of the "Jefferson-Lemen Anti-Slavery Pact" be fully written up and
arranged for publication, since they embrace some exceedingly
important state and national history, and, in fact, will necessitate a
new or larger personal history of Jefferson, as these facts will add
another splendid chapter to the great story of his marvellous career.
If you think the publication of Jefferson's letters and suggestions to
your father would rather tend to dwarf the legitimate importance of
his great religious movement in the formation of our early churches,
on account of the wonderful political results of the "anti-slavery
pact" it would be sufficient to command belief everywhere just to
simply state that in his anti-slavery mission and contest he acted
under Jefferson's advice {p.48} and help; because the consequences
were so important and far reaching that it is self-evident he must
have had some great and all-prevailing power behind him.
I was greatly pained to learn of your illness, in your last letter,
but hope this will find you comfortable.
Yours in confidence,
S. A. DOUGLAS.
I wrote this letter in Springfield, but by an over-sight neglected to
mail it there. But if you write me in a fortnight, direct to
Springfield, as I expect to be there then.
Yours Secv. [_sic_] D.
X. ANNOUNCEMENT BY J. B. LEMEN
(From _Belleville Advocate_, April 17, 1908. Clipping,
I.B.H.C.,--K11)
It was our purpose in this letter [communication] to send the Advocate
a copy of one of Abraham Lincoln's letters, and some other matter from
him and Douglas, from the old family notes of Rev. James Lemen never
yet published; but increased illness, and their greater length,
prevented making the copy. In their place, however, we send a copy
each of Governor Edward's and Congressman Snyder's letters. The
prophetic utterances in this letter as to what would fall on Mexico's
treachery and slavery's insolence, were so literally fulfilled that
they emphasized anew Congressman Snyder's wonderful capabilities in
sizing up public questions correctly and reading the coming events of
the future, and prove him to have been a statesman of wonderful
powers. The next, which will be the concluding article in this series,
will contain the copy of Lincoln's letter and the other matter above
referred to.
The typos made one or two slight errors in Senator Douglas's letter in
last week's issue. For "expound" the reader should have read "expand,"
and at another point the letter should read that "Jefferson, through
his confidential leaders in Congress, held that body back until Mr.
Lemen, under his orders, had rallied his friends and sent in
anti-slavery petitions, etc,"
[JOSEPH B. LEMEN.]
XI. {p.49} GOV. NINIAN EDWARDS TO REV. JAMES LEMEN.
(From _Belleville Advocate_, April 17, 1908. Clipping,
I.B.H.C.,--K11)
Vandalia, Ill., Dec. 24, 1826.
Rev. James Lemen,
Collinsville, Illinois,
Dear Sir:--Having great respect for your influence and reposing
perfect confidence in your capable judgment on public affairs, I would
be very much pleased to have you call as soon as you arrive here, as I
desire to have your views and advice on some important matters. It is
my hope, as it will be my pride, that the term upon which I enter
shall be marked with a degree of educational interest and progress not
hitherto attained in our young commonwealth; and I wish to ask for
your counsel and aid in assisting to impress upon the General Assembly
the importance of such subjects, and the necessity of some further and
better legislation on our school matters; and I also wish to consult
with you in regard to the matter of the proposed Illinois and Michigan
Canal.
Sincerely your friend,
NINIAN EDWARDS.
XII. HON. ADAM W. SNYDER TO REV. JAMES LEMEN.
(From _Belleville Advocate_, April 17, 1908. Clipping,
I.B.H.C.,--K11)
City of Washington, Jan. 5, 1838.
Rev. James Lemen,
[Collinsville, Illinois]
My Dear Friend:--To the letter which I wrote you a few days since I
wish to add that the members of the Illinois delegation in Congress
have read the letter you recently wrote me, and they are all willing
and ready to assist in pressing the cause of the class of claimants
whom you mentioned upon the attention of the government for a more
liberal and generous allowance of lands. I have no further news to
communicate, except that I believe Mexico's treachery and insolence
will sooner or later call down upon her a severe chastisement from
this country; and that our Southern friends in Congress are growing
exasperatingly and needlessly sensitive on the slavery question,
claiming that Jefferson's {p.50} views would sustain their positions,
not knowing the splendid secret of your father's (Rev. James Lemen,
Sr.) anti-slavery mission under Jefferson's orders and advice, which
saved Illinois and we might say the Northwest Territory, to freedom.
In fact, the demands of slavery, if not controlled by its friends,
will eventually put the country into a mood that will no longer brook
its insolence and greed.
Yours in esteem and confidence,
A. W. SNYDER.
XIII. ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S LETTER
_Belleville Weekly Advocate_, April 24, 1908
The following letter and remarks from Abraham Lincoln, hitherto
unpublished, comprise the fifth letter of the series of old "Pioneer
Letters" which Mr. J. B. Lemen of O'Fallon is sending to the
Advocate.--Ed.
Springfield, Illinois. March 2, 1857.
Rev. James Lemen,
[O'Fallon, Illinois,]
Friend Lemen: Thanking you for your warm appreciation of my views in a
former letter as to the importance in many features of your collection
of old family notes and papers, I will add a few words more as to
Elijah P. Lovejoy's case. His letters among your old family notes were
of more interest to me than even those of Thomas Jefferson, written to
your father. Of course they [the latter] were exceedingly important as
a part of the history of the "Jefferson-Lemen Anti-Slavery Pact,"
under which your father, Rev. James Lemen, Sr., as Jefferson's
anti-slavery agent in Illinois, founded his anti-slavery churches,
among which was the present Bethel church, which set in motion the
forces which finally made Illinois a free state, all of which was
splendid; but Lovejoy's tragic death for freedom in every sense marked
his sad ending as the most important single event that ever happened
in the new world.
Both your father and Lovejoy were pioneer leaders in the cause of
freedom, and it has always been difficult for me to see why your
father, who was a resolute, uncompromising, and aggressive leader, who
boldly proclaimed his purpose to make both the territory and the state
free, never aroused nor encountered any of that mob violence which
both in St. {p.51} Louis and Alton confronted or pursued Lovejoy, and
which finally doomed him to a felon's death and a martyr's crown.
Perhaps the two cases are a little parallel with those of John and
Peter. John was bold and fearless at the scene of the Crucifixion,
standing near the cross receiving the Savior's request to care for his
mother, but was not annoyed; while Peter, whose disposition to shrink
from public view, seemed to catch the attention of members of the mob
on every hand, until finally to throw public attention off, he denied
his master with an oath; though later the grand old apostle redeemed
himself grandly, and like Lovejoy, died a martyr to his faith. Of
course, there was no similarity between Peter's treachery at the
Temple and Lovejoy's splendid courage when the pitiless mob were
closing around him. But in the cases of the two apostles at the scene
mentioned, John was more prominent or loyal in his presence and
attention to the Great Master than Peter was, but the latter seemed to
catch the attention of the mob; and as Lovejoy, one of the most
inoffensive of men, for merely printing a small paper, devoted to the
freedom of the body and mind of man, was pursued to his death; while
his older comrade in the cause of freedom, Rev. James Lemen, Sr., who
boldly and aggressively proclaimed his purpose to make both the
territory and the state free, was never molested a moment by the
minions of violence. The madness and pitiless determination with which
the mob steadily pursued Lovejoy to his doom, marks it as one of the
most unreasoning and unreasonable in all time, except that which
doomed the Savior to the cross.
If ever you should come to Springfield again, do not fail to call. The
memory of our many "evening sittings" here and elsewhere, as we called
them, suggests many a pleasant hour, both pleasant and helpful.
Truly yours,
A. LINCOLN.
XIV. THE LEMEN MONUMENT AND REV. LEMEN'S PART IN EARLY ILLINOIS
HISTORY
(From _Belleville Advocate_, Tuesday, April 6, 1909. Clipping in
I.B.H.C.,--K11)
The monument to be erected by the Baptist people of Illinois and
others at the grave of Rev. James Lemen, Sr., near Waterloo in Monroe
county, is not only to honor his memory {p.52} as a revolutionary
soldier, territorial leader, Indian fighter, and founder of the
Baptist cause in Illinois, but it is also in remembrance of the fact
that he was the companion and co-worker with Thomas Jefferson in
setting in motion the forces which finally recorded the anti-slavery
clause in the Ordinance of 1787, which dedicated the great Northwest
territory to freedom and later gave Illinois a free state
constitution.
Only recently the Society of the Sons of the Revolution in Chicago,
after a critical examination of James Lemen's military and civil
record, by unanimous vote, appropriated twenty-five dollars for his
monument fund; and we give below a copy of the papers which they used
and which will interest our readers, the first being Gen. Ainsworth's
letter:
WAR DEPARTMENT
Adjutant General's Office
Washington, Feb. 13, 1908.
The records show that James Lemen served as private in Captain George
Wall's Company of the Fourth Virginia Regiment, commanded at various
times by Major Isaac Beall and Colonels James Wood and John Neville in
the Revolutionary war. Term of enlistment, one year from March 3,
1778.
F. C. AINSWORTH, Adjt. Gen.
("In January 1779, James Lemen had his term of enlistment extended for
two years and was transferred to another regiment. After his term
expired he rejoined his old regiment and served through the siege at
Yorktown. He was in several engagements.")
[J. B. L.]
XV. REV. JAMES LEMEN, SR.
(Written by Rev. John M. Peck, in 1857. Published in _Belleville
Advocate_, April 6, 1909. Clipping in I.B.H.C.,--K11)
Rev. James Lemen, Sr., a son of Nicholas Lemen and Christian Lemen,
his wife, was born at the family home near Harper's Ferry, Virginia,
on November 20, 1760. He acquired a practical education and in early
manhood married Miss Katherine Ogle, of Virginia, and they reared a
family. He enlisted for a year as a soldier of the Revolutionary War,
on March 3, 1778, but had his term extended to two years, and {p.53}
was in several engagements. Sometime after his enlistment expired he
rejoined his old comrades and served through the siege at Yorktown.
From childhood, in a singular manner, James Lemen was the special
favorite and idol of Thomas Jefferson, who was a warm friend of his
father's family. Almost before Mr. Lemen had reached manhood,
Jefferson would consult him on all matters, even on great state
affairs, and afterwards stated that Mr. Lemen's advice always proved
to be surprisingly reliable.
Our subject was a born anti-slavery leader, and by his Christian and
friendly arguments he induced scores of masters in Virginia to free
their slaves; this quickly caught Jefferson's attention and he freely
confessed that Mr. Lemen's influence on him had redoubled his dislike
for slavery and, though himself a slaveholder, he most earnestly
denounced the institution. The following paragraphs from a letter he
wrote to James Lemen's brother, Robert, who then lived near Harper's
Ferry, Virginia, on September 10, 1807, will disclose that Mr. Lemen's
influence was largely concerned in connection with Jefferson's share
in the Ordinance of 1787, in its anti-slavery clause. The paragraph is
as follows:--
"If your brother, James Lemen, should visit Virginia soon, as I learn
he possibly may, do not let him return until he makes me a visit. I
will also write him to be sure and see me. [5]Among all my friends who
are near, he is still a little nearer. I discovered his worth when he
was but a child and I freely confess that in some of my most important
achievements his example, wish, and advice, though then but a very
young man, largely influenced my action. This was particularly true as
to whatever share I may have had in the transfer of our great
Northwestern Territory to the United States, and especially for the
fact that I was so well pleased with the anti-slavery clause inserted
later in the Ordinance of 1787. Before any one had ever mentioned the
matter, James Lemen, by reason of his devotion to anti-slavery
principles, suggested to me that we (Virginia) make the transfer and
that slavery be excluded; and it so impressed and influenced me that
whatever is due me as credit for my share in the matter is largely, if
not wholly, due to James Lemen's advice and most righteous counsel.
[18]His record in the new country has fully justified my course in
inducing him {p.54} to settle there with the view of properly shaping
events in the best interest of the people. If he comes to Virginia,
see that he calls on me."
James Lemen did not visit Virginia and President Jefferson did not get
to see him, but his letters to him showed what a great affection he
had for his friend and agent. On May 2, 1778 [1784], at Annapolis,
Md., Thomas Jefferson and James Lemen made their final agreement under
which he was to settle in Illinois to shape matters after Jefferson's
wishes, but always in the people's interest and for freedom, and
particularly, to uphold the anti-slavery policy promised by Jefferson
and later confirmed by the anti-slavery clause in the Ordinance of
1787 which principle both Jefferson and Mr. Lemen expected would
finally be assailed by the pro-slavery power, and the facts confirmed
their judgment. In 1786 Mr. Lemen with his wife and young family
settled finally at New Design, now in Monroe county. [3]He was a judge
under the early Territorial law. He finally united with the Baptist
church and immediately set about collecting the Baptists into
churches, having the first church constituted at his house.
Mr. Lemen created the first eight Baptist churches in Illinois, having
them especially declare against slavery and intemperance. When General
William Henry Harrison became Governor, he and his Territorial Council
went over to pro-slavery influences and demands, and carried Mr.
Lemen's seven churches, which he had then created, with them. For some
months he labored to call them to anti-slavery grounds, but failing,
he declared for a division and created his eighth church, now Bethel
church, near Collinsville, on strictly anti-slavery grounds; and this
event opened the anti-slavery contest in 1809 which finally in 1818
led to the election of an anti-slavery Convention which gave Illinois
a free state constitution. [32]Jefferson warmly approved Mr. Lemen's
movement and sent his new church twenty dollars, which, with a fund
the members collected and gave, was finally transferred to the church
treasury without disclosing Jefferson's identity. This was done in
order not to disturb his friendly relations with the extreme South.
But Jefferson made no secret of his antipathy for slavery, though
unwilling that the fact should be known that he sent James Lemen to
the new country especially to defend it against slavery, as he knew it
would arouse the {p.55} resentment of the extreme pro-slavery element
against both him and his agent and probably defeat their movement.
[24]James Lemen also first suggested the plan to extend the boundary
of Illinois northward to give more territory and better shape, and had
a government surveyor make a map showing the great advantages and gave
them to Nathaniel Pope, our territorial delegate, asking him to
present the matter, which he did, and Congress adopted the plan. The
extension gave the additional territory for fourteen counties and
Chicago is included.
James Lemen was a noted Indian fighter in Illinois, ever ready with
his trusty rifle to defend the homes of the early settlers against the
savage foe, and in every way he fully justified Jefferson's judgment
in sending him to look after the best interests of the people in the
new territory.
Mr. Lemen possessed every moral and mental attribute in a high degree,
and if any one was more marked than another it was his incomparable
instinct against oppression, which his wonderful anti-slavery record
accentuated as his chief endowment, though in all respects he was well
equipped for a leader among men. That instinct, it might be said,
fixed his destiny. At Jefferson's request he settled in the new
territory to finally oppose slavery. That was before the Ordinance of
1787 with its anti-slavery clause, but Mr. Lemen had Jefferson's
assurance beforehand that the territory should be dedicated to
freedom; though they both believed the pro-slavery power would finally
press for its demands before stated, and the facts proved they were
right. The reasons which necessitated the secrecy of the
Jefferson-Lemen anti-slavery pact of May 2, 1784, under which Mr.
Lemen came to Illinois on his anti-slavery mission at Jefferson's
wish, and which was absolutely necessary to its success at first, no
longer exists; and the fear of James Lemen's sons that its publication
would so overshadow his great church work in Illinois with Jefferson's
wonderful personality, as to dwarf his merits, is largely groundless.
Senator Douglas, who with others is familiar with all the facts, says
that when the matter is fully published and well known, it will give
to both Mr. Lemen and Jefferson their proper shares of credit and
fame; and, while it will add a new star to Jefferson's splendid fame,
it will carry James Lemen along with him as his worthy co-worker and
companion. The {p.56} subject of our sketch died at his home near
Waterloo, Monroe county, on January 8th, 1823, and was buried in the
family cemetery near by.
XVI. OLD LEMEN FAMILY NOTES, JAMES LEMEN HISTORY, AND SOME RELATED
FACTS
(MS. Document in I.B.H.C.,--C102. By Jos. B. Lemen)
In 1857, to save the old "Lemen Family Notes" from loss by careless
but persistent borrowers, Dr. B. F. Edwards, of St. Louis, and Rev. J.
M. Peck, advised Rev. James Lemen, Jr., to make copies of all and then
give the original stock to a friend whom they named to keep as his own
in a safe vault in St. Louis, if he would pay all storage charges. But
at that time he only gave the most important ones to Rev. J. M. Peck
to place temporarily in a safe in St. Louis where he sometimes kept
his own papers; though some years later he acted on their advice and
making copies of all papers and letters of any value, gave the whole
original stock to the party mentioned (we do not recall his name, but
it is among our papers) [possibly the J. M. Smith mentioned in Dr.
Peck's communication to James Lemen, Jr., July 17, 1857] and he placed
them in the safe. Shortly after this their holder died, and they
passed into the hands of others who removed them to another safe
somewhere in St. Louis; but having no further title in the papers, and
having copies of all for use, the family finally lost all traces of
the papers and the parties holding them, and have only heard from them
two or three times in more than 40 years.
A few years ago, when a history of Rev. James Lemen, Jr., and his
father, Rev. James Lemen, Sr., was in contemplation, a reputed agent
of the parties whom he then claimed held the old family notes,
informed us that the family could have them at any time they wished;
and we promised some of our friends who wished to see them that after
we had used them in connection with the proposed history, the old
stock of papers would be placed where they could see and copy them, if
they wished. It was intended to have a few of the more important
letters photographed for the James Lemen history; though it was said
that some years before some one had a few of them photographed and
they were so indistinct as to be worthless; but we hoped for better
results. But it {p.57} finally developed that the reputed agent would
expect us to pay him (contrary to our first impressions) quite a round
sum of money for the restoration and use of the papers before he would
deliver them to us. This awakened suspicions as to his reliability and
a detective, to whom we sent his name and number for investigation,
informed us that no such man could be found; and undoubtedly he was
some dishonest person seeking to obtain money under false pretenses.
And so the family, as for many years past, now knows nothing as to the
parties who hold the papers or where they are. A singular fatality
seems to have awaited all the papers placed at Dr. Peck's disposal or
advice. His own papers were generally destroyed or lost, and the old
"Lemen Family Notes" placed some years after his death, partly as he
had advised, cannot be found. But while Dr. Peck's lost papers are a
distinct and irreparable loss, no loss is sustained in the
misplacement of the old Lemen notes, as every line or fact of any
value in them was copied and the copies are all preserved; and nearly
all the more important ones have been published, except a very few,
including Rev. James Lemen's interviews with Lincoln, as written up by
Mr. Lemen on ten pages of legal cap paper, and that paper will
probably be published soon, if it is not held specially for the James
Lemen history.
As to that history, it will be delayed for some time, as the writer,
who was expected to see to its preparation, was named by the State
Baptist Convention as a member of the Baptist State Committee to
assist with the James Lemen monument; and much of the matter intended
for the history was published in connection with the labors of the
State Committee. One object of the history was to secure or to
influence that degree of recognition of the importance of the services
of Rev. James Lemen, Sr. and his sons, with a few co-workers of the
latter, in the early history and interests of both the Baptist cause
and the State, on the part of the Baptists, to which the family
thought them entitled. But since the Baptists, the "Sons of the
Revolution," and others have placed a monument at the grave of the old
State leader and Baptist pioneer, the Rev. James Lemen, Sr., it is
felt that the object for making the history has already been in part
realized. Another circumstance which has delayed it, is the poor
health of the writer; so the prospect is that the making of the
history will be delayed for some time.
This {p.58} is written entirely from memory, as the papers and dates
to which we refer are not before me, but we will retain a copy and if
there proves to be any errors in this one, we will have them
corrected. There was such a demand for them that some of Dr. Peck's,
Lovejoy's, Douglas's, Lincoln's and some other letters were published,
and some of them are included in the papers we send.
Some years ago some one claimed that the old family notes had been
found, which led to statements in the papers that they would soon be
placed where people could see and read them; but it proved to be a
mistake. For the loss of the papers the family do not believe there
was any fault with the parties originally holding them, as in fact
they had the right to hold them where they pleased, according to the
agreement; but that from sudden deaths and other circumstances, they
were misplaced.
It should be added that every paper of any value, which was given to
the St. Louis parties to hold was copied and the copies preserved,
except mere personal, friendship letters, and of these there was quite
a large stock; also that much of Dr. Peck's writings and many letters
of his and others were loaned out and could not be given to the St.
Louis parties to keep, but all of any real value have been copied or
published, except the Lemen-Lincoln interviews and some others, and
that even some of these copies are loaned out, among them copies of
letters from Dr. Peck, Douglas, Lincoln, Lovejoy, if I recall
correctly, and others; though the facts or information in them have
already been published, except such facts as will be held for the
James Lemen history, and we have copies of them, so nothing will be
lost.
(Signed) JOSEPH B. LEMEN.
O'Fallon, Illinois,
January 10, 1911.