had it not
been for the dark war clouds which were so quickly gathering over
our own country.

Among the other vital conditions which helped to keep the country's
interest and attention divided at this critical time was the Missouri
Compromise repeal, May 30, 1855. This repealing act early began
to bear political fruit. Already treaties had been made with half
a score of the Indian Nations in Kansas, by which the greater part
of the soil for two hundred miles west was opened. Settlers,
principally from Missouri, immediately began to flock in, and with
the first attempt to hold an election a bloody epoch set in for
that region between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions,
fanned by attempts in Massachusetts and other Eastern States to
make of Kansas a Free State.

By methods of intimidation, Whitfield, a slave-holder, was elected
the first delegate to Congress. At a second election thirteen
State Senators and twenty-six members of a Lower House were declared
elected. For this purpose 6,320 votes were cast--more than twice
the number of legal voters.

Foreign affairs other than Spain's unfriendly activities also had
a share in distracting attention. The United States paid Mexico
ten million dollars to be free of the Guadalupe Hidalgo obligation
to defend the Mexican frontier against the Indians.

My first experience after I was elected City Attorney, was to
prosecute persons charged with violating the ordinances prohibiting
the sale of intoxicating liquors. One of my preceptors, the Hon.
Benjamin S. Edwards, was a strong and earnest temperance man. He
volunteered to assist me in the prosecution of what we called
"liquor cases." The fact is that for a time he took charge of the
cases, and I assisted him. Life was made a burden to violators of
liquor ordinances that year in Springfield.

The following year, 1856, was a Presidential year. I was chosen
as an elector on what was called the "Fillmore Ticket." I did not
at that time believe very strongly in Fremont for President. During
the same year, I was nominated as a candidate for the House of
Representatives of the Illinois Legislature, and was supported by
both the Fillmore party and the Free-soil party and thus elected.

The House of Representatives of the Legislature of 1856 was so
close that if all the members who had not been elected as Democrats
united, they had one majority. If any one of them went to the
Democrats, the Democrats would ha