The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-03
SPRINGFIFLD'S LONG NINE.
How, Lead by Lincoln, They Secured
the CAPITAL of Illinois.

| dalia and compared recOllectlonS or the
event An old settlers reunion brought
the Rev. Ben Mcmahon and Uncle John
Mcconnell together. And when the
comparison of recollections got fairly
under way it carried the pair back to
the thirties. Vandalia was the capital
of Illinois. Lincoln was Il member of
the legislature. The fight over the
question over the removal of the CAPT
tai was the dominating issue through
out the session.
The State House stands in just about
the form ii did then, with the columns
and the spacious pnrtfco. Stone sills
for the wooden have been substituted
below the windows and some modern
izing of the interior has taken place
But where the parson and Uncle john
ny sat was not two rods away from the
second story window which had a
place in the eliminating exploit of that
memorable session. Naturally enough,
the two old settlers talked of the Incl
dent which was on every tongue when
they We're boys.
Edward D. Baker, afterward a United
States senator, was a member Of that
llIIllOi0 ltES ISltltui ~ NClt DlCpllSii
A. Douglas, James Shields and John A.
Logan, all in turn senators and Of ma
tional fame The last surviving men,
Der, Colonel John A. McClernand, died
few weeks ago. But what those men
did has been forgotten, While the local
memory of "how Lincoln broke the
quorum lives.
Vahdalia. on the bluffs OF the Okaw,
had been the state capital twenty years,
succeeding Kaskaskia, the last ruins of
which tumbled into the river only last
summer. Removal to Nandalia was
made under an act which provided that
the capital should remain there for a
period of twenty years, At the eXpira-
ton of that time the legislature was to
determine whether Vandalla or some
other locality should be the seat of gov
eminent. AS the time neared for the
show of strength the contest waxed
warmer and warmer. Springfield was
the chief competitor. The county sent
to that Legislature two senators and
seven representatives, who became
known as ''the long nine" and thereby
hangs the quorum breaking tale.
Lincoln was the tallest Of the lot The
combined height of the nine was fifty
FIVE feet. Throughout the session~ev-
erything else was made subservient to
the question of capital removal. The
presiding officer of the branch of the
assembly to which Lincoln belonged
was a Vandalism. 1t became necessary
to watch him closely lest he take adj
vantage in the time of voting. The is
sue had been postponed several times,
and the session was approaching the
end. To this day the inhabitants wax
indignant when they recall the hard
things that We're said of Vandalia and
the surroundings by those who favored
removal Half a dozen members in the
course of several sessions had sickened
and died These deaths were ascribed
by the enemy to the unhealthy con-
ditions.
"The trouble was busthead whisky"
said parson Mcmahon. I have heard
them tell that at Ebenezer Caps store,
which was the resort of statesmen of
the day. a barrel of wisky was kept
with the head knocked out and a dip
per hanging on a nail, so that members
could help themselves. | have seen
some of the old accounts of Ebenezer,
a bill of $50 for the entertain
ment of members oe the legislature in
a single evening"
"They used to say, too" added Uncle
Johnny, that those fellows who died
came down here and ate too many
hazel nuts
But. notwithstanding the campaign
IF education which champions of
Springfield carried on against Vandalia,
only the quick wit of Lincoln prevented
the action OF the legislature, which
would have kept the capital where it
was for another twenty years.
One morning. when the body had
been called to order, the presiding Off
,er suddenly laid before the members
he question of the capital location. |
Lincoln, who was the leader of the |
Springfield faction, saw that his side !
vas in the minority. Several Spring
ield members had left town, and had |
lot returned. He saw too that the |
number present was barely quorum. |
rhe friends of Vandalia, to a man, were |
N hand. At the door stood a burly |
who had evidently !
'eceived instructions to stop any mem
)ers trying to leave 1t was plain that |
he Vandalia people meant to rush |
through the bill to make 30 change in
he capital. Preliminary proceedings
proved it.
Lincoln had taken the floor only to
ind how poWerless the minority was
The situation looked hopeless. The tall
aunt leader nodded to his followers |
md hurried to the corner window. A
wooden sill twenty inches wide made a
projection beyond the wall Before his
purpose could be OWNED and the Off
ers of the house could reach him, Lin
DIN had stepped through the window
nd let himself down until he hung by
lis hands from the sill The distance |
0 the ground was less than five feet.
lincoln dropped.
mo quorum The Springfield mi
ority shouted. Proceedings were
locked for the time being Subsequent
Y when the absentees had returned.
nd when the session was about to
lose, it was impossible further to post
one the vote. Springfield won.
Uncle Johnny showed the window and
escribed the scene in detail The par
on listened with a little smile, and