The Coolidge examiner., 1935-02-08

such was vandalia when winter day
late In November 1894. the regular stage coach
was driven into the capital OF Illinois Among
the passengers Was Abraham Lincoln one OF
the newly elected representatives from Sanga.
mon county.
lie wore q nsw suit which. made by tailor
In Springfield had cost him sixty dollars Lin
coin had borrowed from Coleman Smoot two
hundred dollars in order properly 20 equip him.
self snd pay bis expenses bile away from New
salem on his first legislative adventure. The loan
was whlmsically declared Lincoln when asking
Smooi for the money, kind of penalty upon
Smoot for having voted for him lie was better
atiired and had more clothes than ever before In
his ufe"
During this session Lincoln played q very small
part and such measures as be voted upon had
comparatively little historical significance. lie
vas appointed 90 one minor standing committee
and later 10 two special committees The first
bin he introduced. providing for private toll.
bridge across Salt creek IN Sangamon county.
was passed promptly But when he branched
ou' into larger fields OF legislation he was not,
SO successful
The disposal of public lands belonging 10 the
United States was an important question al that
time. ON January TO- ISIS. Lincoln offered
resolution that our senators be instructed and
our representatives requested 10 use their whole
influence In the congress OF the United States TO
procure the passage 0f a law relative to the
public lands. by the operation OF which the
state OF Illinois would be entitled 60 receive
annually n sum OF money not less In amount
than - per cent upon the amount annually paid
into the treasury OF the United States. for pub
lie lands lying within the limits Of the said
state OF Illinois" This resolution was laid on the
table. without roll-eall. where 1t peacefully ex-
plred.
Even more important than the public land
question the problem OF the National bank.
the main issue in the Presidential campaign Of
iS;f2 In which Andrew Jackson was reelected. A
resolution supporting Jackson's stand on this
question. introduced In the Illinois egisla-
ture in January. 1895. and preclpItated 4 Wig
orous dispute. Says Beveridge: a. For nearly
three weeks Lincoln heard what was said on all
phases OF the National bank and the currency .
but IL does not appear that he took part In the
controversy"
But II Lincoln played an insignificant role
during his first Legislative experience. he was 20
play an active and conspicuous part In the spe
cial session OF the legislature which Gov Joseph
Duncan called the following December. (This
the same Joseph Duncan who. as one OF
Maj George crogan's boy Ileutenants," had
won n vote OF thanks from congress for their
heroism at the defense OF Fort Stephenson dur
ing the War OF 1Sl2) During this session the
state was reapportloned. the necessary legisa
ton for starting work the Illinois and Mich
igan canal was passed. as were the first OF the
food bills providing for other internal improve
ments which rose TO such high tide in the next
legislature and played no small part In the panic
Of 1881
But more important. regards I4incoln's
career. the fact that during this time he
was helping pave the way for removing the
capital to Springfield. an incident which brought
him his first real prominence. Reelected TO the
legislature in 1886, at Its opening session in
December he became the Whig floor leader and
was recognized on all hands clever par
liamentary tactician and likely 10 become the
manager In the house. . His supreme purpose
now was TO achieve the removal of the capital
to Springfield and upon the achievement OF that
design he concentrated every faculty during the
next three months"
In 1898 the legislature had authorized a ref
erendum vote by the people on the question of
selecting a permanent site fer the capital but
no majority was given for any one location The
leaders In the voting were Alton, vandalia