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As early as 1848, the subject of the organization of a new territory west of the
Missouri river was mentioned, and in congress I think a bill was introduced in
that year, but did not become a law, and in 1852 the subject having been long
discussed, a bill was introduced, but again without result. In 1852, however,
the railroad question having been agitated more generally during the preceding
year, during the session of 1852-3, a bill was reported to congress providing
for the organization of the Territory of Nebraska, within the boundaries,
substantially I believe, now embraced in the states of Kansas and Nebraska.
Prior to this, however, some of the citizens of western Missouri, and a few
persons residing or staying temporarily in the Indian country west of the
Missouri river, took steps to hold an informal election of a delegate who should
attend the coming session of congress and urge the passage of the territorial
bill. This election, though not sanctioned by any law, and informal, was ordered
to be held by a meeting of a number of persons held in the Indian country south
of the Platte river, who fixed a day on which the election was to be held, and
designated certain places at which votes would be received. Among the places
named, appeared Bellevue or Trader's Point. A newspaper printed somewhere in
Missouri, containing a notice of this election, accidentally came into my
possession a few days prior to the date fixed for the election. On reading this
announcement, I immediately communicated the news to prominent citizens of
Council Bluffs, and it was at once decided that Iowa should compete for the
empty honors connected with the delegateship. An election at Sarpy's was
determined on; arrangements made with the owner of the ferry-boat at that point
to transport the impromptu emigrants to their new homes, and they were
accordingly landed on the west shore of the Missouri river a few hundred yards
above Sarpy's trading house, where, on the day appointed, an election was held,
the result of which may be learned from the original certificate hereto annexed,
a copy of which was sent to the Honorable Bernhart Henn, the member of the house
of representatives from Iowa, by him submitted to the house, and referred to the
committee on elections, but for reasons obvious to the reader of the proceedings
of Congress immediately following, no report was ever made by that committee in
the case.
I may remark here that I consented with much reluctance to the use of my name in
this connection, and for several reasons: I was poor and could not well afford
to neglect my business and spend a winter at Washington; the expenses of the
trip I knew would be a heavy drain upon my limited exchequer; besides I had so
lately neglected my private affairs by my service at Iowa City. However, I
finally yielded to the earnest request of a number of my personal friends, who
were also ardent friends of the new scheme, and consented to the use of my name,
at the same time pledging my word that I would proceed to Washington if chosen
and do the best I could to advance the cause we had in hand. In addition to the
ballots cast for me for delegate at this election, the Rev. William Hamilton
received 304 votes for provisional Governor; Dr. Monson H. Clark received 295
for Secretary, and H. P. Downs 283 for Treasurer.
These proceedings at Sarpy's landing were followed by various public meetings in
Iowa (and also in Missouri), at which resolutions were adopted, urging the
organization of Nebraska territory. Amongst others, meetings were held at
Council Bluffs, St. Mary's, Glenwood, and Sidney, at which the actions at
Sarpy's were endorsed. Earnest and eloquent speeches were made by such leading
citizens as Hon. W. C. Means and Judge Snyder of Page county, Judge Greenwood,
Hiram P. Bennett, Wm. McEwen, Col. J. L. Sharp, Hon. A. A. Bradford, L.
Lingenfelter, C. W. McKissick, Hon. Benjamin Rector, Charles W. Pierce, Dan. H.
Solomon, __ Downs, I. M. Dews, George Hepner, Wm. G. English, Geo. P. Stiles,
Marshal Turley, Dr. M. H. Clark, and others.
In the month of November, Council Bluffs was visited by Hon. Augustus C. Dodge,
Col. Samuel H. Curtis, and other distinguished citizens of other states, who
attended and addressed meetings of the people of the town, warmly advocating the
construction of our contemplated railroads, and the organization of Nebraska
territory. In its issue of December 14, 1853, the Council Bluffs Bugle
announced that "H. D. Johnson, delegate elect from Nebraska, passed through our
place on his way to Washington last week."
In compliance with my agreement, I set about making arrangements to visit the
national capital, which, as you may suppose, was not easily accomplished. Before
starting, however, a number of our citizens who took such a deep interest in the
organization of a territory west of Iowa, had on due thought and consultation
agreed upon a plan which I had formed, which was the organization of two
territories west of the Missouri river, instead of one as had heretofore been
contemplated, and I had traced on a map hanging in the office of Johnson &
Cassady a line which I hoped would be the southern boundary of Nebraska, which
it finally did become, and so continues to the present time.
In starting out upon this second pilgrimage, I again faced the dreary desolate
prairies of the then sparsely settled Iowa, but not as a year before, solitary
and alone. B. R. Pegram, then a young and enterprising merchant of Council
Bluffs, being about to visit St. Louis, it was agreed that we should travel in
company to Keokuk, he with a horse and buggy, I with a horse and saddle. The
trip was accomplished in safety, and on arriving at Keokuk, we took a steamer
for St. Louis, shipping the horses and buggy.
On arriving at St. Louis, I tried in vain to sell my horse for a satisfactory
price, and leaving him with a friend to be sold afterwards, I took a steamer
bound for Cincinnati, whence I boarded a railroad train for Washington. (I
remark in parenthesis that my horse was not sold, but subsequently died, to my
great grief and considerable loss.)
On my arrival at Washington (early in January, 1854) I found that a bill had
already been introduced in the senate, and I think referred to the committee on
territories, of which the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was chairman. This bill
provided for the organization of the territory of Nebraska, including what is
now Kansas and Nebraska, or substantially so. I also found seated at a desk, in
the House of Representatives, a portly, dignified, elderly gentleman, who was
introduced to me as the Reverend Thomas Johnson. He was an old Virginian; a
slave holder, and a Methodist preacher. This gentleman had also been a candidate
for delegate at the informal election, and was credited with having received 337
votes. He had preceded me to Washington, and together with his friends, ignoring
our Sarpy election, had, through some influence sub rosa, been installed
in a seat at a desk aforesaid, where, being duly served with stationery, etc.,
he seemed to be a member of the house.
Previous to this time, in one or two instances, persons visiting Washington, as
representatives of the settlers in unorganized territory, and seeking admission
as legal territories, had been recognized unofficially, and after admission had
been paid the usual per diem allowance as well as mileage, and in the present
case I think my namesake had looked for such a result in his own case, but for
my part I had no such expectation.
On being introduced to Mr. Johnson, who seemed somewhat stiff and reserved, I
alluded to the manner of my appointment to the present mission, which, like his
own, was without legal sanction, but was for a purpose; told him there was no
occasion for a contest between us for a seat to which neither of us had a claim;
that I came there to suggest and work for the organization of two territories
instead of one; that if he saw proper to second my efforts, I believed that we
could succeed in the objects for which we each had come.
After this explanation the old gentleman thawed out a little, and we consulted
together upon the common subject.
Hon. A. C. Dodge, senator from Iowa, who had from the first been an ardent
friend and advocate of my plan, introduced me to Judge Douglas, to whom I
unfolded my plan, and asked him to adopt it, which, after mature consideration,
he decided to do, and he agreed that, as chairman of the committee on
territories, he would report a substitute for the pending bill, which he
afterwards did do, and this substitute became the celebrated "Nebraska Bill,"
and provided, as you know, for the organization of the territories of Kansas and
Nebraska.
The Hon. Bernhart Henn, at that time the only member of the house from Iowa, who
also was my friend and warmly advocated our territorial scheme, finding that the
Rev. Thomas Johnson was seated in the house and posing as a member and not
wishing to see him more honorably seated than myself, interceded, I presume with
one of the doorkeepers, who admitted me into the house and seated me at a desk
beside my friend, the minister, who it afterwards appeared, was like myself,
surreptitiously admitted to the seat occupied by him, unknown to the speaker, or
perhaps to the chief doorkeeper.
The fates decreed, however, that we were not to hold our seats a great while,
for one day the principal doorkeeper approached me as I sat in my seat, and
politely inquired who I was, and by what right I occupied the seat; and being by
me answered according to the facts, he informed me that as complaint had been
made to the speaker, he was under the necessity of respectfully asking me to
vacate the seat, as such was the order of the speaker. I replied to him, that of
course I would do so, but, I added, as my neighbor on the left occupied his seat
by a right similar to my own, I felt it to be my privilege to enquire why I
should be ousted while he was permitted to remain. On this the doorkeeper turned
to Mr. Johnson, who corroborated my statement, whereupon the "two Johnsons," as
we were called, were incontinently bounced and relegated to the galleries.
I never learned, nor did I care to know, whether I was removed at the instance
of the friends of Mr. Johnson, or whether a Mr. Guthrie, who had also been a
candidate for delegate, had fired a shot at his adversary, the Rev. Thomas. If
the latter was the case, in firing he hit two birds. I did not feel hurt by this
event, but believe that the dignity of the other Johnson was seriously touched,
and himself mortified.
I ought perhaps to mention the fact that in our negotiations as to the dividing
line between Kansas and Nebraska, a good deal of trouble was encountered, Mr.
Johnson and his Missouri friends being very anxious that the Platte river should
constitute the line, which obviously would not suit the people of Iowa,
especially as I believe it was a plan of the American Fur Company to colonize
the Indians north of the Platte river. As this plan did not meet with the
approbation of my friends or myself, I firmly resolved that this line should not
be adopted. Judge Douglas was kind enough to leave that question to me, and I
offered to Mr. Johnson the choice of two lines, first, the present line, or
second, an imaginary line traversing that divide between the Platte and the Kaw.
After considerable parleying, and Mr. Johnson not being willing to accept either
line, I finally offered the two alternatives - the fortieth degree of north
latitude, or the defeat of the whole bill, for that session at least. After
consulting with his friends, I presume. Mr. Johnson very reluctantly consented
to the fortieth degree as the dividing line between the two territories,
whereupon Judge Douglas prepared and introduced the substitute in a report as
chairman of the committee on territories, and immediately, probably the hardest
war of words known in American history commenced.
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