CHAPTER XX.

First State-Election-Gov. Bond-First General Assembly-Officers-Laws-Election of United-States Senators-Congressional Election-Cook vs. McLeanRemoval of the Capital.

THE

HE first election for State-officers, and members of the general assembly under the constitution of 1818, was held on the third Thursday (17), and the two following days in September. The mode of voting was by ballot, which was continued until 1829, when a return to the viva-voce method. was determined upon.

Shadrach Bond was elected the first governor of the State by a practically unanimous vote. He came to the Territory from. Maryland in 1794, having barely passed the age of twenty-one, and resided at first with his uncle, of the same name, on the American Bottom, in what is now Monroe County. He was raised a farmer, and so continued. He received only a commonschool education. His hand-writing was poor, and his acquaintance with the spelling-book was not intimate; yet in the school of experience, and of every-day intercourse with his fellow-men, he acquired a large stock of useful knowledge and practical information, which was of even greater value to a public man in those early days than the learning to be derived from schools. His person was erect, compact, and formed with perfect symmetry; his bearing was noble, dignified, and commanding. His complexion was dark, and his hair a glossy jet-black. He had a high forehead, indicating a large brain, and a countenance expressing rare intelligence. He was a great admirer of and favorite with the ladies; "yet" says Gov. Reynolds, "his gallantries, though many, were always circumscribed with propriety"a remark which can not be truthfully repeated of all his successors in the executive chair. He kept his horses and his hounds, and was fond of racing and hunting. Being of a jovial and convivial spirit, in society as in public life, he was personally agreeable and popular. He was decided in his opinions

and faithful to his friends and allies. He participated prominently in the political controversies of his day, one of which resulted in the sending and accepting of a challenge to fight a duel with Rice Jones. After the parties had taken their position in the field, the pistol of Jones, a hair-trigger, was accidentally discharged. Bond's second promptly declared it a fire, and insisted upon the right of his principal to return it. But Bond, with characteristic magnanimity, at once exclaimed "it was an accident," and refused to take advantage of a purely technical right, even at the hazard of his life, declaring that Jones was entitled to the stipulated shot. This magnanimity on the part of Bond led to an honorable adjustment of the quarrel.*

Gov. Bond had been a member of the territorial legislatures of Ohio and Indiana, a captain in the war of 1812, and was the first delegate elected to Congress from Illinois Territory, taking his seat Dec. 3, 1812. The latter position he resigned in 1814, to accept the appointment of receiver of public moneys; when he removed from his farm in St. Clair (now Monroe) County to another just west of Kaskaskia, on which, in sight of that ancient village, he erected a large, and as was thought at that time, palatial brick-residence, where he spent the remaining years of his life.

In congress, he faithfully represented the interests of his constitutents, securing the passage not only of the law providing for raising and equipping three companies of rangers for the protection of the infant settlements, but also of that important and popular measure known as the preëmption law of 1813.

In 1816, upon the election of Nathaniel Pope to congress, Col. Bond was a candidate for the office of territorial secretary, and requested the support of Gov. Edwards, which was refused; and from this time the antagonism between these distinguished officials marked more plainly the dividing line between their

*

Unfortunately, however, the affair was not destined to be without bloodshed. The bad feeling engendered between Bond's second-James Dunlap, and Jones, a short time after, resulted in the assassination of the latter by Dunlap in a public street of Kaskaskia. The killing is characterized by Gov. Reynolds as having been unprovoked and cowardly-Dunlap firing at his victim from behind. The murderer escaped the vengeance of the indignant citizens by flight to Texas, and was never brought to justice.