  ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE The Trumbulls from Newcastle-on-Tyne, England—Most illustrious family in Colony of Connecticut—Lyman Trumbull born and educated at Colchester—Begins his career as school-teacher in Georgia in 1833—Studies law there in office of Hiram Warner—In 1837 makes a journey on horseback to Shawneetown, Illinois—Begins practice of law in office of Governor Reynolds at Belleville—"Riding on the circuit" in the early days—In a letter to his father describes the killing of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy at Alton—Elected to the legislature from St. Clair County in 1840—Appointed secretary of state in 1841 by Governor Carlin—Removed from office in 1843 by Governor Ford—Political disturbance in consequence—Belleville in 1842—Marriage of Trumbull and Miss Julia Jayne—Their wedding journey—Political campaign of 1848—Trumbull fails of nomination for governor—Is elected judge of the supreme court in 1848—Removes his residence to Alton—ReËlected as judge in 1852, but resigns in the following year. 1 SLAVERY IN ILLINOIS French adventurers from Canada the first whites in Illinois—Followed by colonists from Louisiana—Slaves sent from Santo Domingo by John Law's Company of the Indies—Thomas Jefferson takes steps to exclude slavery from the Northwest Territory—The Anti-Slavery Ordinance of 1787—The territorial legislature authorizes the holding of "indentured servants" for a limited time—Attempts to repeal the Ordinance defeated in Congress by John Randolph of Roanoke—State constitution in 1818 prohibits slavery—the pro-slavery men attempt to change the constitution—Bitter contest in 1824 results in their defeat—Slavery continues, nevertheless, under judicial decisions—Trumbull wages war against it in the courts—His final victory in the Jarrot case, in 184523 FIRST ELECTION AS SENATOR Senator Douglas and the repeal of the Missouri Compromise—Disruption of political parties—Trumbull announces himself a candidate for THE KANSAS WAR Trumbull takes his seat in the Senate—A protest is presented declaring him not eligible—It is overruled after debate—Disturbances in Kansas consequent upon the passage of the Nebraska Bill—Trumbull makes a speech criticizing Douglas's report thereon—Debate between the two Senators attracts wide attention—Speeches of Seward, Sumner, Collamer, and others—Trumbull's first appearance in debate is warmly welcomed by the opponents of the Nebraska Bill48 THE LECOMPTON FIGHT The national contest of 1856 results in the election of James Buchanan as President—The Republicans of Illinois elect their state ticket—The Kansas war continues—Buchanan appoints Robert J. Walker governor of the territory—The Pro-Slavery party hold a convention at the town of Lecompton to form a state constitution—The Free State men decide not to participate, but to vote against the constitution when submitted to the people—The convention decides not to submit the constitution to popular vote—President Buchanan agrees to this plan—Governor Walker thereupon resigns his office and Senator Douglas opposes the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution—Both Trumbull and Douglas speak against the Lecompton measure and Congress rejects it—Douglas contemplates joining the Republicans69 THE CAMPAIGN OF 1858 AND THE JOHN BROWN RAID Popularity of Douglas among the Eastern Republicans growing out of the Lecompton fight—Not shared by those of Illinois—The latter choose Lincoln as their candidate for Senator—Some letters from Lincoln to Trumbull in 1858—The campaign of 1858 results in the reËlection of Douglas, but the popular vote shows a plurality for Lincoln—Douglas's doctrine of "Unfriendly Legislation" in the territories in regard to slavery turns the South against him—The John Brown raid at Harper's THE ELECTION OF LINCOLN—SECESSION The National Republican Convention at Chicago in 1860—How Lincoln was nominated in preference to Seward—the Secession movement after the election—Trumbull makes a speech at Springfield which includes a brief statement of Republican policy written by Lincoln—Correspondence between Lincoln and Trumbull before the inauguration—Trumbull advises his friends in Chicago not to make concessions to those who threaten to overthrow the Government—He has a debate in the Senate with Jefferson Davis—Makes a speech at the night session, March 2, 1861, against the Crittenden Compromise—The latter defeated in the Senate by Yeas, 19; Nays, 20—Some items of Washington society news from Mrs. Trumbull—Interview between President Buchanan and Judge McLean—Text of Trumbull's Speech against the Crittenden Compromise102 CABINET-MAKING—THE DEATH OF DOUGLAS Trumbull's interview with William Cullen Bryant, and others, who oppose William H. Seward as a member of Lincoln's Cabinet—They consider Seward's coterie in New York corrupt and dangerous—Trumbull communicates the objections to Lincoln—Lincoln thinks that the forces which backed Seward at the Chicago Convention must not be snubbed—He has already offered a place to Seward—The question of Cameron more difficult—David Davis's bargain with friends of Cameron and of Caleb Smith—Cameron tries to procure an invitation to Springfield, but Lincoln refuses—Leonard Swett gives invitation without Lincoln's authority—Cameron visits Springfield and secures promise of Cabinet position from Lincoln—A. K. McClure protests against Cameron's appointment and Lincoln requests Cameron to decline—Cameron does not decline—Trumbull advises Lincoln not to appoint Cameron—Lincoln's Illinois friends protest against Cameron—Trumbull urges appointment of Judd—Seward and Weed support Cameron, who is finally appointed Secretary of War—Trumbull, reËlected as Senator, becomes Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary—The last great service of Senator Douglas to his country—His death and Trumbull's tribute to his memory139 FORT SUMTER The Senate appoints a committee to ask the President to recall the appointment of Harvey as Minister to Portugal—He had notified Governor Pickens of the Government's intention to relieve Fort Sumter—Trumbull a member of the committee—Seward says that he did not BULL RUN—THE CONFISCATION ACT Trumbull makes an excursion with Senator Grimes to the battle of Bull Run—Is caught by the retreating Union army and driven back to Washington—His account of the panic and stampede says, "It was the most shameful rout you can conceive of"—Sends a telegram to Mrs. Trumbull, but the authorities suppress it—Consternation at the Capital—General FrÉmont's doings at St. Louis—His military order of emancipation—Lincoln considers it premature and revokes it—Correspondence between Trumbull and M. Carey Lea, of Philadelphia—Cameron follows FrÉmont's example in his first Annual Report—Sends report to the newspapers without the President's knowledge—Lincoln directs him to recall it and strike out the part relating to slavery—General David Hunter issues an order freeing all slaves in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida—The President revokes it—Trumbull reports a bill from the Senate Judiciary Committee to confiscate the property of rebels and to give freedom to all of their slaves—Collamer opposes confiscation as both unconstitutional and impolitic—He offers an amendment to substitute judicial process for military confiscation—Collamer's views prevail—The President objected, however, to the forfeiture of real estate beyond the lifetime of the owner—This was the first bill passed by Congress dealing a heavy blow at slavery165 THE EXPULSION OF CAMERON Cameron and Alexander Cummings—Two million dollars placed in New York subject to Cummings's draft—The steamer Catiline chartered and laden by Cummings and Thurlow Weed—The House Committee on Government Contracts—Cummings's testimony—Congressman Dawes's exposure of horse contracts—An equine Golgotha around Washington City—The House censures Cameron—Lincoln removes him and appoints Stanton in his place—Cameron appointed Minister to Russia—Trumbull opposes confirmation—Cameron ARBITRARY ARRESTS Lincoln's first suspension of the writ of habeas corpus—Secretary Seward and John Hay give verbal instructions thereunder—Senate debate on arbitrary arrests—Wide differences of opinion as to legality thereof—Trumbull calls for information—Debate between Trumbull, Dixon, and Wilson—Was power to suspend the writ lodged in the executive or in the legislative department?—Chief Justice Taney held that the writ had not been lawfully suspended anywhere—Trumbull demands trial by jury, without delay, of civilians arrested in loyal states—Before Congress takes action the election of 1862 results in victory for Democrats—Republican leaders intimidated—Stanton discharges all civilian prisoners—Congress passes Trumbull's bill authorizing President to suspend writ, but requiring trial in civil courts and discharge of persons not indicted—Bill to indemnify the President for previous acts passed by both houses—Banishment of Vallandigham and suppression of the Chicago Times—Trumbull opposes the latter190 INCIDENTS OF THE YEARS 1863 AND 1864 The movement in the Senate for the retirement of Secretary Seward—Letters from Gustave Koerner, Alfred Iverson, and Walter B. Scates—The appointment of M. W. Delahay as judge of the U.S. District Court of Kansas—His subsequent impeachment and resignation—Letters of General John M. Palmer, Colonel Fred Hecker, and Jesse K. Dubois—Trumbull doubts the expediency of Lincoln's second nomination—He thinks that there is a lack of efficiency in the prosecution of the war—This opinion shared by Henry Wilson and by Congressmen generally in the beginning of 1864—The people, however, were for Lincoln's renomination—The Cleveland Convention, and nomination of General FrÉmont—Simultaneous retirement of FrÉmont and Postmaster-General Blair210 THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION Scope of Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation—Amendment of the Constitution to abolish slavery—First proposals by Wilson, of Iowa, and Henderson, of Missouri—Trumbull reports the Thirteenth Amendment from the Senate Judiciary Committee—His argument thereon—Speeches of Senators Henderson and Reverdy Johnson—Amendment passes the Senate, but fails in the House—Second attempt in the House successful by a trade with Democrats—Amendment ratified—Objections raised by Southern States explained away RECONSTRUCTION Death of Lincoln—Conflict of opinions concerning the status of the seceding states—Lincoln's proclamation of December, 1863—Reconstruction of Louisiana in pursuance thereof—Trumbull reports a joint resolution admitting that state—Sumner prevents the Senate from voting on it—Lincoln's last speech on Reconstruction—His plan indorsed by William Lloyd Garrison—Andrew Johnson as President adopts it—Recognizes Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas as restored to the Union—Issues an executive order appointing a governor of North Carolina to call a constitutional convention—Negroes not included in the list of voters—Similar orders issued for the other seceding states—Wendell Phillips sounds a blast against President Johnson—Northern newspapers at first favorable to Johnson—Desperate industrial condition of the South231 ANDREW JOHNSON'S FIRST MESSAGE Excellent tone and temper of Johnson's first communication to Congress—Written by George Bancroft—Eulogy of the New York Nation—Johnson's early life and training—A first-rate stump-speaker—Sumner attacks Johnson for "whitewashing" the ex-slaveholders—Acts of Southern legislatures passed to keep the negroes in order—Senator Wilson moves that all such acts establishing inequality of civil rights be declared invalid—Trumbull argues for postponement of such legislation until the Thirteenth Amendment is ratified—Debate between Trumbull and Saulsbury—Reports of General Grant and General Carl Schurz on the condition and temper of the Southern people—Letter from J. L. M. Curry on the same244 THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU AND CIVIL RIGHTS BILLS Trumbull introduces two bills to protect the freedmen in the states—Provisions of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill—Trumbull contends that the Thirteenth Amendment authorized Congress to abolish the incidents and disabilities of slavery—The Freedmen's Bureau Bill passed by Congress and vetoed by the President—The Senate fails to pass it over the veto—Struggle in the Senate to obtain a two-thirds majority—Senator Stockton (Democrat), of New Jersey, unseated—Trumbull's Civil Rights Bill taken up—It does not deal with the right of suffrage—Debate in the Senate on the constitutional question—Bill passes Senate—Is opposed in the House by Bingham, of Ohio—Is vetoed by the President—Exciting scene in Senate when the bill is THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT The Joint Committee on Reconstruction reports the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution—It holds that the seceding states cannot be restored to their former places in the Union by the executive alone—Tennessee admitted to the Union by Congress—The Arm-in-Arm Convention at Philadelphia—President Johnson's unfortunate speech following that event—The Southern States refuse to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment—This refusal gives increased power to the radicals in the North281 CROSSING THE RUBICON Decision of the Supreme Court in the Milligan case—It declares all trials of civilians by military commissions unlawful—It implies that Andrew Johnson's policy was preferable to that of Congress—All the members of the Cabinet support the President's policy—Stanton, however, secretly confers with the radicals to undermine the President—Sumner and Stevens become the leaders in Congress and pass bills annulling state governments in the South—The Conservatives follow reluctantly, believing that the negroes cannot be protected unless they have the right to vote—Remarkable series of Reconstruction Acts passed in 1867 and 1868—The case of Georgia—Trumbull overthrows Governor Bullock and his senatorial supporters288 IMPEACHMENT The Tenure-of-Office Bill passed to curtail the President's power to remove office-holders—It does not apply to members of the Cabinet—The President vetoes it—The veto message written by Seward and Stanton in conjunction—Bill repassed over veto—First mutterings about impeachment—The Judiciary Committee reports in favor of it—The House rejects the report—The President requests Stanton's resignation—Stanton refuses to resign—The President removes him and appoints Grant Secretary of War ad interim—Stanton retires—The Senate disapproves of the removal of Stanton—Grant retires and Stanton resumes office—The President accuses Grant of bad faith, and appoints Lorenzo Thomas Secretary of War—The House votes to impeach the President and appoints managers therefor—The trial begins March 5, 1868—The President is acquitted by vote of 35 to 19, not THE McCARDLE CASE—GRANT'S CABINET—THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT W. H. McCardle, of Mississippi, arrested by General Ord for seditious publications—Takes an appeal to the Supreme Court—General Grant, as Secretary of War ad interim, retains Trumbull to defend the military authorities—Congress passes a law to deprive the Supreme Court of jurisdiction—Trumbull votes for it—The Court rules that its jurisdiction has been withdrawn by Congress—Secretary Stanton fixes Trumbull's compensation for professional services at $10,000—Senator Chandler contends that the payment is contrary to law—Trumbull shows that both law and precedent are on his side—The facts in the case—President Grant's mishaps in choosing his Cabinet—Washburne for the State Department, Stewart for the Treasury, and Borie for the Navy—They are succeeded by Fish, Boutwell, and Robeson—General John A. Rawlins selected by himself for Secretary of War with Grant's approval—General Jacob Cox and Rockwood Hoar, two men of the highest type, appointed but soon resign—Adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution327 CAUSES OF DISCONTENT Senator Grimes's estimate of the Republican party in 1870—President Grant's methods of carrying on the Government—His attempt to annex Santo Domingo—Senate rejects the treaty of annexation—The President comes in conflict with Charles Sumner, who is displaced as chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations—Trumbull sustains Sumner—Motley, Minister to Great Britain, is removed from office and Trumbull is asked to take his place—He declines the offer—First movement for civil service reform—Trumbull makes a speech at Chicago advocating it—Secretary Cox and Attorney-General Hoar cease to be members of Grant's Cabinet341 THE LIBERAL REPUBLICANS The Liberal Republican movement begins in Missouri—Its leaders—Enfranchisement of the ex-Confederates, civil service reform, and reve GRANT'S ADMINISTRATION General Grant's habits and training were not well adapted to civil and political duties—He was nominated for President on account of his military success—Rottenness in the New York Custom-House—Trumbull moves a general investigation of the waste of public money—The Senate decides in favor of a committee to investigate only matters specifically referred to it—The Leet and Stocking scandal—Colonel Leet found to be receiving $50,000 per year from the "General Order" business of the New York Custom-House—A Senate committee reports the facts to Secretary of the Treasury, Boutwell—The Secretary makes a new investigation and recommends that Collector Murphy discontinue the "General Order" system—Murphy allows it to continue indefinitely—A second Senate investigation ordered—The Leet and Stocking mystery explained—President Grant not a participant in the profits—The "General Order" system broken up—Indignation among Republicans resulting from the exposure361 THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION The Liberal Republican Convention in Missouri calls national convention at Cincinnati—Prompt and favorable response in Ohio and other states—CoÖperation of leading Democrats—Springfield Republican, Cincinnati Commercial, and Chicago Tribune, Republican newspapers, support the movement—Henry Watterson, Manton Marble, and August Belmont, Democrats, coÖperate—The movement in Pennsylvania—William C. Bryant and others favor the nomination of Trumbull for President—Great meeting at Cooper Union, New York—Governor Palmer, of Illinois, favors the movement—Charles Francis Adams, Horace Greeley, David Davis, B. Gratz Brown, and A. G. Curtin mentioned for President—Correspondence with Trumbull on the subject—The editors' dinner at Murat Halstead's house—Platform embarrassment—The tariff question referred to the congressional districts—Frank Blair and Gratz Brown cause a commotion—Carl Schurz made chairman of the convention—Balloting for President THE GREELEY CAMPAIGN How Trumbull received the news—Carl Schurz advises Greeley to decline the nomination—Greeley decides to accept it—Meeting of Liberal Republican leaders in New York to consider their course—Trumbull and Schurz decide to support the Cincinnati ticket—Correspondence between Schurz and Godkin—Parke Godwin against Greeley—President Grant renominated by the Republicans with Henry Wilson for Vice-President—The Democrats at Baltimore adopt both nominees and platform of the Liberal Republicans—A minority call a bolting convention, which nominates Charles O'Conor—Trumbull's speech at Springfield, Illinois, in support of the Cincinnati ticket—Greeley's campaign starts with the prospect of victory—North Carolina election in August gives the Grant ticket a small majority—The tide turns against Greeley—Greeley takes the stump in September and makes a favorable impression, but too late—The October elections, in Pennsylvania and Ohio, go heavily Republican—Greeley and Brown defeated—Death of Greeley following the election—State election in Louisiana in 1872—Fraudulent returns in favor of Kellogg exposed by Senators Carpenter and Trumbull—Kellogg sustained by President Grant389 LATER YEARS Trumbull's senatorial term expires in 1873—Not reËlected—He resumes the practice of law in Chicago—The second Grant administration worse than the first—The Republican party beaten in the congressional elections of 1874—The Hayes-Tilden campaign in 1876—Disputed returns in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida—The Electoral Commission—"Visiting Statesmen" sent to Louisiana to watch the count of the votes—Trumbull chosen as one of them—Chosen also to support Tilden's claim before the electoral commission—His argument thereon—E. W. Stoughton, in behalf of Hayes, contends that the returns of election certified by the governor of a state must be accepted—Also that the status of a governor recognized by the President of the United States cannot be questioned—Both these contentions are sustained by the Electoral Commission—By a vote of CONCLUSION Trumbull goes to Belleville to attend the funeral of Gustave Koerner—Is taken with illness at hotel—On his return to his home he is found to be suffering from an internal tumor—His physicians decide that a surgical operation would be fatal—He lingers till June 5, 1896—Dies in his eighty-third year—Impressive funeral—His great qualities as a lawyer and political debater—His conscientiousness and courage—His generosity, and fondness for little children—His place in the country's history—Eulogy by Joseph Medill, and other contemporaries—Trumbull's estimate of Lincoln—His religious views—His surviving family and descendants418 Index433 |
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