his death-which occurred at Chicago, on the 3d of June, 1861, which event was mourned by the whole Nation. As a statesman, there was none superior. As a public speaker he stood without a peer. The magnanimity of his nature is well illustrated by the fact that he stood by and held the hat of his great rival, Abraham Lincoln, while he delivered his first inaugural address. The last act of his life was a noble appeal for the preservation of his Government, which will ever render his name imperishable in the memory of his countrymen.

A lasting monument has been erected to his memory, at Chicago, on the lake shore.

CHAPTER XIII.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1862.

Among the more important acts of the Twenty-second General Assembly was the passage of a law providing for a constitutional convention to frame a new constitution. The election for delegates took place in November, 1861. The convention was composed of seventy-five members, fortyfive of whom were Democrats, twenty-one Republicans, seven Fusionists, and two doubtful. It will be seen that the Democrats had a majority of fifteen over all, and therefore had their own way. The convention assembled on the 7th of January, 1862. John Dement was elected President pro tempore; William A. Hacker, President, and Wm. M. Springer, Secretary.

The delegates were as follows: Wm. A. Hacker,

George W. Waters,

Wm. J. Allen,

Milton Bartley,

Andrew D. Duff,

Daniel Reily,

George W. Wall,

H. K. S. O'Melveny,

There were many eminent minds in this convention, among whom we name:

Hacker, Allen, Duff, Wall, O'Melveny, Tanner, Hanna, French, Underwood, Buckmaster, Thornton, Vandeveer, Ficklin, Edwards, Burr, Singleton, Ross, Burns, Goodspeed, Joslyn, Gale, Dement, Wentworth, Fuller and Anthony.

This body assumed, in a very large degree, both the powers of the Legislature and convention, and among other extraordinary acts, passed an ordinance appropriating

$500,000 for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers of Illinois. Bonds were to be issued on which to raise the money, to bear ten per cent. interest, but Gov. Yates gave no heed to this act, or any other of a like nature, believing, as he did, that the duty of the convention was confined simply to the framing of a new constitution.

The constitution framed provided for biennial State elections for all State officers, and legislated out of office the Governor and other State officers, and fixed the time for electing a new State Government for November, 1862.

The constitution was submitted to a vote of the people the following June. There were two articles submitted separately; one concerning banks and currency, and the other relating to negroes and mulattoes. The latter we reproduce:

"Article 18. Sec. 1. No negro or mulatto shall migrate to or settle in this State, after the adoption of this Constitution.

"Sec. 2. No negro or mulatto shall have the right of suffrage or hold office in this State.

"Sec. 3. The General Assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this article.'

The vote for the constitution was 126,739; against, 151,254. Majority against the constitution, 24,515.

The article relating to negroes and mulattoes was voted on by sections, and all carried by unprecedented majorities. The article relating to banks was lost by a small vote. It was contended by some of the leading Democratic lawyers that the article relating to negroes and mulattoes became a part of the constitution of 1848, but the question had not been passed upon by the courts when the constitution of 1870 was adopted.

CHAPTER XIV.

STATE CAMPAIGN OF 1862.

Late Conventions-But Two Tickets-Democrats Successful-Aggregate Vote for State Officers-Aggregate Vote for Members of Congress by Districts.

In view of the fact that the Nation was in the midst of civil war, there was little disposition on the part of the people, not active politicians, to interest themselves in political matters, and the Democrats did not hold their convention until the 16th of September, at which Alexander Starne was nominated for Treasurer, John P. Brooks for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Jas. C. Allen for Congressman-at-Large.

On the 24th of September, the Republicans met in convention, and nominated Wm. Butler for Treasurer, Newton Bateman for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Eben C. Ingersoll for Congressman-at-Large.

The candidates for Congress made a vigorous canvass of the State, but the Democrats elected their ticket, and carried both branches of the Legislature.

The aggregate vote for State officers, Congressman-atLarge and by districts, is as follows:

TREASURER.

Alexander Starne, D

William Butler, R...

136,843

120,177