, 1879-04-06
1860 AND 1879,

for several weeks.
1860 AND 1879.
Nineteen years ago yesterday the Common
Council of the City Of Chicago passed the
following ordinance:
An ORDINANCE concerning the Fire Limits:
"SEc. l. Be II ordained, etc., That permission
is hereby given to PETER PAGE. SYLVESTER LIND,
=. n HOLDEN, and others, to erect within the
hre-lmits Of the South Division. on the vacant lot
corner OF LaEe aud Market streets, temporary
wooden building, one or two stories high, as may
be required. and Of other dimensions than the
rules regulating the fire. limits require: Prorided,
That they ob1lgate themselves to remove said build
ing prior to the LIST daY OF December next in such
penalty as shall compensate the Comptroller TO: all
expense In removing and taking down the same:
Prorided, further, Th.t If such building is not
taken down within the prescribed time, the mate
rails therein shall become the property Of the City
OF Chicago.
''SEc .. That so much Of Sec. Of Art. 2 OF
an ordinance concerning the Fire Department., be-
ing Chap. XII. Of Municipal Laws. also OF all
other ordinances or parts Of ordinances incon-
sistent with the erection OF this building, be and
the came are hereby repealed, it being the inten-
tion OF this ordinance to grant permission for th5
erection Of this building, but nothing else.''
This ordinance was passed by unanimous
vote in special meeting, the following Al
dermen being present: BorsroRp, COLBY,
HARRIS, MARSHALL, JONES, JoY, KENNEDY,
MYERS, TAFT, Foss, RENO, A1sros, HUBBARD,
VAIL, PRNDn111E, .CoM1sKr, and McDoS-
AID. The " tenn porary wooden bui1dipg,"
the erection Of which speedily followed the
passage of this ordinance, though homely,
unpretentious structure, almost thrown to-
gether, became famous all over the
country as the Republican Wigwam, within
whose huge inclosure ABRAHAM LINCOLN was
selected as the standard-bearer Of the Re-
publican party and the Commander-in-Cliaf
Of the Union hosts that overthrow the South
ern Secessionists who were plotting treason
at Charleston, S. c., in the very month this
ordinance was passed. The scene that at
tended the close Of the long struggle between
the friends of A1r. SEWARD and Alr. LINCOLN
was memorable one. The great outburst
Of enthusiasm from the thousands inside and
outside the building when AIr. LNco1S's
nomination was announced, and the inspir-
ing character of the surroundings, constituted
scene the like Of which had never BEEN
known before in our political history. It
was not alone local pride TINT aroused this
j jubilant demonstration, but the removal Of o
grave apprehension, the lifting Of a great
burden,-for even then there were many
who perceived the clouds Of war
gathering daraly on the horizon, and
felt that they had steadfast counselor
and safe guide in any emergency that might
occur. One year later, STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
delivered the last speech Of his life within
its walls. The Rebels had fired upon the
flag Of their country, and the North was
rousing itself for the defense Of the Goreru-
ment. They we're the last words of the
great orator, and they were the last words
spoken within its walls, and these last words
were an earnest and exalted appeal for
patriotic devotion to the Union and al
earnest support Of the Government in the
crisis that was at hand.
The provision Of the ordinance for the re-
moval of the building within q specified
time was never enforced. In the sweep Of
stirring events from 1861 to 1865, culminat-
ing in the assassination Of the Pres1-
dent who was first nominated within its
walls, and in the overthrow Of the
Confedsracy, the building passed out Of
thought. There are no landmarks in Chi
eago. Buildings do not last long enough to
accumulate associations. The resistless
growth of tie city and the constantly-in-
creasing demands of trade either sweep away
landmarks Or radically change their charac-
ter SO TINT they are 10 longer recognizable.
Thus it was TINT in short time the memor-
nble building which had been the theatre of
such stirring scenes became mnrt Of traffic,
and dealers in -four, grain, butter, eggs, and
poultry divided its great space among them
selves, until fire destroyed it ono night in
/ twinklng. A new structure took its place,
which suffered like fate in the great confla- |
grafton Of 1871.
In 1860, when this ordinance was passed,
he South was beginning to boast it would
capture the Capital. Now in 1879 it boasts
t las captured it. The Solid South has
control of the Legislative functions, and |
threatens to starve the Government, as it |
hen threatened to shoot it, if it does not |
,ield to its dictation. The ex-Rebels are |
sgain crowding closely upon the loyal men
If the North. They are threatening the !
Government now as they threatened it then |
They dictate and menace now as they did |
hen. They have commenced their attack
1pon the Government now as they did then, |
,n1y the attack comes in anew direction. They
hen declared that if Republican President
we're elected they would 60 out Of the Union.
They now declare that if the safeguards of
rec election are not broken down, SO that
Republican President cannot be elected, the
shall not have dollar for it's
upportt. There is the same feeling of un-
asiness and apprehension in the minds OF
cyal men now that there was then. Should
mother crisis be forced upon the North
,hicago may be relied upon for another