over his exalted position, is not a foreign inference." It was His his fate to be ever fighting with large odds against him. mind seemed to clear and to act with unerring judgment and brilliancy in the midst of danger or exciting debate. A less able or courageous person in like circumstances would become disconcerted. Such situations, however, acted as a stimulant to his mind and brought out the very best in him. In this particular, more than in any other, reposed the elements of his greatness. He would not knowingly provoke a controversy except to establish a principle An impartial and just consideration of his life cannot fail to ascribe to him those superior virtues, patience and kindness. "He forebore long ere he raised his hand to parry an assault." Although suffering from a long and incurable disease, he was never known to murmur or complain. Heinrich Heine was paralyzed in much the same way as Governor Bissell but the cause in his case lay in his own excess and evil habits. He, always despondent and complaining; full of remorse cried out in his despair; "That man was no longer a two-legged god; that he was no more a divine biped. Governor Bissell on the contrary, conscious only of his affliction the result of an accident when a boy, had none of that torture of mind. With the same fortitude which characterized General Grant in his last memorable illness he worked on, performing the duties of his office with a composure and a grandeur of character that was heroic. "The man that makes character makes foes" and like all statesmen Governor Bissell made enemies and created opposition by reason of his superior talents and the fearlessness which brooked no shallowness or injustice. He was a politician and a statesman with enlarged views. Elevated on such a plane he despised demagogism. In whatever occupation he engaged he aspired by all honorable and just means to succeed, and it is not recorded in any page of our history that he failed. In March, 1860, Governor Bissell contracted a severe cold which soon developed into pneumonia. His constitution already weakened by illness since 1853, was unable to withstand the assault of this new enemy, and in a few days, with his mind unclouded to the last, his noble spirit passed away. He was in his forty-eighth year and had he lived nine months longer his term of office would have expired. He is the only governor of Illinois who has died while in office. He died at a time when people were busy preparing for the political canvass which was to make Abraham Lincoln president, and which was soon to lead to the marshaling of great armies for the impending conflict which he had so clearly foreseen and foretold. The distinguished services which it was Governor Bissell's privilege to render in behalf of his beloved state were not forgotten. In 1867, the general assembly of Illinois in recognition of these services and as an expression of the honor and esteem which the people of this great state desired to bestow on his memory (a distinction unlike that accorded to any other man in this state except Lincoln and Logan) voted the sum of $5,000 for his monument. In accordance with the wish of his family and the act of the legislature the remains of Governor Bissell and those of his wife were to be transferred from the Hutchinson cemetery to Oak Ridge cemetery at Springfield. In June, 1871, the monument was completed and its dedication, and the removal of the honored dead, was made the occasion of an imposing ceremony in which all the officers and members of the state and military departments participated. Governor John M. Palmer who had known Governor Bissell for many years and who had been intimately associated with him in the political campaigns of the state, was the orator. He paid a high tribute to the character and great ability of Govenor Bissell. He reviewed many of his political achievements and accorded to him superior gifts as an orator, a patriot and a statesman. Within the span of sixteen brief years he had emerged from the obscure life of a country school teacher, gradually advancing and mastering the subjects of medicine, law, army codes and politics. In this time he had been honored by his state as prosecuting attorney, legislator, congressman and governor. Considering that all these things were acquired amid trials and much sickness; considering his hon orable and blameless character; that he should have risen from a position so humble by the unaided influence of his own power to the conspicuous ones which he occupied, is at once a gratifying tribute to his genius and a worthy example full of encouragement to American youth. Speaking briefly of the Davis-Bissell episode Governor Palmer said, "Whether the acceptance of the challenge was justifiable, depends upon all the attending circumstances. The challenge was not addressed alone to Bissell but to his state and the whole north." (Editorial). Official Record of Convention. THE JOURNAL.. SPRINGFIELD, May 30, 1856. THE CONVENTION. "The state Anti-Nebraska Convention closed its labors last evening, its deliberations having been characterized by the greatest harmony. We surrender a large portion of our space today to an official report of the proceedings which may be found elsewhere, and will claim the attention of the reader. The ticket presented by the convention is one that combines great strength, and which it will only require an active and united effort to elect. The enthusiasm of those in attendance at the convention, and the joy with which the result of its labors has been received, gives good assurance that this effort will be put forth. We shall take early occasion to refer to the ticket more at length, and in the meantime we cordially commend it to all men opposed to the advancement of the pro-slavery party now in power." THE NEBRASKA STATE CONVENTION. In pursuance of the public call, the Illinois "Anti-Nebraska" state convention met in Major Hall, Bloomington, May 29, 1856, and was called to order by George T. Brown, of Madison county, on whose motion Hon. Archibald Williams, of Adams county, was chosen temporary chairman and Henry S. Baker, of Madison county was appointed secretary. On motion of Mr. Judd, of Cook county, George T. Brown, of Madison county, was requested to assist the secretary in the organization of the convention. On motion the secretary was instructed to call the several counties of the state, in their alphabetical order, which being done, the following delegates appeared and presented their credentials, viz: Adams, 8 delegates-A. Williams, W. B. Powers, E. A. Dudley, Jno. Tillson, A. G. Pearson, George W. Burns, James E. Furness and O. H. Browning. Bond, 1.-J. F. Alexander. Boone, 2.-Luther W. Lawrence and Ralph Roberts. Bureau, 3.-Charles C. Kelsey, George Radcliff and Geo. W. Stipp, Jr. Calhoun, 1.-F. W. Kersting. Carroll, 1.-D. H. Wheeler. Cass, 1.-B. R. Frohook. Champaign. 2.—J. W. Jaquith, Elisha Harkness. Coles, 4.-T. A. Marshall, A. Compton, William Glas gow and George C. Harding. Cook, 17.-G. Goodrich, F. C. Sherman, Wm. A. James, A. H. Dolton, James McKie, Geo. Schneider, John Wentworth, C. H. Ray, J.L. Scripps, C. L. Wilson, Samuel Hoard, A. Aikin, H. H. Yates, I. N. Arnold, N. B. Judd, J. W. Waughop and Mark Skinner. DeKalb, 3.-Wm. Patton, Wm. J. Hunt and James H. Beveridge. DeWitt, 2.-S. F. Lewis and J. F. Lemon. DuPage, 3.-W. B. Blanchard, S. P. Sedgwick and J. W. Smith. Edgar, 2.-L. Munsell and R. B. Southerland. Edwards, 1.-Wm. Pickering. Fulton, 5.-W. P. Kellogg, Robert Carter, S. N. Breed, T. N. Hassan and H. D. Phelps. kins. Greene, 2.-Daniel Bowman and Joshua W. Armstrong. Hancock, 4.-John Rise, S. W. King, S. Worley and A. Simpson. Henderson, I.-W. D. Henderson. Henry, 2.—J. H. Howe, J. M. Allen. Iroquois, 3.-W. P. Pearson, J. B. Joiner, I. Bennett. Jo Daviess, 4.-Adolph Meyer, T. B. Lewis, H. S. Townsend, T. Spraggins. Knox, 4.-T. J. Hale, D. H. Frisbie, Jesse Perdue, C. J. Sellon. Kankakee, 2.-A. W. Mack, Daniel Parker. Kendall, 2.-J. M. Crothers, J. B. Lowry. Kane, 5.—I. A. W. Buck, S. C. Morey, G. W. Waite, A. Adams, W. R. Baker. Lake, 3.—E. P. Ferry, N. C. Geer, Wm. B. Dodge. Livingston, 2.-J. H. Dart, David McWilliams. McDonough, 2.-L. H. Waters, J. E. Wyne. McHenry, 6.-S. P. Hegale, Anthony Woodspur, C. W. Craig, Wesley Diggins, Dr. Abularr, A. C. Joslyn. McLean, 3.-James Gilmore, Sr., Dr. Harrison Noble, Wm. W. Orme, delegates, and A. T. Briscoe, Green B. Larrison, David Cheney, alternates. Macon, 2.-W. J. Usrey, I. C. Pugh. Macoupin, 4. (?)—J. M. Palmer, John Logan, Samuel Brown, Thomas B. Lofton, P. B. Solomon, J. D. Marshall, James Wolfe. |