The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-06-15
ILLINOIS SENATOR'S.

The recent death Of one Of the first represent
tatives OF this State in the U. 8. Senate, Hon
}. B. THOMAS. ST., suggests reference to the
list of distinguished men who have represented
Illinois in that august body, since the ADM ssion
of the State into the Union.
Upon the organization of the State govern
ment, 1915, Ninlan Edwards and Jesse b. Tho
mas were chosen to represent Illinois in the
United States Senate. The period OF their ser
vice commenced on the 7th of October of that
year. In the arrangement of classes as provided
for in the constitution, the former drew tor the
third class, and went out of office, on the Sd OF
March, 1878; the latter for the 2nd class, by
which his othcial term was continued until
March, Sd, 1898. Both were re elected, Gov.
French continuing in office until his resignation,
some time in 1924, when John Mclean was ap-
pointed to I'LL the vacancy thus created aud
Mr.. Thomas ill March Sd, 1929, tie expiration
of a full term of senatorial service. Mclean, at
that time, remained in the Senate only from the
23d of November, 1924, to March 3, 1925,
| when Elias X. Kane came into office as his sue
| cessor. Mr.. Kane served out full term, and
was reelected in 1881 but died in 1885, before
his second period of service expired To him
succeeded William l.. ID. Ewing, who was APP
pointed in December 80, 1885, and continued in
the Senate until March Sd, 1897, the end of Mr..
Kane's full term. In his place Richard Nj.
Young was elected, who served out the full term
of six years. Sidney Breesc succeeded Mr.
70 ing, and remained in the Senate from March
4l5l3, to March 3, le49 then came Gen Shields
whose term continued to March 3, 1855.
John Mclean, who had been appointed to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation
of Gov Edwards in 1924, was elected to the leg.
islaiure in in the place of Jesse B. Thomas, and
remained in Office from the 4th of March, 1929
until his death, which occurred some time in
the following year David J. Baker, who wa.
appointed in his place, continued in the Senate
from Nov. IL, 1850, to December 18th 1880
when John M. Robinson succeeded him TO
the remainder of McLean's period of service
Mr.. Robinson was reelected in 1885, and upor
the expiration of his term in l54l, was succee
ded by Samuel McRoberts, who, died early il
1912 James Semple succeeded Mr.. McRoberts
and continued TO represent the State until Marcl
3, lo47, when Stephen A. Douglas was chose1
, to succeed him. Every one knows that the
little giants was selected to be his own success
, or by the Legislature last winter, and it is easy
see that he will wprthiIy follow in the the pal
i which he has marked out for himself, even if
! should lead, as may be hoped, to higher tina
Senatorial honors.
e Thus it will be seen that in two instances on
: ly, have senatorial vacancies been FIJI led by th
f Governor Of the State. In the first, that c
e Mr.. Baker, the legislature refused TO sanctio
= the executive choice, and selected Mr.. Rnbir
/. son in his place In the latter, Mr. Semple re
f ceived the endorsement Of both the executiv
{ and legislative authorities. In the other case
Q of vacancy, the selection Of successors devolve
e upon the Legislature.
!. Ofthe old senators, only Messrs. Baker, Sen
n pie, Young, and Breese are now alive. M
. Thomas, soon after the expiration ofhis Sena,
# orial service, removed to OHIO, where he die
p but a few weeks since. The decease of Messr
|. Mclean, K dne, and McRoberts, occurred Will
4 they were in office-State Register.