the result on presidential elections would have been about the same for the last twenty-four years.

The result of the state elections, based as they are upon national issues, are largely influenced by the canvass of the candidates for congress. The contests for these seats in the federal legislature have been the most animated, have attracted the widest attention, and have involved the candidacy of her most distinguished citizens.

Gen. John A. Logan, who was nine years in the house and fourteen years in the senate, has the honor of having served the State the longest period in congress.

Judge Douglas served eighteen years, four in the house and fourteen in the senate. Each of these distinguished statesmen had entered upon his third term in the senate, and had served the same proportion thereof, when his career was terminated by death.

Judge Trumbull is the only senator from Illinois who has served three full terms in the United-States senate-eighteen years-1855 to 1873; and Joseph G. Cannon, at the expiration of his present term, will have represented the Danville district in the lower house an equal number of years, from 1873 to 1891.

Shelby M. Cullom was six years in the house-1865 to 1871 -and has entered upon his second term in the senate, which, when completed, will make his service in congress also eighteen years. If to this length of service is added his eight years in the state legislature, and six years as governor, his public career will stretch into a period of thirty-two years-longer than that of any other public official of the Commonwealth.

Elihu B. Washburne was elected nine times consecutively to the lower house-1853-69-but resigned, before entering upon his last term, to accept, shortly after, the position of minister to France, making his term of service sixteen years.

Thomas J. Henderson of the 6th district, and William M. Springer of the Springfield district, began their service in the same congress, the 44th-1875-and have since been continuously reëlected, giving them each eighteen years at the expiration of the 52d congress.

William R. Morrison of Waterloo, Monroe County, served sixteen years, from 1863-5, and from 1873-87 continuously.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

987

William A. Richardson of the Quincy district, served six and a half terms in the house and two years in the senate, as successor to Judge Douglas, making his service a period of fif

teen years.

Samuel S. Marshall of McLeansboro, served fourteen years in the house, as did General John F. Farnsworth of St. Charles, Kane County.

Charles B. Farwell served seven years in the house-one term being shortened by a contest-and will have been four years in the senate on March 4, 1891—making eleven years.

Those who have served six years and over and less than twelve in the senate are comprised in the following list: Jesse B. Thomas, eleven years; Elias Kent Kane, eleven years; John M. Robinson, eleven years; Richard Yates, house, four years, senate, six; Ninian Edwards, though twice elected, only served six years; Richard M. Young, Sidney Breese, James Shields, Richard J. Oglesby, and David Davis, each served a full term of six years.

John Mc Lean was twice elected to the senate but only served partly through two sessions, having been elected in the first instance to fill a vacancy, and dying soon after entering upon his full term.

David J. Baker, father of one of the present judges of the supreme court, served through one session, and Samuel McRoberts, James Semple, Orville H. Browning, and William A. Richardson, from two to four years.

The following members served ten years in the house: Zadoc Casey, James C. Robinson, John R. Eden, Horatio C. Burchard, Lewis E. Payson, and John R. Thomas; and the following eight years: Daniel P. Cook, John Reynolds, Robert Smith, Orlando B. Ficklin, Owen Lovejoy, Burton C. Cook, Greenbury L. Fort, Wm. A. J. Sparks, Robert R. Hitt, and Geo. E. Adams.

Col. Edward D. Baker had the honor of representing two districts in different portions of the State as did John A. McClernand and James C. Robinson.

Samuel W. Moulton enjoys the distinction of having been elected once as a republican in 1864, and twice, 1882-4, as a democrat.*

Complete lists of all the members will be found in the Statistical Record.

IF

CHAPTER L.

Education-The Common Schools-Colleges.

F the progress of Illinois is a proud one in respect of nationa growth-if her position in the sisterhood of states is an advanced and commanding one-she has no less cause for selfgratulation in the rank which she has taken among those commonwealths, which have sought to advance the higher interests of the people by promoting education and fostering learning. In the amount expended annually for the maintenance and improvement of her common schools, she is surpassed only by the more populous and far older state of New York Upon this subject, her citizens are practically united, men of all parties being harmonious in the expression of broad and liberal views, in conformity to those of the founders of the Nation.

National legislation began upon this important subject before the adoption of the federal constitution.

The first act passed by the continental congress, on May 20, 1785, relative to the survey and for the disposal of the public lands of the western territory, laid the foundation for the establishment and growth of schools therein by the following provision: "There shall be reserved the lot number sixteen [containing 640 acres of land] of every township for the maintenance of public schools within said township."

With a view to directing the attention of the people of the Northwest Territory to this matter and impressing upon the minds of those who should be called upon to administer its government the importance of the subject, congress, in the ordinance of 1787, declared that "religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."

During that period of the State's history when Illinois may be said to have been in territorial leading strings, no steps were taken toward utilizing the munificent grant conveyed by the ordinance; but, as has been already pointed out, the enabling