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circuit clerks, but that from this as a corollary followed the power of removal, was not so clear. Judge McRoberts so viewed it, and had exercised both powers, proscriptively, it was thought. He had removed from that office, in Madison county, Joseph Conway, a political opponent, and appointed in his stead, Emanuel J. West, his friend. Conway, being well known and popular, was elected to the State senate, and after riding into office on his grievance before the people, in the legislature he brought it to bear against the entire system, and completed his revenge against McRoberts by repealing all the judges but one out of office. Judge McRoberts, intellectualy one of the first men of the State, was also unpopular on account of arbitrarily entering up judgment against Governor Coles, after he had been released by an act of the legis lature from fine in emancipating his negroes without giving bond that they should not become a charge upon the county.

The supreme judges appointed at the session of 1824-5 to revise the statutes, submitted the result of their labor so far as completed. Appreciating the magnitude of such a work, fraught with such great interests, to the perfection of which great and uninterrupted re-search should be brought, they had not completed many chapters. A joint committee from both houses was appointed, which went earnestly at work to finish up the revision, employing as assistants the circuit judges in attendance at the seat of government. The revision embraced all the various laws relating to the right of property, contracts and civil actions, and the rights of persons and society, and the modes of redress. Justices of the peace were at this session made elective by the people.

1828-9-Early in the session of 1826-7, the legislature had under consideration some resolutions memorializing congress to reduce the price of public lands, and for a grant to the State of all the public lands lying therein, upon such principles as might be deemed just and equitable. Mr. Blackwell offered an amendment "on condition that the State at all times grant to actual settlers each not less than a quarter section, to be occupied and improved." In a communication to the house, the governor recommended that our delegates in congress be instructed "to contract with the government for a surrender of the public lands within the State, on the following terms: the State to be at all the expenses of selling them at a price not exceeding 25 cents per acre; to keep an office constantly open for that purpose, and to pay to the general government annually 25 cents per acre for all that shall have been sold." Later, the committee to which the governor's communication had been referred, reported, and taking a step in advance, required from congress a surrender of the public lands "unconditionally, subject to such disposition as the people of the State,by their representatives, may deem most conducive to their prosperity and happiness."

This proposition threw the governor's effectually in the shade, and he was not heard from again during the session upon the subject. But by the meeting of the legislature in 1828, he had had ample time to work this subject up to its largest proportions. He now eclipsed the bold demand of the committee, by broadly claiming in his message of extraordinary length, evincing unusu

al legal research and acumen, that the public lands within the limits of Illinois belonged already to the State. He showed that the articles of confederation not only affirmed the right of every State to all the lands within its limits, but expressly declared that "no State shall be deprived of territory for the benefit of the United States." He argued that the United States, by the terms of the constitution, could not acquire or hold any land, in any original State, even with its own consent, except what may be necessary "for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings;" that as this State had been admitted on an equal footing with the original States, the United States could hold no more land than for these purposes within its limits, and for anything more the general government had to obtain "the consent of the legislature of the State;" that till the admission of the State into the Union, it had no rights as a State under the constitution, and consequently no competency to act in that character; it was like a minor, not within the age of consent; that the State could not therefore be bound by the acts of the territory, in consenting for the United States to hold lands within her limits; that if the federal government enjoyed this privilege of dominion over the public lands during "its political minority, it ceased on the admission of the State into the Union, having thence forward the same rights of sovereignty, freedom, and independence as the other States; that the sovereignty of a State includes the right to exercise supreme and exclusive control over all lands within it; that the freedom of a State is the right to do whatever may be done by any nation, and includes the right to dispose of all the public lands within its limits, according to its own will and pleasure; that the independence of a State includes an exemption from all control by any other State or nation over its will or action, within its own territory. The governor seems to have been deeply in earnest.

Beyond this broad claim it was impossible for the legislature to go. They did therefore the next best thing, which was, to divide the credit and honors of the grand discovery with his excellency. The committee who had considered the subject, reported: That from a careful examination of the governor's argument and aided by the best lights they could get, they believed the position assumed in the message to be correct. They close recommending the adoption of resolutions by the Senate and House of Represen tatives of the State of Illinois; that this State possesses the exclusive sovereignty over all lands within its limits; that the United States possesses no right of jurisdiction over any lands within the limits of Illinois; that the United States cannot hold any right of soil within the limits of the State but for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards and other needful buildings, and that this State possesses the right of soil of all the public lands within its limits. The resolutions were passed, and it was further provided, that they be signed by the speakers of both houses and copies thereof sent to our senators and representatives in congress, with instructions to lay them before that body. Copies were also to be transmitted to the governors of the several States of the Union. "Having thus laid a broad foundation to enrich the State with the public lands, the members returned to

their constituents swelling with importance and high expectations of future favor. But the people were not such big fools as was thought, for many laughed at their representatives in very scorn of their pretensions." The splendid bantling fell still-born upon the public, and nothing more was heard of it afterward.

Ford's History.

CHAPTER XXX.

1830-A RETROSPECT.

Advance of the Settlements-Note: Galena, its Early History; Origin of the term "Sucker;" Douglas Humorous Account of it-Trials and Troubles of Pioneers in New Counties--European ColoniesFinancial Condition of the State-Trade and Commerce-Early Mail Routes, Newspapers, and Literati-Politics of the PeopleMilitia System.

The population of the State in 1820 was 157,447, having nearly trebled itself during the preceding decade. There were at this time 56 counties organized, but those in the northern portion of the State were mere skeletons and unwieldly in size. A third of the State, or more, lying between Galena and Chicago, extending southward to the Kaskaskia, the headwaters of the Vermilion, along the Rock River and far down into the military tract, constituting at present the most densely settled and best improved portions, was a trackless prairie waste, overrun by the Sac and Fox, Winnebago, and Potawattomie Indians. Much of the interior of the south part, and the country bordering the Embarrass, the Sangamon and their tributaries, had ceased to be a wilderness. Into the country of the Sangamon immigration had for some time thronged. Along the Illinois to Chicago, then just beginning to attract attention, there were scattered a few settlements long distances apart. For some years after, the settlers, either in clusters or separately, continued to hug the outskirts of the timber bordering the rivers and creeks, or the edge of groves, scarcely any venturing out on the open prairies. Along the Mississippi, settlements were scattered at distant intervals, culminating at the lead mines on Fever river, where had gathered a heterogenous population from many parts of the world, numbering about 1,000 souls, nine-tenths being men engaged in mining.*

*In 1804, Governor Harrison bought from the Sac and Fox tribes a tract of land at the mouth of the Fever river (Mecapiasipo) 15 miles square. Lead had been mined for many years on the Iowa side and was known to exist on the Illinois side. The first white settler at the mines on Fever river, was a Frenchman named Boutilier, in 1819. Shortly after, Jesse Shull, a trader, occupied an island there in the river, and being informed that the Indians had discovered lead near where Galena now stands, moved thither. This proved to be the noted "buck lead." A. P. Van Metre soon joined, and "all took to themselves wives of the daughters of the land, and were traders for their brethren." Later, Dr Samuel Mure also married to a squaw, and was associate of the well known Indian trader, Davenport, of Rock Island, located there. He gave to Galena its name (from the Greek, Galanas, a species of lead ore) In 1820, Colonel J. Johnson, authorized by the war department, arrived and assumed almost exclusive control of the mining. He was followed by a few others the same year, and more in 18334. Float or gravel mineral was extensively sown, some prospects sold, and thus by fraud, parties went further out, and some splendid leads' were discovered.

In 1825, the 15 mile boundary was overleaped, and the country of the Winnebagos first trenched upon. The "Shullsburg,' ," "East Fork" and "New Diggings" were found

As there was doubtless much sameness in the early settlement of new counties, particularly in the central and northern portions of the State, the details of which would probably prove both dull and improfitable to the general reader; and as such early data have, except in a few cases, generally been so unconspicuous as to cause them not to be preserved, and are now either lost or become traditional, we subjoin the following account by Nathan Dillon, picturing the condition of two counties after their first organization, which gives perhaps the fair average experience of many an old settler,and conveys to us their trials, privations and difficulties:

"As early as 1821, a few log cabins were already built in Sangamon county, which at that date embraced all the northern part of the State.

and developed, and the number of miners had increased to 1600. In 1826, a one horse mail was established from Vandalia to Galena, once every 2 weeks.

In 1827, the government first surveyed the town, permitting parties to occupy and improve lots, on condition that they vacate them on 30 days notice. This was all the title any occupant had up to 1838. The next neighbors of the Galenians, south, were the Peorians: and between the two places lay a vast wilderness of uninhabited territory. In 1825, Mr. Kellog started his "trail" from Peoria to Galena, rossing Rock river a few miles above the present Dixon, thence by the West Grove to Galena. The Winnebagos assisted in ferrying Rock river. Two canoes placed side by side formed the ferry boat, the wheels of one side of a wagon in one, and those of the opposite in the other canoe. The hores swam. The next year, "Bolles Trail" was established. The river was ferried at Dixon, where the Illinois Central railroad bridge now crosses. This was more direct, and became shortly the main route of travel to the lead mines. In the spring of 1827, the travel was so great that in a very few days 200 teams passed at this point. There were also other "trails" farther to the west. The "Lewiston trail" crossed Rock river a little above Prophetstown, Whiteside county. (From the History of Ogle county)

The low cognomen of sucker," as applied to Illinoisans, is said to have had its origin at the lead mines. Says George Brunk, of Sangamon: Late in the fall of 1826, I was stan ing on the levee of what is now Galena, watching a number of our Illinois boys go on board of a steamboat bound down the river, when a man from Missouri stepped up and asked-"Boys, where are you going?" The answer was, "home." "Well,' he replied, "you put me in mind of suckers; up in the spring, spawn, and all return in the fall. The appellation stuck to the Illinoisans; and when Judge Sawyer came up to the mines on his circuit duty, he was styled "King of the Suckers" These who stayed over winter, mostly from Wisconsin, were called Badgers. The following spring the Misourians poured into the mining region in such numbers that the State was said to have taken a puke, and the offensive appellation of Pukes" was thenceforward applied to all Missourians. But the following is a more tasteful origin of the appellation of Sucker":

On occasion of a pleasant entertainment at Petersburg, Virginia, Judge Douglas gave the following humorous account of the origin of the term "Suckers" as applied to Illinoisans; the account is valuable further, and confers a proud distinction upon Illinois, in that it clears up all doubt regarding the discovery of that important and inspiring beverage called "mint julep," a momentous question heretofore covered with obscurity and beset with many doubts, but now in the light of these facts, happily placed at rest. It is not improbable that a glass of the animating beverage served to quicken the memory of the honorable senator on the

occasion.

About the year 1777, George Rogers Clark applied to the governor of Virginia, and sug gested to him that as peace might be declared at any time between Great Britain and the colonies, it would be well for us to be in possession of the northwest territory, so that when the commissioners came to negotiate a treaty, we might act on the well known principle of uti possidetis, each party holding all they had in possession. He suggested to the governor to permit him to go out to the northwest, conquer the country, and hold it until the treaty of peace, when we would become possessed of it. The governor consented and sent him across the mountains to Pittsburgh. From there he and his companions floated down the Ohio on rafts to the falls, where Louisville now is. After remaining there a short time, they again took to their rafts and floated down to the salines, just below the present Shawneetown in Illinois. Here they took up their march across the country to Kaskaskia, where the French had an old settlement, and by the aid of a guide they reached the Oquaw river, and encamped near Peter Menard's house, some little distance from the town. You see. I am well acquainted with the locality. [Laughter.) Next morning, Clark got his little army of ragamuffins together (for they had no army wagons with supplies, no sutler, and no stores, and by this time looked ragged enough), and took up his line of match for the little French town of Kaskaskia. It Was summer and a very hot day, and as he entered the town he saw the Frenchmen sitting quietly on their little verandahs, in front of their houses, sucking their juleps through straws. He rushed upon them, crying, "surrender, you suckers, you!" [Great laughter.] The Frenchmen surrendered, and from that day to this, Illinoisans have been known as "Suckers." [Applause.]

That was the origin of our cognomen, and when George Rogers Clarke returned to Virginia he introduced the juleps here. [Laughter.] Now, I want to give Virginians fair notice, that when they claim the honor of a Jefferson, of a Madison, of a Marshall, and of as many other distinguished sages and patriots as the world ever saw, we yield; when you claim the glory you achieved on the field of battle, we yield; when you claim credit for the cession of the northwestern territory, that out of it sovereign States might be created, we yield; when you claim the glory of never having polled a vote against the Democratic party, we yield; but when you claim the glory of the mint julep, hands off; Illinois wants that. [Shouts of laughter and applause.]-II. Reg. Sept. 19, 1860.

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