, 1869-07-02


condition u i:.lrs in tho State Prison re-
ellis Q remarkable event in the early history
Of 1t institution. tie details Ct which Will
be reumLtred By The old politicians md
eettlers Of the State. Somewhere between
thirty hod forty years ngo-nearar the latter
tenn tLs1 she forner-thc State Prison
WIS 1T Alton, aad was presided over by q
most worthy gentleman, but one Of p1in-
tive simplicity and integrity. 1t that time
the State Prison vas regarded as belonging
to the legal branch Of the government, and
was under the supervision and controlling
care Of the Attorney General, The Legis-
lature USED to meet annually, sud all the Of
dcern Of the State, except the Governor,
we're elected by the Legislature. The re-
suit WAS thAt there was hardly ever session
ct which there were not one or more State
officers, some Judge or Prosecuting At
touey to he elected. These elections were
remarkable afairs Caucus nominations
did not always prevail, ind the party il the
minority vc-e always ready to unite with q
battling facuon to elect Judge or State
officer, and receive in exchange the election
Of one u their own party. It vas in q
struggle Ct this kind that Stephen A. Doug
las got his FIRST o!hce. having been elected
Prosecuting Attorney for one Of the cir
cults over JOHN ]. Hardin, who WIS then
one Of the leading luwxe,s Of the State.
The election Of I'll these officers was gen.
e-.1ly postponed until the very close Of the
session. lcaTinr candidates tha whole win
ter to l1bo- with the members On their oWu
behalf. 1t the particular time Of which We
write the Democratic party WIS il the ma-
jority, having elected tho Governor and
controlling number Of the Legislature; but
even in those days there were dissensions,
md tie Governor md large number Of
DcE-ts:, ~ J. Z! .u-e and ont Of it,
were opposing General Jaclson's anti-bsnk
policy Lad -. s.1.. =. ,.- 49,, -
The sessioc. paths ~,-2 c-- -. Is 55 le-
moralized, '.2a Sni. v-aa ei~r;%t -as,oE-
ney General Of tho State. As this Pe1tle-
1nnn is yet living, and is even now, IN his
1dypnced yes1rs, as eminent for his ability
n6 q Awyer and his unrivalled loqucnce
Is an orator ns he WIS at that period, we
omit his nhyne. II Is sufficient to state that
OF those o5 his early associates Who read
these hots there Is not ono who does r'-t
tntert.:n for the venerable law5er the
Rame high admiration tha. he had for the
youthful Attorney General Of Illinois.
After entering formally upon tho duties
Of liA cfscc ct the State Capital, which was
then yand1ila and receiving the congrnta-
lations Of the bur Of all p.rtics, tho Attor-
ney Geacull paid m official visit to the
Pcniteatia.y. Ho VIE welcomed honestly
and heIti1y, not oaly as the Attorney
General Of The State but personally
as genial, frsnI and whole-sonlea
companion and personal friend. The
ing nfte1 his arrival he was conducted
through the prison, visited and cooversed
with every prisoner, heard ali their nppcals
for pardon. and generally inspected the IN
6titutioo- In honor of the distinguished
visitor, tie honest old Warden had prepared
a6 grand dinner as the times could afford
It WIS about the 1s Of June, and ali nature
wns IN harmony with the enthusiasm Of
The young o8cia-s Ha WAS enjoying life,
and had attained high pozton in his pro
fcssion. BIS hea1t WIS oreyhow!ng with
kindness {as il is at Ibis doy) 70. Ill nen.
He enjoyed the dinner, md the wine cir
cula.ed freely. Tns Warden, under the
magnetic cham Of his visitor, hecarne equal
II mellow. They did justice to the good
things before them, and with song and story
they killed time most ioyously.
In the hilariity Of the occasion tbs hcart
Of the Attorney General warmed toEa1ds
the unfortunate fellows IN the adjoining
cells. He ordered that three Of them
should be called IN. They came. They ha d
been in prlon for years, and their only
beverage L1d been water, md that, the At.
torney General, under the circumstances,
punishu1eut," forbidden by the Constitu,
lion ot the State. He o8crod the boys Q
clsss, ind tLca several moro glasses- Tless
were the. sent away, and fresh rehy'
ot the prisoners were called in
until at Inst every prisoner h..
l-een generously entertained In re
turn the prisoners individually md col
1ectively gave rousing cleers for the Coy
e1po-, 70. the Legislature, for the Warden
for TIC State Of Illinois, for the conntr'
generally, nnd for the Attorney Genera
particuL1y. By this tno the long mid
ecntce, afternoon was well spent, but th
Warden End his guest were not disposed t.
move, indeed, locono:ioa was not In thci
line, Tie Warden sworc eternal friendship
~wLne ,btv al. locticE 1. the EA72y.
AID Ec.:!a' fou h:lt nnep Eafpy."
= The Attorney Gcrezd WIS equally frate1
> .Et- rasy t,c hlcr. but he r1uzious,
- U:cS = Tic LIS o Lie stctGs1ooh
x&f3rcst fo-dea- any fu.thcr descr1Pdo
ef his scene, md hnsten On to the ne1
-rmuine. ThecsEe1den woke first, and
ndueeatAe presence Of the remainder {
the feast 10 enable him to remember oxactl
yLc1c Lc Was. Els first thought WIS Of th
prison, end, hasteaing TO it, found two O
fhrco prisoners only, the others havin
-,ooe of the tte,noon md evening beto1a
Eingsy, IL couples and n squads Thos
who remained Ind 40 plaee to 60 to, an
eanted to live forever under the reign {
lie new Attorney General :.
A messenger was sent by tho f.ss boat
st. Louis md an sawrtlse1aeat inserted