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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
slaves to the vicinity of Kaskaskia, one hundred years before. Although the Constitution declared that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall hereafter be introduced into the State," this had not been effectual in eliminating it. In fact, while this language was construed, so long as it remained in the Constitution, as prohibiting legislation authorizing the admission of slaves from without, it was not regarded as inimical to the institution as it already existed; and, as the population came largely from the slave States, there had been a rapidly growing sentiment in favor of removing the inhibitory clause. Although the pro-slavery party was divided between two candidates for Governor, it had hardly contemplated the possibility of defeat, and it was consequently a surprise when the returns showed that Coles was elected, receiving 2,854 votes to 2,687 for Phillips, 2,443 for Browne and 622 for Moore - Coles' plurality being 167 in a total of 8,606. Coles thus became Governor on less than one-third of the popular vote. Daniel P. Cook, who had made the race for Congress at the same election against McLean, as an avowed opponent of slavery, was successful by a majority of 876. (See Coles, Edward; also Cook, Daniel Pope.)
The real struggle was now to occur in the legislature, which met Dec. 2, 1822. The House organized with William M. Alexander as Speaker, while the Senate elected Thomas Lippincott (afterwards a prominent Presbyterian minister and the father of the late Gen. Charles E. Lippincott), Secretary, and Henry S. Dodge, Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk. The other State officers appointed by the Governor, or elected by the Legislature, were Samuel D. Lockwood, Secretary of State; Elijah C. Berry, Auditor; Abner Field, Treasurer, and James Turney, Attorney-General. Lockwood had served nearly two years previously as Attorney-General, but remained in the office of Secretary of State only three months, when he resigned to accept the position of Receiver for the Land Office. (See Lockwood, Samuel Drake.)
The slavery question came up in the Legislature on the reference to a special committee of a portion of the Governor's message, calling attention to the continued existence of slavery in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and recommending that steps be taken for its extinction. Majority and minority reports w
