corner of said State; thence east, with the line of said State, to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence north, along the middle of said lake, to north latitude 42° and 30'; thence west to the middle of the Mississippi river, and thence down along the middle of that river to its confluence with the Ohio river, and thence up the latter river, along its northwestern shore, to the place of beginning: Provided, that this State shall exercise such jurisdiction upon the Ohio river as she is now entitled, or such as may hereafter be agreed upon by this State and the State of Kentucky." The State was admitted into the Union December 3, 1818. CHAPTER III. STATE GOVERNMENT-1818-22. The first State government began October 6, 1818, with the following officers: Shadrach Bond, of St. Clair, Governor; Pierre Menard, of Randolph, Lieutenant-Governor ; Elias Kent Kane, of Randolph, Secretary of State; Elijah C. Berry, of Fayette, Auditor of Public Accounts; John Thomas, of St. Clair, Treasurer; Daniel P. Cook, of Randolph, Attorney-General. Under the constitution of 1818, the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor were the only State officers who were elected directly by the people. The others were chosen from time to time by the General Assembly. Gov. Bond assumed the duties of his office October 6. One of his first recommendations to the General Assembly was for the construction of a canal connecting Lake Michigan with the Mississippi river. The first General Assembly convened October 5, 1818, and adjourned October 13, and convened again January 4, 1819, and adjourned March 31. It was composed of the following members: SENATE. Lewis Barker, Pope. HOUSE OF Wm. Alexander, Monroe. William Kinney, St. Clair. John Messenger, St. Clair. Pierre Menard was the presiding officer of the Senate, and William C. Greenup was elected Secretary. In the House John Messinger was elected Speaker, and Thomas Reynolds Clerk. There is quite a contrast between the General Assembly of the present time and then, the whole number of members of this body being eight less than now compose the present Senate, and we print this roster more with a view of showing the contrast as to size between the respective General Assemblies. The time of this General Assembly was occupied in passing laws necessary to put the machinery of State in working order. The population was sparse, and there was no great demand for legislation. Ninian Edwards and Jesse B. Thomas were chosen United States Senators at this session. In 1819, R. K. McLaughlin succeeded Thomas as Treasurer, and William Mears succeeded Cook as AttorneyGeneral. CHAPTER IV. CAPITALS. Kaskaskia-Vandalia-Springfield-Population of Kaskaskia in 1820-Popu⚫lation now-An Island of the Mississippi-Towns which Wanted the Capital-When Removed from Vandalia. Illinois has had three capitals-Kaskaskia, Vandalia and Springfield. When Kaskaskia became the seat of government it was also the county seat of Randolph county. There were then but two counties in the Territory, Randolph and St. Clair. The first session of the Territorial Legislature was convened November 25, 1812-and the first Legislature of the State, October 5, 1818. In 1820, the seat of government was removed to Vandalia; there were then nineteen counties. The first session of the Legislature convened there December 4, 1820. The Capital was removed to Springfield in 1839, at which time there were seventy-two counties. The first session of the Legislature convened there December 9, 1839. When the joint resolution removing the capital to Springfield passed the General Assembly, in 1838, on the first ballot, there were eighteen towns voted for as being the proper place for the capital. On the first ballot Springfield received 35, Vandalia 16, Alton 15, Jacksonville 14, Decatur 4, Carrollton 3, Illiopolis 3, Bloomington 2, Mt. Carmel 2, Paris 1, Palestine 1, Grafton 1, Shawneetown 1, Pittsfield 1, Kaskaskia 1, Shelbyville 1, Hillsboro 1, Caledonia 1, and the geographical centre 3. On the fourth and last ballot Springfield received 73 votes, Vandalia 16, Jacksonville 11, Alton 6, Peoria 8, Illiopolis 3, Hillsboro 1, Shawneetown 1, Bloomington 1, Essex 1, Grafton 1, and Caledonia 1. Some earnest efforts have been made at different times to remove the capital from Springfield to Peoria and elsewhere, but the building of the new State House, which will cost, when completed, something over $3,500,000, has doubtless silenced the serious consideration of this question for generations to come. Of Kaskaskia, Peck's Gazateer of 1834 says: "The early French explorers made one of their first settlements at this spot, shortly after the visit of LaSalle, in 1683; and so long as the French continued in possession of the Illinois country, Kaskaskia was its capital, and was flourishing and populous. In 1721, when Charlevoix visited it, there existed a Jesuit college. In 1763, when the country east of the Mississippi was ceded by France to Great Britain, it contained about one hundred families." In 1820, Kaskaskia attained its greatest population. The United States census of that year reckoned the number of inhabitants at 7,000. Soon after the removal of the capital to Vandalia, which occurred during the year 1820, the population of Kaskaskia began to decline rapidly. The census of 1880 showed but 305 inhabitants. On the 18th of April, 1881, the Mississippi and Kaskaskia rivers were united, and Kaskaskia became an island of the Mississippi, since which time its population has been reduced to less than 150, and but a few years at most will pass before all that remains of this historic place will mingle with the debris of the father of waters. It is worthy of note, however, to say that the house where the first Territorial Legislature met, is still in a good state of preservation. And it is lamentable that so noted a place in the history of the country as Kaskaskia can not be preserved. Vandalia has had a more fortunate career. While the town has not grown to a great city, yet it is one of the brightest and most pleasant in the State, and is now improving rapidly. There are quite a number of substantial and flourishing manufactories, and two well-conducted newspapers-Democrat and Union. The old State House is intact, and is now used as a court house. CHAPTER V. SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY-1820-22, In 1820, the seat of government was removed from Kaskaskia to Vandalia, and the second General Assembly convened there December 4, and adjourned February 13, 1821. Lieut.-Gov. Menard presided over the Senate, and James Turner was elected Secretary. John McLean was elected Speaker of the House, and Thomas Reynolds Clerk. Gov. Bond's administration closed in December, 1822. It had been faithful and blameless, and he retired with the confidence and respect of the people. Prior to his election as Governor he had been a delegate to Congress, and held the office of Receiver of Public Moneys, at Kaskaskia. When Gov. Bond was a delegate to Congress, it is related of him that he and his wife made the trip from Illinois to Washington on horseback. Mr. Bond had six children-Thomas S., Emily, Julia R., Mary A., Isabella F., and Benjamin N., but all are dead except Dr. Benjamin N. Bond, who is a highly respected citizen of Stanbury, Missouri. Julia R. Bond married Col. Frank |