state, by their owners, coming from slave states, containing provisions under which these so-called servants could be held in absolute slavery. This was in direct violation of the ordinance of 1787, and was a dark blot on the fair fame of our state, and subsequently resulted in a cruel and oppressive system of servitude. The first result was, however, beneficial, as it enabled many families of wealth, culture and refinement, to come to the new territory, who otherwise could not have endured the priva tions and hardships of a new country. In 1810, the number of such indentured and apprenticed servants was over 600, and in the next ten years increased to 1300.

We pass over nine years of territorial history, and find great and important changes. The growth has been wonderful. Organized counties have increased from two to fifteen, giving so many centres of population and influence; the number of settlers. has increased fourfold. Some of the pressing questions have been settled. The Indians, greatly diminished in number, broken in spirit, and shut up in well-defined reservations, have ceased to be a terror. The Catholic element has remained about stationary, and its influence so far diminished that we may say Illinois is safely Protestant. The free states have sent some of their best men to the new territory, and New England ideas and convictions are asserting themselves in various localities. The steamboat has made its trial trip on the western waters, and will revolutionize the commerce of the Mississippi valley. Some issues, however, still hang in the balance. Shall Illinois be a New England or a Texas? The home of Christian culture and refinement, or of border ruffianism? By its admission to the Union, shall the domain of freedom or slavery be extended? The influence of a few men may decide the question. And thus Illinois enters upon its history as a free and independent state.

CHAPTER V.

LIFE IN ILLINOIS FROM JANUARY, 1819, TO JANUARY, 1825.

AS

S we have seen, Lockwood and Brown entered Kaskaskia December 26, 1818, entire strangers to the country, and without an acquaintance in the state; but they were just the kind of men that were needed at that time, and both soon found friends and plenty of work. One of these friends has already been mentioned, and he was in every respect a true friend, and was ever after remembered by Mr. Lockwood with the highest esteem and affection. This was Nathaniel Pope, now just appointed by President Monroe judge of the United States District Court for the new state. He soon after appointed Brown clerk of his court, a most desirable position; and he seems to have appreciated Mr. Lockwood at first sight, for after an acquaintance of only a few days, he gave him this letter of recommendation:

DEAR SIR:

KASKASKIA, January 8, 1819.

Mr. Lockwood, the bearer of this, bore letters to me, introducing him as a gentleman of integrity and talents. I have found him all that his friends represent him to be.

He contemplates a visit to St. Louis, and I am anxious to make you and him acquainted. I have, therefore, pressed upon him this letter to you. Knowing that you can not fail to be pleased with him, I shall esteem you my debtor for introducing into your society one so agreeable and intelligent.

I am, dear sir, with sentiments of the most sincere friendship, Your obedient servant,

WILLIAM C. CARR, Esquire, St. Louis, Mo.

NATHANIEL POPE.

This letter was not used, as Mr. Lockwood's first impressions of St. Louis were not favorable, and the first sight of slavery

made him turn his back upon it. The next two years were spent in the ordinary legal practice peculiar to a new country. A large part of his time was taken up in arranging cases and preparing legal documents for other attorneys, who greatly needed help in this direction. He remained in Kaskaskia only a year, when, as he states it, "finding practicing law on horseback was no joke, and influenced by the advice of friends, who represented the Wabash country as affording a better position for practice, with better prospect of success, I removed to Carmi, where I resided another year."

At the second session of the Illinois legislature, January, 1821, which was held at Vandalia, the new seat of government, then a perfect wilderness, Gen. White, senator from White county, really without Mr. Lockwood's consent, presented his name to the legislature as a candidate for the position of attorney-general, and after twenty-one ballotings, and a part of two days spent in the contest, he was elected to that office. The principal opposing candidates in this contest were James Turney, Theophilus W. Smith and Henry S. Dodge, all well known in the subsequent history of the state. The greatest number of votes cast was forty-two, and the friends of the different parties, being about equally divided, made a hard fight.

This election to office rendered another change of residence necessary, and Mr. Lockwood re-crossed the state and located at Edwardsville, in 1821.

While in Carmi, Mr. Lockwood formed an acquaintance with William Wilson, afterwards chief justice, and with whom he was associated on the bench for twenty-four years. Between them there always existed a strong friendship. In January, 1821, Mr. Lockwood, in company with Judge Wilson and Henry Eddy, made a horseback trip from Carmi to Vandalia, an incident of which is thus reported, in "Flower's History of the English Settlement in Edwards County," as showing some features of the country at that time.

"In journeying alone, or in company, great risks were run from floods, loss of way, and sudden change of temperature, especially in the winter season. Judge Wilson, Mr. S. D. Lockwood, and Mr. Henry Eddy, of Shawneetown, undertook to

reach Vandalia from one of the counties on the Wabash, a little north of us. The distance by section lines was about sixty miles, across the country, through prairie and timber, without road or track of any kind-no kind of habitation, not even the humblest cabin, in the way. Wilson took the lead, as the best woodsman. They continued to ride the whole of a fine winter's day, without seeing a man or his abode. Towards evening, the weather changed; it became very cold, with the wind blowing in their faces a heavy fall of snow.

"In this predicament, without food or fire, there was but one alternative when night came on. Each man seated himself on his saddle, placed on the ground, with the saddle-blanket over his head and shoulders, holding by the bridles their naked and shivering horses. It continued to snow for hours. For a long time they sat in this condition, thinking they should all freeze to death before morning.

"They afterward tied their horses, and spread a blanket on the ground near a fallen tree, and then squatted down close together -Lockwood in the middle-and thus they spent the long and dismal night.

"In the morning they proceeded as they best could, and before noon reached the east bank of the Kaskaskia river, then booming full, at flood water. They all had to swim their horses across, Wilson again taking the lead. Dripping wet, all three rode into Vandalia, in the midst of the frost and snow of midwinter. Lockwood, a confirmed invalid of some chronic disease, resigned himself to certain death. Extraordinary to relate, the disease from that time left him, and he lived to be a sound and healthy man."

The election of Mr. Lockwood to the office of attorney-general would seem now to be a very insignificant matter, but it was not so, in fact, and was not so regarded at the time. There were then no organized political parties, but the great question of slavery was the controlling influence in every election. A large majority of the voters was from the Southern States, or like the old French settlers, in full sympathy with them, and every state officer, up to this election of Mr. Lockwood, was, either from principle or policy, pro-slavery by open avowal or example.

This will be more fully considered in a chapter on the slavery conflict in Illinois.

One incident in Mr. Lockwood's life as attorney-general, is worthy of special notice and remembrance. Gov. Ford thus refers to it in his History of Illinois: "In 1820 was fought the first and last duel of Illinois. One of the parties fell mortally wounded; the other was tried and convicted of murder, and suffered the extreme penalty of the law by hanging. Mr. Lockwood was then the attorney of the state, and prosecuted in the case. To his talents and success as a prosecutor, the people are indebted for this early precedent and example, which did more than is generally known to prevent the barbarous practice of dueling from being introduced into the state."

In the election of 1822, Edward Coles, a very strong antislavery man, was, very unexpectedly to all, elected governor of the state. This was brought about by a strange division of the opposition, which related simply to the governor, so that all the other state officers elected were in sympathy with slavery, and Gov. Coles knew there would be controversy between him and other state officers all through his administration. He could, however, under the Constitution, as it then was, appoint the Secretary of State, and he selected Mr. Lockwood, knowing him to be well fitted for the place, and one upon whom he could rely in the great conflict, which every one felt was soon coming on. Mr. Lockwood held this office but a short time, for reasons thus given by himself: "Before removing to Vandalia, where my duties of Secretary of State would require me to reside, I very unexpectedly received, from President Monroe, a commission, appointing me Receiver of public moneys, at the land office of Edwardsville. The salary of Secretary was payable in depreciated paper money, the salary of Receiver was payable in specie, and a per cent. on receipts. Specie, instead of depreciated paper, decided the question, and I accepted the office of Receiver at Edwardsville."

The full force of this reason will appear, when we remember that the salary was small in itself, and the depreciated currency was worth only thirty cents on the dollar. But one great reason for accepting the office, Mr. Lockwood does not give. He felt