Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-03-07


fame Of Clinton, and here also was a
fine opportunity Of repeating In high
er strain and on loftier stage the in
genious arguments which In the very
outset of his career had proved so hard
for "Posey and Ewing" when he over
threw those worthless in the great de-
bate respecting the improvement Of
the Sangamon river. -
Wins Capital Removal.
1.-THE internal improvement BILL" says
Mr. Wilson Zone of the Long Nine'),
land a bill to permanently locate the
seat Of the government Of the state
were the great measures of the session
Of 1996-97. Vandana was then the seat
of government and had been for a
number OF years. A new statehouse
had just been built. Alton, Decatur,
Peoria, Jacksonville, uhapous and
Springfield were tho points seeking the
location If removed from Vandalia.
The delegation from Sangamon were
unit, acting in concert in favor Of the
permanent location at Springfield. The
bill was introduced at an early day In
the session to locate by joint vote Of
both houses Of the legislature. The
friends Of the other points united to
defeat the bill, as each point thought
the postponement Of the location to
some future period would give strength
to their location. The contest on this
bill was long and severe. Its enemies
laid it on the table twice, once on the
table to the 18th day Of July and once
indefinitely postponed it. To take a
bill from the table is always attended
with difficulty, but when laid on the
table to a day beyond the session or
when indefinitely postponed 1t requires
vote Of reconsideration, which al
ways is an intense struggle. In these
dark hours, when our bill to all ap-
pearances was beyond resuscitation
and all our opponents were jubilant
over our defeat and when friends
could see no hope, Mr.. Lincoln never
for one moment despalred, but, collect
ing his colleagues to his room for con-
sultation, his practical common sense,
his thorough knowledge Of human ma
ture, then made him an overmatch for
his compeers and for any man that
have ever known.
1--WE surmounted all obstacles, pass
ed the bill and by joint vote Of both
houses located the seat Of government
Of the state Of Illinois at Springfield
just before the adjournment Of the leg
islature, which took place on the 4th
day Of March, 1887. The delegation
acting during the whole session upon
all questions as a unit gave them
strength and influence that enabled
them to carry through their measures
and give efficient aid to their friends.
The delegation was not only remarka-
BILE for their numbers, but for their
length, most Of them measuring six
feet and over. It was said at the time
that that delegation measured fifty
four feet high. Hence they were
known as the Long Nine So that
during that session and for a number
of years afterward all the bad laws
passed at that session Of the legisla-
ture were chargeable to the manage
ment and influence Of the Long Nine
"He [Mr. Lincoln] was on the stump
and in the halls of the legislature a
ready debater, manifesting extraordi-
nary ability in his peculiar manner of
presenting his subject. He did not fol-
low the beaten track Of other speakers
and thinkers, but appeared to compre-
bend the whole situation Of the sub
ject and take hold Of its principles. He
had a remarkable faculty for concen-
tration, enabling him to present his
subject in such manner as nothing
but conclusions were presented"
Continued next week.