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CHAPTER VIII.

THE PRECEDING CHAPTERS-INSERTION OF DOCUMENTS-BAFFLED SCHEMES-CLOSE OF FIRST GREAT EPOCH-ADMINISTRATION ON TRIAL-THE ISSUES-THE DECISIONTHE EIGHTH OF NOVEMBER-TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS, OR FROM LOVEJOY TO LINCOLN— OGLESBY AND BROSS--YATES-HIS FINAL MESSAGE-QUOTATIONS-EDUCATION-PRINCIPLES CHURCHES-BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS-SANITARY AND CHRISTIAN COMMISSIONS FREEDMEN'S AID SOCIETIES-SOLDIERS' HOMES-THE HAND OF PROvidence— FINANCE-IMPLEMental Industry-Negro AND MACHINERY-NORTHERN PLANTERSTHE SEWING MACHINE-ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE YEAR-PROSPECTS.

HE past few chapters have been necessarily fragmentary, and

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judgment of the author, are worthy of preservation, and are essential to the understanding of the facts of the history. The people speak by their votes; the Government by its official acts. It is due to the men in authority in each great crisis, that after-generations shall know how they bore themselves, how they met its grave responsibilities. "No man liveth unto himself, and no man dieth unto himself," is the teaching of Holy Writ. The patriots of this age and of this war are nerved by the record of the patriots of the past. Thus one generation speaks to another.

It is well that the record of this State stands so fairly. We have seen how adverse legislation, which trifled with destiny, and played disgraceful antics amid throes and upheavals, which insisted upon fiddling during the conflagration, was baffled by the decision and stern promptness of the Executive. Thus were thwarted schemes which threatened mischief, and the people rejoiced that disgrace was wiped from the State's escutcheon.

Before tracing the war path of the men who rallied to the call of the country, it is well to bring this general resume down to the close of 1864, marking, as it does, the termination of the first great epoch of the war, signal in the history of the Republic for the judgment of

the Nation upon the Administration, and that of the State, by the close of the official control of Governor Yates.

As to the former, Mr. Lincoln was nominated for re-election upon a platform which endorsed all the debatable points of his administration. A platform which pronounced the war upon the side of the Government just, and declared that it should go forward until the rebellion should be overthrown; approved the Proclamation of Emancipation, and the arming of negroes and their employment as soldiers of the Republic, and pronounced in favor of an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which should abolish human slavery throughout the States and Territories of the Union. It also denied, in the broadest and most emphatic manner, the right of secession, and insisted upon the paramount authority of the Federal Union.

Nominated at a convention held in Chicago, the opposing candidate was Major-General George B. McClellan, a gentleman who, at one time, had been in chief command of the Union armies, and whose military ability many, both of the army and in civil life claimed to be superior to that of any other leader of our forces. His platform declared for the Union, but intimated that the war had failed; and suggested a "cessation of hostilities" until diplo macy should attempt the restoration of peace. It made its appeal for the freedom of speech and press, and against military despotism. The General, in his letter, of acceptance, gave the most patriotic possible construction to the platform, and thus enabled many thous ands opposed to the platform to cast their votes for its candidate. Thus went the war policy of the President to the court of last resort, the ballot-box, and on the 8th day of November, 1864, the decision was given, and ABRAHAM LINCOLN was re-elected President of the United States. It was an emphatic endorsement of his poli cy, including Emancipation and the arming of Freedmen!

As an evidence of the growth of a high moral sentiment in Illi. nois within thirty years, it may be stated that on the 8th day of November, 1837, the Rev. E. P. Lovejoy, editor of an anti-slavery journal, was shot to death in the city of Alton, nor were his murder. ers harmed by the process of law. Twenty-seven years later to a day, ABRAHAM LINCOLN was re-elected President of the United

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

145 States on a radical anti-slavery platform, with an endorsement of military emancipation and the arming of freedmen; and Illinois, whose soil had been watered by the blood of Lovejoy, gave him a majority of more than 30,000! One must think of the words of poor Galileo, manacled, and humiliated as he paced his way to his cell," the world does move though."

At the same time, and by about the same majority, Richard J. Oglesby, late a gallant Major-General of volunteers, and who had been scarred on more than one hotly-fought battle field, was chosen Governor, as the successor of Richard Yates, and Wm. Bross, one of the editors of a radically anti-slavery sheet, was elected LieutenantGovernor, with a General Assembly which should choose Richard Yates to occupy the seat in the United States Senate, so long filled by Stephen A. Douglas.

Verily, time is an inexorable Nemesis. From Lovejoy dead to Lincoln and Oglesby, only twenty-seven years!

The final message of Governor Yates was delivered to the General Assembly on the 3d of January, 1865, and reviewed the two years preceding. It summed the State resources and liabilities; gave the evidence that through the war the State had steadily advanced in the great material and educational interests essential to her prosperity.

He thus aggregates the State contributions of men to the national armies:

"The following exhibits the quotas of the States under respective calls since the commencement of the war, and the number of men furnished to the national armies up to the present time:

"Our quota, under calls of the President

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"Total quotas under all calls prior to Dec. 1, 1864.....197,360 "During the years 1861, 1862, and to the 18th day of October, 1863, the State, by voluntary enlistment, had exceeded its quota under all calls. Prior to that date settlements had not been made with the War Department, because of the voluntary action of our

people in meeting the requirements of the country and their per istence in organizing, with unparalleled enthusiasm and determination, a larger number of regiments and batteries than the actual quotas under each levy called for. Prior to 17th October, 1863, the State had furnished and been credited with one hundred and twenty-five thousand three hundred and twenty-one (125,321) men-a surplus of eight thousand one hundred and fifty-one (8,151) over all other calls, to be credited to our quota for that call, and which reduced it to 19,779 men; and we claimed, besides, other credits, which could not be fully adjusted because of imperfect record of citizens (and in some cases whole companies of Illinoisans) who had entered the service in regiments of other States, at times when our quotas on special calls were full, and because of which I was compelled to decline their services. Six thousand and thirty-two (6,032) citizens of Illinois prior to that date had been enlisted in Missouri regiments, and residents of Missouri had enlisted and been mustered into Illinois regiments, which left a credit, as between the States, in favor of Illinois of 4,373 men.

"After adjustment of credit of 125,321, at and prior to October, 1863, it was ascertained we were entitled to an additional credit of 10,947, which increased the number enrolled in our own regiments, and for which we were entitled to credit prior to that call, to 136,268-leaving the whole account, at that date, thus:

"Quotas under calls to October, 1863.....
"Credits for enlistments in Illinois regiments.......186,268

....145,100

"Balance in Missouri regiments..

4,373

-140,000

"Balance due the Government....

4,459

"At this time there was a claim made by the State for volunteers previously furnished, which would more than account for the balance against us of 4,459. This adjustment was made in February, 1864, and was exclusive of old regiments re-enlisting as veterans, and disclosed the fact that at the time the first draft was ordered, viz., January 1, 1864, under the call of October, 1863, Illinois had exceeded her quota, and, by the voluntarily demonstrated patriotism of her people, was free from draft.

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.

147

"The unadjusted balances of the State claimed as above were allowed in the settlement made with the War Department in August last.

"Between the first day of October, 1863, and the first day of December, 1864, we have furnished and received additional credits for fifty-five thousand six hundred and nineteen (55,619) men, which, added to credit of 140,641 to October 1, 1863, makes 197,260 men, which leaves our whole account thus:

"Quotas of the State under all calls prior to Dec. 1, 1864..197,362 "Total credits for three years' volunteers, drafted men and

substitutes to Dec. 1, 1864...

"Balance due the Government Dec. 1, 1864......

..197,260

100

"The deficit of one hundred men has been more than balanced by enlistments during the month of December, 1864.

"Of the entire quota of one hundred and ninety-seven thousand three hundred and sixty (197,360) men, we have furnished one hundred and ninety-four thousand one hundred and ninety-eight (194,198) volunteers, and three thousand and sixty-two (3,062) drafted men-organized as follows:

"138 regiments and one battalion of infantry.

"17 regiments of cavalry.

"2 regiments and 8 batteries of artillery.

"ONE HUNDRED DAY TROOPS.

"In addition to the foregoing the State has furnished thirteen (13) regiments and two companies of one hundred day volunteers, the following being the numerical designation, name of commanding officer and strength of each:

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