It wa- siunmer iiiiil a very hot day, and as lie entered the town he saw llie l-'ri'inhnii'ii sittinj; ipi'i'lly on llicirliltle vi raailahs. in front of their houses, siickiiii; tlieir.jnli'ps lluiiii;;h straw.s. Ill' rnshi'il ii]ioii them, cryiii!;;, "■larreniler, you suckers, yoa !" [(Ircat laili;liter.J 'riia I'liniluneii surreialered, auil from that (lay to this, llliiii>isaii.s have been known as ".Suckers." I .\pplaiise.| • I hat was the orisiiii of oar ciiiiioiiicii. and when Geiir};e Uosers (.'larke returned to Vir- ,i;inia III' inlrodai'i'il llii'.jali')is here. [Laiijihter.] Xow, I want toKive \'ir',iiniaiis fair iiotioo, thai when they elaiin tlic honor of a •leli'i'ison, of a Madison, of a .Marshall, and of as many olln r ilislin^iiishcil sa^es and iiatriots as the world ever saw. we yield; when yoa i hum the uliiry yon achieved on thetield of hattle. we yield; when yoa i^latni credit for the cession of the iiiirtliwestern territory, that oat of it .soveroiun .States niiyht he created, ne yield; when you liana the j;liivy of never hiivia;,; polleila vote a;;iiiiist the Di'inocnilii' party, we yield : hut wlii'ji vou cl.um the nlorv of the mint jalep, hands olf; llliiuiis wants that. tShoiitB of laughter anil applaiise.J— HI. Keg." Sept. 19, IHtiO. .'MS IIISTOItY or ILLINOIS. Till' ciiliiiiH wore ttllt'd to ovcrtlowinn witli the fiimilii'H, tli(> jjioiii't'is of the ('(iimty, my taniily liciii^ iiiiioiitr llu' iiuiiilu'r. I wiis itrcst-iil at llm clcclioii, August \H'2'2, licid at Sprinnlicld (tlicflcctioii prcciiicl fxtciMliii^? many miles cast ami west, and ixiilli to llu- Slati' liiuM, and saw all llio voters who could conu' to vote in that wide sco|n' of iininliahiled coimtry. ^^os^ of the voters residing in the precinct attended thtt elcclioii, though many of them had miles of wild country to travel in order to do so. The voti'i's were mostly imnn^niints from the east and south, thou^di a laijic portion of the men present were Indians and ilarkies, they of course not lieiiiji allowed the ri,tj:hl of sun'ra^e. The volin;; portion of theeommuiuly were then called the Vankiis and white nun. Threo men named Kinney, Parkinson, and Mdwards, had a long hench ranged along side of the court house, on which they set their licpmrs. Tlu) l)olls were held in the interior. We all got pleiily todrink. The wliito men sang songs, the Indians anil darki'ys danced, and a geiu'ral frolic occurred; hut what has surprised nu' as I have rellectcil upon these early tiays, we had no lighting. The great evil was, that every candidate had to till his jiortmanteau with widskey, and go around a'nd see and treat every voter iind his wife and family with the poisonous stull', or 8tand u ehanct' of heing defeated. John Ileynolds was our circuit judge. He held his court at Springfield, in a cahin huiltof round logs, the walls of which were only (i feet high ; it was also destitute of a lloor ; yet we continued to get along very well. The jury had to retire to tho "jail, another such huilding as 1 have descrihed. Such is the outline <»f those happy days. hi tlu' winter of 1823, I emigrated to what is now culled Dillon settlo- ment, in thiscouidy, 10 miles from Pekin, and 17 from Peoria, where [ spent the season in iiuielude; my nearest neigldxirs living in I'l'oriu, e.\cei)t onei)y tlu' name of Avery, who had raised his cabin at l-'unk'rt hill. lUit things did not remain in this eoiulitioa long; for during the Hanu' winter the legislature made a new county, witli Peoria lor tho county si'at, emiiracing all the country north of Sangamon county. Pliclps, Stei)hcn French and myself were appointed justices of the jieai-e lor the new county, which exten render who tiow looks til the fertile pniirii'H of Illinois, wIimI 'sclf early p>vei'ncd as hninlile Jnsiices ; and tell nie, has not the changed iniprovenient hci'ii ^^real and reniaiU- ah|,>."^ I'lurnpvttu Coloiiisla, — ll ii;is heeii sliilrd tiiiit the early sellleis were mostly tVoin the sinilheni slntes. There were also sonn' toreij^n cnlonisls located in Illinois at :iii eailx date. Tin' lirst were a lew Irish I'lnnilies, nnder llie leadership (d' SaniiKd ()".\lel- vaiiy, ii i>()])iilar pioneer, who located (»ii the Oido river ahont ]SII."). Shortly iilter the wai' (»f ISlL.', Morris ilirlteck. an l]iilication a nnnilier (d' letters lailhrnlly represent in, ;,;■ the ad\ anta;,;»'s of this coinit ry, w liicii recei\ed a wide (;ir('nlati(»n and proved of j^ical Itcnelit to Illinois abroad. In ii sliorf time after, he and (lein'^c l-'lowcr, hotlMnen of wealth hroniilit oid from I'-n^land a lai-yc colony (MMisisiinu' of several hnndred families. i'ei»resentin^- ahnost e\ery industrial ])ursnit. They located in Mdwards c<»nnly. The tow ii of Alhion, the present connfy seat, was started l»y Mv. I'Mowei', and ahont a mile west (d' il aimlher l»y Mr. l>irl)ecU. called W'annocU. wliicii ])roved a faihn*'. Tliei'e was sonu^ livalry. There was mnch wealth and relinenu'nt in the (tolony, aside from that in the posses- sion of thi! foinnlers. A few of the lirst sellleis are si ill living", tlK'ir descendenis are (piite numerous in and alxnit Alltion.t AhoiU, IiSlT), two (iernnin families, by the name of .Markee and (lermain, iirst settled in a ;i'or^e of the .Mississippi blidV in St. Clair county, known IVcnn that circumstance as I)ntch Hollow. These fanulies became the nucleus of the present laryc (iernnin ]>opidatioii of St. (lair and adjacent eounlies. Ain)ther l'^n;^lisli colony, Iloman Catholic in belief, comi»osed of l."» or L'O families from Lancasliier, set tied in Prairie du Loiiy' Creek. Monro<' coiuity, in JS17. Tlionms Winsfanly, ihimbei', Threltall and Newsham were the founders. They became a thrifty settlenu'nt. Numerous J'aiiilish immij;rants also settled in (irecn county in ISUO. In IS1!» l''erdin;ind Hrnst, aj;entleinen of wealth, education riud literary taste, from the kinj^doni of Hanover, canu' to N'andalia, then just selectiid as the seat of ji(nernment, and l«»cated a (Jernmu colony eonsistiny' of L'o or .'!(► families. In lS2ii IJernard Steiner setlle(l a small Swiss cohniy of S or Id families in the sontheasiern ]iait of St. Clair county. Their location was on a beautiful and ♦Sep Illinois Stiitr .rimnial .rune HO 1854. + Mr. l''|ii\vi'f lost, liiH t'ortiiiic liy Uii^ IiiviiUinil of tlic T'lii tod States l)aii If, niiil afteiwarils ro- inovi'il to -Mt. VcTiioii. Iniliaiia, liiit soiiir ol' his (Icscciiilciits still live in the rxillcnlionsH Jirairic Mi'. Hirhi'cU was sii rrtiji'v of .Stati' unitcr (Inv. Coles. In tlm convention ciMilcstof If'JI, lio conti'ihnti'il niort' liy his wi itinjis than iicrhaiis any one else to ilcfciit tho scImimi'S of tile (•(iliciilM of slavery, lie was nnfoitnuately drowneil in a hayon of the };i'eat Walia.^h, cal.ed l'"o\ liver, swollen t)y heavy rains, lie. aeeonipanieil iiy his, son was on his way lionie IVoin 'Srw Harmony, Iniliana, then in eharjii' of th(( liohert Owen eonimnnists, whither they had made a visit. In utieiuptin;; to cross the stream, the r.ipid ciiri-eiit swept their hors(^< onl of their coiirsn, and Mr. IJirheek and hotli liorsi s jierished. llis son harely escaped the same fate. His nntimoly death was aijrout loss to the .Stale. .■{."•(> IIISTOKV (tl' ILLINOIS. cDiiiiiiiiiKliiiu: ciiiiiKMicc callfil iMitdi llil!. it was :ulttl)'iii«-iit.* Flii|M'i'alinii. in l^is, ilii' luial i'c\ ciiiif i'«'|MM'lt'(| in tln^ tr<'a>iii',\, anil Id iM't'iiiift' tlnr on the tst ol' Dcmiilii'i', was )5i7..'illl.l««.">. (IS I colleeled li.v slieiill's. The hieiiiiial Stale e\|Mnses were e>liiiialed h,\ the li'easiiier, for salaries and to sii|i|M»it ihe (•oiitiii;^('nl I'liiid, at •■^ !.*.">( KM ►. and lor a session t)l' tin; ;4<'iieial assembly at ><1."),(M)0, total •»< Kl.Odd, or .*«_'(l.(HMI aiimiall.v, leaving' al I he lowest esliniale a siii|iliis rexcniie of .'r<.' 10,(1(1(1 cNcry two years. Tliat was a j;tiod healths eondilioii of the Stale's liseal alVairs. (io\. I-Mwards was <;n'atly liislruiiieiilal in ltriii;;iii;; altoiil, this highly cieditalsle eondilioii of the Slate treasury, wliieli li«^ found I years Itelori' empty, and auditor's warrants al a di,>eonnt. of .■»(» per ceiil. Al the |Meseiil w rit iiij; wc have a popiiial ion 1(» times as lar^c, lowit, L',.V);).(I()(I; we ha\e no pidilie debt of conse- • pieiiee, anil our piin of properly is jiropoi tioiialely larger than our ratio of increase in popnlalioii, yet our Slate expenses are. .■)(> limes <;realer, as e\ery tax pa\er yearl\ feels. Diiriiiu' the period over which we are now castiiij;' a relros|iect, the treasuries of the State and eoiiiilies, and snilors at law in- dividnaily, were subjected to serious losses b\ defaull in;; slieriU's, lor taxes collected and moneys received on execiil ion. I f tlie sheiilV was an aspirant for re cleclioii. the State or comity would iiofc sillier much the lirsl term, because he could not be commissioiieil for a second term w ithoni a cerlilicate of selll'iiieiit for all piildic; i'linds placed in his hands; but to exhibit such a clearance, tlu; money coilected on executions and belon.niniil rc.uard this as a l>ad feature in the constitu- tion of 1S7(). Tntilc (dill Cnmmnri: — rnternal improvements to fa(!ilitat(' trade, and c(Mnmercial inli'rcourse, consisted, up to that linns mostly in acts of the lenislatuic. declarin;;'' certain streams iiavi;.;able. In Ihesedcclaralions that honorable body was not Ihe least parsimo- jiioiis, but dealt them out to almost every rivulet with a prodi^inl liand; and a stranger, in looking' o\er Ihe old statutes, aiite-datiii<;-, ' say, ISKI, would inevitably conchide that the State of Illinois was inlersected by navi.uabic sticams in e\ery direction as abundantly as could possibly be desired by Ihe most ccuiimercial people. To the Illinois and Mi(tliijiUii canal liicre, was as yet iiothiiiy done *|{oynol(l'R liil'o iind Times tFoid's History. KDWAKDS' ADMINrsTKATION .'Wi except Moiiu' very iiiiiH'rH'ft siirvi'.vs, tlinii;;li it liiul Im-cii (lie tliciiu^ of rccoiiiiiH-iMliitiuii hy every governor, iiml iln ;;riiiit of liiinl was l>l'(»('iilt'(| iVoiii r»»ii;;i<'s.s. Tlie |tro;^ie.s.s of euiiiiiK lie from I.S|S |o \S'.\{) Wiis jostled I lit litl le from i Is hen I en truck l>\ t lie im|>i'o\ , lSl,'7,says: "'I'liere is nothing doin^' on land aid less on water. * * The harbor and town site are the best, i presaiiie, in all the western coiiiitiy: init not one sail enlivens the iiionotoiioiis prospect or one oar dips in the dark blue waves of lie fairy lake irom one \ears" end to another — if yon will excepi the i'viry boat, with now and then the canoe of a few miserable savages in quest of a dram." Keel-boat transporta- tion had been superseded, it is true, but the scanty commerce and ieeble trade made no demai.ds for more extensive carrying facili- ties than we have meiitioiieii. In development and wealth tli(>. State was ill its merest infancy. Merchaiidi/in;^' diirin;^' this peri(>d consisted in the bare relailin;;' of a few dry ;;oods and ^roei'iies. None of the products of tli(! country were taken in cxchanne, except peltries, l»ceswax* and tallow. The peoples' chief supi»!y of money came from iinini';rants who l)oii^ht of their ,tiraiii, stock or jirodiice, and often em|iloyed their labor besides. The money went out auaiii into the hands of the merchants who sent it abroad in payment lor j^oods. and thus the coiinlry was kept drained of anything' like a siifticieiit; enrrency. \\'lieii credit was obtaiiM'd at the stores, in default of j»ayiiieiit ami to yaiii time, iiiort.i^a.ues would often be jiiveii, these, tbrcclosed, the mercliant would in time iiiid himself the |»ossess(»r of perhaps a iiiimber of ianns, retire from business on a compe- tency and dream away his life in xilla^e idleness, without <'Ver beiielitin^ the country in the least, but rniiiinj;' perlia|ts a number of its ('itizens. I"\)r a loiij:' time there vvasjio class of iiiereliaiit.s who did a bart<'r business. Tliey w re uii\villin<;' to exeliaiiue, goods tor ]ir()diice and incur the resp- ..sibility ol' ownershiii until ishipments to distant markets and sales could i)e eHected. There was the risk of a lliic.tualing market in tlie interim ; their ca]>ital as a rule was small, and a loss on produce might render them ••'Fifty yrars n^rn, or in tli" snmirior of 1821," writes CIiiis. Hobcrt^on of Arnzvllle, undciMlatoof Keh. H, 1S7», to tlit; (;iii('ii«-o Journal, 'tliorc was not a busliel of corn to bo had In Ocntnil Illinois. My I'atlicr settled In that year ~';i iiille.s west of Sprin-iHeld. We had to live for a time on venison, hiackherrlesnnd milk, while tlie men were uono to Fffypt to harvest and pronuri! hreads'tutlH. The land we improved was surveyed that smnmer.and afterw;n(l lion^rht of the frovcrnment by sending beeswax down the Illinois river to St. Louis in an Indian canoe. Dressed doer skins and tanned hides were then In upc, and we matle one i)ieeo of cloth out of nettles instead of flax. Cotton matured well tor a decade, initil tlie deep snow," in IKM). The southevnpnrt of the State, known as Kjrypt, received tliis appellation, as '"ro indicated, l)eeauso lieiufr older, better s. ttled and cultivated, it "fratliercd corn as tho sand of the sea," ana the iinmijrrants of the central part of the iState, afterthe manner of tho children of Israel in their wants went "thituer to buy and bring from tbenee that tbcy might live and not die. ^i ! li 3")2 niSTORY OF ILLINOIS. insolvent; no liusincss conned ions witli coniinission Iionses Inid heeii estiil»lislie(l; added to tliese was (ti'len a limited capacity. A I'ew veais later, it seeiiis, mercliaiils weic I'oreed into harler Wy the. refusal of the I'nited .Slates liaiiiv at .Si. I.onis to exlead acconnao- dations to thein, in nieelinu their Mialiired eoiiliaets lor p)ods lioM^hl in theea>t. 'I'heii the .main. heel, and pork of the coniitry \ver<' pnrehased and shipped forward 'n payment thereof, and not unfie(pMMilly. it was found, a doul>le protii was rt-aiized, one on t he .uoods .sold at ictail ami another on the piodaee forwarded.* It was no nneommon piaeliee in early linu's foi' farmers to he- conu^ their own cariiers and merchants; the practice obtained to \vithin (piite a recent period in many parts of southern Illinois. A llal'l)(»at wonld he hnilt on the hanks of a snitahle stre;/m, lannehed, loadea, and from the former i)]ace to Cape (lirardeaii. \ ia St. (ienevi- •, and also from Louisvilh' ;o iShawnectow u *~i i. I. .... / 1..1 i.-. iii;..,.: .\ 'i ill l.SL't). Ill n Viiiceiines to Clii'-aiio to (ialeiia, and to Spriiijid.hl, were oi»ene( 1.S27-.S, foui'-liors'" coaches were juit on the line from \ iiiceiines to St. liouis. The dilliculties and daiit-crs encountered )>y the early iitail carriers, in time of Indian ti«ail)les, were very serious. The bra\ery and ingenious devices of Harry AViltoii (subsecpu'iitly L'liiteil States marshal), who, wlieii a boy, in hSlL', convey <'d the *l''i)rrrH History. tFoi'il's History, EDWARDS' AD:\nXIsTRATIOX. 353 j)i!iil on a wild Frt'iicli i)(>iiy, ovci' swollen sti'ciiiiis. iiiid .Ip'oiiyli tlif •• fiicm.v's coiiiitiy," IVoiii Hliiiwiit'ctowii to SI. Louis, arc iiicii- lioMcd with s))0('i:il coiimiciidatioii. Stacy .McDonald, of IJaii- do!)tli connty. an old jtionccr, who was at St. ( "laii's Defeat, and iiiiiie)' Wayne in I71I4, was the .uovernnient mail con tract oi' on that line. So infre(|nent and irre,i;nlai' were the coniinunications l>y mail a jircat i)art of the time, that to-day, the remotest i»ai't of the L'nited Statiss is nnal)le to appreciate it by example.* Fdrh/ Xcirspapcrs. — Tlio first ncws]>ai)er i)nltlished north of flic Ohio, and west of Cincinnati, was the N'incenncs Sioi. in l.so;>, edited by Eiihii Stont. 'i'he next in the west was the .Missouri (iii:rft(\ established at St. licniis, in ISdS. by ,Fose])h Oharless, and continued ever since, but siibse(|uen11y iner,i;('d in the Ixi'juihlican. Tlie next in the west, and the lirst within tin- limits of tlie State, was the Illinois Ilmild, established at Kaskaskia, by .Matthew Dnncan, brother* of the s\ibse(|uent jfovei'uor. There is some variance as to the exact time of its establishment. \Vm. If. ]>i'own, afterward editoi' of the same |>a[>ei' at \'andalia, under the inuiie of IftU'Uinciicer, aiul in aft<'r years president of the (Jliicaj;() liistorical society, says, "at or before IS Ik" (lov. Ifeynolds says, ]S0!». lloo]»er Warren «'X])lains the latter statement by sayinj:', ''the press broujilit l»y .Mr. J)uncan was foryeai's only used forthe l)nl)lic printinj;." Matthew Duncan sold out to IJobert lUackwcOl and Daniei I', Cook in 1S1.1. The former suci-eeded Mr. Duncan, as public i)rinter, and was, moreover, the territoi'ial anditoi' of public accounts. In the iatter ollice he was succeeded, in the fall of JS17, by Filijali ('. Herry, who also succeeded to the sanu' otlicc under the St; S' raper, Mr. l>laekwell, a well known law- yer, bein;^' for many years its editor. The Illinois IJinij/ranf, the sec(nnl new.spa))Ci ])rinted in Illinois, was established at Shawneetown by Henry Eddy and Sinulelou ]I. Kiujniel, in the fall of 181S, wlien the State was admitted to the Union. Jjuiies Hall succeeded Mr. Kimniel. Thronj>;h this l»ai)er ^\r. Eddy, a clear and vijiorons writer, in the convenliou stru^ijU'le of JS24, dealt her(adean olows in opposition to slaveiy. The mime had been changed to Illiitoin (iazvtte. Tin; tiiird newspaper established in Illinois, was l';)unded by Hooper Warren, at Kdwardsx ille, in 1S1!>, called the Spectator. The lii'st year he had the assistance of the aticrward Hon. Georji>c <'hnrchill, a practical ]irinter and expeiienc( d wiiter. Mil ,., he met at St. Louis. Mr. Churchill I'ctired at the end of ii ■ 1' to his farm near lOdwardHville, wheic he livetl until tpiite »! ..ently. Hooper Warren was a bold, abh', and vij;()rous writer, and did mu(!ii to «lefeat the slavery schemes in l.SLM. In ISLT), he •Piiper ri-nd before the Chicago Hist. Society, by W. H. Urown In 1800 23 3."i4 IIISTOKV OV ILLINOIS. sold (»ii( to tlic Ikt'V. Tlioiiiiis liippiiicott iiiid .Ii'irciiiiali Abltof. Mr. Will It'll iiltciwanl started iicwspaiH-is in various plact's in tlic Stale. 1)111 iicxcr with the success tliat liis al»ilit\ promised. Ill Septeiidier. ISL'l', \\n"'SI((r a/' tlic Wcsf" was started i)\ a .Mr. Miller and sons, also at Mdwardsville. 'I'liev had just coiik; I'roin re;iiis\ l\ ania with a jucss and iiialerial, seeiuny a location. At ICdwaiilsN ille, while sloiJpiiiyoN cr iii.;;ht. liiev were persuaded l»v the opponents of .Mr. NN'arreii, to unload and set up their i)ress. lie remarks, "we had a lively rime for a leu months, when the: '•Shd'"' went (low ii." They sold in Ajuil, ISl*.'). t(» 'I'lioiiias d. Mt;- (iiiire tS: Co., w hoelian.m''lic((ii Aiirociilc, at KasUask'a, which was the orjian of the Itro-eoiiveiitioli jiarty diiriiiu the contest. In ISUd. at (ialeiia. on the 1th of duly, was issued the (irst niiin- l>ei' of the Minrrs' J(H(rii<(L h\ .lames .loiies. In hS.'lL', he sold to Dr. I'liillio, when its name was clian,y('d to (idUiiUin. In the winter of lSL'(»-7, Hooper Warren estalilislied the Sun- (liiiiio SjKvtiitor at Spiin;;tield. Mr. Warren says (letter to the old settlers' meetiii,i;- of Sangamon county. Octoliei', l.S.V.t), "it was hut a small alfair. a medium sheet, worked \\\ myself al(Uie most of the time." It was transferred to S. C. Mt-rreditli in ISL'S. In the. latter year was start( d at Mdwaidsx ille, the I llinoi.s ('(irrcctoi; and at Kaskaskia, the h'l'iHililivnii. In lSi:!» was estalilislied liie UnUna Ailrertiser, by >.'eAvhall, I'liillio tS: Co. The Alton SiHctator was t'slalilished aliont l.SdO, hy ICdward IW'cath. The Tclciirapli wa.s estalilislied hy Parks and Treadway, the latter transferrinji' his interest in a short time to .Mr. Uailliaehe, who wuss its principal editor lor many years. In Is;!!, Simeon I""raiicis estalilislied at Sprin.nlicld. tln^ Saiifiioiin •foiiriKd, which he continued to edit until IS,")."), when he sold to liailhaclie and IJaker. In Cliiea;;«i, on tlie 2(itli of November, IS."..'!, was issued the first number of the DniiDcnif, luiblisbed by John Calhoun, wldcli was the lir.st news- paper there. IJterature and Literati. — The literature of Illinoi.s, prior to IS.'JO, aside from mer<' jiolitieal aitieles in the newspapers, often well and forcibly w ritteii, was ediiliiied to few hands. AVe will here mention the ])roniinent <'arly literati of Illinois, il/o/r/i Birbcclc^ an I']n,ulisliman, whom we have noted as settlinji' a colony in Ed- wards county, ill IS,")."), wrote home sketches of t-onsiderable merit re.t;ardinji' tlu' adsanlajit's of Illinois, which I'eeeived a wide iiub- lication and were afterwards collected in book form. He aecpiired considerable cehdirity as an author. I>i\ LiicisC. /itW.- wrote the \ alual)le and well known (ia/etteei° of Missouri and Illinois, which ill iSL'.;, was published in book foiiii. Jmlfic JaiuiN Hall was a riiiladelphian, born 17JK5. He settled in Illinois about iSlS. lie had been a soldier in the war of bSlL', having' participated under Scott in the battles of Chippewa, Niajiara and Fort Erie, and been with Coniniodore Decatur to Algiers. At I'itt.sburyh, iu 1817, he EDWAlMiS' ADMINISTRATION. oi}<) cotiiplctcd liis liiw sliidics. r(»si,uii<'ooters, wiiich then inlestecl the shores of the Ohio and Mississippi, in southern Illinois, and which doiil»tless i'ui'nished him many an incident ont of which to \\ea\'e ins '••IJoi'dei' Tales.'' At \'aiidaii:i he started the flliiiois Mliii M. I'rrh\ l>. I>. This distiii^^iiished liajitist divim*, ])iom*er and historian (»f Illinois, icsided tor near M> years on lii.s i'aiiii at JJelleville, kii<»wii as "l.'ock Si»iiii;i'."' He <'ame to Illinois about ISL'O. There was no man in all the west who traveled, lec- tured or wrote so much as lie. diii'lny his Ion;;' life, thron.ulioiit Mliicli he was also a constant, faithful and able preacher of the .H'ospel. He was the founder in ISU7, of the '"Kock Spriiiii' tlieo- louical seminary and hiiiili scliool." and became its ])rofessor of christian theolo^iy. .lohn .Messin^cr was ]>rofessor of matheinatics .11.. I ti.ifiii-.il i.liil.w.iiilii- Mil. I l.>..\' l.i^'liii.i I'i'.i.lK' •.I'iiK.iiwil If tiuiiM laiiiier, .>ioiiM i ro;;re>i.>s oi iii«. ^uis.si.sMjipi > aney, jjiiu oi liev. .leieniiali \^)rdenian, kv.\ but the work which will transmit liis name to posterity the loii^-est is his re\ ision and enlar^^cineiit of the "Annals of the West," by .las. H. Perkins. It evinces iiMicli research and contains a veiy accurate history of the iioitli- Avcst. We are c<»nsi(lcrably indebted to it in the i»rei»aration of this work. John Russell, a nativ<' of Vci'niont, after niariiaj;'e in 1819, removed west, and a few years later settled in (Jreeii county, at lUntV Dale, a beautiful and romantic site not far from tlie Illinois liver. .Much of his life was spent as a professor in various <'olle{iPS ill the west. He was a pi'ofessor at an early day iii Shuitletf colleii'e. a ])rofound sciiolar and chaste and eleuaiit wrilei', but his jiroducticnis were not voluminous. Like many authors before him, he was uiiol»trusive with his talents. He led a (piict and re.ired life in his western hoiue, but was ever an indc- [i'iCi niSTORV OF ILLINOIS. fiitij;;il)l<' stii(l<'iit. His litci'aiy iiiorcciiiis were ol'trii set alloiit \vitli(»ut tlic aiitlini's iiiiiii*'. Dr. I'cck sold a iiinmisciii)t fof liiiii in the cast, a iiia<;ii/iiie aiti<'I(' called "Tlie l>ej;('iid of tlie Piasa," represent in j;' a teiril»le bird of pi'c.v, wliieli t'casicd on the Indians, nndei' an injunclion not t(» disclose the writer's name. It attracted eonsideralvle atten- tion, and was afterwards translated into French, as orij^inal. Dr. Peck c.Npost'd the plaj^iarisni, to the ;:reat inortilication of the l"'renchnian. who resided ii> Anieri«-a. One of I'lof. Ifussefs fn;;itive pieces, called the "\'en(tnions Worm," j^ained a wide cele- brity, l)einride to read from an accurate obseiver of the ])eriod: '' ri> U) the year 18t(t, lean say Avith perfect truth, that considerations of mere l)arty, men's con- descensions, ajireeable carriaoe and professions of friendship, liad more intluence with the on^at body of the people, than the most imi)ortant public services."t IWit it is more humiliatinj; to confess tliat these <'onsiderat ions play to-day no less a part than they ;ence of the masses. The masses did not expect that, nor did thc' i»nblie serviints think or study how, {iovernment miolit '.ic made et»nducive te the elevation (»f the pe(>i>le. To advance the civil condition and hap- piness of society was an object foreion to the puiposcsof le;^isla- tioii. Government was tolerat<'d. and its forms and reon <;(>vernnienta' alVaiis bnt littlo tlion.i,f|il was bestowed. Wlien aioMsed to the e>ereise of tiie ;4i'eat |)ri\ ile^eof tlie cilizeii — the elect i\e tVaiieliise — l)y interested deiil- JiJi'ojiiU's, no otlier consideiatioii entered into the act tliaii to either favor a iVioid oi- pniiisli ai enemy. This indilleienee. so unworthy of the eiri/eii. I'edonnded In the advantage of the active and diii- .H'ent |)lace liiiiiteis. in that i' pernntted tiu'iii, witliont molestation or e\])osure, to j»erlect their " pipe la\ in.i;'' Ibi' the jtai'tition of ^•ovenniH'nlal ..atrona^c. TJm'j'c weie no ureat j»olitical questions todividethe )ii'o])le prioi' to ls;{L.*-;5. I'olities wei'c ])ersonal. and snlfra.i,'e, was bestowed, not with I'eyard l(» jjnblic welfare, bur as a matti'r of ])ersonal favor. In sn<'li eii'ctions, tin' l»allot system, which in deJisei' po))idations aHbids the greatest independence to the votei- in eliciting' his trne intent, was hei'e )>rostitnted to don1)ie-dealinjj; and dissininlation. Out of it ijrew what was known as file "Ueep dark l>oon'' systenj, in which were saeriticeeoi»le, all l»rinci])les of honor and sincerity, by mutual deceptions of every lira de and (diaraeter, from whi(di the most adroit intiiyner enu'r^ed ^\it]l the .yreatest suiM-ess. i'ionns<'s of su])]ior1 uonid bi' ^•io- lateil as jreely as tJjcy were made. To cure thee\il, the legislature repealed the mod<' of votiny by ))allol at the session of ISL'S-'.I The n.st; of ardent s])ii'its was abnost a nnivc'sal custom with the j)e(>]»Ie, and •' treat in;;-," as it was called, duriiiU a political can- vass, was a shi<- tjiia )io)i to sn<'cess. Not nnfrcipn ntly candidal<',s lor oflice would uive orders to li(|Uor saloons to treat freely whoso- ever would di'ink at their eN])ense. on ceitain days, usually every ?>aturlaces the voters woniii conj;j(';;aie trom :ill ]mrts of the smroundini:' neiubborhoods on "• treating days" durin,;: the cam])ai.yn, riding in to iiathei' the news, ami not unfre- •juenl ly .ut'l d)-unk and en;^:ii" in i()U.i;h and tuiid)le li.iihts. The randidati'S, t(»o, would often )nake it upoint lobe there on these days, either tlKMiisi'Ives or by j»roxy, ami harangue the"sover- t'iurns'' upon the issues of the eamj)ai^n, in a convenient shady .yrove. the auditors, not iintretpu'iitly interspersed with ladies, .seated about on tli<'. pei'U sward. The orators woidd tlnnnler Ibrth their claims to oflice, mouuted on eomeuient waj^ous, loys, or stuni|)s of trees, lience the phrase of "•stuini) sjx'ech." The "vital (juestions of the day," discussed at these nn'etinj;s, were not , measures i)nt )n«'n, and consisted in bitter jiersonal arraijiU- nn-nts ol op))onents, oftoii his nci^lilMirV liiiid, iilhuli'd to the old ct'istom of confi'i rill)/ title liy dlncoveiy. iind tliiit ii 8iiit wns thiciiteiieil, mid rei|\iesleil my ad- vice in tlie ineiiiHes. 1 replied t hat he had eoiumltted a ti<«nasw and ndv'lsed hiV.i to <.'(Mn|)i()iuis«' the alValr. llelefi the oHii elii hJKh dudL'eon, sayitisfas he was departliijf, '• til is eoii'itrv I? uiMtlnii too d-d ii\ h/id I'o'- me; I II iiuiUe t I'm jis lor Oregon, or some other count I- \, wliei-e the idd iiiotii'ii can (ret .)iielice " Mr. Itia kwcdl was, with other works, the anihor ol' " lli lekwell on Tax 'I'it les." an exeelleiit standard treat ise. ludit In hipli esteem tliroiifrhniit the I'liited Stales, lie was a nati\ e I lliiioisari and self ■•jiide iniin. endowed with line intellectual powers, tie diedal ChieaL'o, in l.sii:!, at the early a»re iif MS yeiirs. His early life was an e\am|ile to tlie yoiiiii;- a d aspiiiinr his mid Ueaue a moiiiiment to t-ulf iiiailc-ulory, iiiid liis early deal Ij a warning: to all.— ciii- ciiKo Journal.l SoS IIISTOIJY OF ILLINOIS. liorscs, .s reeling lidiii tlic iii- HiUMicc ol" liquor, liii/.zaliin;^ aiitl veiling lor tiicii' liivtirih- ciiiuli- (latcs, iiiiil ui'oiillili^-. ciirsiii;; :iiiil licijit iiii; tlic o|)|Mi.sit ioli.* 'I'lic pioneers in nil |>;iils of tlie Siiile exeicised ii yrcat iiillu- f-liee ill llie eleeliolis. TlicN were here liist , elailiied sii|ieiior pliv- ilej^c on liiat aeeonnt, wliieli was inosllv ac«*onle(l to tliein, and Iviiew \\<'ll every sultsetineni e<(nier. Thev were nnlortunatelv in «(Mne instane(s not only extremely i;iin»rant. Iinl ^oNcnied Itesides by passionate prejudices, and opposed every pnldie policy wliicU looked to the elevation of society; and Iheinlescendants in nniny cases at an early day, were no inipr(»venienl on their pi'otol_\ pes. They were, as a ride, brave in personal cond tats and brawls, and had a'piiipensity to indnl;^c intheni. Theyarrayed Iheniselves in luicU- skin breeches, leather nntccasins, raccoon caps and red luintini; sliirts belted al the waist, in which they carried a la r;ie knife, Mhencethey were denominated •• Uutclier lioys." When pioi-laim- in;; their bra\ery, a proceedin;; id' whii-li they were not chary, they woidd swear that they were "half horse and half allij^ator," ineanin;^' that it was impossibU- to o\fr<-ome them in ('(Hnlial. The inlliU'nce of tiiis«'lass was mncli courted hy candidates, ami with tlii'se and their peculiar chai'acteristics thrown in the scale, succi'ss "was no doui»tfnl i«'snlt.t •' Like people, like |»ries|" — pidtlic sci\ants under any luiin (d* piveruinent ultimatel\ rellect thecharacter of t lie ,>eople, for tliey Jii'c of the people. In the lej;islature, while the ;;eneral interests of the ]>(>ople received but little attention, all manner of cold a hundred times without knowini; it, said he '-reany did Iteliesc that some in- tn;;ue had been ^oin^ lui.'' So little are honest men aware of the necessity of keepinji" tlu'ireyes open, in sleepless watchfulness, or otherwise, a few will nnuiopolize all the adsantajies of jiovern- inent, and it will becbuu- in the most unfiiir and corrupt nmnm-r. '' (lo(»(l laws badly adndnistered with the tacit acciuiesenee of the ])eople, cannot reform any <;<)\ ernim-nt. The virtue of the \»eoi)le sl.oidd both demand and entbrcethem. Militia. — The nMlitiii system was an important feature «>rtant suul (>n<>r(ms. ])urinji" tlu' loiiji i»eaee whieii tlur country en)o.\ ed between the uar «tf iSlli and that with Mexico in 1SK», it is not to l>e won- » Ford's Hist. tFora'sHlat. KDWARDS' ADMIMSTUATION. nr.o ♦Icrcd, as tlin systrm also licciiinc iho, roininoii tarji'ct of iimcli wif- tii'isiii and i'i(ii(Mil*>, tliat it It'll iiiidcr rcproiirli and idtinndcly into disuse. V<'t it is not nnr('asoiial)lt' to assert, tiiat it' a viyoi'ons inililia system iiad all the tinu' heeii niainliiined up to the hreak- inu' out of the late i-el»ellioii, |)eilia|ts uiau,\ oi'llie iieadiouy- (iaseos ol' the Union forces in the earl.v part of thai war woidd lni\e lieen axoided, and pr(»l»ald.v a year of the war — expended in peilectin;^' and diilliiiii' the soldiery — sa\cd l»esides. 'I'iie niilitar> system of I'lussia, wliieli in the late war with l''iaiiee has liron.i;ht tliat country forwai'd as the vciy tiist military powei' of tlie world, is nothing hilt the militia syslein in its ])erfeetion. \\liile the sys- tem of tinit eonnlr,\ has demonstrated it to he tlie best, i| is also l>y far the eheajiest mo(h^ of maintaining;' a slandini^' army, for which it hecomes to a ji'i'eat extent a siil>stitiite. I!iit notwith- iStaiidiii^' its |»erfection in that country, Ainerieaiis coiihl nevrr i»e Ju'oii.Liht fully to siil>niit to its de|M'ndeiil and oiieroiis duties, and it will, jtei'iiaps, never obtain any considerable foothold where, tlie jfovernment is not strongly centrali/ed. Diiriiii,' the territorial existence of lllimtisthe militia proved a valiial)le auxiliary to the defence of the coiiiilry, in re|)ellin;^- hos- tile sava;,fes and aflbrdin.y protection to the froiiliei' settlements. The law was substantially the siime as that of iSj'.t, from which we subjoin a synopsis. It contained e«piilai>le provisions tor dr;ift- iiij^' or (M)nseription — a drafted militiaman was known as a "foi-ced voliMitecr." From the militia spriin,!^', it may l>esaid, the mounted raiiuei-s of that jtei-iod. An early law jtassed at N'ineeiines. iin- ]»oiled for Illinois Ity llie i^ov criior and jinl.u<'s. and siiliseqiieiilly adopted by the territorial le;L;isliiiiire. prohiltited all commisioiied olticei's, except justices of the peace and militia ollicers. from serviii.ii' in either house of tin' lejiislatiire. This placed the road to political ))i-e ferment in a nianner in the hands of the militia, reii- deriufj it very obnoxious to other onie,e-holdiiioueli and ])owd('i'-horn with 1-4 lb. powder, and 21 balls .suited to the bore of his ritle; and <'Very enrolled peison wlieii ciilled on shall so appeal' armed, aceontered and pro\ ided. except when called to exei'cise by companies, battalion oi' regiment, w lien lie may appear without kiia])sack or blanket. Field and stall' (dlicers, rankinif as eommissioned otlicers, shall be armed with sword or lian;i<'r and a ]>air of pistols. Company ollicers with stiflieient sword or lian,i;<'r. Otlicei's were to furnish iiieir respec- tive commands as follows: The colonel to each battalion a stand of colors, with the number of the battalion, leyiineiit. Iniuade and 300 IIISTOUV (»1" I ILLINOIS. division iiisciilHMJ (licrcoii. Tiic (taptiiin was lo I'liriiisli Iiis (•diii- ])iiiiv witii (Iniiii and lil'c; i'(';^iniciital dniiii and lite iiiajor.s 1(» riiniisli tlii'iiiscivi's, witli iiislriiiiit'ids of iiiitsic, Tiio ollic'i'is wt'iv to be ri'-indaiisrd lor tin'.sc articles out of til*' rc;:;iiiu'iital fund (lines and |)(-nalli«'s) n|i(ni tiic oidrr of tilt' rc.uinicntal itoanl — a sli'iidci' cliaiicc. 'I'lic ciitirt' niiiilia of lilt' State was apiHutioned iiili> divisions, l»rij;ades, rei^i- nieiits, haltalioiis aniii|ianies ; ail It) take rank wlien in tin; lieitl, a;^real»l\ tt» llie date of tlie foinniissioiis ttf tiu' oflieers in eoiiiMiaiitl. Kat'li tlivision was enlitled It) its inajor-jicneral, with division iiispectoi' ami aitls; eaeli Ini.uaile lo a hriuatliei'-;^t'n»'ral, niajoi', and aitl tle-eaiiip who was also jiid^t' ath tteale and t)nailer- mastei'; eaeli re^iinenl It) a etilonel, lieutenant t'olonel. niajtir, sni'- {;'eon. sm';j,('oii"s male, atljnlanl (ex-ttllicio clerk), tjiiailermasler. ser- ;;('an;, thiim-majoi'antl life-inajoi'. Tlie snpeiior olliceis appointed tlieir siihortliiiales, ami their ranks weif delinetl acctatliiij;- to lln; U. !S. ariii.N rej;idatitins. The I'tniipanies electetl their captains ami lieiilenanls, antl these ai)pt)inte(l tlieir subalterns. The ollieers must he eili/ens of Hie ('. S. and this State, and take an oail. to support the consi itntions t»f liolh. The re};imeiiis, ballalions and companies ch'cled their respective superior tillicers, ■who were commissioiietl by the j;t)vernor. The j;t)veriior, by virtu(^ of his otlice, was commamlerin-chief. I'rovision was made for one conijiany of artillery ami t)ue of cavalry or Irottp of h(»ise to each re^iimeiit. liy voluntary enrollmeiil. In llie same manner ii company of rillemeii. jirenailier.s or lij;lit infantry, mij;lit be raised ill tlie battalions; all of whicli were lo et|uii» antl uniform tliem- .selves in manner fully poinletl out. They were to appoint their ollieers in a manner siudlar to the lirst-menlit)ned. C'omi»anies M'cre re<[uiretl to muster ar limes yearly, on Ihe^ first Satunlays of A[iiil, .Iiiiie. Auj;iisl ami October; ami also the lirst lialtalioiis of each first rejiinjent, tni the lirst ^Mondays in April; the lid on the succeeding' Wednesdays; the Isl battalion of the lid regiments on the sncceetlin;:,' iMitlays ; and the I'd battalion of the lid re^i. anents on the succeedinj; Mondays in each and every year. liej;i- meiital musters were [)rovided for similarly to theal)t)ve, in Septem- l)er of each year. The e\(>liitioiis and exercises were to be con- dnctetl ajireeably to the military discipline of the armies of the I'. S. In athlition to these times tlu' ctimiminders of re<;iuieiits, ballaliiuis or companies, were empowered to call their respective ctdiimands out to muster, as '•' in their opinituis the exij;ency ol the case may retpiire." The brijiadier-ycnerals were reeatept'r ('(piipmeiils, were to be duly notetl, for which fiue.>^; and tdr- leiliires were to be assessetl by courts-martial, ranj^ing as follows: privates from oO cents to 551 oO; commanders of divisions for neg- lect of any duties enjoined, from $20 to .t!l'(K) ; commanders (d' brig- atles, for disobetlience of ortlers or any tlutics enjoined by law, from $lo to $150; of regiments from $10 to $100; of battalions ii'um $8 to $80 ; of comi>anies from $5 to $oO. fathers w eve liable EDWAKDS' ADMIMSTUATION*. mi for tlic tines of tlu'ii' iiiiiioi sons, •{'iiiirdiiuis Ibi' their wards, aixl luiisters lor tlieir apprentiees. Kxeniiion was t(» issiH' ni)on (lie lin(linj;s ol'tlie eouits martial, directed to the liaiids of eonstalties to l»e levied as in other eases. Tiie lieutenanljiON criioi', Jiidiics of the supreme and eiifiiit courts, atlorne,v-;;'eMeral, licensed ministers of the (iospel, and jailois, were, in addition to tliose by the laws of 'he T. S. <'X- enipted from ndlitia dntv. i-'roni time to time acts were also ])asscd for the relief of Diinkaids, (^Miakei's, and othei' reli;;ioiis jK'rsons coiiseientionsly scrni>nlons a^^ainst heariiij*' arms. I>y net of .lan.L'l, ISi;i,siich persons were I'elieved lt\ [>ayinj;' ><."> each toihe sheriff, and the entry of tlieir names with a statement of their scru|»k'.s, with the assessor of the county, ihit when detachments of militia for actual service wei'c i-e(piired. they like others, wen* li(»t exempt from the tours of duty, liut nii.i;ht icspdud by siiloti- tute like others. 'J'lie militia^ was liable to 1m; called into actual service at any tinu; for the space of three months on the r«'(pnsition of the Ivveeutive of IIma U. S. in actual or Ihicateued invasion of this or nei^idior- in^' State's or territories; tor which purpose the nundter rccpiired were to bo distributed amonji' tin; classes (into which eomi>aiues were to be foi'mcd), one man to be furnished by \ olunteeriui; or draft out of each class ; classes mi;;hl furnish siibstitides. 'I'iio j>overiior could exempt the militia IVoin a call into a(;tiial service, in such frontier settlements as in I lis opinion tlieir safety re( pi i red de- fence, and make such fiirt her pro\ isioii as t he eiiieriii'iicy demanded. \\ Idle in actual service the militia was to be subject to the same rules and n-niilatioiis as the armies iA' the V. S., and to receive the same i)ay, lations and fora^i'e ; but theii' transgressions were to be tried and deteriidned by a court-martial of militia (»tlicers only. This is but a very brief outline of some of the main features of the militia system of Illinois. The law contains many sections and is a very lonu one. Whih; the reijuirementsof tlu' militia system in times of profound peace, without the stimulant of a common dan,ii('r to aid in tliedis- eliarj;«> of itft oneidiis duties, were perhaps dull and irksome, it nevertheless atfoi'ded to many a bnddiiij; ainbititui ibr the "bub- ble r«'piitation at the caiimurs mouth." "that swelliiij; of the heart you ne'er can feel a^ain, while with fearless hearts thouj^h tired liiid)s, [theyj Ibiijiiit the mimic fray." The military titles of ^^eneral, colonel, «S:e., of many of our jjublie men of the period, from 1812 to 1840, were mostly of militia oriyin, and had little other s i Jill iti can (H'. The militia system was much the same in all the States ; and to come down to a later period the people abhorred it. ISnt le-^isla- tiires were unwillinji' to distuil> ihe lime lumored hiw, which in many instances had been the means to oriuinally briuj;- them per- haps into ]>romiiience. ibit the shafts of wit and ridicule were liuiied at it with such effect as to inak(; it exentiially siiccumb. The meiiiorable attack of Tom Corwiii in the Ohio lejiislature, by his (icle rated *•' water melloii siieech," is familiar to every school- boy. 11 w it fell into disuse all over Illinois, we do not prereiid to recount, but we gleau the following account of the means used 3f{2 niSTOUY OK ILI-INOIS. to l)iiiij>' it into coiitciiipt in one place, IVoiii ii spcccli (»f Mr. liiii- (;olii : '• A iHiiiiltt'i' of years ••y:o the aiililia laws of (liis state letiiiired that the iiiililia sImhiIiI ■ ii at slale)ltil ('t(ii(li. Eiclnij (lorrninr for 1.") flai/s. Ill Aiiiiiisl, IS.'IO. iiiiotlM-r tiiili:'riiii((>ri;il clrctiiwi \v;is t(» hike pliiro. 'J'Ih- cMiKlidjilcs wdf W'illiiiiii l\iiiiicv, llicii liciilciiiiiit p>\riii()r, iiiid .loliii K'cviiolds. roiiiii'ilv one of tliti iissociiitc Jiistict's of tliC! siipiciiM' ruiiit. l)()lli of the (loiiiiiiMiit iiiiity. SiiK-c ISi'd. tlio ,l;iclisoii piii'ty li;i(l hccii rcjiiiiiiit in liotli lioiiscs of the .uciicral iissciiii»lv. 'I'lic o|>|M»siiioii. oi' Miiti .liicUsoii iiit'ii, l>roii;nlit forward ito ciiiMlidiitr for j;()\('riioi' at lliis cU'ctioii ; tlicy were in a iiopr- l(ss minority. In Illinois i)ai1y |)iinri|»I('s had not taken deep rool, nor were tlicy as yet well defined aiiywliei-e hy the position of presideiil riaekson. Those who weie ai'deiitly and nneoiiipro- iiiisiiij,Hy attached to the fortunes of (len. .laekson, weiv deiioinina- t('ht its rudiments by his wife. I>y unwearied a])plication he became remarkable for intellijjenee and business capiKtity. Shortly after iiis early marriage, contracted with a most estinial)]e lady, he removed to a farm a short distance mntheast of Belleville, and hefore long Mr. VonlMiul, of St. Louis, induced liim to engage in merchandizing. He brougiit his first 'Itoynolds' Life and Tiinos. 303 .%. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / '^ :/. • //// ^^ 4 1.0 I.I 2,2 1^ 1^ •** 140 1^ 2.0 1.8 11.25 11.4 11.6 ''/a ^ //, W 7 e^/M ^0^* ;;> .<^ '/a It O' *%^"/ i-^ '/ SG4 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. stock of goods IVoiii St. Louis, at out' load on liorschack. He pros- ])cr('d as a nicrcli.iiit. bccaiiit' an cxtciisix (^ tradci', and acciiimda- tcd a rortiinc. Filiidy iinpivsscd with religions convictions, lie eai'ly became a mendter of tlie ba)>tist clinrcii, and afteiwaid forcibly )»reached tlie faitli of that denomination of christians. ]Ic lrc(|iH'ntly had the honor of a seat in the legislature wheie he Avas noted for close attention to business. He was of a- social ur|)ose in electioneering. He was regarded as one of iiie best ]»oIitical canvassers in the State, pos- sessing uniionndcd energy and great and)ition. \\'ith his strong ]»artisan bias he, associated a rare Jovial and witty pleasantry, which made him very acceptable in his intercourse with the peo- ple. Notwithstanding his clerical calling, which he did not lay aside while in (pu'st of ottiee, he availe(l himself fully of the woildly jnactice of those days in elections, by "treating" \\itli intoxicating li(|nors, as did all other candidates, it was wittily n'lnarkedof liim that he was invincible, betiause he went forth to the contest "arnu'd with the sword of the Lord and the spirit." Tel with al) these I'avoi'able traits, he was not sulliciently guarded dniing the canvass in his sarcastic ntterances, which were canght; up and distoited by his enemies, to his disadvantage. His strong (lenomiiiational iti'cjndiccs and clerical calling, induced him oc- i'asiunali\ to beiate other churches, which hediseoNcred from the drift of tilings to be arrayed against him, often fntm no other than seciarian motives. He also ariayed himself in oi)position to thu i-anal, then mnch belbi'c the j)nblic, not on account of its inlriesic or j)nblic value, but because that great improvement would send ji tide of '•Yankee" emigrants to the State, which he and his ultra ]»artisaiis affer'ted to despise ever since the defeat of the jiroposi- tion to introduce slavery into the State six years belbic. 'fhese jsentimeiits, inconsiderately expre.ssed, did him much injury in the campaign. His opjimu'ut, John K'eynolds, was born in I'cnnsylvania. in 17SS, ol' Ii'ish parents, who I'emoved to Tennessee while he was an infant, and to Jllinoisin ISIH). in early manhood young Ueynolds returned to Tennessee, where lie received a "classical education," as he asserts in his ••Life and Times," but Cor this assertion no one would evei' have snsi»ected it, either from his conversation, public addresses, or writings. He was reared among a frontier ])eople, ami imbilied their ehara<'terislics of nmnners, customs, and speech — disliked polish, coiiten.ned fashion, and wasaddided tt> inordinate i>rofanity, all of which attached to him through life, of none of which he took any pains to dixcst himself, and mucdi of which is said to have i)een alfecled, which we doubt. These, garnished by his varied reading, a uali\e shrewdness, and a won- deilnl faculty ol" gariulity, make him, considering the high olliees to which he attained, one of the jiublic oddities in the annals of Illinois. J lis imagination was fertile, but his ideas were poured ibrth regardless of logical se(pu'nce, evidencing his Milesian Itlood. lie had an extraordinary, disconn«'(!ted sort of memory, and possessed a large fund of detached I'acts relative to the eaily selliementof St. Clair and liandolph counties, which are cndxtd- ied by him in a work entitled the " IMoneer History of Illinois," REYNOLDS' ADMINISTRATION. 305 and iirc in the main coiTcct and valnablc, tlion^li badly ananjicd.* lie was tall (»r stalnrc; liis face i»»n,S, however, he refused to foll(>w the lead of Douglas, but sielleville. May, l!^V)~>. lie left no will, and his fine property descended to his wife, who survived him but a few months, lie Lad no children by either of his wives. During the ]>olitical (campaign, Keynolds professed great admi- ration for the character of Jackson, though he was not accounted idtra enough by the real Jacikson men who denounced him as an '•outsider." lie and his competitor made a thorough canvass of the Sfat«', and ])arty excitement ran exceedingly high. .Much jiersonality entered into it, and bitter reproaciiies were indulged by the partisans of the respective candidates. The press was loaded with abusive articles on both sides, and hand-bills were scatteied ).i()adcast, cctntaining distorted reiioits of the speeches of tlu' can- didates, and all sorts of scandalous charges. After a wearisomw campaign of near 18 numths, Keynolds was elc, ^ed gov«'rnor. Ibit with regard to the <'lection for lieutenant governor, the same result did not obtain ; it was the same as four years before. llig(h)ii IJ. Slocumb was on the tictket with lieynohls, and Zadock Casey with Mr. Kinney. Both candidates for lieutenant govi-rnor •Ho writes : "In the yenr 1794, the Morrison family emiprrafed to Illinois. They were talented, industrious, and beciune very wealthy. In tlie same year the hoi-se flies were very bad, and of these the greeu headed tly was the worst. '^ 3G(] HISTORY OP ILLINOIS. Avciv, ;;<'iitl('iii('ii of sti'iliiij;- wortli, cliariich'r niid ability. Slocmnb AViis iiiiiiscd to tlic not iiiicoiiiiiioii ac('oiii|ilisliiiiciit of tlic Aiiu'i'i- caii ]i(>liliciaii. |)iil>lic, spcakiiiii'; nor did lie electioneer nineli, it is said, in any oIIut manner. Not so iM)\vevei' witii Casey; Ik; was jiifled witii the j)o\ver of cliarndnn' oiat(»iy, Aillioiij-ii lacidnj;' in tlioi()M;iii early education, by eonipi'eJM'nsive readinu' ii<' iiad stor- ed iiis mind, naturally strong', witli varied kno\vled;;('. lie had IVeciuently be«'n a member of the lej^islature, and his tine jiersonal appearance and lar^c pnblic experience jiave him distinction liironj^iionf the State. laiic his colleague, he, too, occnpied the, ]»idpit occasionally. The clerical ticket was somewhat injured by the fact that the peo|>le could not brook the worldly aspirations (»f men en^iajicd in a calliii.u so militant to honors that perish ; but this objection did not cMend to b»ith .gentlemen, for Casey was elecied. (iovciiior ( asey possessed in an eminent dej^ree the eom- mandinji' tact of i»residinji' over a deliberative body. In his messajic, (iovernoi- lleynolds invited atteidion to the sub- ject of education, internal impro\('inent and {he canal; nr.ued that congress be memorialized to imi>rove ChieajiO harbor; recom- nu'nded three pnblic hiiihways, c(nnnn'ncin,ii' i'es]»('ctively at ( 'airtt. Shawneetown. and on the l()wer Wabash, all to terminate at the lead mines; the completion of the ixMiiteiitiary ; winding; up of the olut the }i«>vernor refused eon>|)liance, and would neitlu'r remove nor remtnnnate him. lie rein)nunated Henry iMldy, Sidiu'y Ureese. Thonms Ford, and Alfred ('(^vles. who had been ellicient and acceptable prosecuting attorneys, but as they had opposed the election of Kinney, the senate rejected them and turned all out (»f oflice. exccjjt Thomas Ford. They were aji'ain nominated and ajiain i'«jected; but alter tile adjonrmnent .of the lejiislature, the "."overnor icappointed them. He succeeded in liavinj; his choice of treasurer, .bdin De- ment, conlirmed by the senate. ])em'ent was an idtra .lacksou man, but had sup]>ort d Weynolds. The incundtent .ludj^c .lames Hall, desired to bi' retained in the oflice; and althoujih an anti- , Jackson man, he had, as editor of the Illinois IntdliiU'iurr, with niiicli |»(»wei', snpported Kinney; but this tailed t(» avail him. That curious |)olitical posture would indicate both as|»irants to the treas- nrership to have been jioverned in theii- course more by the hoj»e of ol1ic(^ than by party i)iincii)les. JJut that is a weakness m>t l>ecnliarto those days alone.+ Amou^' the measures jiassed at the first lej^islative session of Ikcynolds' adndnistration nniy be noted the adaptation of the crim- inal code ti> the |»enitentiary system. Hut thenntst notable measure of this session was the passaj;e of the act jtrovidiii}'' for the "Kevnohis' Life and Times. +Hull, us Trt'iisuror, was lii urreers with luStttte. jfoiii! REYNOLDS' AD>nNISTRATION. 3G7 r<'(l('ini)ti()ii of the notes of llic old State baiilc, wliidi would liiatmc duriiin' the curiciit ycai'. The notorious "Wi;.v.i;iiis loan " of >( 100,000 was autlioiizt'd, and if that provi'd insullicicnt to rc'di'ein the out-staiidin}^' notes, tlie residue was to 1)e refunded by issuinj;' State st<»cks l)eaiin,u' (5 per centum annual interest. This siK'cdily raised the credit of the State and advanced its currency to i)ar. But while tlie liiuuicial standiu};' of the State was tlins ])reserved, the honoral)le inend)ers who actively authoiized it, it is said, sank beneatii the waves ot' |»oi»nlar iiidij^nation, never to rise, ajiiiin as jioliticians, '^h(^ value of a financial character for the younj; Stat«'. oi' the dis<;race of repudiation, was not duly appre- ciated by the ))eople, DenioyojiUes availed themselves of this and jjroclainu'd to the jteople that their I'eprcsentatives had corruptly betraye(l theii- interests, and sold out them and the State to \N'i,ii- jtins for judjnerations to come. The mend)ers i'omisinj'- buds of incipient statesmen. It is left for us at this day, who look back with swcUiiifi' pride t(t the fact that our Stat" has emer;^ed from eveiy imi>eudin,i; financial crisis with her {garments unsullied, to a])preciate the merits of their act, only veyrettiuj;' that they did not boldly defend their course ami hold up to publict ,s( ()rn tlu' unprincipled demayojiues who inflamed the peoi)le to the contrary.* The United States census returns of IS.'JO showed a ]>o]>ulatiou for Illinois of ir>7.44r>, and in accordance therewith the State was appcutione.d into three cont;ressional districts. ("[> to this time the State had had but one represeidative in the lower house of congress. A siX'cial eh'ction foi'oue conjiTcssman wasordered foi- Auj^ust JH.'U, at wiiich .Jo.sei»h I >nm'an was elected; but for the general election of Auj^ust IS.'Ji', iiud excry two years thereafter — it bein,y' jjrovided that coujfressmen should be elected one year and overprior to taking' their scyts — three ineiidK'rs were to be elected. Joseph Duncan, Zadock Casey (the lieutenant {>overuor,) and Charles Slade were elected. In his message to tlie'sessiou of the general assembly of ]8;J2-3, goveru(n' lieynolds stated the ordimiry receipts iido the treasiuy tor the two years endiny Xo\e)nl>er 30th, IS32, to be in lound numbers, .$102,000; the cunent e.\|>enses of the State government for the same jteriod, were, in round inuubers. !*!tO.OOO. This indi- cated a healthy condition of tlu' Stat(; finances, when it is considered that the IJlaek Hawk war oeeuired during this period. The. e.\i)enses of that war amouidingto some two million dollars,! were however assiuned by the general gov(»rnnient. At this session the first earnest efforts were nnide to build railroads; several charters were gianted incor])oiating railroad companies, but no stock, it is said, was ever subscribed to any of tiiem. It Avas proposed to build a lailroad from Lake .Alichigan to the Illinois river in place of the canal ; surveys for the Northern (!ross road (now tlie T. W. & W.,) and for the Central, from Peru to Cairo, were also pro[)o.sed. • •Ford's History. tBrowii's Ulinols, 355. 3fi.S HlsTOUY OF ILLINOIS. r)iit tlic most iibsdibiiij;' topic, of this session \v;is the iiiipciicli- liu'iit trial of Tlicoidiilus W. Siiiilli. oiic of the associjitc judges of tlic siiiu'ciuo (M)tiit. I'ctilioiis imiiicroiisly signed were rcccixcd by the lioiisc clmi'iiiii;^' liiiii witii inistlciiicaiiors in onicc, TIki lioiisc \(>t('(l seven articles of inipeaclinient, wiiieli were tians- iiiitted to the senate for trial. Tlie lirst three related to the eornii)t sales of cii'cnit clerkships; he had anthori/ed his son, a minor, to bar,i;ain otf the oHict' in Madison connly, l»y hiiin- mitlinii' to Jail, in .Mont^.i'omery connly, a (^naUer who entertained conscientious scrui)li's apiinst removiiiJi; his hat in open court; 7th, for decidinji" an agreed case between the sheriff and treasurer of 3Iadison county without process or plcadinji', to the lu'ejudice (»f the county, rendering;' a])peal to the supreme court necessary. The senate resolved itself into a hij>h court of impeachment antl ii solemn trial was had, which lasted from January !>th to February 7th, 1S;{.'{. The jtrosecution was conducted by a committee of nian- a^i'ers from tln^ house, consistiuji' of Benjamin Mills. Murray jMcConnel, John T. Stuart, James Semple, and John DoujLrherty. The defendant was rei)resented by Sisiti(ui of the at;cused, and the excitement thereby (caused in political circles, <>ave to the trial \uuisual public attraction thronjihont the State, and duiinj;',its protracted i)endency little else was transacted by the Iciiislature. Tlie trial was conducted thron^ihout by nmrked ability ami learn- in<>'. A ji'reat number of witnesses were examined ami nuu'li documentary evideiuMi introduced. The arj^nments of counsel were of the hijihest order; and in the final sunnnin,y' np for the prosecution, the chairnmn of the house committee, Mr. Willis, (Uie of the most brilliant orators of the time, s[»oke for three days in ii strain of nnsui'passed eloscril)blin}i" concernin4, <;()vernor Keynolds was nlso elected to congress, more than a year ahead, as was tiieii the law, to succeed ]\Ir. Slade; but shortly after, the incnmbeiit died, wlieii Reynolds was also chosen to serve out his uiiexj)ired term. Accoidiii^Iy ho set out for Washin^i'ton in Xovenil)er of that yoiir to take his seat in con- j>ress, and (Ion. J-^wiii^', by virtue of his ollicc its ])resident of the senate, be(;aine j«'overnor of this Stiite for Just 15 da.Vs, when, upon the meeting of the legislature, to which lie sent liis messaj;e as iictin;jf {jfovernor, he was relieved of his exalted station by tlie governor elect, Duncan, beiny sworn into otlice. This is the only time that such a conjuncture has liapi)eiied in the history of the State. •Ford's History- fiSco Senate Journals 1833, appendix, for full proceedings of this trial. 24 Chapter XXX rr. 1S27-1S;51— lU.ACK HAWK WAR. 1. Winnehaf/o JIoNiiliticif — IiKlians uitahle to lifsist the Eucroack- mentis of the MinerH— Coalition with the ISioux — Attack on a Steamboat — Compelled to sue for r<;ace. 2. 8acN and Fo.res — lilael- Han-l; — Keohnl: — Hae Vitlanes — Inva- sion of the Slate — Militia and L'et/nlars Itroin/ht into h'eqnisition — March to the Scene of Dantjer — Black llaick conqHlled to en- ter into a Treaty of Peaee. Tlio most ficqiKMit cause of the (lifliciiltics Avliicli from tiiiio to time liave Tonnds rapidly disappearing;, endeavored to re-possess them. The Europeans met them in arms, and as the result, they lia\e been (lri\en from river to river ans, were hasteninj;' to the lead mines, and in i)assin<;' throuj;h the{!()un- try of the Winnebagoes, i)urposely exasperated them with the in- tention of i)i'ovokinjH' hostilities and securing- their lamls by way of re|trisal. The right oi' this tribe to the lands in t(a\\as, ('lii|»i»ewas ancl IVitawaltoniies, the \Vinnel»aj;(>es not Ix'in;;- included in thcf^riint. Snl>se(|iieidly, however, u war Itioke out anionji tlu'se tiiltes in re;^ard to tlicii' lespective honndaries, and in ISLT* the comniissiinicrs Vinnel>aj;(»es to the land in the vi- cinity of the Ieaa;4(»es. The sava;;'('s at lenj;th, fiiidiu;;their complaints unheeded, attempted to eject the trespassers l»y f(»rce, l>ut were thems«'lv<'s repelle of tlicir liclpicss ('ontlitioii, captiii'cd several sipiaws, and took tlieni aboard for a purpose too base *o mention. IW-fore their intoxicated hiishands Iteeaiiu' aware of the injury they iiad sustained, the boats and their s{|iia\vs weni too iUr up tin; river for pursuit, yet several liMiidred infuriate warriors now assembled with the deternduatioii of ineetin;^' out to tlie a;;;;ress(us the ni<)st severe punishment w lien they retiii'iied. In due time, tiie boats were seen deseend- iiiu the river, but th(^ crews awar*' tliat tiieir misdt'eds deserved eastijiati(»n, iiad made preparativei(> kil! ', and so many others v/ounded, it was with ditliculty that Captain Lindsey, who had char<;'e of the b(»at, ran d(»wii to flalena, and made known the hostile attack. Dire alarm at the reception of the news spread amou}; the miners, and in n short time not less than MHM men, women and ehildrtMi tied to (laleuafor protei'tion. Exa<>ji'erateenetratetl the enemy's country, as far as the portage of the Fox and Wiscitnsin, and comiielled the hostile sava}j;es t<» sue for peace. The ariny returned from I'rairie du Chieii, with 7 of their ])rinei|,*al men, amon<»- whom were lied Bird the chief of the Sioux, and Ulaek Hawk who shortly afterward beciame the insti}>ator of other and };reater disturbanc<»s. They were all thrown into prison as abettors of the murderous attack on the boat, and sutfered a long conlinement befort; they were tried. As the result of the tardy trial, some were acquitted, and others convicted, and more than a year after tlieii' incarceration executed on the <;allows. In the meantime, Ked Bird whose ])rou(l spirit could not endure the humiliation of conlinement, si<'kened and died in prison. There was associated with the latter days of his life a romantic and melancholy interest, different from the usual phases of Indian character. He had always been the favorite of his own peoi)le and np to this illicit connection with the Winnebagoes the nLAf'K HAWK WAI?. 373 nriif iiiiil iiiiiiltcriiMc IViciid of tlic whites. ITnlikc other sii\a;{0 hNnh'i's, when lii.s allies were pressed with a victorious t'on-e, lio rel'iised t(» (h'sert tiieiii. aiitl voliiiitiiiily ^''iive hiiiiseH' op t(t Niifler not' only lor his own misdeeds, iiiil tor tlie eoiiiinoii otl'eiise ol' tiie Iriiie. Chid in a roiie of skins, and hearing; a wliite tla<;, lie roth) into camp, and witii dauntless ('onra<^e and an M'..i'lou(le(| brow, ])iii('ed iiini.seif in tin* iiands of his eih>ni\. Not even tlio I'estraiiits of prison life. altlioii<^h they irnjiaiied his health, eonid oltscnre the native vi;L;(>r of liis ndnd, and when called on hy whito men all the iiohility of a j^reat savage lit up iiis niaidy feainres. Incensed at the Americans hecanse they had (h-liNcied his ccmiii- trynn'M into the hands of their enemy, he was doni)tless tin' secret insli<;ator and riding s|»irit of the war. although tlu' NViniiehiiiLroe.s committed the overt acts. 'I'his tribe now completely hundded, in a ,snhse«juent talk with the federal authorities abandoned idl their lainis sonlh of the Wis(!onsin river, to the insatiate j-i-asp of tho nanpierors. Hardly had the (listurbances of the vampiished tribe ceased be- fore the frontier inhabitants became endnoilcd in dillicnilies with the Sacs ami l"\>.\es. The lirst reco;;nilion of these Indians by the Dnitt'd States, was in a treaty cmiclnded at lM»rt, Marnier, in 17S7, by (iov. St. Clair, wherein the ^iovernnuMit i,fiiaranteed them its protection. In I.S04, (Iov. \V. II. Ilariison was insirncted by jnesident fJeltersoii to institnte ne,i,'otiations with them for tho l)nrchase of lands, ami shortly aftei'ward a treaty was ratilied with them, by which their beantifnl conidrytni IJock river was tlivested of the Indian title. A.yain in IS.'iO, a third treaty was «'iilered into, by the terms of wlii<'h they were to remove Irom the lands whi(di they had sold to the United Stal<"s, east of the Mis- sissippi, and peaceaidy retire across the rivei-. At this time, Keokuk and l>lack Flawk were the two principal chiefs of the nali(»n. The latter was born at tin' i>rincipal villa;,'*' of his ti'ilte, on Rock river, in I 7()7. I'ossessiiii;- no here- ditary lank. his chieftainship was due to the native vise(|iient lite w'th the Osajres and Cherokees, he never lost a battle. When tie war of 1.SI2, broke out between the lJiMt<'(l {States and Kn.i,daml, he offered his services t«» the .Americans, which frcMii motives of humanity they declined. He however, .soon found patrtms ainonj; the IJritish, who reuaidless of the bru- tal attrocities of savajj^e warfare, furnished his men with arms. At the instaiKM' of their meiceiiary aycnts, he siicct'cded in collect- in;; L'OO braves, and repaired to (Jreen Hay, where he nu't Col. Dixon and a, larjjfe body of Indians assendtled irom the adjacent tribes. Of th<^ interview wldch followeritish otiicer, he says: ''He received me with a hearty shaken of the hand, and presenti'd me to the other otlicers who shook my hand cordially, and seemed much pleased with my men. After I vas seated, (!ol. Dixon said : '(Jen. Black Hawk, f sent foi-you to explain what we are ;;<>in;;- to do, ami the reasons that have bronjjht us here. Your l'ji;>lish father has found (mt that the Americans want to take your country from you, and has sent me and his braves to drive them bai-k. He has likewise sent a laiye quantity of arms and ammunition, and we want your warriors to 874 IIISTOUT Ul' ILLINOIS. Join us." II*' tlifii pliKM'd ii iiH' Hit- ii Itiipri' ainst tiie Anieiieans. h'toni tins eireuni- staiiee liis I'oice was desi^unated the i'.rilisli hand. Keoknk, his risai. indike iiiin, leinained I lie iViend ol'tiie Ainer- it'ans. Not willistandiii;^ (lie insatiate l•as^ion of tiie Saes and Foxes for war, and tin' lielief that tlie.v Innl l»e»'n injincd l»> tin; ])e(>l le of tin' Inited Stales, he drew alter him a majorit.s of the nation, and thus weakened tlieen'ortsof IWaek Hawk. In *li|il«>- maey and jinl};nn'nt he was nnMc than a mat« l| for his luotlier chieftain, and as we shall see, throni^h the intliieiiee of the L'liiletl States whoxe cause he had espoused, he lu'came llu> sole chief of his |>eopIe. In accordance with the treaty sti|Mdalioiis, Keoknk and Ids fol- lowers renmined on tlie west sideof the river, llhu k Hawk, Inuv- e\er, actuated no donht parllv by |>aU'iolism, but nntslly by the ill will he entertaiiu'd toward the .Vnu-ricans ileclared all llie ju-evious tn-aties \ (»id. and in the Sprin;; of bs;il n-crossed the Mis- sissippi with his women and <'liildren and odb warriors. ICveiy ar;iunn'nt had been nseil by his most prudent advisers, to deter him from end)arkin;; in this hazardous enterprise, and even ihe authorities of Canada, with whom he bad <'unsulted, counseled liim t(» leave his village if he had sold it. Tht ;'overnment of the I'niled States, desirous of preventing bUtodshed, bore with him m l' time, hopin*; after due rcHection he wouUl al>andon his rash desi;;n. This, however, bein;^ construed as weakness, he was induced t(» believe that tin- ^t>\ernnient either (Muld not, or would not attempt his removal, lie also atfecled to believe it was an act of cowardice to abandon his villa;;*', and llius leavt' the <>raves of his fathers, to be. ruthlessly plowed up by stran;;'ers, wlnvsi- ri;;lits to the soil was of doid)tful anthoril.\. This celebrated Indian tow n was romantically sit ua ted feet in len;:th and ."i(t in breadth, constitnbid the ilwellin^is of the villa^'crs. About 7(HI acres of the adjacent prairie was sur- rounded by a fence, and the enclosed soil cultivated by the Indian Miuneii ill corn, beans, peas and s(pmshes. The place was said to be ].")(» years old. and had for (1(1 orTO \ears been the principal vil- hij;c of the Sac Nation. On the one hainl Hashed tlie broad wa- ters of the ^lissiKssippi in the ray.s of the evening;- sun, t)ii the other the rijiplinji" str<'am of l'«ick river stru;;;;led between the dark Ibrest-chul islands wiiich obstructed its channel, ilardly an in- dividual coidd be found who did not have friends and relatitin.s "whose ashes were reposing in the adjacent j^rave yards. Hither, in accordance with an immemorial custom of the nation, bereaved nLA<,'K HAWK WAR. 375 inotlit'i's, wives ami sisters ix'tionncd iiiMiiiiil |»il;iiiiii;ii;es to pny a triliille ((f respects to llicir (Icpiirtrd relatives. On these iiieliin- (•iiol.\ oee;isi(»iis lliey eiii'erilll.\ removed tiie ;;ro\viii;^ ve;;etiil loll from tiie moinids and addressed words ot° endearment to the dead, intpnrJMii' iiow lhe\ fared in the land of spirits i\nd wlio peitorinecl tlie kindly olliee -d' molliei', sisteior wife. The depttsji in;;' (d' lood on the yi'ave vo 'Mded these time honored reli<;ioiis ser\ ices. As is Msaallv tiie ease with lival factions l)ronL;lit in contact, tlie, eondnci of hoih whites and Indians admitted of censure. 'I'lie 7lh arli«'le of the treaty of ISdt piov ided that as Ion;;' as the lands which are now ceded to the I'. S. shall remain their property tho .said Indians shall enjoy the pri\ ile;;e (> miles ro\is- ions of the ti'eatv. by haxinj;' the ;;<»vernmental title to the lands pass init) the hands of ineaceably retired. l''ur- thermore, HIack Hawk ami his band, when they cross«Ml the river, not died the whit«'s that they nnist d l)y 40 ]»ersons, was sent on the .'5(>th of April, IS.'il, to the executive of Illinois, repr<'seiit- inj; that the i)revious fall the I>lack Hawk bami of Indians de- stroyed most of the croi)s and manientt.'d it' neees.sar.v, by the I'otawatto- mies ami Winnebaj^oes, A few days alter another i>etition was hent, which al'/r detailing; sindlar outraj;es committed by the sav- ages, states that it relief does not arriv*; the iidiabnaids will be comi»eiled to leave their croi)s and homes. Several depositiens ■wer*! also [tresentcd to the j^overnor, eorroboratinj;- the above evi- dence. 1>. l'\ I'ike stated under oath that the nendu'V of warriors "was about .'!(»(); that they had in various instances done much Uamag«' to the white inhabitants by throwinj;' dowu their fences, destroyinji their fall j^rain, jjullinj;' olf the i oofs of their houses and [to.silivt'ly asserting;- that if the An ricuns did not leave they ■would kill them. (Jovernor Keynolds, thus informed in rej;ard to the state of ati'airs at the mouth of Rock Itiver and believiuj'- that lUack Hawk and his baud were deternuned to retain possession of the country by force, resolv«'d to etlect their exitulsiou. A call was accordinj^ly made for volunteers, and when it becanu' known the vvlutle n«»rlh- Avestern part of the 8tate resounded with the clamor of war. Many of the ohl citizens, who 2(1 years before had fouj;ht tlu'se Indians in the war with Great Hritain, still survived and urjicil their sons to ap])ear on the tented field aj^ainst the same enemy. The exijiei.i'ies of the situation demanded that tr«)ops should reach the scene of acttion in tlu^ shortest time practicable, and tin refore the lOth of .luiu' was appointed as the tinu', and ileards- town as the place for the asseml)lin^' of the forces. }so c^tuuty south of St. ("lair and east of Sanjianion was included in the call, it ''linj;' impossible for troops from the remote i»arts o[' the State t(» nu'ct, or<;anize and reach the place of rendezvous in the brief interval of 14 or 1,""> days, the allotted tinu'. The j^overuor circu- lated docinnents amonj;' the i)eoi>l«' and made speeches showin;^" that the defence of the northwestern frontier re( he also stated: "I have received undoubted inl'oiinatiou that tlio seetiou of the State near IJoeU Island is ac^tuully inva(h'd by liostile baiMls of Indians heaih'd l»_v Hhiek Hawk, and in orcU-r to ri-pel tin' invasion and protect tin' <'itiz«'ns of tin' State. I lia\-e, uinlei' tlio l)rovisions of tin' constitution of tlie I'nitcd States and the laws of tliis State, called out the militia to the iiunil!"r of TOO nu'U, who will be mounted and ready for service in a very shoit tinu'. I con- sider it my duty to lay before yon tlie above information that you may adopt such measures as you deem Just and proper." IJoth j^cnerals (Jaines and Clark considt'red the j)recaution of raising;' troops ])ursii('d by j;'o\ criM)!' Reynolds nnneces.sary, believinji' that the t'orces of the regular army were snIUcient to protect the frontier settlenu'uts. On the L'd of June, jicneral (laines replied to His l^xccllency that he had ordered 10 companies to IJock Island, (} I'roni Jetl'erson Barracks and 4 from Prairie du C'liien, which he deenu'd sutlicient for the ]»rotection of the frontiers, that if the entire Sac and I'ox nation and other tribes united with the band of IJIack liank, he would call on him for additional forces to repel the in\asion, but did not rej^ard it necessary at that tinu'. Accompanied i»y six comi)anies from the barracks, (leu. (Jaines j)ass('d uj) the rixcr in a steand)oat to Fort Armstrong;', situated on ilock Ishiml, and on the 7tli of ,Iune a council was held with the Indians. JJIack Hawk, Keokuk, Wapello, and a innnber of other ".hiefs and braves were i)resent. (ien. (laines stated in council hat the President was disi)le ,..'I.,.KK. >..... II. ....f III..- til.. .I..'v:ivt.>l>/>1> /.)' t)wk also wi'ote to "governor Peynolds re(pu'.stin<;' the assistance of the volunteers and iutinnitin<;' that it mi>;ht be necessary to <'all for more troops as lilack Hawk was ( iideavorinj;' to secni'c the co- operation of the lu'liiliborinji' tribes. It was hojx'd that by this auftnientatioii of the forces tin' hnlians mif;ht be intimidatetl, and thus i>revent the effusion of blood, and in ii JJunean, then u mend)er of confjress, brij;adier ;;('neral io command the entiic brij^ade. and Samuel Whitesides a majoi' to command the spy battalion. The other ollicers, not bein;^' rej;arded so essential to the success of the campaign, were elected l>y the volui>t<'ers. Col. -JaiMcs U. Henry was chosen to command tiie first rejiinu'iit, Col. IViniel 1 ieb tiie second, and major Nathaniel J>uckmaster the odd battalion. Thus orjiauized and furnished witli the ne(;essary supplies, the brij;ade left their encamjunent near liushville on the loth of elune for the seat of the Indian disturbances. Altliou;;li not hijihly disciplined, it was the larj;est military force that had ever ass(!mbled in cliv' State, and made a very imixtsiuj;- appearance in its march over the then broad expanse of prairie wilderiu'ss. Eaw the old Sac village, where they were met by Ji steand)oat containing i)rovisions, in charge of general Gaines, who received them into the sei\ ice of the I'nited States, A beautifid site was selected for an encampment, and as a battle Avas considered innuinent, the greatest watchfulness was excrhy of the ]»Iace. Previous to the arrival of the volunteers he had possessed and fortilied with cannon a commanding blulf in range of the village, and in another directi(»n had i)ostcd a strong- force of legnlars to aid if necessary in the conflict. In accoid- ance with the plan adopted, on the following nu)rning (ienc'ial (Jaines with ii force of regidars and cannon steamed up the rixcr in the b<»at, while the volunteers miuched across the country, both forming a junction at ^^'oodrufl"s Islands in the channel »»l the river ojtposite the Sac village. The boat having conn' within range of the islaml, lired several lounds of grai»e and canister into the dense growth of timber and thickets to test thc^ picsence of the Indians, who it was feared nught be concealed among them, to intercej)t the ])assag(^ of the xolrnteers ai-ross the strt-am. The spy battalion, followed by the main body of the forces in three colinuns, passed over a. slough to the island, wheti it was discoxcred that the rapid elevation of the laml from the water had i»reveuted the shot taking effect nn)rethan 1(K» yards from the shore. Owing to this circnnistance the Indians might have been con«"ealed in full f(»rce without being discovei'cd. l-'ortunately no enemy was fotnul, for the volunteers became so completely bewildere(| in the tangled thickets as to discjualify them for ell'cctive resistance, and in case BLACK HAWK WaK. 379 of ill 1 attiick tlic ai'tillciy looking' down from the blutt's on what Avouhl liavc been tlic biitllc lichl, was too faraway to distiii^iiisli friends fioni foes. On ariivin^' at tlni river between tiie ishmd and town, it proved to be a (h'ep, bohl stream at tiiat point nntbr(h»l)h', ami iienee the proorcvss of tlie troops was (h'hived till scows eonhl be proeiired to terry them over. When the town Wiis liiialiy enleicd it was found ch'serted, the i.i'aabitaiits ha\ iiiji' tlie previous ni;;iit eiossed to tlie west sich- of tlie .Alississippi. It was sMp|)osed that (ieneials Duncan and (laines, before leaviiijn' camp, bebeved tiiat the Incbaus wouhl al»amh)n tiieir villajic and now that sucli was tin' case, it served to e.\i»hiin the apparent nenh'ct in as«'ertaininj;' tlie presence of Indians and tiie seeniinjily nufavorabh' orn, hiid died and been l)uried, wher(^ the old men had tatiyht wisdom to the youth, whence the Indian youth had often j^oue out in parties to hnid or to war, ami returned in triumph to diince aroiuid the s]»oils of the forest or the scali)s of the enemy, and whei'c the diirk-eyed Indian uniid«'ns, ity their presence and cliainis. had made it a seem; of delij-htftU enchantment to nmny an admirinu warrior.*'* Clack Hawk ami his warriors having' dejiarted the uij^ht prrceding" the destruction of their villaj;*', encamped on the west bank of the ]\lississip]>i, while the Aineri(taus t(K)k ai ])osition 12 miles .above where l{o(dv Island now stands. (Jen. (Jsiines sent an order to IJlack Hawk, re(piirinji him and his baml to retur and enter into a treaty of ])eace, or he would move on them with all the troops under his commnnd. Several days afterwarlack Hawk ami the majority of them refusinj; to come, a more perem)»lory denuind was nnide, which lijid the desired effect. H(! and about .50 chiefs of the Ibitish biiml of the Sacs, now canu> and in full council with (leu. (iaiues, and (lov. lieynolds, on the -'{Oth of dune, IS.'H, signed an aj;rec- meut of which the followin<(is tlu^ first article. "Tin' IJritish band of the Sac Indians, are required juMceably to subuntto the authority of the friemlly chiefs ami braves of the united Sac; and Fox mitions, and at all times hereafter to reside and hunt with them upon their own lauds, west of the Mississij)pi j'iver, ami to bo obedient to their laws ami treaties, and m) one or more shall ever ho j)ermitt<'d to recross said liver, to the usual place of residence, nor any part of their old huntinj;' {ifounds east ' •FordVHlVtory. ' 380 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. ol' tlic Mississipiti, without j)t'nnis.si()ii of tlic lU'csidciit oC tlio United Htatcs or fji'ovcnior of tln^ Stiitcctf Illinois.'" The truism thiit th(^ brave are merciful, was well illustrated by the treatment extended by (leii. (Jaines and (lov. Keynolds to tlui vanquished and unfortunate Indians, after the eonclusioii of the treaty. The lar;;'er part of the invadinji' force had been deluded by listeniui;' to the bad counsel of IJlack llawU and other leaders, and as a conseciuence, their heli)less wonuMiand children, were tiieu destitnteof Ibod and clothiny. (Jov. Keynolds in a('(»nversatiou on the subject rennirked, "I i)resume this is the last tinu^ the >i»»v- prnnient will have any trouble with these Indians; the wonu'U and childicn are not so miu'li to blame, and a sup[>ort for them one sunmu'r, will be uothinj;' to the United States. The j;()vernment has possessed their Hue country, and I cannot rest satislled to leave them in a starvinj^' conditi(»n." Provisions were aecor(lin<;ly dislribiiled anumj;' them at stateil ]»eriods, exceedinj; in amount the (piantity th(\v would have raised. The volunteers seeiuj;' this exhibition of charity, ridiculed the adjustmeni of the Indian dif- licnities by calling' it a corn treaty, and sayinji, '"we give them bread, when we oujiht to '/ivo them lead." The enemy being' aiiparently hundded and (puet restored, the army was disltanded and returiu'd honu' in the l»est of spirits, not a single person, bv disease, accident or otherwise, having lost hi.s liJe. Chapteii XXXIII I 1S32— SECOND CAMl'AKJN OF THE WAR. lilack Hairl- Uuhwcd hy White Chmd to recroxs the Mississippi — J\'e/i(ses to obey the order of (ieii. Atkiiisou to return — State Forces reonjanized — March to Rock Hirer and unite irith the Hef/idars — Army proceeds up the river in 2>ursuit of the enemy — Battle of iStiUman^s Run — Call for fresh troops — The old forces disbanded. Prior to tlio ox])iilsi()n of tlic liidiinis from tlieir villiifio, Naopopo, a cliier of tlio Ihitisli l>aii(l and second in <-oniniand to IJJack Hawk, liad started on a visit to Maiden to consnlt his Enjilisli fatlier (!on(',erninhet of the AViniiebaf-oes. His home was a village bearing' the naiiu' of I'rophetstown, situated on liock river, 3."> miles from its mouth. Like the projihet of the Wabash, he had great intluence with his <;ouiitr,vnien. He was a stout, shrewd looking Indian, about 40 years of age and claimed that one o^' his parents was a Sac and the other a Winnebago. A full and tlowing suit of long hair graced his head, which was surmounted by a white head-ih'ess several inches in height, resembling a turb.an and emblamatic of liis profession. Sagacity and cunning were prominent traits of his character and essential to the ju'ophetic iiretensions by which lii^ im])osed on the cnHlnlity of his ignorant followers. Wiiite Cloud informed his visitor that not only the British but the Ottawas, Chijipewas, Potawattomies and Winnebagoes would assist his tribe in regaining their village and the lands around it. AVlieii Naopope in tlie summer siu'ceeding the treaty, returned to his friends he communicjated this information to Black Hawk who att'ected to believe it, and immediately commenced recruiting to increase the number of his braves. He also sent a messenger to Keokuk apiirising him of the good news and recpiesting his co-operation. The latter, however, was a chief of too miu^h sa- gacity to be misled by these promises of British and Indian as- sistance, and wisely admonished Bhutk Hawk that he was deceived and should therefore abstain from hostile demonstrations. Tlie latter, however, willing to credit any report that even faintly promised an oi)portuiiity to wn»ak vengeance on his old adversa- ries the Americans, rejected this good counsel and persistently 381 382 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. imrsucd his own plans. Ila\iii;; H'soIvjmI to l)i(l (h-liiiiicc lo I'nc wliitcs. in tiic \vinl('i(tl' Is,'!! ;>l!, ;;rt'iil clforts wen' nnidclo ohtaiii iccniits. and tiic number of iiis warriors cMihracinj;' tlic riiivalry of lilt' nation, was aiij;in('nt»'(l to "lOO. His Iicachiuartcrs wen- sit tlic site of old I-'ort iNIadison on tlic west sid*; of tlic .Mississij»|>i, wImmicc lie nM»\('d np i!' river. Ids warriors proceeding; on horses and his wonn-n and children and hai^^jajic ascending;- in canoes. A halt was made ojiposite the site now occnpied hvOipiawka. where the\ were met l»v White Clond the prophet. His mission was to tiirtlier strenjithen l>lack Hawk's determination to recross the ^Mississippi. 1),\ assnrin^ him that he ndylit depend on the assist- ance of oilier tribes. Nalmally i»roiie to mischief and eiiter- taiiiiii.n' a stroii;;' i»r<'jndice ajiainst the whites, he was at all times ready to stii' np si rife without carinji' for the e\ils that mij;lit be inllicted on those wli(» listened to his advice. In a speech to tiie warriors and biaxcs, hetoidlheiii that by followiiiii his advice they had nothin"' to fear and much to that I he .American war ...... ..w, .....^ ,,,.. ... ...... .,.,,,.. ,., j^..... , ...... .... ............. ..... chief would not interfere with them if they refrained from hos- tilities, and that sti'en<;thened by reiiifoi'cemeiits the time would come when they would be able lo i»ursiie a dilVereut course, rieased with this ad\i«'e, on the 0th of Api'il, IS,')!*, they ]»idcccded to the mouth of Hock river and the whole party crossed the 31is- si.-2sippi and commenced ascciidin;;' the former stream, foi' tlui avowed object of eiit<'rinj;' the territory of the >Vninebaji(»es and raisiiij;' a crop with them, when the real object was to secure them as allies. After they had ])roeee(led some distance they were o\('ilaken by an order from (ieiieral Atkinson, then in command »)f the regulars at Fort Armstronji, retpiirinj; them to rei -;s the ^Mississippi, which they refuised to do, allejiin;;' that tlie <;eneral had no iij;ht to make such a demand, as they were peaceably jour- iieyinj;- to the village of their friends for the purpose of raisinj; corn. JJefoie tlie\ had I'eaehed their destination anst of the settlers abandoned their homes and moved into the interior, while inessenjicrs were at the same time sent to inform (lov. Ifeynolds of the hostile attitude assumed by the Indians. The j;(»veriior uiiderstandinji' the bellij;'ei'ent chaiacter of the settlers and In- dians, and knowinji' that tln^ sli<;litest indiscreti(Ui committed by either jiarty nii;;hl iiivohe the whoU' frontier in a bloody wai', de- termined, on the Kith of April, to call out a hnj;<' body of volun- teers as the best .neans of aveitin*;' such a calamity or meeting' it in cas(^ of its act mil occurrence. (len. Atkinson in eoni- iiiaiid of the re<;ulai' forces near the scene of the threatened hos- tilities, at the same time, made a reiiuisitiou for troops, stating BLACK IIAAVK AVAR. 383 tilt' frontier was in <;r('iit (laii^icr and tliut the Corcc nndcr liis coni- jiiaiKJ was insnllicicnt for its (IctViicc. Dan^^cr hcin;; i/nniincnt, llio L'lM was made tiie time for uicetin;;, wiiicii pivo only (> ronii)tness, sent inthien- tial inessenart of coiuniunity is in dan;^('r. I have called out a stioiii; 'letaclinient ot militia to rendezvous at Meardstown on the lilM inst. Provisions for the men and iood for the horses will bo furnislied in al)Uiidauce. I hoix' my '.-on n try men will realize my ex[)('ctations and offer their services as heretofore with prompti- tude and cheerfulness in defence of their country." Daily accounts ies])ectin<;' the (»])erati(ms of the Indians were received. -lud^e Vounj;', Col. Strode and IJciijamiii .Mills wrote to the j;overnor ur^inji' tlu^ speeotions in the organization of the forces. Eighteen Ini mired men met at the jilace rendezvous and were divided into lour regiments, an odd and a si>y battalion. An elec- tion being held for field oliict.'rs, Col. De\\ itt was chosen com- mander of the tirst regiment; Col. Fry of the I'd ; Col. Thomas of the 3d, Col. Thompson of the 4tli,an(i .Major James of the odd bat- talion. The goveriU)r, who pai'ticipated in the cam[»aign, ])laced (ien. Whitesides in (command of the biigade, and (,'ol. .Fanu's I). Henry in comnniiul of the spy battalion. He also ai)pointe(l Colonels Enoch C. March and Samuel C ('hristy to jtrocure supplies; as brigade Villiam Thomas; as staff oflicers, James IJ. Stapp and Joseph ]M. Chadwick; as pay- master, Janu's Turney ; as adjutant general. Vital Jarrot, and as ordnance otticer, Cyrus Edwards. On tin; 27th of April the army started from their encampment, a few miles north of llushville, for Ocpiawka on tin; Mississipi river, with only M few days' rations, while Col. March was dis[)atched to St. Louis for additional supplies which were to be sent up the river to tlie 384 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. SiUiic i)lii('0. Aftt'i- tlic iirriiiijicinciit liixi liccii inndcii Irttcr ciiiiio l),v express IVoiii IVdiii ( ieii. Alkiiisoii. iiilui iiiiiiji the j;(t\ eiiKir tliiit tlie liostile Iiidiiiiis iiad nc up l{».;-k iivcr. hill llu' iiitellijicueo CiDiie too liite. Had it lieeii received one a<;(^ wagons were loaded pr«'paratory to moving to Dixon, where, ac(!ordiiig to the latest intelligence, the enemy was posted. Sjiies had iireviously been sent to obtain informa- tion of the Indians, but instead of returning with proper dispatch they loitered with the officers of Fort Armstrong and linally re- turned on theboat wiiich brought the sni»plies. When the army was ready to march, a letter was lirought from (Jen. Atkinson informing the governor that Ulack Hawk and hisliand had descended liock ri\er, and requesting hiin to niarcli immediately with the troops to Fort Armstrong. l)isai)pointment was felt at the reception of this news, and perliaps the re t<» tiic town, where il was asccrlaiiied Iroiii scouts who had scoured the cotiiitry. that the Indians had dispersed and it was detcrniiiicd to aiiandoii the piirsnit and await thearrival of (ieii Atkinson with the sfeamitoat ami |iro\ isions. It was con- jeclnred that ISiacU llawU and his iKiiid contemphited resitlin;;' on the lands of the, INttawattomies, and as a means of preveiitiii;; the (•((iisnmation of such adesi;iii,an embassy of live iiersons was sent to confer with (he chiefs of that nation upon the subject. In coiise(pieiic<^ of cloudy weatlu'i' the parly became liewildcred, and losiii;;- their way fell in with some, of Illack Hawk's band, who very adroitly endeavored to decoy them into tii" jiower of the princii)al iiidian fence. After niiicli skilll'nl maii<'U\ criiii;;' on horseltack the sa\a;L;»'s retired and the Americans ictiirned to Dixon <>reatly cx- liaiisted, havinj^' lieeii witli<»nt food or rest for two days. .Majoi's Stillman and Uailey, who had previously been ordered to ]»rotect the frr Iti'idle, and others without either, mounted their hoises and joined their eiuniads in the in^^lorious lii;;ht, leaviii;; their wa^^ons, ammunition and other property to the \ietors. .Ma,ior Stillmau ordeit'd his men to reticat (»\t'r the creek and rally on more elevated ji>'round, hut such was the consternation that no elevated ;;round was found till they reached the foices at l)i\on. The principal resistance ollered to th«' pnrsninj: Indians, was at Old Man's creek, a small stream rising in ();;leconnly and I'aliinj;' into ikock rivei' at the town of i!loonun;;\ ille. It has siniH' Iteeu called Stilhnan's liun, in eommenoration of thi> haltle, a result inci- dent to the delay caused in crossing; its mud ly hanks. Aft«'r l)assin;;' the stream, .Major Terkins. Captain .Vdams and al»e ;t l.~> other daring men made a stand, and by their heroic conduct ]»artially ehcck<'d the cai'cer of the Indians and saved the lives ol others, who must otherwise have fallen victims of savajic veu- ji'eaiu'e. Capti'.iu .\dains, however, in saviiiji the 1'^ esol hi.s fiieuds, Kacrificed his own, his body beiu;;' found the m« \t day, nt'ar the two Indians w hom in a personal encounter he had slain. Nou«' of the parties lived to teil the story of the terrilic st rii,ujnle, bat lr at Dixon about ll5 o'clock at niji'ht, ami from that time till morninlds nuule out a recpusition for HOOO men to be in readi- ness for future oi»erations, and oi'ders were also ju-epared re(piir- inji' Col. March to forward supplies for the nuMi, and Majcu- Adams to j)rocure provisions for the horses. Letters wer«' also written to (iens. Atkinson and l)od<;'e, apprising;- the fornu'r, who had not yet arrived, that the army was without jiroivsions. and the latter, that Stilhnau was defeated, and the frontiers of Wisconsin were in dan«i<'i'. ^Vhen the news of tlu^ defeat reached the camp, the oHicers were smumoned to meet at the tent of (Jen. VVhitesides, BLACK HAWK WAR. ;w it \\;is (IcfcnniiH'd to iiuirch the next irioiiiiiif; to the f'ntiil ( f tlic ('\ t'iiiii;;'s disiistcr. (^)ii;iilriiiiiislci' 'riiniiiiis wiiticip:)- iind fi('liiirv sii|i|il\ IoiIIh' expedition. 'I'lie animals were slan;;ht- errd and disi I'll Ml led anioiii;' the rnen. w ho pa it akin;;' of their llesli willioiit Itread or salt, started Ibr the iiattle Held. Arrixin;; tliilher, llie liodies of their I'aMeii eoiiirades were I'oiiiid t'ri;;htriiil,v niiililated, pieseiitiiiii- a seeiie appalling' t<» troops who liad ne\er liel'ore witin-ssed such a speetaele. Some were heheaded, soliK! had tlieir hands and feet cut ott', while their hearts and other internal oi';;aiis, were torn out and scattered oxer tlie piairie. Tlu! iiiaii.^letl l'ia;iiiieiits were ;;atliered lojict her, aixl Ixiried in a com- mon j;ra\(', over which a rmle slaii hewn from the trunk of a tree, was erected to mark the phu'c. Tiie troops encamped on tlin siiouml. and heavy j;uiis Itein;; lieard diiiiii;;' tiie iiijihl, tiiey were siip|»(ised l(» lie signals for colh'ctiiij;' the scattered wariioi's <»f I>lack Hawk. The men rested in their saddles, exjteetinj;' every moment an attack, luit the nioniinj;' dawned without the enemy Iteiim' seen. Major lleiiix and his battalion were then ordered to scour the siirroiiiidin^ counti.x, tiiil no traces of liie foe liciiij^ detected tiie whole detachment fell hack to Dixoii. Perhaps no Itelter material for an army could be found than Major Stiilman and iiis men. and their defeat was not the lack of, braxcry, Itut tiie want of experience and discipline. \o body v,f, men under similar circumstances, xvould have acted ijipi'j elliciciitly. yet for years afterxvard tliey xvere made the siibiect^|.(,i|^ tlioii;;hlless merriment and ridicule, as iindeserviiiji' as theiy l;,>t>»e- ditioii xvas disastrous.* Stillman's lH(fl^,^)t*'.V^k - — - - - ■- ^-f^-- >*■■» ' _ *-p- / i ; i^ Note. — "It is said timt a liljr, tall Koiitucklnii, witli a very ioiul voi'fL-UiiH'^u ^i^ onloiu'l of the iiillltli\, liut private under Stillinnii, iiprin his arrival in oi'iiiip (.'ave \o (ieii. Wliiiesiilis and tlie W(iMiler;iii.' multitude the loll()\vinir«-l"Wiiijraiirt.tii>tt(Biin(tUliiHi> eou t (it tlie liatt le: •Sirs ' said he, 'ouidi'tach merit waseiieamiu'daiiioiiirsodiy svatiti'riuit t miller on the iiortliside of Old Man's creek, with the prairie on the nortn W'YitlyMiSpinB down to our eneainp.i.ent It was .ju»t after twiliKlu, in the Rloaiiiiii^ior.llio ('\^|lnw{ when we diseov(>red lilaek Hawk's ariexconiintr down upon iis in siiIkI e(^^inmi; tlieK deployed in tlie form ol a crescent upon the Urow of Ihe prairie, and such ae»'fti'ae>Min aiid uJorlqUi si)ilii to see the tawny warriors us they rode alonir our flanks alK'nljAilHrtVl ontMii'rttc'iW with the irlitK-riiij;: inocuilieains triisteninu: from their poiisLipl Jiljiilofi, in\\ii\ iniyf\^\^\H spear.s. It was a siwlit well calculated to strike consternaiiotVintV) the stonte'st luuu't and uccordinuly our men soon he>ran to lireak in small sipnnls,/lj)iimilfit1inibfctv 'IHJi'wtiJ! little tunc the route heoaiue tfeneral; tlii' India lis were upvii our /lanks-iinjt threal|CHUC ■ the ('estriietion of the entire detacliment. Alioiit this tini" ' M*a>U' Htiirnhfn. Cfmiiit : Stephenson. .Major Perkins, (^apt, .Xdams, ,Mr. lIuekletoii,«u^ myijelf, v^t^i >itoi|i? rMbljftii^ji threw ourselves into the rear to nillv the filtritlves and ti)'(it«^ef tlie.rcl reat. Hut ui u Kliort time all my eoinpanions fell, briively llirhtiiiR IrttHil tVtWiit^d wit'h'Yhti ^uvAtKF enemy, and f alone was left up n the Held of battle AlponV t.Uift . t.iwu , | dij^wiyeJitf^ not far to the left a corps of horsemen which secine, and lioth must snIVer if the cam- ]»ai;;n was protractei'. 'I'he term of enlistuu'nt hein;; nndelined, tlicy lni(i a rij^ht to return iiome, but tlie };<>veriu>r appealin}; to theii" ])atriotism, they a;:ree days lon}i«'r. in the meantime, (icM. Atkinson arrived at Dixon with provisions, eiM'ami»ed on the in»rtliwest side of the rivi'r, and threw up cmlKiidunents for tin' protection of his stores. Tlie companies of ("apts. liailey and Slillman, wi're organized asal»ri;iade under the command of Col. .lohnson, and received iido tin* service «)f the United States, and one part ordered to Ottawa for the dt-fence of tinit ])lace, while the (»ther remained at Dixttn to loody traf>edies whictli always characteri/e sasa^^c: wiirfiire. About 70 warriors made a descent on tlie settlement, and in Imtad dayli^^ht stealthily entered n liousein wliicli ;{ families l»ad assembled, and murilered 15 of tiie inmates.* On the receipt of tlie news, Gen. Atlviusou ordered Gen. White- sides and Col. Taylor, afterwards president of the United States, to continue the pursuit of tlie Indians witli the volunteers, while he witii tiie regulars fell back to Dixon. After several days inarcli, the trail of Black Hawk led the army to a village of the Potawattoniies on Sycamore creek, where were disc' led in ditfi'rent directions, a precaution doubtless taken to elude the piir- .sniiifi' force. It was the suppf)sition that Black Hawk had visited the town to secure the co-opertion of tlie Potawattoniies, who were perhajis deterred from renderinjjf assistance by the overwhelming ♦Thellends who pprpotrrttcd the butchery atterwitrd related, with Infernal (flee, that the women siiuawked like (feese, us they were pierced with speurs.or felt the keen edge ot the tnmnliuwk cnterlnjr thol" heads The bodies of the victims wore sculped and otherwise nintilatcci. the children were chopped to pieces with axes, i.iid the women 8uspcni, one-lialf were for piirsniii;; the Indians aixl the other half for letiirniii;; home. (iov. Key- iiolds seein;^ t he deiiiorali/iii<;: condition. cans«>d them to he march- ed to Ottawa, and on the I'Tlli and L'Stli of May they were ilisi-harjucd and the campaign thus ended without etrecting any imjtojtant resiilts. 1 1. .-n't' ClIAl'TER XXXIV. IS.".:;— TinUI) CAMl'AKiX OF THE WAR. KcqulUion for AdilUloHul Troops — AttucU on Apple Creek Fort — Captain ISteplieiis'' Eiieouiiter ivHli the Ini — <)rerate with the previous ri'ipiisitiou a\Ml 1(I(M» more to guard the frontiers. Tiu' danp'r of <'.\posed si'ttlements beiu'!,' very imminent, an appeal was made to the disbanded tntops, and a re<;iment raised to serve till the new levies could he made available. After the election of .laeol) Fry as c»>lonel and .lames D. Henry as lieutenant colonel, tli(^ '"iimeni, after bravely .miardiiiji' the imperiled frontier, was linally mustered out of service at Dixon, on the llHli of dune by Col. 'I'aylor. One of the companies under Captain Snyder, liaody of some seventy Indians in the vicinity of Keiloii's grove, in which I of the savages and '2 or iJ of his own men were kdled, 'i'he new levies arrived, but before they could be oi-ganized or brought into the (ie-ld, the Indians committed a number of murders in ditlerent {tarts of the country. On the 0th of Jun<' IJlack Hawk and about b")() warriors made an attack on Ai)i>le Kiver lM>rt, situated a tpiarter of a mile north of the present village of Kli/abeth and within lli miles of - stio.vcd ])i(tvisi»)ii.s, broke crockcn, jiiul witli devilish jilee ripped (»peii beds and iiestrewed tlie lioiises iind yiirds wifii leathers. Tiiere were only IT) men in tlie ibrt, but they toii;;ht with the im- petuosity of (h'si)eration, deeming' it better if they could U(»t repulse their adversaries to die in (h'fence of their families, than surt'er capitulation and \)utchery aft<'i\vard. The mothers and children partook of the sanu' inspiration, and by moiihlin^ bullets and ehar^iii;,' jiuns greatly assisted in warding' off the assaults of the enemy. Tiie Indians at leiij;tli, tindinji' they could not prevail a^iiinst the jj;arrison, rais«'d the seij^c and departed, takinj^- with them lu>rses, cattle, tloiir and other provisions. The Americans .sustained a loss of one man, tliat of 'he Indians could never be asci'itaiiied as their killed and wounded were carried away in tlio retreat. A messenger in *he meantime had hurried to (laleiia for jissistaiM^e, and (,'ol. Stros.e of the militia marched to atford them assistance, but the enemy had left before he arrived. On the 24th of .Iniie two men were killed near Fort Hamilton, ..silimted amonj;" the lead mines i or 5 miles east of (ialeiia. (Jen. J)odj;<>, of Wisconsin, wlio by chance visited the fort shortly after the tr;ij,fedy was committed, immediately followed the trail of the .Siiviiji'es to the I'ekatonica, when' they took r<'fu<;(' iiiidei- a hiuii biink of the, river. The brave (commander and his e(pially brave men immediately I'ushed on the sheltered foe and killed the entire number, Imviiiy three of ilieir own men mortally wounded in the assiiult. This action althoitiou of his company tell in with a [>arty of Indians between Apjile liiver l'\»rt and lvello<;'s (irove, and ]>ursued them till they took refutain supposed to be mortally woiiiided did the lighting (U'ase. The Indians had greatly the advantage, and the lashness of niiikiiig an attack under the ciicumstances is perhaps as much an object of censure as the heroic dei'ds per- formed are feiits of admiration. As ]»reviously arranged in the call for troops, the new levies met at IJeiirdstown and liennepin, but were afterward ordered to I'ort AVilburn where a ])(rniaiieiit organiziition wiis etfecteatieiice and jiidgmeiit was riMpiired to form them into an army. As many of the most prominent men ill the State were present and wanted ]iositions, tlier<' was great eneral of the second, and on the ISth, James 1). Henry ;;('iieral of tlu^ third, (leii. Atkinson i«'(!eive(l them into the service of lln^ United States and acted as coin- niander in-chief of the force thus or<;aiiized, which amounted to 31*.t2 men. The jiovernor ai)pointed on his staff Meiijamin l'\ llicliinan and Alex. F. (iraiit as aids, , James Tiiiney as adjutant general, K. ('. March as (piartermaster general. IJesides the main army 4 battali(»iis were organized lor spetiial purposes, and com- jiiaiided severally by Majors l>oj;art and IJaily, anil Colonels I'.iiciv- iiiaster and Dement. In view of the disasters which threatened tlu' lua-fhern frontier of the State, the jiovernor ordered a chain (»f forts to be erected and ^arrisoiie a position ill Kelloji's (iroxc, where on tlM'2r>th (»f dune he was visited by Mr. Tniik of McLean c(aiiity, who came dnriiij; the nijilit from the lead niiiies and informed him that the trail of about .°i(H) Indians lead- iii,i>' southward, had been seen the ])revioiis day, and that there was perlia])s a larji'e body of them in the neighborhood. A eoiin. eil of war was held the same iiij;lit, Avhi(di decided that Col- ])enient and TiO picked men should rec-oiiiioitre the siirronndiiifj country the next day, while the remainder were to remain in the fort near the ;;rove prepared for any enierj;('iicy that nii;;lit hap- pen. This rude block house was an l<)iifi' buildinj;' constructed of \ojXx, contained .'5 rooms, and was fni'iiishcd with doors of slroii<>' material. At di.yli^ht on the followiii^i' iiKtrninji the party sallicil forth, but the more advanced jiortion of it had not i»roceeded niore than ;'»()(> yards, wIkmi several Indian s|des wen? discovered on the adjacent inairies. Col. Dement and Lieut. (Jov. Zadocrk Casey wer<' mounting;' their liorses ]>reparatory to leavinji' the fort, when a messenger returned to make known the news was soon (tommnnicated to the whole battalion ; A i>lireiizy to tight the redskins took p«»ssession of tin' men, and contrary to orders they mounted their horses and started alter them. At their approach tin; Indians lied, but Col. Dement siis- IH'cting that their intent was to decoy the whites into an ambus- cade, galloped alter them to induce them to return and thus ))reveiit the occurr«Mice of such a catastroi»lie. Tlieex(Mted volun- teers, howev«'r, mistook his iiitentions,siipposiiig he also was pursu- ing the Indians to kilUhem, and the chase was conlinned till they came near a bushy ravine in which Ulack Hawk and his men were BLACK HAWK WAK. 393 coiHjcalcd. Tlic objccl coiitciiijdiitj'd by the hidden foe was now consniiiiiiiilcd, and no ^^cncralsliij) of <'i\ilizcd wiirfaic could liave been bftlei'idanncdoi' luort' succcsslidly executed tlian this stratejiy of tlie booliless men of liu' forest. Suddenly a war-wiioop ])rocee(l- inj;' from the tiiroats of 3(K) naivcd sava;i('s, wiio liad previously l»re|)ared for batth* by divestin;;' themselves of their clothes, star- tleerior nundiers rendered their efforts futile. All subordination ceased, and each fugitive, ])i'omi>ted by the 'ustinct of self preservation, shaped his course toward the fort with a speed e(pial to that with whi(rh a slioit time before lie had left it. In tlu^ hurried and confused retreat which followed. ."> Americans who wmv without horses were killed, while the remainder reached the fort and dismounting; entered it, closely pursued by the enemy. The fort was vifjorously attacked for near- ly an lioui', but the foice within returned the tire of the assailants with such rapidity and precision that they letired, leaving- nine of their comrades dead on the Held, and carryin;^' others away with thciit. No one in the fort was killed l)ut several were wounded by bullets which occiisionally entered tlii-ouj;h crevices in the walls. Three balls passed through the apparel of Col. Dement, all of them touching' his person, but none e!iusin<; a wound. About ")() hoi'ses weic killed, and suddeidy swelliu};- afterward it was sui>posed they had been pierced with pctisoned arrows. With the retreat of the Indians, sentinels were sent out to watch their movements, and work was commence'e nundier of wet blankets were hunj; on the walls. At 8 o'clock in the morninji' when tlit- batth^ had ]»aitially sid)- si(h'lack Hawk, 'i'lu' ire of the old Sac warrior was aroused because the tribe of these chiefs i»ro- l>osed an alliance witli tlie Anu'ricans, who deemed it better to secui'c theii' CO opeialiou than have tueni lij;ht on the opposite side. C!ol. l-'ry and his i'e<;iment were ac/ordin^ly sent in advance of tbe main army to Sycann)re creek t'> alibrd protection, and to re- ceive into the service 100 Potawattomie warriors, who had sij;ni- tied their willini'aii'ii' and forest, none of tlic couiniand liad lu-cn tln*>n;;lL it, and it was tlicrcfoic ini|»ossil)l(' to obtain irlialilc j^nides. A niindtcr of \Viniit'l)a;;(»('s followed who from necessity wei'e fi(M{nentiy coiisnlted, but (heir fidelity was of a doubtful chaiaetei-, and the information they commnnicated ^x'neially de- Insive. The residt was short nnirrin's, fi'e(|Ment delays, fiiiitles.s explorations, ;:;ivin<;' the eiu'iny every opportunity to asctei'taiii the intentions and moxcments of tlie pnisnin^' foi'eeand thns elude it. The effoits of the comnnindinj;- <;eneral weii' further retarded l)y the distance fiom the bas(^ of snpi)lies, and the jireat dillicnlty of transportation, in conscMinem^e ol" which the troops were fre(piently withont pi()\ isioiis ami iiirely had snilicient foi" protracted oper- ations. ()win<;' to this dinicnlty, it now l)ecame ne(;essary to dis- ])erse th(( army to obtain food. Accordini;ly Major Dodjic and (ienei'als Henry and Alexamler werc^ sent to I'ort Winnel)a;;o, sitnateonthe porlau'e between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, for this ])nrpose, while (J»'n. I'osey marclu-d to Fort Hamilton foi' th(^ protection of the adjacent i'rontier, tiu' governor retni-ned to his home at IJelleville ami (ieii. Atkinson fell back t(» lake Kushka- non,i;. Here he erected a fort, which was called after the mime of the lake, in which he exi)ected to remain till the volnnteer j^enerals I'ctMrned with sn])plies. l''ort \\'innel)a,u(), a distance of SO miles from the encampment, on the Stillwater, was reached in three (lays, but themarcii thither over the intervening;* swampy country so cripi>led some of the horses as to render them nseless in the siicceedinj;' ]tart of the campai,nii. Another calamity also befell the horses shortly after- ward, which was worse than an ordinary battle. Abont J,0(K) were peaceably ,t;razin,y on tlie praii'ie when a stanipedi' occnired, cansed, as was supposed, by Indians attemj)lin,<;' to steal some of them. Th(^ soldiers at tiie time were sound asleej) in their tents, which were closely pitched to;nether and the friyhtiMH'd aiiinnds in their nnnl Hiuiit jnshed directly over the eiicanii)inent, kiiock- ini; the tents down on the faces of the jnen and tramplinj;' their weapons ami camp etini[)a};e into the "ground. Then coursing inirthward with j;reat rapidity, the sonml of their feet produced an api)alliiiy noise resembling' the roll of distant tlmiuler. Tlio [* '• A view of till' country from cimip ut Fort \Vinn('t)»(ro presented tlie most strik- ina- pontniriety of feiiturcs. liookirig towaril tlu! fort wliu.li was u neat striieture aiiionM' the (ireeii liills, two streams are seen the Fox and Wisconsin, with sources sev- eral liundred miles apart, the former in tlie cast and the latter iu the north, RlidinH' as if to miiiyle their waters, until within three miles of each other, when they sweep the one to the northeast, and the other to the southwest, as if they had met to hid each other a uiillant adieu before partinu', the Fox to mintrle its sweet and limped waters in the (iiilf of St l,awrenee, and the Wisconsin to contribute its stained and hitter Hoods toilie Gulf of Mexico.. The (Jourse of the Fox is short, crooked, narrow and deep, and abounds ill the linest variety of fish, whilst the Wisconsin is large, wide and compara- tively stiaiyrht, luid is said to have no flsh, owinir perhaiis to its passage throujjh cy- press swamps which renders it unwholesome for the tinny tribes, ami also causes the discoloration of its waters liesidestlK.' rivers the face of the country is no less I'e- markable. The strip of land between the two rivers is low and marshy, with no other (xrowth except a course variety of rush, atid at IiIkIi waters so - ompletely inunG HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. l>i<'k('t fi:ii!inls and st'iitincls tli'd to tlic cimiii), supposiiiji' an attack liiid hccii made hy tlic Indians, tlif bii;;l('s sonndtMl to aims, hnt many of tlic soldit'i's were tcnipoi'aiily injured and in tlic conl'nsioii wliicli |n('vail»'(l could ii(»t lind tlicir broken and scattered ueapons. Tlie Wisconsin river clian;;<'d the direction ol'tlie stani- ])ede hut did not stop its I'nry, tor the t'ri;L:iiteiie(> miles before the alaiin suhsich'd. Some were fol- lowed a distanc(^ of "»() miles helbn' they were fouiul, and about 100 were jK'rmanently disahlied in the siirroiindin;; swam]>s. 'i'wo (hiys were spent at the fort in re;;ainin,y Ihe iioises. recruit- in^tiiemen and procuring' lu-cessary supplies, during- which sonic AViiineha<:(» cliiefs said that I'dack llawk and Ids force were encamped on IJock river, .)."» miles al)ove lake Kush ka-minii, the head(juarters of (Jen. Atkinson. It was now evideid that if tiie army attempted to return to (len. Atkinson the Indians would perhaps escape to the west of the .Mississippi, and the only oppor- tunity of closiuii' the war with prolit to the country and honor to the service would he lost. A council of war was convened and it was the unanimous opinion of all the olliccrs present that the, exi.ycncy of the cas«> demanded that they should disregard the orders of (len. Atkinson. i»y marciiin;;' directly upon the enemy with the intention of taking' him hy surprise or i»reventinji his retreat fui'ther northward. 'J'lie ir>lh of .Inly was accordinj;ly ai»p»»inted as the tinu' of starting, and (ien. Henry at once com- lueiiccd re()i',i;aMizinji- his hrijiade, and disencundtci'iiiji' it of tlui sick and dismounted men, who would retard the celerity of his march. IJefore, howevei', the day of depaiture canu' around, (icn. .\le\andcr aniioiniced that his men becominj;' dissatislied had determined not to accompany the e\|)e(lition, and Major Dodiic re|K)rted that so uniny of his horses were disabled that he coidd not mount a force sutliciently larj^c to render any valinihlo assistance. At this Juncture ('apt. ( "rai;.; arrixcd with a linecom- ]>any of mounted men from (ialena and vicinity, which unitin;;' with the battalion oi Major I )o(lji(' increased it to IL'O I'tfective men. (leu. Henry's brij^ade was reduced to (100 men, and even these associatinji with Alexander's malcontents, became so demor- alized as to he at the point of open mutiny. A protest was hantled to the former, si;;iied by all his suhoidinate olliccrs excej)t the c(»lonel who presented it, rcmonstratinj;' ayainst the «'nterprise as a violation of (ien. Atkinson's orders. 'J'his was the tuininj; |>oint on which hinjicd the fate of the cain- paiiin. and but for the priulence and determination id' (Hen. Henry all W(»uld have been lost. He was periiaps the only man in the army who possessed the rare faculty of successfully connnandin;;" the militia by inspirinj;' (heui with order and the honoralde im- ]»nlses of his own noble nature. He could command with sternness and not ;iive otVeiice, and whih' he excited the fear he always won Ihe love of the most ohduiate soldier. In this emergency lie knew he was ri^lit and jn'omptly ordered all the olliccrs sinning the protest (o be arrested and maii'hed to (leu. Atkinson, who he knew would approve his course when he hceaine accpuiinted with the cireiiuistances. This tlecided command fiom a iieiieral whom DLAOK TIAWIC AVAR. :vM tlicy knew liud tlio <'onrii<"(' to cxcfiitc it, ciuiscd tin* oHiccis to I'clciil, The colonel wlio prcsfiitcd (lie sliiiint'riil paper dcnit'd kiiowinj'' its ('(Mitciils, and ail inoinisrd with tiie ^iicatest contiitioii that they would never ajiiiin be ;;iiiltv of insidiordination, (leii. Henry, who understood linnian natni'e and knew how to jMoiil by it. spoke to tlM'ni with dijiuity and kindness, wisely t'or^i\ in,!; the olt'enee and thus seeuiinj; their laithfid cooperation durinj; tho remainder of the campaign. At the appointed time (Jen. Tloury and Ma.joi- Dodjic, with two Winiu'bii;;oes tbi- ;nuides, started in pursuit (»!" the Indiaui;, and (len. Alexander w ith |)r(tvisiou.s returned to (leu. Atkinson. Tiui former Avhile on tlu-ir way to the infested rej;ion, weri^ 1Ve(pu'idly thrown 'oni a diieet course by interveninji' swamjts of .several miles in extent, yet after three days hard marciiiuf;- they aj^ain encamped on Kock livei'. Here information was iH'ceived that Ulack Hawk was entrenched onCraidu'iry lake, hijiher up tiie river, and relying' on this infornnition Henry determined to make ii fcu'ced march to that i)hu!e the following day. Adjutaids 10. II. IMerryumn and W. \V. Wood bridge, accomi)anied by Little Thunder, a Winnebajio chief, as j;uide. were sent to (ien. Atkinson to appiise him that they had discovered the situation of the enemy and wore makiuji' pi'cparations to move aj;ainst him. The uu's- seuji'crs started about dark and after i)]()c<'edin.y aliout S miles soutliwest they struck the fresh trail (»f Ulack Hawk, who was nudiinji' toward the Wisconsin river, evidently to elude his pur- suers by crossinermission returned to the camp anrved. (Jeneral Henry humanely si)ared their lives, and to invvent his nu'U who Avouhl have wreaked summary vengeance on them for their treachery, ])rudently ke]>t it a secret. The nussengers, when they fouml themselves deserted by Little Thunder, also returned to the camp, but Just before reaching it one of them canu' near being killed by the fire of a seidinel. Karly the next mcuning the same nu'ssengers ami guit what they wore, and carrying their guns, ammunition ami ])i(»visions on their backs through thickets, swamps and prairie, ke[»t i)aee with their comrades on horseback. The riders on reach- ing a. slough through which their horses wore Uiiable to carry them, dismounted a>id waded across, driving tlu'ir animals before them. The large fresh tiail being strewn with various articles, belonging to .lie Indians, gave aiiinuition to the pursuing force; there were no nu>re complaints among the men, and even the horses seenu'd to partake of the eidhusiasm which prevailed. Towards evening there arose one of those terrific thumler storms common to the prairies, frightfully dark and aecompained by torrents of rain and ;!!IS nisTouY oi' ii,r,iN«»is. |»<'iils (tf lliiirirlcr. TIh' rrnii, liowrAcr, ilaslicd on tcjiiiiillcs.s nf IIm', i'ii;;iii;; clt'iriciils. tliroii^li II, lia\ iii;^ nian-iied 100 miles w iliioiit. eating- an.vlhin;;' except raw food. As soon as I heir liiin;^er was appeased. Ilie\ a.i:ain lay down lores! w il li not liiii;^ under liieiii lint the naked e;irlh. and iiolhin;;'o\cr llieiii Init the starry caimpy, and slept swcelly liil iiroii>e(| iindciilled loarins. A sentinel who diiiiii;; the iii^hl discovered an Indian sleall hily ;;lidiiij; toward the slioi'c in a canoe, lired his ^nii which canseij an alarm, lint, nolliiii;^ riirllicr occurred to indicate the presence of an eiiciny. Maily llic follow in;; (lay ihe iiiiirch was res'imed wilh };rcat \ i;;or, all liiiii;; elated with Ihe hope of soon oNcrlakin;^ the Indians and tcrininalinj;' the war in a ;:eneral iiattle. ('idssin;^- the river lie- tweeii Iwd of the lakes, the army ascended :iii cniineiice. whence could lie seen a panorama iif wondcroits lieanty. Three of tliestt loNcly sheets id' water einironcd liy svooded hills ami rollin<;' prairies were in I'lill \iew. The hami of civili/alion had not, marred their primi'\al liciuiiy and e\er,\iliiii;; was wild and still, sa\c Ihcdislanl ioai' of the snr;;iii.n' waters lashed li_^ almost (ton- slant winds. The Indians, however, were only a few iniles distant emIea\orin;ij to escape, and the hurried march lo overtake them ;;a\c lint little time lo cfintemplate the snrronndin;; scciierx. '{'he path of tlu; fnuilives was strewn with all kinds of lia;:jia;;e hi^^hly valued hy t he ow iicrs, w liicli I hey were compelled to I hrow away to accelerate, their lli^^ht. Some of the horses were foinid dead, the rcsnll of exhanslion, and others were occasionally killed lo alford their hniijiiy liders the means of siistenanc*-. Alioiit 1- o'clock on Ihe, lilst o(l;;<-, wImi WiiS then orflcml to ;io tiill as to lie iihost' the heads of the men on horsehack. it was now near siiii down, and ( i<-ii. II' iiry eoiielnded it would lie too ha/ardoiis to dis- lod;,'e the enemy diirin;;- I he ni;;iit, and a"i-ordiii;;ly remained on the liallle ;:roniid. The hattle of the Wineonsin was the first impoitant. victory ohtaiiied over the enemy diirin;,' the war. The Indians had with them their women and childien. and I'lilly alive to the disastioiis (!(m.-<'<)iieiices wliieli would attend defeal, l'oiij;lit with ^real deti-r- ininatioM. Diirin;; tlie en<;aj;eineiit Naopope, theii- commander, jtosted himseir on an elevation near his wairiors and ;;ave his ordei's ill a \oic<' of t linnder, vvhi<-li could he (listinctly heard aliovc, the dill of ha! .*'. It was said that of all men he had the loudest; voice, hilt it ceased to he heard when his hraves were diiveii IVoiii tlieii- position, (ireat praise was due the eiilii'e army, the, oilicer.s Jiavin;;' diseliar;;<'d their duties with j;reat ellicieiicy and tliepri- vul<'s e\liihite(l nnnsnal hravery in the ditVeient eharj;es made. upon the eneiriy. (len. Henry was yoiiiiy and iiie.\|>erieiiced, yet, in his coolness and the Jiid^'meiit displayed in the disposit ion of ]iis forces aeteil the part of a veleran cc)mniaiider. He now <-on- cliided that if the IndiaiiM intended to continue the contest they uoiild make an at tack diirin;; the niulil. and as a precaution he increased the slren;;tli trclock in the mornin;^' Na(»pope took a stand on the same ehrvation in; had occupied diirini^ the hattle, ami s|)oku with a loud voice, in the \Vinnel»aj;'o toii;;iie, which in the calm of the nij,dit reverheiated from hill t<» hill, it was ascertained v\heii the war was over that he. wassiiin^ for peace, iie stated that his (;oiintryiii<;ii \ver reputation they had ;;ained in the battle of the |»reeedin<; day. Every man then took his position and remained in it till early dawn, wIm'U lOwinj^'s battalion proceeded t(» the top of tli«' hill whence the voice proceeded, but only I'ouimI the fool piiiits of a few horsemen. The army then nmrclied t«» the river and disco\ - ered that the Indians had crossed and made their escape ann)nn it and the Mississippi. One lniiMli'<>d an*l sixty eijiht of their fallen c(Murades were found dead on the field of battle, and the nundter of the wcMindcd was perinips propor- tionately ]ar};(', as 2i) of them were subsequenly found (h'at(Ml by liittU^ TIhiimIci', were s»>nt tlic, si-coiid limci to plies, when^ he and Ids army would meet him. The messengers reached Gen. Ileniy duiin}>- the recent battle, and the next day, as the army was without food and the means of lenderin^^- the wounded comfortable, it was determiiuMl to visit the .Mounds for this pur- pose and re])lenish their stores. No one in the bri<;a(le, howi^ver, understood the topo<;ra])hy of the country sufliciently well to act as jiuide. They had now ])(Mietrated 100 miles into an unex]>l(»r('d ■fl ildei iiess, and the AVinneb:iji;()es who had accompanied the expedition fled at the commencement of the; battle and had not returned. A council was called to consider the means of over- C(»minji' the ditticulty, and whil'! in session a white tla^;' was seen approachinji', boi-ne by a number of friendly Winnebajioes, who a;ireed to act as {;uilue Mounds in safety. Here, as they had been advised, th(\v found (Jen. Atkinson, with the reji'ular and volunteer forces under his imnu'diate command, and a inunber of inliabitants, whose kind treatment made the wounded forget the liardships they had suffered in the Jouiiiey thither. It was now evident that Gen. Atkinson and other officers of the reoular army were greatly mortified at the success ot Gen. Henry, as they did not inteml that the militia should acquire any renown in tlu^ war. Gen. Atkiiison relying mostly on the regulars, had always kei)t them in front, but unexpectedly while they were snugly ensconced at Lake Kushkanong, (ien. Henry discovei'cd and vanquished the enemy as effectually as if the veterans had participated in the engagement. This unmaidy jealousy was further intensified by the fact, that the victory had been obtained in opposition to the council and orders of those who arrogated to 26 401 L 402 IMSTOIIV OF IIJ.INOfM. tiM'iiiNclM'M Hii|M'iioi' ntiiia;;)' iiii post ol° honor and ol' daii;:i'r. It was now i-viih'tit thai if oIIm-i' laiiK-ls w<-n' to lir won lli<-,v wonid dri-oiatc olhrr hiows. i'n-i\. Il<-iir,\ and his inni, \M-r«- loo inif to tiiiirdiilii-sas ,soldi<-is to Knfl'i r this injii.stiirc to iiitnl'ri*- witli tin; .sii(!i;<'n.h of tJM^ expedition, and theidore )|iiietlv liiiN iiinl otlirDuiiclcH iil>;iiiilutii l i»i' ulioiii liiiil ilit'il tiMti'c I'lir IIm^ Uiiiit of |(i. Al lit n'l'liH-k oil lilt- iiKiiiiili;; III' III)' L'lj nl' All^ilst, lli<- ;il'rii,V rtiiilicil iIh' ltliiH\ (»r iIm- .Mis>is.si|(|ii, wliicli ;il lliis iioiiii wcro HMiiK* i|i>l;iiic)- liMiii IIh- .sti<';iiii. 'Jlii- liKJiiiiis liiixiii;; idmIici! IIii) 111:117; I II of I Ik- I i\ tr soiid- I inic lii-furc I lie 111 ri\ ill of I lir Aiiin it':iii>, WIT)- hiisijy «'ii;;ii^<'(l in |ti'<'piiriilii(iiH to cioss. Soiim- IiimI iilitMily ifiirliiMl IIm' o|i|iosil<- slioiT, iiiiil sonic ol' tlif woiim-ii Ii:in- ilrou mil, :iiiil I Iiom- w ho iiiiiliiil lii<- low 11 \\^^l^^ IoiiimI ill ii stiii'v in;; loinlilioii. W liilc I liiiscni|ilo\i'ii |Ih-,\ wi-rr iilLickfil Itv llii^ NtiMMilioiit VN'iiii'ioi', wliirli liiiij Imm-ii ('Iiiii'Ii-ii-<| for tin- pur- po.si' of «'oii\ rv in;; Mipplifs lo I III- iniiiN. Oil lln' Isl ol' Aii;;ii.s|, nIm- w:is si-nl iiji tin' liver lo nol H'n souh- |i'<'IhII.\ linliiiiis lliiit tin; iSiK's wi'i'i' npproiii'liin;;, niiil to Inkt* IIk'Iii ilown lo I'niirii' dii Cliirii. On Ins wii\, (';i|itiiiii 'I'licuckiiioiton lii'iinl llnil IMiirk ll;n\k w lis iili'i'inlv tiiciiinpi'il (mi iIii' hunks of the ri\ti-, iiihI lin ininii'iliiih'ly uiiMJi' piipiuiilions lor :mi nttiirk. i\.s tin* slriinilioiit. lii'iH'i'il llicniinp ol' till' JiKliiiiis, tlicy I'liisi'd ji wliiti- Ihi;;, wiiirli tin- nipliiin iill'rri in;; lo lM'li<'\c Wiis only ii.snj n.s n iriiisk lo comt tlirir iciil (l('si;;iis. oiiN'icd llii'iii to .send ;i ciiiioc ;iloli;;.sidt' liis lioiit. 'I'lii' order lii'iii;; dcrliiM'fl, llii'V wci')' idlowrd lo iniliiltes (o reniovf tlieiV women :ind eliildreii, wlieii n nIx |ioiiiider, loiided Willi eiinnistei', wiis dise|iiii;;('d into llieir midst, I'ollowed \>\ :i severe lire (W innskeliy. 'I'lie hiillle eonlilined iilioiil an lioiir, diirin;; wliieh the enemy had L'.'t men kilhd iind a proportionattt iinnilier vv(Min[)i, it was lired ni»on fr<»m heiiind trees by the Indians, tlie tall grass growing ann>ng tlu' timl)er gieatly favoring their (h'sign. Tlie onU'r of battle being the same r.s at iirst: Major Dodge's battalion was in front, next the regnlars, then the brigades of Alexander and Posey and lastly the command of Henry. At the lirst indications of oj)- position, (ieii. Atkinson rode to the scene of action and in person directed the charge against the Indians, who of course f<'ll l)ack, and were pnrsiied n\) tln^ river by the whole armyex<*ei»t the force under the immediate command of (.Jen. Henry and ^lajor Ewiiig. In the linrrievere in front. Ib'nry being notitied of the fact, followed to the loot of the blutfs bordering the valley, where he left his horses and ar- ranged his men Cor an attack. Eight men were sent tbrward as n forlorn hope to draw the tire of the enemy, and thus rlisclose their situation in the diitt wood and hiusli through which tlu^ trail led. The men moved boldly forwic I till tliey came in sight of the river, when they were tired n])oii l»y about oO Indians, who were in ad- vance of the main force. Five of the eight instantly fell, eithei killed or wounded, while the other three, protecj^ed by tiiiiber, re- mained in their ]»ositi<)ii till the army came to their rescue. Henry immediately ordered a charge, before which the Indians retreated to the main body, amounting to .■iOO warriors and fully e^iual to the forci! contending against them. The whole force of the enemy beccuiiing invo »ed, fought with great bravery and determination, yet they IumI evidently been surprisetl and there was little concert of action. (Jlosely ])resse the river, made their apjiearance at the scent; of conllict. Henry had previously sent nussseiigers to inform him that he had discovered the main for<*e of the enemy, but tlm roar of battle ai)j)rised him of the situation before mes- sengers had time to reach him. He came but found the battle substantially over, the dead and dying strewn uiioii the fatal field, disclosing tlie stern work which Innl been done in his absence. Seeing the ])osition of the enemy, he immediately ordered a descent upon the island. A force consisting of the regulars, Ewing's and Dodge's battalions and Fry's regiineut, charged through the water up to their arms, to dislodge, them from tlieir last refuge. When BLACK HAWK WAR. 405 tlic isliiiid was inaiiuMl most of tlie ciKMuy who liad tied tliitlier wci'c killed or capliiiod. tlioso attcmjstiiijj; to swim to the o]>|)osite siiore hciiijLi; cither shot in the water or drowned. Lai'<;e numbers of women and children lost their lives, owinj;' to the fact tliat they were dressed s<» much like Ihe men it was inipossihle to distinjiiiisli tluMU in the hiiyh firass and weeds which ol>struet<'d the view. .Some of them ])hiiij4('d into the Mississipiti and were shot escapinfj in th(^ ]>ronns('uous t to reach the opposite shore.* It is snpi)osed that the entire Indiiui loss amounted to loO killed and as many lost by drowninji' in the attempt to swim the I'iver. About ")(>, <*oiisistin<4' mostly of W(»men and children, were taken pris(»ners. The Ameiican loss amounted to 17 killed. Soon after the l>attle was ov«'r, the captain of the AVarrior steamed up (he river an^l commemted rakin<;' the island, thinking; that the Imlians were still on it. The land forces hearing;' his j>nns, suj>posed he was firiiij; a sahite in honor of the victory, and tired n volley in a<'knowled;j;ment, and it was not till she came to land that intelligence was for the tirst time interchanficd in regard to Ihe battles which had previously beeu fou<,dit by the resi»ectivo forces. (ien. Atkinson eonsiderinj,' the war virtually ended, on the 4th of Au};ust, with the rejiulars. ]»risoners and wounded, on board the Wairior, fell down the river to Prairie du Chien, and the mounted men marclu'd to the same ]»lace by lau''. The news of the battle had prcced<'4l the ahies, hehl alolt on poles, constituted a {uominent feature of the dance, which was conducted in the followinj;" manner: the men ans were twirh'd in the air with increased vehenuMice. iJuring IN'oTE.— M.iiiv painful Bcones of ailvciitiiri.' and linrror were crowdtui into the 3 hours' foiitiiiiiiiiu'i'ol tlu'liatth!. A Sa<' woman, the sister of a warrior of some notoriety, loiiiiil lici-si'lf in the thiekost of tlietiirht, but at lenitth sneceeeded in roa<:liin(f the river, when keeiiiiiL;- her io'.'aiit eliildsnfe in its l>lanke ts by nieanwot her teeth, she piunKedinto the WMter. seized the tail of a horse with her hands whose rider was swltnniinir the St ((Ml at and wasdrawnsafely aeross, A youiursquaw during the battle wasstiindin^i'liithe "iniHs a short, illstanee from the Anieriean line, holdintf her oliild, a little jiirl of 4 years, in her arms. In this iiositii)n a liallstniek the ri«ht arm of the child ami shntteriiifr tho lione, passed into the breast of till? vouny mother anci instantly killed her. She fell ii)i' with the ' ide band, like civilized man in the hour of adversity, when friendship is nutstly nec>- and <'ratty nature commenced i»anderin;^' to the power of the concpu'rors. On the 7th of Anj^nst, (Ien. Scott who with companies ot" infantry had been sent from the eastern sea-board, arrived and assumed command, lie started from T'ortress Monroe, anil in 18 days 4of the companies reached Chicajio, distant IStlO miles, whii-li before the existence of the i)resent railroad facilities was an nnparelled tesit of <*elerity. The whole force was destined for Chicaji'o, but the virus of a disease more fatill than the swoi«l ]>reyed u]»on their vitals, and prevented the accomplishment ot" the object contemplated. The e\|>editiou, lilh'd with patriotic ardor, arrive-on the Mississipjti, the latter part of Aujiust. Here not only m;;:i.v of the survivors perished, but the Indians were alstt attacki'd, and hnj^c nunil)ers of them swept away. (Jen. Scott arrived only in tinu' to partici- pate in the nejiotiations w]ii(!h followed the war, but in hia humane exertions in behalf of the soldiers, he won laurels far transcending the ylory of the most brilliant <;amitaijin ayainst the enemy. The further ]MU"suit of the rndians beinjr considered unnecessai-y, on the arrival of Gen. Scott the volunteers started for Dixon to be mustered out of service. Arrivinj; tiiither on the 17th, they were dischai'jjed, and each soldier now leleased from military life returned to his home, kindred and friends, pleased with the con- gratulations whi('h w«'re ever extended, aiul feeling honored iu having been instrumental in freeing the country from the ravages of t lie merciless foe. Many of the noted men of the State had been engaged in the war, ami many, at that time unknown to fame, atterward attained the highest honors in tlie gilt of the country which they lisked their lives to defend. Of the former class were Reynolds and Scott, men of State and national reputations. Of the latter, S. 11. Anderson becanu^ lieutenant governor, .Tames Turney, attorney gen- eral ; W. L. I). Kwing, auditor of jiublic accounts; Sidney Ui-eese, «'hief justice (»f the State : John Tlionms ami John Dement, State treasurers; Thomas Ford and Jos<'ph Duncan, governors of the State; Henry Dodge governor of Wisconsin, and (leneral Taylor and Abraham Linc(»lii j)residents of the United States. .letfersoii Davis, the rival of the latter, also participated in the war, but his future career as the chief of the great rel>ellion, gave him a fame iu striking <'ontrast with that which was won l)y the martyr of liberty and the savior of his country. Among the many who distinguished tluunselves in the war, there was no one more elhcient as an oflicer, or more highly resi>ected by the people of Illinois, than (Jen. .Tames 1). Henry. His great sagacity anil (h'terminalion at Fort Winnebago, gave a new direction to the campaign and enablessninto. opened hiseyes nnd iiskcd liini for some wnter The ser«-ennt s;ii(l they mifrht tiiiio him buck, as he wns !iot yet ready for burial. The <)rder was obeyed and the soldier lived many years thoreulter." Urown's History of lllluois. 408 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. Tic was ii native of Peiiiis.vlvaiiia, and in tlic year ISl'L' cinijirii- tcd to Illinois and located at lOdwardsville. liorn in poxcity and ol)S(Mi)ity, liis earlier years were entirely devoted to iiiaiHial toil, and when he attained the arin<;tield, and was elected sheriff of San- iianion county. The integrity and sound JudjinuMit exhibited in discharuinji' the duties of this ottice, attraeted tlu' attention of Gov. lieynohls, who at the breakinj;- out of the war made him one of his aids, lie was e.\ceedinj;ly modest and retirinj; till his j)a.s- sions were tally aroused, and then he showed an intensity of ft'clinu' and an ii'on will, Avhich was iri'csistible so far as he had power to act. The fear of n(»thin^' excei»t his maker ever entered liis breast, and he knew and cared as little for danjicr and «leatli as a marble statue. His extreme sensibility and dittidenee never permitted him to api)ear in the .society of ladies. At the clo.se of the lUack Hawk war, the citizens of Sitrinj^lield ust, Deeori and t'lieaters, after an absence of 20 days, returiuHl with lUack Hawk, the prophet, and a number of other prisoners. On handin;;' them over to (leu. Slicet, l)e«;ori said: *'I''atlier, we deliver these men int(> your custody. We do not entrust them even to your brother, the chief of the warriors, BLACK HAWK WAR. 409 luit to you, bcciui.se ^ve know you, and \v(^ believe you are our IVieiid. We want you to keep tlieiii safe; iltliey are to siitt'er wo do not want to .see it. Wait until we are j;()ne i)erore it i.s done. Fatlier, many little birds liave been ttyinj; about oiu" ear.s of late, and we tliouj;Iit they wliisjiered to us tiiat there was evil intended for us, and \\v now lioj)*' tlu'y will let us alone."" Gen. Stnu't rei»lie(l : "My ehildren, you have don(! well. 1 told you to brinj;' these men to me, and you have done so. i assured (len. Atkin- son that if these men were in your eouidry, you would lind them and brinj;' them to me, and now I can say mu(!h for your j^ood. I will }4«) down to Koek Island with the prisoners, and I wish you as you hav«' brought them, esix'cially to j^o with me, with sueh other chiefs and warriors as you may select." In pursuance of the treaty to be entered into, on the lOth ui' Sei)tember JJIack Hawk, his two sons, Wishiek, Xaopope, the proi»het, and a nundter of Winnebajio chiefs, were sent down to Itoek Island, where Iveokuk and his wairiors were to meet tiieiii. Likewise the remnant of Hlack Hawk's band also followed him to to tln^ same jtlace. Hiwh was their utter destitution that tin'y excited the c(niipassion of all who saw them, and (ien. 8cott, who was as sympathetic as brave, kindly bestowed on them everythinji that could su|>ply their waids oi' relieve their suliferin}^'. On the ir)th a treaty was made with the Winnebajioes, whereby they sold to the United States all their lands east of the ^Iississipi>i and west of Green bay. As a consideration, the jictxcinment a^^iced to ji'ive them a. Iar<;'e region of country west of the river, to ])ay them ^7(1,000 in ten annual installments, to maintain schools for the education of tlu-ir children for a period of !'(» years, and to in- struct them in agriculture ami furnish them with cattle and implenu'iits for its practical introduction amon,n theii'i. To escape from the cholera, which was still rayin;;' at Koek Is- land among the Indians and eastern tnuijjs, Gen. Scott and Gov. lieynolds, with the i)riiicipal chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes, fell down the river to -lelferson IJarracks, where they entere years. As a reward to Keokuk and his friendly band, a r<'servati(iu of 40 miles stpiarc Mas made to them in I<»wa, includinji their jtrincipa! village. It was also ])roposcd to Keokuk to establish schools for the itenelit of his tribe, but he rejected the proposition, allej^inj;' that it iinlomacy of civilized men. Vi<'wed in the li^ht of a commercial transaction, such a disparity of values seems monstrous; but when we consider the Earth is the common herila^^e of the humau family, and that an advanced state of the arts and sciences is esseidial toitsdeveloinnent, we become reconciled to it as aneccssity in the ouwani march of civilization. The Indian piisoners who weie to be retained during' the pleasure of the i*resident, were coniineil in the barracks till the following 410 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. sjniiif''. Of till! liuiulreds who visited tbciii dariiis' the winter, oue of tlieiii writes: " We were Immediately struck with admiratiou at the gigantic and Hymnictrical figures of most of tlie warriors, who seemed as tliey re- clined in their native ease and gracefulness, with their half naked i)odie8 ex})osc(i to view, ratlier like statues from some nuister hand than beinga of a race whom we hud heard diaracterized as degenerate and debased." Keokuk visited tliem tiie following;' spriiij;', and nnide ^fjreat ex- eitioiis foi' tlieir release, ottering- to become resi>onsib]e for tlu'ir future conduct, but a message was received by (ien. Atkinsril, 1833, tiu'y reaclu'd Wasliington, an«l had an interview witii tlie President. IJIack Hawk (closed his speecli, delivered on tliis oc(;asion, in the following words: "We did not expect to con(juer the whites — they have too nmny houses, too many men. I took up the hatcliet for my part, to revenge injuries wliich my people could no longer endure. Had 1 borne thciu longer without striking, my i)eople would have said lllaek Hawk is a woman; he is too old to be a chief; lu; is no Sac. These retiec- tions caused me to raise tlu' warwiioop. 1 say no more, it is known to you. Keokuk once was here ; you took him by the hand, and when he Avished to return to liis home, you wer«i willing. IJIack Hawk exi»ects, like Keokuk, we shall be j)erniittcd to return, too." The jnesident informed them that they must go to Fortress IMonroe and remain there till the (conduct of their people satislicd him tinit they intench'd to comply with the stipulations of the treaty. Jle also assured them that their wonuMi and children, for whom they exjjressed solicitude, should bej)rotected from their enemies. On the UtJth of A])ril, they set oft' for the Fortress, where they renniined until the 4th of duly following, when an order was received from the president directing their release and retain home. The kind treatuu'iit of ('olonel Eustice, in (!onnnanaltinn»re, where th"y had another interview with the I'resident, who informed them that (Jen. Atkinson ami Keokuk their principal chief were anxious for their icturn lionu'. and that he had ordeied !MiiJor (larland, who would accom])any them tliithei', lirst to conduct them through some of the principal cities, that they might witness the i»ower ot the United States and learn their own inability to co]»e with them in war. "(Jo back," said he, "and listen to tlu^ counsel of Keo- kuk :ind other chiefs; bury the tonmhawk and live in jteace with the iiontiers, and 1 ])iay the Great Spirit to give a snuxdh path and a> fair sky for your return." Leaving IJaltimoie they reached l'liiladcl])hia onthelOth of June, and renniined long enough to see the jtrincipal objects of in- terest in the city and exhibited themselves to the curious thou- BLACK HAWK WAK. 411 Siiiids \vIm» llofkcd to see them. IJIiiclc Hawk in rct'crriny to Iiis coiMliict witli tlu' rnitcd Stales, said to the iiiidtitudc about iiiiii: " My Jicait };r('\v bitter iiyaiiist tlie wiiites and my hands stron,y. ] dnji np tiie tonialiawk and led my waniors on to battle. I foiijilit hard and much blood was shed, but the white men were iniiihty; tin-y wen'inany and my i)eo|»le failed," On the morninj;' oi'llie 1 Mil they started for N»'\v Voik and aiiivcd at the IJalleiy, in the midst of a vast assembla;;'e of people who had been drawn tojii'ther to witness Die ascent of a balloon. This novel .s])ec- tacle <:reatly astonished the Indians, and one of them asked the prophet if the a'ronaut was ^^oinji' to the (Ireat Spirit. On landing, the press of the midtitnde wiiich crowded to see them was so ureat that they could not reach the liotel till they were jdaced in carria^ics and committed to tlu^ care of the ])olice. Wiiile in the (;ity they were treated with marked civility, bein<'- condncted Avith ceremony to theatres, public gardens, and other phu;es of in- terest, and receivinji' many hamlsoiue presents. .Major (iarland had Iteeii directed to conduct the ])risoners us far north as r>()ston, but while in New York he was ordered to as- cend the Hudson and pro(M'ed with them directly to their iiome iii the West. In ]>ursMance of the ari-anjicments, on the L*2d of -lune the party started w<'stward, to the j^reat disajtpointment of the ])Ostonians, who wanted an opjiortunity to see and lionize the sav- aLic disturbers of the Northwest. At Albany, JJnttalo, Detroit, and other ]>laces alonj;' the route, the attentions ]>aid them ren- dered theii- progress tliroujih the country a triumphal procession, instead of tli" custody of prisoners in the hands of an otticer. In Itassini; the site of the old Sac villaj>e at the mouth of Kock river, Jtlack Hawk l)ecanie melancholy and ex])ressed nniny rej^rets at the causes which compelled him as an exile to leave it. The host of warriors whom he delighted to h'ad to battle were now no more ; liis villa;;e was r«'duced to aslu's, his family was disi)ersed amon<4' stianj^ers. and he a suppliant foi' a home in a foreign country. J'inaliy, alM»ut the 1st of Aujiust, the i>arty reached JJock Island, wiiicii had l>een selected by .Major (larlaiid as a suitable [)lace for the libeiai lne iiills, wiiicli risinj; by ii ;;('ntle ;iccli\ ity I'roni IIkj river follow its niciinderin^ course jind bound the valley ttii'ou<;li which it Hows. Tiie valley is se\«'ral miles in width, and at that time was interspersed with ;>roves of timber, which pi. On the north baid< of the for- mer was the site <»f the Sac villa;i'e, and directly opposite, on the west bank of the latter, that of tlie i-'oxes, whicii time ha' taken the old man by the liaiid. thei»ii)e was introduced, and after an hour of pleasant civ- iltics. Keokidi and his liraxes arose and took leave of the captixcs, ]»roniisinrevailed in the hall, .Major (larland arose and said to the assembled chiefs that he was much ]>leased at the fralcriiiil feelinji' which they had extemU'd to the ]uisoiiers since their arrival, and he trusted that this woidd continue, and there- BLACK HAWK W\ll. 41J aflor tlicy would dwell <(»<>(Mli('r in liaiiiMHiy iind peace, lie llieii Ciiiised ji letter I'roiii tlie I'lesideiit to l»e icad, admoiiisliiii;; the captives to cultivate tiie frieiidsiiip of tlieir iiei;;hl»oi'.s, to Imiit and Hiippoit llieir laniiiies, and tiiieateiiinji' tiie seveiest penalties if tliev a;iain distuihed the fiontieis. Keokuk replied: " \\'e re- ceive our lu'otliers in fri<'ndslii]». Our liearts are ;;(»od towiTids tiieni. Tli**y liave listened to l)ad counsel; now tlieir ears are closed. I };ive my hand to tln-ni; wiien they shake it they shake the hands of all. J will shake hands with th(;ni and then I am done." iMaJor (larland, to be morc^ explicit, ajuain arose Jind stated ihal it must be (lisliiiclly understood that the two bands of the Sacs and Foxes must now be.nierji'cd into one; that l>lack Hawk must listen to the council of Keokuk, and that the President woidd hereafter recognise the latter as the ]>rin»'ipal chief of the nation. When lilack Hawk understood that he was required to conform to the advice of his rival, he becairu- deej^ly aj;itated and his excitetl ]>assions burst forthwith uncontrollable \ ioience. With intense in- dij;nation of countenancte and the vchenu'iict^ which characterizes the savaji'c when roused to action, as soon as he could control his feeliii;;s sullicieiit to articulate, he exclainu'd : "1 am a man; I will iu)t conform to the counsel of any one. 1 will a(!t for myself; no one shall jioxcrn me. 1 am old ; my hair is '^Vi\\. I once i^ave counsel to my youn;^ men; am I now to conform to others? 1 will soon iio the ilreat Spirit where I shall be at rest. What 1 said to our ^i'leat father in Washinjitoii I say aj^ain. I will always listen tt) him. J am done." Keokuk apoloj^ized for his indiscretion, say- ing: "Our brother who has conu' to us has spoken, but he did it in wrath; his toujiue was double and his words were not like ii Sac. 11(! knew they were bad. He trend)led like the oak whose roots have been wasted by many rains. lie is old ; what he said let us forji'et. lie says he did not nu'an it; h(^ wishes it forgot- ten. 1 have spoken for him. What 1 have said are his own words." Major (Jarlaml ih)W iidbrnu'd the humbled chieftain that he was satislied that his condiu't in the future would be acceptable to the ]>eople of the United States, and that lie and his fellow ]>risom'rs might now consider themselves at liberty. Tin; council then ad- journed, and early tin; next morning the Indians crossed the Mis- sissijipi and dispersed to their respective homes in the forest. A violent war having snbsering of ls;{S he moved his family to the Des 31oiiu>s, and built him a dwelling- near the village of his tribe, 20 miles above the month of the river. lie furnished his new wigwam after the manner of the whites, cul- tivated a few acres in corn, melons and other vegetables, ami "when visited by the Americans entertained them with true Indian hospitality. The following autumn he visited an Indian trader, near liurlington, and as the result of exposure, on his return he contracted a disease which terminated his life. His countrymen Avitb the reverential respect which tJiey had for the dead, assem- 414 niSTOUY OF ILLINOIS. 1)lc(l to biir.v tlio iiiortiil rciiiiiins of their (h-partcd vA\Utt'. Tiio Ixxly dressed in a niiilonii wliicli iiad been presented toliini in oiiu ol" iiis eastern tonrs l»_v tiie Seer<'(ary of War, was horn to ils last restin^i' place by Ibnr of iiis wairiors. The yra\»' was an excavation () leet deep, and into (ids tiie body was (U'iM)sited in an nini^tiit pos- tnre, with the ri^ilit hand icslin;;' on a cane which liat ion of souls. Tluis, aftei an acheiitunais and sliiftin;; life of 72 years, JMack Hawk Avas <;atliered to his fathers. The banner of war fell ner\e- less from his <;ias]); his voice at the conneil tire was heard no nMtre, and ids restless ambiti<»n was stilled in the sleep of death. ^\■hile the instlin^' October leaves, moved by the sighing winds, chanted a re([niem over his ashes, the bberated shade sjied to tlu' liai)py hiinlin;; gronnds bey(»nd the settinji' snii, which, ac- cording to Indian theolojiy, only the };'ood and the brave are per- mitted to enter. rerliai>s no one of his race excelled IJlack Hawk in humanity and lo\e of c(»iintry. He always repelled with indij-nation the charj^e that he mnidered women and childivn, or mistreated his inisonei's. His ])aa'iotism is seen in rhe last si»eech he ever nnule in the presence of the Americans, who had driven him from the ancestral seat of his tribe: "Ilock river was a beautiful country. I like my towns, my cornfields, and the home of my people. 1 Ibnglit for it ; it is now yours; it will i)ro(lnce you fi'ood crops." These sentiments were not only creilitable to the heart of the speaker, but essential in forming a Just estimate of his motives in contesting the removal of his people lr(»in their nativtt land. In his domestic; relations, luMvas kind and effect ion ate, and unlike other chiefs, never had but one wife.* After his campaign in the British army, liis first act was to visit his family. '•! have started," says he, "to visit my wife and children. I found them well, and my boys growing finely. It is not customary for us to say much about our women, as they generally perform their ]>art dieerfully, and never interfere with the business belonging to the men. This is the only wife I ever had, or ever will have; she is a good woman, and teaches my boys to be brave." In liis ]uivate relations his integrity was not / tliein — Slarrry Atjilution by Jjuccjoy — His Jhnth. At. the j,'('ii(>ral election of Aii^iiist IS.!4. .Joseph Diiiiciin was elected <>(»veiiiof oC the State. His |iriiicipal opponent was ex- liieiil. (lov. KiniM'y, who was a;;ain an as|)irant I'oi' ^uhcrnaloiial Immkms. Dnncan was elected li.v a hainlsonu^ niaj votes to Kinney's l(>,l!l'4; Itobeit Mclian^lilin received t,.')l,M> and .lanie.s Adams SST votes lor the sanicollice. Tin' candidates for lienlenant- ji(»vernor were Alexander M. .lenlcins, whi> received l.'{,7i(r> votes; .lann's Evans, .S.(i()!» ; Wi ii ]{. Archei', S,.")?'), ami Samuel Web- ster. (li>. (iov. Duncan was born at i*aris, Kentucky, Februar\ L'.'Jd. 17!(4. We inivc already noted his ser\ ices in the; war of ISIU, under l"ol. (^rofihan at Fort Ste]»henson, when he was yet (|uite youufi'. In Illinois he first apjiearcd in a [uiblic capacity as nnijor-^icncral of the militia, a position which his military fame i>rotaired him. Sub- scipiently he became a State senator from .Jackson ond had im't " .ster. From that time down to his election asyoverno' .etained his seat in Con- gress. The first and bloodies.- ,i the IMack Hawk war ho was appointed by (lov. Jteynolo. irigadier-general of the volun- iintccrs, and conducted his brijiade t(» !{ock Island. Duncan was a man of limited education, but with naturally tine abilities he prolited greatly by his various public services, and gathered a .store of knowledge regarding i)ublic affaii's which served him a ready purpose. lie ]>ossessed a clear JudgenuMit, decision, contidemu^ in himself ami moral cour.ige to vAVvy out his convictions of light. In his deportment he wfis Avell adapted to gain the admiiation of the people, llis intercomse with them was attable, courteous and dignified. lie inspired confidence and attached to himself un- swerving friends.* During the gubernatorial campaign Bunc.in was absent in Wash- ington attending congress, and did not personally participate in "His pnrtrnltat the Governor's intinsion presents him with swarthy complexion, high chei'k bones, broud I'oreheuU, piercing blacli eyes und straight blacli liair. 41G DUNCAN'S ADMIXIHTllATKiV. 417 it, Wilt ixlilrcsst'd circiiliirs In liis constitiifiits. His chM'lKiii was iitliilHitctI to tlic cirniiiistaiK-t' of his altsi'iicf, liccaiisc liis «'strMMy- iiiciit iVoiii .lacksDii — erst liis political iiil>lie events was not then facilitated by means of the tele;:rapli ami press, as now. I'resideiil Jackson had criished the T. S. liank with an arbitrary if not lyranical hand; he had vetoed Itills con- taining' appropriations for improving the channel of the ;:reat \\aitash river and for the hail)or at ('liiea<;(t. 'I'liese wi're West- em measures which Diiiicaii had greatly at heart, and hence he refii .ed lo lon;^er follow the dictatorial ctairse of the "Military Chietlain." Ills personal admiration (;f the old hero was ehaiificd tit haired of his acts. This course, so far as ids politica for- tune was rniicerncd, was an error; but no one could say iliat tlic step thus taken was iM»t sincere. Jle iiad prefeniieiit to fiaiii liy reniainin;:' attached to the dominant i»arty, and nothing but disappointnient to look fo)'war;ed <-ondition of tlic limes; for the death of former issues or the obtrusion of liviMines, iiiMiicountered in past strifes. >i'o ienieiicy for new public (pies- tioMs is extended iietwceii violent partizans; every man isj;ua>ied liy a paity standard, irresp<'ctiv(' of tlie principles lie advocates. J)iiiican st(»od bravely to his new colors and never ref;T(^tt«'d, it is said, his clianj;<', niade upon careful and candid examination of the •lacksoii measur<'s. In his inauj^ural inessafie, Aviiicli was iarfjcly devoted to tlie dis- cussion of national jtolitics, Duncan threw oflf the mask and took a bold stand ayaiiist the course of the President. [Notwithstand- iiiii; liis defection, and tlie fact of a larj^c^ majority in the le;iisla- tiM'e bein^j^ oi>i)osed to liiin, liis I'eeoiiiineiidations relatiii};' to State atfaiis were most fully seconded and carried out. The laying' out of [tublic. liifi iv.iiys while the State was unsettled and tliey could be made strai.iiht between most of the important points witli little ex]»eiise<)r diiliciilty, as nrji'ed by liim, was res])onded to by the emictment of laws not only yiviiij^ authority to county commis- sioners for tlu'se purposes, but by f>raiitin{; 42 State roads be- sides, and at the si)e(;ial session of the year followiiif; 40 more were added. Equally liberal were tliey with reference to the canal and charters for railroads. To the subject of bankinf>- he called attention as folknvs: "r.auks may be made exceedin<;ly useful in society, not only by attbidin^ an opportunity to the widow, the orphan and ajj^ed, who possess cai)ital without the cai)acity of employing it in (mlinary * It is relntetl that tin old ponstftncnt rebuked him ns follows: "Now Oov. Duncnn, wi' Jiicks^on men took you up when you wn8 poor nnd friendless; we i)ut you In IiIkIi oflice und ennbleii you to make a fortune, nnd for all this you have aesei-tcd us nntl iroiie to the Adiiins men , You was like ii poor colt ; we eauffht you up out nf ii thicket, fed you on the best, eoinbed the burrs out of your mane and tall, and made n fine horse of you ; uud now you have strayed away from your owners."— Ford's History. 27 11 41S IIISTOUY or ILLINOIS. biisiiit'ss, to invest it in siu-Ii stocks; hut by its n.^c (lie vouii,ii!iii(l oiitcipi'isiii;; iiM'ciianic, nici'ciiaiil nmi ti'ii,()(K», and liie jjrivili'uc to increase' its stock $1.(>0(».(I()(» more. Six hranclies weie antliorized; and tin' old ter- ritorial \);\uk of Illinois, at Shawneetown. wliicli had siis|)ended business loi upwards ol' IL' years, was revived witli a cajiital of $;)(IO,(IO(>. In lieu of all taxes whatsoever the State hank was to pay .\ of 1 percent, on capital actually , .d in. The le^islatiu-e was not elected with reference t(» the creation t step in the next few years, and which overwhelmed the Slate with deht and almost financial ruin. President Jackson had vetoed the hill to re-char- ter the r. S. \\;\'\]i ^vhicli he re.narded as "a permanent eleclion- eeriuii machine." Its old charter was ahout to ex[>ir(' :nid an in- adecpiate supply of currency was dreadi'd ; to uieet which the SecretaiT of tlu' Treasury '-had encoiira.ui'd the State and local hanks liherally." This alforded to Democrats the |>retext that Presi- dent -Jackson, while he op])osed a ('oiic<'rn of such ma^iuitude and " elect ioneeriii;;' iidlnence" as t he U. S. hank, was really in favor of innltipJN in;;' local hanks. P.ut the baidc jiarty was intt without other arts and plots t(» i>ass this measure. lOxcry string' of the liiinntn heart was i)layc(l upon. A hitter I'celin^' existed amonj;' the peoi>le in some portions of the State toward nou-resideut land ow iH'rs, who held their lands at exliorbitant i)rices, while I'very imjnoN cnu'nt made in the vicinity added to their value. The desire w^as to huiden these lands with taxes and force tliein into the market at purchasalde jnices. The vote of an honoiahle seiKitor, \iolentIy opposed to hanks from [)rinei])Ie, was ohtaini'd in consideration of the passage of a law to levy a tax for road jnirposes, in th»^ militai,\ tract, where the ^^reat body of non resi- dent lands were located.* In the house, where the bank hill passed hy a hare majority — -7 yeas to I'd miys — a vote is said to have heeii obtained from a niend»er opposed, in consideration of Li.'^ election to the oiiice of State's attoiiicy.t Thus, says (Jov. Ford, the making' of a State's attorney niade a State bank, and it •[NOTK —Tile fcclinp of hostility toward non-residents found vent also, it is said, in trespasses ui)ontlieir lands lor tinil'jr, wliieli was talieii as if ooumion property. 'I'lie mreiits of tlie owners (tlie most unpopular men ol tlie eountrj) I'otind no redress in tlie iaw. liec luse witli witiKsses.iorors, and the syinpatliy of the eoiiit all on tlie same side, tlie tilind- folded yrod less of Justice, in thi^se eases blimletl with prejudiee. was (I eon i so with tlieiii. In this strait llie distant land owners adopted tlu' missionary plan, and Soujiht to (.radicate the sin of timber thieving', and to coiuiliate the favor ol tlie peo- ple, throiiirh the (fcntle ministrations cd' the trospel, for which purpose preachers were sent out, the c untiv divided into circuits iiiul duly assiyned Hut the inhaliitunls were Incorria-iide their lecdinjrs olidiirutc, and if tliey did not reject the gospel, they never- theless continued to take the timlier. 'I'ollie land owners the trosjiel proved as inelt'ec- tual a pr.jtection as the law. — Ko-d's Ilisl.] +The .louriml shows that our late lieutenant (rnvernor, John Dougherty, wns chosen to that ollico on the foUowuig day. DUNOA^''S AllMTNISTR ATIOX 410 may bo added, tlio bank Avas the. incipient nieasme whicli led to others, and bronylit uiinmiibered woes njxai tlie people of the State. The banks were not oiiuinally pai'ly nieasnres. One million Ibur hundred tiiousand rjoiliirs of tiie ea]>ital sto(;k of tiie State bank were to be subscribed by inwer to borrow a million i>ointed all over the State. Nine diicctors, one of whom was to be chosen president, were to niaiiaii'e the alfairs of the corporation. The circulafiou was not to excec'' issued of a less denomination than >*•"». If the bank refused to I'edeem tor ten days alter demand, it was to be dosed and wound up. Siwli were some of the i>rovisions of its chart<'r, which, i'i.i;hlly carried out. were not so baer of shares increased, it i)ropor- tioiialdy lessened theii' votes foi' directors. To ]iresei've the lull vole of the stocks, therefore, it became desirable to obtain small subscriptions by cilizens of this State, while they had the exclusive opportunity. With the view to euiiross-enouuh stock to direct the bank, liiese i)arti<>s procureil. t liroiij^h numlterless a.u'cuts scat tercel over the State, powei's of attoiney. from any person disposed to make them, emi»owerin,u' them respect i\ely to subscribe bank stock for them and to absoliildy mana^-e it siibse(|ueiitly. Thus there were many thousands of such subscri]»tioiis made by persons wiioiii it never cost ; cent to own bank stock, and who remained, ju'ihaps, ignorant of the fact they ever were l)ankei's. The stock ran up to a ])remium of i;> i)ei' centum alioxe ])ar value.* When the commissioners convened to award the stock, it was iiioxed that subsciiplions made for residents sluatld have jirece- (leiice over those, of non-residents, and that holders of jiroxies be rei|iiired to make oath as to the actual residence of the luincipals. This ]u'o])ositioii was sui>p<»rt<'d by .Fud.tic T. W. Smith, between wlioiti upon the one hand, and the rest of the parties named n])on llie other, the contcsl for the control of the institution obtained. *l)imt'!in"s Mi'S>siitrc, IS.in 420 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. It is >iai(l tliiit lie, of iiiiix'iiclmu'iit tiimc, was i)i('piuv(l to take isufli oatli, and tliat lie. liad in jiood laitli paid lor all his proxies out of his own money; hut the others e<»idd not thus swear. The resolntion therefoie did not prevail; and Mather, Tillsoii, (lodfn'y, Gihnan & ( o., and Wijiuiiis united ajiainst Smith, contn^lled the bank, and elected a. directory in ti;eir interest, with Mather as the president. The bank was in N^'hi^j; control — ^^just enough demo- crats were elioseu us directors to give a semblance of fairness to the i»roce('din<;s. At that time nearly the entire trade of the Upper ^Mississippi, includii!;;' that of the lead mines of Illinois, was ct)ntrolled by St. Loui, . The ami;!tio!i prevailed to binld up Alton, within our own State, as the commercial ri\al (.f St. Louis. Alton, in 18;}4, Lad been elected as the seat of government after the liO years lim ation at Vandalia should expire; but this honor she now reaaily yielded in consideration of beeoming the great emporium of the valley of the ^Mississippi. The Alton interest in the new bank was so large that, without a cond)ination of all the residue of the st«u;k, it possessed a controlling iidiuenee. The bank therefore loaned its ai(»,(HK> to con- trol and divert to Alton the imnu'use lead trade of the mines on 1\'\ er river. The price of that per cent. But this lavish enterprise to secure the lead trade for Alton failed to have a corresponibng effect upon easteru markets. After holding the lead a long time in store in the east for an advance, sale had timdly to be made under accumulated chaiges at a ruinous sacrilict'. To Stone, Planning «& Co., of Alton, several hundred thousand (hillars were advanced to oi)erate in pr nt \\h' following;- year the leiiislature did not licsitate. At this session were auliioiized ail those extravaj;unt measures of internal i:ai>rovemeiit, which in a few yeiirs en tailed upon the youn^' State a debt so vast as nearly lo )>aidv-ruj>t it. Hut of tiiis iarther aloiifi'. i>y act of ]\Iarch 4, 1.S37, the (•a[)ital stock of the .State bank was in- (•reas'Ml •'!(i;,(>(»(»,(MK), the wliole to be isid)scribed for the State by the fund cominissioners, au executive body of the internal im- )»ro\enieiit system. Tilt; t;apital sl^)ck of the liaidv of Illinois, located at Sha wn('et(»wji, was in liUe manner authorized to be iitt-reas<'(l sjl.ftMI.OOO, ■jSl.0(>O,(M)() beinj;- reserved for the Slate, and .-?!()(),(>•)() for private siibs(;j'iption. The (-onsent of tiie banks was lirsf to be obtiiined, but either ini.yht aecepl tlie State siibscrijtiion, to the amount authorized, lu sultscribin;.;, the State was to advance tiie .same jwr centum — •*<.■) a share — as ori<;iiially p;iid l>y private stockholders. The fund comndssioners were autlKH'ized to sell the State's certili(cate of stock, ami to use the surplus levenues of tiie IJniled States from the sah^ of lauds, as iiionev mi^ht be needed from time to time for sid>scriptions. Five additional dire(ctors for the Stat«; baidc were also pro\ i,v tlic Slate hank, was not (hsimsi'd ol'; they iiuwcvcr seixed \hv pnrposc of a capital lui tlic hank, and its hnsincss was aniplilicd corrcspondinuiy. The hanks, lliionulioiit tlicir career, met willi jtersi-stent opposi- tion from intlinMilial pai t\ niana^cis, Tiiis was greatly augmen- ted hy tin' fact tiiat their ot'licers, liie presitU-nt, cashiers, and a larj;'c majority «>t tiie directors, wen; widjis, which anuised tii<' jealousy of democrats, cansinjL; tln-m to char,ue that the hanks were [lolitical com-erns, operated lor tin' adxancenu'nt ot parly all'airs. .Jackson's expression respei-tin;; the I'niled States lianiv — that it was a ''jiijianti*' electioiu'crin^- nnu'hine" — was not tori^nt- toil. .Indjic T. \V. Smith, who had dral'ted the eliarterot the Slaie bank, and worked earnest ly wilii democrats lor its passaj;*' in ilie lejiislatnre, had e\er since his deh-at I'or its c«)ntrol, aninnited hy thai spirit which if it cannitt iide is bent npon inin,made wai' up- on it, and now hesitared not \o prononncc its cliarler nnconsiitu- tional. He was joined hy many other sore parly leaders. My an act of congress, [>asse(l at the itrccedinji session, it was ]>rovided that the surjihis revenne of tin' I'nited Stales, arising from the sale of public lands, ».S:c., iniiiid be deixtsited with tiie dillercnt States. The baidc accordininled eiti/ens furnishinji statenn-nts so derogatory, that the secretary declined the re»piest. Auu)nj; I Ik- nn)rc inlluential opponents ot' the banks was .hidjic MclvoUerts, then receiver of llie ]niblic nntm^ys at Danville. l*arty malice anar and from that tinu' steadily depreciated. The notes of tin' bank were j:athered nj* and presented h>r specie to enti'r land. Had the specie been re deposited by the j;t>veriinn'nl, 1 he relief from this annoyance would have been very jireat. l>nl this, throuj^h the M-np'tul machinations of disaitpoinletl parti fsans, was not to be. 'Ihe bank, lo retard tlic constant elih of sjiecie from its vaults, had iccourse to the |ilan ol' e.\clian};in>; issues between the respectixc branches, and thus throw inj; tlu'cir- culali(m as far i'lom the place of redemption as j)ossible. Hardly were the banks in operation, with their ennt the drain ol' specie at that tinn- could not he borne. Tln^ charters provided that if redemp- tion ill s])t'cie was refused for (l(t days tojicther, they were to be- conu' forfeited and the banks slntnld m* into litpiidation. Tin^y were the dept»sitories (»f the moneys raised by the sale of Stale bonds: of tin' State revenue; in a word the tiseal ajicuts of the Stale, and their suspension would involve the Slate and all its s|)lendid scheme of inteinal impro\(-ments in common ruin. In this dilemiKi, the iLi(>vernor was ur^cd hy the canal commissioners to coiivcm' Ihe legislature t<» lc};aliz(' an indeliniti' suspension of specie jtaynM'Uts hy th«^ baidis. A s]»ecial session was called tluly lOlh, ls;;7, and the bank suspensions w<'r«' leiiali/ed. I»ut to hifj excellency's urgent apjieal to repeal tlic periiieioiiis system of DUNCAN'S ADMINISTUATION. 423 lioiiiidcd pell iiH'll out (>[ tlic w iiKtows, l)iit witlioiit aviiil — ciioiin'li Mere licld in (liiraiicc (o iiiako :i qtioniiii, and tlu' sine f//t' adjoiini- liiciil was canit'd. Amoii.^ tlic iiiciiihci's of tlic House we liiiil llic iiaiiK's of soiiicoC tlic most iittlabli' iiicii in the annals of Illin- ois: John J, Hardin, Ahraliani Lincoln, Josiali Francis, «S:c., hut w iictlicr f licsc wliijis ]»artici|»at«'d in tlic window csca]»adc is not dcliiiilclv known. The session was the (irst in Siirinjilit'ld, and ...ji,.-. ,......< .|>.. .. .. ... .... ,,..... ..,,..,,.. .., ... dcliiiilcly known. The session was the (irst in S|»rin^li«'ld, an the house occii]>icd what is now the <»ld 2iid IM'cshytcrian clinrcdi, iiurlli ol' the now edifice occiijiii'd by the lejiislatiirc in 1S71. The hank.s were now thoniiht to be deat!, and that nothing remained to be done but to wind ul) their uttairs. J'.ut their cue- 424 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. lilies it'ckoiicd without tlit'ir lii»st. Tli«' s])I('ii(li(l triiiiiiiili of tlio deiiutcnits proved ii bancii victory. The le^iilar .se.ssi«>ii henaii on tlie 1st ]M()iiday in Deeeinber, with the same nieinlu'rs, and lu'i'ore the close ol" tlie niontii Ihe banks obtained not onlv a fiirtiier h-ase of life, and license (o suspend s[»eei»' pa,vim'iit, but were mithorizcd to issue one, two, and three dollar bills besides, to ett'eet ehanjiC — silver haviiij; been dri\fn out of eiiculatioii by the dejjreciated jKiper. The debtors of the bank were a^ain ahowed to ;^ive new notes b\ payin,;; ten per cent, interest on their indel)t- edness. Uy what potency these additional ]iiivileji'es were pro- cured must be left to conjecture. The State bank was the custodian of the public moneys and revenues of the State, as it Merc, a substitute for the treasury. Auditor's warrants, at a dis- count of oO percent, were diawn upon tln^ bank and paid in its currency, worth a ^i'ood deal mori' than the warrants, both in and outside of the State. All the State oflicers, iiu'lmlin^- the mem- bers of the iissjMiibly, were for their pay in the power of the bank, and if these would do nothiiiji' to ui>iiold the credit of that insti- tution — their own creature — the honorable ^icntlemen niii^ht return to their constituents without other in their pockets than auditor's warrants ! This, tojicther with such Jndicioiisand timely acciimmodations to inii»ecnnions party h-aders as the exiii;t'ncy dictated, enabled tlu' bank to render tlu' glorious democratic victory barren of results, r>ut the new lease of jiower did not la.st lonji'. There weie other inliuences arisin.u' from the inevitaiile laws of linance, more jtotcnt in their etfeets than acts of the lej;islature. When inom'y is abundant eiedit is extended without stint. With the vast system of internal inii»roveiiients and the lare(»i>le were lar,>;,«'ly in debt on account of siieculations which juoNcd delusiims, and also to the merchants; the latter in turn had recei\<'d either a<"<'ommoda- tions at the banks or ow«'d for >ioods abroad; contracts matured but nobody paid. The State revenues bein<;' ina(le(|natt' to im'ct its expenditures — the jieople averse to hijilior taxati<»n, and the lejiislators, with a tender rei^ard to jtcrsonal conse(pieiices, disin- cliiu'd to impose them — the bank, to j;ain the faxor of the lej;isla- ture, taxed its resources to redeem the outstandinji' auditoi's warrants, amoiintiiifi' to near .*;>()( ),(KK». Its bills had <;radiially declined to lU and 1.1 per cent, discount. Now came the bank directors themselves, as contractors to build the Northern (.'ros.s railroad, and added the last feather to the canu'l's back. For the buildiiiji of the iailroaayment canal bonds, which were at that Juncture not in'j;(>tiable. To obtain accommodations from the banks, these directors defeated a pio- jiosed order against expansion durinji' the suspension.* Keceiv- in;> loans for themselves to carry forward the i)iiblic wcuks on their contracts, they, to be consistent, voted like favors to others. The credit of the bank was put to its utmost tension. Its volume of money, further swollen, sank to a lower discount. And in Febuary IS4L', the monster institution, with a circulation exceed- inj4 .'?.'>,()(tO.(K>(», snapjK'd its thread of life and jiassed into dissolu- tion, spreadiiifi devastation upon every hand, far and wide. 'See Gov. ForU'8 mistuko as to tliisiu his History of Illiuois,2:.'3-l. DUNCANS ADMIXISTIJATION. 425 Tlic r.iiiik of Illinois, iit Sliiiwiu'ctowii, was siiiiili'.rly involved. It loiiiM'd 1o tilt' Stilt*', ill the first pliicc, .'r'SO.tMtO to co'iiiidclc llio new Stat*' House at Spriiijilield ; early in the aiitiiinii oi" l.s;}!>, upon tlio earnest solicitation of (io\, railiii and his enua^einent to de- jiosit as a ]»ledy(' ><•")< •(»,(»( 10 in internal iiiipioveiuent bonds, the liaiili advanced the (Joiniiiissin.u'rs oi' ruhlic Works siiOdjdOO. The collateral dei)osit was, liowever, never made nor the sniii bor- rowed ever rei)aid. In .June following;', with a circulation of some, .*,()()(), it also collapsed. The people weie left destitute ol' an addipiati^ circiilatinj;- niediuin, and were not supplied until the or- dinary processes of their limited (commerce broii;.ilit in j^old and silver, and the bills of solvent banks from neighboring Slates, which was tardy enouj;h, there beiii^' but little eiuij;ration to Illi- nois at that time. The banks and the State had been partuei.s in speculation and they w<'re now partners in embarrassment. The revenues wei'e jjayable in the notes of these broken banks; the State pai'l no interest on her bonds, of wlii(;li the banks lii'hl a larj^e amount, iviul they were worth in market but J-i cents on the dollar. Ibit the old tirm of Hanks and State was to be speedily dissolved, r.y act of .January L'4, 1S4.'{,* to "diminish the State debt and jnit the State Mank inio liquidation," the bank was j^iven 4 years to wind up its business, but it was re((uircd to j^o into immediate li;piidatioii and i»ay out all its specie /)ro rata to its bill hohler.s and depositors, and issue to them certiticates of indebtedness for the unpaid balances; 8b"),()(H) in specie, beinj;' however first re- seixcd to the bank to pay the expenses of windini:' up its alfaii's. The new certiticates weie to be re;;istered by the com- niissi(»ner and made receivable in jiayment of any debt due tlie bank, or for the re, he to siiiieiider to the baidc a like amount of State IJaiik stock, !:i<.")(M)Ob beiiiji reserved for the liiial windinj;' np of the alfairs of the bank. All its baidvin<4' l)ri\ile,<;es, (»ther than those necessary to wind ui» itsbiisiness, were to immediately eeas«' ; no property of the bank was to be sold oil execution or otherwise, except for two-thirds of its appraised value. The bank mi,nlit reserve from its sale such real estate as il deemed proi>er. Three days were allowed to file its acceptance with the Secretary of State. It was a very favorable 'M't for the bank and an administration measure stronuly seconded by a few leading' Democrats, wliii-h caused it to prevail, as we shall see. A somewhat similar bill, under the lii.yli soundinj^' title of •' An act to reduce (he public deltt one million dollars and put tiie iJank of Illinois into licpiidation," jiassed at the same session, in relation to I lie Shawne<'towii bank. It was to surrender State stocks or other lial»ilities of the State e(pial on their faces to «l,(KH>,(»0(>,lialf in five days and half in 12 months, when the <;()vernor was to assis'ii to it an eipiivaleiit of State l!ank stock. The charter of the Cairo bank was repealed. IJy these acts the immediate extin.ituislimeiit of 8-*,2(KI,000 was provided. I>ut these acts wer(^ not passed with- * Sou Houae Ucport.8, 1842-3, 203-4-5. 420 IIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. out coiisidcriiblt' ((pposition. Tlio disposition on tlio i)iut of many WHS to ciiisli tilt' Itiinks, to wliicii ail tlu' woe oi" the slniji^lin;n' coiiiitiy was asciiiifd, with ttnc fell l»low l)y a dirt'ct repeal (»l their charter, whicth they had frtMpientl.v forfeited, ln)wev«'r it uii<;lit in- volvti till) best interests of the State in their disaster. I'rior to this, and in anticipation of this coinpi'oniis«> le<;'islation and the surrender by the Stale of her baid; stock in exclian^*' for her bonds, after the failnre of the liank of Illinois in 1842, tiio Avliole concern was jmrchased as a specniation by a c(»nii)any of sharpers, who elected theinselxcs its ollicers. Some of the direc;- tors then secretly Ixirrowed iVom the Itaidc ><1 (»(>,( 100 in specie, which was tiansinitted to New York and purchased State scrip and ?i<;!.;;i.(l()Oof thc!*S(lU)00 »»f intei'cst bonds hypothecated with ]Macallister and Ste.>bins in ISll by l''nnd Coniniissioner White- .sides, for ."jlilil,.")!***, contrary to law. I'nder the law these bonds Avcro to be solcl for what tiiey would brinji, but could not be hy- ]»()thecated. as the rcci]iients well kiM'W. The favored dirrctors, l)y connivance of the l)oard, first paid the sjiecie borrowed from the baidv with s 100.000 (d' these bonds, which cost them .'50 cents on the dollar. Their nn]>aiverin)r refused at lirst to receive these bonds; a law had been passed to settle with Macal- listcr and Stcbbins by ])iiyinj;- intt-rest on the sum actually a(b vanced by them, and their surrender of tlu^ hypothecated biuuls, makini!' alxtut I'S cents on the dollar; to have received a lariie share of tiu'se bonds at their face \ alue would have defeated the law for tliis adjustment. Later it became patent, however, that 3Iacallist<'r and Stebi>ins had jjarted with many nu)n' of the bonds than the Bank of Illinois had receiv('laee, who acted in that capacity sonu' UO years. lOarly in the fall of 1871 he remitted to W. II. Uradly, cleik of the U. S. district court • This cliapter has in great part beun gatliereil from Ford's History. BrNCAN't^ ADMIMSrUATloX. 42; iit Cliiciijio. tlic spcciiil ;iii(lil<»r, ii Itiitt-li of notes miiiI ('('I'tidcatt'sof ><7(Mt lur ciiiicclliitiuii. This it \v;is sii|i|h»s('(1. would l»c iihoiit the lust to \h' |»i('s('iit('ti(»ii, and tiial the trust v ;,idd be linall.v closed shortly a Iter. SLAVKKV A(iI'l'A'l'I().\ — DKAllI ( )K LOVK.JOV. Tlie year IS.'!? is iiieiiioralile lor the death of Illinois' first martyr I0 lilierly. iOlijah I', l-ovcjoy. I !<• w as liorn at Alliioii. Keneitee county, .\laine, No\-. !», isoi'. At the aye of I'l he entered Watei'- ville college, and after jLiiadnatiiiji' with the first honors of ins class. renioNcd to S|. Louis and eoMiiiM'iieed leaeliin;n. A \ear or two a tier ward he e\elian,ucd the oeenpatioii of a teacher tor that of the Jonrnalisl. l)e<'aine the editor of tiie St. Ltiiiis Tiiiiat, and ad\(>eatcd the eleeiioii of Henry <'Iay as jiresideiil of the United kSlales. Not lon^ after he had entere(l this new field of lal>or. he united with the I'lesityterian ehiireh. and tleternuned to altandoii it also for tin' eler.uieal i)rol'essioii. Aeeordin^ily at the a.^c of .'iO lie repaired to the 1 iieolo,i;ical sehool at IMineeiowii, N. ,1.. entered ■with .^'i-eat ardor upon his studies, and in is.'!.! was licensed to jtreaeh by the i'resbytery of l'hiiailel|iliia. 'i'lie following; sninnier was spent '1 preacliiii,^' ill Newport. Wiiode Island, and at S]»i'in;;" ('liiirch, N. v., after which he returned to St. Louis. Here he a.uain assniiied the editorial cliairand isMied the first iiuiuiier of the *>7. Lduis Oh.scrrcr. a reli.i:'ioiis news|iaper. Now L'l'd. ls,'l;l. Soou after he incurred the ill-will of the Catholic ('iiiireli. by eliaracter- \'/A\\'^ llieir proceedings in iayiii;;' the corner stone of a <'alliedial (Ml tlie Sabi)alli as a desecration of the day. and cliai',uin.U' that the use of" the ''iiited States artillery and ea\aliy, which were br(iii::ht in reipiisition to^ive presti'^c to the occasion, was a ]>ros- titiilion of the purposes for which they weic intended, i-'roni the clerical I'ancor excited by this ont-spokeii e\i»i'essi(»n of opinion, )ie thought ]M'oceeaper was presented him by a number (tf leading <'iti/,eiis and the minister who I'cceix'cd him into the church, in which they expressed the opinion that slaveiy is sanctioneublisli his honest (con- victions. In answer to the biblical view given of shivery, he 428 III.STOHY OF ir.I.INOIS. iciiiiiids Ilis censors (»f tilt' ^joldcii rule — iiiiikc not slsncs of otiicrs if von do n(»t wisli to he uiiidt' slaves of yonrschcs. llisshilc- nicnts. idtlioiitjli coiiclicd in Ilic inosi inotVcnsixc hm^inii;;*'. ii;L;;iin (xciti'd the ire of liit' cili/cns, :ind tiir piopiictois iii^ back he resnnied his editorial laltors and eontiniied them indil tlie summer of lKi'>, when he a;;ain l»e- (•anie involved in dillienlties. On the L'.'id of April, the police arrested a nej^ro l»y the name of IVlclntosh, who, while on the wa.v to piison, di<'W his knife and killed one and hadly wonnded another of the otliceis having' him in chari^c. In conse(pienc('i of the murderous assault, a larj^o crowd surrounded the Jail in which he was imi)i'isoned, and takiuii; liim thence they bound him to a stake and burnt him to death. The community beinji' larjicls in sympathy with the i)erpetrator.s of this unlawful and liendish act, it was a lon;^' time before they wen- brouiiht to tiial. When at leiijith the matter \ias presenti'd to a ^rand Jury, tlu^ Jud^'c, by the most ^ross ]terversion of facts, infornu'd them that the O/Ascrrr/' had caused the nej;ro to murder the p(»liceman, and that there was no law for i»unishinj;' them who burnt him at the stake. A succeedin;;' luunber of this sheet repelled the tlaj;rant cliaryc nnule by the JudjiC, alliuled to the fact that he was a ("atholic, and intinnited tliat his views res]»ect- inu' the eid'orcement ol" the law could only result from .Jesuitical teaching;'. The editor, awaic that the statement wotdd be folhtwctl by anolhei' outburst of indijiiiation and an attem]>t to destroy the jtress, immedialely caused it to be shii>ped to Alton, wliitlier it arrived -July L'lst, ISl'tJ. The day bein^i the Sabl>ath, .Mr. Lovcjoy proi)osev the t.vranicai censorship of t!ie slave powei', lie no doidtt after ins arrival at Alton intended to eomplv. Indeed he mi]Lilit jnslly have coiiclinlcd that it was wsv- less to waste his time and ener^iv in endeavoring; to Itenelit a {■omMMinity which was endeav oiin;; to exercise over him a hon(la;;o •worse than that wliicii fettered the l)ody of a slave. Yet, as the contest between freedom and slavery uicvv warmer and earnest champions were nt'cdcd to contend lor the ri;;ht, INlr. Lovejoy (■oncindcd tiiat duty required him to a;;ain enter the aicna of discussion. As the result of tlie meetinj;', funds were raised, another press was sent for, and tlu- lirst nundteritf tiu' Alton Ohserrer was issued Sei)t. S, ls;i(l. its editor, jiifled witli nioretlmn ordinary ability, soon e.xt<'n(led its circulation, its discussions at lirst Ix'in;;' mostly conlined to sul)jects of it moral and literary chaiacter. i>y and by the (juestion of slaveiy was also l)roached. Mr. T.ovejoy. no doul)t smarting; und«'r the unjust surveillance to wliicli lu' was subjected at the starting;' of his paper, seemed now deteiinined t(» exercise liis constitulioiud rij;lits to free speech, lu'inji willing' that tiie laws of Ids country, not the dictation of rutlians, should decide as to wliether he abused this priv ilej^e. in tlu^ issue of . I line !!!>, IS;>7, at the instances of the American Anti-shivery Society, he favored the circulation of a i)«'titioii for tlio abolition of slavery in the District of ('olumbia. and in the suc- cecdinj; number lie si»eaks of the iiiii)ortaiice of or^iauiziny an anti- slavery society for the State of Illinois. In tlie same paper he also indiilned the followin;;' leliections, sujij^csted by the 4tli of .Inly: '• This day i('iu'oaches us foroiirslotli and inactivity. It is tlio day of our nation's birth. lOven as we write crowds are hurryin.i;' past our window in ea;;'er anticipation to the api>ointed bower, to listen to the declaration that ' AH men are created ecpnd ;' to hear tht^ elo(|uent orator deiiounce, in strains of manly iiidi^iiiiatioii. the, attempt of i'Jijiland to lay a yoke on the shoulders of our fathers Avliicii neitlier they nor their cliildreii could bear. Alas what bit- ter mockei'y is this. We assemble to thank (lod for our own free- dom, and to eat with joy and j;iadiiess of heart vvliili^ our feet arc on the ]ie<'ks of nearly ;i,()(KI,(l()(> of our fellow-men. Not all <»iir shouts of seIf-c()n<;ratuIatiou can drown tlieir jiioans; even that veiy daji' which waves over our head is formed from material cul- tivated by slaves, on a soil moistened by their blood, drawn from them by tlie whip of a re]»ublicau task-master." As soon as this was lesid, the pro-slavery men asseiubled in the market house and passed a number of resolutions, in wliicIi, with strange inconjiiuity, they claim tlie right of free speecli foi' tlieuiselves, while they ])lot to dei)rive another of tlio, same ])rivile<>e. A coinniittee was appointed to iiif(uin jMr. Lovejoy that lie must cease ayitatiiiji" tho question of slavery, and they accordingly dropi)e(l a letter in tho post-offlce, containing a douiaud to that eti'ect. The editor re]>lie«l to the coininuiiication, by denying their right to dictate to him 430 IIISTOUY OF ILLINOIS. uliiit if \viis proper tiMli.sciis.s, iiimI nt thosiiiiK^ time t(>ii<1(>nMl tliciii till' use of his piipcr lo r'-l'iitc liis o|iiiiioiis if IIm'.v were wioiih;. Tlit'V, however, chose :i iiioie siiiiiiiiiiiv iiiiiliiiei' Uty ei 'liny the eoii- li'ovcisy. On the ni;;lil of the LTd h of Aii;^iist ii molt niiide sin iis- siiiiM on Ihe ((Mice of lln- Ohncrrcr, with stones nnd l»rieUl»;its, nml iitter »lii\ in;.; ont the employes entered iiiid eompletelv demolished the press. .Mr. I.ovejov himself wns iifleiwiird snrroiinded in the. street 1»\ il nnmlieiof infliiins, it was believed, tor the pnipeNC of otVeriiij; him violence, 'i'hese ontiiij^cs were Itoldiv eommitted, withonl any atti'mpt hein;; made Wythe city ollieials to liriny the I'ioters lo justice. 'I'lie ani i sla\ cry parly oi the town, of course, were justly incensed at tliis wanton outra^^'cand willlid disre^ai'd of indi\ idnal riuhts, hut heiiij;- largely in the unnority. all they could do was to (pnetly suhnnt and send for ii new press. This, liowe\er. the prctsciihed <'diloi was never to see. LciiN iiiy .\itou sh(»rtly after to atteml a preshytery, the press arrived Septem- ber L'lst. and in ids absence it was demolished and. like its piede- cessor. thrown into the Mississippi. These iiulawl'nl proceed in;'S ha' ids life, and it wiis only at tiie iuter- Itosition of his heroic and dexctted wife tiuit lie escaped Iheii- mur- derous intent. In the meantime tile friends of .Mi-. lovejoy sent for a fourth jiress. and it was in connection with this thai the traj^cdy occiiired A\liich cost him his life, in aiitieipatioii of its arrival a series of mecliiius were lu'ld in which boih the friends (tf freedom and sla- very wei'e represented. The object of the latter was to ellcct ii compromise, but it was one in wliicli liberty was to make conces- sions to oppression ; in which the proju'letors of the Ohscrrcr wero to Ibi'cyo the le;^itimate use of liieir jtroperly to ai»pease an ijn'iio- rant mob, and in wiiicli rij^ht and modern proyi-ess were n-qidred to submit to injustice and the exploded ideas of the ))ast. Mr. Iloyan, the Metlioajiate tlie re- lijiiion of his master, nor to defend himself from tiie attacks oflii.s enemies; the peojile of Damascus wer(M)pposed to Paul, lint did lie arjiue with the populace the (pnvstion of his lej>al riylit ; did he say I am a minister of Christ and must not leave tiie work of my master to Hee before tiie face of a mob." Tills was strange aiwtflll>lliliif ilk tliii mob, who broke it into I'ra^nients and threw them into the river. The Ibllowinj"' day a j^rave was dn;;' on a liij;h blnlf, in the sonlliern pait of the city, and the body, w ithont ceremony, was thrown into it and covered np. Some years afterward, the same eh'xation was chosen as the site of a cemetery, and in layin;^ ont the uronnds, the main axcnne chanced to pass o\'er the j^iaxe of Lo\ejoy. 'J'oobsiate 1 he diflicidly, his ashes were interrcil in a new locality, and within a few years past, a simple nntnnment was erected ovei- the s])ot, bearing;' the inscription: Jlicjaccl Lorcjojj^ jam jKirci' scjhiKo. or those wli(» jiaiticipated in this infaiiMMis crime, it may be mentioned that the leader of the ontlaws tinally became a prisoner in the Ohio ))enitentiary ; the person most instrnmental in com- mit tin^H' the murder was killed in a brawl in New Orleans, while many others, it is said, ended their lives in violence and dis- cnice. he anthors of its ])ro.uress, and it is not stran<;e that he lost his lie. iCvery consideiable advance in theology has had its (a-rsei-'i- lions and martyrs. The iiutijiKt rh(ntin>\' Mnj;lish liberty was wrnn^ from the j;rasp of tyranny by the (hath of patriots. France has battled and bled Ibr re[iublican pivernment, yet her object is only half attained. TIk^ <'ause for whi(;h Love joy di(Ml finally triinnphed, yet it cost (»ne of tin- most bloody civil wars known to history. Such has been in general the past history of reform. ciiAi'TER XXXVI r. STATE INTEIiNAL LMIMIOVEMKNT SYSTEM. Ill liis ini^HSiif^c to tliD Icfijislatiirc iit I lie spcciiil sosision bcfjnn. Dcccmlx'r 7, IS,')."), (Jov. I)iiii' time, burthen and spnee, wlmt patriot bosom does not Itciit hi;;h with a hiiidiible iimliitioii to ;;ive to Illinois her lull sliiire of those adviintajit's which are adoriiiii;^ ]u'r sister States, and wl(i<',Ii a iiiii;(iiilieent Providence seems to invite by tlii^ woii- derfiil ii(l;i|)tiitioii of our whole country to such im|trovemeiits." J'eiinsylviiiiia and other States were at the time en<;a;;(Ml in exten- sive works of internal imi»rove,nieiit. Tlic^ lef;islatiire responded to the ardent words of the governor in a, liberal manner, by char- tcrin;^ a ;;reat number of railroads, alimtst clieckeriii};' the map of the State, and jdedj^inji; its faith for $."((((),(I(K» of the canal loan; but further than this they did iiotf^d; the siijueme folly of the ]»eiiod beiny' left for their siu'cessors to enact. After the adjoiini- iiieiit, when the ])eo])le coiilemi)lat«'d the project of a vast system of intei'iial improvements, as ]»ortrayed by Ills Ivxcelleiiey, they W'i'W fired with an inordinate desire to have itsiieedily in successful o)>cratioii. They were already inoculate*! with the fever of speculation, then rife tliroiij^hout the west, ('hiciiyo, a Tnere trading post in l.S.'{(), had in a, few years ^rown into a city of several the •^and inhabi- tants. This remarkable city had now started upon her woixleifnl career of improvement, iiiisiirpassed by individual effort in the annals of tln^ world, steadily niaintaiiied to this day; and at ])reseiit, after her lerribh^ visitation by the lire (lend, also niisiir- ]»assed in the annals of the; w rid for tin' nia;;iiitiide of its destrueliveness, since the (hiys of Sodom and (loniorrah, she bids fair to eclipse all her Ibrnier lapidity of growth. 'I'lie st- iiit'iit of (lie town iiis]»ired einiilation. 'I1irou};liout the State, towns, and additions wer<^ plotfetl with the liojie of jirofitinj;' by the influx of eniijirants. In some eases maps of splendidly sitn;ited towns would be taken to Chicago, to attract the attention of tho li8 4:y6 4;m IIISTOUV or ILLINOIS. eiiiii;i!iiil, :iim1 Miictioii sjilcs dI' lots would be niii(l(^ fill' (Voiii tin*. j)I;icc ol' l((c;itioii. Othci's were sent, cast. It was sjii(!, lands tollie ainonnt of !!!."),(MIO.(IO(» w<'re eiileied in Illinois. h'roMilhis it was not nni-eased on the faith and credit of the: Stale. A new le<;islafnre was to be (deeted in An^Mstof that year, IS,;*;. The da/./.lin^' scheme was now \ ij;'oronsly ajiilated. The press es|>onsed the project. I'nblie meetinj;s were held all o\cr the State, and icsolnlions, as (Ik; exjtressions of the peoples ill la\()i' of the scheme, wcic adopted, 'i'lie subject was kept alive. The j;reat natural siuface ad\antaj;('S of tlie State for the biiildinj;' of railioads weni dilated upon; the State; which alr«'ady j»ossessed every element of yi'eatness — extent (d' territory, ii(di- iiess of soil, variety of climate, almost bounded by iiaviiiabU^ waters — lacked only these iniprox cmeiits to reach and develope its vast and inaccessible inferior. Its broad and fertih' prairies lay ready pre|)ared, awaitiii};' only population and the hand of industry to respond with abumhint products, (o freight these avenues of commerce connect in;;' them with the markets of the world. That these \iews were in the main correct has by this time, with our 7(MI0 miles of completed I'ailroads, been demonstrated; but that the State should carry Ibi'wardthe herciileaii project was most vissionaiy, and proved most disastrous. 'ilie leuislatiire (dected Anjiust IS.'UI, was supitlemeiited by an inlernal iiiipro\emenl convention, composed of many of the ablest men ii;;lil into r<'(|iiisi(ion to fiirtln'r llic success of tlic scliciiic. I'ossildlilics were ai'^^iied into prohaMlitics, iiiid tlie latter into iiil'alihilities. I)()id>ts rej^ardiiin" the advaiilaj^es of tlie, system wci'e scouted; the res(»urces of tlie State uiaiiiiilu'd a liiiiidred fold, and tlie ulti- mate aoility of the works to meet all their liabilities without det- riment to the State, i>redicled with a jiosif iveness as if ins|)ire(l by the .nift of projiliecy. (loNcriior Duiiean in his iiiessa^^c reil«'r- ateil his reeuiiimeiidatioii toestaltlish a ^^ciiei'al aiul uniform sys- tei 1 of internal inipi'oNcments, in which the State iiii;;lit take :i lliii'd or half interest to hasten the woiks to eom|i!etion, which would secure to her a, laslin;;' and abundant revenue, to be aj*- plied upon the principles of the |)laii profjosed, " until the whole coiintiT shall be iulersect<'d by canals and railroads, and our beautiful prairies enlivened by thousands of steam en^^iiies, draw- ing;' after theiii len.utheiie(| trains, frei^iited with the abundant prodiictiiuis of our fertile soil." The |troductioii of the conveii- tiou was conlided to t he hands of lOdward Smith, of \\'aba.sli, chair- man of IIk' committee on inleinal impioxements in the le;;islat ure, who, after the inli'oduction of a set of rest il lit ions coxcriii;^ the same ^^round, on theJMli olMauuary, IS.'JT, made a report on the memo- rial and the j;dveriior's iiiessaj^e relatinii' to the same siii)ject, which it may safely be asserted is one of the most assiirinj;', ex- |)ectaiit, and hopeful papers to be found amon;;the archives of Illinois. It occupies some IL' i»a,n('s, and is replete with specious rcasuiiinj;'. 'i'he commiltec ai'jiiicd that puidic ex])ectation, both sitli >meaiid abroad, would lie .^reat ly disa|ip(iiiited if some system of ihteriial iiiipi(»\ «'meiit was not adopted at- the pi'cscnt ses- si pei' mile beinj;' the estimate); than an iiitc'-nal ini|)rove!nent fund should be ctmstituted of all moneys ari.^iii^' from loans, sale of stocks, tolls, rents <>[' land and hydraulic jiowcrs, interest oii stocks, sale of Stale lands entered for the works, a portion of thedeposits received from the national treasury, and portions of tlu^ annual land lax; that with the ex- piratiiui of the j;()\erniiieiil exemption in (i\e ycai's I iiiie. there Would he IL',IMM».(I00 acresof land to lax; that by rhedisbiirsi'ineiilH of larjfe sums of money, means would speedily be placed in the hands of (he jieople to enable (hem (o purchase (heii- iioiries ; 4;i(! niSTOIlY OF ILLINOIS. tliiit tlic iiiilioads its fast as coiiiplctcil liotli wavs iVoiii tlic cross- iii;;s of livers and important towns, would yield tlH^ interests on tlit'ir costs; that in the advance (if tlie routes of inii»roveineiits the State should enter lauds to re-sell at an enhanced price; that a board of fund eoniniissiouers should be elected, to consist of such euiiueiit tiuanciers as to retlect j;ri'at credit upon the State, and thus achl to its tinancial resources ; aiul that witli these active rcsoun'cs at comuuiud no yreat financial skill was recjuired of fu- ture lej;islatures to ])rovide the ways and means t«) carry to com- l)letiou the public works without hart heniu";- the people with taxa- tion. The works rccoin mended, together with the estinuited costs, "were as follows: 1st. Ini])rovemeut-of the Great Wabash river - - fl(K),0(H) 2d. " " Illinois river - - - l(H»,(l(M) 3d. " " Hock river - - - l(Mi,(M»o 4tli. " " Kaska>- these provisions was submitted by the couunit- tee, who concluded: "The maxim is well understood by political economists, that the wealth of a country does not consist so much in the abundance of its coffers as in the numl)er and {lenoral prosperity of its citizens. In tlie present situation of tiie country, tlie products of tlie interior l>y reason of tlieir remoteness from uuirkct, are left upon the luiuds of tla produ- cer, or sold barely at the price of the lal)or necessary to raise autl prepare them for sale. IJut if tlie coutemjilated system should lie carried into effect, these fertile and lieulthy districts which now hingiiisli for the want of ready markets for their productions, would tiuti a tlemand at home for them during the progress of the works, and after their comple- tion woukl have the advantage of a cheap transit to a choice of markets on the various navlgal)le streams. These would inevitably tend to build towns and cities along the routes and at the terminal points of the re- spective railroads." The Icfiislatitre, in adopting "An act to establish and maintaiu a general system of internal iini»rovemeut," ai»pi'oved February 27, IS,')", not (udy came fully up to the rciiuiieiueuts «)f the con- ventioM as reported by the committee, but went over two uiilliou and a »i! arter beyond — $1(»,1!;50,(HI(>, as follows: Toward the im- pi'oveinent of the (Tieat AVabash, )i«l(l().(KK»; the Illinois river, $l(l(>,(l(»0; Kock river, $1()(»,000; Kaskaskia, .*r>(),(KK); Little Wa- bash, 8"> ; ('it'it AVestern 3Iail lioute from Vincennes to 8t. Louis, 82.")().(KMI, as follows: on the I'urgatory swaiiip', o]»posite Vincennes, 8o(»,(M)0, Little "Wabash river bottoms, $15,000. on the American bottom opitosite !St. Louis, 8;>0,000, the balance on bridges and rcp;>.irs ; for the Central railroad from Cairo to the Illinois and Michigan canal and railroads from Alton toMt. Car- mel (Southern cross-road) and Alton to .Shawueetown, ,'jl,(iOO,000; Northern cross-railroad from (>>niiicy to Indiana State line (present T. W. i*c W.), Ml.SO0,OO0; a branch"of the Central from llillsboro' via Shelhyville and Charleston to Terre Haute. !?(i.")0,()00; from Peoria via iMcCoiub and Carthage to Warsaw, $700,000; from DUNCAN'S ADMINISTRATION. 437 Alton to Ilillshoio, and the (Vntnil lailioiul, $()(»(t,(K»0; from ])('11('\ illc vi;i Lebanon to intersect tlie Sontliern cross-railioad, ,*l,"")(l,(l(l(>; from l>looniin<>ton to Mackinaw in Ta/e\vill county, llience a, hrancli to I'ekin, ."?.')r)(>,()()0; and tinally, of the tirst moneys oI»tain<'d. .*l.'(l(),(K)(» \v«'i'e t<» be distributed anioni;- tliose comities tIiron;;ii w iiicii no roads or iiniuovenients were projected. A boanl of fund <*oininissi()neis was })rovi(h'd to consi.^t of three nieniliers, wlio siiould " be practical and experienced linanciers," '• wlio wei'c to i'ontract for and nej;otiate all loans anthori/cd by the legislature on the faith ami credit of the State f<>r objects of internal iini»rovements on the best and most favoi;tble terms," si^ii and execute bonds or certificates of stocks, I'cceive, manaj^e, deposit and aj)ply all moiu'ys aiisiuyfroni said loans; make us, and while they han- dled millions of the i»eople's money, a bond was exacted of onlj'' ^.lO.dOO. 'I'hey wei'<' allowed a secictary and a per diem compen- sation «»f ?<■">. I'or the puipost^ of jiromotiny and unitin;^ the va- rious branches t)f impi'ovenu'ut, a board of *'C(unmissionens of Public Works" was created, consisting of seven meinbeis, one from each judicial e elected biennially by joint vote of the General Assembly, and to contiiuu' in office foi- two years. An oath of otlice and a i)oinl of twenty thousand dollars was re- tpiired of each; no coniniissioner was permitted to ivtain in his liauds moie than ><1.'(»,(I00 at any one tinu". l5oth commis- sioners and cuineers were reijnircd to take an oath to keep secret, for tlie benunishabl(' by tine not ex<'eedin^' $."».((()() and incapacity of hold- iu.u' office. The commissioners were aiitlioii/ed to locate, su- IH'iintend, and construct all the jiublic works for the State, except thecanal. They weit* to organize and un-et semi-annually at the seatof .tiovernmcnt, at which times the ficneral outlines of the operations were to be deteriniiu'd; examine and audit the ex- penditures of moneys on the works; make estimates of jirobable costs; serve Jiuthenticated coi>ies on the fund commissioners, and make out a report of their procee(liu,;;s for the ji'overuor to lay be- fore the le;,nshiture. C'eitaiii duties or ol' the iicl, tliiit fin' work t>lioid(l bi' coiiiiiifiiccd siiiiultMiK'oMsly at rarii end, at iiiii)orlant tradiii};- towns, and at tii<'ir iiitcrscc'tioiis willi )iavi<;al)l<' .sticaiiis, to 1)(! tliciice l)uill ill botli diicctions. Tliis provision, wliicli lias Ix'cii calU'd tlic crowniiin' lolly of tlic cntiic system, was tlie result of those jealous eoiiihinatioiis, eiiiaiiat iiii; iVoiii the tear that a it is LJ,.");)!>,S!)I, or nearly leu tiiiu's greater. The ratio of increase iu the wealth of the State as fully as jiicat.'* The debt authori/ed for these improvements iu the tiist instance was $l(»,l!;)(),(l(((>. But it was shortly found, that the estimates of the <*ost of tla; uorks were too low by half. \Ve may with certainty assert, there- lore, that the State "was committed to a liability of $LM»,()0(M»"«», <'(piivalent to !?20I),(>()().(MK> at the present time, w'itli ten times the ]>oi»ulatioii, and more than ten times the wealth. Yet what wiiiiid be the iiidij;natiou of the ]»eo])le, if any lejiislalure should now- dare to impose the enormous lial>ility of .'i(),(>()l),0()(), or «'\('U luilf ihat sum, u])on the State, not wilhstainlin;;' its j^reat wealth and resources '! Tlu! bill did not meet the ajijirobation of the council of revision. It was assigned as a reason, "that such works can only be made safely and economically iu a free ;io\ eminent, by citizens or by iudeix'udent corjtorations, aided or authorized by •iovcinmcnt." Allusions was also made to the undue inHiicnce over legislation that such vast jiublic works would exercise. Not wiihstandinj; these objections the bill was aj^ain [lasscd by the coiisiitulional major- ity and became a law. JMessis. E. IJ. AVebb and .)ohn McCowu, luendx'rs of the House from White county, eutei'erotest aj;aiut its ])assa,ue, settiii.i;' forth their reasons at lariic, which were spicad upon the journal. \'arions combinations, or what is in modern pailcnc(^ teiiiied ''riu;;s," were formed in the lejiii^liiture to effect the i)assaj.',«' of the act. Prexious to this all estimates of the cost of the canal, then in (,'ourse of construction, were upon too low a scale, its completioj. was very much , fiist to bi' laiscd. Alton, tiicn ninni- ficcnlly siipitlicil with millions by the State bank to buiM liei' up as tlie mercantile center and metropolis ol'tlie west, would no! be salisiied with h'ss than the termini ol" three lai I roads, in ls;U, she Inid recei\ed the ]iij;hest number of votes as the seat of j;(»vernmeiit, al'tei' the LM) years limitation at Vandalia should ex- piic ; but upon this she did not now insist — she inefericd rail- roads. Several ellorts were made to cut down the s<'iM'me to less dinuMisions, with failures each time, an(pu'ntly more works added. Althou;;li the internal imj)rovement convention had lon.u' since adjourned, there was still a powerlul loblty l)M.^ily en j;aj;(Ml applying; the pressure to [diant mendiersof the Iej;i slat are. Th(( lobbies witnessed nmny oiatorical eltbrts of in^^cnious and lofi'ieal arjiumcJit. The manifest destiny of j;'overnment was ])r()- trayed in jiiowiui;' colors; dedin-tions from similai' systems in pro j-ress in other States \\<'re madi' applicable to Illinois, and tln^r certain success driven Lome and clinched with jticdictions; and who can arj^ue aj^ainst '',tro|»hecy ? Tlu' sui»se(|ueiit fads of si^^nal and