Biography of Ninian Edwards, first Governor of Illinois Territory, third of the state : as taken from the Edwards papers

NINIAN EDWARDS,

First Governor of Illinois Territory,
Third, of the State,

As Taken from tee Edwards Papers, Edited foe, the
Chicago Historical Society

By E. B, WASHB-URNE,

WITH LETTERS OF

ISAAC N. ARNOLD,
(President Chicago Historical Society,)

MARSHALL FIELD AND E B, WASHBURNE.

c

Ol^L ,

BIOGRAPHY

NINIAN EDWARDS,

First Governor of Illinois Territory,
Third of the State,

As Taken from the Edwards Papers, Edited for the
Chicago Historical Society

By E. B. WASHBURNE,

WITH LETTERS OF

ISAAC N. ARNOLD,

(President Chicago Historical Society,)

MARSHALL FIELD AND E. B. WASHBURNE.

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2012 with funding from

The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

http://archive.org/details/biographyofniniaOOwash

PREFACE.

AT a meeting of the Chicago Historical Society,
held on the evening of October 16, 1883, a pre-
sentation was made to the Society, of the letters,
papers, and manuscripts of Hon. Ninian Edwards, so
long and honorably identified with the history of Illi-
nois, both as a territory and as a State. This most
valuable and interesting contribution was made by his
son, Hon. Ninian Wirt Edwards, a distinguished citizen
of the State of Illinois. These papers have an excep-
tional historical interest, giving an inside view of our
early times, and particularly of the politicians and the
political methods of that day.

Ninian Edwards had a long and distinguished politi-
cal career. Born in Maryland in 1775, he removed to
Kentucky in 1795, where he at once entered upon the
stage of politics. Before he was of age, he was elected
a member of the legislature of Kentucky. Studying
law, he soon became distinguished in his profession, and
at the early age of thirty-two years, he attained the
high position of chief-justice of the Court of Appeals
of Kentucky.

In 1809, Judge Edwards was appointed by President
Madison the first governor of Illinois Territory, which
position he held until its admission into the Union as
a State in 1818. The territory thus becoming a State,
Gov. Edwards was elected one of the first two senators
to the Congress of the United States; his colleague,
elected at the same time, being Hon. Jesse B. Thomas.
Drawing the short term, which expired on the third

4 PREFACE.

day of March. 1 S 1 «>, he was reelected for the full term
of six years. In that high position he displayed great
ability and exceptional qualities as an intelligent and
practical legislator. He retired from t he senate in 1 824,
on his appointment as minister to Mexico, a position,
however, which he resigned before proceeding- to his post.
In 1826 he became a candidate for governor of Illinois,
and was elected after a remarkable canvass, in which he
was pitted against immense odds, and which he con-
ducted with unsurpassed ability. Able, independent,
outspoken, he disdained all the acts of the ordinary
politician; never descended to the low level of the dema-
gogue, nor appealed to the passions or prejudices of the
people. Entering on the duties of his office, he served
the State with conspicuous ability and usefulness till the
end of his term in December, 1830.

The correspondence published in this volume com-
menced when Mr. Edwards was a young lawyer in
Kentucky about the year 1800. He then held friendly
relations with Henry Clay, John Pope, United States
Senator for Kentucky, and many other prominent men
of that period in the State. It was from the time when
Judge Edwards was appointed governor of Illinois
Territory in 1809, that the letters now published begin
to have a real interest for the student of history. Here
will be found letters from Albert Gallatin, Secretary of
the Treasury, John J. Crittenden, Martin D. Hardin,
U. S. Senator from Kentucky, Benjamin Howard, Gov-
ernor of Missouri Territory, Joseph Charless, the
founder of the Missouri Republican, Shadrach Bond,
delegate in Congress from Illinois Territory, Daniel P.
Cook, William H. Crawford, Thomas H. Benton, and
Richard M. Johnson. After the territory became a
State, we find letters of John Reynolds, Gov. Edwards,
Jesse B. Thomas, the colleague of Governor Edwards
in the United States Senate, Rufus King, U. S. Senator

PREFACE. 5

from New York, William Wirt, President Monroe,
Samuel D. Southard, U. S. Senator from New Jersey,
John Pope, of Kentucky, John C. Calhoun, John
Quincy Adams, Gen. Jackson, Wm. Lee D. Ewing, Felix
Grundy, Sam Houston, Duff Green, Daniel Webster,
Geo. Forquer, Gen. Joseph M. Street, John McLean,
Postmaster-General, John McLean of Illinois, Sidney
Breese, Alfred Cowles, Hugh Nelson, Minister to Spain,
Martin VanBuren, Elias Kent Kane, John M. Robin-
son, David J. Baker, the three latter U. S. Senators
from Illinois, A. P. Field, Hooper Warren, and many
other gentlemen, all bearing on the events of the time.

In the publication of The Edwards Papers, here
presented, the Chicago Historical Society and the public
generally, are indebted to the characteristic liberality
of Mr. Marshall Field, one of the best known and
most highly esteemed citizens of Chicago, and one of
the most distinguished merchants in the United States.
After an examination of the letters, Mr. Field requested
that the Historical Society should publish them at his
individual expense. By this generous act, which is so
gratefully appreciated, the Society is enabled to pub-
lish this volume. It is illustrated by steel engravings
of Governor Edwards and Daniel P. Cook, and by
facsimiles of many letters written to Gov. E., by some
of his most distinguished cotemporaries.

At the urgent request of the officers of the Chicago
Historical Society, I somewhat reluctantly consented
to undertake the task of editing this volume and over-
seeing its publication. The interest it has awakened
in my mind in our early history and the clearer view
I have obtained of men and events of the epoch, have
amply rewarded my labors, and the volume is now
submitted to an indulgent public. E. Bf W.

365 Dearborn Avenue,
Chicago, January, 188^.

Chicago, Oct. 8, 1883.
Bear Mr. Field:

Since I had the pleasure of seeing you with Mr.
Washburne, I have given to the Edwards manuscripts
further exaviination, and I find them of greater in-
terest and importance even than I had supposed. Gov.
Edwards was, as you hnow, for several years the prom-
inent man and leading figure in Illinois, and did
much to shape its policy and early history. His cor-
respondence not only throws much light on the history
of our own State and the northwest, but also of the
nation. His correspondence includes letters from
most of the prominent statesmen of the day.

I understand from oar friend Mr. Washburne , that
you had generously offered to pay for the publication
of these papers. If so, he will begin immediately the
work of editing and preparing notes , so that he may
complete the work before he is driven away by the cold
weather. We all appreciate the great liberality and
interest in the history of our State which you have
manifested in this matter.

Very truly yours ,
Marshall Field, Esq. Isaac JV\ Arnold.

Chicago, 17th Oct., 1883.

Hon. I. N. Arnold,

Prest. Chicago Historical Society:

My Dear Sir:

On my return to the city , I find yours of the 8th,
and fully agree with you that the Edwards papers
should be published , and, as Mr. Washburne has so
kindly offered to give his valuable time to edit them,
I shall cheerfully pay for same.

Very truly yours,

Marshall Field.

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