The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-27

XIV.
Tho election OF Trumbull duieted the slavery
agitation in the Legislature Senator Palmer
turned his attention TO local matters. and warm
ly supported the FREQ school system, the Home
| stead law. and many other important measures.
Tho Republican party sprang Into life Ho
| was ono OF It's sponsors. In 1855 he was Presl-
dent Of the first Illinois Republican State Con-
vention. held at Bloomington He was also
| delegate to the first National Republican Con-
vcntion hold In Philadelphia. Personally pre-
| fcrrinR Fremont he advocated the nomination
| OF Judge Mclean M more available candi-
date Living In part OF the State where the
Democratic majority was overwhelming: he
| threw himself into the canvass with all his en-
| erRy. He refused the Republican nomination
for Congress, and stumpod tho State. 1t re-
gulrcd great courage Tor ne Democratic ora
ists, and accused them Of trying to disrupt the
Union. Lincoln. Trqambull. and Palmer were
| personal risk speeches were made nearly every
| day during the campaign. Nothing daunted
the broad -shouldered k"ntuckian. He won the
respect of his former constituents by resiRning
| his seat In the State Senate upon the ground
that, having changed his political connections
after his election. selfrespect aud proper re-
gard for the true principles of representative
government demanded such a course Occa-
siopaly however. no fnlminated his opinions
under cover OF revolver. Once he stripped
fora fight with Major Burke.
His previous history hnd proved him man Of
Brassa act M he su nS B Y "S,esh S"S
for Congress. against Major Thomas H. Harris
ConySnon ha Nominated MmTrs was ~ o tee
from the MAJOR was read. nlled with abuse
Of the anti Nebraska Democrats. Palmer
sSOr aSrusS s sE w0a bS f Ss SaS
70 Harris who ,hreatened to bring him 70 terms.
These threats reached Palmer's ears. Hearing
mat Harris was to speak at Piainview. he went
the Major In the cars. Harris gave him his
hand. and very pleasant compensation ensued.
Carlinylle Convention. Palmer accepted
warm invitation to get on at Plainview and
the depot together. and the Kentuckian was ma
signed seat near the platform. INSCRIPTIONS
edhercnls Of Harris stationed themselves near
him. and II was evident that mischief was brew
ing, A friend OF Palmer's heard their threats
and Slipped an old-lashii9ned ,pepper-box re;
he said. " for these fellows say they are going
To give You powerful licking"
tho nysnsiye remsrps In bpp Letter ~ pu ,So
pointing to Palmer. said: understand. sir
that YOU have made speech asserting that I
dared not use those words before your face.
What have you TO say for yourself 2"
Palmer replied that the accusation was not
strictly true. He had said that he did not be-
leye Harris would dare make the statement
before the face OF an honest man, and this nm
doubleday amounted 10 the same thing. The
people, Palmer replied that he did not think
II possible TO quarrel by agreement. and II II
were possible he did not care to argue n case
before packed jury. The Major then began
his speech. referring TO the anti Nebraska men
as abolltionists and negro-stealers. His re.
marks became so personal and offensive that
the kentuckian called him a liar. Harris
descended tho platform and advanced upon
Palmer, surrounded by his partisans. The
Kentuckian met him half way. with drawn re-
yolver. Three friends gathered about him. and
there was parley Tue MAJOR returned to the
Ter 1euOuuripU Uh AZ la q.
an attempt 10 assassnate him. finished his
speech. Palmer then mounted the platform amid
how,ed down.. Threatening demonstrations
were were made the orator did not quail. He
dres. he shouted. YOU raioiced when Was he.
Ing malgned. and II you won't hear the truth
otyour own Tree Will you shall be forced TO hear
H. III send bullet through the first one that
interrupts me- dead silence followed Tho
multitude stared into the six chambers of the
revolver and the orator made the first speech
against the extension OF slavery that was ever
heard in PlainNisw.
The canvass closed with the defeat Of Fremont.
warmth than ever. The Republicans indig-
nanty repudiaied tho charge OF abolition. and
stood upon a platform opposed to the extension
Of slavery. They asserted that freedom, and not
slavery. was the normal condition OF the Terri.
tories; Meantime the South had knocked
over Douglass idol Of sqnatier sovereignty, and
were cheered on by Buchanan. The Little
m6st grmf, iefft aTt'is "ifrah f4tf. ft,''tfhttAe
and other Eastern Republicans urged the party
T.
Greeley wrote letters 10 Palmer and others but
they set the Republican party in Illinois upon
its feet 10y the nomination OF ABB Lincoln for
senator. Palmer stumped the State ON Old
Abe's behalf and did effective service The
Little Giant, however. died hard He was saved
10y an unjust legislative apportionment. and re-
:, The Republican party had reached manhood.
Its real principles began TO be understood. and il
gained control OF the lower House OF Congress-
In 1858, Palmer felt himself strong enough TO
become a candidate Tor Congress. His district
"a nnmAAFafin hut htu
personal popularity was great. aud there was n
lair chance for his squeezing through. He
October John Brown made his raid AT Harper's
Ferry. II had disastrous effect upon Palmer's
SO great that he was defeated by over A. 900
majority.
XVI
Success came at last and with II national dis
aster. Lincoln was made President and John
NJ. Palmer. an Illinois Elector at Large
gave him his vote. The political sky be-
came A. black as night. and State after State
seeded from the Union. Statesmen vainly en-
deavored to patch up settlement. As mem
Der OF Crittenden's Peace Congress. Palmer
advocated the call Of National Convention for
the settlement OF all difficulties. That PROPOSE
ton failing. no favored the measures OF com
promise finally recommended by tho Confer
ence. The booming OF cannon at Fort sumter
hWoke inc country. On the call Tor troops
Palmer abandoned his practice. and was unani-
mously elected Colonel Of tho Fourteenth I'LL
nois Volunteers. The regiment was ordered 10
northern Missouri, and saw much service. On
Oct %. 1861. Gen. Hunter assigned Col Palmer
70 the command OF n brigade This brigade
formed part of Gen pope's expedition 10 Mil
ford, and captured u large number OF prisoners.
On Dec. 20 Col. Palmer was made a BrigRdier-
General. He commanded division in Popes
expedition against Island No 10 and New
Madrid. Ordered TO occupy Riddles Point his
troops dragged heavy guns along the bank OF
the Mississippi at night. wading much OF the
way The course Of the river and the high
stage OF water made this n point OF great
Importance. II commanded the only APP
proach by which the enemy could suctor
their forces on Island No. TO- AT sunrise on
FEB. is the Confederate gunboAts discovered
Gen. Palmers position. Six Of them formed in
line, and opened furious cannonado. Pal
mers guns were overmatched. The enemy
made an attempt 10 land, but were repulsed by
az Indiana regiment that occupied a line OF
rl1e-pits near tho river. Two OF their boats
were seriously injured. Repeated attempts to
reach the landing were repulsed Gem Pal
mers command was almost necessarily an
gagged with the gunboas. His guns and rifles
we're never silenced. and the relief or escape OF
the garrison became impossible. The island
was surrendered.
After an attack on Fort Pillow. Gen. Pope
Joined Gen. Halleck at Corinth. The corps was
reorganized. Gen. Palmer was assigned 10 tho